CHAPTER XXVIIWISCONSIN HEIGHTS
The object to which John Mason pointed was not very startling in itself. It seemed entirely harmless and innocent as it lay on a tuft of grass beside a large tree. It was an earthen pot like many that were used by the Indians in their camps.
“You see they are beginning to throw away their own belongings,” exclaimed Mason. “They must know we are close behind them and are trying to make time.”
“There are some blankets too,” cried Robert. “They evidently don’t intend to carry any more weight than necessary.”
The trail was soon littered with baggage and paraphernalia of all kinds. Everything pointed to the fact that the Indians were now in dire straits. The troops pushed on eagerly, everyman spurred forward by the knowledge that their opponents were weakened and must soon be overtaken. Nature seemed to impose almost every difficulty imaginable in the way of the pursuers, but nothing discouraged the men any more. Frequently it became necessary to dismount and wade in mud and water shoulder deep. A violent thunder storm and cloudburst struck the little army, but undismayed they fought their way along.
“There’s an Indian!” exclaimed Joseph suddenly.
“Where?” cried Robert excitedly. The two boys were in advance of the others, for their knowledge of woodcraft learned from Deerfoot had enabled them slightly to outdistance the rest of the army.
“Just ahead there,” said Joseph quickly as he raised his gun to fire.
“Wait, Joe,” cried Robert. “He’s holding up his hands.”
The Indian was seated on a pony, and, as Robert had said, was holding up his hands in token of surrender. Joseph quickly lowered his rifle.
“A Winnebago,” announced Joseph, when hehad obtained a closer glimpse of the red man.
“We’d better wait for the others,” advised Robert. “He probably can’t speak English and we can’t find out what he wants.”
Several soldiers soon joined the brothers, among them a man who understood the Winnebago tongue. He shouted to the Indian and learned that he was a deserter from Black Hawk and wished to join the Whites. The interpreter questioned him closely and upon relating what had been said to General Henry, the Winnebago was given permission to attach himself to the army.
“Who was he? What did he say?” Robert demanded of Deerfoot, who was now riding with the two boys and John Mason.
“He Winnebago,” replied Deerfoot. “He say Black Hawk only two miles away, and much weary.”
“Hooray!” cried Robert excitedly. “We’ll catch him soon.”
The news had spread throughout the army, spurring the men on to even greater efforts than before.
“We won’t catch them tonight, I’m afraid,” remarked Mason. “It will be dark before long.”
“It always gets dark just at the wrong time,” Robert complained.
“How are you going to prevent it, Red?” laughed Mason.
“I’m not going to prevent it,” replied Robert. “It is certainly tough luck the way it always happens like this, though.”
“We’ll camp soon, I think,” said Mason. “We must be almost at the lakes by this time, and it is nearly sunset.”
“What lakes?” inquired Joseph.
“The Four Lakes,” explained Mason. “You’ll see them yourself in a minute.”
“I hope they’re better looking than the rest of this country,” exclaimed Robert.
“Don’t worry about that,” Mason assured him. “You’ll never see anything prettier than these lakes as long as you live.”
As he finished speaking they emerged from the swamp, passed through a belt of heavy timber and came to the edge of a lake. The water was clear as crystal and the bottom was covered with shining white pebbles.
“This is Third Lake,” announced Mason. “What do you think of it?”
“Wonderful!” exclaimed Robert and Josephin amazement as they looked out across the beautiful sheet of water. The sun was sinking low in the western sky and its rays cast a gleam of silver and gold over the quiet waters. As the rest of the army came up, every man stood in silence and looked out over the lake, almost too strongly impressed to speak.
“How big is this lake?” inquired Robert at last.
“About ten miles around, I should say. Fourth Lake is about twice the size.”
War and strife were forgotten for a few moments under the spell of this beautiful scene. The silence did not long continue, however, for the order to camp here for the night was soon given and preparations were made at once. Scouts came in and reported Indians but a few miles away, but nothing happened to disturb the encampment during the night. The next morning at daybreak the men were up and once more on the march.
Across the isthmus between Third and Fourth Lakes swept the army. Joseph, Robert, Mason and Deerfoot rode in front with Ewing’s spy battalion and soon picked up the trail. It was easy to follow and more and more evidences ofthe desperation of the Sacs came into view. Apparently the Indians were discarding everything but their firearms.
In desperate haste the army advanced. Several horses gave out, but the troopers thus deprived of their mounts kept on on foot, not one whit discouraged by their mishaps.
Several Indians were shot. They were all old men who were exhausted by hunger and unable to keep pace with the rest of their band. The morning passed and noon came. With undiminished speed the army pressed forward. At about half-past four in the afternoon the Indians were sighted. They had taken up their position on the bluffs about a mile and a half from the Wisconsin River.
“Halt!” came the sharp command. “Dismount!” A moment later the army was on foot, awaiting the next order. This soon came, and the men were instructed to form in line and prepare to charge. One man out of every four was delegated to hold the horses.
Scarcely had the army time to do as they were commanded when the Sacs themselves charged. Yelling like madmen they rushed down upon the Whites. A heavy volley fromtheir guns failed to break the lines of the troops, however, and the fire was returned spiritedly.
“Let ’em have it! Give it to them!” cried Robert enthusiastically.
“Charge!” came the order.
With a cheer the men advanced. They returned the galling fire of the Indians with deadly effect, but their foes were not lacking in valor.
“Keep low and close to me, Bob,” warned Joseph as they hurried forward.
“I’m all right, Joe,” cried Robert. “Forget me and give all your attention to those red demons over there.”
The fire of the Whites was most effective and the Indians appeared to be giving way.
“They’re running,” shouted Robert. “Keep right after them.”
Apparently what Robert had said was true. The Indians did seem to be leaving their positions, but they certainly were not retreating, as subsequent events soon proved.
“We’ve got ’em!” cried Robert, who was almost beside himself with excitement. “We’ve got ’em now, and now’s the time to finish them up.”
“Don’t expose yourself too much, Red,” cautioned Mason, who kept close beside the two young brothers. Robert was absolutely regardless of danger and ran forward fearlessly, with no thought other than to load and fire his rifle as many times as possible.
“They can’t——”
“Look out!” cried Mason, breaking in on what Robert had started to say.
“What is it?” shouted Joseph in response to Mason’s warning.
“They’re trying to flank us.”
“Where are they?”
As he spoke the sharp bark of several rifles sounded from some very tall grass on one side of the battlefield. The Indians who had apparently retreated, as a matter of fact had stolen around and into the grass where they opened a heavy fire on the Whites. For a moment the army was taken by surprise, but it did not last long. Quick action was needed and quick action was taken, and luckily too. Had the Indians succeeded in getting behind the Whites they could have caused enormous damage.
“Charge them!” shouted General Henry.
The command was instantly obeyed. Withbayonets bared and with cheers and shouts the white men bravely dashed forward. The troops may have displayed cowardice in some of the previous engagements of the war, but they were redeeming themselves now. Fearlessly and gallantly they rushed at top speed to dislodge the enemy from his position.
“There is no load in my gun, Bob,” shouted Joseph.
“Nor in mine,” echoed John Mason.
“You don’t need it,” cried Robert. “We’ll chase ’em out of there with our fists if we haven’t anything else. My gun is loaded, but I don’t need it.”
A galling fire greeted their advance and several of the men dropped. The volley was returned but feebly, for most of the men were in the condition of Joseph and John Mason; that is, their guns were empty. No one halted for a second, however; all increased their pace.
“I’ll save my load,” thought Robert to himself. “I may need it more in a few minutes than I do now.”
At this moment a man on a gray horse dashed madly past him. Robert recognized the rider as Colonel Jones, one of the officers. As heglanced up at the fearless rider a bullet struck the horse, killing it instantly. Colonel Jones was pitched headlong to the ground and Robert rushed to see if he was hurt.
“Were you hit, Colonel?” he demanded anxiously.
“Never touched me,” came the quick reply, and instantly jumping to his feet the gallant officer continued the advance. “Follow me!” he shouted, and with a cheer the men closed in behind him.
Absolutely regardless of consequences, fearlessly the men charged. The grass which the Indians occupied was at least six feet tall, a fact which rendered it very difficult for the Whites to see their opponents. Not one man faltered, however.
Soon they came to the edge of the grass and a desperate hand to hand encounter took place. Stabbing with their bayonets and using the butt ends of their guns the white soldiers slowly but surely forced their redskinned foes to fall back. Every inch of ground was contested stubbornly and desperately. The men became separated from one another and individual combats took place everywhere.
Robert had forced his way clear through to the opposite side of the high grass and emerged into the open. As he came out he saw a white man suddenly trip and fall headlong to the ground. With a howl of rage a painted warrior sprang at the fallen soldier with upraised tomahawk.
Robert’s heart almost stopped beating when he suddenly recognized the prostrate man as his brother Joseph.