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-The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Border Riflemen; or The Forest

-Fiend. A Romance of the Black-Hawk Uprising, by Lewis W. Carson

-

-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

-will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before

-using this eBook.

-

-Title: The Border Riflemen; or The Forest Fiend. A Romance of the

-       Black-Hawk Uprising

-       Beadle's Pocket Novels No. 78

-

-Author: Lewis W. Carson

-

-Release Date: August 15, 2021 [eBook #66064]

-

-Language: English

-

-Produced by: David Edwards, Stephen Hutcheson, and the Online

-             Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net

-             (Northern Illinois University Digital Library)

-

-*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BORDER RIFLEMEN; OR THE

-FOREST FIEND. A ROMANCE OF THE BLACK-HAWK UPRISING ***

-

-

-

-

-

-                          THE BORDER RIFLEMEN;

-                                  OR,

-                           THE FOREST FIEND.

-

-

-                 A ROMANCE OF THE BLACK-HAWK UPRISING.

-

-

-                       BY LIEUT. LEWIS W. CARSON.

-

-

-                               NEW YORK.

-                     BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS,

-                           98 WILLIAM STREET.

-

-       Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872, by

-                           FRANK STARR & CO.,

-       In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.

-

-

-

-

-                                CONTENTS

-

-

-  I. The Border Suitor—Cooney Joe                                      9

-  II. Minneoba’s warning                                              15

-  III. Black-Hawk Insulted                                            22

-  IV. Little Fox—Na-She-Eschuck                                       29

-  V. The Price of Treachery                                           35

-  VI. The First Blow                                                  42

-  VII. Overboard                                                      49

-  VIII. Melton’s Scout—A Bush Fight                                   54

-  IX. The Defense of the Island                                       61

-  X. The Forest Fiend                                                 68

-  XI. Black-Hawk Keeps His Word                                       75

-  XII. Sadie’s Sacrifice                                              82

-  XIII. Guests Not Invited                                            88

-

-

-

-

-                          THE BORDER RIFLEMEN;

-                                  OR,

-                           THE FOREST FIEND.

-

-

-

-

-                               CHAPTER I.

-                     THE BORDER SUITOR—COONEY JOE.

-

-

-The sun was going down behind the western hills in a flood of yellow

-light, and a river dimpled on under the slanting rays, great fish

-leaping now and then from the placid surface, and the trees along the

-bank casting fantastic shadows into its depths. In a sheltered nook,

-near a spot where a little creek joined the river, a settler had built a

-cabin, which the hand of woman had beautified and adorned as only the

-hand of woman can. Bright flowers bloomed on each side of the rustic

-doorway and an English ivy vine clung to the walls and was rapidly

-spreading its delicate tendrils over the whole front. The cabin faced

-the stream, and behind it the hand of industry had cleared many acres

-which now showed heavy growths of cereals and roots, carefully

-cultivated. It was a silvan spot, and one upon which the eye of the

-artist would linger long and pleasantly.

-

-The door opened suddenly, and a young girl holding a water-pail in her

-hand came out with a free, careless step, singing a merry song. She was

-plainly dressed, and yet there was an air of native grace about her

-every movement which plainly showed that she had not always lived amid

-such wild surroundings. She was beautiful—not the vapid beauty of

-cities, but that of perfect health, and a free life. Her form was

-untrammeled by the fashions which cramp and deform the beautiful women

-of our day, and her face, a little browned by exposure to the to sun,

-glowed—

-

-  “With sunny beauty and rustic health.”

-

-Maud Müller—Whittier’s Maud—was not more beautiful than this frontier

-damsel. Not only was her face cut in a perfect mold, but her eyes

-sparkled with life and vivacity, and her sunny hair, unconfined, hung

-about her shoulders in beautiful profusion.

-

-She left the river, turned down the creek, entered a little grove half a

-mile from the house, passed through it, and looked across the open field

-beyond.

-

-“Father,” she cried, “are you there?”

-

-No answer was returned, save the echo of her musical voice, and she

-looked about her in evident surprise.

-

-“Where can he have gone?” she murmured. “Father!”

-

-As the words left her lips there was a slight rustle in the bushes by

-her side, and a man came out and stood beside her. He was still young,

-but his strikingly handsome face bore the marks of a life of dissipation

-and riot. He was quite tall, nearly six feet in his moccasins, with a

-face which showed unmistakable signs of Indian blood, though somewhat

-remote, and a wandering black eye, full of passion. He was dressed in

-hunting costume, and held in one hand a long rifle, and two small

-protuberances in the breast of his hunting-coat showed where his pistols

-lay concealed.

-

-“I thought I should meet you here, Sadie,” he said, quietly. “You don’t

-look very glad to see me.”

-

-“You know what I think of you, William Jackwood,” she replied, turning

-quickly away. “How dare you to come here, after what has happened?”

-

-He laughed a low, bitter, chilling laugh, which did not indicate

-enjoyment, and his black eyes seemed to emit sparks of fire.

-

-“I would not refer to our last meeting, if I were you, Sadie,” he said,

-evidently controlling himself by a violent effort. “I was half crazy

-with liquor that night or I would not have said what I did. See here;

-give me a chance to make this right with you and I’ll do it. I want to

-be a friend to you—I do, upon my soul. I’ll ask your pardon on my knees,

-if you’ll forgive, and promise not to lay it up against me.”

-

-“I forgive you,” she said, with a cold, passionless glance, “but you

-must not come here any more, for all that. My father has told me not to

-have any more to say to you, and I shall obey him.”

-

-The man stood grinding the butt of his rifle into the soft earth, and

-fighting a powerful battle to keep down his heart. The girl no longer

-looked at him but took up the pail and was moving on.

-

-“Wait a moment,” he said, hoarsely. “I can’t part from you like this,

-Sadie. You don’t know what you are doing or what will happen if you

-don’t use me more kindly. By—I beg your pardon, but I am half mad—I

-can’t stand it. Do you know that I worship the ground you tread for your

-sake, and would give my life at any moment if it would be of service to

-you?”

-

-“You must not speak to me in that way, Mr. Jackwood,” she said, in a

-more gentle tone. “I am truly sorry for you if you speak the truth, but

-I can not listen to you. Aside from the fact that my father does not

-like you, I have my own inclinations to consult, and I do not and never

-can love you.”

-

-“Then you love some one else,” he cried savagely. “All right; marry him

-if you dare, but of this be assured—the moment you stand up before the

-minister with _any_ man, if it were my own brother, I will kill you both

-where you stand. Do you hear me?—I will kill you both.”

-

-“Do you dare to threaten me in that way, Will Jackwood? Oh, if my father

-were here, he would teach you to insult his daughter in that way. Do you

-think to frighten me by idle threats? Since you force me to say it, know

-that the sight of your dark face is and always has been odious to me,

-and that I will never speak to you again except upon compulsion under

-any circumstances.”

-

-He caught her by the wrist with his disengaged hand and held her firmly,

-when she dropped the pail and struck him full in the face with her open

-hand. He uttered a cry like that of an angry tiger, and letting go his

-hold upon the gun caught her about the waist with his strong right arm.

-Powerless in his grasp, she struggled with all her strength and screamed

-for help. The call was not made in vain, for a quick step was heard, and

-a heavy body crashed through the bushes, and Sadie screamed again.

-

-“Comin’, by the mortal, comin’!” roared a hoarse voice. “Oh, yes.”

-

-Will Jackwood released her instantly and caught up his gun, just as a

-short, thick-set, powerfully-built man darted from the bushes and stood

-beside them. He wore the fringed hunting-shirt and beaded moccasins of

-the scout and hunter, and his long, flax-colored hair was crowned by a

-greasy coon-skin cap in the last stages of dissolution. The face was a

-marvel of native ugliness, but in spite of that he was greeted with a

-cry of joy from Sadie.

-

-“Cooney Joe is hyar,” he yelled. “What is the matter now?”

-

-“I have been insulted, Joe,” cried Sadie, panting for breath.

-

-“By that yer p’ison critter, I’ll bet. Now look out, Black Will, acause

-I’m a-goin’ to give yer the durndest lickin’ you ever got sence yer

-mammy took ye over her knee. Hyar’s fur ye.”

-

-Before Black Will could bring his rifle to a level the stout hunter

-dashed in and his heart was beating against the broad breast of the man

-known as Jackwood. In a moment more they were locked in a fierce

-grapple, fighting in true western style, without the slightest idea of

-the rules of the ring. In a stand-off fight, the long arms and powerful

-build of Black Will would have given him a decided advantage, but in the

-close grapple Cooney Joe was more than his equal, and loosening one hand

-by a violent effort he struck his antagonist such a blow in the face

-that his teeth seemed to rattle in his jaws, and he staggered. Throwing

-himself forward with a victorious war-whoop, Cooney Joe brought him to

-the ground, and the next moment was kneeling on his breast with his

-long, brown fingers fastened on his throat in a decidedly uncomfortable

-way.

-

-“Yah-h-h—hip! Got ye that time, my sweet infant! The old coon kin climb

-a tree yit. Say the word, Miss Wescott, an’ by the big meat pie I’ll

-choke the life clean out of his pesky karkidge.”

-

-“Let him go for the present, Joe,” she said. “He has been punished

-sufficiently, and it will teach him that I am not friendless.”

-

-“Oh, pshaw! don’t let him git off that way. Take off his belt and let me

-larrup him with it till he _howls_.”

-

-“No, no; don’t strike him again. Take away his weapons and let him go.”

-

-“Hold on,” said Black Will hoarsely. “Don’t touch the pistols and I

-promise to go away at once, and not make a move for revenge to-day.”

-

-“That’s fair,” said Joe, rising. “I never knowed the critter to break a

-fair promise, Miss Sadie, and you kin trust him.”

-

-Cooney Joe stood up and Black Will slowly arose, with an expression of

-fearful malice upon his dark face, slowly brushing the dust from his

-clothing without speaking a word. Cooney Joe had taken up his rifle and

-stood leaning upon it, a grin of enjoyment stretching his naturally wide

-mouth.

-

-“Curi’s how things come ’round, ain’t it? I’ve wanted a lick at you fur

-nigh onto five year an’ never got a chance till now; does me good, this

-does.”

-

-“Of course you know I’ll have your life for it, Joe Bent,” said Black

-Will, in a quiet tone.

-

-“Sartin, sartin, if ye kin git it,” replied Cooney Joe. “But don’t

-forgit that ef I see yer hand go anigh a pistil in a strange company

-I’ll try to shoot first. ’Member that, don’t ye.”

-

-“I’ll try to remember, Joe,” was the reply. “Now, Miss Wescott, I will

-say to you what I intended to say when this meddling fool broke in upon

-us. You shall never live to be the wife of another man. If I can not

-have you, no one else shall, I swear by every thing I hold true.”

-

-“P’isen critter, ain’t you, Will?” said Cooney Joe, regarding him with a

-look of benign interest, as a great natural curiosity. “I’ll be

-individually an’ collectively cussed ef you ain’t a nice picter to go

-a-talkin’ about marryin’ a gal like Miss Sadie. Why, bu’st my buttons,

-ef I don’t think she’d ruther have me!”

-

-“I would indeed,” replied Sadie.

-

-“Who asked you to speak, Joe Bent?” said Black Will, savagely. “Keep

-your distance and live in safety for twenty-four hours, but after that I

-will take your life, no matter where I meet you.”

-

-“You rare ’round the awfulest kind, don’t ye,” replied Joe, with a merry

-look. “Dash my bacon ef you ain’t a study fur a painter. I’ve see’d

-chaps in the theater at St. Louis that rared ’round the stage jest as

-you do now, but somehow they allus got special hail kolumbia in the end.

-Now _git_; I don’t want to say any thing more _but_ git.”

-

-Black Will quietly tightened his belt, brought his rifle to a “right

-shoulder shift,” and was off at a long, slinging pace which carried him

-rapidly across the field.

-

-“Thar goes a pizen critter, Miss Sadie,” muttered Cooney Joe. “Now I

-reckon he meant jest what he said when he told me that he’d hev my life,

-but I’ve took a good many chances, though he’ll hev my ha’r sartin ef I

-don’t shoot first when we meet.”

-

-“I am sorry to have brought you into danger, Joe,” said the girl.

-

-“Sorry—danger—git out! D’ye think I keer fur _that_, little gal? Why,

-make it the wust ye kin, the chances ar’ I git a shot afore he does, an’

-ef I _miss_, then it’s my own fault. Whar’s yer daddy?”

-

-“I came out to find him and bring him some drink. I thought he was at

-work in this field.”

-

-“He orter be keerful,” said Joe Bent, uneasily, “’cause the Injins are

-gitting r’iled up awful, and thar’s no tellin’ when they may break out.

-Let’s try an’ find him.”

-

-“There he is now,” cried Sadie.

-

-As she spoke, a middle-aged man, with a hoe across his shoulder,

-appeared at the other side of the woods and came rapidly toward them. As

-he came near he shouted cheerily to Joe Bent, who seemed very glad to

-see him, and they shook hands heartily. Mr. Wescott had the same air of

-gentility which showed itself in his daughter, but, like her, had

-adapted himself to his present surroundings, and looked the picture of a

-genuine western farmer. In stature he was almost a giant.

-

-Sadie rapidly recounted her meeting with Black Will, and all that had

-passed between them, and the face of Mr. Wescott darkened, while his

-hand closed convulsively upon the handle of his hoe.

-

-“It is a lucky thing for the black-hearted scoundrel that I was not by,

-Sadie,” he said, “or it would have gone hard with him. What brings you

-up this way, Joe?”

-

-“I sort o’ got a hint to git off the hunting grounds from that

-pernicious red devil, Napope, who is sp’ilin’ fur mischief. Ar’ ye good

-friends with the Injins, ’square?”

-

-“Certainly; I never wronged one of them in my life.”

-

-“Not that it matters much ef they once rise,” continued Joe, “because

-then they won’t hev any friends in the white race. I’ve my doubts of

-that Black Will, anyhow. Two weeks ago I saw him in the Injin village,

-an’ him an’ that cussid Napope was ez thick ez flies in sp’iled bacon.”

-

-“What is the trouble with the Indians?” said Wescott, uneasily.

-

-“Them cussid agents rob them like thieves,” replied Joe Bent. “Ef

-Black-Hawk would only ketch an’ burn them, I don’t believe our fellers

-would kick much, they act so fearful mean. Do you know that I think the

-village the best place fur Miss Sadie, ’bout this time in the year?”

-

-“I’ll talk to you by-and-by,” said Wescott, with a quick glance at his

-daughter’s observant face. “Come to the house and get something to eat.”

-

-They quickened their steps and reached the cabin, and while Sadie set

-about preparing a meal, they sat outside and smoked their pipes, talking

-in low, eager tones. Sadie could see that their conversation was very

-important, and, woman-like, felt piqued that they kept it secret from

-her, and hurried her preparations. In a few moments the homely meal was

-smoking on the board, and they sat down, enjoying their food with keen

-relish; but the two men dropped their conversation, or rather, changed

-it to indifferent subjects, much to the disgust of Sadie. Just as they

-were about to rise from the table, she gave utterance to a cry of

-surprise and ran to the door, and a moment after appeared, leading an

-Indian girl by the hand.

-

-

-

-

-                              CHAPTER II.

-                          MINNEOBA’S WARNING.

-

-

-It was a woman of the Sac nation, but bearing unmistakable signs of

-white blood. Her form might almost have vied with that of Sadie, and her

-dark skin glowed with perfect health. Her hair was unlike that of any

-pure Indian girl, slightly waving, and with a luster upon it never seen

-in the pure Indian. Her dress was of the richest description that was

-worn by the women of the tribe, and her head was crowned by a coronet of

-eagle-feathers, which bespoke the daughter of a chief. Dainty feet,

-small hands and delicate features distinguished the maid from the

-majority of her race, and all together, two more noble specimens of

-native grace rarely trod the same floor.

-

-“By the piper that played while the king danced, if it ain’t Minneoba,

-the pride of the Sac nation,” cried Cooney Joe. “Say, gal, what ye doin’

-’round yer?”

-

-“Minneoba has traveled a long path, and she is weary,” replied the

-Indian girl, faintly. “Let the Wild Rose give her food and drink.”

-

-Sadie, who was much taken by the rare beauty of the forest maid, seated

-her at once at the table and placed food before her. She passed over the

-few dainties which the table afforded, and ate the most simple food, and

-her appetite was soon gratified. Joe whispered aside with Mr. Wescott.

-

-“I tell you that the gal is the favorite daughter of Black-Hawk,” he

-whispered, “an’ she’s got some good reason fur bein’ hyar. But don’t

-hurry her, for I know the breed and she’s obstinit, durned obstinit,

-when she hez a mind to, though she’s a good gal, too.”

-

-In the mean time the Indian girl was chatting merrily with her new

-friend, and her musical laugh rung through the cabin.

-

-“Whisper to Sadie to git her confidence, Mr. Wescott,” muttered the

-hunter. “She kin do it. The gal is open-hearted as the day, and ef she

-means friendship she _means_ it.”

-

-Wescott called Sadie aside and spoke to her in a low, hurried tone, and

-nodding intelligently, the white girl returned to the side of the Indian

-girl, and soon after the two rose and went out of the cabin, strolling

-down by the river side. Minneoba had her fan in her hand, more from

-habit than any thing else, and they walked along the green banks,

-talking earnestly.

-

-“Minneoba is the daughter of Black-Hawk,” said the maiden, in answer to

-a question, “and she loves her father well. The heart of the old man is

-very sad, for he sees the white men forcing the Indian step by step out

-of the land their fathers gave them. Look down and tell me what you

-see.”

-

-Close to the bank of the stream not far away a succession of low mounds

-of different sizes showed where the ancient grave-yard of a tribe had

-been. Not far from this a white village was seen, the farms of the

-settlers encroaching upon the graves.

-

-“When we bury the bodies of those we love, daughter of the white man, it

-is not pleasant to think that the feet of the strangers tread upon the

-graves. The Indians are rough and rude, but they too love the graves of

-their fathers, and it makes them sad to think that the plow of the white

-man will disturb the loved remains.”

-

-“It is very sad, but I have heard that Keokuk sold this land to our

-people.”

-

-“Keokuk has done wickedly,” cried the girl, excitedly. “It is a false

-Indian who treads upon his father’s grave, or allows the white man to do

-it. A Sac despises the man who is so base.”

-

-“What will the Indians do?”

-

-“What they will do is not for an Indian girl to say; their hearts are

-very sore, but they would be friends with the white men, if the white

-men will let them. But fire-water and bad men will make trouble in the

-land. Tell the people of the village that it would be better for them to

-give up the Sac town and build for themselves upon another place.”

-

-In order to understand the words of Minneoba fully, it will be necessary

-to set down the history of the events which finally drove Black-Hawk to

-desperation.

-

-By the treaty entered into by the United States upon one side and the

-Sacs and Foxes, Siouxs, Omahas, Iowas and Ottoes upon the other, headed

-by Keokuk, or the Watchful Fox, the land of these tribes was sold to the

-United States. In this bargain and sale Black-Hawk took no part, but in

-spite of that the Indian agents insisted that he should leave his

-village, which without his consent had been sold to the whites, and

-build another upon the west bank of the Mississippi.

-

-No race love their native land better than the Indian, and Black-Hawk

-was of the pure blood. He cursed the traitors who had sold their

-country, but vowed that he would not leave his village until compelled

-to do so by force. Every little disturbance between wandering white men

-and the tribes, every slight affair of whatever kind was magnified and

-turned against the Sac chief. Yet he only sought to do what was right,

-and prevailed upon Keokuk, who had made the treaty, to go to the white

-agents, with whom it had been made, and offer them in the name of the

-Sacs the lead mines, the most valuable property of the Indians, if they

-might be permitted to retain their village. The Watchful Fox, satisfied

-that he had sold that which was not his own, agreed to go, and ask for

-Black-Hawk the little land on which the village stood, including the

-grave-yard of the tribe. It was refused.

-

-It was the custom of the western tribes at this date to go out in winter

-in a body and have a great hunt. Black-Hawk went away at the head of his

-tribe with secret misgivings, and the village was left unguarded. This

-was the winter of 1830, and when the Indians came back from their hunt

-they found their village in the possession of the whites, who had taken

-advantage of their absence to take possession. The river was yet full of

-floating ice, and it was impossible for the Indians to move, but they

-sent word to the invaders that before corn-planting they would drive

-them out of the village, no matter at what cost to themselves.

-

-The whites were alarmed, for they felt their inability to oppose the

-tribe with their present number. A deputation was sent to the chiefs,

-proposing that they should occupy and plant the land together. The

-Indians, always generous in the disposal of land, agreed to the

-proposal, but upon arriving they found that the whites had seized and

-planted the best of the land.

-

-The peaceful village became one of the most disorderly upon the

-frontier. With the whites came in their vices, and the Indians,

-naturally weak, began to feel their effects. The sale of liquor was

-commenced, and by its aid the whites gradually robbed the Indians of all

-that they could call their own.

-

-The chief saw with alarm what must be the result, when they received

-orders to cross no more to the east bank of the river. The result of

-such an order may be readily understood, rousing all the fierce passions

-of the Indians, and in this state matters stood at the time when

-Minneoba visited the cabin of Mr. Wescott.

-

-The Indians were now nearly all upon the west bank of the river, the

-chiefs preferring this to longer intercourse with the white men. These

-simple men were no match for their wily antagonists, and had too rapidly

-imbibed their vices. Black-Hawk was an Indian, but he had a heart to

-feel for the woes of his people, and he saw that only by force of arms

-could he hope to succeed in wresting his country from the hand of the

-invader.

-

-“Is it possible that my father’s land belongs to the Indians?” said

-Sadie. “He paid for it honestly, and would not willingly wrong any man.”

-

-“The Wild Rose speaks truly. Her father has a great heart, but he holds

-the land which belongs to Black-Hawk.”

-

-“Then he will pay for it again, sooner than wrong a chief of the Sacs.”

-

-“Black-Hawk will not sell his lands to a white man. Let the words of

-Minneoba sound in the ears of Wild Rose. This is no place for her to

-dwell. Let her get a swift horse and fly away until the tempest has

-passed, for a dark cloud hangs over her father’s house and threatens

-her.”

-

-“I have done no wrong; why should I flee?”

-

-“My sister, the evil will come to the just and the unjust, for

-Black-Hawk will have his land again. Do not ask me to tell you more, for

-a Sac maiden can not betray her father, but take those you love and

-fly.”

-

-While yet speaking, the rapid beat of hoofs could be heard, and two men

-rounded a point of woods and approached them. At a glance Sadie

-recognized Black Will and a desperate ruffian who was more than

-suspected of selling arms to the Indians, a great offense upon the

-frontier. This man’s name was Richard Garrett, and he was hated and

-feared all along the border.

-

-“Ha, look!” cried Minneoba. “Yonder comes a bad white man, who has

-spoken evil words in the ears of Black-Hawk. What does he here?”

-

-“Let us hurry away,” whispered Sadie. “He is my enemy, and I fear to

-meet him now.”

-

-The two girls darted into the bushes, but not quickly enough to evade

-the eyes of the two men, who at once urged their horses and overtook the

-flying girls.

-

-“Ha, my dear,” said Black Will, placing himself in front of Sadie, and

-effectually barring her further flight. “I did not expect to meet you so

-soon.”

-

-“Do not stop me, Will Jackwood,” cried Sadie. “You have been punished

-once to-day for your insolence. Joe Bent is not far away.”

-

-“He is safe from me for this day, for he has my word,” replied Black

-Will. “But, when we meet again, one or the other goes down.”

-

-“Threats do not hurt the absent,” was the quiet reply. “Let me pass at

-once.”

-

-“Not so fast. I shall not have a better opportunity than this, and must

-entreat you to come with me.”

-

-Unconsciously, in their walk, the girls had come some distance from the

-house, and at that quiet hour few persons were abroad. Sadie understood

-the object of Black Will. It was to seize and carry her away for the

-purpose of forcing her to become his wife. He sprung out of the saddle,

-and menacing her with instant death if she cried out, hurried toward

-her, when a new and unexpected obstacle stood in his path. Minneoba had

-been almost unnoticed by the two scoundrels, and seeing that Dick

-Garrett was employed in holding the horses, the brave girl suddenly

-strung her bow, and fitting an arrow hastily, sprung in between Black

-Will and his intended victim, and he recoiled with a cry of rage, as the

-bright point of the arrow glittered in the light.

-

-“Minneoba, by all the devils! Out of my path, girl, or a worse thing may

-come to you.”

-

-But Minneoba did not move, her bright eyes fixed upon the form of the

-would-be abductor in a way which he did not like.

-

-“Sadie is the friend of the Sac girl,” she said, quietly. “You shall not

-touch her while I live.”

-

-“You don’t know what you are doing, mad girl. What will your father say

-when he knows that you have aimed an arrow at my breast—_mine_, of all

-white men in the territory!”

-

-“It would be better for Black-Hawk if you had never seen him,” replied

-the girl. “Take your horse and go, for I will spare your life if you do

-not touch the Wild Rose; touch her, and you are dead.”

-

-Black Will was a brave man, but he knew well the deadly skill of the

-Indian girl, and had seen it proved a hundred times in sportive

-encounters in the Indian village. Though full of rage, he dared not

-advance.

-

-“But listen to me, Minneoba,” he said. “This girl is to be my wife; I

-love her, and would take her into my lodge.”

-

-“Let me hear her say that she loves _you_, and the Sac girl will not

-come between you. Stand back, or the arrow flies from the string.”

-

-“You shall suffer for this, girl. Black-Hawk shall know how his daughter

-claims for a friend the daughter of the man who holds his land. We shall

-see how he likes that.”

-

-“Minneoba can talk to Black-Hawk; she does not need the white hunter to

-tell her what to say.”

-

-“She’s a bu’ster, Will,” said Dave Garrett, laughing. “I reckon you had

-better give it up. Come, little girl, don’t be foolish. Get out of the

-way, for my sake.”

-

-Minneoba did not move, and the arrow was still ready to fly.

-

-“Hark, Will! There come horses. Let’s get out of this as quick as we

-can.”

-

-Black Will, shaking his clenched hand at the immovable figure of the

-Indian girl, sprung into the saddle, and the two men rode away at the

-top of their speed. They were scarcely out of sight when a party of

-mounted riflemen came up at a trot, but, seeing the two girls, they

-halted, and the leader dismounted and came toward them. He was a young,

-handsome fellow, in a fringed hunting-coat, booted and spurred, and

-wearing the insignia of Melton’s mounted rifles, to show that he was

-captain of scouts. He lifted the cap gracefully from his head, and bowed

-low as he approached.

-

-“Captain Melton of the mounted rifles, by way of introduction. May I ask

-if you have seen any thing of a man known in this region as Dick

-Garrett?”

-

-“He rode away five minutes since in company with William Jackwood.”

-

-“The deuce he did! Excuse me, Miss, which way did he go?”

-

-Sadie pointed out the road, and with a hasty adieu the young officer

-bounded into the saddle and the command went off at full speed, with

-Melton at their head. Sadie had noted that his dark eyes had rested

-admiringly upon her, and she was herself struck by his noble appearance,

-and Minneoba laughed softly. She could see that the two had met before.

-

-“The young white chief is very brave. Sadie could love him!”

-

-“Nonsense, you foolish girl,” said Sadie, blushing. “I have only seen

-him twice before, and probably shall never see him again. Let us return

-to the house.”

-

-

-

-

-                              CHAPTER III.

-                          BLACK-HAWK INSULTED.

-

-

-They had scarcely reached the house when the sound of voices could be

-distinctly heard upon the river and Joe sprung to the door, from which

-the stream was plainly visible. A dozen canoes were upon the water full

-of Indians, crossing from the other shore.

-

-“You’d better git out of sight, Minneoba,” said Cooney Joe. “It won’t be

-well for them to see you here unless you are forced to come out.”

-

-The Indian girl hurried into the cabin, and went into Sadie’s room. A

-moment later a tumultuous band of Sacs, shouting out furious threats

-against the whites, landed near the cabin and came hastily toward it.

-

-“Drunk as lords, every man jack of them,” said Joe. “We’ve got to talk

-sweet to them or thar will be some ha’r raised right about yer. Thar;

-that’s old Black-Hawk himself, by George. I wonder what he wants.”

-

-An Indian somewhat advanced in life, and wearing the usual insignia of a

-chief of the Sacs, headed the party, and a word from him stilled the

-clamorous tongues of the warriors. Mr. Wescott and Joe stepped out to

-meet them, and the chief received them by a lofty gesture.

-

-“We come for corn,” he said, “and my young men are so angry that they

-need the hand of a chief. It is hard that the Sacs must come like

-thieves in the night to take corn from their old fields.”

-

-“It is hard indeed, Black-Hawk,” replied Mr. Wescott. “I am as much

-grieved as you can be that this thing has happened, and upon my word, I

-hope that you may settle this trouble peaceably.”

-

-“Why do you stay on the Sac fields then?” replied the Indian, morosely.

-“The words of my brother are wise, but they do not agree with his

-actions. I stand upon Sac ground, which is _not_ sold and _can not_ be

-sold unless Black-Hawk puts his totem on the paper and gives a belt. Why

-is the white man here then?”

-

-“I bought of a man who claimed the right to sell,” said Wescott, “but I

-am willing to give you a fair price for the fields, even now.”

-

-“Black-Hawk will not sell his fathers’ graves,” replied the chief,

-fiercely. “Look; your white men are making my warriors like themselves,

-good at talking but no workers. They drink the accursed fire-water and

-become hogs. In a few years, the name of Sac will be forgotten and they

-will be but beasts to carry the loads the white man puts upon their

-backs.”

-

-“It’s no use talkin’ now, Black-Hawk,” said Cooney Joe. “I don’t say

-it’s right—because it ain’t—for Keokuk had no right to sell your land.

-But, the thing’s done and our fellers have possession, and I’m afraid

-they won’t give it up.”

-

-“They must.”

-

-“Oh, pshaw; you ought to know that they are darned good at takin’ things

-but they don’t give back wuth a cent. You may as well build a village

-over yender.”

-

-“That they may come and take it again,” replied Black-Hawk, with a

-bitter laugh. “Let us speak no more, for my tongue grows bitter in my

-mouth. Sons of the Sac, let us go for corn.”

-

-The Indian stalked away, followed by a shouting crowd of his adherents,

-and Cooney Joe looked uneasily at Wescott.

-

-“I don’t like this, ’square. You see our fellers ar’ mighty rough on the

-Injins, and I heard some on ’em say that ef the Sacs came over to steal

-corn they’d give ’em an all-fired lickin’. Now if they do that it means

-war.”

-

-“I hope our men will not be so impudent,” said Wescott. “They ought to

-give the poor fellows a chance to carry away corn for their suffering

-families, since they have dispossessed them of their land.”

-

-Half an hour passed, when suddenly there came a great tumult from the

-direction in which the Indians had gone. The shouts of men, the loud and

-continuous barking of dogs, and the occasional crack of fire-arms, could

-be heard.

-

-Cooney Joe caught up his weapons, and followed by Mr. Wescott, hurried

-away in the direction from which the sound came. They had not gone half

-a mile when they came upon a great rabble of whites surrounding the

-party which had come over for corn, abusing them in every possible way.

-Showers of stone were hurled upon them, clods of earth and filth of

-every description was cast upon them, and they were fighting their way

-slowly back toward the stream, apparently unconscious of the insults

-heaped upon them. Foremost among them, walking with a firm step, but

-with a dark cloud gathering upon his brow, strode Black-Hawk. A stone

-had struck him on the forehead, and the blood was trickling slowly down

-his face, but he did not seem to be aware of the fact. Once or twice he

-turned his head when some unusually vile epithet was heaped upon him,

-with a haughty glance at the offender, which they remembered in the

-after times, for two men who struck him, and whom he marked for

-destruction, were the first to fall when the struggle commenced in

-earnest.

-

-“White men,” cried the chief, halting, at length. “Do not dare to stand

-in the track of Black-Hawk, upon his own land.”

-

-“Your land, you old thief,” roared a man named Churchill. “You lie! It

-is ours—fairly bought—and we will keep it.”

-

-“Black-Hawk does not waste words with a man with a double tongue, who is

-only fit to sit with the women when the warriors are on the

-battle-field,” replied the chief.

-

-Churchill caught up a handful of sand and flung it into the face of the

-old chief. Black-Hawk trembled in every limb but not with fear, and he

-clenched his hands until the blood started from beneath his nails.

-

-“Fool!” he hissed. “In the days to come, remember Black-Hawk!”

-

-That the man had good cause to remember this insult, the history of that

-time will show.

-

-The Indians went on their way, but all around them the confusion became

-greater, and it was with the utmost difficulty that they kept their

-ranks, and kept down their passions enough to prevent the use of the

-tomahawks, which every man carried. Had Black-Hawk but given the word,

-they would have rushed like tigers upon their prey, and torn the rabble

-asunder like cobweb. But the policy of the chief had been opposed to

-bloodshed, and he hoped to be able to get to the river without being

-forced to draw a weapon.

-

-“Look at the black thieves,” roared Churchill. “Down with them, boys;

-shower the mud on them; stone them out of the country.”

-

-He was but too well seconded by those who followed him, and many of the

-Indians were badly hurt by the missiles which were thrown at them.

-Directed by Churchill, three or four strong men rushed suddenly forward

-and laid hold upon the chief, with the intention of beating him.

-

-“Dogs!” cried the Sac, casting them aside like feathers. “Take your

-clubs, sons of the brave.”

-

-Up to this moment the Indians had not lifted a hand, but at the order of

-their chief they lifted their clubs, and sprung forward with furious

-yells. The chief singled out Churchill, and leaped upon him like a

-tiger, but the man ran backward, and the chief, never thinking of

-support, followed him with uplifted club. Before he was aware of his

-danger he was in the midst of a circle of infuriated whites, who

-commenced an indiscriminate assault upon him, striking and kicking him

-with merciless force. It is impossible to say whether he would have

-escaped with life, but at this moment the rabble parted before the rush

-of strong men, and Cooney Joe and Mr. Wescott darted into the circle,

-and placed themselves beside the chief.

-

-“Back, if you are men,” cried Wescott. “What, thirty against one poor

-old man!”

-

-“Keep cl’ar, keep cl’ar,” cried Joe, flourishing his rifle in a

-threatening manner. “He’s an Injin, but fair play’s a jewel, you know.

-You won’t strike him ag’in while I stand hyar.”

-

-“Get out of the way, Joe Bent,” screamed Churchill. “What business have

-you to interfere?”

-

-“Because I’m called on by a magistrate,” replied Joe. “Keep cl’ar, I

-tell ye, or I’ll make my rifle-butt acquainted with the softness of yer

-head. Back a little.”

-

-“Disperse, every one of you, and let the Indians return to the river,

-and I will see to it that you are punished for what you have already

-done,” said Wescott, as they hesitated. There was some grumbling, but

-after a little they began to step away, and the little knot of Indians

-were left alone upon the field.

-

-“I am sorry that this has happened, Black-Hawk,” said Wescott. “You want

-corn, you say; go to my crib and take out what you want.”

-

-The chief did not reply, but he stood looking after the retreating forms

-of the white men, with a moody brow. Many a man who was in his grave

-before that season closed, might have been alive and happy but for that

-vile attack.

-

-“Black-Hawk owes much to the white man,” he said, slowly. “They have

-stolen his village, trampled upon his father’s grave, plowed up the

-earth above the dead, and scored the earth with their axes. Now they

-have insulted Black-Hawk and he will remember.”

-

-“I would not take it too much to heart, Black-Hawk,” said Wescott.

-

-“Black-Hawk will remember,” was the reply. “But look my brother. By this

-blood which drops upon the earth I promise friendship to you and yours.

-You are two just white men; and all the tribes shall honor you for what

-you have done this night. Let my good brother go toward the rising sun

-and stay until the tempest has passed by.”

-

-Wescott shook his head, and walked beside the chief to the river. He

-refused to take any corn, and as the canoes pulled off the two foresters

-looked at each other.

-

-“This is bad, Joe,” said Wescott, “but we must get to work. Do you know

-where the General is now?”

-

-“He’s at Jefferson Barracks—that’s whar he is,” replied Joe.

-

-“Then he must be spoken to and at once. In the mean time I will take a

-horse and see other officers and concert measures for the public safety.

-The whole North-west is in danger, for many will follow Black-Hawk.”

-

-They hurried back to the cabin, and to his delight the settler found

-Captain Melton there, who had returned unsuccessful from the pursuit of

-Black Will and Dick Garrett.

-

-The young officer was well known to both Mr. Wescott and Cooney Joe, and

-was cordially greeted by both.

-

-“What was this disturbance I heard just now, Mr. Wescott?” said Melton,

-as they shook hands. “It sounded almost like a battle.”

-

-“It was very near one as it was,” said Wescott. “Our people surrounded a

-party of Indians who came over for corn, insulted them in every

-conceivable way, beat and threw stones at them and injured Black-Hawk

-quite severely.”

-

-“You don’t tell me that they have hurt Black-Hawk?”

-

-“Yes, and if I know any thing of the Indian he will resent it.”

-

-“This is too bad, just when we hoped to settle the matter peaceably. Let

-the people on the frontier look to it now, for there is trouble ahead as

-sure as we live. Hi, there, Stanley,” he cried, addressing one of his

-men. “Ride to the Post and see the General. Tell him exactly what has

-happened, word for word, and when you have done that, go back by way of

-the island and tell the rest of the boys to come up.”

-

-“Do you think they will fight, captain?”

-

-“Of course they will, and we have a lot of dunderheads who will do their

-best to force it on. With your permission, Mr. Wescott, I will stay here

-to-night, if you will let the men sleep in your barn.”

-

-“Certainly; if the house were large enough they should be welcome to

-that.”

-

-The command of Melton was an independent one, composed principally of

-bordermen and scouts, selected for their known valor and knowledge of

-the country. As usual in such cases they were despised by the dandy

-regiments until two or three rough bouts between the men had taught them

-a lesson. They were very popular with the masses, however, and in a bush

-fight, were capable of doing more work than any body of men in the

-service.

-

-Two or three couriers were dispatched in various directions, and then

-the party camped outside, while the captain entered the house, where he

-was received by Mrs. Wescott and the daughter. The elder lady had just

-returned from a visit down the river.

-

-“This is Charley Melton, my prince of borderers, the best scout captain

-in the territories,” said Wescott. “Captain, my daughter Sadie.”

-

-“I met Miss Wescott early in the evening when in chase of a desperate

-gambler who had shot a man over a card-table. And indeed we met twice in

-the village.”

-

-“I hope you caught him, captain,” said Wescott.

-

-“Sorry to say I did not. How the fellow managed to slip away I don’t

-know, but when we got to the bend, all trace of them was lost. He had a

-man in his company whom I want to see, for I believe he is stirring up

-the Indians against us.”

-

-“You mean Black Will Jackwood, I’ll bet,” said Joe Bent.

-

-“Yes; what made you think that?”

-

-“’Cause I see the bloody cuss at Rock Island, whisperin’ round old

-Black-Hawk, and it looked bad to me, somehow. It will be a ’markably

-good thing when he is hung up out of harm’s way.”

-

-“That good thing will be very likely to happen if we have the good luck

-to catch them. Ha! What Indian girl is that?”

-

-“Minneoba, the daughter of Black-Hawk,” replied the girl, coming

-forward. “Let not Loud Tempest fear that she will speak the words she

-hears in the lodge of her white father in the ear of the Sacs. Minneoba

-is not a creeping serpent, and will not betray her friends.”

-

-“Loud Tempest, eh? Poetical name the Sacs have given me, though for what

-cause I do not know. What have you there, Dix?”

-

-An orderly had appeared at the door and saluted.

-

-“Caught a Pottawatomie, just now, who claims that he has something to

-say.”

-

-“Who is he?”

-

-“Little Fox.”

-

-“Pah! I don’t think much can be made out of _him_. However, bring him

-in, and let us hear what he has to say.”

-

-The orderly turned and beckoned, and an Indian, greasy and

-smoke-begrimed, with a face which bore evident signs of hard potations,

-appeared in the doorway. This “lord of the forest” was very drunk. His

-eyes rolled in their sockets, and he found it easiest to stand by the

-aid of the door-post.

-

-

-

-

-                              CHAPTER IV.

-                       LITTLE FOX—NA-SHE-ESCHUCK.

-

-

-The Indian was one of the worst specimens of his race—a creature

-naturally brutal, who had been rendered more debased by an excessive use

-of fire-water. As he clung to the door-post and looked at them out of

-bleared and watery eyes, he was as disgusting a specimen of the _genus

-homo_ as could be found between the two oceans.

-

-“Let me talk to this critter,” said Cooney Joe. “I calculate I

-understand the natur’ of the unadulterated, unb’iled, unwashed and

-unclean drunken red, as well as any man in the great Nor’-west. I do, by

-the livin’ hokies. Hyar, you ’possum, speak up, and speak quick; what

-ar’ ye looking fur now?”

-

-“Fire-water; poor Injun _very_ dry,” replied this noble red-man.

-“Tire—much tire; walk durn good ways; _mus’_ hab fire-water.”

-

-“You got to airn it fust, my noble red,” replied Joe. “Come, agitate yer

-jaw; tell us what ye want.”

-

-“S’pose you give Little Fox fire-water, den talk. How _can_ talk when no

-hab drink? Ugh!”

-

-“That’s the heathen philosophy, gents all,” said Joe, with a look of

-supreme disgust. “No whisky, no news. Got sech a thing as a drain of

-sperrits handy, ’square?”

-

-Mr. Wescott left the room, and returned shortly with a small flask of

-rum, from which he poured out a glass for the Indian, who drank it with

-avidity, smacked his lips, and held out the glass for more.

-

-“Hold on,” said Joe, pushing back the extended hand. “Not ef I know it,

-Injin. That tongue of yours begins to double, anyhow, and I reckon

-you’ll hev to do some talking afore you git any more rum.”

-

-“Pottawatomie big warrior, _much_ brave,” replied the Indian, loftily,

-striking his clenched hand upon his broad breast. “Give Injun rum.”

-

-“I’ll give you a bat ’long side your old head ef ye ask fur more afore

-you’ve done the work,” said Joe, angrily. “Come now, speak up. What d’ye

-want?”

-

-“Want rifle—want blanket—want _heap_ fire-water!” replied Little Fox.

-“Got heap story to tell.”

-

-“Lies, probably. Come, out with it, and ef it is any use to us, then

-we’ll pay han’sum. That’s the time of day.”

-

-“Want him _now_,” replied the Indian, with a surly glance at the

-speaker. “No tell news widout you put him down here.”

-

-“That won’t do, Injin,” said Joe. “You heard what the fellers done with

-Black-Hawk, just now. I’ve only got to say the word, and you go away the

-_sorest_ Injin in the Nor’-west. Tell us any really important news, and

-we’ll give you a rifle, two blankets and a keg of rum, and you kin drink

-you’self to death in a week.”

-

-“Much _promise_—little _do_. Dat white man’s way,” replied the Indian.

-“Little Fox no speak.”

-

-“Will you speak if _I_ promise to give you what you ask?” said Captain

-Melton, advancing.

-

-“Loud Tempest will do what he says,” replied the Indian, with a drunken

-leer. “Little Fox will believe him.”

-

-“Very well, then; I promise to give you the rifle, blankets and rum, if

-you tell us all you came to tell.”

-

-“Give Injun stool; sit down like white man. Floor much dizzy; whirl

-round _fast_. Ugh!”

-

-By the not very mild assistance of Cooney Joe the Indian was seated on a

-stool, with his back to the wall, and sat with drunken gravity waiting

-to be questioned.

-

-“Go on with yer story, you red nigger,” cried Joe. “And see yer, the

-minnit you begin to _lie_—and oh, Lord, how he _kin_ lie when he lays

-his tongue to it!—that minnit I jump on you and yer ha’r comes off.”

-

-“Little Fox will speak with a straight tongue,” replied the savage,

-drawing himself up. “Give injun more rum, and he talk _heap_ fast.”

-

-Cooney Joe poured out a very mild dose of rum and gave it to the savage,

-who gulped it down at once, and would have asked for more but that the

-expression of Joe’s face taught him that such a measure would bring down

-upon his head the wrath of the hunter, and he prudently refrained.

-

-“Black-Hawk much mad,” he said. “See—white man take his village and

-plant corn among the graves. That no right in white man.”

-

-“No moril reflections, bummer,” said Joe. “Git on with yer yarn, or off

-goes yer sculp.”

-

-“Black-Hawk has a great army,” said the Indian. “His braves are coming

-in from the plains and their faces are painted for war. The white men

-must not sleep or they will all die.”

-

-It is needless to follow word by word the disjointed narrative of the

-drunken savage, interrupted as it was by appeals for rum, which was

-doled out to him in very small quantities by Cooney Joe, who feared that

-he would get too drunk to articulate. He sat swaying unsteadily to and

-fro, and told a tale which confirmed their fears. Messengers had been

-sent out to the various tribes, and all had agreed to follow the

-standard of Black-Hawk and assist him in driving out the invaders of

-their land. Nearly all the principal chiefs except Keokuk had given in

-their adhesion, and bands of warriors were already on their way to the

-place of rendezvous, not far from Rock Island, where there was a Sac

-village and a fort. Doubtless the Indian misrepresented the plans of

-Black-Hawk, but he told enough truth to make his story tally with the

-preconceived ideas of the whites, and they looked at one another in

-silent dismay.

-

-“This is very serious,” said the captain of scouts. “This Indian has

-earned his reward, and if he will come into the village to-morrow he

-shall have the liquor; the rifle and blankets I can give him now.”

-

-He went out and brought in a very good rifle and two blankets, which he

-had obtained from the men. A flask of powder was added, and a mold to

-run bullets, and Little Fox staggered away, happy as a lord, little

-knowing that the possession of these articles would prove his

-death-warrant. With the weapon in his hands he staggered toward the

-village, where he was met by a young warrior of the Sac nation, whom, in

-his drunken blindness, he did not recognize as the youngest son of

-Black-Hawk, who was lurking about for information.

-

-“My brother has a fine gun,” he said in the Indian tongue, endeavoring

-to lay his hand upon the weapon. But Little Fox tore it away from him in

-drunken wrath.

-

-“Wagh! It is the gun of the white man, and the Sacs will fall before it

-as the leaves when they are yellow,” he said.

-

-“My brother is very rich. He must have taken much fur to buy so fine a

-gun,” said the young Indian, who already showed the qualities which

-afterward gave him a leading place in the tribe.

-

-“Little Fox is the friend of the white man, and he can get a gun for

-nothing,” was the reply. “When Black-Hawk comes with his warriors he

-will find the white men ready.”

-

-“Has my brother told the white men what Black-Hawk is doing?” said the

-young Sac, vailing his rage.

-

-“Little Fox can speak or Little Fox can be silent,” replied the

-Pottawatomie. “Look: to-morrow he is to have enough rum to last him a

-whole moon, because he is the friend of the white man.”

-

-“Fire-water is good,” said the Sac. “Has my brother a canoe to carry it

-across the river?”

-

-The Indian shook his head, and a sort of hazy idea passed through his

-clouded brain that he had already said as much as he ought concerning

-the affair.

-

-“I have a fine canoe,” continued the son of Black-Hawk. “Let my brother

-bring the rum to the Point, and I will help him carry it away.”

-

-The Pottawatomie nodded gravely, and went on his sinuous way, while the

-young chief darted into the forest, and taking a circuitous course,

-reached his father’s village at early morning. The old chief was in his

-lodge, in an attitude of the deepest dejection, for he had not sought a

-quarrel with the whites. Near him, seated upon a pile of skins, and with

-a look of deep malice on his face, sat Black Will, holding his rifle in

-his brown right hand.

-

-“Ha! here comes Na-she-eschuck,” he said. “Now, Black-Hawk, let your

-great heart awake and listen to the words of your son. Speak,

-Na-she-eschuck; what are the white men doing?”

-

-“They go about among the lodges they have built above our fathers’

-graves and laugh because they have insulted Black-Hawk,” replied the

-young Sac, fiercely. “Their ears are stopped to all thoughts of peace,

-and they long for war. Let them get what they seek, since they will have

-it so.”

-

-“What did I tell you, Black-Hawk?” said Black Will. “The scoundrels do

-not care for your great name, and they throw mud at you as if you were a

-common Pottawatomie, and not the head chief of a great nation. Will you

-bear this tamely?”

-

-“Black-Hawk is an Indian,” replied the proud old man, drawing up his

-stalwart form to its full hight. “But he does not seek for war. If the

-white men will let us rest where we now are, I will send the warriors

-back, and we will be friends.”

-

-“Friends! Friends with the men who threw mud in your face and beat you

-like a dog?” cried Black Will. “Come, I have been mistaken in you. I

-thought you were a man ready to revenge your injuries, but the white men

-have cowed you until you dare not lift a hand against them.”

-

-Black-Hawk bounded to his feet with a terrible cry, and laid his hand

-upon a weapon. But that Na-she-eschuck sprung between him and the object

-of his wrath, it is doubtful whether the career of Black Will would not

-have ended upon the spot.

-

-“Hold your hand, great chief,” cried his son, forcing him back. “He sits

-under the shadow of your lodge, and you have smoked the pipe with him.

-Do not make yourself a dog since you have taken his hand.”

-

-“He has insulted a great chief,” replied the old warrior, fiercely.

-“But, he is right; Black-Hawk is a dog to listen to the words of the

-white men, and to refuse to dig up the hatchet when so many warriors are

-ready to follow him to the fight.”

-

-“We _must_ fight,” said Na-she-eschuck. “Little Fox has been among the

-white men, and has told them that the braves are gathering at the call

-of Black-Hawk. He is a dead dog, and has taken a rifle and blankets, and

-is to have much fire-water, because he has betrayed us.”

-

-Black Will began to look uneasy.

-

-“Has the scoundrel told them that I am here?” he asked.

-

-“I can not tell. He is to come to the point above the island with the

-price of his guilt, to-morrow, and I will be there to help him over the

-river.”

-

-A grim look crossed the face of Black-Hawk, as his son spoke.

-

-“It is good,” he said. “One traitor shall die, because he has sold

-himself for the fire-water of the white men. As for us, we will not

-strike the first blow, but if they take up the hatchet against us, then

-we will fight. But I will not remove.”

-

-“It is better for us to strike the first blow,” said Black Will. “That

-is the main thing in war—to strike such a terrible blow, that their

-hearts will turn water in their bosoms. Look at me; I am of the blood of

-the white men, but I am not _all_ white. A chief of the Sacs was my

-father, and he is dead. He died in chains, because he dug up the hatchet

-against the cowardly Chippewas. You have known and loved him, for you

-fought by his side. Black-Hawk, Red-Bird was the father of the man who

-speaks.”

-

-“Ha!” cried the chief. “Red-Bird was a man, but he could not bear the

-chains of the white man, and he died. Is my son the child whom he lost,

-who was born of the French squaw, who followed him from Detroit?”

-

-Black Will inclined his head slowly, and Black-Hawk took his hand in his

-own and pressed it again and again to his bosom.

-

-“Black-Hawk can understand how the son of Red-Bird should hate the white

-man,” he said. “We will fight side by side in this war, and if we die,

-let us die bravely. Are the warriors coming in, Na-she-eschuck?”

-

-“They are gathering from every side. They have heard of the insult to

-Black-Hawk, and their hearts are hot in their bosoms. They will behave

-like men.”

-

-“It is good,” said the chief. “Now we will go forth, and you shall see

-how Black-Hawk shall give a traitor his dues.”

-

-They left the lodge, and followed by the brother of Black-Hawk, and

-Napope, a celebrated chief, moved down toward the river, where the rest

-of the party concealed themselves while Na-she-eschuck brought out his

-canoe and crossed to the other shore.

-

-

-

-

-                               CHAPTER V.

-                        THE PRICE OF TREACHERY.

-

-

-Little Fox had remained all night in the white village, and as it was

-noised about that he had betrayed the plans of Black-Hawk, he had no

-lack of his favorite beverage, and morning found him as drunk as ever.

-Captain Melton sent a man with a canoe to carry the price of the

-information to the point above the island, and as the son of Black-Hawk

-was crossing the river, Little Fox was sitting in drunken state upon his

-keg, dreaming of the glorious times he would have when he broached it in

-the seclusion of his lodge. He remembered indistinctly that some one had

-promised to help him across the river with his prize, but for his life

-could not remember who it was, and it almost sobered him when he saw

-Na-she-eschuck crossing from the other shore, and he fumbled with the

-lock of his rifle, and was half inclined to warn the Sac to keep off.

-But the fumes of the liquor were still in his brain, and the young chief

-landed and came toward him.

-

-“The Pottawatomie did not lie to Na-she-eschuck,” said he. “Let us put

-the fire-water into the canoe.”

-

-“You put him in,” said the owner. “Me watch.”

-

-He looked on while Na-she-eschuck placed the keg in the canoe and then

-followed, and, drunk as he was, managed to seat himself safely in the

-light craft. The Sac followed, and obeying the orders he had received,

-headed up the river, rounded the point of the island, and made toward

-the other shore. There was something in the stern, steadfast look of

-Na-she-eschuck which struck a chill into the heart of the traitor

-Pottawatomie, and almost sobered him, and twice he laid his hand upon

-his rifle, as if tempted to use it upon his companion. But, as often as

-he did so, the countenance of the Sac took on a pleasant air of good

-fellowship, which made it impossible to be angry with him.

-

-“Why does not Na-she-eschuck go to the bank?” said Little Fox. “We will

-make a hole in the fire-water tub and drink.”

-

-The canoe was now headed directly for the point of the woodland which

-came down to the water’s edge, and after drawing the light bark up the

-bank, they took the keg between them and carried it up to the first

-opening, where it was placed upon its end, while Little Fox, by the aid

-of his knife, succeeded in drawing out the bung.

-

-“Wagh!” he cried. “Smell good, don’t he, Na-she-eschuck? Now s’pose you

-get straws, we drink much, good deal.”

-

-The Sac went down to the water’s edge and quickly cut two long, slender

-reeds, one of which he gave to Little Fox, and the two sat down over the

-keg, inserted the reeds, and began to imbibe after the manner of boys

-over a barrel of cider. But, although Na-she-eschuck went through all

-the motions of drinking rapidly, it is doubtful if he took as much as

-Little Fox, whose fiery eyes began to light up as he took in the burning

-fluid, and in five minutes he was more drunk than before he crossed the

-stream.

-

-“E-yah! Little Fox is the friend of the white man. Who would not serve

-them when he can earn such drink?”

-

-“Tell Na-she-eschuck what to do and he will get fire-water from the

-white man.”

-

-Drunk as he was, Little Fox looked at the speaker in astonishment. That

-the Sac youth would betray his father seemed impossible to him, and yet

-knowing how strong his own love of liquor was, and that he would betray

-a nation to obtain it, his surprise faded away.

-

-“Will Na-she-eschuck do this? He can get more fire-water than Little

-Fox, for he knows more.”

-

-“What must I do?”

-

-“Go to the white men and tell them all that Black-Hawk is doing, and my

-brother will be very rich.”

-

-“Has Little Fox done this?”

-

-“He has done what he could, but he did not know much,” replied the

-traitor. “Na-she-eschuck has been in the lodge of his father and heard

-his words.”

-

-“Na-she-eschuck will do any thing for fire-water,” said the young chief,

-seeming to reel as he sat. “Did the white men give all this for the

-message which was brought them by Little Fox?”

-

-The Pottawattomie nodded, and again applied his mouth to the reed. But,

-at this moment the expression of drunken gravity passed away from the

-face of Na-she-eschuck. He bounded to his feet, with a look of wild rage

-upon his dark face and his hand upon his hatchet, and drunk as Little

-Fox was, he could see that he was deceived and that Na-she-eschuck was

-perfectly sober. He would have seized his rifle, but the foot of the

-young Sac was firmly planted upon it and he found it impossible to raise

-it, and the threatening action of Na-she-eschuck caused him to draw back

-in alarm.

-

-“Dog—traitor!” hissed the chief. “You have betrayed our people into the

-hands of the enemy and you shall die. Black-Hawk, Napope and

-Wa-be-ke-zhick, appear.”

-

-As he spoke, the three chiefs, accompanied by Will Jackwood, appeared

-from the bushes upon the right. Every face was black with fury, and the

-traitorous savage knew that his doom was fast approaching. He would have

-fled, but the strong hands of Na-she-eschuck and Napope were upon him,

-and in the twinkling of an eye his hands were bound behind him and

-Black-Hawk stood regarding him with a steadfast look, which had no pity

-in it.

-

-“The ears of Black-Hawk have heard the words which have been spoken by

-the mouth of a traitor. Away with him to the sacred wood and then call

-the warriors to witness his fate.”

-

-Napope and Na-she-eschuck dragged him away, and Black-Hawk uttered a

-signal whoop which quickly brought four stalwart Indians to the spot,

-who, at the command of Black-Hawk, fastened up the keg, and making a

-sort of cradle of strong boughs, carried the liquor away toward the

-sacred forest, being solemnly warned not to touch it on their lives.

-After them marched the remaining chiefs and Black-Hawk, taking a

-sequestered path through the wood. Half an hour’s walk brought them to a

-deep glen in the midst of the solemn woods, where a sort of rude altar

-was erected, and where the mystic ceremonies of their strange religion

-were nearly always observed. A solitary tree of small size, with a

-blackened trunk, the scene of many a sacrifice, was standing in the

-center of the glade, and there, tightly bound with green withes, stood

-Little Fox awaiting his fate.

-

-The Indian was sober enough now, for nothing brings a man to his senses

-so quickly, no matter how much stupefied by drink, as the presence of

-danger. His eyes roved from face to face for some sign of relenting or

-pity, but he found none.

-

-“Why has Black-Hawk brought a Pottawattomie here?” he said. “He dare not

-shed the blood of the son of Na-bo-lish.”

-

-“Na-bo-lish was a great chief but his son is a dog,” he said.

-“Black-Hawk will not shed his blood, and a coward’s death he shall die.”

-

-“Little Fox knows how to die, if die he must,” replied the Indian,

-proudly. “He will speak no more and he dares Black-Hawk to do his

-worst.”

-

-The summons had gone forth, and one by one the chiefs and warriors began

-to enter the sacred wood. Every face was clouded, for they knew that

-they would not have been called to this place but to witness some great

-sacrifice. A single glance at the prisoner was all they gave, and then,

-man by man, they seated themselves in a great circle and waited for the

-coming of others. In less than an hour from the time when Little Fox was

-taken, five hundred grim warriors were seated within the glade, and then

-Black-Hawk arose.

-

-“Chiefs and warriors,” he cried—“children of the same great Father,

-although our tribes are many—listen to Black-Hawk. He is getting old,

-his hair is gray, but he weeps for the sorrows of the poor Indian. Once,

-all these great hunting-grounds, in which the white man plants his corn,

-were the property of the Indian. There he lived—there he died, and there

-he lies buried. The steel of the white man’s plow is among the bones,

-and he builds his lodge in the villages which once were ours.

-

-“This should make an Indian very sad, and he should do all he can to

-help his people. But there are some who are so base that for the

-fire-water of the white man they would sell their fathers’ bones. It

-grieves the heart of Black-Hawk that this should be so, for he loves the

-Indian. Now, when we have risen for our rights, and to protect our once

-happy homes, Indians of the pure blood stand ready to give us up a prey

-to the white man, that they may drink the strong water which makes men

-mad.

-

-“Look upon this man. He is a son of the great Na-bo-lish, the

-Pottawattomie. Once, he was a man and a mighty warrior. His foot was

-quick upon the war-path, and his hand ready to shed the blood of his

-enemies. The white men came and brought the strong water to the

-villages. Little Fox was no longer a man when he had taken it into his

-mouth. Let Na-she-eschuck speak, and tell the warriors what Little Fox

-has done, and then let them speak. I have done.”

-

-He sat down amid a strange murmuring, and Na-she-eschuck arose. The

-young chief was well known for his strict honesty, and they were assured

-that he would not lie to save his life.

-

-“My father has spoken good words. Little Fox has sold us to the white

-men for a rifle, two blankets and this fire-water,” striking the keg

-with his foot. “Out of his own mouth condemn him. Let him die.”

-

-Napope arose.

-

-“I heard the words which came from the lips of Little Fox, and the Sac

-has spoken the truth. Let Little Fox die like a dog.”

-

-“And I heard it,” cried the Prophet. “I—Wa-be-ke-zhick, the Prophet. He

-sold us to the white men and he deserves to die. Now let the chiefs and

-warriors speak.”

-

-There was a sudden movement among the listening warriors. They arose as

-one man, and every voice pealed out the solemn sentence: “He is a

-traitor; let him die!”

-

-“You are women,” shrieked the Pottawottamie, fiercely. “Do your worst;

-Little Fox will show you how to die.”

-

-“It is well,” said Black-Hawk, slightly inclining his head. “We will not

-deny that Little Fox has been a great brave, but he is now a dog. Let

-the chiefs come about me, and we will have a talk.”

-

-They were not long in consultation, and then separated, the chiefs going

-about among the men and giving their orders. Then a long-sounding whoop

-from Black-Hawk called them into line, and they began to circle about

-the tree, pointing their fingers scornfully at the prisoner. Then

-Black-Hawk advanced and bared the breast of the prisoner, exposing the

-totem of his tribe.

-

-“Look,” he said, “he bears upon his bosom the sign of a great tribe.

-This is not well, and it must be removed. Wa-be-ke-zhick, advance, and

-cut the totem from his flesh.”

-

-“Cut away the totem of the great tribe,” cried the warriors. “He has no

-right to wear it, who is a dog. Cut it away!”

-

-The countenance of Little Fox was distorted with rage more than fear.

-Drunken and worthless as he had become, he was a true Indian, and felt

-keenly the disgrace about to be put upon him.

-

-“Do not dare to make a chief a dog,” he hissed. “Give me the torture, or

-give me death. Have I no friend among this people who will strike a

-sharp knife into my breast?”

-

-“Has he a friend among the warriors who will do this?” said Black-Hawk.

-“Let him speak.”

-

-No voice replied, and the countenance of Little Fox changed from hope to

-fear.

-

-“He has no friend,” cried Black-Hawk. “Advance, Wa-be-ke-zhick; cut away

-the totem.”

-

-It was done, and Little Fox, if he lived, was ostracised for ever from

-his tribe and death would be to him a happy release. In the mean time, a

-great caldron had been placed upon a fire, and in this the keg of rum

-was poured, and a great quantity of gourds piled up beside it. The

-spirits had now begun to bubble, and taking up a little in a gourd,

-Black-Hawk advanced and offered it to the condemned man.

-

-“For this you sold us to the white men, Little Fox. Drink, now that I

-give it to you. It is warm—it is good—it will make you strong.”

-

-As he spoke, he dashed the contents of the gourd against the breast of

-the doomed man, and Little Fox uttered an appalling shriek which rung

-with startling distinctness through the forest. Now ensued a horrible

-scene, as Indian after Indian caught up a gourd and dashed a portion of

-the boiling spirits upon the naked body of the traitor. Black Will

-stopped his ears and turned away his head to shut out the agonizing

-sights and sounds which the sacrifice presented. He was a cruel man by

-nature, but he found that the Indians could go beyond him in refinement

-of torture. At last the caldron was empty, and the victim stood

-literally parboiled at the stake, gnawing his lips to keep down the

-shrieks which arose in spite of himself. The faces of his stern

-executioners did not change, and they were about to commence some new

-species of torture, when Black Will sprung between.

-

-“Stop, Black-Hawk; stand back there, Napope. This fellow deserves death.

-But you shall not torture him any longer. Kill him, and put him out of

-pain.”

-

-“Stand aside, white man!” cried Napope. “Why do you come between the

-warriors and a traitor?”

-

-“White man! I am the son of Red-Bird, the Sac, who died in the white

-man’s prison; and I say that this shall not go on. Will you kill him?”

-

-“No; let the torture go on.”

-

-Black Will wheeled in his tracks, drew a pistol, and shot Little Fox

-through the heart. Bloody as the deed was, it was mercy, compared with

-the torture in store for the traitor. He started as the bullet pierced

-him, a look of ferocious joy passed over his face, and his head dropped

-upon his bosom. There came a wild rush at the immovable figure of Black

-Will, but the sonorous voice of Black-Hawk was heard, ordering them to

-stand back.

-

-“Touch not the son of Red-Bird, lest you make an enemy of Black-Hawk,”

-he cried. “Take down the body and cast it out in the open woods, that

-the wolves may eat all that is left of a traitor.”

-

-The work was done, and although there was some grumbling at being robbed

-of their victim so early, the bravest among the warriors were inclined

-to commend the bold action of Black Will, although, under the

-circumstances, none of them would have dared to do the same. The body

-was thrown upon the earth to rot, and the warriors on their march back

-to the village, when a runner, hot with haste, dashed into the forest

-and met Black-Hawk.

-

-“Let the braves take their hatchets,” he cried. “The white men are upon

-the march.”

-

-“Ha,” cried Black-Hawk. “Do they come with arms?”

-

-“Major Stillman comes, with many warriors,” replied the runner.

-

-“Let us see if they are friends,” said Black-Hawk. “If they come in

-peace it is well. If they harm a hair of one of my young men they shall

-all die.”

-

-He sent out five young warriors with a white flag, who did not return.

-Later in the day three more went out and reconnoitered in the vicinity

-of the advance of the white men. They were pursued and two of them

-killed, the first blood shed in the war. The third escaped and brought

-the news to Black-Hawk, and they dug up the hatchet and prepared for

-war.

-

-

-

-

-                              CHAPTER VI.

-                            THE FIRST BLOW.

-

-

-It must be admitted by unprejudiced men and thinkers of all lands, that

-the “Black-Hawk” war was precipitated by the rapacity of the whites. Not

-satisfied with driving the Indians from the better portion of their

-lands, they persisted still further in forcing them from their villages

-about Rock Island. They would have been less than men if they had not

-resisted, but to the last, Black-Hawk insisted that he would not be the

-first to shed blood, and, as we have seen, the first man killed was one

-of Black-Hawk’s band, by Stillman’s party.

-

-This man seemed to have little knowledge of the Indian character, and

-lacked the power of leading men. He had been sent out by General

-Atkinson in advance, with orders to scour the country, find out the

-position of the Indian force, and to act as his discretion seemed to

-dictate. Captain Melton was with him, and had occasion twice to

-remonstrate with him upon his manner of advancing through a country

-favorable to an ambuscade. The troop consisted of two hundred and

-seventy mounted men, marching without order, straggling where they

-liked, and firing at any stray Indian of whatever tribe, whom they

-chanced to meet.

-

-When the flag of Black-Hawk appeared, Stillman ordered the bearers to be

-taken prisoners.

-

-“Excuse me, Major Stillman,” said Melton, as he heard the order. “Surely

-you do not propose to make these men prisoners?”

-

-“Certainly I do, sir; take your place and let me hear no more.”

-

-“Your words will require an explanation at another time and place, my

-good sir,” said Melton. “Be so good as to remember that I had no orders

-to join you, and that if you insist upon such conduct, I will leave you

-at once. These men came to you under the shadow of a white flag, and you

-have no right to take them prisoners.”

-

-“_Will_ you take your place, Captain Melton?” roared Stillman, “or must

-I put you under arrest?”

-

-Melton said no more, but fell back to the head of his troop, fully

-determined to leave the irate major if he persisted in his conduct.

-

-The three bearers of the flag were sent to the rear, under guard, and

-the troop proceeded in the same disorderly manner. Some time after the

-stragglers in advance caught sight of the warriors who had been sent out

-to see what had been done with the bearers of the flag, and were

-pursued, and two of them shot down without mercy, the rest escaping, by

-taking to the woods in front. No sooner had he beheld this cruel and

-uncalled for butchery, than the young captain of scouts called to his

-men and they wheeled out of the line, faced about, and marched back

-toward the river.

-

-Stillman, boiling with rage, called his men to a halt, and rode back.

-

-“What is the meaning of this conduct, Captain Melton?” he hissed, fairly

-foaming at the mouth. “How dare you detach your command without orders?”

-

-“If you think you have men enough in your rag-tag and bob-tail command

-to stop us, you had better try it on, Major Stillman,” said Melton,

-coolly. “I for one will not give countenance to _murder_, as you are

-doing.”

-

-“Murder, sir?”

-

-“Murder is the word. Those Sacs were doing no harm who were just killed

-by your men, and did not even use their weapons when your scoundrels

-took after them. Go on your way, sir; I will not march a foot further

-with you.”

-

-“I will have you court-martialed, upon my return, sir,” cried Stillman.

-

-“Very well; I shall take an opportunity to tell the court some things

-not to your credit. Good-day, sir. But, for the safety of your men I

-tell you to call in your stragglers, march in a more orderly manner and

-beat the bushes thoroughly before you enter. Attention, scouts;

-forward.”

-

-And the compact little body rode away at a killing pace, leaving Major

-Stillman to his own devices.

-

-Stillman hesitated for some time before advancing, for he knew that the

-desertion of Captain Melton was a great loss to him. While he stood in

-doubt, the men who had killed two Indians came back at a gallop and

-announced that the Indians were just across Sycamore creek and in some

-force. All was now confusion in the white camp. Some who had dismounted

-sprung into the saddle, and with wild shouts the disorderly band rushed

-on, headed by the men who had just come in. Black-Hawk had not supposed

-that Stillman intended to attack him, and the greater portion of his

-force were on the other side of the village; in all, the great chief had

-only forty men under his command when Stillman’s men came up at the

-gallop, strung out across the plain, man, by man, according to the speed

-of their horses, and in this manner crossed the creek. Black-Hawk had

-not hoped that they would thus give themselves a prey to him, and his

-ambuscade was quickly formed.

-

-When half the party had crossed the creek and were massed in disorder

-upon the bank and the rest were struggling up, some crossing the creek,

-and others yet upon the plain beyond, the war-whoop of the Sacs

-announced the onset, and from every side the warriors poured in upon the

-foe. One withering volley was poured in, which strewed the earth with

-dead and dying forms, and at the same moment the charge was made and the

-knife and hatchet was doing its silent but deadly work before the doomed

-men had time to lift a hand. To show the utter foolishness with which

-the advance was made, it is enough to say that the warlike major was

-never in the fight at all, so quickly was the force which had crossed

-the creek disposed of by the furious attack of Black-Hawk.

-

-The cry was, “Satan take the hindmost.” Hardly waiting for Stillman’s

-order to retreat, they broke and fled in every direction, each man for

-himself, lashing their horses to get out of the fearful imbroglio into

-which their own foolhardy conduct had forced them.

-

-Thus, in one desperate charge forty Indians had put two hundred and

-seventy white men to flight! It is no discredit to the West, for the men

-of Stillman’s force, under a different leader, would have laughed at the

-efforts of the Sac force. They came into Dixon’s Ferry as they had left

-Sycamore creek, one at a time, and the loss gradually dwindled from

-seventy to about one-fourth of the number.

-

-The alarm went forth through the land, and the little force of Sac

-warriors were magnified into an army. The work had been done, however,

-and a scene of blood and death was about to be enacted upon the border.

-

-Captain Melton rode back to the settlement, after leaving Stillman, but

-had not gone far when the flying men from the band of heroes began to

-come up with him. Seeing that the war was begun in earnest he faced

-about and prepared to meet them as best he might, knowing nothing of the

-small force of Black-Hawk. After waiting all night for some sign of

-Indian pursuit, as none was made he drew off his men and reached the

-settlement some hours after the arrival of Stillman, who had been

-filling the ears of the inhabitants with stories of the cowardly conduct

-of the captain.

-

-The captain quickly set matters right, and only that he had more

-important business upon his hands, would have followed Stillman to the

-camp of Atkinson, to which he had directed his steps. Taking ten of his

-men, he rode up the river, to the residence of Mr. Wescott, but as he

-drew near, he found evidences upon every hand of the presence of the

-destroyer, and as he crossed the hill, saw, to his horror, that during

-the last night the cabin had been attacked. Wild with fear, he rushed in

-at the broken door and found every thing in confusion, and scattered

-here and there, various bits of Indian finery, beads and the like, which

-told him beyond a doubt who had done the work.

-

-“Indians,” said one of the men. “Good heaven, captain, they are killed!”

-

-They explored the house everywhere, but not a trace of the family could

-be seen. Upon the floor near the entrance was a little pool of fresh

-blood, which looked as if it had been shed the night before, and Melton

-looked at it with a shudder.

-

-“Where are they?” he groaned. “Who has done this ruin?”

-

-“It is always so in an Indian war,” said his lieutenant. “Some band of

-Indians coming up to join Black-Hawk, have rushed in on them, before

-they had time to fire a shot.”

-

-“Somebody has been hurt,” said Melton. “Ha! what have you got there,

-Chris?”

-

-One of the men came forward, holding in his hand a heavy knife, with

-about three inches broken from the point. Upon the hilt of the weapon,

-rudely engraved, was the name, “R. Garrett.”

-

-“Dick Garrett has been here, then,” said Melton, turning pale; “and if

-he has taken Sadie Wescott, it is done for Black Will. Oh! heaven, what

-shall we do?”

-

-“Hold on,” said a feeble voice from beneath their feet. “Help me out of

-this and I’ll let ye know.”

-

-“Some one is in the cellar,” said Melton. “Up with the trap and let him

-out.”

-

-The trap-door was opened, and Cooney Joe, bleeding and ghastly, appeared

-at the foot of the ladder. A dozen hands were extended to help him up,

-and he was seated upon one of the stools, gasping for breath.

-

-“What is this, Joe?” said Melton. “Speak, man; don’t you see that I am

-in torture until I know the worst?”

-

-“The worst is, that a party of red niggers, headed by Dick Garrett, made

-a rush at us last night, and took Mr. Wescott and the gal prisoners. I

-had a tussle with Dick Garrett, and one of them cussid reds hit me over

-the head with a hatchet, and I fell into the cellar. I do’no’ what drove

-’em off, but they did not come down to raise my wool, and I’ve been too

-weak to git out without help.”

-

-“You don’t know which way they went?”

-

-“Don’t I tell ye they knocked the life clean out of me, the fust crack?

-I didn’t fairly git my senses back till I heerd ye talking. ’Tain’t

-above two hours sence they left.”

-

-“How many had Dick Garrett under him?”

-

-“Mebbe twenty, the ugliest-lookin’ lot of whites painted red you ever

-sot yer livin’ eyes on. I’ll be bu’sted ef they wouldn’t spile a

-lookin’-glass by jest peekin’ into it; darned lot of ruffi’ns!”

-

-“We must follow them,” hissed Melton, through his set teeth. “I’ll have

-the girl out of their hands, if I have to follow them into Black-Hawk’s

-village.”

-

-“See here; Black-Hawk do’no’ nothin’ ’bout it. The pizen cusses took his

-darter with ’em, but she sp’iled one chap, sure as you live. He got an

-arrer clean through him.”

-

-“She is a brave girl, Joe. Oh, how sorry I am that you are hurt.”

-

-“Hold hard; you ain’t goin’ without me, you know. One of your chaps wash

-out this cut, and put some plaster on it, and we’ll make it do. I’m

-goin’, you bet.”

-

-“I fear you are not strong enough.”

-

-“You be grannied! You see I’ve got a sort of snickering notion after

-that there Injin gal, and I’ll be blowed if I don’t help her.”

-

-In his border life Melton had picked up a slight knowledge of surgery,

-and he washed and dressed the wound as well as the limited conveniences

-at his disposal would admit. Having done so, Cooney Joe rose up, though

-somewhat “weak and staggering,” to use his own expression, and was ready

-to “fight or run,” as circumstances might require.

-

-“Now see here, cripples,” he said. “That carroty-headed son of a gun,

-Dick Garrett, is a whole boss-team, you bet ye. He’ll fight—he will—till

-the teeth meet in the flesh. Oh, you bet he is on it, now. He kin shoot,

-and when we foller him, we ain’t tracking Sacs, so look out for

-thunder.”

-

-“And he is in league with Black Will, and that scoundrel has a hundred

-ruffians at his beck and call,” said Melton. “We never should have had

-any trouble with the Indians but for men of his kidney.”

-

-“Now fur trailing,” said Cooney Joe. “Stand one side, you critters, and

-let the old man work! I’ve got a mark that can’t be beat, fur Dick wears

-the biggest moccasin of any man in the Nor’-west. Look around mighty

-spry, and when you find a track like a young canoe, that’s Dick

-Garrett’s hoof.”

-

-The trail was quickly found, and led to the northward. They followed it

-swiftly, Cooney Joe bending slightly in the saddle, and keeping his eyes

-on the trail, while the rest followed, keeping far enough behind not to

-disturb the trail. After a march of nearly two miles, the track suddenly

-ended upon the bank of the Father of Waters, and they knew that the

-scoundrels had taken to the stream.

-

-“Now ain’t this cussid mean; ain’t it enuff to make a man raise his hand

-against his venerable ancestor?” roared Joe. “They’ve took water, they

-hev. Here; send back two men with the hosses, fur we’ve got to hoof it.”

-

-This plan was adopted, and two of the men returned with the horses,

-while the rest searched about among the reeds, and after some trouble

-found two rude dug-outs concealed, in which, by making two trips, they

-crossed the great stream. Here they scattered and searched up and down

-for the trail which they had lost, still guided by the ponderous hoof of

-Dick Garrett.

-

-“Oh, _ain’t_ he pizen, that Dick!” growled Cooney Joe. “Its just his

-nat’ral cussedness, you know. He’s aweer that I like to ride, and he

-jest done this to be mean. Comes nat’ral to him, meanness does. Here you

-are; come on, boys!”

-

-He had taken up the recovered trail as if no interruption had occurred,

-and the party moved on across the plain. They were tried men, who had

-followed Captain Melton in many an hour of danger, but even their hearts

-gave a great leap as they plunged into the Indian country, perhaps never

-to return.

-

-

-

-

-                              CHAPTER VII.

-                               OVERBOARD.

-

-

-The surprise of the occupants of the log-cabin by the river was sudden

-and complete, when at a late hour the house was surrounded by a motley

-group headed by a man who, in spite of his paint and feathers, could not

-hide from so acute a scout as Samuel Wescott that he was a white man in

-disguise. The rush was so sudden that they had been overthrown before

-they had fairly time to reach their weapons, and the captured men were

-at once hurried to their horses, and the band made off at a rapid rate

-up the stream. Mr. Wescott was wounded, but in spite of that the savage

-white leader urged him on, threatening him with the point of his knife

-if he faltered or turned aside. They reached the river, when, to the

-surprise of all, a flat-boat shot out from the western bank and made

-toward the eastern shore. The men who held the poles were either white

-men or showed a marvelous aptitude for flat-boating, an accomplishment

-rarely to be looked for in an Indian who is not in love with manual

-labor. The bow of the flat grated on the low beach, when the party went

-on board, horses and all, and they pushed out into the stream.

-

-“This boat belonged to Captain Hughes’ father,” whispered Sadie. “Is it

-possible that these wretches have murdered him and his crew?”

-

-“He ought to have come down some days ago,” said Mr. Wescott, in an

-uneasy tone. “I am afraid that the good old man has indeed fallen. Be

-careful what you say, for these scoundrels understand every word you

-speak.”

-

-At this moment the chief approached and caught Mr. Wescott by his

-wounded arm, causing him to utter a low cry of pain, while the blood

-gushed from under his hand.

-

-“No whispering,” he hissed, dropping all at once his assumed Indian

-habits. “I’m no baby, Sam Wescott, but a bird of the woods, a

-Mississippi roarer, and I can lick the universal earth a-flying.”

-

-“Dick Garrett!” cried Wescott, in a tone of surprise. “I thought so.”

-

-“You know me, do ye?” said Dick, with an air of bravado. “All right,

-’square, it’s all the wuss for you, for Dick Garrett don’t let no man

-live that knows he wears an Injin rig. Git ropes hyar and take a couple

-of hitches on this chap, some of you fellers.”

-

-“What do you intend to do?” cried Wescott, struggling. “Hands off, you

-scoundrels!”

-

-“Tie him tight, boys,” replied Dick Garrett, in fiendish glee. “Teach

-the cuss to be so sharp, I will, before I git done with him. Now, then,

-Sam Wescott, if you’ve got any prayers to say, say ’em quick, for

-overboard you go when we get to that snag in the river.”

-

-“You cannot mean it,” said Wescott. “Such a cold blooded and unprovoked

-murder—”

-

-“Oh, give us a rest or I’ll gag you,” replied Dick Garrett. “The matter

-of a man more or less in the world ain’t going to shake it to its

-center, you bet, and when I say you’ve got to go under, then you go.”

-

-“Have your way, then, murderous wretch,” cried the brave man, drawing

-himself up proudly. “I will not beg for my life from such as you, and am

-ready to die, if my time has come, as bravely as another. Do your

-worst.”

-

-Sadie by this time began to comprehend the danger in which her father

-stood, and would have come to him, but she was forced back by one of the

-rough men who wore the Indian garb, but who could not conceal a certain

-flat-boat swagger which betrayed him.

-

-“He crows loud, boys, don’t he?” said Garrett; “mighty loud for a bird

-of his feather that’s only got three minnits to live. Keep the gal away;

-she ain’t got leave to die yet.”

-

-“Let me go to my father,” pleaded Sadie. “Oh, sir, you will not kill him

-for a single hasty word?”

-

-“I rather think I shall,” replied Garrett, as cool and composed as if

-talking of any ordinary event. “The man’s got to go. I don’t advertise

-to be a saint, and when a man runs ag’inst me and calls me a murderer, I

-reckon it’s about time for him to pass in his chips. I’m a peaceable

-man—I will _have_ peace, or a fight.”

-

-This strange man was dreadfully in earnest. Human life was to him a

-thing of no price—we might lose it to-day or to-morrow, of we might live

-a hundred years—a small matter, not to be taken into account. He had no

-objections to killing a man, and if he had stood in his way, in any

-manner, it became a _duty_ to put him aside.

-

-They were approaching the snag, and the desperado was about to order the

-prisoner to be thrown into the water, when the boatmen were suddenly

-thrust aside, and Minneoba, holding her bow in her hand, darted forward

-and leveled an arrow at his breast.

-

-“Look, white man,” she cried, “Minneoba is the daughter of Black-Hawk,

-and she can not lie; if you do harm to the good white man, I will send

-an arrow through your heart.”

-

-“Why, you cat!” hissed Dick Garrett, turning upon her with a devilish

-look. “Stand out of the way.”

-

-But Minneoba would not obey him. It was the second time she had found

-her arrow effective, and it had some influence upon the man who “would

-have peace or a fight.” Although full of mad hate, he knew that she

-could aim an arrow well, for he had seen her skill tested in the Indian

-towns.

-

-“What in the devil’s name made me bring this cat on board?” he uttered.

-“Better far have left her behind to find her way to the village as best

-she could. Look you, Minneoba,” he added aloud. “You know that I would

-not willingly do you a wrong, but you must get out of the way.”

-

-“No,” replied Minneoba, stamping her foot. “Minneoba will not move, and

-if Garrett does wrong to the good white man, he shall die.”

-

-“Now, my girl, be careful, please; I’ll have to take measures you won’t

-like if you don’t get out of the way.”

-

-“Minneoba will shoot,” replied the girl, with flashing eyes, still

-pointing the arrow at his breast. Garrett nodded to one of his men, and

-while the leader expostulated with her he stole behind and suddenly

-caught her by the arm in a firm clasp. With a cry of anger the girl

-caught the arrow in her disengaged hand and drove it through the arm of

-her captor, who released her with an oath, but before she could strike

-again, Garrett had her in his arms.

-

-“Now then, lads!” he cried. “I’ll hold this beauty fast, and if she

-struggles I’ll take toll from her lips.”

-

-“Cease to struggle, Minneoba,” said Mr. Wescott. “You only expose

-yourself to new indignity without the chance of aiding me. I am ready to

-meet my fate, although it is a hard one, but it grieves me to think that

-I die by the hands of white men. Sadie, farewell—farewell, my dear

-child. All that I have is yours and your dear mother’s. Thank God that

-she at least was absent when this blow fell.”

-

-“I can not see you die,” she sobbed. “Oh, Richard Garrett, will nothing

-move you to do right?”

-

-“That depends on what you call _right_. Now you don’t think it right to

-beat a man at the picturs or billiards or to pick his pocket, or crack a

-bank. Now I do, so we won’t seem to agree, no matter how you fix it, so

-I guess we may as well end this now. Toss him over, boys.”

-

-“It don’t seem scarcely right,” said the rough young fellow who was

-helping Sadie back. “Why not duck him, and then let him out, boss?”

-

-“Because he knows I wear an Injin disguise. It’s all very well for you

-that he don’t know, but I ain’t so easy suited. Toss him over, I say,

-and make no words.”

-

-They lifted the bound man and flung him over the rail, while with a

-thrilling shriek Sadie fell senseless into the arms of the man who held

-her. He laid her gently down, and made a spring at the taffrail, and his

-body struck the water almost as soon as that of Mr. Wescott, who was

-unable to help himself.

-

-“Come back here, you born fool,” screamed Dick Garrett. “What do you

-think the Cap will say when he hears how you act?”

-

-“You go to ——,” said the rough but good-hearted fellow, naming a

-locality not sought after by humanity generally. “I’m going to save this

-man.”

-

-“Then by ——” hissed Dick Garrett, “you stay with him; set in your poles,

-boys. Tom don’t want to come on board.”

-

-By this time the man had seized the helpless form of Wescott, and with

-his clasp-knife managed to cut the bonds upon his hands and feet, and

-Wescott at once began to swim, but feebly at first, and the fiendish

-order of the desperate leader rung in his ears, and they saw the boat

-moving slowly away, leaving them alone on the wide river.

-

-“We’re done, stranger,” said the man called Tom. “I done my best, but

-he’s run from us.”

-

-“You can swim to the bank,” said Mr. Wescott, noting with what ease the

-man sustained himself.

-

-“I reckon.”

-

-“Then do so and leave me to my fate,” replied Wescott. “You have already

-risked too much for me.”

-

-“When I quit a man in that way I reckon you’d better call round with a

-rope and string me up. It’ll suit me fust rate. Let the current take ye

-square; we’ll fetch up somewhere I reckon, and when we do, and I onc’t

-git on the trail of that Dick Garrett, won’t I make him howl!”

-

-Even as he spoke the two men were moving on a course diagonal with the

-current, the stronger man giving all the support he could to his wounded

-companion. But the shore seemed far away and Wescott felt that he could

-not go much further.

-

-“Save yourself,” he gasped. “My wound has opened again and I am losing

-strength.”

-

-“I won’t do it,” replied Tom, through his set teeth. “Hold up a little;

-I’ll save you yet.”

-

-“There is no hope,” replied Wescott. “Avenge me if you can and save my

-daughter from that villain. You can do me better service in that way

-than by staying with me now.”

-

-At this moment the surge came down heavily and buried the speaker

-beneath the water. Tom paddled to and fro, looking for him in vain, for

-the water had claimed its prey, and nerving himself to the task the

-young man struck out resolutely for the shore, which he reached nearly

-exhausted. Then he ran along the bank and looked for some sign of

-Wescott, but he looked in vain. The surface of the river was blank.

-

-

-

-

-                             CHAPTER VIII.

-                      MELTON’S SCOUT—A BUSH FIGHT.

-

-

-Tom Bantry had been a flatboatman since he was old enough to hold a

-pole, and now for the first time paused to consider how far he had gone

-down the road of sin. He was conscious of many evil deeds already

-performed, but the stain of blood was not upon his soul, and although

-pledged to his vile companion he could not stand by tamely and witness

-the murder of so good a man as Samuel Wescott. But his good intentions

-had come to naught, and the brave man was dead.

-

-The flatboatman rose and looked about him, a wicked light coming over

-his dark face. “They taught me evil, them cusses did,” he muttered. “I’d

-the making of a man in me, but they sp’iled me, and now they’ve killed

-as good a man as ever walked the earth. I’ll remember that ag’inst ye,

-old man Garrett.”

-

-He was literally worn out, and dropped down upon the grass and slept

-until morning. He woke at last and started up refreshed, only to find a

-party of white men were upon the opposite bank, and with his paint upon

-him, Tom knew that it would be far from safe to meet them, and he

-skulked away, keeping under cover of the bushes, and then made a circuit

-through the bushes, designing to cross their path and ascertain who they

-were. As he crept forward with that intention, he heard a slight

-rustling in the bushes in front, and the long, snake-like head of Napope

-appeared above the bushes, signaling him to fall back. He did so,

-involuntarily dropping his hand upon his knife, which he had not lost in

-the last night’s struggle in the stream, when he remembered that Napope

-regarded all his party as friends and that he still wore the garb of an

-Indian. He dropped back and the next moment Napope joined him.

-

-“The white dogs come,” he said, in a fierce tone, “and the heart of a

-chief is big in his bosom. They shall die without knowledge.”

-

-“Who are they?” demanded Tom.

-

-“They are white and they are not the friends of Jackwood the son of

-Red-Bird. Where is your gun, my brother?”

-

-“I lost it last night,” replied Tom, a little embarrassed. “Let me look

-out and see what white men come.”

-

-He advanced to the edge of the woods and looked out, and could detect a

-white party moving hastily across the plain. Foremost among them was a

-man whom he had known well some years before, Cooney Joe, and behind him

-came Captain Melton and his gallant men, and it flashed through the mind

-of Tom Bantry that they were in pursuit of Dick Garrett. His heart stood

-still, for a backward glance showed him fifty stout Sacs, armed to the

-teeth, lying under the bushes waiting for the coming of the hated white

-men. Twenty-four hours ago Tom Bantry would have delighted in this, but

-now he was changed, and racked his brains for ways and means to acquaint

-them with the ambush before them, without destruction to himself.

-

-Napope waved his hand, and, as if by magic, every warrior disappeared,

-and a stillness like that of death fell upon the scene. The whites came

-in rapidly, unsuspicious of danger, and passed through the first bushes,

-when they were surprised to hear a sudden crash and a yell of surprise

-and anger. The crash came from Tom Bantry, who had managed to fall down

-with a great noise, at the same time giving the yell which startled the

-white rangers.

-

-“Tree, boys!” yelled Cooney Joe. “Tree and fight. Injins thar, by the

-big horn spoon.”

-

-The men who followed Cooney Joe were Indian-fighters of the first class,

-and the order had scarcely been given when every man was sheltered by a

-tree and had his rifle ready for action. This was not done a moment too

-soon, for the feathers of the savages began to show above the bushes,

-and several shots were fired, until a commanding voice shouted to the

-warriors to hold their fire.

-

-“What do the white men seek?” cried Napope. “They have been beaten once;

-must we beat them again?”

-

-“That’s Napope,” cried Cooney Joe. “I know the old cuss, and he kin

-fight, if he is an Injin; but we’ll lick him out of his moccasins. Say,

-Injin, you’d better clear the way; you ain’t got the major to fight

-now.”

-

-“Napope does not seek the scalps of the white men,” cried the Indian.

-“If they bring the scalps to him, he will take them, but he does not

-thirst for blood. Let Captain Melton turn back and cross the river.”

-

-“The path must be clear for me to pass through,” replied Melton. “The

-hatchet has been dug up and its edge turned against women and children,

-and the good white man, Wescott, with his daughter, has been carried

-away, and we think the Sacs know where they are.”

-

-“The Sacs do not know,” replied Napope, proudly. “Does the white man

-take us for Menomonies or Chippewas? The Sacs are men and not dogs; they

-do not fight against women and children.”

-

-“Napope is a brave man, and will not lie to save his life,” said Melton.

-“Let us pass on safely, and then there shall be no blood shed, for we

-seek only those who have stolen the brave man Wescott and his child.”

-

-“My brother must turn back,” replied the chief. “There is no path over

-the Indian country for white soldiers until peace is made; but if the

-good white man and his child are here, they shall be made welcome, and

-no harm shall come to them if Napope can give them aid. But Melton must

-take his warriors and go back to his people.”

-

-“We will not turn back,” replied Melton, angrily, “unless we take the

-friends we seek with us. Let Napope clear the way, or we will try to go

-on without his leave.”

-

-“The white men will find knives and hatchets in the path,” replied the

-chief, grimly. “Go back as you came, and all shall be well; refuse, and

-you shall find that my young men carry guns.”

-

-“I don’t like this,” whispered Cooney Joe in the ear of Melton. “They’ve

-got twice as many warriors as we have, and the chances are good for a

-fight. I never like to back out, but I don’t know but it’s the safest

-plan.”

-

-“It won’t do,” said Melton. “These scoundrels will get too impudent if

-they are allowed their own way too much. There must be a fight, and at

-once, and the boys must do their best. I know them too well to think

-that they will back down for twice their number of Sacs.”

-

-“What does my brother say?” cried Napope.

-

-“Fight.” replied Melton. “We will go on.” Napope disappeared

-immediately, and scarcely had he done so when a bullet whizzed by the

-ear of the young scout as he hastily took to a tree. The fight now

-commenced in true Indian-fashion, the Sacs forcing the fighting and

-running from tree to tree to get nearer to their enemies. But they found

-a different party from that with which they had fought upon Sycamore

-Creek. Every bullet had its billet. Did an Indian show hand or foot from

-behind his shelter, it was at once the mark of a well-aimed ball. The

-men who followed Melton had lived by the rifle, and were not likely to

-miss their aim easily, while the Indians were notoriously bad marksmen,

-not having the patience to perfect themselves in the use of the rifle.

-

-Besides, the weapons they carried were not of the best description,

-being those furnished by the traders against the law, and their powder

-was “contract,” warranted not to burn except at a slow fire. But their

-numbers made the position of Melton’s small force decidedly unsafe, and

-they began to close in upon every side, and every moment Melton expected

-a charge with hatchet and knife, most fearful weapons in Indian hands.

-But the steady valor of the scouts had inspired the savages with a

-respect for them, and they fought warily, losing a man now and then, and

-inflicting little damage upon the foe.

-

-“They’ll charge soon, boys,” whispered Cooney Joe. “Pass the word down

-the line to have a charge ready for the rush. Don’t throw away a shot.”

-

-The rifles were ready when Napope gave the order, and at his signal-yell

-they bounded out like tigers, flourishing their bright weapons in the

-air.

-

-This was the moment for the Border Riflemen, and each picked his man and

-fired, and every bullet found a mark. Supposing the rifles empty, the

-Sacs rushed on, but they were mistaken, for up rose ten more riflemen,

-and the head of the assailants seemed to melt away before their fire. It

-was more than Indian endurance was equal to, and they again buried

-themselves in the bushes, in spite of the fierce orders of Napope, who,

-although severely wounded in the shoulder, urged the men on.

-

-He was ably seconded by Na-she-eschuck, who was also slightly wounded.

-

-“Well done, my lads,” cried Mellon. “Bravely done, riflemen; they have

-not Sycamore Creek to brag of this time, at any rate.”

-

-Napope collected his men under cover of the bushes, but his heart was

-full of anger against the gallant band of scouts, whom he had expected

-to sweep from the path in that headlong charge. So far from doing that,

-over one-third of his men were placed _hors de combat_, and several more

-partially disabled. Aroused by the invectives of the two chiefs, they

-again began to advance, but more cautiously, sliding from tree to tree,

-with great care, and exposing themselves as little as possible in doing

-so. But the riflemen managed to inflict new damage upon them before they

-came in fair charging distance. Napope had separated his force into

-three parts, sending out a small party upon each flank of the white

-force, and Melton was compelled to detach eight men, four upon each

-flank, to keep off these troublesome flanking-parties. This left him but

-twelve men in his main force, opposed to over thirty determined

-warriors, eager for the blood of those who had slain so many of their

-friends.

-

-“We have got ourselves into a pizen scrape, Cap,” said Cooney Joe, as he

-stood with his back against a tree, looking to the priming of his rifle;

-“but thar’s only one way to do, and that is to fight our way out. We kin

-lick ’em if more don’t come; _that’s_ what I’m afraid of.”

-

-At this moment the rush was made, and as before, the whites divided

-their fire, so as to give the Indians two volleys before they reached

-the trees, and then with yells which vied with those of the Indians,

-they formed a line among the trees, and beat back the savages with

-knife, hatchet, and clubbed rifle. It was a desperate affair while it

-lasted, and the wild valor of the scouting party prevailed, and they

-were driving back the Indians step by step, when one of the men who had

-been sent to the right flank came running up.

-

-“Party of Injins coming across the plain, on a run, Cap,” he reported.

-“I reckon we’d better git.”

-

-“Easier said than done,” said the captain, turning aside a blow with his

-heavy knife. “Shoot that fellow, Ed.”

-

-The borderer brought his rifle to his shoulder, and the savage fell,

-shot through the heart.

-

-“Have the Indians on the flanks retreated, Ed?” demanded Melton, as he

-fired a pistol at a savage who was poising his hatchet for a throw, and

-the savage went down.

-

-“No, they ain’t all gone yet,” replied the man, who was coolly reloading

-his discharged rifle. “I guess we’d better call in the men and make a

-rush through these red devils, before the others can come up.”

-

-A signal whistle, well known to the “merry men” of Melton, brought in

-all upon the flank, and with shouts of victory, all charged upon the

-broken and demoralized body of Sacs. They had fought bravely, but their

-courage was not proof against the assault, and they broke and fled in

-every direction through the woods, pursued by the victorious whites, who

-only wanted to get deeper into the woods, to avoid the force coming up

-in their rear. They would not have done this had they known that it was

-Dick Garrett and his party, bringing as prisoner, Sadie Wescott, whom

-Minneoba would not leave.

-

-Scouts from the party of Napope having discovered the coming of the

-disguised whites, and apprised the chief, he hurried out to meet them,

-and started as he saw who they held as prisoner.

-

-“Ha!” he cried. “Then it is my brother who struck the wigwam of Wescott,

-and took him prisoner?”

-

-“Yes,” said Garrett. “You see our boss, Will Jackwood, wanted this girl,

-and sent me to take her.”

-

-“Where is Wescott, now?” demanded Napope.

-

-“Well,” said Garrett, hesitating, “he’s gone under; that’s what’s the

-matter with _him_.”

-

-“Let my brother speak more plainly,” said the chief. “What has become of

-Wescott, the good white man?”

-

-“He has been murdered,” replied Sadie, coming forward, quickly. “Chief,

-you know what he was, and that he never willingly wronged the Indians.

-You know, too, that when the mob in the village assaulted Black-Hawk and

-yourself, he came to your aid and helped you to escape. He has been

-brutally murdered, by this base wretch, Garrett.”

-

-“The girl lies, I reckon,” said Garrett, sullenly. “See here, chief; is

-it calculated in your tribe that women are any better off for having too

-much tongue?”

-

-“My brother must let the Wild Rose speak,” replied Napope. “When the

-Sacs come hungry and thirsty into her father’s lodge, she is always

-ready to give them food and drink; when they are weary, and the night

-air is cold, there is always a warm place by the fire to spread a

-blanket. The child of Wescott must be allowed to speak.”

-

-“Now look here, chief,” said Garrett, in the same ferocious tone.

-“’Tain’t noways likely I’m going to come down to you or any man on

-earth. If Wescott was killed, he was my pris’ner, and I had a right to

-do what I would with him. Have you any thing to say against it?”

-

-Napope inclined his head slowly, as recognizing the justice of the

-remark. The life of the man was as little regarded by the Indians as by

-Garrett, and Napope rather liked the tone of insolence he assumed.

-

-“Napope,” cried Sadie, “I want you to listen to me. This wicked man

-threw my father into the water, from the flat-boat, and he has not been

-seen since. Will you see a good man murdered and refuse to avenge him?”

-

-Napope was evidently troubled, for just now he needed the assistance of

-Garrett and his men, and did not wish to make him angry.

-

-“We will speak of that another time, Wild Rose. Until then, rest safely

-with Minneoba, the daughter of Black-Hawk, while we do the work of men.

-Garrett, do you know that Loud Tempest is here and he has beaten the men

-of Napope, and killed many?”

-

-“Loud Tempest; do you mean Captain Melton?”

-

-“Yes; he is here, with the white hunter Joe, and many warriors. Napope

-can not rest until we have his scalp.”

-

-“Cooney Joe! Why, I give him a lick last night that ought to have

-settled any decent man for good.”

-

-“He is alive, and fights like a Sac,” replied Napope. “They are in the

-woods and we must follow and take their scalps.”

-

-“I’ll bet he’s arter me,” muttered Garrett. “He don’t owe me any good

-will for work I’ve done, and I’ve swore to have his hair. Thar’s my hand

-on it, Napope, and I’ll never quit you until he or I have gone under.”

-

-Sadie had started at the name of Melton, and was conscious of a feeling

-of joy that he had thought enough of her safety to follow her into the

-Indian country, but, as she glanced over the line of ferocious faces,

-she was sorry that he had incurred this danger. But she followed the

-party until they reached the battle-field and found it strewn with the

-slain bodies of the Sacs who had fallen, each one pierced by the deadly

-bullet.

-

-“These ain’t babies we are following,” said Garrett. “They kin fight,

-Melton’s scout kin, and ef we lick ’em we lick a good crowd. How many

-has he got with him?”

-

-Napope extended the fingers upon both hands twice.

-

-“Twenty? We’ve got our work cut out then, for twenty of Melton’s Mounted

-Rifles, with the capting and Cooney Joe to lead, are a hard crowd to

-manage, bet your life.”

-

-“There was one of your men with us in this fight,” said Napope, looking

-about him for Tom Bantry. “But I do not see him now.”

-

-“Who was he?” demanded Garrett, glancing over the party hastily. “Was it

-the one we call Tom?”

-

-Napope nodded, and Garrett uttered an oath, and a search was commenced

-for him. He was not among the dead or wounded, and whether he had

-perished or not, Bantry was not to be found.

-

-

-

-

-                              CHAPTER IX.

-                       THE DEFENSE OF THE ISLAND.

-

-

-When the enemy had been so scattered as to leave the path free, the

-small band of rangers plunged deeper into the woods and kept on their

-course until they reached a small wooded swamp through which many small

-creeks ran, leaving a little island in the center, containing, perhaps,

-two acres of land. The tall trees stood thick about it, and no better

-place of defense could possibly have been selected. No sooner had they

-reached the island than they set to work fortifying it by piling up

-fallen logs into a temporary barricade, making it strongest upon the

-only point which could be assailed by land, as the creeks swept around

-it on three sides, leaving a space of smooth ground about twenty feet

-wide. Across this they built a strong barricade at least ten feet high,

-through the openings of which, they could fire upon the foe, without

-being themselves seen.

-

-The other parts of the island were almost impervious to assault, for not

-only did the deep creek guard it, but the logs had fallen all about it

-in inextricable confusion, making a _chevaux de frise_ through which a

-corps of axmen would have found it extremely difficult to force their

-way. The middle of the island was cleared, leaving the path open for

-them to pass from one part to another, and they now waited almost

-eagerly for the coming of the enemy, who, as yet, did not appear. Cooney

-Joe took his rifle and stole out toward the clearing, and for half an

-hour the “scout” remained quiet, waiting in considerable anxiety for the

-coming of the hunter, whose danger they well knew. But he came back at a

-long-loping trot, his rifle at a trail, and his eyes flashing with the

-ardor of battle.

-

-“Git ready, boys,” he cried. “We’ve got business afore us, bet yer

-life.”

-

-“What now, Joe?” demanded the captain. “Who are coming?”

-

-“All that’s left of Napope’s band and thirty of Dick Garrett’s men,”

-replied Joe. “And—”

-

-“Thar’s an Injin,” cried one of the men. “I’ll pop him over.”

-

-“Hold on,” replied Joe. “Seems to me that chap is making signals that

-look _white_. Thar; look at that!”

-

-An Indian had appeared in plain sight and was waving a white cloth in

-the air.

-

-“Hello, _you_!” yelled Joe. “Come in, ef you want to.”

-

-The man obeyed and came clambering over the barricade, and at a glance

-they could see that he was a white man disguised. It was Tom Bantry, who

-had escaped from associates with whom he could no longer consort.

-

-“Look here, men,” he said. “I’m Tom Bantry. You don’t know _me_ and

-mebbe you don’t want to. I’ve been one of Dick Garrett and Will

-Jackwood’s men—I have. Now why don’t you kill me?”

-

-“Don’t see my way to that clear,” said Joe. “Now, Tom Bantry, what d’ye

-want here?”

-

-“I’ve, quit ’em,” replied Tom, energetically. “I couldn’t stand it,

-boys, ’pon my word, I couldn’t. I feel mean as dirt ’cause I’ve been

-with ’em so long; but I tell you I didn’t think they was so mean till

-last night when they killed poor Mr. Wescott.”

-

-“What’s that you say?” cried Melton, coming forward. “Who killed him;

-how was he killed?”

-

-“Dick Garrett did it,” replied Tom, in a choking voice. “The ’square

-give him some cheek, and he had him throwed into the river. Boys, I’m a

-rough boatman, but I jumped in after him, and they left us alone in the

-dark on the river. I tried to save him, but it wan’t no use; the current

-took him under.”

-

-“I believe this man, for one,” said Melton. “He never would dare to come

-here with such a tale as that unless it was really true. What do you

-say, boys?”

-

-“He’s all right,” replied Joe, “but ef he ain’t, let him look out,

-’cause I shoot awful close, odd times; I do, by gracious. So Dick

-Garrett is jined with Napope?”

-

-“That ain’t all, you know,” said Tom Bantry. “They hev sent off a

-messenger to the village, and if you don’t have lively times round here,

-then I don’t want a picayune.”

-

-“Perhaps we had better retreat.”

-

-“You can’t do it; they’ve got scouts all through the woods, and you’d

-hev the hull posse on your backs in twenty minnits by the clock, so

-don’t try that on, ’square. No, it’s goin’ to be a b’ar-fight, and you

-can’t find a better place than this to fight in.”

-

-“I believe the man is right,” said Melton. “I say, Folks, is your hand

-so bad you can’t pull a trigger?”

-

-“Sorry to say ’tis, Cap,” replied the man; “I can’t do nothing.”

-

-He had been hit in the hand during the fight that morning, and the cords

-had been so injured as to make it impossible for him to fire a rifle.

-

-“Then you may as well let this man have your rifle, Folks,” said the

-captain. “I take it for granted you mean to fight?”

-

-“Stranger, I’ve _got_ to fight,” said Bantry. “Why, if Dick Garrett gets

-me, he’ll raise my wool, sure, and so, ef he does git into this camp,

-I’m goin’ out feet fust. That’s the way to talk it.”

-

-“He knows you have turned against him, then?”

-

-“Captin, he suspects it, and to suspect a man is all _he_ wants, you

-know. He’ll go for me, sure.”

-

-The man who had been hurt came up at this moment and gave Bantry the

-rifle and ammunition.

-

-“Now, ’square, see here,” he said; “you watch me when I fire the first

-shot, and if it don’t seem to you that I’ve tried to hit my man, I give

-you leave to shoot me, that’s all. This is a good rifle, chummy—she

-hangs true as a die, and I can knock the black out of a buffler’s eye at

-twenty rods with her.”

-

-At this moment one of the sentries outside the barricade gave the

-signal, and all were immediately upon the alert. Melton took the charge

-of Bantry upon himself, and gave him a place in the middle of the

-barricade, and took his station beside him. The sentries came stealing

-in like silent specters, and placed themselves beside the rest in

-silence, waiting for the advance of the Indians.

-

-They had not long to wait, for a tufted head was cautiously protruded

-from behind a tree, and a pair of brilliant eyes looked keenly at the

-island. Evidently he saw something out of the way, for he stepped out in

-full view of the fort and advanced to within twenty feet of the

-barricade.

-

-“That man must not go back,” said Melton, in a whisper, touching Tom

-Bantry on the arm, “and no rifle must be fired. Can you fetch him?”

-

-Bantry caught up a knife and hatchet, and sprung from the barricade so

-suddenly that the Indian had no time to cock his gun before the fiery

-boatman was upon him. They closed with fierce energy, a short struggle

-ensued, and then Tom Bantry arose, leaving the Indian dead at his feet.

-

-“Well done, Bantry,” said Melton, as the man came back his face scarcely

-flushed by the desperate struggle in which he had been engaged. “You

-will do very well without watching.”

-

-“I’ve _got_ to fight,” replied Tom, coolly. “It won’t do for me to be

-caught, I tell you.”

-

-By this time the Indians and disguised boatmen began to show themselves

-through the woods, and the scout opened upon them at once, and they

-skulked to the shelter of the bushes. But the men who had come up with

-the desperado Garrett did not know the word fear, and only waited for

-the orders of their superior to advance to the assault.

-

-“They are fighting chickens, Cap; game birds, every man, now you mind

-what I say,” said the deserter. “They’ll fight like bulldogs, but they’d

-do better if Black Will was here.”

-

-The attack was not long delayed. The desperate ruffians collected as

-close as possible to the barricade, and then made their rush all

-together. They were met by men as determined and desperate as

-themselves, and forced back, leaving one fourth of their number dead or

-wounded in front of the barricade.

-

-“That’s the way Melton’s scouts do it,” cried the voice of the young

-captain. “Come again, my boys.”

-

-“I hear you,” screamed Garrett, “and we will come again. Now, Napope,”

-he added, lowering his tone, “we must divide their force. Send ten of

-your best men to cross the creek and attack them on the right. Send ten

-more to the left, and try them at the same time. The signal will be

-three rifle-shots from this point.”

-

-Their movements were not so well shrouded that Melton could not see the

-danger to be apprehended from a division of his forces, which was

-rendered necessary by this action on their part. But he only sent three

-men to each point threatened, one under the lead of Tom Bantry, who had

-already become quite popular, and the other under Cooney Joe. They

-darted rapidly across the little open space, while the others loaded

-their rifles and pistols and calmly waited for the assault.

-

-“Beat them off this time, and the chances are they won’t want any more,”

-cried Melton. “Shoot a little closer to make up for the lost men, and it

-will be all right.”

-

-Just then they heard three rifle-shots, and a simultaneous movement was

-made against the island from three different points. But the foresight

-of Melton in sending small parties to the threatened points, removed the

-danger from the two parties of Indians, while his own force was not so

-weakened but that he could still present a stout front to the foe. The

-barricade rained bullets upon the advancing enemy entangled in the

-branches of the trees which formed the intrenchment, and crowded into

-the narrow space of twenty feet. No men, however hardy, could hope to

-live long under such a fire, and in spite of the almost superhuman

-exertions of Garrett, Napope and Na-she-eschuck, they fell back again,

-and took breath under cover of the woods.

-

-“This is awful,” said Garrett. “The curse of the devil on them, how they

-do fight. I’ve lost near half my men.”

-

-The small parties under Tom Bantry and Joe had succeeded in keeping

-their enemies at bay, and as soon as the main body retreated, half a

-dozen men ran to their aid, and the Indians were quickly swept away from

-the banks of the creek.

-

-“Good boys,” said Melton. “You could not fight better if you liked the

-sport. Now, who wants the doctor?”

-

-No one had been badly injured. Two or three had been scraped by passing

-bullets, but a little sticking-plaster soon set that right, and they

-were as ready for a fight as ever.

-

-Garrett was furious, and while he was blaming heaven and earth at the

-ill success of his attack, a man whose face was flushed by a hard ride

-dashed through the swamp, and drew up before them.

-

-“Now then, what is all this?” he cried. “I know you, Dick Garrett. You

-delight in a row so much that you are wasting my men in attacking a

-perfect fort.”

-

-“But you don’t know who is in it, Will Jackwood,” replied Garrett. “Two

-men you hate—Cooney Joe and Captain Melton.”

-

-“Ha, say you so? Then out of that they must come, by the Eternal! Keep

-back the men, for Black-Hawk will be here in half an hour with four

-hundred braves, and then we will overwhelm them. Captain Melton, eh? I

-always did detest that boy, Dick.”

-

-“I don’t love him,” said Dick.

-

-“What is this I hear about Sam Wescott?”

-

-“Gone under, Will. I had to do it, for he recognized me in my disguise,

-and some one had to go.”

-

-“I don’t care so much about that, if you did not compromise me. The man

-hated me, and while he lived there was no hope of winning the girl by

-fair means, and I always liked that way best. Where is the girl?”

-

-“I left her on the edge of the swamp, with three of my best men.”

-

-“All right; where is Tom Bantry? I want to send him somewhere.”

-

-“I don’t know what to think about him, Will, ’pon my word. When we slung

-Wescott overboard the fool jumped after him, and I left them both in the

-river. Tom got out, some way, and came to Napope’s camp, but after their

-fight we could not find hide nor hair of him.”

-

-“You’ve lost the best man in the party, then, by all odds. Tom was the

-only one who had a spark of humanity in his composition. You are sure

-these men you left with the girl are all right?”

-

-“Davis, Bradshaw and Herrick.”

-

-“They’ll do; as true panthers as ever lapped blood. How many has Melton

-in his fort?”

-

-“He _had_ twenty.”

-

-“Then he’s got twenty _now_,” said Jackwood. “You have not hurt many of

-them in that place, for the captain knows how to choose a position. Send

-one of the Indians to Black-Hawk, and tell him to make haste, as we must

-get this little job off our hands.”

-

-“If you find it a little job, then there are no snakes in the South

-Red,” said Garrett, who was incensed at the quiet way in which his

-defeat was laughed down. “They licked Napope alone, and now they’ve

-licked our combined forces, and it is no two to one they don’t give our

-friend Black-Hawk all he can do. _You_ ought to know Melton’s scouts by

-this time.”

-

-Jackwood nodded, and a fierce look came into his face:

-

-“If I had been here, friend Garrett, this would never have happened. If

-_I_ had assailed these works, I would have taken them.”

-

-“Then assail them now. You’ve got the men—try it.”

-

-“Dick—Dick! How lucky it is that all men are not swayed by impulse. You

-offer me a broken and discouraged force to perform the task you failed

-to achieve when they were in prime order. It won’t do, Richard; too

-transparent altogether. Get the men together, see to the wounded and get

-the survivors ready for a new attack. I will lead it in person.”

-

-As he spoke, the approach of dusky scouts heralded the coming of

-Black-Hawk, and directly after the old chief, surrounded by his

-principal advisers and warriors, strode into the camp.

-

-

-

-

-                               CHAPTER X.

-                           THE FOREST FIEND.

-

-

-Will Jackwood, whose influence over the old chief had now become great,

-at once accosted him.

-

-“The time has come, chief of the Sacs, when you may put forth your hand

-and take that which is your own, the band of men who have braved the

-power of Napope and his strongest men, and have even baffled my

-warriors. They laugh at us in yonder fort; let us teach them what we can

-do.”

-

-“My brother speaks good words,” replied the chief. “Let those who have

-axes go forward and fell trees about the fort upon every side so that we

-may cross the creek. Let others take their guns and protect them.”

-

-A cordon of axmen was quickly formed, about the island, and the great

-trees came crashing down, forming bridges over which the great force of

-warriors could rush to the attack. The work was quickly done, and then

-at the command of the chief four hundred warriors rushed on together,

-uttering their fearful war-cries. They broke through the abatis of

-tangled limbs unopposed and reached the fort only to find it tenantless.

-The white rangers had escaped, how they could not tell, leaving nothing

-to show where they had departed, but all knew that it must have been in

-the interval of time which elapsed between the last attack on the fort

-and the coming of Black-Hawk. Black Will was nearly beside himself with

-anger, and a pursuit was at once commenced, when the trail was found.

-But, the “scout” had half an hour’s start, and he feared that they would

-reach the river before they could be overtaken, and their leader’s

-fertile brain would quickly study out some way of crossing the stream.

-

-Although having but little hope, Black-Hawk sent out a hundred of the

-best Sac warriors under the command of Ma-she-eschuck, and the pursuit

-was pressed with ardor. While this was being done, Jackwood sent Garrett

-with five men to find Sadie, and conduct her to a place of safety,

-strictly enjoining him to use her well but upon no account to suffer her

-to escape.

-

-Dick Garrett hurried his men to the spot where he had left Sadie, and as

-he approached it his countenance began to change for he heard nothing of

-the men he had left in charge of the girl.

-

-“Hurry up, boys,” he cried; “if they have lost her, I’ll not be the man

-to go back to Black Will Jackwood and tell him of it. Ha! Look at that.”

-

-The three men who had been left with Sadie lay upon the earth under the

-shadow of the trees. Their faces were upturned to the sky, and it needed

-no prophet to tell that they were dead, and the party broke into a run

-and reached the spot. Two of them had been shot through the heart,

-evidently with pistol balls, and the third had half a dozen knife wounds

-upon him, and they saw on every hand evidences of a desperate struggle,

-while Sadie was nowhere to be seen. The men paused and looked at each

-other in unspeakable dismay, for they knew Jackwood too well to dare

-face him, and tell him what had happened.

-

-“He’d kill me!” screamed Garrett. “Look here, boys; we’ve got to find

-this girl before we go back, so take the trail at once, and follow.

-We’ll have her back, if she is above ground, and avenge these poor

-fellows who lie dead. I only wish we had Tom Bantry now; he was the best

-scout among us.”

-

-“What made you leave him in the river then?” said one of the men, in a

-sullen tone. “He won’t come back no more, Tom won’t, and like enuff

-he’ll turn against us.”

-

-“Don’t be mutinous, Tracey,” said Garrett, turning a dark look upon the

-speaker. “You know _me_, and you know I never waste words. Be mighty

-careful; _I_ would, if I was you.”

-

-The man understood the deadly threat implied in the words of his leader,

-and turned away muttering to him self.

-

-“Now Jack Fish,” said Dick, addressing himself to another of the party,

-“if Tracey has done growling, you take the trail. ’Tain’t likely that a

-young and tender girl can keep away from us long.”

-

-The man addressed came forward, and waving the others back began to

-examine the earth to find the imprint of Sadie’s feet. It was not long

-before he announced that he had found it, and that it was covered by

-another trail, that of a man in moccasins, who was apparently following

-her, and from the length of the step he should say they were running.

-

-“That looks as if she was afraid of the critter,” said Garrett. “Who can

-it be that is brave enough to attack these men, shoot two and kill the

-third with a knife and get off so easily? Now, I’ll tell you what I make

-of this, boys. When this man, whoever he is, shot down two of the boys

-and rushed in on Davis with the knife, the girl was scared and put out

-for the woods. When he had finished Davis—and he didn’t do it easy—he

-went after her, and like as not he hasn’t caught her yet. Take the

-trail, Jack, but have your weapons handy.”

-

-It was yet early in the afternoon and the trail was plain, as no attempt

-had been made to cover it. They went on at a trot, Jack Fish in advance,

-closely followed by Garrett and the rest, and the course led them deep

-into the woods to the right of the position which had been so nobly held

-by Melton’s scout. Sadie was used to exercise in the open air and was

-evidently leading her pursuer a desperate chase, using every artifice to

-throw him from the trail. Garret was dumbfounded, for he could not

-understand why she should fly from one who had slain her enemies, but

-they followed the trail, hoping every moment to overtake the man who was

-in chase of Sadie. All at once, Jack Fish, who still held the advance,

-stopped and lifted his hand, with a low cry.

-

-“See here, Dick, this gal is cute, you bet. She has throwed him off the

-trail as sure as shootin’. Thar’s no track but his’n here.”

-

-Dick eagerly inspected the trail and was forced to arrive at the same

-conclusion.

-

-“Turn back, then,” he cried. “We will find which way she has gone and

-follow. I will take the trail on one side and you on the other and we

-will soon pick it up again.”

-

-They had not gone back twenty paces when Jack Fish stopped beside a

-clump of thick bushes which grew close to the path, and stooping, looked

-under them.

-

-“I’ve found it, boys. She crept under the bushes here and got away from

-him; follow me.”

-

-He passed through the bushes, parting them carefully, and upon the other

-side found the trail clearly defined and leading at a right angle from

-the course they had been following.

-

-“She’s smart,” said Garrett, admiringly. “I don’t know as I blame Will

-for liking her, after all. She has beaten this fellow well, and as we

-don’t want any thing from him just now, we’ll follow the girl.”

-

-They kept on swiftly, for Jack announced that Sadie was fatigued at this

-point and was no longer running. Soon after they reached a place where,

-worn out by fatigue, she had seated herself upon a bank and rested for a

-little time. From this point the trail became erratic, and she was

-evidently wandering up and down seeking for some course out of the

-woods, and the night found them still upon the trail and they camped for

-the night determined to take the trail again at early morning.

-

-“And we’ll run her to earth before nine o’clock, you mark my words,”

-said Garrett. “Lucky for you I am your leader, or you would have gone

-back to meet Will Jackwood.”

-

-“Not if I knows it,” said Tracey. “Will Jackwood never sees me again if

-we don’t find her in the morning. Now I think of it, where is the Indian

-girl?”

-

-“I never thought of her,” said Garrett. “Can it be possible that _she_

-killed the men?”

-

-“Oh, bosh; she only had a bow and arrows and it took a strong man to

-harness Joel Davis. I’ll be cussed if I understand it at all. Say, Jack,

-did you see any thing of the Indian girl’s trail?”

-

-“She went another way from the camp, on a run too. It must have been

-some awful looking critter that tackled Joel Davis, to skeer the girls

-so.”

-

-“You are right,” said Garrett. “Now then, as Jack has worked hard and we

-want him to lead again to-morrow, Tracey will keep camp for two hours

-and the rest of you as you can agree, until morning. I’m going to have a

-snooze, myself.”

-

-He wrapped himself in a blanket and threw himself down at the foot of a

-tree, while the rest in a discontented manner drew lots for the choice

-of the hours of watching. After this had been settled the lucky ones

-took their blankets and lay down, while Tracey lighted his pipe, moved

-out a short distance in the darkness and sat down to watch. The man was

-sullen, and had not yet got over his little brush with Garrett upon the

-fate of Tom Bantry, and he muttered to himself about the pride of rank

-which enabled Garrett to sleep, while he was forced to watch.

-

-They built no fire, for it was a clear summer night and even the

-blankets were scarcely needed. Tracey’s pipe glowed through the night,

-showing those of his companions who yet slept, where he sat in the

-shadow. After a time the man began to doze, and did not see the dark

-figure that crawled slowly toward him until it stood erect against the

-trunk of the tree against which he was seated. A moment after, a long

-arm was stretched out and clutched his throat in so fell a clasp that it

-seemed to collapse beneath the pressure, and in a moment more he lay

-without a struggle or a groan supine beneath the tree.

-

-The strange being who had done the work, bent over the insensible form

-and was busy about something for a short time, and then taking up the

-pipe which Tracey had dropped and which had not been extinguished, he

-sat down near the body of the fallen renegade and began to smoke, first

-picking up the cap of his victim and placing it upon his head, glancing

-now and then at the sleeping camp. When the pipe was smoked out he arose

-and stole softly to the side of Dick Garrett and looked down into his

-face.

-

-The moonlight shone full upon him, and showed a horrible figure of

-gigantic mold, covered from head to foot with a hairy substance, while

-the eyes looked fiercely from his shaggy eyebrows upon the sleeping

-ruffian. His attitude was menacing, and once or twice the right hand

-dropped to a hairy girdle about his waist, as if to draw a huge knife

-which was suspended there, but upon second thought he seemed to change

-his mind, and gathering up the rifles of the party, he carried them a

-little distance into the woods, and returned this time to take away the

-knives and pistols, most of which were thrown together in a heap, at the

-place where the rifles had been stacked. Some of the villains had their

-small-arms upon their persons, but these the intruder did not attempt to

-touch, and waving his hands triumphantly above his head, he bounded into

-the thicket, and was seen no more.

-

-Daylight came and they began to yawn and stretch themselves, those who

-ought to have gone upon guard long before, looking mystified at being

-allowed to sleep until morning.

-

-“Tracey went to sleep, that’s all,” said Garrett. “Go and kick the

-brute, somebody. There is no telling what might have happened through

-his cussed carelessness.”

-

-One of the men sprung to the spot where the recumbent figure of Tracey

-was seen, and had actually drawn back his foot to kick him, when he saw

-that his hands were tightly bound, and a gag thrust into his mouth. His

-cry of astonishment awoke the rest, and they quickly surrounded their

-fallen comrade, relieved him of the ligatures, and helped him to arise.

-The eyes of the man were rolling fearfully, and he gasped for breath.

-

-“Ha!” he said, at last. “A pretty set of fellows you are, to let a man

-stay in that way all night. Dunderheads—sleepers—ten thousand curses on

-your heads!”

-

-“Steady, Tracey,” said Garrett. “What does this mean?”

-

-“It means you are a lot of lazy thieves, or you would have found this

-out four hours ago.”

-

-“Who did it?”

-

-“How do I know? I was sitting there smoking my pipe, when I felt a great

-hairy hand upon my throat, and I was choking. Then I lost my senses, and

-when I came to myself, I was lying here, anchored to the tree, and

-unable to move hand or foot.”

-

-“Why didn’t you sing out?”

-

-“Why didn’t I fly?” retorted Tracey, angrily. “I wouldn’t be a fool if I

-were you, Dick Garrett. Oh, curse the hand, whoever it was. Where’s my

-rifle?”

-

-The question naturally drew their attention to their own weapons, and as

-they noted the loss, curses both loud and deep were vented upon the head

-of the being who had done this injury to them. Garrett actually foamed

-at the mouth in his anger, and ran in a frantic manner up and down the

-camp, cursing Tracey, their unknown enemy, any thing and every thing

-under the sun, in no measured terms.

-

-“That’s it,” said Tracey. “Curse your own sleepy heads, and let me

-alone.”

-

-“Look for sign, Jack Fish,” said Garrett, turning to their trailer.

-“Tell me who has done this?”

-

-“It’s the same man that killed the boys, and then followed Miss Sadie,”

-said Jack. “Hyar’s his trail, plain as writing, and I’ll be cussed if it

-don’t beat me to tell whether he’s man or beast.”

-

-“He shall not beat me,” hissed Dick Garrett. “Take the trail of the girl

-and follow, for we’ll have her now, rifles or no rifles.”

-

-The trailer obeyed without a word, and they started out upon the trail.

-But, as they emerged from the woods and entered a great clearing, every

-man paused in alarm, for there, just in front, and covering them with

-one of their own rifles, while the rest lay at his feet, stood the hairy

-monster who had stolen in upon their camp the night before.

-

-“Stop!” he cried, in a hoarse, unnatural voice. “For your lives, stop.

-Move hand or foot and you are dead!”

-

-They halted, and stood facing the leveled tube, trembling in every

-joint, while the fierce eyes, glancing along the brown barrel, held them

-enthralled.

-

-

-

-

-                              CHAPTER XI.

-                       BLACK-HAWK KEEPS HIS WORD.

-

-

-We left Sadie in charge of those desperadoes, while the battle in the

-swamp was progressing. They were sulky at not being allowed to take part

-in the fight, and only returned gruff answers to her questions, while

-keeping a strict watch upon the girls.

-

-They stood under a great tree, whose spreading branches, loaded with

-foliage, were impenetrable to the eye, and would have formed a secure

-hiding-place, and none of them saw the long, hairy arm extended, until a

-double report stretched two of the guards dead upon the sod. Then came a

-rustling sound, and the gigantic being, who afterward appeared to the

-men of Garrett in the woods, bounded from the tree, holding in his hand

-a gleaming knife. With a scream of horror, Sadie fled into the forest,

-and Minneoba, believing that she saw a demon of the lower world, also

-turned in flight, but paused upon the edge of the woods, and looked back

-to see a fearful duel between the man named Davis and the strange being

-who sprung from the tree. They seemed to be complete masters of their

-weapons, and for a moment the issue seemed doubtful, but the gigantic

-strength of the unknown prevailed, and Davis fell, covered with many

-wounds. The victor stood erect, and seeing that Sadie had fled, uttered

-a hoarse cry, and fixing his eyes upon her trail, bounded away in

-pursuit. Minneoba, like all Indian girls, was superstitious, and

-believed that it would be death to follow the wild being into the woods,

-and turning, hurried on toward Black-Hawk’s camp, intending to ask aid

-from him in the recovery of her friend. Sadie, in the mean time, had put

-all the distance she could between herself and the hideous being who had

-assailed her guards, and was hurried in her flight by hearing his deep

-voice crying out after her, as she rushed on.

-

-She tried every trick of wood-craft which she had learned from her

-father—who was a skillful scout—when she became certain that the

-horrible creature was really in pursuit. How she finally eluded him by

-creeping beneath the bushes, and then turning away from the course she

-had been pursuing, we have before seen, and late in the afternoon she

-found herself in the midst of a deep forest, pathless as the sea, not

-knowing which way to turn. She was alone—alone in the depths of that

-untrodden wilderness, the haunt of wild beasts and the hunter who

-followed them, without a weapon or guide. Never, perhaps, was a

-tenderly-nurtured woman placed in so strange a situation before. Look

-which way she would, there seemed to be no hope of succor. Strange

-sights and sounds were heard, slimy snakes crept softly over the leaves,

-great birds flitted through the branches, and she heard the cry of the

-wildcat and panther in the distance. Wearied and hopeless, she sunk down

-upon a mossy knoll, and almost wished she had not fled from the monster

-who followed her. But it would not do to remain there, and she rose and

-staggered on her way, hoping against hope that something would happen to

-give her aid.

-

-She was nearly famished, and coming upon a place where the succulent

-bulb known as the “ground-nut” grew in profusion, she set to work and

-dug up the bulbs with her fingers, following the white stems in their

-various turnings among the roots until she found the article she sought.

-It took a long time to satisfy her hunger, as the nuts were not larger

-than a rifle ball, and were hard to find, and then she began to look

-about for a place of rest, as it would soon be dark. She reached a great

-opening, in the center of which a huge pile of logs and brush was

-heaped, and removing some of these, made a couch for herself among the

-branches, drew others over her head, and resigned herself to an

-All-protecting Power. Even in times of difficulty and danger sleep will

-come to the weary, and she lost consciousness, and no longer feared her

-enemies. Morning came and found the sweet girl still sleeping, when she

-was suddenly aroused by a harsh voice crying out a deadly menace, and

-peeping from her place of concealment, saw the Forest Fiend facing the

-knot of helpless scoundrels under the leadership of Dick Garrett.

-

-“It is a man, after all,” she murmured. “Perhaps I would have done

-better to have let him overtake me, for it seems he fights against these

-villains. Perhaps he is mad, poor creature!”

-

-“Let’s make a rush on him altogether, boys,” whispered Garrett. “Curse

-it, five men ought to whip one.”

-

-“But he’s got the rifles, the critter,” whined Tracey. “I tell you that

-if you had been in his grip once, you wouldn’t be so ready to try him

-again. He’s got a hold like an iron vice, that devil has.”

-

-“Don’t try to run,” cried the Forest Fiend. “It will not be safe; he who

-flies first, dies first!”

-

-“What do you want from us?” screamed Garrett. “Do you know who I am,

-curse you?”

-

-“I know you,” replied the strange being, wildly. “You are a murderer and

-a robber, and deserve death for a hundred crimes. Why don’t you come on?

-what are you afraid of? You tremble at the sight of the Forest Fiend,

-murderer that you are.”

-

-“Won’t you back me, boys?” hissed Garrett; “I tell you I’ll be the first

-to rush at him, if you will agree to follow.”

-

-“He can kill three of us before we get within striking distance,”

-replied Jack Fish. “I guess we had better give up boys; maybe he’ll let

-us off.”

-

-Garrett heard what he said, and thrusting his hand into the bosom of his

-hunting-shirt, drew a long double-barreled pistol, his eyes gleaming

-with rage.

-

-“You’d turn traitor, would you?” he screamed. “Now see here, rush on

-that devil, you and Tracey, or I shoot you where you stand.”

-

-“Don’t do it, Dick,” pleaded Jack Fish, dropping on his knees. “I’ll

-fight any thing human, but not that dreadful creature. Don’t force us on

-him, for the love of God.”

-

-“I’ll do it,” replied Garrett, fiercely. “Up and at him, you base

-hounds; up, I say!”

-

-Goaded on by fear of the weapon of their leader, the men sprung on,

-catching up clubs as they ran. But when they had gained a hundred feet

-from the weapon of Garrett, and where it would scarcely reach them, they

-threw up their hands in token of submission, and fell upon their faces.

-The Forest Fiend fired over them, and a man who stood at Garrett’s elbow

-fell, shot through the heart. The others, who had each a pistol, seeing

-that nothing was to be gained by flight, rushed at the immovable figure

-of their enemy, who caught up another weapon and fired again, killing

-the foremost man. Garrett saw that there was no hope, and calling to the

-last man, sprung toward the thicket. Hearing the crack of the rifle, he

-turned back and saw his friend fall, while the stern executioner caught

-up another rifle and leveled it. As the bullet sped, Garrett sprung into

-the air and fell upon his face, just as Jack Fish and Tracey, who had

-taken advantage of their opportunity, reached the thicket in safety.

-

-Their terrible adversary sprung toward the fallen leader without waiting

-to reload his weapon or take up a new one, but to his rage Garrett

-uttered a loud laugh of derision and sprung to his feet, and the next

-moment the leaves concealed him from view. He had been “playing

-’possum,” and was not hurt in the least, as he had managed to fall just

-in time to escape the well-aimed bullet. The Forest Fiend darted back

-for a rifle, but he was a moment too late, although he fired into the

-thicket, and then, snatching up a powder-horn and bullet-pouch, darted

-away in pursuit.

-

-The moment he was gone Sadie came out of her place of concealment,

-selected a rifle and ammunition from the heap, and hurried away, glad of

-the opportunity to get out of a dangerous neighborhood. She could not

-control her fear of the strange being who had come to her aid so

-opportunely, and continued her flight until she felt safe from pursuit,

-and then sat down, panting, loaded the rifle which she had taken, and

-prepared to defend herself from any assault.

-

-“Who and what is that wonderful being?” she murmured. “How brave he is;

-how little he cared for that gang of desperate scoundrels, who were

-doubtless in pursuit of us! Oh, I hope he may overtake Richard Garrett

-and avenge the murder of my poor father! Melton, where are you? Have you

-fallen a victim to these base wretches who regard human life as a

-plaything? God forbid!”

-

-As she was rising to proceed upon her way she heard a slight rustle

-among the bushes, and grasping her rifle turned in the direction of the

-sound. But she dropped the weapon with a cry of delight, for the bushes

-parted and Minneoba suddenly appeared and ran to her white sister,

-clasping her in her arms.

-

-“Sadie, my sister,” she said, softly kissing her again and again. “The

-heart of Minneoba has been very sad. She feared that the evil demon of

-the woods had destroyed the Wild Rose, and that her poor Indian sister

-would never see the face she loved again.”

-

-If Minneoba was delighted, how much greater was the joy of Sadie, who

-could now hope to escape from the toils of her enemies, for she knew

-that the forest was to the Indian girl as easy to tread as a ball-room

-floor for her. She returned the caresses showered upon her, and for a

-moment the two girls forgot that aught of evil or danger hung over them.

-

-“I have been to my father’s camp,” said Minneoba, “and many warriors are

-searching for you. Black-Hawk loves the Wild Rose for her father’s sake,

-and will give her a shelter. His heart is very sad because the men of

-Garrett have killed the good white man, but what can he do? The war has

-commenced and the warriors would say he had turned woman if he was angry

-at the death of a white man. Let us go.”

-

-The two girls set out together, threading the mazes of the forest with

-an ease which only a forest life could impart, the Indian girl taking

-the advance, and chatting merrily with her companion as she proceeded.

-They had not gone far when they were met by two warriors, who expressed

-their satisfaction in their peculiar manner, and at once led the way to

-the river, which was not far away, and where a canoe was waiting in

-which they descended the stream, a distance of about three miles, landed

-upon a green point, and assisted Sadie to leave the canoe, which was

-then carefully concealed by leaves and brush. This done, the warriors

-again led the way, the two girls following, and they came suddenly upon

-a great camp of the Indians. More than four hundred people, principally

-fighting braves, although there was a small number of women and

-children, were resting in the beautiful glade, most of them engaged in

-cleaning their weapons and getting ready for the battle which was to

-come. Black-Hawk and Will Jackwood were conversing together apart from

-the rest, and the latter started forward with a look of delight as he

-saw Sadie, and advanced at once, closely followed by Black-Hawk.

-

-“Welcome to the Indian camp, Sadie,” said Jackwood, endeavoring to take

-her hand. “You can not tell how unhappy I have been since I knew that

-you were lost.”

-

-She took no notice of his extended hand, but went on to meet Black-Hawk,

-who greeted her kindly.

-

-“Let the Wild Rose rest under the shelter of a Sac lodge,” he said.

-“Black-Hawk has been driven from the places he loved by the white men,

-but he can not forget that there are just white men, who would not do a

-wrong to the simple Indian. Such a man was the father of the Wild Rose.”

-

-“Black-Hawk,” said Sadie, as she took the proffered hand, “when my

-father drove away the bad men who sought your life, you promised to be a

-friend to us. Now the time has come for you to keep your word.”

-

-“Black-Hawk is not a white man, to speak with a double tongue. What he

-has spoken—he _has_ spoken. Let the Wild Rose ask what she will from

-Black-Hawk, and if it is in his power, she shall have what she asks.”

-

-“My father is dead,” she said, mournfully. “The bad men who follow

-William Jackwood, killed him because he would not kneel to them or beg

-for his life. Now, Jackwood follows me and I fear him, and I ask the

-protection of the great chief from this bad man.”

-

-“Has the son of Red-Bird lied to me?” cried Black-Hawk, sternly. “He

-told me that the Wild Rose loved him and would come into his lodge

-gladly.”

-

-“He has lied,” she answered. “He knows that I hate him above all men on

-earth, and that I would die sooner than permit myself to be his wife.”

-

-“Be careful, girl,” hissed Jackwood. “You will raise a tempest which you

-can not quell, if you do not look out.”

-

-“I have no fear of the result. Any thing would be preferable to a union

-with such a wretch as you are.”

-

-“Look you, Black-Hawk,” cried Jackwood, turning fiercely upon the chief.

-“When I agreed to aid you, remember that I told you that this girl must

-be mine and you promised that I should have my will.”

-

-“That was when Black-Hawk believed that the Wild Rose loved you,”

-replied Black-Hawk. “She has asked for my protection and it is given.

-Let the son of Red-Bird seek another mate; the Wild Rose is not for

-him.”

-

-A tempest of furious passions raged in the heart of William Jackwood. At

-any other time or place he would have shot the old chief down without

-any remorse, and even here, in the midst of his warriors, he was tempted

-to do it, even at the risk of his own life. With a mighty effort he

-restrained himself, and turned away with a malevolent glance at Sadie,

-which she returned by one of defiance.

-

-Several of the principal braves were looking on, and there was some

-murmuring, for these men recognized the good old maxim—‘to the victor

-belong the spoils.’ While they stood thus, there was heard a triumphant

-shout upon the river, and several men started away to see what it meant.

-They were soon heard coming back, and directly after a compact body of

-men, those who followed Will Jackwood, poured into the camp, leading in

-their midst, as prisoners, Captain Melton, Cooney Joe and Tom Bantry. A

-look of ferocious joy beamed upon the face of Will Jackwood, for he saw

-a chance for revenge.

-

-

-

-

-                              CHAPTER XII.

-                           SADIE’S SACRIFICE.

-

-

-The prisoners marched firmly, and not a cheek blanched as they saw where

-they were led and realized the fearful danger in which they stood. Will

-Jackwood started forward and addressed one of his subordinates, who, for

-the time being, had been in command of the band.

-

-“Did _you_ take them, Justin? If you can say that you did so without aid

-from the Indians, then you may ask any thing you like at my hands.”

-

-“Nary red,” replied the man. “We caught them crossing the river in a

-canoe, and pounced on ’em almost before they could lift a hand, but that

-Cooney Joe laid out Jack Ferguson, and Saul Sloan has got a bad wound in

-the shoulder, from Melton’s knife. Is that satisfactory?”

-

-“Excellent! Black-Hawk, I claim these prisoners as my own, as my men

-took them without help.”

-

-“They are yours,” replied Black-Hawk. “An Indian chief knows how to be

-just.”

-

-“Now then, Captain Charles Melton, you are in my power; do you

-understand, in my power! You shall rue the day when you dared come

-between me and the woman I love.”

-

-“What do you mean, renegade?” replied the young scout. “I never wronged

-you in my life.”

-

-“Perhaps; we shall see how it turns out. Keep them safe, boys; set a

-double guard upon them, and for your lives, let none escape. Ah, my

-good, valiant, chivalric Joe, how you will repent having raised your

-hand against me.”

-

-“I do repent, Will,” said Joe, quietly. “I repent most awfully. I ought

-to have lifted yer ha’r on the spot, by gracious. ’Twould have served

-you just right, and saved a good deal of trouble.”

-

-“Take them away, boys, take them away. Ha; don’t let the girl speak to

-them or she will contrive some way to set them free. Look out for

-Minneoba above all others, for she is as cute as the devil. Miss Sadie,

-do I deceive myself when I think that you will not _now_ disdain to hold

-some conversation with me?”

-

-“What do you wish to say to me, sir?” replied Sadie, who saw the

-dreadful peril of her friends, and wished to save them if possible.

-

-“Say to Black-Hawk that you wish to speak to me apart from the rest and

-he will give you permission. I see a way in which you can save these

-men.”

-

-She spoke to the chief, who nodded kindly, and she followed Black Will a

-little distance from the camp.

-

-“That is far enough,” she said, pausing under a great tree. “What have

-you to say to me?”

-

-“Change your way of speaking; be more complaisant to me, my dear girl,

-for the more kindly you use me the better it will be for yonder men who

-are doomed beyond hope if I so much as lift a finger. First of all—do

-you love this Captain Melton?”

-

-“He has never spoken to me,” replied Sadie. “How do I know that he cares

-for me?”

-

-“That is not the question at issue. Do you love him? That is what I

-asked.”

-

-“How can I answer that, when I do not know my own heart? He is a brave

-and good man, and I could love him dearly if he loved me as well. I will

-say no more upon that point.”

-

-“At least you care enough for him to wish to save his life?”

-

-“Yes—yes; I would do almost any thing for that,” she replied, eagerly.

-

-“It has gone as far as that, has it? My dear girl, you are further gone

-than you imagined. Now, I do not wish to be incumbered by prisoners. If

-we can not come to terms, I shall find it necessary to put these fellows

-out of the way, and shall certainly do so. There are many ways in which

-to do this, and my friends the Indians will doubtless be happy to take

-the laboring oar out of my hands.”

-

-“Do you mean that you would be base enough to give them up to the

-torture?” she cried.

-

-“Undoubtedly, my Indian friends might find it in their hearts to burn

-them if they only had them. I was present at a spectacle of this kind,

-the other day, where they barbecued a traitorous Indian. It was not

-pretty, and I may say did not amuse me after the first gush, and I went

-so far as to kill the poor fellow with my own hand, to put him out of

-his pain. It would distress me very much to see any of your friends in a

-like delicate situation.”

-

-“What do you ask of me, William Jackwood? Do you wish to drive me mad?

-You could not—_could_ not be so base.”

-

-“I would do any thing for revenge,” replied the man, hoarsely. “I tell

-you, upon my honor as a man, that if you do not promise to be my wife—I

-know that you will keep your word—these men shall all die as I have

-said. Make that promise, and upon the day when you become my wife, all

-shall be set free except one.”

-

-“Which one do you mean?”

-

-“Tom Bantry; he is a cursed traitor.”

-

-“That man must be saved, at all hazards,” replied Sadie, firmly. “Of all

-your villainous band, William Jackwood, he alone showed a spark of pity

-when my unhappy father was cast into the furious flood, bound and

-helpless. What I would not do for love I will do for gratitude, and I

-give you my hand, if you will swear upon your honor that these men shall

-go free, and at once.”

-

-“You are sensible,” he said, eagerly. “I had not hoped that you would

-yield so easily, and I will make it the study of my life to make you

-happy as—”

-

-“Silence! Give me your promise and I will give you mine.”

-

-“I swear by the only things I hold pure—the memory of my mother and my

-love for you—that these men shall all be spared.”

-

-“And I promise to be your wife, if we both live. Oh, God, forgive me if

-I do wrong in this, but I can not see these brave men sacrificed, who

-have come into this deadly peril for my sake. William Jackwood,

-understand me fully, and do not say in the after times that I deceived

-you. I hate you—I shall always hate you—but I will be your wife.”

-

-“All right,” said Jackwood, with a light laugh. “I will try to change

-your opinion of me when we are married. And now you are at liberty, and

-I will leave it to you to tell Black-Hawk that you have changed your

-mind, while I prepare to leave him. The chief has not used me well, and

-I do not fight the battles of those who do not treat me as a friend.”

-

-She went away with drooping head, and he stood in the same spot, moodily

-tapping his boot-leg with a small switch he carried. He was not fully

-satisfied, although he had gained the stake for which he had been

-playing so long. She had told him that she hated him, and had as good as

-said she loved Charles Melton, and yet had promised to be his wife. As

-he stood there, a man panting for breath and bleeding from several

-wounds, rushed up to him, and in his disfigured countenance he saw

-something which reminded him of Dick Garrett, and stopped him.

-

-“Dick, what is the matter?”

-

-“Played out!” replied Dick, dropping exhausted on the sod. “Give me some

-rum, for I am half dead.”

-

-Jackwood put his flask to the mouth of the exhausted man and he drank

-long and eagerly, and drew a deep breath of relief.

-

-“Ah-h-h! That goes to the spot, Will. I’ve had a long run—chased by the

-devil’s kid, and it’s a mercy that I have got in alive. It all came of

-chasing that accursed girl, who got into the woods.”

-

-“It was not your fault, Dick,” said Jackwood. “Minneoba came in and told

-us about it, and we sent out parties after her, and one of them picked

-her up.”

-

-“Take care of her yourself, after this,” panted Dick. “I’ve seen the

-devil to-day, and fought him, and I don’t want any more.”

-

-“Where are the rest of your men?”

-

-“Gone under, I reckon. Jack Fish and Tracey got into the woods, and the

-rest are dead. I had to play ’possum, or I would have been cooked, too.

-Give me another drink, and I’ll tell you about it.”

-

-Jackwood gave him the flask, and for a moment nothing was heard except

-the musical gurgle of the liquor. When he lowered it, a considerable

-vacuum existed in the vessel, and he told the story of the chase after

-Sadie with many expletives not necessary to set down here. When he had

-finished the tale he did the same with the liquor, and stood up.

-

-“You are wounded, Dick!”

-

-“Nothing of much account. I’ve been cut and scratched in diving through

-the brushes, for that hairy cuss chased me almost into camp. I thought

-he’d never give it up.”

-

-“I don’t know who or what it can be,” said Jackwood, musingly, “and I

-don’t care much. Go and wash the blood from your face, and then get the

-men together, for we must leave this camp. It is all up with Black-Hawk,

-for Atkinson has come with an army, and he will clean out the Indians in

-the twinkling of an eye.”

-

-Garrett moved away slowly, and Jackwood advanced to the side of

-Black-Hawk, who was talking with Sadie. She did not look at him as he

-came up, but Minneoba faced him boldly, with her pretty face showing the

-utmost anger and contempt.

-

-“What has the son of Red-Bird said to frighten the Wild Rose?” she

-cried, angrily. “He is a coward and no brave.”

-

-“You had better send your daughter away, Black-Hawk,” said Jackwood,

-quietly. “I have borne insults enough in this camp, and will not stay

-here.”

-

-“The son of Red-Bird promised to stay and fight for his red brothers,”

-said Black-Hawk, reproachfully, “and when he sees the enemy in sight he

-runs away like a frightened hound. It is well; Black-Hawk would not have

-any except brave men follow him.”

-

-“It is false, Indian,” cried Will Jackwood. “Here, in the midst of your

-wild band, I defy you to prove that while you were true to me, I failed

-to do my duty like a man. But when you dared to take away my prisoner,

-my wife that is to be, in that day I leave you, never to return.”

-

-“Go,” replied Black-Hawk. “I have been deceived in the son of Red-Bird.

-His father died in the white man’s prison, and now he basely turns away

-when the battle is nigh.”

-

-“Stay with me, Wild Rose,” cried Minneoba. “My father is a strong chief

-and will protect you from harm.”

-

-“I can not—I dare not,” replied Sadie. “If I stay with you, my friends,

-who are his prisoners, must die.”

-

-“My father will take them away from him,” said Minneoba, looking

-pleadingly at the old chief.

-

-“Let him do so—let him make himself a dog, if he dares,” replied

-Jackwood. “I will tell his baseness throughout the tribes, and not a man

-of them all dare look me in the face until I am righted.”

-

-The chief hung his head, for he had pledged his sacred word that

-Jackwood should keep his prisoners. The scoundrel knew his character too

-well to doubt for a moment that the Indian would keep his word, and let

-them go away with the prisoners. Minneoba pleaded in vain, and with loud

-lamenting, followed the compact force of Jackwood to the edge of the

-forest, and saw them go away with the prisoners, closely guarded, and

-Sadie walking by the side of William Jackwood, with a hard, bitter look

-upon her beautiful face. Garrett, who recovered quickly from every evil,

-turned about and blew a kiss at Minneoba, who at once fitted an arrow to

-the string, and would have sent it after him, but that he took shelter

-among the men, laughing.

-

-“‘The world is all before us where to choose,’ boys,” said Jackwood,

-“but one thing is certain, if this thing goes against the Indians, and

-of course it will, this territory won’t be very healthy for us. What do

-you say?”

-

-“We’ll find a place to live, Cap,” replied Garrett. “The world owes us a

-living, and we’ll have it too, or else make trouble.”

-

-“Don’t you think we had better find a hiding-place and see what is going

-to happen? There will be pretty pickings for us if the day should, by

-any chance, favor the Indians, even for a time.”

-

-“I know the place you mean, Cap,” said Jack Fish, who had come in before

-they marched. “The neatest hiding-place in the West.”

-

-“How far away?”

-

-“’Bout six mile, I reckon.”

-

-“Lead the way, then.”

-

-Fish took the advance, and Jackwood assisted the weary steps of Sadie

-over the rugged road before them. It led through tangled thickets, under

-trees which had been the growth of centuries, and ended in a circular

-forest opening, so difficult to reach, that Black Will was obliged to

-carry Sadie in places, so worn out had she become.

-

-The grass was green in the little glade, and the birds were singing, as

-one by one the troop came out from beneath the canopy of leaves, and

-gained a footing on the level turf.

-

-“Jack Fish,” said the renegade, “you have deserved well of your country.

-I could live here forever. Here we rest, until the thing is decided one

-way or another.”

-

-“How will we live?” queried Garrett.

-

-“The woods are full of game, and we will kill it so far from the camp,

-that no one will suspect us of being here. Captain Melton, will you give

-me your word of honor not to try to escape, provided I free your arms?”

-

-Melton was about to refuse, but catching Sadie’s eye, he changed his

-mind, and made the required promise. It was not extended to Tom Bantry,

-and Cooney Joe, who were tightly bound, and placed under guard. Sadie

-was coming forward with the intention of speaking to Melton, when the

-bushes parted near her, and the face of the demon of the woods appeared,

-peeping out among the leaves.

-

-

-

-

-                             CHAPTER XIII.

-                          GUESTS NOT INVITED.

-

-

-Sadie was not easily frightened, but it required the effort of all her

-resolution to keep her from uttering a cry of alarm. The young captain

-saw that she was deeply moved and ascribed it to her grief at the

-situation in which she found herself placed. But she recovered herself

-by a great effort of the will and came forward, giving her hand frankly

-to the man she loved and who loved her as dearly.

-

-“I am deeply grieved that you have come into this danger for my sake,

-Charles,” she said, softly. “But have no fear, for I will save you at

-any hazard. Indeed, it is done already, for I have given my word and you

-are safe.”

-

-“Safe! What do you mean, Sadie; what promise have you given?”

-

-“Do not be angry with me, Charles,” she said, sadly. “I am sorry that it

-is forced upon me but—I have promised to be the wife of William

-Jackwood.”

-

-“Black Will! Gracious heaven, Sadie, it cannot be. What madness is

-this?”

-

-“I was forced to do it. They threatened you and your brave companions

-with a horrible death. I had no one near to advise me and I could not—I

-could not see you die.”

-

-“You should have spoken to me first,” he cried, wildly. “You knew that I

-loved you. I have never dared to tell you until now, and ought to have

-spoken. What is death to dishonor? What a life you have doomed yourself

-to bear, that I may live. I would sooner die a thousand deaths than bear

-this bitter burden.”

-

-“Charles!” she cried. “You make my load too heavy for me to bear. How

-could I see those who had incurred this peril for me, given up to

-satisfy the bloody passions of these desperate men. My father is dead—I

-am alone in the world and my life would have been a weary one at best,

-if I had refused to yield. He told me that if I was obstinate, I should

-stand by and see you suffer. I could not have borne that, at any rate.”

-

-“You should have remained in the camp of Black-Hawk, who is a brave man,

-although an Indian. My dear girl, I can not blame you for what you have

-done. It was in all kindness of heart, but it was wrong for you to

-yield. The lives of men who are ready at any time to die for the right

-should be as a feather’s weight compared to your sacrifice. As I say, so

-would Joe Bent and Tom Bantry, who are more hated by these men than I

-am.”

-

-“Can you not escape?” she whispered. “But no—I forgot. My word is

-pledged to this bad man and that I hold sacred. But I shall not deem it

-a crime to take his life, and although he may claim my hand he shall

-never have a wife’s duty from me—for I hate him—oh, how I hate him!”

-

-The white teeth clicked together fiercely as she spoke, and Black Will,

-who was listening, laughed a low, bitter laugh, full of malice.

-

-“Sorry to interfere in a social meeting of this kind,” he said,

-advancing, “but your language is disgusting to your future husband, my

-dear Sadie. Captain Melton, if I hear any more language of this kind

-from you, I shall have you bound and gagged, for I will not endure it.”

-

-“If you do that it absolves me from my promise, for you gave me your

-word to treat them well,” said Sadie.

-

-“I will not give you even that loop-hole from which to escape,” said

-Black Will, after a pause. “I leave the camp to-day in search of a man

-who is at one of the Indian stations, a Lutheran missionary. Let me say

-to you that he is a man who would not perform the ceremony if you offer

-a word of objection, and that you have only to say ‘no,’ and that

-ceremony will cease and one of another kind commence, for as there is a

-sky above us I will take your friends out and hang them before your

-eyes. Git my horse, Jack Fish.”

-

-The man obeyed, and after giving some orders to Dick Garrett in a low

-tone, the renegade mounted and rode away through the wood.

-

-Two days passed, and they heard nothing of him. Upon the afternoon of

-the third he came into camp accompanied by a pale, intellectual-looking

-man in the dress of a clergyman, who looked mildly about on the wild

-group in the camp, evidently surprised to find himself in such a place.

-He was at once conducted to one of the brush cabins which had been built

-up by the men, while Black Will dismounted and ordered that Melton and

-the other prisoners should be removed into the woods a short distance

-from the camp, for he knew the missionary too well to believe that he

-would perform the ceremony if he had any doubt of the willingness of the

-lady to do her part, and Black Will feared the prisoners might let him

-know the true state of the case.

-

-Five men accompanied the prisoners into the woods, with orders to shoot

-them down at the first attempt to escape. When this was done Black Will

-approached the brush cabin in which Sadie spent the time, and called her

-out.

-

-“I have returned,” he said, cheerfully. “You must excuse me for staying

-away from you so long, but I found it difficult to find the missionary.”

-

-“I only wish you had never found him or had received your just deserts,

-sir,” was the somewhat unpromising reply.

-

-“My deserts; I deserve better treatment at your hands, I think.”

-

-“Twelve feet of rope and a tree would suit you better,” she replied. “Do

-not deceive yourself by the belief that I shall ever change in my regard

-for you. The most slimy reptile which crawls through the swamp would be

-to me a more pleasant companion. I give my hand to you to save my

-friends, but never my heart with it.”

-

-He stood moodily before her, tapping his boot with the riding-whip he

-carried.

-

-“I have half a mind to refuse your hand upon these terms,” he said,

-gloomily, without raising his eyes from the earth upon which they were

-bent. “Your language is horrible to one to whom you are about to join

-yourself for life, and the day will surely come when you will repent it

-bitterly. There, I will say no more now; but, in half an hour I shall

-come for you and we will be married.”

-

-“You need not fear but I will keep my word,” she said. “Will you keep

-yours as well?”

-

-“I never broke it yet to friend or foe,” was his answer, “and I do not

-mean to commence now. When you have given me your hand in marriage,

-these men shall have two days’ grace, but if I catch them after that,

-woe be to them, that is all.”

-

-He turned upon his heel and left her to her own reflections, which were

-not of the most pleasant type. At times she doubted her firmness in the

-hour of trial, and whether she would not give way in the presence of the

-missionary, but the thought of his fearful threat against her lover and

-friends nerved her, and she determined to bear up as bravely as she

-could, and make the sacrifice for their safety. She would have liked to

-see Melton once before the ceremony, but feared that she was not strong

-enough to endure the meeting. While she sat there with her face buried

-in her hands, Black Will came for her.

-

-“There is one favor I would ask you,” she said, “and it is one you can

-easily grant. You know I love Charles Melton, but all thoughts of him

-must pass in the moment when I put my hand in yours. Under the

-circumstances he must not see me again, and I could not bear to see

-him.”

-

-“Agreed; you shall not see him, and if he dares to attempt an interview

-when you are once my wife, it will be the worse for him. I have removed

-him already, and they wait in the woods until the ceremony is over, when

-they shall be allowed to go where they will.”

-

-“That will do, sir. Now I am ready, if you will not relent.”

-

-He shook his head savagely, and taking her hand led her out into the

-open space among the trees. The band were standing carelessly about,

-looking on as the two took their station before the missionary, who

-advanced book in hand and stood before them.

-

-He recited that portion of the ritual which was necessary before he

-asked the question, “and if any know just cause or reason why these

-should not be joined together in the bands of holy wedlock, let them now

-speak or forever after hold their peace,” when the crowd scattered

-before the rush of a strong man, and the gigantic figure of the Forest

-Fiend sprung into the circle and hurled Black Will ten paces backward by

-a single thrust of his powerful arm, while he cried, fiercely:

-

-“I forbid the banns!”

-

-“Down with him,” roared Black Will, drawing his knife. “At him, boys.”

-

-“Back!” cried the strange being, “back, for your lives. It is not right

-that innocence and youth should be forced to wed with such a thing as

-this, and I forbid it. Back, I say.”

-

-They recoiled before the stern figure, especially those among them who

-had felt the nervous force of his strong arm, while Black Will looked at

-the clergyman.

-

-“Do not mind the ravings of a madman, sir,” he said; “this man is insane

-and knows not what he does.”

-

-“It is false, reverend sir,” replied the Forest Fiend. “I am as sane a

-man as any here, and know whereof I speak. Fall back, men; don’t press

-upon me. Ha, they will have it, then. Melton’s Scout to the rescue!”

-

-As the tones of his sonorous voice rung out through the deep forest,

-there came a charging cheer, and the buck-skin shirts and coon-skin caps

-of Melton’s Scout showed through the leafy cover, and with wild cries

-they poured upon the foe.

-

-Not a shot was fired, for Sadie, the missionary and the Forest Fiend

-stood in the midst of the enemy, and the Scout dared not fire. But as

-the enemy retreated, snatching up their weapons as they went, at a

-signal from the Forest Fiend, Sadie and the missionary fell upon their

-faces, and the Scout poured in a single withering volley which strewed

-the ground with dead and dying, and then charged upon the foe with

-knife, hatchet and pistol.

-

-The Forest Fiend caught up a rifle from the earth, and using it as a

-club, headed the charge. Close behind him came Charles Melton, Cooney

-Joe and Tom Bantry, striking out manfully for the right, and felling an

-adversary at every blow. But none could equal the strange being known as

-the Forest Fiend. Taking the ponderous rifle in one hand, he made it

-play about his head with lightning rapidity, and the renegades went down

-before him like chaff before the wind.

-

-Taken by surprise, it was no wonder that the retreat soon became a rout,

-and they scattered to the four winds, closely pursued by their

-determined assailants. One man, and that man Dick Garrett, dared to bar

-the way of the Forest Fiend, who paused with uplifted weapon and looked

-at him.

-

-“At last, villain,” he cried, “your time has come!”

-

-Vain was the interposition of the rifle of the renegade to stay the

-blow. It descended upon his head, and Dick Garrett, the friend and

-companion in villainy of Will Jackwood lay dead at the avenger’s feet.

-At this moment a cry of anger was heard, and turning, the strange man

-saw that Jackwood was on horseback, headed for the bushes.

-

-“Fire at him,” he cried. “Bring him down at all hazards.”

-

-Half a dozen bullets sped, but Jackwood was already in the thicket, and

-all pursuit was vain. Five minutes later the fight was over, and few of

-Black Will’s band remained to tell the tale of that terrible day.

-

-The Forest Fiend turned back to the place where Sadie stood, encircled

-by the arm of Charles Melton, and she drew closer to her lover as she

-marked his terrible aspect. Raising his hand to his face, he tore off

-the hairy mask which covered it, and revealed the face of—_Samuel

-Wescott_!

-

-Her father, redeemed from a watery grave! In an instant Sadie was in his

-arms, half-delirious with joy, and the tried friends gathered about him,

-eager to shake his hand, while Cooney Joe and Tom Bantry danced a comic

-hornpipe, uttering yells which would have done credit to Sac warriors on

-the war-trail.

-

-When the first transport of the meeting was over, Samuel Wescott turned

-to Tom Bantry and shook him warmly by the hand.

-

-“You did your best to save me, my friend,” he said; “but I knew that

-both must perish if I clung to you. I went down, as you know, and coming

-to the surface, in a death-struggle I caught a floating log, which

-quickly bore me down the stream, and I had not the strength to land

-until I had been carried two miles down. Near this place I had a

-_cache_, in which, among other articles, was this disguise, which I have

-sometimes worn in my expeditions among the tribes, and I knew that it

-might aid me in the work before me. Had I known that it would frighten

-my daughter so much, I would have shown my face when I attacked the men

-who guarded her, while you were fighting in the swamp.”

-

-“It’s enough to skeer the life out of any critter,” said Cooney Joe. “I

-don’t wonder she run from you.”

-

-“It has served its purpose. I followed you to this place, Sadie, and

-having satisfied myself that those I loved were in no immediate danger,

-I went back for the Scout, the position of whose camp I knew. We came up

-softly, set Melton, Joe and Tom at liberty, and then attacked these

-scoundrels. The rest you know as well as I. There is only one thing for

-which I am sorry, and that is, that this villain Jackwood has escaped.

-But his fate will find him out.”

-

-Half an hour later they were on their way to the river, guarded by

-Melton’s Scout. The last week had been one of trial, but they had come

-out of the flame triumphant, and the power of Black Will Jackwood was

-broken forever. As they reached the river-bank, and the men were

-bringing up the flat in which they were to cross, Minneoba suddenly

-appeared from the forest, and fell upon Sadie’s neck, weeping for joy.

-

-“Minneoba can bear any thing now, the breaking of her people, the loss

-of home, for her sister is safe. Good-by, and do not forget the poor

-Indian girl who loves you.”

-

-“Come with us,” said Samuel Wescott. “I will give you a shelter in my

-house until the war is at an end.”

-

-But Minneoba shook her head sadly.

-

-“No,” she said. “The Indian girl must not leave her father, who loves

-her. Go in peace.”

-

-They parted from her sadly, and as the flat receded from the shore, they

-saw her standing in a dejected attitude, leaning on her bow. It was many

-a day before they saw her again.

-

-

-The battle was at its hight. Black-Hawk had risked all upon a cast of

-the die, and had found it a losing game. Melton, Cooney Joe and Tom

-Bantry were there, fighting gallantly, and as the Indians began to break

-up, they charged a resolute knot of warriors who stood their ground

-stubbornly, dealing death on every side.

-

-There was a moment of wild confusion, and Charles Melton found himself

-face to face with a desperate man, in his war-paint, who assailed him

-with demoniac fury. Just then Melton’s horse fell, shot through the

-heart, and his adversary sprung at him with a wild cry of joy, raising a

-hatchet above his devoted head.

-

-“Death to you, Melton,” he screamed. “I am Will Jackwood, and you die by

-my hand. If I lost her, at least you shall never possess her.”

-

-Melton, pinned to the earth by his fallen horse, lifted his hand to ward

-off the blow, but hampered as he was he could offer but slight

-resistance, and the knife, his only defense, was forced from his hand,

-and the hatchet gleamed above him.

-

-He had just time to catch the gleam of ferocious joy in the eyes of his

-enemy, and had given up hope, when a rifle cracked, and Jackwood,

-throwing up his arms, clutched at the bloody cloth upon his breast,

-tried once more to lift his weapon, and then, with a snarl of demoniac

-malice, dropped dead in his tracks, while Cooney Joe, with a rifle

-smoking in his hand, ran to aid his fallen leader, who was quickly

-placed upon his feet.

-

-“Who is he?” cried Joe, angrily. “Ha! Black Will, by the mortal. Rubbed

-out at last.”

-

-This was his epitaph. He died as he had lived, boldly and defiantly, and

-found a soldier’s grave.

-

-The power of Black-Hawk was broken, and the old chief a fugitive, soon

-to be a prisoner in the hands of the whites. Then it was that Samuel

-Wescott kept his promise to Minneoba, and gave her a shelter under his

-roof. The teachings of Sadie soon changed the forest maiden so much,

-that she loved a domestic life, and when Sadie was married, soon after

-Black-Hawk’s visit to the east, Minneoba was there, and witnessed the

-ceremony. When it was finished, Cooney Joe stopped the clergyman:

-

-“Stop a little, stranger,” he said, sheepishly. “Got another little job

-for you, I have.”

-

-And to the surprise of all, Minneoba took his hand, and they were

-married.

-

-Unknown to every one, Joe had obtained the consent of the old chief, who

-knew that his daughter was better fitted to live with the whites than

-with the tribes, and Minneoba became the wife of Joe Bent. She never had

-cause to repent it. Rough though he was, he was a true man, and worked

-nobly for her sake, and strange as it may seem, became in time, one of

-the richest farmers in that region.

-

-Captain Melton also settled there, and the two families were constantly

-together. And above the mantel, in Melton’s study, hangs the costume of

-the Forest Fiend.

-

-Tom Bantry was for years a successful boatman upon the Mississippi, and

-at last a Captain. Samuel Wescott died at a green old age, honored and

-beloved by all who knew him.

-

-

-                                THE END.

-

-

-

-

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-  1—Hawkeye Harry. By Oll Coomes.

-  2—Dead Shot. By Albert W. Aiken.

-  3—The Boy Miners. By Edward S. Ellis.

-  4—Blue Dick. By Capt. Mayne Reid.

-  5—Nat Wolfe. By Mrs. M. V. Victor.

-  6—The White Tracker. By Edward S. Ellis.

-  7—The Outlaw’s Wife. By Mrs. Ann S. Stephens.

-  8—The Tall Trapper. By Albert W. Aiken.

-  9—Lightning Jo. By Capt. Adams.

-  10—The Island Pirate. By Capt. Mayne Reid.

-  11—The Boy Ranger. By Oll Coomes.

-  12—Bess, the Trapper. By E. S. Ellis.

-  13—The French Spy. By W. J. Hamilton.

-  14—Long Shot. By Capt. Comstock.

-  15—The Gunmaker. By James L. Bowen.

-  16—Red Hand. By A. G. Piper.

-  17—Ben, the Trapper. By Lewis W. Carson.

-  18—Wild Raven. By Oll Coomes.

-  19—The Specter Chief. By Seelin Robins.

-  20—The B’ar-Killer. By Capt. Comstock.

-  21—Wild Nat. By Wm. R. Eyster.

-  22—Indian Jo. By Lewis W. Carson.

-  23—Old Kent, the Ranger. By Edward S. Ellis.

-  24—The One-Eyed Trapper. By Capt. Comstock.

-  25—Godbold, the Spy. By N. C. Iron.

-  26—The Black Ship. By John S. Warner.

-  27—Single Eye. By Warren St. John.

-  28—Indian Jim. By Edward S. Ellis.

-  29—The Scout. By Warren St. John.

-  30—Eagle Eye. By W. J. Hamilton.

-  31—The Mystic Canoe. By Edward S. Ellis.

-  32—The Golden Harpoon. By R. Starbuck.

-  33—The Scalp King. By Lieut. Ned Hunter.

-  34—Old Lute. By E. W. Archer.

-  35—Rainbolt, Ranger. By Oll Coomes.

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-  38—The Heart Eater. By Harry Hazard.

-  39—Wetzel, the Scout. By Boynton Belknap.

-  40—The Huge Hunter. By Ed. S. Ellis.

-  41—Wild Nat, the Trapper. By Paul Prescott.

-  42—Lynx-cap. By Paul Bibbs.

-  43—The White Outlaw. By Harry Hazard.

-  44—The Dog Trailer. By Frederick Dewey.

-  45—The Elk King. By Capt. Chas. Howard.

-  46—Adrian, the Pilot. By Col. P. Ingraham.

-  47—The Man-Hunter. By Maro O. Rolfe.

-  48—The Phantom Tracker. By F. Dewey.

-  49—Moccasin Bill. By Paul Bibbs.

-  50—The Wolf Queen. By Charles Howard.

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-  53—The Black Wolf. By Edwin E. Ewing.

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-  55—Blackbeard. By Paul Bibbs.

-  56—The River Rifles. By Billex Muller.

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-  58—Cloudwood. By J. M. Merrill.

-  59—The Texas Hawks. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.

-  60—Merciless Mat. By Capt. Chas. Howard.

-  61—Mad Anthony’s Scouts. By E. Rodman.

-  62—The Luckless Trapper. By Wm. R. Eyster.

-  63—The Florida Scout. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.

-  64—The Island Trapper. By Chas. Howard.

-  65—Wolf-Cap. By Capt. Chas. Howard.

-  66—Rattling Dick. By Harry Hazard.

-  67—Sharp-Eye. By Major Max Martine.

-  68—Iron-Hand. By Frederick Forest.

-  69—The Yellow Hunter. By Chas. Howard.

-  70—The Phantom Rider. By Maro O. Rolfe.

-  71—Delaware Tom. By Harry Hazard.

-  72—Silver Rifle. By Capt. Chas. Howard.

-  73—The Skeleton Scout. By Maj. L. W. Carson.

-  74—Little Rifle. By Capt. “Bruin” Adams.

-  75—The Wood Witch. By Edwin Emerson.

-  76—Old Ruff, the Trapper. By “Bruin” Adams.

-  77—The Scarlet Shoulders. By Harry Hazard.

-  78—The Border Rifleman. By L. W. Carson.

-  79—Outlaw Jack. By Harry Hazard.

-  80—Tiger-Tail, the Seminole. By R. Ringwood.

-  81—Death-Dealer. By Arthur L. Meserve.

-  82—Kenton, the Ranger. By Chas. Howard.

-  83—The Specter Horseman. By Frank Dewey.

-  84—The Three Trappers. By Seelin Robbins.

-  85—Kaleolah. By Capt. Chas. Howard.

-  86—The Hunter Hercules. By Harry St. George.

-  87—Phil Hunter. By Capt. Chas. Howard.

-  88—The Indian Scout. By Harry Hazard.

-  89—The Girl Avenger. By Chas. Howard.

-  90—The Red Hermitess. By Paul Bibbs.

-  91—Star-Face, the Slayer.

-  92—The Antelope Boy. By Geo. L. Aiken.

-  93—The Phantom Hunter. By E. Emerson.

-  94—Tom Pintle, the Pilot. By M. Klapp.

-  95—The Red Wizard. By Ned Hunter.

-  96—The Rival Trappers. By L. W. Carson.

-  97—The Squaw Spy. By Capt. Chas. Howard.

-  98—Dusky Dick. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.

-  99—Colonel Crockett. By Chas. E. Lasalle.

-  100—Old Bear Paw. By Major Max Martine.

-  101—Redlaw. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.

-  102—Wild Rube. By W. J. Hamilton.

-  103—The Indian Hunters. By J. L. Bowen.

-  104—Scarred Eagle. By Andrew Dearborn.

-  105—Nick Doyle. By P. Hamilton Myers.

-  106—The Indian Spy. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.

-  107—Job Dean. By Ingoldsby North.

-  108—The Wood King. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.

-  109—The Scalped Hunter. By Harry Hazard.

-  110—Nick, the Scout. By W. J. Hamilton.

-  111—The Texas Tiger. By Edward Willett.

-  112—The Crossed Knives. By Hamilton.

-  113—Tiger-Heart, the Tracker. By Howard.

-  114—The Masked Avenger. By Ingraham.

-  115—The Pearl Pirates. By Starbuck.

-  116—Black Panther. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.

-  117—Abdiel, the Avenger. By Ed. Willett.

-  118—Cato, the Creeper. By Fred. Dewey.

-  119—Two-Handed Mat. By Jos. E. Badger.

-  120—Mad Trail Hunter. By Harry Hazard.

-  121—Black Nick. By Frederick Whittaker.

-  122—Kit Bird. By W. J. Hamilton.

-  123—The Specter Riders. By Geo. Gleason.

-  124—Giant Pete. By W. J. Hamilton.

-  125—The Girl Captain. By Jos. E. Badger.

-  126—Yankee Eph. By J. R. Worcester.

-  127—Silverspur. By Edward Willett.

-  128—Squatter Dick. By Jos. E. Badger.

-  129—The Child Spy. By George Gleason.

-  130—Mink Coat. By Jos. E. Badger.

-  131—Red Plume. By J. Stanley Henderson.

-  132—Clyde, the Trailer. By Maro O. Rolfe.

-  133—The Lost Cache. By J. Stanley Henderson.

-  134—The Cannibal Chief. By Paul J. Prescott.

-  135—Karaibo. By J. Stanley Henderson.

-  136—Scarlet Moccasin. By Paul Bibbs.

-  137—Kidnapped. By J. Stanley Henderson.

-  138—Maid of the Mountain. By Hamilton.

-  139—The Scioto Scouts. By Ed. Willett.

-  140—The Border Renegade. By Badger.

-  141—The Mute Chief. By C. D. Clark.

-  142—Boone, the Hunter. By Whittaker.

-  143—Mountain Kate. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.

-  144—The Red Scalper. By W. J. Hamilton.

-  145—The Lone Chief. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.

-  146—The Silver Bugle. By Lieut. Col. Hazleton.

-  147—Chinga, the Cheyenne. By Edward S. Ellis. Ready

-  148—The Tangled Trail. By Major Max Martine. Ready

-  149—The Unseen Hand. By J. Stanley Henderson. Ready

-  150—The Lone Indian. By Capt. Chas. Howard. Ready

-  151—The Branded Brave. By Paul Bibbs. Ready April 6th.

-  152—Billy Bowlegs, the Seminole Chief. Ready April 20th.

-  153—The Valley Scout. By Seelin Robins. Ready May 4.

-  154—Red Jacket, the Huron. By Paul Bibbs. Ready May 18th.

-

-       BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York.

-

-

-

-

-                          Transcriber’s Notes

-

-

-—Silently corrected a few typos.

-

-—Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook

-  is public-domain in the country of publication.

-

-—In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by

-  _underscores_.

-

-

-

-*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BORDER RIFLEMEN; OR THE

-FOREST FIEND. A ROMANCE OF THE BLACK-HAWK UPRISING ***

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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 66064 ***
+
+                          THE BORDER RIFLEMEN;
+                                  OR,
+                           THE FOREST FIEND.
+
+
+                 A ROMANCE OF THE BLACK-HAWK UPRISING.
+
+
+                       BY LIEUT. LEWIS W. CARSON.
+
+
+                               NEW YORK.
+                     BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS,
+                           98 WILLIAM STREET.
+
+       Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872, by
+                           FRANK STARR & CO.,
+       In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.
+
+
+
+
+                                CONTENTS
+
+
+  I. The Border Suitor—Cooney Joe                                      9
+  II. Minneoba’s warning                                              15
+  III. Black-Hawk Insulted                                            22
+  IV. Little Fox—Na-She-Eschuck                                       29
+  V. The Price of Treachery                                           35
+  VI. The First Blow                                                  42
+  VII. Overboard                                                      49
+  VIII. Melton’s Scout—A Bush Fight                                   54
+  IX. The Defense of the Island                                       61
+  X. The Forest Fiend                                                 68
+  XI. Black-Hawk Keeps His Word                                       75
+  XII. Sadie’s Sacrifice                                              82
+  XIII. Guests Not Invited                                            88
+
+
+
+
+                          THE BORDER RIFLEMEN;
+                                  OR,
+                           THE FOREST FIEND.
+
+
+
+
+                               CHAPTER I.
+                     THE BORDER SUITOR—COONEY JOE.
+
+
+The sun was going down behind the western hills in a flood of yellow
+light, and a river dimpled on under the slanting rays, great fish
+leaping now and then from the placid surface, and the trees along the
+bank casting fantastic shadows into its depths. In a sheltered nook,
+near a spot where a little creek joined the river, a settler had built a
+cabin, which the hand of woman had beautified and adorned as only the
+hand of woman can. Bright flowers bloomed on each side of the rustic
+doorway and an English ivy vine clung to the walls and was rapidly
+spreading its delicate tendrils over the whole front. The cabin faced
+the stream, and behind it the hand of industry had cleared many acres
+which now showed heavy growths of cereals and roots, carefully
+cultivated. It was a silvan spot, and one upon which the eye of the
+artist would linger long and pleasantly.
+
+The door opened suddenly, and a young girl holding a water-pail in her
+hand came out with a free, careless step, singing a merry song. She was
+plainly dressed, and yet there was an air of native grace about her
+every movement which plainly showed that she had not always lived amid
+such wild surroundings. She was beautiful—not the vapid beauty of
+cities, but that of perfect health, and a free life. Her form was
+untrammeled by the fashions which cramp and deform the beautiful women
+of our day, and her face, a little browned by exposure to the to sun,
+glowed—
+
+  “With sunny beauty and rustic health.”
+
+Maud Müller—Whittier’s Maud—was not more beautiful than this frontier
+damsel. Not only was her face cut in a perfect mold, but her eyes
+sparkled with life and vivacity, and her sunny hair, unconfined, hung
+about her shoulders in beautiful profusion.
+
+She left the river, turned down the creek, entered a little grove half a
+mile from the house, passed through it, and looked across the open field
+beyond.
+
+“Father,” she cried, “are you there?”
+
+No answer was returned, save the echo of her musical voice, and she
+looked about her in evident surprise.
+
+“Where can he have gone?” she murmured. “Father!”
+
+As the words left her lips there was a slight rustle in the bushes by
+her side, and a man came out and stood beside her. He was still young,
+but his strikingly handsome face bore the marks of a life of dissipation
+and riot. He was quite tall, nearly six feet in his moccasins, with a
+face which showed unmistakable signs of Indian blood, though somewhat
+remote, and a wandering black eye, full of passion. He was dressed in
+hunting costume, and held in one hand a long rifle, and two small
+protuberances in the breast of his hunting-coat showed where his pistols
+lay concealed.
+
+“I thought I should meet you here, Sadie,” he said, quietly. “You don’t
+look very glad to see me.”
+
+“You know what I think of you, William Jackwood,” she replied, turning
+quickly away. “How dare you to come here, after what has happened?”
+
+He laughed a low, bitter, chilling laugh, which did not indicate
+enjoyment, and his black eyes seemed to emit sparks of fire.
+
+“I would not refer to our last meeting, if I were you, Sadie,” he said,
+evidently controlling himself by a violent effort. “I was half crazy
+with liquor that night or I would not have said what I did. See here;
+give me a chance to make this right with you and I’ll do it. I want to
+be a friend to you—I do, upon my soul. I’ll ask your pardon on my knees,
+if you’ll forgive, and promise not to lay it up against me.”
+
+“I forgive you,” she said, with a cold, passionless glance, “but you
+must not come here any more, for all that. My father has told me not to
+have any more to say to you, and I shall obey him.”
+
+The man stood grinding the butt of his rifle into the soft earth, and
+fighting a powerful battle to keep down his heart. The girl no longer
+looked at him but took up the pail and was moving on.
+
+“Wait a moment,” he said, hoarsely. “I can’t part from you like this,
+Sadie. You don’t know what you are doing or what will happen if you
+don’t use me more kindly. By—I beg your pardon, but I am half mad—I
+can’t stand it. Do you know that I worship the ground you tread for your
+sake, and would give my life at any moment if it would be of service to
+you?”
+
+“You must not speak to me in that way, Mr. Jackwood,” she said, in a
+more gentle tone. “I am truly sorry for you if you speak the truth, but
+I can not listen to you. Aside from the fact that my father does not
+like you, I have my own inclinations to consult, and I do not and never
+can love you.”
+
+“Then you love some one else,” he cried savagely. “All right; marry him
+if you dare, but of this be assured—the moment you stand up before the
+minister with _any_ man, if it were my own brother, I will kill you both
+where you stand. Do you hear me?—I will kill you both.”
+
+“Do you dare to threaten me in that way, Will Jackwood? Oh, if my father
+were here, he would teach you to insult his daughter in that way. Do you
+think to frighten me by idle threats? Since you force me to say it, know
+that the sight of your dark face is and always has been odious to me,
+and that I will never speak to you again except upon compulsion under
+any circumstances.”
+
+He caught her by the wrist with his disengaged hand and held her firmly,
+when she dropped the pail and struck him full in the face with her open
+hand. He uttered a cry like that of an angry tiger, and letting go his
+hold upon the gun caught her about the waist with his strong right arm.
+Powerless in his grasp, she struggled with all her strength and screamed
+for help. The call was not made in vain, for a quick step was heard, and
+a heavy body crashed through the bushes, and Sadie screamed again.
+
+“Comin’, by the mortal, comin’!” roared a hoarse voice. “Oh, yes.”
+
+Will Jackwood released her instantly and caught up his gun, just as a
+short, thick-set, powerfully-built man darted from the bushes and stood
+beside them. He wore the fringed hunting-shirt and beaded moccasins of
+the scout and hunter, and his long, flax-colored hair was crowned by a
+greasy coon-skin cap in the last stages of dissolution. The face was a
+marvel of native ugliness, but in spite of that he was greeted with a
+cry of joy from Sadie.
+
+“Cooney Joe is hyar,” he yelled. “What is the matter now?”
+
+“I have been insulted, Joe,” cried Sadie, panting for breath.
+
+“By that yer p’ison critter, I’ll bet. Now look out, Black Will, acause
+I’m a-goin’ to give yer the durndest lickin’ you ever got sence yer
+mammy took ye over her knee. Hyar’s fur ye.”
+
+Before Black Will could bring his rifle to a level the stout hunter
+dashed in and his heart was beating against the broad breast of the man
+known as Jackwood. In a moment more they were locked in a fierce
+grapple, fighting in true western style, without the slightest idea of
+the rules of the ring. In a stand-off fight, the long arms and powerful
+build of Black Will would have given him a decided advantage, but in the
+close grapple Cooney Joe was more than his equal, and loosening one hand
+by a violent effort he struck his antagonist such a blow in the face
+that his teeth seemed to rattle in his jaws, and he staggered. Throwing
+himself forward with a victorious war-whoop, Cooney Joe brought him to
+the ground, and the next moment was kneeling on his breast with his
+long, brown fingers fastened on his throat in a decidedly uncomfortable
+way.
+
+“Yah-h-h—hip! Got ye that time, my sweet infant! The old coon kin climb
+a tree yit. Say the word, Miss Wescott, an’ by the big meat pie I’ll
+choke the life clean out of his pesky karkidge.”
+
+“Let him go for the present, Joe,” she said. “He has been punished
+sufficiently, and it will teach him that I am not friendless.”
+
+“Oh, pshaw! don’t let him git off that way. Take off his belt and let me
+larrup him with it till he _howls_.”
+
+“No, no; don’t strike him again. Take away his weapons and let him go.”
+
+“Hold on,” said Black Will hoarsely. “Don’t touch the pistols and I
+promise to go away at once, and not make a move for revenge to-day.”
+
+“That’s fair,” said Joe, rising. “I never knowed the critter to break a
+fair promise, Miss Sadie, and you kin trust him.”
+
+Cooney Joe stood up and Black Will slowly arose, with an expression of
+fearful malice upon his dark face, slowly brushing the dust from his
+clothing without speaking a word. Cooney Joe had taken up his rifle and
+stood leaning upon it, a grin of enjoyment stretching his naturally wide
+mouth.
+
+“Curi’s how things come ’round, ain’t it? I’ve wanted a lick at you fur
+nigh onto five year an’ never got a chance till now; does me good, this
+does.”
+
+“Of course you know I’ll have your life for it, Joe Bent,” said Black
+Will, in a quiet tone.
+
+“Sartin, sartin, if ye kin git it,” replied Cooney Joe. “But don’t
+forgit that ef I see yer hand go anigh a pistil in a strange company
+I’ll try to shoot first. ’Member that, don’t ye.”
+
+“I’ll try to remember, Joe,” was the reply. “Now, Miss Wescott, I will
+say to you what I intended to say when this meddling fool broke in upon
+us. You shall never live to be the wife of another man. If I can not
+have you, no one else shall, I swear by every thing I hold true.”
+
+“P’isen critter, ain’t you, Will?” said Cooney Joe, regarding him with a
+look of benign interest, as a great natural curiosity. “I’ll be
+individually an’ collectively cussed ef you ain’t a nice picter to go
+a-talkin’ about marryin’ a gal like Miss Sadie. Why, bu’st my buttons,
+ef I don’t think she’d ruther have me!”
+
+“I would indeed,” replied Sadie.
+
+“Who asked you to speak, Joe Bent?” said Black Will, savagely. “Keep
+your distance and live in safety for twenty-four hours, but after that I
+will take your life, no matter where I meet you.”
+
+“You rare ’round the awfulest kind, don’t ye,” replied Joe, with a merry
+look. “Dash my bacon ef you ain’t a study fur a painter. I’ve see’d
+chaps in the theater at St. Louis that rared ’round the stage jest as
+you do now, but somehow they allus got special hail kolumbia in the end.
+Now _git_; I don’t want to say any thing more _but_ git.”
+
+Black Will quietly tightened his belt, brought his rifle to a “right
+shoulder shift,” and was off at a long, slinging pace which carried him
+rapidly across the field.
+
+“Thar goes a pizen critter, Miss Sadie,” muttered Cooney Joe. “Now I
+reckon he meant jest what he said when he told me that he’d hev my life,
+but I’ve took a good many chances, though he’ll hev my ha’r sartin ef I
+don’t shoot first when we meet.”
+
+“I am sorry to have brought you into danger, Joe,” said the girl.
+
+“Sorry—danger—git out! D’ye think I keer fur _that_, little gal? Why,
+make it the wust ye kin, the chances ar’ I git a shot afore he does, an’
+ef I _miss_, then it’s my own fault. Whar’s yer daddy?”
+
+“I came out to find him and bring him some drink. I thought he was at
+work in this field.”
+
+“He orter be keerful,” said Joe Bent, uneasily, “’cause the Injins are
+gitting r’iled up awful, and thar’s no tellin’ when they may break out.
+Let’s try an’ find him.”
+
+“There he is now,” cried Sadie.
+
+As she spoke, a middle-aged man, with a hoe across his shoulder,
+appeared at the other side of the woods and came rapidly toward them. As
+he came near he shouted cheerily to Joe Bent, who seemed very glad to
+see him, and they shook hands heartily. Mr. Wescott had the same air of
+gentility which showed itself in his daughter, but, like her, had
+adapted himself to his present surroundings, and looked the picture of a
+genuine western farmer. In stature he was almost a giant.
+
+Sadie rapidly recounted her meeting with Black Will, and all that had
+passed between them, and the face of Mr. Wescott darkened, while his
+hand closed convulsively upon the handle of his hoe.
+
+“It is a lucky thing for the black-hearted scoundrel that I was not by,
+Sadie,” he said, “or it would have gone hard with him. What brings you
+up this way, Joe?”
+
+“I sort o’ got a hint to git off the hunting grounds from that
+pernicious red devil, Napope, who is sp’ilin’ fur mischief. Ar’ ye good
+friends with the Injins, ’square?”
+
+“Certainly; I never wronged one of them in my life.”
+
+“Not that it matters much ef they once rise,” continued Joe, “because
+then they won’t hev any friends in the white race. I’ve my doubts of
+that Black Will, anyhow. Two weeks ago I saw him in the Injin village,
+an’ him an’ that cussid Napope was ez thick ez flies in sp’iled bacon.”
+
+“What is the trouble with the Indians?” said Wescott, uneasily.
+
+“Them cussid agents rob them like thieves,” replied Joe Bent. “Ef
+Black-Hawk would only ketch an’ burn them, I don’t believe our fellers
+would kick much, they act so fearful mean. Do you know that I think the
+village the best place fur Miss Sadie, ’bout this time in the year?”
+
+“I’ll talk to you by-and-by,” said Wescott, with a quick glance at his
+daughter’s observant face. “Come to the house and get something to eat.”
+
+They quickened their steps and reached the cabin, and while Sadie set
+about preparing a meal, they sat outside and smoked their pipes, talking
+in low, eager tones. Sadie could see that their conversation was very
+important, and, woman-like, felt piqued that they kept it secret from
+her, and hurried her preparations. In a few moments the homely meal was
+smoking on the board, and they sat down, enjoying their food with keen
+relish; but the two men dropped their conversation, or rather, changed
+it to indifferent subjects, much to the disgust of Sadie. Just as they
+were about to rise from the table, she gave utterance to a cry of
+surprise and ran to the door, and a moment after appeared, leading an
+Indian girl by the hand.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER II.
+                          MINNEOBA’S WARNING.
+
+
+It was a woman of the Sac nation, but bearing unmistakable signs of
+white blood. Her form might almost have vied with that of Sadie, and her
+dark skin glowed with perfect health. Her hair was unlike that of any
+pure Indian girl, slightly waving, and with a luster upon it never seen
+in the pure Indian. Her dress was of the richest description that was
+worn by the women of the tribe, and her head was crowned by a coronet of
+eagle-feathers, which bespoke the daughter of a chief. Dainty feet,
+small hands and delicate features distinguished the maid from the
+majority of her race, and all together, two more noble specimens of
+native grace rarely trod the same floor.
+
+“By the piper that played while the king danced, if it ain’t Minneoba,
+the pride of the Sac nation,” cried Cooney Joe. “Say, gal, what ye doin’
+’round yer?”
+
+“Minneoba has traveled a long path, and she is weary,” replied the
+Indian girl, faintly. “Let the Wild Rose give her food and drink.”
+
+Sadie, who was much taken by the rare beauty of the forest maid, seated
+her at once at the table and placed food before her. She passed over the
+few dainties which the table afforded, and ate the most simple food, and
+her appetite was soon gratified. Joe whispered aside with Mr. Wescott.
+
+“I tell you that the gal is the favorite daughter of Black-Hawk,” he
+whispered, “an’ she’s got some good reason fur bein’ hyar. But don’t
+hurry her, for I know the breed and she’s obstinit, durned obstinit,
+when she hez a mind to, though she’s a good gal, too.”
+
+In the mean time the Indian girl was chatting merrily with her new
+friend, and her musical laugh rung through the cabin.
+
+“Whisper to Sadie to git her confidence, Mr. Wescott,” muttered the
+hunter. “She kin do it. The gal is open-hearted as the day, and ef she
+means friendship she _means_ it.”
+
+Wescott called Sadie aside and spoke to her in a low, hurried tone, and
+nodding intelligently, the white girl returned to the side of the Indian
+girl, and soon after the two rose and went out of the cabin, strolling
+down by the river side. Minneoba had her fan in her hand, more from
+habit than any thing else, and they walked along the green banks,
+talking earnestly.
+
+“Minneoba is the daughter of Black-Hawk,” said the maiden, in answer to
+a question, “and she loves her father well. The heart of the old man is
+very sad, for he sees the white men forcing the Indian step by step out
+of the land their fathers gave them. Look down and tell me what you
+see.”
+
+Close to the bank of the stream not far away a succession of low mounds
+of different sizes showed where the ancient grave-yard of a tribe had
+been. Not far from this a white village was seen, the farms of the
+settlers encroaching upon the graves.
+
+“When we bury the bodies of those we love, daughter of the white man, it
+is not pleasant to think that the feet of the strangers tread upon the
+graves. The Indians are rough and rude, but they too love the graves of
+their fathers, and it makes them sad to think that the plow of the white
+man will disturb the loved remains.”
+
+“It is very sad, but I have heard that Keokuk sold this land to our
+people.”
+
+“Keokuk has done wickedly,” cried the girl, excitedly. “It is a false
+Indian who treads upon his father’s grave, or allows the white man to do
+it. A Sac despises the man who is so base.”
+
+“What will the Indians do?”
+
+“What they will do is not for an Indian girl to say; their hearts are
+very sore, but they would be friends with the white men, if the white
+men will let them. But fire-water and bad men will make trouble in the
+land. Tell the people of the village that it would be better for them to
+give up the Sac town and build for themselves upon another place.”
+
+In order to understand the words of Minneoba fully, it will be necessary
+to set down the history of the events which finally drove Black-Hawk to
+desperation.
+
+By the treaty entered into by the United States upon one side and the
+Sacs and Foxes, Siouxs, Omahas, Iowas and Ottoes upon the other, headed
+by Keokuk, or the Watchful Fox, the land of these tribes was sold to the
+United States. In this bargain and sale Black-Hawk took no part, but in
+spite of that the Indian agents insisted that he should leave his
+village, which without his consent had been sold to the whites, and
+build another upon the west bank of the Mississippi.
+
+No race love their native land better than the Indian, and Black-Hawk
+was of the pure blood. He cursed the traitors who had sold their
+country, but vowed that he would not leave his village until compelled
+to do so by force. Every little disturbance between wandering white men
+and the tribes, every slight affair of whatever kind was magnified and
+turned against the Sac chief. Yet he only sought to do what was right,
+and prevailed upon Keokuk, who had made the treaty, to go to the white
+agents, with whom it had been made, and offer them in the name of the
+Sacs the lead mines, the most valuable property of the Indians, if they
+might be permitted to retain their village. The Watchful Fox, satisfied
+that he had sold that which was not his own, agreed to go, and ask for
+Black-Hawk the little land on which the village stood, including the
+grave-yard of the tribe. It was refused.
+
+It was the custom of the western tribes at this date to go out in winter
+in a body and have a great hunt. Black-Hawk went away at the head of his
+tribe with secret misgivings, and the village was left unguarded. This
+was the winter of 1830, and when the Indians came back from their hunt
+they found their village in the possession of the whites, who had taken
+advantage of their absence to take possession. The river was yet full of
+floating ice, and it was impossible for the Indians to move, but they
+sent word to the invaders that before corn-planting they would drive
+them out of the village, no matter at what cost to themselves.
+
+The whites were alarmed, for they felt their inability to oppose the
+tribe with their present number. A deputation was sent to the chiefs,
+proposing that they should occupy and plant the land together. The
+Indians, always generous in the disposal of land, agreed to the
+proposal, but upon arriving they found that the whites had seized and
+planted the best of the land.
+
+The peaceful village became one of the most disorderly upon the
+frontier. With the whites came in their vices, and the Indians,
+naturally weak, began to feel their effects. The sale of liquor was
+commenced, and by its aid the whites gradually robbed the Indians of all
+that they could call their own.
+
+The chief saw with alarm what must be the result, when they received
+orders to cross no more to the east bank of the river. The result of
+such an order may be readily understood, rousing all the fierce passions
+of the Indians, and in this state matters stood at the time when
+Minneoba visited the cabin of Mr. Wescott.
+
+The Indians were now nearly all upon the west bank of the river, the
+chiefs preferring this to longer intercourse with the white men. These
+simple men were no match for their wily antagonists, and had too rapidly
+imbibed their vices. Black-Hawk was an Indian, but he had a heart to
+feel for the woes of his people, and he saw that only by force of arms
+could he hope to succeed in wresting his country from the hand of the
+invader.
+
+“Is it possible that my father’s land belongs to the Indians?” said
+Sadie. “He paid for it honestly, and would not willingly wrong any man.”
+
+“The Wild Rose speaks truly. Her father has a great heart, but he holds
+the land which belongs to Black-Hawk.”
+
+“Then he will pay for it again, sooner than wrong a chief of the Sacs.”
+
+“Black-Hawk will not sell his lands to a white man. Let the words of
+Minneoba sound in the ears of Wild Rose. This is no place for her to
+dwell. Let her get a swift horse and fly away until the tempest has
+passed, for a dark cloud hangs over her father’s house and threatens
+her.”
+
+“I have done no wrong; why should I flee?”
+
+“My sister, the evil will come to the just and the unjust, for
+Black-Hawk will have his land again. Do not ask me to tell you more, for
+a Sac maiden can not betray her father, but take those you love and
+fly.”
+
+While yet speaking, the rapid beat of hoofs could be heard, and two men
+rounded a point of woods and approached them. At a glance Sadie
+recognized Black Will and a desperate ruffian who was more than
+suspected of selling arms to the Indians, a great offense upon the
+frontier. This man’s name was Richard Garrett, and he was hated and
+feared all along the border.
+
+“Ha, look!” cried Minneoba. “Yonder comes a bad white man, who has
+spoken evil words in the ears of Black-Hawk. What does he here?”
+
+“Let us hurry away,” whispered Sadie. “He is my enemy, and I fear to
+meet him now.”
+
+The two girls darted into the bushes, but not quickly enough to evade
+the eyes of the two men, who at once urged their horses and overtook the
+flying girls.
+
+“Ha, my dear,” said Black Will, placing himself in front of Sadie, and
+effectually barring her further flight. “I did not expect to meet you so
+soon.”
+
+“Do not stop me, Will Jackwood,” cried Sadie. “You have been punished
+once to-day for your insolence. Joe Bent is not far away.”
+
+“He is safe from me for this day, for he has my word,” replied Black
+Will. “But, when we meet again, one or the other goes down.”
+
+“Threats do not hurt the absent,” was the quiet reply. “Let me pass at
+once.”
+
+“Not so fast. I shall not have a better opportunity than this, and must
+entreat you to come with me.”
+
+Unconsciously, in their walk, the girls had come some distance from the
+house, and at that quiet hour few persons were abroad. Sadie understood
+the object of Black Will. It was to seize and carry her away for the
+purpose of forcing her to become his wife. He sprung out of the saddle,
+and menacing her with instant death if she cried out, hurried toward
+her, when a new and unexpected obstacle stood in his path. Minneoba had
+been almost unnoticed by the two scoundrels, and seeing that Dick
+Garrett was employed in holding the horses, the brave girl suddenly
+strung her bow, and fitting an arrow hastily, sprung in between Black
+Will and his intended victim, and he recoiled with a cry of rage, as the
+bright point of the arrow glittered in the light.
+
+“Minneoba, by all the devils! Out of my path, girl, or a worse thing may
+come to you.”
+
+But Minneoba did not move, her bright eyes fixed upon the form of the
+would-be abductor in a way which he did not like.
+
+“Sadie is the friend of the Sac girl,” she said, quietly. “You shall not
+touch her while I live.”
+
+“You don’t know what you are doing, mad girl. What will your father say
+when he knows that you have aimed an arrow at my breast—_mine_, of all
+white men in the territory!”
+
+“It would be better for Black-Hawk if you had never seen him,” replied
+the girl. “Take your horse and go, for I will spare your life if you do
+not touch the Wild Rose; touch her, and you are dead.”
+
+Black Will was a brave man, but he knew well the deadly skill of the
+Indian girl, and had seen it proved a hundred times in sportive
+encounters in the Indian village. Though full of rage, he dared not
+advance.
+
+“But listen to me, Minneoba,” he said. “This girl is to be my wife; I
+love her, and would take her into my lodge.”
+
+“Let me hear her say that she loves _you_, and the Sac girl will not
+come between you. Stand back, or the arrow flies from the string.”
+
+“You shall suffer for this, girl. Black-Hawk shall know how his daughter
+claims for a friend the daughter of the man who holds his land. We shall
+see how he likes that.”
+
+“Minneoba can talk to Black-Hawk; she does not need the white hunter to
+tell her what to say.”
+
+“She’s a bu’ster, Will,” said Dave Garrett, laughing. “I reckon you had
+better give it up. Come, little girl, don’t be foolish. Get out of the
+way, for my sake.”
+
+Minneoba did not move, and the arrow was still ready to fly.
+
+“Hark, Will! There come horses. Let’s get out of this as quick as we
+can.”
+
+Black Will, shaking his clenched hand at the immovable figure of the
+Indian girl, sprung into the saddle, and the two men rode away at the
+top of their speed. They were scarcely out of sight when a party of
+mounted riflemen came up at a trot, but, seeing the two girls, they
+halted, and the leader dismounted and came toward them. He was a young,
+handsome fellow, in a fringed hunting-coat, booted and spurred, and
+wearing the insignia of Melton’s mounted rifles, to show that he was
+captain of scouts. He lifted the cap gracefully from his head, and bowed
+low as he approached.
+
+“Captain Melton of the mounted rifles, by way of introduction. May I ask
+if you have seen any thing of a man known in this region as Dick
+Garrett?”
+
+“He rode away five minutes since in company with William Jackwood.”
+
+“The deuce he did! Excuse me, Miss, which way did he go?”
+
+Sadie pointed out the road, and with a hasty adieu the young officer
+bounded into the saddle and the command went off at full speed, with
+Melton at their head. Sadie had noted that his dark eyes had rested
+admiringly upon her, and she was herself struck by his noble appearance,
+and Minneoba laughed softly. She could see that the two had met before.
+
+“The young white chief is very brave. Sadie could love him!”
+
+“Nonsense, you foolish girl,” said Sadie, blushing. “I have only seen
+him twice before, and probably shall never see him again. Let us return
+to the house.”
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER III.
+                          BLACK-HAWK INSULTED.
+
+
+They had scarcely reached the house when the sound of voices could be
+distinctly heard upon the river and Joe sprung to the door, from which
+the stream was plainly visible. A dozen canoes were upon the water full
+of Indians, crossing from the other shore.
+
+“You’d better git out of sight, Minneoba,” said Cooney Joe. “It won’t be
+well for them to see you here unless you are forced to come out.”
+
+The Indian girl hurried into the cabin, and went into Sadie’s room. A
+moment later a tumultuous band of Sacs, shouting out furious threats
+against the whites, landed near the cabin and came hastily toward it.
+
+“Drunk as lords, every man jack of them,” said Joe. “We’ve got to talk
+sweet to them or thar will be some ha’r raised right about yer. Thar;
+that’s old Black-Hawk himself, by George. I wonder what he wants.”
+
+An Indian somewhat advanced in life, and wearing the usual insignia of a
+chief of the Sacs, headed the party, and a word from him stilled the
+clamorous tongues of the warriors. Mr. Wescott and Joe stepped out to
+meet them, and the chief received them by a lofty gesture.
+
+“We come for corn,” he said, “and my young men are so angry that they
+need the hand of a chief. It is hard that the Sacs must come like
+thieves in the night to take corn from their old fields.”
+
+“It is hard indeed, Black-Hawk,” replied Mr. Wescott. “I am as much
+grieved as you can be that this thing has happened, and upon my word, I
+hope that you may settle this trouble peaceably.”
+
+“Why do you stay on the Sac fields then?” replied the Indian, morosely.
+“The words of my brother are wise, but they do not agree with his
+actions. I stand upon Sac ground, which is _not_ sold and _can not_ be
+sold unless Black-Hawk puts his totem on the paper and gives a belt. Why
+is the white man here then?”
+
+“I bought of a man who claimed the right to sell,” said Wescott, “but I
+am willing to give you a fair price for the fields, even now.”
+
+“Black-Hawk will not sell his fathers’ graves,” replied the chief,
+fiercely. “Look; your white men are making my warriors like themselves,
+good at talking but no workers. They drink the accursed fire-water and
+become hogs. In a few years, the name of Sac will be forgotten and they
+will be but beasts to carry the loads the white man puts upon their
+backs.”
+
+“It’s no use talkin’ now, Black-Hawk,” said Cooney Joe. “I don’t say
+it’s right—because it ain’t—for Keokuk had no right to sell your land.
+But, the thing’s done and our fellers have possession, and I’m afraid
+they won’t give it up.”
+
+“They must.”
+
+“Oh, pshaw; you ought to know that they are darned good at takin’ things
+but they don’t give back wuth a cent. You may as well build a village
+over yender.”
+
+“That they may come and take it again,” replied Black-Hawk, with a
+bitter laugh. “Let us speak no more, for my tongue grows bitter in my
+mouth. Sons of the Sac, let us go for corn.”
+
+The Indian stalked away, followed by a shouting crowd of his adherents,
+and Cooney Joe looked uneasily at Wescott.
+
+“I don’t like this, ’square. You see our fellers ar’ mighty rough on the
+Injins, and I heard some on ’em say that ef the Sacs came over to steal
+corn they’d give ’em an all-fired lickin’. Now if they do that it means
+war.”
+
+“I hope our men will not be so impudent,” said Wescott. “They ought to
+give the poor fellows a chance to carry away corn for their suffering
+families, since they have dispossessed them of their land.”
+
+Half an hour passed, when suddenly there came a great tumult from the
+direction in which the Indians had gone. The shouts of men, the loud and
+continuous barking of dogs, and the occasional crack of fire-arms, could
+be heard.
+
+Cooney Joe caught up his weapons, and followed by Mr. Wescott, hurried
+away in the direction from which the sound came. They had not gone half
+a mile when they came upon a great rabble of whites surrounding the
+party which had come over for corn, abusing them in every possible way.
+Showers of stone were hurled upon them, clods of earth and filth of
+every description was cast upon them, and they were fighting their way
+slowly back toward the stream, apparently unconscious of the insults
+heaped upon them. Foremost among them, walking with a firm step, but
+with a dark cloud gathering upon his brow, strode Black-Hawk. A stone
+had struck him on the forehead, and the blood was trickling slowly down
+his face, but he did not seem to be aware of the fact. Once or twice he
+turned his head when some unusually vile epithet was heaped upon him,
+with a haughty glance at the offender, which they remembered in the
+after times, for two men who struck him, and whom he marked for
+destruction, were the first to fall when the struggle commenced in
+earnest.
+
+“White men,” cried the chief, halting, at length. “Do not dare to stand
+in the track of Black-Hawk, upon his own land.”
+
+“Your land, you old thief,” roared a man named Churchill. “You lie! It
+is ours—fairly bought—and we will keep it.”
+
+“Black-Hawk does not waste words with a man with a double tongue, who is
+only fit to sit with the women when the warriors are on the
+battle-field,” replied the chief.
+
+Churchill caught up a handful of sand and flung it into the face of the
+old chief. Black-Hawk trembled in every limb but not with fear, and he
+clenched his hands until the blood started from beneath his nails.
+
+“Fool!” he hissed. “In the days to come, remember Black-Hawk!”
+
+That the man had good cause to remember this insult, the history of that
+time will show.
+
+The Indians went on their way, but all around them the confusion became
+greater, and it was with the utmost difficulty that they kept their
+ranks, and kept down their passions enough to prevent the use of the
+tomahawks, which every man carried. Had Black-Hawk but given the word,
+they would have rushed like tigers upon their prey, and torn the rabble
+asunder like cobweb. But the policy of the chief had been opposed to
+bloodshed, and he hoped to be able to get to the river without being
+forced to draw a weapon.
+
+“Look at the black thieves,” roared Churchill. “Down with them, boys;
+shower the mud on them; stone them out of the country.”
+
+He was but too well seconded by those who followed him, and many of the
+Indians were badly hurt by the missiles which were thrown at them.
+Directed by Churchill, three or four strong men rushed suddenly forward
+and laid hold upon the chief, with the intention of beating him.
+
+“Dogs!” cried the Sac, casting them aside like feathers. “Take your
+clubs, sons of the brave.”
+
+Up to this moment the Indians had not lifted a hand, but at the order of
+their chief they lifted their clubs, and sprung forward with furious
+yells. The chief singled out Churchill, and leaped upon him like a
+tiger, but the man ran backward, and the chief, never thinking of
+support, followed him with uplifted club. Before he was aware of his
+danger he was in the midst of a circle of infuriated whites, who
+commenced an indiscriminate assault upon him, striking and kicking him
+with merciless force. It is impossible to say whether he would have
+escaped with life, but at this moment the rabble parted before the rush
+of strong men, and Cooney Joe and Mr. Wescott darted into the circle,
+and placed themselves beside the chief.
+
+“Back, if you are men,” cried Wescott. “What, thirty against one poor
+old man!”
+
+“Keep cl’ar, keep cl’ar,” cried Joe, flourishing his rifle in a
+threatening manner. “He’s an Injin, but fair play’s a jewel, you know.
+You won’t strike him ag’in while I stand hyar.”
+
+“Get out of the way, Joe Bent,” screamed Churchill. “What business have
+you to interfere?”
+
+“Because I’m called on by a magistrate,” replied Joe. “Keep cl’ar, I
+tell ye, or I’ll make my rifle-butt acquainted with the softness of yer
+head. Back a little.”
+
+“Disperse, every one of you, and let the Indians return to the river,
+and I will see to it that you are punished for what you have already
+done,” said Wescott, as they hesitated. There was some grumbling, but
+after a little they began to step away, and the little knot of Indians
+were left alone upon the field.
+
+“I am sorry that this has happened, Black-Hawk,” said Wescott. “You want
+corn, you say; go to my crib and take out what you want.”
+
+The chief did not reply, but he stood looking after the retreating forms
+of the white men, with a moody brow. Many a man who was in his grave
+before that season closed, might have been alive and happy but for that
+vile attack.
+
+“Black-Hawk owes much to the white man,” he said, slowly. “They have
+stolen his village, trampled upon his father’s grave, plowed up the
+earth above the dead, and scored the earth with their axes. Now they
+have insulted Black-Hawk and he will remember.”
+
+“I would not take it too much to heart, Black-Hawk,” said Wescott.
+
+“Black-Hawk will remember,” was the reply. “But look my brother. By this
+blood which drops upon the earth I promise friendship to you and yours.
+You are two just white men; and all the tribes shall honor you for what
+you have done this night. Let my good brother go toward the rising sun
+and stay until the tempest has passed by.”
+
+Wescott shook his head, and walked beside the chief to the river. He
+refused to take any corn, and as the canoes pulled off the two foresters
+looked at each other.
+
+“This is bad, Joe,” said Wescott, “but we must get to work. Do you know
+where the General is now?”
+
+“He’s at Jefferson Barracks—that’s whar he is,” replied Joe.
+
+“Then he must be spoken to and at once. In the mean time I will take a
+horse and see other officers and concert measures for the public safety.
+The whole North-west is in danger, for many will follow Black-Hawk.”
+
+They hurried back to the cabin, and to his delight the settler found
+Captain Melton there, who had returned unsuccessful from the pursuit of
+Black Will and Dick Garrett.
+
+The young officer was well known to both Mr. Wescott and Cooney Joe, and
+was cordially greeted by both.
+
+“What was this disturbance I heard just now, Mr. Wescott?” said Melton,
+as they shook hands. “It sounded almost like a battle.”
+
+“It was very near one as it was,” said Wescott. “Our people surrounded a
+party of Indians who came over for corn, insulted them in every
+conceivable way, beat and threw stones at them and injured Black-Hawk
+quite severely.”
+
+“You don’t tell me that they have hurt Black-Hawk?”
+
+“Yes, and if I know any thing of the Indian he will resent it.”
+
+“This is too bad, just when we hoped to settle the matter peaceably. Let
+the people on the frontier look to it now, for there is trouble ahead as
+sure as we live. Hi, there, Stanley,” he cried, addressing one of his
+men. “Ride to the Post and see the General. Tell him exactly what has
+happened, word for word, and when you have done that, go back by way of
+the island and tell the rest of the boys to come up.”
+
+“Do you think they will fight, captain?”
+
+“Of course they will, and we have a lot of dunderheads who will do their
+best to force it on. With your permission, Mr. Wescott, I will stay here
+to-night, if you will let the men sleep in your barn.”
+
+“Certainly; if the house were large enough they should be welcome to
+that.”
+
+The command of Melton was an independent one, composed principally of
+bordermen and scouts, selected for their known valor and knowledge of
+the country. As usual in such cases they were despised by the dandy
+regiments until two or three rough bouts between the men had taught them
+a lesson. They were very popular with the masses, however, and in a bush
+fight, were capable of doing more work than any body of men in the
+service.
+
+Two or three couriers were dispatched in various directions, and then
+the party camped outside, while the captain entered the house, where he
+was received by Mrs. Wescott and the daughter. The elder lady had just
+returned from a visit down the river.
+
+“This is Charley Melton, my prince of borderers, the best scout captain
+in the territories,” said Wescott. “Captain, my daughter Sadie.”
+
+“I met Miss Wescott early in the evening when in chase of a desperate
+gambler who had shot a man over a card-table. And indeed we met twice in
+the village.”
+
+“I hope you caught him, captain,” said Wescott.
+
+“Sorry to say I did not. How the fellow managed to slip away I don’t
+know, but when we got to the bend, all trace of them was lost. He had a
+man in his company whom I want to see, for I believe he is stirring up
+the Indians against us.”
+
+“You mean Black Will Jackwood, I’ll bet,” said Joe Bent.
+
+“Yes; what made you think that?”
+
+“’Cause I see the bloody cuss at Rock Island, whisperin’ round old
+Black-Hawk, and it looked bad to me, somehow. It will be a ’markably
+good thing when he is hung up out of harm’s way.”
+
+“That good thing will be very likely to happen if we have the good luck
+to catch them. Ha! What Indian girl is that?”
+
+“Minneoba, the daughter of Black-Hawk,” replied the girl, coming
+forward. “Let not Loud Tempest fear that she will speak the words she
+hears in the lodge of her white father in the ear of the Sacs. Minneoba
+is not a creeping serpent, and will not betray her friends.”
+
+“Loud Tempest, eh? Poetical name the Sacs have given me, though for what
+cause I do not know. What have you there, Dix?”
+
+An orderly had appeared at the door and saluted.
+
+“Caught a Pottawatomie, just now, who claims that he has something to
+say.”
+
+“Who is he?”
+
+“Little Fox.”
+
+“Pah! I don’t think much can be made out of _him_. However, bring him
+in, and let us hear what he has to say.”
+
+The orderly turned and beckoned, and an Indian, greasy and
+smoke-begrimed, with a face which bore evident signs of hard potations,
+appeared in the doorway. This “lord of the forest” was very drunk. His
+eyes rolled in their sockets, and he found it easiest to stand by the
+aid of the door-post.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER IV.
+                       LITTLE FOX—NA-SHE-ESCHUCK.
+
+
+The Indian was one of the worst specimens of his race—a creature
+naturally brutal, who had been rendered more debased by an excessive use
+of fire-water. As he clung to the door-post and looked at them out of
+bleared and watery eyes, he was as disgusting a specimen of the _genus
+homo_ as could be found between the two oceans.
+
+“Let me talk to this critter,” said Cooney Joe. “I calculate I
+understand the natur’ of the unadulterated, unb’iled, unwashed and
+unclean drunken red, as well as any man in the great Nor’-west. I do, by
+the livin’ hokies. Hyar, you ’possum, speak up, and speak quick; what
+ar’ ye looking fur now?”
+
+“Fire-water; poor Injun _very_ dry,” replied this noble red-man.
+“Tire—much tire; walk durn good ways; _mus’_ hab fire-water.”
+
+“You got to airn it fust, my noble red,” replied Joe. “Come, agitate yer
+jaw; tell us what ye want.”
+
+“S’pose you give Little Fox fire-water, den talk. How _can_ talk when no
+hab drink? Ugh!”
+
+“That’s the heathen philosophy, gents all,” said Joe, with a look of
+supreme disgust. “No whisky, no news. Got sech a thing as a drain of
+sperrits handy, ’square?”
+
+Mr. Wescott left the room, and returned shortly with a small flask of
+rum, from which he poured out a glass for the Indian, who drank it with
+avidity, smacked his lips, and held out the glass for more.
+
+“Hold on,” said Joe, pushing back the extended hand. “Not ef I know it,
+Injin. That tongue of yours begins to double, anyhow, and I reckon
+you’ll hev to do some talking afore you git any more rum.”
+
+“Pottawatomie big warrior, _much_ brave,” replied the Indian, loftily,
+striking his clenched hand upon his broad breast. “Give Injun rum.”
+
+“I’ll give you a bat ’long side your old head ef ye ask fur more afore
+you’ve done the work,” said Joe, angrily. “Come now, speak up. What d’ye
+want?”
+
+“Want rifle—want blanket—want _heap_ fire-water!” replied Little Fox.
+“Got heap story to tell.”
+
+“Lies, probably. Come, out with it, and ef it is any use to us, then
+we’ll pay han’sum. That’s the time of day.”
+
+“Want him _now_,” replied the Indian, with a surly glance at the
+speaker. “No tell news widout you put him down here.”
+
+“That won’t do, Injin,” said Joe. “You heard what the fellers done with
+Black-Hawk, just now. I’ve only got to say the word, and you go away the
+_sorest_ Injin in the Nor’-west. Tell us any really important news, and
+we’ll give you a rifle, two blankets and a keg of rum, and you kin drink
+you’self to death in a week.”
+
+“Much _promise_—little _do_. Dat white man’s way,” replied the Indian.
+“Little Fox no speak.”
+
+“Will you speak if _I_ promise to give you what you ask?” said Captain
+Melton, advancing.
+
+“Loud Tempest will do what he says,” replied the Indian, with a drunken
+leer. “Little Fox will believe him.”
+
+“Very well, then; I promise to give you the rifle, blankets and rum, if
+you tell us all you came to tell.”
+
+“Give Injun stool; sit down like white man. Floor much dizzy; whirl
+round _fast_. Ugh!”
+
+By the not very mild assistance of Cooney Joe the Indian was seated on a
+stool, with his back to the wall, and sat with drunken gravity waiting
+to be questioned.
+
+“Go on with yer story, you red nigger,” cried Joe. “And see yer, the
+minnit you begin to _lie_—and oh, Lord, how he _kin_ lie when he lays
+his tongue to it!—that minnit I jump on you and yer ha’r comes off.”
+
+“Little Fox will speak with a straight tongue,” replied the savage,
+drawing himself up. “Give injun more rum, and he talk _heap_ fast.”
+
+Cooney Joe poured out a very mild dose of rum and gave it to the savage,
+who gulped it down at once, and would have asked for more but that the
+expression of Joe’s face taught him that such a measure would bring down
+upon his head the wrath of the hunter, and he prudently refrained.
+
+“Black-Hawk much mad,” he said. “See—white man take his village and
+plant corn among the graves. That no right in white man.”
+
+“No moril reflections, bummer,” said Joe. “Git on with yer yarn, or off
+goes yer sculp.”
+
+“Black-Hawk has a great army,” said the Indian. “His braves are coming
+in from the plains and their faces are painted for war. The white men
+must not sleep or they will all die.”
+
+It is needless to follow word by word the disjointed narrative of the
+drunken savage, interrupted as it was by appeals for rum, which was
+doled out to him in very small quantities by Cooney Joe, who feared that
+he would get too drunk to articulate. He sat swaying unsteadily to and
+fro, and told a tale which confirmed their fears. Messengers had been
+sent out to the various tribes, and all had agreed to follow the
+standard of Black-Hawk and assist him in driving out the invaders of
+their land. Nearly all the principal chiefs except Keokuk had given in
+their adhesion, and bands of warriors were already on their way to the
+place of rendezvous, not far from Rock Island, where there was a Sac
+village and a fort. Doubtless the Indian misrepresented the plans of
+Black-Hawk, but he told enough truth to make his story tally with the
+preconceived ideas of the whites, and they looked at one another in
+silent dismay.
+
+“This is very serious,” said the captain of scouts. “This Indian has
+earned his reward, and if he will come into the village to-morrow he
+shall have the liquor; the rifle and blankets I can give him now.”
+
+He went out and brought in a very good rifle and two blankets, which he
+had obtained from the men. A flask of powder was added, and a mold to
+run bullets, and Little Fox staggered away, happy as a lord, little
+knowing that the possession of these articles would prove his
+death-warrant. With the weapon in his hands he staggered toward the
+village, where he was met by a young warrior of the Sac nation, whom, in
+his drunken blindness, he did not recognize as the youngest son of
+Black-Hawk, who was lurking about for information.
+
+“My brother has a fine gun,” he said in the Indian tongue, endeavoring
+to lay his hand upon the weapon. But Little Fox tore it away from him in
+drunken wrath.
+
+“Wagh! It is the gun of the white man, and the Sacs will fall before it
+as the leaves when they are yellow,” he said.
+
+“My brother is very rich. He must have taken much fur to buy so fine a
+gun,” said the young Indian, who already showed the qualities which
+afterward gave him a leading place in the tribe.
+
+“Little Fox is the friend of the white man, and he can get a gun for
+nothing,” was the reply. “When Black-Hawk comes with his warriors he
+will find the white men ready.”
+
+“Has my brother told the white men what Black-Hawk is doing?” said the
+young Sac, vailing his rage.
+
+“Little Fox can speak or Little Fox can be silent,” replied the
+Pottawatomie. “Look: to-morrow he is to have enough rum to last him a
+whole moon, because he is the friend of the white man.”
+
+“Fire-water is good,” said the Sac. “Has my brother a canoe to carry it
+across the river?”
+
+The Indian shook his head, and a sort of hazy idea passed through his
+clouded brain that he had already said as much as he ought concerning
+the affair.
+
+“I have a fine canoe,” continued the son of Black-Hawk. “Let my brother
+bring the rum to the Point, and I will help him carry it away.”
+
+The Pottawatomie nodded gravely, and went on his sinuous way, while the
+young chief darted into the forest, and taking a circuitous course,
+reached his father’s village at early morning. The old chief was in his
+lodge, in an attitude of the deepest dejection, for he had not sought a
+quarrel with the whites. Near him, seated upon a pile of skins, and with
+a look of deep malice on his face, sat Black Will, holding his rifle in
+his brown right hand.
+
+“Ha! here comes Na-she-eschuck,” he said. “Now, Black-Hawk, let your
+great heart awake and listen to the words of your son. Speak,
+Na-she-eschuck; what are the white men doing?”
+
+“They go about among the lodges they have built above our fathers’
+graves and laugh because they have insulted Black-Hawk,” replied the
+young Sac, fiercely. “Their ears are stopped to all thoughts of peace,
+and they long for war. Let them get what they seek, since they will have
+it so.”
+
+“What did I tell you, Black-Hawk?” said Black Will. “The scoundrels do
+not care for your great name, and they throw mud at you as if you were a
+common Pottawatomie, and not the head chief of a great nation. Will you
+bear this tamely?”
+
+“Black-Hawk is an Indian,” replied the proud old man, drawing up his
+stalwart form to its full hight. “But he does not seek for war. If the
+white men will let us rest where we now are, I will send the warriors
+back, and we will be friends.”
+
+“Friends! Friends with the men who threw mud in your face and beat you
+like a dog?” cried Black Will. “Come, I have been mistaken in you. I
+thought you were a man ready to revenge your injuries, but the white men
+have cowed you until you dare not lift a hand against them.”
+
+Black-Hawk bounded to his feet with a terrible cry, and laid his hand
+upon a weapon. But that Na-she-eschuck sprung between him and the object
+of his wrath, it is doubtful whether the career of Black Will would not
+have ended upon the spot.
+
+“Hold your hand, great chief,” cried his son, forcing him back. “He sits
+under the shadow of your lodge, and you have smoked the pipe with him.
+Do not make yourself a dog since you have taken his hand.”
+
+“He has insulted a great chief,” replied the old warrior, fiercely.
+“But, he is right; Black-Hawk is a dog to listen to the words of the
+white men, and to refuse to dig up the hatchet when so many warriors are
+ready to follow him to the fight.”
+
+“We _must_ fight,” said Na-she-eschuck. “Little Fox has been among the
+white men, and has told them that the braves are gathering at the call
+of Black-Hawk. He is a dead dog, and has taken a rifle and blankets, and
+is to have much fire-water, because he has betrayed us.”
+
+Black Will began to look uneasy.
+
+“Has the scoundrel told them that I am here?” he asked.
+
+“I can not tell. He is to come to the point above the island with the
+price of his guilt, to-morrow, and I will be there to help him over the
+river.”
+
+A grim look crossed the face of Black-Hawk, as his son spoke.
+
+“It is good,” he said. “One traitor shall die, because he has sold
+himself for the fire-water of the white men. As for us, we will not
+strike the first blow, but if they take up the hatchet against us, then
+we will fight. But I will not remove.”
+
+“It is better for us to strike the first blow,” said Black Will. “That
+is the main thing in war—to strike such a terrible blow, that their
+hearts will turn water in their bosoms. Look at me; I am of the blood of
+the white men, but I am not _all_ white. A chief of the Sacs was my
+father, and he is dead. He died in chains, because he dug up the hatchet
+against the cowardly Chippewas. You have known and loved him, for you
+fought by his side. Black-Hawk, Red-Bird was the father of the man who
+speaks.”
+
+“Ha!” cried the chief. “Red-Bird was a man, but he could not bear the
+chains of the white man, and he died. Is my son the child whom he lost,
+who was born of the French squaw, who followed him from Detroit?”
+
+Black Will inclined his head slowly, and Black-Hawk took his hand in his
+own and pressed it again and again to his bosom.
+
+“Black-Hawk can understand how the son of Red-Bird should hate the white
+man,” he said. “We will fight side by side in this war, and if we die,
+let us die bravely. Are the warriors coming in, Na-she-eschuck?”
+
+“They are gathering from every side. They have heard of the insult to
+Black-Hawk, and their hearts are hot in their bosoms. They will behave
+like men.”
+
+“It is good,” said the chief. “Now we will go forth, and you shall see
+how Black-Hawk shall give a traitor his dues.”
+
+They left the lodge, and followed by the brother of Black-Hawk, and
+Napope, a celebrated chief, moved down toward the river, where the rest
+of the party concealed themselves while Na-she-eschuck brought out his
+canoe and crossed to the other shore.
+
+
+
+
+                               CHAPTER V.
+                        THE PRICE OF TREACHERY.
+
+
+Little Fox had remained all night in the white village, and as it was
+noised about that he had betrayed the plans of Black-Hawk, he had no
+lack of his favorite beverage, and morning found him as drunk as ever.
+Captain Melton sent a man with a canoe to carry the price of the
+information to the point above the island, and as the son of Black-Hawk
+was crossing the river, Little Fox was sitting in drunken state upon his
+keg, dreaming of the glorious times he would have when he broached it in
+the seclusion of his lodge. He remembered indistinctly that some one had
+promised to help him across the river with his prize, but for his life
+could not remember who it was, and it almost sobered him when he saw
+Na-she-eschuck crossing from the other shore, and he fumbled with the
+lock of his rifle, and was half inclined to warn the Sac to keep off.
+But the fumes of the liquor were still in his brain, and the young chief
+landed and came toward him.
+
+“The Pottawatomie did not lie to Na-she-eschuck,” said he. “Let us put
+the fire-water into the canoe.”
+
+“You put him in,” said the owner. “Me watch.”
+
+He looked on while Na-she-eschuck placed the keg in the canoe and then
+followed, and, drunk as he was, managed to seat himself safely in the
+light craft. The Sac followed, and obeying the orders he had received,
+headed up the river, rounded the point of the island, and made toward
+the other shore. There was something in the stern, steadfast look of
+Na-she-eschuck which struck a chill into the heart of the traitor
+Pottawatomie, and almost sobered him, and twice he laid his hand upon
+his rifle, as if tempted to use it upon his companion. But, as often as
+he did so, the countenance of the Sac took on a pleasant air of good
+fellowship, which made it impossible to be angry with him.
+
+“Why does not Na-she-eschuck go to the bank?” said Little Fox. “We will
+make a hole in the fire-water tub and drink.”
+
+The canoe was now headed directly for the point of the woodland which
+came down to the water’s edge, and after drawing the light bark up the
+bank, they took the keg between them and carried it up to the first
+opening, where it was placed upon its end, while Little Fox, by the aid
+of his knife, succeeded in drawing out the bung.
+
+“Wagh!” he cried. “Smell good, don’t he, Na-she-eschuck? Now s’pose you
+get straws, we drink much, good deal.”
+
+The Sac went down to the water’s edge and quickly cut two long, slender
+reeds, one of which he gave to Little Fox, and the two sat down over the
+keg, inserted the reeds, and began to imbibe after the manner of boys
+over a barrel of cider. But, although Na-she-eschuck went through all
+the motions of drinking rapidly, it is doubtful if he took as much as
+Little Fox, whose fiery eyes began to light up as he took in the burning
+fluid, and in five minutes he was more drunk than before he crossed the
+stream.
+
+“E-yah! Little Fox is the friend of the white man. Who would not serve
+them when he can earn such drink?”
+
+“Tell Na-she-eschuck what to do and he will get fire-water from the
+white man.”
+
+Drunk as he was, Little Fox looked at the speaker in astonishment. That
+the Sac youth would betray his father seemed impossible to him, and yet
+knowing how strong his own love of liquor was, and that he would betray
+a nation to obtain it, his surprise faded away.
+
+“Will Na-she-eschuck do this? He can get more fire-water than Little
+Fox, for he knows more.”
+
+“What must I do?”
+
+“Go to the white men and tell them all that Black-Hawk is doing, and my
+brother will be very rich.”
+
+“Has Little Fox done this?”
+
+“He has done what he could, but he did not know much,” replied the
+traitor. “Na-she-eschuck has been in the lodge of his father and heard
+his words.”
+
+“Na-she-eschuck will do any thing for fire-water,” said the young chief,
+seeming to reel as he sat. “Did the white men give all this for the
+message which was brought them by Little Fox?”
+
+The Pottawattomie nodded, and again applied his mouth to the reed. But,
+at this moment the expression of drunken gravity passed away from the
+face of Na-she-eschuck. He bounded to his feet, with a look of wild rage
+upon his dark face and his hand upon his hatchet, and drunk as Little
+Fox was, he could see that he was deceived and that Na-she-eschuck was
+perfectly sober. He would have seized his rifle, but the foot of the
+young Sac was firmly planted upon it and he found it impossible to raise
+it, and the threatening action of Na-she-eschuck caused him to draw back
+in alarm.
+
+“Dog—traitor!” hissed the chief. “You have betrayed our people into the
+hands of the enemy and you shall die. Black-Hawk, Napope and
+Wa-be-ke-zhick, appear.”
+
+As he spoke, the three chiefs, accompanied by Will Jackwood, appeared
+from the bushes upon the right. Every face was black with fury, and the
+traitorous savage knew that his doom was fast approaching. He would have
+fled, but the strong hands of Na-she-eschuck and Napope were upon him,
+and in the twinkling of an eye his hands were bound behind him and
+Black-Hawk stood regarding him with a steadfast look, which had no pity
+in it.
+
+“The ears of Black-Hawk have heard the words which have been spoken by
+the mouth of a traitor. Away with him to the sacred wood and then call
+the warriors to witness his fate.”
+
+Napope and Na-she-eschuck dragged him away, and Black-Hawk uttered a
+signal whoop which quickly brought four stalwart Indians to the spot,
+who, at the command of Black-Hawk, fastened up the keg, and making a
+sort of cradle of strong boughs, carried the liquor away toward the
+sacred forest, being solemnly warned not to touch it on their lives.
+After them marched the remaining chiefs and Black-Hawk, taking a
+sequestered path through the wood. Half an hour’s walk brought them to a
+deep glen in the midst of the solemn woods, where a sort of rude altar
+was erected, and where the mystic ceremonies of their strange religion
+were nearly always observed. A solitary tree of small size, with a
+blackened trunk, the scene of many a sacrifice, was standing in the
+center of the glade, and there, tightly bound with green withes, stood
+Little Fox awaiting his fate.
+
+The Indian was sober enough now, for nothing brings a man to his senses
+so quickly, no matter how much stupefied by drink, as the presence of
+danger. His eyes roved from face to face for some sign of relenting or
+pity, but he found none.
+
+“Why has Black-Hawk brought a Pottawattomie here?” he said. “He dare not
+shed the blood of the son of Na-bo-lish.”
+
+“Na-bo-lish was a great chief but his son is a dog,” he said.
+“Black-Hawk will not shed his blood, and a coward’s death he shall die.”
+
+“Little Fox knows how to die, if die he must,” replied the Indian,
+proudly. “He will speak no more and he dares Black-Hawk to do his
+worst.”
+
+The summons had gone forth, and one by one the chiefs and warriors began
+to enter the sacred wood. Every face was clouded, for they knew that
+they would not have been called to this place but to witness some great
+sacrifice. A single glance at the prisoner was all they gave, and then,
+man by man, they seated themselves in a great circle and waited for the
+coming of others. In less than an hour from the time when Little Fox was
+taken, five hundred grim warriors were seated within the glade, and then
+Black-Hawk arose.
+
+“Chiefs and warriors,” he cried—“children of the same great Father,
+although our tribes are many—listen to Black-Hawk. He is getting old,
+his hair is gray, but he weeps for the sorrows of the poor Indian. Once,
+all these great hunting-grounds, in which the white man plants his corn,
+were the property of the Indian. There he lived—there he died, and there
+he lies buried. The steel of the white man’s plow is among the bones,
+and he builds his lodge in the villages which once were ours.
+
+“This should make an Indian very sad, and he should do all he can to
+help his people. But there are some who are so base that for the
+fire-water of the white man they would sell their fathers’ bones. It
+grieves the heart of Black-Hawk that this should be so, for he loves the
+Indian. Now, when we have risen for our rights, and to protect our once
+happy homes, Indians of the pure blood stand ready to give us up a prey
+to the white man, that they may drink the strong water which makes men
+mad.
+
+“Look upon this man. He is a son of the great Na-bo-lish, the
+Pottawattomie. Once, he was a man and a mighty warrior. His foot was
+quick upon the war-path, and his hand ready to shed the blood of his
+enemies. The white men came and brought the strong water to the
+villages. Little Fox was no longer a man when he had taken it into his
+mouth. Let Na-she-eschuck speak, and tell the warriors what Little Fox
+has done, and then let them speak. I have done.”
+
+He sat down amid a strange murmuring, and Na-she-eschuck arose. The
+young chief was well known for his strict honesty, and they were assured
+that he would not lie to save his life.
+
+“My father has spoken good words. Little Fox has sold us to the white
+men for a rifle, two blankets and this fire-water,” striking the keg
+with his foot. “Out of his own mouth condemn him. Let him die.”
+
+Napope arose.
+
+“I heard the words which came from the lips of Little Fox, and the Sac
+has spoken the truth. Let Little Fox die like a dog.”
+
+“And I heard it,” cried the Prophet. “I—Wa-be-ke-zhick, the Prophet. He
+sold us to the white men and he deserves to die. Now let the chiefs and
+warriors speak.”
+
+There was a sudden movement among the listening warriors. They arose as
+one man, and every voice pealed out the solemn sentence: “He is a
+traitor; let him die!”
+
+“You are women,” shrieked the Pottawottamie, fiercely. “Do your worst;
+Little Fox will show you how to die.”
+
+“It is well,” said Black-Hawk, slightly inclining his head. “We will not
+deny that Little Fox has been a great brave, but he is now a dog. Let
+the chiefs come about me, and we will have a talk.”
+
+They were not long in consultation, and then separated, the chiefs going
+about among the men and giving their orders. Then a long-sounding whoop
+from Black-Hawk called them into line, and they began to circle about
+the tree, pointing their fingers scornfully at the prisoner. Then
+Black-Hawk advanced and bared the breast of the prisoner, exposing the
+totem of his tribe.
+
+“Look,” he said, “he bears upon his bosom the sign of a great tribe.
+This is not well, and it must be removed. Wa-be-ke-zhick, advance, and
+cut the totem from his flesh.”
+
+“Cut away the totem of the great tribe,” cried the warriors. “He has no
+right to wear it, who is a dog. Cut it away!”
+
+The countenance of Little Fox was distorted with rage more than fear.
+Drunken and worthless as he had become, he was a true Indian, and felt
+keenly the disgrace about to be put upon him.
+
+“Do not dare to make a chief a dog,” he hissed. “Give me the torture, or
+give me death. Have I no friend among this people who will strike a
+sharp knife into my breast?”
+
+“Has he a friend among the warriors who will do this?” said Black-Hawk.
+“Let him speak.”
+
+No voice replied, and the countenance of Little Fox changed from hope to
+fear.
+
+“He has no friend,” cried Black-Hawk. “Advance, Wa-be-ke-zhick; cut away
+the totem.”
+
+It was done, and Little Fox, if he lived, was ostracised for ever from
+his tribe and death would be to him a happy release. In the mean time, a
+great caldron had been placed upon a fire, and in this the keg of rum
+was poured, and a great quantity of gourds piled up beside it. The
+spirits had now begun to bubble, and taking up a little in a gourd,
+Black-Hawk advanced and offered it to the condemned man.
+
+“For this you sold us to the white men, Little Fox. Drink, now that I
+give it to you. It is warm—it is good—it will make you strong.”
+
+As he spoke, he dashed the contents of the gourd against the breast of
+the doomed man, and Little Fox uttered an appalling shriek which rung
+with startling distinctness through the forest. Now ensued a horrible
+scene, as Indian after Indian caught up a gourd and dashed a portion of
+the boiling spirits upon the naked body of the traitor. Black Will
+stopped his ears and turned away his head to shut out the agonizing
+sights and sounds which the sacrifice presented. He was a cruel man by
+nature, but he found that the Indians could go beyond him in refinement
+of torture. At last the caldron was empty, and the victim stood
+literally parboiled at the stake, gnawing his lips to keep down the
+shrieks which arose in spite of himself. The faces of his stern
+executioners did not change, and they were about to commence some new
+species of torture, when Black Will sprung between.
+
+“Stop, Black-Hawk; stand back there, Napope. This fellow deserves death.
+But you shall not torture him any longer. Kill him, and put him out of
+pain.”
+
+“Stand aside, white man!” cried Napope. “Why do you come between the
+warriors and a traitor?”
+
+“White man! I am the son of Red-Bird, the Sac, who died in the white
+man’s prison; and I say that this shall not go on. Will you kill him?”
+
+“No; let the torture go on.”
+
+Black Will wheeled in his tracks, drew a pistol, and shot Little Fox
+through the heart. Bloody as the deed was, it was mercy, compared with
+the torture in store for the traitor. He started as the bullet pierced
+him, a look of ferocious joy passed over his face, and his head dropped
+upon his bosom. There came a wild rush at the immovable figure of Black
+Will, but the sonorous voice of Black-Hawk was heard, ordering them to
+stand back.
+
+“Touch not the son of Red-Bird, lest you make an enemy of Black-Hawk,”
+he cried. “Take down the body and cast it out in the open woods, that
+the wolves may eat all that is left of a traitor.”
+
+The work was done, and although there was some grumbling at being robbed
+of their victim so early, the bravest among the warriors were inclined
+to commend the bold action of Black Will, although, under the
+circumstances, none of them would have dared to do the same. The body
+was thrown upon the earth to rot, and the warriors on their march back
+to the village, when a runner, hot with haste, dashed into the forest
+and met Black-Hawk.
+
+“Let the braves take their hatchets,” he cried. “The white men are upon
+the march.”
+
+“Ha,” cried Black-Hawk. “Do they come with arms?”
+
+“Major Stillman comes, with many warriors,” replied the runner.
+
+“Let us see if they are friends,” said Black-Hawk. “If they come in
+peace it is well. If they harm a hair of one of my young men they shall
+all die.”
+
+He sent out five young warriors with a white flag, who did not return.
+Later in the day three more went out and reconnoitered in the vicinity
+of the advance of the white men. They were pursued and two of them
+killed, the first blood shed in the war. The third escaped and brought
+the news to Black-Hawk, and they dug up the hatchet and prepared for
+war.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER VI.
+                            THE FIRST BLOW.
+
+
+It must be admitted by unprejudiced men and thinkers of all lands, that
+the “Black-Hawk” war was precipitated by the rapacity of the whites. Not
+satisfied with driving the Indians from the better portion of their
+lands, they persisted still further in forcing them from their villages
+about Rock Island. They would have been less than men if they had not
+resisted, but to the last, Black-Hawk insisted that he would not be the
+first to shed blood, and, as we have seen, the first man killed was one
+of Black-Hawk’s band, by Stillman’s party.
+
+This man seemed to have little knowledge of the Indian character, and
+lacked the power of leading men. He had been sent out by General
+Atkinson in advance, with orders to scour the country, find out the
+position of the Indian force, and to act as his discretion seemed to
+dictate. Captain Melton was with him, and had occasion twice to
+remonstrate with him upon his manner of advancing through a country
+favorable to an ambuscade. The troop consisted of two hundred and
+seventy mounted men, marching without order, straggling where they
+liked, and firing at any stray Indian of whatever tribe, whom they
+chanced to meet.
+
+When the flag of Black-Hawk appeared, Stillman ordered the bearers to be
+taken prisoners.
+
+“Excuse me, Major Stillman,” said Melton, as he heard the order. “Surely
+you do not propose to make these men prisoners?”
+
+“Certainly I do, sir; take your place and let me hear no more.”
+
+“Your words will require an explanation at another time and place, my
+good sir,” said Melton. “Be so good as to remember that I had no orders
+to join you, and that if you insist upon such conduct, I will leave you
+at once. These men came to you under the shadow of a white flag, and you
+have no right to take them prisoners.”
+
+“_Will_ you take your place, Captain Melton?” roared Stillman, “or must
+I put you under arrest?”
+
+Melton said no more, but fell back to the head of his troop, fully
+determined to leave the irate major if he persisted in his conduct.
+
+The three bearers of the flag were sent to the rear, under guard, and
+the troop proceeded in the same disorderly manner. Some time after the
+stragglers in advance caught sight of the warriors who had been sent out
+to see what had been done with the bearers of the flag, and were
+pursued, and two of them shot down without mercy, the rest escaping, by
+taking to the woods in front. No sooner had he beheld this cruel and
+uncalled for butchery, than the young captain of scouts called to his
+men and they wheeled out of the line, faced about, and marched back
+toward the river.
+
+Stillman, boiling with rage, called his men to a halt, and rode back.
+
+“What is the meaning of this conduct, Captain Melton?” he hissed, fairly
+foaming at the mouth. “How dare you detach your command without orders?”
+
+“If you think you have men enough in your rag-tag and bob-tail command
+to stop us, you had better try it on, Major Stillman,” said Melton,
+coolly. “I for one will not give countenance to _murder_, as you are
+doing.”
+
+“Murder, sir?”
+
+“Murder is the word. Those Sacs were doing no harm who were just killed
+by your men, and did not even use their weapons when your scoundrels
+took after them. Go on your way, sir; I will not march a foot further
+with you.”
+
+“I will have you court-martialed, upon my return, sir,” cried Stillman.
+
+“Very well; I shall take an opportunity to tell the court some things
+not to your credit. Good-day, sir. But, for the safety of your men I
+tell you to call in your stragglers, march in a more orderly manner and
+beat the bushes thoroughly before you enter. Attention, scouts;
+forward.”
+
+And the compact little body rode away at a killing pace, leaving Major
+Stillman to his own devices.
+
+Stillman hesitated for some time before advancing, for he knew that the
+desertion of Captain Melton was a great loss to him. While he stood in
+doubt, the men who had killed two Indians came back at a gallop and
+announced that the Indians were just across Sycamore creek and in some
+force. All was now confusion in the white camp. Some who had dismounted
+sprung into the saddle, and with wild shouts the disorderly band rushed
+on, headed by the men who had just come in. Black-Hawk had not supposed
+that Stillman intended to attack him, and the greater portion of his
+force were on the other side of the village; in all, the great chief had
+only forty men under his command when Stillman’s men came up at the
+gallop, strung out across the plain, man, by man, according to the speed
+of their horses, and in this manner crossed the creek. Black-Hawk had
+not hoped that they would thus give themselves a prey to him, and his
+ambuscade was quickly formed.
+
+When half the party had crossed the creek and were massed in disorder
+upon the bank and the rest were struggling up, some crossing the creek,
+and others yet upon the plain beyond, the war-whoop of the Sacs
+announced the onset, and from every side the warriors poured in upon the
+foe. One withering volley was poured in, which strewed the earth with
+dead and dying forms, and at the same moment the charge was made and the
+knife and hatchet was doing its silent but deadly work before the doomed
+men had time to lift a hand. To show the utter foolishness with which
+the advance was made, it is enough to say that the warlike major was
+never in the fight at all, so quickly was the force which had crossed
+the creek disposed of by the furious attack of Black-Hawk.
+
+The cry was, “Satan take the hindmost.” Hardly waiting for Stillman’s
+order to retreat, they broke and fled in every direction, each man for
+himself, lashing their horses to get out of the fearful imbroglio into
+which their own foolhardy conduct had forced them.
+
+Thus, in one desperate charge forty Indians had put two hundred and
+seventy white men to flight! It is no discredit to the West, for the men
+of Stillman’s force, under a different leader, would have laughed at the
+efforts of the Sac force. They came into Dixon’s Ferry as they had left
+Sycamore creek, one at a time, and the loss gradually dwindled from
+seventy to about one-fourth of the number.
+
+The alarm went forth through the land, and the little force of Sac
+warriors were magnified into an army. The work had been done, however,
+and a scene of blood and death was about to be enacted upon the border.
+
+Captain Melton rode back to the settlement, after leaving Stillman, but
+had not gone far when the flying men from the band of heroes began to
+come up with him. Seeing that the war was begun in earnest he faced
+about and prepared to meet them as best he might, knowing nothing of the
+small force of Black-Hawk. After waiting all night for some sign of
+Indian pursuit, as none was made he drew off his men and reached the
+settlement some hours after the arrival of Stillman, who had been
+filling the ears of the inhabitants with stories of the cowardly conduct
+of the captain.
+
+The captain quickly set matters right, and only that he had more
+important business upon his hands, would have followed Stillman to the
+camp of Atkinson, to which he had directed his steps. Taking ten of his
+men, he rode up the river, to the residence of Mr. Wescott, but as he
+drew near, he found evidences upon every hand of the presence of the
+destroyer, and as he crossed the hill, saw, to his horror, that during
+the last night the cabin had been attacked. Wild with fear, he rushed in
+at the broken door and found every thing in confusion, and scattered
+here and there, various bits of Indian finery, beads and the like, which
+told him beyond a doubt who had done the work.
+
+“Indians,” said one of the men. “Good heaven, captain, they are killed!”
+
+They explored the house everywhere, but not a trace of the family could
+be seen. Upon the floor near the entrance was a little pool of fresh
+blood, which looked as if it had been shed the night before, and Melton
+looked at it with a shudder.
+
+“Where are they?” he groaned. “Who has done this ruin?”
+
+“It is always so in an Indian war,” said his lieutenant. “Some band of
+Indians coming up to join Black-Hawk, have rushed in on them, before
+they had time to fire a shot.”
+
+“Somebody has been hurt,” said Melton. “Ha! what have you got there,
+Chris?”
+
+One of the men came forward, holding in his hand a heavy knife, with
+about three inches broken from the point. Upon the hilt of the weapon,
+rudely engraved, was the name, “R. Garrett.”
+
+“Dick Garrett has been here, then,” said Melton, turning pale; “and if
+he has taken Sadie Wescott, it is done for Black Will. Oh! heaven, what
+shall we do?”
+
+“Hold on,” said a feeble voice from beneath their feet. “Help me out of
+this and I’ll let ye know.”
+
+“Some one is in the cellar,” said Melton. “Up with the trap and let him
+out.”
+
+The trap-door was opened, and Cooney Joe, bleeding and ghastly, appeared
+at the foot of the ladder. A dozen hands were extended to help him up,
+and he was seated upon one of the stools, gasping for breath.
+
+“What is this, Joe?” said Melton. “Speak, man; don’t you see that I am
+in torture until I know the worst?”
+
+“The worst is, that a party of red niggers, headed by Dick Garrett, made
+a rush at us last night, and took Mr. Wescott and the gal prisoners. I
+had a tussle with Dick Garrett, and one of them cussid reds hit me over
+the head with a hatchet, and I fell into the cellar. I do’no’ what drove
+’em off, but they did not come down to raise my wool, and I’ve been too
+weak to git out without help.”
+
+“You don’t know which way they went?”
+
+“Don’t I tell ye they knocked the life clean out of me, the fust crack?
+I didn’t fairly git my senses back till I heerd ye talking. ’Tain’t
+above two hours sence they left.”
+
+“How many had Dick Garrett under him?”
+
+“Mebbe twenty, the ugliest-lookin’ lot of whites painted red you ever
+sot yer livin’ eyes on. I’ll be bu’sted ef they wouldn’t spile a
+lookin’-glass by jest peekin’ into it; darned lot of ruffi’ns!”
+
+“We must follow them,” hissed Melton, through his set teeth. “I’ll have
+the girl out of their hands, if I have to follow them into Black-Hawk’s
+village.”
+
+“See here; Black-Hawk do’no’ nothin’ ’bout it. The pizen cusses took his
+darter with ’em, but she sp’iled one chap, sure as you live. He got an
+arrer clean through him.”
+
+“She is a brave girl, Joe. Oh, how sorry I am that you are hurt.”
+
+“Hold hard; you ain’t goin’ without me, you know. One of your chaps wash
+out this cut, and put some plaster on it, and we’ll make it do. I’m
+goin’, you bet.”
+
+“I fear you are not strong enough.”
+
+“You be grannied! You see I’ve got a sort of snickering notion after
+that there Injin gal, and I’ll be blowed if I don’t help her.”
+
+In his border life Melton had picked up a slight knowledge of surgery,
+and he washed and dressed the wound as well as the limited conveniences
+at his disposal would admit. Having done so, Cooney Joe rose up, though
+somewhat “weak and staggering,” to use his own expression, and was ready
+to “fight or run,” as circumstances might require.
+
+“Now see here, cripples,” he said. “That carroty-headed son of a gun,
+Dick Garrett, is a whole boss-team, you bet ye. He’ll fight—he will—till
+the teeth meet in the flesh. Oh, you bet he is on it, now. He kin shoot,
+and when we foller him, we ain’t tracking Sacs, so look out for
+thunder.”
+
+“And he is in league with Black Will, and that scoundrel has a hundred
+ruffians at his beck and call,” said Melton. “We never should have had
+any trouble with the Indians but for men of his kidney.”
+
+“Now fur trailing,” said Cooney Joe. “Stand one side, you critters, and
+let the old man work! I’ve got a mark that can’t be beat, fur Dick wears
+the biggest moccasin of any man in the Nor’-west. Look around mighty
+spry, and when you find a track like a young canoe, that’s Dick
+Garrett’s hoof.”
+
+The trail was quickly found, and led to the northward. They followed it
+swiftly, Cooney Joe bending slightly in the saddle, and keeping his eyes
+on the trail, while the rest followed, keeping far enough behind not to
+disturb the trail. After a march of nearly two miles, the track suddenly
+ended upon the bank of the Father of Waters, and they knew that the
+scoundrels had taken to the stream.
+
+“Now ain’t this cussid mean; ain’t it enuff to make a man raise his hand
+against his venerable ancestor?” roared Joe. “They’ve took water, they
+hev. Here; send back two men with the hosses, fur we’ve got to hoof it.”
+
+This plan was adopted, and two of the men returned with the horses,
+while the rest searched about among the reeds, and after some trouble
+found two rude dug-outs concealed, in which, by making two trips, they
+crossed the great stream. Here they scattered and searched up and down
+for the trail which they had lost, still guided by the ponderous hoof of
+Dick Garrett.
+
+“Oh, _ain’t_ he pizen, that Dick!” growled Cooney Joe. “Its just his
+nat’ral cussedness, you know. He’s aweer that I like to ride, and he
+jest done this to be mean. Comes nat’ral to him, meanness does. Here you
+are; come on, boys!”
+
+He had taken up the recovered trail as if no interruption had occurred,
+and the party moved on across the plain. They were tried men, who had
+followed Captain Melton in many an hour of danger, but even their hearts
+gave a great leap as they plunged into the Indian country, perhaps never
+to return.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER VII.
+                               OVERBOARD.
+
+
+The surprise of the occupants of the log-cabin by the river was sudden
+and complete, when at a late hour the house was surrounded by a motley
+group headed by a man who, in spite of his paint and feathers, could not
+hide from so acute a scout as Samuel Wescott that he was a white man in
+disguise. The rush was so sudden that they had been overthrown before
+they had fairly time to reach their weapons, and the captured men were
+at once hurried to their horses, and the band made off at a rapid rate
+up the stream. Mr. Wescott was wounded, but in spite of that the savage
+white leader urged him on, threatening him with the point of his knife
+if he faltered or turned aside. They reached the river, when, to the
+surprise of all, a flat-boat shot out from the western bank and made
+toward the eastern shore. The men who held the poles were either white
+men or showed a marvelous aptitude for flat-boating, an accomplishment
+rarely to be looked for in an Indian who is not in love with manual
+labor. The bow of the flat grated on the low beach, when the party went
+on board, horses and all, and they pushed out into the stream.
+
+“This boat belonged to Captain Hughes’ father,” whispered Sadie. “Is it
+possible that these wretches have murdered him and his crew?”
+
+“He ought to have come down some days ago,” said Mr. Wescott, in an
+uneasy tone. “I am afraid that the good old man has indeed fallen. Be
+careful what you say, for these scoundrels understand every word you
+speak.”
+
+At this moment the chief approached and caught Mr. Wescott by his
+wounded arm, causing him to utter a low cry of pain, while the blood
+gushed from under his hand.
+
+“No whispering,” he hissed, dropping all at once his assumed Indian
+habits. “I’m no baby, Sam Wescott, but a bird of the woods, a
+Mississippi roarer, and I can lick the universal earth a-flying.”
+
+“Dick Garrett!” cried Wescott, in a tone of surprise. “I thought so.”
+
+“You know me, do ye?” said Dick, with an air of bravado. “All right,
+’square, it’s all the wuss for you, for Dick Garrett don’t let no man
+live that knows he wears an Injin rig. Git ropes hyar and take a couple
+of hitches on this chap, some of you fellers.”
+
+“What do you intend to do?” cried Wescott, struggling. “Hands off, you
+scoundrels!”
+
+“Tie him tight, boys,” replied Dick Garrett, in fiendish glee. “Teach
+the cuss to be so sharp, I will, before I git done with him. Now, then,
+Sam Wescott, if you’ve got any prayers to say, say ’em quick, for
+overboard you go when we get to that snag in the river.”
+
+“You cannot mean it,” said Wescott. “Such a cold blooded and unprovoked
+murder—”
+
+“Oh, give us a rest or I’ll gag you,” replied Dick Garrett. “The matter
+of a man more or less in the world ain’t going to shake it to its
+center, you bet, and when I say you’ve got to go under, then you go.”
+
+“Have your way, then, murderous wretch,” cried the brave man, drawing
+himself up proudly. “I will not beg for my life from such as you, and am
+ready to die, if my time has come, as bravely as another. Do your
+worst.”
+
+Sadie by this time began to comprehend the danger in which her father
+stood, and would have come to him, but she was forced back by one of the
+rough men who wore the Indian garb, but who could not conceal a certain
+flat-boat swagger which betrayed him.
+
+“He crows loud, boys, don’t he?” said Garrett; “mighty loud for a bird
+of his feather that’s only got three minnits to live. Keep the gal away;
+she ain’t got leave to die yet.”
+
+“Let me go to my father,” pleaded Sadie. “Oh, sir, you will not kill him
+for a single hasty word?”
+
+“I rather think I shall,” replied Garrett, as cool and composed as if
+talking of any ordinary event. “The man’s got to go. I don’t advertise
+to be a saint, and when a man runs ag’inst me and calls me a murderer, I
+reckon it’s about time for him to pass in his chips. I’m a peaceable
+man—I will _have_ peace, or a fight.”
+
+This strange man was dreadfully in earnest. Human life was to him a
+thing of no price—we might lose it to-day or to-morrow, of we might live
+a hundred years—a small matter, not to be taken into account. He had no
+objections to killing a man, and if he had stood in his way, in any
+manner, it became a _duty_ to put him aside.
+
+They were approaching the snag, and the desperado was about to order the
+prisoner to be thrown into the water, when the boatmen were suddenly
+thrust aside, and Minneoba, holding her bow in her hand, darted forward
+and leveled an arrow at his breast.
+
+“Look, white man,” she cried, “Minneoba is the daughter of Black-Hawk,
+and she can not lie; if you do harm to the good white man, I will send
+an arrow through your heart.”
+
+“Why, you cat!” hissed Dick Garrett, turning upon her with a devilish
+look. “Stand out of the way.”
+
+But Minneoba would not obey him. It was the second time she had found
+her arrow effective, and it had some influence upon the man who “would
+have peace or a fight.” Although full of mad hate, he knew that she
+could aim an arrow well, for he had seen her skill tested in the Indian
+towns.
+
+“What in the devil’s name made me bring this cat on board?” he uttered.
+“Better far have left her behind to find her way to the village as best
+she could. Look you, Minneoba,” he added aloud. “You know that I would
+not willingly do you a wrong, but you must get out of the way.”
+
+“No,” replied Minneoba, stamping her foot. “Minneoba will not move, and
+if Garrett does wrong to the good white man, he shall die.”
+
+“Now, my girl, be careful, please; I’ll have to take measures you won’t
+like if you don’t get out of the way.”
+
+“Minneoba will shoot,” replied the girl, with flashing eyes, still
+pointing the arrow at his breast. Garrett nodded to one of his men, and
+while the leader expostulated with her he stole behind and suddenly
+caught her by the arm in a firm clasp. With a cry of anger the girl
+caught the arrow in her disengaged hand and drove it through the arm of
+her captor, who released her with an oath, but before she could strike
+again, Garrett had her in his arms.
+
+“Now then, lads!” he cried. “I’ll hold this beauty fast, and if she
+struggles I’ll take toll from her lips.”
+
+“Cease to struggle, Minneoba,” said Mr. Wescott. “You only expose
+yourself to new indignity without the chance of aiding me. I am ready to
+meet my fate, although it is a hard one, but it grieves me to think that
+I die by the hands of white men. Sadie, farewell—farewell, my dear
+child. All that I have is yours and your dear mother’s. Thank God that
+she at least was absent when this blow fell.”
+
+“I can not see you die,” she sobbed. “Oh, Richard Garrett, will nothing
+move you to do right?”
+
+“That depends on what you call _right_. Now you don’t think it right to
+beat a man at the picturs or billiards or to pick his pocket, or crack a
+bank. Now I do, so we won’t seem to agree, no matter how you fix it, so
+I guess we may as well end this now. Toss him over, boys.”
+
+“It don’t seem scarcely right,” said the rough young fellow who was
+helping Sadie back. “Why not duck him, and then let him out, boss?”
+
+“Because he knows I wear an Injin disguise. It’s all very well for you
+that he don’t know, but I ain’t so easy suited. Toss him over, I say,
+and make no words.”
+
+They lifted the bound man and flung him over the rail, while with a
+thrilling shriek Sadie fell senseless into the arms of the man who held
+her. He laid her gently down, and made a spring at the taffrail, and his
+body struck the water almost as soon as that of Mr. Wescott, who was
+unable to help himself.
+
+“Come back here, you born fool,” screamed Dick Garrett. “What do you
+think the Cap will say when he hears how you act?”
+
+“You go to ——,” said the rough but good-hearted fellow, naming a
+locality not sought after by humanity generally. “I’m going to save this
+man.”
+
+“Then by ——” hissed Dick Garrett, “you stay with him; set in your poles,
+boys. Tom don’t want to come on board.”
+
+By this time the man had seized the helpless form of Wescott, and with
+his clasp-knife managed to cut the bonds upon his hands and feet, and
+Wescott at once began to swim, but feebly at first, and the fiendish
+order of the desperate leader rung in his ears, and they saw the boat
+moving slowly away, leaving them alone on the wide river.
+
+“We’re done, stranger,” said the man called Tom. “I done my best, but
+he’s run from us.”
+
+“You can swim to the bank,” said Mr. Wescott, noting with what ease the
+man sustained himself.
+
+“I reckon.”
+
+“Then do so and leave me to my fate,” replied Wescott. “You have already
+risked too much for me.”
+
+“When I quit a man in that way I reckon you’d better call round with a
+rope and string me up. It’ll suit me fust rate. Let the current take ye
+square; we’ll fetch up somewhere I reckon, and when we do, and I onc’t
+git on the trail of that Dick Garrett, won’t I make him howl!”
+
+Even as he spoke the two men were moving on a course diagonal with the
+current, the stronger man giving all the support he could to his wounded
+companion. But the shore seemed far away and Wescott felt that he could
+not go much further.
+
+“Save yourself,” he gasped. “My wound has opened again and I am losing
+strength.”
+
+“I won’t do it,” replied Tom, through his set teeth. “Hold up a little;
+I’ll save you yet.”
+
+“There is no hope,” replied Wescott. “Avenge me if you can and save my
+daughter from that villain. You can do me better service in that way
+than by staying with me now.”
+
+At this moment the surge came down heavily and buried the speaker
+beneath the water. Tom paddled to and fro, looking for him in vain, for
+the water had claimed its prey, and nerving himself to the task the
+young man struck out resolutely for the shore, which he reached nearly
+exhausted. Then he ran along the bank and looked for some sign of
+Wescott, but he looked in vain. The surface of the river was blank.
+
+
+
+
+                             CHAPTER VIII.
+                      MELTON’S SCOUT—A BUSH FIGHT.
+
+
+Tom Bantry had been a flatboatman since he was old enough to hold a
+pole, and now for the first time paused to consider how far he had gone
+down the road of sin. He was conscious of many evil deeds already
+performed, but the stain of blood was not upon his soul, and although
+pledged to his vile companion he could not stand by tamely and witness
+the murder of so good a man as Samuel Wescott. But his good intentions
+had come to naught, and the brave man was dead.
+
+The flatboatman rose and looked about him, a wicked light coming over
+his dark face. “They taught me evil, them cusses did,” he muttered. “I’d
+the making of a man in me, but they sp’iled me, and now they’ve killed
+as good a man as ever walked the earth. I’ll remember that ag’inst ye,
+old man Garrett.”
+
+He was literally worn out, and dropped down upon the grass and slept
+until morning. He woke at last and started up refreshed, only to find a
+party of white men were upon the opposite bank, and with his paint upon
+him, Tom knew that it would be far from safe to meet them, and he
+skulked away, keeping under cover of the bushes, and then made a circuit
+through the bushes, designing to cross their path and ascertain who they
+were. As he crept forward with that intention, he heard a slight
+rustling in the bushes in front, and the long, snake-like head of Napope
+appeared above the bushes, signaling him to fall back. He did so,
+involuntarily dropping his hand upon his knife, which he had not lost in
+the last night’s struggle in the stream, when he remembered that Napope
+regarded all his party as friends and that he still wore the garb of an
+Indian. He dropped back and the next moment Napope joined him.
+
+“The white dogs come,” he said, in a fierce tone, “and the heart of a
+chief is big in his bosom. They shall die without knowledge.”
+
+“Who are they?” demanded Tom.
+
+“They are white and they are not the friends of Jackwood the son of
+Red-Bird. Where is your gun, my brother?”
+
+“I lost it last night,” replied Tom, a little embarrassed. “Let me look
+out and see what white men come.”
+
+He advanced to the edge of the woods and looked out, and could detect a
+white party moving hastily across the plain. Foremost among them was a
+man whom he had known well some years before, Cooney Joe, and behind him
+came Captain Melton and his gallant men, and it flashed through the mind
+of Tom Bantry that they were in pursuit of Dick Garrett. His heart stood
+still, for a backward glance showed him fifty stout Sacs, armed to the
+teeth, lying under the bushes waiting for the coming of the hated white
+men. Twenty-four hours ago Tom Bantry would have delighted in this, but
+now he was changed, and racked his brains for ways and means to acquaint
+them with the ambush before them, without destruction to himself.
+
+Napope waved his hand, and, as if by magic, every warrior disappeared,
+and a stillness like that of death fell upon the scene. The whites came
+in rapidly, unsuspicious of danger, and passed through the first bushes,
+when they were surprised to hear a sudden crash and a yell of surprise
+and anger. The crash came from Tom Bantry, who had managed to fall down
+with a great noise, at the same time giving the yell which startled the
+white rangers.
+
+“Tree, boys!” yelled Cooney Joe. “Tree and fight. Injins thar, by the
+big horn spoon.”
+
+The men who followed Cooney Joe were Indian-fighters of the first class,
+and the order had scarcely been given when every man was sheltered by a
+tree and had his rifle ready for action. This was not done a moment too
+soon, for the feathers of the savages began to show above the bushes,
+and several shots were fired, until a commanding voice shouted to the
+warriors to hold their fire.
+
+“What do the white men seek?” cried Napope. “They have been beaten once;
+must we beat them again?”
+
+“That’s Napope,” cried Cooney Joe. “I know the old cuss, and he kin
+fight, if he is an Injin; but we’ll lick him out of his moccasins. Say,
+Injin, you’d better clear the way; you ain’t got the major to fight
+now.”
+
+“Napope does not seek the scalps of the white men,” cried the Indian.
+“If they bring the scalps to him, he will take them, but he does not
+thirst for blood. Let Captain Melton turn back and cross the river.”
+
+“The path must be clear for me to pass through,” replied Melton. “The
+hatchet has been dug up and its edge turned against women and children,
+and the good white man, Wescott, with his daughter, has been carried
+away, and we think the Sacs know where they are.”
+
+“The Sacs do not know,” replied Napope, proudly. “Does the white man
+take us for Menomonies or Chippewas? The Sacs are men and not dogs; they
+do not fight against women and children.”
+
+“Napope is a brave man, and will not lie to save his life,” said Melton.
+“Let us pass on safely, and then there shall be no blood shed, for we
+seek only those who have stolen the brave man Wescott and his child.”
+
+“My brother must turn back,” replied the chief. “There is no path over
+the Indian country for white soldiers until peace is made; but if the
+good white man and his child are here, they shall be made welcome, and
+no harm shall come to them if Napope can give them aid. But Melton must
+take his warriors and go back to his people.”
+
+“We will not turn back,” replied Melton, angrily, “unless we take the
+friends we seek with us. Let Napope clear the way, or we will try to go
+on without his leave.”
+
+“The white men will find knives and hatchets in the path,” replied the
+chief, grimly. “Go back as you came, and all shall be well; refuse, and
+you shall find that my young men carry guns.”
+
+“I don’t like this,” whispered Cooney Joe in the ear of Melton. “They’ve
+got twice as many warriors as we have, and the chances are good for a
+fight. I never like to back out, but I don’t know but it’s the safest
+plan.”
+
+“It won’t do,” said Melton. “These scoundrels will get too impudent if
+they are allowed their own way too much. There must be a fight, and at
+once, and the boys must do their best. I know them too well to think
+that they will back down for twice their number of Sacs.”
+
+“What does my brother say?” cried Napope.
+
+“Fight.” replied Melton. “We will go on.” Napope disappeared
+immediately, and scarcely had he done so when a bullet whizzed by the
+ear of the young scout as he hastily took to a tree. The fight now
+commenced in true Indian-fashion, the Sacs forcing the fighting and
+running from tree to tree to get nearer to their enemies. But they found
+a different party from that with which they had fought upon Sycamore
+Creek. Every bullet had its billet. Did an Indian show hand or foot from
+behind his shelter, it was at once the mark of a well-aimed ball. The
+men who followed Melton had lived by the rifle, and were not likely to
+miss their aim easily, while the Indians were notoriously bad marksmen,
+not having the patience to perfect themselves in the use of the rifle.
+
+Besides, the weapons they carried were not of the best description,
+being those furnished by the traders against the law, and their powder
+was “contract,” warranted not to burn except at a slow fire. But their
+numbers made the position of Melton’s small force decidedly unsafe, and
+they began to close in upon every side, and every moment Melton expected
+a charge with hatchet and knife, most fearful weapons in Indian hands.
+But the steady valor of the scouts had inspired the savages with a
+respect for them, and they fought warily, losing a man now and then, and
+inflicting little damage upon the foe.
+
+“They’ll charge soon, boys,” whispered Cooney Joe. “Pass the word down
+the line to have a charge ready for the rush. Don’t throw away a shot.”
+
+The rifles were ready when Napope gave the order, and at his signal-yell
+they bounded out like tigers, flourishing their bright weapons in the
+air.
+
+This was the moment for the Border Riflemen, and each picked his man and
+fired, and every bullet found a mark. Supposing the rifles empty, the
+Sacs rushed on, but they were mistaken, for up rose ten more riflemen,
+and the head of the assailants seemed to melt away before their fire. It
+was more than Indian endurance was equal to, and they again buried
+themselves in the bushes, in spite of the fierce orders of Napope, who,
+although severely wounded in the shoulder, urged the men on.
+
+He was ably seconded by Na-she-eschuck, who was also slightly wounded.
+
+“Well done, my lads,” cried Mellon. “Bravely done, riflemen; they have
+not Sycamore Creek to brag of this time, at any rate.”
+
+Napope collected his men under cover of the bushes, but his heart was
+full of anger against the gallant band of scouts, whom he had expected
+to sweep from the path in that headlong charge. So far from doing that,
+over one-third of his men were placed _hors de combat_, and several more
+partially disabled. Aroused by the invectives of the two chiefs, they
+again began to advance, but more cautiously, sliding from tree to tree,
+with great care, and exposing themselves as little as possible in doing
+so. But the riflemen managed to inflict new damage upon them before they
+came in fair charging distance. Napope had separated his force into
+three parts, sending out a small party upon each flank of the white
+force, and Melton was compelled to detach eight men, four upon each
+flank, to keep off these troublesome flanking-parties. This left him but
+twelve men in his main force, opposed to over thirty determined
+warriors, eager for the blood of those who had slain so many of their
+friends.
+
+“We have got ourselves into a pizen scrape, Cap,” said Cooney Joe, as he
+stood with his back against a tree, looking to the priming of his rifle;
+“but thar’s only one way to do, and that is to fight our way out. We kin
+lick ’em if more don’t come; _that’s_ what I’m afraid of.”
+
+At this moment the rush was made, and as before, the whites divided
+their fire, so as to give the Indians two volleys before they reached
+the trees, and then with yells which vied with those of the Indians,
+they formed a line among the trees, and beat back the savages with
+knife, hatchet, and clubbed rifle. It was a desperate affair while it
+lasted, and the wild valor of the scouting party prevailed, and they
+were driving back the Indians step by step, when one of the men who had
+been sent to the right flank came running up.
+
+“Party of Injins coming across the plain, on a run, Cap,” he reported.
+“I reckon we’d better git.”
+
+“Easier said than done,” said the captain, turning aside a blow with his
+heavy knife. “Shoot that fellow, Ed.”
+
+The borderer brought his rifle to his shoulder, and the savage fell,
+shot through the heart.
+
+“Have the Indians on the flanks retreated, Ed?” demanded Melton, as he
+fired a pistol at a savage who was poising his hatchet for a throw, and
+the savage went down.
+
+“No, they ain’t all gone yet,” replied the man, who was coolly reloading
+his discharged rifle. “I guess we’d better call in the men and make a
+rush through these red devils, before the others can come up.”
+
+A signal whistle, well known to the “merry men” of Melton, brought in
+all upon the flank, and with shouts of victory, all charged upon the
+broken and demoralized body of Sacs. They had fought bravely, but their
+courage was not proof against the assault, and they broke and fled in
+every direction through the woods, pursued by the victorious whites, who
+only wanted to get deeper into the woods, to avoid the force coming up
+in their rear. They would not have done this had they known that it was
+Dick Garrett and his party, bringing as prisoner, Sadie Wescott, whom
+Minneoba would not leave.
+
+Scouts from the party of Napope having discovered the coming of the
+disguised whites, and apprised the chief, he hurried out to meet them,
+and started as he saw who they held as prisoner.
+
+“Ha!” he cried. “Then it is my brother who struck the wigwam of Wescott,
+and took him prisoner?”
+
+“Yes,” said Garrett. “You see our boss, Will Jackwood, wanted this girl,
+and sent me to take her.”
+
+“Where is Wescott, now?” demanded Napope.
+
+“Well,” said Garrett, hesitating, “he’s gone under; that’s what’s the
+matter with _him_.”
+
+“Let my brother speak more plainly,” said the chief. “What has become of
+Wescott, the good white man?”
+
+“He has been murdered,” replied Sadie, coming forward, quickly. “Chief,
+you know what he was, and that he never willingly wronged the Indians.
+You know, too, that when the mob in the village assaulted Black-Hawk and
+yourself, he came to your aid and helped you to escape. He has been
+brutally murdered, by this base wretch, Garrett.”
+
+“The girl lies, I reckon,” said Garrett, sullenly. “See here, chief; is
+it calculated in your tribe that women are any better off for having too
+much tongue?”
+
+“My brother must let the Wild Rose speak,” replied Napope. “When the
+Sacs come hungry and thirsty into her father’s lodge, she is always
+ready to give them food and drink; when they are weary, and the night
+air is cold, there is always a warm place by the fire to spread a
+blanket. The child of Wescott must be allowed to speak.”
+
+“Now look here, chief,” said Garrett, in the same ferocious tone.
+“’Tain’t noways likely I’m going to come down to you or any man on
+earth. If Wescott was killed, he was my pris’ner, and I had a right to
+do what I would with him. Have you any thing to say against it?”
+
+Napope inclined his head slowly, as recognizing the justice of the
+remark. The life of the man was as little regarded by the Indians as by
+Garrett, and Napope rather liked the tone of insolence he assumed.
+
+“Napope,” cried Sadie, “I want you to listen to me. This wicked man
+threw my father into the water, from the flat-boat, and he has not been
+seen since. Will you see a good man murdered and refuse to avenge him?”
+
+Napope was evidently troubled, for just now he needed the assistance of
+Garrett and his men, and did not wish to make him angry.
+
+“We will speak of that another time, Wild Rose. Until then, rest safely
+with Minneoba, the daughter of Black-Hawk, while we do the work of men.
+Garrett, do you know that Loud Tempest is here and he has beaten the men
+of Napope, and killed many?”
+
+“Loud Tempest; do you mean Captain Melton?”
+
+“Yes; he is here, with the white hunter Joe, and many warriors. Napope
+can not rest until we have his scalp.”
+
+“Cooney Joe! Why, I give him a lick last night that ought to have
+settled any decent man for good.”
+
+“He is alive, and fights like a Sac,” replied Napope. “They are in the
+woods and we must follow and take their scalps.”
+
+“I’ll bet he’s arter me,” muttered Garrett. “He don’t owe me any good
+will for work I’ve done, and I’ve swore to have his hair. Thar’s my hand
+on it, Napope, and I’ll never quit you until he or I have gone under.”
+
+Sadie had started at the name of Melton, and was conscious of a feeling
+of joy that he had thought enough of her safety to follow her into the
+Indian country, but, as she glanced over the line of ferocious faces,
+she was sorry that he had incurred this danger. But she followed the
+party until they reached the battle-field and found it strewn with the
+slain bodies of the Sacs who had fallen, each one pierced by the deadly
+bullet.
+
+“These ain’t babies we are following,” said Garrett. “They kin fight,
+Melton’s scout kin, and ef we lick ’em we lick a good crowd. How many
+has he got with him?”
+
+Napope extended the fingers upon both hands twice.
+
+“Twenty? We’ve got our work cut out then, for twenty of Melton’s Mounted
+Rifles, with the capting and Cooney Joe to lead, are a hard crowd to
+manage, bet your life.”
+
+“There was one of your men with us in this fight,” said Napope, looking
+about him for Tom Bantry. “But I do not see him now.”
+
+“Who was he?” demanded Garrett, glancing over the party hastily. “Was it
+the one we call Tom?”
+
+Napope nodded, and Garrett uttered an oath, and a search was commenced
+for him. He was not among the dead or wounded, and whether he had
+perished or not, Bantry was not to be found.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER IX.
+                       THE DEFENSE OF THE ISLAND.
+
+
+When the enemy had been so scattered as to leave the path free, the
+small band of rangers plunged deeper into the woods and kept on their
+course until they reached a small wooded swamp through which many small
+creeks ran, leaving a little island in the center, containing, perhaps,
+two acres of land. The tall trees stood thick about it, and no better
+place of defense could possibly have been selected. No sooner had they
+reached the island than they set to work fortifying it by piling up
+fallen logs into a temporary barricade, making it strongest upon the
+only point which could be assailed by land, as the creeks swept around
+it on three sides, leaving a space of smooth ground about twenty feet
+wide. Across this they built a strong barricade at least ten feet high,
+through the openings of which, they could fire upon the foe, without
+being themselves seen.
+
+The other parts of the island were almost impervious to assault, for not
+only did the deep creek guard it, but the logs had fallen all about it
+in inextricable confusion, making a _chevaux de frise_ through which a
+corps of axmen would have found it extremely difficult to force their
+way. The middle of the island was cleared, leaving the path open for
+them to pass from one part to another, and they now waited almost
+eagerly for the coming of the enemy, who, as yet, did not appear. Cooney
+Joe took his rifle and stole out toward the clearing, and for half an
+hour the “scout” remained quiet, waiting in considerable anxiety for the
+coming of the hunter, whose danger they well knew. But he came back at a
+long-loping trot, his rifle at a trail, and his eyes flashing with the
+ardor of battle.
+
+“Git ready, boys,” he cried. “We’ve got business afore us, bet yer
+life.”
+
+“What now, Joe?” demanded the captain. “Who are coming?”
+
+“All that’s left of Napope’s band and thirty of Dick Garrett’s men,”
+replied Joe. “And—”
+
+“Thar’s an Injin,” cried one of the men. “I’ll pop him over.”
+
+“Hold on,” replied Joe. “Seems to me that chap is making signals that
+look _white_. Thar; look at that!”
+
+An Indian had appeared in plain sight and was waving a white cloth in
+the air.
+
+“Hello, _you_!” yelled Joe. “Come in, ef you want to.”
+
+The man obeyed and came clambering over the barricade, and at a glance
+they could see that he was a white man disguised. It was Tom Bantry, who
+had escaped from associates with whom he could no longer consort.
+
+“Look here, men,” he said. “I’m Tom Bantry. You don’t know _me_ and
+mebbe you don’t want to. I’ve been one of Dick Garrett and Will
+Jackwood’s men—I have. Now why don’t you kill me?”
+
+“Don’t see my way to that clear,” said Joe. “Now, Tom Bantry, what d’ye
+want here?”
+
+“I’ve, quit ’em,” replied Tom, energetically. “I couldn’t stand it,
+boys, ’pon my word, I couldn’t. I feel mean as dirt ’cause I’ve been
+with ’em so long; but I tell you I didn’t think they was so mean till
+last night when they killed poor Mr. Wescott.”
+
+“What’s that you say?” cried Melton, coming forward. “Who killed him;
+how was he killed?”
+
+“Dick Garrett did it,” replied Tom, in a choking voice. “The ’square
+give him some cheek, and he had him throwed into the river. Boys, I’m a
+rough boatman, but I jumped in after him, and they left us alone in the
+dark on the river. I tried to save him, but it wan’t no use; the current
+took him under.”
+
+“I believe this man, for one,” said Melton. “He never would dare to come
+here with such a tale as that unless it was really true. What do you
+say, boys?”
+
+“He’s all right,” replied Joe, “but ef he ain’t, let him look out,
+’cause I shoot awful close, odd times; I do, by gracious. So Dick
+Garrett is jined with Napope?”
+
+“That ain’t all, you know,” said Tom Bantry. “They hev sent off a
+messenger to the village, and if you don’t have lively times round here,
+then I don’t want a picayune.”
+
+“Perhaps we had better retreat.”
+
+“You can’t do it; they’ve got scouts all through the woods, and you’d
+hev the hull posse on your backs in twenty minnits by the clock, so
+don’t try that on, ’square. No, it’s goin’ to be a b’ar-fight, and you
+can’t find a better place than this to fight in.”
+
+“I believe the man is right,” said Melton. “I say, Folks, is your hand
+so bad you can’t pull a trigger?”
+
+“Sorry to say ’tis, Cap,” replied the man; “I can’t do nothing.”
+
+He had been hit in the hand during the fight that morning, and the cords
+had been so injured as to make it impossible for him to fire a rifle.
+
+“Then you may as well let this man have your rifle, Folks,” said the
+captain. “I take it for granted you mean to fight?”
+
+“Stranger, I’ve _got_ to fight,” said Bantry. “Why, if Dick Garrett gets
+me, he’ll raise my wool, sure, and so, ef he does git into this camp,
+I’m goin’ out feet fust. That’s the way to talk it.”
+
+“He knows you have turned against him, then?”
+
+“Captin, he suspects it, and to suspect a man is all _he_ wants, you
+know. He’ll go for me, sure.”
+
+The man who had been hurt came up at this moment and gave Bantry the
+rifle and ammunition.
+
+“Now, ’square, see here,” he said; “you watch me when I fire the first
+shot, and if it don’t seem to you that I’ve tried to hit my man, I give
+you leave to shoot me, that’s all. This is a good rifle, chummy—she
+hangs true as a die, and I can knock the black out of a buffler’s eye at
+twenty rods with her.”
+
+At this moment one of the sentries outside the barricade gave the
+signal, and all were immediately upon the alert. Melton took the charge
+of Bantry upon himself, and gave him a place in the middle of the
+barricade, and took his station beside him. The sentries came stealing
+in like silent specters, and placed themselves beside the rest in
+silence, waiting for the advance of the Indians.
+
+They had not long to wait, for a tufted head was cautiously protruded
+from behind a tree, and a pair of brilliant eyes looked keenly at the
+island. Evidently he saw something out of the way, for he stepped out in
+full view of the fort and advanced to within twenty feet of the
+barricade.
+
+“That man must not go back,” said Melton, in a whisper, touching Tom
+Bantry on the arm, “and no rifle must be fired. Can you fetch him?”
+
+Bantry caught up a knife and hatchet, and sprung from the barricade so
+suddenly that the Indian had no time to cock his gun before the fiery
+boatman was upon him. They closed with fierce energy, a short struggle
+ensued, and then Tom Bantry arose, leaving the Indian dead at his feet.
+
+“Well done, Bantry,” said Melton, as the man came back his face scarcely
+flushed by the desperate struggle in which he had been engaged. “You
+will do very well without watching.”
+
+“I’ve _got_ to fight,” replied Tom, coolly. “It won’t do for me to be
+caught, I tell you.”
+
+By this time the Indians and disguised boatmen began to show themselves
+through the woods, and the scout opened upon them at once, and they
+skulked to the shelter of the bushes. But the men who had come up with
+the desperado Garrett did not know the word fear, and only waited for
+the orders of their superior to advance to the assault.
+
+“They are fighting chickens, Cap; game birds, every man, now you mind
+what I say,” said the deserter. “They’ll fight like bulldogs, but they’d
+do better if Black Will was here.”
+
+The attack was not long delayed. The desperate ruffians collected as
+close as possible to the barricade, and then made their rush all
+together. They were met by men as determined and desperate as
+themselves, and forced back, leaving one fourth of their number dead or
+wounded in front of the barricade.
+
+“That’s the way Melton’s scouts do it,” cried the voice of the young
+captain. “Come again, my boys.”
+
+“I hear you,” screamed Garrett, “and we will come again. Now, Napope,”
+he added, lowering his tone, “we must divide their force. Send ten of
+your best men to cross the creek and attack them on the right. Send ten
+more to the left, and try them at the same time. The signal will be
+three rifle-shots from this point.”
+
+Their movements were not so well shrouded that Melton could not see the
+danger to be apprehended from a division of his forces, which was
+rendered necessary by this action on their part. But he only sent three
+men to each point threatened, one under the lead of Tom Bantry, who had
+already become quite popular, and the other under Cooney Joe. They
+darted rapidly across the little open space, while the others loaded
+their rifles and pistols and calmly waited for the assault.
+
+“Beat them off this time, and the chances are they won’t want any more,”
+cried Melton. “Shoot a little closer to make up for the lost men, and it
+will be all right.”
+
+Just then they heard three rifle-shots, and a simultaneous movement was
+made against the island from three different points. But the foresight
+of Melton in sending small parties to the threatened points, removed the
+danger from the two parties of Indians, while his own force was not so
+weakened but that he could still present a stout front to the foe. The
+barricade rained bullets upon the advancing enemy entangled in the
+branches of the trees which formed the intrenchment, and crowded into
+the narrow space of twenty feet. No men, however hardy, could hope to
+live long under such a fire, and in spite of the almost superhuman
+exertions of Garrett, Napope and Na-she-eschuck, they fell back again,
+and took breath under cover of the woods.
+
+“This is awful,” said Garrett. “The curse of the devil on them, how they
+do fight. I’ve lost near half my men.”
+
+The small parties under Tom Bantry and Joe had succeeded in keeping
+their enemies at bay, and as soon as the main body retreated, half a
+dozen men ran to their aid, and the Indians were quickly swept away from
+the banks of the creek.
+
+“Good boys,” said Melton. “You could not fight better if you liked the
+sport. Now, who wants the doctor?”
+
+No one had been badly injured. Two or three had been scraped by passing
+bullets, but a little sticking-plaster soon set that right, and they
+were as ready for a fight as ever.
+
+Garrett was furious, and while he was blaming heaven and earth at the
+ill success of his attack, a man whose face was flushed by a hard ride
+dashed through the swamp, and drew up before them.
+
+“Now then, what is all this?” he cried. “I know you, Dick Garrett. You
+delight in a row so much that you are wasting my men in attacking a
+perfect fort.”
+
+“But you don’t know who is in it, Will Jackwood,” replied Garrett. “Two
+men you hate—Cooney Joe and Captain Melton.”
+
+“Ha, say you so? Then out of that they must come, by the Eternal! Keep
+back the men, for Black-Hawk will be here in half an hour with four
+hundred braves, and then we will overwhelm them. Captain Melton, eh? I
+always did detest that boy, Dick.”
+
+“I don’t love him,” said Dick.
+
+“What is this I hear about Sam Wescott?”
+
+“Gone under, Will. I had to do it, for he recognized me in my disguise,
+and some one had to go.”
+
+“I don’t care so much about that, if you did not compromise me. The man
+hated me, and while he lived there was no hope of winning the girl by
+fair means, and I always liked that way best. Where is the girl?”
+
+“I left her on the edge of the swamp, with three of my best men.”
+
+“All right; where is Tom Bantry? I want to send him somewhere.”
+
+“I don’t know what to think about him, Will, ’pon my word. When we slung
+Wescott overboard the fool jumped after him, and I left them both in the
+river. Tom got out, some way, and came to Napope’s camp, but after their
+fight we could not find hide nor hair of him.”
+
+“You’ve lost the best man in the party, then, by all odds. Tom was the
+only one who had a spark of humanity in his composition. You are sure
+these men you left with the girl are all right?”
+
+“Davis, Bradshaw and Herrick.”
+
+“They’ll do; as true panthers as ever lapped blood. How many has Melton
+in his fort?”
+
+“He _had_ twenty.”
+
+“Then he’s got twenty _now_,” said Jackwood. “You have not hurt many of
+them in that place, for the captain knows how to choose a position. Send
+one of the Indians to Black-Hawk, and tell him to make haste, as we must
+get this little job off our hands.”
+
+“If you find it a little job, then there are no snakes in the South
+Red,” said Garrett, who was incensed at the quiet way in which his
+defeat was laughed down. “They licked Napope alone, and now they’ve
+licked our combined forces, and it is no two to one they don’t give our
+friend Black-Hawk all he can do. _You_ ought to know Melton’s scouts by
+this time.”
+
+Jackwood nodded, and a fierce look came into his face:
+
+“If I had been here, friend Garrett, this would never have happened. If
+_I_ had assailed these works, I would have taken them.”
+
+“Then assail them now. You’ve got the men—try it.”
+
+“Dick—Dick! How lucky it is that all men are not swayed by impulse. You
+offer me a broken and discouraged force to perform the task you failed
+to achieve when they were in prime order. It won’t do, Richard; too
+transparent altogether. Get the men together, see to the wounded and get
+the survivors ready for a new attack. I will lead it in person.”
+
+As he spoke, the approach of dusky scouts heralded the coming of
+Black-Hawk, and directly after the old chief, surrounded by his
+principal advisers and warriors, strode into the camp.
+
+
+
+
+                               CHAPTER X.
+                           THE FOREST FIEND.
+
+
+Will Jackwood, whose influence over the old chief had now become great,
+at once accosted him.
+
+“The time has come, chief of the Sacs, when you may put forth your hand
+and take that which is your own, the band of men who have braved the
+power of Napope and his strongest men, and have even baffled my
+warriors. They laugh at us in yonder fort; let us teach them what we can
+do.”
+
+“My brother speaks good words,” replied the chief. “Let those who have
+axes go forward and fell trees about the fort upon every side so that we
+may cross the creek. Let others take their guns and protect them.”
+
+A cordon of axmen was quickly formed, about the island, and the great
+trees came crashing down, forming bridges over which the great force of
+warriors could rush to the attack. The work was quickly done, and then
+at the command of the chief four hundred warriors rushed on together,
+uttering their fearful war-cries. They broke through the abatis of
+tangled limbs unopposed and reached the fort only to find it tenantless.
+The white rangers had escaped, how they could not tell, leaving nothing
+to show where they had departed, but all knew that it must have been in
+the interval of time which elapsed between the last attack on the fort
+and the coming of Black-Hawk. Black Will was nearly beside himself with
+anger, and a pursuit was at once commenced, when the trail was found.
+But, the “scout” had half an hour’s start, and he feared that they would
+reach the river before they could be overtaken, and their leader’s
+fertile brain would quickly study out some way of crossing the stream.
+
+Although having but little hope, Black-Hawk sent out a hundred of the
+best Sac warriors under the command of Ma-she-eschuck, and the pursuit
+was pressed with ardor. While this was being done, Jackwood sent Garrett
+with five men to find Sadie, and conduct her to a place of safety,
+strictly enjoining him to use her well but upon no account to suffer her
+to escape.
+
+Dick Garrett hurried his men to the spot where he had left Sadie, and as
+he approached it his countenance began to change for he heard nothing of
+the men he had left in charge of the girl.
+
+“Hurry up, boys,” he cried; “if they have lost her, I’ll not be the man
+to go back to Black Will Jackwood and tell him of it. Ha! Look at that.”
+
+The three men who had been left with Sadie lay upon the earth under the
+shadow of the trees. Their faces were upturned to the sky, and it needed
+no prophet to tell that they were dead, and the party broke into a run
+and reached the spot. Two of them had been shot through the heart,
+evidently with pistol balls, and the third had half a dozen knife wounds
+upon him, and they saw on every hand evidences of a desperate struggle,
+while Sadie was nowhere to be seen. The men paused and looked at each
+other in unspeakable dismay, for they knew Jackwood too well to dare
+face him, and tell him what had happened.
+
+“He’d kill me!” screamed Garrett. “Look here, boys; we’ve got to find
+this girl before we go back, so take the trail at once, and follow.
+We’ll have her back, if she is above ground, and avenge these poor
+fellows who lie dead. I only wish we had Tom Bantry now; he was the best
+scout among us.”
+
+“What made you leave him in the river then?” said one of the men, in a
+sullen tone. “He won’t come back no more, Tom won’t, and like enuff
+he’ll turn against us.”
+
+“Don’t be mutinous, Tracey,” said Garrett, turning a dark look upon the
+speaker. “You know _me_, and you know I never waste words. Be mighty
+careful; _I_ would, if I was you.”
+
+The man understood the deadly threat implied in the words of his leader,
+and turned away muttering to him self.
+
+“Now Jack Fish,” said Dick, addressing himself to another of the party,
+“if Tracey has done growling, you take the trail. ’Tain’t likely that a
+young and tender girl can keep away from us long.”
+
+The man addressed came forward, and waving the others back began to
+examine the earth to find the imprint of Sadie’s feet. It was not long
+before he announced that he had found it, and that it was covered by
+another trail, that of a man in moccasins, who was apparently following
+her, and from the length of the step he should say they were running.
+
+“That looks as if she was afraid of the critter,” said Garrett. “Who can
+it be that is brave enough to attack these men, shoot two and kill the
+third with a knife and get off so easily? Now, I’ll tell you what I make
+of this, boys. When this man, whoever he is, shot down two of the boys
+and rushed in on Davis with the knife, the girl was scared and put out
+for the woods. When he had finished Davis—and he didn’t do it easy—he
+went after her, and like as not he hasn’t caught her yet. Take the
+trail, Jack, but have your weapons handy.”
+
+It was yet early in the afternoon and the trail was plain, as no attempt
+had been made to cover it. They went on at a trot, Jack Fish in advance,
+closely followed by Garrett and the rest, and the course led them deep
+into the woods to the right of the position which had been so nobly held
+by Melton’s scout. Sadie was used to exercise in the open air and was
+evidently leading her pursuer a desperate chase, using every artifice to
+throw him from the trail. Garret was dumbfounded, for he could not
+understand why she should fly from one who had slain her enemies, but
+they followed the trail, hoping every moment to overtake the man who was
+in chase of Sadie. All at once, Jack Fish, who still held the advance,
+stopped and lifted his hand, with a low cry.
+
+“See here, Dick, this gal is cute, you bet. She has throwed him off the
+trail as sure as shootin’. Thar’s no track but his’n here.”
+
+Dick eagerly inspected the trail and was forced to arrive at the same
+conclusion.
+
+“Turn back, then,” he cried. “We will find which way she has gone and
+follow. I will take the trail on one side and you on the other and we
+will soon pick it up again.”
+
+They had not gone back twenty paces when Jack Fish stopped beside a
+clump of thick bushes which grew close to the path, and stooping, looked
+under them.
+
+“I’ve found it, boys. She crept under the bushes here and got away from
+him; follow me.”
+
+He passed through the bushes, parting them carefully, and upon the other
+side found the trail clearly defined and leading at a right angle from
+the course they had been following.
+
+“She’s smart,” said Garrett, admiringly. “I don’t know as I blame Will
+for liking her, after all. She has beaten this fellow well, and as we
+don’t want any thing from him just now, we’ll follow the girl.”
+
+They kept on swiftly, for Jack announced that Sadie was fatigued at this
+point and was no longer running. Soon after they reached a place where,
+worn out by fatigue, she had seated herself upon a bank and rested for a
+little time. From this point the trail became erratic, and she was
+evidently wandering up and down seeking for some course out of the
+woods, and the night found them still upon the trail and they camped for
+the night determined to take the trail again at early morning.
+
+“And we’ll run her to earth before nine o’clock, you mark my words,”
+said Garrett. “Lucky for you I am your leader, or you would have gone
+back to meet Will Jackwood.”
+
+“Not if I knows it,” said Tracey. “Will Jackwood never sees me again if
+we don’t find her in the morning. Now I think of it, where is the Indian
+girl?”
+
+“I never thought of her,” said Garrett. “Can it be possible that _she_
+killed the men?”
+
+“Oh, bosh; she only had a bow and arrows and it took a strong man to
+harness Joel Davis. I’ll be cussed if I understand it at all. Say, Jack,
+did you see any thing of the Indian girl’s trail?”
+
+“She went another way from the camp, on a run too. It must have been
+some awful looking critter that tackled Joel Davis, to skeer the girls
+so.”
+
+“You are right,” said Garrett. “Now then, as Jack has worked hard and we
+want him to lead again to-morrow, Tracey will keep camp for two hours
+and the rest of you as you can agree, until morning. I’m going to have a
+snooze, myself.”
+
+He wrapped himself in a blanket and threw himself down at the foot of a
+tree, while the rest in a discontented manner drew lots for the choice
+of the hours of watching. After this had been settled the lucky ones
+took their blankets and lay down, while Tracey lighted his pipe, moved
+out a short distance in the darkness and sat down to watch. The man was
+sullen, and had not yet got over his little brush with Garrett upon the
+fate of Tom Bantry, and he muttered to himself about the pride of rank
+which enabled Garrett to sleep, while he was forced to watch.
+
+They built no fire, for it was a clear summer night and even the
+blankets were scarcely needed. Tracey’s pipe glowed through the night,
+showing those of his companions who yet slept, where he sat in the
+shadow. After a time the man began to doze, and did not see the dark
+figure that crawled slowly toward him until it stood erect against the
+trunk of the tree against which he was seated. A moment after, a long
+arm was stretched out and clutched his throat in so fell a clasp that it
+seemed to collapse beneath the pressure, and in a moment more he lay
+without a struggle or a groan supine beneath the tree.
+
+The strange being who had done the work, bent over the insensible form
+and was busy about something for a short time, and then taking up the
+pipe which Tracey had dropped and which had not been extinguished, he
+sat down near the body of the fallen renegade and began to smoke, first
+picking up the cap of his victim and placing it upon his head, glancing
+now and then at the sleeping camp. When the pipe was smoked out he arose
+and stole softly to the side of Dick Garrett and looked down into his
+face.
+
+The moonlight shone full upon him, and showed a horrible figure of
+gigantic mold, covered from head to foot with a hairy substance, while
+the eyes looked fiercely from his shaggy eyebrows upon the sleeping
+ruffian. His attitude was menacing, and once or twice the right hand
+dropped to a hairy girdle about his waist, as if to draw a huge knife
+which was suspended there, but upon second thought he seemed to change
+his mind, and gathering up the rifles of the party, he carried them a
+little distance into the woods, and returned this time to take away the
+knives and pistols, most of which were thrown together in a heap, at the
+place where the rifles had been stacked. Some of the villains had their
+small-arms upon their persons, but these the intruder did not attempt to
+touch, and waving his hands triumphantly above his head, he bounded into
+the thicket, and was seen no more.
+
+Daylight came and they began to yawn and stretch themselves, those who
+ought to have gone upon guard long before, looking mystified at being
+allowed to sleep until morning.
+
+“Tracey went to sleep, that’s all,” said Garrett. “Go and kick the
+brute, somebody. There is no telling what might have happened through
+his cussed carelessness.”
+
+One of the men sprung to the spot where the recumbent figure of Tracey
+was seen, and had actually drawn back his foot to kick him, when he saw
+that his hands were tightly bound, and a gag thrust into his mouth. His
+cry of astonishment awoke the rest, and they quickly surrounded their
+fallen comrade, relieved him of the ligatures, and helped him to arise.
+The eyes of the man were rolling fearfully, and he gasped for breath.
+
+“Ha!” he said, at last. “A pretty set of fellows you are, to let a man
+stay in that way all night. Dunderheads—sleepers—ten thousand curses on
+your heads!”
+
+“Steady, Tracey,” said Garrett. “What does this mean?”
+
+“It means you are a lot of lazy thieves, or you would have found this
+out four hours ago.”
+
+“Who did it?”
+
+“How do I know? I was sitting there smoking my pipe, when I felt a great
+hairy hand upon my throat, and I was choking. Then I lost my senses, and
+when I came to myself, I was lying here, anchored to the tree, and
+unable to move hand or foot.”
+
+“Why didn’t you sing out?”
+
+“Why didn’t I fly?” retorted Tracey, angrily. “I wouldn’t be a fool if I
+were you, Dick Garrett. Oh, curse the hand, whoever it was. Where’s my
+rifle?”
+
+The question naturally drew their attention to their own weapons, and as
+they noted the loss, curses both loud and deep were vented upon the head
+of the being who had done this injury to them. Garrett actually foamed
+at the mouth in his anger, and ran in a frantic manner up and down the
+camp, cursing Tracey, their unknown enemy, any thing and every thing
+under the sun, in no measured terms.
+
+“That’s it,” said Tracey. “Curse your own sleepy heads, and let me
+alone.”
+
+“Look for sign, Jack Fish,” said Garrett, turning to their trailer.
+“Tell me who has done this?”
+
+“It’s the same man that killed the boys, and then followed Miss Sadie,”
+said Jack. “Hyar’s his trail, plain as writing, and I’ll be cussed if it
+don’t beat me to tell whether he’s man or beast.”
+
+“He shall not beat me,” hissed Dick Garrett. “Take the trail of the girl
+and follow, for we’ll have her now, rifles or no rifles.”
+
+The trailer obeyed without a word, and they started out upon the trail.
+But, as they emerged from the woods and entered a great clearing, every
+man paused in alarm, for there, just in front, and covering them with
+one of their own rifles, while the rest lay at his feet, stood the hairy
+monster who had stolen in upon their camp the night before.
+
+“Stop!” he cried, in a hoarse, unnatural voice. “For your lives, stop.
+Move hand or foot and you are dead!”
+
+They halted, and stood facing the leveled tube, trembling in every
+joint, while the fierce eyes, glancing along the brown barrel, held them
+enthralled.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER XI.
+                       BLACK-HAWK KEEPS HIS WORD.
+
+
+We left Sadie in charge of those desperadoes, while the battle in the
+swamp was progressing. They were sulky at not being allowed to take part
+in the fight, and only returned gruff answers to her questions, while
+keeping a strict watch upon the girls.
+
+They stood under a great tree, whose spreading branches, loaded with
+foliage, were impenetrable to the eye, and would have formed a secure
+hiding-place, and none of them saw the long, hairy arm extended, until a
+double report stretched two of the guards dead upon the sod. Then came a
+rustling sound, and the gigantic being, who afterward appeared to the
+men of Garrett in the woods, bounded from the tree, holding in his hand
+a gleaming knife. With a scream of horror, Sadie fled into the forest,
+and Minneoba, believing that she saw a demon of the lower world, also
+turned in flight, but paused upon the edge of the woods, and looked back
+to see a fearful duel between the man named Davis and the strange being
+who sprung from the tree. They seemed to be complete masters of their
+weapons, and for a moment the issue seemed doubtful, but the gigantic
+strength of the unknown prevailed, and Davis fell, covered with many
+wounds. The victor stood erect, and seeing that Sadie had fled, uttered
+a hoarse cry, and fixing his eyes upon her trail, bounded away in
+pursuit. Minneoba, like all Indian girls, was superstitious, and
+believed that it would be death to follow the wild being into the woods,
+and turning, hurried on toward Black-Hawk’s camp, intending to ask aid
+from him in the recovery of her friend. Sadie, in the mean time, had put
+all the distance she could between herself and the hideous being who had
+assailed her guards, and was hurried in her flight by hearing his deep
+voice crying out after her, as she rushed on.
+
+She tried every trick of wood-craft which she had learned from her
+father—who was a skillful scout—when she became certain that the
+horrible creature was really in pursuit. How she finally eluded him by
+creeping beneath the bushes, and then turning away from the course she
+had been pursuing, we have before seen, and late in the afternoon she
+found herself in the midst of a deep forest, pathless as the sea, not
+knowing which way to turn. She was alone—alone in the depths of that
+untrodden wilderness, the haunt of wild beasts and the hunter who
+followed them, without a weapon or guide. Never, perhaps, was a
+tenderly-nurtured woman placed in so strange a situation before. Look
+which way she would, there seemed to be no hope of succor. Strange
+sights and sounds were heard, slimy snakes crept softly over the leaves,
+great birds flitted through the branches, and she heard the cry of the
+wildcat and panther in the distance. Wearied and hopeless, she sunk down
+upon a mossy knoll, and almost wished she had not fled from the monster
+who followed her. But it would not do to remain there, and she rose and
+staggered on her way, hoping against hope that something would happen to
+give her aid.
+
+She was nearly famished, and coming upon a place where the succulent
+bulb known as the “ground-nut” grew in profusion, she set to work and
+dug up the bulbs with her fingers, following the white stems in their
+various turnings among the roots until she found the article she sought.
+It took a long time to satisfy her hunger, as the nuts were not larger
+than a rifle ball, and were hard to find, and then she began to look
+about for a place of rest, as it would soon be dark. She reached a great
+opening, in the center of which a huge pile of logs and brush was
+heaped, and removing some of these, made a couch for herself among the
+branches, drew others over her head, and resigned herself to an
+All-protecting Power. Even in times of difficulty and danger sleep will
+come to the weary, and she lost consciousness, and no longer feared her
+enemies. Morning came and found the sweet girl still sleeping, when she
+was suddenly aroused by a harsh voice crying out a deadly menace, and
+peeping from her place of concealment, saw the Forest Fiend facing the
+knot of helpless scoundrels under the leadership of Dick Garrett.
+
+“It is a man, after all,” she murmured. “Perhaps I would have done
+better to have let him overtake me, for it seems he fights against these
+villains. Perhaps he is mad, poor creature!”
+
+“Let’s make a rush on him altogether, boys,” whispered Garrett. “Curse
+it, five men ought to whip one.”
+
+“But he’s got the rifles, the critter,” whined Tracey. “I tell you that
+if you had been in his grip once, you wouldn’t be so ready to try him
+again. He’s got a hold like an iron vice, that devil has.”
+
+“Don’t try to run,” cried the Forest Fiend. “It will not be safe; he who
+flies first, dies first!”
+
+“What do you want from us?” screamed Garrett. “Do you know who I am,
+curse you?”
+
+“I know you,” replied the strange being, wildly. “You are a murderer and
+a robber, and deserve death for a hundred crimes. Why don’t you come on?
+what are you afraid of? You tremble at the sight of the Forest Fiend,
+murderer that you are.”
+
+“Won’t you back me, boys?” hissed Garrett; “I tell you I’ll be the first
+to rush at him, if you will agree to follow.”
+
+“He can kill three of us before we get within striking distance,”
+replied Jack Fish. “I guess we had better give up boys; maybe he’ll let
+us off.”
+
+Garrett heard what he said, and thrusting his hand into the bosom of his
+hunting-shirt, drew a long double-barreled pistol, his eyes gleaming
+with rage.
+
+“You’d turn traitor, would you?” he screamed. “Now see here, rush on
+that devil, you and Tracey, or I shoot you where you stand.”
+
+“Don’t do it, Dick,” pleaded Jack Fish, dropping on his knees. “I’ll
+fight any thing human, but not that dreadful creature. Don’t force us on
+him, for the love of God.”
+
+“I’ll do it,” replied Garrett, fiercely. “Up and at him, you base
+hounds; up, I say!”
+
+Goaded on by fear of the weapon of their leader, the men sprung on,
+catching up clubs as they ran. But when they had gained a hundred feet
+from the weapon of Garrett, and where it would scarcely reach them, they
+threw up their hands in token of submission, and fell upon their faces.
+The Forest Fiend fired over them, and a man who stood at Garrett’s elbow
+fell, shot through the heart. The others, who had each a pistol, seeing
+that nothing was to be gained by flight, rushed at the immovable figure
+of their enemy, who caught up another weapon and fired again, killing
+the foremost man. Garrett saw that there was no hope, and calling to the
+last man, sprung toward the thicket. Hearing the crack of the rifle, he
+turned back and saw his friend fall, while the stern executioner caught
+up another rifle and leveled it. As the bullet sped, Garrett sprung into
+the air and fell upon his face, just as Jack Fish and Tracey, who had
+taken advantage of their opportunity, reached the thicket in safety.
+
+Their terrible adversary sprung toward the fallen leader without waiting
+to reload his weapon or take up a new one, but to his rage Garrett
+uttered a loud laugh of derision and sprung to his feet, and the next
+moment the leaves concealed him from view. He had been “playing
+’possum,” and was not hurt in the least, as he had managed to fall just
+in time to escape the well-aimed bullet. The Forest Fiend darted back
+for a rifle, but he was a moment too late, although he fired into the
+thicket, and then, snatching up a powder-horn and bullet-pouch, darted
+away in pursuit.
+
+The moment he was gone Sadie came out of her place of concealment,
+selected a rifle and ammunition from the heap, and hurried away, glad of
+the opportunity to get out of a dangerous neighborhood. She could not
+control her fear of the strange being who had come to her aid so
+opportunely, and continued her flight until she felt safe from pursuit,
+and then sat down, panting, loaded the rifle which she had taken, and
+prepared to defend herself from any assault.
+
+“Who and what is that wonderful being?” she murmured. “How brave he is;
+how little he cared for that gang of desperate scoundrels, who were
+doubtless in pursuit of us! Oh, I hope he may overtake Richard Garrett
+and avenge the murder of my poor father! Melton, where are you? Have you
+fallen a victim to these base wretches who regard human life as a
+plaything? God forbid!”
+
+As she was rising to proceed upon her way she heard a slight rustle
+among the bushes, and grasping her rifle turned in the direction of the
+sound. But she dropped the weapon with a cry of delight, for the bushes
+parted and Minneoba suddenly appeared and ran to her white sister,
+clasping her in her arms.
+
+“Sadie, my sister,” she said, softly kissing her again and again. “The
+heart of Minneoba has been very sad. She feared that the evil demon of
+the woods had destroyed the Wild Rose, and that her poor Indian sister
+would never see the face she loved again.”
+
+If Minneoba was delighted, how much greater was the joy of Sadie, who
+could now hope to escape from the toils of her enemies, for she knew
+that the forest was to the Indian girl as easy to tread as a ball-room
+floor for her. She returned the caresses showered upon her, and for a
+moment the two girls forgot that aught of evil or danger hung over them.
+
+“I have been to my father’s camp,” said Minneoba, “and many warriors are
+searching for you. Black-Hawk loves the Wild Rose for her father’s sake,
+and will give her a shelter. His heart is very sad because the men of
+Garrett have killed the good white man, but what can he do? The war has
+commenced and the warriors would say he had turned woman if he was angry
+at the death of a white man. Let us go.”
+
+The two girls set out together, threading the mazes of the forest with
+an ease which only a forest life could impart, the Indian girl taking
+the advance, and chatting merrily with her companion as she proceeded.
+They had not gone far when they were met by two warriors, who expressed
+their satisfaction in their peculiar manner, and at once led the way to
+the river, which was not far away, and where a canoe was waiting in
+which they descended the stream, a distance of about three miles, landed
+upon a green point, and assisted Sadie to leave the canoe, which was
+then carefully concealed by leaves and brush. This done, the warriors
+again led the way, the two girls following, and they came suddenly upon
+a great camp of the Indians. More than four hundred people, principally
+fighting braves, although there was a small number of women and
+children, were resting in the beautiful glade, most of them engaged in
+cleaning their weapons and getting ready for the battle which was to
+come. Black-Hawk and Will Jackwood were conversing together apart from
+the rest, and the latter started forward with a look of delight as he
+saw Sadie, and advanced at once, closely followed by Black-Hawk.
+
+“Welcome to the Indian camp, Sadie,” said Jackwood, endeavoring to take
+her hand. “You can not tell how unhappy I have been since I knew that
+you were lost.”
+
+She took no notice of his extended hand, but went on to meet Black-Hawk,
+who greeted her kindly.
+
+“Let the Wild Rose rest under the shelter of a Sac lodge,” he said.
+“Black-Hawk has been driven from the places he loved by the white men,
+but he can not forget that there are just white men, who would not do a
+wrong to the simple Indian. Such a man was the father of the Wild Rose.”
+
+“Black-Hawk,” said Sadie, as she took the proffered hand, “when my
+father drove away the bad men who sought your life, you promised to be a
+friend to us. Now the time has come for you to keep your word.”
+
+“Black-Hawk is not a white man, to speak with a double tongue. What he
+has spoken—he _has_ spoken. Let the Wild Rose ask what she will from
+Black-Hawk, and if it is in his power, she shall have what she asks.”
+
+“My father is dead,” she said, mournfully. “The bad men who follow
+William Jackwood, killed him because he would not kneel to them or beg
+for his life. Now, Jackwood follows me and I fear him, and I ask the
+protection of the great chief from this bad man.”
+
+“Has the son of Red-Bird lied to me?” cried Black-Hawk, sternly. “He
+told me that the Wild Rose loved him and would come into his lodge
+gladly.”
+
+“He has lied,” she answered. “He knows that I hate him above all men on
+earth, and that I would die sooner than permit myself to be his wife.”
+
+“Be careful, girl,” hissed Jackwood. “You will raise a tempest which you
+can not quell, if you do not look out.”
+
+“I have no fear of the result. Any thing would be preferable to a union
+with such a wretch as you are.”
+
+“Look you, Black-Hawk,” cried Jackwood, turning fiercely upon the chief.
+“When I agreed to aid you, remember that I told you that this girl must
+be mine and you promised that I should have my will.”
+
+“That was when Black-Hawk believed that the Wild Rose loved you,”
+replied Black-Hawk. “She has asked for my protection and it is given.
+Let the son of Red-Bird seek another mate; the Wild Rose is not for
+him.”
+
+A tempest of furious passions raged in the heart of William Jackwood. At
+any other time or place he would have shot the old chief down without
+any remorse, and even here, in the midst of his warriors, he was tempted
+to do it, even at the risk of his own life. With a mighty effort he
+restrained himself, and turned away with a malevolent glance at Sadie,
+which she returned by one of defiance.
+
+Several of the principal braves were looking on, and there was some
+murmuring, for these men recognized the good old maxim—‘to the victor
+belong the spoils.’ While they stood thus, there was heard a triumphant
+shout upon the river, and several men started away to see what it meant.
+They were soon heard coming back, and directly after a compact body of
+men, those who followed Will Jackwood, poured into the camp, leading in
+their midst, as prisoners, Captain Melton, Cooney Joe and Tom Bantry. A
+look of ferocious joy beamed upon the face of Will Jackwood, for he saw
+a chance for revenge.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER XII.
+                           SADIE’S SACRIFICE.
+
+
+The prisoners marched firmly, and not a cheek blanched as they saw where
+they were led and realized the fearful danger in which they stood. Will
+Jackwood started forward and addressed one of his subordinates, who, for
+the time being, had been in command of the band.
+
+“Did _you_ take them, Justin? If you can say that you did so without aid
+from the Indians, then you may ask any thing you like at my hands.”
+
+“Nary red,” replied the man. “We caught them crossing the river in a
+canoe, and pounced on ’em almost before they could lift a hand, but that
+Cooney Joe laid out Jack Ferguson, and Saul Sloan has got a bad wound in
+the shoulder, from Melton’s knife. Is that satisfactory?”
+
+“Excellent! Black-Hawk, I claim these prisoners as my own, as my men
+took them without help.”
+
+“They are yours,” replied Black-Hawk. “An Indian chief knows how to be
+just.”
+
+“Now then, Captain Charles Melton, you are in my power; do you
+understand, in my power! You shall rue the day when you dared come
+between me and the woman I love.”
+
+“What do you mean, renegade?” replied the young scout. “I never wronged
+you in my life.”
+
+“Perhaps; we shall see how it turns out. Keep them safe, boys; set a
+double guard upon them, and for your lives, let none escape. Ah, my
+good, valiant, chivalric Joe, how you will repent having raised your
+hand against me.”
+
+“I do repent, Will,” said Joe, quietly. “I repent most awfully. I ought
+to have lifted yer ha’r on the spot, by gracious. ’Twould have served
+you just right, and saved a good deal of trouble.”
+
+“Take them away, boys, take them away. Ha; don’t let the girl speak to
+them or she will contrive some way to set them free. Look out for
+Minneoba above all others, for she is as cute as the devil. Miss Sadie,
+do I deceive myself when I think that you will not _now_ disdain to hold
+some conversation with me?”
+
+“What do you wish to say to me, sir?” replied Sadie, who saw the
+dreadful peril of her friends, and wished to save them if possible.
+
+“Say to Black-Hawk that you wish to speak to me apart from the rest and
+he will give you permission. I see a way in which you can save these
+men.”
+
+She spoke to the chief, who nodded kindly, and she followed Black Will a
+little distance from the camp.
+
+“That is far enough,” she said, pausing under a great tree. “What have
+you to say to me?”
+
+“Change your way of speaking; be more complaisant to me, my dear girl,
+for the more kindly you use me the better it will be for yonder men who
+are doomed beyond hope if I so much as lift a finger. First of all—do
+you love this Captain Melton?”
+
+“He has never spoken to me,” replied Sadie. “How do I know that he cares
+for me?”
+
+“That is not the question at issue. Do you love him? That is what I
+asked.”
+
+“How can I answer that, when I do not know my own heart? He is a brave
+and good man, and I could love him dearly if he loved me as well. I will
+say no more upon that point.”
+
+“At least you care enough for him to wish to save his life?”
+
+“Yes—yes; I would do almost any thing for that,” she replied, eagerly.
+
+“It has gone as far as that, has it? My dear girl, you are further gone
+than you imagined. Now, I do not wish to be incumbered by prisoners. If
+we can not come to terms, I shall find it necessary to put these fellows
+out of the way, and shall certainly do so. There are many ways in which
+to do this, and my friends the Indians will doubtless be happy to take
+the laboring oar out of my hands.”
+
+“Do you mean that you would be base enough to give them up to the
+torture?” she cried.
+
+“Undoubtedly, my Indian friends might find it in their hearts to burn
+them if they only had them. I was present at a spectacle of this kind,
+the other day, where they barbecued a traitorous Indian. It was not
+pretty, and I may say did not amuse me after the first gush, and I went
+so far as to kill the poor fellow with my own hand, to put him out of
+his pain. It would distress me very much to see any of your friends in a
+like delicate situation.”
+
+“What do you ask of me, William Jackwood? Do you wish to drive me mad?
+You could not—_could_ not be so base.”
+
+“I would do any thing for revenge,” replied the man, hoarsely. “I tell
+you, upon my honor as a man, that if you do not promise to be my wife—I
+know that you will keep your word—these men shall all die as I have
+said. Make that promise, and upon the day when you become my wife, all
+shall be set free except one.”
+
+“Which one do you mean?”
+
+“Tom Bantry; he is a cursed traitor.”
+
+“That man must be saved, at all hazards,” replied Sadie, firmly. “Of all
+your villainous band, William Jackwood, he alone showed a spark of pity
+when my unhappy father was cast into the furious flood, bound and
+helpless. What I would not do for love I will do for gratitude, and I
+give you my hand, if you will swear upon your honor that these men shall
+go free, and at once.”
+
+“You are sensible,” he said, eagerly. “I had not hoped that you would
+yield so easily, and I will make it the study of my life to make you
+happy as—”
+
+“Silence! Give me your promise and I will give you mine.”
+
+“I swear by the only things I hold pure—the memory of my mother and my
+love for you—that these men shall all be spared.”
+
+“And I promise to be your wife, if we both live. Oh, God, forgive me if
+I do wrong in this, but I can not see these brave men sacrificed, who
+have come into this deadly peril for my sake. William Jackwood,
+understand me fully, and do not say in the after times that I deceived
+you. I hate you—I shall always hate you—but I will be your wife.”
+
+“All right,” said Jackwood, with a light laugh. “I will try to change
+your opinion of me when we are married. And now you are at liberty, and
+I will leave it to you to tell Black-Hawk that you have changed your
+mind, while I prepare to leave him. The chief has not used me well, and
+I do not fight the battles of those who do not treat me as a friend.”
+
+She went away with drooping head, and he stood in the same spot, moodily
+tapping his boot-leg with a small switch he carried. He was not fully
+satisfied, although he had gained the stake for which he had been
+playing so long. She had told him that she hated him, and had as good as
+said she loved Charles Melton, and yet had promised to be his wife. As
+he stood there, a man panting for breath and bleeding from several
+wounds, rushed up to him, and in his disfigured countenance he saw
+something which reminded him of Dick Garrett, and stopped him.
+
+“Dick, what is the matter?”
+
+“Played out!” replied Dick, dropping exhausted on the sod. “Give me some
+rum, for I am half dead.”
+
+Jackwood put his flask to the mouth of the exhausted man and he drank
+long and eagerly, and drew a deep breath of relief.
+
+“Ah-h-h! That goes to the spot, Will. I’ve had a long run—chased by the
+devil’s kid, and it’s a mercy that I have got in alive. It all came of
+chasing that accursed girl, who got into the woods.”
+
+“It was not your fault, Dick,” said Jackwood. “Minneoba came in and told
+us about it, and we sent out parties after her, and one of them picked
+her up.”
+
+“Take care of her yourself, after this,” panted Dick. “I’ve seen the
+devil to-day, and fought him, and I don’t want any more.”
+
+“Where are the rest of your men?”
+
+“Gone under, I reckon. Jack Fish and Tracey got into the woods, and the
+rest are dead. I had to play ’possum, or I would have been cooked, too.
+Give me another drink, and I’ll tell you about it.”
+
+Jackwood gave him the flask, and for a moment nothing was heard except
+the musical gurgle of the liquor. When he lowered it, a considerable
+vacuum existed in the vessel, and he told the story of the chase after
+Sadie with many expletives not necessary to set down here. When he had
+finished the tale he did the same with the liquor, and stood up.
+
+“You are wounded, Dick!”
+
+“Nothing of much account. I’ve been cut and scratched in diving through
+the brushes, for that hairy cuss chased me almost into camp. I thought
+he’d never give it up.”
+
+“I don’t know who or what it can be,” said Jackwood, musingly, “and I
+don’t care much. Go and wash the blood from your face, and then get the
+men together, for we must leave this camp. It is all up with Black-Hawk,
+for Atkinson has come with an army, and he will clean out the Indians in
+the twinkling of an eye.”
+
+Garrett moved away slowly, and Jackwood advanced to the side of
+Black-Hawk, who was talking with Sadie. She did not look at him as he
+came up, but Minneoba faced him boldly, with her pretty face showing the
+utmost anger and contempt.
+
+“What has the son of Red-Bird said to frighten the Wild Rose?” she
+cried, angrily. “He is a coward and no brave.”
+
+“You had better send your daughter away, Black-Hawk,” said Jackwood,
+quietly. “I have borne insults enough in this camp, and will not stay
+here.”
+
+“The son of Red-Bird promised to stay and fight for his red brothers,”
+said Black-Hawk, reproachfully, “and when he sees the enemy in sight he
+runs away like a frightened hound. It is well; Black-Hawk would not have
+any except brave men follow him.”
+
+“It is false, Indian,” cried Will Jackwood. “Here, in the midst of your
+wild band, I defy you to prove that while you were true to me, I failed
+to do my duty like a man. But when you dared to take away my prisoner,
+my wife that is to be, in that day I leave you, never to return.”
+
+“Go,” replied Black-Hawk. “I have been deceived in the son of Red-Bird.
+His father died in the white man’s prison, and now he basely turns away
+when the battle is nigh.”
+
+“Stay with me, Wild Rose,” cried Minneoba. “My father is a strong chief
+and will protect you from harm.”
+
+“I can not—I dare not,” replied Sadie. “If I stay with you, my friends,
+who are his prisoners, must die.”
+
+“My father will take them away from him,” said Minneoba, looking
+pleadingly at the old chief.
+
+“Let him do so—let him make himself a dog, if he dares,” replied
+Jackwood. “I will tell his baseness throughout the tribes, and not a man
+of them all dare look me in the face until I am righted.”
+
+The chief hung his head, for he had pledged his sacred word that
+Jackwood should keep his prisoners. The scoundrel knew his character too
+well to doubt for a moment that the Indian would keep his word, and let
+them go away with the prisoners. Minneoba pleaded in vain, and with loud
+lamenting, followed the compact force of Jackwood to the edge of the
+forest, and saw them go away with the prisoners, closely guarded, and
+Sadie walking by the side of William Jackwood, with a hard, bitter look
+upon her beautiful face. Garrett, who recovered quickly from every evil,
+turned about and blew a kiss at Minneoba, who at once fitted an arrow to
+the string, and would have sent it after him, but that he took shelter
+among the men, laughing.
+
+“‘The world is all before us where to choose,’ boys,” said Jackwood,
+“but one thing is certain, if this thing goes against the Indians, and
+of course it will, this territory won’t be very healthy for us. What do
+you say?”
+
+“We’ll find a place to live, Cap,” replied Garrett. “The world owes us a
+living, and we’ll have it too, or else make trouble.”
+
+“Don’t you think we had better find a hiding-place and see what is going
+to happen? There will be pretty pickings for us if the day should, by
+any chance, favor the Indians, even for a time.”
+
+“I know the place you mean, Cap,” said Jack Fish, who had come in before
+they marched. “The neatest hiding-place in the West.”
+
+“How far away?”
+
+“’Bout six mile, I reckon.”
+
+“Lead the way, then.”
+
+Fish took the advance, and Jackwood assisted the weary steps of Sadie
+over the rugged road before them. It led through tangled thickets, under
+trees which had been the growth of centuries, and ended in a circular
+forest opening, so difficult to reach, that Black Will was obliged to
+carry Sadie in places, so worn out had she become.
+
+The grass was green in the little glade, and the birds were singing, as
+one by one the troop came out from beneath the canopy of leaves, and
+gained a footing on the level turf.
+
+“Jack Fish,” said the renegade, “you have deserved well of your country.
+I could live here forever. Here we rest, until the thing is decided one
+way or another.”
+
+“How will we live?” queried Garrett.
+
+“The woods are full of game, and we will kill it so far from the camp,
+that no one will suspect us of being here. Captain Melton, will you give
+me your word of honor not to try to escape, provided I free your arms?”
+
+Melton was about to refuse, but catching Sadie’s eye, he changed his
+mind, and made the required promise. It was not extended to Tom Bantry,
+and Cooney Joe, who were tightly bound, and placed under guard. Sadie
+was coming forward with the intention of speaking to Melton, when the
+bushes parted near her, and the face of the demon of the woods appeared,
+peeping out among the leaves.
+
+
+
+
+                             CHAPTER XIII.
+                          GUESTS NOT INVITED.
+
+
+Sadie was not easily frightened, but it required the effort of all her
+resolution to keep her from uttering a cry of alarm. The young captain
+saw that she was deeply moved and ascribed it to her grief at the
+situation in which she found herself placed. But she recovered herself
+by a great effort of the will and came forward, giving her hand frankly
+to the man she loved and who loved her as dearly.
+
+“I am deeply grieved that you have come into this danger for my sake,
+Charles,” she said, softly. “But have no fear, for I will save you at
+any hazard. Indeed, it is done already, for I have given my word and you
+are safe.”
+
+“Safe! What do you mean, Sadie; what promise have you given?”
+
+“Do not be angry with me, Charles,” she said, sadly. “I am sorry that it
+is forced upon me but—I have promised to be the wife of William
+Jackwood.”
+
+“Black Will! Gracious heaven, Sadie, it cannot be. What madness is
+this?”
+
+“I was forced to do it. They threatened you and your brave companions
+with a horrible death. I had no one near to advise me and I could not—I
+could not see you die.”
+
+“You should have spoken to me first,” he cried, wildly. “You knew that I
+loved you. I have never dared to tell you until now, and ought to have
+spoken. What is death to dishonor? What a life you have doomed yourself
+to bear, that I may live. I would sooner die a thousand deaths than bear
+this bitter burden.”
+
+“Charles!” she cried. “You make my load too heavy for me to bear. How
+could I see those who had incurred this peril for me, given up to
+satisfy the bloody passions of these desperate men. My father is dead—I
+am alone in the world and my life would have been a weary one at best,
+if I had refused to yield. He told me that if I was obstinate, I should
+stand by and see you suffer. I could not have borne that, at any rate.”
+
+“You should have remained in the camp of Black-Hawk, who is a brave man,
+although an Indian. My dear girl, I can not blame you for what you have
+done. It was in all kindness of heart, but it was wrong for you to
+yield. The lives of men who are ready at any time to die for the right
+should be as a feather’s weight compared to your sacrifice. As I say, so
+would Joe Bent and Tom Bantry, who are more hated by these men than I
+am.”
+
+“Can you not escape?” she whispered. “But no—I forgot. My word is
+pledged to this bad man and that I hold sacred. But I shall not deem it
+a crime to take his life, and although he may claim my hand he shall
+never have a wife’s duty from me—for I hate him—oh, how I hate him!”
+
+The white teeth clicked together fiercely as she spoke, and Black Will,
+who was listening, laughed a low, bitter laugh, full of malice.
+
+“Sorry to interfere in a social meeting of this kind,” he said,
+advancing, “but your language is disgusting to your future husband, my
+dear Sadie. Captain Melton, if I hear any more language of this kind
+from you, I shall have you bound and gagged, for I will not endure it.”
+
+“If you do that it absolves me from my promise, for you gave me your
+word to treat them well,” said Sadie.
+
+“I will not give you even that loop-hole from which to escape,” said
+Black Will, after a pause. “I leave the camp to-day in search of a man
+who is at one of the Indian stations, a Lutheran missionary. Let me say
+to you that he is a man who would not perform the ceremony if you offer
+a word of objection, and that you have only to say ‘no,’ and that
+ceremony will cease and one of another kind commence, for as there is a
+sky above us I will take your friends out and hang them before your
+eyes. Git my horse, Jack Fish.”
+
+The man obeyed, and after giving some orders to Dick Garrett in a low
+tone, the renegade mounted and rode away through the wood.
+
+Two days passed, and they heard nothing of him. Upon the afternoon of
+the third he came into camp accompanied by a pale, intellectual-looking
+man in the dress of a clergyman, who looked mildly about on the wild
+group in the camp, evidently surprised to find himself in such a place.
+He was at once conducted to one of the brush cabins which had been built
+up by the men, while Black Will dismounted and ordered that Melton and
+the other prisoners should be removed into the woods a short distance
+from the camp, for he knew the missionary too well to believe that he
+would perform the ceremony if he had any doubt of the willingness of the
+lady to do her part, and Black Will feared the prisoners might let him
+know the true state of the case.
+
+Five men accompanied the prisoners into the woods, with orders to shoot
+them down at the first attempt to escape. When this was done Black Will
+approached the brush cabin in which Sadie spent the time, and called her
+out.
+
+“I have returned,” he said, cheerfully. “You must excuse me for staying
+away from you so long, but I found it difficult to find the missionary.”
+
+“I only wish you had never found him or had received your just deserts,
+sir,” was the somewhat unpromising reply.
+
+“My deserts; I deserve better treatment at your hands, I think.”
+
+“Twelve feet of rope and a tree would suit you better,” she replied. “Do
+not deceive yourself by the belief that I shall ever change in my regard
+for you. The most slimy reptile which crawls through the swamp would be
+to me a more pleasant companion. I give my hand to you to save my
+friends, but never my heart with it.”
+
+He stood moodily before her, tapping his boot with the riding-whip he
+carried.
+
+“I have half a mind to refuse your hand upon these terms,” he said,
+gloomily, without raising his eyes from the earth upon which they were
+bent. “Your language is horrible to one to whom you are about to join
+yourself for life, and the day will surely come when you will repent it
+bitterly. There, I will say no more now; but, in half an hour I shall
+come for you and we will be married.”
+
+“You need not fear but I will keep my word,” she said. “Will you keep
+yours as well?”
+
+“I never broke it yet to friend or foe,” was his answer, “and I do not
+mean to commence now. When you have given me your hand in marriage,
+these men shall have two days’ grace, but if I catch them after that,
+woe be to them, that is all.”
+
+He turned upon his heel and left her to her own reflections, which were
+not of the most pleasant type. At times she doubted her firmness in the
+hour of trial, and whether she would not give way in the presence of the
+missionary, but the thought of his fearful threat against her lover and
+friends nerved her, and she determined to bear up as bravely as she
+could, and make the sacrifice for their safety. She would have liked to
+see Melton once before the ceremony, but feared that she was not strong
+enough to endure the meeting. While she sat there with her face buried
+in her hands, Black Will came for her.
+
+“There is one favor I would ask you,” she said, “and it is one you can
+easily grant. You know I love Charles Melton, but all thoughts of him
+must pass in the moment when I put my hand in yours. Under the
+circumstances he must not see me again, and I could not bear to see
+him.”
+
+“Agreed; you shall not see him, and if he dares to attempt an interview
+when you are once my wife, it will be the worse for him. I have removed
+him already, and they wait in the woods until the ceremony is over, when
+they shall be allowed to go where they will.”
+
+“That will do, sir. Now I am ready, if you will not relent.”
+
+He shook his head savagely, and taking her hand led her out into the
+open space among the trees. The band were standing carelessly about,
+looking on as the two took their station before the missionary, who
+advanced book in hand and stood before them.
+
+He recited that portion of the ritual which was necessary before he
+asked the question, “and if any know just cause or reason why these
+should not be joined together in the bands of holy wedlock, let them now
+speak or forever after hold their peace,” when the crowd scattered
+before the rush of a strong man, and the gigantic figure of the Forest
+Fiend sprung into the circle and hurled Black Will ten paces backward by
+a single thrust of his powerful arm, while he cried, fiercely:
+
+“I forbid the banns!”
+
+“Down with him,” roared Black Will, drawing his knife. “At him, boys.”
+
+“Back!” cried the strange being, “back, for your lives. It is not right
+that innocence and youth should be forced to wed with such a thing as
+this, and I forbid it. Back, I say.”
+
+They recoiled before the stern figure, especially those among them who
+had felt the nervous force of his strong arm, while Black Will looked at
+the clergyman.
+
+“Do not mind the ravings of a madman, sir,” he said; “this man is insane
+and knows not what he does.”
+
+“It is false, reverend sir,” replied the Forest Fiend. “I am as sane a
+man as any here, and know whereof I speak. Fall back, men; don’t press
+upon me. Ha, they will have it, then. Melton’s Scout to the rescue!”
+
+As the tones of his sonorous voice rung out through the deep forest,
+there came a charging cheer, and the buck-skin shirts and coon-skin caps
+of Melton’s Scout showed through the leafy cover, and with wild cries
+they poured upon the foe.
+
+Not a shot was fired, for Sadie, the missionary and the Forest Fiend
+stood in the midst of the enemy, and the Scout dared not fire. But as
+the enemy retreated, snatching up their weapons as they went, at a
+signal from the Forest Fiend, Sadie and the missionary fell upon their
+faces, and the Scout poured in a single withering volley which strewed
+the ground with dead and dying, and then charged upon the foe with
+knife, hatchet and pistol.
+
+The Forest Fiend caught up a rifle from the earth, and using it as a
+club, headed the charge. Close behind him came Charles Melton, Cooney
+Joe and Tom Bantry, striking out manfully for the right, and felling an
+adversary at every blow. But none could equal the strange being known as
+the Forest Fiend. Taking the ponderous rifle in one hand, he made it
+play about his head with lightning rapidity, and the renegades went down
+before him like chaff before the wind.
+
+Taken by surprise, it was no wonder that the retreat soon became a rout,
+and they scattered to the four winds, closely pursued by their
+determined assailants. One man, and that man Dick Garrett, dared to bar
+the way of the Forest Fiend, who paused with uplifted weapon and looked
+at him.
+
+“At last, villain,” he cried, “your time has come!”
+
+Vain was the interposition of the rifle of the renegade to stay the
+blow. It descended upon his head, and Dick Garrett, the friend and
+companion in villainy of Will Jackwood lay dead at the avenger’s feet.
+At this moment a cry of anger was heard, and turning, the strange man
+saw that Jackwood was on horseback, headed for the bushes.
+
+“Fire at him,” he cried. “Bring him down at all hazards.”
+
+Half a dozen bullets sped, but Jackwood was already in the thicket, and
+all pursuit was vain. Five minutes later the fight was over, and few of
+Black Will’s band remained to tell the tale of that terrible day.
+
+The Forest Fiend turned back to the place where Sadie stood, encircled
+by the arm of Charles Melton, and she drew closer to her lover as she
+marked his terrible aspect. Raising his hand to his face, he tore off
+the hairy mask which covered it, and revealed the face of—_Samuel
+Wescott_!
+
+Her father, redeemed from a watery grave! In an instant Sadie was in his
+arms, half-delirious with joy, and the tried friends gathered about him,
+eager to shake his hand, while Cooney Joe and Tom Bantry danced a comic
+hornpipe, uttering yells which would have done credit to Sac warriors on
+the war-trail.
+
+When the first transport of the meeting was over, Samuel Wescott turned
+to Tom Bantry and shook him warmly by the hand.
+
+“You did your best to save me, my friend,” he said; “but I knew that
+both must perish if I clung to you. I went down, as you know, and coming
+to the surface, in a death-struggle I caught a floating log, which
+quickly bore me down the stream, and I had not the strength to land
+until I had been carried two miles down. Near this place I had a
+_cache_, in which, among other articles, was this disguise, which I have
+sometimes worn in my expeditions among the tribes, and I knew that it
+might aid me in the work before me. Had I known that it would frighten
+my daughter so much, I would have shown my face when I attacked the men
+who guarded her, while you were fighting in the swamp.”
+
+“It’s enough to skeer the life out of any critter,” said Cooney Joe. “I
+don’t wonder she run from you.”
+
+“It has served its purpose. I followed you to this place, Sadie, and
+having satisfied myself that those I loved were in no immediate danger,
+I went back for the Scout, the position of whose camp I knew. We came up
+softly, set Melton, Joe and Tom at liberty, and then attacked these
+scoundrels. The rest you know as well as I. There is only one thing for
+which I am sorry, and that is, that this villain Jackwood has escaped.
+But his fate will find him out.”
+
+Half an hour later they were on their way to the river, guarded by
+Melton’s Scout. The last week had been one of trial, but they had come
+out of the flame triumphant, and the power of Black Will Jackwood was
+broken forever. As they reached the river-bank, and the men were
+bringing up the flat in which they were to cross, Minneoba suddenly
+appeared from the forest, and fell upon Sadie’s neck, weeping for joy.
+
+“Minneoba can bear any thing now, the breaking of her people, the loss
+of home, for her sister is safe. Good-by, and do not forget the poor
+Indian girl who loves you.”
+
+“Come with us,” said Samuel Wescott. “I will give you a shelter in my
+house until the war is at an end.”
+
+But Minneoba shook her head sadly.
+
+“No,” she said. “The Indian girl must not leave her father, who loves
+her. Go in peace.”
+
+They parted from her sadly, and as the flat receded from the shore, they
+saw her standing in a dejected attitude, leaning on her bow. It was many
+a day before they saw her again.
+
+
+The battle was at its hight. Black-Hawk had risked all upon a cast of
+the die, and had found it a losing game. Melton, Cooney Joe and Tom
+Bantry were there, fighting gallantly, and as the Indians began to break
+up, they charged a resolute knot of warriors who stood their ground
+stubbornly, dealing death on every side.
+
+There was a moment of wild confusion, and Charles Melton found himself
+face to face with a desperate man, in his war-paint, who assailed him
+with demoniac fury. Just then Melton’s horse fell, shot through the
+heart, and his adversary sprung at him with a wild cry of joy, raising a
+hatchet above his devoted head.
+
+“Death to you, Melton,” he screamed. “I am Will Jackwood, and you die by
+my hand. If I lost her, at least you shall never possess her.”
+
+Melton, pinned to the earth by his fallen horse, lifted his hand to ward
+off the blow, but hampered as he was he could offer but slight
+resistance, and the knife, his only defense, was forced from his hand,
+and the hatchet gleamed above him.
+
+He had just time to catch the gleam of ferocious joy in the eyes of his
+enemy, and had given up hope, when a rifle cracked, and Jackwood,
+throwing up his arms, clutched at the bloody cloth upon his breast,
+tried once more to lift his weapon, and then, with a snarl of demoniac
+malice, dropped dead in his tracks, while Cooney Joe, with a rifle
+smoking in his hand, ran to aid his fallen leader, who was quickly
+placed upon his feet.
+
+“Who is he?” cried Joe, angrily. “Ha! Black Will, by the mortal. Rubbed
+out at last.”
+
+This was his epitaph. He died as he had lived, boldly and defiantly, and
+found a soldier’s grave.
+
+The power of Black-Hawk was broken, and the old chief a fugitive, soon
+to be a prisoner in the hands of the whites. Then it was that Samuel
+Wescott kept his promise to Minneoba, and gave her a shelter under his
+roof. The teachings of Sadie soon changed the forest maiden so much,
+that she loved a domestic life, and when Sadie was married, soon after
+Black-Hawk’s visit to the east, Minneoba was there, and witnessed the
+ceremony. When it was finished, Cooney Joe stopped the clergyman:
+
+“Stop a little, stranger,” he said, sheepishly. “Got another little job
+for you, I have.”
+
+And to the surprise of all, Minneoba took his hand, and they were
+married.
+
+Unknown to every one, Joe had obtained the consent of the old chief, who
+knew that his daughter was better fitted to live with the whites than
+with the tribes, and Minneoba became the wife of Joe Bent. She never had
+cause to repent it. Rough though he was, he was a true man, and worked
+nobly for her sake, and strange as it may seem, became in time, one of
+the richest farmers in that region.
+
+Captain Melton also settled there, and the two families were constantly
+together. And above the mantel, in Melton’s study, hangs the costume of
+the Forest Fiend.
+
+Tom Bantry was for years a successful boatman upon the Mississippi, and
+at last a Captain. Samuel Wescott died at a green old age, honored and
+beloved by all who knew him.
+
+
+                                THE END.
+
+
+
+
+                          DIME POCKET NOVELS.
+
+
+               PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY, AT TEN CENTS EACH.
+
+  1—Hawkeye Harry. By Oll Coomes.
+  2—Dead Shot. By Albert W. Aiken.
+  3—The Boy Miners. By Edward S. Ellis.
+  4—Blue Dick. By Capt. Mayne Reid.
+  5—Nat Wolfe. By Mrs. M. V. Victor.
+  6—The White Tracker. By Edward S. Ellis.
+  7—The Outlaw’s Wife. By Mrs. Ann S. Stephens.
+  8—The Tall Trapper. By Albert W. Aiken.
+  9—Lightning Jo. By Capt. Adams.
+  10—The Island Pirate. By Capt. Mayne Reid.
+  11—The Boy Ranger. By Oll Coomes.
+  12—Bess, the Trapper. By E. S. Ellis.
+  13—The French Spy. By W. J. Hamilton.
+  14—Long Shot. By Capt. Comstock.
+  15—The Gunmaker. By James L. Bowen.
+  16—Red Hand. By A. G. Piper.
+  17—Ben, the Trapper. By Lewis W. Carson.
+  18—Wild Raven. By Oll Coomes.
+  19—The Specter Chief. By Seelin Robins.
+  20—The B’ar-Killer. By Capt. Comstock.
+  21—Wild Nat. By Wm. R. Eyster.
+  22—Indian Jo. By Lewis W. Carson.
+  23—Old Kent, the Ranger. By Edward S. Ellis.
+  24—The One-Eyed Trapper. By Capt. Comstock.
+  25—Godbold, the Spy. By N. C. Iron.
+  26—The Black Ship. By John S. Warner.
+  27—Single Eye. By Warren St. John.
+  28—Indian Jim. By Edward S. Ellis.
+  29—The Scout. By Warren St. John.
+  30—Eagle Eye. By W. J. Hamilton.
+  31—The Mystic Canoe. By Edward S. Ellis.
+  32—The Golden Harpoon. By R. Starbuck.
+  33—The Scalp King. By Lieut. Ned Hunter.
+  34—Old Lute. By E. W. Archer.
+  35—Rainbolt, Ranger. By Oll Coomes.
+  36—The Boy Pioneer. By Edward S. Ellis.
+  37—Carson, the Guide. By J. H. Randolph.
+  38—The Heart Eater. By Harry Hazard.
+  39—Wetzel, the Scout. By Boynton Belknap.
+  40—The Huge Hunter. By Ed. S. Ellis.
+  41—Wild Nat, the Trapper. By Paul Prescott.
+  42—Lynx-cap. By Paul Bibbs.
+  43—The White Outlaw. By Harry Hazard.
+  44—The Dog Trailer. By Frederick Dewey.
+  45—The Elk King. By Capt. Chas. Howard.
+  46—Adrian, the Pilot. By Col. P. Ingraham.
+  47—The Man-Hunter. By Maro O. Rolfe.
+  48—The Phantom Tracker. By F. Dewey.
+  49—Moccasin Bill. By Paul Bibbs.
+  50—The Wolf Queen. By Charles Howard.
+  51—Tom Hawk, the Trailer.
+  52—The Mad Chief. By Chas. Howard.
+  53—The Black Wolf. By Edwin E. Ewing.
+  54—Arkansas Jack. By Harry Hazard.
+  55—Blackbeard. By Paul Bibbs.
+  56—The River Rifles. By Billex Muller.
+  57—Hunter Ham. By J. Edgar Iliff.
+  58—Cloudwood. By J. M. Merrill.
+  59—The Texas Hawks. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
+  60—Merciless Mat. By Capt. Chas. Howard.
+  61—Mad Anthony’s Scouts. By E. Rodman.
+  62—The Luckless Trapper. By Wm. R. Eyster.
+  63—The Florida Scout. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
+  64—The Island Trapper. By Chas. Howard.
+  65—Wolf-Cap. By Capt. Chas. Howard.
+  66—Rattling Dick. By Harry Hazard.
+  67—Sharp-Eye. By Major Max Martine.
+  68—Iron-Hand. By Frederick Forest.
+  69—The Yellow Hunter. By Chas. Howard.
+  70—The Phantom Rider. By Maro O. Rolfe.
+  71—Delaware Tom. By Harry Hazard.
+  72—Silver Rifle. By Capt. Chas. Howard.
+  73—The Skeleton Scout. By Maj. L. W. Carson.
+  74—Little Rifle. By Capt. “Bruin” Adams.
+  75—The Wood Witch. By Edwin Emerson.
+  76—Old Ruff, the Trapper. By “Bruin” Adams.
+  77—The Scarlet Shoulders. By Harry Hazard.
+  78—The Border Rifleman. By L. W. Carson.
+  79—Outlaw Jack. By Harry Hazard.
+  80—Tiger-Tail, the Seminole. By R. Ringwood.
+  81—Death-Dealer. By Arthur L. Meserve.
+  82—Kenton, the Ranger. By Chas. Howard.
+  83—The Specter Horseman. By Frank Dewey.
+  84—The Three Trappers. By Seelin Robbins.
+  85—Kaleolah. By Capt. Chas. Howard.
+  86—The Hunter Hercules. By Harry St. George.
+  87—Phil Hunter. By Capt. Chas. Howard.
+  88—The Indian Scout. By Harry Hazard.
+  89—The Girl Avenger. By Chas. Howard.
+  90—The Red Hermitess. By Paul Bibbs.
+  91—Star-Face, the Slayer.
+  92—The Antelope Boy. By Geo. L. Aiken.
+  93—The Phantom Hunter. By E. Emerson.
+  94—Tom Pintle, the Pilot. By M. Klapp.
+  95—The Red Wizard. By Ned Hunter.
+  96—The Rival Trappers. By L. W. Carson.
+  97—The Squaw Spy. By Capt. Chas. Howard.
+  98—Dusky Dick. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
+  99—Colonel Crockett. By Chas. E. Lasalle.
+  100—Old Bear Paw. By Major Max Martine.
+  101—Redlaw. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
+  102—Wild Rube. By W. J. Hamilton.
+  103—The Indian Hunters. By J. L. Bowen.
+  104—Scarred Eagle. By Andrew Dearborn.
+  105—Nick Doyle. By P. Hamilton Myers.
+  106—The Indian Spy. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
+  107—Job Dean. By Ingoldsby North.
+  108—The Wood King. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
+  109—The Scalped Hunter. By Harry Hazard.
+  110—Nick, the Scout. By W. J. Hamilton.
+  111—The Texas Tiger. By Edward Willett.
+  112—The Crossed Knives. By Hamilton.
+  113—Tiger-Heart, the Tracker. By Howard.
+  114—The Masked Avenger. By Ingraham.
+  115—The Pearl Pirates. By Starbuck.
+  116—Black Panther. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
+  117—Abdiel, the Avenger. By Ed. Willett.
+  118—Cato, the Creeper. By Fred. Dewey.
+  119—Two-Handed Mat. By Jos. E. Badger.
+  120—Mad Trail Hunter. By Harry Hazard.
+  121—Black Nick. By Frederick Whittaker.
+  122—Kit Bird. By W. J. Hamilton.
+  123—The Specter Riders. By Geo. Gleason.
+  124—Giant Pete. By W. J. Hamilton.
+  125—The Girl Captain. By Jos. E. Badger.
+  126—Yankee Eph. By J. R. Worcester.
+  127—Silverspur. By Edward Willett.
+  128—Squatter Dick. By Jos. E. Badger.
+  129—The Child Spy. By George Gleason.
+  130—Mink Coat. By Jos. E. Badger.
+  131—Red Plume. By J. Stanley Henderson.
+  132—Clyde, the Trailer. By Maro O. Rolfe.
+  133—The Lost Cache. By J. Stanley Henderson.
+  134—The Cannibal Chief. By Paul J. Prescott.
+  135—Karaibo. By J. Stanley Henderson.
+  136—Scarlet Moccasin. By Paul Bibbs.
+  137—Kidnapped. By J. Stanley Henderson.
+  138—Maid of the Mountain. By Hamilton.
+  139—The Scioto Scouts. By Ed. Willett.
+  140—The Border Renegade. By Badger.
+  141—The Mute Chief. By C. D. Clark.
+  142—Boone, the Hunter. By Whittaker.
+  143—Mountain Kate. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
+  144—The Red Scalper. By W. J. Hamilton.
+  145—The Lone Chief. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
+  146—The Silver Bugle. By Lieut. Col. Hazleton.
+  147—Chinga, the Cheyenne. By Edward S. Ellis. Ready
+  148—The Tangled Trail. By Major Max Martine. Ready
+  149—The Unseen Hand. By J. Stanley Henderson. Ready
+  150—The Lone Indian. By Capt. Chas. Howard. Ready
+  151—The Branded Brave. By Paul Bibbs. Ready April 6th.
+  152—Billy Bowlegs, the Seminole Chief. Ready April 20th.
+  153—The Valley Scout. By Seelin Robins. Ready May 4.
+  154—Red Jacket, the Huron. By Paul Bibbs. Ready May 18th.
+
+       BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York.
+
+
+
+
+                          Transcriber’s Notes
+
+
+—Silently corrected a few typos.
+
+—Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook
+  is public-domain in the country of publication.
+
+—In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by
+  _underscores_.
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 66064 ***
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-<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Border Riflemen; or The Forest Fiend. A Romance of the Black-Hawk Uprising, by Lewis W. Carson</p>

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-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 <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you

-are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the

-country where you are located before using this eBook.

-</div>

-

-<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Border Riflemen; or The Forest Fiend. A Romance of the Black-Hawk Uprising</p>

-<p style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em;'>Beadle's Pocket Novels No. 78</p>

-  <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Lewis W. Carson</p>

-<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: August 15, 2021 [eBook #66064]</p>

-<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p>

-  <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: David Edwards, Stephen Hutcheson, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (Northern Illinois University Digital Library)</p>

-<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BORDER RIFLEMEN; OR THE FOREST FIEND. A ROMANCE OF THE BLACK-HAWK UPRISING ***</div>

-<div id="cover" class="img">

-<img id="coverpage" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="The Border Riflemen; or, The Forest Fiend" width="2638" height="4050" />

-</div>

-<div class="box">

-<h1>THE BORDER RIFLEMEN;

-<br /><span class="smallest"><span class="smallest">OR,</span>

-<br />THE FOREST FIEND.</span></h1>

-<p class="tbcenter">A ROMANCE OF THE BLACK-HAWK UPRISING.</p>

-<p class="tbcenter">BY LIEUT. LEWIS W. CARSON.</p>

-<p class="tbcenter"><span class="smaller">NEW YORK.</span>

-<br />BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS,

-<br /><span class="smaller">98 WILLIAM STREET.</span></p>

-</div>

-<p class="center smaller">Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872, by

-<br />FRANK STARR &amp; CO.,

-<br />In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.</p>

-<h2 id="toc" class="center">CONTENTS</h2>

-<dl class="toc">

-<dt><a href="#c1"><span class="cn">I. </span>The Border Suitor&mdash;Cooney Joe</a> 9</dt>

-<dt><a href="#c2"><span class="cn">II. </span>Minneoba&rsquo;s warning</a> 15</dt>

-<dt><a href="#c3"><span class="cn">III. </span>Black-Hawk Insulted</a> 22</dt>

-<dt><a href="#c4"><span class="cn">IV. </span>Little Fox&mdash;Na-She-Eschuck</a> 29</dt>

-<dt><a href="#c5"><span class="cn">V. </span>The Price of Treachery</a> 35</dt>

-<dt><a href="#c6"><span class="cn">VI. </span>The First Blow</a> 42</dt>

-<dt><a href="#c7"><span class="cn">VII. </span>Overboard</a> 49</dt>

-<dt><a href="#c8"><span class="cn">VIII. </span>Melton&rsquo;s Scout&mdash;A Bush Fight</a> 54</dt>

-<dt><a href="#c9"><span class="cn">IX. </span>The Defense of the Island</a> 61</dt>

-<dt><a href="#c10"><span class="cn">X. </span>The Forest Fiend</a> 68</dt>

-<dt><a href="#c11"><span class="cn">XI. </span>Black-Hawk Keeps His Word</a> 75</dt>

-<dt><a href="#c12"><span class="cn">XII. </span>Sadie&rsquo;s Sacrifice</a> 82</dt>

-<dt><a href="#c13"><span class="cn">XIII. </span>Guests Not Invited</a> 88</dt>

-</dl>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_9">9</div>

-<h1 title="">THE BORDER RIFLEMEN;

-<br /><span class="smallest"><span class="smallest">OR,</span>

-<br />THE FOREST FIEND.</span></h1>

-<h2 id="c1"><span class="small">CHAPTER I.</span>

-<br />THE BORDER SUITOR&mdash;COONEY JOE.</h2>

-<p>The sun was going down behind the western hills in a

-flood of yellow light, and a river dimpled on under the

-slanting rays, great fish leaping now and then from the placid

-surface, and the trees along the bank casting fantastic shadows

-into its depths. In a sheltered nook, near a spot where

-a little creek joined the river, a settler had built a cabin,

-which the hand of woman had beautified and adorned as

-only the hand of woman can. Bright flowers bloomed on

-each side of the rustic doorway and an English ivy vine

-clung to the walls and was rapidly spreading its delicate

-tendrils over the whole front. The cabin faced the stream,

-and behind it the hand of industry had cleared many acres

-which now showed heavy growths of cereals and roots, carefully

-cultivated. It was a silvan spot, and one upon which

-the eye of the artist would linger long and pleasantly.</p>

-<p>The door opened suddenly, and a young girl holding a

-water-pail in her hand came out with a free, careless step,

-singing a merry song. She was plainly dressed, and yet

-there was an air of native grace about her every movement

-which plainly showed that she had not always lived amid

-such wild surroundings. She was beautiful&mdash;not the vapid

-beauty of cities, but that of perfect health, and a free life. Her

-form was untrammeled by the fashions which cramp and

-deform the beautiful women of our day, and her face, a little

-browned by exposure to the to sun, glowed&mdash;</p>

-<div class="verse">

-<p class="t0">&ldquo;With sunny beauty and rustic health.&rdquo;</p>

-</div>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_10">10</div>

-<p>Maud M&uuml;ller&mdash;Whittier&rsquo;s Maud&mdash;was not more beautiful

-than this frontier damsel. Not only was her face cut in a

-perfect mold, but her eyes sparkled with life and vivacity,

-and her sunny hair, unconfined, hung about her shoulders in

-beautiful profusion.</p>

-<p>She left the river, turned down the creek, entered a little

-grove half a mile from the house, passed through it, and

-looked across the open field beyond.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Father,&rdquo; she cried, &ldquo;are you there?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>No answer was returned, save the echo of her musical

-voice, and she looked about her in evident surprise.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Where can he have gone?&rdquo; she murmured. &ldquo;Father!&rdquo;</p>

-<p>As the words left her lips there was a slight rustle in the

-bushes by her side, and a man came out and stood beside

-her. He was still young, but his strikingly handsome face

-bore the marks of a life of dissipation and riot. He was

-quite tall, nearly six feet in his moccasins, with a face which

-showed unmistakable signs of Indian blood, though somewhat

-remote, and a wandering black eye, full of passion.

-He was dressed in hunting costume, and held in one hand a

-long rifle, and two small protuberances in the breast of his

-hunting-coat showed where his pistols lay concealed.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I thought I should meet you here, Sadie,&rdquo; he said, quietly.

-&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t look very glad to see me.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;You know what I think of you, William Jackwood,&rdquo;

-she replied, turning quickly away. &ldquo;How dare you to come

-here, after what has happened?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>He laughed a low, bitter, chilling laugh, which did not

-indicate enjoyment, and his black eyes seemed to emit sparks

-of fire.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I would not refer to our last meeting, if I were you,

-Sadie,&rdquo; he said, evidently controlling himself by a violent

-effort. &ldquo;I was half crazy with liquor that night or I would

-not have said what I did. See here; give me a chance to

-make this right with you and I&rsquo;ll do it. I want to be a

-friend to you&mdash;I do, upon my soul. I&rsquo;ll ask your pardon

-on my knees, if you&rsquo;ll forgive, and promise not to lay it up

-against me.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I forgive you,&rdquo; she said, with a cold, passionless glance,

-&ldquo;but you must not come here any more, for all that. My

-<span class="pb" id="Page_11">11</span>

-father has told me not to have any more to say to you, and

-I shall obey him.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>The man stood grinding the butt of his rifle into the soft

-earth, and fighting a powerful battle to keep down his heart.

-The girl no longer looked at him but took up the pail and

-was moving on.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Wait a moment,&rdquo; he said, hoarsely. &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t part from

-you like this, Sadie. You don&rsquo;t know what you are doing

-or what will happen if you don&rsquo;t use me more kindly. By&mdash;I

-beg your pardon, but I am half mad&mdash;I can&rsquo;t stand it.

-Do you know that I worship the ground you tread for your

-sake, and would give my life at any moment if it would be

-of service to you?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;You must not speak to me in that way, Mr. Jackwood,&rdquo;

-she said, in a more gentle tone. &ldquo;I am truly sorry for you if

-you speak the truth, but I can not listen to you. Aside from

-the fact that my father does not like you, I have my own inclinations

-to consult, and I do not and never can love you.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Then you love some one else,&rdquo; he cried savagely. &ldquo;All

-right; marry him if you dare, but of this be assured&mdash;the moment

-you stand up before the minister with <i>any</i> man, if it

-were my own brother, I will kill you both where you stand.

-Do you hear me?&mdash;I will kill you both.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Do you dare to threaten me in that way, Will Jackwood?

-Oh, if my father were here, he would teach you to insult his

-daughter in that way. Do you think to frighten me by idle

-threats? Since you force me to say it, know that the sight

-of your dark face is and always has been odious to me, and

-that I will never speak to you again except upon compulsion

-under any circumstances.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>He caught her by the wrist with his disengaged hand

-and held her firmly, when she dropped the pail and struck

-him full in the face with her open hand. He uttered a cry

-like that of an angry tiger, and letting go his hold upon the

-gun caught her about the waist with his strong right arm.

-Powerless in his grasp, she struggled with all her strength

-and screamed for help. The call was not made in vain, for

-a quick step was heard, and a heavy body crashed through

-the bushes, and Sadie screamed again.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Comin&rsquo;, by the mortal, comin&rsquo;!&rdquo; roared a hoarse voice.

-&ldquo;Oh, yes.&rdquo;</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_12">12</div>

-<p>Will Jackwood released her instantly and caught up his

-gun, just as a short, thick-set, powerfully-built man darted

-from the bushes and stood beside them. He wore the fringed

-hunting-shirt and beaded moccasins of the scout and hunter,

-and his long, flax-colored hair was crowned by a greasy coon-skin

-cap in the last stages of dissolution. The face was a

-marvel of native ugliness, but in spite of that he was greeted

-with a cry of joy from Sadie.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Cooney Joe is hyar,&rdquo; he yelled. &ldquo;What is the matter

-now?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I have been insulted, Joe,&rdquo; cried Sadie, panting for breath.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;By that yer p&rsquo;ison critter, I&rsquo;ll bet. Now look out, Black

-Will, acause I&rsquo;m a-goin&rsquo; to give yer the durndest lickin&rsquo; you

-ever got sence yer mammy took ye over her knee. Hyar&rsquo;s

-fur ye.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Before Black Will could bring his rifle to a level the stout

-hunter dashed in and his heart was beating against the broad

-breast of the man known as Jackwood. In a moment more

-they were locked in a fierce grapple, fighting in true western

-style, without the slightest idea of the rules of the ring. In

-a stand-off fight, the long arms and powerful build of Black

-Will would have given him a decided advantage, but in the

-close grapple Cooney Joe was more than his equal, and loosening

-one hand by a violent effort he struck his antagonist such

-a blow in the face that his teeth seemed to rattle in his jaws,

-and he staggered. Throwing himself forward with a victorious

-war-whoop, Cooney Joe brought him to the ground, and

-the next moment was kneeling on his breast with his long,

-brown fingers fastened on his throat in a decidedly uncomfortable

-way.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Yah-h-h&mdash;hip! Got ye that time, my sweet infant!

-The old coon kin climb a tree yit. Say the word, Miss Wescott,

-an&rsquo; by the big meat pie I&rsquo;ll choke the life clean out of

-his pesky karkidge.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Let him go for the present, Joe,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;He has

-been punished sufficiently, and it will teach him that I am

-not friendless.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Oh, pshaw! don&rsquo;t let him git off that way. Take off his

-belt and let me larrup him with it till he <i>howls</i>.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;No, no; don&rsquo;t strike him again. Take away his weapons

-and let him go.&rdquo;</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_13">13</div>

-<p>&ldquo;Hold on,&rdquo; said Black Will hoarsely. &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t touch the

-pistols and I promise to go away at once, and not make a

-move for revenge to-day.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s fair,&rdquo; said Joe, rising. &ldquo;I never knowed the critter

-to break a fair promise, Miss Sadie, and you kin trust him.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Cooney Joe stood up and Black Will slowly arose, with an

-expression of fearful malice upon his dark face, slowly brushing

-the dust from his clothing without speaking a word.

-Cooney Joe had taken up his rifle and stood leaning upon it,

-a grin of enjoyment stretching his naturally wide mouth.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Curi&rsquo;s how things come &rsquo;round, ain&rsquo;t it? I&rsquo;ve wanted a

-lick at you fur nigh onto five year an&rsquo; never got a chance till

-now; does me good, this does.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Of course you know I&rsquo;ll have your life for it, Joe Bent,&rdquo;

-said Black Will, in a quiet tone.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Sartin, sartin, if ye kin git it,&rdquo; replied Cooney Joe. &ldquo;But

-don&rsquo;t forgit that ef I see yer hand go anigh a pistil in a

-strange company I&rsquo;ll try to shoot first. &rsquo;Member that, don&rsquo;t ye.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll try to remember, Joe,&rdquo; was the reply. &ldquo;Now, Miss

-Wescott, I will say to you what I intended to say when this

-meddling fool broke in upon us. You shall never live to be

-the wife of another man. If I can not have you, no one else

-shall, I swear by every thing I hold true.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;P&rsquo;isen critter, ain&rsquo;t you, Will?&rdquo; said Cooney Joe, regarding

-him with a look of benign interest, as a great natural

-curiosity. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll be individually an&rsquo; collectively cussed ef you

-ain&rsquo;t a nice picter to go a-talkin&rsquo; about marryin&rsquo; a gal like

-Miss Sadie. Why, bu&rsquo;st my buttons, ef I don&rsquo;t think she&rsquo;d

-ruther have me!&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I would indeed,&rdquo; replied Sadie.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Who asked you to speak, Joe Bent?&rdquo; said Black Will,

-savagely. &ldquo;Keep your distance and live in safety for twenty-four

-hours, but after that I will take your life, no matter

-where I meet you.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;You rare &rsquo;round the awfulest kind, don&rsquo;t ye,&rdquo; replied Joe,

-with a merry look. &ldquo;Dash my bacon ef you ain&rsquo;t a study

-fur a painter. I&rsquo;ve see&rsquo;d chaps in the theater at St. Louis

-that rared &rsquo;round the stage jest as you do now, but somehow

-they allus got special hail kolumbia in the end. Now <i>git</i>;

-I don&rsquo;t want to say any thing more <i>but</i> git.&rdquo;</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_14">14</div>

-<p>Black Will quietly tightened his belt, brought his rifle to

-a &ldquo;right shoulder shift,&rdquo; and was off at a long, slinging pace

-which carried him rapidly across the field.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Thar goes a pizen critter, Miss Sadie,&rdquo; muttered Cooney

-Joe. &ldquo;Now I reckon he meant jest what he said when he

-told me that he&rsquo;d hev my life, but I&rsquo;ve took a good many

-chances, though he&rsquo;ll hev my ha&rsquo;r sartin ef I don&rsquo;t shoot first

-when we meet.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I am sorry to have brought you into danger, Joe,&rdquo; said

-the girl.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Sorry&mdash;danger&mdash;git out! D&rsquo;ye think I keer fur <i>that</i>,

-little gal? Why, make it the wust ye kin, the chances ar&rsquo; I

-git a shot afore he does, an&rsquo; ef I <i>miss</i>, then it&rsquo;s my own fault.

-Whar&rsquo;s yer daddy?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I came out to find him and bring him some drink. I

-thought he was at work in this field.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;He orter be keerful,&rdquo; said Joe Bent, uneasily, &ldquo;&rsquo;cause the

-Injins are gitting r&rsquo;iled up awful, and thar&rsquo;s no tellin&rsquo; when

-they may break out. Let&rsquo;s try an&rsquo; find him.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;There he is now,&rdquo; cried Sadie.</p>

-<p>As she spoke, a middle-aged man, with a hoe across his

-shoulder, appeared at the other side of the woods and came

-rapidly toward them. As he came near he shouted cheerily

-to Joe Bent, who seemed very glad to see him, and they shook

-hands heartily. Mr. Wescott had the same air of gentility

-which showed itself in his daughter, but, like her, had adapted

-himself to his present surroundings, and looked the picture

-of a genuine western farmer. In stature he was almost

-a giant.</p>

-<p>Sadie rapidly recounted her meeting with Black Will, and

-all that had passed between them, and the face of Mr. Wescott

-darkened, while his hand closed convulsively upon the

-handle of his hoe.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;It is a lucky thing for the black-hearted scoundrel that

-I was not by, Sadie,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;or it would have gone hard

-with him. What brings you up this way, Joe?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I sort o&rsquo; got a hint to git off the hunting grounds from

-that pernicious red devil, Napope, who is sp&rsquo;ilin&rsquo; fur mischief.

-Ar&rsquo; ye good friends with the Injins, &rsquo;square?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Certainly; I never wronged one of them in my life.&rdquo;</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_15">15</div>

-<p>&ldquo;Not that it matters much ef they once rise,&rdquo; continued

-Joe, &ldquo;because then they won&rsquo;t hev any friends in the white

-race. I&rsquo;ve my doubts of that Black Will, anyhow. Two

-weeks ago I saw him in the Injin village, an&rsquo; him an&rsquo; that

-cussid Napope was ez thick ez flies in sp&rsquo;iled bacon.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;What is the trouble with the Indians?&rdquo; said Wescott, uneasily.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Them cussid agents rob them like thieves,&rdquo; replied Joe

-Bent. &ldquo;Ef Black-Hawk would only ketch an&rsquo; burn them, I

-don&rsquo;t believe our fellers would kick much, they act so fearful

-mean. Do you know that I think the village the best place

-fur Miss Sadie, &rsquo;bout this time in the year?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll talk to you by-and-by,&rdquo; said Wescott, with a quick

-glance at his daughter&rsquo;s observant face. &ldquo;Come to the house

-and get something to eat.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>They quickened their steps and reached the cabin, and

-while Sadie set about preparing a meal, they sat outside and

-smoked their pipes, talking in low, eager tones. Sadie could

-see that their conversation was very important, and, woman-like,

-felt piqued that they kept it secret from her, and hurried

-her preparations. In a few moments the homely meal

-was smoking on the board, and they sat down, enjoying their

-food with keen relish; but the two men dropped their conversation,

-or rather, changed it to indifferent subjects, much

-to the disgust of Sadie. Just as they were about to rise from

-the table, she gave utterance to a cry of surprise and ran to

-the door, and a moment after appeared, leading an Indian

-girl by the hand.</p>

-<h2 id="c2"><span class="small">CHAPTER II.</span>

-<br />MINNEOBA&rsquo;S WARNING.</h2>

-<p>It was a woman of the Sac nation, but bearing unmistakable

-signs of white blood. Her form might almost have

-vied with that of Sadie, and her dark skin glowed with perfect

-health. Her hair was unlike that of any pure Indian

-girl, slightly waving, and with a luster upon it never seen in

-<span class="pb" id="Page_16">16</span>

-the pure Indian. Her dress was of the richest description

-that was worn by the women of the tribe, and her head was

-crowned by a coronet of eagle-feathers, which bespoke the

-daughter of a chief. Dainty feet, small hands and delicate

-features distinguished the maid from the majority of her race,

-and all together, two more noble specimens of native grace

-rarely trod the same floor.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;By the piper that played while the king danced, if it

-ain&rsquo;t Minneoba, the pride of the Sac nation,&rdquo; cried Cooney

-Joe. &ldquo;Say, gal, what ye doin&rsquo; &rsquo;round yer?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Minneoba has traveled a long path, and she is weary,&rdquo;

-replied the Indian girl, faintly. &ldquo;Let the Wild Rose give

-her food and drink.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Sadie, who was much taken by the rare beauty of the forest

-maid, seated her at once at the table and placed food before

-her. She passed over the few dainties which the table

-afforded, and ate the most simple food, and her appetite was

-soon gratified. Joe whispered aside with Mr. Wescott.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I tell you that the gal is the favorite daughter of Black-Hawk,&rdquo;

-he whispered, &ldquo;an&rsquo; she&rsquo;s got some good reason fur

-bein&rsquo; hyar. But don&rsquo;t hurry her, for I know the breed and

-she&rsquo;s obstinit, durned obstinit, when she hez a mind to,

-though she&rsquo;s a good gal, too.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>In the mean time the Indian girl was chatting merrily with

-her new friend, and her musical laugh rung through the cabin.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Whisper to Sadie to git her confidence, Mr. Wescott,&rdquo;

-muttered the hunter. &ldquo;She kin do it. The gal is open-hearted

-as the day, and ef she means friendship she <i>means</i>

-it.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Wescott called Sadie aside and spoke to her in a low, hurried

-tone, and nodding intelligently, the white girl returned

-to the side of the Indian girl, and soon after the two rose and

-went out of the cabin, strolling down by the river side. Minneoba

-had her fan in her hand, more from habit than any

-thing else, and they walked along the green banks, talking

-earnestly.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Minneoba is the daughter of Black-Hawk,&rdquo; said the maiden,

-in answer to a question, &ldquo;and she loves her father well.

-The heart of the old man is very sad, for he sees the white

-<span class="pb" id="Page_17">17</span>

-men forcing the Indian step by step out of the land their fathers

-gave them. Look down and tell me what you see.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Close to the bank of the stream not far away a succession

-of low mounds of different sizes showed where the ancient

-grave-yard of a tribe had been. Not far from this a white

-village was seen, the farms of the settlers encroaching upon

-the graves.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;When we bury the bodies of those we love, daughter of

-the white man, it is not pleasant to think that the feet of the

-strangers tread upon the graves. The Indians are rough and

-rude, but they too love the graves of their fathers, and it

-makes them sad to think that the plow of the white man

-will disturb the loved remains.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;It is very sad, but I have heard that Keokuk sold this

-land to our people.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Keokuk has done wickedly,&rdquo; cried the girl, excitedly.

-&ldquo;It is a false Indian who treads upon his father&rsquo;s grave, or

-allows the white man to do it. A Sac despises the man who

-is so base.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;What will the Indians do?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;What they will do is not for an Indian girl to say; their

-hearts are very sore, but they would be friends with the white

-men, if the white men will let them. But fire-water and bad

-men will make trouble in the land. Tell the people of the

-village that it would be better for them to give up the Sac

-town and build for themselves upon another place.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>In order to understand the words of Minneoba fully, it will

-be necessary to set down the history of the events which finally

-drove Black-Hawk to desperation.</p>

-<p>By the treaty entered into by the United States upon one

-side and the Sacs and Foxes, Siouxs, Omahas, Iowas and

-Ottoes upon the other, headed by Keokuk, or the Watchful

-Fox, the land of these tribes was sold to the United States.

-In this bargain and sale Black-Hawk took no part, but in

-spite of that the Indian agents insisted that he should leave

-his village, which without his consent had been sold to the

-whites, and build another upon the west bank of the Mississippi.</p>

-<p>No race love their native land better than the Indian, and

-Black-Hawk was of the pure blood. He cursed the traitors

-<span class="pb" id="Page_18">18</span>

-who had sold their country, but vowed that he would not

-leave his village until compelled to do so by force. Every

-little disturbance between wandering white men and the

-tribes, every slight affair of whatever kind was magnified and

-turned against the Sac chief. Yet he only sought to do what

-was right, and prevailed upon Keokuk, who had made the

-treaty, to go to the white agents, with whom it had been

-made, and offer them in the name of the Sacs the lead mines,

-the most valuable property of the Indians, if they might be

-permitted to retain their village. The Watchful Fox, satisfied

-that he had sold that which was not his own, agreed to go,

-and ask for Black-Hawk the little land on which the village

-stood, including the grave-yard of the tribe. It was refused.</p>

-<p>It was the custom of the western tribes at this date to go

-out in winter in a body and have a great hunt. Black-Hawk

-went away at the head of his tribe with secret misgivings, and

-the village was left unguarded. This was the winter of 1830,

-and when the Indians came back from their hunt they found

-their village in the possession of the whites, who had taken

-advantage of their absence to take possession. The river was

-yet full of floating ice, and it was impossible for the Indians

-to move, but they sent word to the invaders that before corn-planting

-they would drive them out of the village, no matter

-at what cost to themselves.</p>

-<p>The whites were alarmed, for they felt their inability to

-oppose the tribe with their present number. A deputation

-was sent to the chiefs, proposing that they should occupy and

-plant the land together. The Indians, always generous in

-the disposal of land, agreed to the proposal, but upon arriving

-they found that the whites had seized and planted the best

-of the land.</p>

-<p>The peaceful village became one of the most disorderly

-upon the frontier. With the whites came in their vices, and

-the Indians, naturally weak, began to feel their effects. The

-sale of liquor was commenced, and by its aid the whites gradually

-robbed the Indians of all that they could call their

-own.</p>

-<p>The chief saw with alarm what must be the result, when

-they received orders to cross no more to the east bank of the

-river. The result of such an order may be readily understood,

-<span class="pb" id="Page_19">19</span>

-rousing all the fierce passions of the Indians, and in

-this state matters stood at the time when Minneoba visited the

-cabin of Mr. Wescott.</p>

-<p>The Indians were now nearly all upon the west bank of

-the river, the chiefs preferring this to longer intercourse with

-the white men. These simple men were no match for their

-wily antagonists, and had too rapidly imbibed their vices.

-Black-Hawk was an Indian, but he had a heart to feel for the

-woes of his people, and he saw that only by force of arms

-could he hope to succeed in wresting his country from the

-hand of the invader.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Is it possible that my father&rsquo;s land belongs to the Indians?&rdquo;

-said Sadie. &ldquo;He paid for it honestly, and would not

-willingly wrong any man.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;The Wild Rose speaks truly. Her father has a great

-heart, but he holds the land which belongs to Black-Hawk.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Then he will pay for it again, sooner than wrong a chief

-of the Sacs.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk will not sell his lands to a white man. Let

-the words of Minneoba sound in the ears of Wild Rose. This

-is no place for her to dwell. Let her get a swift horse and

-fly away until the tempest has passed, for a dark cloud hangs

-over her father&rsquo;s house and threatens her.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I have done no wrong; why should I flee?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;My sister, the evil will come to the just and the unjust,

-for Black-Hawk will have his land again. Do not ask me to

-tell you more, for a Sac maiden can not betray her father,

-but take those you love and fly.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>While yet speaking, the rapid beat of hoofs could be heard,

-and two men rounded a point of woods and approached them.

-At a glance Sadie recognized Black Will and a desperate ruffian

-who was more than suspected of selling arms to the Indians,

-a great offense upon the frontier. This man&rsquo;s name

-was Richard Garrett, and he was hated and feared all along

-the border.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Ha, look!&rdquo; cried Minneoba. &ldquo;Yonder comes a bad white

-man, who has spoken evil words in the ears of Black-Hawk.

-What does he here?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Let us hurry away,&rdquo; whispered Sadie. &ldquo;He is my enemy,

-and I fear to meet him now.&rdquo;</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_20">20</div>

-<p>The two girls darted into the bushes, but not quickly enough

-to evade the eyes of the two men, who at once urged their

-horses and overtook the flying girls.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Ha, my dear,&rdquo; said Black Will, placing himself in front

-of Sadie, and effectually barring her further flight. &ldquo;I did

-not expect to meet you so soon.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Do not stop me, Will Jackwood,&rdquo; cried Sadie. &ldquo;You

-have been punished once to-day for your insolence. Joe Bent

-is not far away.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;He is safe from me for this day, for he has my word,&rdquo;

-replied Black Will. &ldquo;But, when we meet again, one or the

-other goes down.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Threats do not hurt the absent,&rdquo; was the quiet reply.

-&ldquo;Let me pass at once.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Not so fast. I shall not have a better opportunity than

-this, and must entreat you to come with me.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Unconsciously, in their walk, the girls had come some distance

-from the house, and at that quiet hour few persons were

-abroad. Sadie understood the object of Black Will. It was

-to seize and carry her away for the purpose of forcing her to

-become his wife. He sprung out of the saddle, and menacing

-her with instant death if she cried out, hurried toward her,

-when a new and unexpected obstacle stood in his path. Minneoba

-had been almost unnoticed by the two scoundrels, and

-seeing that Dick Garrett was employed in holding the horses,

-the brave girl suddenly strung her bow, and fitting an arrow

-hastily, sprung in between Black Will and his intended victim,

-and he recoiled with a cry of rage, as the bright point of the

-arrow glittered in the light.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Minneoba, by all the devils! Out of my path, girl, or a

-worse thing may come to you.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>But Minneoba did not move, her bright eyes fixed upon the

-form of the would-be abductor in a way which he did not

-like.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Sadie is the friend of the Sac girl,&rdquo; she said, quietly.

-&ldquo;You shall not touch her while I live.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t know what you are doing, mad girl. What

-will your father say when he knows that you have aimed an

-arrow at my breast&mdash;<i>mine</i>, of all white men in the territory!&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;It would be better for Black-Hawk if you had never seen

-<span class="pb" id="Page_21">21</span>

-him,&rdquo; replied the girl. &ldquo;Take your horse and go, for I will

-spare your life if you do not touch the Wild Rose; touch

-her, and you are dead.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Black Will was a brave man, but he knew well the deadly

-skill of the Indian girl, and had seen it proved a hundred

-times in sportive encounters in the Indian village. Though

-full of rage, he dared not advance.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;But listen to me, Minneoba,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;This girl is

-to be my wife; I love her, and would take her into my

-lodge.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Let me hear her say that she loves <i>you</i>, and the Sac girl

-will not come between you. Stand back, or the arrow flies

-from the string.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;You shall suffer for this, girl. Black-Hawk shall know

-how his daughter claims for a friend the daughter of the man

-who holds his land. We shall see how he likes that.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Minneoba can talk to Black-Hawk; she does not need the

-white hunter to tell her what to say.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;She&rsquo;s a bu&rsquo;ster, Will,&rdquo; said Dave Garrett, laughing. &ldquo;I

-reckon you had better give it up. Come, little girl, don&rsquo;t be

-foolish. Get out of the way, for my sake.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Minneoba did not move, and the arrow was still ready to

-fly.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Hark, Will! There come horses. Let&rsquo;s get out of this

-as quick as we can.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Black Will, shaking his clenched hand at the immovable

-figure of the Indian girl, sprung into the saddle, and the two

-men rode away at the top of their speed. They were scarcely

-out of sight when a party of mounted riflemen came up at a

-trot, but, seeing the two girls, they halted, and the leader dismounted

-and came toward them. He was a young, handsome

-fellow, in a fringed hunting-coat, booted and spurred, and

-wearing the insignia of Melton&rsquo;s mounted rifles, to show that

-he was captain of scouts. He lifted the cap gracefully from

-his head, and bowed low as he approached.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Captain Melton of the mounted rifles, by way of introduction.

-May I ask if you have seen any thing of a man

-known in this region as Dick Garrett?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;He rode away five minutes since in company with William

-Jackwood.&rdquo;</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_22">22</div>

-<p>&ldquo;The deuce he did! Excuse me, Miss, which way did he

-go?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Sadie pointed out the road, and with a hasty adieu the

-young officer bounded into the saddle and the command

-went off at full speed, with Melton at their head. Sadie

-had noted that his dark eyes had rested admiringly upon her,

-and she was herself struck by his noble appearance, and

-Minneoba laughed softly. She could see that the two had

-met before.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;The young white chief is very brave. Sadie could love

-him!&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Nonsense, you foolish girl,&rdquo; said Sadie, blushing. &ldquo;I

-have only seen him twice before, and probably shall never

-see him again. Let us return to the house.&rdquo;</p>

-<h2 id="c3"><span class="small">CHAPTER III.</span>

-<br />BLACK-HAWK INSULTED.</h2>

-<p>They had scarcely reached the house when the sound of

-voices could be distinctly heard upon the river and Joe sprung

-to the door, from which the stream was plainly visible. A

-dozen canoes were upon the water full of Indians, crossing

-from the other shore.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;You&rsquo;d better git out of sight, Minneoba,&rdquo; said Cooney

-Joe. &ldquo;It won&rsquo;t be well for them to see you here unless you

-are forced to come out.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>The Indian girl hurried into the cabin, and went into

-Sadie&rsquo;s room. A moment later a tumultuous band of Sacs,

-shouting out furious threats against the whites, landed near

-the cabin and came hastily toward it.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Drunk as lords, every man jack of them,&rdquo; said Joe.

-&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got to talk sweet to them or thar will be some ha&rsquo;r

-raised right about yer. Thar; that&rsquo;s old Black-Hawk himself,

-by George. I wonder what he wants.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>An Indian somewhat advanced in life, and wearing the

-usual insignia of a chief of the Sacs, headed the party, and a

-word from him stilled the clamorous tongues of the warriors.

-<span class="pb" id="Page_23">23</span>

-Mr. Wescott and Joe stepped out to meet them, and

-the chief received them by a lofty gesture.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;We come for corn,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;and my young men are

-so angry that they need the hand of a chief. It is hard that

-the Sacs must come like thieves in the night to take corn

-from their old fields.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;It is hard indeed, Black-Hawk,&rdquo; replied Mr. Wescott.

-&ldquo;I am as much grieved as you can be that this thing has

-happened, and upon my word, I hope that you may settle

-this trouble peaceably.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Why do you stay on the Sac fields then?&rdquo; replied the

-Indian, morosely. &ldquo;The words of my brother are wise, but

-they do not agree with his actions. I stand upon Sac ground,

-which is <i>not</i> sold and <i>can not</i> be sold unless Black-Hawk

-puts his totem on the paper and gives a belt. Why is the

-white man here then?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I bought of a man who claimed the right to sell,&rdquo; said

-Wescott, &ldquo;but I am willing to give you a fair price for the

-fields, even now.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk will not sell his fathers&rsquo; graves,&rdquo; replied

-the chief, fiercely. &ldquo;Look; your white men are making my

-warriors like themselves, good at talking but no workers.

-They drink the accursed fire-water and become hogs. In a

-few years, the name of Sac will be forgotten and they will

-be but beasts to carry the loads the white man puts upon

-their backs.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s no use talkin&rsquo; now, Black-Hawk,&rdquo; said Cooney Joe.

-&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t say it&rsquo;s right&mdash;because it ain&rsquo;t&mdash;for Keokuk had no

-right to sell your land. But, the thing&rsquo;s done and our fellers

-have possession, and I&rsquo;m afraid they won&rsquo;t give it up.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;They must.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Oh, pshaw; you ought to know that they are darned

-good at takin&rsquo; things but they don&rsquo;t give back wuth a cent.

-You may as well build a village over yender.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;That they may come and take it again,&rdquo; replied Black-Hawk,

-with a bitter laugh. &ldquo;Let us speak no more, for

-my tongue grows bitter in my mouth. Sons of the Sac, let

-us go for corn.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>The Indian stalked away, followed by a shouting crowd of

-his adherents, and Cooney Joe looked uneasily at Wescott.</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_24">24</div>

-<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t like this, &rsquo;square. You see our fellers ar&rsquo; mighty

-rough on the Injins, and I heard some on &rsquo;em say that ef the

-Sacs came over to steal corn they&rsquo;d give &rsquo;em an all-fired lickin&rsquo;.

-Now if they do that it means war.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I hope our men will not be so impudent,&rdquo; said Wescott.

-&ldquo;They ought to give the poor fellows a chance to carry away

-corn for their suffering families, since they have dispossessed

-them of their land.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Half an hour passed, when suddenly there came a great tumult

-from the direction in which the Indians had gone. The

-shouts of men, the loud and continuous barking of dogs, and

-the occasional crack of fire-arms, could be heard.</p>

-<p>Cooney Joe caught up his weapons, and followed by Mr.

-Wescott, hurried away in the direction from which the sound

-came. They had not gone half a mile when they came upon

-a great rabble of whites surrounding the party which had

-come over for corn, abusing them in every possible way.

-Showers of stone were hurled upon them, clods of earth and

-filth of every description was cast upon them, and they were

-fighting their way slowly back toward the stream, apparently

-unconscious of the insults heaped upon them. Foremost

-among them, walking with a firm step, but with a dark cloud

-gathering upon his brow, strode Black-Hawk. A stone had

-struck him on the forehead, and the blood was trickling slowly

-down his face, but he did not seem to be aware of the

-fact. Once or twice he turned his head when some unusually

-vile epithet was heaped upon him, with a haughty glance at

-the offender, which they remembered in the after times, for

-two men who struck him, and whom he marked for destruction,

-were the first to fall when the struggle commenced in

-earnest.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;White men,&rdquo; cried the chief, halting, at length. &ldquo;Do

-not dare to stand in the track of Black-Hawk, upon his own

-land.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Your land, you old thief,&rdquo; roared a man named Churchill.

-&ldquo;You lie! It is ours&mdash;fairly bought&mdash;and we will keep

-it.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk does not waste words with a man with a

-double tongue, who is only fit to sit with the women when

-the warriors are on the battle-field,&rdquo; replied the chief.</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_25">25</div>

-<p>Churchill caught up a handful of sand and flung it into

-the face of the old chief. Black-Hawk trembled in every

-limb but not with fear, and he clenched his hands until the

-blood started from beneath his nails.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Fool!&rdquo; he hissed. &ldquo;In the days to come, remember

-Black-Hawk!&rdquo;</p>

-<p>That the man had good cause to remember this insult, the

-history of that time will show.</p>

-<p>The Indians went on their way, but all around them the

-confusion became greater, and it was with the utmost difficulty

-that they kept their ranks, and kept down their passions

-enough to prevent the use of the tomahawks, which

-every man carried. Had Black-Hawk but given the word,

-they would have rushed like tigers upon their prey, and torn

-the rabble asunder like cobweb. But the policy of the chief

-had been opposed to bloodshed, and he hoped to be able to

-get to the river without being forced to draw a weapon.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Look at the black thieves,&rdquo; roared Churchill. &ldquo;Down

-with them, boys; shower the mud on them; stone them out

-of the country.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>He was but too well seconded by those who followed him,

-and many of the Indians were badly hurt by the missiles

-which were thrown at them. Directed by Churchill, three

-or four strong men rushed suddenly forward and laid hold

-upon the chief, with the intention of beating him.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Dogs!&rdquo; cried the Sac, casting them aside like feathers.

-&ldquo;Take your clubs, sons of the brave.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Up to this moment the Indians had not lifted a hand, but

-at the order of their chief they lifted their clubs, and sprung

-forward with furious yells. The chief singled out Churchill,

-and leaped upon him like a tiger, but the man ran backward,

-and the chief, never thinking of support, followed him with

-uplifted club. Before he was aware of his danger he was in

-the midst of a circle of infuriated whites, who commenced

-an indiscriminate assault upon him, striking and kicking him

-with merciless force. It is impossible to say whether he

-would have escaped with life, but at this moment the rabble

-parted before the rush of strong men, and Cooney Joe and

-Mr. Wescott darted into the circle, and placed themselves beside

-the chief.</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_26">26</div>

-<p>&ldquo;Back, if you are men,&rdquo; cried Wescott. &ldquo;What, thirty

-against one poor old man!&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Keep cl&rsquo;ar, keep cl&rsquo;ar,&rdquo; cried Joe, flourishing his rifle in

-a threatening manner. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s an Injin, but fair play&rsquo;s a

-jewel, you know. You won&rsquo;t strike him ag&rsquo;in while I stand

-hyar.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Get out of the way, Joe Bent,&rdquo; screamed Churchill.

-&ldquo;What business have you to interfere?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Because I&rsquo;m called on by a magistrate,&rdquo; replied Joe.

-&ldquo;Keep cl&rsquo;ar, I tell ye, or I&rsquo;ll make my rifle-butt acquainted

-with the softness of yer head. Back a little.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Disperse, every one of you, and let the Indians return to

-the river, and I will see to it that you are punished for what

-you have already done,&rdquo; said Wescott, as they hesitated.

-There was some grumbling, but after a little they began to

-step away, and the little knot of Indians were left alone upon

-the field.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I am sorry that this has happened, Black-Hawk,&rdquo; said

-Wescott. &ldquo;You want corn, you say; go to my crib and

-take out what you want.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>The chief did not reply, but he stood looking after the retreating

-forms of the white men, with a moody brow. Many

-a man who was in his grave before that season closed, might

-have been alive and happy but for that vile attack.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk owes much to the white man,&rdquo; he said,

-slowly. &ldquo;They have stolen his village, trampled upon his

-father&rsquo;s grave, plowed up the earth above the dead, and

-scored the earth with their axes. Now they have insulted

-Black-Hawk and he will remember.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I would not take it too much to heart, Black-Hawk,&rdquo;

-said Wescott.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk will remember,&rdquo; was the reply. &ldquo;But look

-my brother. By this blood which drops upon the earth I

-promise friendship to you and yours. You are two just

-white men; and all the tribes shall honor you for what you

-have done this night. Let my good brother go toward the

-rising sun and stay until the tempest has passed by.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Wescott shook his head, and walked beside the chief to

-the river. He refused to take any corn, and as the canoes

-pulled off the two foresters looked at each other.</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_27">27</div>

-<p>&ldquo;This is bad, Joe,&rdquo; said Wescott, &ldquo;but we must get to

-work. Do you know where the General is now?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s at Jefferson Barracks&mdash;that&rsquo;s whar he is,&rdquo; replied

-Joe.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Then he must be spoken to and at once. In the mean

-time I will take a horse and see other officers and concert

-measures for the public safety. The whole North-west is in

-danger, for many will follow Black-Hawk.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>They hurried back to the cabin, and to his delight the

-settler found Captain Melton there, who had returned unsuccessful

-from the pursuit of Black Will and Dick Garrett.</p>

-<p>The young officer was well known to both Mr. Wescott

-and Cooney Joe, and was cordially greeted by both.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;What was this disturbance I heard just now, Mr. Wescott?&rdquo;

-said Melton, as they shook hands. &ldquo;It sounded almost

-like a battle.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;It was very near one as it was,&rdquo; said Wescott. &ldquo;Our

-people surrounded a party of Indians who came over for

-corn, insulted them in every conceivable way, beat and threw

-stones at them and injured Black-Hawk quite severely.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t tell me that they have hurt Black-Hawk?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Yes, and if I know any thing of the Indian he will resent

-it.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;This is too bad, just when we hoped to settle the matter

-peaceably. Let the people on the frontier look to it

-now, for there is trouble ahead as sure as we live. Hi,

-there, Stanley,&rdquo; he cried, addressing one of his men. &ldquo;Ride

-to the Post and see the General. Tell him exactly what has

-happened, word for word, and when you have done that,

-go back by way of the island and tell the rest of the boys

-to come up.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Do you think they will fight, captain?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Of course they will, and we have a lot of dunderheads

-who will do their best to force it on. With your permission,

-Mr. Wescott, I will stay here to-night, if you will let

-the men sleep in your barn.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Certainly; if the house were large enough they should

-be welcome to that.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>The command of Melton was an independent one, composed

-<span class="pb" id="Page_28">28</span>

-principally of bordermen and scouts, selected for their

-known valor and knowledge of the country. As usual in

-such cases they were despised by the dandy regiments until

-two or three rough bouts between the men had taught them

-a lesson. They were very popular with the masses, however,

-and in a bush fight, were capable of doing more work than

-any body of men in the service.</p>

-<p>Two or three couriers were dispatched in various directions,

-and then the party camped outside, while the captain

-entered the house, where he was received by Mrs. Wescott and

-the daughter. The elder lady had just returned from a visit

-down the river.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;This is Charley Melton, my prince of borderers, the best

-scout captain in the territories,&rdquo; said Wescott. &ldquo;Captain, my

-daughter Sadie.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I met Miss Wescott early in the evening when in chase

-of a desperate gambler who had shot a man over a card-table.

-And indeed we met twice in the village.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I hope you caught him, captain,&rdquo; said Wescott.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Sorry to say I did not. How the fellow managed to

-slip away I don&rsquo;t know, but when we got to the bend, all

-trace of them was lost. He had a man in his company

-whom I want to see, for I believe he is stirring up the Indians

-against us.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;You mean Black Will Jackwood, I&rsquo;ll bet,&rdquo; said Joe

-Bent.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Yes; what made you think that?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;&rsquo;Cause I see the bloody cuss at Rock Island, whisperin&rsquo;

-round old Black-Hawk, and it looked bad to me, somehow.

-It will be a &rsquo;markably good thing when he is hung up out of

-harm&rsquo;s way.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;That good thing will be very likely to happen if we have

-the good luck to catch them. Ha! What Indian girl is

-that?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Minneoba, the daughter of Black-Hawk,&rdquo; replied the girl,

-coming forward. &ldquo;Let not Loud Tempest fear that she will

-speak the words she hears in the lodge of her white father in

-the ear of the Sacs. Minneoba is not a creeping serpent, and

-will not betray her friends.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Loud Tempest, eh? Poetical name the Sacs have given

-<span class="pb" id="Page_29">29</span>

-me, though for what cause I do not know. What have you

-there, Dix?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>An orderly had appeared at the door and saluted.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Caught a Pottawatomie, just now, who claims that he has

-something to say.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Who is he?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Little Fox.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Pah! I don&rsquo;t think much can be made out of <i>him</i>. However,

-bring him in, and let us hear what he has to say.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>The orderly turned and beckoned, and an Indian, greasy

-and smoke-begrimed, with a face which bore evident signs of

-hard potations, appeared in the doorway. This &ldquo;lord of the

-forest&rdquo; was very drunk. His eyes rolled in their sockets,

-and he found it easiest to stand by the aid of the door-post.</p>

-<h2 id="c4"><span class="small">CHAPTER IV.</span>

-<br />LITTLE FOX&mdash;NA-SHE-ESCHUCK.</h2>

-<p>The Indian was one of the worst specimens of his race&mdash;a

-creature naturally brutal, who had been rendered more debased

-by an excessive use of fire-water. As he clung to the

-door-post and looked at them out of bleared and watery eyes,

-he was as disgusting a specimen of the <i>genus homo</i> as could

-be found between the two oceans.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Let me talk to this critter,&rdquo; said Cooney Joe. &ldquo;I calculate

-I understand the natur&rsquo; of the unadulterated, unb&rsquo;iled,

-unwashed and unclean drunken red, as well as any man in the

-great Nor&rsquo;-west. I do, by the livin&rsquo; hokies. Hyar, you &rsquo;possum,

-speak up, and speak quick; what ar&rsquo; ye looking fur

-now?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Fire-water; poor Injun <i>very</i> dry,&rdquo; replied this noble red-man.

-&ldquo;Tire&mdash;much tire; walk durn good ways; <i>mus&rsquo;</i> hab

-fire-water.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;You got to airn it fust, my noble red,&rdquo; replied Joe.

-&ldquo;Come, agitate yer jaw; tell us what ye want.&rdquo;</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_30">30</div>

-<p>&ldquo;S&rsquo;pose you give Little Fox fire-water, den talk. How <i>can</i>

-talk when no hab drink? Ugh!&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s the heathen philosophy, gents all,&rdquo; said Joe, with

-a look of supreme disgust. &ldquo;No whisky, no news. Got sech

-a thing as a drain of sperrits handy, &rsquo;square?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Mr. Wescott left the room, and returned shortly with a

-small flask of rum, from which he poured out a glass for the

-Indian, who drank it with avidity, smacked his lips, and held

-out the glass for more.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Hold on,&rdquo; said Joe, pushing back the extended hand.

-&ldquo;Not ef I know it, Injin. That tongue of yours begins to

-double, anyhow, and I reckon you&rsquo;ll hev to do some talking

-afore you git any more rum.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Pottawatomie big warrior, <i>much</i> brave,&rdquo; replied the Indian,

-loftily, striking his clenched hand upon his broad breast.

-&ldquo;Give Injun rum.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll give you a bat &rsquo;long side your old head ef ye ask fur

-more afore you&rsquo;ve done the work,&rdquo; said Joe, angrily. &ldquo;Come

-now, speak up. What d&rsquo;ye want?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Want rifle&mdash;want blanket&mdash;want <i>heap</i> fire-water!&rdquo; replied

-Little Fox. &ldquo;Got heap story to tell.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Lies, probably. Come, out with it, and ef it is any use

-to us, then we&rsquo;ll pay han&rsquo;sum. That&rsquo;s the time of day.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Want him <i>now</i>,&rdquo; replied the Indian, with a surly glance

-at the speaker. &ldquo;No tell news widout you put him down

-here.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;That won&rsquo;t do, Injin,&rdquo; said Joe. &ldquo;You heard what the

-fellers done with Black-Hawk, just now. I&rsquo;ve only got to say

-the word, and you go away the <i>sorest</i> Injin in the Nor&rsquo;-west.

-Tell us any really important news, and we&rsquo;ll give you

-a rifle, two blankets and a keg of rum, and you kin drink

-you&rsquo;self to death in a week.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Much <i>promise</i>&mdash;little <i>do</i>. Dat white man&rsquo;s way,&rdquo; replied

-the Indian. &ldquo;Little Fox no speak.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Will you speak if <i>I</i> promise to give you what you ask?&rdquo;

-said Captain Melton, advancing.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Loud Tempest will do what he says,&rdquo; replied the Indian,

-with a drunken leer. &ldquo;Little Fox will believe him.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Very well, then; I promise to give you the rifle, blankets

-and rum, if you tell us all you came to tell.&rdquo;</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_31">31</div>

-<p>&ldquo;Give Injun stool; sit down like white man. Floor much

-dizzy; whirl round <i>fast</i>. Ugh!&rdquo;</p>

-<p>By the not very mild assistance of Cooney Joe the Indian

-was seated on a stool, with his back to the wall, and sat with

-drunken gravity waiting to be questioned.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Go on with yer story, you red nigger,&rdquo; cried Joe. &ldquo;And

-see yer, the minnit you begin to <i>lie</i>&mdash;and oh, Lord, how he <i>kin</i>

-lie when he lays his tongue to it!&mdash;that minnit I jump on

-you and yer ha&rsquo;r comes off.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Little Fox will speak with a straight tongue,&rdquo; replied the

-savage, drawing himself up. &ldquo;Give injun more rum, and

-he talk <i>heap</i> fast.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Cooney Joe poured out a very mild dose of rum and gave

-it to the savage, who gulped it down at once, and would have

-asked for more but that the expression of Joe&rsquo;s face taught

-him that such a measure would bring down upon his head

-the wrath of the hunter, and he prudently refrained.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk much mad,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;See&mdash;white man

-take his village and plant corn among the graves. That no

-right in white man.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;No moril reflections, bummer,&rdquo; said Joe. &ldquo;Git on with

-yer yarn, or off goes yer sculp.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk has a great army,&rdquo; said the Indian. &ldquo;His

-braves are coming in from the plains and their faces are

-painted for war. The white men must not sleep or they will

-all die.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>It is needless to follow word by word the disjointed narrative

-of the drunken savage, interrupted as it was by appeals

-for rum, which was doled out to him in very small quantities

-by Cooney Joe, who feared that he would get too drunk

-to articulate. He sat swaying unsteadily to and fro, and

-told a tale which confirmed their fears. Messengers had been

-sent out to the various tribes, and all had agreed to follow

-the standard of Black-Hawk and assist him in driving out

-the invaders of their land. Nearly all the principal chiefs

-except Keokuk had given in their adhesion, and bands of

-warriors were already on their way to the place of rendezvous,

-not far from Rock Island, where there was a Sac village

-and a fort. Doubtless the Indian misrepresented the

-plans of Black-Hawk, but he told enough truth to make his

-<span class="pb" id="Page_32">32</span>

-story tally with the preconceived ideas of the whites, and

-they looked at one another in silent dismay.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;This is very serious,&rdquo; said the captain of scouts. &ldquo;This

-Indian has earned his reward, and if he will come into the

-village to-morrow he shall have the liquor; the rifle and

-blankets I can give him now.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>He went out and brought in a very good rifle and two

-blankets, which he had obtained from the men. A flask of

-powder was added, and a mold to run bullets, and Little Fox

-staggered away, happy as a lord, little knowing that the possession

-of these articles would prove his death-warrant.

-With the weapon in his hands he staggered toward the village,

-where he was met by a young warrior of the Sac nation,

-whom, in his drunken blindness, he did not recognize

-as the youngest son of Black-Hawk, who was lurking about

-for information.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;My brother has a fine gun,&rdquo; he said in the Indian tongue,

-endeavoring to lay his hand upon the weapon. But Little

-Fox tore it away from him in drunken wrath.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Wagh! It is the gun of the white man, and the Sacs

-will fall before it as the leaves when they are yellow,&rdquo; he

-said.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;My brother is very rich. He must have taken much fur

-to buy so fine a gun,&rdquo; said the young Indian, who already

-showed the qualities which afterward gave him a leading

-place in the tribe.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Little Fox is the friend of the white man, and he can get

-a gun for nothing,&rdquo; was the reply. &ldquo;When Black-Hawk

-comes with his warriors he will find the white men ready.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Has my brother told the white men what Black-Hawk

-is doing?&rdquo; said the young Sac, vailing his rage.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Little Fox can speak or Little Fox can be silent,&rdquo; replied

-the Pottawatomie. &ldquo;Look: to-morrow he is to have enough

-rum to last him a whole moon, because he is the friend of

-the white man.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Fire-water is good,&rdquo; said the Sac. &ldquo;Has my brother a

-canoe to carry it across the river?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>The Indian shook his head, and a sort of hazy idea passed

-through his clouded brain that he had already said as much

-as he ought concerning the affair.</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_33">33</div>

-<p>&ldquo;I have a fine canoe,&rdquo; continued the son of Black-Hawk.

-&ldquo;Let my brother bring the rum to the Point, and I will help

-him carry it away.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>The Pottawatomie nodded gravely, and went on his sinuous

-way, while the young chief darted into the forest, and

-taking a circuitous course, reached his father&rsquo;s village at

-early morning. The old chief was in his lodge, in an attitude

-of the deepest dejection, for he had not sought a quarrel

-with the whites. Near him, seated upon a pile of skins,

-and with a look of deep malice on his face, sat Black Will,

-holding his rifle in his brown right hand.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Ha! here comes Na-she-eschuck,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Now,

-Black-Hawk, let your great heart awake and listen to the

-words of your son. Speak, Na-she-eschuck; what are the

-white men doing?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;They go about among the lodges they have built above

-our fathers&rsquo; graves and laugh because they have insulted

-Black-Hawk,&rdquo; replied the young Sac, fiercely. &ldquo;Their ears

-are stopped to all thoughts of peace, and they long for war.

-Let them get what they seek, since they will have it so.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;What did I tell you, Black-Hawk?&rdquo; said Black Will.

-&ldquo;The scoundrels do not care for your great name, and they

-throw mud at you as if you were a common Pottawatomie,

-and not the head chief of a great nation. Will you bear

-this tamely?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk is an Indian,&rdquo; replied the proud old man,

-drawing up his stalwart form to its full hight. &ldquo;But he does

-not seek for war. If the white men will let us rest where

-we now are, I will send the warriors back, and we will be

-friends.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Friends! Friends with the men who threw mud in your

-face and beat you like a dog?&rdquo; cried Black Will. &ldquo;Come,

-I have been mistaken in you. I thought you were a man

-ready to revenge your injuries, but the white men have cowed

-you until you dare not lift a hand against them.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Black-Hawk bounded to his feet with a terrible cry, and

-laid his hand upon a weapon. But that Na-she-eschuck

-sprung between him and the object of his wrath, it is doubtful

-whether the career of Black Will would not have ended

-upon the spot.</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_34">34</div>

-<p>&ldquo;Hold your hand, great chief,&rdquo; cried his son, forcing him

-back. &ldquo;He sits under the shadow of your lodge, and you

-have smoked the pipe with him. Do not make yourself a

-dog since you have taken his hand.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;He has insulted a great chief,&rdquo; replied the old warrior,

-fiercely. &ldquo;But, he is right; Black-Hawk is a dog to listen to

-the words of the white men, and to refuse to dig up the

-hatchet when so many warriors are ready to follow him to the

-fight.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;We <i>must</i> fight,&rdquo; said Na-she-eschuck. &ldquo;Little Fox has

-been among the white men, and has told them that the braves

-are gathering at the call of Black-Hawk. He is a dead dog,

-and has taken a rifle and blankets, and is to have much fire-water,

-because he has betrayed us.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Black Will began to look uneasy.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Has the scoundrel told them that I am here?&rdquo; he asked.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I can not tell. He is to come to the point above the island

-with the price of his guilt, to-morrow, and I will be there

-to help him over the river.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>A grim look crossed the face of Black-Hawk, as his son

-spoke.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;It is good,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;One traitor shall die, because he

-has sold himself for the fire-water of the white men. As for

-us, we will not strike the first blow, but if they take up the

-hatchet against us, then we will fight. But I will not remove.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;It is better for us to strike the first blow,&rdquo; said Black

-Will. &ldquo;That is the main thing in war&mdash;to strike such a terrible

-blow, that their hearts will turn water in their bosoms.

-Look at me; I am of the blood of the white men, but I am

-not <i>all</i> white. A chief of the Sacs was my father, and he

-is dead. He died in chains, because he dug up the hatchet

-against the cowardly Chippewas. You have known and

-loved him, for you fought by his side. Black-Hawk, Red-Bird

-was the father of the man who speaks.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Ha!&rdquo; cried the chief. &ldquo;Red-Bird was a man, but he

-could not bear the chains of the white man, and he died. Is

-my son the child whom he lost, who was born of the French

-squaw, who followed him from Detroit?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Black Will inclined his head slowly, and Black-Hawk took

-<span class="pb" id="Page_35">35</span>

-his hand in his own and pressed it again and again to his bosom.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk can understand how the son of Red-Bird

-should hate the white man,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We will fight side by

-side in this war, and if we die, let us die bravely. Are the

-warriors coming in, Na-she-eschuck?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;They are gathering from every side. They have heard

-of the insult to Black-Hawk, and their hearts are hot in their

-bosoms. They will behave like men.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;It is good,&rdquo; said the chief. &ldquo;Now we will go forth,

-and you shall see how Black-Hawk shall give a traitor his

-dues.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>They left the lodge, and followed by the brother of Black-Hawk,

-and Napope, a celebrated chief, moved down toward

-the river, where the rest of the party concealed themselves

-while Na-she-eschuck brought out his canoe and crossed to

-the other shore.</p>

-<h2 id="c5"><span class="small">CHAPTER V.</span>

-<br />THE PRICE OF TREACHERY.</h2>

-<p>Little Fox had remained all night in the white village,

-and as it was noised about that he had betrayed the plans of

-Black-Hawk, he had no lack of his favorite beverage, and

-morning found him as drunk as ever. Captain Melton sent

-a man with a canoe to carry the price of the information to

-the point above the island, and as the son of Black-Hawk was

-crossing the river, Little Fox was sitting in drunken state

-upon his keg, dreaming of the glorious times he would have

-when he broached it in the seclusion of his lodge. He remembered

-indistinctly that some one had promised to help

-him across the river with his prize, but for his life could not

-remember who it was, and it almost sobered him when he

-saw Na-she-eschuck crossing from the other shore, and he

-fumbled with the lock of his rifle, and was half inclined to

-warn the Sac to keep off. But the fumes of the liquor were

-still in his brain, and the young chief landed and came toward

-him.</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_36">36</div>

-<p>&ldquo;The Pottawatomie did not lie to Na-she-eschuck,&rdquo; said he.

-&ldquo;Let us put the fire-water into the canoe.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;You put him in,&rdquo; said the owner. &ldquo;Me watch.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>He looked on while Na-she-eschuck placed the keg in the

-canoe and then followed, and, drunk as he was, managed to

-seat himself safely in the light craft. The Sac followed, and

-obeying the orders he had received, headed up the river,

-rounded the point of the island, and made toward the other

-shore. There was something in the stern, steadfast look of

-Na-she-eschuck which struck a chill into the heart of the traitor

-Pottawatomie, and almost sobered him, and twice he laid

-his hand upon his rifle, as if tempted to use it upon his companion.

-But, as often as he did so, the countenance of the

-Sac took on a pleasant air of good fellowship, which made

-it impossible to be angry with him.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Why does not Na-she-eschuck go to the bank?&rdquo; said

-Little Fox. &ldquo;We will make a hole in the fire-water tub and

-drink.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>The canoe was now headed directly for the point of the

-woodland which came down to the water&rsquo;s edge, and after

-drawing the light bark up the bank, they took the keg between

-them and carried it up to the first opening, where it

-was placed upon its end, while Little Fox, by the aid of his

-knife, succeeded in drawing out the bung.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Wagh!&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;Smell good, don&rsquo;t he, Na-she-eschuck?

-Now s&rsquo;pose you get straws, we drink much, good

-deal.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>The Sac went down to the water&rsquo;s edge and quickly cut

-two long, slender reeds, one of which he gave to Little Fox,

-and the two sat down over the keg, inserted the reeds, and

-began to imbibe after the manner of boys over a barrel of

-cider. But, although Na-she-eschuck went through all the

-motions of drinking rapidly, it is doubtful if he took as much

-as Little Fox, whose fiery eyes began to light up as he took

-in the burning fluid, and in five minutes he was more drunk

-than before he crossed the stream.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;E-yah! Little Fox is the friend of the white man. Who

-would not serve them when he can earn such drink?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Tell Na-she-eschuck what to do and he will get fire-water

-from the white man.&rdquo;</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_37">37</div>

-<p>Drunk as he was, Little Fox looked at the speaker in astonishment.

-That the Sac youth would betray his father

-seemed impossible to him, and yet knowing how strong his

-own love of liquor was, and that he would betray a nation

-to obtain it, his surprise faded away.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Will Na-she-eschuck do this? He can get more fire-water

-than Little Fox, for he knows more.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;What must I do?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Go to the white men and tell them all that Black-Hawk

-is doing, and my brother will be very rich.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Has Little Fox done this?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;He has done what he could, but he did not know much,&rdquo;

-replied the traitor. &ldquo;Na-she-eschuck has been in the lodge

-of his father and heard his words.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Na-she-eschuck will do any thing for fire-water,&rdquo; said

-the young chief, seeming to reel as he sat. &ldquo;Did the white

-men give all this for the message which was brought them

-by Little Fox?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>The Pottawattomie nodded, and again applied his mouth to

-the reed. But, at this moment the expression of drunken

-gravity passed away from the face of Na-she-eschuck. He

-bounded to his feet, with a look of wild rage upon his dark

-face and his hand upon his hatchet, and drunk as Little Fox

-was, he could see that he was deceived and that Na-she-eschuck

-was perfectly sober. He would have seized his

-rifle, but the foot of the young Sac was firmly planted upon

-it and he found it impossible to raise it, and the threatening

-action of Na-she-eschuck caused him to draw back in

-alarm.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Dog&mdash;traitor!&rdquo; hissed the chief. &ldquo;You have betrayed

-our people into the hands of the enemy and you shall die.

-Black-Hawk, Napope and Wa-be-ke-zhick, appear.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>As he spoke, the three chiefs, accompanied by Will Jackwood,

-appeared from the bushes upon the right. Every

-face was black with fury, and the traitorous savage knew

-that his doom was fast approaching. He would have fled,

-but the strong hands of Na-she-eschuck and Napope were

-upon him, and in the twinkling of an eye his hands were

-bound behind him and Black-Hawk stood regarding him with

-a steadfast look, which had no pity in it.</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_38">38</div>

-<p>&ldquo;The ears of Black-Hawk have heard the words which

-have been spoken by the mouth of a traitor. Away with

-him to the sacred wood and then call the warriors to witness

-his fate.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Napope and Na-she-eschuck dragged him away, and Black-Hawk

-uttered a signal whoop which quickly brought four

-stalwart Indians to the spot, who, at the command of Black-Hawk,

-fastened up the keg, and making a sort of cradle of

-strong boughs, carried the liquor away toward the sacred

-forest, being solemnly warned not to touch it on their lives.

-After them marched the remaining chiefs and Black-Hawk,

-taking a sequestered path through the wood. Half an hour&rsquo;s

-walk brought them to a deep glen in the midst of the solemn

-woods, where a sort of rude altar was erected, and where the

-mystic ceremonies of their strange religion were nearly always

-observed. A solitary tree of small size, with a blackened

-trunk, the scene of many a sacrifice, was standing in

-the center of the glade, and there, tightly bound with green

-withes, stood Little Fox awaiting his fate.</p>

-<p>The Indian was sober enough now, for nothing brings a

-man to his senses so quickly, no matter how much stupefied

-by drink, as the presence of danger. His eyes roved from

-face to face for some sign of relenting or pity, but he found

-none.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Why has Black-Hawk brought a Pottawattomie here?&rdquo;

-he said. &ldquo;He dare not shed the blood of the son of Na-bo-lish.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Na-bo-lish was a great chief but his son is a dog,&rdquo; he

-said. &ldquo;Black-Hawk will not shed his blood, and a coward&rsquo;s

-death he shall die.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Little Fox knows how to die, if die he must,&rdquo; replied

-the Indian, proudly. &ldquo;He will speak no more and he dares

-Black-Hawk to do his worst.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>The summons had gone forth, and one by one the chiefs

-and warriors began to enter the sacred wood. Every face

-was clouded, for they knew that they would not have been

-called to this place but to witness some great sacrifice. A

-single glance at the prisoner was all they gave, and then, man

-by man, they seated themselves in a great circle and waited

-for the coming of others. In less than an hour from the time

-<span class="pb" id="Page_39">39</span>

-when Little Fox was taken, five hundred grim warriors were

-seated within the glade, and then Black-Hawk arose.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Chiefs and warriors,&rdquo; he cried&mdash;&ldquo;children of the same

-great Father, although our tribes are many&mdash;listen to Black-Hawk.

-He is getting old, his hair is gray, but he weeps for

-the sorrows of the poor Indian. Once, all these great hunting-grounds,

-in which the white man plants his corn, were the

-property of the Indian. There he lived&mdash;there he died, and

-there he lies buried. The steel of the white man&rsquo;s plow is

-among the bones, and he builds his lodge in the villages which

-once were ours.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;This should make an Indian very sad, and he should do

-all he can to help his people. But there are some who are

-so base that for the fire-water of the white man they would

-sell their fathers&rsquo; bones. It grieves the heart of Black-Hawk

-that this should be so, for he loves the Indian. Now, when

-we have risen for our rights, and to protect our once happy

-homes, Indians of the pure blood stand ready to give us up a

-prey to the white man, that they may drink the strong water

-which makes men mad.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Look upon this man. He is a son of the great Na-bo-lish,

-the Pottawattomie. Once, he was a man and a mighty

-warrior. His foot was quick upon the war-path, and his hand

-ready to shed the blood of his enemies. The white men came

-and brought the strong water to the villages. Little Fox was

-no longer a man when he had taken it into his mouth. Let

-Na-she-eschuck speak, and tell the warriors what Little Fox

-has done, and then let them speak. I have done.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>He sat down amid a strange murmuring, and Na-she-eschuck

-arose. The young chief was well known for his strict honesty,

-and they were assured that he would not lie to save his

-life.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;My father has spoken good words. Little Fox has sold

-us to the white men for a rifle, two blankets and this fire-water,&rdquo;

-striking the keg with his foot. &ldquo;Out of his own

-mouth condemn him. Let him die.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Napope arose.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I heard the words which came from the lips of Little

-Fox, and the Sac has spoken the truth. Let Little Fox die

-like a dog.&rdquo;</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_40">40</div>

-<p>&ldquo;And I heard it,&rdquo; cried the Prophet. &ldquo;I&mdash;Wa-be-ke-zhick,

-the Prophet. He sold us to the white men and he deserves

-to die. Now let the chiefs and warriors speak.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>There was a sudden movement among the listening warriors.

-They arose as one man, and every voice pealed out

-the solemn sentence: &ldquo;He is a traitor; let him die!&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;You are women,&rdquo; shrieked the Pottawottamie, fiercely.

-&ldquo;Do your worst; Little Fox will show you how to die.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;It is well,&rdquo; said Black-Hawk, slightly inclining his head.

-&ldquo;We will not deny that Little Fox has been a great brave,

-but he is now a dog. Let the chiefs come about me, and we

-will have a talk.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>They were not long in consultation, and then separated,

-the chiefs going about among the men and giving their orders.

-Then a long-sounding whoop from Black-Hawk called

-them into line, and they began to circle about the tree, pointing

-their fingers scornfully at the prisoner. Then Black-Hawk

-advanced and bared the breast of the prisoner, exposing the

-totem of his tribe.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Look,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;he bears upon his bosom the sign of a

-great tribe. This is not well, and it must be removed. Wa-be-ke-zhick,

-advance, and cut the totem from his flesh.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Cut away the totem of the great tribe,&rdquo; cried the warriors.

-&ldquo;He has no right to wear it, who is a dog. Cut it

-away!&rdquo;</p>

-<p>The countenance of Little Fox was distorted with rage

-more than fear. Drunken and worthless as he had become,

-he was a true Indian, and felt keenly the disgrace about to

-be put upon him.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Do not dare to make a chief a dog,&rdquo; he hissed. &ldquo;Give

-me the torture, or give me death. Have I no friend among

-this people who will strike a sharp knife into my breast?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Has he a friend among the warriors who will do this?&rdquo;

-said Black-Hawk. &ldquo;Let him speak.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>No voice replied, and the countenance of Little Fox changed

-from hope to fear.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;He has no friend,&rdquo; cried Black-Hawk. &ldquo;Advance, Wa-be-ke-zhick;

-cut away the totem.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>It was done, and Little Fox, if he lived, was ostracised for

-ever from his tribe and death would be to him a happy release.

-<span class="pb" id="Page_41">41</span>

-In the mean time, a great caldron had been placed

-upon a fire, and in this the keg of rum was poured, and a

-great quantity of gourds piled up beside it. The spirits had

-now begun to bubble, and taking up a little in a gourd,

-Black-Hawk advanced and offered it to the condemned man.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;For this you sold us to the white men, Little Fox.

-Drink, now that I give it to you. It is warm&mdash;it is good&mdash;it

-will make you strong.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>As he spoke, he dashed the contents of the gourd against

-the breast of the doomed man, and Little Fox uttered an appalling

-shriek which rung with startling distinctness through

-the forest. Now ensued a horrible scene, as Indian after Indian

-caught up a gourd and dashed a portion of the boiling

-spirits upon the naked body of the traitor. Black Will

-stopped his ears and turned away his head to shut out the

-agonizing sights and sounds which the sacrifice presented.

-He was a cruel man by nature, but he found that the Indians

-could go beyond him in refinement of torture. At last the

-caldron was empty, and the victim stood literally parboiled

-at the stake, gnawing his lips to keep down the shrieks which

-arose in spite of himself. The faces of his stern executioners

-did not change, and they were about to commence some new

-species of torture, when Black Will sprung between.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Stop, Black-Hawk; stand back there, Napope. This fellow

-deserves death. But you shall not torture him any longer.

-Kill him, and put him out of pain.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Stand aside, white man!&rdquo; cried Napope. &ldquo;Why do you

-come between the warriors and a traitor?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;White man! I am the son of Red-Bird, the Sac, who died

-in the white man&rsquo;s prison; and I say that this shall not go

-on. Will you kill him?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;No; let the torture go on.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Black Will wheeled in his tracks, drew a pistol, and shot

-Little Fox through the heart. Bloody as the deed was, it

-was mercy, compared with the torture in store for the traitor.

-He started as the bullet pierced him, a look of ferocious joy

-passed over his face, and his head dropped upon his bosom.

-There came a wild rush at the immovable figure of Black

-Will, but the sonorous voice of Black-Hawk was heard, ordering

-them to stand back.</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_42">42</div>

-<p>&ldquo;Touch not the son of Red-Bird, lest you make an enemy

-of Black-Hawk,&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;Take down the body and cast

-it out in the open woods, that the wolves may eat all that is

-left of a traitor.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>The work was done, and although there was some grumbling

-at being robbed of their victim so early, the bravest

-among the warriors were inclined to commend the bold action

-of Black Will, although, under the circumstances, none

-of them would have dared to do the same. The body was

-thrown upon the earth to rot, and the warriors on their march

-back to the village, when a runner, hot with haste, dashed

-into the forest and met Black-Hawk.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Let the braves take their hatchets,&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;The

-white men are upon the march.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Ha,&rdquo; cried Black-Hawk. &ldquo;Do they come with arms?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Major Stillman comes, with many warriors,&rdquo; replied the

-runner.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Let us see if they are friends,&rdquo; said Black-Hawk. &ldquo;If

-they come in peace it is well. If they harm a hair of one

-of my young men they shall all die.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>He sent out five young warriors with a white flag, who did

-not return. Later in the day three more went out and reconnoitered

-in the vicinity of the advance of the white men.

-They were pursued and two of them killed, the first blood

-shed in the war. The third escaped and brought the news

-to Black-Hawk, and they dug up the hatchet and prepared

-for war.</p>

-<h2 id="c6"><span class="small">CHAPTER VI.</span>

-<br />THE FIRST BLOW.</h2>

-<p>It must be admitted by unprejudiced men and thinkers of

-all lands, that the &ldquo;Black-Hawk&rdquo; war was precipitated by

-the rapacity of the whites. Not satisfied with driving the

-Indians from the better portion of their lands, they persisted

-still further in forcing them from their villages about Rock

-Island. They would have been less than men if they had not

-<span class="pb" id="Page_43">43</span>

-resisted, but to the last, Black-Hawk insisted that he would not

-be the first to shed blood, and, as we have seen, the first man

-killed was one of Black-Hawk&rsquo;s band, by Stillman&rsquo;s party.</p>

-<p>This man seemed to have little knowledge of the Indian

-character, and lacked the power of leading men. He had

-been sent out by General Atkinson in advance, with orders to

-scour the country, find out the position of the Indian force,

-and to act as his discretion seemed to dictate. Captain Melton

-was with him, and had occasion twice to remonstrate

-with him upon his manner of advancing through a country

-favorable to an ambuscade. The troop consisted of two

-hundred and seventy mounted men, marching without order,

-straggling where they liked, and firing at any stray Indian

-of whatever tribe, whom they chanced to meet.</p>

-<p>When the flag of Black-Hawk appeared, Stillman ordered

-the bearers to be taken prisoners.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Excuse me, Major Stillman,&rdquo; said Melton, as he heard the

-order. &ldquo;Surely you do not propose to make these men prisoners?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Certainly I do, sir; take your place and let me hear no

-more.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Your words will require an explanation at another time

-and place, my good sir,&rdquo; said Melton. &ldquo;Be so good as to remember

-that I had no orders to join you, and that if you insist

-upon such conduct, I will leave you at once. These men

-came to you under the shadow of a white flag, and you have

-no right to take them prisoners.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;<i>Will</i> you take your place, Captain Melton?&rdquo; roared Stillman,

-&ldquo;or must I put you under arrest?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Melton said no more, but fell back to the head of his troop,

-fully determined to leave the irate major if he persisted in

-his conduct.</p>

-<p>The three bearers of the flag were sent to the rear, under

-guard, and the troop proceeded in the same disorderly manner.

-Some time after the stragglers in advance caught sight

-of the warriors who had been sent out to see what had been

-done with the bearers of the flag, and were pursued, and two

-of them shot down without mercy, the rest escaping, by taking

-to the woods in front. No sooner had he beheld this

-cruel and uncalled for butchery, than the young captain of

-<span class="pb" id="Page_44">44</span>

-scouts called to his men and they wheeled out of the line,

-faced about, and marched back toward the river.</p>

-<p>Stillman, boiling with rage, called his men to a halt, and

-rode back.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;What is the meaning of this conduct, Captain Melton?&rdquo;

-he hissed, fairly foaming at the mouth. &ldquo;How dare you detach

-your command without orders?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;If you think you have men enough in your rag-tag and

-bob-tail command to stop us, you had better try it on, Major

-Stillman,&rdquo; said Melton, coolly. &ldquo;I for one will not give

-countenance to <i>murder</i>, as you are doing.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Murder, sir?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Murder is the word. Those Sacs were doing no harm

-who were just killed by your men, and did not even use

-their weapons when your scoundrels took after them. Go

-on your way, sir; I will not march a foot further with

-you.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I will have you court-martialed, upon my return, sir,&rdquo;

-cried Stillman.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Very well; I shall take an opportunity to tell the court

-some things not to your credit. Good-day, sir. But, for

-the safety of your men I tell you to call in your stragglers,

-march in a more orderly manner and beat the bushes thoroughly

-before you enter. Attention, scouts; forward.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>And the compact little body rode away at a killing pace,

-leaving Major Stillman to his own devices.</p>

-<p>Stillman hesitated for some time before advancing, for he

-knew that the desertion of Captain Melton was a great loss

-to him. While he stood in doubt, the men who had killed

-two Indians came back at a gallop and announced that the

-Indians were just across Sycamore creek and in some force.

-All was now confusion in the white camp. Some who had

-dismounted sprung into the saddle, and with wild shouts

-the disorderly band rushed on, headed by the men who had

-just come in. Black-Hawk had not supposed that Stillman

-intended to attack him, and the greater portion of his

-force were on the other side of the village; in all, the great

-chief had only forty men under his command when Stillman&rsquo;s

-men came up at the gallop, strung out across the

-plain, man, by man, according to the speed of their horses,

-<span class="pb" id="Page_45">45</span>

-and in this manner crossed the creek. Black-Hawk had

-not hoped that they would thus give themselves a prey to

-him, and his ambuscade was quickly formed.</p>

-<p>When half the party had crossed the creek and were

-massed in disorder upon the bank and the rest were struggling

-up, some crossing the creek, and others yet upon the

-plain beyond, the war-whoop of the Sacs announced the onset,

-and from every side the warriors poured in upon the

-foe. One withering volley was poured in, which strewed the

-earth with dead and dying forms, and at the same moment

-the charge was made and the knife and hatchet was doing

-its silent but deadly work before the doomed men had time

-to lift a hand. To show the utter foolishness with which

-the advance was made, it is enough to say that the warlike

-major was never in the fight at all, so quickly was the force

-which had crossed the creek disposed of by the furious attack

-of Black-Hawk.</p>

-<p>The cry was, &ldquo;Satan take the hindmost.&rdquo; Hardly waiting

-for Stillman&rsquo;s order to retreat, they broke and fled in

-every direction, each man for himself, lashing their horses to

-get out of the fearful imbroglio into which their own foolhardy

-conduct had forced them.</p>

-<p>Thus, in one desperate charge forty Indians had put two

-hundred and seventy white men to flight! It is no discredit

-to the West, for the men of Stillman&rsquo;s force, under a

-different leader, would have laughed at the efforts of the Sac

-force. They came into Dixon&rsquo;s Ferry as they had left Sycamore

-creek, one at a time, and the loss gradually dwindled from

-seventy to about one-fourth of the number.</p>

-<p>The alarm went forth through the land, and the little

-force of Sac warriors were magnified into an army. The

-work had been done, however, and a scene of blood and

-death was about to be enacted upon the border.</p>

-<p>Captain Melton rode back to the settlement, after leaving

-Stillman, but had not gone far when the flying men from

-the band of heroes began to come up with him. Seeing

-that the war was begun in earnest he faced about and prepared

-to meet them as best he might, knowing nothing of

-the small force of Black-Hawk. After waiting all night

-for some sign of Indian pursuit, as none was made he drew

-<span class="pb" id="Page_46">46</span>

-off his men and reached the settlement some hours after the

-arrival of Stillman, who had been filling the ears of the inhabitants

-with stories of the cowardly conduct of the captain.</p>

-<p>The captain quickly set matters right, and only that he had

-more important business upon his hands, would have followed

-Stillman to the camp of Atkinson, to which he had directed

-his steps. Taking ten of his men, he rode up the river, to

-the residence of Mr. Wescott, but as he drew near, he found

-evidences upon every hand of the presence of the destroyer,

-and as he crossed the hill, saw, to his horror, that during the

-last night the cabin had been attacked. Wild with fear, he

-rushed in at the broken door and found every thing in confusion,

-and scattered here and there, various bits of Indian

-finery, beads and the like, which told him beyond a doubt

-who had done the work.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Indians,&rdquo; said one of the men. &ldquo;Good heaven, captain,

-they are killed!&rdquo;</p>

-<p>They explored the house everywhere, but not a trace of

-the family could be seen. Upon the floor near the entrance

-was a little pool of fresh blood, which looked as if it had

-been shed the night before, and Melton looked at it with a

-shudder.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Where are they?&rdquo; he groaned. &ldquo;Who has done this

-ruin?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;It is always so in an Indian war,&rdquo; said his lieutenant.

-&ldquo;Some band of Indians coming up to join Black-Hawk, have

-rushed in on them, before they had time to fire a shot.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Somebody has been hurt,&rdquo; said Melton. &ldquo;Ha! what

-have you got there, Chris?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>One of the men came forward, holding in his hand a heavy

-knife, with about three inches broken from the point. Upon

-the hilt of the weapon, rudely engraved, was the name, &ldquo;R.

-Garrett.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Dick Garrett has been here, then,&rdquo; said Melton, turning

-pale; &ldquo;and if he has taken Sadie Wescott, it is done for

-Black Will. Oh! heaven, what shall we do?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Hold on,&rdquo; said a feeble voice from beneath their feet.

-&ldquo;Help me out of this and I&rsquo;ll let ye know.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Some one is in the cellar,&rdquo; said Melton. &ldquo;Up with the

-trap and let him out.&rdquo;</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_47">47</div>

-<p>The trap-door was opened, and Cooney Joe, bleeding and

-ghastly, appeared at the foot of the ladder. A dozen hands

-were extended to help him up, and he was seated upon one

-of the stools, gasping for breath.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;What is this, Joe?&rdquo; said Melton. &ldquo;Speak, man; don&rsquo;t

-you see that I am in torture until I know the worst?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;The worst is, that a party of red niggers, headed by Dick

-Garrett, made a rush at us last night, and took Mr. Wescott

-and the gal prisoners. I had a tussle with Dick Garrett, and

-one of them cussid reds hit me over the head with a hatchet,

-and I fell into the cellar. I do&rsquo;no&rsquo; what drove &rsquo;em off, but

-they did not come down to raise my wool, and I&rsquo;ve been too

-weak to git out without help.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t know which way they went?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t I tell ye they knocked the life clean out of me,

-the fust crack? I didn&rsquo;t fairly git my senses back till I

-heerd ye talking. &rsquo;Tain&rsquo;t above two hours sence they left.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;How many had Dick Garrett under him?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Mebbe twenty, the ugliest-lookin&rsquo; lot of whites painted

-red you ever sot yer livin&rsquo; eyes on. I&rsquo;ll be bu&rsquo;sted ef they

-wouldn&rsquo;t spile a lookin&rsquo;-glass by jest peekin&rsquo; into it; darned

-lot of ruffi&rsquo;ns!&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;We must follow them,&rdquo; hissed Melton, through his set

-teeth. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll have the girl out of their hands, if I have to

-follow them into Black-Hawk&rsquo;s village.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;See here; Black-Hawk do&rsquo;no&rsquo; nothin&rsquo; &rsquo;bout it. The pizen

-cusses took his darter with &rsquo;em, but she sp&rsquo;iled one chap,

-sure as you live. He got an arrer clean through him.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;She is a brave girl, Joe. Oh, how sorry I am that you

-are hurt.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Hold hard; you ain&rsquo;t goin&rsquo; without me, you know. One

-of your chaps wash out this cut, and put some plaster on it,

-and we&rsquo;ll make it do. I&rsquo;m goin&rsquo;, you bet.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I fear you are not strong enough.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;You be grannied! You see I&rsquo;ve got a sort of snickering

-notion after that there Injin gal, and I&rsquo;ll be blowed if I don&rsquo;t

-help her.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>In his border life Melton had picked up a slight knowledge

-of surgery, and he washed and dressed the wound as well as

-the limited conveniences at his disposal would admit. Having

-<span class="pb" id="Page_48">48</span>

-done so, Cooney Joe rose up, though somewhat &ldquo;weak

-and staggering,&rdquo; to use his own expression, and was ready to

-&ldquo;fight or run,&rdquo; as circumstances might require.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Now see here, cripples,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;That carroty-headed

-son of a gun, Dick Garrett, is a whole boss-team, you bet ye.

-He&rsquo;ll fight&mdash;he will&mdash;till the teeth meet in the flesh. Oh, you

-bet he is on it, now. He kin shoot, and when we foller

-him, we ain&rsquo;t tracking Sacs, so look out for thunder.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;And he is in league with Black Will, and that scoundrel

-has a hundred ruffians at his beck and call,&rdquo; said Melton.

-&ldquo;We never should have had any trouble with the Indians but

-for men of his kidney.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Now fur trailing,&rdquo; said Cooney Joe. &ldquo;Stand one side,

-you critters, and let the old man work! I&rsquo;ve got a mark

-that can&rsquo;t be beat, fur Dick wears the biggest moccasin of

-any man in the Nor&rsquo;-west. Look around mighty spry, and

-when you find a track like a young canoe, that&rsquo;s Dick Garrett&rsquo;s

-hoof.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>The trail was quickly found, and led to the northward.

-They followed it swiftly, Cooney Joe bending slightly in the

-saddle, and keeping his eyes on the trail, while the rest followed,

-keeping far enough behind not to disturb the trail.

-After a march of nearly two miles, the track suddenly ended

-upon the bank of the Father of Waters, and they knew that

-the scoundrels had taken to the stream.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Now ain&rsquo;t this cussid mean; ain&rsquo;t it enuff to make a man

-raise his hand against his venerable ancestor?&rdquo; roared Joe.

-&ldquo;They&rsquo;ve took water, they hev. Here; send back two men

-with the hosses, fur we&rsquo;ve got to hoof it.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>This plan was adopted, and two of the men returned with

-the horses, while the rest searched about among the reeds,

-and after some trouble found two rude dug-outs concealed, in

-which, by making two trips, they crossed the great stream.

-Here they scattered and searched up and down for the trail

-which they had lost, still guided by the ponderous hoof of

-Dick Garrett.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Oh, <i>ain&rsquo;t</i> he pizen, that Dick!&rdquo; growled Cooney Joe. &ldquo;Its

-just his nat&rsquo;ral cussedness, you know. He&rsquo;s aweer that I like

-to ride, and he jest done this to be mean. Comes nat&rsquo;ral to

-him, meanness does. Here you are; come on, boys!&rdquo;</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_49">49</div>

-<p>He had taken up the recovered trail as if no interruption

-had occurred, and the party moved on across the plain.

-They were tried men, who had followed Captain Melton in

-many an hour of danger, but even their hearts gave a great

-leap as they plunged into the Indian country, perhaps never

-to return.</p>

-<h2 id="c7"><span class="small">CHAPTER VII.</span>

-<br />OVERBOARD.</h2>

-<p>The surprise of the occupants of the log-cabin by the

-river was sudden and complete, when at a late hour the

-house was surrounded by a motley group headed by a man

-who, in spite of his paint and feathers, could not hide from

-so acute a scout as Samuel Wescott that he was a white man

-in disguise. The rush was so sudden that they had been

-overthrown before they had fairly time to reach their weapons,

-and the captured men were at once hurried to their

-horses, and the band made off at a rapid rate up the stream.

-Mr. Wescott was wounded, but in spite of that the savage

-white leader urged him on, threatening him with the point of

-his knife if he faltered or turned aside. They reached the

-river, when, to the surprise of all, a flat-boat shot out from

-the western bank and made toward the eastern shore. The

-men who held the poles were either white men or showed a

-marvelous aptitude for flat-boating, an accomplishment rarely

-to be looked for in an Indian who is not in love with manual

-labor. The bow of the flat grated on the low beach, when

-the party went on board, horses and all, and they pushed out

-into the stream.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;This boat belonged to Captain Hughes&rsquo; father,&rdquo; whispered

-Sadie. &ldquo;Is it possible that these wretches have murdered

-him and his crew?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;He ought to have come down some days ago,&rdquo; said

-Mr. Wescott, in an uneasy tone. &ldquo;I am afraid that the good

-old man has indeed fallen. Be careful what you say, for

-these scoundrels understand every word you speak.&rdquo;</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_50">50</div>

-<p>At this moment the chief approached and caught Mr.

-Wescott by his wounded arm, causing him to utter a low cry

-of pain, while the blood gushed from under his hand.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;No whispering,&rdquo; he hissed, dropping all at once his assumed

-Indian habits. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m no baby, Sam Wescott, but a bird

-of the woods, a Mississippi roarer, and I can lick the universal

-earth a-flying.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Dick Garrett!&rdquo; cried Wescott, in a tone of surprise. &ldquo;I

-thought so.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;You know me, do ye?&rdquo; said Dick, with an air of bravado.

-&ldquo;All right, &rsquo;square, it&rsquo;s all the wuss for you, for Dick

-Garrett don&rsquo;t let no man live that knows he wears an Injin

-rig. Git ropes hyar and take a couple of hitches on this

-chap, some of you fellers.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;What do you intend to do?&rdquo; cried Wescott, struggling.

-&ldquo;Hands off, you scoundrels!&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Tie him tight, boys,&rdquo; replied Dick Garrett, in fiendish

-glee. &ldquo;Teach the cuss to be so sharp, I will, before I git

-done with him. Now, then, Sam Wescott, if you&rsquo;ve got any

-prayers to say, say &rsquo;em quick, for overboard you go when we

-get to that snag in the river.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;You cannot mean it,&rdquo; said Wescott. &ldquo;Such a cold blooded

-and unprovoked murder&mdash;&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Oh, give us a rest or I&rsquo;ll gag you,&rdquo; replied Dick Garrett.

-&ldquo;The matter of a man more or less in the world ain&rsquo;t going

-to shake it to its center, you bet, and when I say you&rsquo;ve got

-to go under, then you go.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Have your way, then, murderous wretch,&rdquo; cried the brave

-man, drawing himself up proudly. &ldquo;I will not beg for my

-life from such as you, and am ready to die, if my time has

-come, as bravely as another. Do your worst.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Sadie by this time began to comprehend the danger in

-which her father stood, and would have come to him, but

-she was forced back by one of the rough men who wore the

-Indian garb, but who could not conceal a certain flat-boat

-swagger which betrayed him.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;He crows loud, boys, don&rsquo;t he?&rdquo; said Garrett; &ldquo;mighty

-loud for a bird of his feather that&rsquo;s only got three minnits

-to live. Keep the gal away; she ain&rsquo;t got leave to

-die yet.&rdquo;</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_51">51</div>

-<p>&ldquo;Let me go to my father,&rdquo; pleaded Sadie. &ldquo;Oh, sir, you

-will not kill him for a single hasty word?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I rather think I shall,&rdquo; replied Garrett, as cool and composed

-as if talking of any ordinary event. &ldquo;The man&rsquo;s got

-to go. I don&rsquo;t advertise to be a saint, and when a man runs

-ag&rsquo;inst me and calls me a murderer, I reckon it&rsquo;s about time

-for him to pass in his chips. I&rsquo;m a peaceable man&mdash;I will

-<i>have</i> peace, or a fight.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>This strange man was dreadfully in earnest. Human life

-was to him a thing of no price&mdash;we might lose it to-day or

-to-morrow, of we might live a hundred years&mdash;a small matter,

-not to be taken into account. He had no objections to

-killing a man, and if he had stood in his way, in any manner,

-it became a <i>duty</i> to put him aside.</p>

-<p>They were approaching the snag, and the desperado was

-about to order the prisoner to be thrown into the water,

-when the boatmen were suddenly thrust aside, and Minneoba,

-holding her bow in her hand, darted forward and leveled an

-arrow at his breast.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Look, white man,&rdquo; she cried, &ldquo;Minneoba is the daughter

-of Black-Hawk, and she can not lie; if you do harm to the

-good white man, I will send an arrow through your heart.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Why, you cat!&rdquo; hissed Dick Garrett, turning upon her

-with a devilish look. &ldquo;Stand out of the way.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>But Minneoba would not obey him. It was the second

-time she had found her arrow effective, and it had some influence

-upon the man who &ldquo;would have peace or a fight.&rdquo;

-Although full of mad hate, he knew that she could aim an

-arrow well, for he had seen her skill tested in the Indian

-towns.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;What in the devil&rsquo;s name made me bring this cat on

-board?&rdquo; he uttered. &ldquo;Better far have left her behind to find

-her way to the village as best she could. Look you, Minneoba,&rdquo;

-he added aloud. &ldquo;You know that I would not willingly

-do you a wrong, but you must get out of the way.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; replied Minneoba, stamping her foot. &ldquo;Minneoba

-will not move, and if Garrett does wrong to the good white

-man, he shall die.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Now, my girl, be careful, please; I&rsquo;ll have to take measures

-you won&rsquo;t like if you don&rsquo;t get out of the way.&rdquo;</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_52">52</div>

-<p>&ldquo;Minneoba will shoot,&rdquo; replied the girl, with flashing eyes,

-still pointing the arrow at his breast. Garrett nodded to

-one of his men, and while the leader expostulated with her

-he stole behind and suddenly caught her by the arm in a

-firm clasp. With a cry of anger the girl caught the arrow

-in her disengaged hand and drove it through the arm of her

-captor, who released her with an oath, but before she could

-strike again, Garrett had her in his arms.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Now then, lads!&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll hold this beauty fast,

-and if she struggles I&rsquo;ll take toll from her lips.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Cease to struggle, Minneoba,&rdquo; said Mr. Wescott. &ldquo;You

-only expose yourself to new indignity without the chance of

-aiding me. I am ready to meet my fate, although it is a

-hard one, but it grieves me to think that I die by the hands

-of white men. Sadie, farewell&mdash;farewell, my dear child.

-All that I have is yours and your dear mother&rsquo;s. Thank

-God that she at least was absent when this blow fell.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I can not see you die,&rdquo; she sobbed. &ldquo;Oh, Richard Garrett,

-will nothing move you to do right?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;That depends on what you call <i>right</i>. Now you don&rsquo;t

-think it right to beat a man at the picturs or billiards or to

-pick his pocket, or crack a bank. Now I do, so we won&rsquo;t

-seem to agree, no matter how you fix it, so I guess we may as

-well end this now. Toss him over, boys.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;It don&rsquo;t seem scarcely right,&rdquo; said the rough young fellow

-who was helping Sadie back. &ldquo;Why not duck him, and

-then let him out, boss?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Because he knows I wear an Injin disguise. It&rsquo;s all

-very well for you that he don&rsquo;t know, but I ain&rsquo;t so easy

-suited. Toss him over, I say, and make no words.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>They lifted the bound man and flung him over the rail,

-while with a thrilling shriek Sadie fell senseless into the

-arms of the man who held her. He laid her gently down,

-and made a spring at the taffrail, and his body struck the

-water almost as soon as that of Mr. Wescott, who was unable

-to help himself.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Come back here, you born fool,&rdquo; screamed Dick Garrett.

-&ldquo;What do you think the Cap will say when he hears how

-you act?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;You go to &mdash;&mdash;,&rdquo; said the rough but good-hearted

-fellow,

-<span class="pb" id="Page_53">53</span>

-naming a locality not sought after by humanity generally.

-&ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to save this man.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Then by &mdash;&mdash;&rdquo; hissed Dick Garrett, &ldquo;you stay with him;

-set in your poles, boys. Tom don&rsquo;t want to come on

-board.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>By this time the man had seized the helpless form of

-Wescott, and with his clasp-knife managed to cut the bonds

-upon his hands and feet, and Wescott at once began to swim,

-but feebly at first, and the fiendish order of the desperate

-leader rung in his ears, and they saw the boat moving slowly

-away, leaving them alone on the wide river.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re done, stranger,&rdquo; said the man called Tom. &ldquo;I

-done my best, but he&rsquo;s run from us.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;You can swim to the bank,&rdquo; said Mr. Wescott, noting

-with what ease the man sustained himself.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I reckon.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Then do so and leave me to my fate,&rdquo; replied Wescott.

-&ldquo;You have already risked too much for me.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;When I quit a man in that way I reckon you&rsquo;d better

-call round with a rope and string me up. It&rsquo;ll suit me fust

-rate. Let the current take ye square; we&rsquo;ll fetch up somewhere

-I reckon, and when we do, and I onc&rsquo;t git on the trail

-of that Dick Garrett, won&rsquo;t I make him howl!&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Even as he spoke the two men were moving on a course

-diagonal with the current, the stronger man giving all the

-support he could to his wounded companion. But the shore

-seemed far away and Wescott felt that he could not go much

-further.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Save yourself,&rdquo; he gasped. &ldquo;My wound has opened

-again and I am losing strength.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I won&rsquo;t do it,&rdquo; replied Tom, through his set teeth.

-&ldquo;Hold up a little; I&rsquo;ll save you yet.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;There is no hope,&rdquo; replied Wescott. &ldquo;Avenge me if

-you can and save my daughter from that villain. You can

-do me better service in that way than by staying with me

-now.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>At this moment the surge came down heavily and buried

-the speaker beneath the water. Tom paddled to and fro,

-looking for him in vain, for the water had claimed its prey,

-and nerving himself to the task the young man struck out

-<span class="pb" id="Page_54">54</span>

-resolutely for the shore, which he reached nearly exhausted.

-Then he ran along the bank and looked for some sign of

-Wescott, but he looked in vain. The surface of the river

-was blank.</p>

-<h2 id="c8"><span class="small">CHAPTER VIII.</span>

-<br />MELTON&rsquo;S SCOUT&mdash;A BUSH FIGHT.</h2>

-<p>Tom Bantry had been a flatboatman since he was old

-enough to hold a pole, and now for the first time paused to

-consider how far he had gone down the road of sin. He

-was conscious of many evil deeds already performed, but the

-stain of blood was not upon his soul, and although pledged

-to his vile companion he could not stand by tamely and

-witness the murder of so good a man as Samuel Wescott.

-But his good intentions had come to naught, and the brave

-man was dead.</p>

-<p>The flatboatman rose and looked about him, a wicked light

-coming over his dark face. &ldquo;They taught me evil, them

-cusses did,&rdquo; he muttered. &ldquo;I&rsquo;d the making of a man in me,

-but they sp&rsquo;iled me, and now they&rsquo;ve killed as good a man

-as ever walked the earth. I&rsquo;ll remember that ag&rsquo;inst ye, old

-man Garrett.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>He was literally worn out, and dropped down upon the

-grass and slept until morning. He woke at last and started

-up refreshed, only to find a party of white men were upon

-the opposite bank, and with his paint upon him, Tom knew

-that it would be far from safe to meet them, and he skulked

-away, keeping under cover of the bushes, and then made a

-circuit through the bushes, designing to cross their path and

-ascertain who they were. As he crept forward with that

-intention, he heard a slight rustling in the bushes in front,

-and the long, snake-like head of Napope appeared above the

-bushes, signaling him to fall back. He did so, involuntarily

-dropping his hand upon his knife, which he had not lost

-in the last night&rsquo;s struggle in the stream, when he remembered

-that Napope regarded all his party as friends and that

-<span class="pb" id="Page_55">55</span>

-he still wore the garb of an Indian. He dropped back and

-the next moment Napope joined him.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;The white dogs come,&rdquo; he said, in a fierce tone, &ldquo;and

-the heart of a chief is big in his bosom. They shall die

-without knowledge.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Who are they?&rdquo; demanded Tom.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;They are white and they are not the friends of Jackwood

-the son of Red-Bird. Where is your gun, my brother?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I lost it last night,&rdquo; replied Tom, a little embarrassed.

-&ldquo;Let me look out and see what white men come.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>He advanced to the edge of the woods and looked out,

-and could detect a white party moving hastily across the

-plain. Foremost among them was a man whom he had

-known well some years before, Cooney Joe, and behind him

-came Captain Melton and his gallant men, and it flashed

-through the mind of Tom Bantry that they were in pursuit

-of Dick Garrett. His heart stood still, for a backward glance

-showed him fifty stout Sacs, armed to the teeth, lying under

-the bushes waiting for the coming of the hated white men.

-Twenty-four hours ago Tom Bantry would have delighted

-in this, but now he was changed, and racked his brains for

-ways and means to acquaint them with the ambush before

-them, without destruction to himself.</p>

-<p>Napope waved his hand, and, as if by magic, every warrior

-disappeared, and a stillness like that of death fell upon

-the scene. The whites came in rapidly, unsuspicious of

-danger, and passed through the first bushes, when they were

-surprised to hear a sudden crash and a yell of surprise and

-anger. The crash came from Tom Bantry, who had managed

-to fall down with a great noise, at the same time giving

-the yell which startled the white rangers.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Tree, boys!&rdquo; yelled Cooney Joe. &ldquo;Tree and fight. Injins

-thar, by the big horn spoon.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>The men who followed Cooney Joe were Indian-fighters

-of the first class, and the order had scarcely been given when

-every man was sheltered by a tree and had his rifle ready for

-action. This was not done a moment too soon, for the feathers

-of the savages began to show above the bushes, and

-several shots were fired, until a commanding voice shouted

-to the warriors to hold their fire.</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_56">56</div>

-<p>&ldquo;What do the white men seek?&rdquo; cried Napope. &ldquo;They

-have been beaten once; must we beat them again?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s Napope,&rdquo; cried Cooney Joe. &ldquo;I know the old

-cuss, and he kin fight, if he is an Injin; but we&rsquo;ll lick him

-out of his moccasins. Say, Injin, you&rsquo;d better clear the

-way; you ain&rsquo;t got the major to fight now.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Napope does not seek the scalps of the white men,&rdquo;

-cried the Indian. &ldquo;If they bring the scalps to him, he will

-take them, but he does not thirst for blood. Let Captain

-Melton turn back and cross the river.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;The path must be clear for me to pass through,&rdquo; replied

-Melton. &ldquo;The hatchet has been dug up and its edge turned

-against women and children, and the good white man, Wescott,

-with his daughter, has been carried away, and we think

-the Sacs know where they are.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;The Sacs do not know,&rdquo; replied Napope, proudly. &ldquo;Does

-the white man take us for Menomonies or Chippewas? The

-Sacs are men and not dogs; they do not fight against women

-and children.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Napope is a brave man, and will not lie to save his life,&rdquo;

-said Melton. &ldquo;Let us pass on safely, and then there shall be

-no blood shed, for we seek only those who have stolen the

-brave man Wescott and his child.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;My brother must turn back,&rdquo; replied the chief. &ldquo;There

-is no path over the Indian country for white soldiers until

-peace is made; but if the good white man and his child are

-here, they shall be made welcome, and no harm shall come

-to them if Napope can give them aid. But Melton must

-take his warriors and go back to his people.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;We will not turn back,&rdquo; replied Melton, angrily, &ldquo;unless

-we take the friends we seek with us. Let Napope clear the

-way, or we will try to go on without his leave.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;The white men will find knives and hatchets in the

-path,&rdquo; replied the chief, grimly. &ldquo;Go back as you came,

-and all shall be well; refuse, and you shall find that my

-young men carry guns.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t like this,&rdquo; whispered Cooney Joe in the ear of

-Melton. &ldquo;They&rsquo;ve got twice as many warriors as we have,

-and the chances are good for a fight. I never like to back

-out, but I don&rsquo;t know but it&rsquo;s the safest plan.&rdquo;</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_57">57</div>

-<p>&ldquo;It won&rsquo;t do,&rdquo; said Melton. &ldquo;These scoundrels will get

-too impudent if they are allowed their own way too much.

-There must be a fight, and at once, and the boys must do

-their best. I know them too well to think that they will

-back down for twice their number of Sacs.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;What does my brother say?&rdquo; cried Napope.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Fight.&rdquo; replied Melton. &ldquo;We will go on.&rdquo; Napope disappeared

-immediately, and scarcely had he done so when a

-bullet whizzed by the ear of the young scout as he hastily

-took to a tree. The fight now commenced in true Indian-fashion,

-the Sacs forcing the fighting and running from tree

-to tree to get nearer to their enemies. But they found a different

-party from that with which they had fought upon

-Sycamore Creek. Every bullet had its billet. Did an Indian

-show hand or foot from behind his shelter, it was at once the

-mark of a well-aimed ball. The men who followed Melton

-had lived by the rifle, and were not likely to miss their aim

-easily, while the Indians were notoriously bad marksmen, not

-having the patience to perfect themselves in the use of

-the rifle.</p>

-<p>Besides, the weapons they carried were not of the best description,

-being those furnished by the traders against the

-law, and their powder was &ldquo;contract,&rdquo; warranted not to burn

-except at a slow fire. But their numbers made the position

-of Melton&rsquo;s small force decidedly unsafe, and they began to

-close in upon every side, and every moment Melton expected

-a charge with hatchet and knife, most fearful weapons in

-Indian hands. But the steady valor of the scouts had inspired

-the savages with a respect for them, and they fought

-warily, losing a man now and then, and inflicting little

-damage upon the foe.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;They&rsquo;ll charge soon, boys,&rdquo; whispered Cooney Joe.

-&ldquo;Pass the word down the line to have a charge ready for the

-rush. Don&rsquo;t throw away a shot.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>The rifles were ready when Napope gave the order, and at

-his signal-yell they bounded out like tigers, flourishing their

-bright weapons in the air.</p>

-<p>This was the moment for the Border Riflemen, and each

-picked his man and fired, and every bullet found a mark.

-Supposing the rifles empty, the Sacs rushed on, but they were

-<span class="pb" id="Page_58">58</span>

-mistaken, for up rose ten more riflemen, and the head of the

-assailants seemed to melt away before their fire. It was more

-than Indian endurance was equal to, and they again buried

-themselves in the bushes, in spite of the fierce orders of Napope,

-who, although severely wounded in the shoulder, urged

-the men on.</p>

-<p>He was ably seconded by Na-she-eschuck, who was also

-slightly wounded.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Well done, my lads,&rdquo; cried Mellon. &ldquo;Bravely done,

-riflemen; they have not Sycamore Creek to brag of this time,

-at any rate.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Napope collected his men under cover of the bushes, but

-his heart was full of anger against the gallant band of scouts,

-whom he had expected to sweep from the path in that headlong

-charge. So far from doing that, over one-third of his

-men were placed <i>hors de combat</i>, and several more partially

-disabled. Aroused by the invectives of the two chiefs, they

-again began to advance, but more cautiously, sliding from tree

-to tree, with great care, and exposing themselves as little as

-possible in doing so. But the riflemen managed to inflict new

-damage upon them before they came in fair charging distance.

-Napope had separated his force into three parts, sending

-out a small party upon each flank of the white force, and

-Melton was compelled to detach eight men, four upon each

-flank, to keep off these troublesome flanking-parties. This

-left him but twelve men in his main force, opposed to over

-thirty determined warriors, eager for the blood of those who

-had slain so many of their friends.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;We have got ourselves into a pizen scrape, Cap,&rdquo; said

-Cooney Joe, as he stood with his back against a tree, looking

-to the priming of his rifle; &ldquo;but thar&rsquo;s only one way to do,

-and that is to fight our way out. We kin lick &rsquo;em if more

-don&rsquo;t come; <i>that&rsquo;s</i> what I&rsquo;m afraid of.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>At this moment the rush was made, and as before, the

-whites divided their fire, so as to give the Indians two volleys

-before they reached the trees, and then with yells which vied

-with those of the Indians, they formed a line among the trees,

-and beat back the savages with knife, hatchet, and clubbed

-rifle. It was a desperate affair while it lasted, and the wild

-valor of the scouting party prevailed, and they were driving

-<span class="pb" id="Page_59">59</span>

-back the Indians step by step, when one of the men who had

-been sent to the right flank came running up.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Party of Injins coming across the plain, on a run, Cap,&rdquo;

-he reported. &ldquo;I reckon we&rsquo;d better git.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Easier said than done,&rdquo; said the captain, turning aside a

-blow with his heavy knife. &ldquo;Shoot that fellow, Ed.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>The borderer brought his rifle to his shoulder, and the

-savage fell, shot through the heart.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Have the Indians on the flanks retreated, Ed?&rdquo; demanded

-Melton, as he fired a pistol at a savage who was poising

-his hatchet for a throw, and the savage went down.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;No, they ain&rsquo;t all gone yet,&rdquo; replied the man, who was

-coolly reloading his discharged rifle. &ldquo;I guess we&rsquo;d better

-call in the men and make a rush through these red devils,

-before the others can come up.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>A signal whistle, well known to the &ldquo;merry men&rdquo; of Melton,

-brought in all upon the flank, and with shouts of victory,

-all charged upon the broken and demoralized body of Sacs.

-They had fought bravely, but their courage was not proof

-against the assault, and they broke and fled in every direction

-through the woods, pursued by the victorious whites, who

-only wanted to get deeper into the woods, to avoid the force

-coming up in their rear. They would not have done this had

-they known that it was Dick Garrett and his party, bringing

-as prisoner, Sadie Wescott, whom Minneoba would not

-leave.</p>

-<p>Scouts from the party of Napope having discovered the

-coming of the disguised whites, and apprised the chief, he

-hurried out to meet them, and started as he saw who they

-held as prisoner.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Ha!&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;Then it is my brother who struck the

-wigwam of Wescott, and took him prisoner?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Garrett. &ldquo;You see our boss, Will Jackwood,

-wanted this girl, and sent me to take her.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Where is Wescott, now?&rdquo; demanded Napope.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said Garrett, hesitating, &ldquo;he&rsquo;s gone under; that&rsquo;s

-what&rsquo;s the matter with <i>him</i>.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Let my brother speak more plainly,&rdquo; said the chief.

-&ldquo;What has become of Wescott, the good white man?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;He has been murdered,&rdquo; replied Sadie, coming forward,

-<span class="pb" id="Page_60">60</span>

-quickly. &ldquo;Chief, you know what he was, and that he never

-willingly wronged the Indians. You know, too, that when

-the mob in the village assaulted Black-Hawk and yourself, he

-came to your aid and helped you to escape. He has been

-brutally murdered, by this base wretch, Garrett.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;The girl lies, I reckon,&rdquo; said Garrett, sullenly. &ldquo;See

-here, chief; is it calculated in your tribe that women are any

-better off for having too much tongue?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;My brother must let the Wild Rose speak,&rdquo; replied Napope.

-&ldquo;When the Sacs come hungry and thirsty into her

-father&rsquo;s lodge, she is always ready to give them food and

-drink; when they are weary, and the night air is cold, there

-is always a warm place by the fire to spread a blanket. The

-child of Wescott must be allowed to speak.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Now look here, chief,&rdquo; said Garrett, in the same ferocious

-tone. &ldquo;&rsquo;Tain&rsquo;t noways likely I&rsquo;m going to come down to you

-or any man on earth. If Wescott was killed, he was my

-pris&rsquo;ner, and I had a right to do what I would with him.

-Have you any thing to say against it?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Napope inclined his head slowly, as recognizing the justice

-of the remark. The life of the man was as little regarded

-by the Indians as by Garrett, and Napope rather liked the

-tone of insolence he assumed.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Napope,&rdquo; cried Sadie, &ldquo;I want you to listen to me.

-This wicked man threw my father into the water, from the

-flat-boat, and he has not been seen since. Will you see a

-good man murdered and refuse to avenge him?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Napope was evidently troubled, for just now he needed

-the assistance of Garrett and his men, and did not wish to

-make him angry.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;We will speak of that another time, Wild Rose. Until

-then, rest safely with Minneoba, the daughter of Black-Hawk,

-while we do the work of men. Garrett, do you

-know that Loud Tempest is here and he has beaten the men

-of Napope, and killed many?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Loud Tempest; do you mean Captain Melton?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Yes; he is here, with the white hunter Joe, and many

-warriors. Napope can not rest until we have his scalp.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Cooney Joe! Why, I give him a lick last night that

-ought to have settled any decent man for good.&rdquo;</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_61">61</div>

-<p>&ldquo;He is alive, and fights like a Sac,&rdquo; replied Napope.

-&ldquo;They are in the woods and we must follow and take their

-scalps.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll bet he&rsquo;s arter me,&rdquo; muttered Garrett. &ldquo;He don&rsquo;t

-owe me any good will for work I&rsquo;ve done, and I&rsquo;ve swore to

-have his hair. Thar&rsquo;s my hand on it, Napope, and I&rsquo;ll never

-quit you until he or I have gone under.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Sadie had started at the name of Melton, and was conscious

-of a feeling of joy that he had thought enough of her

-safety to follow her into the Indian country, but, as she

-glanced over the line of ferocious faces, she was sorry that

-he had incurred this danger. But she followed the party

-until they reached the battle-field and found it strewn with

-the slain bodies of the Sacs who had fallen, each one pierced

-by the deadly bullet.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;These ain&rsquo;t babies we are following,&rdquo; said Garrett.

-&ldquo;They kin fight, Melton&rsquo;s scout kin, and ef we lick &rsquo;em we

-lick a good crowd. How many has he got with him?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Napope extended the fingers upon both hands twice.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Twenty? We&rsquo;ve got our work cut out then, for twenty

-of Melton&rsquo;s Mounted Rifles, with the capting and Cooney

-Joe to lead, are a hard crowd to manage, bet your life.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;There was one of your men with us in this fight,&rdquo; said

-Napope, looking about him for Tom Bantry. &ldquo;But I do not

-see him now.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Who was he?&rdquo; demanded Garrett, glancing over the

-party hastily. &ldquo;Was it the one we call Tom?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Napope nodded, and Garrett uttered an oath, and a search

-was commenced for him. He was not among the dead or

-wounded, and whether he had perished or not, Bantry was

-not to be found.</p>

-<h2 id="c9"><span class="small">CHAPTER IX.</span>

-<br />THE DEFENSE OF THE ISLAND.</h2>

-<p>When the enemy had been so scattered as to leave the

-path free, the small band of rangers plunged deeper into the

-woods and kept on their course until they reached a small

-<span class="pb" id="Page_62">62</span>

-wooded swamp through which many small creeks ran, leaving

-a little island in the center, containing, perhaps, two

-acres of land. The tall trees stood thick about it, and no

-better place of defense could possibly have been selected. No

-sooner had they reached the island than they set to work

-fortifying it by piling up fallen logs into a temporary barricade,

-making it strongest upon the only point which could be

-assailed by land, as the creeks swept around it on three sides,

-leaving a space of smooth ground about twenty feet

-wide. Across this they built a strong barricade at least ten

-feet high, through the openings of which, they could fire

-upon the foe, without being themselves seen.</p>

-<p>The other parts of the island were almost impervious to

-assault, for not only did the deep creek guard it, but the

-logs had fallen all about it in inextricable confusion, making

-a <i>chevaux de frise</i> through which a corps of axmen would

-have found it extremely difficult to force their way. The

-middle of the island was cleared, leaving the path open

-for them to pass from one part to another, and they now

-waited almost eagerly for the coming of the enemy, who, as

-yet, did not appear. Cooney Joe took his rifle and stole

-out toward the clearing, and for half an hour the &ldquo;scout&rdquo;

-remained quiet, waiting in considerable anxiety for the

-coming of the hunter, whose danger they well knew. But

-he came back at a long-loping trot, his rifle at a trail, and

-his eyes flashing with the ardor of battle.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Git ready, boys,&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got business afore

-us, bet yer life.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;What now, Joe?&rdquo; demanded the captain. &ldquo;Who are

-coming?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;All that&rsquo;s left of Napope&rsquo;s band and thirty of Dick Garrett&rsquo;s

-men,&rdquo; replied Joe. &ldquo;And&mdash;&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Thar&rsquo;s an Injin,&rdquo; cried one of the men. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll pop him

-over.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Hold on,&rdquo; replied Joe. &ldquo;Seems to me that chap is

-making signals that look <i>white</i>. Thar; look at that!&rdquo;</p>

-<p>An Indian had appeared in plain sight and was waving a

-white cloth in the air.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Hello, <i>you</i>!&rdquo; yelled Joe. &ldquo;Come in, ef you want

-to.&rdquo;</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_63">63</div>

-<p>The man obeyed and came clambering over the barricade,

-and at a glance they could see that he was a white man disguised.

-It was Tom Bantry, who had escaped from associates

-with whom he could no longer consort.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Look here, men,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m Tom Bantry. You

-don&rsquo;t know <i>me</i> and mebbe you don&rsquo;t want to. I&rsquo;ve been one

-of Dick Garrett and Will Jackwood&rsquo;s men&mdash;I have. Now

-why don&rsquo;t you kill me?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t see my way to that clear,&rdquo; said Joe. &ldquo;Now, Tom

-Bantry, what d&rsquo;ye want here?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve, quit &rsquo;em,&rdquo; replied Tom, energetically. &ldquo;I couldn&rsquo;t

-stand it, boys, &rsquo;pon my word, I couldn&rsquo;t. I feel mean as dirt

-&rsquo;cause I&rsquo;ve been with &rsquo;em so long; but I tell you I didn&rsquo;t

-think they was so mean till last night when they killed poor

-Mr. Wescott.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;What&rsquo;s that you say?&rdquo; cried Melton, coming forward.

-&ldquo;Who killed him; how was he killed?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Dick Garrett did it,&rdquo; replied Tom, in a choking voice.

-&ldquo;The &rsquo;square give him some cheek, and he had him throwed

-into the river. Boys, I&rsquo;m a rough boatman, but I jumped in

-after him, and they left us alone in the dark on the river. I

-tried to save him, but it wan&rsquo;t no use; the current took him

-under.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I believe this man, for one,&rdquo; said Melton. &ldquo;He never

-would dare to come here with such a tale as that unless it

-was really true. What do you say, boys?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s all right,&rdquo; replied Joe, &ldquo;but ef he ain&rsquo;t, let him look

-out, &rsquo;cause I shoot awful close, odd times; I do, by gracious.

-So Dick Garrett is jined with Napope?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;That ain&rsquo;t all, you know,&rdquo; said Tom Bantry. &ldquo;They hev

-sent off a messenger to the village, and if you don&rsquo;t have

-lively times round here, then I don&rsquo;t want a picayune.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Perhaps we had better retreat.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;You can&rsquo;t do it; they&rsquo;ve got scouts all through the

-woods, and you&rsquo;d hev the hull posse on your backs in twenty

-minnits by the clock, so don&rsquo;t try that on, &rsquo;square. No, it&rsquo;s

-goin&rsquo; to be a b&rsquo;ar-fight, and you can&rsquo;t find a better place than

-this to fight in.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I believe the man is right,&rdquo; said Melton. &ldquo;I say, Folks,

-is your hand so bad you can&rsquo;t pull a trigger?&rdquo;</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_64">64</div>

-<p>&ldquo;Sorry to say &rsquo;tis, Cap,&rdquo; replied the man; &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t do

-nothing.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>He had been hit in the hand during the fight that morning,

-and the cords had been so injured as to make it impossible

-for him to fire a rifle.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Then you may as well let this man have your rifle,

-Folks,&rdquo; said the captain. &ldquo;I take it for granted you mean

-to fight?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Stranger, I&rsquo;ve <i>got</i> to fight,&rdquo; said Bantry. &ldquo;Why, if Dick

-Garrett gets me, he&rsquo;ll raise my wool, sure, and so, ef he does

-git into this camp, I&rsquo;m goin&rsquo; out feet fust. That&rsquo;s the way to

-talk it.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;He knows you have turned against him, then?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Captin, he suspects it, and to suspect a man is all <i>he</i>

-wants, you know. He&rsquo;ll go for me, sure.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>The man who had been hurt came up at this moment and

-gave Bantry the rifle and ammunition.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Now, &rsquo;square, see here,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;you watch me when I

-fire the first shot, and if it don&rsquo;t seem to you that I&rsquo;ve tried

-to hit my man, I give you leave to shoot me, that&rsquo;s all. This

-is a good rifle, chummy&mdash;she hangs true as a die, and I can

-knock the black out of a buffler&rsquo;s eye at twenty rods

-with her.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>At this moment one of the sentries outside the barricade

-gave the signal, and all were immediately upon the alert.

-Melton took the charge of Bantry upon himself, and gave

-him a place in the middle of the barricade, and took his station

-beside him. The sentries came stealing in like silent

-specters, and placed themselves beside the rest in silence,

-waiting for the advance of the Indians.</p>

-<p>They had not long to wait, for a tufted head was cautiously

-protruded from behind a tree, and a pair of brilliant eyes

-looked keenly at the island. Evidently he saw something

-out of the way, for he stepped out in full view of the fort

-and advanced to within twenty feet of the barricade.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;That man must not go back,&rdquo; said Melton, in a whisper,

-touching Tom Bantry on the arm, &ldquo;and no rifle must be

-fired. Can you fetch him?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Bantry caught up a knife and hatchet, and sprung from the

-barricade so suddenly that the Indian had no time to cock

-<span class="pb" id="Page_65">65</span>

-his gun before the fiery boatman was upon him. They

-closed with fierce energy, a short struggle ensued, and then

-Tom Bantry arose, leaving the Indian dead at his feet.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Well done, Bantry,&rdquo; said Melton, as the man came back

-his face scarcely flushed by the desperate struggle in which

-he had been engaged. &ldquo;You will do very well without

-watching.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve <i>got</i> to fight,&rdquo; replied Tom, coolly. &ldquo;It won&rsquo;t do for

-me to be caught, I tell you.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>By this time the Indians and disguised boatmen began to

-show themselves through the woods, and the scout opened

-upon them at once, and they skulked to the shelter of the

-bushes. But the men who had come up with the desperado

-Garrett did not know the word fear, and only waited for the

-orders of their superior to advance to the assault.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;They are fighting chickens, Cap; game birds, every

-man, now you mind what I say,&rdquo; said the deserter. &ldquo;They&rsquo;ll

-fight like bulldogs, but they&rsquo;d do better if Black Will was

-here.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>The attack was not long delayed. The desperate ruffians

-collected as close as possible to the barricade, and then made

-their rush all together. They were met by men as determined

-and desperate as themselves, and forced back, leaving

-one fourth of their number dead or wounded in front of the

-barricade.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s the way Melton&rsquo;s scouts do it,&rdquo; cried the voice of

-the young captain. &ldquo;Come again, my boys.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I hear you,&rdquo; screamed Garrett, &ldquo;and we will come again.

-Now, Napope,&rdquo; he added, lowering his tone, &ldquo;we must divide

-their force. Send ten of your best men to cross the creek

-and attack them on the right. Send ten more to the left,

-and try them at the same time. The signal will be three

-rifle-shots from this point.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Their movements were not so well shrouded that Melton

-could not see the danger to be apprehended from a division

-of his forces, which was rendered necessary by this action on

-their part. But he only sent three men to each point threatened,

-one under the lead of Tom Bantry, who had already

-become quite popular, and the other under Cooney Joe. They

-darted rapidly across the little open space, while the others

-<span class="pb" id="Page_66">66</span>

-loaded their rifles and pistols and calmly waited for the assault.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Beat them off this time, and the chances are they won&rsquo;t

-want any more,&rdquo; cried Melton. &ldquo;Shoot a little closer to

-make up for the lost men, and it will be all right.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Just then they heard three rifle-shots, and a simultaneous

-movement was made against the island from three different

-points. But the foresight of Melton in sending small parties

-to the threatened points, removed the danger from the two

-parties of Indians, while his own force was not so weakened

-but that he could still present a stout front to the foe. The

-barricade rained bullets upon the advancing enemy entangled

-in the branches of the trees which formed the intrenchment,

-and crowded into the narrow space of twenty feet. No men,

-however hardy, could hope to live long under such a fire, and

-in spite of the almost superhuman exertions of Garrett, Napope

-and Na-she-eschuck, they fell back again, and took

-breath under cover of the woods.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;This is awful,&rdquo; said Garrett. &ldquo;The curse of the devil on

-them, how they do fight. I&rsquo;ve lost near half my men.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>The small parties under Tom Bantry and Joe had succeeded

-in keeping their enemies at bay, and as soon as the

-main body retreated, half a dozen men ran to their aid, and

-the Indians were quickly swept away from the banks of the

-creek.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Good boys,&rdquo; said Melton. &ldquo;You could not fight better if

-you liked the sport. Now, who wants the doctor?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>No one had been badly injured. Two or three had been

-scraped by passing bullets, but a little sticking-plaster soon set

-that right, and they were as ready for a fight as ever.</p>

-<p>Garrett was furious, and while he was blaming heaven and

-earth at the ill success of his attack, a man whose face was

-flushed by a hard ride dashed through the swamp, and drew

-up before them.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Now then, what is all this?&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;I know you,

-Dick Garrett. You delight in a row so much that you are

-wasting my men in attacking a perfect fort.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;But you don&rsquo;t know who is in it, Will Jackwood,&rdquo; replied

-Garrett. &ldquo;Two men you hate&mdash;Cooney Joe and Captain

-Melton.&rdquo;</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_67">67</div>

-<p>&ldquo;Ha, say you so? Then out of that they must come, by

-the Eternal! Keep back the men, for Black-Hawk will be

-here in half an hour with four hundred braves, and then we

-will overwhelm them. Captain Melton, eh? I always did

-detest that boy, Dick.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t love him,&rdquo; said Dick.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;What is this I hear about Sam Wescott?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Gone under, Will. I had to do it, for he recognized me

-in my disguise, and some one had to go.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t care so much about that, if you did not compromise

-me. The man hated me, and while he lived there was

-no hope of winning the girl by fair means, and I always liked

-that way best. Where is the girl?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I left her on the edge of the swamp, with three of my

-best men.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;All right; where is Tom Bantry? I want to send him

-somewhere.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know what to think about him, Will, &rsquo;pon my

-word. When we slung Wescott overboard the fool jumped

-after him, and I left them both in the river. Tom got out,

-some way, and came to Napope&rsquo;s camp, but after their fight

-we could not find hide nor hair of him.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;You&rsquo;ve lost the best man in the party, then, by all odds.

-Tom was the only one who had a spark of humanity in his

-composition. You are sure these men you left with the girl

-are all right?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Davis, Bradshaw and Herrick.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;They&rsquo;ll do; as true panthers as ever lapped blood. How

-many has Melton in his fort?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;He <i>had</i> twenty.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Then he&rsquo;s got twenty <i>now</i>,&rdquo; said Jackwood. &ldquo;You have

-not hurt many of them in that place, for the captain knows

-how to choose a position. Send one of the Indians to Black-Hawk,

-and tell him to make haste, as we must get this little

-job off our hands.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;If you find it a little job, then there are no snakes in the

-South Red,&rdquo; said Garrett, who was incensed at the quiet way

-in which his defeat was laughed down. &ldquo;They licked Napope

-alone, and now they&rsquo;ve licked our combined forces, and

-it is no two to one they don&rsquo;t give our friend Black-Hawk

-<span class="pb" id="Page_68">68</span>

-all he can do. <i>You</i> ought to know Melton&rsquo;s scouts by this

-time.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Jackwood nodded, and a fierce look came into his face:</p>

-<p>&ldquo;If I had been here, friend Garrett, this would never have

-happened. If <i>I</i> had assailed these works, I would have taken

-them.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Then assail them now. You&rsquo;ve got the men&mdash;try it.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Dick&mdash;Dick! How lucky it is that all men are not

-swayed by impulse. You offer me a broken and discouraged

-force to perform the task you failed to achieve when they

-were in prime order. It won&rsquo;t do, Richard; too transparent

-altogether. Get the men together, see to the wounded and

-get the survivors ready for a new attack. I will lead it in

-person.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>As he spoke, the approach of dusky scouts heralded the

-coming of Black-Hawk, and directly after the old chief, surrounded

-by his principal advisers and warriors, strode into the

-camp.</p>

-<h2 id="c10"><span class="small">CHAPTER X.</span>

-<br />THE FOREST FIEND.</h2>

-<p>Will Jackwood, whose influence over the old chief had

-now become great, at once accosted him.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;The time has come, chief of the Sacs, when you may

-put forth your hand and take that which is your own, the

-band of men who have braved the power of Napope and

-his strongest men, and have even baffled my warriors. They

-laugh at us in yonder fort; let us teach them what we can

-do.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;My brother speaks good words,&rdquo; replied the chief.

-&ldquo;Let those who have axes go forward and fell trees about

-the fort upon every side so that we may cross the creek.

-Let others take their guns and protect them.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>A cordon of axmen was quickly formed, about the island,

-and the great trees came crashing down, forming

-bridges over which the great force of warriors could rush

-<span class="pb" id="Page_69">69</span>

-to the attack. The work was quickly done, and then at the

-command of the chief four hundred warriors rushed on together,

-uttering their fearful war-cries. They broke through

-the abatis of tangled limbs unopposed and reached the fort

-only to find it tenantless. The white rangers had escaped,

-how they could not tell, leaving nothing to show where they

-had departed, but all knew that it must have been in the interval

-of time which elapsed between the last attack on the

-fort and the coming of Black-Hawk. Black Will was nearly

-beside himself with anger, and a pursuit was at once commenced,

-when the trail was found. But, the &ldquo;scout&rdquo; had

-half an hour&rsquo;s start, and he feared that they would reach the

-river before they could be overtaken, and their leader&rsquo;s fertile

-brain would quickly study out some way of crossing the

-stream.</p>

-<p>Although having but little hope, Black-Hawk sent out

-a hundred of the best Sac warriors under the command of

-Ma-she-eschuck, and the pursuit was pressed with ardor.

-While this was being done, Jackwood sent Garrett with five

-men to find Sadie, and conduct her to a place of safety, strictly

-enjoining him to use her well but upon no account to suffer

-her to escape.</p>

-<p>Dick Garrett hurried his men to the spot where he had

-left Sadie, and as he approached it his countenance began to

-change for he heard nothing of the men he had left in charge

-of the girl.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Hurry up, boys,&rdquo; he cried; &ldquo;if they have lost her, I&rsquo;ll

-not be the man to go back to Black Will Jackwood and tell

-him of it. Ha! Look at that.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>The three men who had been left with Sadie lay upon

-the earth under the shadow of the trees. Their faces were

-upturned to the sky, and it needed no prophet to tell that

-they were dead, and the party broke into a run and reached

-the spot. Two of them had been shot through the heart,

-evidently with pistol balls, and the third had half a dozen

-knife wounds upon him, and they saw on every hand evidences

-of a desperate struggle, while Sadie was nowhere to

-be seen. The men paused and looked at each other in unspeakable

-dismay, for they knew Jackwood too well to dare

-face him, and tell him what had happened.</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_70">70</div>

-<p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;d kill me!&rdquo; screamed Garrett. &ldquo;Look here, boys;

-we&rsquo;ve got to find this girl before we go back, so take the

-trail at once, and follow. We&rsquo;ll have her back, if she is

-above ground, and avenge these poor fellows who lie dead.

-I only wish we had Tom Bantry now; he was the best scout

-among us.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;What made you leave him in the river then?&rdquo; said one

-of the men, in a sullen tone. &ldquo;He won&rsquo;t come back no

-more, Tom won&rsquo;t, and like enuff he&rsquo;ll turn against us.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t be mutinous, Tracey,&rdquo; said Garrett, turning a dark

-look upon the speaker. &ldquo;You know <i>me</i>, and you know I

-never waste words. Be mighty careful; <i>I</i> would, if I was

-you.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>The man understood the deadly threat implied in the

-words of his leader, and turned away muttering to him

-self.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Now Jack Fish,&rdquo; said Dick, addressing himself to another

-of the party, &ldquo;if Tracey has done growling, you take

-the trail. &rsquo;Tain&rsquo;t likely that a young and tender girl can

-keep away from us long.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>The man addressed came forward, and waving the others

-back began to examine the earth to find the imprint of Sadie&rsquo;s

-feet. It was not long before he announced that he had

-found it, and that it was covered by another trail, that

-of a man in moccasins, who was apparently following her,

-and from the length of the step he should say they were

-running.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;That looks as if she was afraid of the critter,&rdquo; said Garrett.

-&ldquo;Who can it be that is brave enough to attack these

-men, shoot two and kill the third with a knife and get off so

-easily? Now, I&rsquo;ll tell you what I make of this, boys. When

-this man, whoever he is, shot down two of the boys and

-rushed in on Davis with the knife, the girl was scared and

-put out for the woods. When he had finished Davis&mdash;and

-he didn&rsquo;t do it easy&mdash;he went after her, and like as not he

-hasn&rsquo;t caught her yet. Take the trail, Jack, but have your

-weapons handy.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>It was yet early in the afternoon and the trail was plain,

-as no attempt had been made to cover it. They went on at

-a trot, Jack Fish in advance, closely followed by Garrett and

-<span class="pb" id="Page_71">71</span>

-the rest, and the course led them deep into the woods to

-the right of the position which had been so nobly held by

-Melton&rsquo;s scout. Sadie was used to exercise in the open

-air and was evidently leading her pursuer a desperate chase,

-using every artifice to throw him from the trail. Garret was

-dumbfounded, for he could not understand why she should

-fly from one who had slain her enemies, but they followed

-the trail, hoping every moment to overtake the man who was

-in chase of Sadie. All at once, Jack Fish, who still held

-the advance, stopped and lifted his hand, with a low

-cry.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;See here, Dick, this gal is cute, you bet. She has throwed

-him off the trail as sure as shootin&rsquo;. Thar&rsquo;s no track but

-his&rsquo;n here.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Dick eagerly inspected the trail and was forced to arrive

-at the same conclusion.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Turn back, then,&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;We will find which way

-she has gone and follow. I will take the trail on one side

-and you on the other and we will soon pick it up again.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>They had not gone back twenty paces when Jack Fish

-stopped beside a clump of thick bushes which grew close to

-the path, and stooping, looked under them.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve found it, boys. She crept under the bushes here and

-got away from him; follow me.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>He passed through the bushes, parting them carefully, and

-upon the other side found the trail clearly defined and leading

-at a right angle from the course they had been following.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;She&rsquo;s smart,&rdquo; said Garrett, admiringly. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know as

-I blame Will for liking her, after all. She has beaten this

-fellow well, and as we don&rsquo;t want any thing from him just

-now, we&rsquo;ll follow the girl.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>They kept on swiftly, for Jack announced that Sadie was

-fatigued at this point and was no longer running. Soon

-after they reached a place where, worn out by fatigue, she

-had seated herself upon a bank and rested for a little time.

-From this point the trail became erratic, and she was evidently

-wandering up and down seeking for some course out

-of the woods, and the night found them still upon the trail

-and they camped for the night determined to take the trail

-again at early morning.</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_72">72</div>

-<p>&ldquo;And we&rsquo;ll run her to earth before nine o&rsquo;clock, you

-mark my words,&rdquo; said Garrett. &ldquo;Lucky for you I am your

-leader, or you would have gone back to meet Will Jackwood.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Not if I knows it,&rdquo; said Tracey. &ldquo;Will Jackwood never

-sees me again if we don&rsquo;t find her in the morning. Now I

-think of it, where is the Indian girl?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I never thought of her,&rdquo; said Garrett. &ldquo;Can it be possible

-that <i>she</i> killed the men?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Oh, bosh; she only had a bow and arrows and it took a

-strong man to harness Joel Davis. I&rsquo;ll be cussed if I understand

-it at all. Say, Jack, did you see any thing of the Indian

-girl&rsquo;s trail?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;She went another way from the camp, on a run too. It

-must have been some awful looking critter that tackled Joel

-Davis, to skeer the girls so.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;You are right,&rdquo; said Garrett. &ldquo;Now then, as Jack has

-worked hard and we want him to lead again to-morrow,

-Tracey will keep camp for two hours and the rest of you as you

-can agree, until morning. I&rsquo;m going to have a snooze, myself.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>He wrapped himself in a blanket and threw himself down

-at the foot of a tree, while the rest in a discontented manner

-drew lots for the choice of the hours of watching. After

-this had been settled the lucky ones took their blankets and

-lay down, while Tracey lighted his pipe, moved out a short

-distance in the darkness and sat down to watch. The man

-was sullen, and had not yet got over his little brush with

-Garrett upon the fate of Tom Bantry, and he muttered to

-himself about the pride of rank which enabled Garrett to sleep,

-while he was forced to watch.</p>

-<p>They built no fire, for it was a clear summer night and

-even the blankets were scarcely needed. Tracey&rsquo;s pipe

-glowed through the night, showing those of his companions

-who yet slept, where he sat in the shadow. After a time

-the man began to doze, and did not see the dark figure that

-crawled slowly toward him until it stood erect against the

-trunk of the tree against which he was seated. A moment

-after, a long arm was stretched out and clutched his throat in

-so fell a clasp that it seemed to collapse beneath the pressure,

-and in a moment more he lay without a struggle or a groan

-supine beneath the tree.</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_73">73</div>

-<p>The strange being who had done the work, bent over the

-insensible form and was busy about something for a short

-time, and then taking up the pipe which Tracey had dropped

-and which had not been extinguished, he sat down near the

-body of the fallen renegade and began to smoke, first picking

-up the cap of his victim and placing it upon his head,

-glancing now and then at the sleeping camp. When the

-pipe was smoked out he arose and stole softly to the side of

-Dick Garrett and looked down into his face.</p>

-<p>The moonlight shone full upon him, and showed a horrible

-figure of gigantic mold, covered from head to foot with a

-hairy substance, while the eyes looked fiercely from his shaggy

-eyebrows upon the sleeping ruffian. His attitude was menacing,

-and once or twice the right hand dropped to a hairy girdle

-about his waist, as if to draw a huge knife which was suspended

-there, but upon second thought he seemed to change his

-mind, and gathering up the rifles of the party, he carried them

-a little distance into the woods, and returned this time to take

-away the knives and pistols, most of which were thrown together

-in a heap, at the place where the rifles had been stacked.

-Some of the villains had their small-arms upon their

-persons, but these the intruder did not attempt to touch, and

-waving his hands triumphantly above his head, he bounded

-into the thicket, and was seen no more.</p>

-<p>Daylight came and they began to yawn and stretch themselves,

-those who ought to have gone upon guard long before,

-looking mystified at being allowed to sleep until morning.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Tracey went to sleep, that&rsquo;s all,&rdquo; said Garrett. &ldquo;Go and

-kick the brute, somebody. There is no telling what might

-have happened through his cussed carelessness.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>One of the men sprung to the spot where the recumbent

-figure of Tracey was seen, and had actually drawn back his

-foot to kick him, when he saw that his hands were tightly

-bound, and a gag thrust into his mouth. His cry of astonishment

-awoke the rest, and they quickly surrounded their fallen

-comrade, relieved him of the ligatures, and helped him to arise.

-The eyes of the man were rolling fearfully, and he gasped for

-breath.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Ha!&rdquo; he said, at last. &ldquo;A pretty set of fellows you are,

-<span class="pb" id="Page_74">74</span>

-to let a man stay in that way all night. Dunderheads&mdash;sleepers&mdash;ten

-thousand curses on your heads!&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Steady, Tracey,&rdquo; said Garrett. &ldquo;What does this

-mean?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;It means you are a lot of lazy thieves, or you would have

-found this out four hours ago.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Who did it?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;How do I know? I was sitting there smoking my pipe,

-when I felt a great hairy hand upon my throat, and I was

-choking. Then I lost my senses, and when I came to myself,

-I was lying here, anchored to the tree, and unable to

-move hand or foot.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Why didn&rsquo;t you sing out?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Why didn&rsquo;t I fly?&rdquo; retorted Tracey, angrily. &ldquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t

-be a fool if I were you, Dick Garrett. Oh, curse the hand,

-whoever it was. Where&rsquo;s my rifle?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>The question naturally drew their attention to their own

-weapons, and as they noted the loss, curses both loud and

-deep were vented upon the head of the being who had done

-this injury to them. Garrett actually foamed at the mouth

-in his anger, and ran in a frantic manner up and down the

-camp, cursing Tracey, their unknown enemy, any thing and

-every thing under the sun, in no measured terms.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s it,&rdquo; said Tracey. &ldquo;Curse your own sleepy heads,

-and let me alone.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Look for sign, Jack Fish,&rdquo; said Garrett, turning to their

-trailer. &ldquo;Tell me who has done this?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s the same man that killed the boys, and then followed

-Miss Sadie,&rdquo; said Jack. &ldquo;Hyar&rsquo;s his trail, plain as writing,

-and I&rsquo;ll be cussed if it don&rsquo;t beat me to tell whether he&rsquo;s

-man or beast.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;He shall not beat me,&rdquo; hissed Dick Garrett. &ldquo;Take the

-trail of the girl and follow, for we&rsquo;ll have her now, rifles or

-no rifles.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>The trailer obeyed without a word, and they started out

-upon the trail. But, as they emerged from the woods and

-entered a great clearing, every man paused in alarm, for

-there, just in front, and covering them with one of their own

-rifles, while the rest lay at his feet, stood the hairy monster

-who had stolen in upon their camp the night before.</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_75">75</div>

-<p>&ldquo;Stop!&rdquo; he cried, in a hoarse, unnatural voice. &ldquo;For

-your lives, stop. Move hand or foot and you are dead!&rdquo;</p>

-<p>They halted, and stood facing the leveled tube, trembling

-in every joint, while the fierce eyes, glancing along the brown

-barrel, held them enthralled.</p>

-<h2 id="c11"><span class="small">CHAPTER XI.</span>

-<br />BLACK-HAWK KEEPS HIS WORD.</h2>

-<p>We left Sadie in charge of those desperadoes, while the

-battle in the swamp was progressing. They were sulky at

-not being allowed to take part in the fight, and only returned

-gruff answers to her questions, while keeping a strict watch

-upon the girls.</p>

-<p>They stood under a great tree, whose spreading branches,

-loaded with foliage, were impenetrable to the eye, and would

-have formed a secure hiding-place, and none of them saw the

-long, hairy arm extended, until a double report stretched two

-of the guards dead upon the sod. Then came a rustling

-sound, and the gigantic being, who afterward appeared to the

-men of Garrett in the woods, bounded from the tree, holding

-in his hand a gleaming knife. With a scream of horror,

-Sadie fled into the forest, and Minneoba, believing that she

-saw a demon of the lower world, also turned in flight, but

-paused upon the edge of the woods, and looked back to see

-a fearful duel between the man named Davis and the strange

-being who sprung from the tree. They seemed to be complete

-masters of their weapons, and for a moment the issue

-seemed doubtful, but the gigantic strength of the unknown

-prevailed, and Davis fell, covered with many wounds. The

-victor stood erect, and seeing that Sadie had fled, uttered a

-hoarse cry, and fixing his eyes upon her trail, bounded away

-in pursuit. Minneoba, like all Indian girls, was superstitious,

-and believed that it would be death to follow the wild being

-into the woods, and turning, hurried on toward Black-Hawk&rsquo;s

-camp, intending to ask aid from him in the recovery of her

-<span class="pb" id="Page_76">76</span>

-friend. Sadie, in the mean time, had put all the distance she

-could between herself and the hideous being who had assailed

-her guards, and was hurried in her flight by hearing his deep

-voice crying out after her, as she rushed on.</p>

-<p>She tried every trick of wood-craft which she had learned

-from her father&mdash;who was a skillful scout&mdash;when she became

-certain that the horrible creature was really in pursuit. How

-she finally eluded him by creeping beneath the bushes, and

-then turning away from the course she had been pursuing, we

-have before seen, and late in the afternoon she found herself

-in the midst of a deep forest, pathless as the sea, not knowing

-which way to turn. She was alone&mdash;alone in the

-depths of that untrodden wilderness, the haunt of wild

-beasts and the hunter who followed them, without a weapon

-or guide. Never, perhaps, was a tenderly-nurtured woman

-placed in so strange a situation before. Look which way she

-would, there seemed to be no hope of succor. Strange

-sights and sounds were heard, slimy snakes crept softly over

-the leaves, great birds flitted through the branches, and she

-heard the cry of the wildcat and panther in the distance.

-Wearied and hopeless, she sunk down upon a mossy knoll,

-and almost wished she had not fled from the monster who

-followed her. But it would not do to remain there, and she

-rose and staggered on her way, hoping against hope that

-something would happen to give her aid.</p>

-<p>She was nearly famished, and coming upon a place where

-the succulent bulb known as the &ldquo;ground-nut&rdquo; grew in profusion,

-she set to work and dug up the bulbs with her fingers,

-following the white stems in their various turnings among the

-roots until she found the article she sought. It took a long

-time to satisfy her hunger, as the nuts were not larger than a

-rifle ball, and were hard to find, and then she began to look

-about for a place of rest, as it would soon be dark. She

-reached a great opening, in the center of which a huge pile

-of logs and brush was heaped, and removing some of these,

-made a couch for herself among the branches, drew others

-over her head, and resigned herself to an All-protecting

-Power. Even in times of difficulty and danger sleep will

-come to the weary, and she lost consciousness, and no longer

-feared her enemies. Morning came and found the sweet girl

-<span class="pb" id="Page_77">77</span>

-still sleeping, when she was suddenly aroused by a harsh

-voice crying out a deadly menace, and peeping from her

-place of concealment, saw the Forest Fiend facing the knot

-of helpless scoundrels under the leadership of Dick Garrett.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;It is a man, after all,&rdquo; she murmured. &ldquo;Perhaps I would

-have done better to have let him overtake me, for it seems he

-fights against these villains. Perhaps he is mad, poor

-creature!&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Let&rsquo;s make a rush on him altogether, boys,&rdquo; whispered

-Garrett. &ldquo;Curse it, five men ought to whip one.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;But he&rsquo;s got the rifles, the critter,&rdquo; whined Tracey. &ldquo;I

-tell you that if you had been in his grip once, you wouldn&rsquo;t

-be so ready to try him again. He&rsquo;s got a hold like an iron

-vice, that devil has.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t try to run,&rdquo; cried the Forest Fiend. &ldquo;It will not

-be safe; he who flies first, dies first!&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;What do you want from us?&rdquo; screamed Garrett. &ldquo;Do

-you know who I am, curse you?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I know you,&rdquo; replied the strange being, wildly. &ldquo;You

-are a murderer and a robber, and deserve death for a hundred

-crimes. Why don&rsquo;t you come on? what are you afraid

-of? You tremble at the sight of the Forest Fiend, murderer

-that you are.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Won&rsquo;t you back me, boys?&rdquo; hissed Garrett; &ldquo;I tell you

-I&rsquo;ll be the first to rush at him, if you will agree to follow.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;He can kill three of us before we get within striking distance,&rdquo;

-replied Jack Fish. &ldquo;I guess we had better give up

-boys; maybe he&rsquo;ll let us off.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Garrett heard what he said, and thrusting his hand into

-the bosom of his hunting-shirt, drew a long double-barreled

-pistol, his eyes gleaming with rage.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;You&rsquo;d turn traitor, would you?&rdquo; he screamed. &ldquo;Now

-see here, rush on that devil, you and Tracey, or I shoot you

-where you stand.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t do it, Dick,&rdquo; pleaded Jack Fish, dropping on his

-knees. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll fight any thing human, but not that dreadful

-creature. Don&rsquo;t force us on him, for the love of God.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll do it,&rdquo; replied Garrett, fiercely. &ldquo;Up and at him,

-you base hounds; up, I say!&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Goaded on by fear of the weapon of their leader, the men

-<span class="pb" id="Page_78">78</span>

-sprung on, catching up clubs as they ran. But when they

-had gained a hundred feet from the weapon of Garrett, and

-where it would scarcely reach them, they threw up their

-hands in token of submission, and fell upon their faces. The

-Forest Fiend fired over them, and a man who stood at Garrett&rsquo;s

-elbow fell, shot through the heart. The others, who

-had each a pistol, seeing that nothing was to be gained by

-flight, rushed at the immovable figure of their enemy, who

-caught up another weapon and fired again, killing the foremost

-man. Garrett saw that there was no hope, and calling

-to the last man, sprung toward the thicket. Hearing the

-crack of the rifle, he turned back and saw his friend fall,

-while the stern executioner caught up another rifle and leveled

-it. As the bullet sped, Garrett sprung into the air and

-fell upon his face, just as Jack Fish and Tracey, who had

-taken advantage of their opportunity, reached the thicket in

-safety.</p>

-<p>Their terrible adversary sprung toward the fallen leader

-without waiting to reload his weapon or take up a new one,

-but to his rage Garrett uttered a loud laugh of derision and

-sprung to his feet, and the next moment the leaves concealed

-him from view. He had been &ldquo;playing &rsquo;possum,&rdquo; and was

-not hurt in the least, as he had managed to fall just in time

-to escape the well-aimed bullet. The Forest Fiend darted

-back for a rifle, but he was a moment too late, although he

-fired into the thicket, and then, snatching up a powder-horn

-and bullet-pouch, darted away in pursuit.</p>

-<p>The moment he was gone Sadie came out of her place of

-concealment, selected a rifle and ammunition from the heap,

-and hurried away, glad of the opportunity to get out of a

-dangerous neighborhood. She could not control her fear

-of the strange being who had come to her aid so opportunely,

-and continued her flight until she felt safe from pursuit,

-and then sat down, panting, loaded the rifle which

-she had taken, and prepared to defend herself from any assault.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Who and what is that wonderful being?&rdquo; she murmured.

-&ldquo;How brave he is; how little he cared for that gang

-of desperate scoundrels, who were doubtless in pursuit of

-us! Oh, I hope he may overtake Richard Garrett and

-<span class="pb" id="Page_79">79</span>

-avenge the murder of my poor father! Melton, where are

-you? Have you fallen a victim to these base wretches who

-regard human life as a plaything? God forbid!&rdquo;</p>

-<p>As she was rising to proceed upon her way she heard a

-slight rustle among the bushes, and grasping her rifle turned

-in the direction of the sound. But she dropped the weapon

-with a cry of delight, for the bushes parted and Minneoba

-suddenly appeared and ran to her white sister, clasping her

-in her arms.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Sadie, my sister,&rdquo; she said, softly kissing her again and

-again. &ldquo;The heart of Minneoba has been very sad. She

-feared that the evil demon of the woods had destroyed the

-Wild Rose, and that her poor Indian sister would never see

-the face she loved again.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>If Minneoba was delighted, how much greater was the

-joy of Sadie, who could now hope to escape from the toils

-of her enemies, for she knew that the forest was to the Indian

-girl as easy to tread as a ball-room floor for her. She

-returned the caresses showered upon her, and for a moment

-the two girls forgot that aught of evil or danger hung over

-them.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I have been to my father&rsquo;s camp,&rdquo; said Minneoba, &ldquo;and

-many warriors are searching for you. Black-Hawk loves

-the Wild Rose for her father&rsquo;s sake, and will give her a

-shelter. His heart is very sad because the men of Garrett

-have killed the good white man, but what can he do? The

-war has commenced and the warriors would say he had

-turned woman if he was angry at the death of a white man.

-Let us go.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>The two girls set out together, threading the mazes of the

-forest with an ease which only a forest life could impart, the

-Indian girl taking the advance, and chatting merrily with

-her companion as she proceeded. They had not gone far

-when they were met by two warriors, who expressed their

-satisfaction in their peculiar manner, and at once led the

-way to the river, which was not far away, and where a

-canoe was waiting in which they descended the stream, a

-distance of about three miles, landed upon a green point,

-and assisted Sadie to leave the canoe, which was then carefully

-concealed by leaves and brush. This done, the warriors

-<span class="pb" id="Page_80">80</span>

-again led the way, the two girls following, and they

-came suddenly upon a great camp of the Indians. More

-than four hundred people, principally fighting braves, although

-there was a small number of women and children,

-were resting in the beautiful glade, most of them engaged in

-cleaning their weapons and getting ready for the battle

-which was to come. Black-Hawk and Will Jackwood were

-conversing together apart from the rest, and the latter started

-forward with a look of delight as he saw Sadie, and advanced

-at once, closely followed by Black-Hawk.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Welcome to the Indian camp, Sadie,&rdquo; said Jackwood,

-endeavoring to take her hand. &ldquo;You can not tell how unhappy

-I have been since I knew that you were lost.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>She took no notice of his extended hand, but went on to

-meet Black-Hawk, who greeted her kindly.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Let the Wild Rose rest under the shelter of a Sac lodge,&rdquo;

-he said. &ldquo;Black-Hawk has been driven from the places

-he loved by the white men, but he can not forget that

-there are just white men, who would not do a wrong to the

-simple Indian. Such a man was the father of the Wild

-Rose.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk,&rdquo; said Sadie, as she took the proffered hand,

-&ldquo;when my father drove away the bad men who sought your

-life, you promised to be a friend to us. Now the time has

-come for you to keep your word.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk is not a white man, to speak with a double

-tongue. What he has spoken&mdash;he <i>has</i> spoken. Let the

-Wild Rose ask what she will from Black-Hawk, and if it is

-in his power, she shall have what she asks.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;My father is dead,&rdquo; she said, mournfully. &ldquo;The bad men

-who follow William Jackwood, killed him because he would

-not kneel to them or beg for his life. Now, Jackwood follows

-me and I fear him, and I ask the protection of the great

-chief from this bad man.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Has the son of Red-Bird lied to me?&rdquo; cried Black-Hawk,

-sternly. &ldquo;He told me that the Wild Rose loved him and

-would come into his lodge gladly.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;He has lied,&rdquo; she answered. &ldquo;He knows that I hate

-him above all men on earth, and that I would die sooner than

-permit myself to be his wife.&rdquo;</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_81">81</div>

-<p>&ldquo;Be careful, girl,&rdquo; hissed Jackwood. &ldquo;You will raise a

-tempest which you can not quell, if you do not look out.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I have no fear of the result. Any thing would be preferable

-to a union with such a wretch as you are.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Look you, Black-Hawk,&rdquo; cried Jackwood, turning fiercely

-upon the chief. &ldquo;When I agreed to aid you, remember that

-I told you that this girl must be mine and you promised that

-I should have my will.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;That was when Black-Hawk believed that the Wild Rose

-loved you,&rdquo; replied Black-Hawk. &ldquo;She has asked for my

-protection and it is given. Let the son of Red-Bird seek

-another mate; the Wild Rose is not for him.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>A tempest of furious passions raged in the heart of William

-Jackwood. At any other time or place he would have

-shot the old chief down without any remorse, and even here,

-in the midst of his warriors, he was tempted to do it, even

-at the risk of his own life. With a mighty effort he restrained

-himself, and turned away with a malevolent glance

-at Sadie, which she returned by one of defiance.</p>

-<p>Several of the principal braves were looking on, and there

-was some murmuring, for these men recognized the good old

-maxim&mdash;&lsquo;to the victor belong the spoils.&rsquo; While they stood

-thus, there was heard a triumphant shout upon the river, and

-several men started away to see what it meant. They were

-soon heard coming back, and directly after a compact body

-of men, those who followed Will Jackwood, poured into the

-camp, leading in their midst, as prisoners, Captain Melton,

-Cooney Joe and Tom Bantry. A look of ferocious joy

-beamed upon the face of Will Jackwood, for he saw a chance

-for revenge.</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_82">82</div>

-<h2 id="c12"><span class="small">CHAPTER XII.</span>

-<br />SADIE&rsquo;S SACRIFICE.</h2>

-<p>The prisoners marched firmly, and not a cheek blanched

-as they saw where they were led and realized the fearful

-danger in which they stood. Will Jackwood started forward

-and addressed one of his subordinates, who, for the time

-being, had been in command of the band.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Did <i>you</i> take them, Justin? If you can say that you

-did so without aid from the Indians, then you may ask any

-thing you like at my hands.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Nary red,&rdquo; replied the man. &ldquo;We caught them crossing

-the river in a canoe, and pounced on &rsquo;em almost before they

-could lift a hand, but that Cooney Joe laid out Jack Ferguson,

-and Saul Sloan has got a bad wound in the shoulder, from

-Melton&rsquo;s knife. Is that satisfactory?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Excellent! Black-Hawk, I claim these prisoners as my

-own, as my men took them without help.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;They are yours,&rdquo; replied Black-Hawk. &ldquo;An Indian

-chief knows how to be just.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Now then, Captain Charles Melton, you are in my power;

-do you understand, in my power! You shall rue the day

-when you dared come between me and the woman I love.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;What do you mean, renegade?&rdquo; replied the young scout.

-&ldquo;I never wronged you in my life.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Perhaps; we shall see how it turns out. Keep them

-safe, boys; set a double guard upon them, and for your lives,

-let none escape. Ah, my good, valiant, chivalric Joe, how

-you will repent having raised your hand against me.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I do repent, Will,&rdquo; said Joe, quietly. &ldquo;I repent most

-awfully. I ought to have lifted yer ha&rsquo;r on the spot, by

-gracious. &rsquo;Twould have served you just right, and saved a

-good deal of trouble.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Take them away, boys, take them away. Ha; don&rsquo;t let

-the girl speak to them or she will contrive some way to set

-<span class="pb" id="Page_83">83</span>

-them free. Look out for Minneoba above all others, for she

-is as cute as the devil. Miss Sadie, do I deceive myself when

-I think that you will not <i>now</i> disdain to hold some conversation

-with me?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;What do you wish to say to me, sir?&rdquo; replied Sadie, who

-saw the dreadful peril of her friends, and wished to save

-them if possible.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Say to Black-Hawk that you wish to speak to me apart

-from the rest and he will give you permission. I see a way

-in which you can save these men.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>She spoke to the chief, who nodded kindly, and she followed

-Black Will a little distance from the camp.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;That is far enough,&rdquo; she said, pausing under a great tree.

-&ldquo;What have you to say to me?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Change your way of speaking; be more complaisant to

-me, my dear girl, for the more kindly you use me the better

-it will be for yonder men who are doomed beyond hope if

-I so much as lift a finger. First of all&mdash;do you love this

-Captain Melton?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;He has never spoken to me,&rdquo; replied Sadie. &ldquo;How do I

-know that he cares for me?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;That is not the question at issue. Do you love him?

-That is what I asked.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;How can I answer that, when I do not know my own

-heart? He is a brave and good man, and I could love him

-dearly if he loved me as well. I will say no more upon that

-point.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;At least you care enough for him to wish to save his

-life?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Yes&mdash;yes; I would do almost any thing for that,&rdquo; she replied,

-eagerly.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;It has gone as far as that, has it? My dear girl, you are

-further gone than you imagined. Now, I do not wish to be

-incumbered by prisoners. If we can not come to terms, I

-shall find it necessary to put these fellows out of the way,

-and shall certainly do so. There are many ways in which to

-do this, and my friends the Indians will doubtless be happy

-to take the laboring oar out of my hands.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Do you mean that you would be base enough to give them

-up to the torture?&rdquo; she cried.</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_84">84</div>

-<p>&ldquo;Undoubtedly, my Indian friends might find it in their

-hearts to burn them if they only had them. I was present

-at a spectacle of this kind, the other day, where they barbecued

-a traitorous Indian. It was not pretty, and I may say

-did not amuse me after the first gush, and I went so far as to

-kill the poor fellow with my own hand, to put him out of his

-pain. It would distress me very much to see any of your

-friends in a like delicate situation.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;What do you ask of me, William Jackwood? Do you

-wish to drive me mad? You could not&mdash;<i>could</i> not be so

-base.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I would do any thing for revenge,&rdquo; replied the man,

-hoarsely. &ldquo;I tell you, upon my honor as a man, that if you

-do not promise to be my wife&mdash;I know that you will keep

-your word&mdash;these men shall all die as I have said. Make that

-promise, and upon the day when you become my wife, all shall

-be set free except one.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Which one do you mean?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Tom Bantry; he is a cursed traitor.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;That man must be saved, at all hazards,&rdquo; replied Sadie,

-firmly. &ldquo;Of all your villainous band, William Jackwood, he

-alone showed a spark of pity when my unhappy father was

-cast into the furious flood, bound and helpless. What I would

-not do for love I will do for gratitude, and I give you my

-hand, if you will swear upon your honor that these men shall

-go free, and at once.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;You are sensible,&rdquo; he said, eagerly. &ldquo;I had not hoped

-that you would yield so easily, and I will make it the study

-of my life to make you happy as&mdash;&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Silence! Give me your promise and I will give you

-mine.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I swear by the only things I hold pure&mdash;the memory of

-my mother and my love for you&mdash;that these men shall all be

-spared.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;And I promise to be your wife, if we both live. Oh,

-God, forgive me if I do wrong in this, but I can not see these

-brave men sacrificed, who have come into this deadly peril

-for my sake. William Jackwood, understand me fully, and

-do not say in the after times that I deceived you. I hate

-you&mdash;I shall always hate you&mdash;but I will be your wife.&rdquo;</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_85">85</div>

-<p>&ldquo;All right,&rdquo; said Jackwood, with a light laugh. &ldquo;I will

-try to change your opinion of me when we are married. And

-now you are at liberty, and I will leave it to you to tell Black-Hawk

-that you have changed your mind, while I prepare to

-leave him. The chief has not used me well, and I do not

-fight the battles of those who do not treat me as a friend.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>She went away with drooping head, and he stood in the

-same spot, moodily tapping his boot-leg with a small switch

-he carried. He was not fully satisfied, although he had gained

-the stake for which he had been playing so long. She had

-told him that she hated him, and had as good as said she

-loved Charles Melton, and yet had promised to be his wife.

-As he stood there, a man panting for breath and bleeding

-from several wounds, rushed up to him, and in his disfigured

-countenance he saw something which reminded him of Dick

-Garrett, and stopped him.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Dick, what is the matter?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Played out!&rdquo; replied Dick, dropping exhausted on the sod.

-&ldquo;Give me some rum, for I am half dead.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Jackwood put his flask to the mouth of the exhausted man

-and he drank long and eagerly, and drew a deep breath of relief.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Ah-h-h! That goes to the spot, Will. I&rsquo;ve had a long

-run&mdash;chased by the devil&rsquo;s kid, and it&rsquo;s a mercy that I have

-got in alive. It all came of chasing that accursed girl, who

-got into the woods.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;It was not your fault, Dick,&rdquo; said Jackwood. &ldquo;Minneoba

-came in and told us about it, and we sent out parties

-after her, and one of them picked her up.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Take care of her yourself, after this,&rdquo; panted Dick. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve

-seen the devil to-day, and fought him, and I don&rsquo;t want any

-more.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Where are the rest of your men?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Gone under, I reckon. Jack Fish and Tracey got into

-the woods, and the rest are dead. I had to play &rsquo;possum, or

-I would have been cooked, too. Give me another drink, and

-I&rsquo;ll tell you about it.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Jackwood gave him the flask, and for a moment nothing

-was heard except the musical gurgle of the liquor. When

-he lowered it, a considerable vacuum existed in the vessel,

-<span class="pb" id="Page_86">86</span>

-and he told the story of the chase after Sadie with many expletives

-not necessary to set down here. When he had

-finished the tale he did the same with the liquor, and stood

-up.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;You are wounded, Dick!&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Nothing of much account. I&rsquo;ve been cut and scratched

-in diving through the brushes, for that hairy cuss chased me

-almost into camp. I thought he&rsquo;d never give it up.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know who or what it can be,&rdquo; said Jackwood,

-musingly, &ldquo;and I don&rsquo;t care much. Go and wash the blood

-from your face, and then get the men together, for we must

-leave this camp. It is all up with Black-Hawk, for Atkinson

-has come with an army, and he will clean out the Indians in

-the twinkling of an eye.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Garrett moved away slowly, and Jackwood advanced to

-the side of Black-Hawk, who was talking with Sadie. She

-did not look at him as he came up, but Minneoba faced him

-boldly, with her pretty face showing the utmost anger and

-contempt.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;What has the son of Red-Bird said to frighten the Wild

-Rose?&rdquo; she cried, angrily. &ldquo;He is a coward and no brave.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;You had better send your daughter away, Black-Hawk,&rdquo;

-said Jackwood, quietly. &ldquo;I have borne insults enough in

-this camp, and will not stay here.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;The son of Red-Bird promised to stay and fight for his

-red brothers,&rdquo; said Black-Hawk, reproachfully, &ldquo;and when

-he sees the enemy in sight he runs away like a frightened

-hound. It is well; Black-Hawk would not have any except

-brave men follow him.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;It is false, Indian,&rdquo; cried Will Jackwood. &ldquo;Here, in the

-midst of your wild band, I defy you to prove that while you

-were true to me, I failed to do my duty like a man. But

-when you dared to take away my prisoner, my wife that is

-to be, in that day I leave you, never to return.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Go,&rdquo; replied Black-Hawk. &ldquo;I have been deceived in

-the son of Red-Bird. His father died in the white man&rsquo;s

-prison, and now he basely turns away when the battle is

-nigh.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Stay with me, Wild Rose,&rdquo; cried Minneoba. &ldquo;My father

-is a strong chief and will protect you from harm.&rdquo;</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_87">87</div>

-<p>&ldquo;I can not&mdash;I dare not,&rdquo; replied Sadie. &ldquo;If I stay with

-you, my friends, who are his prisoners, must die.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;My father will take them away from him,&rdquo; said Minneoba,

-looking pleadingly at the old chief.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Let him do so&mdash;let him make himself a dog, if he dares,&rdquo;

-replied Jackwood. &ldquo;I will tell his baseness throughout the

-tribes, and not a man of them all dare look me in the face

-until I am righted.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>The chief hung his head, for he had pledged his sacred

-word that Jackwood should keep his prisoners. The scoundrel

-knew his character too well to doubt for a moment that

-the Indian would keep his word, and let them go away with

-the prisoners. Minneoba pleaded in vain, and with loud lamenting,

-followed the compact force of Jackwood to the edge

-of the forest, and saw them go away with the prisoners, closely

-guarded, and Sadie walking by the side of William Jackwood,

-with a hard, bitter look upon her beautiful face. Garrett,

-who recovered quickly from every evil, turned about

-and blew a kiss at Minneoba, who at once fitted an arrow to

-the string, and would have sent it after him, but that he took

-shelter among the men, laughing.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;The world is all before us where to choose,&rsquo; boys,&rdquo; said

-Jackwood, &ldquo;but one thing is certain, if this thing goes against

-the Indians, and of course it will, this territory won&rsquo;t be very

-healthy for us. What do you say?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ll find a place to live, Cap,&rdquo; replied Garrett. &ldquo;The

-world owes us a living, and we&rsquo;ll have it too, or else make

-trouble.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you think we had better find a hiding-place and

-see what is going to happen? There will be pretty pickings

-for us if the day should, by any chance, favor the Indians,

-even for a time.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I know the place you mean, Cap,&rdquo; said Jack Fish, who

-had come in before they marched. &ldquo;The neatest hiding-place

-in the West.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;How far away?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;&rsquo;Bout six mile, I reckon.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Lead the way, then.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Fish took the advance, and Jackwood assisted the weary

-steps of Sadie over the rugged road before them. It led

-<span class="pb" id="Page_88">88</span>

-through tangled thickets, under trees which had been the

-growth of centuries, and ended in a circular forest opening,

-so difficult to reach, that Black Will was obliged to carry Sadie

-in places, so worn out had she become.</p>

-<p>The grass was green in the little glade, and the birds

-were singing, as one by one the troop came out from beneath

-the canopy of leaves, and gained a footing on the level

-turf.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Jack Fish,&rdquo; said the renegade, &ldquo;you have deserved well

-of your country. I could live here forever. Here we rest,

-until the thing is decided one way or another.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;How will we live?&rdquo; queried Garrett.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;The woods are full of game, and we will kill it so far

-from the camp, that no one will suspect us of being here.

-Captain Melton, will you give me your word of honor not to

-try to escape, provided I free your arms?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Melton was about to refuse, but catching Sadie&rsquo;s eye, he

-changed his mind, and made the required promise. It was

-not extended to Tom Bantry, and Cooney Joe, who were

-tightly bound, and placed under guard. Sadie was coming

-forward with the intention of speaking to Melton, when the

-bushes parted near her, and the face of the demon of the

-woods appeared, peeping out among the leaves.</p>

-<h2 id="c13"><span class="small">CHAPTER XIII.</span>

-<br />GUESTS NOT INVITED.</h2>

-<p>Sadie was not easily frightened, but it required the effort

-of all her resolution to keep her from uttering a cry of

-alarm. The young captain saw that she was deeply moved and

-ascribed it to her grief at the situation in which she found

-herself placed. But she recovered herself by a great effort

-of the will and came forward, giving her hand frankly to the

-man she loved and who loved her as dearly.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I am deeply grieved that you have come into this danger

-for my sake, Charles,&rdquo; she said, softly. &ldquo;But have no

-<span class="pb" id="Page_89">89</span>

-fear, for I will save you at any hazard. Indeed, it is done

-already, for I have given my word and you are safe.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Safe! What do you mean, Sadie; what promise have

-you given?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Do not be angry with me, Charles,&rdquo; she said, sadly. &ldquo;I

-am sorry that it is forced upon me but&mdash;I have promised to

-be the wife of William Jackwood.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Black Will! Gracious heaven, Sadie, it cannot be. What

-madness is this?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I was forced to do it. They threatened you and your

-brave companions with a horrible death. I had no one near

-to advise me and I could not&mdash;I could not see you die.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;You should have spoken to me first,&rdquo; he cried, wildly.

-&ldquo;You knew that I loved you. I have never dared to tell

-you until now, and ought to have spoken. What is death to

-dishonor? What a life you have doomed yourself to

-bear, that I may live. I would sooner die a thousand deaths

-than bear this bitter burden.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Charles!&rdquo; she cried. &ldquo;You make my load too heavy

-for me to bear. How could I see those who had incurred

-this peril for me, given up to satisfy the bloody passions of

-these desperate men. My father is dead&mdash;I am alone in the

-world and my life would have been a weary one at best, if

-I had refused to yield. He told me that if I was obstinate,

-I should stand by and see you suffer. I could not have borne

-that, at any rate.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;You should have remained in the camp of Black-Hawk,

-who is a brave man, although an Indian. My dear girl, I

-can not blame you for what you have done. It was in all

-kindness of heart, but it was wrong for you to yield. The

-lives of men who are ready at any time to die for the right

-should be as a feather&rsquo;s weight compared to your sacrifice.

-As I say, so would Joe Bent and Tom Bantry, who are more

-hated by these men than I am.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Can you not escape?&rdquo; she whispered. &ldquo;But no&mdash;I forgot.

-My word is pledged to this bad man and that I hold

-sacred. But I shall not deem it a crime to take his life, and

-although he may claim my hand he shall never have a

-wife&rsquo;s duty from me&mdash;for I hate him&mdash;oh, how I hate him!&rdquo;</p>

-<p>The white teeth clicked together fiercely as she spoke,

-<span class="pb" id="Page_90">90</span>

-and Black Will, who was listening, laughed a low, bitter laugh,

-full of malice.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Sorry to interfere in a social meeting of this kind,&rdquo; he

-said, advancing, &ldquo;but your language is disgusting to your

-future husband, my dear Sadie. Captain Melton, if I hear

-any more language of this kind from you, I shall have you

-bound and gagged, for I will not endure it.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;If you do that it absolves me from my promise, for you

-gave me your word to treat them well,&rdquo; said Sadie.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I will not give you even that loop-hole from which to

-escape,&rdquo; said Black Will, after a pause. &ldquo;I leave the camp

-to-day in search of a man who is at one of the Indian stations,

-a Lutheran missionary. Let me say to you that he is

-a man who would not perform the ceremony if you offer a

-word of objection, and that you have only to say &lsquo;no,&rsquo; and

-that ceremony will cease and one of another kind commence,

-for as there is a sky above us I will take your friends out

-and hang them before your eyes. Git my horse, Jack

-Fish.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>The man obeyed, and after giving some orders to Dick

-Garrett in a low tone, the renegade mounted and rode away

-through the wood.</p>

-<p>Two days passed, and they heard nothing of him. Upon

-the afternoon of the third he came into camp accompanied

-by a pale, intellectual-looking man in the dress of a clergyman,

-who looked mildly about on the wild group in the

-camp, evidently surprised to find himself in such a place.

-He was at once conducted to one of the brush cabins which

-had been built up by the men, while Black Will dismounted

-and ordered that Melton and the other prisoners should be

-removed into the woods a short distance from the camp, for

-he knew the missionary too well to believe that he would

-perform the ceremony if he had any doubt of the willingness

-of the lady to do her part, and Black Will feared the prisoners

-might let him know the true state of the case.</p>

-<p>Five men accompanied the prisoners into the woods, with

-orders to shoot them down at the first attempt to escape.

-When this was done Black Will approached the brush cabin

-in which Sadie spent the time, and called her out.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I have returned,&rdquo; he said, cheerfully. &ldquo;You must excuse

-<span class="pb" id="Page_91">91</span>

-me for staying away from you so long, but I found it

-difficult to find the missionary.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I only wish you had never found him or had received

-your just deserts, sir,&rdquo; was the somewhat unpromising reply.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;My deserts; I deserve better treatment at your hands, I

-think.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Twelve feet of rope and a tree would suit you better,&rdquo;

-she replied. &ldquo;Do not deceive yourself by the belief that I

-shall ever change in my regard for you. The most slimy

-reptile which crawls through the swamp would be to me a

-more pleasant companion. I give my hand to you to save

-my friends, but never my heart with it.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>He stood moodily before her, tapping his boot with the

-riding-whip he carried.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I have half a mind to refuse your hand upon these

-terms,&rdquo; he said, gloomily, without raising his eyes from the

-earth upon which they were bent. &ldquo;Your language is horrible

-to one to whom you are about to join yourself for life,

-and the day will surely come when you will repent it bitterly.

-There, I will say no more now; but, in half an hour

-I shall come for you and we will be married.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;You need not fear but I will keep my word,&rdquo; she said.

-&ldquo;Will you keep yours as well?&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I never broke it yet to friend or foe,&rdquo; was his answer,

-&ldquo;and I do not mean to commence now. When you have

-given me your hand in marriage, these men shall have two

-days&rsquo; grace, but if I catch them after that, woe be to them,

-that is all.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>He turned upon his heel and left her to her own reflections,

-which were not of the most pleasant type. At times

-she doubted her firmness in the hour of trial, and whether

-she would not give way in the presence of the missionary,

-but the thought of his fearful threat against her lover and

-friends nerved her, and she determined to bear up as bravely

-as she could, and make the sacrifice for their safety. She

-would have liked to see Melton once before the ceremony,

-but feared that she was not strong enough to endure the

-meeting. While she sat there with her face buried in her

-hands, Black Will came for her.</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_92">92</div>

-<p>&ldquo;There is one favor I would ask you,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;and it

-is one you can easily grant. You know I love Charles Melton,

-but all thoughts of him must pass in the moment when

-I put my hand in yours. Under the circumstances he must

-not see me again, and I could not bear to see him.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Agreed; you shall not see him, and if he dares to attempt

-an interview when you are once my wife, it will be the

-worse for him. I have removed him already, and they wait

-in the woods until the ceremony is over, when they shall be

-allowed to go where they will.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;That will do, sir. Now I am ready, if you will not relent.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>He shook his head savagely, and taking her hand led

-her out into the open space among the trees. The band

-were standing carelessly about, looking on as the two took

-their station before the missionary, who advanced book in

-hand and stood before them.</p>

-<p>He recited that portion of the ritual which was necessary before

-he asked the question, &ldquo;and if any know just cause or reason

-why these should not be joined together in the bands of holy

-wedlock, let them now speak or forever after hold their

-peace,&rdquo; when the crowd scattered before the rush of a strong

-man, and the gigantic figure of the Forest Fiend sprung into

-the circle and hurled Black Will ten paces backward by a

-single thrust of his powerful arm, while he cried, fiercely:</p>

-<p>&ldquo;I forbid the banns!&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Down with him,&rdquo; roared Black Will, drawing his knife.

-&ldquo;At him, boys.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Back!&rdquo; cried the strange being, &ldquo;back, for your lives.

-It is not right that innocence and youth should be forced

-to wed with such a thing as this, and I forbid it. Back, I say.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>They recoiled before the stern figure, especially those

-among them who had felt the nervous force of his strong

-arm, while Black Will looked at the clergyman.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Do not mind the ravings of a madman, sir,&rdquo; he said;

-&ldquo;this man is insane and knows not what he does.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;It is false, reverend sir,&rdquo; replied the Forest Fiend. &ldquo;I

-am as sane a man as any here, and know whereof I speak.

-Fall back, men; don&rsquo;t press upon me. Ha, they will have

-it, then. Melton&rsquo;s Scout to the rescue!&rdquo;</p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_93">93</div>

-<p>As the tones of his sonorous voice rung out through the

-deep forest, there came a charging cheer, and the buck-skin

-shirts and coon-skin caps of Melton&rsquo;s Scout showed through

-the leafy cover, and with wild cries they poured upon the

-foe.</p>

-<p>Not a shot was fired, for Sadie, the missionary and the

-Forest Fiend stood in the midst of the enemy, and the Scout

-dared not fire. But as the enemy retreated, snatching up

-their weapons as they went, at a signal from the Forest Fiend,

-Sadie and the missionary fell upon their faces, and the Scout

-poured in a single withering volley which strewed the ground

-with dead and dying, and then charged upon the foe with

-knife, hatchet and pistol.</p>

-<p>The Forest Fiend caught up a rifle from the earth, and

-using it as a club, headed the charge. Close behind him came

-Charles Melton, Cooney Joe and Tom Bantry, striking out

-manfully for the right, and felling an adversary at every blow.

-But none could equal the strange being known as the Forest

-Fiend. Taking the ponderous rifle in one hand, he made it

-play about his head with lightning rapidity, and the renegades

-went down before him like chaff before the wind.</p>

-<p>Taken by surprise, it was no wonder that the retreat soon

-became a rout, and they scattered to the four winds, closely

-pursued by their determined assailants. One man, and that

-man Dick Garrett, dared to bar the way of the Forest Fiend,

-who paused with uplifted weapon and looked at him.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;At last, villain,&rdquo; he cried, &ldquo;your time has come!&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Vain was the interposition of the rifle of the renegade to

-stay the blow. It descended upon his head, and Dick Garrett,

-the friend and companion in villainy of Will Jackwood

-lay dead at the avenger&rsquo;s feet. At this moment a cry of

-anger was heard, and turning, the strange man saw that Jackwood

-was on horseback, headed for the bushes.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Fire at him,&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;Bring him down at all hazards.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Half a dozen bullets sped, but Jackwood was already in

-the thicket, and all pursuit was vain. Five minutes later the

-fight was over, and few of Black Will&rsquo;s band remained to

-tell the tale of that terrible day.</p>

-<p>The Forest Fiend turned back to the place where Sadie

-<span class="pb" id="Page_94">94</span>

-stood, encircled by the arm of Charles Melton, and she drew

-closer to her lover as she marked his terrible aspect. Raising

-his hand to his face, he tore off the hairy mask which covered

-it, and revealed the face of&mdash;<i>Samuel Wescott</i>!</p>

-<p>Her father, redeemed from a watery grave! In an instant

-Sadie was in his arms, half-delirious with joy, and the tried

-friends gathered about him, eager to shake his hand, while

-Cooney Joe and Tom Bantry danced a comic hornpipe, uttering

-yells which would have done credit to Sac warriors on

-the war-trail.</p>

-<p>When the first transport of the meeting was over, Samuel

-Wescott turned to Tom Bantry and shook him warmly by the

-hand.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;You did your best to save me, my friend,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;but

-I knew that both must perish if I clung to you. I went down,

-as you know, and coming to the surface, in a death-struggle I

-caught a floating log, which quickly bore me down the stream,

-and I had not the strength to land until I had been carried

-two miles down. Near this place I had a <i>cache</i>, in which,

-among other articles, was this disguise, which I have sometimes

-worn in my expeditions among the tribes, and I knew

-that it might aid me in the work before me. Had I known

-that it would frighten my daughter so much, I would have

-shown my face when I attacked the men who guarded her,

-while you were fighting in the swamp.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s enough to skeer the life out of any critter,&rdquo; said

-Cooney Joe. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t wonder she run from you.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;It has served its purpose. I followed you to this place,

-Sadie, and having satisfied myself that those I loved were in

-no immediate danger, I went back for the Scout, the position

-of whose camp I knew. We came up softly, set Melton, Joe

-and Tom at liberty, and then attacked these scoundrels. The

-rest you know as well as I. There is only one thing for

-which I am sorry, and that is, that this villain Jackwood has

-escaped. But his fate will find him out.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Half an hour later they were on their way to the river,

-guarded by Melton&rsquo;s Scout. The last week had been one of

-trial, but they had come out of the flame triumphant, and the

-power of Black Will Jackwood was broken forever. As they

-reached the river-bank, and the men were bringing up the

-<span class="pb" id="Page_95">95</span>

-flat in which they were to cross, Minneoba suddenly appeared

-from the forest, and fell upon Sadie&rsquo;s neck, weeping for

-joy.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Minneoba can bear any thing now, the breaking of her

-people, the loss of home, for her sister is safe. Good-by, and

-do not forget the poor Indian girl who loves you.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Come with us,&rdquo; said Samuel Wescott. &ldquo;I will give you

-a shelter in my house until the war is at an end.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>But Minneoba shook her head sadly.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;The Indian girl must not leave her father,

-who loves her. Go in peace.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>They parted from her sadly, and as the flat receded from

-the shore, they saw her standing in a dejected attitude, leaning

-on her bow. It was many a day before they saw her

-again.</p>

-<p class="tb">The battle was at its hight. Black-Hawk had risked all

-upon a cast of the die, and had found it a losing game. Melton,

-Cooney Joe and Tom Bantry were there, fighting gallantly,

-and as the Indians began to break up, they charged a

-resolute knot of warriors who stood their ground stubbornly,

-dealing death on every side.</p>

-<p>There was a moment of wild confusion, and Charles Melton

-found himself face to face with a desperate man, in his

-war-paint, who assailed him with demoniac fury. Just then

-Melton&rsquo;s horse fell, shot through the heart, and his adversary

-sprung at him with a wild cry of joy, raising a hatchet above

-his devoted head.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Death to you, Melton,&rdquo; he screamed. &ldquo;I am Will Jackwood,

-and you die by my hand. If I lost her, at least you

-shall never possess her.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>Melton, pinned to the earth by his fallen horse, lifted his

-hand to ward off the blow, but hampered as he was he could

-offer but slight resistance, and the knife, his only defense,

-was forced from his hand, and the hatchet gleamed above

-him.</p>

-<p>He had just time to catch the gleam of ferocious joy in the

-eyes of his enemy, and had given up hope, when a rifle

-cracked, and Jackwood, throwing up his arms, clutched at

-the bloody cloth upon his breast, tried once more to lift his

-<span class="pb" id="Page_96">96</span>

-weapon, and then, with a snarl of demoniac malice, dropped

-dead in his tracks, while Cooney Joe, with a rifle smoking in

-his hand, ran to aid his fallen leader, who was quickly placed

-upon his feet.</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Who is he?&rdquo; cried Joe, angrily. &ldquo;Ha! Black Will, by

-the mortal. Rubbed out at last.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>This was his epitaph. He died as he had lived, boldly and

-defiantly, and found a soldier&rsquo;s grave.</p>

-<p>The power of Black-Hawk was broken, and the old chief

-a fugitive, soon to be a prisoner in the hands of the whites.

-Then it was that Samuel Wescott kept his promise to Minneoba,

-and gave her a shelter under his roof. The teachings

-of Sadie soon changed the forest maiden so much, that she

-loved a domestic life, and when Sadie was married, soon after

-Black-Hawk&rsquo;s visit to the east, Minneoba was there, and witnessed

-the ceremony. When it was finished, Cooney Joe

-stopped the clergyman:</p>

-<p>&ldquo;Stop a little, stranger,&rdquo; he said, sheepishly. &ldquo;Got another

-little job for you, I have.&rdquo;</p>

-<p>And to the surprise of all, Minneoba took his hand, and

-they were married.</p>

-<p>Unknown to every one, Joe had obtained the consent of

-the old chief, who knew that his daughter was better fitted

-to live with the whites than with the tribes, and Minneoba

-became the wife of Joe Bent. She never had cause to repent

-it. Rough though he was, he was a true man, and worked

-nobly for her sake, and strange as it may seem, became in

-time, one of the richest farmers in that region.</p>

-<p>Captain Melton also settled there, and the two families

-were constantly together. And above the mantel, in Melton&rsquo;s

-study, hangs the costume of the Forest Fiend.</p>

-<p>Tom Bantry was for years a successful boatman upon the

-Mississippi, and at last a Captain. Samuel Wescott died at a

-green old age, honored and beloved by all who knew him.</p>

-<p class="tbcenter"><span class="smaller">THE END.</span></p>

-<div class="pb" id="Page_98">98</div>

-<h2 id="c14"><span class="small">DIME POCKET NOVELS.</span></h2>

-<p class="center">PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY, AT TEN CENTS EACH.</p>

-<div class="verse">

-<p class="t0"><b>1</b>&mdash;<b>Hawkeye Harry.</b> By Oll Coomes.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>2</b>&mdash;<b>Dead Shot.</b> By Albert W. Aiken.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>3</b>&mdash;<b>The Boy Miners.</b> By Edward S. Ellis.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>4</b>&mdash;<b>Blue Dick.</b> By Capt. Mayne Reid.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>5</b>&mdash;<b>Nat Wolfe.</b> By Mrs. M. V. Victor.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>6</b>&mdash;<b>The White Tracker.</b> By Edward S. Ellis.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>7</b>&mdash;<b>The Outlaw&rsquo;s Wife.</b> By Mrs. Ann S. Stephens.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>8</b>&mdash;<b>The Tall Trapper.</b> By Albert W. Aiken.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>9</b>&mdash;<b>Lightning Jo.</b> By Capt. Adams.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>10</b>&mdash;<b>The Island Pirate.</b> By Capt. Mayne Reid.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>11</b>&mdash;<b>The Boy Ranger.</b> By Oll Coomes.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>12</b>&mdash;<b>Bess, the Trapper.</b> By E. S. Ellis.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>13</b>&mdash;<b>The French Spy.</b> By W. J. Hamilton.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>14</b>&mdash;<b>Long Shot.</b> By Capt. Comstock.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>15</b>&mdash;<b>The Gunmaker.</b> By James L. Bowen.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>16</b>&mdash;<b>Red Hand.</b> By A. G. Piper.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>17</b>&mdash;<b>Ben, the Trapper.</b> By Lewis W. Carson.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>18</b>&mdash;<b>Wild Raven.</b> By Oll Coomes.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>19</b>&mdash;<b>The Specter Chief.</b> By Seelin Robins.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>20</b>&mdash;<b>The B&rsquo;ar-Killer.</b> By Capt. Comstock.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>21</b>&mdash;<b>Wild Nat.</b> By Wm. R. Eyster.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>22</b>&mdash;<b>Indian Jo.</b> By Lewis W. Carson.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>23</b>&mdash;<b>Old Kent, the Ranger.</b> By Edward S. Ellis.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>24</b>&mdash;<b>The One-Eyed Trapper.</b> By Capt. Comstock.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>25</b>&mdash;<b>Godbold, the Spy.</b> By N. C. Iron.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>26</b>&mdash;<b>The Black Ship.</b> By John S. Warner.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>27</b>&mdash;<b>Single Eye.</b> By Warren St. John.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>28</b>&mdash;<b>Indian Jim.</b> By Edward S. Ellis.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>29</b>&mdash;<b>The Scout.</b> By Warren St. John.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>30</b>&mdash;<b>Eagle Eye.</b> By W. J. Hamilton.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>31</b>&mdash;<b>The Mystic Canoe.</b> By Edward S. Ellis.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>32</b>&mdash;<b>The Golden Harpoon.</b> By R. Starbuck.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>33</b>&mdash;<b>The Scalp King.</b> By Lieut. Ned Hunter.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>34</b>&mdash;<b>Old Lute.</b> By E. W. Archer.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>35</b>&mdash;<b>Rainbolt, Ranger.</b> By Oll Coomes.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>36</b>&mdash;<b>The Boy Pioneer.</b> By Edward S. Ellis.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>37</b>&mdash;<b>Carson, the Guide.</b> By J. H. Randolph.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>38</b>&mdash;<b>The Heart Eater.</b> By Harry Hazard.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>39</b>&mdash;<b>Wetzel, the Scout.</b> By Boynton Belknap.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>40</b>&mdash;<b>The Huge Hunter.</b> By Ed. S. Ellis.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>41</b>&mdash;<b>Wild Nat, the Trapper.</b> By Paul Prescott.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>42</b>&mdash;<b>Lynx-cap.</b> By Paul Bibbs.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>43</b>&mdash;<b>The White Outlaw.</b> By Harry Hazard.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>44</b>&mdash;<b>The Dog Trailer.</b> By Frederick Dewey.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>45</b>&mdash;<b>The Elk King.</b> By Capt. Chas. Howard.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>46</b>&mdash;<b>Adrian, the Pilot.</b> By Col. P. Ingraham.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>47</b>&mdash;<b>The Man-Hunter.</b> By Maro O. Rolfe.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>48</b>&mdash;<b>The Phantom Tracker.</b> By F. Dewey.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>49</b>&mdash;<b>Moccasin Bill.</b> By Paul Bibbs.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>50</b>&mdash;<b>The Wolf Queen.</b> By Charles Howard.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>51</b>&mdash;<b>Tom Hawk, the Trailer.</b></p>

-<p class="t0"><b>52</b>&mdash;<b>The Mad Chief.</b> By Chas. Howard.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>53</b>&mdash;<b>The Black Wolf.</b> By Edwin E. Ewing.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>54</b>&mdash;<b>Arkansas Jack.</b> By Harry Hazard.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>55</b>&mdash;<b>Blackbeard.</b> By Paul Bibbs.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>56</b>&mdash;<b>The River Rifles.</b> By Billex Muller.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>57</b>&mdash;<b>Hunter Ham.</b> By J. Edgar Iliff.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>58</b>&mdash;<b>Cloudwood.</b> By J. M. Merrill.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>59</b>&mdash;<b>The Texas Hawks.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>60</b>&mdash;<b>Merciless Mat.</b> By Capt. Chas. Howard.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>61</b>&mdash;<b>Mad Anthony&rsquo;s Scouts.</b> By E. Rodman.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>62</b>&mdash;<b>The Luckless Trapper.</b> By Wm. R. Eyster.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>63</b>&mdash;<b>The Florida Scout.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>64</b>&mdash;<b>The Island Trapper.</b> By Chas. Howard.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>65</b>&mdash;<b>Wolf-Cap.</b> By Capt. Chas. Howard.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>66</b>&mdash;<b>Rattling Dick.</b> By Harry Hazard.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>67</b>&mdash;<b>Sharp-Eye.</b> By Major Max Martine.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>68</b>&mdash;<b>Iron-Hand.</b> By Frederick Forest.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>69</b>&mdash;<b>The Yellow Hunter.</b> By Chas. Howard.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>70</b>&mdash;<b>The Phantom Rider.</b> By Maro O. Rolfe.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>71</b>&mdash;<b>Delaware Tom.</b> By Harry Hazard.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>72</b>&mdash;<b>Silver Rifle.</b> By Capt. Chas. Howard.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>73</b>&mdash;<b>The Skeleton Scout.</b> By Maj. L. W. Carson.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>74</b>&mdash;<b>Little Rifle.</b> By Capt. &ldquo;Bruin&rdquo; Adams.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>75</b>&mdash;<b>The Wood Witch.</b> By Edwin Emerson.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>76</b>&mdash;<b>Old Ruff, the Trapper.</b> By &ldquo;Bruin&rdquo; Adams.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>77</b>&mdash;<b>The Scarlet Shoulders.</b> By Harry Hazard.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>78</b>&mdash;<b>The Border Rifleman.</b> By L. W. Carson.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>79</b>&mdash;<b>Outlaw Jack.</b> By Harry Hazard.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>80</b>&mdash;<b>Tiger-Tail, the Seminole.</b> By R. Ringwood.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>81</b>&mdash;<b>Death-Dealer.</b> By Arthur L. Meserve.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>82</b>&mdash;<b>Kenton, the Ranger.</b> By Chas. Howard.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>83</b>&mdash;<b>The Specter Horseman.</b> By Frank Dewey.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>84</b>&mdash;<b>The Three Trappers.</b> By Seelin Robbins.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>85</b>&mdash;<b>Kaleolah.</b> By Capt. Chas. Howard.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>86</b>&mdash;<b>The Hunter Hercules.</b> By Harry St. George.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>87</b>&mdash;<b>Phil Hunter.</b> By Capt. Chas. Howard.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>88</b>&mdash;<b>The Indian Scout.</b> By Harry Hazard.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>89</b>&mdash;<b>The Girl Avenger.</b> By Chas. Howard.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>90</b>&mdash;<b>The Red Hermitess.</b> By Paul Bibbs.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>91</b>&mdash;<b>Star-Face, the Slayer.</b></p>

-<p class="t0"><b>92</b>&mdash;<b>The Antelope Boy.</b> By Geo. L. Aiken.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>93</b>&mdash;<b>The Phantom Hunter.</b> By E. Emerson.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>94</b>&mdash;<b>Tom Pintle, the Pilot.</b> By M. Klapp.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>95</b>&mdash;<b>The Red Wizard.</b> By Ned Hunter.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>96</b>&mdash;<b>The Rival Trappers.</b> By L. W. Carson.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>97</b>&mdash;<b>The Squaw Spy.</b> By Capt. Chas. Howard.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>98</b>&mdash;<b>Dusky Dick.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>99</b>&mdash;<b>Colonel Crockett.</b> By Chas. E. Lasalle.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>100</b>&mdash;<b>Old Bear Paw.</b> By Major Max Martine.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>101</b>&mdash;<b>Redlaw.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>102</b>&mdash;<b>Wild Rube.</b> By W. J. Hamilton.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>103</b>&mdash;<b>The Indian Hunters.</b> By J. L. Bowen.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>104</b>&mdash;<b>Scarred Eagle.</b> By Andrew Dearborn.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>105</b>&mdash;<b>Nick Doyle.</b> By P. Hamilton Myers.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>106</b>&mdash;<b>The Indian Spy.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>107</b>&mdash;<b>Job Dean.</b> By Ingoldsby North.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>108</b>&mdash;<b>The Wood King.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>109</b>&mdash;<b>The Scalped Hunter.</b> By Harry Hazard.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>110</b>&mdash;<b>Nick, the Scout.</b> By W. J. Hamilton.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>111</b>&mdash;<b>The Texas Tiger.</b> By Edward Willett.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>112</b>&mdash;<b>The Crossed Knives.</b> By Hamilton.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>113</b>&mdash;<b>Tiger-Heart, the Tracker.</b> By Howard.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>114</b>&mdash;<b>The Masked Avenger.</b> By Ingraham.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>115</b>&mdash;<b>The Pearl Pirates.</b> By Starbuck.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>116</b>&mdash;<b>Black Panther.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>117</b>&mdash;<b>Abdiel, the Avenger.</b> By Ed. Willett.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>118</b>&mdash;<b>Cato, the Creeper.</b> By Fred. Dewey.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>119</b>&mdash;<b>Two-Handed Mat.</b> By Jos. E. Badger.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>120</b>&mdash;<b>Mad Trail Hunter.</b> By Harry Hazard.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>121</b>&mdash;<b>Black Nick.</b> By Frederick Whittaker.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>122</b>&mdash;<b>Kit Bird.</b> By W. J. Hamilton.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>123</b>&mdash;<b>The Specter Riders.</b> By Geo. Gleason.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>124</b>&mdash;<b>Giant Pete.</b> By W. J. Hamilton.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>125</b>&mdash;<b>The Girl Captain.</b> By Jos. E. Badger.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>126</b>&mdash;<b>Yankee Eph.</b> By J. R. Worcester.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>127</b>&mdash;<b>Silverspur.</b> By Edward Willett.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>128</b>&mdash;<b>Squatter Dick.</b> By Jos. E. Badger.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>129</b>&mdash;<b>The Child Spy.</b> By George Gleason.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>130</b>&mdash;<b>Mink Coat.</b> By Jos. E. Badger.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>131</b>&mdash;<b>Red Plume.</b> By J. Stanley Henderson.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>132</b>&mdash;<b>Clyde, the Trailer.</b> By Maro O. Rolfe.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>133</b>&mdash;<b>The Lost Cache.</b> By J. Stanley Henderson.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>134</b>&mdash;<b>The Cannibal Chief.</b> By Paul J. Prescott.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>135</b>&mdash;<b>Karaibo.</b> By J. Stanley Henderson.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>136</b>&mdash;<b>Scarlet Moccasin.</b> By Paul Bibbs.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>137</b>&mdash;<b>Kidnapped.</b> By J. Stanley Henderson.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>138</b>&mdash;<b>Maid of the Mountain.</b> By Hamilton.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>139</b>&mdash;<b>The Scioto Scouts.</b> By Ed. Willett.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>140</b>&mdash;<b>The Border Renegade.</b> By Badger.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>141</b>&mdash;<b>The Mute Chief.</b> By C. D. Clark.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>142</b>&mdash;<b>Boone, the Hunter.</b> By Whittaker.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>143</b>&mdash;<b>Mountain Kate.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>144</b>&mdash;<b>The Red Scalper.</b> By W. J. Hamilton.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>145</b>&mdash;<b>The Lone Chief.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b>146</b>&mdash;<b>The Silver Bugle.</b> By Lieut. Col. Hazleton.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b class="large">147</b>&mdash;<b>Chinga, the Cheyenne.</b> By Edward S. Ellis. Ready</p>

-<p class="t0"><b class="large">148</b>&mdash;<b>The Tangled Trail.</b> By Major Max Martine. Ready</p>

-<p class="t0"><b class="large">149</b>&mdash;<b>The Unseen Hand.</b> By J. Stanley Henderson. Ready</p>

-<p class="t0"><b class="large">150</b>&mdash;<b>The Lone Indian.</b> By Capt. Chas. Howard. Ready</p>

-<p class="t0"><b class="large">151</b>&mdash;<b>The Branded Brave.</b> By Paul Bibbs. Ready April 6th.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b class="large">152</b>&mdash;<b>Billy Bowlegs, the Seminole Chief.</b> Ready April 20th.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b class="large">153</b>&mdash;<b>The Valley Scout.</b> By Seelin Robins. Ready May 4.</p>

-<p class="t0"><b class="large">154</b>&mdash;<b>Red Jacket, the Huron.</b> By Paul Bibbs. Ready May 18th.</p>

-</div>

-<p class="center"><b>BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York.</b></p>

-<h2 id="trnotes">Transcriber&rsquo;s Notes</h2>

-<ul>

-<li>Silently corrected a few typos.</li>

-<li>Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook is public-domain in the country of publication.</li>

-<li>In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by _underscores_.</li>

-</ul>

-<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BORDER RIFLEMEN; OR THE FOREST FIEND. A ROMANCE OF THE BLACK-HAWK UPRISING ***</div>

-<div style='text-align:left'>

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+<body>
+<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 66064 ***</div>
+<div id="cover" class="img">
+<img id="coverpage" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="The Border Riflemen; or, The Forest Fiend" width="2638" height="4050" />
+</div>
+<div class="box">
+<h1>THE BORDER RIFLEMEN;
+<br /><span class="smallest"><span class="smallest">OR,</span>
+<br />THE FOREST FIEND.</span></h1>
+<p class="tbcenter">A ROMANCE OF THE BLACK-HAWK UPRISING.</p>
+<p class="tbcenter">BY LIEUT. LEWIS W. CARSON.</p>
+<p class="tbcenter"><span class="smaller">NEW YORK.</span>
+<br />BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS,
+<br /><span class="smaller">98 WILLIAM STREET.</span></p>
+</div>
+<p class="center smaller">Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872, by
+<br />FRANK STARR &amp; CO.,
+<br />In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.</p>
+<h2 id="toc" class="center">CONTENTS</h2>
+<dl class="toc">
+<dt><a href="#c1"><span class="cn">I. </span>The Border Suitor&mdash;Cooney Joe</a> 9</dt>
+<dt><a href="#c2"><span class="cn">II. </span>Minneoba&rsquo;s warning</a> 15</dt>
+<dt><a href="#c3"><span class="cn">III. </span>Black-Hawk Insulted</a> 22</dt>
+<dt><a href="#c4"><span class="cn">IV. </span>Little Fox&mdash;Na-She-Eschuck</a> 29</dt>
+<dt><a href="#c5"><span class="cn">V. </span>The Price of Treachery</a> 35</dt>
+<dt><a href="#c6"><span class="cn">VI. </span>The First Blow</a> 42</dt>
+<dt><a href="#c7"><span class="cn">VII. </span>Overboard</a> 49</dt>
+<dt><a href="#c8"><span class="cn">VIII. </span>Melton&rsquo;s Scout&mdash;A Bush Fight</a> 54</dt>
+<dt><a href="#c9"><span class="cn">IX. </span>The Defense of the Island</a> 61</dt>
+<dt><a href="#c10"><span class="cn">X. </span>The Forest Fiend</a> 68</dt>
+<dt><a href="#c11"><span class="cn">XI. </span>Black-Hawk Keeps His Word</a> 75</dt>
+<dt><a href="#c12"><span class="cn">XII. </span>Sadie&rsquo;s Sacrifice</a> 82</dt>
+<dt><a href="#c13"><span class="cn">XIII. </span>Guests Not Invited</a> 88</dt>
+</dl>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_9">9</div>
+<h1 title="">THE BORDER RIFLEMEN;
+<br /><span class="smallest"><span class="smallest">OR,</span>
+<br />THE FOREST FIEND.</span></h1>
+<h2 id="c1"><span class="small">CHAPTER I.</span>
+<br />THE BORDER SUITOR&mdash;COONEY JOE.</h2>
+<p>The sun was going down behind the western hills in a
+flood of yellow light, and a river dimpled on under the
+slanting rays, great fish leaping now and then from the placid
+surface, and the trees along the bank casting fantastic shadows
+into its depths. In a sheltered nook, near a spot where
+a little creek joined the river, a settler had built a cabin,
+which the hand of woman had beautified and adorned as
+only the hand of woman can. Bright flowers bloomed on
+each side of the rustic doorway and an English ivy vine
+clung to the walls and was rapidly spreading its delicate
+tendrils over the whole front. The cabin faced the stream,
+and behind it the hand of industry had cleared many acres
+which now showed heavy growths of cereals and roots, carefully
+cultivated. It was a silvan spot, and one upon which
+the eye of the artist would linger long and pleasantly.</p>
+<p>The door opened suddenly, and a young girl holding a
+water-pail in her hand came out with a free, careless step,
+singing a merry song. She was plainly dressed, and yet
+there was an air of native grace about her every movement
+which plainly showed that she had not always lived amid
+such wild surroundings. She was beautiful&mdash;not the vapid
+beauty of cities, but that of perfect health, and a free life. Her
+form was untrammeled by the fashions which cramp and
+deform the beautiful women of our day, and her face, a little
+browned by exposure to the to sun, glowed&mdash;</p>
+<div class="verse">
+<p class="t0">&ldquo;With sunny beauty and rustic health.&rdquo;</p>
+</div>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_10">10</div>
+<p>Maud M&uuml;ller&mdash;Whittier&rsquo;s Maud&mdash;was not more beautiful
+than this frontier damsel. Not only was her face cut in a
+perfect mold, but her eyes sparkled with life and vivacity,
+and her sunny hair, unconfined, hung about her shoulders in
+beautiful profusion.</p>
+<p>She left the river, turned down the creek, entered a little
+grove half a mile from the house, passed through it, and
+looked across the open field beyond.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Father,&rdquo; she cried, &ldquo;are you there?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>No answer was returned, save the echo of her musical
+voice, and she looked about her in evident surprise.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Where can he have gone?&rdquo; she murmured. &ldquo;Father!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>As the words left her lips there was a slight rustle in the
+bushes by her side, and a man came out and stood beside
+her. He was still young, but his strikingly handsome face
+bore the marks of a life of dissipation and riot. He was
+quite tall, nearly six feet in his moccasins, with a face which
+showed unmistakable signs of Indian blood, though somewhat
+remote, and a wandering black eye, full of passion.
+He was dressed in hunting costume, and held in one hand a
+long rifle, and two small protuberances in the breast of his
+hunting-coat showed where his pistols lay concealed.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I thought I should meet you here, Sadie,&rdquo; he said, quietly.
+&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t look very glad to see me.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You know what I think of you, William Jackwood,&rdquo;
+she replied, turning quickly away. &ldquo;How dare you to come
+here, after what has happened?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>He laughed a low, bitter, chilling laugh, which did not
+indicate enjoyment, and his black eyes seemed to emit sparks
+of fire.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I would not refer to our last meeting, if I were you,
+Sadie,&rdquo; he said, evidently controlling himself by a violent
+effort. &ldquo;I was half crazy with liquor that night or I would
+not have said what I did. See here; give me a chance to
+make this right with you and I&rsquo;ll do it. I want to be a
+friend to you&mdash;I do, upon my soul. I&rsquo;ll ask your pardon
+on my knees, if you&rsquo;ll forgive, and promise not to lay it up
+against me.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I forgive you,&rdquo; she said, with a cold, passionless glance,
+&ldquo;but you must not come here any more, for all that. My
+<span class="pb" id="Page_11">11</span>
+father has told me not to have any more to say to you, and
+I shall obey him.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The man stood grinding the butt of his rifle into the soft
+earth, and fighting a powerful battle to keep down his heart.
+The girl no longer looked at him but took up the pail and
+was moving on.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Wait a moment,&rdquo; he said, hoarsely. &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t part from
+you like this, Sadie. You don&rsquo;t know what you are doing
+or what will happen if you don&rsquo;t use me more kindly. By&mdash;I
+beg your pardon, but I am half mad&mdash;I can&rsquo;t stand it.
+Do you know that I worship the ground you tread for your
+sake, and would give my life at any moment if it would be
+of service to you?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You must not speak to me in that way, Mr. Jackwood,&rdquo;
+she said, in a more gentle tone. &ldquo;I am truly sorry for you if
+you speak the truth, but I can not listen to you. Aside from
+the fact that my father does not like you, I have my own inclinations
+to consult, and I do not and never can love you.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Then you love some one else,&rdquo; he cried savagely. &ldquo;All
+right; marry him if you dare, but of this be assured&mdash;the moment
+you stand up before the minister with <i>any</i> man, if it
+were my own brother, I will kill you both where you stand.
+Do you hear me?&mdash;I will kill you both.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Do you dare to threaten me in that way, Will Jackwood?
+Oh, if my father were here, he would teach you to insult his
+daughter in that way. Do you think to frighten me by idle
+threats? Since you force me to say it, know that the sight
+of your dark face is and always has been odious to me, and
+that I will never speak to you again except upon compulsion
+under any circumstances.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>He caught her by the wrist with his disengaged hand
+and held her firmly, when she dropped the pail and struck
+him full in the face with her open hand. He uttered a cry
+like that of an angry tiger, and letting go his hold upon the
+gun caught her about the waist with his strong right arm.
+Powerless in his grasp, she struggled with all her strength
+and screamed for help. The call was not made in vain, for
+a quick step was heard, and a heavy body crashed through
+the bushes, and Sadie screamed again.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Comin&rsquo;, by the mortal, comin&rsquo;!&rdquo; roared a hoarse voice.
+&ldquo;Oh, yes.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_12">12</div>
+<p>Will Jackwood released her instantly and caught up his
+gun, just as a short, thick-set, powerfully-built man darted
+from the bushes and stood beside them. He wore the fringed
+hunting-shirt and beaded moccasins of the scout and hunter,
+and his long, flax-colored hair was crowned by a greasy coon-skin
+cap in the last stages of dissolution. The face was a
+marvel of native ugliness, but in spite of that he was greeted
+with a cry of joy from Sadie.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Cooney Joe is hyar,&rdquo; he yelled. &ldquo;What is the matter
+now?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I have been insulted, Joe,&rdquo; cried Sadie, panting for breath.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;By that yer p&rsquo;ison critter, I&rsquo;ll bet. Now look out, Black
+Will, acause I&rsquo;m a-goin&rsquo; to give yer the durndest lickin&rsquo; you
+ever got sence yer mammy took ye over her knee. Hyar&rsquo;s
+fur ye.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Before Black Will could bring his rifle to a level the stout
+hunter dashed in and his heart was beating against the broad
+breast of the man known as Jackwood. In a moment more
+they were locked in a fierce grapple, fighting in true western
+style, without the slightest idea of the rules of the ring. In
+a stand-off fight, the long arms and powerful build of Black
+Will would have given him a decided advantage, but in the
+close grapple Cooney Joe was more than his equal, and loosening
+one hand by a violent effort he struck his antagonist such
+a blow in the face that his teeth seemed to rattle in his jaws,
+and he staggered. Throwing himself forward with a victorious
+war-whoop, Cooney Joe brought him to the ground, and
+the next moment was kneeling on his breast with his long,
+brown fingers fastened on his throat in a decidedly uncomfortable
+way.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Yah-h-h&mdash;hip! Got ye that time, my sweet infant!
+The old coon kin climb a tree yit. Say the word, Miss Wescott,
+an&rsquo; by the big meat pie I&rsquo;ll choke the life clean out of
+his pesky karkidge.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Let him go for the present, Joe,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;He has
+been punished sufficiently, and it will teach him that I am
+not friendless.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, pshaw! don&rsquo;t let him git off that way. Take off his
+belt and let me larrup him with it till he <i>howls</i>.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;No, no; don&rsquo;t strike him again. Take away his weapons
+and let him go.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_13">13</div>
+<p>&ldquo;Hold on,&rdquo; said Black Will hoarsely. &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t touch the
+pistols and I promise to go away at once, and not make a
+move for revenge to-day.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s fair,&rdquo; said Joe, rising. &ldquo;I never knowed the critter
+to break a fair promise, Miss Sadie, and you kin trust him.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Cooney Joe stood up and Black Will slowly arose, with an
+expression of fearful malice upon his dark face, slowly brushing
+the dust from his clothing without speaking a word.
+Cooney Joe had taken up his rifle and stood leaning upon it,
+a grin of enjoyment stretching his naturally wide mouth.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Curi&rsquo;s how things come &rsquo;round, ain&rsquo;t it? I&rsquo;ve wanted a
+lick at you fur nigh onto five year an&rsquo; never got a chance till
+now; does me good, this does.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Of course you know I&rsquo;ll have your life for it, Joe Bent,&rdquo;
+said Black Will, in a quiet tone.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Sartin, sartin, if ye kin git it,&rdquo; replied Cooney Joe. &ldquo;But
+don&rsquo;t forgit that ef I see yer hand go anigh a pistil in a
+strange company I&rsquo;ll try to shoot first. &rsquo;Member that, don&rsquo;t ye.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll try to remember, Joe,&rdquo; was the reply. &ldquo;Now, Miss
+Wescott, I will say to you what I intended to say when this
+meddling fool broke in upon us. You shall never live to be
+the wife of another man. If I can not have you, no one else
+shall, I swear by every thing I hold true.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;P&rsquo;isen critter, ain&rsquo;t you, Will?&rdquo; said Cooney Joe, regarding
+him with a look of benign interest, as a great natural
+curiosity. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll be individually an&rsquo; collectively cussed ef you
+ain&rsquo;t a nice picter to go a-talkin&rsquo; about marryin&rsquo; a gal like
+Miss Sadie. Why, bu&rsquo;st my buttons, ef I don&rsquo;t think she&rsquo;d
+ruther have me!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I would indeed,&rdquo; replied Sadie.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Who asked you to speak, Joe Bent?&rdquo; said Black Will,
+savagely. &ldquo;Keep your distance and live in safety for twenty-four
+hours, but after that I will take your life, no matter
+where I meet you.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You rare &rsquo;round the awfulest kind, don&rsquo;t ye,&rdquo; replied Joe,
+with a merry look. &ldquo;Dash my bacon ef you ain&rsquo;t a study
+fur a painter. I&rsquo;ve see&rsquo;d chaps in the theater at St. Louis
+that rared &rsquo;round the stage jest as you do now, but somehow
+they allus got special hail kolumbia in the end. Now <i>git</i>;
+I don&rsquo;t want to say any thing more <i>but</i> git.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_14">14</div>
+<p>Black Will quietly tightened his belt, brought his rifle to
+a &ldquo;right shoulder shift,&rdquo; and was off at a long, slinging pace
+which carried him rapidly across the field.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Thar goes a pizen critter, Miss Sadie,&rdquo; muttered Cooney
+Joe. &ldquo;Now I reckon he meant jest what he said when he
+told me that he&rsquo;d hev my life, but I&rsquo;ve took a good many
+chances, though he&rsquo;ll hev my ha&rsquo;r sartin ef I don&rsquo;t shoot first
+when we meet.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I am sorry to have brought you into danger, Joe,&rdquo; said
+the girl.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Sorry&mdash;danger&mdash;git out! D&rsquo;ye think I keer fur <i>that</i>,
+little gal? Why, make it the wust ye kin, the chances ar&rsquo; I
+git a shot afore he does, an&rsquo; ef I <i>miss</i>, then it&rsquo;s my own fault.
+Whar&rsquo;s yer daddy?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I came out to find him and bring him some drink. I
+thought he was at work in this field.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He orter be keerful,&rdquo; said Joe Bent, uneasily, &ldquo;&rsquo;cause the
+Injins are gitting r&rsquo;iled up awful, and thar&rsquo;s no tellin&rsquo; when
+they may break out. Let&rsquo;s try an&rsquo; find him.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;There he is now,&rdquo; cried Sadie.</p>
+<p>As she spoke, a middle-aged man, with a hoe across his
+shoulder, appeared at the other side of the woods and came
+rapidly toward them. As he came near he shouted cheerily
+to Joe Bent, who seemed very glad to see him, and they shook
+hands heartily. Mr. Wescott had the same air of gentility
+which showed itself in his daughter, but, like her, had adapted
+himself to his present surroundings, and looked the picture
+of a genuine western farmer. In stature he was almost
+a giant.</p>
+<p>Sadie rapidly recounted her meeting with Black Will, and
+all that had passed between them, and the face of Mr. Wescott
+darkened, while his hand closed convulsively upon the
+handle of his hoe.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It is a lucky thing for the black-hearted scoundrel that
+I was not by, Sadie,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;or it would have gone hard
+with him. What brings you up this way, Joe?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I sort o&rsquo; got a hint to git off the hunting grounds from
+that pernicious red devil, Napope, who is sp&rsquo;ilin&rsquo; fur mischief.
+Ar&rsquo; ye good friends with the Injins, &rsquo;square?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Certainly; I never wronged one of them in my life.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_15">15</div>
+<p>&ldquo;Not that it matters much ef they once rise,&rdquo; continued
+Joe, &ldquo;because then they won&rsquo;t hev any friends in the white
+race. I&rsquo;ve my doubts of that Black Will, anyhow. Two
+weeks ago I saw him in the Injin village, an&rsquo; him an&rsquo; that
+cussid Napope was ez thick ez flies in sp&rsquo;iled bacon.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What is the trouble with the Indians?&rdquo; said Wescott, uneasily.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Them cussid agents rob them like thieves,&rdquo; replied Joe
+Bent. &ldquo;Ef Black-Hawk would only ketch an&rsquo; burn them, I
+don&rsquo;t believe our fellers would kick much, they act so fearful
+mean. Do you know that I think the village the best place
+fur Miss Sadie, &rsquo;bout this time in the year?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll talk to you by-and-by,&rdquo; said Wescott, with a quick
+glance at his daughter&rsquo;s observant face. &ldquo;Come to the house
+and get something to eat.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>They quickened their steps and reached the cabin, and
+while Sadie set about preparing a meal, they sat outside and
+smoked their pipes, talking in low, eager tones. Sadie could
+see that their conversation was very important, and, woman-like,
+felt piqued that they kept it secret from her, and hurried
+her preparations. In a few moments the homely meal
+was smoking on the board, and they sat down, enjoying their
+food with keen relish; but the two men dropped their conversation,
+or rather, changed it to indifferent subjects, much
+to the disgust of Sadie. Just as they were about to rise from
+the table, she gave utterance to a cry of surprise and ran to
+the door, and a moment after appeared, leading an Indian
+girl by the hand.</p>
+<h2 id="c2"><span class="small">CHAPTER II.</span>
+<br />MINNEOBA&rsquo;S WARNING.</h2>
+<p>It was a woman of the Sac nation, but bearing unmistakable
+signs of white blood. Her form might almost have
+vied with that of Sadie, and her dark skin glowed with perfect
+health. Her hair was unlike that of any pure Indian
+girl, slightly waving, and with a luster upon it never seen in
+<span class="pb" id="Page_16">16</span>
+the pure Indian. Her dress was of the richest description
+that was worn by the women of the tribe, and her head was
+crowned by a coronet of eagle-feathers, which bespoke the
+daughter of a chief. Dainty feet, small hands and delicate
+features distinguished the maid from the majority of her race,
+and all together, two more noble specimens of native grace
+rarely trod the same floor.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;By the piper that played while the king danced, if it
+ain&rsquo;t Minneoba, the pride of the Sac nation,&rdquo; cried Cooney
+Joe. &ldquo;Say, gal, what ye doin&rsquo; &rsquo;round yer?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Minneoba has traveled a long path, and she is weary,&rdquo;
+replied the Indian girl, faintly. &ldquo;Let the Wild Rose give
+her food and drink.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Sadie, who was much taken by the rare beauty of the forest
+maid, seated her at once at the table and placed food before
+her. She passed over the few dainties which the table
+afforded, and ate the most simple food, and her appetite was
+soon gratified. Joe whispered aside with Mr. Wescott.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I tell you that the gal is the favorite daughter of Black-Hawk,&rdquo;
+he whispered, &ldquo;an&rsquo; she&rsquo;s got some good reason fur
+bein&rsquo; hyar. But don&rsquo;t hurry her, for I know the breed and
+she&rsquo;s obstinit, durned obstinit, when she hez a mind to,
+though she&rsquo;s a good gal, too.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>In the mean time the Indian girl was chatting merrily with
+her new friend, and her musical laugh rung through the cabin.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Whisper to Sadie to git her confidence, Mr. Wescott,&rdquo;
+muttered the hunter. &ldquo;She kin do it. The gal is open-hearted
+as the day, and ef she means friendship she <i>means</i>
+it.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Wescott called Sadie aside and spoke to her in a low, hurried
+tone, and nodding intelligently, the white girl returned
+to the side of the Indian girl, and soon after the two rose and
+went out of the cabin, strolling down by the river side. Minneoba
+had her fan in her hand, more from habit than any
+thing else, and they walked along the green banks, talking
+earnestly.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Minneoba is the daughter of Black-Hawk,&rdquo; said the maiden,
+in answer to a question, &ldquo;and she loves her father well.
+The heart of the old man is very sad, for he sees the white
+<span class="pb" id="Page_17">17</span>
+men forcing the Indian step by step out of the land their fathers
+gave them. Look down and tell me what you see.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Close to the bank of the stream not far away a succession
+of low mounds of different sizes showed where the ancient
+grave-yard of a tribe had been. Not far from this a white
+village was seen, the farms of the settlers encroaching upon
+the graves.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;When we bury the bodies of those we love, daughter of
+the white man, it is not pleasant to think that the feet of the
+strangers tread upon the graves. The Indians are rough and
+rude, but they too love the graves of their fathers, and it
+makes them sad to think that the plow of the white man
+will disturb the loved remains.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It is very sad, but I have heard that Keokuk sold this
+land to our people.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Keokuk has done wickedly,&rdquo; cried the girl, excitedly.
+&ldquo;It is a false Indian who treads upon his father&rsquo;s grave, or
+allows the white man to do it. A Sac despises the man who
+is so base.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What will the Indians do?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What they will do is not for an Indian girl to say; their
+hearts are very sore, but they would be friends with the white
+men, if the white men will let them. But fire-water and bad
+men will make trouble in the land. Tell the people of the
+village that it would be better for them to give up the Sac
+town and build for themselves upon another place.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>In order to understand the words of Minneoba fully, it will
+be necessary to set down the history of the events which finally
+drove Black-Hawk to desperation.</p>
+<p>By the treaty entered into by the United States upon one
+side and the Sacs and Foxes, Siouxs, Omahas, Iowas and
+Ottoes upon the other, headed by Keokuk, or the Watchful
+Fox, the land of these tribes was sold to the United States.
+In this bargain and sale Black-Hawk took no part, but in
+spite of that the Indian agents insisted that he should leave
+his village, which without his consent had been sold to the
+whites, and build another upon the west bank of the Mississippi.</p>
+<p>No race love their native land better than the Indian, and
+Black-Hawk was of the pure blood. He cursed the traitors
+<span class="pb" id="Page_18">18</span>
+who had sold their country, but vowed that he would not
+leave his village until compelled to do so by force. Every
+little disturbance between wandering white men and the
+tribes, every slight affair of whatever kind was magnified and
+turned against the Sac chief. Yet he only sought to do what
+was right, and prevailed upon Keokuk, who had made the
+treaty, to go to the white agents, with whom it had been
+made, and offer them in the name of the Sacs the lead mines,
+the most valuable property of the Indians, if they might be
+permitted to retain their village. The Watchful Fox, satisfied
+that he had sold that which was not his own, agreed to go,
+and ask for Black-Hawk the little land on which the village
+stood, including the grave-yard of the tribe. It was refused.</p>
+<p>It was the custom of the western tribes at this date to go
+out in winter in a body and have a great hunt. Black-Hawk
+went away at the head of his tribe with secret misgivings, and
+the village was left unguarded. This was the winter of 1830,
+and when the Indians came back from their hunt they found
+their village in the possession of the whites, who had taken
+advantage of their absence to take possession. The river was
+yet full of floating ice, and it was impossible for the Indians
+to move, but they sent word to the invaders that before corn-planting
+they would drive them out of the village, no matter
+at what cost to themselves.</p>
+<p>The whites were alarmed, for they felt their inability to
+oppose the tribe with their present number. A deputation
+was sent to the chiefs, proposing that they should occupy and
+plant the land together. The Indians, always generous in
+the disposal of land, agreed to the proposal, but upon arriving
+they found that the whites had seized and planted the best
+of the land.</p>
+<p>The peaceful village became one of the most disorderly
+upon the frontier. With the whites came in their vices, and
+the Indians, naturally weak, began to feel their effects. The
+sale of liquor was commenced, and by its aid the whites gradually
+robbed the Indians of all that they could call their
+own.</p>
+<p>The chief saw with alarm what must be the result, when
+they received orders to cross no more to the east bank of the
+river. The result of such an order may be readily understood,
+<span class="pb" id="Page_19">19</span>
+rousing all the fierce passions of the Indians, and in
+this state matters stood at the time when Minneoba visited the
+cabin of Mr. Wescott.</p>
+<p>The Indians were now nearly all upon the west bank of
+the river, the chiefs preferring this to longer intercourse with
+the white men. These simple men were no match for their
+wily antagonists, and had too rapidly imbibed their vices.
+Black-Hawk was an Indian, but he had a heart to feel for the
+woes of his people, and he saw that only by force of arms
+could he hope to succeed in wresting his country from the
+hand of the invader.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Is it possible that my father&rsquo;s land belongs to the Indians?&rdquo;
+said Sadie. &ldquo;He paid for it honestly, and would not
+willingly wrong any man.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;The Wild Rose speaks truly. Her father has a great
+heart, but he holds the land which belongs to Black-Hawk.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Then he will pay for it again, sooner than wrong a chief
+of the Sacs.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk will not sell his lands to a white man. Let
+the words of Minneoba sound in the ears of Wild Rose. This
+is no place for her to dwell. Let her get a swift horse and
+fly away until the tempest has passed, for a dark cloud hangs
+over her father&rsquo;s house and threatens her.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I have done no wrong; why should I flee?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;My sister, the evil will come to the just and the unjust,
+for Black-Hawk will have his land again. Do not ask me to
+tell you more, for a Sac maiden can not betray her father,
+but take those you love and fly.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>While yet speaking, the rapid beat of hoofs could be heard,
+and two men rounded a point of woods and approached them.
+At a glance Sadie recognized Black Will and a desperate ruffian
+who was more than suspected of selling arms to the Indians,
+a great offense upon the frontier. This man&rsquo;s name
+was Richard Garrett, and he was hated and feared all along
+the border.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Ha, look!&rdquo; cried Minneoba. &ldquo;Yonder comes a bad white
+man, who has spoken evil words in the ears of Black-Hawk.
+What does he here?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Let us hurry away,&rdquo; whispered Sadie. &ldquo;He is my enemy,
+and I fear to meet him now.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_20">20</div>
+<p>The two girls darted into the bushes, but not quickly enough
+to evade the eyes of the two men, who at once urged their
+horses and overtook the flying girls.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Ha, my dear,&rdquo; said Black Will, placing himself in front
+of Sadie, and effectually barring her further flight. &ldquo;I did
+not expect to meet you so soon.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Do not stop me, Will Jackwood,&rdquo; cried Sadie. &ldquo;You
+have been punished once to-day for your insolence. Joe Bent
+is not far away.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He is safe from me for this day, for he has my word,&rdquo;
+replied Black Will. &ldquo;But, when we meet again, one or the
+other goes down.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Threats do not hurt the absent,&rdquo; was the quiet reply.
+&ldquo;Let me pass at once.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Not so fast. I shall not have a better opportunity than
+this, and must entreat you to come with me.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Unconsciously, in their walk, the girls had come some distance
+from the house, and at that quiet hour few persons were
+abroad. Sadie understood the object of Black Will. It was
+to seize and carry her away for the purpose of forcing her to
+become his wife. He sprung out of the saddle, and menacing
+her with instant death if she cried out, hurried toward her,
+when a new and unexpected obstacle stood in his path. Minneoba
+had been almost unnoticed by the two scoundrels, and
+seeing that Dick Garrett was employed in holding the horses,
+the brave girl suddenly strung her bow, and fitting an arrow
+hastily, sprung in between Black Will and his intended victim,
+and he recoiled with a cry of rage, as the bright point of the
+arrow glittered in the light.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Minneoba, by all the devils! Out of my path, girl, or a
+worse thing may come to you.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>But Minneoba did not move, her bright eyes fixed upon the
+form of the would-be abductor in a way which he did not
+like.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Sadie is the friend of the Sac girl,&rdquo; she said, quietly.
+&ldquo;You shall not touch her while I live.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t know what you are doing, mad girl. What
+will your father say when he knows that you have aimed an
+arrow at my breast&mdash;<i>mine</i>, of all white men in the territory!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It would be better for Black-Hawk if you had never seen
+<span class="pb" id="Page_21">21</span>
+him,&rdquo; replied the girl. &ldquo;Take your horse and go, for I will
+spare your life if you do not touch the Wild Rose; touch
+her, and you are dead.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Black Will was a brave man, but he knew well the deadly
+skill of the Indian girl, and had seen it proved a hundred
+times in sportive encounters in the Indian village. Though
+full of rage, he dared not advance.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;But listen to me, Minneoba,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;This girl is
+to be my wife; I love her, and would take her into my
+lodge.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Let me hear her say that she loves <i>you</i>, and the Sac girl
+will not come between you. Stand back, or the arrow flies
+from the string.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You shall suffer for this, girl. Black-Hawk shall know
+how his daughter claims for a friend the daughter of the man
+who holds his land. We shall see how he likes that.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Minneoba can talk to Black-Hawk; she does not need the
+white hunter to tell her what to say.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;She&rsquo;s a bu&rsquo;ster, Will,&rdquo; said Dave Garrett, laughing. &ldquo;I
+reckon you had better give it up. Come, little girl, don&rsquo;t be
+foolish. Get out of the way, for my sake.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Minneoba did not move, and the arrow was still ready to
+fly.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Hark, Will! There come horses. Let&rsquo;s get out of this
+as quick as we can.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Black Will, shaking his clenched hand at the immovable
+figure of the Indian girl, sprung into the saddle, and the two
+men rode away at the top of their speed. They were scarcely
+out of sight when a party of mounted riflemen came up at a
+trot, but, seeing the two girls, they halted, and the leader dismounted
+and came toward them. He was a young, handsome
+fellow, in a fringed hunting-coat, booted and spurred, and
+wearing the insignia of Melton&rsquo;s mounted rifles, to show that
+he was captain of scouts. He lifted the cap gracefully from
+his head, and bowed low as he approached.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Captain Melton of the mounted rifles, by way of introduction.
+May I ask if you have seen any thing of a man
+known in this region as Dick Garrett?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He rode away five minutes since in company with William
+Jackwood.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_22">22</div>
+<p>&ldquo;The deuce he did! Excuse me, Miss, which way did he
+go?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Sadie pointed out the road, and with a hasty adieu the
+young officer bounded into the saddle and the command
+went off at full speed, with Melton at their head. Sadie
+had noted that his dark eyes had rested admiringly upon her,
+and she was herself struck by his noble appearance, and
+Minneoba laughed softly. She could see that the two had
+met before.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;The young white chief is very brave. Sadie could love
+him!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Nonsense, you foolish girl,&rdquo; said Sadie, blushing. &ldquo;I
+have only seen him twice before, and probably shall never
+see him again. Let us return to the house.&rdquo;</p>
+<h2 id="c3"><span class="small">CHAPTER III.</span>
+<br />BLACK-HAWK INSULTED.</h2>
+<p>They had scarcely reached the house when the sound of
+voices could be distinctly heard upon the river and Joe sprung
+to the door, from which the stream was plainly visible. A
+dozen canoes were upon the water full of Indians, crossing
+from the other shore.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You&rsquo;d better git out of sight, Minneoba,&rdquo; said Cooney
+Joe. &ldquo;It won&rsquo;t be well for them to see you here unless you
+are forced to come out.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The Indian girl hurried into the cabin, and went into
+Sadie&rsquo;s room. A moment later a tumultuous band of Sacs,
+shouting out furious threats against the whites, landed near
+the cabin and came hastily toward it.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Drunk as lords, every man jack of them,&rdquo; said Joe.
+&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got to talk sweet to them or thar will be some ha&rsquo;r
+raised right about yer. Thar; that&rsquo;s old Black-Hawk himself,
+by George. I wonder what he wants.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>An Indian somewhat advanced in life, and wearing the
+usual insignia of a chief of the Sacs, headed the party, and a
+word from him stilled the clamorous tongues of the warriors.
+<span class="pb" id="Page_23">23</span>
+Mr. Wescott and Joe stepped out to meet them, and
+the chief received them by a lofty gesture.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;We come for corn,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;and my young men are
+so angry that they need the hand of a chief. It is hard that
+the Sacs must come like thieves in the night to take corn
+from their old fields.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It is hard indeed, Black-Hawk,&rdquo; replied Mr. Wescott.
+&ldquo;I am as much grieved as you can be that this thing has
+happened, and upon my word, I hope that you may settle
+this trouble peaceably.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Why do you stay on the Sac fields then?&rdquo; replied the
+Indian, morosely. &ldquo;The words of my brother are wise, but
+they do not agree with his actions. I stand upon Sac ground,
+which is <i>not</i> sold and <i>can not</i> be sold unless Black-Hawk
+puts his totem on the paper and gives a belt. Why is the
+white man here then?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I bought of a man who claimed the right to sell,&rdquo; said
+Wescott, &ldquo;but I am willing to give you a fair price for the
+fields, even now.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk will not sell his fathers&rsquo; graves,&rdquo; replied
+the chief, fiercely. &ldquo;Look; your white men are making my
+warriors like themselves, good at talking but no workers.
+They drink the accursed fire-water and become hogs. In a
+few years, the name of Sac will be forgotten and they will
+be but beasts to carry the loads the white man puts upon
+their backs.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s no use talkin&rsquo; now, Black-Hawk,&rdquo; said Cooney Joe.
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t say it&rsquo;s right&mdash;because it ain&rsquo;t&mdash;for Keokuk had no
+right to sell your land. But, the thing&rsquo;s done and our fellers
+have possession, and I&rsquo;m afraid they won&rsquo;t give it up.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;They must.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, pshaw; you ought to know that they are darned
+good at takin&rsquo; things but they don&rsquo;t give back wuth a cent.
+You may as well build a village over yender.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That they may come and take it again,&rdquo; replied Black-Hawk,
+with a bitter laugh. &ldquo;Let us speak no more, for
+my tongue grows bitter in my mouth. Sons of the Sac, let
+us go for corn.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The Indian stalked away, followed by a shouting crowd of
+his adherents, and Cooney Joe looked uneasily at Wescott.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_24">24</div>
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t like this, &rsquo;square. You see our fellers ar&rsquo; mighty
+rough on the Injins, and I heard some on &rsquo;em say that ef the
+Sacs came over to steal corn they&rsquo;d give &rsquo;em an all-fired lickin&rsquo;.
+Now if they do that it means war.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I hope our men will not be so impudent,&rdquo; said Wescott.
+&ldquo;They ought to give the poor fellows a chance to carry away
+corn for their suffering families, since they have dispossessed
+them of their land.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Half an hour passed, when suddenly there came a great tumult
+from the direction in which the Indians had gone. The
+shouts of men, the loud and continuous barking of dogs, and
+the occasional crack of fire-arms, could be heard.</p>
+<p>Cooney Joe caught up his weapons, and followed by Mr.
+Wescott, hurried away in the direction from which the sound
+came. They had not gone half a mile when they came upon
+a great rabble of whites surrounding the party which had
+come over for corn, abusing them in every possible way.
+Showers of stone were hurled upon them, clods of earth and
+filth of every description was cast upon them, and they were
+fighting their way slowly back toward the stream, apparently
+unconscious of the insults heaped upon them. Foremost
+among them, walking with a firm step, but with a dark cloud
+gathering upon his brow, strode Black-Hawk. A stone had
+struck him on the forehead, and the blood was trickling slowly
+down his face, but he did not seem to be aware of the
+fact. Once or twice he turned his head when some unusually
+vile epithet was heaped upon him, with a haughty glance at
+the offender, which they remembered in the after times, for
+two men who struck him, and whom he marked for destruction,
+were the first to fall when the struggle commenced in
+earnest.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;White men,&rdquo; cried the chief, halting, at length. &ldquo;Do
+not dare to stand in the track of Black-Hawk, upon his own
+land.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Your land, you old thief,&rdquo; roared a man named Churchill.
+&ldquo;You lie! It is ours&mdash;fairly bought&mdash;and we will keep
+it.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk does not waste words with a man with a
+double tongue, who is only fit to sit with the women when
+the warriors are on the battle-field,&rdquo; replied the chief.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_25">25</div>
+<p>Churchill caught up a handful of sand and flung it into
+the face of the old chief. Black-Hawk trembled in every
+limb but not with fear, and he clenched his hands until the
+blood started from beneath his nails.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Fool!&rdquo; he hissed. &ldquo;In the days to come, remember
+Black-Hawk!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>That the man had good cause to remember this insult, the
+history of that time will show.</p>
+<p>The Indians went on their way, but all around them the
+confusion became greater, and it was with the utmost difficulty
+that they kept their ranks, and kept down their passions
+enough to prevent the use of the tomahawks, which
+every man carried. Had Black-Hawk but given the word,
+they would have rushed like tigers upon their prey, and torn
+the rabble asunder like cobweb. But the policy of the chief
+had been opposed to bloodshed, and he hoped to be able to
+get to the river without being forced to draw a weapon.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Look at the black thieves,&rdquo; roared Churchill. &ldquo;Down
+with them, boys; shower the mud on them; stone them out
+of the country.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>He was but too well seconded by those who followed him,
+and many of the Indians were badly hurt by the missiles
+which were thrown at them. Directed by Churchill, three
+or four strong men rushed suddenly forward and laid hold
+upon the chief, with the intention of beating him.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Dogs!&rdquo; cried the Sac, casting them aside like feathers.
+&ldquo;Take your clubs, sons of the brave.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Up to this moment the Indians had not lifted a hand, but
+at the order of their chief they lifted their clubs, and sprung
+forward with furious yells. The chief singled out Churchill,
+and leaped upon him like a tiger, but the man ran backward,
+and the chief, never thinking of support, followed him with
+uplifted club. Before he was aware of his danger he was in
+the midst of a circle of infuriated whites, who commenced
+an indiscriminate assault upon him, striking and kicking him
+with merciless force. It is impossible to say whether he
+would have escaped with life, but at this moment the rabble
+parted before the rush of strong men, and Cooney Joe and
+Mr. Wescott darted into the circle, and placed themselves beside
+the chief.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_26">26</div>
+<p>&ldquo;Back, if you are men,&rdquo; cried Wescott. &ldquo;What, thirty
+against one poor old man!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Keep cl&rsquo;ar, keep cl&rsquo;ar,&rdquo; cried Joe, flourishing his rifle in
+a threatening manner. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s an Injin, but fair play&rsquo;s a
+jewel, you know. You won&rsquo;t strike him ag&rsquo;in while I stand
+hyar.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Get out of the way, Joe Bent,&rdquo; screamed Churchill.
+&ldquo;What business have you to interfere?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Because I&rsquo;m called on by a magistrate,&rdquo; replied Joe.
+&ldquo;Keep cl&rsquo;ar, I tell ye, or I&rsquo;ll make my rifle-butt acquainted
+with the softness of yer head. Back a little.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Disperse, every one of you, and let the Indians return to
+the river, and I will see to it that you are punished for what
+you have already done,&rdquo; said Wescott, as they hesitated.
+There was some grumbling, but after a little they began to
+step away, and the little knot of Indians were left alone upon
+the field.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I am sorry that this has happened, Black-Hawk,&rdquo; said
+Wescott. &ldquo;You want corn, you say; go to my crib and
+take out what you want.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The chief did not reply, but he stood looking after the retreating
+forms of the white men, with a moody brow. Many
+a man who was in his grave before that season closed, might
+have been alive and happy but for that vile attack.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk owes much to the white man,&rdquo; he said,
+slowly. &ldquo;They have stolen his village, trampled upon his
+father&rsquo;s grave, plowed up the earth above the dead, and
+scored the earth with their axes. Now they have insulted
+Black-Hawk and he will remember.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I would not take it too much to heart, Black-Hawk,&rdquo;
+said Wescott.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk will remember,&rdquo; was the reply. &ldquo;But look
+my brother. By this blood which drops upon the earth I
+promise friendship to you and yours. You are two just
+white men; and all the tribes shall honor you for what you
+have done this night. Let my good brother go toward the
+rising sun and stay until the tempest has passed by.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Wescott shook his head, and walked beside the chief to
+the river. He refused to take any corn, and as the canoes
+pulled off the two foresters looked at each other.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_27">27</div>
+<p>&ldquo;This is bad, Joe,&rdquo; said Wescott, &ldquo;but we must get to
+work. Do you know where the General is now?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s at Jefferson Barracks&mdash;that&rsquo;s whar he is,&rdquo; replied
+Joe.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Then he must be spoken to and at once. In the mean
+time I will take a horse and see other officers and concert
+measures for the public safety. The whole North-west is in
+danger, for many will follow Black-Hawk.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>They hurried back to the cabin, and to his delight the
+settler found Captain Melton there, who had returned unsuccessful
+from the pursuit of Black Will and Dick Garrett.</p>
+<p>The young officer was well known to both Mr. Wescott
+and Cooney Joe, and was cordially greeted by both.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What was this disturbance I heard just now, Mr. Wescott?&rdquo;
+said Melton, as they shook hands. &ldquo;It sounded almost
+like a battle.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It was very near one as it was,&rdquo; said Wescott. &ldquo;Our
+people surrounded a party of Indians who came over for
+corn, insulted them in every conceivable way, beat and threw
+stones at them and injured Black-Hawk quite severely.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t tell me that they have hurt Black-Hawk?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, and if I know any thing of the Indian he will resent
+it.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;This is too bad, just when we hoped to settle the matter
+peaceably. Let the people on the frontier look to it
+now, for there is trouble ahead as sure as we live. Hi,
+there, Stanley,&rdquo; he cried, addressing one of his men. &ldquo;Ride
+to the Post and see the General. Tell him exactly what has
+happened, word for word, and when you have done that,
+go back by way of the island and tell the rest of the boys
+to come up.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Do you think they will fight, captain?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Of course they will, and we have a lot of dunderheads
+who will do their best to force it on. With your permission,
+Mr. Wescott, I will stay here to-night, if you will let
+the men sleep in your barn.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Certainly; if the house were large enough they should
+be welcome to that.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The command of Melton was an independent one, composed
+<span class="pb" id="Page_28">28</span>
+principally of bordermen and scouts, selected for their
+known valor and knowledge of the country. As usual in
+such cases they were despised by the dandy regiments until
+two or three rough bouts between the men had taught them
+a lesson. They were very popular with the masses, however,
+and in a bush fight, were capable of doing more work than
+any body of men in the service.</p>
+<p>Two or three couriers were dispatched in various directions,
+and then the party camped outside, while the captain
+entered the house, where he was received by Mrs. Wescott and
+the daughter. The elder lady had just returned from a visit
+down the river.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;This is Charley Melton, my prince of borderers, the best
+scout captain in the territories,&rdquo; said Wescott. &ldquo;Captain, my
+daughter Sadie.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I met Miss Wescott early in the evening when in chase
+of a desperate gambler who had shot a man over a card-table.
+And indeed we met twice in the village.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I hope you caught him, captain,&rdquo; said Wescott.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Sorry to say I did not. How the fellow managed to
+slip away I don&rsquo;t know, but when we got to the bend, all
+trace of them was lost. He had a man in his company
+whom I want to see, for I believe he is stirring up the Indians
+against us.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You mean Black Will Jackwood, I&rsquo;ll bet,&rdquo; said Joe
+Bent.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Yes; what made you think that?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;&rsquo;Cause I see the bloody cuss at Rock Island, whisperin&rsquo;
+round old Black-Hawk, and it looked bad to me, somehow.
+It will be a &rsquo;markably good thing when he is hung up out of
+harm&rsquo;s way.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That good thing will be very likely to happen if we have
+the good luck to catch them. Ha! What Indian girl is
+that?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Minneoba, the daughter of Black-Hawk,&rdquo; replied the girl,
+coming forward. &ldquo;Let not Loud Tempest fear that she will
+speak the words she hears in the lodge of her white father in
+the ear of the Sacs. Minneoba is not a creeping serpent, and
+will not betray her friends.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Loud Tempest, eh? Poetical name the Sacs have given
+<span class="pb" id="Page_29">29</span>
+me, though for what cause I do not know. What have you
+there, Dix?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>An orderly had appeared at the door and saluted.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Caught a Pottawatomie, just now, who claims that he has
+something to say.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Who is he?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Little Fox.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Pah! I don&rsquo;t think much can be made out of <i>him</i>. However,
+bring him in, and let us hear what he has to say.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The orderly turned and beckoned, and an Indian, greasy
+and smoke-begrimed, with a face which bore evident signs of
+hard potations, appeared in the doorway. This &ldquo;lord of the
+forest&rdquo; was very drunk. His eyes rolled in their sockets,
+and he found it easiest to stand by the aid of the door-post.</p>
+<h2 id="c4"><span class="small">CHAPTER IV.</span>
+<br />LITTLE FOX&mdash;NA-SHE-ESCHUCK.</h2>
+<p>The Indian was one of the worst specimens of his race&mdash;a
+creature naturally brutal, who had been rendered more debased
+by an excessive use of fire-water. As he clung to the
+door-post and looked at them out of bleared and watery eyes,
+he was as disgusting a specimen of the <i>genus homo</i> as could
+be found between the two oceans.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Let me talk to this critter,&rdquo; said Cooney Joe. &ldquo;I calculate
+I understand the natur&rsquo; of the unadulterated, unb&rsquo;iled,
+unwashed and unclean drunken red, as well as any man in the
+great Nor&rsquo;-west. I do, by the livin&rsquo; hokies. Hyar, you &rsquo;possum,
+speak up, and speak quick; what ar&rsquo; ye looking fur
+now?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Fire-water; poor Injun <i>very</i> dry,&rdquo; replied this noble red-man.
+&ldquo;Tire&mdash;much tire; walk durn good ways; <i>mus&rsquo;</i> hab
+fire-water.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You got to airn it fust, my noble red,&rdquo; replied Joe.
+&ldquo;Come, agitate yer jaw; tell us what ye want.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_30">30</div>
+<p>&ldquo;S&rsquo;pose you give Little Fox fire-water, den talk. How <i>can</i>
+talk when no hab drink? Ugh!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s the heathen philosophy, gents all,&rdquo; said Joe, with
+a look of supreme disgust. &ldquo;No whisky, no news. Got sech
+a thing as a drain of sperrits handy, &rsquo;square?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Mr. Wescott left the room, and returned shortly with a
+small flask of rum, from which he poured out a glass for the
+Indian, who drank it with avidity, smacked his lips, and held
+out the glass for more.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Hold on,&rdquo; said Joe, pushing back the extended hand.
+&ldquo;Not ef I know it, Injin. That tongue of yours begins to
+double, anyhow, and I reckon you&rsquo;ll hev to do some talking
+afore you git any more rum.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Pottawatomie big warrior, <i>much</i> brave,&rdquo; replied the Indian,
+loftily, striking his clenched hand upon his broad breast.
+&ldquo;Give Injun rum.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll give you a bat &rsquo;long side your old head ef ye ask fur
+more afore you&rsquo;ve done the work,&rdquo; said Joe, angrily. &ldquo;Come
+now, speak up. What d&rsquo;ye want?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Want rifle&mdash;want blanket&mdash;want <i>heap</i> fire-water!&rdquo; replied
+Little Fox. &ldquo;Got heap story to tell.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Lies, probably. Come, out with it, and ef it is any use
+to us, then we&rsquo;ll pay han&rsquo;sum. That&rsquo;s the time of day.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Want him <i>now</i>,&rdquo; replied the Indian, with a surly glance
+at the speaker. &ldquo;No tell news widout you put him down
+here.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That won&rsquo;t do, Injin,&rdquo; said Joe. &ldquo;You heard what the
+fellers done with Black-Hawk, just now. I&rsquo;ve only got to say
+the word, and you go away the <i>sorest</i> Injin in the Nor&rsquo;-west.
+Tell us any really important news, and we&rsquo;ll give you
+a rifle, two blankets and a keg of rum, and you kin drink
+you&rsquo;self to death in a week.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Much <i>promise</i>&mdash;little <i>do</i>. Dat white man&rsquo;s way,&rdquo; replied
+the Indian. &ldquo;Little Fox no speak.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Will you speak if <i>I</i> promise to give you what you ask?&rdquo;
+said Captain Melton, advancing.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Loud Tempest will do what he says,&rdquo; replied the Indian,
+with a drunken leer. &ldquo;Little Fox will believe him.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Very well, then; I promise to give you the rifle, blankets
+and rum, if you tell us all you came to tell.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_31">31</div>
+<p>&ldquo;Give Injun stool; sit down like white man. Floor much
+dizzy; whirl round <i>fast</i>. Ugh!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>By the not very mild assistance of Cooney Joe the Indian
+was seated on a stool, with his back to the wall, and sat with
+drunken gravity waiting to be questioned.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Go on with yer story, you red nigger,&rdquo; cried Joe. &ldquo;And
+see yer, the minnit you begin to <i>lie</i>&mdash;and oh, Lord, how he <i>kin</i>
+lie when he lays his tongue to it!&mdash;that minnit I jump on
+you and yer ha&rsquo;r comes off.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Little Fox will speak with a straight tongue,&rdquo; replied the
+savage, drawing himself up. &ldquo;Give injun more rum, and
+he talk <i>heap</i> fast.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Cooney Joe poured out a very mild dose of rum and gave
+it to the savage, who gulped it down at once, and would have
+asked for more but that the expression of Joe&rsquo;s face taught
+him that such a measure would bring down upon his head
+the wrath of the hunter, and he prudently refrained.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk much mad,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;See&mdash;white man
+take his village and plant corn among the graves. That no
+right in white man.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;No moril reflections, bummer,&rdquo; said Joe. &ldquo;Git on with
+yer yarn, or off goes yer sculp.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk has a great army,&rdquo; said the Indian. &ldquo;His
+braves are coming in from the plains and their faces are
+painted for war. The white men must not sleep or they will
+all die.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>It is needless to follow word by word the disjointed narrative
+of the drunken savage, interrupted as it was by appeals
+for rum, which was doled out to him in very small quantities
+by Cooney Joe, who feared that he would get too drunk
+to articulate. He sat swaying unsteadily to and fro, and
+told a tale which confirmed their fears. Messengers had been
+sent out to the various tribes, and all had agreed to follow
+the standard of Black-Hawk and assist him in driving out
+the invaders of their land. Nearly all the principal chiefs
+except Keokuk had given in their adhesion, and bands of
+warriors were already on their way to the place of rendezvous,
+not far from Rock Island, where there was a Sac village
+and a fort. Doubtless the Indian misrepresented the
+plans of Black-Hawk, but he told enough truth to make his
+<span class="pb" id="Page_32">32</span>
+story tally with the preconceived ideas of the whites, and
+they looked at one another in silent dismay.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;This is very serious,&rdquo; said the captain of scouts. &ldquo;This
+Indian has earned his reward, and if he will come into the
+village to-morrow he shall have the liquor; the rifle and
+blankets I can give him now.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>He went out and brought in a very good rifle and two
+blankets, which he had obtained from the men. A flask of
+powder was added, and a mold to run bullets, and Little Fox
+staggered away, happy as a lord, little knowing that the possession
+of these articles would prove his death-warrant.
+With the weapon in his hands he staggered toward the village,
+where he was met by a young warrior of the Sac nation,
+whom, in his drunken blindness, he did not recognize
+as the youngest son of Black-Hawk, who was lurking about
+for information.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;My brother has a fine gun,&rdquo; he said in the Indian tongue,
+endeavoring to lay his hand upon the weapon. But Little
+Fox tore it away from him in drunken wrath.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Wagh! It is the gun of the white man, and the Sacs
+will fall before it as the leaves when they are yellow,&rdquo; he
+said.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;My brother is very rich. He must have taken much fur
+to buy so fine a gun,&rdquo; said the young Indian, who already
+showed the qualities which afterward gave him a leading
+place in the tribe.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Little Fox is the friend of the white man, and he can get
+a gun for nothing,&rdquo; was the reply. &ldquo;When Black-Hawk
+comes with his warriors he will find the white men ready.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Has my brother told the white men what Black-Hawk
+is doing?&rdquo; said the young Sac, vailing his rage.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Little Fox can speak or Little Fox can be silent,&rdquo; replied
+the Pottawatomie. &ldquo;Look: to-morrow he is to have enough
+rum to last him a whole moon, because he is the friend of
+the white man.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Fire-water is good,&rdquo; said the Sac. &ldquo;Has my brother a
+canoe to carry it across the river?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The Indian shook his head, and a sort of hazy idea passed
+through his clouded brain that he had already said as much
+as he ought concerning the affair.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_33">33</div>
+<p>&ldquo;I have a fine canoe,&rdquo; continued the son of Black-Hawk.
+&ldquo;Let my brother bring the rum to the Point, and I will help
+him carry it away.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The Pottawatomie nodded gravely, and went on his sinuous
+way, while the young chief darted into the forest, and
+taking a circuitous course, reached his father&rsquo;s village at
+early morning. The old chief was in his lodge, in an attitude
+of the deepest dejection, for he had not sought a quarrel
+with the whites. Near him, seated upon a pile of skins,
+and with a look of deep malice on his face, sat Black Will,
+holding his rifle in his brown right hand.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Ha! here comes Na-she-eschuck,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Now,
+Black-Hawk, let your great heart awake and listen to the
+words of your son. Speak, Na-she-eschuck; what are the
+white men doing?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;They go about among the lodges they have built above
+our fathers&rsquo; graves and laugh because they have insulted
+Black-Hawk,&rdquo; replied the young Sac, fiercely. &ldquo;Their ears
+are stopped to all thoughts of peace, and they long for war.
+Let them get what they seek, since they will have it so.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What did I tell you, Black-Hawk?&rdquo; said Black Will.
+&ldquo;The scoundrels do not care for your great name, and they
+throw mud at you as if you were a common Pottawatomie,
+and not the head chief of a great nation. Will you bear
+this tamely?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk is an Indian,&rdquo; replied the proud old man,
+drawing up his stalwart form to its full hight. &ldquo;But he does
+not seek for war. If the white men will let us rest where
+we now are, I will send the warriors back, and we will be
+friends.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Friends! Friends with the men who threw mud in your
+face and beat you like a dog?&rdquo; cried Black Will. &ldquo;Come,
+I have been mistaken in you. I thought you were a man
+ready to revenge your injuries, but the white men have cowed
+you until you dare not lift a hand against them.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Black-Hawk bounded to his feet with a terrible cry, and
+laid his hand upon a weapon. But that Na-she-eschuck
+sprung between him and the object of his wrath, it is doubtful
+whether the career of Black Will would not have ended
+upon the spot.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_34">34</div>
+<p>&ldquo;Hold your hand, great chief,&rdquo; cried his son, forcing him
+back. &ldquo;He sits under the shadow of your lodge, and you
+have smoked the pipe with him. Do not make yourself a
+dog since you have taken his hand.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He has insulted a great chief,&rdquo; replied the old warrior,
+fiercely. &ldquo;But, he is right; Black-Hawk is a dog to listen to
+the words of the white men, and to refuse to dig up the
+hatchet when so many warriors are ready to follow him to the
+fight.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;We <i>must</i> fight,&rdquo; said Na-she-eschuck. &ldquo;Little Fox has
+been among the white men, and has told them that the braves
+are gathering at the call of Black-Hawk. He is a dead dog,
+and has taken a rifle and blankets, and is to have much fire-water,
+because he has betrayed us.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Black Will began to look uneasy.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Has the scoundrel told them that I am here?&rdquo; he asked.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I can not tell. He is to come to the point above the island
+with the price of his guilt, to-morrow, and I will be there
+to help him over the river.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>A grim look crossed the face of Black-Hawk, as his son
+spoke.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It is good,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;One traitor shall die, because he
+has sold himself for the fire-water of the white men. As for
+us, we will not strike the first blow, but if they take up the
+hatchet against us, then we will fight. But I will not remove.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It is better for us to strike the first blow,&rdquo; said Black
+Will. &ldquo;That is the main thing in war&mdash;to strike such a terrible
+blow, that their hearts will turn water in their bosoms.
+Look at me; I am of the blood of the white men, but I am
+not <i>all</i> white. A chief of the Sacs was my father, and he
+is dead. He died in chains, because he dug up the hatchet
+against the cowardly Chippewas. You have known and
+loved him, for you fought by his side. Black-Hawk, Red-Bird
+was the father of the man who speaks.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Ha!&rdquo; cried the chief. &ldquo;Red-Bird was a man, but he
+could not bear the chains of the white man, and he died. Is
+my son the child whom he lost, who was born of the French
+squaw, who followed him from Detroit?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Black Will inclined his head slowly, and Black-Hawk took
+<span class="pb" id="Page_35">35</span>
+his hand in his own and pressed it again and again to his bosom.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk can understand how the son of Red-Bird
+should hate the white man,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We will fight side by
+side in this war, and if we die, let us die bravely. Are the
+warriors coming in, Na-she-eschuck?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;They are gathering from every side. They have heard
+of the insult to Black-Hawk, and their hearts are hot in their
+bosoms. They will behave like men.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It is good,&rdquo; said the chief. &ldquo;Now we will go forth,
+and you shall see how Black-Hawk shall give a traitor his
+dues.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>They left the lodge, and followed by the brother of Black-Hawk,
+and Napope, a celebrated chief, moved down toward
+the river, where the rest of the party concealed themselves
+while Na-she-eschuck brought out his canoe and crossed to
+the other shore.</p>
+<h2 id="c5"><span class="small">CHAPTER V.</span>
+<br />THE PRICE OF TREACHERY.</h2>
+<p>Little Fox had remained all night in the white village,
+and as it was noised about that he had betrayed the plans of
+Black-Hawk, he had no lack of his favorite beverage, and
+morning found him as drunk as ever. Captain Melton sent
+a man with a canoe to carry the price of the information to
+the point above the island, and as the son of Black-Hawk was
+crossing the river, Little Fox was sitting in drunken state
+upon his keg, dreaming of the glorious times he would have
+when he broached it in the seclusion of his lodge. He remembered
+indistinctly that some one had promised to help
+him across the river with his prize, but for his life could not
+remember who it was, and it almost sobered him when he
+saw Na-she-eschuck crossing from the other shore, and he
+fumbled with the lock of his rifle, and was half inclined to
+warn the Sac to keep off. But the fumes of the liquor were
+still in his brain, and the young chief landed and came toward
+him.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_36">36</div>
+<p>&ldquo;The Pottawatomie did not lie to Na-she-eschuck,&rdquo; said he.
+&ldquo;Let us put the fire-water into the canoe.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You put him in,&rdquo; said the owner. &ldquo;Me watch.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>He looked on while Na-she-eschuck placed the keg in the
+canoe and then followed, and, drunk as he was, managed to
+seat himself safely in the light craft. The Sac followed, and
+obeying the orders he had received, headed up the river,
+rounded the point of the island, and made toward the other
+shore. There was something in the stern, steadfast look of
+Na-she-eschuck which struck a chill into the heart of the traitor
+Pottawatomie, and almost sobered him, and twice he laid
+his hand upon his rifle, as if tempted to use it upon his companion.
+But, as often as he did so, the countenance of the
+Sac took on a pleasant air of good fellowship, which made
+it impossible to be angry with him.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Why does not Na-she-eschuck go to the bank?&rdquo; said
+Little Fox. &ldquo;We will make a hole in the fire-water tub and
+drink.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The canoe was now headed directly for the point of the
+woodland which came down to the water&rsquo;s edge, and after
+drawing the light bark up the bank, they took the keg between
+them and carried it up to the first opening, where it
+was placed upon its end, while Little Fox, by the aid of his
+knife, succeeded in drawing out the bung.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Wagh!&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;Smell good, don&rsquo;t he, Na-she-eschuck?
+Now s&rsquo;pose you get straws, we drink much, good
+deal.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The Sac went down to the water&rsquo;s edge and quickly cut
+two long, slender reeds, one of which he gave to Little Fox,
+and the two sat down over the keg, inserted the reeds, and
+began to imbibe after the manner of boys over a barrel of
+cider. But, although Na-she-eschuck went through all the
+motions of drinking rapidly, it is doubtful if he took as much
+as Little Fox, whose fiery eyes began to light up as he took
+in the burning fluid, and in five minutes he was more drunk
+than before he crossed the stream.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;E-yah! Little Fox is the friend of the white man. Who
+would not serve them when he can earn such drink?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Tell Na-she-eschuck what to do and he will get fire-water
+from the white man.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_37">37</div>
+<p>Drunk as he was, Little Fox looked at the speaker in astonishment.
+That the Sac youth would betray his father
+seemed impossible to him, and yet knowing how strong his
+own love of liquor was, and that he would betray a nation
+to obtain it, his surprise faded away.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Will Na-she-eschuck do this? He can get more fire-water
+than Little Fox, for he knows more.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What must I do?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Go to the white men and tell them all that Black-Hawk
+is doing, and my brother will be very rich.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Has Little Fox done this?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He has done what he could, but he did not know much,&rdquo;
+replied the traitor. &ldquo;Na-she-eschuck has been in the lodge
+of his father and heard his words.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Na-she-eschuck will do any thing for fire-water,&rdquo; said
+the young chief, seeming to reel as he sat. &ldquo;Did the white
+men give all this for the message which was brought them
+by Little Fox?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The Pottawattomie nodded, and again applied his mouth to
+the reed. But, at this moment the expression of drunken
+gravity passed away from the face of Na-she-eschuck. He
+bounded to his feet, with a look of wild rage upon his dark
+face and his hand upon his hatchet, and drunk as Little Fox
+was, he could see that he was deceived and that Na-she-eschuck
+was perfectly sober. He would have seized his
+rifle, but the foot of the young Sac was firmly planted upon
+it and he found it impossible to raise it, and the threatening
+action of Na-she-eschuck caused him to draw back in
+alarm.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Dog&mdash;traitor!&rdquo; hissed the chief. &ldquo;You have betrayed
+our people into the hands of the enemy and you shall die.
+Black-Hawk, Napope and Wa-be-ke-zhick, appear.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>As he spoke, the three chiefs, accompanied by Will Jackwood,
+appeared from the bushes upon the right. Every
+face was black with fury, and the traitorous savage knew
+that his doom was fast approaching. He would have fled,
+but the strong hands of Na-she-eschuck and Napope were
+upon him, and in the twinkling of an eye his hands were
+bound behind him and Black-Hawk stood regarding him with
+a steadfast look, which had no pity in it.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_38">38</div>
+<p>&ldquo;The ears of Black-Hawk have heard the words which
+have been spoken by the mouth of a traitor. Away with
+him to the sacred wood and then call the warriors to witness
+his fate.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Napope and Na-she-eschuck dragged him away, and Black-Hawk
+uttered a signal whoop which quickly brought four
+stalwart Indians to the spot, who, at the command of Black-Hawk,
+fastened up the keg, and making a sort of cradle of
+strong boughs, carried the liquor away toward the sacred
+forest, being solemnly warned not to touch it on their lives.
+After them marched the remaining chiefs and Black-Hawk,
+taking a sequestered path through the wood. Half an hour&rsquo;s
+walk brought them to a deep glen in the midst of the solemn
+woods, where a sort of rude altar was erected, and where the
+mystic ceremonies of their strange religion were nearly always
+observed. A solitary tree of small size, with a blackened
+trunk, the scene of many a sacrifice, was standing in
+the center of the glade, and there, tightly bound with green
+withes, stood Little Fox awaiting his fate.</p>
+<p>The Indian was sober enough now, for nothing brings a
+man to his senses so quickly, no matter how much stupefied
+by drink, as the presence of danger. His eyes roved from
+face to face for some sign of relenting or pity, but he found
+none.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Why has Black-Hawk brought a Pottawattomie here?&rdquo;
+he said. &ldquo;He dare not shed the blood of the son of Na-bo-lish.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Na-bo-lish was a great chief but his son is a dog,&rdquo; he
+said. &ldquo;Black-Hawk will not shed his blood, and a coward&rsquo;s
+death he shall die.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Little Fox knows how to die, if die he must,&rdquo; replied
+the Indian, proudly. &ldquo;He will speak no more and he dares
+Black-Hawk to do his worst.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The summons had gone forth, and one by one the chiefs
+and warriors began to enter the sacred wood. Every face
+was clouded, for they knew that they would not have been
+called to this place but to witness some great sacrifice. A
+single glance at the prisoner was all they gave, and then, man
+by man, they seated themselves in a great circle and waited
+for the coming of others. In less than an hour from the time
+<span class="pb" id="Page_39">39</span>
+when Little Fox was taken, five hundred grim warriors were
+seated within the glade, and then Black-Hawk arose.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Chiefs and warriors,&rdquo; he cried&mdash;&ldquo;children of the same
+great Father, although our tribes are many&mdash;listen to Black-Hawk.
+He is getting old, his hair is gray, but he weeps for
+the sorrows of the poor Indian. Once, all these great hunting-grounds,
+in which the white man plants his corn, were the
+property of the Indian. There he lived&mdash;there he died, and
+there he lies buried. The steel of the white man&rsquo;s plow is
+among the bones, and he builds his lodge in the villages which
+once were ours.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;This should make an Indian very sad, and he should do
+all he can to help his people. But there are some who are
+so base that for the fire-water of the white man they would
+sell their fathers&rsquo; bones. It grieves the heart of Black-Hawk
+that this should be so, for he loves the Indian. Now, when
+we have risen for our rights, and to protect our once happy
+homes, Indians of the pure blood stand ready to give us up a
+prey to the white man, that they may drink the strong water
+which makes men mad.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Look upon this man. He is a son of the great Na-bo-lish,
+the Pottawattomie. Once, he was a man and a mighty
+warrior. His foot was quick upon the war-path, and his hand
+ready to shed the blood of his enemies. The white men came
+and brought the strong water to the villages. Little Fox was
+no longer a man when he had taken it into his mouth. Let
+Na-she-eschuck speak, and tell the warriors what Little Fox
+has done, and then let them speak. I have done.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>He sat down amid a strange murmuring, and Na-she-eschuck
+arose. The young chief was well known for his strict honesty,
+and they were assured that he would not lie to save his
+life.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;My father has spoken good words. Little Fox has sold
+us to the white men for a rifle, two blankets and this fire-water,&rdquo;
+striking the keg with his foot. &ldquo;Out of his own
+mouth condemn him. Let him die.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Napope arose.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I heard the words which came from the lips of Little
+Fox, and the Sac has spoken the truth. Let Little Fox die
+like a dog.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_40">40</div>
+<p>&ldquo;And I heard it,&rdquo; cried the Prophet. &ldquo;I&mdash;Wa-be-ke-zhick,
+the Prophet. He sold us to the white men and he deserves
+to die. Now let the chiefs and warriors speak.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>There was a sudden movement among the listening warriors.
+They arose as one man, and every voice pealed out
+the solemn sentence: &ldquo;He is a traitor; let him die!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You are women,&rdquo; shrieked the Pottawottamie, fiercely.
+&ldquo;Do your worst; Little Fox will show you how to die.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It is well,&rdquo; said Black-Hawk, slightly inclining his head.
+&ldquo;We will not deny that Little Fox has been a great brave,
+but he is now a dog. Let the chiefs come about me, and we
+will have a talk.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>They were not long in consultation, and then separated,
+the chiefs going about among the men and giving their orders.
+Then a long-sounding whoop from Black-Hawk called
+them into line, and they began to circle about the tree, pointing
+their fingers scornfully at the prisoner. Then Black-Hawk
+advanced and bared the breast of the prisoner, exposing the
+totem of his tribe.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Look,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;he bears upon his bosom the sign of a
+great tribe. This is not well, and it must be removed. Wa-be-ke-zhick,
+advance, and cut the totem from his flesh.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Cut away the totem of the great tribe,&rdquo; cried the warriors.
+&ldquo;He has no right to wear it, who is a dog. Cut it
+away!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The countenance of Little Fox was distorted with rage
+more than fear. Drunken and worthless as he had become,
+he was a true Indian, and felt keenly the disgrace about to
+be put upon him.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Do not dare to make a chief a dog,&rdquo; he hissed. &ldquo;Give
+me the torture, or give me death. Have I no friend among
+this people who will strike a sharp knife into my breast?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Has he a friend among the warriors who will do this?&rdquo;
+said Black-Hawk. &ldquo;Let him speak.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>No voice replied, and the countenance of Little Fox changed
+from hope to fear.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He has no friend,&rdquo; cried Black-Hawk. &ldquo;Advance, Wa-be-ke-zhick;
+cut away the totem.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>It was done, and Little Fox, if he lived, was ostracised for
+ever from his tribe and death would be to him a happy release.
+<span class="pb" id="Page_41">41</span>
+In the mean time, a great caldron had been placed
+upon a fire, and in this the keg of rum was poured, and a
+great quantity of gourds piled up beside it. The spirits had
+now begun to bubble, and taking up a little in a gourd,
+Black-Hawk advanced and offered it to the condemned man.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;For this you sold us to the white men, Little Fox.
+Drink, now that I give it to you. It is warm&mdash;it is good&mdash;it
+will make you strong.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>As he spoke, he dashed the contents of the gourd against
+the breast of the doomed man, and Little Fox uttered an appalling
+shriek which rung with startling distinctness through
+the forest. Now ensued a horrible scene, as Indian after Indian
+caught up a gourd and dashed a portion of the boiling
+spirits upon the naked body of the traitor. Black Will
+stopped his ears and turned away his head to shut out the
+agonizing sights and sounds which the sacrifice presented.
+He was a cruel man by nature, but he found that the Indians
+could go beyond him in refinement of torture. At last the
+caldron was empty, and the victim stood literally parboiled
+at the stake, gnawing his lips to keep down the shrieks which
+arose in spite of himself. The faces of his stern executioners
+did not change, and they were about to commence some new
+species of torture, when Black Will sprung between.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Stop, Black-Hawk; stand back there, Napope. This fellow
+deserves death. But you shall not torture him any longer.
+Kill him, and put him out of pain.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Stand aside, white man!&rdquo; cried Napope. &ldquo;Why do you
+come between the warriors and a traitor?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;White man! I am the son of Red-Bird, the Sac, who died
+in the white man&rsquo;s prison; and I say that this shall not go
+on. Will you kill him?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;No; let the torture go on.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Black Will wheeled in his tracks, drew a pistol, and shot
+Little Fox through the heart. Bloody as the deed was, it
+was mercy, compared with the torture in store for the traitor.
+He started as the bullet pierced him, a look of ferocious joy
+passed over his face, and his head dropped upon his bosom.
+There came a wild rush at the immovable figure of Black
+Will, but the sonorous voice of Black-Hawk was heard, ordering
+them to stand back.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_42">42</div>
+<p>&ldquo;Touch not the son of Red-Bird, lest you make an enemy
+of Black-Hawk,&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;Take down the body and cast
+it out in the open woods, that the wolves may eat all that is
+left of a traitor.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The work was done, and although there was some grumbling
+at being robbed of their victim so early, the bravest
+among the warriors were inclined to commend the bold action
+of Black Will, although, under the circumstances, none
+of them would have dared to do the same. The body was
+thrown upon the earth to rot, and the warriors on their march
+back to the village, when a runner, hot with haste, dashed
+into the forest and met Black-Hawk.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Let the braves take their hatchets,&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;The
+white men are upon the march.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Ha,&rdquo; cried Black-Hawk. &ldquo;Do they come with arms?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Major Stillman comes, with many warriors,&rdquo; replied the
+runner.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Let us see if they are friends,&rdquo; said Black-Hawk. &ldquo;If
+they come in peace it is well. If they harm a hair of one
+of my young men they shall all die.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>He sent out five young warriors with a white flag, who did
+not return. Later in the day three more went out and reconnoitered
+in the vicinity of the advance of the white men.
+They were pursued and two of them killed, the first blood
+shed in the war. The third escaped and brought the news
+to Black-Hawk, and they dug up the hatchet and prepared
+for war.</p>
+<h2 id="c6"><span class="small">CHAPTER VI.</span>
+<br />THE FIRST BLOW.</h2>
+<p>It must be admitted by unprejudiced men and thinkers of
+all lands, that the &ldquo;Black-Hawk&rdquo; war was precipitated by
+the rapacity of the whites. Not satisfied with driving the
+Indians from the better portion of their lands, they persisted
+still further in forcing them from their villages about Rock
+Island. They would have been less than men if they had not
+<span class="pb" id="Page_43">43</span>
+resisted, but to the last, Black-Hawk insisted that he would not
+be the first to shed blood, and, as we have seen, the first man
+killed was one of Black-Hawk&rsquo;s band, by Stillman&rsquo;s party.</p>
+<p>This man seemed to have little knowledge of the Indian
+character, and lacked the power of leading men. He had
+been sent out by General Atkinson in advance, with orders to
+scour the country, find out the position of the Indian force,
+and to act as his discretion seemed to dictate. Captain Melton
+was with him, and had occasion twice to remonstrate
+with him upon his manner of advancing through a country
+favorable to an ambuscade. The troop consisted of two
+hundred and seventy mounted men, marching without order,
+straggling where they liked, and firing at any stray Indian
+of whatever tribe, whom they chanced to meet.</p>
+<p>When the flag of Black-Hawk appeared, Stillman ordered
+the bearers to be taken prisoners.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Excuse me, Major Stillman,&rdquo; said Melton, as he heard the
+order. &ldquo;Surely you do not propose to make these men prisoners?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Certainly I do, sir; take your place and let me hear no
+more.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Your words will require an explanation at another time
+and place, my good sir,&rdquo; said Melton. &ldquo;Be so good as to remember
+that I had no orders to join you, and that if you insist
+upon such conduct, I will leave you at once. These men
+came to you under the shadow of a white flag, and you have
+no right to take them prisoners.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;<i>Will</i> you take your place, Captain Melton?&rdquo; roared Stillman,
+&ldquo;or must I put you under arrest?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Melton said no more, but fell back to the head of his troop,
+fully determined to leave the irate major if he persisted in
+his conduct.</p>
+<p>The three bearers of the flag were sent to the rear, under
+guard, and the troop proceeded in the same disorderly manner.
+Some time after the stragglers in advance caught sight
+of the warriors who had been sent out to see what had been
+done with the bearers of the flag, and were pursued, and two
+of them shot down without mercy, the rest escaping, by taking
+to the woods in front. No sooner had he beheld this
+cruel and uncalled for butchery, than the young captain of
+<span class="pb" id="Page_44">44</span>
+scouts called to his men and they wheeled out of the line,
+faced about, and marched back toward the river.</p>
+<p>Stillman, boiling with rage, called his men to a halt, and
+rode back.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What is the meaning of this conduct, Captain Melton?&rdquo;
+he hissed, fairly foaming at the mouth. &ldquo;How dare you detach
+your command without orders?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;If you think you have men enough in your rag-tag and
+bob-tail command to stop us, you had better try it on, Major
+Stillman,&rdquo; said Melton, coolly. &ldquo;I for one will not give
+countenance to <i>murder</i>, as you are doing.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Murder, sir?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Murder is the word. Those Sacs were doing no harm
+who were just killed by your men, and did not even use
+their weapons when your scoundrels took after them. Go
+on your way, sir; I will not march a foot further with
+you.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I will have you court-martialed, upon my return, sir,&rdquo;
+cried Stillman.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Very well; I shall take an opportunity to tell the court
+some things not to your credit. Good-day, sir. But, for
+the safety of your men I tell you to call in your stragglers,
+march in a more orderly manner and beat the bushes thoroughly
+before you enter. Attention, scouts; forward.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>And the compact little body rode away at a killing pace,
+leaving Major Stillman to his own devices.</p>
+<p>Stillman hesitated for some time before advancing, for he
+knew that the desertion of Captain Melton was a great loss
+to him. While he stood in doubt, the men who had killed
+two Indians came back at a gallop and announced that the
+Indians were just across Sycamore creek and in some force.
+All was now confusion in the white camp. Some who had
+dismounted sprung into the saddle, and with wild shouts
+the disorderly band rushed on, headed by the men who had
+just come in. Black-Hawk had not supposed that Stillman
+intended to attack him, and the greater portion of his
+force were on the other side of the village; in all, the great
+chief had only forty men under his command when Stillman&rsquo;s
+men came up at the gallop, strung out across the
+plain, man, by man, according to the speed of their horses,
+<span class="pb" id="Page_45">45</span>
+and in this manner crossed the creek. Black-Hawk had
+not hoped that they would thus give themselves a prey to
+him, and his ambuscade was quickly formed.</p>
+<p>When half the party had crossed the creek and were
+massed in disorder upon the bank and the rest were struggling
+up, some crossing the creek, and others yet upon the
+plain beyond, the war-whoop of the Sacs announced the onset,
+and from every side the warriors poured in upon the
+foe. One withering volley was poured in, which strewed the
+earth with dead and dying forms, and at the same moment
+the charge was made and the knife and hatchet was doing
+its silent but deadly work before the doomed men had time
+to lift a hand. To show the utter foolishness with which
+the advance was made, it is enough to say that the warlike
+major was never in the fight at all, so quickly was the force
+which had crossed the creek disposed of by the furious attack
+of Black-Hawk.</p>
+<p>The cry was, &ldquo;Satan take the hindmost.&rdquo; Hardly waiting
+for Stillman&rsquo;s order to retreat, they broke and fled in
+every direction, each man for himself, lashing their horses to
+get out of the fearful imbroglio into which their own foolhardy
+conduct had forced them.</p>
+<p>Thus, in one desperate charge forty Indians had put two
+hundred and seventy white men to flight! It is no discredit
+to the West, for the men of Stillman&rsquo;s force, under a
+different leader, would have laughed at the efforts of the Sac
+force. They came into Dixon&rsquo;s Ferry as they had left Sycamore
+creek, one at a time, and the loss gradually dwindled from
+seventy to about one-fourth of the number.</p>
+<p>The alarm went forth through the land, and the little
+force of Sac warriors were magnified into an army. The
+work had been done, however, and a scene of blood and
+death was about to be enacted upon the border.</p>
+<p>Captain Melton rode back to the settlement, after leaving
+Stillman, but had not gone far when the flying men from
+the band of heroes began to come up with him. Seeing
+that the war was begun in earnest he faced about and prepared
+to meet them as best he might, knowing nothing of
+the small force of Black-Hawk. After waiting all night
+for some sign of Indian pursuit, as none was made he drew
+<span class="pb" id="Page_46">46</span>
+off his men and reached the settlement some hours after the
+arrival of Stillman, who had been filling the ears of the inhabitants
+with stories of the cowardly conduct of the captain.</p>
+<p>The captain quickly set matters right, and only that he had
+more important business upon his hands, would have followed
+Stillman to the camp of Atkinson, to which he had directed
+his steps. Taking ten of his men, he rode up the river, to
+the residence of Mr. Wescott, but as he drew near, he found
+evidences upon every hand of the presence of the destroyer,
+and as he crossed the hill, saw, to his horror, that during the
+last night the cabin had been attacked. Wild with fear, he
+rushed in at the broken door and found every thing in confusion,
+and scattered here and there, various bits of Indian
+finery, beads and the like, which told him beyond a doubt
+who had done the work.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Indians,&rdquo; said one of the men. &ldquo;Good heaven, captain,
+they are killed!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>They explored the house everywhere, but not a trace of
+the family could be seen. Upon the floor near the entrance
+was a little pool of fresh blood, which looked as if it had
+been shed the night before, and Melton looked at it with a
+shudder.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Where are they?&rdquo; he groaned. &ldquo;Who has done this
+ruin?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It is always so in an Indian war,&rdquo; said his lieutenant.
+&ldquo;Some band of Indians coming up to join Black-Hawk, have
+rushed in on them, before they had time to fire a shot.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Somebody has been hurt,&rdquo; said Melton. &ldquo;Ha! what
+have you got there, Chris?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>One of the men came forward, holding in his hand a heavy
+knife, with about three inches broken from the point. Upon
+the hilt of the weapon, rudely engraved, was the name, &ldquo;R.
+Garrett.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Dick Garrett has been here, then,&rdquo; said Melton, turning
+pale; &ldquo;and if he has taken Sadie Wescott, it is done for
+Black Will. Oh! heaven, what shall we do?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Hold on,&rdquo; said a feeble voice from beneath their feet.
+&ldquo;Help me out of this and I&rsquo;ll let ye know.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Some one is in the cellar,&rdquo; said Melton. &ldquo;Up with the
+trap and let him out.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_47">47</div>
+<p>The trap-door was opened, and Cooney Joe, bleeding and
+ghastly, appeared at the foot of the ladder. A dozen hands
+were extended to help him up, and he was seated upon one
+of the stools, gasping for breath.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What is this, Joe?&rdquo; said Melton. &ldquo;Speak, man; don&rsquo;t
+you see that I am in torture until I know the worst?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;The worst is, that a party of red niggers, headed by Dick
+Garrett, made a rush at us last night, and took Mr. Wescott
+and the gal prisoners. I had a tussle with Dick Garrett, and
+one of them cussid reds hit me over the head with a hatchet,
+and I fell into the cellar. I do&rsquo;no&rsquo; what drove &rsquo;em off, but
+they did not come down to raise my wool, and I&rsquo;ve been too
+weak to git out without help.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t know which way they went?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t I tell ye they knocked the life clean out of me,
+the fust crack? I didn&rsquo;t fairly git my senses back till I
+heerd ye talking. &rsquo;Tain&rsquo;t above two hours sence they left.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;How many had Dick Garrett under him?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Mebbe twenty, the ugliest-lookin&rsquo; lot of whites painted
+red you ever sot yer livin&rsquo; eyes on. I&rsquo;ll be bu&rsquo;sted ef they
+wouldn&rsquo;t spile a lookin&rsquo;-glass by jest peekin&rsquo; into it; darned
+lot of ruffi&rsquo;ns!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;We must follow them,&rdquo; hissed Melton, through his set
+teeth. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll have the girl out of their hands, if I have to
+follow them into Black-Hawk&rsquo;s village.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;See here; Black-Hawk do&rsquo;no&rsquo; nothin&rsquo; &rsquo;bout it. The pizen
+cusses took his darter with &rsquo;em, but she sp&rsquo;iled one chap,
+sure as you live. He got an arrer clean through him.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;She is a brave girl, Joe. Oh, how sorry I am that you
+are hurt.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Hold hard; you ain&rsquo;t goin&rsquo; without me, you know. One
+of your chaps wash out this cut, and put some plaster on it,
+and we&rsquo;ll make it do. I&rsquo;m goin&rsquo;, you bet.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I fear you are not strong enough.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You be grannied! You see I&rsquo;ve got a sort of snickering
+notion after that there Injin gal, and I&rsquo;ll be blowed if I don&rsquo;t
+help her.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>In his border life Melton had picked up a slight knowledge
+of surgery, and he washed and dressed the wound as well as
+the limited conveniences at his disposal would admit. Having
+<span class="pb" id="Page_48">48</span>
+done so, Cooney Joe rose up, though somewhat &ldquo;weak
+and staggering,&rdquo; to use his own expression, and was ready to
+&ldquo;fight or run,&rdquo; as circumstances might require.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Now see here, cripples,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;That carroty-headed
+son of a gun, Dick Garrett, is a whole boss-team, you bet ye.
+He&rsquo;ll fight&mdash;he will&mdash;till the teeth meet in the flesh. Oh, you
+bet he is on it, now. He kin shoot, and when we foller
+him, we ain&rsquo;t tracking Sacs, so look out for thunder.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;And he is in league with Black Will, and that scoundrel
+has a hundred ruffians at his beck and call,&rdquo; said Melton.
+&ldquo;We never should have had any trouble with the Indians but
+for men of his kidney.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Now fur trailing,&rdquo; said Cooney Joe. &ldquo;Stand one side,
+you critters, and let the old man work! I&rsquo;ve got a mark
+that can&rsquo;t be beat, fur Dick wears the biggest moccasin of
+any man in the Nor&rsquo;-west. Look around mighty spry, and
+when you find a track like a young canoe, that&rsquo;s Dick Garrett&rsquo;s
+hoof.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The trail was quickly found, and led to the northward.
+They followed it swiftly, Cooney Joe bending slightly in the
+saddle, and keeping his eyes on the trail, while the rest followed,
+keeping far enough behind not to disturb the trail.
+After a march of nearly two miles, the track suddenly ended
+upon the bank of the Father of Waters, and they knew that
+the scoundrels had taken to the stream.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Now ain&rsquo;t this cussid mean; ain&rsquo;t it enuff to make a man
+raise his hand against his venerable ancestor?&rdquo; roared Joe.
+&ldquo;They&rsquo;ve took water, they hev. Here; send back two men
+with the hosses, fur we&rsquo;ve got to hoof it.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>This plan was adopted, and two of the men returned with
+the horses, while the rest searched about among the reeds,
+and after some trouble found two rude dug-outs concealed, in
+which, by making two trips, they crossed the great stream.
+Here they scattered and searched up and down for the trail
+which they had lost, still guided by the ponderous hoof of
+Dick Garrett.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, <i>ain&rsquo;t</i> he pizen, that Dick!&rdquo; growled Cooney Joe. &ldquo;Its
+just his nat&rsquo;ral cussedness, you know. He&rsquo;s aweer that I like
+to ride, and he jest done this to be mean. Comes nat&rsquo;ral to
+him, meanness does. Here you are; come on, boys!&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_49">49</div>
+<p>He had taken up the recovered trail as if no interruption
+had occurred, and the party moved on across the plain.
+They were tried men, who had followed Captain Melton in
+many an hour of danger, but even their hearts gave a great
+leap as they plunged into the Indian country, perhaps never
+to return.</p>
+<h2 id="c7"><span class="small">CHAPTER VII.</span>
+<br />OVERBOARD.</h2>
+<p>The surprise of the occupants of the log-cabin by the
+river was sudden and complete, when at a late hour the
+house was surrounded by a motley group headed by a man
+who, in spite of his paint and feathers, could not hide from
+so acute a scout as Samuel Wescott that he was a white man
+in disguise. The rush was so sudden that they had been
+overthrown before they had fairly time to reach their weapons,
+and the captured men were at once hurried to their
+horses, and the band made off at a rapid rate up the stream.
+Mr. Wescott was wounded, but in spite of that the savage
+white leader urged him on, threatening him with the point of
+his knife if he faltered or turned aside. They reached the
+river, when, to the surprise of all, a flat-boat shot out from
+the western bank and made toward the eastern shore. The
+men who held the poles were either white men or showed a
+marvelous aptitude for flat-boating, an accomplishment rarely
+to be looked for in an Indian who is not in love with manual
+labor. The bow of the flat grated on the low beach, when
+the party went on board, horses and all, and they pushed out
+into the stream.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;This boat belonged to Captain Hughes&rsquo; father,&rdquo; whispered
+Sadie. &ldquo;Is it possible that these wretches have murdered
+him and his crew?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He ought to have come down some days ago,&rdquo; said
+Mr. Wescott, in an uneasy tone. &ldquo;I am afraid that the good
+old man has indeed fallen. Be careful what you say, for
+these scoundrels understand every word you speak.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_50">50</div>
+<p>At this moment the chief approached and caught Mr.
+Wescott by his wounded arm, causing him to utter a low cry
+of pain, while the blood gushed from under his hand.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;No whispering,&rdquo; he hissed, dropping all at once his assumed
+Indian habits. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m no baby, Sam Wescott, but a bird
+of the woods, a Mississippi roarer, and I can lick the universal
+earth a-flying.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Dick Garrett!&rdquo; cried Wescott, in a tone of surprise. &ldquo;I
+thought so.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You know me, do ye?&rdquo; said Dick, with an air of bravado.
+&ldquo;All right, &rsquo;square, it&rsquo;s all the wuss for you, for Dick
+Garrett don&rsquo;t let no man live that knows he wears an Injin
+rig. Git ropes hyar and take a couple of hitches on this
+chap, some of you fellers.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What do you intend to do?&rdquo; cried Wescott, struggling.
+&ldquo;Hands off, you scoundrels!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Tie him tight, boys,&rdquo; replied Dick Garrett, in fiendish
+glee. &ldquo;Teach the cuss to be so sharp, I will, before I git
+done with him. Now, then, Sam Wescott, if you&rsquo;ve got any
+prayers to say, say &rsquo;em quick, for overboard you go when we
+get to that snag in the river.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You cannot mean it,&rdquo; said Wescott. &ldquo;Such a cold blooded
+and unprovoked murder&mdash;&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, give us a rest or I&rsquo;ll gag you,&rdquo; replied Dick Garrett.
+&ldquo;The matter of a man more or less in the world ain&rsquo;t going
+to shake it to its center, you bet, and when I say you&rsquo;ve got
+to go under, then you go.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Have your way, then, murderous wretch,&rdquo; cried the brave
+man, drawing himself up proudly. &ldquo;I will not beg for my
+life from such as you, and am ready to die, if my time has
+come, as bravely as another. Do your worst.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Sadie by this time began to comprehend the danger in
+which her father stood, and would have come to him, but
+she was forced back by one of the rough men who wore the
+Indian garb, but who could not conceal a certain flat-boat
+swagger which betrayed him.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He crows loud, boys, don&rsquo;t he?&rdquo; said Garrett; &ldquo;mighty
+loud for a bird of his feather that&rsquo;s only got three minnits
+to live. Keep the gal away; she ain&rsquo;t got leave to
+die yet.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_51">51</div>
+<p>&ldquo;Let me go to my father,&rdquo; pleaded Sadie. &ldquo;Oh, sir, you
+will not kill him for a single hasty word?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I rather think I shall,&rdquo; replied Garrett, as cool and composed
+as if talking of any ordinary event. &ldquo;The man&rsquo;s got
+to go. I don&rsquo;t advertise to be a saint, and when a man runs
+ag&rsquo;inst me and calls me a murderer, I reckon it&rsquo;s about time
+for him to pass in his chips. I&rsquo;m a peaceable man&mdash;I will
+<i>have</i> peace, or a fight.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>This strange man was dreadfully in earnest. Human life
+was to him a thing of no price&mdash;we might lose it to-day or
+to-morrow, of we might live a hundred years&mdash;a small matter,
+not to be taken into account. He had no objections to
+killing a man, and if he had stood in his way, in any manner,
+it became a <i>duty</i> to put him aside.</p>
+<p>They were approaching the snag, and the desperado was
+about to order the prisoner to be thrown into the water,
+when the boatmen were suddenly thrust aside, and Minneoba,
+holding her bow in her hand, darted forward and leveled an
+arrow at his breast.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Look, white man,&rdquo; she cried, &ldquo;Minneoba is the daughter
+of Black-Hawk, and she can not lie; if you do harm to the
+good white man, I will send an arrow through your heart.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Why, you cat!&rdquo; hissed Dick Garrett, turning upon her
+with a devilish look. &ldquo;Stand out of the way.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>But Minneoba would not obey him. It was the second
+time she had found her arrow effective, and it had some influence
+upon the man who &ldquo;would have peace or a fight.&rdquo;
+Although full of mad hate, he knew that she could aim an
+arrow well, for he had seen her skill tested in the Indian
+towns.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What in the devil&rsquo;s name made me bring this cat on
+board?&rdquo; he uttered. &ldquo;Better far have left her behind to find
+her way to the village as best she could. Look you, Minneoba,&rdquo;
+he added aloud. &ldquo;You know that I would not willingly
+do you a wrong, but you must get out of the way.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; replied Minneoba, stamping her foot. &ldquo;Minneoba
+will not move, and if Garrett does wrong to the good white
+man, he shall die.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Now, my girl, be careful, please; I&rsquo;ll have to take measures
+you won&rsquo;t like if you don&rsquo;t get out of the way.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_52">52</div>
+<p>&ldquo;Minneoba will shoot,&rdquo; replied the girl, with flashing eyes,
+still pointing the arrow at his breast. Garrett nodded to
+one of his men, and while the leader expostulated with her
+he stole behind and suddenly caught her by the arm in a
+firm clasp. With a cry of anger the girl caught the arrow
+in her disengaged hand and drove it through the arm of her
+captor, who released her with an oath, but before she could
+strike again, Garrett had her in his arms.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Now then, lads!&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll hold this beauty fast,
+and if she struggles I&rsquo;ll take toll from her lips.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Cease to struggle, Minneoba,&rdquo; said Mr. Wescott. &ldquo;You
+only expose yourself to new indignity without the chance of
+aiding me. I am ready to meet my fate, although it is a
+hard one, but it grieves me to think that I die by the hands
+of white men. Sadie, farewell&mdash;farewell, my dear child.
+All that I have is yours and your dear mother&rsquo;s. Thank
+God that she at least was absent when this blow fell.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I can not see you die,&rdquo; she sobbed. &ldquo;Oh, Richard Garrett,
+will nothing move you to do right?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That depends on what you call <i>right</i>. Now you don&rsquo;t
+think it right to beat a man at the picturs or billiards or to
+pick his pocket, or crack a bank. Now I do, so we won&rsquo;t
+seem to agree, no matter how you fix it, so I guess we may as
+well end this now. Toss him over, boys.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It don&rsquo;t seem scarcely right,&rdquo; said the rough young fellow
+who was helping Sadie back. &ldquo;Why not duck him, and
+then let him out, boss?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Because he knows I wear an Injin disguise. It&rsquo;s all
+very well for you that he don&rsquo;t know, but I ain&rsquo;t so easy
+suited. Toss him over, I say, and make no words.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>They lifted the bound man and flung him over the rail,
+while with a thrilling shriek Sadie fell senseless into the
+arms of the man who held her. He laid her gently down,
+and made a spring at the taffrail, and his body struck the
+water almost as soon as that of Mr. Wescott, who was unable
+to help himself.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Come back here, you born fool,&rdquo; screamed Dick Garrett.
+&ldquo;What do you think the Cap will say when he hears how
+you act?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You go to &mdash;&mdash;,&rdquo; said the rough but good-hearted
+fellow,
+<span class="pb" id="Page_53">53</span>
+naming a locality not sought after by humanity generally.
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to save this man.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Then by &mdash;&mdash;&rdquo; hissed Dick Garrett, &ldquo;you stay with him;
+set in your poles, boys. Tom don&rsquo;t want to come on
+board.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>By this time the man had seized the helpless form of
+Wescott, and with his clasp-knife managed to cut the bonds
+upon his hands and feet, and Wescott at once began to swim,
+but feebly at first, and the fiendish order of the desperate
+leader rung in his ears, and they saw the boat moving slowly
+away, leaving them alone on the wide river.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re done, stranger,&rdquo; said the man called Tom. &ldquo;I
+done my best, but he&rsquo;s run from us.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You can swim to the bank,&rdquo; said Mr. Wescott, noting
+with what ease the man sustained himself.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I reckon.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Then do so and leave me to my fate,&rdquo; replied Wescott.
+&ldquo;You have already risked too much for me.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;When I quit a man in that way I reckon you&rsquo;d better
+call round with a rope and string me up. It&rsquo;ll suit me fust
+rate. Let the current take ye square; we&rsquo;ll fetch up somewhere
+I reckon, and when we do, and I onc&rsquo;t git on the trail
+of that Dick Garrett, won&rsquo;t I make him howl!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Even as he spoke the two men were moving on a course
+diagonal with the current, the stronger man giving all the
+support he could to his wounded companion. But the shore
+seemed far away and Wescott felt that he could not go much
+further.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Save yourself,&rdquo; he gasped. &ldquo;My wound has opened
+again and I am losing strength.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I won&rsquo;t do it,&rdquo; replied Tom, through his set teeth.
+&ldquo;Hold up a little; I&rsquo;ll save you yet.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;There is no hope,&rdquo; replied Wescott. &ldquo;Avenge me if
+you can and save my daughter from that villain. You can
+do me better service in that way than by staying with me
+now.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>At this moment the surge came down heavily and buried
+the speaker beneath the water. Tom paddled to and fro,
+looking for him in vain, for the water had claimed its prey,
+and nerving himself to the task the young man struck out
+<span class="pb" id="Page_54">54</span>
+resolutely for the shore, which he reached nearly exhausted.
+Then he ran along the bank and looked for some sign of
+Wescott, but he looked in vain. The surface of the river
+was blank.</p>
+<h2 id="c8"><span class="small">CHAPTER VIII.</span>
+<br />MELTON&rsquo;S SCOUT&mdash;A BUSH FIGHT.</h2>
+<p>Tom Bantry had been a flatboatman since he was old
+enough to hold a pole, and now for the first time paused to
+consider how far he had gone down the road of sin. He
+was conscious of many evil deeds already performed, but the
+stain of blood was not upon his soul, and although pledged
+to his vile companion he could not stand by tamely and
+witness the murder of so good a man as Samuel Wescott.
+But his good intentions had come to naught, and the brave
+man was dead.</p>
+<p>The flatboatman rose and looked about him, a wicked light
+coming over his dark face. &ldquo;They taught me evil, them
+cusses did,&rdquo; he muttered. &ldquo;I&rsquo;d the making of a man in me,
+but they sp&rsquo;iled me, and now they&rsquo;ve killed as good a man
+as ever walked the earth. I&rsquo;ll remember that ag&rsquo;inst ye, old
+man Garrett.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>He was literally worn out, and dropped down upon the
+grass and slept until morning. He woke at last and started
+up refreshed, only to find a party of white men were upon
+the opposite bank, and with his paint upon him, Tom knew
+that it would be far from safe to meet them, and he skulked
+away, keeping under cover of the bushes, and then made a
+circuit through the bushes, designing to cross their path and
+ascertain who they were. As he crept forward with that
+intention, he heard a slight rustling in the bushes in front,
+and the long, snake-like head of Napope appeared above the
+bushes, signaling him to fall back. He did so, involuntarily
+dropping his hand upon his knife, which he had not lost
+in the last night&rsquo;s struggle in the stream, when he remembered
+that Napope regarded all his party as friends and that
+<span class="pb" id="Page_55">55</span>
+he still wore the garb of an Indian. He dropped back and
+the next moment Napope joined him.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;The white dogs come,&rdquo; he said, in a fierce tone, &ldquo;and
+the heart of a chief is big in his bosom. They shall die
+without knowledge.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Who are they?&rdquo; demanded Tom.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;They are white and they are not the friends of Jackwood
+the son of Red-Bird. Where is your gun, my brother?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I lost it last night,&rdquo; replied Tom, a little embarrassed.
+&ldquo;Let me look out and see what white men come.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>He advanced to the edge of the woods and looked out,
+and could detect a white party moving hastily across the
+plain. Foremost among them was a man whom he had
+known well some years before, Cooney Joe, and behind him
+came Captain Melton and his gallant men, and it flashed
+through the mind of Tom Bantry that they were in pursuit
+of Dick Garrett. His heart stood still, for a backward glance
+showed him fifty stout Sacs, armed to the teeth, lying under
+the bushes waiting for the coming of the hated white men.
+Twenty-four hours ago Tom Bantry would have delighted
+in this, but now he was changed, and racked his brains for
+ways and means to acquaint them with the ambush before
+them, without destruction to himself.</p>
+<p>Napope waved his hand, and, as if by magic, every warrior
+disappeared, and a stillness like that of death fell upon
+the scene. The whites came in rapidly, unsuspicious of
+danger, and passed through the first bushes, when they were
+surprised to hear a sudden crash and a yell of surprise and
+anger. The crash came from Tom Bantry, who had managed
+to fall down with a great noise, at the same time giving
+the yell which startled the white rangers.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Tree, boys!&rdquo; yelled Cooney Joe. &ldquo;Tree and fight. Injins
+thar, by the big horn spoon.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The men who followed Cooney Joe were Indian-fighters
+of the first class, and the order had scarcely been given when
+every man was sheltered by a tree and had his rifle ready for
+action. This was not done a moment too soon, for the feathers
+of the savages began to show above the bushes, and
+several shots were fired, until a commanding voice shouted
+to the warriors to hold their fire.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_56">56</div>
+<p>&ldquo;What do the white men seek?&rdquo; cried Napope. &ldquo;They
+have been beaten once; must we beat them again?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s Napope,&rdquo; cried Cooney Joe. &ldquo;I know the old
+cuss, and he kin fight, if he is an Injin; but we&rsquo;ll lick him
+out of his moccasins. Say, Injin, you&rsquo;d better clear the
+way; you ain&rsquo;t got the major to fight now.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Napope does not seek the scalps of the white men,&rdquo;
+cried the Indian. &ldquo;If they bring the scalps to him, he will
+take them, but he does not thirst for blood. Let Captain
+Melton turn back and cross the river.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;The path must be clear for me to pass through,&rdquo; replied
+Melton. &ldquo;The hatchet has been dug up and its edge turned
+against women and children, and the good white man, Wescott,
+with his daughter, has been carried away, and we think
+the Sacs know where they are.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;The Sacs do not know,&rdquo; replied Napope, proudly. &ldquo;Does
+the white man take us for Menomonies or Chippewas? The
+Sacs are men and not dogs; they do not fight against women
+and children.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Napope is a brave man, and will not lie to save his life,&rdquo;
+said Melton. &ldquo;Let us pass on safely, and then there shall be
+no blood shed, for we seek only those who have stolen the
+brave man Wescott and his child.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;My brother must turn back,&rdquo; replied the chief. &ldquo;There
+is no path over the Indian country for white soldiers until
+peace is made; but if the good white man and his child are
+here, they shall be made welcome, and no harm shall come
+to them if Napope can give them aid. But Melton must
+take his warriors and go back to his people.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;We will not turn back,&rdquo; replied Melton, angrily, &ldquo;unless
+we take the friends we seek with us. Let Napope clear the
+way, or we will try to go on without his leave.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;The white men will find knives and hatchets in the
+path,&rdquo; replied the chief, grimly. &ldquo;Go back as you came,
+and all shall be well; refuse, and you shall find that my
+young men carry guns.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t like this,&rdquo; whispered Cooney Joe in the ear of
+Melton. &ldquo;They&rsquo;ve got twice as many warriors as we have,
+and the chances are good for a fight. I never like to back
+out, but I don&rsquo;t know but it&rsquo;s the safest plan.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_57">57</div>
+<p>&ldquo;It won&rsquo;t do,&rdquo; said Melton. &ldquo;These scoundrels will get
+too impudent if they are allowed their own way too much.
+There must be a fight, and at once, and the boys must do
+their best. I know them too well to think that they will
+back down for twice their number of Sacs.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What does my brother say?&rdquo; cried Napope.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Fight.&rdquo; replied Melton. &ldquo;We will go on.&rdquo; Napope disappeared
+immediately, and scarcely had he done so when a
+bullet whizzed by the ear of the young scout as he hastily
+took to a tree. The fight now commenced in true Indian-fashion,
+the Sacs forcing the fighting and running from tree
+to tree to get nearer to their enemies. But they found a different
+party from that with which they had fought upon
+Sycamore Creek. Every bullet had its billet. Did an Indian
+show hand or foot from behind his shelter, it was at once the
+mark of a well-aimed ball. The men who followed Melton
+had lived by the rifle, and were not likely to miss their aim
+easily, while the Indians were notoriously bad marksmen, not
+having the patience to perfect themselves in the use of
+the rifle.</p>
+<p>Besides, the weapons they carried were not of the best description,
+being those furnished by the traders against the
+law, and their powder was &ldquo;contract,&rdquo; warranted not to burn
+except at a slow fire. But their numbers made the position
+of Melton&rsquo;s small force decidedly unsafe, and they began to
+close in upon every side, and every moment Melton expected
+a charge with hatchet and knife, most fearful weapons in
+Indian hands. But the steady valor of the scouts had inspired
+the savages with a respect for them, and they fought
+warily, losing a man now and then, and inflicting little
+damage upon the foe.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;They&rsquo;ll charge soon, boys,&rdquo; whispered Cooney Joe.
+&ldquo;Pass the word down the line to have a charge ready for the
+rush. Don&rsquo;t throw away a shot.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The rifles were ready when Napope gave the order, and at
+his signal-yell they bounded out like tigers, flourishing their
+bright weapons in the air.</p>
+<p>This was the moment for the Border Riflemen, and each
+picked his man and fired, and every bullet found a mark.
+Supposing the rifles empty, the Sacs rushed on, but they were
+<span class="pb" id="Page_58">58</span>
+mistaken, for up rose ten more riflemen, and the head of the
+assailants seemed to melt away before their fire. It was more
+than Indian endurance was equal to, and they again buried
+themselves in the bushes, in spite of the fierce orders of Napope,
+who, although severely wounded in the shoulder, urged
+the men on.</p>
+<p>He was ably seconded by Na-she-eschuck, who was also
+slightly wounded.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Well done, my lads,&rdquo; cried Mellon. &ldquo;Bravely done,
+riflemen; they have not Sycamore Creek to brag of this time,
+at any rate.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Napope collected his men under cover of the bushes, but
+his heart was full of anger against the gallant band of scouts,
+whom he had expected to sweep from the path in that headlong
+charge. So far from doing that, over one-third of his
+men were placed <i>hors de combat</i>, and several more partially
+disabled. Aroused by the invectives of the two chiefs, they
+again began to advance, but more cautiously, sliding from tree
+to tree, with great care, and exposing themselves as little as
+possible in doing so. But the riflemen managed to inflict new
+damage upon them before they came in fair charging distance.
+Napope had separated his force into three parts, sending
+out a small party upon each flank of the white force, and
+Melton was compelled to detach eight men, four upon each
+flank, to keep off these troublesome flanking-parties. This
+left him but twelve men in his main force, opposed to over
+thirty determined warriors, eager for the blood of those who
+had slain so many of their friends.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;We have got ourselves into a pizen scrape, Cap,&rdquo; said
+Cooney Joe, as he stood with his back against a tree, looking
+to the priming of his rifle; &ldquo;but thar&rsquo;s only one way to do,
+and that is to fight our way out. We kin lick &rsquo;em if more
+don&rsquo;t come; <i>that&rsquo;s</i> what I&rsquo;m afraid of.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>At this moment the rush was made, and as before, the
+whites divided their fire, so as to give the Indians two volleys
+before they reached the trees, and then with yells which vied
+with those of the Indians, they formed a line among the trees,
+and beat back the savages with knife, hatchet, and clubbed
+rifle. It was a desperate affair while it lasted, and the wild
+valor of the scouting party prevailed, and they were driving
+<span class="pb" id="Page_59">59</span>
+back the Indians step by step, when one of the men who had
+been sent to the right flank came running up.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Party of Injins coming across the plain, on a run, Cap,&rdquo;
+he reported. &ldquo;I reckon we&rsquo;d better git.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Easier said than done,&rdquo; said the captain, turning aside a
+blow with his heavy knife. &ldquo;Shoot that fellow, Ed.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The borderer brought his rifle to his shoulder, and the
+savage fell, shot through the heart.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Have the Indians on the flanks retreated, Ed?&rdquo; demanded
+Melton, as he fired a pistol at a savage who was poising
+his hatchet for a throw, and the savage went down.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;No, they ain&rsquo;t all gone yet,&rdquo; replied the man, who was
+coolly reloading his discharged rifle. &ldquo;I guess we&rsquo;d better
+call in the men and make a rush through these red devils,
+before the others can come up.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>A signal whistle, well known to the &ldquo;merry men&rdquo; of Melton,
+brought in all upon the flank, and with shouts of victory,
+all charged upon the broken and demoralized body of Sacs.
+They had fought bravely, but their courage was not proof
+against the assault, and they broke and fled in every direction
+through the woods, pursued by the victorious whites, who
+only wanted to get deeper into the woods, to avoid the force
+coming up in their rear. They would not have done this had
+they known that it was Dick Garrett and his party, bringing
+as prisoner, Sadie Wescott, whom Minneoba would not
+leave.</p>
+<p>Scouts from the party of Napope having discovered the
+coming of the disguised whites, and apprised the chief, he
+hurried out to meet them, and started as he saw who they
+held as prisoner.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Ha!&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;Then it is my brother who struck the
+wigwam of Wescott, and took him prisoner?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Garrett. &ldquo;You see our boss, Will Jackwood,
+wanted this girl, and sent me to take her.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Where is Wescott, now?&rdquo; demanded Napope.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said Garrett, hesitating, &ldquo;he&rsquo;s gone under; that&rsquo;s
+what&rsquo;s the matter with <i>him</i>.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Let my brother speak more plainly,&rdquo; said the chief.
+&ldquo;What has become of Wescott, the good white man?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He has been murdered,&rdquo; replied Sadie, coming forward,
+<span class="pb" id="Page_60">60</span>
+quickly. &ldquo;Chief, you know what he was, and that he never
+willingly wronged the Indians. You know, too, that when
+the mob in the village assaulted Black-Hawk and yourself, he
+came to your aid and helped you to escape. He has been
+brutally murdered, by this base wretch, Garrett.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;The girl lies, I reckon,&rdquo; said Garrett, sullenly. &ldquo;See
+here, chief; is it calculated in your tribe that women are any
+better off for having too much tongue?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;My brother must let the Wild Rose speak,&rdquo; replied Napope.
+&ldquo;When the Sacs come hungry and thirsty into her
+father&rsquo;s lodge, she is always ready to give them food and
+drink; when they are weary, and the night air is cold, there
+is always a warm place by the fire to spread a blanket. The
+child of Wescott must be allowed to speak.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Now look here, chief,&rdquo; said Garrett, in the same ferocious
+tone. &ldquo;&rsquo;Tain&rsquo;t noways likely I&rsquo;m going to come down to you
+or any man on earth. If Wescott was killed, he was my
+pris&rsquo;ner, and I had a right to do what I would with him.
+Have you any thing to say against it?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Napope inclined his head slowly, as recognizing the justice
+of the remark. The life of the man was as little regarded
+by the Indians as by Garrett, and Napope rather liked the
+tone of insolence he assumed.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Napope,&rdquo; cried Sadie, &ldquo;I want you to listen to me.
+This wicked man threw my father into the water, from the
+flat-boat, and he has not been seen since. Will you see a
+good man murdered and refuse to avenge him?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Napope was evidently troubled, for just now he needed
+the assistance of Garrett and his men, and did not wish to
+make him angry.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;We will speak of that another time, Wild Rose. Until
+then, rest safely with Minneoba, the daughter of Black-Hawk,
+while we do the work of men. Garrett, do you
+know that Loud Tempest is here and he has beaten the men
+of Napope, and killed many?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Loud Tempest; do you mean Captain Melton?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Yes; he is here, with the white hunter Joe, and many
+warriors. Napope can not rest until we have his scalp.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Cooney Joe! Why, I give him a lick last night that
+ought to have settled any decent man for good.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_61">61</div>
+<p>&ldquo;He is alive, and fights like a Sac,&rdquo; replied Napope.
+&ldquo;They are in the woods and we must follow and take their
+scalps.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll bet he&rsquo;s arter me,&rdquo; muttered Garrett. &ldquo;He don&rsquo;t
+owe me any good will for work I&rsquo;ve done, and I&rsquo;ve swore to
+have his hair. Thar&rsquo;s my hand on it, Napope, and I&rsquo;ll never
+quit you until he or I have gone under.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Sadie had started at the name of Melton, and was conscious
+of a feeling of joy that he had thought enough of her
+safety to follow her into the Indian country, but, as she
+glanced over the line of ferocious faces, she was sorry that
+he had incurred this danger. But she followed the party
+until they reached the battle-field and found it strewn with
+the slain bodies of the Sacs who had fallen, each one pierced
+by the deadly bullet.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;These ain&rsquo;t babies we are following,&rdquo; said Garrett.
+&ldquo;They kin fight, Melton&rsquo;s scout kin, and ef we lick &rsquo;em we
+lick a good crowd. How many has he got with him?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Napope extended the fingers upon both hands twice.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Twenty? We&rsquo;ve got our work cut out then, for twenty
+of Melton&rsquo;s Mounted Rifles, with the capting and Cooney
+Joe to lead, are a hard crowd to manage, bet your life.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;There was one of your men with us in this fight,&rdquo; said
+Napope, looking about him for Tom Bantry. &ldquo;But I do not
+see him now.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Who was he?&rdquo; demanded Garrett, glancing over the
+party hastily. &ldquo;Was it the one we call Tom?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Napope nodded, and Garrett uttered an oath, and a search
+was commenced for him. He was not among the dead or
+wounded, and whether he had perished or not, Bantry was
+not to be found.</p>
+<h2 id="c9"><span class="small">CHAPTER IX.</span>
+<br />THE DEFENSE OF THE ISLAND.</h2>
+<p>When the enemy had been so scattered as to leave the
+path free, the small band of rangers plunged deeper into the
+woods and kept on their course until they reached a small
+<span class="pb" id="Page_62">62</span>
+wooded swamp through which many small creeks ran, leaving
+a little island in the center, containing, perhaps, two
+acres of land. The tall trees stood thick about it, and no
+better place of defense could possibly have been selected. No
+sooner had they reached the island than they set to work
+fortifying it by piling up fallen logs into a temporary barricade,
+making it strongest upon the only point which could be
+assailed by land, as the creeks swept around it on three sides,
+leaving a space of smooth ground about twenty feet
+wide. Across this they built a strong barricade at least ten
+feet high, through the openings of which, they could fire
+upon the foe, without being themselves seen.</p>
+<p>The other parts of the island were almost impervious to
+assault, for not only did the deep creek guard it, but the
+logs had fallen all about it in inextricable confusion, making
+a <i>chevaux de frise</i> through which a corps of axmen would
+have found it extremely difficult to force their way. The
+middle of the island was cleared, leaving the path open
+for them to pass from one part to another, and they now
+waited almost eagerly for the coming of the enemy, who, as
+yet, did not appear. Cooney Joe took his rifle and stole
+out toward the clearing, and for half an hour the &ldquo;scout&rdquo;
+remained quiet, waiting in considerable anxiety for the
+coming of the hunter, whose danger they well knew. But
+he came back at a long-loping trot, his rifle at a trail, and
+his eyes flashing with the ardor of battle.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Git ready, boys,&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got business afore
+us, bet yer life.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What now, Joe?&rdquo; demanded the captain. &ldquo;Who are
+coming?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;All that&rsquo;s left of Napope&rsquo;s band and thirty of Dick Garrett&rsquo;s
+men,&rdquo; replied Joe. &ldquo;And&mdash;&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Thar&rsquo;s an Injin,&rdquo; cried one of the men. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll pop him
+over.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Hold on,&rdquo; replied Joe. &ldquo;Seems to me that chap is
+making signals that look <i>white</i>. Thar; look at that!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>An Indian had appeared in plain sight and was waving a
+white cloth in the air.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Hello, <i>you</i>!&rdquo; yelled Joe. &ldquo;Come in, ef you want
+to.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_63">63</div>
+<p>The man obeyed and came clambering over the barricade,
+and at a glance they could see that he was a white man disguised.
+It was Tom Bantry, who had escaped from associates
+with whom he could no longer consort.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Look here, men,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m Tom Bantry. You
+don&rsquo;t know <i>me</i> and mebbe you don&rsquo;t want to. I&rsquo;ve been one
+of Dick Garrett and Will Jackwood&rsquo;s men&mdash;I have. Now
+why don&rsquo;t you kill me?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t see my way to that clear,&rdquo; said Joe. &ldquo;Now, Tom
+Bantry, what d&rsquo;ye want here?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve, quit &rsquo;em,&rdquo; replied Tom, energetically. &ldquo;I couldn&rsquo;t
+stand it, boys, &rsquo;pon my word, I couldn&rsquo;t. I feel mean as dirt
+&rsquo;cause I&rsquo;ve been with &rsquo;em so long; but I tell you I didn&rsquo;t
+think they was so mean till last night when they killed poor
+Mr. Wescott.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What&rsquo;s that you say?&rdquo; cried Melton, coming forward.
+&ldquo;Who killed him; how was he killed?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Dick Garrett did it,&rdquo; replied Tom, in a choking voice.
+&ldquo;The &rsquo;square give him some cheek, and he had him throwed
+into the river. Boys, I&rsquo;m a rough boatman, but I jumped in
+after him, and they left us alone in the dark on the river. I
+tried to save him, but it wan&rsquo;t no use; the current took him
+under.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I believe this man, for one,&rdquo; said Melton. &ldquo;He never
+would dare to come here with such a tale as that unless it
+was really true. What do you say, boys?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s all right,&rdquo; replied Joe, &ldquo;but ef he ain&rsquo;t, let him look
+out, &rsquo;cause I shoot awful close, odd times; I do, by gracious.
+So Dick Garrett is jined with Napope?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That ain&rsquo;t all, you know,&rdquo; said Tom Bantry. &ldquo;They hev
+sent off a messenger to the village, and if you don&rsquo;t have
+lively times round here, then I don&rsquo;t want a picayune.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Perhaps we had better retreat.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You can&rsquo;t do it; they&rsquo;ve got scouts all through the
+woods, and you&rsquo;d hev the hull posse on your backs in twenty
+minnits by the clock, so don&rsquo;t try that on, &rsquo;square. No, it&rsquo;s
+goin&rsquo; to be a b&rsquo;ar-fight, and you can&rsquo;t find a better place than
+this to fight in.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I believe the man is right,&rdquo; said Melton. &ldquo;I say, Folks,
+is your hand so bad you can&rsquo;t pull a trigger?&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_64">64</div>
+<p>&ldquo;Sorry to say &rsquo;tis, Cap,&rdquo; replied the man; &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t do
+nothing.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>He had been hit in the hand during the fight that morning,
+and the cords had been so injured as to make it impossible
+for him to fire a rifle.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Then you may as well let this man have your rifle,
+Folks,&rdquo; said the captain. &ldquo;I take it for granted you mean
+to fight?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Stranger, I&rsquo;ve <i>got</i> to fight,&rdquo; said Bantry. &ldquo;Why, if Dick
+Garrett gets me, he&rsquo;ll raise my wool, sure, and so, ef he does
+git into this camp, I&rsquo;m goin&rsquo; out feet fust. That&rsquo;s the way to
+talk it.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He knows you have turned against him, then?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Captin, he suspects it, and to suspect a man is all <i>he</i>
+wants, you know. He&rsquo;ll go for me, sure.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The man who had been hurt came up at this moment and
+gave Bantry the rifle and ammunition.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Now, &rsquo;square, see here,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;you watch me when I
+fire the first shot, and if it don&rsquo;t seem to you that I&rsquo;ve tried
+to hit my man, I give you leave to shoot me, that&rsquo;s all. This
+is a good rifle, chummy&mdash;she hangs true as a die, and I can
+knock the black out of a buffler&rsquo;s eye at twenty rods
+with her.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>At this moment one of the sentries outside the barricade
+gave the signal, and all were immediately upon the alert.
+Melton took the charge of Bantry upon himself, and gave
+him a place in the middle of the barricade, and took his station
+beside him. The sentries came stealing in like silent
+specters, and placed themselves beside the rest in silence,
+waiting for the advance of the Indians.</p>
+<p>They had not long to wait, for a tufted head was cautiously
+protruded from behind a tree, and a pair of brilliant eyes
+looked keenly at the island. Evidently he saw something
+out of the way, for he stepped out in full view of the fort
+and advanced to within twenty feet of the barricade.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That man must not go back,&rdquo; said Melton, in a whisper,
+touching Tom Bantry on the arm, &ldquo;and no rifle must be
+fired. Can you fetch him?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Bantry caught up a knife and hatchet, and sprung from the
+barricade so suddenly that the Indian had no time to cock
+<span class="pb" id="Page_65">65</span>
+his gun before the fiery boatman was upon him. They
+closed with fierce energy, a short struggle ensued, and then
+Tom Bantry arose, leaving the Indian dead at his feet.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Well done, Bantry,&rdquo; said Melton, as the man came back
+his face scarcely flushed by the desperate struggle in which
+he had been engaged. &ldquo;You will do very well without
+watching.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve <i>got</i> to fight,&rdquo; replied Tom, coolly. &ldquo;It won&rsquo;t do for
+me to be caught, I tell you.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>By this time the Indians and disguised boatmen began to
+show themselves through the woods, and the scout opened
+upon them at once, and they skulked to the shelter of the
+bushes. But the men who had come up with the desperado
+Garrett did not know the word fear, and only waited for the
+orders of their superior to advance to the assault.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;They are fighting chickens, Cap; game birds, every
+man, now you mind what I say,&rdquo; said the deserter. &ldquo;They&rsquo;ll
+fight like bulldogs, but they&rsquo;d do better if Black Will was
+here.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The attack was not long delayed. The desperate ruffians
+collected as close as possible to the barricade, and then made
+their rush all together. They were met by men as determined
+and desperate as themselves, and forced back, leaving
+one fourth of their number dead or wounded in front of the
+barricade.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s the way Melton&rsquo;s scouts do it,&rdquo; cried the voice of
+the young captain. &ldquo;Come again, my boys.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I hear you,&rdquo; screamed Garrett, &ldquo;and we will come again.
+Now, Napope,&rdquo; he added, lowering his tone, &ldquo;we must divide
+their force. Send ten of your best men to cross the creek
+and attack them on the right. Send ten more to the left,
+and try them at the same time. The signal will be three
+rifle-shots from this point.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Their movements were not so well shrouded that Melton
+could not see the danger to be apprehended from a division
+of his forces, which was rendered necessary by this action on
+their part. But he only sent three men to each point threatened,
+one under the lead of Tom Bantry, who had already
+become quite popular, and the other under Cooney Joe. They
+darted rapidly across the little open space, while the others
+<span class="pb" id="Page_66">66</span>
+loaded their rifles and pistols and calmly waited for the assault.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Beat them off this time, and the chances are they won&rsquo;t
+want any more,&rdquo; cried Melton. &ldquo;Shoot a little closer to
+make up for the lost men, and it will be all right.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Just then they heard three rifle-shots, and a simultaneous
+movement was made against the island from three different
+points. But the foresight of Melton in sending small parties
+to the threatened points, removed the danger from the two
+parties of Indians, while his own force was not so weakened
+but that he could still present a stout front to the foe. The
+barricade rained bullets upon the advancing enemy entangled
+in the branches of the trees which formed the intrenchment,
+and crowded into the narrow space of twenty feet. No men,
+however hardy, could hope to live long under such a fire, and
+in spite of the almost superhuman exertions of Garrett, Napope
+and Na-she-eschuck, they fell back again, and took
+breath under cover of the woods.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;This is awful,&rdquo; said Garrett. &ldquo;The curse of the devil on
+them, how they do fight. I&rsquo;ve lost near half my men.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The small parties under Tom Bantry and Joe had succeeded
+in keeping their enemies at bay, and as soon as the
+main body retreated, half a dozen men ran to their aid, and
+the Indians were quickly swept away from the banks of the
+creek.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Good boys,&rdquo; said Melton. &ldquo;You could not fight better if
+you liked the sport. Now, who wants the doctor?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>No one had been badly injured. Two or three had been
+scraped by passing bullets, but a little sticking-plaster soon set
+that right, and they were as ready for a fight as ever.</p>
+<p>Garrett was furious, and while he was blaming heaven and
+earth at the ill success of his attack, a man whose face was
+flushed by a hard ride dashed through the swamp, and drew
+up before them.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Now then, what is all this?&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;I know you,
+Dick Garrett. You delight in a row so much that you are
+wasting my men in attacking a perfect fort.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;But you don&rsquo;t know who is in it, Will Jackwood,&rdquo; replied
+Garrett. &ldquo;Two men you hate&mdash;Cooney Joe and Captain
+Melton.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_67">67</div>
+<p>&ldquo;Ha, say you so? Then out of that they must come, by
+the Eternal! Keep back the men, for Black-Hawk will be
+here in half an hour with four hundred braves, and then we
+will overwhelm them. Captain Melton, eh? I always did
+detest that boy, Dick.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t love him,&rdquo; said Dick.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What is this I hear about Sam Wescott?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Gone under, Will. I had to do it, for he recognized me
+in my disguise, and some one had to go.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t care so much about that, if you did not compromise
+me. The man hated me, and while he lived there was
+no hope of winning the girl by fair means, and I always liked
+that way best. Where is the girl?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I left her on the edge of the swamp, with three of my
+best men.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;All right; where is Tom Bantry? I want to send him
+somewhere.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know what to think about him, Will, &rsquo;pon my
+word. When we slung Wescott overboard the fool jumped
+after him, and I left them both in the river. Tom got out,
+some way, and came to Napope&rsquo;s camp, but after their fight
+we could not find hide nor hair of him.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You&rsquo;ve lost the best man in the party, then, by all odds.
+Tom was the only one who had a spark of humanity in his
+composition. You are sure these men you left with the girl
+are all right?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Davis, Bradshaw and Herrick.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;They&rsquo;ll do; as true panthers as ever lapped blood. How
+many has Melton in his fort?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He <i>had</i> twenty.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Then he&rsquo;s got twenty <i>now</i>,&rdquo; said Jackwood. &ldquo;You have
+not hurt many of them in that place, for the captain knows
+how to choose a position. Send one of the Indians to Black-Hawk,
+and tell him to make haste, as we must get this little
+job off our hands.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;If you find it a little job, then there are no snakes in the
+South Red,&rdquo; said Garrett, who was incensed at the quiet way
+in which his defeat was laughed down. &ldquo;They licked Napope
+alone, and now they&rsquo;ve licked our combined forces, and
+it is no two to one they don&rsquo;t give our friend Black-Hawk
+<span class="pb" id="Page_68">68</span>
+all he can do. <i>You</i> ought to know Melton&rsquo;s scouts by this
+time.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Jackwood nodded, and a fierce look came into his face:</p>
+<p>&ldquo;If I had been here, friend Garrett, this would never have
+happened. If <i>I</i> had assailed these works, I would have taken
+them.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Then assail them now. You&rsquo;ve got the men&mdash;try it.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Dick&mdash;Dick! How lucky it is that all men are not
+swayed by impulse. You offer me a broken and discouraged
+force to perform the task you failed to achieve when they
+were in prime order. It won&rsquo;t do, Richard; too transparent
+altogether. Get the men together, see to the wounded and
+get the survivors ready for a new attack. I will lead it in
+person.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>As he spoke, the approach of dusky scouts heralded the
+coming of Black-Hawk, and directly after the old chief, surrounded
+by his principal advisers and warriors, strode into the
+camp.</p>
+<h2 id="c10"><span class="small">CHAPTER X.</span>
+<br />THE FOREST FIEND.</h2>
+<p>Will Jackwood, whose influence over the old chief had
+now become great, at once accosted him.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;The time has come, chief of the Sacs, when you may
+put forth your hand and take that which is your own, the
+band of men who have braved the power of Napope and
+his strongest men, and have even baffled my warriors. They
+laugh at us in yonder fort; let us teach them what we can
+do.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;My brother speaks good words,&rdquo; replied the chief.
+&ldquo;Let those who have axes go forward and fell trees about
+the fort upon every side so that we may cross the creek.
+Let others take their guns and protect them.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>A cordon of axmen was quickly formed, about the island,
+and the great trees came crashing down, forming
+bridges over which the great force of warriors could rush
+<span class="pb" id="Page_69">69</span>
+to the attack. The work was quickly done, and then at the
+command of the chief four hundred warriors rushed on together,
+uttering their fearful war-cries. They broke through
+the abatis of tangled limbs unopposed and reached the fort
+only to find it tenantless. The white rangers had escaped,
+how they could not tell, leaving nothing to show where they
+had departed, but all knew that it must have been in the interval
+of time which elapsed between the last attack on the
+fort and the coming of Black-Hawk. Black Will was nearly
+beside himself with anger, and a pursuit was at once commenced,
+when the trail was found. But, the &ldquo;scout&rdquo; had
+half an hour&rsquo;s start, and he feared that they would reach the
+river before they could be overtaken, and their leader&rsquo;s fertile
+brain would quickly study out some way of crossing the
+stream.</p>
+<p>Although having but little hope, Black-Hawk sent out
+a hundred of the best Sac warriors under the command of
+Ma-she-eschuck, and the pursuit was pressed with ardor.
+While this was being done, Jackwood sent Garrett with five
+men to find Sadie, and conduct her to a place of safety, strictly
+enjoining him to use her well but upon no account to suffer
+her to escape.</p>
+<p>Dick Garrett hurried his men to the spot where he had
+left Sadie, and as he approached it his countenance began to
+change for he heard nothing of the men he had left in charge
+of the girl.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Hurry up, boys,&rdquo; he cried; &ldquo;if they have lost her, I&rsquo;ll
+not be the man to go back to Black Will Jackwood and tell
+him of it. Ha! Look at that.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The three men who had been left with Sadie lay upon
+the earth under the shadow of the trees. Their faces were
+upturned to the sky, and it needed no prophet to tell that
+they were dead, and the party broke into a run and reached
+the spot. Two of them had been shot through the heart,
+evidently with pistol balls, and the third had half a dozen
+knife wounds upon him, and they saw on every hand evidences
+of a desperate struggle, while Sadie was nowhere to
+be seen. The men paused and looked at each other in unspeakable
+dismay, for they knew Jackwood too well to dare
+face him, and tell him what had happened.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_70">70</div>
+<p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;d kill me!&rdquo; screamed Garrett. &ldquo;Look here, boys;
+we&rsquo;ve got to find this girl before we go back, so take the
+trail at once, and follow. We&rsquo;ll have her back, if she is
+above ground, and avenge these poor fellows who lie dead.
+I only wish we had Tom Bantry now; he was the best scout
+among us.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What made you leave him in the river then?&rdquo; said one
+of the men, in a sullen tone. &ldquo;He won&rsquo;t come back no
+more, Tom won&rsquo;t, and like enuff he&rsquo;ll turn against us.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t be mutinous, Tracey,&rdquo; said Garrett, turning a dark
+look upon the speaker. &ldquo;You know <i>me</i>, and you know I
+never waste words. Be mighty careful; <i>I</i> would, if I was
+you.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The man understood the deadly threat implied in the
+words of his leader, and turned away muttering to him
+self.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Now Jack Fish,&rdquo; said Dick, addressing himself to another
+of the party, &ldquo;if Tracey has done growling, you take
+the trail. &rsquo;Tain&rsquo;t likely that a young and tender girl can
+keep away from us long.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The man addressed came forward, and waving the others
+back began to examine the earth to find the imprint of Sadie&rsquo;s
+feet. It was not long before he announced that he had
+found it, and that it was covered by another trail, that
+of a man in moccasins, who was apparently following her,
+and from the length of the step he should say they were
+running.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That looks as if she was afraid of the critter,&rdquo; said Garrett.
+&ldquo;Who can it be that is brave enough to attack these
+men, shoot two and kill the third with a knife and get off so
+easily? Now, I&rsquo;ll tell you what I make of this, boys. When
+this man, whoever he is, shot down two of the boys and
+rushed in on Davis with the knife, the girl was scared and
+put out for the woods. When he had finished Davis&mdash;and
+he didn&rsquo;t do it easy&mdash;he went after her, and like as not he
+hasn&rsquo;t caught her yet. Take the trail, Jack, but have your
+weapons handy.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>It was yet early in the afternoon and the trail was plain,
+as no attempt had been made to cover it. They went on at
+a trot, Jack Fish in advance, closely followed by Garrett and
+<span class="pb" id="Page_71">71</span>
+the rest, and the course led them deep into the woods to
+the right of the position which had been so nobly held by
+Melton&rsquo;s scout. Sadie was used to exercise in the open
+air and was evidently leading her pursuer a desperate chase,
+using every artifice to throw him from the trail. Garret was
+dumbfounded, for he could not understand why she should
+fly from one who had slain her enemies, but they followed
+the trail, hoping every moment to overtake the man who was
+in chase of Sadie. All at once, Jack Fish, who still held
+the advance, stopped and lifted his hand, with a low
+cry.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;See here, Dick, this gal is cute, you bet. She has throwed
+him off the trail as sure as shootin&rsquo;. Thar&rsquo;s no track but
+his&rsquo;n here.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Dick eagerly inspected the trail and was forced to arrive
+at the same conclusion.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Turn back, then,&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;We will find which way
+she has gone and follow. I will take the trail on one side
+and you on the other and we will soon pick it up again.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>They had not gone back twenty paces when Jack Fish
+stopped beside a clump of thick bushes which grew close to
+the path, and stooping, looked under them.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve found it, boys. She crept under the bushes here and
+got away from him; follow me.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>He passed through the bushes, parting them carefully, and
+upon the other side found the trail clearly defined and leading
+at a right angle from the course they had been following.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;She&rsquo;s smart,&rdquo; said Garrett, admiringly. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know as
+I blame Will for liking her, after all. She has beaten this
+fellow well, and as we don&rsquo;t want any thing from him just
+now, we&rsquo;ll follow the girl.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>They kept on swiftly, for Jack announced that Sadie was
+fatigued at this point and was no longer running. Soon
+after they reached a place where, worn out by fatigue, she
+had seated herself upon a bank and rested for a little time.
+From this point the trail became erratic, and she was evidently
+wandering up and down seeking for some course out
+of the woods, and the night found them still upon the trail
+and they camped for the night determined to take the trail
+again at early morning.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_72">72</div>
+<p>&ldquo;And we&rsquo;ll run her to earth before nine o&rsquo;clock, you
+mark my words,&rdquo; said Garrett. &ldquo;Lucky for you I am your
+leader, or you would have gone back to meet Will Jackwood.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Not if I knows it,&rdquo; said Tracey. &ldquo;Will Jackwood never
+sees me again if we don&rsquo;t find her in the morning. Now I
+think of it, where is the Indian girl?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I never thought of her,&rdquo; said Garrett. &ldquo;Can it be possible
+that <i>she</i> killed the men?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, bosh; she only had a bow and arrows and it took a
+strong man to harness Joel Davis. I&rsquo;ll be cussed if I understand
+it at all. Say, Jack, did you see any thing of the Indian
+girl&rsquo;s trail?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;She went another way from the camp, on a run too. It
+must have been some awful looking critter that tackled Joel
+Davis, to skeer the girls so.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You are right,&rdquo; said Garrett. &ldquo;Now then, as Jack has
+worked hard and we want him to lead again to-morrow,
+Tracey will keep camp for two hours and the rest of you as you
+can agree, until morning. I&rsquo;m going to have a snooze, myself.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>He wrapped himself in a blanket and threw himself down
+at the foot of a tree, while the rest in a discontented manner
+drew lots for the choice of the hours of watching. After
+this had been settled the lucky ones took their blankets and
+lay down, while Tracey lighted his pipe, moved out a short
+distance in the darkness and sat down to watch. The man
+was sullen, and had not yet got over his little brush with
+Garrett upon the fate of Tom Bantry, and he muttered to
+himself about the pride of rank which enabled Garrett to sleep,
+while he was forced to watch.</p>
+<p>They built no fire, for it was a clear summer night and
+even the blankets were scarcely needed. Tracey&rsquo;s pipe
+glowed through the night, showing those of his companions
+who yet slept, where he sat in the shadow. After a time
+the man began to doze, and did not see the dark figure that
+crawled slowly toward him until it stood erect against the
+trunk of the tree against which he was seated. A moment
+after, a long arm was stretched out and clutched his throat in
+so fell a clasp that it seemed to collapse beneath the pressure,
+and in a moment more he lay without a struggle or a groan
+supine beneath the tree.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_73">73</div>
+<p>The strange being who had done the work, bent over the
+insensible form and was busy about something for a short
+time, and then taking up the pipe which Tracey had dropped
+and which had not been extinguished, he sat down near the
+body of the fallen renegade and began to smoke, first picking
+up the cap of his victim and placing it upon his head,
+glancing now and then at the sleeping camp. When the
+pipe was smoked out he arose and stole softly to the side of
+Dick Garrett and looked down into his face.</p>
+<p>The moonlight shone full upon him, and showed a horrible
+figure of gigantic mold, covered from head to foot with a
+hairy substance, while the eyes looked fiercely from his shaggy
+eyebrows upon the sleeping ruffian. His attitude was menacing,
+and once or twice the right hand dropped to a hairy girdle
+about his waist, as if to draw a huge knife which was suspended
+there, but upon second thought he seemed to change his
+mind, and gathering up the rifles of the party, he carried them
+a little distance into the woods, and returned this time to take
+away the knives and pistols, most of which were thrown together
+in a heap, at the place where the rifles had been stacked.
+Some of the villains had their small-arms upon their
+persons, but these the intruder did not attempt to touch, and
+waving his hands triumphantly above his head, he bounded
+into the thicket, and was seen no more.</p>
+<p>Daylight came and they began to yawn and stretch themselves,
+those who ought to have gone upon guard long before,
+looking mystified at being allowed to sleep until morning.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Tracey went to sleep, that&rsquo;s all,&rdquo; said Garrett. &ldquo;Go and
+kick the brute, somebody. There is no telling what might
+have happened through his cussed carelessness.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>One of the men sprung to the spot where the recumbent
+figure of Tracey was seen, and had actually drawn back his
+foot to kick him, when he saw that his hands were tightly
+bound, and a gag thrust into his mouth. His cry of astonishment
+awoke the rest, and they quickly surrounded their fallen
+comrade, relieved him of the ligatures, and helped him to arise.
+The eyes of the man were rolling fearfully, and he gasped for
+breath.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Ha!&rdquo; he said, at last. &ldquo;A pretty set of fellows you are,
+<span class="pb" id="Page_74">74</span>
+to let a man stay in that way all night. Dunderheads&mdash;sleepers&mdash;ten
+thousand curses on your heads!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Steady, Tracey,&rdquo; said Garrett. &ldquo;What does this
+mean?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It means you are a lot of lazy thieves, or you would have
+found this out four hours ago.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Who did it?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;How do I know? I was sitting there smoking my pipe,
+when I felt a great hairy hand upon my throat, and I was
+choking. Then I lost my senses, and when I came to myself,
+I was lying here, anchored to the tree, and unable to
+move hand or foot.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Why didn&rsquo;t you sing out?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Why didn&rsquo;t I fly?&rdquo; retorted Tracey, angrily. &ldquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t
+be a fool if I were you, Dick Garrett. Oh, curse the hand,
+whoever it was. Where&rsquo;s my rifle?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The question naturally drew their attention to their own
+weapons, and as they noted the loss, curses both loud and
+deep were vented upon the head of the being who had done
+this injury to them. Garrett actually foamed at the mouth
+in his anger, and ran in a frantic manner up and down the
+camp, cursing Tracey, their unknown enemy, any thing and
+every thing under the sun, in no measured terms.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s it,&rdquo; said Tracey. &ldquo;Curse your own sleepy heads,
+and let me alone.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Look for sign, Jack Fish,&rdquo; said Garrett, turning to their
+trailer. &ldquo;Tell me who has done this?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s the same man that killed the boys, and then followed
+Miss Sadie,&rdquo; said Jack. &ldquo;Hyar&rsquo;s his trail, plain as writing,
+and I&rsquo;ll be cussed if it don&rsquo;t beat me to tell whether he&rsquo;s
+man or beast.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He shall not beat me,&rdquo; hissed Dick Garrett. &ldquo;Take the
+trail of the girl and follow, for we&rsquo;ll have her now, rifles or
+no rifles.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The trailer obeyed without a word, and they started out
+upon the trail. But, as they emerged from the woods and
+entered a great clearing, every man paused in alarm, for
+there, just in front, and covering them with one of their own
+rifles, while the rest lay at his feet, stood the hairy monster
+who had stolen in upon their camp the night before.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_75">75</div>
+<p>&ldquo;Stop!&rdquo; he cried, in a hoarse, unnatural voice. &ldquo;For
+your lives, stop. Move hand or foot and you are dead!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>They halted, and stood facing the leveled tube, trembling
+in every joint, while the fierce eyes, glancing along the brown
+barrel, held them enthralled.</p>
+<h2 id="c11"><span class="small">CHAPTER XI.</span>
+<br />BLACK-HAWK KEEPS HIS WORD.</h2>
+<p>We left Sadie in charge of those desperadoes, while the
+battle in the swamp was progressing. They were sulky at
+not being allowed to take part in the fight, and only returned
+gruff answers to her questions, while keeping a strict watch
+upon the girls.</p>
+<p>They stood under a great tree, whose spreading branches,
+loaded with foliage, were impenetrable to the eye, and would
+have formed a secure hiding-place, and none of them saw the
+long, hairy arm extended, until a double report stretched two
+of the guards dead upon the sod. Then came a rustling
+sound, and the gigantic being, who afterward appeared to the
+men of Garrett in the woods, bounded from the tree, holding
+in his hand a gleaming knife. With a scream of horror,
+Sadie fled into the forest, and Minneoba, believing that she
+saw a demon of the lower world, also turned in flight, but
+paused upon the edge of the woods, and looked back to see
+a fearful duel between the man named Davis and the strange
+being who sprung from the tree. They seemed to be complete
+masters of their weapons, and for a moment the issue
+seemed doubtful, but the gigantic strength of the unknown
+prevailed, and Davis fell, covered with many wounds. The
+victor stood erect, and seeing that Sadie had fled, uttered a
+hoarse cry, and fixing his eyes upon her trail, bounded away
+in pursuit. Minneoba, like all Indian girls, was superstitious,
+and believed that it would be death to follow the wild being
+into the woods, and turning, hurried on toward Black-Hawk&rsquo;s
+camp, intending to ask aid from him in the recovery of her
+<span class="pb" id="Page_76">76</span>
+friend. Sadie, in the mean time, had put all the distance she
+could between herself and the hideous being who had assailed
+her guards, and was hurried in her flight by hearing his deep
+voice crying out after her, as she rushed on.</p>
+<p>She tried every trick of wood-craft which she had learned
+from her father&mdash;who was a skillful scout&mdash;when she became
+certain that the horrible creature was really in pursuit. How
+she finally eluded him by creeping beneath the bushes, and
+then turning away from the course she had been pursuing, we
+have before seen, and late in the afternoon she found herself
+in the midst of a deep forest, pathless as the sea, not knowing
+which way to turn. She was alone&mdash;alone in the
+depths of that untrodden wilderness, the haunt of wild
+beasts and the hunter who followed them, without a weapon
+or guide. Never, perhaps, was a tenderly-nurtured woman
+placed in so strange a situation before. Look which way she
+would, there seemed to be no hope of succor. Strange
+sights and sounds were heard, slimy snakes crept softly over
+the leaves, great birds flitted through the branches, and she
+heard the cry of the wildcat and panther in the distance.
+Wearied and hopeless, she sunk down upon a mossy knoll,
+and almost wished she had not fled from the monster who
+followed her. But it would not do to remain there, and she
+rose and staggered on her way, hoping against hope that
+something would happen to give her aid.</p>
+<p>She was nearly famished, and coming upon a place where
+the succulent bulb known as the &ldquo;ground-nut&rdquo; grew in profusion,
+she set to work and dug up the bulbs with her fingers,
+following the white stems in their various turnings among the
+roots until she found the article she sought. It took a long
+time to satisfy her hunger, as the nuts were not larger than a
+rifle ball, and were hard to find, and then she began to look
+about for a place of rest, as it would soon be dark. She
+reached a great opening, in the center of which a huge pile
+of logs and brush was heaped, and removing some of these,
+made a couch for herself among the branches, drew others
+over her head, and resigned herself to an All-protecting
+Power. Even in times of difficulty and danger sleep will
+come to the weary, and she lost consciousness, and no longer
+feared her enemies. Morning came and found the sweet girl
+<span class="pb" id="Page_77">77</span>
+still sleeping, when she was suddenly aroused by a harsh
+voice crying out a deadly menace, and peeping from her
+place of concealment, saw the Forest Fiend facing the knot
+of helpless scoundrels under the leadership of Dick Garrett.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It is a man, after all,&rdquo; she murmured. &ldquo;Perhaps I would
+have done better to have let him overtake me, for it seems he
+fights against these villains. Perhaps he is mad, poor
+creature!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Let&rsquo;s make a rush on him altogether, boys,&rdquo; whispered
+Garrett. &ldquo;Curse it, five men ought to whip one.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;But he&rsquo;s got the rifles, the critter,&rdquo; whined Tracey. &ldquo;I
+tell you that if you had been in his grip once, you wouldn&rsquo;t
+be so ready to try him again. He&rsquo;s got a hold like an iron
+vice, that devil has.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t try to run,&rdquo; cried the Forest Fiend. &ldquo;It will not
+be safe; he who flies first, dies first!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What do you want from us?&rdquo; screamed Garrett. &ldquo;Do
+you know who I am, curse you?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I know you,&rdquo; replied the strange being, wildly. &ldquo;You
+are a murderer and a robber, and deserve death for a hundred
+crimes. Why don&rsquo;t you come on? what are you afraid
+of? You tremble at the sight of the Forest Fiend, murderer
+that you are.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Won&rsquo;t you back me, boys?&rdquo; hissed Garrett; &ldquo;I tell you
+I&rsquo;ll be the first to rush at him, if you will agree to follow.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He can kill three of us before we get within striking distance,&rdquo;
+replied Jack Fish. &ldquo;I guess we had better give up
+boys; maybe he&rsquo;ll let us off.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Garrett heard what he said, and thrusting his hand into
+the bosom of his hunting-shirt, drew a long double-barreled
+pistol, his eyes gleaming with rage.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You&rsquo;d turn traitor, would you?&rdquo; he screamed. &ldquo;Now
+see here, rush on that devil, you and Tracey, or I shoot you
+where you stand.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t do it, Dick,&rdquo; pleaded Jack Fish, dropping on his
+knees. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll fight any thing human, but not that dreadful
+creature. Don&rsquo;t force us on him, for the love of God.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll do it,&rdquo; replied Garrett, fiercely. &ldquo;Up and at him,
+you base hounds; up, I say!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Goaded on by fear of the weapon of their leader, the men
+<span class="pb" id="Page_78">78</span>
+sprung on, catching up clubs as they ran. But when they
+had gained a hundred feet from the weapon of Garrett, and
+where it would scarcely reach them, they threw up their
+hands in token of submission, and fell upon their faces. The
+Forest Fiend fired over them, and a man who stood at Garrett&rsquo;s
+elbow fell, shot through the heart. The others, who
+had each a pistol, seeing that nothing was to be gained by
+flight, rushed at the immovable figure of their enemy, who
+caught up another weapon and fired again, killing the foremost
+man. Garrett saw that there was no hope, and calling
+to the last man, sprung toward the thicket. Hearing the
+crack of the rifle, he turned back and saw his friend fall,
+while the stern executioner caught up another rifle and leveled
+it. As the bullet sped, Garrett sprung into the air and
+fell upon his face, just as Jack Fish and Tracey, who had
+taken advantage of their opportunity, reached the thicket in
+safety.</p>
+<p>Their terrible adversary sprung toward the fallen leader
+without waiting to reload his weapon or take up a new one,
+but to his rage Garrett uttered a loud laugh of derision and
+sprung to his feet, and the next moment the leaves concealed
+him from view. He had been &ldquo;playing &rsquo;possum,&rdquo; and was
+not hurt in the least, as he had managed to fall just in time
+to escape the well-aimed bullet. The Forest Fiend darted
+back for a rifle, but he was a moment too late, although he
+fired into the thicket, and then, snatching up a powder-horn
+and bullet-pouch, darted away in pursuit.</p>
+<p>The moment he was gone Sadie came out of her place of
+concealment, selected a rifle and ammunition from the heap,
+and hurried away, glad of the opportunity to get out of a
+dangerous neighborhood. She could not control her fear
+of the strange being who had come to her aid so opportunely,
+and continued her flight until she felt safe from pursuit,
+and then sat down, panting, loaded the rifle which
+she had taken, and prepared to defend herself from any assault.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Who and what is that wonderful being?&rdquo; she murmured.
+&ldquo;How brave he is; how little he cared for that gang
+of desperate scoundrels, who were doubtless in pursuit of
+us! Oh, I hope he may overtake Richard Garrett and
+<span class="pb" id="Page_79">79</span>
+avenge the murder of my poor father! Melton, where are
+you? Have you fallen a victim to these base wretches who
+regard human life as a plaything? God forbid!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>As she was rising to proceed upon her way she heard a
+slight rustle among the bushes, and grasping her rifle turned
+in the direction of the sound. But she dropped the weapon
+with a cry of delight, for the bushes parted and Minneoba
+suddenly appeared and ran to her white sister, clasping her
+in her arms.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Sadie, my sister,&rdquo; she said, softly kissing her again and
+again. &ldquo;The heart of Minneoba has been very sad. She
+feared that the evil demon of the woods had destroyed the
+Wild Rose, and that her poor Indian sister would never see
+the face she loved again.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>If Minneoba was delighted, how much greater was the
+joy of Sadie, who could now hope to escape from the toils
+of her enemies, for she knew that the forest was to the Indian
+girl as easy to tread as a ball-room floor for her. She
+returned the caresses showered upon her, and for a moment
+the two girls forgot that aught of evil or danger hung over
+them.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I have been to my father&rsquo;s camp,&rdquo; said Minneoba, &ldquo;and
+many warriors are searching for you. Black-Hawk loves
+the Wild Rose for her father&rsquo;s sake, and will give her a
+shelter. His heart is very sad because the men of Garrett
+have killed the good white man, but what can he do? The
+war has commenced and the warriors would say he had
+turned woman if he was angry at the death of a white man.
+Let us go.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The two girls set out together, threading the mazes of the
+forest with an ease which only a forest life could impart, the
+Indian girl taking the advance, and chatting merrily with
+her companion as she proceeded. They had not gone far
+when they were met by two warriors, who expressed their
+satisfaction in their peculiar manner, and at once led the
+way to the river, which was not far away, and where a
+canoe was waiting in which they descended the stream, a
+distance of about three miles, landed upon a green point,
+and assisted Sadie to leave the canoe, which was then carefully
+concealed by leaves and brush. This done, the warriors
+<span class="pb" id="Page_80">80</span>
+again led the way, the two girls following, and they
+came suddenly upon a great camp of the Indians. More
+than four hundred people, principally fighting braves, although
+there was a small number of women and children,
+were resting in the beautiful glade, most of them engaged in
+cleaning their weapons and getting ready for the battle
+which was to come. Black-Hawk and Will Jackwood were
+conversing together apart from the rest, and the latter started
+forward with a look of delight as he saw Sadie, and advanced
+at once, closely followed by Black-Hawk.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Welcome to the Indian camp, Sadie,&rdquo; said Jackwood,
+endeavoring to take her hand. &ldquo;You can not tell how unhappy
+I have been since I knew that you were lost.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>She took no notice of his extended hand, but went on to
+meet Black-Hawk, who greeted her kindly.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Let the Wild Rose rest under the shelter of a Sac lodge,&rdquo;
+he said. &ldquo;Black-Hawk has been driven from the places
+he loved by the white men, but he can not forget that
+there are just white men, who would not do a wrong to the
+simple Indian. Such a man was the father of the Wild
+Rose.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk,&rdquo; said Sadie, as she took the proffered hand,
+&ldquo;when my father drove away the bad men who sought your
+life, you promised to be a friend to us. Now the time has
+come for you to keep your word.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk is not a white man, to speak with a double
+tongue. What he has spoken&mdash;he <i>has</i> spoken. Let the
+Wild Rose ask what she will from Black-Hawk, and if it is
+in his power, she shall have what she asks.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;My father is dead,&rdquo; she said, mournfully. &ldquo;The bad men
+who follow William Jackwood, killed him because he would
+not kneel to them or beg for his life. Now, Jackwood follows
+me and I fear him, and I ask the protection of the great
+chief from this bad man.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Has the son of Red-Bird lied to me?&rdquo; cried Black-Hawk,
+sternly. &ldquo;He told me that the Wild Rose loved him and
+would come into his lodge gladly.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He has lied,&rdquo; she answered. &ldquo;He knows that I hate
+him above all men on earth, and that I would die sooner than
+permit myself to be his wife.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_81">81</div>
+<p>&ldquo;Be careful, girl,&rdquo; hissed Jackwood. &ldquo;You will raise a
+tempest which you can not quell, if you do not look out.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I have no fear of the result. Any thing would be preferable
+to a union with such a wretch as you are.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Look you, Black-Hawk,&rdquo; cried Jackwood, turning fiercely
+upon the chief. &ldquo;When I agreed to aid you, remember that
+I told you that this girl must be mine and you promised that
+I should have my will.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That was when Black-Hawk believed that the Wild Rose
+loved you,&rdquo; replied Black-Hawk. &ldquo;She has asked for my
+protection and it is given. Let the son of Red-Bird seek
+another mate; the Wild Rose is not for him.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>A tempest of furious passions raged in the heart of William
+Jackwood. At any other time or place he would have
+shot the old chief down without any remorse, and even here,
+in the midst of his warriors, he was tempted to do it, even
+at the risk of his own life. With a mighty effort he restrained
+himself, and turned away with a malevolent glance
+at Sadie, which she returned by one of defiance.</p>
+<p>Several of the principal braves were looking on, and there
+was some murmuring, for these men recognized the good old
+maxim&mdash;&lsquo;to the victor belong the spoils.&rsquo; While they stood
+thus, there was heard a triumphant shout upon the river, and
+several men started away to see what it meant. They were
+soon heard coming back, and directly after a compact body
+of men, those who followed Will Jackwood, poured into the
+camp, leading in their midst, as prisoners, Captain Melton,
+Cooney Joe and Tom Bantry. A look of ferocious joy
+beamed upon the face of Will Jackwood, for he saw a chance
+for revenge.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_82">82</div>
+<h2 id="c12"><span class="small">CHAPTER XII.</span>
+<br />SADIE&rsquo;S SACRIFICE.</h2>
+<p>The prisoners marched firmly, and not a cheek blanched
+as they saw where they were led and realized the fearful
+danger in which they stood. Will Jackwood started forward
+and addressed one of his subordinates, who, for the time
+being, had been in command of the band.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Did <i>you</i> take them, Justin? If you can say that you
+did so without aid from the Indians, then you may ask any
+thing you like at my hands.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Nary red,&rdquo; replied the man. &ldquo;We caught them crossing
+the river in a canoe, and pounced on &rsquo;em almost before they
+could lift a hand, but that Cooney Joe laid out Jack Ferguson,
+and Saul Sloan has got a bad wound in the shoulder, from
+Melton&rsquo;s knife. Is that satisfactory?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Excellent! Black-Hawk, I claim these prisoners as my
+own, as my men took them without help.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;They are yours,&rdquo; replied Black-Hawk. &ldquo;An Indian
+chief knows how to be just.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Now then, Captain Charles Melton, you are in my power;
+do you understand, in my power! You shall rue the day
+when you dared come between me and the woman I love.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What do you mean, renegade?&rdquo; replied the young scout.
+&ldquo;I never wronged you in my life.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Perhaps; we shall see how it turns out. Keep them
+safe, boys; set a double guard upon them, and for your lives,
+let none escape. Ah, my good, valiant, chivalric Joe, how
+you will repent having raised your hand against me.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I do repent, Will,&rdquo; said Joe, quietly. &ldquo;I repent most
+awfully. I ought to have lifted yer ha&rsquo;r on the spot, by
+gracious. &rsquo;Twould have served you just right, and saved a
+good deal of trouble.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Take them away, boys, take them away. Ha; don&rsquo;t let
+the girl speak to them or she will contrive some way to set
+<span class="pb" id="Page_83">83</span>
+them free. Look out for Minneoba above all others, for she
+is as cute as the devil. Miss Sadie, do I deceive myself when
+I think that you will not <i>now</i> disdain to hold some conversation
+with me?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What do you wish to say to me, sir?&rdquo; replied Sadie, who
+saw the dreadful peril of her friends, and wished to save
+them if possible.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Say to Black-Hawk that you wish to speak to me apart
+from the rest and he will give you permission. I see a way
+in which you can save these men.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>She spoke to the chief, who nodded kindly, and she followed
+Black Will a little distance from the camp.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That is far enough,&rdquo; she said, pausing under a great tree.
+&ldquo;What have you to say to me?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Change your way of speaking; be more complaisant to
+me, my dear girl, for the more kindly you use me the better
+it will be for yonder men who are doomed beyond hope if
+I so much as lift a finger. First of all&mdash;do you love this
+Captain Melton?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He has never spoken to me,&rdquo; replied Sadie. &ldquo;How do I
+know that he cares for me?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That is not the question at issue. Do you love him?
+That is what I asked.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;How can I answer that, when I do not know my own
+heart? He is a brave and good man, and I could love him
+dearly if he loved me as well. I will say no more upon that
+point.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;At least you care enough for him to wish to save his
+life?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Yes&mdash;yes; I would do almost any thing for that,&rdquo; she replied,
+eagerly.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It has gone as far as that, has it? My dear girl, you are
+further gone than you imagined. Now, I do not wish to be
+incumbered by prisoners. If we can not come to terms, I
+shall find it necessary to put these fellows out of the way,
+and shall certainly do so. There are many ways in which to
+do this, and my friends the Indians will doubtless be happy
+to take the laboring oar out of my hands.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Do you mean that you would be base enough to give them
+up to the torture?&rdquo; she cried.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_84">84</div>
+<p>&ldquo;Undoubtedly, my Indian friends might find it in their
+hearts to burn them if they only had them. I was present
+at a spectacle of this kind, the other day, where they barbecued
+a traitorous Indian. It was not pretty, and I may say
+did not amuse me after the first gush, and I went so far as to
+kill the poor fellow with my own hand, to put him out of his
+pain. It would distress me very much to see any of your
+friends in a like delicate situation.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What do you ask of me, William Jackwood? Do you
+wish to drive me mad? You could not&mdash;<i>could</i> not be so
+base.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I would do any thing for revenge,&rdquo; replied the man,
+hoarsely. &ldquo;I tell you, upon my honor as a man, that if you
+do not promise to be my wife&mdash;I know that you will keep
+your word&mdash;these men shall all die as I have said. Make that
+promise, and upon the day when you become my wife, all shall
+be set free except one.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Which one do you mean?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Tom Bantry; he is a cursed traitor.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That man must be saved, at all hazards,&rdquo; replied Sadie,
+firmly. &ldquo;Of all your villainous band, William Jackwood, he
+alone showed a spark of pity when my unhappy father was
+cast into the furious flood, bound and helpless. What I would
+not do for love I will do for gratitude, and I give you my
+hand, if you will swear upon your honor that these men shall
+go free, and at once.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You are sensible,&rdquo; he said, eagerly. &ldquo;I had not hoped
+that you would yield so easily, and I will make it the study
+of my life to make you happy as&mdash;&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Silence! Give me your promise and I will give you
+mine.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I swear by the only things I hold pure&mdash;the memory of
+my mother and my love for you&mdash;that these men shall all be
+spared.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;And I promise to be your wife, if we both live. Oh,
+God, forgive me if I do wrong in this, but I can not see these
+brave men sacrificed, who have come into this deadly peril
+for my sake. William Jackwood, understand me fully, and
+do not say in the after times that I deceived you. I hate
+you&mdash;I shall always hate you&mdash;but I will be your wife.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_85">85</div>
+<p>&ldquo;All right,&rdquo; said Jackwood, with a light laugh. &ldquo;I will
+try to change your opinion of me when we are married. And
+now you are at liberty, and I will leave it to you to tell Black-Hawk
+that you have changed your mind, while I prepare to
+leave him. The chief has not used me well, and I do not
+fight the battles of those who do not treat me as a friend.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>She went away with drooping head, and he stood in the
+same spot, moodily tapping his boot-leg with a small switch
+he carried. He was not fully satisfied, although he had gained
+the stake for which he had been playing so long. She had
+told him that she hated him, and had as good as said she
+loved Charles Melton, and yet had promised to be his wife.
+As he stood there, a man panting for breath and bleeding
+from several wounds, rushed up to him, and in his disfigured
+countenance he saw something which reminded him of Dick
+Garrett, and stopped him.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Dick, what is the matter?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Played out!&rdquo; replied Dick, dropping exhausted on the sod.
+&ldquo;Give me some rum, for I am half dead.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Jackwood put his flask to the mouth of the exhausted man
+and he drank long and eagerly, and drew a deep breath of relief.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Ah-h-h! That goes to the spot, Will. I&rsquo;ve had a long
+run&mdash;chased by the devil&rsquo;s kid, and it&rsquo;s a mercy that I have
+got in alive. It all came of chasing that accursed girl, who
+got into the woods.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It was not your fault, Dick,&rdquo; said Jackwood. &ldquo;Minneoba
+came in and told us about it, and we sent out parties
+after her, and one of them picked her up.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Take care of her yourself, after this,&rdquo; panted Dick. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve
+seen the devil to-day, and fought him, and I don&rsquo;t want any
+more.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Where are the rest of your men?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Gone under, I reckon. Jack Fish and Tracey got into
+the woods, and the rest are dead. I had to play &rsquo;possum, or
+I would have been cooked, too. Give me another drink, and
+I&rsquo;ll tell you about it.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Jackwood gave him the flask, and for a moment nothing
+was heard except the musical gurgle of the liquor. When
+he lowered it, a considerable vacuum existed in the vessel,
+<span class="pb" id="Page_86">86</span>
+and he told the story of the chase after Sadie with many expletives
+not necessary to set down here. When he had
+finished the tale he did the same with the liquor, and stood
+up.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You are wounded, Dick!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Nothing of much account. I&rsquo;ve been cut and scratched
+in diving through the brushes, for that hairy cuss chased me
+almost into camp. I thought he&rsquo;d never give it up.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know who or what it can be,&rdquo; said Jackwood,
+musingly, &ldquo;and I don&rsquo;t care much. Go and wash the blood
+from your face, and then get the men together, for we must
+leave this camp. It is all up with Black-Hawk, for Atkinson
+has come with an army, and he will clean out the Indians in
+the twinkling of an eye.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Garrett moved away slowly, and Jackwood advanced to
+the side of Black-Hawk, who was talking with Sadie. She
+did not look at him as he came up, but Minneoba faced him
+boldly, with her pretty face showing the utmost anger and
+contempt.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What has the son of Red-Bird said to frighten the Wild
+Rose?&rdquo; she cried, angrily. &ldquo;He is a coward and no brave.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You had better send your daughter away, Black-Hawk,&rdquo;
+said Jackwood, quietly. &ldquo;I have borne insults enough in
+this camp, and will not stay here.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;The son of Red-Bird promised to stay and fight for his
+red brothers,&rdquo; said Black-Hawk, reproachfully, &ldquo;and when
+he sees the enemy in sight he runs away like a frightened
+hound. It is well; Black-Hawk would not have any except
+brave men follow him.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It is false, Indian,&rdquo; cried Will Jackwood. &ldquo;Here, in the
+midst of your wild band, I defy you to prove that while you
+were true to me, I failed to do my duty like a man. But
+when you dared to take away my prisoner, my wife that is
+to be, in that day I leave you, never to return.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Go,&rdquo; replied Black-Hawk. &ldquo;I have been deceived in
+the son of Red-Bird. His father died in the white man&rsquo;s
+prison, and now he basely turns away when the battle is
+nigh.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Stay with me, Wild Rose,&rdquo; cried Minneoba. &ldquo;My father
+is a strong chief and will protect you from harm.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_87">87</div>
+<p>&ldquo;I can not&mdash;I dare not,&rdquo; replied Sadie. &ldquo;If I stay with
+you, my friends, who are his prisoners, must die.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;My father will take them away from him,&rdquo; said Minneoba,
+looking pleadingly at the old chief.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Let him do so&mdash;let him make himself a dog, if he dares,&rdquo;
+replied Jackwood. &ldquo;I will tell his baseness throughout the
+tribes, and not a man of them all dare look me in the face
+until I am righted.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The chief hung his head, for he had pledged his sacred
+word that Jackwood should keep his prisoners. The scoundrel
+knew his character too well to doubt for a moment that
+the Indian would keep his word, and let them go away with
+the prisoners. Minneoba pleaded in vain, and with loud lamenting,
+followed the compact force of Jackwood to the edge
+of the forest, and saw them go away with the prisoners, closely
+guarded, and Sadie walking by the side of William Jackwood,
+with a hard, bitter look upon her beautiful face. Garrett,
+who recovered quickly from every evil, turned about
+and blew a kiss at Minneoba, who at once fitted an arrow to
+the string, and would have sent it after him, but that he took
+shelter among the men, laughing.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;The world is all before us where to choose,&rsquo; boys,&rdquo; said
+Jackwood, &ldquo;but one thing is certain, if this thing goes against
+the Indians, and of course it will, this territory won&rsquo;t be very
+healthy for us. What do you say?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ll find a place to live, Cap,&rdquo; replied Garrett. &ldquo;The
+world owes us a living, and we&rsquo;ll have it too, or else make
+trouble.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you think we had better find a hiding-place and
+see what is going to happen? There will be pretty pickings
+for us if the day should, by any chance, favor the Indians,
+even for a time.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I know the place you mean, Cap,&rdquo; said Jack Fish, who
+had come in before they marched. &ldquo;The neatest hiding-place
+in the West.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;How far away?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;&rsquo;Bout six mile, I reckon.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Lead the way, then.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Fish took the advance, and Jackwood assisted the weary
+steps of Sadie over the rugged road before them. It led
+<span class="pb" id="Page_88">88</span>
+through tangled thickets, under trees which had been the
+growth of centuries, and ended in a circular forest opening,
+so difficult to reach, that Black Will was obliged to carry Sadie
+in places, so worn out had she become.</p>
+<p>The grass was green in the little glade, and the birds
+were singing, as one by one the troop came out from beneath
+the canopy of leaves, and gained a footing on the level
+turf.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Jack Fish,&rdquo; said the renegade, &ldquo;you have deserved well
+of your country. I could live here forever. Here we rest,
+until the thing is decided one way or another.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;How will we live?&rdquo; queried Garrett.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;The woods are full of game, and we will kill it so far
+from the camp, that no one will suspect us of being here.
+Captain Melton, will you give me your word of honor not to
+try to escape, provided I free your arms?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Melton was about to refuse, but catching Sadie&rsquo;s eye, he
+changed his mind, and made the required promise. It was
+not extended to Tom Bantry, and Cooney Joe, who were
+tightly bound, and placed under guard. Sadie was coming
+forward with the intention of speaking to Melton, when the
+bushes parted near her, and the face of the demon of the
+woods appeared, peeping out among the leaves.</p>
+<h2 id="c13"><span class="small">CHAPTER XIII.</span>
+<br />GUESTS NOT INVITED.</h2>
+<p>Sadie was not easily frightened, but it required the effort
+of all her resolution to keep her from uttering a cry of
+alarm. The young captain saw that she was deeply moved and
+ascribed it to her grief at the situation in which she found
+herself placed. But she recovered herself by a great effort
+of the will and came forward, giving her hand frankly to the
+man she loved and who loved her as dearly.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I am deeply grieved that you have come into this danger
+for my sake, Charles,&rdquo; she said, softly. &ldquo;But have no
+<span class="pb" id="Page_89">89</span>
+fear, for I will save you at any hazard. Indeed, it is done
+already, for I have given my word and you are safe.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Safe! What do you mean, Sadie; what promise have
+you given?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Do not be angry with me, Charles,&rdquo; she said, sadly. &ldquo;I
+am sorry that it is forced upon me but&mdash;I have promised to
+be the wife of William Jackwood.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Black Will! Gracious heaven, Sadie, it cannot be. What
+madness is this?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I was forced to do it. They threatened you and your
+brave companions with a horrible death. I had no one near
+to advise me and I could not&mdash;I could not see you die.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You should have spoken to me first,&rdquo; he cried, wildly.
+&ldquo;You knew that I loved you. I have never dared to tell
+you until now, and ought to have spoken. What is death to
+dishonor? What a life you have doomed yourself to
+bear, that I may live. I would sooner die a thousand deaths
+than bear this bitter burden.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Charles!&rdquo; she cried. &ldquo;You make my load too heavy
+for me to bear. How could I see those who had incurred
+this peril for me, given up to satisfy the bloody passions of
+these desperate men. My father is dead&mdash;I am alone in the
+world and my life would have been a weary one at best, if
+I had refused to yield. He told me that if I was obstinate,
+I should stand by and see you suffer. I could not have borne
+that, at any rate.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You should have remained in the camp of Black-Hawk,
+who is a brave man, although an Indian. My dear girl, I
+can not blame you for what you have done. It was in all
+kindness of heart, but it was wrong for you to yield. The
+lives of men who are ready at any time to die for the right
+should be as a feather&rsquo;s weight compared to your sacrifice.
+As I say, so would Joe Bent and Tom Bantry, who are more
+hated by these men than I am.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Can you not escape?&rdquo; she whispered. &ldquo;But no&mdash;I forgot.
+My word is pledged to this bad man and that I hold
+sacred. But I shall not deem it a crime to take his life, and
+although he may claim my hand he shall never have a
+wife&rsquo;s duty from me&mdash;for I hate him&mdash;oh, how I hate him!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The white teeth clicked together fiercely as she spoke,
+<span class="pb" id="Page_90">90</span>
+and Black Will, who was listening, laughed a low, bitter laugh,
+full of malice.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Sorry to interfere in a social meeting of this kind,&rdquo; he
+said, advancing, &ldquo;but your language is disgusting to your
+future husband, my dear Sadie. Captain Melton, if I hear
+any more language of this kind from you, I shall have you
+bound and gagged, for I will not endure it.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;If you do that it absolves me from my promise, for you
+gave me your word to treat them well,&rdquo; said Sadie.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I will not give you even that loop-hole from which to
+escape,&rdquo; said Black Will, after a pause. &ldquo;I leave the camp
+to-day in search of a man who is at one of the Indian stations,
+a Lutheran missionary. Let me say to you that he is
+a man who would not perform the ceremony if you offer a
+word of objection, and that you have only to say &lsquo;no,&rsquo; and
+that ceremony will cease and one of another kind commence,
+for as there is a sky above us I will take your friends out
+and hang them before your eyes. Git my horse, Jack
+Fish.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The man obeyed, and after giving some orders to Dick
+Garrett in a low tone, the renegade mounted and rode away
+through the wood.</p>
+<p>Two days passed, and they heard nothing of him. Upon
+the afternoon of the third he came into camp accompanied
+by a pale, intellectual-looking man in the dress of a clergyman,
+who looked mildly about on the wild group in the
+camp, evidently surprised to find himself in such a place.
+He was at once conducted to one of the brush cabins which
+had been built up by the men, while Black Will dismounted
+and ordered that Melton and the other prisoners should be
+removed into the woods a short distance from the camp, for
+he knew the missionary too well to believe that he would
+perform the ceremony if he had any doubt of the willingness
+of the lady to do her part, and Black Will feared the prisoners
+might let him know the true state of the case.</p>
+<p>Five men accompanied the prisoners into the woods, with
+orders to shoot them down at the first attempt to escape.
+When this was done Black Will approached the brush cabin
+in which Sadie spent the time, and called her out.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I have returned,&rdquo; he said, cheerfully. &ldquo;You must excuse
+<span class="pb" id="Page_91">91</span>
+me for staying away from you so long, but I found it
+difficult to find the missionary.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I only wish you had never found him or had received
+your just deserts, sir,&rdquo; was the somewhat unpromising reply.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;My deserts; I deserve better treatment at your hands, I
+think.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Twelve feet of rope and a tree would suit you better,&rdquo;
+she replied. &ldquo;Do not deceive yourself by the belief that I
+shall ever change in my regard for you. The most slimy
+reptile which crawls through the swamp would be to me a
+more pleasant companion. I give my hand to you to save
+my friends, but never my heart with it.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>He stood moodily before her, tapping his boot with the
+riding-whip he carried.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I have half a mind to refuse your hand upon these
+terms,&rdquo; he said, gloomily, without raising his eyes from the
+earth upon which they were bent. &ldquo;Your language is horrible
+to one to whom you are about to join yourself for life,
+and the day will surely come when you will repent it bitterly.
+There, I will say no more now; but, in half an hour
+I shall come for you and we will be married.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You need not fear but I will keep my word,&rdquo; she said.
+&ldquo;Will you keep yours as well?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I never broke it yet to friend or foe,&rdquo; was his answer,
+&ldquo;and I do not mean to commence now. When you have
+given me your hand in marriage, these men shall have two
+days&rsquo; grace, but if I catch them after that, woe be to them,
+that is all.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>He turned upon his heel and left her to her own reflections,
+which were not of the most pleasant type. At times
+she doubted her firmness in the hour of trial, and whether
+she would not give way in the presence of the missionary,
+but the thought of his fearful threat against her lover and
+friends nerved her, and she determined to bear up as bravely
+as she could, and make the sacrifice for their safety. She
+would have liked to see Melton once before the ceremony,
+but feared that she was not strong enough to endure the
+meeting. While she sat there with her face buried in her
+hands, Black Will came for her.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_92">92</div>
+<p>&ldquo;There is one favor I would ask you,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;and it
+is one you can easily grant. You know I love Charles Melton,
+but all thoughts of him must pass in the moment when
+I put my hand in yours. Under the circumstances he must
+not see me again, and I could not bear to see him.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Agreed; you shall not see him, and if he dares to attempt
+an interview when you are once my wife, it will be the
+worse for him. I have removed him already, and they wait
+in the woods until the ceremony is over, when they shall be
+allowed to go where they will.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That will do, sir. Now I am ready, if you will not relent.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>He shook his head savagely, and taking her hand led
+her out into the open space among the trees. The band
+were standing carelessly about, looking on as the two took
+their station before the missionary, who advanced book in
+hand and stood before them.</p>
+<p>He recited that portion of the ritual which was necessary before
+he asked the question, &ldquo;and if any know just cause or reason
+why these should not be joined together in the bands of holy
+wedlock, let them now speak or forever after hold their
+peace,&rdquo; when the crowd scattered before the rush of a strong
+man, and the gigantic figure of the Forest Fiend sprung into
+the circle and hurled Black Will ten paces backward by a
+single thrust of his powerful arm, while he cried, fiercely:</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I forbid the banns!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Down with him,&rdquo; roared Black Will, drawing his knife.
+&ldquo;At him, boys.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Back!&rdquo; cried the strange being, &ldquo;back, for your lives.
+It is not right that innocence and youth should be forced
+to wed with such a thing as this, and I forbid it. Back, I say.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>They recoiled before the stern figure, especially those
+among them who had felt the nervous force of his strong
+arm, while Black Will looked at the clergyman.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Do not mind the ravings of a madman, sir,&rdquo; he said;
+&ldquo;this man is insane and knows not what he does.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It is false, reverend sir,&rdquo; replied the Forest Fiend. &ldquo;I
+am as sane a man as any here, and know whereof I speak.
+Fall back, men; don&rsquo;t press upon me. Ha, they will have
+it, then. Melton&rsquo;s Scout to the rescue!&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_93">93</div>
+<p>As the tones of his sonorous voice rung out through the
+deep forest, there came a charging cheer, and the buck-skin
+shirts and coon-skin caps of Melton&rsquo;s Scout showed through
+the leafy cover, and with wild cries they poured upon the
+foe.</p>
+<p>Not a shot was fired, for Sadie, the missionary and the
+Forest Fiend stood in the midst of the enemy, and the Scout
+dared not fire. But as the enemy retreated, snatching up
+their weapons as they went, at a signal from the Forest Fiend,
+Sadie and the missionary fell upon their faces, and the Scout
+poured in a single withering volley which strewed the ground
+with dead and dying, and then charged upon the foe with
+knife, hatchet and pistol.</p>
+<p>The Forest Fiend caught up a rifle from the earth, and
+using it as a club, headed the charge. Close behind him came
+Charles Melton, Cooney Joe and Tom Bantry, striking out
+manfully for the right, and felling an adversary at every blow.
+But none could equal the strange being known as the Forest
+Fiend. Taking the ponderous rifle in one hand, he made it
+play about his head with lightning rapidity, and the renegades
+went down before him like chaff before the wind.</p>
+<p>Taken by surprise, it was no wonder that the retreat soon
+became a rout, and they scattered to the four winds, closely
+pursued by their determined assailants. One man, and that
+man Dick Garrett, dared to bar the way of the Forest Fiend,
+who paused with uplifted weapon and looked at him.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;At last, villain,&rdquo; he cried, &ldquo;your time has come!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Vain was the interposition of the rifle of the renegade to
+stay the blow. It descended upon his head, and Dick Garrett,
+the friend and companion in villainy of Will Jackwood
+lay dead at the avenger&rsquo;s feet. At this moment a cry of
+anger was heard, and turning, the strange man saw that Jackwood
+was on horseback, headed for the bushes.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Fire at him,&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;Bring him down at all hazards.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Half a dozen bullets sped, but Jackwood was already in
+the thicket, and all pursuit was vain. Five minutes later the
+fight was over, and few of Black Will&rsquo;s band remained to
+tell the tale of that terrible day.</p>
+<p>The Forest Fiend turned back to the place where Sadie
+<span class="pb" id="Page_94">94</span>
+stood, encircled by the arm of Charles Melton, and she drew
+closer to her lover as she marked his terrible aspect. Raising
+his hand to his face, he tore off the hairy mask which covered
+it, and revealed the face of&mdash;<i>Samuel Wescott</i>!</p>
+<p>Her father, redeemed from a watery grave! In an instant
+Sadie was in his arms, half-delirious with joy, and the tried
+friends gathered about him, eager to shake his hand, while
+Cooney Joe and Tom Bantry danced a comic hornpipe, uttering
+yells which would have done credit to Sac warriors on
+the war-trail.</p>
+<p>When the first transport of the meeting was over, Samuel
+Wescott turned to Tom Bantry and shook him warmly by the
+hand.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You did your best to save me, my friend,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;but
+I knew that both must perish if I clung to you. I went down,
+as you know, and coming to the surface, in a death-struggle I
+caught a floating log, which quickly bore me down the stream,
+and I had not the strength to land until I had been carried
+two miles down. Near this place I had a <i>cache</i>, in which,
+among other articles, was this disguise, which I have sometimes
+worn in my expeditions among the tribes, and I knew
+that it might aid me in the work before me. Had I known
+that it would frighten my daughter so much, I would have
+shown my face when I attacked the men who guarded her,
+while you were fighting in the swamp.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s enough to skeer the life out of any critter,&rdquo; said
+Cooney Joe. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t wonder she run from you.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It has served its purpose. I followed you to this place,
+Sadie, and having satisfied myself that those I loved were in
+no immediate danger, I went back for the Scout, the position
+of whose camp I knew. We came up softly, set Melton, Joe
+and Tom at liberty, and then attacked these scoundrels. The
+rest you know as well as I. There is only one thing for
+which I am sorry, and that is, that this villain Jackwood has
+escaped. But his fate will find him out.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Half an hour later they were on their way to the river,
+guarded by Melton&rsquo;s Scout. The last week had been one of
+trial, but they had come out of the flame triumphant, and the
+power of Black Will Jackwood was broken forever. As they
+reached the river-bank, and the men were bringing up the
+<span class="pb" id="Page_95">95</span>
+flat in which they were to cross, Minneoba suddenly appeared
+from the forest, and fell upon Sadie&rsquo;s neck, weeping for
+joy.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Minneoba can bear any thing now, the breaking of her
+people, the loss of home, for her sister is safe. Good-by, and
+do not forget the poor Indian girl who loves you.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Come with us,&rdquo; said Samuel Wescott. &ldquo;I will give you
+a shelter in my house until the war is at an end.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>But Minneoba shook her head sadly.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;The Indian girl must not leave her father,
+who loves her. Go in peace.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>They parted from her sadly, and as the flat receded from
+the shore, they saw her standing in a dejected attitude, leaning
+on her bow. It was many a day before they saw her
+again.</p>
+<p class="tb">The battle was at its hight. Black-Hawk had risked all
+upon a cast of the die, and had found it a losing game. Melton,
+Cooney Joe and Tom Bantry were there, fighting gallantly,
+and as the Indians began to break up, they charged a
+resolute knot of warriors who stood their ground stubbornly,
+dealing death on every side.</p>
+<p>There was a moment of wild confusion, and Charles Melton
+found himself face to face with a desperate man, in his
+war-paint, who assailed him with demoniac fury. Just then
+Melton&rsquo;s horse fell, shot through the heart, and his adversary
+sprung at him with a wild cry of joy, raising a hatchet above
+his devoted head.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Death to you, Melton,&rdquo; he screamed. &ldquo;I am Will Jackwood,
+and you die by my hand. If I lost her, at least you
+shall never possess her.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Melton, pinned to the earth by his fallen horse, lifted his
+hand to ward off the blow, but hampered as he was he could
+offer but slight resistance, and the knife, his only defense,
+was forced from his hand, and the hatchet gleamed above
+him.</p>
+<p>He had just time to catch the gleam of ferocious joy in the
+eyes of his enemy, and had given up hope, when a rifle
+cracked, and Jackwood, throwing up his arms, clutched at
+the bloody cloth upon his breast, tried once more to lift his
+<span class="pb" id="Page_96">96</span>
+weapon, and then, with a snarl of demoniac malice, dropped
+dead in his tracks, while Cooney Joe, with a rifle smoking in
+his hand, ran to aid his fallen leader, who was quickly placed
+upon his feet.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Who is he?&rdquo; cried Joe, angrily. &ldquo;Ha! Black Will, by
+the mortal. Rubbed out at last.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>This was his epitaph. He died as he had lived, boldly and
+defiantly, and found a soldier&rsquo;s grave.</p>
+<p>The power of Black-Hawk was broken, and the old chief
+a fugitive, soon to be a prisoner in the hands of the whites.
+Then it was that Samuel Wescott kept his promise to Minneoba,
+and gave her a shelter under his roof. The teachings
+of Sadie soon changed the forest maiden so much, that she
+loved a domestic life, and when Sadie was married, soon after
+Black-Hawk&rsquo;s visit to the east, Minneoba was there, and witnessed
+the ceremony. When it was finished, Cooney Joe
+stopped the clergyman:</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Stop a little, stranger,&rdquo; he said, sheepishly. &ldquo;Got another
+little job for you, I have.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>And to the surprise of all, Minneoba took his hand, and
+they were married.</p>
+<p>Unknown to every one, Joe had obtained the consent of
+the old chief, who knew that his daughter was better fitted
+to live with the whites than with the tribes, and Minneoba
+became the wife of Joe Bent. She never had cause to repent
+it. Rough though he was, he was a true man, and worked
+nobly for her sake, and strange as it may seem, became in
+time, one of the richest farmers in that region.</p>
+<p>Captain Melton also settled there, and the two families
+were constantly together. And above the mantel, in Melton&rsquo;s
+study, hangs the costume of the Forest Fiend.</p>
+<p>Tom Bantry was for years a successful boatman upon the
+Mississippi, and at last a Captain. Samuel Wescott died at a
+green old age, honored and beloved by all who knew him.</p>
+<p class="tbcenter"><span class="smaller">THE END.</span></p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_98">98</div>
+<h2 id="c14"><span class="small">DIME POCKET NOVELS.</span></h2>
+<p class="center">PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY, AT TEN CENTS EACH.</p>
+<div class="verse">
+<p class="t0"><b>1</b>&mdash;<b>Hawkeye Harry.</b> By Oll Coomes.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>2</b>&mdash;<b>Dead Shot.</b> By Albert W. Aiken.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>3</b>&mdash;<b>The Boy Miners.</b> By Edward S. Ellis.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>4</b>&mdash;<b>Blue Dick.</b> By Capt. Mayne Reid.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>5</b>&mdash;<b>Nat Wolfe.</b> By Mrs. M. V. Victor.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>6</b>&mdash;<b>The White Tracker.</b> By Edward S. Ellis.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>7</b>&mdash;<b>The Outlaw&rsquo;s Wife.</b> By Mrs. Ann S. Stephens.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>8</b>&mdash;<b>The Tall Trapper.</b> By Albert W. Aiken.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>9</b>&mdash;<b>Lightning Jo.</b> By Capt. Adams.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>10</b>&mdash;<b>The Island Pirate.</b> By Capt. Mayne Reid.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>11</b>&mdash;<b>The Boy Ranger.</b> By Oll Coomes.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>12</b>&mdash;<b>Bess, the Trapper.</b> By E. S. Ellis.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>13</b>&mdash;<b>The French Spy.</b> By W. J. Hamilton.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>14</b>&mdash;<b>Long Shot.</b> By Capt. Comstock.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>15</b>&mdash;<b>The Gunmaker.</b> By James L. Bowen.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>16</b>&mdash;<b>Red Hand.</b> By A. G. Piper.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>17</b>&mdash;<b>Ben, the Trapper.</b> By Lewis W. Carson.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>18</b>&mdash;<b>Wild Raven.</b> By Oll Coomes.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>19</b>&mdash;<b>The Specter Chief.</b> By Seelin Robins.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>20</b>&mdash;<b>The B&rsquo;ar-Killer.</b> By Capt. Comstock.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>21</b>&mdash;<b>Wild Nat.</b> By Wm. R. Eyster.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>22</b>&mdash;<b>Indian Jo.</b> By Lewis W. Carson.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>23</b>&mdash;<b>Old Kent, the Ranger.</b> By Edward S. Ellis.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>24</b>&mdash;<b>The One-Eyed Trapper.</b> By Capt. Comstock.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>25</b>&mdash;<b>Godbold, the Spy.</b> By N. C. Iron.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>26</b>&mdash;<b>The Black Ship.</b> By John S. Warner.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>27</b>&mdash;<b>Single Eye.</b> By Warren St. John.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>28</b>&mdash;<b>Indian Jim.</b> By Edward S. Ellis.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>29</b>&mdash;<b>The Scout.</b> By Warren St. John.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>30</b>&mdash;<b>Eagle Eye.</b> By W. J. Hamilton.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>31</b>&mdash;<b>The Mystic Canoe.</b> By Edward S. Ellis.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>32</b>&mdash;<b>The Golden Harpoon.</b> By R. Starbuck.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>33</b>&mdash;<b>The Scalp King.</b> By Lieut. Ned Hunter.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>34</b>&mdash;<b>Old Lute.</b> By E. W. Archer.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>35</b>&mdash;<b>Rainbolt, Ranger.</b> By Oll Coomes.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>36</b>&mdash;<b>The Boy Pioneer.</b> By Edward S. Ellis.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>37</b>&mdash;<b>Carson, the Guide.</b> By J. H. Randolph.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>38</b>&mdash;<b>The Heart Eater.</b> By Harry Hazard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>39</b>&mdash;<b>Wetzel, the Scout.</b> By Boynton Belknap.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>40</b>&mdash;<b>The Huge Hunter.</b> By Ed. S. Ellis.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>41</b>&mdash;<b>Wild Nat, the Trapper.</b> By Paul Prescott.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>42</b>&mdash;<b>Lynx-cap.</b> By Paul Bibbs.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>43</b>&mdash;<b>The White Outlaw.</b> By Harry Hazard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>44</b>&mdash;<b>The Dog Trailer.</b> By Frederick Dewey.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>45</b>&mdash;<b>The Elk King.</b> By Capt. Chas. Howard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>46</b>&mdash;<b>Adrian, the Pilot.</b> By Col. P. Ingraham.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>47</b>&mdash;<b>The Man-Hunter.</b> By Maro O. Rolfe.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>48</b>&mdash;<b>The Phantom Tracker.</b> By F. Dewey.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>49</b>&mdash;<b>Moccasin Bill.</b> By Paul Bibbs.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>50</b>&mdash;<b>The Wolf Queen.</b> By Charles Howard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>51</b>&mdash;<b>Tom Hawk, the Trailer.</b></p>
+<p class="t0"><b>52</b>&mdash;<b>The Mad Chief.</b> By Chas. Howard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>53</b>&mdash;<b>The Black Wolf.</b> By Edwin E. Ewing.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>54</b>&mdash;<b>Arkansas Jack.</b> By Harry Hazard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>55</b>&mdash;<b>Blackbeard.</b> By Paul Bibbs.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>56</b>&mdash;<b>The River Rifles.</b> By Billex Muller.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>57</b>&mdash;<b>Hunter Ham.</b> By J. Edgar Iliff.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>58</b>&mdash;<b>Cloudwood.</b> By J. M. Merrill.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>59</b>&mdash;<b>The Texas Hawks.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>60</b>&mdash;<b>Merciless Mat.</b> By Capt. Chas. Howard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>61</b>&mdash;<b>Mad Anthony&rsquo;s Scouts.</b> By E. Rodman.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>62</b>&mdash;<b>The Luckless Trapper.</b> By Wm. R. Eyster.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>63</b>&mdash;<b>The Florida Scout.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>64</b>&mdash;<b>The Island Trapper.</b> By Chas. Howard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>65</b>&mdash;<b>Wolf-Cap.</b> By Capt. Chas. Howard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>66</b>&mdash;<b>Rattling Dick.</b> By Harry Hazard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>67</b>&mdash;<b>Sharp-Eye.</b> By Major Max Martine.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>68</b>&mdash;<b>Iron-Hand.</b> By Frederick Forest.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>69</b>&mdash;<b>The Yellow Hunter.</b> By Chas. Howard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>70</b>&mdash;<b>The Phantom Rider.</b> By Maro O. Rolfe.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>71</b>&mdash;<b>Delaware Tom.</b> By Harry Hazard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>72</b>&mdash;<b>Silver Rifle.</b> By Capt. Chas. Howard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>73</b>&mdash;<b>The Skeleton Scout.</b> By Maj. L. W. Carson.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>74</b>&mdash;<b>Little Rifle.</b> By Capt. &ldquo;Bruin&rdquo; Adams.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>75</b>&mdash;<b>The Wood Witch.</b> By Edwin Emerson.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>76</b>&mdash;<b>Old Ruff, the Trapper.</b> By &ldquo;Bruin&rdquo; Adams.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>77</b>&mdash;<b>The Scarlet Shoulders.</b> By Harry Hazard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>78</b>&mdash;<b>The Border Rifleman.</b> By L. W. Carson.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>79</b>&mdash;<b>Outlaw Jack.</b> By Harry Hazard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>80</b>&mdash;<b>Tiger-Tail, the Seminole.</b> By R. Ringwood.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>81</b>&mdash;<b>Death-Dealer.</b> By Arthur L. Meserve.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>82</b>&mdash;<b>Kenton, the Ranger.</b> By Chas. Howard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>83</b>&mdash;<b>The Specter Horseman.</b> By Frank Dewey.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>84</b>&mdash;<b>The Three Trappers.</b> By Seelin Robbins.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>85</b>&mdash;<b>Kaleolah.</b> By Capt. Chas. Howard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>86</b>&mdash;<b>The Hunter Hercules.</b> By Harry St. George.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>87</b>&mdash;<b>Phil Hunter.</b> By Capt. Chas. Howard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>88</b>&mdash;<b>The Indian Scout.</b> By Harry Hazard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>89</b>&mdash;<b>The Girl Avenger.</b> By Chas. Howard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>90</b>&mdash;<b>The Red Hermitess.</b> By Paul Bibbs.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>91</b>&mdash;<b>Star-Face, the Slayer.</b></p>
+<p class="t0"><b>92</b>&mdash;<b>The Antelope Boy.</b> By Geo. L. Aiken.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>93</b>&mdash;<b>The Phantom Hunter.</b> By E. Emerson.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>94</b>&mdash;<b>Tom Pintle, the Pilot.</b> By M. Klapp.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>95</b>&mdash;<b>The Red Wizard.</b> By Ned Hunter.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>96</b>&mdash;<b>The Rival Trappers.</b> By L. W. Carson.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>97</b>&mdash;<b>The Squaw Spy.</b> By Capt. Chas. Howard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>98</b>&mdash;<b>Dusky Dick.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>99</b>&mdash;<b>Colonel Crockett.</b> By Chas. E. Lasalle.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>100</b>&mdash;<b>Old Bear Paw.</b> By Major Max Martine.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>101</b>&mdash;<b>Redlaw.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>102</b>&mdash;<b>Wild Rube.</b> By W. J. Hamilton.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>103</b>&mdash;<b>The Indian Hunters.</b> By J. L. Bowen.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>104</b>&mdash;<b>Scarred Eagle.</b> By Andrew Dearborn.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>105</b>&mdash;<b>Nick Doyle.</b> By P. Hamilton Myers.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>106</b>&mdash;<b>The Indian Spy.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>107</b>&mdash;<b>Job Dean.</b> By Ingoldsby North.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>108</b>&mdash;<b>The Wood King.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>109</b>&mdash;<b>The Scalped Hunter.</b> By Harry Hazard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>110</b>&mdash;<b>Nick, the Scout.</b> By W. J. Hamilton.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>111</b>&mdash;<b>The Texas Tiger.</b> By Edward Willett.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>112</b>&mdash;<b>The Crossed Knives.</b> By Hamilton.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>113</b>&mdash;<b>Tiger-Heart, the Tracker.</b> By Howard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>114</b>&mdash;<b>The Masked Avenger.</b> By Ingraham.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>115</b>&mdash;<b>The Pearl Pirates.</b> By Starbuck.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>116</b>&mdash;<b>Black Panther.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>117</b>&mdash;<b>Abdiel, the Avenger.</b> By Ed. Willett.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>118</b>&mdash;<b>Cato, the Creeper.</b> By Fred. Dewey.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>119</b>&mdash;<b>Two-Handed Mat.</b> By Jos. E. Badger.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>120</b>&mdash;<b>Mad Trail Hunter.</b> By Harry Hazard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>121</b>&mdash;<b>Black Nick.</b> By Frederick Whittaker.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>122</b>&mdash;<b>Kit Bird.</b> By W. J. Hamilton.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>123</b>&mdash;<b>The Specter Riders.</b> By Geo. Gleason.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>124</b>&mdash;<b>Giant Pete.</b> By W. J. Hamilton.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>125</b>&mdash;<b>The Girl Captain.</b> By Jos. E. Badger.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>126</b>&mdash;<b>Yankee Eph.</b> By J. R. Worcester.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>127</b>&mdash;<b>Silverspur.</b> By Edward Willett.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>128</b>&mdash;<b>Squatter Dick.</b> By Jos. E. Badger.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>129</b>&mdash;<b>The Child Spy.</b> By George Gleason.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>130</b>&mdash;<b>Mink Coat.</b> By Jos. E. Badger.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>131</b>&mdash;<b>Red Plume.</b> By J. Stanley Henderson.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>132</b>&mdash;<b>Clyde, the Trailer.</b> By Maro O. Rolfe.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>133</b>&mdash;<b>The Lost Cache.</b> By J. Stanley Henderson.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>134</b>&mdash;<b>The Cannibal Chief.</b> By Paul J. Prescott.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>135</b>&mdash;<b>Karaibo.</b> By J. Stanley Henderson.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>136</b>&mdash;<b>Scarlet Moccasin.</b> By Paul Bibbs.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>137</b>&mdash;<b>Kidnapped.</b> By J. Stanley Henderson.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>138</b>&mdash;<b>Maid of the Mountain.</b> By Hamilton.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>139</b>&mdash;<b>The Scioto Scouts.</b> By Ed. Willett.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>140</b>&mdash;<b>The Border Renegade.</b> By Badger.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>141</b>&mdash;<b>The Mute Chief.</b> By C. D. Clark.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>142</b>&mdash;<b>Boone, the Hunter.</b> By Whittaker.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>143</b>&mdash;<b>Mountain Kate.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>144</b>&mdash;<b>The Red Scalper.</b> By W. J. Hamilton.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>145</b>&mdash;<b>The Lone Chief.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>146</b>&mdash;<b>The Silver Bugle.</b> By Lieut. Col. Hazleton.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b class="large">147</b>&mdash;<b>Chinga, the Cheyenne.</b> By Edward S. Ellis. Ready</p>
+<p class="t0"><b class="large">148</b>&mdash;<b>The Tangled Trail.</b> By Major Max Martine. Ready</p>
+<p class="t0"><b class="large">149</b>&mdash;<b>The Unseen Hand.</b> By J. Stanley Henderson. Ready</p>
+<p class="t0"><b class="large">150</b>&mdash;<b>The Lone Indian.</b> By Capt. Chas. Howard. Ready</p>
+<p class="t0"><b class="large">151</b>&mdash;<b>The Branded Brave.</b> By Paul Bibbs. Ready April 6th.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b class="large">152</b>&mdash;<b>Billy Bowlegs, the Seminole Chief.</b> Ready April 20th.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b class="large">153</b>&mdash;<b>The Valley Scout.</b> By Seelin Robins. Ready May 4.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b class="large">154</b>&mdash;<b>Red Jacket, the Huron.</b> By Paul Bibbs. Ready May 18th.</p>
+</div>
+<p class="center"><b>BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York.</b></p>
+<h2 id="trnotes">Transcriber&rsquo;s Notes</h2>
+<ul>
+<li>Silently corrected a few typos.</li>
+<li>Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook is public-domain in the country of publication.</li>
+<li>In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by _underscores_.</li>
+</ul>
+<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 66064 ***</div>
+</body>
+</html>
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+The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Border Riflemen; or The Forest
+Fiend. A Romance of the Black-Hawk Uprising, by Lewis W. Carson
+
+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
+will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before
+using this eBook.
+
+Title: The Border Riflemen; or The Forest Fiend. A Romance of the
+       Black-Hawk Uprising
+       Beadle's Pocket Novels No. 78
+
+Author: Lewis W. Carson
+
+Release Date: August 15, 2021 [eBook #66064]
+
+Language: English
+
+Produced by: David Edwards, Stephen Hutcheson, and the Online
+             Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+             (Northern Illinois University Digital Library)
+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BORDER RIFLEMEN; OR THE
+FOREST FIEND. A ROMANCE OF THE BLACK-HAWK UPRISING ***
+
+
+
+
+
+                          THE BORDER RIFLEMEN;
+                                  OR,
+                           THE FOREST FIEND.
+
+
+                 A ROMANCE OF THE BLACK-HAWK UPRISING.
+
+
+                       BY LIEUT. LEWIS W. CARSON.
+
+
+                               NEW YORK.
+                     BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS,
+                           98 WILLIAM STREET.
+
+       Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872, by
+                           FRANK STARR & CO.,
+       In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.
+
+
+
+
+                                CONTENTS
+
+
+  I. The Border Suitor—Cooney Joe                                      9
+  II. Minneoba’s warning                                              15
+  III. Black-Hawk Insulted                                            22
+  IV. Little Fox—Na-She-Eschuck                                       29
+  V. The Price of Treachery                                           35
+  VI. The First Blow                                                  42
+  VII. Overboard                                                      49
+  VIII. Melton’s Scout—A Bush Fight                                   54
+  IX. The Defense of the Island                                       61
+  X. The Forest Fiend                                                 68
+  XI. Black-Hawk Keeps His Word                                       75
+  XII. Sadie’s Sacrifice                                              82
+  XIII. Guests Not Invited                                            88
+
+
+
+
+                          THE BORDER RIFLEMEN;
+                                  OR,
+                           THE FOREST FIEND.
+
+
+
+
+                               CHAPTER I.
+                     THE BORDER SUITOR—COONEY JOE.
+
+
+The sun was going down behind the western hills in a flood of yellow
+light, and a river dimpled on under the slanting rays, great fish
+leaping now and then from the placid surface, and the trees along the
+bank casting fantastic shadows into its depths. In a sheltered nook,
+near a spot where a little creek joined the river, a settler had built a
+cabin, which the hand of woman had beautified and adorned as only the
+hand of woman can. Bright flowers bloomed on each side of the rustic
+doorway and an English ivy vine clung to the walls and was rapidly
+spreading its delicate tendrils over the whole front. The cabin faced
+the stream, and behind it the hand of industry had cleared many acres
+which now showed heavy growths of cereals and roots, carefully
+cultivated. It was a silvan spot, and one upon which the eye of the
+artist would linger long and pleasantly.
+
+The door opened suddenly, and a young girl holding a water-pail in her
+hand came out with a free, careless step, singing a merry song. She was
+plainly dressed, and yet there was an air of native grace about her
+every movement which plainly showed that she had not always lived amid
+such wild surroundings. She was beautiful—not the vapid beauty of
+cities, but that of perfect health, and a free life. Her form was
+untrammeled by the fashions which cramp and deform the beautiful women
+of our day, and her face, a little browned by exposure to the to sun,
+glowed—
+
+  “With sunny beauty and rustic health.”
+
+Maud Müller—Whittier’s Maud—was not more beautiful than this frontier
+damsel. Not only was her face cut in a perfect mold, but her eyes
+sparkled with life and vivacity, and her sunny hair, unconfined, hung
+about her shoulders in beautiful profusion.
+
+She left the river, turned down the creek, entered a little grove half a
+mile from the house, passed through it, and looked across the open field
+beyond.
+
+“Father,” she cried, “are you there?”
+
+No answer was returned, save the echo of her musical voice, and she
+looked about her in evident surprise.
+
+“Where can he have gone?” she murmured. “Father!”
+
+As the words left her lips there was a slight rustle in the bushes by
+her side, and a man came out and stood beside her. He was still young,
+but his strikingly handsome face bore the marks of a life of dissipation
+and riot. He was quite tall, nearly six feet in his moccasins, with a
+face which showed unmistakable signs of Indian blood, though somewhat
+remote, and a wandering black eye, full of passion. He was dressed in
+hunting costume, and held in one hand a long rifle, and two small
+protuberances in the breast of his hunting-coat showed where his pistols
+lay concealed.
+
+“I thought I should meet you here, Sadie,” he said, quietly. “You don’t
+look very glad to see me.”
+
+“You know what I think of you, William Jackwood,” she replied, turning
+quickly away. “How dare you to come here, after what has happened?”
+
+He laughed a low, bitter, chilling laugh, which did not indicate
+enjoyment, and his black eyes seemed to emit sparks of fire.
+
+“I would not refer to our last meeting, if I were you, Sadie,” he said,
+evidently controlling himself by a violent effort. “I was half crazy
+with liquor that night or I would not have said what I did. See here;
+give me a chance to make this right with you and I’ll do it. I want to
+be a friend to you—I do, upon my soul. I’ll ask your pardon on my knees,
+if you’ll forgive, and promise not to lay it up against me.”
+
+“I forgive you,” she said, with a cold, passionless glance, “but you
+must not come here any more, for all that. My father has told me not to
+have any more to say to you, and I shall obey him.”
+
+The man stood grinding the butt of his rifle into the soft earth, and
+fighting a powerful battle to keep down his heart. The girl no longer
+looked at him but took up the pail and was moving on.
+
+“Wait a moment,” he said, hoarsely. “I can’t part from you like this,
+Sadie. You don’t know what you are doing or what will happen if you
+don’t use me more kindly. By—I beg your pardon, but I am half mad—I
+can’t stand it. Do you know that I worship the ground you tread for your
+sake, and would give my life at any moment if it would be of service to
+you?”
+
+“You must not speak to me in that way, Mr. Jackwood,” she said, in a
+more gentle tone. “I am truly sorry for you if you speak the truth, but
+I can not listen to you. Aside from the fact that my father does not
+like you, I have my own inclinations to consult, and I do not and never
+can love you.”
+
+“Then you love some one else,” he cried savagely. “All right; marry him
+if you dare, but of this be assured—the moment you stand up before the
+minister with _any_ man, if it were my own brother, I will kill you both
+where you stand. Do you hear me?—I will kill you both.”
+
+“Do you dare to threaten me in that way, Will Jackwood? Oh, if my father
+were here, he would teach you to insult his daughter in that way. Do you
+think to frighten me by idle threats? Since you force me to say it, know
+that the sight of your dark face is and always has been odious to me,
+and that I will never speak to you again except upon compulsion under
+any circumstances.”
+
+He caught her by the wrist with his disengaged hand and held her firmly,
+when she dropped the pail and struck him full in the face with her open
+hand. He uttered a cry like that of an angry tiger, and letting go his
+hold upon the gun caught her about the waist with his strong right arm.
+Powerless in his grasp, she struggled with all her strength and screamed
+for help. The call was not made in vain, for a quick step was heard, and
+a heavy body crashed through the bushes, and Sadie screamed again.
+
+“Comin’, by the mortal, comin’!” roared a hoarse voice. “Oh, yes.”
+
+Will Jackwood released her instantly and caught up his gun, just as a
+short, thick-set, powerfully-built man darted from the bushes and stood
+beside them. He wore the fringed hunting-shirt and beaded moccasins of
+the scout and hunter, and his long, flax-colored hair was crowned by a
+greasy coon-skin cap in the last stages of dissolution. The face was a
+marvel of native ugliness, but in spite of that he was greeted with a
+cry of joy from Sadie.
+
+“Cooney Joe is hyar,” he yelled. “What is the matter now?”
+
+“I have been insulted, Joe,” cried Sadie, panting for breath.
+
+“By that yer p’ison critter, I’ll bet. Now look out, Black Will, acause
+I’m a-goin’ to give yer the durndest lickin’ you ever got sence yer
+mammy took ye over her knee. Hyar’s fur ye.”
+
+Before Black Will could bring his rifle to a level the stout hunter
+dashed in and his heart was beating against the broad breast of the man
+known as Jackwood. In a moment more they were locked in a fierce
+grapple, fighting in true western style, without the slightest idea of
+the rules of the ring. In a stand-off fight, the long arms and powerful
+build of Black Will would have given him a decided advantage, but in the
+close grapple Cooney Joe was more than his equal, and loosening one hand
+by a violent effort he struck his antagonist such a blow in the face
+that his teeth seemed to rattle in his jaws, and he staggered. Throwing
+himself forward with a victorious war-whoop, Cooney Joe brought him to
+the ground, and the next moment was kneeling on his breast with his
+long, brown fingers fastened on his throat in a decidedly uncomfortable
+way.
+
+“Yah-h-h—hip! Got ye that time, my sweet infant! The old coon kin climb
+a tree yit. Say the word, Miss Wescott, an’ by the big meat pie I’ll
+choke the life clean out of his pesky karkidge.”
+
+“Let him go for the present, Joe,” she said. “He has been punished
+sufficiently, and it will teach him that I am not friendless.”
+
+“Oh, pshaw! don’t let him git off that way. Take off his belt and let me
+larrup him with it till he _howls_.”
+
+“No, no; don’t strike him again. Take away his weapons and let him go.”
+
+“Hold on,” said Black Will hoarsely. “Don’t touch the pistols and I
+promise to go away at once, and not make a move for revenge to-day.”
+
+“That’s fair,” said Joe, rising. “I never knowed the critter to break a
+fair promise, Miss Sadie, and you kin trust him.”
+
+Cooney Joe stood up and Black Will slowly arose, with an expression of
+fearful malice upon his dark face, slowly brushing the dust from his
+clothing without speaking a word. Cooney Joe had taken up his rifle and
+stood leaning upon it, a grin of enjoyment stretching his naturally wide
+mouth.
+
+“Curi’s how things come ’round, ain’t it? I’ve wanted a lick at you fur
+nigh onto five year an’ never got a chance till now; does me good, this
+does.”
+
+“Of course you know I’ll have your life for it, Joe Bent,” said Black
+Will, in a quiet tone.
+
+“Sartin, sartin, if ye kin git it,” replied Cooney Joe. “But don’t
+forgit that ef I see yer hand go anigh a pistil in a strange company
+I’ll try to shoot first. ’Member that, don’t ye.”
+
+“I’ll try to remember, Joe,” was the reply. “Now, Miss Wescott, I will
+say to you what I intended to say when this meddling fool broke in upon
+us. You shall never live to be the wife of another man. If I can not
+have you, no one else shall, I swear by every thing I hold true.”
+
+“P’isen critter, ain’t you, Will?” said Cooney Joe, regarding him with a
+look of benign interest, as a great natural curiosity. “I’ll be
+individually an’ collectively cussed ef you ain’t a nice picter to go
+a-talkin’ about marryin’ a gal like Miss Sadie. Why, bu’st my buttons,
+ef I don’t think she’d ruther have me!”
+
+“I would indeed,” replied Sadie.
+
+“Who asked you to speak, Joe Bent?” said Black Will, savagely. “Keep
+your distance and live in safety for twenty-four hours, but after that I
+will take your life, no matter where I meet you.”
+
+“You rare ’round the awfulest kind, don’t ye,” replied Joe, with a merry
+look. “Dash my bacon ef you ain’t a study fur a painter. I’ve see’d
+chaps in the theater at St. Louis that rared ’round the stage jest as
+you do now, but somehow they allus got special hail kolumbia in the end.
+Now _git_; I don’t want to say any thing more _but_ git.”
+
+Black Will quietly tightened his belt, brought his rifle to a “right
+shoulder shift,” and was off at a long, slinging pace which carried him
+rapidly across the field.
+
+“Thar goes a pizen critter, Miss Sadie,” muttered Cooney Joe. “Now I
+reckon he meant jest what he said when he told me that he’d hev my life,
+but I’ve took a good many chances, though he’ll hev my ha’r sartin ef I
+don’t shoot first when we meet.”
+
+“I am sorry to have brought you into danger, Joe,” said the girl.
+
+“Sorry—danger—git out! D’ye think I keer fur _that_, little gal? Why,
+make it the wust ye kin, the chances ar’ I git a shot afore he does, an’
+ef I _miss_, then it’s my own fault. Whar’s yer daddy?”
+
+“I came out to find him and bring him some drink. I thought he was at
+work in this field.”
+
+“He orter be keerful,” said Joe Bent, uneasily, “’cause the Injins are
+gitting r’iled up awful, and thar’s no tellin’ when they may break out.
+Let’s try an’ find him.”
+
+“There he is now,” cried Sadie.
+
+As she spoke, a middle-aged man, with a hoe across his shoulder,
+appeared at the other side of the woods and came rapidly toward them. As
+he came near he shouted cheerily to Joe Bent, who seemed very glad to
+see him, and they shook hands heartily. Mr. Wescott had the same air of
+gentility which showed itself in his daughter, but, like her, had
+adapted himself to his present surroundings, and looked the picture of a
+genuine western farmer. In stature he was almost a giant.
+
+Sadie rapidly recounted her meeting with Black Will, and all that had
+passed between them, and the face of Mr. Wescott darkened, while his
+hand closed convulsively upon the handle of his hoe.
+
+“It is a lucky thing for the black-hearted scoundrel that I was not by,
+Sadie,” he said, “or it would have gone hard with him. What brings you
+up this way, Joe?”
+
+“I sort o’ got a hint to git off the hunting grounds from that
+pernicious red devil, Napope, who is sp’ilin’ fur mischief. Ar’ ye good
+friends with the Injins, ’square?”
+
+“Certainly; I never wronged one of them in my life.”
+
+“Not that it matters much ef they once rise,” continued Joe, “because
+then they won’t hev any friends in the white race. I’ve my doubts of
+that Black Will, anyhow. Two weeks ago I saw him in the Injin village,
+an’ him an’ that cussid Napope was ez thick ez flies in sp’iled bacon.”
+
+“What is the trouble with the Indians?” said Wescott, uneasily.
+
+“Them cussid agents rob them like thieves,” replied Joe Bent. “Ef
+Black-Hawk would only ketch an’ burn them, I don’t believe our fellers
+would kick much, they act so fearful mean. Do you know that I think the
+village the best place fur Miss Sadie, ’bout this time in the year?”
+
+“I’ll talk to you by-and-by,” said Wescott, with a quick glance at his
+daughter’s observant face. “Come to the house and get something to eat.”
+
+They quickened their steps and reached the cabin, and while Sadie set
+about preparing a meal, they sat outside and smoked their pipes, talking
+in low, eager tones. Sadie could see that their conversation was very
+important, and, woman-like, felt piqued that they kept it secret from
+her, and hurried her preparations. In a few moments the homely meal was
+smoking on the board, and they sat down, enjoying their food with keen
+relish; but the two men dropped their conversation, or rather, changed
+it to indifferent subjects, much to the disgust of Sadie. Just as they
+were about to rise from the table, she gave utterance to a cry of
+surprise and ran to the door, and a moment after appeared, leading an
+Indian girl by the hand.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER II.
+                          MINNEOBA’S WARNING.
+
+
+It was a woman of the Sac nation, but bearing unmistakable signs of
+white blood. Her form might almost have vied with that of Sadie, and her
+dark skin glowed with perfect health. Her hair was unlike that of any
+pure Indian girl, slightly waving, and with a luster upon it never seen
+in the pure Indian. Her dress was of the richest description that was
+worn by the women of the tribe, and her head was crowned by a coronet of
+eagle-feathers, which bespoke the daughter of a chief. Dainty feet,
+small hands and delicate features distinguished the maid from the
+majority of her race, and all together, two more noble specimens of
+native grace rarely trod the same floor.
+
+“By the piper that played while the king danced, if it ain’t Minneoba,
+the pride of the Sac nation,” cried Cooney Joe. “Say, gal, what ye doin’
+’round yer?”
+
+“Minneoba has traveled a long path, and she is weary,” replied the
+Indian girl, faintly. “Let the Wild Rose give her food and drink.”
+
+Sadie, who was much taken by the rare beauty of the forest maid, seated
+her at once at the table and placed food before her. She passed over the
+few dainties which the table afforded, and ate the most simple food, and
+her appetite was soon gratified. Joe whispered aside with Mr. Wescott.
+
+“I tell you that the gal is the favorite daughter of Black-Hawk,” he
+whispered, “an’ she’s got some good reason fur bein’ hyar. But don’t
+hurry her, for I know the breed and she’s obstinit, durned obstinit,
+when she hez a mind to, though she’s a good gal, too.”
+
+In the mean time the Indian girl was chatting merrily with her new
+friend, and her musical laugh rung through the cabin.
+
+“Whisper to Sadie to git her confidence, Mr. Wescott,” muttered the
+hunter. “She kin do it. The gal is open-hearted as the day, and ef she
+means friendship she _means_ it.”
+
+Wescott called Sadie aside and spoke to her in a low, hurried tone, and
+nodding intelligently, the white girl returned to the side of the Indian
+girl, and soon after the two rose and went out of the cabin, strolling
+down by the river side. Minneoba had her fan in her hand, more from
+habit than any thing else, and they walked along the green banks,
+talking earnestly.
+
+“Minneoba is the daughter of Black-Hawk,” said the maiden, in answer to
+a question, “and she loves her father well. The heart of the old man is
+very sad, for he sees the white men forcing the Indian step by step out
+of the land their fathers gave them. Look down and tell me what you
+see.”
+
+Close to the bank of the stream not far away a succession of low mounds
+of different sizes showed where the ancient grave-yard of a tribe had
+been. Not far from this a white village was seen, the farms of the
+settlers encroaching upon the graves.
+
+“When we bury the bodies of those we love, daughter of the white man, it
+is not pleasant to think that the feet of the strangers tread upon the
+graves. The Indians are rough and rude, but they too love the graves of
+their fathers, and it makes them sad to think that the plow of the white
+man will disturb the loved remains.”
+
+“It is very sad, but I have heard that Keokuk sold this land to our
+people.”
+
+“Keokuk has done wickedly,” cried the girl, excitedly. “It is a false
+Indian who treads upon his father’s grave, or allows the white man to do
+it. A Sac despises the man who is so base.”
+
+“What will the Indians do?”
+
+“What they will do is not for an Indian girl to say; their hearts are
+very sore, but they would be friends with the white men, if the white
+men will let them. But fire-water and bad men will make trouble in the
+land. Tell the people of the village that it would be better for them to
+give up the Sac town and build for themselves upon another place.”
+
+In order to understand the words of Minneoba fully, it will be necessary
+to set down the history of the events which finally drove Black-Hawk to
+desperation.
+
+By the treaty entered into by the United States upon one side and the
+Sacs and Foxes, Siouxs, Omahas, Iowas and Ottoes upon the other, headed
+by Keokuk, or the Watchful Fox, the land of these tribes was sold to the
+United States. In this bargain and sale Black-Hawk took no part, but in
+spite of that the Indian agents insisted that he should leave his
+village, which without his consent had been sold to the whites, and
+build another upon the west bank of the Mississippi.
+
+No race love their native land better than the Indian, and Black-Hawk
+was of the pure blood. He cursed the traitors who had sold their
+country, but vowed that he would not leave his village until compelled
+to do so by force. Every little disturbance between wandering white men
+and the tribes, every slight affair of whatever kind was magnified and
+turned against the Sac chief. Yet he only sought to do what was right,
+and prevailed upon Keokuk, who had made the treaty, to go to the white
+agents, with whom it had been made, and offer them in the name of the
+Sacs the lead mines, the most valuable property of the Indians, if they
+might be permitted to retain their village. The Watchful Fox, satisfied
+that he had sold that which was not his own, agreed to go, and ask for
+Black-Hawk the little land on which the village stood, including the
+grave-yard of the tribe. It was refused.
+
+It was the custom of the western tribes at this date to go out in winter
+in a body and have a great hunt. Black-Hawk went away at the head of his
+tribe with secret misgivings, and the village was left unguarded. This
+was the winter of 1830, and when the Indians came back from their hunt
+they found their village in the possession of the whites, who had taken
+advantage of their absence to take possession. The river was yet full of
+floating ice, and it was impossible for the Indians to move, but they
+sent word to the invaders that before corn-planting they would drive
+them out of the village, no matter at what cost to themselves.
+
+The whites were alarmed, for they felt their inability to oppose the
+tribe with their present number. A deputation was sent to the chiefs,
+proposing that they should occupy and plant the land together. The
+Indians, always generous in the disposal of land, agreed to the
+proposal, but upon arriving they found that the whites had seized and
+planted the best of the land.
+
+The peaceful village became one of the most disorderly upon the
+frontier. With the whites came in their vices, and the Indians,
+naturally weak, began to feel their effects. The sale of liquor was
+commenced, and by its aid the whites gradually robbed the Indians of all
+that they could call their own.
+
+The chief saw with alarm what must be the result, when they received
+orders to cross no more to the east bank of the river. The result of
+such an order may be readily understood, rousing all the fierce passions
+of the Indians, and in this state matters stood at the time when
+Minneoba visited the cabin of Mr. Wescott.
+
+The Indians were now nearly all upon the west bank of the river, the
+chiefs preferring this to longer intercourse with the white men. These
+simple men were no match for their wily antagonists, and had too rapidly
+imbibed their vices. Black-Hawk was an Indian, but he had a heart to
+feel for the woes of his people, and he saw that only by force of arms
+could he hope to succeed in wresting his country from the hand of the
+invader.
+
+“Is it possible that my father’s land belongs to the Indians?” said
+Sadie. “He paid for it honestly, and would not willingly wrong any man.”
+
+“The Wild Rose speaks truly. Her father has a great heart, but he holds
+the land which belongs to Black-Hawk.”
+
+“Then he will pay for it again, sooner than wrong a chief of the Sacs.”
+
+“Black-Hawk will not sell his lands to a white man. Let the words of
+Minneoba sound in the ears of Wild Rose. This is no place for her to
+dwell. Let her get a swift horse and fly away until the tempest has
+passed, for a dark cloud hangs over her father’s house and threatens
+her.”
+
+“I have done no wrong; why should I flee?”
+
+“My sister, the evil will come to the just and the unjust, for
+Black-Hawk will have his land again. Do not ask me to tell you more, for
+a Sac maiden can not betray her father, but take those you love and
+fly.”
+
+While yet speaking, the rapid beat of hoofs could be heard, and two men
+rounded a point of woods and approached them. At a glance Sadie
+recognized Black Will and a desperate ruffian who was more than
+suspected of selling arms to the Indians, a great offense upon the
+frontier. This man’s name was Richard Garrett, and he was hated and
+feared all along the border.
+
+“Ha, look!” cried Minneoba. “Yonder comes a bad white man, who has
+spoken evil words in the ears of Black-Hawk. What does he here?”
+
+“Let us hurry away,” whispered Sadie. “He is my enemy, and I fear to
+meet him now.”
+
+The two girls darted into the bushes, but not quickly enough to evade
+the eyes of the two men, who at once urged their horses and overtook the
+flying girls.
+
+“Ha, my dear,” said Black Will, placing himself in front of Sadie, and
+effectually barring her further flight. “I did not expect to meet you so
+soon.”
+
+“Do not stop me, Will Jackwood,” cried Sadie. “You have been punished
+once to-day for your insolence. Joe Bent is not far away.”
+
+“He is safe from me for this day, for he has my word,” replied Black
+Will. “But, when we meet again, one or the other goes down.”
+
+“Threats do not hurt the absent,” was the quiet reply. “Let me pass at
+once.”
+
+“Not so fast. I shall not have a better opportunity than this, and must
+entreat you to come with me.”
+
+Unconsciously, in their walk, the girls had come some distance from the
+house, and at that quiet hour few persons were abroad. Sadie understood
+the object of Black Will. It was to seize and carry her away for the
+purpose of forcing her to become his wife. He sprung out of the saddle,
+and menacing her with instant death if she cried out, hurried toward
+her, when a new and unexpected obstacle stood in his path. Minneoba had
+been almost unnoticed by the two scoundrels, and seeing that Dick
+Garrett was employed in holding the horses, the brave girl suddenly
+strung her bow, and fitting an arrow hastily, sprung in between Black
+Will and his intended victim, and he recoiled with a cry of rage, as the
+bright point of the arrow glittered in the light.
+
+“Minneoba, by all the devils! Out of my path, girl, or a worse thing may
+come to you.”
+
+But Minneoba did not move, her bright eyes fixed upon the form of the
+would-be abductor in a way which he did not like.
+
+“Sadie is the friend of the Sac girl,” she said, quietly. “You shall not
+touch her while I live.”
+
+“You don’t know what you are doing, mad girl. What will your father say
+when he knows that you have aimed an arrow at my breast—_mine_, of all
+white men in the territory!”
+
+“It would be better for Black-Hawk if you had never seen him,” replied
+the girl. “Take your horse and go, for I will spare your life if you do
+not touch the Wild Rose; touch her, and you are dead.”
+
+Black Will was a brave man, but he knew well the deadly skill of the
+Indian girl, and had seen it proved a hundred times in sportive
+encounters in the Indian village. Though full of rage, he dared not
+advance.
+
+“But listen to me, Minneoba,” he said. “This girl is to be my wife; I
+love her, and would take her into my lodge.”
+
+“Let me hear her say that she loves _you_, and the Sac girl will not
+come between you. Stand back, or the arrow flies from the string.”
+
+“You shall suffer for this, girl. Black-Hawk shall know how his daughter
+claims for a friend the daughter of the man who holds his land. We shall
+see how he likes that.”
+
+“Minneoba can talk to Black-Hawk; she does not need the white hunter to
+tell her what to say.”
+
+“She’s a bu’ster, Will,” said Dave Garrett, laughing. “I reckon you had
+better give it up. Come, little girl, don’t be foolish. Get out of the
+way, for my sake.”
+
+Minneoba did not move, and the arrow was still ready to fly.
+
+“Hark, Will! There come horses. Let’s get out of this as quick as we
+can.”
+
+Black Will, shaking his clenched hand at the immovable figure of the
+Indian girl, sprung into the saddle, and the two men rode away at the
+top of their speed. They were scarcely out of sight when a party of
+mounted riflemen came up at a trot, but, seeing the two girls, they
+halted, and the leader dismounted and came toward them. He was a young,
+handsome fellow, in a fringed hunting-coat, booted and spurred, and
+wearing the insignia of Melton’s mounted rifles, to show that he was
+captain of scouts. He lifted the cap gracefully from his head, and bowed
+low as he approached.
+
+“Captain Melton of the mounted rifles, by way of introduction. May I ask
+if you have seen any thing of a man known in this region as Dick
+Garrett?”
+
+“He rode away five minutes since in company with William Jackwood.”
+
+“The deuce he did! Excuse me, Miss, which way did he go?”
+
+Sadie pointed out the road, and with a hasty adieu the young officer
+bounded into the saddle and the command went off at full speed, with
+Melton at their head. Sadie had noted that his dark eyes had rested
+admiringly upon her, and she was herself struck by his noble appearance,
+and Minneoba laughed softly. She could see that the two had met before.
+
+“The young white chief is very brave. Sadie could love him!”
+
+“Nonsense, you foolish girl,” said Sadie, blushing. “I have only seen
+him twice before, and probably shall never see him again. Let us return
+to the house.”
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER III.
+                          BLACK-HAWK INSULTED.
+
+
+They had scarcely reached the house when the sound of voices could be
+distinctly heard upon the river and Joe sprung to the door, from which
+the stream was plainly visible. A dozen canoes were upon the water full
+of Indians, crossing from the other shore.
+
+“You’d better git out of sight, Minneoba,” said Cooney Joe. “It won’t be
+well for them to see you here unless you are forced to come out.”
+
+The Indian girl hurried into the cabin, and went into Sadie’s room. A
+moment later a tumultuous band of Sacs, shouting out furious threats
+against the whites, landed near the cabin and came hastily toward it.
+
+“Drunk as lords, every man jack of them,” said Joe. “We’ve got to talk
+sweet to them or thar will be some ha’r raised right about yer. Thar;
+that’s old Black-Hawk himself, by George. I wonder what he wants.”
+
+An Indian somewhat advanced in life, and wearing the usual insignia of a
+chief of the Sacs, headed the party, and a word from him stilled the
+clamorous tongues of the warriors. Mr. Wescott and Joe stepped out to
+meet them, and the chief received them by a lofty gesture.
+
+“We come for corn,” he said, “and my young men are so angry that they
+need the hand of a chief. It is hard that the Sacs must come like
+thieves in the night to take corn from their old fields.”
+
+“It is hard indeed, Black-Hawk,” replied Mr. Wescott. “I am as much
+grieved as you can be that this thing has happened, and upon my word, I
+hope that you may settle this trouble peaceably.”
+
+“Why do you stay on the Sac fields then?” replied the Indian, morosely.
+“The words of my brother are wise, but they do not agree with his
+actions. I stand upon Sac ground, which is _not_ sold and _can not_ be
+sold unless Black-Hawk puts his totem on the paper and gives a belt. Why
+is the white man here then?”
+
+“I bought of a man who claimed the right to sell,” said Wescott, “but I
+am willing to give you a fair price for the fields, even now.”
+
+“Black-Hawk will not sell his fathers’ graves,” replied the chief,
+fiercely. “Look; your white men are making my warriors like themselves,
+good at talking but no workers. They drink the accursed fire-water and
+become hogs. In a few years, the name of Sac will be forgotten and they
+will be but beasts to carry the loads the white man puts upon their
+backs.”
+
+“It’s no use talkin’ now, Black-Hawk,” said Cooney Joe. “I don’t say
+it’s right—because it ain’t—for Keokuk had no right to sell your land.
+But, the thing’s done and our fellers have possession, and I’m afraid
+they won’t give it up.”
+
+“They must.”
+
+“Oh, pshaw; you ought to know that they are darned good at takin’ things
+but they don’t give back wuth a cent. You may as well build a village
+over yender.”
+
+“That they may come and take it again,” replied Black-Hawk, with a
+bitter laugh. “Let us speak no more, for my tongue grows bitter in my
+mouth. Sons of the Sac, let us go for corn.”
+
+The Indian stalked away, followed by a shouting crowd of his adherents,
+and Cooney Joe looked uneasily at Wescott.
+
+“I don’t like this, ’square. You see our fellers ar’ mighty rough on the
+Injins, and I heard some on ’em say that ef the Sacs came over to steal
+corn they’d give ’em an all-fired lickin’. Now if they do that it means
+war.”
+
+“I hope our men will not be so impudent,” said Wescott. “They ought to
+give the poor fellows a chance to carry away corn for their suffering
+families, since they have dispossessed them of their land.”
+
+Half an hour passed, when suddenly there came a great tumult from the
+direction in which the Indians had gone. The shouts of men, the loud and
+continuous barking of dogs, and the occasional crack of fire-arms, could
+be heard.
+
+Cooney Joe caught up his weapons, and followed by Mr. Wescott, hurried
+away in the direction from which the sound came. They had not gone half
+a mile when they came upon a great rabble of whites surrounding the
+party which had come over for corn, abusing them in every possible way.
+Showers of stone were hurled upon them, clods of earth and filth of
+every description was cast upon them, and they were fighting their way
+slowly back toward the stream, apparently unconscious of the insults
+heaped upon them. Foremost among them, walking with a firm step, but
+with a dark cloud gathering upon his brow, strode Black-Hawk. A stone
+had struck him on the forehead, and the blood was trickling slowly down
+his face, but he did not seem to be aware of the fact. Once or twice he
+turned his head when some unusually vile epithet was heaped upon him,
+with a haughty glance at the offender, which they remembered in the
+after times, for two men who struck him, and whom he marked for
+destruction, were the first to fall when the struggle commenced in
+earnest.
+
+“White men,” cried the chief, halting, at length. “Do not dare to stand
+in the track of Black-Hawk, upon his own land.”
+
+“Your land, you old thief,” roared a man named Churchill. “You lie! It
+is ours—fairly bought—and we will keep it.”
+
+“Black-Hawk does not waste words with a man with a double tongue, who is
+only fit to sit with the women when the warriors are on the
+battle-field,” replied the chief.
+
+Churchill caught up a handful of sand and flung it into the face of the
+old chief. Black-Hawk trembled in every limb but not with fear, and he
+clenched his hands until the blood started from beneath his nails.
+
+“Fool!” he hissed. “In the days to come, remember Black-Hawk!”
+
+That the man had good cause to remember this insult, the history of that
+time will show.
+
+The Indians went on their way, but all around them the confusion became
+greater, and it was with the utmost difficulty that they kept their
+ranks, and kept down their passions enough to prevent the use of the
+tomahawks, which every man carried. Had Black-Hawk but given the word,
+they would have rushed like tigers upon their prey, and torn the rabble
+asunder like cobweb. But the policy of the chief had been opposed to
+bloodshed, and he hoped to be able to get to the river without being
+forced to draw a weapon.
+
+“Look at the black thieves,” roared Churchill. “Down with them, boys;
+shower the mud on them; stone them out of the country.”
+
+He was but too well seconded by those who followed him, and many of the
+Indians were badly hurt by the missiles which were thrown at them.
+Directed by Churchill, three or four strong men rushed suddenly forward
+and laid hold upon the chief, with the intention of beating him.
+
+“Dogs!” cried the Sac, casting them aside like feathers. “Take your
+clubs, sons of the brave.”
+
+Up to this moment the Indians had not lifted a hand, but at the order of
+their chief they lifted their clubs, and sprung forward with furious
+yells. The chief singled out Churchill, and leaped upon him like a
+tiger, but the man ran backward, and the chief, never thinking of
+support, followed him with uplifted club. Before he was aware of his
+danger he was in the midst of a circle of infuriated whites, who
+commenced an indiscriminate assault upon him, striking and kicking him
+with merciless force. It is impossible to say whether he would have
+escaped with life, but at this moment the rabble parted before the rush
+of strong men, and Cooney Joe and Mr. Wescott darted into the circle,
+and placed themselves beside the chief.
+
+“Back, if you are men,” cried Wescott. “What, thirty against one poor
+old man!”
+
+“Keep cl’ar, keep cl’ar,” cried Joe, flourishing his rifle in a
+threatening manner. “He’s an Injin, but fair play’s a jewel, you know.
+You won’t strike him ag’in while I stand hyar.”
+
+“Get out of the way, Joe Bent,” screamed Churchill. “What business have
+you to interfere?”
+
+“Because I’m called on by a magistrate,” replied Joe. “Keep cl’ar, I
+tell ye, or I’ll make my rifle-butt acquainted with the softness of yer
+head. Back a little.”
+
+“Disperse, every one of you, and let the Indians return to the river,
+and I will see to it that you are punished for what you have already
+done,” said Wescott, as they hesitated. There was some grumbling, but
+after a little they began to step away, and the little knot of Indians
+were left alone upon the field.
+
+“I am sorry that this has happened, Black-Hawk,” said Wescott. “You want
+corn, you say; go to my crib and take out what you want.”
+
+The chief did not reply, but he stood looking after the retreating forms
+of the white men, with a moody brow. Many a man who was in his grave
+before that season closed, might have been alive and happy but for that
+vile attack.
+
+“Black-Hawk owes much to the white man,” he said, slowly. “They have
+stolen his village, trampled upon his father’s grave, plowed up the
+earth above the dead, and scored the earth with their axes. Now they
+have insulted Black-Hawk and he will remember.”
+
+“I would not take it too much to heart, Black-Hawk,” said Wescott.
+
+“Black-Hawk will remember,” was the reply. “But look my brother. By this
+blood which drops upon the earth I promise friendship to you and yours.
+You are two just white men; and all the tribes shall honor you for what
+you have done this night. Let my good brother go toward the rising sun
+and stay until the tempest has passed by.”
+
+Wescott shook his head, and walked beside the chief to the river. He
+refused to take any corn, and as the canoes pulled off the two foresters
+looked at each other.
+
+“This is bad, Joe,” said Wescott, “but we must get to work. Do you know
+where the General is now?”
+
+“He’s at Jefferson Barracks—that’s whar he is,” replied Joe.
+
+“Then he must be spoken to and at once. In the mean time I will take a
+horse and see other officers and concert measures for the public safety.
+The whole North-west is in danger, for many will follow Black-Hawk.”
+
+They hurried back to the cabin, and to his delight the settler found
+Captain Melton there, who had returned unsuccessful from the pursuit of
+Black Will and Dick Garrett.
+
+The young officer was well known to both Mr. Wescott and Cooney Joe, and
+was cordially greeted by both.
+
+“What was this disturbance I heard just now, Mr. Wescott?” said Melton,
+as they shook hands. “It sounded almost like a battle.”
+
+“It was very near one as it was,” said Wescott. “Our people surrounded a
+party of Indians who came over for corn, insulted them in every
+conceivable way, beat and threw stones at them and injured Black-Hawk
+quite severely.”
+
+“You don’t tell me that they have hurt Black-Hawk?”
+
+“Yes, and if I know any thing of the Indian he will resent it.”
+
+“This is too bad, just when we hoped to settle the matter peaceably. Let
+the people on the frontier look to it now, for there is trouble ahead as
+sure as we live. Hi, there, Stanley,” he cried, addressing one of his
+men. “Ride to the Post and see the General. Tell him exactly what has
+happened, word for word, and when you have done that, go back by way of
+the island and tell the rest of the boys to come up.”
+
+“Do you think they will fight, captain?”
+
+“Of course they will, and we have a lot of dunderheads who will do their
+best to force it on. With your permission, Mr. Wescott, I will stay here
+to-night, if you will let the men sleep in your barn.”
+
+“Certainly; if the house were large enough they should be welcome to
+that.”
+
+The command of Melton was an independent one, composed principally of
+bordermen and scouts, selected for their known valor and knowledge of
+the country. As usual in such cases they were despised by the dandy
+regiments until two or three rough bouts between the men had taught them
+a lesson. They were very popular with the masses, however, and in a bush
+fight, were capable of doing more work than any body of men in the
+service.
+
+Two or three couriers were dispatched in various directions, and then
+the party camped outside, while the captain entered the house, where he
+was received by Mrs. Wescott and the daughter. The elder lady had just
+returned from a visit down the river.
+
+“This is Charley Melton, my prince of borderers, the best scout captain
+in the territories,” said Wescott. “Captain, my daughter Sadie.”
+
+“I met Miss Wescott early in the evening when in chase of a desperate
+gambler who had shot a man over a card-table. And indeed we met twice in
+the village.”
+
+“I hope you caught him, captain,” said Wescott.
+
+“Sorry to say I did not. How the fellow managed to slip away I don’t
+know, but when we got to the bend, all trace of them was lost. He had a
+man in his company whom I want to see, for I believe he is stirring up
+the Indians against us.”
+
+“You mean Black Will Jackwood, I’ll bet,” said Joe Bent.
+
+“Yes; what made you think that?”
+
+“’Cause I see the bloody cuss at Rock Island, whisperin’ round old
+Black-Hawk, and it looked bad to me, somehow. It will be a ’markably
+good thing when he is hung up out of harm’s way.”
+
+“That good thing will be very likely to happen if we have the good luck
+to catch them. Ha! What Indian girl is that?”
+
+“Minneoba, the daughter of Black-Hawk,” replied the girl, coming
+forward. “Let not Loud Tempest fear that she will speak the words she
+hears in the lodge of her white father in the ear of the Sacs. Minneoba
+is not a creeping serpent, and will not betray her friends.”
+
+“Loud Tempest, eh? Poetical name the Sacs have given me, though for what
+cause I do not know. What have you there, Dix?”
+
+An orderly had appeared at the door and saluted.
+
+“Caught a Pottawatomie, just now, who claims that he has something to
+say.”
+
+“Who is he?”
+
+“Little Fox.”
+
+“Pah! I don’t think much can be made out of _him_. However, bring him
+in, and let us hear what he has to say.”
+
+The orderly turned and beckoned, and an Indian, greasy and
+smoke-begrimed, with a face which bore evident signs of hard potations,
+appeared in the doorway. This “lord of the forest” was very drunk. His
+eyes rolled in their sockets, and he found it easiest to stand by the
+aid of the door-post.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER IV.
+                       LITTLE FOX—NA-SHE-ESCHUCK.
+
+
+The Indian was one of the worst specimens of his race—a creature
+naturally brutal, who had been rendered more debased by an excessive use
+of fire-water. As he clung to the door-post and looked at them out of
+bleared and watery eyes, he was as disgusting a specimen of the _genus
+homo_ as could be found between the two oceans.
+
+“Let me talk to this critter,” said Cooney Joe. “I calculate I
+understand the natur’ of the unadulterated, unb’iled, unwashed and
+unclean drunken red, as well as any man in the great Nor’-west. I do, by
+the livin’ hokies. Hyar, you ’possum, speak up, and speak quick; what
+ar’ ye looking fur now?”
+
+“Fire-water; poor Injun _very_ dry,” replied this noble red-man.
+“Tire—much tire; walk durn good ways; _mus’_ hab fire-water.”
+
+“You got to airn it fust, my noble red,” replied Joe. “Come, agitate yer
+jaw; tell us what ye want.”
+
+“S’pose you give Little Fox fire-water, den talk. How _can_ talk when no
+hab drink? Ugh!”
+
+“That’s the heathen philosophy, gents all,” said Joe, with a look of
+supreme disgust. “No whisky, no news. Got sech a thing as a drain of
+sperrits handy, ’square?”
+
+Mr. Wescott left the room, and returned shortly with a small flask of
+rum, from which he poured out a glass for the Indian, who drank it with
+avidity, smacked his lips, and held out the glass for more.
+
+“Hold on,” said Joe, pushing back the extended hand. “Not ef I know it,
+Injin. That tongue of yours begins to double, anyhow, and I reckon
+you’ll hev to do some talking afore you git any more rum.”
+
+“Pottawatomie big warrior, _much_ brave,” replied the Indian, loftily,
+striking his clenched hand upon his broad breast. “Give Injun rum.”
+
+“I’ll give you a bat ’long side your old head ef ye ask fur more afore
+you’ve done the work,” said Joe, angrily. “Come now, speak up. What d’ye
+want?”
+
+“Want rifle—want blanket—want _heap_ fire-water!” replied Little Fox.
+“Got heap story to tell.”
+
+“Lies, probably. Come, out with it, and ef it is any use to us, then
+we’ll pay han’sum. That’s the time of day.”
+
+“Want him _now_,” replied the Indian, with a surly glance at the
+speaker. “No tell news widout you put him down here.”
+
+“That won’t do, Injin,” said Joe. “You heard what the fellers done with
+Black-Hawk, just now. I’ve only got to say the word, and you go away the
+_sorest_ Injin in the Nor’-west. Tell us any really important news, and
+we’ll give you a rifle, two blankets and a keg of rum, and you kin drink
+you’self to death in a week.”
+
+“Much _promise_—little _do_. Dat white man’s way,” replied the Indian.
+“Little Fox no speak.”
+
+“Will you speak if _I_ promise to give you what you ask?” said Captain
+Melton, advancing.
+
+“Loud Tempest will do what he says,” replied the Indian, with a drunken
+leer. “Little Fox will believe him.”
+
+“Very well, then; I promise to give you the rifle, blankets and rum, if
+you tell us all you came to tell.”
+
+“Give Injun stool; sit down like white man. Floor much dizzy; whirl
+round _fast_. Ugh!”
+
+By the not very mild assistance of Cooney Joe the Indian was seated on a
+stool, with his back to the wall, and sat with drunken gravity waiting
+to be questioned.
+
+“Go on with yer story, you red nigger,” cried Joe. “And see yer, the
+minnit you begin to _lie_—and oh, Lord, how he _kin_ lie when he lays
+his tongue to it!—that minnit I jump on you and yer ha’r comes off.”
+
+“Little Fox will speak with a straight tongue,” replied the savage,
+drawing himself up. “Give injun more rum, and he talk _heap_ fast.”
+
+Cooney Joe poured out a very mild dose of rum and gave it to the savage,
+who gulped it down at once, and would have asked for more but that the
+expression of Joe’s face taught him that such a measure would bring down
+upon his head the wrath of the hunter, and he prudently refrained.
+
+“Black-Hawk much mad,” he said. “See—white man take his village and
+plant corn among the graves. That no right in white man.”
+
+“No moril reflections, bummer,” said Joe. “Git on with yer yarn, or off
+goes yer sculp.”
+
+“Black-Hawk has a great army,” said the Indian. “His braves are coming
+in from the plains and their faces are painted for war. The white men
+must not sleep or they will all die.”
+
+It is needless to follow word by word the disjointed narrative of the
+drunken savage, interrupted as it was by appeals for rum, which was
+doled out to him in very small quantities by Cooney Joe, who feared that
+he would get too drunk to articulate. He sat swaying unsteadily to and
+fro, and told a tale which confirmed their fears. Messengers had been
+sent out to the various tribes, and all had agreed to follow the
+standard of Black-Hawk and assist him in driving out the invaders of
+their land. Nearly all the principal chiefs except Keokuk had given in
+their adhesion, and bands of warriors were already on their way to the
+place of rendezvous, not far from Rock Island, where there was a Sac
+village and a fort. Doubtless the Indian misrepresented the plans of
+Black-Hawk, but he told enough truth to make his story tally with the
+preconceived ideas of the whites, and they looked at one another in
+silent dismay.
+
+“This is very serious,” said the captain of scouts. “This Indian has
+earned his reward, and if he will come into the village to-morrow he
+shall have the liquor; the rifle and blankets I can give him now.”
+
+He went out and brought in a very good rifle and two blankets, which he
+had obtained from the men. A flask of powder was added, and a mold to
+run bullets, and Little Fox staggered away, happy as a lord, little
+knowing that the possession of these articles would prove his
+death-warrant. With the weapon in his hands he staggered toward the
+village, where he was met by a young warrior of the Sac nation, whom, in
+his drunken blindness, he did not recognize as the youngest son of
+Black-Hawk, who was lurking about for information.
+
+“My brother has a fine gun,” he said in the Indian tongue, endeavoring
+to lay his hand upon the weapon. But Little Fox tore it away from him in
+drunken wrath.
+
+“Wagh! It is the gun of the white man, and the Sacs will fall before it
+as the leaves when they are yellow,” he said.
+
+“My brother is very rich. He must have taken much fur to buy so fine a
+gun,” said the young Indian, who already showed the qualities which
+afterward gave him a leading place in the tribe.
+
+“Little Fox is the friend of the white man, and he can get a gun for
+nothing,” was the reply. “When Black-Hawk comes with his warriors he
+will find the white men ready.”
+
+“Has my brother told the white men what Black-Hawk is doing?” said the
+young Sac, vailing his rage.
+
+“Little Fox can speak or Little Fox can be silent,” replied the
+Pottawatomie. “Look: to-morrow he is to have enough rum to last him a
+whole moon, because he is the friend of the white man.”
+
+“Fire-water is good,” said the Sac. “Has my brother a canoe to carry it
+across the river?”
+
+The Indian shook his head, and a sort of hazy idea passed through his
+clouded brain that he had already said as much as he ought concerning
+the affair.
+
+“I have a fine canoe,” continued the son of Black-Hawk. “Let my brother
+bring the rum to the Point, and I will help him carry it away.”
+
+The Pottawatomie nodded gravely, and went on his sinuous way, while the
+young chief darted into the forest, and taking a circuitous course,
+reached his father’s village at early morning. The old chief was in his
+lodge, in an attitude of the deepest dejection, for he had not sought a
+quarrel with the whites. Near him, seated upon a pile of skins, and with
+a look of deep malice on his face, sat Black Will, holding his rifle in
+his brown right hand.
+
+“Ha! here comes Na-she-eschuck,” he said. “Now, Black-Hawk, let your
+great heart awake and listen to the words of your son. Speak,
+Na-she-eschuck; what are the white men doing?”
+
+“They go about among the lodges they have built above our fathers’
+graves and laugh because they have insulted Black-Hawk,” replied the
+young Sac, fiercely. “Their ears are stopped to all thoughts of peace,
+and they long for war. Let them get what they seek, since they will have
+it so.”
+
+“What did I tell you, Black-Hawk?” said Black Will. “The scoundrels do
+not care for your great name, and they throw mud at you as if you were a
+common Pottawatomie, and not the head chief of a great nation. Will you
+bear this tamely?”
+
+“Black-Hawk is an Indian,” replied the proud old man, drawing up his
+stalwart form to its full hight. “But he does not seek for war. If the
+white men will let us rest where we now are, I will send the warriors
+back, and we will be friends.”
+
+“Friends! Friends with the men who threw mud in your face and beat you
+like a dog?” cried Black Will. “Come, I have been mistaken in you. I
+thought you were a man ready to revenge your injuries, but the white men
+have cowed you until you dare not lift a hand against them.”
+
+Black-Hawk bounded to his feet with a terrible cry, and laid his hand
+upon a weapon. But that Na-she-eschuck sprung between him and the object
+of his wrath, it is doubtful whether the career of Black Will would not
+have ended upon the spot.
+
+“Hold your hand, great chief,” cried his son, forcing him back. “He sits
+under the shadow of your lodge, and you have smoked the pipe with him.
+Do not make yourself a dog since you have taken his hand.”
+
+“He has insulted a great chief,” replied the old warrior, fiercely.
+“But, he is right; Black-Hawk is a dog to listen to the words of the
+white men, and to refuse to dig up the hatchet when so many warriors are
+ready to follow him to the fight.”
+
+“We _must_ fight,” said Na-she-eschuck. “Little Fox has been among the
+white men, and has told them that the braves are gathering at the call
+of Black-Hawk. He is a dead dog, and has taken a rifle and blankets, and
+is to have much fire-water, because he has betrayed us.”
+
+Black Will began to look uneasy.
+
+“Has the scoundrel told them that I am here?” he asked.
+
+“I can not tell. He is to come to the point above the island with the
+price of his guilt, to-morrow, and I will be there to help him over the
+river.”
+
+A grim look crossed the face of Black-Hawk, as his son spoke.
+
+“It is good,” he said. “One traitor shall die, because he has sold
+himself for the fire-water of the white men. As for us, we will not
+strike the first blow, but if they take up the hatchet against us, then
+we will fight. But I will not remove.”
+
+“It is better for us to strike the first blow,” said Black Will. “That
+is the main thing in war—to strike such a terrible blow, that their
+hearts will turn water in their bosoms. Look at me; I am of the blood of
+the white men, but I am not _all_ white. A chief of the Sacs was my
+father, and he is dead. He died in chains, because he dug up the hatchet
+against the cowardly Chippewas. You have known and loved him, for you
+fought by his side. Black-Hawk, Red-Bird was the father of the man who
+speaks.”
+
+“Ha!” cried the chief. “Red-Bird was a man, but he could not bear the
+chains of the white man, and he died. Is my son the child whom he lost,
+who was born of the French squaw, who followed him from Detroit?”
+
+Black Will inclined his head slowly, and Black-Hawk took his hand in his
+own and pressed it again and again to his bosom.
+
+“Black-Hawk can understand how the son of Red-Bird should hate the white
+man,” he said. “We will fight side by side in this war, and if we die,
+let us die bravely. Are the warriors coming in, Na-she-eschuck?”
+
+“They are gathering from every side. They have heard of the insult to
+Black-Hawk, and their hearts are hot in their bosoms. They will behave
+like men.”
+
+“It is good,” said the chief. “Now we will go forth, and you shall see
+how Black-Hawk shall give a traitor his dues.”
+
+They left the lodge, and followed by the brother of Black-Hawk, and
+Napope, a celebrated chief, moved down toward the river, where the rest
+of the party concealed themselves while Na-she-eschuck brought out his
+canoe and crossed to the other shore.
+
+
+
+
+                               CHAPTER V.
+                        THE PRICE OF TREACHERY.
+
+
+Little Fox had remained all night in the white village, and as it was
+noised about that he had betrayed the plans of Black-Hawk, he had no
+lack of his favorite beverage, and morning found him as drunk as ever.
+Captain Melton sent a man with a canoe to carry the price of the
+information to the point above the island, and as the son of Black-Hawk
+was crossing the river, Little Fox was sitting in drunken state upon his
+keg, dreaming of the glorious times he would have when he broached it in
+the seclusion of his lodge. He remembered indistinctly that some one had
+promised to help him across the river with his prize, but for his life
+could not remember who it was, and it almost sobered him when he saw
+Na-she-eschuck crossing from the other shore, and he fumbled with the
+lock of his rifle, and was half inclined to warn the Sac to keep off.
+But the fumes of the liquor were still in his brain, and the young chief
+landed and came toward him.
+
+“The Pottawatomie did not lie to Na-she-eschuck,” said he. “Let us put
+the fire-water into the canoe.”
+
+“You put him in,” said the owner. “Me watch.”
+
+He looked on while Na-she-eschuck placed the keg in the canoe and then
+followed, and, drunk as he was, managed to seat himself safely in the
+light craft. The Sac followed, and obeying the orders he had received,
+headed up the river, rounded the point of the island, and made toward
+the other shore. There was something in the stern, steadfast look of
+Na-she-eschuck which struck a chill into the heart of the traitor
+Pottawatomie, and almost sobered him, and twice he laid his hand upon
+his rifle, as if tempted to use it upon his companion. But, as often as
+he did so, the countenance of the Sac took on a pleasant air of good
+fellowship, which made it impossible to be angry with him.
+
+“Why does not Na-she-eschuck go to the bank?” said Little Fox. “We will
+make a hole in the fire-water tub and drink.”
+
+The canoe was now headed directly for the point of the woodland which
+came down to the water’s edge, and after drawing the light bark up the
+bank, they took the keg between them and carried it up to the first
+opening, where it was placed upon its end, while Little Fox, by the aid
+of his knife, succeeded in drawing out the bung.
+
+“Wagh!” he cried. “Smell good, don’t he, Na-she-eschuck? Now s’pose you
+get straws, we drink much, good deal.”
+
+The Sac went down to the water’s edge and quickly cut two long, slender
+reeds, one of which he gave to Little Fox, and the two sat down over the
+keg, inserted the reeds, and began to imbibe after the manner of boys
+over a barrel of cider. But, although Na-she-eschuck went through all
+the motions of drinking rapidly, it is doubtful if he took as much as
+Little Fox, whose fiery eyes began to light up as he took in the burning
+fluid, and in five minutes he was more drunk than before he crossed the
+stream.
+
+“E-yah! Little Fox is the friend of the white man. Who would not serve
+them when he can earn such drink?”
+
+“Tell Na-she-eschuck what to do and he will get fire-water from the
+white man.”
+
+Drunk as he was, Little Fox looked at the speaker in astonishment. That
+the Sac youth would betray his father seemed impossible to him, and yet
+knowing how strong his own love of liquor was, and that he would betray
+a nation to obtain it, his surprise faded away.
+
+“Will Na-she-eschuck do this? He can get more fire-water than Little
+Fox, for he knows more.”
+
+“What must I do?”
+
+“Go to the white men and tell them all that Black-Hawk is doing, and my
+brother will be very rich.”
+
+“Has Little Fox done this?”
+
+“He has done what he could, but he did not know much,” replied the
+traitor. “Na-she-eschuck has been in the lodge of his father and heard
+his words.”
+
+“Na-she-eschuck will do any thing for fire-water,” said the young chief,
+seeming to reel as he sat. “Did the white men give all this for the
+message which was brought them by Little Fox?”
+
+The Pottawattomie nodded, and again applied his mouth to the reed. But,
+at this moment the expression of drunken gravity passed away from the
+face of Na-she-eschuck. He bounded to his feet, with a look of wild rage
+upon his dark face and his hand upon his hatchet, and drunk as Little
+Fox was, he could see that he was deceived and that Na-she-eschuck was
+perfectly sober. He would have seized his rifle, but the foot of the
+young Sac was firmly planted upon it and he found it impossible to raise
+it, and the threatening action of Na-she-eschuck caused him to draw back
+in alarm.
+
+“Dog—traitor!” hissed the chief. “You have betrayed our people into the
+hands of the enemy and you shall die. Black-Hawk, Napope and
+Wa-be-ke-zhick, appear.”
+
+As he spoke, the three chiefs, accompanied by Will Jackwood, appeared
+from the bushes upon the right. Every face was black with fury, and the
+traitorous savage knew that his doom was fast approaching. He would have
+fled, but the strong hands of Na-she-eschuck and Napope were upon him,
+and in the twinkling of an eye his hands were bound behind him and
+Black-Hawk stood regarding him with a steadfast look, which had no pity
+in it.
+
+“The ears of Black-Hawk have heard the words which have been spoken by
+the mouth of a traitor. Away with him to the sacred wood and then call
+the warriors to witness his fate.”
+
+Napope and Na-she-eschuck dragged him away, and Black-Hawk uttered a
+signal whoop which quickly brought four stalwart Indians to the spot,
+who, at the command of Black-Hawk, fastened up the keg, and making a
+sort of cradle of strong boughs, carried the liquor away toward the
+sacred forest, being solemnly warned not to touch it on their lives.
+After them marched the remaining chiefs and Black-Hawk, taking a
+sequestered path through the wood. Half an hour’s walk brought them to a
+deep glen in the midst of the solemn woods, where a sort of rude altar
+was erected, and where the mystic ceremonies of their strange religion
+were nearly always observed. A solitary tree of small size, with a
+blackened trunk, the scene of many a sacrifice, was standing in the
+center of the glade, and there, tightly bound with green withes, stood
+Little Fox awaiting his fate.
+
+The Indian was sober enough now, for nothing brings a man to his senses
+so quickly, no matter how much stupefied by drink, as the presence of
+danger. His eyes roved from face to face for some sign of relenting or
+pity, but he found none.
+
+“Why has Black-Hawk brought a Pottawattomie here?” he said. “He dare not
+shed the blood of the son of Na-bo-lish.”
+
+“Na-bo-lish was a great chief but his son is a dog,” he said.
+“Black-Hawk will not shed his blood, and a coward’s death he shall die.”
+
+“Little Fox knows how to die, if die he must,” replied the Indian,
+proudly. “He will speak no more and he dares Black-Hawk to do his
+worst.”
+
+The summons had gone forth, and one by one the chiefs and warriors began
+to enter the sacred wood. Every face was clouded, for they knew that
+they would not have been called to this place but to witness some great
+sacrifice. A single glance at the prisoner was all they gave, and then,
+man by man, they seated themselves in a great circle and waited for the
+coming of others. In less than an hour from the time when Little Fox was
+taken, five hundred grim warriors were seated within the glade, and then
+Black-Hawk arose.
+
+“Chiefs and warriors,” he cried—“children of the same great Father,
+although our tribes are many—listen to Black-Hawk. He is getting old,
+his hair is gray, but he weeps for the sorrows of the poor Indian. Once,
+all these great hunting-grounds, in which the white man plants his corn,
+were the property of the Indian. There he lived—there he died, and there
+he lies buried. The steel of the white man’s plow is among the bones,
+and he builds his lodge in the villages which once were ours.
+
+“This should make an Indian very sad, and he should do all he can to
+help his people. But there are some who are so base that for the
+fire-water of the white man they would sell their fathers’ bones. It
+grieves the heart of Black-Hawk that this should be so, for he loves the
+Indian. Now, when we have risen for our rights, and to protect our once
+happy homes, Indians of the pure blood stand ready to give us up a prey
+to the white man, that they may drink the strong water which makes men
+mad.
+
+“Look upon this man. He is a son of the great Na-bo-lish, the
+Pottawattomie. Once, he was a man and a mighty warrior. His foot was
+quick upon the war-path, and his hand ready to shed the blood of his
+enemies. The white men came and brought the strong water to the
+villages. Little Fox was no longer a man when he had taken it into his
+mouth. Let Na-she-eschuck speak, and tell the warriors what Little Fox
+has done, and then let them speak. I have done.”
+
+He sat down amid a strange murmuring, and Na-she-eschuck arose. The
+young chief was well known for his strict honesty, and they were assured
+that he would not lie to save his life.
+
+“My father has spoken good words. Little Fox has sold us to the white
+men for a rifle, two blankets and this fire-water,” striking the keg
+with his foot. “Out of his own mouth condemn him. Let him die.”
+
+Napope arose.
+
+“I heard the words which came from the lips of Little Fox, and the Sac
+has spoken the truth. Let Little Fox die like a dog.”
+
+“And I heard it,” cried the Prophet. “I—Wa-be-ke-zhick, the Prophet. He
+sold us to the white men and he deserves to die. Now let the chiefs and
+warriors speak.”
+
+There was a sudden movement among the listening warriors. They arose as
+one man, and every voice pealed out the solemn sentence: “He is a
+traitor; let him die!”
+
+“You are women,” shrieked the Pottawottamie, fiercely. “Do your worst;
+Little Fox will show you how to die.”
+
+“It is well,” said Black-Hawk, slightly inclining his head. “We will not
+deny that Little Fox has been a great brave, but he is now a dog. Let
+the chiefs come about me, and we will have a talk.”
+
+They were not long in consultation, and then separated, the chiefs going
+about among the men and giving their orders. Then a long-sounding whoop
+from Black-Hawk called them into line, and they began to circle about
+the tree, pointing their fingers scornfully at the prisoner. Then
+Black-Hawk advanced and bared the breast of the prisoner, exposing the
+totem of his tribe.
+
+“Look,” he said, “he bears upon his bosom the sign of a great tribe.
+This is not well, and it must be removed. Wa-be-ke-zhick, advance, and
+cut the totem from his flesh.”
+
+“Cut away the totem of the great tribe,” cried the warriors. “He has no
+right to wear it, who is a dog. Cut it away!”
+
+The countenance of Little Fox was distorted with rage more than fear.
+Drunken and worthless as he had become, he was a true Indian, and felt
+keenly the disgrace about to be put upon him.
+
+“Do not dare to make a chief a dog,” he hissed. “Give me the torture, or
+give me death. Have I no friend among this people who will strike a
+sharp knife into my breast?”
+
+“Has he a friend among the warriors who will do this?” said Black-Hawk.
+“Let him speak.”
+
+No voice replied, and the countenance of Little Fox changed from hope to
+fear.
+
+“He has no friend,” cried Black-Hawk. “Advance, Wa-be-ke-zhick; cut away
+the totem.”
+
+It was done, and Little Fox, if he lived, was ostracised for ever from
+his tribe and death would be to him a happy release. In the mean time, a
+great caldron had been placed upon a fire, and in this the keg of rum
+was poured, and a great quantity of gourds piled up beside it. The
+spirits had now begun to bubble, and taking up a little in a gourd,
+Black-Hawk advanced and offered it to the condemned man.
+
+“For this you sold us to the white men, Little Fox. Drink, now that I
+give it to you. It is warm—it is good—it will make you strong.”
+
+As he spoke, he dashed the contents of the gourd against the breast of
+the doomed man, and Little Fox uttered an appalling shriek which rung
+with startling distinctness through the forest. Now ensued a horrible
+scene, as Indian after Indian caught up a gourd and dashed a portion of
+the boiling spirits upon the naked body of the traitor. Black Will
+stopped his ears and turned away his head to shut out the agonizing
+sights and sounds which the sacrifice presented. He was a cruel man by
+nature, but he found that the Indians could go beyond him in refinement
+of torture. At last the caldron was empty, and the victim stood
+literally parboiled at the stake, gnawing his lips to keep down the
+shrieks which arose in spite of himself. The faces of his stern
+executioners did not change, and they were about to commence some new
+species of torture, when Black Will sprung between.
+
+“Stop, Black-Hawk; stand back there, Napope. This fellow deserves death.
+But you shall not torture him any longer. Kill him, and put him out of
+pain.”
+
+“Stand aside, white man!” cried Napope. “Why do you come between the
+warriors and a traitor?”
+
+“White man! I am the son of Red-Bird, the Sac, who died in the white
+man’s prison; and I say that this shall not go on. Will you kill him?”
+
+“No; let the torture go on.”
+
+Black Will wheeled in his tracks, drew a pistol, and shot Little Fox
+through the heart. Bloody as the deed was, it was mercy, compared with
+the torture in store for the traitor. He started as the bullet pierced
+him, a look of ferocious joy passed over his face, and his head dropped
+upon his bosom. There came a wild rush at the immovable figure of Black
+Will, but the sonorous voice of Black-Hawk was heard, ordering them to
+stand back.
+
+“Touch not the son of Red-Bird, lest you make an enemy of Black-Hawk,”
+he cried. “Take down the body and cast it out in the open woods, that
+the wolves may eat all that is left of a traitor.”
+
+The work was done, and although there was some grumbling at being robbed
+of their victim so early, the bravest among the warriors were inclined
+to commend the bold action of Black Will, although, under the
+circumstances, none of them would have dared to do the same. The body
+was thrown upon the earth to rot, and the warriors on their march back
+to the village, when a runner, hot with haste, dashed into the forest
+and met Black-Hawk.
+
+“Let the braves take their hatchets,” he cried. “The white men are upon
+the march.”
+
+“Ha,” cried Black-Hawk. “Do they come with arms?”
+
+“Major Stillman comes, with many warriors,” replied the runner.
+
+“Let us see if they are friends,” said Black-Hawk. “If they come in
+peace it is well. If they harm a hair of one of my young men they shall
+all die.”
+
+He sent out five young warriors with a white flag, who did not return.
+Later in the day three more went out and reconnoitered in the vicinity
+of the advance of the white men. They were pursued and two of them
+killed, the first blood shed in the war. The third escaped and brought
+the news to Black-Hawk, and they dug up the hatchet and prepared for
+war.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER VI.
+                            THE FIRST BLOW.
+
+
+It must be admitted by unprejudiced men and thinkers of all lands, that
+the “Black-Hawk” war was precipitated by the rapacity of the whites. Not
+satisfied with driving the Indians from the better portion of their
+lands, they persisted still further in forcing them from their villages
+about Rock Island. They would have been less than men if they had not
+resisted, but to the last, Black-Hawk insisted that he would not be the
+first to shed blood, and, as we have seen, the first man killed was one
+of Black-Hawk’s band, by Stillman’s party.
+
+This man seemed to have little knowledge of the Indian character, and
+lacked the power of leading men. He had been sent out by General
+Atkinson in advance, with orders to scour the country, find out the
+position of the Indian force, and to act as his discretion seemed to
+dictate. Captain Melton was with him, and had occasion twice to
+remonstrate with him upon his manner of advancing through a country
+favorable to an ambuscade. The troop consisted of two hundred and
+seventy mounted men, marching without order, straggling where they
+liked, and firing at any stray Indian of whatever tribe, whom they
+chanced to meet.
+
+When the flag of Black-Hawk appeared, Stillman ordered the bearers to be
+taken prisoners.
+
+“Excuse me, Major Stillman,” said Melton, as he heard the order. “Surely
+you do not propose to make these men prisoners?”
+
+“Certainly I do, sir; take your place and let me hear no more.”
+
+“Your words will require an explanation at another time and place, my
+good sir,” said Melton. “Be so good as to remember that I had no orders
+to join you, and that if you insist upon such conduct, I will leave you
+at once. These men came to you under the shadow of a white flag, and you
+have no right to take them prisoners.”
+
+“_Will_ you take your place, Captain Melton?” roared Stillman, “or must
+I put you under arrest?”
+
+Melton said no more, but fell back to the head of his troop, fully
+determined to leave the irate major if he persisted in his conduct.
+
+The three bearers of the flag were sent to the rear, under guard, and
+the troop proceeded in the same disorderly manner. Some time after the
+stragglers in advance caught sight of the warriors who had been sent out
+to see what had been done with the bearers of the flag, and were
+pursued, and two of them shot down without mercy, the rest escaping, by
+taking to the woods in front. No sooner had he beheld this cruel and
+uncalled for butchery, than the young captain of scouts called to his
+men and they wheeled out of the line, faced about, and marched back
+toward the river.
+
+Stillman, boiling with rage, called his men to a halt, and rode back.
+
+“What is the meaning of this conduct, Captain Melton?” he hissed, fairly
+foaming at the mouth. “How dare you detach your command without orders?”
+
+“If you think you have men enough in your rag-tag and bob-tail command
+to stop us, you had better try it on, Major Stillman,” said Melton,
+coolly. “I for one will not give countenance to _murder_, as you are
+doing.”
+
+“Murder, sir?”
+
+“Murder is the word. Those Sacs were doing no harm who were just killed
+by your men, and did not even use their weapons when your scoundrels
+took after them. Go on your way, sir; I will not march a foot further
+with you.”
+
+“I will have you court-martialed, upon my return, sir,” cried Stillman.
+
+“Very well; I shall take an opportunity to tell the court some things
+not to your credit. Good-day, sir. But, for the safety of your men I
+tell you to call in your stragglers, march in a more orderly manner and
+beat the bushes thoroughly before you enter. Attention, scouts;
+forward.”
+
+And the compact little body rode away at a killing pace, leaving Major
+Stillman to his own devices.
+
+Stillman hesitated for some time before advancing, for he knew that the
+desertion of Captain Melton was a great loss to him. While he stood in
+doubt, the men who had killed two Indians came back at a gallop and
+announced that the Indians were just across Sycamore creek and in some
+force. All was now confusion in the white camp. Some who had dismounted
+sprung into the saddle, and with wild shouts the disorderly band rushed
+on, headed by the men who had just come in. Black-Hawk had not supposed
+that Stillman intended to attack him, and the greater portion of his
+force were on the other side of the village; in all, the great chief had
+only forty men under his command when Stillman’s men came up at the
+gallop, strung out across the plain, man, by man, according to the speed
+of their horses, and in this manner crossed the creek. Black-Hawk had
+not hoped that they would thus give themselves a prey to him, and his
+ambuscade was quickly formed.
+
+When half the party had crossed the creek and were massed in disorder
+upon the bank and the rest were struggling up, some crossing the creek,
+and others yet upon the plain beyond, the war-whoop of the Sacs
+announced the onset, and from every side the warriors poured in upon the
+foe. One withering volley was poured in, which strewed the earth with
+dead and dying forms, and at the same moment the charge was made and the
+knife and hatchet was doing its silent but deadly work before the doomed
+men had time to lift a hand. To show the utter foolishness with which
+the advance was made, it is enough to say that the warlike major was
+never in the fight at all, so quickly was the force which had crossed
+the creek disposed of by the furious attack of Black-Hawk.
+
+The cry was, “Satan take the hindmost.” Hardly waiting for Stillman’s
+order to retreat, they broke and fled in every direction, each man for
+himself, lashing their horses to get out of the fearful imbroglio into
+which their own foolhardy conduct had forced them.
+
+Thus, in one desperate charge forty Indians had put two hundred and
+seventy white men to flight! It is no discredit to the West, for the men
+of Stillman’s force, under a different leader, would have laughed at the
+efforts of the Sac force. They came into Dixon’s Ferry as they had left
+Sycamore creek, one at a time, and the loss gradually dwindled from
+seventy to about one-fourth of the number.
+
+The alarm went forth through the land, and the little force of Sac
+warriors were magnified into an army. The work had been done, however,
+and a scene of blood and death was about to be enacted upon the border.
+
+Captain Melton rode back to the settlement, after leaving Stillman, but
+had not gone far when the flying men from the band of heroes began to
+come up with him. Seeing that the war was begun in earnest he faced
+about and prepared to meet them as best he might, knowing nothing of the
+small force of Black-Hawk. After waiting all night for some sign of
+Indian pursuit, as none was made he drew off his men and reached the
+settlement some hours after the arrival of Stillman, who had been
+filling the ears of the inhabitants with stories of the cowardly conduct
+of the captain.
+
+The captain quickly set matters right, and only that he had more
+important business upon his hands, would have followed Stillman to the
+camp of Atkinson, to which he had directed his steps. Taking ten of his
+men, he rode up the river, to the residence of Mr. Wescott, but as he
+drew near, he found evidences upon every hand of the presence of the
+destroyer, and as he crossed the hill, saw, to his horror, that during
+the last night the cabin had been attacked. Wild with fear, he rushed in
+at the broken door and found every thing in confusion, and scattered
+here and there, various bits of Indian finery, beads and the like, which
+told him beyond a doubt who had done the work.
+
+“Indians,” said one of the men. “Good heaven, captain, they are killed!”
+
+They explored the house everywhere, but not a trace of the family could
+be seen. Upon the floor near the entrance was a little pool of fresh
+blood, which looked as if it had been shed the night before, and Melton
+looked at it with a shudder.
+
+“Where are they?” he groaned. “Who has done this ruin?”
+
+“It is always so in an Indian war,” said his lieutenant. “Some band of
+Indians coming up to join Black-Hawk, have rushed in on them, before
+they had time to fire a shot.”
+
+“Somebody has been hurt,” said Melton. “Ha! what have you got there,
+Chris?”
+
+One of the men came forward, holding in his hand a heavy knife, with
+about three inches broken from the point. Upon the hilt of the weapon,
+rudely engraved, was the name, “R. Garrett.”
+
+“Dick Garrett has been here, then,” said Melton, turning pale; “and if
+he has taken Sadie Wescott, it is done for Black Will. Oh! heaven, what
+shall we do?”
+
+“Hold on,” said a feeble voice from beneath their feet. “Help me out of
+this and I’ll let ye know.”
+
+“Some one is in the cellar,” said Melton. “Up with the trap and let him
+out.”
+
+The trap-door was opened, and Cooney Joe, bleeding and ghastly, appeared
+at the foot of the ladder. A dozen hands were extended to help him up,
+and he was seated upon one of the stools, gasping for breath.
+
+“What is this, Joe?” said Melton. “Speak, man; don’t you see that I am
+in torture until I know the worst?”
+
+“The worst is, that a party of red niggers, headed by Dick Garrett, made
+a rush at us last night, and took Mr. Wescott and the gal prisoners. I
+had a tussle with Dick Garrett, and one of them cussid reds hit me over
+the head with a hatchet, and I fell into the cellar. I do’no’ what drove
+’em off, but they did not come down to raise my wool, and I’ve been too
+weak to git out without help.”
+
+“You don’t know which way they went?”
+
+“Don’t I tell ye they knocked the life clean out of me, the fust crack?
+I didn’t fairly git my senses back till I heerd ye talking. ’Tain’t
+above two hours sence they left.”
+
+“How many had Dick Garrett under him?”
+
+“Mebbe twenty, the ugliest-lookin’ lot of whites painted red you ever
+sot yer livin’ eyes on. I’ll be bu’sted ef they wouldn’t spile a
+lookin’-glass by jest peekin’ into it; darned lot of ruffi’ns!”
+
+“We must follow them,” hissed Melton, through his set teeth. “I’ll have
+the girl out of their hands, if I have to follow them into Black-Hawk’s
+village.”
+
+“See here; Black-Hawk do’no’ nothin’ ’bout it. The pizen cusses took his
+darter with ’em, but she sp’iled one chap, sure as you live. He got an
+arrer clean through him.”
+
+“She is a brave girl, Joe. Oh, how sorry I am that you are hurt.”
+
+“Hold hard; you ain’t goin’ without me, you know. One of your chaps wash
+out this cut, and put some plaster on it, and we’ll make it do. I’m
+goin’, you bet.”
+
+“I fear you are not strong enough.”
+
+“You be grannied! You see I’ve got a sort of snickering notion after
+that there Injin gal, and I’ll be blowed if I don’t help her.”
+
+In his border life Melton had picked up a slight knowledge of surgery,
+and he washed and dressed the wound as well as the limited conveniences
+at his disposal would admit. Having done so, Cooney Joe rose up, though
+somewhat “weak and staggering,” to use his own expression, and was ready
+to “fight or run,” as circumstances might require.
+
+“Now see here, cripples,” he said. “That carroty-headed son of a gun,
+Dick Garrett, is a whole boss-team, you bet ye. He’ll fight—he will—till
+the teeth meet in the flesh. Oh, you bet he is on it, now. He kin shoot,
+and when we foller him, we ain’t tracking Sacs, so look out for
+thunder.”
+
+“And he is in league with Black Will, and that scoundrel has a hundred
+ruffians at his beck and call,” said Melton. “We never should have had
+any trouble with the Indians but for men of his kidney.”
+
+“Now fur trailing,” said Cooney Joe. “Stand one side, you critters, and
+let the old man work! I’ve got a mark that can’t be beat, fur Dick wears
+the biggest moccasin of any man in the Nor’-west. Look around mighty
+spry, and when you find a track like a young canoe, that’s Dick
+Garrett’s hoof.”
+
+The trail was quickly found, and led to the northward. They followed it
+swiftly, Cooney Joe bending slightly in the saddle, and keeping his eyes
+on the trail, while the rest followed, keeping far enough behind not to
+disturb the trail. After a march of nearly two miles, the track suddenly
+ended upon the bank of the Father of Waters, and they knew that the
+scoundrels had taken to the stream.
+
+“Now ain’t this cussid mean; ain’t it enuff to make a man raise his hand
+against his venerable ancestor?” roared Joe. “They’ve took water, they
+hev. Here; send back two men with the hosses, fur we’ve got to hoof it.”
+
+This plan was adopted, and two of the men returned with the horses,
+while the rest searched about among the reeds, and after some trouble
+found two rude dug-outs concealed, in which, by making two trips, they
+crossed the great stream. Here they scattered and searched up and down
+for the trail which they had lost, still guided by the ponderous hoof of
+Dick Garrett.
+
+“Oh, _ain’t_ he pizen, that Dick!” growled Cooney Joe. “Its just his
+nat’ral cussedness, you know. He’s aweer that I like to ride, and he
+jest done this to be mean. Comes nat’ral to him, meanness does. Here you
+are; come on, boys!”
+
+He had taken up the recovered trail as if no interruption had occurred,
+and the party moved on across the plain. They were tried men, who had
+followed Captain Melton in many an hour of danger, but even their hearts
+gave a great leap as they plunged into the Indian country, perhaps never
+to return.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER VII.
+                               OVERBOARD.
+
+
+The surprise of the occupants of the log-cabin by the river was sudden
+and complete, when at a late hour the house was surrounded by a motley
+group headed by a man who, in spite of his paint and feathers, could not
+hide from so acute a scout as Samuel Wescott that he was a white man in
+disguise. The rush was so sudden that they had been overthrown before
+they had fairly time to reach their weapons, and the captured men were
+at once hurried to their horses, and the band made off at a rapid rate
+up the stream. Mr. Wescott was wounded, but in spite of that the savage
+white leader urged him on, threatening him with the point of his knife
+if he faltered or turned aside. They reached the river, when, to the
+surprise of all, a flat-boat shot out from the western bank and made
+toward the eastern shore. The men who held the poles were either white
+men or showed a marvelous aptitude for flat-boating, an accomplishment
+rarely to be looked for in an Indian who is not in love with manual
+labor. The bow of the flat grated on the low beach, when the party went
+on board, horses and all, and they pushed out into the stream.
+
+“This boat belonged to Captain Hughes’ father,” whispered Sadie. “Is it
+possible that these wretches have murdered him and his crew?”
+
+“He ought to have come down some days ago,” said Mr. Wescott, in an
+uneasy tone. “I am afraid that the good old man has indeed fallen. Be
+careful what you say, for these scoundrels understand every word you
+speak.”
+
+At this moment the chief approached and caught Mr. Wescott by his
+wounded arm, causing him to utter a low cry of pain, while the blood
+gushed from under his hand.
+
+“No whispering,” he hissed, dropping all at once his assumed Indian
+habits. “I’m no baby, Sam Wescott, but a bird of the woods, a
+Mississippi roarer, and I can lick the universal earth a-flying.”
+
+“Dick Garrett!” cried Wescott, in a tone of surprise. “I thought so.”
+
+“You know me, do ye?” said Dick, with an air of bravado. “All right,
+’square, it’s all the wuss for you, for Dick Garrett don’t let no man
+live that knows he wears an Injin rig. Git ropes hyar and take a couple
+of hitches on this chap, some of you fellers.”
+
+“What do you intend to do?” cried Wescott, struggling. “Hands off, you
+scoundrels!”
+
+“Tie him tight, boys,” replied Dick Garrett, in fiendish glee. “Teach
+the cuss to be so sharp, I will, before I git done with him. Now, then,
+Sam Wescott, if you’ve got any prayers to say, say ’em quick, for
+overboard you go when we get to that snag in the river.”
+
+“You cannot mean it,” said Wescott. “Such a cold blooded and unprovoked
+murder—”
+
+“Oh, give us a rest or I’ll gag you,” replied Dick Garrett. “The matter
+of a man more or less in the world ain’t going to shake it to its
+center, you bet, and when I say you’ve got to go under, then you go.”
+
+“Have your way, then, murderous wretch,” cried the brave man, drawing
+himself up proudly. “I will not beg for my life from such as you, and am
+ready to die, if my time has come, as bravely as another. Do your
+worst.”
+
+Sadie by this time began to comprehend the danger in which her father
+stood, and would have come to him, but she was forced back by one of the
+rough men who wore the Indian garb, but who could not conceal a certain
+flat-boat swagger which betrayed him.
+
+“He crows loud, boys, don’t he?” said Garrett; “mighty loud for a bird
+of his feather that’s only got three minnits to live. Keep the gal away;
+she ain’t got leave to die yet.”
+
+“Let me go to my father,” pleaded Sadie. “Oh, sir, you will not kill him
+for a single hasty word?”
+
+“I rather think I shall,” replied Garrett, as cool and composed as if
+talking of any ordinary event. “The man’s got to go. I don’t advertise
+to be a saint, and when a man runs ag’inst me and calls me a murderer, I
+reckon it’s about time for him to pass in his chips. I’m a peaceable
+man—I will _have_ peace, or a fight.”
+
+This strange man was dreadfully in earnest. Human life was to him a
+thing of no price—we might lose it to-day or to-morrow, of we might live
+a hundred years—a small matter, not to be taken into account. He had no
+objections to killing a man, and if he had stood in his way, in any
+manner, it became a _duty_ to put him aside.
+
+They were approaching the snag, and the desperado was about to order the
+prisoner to be thrown into the water, when the boatmen were suddenly
+thrust aside, and Minneoba, holding her bow in her hand, darted forward
+and leveled an arrow at his breast.
+
+“Look, white man,” she cried, “Minneoba is the daughter of Black-Hawk,
+and she can not lie; if you do harm to the good white man, I will send
+an arrow through your heart.”
+
+“Why, you cat!” hissed Dick Garrett, turning upon her with a devilish
+look. “Stand out of the way.”
+
+But Minneoba would not obey him. It was the second time she had found
+her arrow effective, and it had some influence upon the man who “would
+have peace or a fight.” Although full of mad hate, he knew that she
+could aim an arrow well, for he had seen her skill tested in the Indian
+towns.
+
+“What in the devil’s name made me bring this cat on board?” he uttered.
+“Better far have left her behind to find her way to the village as best
+she could. Look you, Minneoba,” he added aloud. “You know that I would
+not willingly do you a wrong, but you must get out of the way.”
+
+“No,” replied Minneoba, stamping her foot. “Minneoba will not move, and
+if Garrett does wrong to the good white man, he shall die.”
+
+“Now, my girl, be careful, please; I’ll have to take measures you won’t
+like if you don’t get out of the way.”
+
+“Minneoba will shoot,” replied the girl, with flashing eyes, still
+pointing the arrow at his breast. Garrett nodded to one of his men, and
+while the leader expostulated with her he stole behind and suddenly
+caught her by the arm in a firm clasp. With a cry of anger the girl
+caught the arrow in her disengaged hand and drove it through the arm of
+her captor, who released her with an oath, but before she could strike
+again, Garrett had her in his arms.
+
+“Now then, lads!” he cried. “I’ll hold this beauty fast, and if she
+struggles I’ll take toll from her lips.”
+
+“Cease to struggle, Minneoba,” said Mr. Wescott. “You only expose
+yourself to new indignity without the chance of aiding me. I am ready to
+meet my fate, although it is a hard one, but it grieves me to think that
+I die by the hands of white men. Sadie, farewell—farewell, my dear
+child. All that I have is yours and your dear mother’s. Thank God that
+she at least was absent when this blow fell.”
+
+“I can not see you die,” she sobbed. “Oh, Richard Garrett, will nothing
+move you to do right?”
+
+“That depends on what you call _right_. Now you don’t think it right to
+beat a man at the picturs or billiards or to pick his pocket, or crack a
+bank. Now I do, so we won’t seem to agree, no matter how you fix it, so
+I guess we may as well end this now. Toss him over, boys.”
+
+“It don’t seem scarcely right,” said the rough young fellow who was
+helping Sadie back. “Why not duck him, and then let him out, boss?”
+
+“Because he knows I wear an Injin disguise. It’s all very well for you
+that he don’t know, but I ain’t so easy suited. Toss him over, I say,
+and make no words.”
+
+They lifted the bound man and flung him over the rail, while with a
+thrilling shriek Sadie fell senseless into the arms of the man who held
+her. He laid her gently down, and made a spring at the taffrail, and his
+body struck the water almost as soon as that of Mr. Wescott, who was
+unable to help himself.
+
+“Come back here, you born fool,” screamed Dick Garrett. “What do you
+think the Cap will say when he hears how you act?”
+
+“You go to ——,” said the rough but good-hearted fellow, naming a
+locality not sought after by humanity generally. “I’m going to save this
+man.”
+
+“Then by ——” hissed Dick Garrett, “you stay with him; set in your poles,
+boys. Tom don’t want to come on board.”
+
+By this time the man had seized the helpless form of Wescott, and with
+his clasp-knife managed to cut the bonds upon his hands and feet, and
+Wescott at once began to swim, but feebly at first, and the fiendish
+order of the desperate leader rung in his ears, and they saw the boat
+moving slowly away, leaving them alone on the wide river.
+
+“We’re done, stranger,” said the man called Tom. “I done my best, but
+he’s run from us.”
+
+“You can swim to the bank,” said Mr. Wescott, noting with what ease the
+man sustained himself.
+
+“I reckon.”
+
+“Then do so and leave me to my fate,” replied Wescott. “You have already
+risked too much for me.”
+
+“When I quit a man in that way I reckon you’d better call round with a
+rope and string me up. It’ll suit me fust rate. Let the current take ye
+square; we’ll fetch up somewhere I reckon, and when we do, and I onc’t
+git on the trail of that Dick Garrett, won’t I make him howl!”
+
+Even as he spoke the two men were moving on a course diagonal with the
+current, the stronger man giving all the support he could to his wounded
+companion. But the shore seemed far away and Wescott felt that he could
+not go much further.
+
+“Save yourself,” he gasped. “My wound has opened again and I am losing
+strength.”
+
+“I won’t do it,” replied Tom, through his set teeth. “Hold up a little;
+I’ll save you yet.”
+
+“There is no hope,” replied Wescott. “Avenge me if you can and save my
+daughter from that villain. You can do me better service in that way
+than by staying with me now.”
+
+At this moment the surge came down heavily and buried the speaker
+beneath the water. Tom paddled to and fro, looking for him in vain, for
+the water had claimed its prey, and nerving himself to the task the
+young man struck out resolutely for the shore, which he reached nearly
+exhausted. Then he ran along the bank and looked for some sign of
+Wescott, but he looked in vain. The surface of the river was blank.
+
+
+
+
+                             CHAPTER VIII.
+                      MELTON’S SCOUT—A BUSH FIGHT.
+
+
+Tom Bantry had been a flatboatman since he was old enough to hold a
+pole, and now for the first time paused to consider how far he had gone
+down the road of sin. He was conscious of many evil deeds already
+performed, but the stain of blood was not upon his soul, and although
+pledged to his vile companion he could not stand by tamely and witness
+the murder of so good a man as Samuel Wescott. But his good intentions
+had come to naught, and the brave man was dead.
+
+The flatboatman rose and looked about him, a wicked light coming over
+his dark face. “They taught me evil, them cusses did,” he muttered. “I’d
+the making of a man in me, but they sp’iled me, and now they’ve killed
+as good a man as ever walked the earth. I’ll remember that ag’inst ye,
+old man Garrett.”
+
+He was literally worn out, and dropped down upon the grass and slept
+until morning. He woke at last and started up refreshed, only to find a
+party of white men were upon the opposite bank, and with his paint upon
+him, Tom knew that it would be far from safe to meet them, and he
+skulked away, keeping under cover of the bushes, and then made a circuit
+through the bushes, designing to cross their path and ascertain who they
+were. As he crept forward with that intention, he heard a slight
+rustling in the bushes in front, and the long, snake-like head of Napope
+appeared above the bushes, signaling him to fall back. He did so,
+involuntarily dropping his hand upon his knife, which he had not lost in
+the last night’s struggle in the stream, when he remembered that Napope
+regarded all his party as friends and that he still wore the garb of an
+Indian. He dropped back and the next moment Napope joined him.
+
+“The white dogs come,” he said, in a fierce tone, “and the heart of a
+chief is big in his bosom. They shall die without knowledge.”
+
+“Who are they?” demanded Tom.
+
+“They are white and they are not the friends of Jackwood the son of
+Red-Bird. Where is your gun, my brother?”
+
+“I lost it last night,” replied Tom, a little embarrassed. “Let me look
+out and see what white men come.”
+
+He advanced to the edge of the woods and looked out, and could detect a
+white party moving hastily across the plain. Foremost among them was a
+man whom he had known well some years before, Cooney Joe, and behind him
+came Captain Melton and his gallant men, and it flashed through the mind
+of Tom Bantry that they were in pursuit of Dick Garrett. His heart stood
+still, for a backward glance showed him fifty stout Sacs, armed to the
+teeth, lying under the bushes waiting for the coming of the hated white
+men. Twenty-four hours ago Tom Bantry would have delighted in this, but
+now he was changed, and racked his brains for ways and means to acquaint
+them with the ambush before them, without destruction to himself.
+
+Napope waved his hand, and, as if by magic, every warrior disappeared,
+and a stillness like that of death fell upon the scene. The whites came
+in rapidly, unsuspicious of danger, and passed through the first bushes,
+when they were surprised to hear a sudden crash and a yell of surprise
+and anger. The crash came from Tom Bantry, who had managed to fall down
+with a great noise, at the same time giving the yell which startled the
+white rangers.
+
+“Tree, boys!” yelled Cooney Joe. “Tree and fight. Injins thar, by the
+big horn spoon.”
+
+The men who followed Cooney Joe were Indian-fighters of the first class,
+and the order had scarcely been given when every man was sheltered by a
+tree and had his rifle ready for action. This was not done a moment too
+soon, for the feathers of the savages began to show above the bushes,
+and several shots were fired, until a commanding voice shouted to the
+warriors to hold their fire.
+
+“What do the white men seek?” cried Napope. “They have been beaten once;
+must we beat them again?”
+
+“That’s Napope,” cried Cooney Joe. “I know the old cuss, and he kin
+fight, if he is an Injin; but we’ll lick him out of his moccasins. Say,
+Injin, you’d better clear the way; you ain’t got the major to fight
+now.”
+
+“Napope does not seek the scalps of the white men,” cried the Indian.
+“If they bring the scalps to him, he will take them, but he does not
+thirst for blood. Let Captain Melton turn back and cross the river.”
+
+“The path must be clear for me to pass through,” replied Melton. “The
+hatchet has been dug up and its edge turned against women and children,
+and the good white man, Wescott, with his daughter, has been carried
+away, and we think the Sacs know where they are.”
+
+“The Sacs do not know,” replied Napope, proudly. “Does the white man
+take us for Menomonies or Chippewas? The Sacs are men and not dogs; they
+do not fight against women and children.”
+
+“Napope is a brave man, and will not lie to save his life,” said Melton.
+“Let us pass on safely, and then there shall be no blood shed, for we
+seek only those who have stolen the brave man Wescott and his child.”
+
+“My brother must turn back,” replied the chief. “There is no path over
+the Indian country for white soldiers until peace is made; but if the
+good white man and his child are here, they shall be made welcome, and
+no harm shall come to them if Napope can give them aid. But Melton must
+take his warriors and go back to his people.”
+
+“We will not turn back,” replied Melton, angrily, “unless we take the
+friends we seek with us. Let Napope clear the way, or we will try to go
+on without his leave.”
+
+“The white men will find knives and hatchets in the path,” replied the
+chief, grimly. “Go back as you came, and all shall be well; refuse, and
+you shall find that my young men carry guns.”
+
+“I don’t like this,” whispered Cooney Joe in the ear of Melton. “They’ve
+got twice as many warriors as we have, and the chances are good for a
+fight. I never like to back out, but I don’t know but it’s the safest
+plan.”
+
+“It won’t do,” said Melton. “These scoundrels will get too impudent if
+they are allowed their own way too much. There must be a fight, and at
+once, and the boys must do their best. I know them too well to think
+that they will back down for twice their number of Sacs.”
+
+“What does my brother say?” cried Napope.
+
+“Fight.” replied Melton. “We will go on.” Napope disappeared
+immediately, and scarcely had he done so when a bullet whizzed by the
+ear of the young scout as he hastily took to a tree. The fight now
+commenced in true Indian-fashion, the Sacs forcing the fighting and
+running from tree to tree to get nearer to their enemies. But they found
+a different party from that with which they had fought upon Sycamore
+Creek. Every bullet had its billet. Did an Indian show hand or foot from
+behind his shelter, it was at once the mark of a well-aimed ball. The
+men who followed Melton had lived by the rifle, and were not likely to
+miss their aim easily, while the Indians were notoriously bad marksmen,
+not having the patience to perfect themselves in the use of the rifle.
+
+Besides, the weapons they carried were not of the best description,
+being those furnished by the traders against the law, and their powder
+was “contract,” warranted not to burn except at a slow fire. But their
+numbers made the position of Melton’s small force decidedly unsafe, and
+they began to close in upon every side, and every moment Melton expected
+a charge with hatchet and knife, most fearful weapons in Indian hands.
+But the steady valor of the scouts had inspired the savages with a
+respect for them, and they fought warily, losing a man now and then, and
+inflicting little damage upon the foe.
+
+“They’ll charge soon, boys,” whispered Cooney Joe. “Pass the word down
+the line to have a charge ready for the rush. Don’t throw away a shot.”
+
+The rifles were ready when Napope gave the order, and at his signal-yell
+they bounded out like tigers, flourishing their bright weapons in the
+air.
+
+This was the moment for the Border Riflemen, and each picked his man and
+fired, and every bullet found a mark. Supposing the rifles empty, the
+Sacs rushed on, but they were mistaken, for up rose ten more riflemen,
+and the head of the assailants seemed to melt away before their fire. It
+was more than Indian endurance was equal to, and they again buried
+themselves in the bushes, in spite of the fierce orders of Napope, who,
+although severely wounded in the shoulder, urged the men on.
+
+He was ably seconded by Na-she-eschuck, who was also slightly wounded.
+
+“Well done, my lads,” cried Mellon. “Bravely done, riflemen; they have
+not Sycamore Creek to brag of this time, at any rate.”
+
+Napope collected his men under cover of the bushes, but his heart was
+full of anger against the gallant band of scouts, whom he had expected
+to sweep from the path in that headlong charge. So far from doing that,
+over one-third of his men were placed _hors de combat_, and several more
+partially disabled. Aroused by the invectives of the two chiefs, they
+again began to advance, but more cautiously, sliding from tree to tree,
+with great care, and exposing themselves as little as possible in doing
+so. But the riflemen managed to inflict new damage upon them before they
+came in fair charging distance. Napope had separated his force into
+three parts, sending out a small party upon each flank of the white
+force, and Melton was compelled to detach eight men, four upon each
+flank, to keep off these troublesome flanking-parties. This left him but
+twelve men in his main force, opposed to over thirty determined
+warriors, eager for the blood of those who had slain so many of their
+friends.
+
+“We have got ourselves into a pizen scrape, Cap,” said Cooney Joe, as he
+stood with his back against a tree, looking to the priming of his rifle;
+“but thar’s only one way to do, and that is to fight our way out. We kin
+lick ’em if more don’t come; _that’s_ what I’m afraid of.”
+
+At this moment the rush was made, and as before, the whites divided
+their fire, so as to give the Indians two volleys before they reached
+the trees, and then with yells which vied with those of the Indians,
+they formed a line among the trees, and beat back the savages with
+knife, hatchet, and clubbed rifle. It was a desperate affair while it
+lasted, and the wild valor of the scouting party prevailed, and they
+were driving back the Indians step by step, when one of the men who had
+been sent to the right flank came running up.
+
+“Party of Injins coming across the plain, on a run, Cap,” he reported.
+“I reckon we’d better git.”
+
+“Easier said than done,” said the captain, turning aside a blow with his
+heavy knife. “Shoot that fellow, Ed.”
+
+The borderer brought his rifle to his shoulder, and the savage fell,
+shot through the heart.
+
+“Have the Indians on the flanks retreated, Ed?” demanded Melton, as he
+fired a pistol at a savage who was poising his hatchet for a throw, and
+the savage went down.
+
+“No, they ain’t all gone yet,” replied the man, who was coolly reloading
+his discharged rifle. “I guess we’d better call in the men and make a
+rush through these red devils, before the others can come up.”
+
+A signal whistle, well known to the “merry men” of Melton, brought in
+all upon the flank, and with shouts of victory, all charged upon the
+broken and demoralized body of Sacs. They had fought bravely, but their
+courage was not proof against the assault, and they broke and fled in
+every direction through the woods, pursued by the victorious whites, who
+only wanted to get deeper into the woods, to avoid the force coming up
+in their rear. They would not have done this had they known that it was
+Dick Garrett and his party, bringing as prisoner, Sadie Wescott, whom
+Minneoba would not leave.
+
+Scouts from the party of Napope having discovered the coming of the
+disguised whites, and apprised the chief, he hurried out to meet them,
+and started as he saw who they held as prisoner.
+
+“Ha!” he cried. “Then it is my brother who struck the wigwam of Wescott,
+and took him prisoner?”
+
+“Yes,” said Garrett. “You see our boss, Will Jackwood, wanted this girl,
+and sent me to take her.”
+
+“Where is Wescott, now?” demanded Napope.
+
+“Well,” said Garrett, hesitating, “he’s gone under; that’s what’s the
+matter with _him_.”
+
+“Let my brother speak more plainly,” said the chief. “What has become of
+Wescott, the good white man?”
+
+“He has been murdered,” replied Sadie, coming forward, quickly. “Chief,
+you know what he was, and that he never willingly wronged the Indians.
+You know, too, that when the mob in the village assaulted Black-Hawk and
+yourself, he came to your aid and helped you to escape. He has been
+brutally murdered, by this base wretch, Garrett.”
+
+“The girl lies, I reckon,” said Garrett, sullenly. “See here, chief; is
+it calculated in your tribe that women are any better off for having too
+much tongue?”
+
+“My brother must let the Wild Rose speak,” replied Napope. “When the
+Sacs come hungry and thirsty into her father’s lodge, she is always
+ready to give them food and drink; when they are weary, and the night
+air is cold, there is always a warm place by the fire to spread a
+blanket. The child of Wescott must be allowed to speak.”
+
+“Now look here, chief,” said Garrett, in the same ferocious tone.
+“’Tain’t noways likely I’m going to come down to you or any man on
+earth. If Wescott was killed, he was my pris’ner, and I had a right to
+do what I would with him. Have you any thing to say against it?”
+
+Napope inclined his head slowly, as recognizing the justice of the
+remark. The life of the man was as little regarded by the Indians as by
+Garrett, and Napope rather liked the tone of insolence he assumed.
+
+“Napope,” cried Sadie, “I want you to listen to me. This wicked man
+threw my father into the water, from the flat-boat, and he has not been
+seen since. Will you see a good man murdered and refuse to avenge him?”
+
+Napope was evidently troubled, for just now he needed the assistance of
+Garrett and his men, and did not wish to make him angry.
+
+“We will speak of that another time, Wild Rose. Until then, rest safely
+with Minneoba, the daughter of Black-Hawk, while we do the work of men.
+Garrett, do you know that Loud Tempest is here and he has beaten the men
+of Napope, and killed many?”
+
+“Loud Tempest; do you mean Captain Melton?”
+
+“Yes; he is here, with the white hunter Joe, and many warriors. Napope
+can not rest until we have his scalp.”
+
+“Cooney Joe! Why, I give him a lick last night that ought to have
+settled any decent man for good.”
+
+“He is alive, and fights like a Sac,” replied Napope. “They are in the
+woods and we must follow and take their scalps.”
+
+“I’ll bet he’s arter me,” muttered Garrett. “He don’t owe me any good
+will for work I’ve done, and I’ve swore to have his hair. Thar’s my hand
+on it, Napope, and I’ll never quit you until he or I have gone under.”
+
+Sadie had started at the name of Melton, and was conscious of a feeling
+of joy that he had thought enough of her safety to follow her into the
+Indian country, but, as she glanced over the line of ferocious faces,
+she was sorry that he had incurred this danger. But she followed the
+party until they reached the battle-field and found it strewn with the
+slain bodies of the Sacs who had fallen, each one pierced by the deadly
+bullet.
+
+“These ain’t babies we are following,” said Garrett. “They kin fight,
+Melton’s scout kin, and ef we lick ’em we lick a good crowd. How many
+has he got with him?”
+
+Napope extended the fingers upon both hands twice.
+
+“Twenty? We’ve got our work cut out then, for twenty of Melton’s Mounted
+Rifles, with the capting and Cooney Joe to lead, are a hard crowd to
+manage, bet your life.”
+
+“There was one of your men with us in this fight,” said Napope, looking
+about him for Tom Bantry. “But I do not see him now.”
+
+“Who was he?” demanded Garrett, glancing over the party hastily. “Was it
+the one we call Tom?”
+
+Napope nodded, and Garrett uttered an oath, and a search was commenced
+for him. He was not among the dead or wounded, and whether he had
+perished or not, Bantry was not to be found.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER IX.
+                       THE DEFENSE OF THE ISLAND.
+
+
+When the enemy had been so scattered as to leave the path free, the
+small band of rangers plunged deeper into the woods and kept on their
+course until they reached a small wooded swamp through which many small
+creeks ran, leaving a little island in the center, containing, perhaps,
+two acres of land. The tall trees stood thick about it, and no better
+place of defense could possibly have been selected. No sooner had they
+reached the island than they set to work fortifying it by piling up
+fallen logs into a temporary barricade, making it strongest upon the
+only point which could be assailed by land, as the creeks swept around
+it on three sides, leaving a space of smooth ground about twenty feet
+wide. Across this they built a strong barricade at least ten feet high,
+through the openings of which, they could fire upon the foe, without
+being themselves seen.
+
+The other parts of the island were almost impervious to assault, for not
+only did the deep creek guard it, but the logs had fallen all about it
+in inextricable confusion, making a _chevaux de frise_ through which a
+corps of axmen would have found it extremely difficult to force their
+way. The middle of the island was cleared, leaving the path open for
+them to pass from one part to another, and they now waited almost
+eagerly for the coming of the enemy, who, as yet, did not appear. Cooney
+Joe took his rifle and stole out toward the clearing, and for half an
+hour the “scout” remained quiet, waiting in considerable anxiety for the
+coming of the hunter, whose danger they well knew. But he came back at a
+long-loping trot, his rifle at a trail, and his eyes flashing with the
+ardor of battle.
+
+“Git ready, boys,” he cried. “We’ve got business afore us, bet yer
+life.”
+
+“What now, Joe?” demanded the captain. “Who are coming?”
+
+“All that’s left of Napope’s band and thirty of Dick Garrett’s men,”
+replied Joe. “And—”
+
+“Thar’s an Injin,” cried one of the men. “I’ll pop him over.”
+
+“Hold on,” replied Joe. “Seems to me that chap is making signals that
+look _white_. Thar; look at that!”
+
+An Indian had appeared in plain sight and was waving a white cloth in
+the air.
+
+“Hello, _you_!” yelled Joe. “Come in, ef you want to.”
+
+The man obeyed and came clambering over the barricade, and at a glance
+they could see that he was a white man disguised. It was Tom Bantry, who
+had escaped from associates with whom he could no longer consort.
+
+“Look here, men,” he said. “I’m Tom Bantry. You don’t know _me_ and
+mebbe you don’t want to. I’ve been one of Dick Garrett and Will
+Jackwood’s men—I have. Now why don’t you kill me?”
+
+“Don’t see my way to that clear,” said Joe. “Now, Tom Bantry, what d’ye
+want here?”
+
+“I’ve, quit ’em,” replied Tom, energetically. “I couldn’t stand it,
+boys, ’pon my word, I couldn’t. I feel mean as dirt ’cause I’ve been
+with ’em so long; but I tell you I didn’t think they was so mean till
+last night when they killed poor Mr. Wescott.”
+
+“What’s that you say?” cried Melton, coming forward. “Who killed him;
+how was he killed?”
+
+“Dick Garrett did it,” replied Tom, in a choking voice. “The ’square
+give him some cheek, and he had him throwed into the river. Boys, I’m a
+rough boatman, but I jumped in after him, and they left us alone in the
+dark on the river. I tried to save him, but it wan’t no use; the current
+took him under.”
+
+“I believe this man, for one,” said Melton. “He never would dare to come
+here with such a tale as that unless it was really true. What do you
+say, boys?”
+
+“He’s all right,” replied Joe, “but ef he ain’t, let him look out,
+’cause I shoot awful close, odd times; I do, by gracious. So Dick
+Garrett is jined with Napope?”
+
+“That ain’t all, you know,” said Tom Bantry. “They hev sent off a
+messenger to the village, and if you don’t have lively times round here,
+then I don’t want a picayune.”
+
+“Perhaps we had better retreat.”
+
+“You can’t do it; they’ve got scouts all through the woods, and you’d
+hev the hull posse on your backs in twenty minnits by the clock, so
+don’t try that on, ’square. No, it’s goin’ to be a b’ar-fight, and you
+can’t find a better place than this to fight in.”
+
+“I believe the man is right,” said Melton. “I say, Folks, is your hand
+so bad you can’t pull a trigger?”
+
+“Sorry to say ’tis, Cap,” replied the man; “I can’t do nothing.”
+
+He had been hit in the hand during the fight that morning, and the cords
+had been so injured as to make it impossible for him to fire a rifle.
+
+“Then you may as well let this man have your rifle, Folks,” said the
+captain. “I take it for granted you mean to fight?”
+
+“Stranger, I’ve _got_ to fight,” said Bantry. “Why, if Dick Garrett gets
+me, he’ll raise my wool, sure, and so, ef he does git into this camp,
+I’m goin’ out feet fust. That’s the way to talk it.”
+
+“He knows you have turned against him, then?”
+
+“Captin, he suspects it, and to suspect a man is all _he_ wants, you
+know. He’ll go for me, sure.”
+
+The man who had been hurt came up at this moment and gave Bantry the
+rifle and ammunition.
+
+“Now, ’square, see here,” he said; “you watch me when I fire the first
+shot, and if it don’t seem to you that I’ve tried to hit my man, I give
+you leave to shoot me, that’s all. This is a good rifle, chummy—she
+hangs true as a die, and I can knock the black out of a buffler’s eye at
+twenty rods with her.”
+
+At this moment one of the sentries outside the barricade gave the
+signal, and all were immediately upon the alert. Melton took the charge
+of Bantry upon himself, and gave him a place in the middle of the
+barricade, and took his station beside him. The sentries came stealing
+in like silent specters, and placed themselves beside the rest in
+silence, waiting for the advance of the Indians.
+
+They had not long to wait, for a tufted head was cautiously protruded
+from behind a tree, and a pair of brilliant eyes looked keenly at the
+island. Evidently he saw something out of the way, for he stepped out in
+full view of the fort and advanced to within twenty feet of the
+barricade.
+
+“That man must not go back,” said Melton, in a whisper, touching Tom
+Bantry on the arm, “and no rifle must be fired. Can you fetch him?”
+
+Bantry caught up a knife and hatchet, and sprung from the barricade so
+suddenly that the Indian had no time to cock his gun before the fiery
+boatman was upon him. They closed with fierce energy, a short struggle
+ensued, and then Tom Bantry arose, leaving the Indian dead at his feet.
+
+“Well done, Bantry,” said Melton, as the man came back his face scarcely
+flushed by the desperate struggle in which he had been engaged. “You
+will do very well without watching.”
+
+“I’ve _got_ to fight,” replied Tom, coolly. “It won’t do for me to be
+caught, I tell you.”
+
+By this time the Indians and disguised boatmen began to show themselves
+through the woods, and the scout opened upon them at once, and they
+skulked to the shelter of the bushes. But the men who had come up with
+the desperado Garrett did not know the word fear, and only waited for
+the orders of their superior to advance to the assault.
+
+“They are fighting chickens, Cap; game birds, every man, now you mind
+what I say,” said the deserter. “They’ll fight like bulldogs, but they’d
+do better if Black Will was here.”
+
+The attack was not long delayed. The desperate ruffians collected as
+close as possible to the barricade, and then made their rush all
+together. They were met by men as determined and desperate as
+themselves, and forced back, leaving one fourth of their number dead or
+wounded in front of the barricade.
+
+“That’s the way Melton’s scouts do it,” cried the voice of the young
+captain. “Come again, my boys.”
+
+“I hear you,” screamed Garrett, “and we will come again. Now, Napope,”
+he added, lowering his tone, “we must divide their force. Send ten of
+your best men to cross the creek and attack them on the right. Send ten
+more to the left, and try them at the same time. The signal will be
+three rifle-shots from this point.”
+
+Their movements were not so well shrouded that Melton could not see the
+danger to be apprehended from a division of his forces, which was
+rendered necessary by this action on their part. But he only sent three
+men to each point threatened, one under the lead of Tom Bantry, who had
+already become quite popular, and the other under Cooney Joe. They
+darted rapidly across the little open space, while the others loaded
+their rifles and pistols and calmly waited for the assault.
+
+“Beat them off this time, and the chances are they won’t want any more,”
+cried Melton. “Shoot a little closer to make up for the lost men, and it
+will be all right.”
+
+Just then they heard three rifle-shots, and a simultaneous movement was
+made against the island from three different points. But the foresight
+of Melton in sending small parties to the threatened points, removed the
+danger from the two parties of Indians, while his own force was not so
+weakened but that he could still present a stout front to the foe. The
+barricade rained bullets upon the advancing enemy entangled in the
+branches of the trees which formed the intrenchment, and crowded into
+the narrow space of twenty feet. No men, however hardy, could hope to
+live long under such a fire, and in spite of the almost superhuman
+exertions of Garrett, Napope and Na-she-eschuck, they fell back again,
+and took breath under cover of the woods.
+
+“This is awful,” said Garrett. “The curse of the devil on them, how they
+do fight. I’ve lost near half my men.”
+
+The small parties under Tom Bantry and Joe had succeeded in keeping
+their enemies at bay, and as soon as the main body retreated, half a
+dozen men ran to their aid, and the Indians were quickly swept away from
+the banks of the creek.
+
+“Good boys,” said Melton. “You could not fight better if you liked the
+sport. Now, who wants the doctor?”
+
+No one had been badly injured. Two or three had been scraped by passing
+bullets, but a little sticking-plaster soon set that right, and they
+were as ready for a fight as ever.
+
+Garrett was furious, and while he was blaming heaven and earth at the
+ill success of his attack, a man whose face was flushed by a hard ride
+dashed through the swamp, and drew up before them.
+
+“Now then, what is all this?” he cried. “I know you, Dick Garrett. You
+delight in a row so much that you are wasting my men in attacking a
+perfect fort.”
+
+“But you don’t know who is in it, Will Jackwood,” replied Garrett. “Two
+men you hate—Cooney Joe and Captain Melton.”
+
+“Ha, say you so? Then out of that they must come, by the Eternal! Keep
+back the men, for Black-Hawk will be here in half an hour with four
+hundred braves, and then we will overwhelm them. Captain Melton, eh? I
+always did detest that boy, Dick.”
+
+“I don’t love him,” said Dick.
+
+“What is this I hear about Sam Wescott?”
+
+“Gone under, Will. I had to do it, for he recognized me in my disguise,
+and some one had to go.”
+
+“I don’t care so much about that, if you did not compromise me. The man
+hated me, and while he lived there was no hope of winning the girl by
+fair means, and I always liked that way best. Where is the girl?”
+
+“I left her on the edge of the swamp, with three of my best men.”
+
+“All right; where is Tom Bantry? I want to send him somewhere.”
+
+“I don’t know what to think about him, Will, ’pon my word. When we slung
+Wescott overboard the fool jumped after him, and I left them both in the
+river. Tom got out, some way, and came to Napope’s camp, but after their
+fight we could not find hide nor hair of him.”
+
+“You’ve lost the best man in the party, then, by all odds. Tom was the
+only one who had a spark of humanity in his composition. You are sure
+these men you left with the girl are all right?”
+
+“Davis, Bradshaw and Herrick.”
+
+“They’ll do; as true panthers as ever lapped blood. How many has Melton
+in his fort?”
+
+“He _had_ twenty.”
+
+“Then he’s got twenty _now_,” said Jackwood. “You have not hurt many of
+them in that place, for the captain knows how to choose a position. Send
+one of the Indians to Black-Hawk, and tell him to make haste, as we must
+get this little job off our hands.”
+
+“If you find it a little job, then there are no snakes in the South
+Red,” said Garrett, who was incensed at the quiet way in which his
+defeat was laughed down. “They licked Napope alone, and now they’ve
+licked our combined forces, and it is no two to one they don’t give our
+friend Black-Hawk all he can do. _You_ ought to know Melton’s scouts by
+this time.”
+
+Jackwood nodded, and a fierce look came into his face:
+
+“If I had been here, friend Garrett, this would never have happened. If
+_I_ had assailed these works, I would have taken them.”
+
+“Then assail them now. You’ve got the men—try it.”
+
+“Dick—Dick! How lucky it is that all men are not swayed by impulse. You
+offer me a broken and discouraged force to perform the task you failed
+to achieve when they were in prime order. It won’t do, Richard; too
+transparent altogether. Get the men together, see to the wounded and get
+the survivors ready for a new attack. I will lead it in person.”
+
+As he spoke, the approach of dusky scouts heralded the coming of
+Black-Hawk, and directly after the old chief, surrounded by his
+principal advisers and warriors, strode into the camp.
+
+
+
+
+                               CHAPTER X.
+                           THE FOREST FIEND.
+
+
+Will Jackwood, whose influence over the old chief had now become great,
+at once accosted him.
+
+“The time has come, chief of the Sacs, when you may put forth your hand
+and take that which is your own, the band of men who have braved the
+power of Napope and his strongest men, and have even baffled my
+warriors. They laugh at us in yonder fort; let us teach them what we can
+do.”
+
+“My brother speaks good words,” replied the chief. “Let those who have
+axes go forward and fell trees about the fort upon every side so that we
+may cross the creek. Let others take their guns and protect them.”
+
+A cordon of axmen was quickly formed, about the island, and the great
+trees came crashing down, forming bridges over which the great force of
+warriors could rush to the attack. The work was quickly done, and then
+at the command of the chief four hundred warriors rushed on together,
+uttering their fearful war-cries. They broke through the abatis of
+tangled limbs unopposed and reached the fort only to find it tenantless.
+The white rangers had escaped, how they could not tell, leaving nothing
+to show where they had departed, but all knew that it must have been in
+the interval of time which elapsed between the last attack on the fort
+and the coming of Black-Hawk. Black Will was nearly beside himself with
+anger, and a pursuit was at once commenced, when the trail was found.
+But, the “scout” had half an hour’s start, and he feared that they would
+reach the river before they could be overtaken, and their leader’s
+fertile brain would quickly study out some way of crossing the stream.
+
+Although having but little hope, Black-Hawk sent out a hundred of the
+best Sac warriors under the command of Ma-she-eschuck, and the pursuit
+was pressed with ardor. While this was being done, Jackwood sent Garrett
+with five men to find Sadie, and conduct her to a place of safety,
+strictly enjoining him to use her well but upon no account to suffer her
+to escape.
+
+Dick Garrett hurried his men to the spot where he had left Sadie, and as
+he approached it his countenance began to change for he heard nothing of
+the men he had left in charge of the girl.
+
+“Hurry up, boys,” he cried; “if they have lost her, I’ll not be the man
+to go back to Black Will Jackwood and tell him of it. Ha! Look at that.”
+
+The three men who had been left with Sadie lay upon the earth under the
+shadow of the trees. Their faces were upturned to the sky, and it needed
+no prophet to tell that they were dead, and the party broke into a run
+and reached the spot. Two of them had been shot through the heart,
+evidently with pistol balls, and the third had half a dozen knife wounds
+upon him, and they saw on every hand evidences of a desperate struggle,
+while Sadie was nowhere to be seen. The men paused and looked at each
+other in unspeakable dismay, for they knew Jackwood too well to dare
+face him, and tell him what had happened.
+
+“He’d kill me!” screamed Garrett. “Look here, boys; we’ve got to find
+this girl before we go back, so take the trail at once, and follow.
+We’ll have her back, if she is above ground, and avenge these poor
+fellows who lie dead. I only wish we had Tom Bantry now; he was the best
+scout among us.”
+
+“What made you leave him in the river then?” said one of the men, in a
+sullen tone. “He won’t come back no more, Tom won’t, and like enuff
+he’ll turn against us.”
+
+“Don’t be mutinous, Tracey,” said Garrett, turning a dark look upon the
+speaker. “You know _me_, and you know I never waste words. Be mighty
+careful; _I_ would, if I was you.”
+
+The man understood the deadly threat implied in the words of his leader,
+and turned away muttering to him self.
+
+“Now Jack Fish,” said Dick, addressing himself to another of the party,
+“if Tracey has done growling, you take the trail. ’Tain’t likely that a
+young and tender girl can keep away from us long.”
+
+The man addressed came forward, and waving the others back began to
+examine the earth to find the imprint of Sadie’s feet. It was not long
+before he announced that he had found it, and that it was covered by
+another trail, that of a man in moccasins, who was apparently following
+her, and from the length of the step he should say they were running.
+
+“That looks as if she was afraid of the critter,” said Garrett. “Who can
+it be that is brave enough to attack these men, shoot two and kill the
+third with a knife and get off so easily? Now, I’ll tell you what I make
+of this, boys. When this man, whoever he is, shot down two of the boys
+and rushed in on Davis with the knife, the girl was scared and put out
+for the woods. When he had finished Davis—and he didn’t do it easy—he
+went after her, and like as not he hasn’t caught her yet. Take the
+trail, Jack, but have your weapons handy.”
+
+It was yet early in the afternoon and the trail was plain, as no attempt
+had been made to cover it. They went on at a trot, Jack Fish in advance,
+closely followed by Garrett and the rest, and the course led them deep
+into the woods to the right of the position which had been so nobly held
+by Melton’s scout. Sadie was used to exercise in the open air and was
+evidently leading her pursuer a desperate chase, using every artifice to
+throw him from the trail. Garret was dumbfounded, for he could not
+understand why she should fly from one who had slain her enemies, but
+they followed the trail, hoping every moment to overtake the man who was
+in chase of Sadie. All at once, Jack Fish, who still held the advance,
+stopped and lifted his hand, with a low cry.
+
+“See here, Dick, this gal is cute, you bet. She has throwed him off the
+trail as sure as shootin’. Thar’s no track but his’n here.”
+
+Dick eagerly inspected the trail and was forced to arrive at the same
+conclusion.
+
+“Turn back, then,” he cried. “We will find which way she has gone and
+follow. I will take the trail on one side and you on the other and we
+will soon pick it up again.”
+
+They had not gone back twenty paces when Jack Fish stopped beside a
+clump of thick bushes which grew close to the path, and stooping, looked
+under them.
+
+“I’ve found it, boys. She crept under the bushes here and got away from
+him; follow me.”
+
+He passed through the bushes, parting them carefully, and upon the other
+side found the trail clearly defined and leading at a right angle from
+the course they had been following.
+
+“She’s smart,” said Garrett, admiringly. “I don’t know as I blame Will
+for liking her, after all. She has beaten this fellow well, and as we
+don’t want any thing from him just now, we’ll follow the girl.”
+
+They kept on swiftly, for Jack announced that Sadie was fatigued at this
+point and was no longer running. Soon after they reached a place where,
+worn out by fatigue, she had seated herself upon a bank and rested for a
+little time. From this point the trail became erratic, and she was
+evidently wandering up and down seeking for some course out of the
+woods, and the night found them still upon the trail and they camped for
+the night determined to take the trail again at early morning.
+
+“And we’ll run her to earth before nine o’clock, you mark my words,”
+said Garrett. “Lucky for you I am your leader, or you would have gone
+back to meet Will Jackwood.”
+
+“Not if I knows it,” said Tracey. “Will Jackwood never sees me again if
+we don’t find her in the morning. Now I think of it, where is the Indian
+girl?”
+
+“I never thought of her,” said Garrett. “Can it be possible that _she_
+killed the men?”
+
+“Oh, bosh; she only had a bow and arrows and it took a strong man to
+harness Joel Davis. I’ll be cussed if I understand it at all. Say, Jack,
+did you see any thing of the Indian girl’s trail?”
+
+“She went another way from the camp, on a run too. It must have been
+some awful looking critter that tackled Joel Davis, to skeer the girls
+so.”
+
+“You are right,” said Garrett. “Now then, as Jack has worked hard and we
+want him to lead again to-morrow, Tracey will keep camp for two hours
+and the rest of you as you can agree, until morning. I’m going to have a
+snooze, myself.”
+
+He wrapped himself in a blanket and threw himself down at the foot of a
+tree, while the rest in a discontented manner drew lots for the choice
+of the hours of watching. After this had been settled the lucky ones
+took their blankets and lay down, while Tracey lighted his pipe, moved
+out a short distance in the darkness and sat down to watch. The man was
+sullen, and had not yet got over his little brush with Garrett upon the
+fate of Tom Bantry, and he muttered to himself about the pride of rank
+which enabled Garrett to sleep, while he was forced to watch.
+
+They built no fire, for it was a clear summer night and even the
+blankets were scarcely needed. Tracey’s pipe glowed through the night,
+showing those of his companions who yet slept, where he sat in the
+shadow. After a time the man began to doze, and did not see the dark
+figure that crawled slowly toward him until it stood erect against the
+trunk of the tree against which he was seated. A moment after, a long
+arm was stretched out and clutched his throat in so fell a clasp that it
+seemed to collapse beneath the pressure, and in a moment more he lay
+without a struggle or a groan supine beneath the tree.
+
+The strange being who had done the work, bent over the insensible form
+and was busy about something for a short time, and then taking up the
+pipe which Tracey had dropped and which had not been extinguished, he
+sat down near the body of the fallen renegade and began to smoke, first
+picking up the cap of his victim and placing it upon his head, glancing
+now and then at the sleeping camp. When the pipe was smoked out he arose
+and stole softly to the side of Dick Garrett and looked down into his
+face.
+
+The moonlight shone full upon him, and showed a horrible figure of
+gigantic mold, covered from head to foot with a hairy substance, while
+the eyes looked fiercely from his shaggy eyebrows upon the sleeping
+ruffian. His attitude was menacing, and once or twice the right hand
+dropped to a hairy girdle about his waist, as if to draw a huge knife
+which was suspended there, but upon second thought he seemed to change
+his mind, and gathering up the rifles of the party, he carried them a
+little distance into the woods, and returned this time to take away the
+knives and pistols, most of which were thrown together in a heap, at the
+place where the rifles had been stacked. Some of the villains had their
+small-arms upon their persons, but these the intruder did not attempt to
+touch, and waving his hands triumphantly above his head, he bounded into
+the thicket, and was seen no more.
+
+Daylight came and they began to yawn and stretch themselves, those who
+ought to have gone upon guard long before, looking mystified at being
+allowed to sleep until morning.
+
+“Tracey went to sleep, that’s all,” said Garrett. “Go and kick the
+brute, somebody. There is no telling what might have happened through
+his cussed carelessness.”
+
+One of the men sprung to the spot where the recumbent figure of Tracey
+was seen, and had actually drawn back his foot to kick him, when he saw
+that his hands were tightly bound, and a gag thrust into his mouth. His
+cry of astonishment awoke the rest, and they quickly surrounded their
+fallen comrade, relieved him of the ligatures, and helped him to arise.
+The eyes of the man were rolling fearfully, and he gasped for breath.
+
+“Ha!” he said, at last. “A pretty set of fellows you are, to let a man
+stay in that way all night. Dunderheads—sleepers—ten thousand curses on
+your heads!”
+
+“Steady, Tracey,” said Garrett. “What does this mean?”
+
+“It means you are a lot of lazy thieves, or you would have found this
+out four hours ago.”
+
+“Who did it?”
+
+“How do I know? I was sitting there smoking my pipe, when I felt a great
+hairy hand upon my throat, and I was choking. Then I lost my senses, and
+when I came to myself, I was lying here, anchored to the tree, and
+unable to move hand or foot.”
+
+“Why didn’t you sing out?”
+
+“Why didn’t I fly?” retorted Tracey, angrily. “I wouldn’t be a fool if I
+were you, Dick Garrett. Oh, curse the hand, whoever it was. Where’s my
+rifle?”
+
+The question naturally drew their attention to their own weapons, and as
+they noted the loss, curses both loud and deep were vented upon the head
+of the being who had done this injury to them. Garrett actually foamed
+at the mouth in his anger, and ran in a frantic manner up and down the
+camp, cursing Tracey, their unknown enemy, any thing and every thing
+under the sun, in no measured terms.
+
+“That’s it,” said Tracey. “Curse your own sleepy heads, and let me
+alone.”
+
+“Look for sign, Jack Fish,” said Garrett, turning to their trailer.
+“Tell me who has done this?”
+
+“It’s the same man that killed the boys, and then followed Miss Sadie,”
+said Jack. “Hyar’s his trail, plain as writing, and I’ll be cussed if it
+don’t beat me to tell whether he’s man or beast.”
+
+“He shall not beat me,” hissed Dick Garrett. “Take the trail of the girl
+and follow, for we’ll have her now, rifles or no rifles.”
+
+The trailer obeyed without a word, and they started out upon the trail.
+But, as they emerged from the woods and entered a great clearing, every
+man paused in alarm, for there, just in front, and covering them with
+one of their own rifles, while the rest lay at his feet, stood the hairy
+monster who had stolen in upon their camp the night before.
+
+“Stop!” he cried, in a hoarse, unnatural voice. “For your lives, stop.
+Move hand or foot and you are dead!”
+
+They halted, and stood facing the leveled tube, trembling in every
+joint, while the fierce eyes, glancing along the brown barrel, held them
+enthralled.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER XI.
+                       BLACK-HAWK KEEPS HIS WORD.
+
+
+We left Sadie in charge of those desperadoes, while the battle in the
+swamp was progressing. They were sulky at not being allowed to take part
+in the fight, and only returned gruff answers to her questions, while
+keeping a strict watch upon the girls.
+
+They stood under a great tree, whose spreading branches, loaded with
+foliage, were impenetrable to the eye, and would have formed a secure
+hiding-place, and none of them saw the long, hairy arm extended, until a
+double report stretched two of the guards dead upon the sod. Then came a
+rustling sound, and the gigantic being, who afterward appeared to the
+men of Garrett in the woods, bounded from the tree, holding in his hand
+a gleaming knife. With a scream of horror, Sadie fled into the forest,
+and Minneoba, believing that she saw a demon of the lower world, also
+turned in flight, but paused upon the edge of the woods, and looked back
+to see a fearful duel between the man named Davis and the strange being
+who sprung from the tree. They seemed to be complete masters of their
+weapons, and for a moment the issue seemed doubtful, but the gigantic
+strength of the unknown prevailed, and Davis fell, covered with many
+wounds. The victor stood erect, and seeing that Sadie had fled, uttered
+a hoarse cry, and fixing his eyes upon her trail, bounded away in
+pursuit. Minneoba, like all Indian girls, was superstitious, and
+believed that it would be death to follow the wild being into the woods,
+and turning, hurried on toward Black-Hawk’s camp, intending to ask aid
+from him in the recovery of her friend. Sadie, in the mean time, had put
+all the distance she could between herself and the hideous being who had
+assailed her guards, and was hurried in her flight by hearing his deep
+voice crying out after her, as she rushed on.
+
+She tried every trick of wood-craft which she had learned from her
+father—who was a skillful scout—when she became certain that the
+horrible creature was really in pursuit. How she finally eluded him by
+creeping beneath the bushes, and then turning away from the course she
+had been pursuing, we have before seen, and late in the afternoon she
+found herself in the midst of a deep forest, pathless as the sea, not
+knowing which way to turn. She was alone—alone in the depths of that
+untrodden wilderness, the haunt of wild beasts and the hunter who
+followed them, without a weapon or guide. Never, perhaps, was a
+tenderly-nurtured woman placed in so strange a situation before. Look
+which way she would, there seemed to be no hope of succor. Strange
+sights and sounds were heard, slimy snakes crept softly over the leaves,
+great birds flitted through the branches, and she heard the cry of the
+wildcat and panther in the distance. Wearied and hopeless, she sunk down
+upon a mossy knoll, and almost wished she had not fled from the monster
+who followed her. But it would not do to remain there, and she rose and
+staggered on her way, hoping against hope that something would happen to
+give her aid.
+
+She was nearly famished, and coming upon a place where the succulent
+bulb known as the “ground-nut” grew in profusion, she set to work and
+dug up the bulbs with her fingers, following the white stems in their
+various turnings among the roots until she found the article she sought.
+It took a long time to satisfy her hunger, as the nuts were not larger
+than a rifle ball, and were hard to find, and then she began to look
+about for a place of rest, as it would soon be dark. She reached a great
+opening, in the center of which a huge pile of logs and brush was
+heaped, and removing some of these, made a couch for herself among the
+branches, drew others over her head, and resigned herself to an
+All-protecting Power. Even in times of difficulty and danger sleep will
+come to the weary, and she lost consciousness, and no longer feared her
+enemies. Morning came and found the sweet girl still sleeping, when she
+was suddenly aroused by a harsh voice crying out a deadly menace, and
+peeping from her place of concealment, saw the Forest Fiend facing the
+knot of helpless scoundrels under the leadership of Dick Garrett.
+
+“It is a man, after all,” she murmured. “Perhaps I would have done
+better to have let him overtake me, for it seems he fights against these
+villains. Perhaps he is mad, poor creature!”
+
+“Let’s make a rush on him altogether, boys,” whispered Garrett. “Curse
+it, five men ought to whip one.”
+
+“But he’s got the rifles, the critter,” whined Tracey. “I tell you that
+if you had been in his grip once, you wouldn’t be so ready to try him
+again. He’s got a hold like an iron vice, that devil has.”
+
+“Don’t try to run,” cried the Forest Fiend. “It will not be safe; he who
+flies first, dies first!”
+
+“What do you want from us?” screamed Garrett. “Do you know who I am,
+curse you?”
+
+“I know you,” replied the strange being, wildly. “You are a murderer and
+a robber, and deserve death for a hundred crimes. Why don’t you come on?
+what are you afraid of? You tremble at the sight of the Forest Fiend,
+murderer that you are.”
+
+“Won’t you back me, boys?” hissed Garrett; “I tell you I’ll be the first
+to rush at him, if you will agree to follow.”
+
+“He can kill three of us before we get within striking distance,”
+replied Jack Fish. “I guess we had better give up boys; maybe he’ll let
+us off.”
+
+Garrett heard what he said, and thrusting his hand into the bosom of his
+hunting-shirt, drew a long double-barreled pistol, his eyes gleaming
+with rage.
+
+“You’d turn traitor, would you?” he screamed. “Now see here, rush on
+that devil, you and Tracey, or I shoot you where you stand.”
+
+“Don’t do it, Dick,” pleaded Jack Fish, dropping on his knees. “I’ll
+fight any thing human, but not that dreadful creature. Don’t force us on
+him, for the love of God.”
+
+“I’ll do it,” replied Garrett, fiercely. “Up and at him, you base
+hounds; up, I say!”
+
+Goaded on by fear of the weapon of their leader, the men sprung on,
+catching up clubs as they ran. But when they had gained a hundred feet
+from the weapon of Garrett, and where it would scarcely reach them, they
+threw up their hands in token of submission, and fell upon their faces.
+The Forest Fiend fired over them, and a man who stood at Garrett’s elbow
+fell, shot through the heart. The others, who had each a pistol, seeing
+that nothing was to be gained by flight, rushed at the immovable figure
+of their enemy, who caught up another weapon and fired again, killing
+the foremost man. Garrett saw that there was no hope, and calling to the
+last man, sprung toward the thicket. Hearing the crack of the rifle, he
+turned back and saw his friend fall, while the stern executioner caught
+up another rifle and leveled it. As the bullet sped, Garrett sprung into
+the air and fell upon his face, just as Jack Fish and Tracey, who had
+taken advantage of their opportunity, reached the thicket in safety.
+
+Their terrible adversary sprung toward the fallen leader without waiting
+to reload his weapon or take up a new one, but to his rage Garrett
+uttered a loud laugh of derision and sprung to his feet, and the next
+moment the leaves concealed him from view. He had been “playing
+’possum,” and was not hurt in the least, as he had managed to fall just
+in time to escape the well-aimed bullet. The Forest Fiend darted back
+for a rifle, but he was a moment too late, although he fired into the
+thicket, and then, snatching up a powder-horn and bullet-pouch, darted
+away in pursuit.
+
+The moment he was gone Sadie came out of her place of concealment,
+selected a rifle and ammunition from the heap, and hurried away, glad of
+the opportunity to get out of a dangerous neighborhood. She could not
+control her fear of the strange being who had come to her aid so
+opportunely, and continued her flight until she felt safe from pursuit,
+and then sat down, panting, loaded the rifle which she had taken, and
+prepared to defend herself from any assault.
+
+“Who and what is that wonderful being?” she murmured. “How brave he is;
+how little he cared for that gang of desperate scoundrels, who were
+doubtless in pursuit of us! Oh, I hope he may overtake Richard Garrett
+and avenge the murder of my poor father! Melton, where are you? Have you
+fallen a victim to these base wretches who regard human life as a
+plaything? God forbid!”
+
+As she was rising to proceed upon her way she heard a slight rustle
+among the bushes, and grasping her rifle turned in the direction of the
+sound. But she dropped the weapon with a cry of delight, for the bushes
+parted and Minneoba suddenly appeared and ran to her white sister,
+clasping her in her arms.
+
+“Sadie, my sister,” she said, softly kissing her again and again. “The
+heart of Minneoba has been very sad. She feared that the evil demon of
+the woods had destroyed the Wild Rose, and that her poor Indian sister
+would never see the face she loved again.”
+
+If Minneoba was delighted, how much greater was the joy of Sadie, who
+could now hope to escape from the toils of her enemies, for she knew
+that the forest was to the Indian girl as easy to tread as a ball-room
+floor for her. She returned the caresses showered upon her, and for a
+moment the two girls forgot that aught of evil or danger hung over them.
+
+“I have been to my father’s camp,” said Minneoba, “and many warriors are
+searching for you. Black-Hawk loves the Wild Rose for her father’s sake,
+and will give her a shelter. His heart is very sad because the men of
+Garrett have killed the good white man, but what can he do? The war has
+commenced and the warriors would say he had turned woman if he was angry
+at the death of a white man. Let us go.”
+
+The two girls set out together, threading the mazes of the forest with
+an ease which only a forest life could impart, the Indian girl taking
+the advance, and chatting merrily with her companion as she proceeded.
+They had not gone far when they were met by two warriors, who expressed
+their satisfaction in their peculiar manner, and at once led the way to
+the river, which was not far away, and where a canoe was waiting in
+which they descended the stream, a distance of about three miles, landed
+upon a green point, and assisted Sadie to leave the canoe, which was
+then carefully concealed by leaves and brush. This done, the warriors
+again led the way, the two girls following, and they came suddenly upon
+a great camp of the Indians. More than four hundred people, principally
+fighting braves, although there was a small number of women and
+children, were resting in the beautiful glade, most of them engaged in
+cleaning their weapons and getting ready for the battle which was to
+come. Black-Hawk and Will Jackwood were conversing together apart from
+the rest, and the latter started forward with a look of delight as he
+saw Sadie, and advanced at once, closely followed by Black-Hawk.
+
+“Welcome to the Indian camp, Sadie,” said Jackwood, endeavoring to take
+her hand. “You can not tell how unhappy I have been since I knew that
+you were lost.”
+
+She took no notice of his extended hand, but went on to meet Black-Hawk,
+who greeted her kindly.
+
+“Let the Wild Rose rest under the shelter of a Sac lodge,” he said.
+“Black-Hawk has been driven from the places he loved by the white men,
+but he can not forget that there are just white men, who would not do a
+wrong to the simple Indian. Such a man was the father of the Wild Rose.”
+
+“Black-Hawk,” said Sadie, as she took the proffered hand, “when my
+father drove away the bad men who sought your life, you promised to be a
+friend to us. Now the time has come for you to keep your word.”
+
+“Black-Hawk is not a white man, to speak with a double tongue. What he
+has spoken—he _has_ spoken. Let the Wild Rose ask what she will from
+Black-Hawk, and if it is in his power, she shall have what she asks.”
+
+“My father is dead,” she said, mournfully. “The bad men who follow
+William Jackwood, killed him because he would not kneel to them or beg
+for his life. Now, Jackwood follows me and I fear him, and I ask the
+protection of the great chief from this bad man.”
+
+“Has the son of Red-Bird lied to me?” cried Black-Hawk, sternly. “He
+told me that the Wild Rose loved him and would come into his lodge
+gladly.”
+
+“He has lied,” she answered. “He knows that I hate him above all men on
+earth, and that I would die sooner than permit myself to be his wife.”
+
+“Be careful, girl,” hissed Jackwood. “You will raise a tempest which you
+can not quell, if you do not look out.”
+
+“I have no fear of the result. Any thing would be preferable to a union
+with such a wretch as you are.”
+
+“Look you, Black-Hawk,” cried Jackwood, turning fiercely upon the chief.
+“When I agreed to aid you, remember that I told you that this girl must
+be mine and you promised that I should have my will.”
+
+“That was when Black-Hawk believed that the Wild Rose loved you,”
+replied Black-Hawk. “She has asked for my protection and it is given.
+Let the son of Red-Bird seek another mate; the Wild Rose is not for
+him.”
+
+A tempest of furious passions raged in the heart of William Jackwood. At
+any other time or place he would have shot the old chief down without
+any remorse, and even here, in the midst of his warriors, he was tempted
+to do it, even at the risk of his own life. With a mighty effort he
+restrained himself, and turned away with a malevolent glance at Sadie,
+which she returned by one of defiance.
+
+Several of the principal braves were looking on, and there was some
+murmuring, for these men recognized the good old maxim—‘to the victor
+belong the spoils.’ While they stood thus, there was heard a triumphant
+shout upon the river, and several men started away to see what it meant.
+They were soon heard coming back, and directly after a compact body of
+men, those who followed Will Jackwood, poured into the camp, leading in
+their midst, as prisoners, Captain Melton, Cooney Joe and Tom Bantry. A
+look of ferocious joy beamed upon the face of Will Jackwood, for he saw
+a chance for revenge.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER XII.
+                           SADIE’S SACRIFICE.
+
+
+The prisoners marched firmly, and not a cheek blanched as they saw where
+they were led and realized the fearful danger in which they stood. Will
+Jackwood started forward and addressed one of his subordinates, who, for
+the time being, had been in command of the band.
+
+“Did _you_ take them, Justin? If you can say that you did so without aid
+from the Indians, then you may ask any thing you like at my hands.”
+
+“Nary red,” replied the man. “We caught them crossing the river in a
+canoe, and pounced on ’em almost before they could lift a hand, but that
+Cooney Joe laid out Jack Ferguson, and Saul Sloan has got a bad wound in
+the shoulder, from Melton’s knife. Is that satisfactory?”
+
+“Excellent! Black-Hawk, I claim these prisoners as my own, as my men
+took them without help.”
+
+“They are yours,” replied Black-Hawk. “An Indian chief knows how to be
+just.”
+
+“Now then, Captain Charles Melton, you are in my power; do you
+understand, in my power! You shall rue the day when you dared come
+between me and the woman I love.”
+
+“What do you mean, renegade?” replied the young scout. “I never wronged
+you in my life.”
+
+“Perhaps; we shall see how it turns out. Keep them safe, boys; set a
+double guard upon them, and for your lives, let none escape. Ah, my
+good, valiant, chivalric Joe, how you will repent having raised your
+hand against me.”
+
+“I do repent, Will,” said Joe, quietly. “I repent most awfully. I ought
+to have lifted yer ha’r on the spot, by gracious. ’Twould have served
+you just right, and saved a good deal of trouble.”
+
+“Take them away, boys, take them away. Ha; don’t let the girl speak to
+them or she will contrive some way to set them free. Look out for
+Minneoba above all others, for she is as cute as the devil. Miss Sadie,
+do I deceive myself when I think that you will not _now_ disdain to hold
+some conversation with me?”
+
+“What do you wish to say to me, sir?” replied Sadie, who saw the
+dreadful peril of her friends, and wished to save them if possible.
+
+“Say to Black-Hawk that you wish to speak to me apart from the rest and
+he will give you permission. I see a way in which you can save these
+men.”
+
+She spoke to the chief, who nodded kindly, and she followed Black Will a
+little distance from the camp.
+
+“That is far enough,” she said, pausing under a great tree. “What have
+you to say to me?”
+
+“Change your way of speaking; be more complaisant to me, my dear girl,
+for the more kindly you use me the better it will be for yonder men who
+are doomed beyond hope if I so much as lift a finger. First of all—do
+you love this Captain Melton?”
+
+“He has never spoken to me,” replied Sadie. “How do I know that he cares
+for me?”
+
+“That is not the question at issue. Do you love him? That is what I
+asked.”
+
+“How can I answer that, when I do not know my own heart? He is a brave
+and good man, and I could love him dearly if he loved me as well. I will
+say no more upon that point.”
+
+“At least you care enough for him to wish to save his life?”
+
+“Yes—yes; I would do almost any thing for that,” she replied, eagerly.
+
+“It has gone as far as that, has it? My dear girl, you are further gone
+than you imagined. Now, I do not wish to be incumbered by prisoners. If
+we can not come to terms, I shall find it necessary to put these fellows
+out of the way, and shall certainly do so. There are many ways in which
+to do this, and my friends the Indians will doubtless be happy to take
+the laboring oar out of my hands.”
+
+“Do you mean that you would be base enough to give them up to the
+torture?” she cried.
+
+“Undoubtedly, my Indian friends might find it in their hearts to burn
+them if they only had them. I was present at a spectacle of this kind,
+the other day, where they barbecued a traitorous Indian. It was not
+pretty, and I may say did not amuse me after the first gush, and I went
+so far as to kill the poor fellow with my own hand, to put him out of
+his pain. It would distress me very much to see any of your friends in a
+like delicate situation.”
+
+“What do you ask of me, William Jackwood? Do you wish to drive me mad?
+You could not—_could_ not be so base.”
+
+“I would do any thing for revenge,” replied the man, hoarsely. “I tell
+you, upon my honor as a man, that if you do not promise to be my wife—I
+know that you will keep your word—these men shall all die as I have
+said. Make that promise, and upon the day when you become my wife, all
+shall be set free except one.”
+
+“Which one do you mean?”
+
+“Tom Bantry; he is a cursed traitor.”
+
+“That man must be saved, at all hazards,” replied Sadie, firmly. “Of all
+your villainous band, William Jackwood, he alone showed a spark of pity
+when my unhappy father was cast into the furious flood, bound and
+helpless. What I would not do for love I will do for gratitude, and I
+give you my hand, if you will swear upon your honor that these men shall
+go free, and at once.”
+
+“You are sensible,” he said, eagerly. “I had not hoped that you would
+yield so easily, and I will make it the study of my life to make you
+happy as—”
+
+“Silence! Give me your promise and I will give you mine.”
+
+“I swear by the only things I hold pure—the memory of my mother and my
+love for you—that these men shall all be spared.”
+
+“And I promise to be your wife, if we both live. Oh, God, forgive me if
+I do wrong in this, but I can not see these brave men sacrificed, who
+have come into this deadly peril for my sake. William Jackwood,
+understand me fully, and do not say in the after times that I deceived
+you. I hate you—I shall always hate you—but I will be your wife.”
+
+“All right,” said Jackwood, with a light laugh. “I will try to change
+your opinion of me when we are married. And now you are at liberty, and
+I will leave it to you to tell Black-Hawk that you have changed your
+mind, while I prepare to leave him. The chief has not used me well, and
+I do not fight the battles of those who do not treat me as a friend.”
+
+She went away with drooping head, and he stood in the same spot, moodily
+tapping his boot-leg with a small switch he carried. He was not fully
+satisfied, although he had gained the stake for which he had been
+playing so long. She had told him that she hated him, and had as good as
+said she loved Charles Melton, and yet had promised to be his wife. As
+he stood there, a man panting for breath and bleeding from several
+wounds, rushed up to him, and in his disfigured countenance he saw
+something which reminded him of Dick Garrett, and stopped him.
+
+“Dick, what is the matter?”
+
+“Played out!” replied Dick, dropping exhausted on the sod. “Give me some
+rum, for I am half dead.”
+
+Jackwood put his flask to the mouth of the exhausted man and he drank
+long and eagerly, and drew a deep breath of relief.
+
+“Ah-h-h! That goes to the spot, Will. I’ve had a long run—chased by the
+devil’s kid, and it’s a mercy that I have got in alive. It all came of
+chasing that accursed girl, who got into the woods.”
+
+“It was not your fault, Dick,” said Jackwood. “Minneoba came in and told
+us about it, and we sent out parties after her, and one of them picked
+her up.”
+
+“Take care of her yourself, after this,” panted Dick. “I’ve seen the
+devil to-day, and fought him, and I don’t want any more.”
+
+“Where are the rest of your men?”
+
+“Gone under, I reckon. Jack Fish and Tracey got into the woods, and the
+rest are dead. I had to play ’possum, or I would have been cooked, too.
+Give me another drink, and I’ll tell you about it.”
+
+Jackwood gave him the flask, and for a moment nothing was heard except
+the musical gurgle of the liquor. When he lowered it, a considerable
+vacuum existed in the vessel, and he told the story of the chase after
+Sadie with many expletives not necessary to set down here. When he had
+finished the tale he did the same with the liquor, and stood up.
+
+“You are wounded, Dick!”
+
+“Nothing of much account. I’ve been cut and scratched in diving through
+the brushes, for that hairy cuss chased me almost into camp. I thought
+he’d never give it up.”
+
+“I don’t know who or what it can be,” said Jackwood, musingly, “and I
+don’t care much. Go and wash the blood from your face, and then get the
+men together, for we must leave this camp. It is all up with Black-Hawk,
+for Atkinson has come with an army, and he will clean out the Indians in
+the twinkling of an eye.”
+
+Garrett moved away slowly, and Jackwood advanced to the side of
+Black-Hawk, who was talking with Sadie. She did not look at him as he
+came up, but Minneoba faced him boldly, with her pretty face showing the
+utmost anger and contempt.
+
+“What has the son of Red-Bird said to frighten the Wild Rose?” she
+cried, angrily. “He is a coward and no brave.”
+
+“You had better send your daughter away, Black-Hawk,” said Jackwood,
+quietly. “I have borne insults enough in this camp, and will not stay
+here.”
+
+“The son of Red-Bird promised to stay and fight for his red brothers,”
+said Black-Hawk, reproachfully, “and when he sees the enemy in sight he
+runs away like a frightened hound. It is well; Black-Hawk would not have
+any except brave men follow him.”
+
+“It is false, Indian,” cried Will Jackwood. “Here, in the midst of your
+wild band, I defy you to prove that while you were true to me, I failed
+to do my duty like a man. But when you dared to take away my prisoner,
+my wife that is to be, in that day I leave you, never to return.”
+
+“Go,” replied Black-Hawk. “I have been deceived in the son of Red-Bird.
+His father died in the white man’s prison, and now he basely turns away
+when the battle is nigh.”
+
+“Stay with me, Wild Rose,” cried Minneoba. “My father is a strong chief
+and will protect you from harm.”
+
+“I can not—I dare not,” replied Sadie. “If I stay with you, my friends,
+who are his prisoners, must die.”
+
+“My father will take them away from him,” said Minneoba, looking
+pleadingly at the old chief.
+
+“Let him do so—let him make himself a dog, if he dares,” replied
+Jackwood. “I will tell his baseness throughout the tribes, and not a man
+of them all dare look me in the face until I am righted.”
+
+The chief hung his head, for he had pledged his sacred word that
+Jackwood should keep his prisoners. The scoundrel knew his character too
+well to doubt for a moment that the Indian would keep his word, and let
+them go away with the prisoners. Minneoba pleaded in vain, and with loud
+lamenting, followed the compact force of Jackwood to the edge of the
+forest, and saw them go away with the prisoners, closely guarded, and
+Sadie walking by the side of William Jackwood, with a hard, bitter look
+upon her beautiful face. Garrett, who recovered quickly from every evil,
+turned about and blew a kiss at Minneoba, who at once fitted an arrow to
+the string, and would have sent it after him, but that he took shelter
+among the men, laughing.
+
+“‘The world is all before us where to choose,’ boys,” said Jackwood,
+“but one thing is certain, if this thing goes against the Indians, and
+of course it will, this territory won’t be very healthy for us. What do
+you say?”
+
+“We’ll find a place to live, Cap,” replied Garrett. “The world owes us a
+living, and we’ll have it too, or else make trouble.”
+
+“Don’t you think we had better find a hiding-place and see what is going
+to happen? There will be pretty pickings for us if the day should, by
+any chance, favor the Indians, even for a time.”
+
+“I know the place you mean, Cap,” said Jack Fish, who had come in before
+they marched. “The neatest hiding-place in the West.”
+
+“How far away?”
+
+“’Bout six mile, I reckon.”
+
+“Lead the way, then.”
+
+Fish took the advance, and Jackwood assisted the weary steps of Sadie
+over the rugged road before them. It led through tangled thickets, under
+trees which had been the growth of centuries, and ended in a circular
+forest opening, so difficult to reach, that Black Will was obliged to
+carry Sadie in places, so worn out had she become.
+
+The grass was green in the little glade, and the birds were singing, as
+one by one the troop came out from beneath the canopy of leaves, and
+gained a footing on the level turf.
+
+“Jack Fish,” said the renegade, “you have deserved well of your country.
+I could live here forever. Here we rest, until the thing is decided one
+way or another.”
+
+“How will we live?” queried Garrett.
+
+“The woods are full of game, and we will kill it so far from the camp,
+that no one will suspect us of being here. Captain Melton, will you give
+me your word of honor not to try to escape, provided I free your arms?”
+
+Melton was about to refuse, but catching Sadie’s eye, he changed his
+mind, and made the required promise. It was not extended to Tom Bantry,
+and Cooney Joe, who were tightly bound, and placed under guard. Sadie
+was coming forward with the intention of speaking to Melton, when the
+bushes parted near her, and the face of the demon of the woods appeared,
+peeping out among the leaves.
+
+
+
+
+                             CHAPTER XIII.
+                          GUESTS NOT INVITED.
+
+
+Sadie was not easily frightened, but it required the effort of all her
+resolution to keep her from uttering a cry of alarm. The young captain
+saw that she was deeply moved and ascribed it to her grief at the
+situation in which she found herself placed. But she recovered herself
+by a great effort of the will and came forward, giving her hand frankly
+to the man she loved and who loved her as dearly.
+
+“I am deeply grieved that you have come into this danger for my sake,
+Charles,” she said, softly. “But have no fear, for I will save you at
+any hazard. Indeed, it is done already, for I have given my word and you
+are safe.”
+
+“Safe! What do you mean, Sadie; what promise have you given?”
+
+“Do not be angry with me, Charles,” she said, sadly. “I am sorry that it
+is forced upon me but—I have promised to be the wife of William
+Jackwood.”
+
+“Black Will! Gracious heaven, Sadie, it cannot be. What madness is
+this?”
+
+“I was forced to do it. They threatened you and your brave companions
+with a horrible death. I had no one near to advise me and I could not—I
+could not see you die.”
+
+“You should have spoken to me first,” he cried, wildly. “You knew that I
+loved you. I have never dared to tell you until now, and ought to have
+spoken. What is death to dishonor? What a life you have doomed yourself
+to bear, that I may live. I would sooner die a thousand deaths than bear
+this bitter burden.”
+
+“Charles!” she cried. “You make my load too heavy for me to bear. How
+could I see those who had incurred this peril for me, given up to
+satisfy the bloody passions of these desperate men. My father is dead—I
+am alone in the world and my life would have been a weary one at best,
+if I had refused to yield. He told me that if I was obstinate, I should
+stand by and see you suffer. I could not have borne that, at any rate.”
+
+“You should have remained in the camp of Black-Hawk, who is a brave man,
+although an Indian. My dear girl, I can not blame you for what you have
+done. It was in all kindness of heart, but it was wrong for you to
+yield. The lives of men who are ready at any time to die for the right
+should be as a feather’s weight compared to your sacrifice. As I say, so
+would Joe Bent and Tom Bantry, who are more hated by these men than I
+am.”
+
+“Can you not escape?” she whispered. “But no—I forgot. My word is
+pledged to this bad man and that I hold sacred. But I shall not deem it
+a crime to take his life, and although he may claim my hand he shall
+never have a wife’s duty from me—for I hate him—oh, how I hate him!”
+
+The white teeth clicked together fiercely as she spoke, and Black Will,
+who was listening, laughed a low, bitter laugh, full of malice.
+
+“Sorry to interfere in a social meeting of this kind,” he said,
+advancing, “but your language is disgusting to your future husband, my
+dear Sadie. Captain Melton, if I hear any more language of this kind
+from you, I shall have you bound and gagged, for I will not endure it.”
+
+“If you do that it absolves me from my promise, for you gave me your
+word to treat them well,” said Sadie.
+
+“I will not give you even that loop-hole from which to escape,” said
+Black Will, after a pause. “I leave the camp to-day in search of a man
+who is at one of the Indian stations, a Lutheran missionary. Let me say
+to you that he is a man who would not perform the ceremony if you offer
+a word of objection, and that you have only to say ‘no,’ and that
+ceremony will cease and one of another kind commence, for as there is a
+sky above us I will take your friends out and hang them before your
+eyes. Git my horse, Jack Fish.”
+
+The man obeyed, and after giving some orders to Dick Garrett in a low
+tone, the renegade mounted and rode away through the wood.
+
+Two days passed, and they heard nothing of him. Upon the afternoon of
+the third he came into camp accompanied by a pale, intellectual-looking
+man in the dress of a clergyman, who looked mildly about on the wild
+group in the camp, evidently surprised to find himself in such a place.
+He was at once conducted to one of the brush cabins which had been built
+up by the men, while Black Will dismounted and ordered that Melton and
+the other prisoners should be removed into the woods a short distance
+from the camp, for he knew the missionary too well to believe that he
+would perform the ceremony if he had any doubt of the willingness of the
+lady to do her part, and Black Will feared the prisoners might let him
+know the true state of the case.
+
+Five men accompanied the prisoners into the woods, with orders to shoot
+them down at the first attempt to escape. When this was done Black Will
+approached the brush cabin in which Sadie spent the time, and called her
+out.
+
+“I have returned,” he said, cheerfully. “You must excuse me for staying
+away from you so long, but I found it difficult to find the missionary.”
+
+“I only wish you had never found him or had received your just deserts,
+sir,” was the somewhat unpromising reply.
+
+“My deserts; I deserve better treatment at your hands, I think.”
+
+“Twelve feet of rope and a tree would suit you better,” she replied. “Do
+not deceive yourself by the belief that I shall ever change in my regard
+for you. The most slimy reptile which crawls through the swamp would be
+to me a more pleasant companion. I give my hand to you to save my
+friends, but never my heart with it.”
+
+He stood moodily before her, tapping his boot with the riding-whip he
+carried.
+
+“I have half a mind to refuse your hand upon these terms,” he said,
+gloomily, without raising his eyes from the earth upon which they were
+bent. “Your language is horrible to one to whom you are about to join
+yourself for life, and the day will surely come when you will repent it
+bitterly. There, I will say no more now; but, in half an hour I shall
+come for you and we will be married.”
+
+“You need not fear but I will keep my word,” she said. “Will you keep
+yours as well?”
+
+“I never broke it yet to friend or foe,” was his answer, “and I do not
+mean to commence now. When you have given me your hand in marriage,
+these men shall have two days’ grace, but if I catch them after that,
+woe be to them, that is all.”
+
+He turned upon his heel and left her to her own reflections, which were
+not of the most pleasant type. At times she doubted her firmness in the
+hour of trial, and whether she would not give way in the presence of the
+missionary, but the thought of his fearful threat against her lover and
+friends nerved her, and she determined to bear up as bravely as she
+could, and make the sacrifice for their safety. She would have liked to
+see Melton once before the ceremony, but feared that she was not strong
+enough to endure the meeting. While she sat there with her face buried
+in her hands, Black Will came for her.
+
+“There is one favor I would ask you,” she said, “and it is one you can
+easily grant. You know I love Charles Melton, but all thoughts of him
+must pass in the moment when I put my hand in yours. Under the
+circumstances he must not see me again, and I could not bear to see
+him.”
+
+“Agreed; you shall not see him, and if he dares to attempt an interview
+when you are once my wife, it will be the worse for him. I have removed
+him already, and they wait in the woods until the ceremony is over, when
+they shall be allowed to go where they will.”
+
+“That will do, sir. Now I am ready, if you will not relent.”
+
+He shook his head savagely, and taking her hand led her out into the
+open space among the trees. The band were standing carelessly about,
+looking on as the two took their station before the missionary, who
+advanced book in hand and stood before them.
+
+He recited that portion of the ritual which was necessary before he
+asked the question, “and if any know just cause or reason why these
+should not be joined together in the bands of holy wedlock, let them now
+speak or forever after hold their peace,” when the crowd scattered
+before the rush of a strong man, and the gigantic figure of the Forest
+Fiend sprung into the circle and hurled Black Will ten paces backward by
+a single thrust of his powerful arm, while he cried, fiercely:
+
+“I forbid the banns!”
+
+“Down with him,” roared Black Will, drawing his knife. “At him, boys.”
+
+“Back!” cried the strange being, “back, for your lives. It is not right
+that innocence and youth should be forced to wed with such a thing as
+this, and I forbid it. Back, I say.”
+
+They recoiled before the stern figure, especially those among them who
+had felt the nervous force of his strong arm, while Black Will looked at
+the clergyman.
+
+“Do not mind the ravings of a madman, sir,” he said; “this man is insane
+and knows not what he does.”
+
+“It is false, reverend sir,” replied the Forest Fiend. “I am as sane a
+man as any here, and know whereof I speak. Fall back, men; don’t press
+upon me. Ha, they will have it, then. Melton’s Scout to the rescue!”
+
+As the tones of his sonorous voice rung out through the deep forest,
+there came a charging cheer, and the buck-skin shirts and coon-skin caps
+of Melton’s Scout showed through the leafy cover, and with wild cries
+they poured upon the foe.
+
+Not a shot was fired, for Sadie, the missionary and the Forest Fiend
+stood in the midst of the enemy, and the Scout dared not fire. But as
+the enemy retreated, snatching up their weapons as they went, at a
+signal from the Forest Fiend, Sadie and the missionary fell upon their
+faces, and the Scout poured in a single withering volley which strewed
+the ground with dead and dying, and then charged upon the foe with
+knife, hatchet and pistol.
+
+The Forest Fiend caught up a rifle from the earth, and using it as a
+club, headed the charge. Close behind him came Charles Melton, Cooney
+Joe and Tom Bantry, striking out manfully for the right, and felling an
+adversary at every blow. But none could equal the strange being known as
+the Forest Fiend. Taking the ponderous rifle in one hand, he made it
+play about his head with lightning rapidity, and the renegades went down
+before him like chaff before the wind.
+
+Taken by surprise, it was no wonder that the retreat soon became a rout,
+and they scattered to the four winds, closely pursued by their
+determined assailants. One man, and that man Dick Garrett, dared to bar
+the way of the Forest Fiend, who paused with uplifted weapon and looked
+at him.
+
+“At last, villain,” he cried, “your time has come!”
+
+Vain was the interposition of the rifle of the renegade to stay the
+blow. It descended upon his head, and Dick Garrett, the friend and
+companion in villainy of Will Jackwood lay dead at the avenger’s feet.
+At this moment a cry of anger was heard, and turning, the strange man
+saw that Jackwood was on horseback, headed for the bushes.
+
+“Fire at him,” he cried. “Bring him down at all hazards.”
+
+Half a dozen bullets sped, but Jackwood was already in the thicket, and
+all pursuit was vain. Five minutes later the fight was over, and few of
+Black Will’s band remained to tell the tale of that terrible day.
+
+The Forest Fiend turned back to the place where Sadie stood, encircled
+by the arm of Charles Melton, and she drew closer to her lover as she
+marked his terrible aspect. Raising his hand to his face, he tore off
+the hairy mask which covered it, and revealed the face of—_Samuel
+Wescott_!
+
+Her father, redeemed from a watery grave! In an instant Sadie was in his
+arms, half-delirious with joy, and the tried friends gathered about him,
+eager to shake his hand, while Cooney Joe and Tom Bantry danced a comic
+hornpipe, uttering yells which would have done credit to Sac warriors on
+the war-trail.
+
+When the first transport of the meeting was over, Samuel Wescott turned
+to Tom Bantry and shook him warmly by the hand.
+
+“You did your best to save me, my friend,” he said; “but I knew that
+both must perish if I clung to you. I went down, as you know, and coming
+to the surface, in a death-struggle I caught a floating log, which
+quickly bore me down the stream, and I had not the strength to land
+until I had been carried two miles down. Near this place I had a
+_cache_, in which, among other articles, was this disguise, which I have
+sometimes worn in my expeditions among the tribes, and I knew that it
+might aid me in the work before me. Had I known that it would frighten
+my daughter so much, I would have shown my face when I attacked the men
+who guarded her, while you were fighting in the swamp.”
+
+“It’s enough to skeer the life out of any critter,” said Cooney Joe. “I
+don’t wonder she run from you.”
+
+“It has served its purpose. I followed you to this place, Sadie, and
+having satisfied myself that those I loved were in no immediate danger,
+I went back for the Scout, the position of whose camp I knew. We came up
+softly, set Melton, Joe and Tom at liberty, and then attacked these
+scoundrels. The rest you know as well as I. There is only one thing for
+which I am sorry, and that is, that this villain Jackwood has escaped.
+But his fate will find him out.”
+
+Half an hour later they were on their way to the river, guarded by
+Melton’s Scout. The last week had been one of trial, but they had come
+out of the flame triumphant, and the power of Black Will Jackwood was
+broken forever. As they reached the river-bank, and the men were
+bringing up the flat in which they were to cross, Minneoba suddenly
+appeared from the forest, and fell upon Sadie’s neck, weeping for joy.
+
+“Minneoba can bear any thing now, the breaking of her people, the loss
+of home, for her sister is safe. Good-by, and do not forget the poor
+Indian girl who loves you.”
+
+“Come with us,” said Samuel Wescott. “I will give you a shelter in my
+house until the war is at an end.”
+
+But Minneoba shook her head sadly.
+
+“No,” she said. “The Indian girl must not leave her father, who loves
+her. Go in peace.”
+
+They parted from her sadly, and as the flat receded from the shore, they
+saw her standing in a dejected attitude, leaning on her bow. It was many
+a day before they saw her again.
+
+
+The battle was at its hight. Black-Hawk had risked all upon a cast of
+the die, and had found it a losing game. Melton, Cooney Joe and Tom
+Bantry were there, fighting gallantly, and as the Indians began to break
+up, they charged a resolute knot of warriors who stood their ground
+stubbornly, dealing death on every side.
+
+There was a moment of wild confusion, and Charles Melton found himself
+face to face with a desperate man, in his war-paint, who assailed him
+with demoniac fury. Just then Melton’s horse fell, shot through the
+heart, and his adversary sprung at him with a wild cry of joy, raising a
+hatchet above his devoted head.
+
+“Death to you, Melton,” he screamed. “I am Will Jackwood, and you die by
+my hand. If I lost her, at least you shall never possess her.”
+
+Melton, pinned to the earth by his fallen horse, lifted his hand to ward
+off the blow, but hampered as he was he could offer but slight
+resistance, and the knife, his only defense, was forced from his hand,
+and the hatchet gleamed above him.
+
+He had just time to catch the gleam of ferocious joy in the eyes of his
+enemy, and had given up hope, when a rifle cracked, and Jackwood,
+throwing up his arms, clutched at the bloody cloth upon his breast,
+tried once more to lift his weapon, and then, with a snarl of demoniac
+malice, dropped dead in his tracks, while Cooney Joe, with a rifle
+smoking in his hand, ran to aid his fallen leader, who was quickly
+placed upon his feet.
+
+“Who is he?” cried Joe, angrily. “Ha! Black Will, by the mortal. Rubbed
+out at last.”
+
+This was his epitaph. He died as he had lived, boldly and defiantly, and
+found a soldier’s grave.
+
+The power of Black-Hawk was broken, and the old chief a fugitive, soon
+to be a prisoner in the hands of the whites. Then it was that Samuel
+Wescott kept his promise to Minneoba, and gave her a shelter under his
+roof. The teachings of Sadie soon changed the forest maiden so much,
+that she loved a domestic life, and when Sadie was married, soon after
+Black-Hawk’s visit to the east, Minneoba was there, and witnessed the
+ceremony. When it was finished, Cooney Joe stopped the clergyman:
+
+“Stop a little, stranger,” he said, sheepishly. “Got another little job
+for you, I have.”
+
+And to the surprise of all, Minneoba took his hand, and they were
+married.
+
+Unknown to every one, Joe had obtained the consent of the old chief, who
+knew that his daughter was better fitted to live with the whites than
+with the tribes, and Minneoba became the wife of Joe Bent. She never had
+cause to repent it. Rough though he was, he was a true man, and worked
+nobly for her sake, and strange as it may seem, became in time, one of
+the richest farmers in that region.
+
+Captain Melton also settled there, and the two families were constantly
+together. And above the mantel, in Melton’s study, hangs the costume of
+the Forest Fiend.
+
+Tom Bantry was for years a successful boatman upon the Mississippi, and
+at last a Captain. Samuel Wescott died at a green old age, honored and
+beloved by all who knew him.
+
+
+                                THE END.
+
+
+
+
+                          DIME POCKET NOVELS.
+
+
+               PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY, AT TEN CENTS EACH.
+
+  1—Hawkeye Harry. By Oll Coomes.
+  2—Dead Shot. By Albert W. Aiken.
+  3—The Boy Miners. By Edward S. Ellis.
+  4—Blue Dick. By Capt. Mayne Reid.
+  5—Nat Wolfe. By Mrs. M. V. Victor.
+  6—The White Tracker. By Edward S. Ellis.
+  7—The Outlaw’s Wife. By Mrs. Ann S. Stephens.
+  8—The Tall Trapper. By Albert W. Aiken.
+  9—Lightning Jo. By Capt. Adams.
+  10—The Island Pirate. By Capt. Mayne Reid.
+  11—The Boy Ranger. By Oll Coomes.
+  12—Bess, the Trapper. By E. S. Ellis.
+  13—The French Spy. By W. J. Hamilton.
+  14—Long Shot. By Capt. Comstock.
+  15—The Gunmaker. By James L. Bowen.
+  16—Red Hand. By A. G. Piper.
+  17—Ben, the Trapper. By Lewis W. Carson.
+  18—Wild Raven. By Oll Coomes.
+  19—The Specter Chief. By Seelin Robins.
+  20—The B’ar-Killer. By Capt. Comstock.
+  21—Wild Nat. By Wm. R. Eyster.
+  22—Indian Jo. By Lewis W. Carson.
+  23—Old Kent, the Ranger. By Edward S. Ellis.
+  24—The One-Eyed Trapper. By Capt. Comstock.
+  25—Godbold, the Spy. By N. C. Iron.
+  26—The Black Ship. By John S. Warner.
+  27—Single Eye. By Warren St. John.
+  28—Indian Jim. By Edward S. Ellis.
+  29—The Scout. By Warren St. John.
+  30—Eagle Eye. By W. J. Hamilton.
+  31—The Mystic Canoe. By Edward S. Ellis.
+  32—The Golden Harpoon. By R. Starbuck.
+  33—The Scalp King. By Lieut. Ned Hunter.
+  34—Old Lute. By E. W. Archer.
+  35—Rainbolt, Ranger. By Oll Coomes.
+  36—The Boy Pioneer. By Edward S. Ellis.
+  37—Carson, the Guide. By J. H. Randolph.
+  38—The Heart Eater. By Harry Hazard.
+  39—Wetzel, the Scout. By Boynton Belknap.
+  40—The Huge Hunter. By Ed. S. Ellis.
+  41—Wild Nat, the Trapper. By Paul Prescott.
+  42—Lynx-cap. By Paul Bibbs.
+  43—The White Outlaw. By Harry Hazard.
+  44—The Dog Trailer. By Frederick Dewey.
+  45—The Elk King. By Capt. Chas. Howard.
+  46—Adrian, the Pilot. By Col. P. Ingraham.
+  47—The Man-Hunter. By Maro O. Rolfe.
+  48—The Phantom Tracker. By F. Dewey.
+  49—Moccasin Bill. By Paul Bibbs.
+  50—The Wolf Queen. By Charles Howard.
+  51—Tom Hawk, the Trailer.
+  52—The Mad Chief. By Chas. Howard.
+  53—The Black Wolf. By Edwin E. Ewing.
+  54—Arkansas Jack. By Harry Hazard.
+  55—Blackbeard. By Paul Bibbs.
+  56—The River Rifles. By Billex Muller.
+  57—Hunter Ham. By J. Edgar Iliff.
+  58—Cloudwood. By J. M. Merrill.
+  59—The Texas Hawks. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
+  60—Merciless Mat. By Capt. Chas. Howard.
+  61—Mad Anthony’s Scouts. By E. Rodman.
+  62—The Luckless Trapper. By Wm. R. Eyster.
+  63—The Florida Scout. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
+  64—The Island Trapper. By Chas. Howard.
+  65—Wolf-Cap. By Capt. Chas. Howard.
+  66—Rattling Dick. By Harry Hazard.
+  67—Sharp-Eye. By Major Max Martine.
+  68—Iron-Hand. By Frederick Forest.
+  69—The Yellow Hunter. By Chas. Howard.
+  70—The Phantom Rider. By Maro O. Rolfe.
+  71—Delaware Tom. By Harry Hazard.
+  72—Silver Rifle. By Capt. Chas. Howard.
+  73—The Skeleton Scout. By Maj. L. W. Carson.
+  74—Little Rifle. By Capt. “Bruin” Adams.
+  75—The Wood Witch. By Edwin Emerson.
+  76—Old Ruff, the Trapper. By “Bruin” Adams.
+  77—The Scarlet Shoulders. By Harry Hazard.
+  78—The Border Rifleman. By L. W. Carson.
+  79—Outlaw Jack. By Harry Hazard.
+  80—Tiger-Tail, the Seminole. By R. Ringwood.
+  81—Death-Dealer. By Arthur L. Meserve.
+  82—Kenton, the Ranger. By Chas. Howard.
+  83—The Specter Horseman. By Frank Dewey.
+  84—The Three Trappers. By Seelin Robbins.
+  85—Kaleolah. By Capt. Chas. Howard.
+  86—The Hunter Hercules. By Harry St. George.
+  87—Phil Hunter. By Capt. Chas. Howard.
+  88—The Indian Scout. By Harry Hazard.
+  89—The Girl Avenger. By Chas. Howard.
+  90—The Red Hermitess. By Paul Bibbs.
+  91—Star-Face, the Slayer.
+  92—The Antelope Boy. By Geo. L. Aiken.
+  93—The Phantom Hunter. By E. Emerson.
+  94—Tom Pintle, the Pilot. By M. Klapp.
+  95—The Red Wizard. By Ned Hunter.
+  96—The Rival Trappers. By L. W. Carson.
+  97—The Squaw Spy. By Capt. Chas. Howard.
+  98—Dusky Dick. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
+  99—Colonel Crockett. By Chas. E. Lasalle.
+  100—Old Bear Paw. By Major Max Martine.
+  101—Redlaw. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
+  102—Wild Rube. By W. J. Hamilton.
+  103—The Indian Hunters. By J. L. Bowen.
+  104—Scarred Eagle. By Andrew Dearborn.
+  105—Nick Doyle. By P. Hamilton Myers.
+  106—The Indian Spy. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
+  107—Job Dean. By Ingoldsby North.
+  108—The Wood King. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
+  109—The Scalped Hunter. By Harry Hazard.
+  110—Nick, the Scout. By W. J. Hamilton.
+  111—The Texas Tiger. By Edward Willett.
+  112—The Crossed Knives. By Hamilton.
+  113—Tiger-Heart, the Tracker. By Howard.
+  114—The Masked Avenger. By Ingraham.
+  115—The Pearl Pirates. By Starbuck.
+  116—Black Panther. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
+  117—Abdiel, the Avenger. By Ed. Willett.
+  118—Cato, the Creeper. By Fred. Dewey.
+  119—Two-Handed Mat. By Jos. E. Badger.
+  120—Mad Trail Hunter. By Harry Hazard.
+  121—Black Nick. By Frederick Whittaker.
+  122—Kit Bird. By W. J. Hamilton.
+  123—The Specter Riders. By Geo. Gleason.
+  124—Giant Pete. By W. J. Hamilton.
+  125—The Girl Captain. By Jos. E. Badger.
+  126—Yankee Eph. By J. R. Worcester.
+  127—Silverspur. By Edward Willett.
+  128—Squatter Dick. By Jos. E. Badger.
+  129—The Child Spy. By George Gleason.
+  130—Mink Coat. By Jos. E. Badger.
+  131—Red Plume. By J. Stanley Henderson.
+  132—Clyde, the Trailer. By Maro O. Rolfe.
+  133—The Lost Cache. By J. Stanley Henderson.
+  134—The Cannibal Chief. By Paul J. Prescott.
+  135—Karaibo. By J. Stanley Henderson.
+  136—Scarlet Moccasin. By Paul Bibbs.
+  137—Kidnapped. By J. Stanley Henderson.
+  138—Maid of the Mountain. By Hamilton.
+  139—The Scioto Scouts. By Ed. Willett.
+  140—The Border Renegade. By Badger.
+  141—The Mute Chief. By C. D. Clark.
+  142—Boone, the Hunter. By Whittaker.
+  143—Mountain Kate. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
+  144—The Red Scalper. By W. J. Hamilton.
+  145—The Lone Chief. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
+  146—The Silver Bugle. By Lieut. Col. Hazleton.
+  147—Chinga, the Cheyenne. By Edward S. Ellis. Ready
+  148—The Tangled Trail. By Major Max Martine. Ready
+  149—The Unseen Hand. By J. Stanley Henderson. Ready
+  150—The Lone Indian. By Capt. Chas. Howard. Ready
+  151—The Branded Brave. By Paul Bibbs. Ready April 6th.
+  152—Billy Bowlegs, the Seminole Chief. Ready April 20th.
+  153—The Valley Scout. By Seelin Robins. Ready May 4.
+  154—Red Jacket, the Huron. By Paul Bibbs. Ready May 18th.
+
+       BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York.
+
+
+
+
+                          Transcriber’s Notes
+
+
+—Silently corrected a few typos.
+
+—Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook
+  is public-domain in the country of publication.
+
+—In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by
+  _underscores_.
+
+
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BORDER RIFLEMEN; OR THE
+FOREST FIEND. A ROMANCE OF THE BLACK-HAWK UPRISING ***
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+<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Border Riflemen; or The Forest Fiend. A Romance of the Black-Hawk Uprising, by Lewis W. Carson</p>
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+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 <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you
+are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the
+country where you are located before using this eBook.
+</div>
+
+<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Border Riflemen; or The Forest Fiend. A Romance of the Black-Hawk Uprising</p>
+<p style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em;'>Beadle's Pocket Novels No. 78</p>
+  <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Lewis W. Carson</p>
+<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: August 15, 2021 [eBook #66064]</p>
+<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p>
+  <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: David Edwards, Stephen Hutcheson, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (Northern Illinois University Digital Library)</p>
+<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BORDER RIFLEMEN; OR THE FOREST FIEND. A ROMANCE OF THE BLACK-HAWK UPRISING ***</div>
+<div id="cover" class="img">
+<img id="coverpage" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="The Border Riflemen; or, The Forest Fiend" width="2638" height="4050" />
+</div>
+<div class="box">
+<h1>THE BORDER RIFLEMEN;
+<br /><span class="smallest"><span class="smallest">OR,</span>
+<br />THE FOREST FIEND.</span></h1>
+<p class="tbcenter">A ROMANCE OF THE BLACK-HAWK UPRISING.</p>
+<p class="tbcenter">BY LIEUT. LEWIS W. CARSON.</p>
+<p class="tbcenter"><span class="smaller">NEW YORK.</span>
+<br />BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS,
+<br /><span class="smaller">98 WILLIAM STREET.</span></p>
+</div>
+<p class="center smaller">Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872, by
+<br />FRANK STARR &amp; CO.,
+<br />In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.</p>
+<h2 id="toc" class="center">CONTENTS</h2>
+<dl class="toc">
+<dt><a href="#c1"><span class="cn">I. </span>The Border Suitor&mdash;Cooney Joe</a> 9</dt>
+<dt><a href="#c2"><span class="cn">II. </span>Minneoba&rsquo;s warning</a> 15</dt>
+<dt><a href="#c3"><span class="cn">III. </span>Black-Hawk Insulted</a> 22</dt>
+<dt><a href="#c4"><span class="cn">IV. </span>Little Fox&mdash;Na-She-Eschuck</a> 29</dt>
+<dt><a href="#c5"><span class="cn">V. </span>The Price of Treachery</a> 35</dt>
+<dt><a href="#c6"><span class="cn">VI. </span>The First Blow</a> 42</dt>
+<dt><a href="#c7"><span class="cn">VII. </span>Overboard</a> 49</dt>
+<dt><a href="#c8"><span class="cn">VIII. </span>Melton&rsquo;s Scout&mdash;A Bush Fight</a> 54</dt>
+<dt><a href="#c9"><span class="cn">IX. </span>The Defense of the Island</a> 61</dt>
+<dt><a href="#c10"><span class="cn">X. </span>The Forest Fiend</a> 68</dt>
+<dt><a href="#c11"><span class="cn">XI. </span>Black-Hawk Keeps His Word</a> 75</dt>
+<dt><a href="#c12"><span class="cn">XII. </span>Sadie&rsquo;s Sacrifice</a> 82</dt>
+<dt><a href="#c13"><span class="cn">XIII. </span>Guests Not Invited</a> 88</dt>
+</dl>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_9">9</div>
+<h1 title="">THE BORDER RIFLEMEN;
+<br /><span class="smallest"><span class="smallest">OR,</span>
+<br />THE FOREST FIEND.</span></h1>
+<h2 id="c1"><span class="small">CHAPTER I.</span>
+<br />THE BORDER SUITOR&mdash;COONEY JOE.</h2>
+<p>The sun was going down behind the western hills in a
+flood of yellow light, and a river dimpled on under the
+slanting rays, great fish leaping now and then from the placid
+surface, and the trees along the bank casting fantastic shadows
+into its depths. In a sheltered nook, near a spot where
+a little creek joined the river, a settler had built a cabin,
+which the hand of woman had beautified and adorned as
+only the hand of woman can. Bright flowers bloomed on
+each side of the rustic doorway and an English ivy vine
+clung to the walls and was rapidly spreading its delicate
+tendrils over the whole front. The cabin faced the stream,
+and behind it the hand of industry had cleared many acres
+which now showed heavy growths of cereals and roots, carefully
+cultivated. It was a silvan spot, and one upon which
+the eye of the artist would linger long and pleasantly.</p>
+<p>The door opened suddenly, and a young girl holding a
+water-pail in her hand came out with a free, careless step,
+singing a merry song. She was plainly dressed, and yet
+there was an air of native grace about her every movement
+which plainly showed that she had not always lived amid
+such wild surroundings. She was beautiful&mdash;not the vapid
+beauty of cities, but that of perfect health, and a free life. Her
+form was untrammeled by the fashions which cramp and
+deform the beautiful women of our day, and her face, a little
+browned by exposure to the to sun, glowed&mdash;</p>
+<div class="verse">
+<p class="t0">&ldquo;With sunny beauty and rustic health.&rdquo;</p>
+</div>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_10">10</div>
+<p>Maud M&uuml;ller&mdash;Whittier&rsquo;s Maud&mdash;was not more beautiful
+than this frontier damsel. Not only was her face cut in a
+perfect mold, but her eyes sparkled with life and vivacity,
+and her sunny hair, unconfined, hung about her shoulders in
+beautiful profusion.</p>
+<p>She left the river, turned down the creek, entered a little
+grove half a mile from the house, passed through it, and
+looked across the open field beyond.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Father,&rdquo; she cried, &ldquo;are you there?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>No answer was returned, save the echo of her musical
+voice, and she looked about her in evident surprise.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Where can he have gone?&rdquo; she murmured. &ldquo;Father!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>As the words left her lips there was a slight rustle in the
+bushes by her side, and a man came out and stood beside
+her. He was still young, but his strikingly handsome face
+bore the marks of a life of dissipation and riot. He was
+quite tall, nearly six feet in his moccasins, with a face which
+showed unmistakable signs of Indian blood, though somewhat
+remote, and a wandering black eye, full of passion.
+He was dressed in hunting costume, and held in one hand a
+long rifle, and two small protuberances in the breast of his
+hunting-coat showed where his pistols lay concealed.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I thought I should meet you here, Sadie,&rdquo; he said, quietly.
+&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t look very glad to see me.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You know what I think of you, William Jackwood,&rdquo;
+she replied, turning quickly away. &ldquo;How dare you to come
+here, after what has happened?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>He laughed a low, bitter, chilling laugh, which did not
+indicate enjoyment, and his black eyes seemed to emit sparks
+of fire.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I would not refer to our last meeting, if I were you,
+Sadie,&rdquo; he said, evidently controlling himself by a violent
+effort. &ldquo;I was half crazy with liquor that night or I would
+not have said what I did. See here; give me a chance to
+make this right with you and I&rsquo;ll do it. I want to be a
+friend to you&mdash;I do, upon my soul. I&rsquo;ll ask your pardon
+on my knees, if you&rsquo;ll forgive, and promise not to lay it up
+against me.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I forgive you,&rdquo; she said, with a cold, passionless glance,
+&ldquo;but you must not come here any more, for all that. My
+<span class="pb" id="Page_11">11</span>
+father has told me not to have any more to say to you, and
+I shall obey him.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The man stood grinding the butt of his rifle into the soft
+earth, and fighting a powerful battle to keep down his heart.
+The girl no longer looked at him but took up the pail and
+was moving on.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Wait a moment,&rdquo; he said, hoarsely. &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t part from
+you like this, Sadie. You don&rsquo;t know what you are doing
+or what will happen if you don&rsquo;t use me more kindly. By&mdash;I
+beg your pardon, but I am half mad&mdash;I can&rsquo;t stand it.
+Do you know that I worship the ground you tread for your
+sake, and would give my life at any moment if it would be
+of service to you?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You must not speak to me in that way, Mr. Jackwood,&rdquo;
+she said, in a more gentle tone. &ldquo;I am truly sorry for you if
+you speak the truth, but I can not listen to you. Aside from
+the fact that my father does not like you, I have my own inclinations
+to consult, and I do not and never can love you.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Then you love some one else,&rdquo; he cried savagely. &ldquo;All
+right; marry him if you dare, but of this be assured&mdash;the moment
+you stand up before the minister with <i>any</i> man, if it
+were my own brother, I will kill you both where you stand.
+Do you hear me?&mdash;I will kill you both.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Do you dare to threaten me in that way, Will Jackwood?
+Oh, if my father were here, he would teach you to insult his
+daughter in that way. Do you think to frighten me by idle
+threats? Since you force me to say it, know that the sight
+of your dark face is and always has been odious to me, and
+that I will never speak to you again except upon compulsion
+under any circumstances.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>He caught her by the wrist with his disengaged hand
+and held her firmly, when she dropped the pail and struck
+him full in the face with her open hand. He uttered a cry
+like that of an angry tiger, and letting go his hold upon the
+gun caught her about the waist with his strong right arm.
+Powerless in his grasp, she struggled with all her strength
+and screamed for help. The call was not made in vain, for
+a quick step was heard, and a heavy body crashed through
+the bushes, and Sadie screamed again.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Comin&rsquo;, by the mortal, comin&rsquo;!&rdquo; roared a hoarse voice.
+&ldquo;Oh, yes.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_12">12</div>
+<p>Will Jackwood released her instantly and caught up his
+gun, just as a short, thick-set, powerfully-built man darted
+from the bushes and stood beside them. He wore the fringed
+hunting-shirt and beaded moccasins of the scout and hunter,
+and his long, flax-colored hair was crowned by a greasy coon-skin
+cap in the last stages of dissolution. The face was a
+marvel of native ugliness, but in spite of that he was greeted
+with a cry of joy from Sadie.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Cooney Joe is hyar,&rdquo; he yelled. &ldquo;What is the matter
+now?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I have been insulted, Joe,&rdquo; cried Sadie, panting for breath.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;By that yer p&rsquo;ison critter, I&rsquo;ll bet. Now look out, Black
+Will, acause I&rsquo;m a-goin&rsquo; to give yer the durndest lickin&rsquo; you
+ever got sence yer mammy took ye over her knee. Hyar&rsquo;s
+fur ye.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Before Black Will could bring his rifle to a level the stout
+hunter dashed in and his heart was beating against the broad
+breast of the man known as Jackwood. In a moment more
+they were locked in a fierce grapple, fighting in true western
+style, without the slightest idea of the rules of the ring. In
+a stand-off fight, the long arms and powerful build of Black
+Will would have given him a decided advantage, but in the
+close grapple Cooney Joe was more than his equal, and loosening
+one hand by a violent effort he struck his antagonist such
+a blow in the face that his teeth seemed to rattle in his jaws,
+and he staggered. Throwing himself forward with a victorious
+war-whoop, Cooney Joe brought him to the ground, and
+the next moment was kneeling on his breast with his long,
+brown fingers fastened on his throat in a decidedly uncomfortable
+way.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Yah-h-h&mdash;hip! Got ye that time, my sweet infant!
+The old coon kin climb a tree yit. Say the word, Miss Wescott,
+an&rsquo; by the big meat pie I&rsquo;ll choke the life clean out of
+his pesky karkidge.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Let him go for the present, Joe,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;He has
+been punished sufficiently, and it will teach him that I am
+not friendless.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, pshaw! don&rsquo;t let him git off that way. Take off his
+belt and let me larrup him with it till he <i>howls</i>.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;No, no; don&rsquo;t strike him again. Take away his weapons
+and let him go.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_13">13</div>
+<p>&ldquo;Hold on,&rdquo; said Black Will hoarsely. &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t touch the
+pistols and I promise to go away at once, and not make a
+move for revenge to-day.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s fair,&rdquo; said Joe, rising. &ldquo;I never knowed the critter
+to break a fair promise, Miss Sadie, and you kin trust him.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Cooney Joe stood up and Black Will slowly arose, with an
+expression of fearful malice upon his dark face, slowly brushing
+the dust from his clothing without speaking a word.
+Cooney Joe had taken up his rifle and stood leaning upon it,
+a grin of enjoyment stretching his naturally wide mouth.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Curi&rsquo;s how things come &rsquo;round, ain&rsquo;t it? I&rsquo;ve wanted a
+lick at you fur nigh onto five year an&rsquo; never got a chance till
+now; does me good, this does.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Of course you know I&rsquo;ll have your life for it, Joe Bent,&rdquo;
+said Black Will, in a quiet tone.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Sartin, sartin, if ye kin git it,&rdquo; replied Cooney Joe. &ldquo;But
+don&rsquo;t forgit that ef I see yer hand go anigh a pistil in a
+strange company I&rsquo;ll try to shoot first. &rsquo;Member that, don&rsquo;t ye.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll try to remember, Joe,&rdquo; was the reply. &ldquo;Now, Miss
+Wescott, I will say to you what I intended to say when this
+meddling fool broke in upon us. You shall never live to be
+the wife of another man. If I can not have you, no one else
+shall, I swear by every thing I hold true.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;P&rsquo;isen critter, ain&rsquo;t you, Will?&rdquo; said Cooney Joe, regarding
+him with a look of benign interest, as a great natural
+curiosity. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll be individually an&rsquo; collectively cussed ef you
+ain&rsquo;t a nice picter to go a-talkin&rsquo; about marryin&rsquo; a gal like
+Miss Sadie. Why, bu&rsquo;st my buttons, ef I don&rsquo;t think she&rsquo;d
+ruther have me!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I would indeed,&rdquo; replied Sadie.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Who asked you to speak, Joe Bent?&rdquo; said Black Will,
+savagely. &ldquo;Keep your distance and live in safety for twenty-four
+hours, but after that I will take your life, no matter
+where I meet you.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You rare &rsquo;round the awfulest kind, don&rsquo;t ye,&rdquo; replied Joe,
+with a merry look. &ldquo;Dash my bacon ef you ain&rsquo;t a study
+fur a painter. I&rsquo;ve see&rsquo;d chaps in the theater at St. Louis
+that rared &rsquo;round the stage jest as you do now, but somehow
+they allus got special hail kolumbia in the end. Now <i>git</i>;
+I don&rsquo;t want to say any thing more <i>but</i> git.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_14">14</div>
+<p>Black Will quietly tightened his belt, brought his rifle to
+a &ldquo;right shoulder shift,&rdquo; and was off at a long, slinging pace
+which carried him rapidly across the field.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Thar goes a pizen critter, Miss Sadie,&rdquo; muttered Cooney
+Joe. &ldquo;Now I reckon he meant jest what he said when he
+told me that he&rsquo;d hev my life, but I&rsquo;ve took a good many
+chances, though he&rsquo;ll hev my ha&rsquo;r sartin ef I don&rsquo;t shoot first
+when we meet.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I am sorry to have brought you into danger, Joe,&rdquo; said
+the girl.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Sorry&mdash;danger&mdash;git out! D&rsquo;ye think I keer fur <i>that</i>,
+little gal? Why, make it the wust ye kin, the chances ar&rsquo; I
+git a shot afore he does, an&rsquo; ef I <i>miss</i>, then it&rsquo;s my own fault.
+Whar&rsquo;s yer daddy?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I came out to find him and bring him some drink. I
+thought he was at work in this field.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He orter be keerful,&rdquo; said Joe Bent, uneasily, &ldquo;&rsquo;cause the
+Injins are gitting r&rsquo;iled up awful, and thar&rsquo;s no tellin&rsquo; when
+they may break out. Let&rsquo;s try an&rsquo; find him.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;There he is now,&rdquo; cried Sadie.</p>
+<p>As she spoke, a middle-aged man, with a hoe across his
+shoulder, appeared at the other side of the woods and came
+rapidly toward them. As he came near he shouted cheerily
+to Joe Bent, who seemed very glad to see him, and they shook
+hands heartily. Mr. Wescott had the same air of gentility
+which showed itself in his daughter, but, like her, had adapted
+himself to his present surroundings, and looked the picture
+of a genuine western farmer. In stature he was almost
+a giant.</p>
+<p>Sadie rapidly recounted her meeting with Black Will, and
+all that had passed between them, and the face of Mr. Wescott
+darkened, while his hand closed convulsively upon the
+handle of his hoe.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It is a lucky thing for the black-hearted scoundrel that
+I was not by, Sadie,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;or it would have gone hard
+with him. What brings you up this way, Joe?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I sort o&rsquo; got a hint to git off the hunting grounds from
+that pernicious red devil, Napope, who is sp&rsquo;ilin&rsquo; fur mischief.
+Ar&rsquo; ye good friends with the Injins, &rsquo;square?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Certainly; I never wronged one of them in my life.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_15">15</div>
+<p>&ldquo;Not that it matters much ef they once rise,&rdquo; continued
+Joe, &ldquo;because then they won&rsquo;t hev any friends in the white
+race. I&rsquo;ve my doubts of that Black Will, anyhow. Two
+weeks ago I saw him in the Injin village, an&rsquo; him an&rsquo; that
+cussid Napope was ez thick ez flies in sp&rsquo;iled bacon.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What is the trouble with the Indians?&rdquo; said Wescott, uneasily.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Them cussid agents rob them like thieves,&rdquo; replied Joe
+Bent. &ldquo;Ef Black-Hawk would only ketch an&rsquo; burn them, I
+don&rsquo;t believe our fellers would kick much, they act so fearful
+mean. Do you know that I think the village the best place
+fur Miss Sadie, &rsquo;bout this time in the year?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll talk to you by-and-by,&rdquo; said Wescott, with a quick
+glance at his daughter&rsquo;s observant face. &ldquo;Come to the house
+and get something to eat.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>They quickened their steps and reached the cabin, and
+while Sadie set about preparing a meal, they sat outside and
+smoked their pipes, talking in low, eager tones. Sadie could
+see that their conversation was very important, and, woman-like,
+felt piqued that they kept it secret from her, and hurried
+her preparations. In a few moments the homely meal
+was smoking on the board, and they sat down, enjoying their
+food with keen relish; but the two men dropped their conversation,
+or rather, changed it to indifferent subjects, much
+to the disgust of Sadie. Just as they were about to rise from
+the table, she gave utterance to a cry of surprise and ran to
+the door, and a moment after appeared, leading an Indian
+girl by the hand.</p>
+<h2 id="c2"><span class="small">CHAPTER II.</span>
+<br />MINNEOBA&rsquo;S WARNING.</h2>
+<p>It was a woman of the Sac nation, but bearing unmistakable
+signs of white blood. Her form might almost have
+vied with that of Sadie, and her dark skin glowed with perfect
+health. Her hair was unlike that of any pure Indian
+girl, slightly waving, and with a luster upon it never seen in
+<span class="pb" id="Page_16">16</span>
+the pure Indian. Her dress was of the richest description
+that was worn by the women of the tribe, and her head was
+crowned by a coronet of eagle-feathers, which bespoke the
+daughter of a chief. Dainty feet, small hands and delicate
+features distinguished the maid from the majority of her race,
+and all together, two more noble specimens of native grace
+rarely trod the same floor.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;By the piper that played while the king danced, if it
+ain&rsquo;t Minneoba, the pride of the Sac nation,&rdquo; cried Cooney
+Joe. &ldquo;Say, gal, what ye doin&rsquo; &rsquo;round yer?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Minneoba has traveled a long path, and she is weary,&rdquo;
+replied the Indian girl, faintly. &ldquo;Let the Wild Rose give
+her food and drink.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Sadie, who was much taken by the rare beauty of the forest
+maid, seated her at once at the table and placed food before
+her. She passed over the few dainties which the table
+afforded, and ate the most simple food, and her appetite was
+soon gratified. Joe whispered aside with Mr. Wescott.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I tell you that the gal is the favorite daughter of Black-Hawk,&rdquo;
+he whispered, &ldquo;an&rsquo; she&rsquo;s got some good reason fur
+bein&rsquo; hyar. But don&rsquo;t hurry her, for I know the breed and
+she&rsquo;s obstinit, durned obstinit, when she hez a mind to,
+though she&rsquo;s a good gal, too.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>In the mean time the Indian girl was chatting merrily with
+her new friend, and her musical laugh rung through the cabin.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Whisper to Sadie to git her confidence, Mr. Wescott,&rdquo;
+muttered the hunter. &ldquo;She kin do it. The gal is open-hearted
+as the day, and ef she means friendship she <i>means</i>
+it.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Wescott called Sadie aside and spoke to her in a low, hurried
+tone, and nodding intelligently, the white girl returned
+to the side of the Indian girl, and soon after the two rose and
+went out of the cabin, strolling down by the river side. Minneoba
+had her fan in her hand, more from habit than any
+thing else, and they walked along the green banks, talking
+earnestly.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Minneoba is the daughter of Black-Hawk,&rdquo; said the maiden,
+in answer to a question, &ldquo;and she loves her father well.
+The heart of the old man is very sad, for he sees the white
+<span class="pb" id="Page_17">17</span>
+men forcing the Indian step by step out of the land their fathers
+gave them. Look down and tell me what you see.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Close to the bank of the stream not far away a succession
+of low mounds of different sizes showed where the ancient
+grave-yard of a tribe had been. Not far from this a white
+village was seen, the farms of the settlers encroaching upon
+the graves.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;When we bury the bodies of those we love, daughter of
+the white man, it is not pleasant to think that the feet of the
+strangers tread upon the graves. The Indians are rough and
+rude, but they too love the graves of their fathers, and it
+makes them sad to think that the plow of the white man
+will disturb the loved remains.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It is very sad, but I have heard that Keokuk sold this
+land to our people.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Keokuk has done wickedly,&rdquo; cried the girl, excitedly.
+&ldquo;It is a false Indian who treads upon his father&rsquo;s grave, or
+allows the white man to do it. A Sac despises the man who
+is so base.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What will the Indians do?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What they will do is not for an Indian girl to say; their
+hearts are very sore, but they would be friends with the white
+men, if the white men will let them. But fire-water and bad
+men will make trouble in the land. Tell the people of the
+village that it would be better for them to give up the Sac
+town and build for themselves upon another place.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>In order to understand the words of Minneoba fully, it will
+be necessary to set down the history of the events which finally
+drove Black-Hawk to desperation.</p>
+<p>By the treaty entered into by the United States upon one
+side and the Sacs and Foxes, Siouxs, Omahas, Iowas and
+Ottoes upon the other, headed by Keokuk, or the Watchful
+Fox, the land of these tribes was sold to the United States.
+In this bargain and sale Black-Hawk took no part, but in
+spite of that the Indian agents insisted that he should leave
+his village, which without his consent had been sold to the
+whites, and build another upon the west bank of the Mississippi.</p>
+<p>No race love their native land better than the Indian, and
+Black-Hawk was of the pure blood. He cursed the traitors
+<span class="pb" id="Page_18">18</span>
+who had sold their country, but vowed that he would not
+leave his village until compelled to do so by force. Every
+little disturbance between wandering white men and the
+tribes, every slight affair of whatever kind was magnified and
+turned against the Sac chief. Yet he only sought to do what
+was right, and prevailed upon Keokuk, who had made the
+treaty, to go to the white agents, with whom it had been
+made, and offer them in the name of the Sacs the lead mines,
+the most valuable property of the Indians, if they might be
+permitted to retain their village. The Watchful Fox, satisfied
+that he had sold that which was not his own, agreed to go,
+and ask for Black-Hawk the little land on which the village
+stood, including the grave-yard of the tribe. It was refused.</p>
+<p>It was the custom of the western tribes at this date to go
+out in winter in a body and have a great hunt. Black-Hawk
+went away at the head of his tribe with secret misgivings, and
+the village was left unguarded. This was the winter of 1830,
+and when the Indians came back from their hunt they found
+their village in the possession of the whites, who had taken
+advantage of their absence to take possession. The river was
+yet full of floating ice, and it was impossible for the Indians
+to move, but they sent word to the invaders that before corn-planting
+they would drive them out of the village, no matter
+at what cost to themselves.</p>
+<p>The whites were alarmed, for they felt their inability to
+oppose the tribe with their present number. A deputation
+was sent to the chiefs, proposing that they should occupy and
+plant the land together. The Indians, always generous in
+the disposal of land, agreed to the proposal, but upon arriving
+they found that the whites had seized and planted the best
+of the land.</p>
+<p>The peaceful village became one of the most disorderly
+upon the frontier. With the whites came in their vices, and
+the Indians, naturally weak, began to feel their effects. The
+sale of liquor was commenced, and by its aid the whites gradually
+robbed the Indians of all that they could call their
+own.</p>
+<p>The chief saw with alarm what must be the result, when
+they received orders to cross no more to the east bank of the
+river. The result of such an order may be readily understood,
+<span class="pb" id="Page_19">19</span>
+rousing all the fierce passions of the Indians, and in
+this state matters stood at the time when Minneoba visited the
+cabin of Mr. Wescott.</p>
+<p>The Indians were now nearly all upon the west bank of
+the river, the chiefs preferring this to longer intercourse with
+the white men. These simple men were no match for their
+wily antagonists, and had too rapidly imbibed their vices.
+Black-Hawk was an Indian, but he had a heart to feel for the
+woes of his people, and he saw that only by force of arms
+could he hope to succeed in wresting his country from the
+hand of the invader.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Is it possible that my father&rsquo;s land belongs to the Indians?&rdquo;
+said Sadie. &ldquo;He paid for it honestly, and would not
+willingly wrong any man.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;The Wild Rose speaks truly. Her father has a great
+heart, but he holds the land which belongs to Black-Hawk.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Then he will pay for it again, sooner than wrong a chief
+of the Sacs.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk will not sell his lands to a white man. Let
+the words of Minneoba sound in the ears of Wild Rose. This
+is no place for her to dwell. Let her get a swift horse and
+fly away until the tempest has passed, for a dark cloud hangs
+over her father&rsquo;s house and threatens her.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I have done no wrong; why should I flee?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;My sister, the evil will come to the just and the unjust,
+for Black-Hawk will have his land again. Do not ask me to
+tell you more, for a Sac maiden can not betray her father,
+but take those you love and fly.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>While yet speaking, the rapid beat of hoofs could be heard,
+and two men rounded a point of woods and approached them.
+At a glance Sadie recognized Black Will and a desperate ruffian
+who was more than suspected of selling arms to the Indians,
+a great offense upon the frontier. This man&rsquo;s name
+was Richard Garrett, and he was hated and feared all along
+the border.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Ha, look!&rdquo; cried Minneoba. &ldquo;Yonder comes a bad white
+man, who has spoken evil words in the ears of Black-Hawk.
+What does he here?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Let us hurry away,&rdquo; whispered Sadie. &ldquo;He is my enemy,
+and I fear to meet him now.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_20">20</div>
+<p>The two girls darted into the bushes, but not quickly enough
+to evade the eyes of the two men, who at once urged their
+horses and overtook the flying girls.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Ha, my dear,&rdquo; said Black Will, placing himself in front
+of Sadie, and effectually barring her further flight. &ldquo;I did
+not expect to meet you so soon.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Do not stop me, Will Jackwood,&rdquo; cried Sadie. &ldquo;You
+have been punished once to-day for your insolence. Joe Bent
+is not far away.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He is safe from me for this day, for he has my word,&rdquo;
+replied Black Will. &ldquo;But, when we meet again, one or the
+other goes down.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Threats do not hurt the absent,&rdquo; was the quiet reply.
+&ldquo;Let me pass at once.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Not so fast. I shall not have a better opportunity than
+this, and must entreat you to come with me.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Unconsciously, in their walk, the girls had come some distance
+from the house, and at that quiet hour few persons were
+abroad. Sadie understood the object of Black Will. It was
+to seize and carry her away for the purpose of forcing her to
+become his wife. He sprung out of the saddle, and menacing
+her with instant death if she cried out, hurried toward her,
+when a new and unexpected obstacle stood in his path. Minneoba
+had been almost unnoticed by the two scoundrels, and
+seeing that Dick Garrett was employed in holding the horses,
+the brave girl suddenly strung her bow, and fitting an arrow
+hastily, sprung in between Black Will and his intended victim,
+and he recoiled with a cry of rage, as the bright point of the
+arrow glittered in the light.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Minneoba, by all the devils! Out of my path, girl, or a
+worse thing may come to you.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>But Minneoba did not move, her bright eyes fixed upon the
+form of the would-be abductor in a way which he did not
+like.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Sadie is the friend of the Sac girl,&rdquo; she said, quietly.
+&ldquo;You shall not touch her while I live.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t know what you are doing, mad girl. What
+will your father say when he knows that you have aimed an
+arrow at my breast&mdash;<i>mine</i>, of all white men in the territory!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It would be better for Black-Hawk if you had never seen
+<span class="pb" id="Page_21">21</span>
+him,&rdquo; replied the girl. &ldquo;Take your horse and go, for I will
+spare your life if you do not touch the Wild Rose; touch
+her, and you are dead.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Black Will was a brave man, but he knew well the deadly
+skill of the Indian girl, and had seen it proved a hundred
+times in sportive encounters in the Indian village. Though
+full of rage, he dared not advance.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;But listen to me, Minneoba,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;This girl is
+to be my wife; I love her, and would take her into my
+lodge.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Let me hear her say that she loves <i>you</i>, and the Sac girl
+will not come between you. Stand back, or the arrow flies
+from the string.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You shall suffer for this, girl. Black-Hawk shall know
+how his daughter claims for a friend the daughter of the man
+who holds his land. We shall see how he likes that.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Minneoba can talk to Black-Hawk; she does not need the
+white hunter to tell her what to say.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;She&rsquo;s a bu&rsquo;ster, Will,&rdquo; said Dave Garrett, laughing. &ldquo;I
+reckon you had better give it up. Come, little girl, don&rsquo;t be
+foolish. Get out of the way, for my sake.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Minneoba did not move, and the arrow was still ready to
+fly.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Hark, Will! There come horses. Let&rsquo;s get out of this
+as quick as we can.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Black Will, shaking his clenched hand at the immovable
+figure of the Indian girl, sprung into the saddle, and the two
+men rode away at the top of their speed. They were scarcely
+out of sight when a party of mounted riflemen came up at a
+trot, but, seeing the two girls, they halted, and the leader dismounted
+and came toward them. He was a young, handsome
+fellow, in a fringed hunting-coat, booted and spurred, and
+wearing the insignia of Melton&rsquo;s mounted rifles, to show that
+he was captain of scouts. He lifted the cap gracefully from
+his head, and bowed low as he approached.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Captain Melton of the mounted rifles, by way of introduction.
+May I ask if you have seen any thing of a man
+known in this region as Dick Garrett?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He rode away five minutes since in company with William
+Jackwood.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_22">22</div>
+<p>&ldquo;The deuce he did! Excuse me, Miss, which way did he
+go?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Sadie pointed out the road, and with a hasty adieu the
+young officer bounded into the saddle and the command
+went off at full speed, with Melton at their head. Sadie
+had noted that his dark eyes had rested admiringly upon her,
+and she was herself struck by his noble appearance, and
+Minneoba laughed softly. She could see that the two had
+met before.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;The young white chief is very brave. Sadie could love
+him!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Nonsense, you foolish girl,&rdquo; said Sadie, blushing. &ldquo;I
+have only seen him twice before, and probably shall never
+see him again. Let us return to the house.&rdquo;</p>
+<h2 id="c3"><span class="small">CHAPTER III.</span>
+<br />BLACK-HAWK INSULTED.</h2>
+<p>They had scarcely reached the house when the sound of
+voices could be distinctly heard upon the river and Joe sprung
+to the door, from which the stream was plainly visible. A
+dozen canoes were upon the water full of Indians, crossing
+from the other shore.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You&rsquo;d better git out of sight, Minneoba,&rdquo; said Cooney
+Joe. &ldquo;It won&rsquo;t be well for them to see you here unless you
+are forced to come out.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The Indian girl hurried into the cabin, and went into
+Sadie&rsquo;s room. A moment later a tumultuous band of Sacs,
+shouting out furious threats against the whites, landed near
+the cabin and came hastily toward it.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Drunk as lords, every man jack of them,&rdquo; said Joe.
+&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got to talk sweet to them or thar will be some ha&rsquo;r
+raised right about yer. Thar; that&rsquo;s old Black-Hawk himself,
+by George. I wonder what he wants.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>An Indian somewhat advanced in life, and wearing the
+usual insignia of a chief of the Sacs, headed the party, and a
+word from him stilled the clamorous tongues of the warriors.
+<span class="pb" id="Page_23">23</span>
+Mr. Wescott and Joe stepped out to meet them, and
+the chief received them by a lofty gesture.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;We come for corn,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;and my young men are
+so angry that they need the hand of a chief. It is hard that
+the Sacs must come like thieves in the night to take corn
+from their old fields.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It is hard indeed, Black-Hawk,&rdquo; replied Mr. Wescott.
+&ldquo;I am as much grieved as you can be that this thing has
+happened, and upon my word, I hope that you may settle
+this trouble peaceably.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Why do you stay on the Sac fields then?&rdquo; replied the
+Indian, morosely. &ldquo;The words of my brother are wise, but
+they do not agree with his actions. I stand upon Sac ground,
+which is <i>not</i> sold and <i>can not</i> be sold unless Black-Hawk
+puts his totem on the paper and gives a belt. Why is the
+white man here then?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I bought of a man who claimed the right to sell,&rdquo; said
+Wescott, &ldquo;but I am willing to give you a fair price for the
+fields, even now.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk will not sell his fathers&rsquo; graves,&rdquo; replied
+the chief, fiercely. &ldquo;Look; your white men are making my
+warriors like themselves, good at talking but no workers.
+They drink the accursed fire-water and become hogs. In a
+few years, the name of Sac will be forgotten and they will
+be but beasts to carry the loads the white man puts upon
+their backs.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s no use talkin&rsquo; now, Black-Hawk,&rdquo; said Cooney Joe.
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t say it&rsquo;s right&mdash;because it ain&rsquo;t&mdash;for Keokuk had no
+right to sell your land. But, the thing&rsquo;s done and our fellers
+have possession, and I&rsquo;m afraid they won&rsquo;t give it up.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;They must.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, pshaw; you ought to know that they are darned
+good at takin&rsquo; things but they don&rsquo;t give back wuth a cent.
+You may as well build a village over yender.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That they may come and take it again,&rdquo; replied Black-Hawk,
+with a bitter laugh. &ldquo;Let us speak no more, for
+my tongue grows bitter in my mouth. Sons of the Sac, let
+us go for corn.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The Indian stalked away, followed by a shouting crowd of
+his adherents, and Cooney Joe looked uneasily at Wescott.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_24">24</div>
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t like this, &rsquo;square. You see our fellers ar&rsquo; mighty
+rough on the Injins, and I heard some on &rsquo;em say that ef the
+Sacs came over to steal corn they&rsquo;d give &rsquo;em an all-fired lickin&rsquo;.
+Now if they do that it means war.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I hope our men will not be so impudent,&rdquo; said Wescott.
+&ldquo;They ought to give the poor fellows a chance to carry away
+corn for their suffering families, since they have dispossessed
+them of their land.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Half an hour passed, when suddenly there came a great tumult
+from the direction in which the Indians had gone. The
+shouts of men, the loud and continuous barking of dogs, and
+the occasional crack of fire-arms, could be heard.</p>
+<p>Cooney Joe caught up his weapons, and followed by Mr.
+Wescott, hurried away in the direction from which the sound
+came. They had not gone half a mile when they came upon
+a great rabble of whites surrounding the party which had
+come over for corn, abusing them in every possible way.
+Showers of stone were hurled upon them, clods of earth and
+filth of every description was cast upon them, and they were
+fighting their way slowly back toward the stream, apparently
+unconscious of the insults heaped upon them. Foremost
+among them, walking with a firm step, but with a dark cloud
+gathering upon his brow, strode Black-Hawk. A stone had
+struck him on the forehead, and the blood was trickling slowly
+down his face, but he did not seem to be aware of the
+fact. Once or twice he turned his head when some unusually
+vile epithet was heaped upon him, with a haughty glance at
+the offender, which they remembered in the after times, for
+two men who struck him, and whom he marked for destruction,
+were the first to fall when the struggle commenced in
+earnest.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;White men,&rdquo; cried the chief, halting, at length. &ldquo;Do
+not dare to stand in the track of Black-Hawk, upon his own
+land.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Your land, you old thief,&rdquo; roared a man named Churchill.
+&ldquo;You lie! It is ours&mdash;fairly bought&mdash;and we will keep
+it.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk does not waste words with a man with a
+double tongue, who is only fit to sit with the women when
+the warriors are on the battle-field,&rdquo; replied the chief.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_25">25</div>
+<p>Churchill caught up a handful of sand and flung it into
+the face of the old chief. Black-Hawk trembled in every
+limb but not with fear, and he clenched his hands until the
+blood started from beneath his nails.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Fool!&rdquo; he hissed. &ldquo;In the days to come, remember
+Black-Hawk!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>That the man had good cause to remember this insult, the
+history of that time will show.</p>
+<p>The Indians went on their way, but all around them the
+confusion became greater, and it was with the utmost difficulty
+that they kept their ranks, and kept down their passions
+enough to prevent the use of the tomahawks, which
+every man carried. Had Black-Hawk but given the word,
+they would have rushed like tigers upon their prey, and torn
+the rabble asunder like cobweb. But the policy of the chief
+had been opposed to bloodshed, and he hoped to be able to
+get to the river without being forced to draw a weapon.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Look at the black thieves,&rdquo; roared Churchill. &ldquo;Down
+with them, boys; shower the mud on them; stone them out
+of the country.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>He was but too well seconded by those who followed him,
+and many of the Indians were badly hurt by the missiles
+which were thrown at them. Directed by Churchill, three
+or four strong men rushed suddenly forward and laid hold
+upon the chief, with the intention of beating him.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Dogs!&rdquo; cried the Sac, casting them aside like feathers.
+&ldquo;Take your clubs, sons of the brave.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Up to this moment the Indians had not lifted a hand, but
+at the order of their chief they lifted their clubs, and sprung
+forward with furious yells. The chief singled out Churchill,
+and leaped upon him like a tiger, but the man ran backward,
+and the chief, never thinking of support, followed him with
+uplifted club. Before he was aware of his danger he was in
+the midst of a circle of infuriated whites, who commenced
+an indiscriminate assault upon him, striking and kicking him
+with merciless force. It is impossible to say whether he
+would have escaped with life, but at this moment the rabble
+parted before the rush of strong men, and Cooney Joe and
+Mr. Wescott darted into the circle, and placed themselves beside
+the chief.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_26">26</div>
+<p>&ldquo;Back, if you are men,&rdquo; cried Wescott. &ldquo;What, thirty
+against one poor old man!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Keep cl&rsquo;ar, keep cl&rsquo;ar,&rdquo; cried Joe, flourishing his rifle in
+a threatening manner. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s an Injin, but fair play&rsquo;s a
+jewel, you know. You won&rsquo;t strike him ag&rsquo;in while I stand
+hyar.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Get out of the way, Joe Bent,&rdquo; screamed Churchill.
+&ldquo;What business have you to interfere?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Because I&rsquo;m called on by a magistrate,&rdquo; replied Joe.
+&ldquo;Keep cl&rsquo;ar, I tell ye, or I&rsquo;ll make my rifle-butt acquainted
+with the softness of yer head. Back a little.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Disperse, every one of you, and let the Indians return to
+the river, and I will see to it that you are punished for what
+you have already done,&rdquo; said Wescott, as they hesitated.
+There was some grumbling, but after a little they began to
+step away, and the little knot of Indians were left alone upon
+the field.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I am sorry that this has happened, Black-Hawk,&rdquo; said
+Wescott. &ldquo;You want corn, you say; go to my crib and
+take out what you want.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The chief did not reply, but he stood looking after the retreating
+forms of the white men, with a moody brow. Many
+a man who was in his grave before that season closed, might
+have been alive and happy but for that vile attack.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk owes much to the white man,&rdquo; he said,
+slowly. &ldquo;They have stolen his village, trampled upon his
+father&rsquo;s grave, plowed up the earth above the dead, and
+scored the earth with their axes. Now they have insulted
+Black-Hawk and he will remember.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I would not take it too much to heart, Black-Hawk,&rdquo;
+said Wescott.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk will remember,&rdquo; was the reply. &ldquo;But look
+my brother. By this blood which drops upon the earth I
+promise friendship to you and yours. You are two just
+white men; and all the tribes shall honor you for what you
+have done this night. Let my good brother go toward the
+rising sun and stay until the tempest has passed by.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Wescott shook his head, and walked beside the chief to
+the river. He refused to take any corn, and as the canoes
+pulled off the two foresters looked at each other.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_27">27</div>
+<p>&ldquo;This is bad, Joe,&rdquo; said Wescott, &ldquo;but we must get to
+work. Do you know where the General is now?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s at Jefferson Barracks&mdash;that&rsquo;s whar he is,&rdquo; replied
+Joe.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Then he must be spoken to and at once. In the mean
+time I will take a horse and see other officers and concert
+measures for the public safety. The whole North-west is in
+danger, for many will follow Black-Hawk.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>They hurried back to the cabin, and to his delight the
+settler found Captain Melton there, who had returned unsuccessful
+from the pursuit of Black Will and Dick Garrett.</p>
+<p>The young officer was well known to both Mr. Wescott
+and Cooney Joe, and was cordially greeted by both.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What was this disturbance I heard just now, Mr. Wescott?&rdquo;
+said Melton, as they shook hands. &ldquo;It sounded almost
+like a battle.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It was very near one as it was,&rdquo; said Wescott. &ldquo;Our
+people surrounded a party of Indians who came over for
+corn, insulted them in every conceivable way, beat and threw
+stones at them and injured Black-Hawk quite severely.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t tell me that they have hurt Black-Hawk?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, and if I know any thing of the Indian he will resent
+it.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;This is too bad, just when we hoped to settle the matter
+peaceably. Let the people on the frontier look to it
+now, for there is trouble ahead as sure as we live. Hi,
+there, Stanley,&rdquo; he cried, addressing one of his men. &ldquo;Ride
+to the Post and see the General. Tell him exactly what has
+happened, word for word, and when you have done that,
+go back by way of the island and tell the rest of the boys
+to come up.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Do you think they will fight, captain?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Of course they will, and we have a lot of dunderheads
+who will do their best to force it on. With your permission,
+Mr. Wescott, I will stay here to-night, if you will let
+the men sleep in your barn.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Certainly; if the house were large enough they should
+be welcome to that.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The command of Melton was an independent one, composed
+<span class="pb" id="Page_28">28</span>
+principally of bordermen and scouts, selected for their
+known valor and knowledge of the country. As usual in
+such cases they were despised by the dandy regiments until
+two or three rough bouts between the men had taught them
+a lesson. They were very popular with the masses, however,
+and in a bush fight, were capable of doing more work than
+any body of men in the service.</p>
+<p>Two or three couriers were dispatched in various directions,
+and then the party camped outside, while the captain
+entered the house, where he was received by Mrs. Wescott and
+the daughter. The elder lady had just returned from a visit
+down the river.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;This is Charley Melton, my prince of borderers, the best
+scout captain in the territories,&rdquo; said Wescott. &ldquo;Captain, my
+daughter Sadie.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I met Miss Wescott early in the evening when in chase
+of a desperate gambler who had shot a man over a card-table.
+And indeed we met twice in the village.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I hope you caught him, captain,&rdquo; said Wescott.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Sorry to say I did not. How the fellow managed to
+slip away I don&rsquo;t know, but when we got to the bend, all
+trace of them was lost. He had a man in his company
+whom I want to see, for I believe he is stirring up the Indians
+against us.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You mean Black Will Jackwood, I&rsquo;ll bet,&rdquo; said Joe
+Bent.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Yes; what made you think that?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;&rsquo;Cause I see the bloody cuss at Rock Island, whisperin&rsquo;
+round old Black-Hawk, and it looked bad to me, somehow.
+It will be a &rsquo;markably good thing when he is hung up out of
+harm&rsquo;s way.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That good thing will be very likely to happen if we have
+the good luck to catch them. Ha! What Indian girl is
+that?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Minneoba, the daughter of Black-Hawk,&rdquo; replied the girl,
+coming forward. &ldquo;Let not Loud Tempest fear that she will
+speak the words she hears in the lodge of her white father in
+the ear of the Sacs. Minneoba is not a creeping serpent, and
+will not betray her friends.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Loud Tempest, eh? Poetical name the Sacs have given
+<span class="pb" id="Page_29">29</span>
+me, though for what cause I do not know. What have you
+there, Dix?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>An orderly had appeared at the door and saluted.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Caught a Pottawatomie, just now, who claims that he has
+something to say.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Who is he?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Little Fox.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Pah! I don&rsquo;t think much can be made out of <i>him</i>. However,
+bring him in, and let us hear what he has to say.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The orderly turned and beckoned, and an Indian, greasy
+and smoke-begrimed, with a face which bore evident signs of
+hard potations, appeared in the doorway. This &ldquo;lord of the
+forest&rdquo; was very drunk. His eyes rolled in their sockets,
+and he found it easiest to stand by the aid of the door-post.</p>
+<h2 id="c4"><span class="small">CHAPTER IV.</span>
+<br />LITTLE FOX&mdash;NA-SHE-ESCHUCK.</h2>
+<p>The Indian was one of the worst specimens of his race&mdash;a
+creature naturally brutal, who had been rendered more debased
+by an excessive use of fire-water. As he clung to the
+door-post and looked at them out of bleared and watery eyes,
+he was as disgusting a specimen of the <i>genus homo</i> as could
+be found between the two oceans.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Let me talk to this critter,&rdquo; said Cooney Joe. &ldquo;I calculate
+I understand the natur&rsquo; of the unadulterated, unb&rsquo;iled,
+unwashed and unclean drunken red, as well as any man in the
+great Nor&rsquo;-west. I do, by the livin&rsquo; hokies. Hyar, you &rsquo;possum,
+speak up, and speak quick; what ar&rsquo; ye looking fur
+now?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Fire-water; poor Injun <i>very</i> dry,&rdquo; replied this noble red-man.
+&ldquo;Tire&mdash;much tire; walk durn good ways; <i>mus&rsquo;</i> hab
+fire-water.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You got to airn it fust, my noble red,&rdquo; replied Joe.
+&ldquo;Come, agitate yer jaw; tell us what ye want.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_30">30</div>
+<p>&ldquo;S&rsquo;pose you give Little Fox fire-water, den talk. How <i>can</i>
+talk when no hab drink? Ugh!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s the heathen philosophy, gents all,&rdquo; said Joe, with
+a look of supreme disgust. &ldquo;No whisky, no news. Got sech
+a thing as a drain of sperrits handy, &rsquo;square?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Mr. Wescott left the room, and returned shortly with a
+small flask of rum, from which he poured out a glass for the
+Indian, who drank it with avidity, smacked his lips, and held
+out the glass for more.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Hold on,&rdquo; said Joe, pushing back the extended hand.
+&ldquo;Not ef I know it, Injin. That tongue of yours begins to
+double, anyhow, and I reckon you&rsquo;ll hev to do some talking
+afore you git any more rum.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Pottawatomie big warrior, <i>much</i> brave,&rdquo; replied the Indian,
+loftily, striking his clenched hand upon his broad breast.
+&ldquo;Give Injun rum.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll give you a bat &rsquo;long side your old head ef ye ask fur
+more afore you&rsquo;ve done the work,&rdquo; said Joe, angrily. &ldquo;Come
+now, speak up. What d&rsquo;ye want?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Want rifle&mdash;want blanket&mdash;want <i>heap</i> fire-water!&rdquo; replied
+Little Fox. &ldquo;Got heap story to tell.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Lies, probably. Come, out with it, and ef it is any use
+to us, then we&rsquo;ll pay han&rsquo;sum. That&rsquo;s the time of day.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Want him <i>now</i>,&rdquo; replied the Indian, with a surly glance
+at the speaker. &ldquo;No tell news widout you put him down
+here.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That won&rsquo;t do, Injin,&rdquo; said Joe. &ldquo;You heard what the
+fellers done with Black-Hawk, just now. I&rsquo;ve only got to say
+the word, and you go away the <i>sorest</i> Injin in the Nor&rsquo;-west.
+Tell us any really important news, and we&rsquo;ll give you
+a rifle, two blankets and a keg of rum, and you kin drink
+you&rsquo;self to death in a week.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Much <i>promise</i>&mdash;little <i>do</i>. Dat white man&rsquo;s way,&rdquo; replied
+the Indian. &ldquo;Little Fox no speak.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Will you speak if <i>I</i> promise to give you what you ask?&rdquo;
+said Captain Melton, advancing.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Loud Tempest will do what he says,&rdquo; replied the Indian,
+with a drunken leer. &ldquo;Little Fox will believe him.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Very well, then; I promise to give you the rifle, blankets
+and rum, if you tell us all you came to tell.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_31">31</div>
+<p>&ldquo;Give Injun stool; sit down like white man. Floor much
+dizzy; whirl round <i>fast</i>. Ugh!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>By the not very mild assistance of Cooney Joe the Indian
+was seated on a stool, with his back to the wall, and sat with
+drunken gravity waiting to be questioned.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Go on with yer story, you red nigger,&rdquo; cried Joe. &ldquo;And
+see yer, the minnit you begin to <i>lie</i>&mdash;and oh, Lord, how he <i>kin</i>
+lie when he lays his tongue to it!&mdash;that minnit I jump on
+you and yer ha&rsquo;r comes off.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Little Fox will speak with a straight tongue,&rdquo; replied the
+savage, drawing himself up. &ldquo;Give injun more rum, and
+he talk <i>heap</i> fast.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Cooney Joe poured out a very mild dose of rum and gave
+it to the savage, who gulped it down at once, and would have
+asked for more but that the expression of Joe&rsquo;s face taught
+him that such a measure would bring down upon his head
+the wrath of the hunter, and he prudently refrained.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk much mad,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;See&mdash;white man
+take his village and plant corn among the graves. That no
+right in white man.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;No moril reflections, bummer,&rdquo; said Joe. &ldquo;Git on with
+yer yarn, or off goes yer sculp.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk has a great army,&rdquo; said the Indian. &ldquo;His
+braves are coming in from the plains and their faces are
+painted for war. The white men must not sleep or they will
+all die.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>It is needless to follow word by word the disjointed narrative
+of the drunken savage, interrupted as it was by appeals
+for rum, which was doled out to him in very small quantities
+by Cooney Joe, who feared that he would get too drunk
+to articulate. He sat swaying unsteadily to and fro, and
+told a tale which confirmed their fears. Messengers had been
+sent out to the various tribes, and all had agreed to follow
+the standard of Black-Hawk and assist him in driving out
+the invaders of their land. Nearly all the principal chiefs
+except Keokuk had given in their adhesion, and bands of
+warriors were already on their way to the place of rendezvous,
+not far from Rock Island, where there was a Sac village
+and a fort. Doubtless the Indian misrepresented the
+plans of Black-Hawk, but he told enough truth to make his
+<span class="pb" id="Page_32">32</span>
+story tally with the preconceived ideas of the whites, and
+they looked at one another in silent dismay.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;This is very serious,&rdquo; said the captain of scouts. &ldquo;This
+Indian has earned his reward, and if he will come into the
+village to-morrow he shall have the liquor; the rifle and
+blankets I can give him now.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>He went out and brought in a very good rifle and two
+blankets, which he had obtained from the men. A flask of
+powder was added, and a mold to run bullets, and Little Fox
+staggered away, happy as a lord, little knowing that the possession
+of these articles would prove his death-warrant.
+With the weapon in his hands he staggered toward the village,
+where he was met by a young warrior of the Sac nation,
+whom, in his drunken blindness, he did not recognize
+as the youngest son of Black-Hawk, who was lurking about
+for information.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;My brother has a fine gun,&rdquo; he said in the Indian tongue,
+endeavoring to lay his hand upon the weapon. But Little
+Fox tore it away from him in drunken wrath.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Wagh! It is the gun of the white man, and the Sacs
+will fall before it as the leaves when they are yellow,&rdquo; he
+said.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;My brother is very rich. He must have taken much fur
+to buy so fine a gun,&rdquo; said the young Indian, who already
+showed the qualities which afterward gave him a leading
+place in the tribe.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Little Fox is the friend of the white man, and he can get
+a gun for nothing,&rdquo; was the reply. &ldquo;When Black-Hawk
+comes with his warriors he will find the white men ready.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Has my brother told the white men what Black-Hawk
+is doing?&rdquo; said the young Sac, vailing his rage.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Little Fox can speak or Little Fox can be silent,&rdquo; replied
+the Pottawatomie. &ldquo;Look: to-morrow he is to have enough
+rum to last him a whole moon, because he is the friend of
+the white man.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Fire-water is good,&rdquo; said the Sac. &ldquo;Has my brother a
+canoe to carry it across the river?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The Indian shook his head, and a sort of hazy idea passed
+through his clouded brain that he had already said as much
+as he ought concerning the affair.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_33">33</div>
+<p>&ldquo;I have a fine canoe,&rdquo; continued the son of Black-Hawk.
+&ldquo;Let my brother bring the rum to the Point, and I will help
+him carry it away.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The Pottawatomie nodded gravely, and went on his sinuous
+way, while the young chief darted into the forest, and
+taking a circuitous course, reached his father&rsquo;s village at
+early morning. The old chief was in his lodge, in an attitude
+of the deepest dejection, for he had not sought a quarrel
+with the whites. Near him, seated upon a pile of skins,
+and with a look of deep malice on his face, sat Black Will,
+holding his rifle in his brown right hand.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Ha! here comes Na-she-eschuck,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Now,
+Black-Hawk, let your great heart awake and listen to the
+words of your son. Speak, Na-she-eschuck; what are the
+white men doing?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;They go about among the lodges they have built above
+our fathers&rsquo; graves and laugh because they have insulted
+Black-Hawk,&rdquo; replied the young Sac, fiercely. &ldquo;Their ears
+are stopped to all thoughts of peace, and they long for war.
+Let them get what they seek, since they will have it so.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What did I tell you, Black-Hawk?&rdquo; said Black Will.
+&ldquo;The scoundrels do not care for your great name, and they
+throw mud at you as if you were a common Pottawatomie,
+and not the head chief of a great nation. Will you bear
+this tamely?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk is an Indian,&rdquo; replied the proud old man,
+drawing up his stalwart form to its full hight. &ldquo;But he does
+not seek for war. If the white men will let us rest where
+we now are, I will send the warriors back, and we will be
+friends.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Friends! Friends with the men who threw mud in your
+face and beat you like a dog?&rdquo; cried Black Will. &ldquo;Come,
+I have been mistaken in you. I thought you were a man
+ready to revenge your injuries, but the white men have cowed
+you until you dare not lift a hand against them.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Black-Hawk bounded to his feet with a terrible cry, and
+laid his hand upon a weapon. But that Na-she-eschuck
+sprung between him and the object of his wrath, it is doubtful
+whether the career of Black Will would not have ended
+upon the spot.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_34">34</div>
+<p>&ldquo;Hold your hand, great chief,&rdquo; cried his son, forcing him
+back. &ldquo;He sits under the shadow of your lodge, and you
+have smoked the pipe with him. Do not make yourself a
+dog since you have taken his hand.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He has insulted a great chief,&rdquo; replied the old warrior,
+fiercely. &ldquo;But, he is right; Black-Hawk is a dog to listen to
+the words of the white men, and to refuse to dig up the
+hatchet when so many warriors are ready to follow him to the
+fight.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;We <i>must</i> fight,&rdquo; said Na-she-eschuck. &ldquo;Little Fox has
+been among the white men, and has told them that the braves
+are gathering at the call of Black-Hawk. He is a dead dog,
+and has taken a rifle and blankets, and is to have much fire-water,
+because he has betrayed us.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Black Will began to look uneasy.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Has the scoundrel told them that I am here?&rdquo; he asked.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I can not tell. He is to come to the point above the island
+with the price of his guilt, to-morrow, and I will be there
+to help him over the river.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>A grim look crossed the face of Black-Hawk, as his son
+spoke.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It is good,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;One traitor shall die, because he
+has sold himself for the fire-water of the white men. As for
+us, we will not strike the first blow, but if they take up the
+hatchet against us, then we will fight. But I will not remove.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It is better for us to strike the first blow,&rdquo; said Black
+Will. &ldquo;That is the main thing in war&mdash;to strike such a terrible
+blow, that their hearts will turn water in their bosoms.
+Look at me; I am of the blood of the white men, but I am
+not <i>all</i> white. A chief of the Sacs was my father, and he
+is dead. He died in chains, because he dug up the hatchet
+against the cowardly Chippewas. You have known and
+loved him, for you fought by his side. Black-Hawk, Red-Bird
+was the father of the man who speaks.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Ha!&rdquo; cried the chief. &ldquo;Red-Bird was a man, but he
+could not bear the chains of the white man, and he died. Is
+my son the child whom he lost, who was born of the French
+squaw, who followed him from Detroit?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Black Will inclined his head slowly, and Black-Hawk took
+<span class="pb" id="Page_35">35</span>
+his hand in his own and pressed it again and again to his bosom.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk can understand how the son of Red-Bird
+should hate the white man,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We will fight side by
+side in this war, and if we die, let us die bravely. Are the
+warriors coming in, Na-she-eschuck?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;They are gathering from every side. They have heard
+of the insult to Black-Hawk, and their hearts are hot in their
+bosoms. They will behave like men.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It is good,&rdquo; said the chief. &ldquo;Now we will go forth,
+and you shall see how Black-Hawk shall give a traitor his
+dues.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>They left the lodge, and followed by the brother of Black-Hawk,
+and Napope, a celebrated chief, moved down toward
+the river, where the rest of the party concealed themselves
+while Na-she-eschuck brought out his canoe and crossed to
+the other shore.</p>
+<h2 id="c5"><span class="small">CHAPTER V.</span>
+<br />THE PRICE OF TREACHERY.</h2>
+<p>Little Fox had remained all night in the white village,
+and as it was noised about that he had betrayed the plans of
+Black-Hawk, he had no lack of his favorite beverage, and
+morning found him as drunk as ever. Captain Melton sent
+a man with a canoe to carry the price of the information to
+the point above the island, and as the son of Black-Hawk was
+crossing the river, Little Fox was sitting in drunken state
+upon his keg, dreaming of the glorious times he would have
+when he broached it in the seclusion of his lodge. He remembered
+indistinctly that some one had promised to help
+him across the river with his prize, but for his life could not
+remember who it was, and it almost sobered him when he
+saw Na-she-eschuck crossing from the other shore, and he
+fumbled with the lock of his rifle, and was half inclined to
+warn the Sac to keep off. But the fumes of the liquor were
+still in his brain, and the young chief landed and came toward
+him.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_36">36</div>
+<p>&ldquo;The Pottawatomie did not lie to Na-she-eschuck,&rdquo; said he.
+&ldquo;Let us put the fire-water into the canoe.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You put him in,&rdquo; said the owner. &ldquo;Me watch.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>He looked on while Na-she-eschuck placed the keg in the
+canoe and then followed, and, drunk as he was, managed to
+seat himself safely in the light craft. The Sac followed, and
+obeying the orders he had received, headed up the river,
+rounded the point of the island, and made toward the other
+shore. There was something in the stern, steadfast look of
+Na-she-eschuck which struck a chill into the heart of the traitor
+Pottawatomie, and almost sobered him, and twice he laid
+his hand upon his rifle, as if tempted to use it upon his companion.
+But, as often as he did so, the countenance of the
+Sac took on a pleasant air of good fellowship, which made
+it impossible to be angry with him.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Why does not Na-she-eschuck go to the bank?&rdquo; said
+Little Fox. &ldquo;We will make a hole in the fire-water tub and
+drink.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The canoe was now headed directly for the point of the
+woodland which came down to the water&rsquo;s edge, and after
+drawing the light bark up the bank, they took the keg between
+them and carried it up to the first opening, where it
+was placed upon its end, while Little Fox, by the aid of his
+knife, succeeded in drawing out the bung.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Wagh!&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;Smell good, don&rsquo;t he, Na-she-eschuck?
+Now s&rsquo;pose you get straws, we drink much, good
+deal.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The Sac went down to the water&rsquo;s edge and quickly cut
+two long, slender reeds, one of which he gave to Little Fox,
+and the two sat down over the keg, inserted the reeds, and
+began to imbibe after the manner of boys over a barrel of
+cider. But, although Na-she-eschuck went through all the
+motions of drinking rapidly, it is doubtful if he took as much
+as Little Fox, whose fiery eyes began to light up as he took
+in the burning fluid, and in five minutes he was more drunk
+than before he crossed the stream.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;E-yah! Little Fox is the friend of the white man. Who
+would not serve them when he can earn such drink?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Tell Na-she-eschuck what to do and he will get fire-water
+from the white man.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_37">37</div>
+<p>Drunk as he was, Little Fox looked at the speaker in astonishment.
+That the Sac youth would betray his father
+seemed impossible to him, and yet knowing how strong his
+own love of liquor was, and that he would betray a nation
+to obtain it, his surprise faded away.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Will Na-she-eschuck do this? He can get more fire-water
+than Little Fox, for he knows more.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What must I do?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Go to the white men and tell them all that Black-Hawk
+is doing, and my brother will be very rich.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Has Little Fox done this?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He has done what he could, but he did not know much,&rdquo;
+replied the traitor. &ldquo;Na-she-eschuck has been in the lodge
+of his father and heard his words.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Na-she-eschuck will do any thing for fire-water,&rdquo; said
+the young chief, seeming to reel as he sat. &ldquo;Did the white
+men give all this for the message which was brought them
+by Little Fox?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The Pottawattomie nodded, and again applied his mouth to
+the reed. But, at this moment the expression of drunken
+gravity passed away from the face of Na-she-eschuck. He
+bounded to his feet, with a look of wild rage upon his dark
+face and his hand upon his hatchet, and drunk as Little Fox
+was, he could see that he was deceived and that Na-she-eschuck
+was perfectly sober. He would have seized his
+rifle, but the foot of the young Sac was firmly planted upon
+it and he found it impossible to raise it, and the threatening
+action of Na-she-eschuck caused him to draw back in
+alarm.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Dog&mdash;traitor!&rdquo; hissed the chief. &ldquo;You have betrayed
+our people into the hands of the enemy and you shall die.
+Black-Hawk, Napope and Wa-be-ke-zhick, appear.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>As he spoke, the three chiefs, accompanied by Will Jackwood,
+appeared from the bushes upon the right. Every
+face was black with fury, and the traitorous savage knew
+that his doom was fast approaching. He would have fled,
+but the strong hands of Na-she-eschuck and Napope were
+upon him, and in the twinkling of an eye his hands were
+bound behind him and Black-Hawk stood regarding him with
+a steadfast look, which had no pity in it.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_38">38</div>
+<p>&ldquo;The ears of Black-Hawk have heard the words which
+have been spoken by the mouth of a traitor. Away with
+him to the sacred wood and then call the warriors to witness
+his fate.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Napope and Na-she-eschuck dragged him away, and Black-Hawk
+uttered a signal whoop which quickly brought four
+stalwart Indians to the spot, who, at the command of Black-Hawk,
+fastened up the keg, and making a sort of cradle of
+strong boughs, carried the liquor away toward the sacred
+forest, being solemnly warned not to touch it on their lives.
+After them marched the remaining chiefs and Black-Hawk,
+taking a sequestered path through the wood. Half an hour&rsquo;s
+walk brought them to a deep glen in the midst of the solemn
+woods, where a sort of rude altar was erected, and where the
+mystic ceremonies of their strange religion were nearly always
+observed. A solitary tree of small size, with a blackened
+trunk, the scene of many a sacrifice, was standing in
+the center of the glade, and there, tightly bound with green
+withes, stood Little Fox awaiting his fate.</p>
+<p>The Indian was sober enough now, for nothing brings a
+man to his senses so quickly, no matter how much stupefied
+by drink, as the presence of danger. His eyes roved from
+face to face for some sign of relenting or pity, but he found
+none.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Why has Black-Hawk brought a Pottawattomie here?&rdquo;
+he said. &ldquo;He dare not shed the blood of the son of Na-bo-lish.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Na-bo-lish was a great chief but his son is a dog,&rdquo; he
+said. &ldquo;Black-Hawk will not shed his blood, and a coward&rsquo;s
+death he shall die.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Little Fox knows how to die, if die he must,&rdquo; replied
+the Indian, proudly. &ldquo;He will speak no more and he dares
+Black-Hawk to do his worst.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The summons had gone forth, and one by one the chiefs
+and warriors began to enter the sacred wood. Every face
+was clouded, for they knew that they would not have been
+called to this place but to witness some great sacrifice. A
+single glance at the prisoner was all they gave, and then, man
+by man, they seated themselves in a great circle and waited
+for the coming of others. In less than an hour from the time
+<span class="pb" id="Page_39">39</span>
+when Little Fox was taken, five hundred grim warriors were
+seated within the glade, and then Black-Hawk arose.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Chiefs and warriors,&rdquo; he cried&mdash;&ldquo;children of the same
+great Father, although our tribes are many&mdash;listen to Black-Hawk.
+He is getting old, his hair is gray, but he weeps for
+the sorrows of the poor Indian. Once, all these great hunting-grounds,
+in which the white man plants his corn, were the
+property of the Indian. There he lived&mdash;there he died, and
+there he lies buried. The steel of the white man&rsquo;s plow is
+among the bones, and he builds his lodge in the villages which
+once were ours.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;This should make an Indian very sad, and he should do
+all he can to help his people. But there are some who are
+so base that for the fire-water of the white man they would
+sell their fathers&rsquo; bones. It grieves the heart of Black-Hawk
+that this should be so, for he loves the Indian. Now, when
+we have risen for our rights, and to protect our once happy
+homes, Indians of the pure blood stand ready to give us up a
+prey to the white man, that they may drink the strong water
+which makes men mad.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Look upon this man. He is a son of the great Na-bo-lish,
+the Pottawattomie. Once, he was a man and a mighty
+warrior. His foot was quick upon the war-path, and his hand
+ready to shed the blood of his enemies. The white men came
+and brought the strong water to the villages. Little Fox was
+no longer a man when he had taken it into his mouth. Let
+Na-she-eschuck speak, and tell the warriors what Little Fox
+has done, and then let them speak. I have done.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>He sat down amid a strange murmuring, and Na-she-eschuck
+arose. The young chief was well known for his strict honesty,
+and they were assured that he would not lie to save his
+life.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;My father has spoken good words. Little Fox has sold
+us to the white men for a rifle, two blankets and this fire-water,&rdquo;
+striking the keg with his foot. &ldquo;Out of his own
+mouth condemn him. Let him die.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Napope arose.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I heard the words which came from the lips of Little
+Fox, and the Sac has spoken the truth. Let Little Fox die
+like a dog.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_40">40</div>
+<p>&ldquo;And I heard it,&rdquo; cried the Prophet. &ldquo;I&mdash;Wa-be-ke-zhick,
+the Prophet. He sold us to the white men and he deserves
+to die. Now let the chiefs and warriors speak.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>There was a sudden movement among the listening warriors.
+They arose as one man, and every voice pealed out
+the solemn sentence: &ldquo;He is a traitor; let him die!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You are women,&rdquo; shrieked the Pottawottamie, fiercely.
+&ldquo;Do your worst; Little Fox will show you how to die.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It is well,&rdquo; said Black-Hawk, slightly inclining his head.
+&ldquo;We will not deny that Little Fox has been a great brave,
+but he is now a dog. Let the chiefs come about me, and we
+will have a talk.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>They were not long in consultation, and then separated,
+the chiefs going about among the men and giving their orders.
+Then a long-sounding whoop from Black-Hawk called
+them into line, and they began to circle about the tree, pointing
+their fingers scornfully at the prisoner. Then Black-Hawk
+advanced and bared the breast of the prisoner, exposing the
+totem of his tribe.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Look,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;he bears upon his bosom the sign of a
+great tribe. This is not well, and it must be removed. Wa-be-ke-zhick,
+advance, and cut the totem from his flesh.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Cut away the totem of the great tribe,&rdquo; cried the warriors.
+&ldquo;He has no right to wear it, who is a dog. Cut it
+away!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The countenance of Little Fox was distorted with rage
+more than fear. Drunken and worthless as he had become,
+he was a true Indian, and felt keenly the disgrace about to
+be put upon him.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Do not dare to make a chief a dog,&rdquo; he hissed. &ldquo;Give
+me the torture, or give me death. Have I no friend among
+this people who will strike a sharp knife into my breast?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Has he a friend among the warriors who will do this?&rdquo;
+said Black-Hawk. &ldquo;Let him speak.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>No voice replied, and the countenance of Little Fox changed
+from hope to fear.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He has no friend,&rdquo; cried Black-Hawk. &ldquo;Advance, Wa-be-ke-zhick;
+cut away the totem.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>It was done, and Little Fox, if he lived, was ostracised for
+ever from his tribe and death would be to him a happy release.
+<span class="pb" id="Page_41">41</span>
+In the mean time, a great caldron had been placed
+upon a fire, and in this the keg of rum was poured, and a
+great quantity of gourds piled up beside it. The spirits had
+now begun to bubble, and taking up a little in a gourd,
+Black-Hawk advanced and offered it to the condemned man.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;For this you sold us to the white men, Little Fox.
+Drink, now that I give it to you. It is warm&mdash;it is good&mdash;it
+will make you strong.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>As he spoke, he dashed the contents of the gourd against
+the breast of the doomed man, and Little Fox uttered an appalling
+shriek which rung with startling distinctness through
+the forest. Now ensued a horrible scene, as Indian after Indian
+caught up a gourd and dashed a portion of the boiling
+spirits upon the naked body of the traitor. Black Will
+stopped his ears and turned away his head to shut out the
+agonizing sights and sounds which the sacrifice presented.
+He was a cruel man by nature, but he found that the Indians
+could go beyond him in refinement of torture. At last the
+caldron was empty, and the victim stood literally parboiled
+at the stake, gnawing his lips to keep down the shrieks which
+arose in spite of himself. The faces of his stern executioners
+did not change, and they were about to commence some new
+species of torture, when Black Will sprung between.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Stop, Black-Hawk; stand back there, Napope. This fellow
+deserves death. But you shall not torture him any longer.
+Kill him, and put him out of pain.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Stand aside, white man!&rdquo; cried Napope. &ldquo;Why do you
+come between the warriors and a traitor?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;White man! I am the son of Red-Bird, the Sac, who died
+in the white man&rsquo;s prison; and I say that this shall not go
+on. Will you kill him?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;No; let the torture go on.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Black Will wheeled in his tracks, drew a pistol, and shot
+Little Fox through the heart. Bloody as the deed was, it
+was mercy, compared with the torture in store for the traitor.
+He started as the bullet pierced him, a look of ferocious joy
+passed over his face, and his head dropped upon his bosom.
+There came a wild rush at the immovable figure of Black
+Will, but the sonorous voice of Black-Hawk was heard, ordering
+them to stand back.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_42">42</div>
+<p>&ldquo;Touch not the son of Red-Bird, lest you make an enemy
+of Black-Hawk,&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;Take down the body and cast
+it out in the open woods, that the wolves may eat all that is
+left of a traitor.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The work was done, and although there was some grumbling
+at being robbed of their victim so early, the bravest
+among the warriors were inclined to commend the bold action
+of Black Will, although, under the circumstances, none
+of them would have dared to do the same. The body was
+thrown upon the earth to rot, and the warriors on their march
+back to the village, when a runner, hot with haste, dashed
+into the forest and met Black-Hawk.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Let the braves take their hatchets,&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;The
+white men are upon the march.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Ha,&rdquo; cried Black-Hawk. &ldquo;Do they come with arms?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Major Stillman comes, with many warriors,&rdquo; replied the
+runner.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Let us see if they are friends,&rdquo; said Black-Hawk. &ldquo;If
+they come in peace it is well. If they harm a hair of one
+of my young men they shall all die.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>He sent out five young warriors with a white flag, who did
+not return. Later in the day three more went out and reconnoitered
+in the vicinity of the advance of the white men.
+They were pursued and two of them killed, the first blood
+shed in the war. The third escaped and brought the news
+to Black-Hawk, and they dug up the hatchet and prepared
+for war.</p>
+<h2 id="c6"><span class="small">CHAPTER VI.</span>
+<br />THE FIRST BLOW.</h2>
+<p>It must be admitted by unprejudiced men and thinkers of
+all lands, that the &ldquo;Black-Hawk&rdquo; war was precipitated by
+the rapacity of the whites. Not satisfied with driving the
+Indians from the better portion of their lands, they persisted
+still further in forcing them from their villages about Rock
+Island. They would have been less than men if they had not
+<span class="pb" id="Page_43">43</span>
+resisted, but to the last, Black-Hawk insisted that he would not
+be the first to shed blood, and, as we have seen, the first man
+killed was one of Black-Hawk&rsquo;s band, by Stillman&rsquo;s party.</p>
+<p>This man seemed to have little knowledge of the Indian
+character, and lacked the power of leading men. He had
+been sent out by General Atkinson in advance, with orders to
+scour the country, find out the position of the Indian force,
+and to act as his discretion seemed to dictate. Captain Melton
+was with him, and had occasion twice to remonstrate
+with him upon his manner of advancing through a country
+favorable to an ambuscade. The troop consisted of two
+hundred and seventy mounted men, marching without order,
+straggling where they liked, and firing at any stray Indian
+of whatever tribe, whom they chanced to meet.</p>
+<p>When the flag of Black-Hawk appeared, Stillman ordered
+the bearers to be taken prisoners.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Excuse me, Major Stillman,&rdquo; said Melton, as he heard the
+order. &ldquo;Surely you do not propose to make these men prisoners?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Certainly I do, sir; take your place and let me hear no
+more.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Your words will require an explanation at another time
+and place, my good sir,&rdquo; said Melton. &ldquo;Be so good as to remember
+that I had no orders to join you, and that if you insist
+upon such conduct, I will leave you at once. These men
+came to you under the shadow of a white flag, and you have
+no right to take them prisoners.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;<i>Will</i> you take your place, Captain Melton?&rdquo; roared Stillman,
+&ldquo;or must I put you under arrest?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Melton said no more, but fell back to the head of his troop,
+fully determined to leave the irate major if he persisted in
+his conduct.</p>
+<p>The three bearers of the flag were sent to the rear, under
+guard, and the troop proceeded in the same disorderly manner.
+Some time after the stragglers in advance caught sight
+of the warriors who had been sent out to see what had been
+done with the bearers of the flag, and were pursued, and two
+of them shot down without mercy, the rest escaping, by taking
+to the woods in front. No sooner had he beheld this
+cruel and uncalled for butchery, than the young captain of
+<span class="pb" id="Page_44">44</span>
+scouts called to his men and they wheeled out of the line,
+faced about, and marched back toward the river.</p>
+<p>Stillman, boiling with rage, called his men to a halt, and
+rode back.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What is the meaning of this conduct, Captain Melton?&rdquo;
+he hissed, fairly foaming at the mouth. &ldquo;How dare you detach
+your command without orders?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;If you think you have men enough in your rag-tag and
+bob-tail command to stop us, you had better try it on, Major
+Stillman,&rdquo; said Melton, coolly. &ldquo;I for one will not give
+countenance to <i>murder</i>, as you are doing.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Murder, sir?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Murder is the word. Those Sacs were doing no harm
+who were just killed by your men, and did not even use
+their weapons when your scoundrels took after them. Go
+on your way, sir; I will not march a foot further with
+you.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I will have you court-martialed, upon my return, sir,&rdquo;
+cried Stillman.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Very well; I shall take an opportunity to tell the court
+some things not to your credit. Good-day, sir. But, for
+the safety of your men I tell you to call in your stragglers,
+march in a more orderly manner and beat the bushes thoroughly
+before you enter. Attention, scouts; forward.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>And the compact little body rode away at a killing pace,
+leaving Major Stillman to his own devices.</p>
+<p>Stillman hesitated for some time before advancing, for he
+knew that the desertion of Captain Melton was a great loss
+to him. While he stood in doubt, the men who had killed
+two Indians came back at a gallop and announced that the
+Indians were just across Sycamore creek and in some force.
+All was now confusion in the white camp. Some who had
+dismounted sprung into the saddle, and with wild shouts
+the disorderly band rushed on, headed by the men who had
+just come in. Black-Hawk had not supposed that Stillman
+intended to attack him, and the greater portion of his
+force were on the other side of the village; in all, the great
+chief had only forty men under his command when Stillman&rsquo;s
+men came up at the gallop, strung out across the
+plain, man, by man, according to the speed of their horses,
+<span class="pb" id="Page_45">45</span>
+and in this manner crossed the creek. Black-Hawk had
+not hoped that they would thus give themselves a prey to
+him, and his ambuscade was quickly formed.</p>
+<p>When half the party had crossed the creek and were
+massed in disorder upon the bank and the rest were struggling
+up, some crossing the creek, and others yet upon the
+plain beyond, the war-whoop of the Sacs announced the onset,
+and from every side the warriors poured in upon the
+foe. One withering volley was poured in, which strewed the
+earth with dead and dying forms, and at the same moment
+the charge was made and the knife and hatchet was doing
+its silent but deadly work before the doomed men had time
+to lift a hand. To show the utter foolishness with which
+the advance was made, it is enough to say that the warlike
+major was never in the fight at all, so quickly was the force
+which had crossed the creek disposed of by the furious attack
+of Black-Hawk.</p>
+<p>The cry was, &ldquo;Satan take the hindmost.&rdquo; Hardly waiting
+for Stillman&rsquo;s order to retreat, they broke and fled in
+every direction, each man for himself, lashing their horses to
+get out of the fearful imbroglio into which their own foolhardy
+conduct had forced them.</p>
+<p>Thus, in one desperate charge forty Indians had put two
+hundred and seventy white men to flight! It is no discredit
+to the West, for the men of Stillman&rsquo;s force, under a
+different leader, would have laughed at the efforts of the Sac
+force. They came into Dixon&rsquo;s Ferry as they had left Sycamore
+creek, one at a time, and the loss gradually dwindled from
+seventy to about one-fourth of the number.</p>
+<p>The alarm went forth through the land, and the little
+force of Sac warriors were magnified into an army. The
+work had been done, however, and a scene of blood and
+death was about to be enacted upon the border.</p>
+<p>Captain Melton rode back to the settlement, after leaving
+Stillman, but had not gone far when the flying men from
+the band of heroes began to come up with him. Seeing
+that the war was begun in earnest he faced about and prepared
+to meet them as best he might, knowing nothing of
+the small force of Black-Hawk. After waiting all night
+for some sign of Indian pursuit, as none was made he drew
+<span class="pb" id="Page_46">46</span>
+off his men and reached the settlement some hours after the
+arrival of Stillman, who had been filling the ears of the inhabitants
+with stories of the cowardly conduct of the captain.</p>
+<p>The captain quickly set matters right, and only that he had
+more important business upon his hands, would have followed
+Stillman to the camp of Atkinson, to which he had directed
+his steps. Taking ten of his men, he rode up the river, to
+the residence of Mr. Wescott, but as he drew near, he found
+evidences upon every hand of the presence of the destroyer,
+and as he crossed the hill, saw, to his horror, that during the
+last night the cabin had been attacked. Wild with fear, he
+rushed in at the broken door and found every thing in confusion,
+and scattered here and there, various bits of Indian
+finery, beads and the like, which told him beyond a doubt
+who had done the work.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Indians,&rdquo; said one of the men. &ldquo;Good heaven, captain,
+they are killed!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>They explored the house everywhere, but not a trace of
+the family could be seen. Upon the floor near the entrance
+was a little pool of fresh blood, which looked as if it had
+been shed the night before, and Melton looked at it with a
+shudder.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Where are they?&rdquo; he groaned. &ldquo;Who has done this
+ruin?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It is always so in an Indian war,&rdquo; said his lieutenant.
+&ldquo;Some band of Indians coming up to join Black-Hawk, have
+rushed in on them, before they had time to fire a shot.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Somebody has been hurt,&rdquo; said Melton. &ldquo;Ha! what
+have you got there, Chris?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>One of the men came forward, holding in his hand a heavy
+knife, with about three inches broken from the point. Upon
+the hilt of the weapon, rudely engraved, was the name, &ldquo;R.
+Garrett.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Dick Garrett has been here, then,&rdquo; said Melton, turning
+pale; &ldquo;and if he has taken Sadie Wescott, it is done for
+Black Will. Oh! heaven, what shall we do?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Hold on,&rdquo; said a feeble voice from beneath their feet.
+&ldquo;Help me out of this and I&rsquo;ll let ye know.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Some one is in the cellar,&rdquo; said Melton. &ldquo;Up with the
+trap and let him out.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_47">47</div>
+<p>The trap-door was opened, and Cooney Joe, bleeding and
+ghastly, appeared at the foot of the ladder. A dozen hands
+were extended to help him up, and he was seated upon one
+of the stools, gasping for breath.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What is this, Joe?&rdquo; said Melton. &ldquo;Speak, man; don&rsquo;t
+you see that I am in torture until I know the worst?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;The worst is, that a party of red niggers, headed by Dick
+Garrett, made a rush at us last night, and took Mr. Wescott
+and the gal prisoners. I had a tussle with Dick Garrett, and
+one of them cussid reds hit me over the head with a hatchet,
+and I fell into the cellar. I do&rsquo;no&rsquo; what drove &rsquo;em off, but
+they did not come down to raise my wool, and I&rsquo;ve been too
+weak to git out without help.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t know which way they went?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t I tell ye they knocked the life clean out of me,
+the fust crack? I didn&rsquo;t fairly git my senses back till I
+heerd ye talking. &rsquo;Tain&rsquo;t above two hours sence they left.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;How many had Dick Garrett under him?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Mebbe twenty, the ugliest-lookin&rsquo; lot of whites painted
+red you ever sot yer livin&rsquo; eyes on. I&rsquo;ll be bu&rsquo;sted ef they
+wouldn&rsquo;t spile a lookin&rsquo;-glass by jest peekin&rsquo; into it; darned
+lot of ruffi&rsquo;ns!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;We must follow them,&rdquo; hissed Melton, through his set
+teeth. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll have the girl out of their hands, if I have to
+follow them into Black-Hawk&rsquo;s village.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;See here; Black-Hawk do&rsquo;no&rsquo; nothin&rsquo; &rsquo;bout it. The pizen
+cusses took his darter with &rsquo;em, but she sp&rsquo;iled one chap,
+sure as you live. He got an arrer clean through him.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;She is a brave girl, Joe. Oh, how sorry I am that you
+are hurt.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Hold hard; you ain&rsquo;t goin&rsquo; without me, you know. One
+of your chaps wash out this cut, and put some plaster on it,
+and we&rsquo;ll make it do. I&rsquo;m goin&rsquo;, you bet.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I fear you are not strong enough.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You be grannied! You see I&rsquo;ve got a sort of snickering
+notion after that there Injin gal, and I&rsquo;ll be blowed if I don&rsquo;t
+help her.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>In his border life Melton had picked up a slight knowledge
+of surgery, and he washed and dressed the wound as well as
+the limited conveniences at his disposal would admit. Having
+<span class="pb" id="Page_48">48</span>
+done so, Cooney Joe rose up, though somewhat &ldquo;weak
+and staggering,&rdquo; to use his own expression, and was ready to
+&ldquo;fight or run,&rdquo; as circumstances might require.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Now see here, cripples,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;That carroty-headed
+son of a gun, Dick Garrett, is a whole boss-team, you bet ye.
+He&rsquo;ll fight&mdash;he will&mdash;till the teeth meet in the flesh. Oh, you
+bet he is on it, now. He kin shoot, and when we foller
+him, we ain&rsquo;t tracking Sacs, so look out for thunder.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;And he is in league with Black Will, and that scoundrel
+has a hundred ruffians at his beck and call,&rdquo; said Melton.
+&ldquo;We never should have had any trouble with the Indians but
+for men of his kidney.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Now fur trailing,&rdquo; said Cooney Joe. &ldquo;Stand one side,
+you critters, and let the old man work! I&rsquo;ve got a mark
+that can&rsquo;t be beat, fur Dick wears the biggest moccasin of
+any man in the Nor&rsquo;-west. Look around mighty spry, and
+when you find a track like a young canoe, that&rsquo;s Dick Garrett&rsquo;s
+hoof.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The trail was quickly found, and led to the northward.
+They followed it swiftly, Cooney Joe bending slightly in the
+saddle, and keeping his eyes on the trail, while the rest followed,
+keeping far enough behind not to disturb the trail.
+After a march of nearly two miles, the track suddenly ended
+upon the bank of the Father of Waters, and they knew that
+the scoundrels had taken to the stream.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Now ain&rsquo;t this cussid mean; ain&rsquo;t it enuff to make a man
+raise his hand against his venerable ancestor?&rdquo; roared Joe.
+&ldquo;They&rsquo;ve took water, they hev. Here; send back two men
+with the hosses, fur we&rsquo;ve got to hoof it.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>This plan was adopted, and two of the men returned with
+the horses, while the rest searched about among the reeds,
+and after some trouble found two rude dug-outs concealed, in
+which, by making two trips, they crossed the great stream.
+Here they scattered and searched up and down for the trail
+which they had lost, still guided by the ponderous hoof of
+Dick Garrett.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, <i>ain&rsquo;t</i> he pizen, that Dick!&rdquo; growled Cooney Joe. &ldquo;Its
+just his nat&rsquo;ral cussedness, you know. He&rsquo;s aweer that I like
+to ride, and he jest done this to be mean. Comes nat&rsquo;ral to
+him, meanness does. Here you are; come on, boys!&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_49">49</div>
+<p>He had taken up the recovered trail as if no interruption
+had occurred, and the party moved on across the plain.
+They were tried men, who had followed Captain Melton in
+many an hour of danger, but even their hearts gave a great
+leap as they plunged into the Indian country, perhaps never
+to return.</p>
+<h2 id="c7"><span class="small">CHAPTER VII.</span>
+<br />OVERBOARD.</h2>
+<p>The surprise of the occupants of the log-cabin by the
+river was sudden and complete, when at a late hour the
+house was surrounded by a motley group headed by a man
+who, in spite of his paint and feathers, could not hide from
+so acute a scout as Samuel Wescott that he was a white man
+in disguise. The rush was so sudden that they had been
+overthrown before they had fairly time to reach their weapons,
+and the captured men were at once hurried to their
+horses, and the band made off at a rapid rate up the stream.
+Mr. Wescott was wounded, but in spite of that the savage
+white leader urged him on, threatening him with the point of
+his knife if he faltered or turned aside. They reached the
+river, when, to the surprise of all, a flat-boat shot out from
+the western bank and made toward the eastern shore. The
+men who held the poles were either white men or showed a
+marvelous aptitude for flat-boating, an accomplishment rarely
+to be looked for in an Indian who is not in love with manual
+labor. The bow of the flat grated on the low beach, when
+the party went on board, horses and all, and they pushed out
+into the stream.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;This boat belonged to Captain Hughes&rsquo; father,&rdquo; whispered
+Sadie. &ldquo;Is it possible that these wretches have murdered
+him and his crew?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He ought to have come down some days ago,&rdquo; said
+Mr. Wescott, in an uneasy tone. &ldquo;I am afraid that the good
+old man has indeed fallen. Be careful what you say, for
+these scoundrels understand every word you speak.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_50">50</div>
+<p>At this moment the chief approached and caught Mr.
+Wescott by his wounded arm, causing him to utter a low cry
+of pain, while the blood gushed from under his hand.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;No whispering,&rdquo; he hissed, dropping all at once his assumed
+Indian habits. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m no baby, Sam Wescott, but a bird
+of the woods, a Mississippi roarer, and I can lick the universal
+earth a-flying.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Dick Garrett!&rdquo; cried Wescott, in a tone of surprise. &ldquo;I
+thought so.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You know me, do ye?&rdquo; said Dick, with an air of bravado.
+&ldquo;All right, &rsquo;square, it&rsquo;s all the wuss for you, for Dick
+Garrett don&rsquo;t let no man live that knows he wears an Injin
+rig. Git ropes hyar and take a couple of hitches on this
+chap, some of you fellers.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What do you intend to do?&rdquo; cried Wescott, struggling.
+&ldquo;Hands off, you scoundrels!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Tie him tight, boys,&rdquo; replied Dick Garrett, in fiendish
+glee. &ldquo;Teach the cuss to be so sharp, I will, before I git
+done with him. Now, then, Sam Wescott, if you&rsquo;ve got any
+prayers to say, say &rsquo;em quick, for overboard you go when we
+get to that snag in the river.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You cannot mean it,&rdquo; said Wescott. &ldquo;Such a cold blooded
+and unprovoked murder&mdash;&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, give us a rest or I&rsquo;ll gag you,&rdquo; replied Dick Garrett.
+&ldquo;The matter of a man more or less in the world ain&rsquo;t going
+to shake it to its center, you bet, and when I say you&rsquo;ve got
+to go under, then you go.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Have your way, then, murderous wretch,&rdquo; cried the brave
+man, drawing himself up proudly. &ldquo;I will not beg for my
+life from such as you, and am ready to die, if my time has
+come, as bravely as another. Do your worst.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Sadie by this time began to comprehend the danger in
+which her father stood, and would have come to him, but
+she was forced back by one of the rough men who wore the
+Indian garb, but who could not conceal a certain flat-boat
+swagger which betrayed him.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He crows loud, boys, don&rsquo;t he?&rdquo; said Garrett; &ldquo;mighty
+loud for a bird of his feather that&rsquo;s only got three minnits
+to live. Keep the gal away; she ain&rsquo;t got leave to
+die yet.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_51">51</div>
+<p>&ldquo;Let me go to my father,&rdquo; pleaded Sadie. &ldquo;Oh, sir, you
+will not kill him for a single hasty word?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I rather think I shall,&rdquo; replied Garrett, as cool and composed
+as if talking of any ordinary event. &ldquo;The man&rsquo;s got
+to go. I don&rsquo;t advertise to be a saint, and when a man runs
+ag&rsquo;inst me and calls me a murderer, I reckon it&rsquo;s about time
+for him to pass in his chips. I&rsquo;m a peaceable man&mdash;I will
+<i>have</i> peace, or a fight.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>This strange man was dreadfully in earnest. Human life
+was to him a thing of no price&mdash;we might lose it to-day or
+to-morrow, of we might live a hundred years&mdash;a small matter,
+not to be taken into account. He had no objections to
+killing a man, and if he had stood in his way, in any manner,
+it became a <i>duty</i> to put him aside.</p>
+<p>They were approaching the snag, and the desperado was
+about to order the prisoner to be thrown into the water,
+when the boatmen were suddenly thrust aside, and Minneoba,
+holding her bow in her hand, darted forward and leveled an
+arrow at his breast.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Look, white man,&rdquo; she cried, &ldquo;Minneoba is the daughter
+of Black-Hawk, and she can not lie; if you do harm to the
+good white man, I will send an arrow through your heart.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Why, you cat!&rdquo; hissed Dick Garrett, turning upon her
+with a devilish look. &ldquo;Stand out of the way.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>But Minneoba would not obey him. It was the second
+time she had found her arrow effective, and it had some influence
+upon the man who &ldquo;would have peace or a fight.&rdquo;
+Although full of mad hate, he knew that she could aim an
+arrow well, for he had seen her skill tested in the Indian
+towns.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What in the devil&rsquo;s name made me bring this cat on
+board?&rdquo; he uttered. &ldquo;Better far have left her behind to find
+her way to the village as best she could. Look you, Minneoba,&rdquo;
+he added aloud. &ldquo;You know that I would not willingly
+do you a wrong, but you must get out of the way.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; replied Minneoba, stamping her foot. &ldquo;Minneoba
+will not move, and if Garrett does wrong to the good white
+man, he shall die.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Now, my girl, be careful, please; I&rsquo;ll have to take measures
+you won&rsquo;t like if you don&rsquo;t get out of the way.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_52">52</div>
+<p>&ldquo;Minneoba will shoot,&rdquo; replied the girl, with flashing eyes,
+still pointing the arrow at his breast. Garrett nodded to
+one of his men, and while the leader expostulated with her
+he stole behind and suddenly caught her by the arm in a
+firm clasp. With a cry of anger the girl caught the arrow
+in her disengaged hand and drove it through the arm of her
+captor, who released her with an oath, but before she could
+strike again, Garrett had her in his arms.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Now then, lads!&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll hold this beauty fast,
+and if she struggles I&rsquo;ll take toll from her lips.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Cease to struggle, Minneoba,&rdquo; said Mr. Wescott. &ldquo;You
+only expose yourself to new indignity without the chance of
+aiding me. I am ready to meet my fate, although it is a
+hard one, but it grieves me to think that I die by the hands
+of white men. Sadie, farewell&mdash;farewell, my dear child.
+All that I have is yours and your dear mother&rsquo;s. Thank
+God that she at least was absent when this blow fell.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I can not see you die,&rdquo; she sobbed. &ldquo;Oh, Richard Garrett,
+will nothing move you to do right?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That depends on what you call <i>right</i>. Now you don&rsquo;t
+think it right to beat a man at the picturs or billiards or to
+pick his pocket, or crack a bank. Now I do, so we won&rsquo;t
+seem to agree, no matter how you fix it, so I guess we may as
+well end this now. Toss him over, boys.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It don&rsquo;t seem scarcely right,&rdquo; said the rough young fellow
+who was helping Sadie back. &ldquo;Why not duck him, and
+then let him out, boss?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Because he knows I wear an Injin disguise. It&rsquo;s all
+very well for you that he don&rsquo;t know, but I ain&rsquo;t so easy
+suited. Toss him over, I say, and make no words.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>They lifted the bound man and flung him over the rail,
+while with a thrilling shriek Sadie fell senseless into the
+arms of the man who held her. He laid her gently down,
+and made a spring at the taffrail, and his body struck the
+water almost as soon as that of Mr. Wescott, who was unable
+to help himself.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Come back here, you born fool,&rdquo; screamed Dick Garrett.
+&ldquo;What do you think the Cap will say when he hears how
+you act?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You go to &mdash;&mdash;,&rdquo; said the rough but good-hearted
+fellow,
+<span class="pb" id="Page_53">53</span>
+naming a locality not sought after by humanity generally.
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to save this man.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Then by &mdash;&mdash;&rdquo; hissed Dick Garrett, &ldquo;you stay with him;
+set in your poles, boys. Tom don&rsquo;t want to come on
+board.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>By this time the man had seized the helpless form of
+Wescott, and with his clasp-knife managed to cut the bonds
+upon his hands and feet, and Wescott at once began to swim,
+but feebly at first, and the fiendish order of the desperate
+leader rung in his ears, and they saw the boat moving slowly
+away, leaving them alone on the wide river.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re done, stranger,&rdquo; said the man called Tom. &ldquo;I
+done my best, but he&rsquo;s run from us.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You can swim to the bank,&rdquo; said Mr. Wescott, noting
+with what ease the man sustained himself.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I reckon.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Then do so and leave me to my fate,&rdquo; replied Wescott.
+&ldquo;You have already risked too much for me.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;When I quit a man in that way I reckon you&rsquo;d better
+call round with a rope and string me up. It&rsquo;ll suit me fust
+rate. Let the current take ye square; we&rsquo;ll fetch up somewhere
+I reckon, and when we do, and I onc&rsquo;t git on the trail
+of that Dick Garrett, won&rsquo;t I make him howl!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Even as he spoke the two men were moving on a course
+diagonal with the current, the stronger man giving all the
+support he could to his wounded companion. But the shore
+seemed far away and Wescott felt that he could not go much
+further.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Save yourself,&rdquo; he gasped. &ldquo;My wound has opened
+again and I am losing strength.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I won&rsquo;t do it,&rdquo; replied Tom, through his set teeth.
+&ldquo;Hold up a little; I&rsquo;ll save you yet.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;There is no hope,&rdquo; replied Wescott. &ldquo;Avenge me if
+you can and save my daughter from that villain. You can
+do me better service in that way than by staying with me
+now.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>At this moment the surge came down heavily and buried
+the speaker beneath the water. Tom paddled to and fro,
+looking for him in vain, for the water had claimed its prey,
+and nerving himself to the task the young man struck out
+<span class="pb" id="Page_54">54</span>
+resolutely for the shore, which he reached nearly exhausted.
+Then he ran along the bank and looked for some sign of
+Wescott, but he looked in vain. The surface of the river
+was blank.</p>
+<h2 id="c8"><span class="small">CHAPTER VIII.</span>
+<br />MELTON&rsquo;S SCOUT&mdash;A BUSH FIGHT.</h2>
+<p>Tom Bantry had been a flatboatman since he was old
+enough to hold a pole, and now for the first time paused to
+consider how far he had gone down the road of sin. He
+was conscious of many evil deeds already performed, but the
+stain of blood was not upon his soul, and although pledged
+to his vile companion he could not stand by tamely and
+witness the murder of so good a man as Samuel Wescott.
+But his good intentions had come to naught, and the brave
+man was dead.</p>
+<p>The flatboatman rose and looked about him, a wicked light
+coming over his dark face. &ldquo;They taught me evil, them
+cusses did,&rdquo; he muttered. &ldquo;I&rsquo;d the making of a man in me,
+but they sp&rsquo;iled me, and now they&rsquo;ve killed as good a man
+as ever walked the earth. I&rsquo;ll remember that ag&rsquo;inst ye, old
+man Garrett.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>He was literally worn out, and dropped down upon the
+grass and slept until morning. He woke at last and started
+up refreshed, only to find a party of white men were upon
+the opposite bank, and with his paint upon him, Tom knew
+that it would be far from safe to meet them, and he skulked
+away, keeping under cover of the bushes, and then made a
+circuit through the bushes, designing to cross their path and
+ascertain who they were. As he crept forward with that
+intention, he heard a slight rustling in the bushes in front,
+and the long, snake-like head of Napope appeared above the
+bushes, signaling him to fall back. He did so, involuntarily
+dropping his hand upon his knife, which he had not lost
+in the last night&rsquo;s struggle in the stream, when he remembered
+that Napope regarded all his party as friends and that
+<span class="pb" id="Page_55">55</span>
+he still wore the garb of an Indian. He dropped back and
+the next moment Napope joined him.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;The white dogs come,&rdquo; he said, in a fierce tone, &ldquo;and
+the heart of a chief is big in his bosom. They shall die
+without knowledge.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Who are they?&rdquo; demanded Tom.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;They are white and they are not the friends of Jackwood
+the son of Red-Bird. Where is your gun, my brother?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I lost it last night,&rdquo; replied Tom, a little embarrassed.
+&ldquo;Let me look out and see what white men come.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>He advanced to the edge of the woods and looked out,
+and could detect a white party moving hastily across the
+plain. Foremost among them was a man whom he had
+known well some years before, Cooney Joe, and behind him
+came Captain Melton and his gallant men, and it flashed
+through the mind of Tom Bantry that they were in pursuit
+of Dick Garrett. His heart stood still, for a backward glance
+showed him fifty stout Sacs, armed to the teeth, lying under
+the bushes waiting for the coming of the hated white men.
+Twenty-four hours ago Tom Bantry would have delighted
+in this, but now he was changed, and racked his brains for
+ways and means to acquaint them with the ambush before
+them, without destruction to himself.</p>
+<p>Napope waved his hand, and, as if by magic, every warrior
+disappeared, and a stillness like that of death fell upon
+the scene. The whites came in rapidly, unsuspicious of
+danger, and passed through the first bushes, when they were
+surprised to hear a sudden crash and a yell of surprise and
+anger. The crash came from Tom Bantry, who had managed
+to fall down with a great noise, at the same time giving
+the yell which startled the white rangers.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Tree, boys!&rdquo; yelled Cooney Joe. &ldquo;Tree and fight. Injins
+thar, by the big horn spoon.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The men who followed Cooney Joe were Indian-fighters
+of the first class, and the order had scarcely been given when
+every man was sheltered by a tree and had his rifle ready for
+action. This was not done a moment too soon, for the feathers
+of the savages began to show above the bushes, and
+several shots were fired, until a commanding voice shouted
+to the warriors to hold their fire.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_56">56</div>
+<p>&ldquo;What do the white men seek?&rdquo; cried Napope. &ldquo;They
+have been beaten once; must we beat them again?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s Napope,&rdquo; cried Cooney Joe. &ldquo;I know the old
+cuss, and he kin fight, if he is an Injin; but we&rsquo;ll lick him
+out of his moccasins. Say, Injin, you&rsquo;d better clear the
+way; you ain&rsquo;t got the major to fight now.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Napope does not seek the scalps of the white men,&rdquo;
+cried the Indian. &ldquo;If they bring the scalps to him, he will
+take them, but he does not thirst for blood. Let Captain
+Melton turn back and cross the river.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;The path must be clear for me to pass through,&rdquo; replied
+Melton. &ldquo;The hatchet has been dug up and its edge turned
+against women and children, and the good white man, Wescott,
+with his daughter, has been carried away, and we think
+the Sacs know where they are.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;The Sacs do not know,&rdquo; replied Napope, proudly. &ldquo;Does
+the white man take us for Menomonies or Chippewas? The
+Sacs are men and not dogs; they do not fight against women
+and children.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Napope is a brave man, and will not lie to save his life,&rdquo;
+said Melton. &ldquo;Let us pass on safely, and then there shall be
+no blood shed, for we seek only those who have stolen the
+brave man Wescott and his child.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;My brother must turn back,&rdquo; replied the chief. &ldquo;There
+is no path over the Indian country for white soldiers until
+peace is made; but if the good white man and his child are
+here, they shall be made welcome, and no harm shall come
+to them if Napope can give them aid. But Melton must
+take his warriors and go back to his people.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;We will not turn back,&rdquo; replied Melton, angrily, &ldquo;unless
+we take the friends we seek with us. Let Napope clear the
+way, or we will try to go on without his leave.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;The white men will find knives and hatchets in the
+path,&rdquo; replied the chief, grimly. &ldquo;Go back as you came,
+and all shall be well; refuse, and you shall find that my
+young men carry guns.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t like this,&rdquo; whispered Cooney Joe in the ear of
+Melton. &ldquo;They&rsquo;ve got twice as many warriors as we have,
+and the chances are good for a fight. I never like to back
+out, but I don&rsquo;t know but it&rsquo;s the safest plan.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_57">57</div>
+<p>&ldquo;It won&rsquo;t do,&rdquo; said Melton. &ldquo;These scoundrels will get
+too impudent if they are allowed their own way too much.
+There must be a fight, and at once, and the boys must do
+their best. I know them too well to think that they will
+back down for twice their number of Sacs.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What does my brother say?&rdquo; cried Napope.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Fight.&rdquo; replied Melton. &ldquo;We will go on.&rdquo; Napope disappeared
+immediately, and scarcely had he done so when a
+bullet whizzed by the ear of the young scout as he hastily
+took to a tree. The fight now commenced in true Indian-fashion,
+the Sacs forcing the fighting and running from tree
+to tree to get nearer to their enemies. But they found a different
+party from that with which they had fought upon
+Sycamore Creek. Every bullet had its billet. Did an Indian
+show hand or foot from behind his shelter, it was at once the
+mark of a well-aimed ball. The men who followed Melton
+had lived by the rifle, and were not likely to miss their aim
+easily, while the Indians were notoriously bad marksmen, not
+having the patience to perfect themselves in the use of
+the rifle.</p>
+<p>Besides, the weapons they carried were not of the best description,
+being those furnished by the traders against the
+law, and their powder was &ldquo;contract,&rdquo; warranted not to burn
+except at a slow fire. But their numbers made the position
+of Melton&rsquo;s small force decidedly unsafe, and they began to
+close in upon every side, and every moment Melton expected
+a charge with hatchet and knife, most fearful weapons in
+Indian hands. But the steady valor of the scouts had inspired
+the savages with a respect for them, and they fought
+warily, losing a man now and then, and inflicting little
+damage upon the foe.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;They&rsquo;ll charge soon, boys,&rdquo; whispered Cooney Joe.
+&ldquo;Pass the word down the line to have a charge ready for the
+rush. Don&rsquo;t throw away a shot.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The rifles were ready when Napope gave the order, and at
+his signal-yell they bounded out like tigers, flourishing their
+bright weapons in the air.</p>
+<p>This was the moment for the Border Riflemen, and each
+picked his man and fired, and every bullet found a mark.
+Supposing the rifles empty, the Sacs rushed on, but they were
+<span class="pb" id="Page_58">58</span>
+mistaken, for up rose ten more riflemen, and the head of the
+assailants seemed to melt away before their fire. It was more
+than Indian endurance was equal to, and they again buried
+themselves in the bushes, in spite of the fierce orders of Napope,
+who, although severely wounded in the shoulder, urged
+the men on.</p>
+<p>He was ably seconded by Na-she-eschuck, who was also
+slightly wounded.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Well done, my lads,&rdquo; cried Mellon. &ldquo;Bravely done,
+riflemen; they have not Sycamore Creek to brag of this time,
+at any rate.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Napope collected his men under cover of the bushes, but
+his heart was full of anger against the gallant band of scouts,
+whom he had expected to sweep from the path in that headlong
+charge. So far from doing that, over one-third of his
+men were placed <i>hors de combat</i>, and several more partially
+disabled. Aroused by the invectives of the two chiefs, they
+again began to advance, but more cautiously, sliding from tree
+to tree, with great care, and exposing themselves as little as
+possible in doing so. But the riflemen managed to inflict new
+damage upon them before they came in fair charging distance.
+Napope had separated his force into three parts, sending
+out a small party upon each flank of the white force, and
+Melton was compelled to detach eight men, four upon each
+flank, to keep off these troublesome flanking-parties. This
+left him but twelve men in his main force, opposed to over
+thirty determined warriors, eager for the blood of those who
+had slain so many of their friends.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;We have got ourselves into a pizen scrape, Cap,&rdquo; said
+Cooney Joe, as he stood with his back against a tree, looking
+to the priming of his rifle; &ldquo;but thar&rsquo;s only one way to do,
+and that is to fight our way out. We kin lick &rsquo;em if more
+don&rsquo;t come; <i>that&rsquo;s</i> what I&rsquo;m afraid of.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>At this moment the rush was made, and as before, the
+whites divided their fire, so as to give the Indians two volleys
+before they reached the trees, and then with yells which vied
+with those of the Indians, they formed a line among the trees,
+and beat back the savages with knife, hatchet, and clubbed
+rifle. It was a desperate affair while it lasted, and the wild
+valor of the scouting party prevailed, and they were driving
+<span class="pb" id="Page_59">59</span>
+back the Indians step by step, when one of the men who had
+been sent to the right flank came running up.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Party of Injins coming across the plain, on a run, Cap,&rdquo;
+he reported. &ldquo;I reckon we&rsquo;d better git.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Easier said than done,&rdquo; said the captain, turning aside a
+blow with his heavy knife. &ldquo;Shoot that fellow, Ed.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The borderer brought his rifle to his shoulder, and the
+savage fell, shot through the heart.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Have the Indians on the flanks retreated, Ed?&rdquo; demanded
+Melton, as he fired a pistol at a savage who was poising
+his hatchet for a throw, and the savage went down.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;No, they ain&rsquo;t all gone yet,&rdquo; replied the man, who was
+coolly reloading his discharged rifle. &ldquo;I guess we&rsquo;d better
+call in the men and make a rush through these red devils,
+before the others can come up.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>A signal whistle, well known to the &ldquo;merry men&rdquo; of Melton,
+brought in all upon the flank, and with shouts of victory,
+all charged upon the broken and demoralized body of Sacs.
+They had fought bravely, but their courage was not proof
+against the assault, and they broke and fled in every direction
+through the woods, pursued by the victorious whites, who
+only wanted to get deeper into the woods, to avoid the force
+coming up in their rear. They would not have done this had
+they known that it was Dick Garrett and his party, bringing
+as prisoner, Sadie Wescott, whom Minneoba would not
+leave.</p>
+<p>Scouts from the party of Napope having discovered the
+coming of the disguised whites, and apprised the chief, he
+hurried out to meet them, and started as he saw who they
+held as prisoner.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Ha!&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;Then it is my brother who struck the
+wigwam of Wescott, and took him prisoner?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Garrett. &ldquo;You see our boss, Will Jackwood,
+wanted this girl, and sent me to take her.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Where is Wescott, now?&rdquo; demanded Napope.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said Garrett, hesitating, &ldquo;he&rsquo;s gone under; that&rsquo;s
+what&rsquo;s the matter with <i>him</i>.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Let my brother speak more plainly,&rdquo; said the chief.
+&ldquo;What has become of Wescott, the good white man?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He has been murdered,&rdquo; replied Sadie, coming forward,
+<span class="pb" id="Page_60">60</span>
+quickly. &ldquo;Chief, you know what he was, and that he never
+willingly wronged the Indians. You know, too, that when
+the mob in the village assaulted Black-Hawk and yourself, he
+came to your aid and helped you to escape. He has been
+brutally murdered, by this base wretch, Garrett.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;The girl lies, I reckon,&rdquo; said Garrett, sullenly. &ldquo;See
+here, chief; is it calculated in your tribe that women are any
+better off for having too much tongue?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;My brother must let the Wild Rose speak,&rdquo; replied Napope.
+&ldquo;When the Sacs come hungry and thirsty into her
+father&rsquo;s lodge, she is always ready to give them food and
+drink; when they are weary, and the night air is cold, there
+is always a warm place by the fire to spread a blanket. The
+child of Wescott must be allowed to speak.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Now look here, chief,&rdquo; said Garrett, in the same ferocious
+tone. &ldquo;&rsquo;Tain&rsquo;t noways likely I&rsquo;m going to come down to you
+or any man on earth. If Wescott was killed, he was my
+pris&rsquo;ner, and I had a right to do what I would with him.
+Have you any thing to say against it?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Napope inclined his head slowly, as recognizing the justice
+of the remark. The life of the man was as little regarded
+by the Indians as by Garrett, and Napope rather liked the
+tone of insolence he assumed.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Napope,&rdquo; cried Sadie, &ldquo;I want you to listen to me.
+This wicked man threw my father into the water, from the
+flat-boat, and he has not been seen since. Will you see a
+good man murdered and refuse to avenge him?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Napope was evidently troubled, for just now he needed
+the assistance of Garrett and his men, and did not wish to
+make him angry.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;We will speak of that another time, Wild Rose. Until
+then, rest safely with Minneoba, the daughter of Black-Hawk,
+while we do the work of men. Garrett, do you
+know that Loud Tempest is here and he has beaten the men
+of Napope, and killed many?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Loud Tempest; do you mean Captain Melton?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Yes; he is here, with the white hunter Joe, and many
+warriors. Napope can not rest until we have his scalp.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Cooney Joe! Why, I give him a lick last night that
+ought to have settled any decent man for good.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_61">61</div>
+<p>&ldquo;He is alive, and fights like a Sac,&rdquo; replied Napope.
+&ldquo;They are in the woods and we must follow and take their
+scalps.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll bet he&rsquo;s arter me,&rdquo; muttered Garrett. &ldquo;He don&rsquo;t
+owe me any good will for work I&rsquo;ve done, and I&rsquo;ve swore to
+have his hair. Thar&rsquo;s my hand on it, Napope, and I&rsquo;ll never
+quit you until he or I have gone under.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Sadie had started at the name of Melton, and was conscious
+of a feeling of joy that he had thought enough of her
+safety to follow her into the Indian country, but, as she
+glanced over the line of ferocious faces, she was sorry that
+he had incurred this danger. But she followed the party
+until they reached the battle-field and found it strewn with
+the slain bodies of the Sacs who had fallen, each one pierced
+by the deadly bullet.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;These ain&rsquo;t babies we are following,&rdquo; said Garrett.
+&ldquo;They kin fight, Melton&rsquo;s scout kin, and ef we lick &rsquo;em we
+lick a good crowd. How many has he got with him?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Napope extended the fingers upon both hands twice.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Twenty? We&rsquo;ve got our work cut out then, for twenty
+of Melton&rsquo;s Mounted Rifles, with the capting and Cooney
+Joe to lead, are a hard crowd to manage, bet your life.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;There was one of your men with us in this fight,&rdquo; said
+Napope, looking about him for Tom Bantry. &ldquo;But I do not
+see him now.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Who was he?&rdquo; demanded Garrett, glancing over the
+party hastily. &ldquo;Was it the one we call Tom?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Napope nodded, and Garrett uttered an oath, and a search
+was commenced for him. He was not among the dead or
+wounded, and whether he had perished or not, Bantry was
+not to be found.</p>
+<h2 id="c9"><span class="small">CHAPTER IX.</span>
+<br />THE DEFENSE OF THE ISLAND.</h2>
+<p>When the enemy had been so scattered as to leave the
+path free, the small band of rangers plunged deeper into the
+woods and kept on their course until they reached a small
+<span class="pb" id="Page_62">62</span>
+wooded swamp through which many small creeks ran, leaving
+a little island in the center, containing, perhaps, two
+acres of land. The tall trees stood thick about it, and no
+better place of defense could possibly have been selected. No
+sooner had they reached the island than they set to work
+fortifying it by piling up fallen logs into a temporary barricade,
+making it strongest upon the only point which could be
+assailed by land, as the creeks swept around it on three sides,
+leaving a space of smooth ground about twenty feet
+wide. Across this they built a strong barricade at least ten
+feet high, through the openings of which, they could fire
+upon the foe, without being themselves seen.</p>
+<p>The other parts of the island were almost impervious to
+assault, for not only did the deep creek guard it, but the
+logs had fallen all about it in inextricable confusion, making
+a <i>chevaux de frise</i> through which a corps of axmen would
+have found it extremely difficult to force their way. The
+middle of the island was cleared, leaving the path open
+for them to pass from one part to another, and they now
+waited almost eagerly for the coming of the enemy, who, as
+yet, did not appear. Cooney Joe took his rifle and stole
+out toward the clearing, and for half an hour the &ldquo;scout&rdquo;
+remained quiet, waiting in considerable anxiety for the
+coming of the hunter, whose danger they well knew. But
+he came back at a long-loping trot, his rifle at a trail, and
+his eyes flashing with the ardor of battle.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Git ready, boys,&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got business afore
+us, bet yer life.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What now, Joe?&rdquo; demanded the captain. &ldquo;Who are
+coming?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;All that&rsquo;s left of Napope&rsquo;s band and thirty of Dick Garrett&rsquo;s
+men,&rdquo; replied Joe. &ldquo;And&mdash;&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Thar&rsquo;s an Injin,&rdquo; cried one of the men. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll pop him
+over.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Hold on,&rdquo; replied Joe. &ldquo;Seems to me that chap is
+making signals that look <i>white</i>. Thar; look at that!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>An Indian had appeared in plain sight and was waving a
+white cloth in the air.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Hello, <i>you</i>!&rdquo; yelled Joe. &ldquo;Come in, ef you want
+to.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_63">63</div>
+<p>The man obeyed and came clambering over the barricade,
+and at a glance they could see that he was a white man disguised.
+It was Tom Bantry, who had escaped from associates
+with whom he could no longer consort.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Look here, men,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m Tom Bantry. You
+don&rsquo;t know <i>me</i> and mebbe you don&rsquo;t want to. I&rsquo;ve been one
+of Dick Garrett and Will Jackwood&rsquo;s men&mdash;I have. Now
+why don&rsquo;t you kill me?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t see my way to that clear,&rdquo; said Joe. &ldquo;Now, Tom
+Bantry, what d&rsquo;ye want here?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve, quit &rsquo;em,&rdquo; replied Tom, energetically. &ldquo;I couldn&rsquo;t
+stand it, boys, &rsquo;pon my word, I couldn&rsquo;t. I feel mean as dirt
+&rsquo;cause I&rsquo;ve been with &rsquo;em so long; but I tell you I didn&rsquo;t
+think they was so mean till last night when they killed poor
+Mr. Wescott.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What&rsquo;s that you say?&rdquo; cried Melton, coming forward.
+&ldquo;Who killed him; how was he killed?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Dick Garrett did it,&rdquo; replied Tom, in a choking voice.
+&ldquo;The &rsquo;square give him some cheek, and he had him throwed
+into the river. Boys, I&rsquo;m a rough boatman, but I jumped in
+after him, and they left us alone in the dark on the river. I
+tried to save him, but it wan&rsquo;t no use; the current took him
+under.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I believe this man, for one,&rdquo; said Melton. &ldquo;He never
+would dare to come here with such a tale as that unless it
+was really true. What do you say, boys?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s all right,&rdquo; replied Joe, &ldquo;but ef he ain&rsquo;t, let him look
+out, &rsquo;cause I shoot awful close, odd times; I do, by gracious.
+So Dick Garrett is jined with Napope?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That ain&rsquo;t all, you know,&rdquo; said Tom Bantry. &ldquo;They hev
+sent off a messenger to the village, and if you don&rsquo;t have
+lively times round here, then I don&rsquo;t want a picayune.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Perhaps we had better retreat.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You can&rsquo;t do it; they&rsquo;ve got scouts all through the
+woods, and you&rsquo;d hev the hull posse on your backs in twenty
+minnits by the clock, so don&rsquo;t try that on, &rsquo;square. No, it&rsquo;s
+goin&rsquo; to be a b&rsquo;ar-fight, and you can&rsquo;t find a better place than
+this to fight in.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I believe the man is right,&rdquo; said Melton. &ldquo;I say, Folks,
+is your hand so bad you can&rsquo;t pull a trigger?&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_64">64</div>
+<p>&ldquo;Sorry to say &rsquo;tis, Cap,&rdquo; replied the man; &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t do
+nothing.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>He had been hit in the hand during the fight that morning,
+and the cords had been so injured as to make it impossible
+for him to fire a rifle.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Then you may as well let this man have your rifle,
+Folks,&rdquo; said the captain. &ldquo;I take it for granted you mean
+to fight?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Stranger, I&rsquo;ve <i>got</i> to fight,&rdquo; said Bantry. &ldquo;Why, if Dick
+Garrett gets me, he&rsquo;ll raise my wool, sure, and so, ef he does
+git into this camp, I&rsquo;m goin&rsquo; out feet fust. That&rsquo;s the way to
+talk it.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He knows you have turned against him, then?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Captin, he suspects it, and to suspect a man is all <i>he</i>
+wants, you know. He&rsquo;ll go for me, sure.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The man who had been hurt came up at this moment and
+gave Bantry the rifle and ammunition.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Now, &rsquo;square, see here,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;you watch me when I
+fire the first shot, and if it don&rsquo;t seem to you that I&rsquo;ve tried
+to hit my man, I give you leave to shoot me, that&rsquo;s all. This
+is a good rifle, chummy&mdash;she hangs true as a die, and I can
+knock the black out of a buffler&rsquo;s eye at twenty rods
+with her.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>At this moment one of the sentries outside the barricade
+gave the signal, and all were immediately upon the alert.
+Melton took the charge of Bantry upon himself, and gave
+him a place in the middle of the barricade, and took his station
+beside him. The sentries came stealing in like silent
+specters, and placed themselves beside the rest in silence,
+waiting for the advance of the Indians.</p>
+<p>They had not long to wait, for a tufted head was cautiously
+protruded from behind a tree, and a pair of brilliant eyes
+looked keenly at the island. Evidently he saw something
+out of the way, for he stepped out in full view of the fort
+and advanced to within twenty feet of the barricade.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That man must not go back,&rdquo; said Melton, in a whisper,
+touching Tom Bantry on the arm, &ldquo;and no rifle must be
+fired. Can you fetch him?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Bantry caught up a knife and hatchet, and sprung from the
+barricade so suddenly that the Indian had no time to cock
+<span class="pb" id="Page_65">65</span>
+his gun before the fiery boatman was upon him. They
+closed with fierce energy, a short struggle ensued, and then
+Tom Bantry arose, leaving the Indian dead at his feet.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Well done, Bantry,&rdquo; said Melton, as the man came back
+his face scarcely flushed by the desperate struggle in which
+he had been engaged. &ldquo;You will do very well without
+watching.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve <i>got</i> to fight,&rdquo; replied Tom, coolly. &ldquo;It won&rsquo;t do for
+me to be caught, I tell you.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>By this time the Indians and disguised boatmen began to
+show themselves through the woods, and the scout opened
+upon them at once, and they skulked to the shelter of the
+bushes. But the men who had come up with the desperado
+Garrett did not know the word fear, and only waited for the
+orders of their superior to advance to the assault.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;They are fighting chickens, Cap; game birds, every
+man, now you mind what I say,&rdquo; said the deserter. &ldquo;They&rsquo;ll
+fight like bulldogs, but they&rsquo;d do better if Black Will was
+here.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The attack was not long delayed. The desperate ruffians
+collected as close as possible to the barricade, and then made
+their rush all together. They were met by men as determined
+and desperate as themselves, and forced back, leaving
+one fourth of their number dead or wounded in front of the
+barricade.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s the way Melton&rsquo;s scouts do it,&rdquo; cried the voice of
+the young captain. &ldquo;Come again, my boys.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I hear you,&rdquo; screamed Garrett, &ldquo;and we will come again.
+Now, Napope,&rdquo; he added, lowering his tone, &ldquo;we must divide
+their force. Send ten of your best men to cross the creek
+and attack them on the right. Send ten more to the left,
+and try them at the same time. The signal will be three
+rifle-shots from this point.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Their movements were not so well shrouded that Melton
+could not see the danger to be apprehended from a division
+of his forces, which was rendered necessary by this action on
+their part. But he only sent three men to each point threatened,
+one under the lead of Tom Bantry, who had already
+become quite popular, and the other under Cooney Joe. They
+darted rapidly across the little open space, while the others
+<span class="pb" id="Page_66">66</span>
+loaded their rifles and pistols and calmly waited for the assault.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Beat them off this time, and the chances are they won&rsquo;t
+want any more,&rdquo; cried Melton. &ldquo;Shoot a little closer to
+make up for the lost men, and it will be all right.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Just then they heard three rifle-shots, and a simultaneous
+movement was made against the island from three different
+points. But the foresight of Melton in sending small parties
+to the threatened points, removed the danger from the two
+parties of Indians, while his own force was not so weakened
+but that he could still present a stout front to the foe. The
+barricade rained bullets upon the advancing enemy entangled
+in the branches of the trees which formed the intrenchment,
+and crowded into the narrow space of twenty feet. No men,
+however hardy, could hope to live long under such a fire, and
+in spite of the almost superhuman exertions of Garrett, Napope
+and Na-she-eschuck, they fell back again, and took
+breath under cover of the woods.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;This is awful,&rdquo; said Garrett. &ldquo;The curse of the devil on
+them, how they do fight. I&rsquo;ve lost near half my men.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The small parties under Tom Bantry and Joe had succeeded
+in keeping their enemies at bay, and as soon as the
+main body retreated, half a dozen men ran to their aid, and
+the Indians were quickly swept away from the banks of the
+creek.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Good boys,&rdquo; said Melton. &ldquo;You could not fight better if
+you liked the sport. Now, who wants the doctor?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>No one had been badly injured. Two or three had been
+scraped by passing bullets, but a little sticking-plaster soon set
+that right, and they were as ready for a fight as ever.</p>
+<p>Garrett was furious, and while he was blaming heaven and
+earth at the ill success of his attack, a man whose face was
+flushed by a hard ride dashed through the swamp, and drew
+up before them.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Now then, what is all this?&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;I know you,
+Dick Garrett. You delight in a row so much that you are
+wasting my men in attacking a perfect fort.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;But you don&rsquo;t know who is in it, Will Jackwood,&rdquo; replied
+Garrett. &ldquo;Two men you hate&mdash;Cooney Joe and Captain
+Melton.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_67">67</div>
+<p>&ldquo;Ha, say you so? Then out of that they must come, by
+the Eternal! Keep back the men, for Black-Hawk will be
+here in half an hour with four hundred braves, and then we
+will overwhelm them. Captain Melton, eh? I always did
+detest that boy, Dick.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t love him,&rdquo; said Dick.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What is this I hear about Sam Wescott?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Gone under, Will. I had to do it, for he recognized me
+in my disguise, and some one had to go.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t care so much about that, if you did not compromise
+me. The man hated me, and while he lived there was
+no hope of winning the girl by fair means, and I always liked
+that way best. Where is the girl?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I left her on the edge of the swamp, with three of my
+best men.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;All right; where is Tom Bantry? I want to send him
+somewhere.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know what to think about him, Will, &rsquo;pon my
+word. When we slung Wescott overboard the fool jumped
+after him, and I left them both in the river. Tom got out,
+some way, and came to Napope&rsquo;s camp, but after their fight
+we could not find hide nor hair of him.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You&rsquo;ve lost the best man in the party, then, by all odds.
+Tom was the only one who had a spark of humanity in his
+composition. You are sure these men you left with the girl
+are all right?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Davis, Bradshaw and Herrick.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;They&rsquo;ll do; as true panthers as ever lapped blood. How
+many has Melton in his fort?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He <i>had</i> twenty.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Then he&rsquo;s got twenty <i>now</i>,&rdquo; said Jackwood. &ldquo;You have
+not hurt many of them in that place, for the captain knows
+how to choose a position. Send one of the Indians to Black-Hawk,
+and tell him to make haste, as we must get this little
+job off our hands.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;If you find it a little job, then there are no snakes in the
+South Red,&rdquo; said Garrett, who was incensed at the quiet way
+in which his defeat was laughed down. &ldquo;They licked Napope
+alone, and now they&rsquo;ve licked our combined forces, and
+it is no two to one they don&rsquo;t give our friend Black-Hawk
+<span class="pb" id="Page_68">68</span>
+all he can do. <i>You</i> ought to know Melton&rsquo;s scouts by this
+time.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Jackwood nodded, and a fierce look came into his face:</p>
+<p>&ldquo;If I had been here, friend Garrett, this would never have
+happened. If <i>I</i> had assailed these works, I would have taken
+them.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Then assail them now. You&rsquo;ve got the men&mdash;try it.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Dick&mdash;Dick! How lucky it is that all men are not
+swayed by impulse. You offer me a broken and discouraged
+force to perform the task you failed to achieve when they
+were in prime order. It won&rsquo;t do, Richard; too transparent
+altogether. Get the men together, see to the wounded and
+get the survivors ready for a new attack. I will lead it in
+person.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>As he spoke, the approach of dusky scouts heralded the
+coming of Black-Hawk, and directly after the old chief, surrounded
+by his principal advisers and warriors, strode into the
+camp.</p>
+<h2 id="c10"><span class="small">CHAPTER X.</span>
+<br />THE FOREST FIEND.</h2>
+<p>Will Jackwood, whose influence over the old chief had
+now become great, at once accosted him.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;The time has come, chief of the Sacs, when you may
+put forth your hand and take that which is your own, the
+band of men who have braved the power of Napope and
+his strongest men, and have even baffled my warriors. They
+laugh at us in yonder fort; let us teach them what we can
+do.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;My brother speaks good words,&rdquo; replied the chief.
+&ldquo;Let those who have axes go forward and fell trees about
+the fort upon every side so that we may cross the creek.
+Let others take their guns and protect them.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>A cordon of axmen was quickly formed, about the island,
+and the great trees came crashing down, forming
+bridges over which the great force of warriors could rush
+<span class="pb" id="Page_69">69</span>
+to the attack. The work was quickly done, and then at the
+command of the chief four hundred warriors rushed on together,
+uttering their fearful war-cries. They broke through
+the abatis of tangled limbs unopposed and reached the fort
+only to find it tenantless. The white rangers had escaped,
+how they could not tell, leaving nothing to show where they
+had departed, but all knew that it must have been in the interval
+of time which elapsed between the last attack on the
+fort and the coming of Black-Hawk. Black Will was nearly
+beside himself with anger, and a pursuit was at once commenced,
+when the trail was found. But, the &ldquo;scout&rdquo; had
+half an hour&rsquo;s start, and he feared that they would reach the
+river before they could be overtaken, and their leader&rsquo;s fertile
+brain would quickly study out some way of crossing the
+stream.</p>
+<p>Although having but little hope, Black-Hawk sent out
+a hundred of the best Sac warriors under the command of
+Ma-she-eschuck, and the pursuit was pressed with ardor.
+While this was being done, Jackwood sent Garrett with five
+men to find Sadie, and conduct her to a place of safety, strictly
+enjoining him to use her well but upon no account to suffer
+her to escape.</p>
+<p>Dick Garrett hurried his men to the spot where he had
+left Sadie, and as he approached it his countenance began to
+change for he heard nothing of the men he had left in charge
+of the girl.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Hurry up, boys,&rdquo; he cried; &ldquo;if they have lost her, I&rsquo;ll
+not be the man to go back to Black Will Jackwood and tell
+him of it. Ha! Look at that.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The three men who had been left with Sadie lay upon
+the earth under the shadow of the trees. Their faces were
+upturned to the sky, and it needed no prophet to tell that
+they were dead, and the party broke into a run and reached
+the spot. Two of them had been shot through the heart,
+evidently with pistol balls, and the third had half a dozen
+knife wounds upon him, and they saw on every hand evidences
+of a desperate struggle, while Sadie was nowhere to
+be seen. The men paused and looked at each other in unspeakable
+dismay, for they knew Jackwood too well to dare
+face him, and tell him what had happened.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_70">70</div>
+<p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;d kill me!&rdquo; screamed Garrett. &ldquo;Look here, boys;
+we&rsquo;ve got to find this girl before we go back, so take the
+trail at once, and follow. We&rsquo;ll have her back, if she is
+above ground, and avenge these poor fellows who lie dead.
+I only wish we had Tom Bantry now; he was the best scout
+among us.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What made you leave him in the river then?&rdquo; said one
+of the men, in a sullen tone. &ldquo;He won&rsquo;t come back no
+more, Tom won&rsquo;t, and like enuff he&rsquo;ll turn against us.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t be mutinous, Tracey,&rdquo; said Garrett, turning a dark
+look upon the speaker. &ldquo;You know <i>me</i>, and you know I
+never waste words. Be mighty careful; <i>I</i> would, if I was
+you.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The man understood the deadly threat implied in the
+words of his leader, and turned away muttering to him
+self.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Now Jack Fish,&rdquo; said Dick, addressing himself to another
+of the party, &ldquo;if Tracey has done growling, you take
+the trail. &rsquo;Tain&rsquo;t likely that a young and tender girl can
+keep away from us long.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The man addressed came forward, and waving the others
+back began to examine the earth to find the imprint of Sadie&rsquo;s
+feet. It was not long before he announced that he had
+found it, and that it was covered by another trail, that
+of a man in moccasins, who was apparently following her,
+and from the length of the step he should say they were
+running.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That looks as if she was afraid of the critter,&rdquo; said Garrett.
+&ldquo;Who can it be that is brave enough to attack these
+men, shoot two and kill the third with a knife and get off so
+easily? Now, I&rsquo;ll tell you what I make of this, boys. When
+this man, whoever he is, shot down two of the boys and
+rushed in on Davis with the knife, the girl was scared and
+put out for the woods. When he had finished Davis&mdash;and
+he didn&rsquo;t do it easy&mdash;he went after her, and like as not he
+hasn&rsquo;t caught her yet. Take the trail, Jack, but have your
+weapons handy.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>It was yet early in the afternoon and the trail was plain,
+as no attempt had been made to cover it. They went on at
+a trot, Jack Fish in advance, closely followed by Garrett and
+<span class="pb" id="Page_71">71</span>
+the rest, and the course led them deep into the woods to
+the right of the position which had been so nobly held by
+Melton&rsquo;s scout. Sadie was used to exercise in the open
+air and was evidently leading her pursuer a desperate chase,
+using every artifice to throw him from the trail. Garret was
+dumbfounded, for he could not understand why she should
+fly from one who had slain her enemies, but they followed
+the trail, hoping every moment to overtake the man who was
+in chase of Sadie. All at once, Jack Fish, who still held
+the advance, stopped and lifted his hand, with a low
+cry.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;See here, Dick, this gal is cute, you bet. She has throwed
+him off the trail as sure as shootin&rsquo;. Thar&rsquo;s no track but
+his&rsquo;n here.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Dick eagerly inspected the trail and was forced to arrive
+at the same conclusion.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Turn back, then,&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;We will find which way
+she has gone and follow. I will take the trail on one side
+and you on the other and we will soon pick it up again.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>They had not gone back twenty paces when Jack Fish
+stopped beside a clump of thick bushes which grew close to
+the path, and stooping, looked under them.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve found it, boys. She crept under the bushes here and
+got away from him; follow me.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>He passed through the bushes, parting them carefully, and
+upon the other side found the trail clearly defined and leading
+at a right angle from the course they had been following.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;She&rsquo;s smart,&rdquo; said Garrett, admiringly. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know as
+I blame Will for liking her, after all. She has beaten this
+fellow well, and as we don&rsquo;t want any thing from him just
+now, we&rsquo;ll follow the girl.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>They kept on swiftly, for Jack announced that Sadie was
+fatigued at this point and was no longer running. Soon
+after they reached a place where, worn out by fatigue, she
+had seated herself upon a bank and rested for a little time.
+From this point the trail became erratic, and she was evidently
+wandering up and down seeking for some course out
+of the woods, and the night found them still upon the trail
+and they camped for the night determined to take the trail
+again at early morning.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_72">72</div>
+<p>&ldquo;And we&rsquo;ll run her to earth before nine o&rsquo;clock, you
+mark my words,&rdquo; said Garrett. &ldquo;Lucky for you I am your
+leader, or you would have gone back to meet Will Jackwood.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Not if I knows it,&rdquo; said Tracey. &ldquo;Will Jackwood never
+sees me again if we don&rsquo;t find her in the morning. Now I
+think of it, where is the Indian girl?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I never thought of her,&rdquo; said Garrett. &ldquo;Can it be possible
+that <i>she</i> killed the men?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, bosh; she only had a bow and arrows and it took a
+strong man to harness Joel Davis. I&rsquo;ll be cussed if I understand
+it at all. Say, Jack, did you see any thing of the Indian
+girl&rsquo;s trail?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;She went another way from the camp, on a run too. It
+must have been some awful looking critter that tackled Joel
+Davis, to skeer the girls so.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You are right,&rdquo; said Garrett. &ldquo;Now then, as Jack has
+worked hard and we want him to lead again to-morrow,
+Tracey will keep camp for two hours and the rest of you as you
+can agree, until morning. I&rsquo;m going to have a snooze, myself.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>He wrapped himself in a blanket and threw himself down
+at the foot of a tree, while the rest in a discontented manner
+drew lots for the choice of the hours of watching. After
+this had been settled the lucky ones took their blankets and
+lay down, while Tracey lighted his pipe, moved out a short
+distance in the darkness and sat down to watch. The man
+was sullen, and had not yet got over his little brush with
+Garrett upon the fate of Tom Bantry, and he muttered to
+himself about the pride of rank which enabled Garrett to sleep,
+while he was forced to watch.</p>
+<p>They built no fire, for it was a clear summer night and
+even the blankets were scarcely needed. Tracey&rsquo;s pipe
+glowed through the night, showing those of his companions
+who yet slept, where he sat in the shadow. After a time
+the man began to doze, and did not see the dark figure that
+crawled slowly toward him until it stood erect against the
+trunk of the tree against which he was seated. A moment
+after, a long arm was stretched out and clutched his throat in
+so fell a clasp that it seemed to collapse beneath the pressure,
+and in a moment more he lay without a struggle or a groan
+supine beneath the tree.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_73">73</div>
+<p>The strange being who had done the work, bent over the
+insensible form and was busy about something for a short
+time, and then taking up the pipe which Tracey had dropped
+and which had not been extinguished, he sat down near the
+body of the fallen renegade and began to smoke, first picking
+up the cap of his victim and placing it upon his head,
+glancing now and then at the sleeping camp. When the
+pipe was smoked out he arose and stole softly to the side of
+Dick Garrett and looked down into his face.</p>
+<p>The moonlight shone full upon him, and showed a horrible
+figure of gigantic mold, covered from head to foot with a
+hairy substance, while the eyes looked fiercely from his shaggy
+eyebrows upon the sleeping ruffian. His attitude was menacing,
+and once or twice the right hand dropped to a hairy girdle
+about his waist, as if to draw a huge knife which was suspended
+there, but upon second thought he seemed to change his
+mind, and gathering up the rifles of the party, he carried them
+a little distance into the woods, and returned this time to take
+away the knives and pistols, most of which were thrown together
+in a heap, at the place where the rifles had been stacked.
+Some of the villains had their small-arms upon their
+persons, but these the intruder did not attempt to touch, and
+waving his hands triumphantly above his head, he bounded
+into the thicket, and was seen no more.</p>
+<p>Daylight came and they began to yawn and stretch themselves,
+those who ought to have gone upon guard long before,
+looking mystified at being allowed to sleep until morning.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Tracey went to sleep, that&rsquo;s all,&rdquo; said Garrett. &ldquo;Go and
+kick the brute, somebody. There is no telling what might
+have happened through his cussed carelessness.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>One of the men sprung to the spot where the recumbent
+figure of Tracey was seen, and had actually drawn back his
+foot to kick him, when he saw that his hands were tightly
+bound, and a gag thrust into his mouth. His cry of astonishment
+awoke the rest, and they quickly surrounded their fallen
+comrade, relieved him of the ligatures, and helped him to arise.
+The eyes of the man were rolling fearfully, and he gasped for
+breath.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Ha!&rdquo; he said, at last. &ldquo;A pretty set of fellows you are,
+<span class="pb" id="Page_74">74</span>
+to let a man stay in that way all night. Dunderheads&mdash;sleepers&mdash;ten
+thousand curses on your heads!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Steady, Tracey,&rdquo; said Garrett. &ldquo;What does this
+mean?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It means you are a lot of lazy thieves, or you would have
+found this out four hours ago.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Who did it?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;How do I know? I was sitting there smoking my pipe,
+when I felt a great hairy hand upon my throat, and I was
+choking. Then I lost my senses, and when I came to myself,
+I was lying here, anchored to the tree, and unable to
+move hand or foot.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Why didn&rsquo;t you sing out?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Why didn&rsquo;t I fly?&rdquo; retorted Tracey, angrily. &ldquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t
+be a fool if I were you, Dick Garrett. Oh, curse the hand,
+whoever it was. Where&rsquo;s my rifle?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The question naturally drew their attention to their own
+weapons, and as they noted the loss, curses both loud and
+deep were vented upon the head of the being who had done
+this injury to them. Garrett actually foamed at the mouth
+in his anger, and ran in a frantic manner up and down the
+camp, cursing Tracey, their unknown enemy, any thing and
+every thing under the sun, in no measured terms.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s it,&rdquo; said Tracey. &ldquo;Curse your own sleepy heads,
+and let me alone.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Look for sign, Jack Fish,&rdquo; said Garrett, turning to their
+trailer. &ldquo;Tell me who has done this?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s the same man that killed the boys, and then followed
+Miss Sadie,&rdquo; said Jack. &ldquo;Hyar&rsquo;s his trail, plain as writing,
+and I&rsquo;ll be cussed if it don&rsquo;t beat me to tell whether he&rsquo;s
+man or beast.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He shall not beat me,&rdquo; hissed Dick Garrett. &ldquo;Take the
+trail of the girl and follow, for we&rsquo;ll have her now, rifles or
+no rifles.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The trailer obeyed without a word, and they started out
+upon the trail. But, as they emerged from the woods and
+entered a great clearing, every man paused in alarm, for
+there, just in front, and covering them with one of their own
+rifles, while the rest lay at his feet, stood the hairy monster
+who had stolen in upon their camp the night before.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_75">75</div>
+<p>&ldquo;Stop!&rdquo; he cried, in a hoarse, unnatural voice. &ldquo;For
+your lives, stop. Move hand or foot and you are dead!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>They halted, and stood facing the leveled tube, trembling
+in every joint, while the fierce eyes, glancing along the brown
+barrel, held them enthralled.</p>
+<h2 id="c11"><span class="small">CHAPTER XI.</span>
+<br />BLACK-HAWK KEEPS HIS WORD.</h2>
+<p>We left Sadie in charge of those desperadoes, while the
+battle in the swamp was progressing. They were sulky at
+not being allowed to take part in the fight, and only returned
+gruff answers to her questions, while keeping a strict watch
+upon the girls.</p>
+<p>They stood under a great tree, whose spreading branches,
+loaded with foliage, were impenetrable to the eye, and would
+have formed a secure hiding-place, and none of them saw the
+long, hairy arm extended, until a double report stretched two
+of the guards dead upon the sod. Then came a rustling
+sound, and the gigantic being, who afterward appeared to the
+men of Garrett in the woods, bounded from the tree, holding
+in his hand a gleaming knife. With a scream of horror,
+Sadie fled into the forest, and Minneoba, believing that she
+saw a demon of the lower world, also turned in flight, but
+paused upon the edge of the woods, and looked back to see
+a fearful duel between the man named Davis and the strange
+being who sprung from the tree. They seemed to be complete
+masters of their weapons, and for a moment the issue
+seemed doubtful, but the gigantic strength of the unknown
+prevailed, and Davis fell, covered with many wounds. The
+victor stood erect, and seeing that Sadie had fled, uttered a
+hoarse cry, and fixing his eyes upon her trail, bounded away
+in pursuit. Minneoba, like all Indian girls, was superstitious,
+and believed that it would be death to follow the wild being
+into the woods, and turning, hurried on toward Black-Hawk&rsquo;s
+camp, intending to ask aid from him in the recovery of her
+<span class="pb" id="Page_76">76</span>
+friend. Sadie, in the mean time, had put all the distance she
+could between herself and the hideous being who had assailed
+her guards, and was hurried in her flight by hearing his deep
+voice crying out after her, as she rushed on.</p>
+<p>She tried every trick of wood-craft which she had learned
+from her father&mdash;who was a skillful scout&mdash;when she became
+certain that the horrible creature was really in pursuit. How
+she finally eluded him by creeping beneath the bushes, and
+then turning away from the course she had been pursuing, we
+have before seen, and late in the afternoon she found herself
+in the midst of a deep forest, pathless as the sea, not knowing
+which way to turn. She was alone&mdash;alone in the
+depths of that untrodden wilderness, the haunt of wild
+beasts and the hunter who followed them, without a weapon
+or guide. Never, perhaps, was a tenderly-nurtured woman
+placed in so strange a situation before. Look which way she
+would, there seemed to be no hope of succor. Strange
+sights and sounds were heard, slimy snakes crept softly over
+the leaves, great birds flitted through the branches, and she
+heard the cry of the wildcat and panther in the distance.
+Wearied and hopeless, she sunk down upon a mossy knoll,
+and almost wished she had not fled from the monster who
+followed her. But it would not do to remain there, and she
+rose and staggered on her way, hoping against hope that
+something would happen to give her aid.</p>
+<p>She was nearly famished, and coming upon a place where
+the succulent bulb known as the &ldquo;ground-nut&rdquo; grew in profusion,
+she set to work and dug up the bulbs with her fingers,
+following the white stems in their various turnings among the
+roots until she found the article she sought. It took a long
+time to satisfy her hunger, as the nuts were not larger than a
+rifle ball, and were hard to find, and then she began to look
+about for a place of rest, as it would soon be dark. She
+reached a great opening, in the center of which a huge pile
+of logs and brush was heaped, and removing some of these,
+made a couch for herself among the branches, drew others
+over her head, and resigned herself to an All-protecting
+Power. Even in times of difficulty and danger sleep will
+come to the weary, and she lost consciousness, and no longer
+feared her enemies. Morning came and found the sweet girl
+<span class="pb" id="Page_77">77</span>
+still sleeping, when she was suddenly aroused by a harsh
+voice crying out a deadly menace, and peeping from her
+place of concealment, saw the Forest Fiend facing the knot
+of helpless scoundrels under the leadership of Dick Garrett.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It is a man, after all,&rdquo; she murmured. &ldquo;Perhaps I would
+have done better to have let him overtake me, for it seems he
+fights against these villains. Perhaps he is mad, poor
+creature!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Let&rsquo;s make a rush on him altogether, boys,&rdquo; whispered
+Garrett. &ldquo;Curse it, five men ought to whip one.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;But he&rsquo;s got the rifles, the critter,&rdquo; whined Tracey. &ldquo;I
+tell you that if you had been in his grip once, you wouldn&rsquo;t
+be so ready to try him again. He&rsquo;s got a hold like an iron
+vice, that devil has.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t try to run,&rdquo; cried the Forest Fiend. &ldquo;It will not
+be safe; he who flies first, dies first!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What do you want from us?&rdquo; screamed Garrett. &ldquo;Do
+you know who I am, curse you?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I know you,&rdquo; replied the strange being, wildly. &ldquo;You
+are a murderer and a robber, and deserve death for a hundred
+crimes. Why don&rsquo;t you come on? what are you afraid
+of? You tremble at the sight of the Forest Fiend, murderer
+that you are.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Won&rsquo;t you back me, boys?&rdquo; hissed Garrett; &ldquo;I tell you
+I&rsquo;ll be the first to rush at him, if you will agree to follow.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He can kill three of us before we get within striking distance,&rdquo;
+replied Jack Fish. &ldquo;I guess we had better give up
+boys; maybe he&rsquo;ll let us off.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Garrett heard what he said, and thrusting his hand into
+the bosom of his hunting-shirt, drew a long double-barreled
+pistol, his eyes gleaming with rage.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You&rsquo;d turn traitor, would you?&rdquo; he screamed. &ldquo;Now
+see here, rush on that devil, you and Tracey, or I shoot you
+where you stand.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t do it, Dick,&rdquo; pleaded Jack Fish, dropping on his
+knees. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll fight any thing human, but not that dreadful
+creature. Don&rsquo;t force us on him, for the love of God.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll do it,&rdquo; replied Garrett, fiercely. &ldquo;Up and at him,
+you base hounds; up, I say!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Goaded on by fear of the weapon of their leader, the men
+<span class="pb" id="Page_78">78</span>
+sprung on, catching up clubs as they ran. But when they
+had gained a hundred feet from the weapon of Garrett, and
+where it would scarcely reach them, they threw up their
+hands in token of submission, and fell upon their faces. The
+Forest Fiend fired over them, and a man who stood at Garrett&rsquo;s
+elbow fell, shot through the heart. The others, who
+had each a pistol, seeing that nothing was to be gained by
+flight, rushed at the immovable figure of their enemy, who
+caught up another weapon and fired again, killing the foremost
+man. Garrett saw that there was no hope, and calling
+to the last man, sprung toward the thicket. Hearing the
+crack of the rifle, he turned back and saw his friend fall,
+while the stern executioner caught up another rifle and leveled
+it. As the bullet sped, Garrett sprung into the air and
+fell upon his face, just as Jack Fish and Tracey, who had
+taken advantage of their opportunity, reached the thicket in
+safety.</p>
+<p>Their terrible adversary sprung toward the fallen leader
+without waiting to reload his weapon or take up a new one,
+but to his rage Garrett uttered a loud laugh of derision and
+sprung to his feet, and the next moment the leaves concealed
+him from view. He had been &ldquo;playing &rsquo;possum,&rdquo; and was
+not hurt in the least, as he had managed to fall just in time
+to escape the well-aimed bullet. The Forest Fiend darted
+back for a rifle, but he was a moment too late, although he
+fired into the thicket, and then, snatching up a powder-horn
+and bullet-pouch, darted away in pursuit.</p>
+<p>The moment he was gone Sadie came out of her place of
+concealment, selected a rifle and ammunition from the heap,
+and hurried away, glad of the opportunity to get out of a
+dangerous neighborhood. She could not control her fear
+of the strange being who had come to her aid so opportunely,
+and continued her flight until she felt safe from pursuit,
+and then sat down, panting, loaded the rifle which
+she had taken, and prepared to defend herself from any assault.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Who and what is that wonderful being?&rdquo; she murmured.
+&ldquo;How brave he is; how little he cared for that gang
+of desperate scoundrels, who were doubtless in pursuit of
+us! Oh, I hope he may overtake Richard Garrett and
+<span class="pb" id="Page_79">79</span>
+avenge the murder of my poor father! Melton, where are
+you? Have you fallen a victim to these base wretches who
+regard human life as a plaything? God forbid!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>As she was rising to proceed upon her way she heard a
+slight rustle among the bushes, and grasping her rifle turned
+in the direction of the sound. But she dropped the weapon
+with a cry of delight, for the bushes parted and Minneoba
+suddenly appeared and ran to her white sister, clasping her
+in her arms.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Sadie, my sister,&rdquo; she said, softly kissing her again and
+again. &ldquo;The heart of Minneoba has been very sad. She
+feared that the evil demon of the woods had destroyed the
+Wild Rose, and that her poor Indian sister would never see
+the face she loved again.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>If Minneoba was delighted, how much greater was the
+joy of Sadie, who could now hope to escape from the toils
+of her enemies, for she knew that the forest was to the Indian
+girl as easy to tread as a ball-room floor for her. She
+returned the caresses showered upon her, and for a moment
+the two girls forgot that aught of evil or danger hung over
+them.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I have been to my father&rsquo;s camp,&rdquo; said Minneoba, &ldquo;and
+many warriors are searching for you. Black-Hawk loves
+the Wild Rose for her father&rsquo;s sake, and will give her a
+shelter. His heart is very sad because the men of Garrett
+have killed the good white man, but what can he do? The
+war has commenced and the warriors would say he had
+turned woman if he was angry at the death of a white man.
+Let us go.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The two girls set out together, threading the mazes of the
+forest with an ease which only a forest life could impart, the
+Indian girl taking the advance, and chatting merrily with
+her companion as she proceeded. They had not gone far
+when they were met by two warriors, who expressed their
+satisfaction in their peculiar manner, and at once led the
+way to the river, which was not far away, and where a
+canoe was waiting in which they descended the stream, a
+distance of about three miles, landed upon a green point,
+and assisted Sadie to leave the canoe, which was then carefully
+concealed by leaves and brush. This done, the warriors
+<span class="pb" id="Page_80">80</span>
+again led the way, the two girls following, and they
+came suddenly upon a great camp of the Indians. More
+than four hundred people, principally fighting braves, although
+there was a small number of women and children,
+were resting in the beautiful glade, most of them engaged in
+cleaning their weapons and getting ready for the battle
+which was to come. Black-Hawk and Will Jackwood were
+conversing together apart from the rest, and the latter started
+forward with a look of delight as he saw Sadie, and advanced
+at once, closely followed by Black-Hawk.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Welcome to the Indian camp, Sadie,&rdquo; said Jackwood,
+endeavoring to take her hand. &ldquo;You can not tell how unhappy
+I have been since I knew that you were lost.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>She took no notice of his extended hand, but went on to
+meet Black-Hawk, who greeted her kindly.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Let the Wild Rose rest under the shelter of a Sac lodge,&rdquo;
+he said. &ldquo;Black-Hawk has been driven from the places
+he loved by the white men, but he can not forget that
+there are just white men, who would not do a wrong to the
+simple Indian. Such a man was the father of the Wild
+Rose.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk,&rdquo; said Sadie, as she took the proffered hand,
+&ldquo;when my father drove away the bad men who sought your
+life, you promised to be a friend to us. Now the time has
+come for you to keep your word.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Black-Hawk is not a white man, to speak with a double
+tongue. What he has spoken&mdash;he <i>has</i> spoken. Let the
+Wild Rose ask what she will from Black-Hawk, and if it is
+in his power, she shall have what she asks.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;My father is dead,&rdquo; she said, mournfully. &ldquo;The bad men
+who follow William Jackwood, killed him because he would
+not kneel to them or beg for his life. Now, Jackwood follows
+me and I fear him, and I ask the protection of the great
+chief from this bad man.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Has the son of Red-Bird lied to me?&rdquo; cried Black-Hawk,
+sternly. &ldquo;He told me that the Wild Rose loved him and
+would come into his lodge gladly.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He has lied,&rdquo; she answered. &ldquo;He knows that I hate
+him above all men on earth, and that I would die sooner than
+permit myself to be his wife.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_81">81</div>
+<p>&ldquo;Be careful, girl,&rdquo; hissed Jackwood. &ldquo;You will raise a
+tempest which you can not quell, if you do not look out.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I have no fear of the result. Any thing would be preferable
+to a union with such a wretch as you are.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Look you, Black-Hawk,&rdquo; cried Jackwood, turning fiercely
+upon the chief. &ldquo;When I agreed to aid you, remember that
+I told you that this girl must be mine and you promised that
+I should have my will.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That was when Black-Hawk believed that the Wild Rose
+loved you,&rdquo; replied Black-Hawk. &ldquo;She has asked for my
+protection and it is given. Let the son of Red-Bird seek
+another mate; the Wild Rose is not for him.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>A tempest of furious passions raged in the heart of William
+Jackwood. At any other time or place he would have
+shot the old chief down without any remorse, and even here,
+in the midst of his warriors, he was tempted to do it, even
+at the risk of his own life. With a mighty effort he restrained
+himself, and turned away with a malevolent glance
+at Sadie, which she returned by one of defiance.</p>
+<p>Several of the principal braves were looking on, and there
+was some murmuring, for these men recognized the good old
+maxim&mdash;&lsquo;to the victor belong the spoils.&rsquo; While they stood
+thus, there was heard a triumphant shout upon the river, and
+several men started away to see what it meant. They were
+soon heard coming back, and directly after a compact body
+of men, those who followed Will Jackwood, poured into the
+camp, leading in their midst, as prisoners, Captain Melton,
+Cooney Joe and Tom Bantry. A look of ferocious joy
+beamed upon the face of Will Jackwood, for he saw a chance
+for revenge.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_82">82</div>
+<h2 id="c12"><span class="small">CHAPTER XII.</span>
+<br />SADIE&rsquo;S SACRIFICE.</h2>
+<p>The prisoners marched firmly, and not a cheek blanched
+as they saw where they were led and realized the fearful
+danger in which they stood. Will Jackwood started forward
+and addressed one of his subordinates, who, for the time
+being, had been in command of the band.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Did <i>you</i> take them, Justin? If you can say that you
+did so without aid from the Indians, then you may ask any
+thing you like at my hands.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Nary red,&rdquo; replied the man. &ldquo;We caught them crossing
+the river in a canoe, and pounced on &rsquo;em almost before they
+could lift a hand, but that Cooney Joe laid out Jack Ferguson,
+and Saul Sloan has got a bad wound in the shoulder, from
+Melton&rsquo;s knife. Is that satisfactory?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Excellent! Black-Hawk, I claim these prisoners as my
+own, as my men took them without help.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;They are yours,&rdquo; replied Black-Hawk. &ldquo;An Indian
+chief knows how to be just.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Now then, Captain Charles Melton, you are in my power;
+do you understand, in my power! You shall rue the day
+when you dared come between me and the woman I love.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What do you mean, renegade?&rdquo; replied the young scout.
+&ldquo;I never wronged you in my life.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Perhaps; we shall see how it turns out. Keep them
+safe, boys; set a double guard upon them, and for your lives,
+let none escape. Ah, my good, valiant, chivalric Joe, how
+you will repent having raised your hand against me.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I do repent, Will,&rdquo; said Joe, quietly. &ldquo;I repent most
+awfully. I ought to have lifted yer ha&rsquo;r on the spot, by
+gracious. &rsquo;Twould have served you just right, and saved a
+good deal of trouble.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Take them away, boys, take them away. Ha; don&rsquo;t let
+the girl speak to them or she will contrive some way to set
+<span class="pb" id="Page_83">83</span>
+them free. Look out for Minneoba above all others, for she
+is as cute as the devil. Miss Sadie, do I deceive myself when
+I think that you will not <i>now</i> disdain to hold some conversation
+with me?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What do you wish to say to me, sir?&rdquo; replied Sadie, who
+saw the dreadful peril of her friends, and wished to save
+them if possible.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Say to Black-Hawk that you wish to speak to me apart
+from the rest and he will give you permission. I see a way
+in which you can save these men.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>She spoke to the chief, who nodded kindly, and she followed
+Black Will a little distance from the camp.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That is far enough,&rdquo; she said, pausing under a great tree.
+&ldquo;What have you to say to me?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Change your way of speaking; be more complaisant to
+me, my dear girl, for the more kindly you use me the better
+it will be for yonder men who are doomed beyond hope if
+I so much as lift a finger. First of all&mdash;do you love this
+Captain Melton?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;He has never spoken to me,&rdquo; replied Sadie. &ldquo;How do I
+know that he cares for me?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That is not the question at issue. Do you love him?
+That is what I asked.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;How can I answer that, when I do not know my own
+heart? He is a brave and good man, and I could love him
+dearly if he loved me as well. I will say no more upon that
+point.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;At least you care enough for him to wish to save his
+life?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Yes&mdash;yes; I would do almost any thing for that,&rdquo; she replied,
+eagerly.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It has gone as far as that, has it? My dear girl, you are
+further gone than you imagined. Now, I do not wish to be
+incumbered by prisoners. If we can not come to terms, I
+shall find it necessary to put these fellows out of the way,
+and shall certainly do so. There are many ways in which to
+do this, and my friends the Indians will doubtless be happy
+to take the laboring oar out of my hands.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Do you mean that you would be base enough to give them
+up to the torture?&rdquo; she cried.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_84">84</div>
+<p>&ldquo;Undoubtedly, my Indian friends might find it in their
+hearts to burn them if they only had them. I was present
+at a spectacle of this kind, the other day, where they barbecued
+a traitorous Indian. It was not pretty, and I may say
+did not amuse me after the first gush, and I went so far as to
+kill the poor fellow with my own hand, to put him out of his
+pain. It would distress me very much to see any of your
+friends in a like delicate situation.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What do you ask of me, William Jackwood? Do you
+wish to drive me mad? You could not&mdash;<i>could</i> not be so
+base.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I would do any thing for revenge,&rdquo; replied the man,
+hoarsely. &ldquo;I tell you, upon my honor as a man, that if you
+do not promise to be my wife&mdash;I know that you will keep
+your word&mdash;these men shall all die as I have said. Make that
+promise, and upon the day when you become my wife, all shall
+be set free except one.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Which one do you mean?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Tom Bantry; he is a cursed traitor.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That man must be saved, at all hazards,&rdquo; replied Sadie,
+firmly. &ldquo;Of all your villainous band, William Jackwood, he
+alone showed a spark of pity when my unhappy father was
+cast into the furious flood, bound and helpless. What I would
+not do for love I will do for gratitude, and I give you my
+hand, if you will swear upon your honor that these men shall
+go free, and at once.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You are sensible,&rdquo; he said, eagerly. &ldquo;I had not hoped
+that you would yield so easily, and I will make it the study
+of my life to make you happy as&mdash;&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Silence! Give me your promise and I will give you
+mine.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I swear by the only things I hold pure&mdash;the memory of
+my mother and my love for you&mdash;that these men shall all be
+spared.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;And I promise to be your wife, if we both live. Oh,
+God, forgive me if I do wrong in this, but I can not see these
+brave men sacrificed, who have come into this deadly peril
+for my sake. William Jackwood, understand me fully, and
+do not say in the after times that I deceived you. I hate
+you&mdash;I shall always hate you&mdash;but I will be your wife.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_85">85</div>
+<p>&ldquo;All right,&rdquo; said Jackwood, with a light laugh. &ldquo;I will
+try to change your opinion of me when we are married. And
+now you are at liberty, and I will leave it to you to tell Black-Hawk
+that you have changed your mind, while I prepare to
+leave him. The chief has not used me well, and I do not
+fight the battles of those who do not treat me as a friend.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>She went away with drooping head, and he stood in the
+same spot, moodily tapping his boot-leg with a small switch
+he carried. He was not fully satisfied, although he had gained
+the stake for which he had been playing so long. She had
+told him that she hated him, and had as good as said she
+loved Charles Melton, and yet had promised to be his wife.
+As he stood there, a man panting for breath and bleeding
+from several wounds, rushed up to him, and in his disfigured
+countenance he saw something which reminded him of Dick
+Garrett, and stopped him.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Dick, what is the matter?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Played out!&rdquo; replied Dick, dropping exhausted on the sod.
+&ldquo;Give me some rum, for I am half dead.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Jackwood put his flask to the mouth of the exhausted man
+and he drank long and eagerly, and drew a deep breath of relief.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Ah-h-h! That goes to the spot, Will. I&rsquo;ve had a long
+run&mdash;chased by the devil&rsquo;s kid, and it&rsquo;s a mercy that I have
+got in alive. It all came of chasing that accursed girl, who
+got into the woods.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It was not your fault, Dick,&rdquo; said Jackwood. &ldquo;Minneoba
+came in and told us about it, and we sent out parties
+after her, and one of them picked her up.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Take care of her yourself, after this,&rdquo; panted Dick. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve
+seen the devil to-day, and fought him, and I don&rsquo;t want any
+more.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Where are the rest of your men?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Gone under, I reckon. Jack Fish and Tracey got into
+the woods, and the rest are dead. I had to play &rsquo;possum, or
+I would have been cooked, too. Give me another drink, and
+I&rsquo;ll tell you about it.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Jackwood gave him the flask, and for a moment nothing
+was heard except the musical gurgle of the liquor. When
+he lowered it, a considerable vacuum existed in the vessel,
+<span class="pb" id="Page_86">86</span>
+and he told the story of the chase after Sadie with many expletives
+not necessary to set down here. When he had
+finished the tale he did the same with the liquor, and stood
+up.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You are wounded, Dick!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Nothing of much account. I&rsquo;ve been cut and scratched
+in diving through the brushes, for that hairy cuss chased me
+almost into camp. I thought he&rsquo;d never give it up.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know who or what it can be,&rdquo; said Jackwood,
+musingly, &ldquo;and I don&rsquo;t care much. Go and wash the blood
+from your face, and then get the men together, for we must
+leave this camp. It is all up with Black-Hawk, for Atkinson
+has come with an army, and he will clean out the Indians in
+the twinkling of an eye.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Garrett moved away slowly, and Jackwood advanced to
+the side of Black-Hawk, who was talking with Sadie. She
+did not look at him as he came up, but Minneoba faced him
+boldly, with her pretty face showing the utmost anger and
+contempt.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;What has the son of Red-Bird said to frighten the Wild
+Rose?&rdquo; she cried, angrily. &ldquo;He is a coward and no brave.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You had better send your daughter away, Black-Hawk,&rdquo;
+said Jackwood, quietly. &ldquo;I have borne insults enough in
+this camp, and will not stay here.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;The son of Red-Bird promised to stay and fight for his
+red brothers,&rdquo; said Black-Hawk, reproachfully, &ldquo;and when
+he sees the enemy in sight he runs away like a frightened
+hound. It is well; Black-Hawk would not have any except
+brave men follow him.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It is false, Indian,&rdquo; cried Will Jackwood. &ldquo;Here, in the
+midst of your wild band, I defy you to prove that while you
+were true to me, I failed to do my duty like a man. But
+when you dared to take away my prisoner, my wife that is
+to be, in that day I leave you, never to return.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Go,&rdquo; replied Black-Hawk. &ldquo;I have been deceived in
+the son of Red-Bird. His father died in the white man&rsquo;s
+prison, and now he basely turns away when the battle is
+nigh.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Stay with me, Wild Rose,&rdquo; cried Minneoba. &ldquo;My father
+is a strong chief and will protect you from harm.&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_87">87</div>
+<p>&ldquo;I can not&mdash;I dare not,&rdquo; replied Sadie. &ldquo;If I stay with
+you, my friends, who are his prisoners, must die.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;My father will take them away from him,&rdquo; said Minneoba,
+looking pleadingly at the old chief.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Let him do so&mdash;let him make himself a dog, if he dares,&rdquo;
+replied Jackwood. &ldquo;I will tell his baseness throughout the
+tribes, and not a man of them all dare look me in the face
+until I am righted.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The chief hung his head, for he had pledged his sacred
+word that Jackwood should keep his prisoners. The scoundrel
+knew his character too well to doubt for a moment that
+the Indian would keep his word, and let them go away with
+the prisoners. Minneoba pleaded in vain, and with loud lamenting,
+followed the compact force of Jackwood to the edge
+of the forest, and saw them go away with the prisoners, closely
+guarded, and Sadie walking by the side of William Jackwood,
+with a hard, bitter look upon her beautiful face. Garrett,
+who recovered quickly from every evil, turned about
+and blew a kiss at Minneoba, who at once fitted an arrow to
+the string, and would have sent it after him, but that he took
+shelter among the men, laughing.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;The world is all before us where to choose,&rsquo; boys,&rdquo; said
+Jackwood, &ldquo;but one thing is certain, if this thing goes against
+the Indians, and of course it will, this territory won&rsquo;t be very
+healthy for us. What do you say?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ll find a place to live, Cap,&rdquo; replied Garrett. &ldquo;The
+world owes us a living, and we&rsquo;ll have it too, or else make
+trouble.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you think we had better find a hiding-place and
+see what is going to happen? There will be pretty pickings
+for us if the day should, by any chance, favor the Indians,
+even for a time.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I know the place you mean, Cap,&rdquo; said Jack Fish, who
+had come in before they marched. &ldquo;The neatest hiding-place
+in the West.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;How far away?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;&rsquo;Bout six mile, I reckon.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Lead the way, then.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Fish took the advance, and Jackwood assisted the weary
+steps of Sadie over the rugged road before them. It led
+<span class="pb" id="Page_88">88</span>
+through tangled thickets, under trees which had been the
+growth of centuries, and ended in a circular forest opening,
+so difficult to reach, that Black Will was obliged to carry Sadie
+in places, so worn out had she become.</p>
+<p>The grass was green in the little glade, and the birds
+were singing, as one by one the troop came out from beneath
+the canopy of leaves, and gained a footing on the level
+turf.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Jack Fish,&rdquo; said the renegade, &ldquo;you have deserved well
+of your country. I could live here forever. Here we rest,
+until the thing is decided one way or another.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;How will we live?&rdquo; queried Garrett.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;The woods are full of game, and we will kill it so far
+from the camp, that no one will suspect us of being here.
+Captain Melton, will you give me your word of honor not to
+try to escape, provided I free your arms?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Melton was about to refuse, but catching Sadie&rsquo;s eye, he
+changed his mind, and made the required promise. It was
+not extended to Tom Bantry, and Cooney Joe, who were
+tightly bound, and placed under guard. Sadie was coming
+forward with the intention of speaking to Melton, when the
+bushes parted near her, and the face of the demon of the
+woods appeared, peeping out among the leaves.</p>
+<h2 id="c13"><span class="small">CHAPTER XIII.</span>
+<br />GUESTS NOT INVITED.</h2>
+<p>Sadie was not easily frightened, but it required the effort
+of all her resolution to keep her from uttering a cry of
+alarm. The young captain saw that she was deeply moved and
+ascribed it to her grief at the situation in which she found
+herself placed. But she recovered herself by a great effort
+of the will and came forward, giving her hand frankly to the
+man she loved and who loved her as dearly.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I am deeply grieved that you have come into this danger
+for my sake, Charles,&rdquo; she said, softly. &ldquo;But have no
+<span class="pb" id="Page_89">89</span>
+fear, for I will save you at any hazard. Indeed, it is done
+already, for I have given my word and you are safe.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Safe! What do you mean, Sadie; what promise have
+you given?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Do not be angry with me, Charles,&rdquo; she said, sadly. &ldquo;I
+am sorry that it is forced upon me but&mdash;I have promised to
+be the wife of William Jackwood.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Black Will! Gracious heaven, Sadie, it cannot be. What
+madness is this?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I was forced to do it. They threatened you and your
+brave companions with a horrible death. I had no one near
+to advise me and I could not&mdash;I could not see you die.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You should have spoken to me first,&rdquo; he cried, wildly.
+&ldquo;You knew that I loved you. I have never dared to tell
+you until now, and ought to have spoken. What is death to
+dishonor? What a life you have doomed yourself to
+bear, that I may live. I would sooner die a thousand deaths
+than bear this bitter burden.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Charles!&rdquo; she cried. &ldquo;You make my load too heavy
+for me to bear. How could I see those who had incurred
+this peril for me, given up to satisfy the bloody passions of
+these desperate men. My father is dead&mdash;I am alone in the
+world and my life would have been a weary one at best, if
+I had refused to yield. He told me that if I was obstinate,
+I should stand by and see you suffer. I could not have borne
+that, at any rate.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You should have remained in the camp of Black-Hawk,
+who is a brave man, although an Indian. My dear girl, I
+can not blame you for what you have done. It was in all
+kindness of heart, but it was wrong for you to yield. The
+lives of men who are ready at any time to die for the right
+should be as a feather&rsquo;s weight compared to your sacrifice.
+As I say, so would Joe Bent and Tom Bantry, who are more
+hated by these men than I am.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Can you not escape?&rdquo; she whispered. &ldquo;But no&mdash;I forgot.
+My word is pledged to this bad man and that I hold
+sacred. But I shall not deem it a crime to take his life, and
+although he may claim my hand he shall never have a
+wife&rsquo;s duty from me&mdash;for I hate him&mdash;oh, how I hate him!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The white teeth clicked together fiercely as she spoke,
+<span class="pb" id="Page_90">90</span>
+and Black Will, who was listening, laughed a low, bitter laugh,
+full of malice.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Sorry to interfere in a social meeting of this kind,&rdquo; he
+said, advancing, &ldquo;but your language is disgusting to your
+future husband, my dear Sadie. Captain Melton, if I hear
+any more language of this kind from you, I shall have you
+bound and gagged, for I will not endure it.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;If you do that it absolves me from my promise, for you
+gave me your word to treat them well,&rdquo; said Sadie.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I will not give you even that loop-hole from which to
+escape,&rdquo; said Black Will, after a pause. &ldquo;I leave the camp
+to-day in search of a man who is at one of the Indian stations,
+a Lutheran missionary. Let me say to you that he is
+a man who would not perform the ceremony if you offer a
+word of objection, and that you have only to say &lsquo;no,&rsquo; and
+that ceremony will cease and one of another kind commence,
+for as there is a sky above us I will take your friends out
+and hang them before your eyes. Git my horse, Jack
+Fish.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>The man obeyed, and after giving some orders to Dick
+Garrett in a low tone, the renegade mounted and rode away
+through the wood.</p>
+<p>Two days passed, and they heard nothing of him. Upon
+the afternoon of the third he came into camp accompanied
+by a pale, intellectual-looking man in the dress of a clergyman,
+who looked mildly about on the wild group in the
+camp, evidently surprised to find himself in such a place.
+He was at once conducted to one of the brush cabins which
+had been built up by the men, while Black Will dismounted
+and ordered that Melton and the other prisoners should be
+removed into the woods a short distance from the camp, for
+he knew the missionary too well to believe that he would
+perform the ceremony if he had any doubt of the willingness
+of the lady to do her part, and Black Will feared the prisoners
+might let him know the true state of the case.</p>
+<p>Five men accompanied the prisoners into the woods, with
+orders to shoot them down at the first attempt to escape.
+When this was done Black Will approached the brush cabin
+in which Sadie spent the time, and called her out.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I have returned,&rdquo; he said, cheerfully. &ldquo;You must excuse
+<span class="pb" id="Page_91">91</span>
+me for staying away from you so long, but I found it
+difficult to find the missionary.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I only wish you had never found him or had received
+your just deserts, sir,&rdquo; was the somewhat unpromising reply.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;My deserts; I deserve better treatment at your hands, I
+think.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Twelve feet of rope and a tree would suit you better,&rdquo;
+she replied. &ldquo;Do not deceive yourself by the belief that I
+shall ever change in my regard for you. The most slimy
+reptile which crawls through the swamp would be to me a
+more pleasant companion. I give my hand to you to save
+my friends, but never my heart with it.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>He stood moodily before her, tapping his boot with the
+riding-whip he carried.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I have half a mind to refuse your hand upon these
+terms,&rdquo; he said, gloomily, without raising his eyes from the
+earth upon which they were bent. &ldquo;Your language is horrible
+to one to whom you are about to join yourself for life,
+and the day will surely come when you will repent it bitterly.
+There, I will say no more now; but, in half an hour
+I shall come for you and we will be married.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You need not fear but I will keep my word,&rdquo; she said.
+&ldquo;Will you keep yours as well?&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I never broke it yet to friend or foe,&rdquo; was his answer,
+&ldquo;and I do not mean to commence now. When you have
+given me your hand in marriage, these men shall have two
+days&rsquo; grace, but if I catch them after that, woe be to them,
+that is all.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>He turned upon his heel and left her to her own reflections,
+which were not of the most pleasant type. At times
+she doubted her firmness in the hour of trial, and whether
+she would not give way in the presence of the missionary,
+but the thought of his fearful threat against her lover and
+friends nerved her, and she determined to bear up as bravely
+as she could, and make the sacrifice for their safety. She
+would have liked to see Melton once before the ceremony,
+but feared that she was not strong enough to endure the
+meeting. While she sat there with her face buried in her
+hands, Black Will came for her.</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_92">92</div>
+<p>&ldquo;There is one favor I would ask you,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;and it
+is one you can easily grant. You know I love Charles Melton,
+but all thoughts of him must pass in the moment when
+I put my hand in yours. Under the circumstances he must
+not see me again, and I could not bear to see him.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Agreed; you shall not see him, and if he dares to attempt
+an interview when you are once my wife, it will be the
+worse for him. I have removed him already, and they wait
+in the woods until the ceremony is over, when they shall be
+allowed to go where they will.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;That will do, sir. Now I am ready, if you will not relent.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>He shook his head savagely, and taking her hand led
+her out into the open space among the trees. The band
+were standing carelessly about, looking on as the two took
+their station before the missionary, who advanced book in
+hand and stood before them.</p>
+<p>He recited that portion of the ritual which was necessary before
+he asked the question, &ldquo;and if any know just cause or reason
+why these should not be joined together in the bands of holy
+wedlock, let them now speak or forever after hold their
+peace,&rdquo; when the crowd scattered before the rush of a strong
+man, and the gigantic figure of the Forest Fiend sprung into
+the circle and hurled Black Will ten paces backward by a
+single thrust of his powerful arm, while he cried, fiercely:</p>
+<p>&ldquo;I forbid the banns!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Down with him,&rdquo; roared Black Will, drawing his knife.
+&ldquo;At him, boys.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Back!&rdquo; cried the strange being, &ldquo;back, for your lives.
+It is not right that innocence and youth should be forced
+to wed with such a thing as this, and I forbid it. Back, I say.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>They recoiled before the stern figure, especially those
+among them who had felt the nervous force of his strong
+arm, while Black Will looked at the clergyman.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Do not mind the ravings of a madman, sir,&rdquo; he said;
+&ldquo;this man is insane and knows not what he does.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It is false, reverend sir,&rdquo; replied the Forest Fiend. &ldquo;I
+am as sane a man as any here, and know whereof I speak.
+Fall back, men; don&rsquo;t press upon me. Ha, they will have
+it, then. Melton&rsquo;s Scout to the rescue!&rdquo;</p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_93">93</div>
+<p>As the tones of his sonorous voice rung out through the
+deep forest, there came a charging cheer, and the buck-skin
+shirts and coon-skin caps of Melton&rsquo;s Scout showed through
+the leafy cover, and with wild cries they poured upon the
+foe.</p>
+<p>Not a shot was fired, for Sadie, the missionary and the
+Forest Fiend stood in the midst of the enemy, and the Scout
+dared not fire. But as the enemy retreated, snatching up
+their weapons as they went, at a signal from the Forest Fiend,
+Sadie and the missionary fell upon their faces, and the Scout
+poured in a single withering volley which strewed the ground
+with dead and dying, and then charged upon the foe with
+knife, hatchet and pistol.</p>
+<p>The Forest Fiend caught up a rifle from the earth, and
+using it as a club, headed the charge. Close behind him came
+Charles Melton, Cooney Joe and Tom Bantry, striking out
+manfully for the right, and felling an adversary at every blow.
+But none could equal the strange being known as the Forest
+Fiend. Taking the ponderous rifle in one hand, he made it
+play about his head with lightning rapidity, and the renegades
+went down before him like chaff before the wind.</p>
+<p>Taken by surprise, it was no wonder that the retreat soon
+became a rout, and they scattered to the four winds, closely
+pursued by their determined assailants. One man, and that
+man Dick Garrett, dared to bar the way of the Forest Fiend,
+who paused with uplifted weapon and looked at him.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;At last, villain,&rdquo; he cried, &ldquo;your time has come!&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Vain was the interposition of the rifle of the renegade to
+stay the blow. It descended upon his head, and Dick Garrett,
+the friend and companion in villainy of Will Jackwood
+lay dead at the avenger&rsquo;s feet. At this moment a cry of
+anger was heard, and turning, the strange man saw that Jackwood
+was on horseback, headed for the bushes.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Fire at him,&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;Bring him down at all hazards.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Half a dozen bullets sped, but Jackwood was already in
+the thicket, and all pursuit was vain. Five minutes later the
+fight was over, and few of Black Will&rsquo;s band remained to
+tell the tale of that terrible day.</p>
+<p>The Forest Fiend turned back to the place where Sadie
+<span class="pb" id="Page_94">94</span>
+stood, encircled by the arm of Charles Melton, and she drew
+closer to her lover as she marked his terrible aspect. Raising
+his hand to his face, he tore off the hairy mask which covered
+it, and revealed the face of&mdash;<i>Samuel Wescott</i>!</p>
+<p>Her father, redeemed from a watery grave! In an instant
+Sadie was in his arms, half-delirious with joy, and the tried
+friends gathered about him, eager to shake his hand, while
+Cooney Joe and Tom Bantry danced a comic hornpipe, uttering
+yells which would have done credit to Sac warriors on
+the war-trail.</p>
+<p>When the first transport of the meeting was over, Samuel
+Wescott turned to Tom Bantry and shook him warmly by the
+hand.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;You did your best to save me, my friend,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;but
+I knew that both must perish if I clung to you. I went down,
+as you know, and coming to the surface, in a death-struggle I
+caught a floating log, which quickly bore me down the stream,
+and I had not the strength to land until I had been carried
+two miles down. Near this place I had a <i>cache</i>, in which,
+among other articles, was this disguise, which I have sometimes
+worn in my expeditions among the tribes, and I knew
+that it might aid me in the work before me. Had I known
+that it would frighten my daughter so much, I would have
+shown my face when I attacked the men who guarded her,
+while you were fighting in the swamp.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s enough to skeer the life out of any critter,&rdquo; said
+Cooney Joe. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t wonder she run from you.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;It has served its purpose. I followed you to this place,
+Sadie, and having satisfied myself that those I loved were in
+no immediate danger, I went back for the Scout, the position
+of whose camp I knew. We came up softly, set Melton, Joe
+and Tom at liberty, and then attacked these scoundrels. The
+rest you know as well as I. There is only one thing for
+which I am sorry, and that is, that this villain Jackwood has
+escaped. But his fate will find him out.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Half an hour later they were on their way to the river,
+guarded by Melton&rsquo;s Scout. The last week had been one of
+trial, but they had come out of the flame triumphant, and the
+power of Black Will Jackwood was broken forever. As they
+reached the river-bank, and the men were bringing up the
+<span class="pb" id="Page_95">95</span>
+flat in which they were to cross, Minneoba suddenly appeared
+from the forest, and fell upon Sadie&rsquo;s neck, weeping for
+joy.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Minneoba can bear any thing now, the breaking of her
+people, the loss of home, for her sister is safe. Good-by, and
+do not forget the poor Indian girl who loves you.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Come with us,&rdquo; said Samuel Wescott. &ldquo;I will give you
+a shelter in my house until the war is at an end.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>But Minneoba shook her head sadly.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;The Indian girl must not leave her father,
+who loves her. Go in peace.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>They parted from her sadly, and as the flat receded from
+the shore, they saw her standing in a dejected attitude, leaning
+on her bow. It was many a day before they saw her
+again.</p>
+<p class="tb">The battle was at its hight. Black-Hawk had risked all
+upon a cast of the die, and had found it a losing game. Melton,
+Cooney Joe and Tom Bantry were there, fighting gallantly,
+and as the Indians began to break up, they charged a
+resolute knot of warriors who stood their ground stubbornly,
+dealing death on every side.</p>
+<p>There was a moment of wild confusion, and Charles Melton
+found himself face to face with a desperate man, in his
+war-paint, who assailed him with demoniac fury. Just then
+Melton&rsquo;s horse fell, shot through the heart, and his adversary
+sprung at him with a wild cry of joy, raising a hatchet above
+his devoted head.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Death to you, Melton,&rdquo; he screamed. &ldquo;I am Will Jackwood,
+and you die by my hand. If I lost her, at least you
+shall never possess her.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>Melton, pinned to the earth by his fallen horse, lifted his
+hand to ward off the blow, but hampered as he was he could
+offer but slight resistance, and the knife, his only defense,
+was forced from his hand, and the hatchet gleamed above
+him.</p>
+<p>He had just time to catch the gleam of ferocious joy in the
+eyes of his enemy, and had given up hope, when a rifle
+cracked, and Jackwood, throwing up his arms, clutched at
+the bloody cloth upon his breast, tried once more to lift his
+<span class="pb" id="Page_96">96</span>
+weapon, and then, with a snarl of demoniac malice, dropped
+dead in his tracks, while Cooney Joe, with a rifle smoking in
+his hand, ran to aid his fallen leader, who was quickly placed
+upon his feet.</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Who is he?&rdquo; cried Joe, angrily. &ldquo;Ha! Black Will, by
+the mortal. Rubbed out at last.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>This was his epitaph. He died as he had lived, boldly and
+defiantly, and found a soldier&rsquo;s grave.</p>
+<p>The power of Black-Hawk was broken, and the old chief
+a fugitive, soon to be a prisoner in the hands of the whites.
+Then it was that Samuel Wescott kept his promise to Minneoba,
+and gave her a shelter under his roof. The teachings
+of Sadie soon changed the forest maiden so much, that she
+loved a domestic life, and when Sadie was married, soon after
+Black-Hawk&rsquo;s visit to the east, Minneoba was there, and witnessed
+the ceremony. When it was finished, Cooney Joe
+stopped the clergyman:</p>
+<p>&ldquo;Stop a little, stranger,&rdquo; he said, sheepishly. &ldquo;Got another
+little job for you, I have.&rdquo;</p>
+<p>And to the surprise of all, Minneoba took his hand, and
+they were married.</p>
+<p>Unknown to every one, Joe had obtained the consent of
+the old chief, who knew that his daughter was better fitted
+to live with the whites than with the tribes, and Minneoba
+became the wife of Joe Bent. She never had cause to repent
+it. Rough though he was, he was a true man, and worked
+nobly for her sake, and strange as it may seem, became in
+time, one of the richest farmers in that region.</p>
+<p>Captain Melton also settled there, and the two families
+were constantly together. And above the mantel, in Melton&rsquo;s
+study, hangs the costume of the Forest Fiend.</p>
+<p>Tom Bantry was for years a successful boatman upon the
+Mississippi, and at last a Captain. Samuel Wescott died at a
+green old age, honored and beloved by all who knew him.</p>
+<p class="tbcenter"><span class="smaller">THE END.</span></p>
+<div class="pb" id="Page_98">98</div>
+<h2 id="c14"><span class="small">DIME POCKET NOVELS.</span></h2>
+<p class="center">PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY, AT TEN CENTS EACH.</p>
+<div class="verse">
+<p class="t0"><b>1</b>&mdash;<b>Hawkeye Harry.</b> By Oll Coomes.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>2</b>&mdash;<b>Dead Shot.</b> By Albert W. Aiken.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>3</b>&mdash;<b>The Boy Miners.</b> By Edward S. Ellis.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>4</b>&mdash;<b>Blue Dick.</b> By Capt. Mayne Reid.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>5</b>&mdash;<b>Nat Wolfe.</b> By Mrs. M. V. Victor.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>6</b>&mdash;<b>The White Tracker.</b> By Edward S. Ellis.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>7</b>&mdash;<b>The Outlaw&rsquo;s Wife.</b> By Mrs. Ann S. Stephens.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>8</b>&mdash;<b>The Tall Trapper.</b> By Albert W. Aiken.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>9</b>&mdash;<b>Lightning Jo.</b> By Capt. Adams.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>10</b>&mdash;<b>The Island Pirate.</b> By Capt. Mayne Reid.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>11</b>&mdash;<b>The Boy Ranger.</b> By Oll Coomes.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>12</b>&mdash;<b>Bess, the Trapper.</b> By E. S. Ellis.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>13</b>&mdash;<b>The French Spy.</b> By W. J. Hamilton.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>14</b>&mdash;<b>Long Shot.</b> By Capt. Comstock.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>15</b>&mdash;<b>The Gunmaker.</b> By James L. Bowen.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>16</b>&mdash;<b>Red Hand.</b> By A. G. Piper.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>17</b>&mdash;<b>Ben, the Trapper.</b> By Lewis W. Carson.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>18</b>&mdash;<b>Wild Raven.</b> By Oll Coomes.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>19</b>&mdash;<b>The Specter Chief.</b> By Seelin Robins.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>20</b>&mdash;<b>The B&rsquo;ar-Killer.</b> By Capt. Comstock.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>21</b>&mdash;<b>Wild Nat.</b> By Wm. R. Eyster.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>22</b>&mdash;<b>Indian Jo.</b> By Lewis W. Carson.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>23</b>&mdash;<b>Old Kent, the Ranger.</b> By Edward S. Ellis.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>24</b>&mdash;<b>The One-Eyed Trapper.</b> By Capt. Comstock.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>25</b>&mdash;<b>Godbold, the Spy.</b> By N. C. Iron.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>26</b>&mdash;<b>The Black Ship.</b> By John S. Warner.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>27</b>&mdash;<b>Single Eye.</b> By Warren St. John.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>28</b>&mdash;<b>Indian Jim.</b> By Edward S. Ellis.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>29</b>&mdash;<b>The Scout.</b> By Warren St. John.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>30</b>&mdash;<b>Eagle Eye.</b> By W. J. Hamilton.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>31</b>&mdash;<b>The Mystic Canoe.</b> By Edward S. Ellis.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>32</b>&mdash;<b>The Golden Harpoon.</b> By R. Starbuck.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>33</b>&mdash;<b>The Scalp King.</b> By Lieut. Ned Hunter.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>34</b>&mdash;<b>Old Lute.</b> By E. W. Archer.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>35</b>&mdash;<b>Rainbolt, Ranger.</b> By Oll Coomes.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>36</b>&mdash;<b>The Boy Pioneer.</b> By Edward S. Ellis.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>37</b>&mdash;<b>Carson, the Guide.</b> By J. H. Randolph.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>38</b>&mdash;<b>The Heart Eater.</b> By Harry Hazard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>39</b>&mdash;<b>Wetzel, the Scout.</b> By Boynton Belknap.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>40</b>&mdash;<b>The Huge Hunter.</b> By Ed. S. Ellis.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>41</b>&mdash;<b>Wild Nat, the Trapper.</b> By Paul Prescott.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>42</b>&mdash;<b>Lynx-cap.</b> By Paul Bibbs.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>43</b>&mdash;<b>The White Outlaw.</b> By Harry Hazard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>44</b>&mdash;<b>The Dog Trailer.</b> By Frederick Dewey.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>45</b>&mdash;<b>The Elk King.</b> By Capt. Chas. Howard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>46</b>&mdash;<b>Adrian, the Pilot.</b> By Col. P. Ingraham.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>47</b>&mdash;<b>The Man-Hunter.</b> By Maro O. Rolfe.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>48</b>&mdash;<b>The Phantom Tracker.</b> By F. Dewey.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>49</b>&mdash;<b>Moccasin Bill.</b> By Paul Bibbs.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>50</b>&mdash;<b>The Wolf Queen.</b> By Charles Howard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>51</b>&mdash;<b>Tom Hawk, the Trailer.</b></p>
+<p class="t0"><b>52</b>&mdash;<b>The Mad Chief.</b> By Chas. Howard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>53</b>&mdash;<b>The Black Wolf.</b> By Edwin E. Ewing.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>54</b>&mdash;<b>Arkansas Jack.</b> By Harry Hazard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>55</b>&mdash;<b>Blackbeard.</b> By Paul Bibbs.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>56</b>&mdash;<b>The River Rifles.</b> By Billex Muller.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>57</b>&mdash;<b>Hunter Ham.</b> By J. Edgar Iliff.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>58</b>&mdash;<b>Cloudwood.</b> By J. M. Merrill.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>59</b>&mdash;<b>The Texas Hawks.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>60</b>&mdash;<b>Merciless Mat.</b> By Capt. Chas. Howard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>61</b>&mdash;<b>Mad Anthony&rsquo;s Scouts.</b> By E. Rodman.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>62</b>&mdash;<b>The Luckless Trapper.</b> By Wm. R. Eyster.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>63</b>&mdash;<b>The Florida Scout.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>64</b>&mdash;<b>The Island Trapper.</b> By Chas. Howard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>65</b>&mdash;<b>Wolf-Cap.</b> By Capt. Chas. Howard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>66</b>&mdash;<b>Rattling Dick.</b> By Harry Hazard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>67</b>&mdash;<b>Sharp-Eye.</b> By Major Max Martine.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>68</b>&mdash;<b>Iron-Hand.</b> By Frederick Forest.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>69</b>&mdash;<b>The Yellow Hunter.</b> By Chas. Howard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>70</b>&mdash;<b>The Phantom Rider.</b> By Maro O. Rolfe.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>71</b>&mdash;<b>Delaware Tom.</b> By Harry Hazard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>72</b>&mdash;<b>Silver Rifle.</b> By Capt. Chas. Howard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>73</b>&mdash;<b>The Skeleton Scout.</b> By Maj. L. W. Carson.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>74</b>&mdash;<b>Little Rifle.</b> By Capt. &ldquo;Bruin&rdquo; Adams.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>75</b>&mdash;<b>The Wood Witch.</b> By Edwin Emerson.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>76</b>&mdash;<b>Old Ruff, the Trapper.</b> By &ldquo;Bruin&rdquo; Adams.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>77</b>&mdash;<b>The Scarlet Shoulders.</b> By Harry Hazard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>78</b>&mdash;<b>The Border Rifleman.</b> By L. W. Carson.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>79</b>&mdash;<b>Outlaw Jack.</b> By Harry Hazard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>80</b>&mdash;<b>Tiger-Tail, the Seminole.</b> By R. Ringwood.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>81</b>&mdash;<b>Death-Dealer.</b> By Arthur L. Meserve.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>82</b>&mdash;<b>Kenton, the Ranger.</b> By Chas. Howard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>83</b>&mdash;<b>The Specter Horseman.</b> By Frank Dewey.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>84</b>&mdash;<b>The Three Trappers.</b> By Seelin Robbins.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>85</b>&mdash;<b>Kaleolah.</b> By Capt. Chas. Howard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>86</b>&mdash;<b>The Hunter Hercules.</b> By Harry St. George.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>87</b>&mdash;<b>Phil Hunter.</b> By Capt. Chas. Howard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>88</b>&mdash;<b>The Indian Scout.</b> By Harry Hazard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>89</b>&mdash;<b>The Girl Avenger.</b> By Chas. Howard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>90</b>&mdash;<b>The Red Hermitess.</b> By Paul Bibbs.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>91</b>&mdash;<b>Star-Face, the Slayer.</b></p>
+<p class="t0"><b>92</b>&mdash;<b>The Antelope Boy.</b> By Geo. L. Aiken.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>93</b>&mdash;<b>The Phantom Hunter.</b> By E. Emerson.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>94</b>&mdash;<b>Tom Pintle, the Pilot.</b> By M. Klapp.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>95</b>&mdash;<b>The Red Wizard.</b> By Ned Hunter.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>96</b>&mdash;<b>The Rival Trappers.</b> By L. W. Carson.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>97</b>&mdash;<b>The Squaw Spy.</b> By Capt. Chas. Howard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>98</b>&mdash;<b>Dusky Dick.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>99</b>&mdash;<b>Colonel Crockett.</b> By Chas. E. Lasalle.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>100</b>&mdash;<b>Old Bear Paw.</b> By Major Max Martine.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>101</b>&mdash;<b>Redlaw.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>102</b>&mdash;<b>Wild Rube.</b> By W. J. Hamilton.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>103</b>&mdash;<b>The Indian Hunters.</b> By J. L. Bowen.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>104</b>&mdash;<b>Scarred Eagle.</b> By Andrew Dearborn.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>105</b>&mdash;<b>Nick Doyle.</b> By P. Hamilton Myers.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>106</b>&mdash;<b>The Indian Spy.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>107</b>&mdash;<b>Job Dean.</b> By Ingoldsby North.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>108</b>&mdash;<b>The Wood King.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>109</b>&mdash;<b>The Scalped Hunter.</b> By Harry Hazard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>110</b>&mdash;<b>Nick, the Scout.</b> By W. J. Hamilton.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>111</b>&mdash;<b>The Texas Tiger.</b> By Edward Willett.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>112</b>&mdash;<b>The Crossed Knives.</b> By Hamilton.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>113</b>&mdash;<b>Tiger-Heart, the Tracker.</b> By Howard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>114</b>&mdash;<b>The Masked Avenger.</b> By Ingraham.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>115</b>&mdash;<b>The Pearl Pirates.</b> By Starbuck.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>116</b>&mdash;<b>Black Panther.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>117</b>&mdash;<b>Abdiel, the Avenger.</b> By Ed. Willett.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>118</b>&mdash;<b>Cato, the Creeper.</b> By Fred. Dewey.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>119</b>&mdash;<b>Two-Handed Mat.</b> By Jos. E. Badger.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>120</b>&mdash;<b>Mad Trail Hunter.</b> By Harry Hazard.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>121</b>&mdash;<b>Black Nick.</b> By Frederick Whittaker.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>122</b>&mdash;<b>Kit Bird.</b> By W. J. Hamilton.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>123</b>&mdash;<b>The Specter Riders.</b> By Geo. Gleason.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>124</b>&mdash;<b>Giant Pete.</b> By W. J. Hamilton.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>125</b>&mdash;<b>The Girl Captain.</b> By Jos. E. Badger.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>126</b>&mdash;<b>Yankee Eph.</b> By J. R. Worcester.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>127</b>&mdash;<b>Silverspur.</b> By Edward Willett.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>128</b>&mdash;<b>Squatter Dick.</b> By Jos. E. Badger.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>129</b>&mdash;<b>The Child Spy.</b> By George Gleason.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>130</b>&mdash;<b>Mink Coat.</b> By Jos. E. Badger.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>131</b>&mdash;<b>Red Plume.</b> By J. Stanley Henderson.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>132</b>&mdash;<b>Clyde, the Trailer.</b> By Maro O. Rolfe.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>133</b>&mdash;<b>The Lost Cache.</b> By J. Stanley Henderson.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>134</b>&mdash;<b>The Cannibal Chief.</b> By Paul J. Prescott.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>135</b>&mdash;<b>Karaibo.</b> By J. Stanley Henderson.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>136</b>&mdash;<b>Scarlet Moccasin.</b> By Paul Bibbs.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>137</b>&mdash;<b>Kidnapped.</b> By J. Stanley Henderson.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>138</b>&mdash;<b>Maid of the Mountain.</b> By Hamilton.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>139</b>&mdash;<b>The Scioto Scouts.</b> By Ed. Willett.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>140</b>&mdash;<b>The Border Renegade.</b> By Badger.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>141</b>&mdash;<b>The Mute Chief.</b> By C. D. Clark.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>142</b>&mdash;<b>Boone, the Hunter.</b> By Whittaker.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>143</b>&mdash;<b>Mountain Kate.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>144</b>&mdash;<b>The Red Scalper.</b> By W. J. Hamilton.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>145</b>&mdash;<b>The Lone Chief.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b>146</b>&mdash;<b>The Silver Bugle.</b> By Lieut. Col. Hazleton.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b class="large">147</b>&mdash;<b>Chinga, the Cheyenne.</b> By Edward S. Ellis. Ready</p>
+<p class="t0"><b class="large">148</b>&mdash;<b>The Tangled Trail.</b> By Major Max Martine. Ready</p>
+<p class="t0"><b class="large">149</b>&mdash;<b>The Unseen Hand.</b> By J. Stanley Henderson. Ready</p>
+<p class="t0"><b class="large">150</b>&mdash;<b>The Lone Indian.</b> By Capt. Chas. Howard. Ready</p>
+<p class="t0"><b class="large">151</b>&mdash;<b>The Branded Brave.</b> By Paul Bibbs. Ready April 6th.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b class="large">152</b>&mdash;<b>Billy Bowlegs, the Seminole Chief.</b> Ready April 20th.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b class="large">153</b>&mdash;<b>The Valley Scout.</b> By Seelin Robins. Ready May 4.</p>
+<p class="t0"><b class="large">154</b>&mdash;<b>Red Jacket, the Huron.</b> By Paul Bibbs. Ready May 18th.</p>
+</div>
+<p class="center"><b>BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York.</b></p>
+<h2 id="trnotes">Transcriber&rsquo;s Notes</h2>
+<ul>
+<li>Silently corrected a few typos.</li>
+<li>Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook is public-domain in the country of publication.</li>
+<li>In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by _underscores_.</li>
+</ul>
+<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BORDER RIFLEMEN; OR THE FOREST FIEND. A ROMANCE OF THE BLACK-HAWK UPRISING ***</div>
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