Paul G. Tomlinson

“ Suppose he was afraid to go; you'd be ashamed of your son then I know."
"How do you know I'm going to get killed anyway?" demanded Harold. "Every one that goes to war doesn't get killed. At any rate it's sort of gruesome to sit up and hear your family talk as if you were just as good as dead already."
"True enough," laughed Mr. Cook. "When does your examination come?"
"Next Monday."
"Will you wear a uniform?" asked Louise.
"Why, certainly," said Harold, swelling out his chest at the thought.
"I wish I could enlist," sighed Bob.
"You're too young, I told you," said Harold scornfully. ”

“ The man kicked and struggled with all the strength that was in him. Bob hung on for dear life, however. He held one of the man's feet in each hand and threw his body across his legs to hold them down. Hugh scrambled forward and hurled his entire weight across the man's chest. Their prisoner's fists were going like flails, but Hugh persisted. The thought of this German plotting against the United States was more than he could endure and he dealt the man a stunning blow squarely in the face. ”

“ The thought uppermost in the mind of each boy, however, was of Black Hawk and his band of marauding warriors.
It is hard for us to understand in these days what a peril and a menace to frontier life these hostile Indians were. Every little while word would come of some family wiped out by the uprising of a nearby tribe and no one could tell at just what moment these onslaughts might come.
Everyone went armed, not only for the sake of the game which provided much of the food on which the pioneers lived, but also as a guard against any surprise attack of warlike redmen. ”

“ CHAPTER XI THE DESERTED HOUSE "Somebody stole Percy," said Bob when they had ridden a little way.
"The alligator?"
"Yes. Heinrich's pet, you know."
"Why should any one want to do that?"
"I can't imagine, and poor old Heinie is all broken up about it. I've never seen any one who liked animals as much as he does."
"Who do you suppose did it?"
"I've no idea. Perhaps the man who returned the car stole him and is planning to wait until he grows big and then train him to come and bite us," laughed Bob.
"Let's hope not," smiled Hugh. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Bob had no doubt in his mind that Mr. Wernberg was a member of a gang that was plotting against the United States. In his heart he felt sure he was guilty.
On the other hand if the fake detective was not equally guilty he would be surprised. Certainly no man would disguise himself in that way who had honorable motives. Nor would any man run away as he had done, or fire a pistol at real officers of the law unless he was engaged in some evil doing. ”

“ They knew enough about Indians to realize that one can never be too careful when attempting to remain hidden from them. An Indian will see the smoke of a camp fire for miles distant; the slightest noise will alarm him, and a trail is an open book for him to read.
“Do you suppose Black Hawk and his band could trace us here?”
“I doubt it,” said Joseph in response to his brother’s query. “They might have followed our trail up to the spot where we took the canoe. I don’t see how any human being could track us to this island though. If we are discovered it will only be by luck.” ”

“ Ammunition and a scanty supply of food was all that the men retained.
The word to advance was given and the army moved forward. What had been a band of discouraged and gloomy men was now a body of spirited and eager soldiers. Every man realized that at last they were not following a will-o’-the-wisp, but a certainty. They knew that Black Hawk was not far away now and that if they tried hard enough they could probably overtake him. They were all determined to do their utmost.
“What an awful country!” exclaimed Robert, when they were a few miles out from camp. ”

“ What would your mother say?"
"That's what Karl Hoffmann said," exclaimed Hugh.
"Karl is usually right too," said Mr. Cook. "He takes so much responsibility about my personal affairs that really I don't know what I'd do without him."
"He was afraid we'd get hurt," sniffed Bob.
"Karl likes you," said his father. "He doesn't want anything to happen to you."
"We can take care of ourselves."
"I know that," his father assented. "Do you want to go very much?"
"We certainly do," cried Bob and Hugh in one breath. ”

“ They knew how high an Indian’s sense of honor was and they feared for the result if these hot-headed rangers should do violence to Black Hawk’s messengers. Long association with Deerfoot had taught them that an Indian never forgets an injury done him any more than he does a kindness.
Meanwhile, the mob of riders had swooped down upon the astonished messengers. Surrounding the three Indians they shouted and waved their arms and urged the braves on until they came into camp. Here more of the volunteers swarmed around the envoys, and yells and imprecations sounded on all sides. ”

“ They said good night to Harold and started homeward. They still felt a little shaky as a result of the bomb episode, but before long the walk and the crisp night air had refreshed them and their spirits once more revived.
"I wonder what they'll do to that German," exclaimed Bob.
"Harold said they had locked him up for over night, and I guess when they hear what he tried to do, they'll keep him longer than that."
"They'll send him to jail probably."
"I hope so," said Hugh. "Any man who would try to blow up a bridge and kill crowds of people deserves worse than jail." ”

“ The ground on the prairie was hard and along the surface of the earth ran a vein of solid rock. It would be almost impossible to follow a trail there, at least with any degree of speed, and Deerfoot had counted upon that as an aid. He hoped to gain a few precious moments by his strategy.
Safe within the shelter of the forest, once more the wily Pottowattomie called a halt. The three fugitives crouched behind the shelter of a bush and gazed eagerly out across the prairie. ”

“ Walking on the ground so that they would not make any noise they hurried on. A few moments later they stood in front of the Cooks' house.
"There's a light in your house too," said Hugh. "This and that house on
Elm Street are the only ones where people seem to be awake."
"That's Lena's room," said Bob.
"The cook?"
"Yes."
"She's a German, isn't she?"
"Look here, Hugh," laughed Bob. "You can't make me suspicious about Lena. She has been our cook ever since I was born. She's the most faithful and kindhearted woman that ever lived. Why she's practically one of the family." ”

“ The harangue continued uninterruptedly while the army sat and quaked with fear. At any moment the men expected to be set upon by a band of bloodthirsty Sacs. Some of the more timid were in favor of decamping at once. So great was the alarm in the camp that General Henry found it necessary to deliver a patriotic speech to rally the sinking spirits of his men.
“Don’t you understand what the voice is saying, Deerfoot?” inquired John Mason at last. ”

“ He seems to think that any one who disagrees with him must be wrong."
Bob nudged Hugh. "What was the argument?" he asked.
"The war," said Frank bitterly. "I said I thought Germany was all right, and he tried to lecture me about it. Hasn't a fellow a right to his own opinion?"
"Sure he has," exclaimed Bob. "Any one can think Germany is all right if he wants to, but no one who is an American can side with Germany against the United States at a time like this."
"Who says they can't?" demanded Frank flaring up. ”

“ Black Hawk is an Indian.
“He has done nothing for which an Indian ought to be ashamed. He has fought for his countrymen, the squaws and the papooses, against white men, who came year after year to cheat him and take away their lands. You know the cause of our making war. It is known to all white men. They ought to be ashamed of it. The white men despise the Indians, and drive them from their homes. But the Indians are not deceitful. The white men speak bad of the Indian, and look at him spitefully. But the Indian does not tell lies; Indians do not steal. ”

“ The fire burned more fiercely every moment, and it seemed incredible that any man could enter that seething furnace and return alive. The air was filled with sparks and blazing embers; the smoke mounted heavenward in a thick column which must have been visible for miles.
Minutes that seemed like hours passed. Hugh and the two detectives returned from their chase. They had not captured their man.
"We followed him as far as the road," one of them reported. "He had a motor cycle there and got away from us."
"We'll get him later, never fear," said Sergeant Riley, grimly. ”

“ Behind them roared the racing fire, the noise striking terror to the heart of every living thing within hearing distance. Side by side ran men and animals, their ancient enmities forgotten, everyone aware of the fact that a foe more powerful than any of them was at their backs. Water was what they all sought, 68and unless they could reach it before the fire did they were lost.
Neither Joseph nor Robert knew of any water nearer than the stream they had left the evening before. It was out of the question to think of gaining that. Perhaps Deerfoot knew of some lake or pond on the prairie. ”

“ Gradually the man's strength waned; Hugh could feel it slipping. A moment later he lay gasping on the ground too weak to offer any resistance to the two boys. Hugh held his arms, while Bob released his hold on the man's throat and sat on his legs. The prisoner, his breath rattling in his chest, lay with eyes half-closed, completely done up.
Suddenly Hugh spied something that made him start violently. The man's coat lay wide open and pinned on his vest was a badge. More than that, it was a police badge, one of the badges of the police of High Ridge. ”

“ Maybe father isn’t worried, but I am.”
“Well, I’m worried, too,” agreed Robert. “I don’t think I’m a coward by any means, but it seems to me it is a silly thing to do to stay right on here as if there was no danger at all, when at any moment we may be attacked by a band of hostile Indians.”
“Still,” said Joseph, “we have no special reason for thinking that we are to be the first ones attacked. Perhaps if some other family is murdered, father may realize that it is serious and move on to some safe place for a while.” ”

“ Well, just think of all those millions of men over in Europe on the battlefields; all the English and French, and Italians, and Belgians, and Russians, and all the others. If the United States is in the war we ought to be willing to do our part. Our allies in Europe are fighting for us as much as for themselves, and it seems to me that to disguise myself and follow the cook is a small thing for me to contribute to the common cause."
"I guess you're right, Bob," said his father. ”

“ Joseph agreed heartily. “Why, no one will be safe any more unless something is done. All the other tribes may be lured in, too, if they see the success Black Hawk is having.”
“Very true,” said Mason. “I believe that already some of the Winnebagos and Pottowattomies have joined him.”
“Is that so?” exclaimed Robert. “I wonder if Deerfoot knows that some of his people are with Black Hawk now?”
“Of course he knows,” said Joseph. “He seems to know everything almost before it happens. He is uncanny at times.” ”

“ Bob and Hugh could feel their hearts hammering so that it seemed to the two boys the noise must be heard. Their faces were pale, and frankly they were frightened. Suppose the men in the room should outnumber them and overpower them? Certainly if they were the spies and plotters they sought, they would be desperate. ”