"There was only one Spaniard, I forgot to say, in the whole regiment, for somehow or other, those fellows weren't much in favor of us and we didn't trust them any too fully. This fellow had been with us for a number of years and had time and again proven himself true to the regiment and his comrades.
"We were just at the foot of the pass through the Pyrannees when the truce came, and this Spaniard fellow, who was a captain then, and very friendly with the colonel, asked for a ten-day leave of absence. He gave some excuse about long absence from home and about going to seehis mother, and the colonel allowed him to go. He took his sword and his musket with him and disappeared along the track toward the mountain passes.
"There were some in his own troop who didn't love their captain any to well and in particular the young lieutenant who was directly under this Spanish captain would have been glad to have him out of the way. Therefore, before half of his ten days were up, reports of an ugly nature began to circulate. They were somewhat to the effect that the captain had accepted an offer from our enemies and had gone over to them with information that would be of great advantage when the truce was over.
"His friends indignantly rejected all such suggestions and said that the captain himself would deal with the parties who started such rumors when he returned. But the ninth and then the tenth day came and passed and the captain didn't return to his place in the regiment, nor to disprove all remarks that had been passed in his absence.
"After twelve days, the colonel, very much against his wishes, but in accordance with hisduty, had the captain deposed from office and read out of the regiment."
Here the soldier paused, and Tim, who was very much absorbed in the narrative, said, "And did the man niver turn up agin?"
"Oh, to be sure," continued the British trooper, "and that's the story. On the thirteenth night there comes a challenge from one of the outposts and the Spanish captain answers the call.
"'Halt!' says the guard. 'Who goes there!'
"'Friend,' replied the captain. 'I'm captain of troop B.'
"'Captain Thornton is captain of Troop B,' replied the sentry. 'You are no longer a member of this regiment. They read you out of it yesterday.'
"The colonel had been attracted by this disturbance and he ordered the former captain to be brought before him in his tent.
"'Well, what made you break your promise in this way?' queried his anxious superior.
"'I couldn't help it,' replied the captain. 'I was afraid when I asked for leave that if I gave the right reason you wouldn't let me go, so I said it was to visit my mother. But she has been dead for two years now. In our mountaincountry of Northern Spain we have what you call blood-feuds, and when they are once started the end only comes with the extinction of one or both families concerned. In our family there has been such a feud now for twenty years, but it is no more.'
"'Go on,' said the colonel, 'explain your over long absence.'
"'That was the cause of it,' continued the captain. 'I received word that the last two men, the only ones left of our enemies had been seen about my house and that my wife and two children were in danger. I hurried to their aid. In crossing the pass I lost my musket and succeeded only in reaching my house in the dark, without any firearm. There was but one old gun in the house, and, worse luck, there was but one charge for that. However, our enemies who were trying to starve out my family, didn't know of my arrival. I waited day after day, hoping, sometime, to get them both in line and to kill them with but a single shot. Day after day they went for water at the well, and lurked about the grounds around the house, but never did the chance I was waiting for present itself. Then finally, on the eleventhday of my furlough, the opportunity came. And now they are both gone and I am here.'
"The colonel's face beamed with pleasure, for his confidence in the captain had been justified.
"'Thornton is captain of Troop B now,' said the colonel. 'Your leave of absence was, I remember, for twenty days, not ten. Good-night, major.'"
"So," cried Tom, "he was not only forgiven for his overstay of leave, but promoted in rank?"
"Thot's a strange story for sure," muttered Tim. "And you say it's true?"
"Absolutely," replied the British soldier, and his two old comrades nodded their assent. In the meantime the men were preparing for their night's rest. In a very few minutes the whole troop was asleep.
Dick and Fritz, not wishing to lose any valuable time, struck out along the shore of the bay, keeping in the shallow places and thus concealing their tracks. They searched vainly for a boat or any craft that would move them out of the path of the pursuing English troopers, but for half a mile they discovered nothing at all.
"The activity of the troops in this section must have forced everybody who owns a boat to hide it very securely," said Dick.
"Yah, and if we should get away from those fellars, and to the other shores we would have to do it svimming, I guess," replied Fritz.
"We'll get swimming enough without going out into the bay for it," said Dick. "Here we are at a creek and no way to get past but to swim for it right now."
"I hear someding," whispered Fritz suddenly, and the two boys dodged back into the marsh grasses at the mouth of the creek.
After hurriedly making themselves as inconspicuous as possible, they peered out through the grass to see what it was had alarmed them. The boys were by no means frightened, but neither of them wanted to fall into the hands of a larger party of the enemy after their recent escape.
"It's something going up the creek," said Dick. "Sounds to me like paddling!"
"Maype here is where we get our canoe yet," Fritz said, hopefully.
"Indians," whispered Dick, as a canoe rounded a bend above them. "Not on the war path either, for the squaws are with them."
INDIANS, WHISPERED DICK
"INDIANS", WHISPERED DICK.
"Can we speak mit them?" questioned Fritz, who was decidedly anxious to get into a canoe and stop this incessant walking, riding and running that had kept them so busy for so long.
"It will probably be the only chance we'll get to get across the bay," answered Dick. "I believe we may as well risk it."
The leading canoes were now abreast of the boys, and Dick and Fritz rose to their feet and hailed them. The hail was entirely unnecessary, however, for almost as soon as they had spoken the boys were covered by a dozen rifles.
"Put your hands up, palms forward," said Dick, quickly setting the example himself.
"Friends," he called to the Indians, who, despite their lack of paint, seemed very well prepared for hostilities.
"Maybe we should schnell run for the woods already," said Fritz, rather startled by the sudden display of firearms, and sorry now that he had not stayed secure in the grass.
"Too late now, Fritz," said Dick. "These fellows look all right, even if they are supplied with more arms than a regiment."
Dick and Fritz approached the edge of the creek walking waist deep in the tall marsh grass.
"Us no like Redcoats," Dick volunteered, pointing toward Fritz. "We are Americans. No like Redcoats."
"Dot's right," chimed in Fritz, trying hard to smile into the mouths of a score of threatening rifles at once, and almost dislocating his neck in the endeavor. "And what's further they don't like us, not for something—nothing, I mean——" he ended, lamely.
One of the redmen, a short, heavily built man, with fierce, dark eyes and a sharp nose, motioned to the boys to stand still while they held ashort parley among themselves in a dialect that Dick could understand but little of.
"They aren't from around here," commented Dick Dare to his companion. "That dialect of theirs is a sort of a mixture as far as I can make out and there isn't much of it I remember."
"But I don'd see why we should be kept standing here all morgen, und my arms are all reatty beginning to drop off from such long holdings up of the hands."
"Better to keep them up than to have them fill us full of lead for lowering them," replied Dick, who was trying with but slight success to make out the Indians' conversation.
"What you boys want?" asked the chief, finally, when the boys were about ready to drop their hands and take the consequences.
"Want to go with our friends, the red-men, and reach other side of big water," replied Dick. "We are your friends and would like to take canoe and paddle with the great chief and his people."
The red-man was evidently flattered by Dick's speech, and after motioning to the boys to lower their hands, which Fritz did with a groan, he turned to two of the canoe parties and indicatedthat the boys might seat themselves in the center of the light crafts and help paddle them.
It was a long paddle across the bay and it was fortunate that the day was a calm one, or they would never have attempted the trip. As it was, it required several hours of hard paddling to reach the distant shore, and all the party gave grunts of satisfaction on arriving safely.
The Indians were aware of the proximity of the British troops when they started out, and that was their reason for going over to the opposite shore.
The squaws of the tribe all scuttled away into the woods to start their cooking, it being the custom amongst the red-men to have the women do most of the hard work. The braves drew the light birch canoes from the water and prepared to make themselves comfortable while waiting for their meal.
"You should a few lessons take from dot tall fellar," said Fritz, stretching his arms.
"What sort of lessons?" asked Dick.
"You see the way he dreats his squawk?" continued Fritz, adding syllables to his vocabulary.
"I don't see him doing anything but ordering and bossing her around."
"It you vould like, perhabs, to be the head of dot houses you and Ben's sister is going to have——"
Here Fritz dogged a pine cone and hid safely behind a tree, while Dick searched vainly for more missiles.
"I vill be goot," yelled Fritz, enjoying Dick's confusion immensely, "and nefer speak of such things any more."
"If you'll promise," said Dick, "I will forgive you this time."
At that Fritz came out from behind his tree, and linking arms with Dick they sauntered off to one of the fires. The chief was seated beside this blaze, watching the final preparations for his meal, and he motioned the boys to join him.
"Um white boys eat with Telca," he said, and Dick was pleased to find that he knew so much English, for he knew that mutual explanations and possible plans would have to be gone over by both of them, and his own ignorance of this band's peculiar dialect prevented their carrying on any extended conversation in the red-man's tongue.
"Not wait here long," said Dick, looking at thesun. "Redcoats after white men and we must hurry."
"Where are the Redcoat soldiers?" asked the chief, helping himself to some of the fish chowder and then pushing the pot toward the boys.
"We ran away from them this morning," replied Dick. "They follow us soon, along the other shore, and there are many of them, too many for even the brave redmen to fight."
"Red-man do not want to fight too many, but if not too many——" here the chief drifted off into silence, and Dick could see that he was thinking of something that boded ill for the British troops, whoever fell into his hands. Fritz as too busy by far with the bowl of chowder and some flat cakes of baked flour to pay much attention to the conversation.
"My companion's name is Fritz," said Dick, rescuing the remains of the meal from that busy party, "and my own is Dick."
The chief nodded to indicate that he understood and would remember their names.
"We are going back to our own hunting grounds," said the Indian. "We have been away for twelve moons now, and they should be ready for us once more."
"What is the matter, game all gone?" queried Dick.
"No," replied Telca, shaking his head slowly. "If white boys stay with their red friends, Telca will tell about it tonight."
"We will certainly stay as long as possible with our new friends," said Dick, "and I hope our roads are to be together. Which way do the chief and his people travel? You must be from far away, for your tongue is new to me."
"We come across the high mountains," the chief answered, pointing to the west. "We are going home, now."
"I wish we were already yet going home too," sighed Fritz.
"I thought you were glad to go on this trip," said Dick.
"Was I glad?" asked Fritz. "Of course, but I would be glad some more to get to the end and back."
"Well, we'll get there if we keep at it," replied Dick, rising. "But if we can, I think we had better start when you are ready, chief, and put as much space between us and our enemies as possible."
"We start now," agreed Telca, giving somecommands in his native dialect to the other Indians. Instantly all was hurry and bustle in the camp and after gathering up the few utensils and the food, all the tribe filed off to the shore and slid the canoes out into the water. They embarked as before and were soon strung out in a long, snake-like line, keeping fairly close to the shore and paddling silently and swiftly north and west.
They continued as long as the light lasted, and when it got too dark to see things plainly at any great distance, the chief turned his canoe toward the low shore and beached it again on the sands.
The proceedings of earlier in the day for camp making were repeated and before long several little fires were twinkling in the forest and the Indians were preparing to spend the night in this spot. Their meal consisted of some smoked meat, boiled to make it tender, and some potatoes which they roasted in the hot coals of the fire. After the Indians had eaten, they all sat around one large fire, smoking the long, root pipes, filled with fragrant tobacco. Fritz and Dick didn't smoke, but they both took a few puffs from the large peace-pipe which was passedaround from man to man as a token of friendship and good-will.
"Now will our friend and brother tell the Indians of his plans?" asked the chief, addressing Dick.
"Surely," replied he. "My comrade and I wish to cross the mountains to the west with all possible speed, descend the rivers on the other side and go on to the post at Vincennes."
"It is well," said Telca, "for we too are going almost as far and will travel with the white men."
"Fine!" ejaculated Dick. "Let us pledge our friendship by shaking hands."
This formality was gravely observed and after making the round of the circle Fritz and Dick resumed their places by the fire.
"And now may we know how it happens that the red-men are so far from their own lands?"
"We left to give time for the Good Spirit to free our home of one who had gone, and yet stayed in our tribe," the chief began.
"A spirit?" asked Dick, guessing that was what Telca meant.
"Yes," replied Telca, "the spirit of my daughter, who was unable to gain entrance to ourhappy hunting grounds, because she died away from us, and we could not send her on as all should go. On a night thirteen moons passed, in an attack by the Redcoat soldiers, she was captured. The white men lost many braves and were greatly angry over their loss. They sought revenge and to teach a lesson to the great Indian, they outdid him in cruelty. We are not as cruel as the white man when he is angry. They bound our little daughter to the horns of a great bull-moose and drove him out into the lake. Our young men were far away and we were scattered after our defeat. But, with a few of the older men, I was following their march, waiting to rescue my girl. And after they had done this awful thing we caught up to them and could hear the great animal thrashing about near the shore of the lake and could make out the burden on its head. We shot the moose, but my daughter was dead when we reached her. Every night from then on for many nights we could hear the spirit of the moose crashing about in the forests and we could hear the screams of our lost sister bound to its head. Then came a message from the Good Spirit, and Red Wing, the son of a chief and a man of wisdom, our own prophet, delivered tous the message. We were to go away from our lands for twelve moons and when we returned our sister would be in peace in the Happy Hunting Grounds beyond, and the red-man would have his chance to revenge her death. And so we return, after twelve moons of wandering, and we are to have our revenge."
"It seems terrible that any British officer could permit such a deed," said Dick, hotly, "and although the white man's God does not wish his children to seek revenge from their enemies, I can't blame you for feeling that you are entitled to it."
A chorus of grunts went around the circle of braves, and Dick felt that some day the Redcoated soldiers would pay heavily for the deed that some of their number had done.
"I vould not like to be a Red-goat, but in whatefer they get, they more yet deserve," said Fritz.
The whole party were rather depressed at the recital of their wrongs, and in a short time they rolled up in their long blankets and dropped off to sleep.
Tim Murphy and Tom Dare both felt that they had only just dropped off to sleep when the bugle called them back to the cold world of men and war. The British troops were making an early start, and before the sun was over the tree-tops, the men were in the saddle and once more on the trail of their prey. The day promised to be a hot one before the sun was very high, and the troops were thankful when the road led them through brief snatches of woodland, for the shade was very grateful.
They rode onward until about ten that morning, when suddenly the leaders, who were keeping a sharp lookout for signs of the fugitives, came to an abrupt halt. The road led close to the water's edge here, and something that they had seen was evidently of great interest.
"Must have found a trail or some sign of the men you are after," Tom said to one of thesoldiers. "I suppose if you catch those fellows Tim and I can leave you."
"I don't know, but I guess the major won't hold you any longer if we have the other parties in our hands. What do you want to hurry away from us for anyhow?"
"We're bound north and you fellows don't seem to be going that way," Tom replied, being careful to say nothing that would make the British soldiers suspicious.
"Sure and Oi wouldn't moind travelling a bit with you, if it wasn't for the awful hours you're keepin'," said Tim, yawning. "You keep us all up all night with good stories aginst which Oi have nothing, but to rout a man from his bed of roses at such an hour as we were this very morning is positively indacent."
"There go the officers," said the trooper on their right, as the little group rode past. They had been following in the company's rear, but the halt told them that something had happened up front and they were galloping up to investigate. The bright uniforms and well-fed forms impressed Tom with the great difference between these well-paid soldiers of a foreign monarch and his own struggling friends.
"They make a pretty sight," he said, half to himself.
"Why don't you join the regiment then?" asked one of the soldiers, who was paid a commission for securing recruits. "We all have a chance to rise, you know, and a couple of likely young fellows like yourselves ought to get along rapidly.
"But if we joined," said Tim, "and ever fell into the other side's clutches, then where would we be?"
"And with such capable men above us as yourself our promotion would, I'm afraid, be slow," Tom added, diplomatically.
The ambitious Britisher was too much flattered by this last remark to have any good reply ready, and before he could think up any new reasons, word ran down the column to move forward.
"They may have found a trail," said a Redcoat as the news sifted back through the ranks.
"Just the two of them?" queried a comrade. "I'm surprised that they found it."
"No, seems that there are a lot of Indians in this party, but the scouts seem to make out the foot-prints of two men who had shoes on."
"That's the pair, I'll wager," said a third."That is how they got away from us yesterday, found some friendly Indians to take them away in canoes. No wonder we couldn't find their track."
Tom made no comment, but he gave Tim a knowing wink which so distracted that worthy's attention that an accident was only barely avoided.
"This is foine ridin'," said Tim, as a branch of a tree nearly took him out of his saddle. "Why the divil don't those two people you're devotin' your young lives to chasin' keep on good roads and not go trappin' it off into these woods?"
"If we have to chase them far we'll show you some fine places," said the soldier who had told the story the night before.
"Those two led us some pretty chases back on the old roads, and from the looks of this log track we're following, we'll be getting into worse ones before long."
"And a foine time we'll be havin' getting back to New York, or even Philadelphia for that matter, after we have been keepin' you company in these wild wanderings ages upon ages," Tim complained.
"Don't blame us for it," answered his soldierfriend, "it's the officer's doings you know, not ours."
"Look out, Tim!" yelled Tom Dare suddenly, as the trooper's horse ahead of the Irish boy shied violently and rose so high on its hind legs that it almost seemed that both horse and rider would topple over backwards.
"Faith, and what's the trouble with ye?" queried Tim, indignantly, of the man ahead.
"Don't know," replied he, trying to appear calm, but really very much alarmed. "This nag must have seen a ghost."
"There it goes," shouted Tom, leaping quickly from his saddle and darting into the underbrush. "Come here, quick, some of you. I haven't any gun or sword, or even a stick."
Two or three of the men followed him and hastily stepped aside as a huge rattler turned with waving head and darting fangs in their direction.
"Let's have your gun," said Tom, quickly reaching out his hand for the weapon nearest him. The soldier handed it over and retreated to a safer spot, out of reach of the threatening reptile.
Tom took careful aim and pulled the trigger. At the same instant he jumped back out of reach,but he was safe where he had stood. The shot, fired so close to the mark, had fairly blown off the head of the dangerous snake, and the soldiers gave a hearty round of applause at this excellent exhibition of marksmanship, for with a swaying, venomous snake before one, it is most difficult to fire true the first time.
"Good shot, young fellow," said the recruiting sergeant, heartily. "I'll ask the major if he doesn't think you could be trusted with a rifle, for a man like yourself would be a valuable addition to our ranks."
"Thanks," said Tom, hopefully, for he certainly would like to succeed in getting a rifle. He could see that the recruiter was still hopeful of enlisting the boys.
"And sure, if you trust thot boy with a gun, Oi'm to be gettin' wan at the same instant," said Tim. "You should see the rattles off the hundreds of snakes Oi mesilf have kilt intirely yet."
Tim said this with a broad grin on his face and the soldiers could not help laughing at his remarks. The sergeant, however, saw that Tim really wanted a gun if Tom got one, so he promised to do his best for both of them.
The log road that they had been following nowwas reduced to the roughest kind of a mountain trail, and their progress was greatly impeded. It was soon evident to the officers and men that the wagon with their supplies could never be brought along this trail, and in fact the horses seemed to be more trouble than they were worth.
"We'll have to dismount and finish this pursuit on foot," said the major, finally. "The trail is very recent and our men cannot be very far away."
"If we hurry at this stage of the game," said one of the junior officers, "we ought to be close to them soon, and it may save us endless days of pursuit."
"Then let's be quick about things," said the major, sharply. "You, Captain Schafer, return to Richmond and await us there. Take ten men, all the horses, and our utility wagon. We may catch these men in a day or two, so wait for four days at the foot of this hill, where the brook crosses the roadway. Then if we get our men and strike the back trail quickly, we'll have our mounts and won't have to foot it all the way home. Don't delay after four days, however, for the country is full of roving bands of traitors and rebels and we can't afford to risk all these horsesany longer. Your responsibility is a heavy one, captain, but I am sure you will fulfill it with all care and diligence."
The captain saluted and said: "I'd like to go on with you, major, and round up those young rascals in a hurry, but I expect to see you back at the end, or before the end of four days, and the best of luck to all in your pursuit."
The men, at orders from their various superiors, dismounted and hurriedly gathered their blankets, canteens and weapons together, fastened their accoutrements in a roll and slung them on their backs. If there is anything a cavalry man dislikes, it is to be transformed into a foot soldier, and consequently there was some little grumbling amongst the men.
Tom, uncertain as to what party he was to go with, and rather undecided in his own mind as to which he wanted to stay with, walked forward to where the major was standing, superintending the actions of some of the troopers. Tim followed him, and suddenly grasped him by the shoulder.
"Try to stay with this bunch, Tom," he whispered. "We'll be able to do heaps and heaps of good for Dick, and we'll be after getting all the nearer to our journey's end."
"Good idea," said Tom, being decided by this argument to do his best to continue with the larger body of men.
"What's a good idea?" suddenly asked the young fellow whom Tom had noticed talking with the major when Tim and he were captured.
"We keep our good ideas for those who are able to appreciate them," replied Tom, for his first encounter with this youth had left him with no very pleasant feelings toward him.
"We'll see about that," said the other, advancing on Tom. "I'll teach you how to answer a gentleman when he speaks to you."
"When a gentleman speaks to me I'll know how to answer him," replied Tom, while Tim burst out laughing.
The added insult of Tim Murphy's laughter was too much for the hot blooded southerner, and he sprang at Tom with an arm upraised, intending to show the Dare boy who was master in this case. But Tom had had too many of such little frays to be caught napping, and quickly stepping aside, he stuck out his foot and pushed the furious boy as he plunged past him. Tim was standing directly behind where Tom Darehad been, and he grabbed the falling figure as he lost his balance with Tom's push.
"Saved your loife, me little man," said Tim, carelessly letting the young fellow slide prone upon the ground. He then turned and walked away with Tom toward the major.
"Ha, ha!" laughed the soldiers, greatly tickled to see the southerner get a tumble.
"You uns got a fall that time for sure," said one.
The indignant object of these remarks, however, was hastily brushing off clinging pine needles and dirt, and meanwhile hurrying up after his two intended victims.
The boys had reached the major and that officer was having difficulty in restraining his laughter, for although some distance away, he had seen the incident clearly.
Tom saluted and said, quickly: "My companion and I have gotten interested in this chase, and as it promises to last but a few days at the most, would like to go on with you rather than go back and await your return. We can't be set free, you say, until you capture whoever you are after, so we may as well try to help you out and hurry our freedom at the same time."
"Two burds at one stone," volunteered Tim, smilingly.
"These two fellows are up to something," interrupted the southerner, running up at that minute. "I heard one of them say that he had a good idea, so they must be planning to escape."
The major looked from the speaker to the two boys. They were smiling innocently.
"We had two good ideas, begging your pardon," explained Tom. "One we explained to this young man and the other one to you."
"They were both all right, I think," said the major. "And I think, as these boys are in my charge at the present time, Mr. Wilson, you had better leave them undisturbed in the future. It looks as if it would be better for both of you."
"But," sputtered the excited fellow, "they insulted me, they——"
"We'll discuss that at another time," said the officer, coldly. "You may go now," he added, turning to the boys.
They withdrew and returned to the busy camp of soldiers who inquired how the "old man" had taken the affair. All expressed their pleasure at the way the boys had handled the arrogant young civilian.
"Evidently," Tom said to Tim, "that fellow hasn't made himself popular with the men."
"Nor would I, mesilf, already yet," replied Tim, "if it wasn't to our very bist interists."
"Well, we'll have to make the best of it for awhile," returned Tom. "We'll do more good right here than anywhere else I can think of."
The men had by this time finished their arrangements, and with some parting jokes and laughing remarks the ten selected men who were to take the back trail strung out the horses in line and leading and driving them at the same time were soon out of sight winding along the twisting log road. Only the sound of their shouts to the horses and the crashing in the underbrush could be heard and finally even that grew fainter and died away in the distance.
The remainder of the company, some fifty-odd men and the officers, gathered up their burdens and arms, fell into place two by two and were soon strung out over a hundred yards of rough mountain trail.
"We are after them in earnest, now," said Tom Dare, softly, "and no matter what happens, Tim, old man, don't let them find us out and don't letthem ever get near enough to Dick and Fritz to capture them."
"Thot's a foine little job for us two in this crowd," said Tim, "but we'll do our very best and it won't be our own fault at all, at all, if anything goes wrong."
"Things are going to go right," concluded Tom, "I feel it in my bones."
Long before the sun had cast its rays on the tree tops, the Indian encampment was astir. The sky was just beginning to grow grey with the coming dawn when the hasty morning meal had been finished and the fires stamped out. The Indians also had seen the camp fires of their enemies across the bay, and they took especial pains in the morning to keep their blazes small and hidden in the slight hollows. Silently the two white boys and their red companions stole to the water's edge, launched their birch canoes and paddled away from their temporary camp. A heavy mist hung over the water and they wished to be well along before the sun's warm rays dispelled the blanket that hid them.
"It feels good to be able to paddle," said Dick.
The party in Fritz's canoe was right along side of his and the boys were able to keep up a quiet conversation at the start.
"Ve would by now be half to death frozen already," replied the Dutch boy, plying his paddle vigorously.
"Let's put a little energy into our strokes," suggested Dick. "We'll try to get up in the lead and keep the pace up."
"I am already pushing so fast as I can," replied Fritz.
"Then we'll leave you at the tail end in about five minutes," said Dick, as he dug his paddle blade deep into the water and sent the frail canoe ahead by leaps and bounds. The Indians in Dick's canoe caught the idea at once, and although Fritz and his companions started right after them, they were not able to catch up. Dick soon was parallel with the chief's canoe and here his companions stopped paddling and looked at Telca for instructions.
"Ve haf caught you so soon," panted Fritz, drawing up abreast at that moment.
"You never would have if we hadn't stopped so as not to lose you," answered Dick.
"Sometimes you are right, not, and this is it," said Fritz.
"Which way now, chief?" asked Dick of the Indian.
"You can follow Telca," said he, and speaking to his bow companion, the chief suddenly drove his own craft out ahead of the others and with a quick succession of powerful strokes was soon several lengths in the lead.
Dick Dare and his party were soon after the flying leaders, but the chief and his paddling mate were well matched, and strain as they might, the others could do no more than hold their own, and never gained a foot. If they had started to overtake Telca, he could undoubtedly have drawn away from them with a little added effort, for the two in the foremost canoe seemed not to be exerting themselves to their fullest.
Half an hour's paddling of this kind brought the leaders almost over to the other shore, and some distance further to the West. The chief now ceased paddling entirely and held his shining blade in the air as a sign for the others to slow up with him. Their nearness to the shore made silence necessary, and when the sternmost craft had come up, they all moved forward very cautiously.
"That was warm work," said Dick quietly. "The chief can certainly give us lessons in paddling."
"Another half minute and I surely haf been a deader," replied Fritz. "Such vork I nefer did yet, in veeks before."
Keeping close to the shore, the little flotilla went onward until they reached a small brook opening into the bay. Here they could see the narrow road running close to the water's edge.
"We land here," ordered Telca, turning his canoe toward the bank.
"What are you going to do with the canoes?" asked Dick. "It seems a shame to destroy them."
"We will all get out except four of the young men," said Telca. "They will tow the birch boats to the land out there, and we will send word to our brothers, the Delawares, where the Redman has hidden them. They may have them, for they were our friends when we came across the mountains twelve moons ago."
"I'm glad they are not going to be wasted. They are such beauties," Dick said. "And that idea of having us all go ashore here and hiding them around the peninsular is a fine one."
The Indians quickly stepped out, gathered up their few possessions and their rifles, and roped the canoes together so that the four young menwhom Telca had picked out might convey the whole string to the hiding place.
"Young men catch up to us soon," volunteered Telca. "We will not wait."
"Hope they do," replied Dick. "We aren't any too strong now and every man will count if we run into that British troop again."
"Young men will be with their people by the end of this sun," responded Telca, confidently. "Young men travel fast."
"Mein gootness, I'm glat ve don'd haf to race like those fellars," said Fritz. "Und also I could vish Tim Murphies vas mit dem."
"Why?" asked Dick.
"Dot Irisher, I vould haf his legs run off alreaty," chuckled Fritz.
"I wish we knew for certain where he and Tom are," replied Dick.
"Berhabs they vould call on us this efening," said Fritz.
"Well, wondering won't do any good, so let's move along. The tribe are striking off along the trail, and if we want to go with them at all we had better hurry. These Indians are awful fast travelers when they want to be."
Dick and Fritz picked up the rifles they hadborrowed from the Indians and set off after the party. The pace was swift and they were soon in the rougher and less traveled trails. The red men moved without any apparent effort and glided noiselessly along, yet covering the ground in very quick time. The women, although carrying light burdens, were just as accustomed to the trail as their masters, and made no complaint as they followed their leaders.
"If I should von of those red wimmins marry, yet, I vould do no more vork already," said Fritz.
"And I just hope that if you get anyone to take care of you for the rest of your life, that it's one of the kind that keeps you moving," replied Dick, laughing.
"Dot's just my luck wot is, to got von like it," grumbled Fritz.
"This is sure enough a rough path," said Dick, as they stumbled over the roots of a giant tree that stretched across the trail.
"Yah, this is for roughness a vonder," replied Fritz.
In spite of the difficulties of the trail, however, the band made exceptionally rapid progress and with but a brief halt at noon-day for a hasty meal and a short breathing space, they pushed onagain and by night-fall were far into the mountains.
That evening Dick asked Telca about the four young men whom they had left with the canoes.
"They will sleep with us before the next sun," replied the chief.
Dick didn't say any more on that subject, but he was still wondering where they were and whether or not they would have come across any trace of the pursuing party when he dropped off to sleep. Fritz had already fallen fast asleep and with the exception of the three solitary outposts, all were resting after their hard march.
A peaceful silence settled on the camp and the little fire-embers burned low and were not replenished. Silently from the darkness came the little woods creatures and gazed with black snapping eyes at the invaders of their forest home. Even the sentinels grew drowsy and had to change their positions to keep from falling asleep.
Then of a sudden all the little feathered and furred folk vanished into the wood. The Indian outposts crouched silently behind protecting trees, and then ran to the sleeping camp and hurriedly awakened it. A shot and then another had come to their ears faintly, borne on the nightwind from far down the valley. Even as they roused the tribe more firing could be heard, and Dick and Fritz, like their red comrades, hurried to grasp their weapons and prepare for trouble.
"I'll bet it's those four Indians in some sort of trouble with the British," said Dick, remembering his thoughts of earlier in the evening. "Your young men, isn't it, chief?" he asked of Telca.
"Not know," responded that Indian, looking rather anxious about the matter, however. "Indian find out soon."
"We'll be with you while you are finding out, then," said Dick.
"Yah, I will be finding oud who has been shots firing into mein sleep yet," Fritz added.
The men of the tribe all filed off into the darkness, following Telca's lead, and Dick and the German boy followed. With all their knowledge and experience in wood-craft, the two Patriots found it difficult to keep up with the running Indians, but they managed to hold their own, although Fritz grunted considerably when he fell over an old log in his path.
Suddenly the men in the front halted and gathered about in a circle. Dick, coming up behind them, saw that they were grouped about threehalf-naked Indians whom he took to be the young men they had left behind. Evidently one of them was missing. The Indians were talking excitedly in quick, sharp sentences, and Dick gathered that they had come upon the Redcoat camp, taken a few shots at the pickets, and in the running fight that had followed one of them had fallen and had been overtaken before they could help him. They were uncertain as to whether their comrade had been wounded or had been overpowered. At any rate he was now a prisoner in the camp of their enemies, and even the older men counselled an attempt at rescue. They were eager to be avenged on their ancient enemies.
"We will bring our brother back with us. Let us remember our little sister also," said Telca.
"Ve haf no love lost on those Britisher fellows, too," said Fritz. "A few shoots vill berhabs stop their chasing us the whole vorld ofer."
"If you see two white boys in camp without uniforms, that is, Redcoats, don't fire at them," said Dick to the Indians. "They may be our brothers, held by the red coats as prisoners."
Telca communicated this to the warriors, and again they spread out and moved swiftly through the black forests. Here and there, little naturalglades let in the starlight, and helped them to follow each other, but for the most part, all was inky darkness around them.
Almost before he expected it, Dick saw the twinkling fire lights of the English camp below them. Their pace decreased to a more careful one, and the whole party spread out into a fan shape, without any orders, each man his own general, as is the Indian custom.
Dick and Fritz were far to the right and they began a stealthy approach toward the British. Their comrades were soon hidden from view, except for Telca, who kept near them. They had drawn close to the line that should have marked the posts of the British pickets when Dick, Fritz and Telca caught the sound of a voice close at hand. No figures was visible, which afterward proved to be an important thing, but nevertheless, the three paused and listened intently. Telca finally motioned the boys to creep forward again. They were all mystified about the lack of soldiers about the fires in the distance. The blazes burned brightly, but no forms showed between them and the silent red-men. Suddenly from the other side of the circle came the call of a night bird, and the tribe knew that the other end of the line hadreached their position. When Telca answered that call the fight was to begin. But the chief never had to answer it. The sound of the bird call had just died away into silence when a voice near the little group said softly in a rich Irish accent,
"Faith and it's stiff Oi'm afther gettin' to be. If——"
"Tim! Tom!" called Dick, quietly.
But he had spoken too soon. There was a British soldier with Tom and Tim, and behind them, about twenty yards, were a full row of men lying in wait for just such an attack as was threatening them.
The English trooper leaped to his feet and fired his rifle directly at the spot from whence came Dick's voice. In the darkness the shot fortunately went wild, but the alarm had been given and the battle was on.
Telca, taking careful aim, dropped the soldier where he stood and Tom and Tim, firing their guns wildly over their heads, dashed off into the woods away from Dick and his companions. They hoped by so doing to get out of the way of the bullets from the British behind them, and also lead the oncoming troopers astray as to Dick'sposition, for Tom feared that Dick and Fritz might be alone and therefore might be captured.
The two boys were far from being alone, however, as the whole British force soon discovered. The woods around them became a mass of shooting tongues of flame, and the sharp fire of the attacking Indians soon forced the Redcoats to take shelter behind the trees and rocks. For a full half hour the Indians circled about the cordon of troops, firing and yelling and making the night fiendish with their blood-curdling cries. Several of the English, more exposed because of the fires burning behind them, fell, wounded or killed. But their numbers were too great for the redskins to overcome and they were gradually driven back at various points and finally forced to cease firing and retire in the darkness. The fight had been brisk while it lasted and several times it looked as if the Indians might break the defence and complete their victory. But in the end, the greater numbers of the British succeeded in repulsing the attack, and with the loss of one man and several slightly wounded, the Indians retired into the forest, abandoning the attempt to rescue their captive brother.
"Vas has happened to dot Tom und TimMurphies?" queried Fritz as they hurried back to the Indian encampment. "Dot fool Irisher ran the woods off in, like the crazy feller he iss, und Tom vas following him after."
"They saved you and Telca and I by doing it," replied Dick. "It certainly led the British astray for a minute."
"Maype Tim has some senses after all, alreaty," said Fritz, thoughtfully. "I vould nefer tell him so yet."
"Well, they seem to be in all right with the British and we can always hope to be warned, at least, if we get into danger."
"Und now, vere are ve going at?" asked the Dutch boy as they reached camp and found the squaws ready to move on.
"Going to march some more," replied the chief. "Redcoat man too near."
Fritz gave a longing glance at his heap of pine boughs, where he had hoped to pass the rest of the night, shouldered his gun, and trudged off with a sigh after Dick.
Tom Dare and Tim returned somewhat slowly to the camp after the firing had ceased, and the Indians had retired from the attack.
"It's hard to see any man shot down before your eyes," said Tom, "but it's a good thing for you and I, Tim, that the trooper that heard Dick call us by name isn't here to tell the story."
"Sure, if he was, it's you and I, me bye, would now be chasin' the woods through trying to foind that brother of yours and his rid skinned frinds."
"Come along, we'll go report to the major, and see where we stand," said Tom.
"Good," replied Tim, "Do you know, Tom, it's a lucky thing for us, it is, thot with thot crazy Dootchman firin' at us we wern't kilt entirely."
"Careful, Tim, don't talk too much with these men around. They might overhear something."
The two boys had reached the major by now,and going up to him, saluted. Tim said that saluting a British major was the hardest work he had ever done in his short but eventful life.
The major was plainly upset by the loss his troops had suffered, but he evidently did not suspect the boys of anything wrong, for he smiled gravely when he saw them, and merely said, "There will be plenty of room in the troop for you two now, I think. We have driven off those red-skinned devils, but it has cost us pretty dearly. You two gave the first alarm, didn't you?"
"I think we were the first to discover the enemy," replied Tom, quietly.
"Good," returned the officer, "I shall remember your services."
When they had withdrawn, Tim had great difficulty in restraining his laughter, but they soon had to turn and help the wounded troopers, which effectually drove all thoughts of mirth out of the boys' minds.
The wounded men were made as comfortable as possible, and it was decided to dispatch a messenger to the ten troopers who had been sent down with the horses, to come up and convey them back to the nearest settlement for further care.
The dead were to be buried in the morning, and it was almost daybreak when the tired soldiers and Tom and Tim finally turned in to snatch a hasty nap. They threw out an ample picket line and waited for morning to take up the pursuit again.
Early on the morrow the camp was all astir, and before taking up the trail again, a council of war was held, and it was decided to execute the Indian prisoner, whose capture had brought about the attack, as a lesson to the redmen.
Tom heard of this brutal plan, and resolved to see what he could do to upset the arrangements. He and Tim talked it over, but could arrive at no safe way to set the Indian free. Any friendly move on their part would have brought trouble upon their own heads, and they were still seeking for a feasible scheme when the company took up the march, the Indian in their midst, with his hands tied behind him.
"Ividently they are not going to have the hanging hereabouts," said Tim.
"No, they must be hard to suit," replied Tom. "There are dozens of big trees all around, and yet there are none that please them."
"Oi have an oidea that it's some showy place the villains are afther."
"Probably," agreed Tom. "They want to make an example so that every Indian that goes through these forsaken parts can see."
"Hi there, boys, the major wants you back at the end of the line," called a trooper to Tim and Tom, just then.
"All right," responded Tom, as they turned to obey the summons.
"Phat can the ould feller be afther?" queried Tim.
"Don't know," answered Tom. "But we'll see in a minute."
The major was walking rapidly along behind the first company of men, and by his side the young southerner, who had been in turn so antagonistic to each of the Dare boys.
"There is a very serious charge against you, young men," said the officer. "Mr. Andrews, here, says you are friends of the party we are after, and that during the fight last night you communicated with them. What have you to say?"
"Evidently, Mr. Andrews has been misinformed, for we held no communication with the enemylast night, and I hoped that we had proved our loyalty before you to your cause, by our actions," replied Tom, looking the young civilian up and down while he was speaking, as if he was some object of curiosity.
"I thought myself that you were all right, last night, but it seems that no one remembers seeing you after the first alarm until the fighting was over, and that fact, together with Mr. Andrews' suspicions, and the further fact that you were with us under rather peculiar circumstances, forces me to put you to the test."
The major paused here, and both the boys wondered what sort of test the trial was to be.
"Well, foire ahead," said Tim, impatiently, "we are here because you keep us, and thin you are afther doubtin' our wantin' to be with ye."
"If you are with us as spies, and are friendly with the other party, you know the penalty, of course," said the officer, sternly. "We propose to hang the Indian prisoner this morning, if we reach the proper place before noon, and that execution will give you a good chance to prove yourselves. You are to be the ones to carry out the sentence!"
Tom was dumfounded. They meant to makeTim and himself commit the murder, for that was what it would amount to, of one of their own allies, one of the men who had helped Dick and Fritz. The idea was a shrewd one on the part of the British.
Tim, however, instead of being upset by the idea, merely grew angry.
"Faith, an' out of two respictable, quiet citizens, you would be makin' us to be your executioners, would ye?" he questioned angrily.
The major shrugged his shoulders.
"Look at it as you like, my man," he replied. "If you are with us it won't be hard, and if you are against us, well you can take your choice."
Yes, that was just it. They had planned as nice a trap for the two boys as could be invented. Tom felt tempted to blow out the major's brains where he stood and take their chances in the woods. But the odds were too great even for his daring spirit, and the Indian would be still in the same position as he was now in.
"We must give that matter a little thought," said Tom, finally. "Even in our position as members of this troop, we need to get accustomed to our task, and if we may talk it over for a fewminutes we may be able to reconcile ourselves to our disagreeable duty."
"You haven't much time," said the major, shortly. "We may come to our selected place any minute, now, so be quick, and you had better turn over your guns to the corporal in the meantime. After you have proven yourselves worthy you can have them back, and we will admit you in full standing to the troop."
As they turned away there was a sneer on the face of the young southerner, and Tom felt doubly anxious to beat out their enemies on that account, for he had grown to cordially dislike the young civilian.
"Sure, an' we seem to be up against it, intirely," said Tim, gloomily. "We can't hang the poor divil of an Injin, an' if we don't there'll be no more of the likes of us around much longer, whatever."
"We have got to figure some way out of this," Tom said, firmly. "Have you any weapons about you?"
"Weapons is it?" asked Tim. "If ye can call this foldin' knife a weapon, ye'll be doin' well."
"It may be better than nothing," said Tom."Try to keep it, anyhow, and don't let anyone see it again."
"Where is it they are so anxious to hold their entertainmint?" asked Tim.
"I don't know. We'll ask some of the men," answered Tom.
"Ask the corporal," said the first trooper they questioned. "He has been through here before, and it's him as has picked out the spot."
The boys went forward to find the corporal. They came up to him, near the head of the line.
"Where is it we are going to string up the Indian?" asked Tom, indifferently.
"Oh, it's a great place for a sign like that to hang," replied the corporal. "There is a big bare tree, I think it's a cedar, and it's right on top of a rocky mountain's back. The trail we are following leads right up to it, and the only other trail around here runs——"
"The major wants you at once!" a soldier ran up and interrupted them just at that point.
"Runs where?" said Tom, eagerly.
"I will tell you when you come back from the major. We are most there now, so you will see for yourself soon."
"So there is another trail, Tim," said Tom,excitedly. "And to think that we almost got a description of it, and then we are sent for. Well, we'll tell that old fox of a major that we'll obey his commands under protest, and run our chances of——"
"If it don't rain, it'll be a foine day, Oi'm thinkin'," said Tim, cutting short Tom's comment and plans as the young southerner came into sight.
"Do you know, Tom, there are some parties, mentionin' no names, moind ye, that are certainly very nosy around these parts."
"And I'm thinkin', my young rebel, that there'll be two young spies less 'nosey' before a great while," rejoined the youth. "For one, I shall be glad to see the end of you."
"Phat a happy party it would be with anither wan loike you about," replied Tim, looking for further trouble with their enemy.
But the youth chose to ignore him, and hurried on to the major, with the two boys following.
"Well," asked the officer, when they had come up, "what have you decided?"
"There wasn't much to decide," replied Tom. "We shall have to obey your orders, but we shall do so under protest, and shall report the matterto the representatives of the crown when we get back to Philadelphia."
"I represent His Majesty, here," said the major, "and your complaints will do no good. We are, I understand, approaching the spot which has been selected for you to perform your duty in, and you will soon be called upon to do your part and prove your assertion that you are not spies."
"We'll do our part," said Tom, grimly, and thought at the same time that perhaps that part would be a counter surprise to the major.
The morning was well advanced before they finally came to a sharp rise in the trail, and after a half hour of climbing, they reached the summit of the ridge. The party ahead of them seemed to have scattered where the trail began to rise, and they were unable to find any trace of them on the upper ridge of the mountain.
The great tree that had probably served before in the same gruesome office for which it was selected to-day, stood bare and forbidding against the sky line.
There didn't seem to be anything but sky beyond the edge of the ridge, while the trail they were on ran just below the top, and along theback of the mountain. There certainly was no escape in that direction.
The troopers formed in a semi-circle to prevent any bolt for liberty, and the two boys walked forward with the Indian between them. His hands were still tied behind his back, and of the entire party, the redman seemed to be the least affected. He was prepared to accept his fate with the calm stoicism of his race.
"If we cut your ropes, can we escape?" inquired Tom, softly, as they drew near the tree.
The Indian's eyes glinted responsively, and he nodded his head affirmatively.
"How?" asked Tom, pretending to fix the rope which was supposed to swing the Indian off his feet.
"Over the cliff edge. Roll down," replied the Redman.
Tom glanced up at the branches of the tree, apparently selecting one over which to throw the rope. In reality he was looking over the side of the cliff, and it was not an encouraging view. There was what looked like a straight drop of a hundred feet before he saw a ledge, and further down in the valley he could make out the glitter of a tiny stream, rushing down through the valley.
"Hurry up, there," called an authoritative voice from the half circle of troopers.
"All ready," called back Tom. Then in a whisper, he said, "Out with your knife, Tim and slice those wrist cords, and when I throw the end of this rope up into the tree, over the edge we must go. Relax your muscles and drop. Understand?" he asked, turning to the Indian.
"Ugh, good," he replied.
Tim stepped behind the redskin, and with one strong pull, severed the rope about his wrists. The Indian never moved his arms to indicate to the others what had been done, and at that minute Tom hurled the end of the rope high into the air, and instantly dropped over the edge of the cliff.
The other two followed on Tom Dare's heels, and a volley rang out almost coincidently.