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diff --git a/old/46796.txt b/old/46796.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..49a183e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/46796.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8720 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Pioneer Boys on the Mississippi, by Harrison Adams + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most +other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of +the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have +to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. + +Title: The Pioneer Boys on the Mississippi + or The Homestead in the Wilderness + +Author: Harrison Adams + +Illustrator: H. Richard Boehm + +Release Date: September 7, 2014 [EBook #46796] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PIONEER BOYS ON MISSISSIPPI *** + + + + +Produced by Beth Baran and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + +[Transcriber's Note: Bold text is surrounded by =equal signs= and +italic text is surrounded by _underscores_.] + + + +THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE MISSISSIPPI + +[Illustration] + +OR: THE HOMESTEAD IN THE WILDERNESS + + + + +THE YOUNG PIONEER SERIES + +BY HARRISON ADAMS + +ILLUSTRATED + +[Illustration] + + + THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE OHIO, + Or: Clearing the Wilderness $1.25 + + THE PIONEER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES, + Or: On the Trail of the Iroquois 1.25 + + THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE MISSISSIPPI, + Or: The Homestead in the Wilderness 1.25 + +_Other Volumes in Preparation_ + +[Illustration] + + L. C. PAGE & COMPANY + 53 Beacon Street, Boston, Mass. + +[Illustration: "'THE PRECIOUS WAMPUM BELT, SANDY!' HE CRIED." +_See page 332._] + + + + +The Young Pioneer Series + + +THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE MISSISSIPPI + +OR: THE HOMESTEAD IN THE WILDERNESS + + By HARRISON ADAMS + Author of "The Pioneer Boys of the Ohio," "The Pioneer + Boys on the Great Lakes," etc. + +[Illustration] + + Illustrated by + H. RICHARD BOEHM + + + L. C. PAGE & COMPANY + BOSTON [Illustration] MDCCCCXIII + + + + + [Illustration] + + _Copyright, 1913, by_ + + L. C. PAGE & COMPANY + + (INCORPORATED) + + + _All rights reserved_ + + + First Impression, June, 1913 + + + THE COLONIAL PRESS + C. H. SIMONDS & CO. + BOSTON, U. S. A. + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +PREFACE + + +DEAR BOYS:--Those of you who have read the earlier volumes in this +series of backwoods stories may remember that I half-promised to follow +the "Pioneer Boys on the Great Lakes" with a third volume. I now have +the pleasure of presenting that story to you. In it you will renew your +acquaintance with the two stout-hearted lads of the border, Bob and +Sandy Armstrong, as well as several other characters you met before, +some of whose names have become famous, and are recorded in the history +of those early days that "tried men's souls." Besides this, there +are some new characters introduced, who, I hope, will appeal to your +interest. + +It was hardly to be expected that such a restless spirit as that of +David Armstrong, the Virginia pioneer who built his log cabin on the +bank of the beautiful Ohio, would long rest contented when wonderful +stories constantly reached his ears concerning the astonishing +fertility of the black soil, as well as the abundance of fur-bearing +animals, to be found in the valley of the great river which De Soto +had discovered--the mighty Mississippi; and, as you will learn, his +first serious set-back caused him to start upon another long pilgrimage +toward the "Promised Land." + +It was this constant rivalry among the early settlers, this +never-ending desire to find better homesteads in the new country, +always toward the setting sun, that gradually peopled our Middle West, +and finally reached out far across the plains to the shore of the +Pacific. + +Trusting that you may enjoy reading the present volume, and that at +no distant day we may again renew our acquaintance, believe me, dear +readers, to be, + + Cordially yours, + HARRISON ADAMS. + +_May 1st, 1913._ + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + PREFACE v + I. CAUGHT IN HIS OWN TRAP 1 + II. THE BIRCH-BARK MESSAGE 13 + III. FROM ONE PERIL TO ANOTHER 22 + IV. AT THE MERCY OF THE FLOOD 35 + V. FRIENDS IN TIME OF NEED 48 + VI. SIMON GIRTY, THE RENEGADE 61 + VII. THE FLINT-TIPPED ARROW ON THE ROOF 73 + VIII. THE TREASURE BOX THAT WAS FORGOTTEN 87 + IX. THE SPIRIT OF THE PIONEER 97 + X. THE CABIN THAT BRAVED THE FLOOD 109 + XI. DANIEL BOONE, THE PILOT OF THE SETTLERS 120 + XII. STARTING FOR THE NEW WEST 131 + XIII. BLUE JACKET GIVES WARNING 148 + XIV. A TARGET FOR ARROWS AND BULLETS 157 + XV. A HUNT FOR FRESH MEAT 169 + XVI. THE FIGURES AGAINST THE SKY 179 + XVII. SIGNAL SHOTS 189 + XVIII. THE MAN WITH THE CHARMED LIFE 199 + XIX. KENTON, THE RECKLESS BORDERER 209 + XX. THE TWO-LEGGED WOLF 218 + XXI. BAGGING A BUFFALO 228 + XXII. AT THE SETTING OF THE EVENING STAR 241 + XXIII. WHAT THE DEAD ASHES OF A FIRE TOLD 258 + XXIV. A NEW HOME ON THE MISSISSIPPI 268 + XXV. THE PERIL OF KATE 278 + XXVI. THE DRIFTING DUGOUT 288 + XXVII. ON THE TRAIL 298 + XXVIII. CREEPING UP ON THE QUARRY 307 + XXIX. THE MISSING WAMPUM BELT 317 + XXX. THE MYSTERY SOLVED--CONCLUSION 327 + NOTES 339 + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + + PAGE + "'THE PRECIOUS WAMPUM BELT, SANDY!' HE CRIED" + (_See page 332_) _Frontispiece_ + "HE WAS BEING STALKED BY ONE OF THE MOST DREADED + ANIMALS OF THE FOREST, A GRAY PANTHER" 12 + "MADE A SPRING FOR THE SAFETY OF THE LOG THAT + HAD DONE THE DAMAGE" 35 + "AT LAST THEY WERE AFLOAT ON THE OHIO, BOUND + INTO THE UNKNOWN COUNTRY THAT LAY FAR AWAY + TO THE WESTWARD" 136 + "THEY COULD NOW PLAINLY DISCERN THE FIGURE UNDER + THE WOLFSKIN" 230 + "'YES, YOU ARE RIGHT, SANDY, IT _IS_ A BOAT'" 291 + +[Illustration] + + + + +The Pioneer Boys of the Mississippi + + + + +CHAPTER I + +CAUGHT IN HIS OWN TRAP + + +"PADDLE harder, brother. The current is stronger than I ever knew it to +be before." + +"But, Bob, we must be very near the place where we always land when we +come over to look after our traps?" + +"Once we are in the lee of that point ahead, Sandy, we can go ashore. +The river is so high that it's hard to recognize the old landmarks." + +"Both together, then, Bob. There! that looks like business! and, just +as you say, our dugout can lie safely under the shelter of that tongue +of land, while we're off 'tending our traps. Another week, and we must +stop setting any snares, for the fur will be getting poor; so Pat +O'Mara said the last time he came to the settlement." + +Five minutes later, the two Armstrong boys sprang ashore on the Ohio +side of the river, at a little distance below the spot where, across +the now unusually wide stream, their parents, together with other bold +pioneers from Virginia, had, not more than a year before, started a +frontier settlement.[1] + +The clumsy, but staunch boat, fashioned from the trunk of a tree, was +drawn partly out of the water. They had made the passage of the river +with considerable hard labor, because of the vast volume of water which +the heavy spring rains had brought out of the hills all the way up to +and beyond old Fort Duquesne.[2] + +Both boys were dressed after the fashion of that time among hunters and +trappers, who, scorning the homespun clothes of the Virginia settlers, +found garments made of buckskin, not unlike those worn by many of the +Indians, to give them the best service when roaming the great forests +that stretched from the Alleghanies, off to the border of the mighty +Mississippi, in the "Land of the Setting Sun." + +Having picked up their guns, the brothers started through the thick +woods; but not before Sandy, the younger, had cast a last wistful look +back at the swollen waters of the Ohio, that, seen in the dull light of +the overcast afternoon, flowed steadily toward the west. Truth to tell, +that unknown western region was drawing the thoughts of the pioneer boy +very much of late; and, even as he tramped along at the side of Bob, +his first words told how he envied the rushing waters that were headed +into the country he longed to see. + +"Abijah Cook is back at the settlement for a short spell, I heard Mr. +Harkness say," he remarked, with a long sigh that caused his brother to +turn an uneasy glance in his direction. + +"And has he given up ranging the woods with young Simon Kenton?" the +older boy asked. + +"Oh! no; but he brought his winter's catch of pelts in for Mr. Harkness +to dispose of, when he found the chance," Sandy replied. + +"And I suppose the old woodranger has been talking again about the +region of the Mississippi," remarked Bob, who could guess what was on +the mind of his brother. + +"Well," Sandy went on, "Abijah has seen that wonderful country, and he +knows how different it is from this hilly place, where the corn washes +down the sides of the slopes whenever a big rain comes. Out there it is +mostly prairie, and the soil, he says, is black and rich. It will grow +maize twice as high as your head. The stories he tells of what he saw +on those prairies fairly make my heart ache." + +"But Sandy, you must try to forget all that," returned Bob, who often +found it necessary to restrain his impatient young brother. "You are +needed at home, for father is not able to hunt and trap, besides taking +care of his crops. Nobody in the whole settlement brings in as much +game as you do. Wait a few years, and then, when we are grown men, +perhaps we may strike out for that country you have been hearing so +much about; where De Soto discovered the greatest of rivers, and lies +buried under its waters." + +Sandy sighed again. + +"I suppose I must wait, just as you say, Bob," he observed, "but it +may not be for years, as you seem to think. Already some of the men +are beginning to talk of making a flatboat, and floating down the Ohio +until they reach the father of all the waters. They do not like the +idea of the rascally French taking possession of all that fine land, +which is a part of our own Virginia. And it may not be so very long +before we will lose some of our people in that way." (Note 1.)[3] + +These brave men, who had already successfully braved the dangers that +beset them on their journey across the mountains to the Ohio valley, +had heard stories from the lips of trappers who had penetrated far +into the western land in pursuit of the rich skins of otter, beaver, +fox, mink and marten. When their crops failed to turn out as well as +they had anticipated, a spirit of unrest began to pervade the little +community; and these wonderful tales were repeated, from lip to lip, +always with a longing to obtain a glimpse of the country that offered +such astonishing opportunities. + +It was this spirit of unrest that peopled our great West. Those who +found themselves out-distanced in the race, unwilling that others +should get ahead, gave up their holdings, partly improved as they might +be, and once more started out to get in the van of the procession +headed toward the setting sun. + +"Do you think we will have any trouble getting back to the other shore +of the river, this afternoon?" Sandy asked, after they had walked along +for a few minutes in silence, headed for the first of their traps. + +"I admit that I don't just like the way we were buffeted around on the +voyage over," replied Bob; "and, if the waters keep on rising to-night, +as I think they are going to, we will not be able to visit our traps on +this side for several days." + +"Then had we better take them along with us?" asked Sandy. + +"No, they would bother us in the dugout," replied Bob; then, noticing +the quick glance his brother shot in his direction, he added: "Yes, I +am figuring on the chance of our boat being upset in the flood; and, +if that happened, we'd have all we could do to save ourselves and our +guns, let alone half a dozen heavy traps. They can stay here until we +find a chance to cross again, after the water goes down." + +"But, I wonder if Colonel Boone knew about such a thing as a flood when +he led us to where the settlement now stands?" remarked Sandy, with a +frown. "Because, if the water rises very much more, we, as well as some +of the other settlers, stand to lose our cabin. Already the water has +covered the land where open fields lay, ready to be planted in maize +this spring. All Mr. Bancroft's new fence has been taken down, to save +it from being swept away." + +"No, I do not believe such a rise has been known for many years," Bob +went on to say. "You know how it flows between banks that are covered +with trees. These countless hills are crowned with great forests, and +under the trees the ground is carpeted with moss and dead leaves. This +is like a great sponge, father says, that soaks up the water during +rainy seasons, and lets it out again in time of drought. I heard him +say only this morning that the Indians never knew of a flood like this +one. They believe that the Great Spirit is angry because they have not +driven the palefaces from Kentucky. And there will be a renewal of the +fighting, after this rainy spell is over, he fears." (Note 2.) + +"Well, here's where we set our first trap," Sandy cried. "And the next +is only a short distance along the trail. I'll take a look at this +one, while you go on and attend to the next." + +"That is the best way, Sandy," returned Bob, with a quick glance toward +the darkening heavens. "I do not like the looks of those clouds, and it +may be that the rain will set in again. If that happens, we would find +it all we could do to make a safe passage across the river, for the +darkness will fall early to-night." + +"And we must not forget to keep our eyes open for a sight of those +rascally French trappers, Jacques Larue and Henri Lacroix," remarked +Sandy, with a suggestive movement of his gun. "They have been reported +as being seen not far away from here of late, and you know, Bob, they +have never forgiven us the way we managed to outwit Larue last fall, +and bring Henri Lacroix's brother to justice."[4] + +"But they also know," Bob replied, "that because you and I were able +to do the great Indian sachem, Pontiac, a favor, he gave us his wampum +belt, which has served to keep the Indians who were on the war-path +away from our little settlement. Those Frenchmen understand that, if +either of us were hurt, the Indians would visit vengeance on the head +of the guilty party. Larue learned that before he escaped from the +Indians." (Note 3.) + +The boys had learned that Jacques Larue had loosened his bonds and +escaped from his Indian captors through the connivance of a young buck +for whom he had once performed some service, and was again free to work +with Henri Lacroix such damage against the latest English settlers as +their evil minds might suggest. + +"I am convinced it was they who robbed our traps several times this +winter, so that we had to change their location," Sandy declared, +indignantly. "And, when that brush was piled up against our cabin, that +dark night, and fired, did we not find tracks that were never made by +Indian feet? I seem to feel that we have not seen the last of those +French trappers. And Pat O'Mara told me that, if ever I had to shoot to +defend myself against either of them, to get the full value of my lead!" + +"Well, let us hope that they will go elsewhere, and do their trapping," +said Bob, as he turned and left his brother. "I think it is a great +pity that, with a string of trading posts all the way from the big +lakes down to the sea, these greedy French from the North cannot let +us alone here. They seem to want the earth. But I'll wait for you at +the second trap, Sandy. Be as quick as you can." + +Sandy made no reply, but hastened forward to where they had set the +first trap. He was filled with thoughts of the stories he had heard +connected with the Mississippi country, and he pictured in his mind the +loveliest scene that could ever greet the eager eyes of a pioneer--game +waiting to be shot and trapped; the earth so rich that it would grow +bountiful crops upon being simply stirred; the fields glorious with +myriads of wild flowers; and all to be had by simply reaching out a +hand and taking possession, in defiance of the French, who claimed +everything from the far North to the gulf. + +He found in the trap a fine red fox, which he succeeded in knocking on +the head without injuring the pelt. Laying his gun aside, Sandy started +to reset the trap, believing that, as it seemed to be a lucky place, +perhaps the mate of the fox might come along, and also step into the +steel circle. + +As he began his task, an accident occurred that had never happened to +Sandy before in all his trapping experience, and probably never would +again. In some manner, which he could not fully explain, in turning +around to secure something, he managed to thrust his foot into the set +trap, which he had quite forgotten. + +There was a snap, and an acute feeling of pain that caused the boy to +give a startled cry. His heavy leggings saved him to a great extent +from the cruel teeth of the trap, for at that time the smooth jaws now +in universal use had not come into vogue; but the boy knew he would +have a sore ankle for some days because of his carelessness. + +Sandy tried to get at the trap to release himself, and found that, +because of the formation of the ground at that particular spot, it +would prove a difficult task. He persisted in his efforts, however, +and refrained from calling out to his brother, not wishing the more +cautious Bob to learn what a foolish thing he had done. + +He was still striving to squirm around so as to get at the double +spring, and by pressure release his foot, when he heard a sound close +by that riveted his attention. Looking up, what was the boy's dismay to +discover a creeping animal gradually drawing closer and closer to him. + +It needed only that one look to tell Sandy that he was being stalked +by one of the most dreaded animals of the forest, a gray panther, that +had evidently scented the blood of the captured fox, and was bent on +securing a supper. + +[Illustration: "HE WAS BEING STALKED BY ONE OF THE MOST DREADED ANIMALS +OF THE FOREST, A GRAY PANTHER."] + +Of course, Sandy's first thought was of his musket. He remembered +placing this against a neighboring tree, and, sure enough, it still +stood there; but, when he made a movement to reach the weapon, he found +to his dismay that the chain of the fox trap was too short to allow his +fingers to come within a foot of the gun! + +In vain he writhed and pulled; the trap had been made only too secure, +and Sandy realized that there was nothing he could do but lift up his +lusty young voice in an appeal for help. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] See "The Pioneer Boys of the Ohio." + +[2] Now known as Pittsburg. + +[3] The notes will be found at the end of the book. + +[4] See "The Pioneer Boys on the Great Lakes." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE BIRCH-BARK MESSAGE + + +WHEN Bob Armstrong parted from his brother he quickened his steps. The +next trap was not very far away; but, as he had just said, he did not +like the looks of the cloudy sky, and began to fear that, after all, +the break in the heavy rainy spell was going to prove of but short +duration. + +He knew that the little mother in that cabin on the other side of the +swollen water would be worried about her boys, and Bob disliked to give +her any more reason for anxiety than could be helped. + +As he walked along he thought of what Sandy had said about his +determination, sooner or later, to follow the river down past Fort +Washington, and far away to where it united with the greatest of +watercourses, the mighty Mississippi. Bob, himself, was not so +indifferent to the beckoning finger of adventure as his words to his +brother might lead one to believe. He, too, had listened to those +marvelous stories told by trappers and traders, and, when twice a +flatboat had landed at their rude little float, giving the settlers a +chance to talk with the bold souls who were bent on risking the unknown +dangers that lay beyond, Bob had hung upon the adventurers' words, +and had longed to join the party as it continued its voyage down the +Ohio into the unknown land. He had, however, always thrust aside the +thought, feeling that neither he nor Sandy ought to think of leaving +the father, mother and sister Kate, who made up the Armstrong household. + +As he approached the spot where the trap lay, Bob once more became the +trapper, and forgot all else. He saw that success had come to them, for +there was certainly some animal in the trap. + +It had been set in a certain little gully, where the boys had +discovered the tracks of several mink, together with their holes. The +tiny stream that had trickled through this same gully in the preceding +fall, was now a rushing torrent, and the trap had lately been set high +up on the bank, just in front of a particularly inviting opening, where +many tracks told of its being a favorite haunt for the wandering males +of the furry tribe he hunted. + +Yes, it was a mink he had captured, and really the largest and finest +of the whole winter's catch. Bob felt pleased to make this discovery, +for every pelt which they could gather meant more comforts in the +Armstrong home. + +The mink seemed unusually fierce, and put up a savage fight when Bob +started to dispose of him; but the young trapper would not be denied, +and he quickly put an end to the animal's sufferings. + +As a usual thing the traps for mink and muskrats were set in such +fashion that, after being caught, the animals would jump into the +water, and be drowned by the weight of the trap; so that it was seldom +they found one alive that had to be disposed of in this manner. + +Having reset the trap, Bob sat down to wait for the coming of Sandy, +and, while sitting there, he drew something out of an inner pocket of +his hunting tunic, which he examined with considerable interest, as +well as with many shakes of the head, that told of bewilderment. + +The object was a soft and pliable piece of clean birch bark, upon the +brown side of which were traced several rude drawings, such as a child +might make. This had been done with some sharp instrument, possibly the +point of a knife. + +Bob Armstrong knew well that these crude figures of men, campfires, +streams and trails were not intended to express the idle whim of some +white child, beginning to draw the things he saw around him. + +Bob had looked upon Indian picture-writing before now; indeed, a young +Shawanee brave, named Blue Jacket, whose life he had once saved, and +whose friendship the brothers prized very much, had shown them how to +read these symbols, by means of which the red men communicated after +their own fashion, just as the palefaces did by putting all those queer +little signs in a line, and calling it writing. + +This was the second time that Bob had found a birch-bark letter left +mysteriously at the cabin. No one knew whence they came; but, when the +characters were deciphered, on each occasion it was found that some one +was warning them against danger that hovered over their heads. + +On the first occasion, they read that two white men were hanging +around near the settlement, and meant to do the Armstrong family harm. +The careful mother's first thought was of Kate, her only daughter, a +pretty girl, who had already been once carried away by a young chief +of the Delawares, and rescued only after much trouble by her brothers, +assisted by Simon Kenton and several of the young woodranger's comrades. + +That very night there had come the alarm of fire, with the greedy +flames doing their best to devour the cabin where David Armstrong and +his little brood lived. Only through the most valiant labor was the +fire conquered before it could do much harm. And, now, Bob had found +a second strange warning under the door of the cabin, on that very +morning, he being the first to arise. + +He traced each symbol with his finger as he sat there and mused. There +were the same two men again, whom he believed must stand for the ugly +French trappers, because they wore hats, which no Indian ever was known +to do; and their feet "toed-out," which was another sure sign. In +addition, he could make out the cabins of the settlers, and the two +bent figures appeared to be creeping toward them. + +Of course, word of the message had been carried to all the other men in +the community, and doubtless there would be a strict watch kept that +coming night. If Jacques Larue and his companion, Henri Lacroix, were +discovered approaching the settlement, other than erect on their feet, +the chances were that they would be given a very warm reception. + +But Bob was not puzzling his head just now about what the symbols +meant. He had had little difficulty in understanding that some one +intended to warn them against the attacks of their old-time enemies. +The question that gave both Bob and Sandy cause for speculation was the +identity of the friend from whom these two birch-bark warnings came. + +It was not Blue Jacket, Bob knew. He had seen the young Shawanee brave +draw similar figures, and they were slightly different from those now +in front of him; even as one person's handwriting looks unlike that of +another. And yet Bob felt positive that the work must have been done by +an Indian. + +The mystery piqued his curiosity greatly. He and Sandy had tried to +reason it out, and discover the identity of this unknown and unseen +friend among the red men; but up to now they had not met with any +success. + +After looking at the little strip of bark for a minute, Bob shook +his head, as though once more compelled to abandon the solution of +the puzzle; and, allowing it to roll up again of its own accord, he +replaced the message in his pocket. + +"I'd give a lot to know who sent those two messages," he muttered, as +he started to take the skin off the mink, not wishing to carry any more +burden than seemed necessary, if they were to continue along the line +of traps. "But, anyway, it's nice to feel that we've got a good friend +among the Indians, who takes delight in upsetting the plans of those +two precious rascals. Some day he may see fit to make himself known to +us. But, I wonder what keeps Sandy. He surely ought to be here by now, +for he had plenty of time to get to that trap, and fix it fresh, if it +was sprung. I hope nothing has happened to him." + +He looked eagerly along the back trail, but failed to see any sign +of the approaching figure of his younger brother. The afternoon was +more than three-quarters past, and in another hour they could expect +darkness to swoop down upon the land. + +Bob noted this fact when he again looked up toward the darkening +heavens. + +"We will have to leave the rest of the traps until another day," he +said to himself, uneasily. "I promised mother that I would not take +any more chances than necessary, and she did not seem any too well +satisfied about our crossing to-day, as it was. But, how queer Sandy +does not come! Perhaps I'd better start back after him." + +Once this idea had taken root in his mind, Bob could not remain at +ease. He arose to his feet, took the mink in one hand, with his rifle +clutched in the other, and started off. + +Hardly had he taken ten steps when he heard a call. It was certainly +his own name, and coupled with a word that sent a thrill through him. + +"Bob! oh! Bob! Help!" + +Instantly the boy dropped the mink, utterly unmindful of the value of +the fine pelt. He started off at a swift pace, heading in the direction +whence the shout came. + +If Sandy was in danger, then it must be some of those hateful French +trappers again. Bob could remember how they had first met them, and +there were three at that time. A fine deer had fallen before the gun of +one of the brothers, and, upon rushing forward to bleed the prize, they +found themselves confronted by a trio of burly men whose appearance +told the lads that they were French trappers, even before they proved +this fact by their speech. + +These fellows had claimed that they shot the deer, and there was +trouble in prospect that might have ended seriously, but for the +fortunate coming of Kenton and two companions, who proved the right of +the boys to the spoils, and sent the Frenchmen away, with a warning not +to look back or they would rue it. + +Quickly Bob covered the ground. All the while he had his gun ready +for use in case of necessity. Now he could see Sandy, and, when he +discovered the other on hands and knees, great was his wonder, until he +heard him cry out: + +"Take care, Bob, there's a big panther in the brush close by, and bent +on jumping on you! My foot's fast in the trap, and I can't get free. Go +slow, and be ready to shoot, for he's savage with hunger, and as fierce +as they make them. Look out! there he comes now!" + + + + +CHAPTER III + +FROM ONE PERIL TO ANOTHER + + +BOB did not need the warning from Sandy to put him on his guard. The +mere fact that there was a panther near by was sufficient reason +for his alertness, because no animal that roamed the woods was more +respected than this sleek gray beast with the square jaws, the powerful +muscles and the sharp claws. + +Every slight movement of the bushes caused Bob to turn his eyes in that +direction, with his gun half raised, ready to take a quick shot. And, +yet, he knew well how important it was that he use extreme care, when +the time came for firing. A wounded panther was a thing to be dreaded +by even the stoutest-hearted hunter. He had heard many stories told +around the family hearth at home about these animals, by such men as +Pat O'Mara, the jolly Irish borderer, old Reuben Jacks, the veteran +hunter, and others; all of whom agreed that they would sooner face a +bear, or a pack of wolves than a big "cat" that was wild with pain and +rage. + +Bob could see his brother now, on his knees, still struggling to +release himself from the hold of the fox trap, that seemed to grip his +ankle with a stubborn determination to keep him from reaching his gun, +standing there so close, but beyond his itching fingers. + +Once Bob thought he saw the beast crouching among some bushes that ran +down to the edge of the water; but he dared not waste his one shot on +an uncertainty, since he would then be compelled to defend himself with +his knife or hatchet. And, as it turned out, he showed considerable +wisdom in repressing his boyish desire to fire, for just then there was +a movement in an entirely different direction, and he had a glimpse of +a gray beast slinking past a small opening. + +At this moment, Sandy made a new discovery that added a new note of +alarm to his voice: + +"Oh! there are two of them, Bob! Be careful what you do, brother! Try +to scare them off without shooting, if you can! Oh! if I could only +reach my gun, it would be all right; but I'm held here, a prisoner!" + +It was a time for doing the right thing, as Bob well knew. If there +were, indeed, a pair of the animals, eager to pounce upon the boy who +was so helpless there, he would certainly have his hands full. + +Fire would frighten them away, Bob knew; but he had no means of quickly +igniting a handful of dead leaves. In those early days, long before +matches of any kind had come to be known, the only way to get fire +was by the use of flint and steel; and often it was a difficult task, +requiring a pinch of powder, the same as was used for priming in the +pan of a gun. + +In this emergency there flashed into the active mind of the young +pioneer a dozen schemes for frightening the panthers away, or, at +least, make the brutes hesitate long enough for him to have a chance +to hand to his brother the gun that was so tantalizingly close to his +eager fingers. Both armed, they might, by two well-directed shots, put +an end to both of the panthers. + +Each scheme was, however, dismissed as impracticable as soon as +thought of, and there remained to Bob only the one thought,--he must, +regardless of the danger, reach his brother's gun! + +Believing that a sudden noise might momentarily disconcert the beasts, +he gathered himself for a spring, and then, with a shrill, piercing +cry, he leaped from the bushes, and dashed forward. + +The distance was but a few yards, and was quickly covered. Seizing +Sandy's gun, he, by the same motion, tossed it to his eager brother, +and the two lads, back to back, stood with ready weapons, awaiting the +spring of the crouching panthers. + +Moments passed and, to the boys, the tension was fearful. Suddenly the +silence was broken by a sharp, cracking sound, followed by a mighty +crash, as a huge dead tree toppled down, its bare, gaunt branches +grazing the boys, as they stood alertly eying the surrounding bushes. + +This was followed by a slight rustling sound and then all was again +still. + +For several minutes the lads maintained their tense attitude and then, +with a sigh of relief, Bob relaxed his strained muscles. + +"I believe, Sandy, the fall of that dead tree scared the brutes away," +he said, at last. + +"You are right, Bob," answered the other, with a ring of disgust in his +voice; "I do believe the cowards are slinking off over there, for I +saw the brush moving. I wish we could have had a shot at them." + +"Well, for one, I'm glad they've taken a notion to let us alone," Bob +remarked. "I was afraid that they would spring at any second, and we +might have missed, or only wounded, one or both of the panthers. It was +exciting while it lasted, Sandy." + +"Yes, I can say it was," replied the other, with a shrug of his +shoulders. "Just think of me held up here like this, and with the teeth +of that old trap biting in deeper every time I pulled, or tried to turn +around. Please get me loose, Bob; my ankle will be pretty sore after +this, I'm afraid." + +"So you couldn't turn around to unfasten it yourself," remarked the +other, as he hastened to turn the trap over, so that he might stand on +the double spring, and thus throw back the two jaws. "There, does that +fix it, Sandy? Looks like those teeth had chewed pretty well into your +buckskin legging, too. I hope you won't be crippled too badly to limp +back to the boat." + +Sandy scrambled to his feet, and started to try his left leg. He +certainly did limp considerably, but only made a wry face as he said: + +"I'll have to stand it, Bob. And, then, it might have been so much +worse. Think how those sharp teeth must have cut into my leg but for +the support of that stout deerskin legging. And even they would have +been nothing like the teeth of a panther. I honestly believe the savage +beasts meant to get me. And, after this, I'm just going to add as many +panther skins to our bag as I can, to pay up for the scare they gave +me." + +"Well," Bob replied, "I think we'll give up all idea of keeping along +our line of traps to-day. Not to speak of your lame ankle, it seems +to get darker all the while; and, with the river before us, we'd be +foolish to stay over here any longer than we can help. You remember +what mother told us, Sandy?" + +"Oh! I wouldn't bother my head about any trouble we might have in +making the other shore all right," declared the confident younger boy; +"but, then, with this pain in my leg, I don't see how I could manage to +get over much ground. However, if you care to go on alone, I can get +back to the boat, and wait there for you to come." + +Bob shook his head resolutely. + +"I'll return with you, Sandy," he said, "but first we will pick up the +mink I dropped, if, indeed, those hungry woods cats have not already +found it. It looks as if we will have to be contented with a fox and a +mink for this afternoon." + +"With three more traps to hear from," grumbled Sandy, who hated +exceedingly to be kept from doing what he had planned. "This seemed to +be our lucky day, Bob; and the chances are we'd have found something in +every trap. Now those two panthers will just about run the line, and +clean everything out for us." + +"Still, we have a whole lot to be thankful for," urged the older boy, +as he picked up the red fox, threw it over his shoulder, and offered +to assist Sandy in walking. The other, however, scorned to appear like +a cripple, and managed unaided to limp along close at his brother's +heels, though he made many a wry face, unseen by Bob, as pains shot +through the injured ankle. + +They were fortunate enough to find the mink just where it had been so +hastily dropped when Bob heard the shouts of the trapped boy, and, as +soon as this had been secured, they turned their faces toward the point +where the dugout had been left. + +"You see that I was right about the weather thickening up again," Bob +remarked, leading the way at as fast a pace as he believed the lame +member of the expedition could stand. + +"It does grow gloomy right along, for a fact. As you say, Bob, perhaps +the bad spell was only broken for a short time, and the rains may come +on worse than ever. Ouch! that hurt like everything then. I didn't see +that root sticking up in the trail. Don't I wish I was over home right +now, so I could wash that sore spot with hot water, and have mother +apply some of that wonderful salve which she makes out of herbs." + +"Only a little way more, and we'll strike the boat," called out Bob, +encouragingly; "there, I can see the place now." + +"I was just thinking what a fix we'd be in if we found it gone!" +remarked Sandy. "With the river booming bank-full, and the current as +fierce as a wolf pack, how in the wide world would we ever manage to +get across, Bob?" + +"I'm not going to bother my head trying to guess," answered the other. +"Time enough to cross a bridge when you come to it. Besides, I happen +to know that the boat is still there, for I just had a glimpse of it. +But, did you mean you thought the river could have risen enough, since +we left, to carry it off?" + +"No," said Sandy, soberly, "I was thinking of that second warning you +found under the door of the cabin this very morning, and wondering +whether those French trappers could be around on this side of the +river. If they saw our boat, and guessed whose it was, they'd be ready +to send it adrift, and keep us from getting home to-night." + +"That is just what I think, myself; and they would do even worse +than that, if they had the chance. The only thing that keeps them +from firing on us as we pass through the forest is their fear of the +vengeance of Boone and Kenton, not to speak of Pontiac, whose wampum +belt hangs in our cabin, a sign of his protecting hand over the +Armstrong family. But, here we are; and now to get started right away." + +One glance out upon the heaving bosom of the flood told Sandy that they +had been wise to give up further idea of staying on the further shore. +Indeed, with the gathering darkness, it began to look as if, even now, +they had taken more chances than were wise or prudent. + +The boys pushed out with a fearlessness that was characteristic of +their actions. Accustomed to facing perils by land or water, they +seldom hesitated, or allowed anything like alarm to influence them, +when duty called. And both lads knew that, should they fail to return +home on that night, there would be little sleep under the Armstrong +roof. + +As usual, Sandy sat in the bow of the boat, while his brother managed +the stern paddle with considerable dexterity. Until they had come to +the Ohio country neither boy had had very much experience in boats; +but, after the dugout was built, they spent much of their time on the +water, shooting ducks for the family larder, fishing, or crossing over +to hunt on the other shore, where, later on in the fall, they had +stretched a line of traps that brought them in many a fine pelt. + +They soon found that, somehow, owing to the trend of the shore, +perhaps, it was going to prove an even more difficult task to push the +heavy dugout back to the southern side of the river, than it had been +in coming across. The current added to their troubles, for it carried +them along faster than either of the boys had dreamed possible. For the +first time, possibly, they were learning of the power of the flood, +once it arose in its tremendous might. + +Both lads strained every muscle as they drove the blades deeply into +the water. They had, by the hardest kind of work, managed to get about +half-way over, though both of them were somewhat winded by their +efforts, when they noticed that heavy clouds, rolling up across the +heavens, had begun to bring the dusk of night much earlier than even +the careful Bob had anticipated. + +There were many obstructions that had to be avoided. Trees were +floating on the surface of the water in places, and logs seemed +plentiful. Altogether, it was an entirely new sight to both Bob and his +brother, for, until now, they had never known the beautiful Ohio to +rise to a point that could be called dangerous. + +"Take care, and keep away from that tree!" warned Bob, as he saw a +particularly ugly snag, with broken branches sticking out along its +sides, bearing down upon them on the left. + +They had to paddle furiously in order to keep clear of this +threatening object, and, possibly, in his eagerness, Sandy may have +bent too heavily on his paddle, for, just as they reached a point where +they would be safe from the floating tree, there was a sharp snap. + +"What happened?" cried Bob, alarmed more than he would have liked to +confess. + +For reply Sandy held up the stump of his paddle. It had broken off +clean, and, from that time on, only one could paddle at a time. This +catastrophe was sure to delay their passage, and doubtless cause them +to be swept some miles down-stream before they could land; but the boys +were hardy, and would not mind walking back, though doubtless Sandy +might complain a little on account of his lame leg. + +Bob set to work again with a good will, and was making fair progress +when yet another peril came booming along, this time in the shape of a +heavy log that was sweeping with the speeding current. + +Bob saw the danger and strove the best he could to avoid it; but, in +the clutch of the current, the little dugout seemed but a plaything, +and the log, driving three times as fast as they were going, +bore straight down upon them. When Bob saw that a collision was +unavoidable, he called at the top of his voice to his brother: + +"It's going to strike us, Sandy. Hold on to your gun if you can, and +climb aboard the log as they come together; for I fear that the boat +will sink. Quick! jump now!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +AT THE MERCY OF THE FLOOD + + +IN that moment of alarm Sandy forgot all about his lame ankle. He +realized, as soon as the crash came, that the dugout was about to sink, +for water began to pour in over the side. So he obeyed the cry of his +brother, and made a spring for the safety of the log that had done the +damage. + +[Illustration: "MADE A SPRING FOR THE SAFETY OF THE LOG THAT HAD DONE +THE DAMAGE."] + +How he managed to scramble on it he could never afterwards explain; +but, when he had done so, and looked around, it was to discover Bob +sitting astride the rolling log, close by, and the half-sunken boat +just vanishing from sight in the gathering gloom. + +"How is it, Sandy; are you all right?" anxiously asked Bob. + +"I'm on the log, if that is what you mean," gasped the younger boy, +noticing, however, that their strange craft began to roll less, now +that they had settled down upon its broad back. + +"And I hope you held on to your gun?" Bob went on; for even in that +terrible moment he could remember such a thing. This was hardly to be +wondered at, because it had taken both of the boys many a long month's +work with their first traps, away off in Virginia, to gather together +enough money to purchase the flint-lock muskets they owned, and which +had always served their purpose well. To lose one meant another +expenditure of hard-earned shillings, and even pounds. + +"I have it here, safe and sound," replied Sandy, not without a touch +of pride in his voice; for to have managed to get aboard that rolling +log in such a hurry, and to keep a grasp upon the long musket, was no +trifling task. + +"That was a close shave," said the elder brother, with a long-drawn +sigh; since he had been terribly alarmed for the moment, more on +account of Sandy than for himself. + +"We never had a more exciting time," admitted his brother, frankly. + +"And we have much to be thankful for," continued Bob. + +"For this old floating log, you mean?" observed Sandy, not without a +touch of sarcasm in his voice. + +"Yes, because even an old log may turn out to be a pretty good friend," +Bob went on, positively. "I've heard father declare that a sailor is +thankful for any port in a storm; and, only for this log, we might have +been swimming our level best right now, brother, to keep our heads +above water." + +"That may be," answered Sandy, still unconvinced; "but you forget +that, only for this same log, we would have been safe and sound in our +dugout, and paddling as nice as anything for the bank. As it is, we've +lost our boat, paddle and all, as well as the fox and mink; and will +have to borrow Alexander Hodgson's craft until we can build another." + +"Let us shout as loud as we can," proposed Bob. "Perhaps some of the +settlers will hear us, if they are down near the edge of the river, +watching how fast it keeps on rising." + +Accordingly both lads sent out sturdy calls at the top of their voices; +but there came back no answering, reassuring shout. Only the murmur of +the flood could be heard, or it might be a grinding noise as the log +came in contact with other floating stuff. + +So finally the boys, as if by mutual consent, gave up hallooing. + +For a little time they sat there in silence, both looking uneasily +toward the shore which marked the connecting link between themselves +and their home, though it could only be faintly seen, where the +tree-crowned hills stood out against the dull, darkening heavens. + +Bob suddenly aroused himself. This was no time for vain regrets. They +must be up and doing, if they hoped to cope with the new and strange +situation into which a freak of fortune had so suddenly thrust them. + +"We must try to do something to get ashore, Sandy," he said, firmly. + +"I was just thinking that way, myself," admitted the other; "but, since +we have no paddles, and this log chooses to remain out here in the +middle of the river, I'm bothered to know how it can be done." + +As usual, Sandy was depending part upon his brother to suggest some +way out of their difficulty; not that he did not possess a bright mind +himself, but when it came to quick thinking, and the suggesting of a +reasonable plan, Bob was always to be relied on. + +"Paddles would do us little good just now, I fear," said Bob. "We are +both of us good swimmers, and might be able to make the shore; but +the water is very cold, and there would be danger of a cramp catching +one of us. For that reason I don't like the idea of deserting this +friendly log. We are at least safe as long as we have it to cling to." + +"But, Bob, what if we keep on floating all night? We will be chilled +to the marrow with this cold wind, and the rain that promises to fall. +Besides, when the dawn breaks, we will find ourselves many miles down +the river. And what would mother think?" + +"Well, I've got a plan in my mind that might help us," the other went +on. "We don't want to lose our guns, to begin with; and, once we took +to the water in that way, how could we hold on to them? So here's what +I was thinking. Let us fasten the guns, and our clothes, as far as we +can, to this log. I always carry some buckskin thongs in the pocket of +my tunic, and there are knobs here and there, where branches have been +broken off." + +Sandy broke out laughing. + +"But, what good would that do us?" he demanded. "If ever we did get +ashore, think how cold we should be, and likely to starve to death. I +think I'd rather take my chances sitting right here, than try that." + +"But you don't understand the whole of the plan yet, Sandy," the other +went on, steadily, for he was quite used to having his impatient +brother break in upon him in this way. + +"Oh! if there is more of it, I'm glad to hear it," Sandy remarked. +"After we've tied our guns, and part of our clothes, to the log, what +do we expect to do then, Bob--fly away to the shore away over yonder? +We might,--if only we had wings!" + +"Listen, then," Bob pursued. "We'll slip down into the water, and, one +on either side of the log, start steering it in the direction of land. +Do you understand now, brother?" + +Sandy gave a shout, for he was always enthusiastic, once he discovered +any reason for being so. + +"It is a great idea, Bob," he said, warmly. "And I never would have +thought it out in an hour. Just as you say, we can, by slow stages, +push the log ashore. Even if it is miles below the settlement, we will +have our clothes with us, and tinder bags to start a fire with. But +why, do you think, did no one answer our shouts back there?" + +"In the first place," replied Bob, who was beginning to fumble around, +in a hunt for the best nubbin of a broken branch, to which he might +secure his valuables, consisting of his precious musket, powder horn, +bullet pouch, tinder bag, and last, if not least of all, his clothes, +which the loving fingers of their mother had fashioned out of pliable +deerskin; "in the first place, we must have been some distance below +the settlement at the time of our accident." + +"Yes," added Sandy, at once, seeing how reasonable this sounded, "I +think you are right about that, Bob." + +"And," continued the other, "even if they had guessed that the cries +came from down the river, what could they have done to help us? There +is no better boat than the one we owned; and, with night at hand, and +the sky as black as it is now, the women would not have let the men +venture out upon the water. They are always in mortal fear lest the +wily Indians lay some plan for the undoing of our settlement, and begin +with luring some of its defenders away." + +Sandy, too, was beginning to secure some of his things to the novel +craft which a strange decree of fate had made them accept as a means of +riding the flood in safety. When he had received the several buckskin +thongs which his brother passed over to him, the task of securing the +gun to the two knobs he had selected was first of all begun, because +with that in his hands he could accomplish little. + +But Sandy, dearly loved to talk. It was indeed hard to keep him quiet, +for he was always either seeking information from another, or else +desirous of imparting his own views upon various subjects. + +So, even as he worked, he must needs start afresh. + +"How far do you believe we will be from home when we get to land?" was +what he first of all asked his brother, just as though the other was a +knowledge box upon which he could draw at will. + +"That would be hard to say," replied Bob. "It all depends on how long +we are in landing. This flood must be going anywhere from six to seven +miles an hour; and, even if we are lucky, we would find ourselves +perhaps ten miles below our home." + +"That would be further than we have ever wandered down the river," +remarked Sandy, for their trapping and hunting had all been done within +the immediate vicinity of the settlement, since game could often be +found inside of ten minutes' walk. + +Once only had the brothers been tempted to take a long journey. This +was when their sister Kate, at a time when their father had gone in +Virginia on urgent business, had been carried off by a young chief of +the Delawares; and a pursuit was undertaken by the brothers that led +them to the far distant great lakes.[5] + +"Well, if we can make the bank in safety, I, for one, will not complain +of the distance," declared Bob. "How is your gun fixed now; are you +sure that it will hold safe, even if we should knock up against another +log?" + +"Yes, it is fast to the tree trunk, and can never slip loose," returned +Sandy. "The more I think of this plan of yours, the better I like it, +Bob. Once we are in the water, and swimming, we can urge the log toward +the shore, a foot at a time, it may be, but with a constant pressure, +until at last we find that we can touch bottom. Then for a fire, and +warming up, for I fear by that time both of us will be chilled to the +bone." + +"And if your lame ankle is so bad that it prevents our getting back +to-night, why, Sandy, what should hinder us from making camp in the +forest, under some ledge, where we can keep out of the rain? Then, +when morning comes, we can follow up the river until we reach our home +again." + +"It makes me feel better to hear you talk like that, Bob," declared the +younger of the two. "I wonder what I would have done without you?" + +"Perhaps just what we mean to do right now," Bob went on to say. "The +trouble is, Sandy, you will not think for yourself, when you have me to +depend on. You must remember what father told you once, that every tub +ought to stand on its own bottom. But Simon Kenton tells me he was just +such a youngster, until he found himself thrown on his own resources. +It was the making of him, he declares; because such things are apt to +bring out all there is in a boy." + +Both of them were still diligently working to secure their possessions +safely to the friendly trunk, which, having been the means of their +disaster, now seemed willing to make reparation as best it could by +offering them an asylum for those things which otherwise must have gone +into the river with them. + +It had, by now, grown so dark that all they could see was a stretch +of about thirty feet or so of surging water on either side of them. +Ahead, a similar unending panorama opened up, and, had they chosen to +turn their heads in order to cast a backward glance, they would have +looked upon the same dismal spectacle. + +"There," said Sandy at last, "that job is done, and I'm ready to pull +off my tunic, hunting shirt, and coonskin cap, which I'll make up into +a bundle, and fasten with this last long thong. But, Bob, before we do +that, and go overboard, it seems to me we ought to give a last shout +for help. There is about one chance in a thousand that some person in a +boat may hear us." + +"We'll take that chance, then, Sandy," echoed Bob. "So, ready now, and +shout when I do, with all your might!" + +Again did their lusty young voices ring out over the flood. Once, +twice, thrice they gave tongue, and then, pausing, listened to see if +by chance there came any welcome reply. Immediately Sandy gave a low +bubbling cry of satisfaction. + +"Did you hear that?" he demanded. "Some one certainly answered us; +unless it was an echo from the hills away off yonder." + +"It was no echo, Sandy," replied Bob. "Shout again, and louder than +before. There is hope of a rescue even now. That one chance looks +better! Now, let go!" + +This time the answering hail seemed somewhat closer, as though they +were sweeping down toward the spot where the unknown must be sitting in +his boat, holding it to some degree against the rushing current. + +Sandy became wild with excitement. He had almost despaired of +assistance coming to them before, and, now that this sudden chance +loomed up, the horizon seemed to brighten visibly. + +"Oh! I can hear the sound of paddles, Bob!" he exclaimed. + +"Yes, that is what I was just listening to," answered the other, and +Sandy was surprised to note a lack of the same enthusiasm about Bob +that reigned in his own heart. + +"What ails you?" he demanded. "We are in a fair way of being taken +safely ashore, and yet you do not seem to be happy. Is there anything +wrong, do you think, about that answer to our shouts? Surely it could +not be an echo, for by now we can make out the dip of paddles plainly. +Tell me what worries you?" + +"That is just it," replied Bob, soberly; "the dip of the paddles, +as you say, which tells us that others are on the flood as well as +ourselves. But I have never heard a white man handle a paddle just like +that, and there are many who have tried it all their lives." + +Sandy asked no more questions. Doubtless, if his face could have been +seen just then, it would be found to have taken on a sudden pallor, as +he muttered to himself the one significant word: + +"Indians!" + +FOOTNOTE: + +[5] See "The Pioneer Boys on the Great Lakes." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +FRIENDS IN TIME OF NEED + + +THERE was really nothing that could be done. + +In a choice between two evils, Bob Armstrong could always be depended +on to take that which seemed the less. To go on down the flood was a +dreadful outlook; and almost anything was to be preferred to facing +the unknown perils of the river, especially in the pitch darkness that +prevailed. + +The sound of the paddles drew constantly nearer. Then they heard +voices, as if those in the canoe were asking each other whence it could +be that they had heard that last shout for help. + +To the astonishment of the floating boys the words came in English, +though evidently one of the speakers was an Indian who had apparently +learned the tongue of the palefaces. + +"Oh! it's Pat O'Mara, I do believe!" exclaimed Sandy, in his amazement +speaking loud enough for his voice to carry some distance away; for +immediately, even before Bob could add any words of his own to the +declaration, there came a hail out of the gloom. + +"Avast there! Be ye the Arrmstrong byes I'm afther hearin' out on this +roarin', tearin' flood this night?" + +"Yes, yes, that's who it is, Pat; and precious glad to hear the sound +of your voice, because we need help the worst way!" cried Sandy, always +impulsive. + +"All right, we'll be wid yees in a jiffy, depind on it," came the +answer from a point close at hand. "Give us another few digs at the +paddle, chief, an', by the same token, we'll soon be alongside, so we +will." + +A minute later the anxious boys began to detect some moving object, +as they strained their eyes to see. Then this turned out to be a long +canoe, in which two persons were sitting, the one in the stern using +a paddle with that grace and dexterity which only an Indian could +exhibit, just as Bob had wisely said. + +Sandy craned his head forward to see better through the darkness. +Doubtless there must have been something familiar about the movements +of this paddler, for he certainly did not have enough light to +recognize his features, or even the feather that adorned his scalplock. + +"Surely that must be Blue Jacket!" he ejaculated, with a thrill of +delight, as well as surprise noticeable in his quivering voice. + +"Uh! that so, Sandy," came in a voice he knew almost as well as he did +that of his brother. + +"What luck!" cried Sandy. "To think that such good friends should +happen to be on the river this night of all times, when we are in such +sore need." + +Perhaps, had Bob Armstrong been asked his opinion, he might have +declared that it was something much higher than mere luck that brought +about such a happy conclusion to their adventure. Bob was a much +more serious fellow than his younger brother, and imbibed some of +the sentiments that influenced his gentle mother. To him there was +something especially Providential in this coming of help when the two +boys were in so great need, just as there had been in the falling of +the dead tree just as the panthers were about to attack them. + +Quickly the canoe worked up alongside the log, to which both the Irish +trapper and his native companion fastened a firm grip. + +"Come aboord, and be sinsible," said Pat O'Mara, who was one of the +oldest friends the Armstrong family had; and whom they had known away +back in Old Virginia, before the thought of daring the perils of the +unknown wilderness had ever entered David Armstrong's mind. "Sure, +'tis a mighty poor sort av a craft ye do be havin', if I might make so +bowld." + +"But it was better than nothing," said Sandy, as he carefully placed +his musket in the canoe before even thinking of attempting to get +aboard himself. + +Bob did not make a single move until he had seen his brother safely +over the side. Indeed, to judge from his actions, one might be inclined +to think that he even kept himself in readiness to clutch Sandy, should +the other manage to slide down the side of the log into the water, +instead of gaining a lodgment in the boat. Then Bob copied the other's +actions, his precious gun being first made secure before he would think +of himself. + +It was rather a ticklish business leaving the log, and entering the +canoe that, being made of birch bark, was so light in build that it +careened under the passage of the boys, and might have tipped over had +not both Pat and the young Shawanee brave leaned far to the opposite +side while the embarkation was taking place. + +"Good-bye, old log!" said Sandy, now in an exultant frame of mind that +contrasted strangely with his recent gloomy spirits. "We hope you will +have a good voyage down to the great Mississippi. Tell them that, +perchance, the Armstrong boys will be navigating that way to see some +of the wonders they have so long been hearing about. You were a pretty +fair kind of a log, though we are not sorry to part with you." + +Already was the paddle, in the expert hands of Blue Jacket, busily +employed in sending the craft toward the southern shore of the swollen +river. Pat O'Mara had his share of curiosity, and he was not the one to +keep silent when desirous of knowing the true facts. + +"Sure, 'tis a quare thing to be findin' the two av yees adrift on a +tree out on this high water," he started to say; "and, by the same +token, if yees have no objection, 'tis mesilf wud like to know how the +same came about." + +"That is easy enough to tell, Pat," burst out Sandy. "Of course, you +mustn't think we started from the shore, to cross over on an old log. +It was just an accident, and that's all. My paddle broke under the +strain; and, when this log came whirling down on our boat, Bob alone +could not get it out of the way. So it was upset, and we were lucky +enough to scramble aboard, guns and all." + +The Irish trapper was loud in his exclamations of wonder. + +"It do bate iverything how ye two lads always manage to chate the +ould Reaper whin he thinks he has ye in the hollow av his hand," he +declared. "I warrant ye that nine out av tin min would have at laste +taken a dip in the water afore crawling aboord the log; and, be the +powers, ye do not same to be wit at all, at all." + +"We were wondering how we could manage to get ashore, so as to head for +home," Sandy went on to say, "when Bob thought of a way. Just when we +heard your answer to our last shout we were about to fasten our guns +and clothing to the log, slip overboard, and, by swimming, push it +toward the shore." + +"A cliver ijee, by me troth," remarked Pat, who was a great admirer of +both young pioneers; of Bob on account of his steady ways and quick +mind in emergencies, and of Sandy because he had a winning, sunny +disposition, which appealed especially to the genial, roving Irish +trapper. "But, afther all, 'tis just as will that Blue Jacket and +mesilf came upon the sane at the time we did, since 'tis a wet back +ye'd be havin', not to spake of many miles more to thramp back home. +And 'tis also will that ye are off the river before this same night is +many hours older." + +Bob noticed that there was a peculiar significance to these last words +of their old friend, who had been many times tried, and found as true +as steel. + +"What brings you and Blue Jacket here, and on your way to our cabin, +as I reckon you are from the way you head across the river?" he asked, +desirous of drawing the other out, and learning what new peril now +threatened the little settlement on the southern bank of the Ohio. + +More than once had Pat brought news of the coming of Indians on the +warpath, so that the pioneers had learned to look upon him as their +best guardian. As he was forever roaming the great forests, sometimes +in the company of such noted men as Daniel Boone, Simon Kenton or +Harrod the surveyor, Pat was in a position to pick up intelligence +that could be obtained by no one else. (Note 4.) + +And so Bob wondered whether it could be something of this character +that was now causing him to hasten to the relief of the struggling +settlement. + +"Sure, 'twas by sheer accident that we came togither," the trapper +observed, as he bent his supple body quickly to one side, so as to +better balance the frail canoe, which at that instant was being +buffeted about in a swirl of waters, not unlike a miniature whirlpool. +"An', whin I larned that the chief was aven thin on his way to warrn +the white settlers as fast as he could go, I made up me mind to +accompany him. So that's how it happens we wor abroad on the river jist +at the same time ye naded hilp so bad. Troth, as Sandy jist said, 'twas +a lucky thing all around." + +"But, Pat," Bob continued, "of what danger was Blue Jacket about to +warn our people? Have the Indians again taken to the warpath, after +their professions of peace, and after saying that the hatchet was +buried ever so deep?" + +"Sure, there be always danger av that same," remarked the other, +grimly; "but, on this occasion, 'tis a peril av another color +intirely. The flood is bearin' down upon yees like a race horse, and, +befoor the dawn av another day, it may be the risin' water wull be +afther swapin' away some av the cabins in the settlement!" + +"Oh! but how could Blue Jacket learn about that, when it must be many +miles up the river, and coming much faster than any Indian could run?" +demanded Sandy. + +"Ye must know," went on the Irish trapper, impressively, "that these +rid hathen have a way av communicatin' news by manes av smoke signals +in the day time, and fires at night. From hill to hill, many miles +away, they sind these smokes; and, so I've been towld at laist, the +missage can be carried as much as a hundred miles in less time than it +wud take a horse to run tin." + +"Yes, that is something I knew about, but had forgotten," admitted +Sandy. + +"And this flood, does it come from the last rain, or has there been +what I heard my father call a cloud-burst?" asked Bob, anxiously; for +his thoughts were upon the little community some miles up the river, +which had already grappled with more perils than the settlers had ever +dreamed could be met with in this new country. + +"That I do not chanct to know, me bye," replied Pat. "'Tis enough to +learn that the flood is comin' tearin' along down the river, and that +the water will rise in a way niver known before. The Injuns are wild +with alarrm. Their ould medicine-min do be on the rampage, and kape +tillin' thim they do be sufferin' from the anger av the Great Spirit, +becase av their allowin' the white trispassers till remain on the +sacred land that was given till their ancestors long years ago. It all +manes hapes av trouble for the pioneers, from Boonesborough till Fort +Washington, and all the way along the Ohio." + +"I can see the shore again," called out Sandy at this moment; for, +while he had been listening with deep anxiety to what the trapper said, +at the same time his keen young eyes had been on the watch to detect +the first signs of land ahead. + +A minute later, and Sandy again broke out with an exclamation, and this +time there was a note of wonder, not unmixed with anxiety, in his voice. + +"Look! there is a fire burning on the shore below, and just about +where we will come to the land!" he cried out. + +"And I can see one or two white men beside it; yes, with an Indian +also," added Bob, who had as sharp vision as his brother. + +"And they must hear us talking, for they have jumped to their feet, and +seem to be looking this way. Can it be some of our friends from above, +brother?" asked the younger boy, eagerly. + +"I do not think so," Bob answered. "They are not in the broad firelight +now; but, from the glimpse I had, I took them to be woodrangers like +Pat here, and some of the others we know." + +"Oh! perhaps, then, it may be Boone and Kenton themselves," remarked +Sandy, who had secretly always admired the forest ranger, Kenton, and +aspired to follow in the footsteps of the daring young man, when he +grew older. + +"Well, we shall soon know," Bob went on, "for Blue Jacket is heading +straight in to that point where they have built their fire, as though +he means to land on the lower side, where the current does not run so +fiercely." + +Already they were in less turbulent waters, for, near the shore, the +river did not attain anything like the swiftness that marked the middle +of the stream. Under the skillful guidance of the sturdy young Shawanee +brave, whose name, although not very well known just then, was fated +later on to be on the lips of every settler who had built a cabin in +the wilderness along the Ohio, the canoe presently came against the +shore. + +Sandy, as usual, was the first to jump on to the bank; but he was +careful to take his gun along with him. The Irish trapper quickly +reached his side, and then came Bob, and the dusky Blue Jacket, who +certainly could never be accused of being a talkative fellow, though +capable of expressing himself freely on occasion. + +As if instinctively they allowed the young Shawanee to lead the +way toward the burning campfire, because the presence of an Indian +would seem to indicate that he might be better able to conduct +the intercourse with the strangers; for already Bob and Sandy had +discovered that the two white men were totally unknown to them. +Besides, since it was Blue Jacket's canoe, he seemed to be conducting +the expedition to the settlement, the others having just been taken on +as he happened to come across them. + +But Bob Armstrong felt a new uneasiness creep over him when he heard +the Irish trapper mutter something half under his breath, and caught +the one significant word: + +"Traitor!" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +SIMON GIRTY, THE RENEGADE + + +"WHO are they, Pat?" asked Bob, half under his breath, as he saw Blue +Jacket gravely salute the other Indian, whom he knew to be a chief +among the fierce Miamis, both by the feathers he wore in his scalplock, +and by the trimmings on his buckskin hunting shirt and nether garments. + +"The Injun is Little Turtle, the greatest chief among the Miamis," +replied the Irish trapper, also lowering his voice, for he saw the two +white men frowning in his direction. Bob noticed that his old friend +kept his long-barrelled rifle close under his arm, and his finger +touching the trigger. + +"And the two others?" Bob went on. "I have never met either of them +before, that I can remember; and yet I have seen most of the white men +who roam the woods in this region of the Ohio." + +"Wull," whispered Pat, "ye niver missed much, thin, for, by the same +token, there niver lived greater rascals than the same precious pair +ye say before yees this minute. The wan ag'inst the tree, wid the scowl +on his black face, is none ither than the infamous Simon Girty; while +his frind's name it do be McKee; and there are hapes av people thot say +he be the blackest renegade that iver wint over till the Injuns, to +wage war on his own kind." (Note 5.) + +Both boys heard what Pat said, although he had lowered his voice to a +whisper; and, of course, they were chilled to the marrow at the idea of +looking upon such notorious persons, for already their names were being +held up to execration among all honest settlers. Both Girty and McKee +had been seen in the ranks of the hostile Shawanees when attacks were +made on frontier settlements; and there were threats going the rounds +as to what fate awaited them should the fortunes of war ever throw them +into the hands of the whites. + +To the eyes of the pioneer boys they looked doubly ugly on this night, +when met so unexpectedly in company with a noted Miami chief, whose +hostility towards the invading palefaces was so well known. + +Meanwhile the two Indians were engaged in a conversation that by +degrees became more and more heated. Indeed, neither Bob nor Sandy +could ever remember seeing their young friend, Blue Jacket, quite so +worked up. He made dramatic gestures when he talked, and seemed to be +replying to the taunts of the older chief. + +It began to look as though there might be trouble, and Sandy fingered +the lock of his gun, taking a sly look down to make sure that there +was powder in the pan, for the spark from flint and steel to reach, in +case it became necessary for him to depend on a quick discharge of the +musket. + +"What are they talking about, Pat?" asked Sandy; for he knew that the +Irish trapper was able to follow what the two Indians said in their +warm discussion. + +"Sure, thot scum av the aarth, Little Turtle, do be taunting Blue +Jacket wid bein' frinds-like wid the palefaces," the other replied, +cautiously, keeping one eye all the while upon the pair of treacherous +renegades, whom he would not trust for a single second to get behind +his back. "He tills him thot ivery ridskin ought to be the mortual foe +av the palefaces who would stale their land away from thim. He kapes +on sayin' thot he hates the white men as hotly as the sun shines in +summer, and will niver, niver make frinds wid the same." (Note 6.) + +"But, no matter what he says, it will not cause Blue Jacket to turn +against the Armstrong family, even if he some day takes up the hatchet +against the whites," Sandy went on to say, with a confidence born of +an intimate acquaintance with the young Shawanee brave, whose name was +also fated to figure in the history of the times. + +"Av yees could but hear what he do be sayin' this blissed minit," +declared Pat, "sure, it's on a good foundation ye build yer faith. +Listen to him till that he was sore wounded, and how ye two byes did +bring him intil yees own wigwam, h'alin' his hurts, so that instead av +dyin' he lived. Now, it is av thot same kind mither av yees that he +do be spakin', and how she bound up his bullet wound wid salve, an' +trated him as though he might be her own boy. For thot he can niver be +anything but the frind av the Arrmstrong family. An' already has he +parrt convinced Little Turtle, becase, ye know, gratitude is the bist +trait av the ridskins." + +"But now the other seems to be changing his talk, and appealing to him +in another way. Tell us what he is saying, Pat, please," insisted Sandy. + +The Irish trapper listened for a minute, and then nodded. + +"That wor a cliver shot av Blue Jacket, on me worrd," he muttered. +"Yees say, the ould chief he do be tillin' him that his brothers, the +Shawanees, are always on the warpath aginst the palefaces; and that, +while it may be all right for him to keep frinds wid yer family, he +ought to take up arrms aginst the rist av the sittlement. But Blue +Jacket replied by tillin' him av what ye byes did for the great sachem, +Pontiac, only last autumn, and what it meant for the sacred wampum belt +of the same to be hangin' in the Arrmstrong cabin." + +"Oh! yes," Sandy went on; "that ought to convince Little Turtle that +Pontiac is the friend of our settlement, just because we live there; +and an injury to one would be an injury to all. All these months, now, +while other places have been attacked, there has come no evil against +our neighbors. Much though they feared the coming of the Indians, not +once has a hostile shot been fired since that day when Pontiac gave us +his wonderful belt." + +"Do you notice, Pat," remarked Bob just then, in a whisper intended +only for the ears of the one he addressed, "that the man you called +Simon Girty is edging off to the left, a little at a time? I do not +like the look in his eye. He scowls as though he meant us harm." + +"'Tis mesilf that do be after watchin' the sarpint av the forest," +replied the trapper. "And yees spake rightly whin ye say he has evil +in his mind; but me finger is on the trigger, an', be the powers, wan +hostile move on his parrt manes for me to fire. I cud hit the eye av a +rid squirrel at this distance, and surely must find his black heart wid +me bullet." + +He spoke louder than before, and for a reason. Evidently his words must +have reached the ear of the renegade, for he no longer tried to keep on +moving, a little at a time, toward the left. Doubtless Girty knew well +what a splendid shot Pat O'Mara was; and also that the trapper would +willingly rid the border of such a pest, if given half an excuse. + +The two Indians had by this time come to an understanding. What Blue +Jacket had told concerning the gratitude of Pontiac, and the bestowing +of his wampum belt on the young pioneers, because of their saving +his life, must have impressed the Miami chief greatly. At that time +Pontiac's name was one to conjure with among the confederated red men +of the region lying between the Alleghenies and the Mississippi; while +Little Turtle had not yet come to the zenith of his fame. + +Turning to his white allies the Miami chieftain spoke in a rapid tone. +Although Bob could understand only a word or two, nevertheless he +grasped the meaning of what Little Turtle said; and knew that he was +warning Girty and McKee not to think of injuring either of the boys who +had been taken under the especial protection of Pontiac, the master +schemer. + +"Are they going to let us pass on, or do they mean to start a fight?" +asked Sandy, whose manner showed that he was by no means averse to +trying conclusions with the two ugly desperadoes who had thrown their +fortunes in with the Indians, so that they could no longer find a +friendly greeting at the cabin of a single white settler. + +"No danger of our being halted," Bob hastened to reply, fearful lest +the impulsive Sandy might attempt some sort of play that would open +hostilities, when there was no necessity. + +"Come, we'd bist be on our way, av we hope to rach the sittlement +before the flood arrives," said Pat, beginning to retreat, still +keeping watch on the renegades; for no white man who had his senses +about him would ever be so foolish as to turn his back on such a +treacherous snake in the grass as Simon Girty. + +They were soon far enough away from the camp to feel safe, especially +since the keen eyes of Blue Jacket saw that not one of the three whom +they had left there had made any move toward following them. + +"How is your ankle going to hold out, Sandy?" asked Bob, who feared the +worst. + +"It's just got to do," was the determined reply. "I mean to go on until +I drop; but I shall keep up with you. If the worst comes, you can leave +me behind somewhere, and the rest push on, for, unless the warning is +received, our people may be caught asleep in their cabins, and carried +away, like that log was." + +Sandy was possessed of considerable grit, inherited from his sturdy +Scotch ancestors, no doubt. When he set those teeth of his firmly +together it meant that he was just bound to do, or die. And in many a +tight hole that stubborn trait served him a good turn, just as it had +also gotten the boy into heaps of trouble. + +When he limped, Bob threw an arm around him; or it might be the genial +trapper gave him such assistance as lay in his power. Indeed, deep +down in his own mind, though he did not say as much, Pat O'Mara was +determined that if he had to take the lame boy upon his broad back, as +an Indian squaw would her little papoose, he was bound to see to it +that Sandy reached his home with the rest of them. + +But Blue Jacket was familiar with every trail of the forest. He could +lead them over cut-offs that even the trapper did not know and which +saved many a weary step. + +The boys began to recognize their surroundings after a while, although +the night was so dark that only the general conformation of the country +could be noticed. + +"We're getting there, Bob," said Sandy, hopefully. + +"To be sure we are!" declared the other. "See, that must be the tree we +shot the wildcat from, when he was eating the mink taken from our trap." + +"And that means only another mile or so to go before we reach home," +remarked the younger boy gladly; for Sandy was fast reaching a point +where even his remarkable grit could not carry him along, and he must +admit defeat. + +But every step he knew took him that much closer to home. Even the +thought of his mother and father, as well as Kate, anxiously awaiting +news of the two who had crossed the raging river on the preceding +afternoon, buoyed him up, and lent him new strength. + +By degrees they were coming near the settlement. This had been built +along a small elevation on the bank of the Ohio, from which the +pioneers were afforded a magnificent view up and down the river. At the +time of its selection by Daniel Boone, who had long admired the site as +an ideal place for a growing town, no one had so much as dreamed that +a flood might sooner or later come sweeping down from the hills away +beyond Fort Duquesne, and threaten the little colony with disaster. But +it had come, and this night was likely to prove the blackest in the +history of the settlement. + +Now they could see the blockhouse that had been erected on the very +crown of the ridge, so that in times of danger all those having cabins +lower down along the face of the hill might flee thither for refuge. +And the wily Indians could not find any higher point whence to send +their arrows, winged with flame, to stick in the roof of the fort, and +set it ablaze. + +"I can see a light in our cabin window," declared Sandy, presently, his +voice trembling with eagerness. "See, it is on the side that looks down +the river. I am sure mother must have put it there to serve as a guide +for her boys, if they chanced to be afloat on the dark waters. Oh! how +glad we will be to see her again." + +The roar of the river was in their ears as they advanced further; but +their coming must have been detected by some sentinel, for a minute +later a harsh voice rang out, calling upon them to halt and explain who +they were, on pain of being fired on. + +"It's we, Mr. Harkness," cried out Sandy, recognizing the voice of a +near neighbor, "brother Bob and myself; but with us come Pat O'Mara, +and our friend, Blue Jacket, the last bringing news that will tell you +his friendship still holds good. Oh! where will we find our mother and +father; can you direct us, sir?" + +"They are at the cabin," replied the sturdy settler, as they advanced +to where he stood, gun in hand, "though I saw Neighbor Armstrong but +a few moments ago, and he was much cast down because his sons had not +arrived. Hasten then, and convince him of your safety; and meanwhile we +would like to know the nature of this warning brought by the Indian." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE FLINT-TIPPED ARROW ON THE ROOF + + +AS Bob Armstrong and his brother drew near the well-beloved cabin +which had now been their home for almost an entire year, their hearts +beat high with anticipation of a reunion with their mother, father and +sister. + +The door stood partly open, as though, perhaps, Mr. Armstrong had just +entered, to bear the latest news concerning the rising of the river +to his family circle. And, looking through the opening thus formed, +the boys saw the three whom they loved standing by the table, on which +still rested the dishes of the evening meal, as if the fond mother had +not given up all hope that her sons might yet come in, tired and hungry. + +They could see her face as she listened to what the good man of the +house was saying. It could not have been cheerful news, either, for the +concern deepened on the countenances of Kate and her mother. + +The boys could stand it no longer, but, bursting through the door, +they were quickly in the arms of the mother for whom either of them +would have given his young life any day; nor did either Bob or Sandy +deem it unmanly in the least because tears ran down their cheeks, +induced by their great joy at once more being home. + +Then came many questions; and, as the story was told, how those fond +ones hung upon every word! No doubt that brave little mother could see, +just as vividly as though she had been there, her younger boy caught in +his own trap, with that fierce woods tiger creeping closer and closer. + +And then, later, when between them the boys had described the accident +out on the river, whereby the breaking of the paddle was responsible +for the collision with the great unwieldy log, and the loss of the +dugout, she realized the peril her sons had been in, even though they +strove to make light of it. + +Last of all came the news that Blue Jacket was trying to fetch to +his friends at the time he and Pat had so opportunely come upon the +floating log in the middle of the Ohio. + +"Let us hope and pray that it may not be so bad as that," Mrs. +Armstrong said; for, now that her boys had been restored to her, +she felt that she could face almost any calamity with calmness. "The +Indians may have over-estimated the force of the water, and it will not +rise higher than our doorstep, at most." + +"It is not very far from that, even now," observed Bob, who had noted +before entering the cabin how terribly near that flowing flood came to +their home, and that already it had covered the patch of ground where +he and his brother were accustomed to work at odd times, when not +hunting, or attending to their string of traps. + +"We shall not dare sleep much to-night," declared Mr. Armstrong. "You +see, my boys, we have been busy, and our few possessions are already +done up, ready to be carried to higher ground, if necessary--which we +hope may not be the case." + +Then came Pat O'Mara, always a welcome guest at the Armstrong cabin; +for he had always shown himself one of their best friends. + +"Sure, there be some av the settlers who make light av the direful news +Blue Jacket brings, becase, ye say, 'tis only an Injun that fetches +the same," the trapper remarked, after he had greeted the rest of the +family, and joined the circle. And then with the boys ate heartily of +the food Mrs. Armstrong had placed before them. + +"A strange thing happened since you left home," remarked the owner of +the cabin, as he reached out, and, picking something up, laid it on the +heavy table, scoured snowy white by the hands of the good housewife. + +Sandy uttered a cry of astonishment. + +"Why, look at that, will you?" he exclaimed. "It must be another of +those strange warnings we have been getting for a long time past, +though we can never understand who sends them, for I can see the same +figures marked here on the birch bark that we settled before meant +those rascally French trappers." + +"Yes," said Bob, who was closely examining the little roll of thin +bark, almost as light as a feather; "I am sure you are right about +that, Sandy; and these two creeping figures must be our enemies, +Jacques and Henri, the brother of the dead Armand. But where did you +get this, father?" + +"Your mother and myself were talking here late in the afternoon, when +Kate came and told us she had heard a strange sound from the direction +of the roof, just as if some one had thrown a stone. I went out, +expecting to find that those small boys of the new settler, Seth +Smalley, had been pelting each other again; but, when I looked, no one +was in sight. Then, chancing to cast my eyes upward toward the roof, +what was my astonishment to see an arrow sticking there, to which was +attached that little roll of bark. So I climbed up, and possessed +myself of the whole. I do not much doubt but that this unknown friend, +who has several times tried to warn us about those bad men, the French +trappers, is again sending a message which is intended for you two +boys." + +"What does he seem to say this time?" asked Sandy, as, with his brother +and the Irish trapper, he bent over the scroll which was being held +open in the extended fingers of Bob. + +"Here is a cabin, which must be meant for our own home," commenced Bob; +"because, you see, it has a little flagstaff fastened to the top in +front. Well, two creeping figures are coming toward the cabin. One of +them holds something in his hand, which I can hardly make out, but it +may be a burning brand. Yes, it surely is, for here you can see smoke +curling up from the side of the cabin." + +"Well, the whole settlement shall know about it at once," declared +Sandy, angrily; "and it will be a bad thing for Jacques Larue or Henri +Lacroix to be seen creeping up the rise. I do not believe we will ever +know peace until something happens to those bad men. Little they care +for the sacred belt of Pontiac, and even the death of Armand Lacroix +does not seem to have daunted them." + +"I think you are wrong there," Bob went on, earnestly. "They have +been afraid to do either of us bodily injury, because they know what +the anger of Pontiac would mean to them. But they think they can find +other ways to annoy us, and those we care for. To burn our cabin to the +ground seems to be a favorite way of satisfying their idea of revenge; +but they will have a hard time doing it, now that we are warned." + +"I read the scroll somewhat as you do," said Mr. Armstrong, "and at +once commenced to ask among the neighbors concerning them. One man, who +had been out hunting most of the day, told about seeing the Frenchmen +in the woods. They seemed to be heading this way, and acted as though +they were making sure of their ground as they advanced. As he did not +fancy running into trouble, he simply lay in the bushes until they had +passed on." + +"Which proves that they are really around here again, urged on by some +foolish notion that they have suffered wrongs at our hands, and ought +to square the account," remarked Bob, seriously. + +"It will be squared, one of these fine days," said Sandy, with a glance +in the direction of the corner where he had stood his musket after +entering, taking it from the hands of Pat, who had been carrying the +heavy piece for him, because of his lame leg. + +"Yis," spoke up Pat, "there be but wan way to aven accounts wid such +spalpeens as thim Frinch trappers, who make most av their livin' +stalin' from the traps av honest min; and that is by diskiverin' the +same in some ugly thrick, an' wastin' a precious bit av lead." + +"Here comes Blue Jacket to see you, mother," said Bob. + +"Oh!" broke in Sandy, "if you could only have seen him when he was +telling that war-loving Little Turtle how much he was in debt to the +Armstrong family, it would have done you good, mother. Of course we +didn't just understand all they said; but Pat could, and he told us +how Blue Jacket was declaring he would lay down his life for any one of +us, if the need arose. He said you attended to his hurt just as if he +were your own son." + +It could be easily understood, after that, what a warm welcome greeted +the young Shawanee brave when he strode into their midst. Doubtless +it was pleasant to him to know that they thought so much of him; but +he did not betray this fact even by a smile. An Indian learns from +childhood to repress all outward evidence of feeling springing either +from joy or pain. Anger alone will he allow himself to show, and that +only because it excites his ardor for the battlefield or to follow the +trail of his enemy. + +Sandy was waiting to spring something upon the young Shawanee brave. He +had asked his father for the arrow which had been shot so as to drop +directly on the roof of the Armstrong cabin. This he suddenly laid +before Blue Jacket. + +"You, who can tell the different arrow-points, and the way of +feathering the shaft, of every tribe along the Ohio, look at this, and +say whose was the hand that drew the bow from which it came," Sandy +went on to say. + +Blue Jacket looked gravely at the flint tip that was bound in the +cleft of the straight shaft with strong fibres taken from some plant. +There must have been signs that immediately informed him as to what +tribe the party belonged who had made that arrow. (Note 7.) + +"Ugh! Delaware arrow, him," grunted Blue Jacket; and no one dreamed of +disputing his simple assertion; indeed, Pat O'Mara was seen to wag his +head in a satisfied way, as though that declaration exactly coincided +with his own private opinion. + +"So, you see," remarked Sandy, with an air of triumph, turning on his +brother, "I always said I believed it was an Indian who sent those +queer messages; but why do you suppose he does it? The Delawares as a +rule are not in love with the white settlers. When a colony is attacked +there are generally Delawares among the reds who creep up to surprise +the poor settlers. Why should a Delaware want to do us a good turn; +tell me that, Bob?" + +"Well, now, I am just as much in the dark as you are," returned Bob; +"unless that was a Delaware youth you rescued, Sandy, from that +horrible quicksand late in the autumn on that day you went out hunting +alone." + +"It might be," Sandy replied, looking thoughtful; "he never told me +who he was; but held out his hand to me, and then disappeared in the +bushes, from which fact I made up my mind that he must have been on +a very important errand at the time he got trapped in that slough. A +Delaware--well, perhaps he was. Seems to me he looked like the one who +was caught hanging around here early last summer, and who was allowed +to go, with a warning never to come back. But I suppose I never will +know the truth." + +"But, it sames to me it's a mighty good thing to have sich a grand +fri'nd always on the watch till warrn yees whin danger draws nigh," +remarked the trapper. "Now, av I'd had the same, 'tis manny a bad time +I might have been saved from goin' through wid, in me day. And marrk me +worrd, this same party must have a bad falin' towards the Frinchmin; +becase he sames to kape watch over them, so he do; plazed to upset anny +plans they might be after makin'." + +Leaving the cabin in the charge of Mrs. Armstrong, Kate, and Sandy, the +last of whom wished to have some of the home-made salve applied to his +swollen ankle, the rest went out to watch the rising of the waters, and +to compare notes with others among the anxious settlers, now in fear +of having the little homes for which they had toiled so hard swept away +with the flood. + +One who had been keeping close watch over the situation declared that +for more than half an hour now the river had been at a standstill. +Even such a small thing as this brought some ray of hope in its train; +though Pat warned them not to relax their vigilance one iota, because +the information sent down the Ohio by means of those signal smokes was +usually very accurate, and could be depended on. + +It was after a time decided to set a watch, while the rest of the +settlers tried to obtain some sleep, of which they were in much need. +Should the river once more begin to rise, information of the event +would be carried around quietly from cabin to cabin, so as not to +awaken the women and children, and needlessly alarm them, even though +it were deemed the part of wisdom for the men to be abroad. + +But, in case the water started to rise swiftly, as would be the case +should the flood predicted by the Indians arrive, then the alarm bell, +used only in cases of great necessity, like a threatened Indian attack, +would be rung. + +Should that be heard, every one must immediately start to remove all +of his possessions, scanty as these were at the best, to a place of +security on higher ground. + +It was an anxious group that gathered there for a last consultation, +before separating for the night. Bob missed Blue Jacket, and yet the +Indian came and went at will when visiting his white friends, so that +his absence caused no alarm. + +Finally Mr. Armstrong took Bob by the sleeve, saying: + +"Come, you and Pat, we will return home. We all of us need sleep, and +surely you in particular, my son, after the excitement of the perils +that hung over your head. Perhaps a kindly Providence, that has all +along watched over our fortunes, may see fit to ward off this new and +terrible danger. But, if it is to come, we could not help matters by +remaining awake. Let us then be securing some rest, so as to be ready +to work with a will, in case the worst comes." + +Half an hour later perfect quiet seemed to surround the cabin of the +settlers from Virginia; but, nevertheless, Pat slept, as he himself +expressed it, "wid wan eye open." Besides, he kept his long rifle +close to his hand; and Sandy felt positive that, in case there came any +midnight alarm, O'Mara would be out of the cabin like a flash, and woe +to the skulking figure on which his eye rested. + +Tired out after the labors of the day, and easily able to throw the +burden off his young mind, Bob Armstrong was not long in going to +sleep, once he had dropped down on his bed, covered with some of the +furs taken by himself and Sandy. + +They had been warned not to undress, lest there might be need of sudden +action with the coming of the flood. But such a little thing as that +did not bother either of the Armstrong boys, who were used to roughing +it whenever they went into the woods. + +Bob never knew how long he slept; but it must have been for several +hours, because the fire on the hearth had died down when he opened his +eyes again, and it had been looked after at the time he lay down. + +But the condition of the fire gave the boy little or no concern at +the time he awoke; for, hardly had he opened his eyes, than he became +conscious of the thrilling fact that it had not been a dream after +all but the alarm bell was wildly pealing out its brazen notes; and +outside he could hear men's hoarse voices shouting: + +"Up, every one of you! The flood is coming swiftly, and already the +water has commenced to rise at a fearful rate. Awake! Be up and doing, +if you would save your possessions! The flood! the flood!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE TREASURE BOX THAT WAS FORGOTTEN + + +AS this thrilling cry rang through the settlement, supplemented by the +wild peals of the alarm bell in the block house, all the inmates of +David Armstrong's cabin were on their feet. + +Sleep had been banished as if by magic; indeed, the boys had never felt +more wide-awake in all their lives. And there was plenty to do, as well +as willing hands with which to accomplish the labor. + +Fortunate indeed did it prove that everybody had anticipated this +sudden necessity, and that the scanty household goods, some of them +precious only through their associations with that Virginia of the +past, had been so packed that they could be carried to higher ground, +and a place of safety, in a very brief time. + +Indeed, so rapidly was the water coming up now, that, by the time the +last piece had been taken from the Armstrong cabin it commenced to +trickle over the door-sill. Bob's last visit was made with more or less +splashing, as he strode around the familiar interior, now looking so +strange with the floor covered by the flood. + +Some of the settlers, Mr. Armstrong among them, had made use of the +strongest ropes they could obtain, to tie their cabins to convenient +trees, hoping that in this way they might add to their security. When +the strength of the current and the hulk of those log cabins was taken +into consideration, however, this hope did not have a great deal to +rest upon. + +There now seemed nothing left to do but cluster there beyond the edge +of the river, and take note of its constant rise. All whose cabins were +in danger had saved their goods, and in this considered themselves +lucky. New cabins could of course be built, since there was wood in +plenty, and stout arms to swing the axe; but these family possessions +could never have been replaced. + +There was one little consolation, slender though it might appear; the +clouds had finally broken, and the stars were shining. It seemed almost +as though the myriad bright eyes of heaven were peeping out, to see the +extent of the damage and woe that had been wrought. + +Unable to stand quiet and watch the raging waters creep up around +the walls of their late home, the Armstrong boys joined the group not +far away. Fires had been lighted, and the glow of these added to the +weirdness of the scene, as the settlers moved to and fro, comparing +notes, trying to find comfort in their mutual troubles, and seizing on +the slightest grain of hope afforded by reports that the crest of the +rise must surely have come, after which the waters would go down again. + +"What is Pat O'Mara talking so fiercely about?" asked Bob, as he joined +the group, after having been off to see how things were getting on in +the direction of the river; and Sandy, who had remained where most of +the homeless families had congregated, turned with a frown on his face. + +"It is about those miserable French trappers," he replied. + +"But what of them?" persisted Bob; "surely we need not fear their +setting fire to our cabin just now; and even Pat, who hates those men +so much, could not well accuse them of having turned this water loose." + +"That is all very true, Bob; but one of the settlers has just mentioned +the fact that he felt almost positive he ran across two men, dressed +like trappers, who were hurrying away from the settlement. He called +out to them, thinking that they might be friends, but they paid no heed +to his hail. And, as he got to thinking the matter over, all at once it +struck him who they must have been." + +"When was it that he saw them?" demanded Bob, immediately concerned. + +"It may have been an hour or so ago; about the time the water was +rising around our cabin, and, unable to bear the sight, we came here," +Sandy replied. "They are all wondering what could have brought those +men here at such a time; and every one seems to think that it must +have been the hope of laying their hands on some valuables, while the +settlers were given up to excitement." + +"That looks like it, Sandy," the other replied, quickly. "All have +piled up whatever they possess in a heap, not caring where it lies so +long as the waters cannot carry it off. But people are there on the +watch all the time, and children snuggled down in the midst of the +bedclothes; so it doesn't seem as if those men could find much worth +carrying off." + +"Well, Pat is as angry as a bull at sight of a red kerchief," Sandy +continued. "You know how he hates and despises everything that is +French. He vows that, if he can only get one glimpse of either Jacques +or Henri, his rifle will speak; and it seldom does that without +something dropping." + +"Were they leaving the settlement at the time this man saw them?" asked +Bob. + +"That was what he thought," his brother replied. "When he called out, +they seemed to hasten their footsteps, as though fearful that he might +try to detain them. He says he stood and wondered who they could be, +and why they refused to answer his hail. It was only when too late that +the truth flashed into his mind." + +"Well, if they are gone, let us hope it is for good," remarked Bob. + +"But why should they be around here at all, when they know the +hostility of the English settlers toward the French?" asked Sandy. "It +is always war between them, and especially in the wilderness where +the trap lines run. Each claims all the country between here and the +Mississippi; together with all the fur-bearing animals that can be +found there. And that dispute will never be settled without a bloody +war." + +"Perhaps they meant to either try and rob some of the settlers here, +or else set fire to our home," Bob ventured to say. "The coming of the +flood changed their plans; and, as the people were all aroused, they +must have decided that it was too dangerous for them to stay around +here. And so, at the time they were seen, Jacques and Henri may have +been scuttling out." + +"How is it at the cabin?" asked Sandy, with a tremor in his voice; for, +truth to tell, he felt the impending catastrophe even more than his +brother did, and could not bear to look upon what seemed to be the doom +of their home. + +"I'm sorry to say the water seems still to be rising, and we must not +allow ourselves to cling to much hope that it can be saved," was Bob's +reply. "I feel more for mother and Kate than the rest of us. They sit +there among our goods, white of face, but trying to bear up. Father +cheers them with a few words every now and then; but they know he only +talks that way because he cannot bear to see them so miserable, and not +that he really believes the flood is at a standstill." + +"Poor father and mother, they have had so many things to bear with," +said Sandy. "We must try to look cheerful, just for their sakes. And +besides, you know, at the worst it may mean a change of base for us, +Bob." + +"I know what you are thinking of, Sandy," the other remarked, with a +shake of his head. "That Mississippi idea will not let go of you." + +"But others are really talking about it right now, Bob, I tell you," +Sandy insisted, earnestly. "You would be surprised to know how many +heads of families are thinking that it would be a splendid undertaking +to leave this country, where misfortune has overtaken them, and go +further into the golden west. There was Mr. Harness for one, Mr. +Bancroft for another, and possibly Mr. Wayne. Something seems to tell +me, brother, that the coming of this flood, terrible though it appears, +will be the very means of making our father decide to go upon this +undertaking. Oh! I hope so! I hope so! I surely know that it would be +for the best; and that we could have a homestead in that beautiful +wilderness out yonder, that would far exceed anything ever known along +the Ohio, with its floods and troublesome Indians." + +"When father makes his mind up, then will be the time for the rest of +us to say what we think," Bob observed. "But we must wait and see. +Perhaps, when the waters go down again, our neighbors will forget what +they said this night, and think it best to rebuild, if their homes have +been swept away." + +"Come, let us go over, and comfort our mother again," Sandy suggested. + +"A good idea," returned Bob. "This is a time for us to try to look +cheerful, as you say. We are young, and can stand hardships easily; but +our parents are growing old now, and such things weigh heavily on them. +I'm with you; lead the way." + +They found Mrs. Armstrong and Kate apparently hunting through the pile +of household goods for something that seemed to be missing. + +"What is it, mother?" asked Sandy, quickly, scenting possible trouble. + +"I cannot find my little treasure box, in which I kept what few +valuables I possessed, as well as your wampum belt which Pontiac gave +you as a pledge of his constant good will," Mrs. Armstrong replied. +"And, come to think of it, did any of you bring it out of the cabin? +You know I kept it on that small shelf above the window." + +The two boys looked at each other in dismay. There was no need to ask +if either had seen the box of valuables, for the expression on their +faces told the story. + +"It must be in the cabin still, then!" exclaimed Sandy. + +Forgetting his lame ankle, he turned and hurried away, impulsive as +ever; and Mrs. Armstrong wrung her hands as she appealed to Bob to stop +him. + +"Much as I value the things that are in that little box, not for ten +times their worth would I have one of my boys imperil his life in the +effort to save them. Go as fast as you can, then, Bob, and hold your +hasty brother in check before he takes that dreadful risk!" + +Hardly waiting to hear the last word, Bob was off like a shot. He was +just in time, for as he came upon Sandy the latter had reached the edge +of the water, and was about to start boldly into the swift current, +meaning to swim out to the half-submerged cabin. + +Bob gripped him by the arm, and shouted in his ear: + +"You must not go out there, Sandy, mother says! It would be an act of +madness. Already the water is over our heads; and look at the way the +cabin trembles with the force of the current. It may be carried away +at any minute!" + +And Sandy, with a groan, let his head drop until his chin rested on his +chest, for he saw that Bob spoke truly. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE SPIRIT OF THE PIONEER + + +"OH! there goes the Hutchinson cabin, swept away down the river!" arose +a cry from near by; and, looking out, the boys saw that it was indeed +too true. + +With the rising of the water the stout cabin had finally been lifted +from its foundations, and, the last they saw of it, the current was +making a plaything of what had only a short time before been a happy +home. + +"Ours may be the next!" was Sandy's choking exclamation, as he and Bob +continued to stand there and watch. + +Every time there was a lurch to the log building that seemed to presage +its destruction, Sandy would press his hand over his eyes, as though he +could not bear the sight; and a moment later the cheering voice of his +brother would assure him that the peril had passed, at least for that +time, as the sturdily-built cabin still held out. + +So the early dawn found the dismal settlement on the bank of the Ohio. + +Men stood moodily about, watching the destruction of their homes, +and feeling very bitter toward the river that was robbing them so +mercilessly. Again and again did some one turn the conversation to +that subject which had engrossed the mind of Sandy Armstrong for so +long--the charms of the rich land to be found away off toward the +region of the setting sun, where the Mississippi rolled its mighty +flood, and abundance awaited the coming of bold pioneers capable of +turning the black soil that would grow fabulous crops. + +One spoke of the vast herds of buffaloes that roamed unhindered through +the aisles of the dense forests; another had heard stories about the +vast quantities of the most valuable fur-bearing animals ever seen, and +which could be easily captured by energetic trappers. + +"And the Indians are not of the same bloodthirsty stripe as the +Shawanees, the Iroquois, and the Delawares, with whom we have been +constantly threatened," was the argument a third settler advanced. + +Sandy hovered around whenever the talk trended this way, eagerly +drinking in all that was said. He believed that, if only that +wonderful young forest ranger, Simon Kenton, were present, he would +willingly join his fortunes with a party that might be made up to start +toward the distant goal, as soon as a suitable flatboat could be built. +And Sandy only wished he might see the tall, sinewy figure of the +indomitable Kenton striding toward the fire at that very moment; since +his coming would certainly sway the weak members of the party toward a +conclusion. + +Abijah Cook, the toothless old ranger, who had been entrusted with +the task of keeping track of the river's rise, came hastening toward +the gathering at this time. There was something about the way in +which he swung his old coonskin cap that aroused the curiosity of the +disconsolate settlers. + +"Abijah brings good news!" some one called out, as the hunter drew near. + +"The river is surely at a stand!" called the man who swung his hunter's +cap so vigorously. "For this half hour it has only risen an inch!" + +"Then the worst must be over!" exclaimed a distracted father, hurrying +off to see if his cabin had stood through that period of stress and +strain. + +It was a scene they would never forget that greeted the eyes of the +pioneers as the day came on. + +Five cabins were no longer where they had been at the close of the +preceding day. They had fallen victims to the insatiable maw of the +river, and by this time must have been scattered over miles of the +watercourse, as roof and walls were torn apart by the force of the +current. + +Sandy was in a fever of suspense. He came back again and again to see +if their cabin still resisted the grip of the flood. + +"There is a chance that it will hold out to the end!" he cried, as the +boys stood there and watched the trembling roof of the home. "And, if +it does, why we can easily find mother's little treasure box, with the +valuables she thinks so much of; and then there is our wampum belt, +which Pontiac gave us with his own hands, to show all Indians, who +might threaten us, that we were the friends and brothers of the sachem. +Oh! I would feel pretty bad, I tell you, if that should be lost." + +"So would I, Sandy," replied Bob; "because we've depended on that belt +to keep the torch away from our settlement. Once it is lost, we are no +better off than Boonesborough, or any other place around which the +Indians constantly hover, ready to use bullets or arrows or torch upon +the unsuspicious settlers. But, Sandy, cheer up. If the cabin does +hold out to the end, we are sure to find the treasure box again; for +you know it would float on the water, and could hardly escape from the +interior, since the door is shut." + +"That's what I've been thinking, Bob," returned the other. "But when +will the water go down enough for us to cross over and find out the +truth? Every minute seems like a whole hour to me; and the hours are +like days." + +"Well, we can't hurry the old river a bit by getting excited," Bob +continued, knowing of old the nervous nature of his brother; "so the +best we can do is to try to make our mother and sister comfortable. +They have gone into the blockhouse, you see, and it is there we must +carry some of our belongings; for the women and children will have to +sleep there for some days. Even the cabins that are left standing will +be so water-soaked that it would never do for children to sleep in them +until they are dried out by fires." + +And so, in this labor of love, even Sandy was enabled to forget, for a +time at least, his troubles and anxieties. + +The river, while at a stand, had not as yet started to go down, though +by night, the older and more experienced among the settlers declared, +they might expect to see some difference in the height of the waters. + +Many anxious eyes were cast upward toward the heavens during the +morning; and hardly a fleecy cloud that came sailing into sight but was +viewed with more or less fear, lest it turn into a vapory billow that +would quickly overspread the blue arch, and let down another torrential +rain. + +But the air was clear and crisp, and in truth it had apparently cleared +up for good, as if Nature were satisfied with the damage already +wrought. + +The big blockhouse had been built with the thought that, in case of +an Indian attack, it would be called on to hold all in the little +settlement. Around it a high stockade or palisade had been erected, +behind the shelter of which the defenders might hold their own against +the crafty foe, shooting through loopholes that had been made for guns. + +It was a two-story affair, the upper projecting a foot or more beyond +the lower, as was the ease with most blockhouses built in those dark +days, when enemies were apt to spring up in a night, surrounding +the fort, and striving by every device known to savage ingenuity to +encompass its destruction. + +There were small openings in the floor of this second story where it +overlapped the lower walls, and through these the defenders might +protect the log foundations from being set on fire by the red fiends +who had besieged the occupants, and were bent on their destruction. + +After all, it could be made fairly comfortable, and, as there is more +or less consolation in having companions in misery, the women were +beginning to pluck up a little heart, looking to the coming of better +times. + +Those whose homes had been carried away were promised the assistance of +every strong arm in the community, in the effort to provide them with +new cabins, for, being so utterly aloof from contact with civilization, +the pioneers were dependent on one another for everything that went to +make up life. + +Of course the boys could not long keep away from the bank, where they +might look out toward the upper part of their submerged cabin and +speculate on its ability to hold out to the end. + +As the day wore on their hopes kept rising and falling. Sandy, in +particular, changed his mind about every ten minutes. Now he was +certain that the good old cabin was bound to defy the power of the +flood to move it from its foundations; then again he would call out +that he feared it must be about to give up the fight, because he had +seen its walls shake in a way that told they were near collapse. + +But noon came and went, and found things just about the same as when +dawn broke over the cheerless scene. True, another cabin had succumbed +to the rush of swirling water, so that six in all had been destroyed; +but that circumstance alone need not fill them with dismay, since new +abodes could be erected, before many weeks had passed, that would in +all probability be an improvement on the old. + +Around the fires the men gathered in clusters to talk over the +situation, and exchange opinions. And every time Bob chanced to draw +near one of these groups he discovered, to his surprise, that much of +the talk was about the chances of a venturesome party reaching the +fertile prairie land away off to the west, by following the course of +the Ohio. + +Apparently, then, Sandy had spoken truly when he declared that the seed +had taken root in the hearts of several of the heads of families; and +Bob found that even his own father seemed to be as deeply interested in +the project as any of the others. + +The very idea gave Bob a thrill. To the bold pioneer, be he boy or +man, there is always something very fascinating about heading into the +unknown land. Somewhere ahead there always exists a wonderful country +where marvellous things may be done. Just as the lure of gold led men +to cross the wide plains to California so this feverish desire to +possess the land appealed to our forefathers, and tempted them to brave +the perils that lay in wait along unknown trails, all leading westward. + +Some of the men who had lost their hard-earned homes were especially +bitter concerning the location which had been picked out for them by +Daniel Boone; just as though the frontiersman could ever have foreseen +such an astonishing rise of the river as this flood had been, greater, +the Indians declared, than had ever been known before, as far back as +their traditions went. + +But these grumblers declared that the place must have some sort of +curse resting upon it. They had met with troubles without end ever +since coming across the mountains to the new country on the Ohio. + +To continue to bear up under the oppressive yoke was asking too much +of them; and, as they scorned the very idea of returning to Virginia, +there seemed but one alternative, which was to move on further into +the wilderness, found a new home there, and profit by being the first +English families to penetrate that hitherto unsettled region. + +After they had eaten some lunch, which made things appear a bit more +cheerful, as a meal always does, the boys again wandered down to the +edge of the river, to look out over the flowing tide, and speculate on +its fast subsidence; for they had made marks themselves, and knew by +these that the flood was losing its grip. + +Sandy was feeling much more cheerful now. He even expressed the opinion +that they were sure to find the little treasure box floating around +inside the cabin, once they could get out to see. And certainly the +precious wampum belt, that spelled safety for the Armstrong family, no +matter what tribe of Indians they happened to meet, could not be much +injured by a mere soaking. + +Bob had heard the changes rung upon this subject half a dozen times +during that half of a day; and he fully anticipated finding his brother +breaking out into another lament before half an hour had passed, as the +whim seized him. + +Nor was he mistaken about this, though the cause came from a quarter +least expected. It was while the boys were standing there, watching +the flow of the flood, and commenting on the fine stand taken by the +Armstrong cabin, which must always reflect credit on its builders, +themselves included, that Sandy gave a sudden exclamation that seemed +to sound an alarm. + +"After all," he cried out, in a distressed tone, "we have been building +our hopes on a sandy foundation. The dear old cabin has stood up +against all the pull of the river; but, see yonder, there comes a +great tree floating down, as if it was in a mill race; and as sure as +anything it's headed straight for our poor home. Once that strikes +against the wall, we can say good-bye to the Armstrong cabin. Oh! it's +hard to have to stand here, and not be able to lift a hand to save +mother's home!" + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE CABIN THAT BRAVED THE FLOOD + + +THERE was nothing that mortal hand could do to ward off the impending +peril that threatened to take the Armstrong cabin down the river, after +those of the other settlers that had gone before. + +That huge forest monarch was coming along with majestic power, +borne on the swift current, and apparently headed straight for the +half-submerged cabin that had made such a gallant fight against heavy +odds. + +"If it hits the cabin, there can be but one end!" Bob was forced to say +aloud. + +"But is there any chance at all that it may pass by without striking?" +demanded Sandy, unconsciously gripping the sleeve of his brother's +fringed hunting coat in his excitement, while his eyes were glued to +the fearful object that was causing this new alarm in his heart. + +"A small one; hardly enough to build on," replied Bob, soberly. "It all +depends on the current right here. I noticed some time ago that it +seems to make a sharp swerve away from the shore. Perhaps that may be +just enough to send the tree on a new tack, and spare our cabin." + +"Oh! I hope so; I hope so!" murmured Sandy. + +"But we shall know the worst in another minute," declared Bob; "for it +is coming along pretty fast now." + +The two boys stood there, almost holding their breath in suspense, +their eyes fixed on the object that held so much terror for them. Of +course they would hate to see the dear old cabin go; but, after all, +that was not what gave them the most concern. There was that little +treasure box, that held the few valuables of their mother; and, +besides, that precious belt, which meant more to the pioneer family +than untold gold, as it spelled protection from Indian perils. + +"There, it is at the point where the outward sweep begins; but will +such a big object be influenced by so small a change in the current?" +Bob was saying. + +"I can begin to see a shaking of the branches that stand up, as if they +felt a new hand at the helm!" declared Sandy. + +"Yes, yes, that is so!" cried Bob, almost as keenly aroused as the +excitable Sandy. + +"It moves, Bob, it moves! I can see it begin to swerve! Oh! if the +cabin were only fifty yards further down-stream, I do believe it would +escape!" + +"And it may yet. Wait and see!" answered Bob, watching the course of +the tree with a critical eye. + +"It is swinging around, so that the branches begin to turn toward the +cabin. If anything strikes, it will not be the heavy butt, but the +lighter end. Perhaps our home may be able to stand out against that +sort of a blow." + +"There! it's coming now!" cried Bob. + +The scraping of the branches, as the tree swung around, was plainly +heard. Sandy gave a gasp. He imagined that he saw the log structure +start after the floating tree; but in this his fears magnified things, +for it did not happen. + +Instead, the cabin remained just where it had always stood, while the +floating derelict of the flood passed on to its destiny. + +"Hurrah!" exclaimed Bob, waving his cap enthusiastically. + +For the moment poor Sandy was incapable of making a single sound. He +trembled violently, gasping for breath, and could only give his brother +a wan smile in exchange for his warm greeting; such was the nervous +effect the crisis had upon the excitable lad. + +But presently Sandy became himself, and was bubbling over with joy +because fortune had been so kind to them. + +"Oh! look!" he shouted a little later, "what can that be on the big log +out yonder? It seems to me like a black bear." + +"And that is just what it is," replied his brother, after a careful +survey. + +"Yes, as sure as anything, it must be, for I saw him move his head +then," Sandy went on. "It makes me think of that panther in the tree +that was floating down the river once, when we had our adventure with +him. But how in the wide world do you suppose he came there; and why +doesn't he swim ashore? Bears can swim, all right, Bob; isn't that so?" + +"To be sure they can," replied the other; "but I imagine that bear +must have been in a treetop, and changed his location to the log, as +being better to his liking. He is pretty far out, you see, and perhaps +the swift current scares the poor old fellow; so that he thinks he +had better hug close to his craft, and let it carry him along where it +will." + +"Just to think how he takes that voyage into the unknown world without +a single care," remarked Sandy; "and why should pioneers be afraid to +accept the dangers of the wilderness boldly, when they are in force? +Think of him getting ashore, hundreds of miles it may be from his +starting place, which he will never see again. I suppose that is one +of the ways different kinds of wild animals are given a start in new +sections of the country." + +"I have been told that by Daniel Boone, who has looked upon so many +strange things in his day," Bob went on. "See, the bear is looking +toward us now, as if he wonders what sort of creatures these two-legged +things can be. But he is safe from our guns out there, and can keep on +his ride in peace." + +"Where is Mr. Armstrong?" + +This question was asked by a neighbor, who had his small son by the +arm; and Bob could not but notice that Mr. Wayne looked somewhat +concerned. + +"Over this way, sir, you will find him; I will show you where," Bob +answered; and Sandy trailed along, too, as if he believed that the +settler had some particular reason for wanting to see their father. + +As Mr. Wayne was one of those who had been talking most vehemently +about emigrating further west, Sandy chose to think that his mission +now might have some bearing on that issue. + +But it did not. On the contrary, both boys were astounded to hear what +Mr. Wayne had to say, when presently he came upon their father. + +"It was the boy who saw them," the settler started to say, as he +glanced down at his son, about eight years of age, and rather a +manly little fellow. "It was at the time we were all so excited last +night that we missed him. I hunted wildly around, as perhaps you may +remember; and when I began to fear he had been carried off in the +river, I finally discovered him, standing there on the bank, watching +the water by the light of the fires." + +"Yes, I remember," remarked Mr. Armstrong, as the other paused for +breath; "but you have something more to tell, because I do not see how +this has any connection with my affairs, neighbor." + +"Wait," the other went on, "and you will see whether it has or not. +Only a little while ago my good wife called me to her, and said that +Rufus had been making certain remarks about two strange men he saw, and +that she thought he ought to repeat in my hearing. So I questioned the +lad, and learned this. While he was standing by the water's edge last +night, after you and your family had gone up to the blockhouse with all +your possessions, Rufus saw two burly men, who were dressed like Kenton +and Boone, he says, pass out to your cabin, Mr. Armstrong, and enter by +the door!" + +"Oh!" exclaimed Sandy, with his usual impulsiveness. + +"Those terrible French trappers!" murmured Bob; "what could they want +there?" + +"They did not stay inside very long," the settler continued; "and then, +after looking out in a queer way, as if they did not wish to be seen, +he says they hastened to the bank, and went sneaking off, down-river +way." + +"But why did he not tell this before?" asked Mr. Armstrong, plainly +disturbed by the news. + +"Well, you see, he is only a child," the other went on; "and, in the +excitement of the hour, it passed from his mind; or else he thought +they might have been some of the men of the settlement whom he did +not know. But it came back to him a little while ago, and he started +talking about it in a way to attract the attention of his mother, who +listened long enough to make sure that I should know. And so I have +brought him here, that you might question him further if it so pleased +you." + +"I am afraid they must have been those scoundrels," said Mr. Armstrong; +"but what could have induced them to take the chances they did in +entering my cabin? I can only account for it in one way. They wanted +that wampum belt which it is known my sons possess, and which entitles +its possessor to the good-will of nearly every tribe of Indians between +the Alleghanies and the Mississippi. That is why they have been +hovering around here so long, waiting for a chance to search our home. +And it came in a way they had perhaps never dreamed of." + +"But surely the precious belt is safe with all your things in the +blockhouse?" remarked Mr. Wayne. + +"That is the worst of it," replied the other settler; "in our +excitement we came away and forgot the little treasure box, which the +good wife kept on a shelf above one of the windows. Besides a few +valuables, which she would grieve to lose, it also holds that wampum +belt of the great chief, Pontiac." + +"In which case, the chances are that those rogues have discovered it, +and carried it off with them," suggested Mr. Wayne. + +"I am afraid so," answered Bob's father, disconsolately. + +The two boys were chilled by the thought. After all, was the cabin to +stand through the flood, and then a bitter disappointment await them +when they entered the familiar room, in the hope that they would find +safe the object of their solicitude? + +They hurried back again to the bank, and looked out to where their +half-submerged home still stood. Until they were able to reach the +door, and pass within, neither of them could know peace again. + +"Oh! will the old river ever go down again, so that we can reach the +door and know the worst?" Sandy groaned as the afternoon wore slowly +away, and the glowing sun sank toward the west that constantly lured +his thoughts away from the region of the Ohio. + +"But it is falling, and very fast now!" declared his brother, who had +been examining the marks closely and eagerly. + +"But what are a few inches, when we will have to wait until it goes +down six or more feet?" grumbled Sandy; but nothing was to be gained +by complaining, and finally the boys concluded to camp right there on +the bank, where they could keep watch through the night, so that no one +might pass out to the cabin without being seen in the light of the fire +they would keep burning. + +And this was what they did. One slept while the other stood sentry, +always keeping an eye on the cabin. + +The river went down very fast during the hours of darkness; and there +came no fresh alarm to stir the tired souls from slumber. So another +morning found them; and the first thing Sandy noticed was that the +cabin stood free from the flood at last, though in the midst of a +wrecked garden. + +"We can enter now!" he exclaimed to his brother. + +They took off their moccasins, and waded through the pools of mud that +lay in place of the garden spot of a few days before. + +It required considerable force to push open the door, because the water +had swollen the wood; but by putting their shoulders to the task in +unison the boys finally managed to swing it inward. + +Then they entered, and looked around, holding their very breath in an +agony of suspense. The cabin had several inches of mud on the floor, +and its appearance would have struck dismay to the heart of the neat +housewife, had she seen it just then. But Bob and Sandy were not +thinking of this. They let their eyes roam all around the room, seeking +a sign of the well-remembered little box in which their mother kept +those small articles she prized; and which had also been the receptacle +in which the wampum belt had last reposed. + +But only blankness met their view. + +The little box was surely gone; and if, as they suspected, those bold +intruders had been the French trappers, Jacques and Henri, then it was +apparent that finally the fortunes of war had placed them in possession +of the article which they would prize more highly than almost anything +else that could be found--the belt decorated with the little shells, +and known as wampum, which was marked with the signet of the great war +chief and sachem, Pontiac, and would protect its possessor against the +fury of the confederated red men of the wilderness. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +DANIEL BOONE, THE PILOT OF THE SETTLERS + + +"WELL, that settles it!" said Sandy, disconsolately, as he looked at +his brother. + +"The box is certainly gone," replied Bob, trying not to show his +feelings more than he could help, because he felt sure Sandy must be +close to the breaking-down point. + +"And we'll never see our fine belt again," continued the other. "I +wonder if the chief would feel like giving us another, in case he +learned of our losing this one?" + +"I'm afraid that's out of the question," Bob returned, with a shake of +his head. "In the first place, how could we hope to see Pontiac, when +by now he may be many hundreds of miles away from here, for he belongs +up near the lakes, where the Pottawottomies have their lodges, along +with the Sacs and the Chippewas? Then again, even if we dared take that +adventurous journey, and escaped all the perils of the wilderness, +perhaps Pontiac would believe he had done all he should for us, and +refuse to hand over another belt. I'm afraid we'll never set eyes on +that wampum again." + +"Unless," remarked Sandy, with the sanguine nature of youth, "those +trappers should strike out for the trading posts along the Mississippi, +and we'd happen to run across them, some time or other. And I can tell +you this, Bob, if ever I do meet with either of those rascals, I'm +bound to make him hand over our property." + +"I believe you would," declared Bob, his own eyes snapping as he saw +the look of determination on the face of his brother. + +It was a hard task for Bob to inform his parents of their loss. Sandy +shirked the unpleasant duty, and remained away while his brother went +to find the others. He was moody and silent the rest of the day, a +most unusual circumstance for one possessed of so bright and sunny a +disposition. In the course of time this feeling would wear off in a +measure, but the loss of that valued wampum belt was going to worry +Sandy more than a little. + +The river continued to fall very rapidly, and, in the course of a few +days, might be expected to get back into its natural channel. But +there was no great eagerness shown by the settlers to rebuild the +wrecked cabins. + +Truth to tell, the more they talked about making a bold push further +westward, the stronger the idea began to appeal to them; until it was +now almost an assured fact that several families would throw their +fortunes in together, build a staunch flatboat, with a large log +cabin on it, upon which they could embark, with their few household +necessities, and trust to fortune to carry them safely through what +perils might lie in wait further down the Ohio. + +It was just two days after the flood went down, that a council of war +was called among the families most directly interested in the new +venture. These were, besides the Armstrongs, the Harkness, Bancroft and +Wayne people, and several others who were as yet uncertain what course +to pursue. + +It was in a serious frame of mind that they gathered there in the open, +to talk over what plans they had better arrange, looking to a migration +from the settlement on the bank of the Ohio to new fields. + +Every scrap of information that could be unearthed was made to do duty +over again. Mr. Armstrong had become very much in earnest now, and he +was held in such respect by the others that his change of front had +considerable influence in causing the Waynes to decide. + +Of course the younger element had nothing to say in this meeting; but +that did not prevent them from listening with the deepest interest as +the question was debated from all sides. + +Sandy, especially, was filled with enthusiasm. His pet project, over +which he had spent many a sleepless hour, now seemed in a fair way of +being realized. Long had that mysterious West held out tempting hands +toward the pioneer boy. Just as Daniel Boone had come to believe that +it was his destiny to open up the wilderness to settlers, and plant new +colonies in the midst of fertile lands; so this lad, apparently, had +for some time felt that it was to be his fortune some day to look upon +that grand river, discovered by De Soto, which but few whites had ever +set eyes on, save the French traders and trappers, and they did not +count for much,--in Sandy's estimation, anyhow. + +In the end there were just the four families who bound themselves +together in a little league, resolved to attempt to better their +conditions in this bold manner. + +Some there were, among the others, who disliked exceedingly to see +them make preparations for leaving, and threw all manner of trifling +obstacles in the way. Whenever they had the chance they would work upon +the fears of the women belonging to the four households, by narrating +all manner of harrowing tales of the terror that lay in wait for +unfortunate voyagers down that mysterious lower Ohio. + +But women were made of pretty good stuff in those early days, and +especially the wives of the pioneers. They had always faced trials that +would easily daunt their weaker sisters of to-day; and believed that +their place was beside the loyal men who were their only protectors, +and who stood ready to lay down their lives for those they loved. + +There were others who, while they disliked to see their friends leaving +them, were ready and willing to do everything in their power to assist +the enterprise. These loyal ones gave many a hard day's work, helping +to fetch in the timber for the flatboat, and hew the straight logs that +were so necessary for its construction. Their good wives sacrificed +some of their treasured stores in order that those who were following +the beckoning finger of adventure might have an abundance with which +to start their new life. + +Bob and Sandy worked hard, too, bringing in game that could be cured +after the Indian method, so that there need be no lack of food aboard +the flatboat, when once they started on their long journey. + +The trapping season being over, the boys collected their traps, and +oiled them before storing them away, ready to be packed with their +other belongings. Sandy loved to picture the glorious time they would +have in their new surroundings, with not a white man, possibly, within +hundreds of miles, and the whole wilderness to draw upon for furs and +game and fish. + +"I hope you may never be disappointed," Bob used to say to him, after +listening with a smile to one of these periodical outbursts. "But you +know things are not always what they seem. There may be plenty of game +away out there, and lots of fur-bearing animals; but what do we know +about the new dangers that we are apt to face? I do not speak in this +way before our mother and sister; but, between us, I do not like the +idea of being closer to those French than can be helped. They are a +villainous lot, as father says, and hold all English as their mortal +enemies." + +"But, on the other hand," Sandy would reply, shrewdly, "there is a +change of heart coming to these same French. Have we not heard it +said that, should the Colonies break away from the Mother Country, +and rebel, France, being at war with England, would be on our side? +That might make some of these rascally French trappers our so-called +friends. I should not like that, and especially in the case of that +precious pair, Jacques Larue and Henri Lacroix, whom I hope to meet +face to face, at the muzzle of my gun, some happy day." + +The Indians were beginning to show their teeth again, in a manner that +was not at all reassuring to the settlers who would make up the reduced +colony, after the flatboat had started down the Ohio. + +Judge of the delight of the settlers, when one fine day, who should +appear at the colony that he had helped to found, but the backwoodsman, +Daniel Boone. He was on his way to Boonesborough, and in haste at that, +for the attitude of the Shawanees had become so threatening that there +was danger of the struggling little settlement falling into the hands +of the savages. (Note 8.) + +He was keenly interested in all that had gone on since his last visit, +and was pleased when told that the bold adventurers had decided to take +their fate in their hands, and proceed far into the land of the setting +sun. Such a move his spirit could easily sympathize with, for most +of his life had been taken up with just such splendid and hazardous +enterprises. + +"If only I had the time," he said to Mr. Armstrong, "dearly would I +love to accompany you in this venture, for I myself have long wished +to set eyes on that wonderful Mississippi of which you speak. My best +wishes will go with you; and, if a written word of mine may do you +any good by the way, you shall have it for the asking. Even among the +Indians I have a few good friends; for they know me as an honorable +enemy in time of war, and one whose word once given is never broken." + +Sandy was of course anxious to know about the young hunter whom he +admired so much, often the companion of Boone; and, when he had a +chance, he made inquiries. The frontiersman had by no means forgotten +Bob and Sandy, and, indeed, one of his first questions when he met +Mr. Armstrong had been of them, and what new adventures they had been +having of late. + +"I have not seen the young man for some time," Boone had answered, when +Sandy made his inquiry. "The last I heard of him, he had gone to the +Ohio, and was at Fort Washington, I believe. So that there is always a +slight chance that you may run across him during your voyage." + +Of course Boone was able to give them a great deal of information, as +well as warn them against the tricks of the sly Indians, who would be +likely to resort to all manner of devices in order to overpower the +travellers. + +"Above all things," he urged upon the men of the party before taking +his departure that same afternoon, to rejoin his companions, camped +not many miles away, "beware of the white man who appeals to you from +the shore, and tells a pitiful story of having been captured by the +Indians, from whom he has but recently escaped. The chances are as ten +to one that he is but one of those villainous renegades like Girty, +McKee or Butler, who act as decoys for their swarthy brothers; and that +he only means to lure you close to the shore, so that they can pour a +deadly volley into your midst, and board the boat in the confusion." + +"But what if his story should be true?" objected Mr. Harkness. "We +should feel like murderers if we abandoned a poor wretch of our own +color. And surely success could not come to an expedition founded on +cruelty." + +"Your first duty is toward your own families," spoke up Boone, sternly. +"If, then, his story is true, demand that he enter the river, and swim +out to you, while you hold the boat stationary by the anchor, but at a +safe distance away. If he refuse to do this, and suddenly disappear, +see to it that you lay low, for there will immediately rain a tempest +of bullets and deadly arrows from the bushes, behind which his red +allies lie hidden." + +In this strain, then, did the great pioneer warn those who were about +to trust themselves and their precious families to the waters of the +lower Ohio. Hearing all he said, both Sandy and Bob were greatly +impressed, and secretly resolved to profit by the advice. + +Boone admitted that it was a great misfortune to have lost that magic +wampum belt of Pontiac's, which he had seen on a former visit. + +"I know Pontiac, and how far his influence goes with nearly every +tribe between here and the Mississippi," he said; "and there will be +many times, I fear, when you will deeply regret that you did not hold +tighter to his gift, as it would save you from troubles that ever beset +the pioneer's life." + +When Boone shook hands with every soul in the settlement, kissed the +babies, and hurried away, to head for his own little settlement, there +was not one among them but felt that the mere presence of such a man +was a tower of strength to any struggling community on the border of +civilization. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +STARTING FOR THE NEW WEST + + +"THE great day has come at last!" said Sandy, early one morning, as +they started down toward the river from the blockhouse, where they had +been quartered ever since the flood, their cabin having been occupied +by a family with a numerous brood of young children, whose shelter had +been carried away by the ruthless waters. + +"Yes," Bob replied, stretching himself; "days and weeks have crept +along, and this has been a busy hamlet, what with the rebuilding of +cabins, planting crops for those who expect to stay, and the fashioning +of our flatboat, with its strong cabin on deck. A busy time, everybody +says." + +"But our boat is done at last!" Sandy declared, joyfully; "and most of +our things are packed aboard, for to-day we make a start, headed for +the Mississippi!" + +Bob looked at his brother a little uneasily. He himself was feeling +more or less sad, because there were friendships that must be severed; +and the chances seemed to be that they would never again shake the +hands of some of those who had come out from Virginia with them. + +But Sandy seemed to have no thought of this. His father, mother, sister +and brother were going along; and what need then to feel distressed? +That was the way the light-hearted lad felt about it; and the one great +dream of his young life seemed about to be realized. For many months +he had yearned to set eyes on that mysterious and mighty river, that +rolled toward the far-off gulf; and whose source was as yet a sealed +book to the world. + +Sandy had hardly slept a wink all through the preceding night. Instead, +he tossed on his pillow, and kept picturing what the future would have +in store for them in that beautiful land toward the setting sun. + +No doubt the little mother also lay awake; but for different reasons. +Brave wife of a pioneer that she was, surely Mrs. Armstrong must have +looked into the future with something of uneasiness. Many wild stories +had she listened to from the lips of Pat O'Mara and other valiant +souls, who had penetrated part of the distance toward the Mississippi; +and doubtless these all came to haunt her now, magnified by the fact +that they themselves were about to go forth into that wilderness to +build a new home, under conditions that no one could faithfully picture. + +She managed, however, to conceal much of her womanly fears from the +eyes of her loved ones. There were dangers everywhere, and as they +supped with them each day that they lived, it was no wonder that by +degrees even the women learned to hold peril in contempt. + +"Looks like it might be a fine morning for a start," Sandy remarked, +as they drew near the edge of the flowing current, at a place where a +ledge afforded an excellent foothold, when they wished to bend over and +wash their faces. + +"Yes, the spring is here in truth," replied Bob, "and the birds are +singing in every tree. After all, this is a beautiful spot, and I fear +our mother is not one-half so anxious to leave it as the rest may be." + +"But just wait till she sees what a glorious country we are going to," +declared the ever-sanguine Sandy. "The birds may sing here, but it's +nothing to what they will do out there, where the land is so rich that +it grows everything they want to eat. And as for game, why, just think +of seeing a whole herd of buffaloes that no man could count! Oh! I do +wish we were there right now. It has been a long time since we shot a +buffalo." + +"That's so, Sandy," replied Bob, just a little enthusiastic himself; +"and if things are half as fine as we've been told, we ought to soon +have a splendid little settlement, with a stockade, and gardens, and +cabins that will make it home to us." + +Sandy bent over, and splashed for a minute. He thoroughly enjoyed +the cooling water, and, indeed, the boy was never so happy as when +swimming, having taken to it when a mere lad. + +Then he broke out again, showing that, try as he might, he could not +keep his thoughts away from the one great subject that held them like a +magnet. + +"We've got all our traps oiled, and stowed away on board the flatboat, +you know, Bob; and won't we have the time of our lives, once we get +settled in our new home, with the snow beginning to fly next autumn? +I'm glad now that I traded for those five traps Adam Shell had. It +gives us nearly double as many as we had before." + +So they chatted as they finished their cleaning up. Meanwhile the +women were busily engaged in getting the last meal that they expected +to take among those whom they had known so long. + +There were not many tears shed, for these hardy souls were accustomed +to meeting all sorts of happenings with the fortitude that makes +heroines. Indeed, Mrs. Armstrong admitted to herself that this parting +did not cause one-half the wrench that came when they pulled up +stakes, away off in Virginia, and first set out on the trail over the +mountains, headed into the great West. Then they knew nothing of the +Indian country, and a thousand fears assailed them; but now, the yell +of the savage foe had become familiar in their ears, and surely little +that was new in the form of peril could be awaiting them on their +further journey. It was but the turning over of the page and beginning +a second chapter in a tale that had already been started. + +After breakfast had been disposed of, there was a great confusion all +through the little settlement. Work of all kinds was at a standstill +for that morning, as all wished to add their mite to giving the +adventurous families a hearty send-off. + +[Illustration: "AT LAST THEY WERE AFLOAT ON THE OHIO, BOUND INTO THE +UNKNOWN COUNTRY THAT LAY FAR AWAY TO THE WESTWARD."] + +Before the sun had mounted three hours high in the eastern heavens the +last word had been spoken; and amid the cheers of the assembled people, +old and young, the ropes that held the large flatboat to the shore were +cast off. + +At last they were afloat on the Ohio, bound into the unknown country +that lay far away to the westward. Day after day, and week after week, +they expected to continue to float ever onward, spending the daylight +in making such progress as lay in their power, and either anchoring at +night in the stream, or else, if it were deemed safe, tying up to the +shore. + +Again and again had they listened to the sober warnings from those who +expected to stick to the old settlement. And now the current had taken +hold of their clumsy, but staunch, craft, and was commencing to hurry +it along, as though anxious to sever the last ties binding them to +these good friends. + +By degrees the shouts died out in the ever-increasing distance, and the +bold pioneers began to pay more attention to their duties. + +Then a bend of the river shut out the last glimpse of the waving hats +and kerchiefs, and a great silence came upon the scene, broken only +by the creak of the big steering oar, or the gurgle of the river +against the planking below. + +The start had been made, and all seemed well. They were headed into a +wilderness that was next to unknown, and it had required almost as much +courage for these valiant souls to thus break away from the settlement, +and start upon this voyage of discovery, looking for a new homestead +in the wilds, as was shown by Christopher Columbus, when, braving the +traditions that declared the world to be flat, he set sail into the +western seas, under the firm conviction that in this manner he could +reach the East Indies. + +On board the flatboat things soon began to assume a settled condition. +Mr. Armstrong had been unanimously elected the leader of the +expedition, and every member was bound to yield him obedience. + +System had been early established, and each one knew just what was to +be expected of him or her, so that there was no confusion. + +The household goods, save what might be needed in the way of coverings +for the night, or additional clothing, had been stowed away in as +compact shape as their ingenuity could devise; and in the hold of the +boat a place had been found for the accommodation of this material. +It consisted chiefly of a few household treasures, handed down from +ancestors across the seas. The pioneers did not possess much in the way +of furniture. Tables, beds and chairs they expected to make afresh when +they had reached the Promised Land. A few strong oaken or cedar chests, +bound in brass it might be, contained their belongings for the most +part; with what few cooking utensils that were needed, these latter +also in brass or copper, which was much used in those early days. + +Besides the Armstrongs, the passengers and crew of the flatboat +consisted of three families. First there was Mr. Harkness and his wife, +a fourteen-year-old daughter named Susan, and also a nephew, one Amos +Terry, from New England, and with some of the peculiarities of speech +that even at this early day marked the difference between those whose +ancestors came over on the _Mayflower_, and the descendants of those +settling in Virginia or Carolina. + +Then there were the Bancrofts, father, mother, and three children, all +of the latter rather small; and the Waynes, who had a boy, Rufus, about +eight years of age, and a small baby. + +Two more persons there were aboard the boat at the time of leaving. Pat +O'Mara, the good-natured Irish trapper, meant to stick to his friend, +Mr. Armstrong, through thick and thin, in this new venture, feeling +partly responsible through having told the wonderful tales that had so +stirred the ambitions of these voyagers. Blue Jacket, also, was with +them, though he only expected to go a few days' journey into the west, +when he would say good-bye, and return to his people, never expecting +to see these white friends again. + +Seven men and two boys capable of bearing arms constituted their full +fighting force; a pitiful company when one considers the nature of the +dangers that were always awaiting the hardy pioneers whenever they +cut adrift and pierced the wilderness. But such a thing as fear was +next to unknown to any of them; and, as they turned successive bends +of the river, always unfolding some new and beautiful feature of the +remarkable scenery, both men and women felt that surely good fortune +must await them in the favored land beyond. + +They were not much given to sentiment. The hardships of that time +made people very practical; and yet no nature could withstand the +magnificent sunset that greeted their eyes, hours later, when many +miles had been left behind. + +It must have seemed to some of those who stood and drank in the +glorious picture with a feeling almost of awe, as though the sun had +never before gone down in the midst of such splendor and that he was +beckoning them onward to where their new homes were to be founded. + +And yet, no doubt, as some of the women glanced at the grim +forest-lined shore so near by, they must have shuddered, remembering +how somewhere in the dark recesses of that wood, savage foes lurked, +hating the venturesome paleface who threatened to steal away their +lands, and only too eager to pounce down upon the little expedition, +could they find the means. + +Blue Jacket went ashore as soon as the boat was tied up for the night, +in order to scout around, and ascertain whether there might be any +signs of hostile Indians in the vicinity. Pat O'Mara also took a little +turn, and both reported that the coast appeared to be clear, so the +voyagers took heart of grace, and supper was cooked in comfort. + +There was no loud talking or laughter. Even the children had been +admonished to keep quiet, leaving their boisterous play until the +morrow, when, safe on the bosom of the broad stream, they might give +vent to their exuberant spirits. + +All through the night a watch would be kept. Much of that duty was to +be undertaken by Blue Jacket and Pat, who had no family cares to attend +to; but every man slept on his arms, as it were, ready to leap to his +feet at the first alarm, with a clear idea as to the duties devolving +upon him in case of an attack. + +The ropes were arranged so that they could be instantly cast off, and +the boat swung out into the stream, which, being quite deep just there, +would prevent the enemy from wading out after them. + +While part of the force performed this duty, the others would send +a hot fire in among the Indians; and it must be remembered that in +pioneer days every woman had learned to handle a gun almost as well as +the male members of the family. + +The first night passed, fortunately, without any alarm; which was a +good thing, since it gave them all a chance to get accustomed to their +strange surroundings. Later on, after they had fallen into the new +ways, if trouble came, as they fully anticipated, it would find them +better prepared to meet the situation. + +All were early astir on the following morning, except that Pat and Blue +Jacket still lay under their blankets, since they had been ashore part +of the night, and secured scarce any sleep at all until an hour before +dawn. The men were busy, getting wood aboard with which to make a small +fire if necessary, a stone hearth having been constructed for this +purpose, when, suddenly, Sandy made a startling discovery. + +"Oh! look! Bob, look, up there on the roof of the cabin!" he exclaimed; +and Bob, turning his eyes toward the boat, quickly saw the object that +had thus excited the other. + +"Another arrow, with a birch-bark message, just as sure as anything," +he cried, turning a puzzled face toward Sandy. + +"Let me climb up and get it!" cried the younger lad; and, with the +words, he immediately started to clamber up the rough side wall of the +cabin, which had been made as near bullet-proof as possible, so as to +afford protection in case of an Indian attack; for the French traders +were selling the savages hundreds of firearms, and even teaching the +warriors how to use them in place of the more primitive bow and arrows. + +Presently Sandy came back, bearing the arrow in his hand. + +"It is exactly like the other, which Blue Jacket told us was surely +made by the hands of a Delaware brave," he said, holding the object up +before his brother. + +Bob, just as he had expected, found a small piece of thin birch bark +rolled about the arrow, near the head, and secured there by means of +fibres taken from some plant. + +Opening this, he discovered a series of crude, but plain pictures, made +after the fashion of the Indians. + +"This time there are many figures, and, as they have scalplocks, they +must be Indians," Bob remarked, as he and Sandy eagerly examined the +message that had come from their unknown friend. + +"Yes," the other boy went on, "and see how they are lying flat behind +bushes; while this must be the river flowing along. Some have guns, and +others bows. And, if you please, Bob, this must be meant for our fine +flatboat, though it looks more like an old ark than anything else. +What do you make of that part of the message!" + +"Oh! it stands but for one thing, a warning to beware of the foes who +lurk on the shore, waiting to take us by surprise. But we already have +been told all about such dangers, though this kind friend may not know +that." + +"But see, Bob, there is more to it this time," Sandy continued, +eagerly. "Here is our proud boat again on the river, and on the shore +stands a man, holding both his hands out. He is surely a white man, +because he has a hat on. And I think he must be begging us to come to +the shore and take him aboard." + +"That is just it," Bob remarked, "and you remember what Daniel Boone +warned us against. This must be that terrible Simon Girty, or his +companion, McKee, for if you look once again, you will see those forms +concealed behind the grass and bushes, just as the panther lies in wait +for a deer at the salt lick. Is that all plain to you, Sandy?" + +"Yes, and I would have seen through it, even if you hadn't spoken. But +here, for the third time, we have received a message from this friend, +who keeps his face hidden, so that we do not know who he is. What does +it mean, do you think, and who can he be?" + +"He must have some object," replied Bob, his brow marked by a line of +perplexing thought; "and he certainly has a reason for not letting us +know who he is. If it is that young Delaware you helped, he has a queer +way of paying back his debt. But, after all, he is only an Indian, and +how can a white man understand his ways? We must show this to father, +even if it doesn't seem to tell us anything new." + +"Yes," said Sandy, drawing a long breath, and glancing at the forest +so close at hand; "anyhow, it's nice to know we've got a friend who +watches over us all the time. There may come a day when his warning +will save us from a terrible danger. Delaware brave or not, I am going +to thank him for it, if ever I meet him face to face." + +As they had already been told all about these perils, the men did not +experience any fresh alarm from seeing the message of the arrow. Mr. +Armstrong, thinking it wise to keep all such causes for uneasiness +away from the women as much as possible, bade the boys not to mention +finding it on the roof. Plainly the unknown Indian must have shot it +from some point close at hand, though how he had managed to approach +the boat, unheard by the keen, listening ears of Blue Jacket or Pat +O'Mara, was a mystery to both Bob and Sandy. + +If he could do this, what was to prevent a dozen, or fifty, of his kind +from accomplishing the same thing? It was a thought calculated to cause +a timid person considerable uneasiness; and possibly this was what had +influenced Mr. Armstrong in his desire to keep the women from hearing +about the arrow that bore the new warning. + +Again they were floating on the current, that bore the adventurers +along at the rate of some four miles an hour. While the river changed +its course from time to time, so that they headed now southwest, and +again toward the northwest, still their constant progress was such +that they had the morning sun behind them; and, when the orb of day +passed the zenith, it beckoned them onward until, nearing the horizon, +its slanting rays warned them that another night lay ahead, with the +dangers that darkness must ever bring in its train. + +And so it would go, as the days slipped by, many miles being covered +between daybreak and darkness, and each span taking them further into +the unknown country. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +BLUE JACKET GIVES WARNING + + +THREE days had now passed. + +All this time the flatboat had made good progress down the river, which +continually opened up new and most beautiful pictures to the eyes of +the voyagers. It was very slow travelling, to be sure; but then the +early pioneers had never ridden on a lightning express train, nor sat +in an automobile that was flying along country roads at the rate of a +mile a minute; so such tedious progress was not irksome to them. + +One night only had they anchored out from the shore, when Blue Jacket +and the Irish trapper did not like the idea of tying up to the trees on +the bank, having discovered some signs of Indians about. + +As yet there had been no attack upon the people on the flatboat, and +perhaps a feeling of renewed confidence was beginning to steal into +their hearts. But the men knew better than to allow such immunity from +danger to render them a particle less cautious. And each evening they +kept up the same programme that had been first instituted. + +One man was to be on guard aboard the boat, constantly watching the +shore for signs of anything moving. He had his orders to shoot, if an +approaching figure, upon being challenged, failed to give the correct +password. And then every one of the others knew just what his part of +the defence was to be, so that they would leap to their stations as one +man. + +After supper on this night, when they were tied up again to the shore, +Blue Jacket went away to scour the immediate vicinity, and keep on the +alert for the first signs of an impending attack. + +It was to be the very last night of the young Shawanee among them; for +he had announced that, since they were now far away from the lodges of +his people, he must on the morrow shake the hands of his white friends +in farewell, and turn his face toward the rising sun. + +The boys would be sorry. They had come to think most highly of Blue +Jacket; and Bob predicted that, in time to come, the young brave would +make a name for himself among his people. (Note 9.) + +The young moon was now getting of a size to give considerable light for +much of the night, and this fact afforded every one much satisfaction, +since it took away from the gloom of the dense forest, that was peopled +with unknown evil things. + +Sandy and Bob sat on deck, after supper had been eaten, and the younger +members of the expedition were being put to sleep in the cabin. Some of +the men were smoking their long pipes, and talking in low tones near +by. Doubtless they felt well pleased over the way things were going, +and their conversation may have been along about the same lines as +marked that of the two lads. + +"Three good days, and all is well," remarked Sandy, who had a fishing +line over the side, with which he expected to take in a number of fine +prizes before thinking of sleep. + +"Yes, and if this sort of thing would only keep up right along, nobody +would complain, that I know of," Bob added; for he was feeling very +comfortable after the good supper he had enjoyed a short time before. + +"Oh! that was a fierce bite, all right!" exclaimed Sandy, giving a jerk +to his stout line; "and I've got him, too, I do believe! My goodness! +how he pulls, Bob! Now, I hope he doesn't break loose! This must be the +biggest fish I've had hold of yet." + +Bob, of course, offered to lend a hand in order to get the prize in; +but Sandy, with all a fisherman's ardor, would not think of allowing +such a thing. + +And presently, after a deal of pulling, and expressing fears that he +might lose his hard-fighting prize, Sandy managed to drag the fish +aboard. It proved to be a very large specimen of what has since become +known as the buffalo fish, found along the whole length of the Ohio, +and which is considered fairly good for the table. + +To these people of the early days such a feast was always eagerly +welcomed; and, of course, all the women had to come out to see the +noble proportions of Sandy's capture, even the children following, +filled with delight because it meant a feast for all. + +Although the persistent fisherman kept up the good work, and landed +several more of the same species of fish, none approached in size his +first capture; but, then, by the time Sandy was ready to take in his +line, for he was yawning sadly, the moon had crept along to top the +trees toward the southwest, and he had secured an abundance for their +temporary wants. + +Sandy had just completed winding up his line on the piece of smooth +wood he had prepared for this especial purpose, when suddenly the voice +of the sentry was heard calling out: + +"Who goes there? Speak, and give the countersign!" for Mr. Armstrong +had organized his little company very much on a military basis. + +Of course every one started up, and many a hand reached out for the gun +that was always kept within reach, day and night. Sandy and Bob were no +exception to the rule, and they scrambled to their feet, as, from the +tree-lined shore, came the word that had been selected for the night: + +"Washington!" + +It was Blue Jacket, coming hastily aboard. His actions told that he +must be bringing important news; and a thrill swept through the hearts +of the two lads at the prospect of immediate danger. + +Mr. Armstrong was the first one to meet the Indian as he came crawling +over the side of the flatboat, which stood rather high out of the +water, despite the load it carried, thanks to the splendid construction +of the craft. + +"Get away--quick--many Indians, like the leaves of the forest--come +creep up through trees. No say what, but slip loose, and run!" was the +way Blue Jacket expressed himself. + +Upon hearing these significant words, every one started to carry +out his special part of the duty of freeing the boat. There was no +noise--no confusion; and this spoke well, not only for the brave hearts +that were aboard the boat, but for the rules of discipline instituted +by the commander. + +Two men jumped ashore, and proceeded to unfasten the ropes; though +really this could have been done from aboard, as the painters had been +so fastened that all it required was a strong pull. Others stooped to +grasp the long, stout push poles, with which to urge the unwieldy craft +ahead. Once in the clutch of the current, of course that part of the +business would be ended; though they might continue to drop the poles +over, and strain their backs, as long as they were able to touch bottom. + +Others, still, crouched, guns in hand, ready to commence shooting at +the first indication of the presence of the fierce enemy. + +Everything worked smoothly. The ropes were unfastened, and brought +aboard, without any trouble. Already a load was lifted from the hearts +of the voyagers; and this lightened still more when they could feel the +heavy craft beginning to move in response to the muscular efforts of +those who were straining at the poles. + +Soon the sweeps could be brought into play, when their movement would +become more rapid. Eager eyes scanned the line of trees from which two +dozen feet of sand and water now separated them. At any second they +expected to see dusky figures leap into view, followed by the crash of +many guns. Looking to such a contingency, Mr. Armstrong had sent around +a whispered caution that at the very first appearance of the wily foe +everybody should shelter themselves as best they could behind the +rampart afforded by the gunwale of the flatboat, expressly built up for +this purpose. + +"Do you think they are really coming?" whispered Sandy, as he and Bob +crouched there, sheltered by the heavy bulwark, and keeping their eyes +fastened on the edge of the forest. + +"Some of the men are already beginning to say that Blue Jacket must +have heard a buffalo passing, or deer hunting for new feeding grounds; +and that, after all, it may be only a false alarm; but I do not believe +that can be. You know, Sandy, how wonderfully he can tell just what +every sound means, when they seem alike to us. If Blue Jacket says +there are Indians afoot in the forest this night, I feel sure it must +be so." + +"Oh! I thought I saw what looked like a feathered head thrust out of +the bushes up yonder!" exclaimed Sandy. + +Hardly had he spoken than a single shrill yell rang out. It seemed to +be some sort of signal, and it must have conveyed the information that +the boat was slipping away; for Bob felt sure he could detect both rage +and disappointment in the loud cry. + +"There, that tells the story!" he exclaimed, as he nervously handled +his musket, and made ready to give a good account of the bullet it +contained, if called up. "Blue Jacket knew what he was saying, just as +I told you." + +"But we are far enough from the shore to be safe from an attack," +declared the other lad, joyfully; "and moving further out in the stream +every second, now that they've got the big sweeps to working. Let the +Indians come, for all I care. They will be sorry if they try to swim +out to us, with that fine moon shining. Why, we could see their heads +easily, and hit them every time." + +Sandy might have gone on talking in this boastful strain, only that his +words were deadened by a chorus of angry yells that broke out all along +the shore. It was as though the savage enemy had been creeping forward +in a long semi-circle, meaning to close in on the tied-up flatboat, and +render escape impossible. And now, on discovering that those they had +expected to make their victims were really beyond their reach, they +gave vent to this expression of their furious rage. + +And women shuddered, while children held their very breath in fear, +when they, for the first time on the voyage, heard the savage outburst +that told of red-skinned foes lurking within the depths of the +primitive forest, eager to wipe out every member of that brave little +expedition. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +A TARGET FOR ARROWS AND BULLETS + + +"LIE down, everybody!" + +It was the voice of Mr. Armstrong that uttered these words; and +hardly had the men who manned the sweeps and poles thrown themselves +flat, than there came flashes of flame from the border of the trees, +accompanied by the crash of firearms and the thud of striking bullets +in the stout bulwark, behind which they had sought shelter. + +Other missiles splashed in the water, falling short, or passing beyond +the boat. Arrows also struck the cabin, to remain imbedded there as +evidence of the muscular arms that sent them aboard. + +But there was a way of working the sweeps from behind shelter; and +so, by slow degrees, the imperilled pioneers were carried further and +further from the shore. + +No one fired back. In the first place, they saw but little of the +Indians, who held the marksmanship of the borderers in too high +respect to risk showing themselves needlessly. And then, besides, +ammunition was too precious and costly a commodity to waste, unless the +necessity seemed great. + +Gradually the firing from the shore slackened, and finally died away +altogether, as did also the cries of bitter rage and disappointment. +Only for the warning of Blue Jacket the little company might have met +with disaster thus early in their adventurous voyage. There were no +longer heard murmurings because they had been compelled to make this +hasty departure from so comfortable a resting-place. Indeed, every one +was grateful to the young Shawanee, because of what he had done. + +Blue Jacket wanted not their thanks. He had no love for the white men, +who were coming to drive his race away from the lands where they had +lived for many generations, carrying on their wars with neighboring +tribes, hunting the buffalo and the deer, and worshipping the Great +Manitou after the fashion of the red men. + +He sat by himself, moody and silent. Perhaps he was thinking how sorry +he would be to part forever from the two paleface lads whom he had +grown to care for so much in this year he had known them. And then +there was the kind, motherly woman who had helped nurse him back to +life long ago, when he suffered from a severe bullet wound, received in +a battle with the whites, and which would have caused his death had he +not been found by Sandy, and taken into the care of the Armstrongs. + +Then again, it might be that the young Shawanee brave was feeling the +bitterness of his situation, placed as he was in a position where, +for the time, he felt compelled by gratitude to warn these palefaces +against the coming of his own people. Perhaps it was well that no shot +had been fired from the flatboat; had a single Indian been killed as a +result of his warning, Blue Jacket would have cause for feeling more +moody than was now the case. + +The boys must have guessed something of his feelings, for they did not +attempt to break in upon his solitude, as he sat with bowed head. + +For several hours the voyage down the river was continued by moonlight; +and then Mr. Armstrong gave orders that they head in toward the shore, +and put out the anchor that had been brought along for the purpose. + +A strict watch was kept until dawn; then Blue Jacket, going on shore, +soon signalled that there was no longer any danger; accordingly the +boat was pushed in, and, some of them landing, started a fire, at which +the breakfast of fresh fish was cooked. + +So the waters and the woods were all made to pay tribute to the demands +of the sturdy early settlers. The rivers were teeming with fish, and +the forests contained innumerable deer, buffalo, and much smaller game, +so that it was easy as a rule to supply the table, if a hunter dared +venture abroad. Fear of an Indian surprise was the only thing that +deterred them. There was ever this dread possibility hovering over +their heads in the disputed land. + +When the meal was over, Blue Jacket, with the same grave face that +always marked his character, came up, and held out his hand to Mrs. +Armstrong. + +"Good-bye!" he said simply, with not a muscle quivering, such was the +splendid control he had over his feelings. + +To Bob and Sandy he also gave his hand, and looked at them long and +earnestly, but said only that same one word: + +"Good-bye!" + +Then he turned and strode away, never giving any of the others so much +as a single look, for they were nothing to the young Shawanee warrior, +and, if ever he met any of them again, it would probably be with +weapons in his hands, and hatred for the mortal enemies of his race in +his Indian heart. + +Neither of the boys ever saw Blue Jacket again, since their life +trails parted there on the flowery bank of the beautiful Ohio. Destiny +led them into the wilderness, to help clear a path for advancing +civilization; while the same power took Blue Jacket back into the +villages of his people, to carry out the scheme in life to which he was +appointed. + +For a full hour after he had gone Sandy sat there, looking out upon the +river as the heavy craft glided steadily on its way, saying not a word +to any one. + +Then all at once he called aloud: + +"Oh! there's a man down on that point below, and a white man, too! He +seems to be in trouble, for he beckons to us all the while, and yet +seems afraid to shout out. Perhaps he's escaped from the Indians who +tried to catch us napping last night. It looks to me as if he wanted us +to push in, and take him aboard." + +Instantly every one rushed to that side of the boat to look. And, +sure enough, there stood a white man, waving his hands to them in a +most beseeching manner. His whole appearance would indicate that he +had suffered all sorts of recent privations and was both hungry and +desperate. + +"Shall we push in closer?" asked Mr. Wayne, who knew less about Indian +trickery than any one of the other men of the party. + +"Not a foot!" declared Mr. Armstrong; "and every one keep low behind +the shelter of the sides; for, by my faith, I fancy, even now, that I +can see dusky figures gliding along back there among those trees." + +The man, as they came opposite, commenced to run along the edge of the +shore, and make more urgent gestures than before. + +"Don't desert me, if you be men with hearts!" he cried out, in seeming +agony. + +"Who are you, and what ails you?" demanded Mr. Armstrong. + +"My name is Elijah Fish, and with my mate I was taken prisoner by the +bloodthirsty Shawanees a moon ago. They have tortured us both, and my +comrade finally fell a victim to their savage hatred. I managed to +escape four days ago, and they have been hunting for me ever since. If +you leave me here, they will surely find me, and take my life. I beg of +you to pull in at least part way, and let me come aboard!" + +"He talks straight, seems to me," declared young Amos Terry. "I don't +see no sign of any Indians, and for one I'd hate to think I left a poor +white man to be put to death. Ain't there some way he might be saved, +Mr. Armstrong?" + +For answer the leader of the expedition put his hands to his mouth, +using them for a trumpet, and called aloud: + +"We cannot come in any closer, because we must not risk chances of +being beset by the Indians; but, if you wish to come aboard, why not +enter the water, and swim out after us? That is your only chance, +Elijah Fish, which, for one, I do not believe to be your name." + +"Why, who do you take me for?" asked the man, still running along the +sandy strip of shore between the edge of the water and the forest. + +"Well, you might be the renegade, Simon Girty, or perhaps McKee. And so +we must refuse to risk the lives of all on board in order to do you a +good turn. If you can swim, enter the water. We will immediately anchor +the boat, and wait for you to come aboard. But that is as far as we +dare go!" + +The man ceased running at hearing this. + +"Yew must have broken his heart with that, Mr. Armstrong," said the +Yankee, Amos Terry. + +"Look again!" exclaimed Sandy, quickly. + +The man was shaking his clenched fist after them, and, even as they +looked, he uttered all sorts of horrible threats. Some one on board +fired a shot, and the bullet threw up the sand close to the feet of the +fellow, who, taking the hint, made haste to disappear in the bushes. + +"Keep down!" called Mr. Armstrong; and hardly had he spoken than there +was heard a crackling of guns here, there and everywhere among the +trees, showing that the red foe had been cunningly concealed, in the +hope that the defenders of the flatboat might be lured into approaching +the shore. + +This time those on board answered the fire, as they caught glimpses of +dusky figures dodging from tree to tree. + +The duel of guns was kept up for some little time. Many a bullet, +as well as dozens of feathered barbs, struck the bulwarks or cabin +of the flatboat; but, since the white defenders were wise enough to +keep themselves well hidden, little damage resulted from the furious +bombardment, one man alone receiving a slight wound from a bullet, that +must have glanced off the side of the cabin wall. + +On their part the pioneers believed that they had struck a number of +the enemy, although they could not be positive about this, since they +had not seen any actually fall. The Indians, however, found that they +were getting more than they bargained for, and when another half-hour +had passed the firing ceased. + +"I hope they've given it up as a bad job," remarked Sandy, who had sent +several shots during the exciting time. "I wonder if I really did wound +that brave who was lying in that clump of bushes." + +"I think you must have hit him," Bob replied; "because, as soon as you +fired, he came tumbling out, and plunged into that hole behind the +three trees, and I'm sure he acted as if something bothered him." + +"That's so, Bob, he did make me think of the way I got around when +that hornets' nest upset, and they all came out to get at me. It felt +pretty warm for me just then; and I guess it did for that brave. But, +do you think they have drawn off, and mean to let us alone?" + +"I'm afraid that in some way, perhaps by means of the smoke signals, we +know about, they may send word down the river of our coming; and that +would mean, you know, Sandy, a continual war all along the line to the +Mississippi. I'm afraid we'll have only too many just such fights on +our hands, before we get to where we want to settle down." + +But even such a prospect did not daunt the spirit of Sandy, which was +not easily crushed. + +"We have shown how easy it is to keep the Indians off, and we can do it +again and again, as long as our powder and ball hold out," he declared, +with the sanguine nature of youth, that borrows no trouble when the +skies seem clear. "I'm sure Pat O'Mara must have laid more than one of +those yelling rascals low, for every time he fired I saw him nod his +head and look pleased." + +All the rest of that day they floated on, undisturbed by any signs +of an enemy. Once Sandy discovered a stately stag standing knee deep +in the water, surveying the approaching craft as if in wonder, and, +eager to land a shot that might give them a bountiful supply of fresh +venison, the boy made a hasty jump for his gun. + +But perhaps it was this sudden movement on the part of the impetuous +Sandy that alarmed the deer, for, whirling like a flash, it vanished +amidst the brush that at this particular spot lined the bank. + +"Too bad!" said Pat, who had witnessed all this; "but, take me worrd +for it, Sandy, av yees had been more deliberate like in your movements, +chances are ye might 'a' had a shot. 'Tis the same ould story av too +much haste, me bye. Next toime r'ach out yer hand, slow like, and pick +up the gun widout takin' yer eyes off the game." + +Sandy thought he might do even better, and keep his musket in his +grasp; but, though he sat there faithfully for nearly two hours, the +chance did not come again. It seldom does, once we allow it to slip +past. + +Of course, on that evening they decided that it was too risky to think +of going ashore to make their fire; and so supper was prepared on +board, after they had anchored. + +So anxious were they to get as far as possible below the scene of their +encounter with the treacherous renegade and his red allies, that they +would have continued the voyage by moonlight, only that it had clouded +up with the coming of late afternoon, and there was every prospect of a +bad night ahead. + +The weather had been very fair ever since the spring rains ceased; but, +warmer weather having now arrived, Mr. Armstrong warned them that a +storm was liable to swoop down upon them at any time, and they must be +prepared for it. + +So, on this night they tried the best they could to have the anchor +well laid, for, if ever the wind came sweeping down the river, there +was a chance that the cabin of the flatboat would offer such a +resistance that, sooner or later, they must be swept away, to find +themselves at the mercy of the storm. And that was a possibility none +of them fancied very much. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +A HUNT FOR FRESH MEAT + + +"I FEEL just wild for fresh meat, and I mean to ask father if we can +take a little hunt this very afternoon," said Sandy, two days later, +while the flatboat was speeding quite merrily down the current. + +"Well," remarked his brother, "I would like a chance to get ashore +and stretch my legs, just as much as you do. And I hope he says yes, +when you ask him. Fish is pretty good, but a fellow gets tired of it +as a regular thing, and I don't think that is the finest kind of fish +either, that we get. Why, when you took in that slippery mudcat, and we +had it for dinner, it tasted better to me." + +"We haven't seen a solitary sign of Indians since they tried to get +us to come in to the shore," Sandy went on. "And that must have been +Girty, himself, who rumpled up his hair, and tried to look so hard +pushed. You remember we saw him that time after we got ashore, when +our boat was smashed, and when Blue Jacket told that Miami chief, +Little Turtle, why he stood up for the Armstrong boys. But I'll come +back and let you know what father says." + +Ten minutes later he approached Bob again. + +"You needn't say a single word," remarked the other, "for I can tell by +the look on your face that it's all right." + +"Yes, he says that we have been making such good time we can afford to +lose an afternoon, or part of one, in order to try to get some fresh +meat, because we all feel the need of it. So, before the sun is more +than half-way down the sky, he will give orders for the boat to be tied +up, if everything looks safe, just like it is right now." + +"I'm glad of that," declared Bob; "because, after being used to walking +nearly every day, for miles and miles, it comes pretty hard to just sit +here, push a sweep, or tramp up and down around the cabin." + +"Oh! I just couldn't stand it much longer!" cried Sandy. "I was really +thinking that I'd have to jump overboard, and swim ashore, to try my +luck, if father didn't want to stop the boat, hoping to catch up with +you all below, when you hauled in for the night camp." + +Bob looked uneasily at his impulsive younger brother. + +"I don't know whether you are joking when you say that, or not, Sandy," +he remarked; "but it would be a foolish move to make, and would bring +more worry to the heart of mother. I hope you won't think of such a +thing at any time. You are getting too big now to let these things have +hold of you so much. There are enough troubles to bother our parents +without you adding to the burden." + +Sandy turned red, and then burst out into a confused laugh. + +"Oh! I only said I was _thinking_ of doing something like that, you +know," he declared; "but that is as far as it would go, I give you my +word, Bob. Whenever I catch myself wanting to jump at things so, I +remember what Pat said that day we saw the big stag standing knee deep +in the water. Too much hurry, too sudden a move, spoils many a good +game. And I guess it's so. I'm trying as hard as I know how to think +twice, now, before doing anything." + +"That sounds more like you, Sandy, and I'm glad to hear you talk so," +continued Bob; "but did father say anything about how we were to hunt +this afternoon?" + +"There is only one thing he insisted on," the other started to reply, +when Bob interrupted him by saying: + +"I think I can guess what that was; we must take some one along with +us; and of course we'll be only too glad to do it, since it will be Pat +O'Mara, who knows more about hunting, and Indian fighting, and taking +all fur-bearing animals in traps and snares, than any three others on +board." + +"Just what he said, I declare! Seems like you must have been close +enough to hear it all!" exclaimed Sandy, as if surprised; "and yet that +couldn't be, either, for I saw you sitting here all the time I was +speaking with father. But I'm glad it's settled. And I do hope we run +across plenty of excitement. It is getting what I call dull, with so +little happening." + +To Bob there was so much to see in the new pictures presented with +every bend of the winding river, that he never found the time drag on +his hands; but then Sandy was made up along different lines, and could +not remain quiet any length, of time without getting nervous. + +The time passed slowly, indeed, until they heard the order given to +edge the boat in toward the southern shore of the river, so that they +could observe it more closely, in order to make sure that enemies were +not lurking in the undergrowth. + +Pat O'Mara gave it as his opinion that there seemed to be no evidence +that the Indians were near by; and, as he, too, wanted to stretch his +legs by a little side hunt, it was finally determined to land. + +Of course, there must be more or less danger in leaving the protection +of the strong cabin of the flatboat, and venturing into the depths of +the forest; but, as has been said before, the life of a pioneer is so +made up of taking risks that he assumes chances without much thought or +anxiety. When the danger came along they would trust to their ability +to take care of themselves. And every one of the party felt pretty much +the same way. + +Mr. Armstrong had a crude chart of the river, but it was founded on +almost guesswork, so little was the region to the westward known at +the time. The place where Cincinnati now stands was called Fort +Washington; and, an indefinite distance further down, another mark +on the map showed where Harrodsburg stood, about where the city of +Louisville can be found to-day, marking the falls of the Ohio during +low water times. + +So, apparently, the early settlers had a pretty good eye for the most +advantageous natural sites, upon which to found the white man's cities +of the future. + +What lay beyond Harrodsburg no one really knew. Somewhere, in some +manner, the Ohio joined forces with the mighty Mississippi; and this +bold little company of men and women were on the way to learn the +truth, taking their lives in their hands in so doing. + +When the boat had been tied up, Pat and the two boys started into the +woods, bent upon bringing back fresh meat if it could be procured by +any means in their power. + +"Sure," remarked the trapper, when they found themselves out of sight +of the river, and surrounded by the primeval forest, "we must be afther +kapin' clost enough till each ither to hear a signal whistle. If wees +do be afther catchin' that same, it wull mane to come tegither as +quickly as yees can. But only a cooie stands for 'all's well, kape on +a-huntin' right along wid yees, an' may the bist man win.'" + +When they divided their forces, so as to cover more territory, Pat was +wise enough to station himself midway between the brothers. Here he +could keep in touch with either Sandy or Bob, a different sort of call +meaning that he wanted a response from the one it designated, and about +whom he might be getting a trifle anxious. + +Pat had hunted many a time with such old frontiersmen as Jo Davies, +John Hardin and Silas Hardin. He knew pretty much all there was to be +learned about the ways of the cunning woods folks, from the little +mink up to the great buffalo that, if angered or wounded, would come +charging full at the hunter, ready to use his wicked short horns in +hurling him many feet into the air, or grinding him into the earth, if +he were so unlucky as to be caught napping. + +No small game would do for them now. Birds might flush from the +thickets and offer splendid pot shots; but they had agreed not to think +of taking advantage of anything in the feathered line short of a big +wild turkey. And, with so many mouths to feed, Sandy was more inclined +to wish they might rout a buffalo out of some thicket, than anything +else. + +They advanced for some time, without seeing anything that offered a +chance for a shot, and Sandy, of course, always impatient, began to +think they might, after all, be compelled to return to the boat without +any fresh meat, which would be a great pity, since every one yearned so +for a feast. + +The afternoon was now waning, and they found themselves some distance +away from the place where the camp had been made. About this time Pat +called the boys to him for a little consultation. He believed that, by +altering their course, so as to come upon the river about two miles +below the spot where their friends were tied up, the prospects for game +would be vastly improved, because the country looked better to his eyes +in that quarter. + +So the change in direction was made. Bob was just as well satisfied, +because he did not much like the idea of keeping on heading deeper and +deeper into the great hills that lay back from the river, and which +doubtless held more than one village of the hostile red men. + +He noticed with some concern that it was even now beginning to grow a +little dusk under the tall trees that lifted their lofty heads almost +a full hundred feet in the air. And then, just when Bob was wondering +if they were to arrive at the river, which could not be more than a +quarter of a mile distant, without one single sign of game, he heard +the well-known crash of Sandy's gun away over to the left; because Pat +carried one of those long-barrelled rifles, with the small bore, that +took a patched bullet--one that was enclosed in a greased piece of +linen--and made a sharp report entirely different from that of a musket. + +Hurrying that way, he found Pat and Sandy bending over a noble young +two-pronged buck that had jumped from a thicket where he had been +lying, and fallen when the young Nimrod hastily let fly; for Sandy was +a clever all-around shot. + +Pat set to work, assisted by both the boys, to skin the game, and +secure all the edible portions. These parts were made up into three +packs, so that each might carry a share of the burden to camp, which +was at least two miles distant. + +Wondering whether the shot had reached the ears of their friends, and +picturing their delight when they sighted all that fine fresh meat, +the three were trudging along through the gathering darkness, when, +without warning, Pat stumbled, having evidently caught his foot in some +trailing vine which he had not seen. + +Bob hastened to drop his own burden, and bend over to assist Pat to +rise, for he saw that the other seemed to be having some difficulty +about doing so. When he heard the trapper groan, Bob's alarm increased. + +"What has happened to you, Pat?" asked Sandy, who did not yet +understand the cause of the delay, save that their companion had +tripped. + +"Bad cess to the thing; but I'm afther belavin' that I've gone an' +twisted me ankle so bad that 'tis mesilf that can't put the same to the +ground; and that manes a long time before we say camp agin, so it do," +grumbled the trapper. + +Somehow Bob began to feel a little anxiety, as though he scented new +difficulties looming up ahead. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE FIGURES AGAINST THE SKY + + +"THIS is what I call hard luck," remarked Sandy, as he dropped his +bundle of deer meat close to where the trapper sat upon the ground, +rubbing his ankle. + +"It is that same, by the token," grumbled Pat. "Av yees give me a hand, +byes, it's mesilf will thry to sthand up, and say how well I can walk." + +Willingly each of the lads took hold of an arm, and assisted him to +gain an upright position; but, when Pat started bravely to walk, he +made a sorry mess of it. He was a game fellow, however, and would not +be dismayed. + +"Sure, it may pass away afther I've given the ould thing a little +exercise, like, and av yees say the worrd we'll pick up our packs and +do be goin' on our way, rejoicin' becase it's no worrse. What if I'd +broke me nick--that would have been a nice pickle for a man to be in!" + +He even insisted on carrying his share of the venison, though Bob +protested; but Pat was a stubborn man. + +"Think av all the mouths to be fed, would ye; and why should I lit it +lay here, where it wull do no good at all, at all, save to fill the +stomach av a wolf, or make a wildcat feel happy? Sure it goes along wid +me if I can limp." + +And it did,--that is, for some little time, though Pat had to call for +a stop, and rest, every hundred yards. Once he proposed that the two +boys desert him, and make for the place where the boat was tied up +above. + +"'Tis only a matter av a mile or so, me lads," he said, "an' I'm dead +sure ye'd be able to find the same widout much throuble. In good time +Pat would come limpin' into camp. Kape the river on your lift, that do +be all yees have to do." + +"Well, that's something we'll never do, Pat, desert a comrade in +trouble," was the vehement reply of Bob; and Sandy was even more +emphatic; so the pleased Irish trapper had to be content with the way +things were going. + +"We've got the whole night before us," Bob remarked, in a low voice, +for Pat had warned them to be careful, because there was no telling +what might be abroad in the big timber bordering the river. + +"And once we get aboard the flatboat," continued Sandy, in the same +vein, "Pat can have his sprain looked after by mother; and there's no +need of him setting his weight on that foot again till it's well." + +It was at one of the resting spells that something occurred to Bob. + +"I was thinking," he remarked in a whisper, "that, if we looked around, +we might find some good stuff here." + +"Stuff for what?" asked Sandy. + +"To make a litter out of," replied Bob. + +"Oh! you mean so that we could carry Pat between us, and the venison, +too," Sandy whispered back. + +"Yes, what do you think of it, Sandy?" + +"Seems like a good idea to me; and, if you say the word, I'll begin to +look about here right now, Bob," the other answered. + +He was about to make the first move when Pat, who had been listening, +broke in upon the conversation of the brothers. + +"A litter is it that yees would be afther makin'," he remarked, +quickly; "and to kerry me to camp like I was a dead soldier, so it +be? Wull, I've no objections to ye makin' wan av the same to kerry the +mate; but, by me faith, ye'll niver get Pat O'Mara to rist his bones +on that litter unless he is out av his mind. An' av ye be falin' like +another spell, lit's be away." + +Of course, after that Bob could not insist, for only too well did he +know the independent spirit of the Irish trapper. As long as Pat could +put one foot to the ground he would persist in moving along; nor could +Bob prevail on him to either throw his burden away, or divide it up +between the other two. + +"I'll do me share av the worrk, or know the rason why," Pat would +answer back, every time the idea was mentioned; and, as long as he +showed this obstinate streak, they could do nothing but let him have +his way. + +Bob was keeping his wits about him all this while. He noticed the +direction they were taking, and could even give a pretty fair guess as +to the distance yet to be traversed before they could hope to reach the +tied-up boat. + +"I don't believe we are more than a single mile away from them now; is +that so, Pat?" he asked, as they sat there, resting again. + +"Sure, ye do be a smart lad, Bob," replied the other, in his usual +whisper, which the boys had come to imitate, though it gave a very +mysterious air to their surroundings; "and, av I do know annything at +all, that's about the distance we sthill have to cover. But don't be +worryin' about me; for I tell yees I can make it by hook or by crook. +It ain't often as Pat O'Mara--whist, he sthill now, both av yees!" + +Bob felt a sudden thrill as the Irish trapper finished his sentence +in this surprising manner. He knew what it must mean only too well. +Pat had keen ears, even as he also possessed the eyes of a hawk. His +long life in the woods had made him the equal of a redskin in these +respects, as well as many others pertaining to following a faint trail, +reading signs from the track of a wild animal, big or small, and such +tricks as Indians know from boyhood. + +It was plainly evident from his manner that he had either seen or heard +something suspicious, and, under the circumstances, this could only +mean hostile Indians. + +Bob saw that the other was looking away toward the left, which was +where the river must lie, for it had been their intention, after +striking the water, to try to follow up the shore, hoping to take +advantage of the shallow strip of open that often lay between the +margin of the river and the dense woods. + +At the moment they happened to be down in a sort of shallow gully. A +low ridge arose between the spot where they rested and the river. The +moon was very nearly half full and, where the great trees did not shut +out the light, it was easy to see the top of this small ridge, for it +happened to be bald in places. + +Pat was staring straight upward toward one of these open spots; and +Bob naturally allowed his eyes to travel in the same quarter. He heard +Sandy give a low gasp; nor did Bob blame his brother in the least for +thus allowing an indication of his astonishment and dismay to escape +him. + +For against the clear sky, plainly outlined in the moonlight, there was +a figure, walking swiftly along the ridge, and heading up the river. +There was no need for any one to explain what those feathers stuck +in the scalplock meant, for Bob knew he was looking upon an Indian +in his war dress. Doubtless, had he been closer, the paint that was +daubed upon his cheeks and forehead could have been seen. Even the gun +he carried, undoubtedly purchased by a bundle of rich furs from the +French traders of the Mississippi posts, could be seen, as he picked +his way across the little gap in the dark intervening forest, and then +vanished beyond. + +But already a second warrior had come into view, following closely in +the footsteps of the leading brave, it seemed. He, too, was decked out +for war, if those feathers that stood upright signified all the boys +believed they did, and a gun was clasped in his hand, just as with the +first dark spectre. + +A third was in view even before the second had passed beyond the limits +of the watchers' vision. A fourth came trailing along, then a fifth; +and the grim procession continued to move along like a column of +nightmare ghosts, until Bob had unconsciously counted twenty-two of the +savages. + +What a narrow escape they had had! Suppose either he or Sandy had been +unwise enough to talk beyond the whisper which cautious Pat instituted +as the margin of safety, what chance would they have had against such a +host of cruel foes? + +They waited for a minute or so, fearful lest there might be a straggler +who had fallen a little distance behind the rest; but, when none +appeared, Bob felt safe in speaking in the guarded tone used before. + +"That was a close shave, now, I'm telling you," he said, drawing a +long breath. "If we'd been moving at the time, I'm afraid they'd have +discovered us long before we did them." + +"Yis," grumbled Pat, "wid me makin' all the noise av a granehorn in +the woods, a-draggin' me lift lig afther me. But sure, that's not the +worrst av it, byes. Did ye not notice the direction the bog trotters do +be goin'?" + +"Up the river!" said Sandy, quickly. + +"And the flatboat lies there, not more than a mile away!" gasped Bob, +feeling suddenly cold all over, as a spasm of dread took possession of +him. + +"Oh! how can we warn them?" asked Sandy, getting to his feet, as though +sorely tempted to start on a run for the river, so that he could try to +make the camp before the murderous Indians reached it. + +"Whist! be aisy now, and we'll thry and find some way to do the +same," remarked Pat, as he painfully arose, and made ready to clutch +hold of the impetuous lad, if there was any sign that Sandy really +contemplated giving them the slip. + +"But something ought to be done at once," remonstrated the other, his +voice filled with emotion, as he thought of the loved ones who might +be caught unawares by the savages and fall victims to their cruel +tomahawks and knives. "Don't you think either Bob or myself might get +there ahead of them, if we went along the edge of the river? Please, +Pat, think quick now, if ever you did in all your life." + +"'Tis that same I'm doin', me bye," the trapper replied. "Ye must pull +up, and howld yer horses. 'Tis a time to do the right thing, or be the +same token ye're apt to ruin the whole business. Just stop and remimber +that afore we lift camp I arranged all that wid yer father." + +"The signals, you mean, Pat?" asked Sandy, while Bob gulped down the +lump in his throat that had threatened to choke him, for a sudden sense +of relief had come to him. + +"The same, Sandy," the trapper replied, laying a kindly hand on the arm +of the excited boy. "Rist aisy now, would ye, for we have it in our +power to sind warmin' to lit thim know danger hangs over the camp; and +that they must git aboord, and cut loose down the strame widout delay. +But, befoore we sind that warrnin', 'tis only the parrt av wisdom, do +ye say, to lit the inimy cover more ground, so that we do be havin' +a chanct to make our iscape, in case they sind back a parrt av their +number to look us up." + +Sandy, after all, could be reasonable, once he grasped the breadth of a +plan, and he hastened to declare his reliance on the shrewdness of the +Irish trapper. + +"You're right, Pat," he said, huskily; "but oh! don't wait too long; +make it soon!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +SIGNAL SHOTS + + +HOW those seconds dragged, to the two impatient boys! They seemed, each +one, to be hours in length, so eager were the lads to send the warning. + +But Pat, who kept quite cool, knew what he was doing. He was also well +aware of the fact that, in their eagerness to save the others, the boys +would not take any precaution with reference to themselves; and, as a +consequence, must fall victims to the fury of the baffled savages. + +Pat's idea was to save both parties; and this was why he meant to allow +a certain amount of time to elapse before informing those at the boat +of the impending peril, which they could only avoid by immediate flight. + +"Come, lit us be thryin' to cross the ridge, me byes," said Pat, +picking up his bundle of meat with the old-time obstinacy that would +not give in. + +"The ridge!" echoed Sandy, in dismay, as he fell in behind, when they +had started. + +"Sure, we have to git beyant the same, av we hope to make the river," +the Irish trapper went on to say. + +"Then do you hope to follow up the water, and get there ahead of them?" +gasped the boy, in sore distress, as he contemplated the slow progress +the limping man was making at the time. + +"I do not, be the same token," answered Pat; "but the closer we are +to the river, the better for us, when we do be thryin' to work down +strame, afther warrnin' the camp, d'ye mind." + +"Oh! I see now what you mean," Sandy whispered, keeping close behind +the other. "After we've sent the signal, we must hurry as fast as we +can down the river, so as to put a lot of distance between us. Then, +when the boat comes along, we have to hail them, and wade out to get +aboard. Is that what you figure on, Pat?" + +"Yees have hit the tarrget in the bull's-eye, Sandy; and now, arrah, +please close up shop; it do be harrd climbin' the ridge, and we nade +ivery bit av breath to kerry us over the same." + +Under ordinary conditions the task would not have given them much +trouble; but bearing such heavy burdens, and with Pat able to make such +poor headway, it took them some little time to gain the top of the +ridge. + +Bob fancied that they must be about in the same spot as where they had +seen the grim line of fighting men outlined against the sky. He hoped +there would be no one below to notice their passage at the time. + +"Do we fire the shots from here!" asked Sandy. + +"Not yit," replied the trapper; "we must git down near the river first. +Depind on it, there do be plenty av time yit. The hathen wud crape +along, afther gettin' above, and I'm thinkin' it might be all av half +an hour afore they could rach the camp. Long afore thin we'll have our +frinds a-sailin' down the river as nice as pie. Lave it to me, byes, +and I do promise ye all will be well." + +And so Sandy had to repress his desire to yell, or fire his gun, or do +something rash, in the hope of sending the alarm all the way over that +mile of territory, so as to start the people on the flatboat down the +river. + +They had less trouble in descending, though Pat grunted considerably +as he frequently wrenched that lame ankle, in his efforts to walk. They +could see the river shining in the light of the moon, when openings +occurred in the trees. It seemed to have the appearance of an old +friend. And how glad they would be when they glimpsed the boat moving +along with the current, and a safe distance from the dangerous shore. + +"Now, I think it be time," said Pat, presently, when they had gained a +spot at least half-way down the side of the bluff. + +"Tell us what we are to do, Pat," remarked Bob, as he deposited his +share of the venison on the ground, and took his gun in both hands. + +Sandy was already prepared to carry out his share of the programme; for +he always did things with great rapidity. + +"The arrangemint was this," said the trapper, impressively. "Three +shots, aich about five seconds afther the wan afoore. Thin wait a +minute or so, till we could reload our guns, whin the same thing was to +be done agin. That winds up the performance. Are yees riddy?" + +Both boys answered in the affirmative. + +"Thin, Sandy, do ye fire first; and Bob, whin I say the worrd, lit fly. +As for mesilf, I'll wind up the first relay in great style. Go it, +Sandy!" + +Instantly the boy raised his gun, and pulled the trigger. There was a +loud report, for those old-fashioned flint-lock muskets held a large +charge of powder, and the wad was usually well rammed before the bullet +followed it home. + +"Now, Bob!" and hardly had the words been spoken by the trapper than +the second report rang out. + +Sandy was already feverishly reloading, when Pat followed with a third +shot. + +"I wonder what the Indians will think when they hear that volley?" Bob +remarked. + +"It's going to puzzle them a lot to make it out," Sandy declared. "But +what if those at the boat shouldn't hear our signal, Pat?" + +"There do be no danger at all av that, son," replied the trapper, +readily. "Becase we did not turrn up be darrk, they are likely +listenin' for signs. And, av yees notice, the night wind is crapin' +up the river, comin' from the west; so that the sound av the guns was +kerried straight away to the camp. Ready, Sandy? Thin let fly!" + +Once again was the programme carried out as before, the three shots +punctuating the stillness of the night. + +"And now 'tis away we go, headin' for the idge av the river," said Pat, +again shouldering that prized venison, which, if once taken safely on +board the boat, would be well earned, indeed. + +They soon came to the bank of the river, and just as had been expected, +found that the walking was better if they kept close to the water's +edge. In places they might have to push through some dense copse that +persisted in growing to the water's edge; but, on the whole, it proved +to be a wise move. + +Of course they headed down-stream. This was done in order to put as +great a distance as possible between the Indians and themselves; for +later on they hoped to have an opportunity to get aboard the flatboat; +and it meant a good deal to them all if the enemy at that time happened +to be some distance away. + +All the while the boys were anxiously listening for sounds from the +rear. Naturally they were picturing all sorts of terrible things as +happening to the crew and passengers of the floating home on the water. + +And, when suddenly a series of fierce yells broke out, Sandy and Bob +stopped in their tracks, shivering with fear. + +Pat, however, only chuckled. He could read between the lines, and hence +knew the true meaning of those loud cries. + +"Sure they do be as mad as a wit hin," he remarked, as a number of +gunshots came to their ears, still accompanied by those shouts. + +"Then you think our friends have escaped, do you, Pat?" inquired Sandy, +eagerly. + +"I do be sure av the same," was the prompt answer. + +"But listen to the firing that is going on!" Sandy continued. + +"It is all on the wan side, I warrant ye, lad," the trapper declared, +with firm conviction in his manner. + +"Yes, for I know the sound of those hateful French guns. They do not +make the same kind of report as our own weapons," Bob ventured to say. +"And that means the Indians are just firing away at the floating boat, +to give vent to their fury because their prey has escaped." + +"What if they follow the boat down the river, and come on us when we +are trying to get aboard?" his brother asked, still seeing trouble +ahead. + +"To be sure, there might be a chanct av the same happenin'," Pat +admitted; "but we'll have to risk it, I fear, lads. Av we can only get +to that point av land ye say below there, it would be a great place to +step aboord, becase the boat must pass close by it." + +"And for the same reason the Indians are likely to think of it, and +hurry here, in hopes of getting the same chance," remarked Bob. + +But all the same, he knew that Pat had planned wisely. There was +really nothing else for them to do, unless they wished to allow the +boat to pass on down-stream, and wait for them far below. That would +necessitate the making of a temporary raft out of some big log, and +floating down to rejoin their friends. + +The lame trapper hurried as much as he could, utterly regardless of the +pain the effort caused him, and in this way they presently reached the +point of land that thrust out into the river. + +"Perhaps they've already gone by?" suggested Sandy, when they failed to +see anything of the floating house above their hiding-place. + +"I hardly think there's been time for that," Bob replied. "The current +is only about four miles an hour, Pat told us; and, unless my figuring +is wrong, it would take them nearly half an hour to get past here. And +we have been no such time making this point; have we, Pat?" + +"'Tis right yees are, me bye," replied the trapper; and he did not say +more, for he was scanning the surface of the river as well as he was +able. + +"But it seems to me there's a river fog coming up from below," declared +Sandy. + +"Yes, that's a fact," admitted Bob; "I noticed that myself; but it +isn't going to be so thick we couldn't see the flatboat passing +anywhere this side of the middle of the stream." + +All relapsed into silence. The deepest anxiety prevailed, for it +meant a tremendous lot to the three wanderers if they should be so +unfortunate as to miss the boat, and be thrown on their own resources, +with a lame comrade on their hands in the bargain. + +"Do you see anything, Bob?" whispered Sandy, presently, when the +silence began to seem unbearable. + +"I believe I do," came the reply. "There, Pat has caught it, too; for +I can tell from his actions. Yes, it's a moving object away up yonder; +and I do believe, Sandy, it is the boat, coming at last!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE MAN WITH THE CHARMED LIFE + + +"HOW can we let them know we're here, so they'll push in close enough, +and anchor, while some one comes for us in the dugout?" Sandy inquired. + +Pat had prepared for that, too, it seemed. + +"I'm to flash a bit av powder to till them we're waitin' beyant the +p'int av land," he remarked; "and 'tis mesilf as had better be gettin' +ready to do the same in a hurry, for they do be comin' along right +fast." + +He placed a small amount of the precious powder on a stone, and then +held his flint and steel in readiness until such time as the boat came +close enough to suit his purpose. + +Then it was no effort for the experienced trapper to send a spark into +the little pile of powder, which went off instantly, giving a brief but +vivid flash. + +All eyes were on the advancing flatboat, for it was a matter of +importance to them to know whether the signal had been seen or not. + +"There, they know we are here, and want to get aboard!" exclaimed +Sandy, as a single shot came from the deck of the boat. + +"If any of the Indians were on the watch, and saw the flash of powder, +as well as the gunshot, they might give a guess what we were up to," +Bob remarked. + +"We'll hope, then, they gave up chasing after the boat, when they saw +it was no use," Sandy added. + +The flatboat was now close by, and they could even see moving figures +on the deck. The two boys felt positive that among them were their +anxious parents; and the fact made them all the more eager to get +safely aboard. + +"Now they're going to anchor!" declared Sandy; "and I can see somebody +dropping back into the dugout that trails astern. Let's get ready to +put our meat aboard, and follow with ourselves." + +Immediately the small boat started straight for the end of the tongue +of land, as though the paddler knew that those he sought were apt to +be close by that point. Still grunting with his painful ankle, Pat +insisted on picking up his share of the venison, with which he limped +forward. + +It was Mr. Armstrong himself who came in the dugout. So eager was he to +make sure that both his boys were safe, that he would not let any one +else attempt this part of the rescue work. + +Sandy started to tell what had happened, but Bob stopped all talk, and +urged him to get in the boat without a second's delay, after all the +venison, together with the lame trapper, had been deposited there. + +There would be plenty of time for explanations later on, when danger +did not hang so heavily over their heads. + +With all his might Mr. Armstrong urged the little craft, now really +overloaded, out toward the anchored flatboat. At any second Bob +expected to hear the shout of a coming brave, and perhaps have the +report of a gun break upon his ear. Until they had clambered aboard the +larger craft, he did not feel that they could call themselves safe. + +But when finally every one of them had climbed over the side, both +Sandy and Bob felt like giving a shout of thanksgiving. + +They were met by the fond arms of their mother, and pressed to her +heart; for no one knew all that she must have suffered after hearing +those terribly significant six shots, telling them cruel foes were +abroad, and that they must apparently abandon the three who were ashore. + +The anchor had hardly been raised than one of the men reported seeing +shadowy figures flitting along the tongue of land; but as the unwieldy +craft again commenced to pass down with the current, and they knew that +once more the foe had been left in the lurch, those on board gave free +rein to their joy in loud cheers. + +A few disappointed yells announced that they had not passed on any too +soon; and the boys decided that they had great reason to be thankful +over their narrow escape. + +And later on, when the dearly-won venison was lifted out of the dugout +that trailed astern, the thought of having fresh meat gave them all +much satisfaction. + +Of course the boys had to tell their story over and over again, while +many questions were asked regarding the coming of the Indians. + +"How do you think they knew we were there?" asked Mr. Harkness. + +"Pat says a brave must have sighted the boat, and followed it until we +came to land," remarked Bob. "Then he hastened to his village, which +may be back here a few miles, and a war party was hurriedly made up. +Only for our discovering them as they passed along that ridge, the end +might not be so nice as it is." + +It was determined that their best course would be to put boldly across +the river, and pass down the northern shore. This could be accomplished +by means of the big sweeps; and already several of the men were working +them. + +An hour or two later they were in touch with the northern side of +the stream; and, as the moon began to show signs of setting, they +determined to anchor, as the recent scare had taken away all desire to +tie up to the shore. + +There was no further trouble that night, and another morning found +them in high spirits. Pat's sprain still bothered him, more or less, +and would for some days to come; but Mrs. Armstrong had bound some of +her wonderful healing salve upon the swollen ankle, and the trapper +declared he was doing much better than he had even hoped would be the +case. + +A day of peace followed. They drifted along not a great distance +from the shore, and yet keeping away from any dangerous points, +where enemies might be in hiding, bent on getting a shot at the white +voyagers. + +Sandy did more or less fishing as they went, and had some success, +though he found it better to delay his best efforts until they were +tied up for the night. As for Bob, he noticed that there were still +flocks of wild fowl on the river at various points, and, longing to +bag a few, he awaited his time, when a shot was apt to count, and then +showed what a good marksman he was. + +Altogether they were doing splendidly, and had little cause for +complaint when night closed in around them. They tied up this time, for +there had been no sign of Indians the livelong day, and, as Pat was +in no condition to scout around, one of the men volunteered to take +his place. When he came in later, he declared that, so far as he could +discover, there was not an enemy within ten miles of them. + +That night passed without any alarm, for which all of them felt very +thankful, since they had lost considerable sleep the night before; and +it seemed like old times to be able to repose in comfort, only arousing +to take a turn at sentry duty, according to the routine arranged. + +The next day was really a repetition of that peaceful one. Sandy +declared that he thought all the bad Indians must be on the Kentucky +side of the Ohio, and that, if they were wise, they would remain on the +northern shore from that time on; but Pat gave him to understand that +it was six of one and half a dozen of the other, since marauding bands +were constantly on the move, visiting between villages, or joining +forces for a raid against the settlements of the hated palefaces. + +It was about the middle of the afternoon when one of the men declared +that he felt sure he had heard the distant report of firearms, and what +seemed to be faint yells, from some point down the river. + +Of course this excited everybody aboard the flatboat, from the oldest +man down to the children, who were of an age to appreciate the perils +by which they were constantly surrounded. + +Some little time afterwards there was a cry raised that a man had been +seen running over an elevation on the shore, and hotly pursued, it +seemed, by the Indians. + +Mr. Armstrong, realizing that perhaps another crisis was impending, +ordered that the women and children should remain in the shelter of +the cabin, while the rest crouched on deck, awaiting the turn of events. + +"I see him now!" cried Sandy; "and, sure enough, he's pushing for the +river as fast as his legs will carry him." + +"And there come the savages chasing after him," declared Bob. "There, +now one stops, and sends an arrow, while another fires his gun; but he +still runs on, and I do not think they could have hit him, because he +keeps dodging this way and that all the time, to make them miss." + +"Begorra, now, p'raps they don't be afther wantin' to hit him," +suggested Pat, who was with the others, watching the stirring scene. + +"Oh! he means that this may only be another trick of the Indians, meant +to get us to draw in closer, so that the rest, who are hidden among the +bushes, can pour in a volley, and then rush the boat," Sandy burst out. + +"And this time, make yer mind up," said Pat, grimly, "av I have rason +to belave the omadhaun is only a turncoat a-tryin' to lure us in to be +kilt, I've a good mind to knock him over, as he desarves." + +"I'd go very slow about that, Pat," advised Mr. Armstrong. + +"For what would ye be sayin' the likes av that, sor?" asked the +trapper, moving his long-barrelled rifle up a little further, as though +eager to begin operations right away. + +"You can see that he's jumped into the water now, and is wading boldly +out, as though he meant to swim out to us when we come along. There, he +stands up to his middle in the river, and levels his rifle. Did you see +that savage fall when he fired? Does that look as if he was a renegade, +Pat?" + +"Arrah! if we only _knew_ that the hathan were kilt, I'd belave ye, +sor; but they do be sindin' in a hape of shots in return; and look at +the water splash around his head as he swims away. Some of the balls do +be strikin' mighty clost, it sames to me." + +"Yes, too close to be fired at a friend and ally," Mr. Armstrong went +on; "and I am positive they were meant to bring him down. There, he +shakes his fist at them now, and laughs, as though he did not know the +meaning of the word fear." + +"It seems to me I have heard that laugh before," exclaimed Sandy, +eagerly. + +"Right ye are, laddy," said Pat, suddenly rousing himself, and lowering +his gun. + +Mr. Armstrong was leaning forward, and surveying the swimmer closely, +as though he, too, had detected certain familiar features in connection +with the party. + +"You'll always be glad you didn't fire so hastily, Pat," he declared; +"for upon my word I do believe yonder man who acts as though he were +determined to come aboard our craft is none other than our friend, +Simon Kenton, the borderer, who mocks the efforts of the Indians to +finish him, and has been held a prisoner, doomed to the stake, more +times than any man along the Ohio!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +KENTON, THE RECKLESS BORDERER + + +THE swimmer had timed himself so as to reach the side of the flatboat +as it swung past; and, in order to create a diversion in his favor, Pat +called on his friends to send in a hot fire among the charging Indians. + +This had the effect of making them scamper for shelter; and meanwhile +Kenton managed to get on the other side of the floating craft. Eager +hands were outstretched to assist him over the side. He was still +laughing, as though he considered the whole thing a joke. And the very +first thing he did upon reaching the deck of the boat was to shake his +fist in the direction of the hidden foes, and shout some derisive words +in the Shawanee tongue toward them. (Note 10.) + +They were soon far below the dangerous spot; and, after Kenton had +regained his breath, he proceeded to explain how it all happened. + +He had learned, while hunting with a party of friends, that the +Indians over in Kentucky were once more on the war-path, and that +Boonesborough itself was threatened with extinction. + +Faithful to his best friend, Daniel Boone, Kenton, after trying in vain +to coax the other hunters to join him, had alone started for the Ohio, +meaning to cross over, and make his way to the scene of action by fast +stages. + +He had had the misfortune to fall upon a party of Shawanees, and, after +a fierce battle, was taken prisoner, and carried to their village. + +"But, as usual, they could not hold you," remarked Mr. Armstrong. + +"Oh! I knew that was what would happen," replied the woodsman, lightly. +"And I managed to escape in good season, for time was worth something +to me, since my rifle is needed for the defence of Boonesborough. After +I am refreshed I will only ask you to put me ashore over yonder," and +he pointed across the rolling river, to where lay the hilly shore of +the "Dark and Bloody Ground," as Kentucky was well called in those +early days. + +"Then we must start without delay, and you shall have a bite to eat +before you leave us," said Mr. Armstrong; after which he gave orders +to have the course of the flatboat changed, heading once more across +the river. + +The women were soon engaged in preparing supper, so that Kenton might +not be detained longer than was absolutely necessary, and, some of the +venison having been held over, it came in very handy for that purpose. + +Meantime there was an exchange of stories between them, Kenton being +desirous of learning why they were here, so far away from the home in +which he had last met them. Thus he heard about the flood, and the +determination of the settlers making up the party to head into the +west, and seek a new home on the bank of the wonderful Mississippi. + +Of course this sort of pluck appealed to such a bold nature as that of +Simon Kenton. He told them they were doing the right thing, and related +many facts connected with the Promised Land, some gleaned from others, +and a few through personal observation on some of his wanderings, that +quite naturally further strengthened their resolution, which may have +been becoming a little weak in a few of the party, after their recent +trials on the river. + +By the time the boat drew near the Kentucky shore supper was ready; +so the anchor was thrown overboard, and the entire company sat down to +enjoy the feast the good wives had prepared. + +If the variety of food was not so extensive, there was at least enough +in quantity and to spare; and, with the appetites that went with their +life in the open, this was usually the main thing. + +Kenton begged a little more powder and ball from Mr. Armstrong, and it +was only too willingly given, for they knew that he had a difficult +trail to follow, and they could in imagination see the dangers that +peopled it. + +Just as darkness was settling over the land and water Bob and Sandy +took the young borderer ashore in the dugout, only too proud of the +chance to do him a favor. And Kenton, having shaken hands with them at +parting, Sandy sighed upon looking after him when he disappeared among +the great trees that lined the shore. + +"Come, get aboard here, Sandy," urged his brother, who knew well what +vague thoughts and ambitions must he flitting through the other's mind +just then, because he was aware of Sandy's desire to follow in the +footsteps of Simon Kenton, who had ever been the hero the boy admired. + +And all the way back to the anchored flatboat Sandy maintained a +grim silence, though Bob knew it would wear off after a bit, and the +boy become his usual merry self. The truth of the matter was, Sandy +possessed an adventurous spirit, and chafed under restraint. He admired +the free nature of Kenton, who came and went as the whim urged him, +being under contract to no man. And then, too, the very recklessness +of the young borderer appealed to Sandy, who was inclined in that +direction himself. + +Another quiet night followed, and once more the voyagers were on their +way. It would not be a great while now before they reached the small +post on the Ohio bank called by the name of Fort Washington, in honor +of the American soldier who was attracting general attention at the +time, and seemed to be the only Continental who might lead the armies +of the colonists in case the threatened rupture with the Mother Country +came about. + +Again did they cross the river, for knowing that they would at any time +come in sight of the post, they wanted to be in a position to make a +landing. Here, safe for a time, they could rest, having completed the +first stage of their long and hazardous journey to the Mississippi. + +It was Sandy who first discovered a flag floating from a staff, and, +although, at the time, the banner of England was beginning to lose some +of its attractiveness for the colonists, still, when seen under those +conditions, after having been beset by the savage foe for many days and +nights, they gave it a cheer. + +The post had only been recently established, and, while visited by +all wandering hunters and trappers who roamed the country in search +of game and adventure, there were only a few families staying there. +The arrival of a flatboat was an event calculated to greatly excite +the garrison of the post, and consequently our friends received a warm +welcome. + +It was nice to feel that for a short time at least they could lie down +to sleep without dreading lest they be aroused by the savage war-whoops +of the cruel foe, always ready to overpower any daring settler or +trapper of the hated palefaces. + +Bob and Sandy were glad to get ashore again. The latter wished very +much for a chance to take a hunt into the forests that at this time +completely flanked the little station in the cup between the several +hills, and facing the river; but to this Mr. Armstrong would not give +his consent. + +They had learned that the various Indian tribes were in something of a +ferment, with such leaders as the notorious Pontiac urging them on to +a confederation, the object of which was to drive out the encroaching +white man from their hunting grounds. And several times, of late, those +who ventured out beyond the stockade of the new post had been fired on, +showing that crafty enemies lurked near by all the while, ready to take +advantage of any opportunity to secure a scalp. + +Several days passed while they lingered here, for it was very pleasant, +and the adventurous settlers knew that they would not have a chance to +see their kind again for a long while. + +Coming upon Bob one afternoon, after they had heard that the start was +to be made on the following morning, Sandy found his brother looking at +some small object which he immediately recognized. + +It was the last piece of curled birch bark, on which their unknown +friend had written his message of warning, using the picture language +of the Indian, so universally known throughout all the tribes. + +"Oh! I had forgotten all about that," Sandy burst out; "and, now that +we've come so far away from our home up on the Ohio, I suppose we'll +never know who sent these friendly warnings, and just why." + +"That's something I was wondering about," replied Bob. "Now, here's the +arrow to which this message was fastened; and wouldn't you say this one +had been made by just the same cunning hand?" + +He reached behind him, and placed a second shaft beside the first +arrow. Sandy bent his head to examine them more closely. Then he looked +up again. + +"What do you mean, Bob, and where did you get that second Delaware +arrow?" he demanded, quickly. + +"Where but in the roof of our flatboat cabin," returned the other. "It +had been fired from up on the hills back yonder, I do believe; though +the marksman must have been a rare one to hit a target so far away. But +it bore no birch-bark message, though I can well believe it was sent +just to tell us our strange friend, who has watched over us so many +times, is still following us down the river, and means to keep up with +us to the end. That Indian, Sandy, must believe he owes us a heavy debt +of gratitude, and he means to pay it back, some way or other." + +And Sandy, handling the feathered shaft, had a feeling almost of awe +steal over him, as he reflected what gratitude must stand for in the +eyes of an Indian brave. Hundreds of miles this unknown friend had +already travelled, trying to stand between the boys and harm; and the +end was not yet. + +"Oh! I do hope we know who he is some of these days," the boy said, +soberly. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE TWO-LEGGED WOLF + + +"I'M glad to be afloat once more!" + +Of course that could be no one but Sandy making such a remark, under +the circumstances. He was leaning over the side of the bulwark of the +flatboat, and looking back up the river toward Fort Washington. + +It was all very nice, stopping with friends who were interested in +their welfare, as all pioneers must be; but for Sandy delay became +monotonous. He liked action, and plenty of it. + +Besides, his ambition to set eyes on that wonderful river of the west +grew in volume, the further they advanced along their journey. It +was now in the nature of a passion with the lad. And of course, his +father and mother would never be happy again until they had selected +a location for the new homestead in the wilderness bordering the +Mississippi; so the sooner they reached their destination the better +Sandy--yes, and Bob also--would be pleased. + +Their plans had been talked over so often at the frontier post that +several others manifested a desire to accompany the four families to +the country they had heard so much about; but, although Mr. Armstrong +declared he would be only too well pleased to have such a noble +addition to their number, the capacity of the flatboat had already been +reached, so that there was really no opportunity to stow even one more +family on board. + +It was settled, however, that they would leave some sign of their +location, if the opportunity came about; or, failing that, get word +back to these new friends, so that they too might build an ark, and +float down to the Mississippi in turn, to join their fortunes with +those of the first adventurous party. + +Bob was not far away from his brother when Sandy made the remark with +which this chapter opens, and he smiled to hear what the younger lad +said. + +"Well, I can understand what you mean, Sandy," he replied, "for I feel +a little that way myself. But just now I was wondering where he can +be, and how he makes his way across from one side of the river to the +other?" + +"Oh! now you're speaking of the mysterious Indian who sends those +Delaware arrows every little while, and seems to mean to keep along +with us, just like he was a shadow?" the other returned. + +"Hardly that, Sandy," said Bob, "because you can see a shadow; but +never once up to now have either of us set eyes on this queer friend +who likes to work in secret. Think of how far away from his village +he must have wandered; and it begins to look as if we might have him +around to protect us even after we get to our new home down below." + +"I heard father speaking about another difficulty we have ahead of us, +which is the falls of the Ohio, down about where Harrodsburg lies," Bob +went on presently. + +"Oh! will we have to abandon our fine flatboat there, and take up the +journey on foot?" cried Sandy, to whom the thought of a falls meant +some grand cataract, like the famous one at Niagara, of which he had +heard many times. + +"Well, if there is water enough in the river, we expect to pass right +through; but, if there seems to be any danger, father says he will +anchor the boat above, and either investigate the conditions himself, +or find some man who knows the channel. Hunters and trappers are +used to passing down that way, and shoot through without bothering +themselves about danger. And we'll get along all right, I guess, Sandy." + +"Then the falls aren't so very high, after all?" asked the other, +heaving a sigh of genuine relief. + +"Oh! no," laughed Bob; "they are what some hunters call rapids. At +high water you'd never know they were there, Pat says. He has seen the +place only once, and never shot them, so father could hardly depend +on him for a pilot. But you wait and see. We are in too great luck to +get wrecked on the rocks like that. There will be a way for us to get +through." + +Several days later they saw smoke ashore, and discovered a party of +hunters in camp. They were a hardy lot, ready to fight Indians as +cheerfully as they were willing to shoot deer or buffalo. + +The flatboat was anchored as close to the shore as seemed wise, and Mr. +Armstrong invited the others to come out and visit; but they said they +had no boat. One of them Pat immediately recognized. + +"Sure that looks like me ould frind, Jo Davies," he remarked; and the +man hearing what he said, called back: + +"Just who it is, Pat O'Mara, and glad to see you again." + +Thereupon Pat became wild to take the boat and go ashore after the +hunter who had more than once been in his company when on the trail, or +a trapping expedition. + +Of course, by this time Pat's lame ankle had mended so that he could +walk about as well as ever, though for perhaps a whole year he would +have to favor the left foot a little, when he could. + +He brought the four men out with him, and they spent a couple of hours +aboard, asking for the latest news from the distant sea-coast. + +In this far away country news travelled very slowly; yet evidently +these pioneers understood the conditions existing between the Crown and +the rebellious colonies; for their first question was whether there had +been an open break as yet. + +The moon had come and gone, so that there was no longer a chance to +float down the river after nightfall, since it would be too dangerous +in the darkness. Accordingly they determined to spend the night where +they were, supper being cooked ashore, after the boat had been urged in +by means of the stout poles. + +The four hunters remained to partake with them, and Jo Davies even +promised to stay with the party to see them safely over the falls, +which he said were just below a few miles, and would be reached early +on the morrow. Afterwards, he would rejoin his companions at a certain +rendezvous; when the bold quartette, already on their way back from +the Mississippi, where they had been annoying the French trappers +exceedingly, intended setting out for that region where the settlements +founded by Boone were struggling hard to hold their own against the +savage foe. + +Thus they found the needed pilot; for Jo Davies had been over the +ground many times, so that he knew well the channel that was safest, +between the rocks that might destroy the boat if an inexperienced hand +sought to show the way. + +This undertaking was successfully accomplished on the next day. The +boys were of course particularly fascinated by the passage of the falls +of the Ohio. Sandy was sorry when it had been accomplished, and they +were safely moored to the bank below the dangerous zone. But as for +Bob, he breathed much easier; for at one time he had feared that they +were bound to strike heavily against a snag that looked wicked enough +to do them considerable damage, and perhaps bring about a wreck. + +But now all was well; and presently, after they had put their kind +friend ashore again, so that he might rejoin the other three hunters +and hasten to the assistance of their old comrade, Boone, they could +resume the voyage with no further obstacle in the way worth mentioning. + +And now began glorious days for the boys. They could see the wooded +hills of Kentucky on the left, and the prairie lands of what is now +Indiana and Illinois off to the right, across the widening river. +Crossing over, they even went ashore at a place where there seemed to +be no danger of an Indian ambush, and here spent one whole day. + +During that time Mr. Armstrong and the other heads of families showed +a keen interest in the nature of the soil, and the wonderful growth of +flowers and grass that it seemed to support, all of which pleased them +immensely. + +Of course Sandy and Bob, being wild for another hunt after fresh meat, +easily persuaded their father to let them go forth; and, as before, Pat +accompanied them. + +As they had discovered many signs that showed that buffalo roamed over +these prairie lands, the young hunters were of course eager to get a +chance to shoot one of these animals. Such splendid quarry would yield +a good supply of fresh meat, and be a change besides from the jerked +venison, of which they were growing heartily tired. + +In this particular Pat's previous acquaintance with the country came +into good service. He knew just where the buffalo were apt to be found +at that time of day, and at the season of the year, for it was now not +far from early summer. + +"We'll be afther takin' up our way among thim bunches av trees beyant +the knoll yonder," he remarked, leading them forth; "and the chances be +tin to wan we'll say somethin' worth while before we come back. Be aisy +now, and walk in Injun file, bendin' low, an' saying niver so much as a +single worrd." + +They went in this way for a mile or more, and then Pat declared he knew +they were near the game. Sure enough, peeping up over the top of the +tall grass in which they were hidden, the boys discovered that a number +of buffalo were either eating lazily, or else lying down; for the sun +seemed rather hot at this noonday hour, and the shade cast by the +foliage of the trees felt grateful. + +How to crawl close enough to pour in a hot fire was the question Pat +had to decide; but it did not give him any great amount of trouble to +settle that. He noted which way the wind, what little there chanced +to be at the time, was blowing; for, in a case like the one now +confronting them, that was a prime factor. Then they began to glide +along like so many snakes. + +From time to time they would cautiously raise their heads, in order to +take an observation, and, so far as they could see, the buffalo did not +appear to be alarmed. + +"We ought soon to be close enough to shoot," whispered Sandy, after he +had raised his head for one of these inspections. "They don't seem to +be afraid of anything right now. Why, would you believe it, there's a +sneaking old gray wolf prowling around there; and none of them pay any +attention to him. Looks like they only have fear of wolves when they +come in packs." + +"What's that ye say; a wolf, is it?" whispered Pat; "whist! now, till I +be afther takin' a peep at the same." + +Ten seconds later, and he drew back his head; and Bob could see that +there was a black frown on the face of the jovial Irish trapper. + +"Bad cess to the luck, it do be surely irritatin'," he whispered again, +as they put their heads close to his. "Be careful now, lads, an' take +another look, to say what that blissed wolf do be afther." + +And as Bob and Sandy did so, they saw the big gray wolf raising up +until he almost stood on his hind legs, while the twang of a bow-string +came to their astonished ears. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +BAGGING A BUFFALO + + +"THERE was an arrow shot; I saw it sticking in the side of that buffalo +before it fell over, after running off a little way!" whispered Sandy, +excitedly, when both he and his brother dropped back again beside the +Irish trapper. + +"And I saw that wolf holding a short bow!" gasped Bob. + +"Oh! how could that be?" Sandy exclaimed. + +"Whist! don't spake so loud on yees life, me byes," broke in Pat, +holding up a warning finger. "There do be danger to us all, right here." + +"Danger!" echoed Sandy; "from the buffalo?" + +"From the Injuns, be the powers," added the trapper. "Not a worrd now, +above the faintest whisper, do ye mind, till we lay our plans. 'Tis a +ticklish job Pat has on his hands, so it is." + +"Indians!" breathed the startled Sandy; and then, like a flash, a look +of comprehension passed over his face. "Oh! now I understand what you +mean. That old wolf isn't what he pretends to be; but an Indian brave, +covered with a wolfskin." + +"Glory be! the bye has guessed it!" chuckled Pat, who could be amused +even when facing imminent peril. + +"Can we peep again, Pat?" asked Bob, really eager to see how the +cunning red hunter managed to accomplish the slaughter of the great +buffalo. + +"Av ye be mighty careful, and do not make any quick move to atthract +attention; becase the chances are, the hathen do be havin' frinds clost +by, ready to cut up the game whin he secures the same. Aisy now, Sandy, +and take it slow. Just the tip av yer nose, do ye mind." + +Accordingly both boys elevated their heads until they could just +barely see above the top of the moving grass. The fact that Bob wore a +cap made from the skin of a coon, with several striped tails hanging +behind, while that perched on the head of his younger brother was +fashioned out of gray squirrel skins, added much to their security, as +they were less likely to be noticed by watchful eyes. + +[Illustration: "THEY COULD NOW PLAINLY DISCERN THE FIGURE UNDER THE +WOLFSKIN."] + +The strange wolf was moving now in the direction of a buffalo cow, that +seemed to be a little suspicious, since she shook her head several +times, and looked toward the gray animal as though not wholly convinced +that a single wolf might not mean harm to the herd. + +Presently the chance for which the red hunter waited seemed to come. +The watching boys saw him suddenly rise up, as though on his knees; +and they could now plainly discern the figure under the wolfskin. He +carried a short bow, and undoubtedly one of great power, that was +calculated to send a barbed shaft half way through even so great an +animal as a buffalo. + +Bob was touching the arm of his brother at the time. He plainly felt +Sandy start when they caught the peculiar "twang" of a bow-string, +telling them that the red hunter had fired his shaft. The buffalo cow +started to run away; but, after going a dozen feet or so, fell to her +knees, tried to rise, gave a low bellow, and then rolled over on her +side. + +Some of the remaining animals raised their heads, and looked in mild +surprise; then went on cropping the grass again, as though their alarm +had been short-lived. + +The two boys dropped back to the side of Pat, who had possibly also +been watching this strange panorama, to be seen nowhere else on the +broad earth. + +Bob looked at Sandy, and the other returned his amazed gaze with +interest. + +"Did you see him do that job, and ain't he able to use that short bow +better'n any Indian you ever met?" whispered Sandy. + +"That's why so many of the buffalo look like they're sleeping," Bob +went on to say. "That Indian hunter has been killing them off. I guess +he's shot six or seven by now." + +"But what will he do with all that meat; just eat the tongues?" Sandy +asked. + +Bob turned to Pat, a question in his eye, and the trapper, holding up +that warning finger to make sure that they kept their voices toned +down, so that they could not be heard above the rustle of the long +grass in the breeze, answered him. + +"Jerk it for winter use; d'ye mind?" was all he said, but the boys +understood. + +They had been in an Indian village, and seen how the surplus venison or +buffalo meat was dried in strips. This jerked meat was stored away for +the time when game might be scarce, or the red hunters felt indisposed +to leave their comfortable wigwams to look for it. And, whenever a +runner was sent on a long journey, this tough meat formed his sole stay +while on the way. It required no cooking, and a piece put in the mouth +could be masticated by degrees, serving the useful purpose of keeping +the jaws working, and at the same time affording sustenance to the body. + +"But this upsets all our plans," complained Sandy, who did not see +how they were to make any attempt at getting a buffalo, when possibly +a dozen red hunters were close by, waiting until their comrade with +the short bow and the killing arrows had completed his bloody butcher +business. + +"Oh! I doan't know," remarked Pat, rubbing his chin with his hand, as +though considering some idea that had crept into his active mind. + +Of course both lads turned eagerly on their companion. They seemed to +view his few words, and his manner, as suggesting hope. + +"You've thought of something, Pat; please tell us what it is, for I do +hope we can find a way to get our share of all this meat," Sandy asked, +anxiously. + +"Arrah, now, listen to me, wud yees?" whispered the trapper. "And mebbe +afther all we can sacure what we came out to kerry home, a pack av +juicy mate. D'ye mind that the first young bull I saw a-runnin' off had +an arrow stickin' in his side; but he managed to go some distance afore +droppin' to the ground? Whin I saw him last he was just passin' beyant +the bunch av timber that stands to the lift, it might be a quarrter av +a mile. An', saing as he niver showed up agin, the chances are he fell +there. Me ijee is to worrk around in that quarrter, and whin the hunt +is over, and the reds do be busy skinnin' an' cuttin' up the game, what +is to hinder the three av us from securin' all we want from the carcase +av the young bull as lies out yonder? Sure the trees wull be afther +consalin' us from the eyes av the Injun hunters; an', by the same +token, it may be they niver noticed that animal at all, at all!" + +The proposition struck both boys as a splendid one. They nodded their +heads, and their eyes sparkled; and Pat needed nothing more to tell him +that his plan met with their unqualified approbation. + +"Hadn't we better be backing out of this then, right away?" suggested +Sandy, always ready to act. + +"Yis, but be mighty careful," advised the trapper. "Av we have not +been sane up till now, we doan't want to spile the broth by anny undue +haste. Aisy it is, byes." + +So they retreated in the same track by which they had advanced, and +there came no sound or sign to tell them that their presence in the +vicinity had been noticed by the other red hunters, doubtless crouching +likewise in the grass, and waiting for the time to come when they might +burst into view, to take a last shot at the remnant of the buffalo +herd, by that time alarmed and in full flight. + +It stood to reason that these eager hunters would have eyes only for +the game, and this accounted for the fact that the palefaces had not +been discovered. + +Pat would take no unnecessary chances, however, daring though he was by +nature. He felt a weight upon his shoulders, since he had been trusted +with the responsibility of Mr. Armstrong's two sons; and wished to +account for them both when they came to the boat again. + +By degrees, after going back to the timber belt, they managed to move +around until they had reached a point directly behind the patch of +trees to which Pat had called their attention a while previously. + +"I saw something there that looked like a buffalo on the ground," +whispered Sandy, after they had been crawling forward again for several +minutes. + +"It's all right!" declared Pat. "The young bull niver pulled out at +all. And 'twas his carcase ye saw, sure. We're in great luck, so we be, +lads." + +"Oh! listen to that!" exclaimed Sandy, as a series of wild yells broke +out. + +"The game is ended, and the balance of the herd has taken off," +declared Bob. + +They raised their heads to watch, and it was a sight well worth seeing, +with the lumbering buffalo dashing away in a compact mass, and here and +there an Indian brave popping up from the long grass, to discharge his +arrow at the fleeing animals. + +But they did not seem to drop any, as the distance was too great; so +presently they could be seen hurrying back toward the spot where quite +a number of slain animals awaited their attention. + +"There must be one to every brave," declared Bob. + +"So much the better," remarked Pat; "av it kapes thim busy for the nixt +hour or so, while we sacure our mate. This way, lads, and kape quiet on +yer lives." + +They made their way to the side of the fallen young bull, and Sandy's +eyes glistened when he realized what a piece of good luck had come +their way; when it might just as well have been a tough old fellow they +were given the chance to carve. + +Pat posted each of the boys at a certain spot to keep watch. They were +to give him a signal if any of the red hunters approached to look up +the animal which had fallen behind the patch of trees, and which had +undoubtedly been marked by their keen, all-seeing eyes. + +There were only about nine of the Indians, Sandy had said as he left +his companions; and his tone told Bob how he must be figuring on their +chances, should the adventure wind up in a fight; for Sandy would never +consent to abandon such a fine store of buffalo meat, if it could +possibly be avoided. + +From the spot where he was posted Bob could easily see the Indians +working over the slain animals that had fallen before the deadly +arrows of the hunter who had made use of the skin of a wolf, and kept +to the leeward of the herd, in order that they might not catch his +scent, and take the alarm. + +He could not but feel a certain thrill as he watched them work, knowing +that, if they dreamed of the presence of the hated palefaces near +by, they would only too quickly drop their operations, and go on the +war-path, looking for scalps. + +And yet Bob would have been glad to have had an opportunity to watch +how the whole process of curing the meat was carried out, because he +always felt a great interest in such things. + +He lay there for a very long time, it seemed to him. At least on three +separate occasions he feared the time had come when discovery could +not be avoided, and that one of the busy braves meant to look for the +bull that had fallen further off than any of the rest. But, on each +occasion, it proved to be a false alarm, and Bob found no need of +whistling like a quail to warn Pat, so that the trapper might be on his +guard. + +And then, when Bob was beginning to be very nervous, under the belief +that discovery could not now be long delayed, he caught the whistle of +a gopher, thrice repeated. This had been the signal by means of which +Pat would let the boys know he had completed his task, and that they +were to join him without delay. + +So Bob quickly crawled back, at times taking to his heels, and bending +low, so as to keep under the curtain of long grass. + +He arrived at just the same time as Sandy; and they were delighted to +find that the expert Pat had not only succeeded in cutting up the young +bull, but had three packs of the best portions of the meat ready to be +transported. + +Making use of the trees as a means to hide their retreat, the three +whites succeeded in getting away without attracting the notice of the +Indian buffalo hunters. Pat had purposely blinded the trail, as he came +along last of all. He hoped that, when one of the Indians approached +the spot, and saw that the bull had already been attended to, he would +turn around without making an examination, under the belief that +another of the band had been ahead of him. + +Something of the sort must really have happened, for, though the boys +kept on the alert for half an hour, listening, and expecting to catch +shrill yells of anger from the back trail, nothing of the kind came +to pass. And more than once Bob saw Sandy start when he heard a bird +rustle the grass near by, as though he half expected to see a feathered +head thrust up, and come face to face with an enraged Indian warrior. + +They reached in safety the spot where the flatboat was tied up, and +great was the rejoicing of the entire company at sight of the toothsome +burdens the three hunters carried on their backs. Around the little +fire that afternoon the story was told of the wolf that handled a bow +with such deadly accuracy; and the Yankee boy, Amos Terry, who was +something of a greenhorn concerning all woodcraft, sat there with his +eyes "as big as saucers," as Sandy expressed it, hardly knowing whether +to believe the tale or not. + +But Pat was a little uneasy concerning the possible coming of the +Indians, and made up his mind to keep an extra careful watch that night. + +Taken all in all, the members of the company were delighted with things +as they found them. Mr. Armstrong had discovered that the soil was of +wonderful fertility, entirely different from that of the Ohio hills +where their first home had been located; the women were pleased with +the countless wild flowers that dotted the long grass of the level +prairie; while Sandy and Bob already believed that the region near the +Mississippi must be like the Indian "Happy Hunting Grounds," and that +game would be three times as abundant as they had ever known in the +past. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +AT THE SETTING OF THE EVENING STAR + + +THE daring voyagers on the beamy flatboat knew that no matter how their +adventure might turn out in the end, whether for good or evil, at least +they were now on the home stretch. It was only a question of a few +days before they would be able to feast their eager eyes on that great +stream of which they had heard so much. + +Their caution did not decrease, however. They realized that enemies +might lurk in the trees that bordered the river, and even amid the +beds of waving green reeds in marshy places, which were capable of +concealing treacherous foes, ready to let slip the swift arrow, or +discharge the French guns with which the unscrupulous traders at the +numerous posts were supplying the various tribes. + +Nor was this all they had to fear. The closer they came to the valley +of the Mississippi the more peril they faced. Indians were had enough; +but, deep down in their hearts, the pioneers dreaded an encounter with +the outlaw trappers who, belonging to the old-time foe of England, +had ever been a thorn in the flesh of those who would people the vast +wilderness beyond the Alleghanies. (Note 11.) + +Mr. Armstrong fully expected to have to fight for his new possession. +He believed, however, that, if they could only manage to hold out until +the second detachment arrived, to augment their force, all might be +well. + +As for Sandy, he was daily showing more and more signs of excitement. +The dearest dream of his life was coming true; and, when presently +he could feast his eyes on the rolling flood of the greatest of all +rivers, he would feel contented--for a little while, at least. + +They were hardly a day without some new thrill. + +Now it was the sight of an Indian village in full view on the shore, +with the smoke curling up from several fires, where the squaws seemed +to be curing meat by some primitive process. Mr. Armstrong imagined +that most of the warriors must be off on another grand hunt; for, while +many old men, squaws and papooses crowded to the edge of the water, and +loud derisive shouts floated to the ears of the voyagers, there was no +effort made to man the canoes and attack the drifting flatboat. + +Occasionally they discovered some lone brave in a small craft, hunting +the wild water birds that still remained in quantities at certain +favored places, while their feathered companions had swept away by +millions to far northern breeding-grounds, to return again in the +autumn months. + +Mr. Armstrong made it a point to have one of the men aboard the +flatboat call out something in French whenever the chance arose. His +object was to make the red hunters believe that the passengers and crew +belonged to the nation with which the western tribes had long been at +peace. He believed that all such devices were fair in war times; and +that such an impression, if scattered broadcast among the Indians, was +apt to save the little party from many hazards. + +But they were not always free from sudden perils that seemed to come +like bolts from a clear sky. + +One night they had tied up to the southern shore, as usual. So far as +Pat O'Mara had been able to decide, there need be no fear of Indians, +although of course they meant to keep up a constant watch, so as to +guard against a surprise. + +Supper had been cooked ashore, since they had become so tired of their +confined quarters aboard the boat that every chance to stretch their +limbs was eagerly seized upon, even though they realized that the +greatest element of safety lay in remaining back of that stout bulwark +formed by the sides of their floating home. + +The good mothers were busily engaged putting the smaller children to +sleep, while the men sat around the small fire, smoking and comparing +notes as to how long they would be in reaching their destination. + +It was a subject that they never wearied of talking about, since +all their hopes were bound up now in building those new homes that +they kept picturing in their family councils. The men did not mind +this roving existence so much, for they had become reconciled to +discomforts; but the wives and mothers yearned for the conclusion +of the long and wearisome voyage. They missed all the conveniences +of the cabins to which they were accustomed. In these later days a +housekeeper would be apt to smile upon learning what little constituted +the full assortment of "comforts" which made up the life of one +of those pioneer women; but it was all they had ever known, and a +spinning-wheel, with the flax that went with it, meant a supply of +clothing for the family that could be procured in no other way. + +One of the men had been posted at a certain point where it was believed +he would be able to discover the slightest sign of an approaching +enemy, and the balance rested in full confidence of their safety. + +Bob and Sandy had taken a notion to look over some of their +highly-prized traps which might need oiling; for they wanted them to be +in the best of condition when they started their fall campaign in the +new country. + +They sat so that they might receive the benefit of the blaze that +still kept up, as new fuel was occasionally added to the little fire, +the evening being rather chilly, considering how far the season was +advanced. + +And as they polished, or rubbed some bear's grease on the traps that +had seen long service through rain, snow and fair weather, the boys +talked, as they nearly always did, about the prospects that were so +soon to be realized. + +"Father thinks two more days ought to bring us to where the Ohio +empties into the Mississippi," remarked Sandy, rubbing vigorously the +while. + +"I only hope he is right, and that two nights from now we'll be camped +on the shore of that wonderful river," Bob replied, stopping his work +to critically examine it, so as to see whether anything more could be +done to keep that particular trap from being eaten by rust. + +"What was that dropped down just beside you, Bob?" suddenly asked the +younger boy, staring hard as he spoke. + +"I heard something fall, but I supposed it was a nut dropped by a +squirrel," replied Bob, at the same time placing the trap on the +ground while he leaned over to examine. "I never saw the squirrels and +raccoons so tame as they are along here. Really now, I believe they +would almost take a piece of mother's hoe-cake right out of my hand. +Where was it you saw the nut fall, Sandy? Am I near it now? Tell me +when I get warmer or colder, like we do in that game the girls liked to +play back in Virginia." + +"There, it must have been about where your hand is now; and--why, what +is that?" and Sandy stared with all his might at the object Bob was +holding up in his hand. "An arrow! An Indian arrow! Oh! some prowling +red wolf has been trying to shoot us down as we sit here. What a narrow +escape you had!" + +"Wait, Sandy!" exclaimed Bob, quickly, and with that vein of authority +in his voice which he at times almost unconsciously assumed when +endeavoring to check the hasty actions of his younger brother. "Look +again, and perhaps you may remember seeing just such an arrow as this +before." + +Sandy sank back in his seat, as though his sudden fright had passed +away. + +"Oh! it is the same Delaware arrow!" he cried. "Our good, but unknown +friend has once more sent us a warning that danger hangs over our +heads! Pull the message off, Bob, and let us see what it says! How +splendid of this strange protector to follow us all the way from our +old home, away up the Ohio, to this new land. What could we have done +to deserve such kindness, such faithfulness?" + +Bob had not been idle all the time Sandy was talking. As before, there +was a strip of birch bark fastened to the stout reed that constituted +the shaft of the feathered arrow, bearing the Delaware flint barb. + +Again were crude but easily understood figures scratched upon the light +brown side of the bark; this time they were very numerous, and told a +story as plain as though it had been printed with types. + +There was a campfire, and a tied-up flatboat, which must belong to +them. About that fire a number of people seemed to be leisurely taking +their ease. Stars dotted what was intended for the sky overhead; and +one large one in particular was just above the horizon, indicated by +a straight line. Many recumbent figures, with feathers, different in +arrangement from any seen before, adorning their scalplocks, were +evidently crawling up through the long grass, coming from both sides. +They carried bows and arrows, and a few of them guns. + +Sandy looked at the drawing, holding his very breath meanwhile. + +"It means that we will be attacked by a tribe of Indians we've never +met before, doesn't it?" he demanded. "Because, I remember how the +Shawanees, the Delawares, the Pottawottomies, the Senecas, the Miamis +and the Hurons wear feathers in their hair when on the war-path, and +these are different." + +"Yes, I think you are right, Sandy," replied the other; "but an Indian +must always be an Indian to us, if he is hostile. Do you notice how he +has drawn this big star close down to the level of the horizon? That +must be meant for the evening star up yonder; and the attack is planned +for the time of its setting." + +"Which will come in another hour, Bob," Sandy went on, feverishly. +"Come, let us gather all our traps together, and get them aboard. I'll +look after that; and do you show our father what our kind friend has +done for the Armstrongs for the third time." + +"Just what I was going to say to you, Sandy," remarked Bob. "But +remember, you must not look so excited, for many reasons. Why, right +now, at this very minute, how do we know but that a number of savage +Indians may be watching us, ready to send in a shower of arrows if they +understand that we have guessed their game? Go about your work just as +if we didn't have the least suspicion of danger." + +"I will, Bob, you can depend on me; and what you say is good, hard +sense, every word of it. I only wish I could keep myself held down, and +cool, as you do. But it just seems as though something inside of me is +always ready to jump at the very first sign of excitement. But there's +father looking this way now. Perhaps he has discovered that you are +holding an arrow in your hands, and wonders where you got it. Please go +over and beg of him to get aboard with mother and Kate right away. And +hold on to your gun--hold on to your gun!" + +This last piece of advice was wholly unnecessary, for Bob was +determined to be in a condition to help defend the boat, should a +sudden emergency arise before the time set for the attack. + +While Sandy hurried to get the bunch of traps aboard, and return to +the shore again, Bob sauntered over to where his father stood, and as +quietly as possible explained what had happened. + +"You have a long head, for a boy, son," was what Mr. Armstrong +remarked, as his hand fell affectionately on Bob's shoulder; and such +few words of praise always made the boy's heart thrill with pride, for +his greatest ambition was to deserve the commendation of those who were +nearest and dearest to him. "We will try to let the men know, without +showing any undue alarm. The sentry, too, must be informed, so that he +may come in, and be ready to spring for the boat at the signal." + +This was soon accomplished. Then, at the given word, everybody leaped +for the side of the boat. Instantly a scene of great excitement +followed. A gun sounded, and a number of arrows came hurtling through +the air, to strike the side of the cabin; while blood-curdling yells +arose from a point near by, showing where the enemy had been crawling +up all the while the voyagers rested under the belief that they were +safely guarded. + +Fortunately no one was severely hurt by these feathered shafts, fired +so hastily, and without proper aim, though Mr. Bancroft, who had been +on guard, and had further to run than any of the rest, received one +through the fleshy part of his left arm as he climbed up the side of +the boat. + +But by now the guns of the whites began to answer back, and the +Indians, who were coming headlong through the brush, evidently meaning +to follow them aboard, met with such a hot reception that they were +glad to drop flat, and creep behind trees or rocks. + +"Cut the cable free!" shouted Mr. Armstrong. "Keep the women under +shelter, and let every gun be ready to repel boarders, if they come on +again!" + +He himself boldly seized one of the push poles, and threw his whole +weight upon it, the instant the cable had been released that held the +upper end of the boat to a tree. + +Arrows hurtled around him in a cloud, and it seemed as though he must +surely be struck down at any second; but Mr. Armstrong appeared to bear +a charmed life, for he did not receive even a trivial wound. + +The boat was already moving with the sluggish current close to the +shore. It was fortunate that all these things had been prepared for at +the time they tied up there. In the time of necessity a second might +mean safety or disaster to those hardy souls who had entrusted their +all to a slender chance. + +Seeing that their expected quarry was leaving them in the lurch, the +Indians increased their fire; and then some of the more rash among them +rushed into full view, as though meaning to board the craft. + +But they counted without their host. Those frontiersmen knew how to +defend their craft desperately. They never pulled trigger without +lessening the number of their assailants. Bob and Sandy were on the +firing line, and had no sooner discharged their muskets than they set +to work with feverish haste to get another load rammed home again. + +Several of the Indians managed to dash through the water up to the +waist, and started to make their way aboard; but clubbed guns smote +those feathered heads with such unerring skill that not a single +bronzed warrior ever set foot on deck. + +Now the boat was leaving the shore, influenced by the sweep, which two +of the voyagers managed to work fairly well. The danger seemed over, +and lusty shouts broke from the lips of the defenders of the craft as +they noted that the scene of the late battle was being left far behind, +with the baffled Indians giving short, sharp yelps, like wolves that +have been cheated out of their prey. + +"Well done!" exclaimed Mr. Armstrong, breathing freely for the first +time since he had heard Bob tell how the warning arrow had fallen close +at his side. "And now, Neighbor Bancroft, let us look at that wound +you've received. I can pull the arrow through easier than break or +withdraw it. A painful but not a dangerous wound; you must let my wife +bathe it, and put on some of her magic salve." + +"I only hope the heathen have not taken to poisoning their arrows," +remarked Mr. Bancroft; and Bob and Sandy exchanged glances. + +It happened that, many months before, one of them had watched an +Iroquois brave irritate a rattle-snake with a pole until he had the +reptile in a furious mood, and then allow it to strike a piece of fresh +meat many times, filling it with the green venom from his poison sack. +After this meat had become impregnated with the virus, arrow points +were dipped in it and allowed to dry until each had been thoroughly +infected. But it was seldom the Indians used such terrible weapons; +somehow they seemed to be bound by some code of honor that influenced +them to refrain from adding to the seriousness of an arrow wound. + +Pat came up, and by the light of a lantern, held by one of the boys, +helped Mr. Armstrong draw the arrow through the wound, for it was +nearly half-way out, and could not be broken without additional pain to +the victim. + +Then Bob's mother, who was a splendid nurse, came to dress the wound, +and apply some of her salve, upon which every one relied so completely. + +Bob had been keeping an eye on Pat, who he saw was examining the arrow +closely. As Pat was well acquainted with the peculiarities of the many +separate Indian tribes, as connected with their arrows and head-dress +of feathers, Bob felt positive that he could tell him what he wanted to +know. + +"That is no Shawanee arrow, Pat, I take it?" he remarked. + +"That's jist it, Bob, me bye," the trapper declared, nodding as he +looked up. "No Shawanee brave iver made his arrow afther the likes av +that. Sac, I says till mesilf, as soon as I set me eyes on it, an' +Sac I says shtill. They do be the manest rids av the whole bunch, I'm +thinkin'; though, belave me, I'd hisitate to say that same in the +prisince av Mrs. Armstrong, bliss her swate heart for an angel, wid her +healin' salve an' her coolin' lotions, becase she has been thryin' to +belave that all the bad Injuns has been lift behint entirely; whin the +thruth be, there's jist as many out along the ould Mississippi as we +knew afore." + +After passing down several miles in the semi-darkness they anchored the +boat off a bar, and kept close watch until dawn brought safety; when +the voyage was resumed, with grateful hearts that another peril had +been safely passed, thanks to that unknown red friend who had a debt to +settle with the Armstrong boys. + +Still another night passed, and again they slept on board, for the +women were averse to taking any more chances. This brought them to the +day when, according to all the figuring done by Mr. Armstrong, assisted +by what knowledge Pat O'Mara had on the subject, they should be close +to the place of the joining of the two great rivers. + +All morning long they kept a vigil. Eager eyes looked ahead, in the +hope of discovering the mighty stream which had lured them all the way +from their old home far up the picturesque Ohio. + +The afternoon was pretty well advanced when Sandy gave a whoop that was +characteristic of the lad. No need to ask what made him leap about so +boisterously, waving his coonskin cap around his head. Every eye turned +in the direction of the expected vision; and, when they saw the great +sweep of water that lay ahead, with its further shore but dimly marked +against the western horizon, a silence fell upon them. + +It was indeed the Mississippi that spread before the eyes of that brave +little company, up to then almost a sealed book to English colonists, +though well known to the French trappers and traders, whose cordon of +posts from north to south united Canada with the warm regions of the +gulf. + +They had finally come to the region where their new home was to be +built--on the bank of the Mississippi. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +WHAT THE DEAD ASHES OF A FIRE TOLD + + +"PULL hard, Sandy; father wants to land at that spot where the big +crooked tree hangs over the water. Pat has told him that it was there +he spent the night a year ago, when he was here spying out the land and +learning what the Frenchmen were doing in the trapping line. And he +also says it is the finest place for our new home he knows about." + +While saying all this Bob was himself throwing his strength upon the +sweep he and his younger brother were managing, while some of the +men rested, or frolicked with their children inside the cabin of the +flatboat. + +They were afloat on the Mississippi, and had been descending the +mighty stream most of the day. To cross it with only a clumsy flatboat +was next to impossible. It would have been exceedingly dangerous to +have risked the diverse currents that lay in wait for the incautious +voyager, far out from shore. + +Some of the men had even proposed that they try to make one of the +islands that they had passed, and where it would seem they might +be free from an attack on the part of the Indians; but to this Mr. +Armstrong would not agree. + +"Look back, friends," he had said when this bold scheme was proposed, +"and try to imagine what would have become of us and our families, had +we been on such an island when the flood came. It was bad enough on +the main land, watching our cabins being undermined, and carried off; +but how much worse had we been watching the waters slowly but surely +covering the very land on which all we loved stood, with the raging +torrent on every side, and no means of reaching the shore? For my part, +after what I have passed through, nothing can tempt me to leave this +firm foundation. True, the Indians and French trappers may get at us +the easier; but we know where we are, and in the other case we would +not." + +And his words were of such a nature that even those who had been +loudest in exploiting the benefits to be obtained by resorting to an +island, changed their minds, and would have none of it. + +The boat was brought in without a great amount of trouble, for they +had been keeping only a short distance away from the bank while +allowing themselves to be carried along at the will of the strong +current. + +Pat was, as always, the first to spring ashore. While the rest were +busy securing the boat, the trapper was circling around up the bank, +looking for recent signs of enemies near the spot. + +He had claimed it was a well-known stopping-place for all those passing +up or down-stream. Boats loaded with French trappers might possibly +come along at some time or other; but already time was bringing about +a change in the relations of the colonists and the sons of France; and +if, as seemed very likely, a break did occur between King George and +his American colonies, the French would be found taking the part of the +latter. + +Indeed, Mr. Armstrong had taken this into consideration when arranging +to carry his family into the heart of the country controlled and +claimed by the French. He expected to have some little trouble with +them at first; but, after a little time, they would hear great news +from the sea-coast that would lift the scales from their eyes, these +rough and daring trappers, so that they would hold out their hands to +make peace with the newcomers, as common allies against England. + +"How does this suit you, Sandy?" asked Bob, when they, too, had +clambered over the side of the boat, and stood on the bank. + +"It is a fine place for a camp, and for a cabin, too," replied the +other, looking about him with kindling eyes. "Plenty of big trees to +cut down, or leave standing, just as we think best; and it looks as +if there ought to be a heap of rich furs to be taken along that ridge +back yonder, and the valley that must lie further on. Yes, I like this +place. It is even better than what I could see, whenever I shut my +eyes, and tried to picture our new homestead by the Mississippi." + +They looked out upon the great river, where rested the bones of the +discoverer, De Soto, and the copper plates he had sunk beneath its +waters when he claimed the whole region for his royal master; and tears +came into the eyes of Sandy, whose emotions were easily stirred. + +"Higher up there, and a little way back, we would build our cabins, +I think," Bob went on to remark, in his usual thoughtful way. "One +bout with a flood will be more than enough for father. Think of what +it meant to us, the destruction of our garden; the uprooting of the +supports of our cabin; and then the loss of mother's little strong-box +in which she kept her few precious remembrances of the past, as well as +that wampum belt given to us by Pontiac, when we saved his life. Yes, +it answers all the needs of our little company; and, once it is decided +that we stay here, watch how soon the axes begin to ring, and the trees +to fall. Inside of three days, we could have a roof over our heads +again." + +"I should be glad of that," ventured Sandy, heaving a little sigh as +his eye roved toward their mother, just climbing down from the side of +the boat, assisted by the steady hand of her husband; "for mother has +grown weary of this wandering. She wants to have her own fire to work +over, and cook meals for her family, instead of the whole company." + +"Suppose we look around a little," suggested Bob. + +"Count me in with you on that," agreed the other, quickly, for it was +just what Sandy was about to propose himself, being fairly wild to do a +little exploring on his own hook. + +Of course they carried their guns as they left the vicinity of the +flatboat, for the pioneer of that day never knew at what moment he +would have urgent need of his weapons. + +Pat was no longer in sight. He had started to circle rapidly around, +and had already covered so much territory that it seemed as if there +certainly could be nothing near by that might be dangerous. + +A rabbit jumped out from almost under their feet; squirrels frisked +among the oaks that grew in abundance in the woods; plump partridges +whirred when they happened to stir the brush, and inside of five +minutes these evidences of the abundance of small game had Sandy +laughing in great glee. + +"Oh! I guess none of those stories could have been untrue, brother," he +declared, as they glimpsed a deer that had evidently been lying down +near by, and was only disturbed by their approach; "why, I came near +getting a shot at that doe; but, when that branch closed in behind +her flank, I thought it would be silly to fire, with only a chance of +wounding the poor thing. Mother has taught us not to be cruel when we +take our toll of meat, and I am glad now I did not fire." + +"I believe you will have plenty of chances to shoot all you want, +if father decides to stay right around here," remarked Bob. "As for +myself, I fancy that fine ridge just back there. If our cabin topped +that, we could see up and down the river, just as we used to do, +before, up on the Ohio; but what a different thing the Mississippi is +from its tributary!" + +"But," broke in Sandy, just then, "didn't you hear Pat tell about that +other big river that comes down from the unknown country away off to +the northwest, and empties its volume of water into the Mississippi not +two hundred miles north of the mouth of the Ohio? He said it was the +real Mississippi, and that the Indians so regarded it, because it comes +from so far away, hundreds and hundreds of miles, so that no man knows +the beginning, up in the country of the Crows; and the strange Indians +with the white skin, called the Mandans; and the Sioux, who, the French +say, are the most savage fighters of all the red race." + +Bob looked at his brother doubtfully. He knew something was working on +the mind of the boy, for he was used to reading the signs. + +"You listen too much to these idle tales Pat tells, Sandy," he +remarked. "First thing I know, you'll be wanting to go off and explore +that other river, where no English settler has yet built his cabin, and +only savage foes lurk." + +Sandy made no reply, but a flush crept over his face; and Bob sighed; +for he knew that his brother had even then been indulging in dreams +of some day seeing that other great river, lying still deeper in the +wilderness that lay toward the land of the setting sun. + +"Pat was telling us that trappers call this the most favored place for +many miles along the river," Bob remarked, as he glanced around him. + +"Yes," added the other, quickly, "and he said he had camped here once +himself, when he came to the country of the Mississippi to see what the +Frenchmen were doing, and find out if it was really as fine a place +as others had reported. Why, even now that looks like the ashes of a +campfire over yonder." + +"You are right, Sandy," declared Bob; "some one has been in camp here, +and not so long ago, too; for the ashes have never been rained on; and +you remember that just three days ago we had a long siege of it." + +Bob had touched the flaky ashes with the toe of his moccasin when +saying this. Versed in the knowledge of woodcraft, this was only a +natural thing for the boy to remark. It fell from his lips just as +readily as a lad of the present day might read a printed message that +had been left in the crotch of a stick, after the departure of late +campers. + +"I wonder who they could have been, Indians, or French trappers heading +for the nearest trading post with their winter's catch of pelts?" mused +Sandy, looking thoughtfully around him while speaking. + +"The chances are the last," Bob replied. "If Indians had been here we +would see some signs to tell us of that fact. Chances are they would +leave a broken arrow behind, or some feathers that were cast aside; and +I do not see any such, do you?" + +"No, not here," replied Sandy, and then added: "It seems to me there +is something lying there, in that clump of grass, that has been +thrown aside. Wait until I get it, Bob; perhaps it may give us a clue +concerning the men who made this fire." + +Carelessly he stepped aside, and, bending, picked up the object that +had caught his attention. As Sandy stood staring, Bob advanced to his +side with quick strides. Then he, too, seemed to have been turned into +stone, for his eyes were glued upon what Sandy held in his shaking +hand. + +The eyes of the two boys met in a startled look; and it could be +plainly seen that they were deeply moved by the discovery Sandy had +made, close to the dead ashes of the abandoned fire. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +A NEW HOME ON THE MISSISSIPPI + + +"THE little box in which mother kept her few treasures!" exclaimed Bob. + +"And our wampum belt, which Pontiac presented to us with his own +hands!" echoed Sandy, as he once more let his gaze rest on the object +he had discovered, thrown aside in the grass near the ashes of the +deserted fire. + +"Those rascally French traders have been right here on this spot, +brother," remarked Bob, glancing around, and unconsciously half-raising +his gun, as though he partly expected to see the vicious faces of +Jacques Larue and Henri Lacroix peering at them out of the undergrowth. + +"And only a day or two ago, just think of that!" exclaimed Sandy, a +sudden glow coming into his face. "Oh! what if, after all, we should +have the great good luck to meet the robbers some fine day; wouldn't +we demand that they return our property, though? And if so much as one +single thing belonging to our dear mother were missing, they would +have to account for it!" + +But Bob shook his head. He did not possess the same sanguine spirit as +his younger brother, and consequently could not see things in the same +light. + +"It is true they have been here, and lately, too," he remarked, +seriously; "but you must not allow yourself to hope too much that there +is any chance for our meeting them. We are far below the mouth of the +Ohio River now; and the fact of their having been here seems to say +that even now these Frenchmen may be on their way down to the town +their countrymen have started on the lower waters of the Mississippi, +and which they call New Orleans." + +"But we could follow them!" exclaimed Sandy. + +"As well look for a needle in a haystack," observed the far-seeing Bob. + +"Just to think, if only we could have come upon them while they were +seated here, eating their supper, and never dreaming that those they +had robbed were at their elbows! Wouldn't we have given the wretches a +scare, though, Bob?" and Sandy gritted his white teeth savagely, as he +stared at the dumb ashes, just as if they might be to blame for the +misfortune that had befallen the brothers in arriving too late. + +"Of course there is one little hope that we will yet run across them," +Bob said, as though he, himself, wanted to cling to such a shred. +"Perhaps they may be lingering around this part of the country, meaning +to rest and hunt, after the long trip they have just made from away up +the Ohio. And if they do, Sandy--" + +"Yes, if they do!" echoed the impulsive lad, shaking his gun +impressively, so that further words were unnecessary. + +"Let us go and show father what we've found," remarked Bob. "Poor +mother will feel so sad when she sees this little box, for it held +a number of pretty trinkets which she valued more because they were +connected with the past, when her children were small, than on account +of their worth in a money sense. To think of those big thieves carrying +them around in their pockets or medicine bags; it will make father +furious." + +"But how does it come, do you think," Sandy went on, "that, after +carrying the box all this distance, they threw it away here?" + +"That is hard to say, Sandy; and I can only guess at it. Perhaps, now, +they liked the looks of this pretty little casket, which a cabinetmaker +once fashioned for our mother when she lived in Jamestown, back in +Virginia. But, in the end, it began to get in the way; and, tired of +carrying it, the men took out the contents while sitting here by this +fire, and threw the box into the bushes." + +"Never dreaming that the Armstrong boys would come along a day or two +later, and find their property again," mused Sandy. "Finding this box +seems to tell me that next we will be fortunate enough to run across +our wampum belt." + +"I hope so," was all Bob said, as he turned around, to return to where +the rest of the party were busily employed. + +Great indeed was the surprise of Mr. Armstrong when he saw what the +boys had discovered on the very spot where they meant to build their +new home. As for the little mother, she took the quaint casket in her +hands again with a look that told of renewed hope in her heart. It was +all so very remarkable that the final recovery of the lost articles now +seemed to lie within the bounds of possibility. + +The balance of that day was given up to settling themselves as +comfortably as they could. Already, the pioneers liked the situation so +much that they were unanimously agreed upon staying there permanently. +Nowhere could they hope to find a location uniting more natural +advantages than here. Long years ago the wandering Indians and white +trappers had discovered this fact, as witness their stopping to pitch +their camps in the vicinity. It was noted as a country teeming with +game, and offering the adventurous settler the finest soil possible. + +Then there was the great river close at hand, from which considerable +of their needed stock of food might be procured--fish the live long +year, and ducks and geese during the colder months. + +Everybody seemed fully satisfied that they could not possibly fare +better by continuing on down the river; while there were many chances +that they would never run across so splendid a site for a settlement. + +That night passed peacefully, and, with the advent of another day, +operations immediately commenced. They were so wearied of the close +confinement aboard the cumbersome flatboat, which had really been +overcrowded, that all of them longed to possess their own homes. +Humble though these log cabins might be, at least they would prize them +highly, with their few possessions giving the interiors the air of +home, so dear to the hearts of women the world over. + +The merry sound of axe blades biting eagerly into the trees could soon +be heard. Every head of a family selected the site where he wished to +build his cabin. These were so arranged that, while the structures +themselves were close together, each had a gradually increasing strip +of land running back, which could be quickly cleared, so that a small +crop of corn and some vegetables might yet be planted, for the season +was not late. + +As they worked, the men always kept their guns within easy reach. They +had been brought up to know how trouble often springs out of a clear +sky, and did not mean to be taken unawares. + +Until the separate homes were completely done, the women and children +lived aboard the boat, secure within that stout log cabin which had +sheltered them all so long during the cruise down the Ohio. + +Several days passed, and the four cabins were fast nearing completion. +Indeed, another twenty-four hours would see the finishing touches given +to a couple of the rough log buildings; and that of the Armstrongs was +one of the most advanced, since the two boys assisted their father +considerably in the work. + +The chimney was partly built, out of slabs and mud that would harden +with the heat and smoke until it became like granite. That generous +fireplace they anticipated would ere long take on the "homey" look +that had always marked the gathering place of the little family after +the candle or the crude lamp was lighted for the evening; though, as a +rule, they depended altogether upon the glow of the blaze itself for +illumination, since the candles, made mostly from bear fat, were too +precious to waste. + +Kate had been greatly pleased with the situation of the new home in +the western wilderness. Often she had heard her father talking about +what Washington advocated in connection with giving every survivor of +the French and Indian wars a large tract of fine land in the bountiful +west, and thus start a movement that sooner or later would oust the +French from that debatable territory. And, when she saw the charming +nature of the land, Kate felt in full sympathy with all her father had +said upon that subject. + +She spent half her time wandering around, picking the most wonderful +wild flowers she had ever seen, listening to the birds singing in the +trees, or paddling in the little dugout upon the sluggish current +of the river; for, owing to a point of land that extended out some +distance above, the eddies had formed what was almost a great pond in +front of, and below, their camp. + +Of course she had been warned many times to be exceedingly careful, +and not go far away; but, as Pat O'Mara kept circulating around the +vicinity, and reported seeing absolutely no signs of Indians, Kate soon +lost all fear. + +On the fourth day, which was near the end of the week, the girl had +allowed the boat to drift a little way down the river, as she watched +the shore for a good spot where she might land and find new treasures +in the form of curious flowers. She knew that the boys had gone off +on a hunt that morning, as there was need of fresh meat in the camp; +and, besides, the cabin was by this time so far advanced that Mr. +Armstrong declared himself able to complete it, and move in their few +possessions; so that, when they came back, Bob and Sandy might expect +to be invited to take their first meal in their own home. + +The afternoon was half spent, and the sun well on his journey toward +the horizon that Sandy so often viewed with yearning, because it held +so much of mystery that appealed to his adventurous nature. + +Kate had drawn the dugout up on the sandy beach, and, landing, strolled +into the edge of the great woods. She had promised her mother never to +go out of hearing of the busy axes; and even now she could catch their +steady fall, as the men hewed the logs they had secured from the fallen +trees and adapted them for the walls of their cabin homes. + +In a short time the girl had her arms filled with the most beautiful +flowers she could remember ever having come across. Each new treasure +excited her afresh, and she almost forgot her promise not to wander +too deeply into the forest, where there was always a chance that some +savage wildcat might be lurking. + +Kate had just turned around, meaning to head back toward her boat +again, which could just be seen through the forest aisles, when she +thought she heard a stick snap. Turning around with a half-laugh, under +the impression that it might be her two brothers stealing up with the +intention of surprising her, the poor girl was amazed and horrified to +see a rough man, whom she immediately knew must be a French trapper, +standing within five feet of her. Before she could think of screaming a +second man arose from the bushes, and clapped a hand over her mouth. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE PERIL OF KATE + + +"WHAT have we here, Henri?" exclaimed the man Kate had seen. She was +struggling in the rude grasp of the other fellow, but was like a baby +in the clutch of his powerful hands. + +"I am surprised, Jacques, at what I have here," was the reply, in +French. "This girl, she surely must be the same we know lives in the +cabin, up on the Ohio, belonging to our enemy, Armstrong. Yes, I am not +mistaken. But what brings her down in this country of the Mississippi?" + +Evidently both French trappers were astounded to see Kate there. Many +hundreds of miles stood between the little settlement far up the Ohio +and this region; and in those primitive days this represented an almost +insurmountable obstacle. + +"Look again and make sure, Henri," said the other fellow, himself +striding forward to leer into the face of the terrified girl, who by +now understood that these men were the rascals who had given them so +much trouble, trying to injure both Sandy and Bob, and finally robbing +their cabin home when it was in the grip of the flood. + +Why, one of them was even then wearing the wonderful wampum belt +which Pontiac himself had bestowed upon the boys as an emblem of his +friendship, and as a protection to their home against the savage fury +of any Indians who belonged to the great confederation of which he was +the leader. + +"Well, what do you say now, Jacques?" demanded the first trapper, with +a chuckle. + +"_Sacre!_ it is as you say; hard to believe as it is, she must be the +same girl. Ha! I have an idea! It may explain the sound of the axes +which we heard such long time on the trail now, as we come back once +more to our old campground. See, there is the little boat she paddle +down the river in. I begin to scent the truth now, Henri." + +"Then supposing you inform me as to the same, since I am groping in the +dark," demanded the other Frenchman. + +"It may be that, if we but come closer to the old camp, we shall find +it occupied by some of the hateful English settlers. I would not put +it past them to descend the Ohio in a flatboat, till they come here. +They have the nerve to face all the French along the Mississippi. And, +Henri, among the rest is our old enemy, Armstrong. So you see now how +the girl comes to be here." + +They stared at each other as though hardly able to believe the facts +thus presented by the shrewd statement made by Jacques Larue. + +Meanwhile Kate had almost ceased her struggles, because she could only +with difficulty breathe, having that broad palm thrust over her mouth, +and gripped, as she was, in the strong arm of the trapper. + +Oh! how she wished that her brave brothers would only appear just then, +and take these two ruffians to task for all they had done. How like +savages they looked, in her eyes, with their brutal faces. And Henri +Lacroix was not a bit careful as he held her, so that she might not +scream, and thus give the alarm. What would they do with her? The very +thought brought a cold chill to the poor girl. + +Once Kate had been taken prisoner by a young Indian chief belonging to +the Iroquois nation, and carried far away to the country of the Great +Lakes. Eventually she had been rescued by her two brothers, assisted +by others, and brought back safely home. But she would never forget +what she had suffered in mind during the time of her captivity. + +And yet she really feared these two rough men more than she had the +Indians. As she looked into their snapping black eyes, she seemed to +see lurking there passions that would stop at nothing, even murder, +in order to carry out any mad scheme to which they had turned their +attention. Even the girl could realize how Henri Lacroix longed to +avenge the death of his brother, Armand, at the hands of Simon Kenton, +the friend of the Armstrong family. + +If she could only manage to give one loud cry, surely some one would +hear; and at any rate these cowardly French trappers, becoming alarmed +for their safety, would drop her, and take to their heels, fearing lest +the settlers shoot them down like wolves. But Henri Lacroix evidently +did not mean to give her the slightest chance to make any outcry, +judging from the way in which he kept his hand over her mouth. + +"This is no place for us, Jacques," he was saying now, nodding his head +in the direction whence came the steady plod of the axes. + +"But I hate to go away, and leave them no token of our good wishes," +remarked the second trapper, with a wide grin that somehow made poor +Kate tremble again. + +If only they would let her speak, how gladly would she have promised +not to whisper a single word about their having been near by, until +hours had elapsed, and they had a chance to get clear away; but Henri +Lacroix would not give her that chance, in fear lest she bring vengeful +foes down about their ears. + +"Ve haf a long bill to settle wif zem boys," remarked Lacroix, in his +broken English. + +"It took us some time to strike von blow, when we lay hold upon zis +belt; and when we come away to ze country of ze Mississippi we do not +expect evaire to set eyes again on zem. But, _parbleu_! ze fools follow +us here; zey even dare build zere hateful Eenglish cabins on zis river +zat belongs to ze French alone. Zat is too much for us to stand. For ze +lilies of France we must strike a blow zat vill tell zem zey nevaire +can remain here." + +"I am of ze same opinion," declared the other Frenchman, gritting his +strong white teeth in a way that renewed all the fears of the captive +girl. + +Were these men even more savage than the redskins, and would they +actually kill her, as she had heard of others being treated by whites +who had joined forces with the Indians in the cruel wars that were +always in progress? + +"It is plain, when we leave here, we cannot be trouble with the girl," +observed Jacques Larue, in French. Then, as he seemed to allow his +roving eyes to glance toward the river, just seen through openings in +the trees, a grim smile broke over his swarthy face, while he went +on speaking: "Ha! I have deescovered a plan that promises well. It +will not only get rid of the _ma'm'selle_ in a fine way, but at the +same time strike a blow at our old enemy, Armstrong. The boys perhaps +may not feel so proud because they once get the better of your dead +brother, Armand Lacroix, and Jacques Larue." + +"Tell me your plan, then; and, since we are now in a place of much +danger, the quicker we put it into operation the better, it may be," +said Henri. + +"Listen," the other went on, quickly. "Let us bind this girl so she +cannot run away. Also we will fasten over her mouth a bandage, and that +will prevent any outcry and call for help." + +"Yes, and then?" asked Henri Lacroix. + +"We can lay her in the boat she has down here," continued Jacques. +"Then, after we have tucked her in, _pouf_! the little boat sails from +the shore, and is carried down the current of the mighty Mississippi! +Day and night it floats on, the sport of wind and waves. And the +Armstrongs will never know what became of the girl!" + +Even the cruel Henri seemed to be a little disturbed at the inhumanity +exhibited in this plan of revenge; but, as he remembered the fate of +his brother, he crushed any objections he might have advanced, and +nodded his head, as though agreeing with his mate. + +"You are right, it is a beautiful idea," he declared. "The only thing +that I like not is the fact that we cannot ourselves see how they feel +when they not be able to find the daughter. Ah! it is a noble scheme! +Let us then begin the good work by fastening the hands of our captive." + +He took out some stout buckskin thongs, of which every borderer carried +a supply, as they were useful in many ways. Kate tried the best she +knew how to interfere with his brutal designs, but in the power of +those two men she was as weak as a babe, and before three minutes had +passed her hands had been tightly lashed together behind her back. + +After that the trapper proceeded to secure her ankles in the same way, +so that she felt herself absolutely helpless. + +"Now for the beautiful gag," said Jacques, when this part of the +undertaking had been completed. + +He took out of the pack he carried a piece of cloth, which he managed +to fasten across the mouth of the girl in such a fashion that, while +she could still breathe with some effort, speech was impossible. + +At any rate, they apparently did not mean to bring about her immediate +death. Perhaps they feared lest, in such a case, some of those hardy +English rangers might set out on their trail, with the determination +never to leave it until they had avenged the fate of Armstrong's +daughter. + +"How will that do, Henri, _mon cher_?" asked Jacques, gaily, stepping +back to admire his own handwork, with the air of an expert. + +"Capital! I congratulate you, Jacques, on being such a good hand at +such work," the other answered. "Perhaps Armstrong will follow the boat +down the river, and rescue the girl; but it will put them to great +trouble, and perhaps they will regret raising a hand to injure Jacques +Larue and Henri Lacroix." + +"You carry her to the boat, while I go ahead to make sure nobody may +see us do the work," and, speaking in this strain, the burly trapper +led off, with Henri coming along in the rear, bearing the form of Kate +as easily as though she were a sack of feathers intended for a pillow. + +It was found that a little bend of the shore intervened above, so that +the spot where the settlers must have landed could not be seen. They +caught a glimpse of the extreme outer edge of the tied-up flatboat, +which fact told the trappers they had guessed truly as to the means +taken by the Ohio settlers in descending to the region of the +Mississippi. + +Henri deposited the helpless form of the girl in the bottom of the +dugout. Then, with a heartlessness that seemed to be a part of their +half-savage natures, the two French trappers shoved the boat away from +the shore. + +It was immediately caught by the current that flowed more swiftly at +this point than above, and began to drift down-stream. The Frenchmen +dared not wait, lest, in exposing themselves they be discovered by +hostile eyes; but, with more or less laughter that, reaching the ears +of the alarmed girl, must have added to her tortures, they turned and +plunged again into the woods. + +And the little boat, passing on into swifter waters, was soon swirling +and dancing gaily on the bosom of the broad Mississippi, bearing Kate +Armstrong further and further away from all those she held dear. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +THE DRIFTING DUGOUT + + +"I THINK we had better stop and take a little breathing spell, Sandy." + +"Nothing would please me better, Bob. This meat pack is very heavy, and +it seems to me as if the air had grown much warmer. Summer has come, +down here, surely. Oh! how good it feels to throw that burden down, and +be able to stretch my arms, which ache as if they had a cramp." + +"But all the same, Sandy, we ought to be glad that we have been able to +knock over that fine buck, from which all this fresh venison comes. And +we are not greedy in carrying such big loads, for there are many hungry +mouths to fill, with four families to think of. Let us rest here, then, +and be refreshed for another spell of walking." + +It was well on in the afternoon when Bob and Sandy, on the way home +from their hunt, exchanged these remarks. Each had a large pack on +his back, for, shortly after noon, they had come across a deer, and +succeeded in killing the animal at the first shot. + +"How far below the camp do you think we are?" Sandy presently asked, as +he lay there taking his ease, with his hands under his head. + +"I hardly know," replied Bob, "but it must be several miles. My idea +was to do the same as we used to up on the Ohio--strike for the river +first of all, and try to make our way back by keeping to the open +stretch of shore." + +"Well, we are already close to the river, though perhaps you didn't +know it when you said we had better take a rest. See, you can look out +on the water right here," and Sandy pointed as he spoke. + +"Sure enough, it is as you say, and that makes it easier," Bob replied. +"I thought that I had my bearings all right; but, then, we know so +little of this country, and none at all about the river; so there +is always a chance we might miss seeing it for a long time. So you +understand I'm glad enough to look out and see that running water." + +"This is a fine big buck we got," remarked Sandy, reflectively. + +"Yes, and as large as any I've ever seen," Bob added. + +"I don't know how it is," Sandy continued, with a faint smile; "but +something in me just seems to take a savage pleasure in getting after +_big_ game. Somehow I don't care for shooting partridges or ducks any +more. Even a deer seems tame to me. If it is a big bear, a panther or a +buffalo I think I'm in great luck. Some day--" and there he came to a +sudden stop. + +"Well, what about some day?" demanded the other, turning to look at him. + +Sandy gave a reckless little chuckle, and then went on: + +"Oh! I suppose you'll just laugh at me, and say that I'm foolish to let +myself dream in that way; but it's another of Pat's stories that has +been setting me to thinking, and wondering whether I'll ever have the +chance to shoot one of those tremendous beasts." + +"What is it now, a tiger, a lion or an elephant?" asked Bob, scornfully. + +"Oh! no," replied Sandy, promptly; "nothing that can be found outside +of this country and Canada. Pat has seen them many times, and even been +gored by a great bull moose. You can see the scar on his cheek even +now, where he had a bad wound, by which he almost bled to death." + +[Illustration: "'YES, YOU ARE RIGHT, SANDY, IT _IS_ A BOAT.'"] + +"And you mean to go away up into Canada to hunt for one of these moose, +as they call them?" demanded the older brother, incredulously. + +"Well, hardly that," answered Sandy, with a little hesitation. "You +see, Pat, he says he believes moose can be found up that other big +river that flows into the Mississippi above the Ohio. And some day, it +may not be for years though, I hope to see with my own eyes whether +that is true." + +"We have taken some long journeys, but that would exceed them all," +remarked Bob, thoughtfully; and Sandy chuckled as he realized that, +after all, his prudent brother had determined that, if ever that trip +were undertaken, he would never allow Sandy to go alone. + +"I feel rested already," remarked Sandy, sitting up; "and besides, I'm +anxious to get back to see how things look, with mother sitting there +beside a fire in our new cabin. It will feel so good to have our own +roof over our heads again. Oh! Bob, what is that floating past yonder? +I do declare, it looks like a boat!" + +The two sprang to their feet and stared. + +"Yes, you are right, Sandy, it is a boat; and yet, for the life of me, +I fail to see a living soul in it. There is no paddle flashing in the +sunlight. It seems to be deserted. Come, let us leave our meat here, +and run to the shore, so we can see better." + +Nothing loath, Sandy trotted along at the heels of his brother, and in +the course of a minute or so they had gained the bank of the river. +It happened that, when Sandy first discovered the drifting object, +it had caught in an eddy that kept holding it back, so that although +some little time had elapsed, the object of their scrutiny was still +opposite to them. + +To discover an empty dugout on the river was a strange event, indeed. +The Armstrong boys could not remember ever having such a thing happen +before in all their experience; and it was no wonder then that they +stared and rubbed their eyes as if they could hardly believe what they +saw. + +"Can it be a sly trick on the part of Indians to keep our attention +fastened on that boat while they slip up behind us?" Sandy asked, +turning his head to look around him at the grim forest. + +"But they would not know we were coming along here," interposed Bob; +"and so, you see, how could they think to lay a plan like that? No, we +need feel no fears on that score. And then again, you know, Sandy, our +own people are only a short two miles or so above here. If the river +were straight I believe we could see them even now." + +"But, Bob, where could that boat have come from? I've a good notion to +strip and swim out after it. We could make good use of another dugout +like ours. And it is just the same kind of a boat, too, don't you +think?" + +"I was thinking something even more than that, Sandy," returned Bob. + +"What?" demanded the other, still eying the strange craft that bobbed +and danced in the eddying currents of the river, as though tantalizing +them, before once more starting on down the great stream. + +"It might be our own boat!" suggested Bob. + +"Oh! how could that be?" asked the other, catching his breath, and +turning a troubled face toward his brother. "They are always so +particular to keep it tied fast to the flatboat, you remember. Why, +no one thinks of using it these days, for we have all been too busy +working, to think of fishing, or trying for a few ducks." + +"You forget that Kate has paddled around in it a good deal of late!" +said Bob, slowly. + +Sandy became excited at once, just as his brother had expected would be +the case. + +"Oh! do you mean to say that something might have happened to Kate?" +he asked, a tremor in his voice, for the boys were very fond of their +little sister. + +"I do not know; I hope not, surely," muttered Bob, looking again out +toward the drifting boat; "but, if that is our boat, you can see, +Sandy, how strange that it should be afloat there, and no one in it to +use the paddle." + +Sandy laid his gun quietly on the ground. + +"Don't say another word against it, Bob," he remarked grimly, as he +started to remove some of his garments. + +"Be careful, is all I ask you, Sandy," Bob replied. "They tell us the +currents of the Mississippi are treacherous, and that they often clutch +a swimmer as if they had many hands. If the boat starts down-stream +again, as I fancy may be the case, I will follow along the shore, +bearing both guns." + +Sandy hastened to divest himself of all superfluous clothing, at the +same time keeping one eye on the strange boat. + +He was a splendid swimmer; indeed, the boy had ever been like a duck in +the water, so that Bob felt little fear about his ability to reach the +boat, and tow it ashore, unless some unexpected development occurred. + +"Keep out of range as you draw closer, Sandy," he remarked. + +"What makes you say that, Bob?" demanded the other. "It sounds as +if you expected to have to use your gun. Come, do you think Indians +might be lying in the bottom of the boat, ready to rise up and seize a +swimmer, if he came close; or fill him full of arrows?" + +"Here is a tree that I can easily climb," remarked Bob. "Wait a minute +while I get up among the branches. Perhaps I can tell then if enemies +are crouching in that boat. Don't start till I come back, Sandy." + +He climbed like a monkey, and was quickly in a position where he could +take a partial view of the strange craft's interior. + +But Bob did not stay there long. Whatever it was he saw, he dropped +down again to the ground much faster than he had climbed aloft. + +"Did you see any Indians?" asked Sandy, now ready to plunge into the +water. + +"No, I cannot say that I did," came the reply, in a perplexed tone. +"But there is _something_ lying in the bottom of that boat. It is not a +bundle, either, for I plainly saw it move." + +Sandy waited for no more. + +"Then I'm going out and see for myself!" he declared, as though some +half-formed fear had commenced to assail him. + +Stepping into the water, he hurried to reach a point where it arose +to his waist. Then he threw himself forward, and began to strike out +with overhand strokes that had many times carried him ahead of all +competitors in the water races the boys of the settlement used to +have, away back in Virginia, before the Armstrongs had even thought of +emigrating across the mountains to the new country along the Ohio. + +Bob picked up Sandy's gun, and such parts of his clothing as he had +discarded. Then he started to walk down the shore, because he saw that +the boat had finally succeeded in extricating itself from the clutch of +the cross eddies, and was once more moving southward with the steady +current of the river. + +And meanwhile Sandy was breasting the stream with powerful strokes, +headed so as to intercept the floating boat when it came along; and +with a new and terrible fear clutching at his heart. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +ON THE TRAIL + + +AS he followed along the strip of open shore, Bob saw his impetuous +brother drawing nearer and nearer to the floating dugout. He half +expected to see some grim figure start suddenly into view, threatening +Sandy with a deadly weapon, either gun or bow and arrow. + +Now Sandy had reached up a hand and clutched the side of the boat. He +exhibited not a sign of fear, from which fact Bob understood that, on +getting close, he had recognized the craft as the one they had brought +with them from their old home. + +He saw the other pull himself up, and look within the boat. What would +not Bob have given to see all that met the gaze of his brother just +then. + +Sandy's actions rather puzzled him, for the latter, turning half-way +around, waved a hand toward him, as if to say all was well; after which +he dropped back into the water, and started to tow the boat in the +direction of the shore. + +Eagerly did Bob keep abreast of the swimmer. Sandy did not try to fight +the current, but was evidently desirous of getting to land as quickly +as possible, regardless of all else. + +And when he finally stood up where the water was shallow, and dragged +the boat along, Bob, in his eagerness, waded half-way to his knees. +What he saw when he looked over the edge of the boat thrilled him. At +first he thought Kate must have met with some serious accident and was +lying dead. Then he saw her eyes were open, and that a bandage covered +her mouth. + +Bob snatched his sister up in his arms without a second's delay, for +Sandy was too exhausted after his swim to do much. + +The cloth was hastily torn away, and then the sharp edge of Bob's +hunting knife cut the leather thongs that bound the girl. + +"What does all this mean, Kate?" cried Bob, in a voice that quivered +with anxiety. "Oh! has anything terrible happened to father and mother, +that we find you like this?" + +She shook her head in the negative. + +"No, no, nothing has happened to them. It was the Frenchmen who did +it!" she explained, though with some difficulty, since the tight +bandage had hurt her jaws. + +Bob and his brother stared at each other. + +"Do you mean Jacques Larue?" demanded Bob, furiously. + +"And that other rascal, Henri Lacroix--the brother of the dead Armand?" +Sandy added, equally enraged. + +"Yes," replied the girl, looking as though, now that rescue had come, +she would not be sorry to see punished the men who had treated her so +badly. + +"This is a wonderful thing," Bob went on; "tell us how it happened. +Where were you when they caught you; and how is it you did not call +out?" + +So Kate explained how she had been taken by surprise, and, before she +could say a single word, the hand of Henri Lacroix had stifled all +speech. + +"And they had your fine wampum belt with them, Sandy," she went on, +eagerly. "He was wearing it as proudly as if he had saved the life +of Pontiac, himself,--Jacques Larue, I mean. And they said that they +wanted to pay the Armstrongs back for much that they had suffered." + +"And, like the base cowards they are," Bob grated between his teeth, +"they set a poor helpless girl adrift on the river in a little dugout +that might be upset in some cross current, where the fierce eddies +swirl!" + +"And wouldn't I like a chance to draw a bead on either of them right +now," said Sandy, looking all around him, as he fondled his faithful +old gun, with which he had done so much execution among the game of the +forests. + +"But we should be on the way home!" declared Bob. "Father and Pat must +know of this new outrage that we have suffered at the hands of these +miserable trappers, who would rather spend their time stealing game +that others have caught than to attend to a line of their own traps. If +father lets us, Sandy, make sure we will take Pat with us, and start on +the trail at once." + +"To regain those little treasures mother mourns as lost forever; that +is just fine," said Kate, eagerly, for she was a backwoods girl, and +could recover quickly, after even such a shocking experience. + +"Not to speak of our wonderful belt," added Sandy, who was slipping on +some of the clothes he had discarded. + +In a few minutes they were hurrying back along the shore. The boat had +been pulled up on the beach and the painter fastened to a convenient +tree, so that the chances were they would find the craft there, when +some one came back after it. + +Neither of the boys felt like paddling two miles against the current of +the Mississippi just then. Besides, they were anxious to get back to +their father. Perhaps the absence of Kate might have been discovered by +this time, and considerable anxiety have been aroused. + +But, when they came to the spot where their packs of venison had been +left, the boys could not resist the temptation to obtain them again. +Meat was needed too badly in the settlement to think of taking chances +of the wolves running off before morning with the entire stock. + +They had apparently entirely forgotten about having been tired before +this new and surprising thing came about. At least, to see the nimble +way in which the two boys advanced along the river shore, no one would +think they exhibited the least sign of weariness. + +In due time they approached the bustling scene where the men were +chopping so industriously. Toward one cabin that seemed to be about +finished they hastened. Mrs. Armstrong, chancing to come to the open +door, saw them, and something seemed to tell her the boys were bringing +bad news, for she waited for them there, and her face did not seem so +filled with sunshine as it had been when they first sighted her. + +When the story of Kate's second abduction had been told, Mr. Armstrong +was furious. He readily agreed to the proposition advanced by Sandy, +that he and his brother be allowed to take up the trail of the rascally +Frenchmen as soon as Pat came home, as it happened unfortunately that +the Irish trapper was somewhere out in the woods just then. + +The other men were called in, and Kate told her little story again. +Black looks told plainly what they thought; and for either Larue or +Lacroix to have been seen by any one of those English settlers just +then, would have undoubtedly meant his death warrant. + +Of course they understood that news of their coming would now be +carried to the nearest French trading post; but then they had not +anticipated being able to keep this a secret long, it being the hope of +Mr. Armstrong that the French would recognize in them allies against +England, and thus condone their coming--perhaps extend to them the +right hand of fellowship. + +Several times Sandy would rush outside to ascertain whether Pat had +shown up as yet. He had no eyes just then for the cosy interior of the +new cabin. Later on, when this load had been taken off Sandy's mind, he +would think just as highly as any one of the delightful comforts to be +enjoyed beside the family hearth. Just now he could think of nothing +but the miserable deed of those French trappers, and the fact that one +of them was even at that moment wearing the valuable belt of wampum. +The great Pontiac had bestowed this upon Sandy, because it had been a +bullet from his gun that had pierced the arm of a madman who was about +to bring down a war-club on the sachem's head. + +The afternoon was going all too fast to suit Sandy. It would be dark +before three hours, and then how could they overtake the Frenchmen, +who, given such a long start, would get beyond their reach? + +More than ever did he long to once again lay his hands, as the rightful +owner, on that beautiful belt of sacred shells, which bore the +well-known totem of the big chief under whom the various tribes had +united against the palefaces. + +Almost a full hour was lost in this way. Then Pat came sauntering in, +never dreaming how his absence had fretted the boys. + +Quickly he was made acquainted with the situation; and, no sooner +had he heard about the two Frenchmen, and how they had treated Kate +Armstrong, than Pat was on fire to take to the war-path. + +So he and the two boys left the settlement. They headed directly for +the spot described by Kate as the place where she had been surprised by +Jacques and his equally bold companion. + +Once there, the trained vision of Pat O'Mara quickly found the tracks +made by the moccasins of the men. They followed them to the edge of the +water, where according to the mark made by the prow of the dugout, it +was plainly seen that the boat had been shoved out into the river. + +Pat took up the trail from that point, and followed it very much as a +trained hound might have done; only the sense of sight had to serve him +rather than that of scent. + +Close at his heels came the two boys, each with his rifle held in +readiness for instant use, in case the enemy were sighted. They could +not tell but that the reckless Frenchmen might have concluded to hover +around, and wait to see if any of the hated English settlers tried to +follow them. + +But, as the afternoon wore on, and they kept making steady progress +away from the river, they came to the conclusion that Jacques and Henri +must have had some scheme in mind of cutting off a great bend in the +river, the existence of which was well known to them. By making this +straight cut across country, perhaps they were saving themselves many +miles' tramp. + +All of this was of course based upon the supposition that they meant to +keep on heading into the south, and perhaps reaching the lower country +at New Orleans. + +As they walked steadily along, from time to time Sandy, of course, +felt compelled to air his grievances, and he was always sure of a +sympathetic auditor in his brother. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +CREEPING UP ON THE QUARRY + + +"ISN'T it a shame that we won't be able to catch up with them before +dark comes?" Sandy began. + +"Well, how do we know that yet?" returned Bob. + +"Do you really think there's any chance, then?" asked the other, +feverishly. + +"About one in ten," answered Bob. "Something might cause them to stop, +and go into camp. Then, as evening came on we would sight their fire, +and be able to steal up close to them. Or it might be one of them could +twist his ankle in a creeper, and have a tumble that would bruise him +so badly he would want to lie over to rest up. There's always a slender +chance of such things happening, you know, Sandy." + +"Oh! to be sure, I understand all that," return the other; "but, +altogether it's less than one chance in ten of its happening; I think +you might have said twenty, while you were about it. But, see, Pat +has halted. I hope he hasn't lost the trail. That would finish us, I'm +afraid." + +Pat turned to the boys, and they could see a quizzical gleam in his +blue eyes. Bob felt sure the genial Irish trapper must have heard the +complaining words of Sandy, and was in the humor to take them with at +least a grain of allowance. He understood the nature of the lad. + +"Sure, they arre thryin' their level best to pull the wool over the +eyes av anny wan that undertakes to follow," Pat was saying. + +"In what way, Pat?" asked Bob, immediately understanding that the +trapper had been reading the signs closely. + +"By some av the oldest thricks a sly fox iver practised. Av ye look +here ye may say where they jumped on this same fallen tree, and walked +along the trunk a good ways. Go as ye plaze, I defy yees to diskiver +where the sarpints lift that same tree trunk. But bliss ye, 'tis as +plain as the nose on me face; and nobody'd have the laste throuble +about saing that. Come wid me, now, and be afther lookin' at the way +they jumped from the log into the bush beyant. Notice how the same is +crushed down in the wan spot. 'Tis there they landed, troth; and from +that point we must now take up the thrail afresh." + +It proved to be just as Pat said. Among the bushes they easily detected +the now well-known tracks of the two French trappers. They had +undoubtedly run along the tree trunk, and, at the most favorable part, +made a flying leap so as to land at some little distance away, and in +the midst of a thicket, hoping to thus throw any possible pursuer off +the trail. But the trick was so palpable and so ancient, that it is +doubtful whether even Sandy himself would have long been held in check. + +Frontier lads early learned a multitude of things connected with +trailing that had to be known in order to give them equal advantages +with the cunning Indian, or the wise four-footed denizens of the woods. +They understood the nature of the animal that made certain tracks, +whither he was bound at the time, whether toward home or in search of +his prey; just how he limped with one of his legs that had likely been +injured at some time; how he crouched in the snow, perhaps waiting +until his intended quarry came within reach, and then sprang--to +fall short, because the imprint of his paws lay in plain view and +those made by the feet of the escaping creature were just beyond. In +many ways they could read the story by means of the telltale tracks. +An education may not always mean ability to talk in Latin, or read +scientific works; both of which would be very poor accomplishments when +out in the great wilderness. + +So Pat was able to follow the Frenchmen, no matter how many times they +resorted to tricks of this sort. In the first place he had done similar +things himself on many occasions, and was therefore familiar with them +all; and then again, Pat was on the constant lookout for trickery, +and the instant he lost sight of the trail, his first act was to look +around and decide what he would probably have done, had he been seeking +to escape under the same circumstances. + +"It's already getting a little dim; don't you think, Bob?" asked Sandy, +after they had been moving along in this fashion for considerably more +than an hour. + +"I'm afraid that's so, Sandy," returned the other. + +"And pretty soon Pat will be telling us that he can follow the trail no +longer," pursued the disconsolate one. "Then here we'll have to settle +down for the night, and wait for it to get light enough to see, when +we'll be off in a big hurry. I wish I could do what Joshua did, you +know, Bob." + +"Make the sun stand still, you mean, Sandy?" + +"Yes, because that would give us more time to keep chasing after these +rascally Frenchmen," replied the other, with vehemence. + +"Oh! yes, but you forget that, if the daylight remained, and they kept +on moving all the time, they would be holding their own against us, and +continuing to play those tricks that so far have failed to hoodwink +Pat." + +"But I hope he will never think of giving up the pursuit as long as +we can find a single trace of where they have gone. This is the last +chance we're ever going to have to get back that belt; and something +tells me that, if we keep after them, just like the wolf does the +wounded stag, day and night, without ever quitting, why, we're just +bound to catch up with Jacques and Henri--some time or other." + +"Wait and see what happens," was all Bob would say; but Sandy knew that +his elder brother had considerable persistency in his nature; and on +this account he hugged a hope that Bob would want to keep on the track +of the thieves until in the end they were overhauled. + +But it certainly was growing dusk rapidly. Pat had to bend over more +and more to see what he wanted. At any minute Bob expected to hear the +trapper declare that it would be folly to try to track the Frenchmen +any longer, unless they chose to make use of a torch, which would be a +dangerous proceeding, since they were apt to attract the notice of any +roving Indian who might happen to be in the vicinity. + +And sure enough, Pat presently came to a full stop, calmly proceeding +to charge his little pipe, at which he puffed with evident relish. + +"The game is up for the night, me byes," he said, calmly. "We do be +havin' to settle down here, and wait for the day to come, whin I'll +again sthart away. I doubt that the rogues will thry to throw the +dust in our eyes again; and so we kin make better time, wance we get +stharted. It's harrd, I do be understandin'; but what's the use thryin' +to smash your head ag'inst a stone wall? Bitter far, jist take it +aisy-like, and belave it's all a-goin' to come out right in the ind." + +They went into camp. Bob had been wise enough to bring along a portion +of the fresh venison, so there was no need of any one going hungry; and +Pat took it upon himself to build the cleverest little cooking fire +they ever saw, so fashioned that, even in the darkness that came upon +them presently, it could not have been seen twenty feet away. + +After partaking of their supper, the three settled down to spend a long +and tiresome night under the trees of that forest bordering the bank of +the Mississippi. + +Sandy slept very little, Bob felt sure, because every time the latter +woke up he could see the other sitting there, hugging his knees with +his arms, and with an anxious face turned squarely toward the east, +as though desirous of knowing when the first faint peep of daybreak +arrived. + +And really it was one of the longest nights Bob himself could ever +remember passing through. It seemed as though dawn would never come. + +But finally Pat stirred, and, sitting up, announced that they had +better be making a fire, if they hoped to have a bite before starting +off. How he knew what the time was might seem a deep mystery to those +unacquainted with the ways of a woodsman. The chances were that Pat, +who used the heavens for his clock, had decided that a certain star +would be just at a particular point an hour before daylight, and this +was plenty of time for their needs. + +So once more they were on the move, as soon as the light was strong +enough for Pat to take up the trail. + +The two Frenchmen evidently believed that they had long since baffled +any possible pursuer. Indeed, they could hardly dream that they would +be followed at all. The little band of English, that had thus boldly +invaded the territory so long claimed by the French, must be only a +weak branch of the rival race; and surely would never dare venture far +away from their base, lest they be overwhelmed by hostile Indians. + +Consequently, Pat was enabled to make very good time along the trail, +now that he had the light of day to assist him. + +They came upon the ashes of a fire after a while, showing that the men +they were chasing must have camped not a great distance away from +their own resting place, certainly no more than three miles. + +Pat could tell by placing his hand among the still warm ashes just +how long before the place had been deserted; just as he was able to +discover from the tracks what space of time had elapsed since the men +passed along. + +Their caution increased as the morning advanced, for they realized that +they were rapidly overhauling the two Frenchmen; and, as these worthies +had been spending the better part of their lives among the Indians and +wild animals of the frontier, it was to be expected that they were well +versed in all the ways of the borderman. + +Noon found them stealing along like shadows. Pat had announced in a +whisper that he believed they would come upon their men resting in the +heat of the day; and he had hopes that they might thus take them by +surprise. + +Ten minutes later he made gestures that told the two pioneer boys the +pleasing news of discovery. The Frenchmen had indeed halted to build +a small fire, and, having eaten, were now lying flat on their backs, +enjoying a noon nap, little dreaming that enemies could be creeping +upon them, just as the sly panther crawls, inch by inch, upon his prey. + +And when Bob and Sandy presently caught sight of the two recumbent +figures they felt a thrill of eagerness and satisfaction, such as +always accompanies successful attainment. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +THE MISSING WAMPUM BELT + + +CREEPING along, with their guns held in readiness for instant use, +the three gradually approached the sleepers. Pat frequently paused to +observe closely. Bob knew what he was keeping in mind; for the trapper +had only lately been telling a story of how once he had been followed +by a pair of hardened border renegades, who hoped to catch him asleep +and wind up his career. Pat had managed, before they came up, to divest +himself of certain of his garments, which he stuffed with dead leaves +and arranged so that it looked as though he might be sleeping near his +flickering fire. And, when the intended murderers crept near, he was +conveniently placed for opening fire upon them. + +In that case the border had been well rid of a pair of rascals, and +many a settler's home rendered the more secure because of Pat's ruse. + +But the shrewd Irish trapper did not mean to be caught by any similar +trick; and that was why he was making positive, as he advanced, that +the two figures were real flesh and blood, and no make-believe forms. +And, when he saw each of them move an arm or leg, as a fly or mosquito +bothered them, this fact was soon so apparent that Pat lost all fear. + +It had already been fully arranged what the programme should be, under +such conditions. Pat was to throw himself upon one recumbent figure, +while the two boys covered the other with their guns, and threatened +him with immediate death unless he held up his hands. + +When all was ready, and Pat just about to carry out his part of the +arrangement, Henri, who, it happened, had been selected for the victim +of the boys, suddenly sat up, and started to stretch, as he yawned +sleepily. + +Imagine his amazement at seeing three crouching figures within a few +feet of him, while two muskets were levelled at his head. Stricken dumb +with surprise he could only stare and gasp. + +Meanwhile Pat was not idle. With a leap that a panther might +have envied he was upon the second figure. Jacques Larue had not +the faintest chance. Taken utterly unawares, and at a complete +disadvantage, he was as putty in the hands of the stalwart Irish +trapper, even though himself a man of sinew. + +"Don't so much as move a hand except to raise them above your head, +Henri Lacroix, or you are a dead man!" exclaimed Bob, sternly. + +True, these two were only boys, but the Frenchman knew to his sorrow +that they were to be feared just as much as men. And it was almost +ludicrous to see how quickly he elevated his hands, and made motions +with his head to indicate that he gave in. + +After that it was no hard task to bind the trappers, though first of +all their weapons were taken. They looked alarmed, as indeed they had +good cause for being, since they had long been a thorn in the flesh of +these English settlers, and might expect to be treated harshly. And +doubtless they both remembered with regret how they had just lately +done a rascally deed, for which these three might well demand their +lives as a recompense. + +Had they not known that Pat O'Mara must have trailed them from the +place where they set the dugout adrift, containing Mr. Armstrong's +daughter, Jacques Larue and Henri Lacroix might have stoutly denied all +knowledge of the crime. As it was they kept their lips sealed, and +remained mute. + +When, however, Bob and Sandy, astonished and chagrined at not finding +the wampum belt upon either of the Frenchmen, although they recovered +most of the little keepsakes lost by their mother, demanded to know +where it had been hidden, Jacques took it upon himself to explain, with +many extravagant shrugs of his broad shoulders; for even in those days +his countrymen, even as now, do considerable of their talking with +gestures. + +"I haf not seen ze belt since last night!" he declared. "Ven I allow +myself to go to sleep she is here about my vaist as before; yet, +_sacre_! it amaze me to find ven I am open my eyes dis same morning +zat ze belt no longer adorn my person. So it seem zat while I sleep +some unknown von, he crawl into ze camp, and take avay ze belt, and me +not any ze wiser. I feel nossings, know nossings, only ze belt she be +disappear." + +"Did you not suspect that your friend, Henri here, might have taken a +notion to take the belt and hide it?" asked Bob, as soon as he could +recover from the shock which this declaration gave him. + +"Zat is exact vat pass through my mind!" exclaimed Jacques, eagerly. +"He, himself, tell you ze same, because him I accuse. But hold on, he +say, let us then examine ze ground, and know ze truth. So zat is vat +ve do, accordingly. Great is our amazement to learn zat an Indian, he +crawl into our camp as ve sleep. I know ze tracks only too vell to +believe zat it can be a white man. And I gif you my vord, Monsieur +O'Mara, zat ees ze truth, ze whole truth, and nossings but ze truth." + +Bob and Sandy were grievously disappointed. Whether, as Larue declared, +some unknown Indian had really crept upon them while they slept, and +were wholly off their guard, taking only the sacred wampum belt, as +though that were the single object of his mission; or whether, on the +other hand, Larue had secreted the belt for reasons of his own, the +result was all the same so far as they were concerned, since the belt +was gone. + +After talking it over, they decided that the two prisoners should be +taken to the new settlement. They hardly felt in a condition to declare +what measure of punishment should be meted out to such scoundrels; and +would much rather a council of the elder men decided this question. + +Jacques and Henri seemed very much cast down. They belonged to a class +of bordermen who believed in the old adage, "an eye for an eye; a tooth +for a tooth;" and under the circumstances had reason to expect nothing +in the way of mercy from Mr. Armstrong, whom they had attempted to +injure many times. + +So the return march was taken up, it being the desire of the boys to +reach their destination that day, even though the journey continued +into the hours of darkness. + +Pat knew that, by taking a bee-line route across country, they could +cut off a considerable distance. When a bee is loaded with honey it +always rises up, as if to take an observation, and then makes a direct +line for its hive, even though a full mile away from it at the time. +Many claim that it is a peculiar "homing instinct" that guides the +little insect at such times; but this, on the other hand, seems far +from being the case; since, if the hive be moved in the night time, the +bees, starting out in the morning, will not return to the old position, +but fly straight to the new. + +To lose Pat O'Mara in any woods would be next to impossible, because he +was perfectly at home there, and, although they were now passing over +ground which he saw for the first time that afternoon, the accuracy of +his deduction was made manifest just about dusk, when Sandy declared +that he certainly heard the well-known sound of an axe being used upon +firewood, somewhere ahead. + +Half an hour later, they walked in on the sentry who stood guard, and +whose quick hearing, detecting their advance, caused a peremptory +challenge. + +Great was the rejoicing among the settlers when they saw how successful +had been the chase after the rascally trappers belonging to that league +of French Canadians who were employed all along the great river in +catching the rich pelt-bearing animals inhabiting that region, or else +trading with the Indians for their furs. + +When Mrs. Armstrong found almost all of her little belongings returned +to her, she was of course delighted; though this circumstance was of +small value in her fond eyes as compared with the safe home-coming of +her brave boys. + +When the story of the missing belt was told, few believed what the +Frenchman had advanced as the truth. + +The general opinion seemed to be that, for some unknown reason, the +pair had secreted the wampum belt somewhere, meaning to get it again at +a later time. And some of the settlers were loud in their demand that +the men be forced to confess what had been done with the belt, which, +if only possessed again, was certain to be a great source of security +to the new settlement. They believed it would be a talisman calculated +to act as a bar upon the passions of the Indians, as long as the name +of Pontiac was held in reverence by the confederated tribes of the +middle West. + +So the two men were tightly bound and thrust into a cabin that was +nearly completed, being told that their fate would be decided at a +council later on. They acted in a sullen manner, declaring they had +told only the truth; and that, even though the English put them to +the stake, they could say nothing different. At the same time Larue +took occasion to say that, should their fate ever become known to the +commandant of the nearest trading post, an expedition would assuredly +be fitted out against the new settlement that would wipe it from the +face of the earth. + +Mr. Armstrong was uneasy. He knew that the men deserved death, +according to the law of the border; and yet, for many reasons, he was +personally averse to meting out such judgment upon them. + +He was far from being a bloodthirsty man to begin with. Then Kate had +really not been injured when in their hands, and he had that to be +thankful for; though their method of annoying the English settlers by +setting the girl adrift on the river was a cowardly proceeding that +surely merited severe punishment. + +Last of all, Mr. Armstrong was really desirous of making a truce with +the French traders in charge of the posts along the Mississippi. He +could see far enough ahead to realize that, when the Colonies split +with the Mother Country, the natural allies of the rebels would be +the French. And, as far as possible, he did not wish to do anything +calculated to defer this adjustment of past differences between the two +nations. + +And so it was decided to keep the two men shut up for a few days, in +order that they would suffer the tortures of uncertainty concerning +their fate. Then, if they did not confess concerning the disposal of +the precious wampum belt, the English settlers could hold back their +weapons, and cast them adrift, to make their way back to the nearest +post as best they could; perhaps with a message to the commandant +pertaining to the news from the seacoast, and the threatening rupture +that was surely coming between England and her rebellious child in +America. + +Accordingly, three days later, the two men were released, with a stern +warning to keep away from this settlement, if they valued their lives. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +THE MYSTERY SOLVED CONCLUSION + + +BOB, despite his long tramp, as well as the excitement that had been +his portion during that day, felt little like sleeping. It seemed to +him as though something weighed upon his mind, preventing him from +enjoying his customary slumber. He did not know just what to make of +it, and wondered whether it might mean that danger again hung over the +cabin of his parents. + +When the others had settled down, Bob wandered forth. It was not his +turn to act as sentry, and so, instead of passing around to converse in +low tones with Mr. Bancroft, who was serving at the time, he found a +place where he could be comfortable, and there remained, with his back +against the cabin wall. + +The night was warm, so that it was no task to remain out of doors. +Besides, Bob was accustomed to looking upon the star-decked sky as his +roof. Many a time had he and Sandy slept in the open, with no other +covering. They were hardy, as indeed all pioneer boys had to be, in +order to encounter successfully the privations that seemed to be their +birthright. + +Bob, himself, hardly knew just why he had chosen to settle down +there, where he could observe the door of his father's new cabin +in the flickering light of the dying fire. He seemed to take solid +satisfaction in just sitting where he could keep his eyes upon it, +while thinking about that other home, many hundred miles away, which +they had left forever. + +Bob was just becoming conscious of the fact that his eyes were feeling +a trifle heavy, and wondering whether, after all, he would not be +wise in entering the cabin, so as to seek rest upon the furs that +constituted his couch, when he suddenly became aware that there was +something moving between him and the almost dead fire. + +Now thoroughly aroused, he bent over until upon his knees, and eagerly +watched. In this fashion he presently became aware that it was a human +figure, and not a prowling wolf, that had attracted his attention. It +was surely advancing, slowly yet positively, toward the cabin occupied +by the Armstrongs. + +Bob felt his pulses thrill. Was this some friend of the prisoners, +and did he mean to try to effect their release? Then why pick out the +cabin where Sandy, Kate, Mr. Armstrong and the little mother slept, in +total ignorance of the peril that seemed to hover above their heads; +unless, as seemed possible, he knew not where the captive Frenchmen +were confined. And it added to Bob's anxiety when presently he made the +alarming discovery that the silent creeper was a painted and feathered +Indian! + +Waiting until the creeper had bent low near the door of the cabin, Bob +launched himself forward. He landed full upon the other's back. There +was an involuntary grunt from the Indian, and a twisting of the lithe +figure; but either the savage did not wish to resist violently, or else +he realized the folly of trying to get away from the strong clutch of +the young pioneer, for he almost immediately relaxed his muscles, and +remained there, limp enough. + +Meanwhile Bob's cries had brought forth, not only his father and the +rest of the family, but everybody in the settlement. They came crowding +around, the men with guns, ready to defend their families against a +possible attack of the treacherous red foe. + +Great, therefore, was the surprise of the men when they learned how +Bob had captured the creeping Indian, whose actions would indicate that +he must have had some base designs upon the Armstrong cabin. His arms +had been hastily secured by one of the men; but he now stood calmly +before them, apparently scorning to show any desire to flee. + +Pat took one look at the prisoner, and uttered an exclamation of +amazement. + +"By the powers, now!" he cried, "and who would be afther expectin' to +say a Delaware brave as far away from his home country as this wan?" + +"A Delaware!" echoed Sandy, in his turn pushing forward, to stare in +the face of the prisoner; and then he, too, gave a cry. + +"Bob, look here, and tell me if this isn't that same young brave we +found with his foot caught in a crevice of the rock, and nearly starved +to death?" + +And the astonished Bob, after coming closer to the prisoner, agreed +with his younger brother. + +"Yes, as sure as you live, it is the young brave who said at the +time when we set him free and gave him meat, that his name was +Buckongahelas, and his father a chief of the Delawares. Oh! now we +know who sent those warning letters written on birch bark. Just as we +guessed more than once, it was he. That was the Indian way of showing +gratitude; and he has even followed us all the way to the Mississippi, +in order to again help us. It is the strangest thing I ever knew." + +"But, if he is your friend, what was he creeping up to the door of your +cabin for?" demanded Mr. Wayne, who did not trust the Indian nature any +too well, and found it difficult to believe that any redskin could feel +gratitude. + +Sandy was already unfastening the thongs that held the arms of the +Delaware behind his back; and he answered indignantly: + +"I'm sure that, if you take the trouble to look, Mr. Wayne, you will +find that he was placing another of his friendly birch-bark messages +under the door of our cabin." + +It was Bob, however, inspired by a sudden thrilling hope, who turned +to look; and, hardly had Sandy spoken, than the other gave a shout of +delight, as he snatched some object up from the ground, where it had +been pushed from the stoop by the hasty exit of the Armstrong family. + +"The precious wampum belt, Sandy!" he cried in glee; "see, +Buckongahelas has brought it back to us, and was about to leave it at +our doorstep when I jumped on his back!" + +"Oh! where do you think he could have found it?" gasped Sandy, as he +took the gift of the great Pontiac from the hand of his brother, and +even pressed it to his lips, because he considered it the greatest +blessing the little colony could own. + +"Stop and think, Sandy," said Bob, trying to control his voice; "and +you will surely remember what Jacques said about some one creeping upon +them while they slept last night, taking only the belt, and nothing +more. Buckongahelas did that; and to complete his splendid showing of +Indian gratitude." + +They all now turned upon the young Delaware, as though expecting that +he should explain the mystery; which he did not seem averse to doing, +though he evidently knew so little of English that he spoke to Pat in +his native tongue, and the trapper translated the same to the colonists. + +"Buckongahelas owes his life to the young white hunters. When he would +have died like the old wolf that has lost its teeth, and can no longer +hold fast to its prey, they came and saved him. More than that, they +gave him meat to take him on his journey to the lodges of his people. + +"It is not well that a Delaware, and the son of a chief, should be +in the debt of a white man. Buckongahelas made a vow to the Great +Manitou that he would repay it all. So he hovered about the home of the +palefaces. Many times he saw them and they knew it not. He had reason +to hate the two French trappers who came from far away in the land of +the setting sun. He watched, and saw that they meant harm to the family +of the white friends of Buckongahelas. Again, and yet again, did the +Delaware send messages with warning. Yet did the bad palefaces steal +the belt of Pontiac away, and flee for the land of the Great Water. + +"That was bad. Buckongahelas could not bear to see the grief of his +white friends, and go back to his own lodge. A Delaware knows no fear. +So, when they journeyed down the beautiful river on their new boat the +Delaware was always near by. Day and night Buckongahelas kept with the +palefaces; sometimes on a log floating along, and passing their camp, +but always watching for the two bad men who would wrong their own kind +by keeping the belt of Pontiac, that did not belong to them. + +"And when the sun went down last night, the Delaware crept into the +camp of the French trappers, and took away the belt that belonged +to another. Now Buckongahelas feels that he can go back on the long +journey to his own people. The debt has been paid, and he may look in +the face of his father again. It is well." + +And so was the mystery lifted from the strange friendly warnings that, +from time to time, had been received, when some particular peril +hovered over the Armstrongs. After all, it was very simple. Both Bob +and Sandy understood Indian nature well enough to know what a strong +hold the question of honor had upon a brave like the highly-strung +young Delaware. Proud of his own strength and courage, it galled him to +think that he was under so great an obligation to those two half-grown +white boys; and he could never rest content until he had succeeded in +cancelling the debt after the manner of his people. + +He would not remain even over the night with them, for, truth to tell, +Buckongahelas had no particular love for the whites, no matter whether +they were English or French; and what history tells about his future +exploits amply proves that what he did for the Armstrongs was a purely +personal matter, and not because he wished to be friendly toward the +people who were slowly but surely driving his tribe toward the setting +sun. The Delawares had once inhabited the land near Chesapeake and +Delaware bays, though at that time they had moved so as to be further +away from the encroaching whites. They now found that the latter were +following on their track in constantly increasing numbers. + +With the recovery of the wonderful wampum belt the boys no longer +feared an Indian attack, unless something happened to Pontiac that +would remove the famous sachem from the leadership of the confederated +tribes. And we, who have read the history of our country in the early +days, know that this did not occur for several years. + +The new settlement progressed wonderfully. It was not very long before +they had an accession, as the several families who had manifested a +desire to follow them to the land of the Mississippi joined fortunes +with those who had already built cabins, and were engaged in clearing +and planting the land. + +It soon became known to the Indians roundabout that the all-powerful +Pontiac had spread his protecting mantle over this struggling little +settlement on the bank of the Big Water; and from that hour they gave +the colonists no trouble. + +And the commandant at the nearest French trading post must have +received the message that Mr. Armstrong forwarded in care of Jacques +Larue, for he sent back word that there would be peace between +his trappers and the little English settlement on the bank of the +Mississippi. + +The two rascally trappers had been greatly surprised at being let off +without punishment. Perhaps their rough natures were not capable of +comprehending the real meaning of the act; but they were glad to get +away without paying for their evil deeds; and expressed the intention +of fighting shy of the English settlement after that. As to whether +they would keep their word or not may be made apparent later on, when +many of the characters who have figured in this volume may be met +again in the pages of a new book, to be called, "The Pioneer Boys of +the Missouri." + +Bob and Sandy had good reason to feel satisfied with the outcome of +their little act of kindness. Of course, it did not amount to much to +them, when they released that young Delaware from his rocky trap, by +means of which his foot had been held secure for several days; but, +to the mind of the Indian, it was a debt that must be sacredly paid +several fold. And, whenever they looked upon the magic wampum belt that +stood as a signet of the all-powerful protecting arm of Pontiac, the +boys were wont to exchange a significant glance, as though to say that +"bread cast upon the waters will return ere many days." And surely this +saying had been amply justified in their case. + +THE END. + + + + +NOTES + + +NOTE 1 (PAGE 5) + +WHAT Sandy said about the extensive boundaries of Virginia was not +surprising; for at this early day, just before the breaking out of +the Revolutionary War, the colonists had only a vague idea of the +next-to-unknown land that lay to the west. Beyond the Alleghanies, +extending to the far-away Mississippi, the country was considered to +be a part of Fincastle County, Virginia. Beyond that lay the Northwest +Territory, a practically unexplored country, still awaiting the coming +of the bold adventurer. + + +NOTE 2 (PAGE 7) + +While the flood which the young pioneers witnessed may well have +been the greatest that the Indians had ever known, it was probably +slight compared with the annual floods of the present day. Every +spring the Ohio and its tributaries receive a huge volume of water +from the melting snows, and from the torrential rains which occur at +that season, and these spring freshets are looked upon as a matter of +course, and only commented on when they cause unusual loss of property +or of human life. One of the greatest floods that the Valley of the +Ohio has ever experienced was that in the latter part of March, 1913, +when property valued at hundreds of millions of dollars was destroyed +and many hundreds of people were drowned. + +As far as possible, disaster is guarded against by an elaborate system +of reservoirs and levees, but a year seldom passes in which the river +does not break through at some point and flood many miles of the +Valley. The increased volume of the annual floods is ascribed to the +fact that the forests which originally lined the banks of the Ohio and +its tributaries have been cut down, with the result that the excess +of water is not absorbed by the soil, but comes pouring down from the +hills. + + +NOTE 3 (PAGE 9) + +Pontiac, a powerful chief of the Ottawa Indians, is famous as the one +Indian who succeeded in uniting the numerous tribes along the frontier +in a well-organized confederacy for the purpose of driving the English +from the country. The uprising took place in 1763 and the war continued +for three years, during which period the Indians captured practically +every frontier fort except Detroit, which was besieged by them for +many months, but succeeded in holding out against them. The war is one +unending succession of massacres and Indian outrages, but the Indians +were finally overcome, chiefly through their inability to persist in +an enterprise unless immediately successful, joined to the jealousies +among the tribes themselves. Throughout the war Pontiac was a most +romantic figure, brave and able, and with all those characteristics +which go to make up "the noble Red Man." Pontiac was assassinated in +1769 by a Delaware brave who had been bribed to do the deed by an +English trader who had a personal grudge against the great Chief. + + +NOTE 4 (PAGE 55) + +Every one has heard of Boone and Kenton; but history has but little +to tell of James Harrod, surveyor, pioneer and scout. It is known +that, even before Boone penetrated into Kentucky, Harrod had built +himself a cabin on the site of the present city of Harrodsburg. Under +a gentle and mild exterior, he seems to have been one of the bravest +and most resourceful of the group of pioneers who contributed so +much to the settling of Kentucky and the Valley of the Ohio. About +the only anecdote of him which has come down to us is of the time +when, single-handed, he tracked five Indian braves who had destroyed +a frontiersman's home and carried off two of his daughters. It seems +almost incredible; but, without aid, he killed four and wounded the +fifth Indian, and returned the girls to their father. His fate is +shrouded in mystery. While in the prime of life he one day disappeared +into the forest, and never returned, and just how he met his end will +never be known. + + +NOTE 5 (PAGE 62) + +Whatever feeling the frontiersmen had against the hostile Indians, +it was as nothing compared with their hatred and loathing for the +renegade white men who joined with the Indians against the settlers. +These men, fortunately few in number, were usually either desperate +criminals whose lives were unsafe in the colonies, or else degenerate +brutes who found life among the Indians more to their liking than that +in civilized surroundings. The Indians, as a whole, had many noble +qualities, such as loyalty to friendship and a strong regard for their +word of honor, but the renegades lacked every good quality, being more +cruel, more treacherous, more brutalized than the Indians with whom +they cast in their lots. + +The history of the frontier is full of accounts of these men, and +prominent among them was Simon Girty, concerning whom many stories are +told. McKee is less well known, but is mentioned occasionally as the +companion of the more famous, or, rather, more infamous Girty. + + +NOTE 6 (PAGE 64) + +History tells us that Little Turtle lived and died as the enemy of +the settlers who came out from Virginia to people the wilderness. +Many years later, when he was sachem of his tribe, and said to be the +shrewdest foe the whites had ever known, it was under his leadership +that the associated tribes--Wyandots or Hurons, Iroquois, Ottawas, +Pottawottomies, Chippewas, Sacs, Delawares, Miamis and Shawanees--came +down upon General St. Clair and his army before daylight, and won a +most decisive victory over the forces he was leading against their +towns of Old Chillicothe, Pecaway, and others. + + +NOTE 7 (PAGE 81) + +The Shawanee invariably shaped his flints after the custom of his +people; the Huron, the Wyandot, the Delaware, the Pottawottomie did +his in an altogether different way. One arrowhead was long; another +rather broad; a third had a small shank that fitted in the crotch +made by splitting the end of the shaft; while a fourth needed no such +appendage, but was inserted direct, and the two sides of the arrow +securely bound, until the whole was as rigid as though forming one +piece. + + +NOTE 8 (PAGE 127) + +Boone at this time was held to be the finest borderman west of the +Alleghanies. With his calm, resolute bearing he impressed every one he +met as few men have the faculty for doing. + +Even the hostile Indians felt that he was a _real_ man; and when, +several years later, Boone had the misfortune to fall into their hands, +instead of putting him to the torture post, or making him run the +gauntlet, as ordinary prisoners were treated, they took him a prisoner +to one of their villages far away in Ohio, where he was finally adopted +into the tribe, and treated with great respect as a brother. Indeed, he +had considerable difficulty in escaping later on, when he learned that +hundreds of the Shawanee warriors were assembling, with the purpose of +surprising his favorite settlement, which he managed to reach in time +to prepare it for the defence that has become historic. + + +NOTE 9 (PAGE 149) + +This prophecy of Bob Armstrong really came true, since the name of Blue +Jacket figures on many pages of border history. He never loved the +whites as a class; it was only the Armstrongs whom he had come to care +for; and this explains why, at a later stage of his life, Blue Jacket +even led his warriors against the settlements that were encroaching on +the hunting grounds of the red men. Those who would know more about +this brilliant young brave, who afterwards became so noted a chief, +must study the accounts of border warfare, in which his exploits are +written. + + +NOTE 10 (PAGE 209) + +This wonderful man of the border, Simon Kenton, seemed to bear a +charmed life. Many times was he captured; and on three occasions, at +least, made to run the gauntlet of his foes, while the brush was piled +up around the stake at which they fully intended to burn him; but he +always escaped. He had come to believe that he was never fated to die +at the hands of the red foe of the pioneers; and this made him the more +rash. Even so valued a friend as Boone was unable to hold him in check, +once he allowed this spirit of recklessness to have dominion over him. + +Once, it is recorded that, just after his funeral pile of brush had +been lighted, there came a furious thunder storm, the rain putting out +the fire, and the crash of the elements sending fear to the hearts of +the Indians. Then the medicine-man hastened to warn them that the Great +Spirit was angry with his red children because they had attempted to +put to death a paleface whom the spirits especially favored; and so +Kenton had been put back in the prison lodge again, from which in time +he made his escape, as usual. + + +NOTE 11 (PAGE 242) + +France and England both claimed this country as their own; but for a +long time those who owed allegiance to the lilies of France had held +sway here, undisturbed, bargaining with the many Indian tribes, and +assuming all the airs of real owners of these woods and waters, which +fairly teemed with game or fish. + +When they learned that the first bold band of English had braved all +the perils that lay in wait for them, and had even established new +homesteads on the shore of the mighty Mississippi, they were first +amazed, and then furious. + + + + +THE LITTLE COLONEL BOOKS (Trade Mark) + +_By ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON_ + + _Each 1 vol., large 12mo, cloth, illustrated, per vol._ $1.50 + + + =THE LITTLE COLONEL STORIES= + (Trade Mark) + +Being three "Little Colonel" stories in the Cosy Comer Series, "The +Little Colonel," "Two Little Knights of Kentucky," and "The Giant +Scissors," in a single volume. + + =THE LITTLE COLONEL'S HOUSE PARTY= + (Trade Mark) + + =THE LITTLE COLONEL'S HOLIDAYS= + (Trade Mark) + + =THE LITTLE COLONEL'S HERO= + (Trade Mark) + + =THE LITTLE COLONEL AT BOARDING-SCHOOL= + (Trade Mark) + + =THE LITTLE COLONEL IN ARIZONA= + (Trade Mark) + + =THE LITTLE COLONEL'S CHRISTMAS VACATION= + (Trade Mark) + + =THE LITTLE COLONEL, MAID OF HONOR= + (Trade Mark) + + =THE LITTLE COLONEL'S KNIGHT COMES RIDING= + (Trade Mark) + + =MARY WARE: THE LITTLE COLONEL'S CHUM= + (Trade Mark) + + =MARY WARE IN TEXAS= + + =MARY WARE'S PROMISED LAND= + +_These 12 volumes, boxed as a set_, $18.00. + + =THE LITTLE COLONEL= + (Trade Mark) + + + =TWO LITTLE KNIGHTS OF KENTUCKY= + + + =THE GIANT SCISSORS= + + + =BIG BROTHER= + + +Special Holiday Editions + + +Each one volume, cloth decorative, small quarto, $1.25 + +New plates, handsomely illustrated with eight full-page drawings in +color, and many marginal sketches. + + +=IN THE DESERT OF WAITING:= THE LEGEND OF CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN. + + +=THE THREE WEAVERS:= A FAIRY TALE FOR FATHERS AND MOTHERS AS WELL AS +FOR THEIR DAUGHTERS. + + +=KEEPING TRYST= + + +=THE LEGEND OF THE BLEEDING HEART= + + +=THE RESCUE OF PRINCESS WINSOME:= + +A FAIRY PLAY FOR OLD AND YOUNG. + + +=THE JESTER'S SWORD= + + Each one volume, tall 16mo, cloth decorative $0.50 + Paper boards .35 + +There has been a constant demand for publication in separate form of +these six stories which were originally included in six of the "Little +Colonel" books. + + +=JOEL: A BOY OF GALILEE:= By ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON. Illustrated by L. +J. Bridgman. + + New illustrated edition, uniform with the Little Colonel + Books, 1 vol., large 12mo, cloth decorative $1.50 + +A story of the time of Christ, which is one of the author's best-known +books. + + +=THE LITTLE COLONEL GOOD TIMES BOOK= + + Uniform in size with the Little Colonel Series $1.50 + Bound in white kid (morocco) and gold 3.00 + +Cover design and decorations by Peter Verberg. + +Published in response to many inquiries from readers of the Little +Colonel books as to where they could obtain a "Good Times Book" such as +Betty kept. + + +=THE LITTLE COLONEL DOLL BOOK= + + Large quarto, boards $1.50 + +A series of "Little Colonel" dolls. There are many of them and each +has several changes of costume, so that the happy group can be +appropriately clad for the rehearsal of any scene or incident in the +series. + + +=ASA HOLMES;= OR, AT THE CROSS-ROADS. By ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON. + +With a frontispiece by Ernest Fosbery. + + Large 16mo, cloth, gilt top $1.00 + +"'Asa Holmes; or, At the Cross-Roads' is the most delightful, most +sympathetic and wholesome book that has been published in a long +while."--_Boston Times._ + + +=TRAVELERS FIVE: ALONG LIFE'S HIGHWAY.= By ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON. + +With an introduction by Bliss Carman, and a frontispiece by E. H. +Garrett. + + Cloth decorative $1.25 + +"Mrs. Johnston's ... are of the character that cause the mind to grow +gravely meditative, the eyes to shine with tender mist, and the heart +strings to stir to strange, sweet music of human sympathy."--_Los +Angeles Graphic._ + + +=THE RIVAL CAMPERS;= OR, THE ADVENTURES OF HENRY BURNS. By RUEL PERLEY +SMITH. + + Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +A story of a party of typical American lads, courageous, alert, and +athletic, who spend a summer camping on an island off the Maine coast. + + +=THE RIVAL CAMPERS AFLOAT;= OR, THE PRIZE YACHT VIKING. By RUEL PERLEY +SMITH. + + Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +This book is a continuation of the adventures of "The Rival Campers" on +their prize yacht _Viking_. + + +=THE RIVAL CAMPERS ASHORE= + +By RUEL PERLEY SMITH. + + + Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +"As interesting ashore as when afloat."--_The Interior._ + + +=THE RIVAL CAMPERS AMONG THE OYSTER PIRATES;= OR, JACK HARVEY'S +ADVENTURES. + +By RUEL PERLEY SMITH. + + Illustrated $1.50 + +"Just the type of book which is most popular with lads who are in their +early teens."--_The Philadelphia Item._ + + +=A TEXAS BLUE BONNET= + +By CAROLINE EMILIA JACOBS (EMILIA ELLIOTT). + + 12mo, illustrated $1.50 + +"The book's heroine Blue Bonnet has the very finest kind of wholesome, +honest lively girlishness and cannot but make friends with every one +who meets her through the book as medium."--_Chicago Inter-Ocean._ + + +=BLUE BONNET'S RANCH PARTY= + +A Sequel to "A Texas Blue Bonnet." By CAROLINE ELLIOTT JACOBS and EDYTH +ELLERBECK READ. + + 12mo, illustrated $1.50 + +The new story begins where the first volume leaves off and takes +Blue Bonnet and the "We Are Seven Club" to the ranch in Texas. The +tables are completely turned: Blue Bonnet is here in her natural +element, while her friends from Woodford have to learn the customs and +traditions of another world. + + +=THE GIRLS OF FRIENDLY TERRACE= + +OR, PEGGY RAYMOND'S SUCCESS. By HARRIET LUMMIS SMITH. + + 12mo, illustrated $1.50 + +This is a book that will gladden the hearts of many girl readers +because of its charming air of comradeship and reality. It is a very +interesting group of girls who live on Friendly Terrace and their good +times and other times are graphically related by the author, who shows +a sympathetic knowledge of girl character. + + +=PEGGY RAYMOND'S VACATION;= OR, FRIENDLY TERRACE TRANSPLANTED. + +A Sequel to "The Girls of Friendly Terrace." By HARRIET LUMMIS SMITH. + + Library 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +Readers who made the acquaintance of Peggy Raymond and her bevy of girl +chums in "The Girls of Friendly Terrace" will be glad to continue the +acquaintance of these attractive young folks. + +Several new characters are introduced, and one at least will prove a +not unworthy rival of the favorites among the Terrace girls. + + + + +THE HADLEY HALL SERIES + +_By LOUISE M. BREITENBACH_ + + _Each, library 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated_ $1.50 + + +=ALMA AT HADLEY HALL= + +"Miss Breitenbach is to be congratulated on having written such an +appealing book for girls, and the girls are to be congratulated on +having the privilege of reading it."--_The Detroit Free Press._ + + +=ALMA'S SOPHOMORE YEAR= + +"The characters are strongly drawn with a life-like realism, the +incidents are well and progressively sequenced, and the action is so +well timed that the interest never slackens."--_Boston Ideas._ + +------ + + +=THE SUNBRIDGE GIRLS AT SIX STAR RANCH.= By ELEANOR STUART. + + Library 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +Any girl of any age who is fond of outdoor life will appreciate this +fascinating tale of Genevieve Hartley's summer vacation house-party on +a Texas ranch. Genevieve and her friends are real girls, the kind that +one would like to have in one's own home, and there are a couple of +manly boys introduced. + + +=BEAUTIFUL JOE'S PARADISE;= OR, THE ISLAND OF BROTHERLY LOVE. A Sequel +to "Beautiful Joe." By MARSHALL SAUNDERS, author of "Beautiful Joe." + + One vol., library 12mo, cloth illustrated $1.50 + +"This book revives the spirit of 'Beautiful Joe' capitally. It is +fairly riotous with fun, and is about as unusual as anything in the +animal book line that has seen the light."--_Philadelphia Item._ + + +='TILDA JANE.= By MARSHALL SAUNDERS. + + One vol., 12mo, fully illustrated, cloth decorative, $1.50 + +"It is one of those exquisitely simple and truthful books that win +and charm the reader, and I did not put it down until I had finished +it--honest! And I am sure that every one, young or old, who reads will +be proud and happy to make the acquaintance of the delicious waif. + +"I cannot think of any better book for children than this. I commend it +unreservedly."--_Cyrus T. Brady._ + + +='TILDA JANE'S ORPHANS.= A Sequel to "'Tilda Jane." By MARSHALL +SAUNDERS. + + One vol., 12mo, fully illustrated, cloth decorative, $1.50 + +'Tilda Jane is the same original, delightful girl, and as fond of her +animal pets as ever. + +"There is so much to this story that it is almost a novel--in fact it +is better than many novels, although written for only young people. +Compared with much of to-day's juveniles it is quite a superior +book."--_Chicago Tribune._ + + +=THE STORY OF THE GRAVELYS.= By MARSHALL SAUNDERS, author of "Beautiful +Joe's Paradise," "'Tilda Jane," etc. + + Library 12mo, cloth decorative. Illustrated by E. B. Barry $1.50 + +Here we have the haps and mishaps, the trials and triumphs, of a +delightful New England family. + + +=PUSSY BLACK-FACE.= By MARSHALL SAUNDERS, author of "'Tilda Jane," +"'Tilda Jane's Orphans," etc. + + Library 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +This is a delightful little story of animal life, written in this +author's best vein, dealing especially with Pussy Black-Face, a little +Beacon Street (Boston) kitten, who is the narrator. + + + + +FAMOUS LEADERS SERIES + +_By CHARLES H. L. JOHNSTON_ + + _Each, large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated_ $1.50 + + +=FAMOUS CAVALRY LEADERS= + +Biographical sketches, with anecdotes and reminiscences, of the heroes +of history who were leaders of cavalry. + +"More of such books should be written, books that acquaint young +readers with historical personages in a pleasant informal way."--_N. Y. +Sun._ + + +=FAMOUS INDIAN CHIEFS= + +In this book Mr. Johnston gives interesting sketches of the Indian +braves who have figured with prominence in the history of our own land. + + +=FAMOUS PRIVATEERSMEN AND ADVENTURERS OF THE SEA= + +In this volume Mr. Johnston tells interesting stories about the famous +sailors of fortune. + + +=FAMOUS SCOUTS= + +"It is the kind of a book that will have a great fascination for +boys and young men and while it entertains them it will also present +valuable information in regard to those who have left their impress +upon the history of the country."--_The New London Day._ + + +=FAMOUS FRONTIERSMEN AND HEROES OF THE BORDER= + +This book is devoted to a description of the adventurous lives and +stirring experiences of many pioneer heroes who were prominently +identified with the opening of the great west. + +------ + + +=RALPH SOMERBY AT PANAMA= + +By FORBES LINDSAY. + + Large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +Real buccaneers who overran the Spanish main, and adventurers who +figured prominently in the sack of Panama, all enter into the life +of Ralph Somerby, a young English lad, on his way to the colony in +Jamaica. After a year of wandering and adventure he covers the route of +the present Panama Canal. + + +=THE DOCTOR'S LITTLE GIRL= + +By MARION AMES TAGGART. + + One vol., library 12mo, illustrated $1.50 + +A thoroughly enjoyable tale of a little girl and her comrade father, +written in a delightful vein of sympathetic comprehension of the +child's point of view. + +"The characters are strongly drawn with a life-like realism, the +incidents are well and progressively sequenced, and the action is so +well timed that the interest never slackens."--_Boston Ideas._ + + +=SWEET NANCY= + +THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF THE DOCTOR'S LITTLE GIRL. By MARION AMES +TAGGART. + + One vol., library 12mo, illustrated $1.50 + +In the new book, the author tells how Nancy becomes in fact "the +doctor's assistant," and continues to shed happiness around her. + + +=NANCY, THE DOCTOR'S LITTLE PARTNER= + +By MARION AMES TAGGART. + + One vol., library 12mo, illustrated $1.50 + +In Nancy Porter, Miss Taggart has created one of the most lovable child +characters in recent years. In the new story she is the same bright and +cheerful little maid. + + +=NANCY PORTER'S OPPORTUNITY= + +By MARION AMES TAGGART. + + One vol., library 12mo, illustrated $1.50 + +Already as the "doctor's partner" Nancy Porter has won the affection of +her readers, and in the same lovable manner she continues in the new +book to press the keynotes of optimism and good-will. + + +=BORN TO THE BLUE= + +By FLORENCE KIMBALL RUSSEL. + + 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.25 + +The atmosphere of army life on the plains breathes on every page of +this delightful tale. The boy is the son of a captain of U. S. cavalry +stationed at a frontier post in the days when our regulars earned the +gratitude of a nation. + + +=IN WEST POINT GRAY= + +By FLORENCE KIMBALL RUSSEL. + + 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +"Singularly enough one of the best books of the year for boys is +written by a woman and deals with life at West Point. The presentment +of life in the famous military academy whence so many heroes have +graduated is realistic and enjoyable."--_New York Sun._ + + +=THE SANDMAN: HIS FARM STORIES= + +By WILLIAM J. HOPKINS. With fifty illustrations by Ada Clendenin +Williamson. + + Large 12mo, decorative cover $1.50 + +"An amusing, original book, written for the benefit of very small +children. It should be one of the most popular of the year's books for +reading to small children."--_Buffalo Express._ + + +=THE SANDMAN: MORE FARM STORIES= + +By WILLIAM J. HOPKINS. + + Large 12mo, decorative cover, fully illustrated $1.50 + +Mr. Hopkins's first essay at bedtime stories met with such approval +that this second book of "Sandman" tales was issued for scores of eager +children. Life on the farm, and out-of-doors, is portrayed in his +inimitable manner. + + +=THE SANDMAN: HIS SHIP STORIES= + +By WILLIAM J. HOPKINS, author of "The Sandman: His Farm Stories," etc. + + Large 12mo, decorative cover, fully illustrated $1.50 + +"Children call for these stories over and over again."--_Chicago +Evening Post._ + + +=THE SANDMAN: HIS SEA STORIES= + +By WILLIAM J. HOPKINS. + + Large 12mo, decorative cover, fully illustrated $1.50 + +Each year adds to the popularity of this unique series of stories to be +read to the little ones at bed time and at other times. + + + + +THE YOUNG PIONEER SERIES + +_By HARRISON ADAMS_ + + Each, 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.25 + + +=THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE OHIO;= OR, CLEARING THE WILDERNESS. + +Boys will follow with ever increasing interest the fortunes of Bob and +Sandy Armstrong in their hunting and trapping expeditions, and in their +adventures with the Indians. + + +=THE PIONEER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES;= OR, ON THE TRAIL OF THE IROQUOIS. + +In this story are introduced all of the principal characters of the +first volume, and Bob and Sandy learn much of life in the open from the +French trappers and _coureurs du bois_. + + +=THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE MISSISSIPPI;= OR, THE HOMESTEAD IN THE +WILDERNESS. + +Telling of how the Armstrong family decides to move farther west after +an awful flood on the Ohio, and how they travelled to the great "Father +of Waters" and settled on its banks, and of how the pioneer boys had +many adventures both with wild animals and with the crafty Indians. + +------ + + +=HAWK: THE YOUNG OSAGE= + +By C. H. ROBINSON. + + One vol., cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +A fine story of North American Indians. The story begins when Hawk is a +papoose and follows him until he is finally made chief of his tribe. + + +=THE YOUNG APPRENTICE;= OR, ALLAN WEST'S CHUM. + +By BURTON E. STEVENSON. + + Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +In this book Mr. Stevenson takes up a new branch of railroading, +namely, the work of the "Shops." + + +=THE YOUNG SECTION-HAND;= OR, THE ADVENTURES OF ALLAN WEST. By BURTON +E. STEVENSON. + + Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +Mr. Stevenson's hero is a manly lad of sixteen, who is given a chance +as a section-hand on a big Western railroad, and whose experiences are +as real as they are thrilling. + + +=THE YOUNG TRAIN DISPATCHER.= By BURTON E. STEVENSON. + + Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +"A better book for boys has never left an American +press."--_Springfield Union._ + + +=THE YOUNG TRAIN MASTER.= By BURTON E. STEVENSON. + + Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +"Nothing better in the way of a book of adventure for boys."--_Boston +Herald._ + + +=CAPTAIN JACK LORIMER;= By WINN STANDISH. + + Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +Jack is a fine example of the American high-school boy. + + +=JACK LORIMER'S CHAMPIONS;= OR, SPORTS ON LAND AND LAKE. By WINN +STANDISH. + + Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +"It is exactly the sort of book to give a boy interested in +athletics."--_Chicago Tribune._ + + +=JACK LORIMER'S HOLIDAYS;= OR, MILLVALE HIGH IN CAMP. By WINN STANDISH. + + Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +Full of just the kind of fun, sports and adventure to excite the +healthy minded youngster to emulation. + + +=JACK LORIMER'S SUBSTITUTE:= OR, THE ACTING CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM. By +WINN STANDISH. + + Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +On the sporting side, this book takes up football, wrestling, and +tobogganing. + + +=JACK LORIMER, FRESHMAN.= By WINN STANDISH. + + Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +This book is typical of the American college boys' life and is a lively +story. + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Text uses both war-path and warpath, sea-coast and seacoast. + +Page 58, "woodsrangers" changed to "woodrangers" (took them to be +woodrangers) + +Page 247, "Dalaware" changed "Delaware" (Delaware flint barb) + +Page A-7, "reminiscenses" changed to "reminiscences" (with anecdotes +and reminiscences) + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Pioneer Boys on the Mississippi, by +Harrison Adams + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PIONEER BOYS ON MISSISSIPPI *** + +***** This file should be named 46796.txt or 46796.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/4/6/7/9/46796/ + +Produced by Beth Baran and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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