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diff --git a/old/66064-0.txt b/old/66064-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 949b65a..0000000 --- a/old/66064-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4329 +0,0 @@ -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 *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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