Edward Stratemeyer

“ Gradually the river widened, until they gained a tiny lake, located in the very heart of the wilderness. On two sides were trees of immense size, and elsewhere great rocks loomed up, over which, in one spot, flowed a tiny waterfall.
"This is simply sublime!" murmured Dave. "I had no idea it was so beautiful. It puts me in mind of certain spots on the Kinotah and the Monongahela."
At the other end of the lake, called by the Indians Sho-go-hepack, the river continued its course to the north-westward, and without resting that afternoon, they moved onward, covering sixteen more miles by sunset. ”

“ At nine o'clock in the morning several Indians came up for a "talk." One was known as Turtle's Heart, who was the spokesman.
"What does the red man want?" demanded Captain Ecuyer, from the rampart.
"My brothers, we that stand here are your friends," answered Turtle's Heart. "But we have bad news for you. Six of the red men's great nations have dug up the war-hatchet, and cut off every English garrison but yours. Those who have conquered are now on the way to attack you." ”

“ A big Indian chief leaped upon Rodney and hurled him backward, but ere the red warrior could do further harm, there came a lightning-like stroke from Barringford's hunting knife and the chief fell, struck to the heart. Then another warrior threw his tomahawk at the old frontiersman, but Dave put up his rifle and the hatchet merely hit the barrel of the weapon.
Finding they could not hope to hold their own, the Indians began to retreat on both sides of the road. They broke through the troops as best they could and ran in a dozen different directions. ”

“ Henry missed his cousin greatly, for the two young soldiers had been like brothers since childhood. But he did not complain, for he knew that his Uncle James must feel equally lonely.
Every day the hunters and trappers who made the post their stopping-place came and went. Some were kind and considerate enough, but others were brutal, and a few wished to carouse and fight, something which Mr. Morris would not tolerate. A great many had been to the war and found it difficult to settle down after so much fighting.
"The war spirit gets into a fellow's veins," said one old trapper to Henry. ”

“ While the red men were in conference an Indian who had been acting as a guard came running in with the news that fifteen Indians and three white men were approaching from the north.
"One of the white men is a French trader," said the warrior who brought the news. "He once had a trading-post here."
At this news Black Ear's face brightened.
"It must be Jean Bevoir," he said. "He was to join us long ago, but could not get here."
"Will he aid those at the post?" questioned another.
"Not he. James Morris and Jean Bevoir are as the wolf and the wildcat. They hate each other." ”

“ The Indians from the village were following up White Buffalo's warriors, and the latter were doing their best to hold them back, and thus cover the flight of their chief and Dave, with the children.
"Give it to 'em!" cried Barringford, as soon as he understood the situation. "Pepper 'em hot!" And as the nearest of Moon Eye's warriors came into sight the rangers fired a volley which laid three Indians low. The rest halted, and darted behind the trees.
"We must do our best to get back to the fort," cried James Morris.
"Wait till we count up this crowd that has attacked us," urged Rodney. ”

“ Two logs were thrown aside and there appeared a frontiersman, ragged and capless, and with a wound on his left hand.
"All-Glory Bidwell!" cried James Morris. "Where did you come from?"
"From the Miami!" gasped the newcomer. "Thank fortune I am here, although I see you, too, are surrounded by the red varmints." He was so exhausted he could scarcely stand. "I've been running steadily for eighteen or twenty miles," he added.
"Did you come from the fort up there?"
"Yes. The Indians surrounded us and we had a fearful fight. I reckon most of the men are dead. ”

“ I wonder how much longer it is going to last?"
"It can't last much longer," said Rodney. The blood was running down his cheeks from a cut in the temple.
"If we could only get the Indians into the open," said the old frontiersman. "The Highlanders can shoot well enough, but they can't fight redskins behind the trees."
By ten o'clock in the morning the situation was desperate, and Colonel Bouquet realized that something must be done, or he would be defeated and annihilated. More Indians were coming up, and the little army was caught like a rat in a trap. ”

“ Dave was now footsore and exhausted and glad to think that a night of rest was so close at hand. Reaching the lake, they took a careful look around and then trudged to the cove the old frontiersman had mentioned. Not a single trace of the Indians could be discovered, and they almost buried themselves in a hollow, backed up by rocks and fronted by thick clumps of trees.
"We won't dare to make a fire until after dark," said Barringford. "The smoke would betray us." ”

“ Occasionally there came a flash of lightning, followed by a rumble of thunder, which was far from pleasant.
"Tom don't like this," said one of the twins. "Tom wants to go home."
"Perhaps we'll get home some day, if you'll keep quiet and be a good boy," answered Dave.
"Artie wants some syrup bread," said the other twin. "Bad Indians wouldn't give Artie no sugar bread 'tall!"
"You mustn't talk," whispered Nell. "The bad Indians might come after us," and then the twins relapsed into silence once more. ”

“ It was a chance not to be missed, and as the bear arose on his hind legs, Dave took aim directly for his heart. Down came the hammer of the flintlock, but, alas! the weapon failed to go off.
"Shoot! Why don't you shoot?" yelled Rodney, trying his best to reload.
"My flint is cracked," answered Dave. "Confound the luck!" He took aim again and pulled the trigger as before, but now the bear was crouching down on the rocks, and the bullet merely cut a furrow along his shaggy side. Then came a perfect roar of rage, and the big beast leaped from rock to rock and came directly for the hunters. ”

“ It was not long after this that Pontiac himself appeared, marching at the head of sixty Indian chiefs, all garbed in their blankets and each carrying a hidden gun, loaded and ready for use. The red men marched in regular Indian file, one by one, and their faces were set and ferocious, for they were bent on destroying the entire garrison of Fort Detroit. ”

“ With hearts that beat anxiously the men and Henry remained on guard, moving from one part of the inclosure to another. Once Henry thought he saw two warriors stealing along the frozen brook, but he was not sure.
"If they are going to do anything at all, they'll do it soon," thought the youth. "It's too cold for them to stand around and do nothing," and he slapped his hands to keep them warm.
An hour passed—a long time just then to those in the inclosure. Henry was sleepy and gaped more than once. To keep himself awake he commenced to walk briskly from one loophole to another. ”

“ Jean Bevoir listened with close attention. It pleased him to know that James Morris had been shot.
"I trust that you killed him," he said, cold-bloodedly. "And how many do you think are now at the post?"
This was a question Black Ear either could not or would not answer correctly, and he said he thought about nine or ten, of whom several were wounded.
"You know how to fight these white men," said he, in a flattering tone. "Make an attack, and Black Ear will aid all he can." He knew that he could no longer get his own warriors to lead in the onslaught. ”

“ A day or two of anxiety passed, and the soldiers and trappers at the fort were kept constantly on guard. The Indians, to deceive the English, came out on the green close to the fort and played a game of ball. In the meantime Pontiac went from tribe to tribe, calling upon the Wyandottes, the Ottawas, the Ojibwas, and the Pottawattamies to join in a general assault. War dances were held, and in their blind rage the Indians ran out of their villages and murdered half a dozen Englishmen and Frenchmen living at a distance from the fort. ”

“ This took them to a spot where the rocks were exceedingly rough, and they had all they could do to make any progress at all.
"Drop!" yelled Dave, suddenly, and sank out of sight. Barringford lost no time in doing the same. On the instant several arrows whizzed over their heads.
"There are more Indians ahead of us," whispered the youth. "I am afraid we are caught, Sam!"
He had scarcely spoken when a wild war-whoop broke the stillness of the wilderness, and fully a dozen red men came scrambling over the rocks in the direction of the whites. ”

“ Sam Barringford went out half an hour later, when he had somewhat recovered from his hard ride. Dave went with him, leaving the others to prepare for flight at a moment's notice.
We, who live in the security of these days, cannot realize the hardships and horrors of the years gone by. The settlers, and especially the women and children, dwelt almost constantly in the fear of the red mans war-whoop, with its burning and plundering, its tomahawking and scalping. Every man dwelt with a gun behind his door, and when he went to the field to plow, or to hoe corn, he took the weapon with him. ”

“ Two days later several French traders came into Detroit, bringing news from the forts to the west and south. As soon as they had had their talk with the commandant, Dave approached them. Neither could speak English, so the lad had to converse through the aid of an interpreter.
"The trading-posts on the Ohio are all in the hands of the Indians," was the dismaying news. "The English have been driven away. A few rascals of Frenchmen are aiding the red men. Some of the English traders have gone to Fort Pitt and the other are either in the wilderness in hiding, or else dead." ”

“ Beyond the shadows, the river ran swiftly, and on the next day they had all they could do to keep the canoe to its course and prevent the craft from striking the rocks which now and then loomed up before them.
"This is where we gain time," said Dave. "It beats walking and horseback riding, too."
"Nothin' better nor canoein', when the river is proper," answered Barringford.
During the day they sighted large quantities of water fowls, and each brought down some with the bow and arrows. They proved to be good eating, and gave them a variety in their meals. ”

“ Major Gladwyn called a meeting of his officers, and it was decided to keep the fort under a strong guard all night. For this purpose, half of the available men were called out, including some of the trappers and traders. It was dark and stormy, and there was no telling but that Pontiac might change his mind and bring on the attack at once.
"How many Indians in this vicinity?" asked Dave of one of the hunters.
"Not less'n fifteen hundred," was the reply. "And more coming every day."
"Then if a fight comes, we'll have a hot time of it."
"Reckon we will have," returned the hunter. ”

“ The advance from Fort Ligonier was begun on the fourth of August. A few sharpshooters, including Sam Barringford, went ahead, and then followed the regular troops and the rangers, having in their midst about three hundred and fifty pack horses and thirty-odd cattle—the latter for fresh meat for the soldiers.
"We are coming to a dangerous part of the road now," remarked Dave, as they marched along. "Just ahead of us is a deep hollow, with a little stream at the bottom. If the Indians catch us there we'll be like rats in a trap." ”

“ We must show them that we are masters. It is a mistake to let some of them believe that we want to be friendly just because that is the proper thing. Many Indians take that as a sign that we are afraid of them."
"White Buffalo doesn't look at it in that light."
"White Buffalo is an exception to the rule. He has lived among the whites for many years and he understands us. But the wild red men of the forest can never understand us, nor can we understand them, for our ways of living are so different. It's not in the nature of an Indian to be at peace all the time. ”

“ Their course was along the bank of a small stream which, deep in the woods, formed a fair-sized pond. The spot was a beautiful one, the large trees shading a good portion of the pond. Around the water hovered many birds, and with a shotgun Rodney succeeded in bringing down several of them. He also brought down a pair of squirrels, while Dave laid low a wild turkey of fine size.
"That spoils our chance of a deer around here," said Rodney. "But that first shot was too good to be missed."
"We can't look for a deer every time we go out," answered Dave. "Why even old hunters know better than that. ”

“ The first real attack on the fort came at daybreak. The Indians came swarming in from all directions, and took up positions behind houses, barns, and outbuildings near the fort, and also behind a small hill to the rear of the stronghold. Each was heavily armed, and bullets rattled like hailstones against the palisades. The Indians' targets were the loopholes, and a few shots were made effective in spite of the garrison's efforts to keep out of range. The regulars and Colonial militia returned the fire smartly, and so did the hunters and trappers. ”

“ It was pitch dark when they set off on their long journey up Lake Erie. They had a fine pair of paddles and were soon out on the water, which was calm enough in spite of the recent rain. Barringford was in the bow of the craft and Dave left it to the old frontiersman to shape their course.
All through the long and silent night they moved on steadier, until Dave's arms ached from the use of the paddle. Occasionally one or the other would rest, but not often, for they realized the value of making the best possible use of their time. ”