Paul G. Tomlinson

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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.” ”

“ 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.” ”

“ The two brothers being attached to the scout battalion were near the front, and in back of them the troops stretched out in a long line as far as the eye could see. There was little of the bravado and recklessness that had inspired Major Stillman’s men when they had started from this same spot some six weeks before. Bitter and costly experience had taught the men that over-confidence is a poor quality for any soldier to possess. A quiet determination showed on every countenance now. This army had made up its mind to win and Black Hawk would soon realize that every member meant business. ”

“ The first faint streaks of light were illuminating the eastern sky as Joseph shook his brother and roused him from his slumbers.
“All ready,” cried Robert, wide awake at once. Life in the woods and on the prairies teaches one to waste little time either in going to sleep or in getting up in the morning.
“Deerfoot is looking after the horses,” said Joseph. “As soon as we have washed we’ll be ready for a bite of breakfast and then we must join the others. They’ll start soon, I think.”
Many of their comrades fell in with the two boys as they made their way down to the bank of the stream. ”

“ The narrow channel suddenly turned sharply to the right and a small lagoon appeared before the eyes of the three fugitives. In the center of the little lake was an island about a hundred feet square and heavily wooded.
“There place,” said Deerfoot calmly.
“Can we land there?” questioned Robert doubtfully. “It looks pretty swampy to me.”
44“No swamp in middle,” replied the Indian.
A few powerful strokes of the paddle brought them to the shore of the tiny island. Beneath the low hanging branches of a great willow tree they glided and a moment later stepped ashore. ”

“ At this moment Deerfoot reappeared, his work completed. “We go now,” he exclaimed quickly.
“It’s about time,” said Robert as he bent over to pick up his brother. Once more he grasped him by the ankles while Deerfoot held him under his arms. Thus burdened, they turned and started back to the shelter of the trees.
“Come along,” shouted John Mason cheerily. “We’ll keep watch that no one else gets close to you. Come as fast as you can and keep low.”
“I’m low enough,” exclaimed Joseph, as his back bumped upon a mound of earth.
“Sorry, Joe, I didn’t mean to scrape you,” Robert apologized. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Everything pointed to the fact that the Indians were now in dire straits. The troops pushed on eagerly, every 298man 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. ”

“ Every man in the expedition seemed intent on putting as much space as possible between himself and the yelling pursuers, who were now pressing them so closely.
“Fools,” thought Joseph to himself, as they passed the camp. “Why don’t they stop here? We could defend this place against ten times our number. With the trees for protection and the Indians still on the open prairie we could pick them off at our leisure.” ”

“ As if springing from the ground itself, an Indian bore down upon him. The redskin was scarcely ten feet distant when the startled boy first caught sight of him. On he came with knife upraised, shouting his war whoop. Fury was depicted in every line of the Indian’s countenance. Robert had his rifle in his hand, but, he had no time to take aim, so swiftly did his enemy charge. Instinctively, however, the young volunteer started to raise the gun to his shoulder. ”

“ Against the encroachments of the whites and their undeniable injustice, the Indians opposed their own methods of making war. The extermination of families, the lack of mercy, even the blood-thirstiness of the redmen were among their customary methods of making war and were universally recognized as such by their enemies of their own color. Black Hawk assuredly was a patriot, courageously fighting the battles of his own people. ”

“ The old trapper ceased speaking and relighted his pipe which had gone out during the course of his tale. Both boys remained silent for some minutes.
“That was a strange legend,” remarked Joseph at last.
“I should say so,” echoed Robert. “I liked it though. I like all these stories of Indians and what they believed.”
“So do I,” exclaimed Walt. “Indians are a simple-minded people in a great many ways. Their legends mean a lot to them, too.” ”

“ Silently and swiftly they ran and then at their highest speed returned to the spot where Deerfoot lay crouched upon the ground. The air now resounded with the terrible war cry of the marauding Indians and shots rang out through the evening air.
“Come on, Bob,” exclaimed Joseph, as he swiftly started forward.
He had taken only a few steps, however, when he felt himself gripped strongly by his arm and held back.
“No be a fool,” muttered Deerfoot. “Black Hawk have fifty braves. You be killed unless stay here.” ”

“ Instantly every man sprang from his horse’s back, and quickly tethering his mount to some nearby tree, continued the attack on foot. Every tree seemed to shelter a hostile Indian, and the Whites themselves took advantage of every bit of cover that offered itself.
“Keep close together, boys!” urged John Mason, as, rifle in hand, he started forward with Deerfoot and the two brothers. “Watch every tree and don’t let yourselves be taken by surprise.”
“Look out!” warned Joseph suddenly. “There’s an Indian.” ”

“ The darkness increased and Deerfoot began steadily to draw away from his two young friends. Born and reared in the woods, and lightly dressed, he proved more than a match for the fast tiring brothers. They struggled desperately to keep up but they both realized that before long they would be compelled to stop. And ever nearer sounded the war whoop of the Sacs.
“I can’t go much farther, Deerfoot,” panted Joseph.
“Nor I,” gasped Robert.
At the word the flying Indian slackened his pace and waited for the boys to catch up.
20“Only little more,” he exclaimed, “no stop now. All die if stop now.” ”