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In the historical references I have ilrawn freely from Lossing, I'ickett, Drake, Jenkins, and Halbert and Hall, and here wish to acknowledge my indebted- ness to thuni. EVEUETT T. TOMLINSON. 3 It « t. t ! ■ .-r^ ii^f f£jf -^= > rtnit^'^'''^'' ""*"' ' ^ ' *■''" '"--"•^ t of a ciino, iimny of the esido storieH Irawn freely luul Ilulbei't my indebted- )ML1NS0N. i 'I CONTENTS Chaptir 9tam I. Leavino Homk 9 II. TiiK Visit ok Tkcumhkii 20 III. An Unexpected Arrival 31 IV. A Chanoe in the 1'lan 41 V. To the Fort 61 VI. Like at Fort Mims 60 VII. In the Woods again 69 VIII. The Massacre 78 IX. The Return 88 X. The Si'KEcH of Tecumseh's Youno Brave 97 XI. In the Alabama 106 XII. Sam Dale's Encounter 114 XIII. Andrew Jackson 122 XIV. Tecumseh's Young Braves again , . 136 XV. The Search for Josiah 146 XVI. Josi.ui's Message 155 XVII. Jerry Departs 164 XVIII. The Piece of Cane I73 XIX. Josiah Reappears . 182 XX. The Place of Torment 192 XXI. At the Stake 201 XXII. Econochaca 211 XXIII. An Interrupted Passage 220 Sgltf-riite-Mi . h\\ t- il 8 Chaptkb XXIV. XXV. XXVI. XXVII. XXVIII. XXIX. XXX. XXXI. XXXII. XXXIII. XXXIV. XXXV. CONTENTS * Page Followed 230 24-1 Emucfau The Wrestlers '^'^- The Cank-covered Oaves .... 2G.'5 , The Solitary Guard 272 Where were the Braves? .... 282 ^ Jerry's Venture ^^-^ A Disturbed Party 301 Up the Coosa 3i;i Horse Shoe Bend 323 The Search fob Nance 334 345 Conclusion • "**' i Pagv 230 241 252 26.3 272 282 292 301 313 323 334 345 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Page ' Horse and rider both left the DLUFF " . FrontUpiece ' The hunter was leading the way " 61 'He drove his bayonet into the Indian's heakt," 119 ' The sight of the fire seemed to increase the fury op the 8pectatoks " 198 ' He was thrown headlong and hard upon the ground" 261 ' Just before them they could see the camp " . 309 ' Major Montgomery was the first to spring UPON THE breastworks" 329 'I AM IN YOUR POWER. DO WITH ME AS YOU PLEASE" 336 u ■mifmm^>mj^/-t ' TECUMSEH^S YOUNG BRAVES CHAPTER I LEAVING HOME " pUSH her off, Tom. Let her go." -'■ "All right, Jerry, but it's hard to get this strange-looking craft started." At the words of his brother, Tom Curry pushed the "strange-looking craft," as he called it, out from the bank, and slowly it moved into the river. And strange-looking, indeed, it was 1 It was a crude craft in which the logs had been fastened together with thongs of deer-hide, and over which rough boards had been nailed to the logs beneath. A rough bow had been fashioned, and near the stern what might have been called a little house, or cabin, had been erected. This, more properly still, perhaps, might have been termed a shelter, as it was enclosed n three sides, and was the only place which had been provided within which the members of the party could sleep. *v l3 10 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BKAVES Long poles and rough-looking oai-s were on the sides of the nift, and altogether the structure bore more of a resemblance to some of the modern house- boats than it did anything else, only a " house-boat " had never been heard of in those days. Perhaps it might have been likened to some of the floating homes that to-tlay are to be found on the lakes and canals, providing at the same time a shelter, a home, and a means of transportation from one place to another. , Yet, strange as was the craft, far stranger were the crew and the passengers. Over the rough boards that covered the raft a few chickens were moving, and a pig also could have been seen there; but in addition to the live-«tock, there was among others the young individual we have already heard addressed as "Tom." He was one of two boys, or young men, on board, about seventeen years of age, who very strongly resembled each other. In fact, it had been a stand- ing joke with them for some time that each was con- stantly liable to mistake himself for the other, and that frequently in the morning when he awoke he addressed himself as his brother. They also declared that so many mistakes concern- ing their identity had been made since their child- hood, that the only thing each was certain of now was that he must be the other one and not lumself. "v*! /■ES i-s were on the structure bore modern house- a, " house-boat " lays. Perhaps of the floating I the hikes and ihelter, a home, 1 one place to ranger were the 3 rough boards 3 were moving, 1 there ; but in nong others the leard addressed men, on board, very strongly i been a stand- it each was con- the other, and n he awoke he istakes concem- nce their child- certain of now nd not lumself. LEAVING HOME 11 '%' The resemblance was not to be wondered at, for they were twin brothers, and rejoiced in the names of Tom and Jerry. There wiW, however, nothing in their make-up to remind one of that strange sign, " Tom and Jerry," frequently seen in the streets of our cities to-day, and the only account they had of the origin of their names was the fondness of their father in the years past for that much-advertised beverage. Near these boys was standing a girl, perhaps a year and a half younger than they, and yet she was nearly as large ; and from her features any one at once would have perceived that she was a sister of both. She was strong and fearless, and could wield an oar with either of them, and more than once she had carried a gun when the boys had started into the forest to search for a bear which had carried off some helpless "grunter." This girl was frequently addressed as " Nance," and apparently the boys were depending upon her as one of their aids in this expe lition upon which thtj- were so strangely starting. Two younger children also were on the raft, and a woman who evidently was the mother of all the young persons we have mentioned. She, however, appeared to be the least interested member of the party. She seemed to be worn and weary, and as she held the younger children in her lap, frequently look- ipjOTr. 12 TECUMSEirS YOUNG BRAVES ing back at tlie bank they were leaving, she uttered many complaints, and in a fretful, scolding way bewailed the misfortunes which had overtaken her. But the girl was as cheery and brave as her mother was fretful, and the younger children were more interested in the departure than hi the complainta they heard, to which it was evident they long had been accustomed. The time when our stoiy begins was on a bright summer day in 1813. The broad river on which our party had set sail was the Alabama. Along the shore, which they were now leaving, grew rushes rank and tall, while in places mai-shes and bogs could be seen, and behind all stretched the woods, fading away in the distance. It wjis early in the morning, and even the slow-fly- ing birds apparently had a little more life than usual. The ever-present crow made all aware of his presence, and with his hoai-se calls followed our voyagers, either from curiosity as to their movements or in the hope that something would be left by them for him. Although it was early in the morning the heat was intense, and the yellow glare of the sun spread over the river and the forests alike, and soon the members of our party were sweltering beneath it. It was a strange voyage which they had begun, but adventures far more strange were before them. The boat, propelled by the long oars, moved steadily t"^ ■' ^'i.l^ A'iKlif-^-.-^rVi'»mti.. LEAVING HOME 13 5, sho uttered scolding way vertaken hex*. IS her mother n were more le complaints hey long had 8 on a bright on which our ong the shore, lies rank and !0uld be seen, iding away in 1 the slow-fly- ie than usual. if his presence, ayagers, either or in the hope or him. y the heat was in spread over 1 the members it. It was a )ut adventures noved steadily onward. The boys had kept her all the time near the shore, and even though they were going down stream they had not dared to venture out into tli3 channel. A light wind was blowing, and they were talking of taking advantage of it by rigging a small sail which they had brought with them. As the boys handled the oara, the girl, whom, as we have said, they frequently addressed as " Nance," used a long pole, and with it not merely guided the raft, but assisted in sending it forward. Their streaming faces and panting breath soon com- pelled them all to stop for a time, and the only force that sent the strange craft onward was the little sail near the bow which with much difficulty they at last had succeeded in rigging. " Why do you stop ? " asked the woman, in a com- plaining tone. " We never ought to have begun at all. It's all your fault, l)oys, for if you had followed my advice we never should have left our home on this wild-goose chase. Oh, dear! I don't believe there ever was a woman who had such misfortunes as I. It's nothing but bad luck and sorrow every day." Tom was silent while his mother spoke, but after a moment's pause he cheerily replied, " It's too hot for such hard work, mother. We must save our strength, for there is no knowing when we shall have to use it aU." 14 TECUMSEirS YOUNfi BKAVKS " liut I've no strength to save," roi)li"(l tho com- plaining woman. " Nothing hnt had hick has come to ns ever since yonr father tell under that tree. He would drink ho nuich, and that's what he got for it all. I don't know hut this is woiwe than the hroken leg ho had, and the long fever through that winter before he died. Oh, dear ! He was too fond of 'Tom and Jerry.' " " But you know we're doing the l)e8t we can now," replied Tom. " I suppose you think you are," said his njother. " If I was one that ever complained, I suppose I should say something about the foolish way in which we have left everything we owned behind us and started out on this river. Nothing but bad luck," she added, moaning and shaking her head, " ever since we came here. I don't know why we ever left York State. We were well enough off there, and in the place which we've just left the Injuns never threatened us." " But you were poor, mother," replied Tom, who, although he was accustomed to the constant com- plainings of his mother, yet looked at her with a feel- ing of compassion, for her lot had been a hard one, and many trials and bitter experiences had come to her during the ten years in wliich they had lived on the little plot of land they had taken near the Ala- bama river. ' ;iS«J .»-J'iilStt l Ji«»J«WW ! HK,"» ' - ' -■"-■» kVKS rci)li"(l the com- l luck liius coint) r that tree. Ho lilt lie got for it than the broken ugh that winter too fond of ' Tom 3st we can now," said his mother, led, I suppose I isli way in which I behind us and but bad luck," ler head, " ever ivhy we ever left 1 off there, and ihe Injuns never plied Tom, who, e constant com- t her with a feel- been a hard one, Bes had come to ley had lived on 3n near the Ala- LEAVINO HOME 15 " But we were poor," repeatcil Tom, "and father thought there would be no chau(!e for you at all there ill York State, and you know how he listened to the stories they told of what could be done here. I've heard him tell it from beginning to end, lots of times." " Yes, he was poor then, but he is dead now ; and iicre we are out on this river poorer than ever wo were. We've not even a home now, and everything we own in the world we've left behind us." And without a tear, but with a prolonged whine, she turned and looked towards the place which she had called home, and which still could be seen in the distance. The little hut, or house, of logs in which they had lived for ten yeai-s was yet visible to all, standing out iis it did on the bluff beliind them, and they stood for 11 moment sadly looking back at the scene. The two lows which they had owned, and the poor old horse also, were within sight, and appeared to be watching the departing party as if surprised that they should be left behind. "They'll not go far away, mother," said Tom, speaking aloud the thought that was in his own mind, and which he suspected was in his mother's also. " They'll not go far away. We've often turned them out for five or six weeks at a time, and left them to shirk for themselves. The creek is right above, and v«1i •i i L : ;i 1 le TErUMSEIl'S YOUNIS nUAVES just l)olo\v (Mir pliico is the best feed ll'cie ia aluiig the liver for miles." " Hut suppose they dou't keep near the river," said his mother. " Oh, but they will ! " replied Tom. " The feed is iKitter there, and besides they'll keep near home, and the alligatow will stop thorn from swimming the creek. " " Oh, but the Injuns may get them ! " again com- plained the woman, as if determined to see nothing but the dark side. " Those awful Injuns ! — though to mo they always seemed good enough. I never had any trouble with them, and I don't believe half the stories that are told about their cruelty. Ever since we nursed Kanawlohalla through his long sickness they've been the best neighbor we've ever had." But Tom became silent again, and watched the watera over which they were psissing. He had little hope that they would escape the notice of the Indians on their voyage, and yet it was for that very purpose that our party were embarked on their strange craft, and were leaving behind them almost all their possessions. It was a heavy care for boys no older than they, and yet they had kept from their mother the full knowledge they had of the dangers to be feared from the Indians of that region. "There are a couple of Indians down on the shore ! AVES ;d tl'cre ia along ar the river," said 111. " The feed is p near home, and 11 swimming tlie um!" again com- >d to see nothing Injuns ! — though ugh. I never luid t believe half the lelty. Ever since his long sickness re've ever had." and watched the passing. He had the notice of the t was for that very mbarked on their ehind them almost ID older than they, ir mother the full 3 to be feared from down on the shore LEAVING HOME 17 now," said Jerry to his brother as he approached. " Do you S(!e them?" " Yes ; but what are we to do? We can't steer this raft out into the river," replied 'I'om. " No ; the only thing we can do is to go on, and act as though we were not afraid. If these two are all there are, thtire won't be any trouble." " I know who they are," said Jerry, a moment later. "It's Kanaw and ("aptain Jim, and yet it would be hard work to recognize them if wo didn't know them pretty well." - The young Indians, who stood upon the shore in their war-paint, and motitmless as tlie trees, looked the very personification of savage life. They were both young, not mucli if any older than the boys in our party. They waited until the raft came op- posite, and then, with a wave of the hand down the stream, as if indicating the necessity of haste, they themselves quickly turned into the forest and dis- appeared. "Yes, they are Tecumseh's young braves, that's sure," said Jerry, " though I didn't see where Con- dawhaw was. He certainly wasn't with them." " I don't care where he was," replied his brother. " They wouldn't have come down to the bank and waited for us to ptuss if there hadn't been some need of it. It means that we've got to hurry, and it won't do for us to crawl along with just this little breath of A pi lill i ,1 'v : ■ i t ft • 1 18 TKCUMSKirS YOITNO HIIAVKS wind." And both Imys with new zeiil mid ii deepen- ing fear oneo more took up tlie U\\^ oaw and l)egan to row. Tom h)oked uhoiit to see if his mother liad noticed thti hail they had received from th(! whore, hut she liad gone insicUi of the riuh" shanty they had erected, and taken the ehihheii ; and as the need of greater hasto had not Iwen diseovcued by her, Tom encouraged his brotiier, and both l)egan to exert all their strength at the oars. The clumsy raft began to move more rapidly, although to the eager boys it seemed as though their speed had not i)erceptibly ii\creased. "What is it, Tom?" asked Nance, as a few mo- mentw later she apiiroached her brother. "Oh, nothing much, but we've got to jog on," replied Tom. "Don't be frightened, Nance; it's nothing new, only the same reason that made ns leave home, makes us want to leave it farther and faster l)ebind us now." "Nobody knows what the next few miles will show," said Nance, "but you can't fool me, either one of you. I know you've seen sometliing that's frightened you, and you're trying to go faster on that account. What can 1 do to help?" " Well, to be honest, Nance," replied her brother, " I am in a hurry to get beyond that point yonder as soon as I can, for there's no knowing what may hap- pen to us there." VVKS LEAVING HOME 19 il and a deepeii- g oiii-s mid Ik-jjiiii itlu!!' had iiotic't'd I! hIiou', l)nt hIic lioy Imd t'li'ctod, id of greater has to 111 encouraged liis ill their Htreiigth m to move more ys it seemed as tibly increased, ice, as a few mo- uther. got to jog on," 3ned, Nance; it's on that made ns ,ve it fartlier and " I'll take the pole iigain," said the resolute girl; " I know I can liel[) some.'* And suiting the action to her word, she Itegaii to work again with the long and (iluinsy poh^ Tliey kept on in their c<»ui'se, watchful of tlie shore and appiircntly forgetful of tlie heat, which every moment became more and more intense. The " [)oint " to which Tom had referred was a little peninsula jutting out into the river, and wiw about a mill! and a half farther down the stream. It wius covered with trees which would afford an excel- lent hiding-place for any party that might wish to attack them and yet remain concealed themselves. The river was narrower there, and lus the channel made in nearer the shore, the danger would lie greatl}' increased. The waniing signal of the young bmves added to the fear of the Iniys, and they knew that they were api)roachiug one of the perils of their voyage. t few miles will ,'t fool me, either something that's > go faster on that plied her brother, It point yonder as ig what may hap- N 20 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES CHAPTER II THE VISIT OP TECUMPES IN order to understand something of the meaning of the incident related in the previous cliapter, it is necessary for us to describe some of the movements of the nations which then were struggUng in the southern part of what is now the territory of the United States. Mississippi was already a Territory, having been organized in 1798, and at this time had a regular assembly and a full political organization. By an act of Georgia, in the spring of 1802 about a hundred thousand square miles, which now consti- tute the State of Alabama, came into the possession of the United States. It was very sparsely settled, and the Indians were numerous and powerful. In the east were the Creeks and Cherokees, and in the west were the Choctaws and Chickasaws. France had owned the vast and not very clearly defined region of the valley of the Mississippi, and the domain that was watered by its tributaries. This region extended from the Gulf of Mexico to the e meaning of chapter, it is e movements fgling in the dtory of the having been ad a regular ion. )f 1802 about 1 now consti- he possession irsely settled, erful. In the id in the west t very clearly ississippi, and s tributaries. Mexico to the THE VISIT OF TECUMSEH 21 forty-ninth parallel of latitude, and westward to the South Sea (Pacific Ocean). But in 1763, France, after the European struggle in which she had not been^ successful, ceded to England all of the region east of the Mississippi except Florida, and to Spain all that was west of t/he river. In 1802, however, it Avas learned, to the great cha- grin of the Americans, that Spain, by a secret treaty, had given to France all of I^ouisiana that was in her possession, and also east and west Florida. This would gi /e France, now powerful and ambitious, the control of the navigation of the Mississippi, and would be a perpetual menace to the United States. Thomas Jefferson, clearly foreseeing all that this would mean, at once entered into negotiations with Mr. Livingston, then our ambassador to France, for the purchase of New Orleans, at least. By wise movements, and the secret threat of an alli- ance with Great Britain, the Americans were surprised as well as delighted when they found the French ready to sell all they had of Louisiana, and for the sum of fifteen million dollars the purchase was effected. It was then that Bonaparte uttered that ofb-quoted sentiment: "This accession of ten-itory strengthens forever the power of the United States ; and I have just given to England a maritime rival that will sooner or later humble her pride." But all this was exceedingly distasteful to the 22 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES Spuiiiiinls. Tlu'y were left in possession of the Floriiliis, but began in a very treacherous r.ianner to act with the liritish, and many complications arase about the time of the War of 1812. Movements had l)een inaugurated previous to the war which finally led to the possession of l)oth Floric'.us by the United States, and whiT^ Louisiana was admitted as a State on the 8th of April, 1812, insurrection and constant trouble followed. General Wilkinson had gained iMobile, and the Spaniards liad withdrawn to Pensa- cola, where the liritish also were very active. In the autumn of 1812, after Hull had suiTcndered the Michigan territory, Tecumseh, who already had been among the southern Indians, again went south. With him went his brother, " the Prophet," and about thirty warriois. There can be little doubt tliat the great Indian was a devoted patriot and lover of his own kindred, and that his supreme desire wsu* to drive the white men from the country and restore the land once more to his own people. But he was aided by the British, and incited by them to do his utmost to arouse in the Indians a spirit of revolt against the Americans. As the party passed on, the Choctaws and Chicka- saws refused to listen to their words, but among the Creeks and Seminoles they found many eager to join them. Tecumseh and his party journeyed on to Coosawda, ES sssion of the lus liianner to liciitioiis iirase loveinents liad which finally by the United tted as a State I and constant n had gained •awn to Pensa- iictive. ad suiTcndered ho already had lin went south. Iiet," and about doubt tliat the lid lover of his desire wsi« to and restore the ut he was aided ) do his utmost '^olt against the ws and Chicka- but among the ny eager to join )n to Coosawda, THE VISIT OF TECUMSEII 28 on the AlalKima, and at the " I lickoiy Ground" he addressed a great asseml)ly of the Creeks. This was late in Octolier, 1812. His eloquence, zeal, and burning enthusiasm, in addition to the fame he already had won ius a warrior, gained him many fol- lowers. He then crossed the Coosa and weftt on to Toocka- batcha, the ancient capital of the Creeks. There Colonel Hawkins, the United States Indian agent, had called a great council, and five thousand Indians iiad responded. In the assembly there were also iniiny negroes and white men. . Among the latter were our two boys, Tom and Jerry Cuny. Their home was not many miles dis- tant from the meeting-place, and thither they had come with three young Creek Indians who for yeai-s had l)een their playmates and friends. These Indian lK>ys rejoiced in the names of Kanawlohalla (which meant a head on a pole), Quilutimac, and Condawhaw ; but their white companions never called them by their proper names, either because the names them- selves were almost unpronounceable, or because the custom of the times was to give the red men a " white " name. As a consequence the boys always called Quilutimac "Captain Jim" — in honor of Captain Jim Fife, a noted half-breed warrior. Tom and Jerry long had l)een warm friends of these Indian boys, and spoke their language almost ■i '^ 1 a :w 24 TECUMSEirS YOUNG BRAVES as well as the Indians did theirs, which is saying a good deal. They had hunted and fished and camped together, and at their home Captain Jim had been nursed througli a long illness. Their kindness and care seemed to have been appreciated by the young Indians, and as we shall see farther on in our story l)ecame the cause of many deeds that greatly aided them, and perhaps saved the life of more than one. The boys were seated on the ground with their friends when the great Tecumseh approached the assembly. He and his warriors had remained among the outer spectatora until tlie close of the first day's address of the agent. Then at the head of his thirty warriors, all naked except for their ornaments and flaps, their heads adorned with eagles' feathers and their faces painted black, with great dignity, they marched into the centre of the square. Buffalo-tails dragged behind them, suspended from their waists, and also were hung from their arms. Their appearance wiis hideous in the extreme, and yet as they marched around and around in the square, the boys noticed how attentive the Indian assembly was, and how impressed their young friends were by the appearance and movements of the great chief and his party. After they had gone around the square a number of times tliey approached each chief and gave the Indian salutation, which was a shake of the hand at 1 '■ES ich is saying a ed ai;d camped Jim had been r kindness and 1 by the yonng on in our story ,t greatly aided )re than one. und with their ipproached the Bmained among ■ the first day's ad of his thirty inents and flaps, thers and their y, they marched do-tails dragged ivaists, and also he extreme, and id in the square, Indian assembly friends were by ! great chief and square a number f and gave the 3 of the Ixand at THE VISIT OF TECUM SEH f5 arm's length. Then they exchanged tobacco, which was a token of enduring friendship. "Captain Isaac doesn't seem to warm up to Tecumseh very fiust," said Jerry to Captain Jim, who was seated next to him ; but his friend made no reply except to scowl as he listened to Captain Isaac, one of the leading chiefs, who boldly declared that " Tecumseh was a bad man," and shook, with great contempt, at the warrior the buffalo horns which he wore on his head. In this state Tecumseh appeared in the square each day, and each day our boys returned to the council, fascinated and yet fearful. But when Haw- kins, the Indian agent, departed, the great chief kept silence no longer. That night there was a grand council packed with eager and excited listeners. The Indian boys had been silent during three days, and Tom and Jerry were more and more fearful of the influences at work upon them. And yet the boys themselves were greatly moved by the warrior from the Northwest as he spoke that night. His words were as eloquent as they were dangerous, and the speaker seemed to be almost on fire. He pictured the condition of the Indians learning to till the soil, with great contempt. The loom and the plouglus were not the implements of Indian braves. Squaws and white men only were fit for such work. He told how grasping and cruel were the white men, n h 26 TECUMSEirS YOUNG BRAVES and us for the Indians, only slavery or extinetion was Ixjfore them. The bow and the arrow, the cluh and the scalping-knife, were the implements and weapons of men, and he urged them not to forget how to use them. As he drew his eloquent speech to a close, he told them how he had come from the far-distant Great Lakes, because their friends, the British, had urged him to come and summon them to follow on the war- path, and drive the white men either into the sea or across it to the lands whence they had come. It was a marvellous speech and marvellous in its effect. The warriors were greatly excited, and the feeling was becoming intense. But Tecumseh's wily brother, the Prophet, whom the British had informed that a comet was about to appear, declared to the excited warriors that "they would see the arm of Tecumseh like pale fire stretched out on the vault of heaven at a certain time, and that thus they would know by that sign when to begin war." It was ali^ost morning when the council broke up, p,nd already more than half of the assembled warriors had promisod to make war upon the Americans. Tom and Jerry looked about for their Indian friends, but they had suddenly and quietly disap- peared. Stirred by the words of the warrior and the Prophet, already, although our boys were not aware of it, they were numbered among Tecumseh's Yotmg Braves. 1 .;3.i'iWiair'il"»'iVa>" TUB VISIT OF TECUMSKII VES r extinction was [)W, tiio clul) uiul its and weapons i>rget how to use !ch to a close, he far-distant Great itish, had urged lUow on the war- [• into the sea or d come. narvellous in its excited, and the Tecumseh's wily ish had informed , declared to the see the arm of )ut on the vault thus they would ar." jouncil broke up, jsembled warriors le Americans, for tlieir Indian id quietly disap- e warrior and the } were not aware VecumseKs Young «f Tccumsifh now wont on, visiting all the loading Trook towns, and gaining frionds and foUowere every day. Among the greatest of these was Weather- ford, a half-breed, lus powerful as he wius keen and brave. But some withstood him, well aware what the end of such a struggle as he proposed must be. One of these was a noted chief named Tustinuggee- Thlucco, whom Tecumseh was extremely desirous of winning, but who remained the firm friend of the United States to the end. Angered and chagrined by his refusal, at last Tecumseh, pointing his finger at his opponent's face, said : " Tustinuggee-Thlucco, your blood is white. You have taken my red sticks and my talk, but you do not mean to fight. I know the reason. You do not believe the Great Spirit has sent me. You shall Ixjlieve it. I will leave directly and go straight to Detroit. When I get there I will stamp my foot on the ground and shake down every house in Toockabatcha." His listener long thought over this speech, which appears the more remarkable when it is recalled tluit when the comet appeared, which had been foretold as " the long arm of Tecumseh," it was accompanied by an earthquake that made the houses at Toockabatcha reel as if about to fall. The frightened Indians ran out of their huts, shouting : " Tecumseh is at Detroit ! Tecumseh is at Detroit ! We feel the stamp of his foot I" 28 TKCUMSEirS YOUNG BUAVES y But the " IVi(,' Wiiniur," though siuUy tnmhk'd, did not respond, and continued firm in hi.s allegiiince to ' the United States. Colonel Hawkins, the Indian agent wo have men- tioned, did not believe anything more serious than an Indian revolt would result from Tecuinseh's visit. Tustinuggee-'rhrucco was doing all in his power tt) prevent an uprising, hut a half-breed chief, named Peter McQueen, was working hard on the other side. The "war dance of the Lakes," which Tecumseh had taught the Creeks, was often practised, and the war feeling became more and more intense, although many of the Creeks still opposed it, and indeed never entered into it. The few scattered white settlers were now in great peril. They were liable to be cut off or massacred in their own homes at any time. In July the battle of Burnt Com Creek wiis fought, the first engagement of the Creek war, and the victory rested with the Indians. The whites also were busy now, and the British and Spaniards were doing all in their power to increase the warlike feeling among the Indians. Pensacola became their headquarters, and arms and supplies were furnished the red men from that place. A chain of rude forts or defences had been built between the Tombigbee - and the Alabama. The leading place of refuge was within the strong stockade which^had been built around the house of Samuel THE VISIT OF TECUMSEH 29 troubled, did allegiiuico to vo have men- U'ious than an umsoh's visit, his power to chief, named bhe other side. Pecumseh had I, and the war nsc, although I indeed never e now in great r maijsacred in the battle of st engagement isted with the now, and the in their power r the Indians. I, and arms and rom that place, lad been built dabama. The strong stockade )use of Samuel Minis, a short distance from the boat-yard on Tensaw lake, about a mile east of the Alabama river, and about ten miles distant from the place where it joined the Tombigbee. Families were now abandoning their homes and fleeing for safety. It had been a long time since our friends had seen Tecumseh's young braves. Formerly, and at unexpected times, they had come to their home, and often remained for several days, only to disappear at last as suddenly aa they had arrived. One night when Jerry was milking, as he arose from his milking-stool he was startled to see Captain Jim, in war-paint and feathera, stimding behind him. He declined the invitation to enter the house, and in a few words indicated to his white friend the necessity there was for them to abandon their homo and seek some place of safety at once. The advice had been declined after a long talk by the family, and several days passed, during which rumors of fires and massacres frequently came. The days were now passed in fear, no one venturing far from home, and a careful watch was kept at all hours. Just a week had gone, when, at precisely the same time in the day as on his former visit, and in the same manner, Captain Jim again appeared to Jerry. "Go! Go now! Heap hurry," said the laconic Captain Jim. 30 TECUMSEIT'S YOUNG BRAVES "Why? Wliiit'« the matter now?" iiskcd Jerry. " Anything new ? " "Heap Creeks, all hero. Like leaves on trees. Much burn and many Hcali)s ; " and the young brave pointed i)roudly to a trophy he himself was carrying. Jerry shuddered ; but the young Indian waited for no further words, and turned and stiirted towards the forest. The young pioneer watched him as far as he could see, and then turned and entered the house. The result of his interview was more seriotis this time, and the warning words were heeded. Hurriedly the raft wiis built ?i\d equipped, and early the next morning the little p.irty started down the Alalwma in the manner we have described in the preceding chapter. 'M AVKS ^?" iiskcil Jerry. leiivt'H oil trees, the younfj hravo elf wiis carrying, lulitin waited for irted towards the Bd hill) as far as iitered the house, more serious this leded. Hurriedly id early the next yn the Alabama n the preceding AN UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL 31 CHAPTER HI AN UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL ' THE clumsy raft was now moving steadily onward, the boys remaining at their places at the oara, and Nance working faithfully with the long pole. Their faces soon were wet with pei-spiration, and their arms began to ache under the strain ; but they were strong boys, and had been accustomed to swing the axe all day long, and to use the harrow and the plough in the newly broken ground around their home, from early morning until late at night. Their life had been a hard one thus far, but they had not drawn back from its demands, and had been able to ao more than many men who were much older. Their father had been a hard worker also, and when he had been content to remain away from the settlements, and to let " Tom and Jerry " alone, had been considered a successful man, and certainly he had trained his boys with great care. As has been related, he had brought his little family nearly ten years before this time from New York State, led on by the inducements a friend had held 8f TECUMSKII'S YOftNO IIRAVEH forth to liiiii, iiiul tlie piomisK of tiuick rotiiriiH to 1)6 fouiitl for his IuIk)!' in this new und spiU'sc'ly suttlod region nlong tho Ahihania river. lint iil)out twice each year he had insisted upon vlHiting the settlements, and his family had come to know what this meant for him and for them all. Apparently he had Inien unahle to decline the invita- tions of his friends there to join them in their drink- injr-boutu, or, at lea«t, he did not decline ; and for days after his return from each visit he did little work, and remained in a kind of n stupor, from which he roused himself only to drink again from the demi- john which he always brought homo with him, and which, so long as it contained anything, stood be- tween him and his work on the little clearing. About a year before the time of our story he had returned from one of his periodic visits to the settle- mcntw ; but instead of falling into a stupor, its he usually had, hi; had insisted upon resuming his work of cutting down the trees, and the very fii-st tree which he had cut, as it fell, had dragged him under it. His leg had been broken by the fall, and the fever which followed, a result of his intemperate habits and neglect of the laws of health, in a few weeks had ended his life, and left the family ni the charge of these twin brothei-s, who were men in size and almost in strength, but without experience, and young in yeais. EH AN UNEXrECTEI) AHIIIVAL 33 c returns to Iw 41111'Mt'ly Hottlod . iiisistod upon ly hull conio to for them all. line the invitu- in their drink- eline ; and for he did little lor, from whieh from the demi- with him, and ling, stood he- ) clearing, r story he had B to the settle- Htupor, as he ining his work very fii-st tree jed him under fall, and the is intemperate alth, in a few the family ni I were men in ut experience, Tom and Jerry had worked steadily and done the itest they could after their father's (U-ath, clearing the forests and planting new fields, and were kiginning to think their troubles would soon l)e ended, when the Indian uprising brought «ll their labore to a standstill. Hurriedly they had constructed this raft we have described, and early in the morning they placed all the family 0.1 board, and such things in addition as would he necessary for them to have within the next few weeks, and boldly started forth on their voyage down the river. As they worked at the oars they talked in low tones, each trying to encourage the other, and speak- ing far more bravely than he felt in his hoart tlie conditions of affairs would warrant. " Do )'ou suppose the Indians see us n'.w?" asked Jerry. "Yes," replied Tnii, -I've no doubt they've fol- lower! ".s, or watched, us all along the way. We ought to bo farther oiit in the stream. We'd l)e a little safer from attacks from the shore there, but the pole wouldn't be of much use, and that is the only thing we've got to steer this old craft with, and I thought it might ho the smaller of two evils to keep in near the shore." " There's danger everywhere," replied his brother, " and I confess I'm a <'ood deal afraid ; but all we can n. w 34 TECUMSEH'S YoUNG BRAVES do is to do the best we can, and keep our eyes on the bank as we go along. I'm glad the children are in the shanty with mother." " So am I. They'll help to keep her busy, and maybe she can keep them quiet." They continued on their voyage in this way for some time, the boys resting occasionally now, and stopping to eat the lunch they had brought Avith them. A light wind had arisen, and they took advantage of it by again raising the sail and resting from their labor. Tlie little boat they had in tow they fre- quently looked after, as in it they had stored some of their food, so that if it should become necessary for them to leave the raft and escape to the shore they would not be without some means of subsistence. " What shall we do to-night ? " asked Tom as the long day drew to a close, the " point " and several other places wliere they feared that an attack might be made having been safely passed. " Shall we both stay on guard ? " His brother hesitated a moment as he replied, " We ought to reach Fort Mims some time to-morrow, or, at least, we'll hope to get there ; and to-night is going to be the hardest part of our trip. I don't know but we'd better both of us keep awake all the time." " I think so, too," said his brother, " for a part of the night, at least ; but still if we can get a little rest I think we'd better take it, because there's no know- :4 AN UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL aft eyes on the dreii are in sr busy, and his way for y now, and it Avith them, dvantage of r from their ow they f re- ared some of necessary for le shore they ubsistence. Tom as the ' and several attack might liall we both replied, " We aorrow, or, at ght is going n't know but e time." for a part of t a little rest b's no know- ing what we may have to do before we ever arrive at our destination, if indeed we ever are fortunate enough to get anywhere beyond the sight of these redskins. Who would've thought that Captain Jim would've dropped his friends, and been found among Tecumseh's young braves ? " " I should have thought so, for one," said Jerry, "for he's doing just exactly what you and I would have done if we had been in his place, lie thinks that the white men have been trying to take his land away from him, and while we've not done that our- selves, I'm not sure, as a whole, there isn't too much truth in what he says." As the dusk came on, they guided the raft farther out into the stream. Their progress necessarily would be much slower now, and all they hoped for was to come through the hours of darkness without attract- ing the attention of any of the prowling or passing Indians. They had not a full sense of what the war with the Creeks was, or was to be, but they knew that in all probabihty they had lost their home, and very likely were escaping for their lives. At any rate, they had taken the warning of their Indian friend, and had been duly impressed by his evident sincerity in bring* ing the message he had given them. It was true that the Indians were divided somewhat in their feelings about the war, but many of them had -^ JiKiiijaPi B iM^tii jWjWi i J i 'ii'' i W^iiWfa li u > i i ( ("n'lftS Wnii iii 86 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES been thoroughly aroused, and were eager to join iii the attempt which had been begun by Tecumseh to drive the white men into the salt sea, or across its waters to the place whence they had come. Tecumseh's visit in the end proved to be a sad one, and the passions he aroused and the zeal for war which he inspired brought consequences no one could have foreseen, and dangers and sorrows of which even the great Prophet himself could not have dreamed. For a long time our two boys remained at the helm, if such the long oar which they had succeeded in rig- ging at the stern of the raft could be called, convers- ing only in whispers, and watching the dim outlines of both shores as they passed. Every bush might conceal a foe, and behind every tree there might be some lurking enemy who would not hesitate to grasp the opportunity of ridding his land of one more of the hated pale-fjvces. The dusk deepened, and, at last, the darkness came and spread ovnr all things. " There's no need of your staying here any longer. Go in and lie down awhile, and I'll manage this rudder, or long oar, or whatever you call it. I'll call you in a few hours and let you have your spell then," said Toia. " All right," replied his brother, as he disappeared within the rude shanty. No fire had been made on the raft at night by which -•i* fer to join iii Tecumseh to , or across its come. ) be a sad one, for war which le could have hich even the reamed, d at the Iiehn, ceeded in rig- illed, convers- dim outlines behind every ly who would if ridding liis i. The dusk e and spread e any longer. manage this lit. I'll call ir spell then," } disappeared Lght by which AN UNEXPECTED ARBIVAL 87 to cook their supper, iis the warning the young brave had given them they knew must be heeded, and even the smoke from so small a fire as they would kindle would l)e likely to attract the attention of any prowl- ing Indian, and might bring on an attack which they would not be able to meet. Nance, meanwhile, had heeded the request of her brother, and had sought the shelter of the shanty early in the evening, and left the boys alone to look after the raft. When Tom disappeared, Jerry's feeling of loneliness increased. The stillness became almost oppressive, and the voyage of the raft seemed to be almost uncanny, iis it moved steadily on in the darkness. Jerry could see only for a short distance before him, and he wtjs compelled to trust to his geneml knowledge of the river in a large measure for his directions. Captahi Jim and his companion had been the only Indians they liad seen, but their signal of wartiing was not to be received lightly. Several hours had piissed since their appearance, and the night had brought its own shelter. In spite of the darkness, however, he could not rid himself of the feeling that eyes were watching him, and that every movement he made was observed by men whom he could not see. He tried to shake off his fears and to assure himself that there was no immediate cause for al;irm, and yet, somehow, in ii ii 38 TECUMSEirS YOUNG BBAVE8 , spite of his efforts, the sense of some approaching danger Iwcanie keener every moment. Several times he was tempted to go to the shanty and call his brother, but each time he had gone back to his rudder agahi, trying to convince himself that his fears were groundless, and that it was better for him to let Tom sleep, if he could, for a time, as he knew all the strength he could gain would be needed before they arrived at the end of their voyage. An hour or more passed in this manner, and then the young watcher was startled as he saw some one come from the shanty and approach him. At first he could not determine whether it was his sister or brother, but in a moment he recognized Tom's voice, when in a low tone he said, " I couldn't si .tp, Jerry. Somehow I felt that we were in greater danger than we've ever been. I know it's probably foolish, but I thought rd come out and take my stand along with you, for, to be honest, I felt just a little bit afraid." "I know how you felt," said Jeny, "and we'll both of us keep awake, for a while, anyway. I've been feeling a good deal as I do sometimes when I have had a nightmare, and I was trying to get away from something and couldn't move hand or foot." Tom took his place beside his brother, and, seated upon the raft, they began to talk in low whispers, all the time keeping such watch as they could on either side in the darkness. :s ) approaching Several times and call his : to his rudder liis fears were m to let Tom knew all the leeded hefore ige. mer, and then saw some one 1. At first he 1 his sister or 1 Tom's voice, t si .fcp, Jerry, r danger than ily foolish, but and along with B bit afraid." •y, "and we'll anyway. I've tietimes when I ig to get away id or foot." ler, and, seated »w whispers, all jould on either AN UNEXPECTED ARKIVAL 39 Somehow the long night passed, and just as the firat light of the dawn appeared, Tom hiid liis hand upon his brother's shoulder and said, "Jerry, look over there to the left. There's a canoe coming out from the shore. Can you make out what it is or how many there are in it?" " It's too dark. I can't tell yet," replied his brother, looking in the direction in which Tom had pointinl, and l)oth boys became silent as they watched the fmil little craft make its way over the river. It came on ahnost as still as the shadows, but they soon were enabled to see that it liad only one occupant, and yet they were not very much reassured when they saw that his evident purpose was to make for the raft. The boys crouched low and kept out of sight be- hind the shanty as they watched the approach of this new-comer. The sail flapped against its rude mast, and as the light from the rising sun soon became stronger their courage returned. " Get your gun, Tom," said Jerry. " "We'll be all ready for him if he wants to make trouble." " There's only one man in the canoe," said Tom. "We can handle him without much work. Let's wait a bit, though, before we do anything. It may be some one who wants to see us, and we don't want to stir up any trouble if we can help it." Meanwhile the canoe came nearer and nearer, and the man who was paddling with so much strength and wWi ii i i wiiii'iiifti i la i i i Wii* J B' l i jW' Wiiiii U .J. si»' TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES dexterity, without any doubt now, was making for the raft. " He's coming for us," whispered Jerry, " there's no mistake about that. Be all ready for him, only don't shoot until we find out who he is, or what he wants." The canoe was now within a few yards of them, and the occupant soon ran it in close by the raft. Without a word the solitary visitor stepped out, drawing the canoe after him. As he turned towards the shanty, Iwth boys, grsusping their guns, advanced to meet him and to demand the purpose of his coming. II ES making for the ly, " there's no liini, only don't hat he v/ants." yards of them, le by the raft, r stepped out, turned towards wuns, advanced e of his coming. A CHANGE IN TUB PLAN 41 CHAPTER IV A CHANGE IN THE PLAN AS the boys approached the stranger, they held their guns in readiness, prepared to meet any show of violence that might be made ; but their feare were at once relieved when the visitor called out to them, " Go slow, boys, don't shoot your best friend. Not that you would be likely to hit anything much if you did shoot, but it is just as well not to use your pop-guns too freely in times like these. There's no knowing what redskin might pop up out of the water right alongside of your — your— I don't know what to call this craft. What is it, anyway?" " It's Josiah ! Hunter Josiah ! " said Tom joyfully, as he recognized the voice of the new-comer, and their fears of an immediate attack were relieved. " Yes, that's just who it is," said the man whom they had addressed as Josiah. " Now, don't waste any of your time tfilking about him or talking to him. There's too much business on hand just now, and I propose to have a share in it, too." The new-comer had for a long time been a friend ^s«^^-, ...-^^.i, m-m^ M TECUMSKirS YOUNO BKAVKS 'if! ^il »)f the father of (»ur ixiys. Ilo wius a iimn in middle life, of a strong and vigorous physicpie, and evidently was familiar with the customs of pioneer life, and the dangei-s to l)e encountered in the forests. His roving dispasition had i>reventod him from settling upon any plantation or developing any clearing. He was, consequently, more of a shiftless, happy hunter than anything else, who wandered about from place to place, making his home for a time with some friend, and then remaining for weeks in the forest, apart from all mankind. He was a very strong friend whenever his heart went out towards any man, and though he never could l)e pei-suaded to remain long in one place, his friendship waa as enduring as his life wiis restless. He followed the boys as they returned to the stern, and seated liimself as Tom resumed his place at the rudder. He listened to the story they had to tell him of the causes that led to their departure, and the experiences they had thus far had on their voyage. He indicated his pleasure or dissent by an occasional exclamation, but did not interrupt them until their story had been finished, and he had heard all they had to say. "The trouble's mostly among the Creeks, boys," said the hunter, when at last their story was finished. " The Choctaws are not very much stirred up as yet, and I don't think we shall have very much to he lliii_ KS A CHANGE IN THE PLAN 43 iiiin in middle and evidently !!• life, and the I. His roving settling upon ing. He was, ' hunter than roni place to 1 some friend, forest, apart (ver his heart igh he never one place, his iis restless. i to the stern, I place at the sy had to tell rture, and the their voyage, an occasional m until their d all they had .reeks, boys," ■ was finished, red up as yet, f much to be afraid of from the ("herokees. There's no l«»ve lost l>etwixt tiuMu, and all this is in our favor. I don't iHjlieve we'd have had much trouble, anyway, if it hadn't Iteen for that pesky Tecuniseh and his buffalo- tailed brotiier. Were you boys at the council when they danced around there in the H down the river lying in wait for juHt Huch parties as you, who are on their way to Fort iMinis." " What are wo to do, then ? " asked Tom anxiously. " You know we have got mother and the children along with us, to say nothing of Nance, though I will risk her most anywhere." " You ought to have gone a long time ago," said the hunter. "That's all true enough," replied Tom, "hut we didn't know what wiu* going on until day l>efore yesterday, and shouldn't have known then if Quiluti- mac hadn't come and told us." "What! Have you not heard anything alnmt Jackson's treatment by the government?" " No, not a word," replied 'J'om. "Well, this is no time to tell you of it, hut it's alx)ut the rankest piece of work I ever heard tell of. Some of the other leadera were not treated very well either, for all they have done their l)est to protect the country, though perhaps some of them have made it up of a coloring to suit themselves. Some time I'll t«ll you about, it, but there's too much business on hand now, and that's not the leiwt of the causes that 11;; E, iii 11 littld coti- notty decent nil illKMit old t some (if tlie \f in wiiit for r way to b\)rt )ni unxioiiHly. the eliildreii thoujrh I will ne ii|,'o," said Mn, "but we I day Ixjfore ju if Quiluti- y thing alnmt '" J i it, but it's leard tell of. ted very well protect the lave made it inie time I'll 1 business on Q causes that A CHANOK IN TIIK I'LAM 45 led to this I«id business, anyway. I've seen too many sij,'ns of Indians around hero for mo to stop and waste any more tinm talking to you." " Well, what do you think is. the liest thing to bo done, Josiah?" said Jerry. "Tom and I don't care 80 nuich alx)ut oui'sclves, for we're used to Indians' ways, and not niii< Ii afraid of them anyhow; but we've got mother and the children along witli us, and what in the world we're going to do with them I can't tell." "I know," replied tlie hunter. "Don't Ih) afraid, Tommy ; I was not your father's friend for nothing, and I am not going to leave his youngsteis in the lurch, though ho himself pulled out and left them. The Indians are pretty thick around here, and you may need more than your father's friend to help you before you've got this party safely through." " I presume some of them have been watching us all the while, ever since we started," said Jeriy. "I reckon you didn't escape the notice of them altogether. An Injun is not blind, and some of them can smell farther than they can see. I think we'll find some way to get your party over to Fort Minis, though," replied Josiah. " Do you know how things are there?" aaked Tom anxiously. " Yes," replied the hunter, " I was there a few days ago. Fort Mims is pretty full. What with the women 4 ._^t-»* "f >\t 4(5 TKCITMSKII'S YOIINO HUAVKS 111 1 i • 1111(1 tliK I'liiltlrcit iiiid tlie diirkicH that liiivt! crnwdcd in there (for the diirkics iirc HciiriMl tho woivt of all), it is j»rotty well tilled up, hut I reekou we'll find a plaeo for you. At any rate, if we ean't lind any, we'll make one, for that is what a good share of the settlei-s have had to do who have g(»ne in there, — just build their own lodgings inside the stoekade." liut the eonveraatiou waw interrupted by the sound of a gun fired on their right, and the whistle and thud of a bullet as it [liwscdover their heads and buried it- self in one of the postM of the shanty. " Well, now, that's pretty cool," said the hunter ; " and that were a white man, too, though I'd 1x3 ashamed to make a shot like that. I reckon you had Ixitter go inside, lH>ys, atid let me steer this cnift awhile." "No," said Jerry, "we've provided for this very thing." And he brought from the shanty a stand com- posed of four or live thick plunks, and three or four feet long, which they had made for this very purpose. Placing one of these on either side of them, they could see plainly in front, and felt safe from any attack on either side. " You see I am right," said the hunter, a moment later, as he called their attention to a man standing on the shore and waving his hand. " He is a Spaniard, too. I thought something would account for the poor shot. A Britisher would not have done that. We'll go a piece farther away down the river, and stop our Ml» MMM ^KS A CHANOK IN TIIK I'l.AN 47 iuv«i ( ro\v'(h'(l in worst of all), oil we'll find ii t iiiid any, we'll 1! of Ul(! HOttltil'S re, — jiiHt build lie." id by the sound liistlc and thud H and buried it- lid the hunter; il'd l)c ashamed u had better go t awhile." lI for this very ity a stand coni- l three or four 8 very purpose, hem, they could 1 any attack on nter, a moment lan standing on i is a Spaniard, int for the poor ne that. We'll ir, and stop oui talking for awhihi, and tln'ii we'll see what we can do. lh''H on the wrong suU* of the river, though, and all he can do is to drive us to the shelter of this ban'K." The sun hud not yet ris(wi al)ovo the toi)s of the trees, and although it wuk light enough for them to diseern tlie (»bj(!ets upon the shore, they did not sum- mon the (ttlier membei-s of the family from the shanty ; anil, indeed, if any of them had appeared, they would atoneohave told them to return, iw the shot which had l)een lired had warned them of danger near. " I think we'll have to stop pretty soon," said the hunter, " and land, and strike out across the country. 1 didn't see very many signs of Injuns over that way, and Fort Minis can't be more than live miles away." " I don't know whether the children can make five miles or not," said Jerry dubiously. " They have got to. That's all there is to be done. We can carry them on our backs, can't we ? " said the hunter. "Yes, we can do that," replied Jerry; "but that won't leave us free to use our guns if we have to." "I tell you we won't have to," said the hunter. •' Either they are lying very low, or else the Injuns have cleared out for a while from that region, and gone farther down the river. Do you know, I have a kind of dim suspicion that while they are going to pick oft such parties as they can without too much trouble, they have no particular objection to letting Fort Mims 48 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BUAVE8 fill up. I suspect they think that's pie for their, and that they will fall on the fort some dark night, and take the scalps of every one inside. Kind of a man- trap, you see." His words were not entirely reassuring, and yet his experience had been so much greater than that of the boys, and as they knew how shrewd and keen his judgment was, they decided to follow his advice. " Wliat are we going to do with this stuff we have brought with us ? " asked Jerry. " Leave it on board," said the hunter gruffly, "and turn the live-stock loose in the woods." " But we brought the pig and the chickens along because we thought we'd be likely to stay some time inside the stockade of Fort Mims, and we would have to have something to eat there." " That will be your greatest trouble at Fort Mims, but you will have to turn the pig and chickens loose here, though. A man's life is worth more than a pig's, and a dozen hens' into the bargain. I suppose you brought your guns," he added, "as a kind of a protection. Oh, well, they are better than nothing. They are not of much account alongside of mine, though." The boys flushed a little as he spoke of their guns, for they were accustomed to pride themselves some- what on their prowess as huntei-s, and yet they knew that their companion was not inclined to belittle their A CHANGE IN THE PLAN 41) or their, and ■k night, and lid of a man- ■ing, and yet • than that of and keen his s advice. ' ' stuff we have gruffly, "and liickens along tay some time lid we would it Fort Mims, ihickens loose more than a in. I suppose s a kind of a than nothing, side of mine, of their guns, mselves some- yet they knew belittle their ability, save as he compared it with his own, which was well known to be far superior to that of any one in the entire region. » We'll land here," said the hunter, as they came near a little cove. " You had better get your family together, and be ready to start right off." "Oh, why didn't we stay at home!" said Mrs. Curry complainingly, whou Tom entered the shanty. "I know that would have been a good deal better than this tramping off through the country." "But you know what Tecumseh's young bmve said, don't you? And beside. Hunter Josiah is here now, and he's even stronger in his words than the Indians were. He says he knows there's danger and lots of it, and it is not going to l>e safe for us to go farther down the river." "I suppose I shall have to go, then," replied his mother; "I always do. That's been my fortune in life always to follow up somebody that was starting from a good place to go out into nowhere." Her complaints were redoubled when she saw the pig and the chickens turned loose in the woods, but the former was not inclined to be left behind, and, with a grunt, he started after the party when they prepared to enter the forest. "Let him come. Let him come," said Hunter Josiah, with his quiet laugh; " he had better come to a good end than a bad one, and pork may be in 50 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES Are vou demand at Fort Mims before winter yet. all ready?" '' '" " All ready," replied the boys. "Then we'll start off on our trail. I don't know what there is l)efore us, and we'll be lucky if we get to the fort without meeting any redskins, but I want ye all to keep as still as you can while we're on the march, and we'll make the best time we can. Come on now," he added, as he picked up one of the children and placed him on his back, an example which Tom quickly followed, and the entire party, with many forebodings, started into the dense forest to try and make their way to the shelter of Fort Mims. None of the party, except the hunter, had ever been in the place they were seeking, and they knew of its strength only by common report. As they were, however, compelled to seek the sheltt of some stockade, they had chosen Fort Mims as the most accessible, but they never had planned to go to it by the route which the hunter was indicating. J Are vou don't know ky if we get , but I want ire're on the can. Come one of the an example entire party, dense forest Iter of Fort hunter, had ig, and they report. As the sheltt Mims as the ned to go to icating. J n i 11 I': I! ■• Tln' Imiilcr "M> l.'ii'linu tlif » :i.v ■" n J. TO THE FORT 51 • CHAPTER V TO THE FOET TT was a strange appearance our little party of i fugitives presented as they started into the forest. The hunter, with his gun grasped in one hand and one of the children clinging to his back, was ead- ing the way. Behind him followed Jerry similarly equipped. The mother and Nance came behmd him, while Tom was serving as the rear guard and was watchful of all sides. The pig, which had followed them when they had first started, for some unaccountable reason began to emit some ear-piercing squeals, and there was nothing for Tom to do but to stop and drive him back. Whether these had been given aa a challenge, or because he was aa suspicious of the perils surroun^ ing them as were his human companions, could not be known ; but after gazing for a moment in stupid sur- prise at Tom, who struck him several blows with the butt of his gun, he disappeared and left the party free from the danger which his squealings might bring upon them. 52 TECUMSEirS YOUNG BRAVES " We can't go as slow as this," said Hunter Josiah, Stopping for a moment to talk witli Jerry, who was close l)ehind. " I don't know what we shall meet and what dangers we may have to face, but I do know one thing, and that is, that the sooner we bring our party to Fort Minis the better it will be for all concerned." " I am going to carry that boy on my back," said Nance, coming up just in time to hear the last words of the hunter. " That will leave you free to keep a sharper lookout, and warn us if you find any danger in front." This proposal was quickly adopted, and the little party stiirted on once more. Frequent stops for rest were made, and the hunter and one of the boys, leav- ing the party, occasionally would start off on different paths for a short distance to see if any signs of danger were to be found. Even the mother had no time for complaining now in the midst of such trials and dangers, and yet both boys noticed as they went on that her face was becoming more and more flushed, and that it would be soon a question whether she would be able to keep up with the othera in the rapid march which they were making. " I think we have gone about half way, now," said Josiah, as the party stopped on one of its frequent halts. "Do you think half our danger is over, then?" asked Nance. iter Josiah, •y, who wiis ill meet and io know one g our party joncerned." back," said e last words je to keep a I any danger id the little tops for rest le boys, leav- ' on different ;ns of danger no time for li trials and they went on nore flushed, whether she jthers in the y, now," said its frequent over, then?" TO THE FORT 58 "I am inclined to think so," replied the hunter, '' for I very much doubt whether the redskins would want to run the chance of making an attack on a party, even tia defenceless as we are, when it was within hearing of the fort. Still, you never know what a red- skin will do, and I don't think we shall be safe until we are inside the stockade." " Are the Indians pretty thick around here ? " asked Jerry. The hunter smiled significantly as he replied, " Well, there are several of them, I make no doubt of that." "What kind of a place is it we've started for?" asked Tom. "Oh, I can't describe it to you, now," said the hunter. " You will see when once we get there ; that is, if we're ever lucky enough to make it. But come on, now, we must start on again. Every minute of time, and every step of the way, count for a good deal more now than they are likely to again in a good while." The party resumed their march, but moved in silence now. All of them were beginning to feel the fatigue of the journey, and a.s they came nearer to the fort they began to increase the vigilance which they had used all the way. They had gone on for a half-hour more in this way when the hunter suddenly stopped, and, raising 1 54 TECUMSKH'S YOUNO DUAVB8 his hand in warning, l)egan to liHten intently. The entire party were startled, m they all knew the Imn- ter had heard or seen something of more than ordinary in.portunce. One of the children, already over-tired, here began to cry, and Ihuiter Josmh, , kind-hearte^ared hunter, and it wa« evident that he had not been deceived. Breathless with fear, they waited for several mo- • ment«, and soon the form of some one was seen dodg- ing from tree to tree not far away. The hunter had taken his gun, and motioned to the boys to do the same, and they made ready tor any atLk that might be made. Tom noticed a. he glanced about the party, that the faces of all but the Bi8.ai-„^»»i*» ;ently. The L'vv the Inin- moro than Ircii, iilready titer Josiiih, rued quickly mouth sonie- "You never )efore, Josiah, ly of them in rought silence e was aUirmetl them. . to the boys, [lore and more le sound which l)-eared hunter, been deceived, jr several mo- * waa seen dodg- motioned to the I ready for any noticed, as he 8 of all but the TO THE FORT »6 (ihildren were very pale, and even tlio litth) ones were silent now, catching something of the fear which impt'uding ill often gives, long Inifore it can Iw seen or known. The unknown man soon stepped out into a little clearing. They waited to see whether he was alone or not, as he stopped and Inigan to whistle. Soon they were more than relieved when they saw that he evi- dently was alone, and as they perceived his dark face and short, heavy frame, their feare at once disap- peared. An exclamation of disgust froni the hunter was followed by his call, as he said, "Here, you black nigger, what are you doing out here in the woods all alone? Don't you know there's an Injun a hiding Ijehind every tree ready to scalp you? " The startled negro rolled his eyes, and tried to stanmier forth some words in acknowledgment of the hunter's salute. " Yes, sah ; yes, sah ; I's all alone." Tom laughed as he saw how much more the black man was frightened than were any of those who had been so startled by the sound of his approaching foot- » steps. "How far are we from Fort Mims?" asked the hunter, as the negro joined the party. " 'Bout a mile an' a half," was the reply. " I suppose you belong there, don't you, Sambo ? " "Yes, sah, and my name's not Sambo, sah, but Caesar, sah." .-f^v 56 TECUMSEirS YOUNG HIIAVES »'AU right, Cu'sar," replied the hunter, HpeakiriR cheerfully, now that the inuue.liate cause of hm- had l«en ren.»vev« dese, sah. And he pointed to the children, who were ehngmg to then '" Trm\vnd Jerry were lK)th curious, and would have >«ked many questions of the negro, who now had .-ecovered Ln his fear, and felt sometlnng of Ins own importance aa the only one who could impart ,nuch iufornuttion concerning Fort Mims and the people gathered there. , , , .c „j .We must start on again," said the ^^^^^^'^ J^^ we'll have to be more careful now than ever. Wlule I don't think there'll be much danger of an atUick now, since the fort is so near, at the same time it would be a very easy thing for some rascally Creek to throw his tomahawk or shoot an arrow at some one of us, and it would not make very much noise, either." And as he led the way he became silent again, and his anxiety waa shared now by every one in the party. i. u:„ Occasionally the hunter turned to whisper to his companions and i.11 of something he ^-^ --' -;;™« sign that had appeared of the presence of ludden foes. r, speaking of fiiiir luvil horo in tho ; " moil and liildien, m\\. r And he ing to their would have lo now had ig of his own impart nuich i the people lunter, "and !ver. While of an attack same time it ■ascally Creek \ff at some one much noise, became silent ' by every one ivhisper to his I seen, or some of liidden foes. TO TIIK FORT if 'rh..se iKM-amo m..n^ frocjucnt lu. they came nearer tho fort, an.l when they halteivH, So on and on tho little party trudged, stumbling 58 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES over roots and fulling over dead branches, their iaces streaming with perspiration, and some of Ihem aiv pearing as if it would be impossible for them to go any farther. ^^ " It is the longest mile and a half I ever knew, said Tom as he advanced to the side of the leader. " Never mind," said Josh, "we're almost there now, and when we're once inside, we'll forget all this liard work, and how tired we were. Here, you, Ctesar," he said to the negro, who also had advanced, "you didn't show us the short way at all. I don't believe ye knew the way." But Cajsar only grinned and shook his head without making any reply to the hunter's words. At last the leader stopped, and turning to the others said, "We've reached our journey's end now, for I can see the stockade ahead of us." "Where? Where?" eagerly called out the boys, who were unable to see anything in the spot which the hunter indicated; but in a few moments a strange- looking place appeared not far in advance of them, and the hunter triumphantly said, " You can see it now, can't you? That's Fort Mims, and we've cov- ' ered the distance between the river and the stockade in a good deal less time than I thought we could ; and you stood the journey better than I feared," he added, turning to the mother ; but she made no reply except to shake her head and sigh. i i ijtf i imJi Mi t***^"' , their iaces if lliem Hiv them to go sver knew," tho leader, it there now, all this hard I, Ctesar," he " you didn't eve ye knew lead without to the others ow, for I can tut the boys, pot which the ts a strange- nce of them, 3U can see it nd we've cov- the stockade ve could ; and 3d," he added, 3 reply except TO THE FORT 59 "This is a funny fort," said Nance. "I don't be- lieve it's much of a protection against Indians. I de- clare I believe I would rather have stayed on our raft and trusted that when it was anchored in the river, than to put the children behind such a flimsy, good- for-nothing protection as that ahead of us." "There's nothing else to do now, though," said Tom, " and we'll have to make the best of it. I don't think it's very promising-looking myself, but, at any rate, we'll not be alone here, and there'll be- some pro- tection in numbers, anyway." "The gates are open," said the hunter, "and we'll go in at once." And acting upon his words they entered within the wide-open gates, and curiously looked about them at the strangely enclosed spot which had been given the name of Fort Mims by the owner of the place. .JiM»i»!.-itrh'.ii»QS TECUMSEU'S YOUNG BllAVES CHAPTER VI LIFE AT FORT MIM8 V A STRANGE sight was that which our party looked upon when once they were inside the gates of Fort Minis. The place appeared to he crowded with people. The soldiera were mingling with the citizens, and women and cliildren formed a large part of the assembly. Many negroes were there, and a few Indians also were to be seen, who were in as great fear of the hostile savages as the whites themselves were. The new arrivals hardly knew where to go, or whom to seek at first; but their uncertainty was relieved when Hunter Josiah Fletcher hailed a man who was a stranger to the others, but whom he evidently knew well. "Why, Martin Rigdon, I didn't know you were here. How long has it been since you have been seeking shelter from the redskins at Fort Mims?" asked Josiah. The man whom he thus addressed laughed as he replied, " I am not seeking shelter for myself, Josiah, I t !» ! >! '.. J IM 1 11 - " m»a*M* '- '' I '" ' " " * r party looked 3 the gates of crowded with sh the citizens, ^e part of the }, and a few re in as great tea themselves to go, or whom was relieved man who was ividently knew low you were rou have been Fort Mims?" laughed as he myself, Josiah, .4 LIFE AT FORT MIMS 61 but I've been detailed here to help look after these refugees. What's this party you've brought in ? " " Oh, some friends of mine," said Josiah, " who want to stay here for awhile. They have left their home up on the river, as some of their Injun friends were kind enough to give them the warning word, and I want to find a place for them inside the fort here for a time." Martin shrugged his shoulders as he said, " A place inside the fort is a little difficult to find just at present. Every spot seems to be in demand; but come with me and I'll help you to find out what can be done." Josiah followed his friend, and in the course of a half-hour returned with the information that the women and children could be accommodated in one of the little cabins, but that the boys and men would have to find their resting-places within one of the mf ny board shelters that had been erected. "This is a great place," said Josiah, "and there have been a great many changes since I was here a ft w days ago." 'Ye* " '^plied Mar*^* i. "and things are not in the >8e vo" 'njnw BOmetV- ■- 62 TECUMSEirS YOUNG BRAVES in Wayne's army, and what a fl^ht he made in tho battle of Fallen Timber, at the Rapids on the Man- mee, in 171>4." » He fought like mad there," replied Martin, " so they tell me, and in 1799 they made him a captain ; but the best luck he ever had was last March, when they made a brigadier-general of volunteers of him, and he has been at work ever since. The fii-st thing he did this summer was to try to give some protection to the people who were so frightened about the Indians in this part of the country. He wanted to take all the soldiei-s he had right into the Creek country up around the Coosa and Tallapoosa, but General Flournoy would not allow it. He said he had had no orders from the War Department for any invasions, and was allowed to go on the defensive only ; but he's been strengthening all the block-houses and defences, and has sent some of his men off into the border land and along the Chocktaw frontier. He's been here, too, and if it hadn't been for him Fort Mims would have been no better than a rat-hole. Not that it's very much better yet, but it's a good desl better than it would have be^^ if Claiborr^ hadr f been here and st' iicrhtene ' LIFE AT FORT MI MS (53 made in tho )n tiie Mau- Martin, " so n a captain ; last March, volunteers of e. The fii-st to give some [htened about He wanted to the Creek llapoosa, but He said he ment for any the defensive e block-houses men off into :taw frontier. been for him ihan a rat-hole, t's a good dee 1 libon^ hadr f Before Claiborno had gone to Fort Minis, many of tho wealthy half-blood families, as well as the whites, led on by their feai-s, had gone down the Alabama in l)oats and canoes, somewhat after the manner in which our friends had started. Many of these had hidden themselves in the thick swamps around Tensaw lake. After a time they had joined the white refugees in constructing a strong stockade around the houso of Samuel Minis, who was an old and wealthy inhabitant of that region. His house, one story high, wtus built of wood and quite large. Strong pickets had been driven around it, and fence rails placed between them. Port-holes about tlu-ee feet and a half from the ground, to the number of five hundred, also had been made. About an acre was enclosed by these pickets, and there were two more gates made in the stockade, one on the western and the other on the eastern side. Quite a number of other houses had been ejected within the pickets, and as the number of refugees increased, cabins and board shelters, like those our * friends were to occupy, had been built. At iiie south-west corner of the stockade there was a block- (ouse which, through some strange neglect, vas only partially finished at the time when our friends arrived. The days passed monotonorsly low. Ther stockade was enlarged and two new hi tees were built. Major 64 TKCUMSKirS YOUNG HUAVKS lU-asley, who was in eonnnuiul of Koit Minis, i«sao(l rations, and received all who could aa«ist in the defence or needed protection. Expeditions were sent forth, and drafts fretpiently were made upon the soldiers at the fort, until their nund)erwas greatly re- duced; hut the major, either because of his ignorance and inexperience, or because of some strange infatua- tion, declared that he could protect the place with oven the small number of soldiers he had, and pre- tended to laugh at the fright of the refugees, who daily came and brought alarming reporte of the move- ments of the Indians. Occiisionally, also, word was brouglit from some of the other stations, and there wiis a report that about four hundred of the Creek warriors were preparing to fall upon Fort Eusley, which was about sixty miles distant from Fort Mims and nearer the enemy. Major Bejwley, finding Uie number of refugees in- creasing very rapidly within the post of which he had charge, connnenced to enlarge it. A new row rf pickets was driven about sixty feet beyond the eaht - em end. Tom and Jerry had their share in this work, but it was carried on so slowly and careless) v, ^ that their own fears Increased with every passii j day. Again and again the whole place would be thrown into confusion by the reports that the Indians w< 'O. approaching, but as these were found to be only fa' ; ■ LIFE AT FORT MIMS 65 liins, iss-acd wist iu the itions were tie upon the s greatly re- is ignorance nge infatua- ! place with id, and pre- {ugees, who of the move- [roni some of t that ahout preparing to b sixty miles nemy. refugees in- which he had new row F ond the ea»t- ihare in this nd carelessly, jvery passii j dd be thrown Indiaiis vn b6 only fa rumors, the carelessness of the leadei-s increased, and most of the men were inclined more and more to belittle the fears of an Indian attack. " It's like that old story in our reading-book," said Josiah one day. "It told about a l)oy who was a shepherd lad, and every day went home saying that a wolf had come down upon his sheep, and the men went out to help him ; but at bust when they found that he was lying to them all the while, they got so they didn't pay any attention to his words, and finally when the wolf really did come they left the boy all alone to fight him. The fight didn't bust very long, for the wolf soon had thelKty and the slieci) too." In tlui early evening the young people often jussem- bled in some one of the houses and played games and danced, so careless had they l)ecome, and so secure did they feel, under the bold words of their leadera, against any attack by their Indian foes. Some of the negroes, who were slaves of some of the refugees, furnished the music and added to the si)ort. Tom and Jerry with their sister entered somewhat into these ganies, but the boys were not entirely with- out fear, so strong and so constant had l)een the warnings which their hunter friend had given. One morning, which wii.s the twenty-ninth of Au- gust, two negroes, one of whom was the Ciesar they had met when they first came to Fort Mims, came running into the fort. Their faces were livid with 6G TECUMSEirS YOlJNfi UHAVKS fear, and thoy wore so frightened they scarcely could - talk. At last, after much labor, their story wius dmwn from them, and they declared that when they had been down near one of the swamps looking after some of the beef cattle, they had been startled and frightr j ened almost out of their senses by the sight of twenty-four Indians, hideous in their war-paint, and , evidently prowling around the fort with no good intent. The major at once sent Captain Middleton with a couple of mounted men to reconnoitre. They remained outside until near sunset, and when they re- turned to the fort they declared that not a trace of an Indian could they find. Major Beasley became very angry at the negroes then, ud charged them with lying. The more they protested their innocence and the truthfulness of their message, the more angiy the major became, and finally he ordered both of them to be flogged for raising a false alarm. CKsar, who was the slave of John Randon, was the fii-st one to have his back bared and receive the lashes. Hunter Josiah and our two boys were veiy indignant at this flogging, and together with Mr. Fletcher, who owned the other negro, tried to persuade the major to give up the punishment, but they only added to his anger. Turning upon Fletcher he declared that if his negro was not punished, he and his family would .cB iJWBta tN LIFF AT FORT MIM8 « iii'cely could •y wiiii (Imwn m they had ig after sf)me d and friglit- the sight of ar-paint, and ith no good ddleton with »itie. They ivhen they re- a trace of an became very 3d them with imocence and lOve angiy the th of them to ,ndon, was the ive the lashes, '^ery indignant Fletcher, who e the major to r added to his d that if his family Avould have to leave the fort by ten o'clock the next day. Mr. Fletcher's family was a large one, and rather than have them lose the protection, weak jvs it wivs, which Fort Mims afforded, he consented to the flogging. As Josiah returned to their rough Iward shelter, after witnessing the punishment which had lieen in- flicted, he said to the boys, " This is a great place, this is. Just see how many of the people here are sick. This malaria from these Alabama swami)S is enough to kill a dead man ; but that is not the worat of it. I tell you those niggers were right, and the Injuns are prowling around here. I don't believe this fort is safe for a minute. The Injuns have got all tliis crowd shut in here like rata in a hole, and there'll be an awful time, and right away, too, in my opinion." "What do you think we had better do?" asked Tom. The hunter hesitated as he replied, " There's dan- ger inside, and there's danger outside. I don't know where there's more of it. There are a few soldiers here, it is true, but they can't do much work against the crowd which the redskins will send here if they decide to attack the fort, and the most of those who are here can't carry a ramrod, to say nothing of a gun. I'll think it over and see you in a little while ; but I don't like the looks of things at all, not even a little ii I't 68 TECUMSBirS YOUNG BTIAVES bit. There's trouMc ahead : I'm sure of it. I don't like the looks of tilings." The hunter left them sadly perplexed, while he went to seek his friend Martin and confer with him as to the Iwst plans to be made for the safety of the party he had brought to the fort. it. I don't 1, while lie er with him iifety of the IN THE WOODS AGAIN 69 CHAPTER VII IN THE WOODS AOAIN rpiIE remarks of the hunter in our liwt chapter need ^ a little further explanation. Josiah Fletcher had not done mueh to assist in the building enterprises of P'ort Minis, but every day he had been out on a scouting tour, and had himself seen many sijns of Indians, and brought back his reports to Major Beasley. He had told him of his fears, and the major ought to have had confidence enough in such a thorough woodsman as Josiah to have trusted somewhat to his words, especially since he was not the only one who had been frightened and brought alarming reports; but Major Beiusley evi- dently was confident of his own ability, and, rash even in his weakness, would listen to no words ; and as the scouts became more anxious, as though to defy them and express his confidence in his own prowess, he daily became more and more careless. The gates of the stockade were left wide open, and often with an insufficient guard, and indeed at times with almost no guard at all. The work of enlarging 70 TECUMaEH'S YOUNd IIKAVEH th« HUxrkado w.w pushed on so slowly and noKli- goutly, that a sud.len attack by the Indians would have found the people of the fort uni)repared, and unable to make a strong resistance. The whipping of the two negroes also had in- creased the hunter's disgust, and a.lded to his fear. For himself he felt no alarm. He had no one depen- dent upon him, and felt abundantly able to care for himself, even in the midst of such wily foes m he well knew the hostile Creeks to be. He left the boys after the interview wo have r..corded, and went to talk with his friend Martin. For an hour or more the old commdes talked over the situation, with many a shake of the head and foreboding word. At hwt Josiah returned to the place where he had left the boys, and the look of determination which they saw upon his face, at once informed them that he had arrived at some conclu- sion, and wsis ready for action. " I don't know but I'm doing a foolish thing, boys, but I can't help it. Martin agrees with me, and the thing I want you to do is this: I want you to take your mother and Nance and the children, and get out of the fort right away." " Get out of the fort I " said Jerry. " Why, if the Indians are as thick aiound here as you think they are, it will be like jumping out of the frying-pan into the fire." IN THE WOODS AGAIN 71 ami iiPgli- lians would ■upared, uiul ilso luul in- to his ft'ivr. one ilepen- to care for y foes iVH he 3W wo have lend Mai-tin. talked over he head and lined to the 1 the look of face, at once some conclu- h thing, Iwys, I me, and the it you to take 1, and get out " Why, if the ou think they rying-pan into "It's warm I'lioiigli in cillu'r place," roplicul the hunter diyly, "aiwl I don't know that your si'iili» will Ik! any tighter on your head than it would la; in the fort, if you were out«ide, hut something's got to Ims done. I know this i)la('e is not safe, and I'm satisfied the Injuns have got designs against it, and they're going to act pretty sudden, too." " Do you want us to go right away ? " " Yes, right off. I don't want you to waste five minutes." " But where are we to go? " asked Tom aghaxt. " Go to Fort Pierce. It's not far from here. It's not over three or four miles away at the farthest, and I don't Iwlieve the Injuns think the place is worth attack- ing — at least, not for a while ; but I tell you Fort Mims is going to catch it, and there won't Ihj many of the five hundred and fifty-three people here now left, I am afraid. But if they do attack this place, as I'm sure they will, it may arouse the government to do some- thing, and little insignificant Fort Pierce, along with a good many othem of the posts, will l)e looked after, then. Besides, there's a lot of new whiskey just arrived, and between oui-selves Major Beasley is too drunk most of the time to look after this place as he ought to. Think of it, the commander of Fort Mims about two-thirds drunk every day ! But don't stop to talk here. I'll give you the directioiui ; at least, I'll give them to Tom, and, Jerry, you go and get ■-■Ah- -* 72 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES your folks and be ready to start as soon as Tom comes for you." " Aren't you going with us? " asked Jerry. "Not a foot," said Josiah ; » I've got to stay here, rm appointed to stay in this place, and it won't do for me to leave. If a lot of Injuns fall on you I couldn't protect you, and if they don't, you will be just iis safe without me as you would be with me, so I'll stay here and fight it out. I'll take my chai.oes with the five hundred and fifty-three, and you'll have to take your chances out in the woods." The protests of his mother and the surprise of Nance did not prevent Jerry from insisting upon their making preparations to start at once. « That's always the way, that's always the way," said his mother. "I'm never allowed to rest on this earth. Fii-st, it's moving from York State, and then it's nursing your father after the tree fell on him. Oh, dear! I wish he hadn't been so fond of 'Tom and Jerry.' Then it's nureing an Indian, and then it's leaving your home and starting out on a raft; then it's leaving the raft and tramping through the woods till you're almost dead, and then it's moving on from where you're safe, -for Major Beasley says it's safe here, — and then it's starting out again for another fort. Oh, dear ! I wonder when the end will come. I wish my end was here. I'd about as soon be scalped by the »on as Tom sriy. 3 stay here, it won't do 11 on you I you will be with me, so my chauoes I you'll have surprise of :ig upon their ys the way," rest on this ate, and then fell on him. )nd of 'Tom , and then it's raft ; then it's he woods till ving on from says it's safe )r another fort, come. I wish scalped by the IN THE WOODS AGAIN 78 Indians, as drop daad from being so tired I couldn't Ijreathe." Jerry listened to what his mother had to say, but without expressing any sympathy, or offering any farther explanation, he insisted that they should go with him. They did not stop even to say good-by to the major, but, joined by Tom, started once more out into the forest This, the boys knew, was peopled with savages, who were fUled with hate and rage, and who would slay any of the whites if they fell into their power. They felt their responsibility, and their hearts were heavy as they departed. They were the only ones to leave the fort, so far as they could see, and the fear wldch they had felt inside the stockade was not lessened when they began their new march through th.? forest. Slowly and carefully they made their way onward, Jerry leading the procession, and Tom serving iw the rear guard, and holding his gun in constant readmess. They w&e not able to make very rapid progress, as the children could not be carried now, except for short distance and they frequently were cor-elled f- .^top for re^t. The boys were glad * er had cefesed hor comi'-.'nings, i«,red tbe expedition t*> ";^fti ^ff ,*"j«;^a. 74 TECUMSEII'S YOUNG BRAVES Alx)ut half the distance to Fort Pierce had been covered when they stopi)ed once more to rest. The entire party was silent, oppressed with fear, and yet rejoicing that no signs of their foes had yet been seen. Suddenly one of the children called out, "Black man, — I see a black man." The lK)ys at once arose, and, holding their guns, peered out into the forest. "Charlie was right," said Jerry, " there is some one following us." And all turned to watch the woods behind them. The boys were frightened, and yet they grasped their guns, determined to do their best if they should be compelled to defend the party. Soon, out from the midst of the trees they saw three Indians coming. They marched in single file, glanc- ing neither to the right nor left, and following the trail which evidently was very clear to their eyes. Their faces were painted, and the appearance they presented was savage and warlike. The mother began to cry softly, and Jerry noticed how pale his sister's face was when he glanced at hQr for a moment. . ■ • [ "It's T'vdunaiBeh's young biaves," said T?om in a low v«# *^aaent l^er, and v^th a fe^g of gr«iit IN THE WOODS AGAIN m ce had been rest. The fear, and yet at been seen, out, "Black r their guns, was right," g us." And em. they grasped E they should hey saw three le file, glanc- wing the trail eyes. Their hey presented Jerry noticed •;laQced at her TJom in a low lag of grwfrt " Where go ? " asked the young brave whom tlie boys called Captain Jim. " Fort Pierce," replied Tom. " Ugh ! Not much talk, much hurry," replied the Indian. "What do you mean?" asked Tom, "Is there danger?" " No pale-face left soon," replied the Indian laconi- cally. " All killed." " What will become of us, then ? " said Jerry. " No kill," replied the Indian. " Much go, healp quick." The further converaation revealed to the boys the fact of some g'-eat danger whicli lay behind them, and into explanations of which the young Indian braves evidently were not inclined to enter; but it was clear that their warning was given because of their desire for the safety of their friends. The young pioneers appreciated the motive, and made no further attempts to learn what the danger was, although they both were satisfied that some move- ment againpt Fort Mims.was being plf^nedi, and the young biay^" "^ ' ' Jrtwna *r, ^f^'i^)fiJee^UJaa It; .•ffwr*"" ir^ ■ v.«'"TO?','flll(fss over the d anytliing, we can do. lade such a affairs, and ik, concealed •ew near the and swam ■■^ woodR or IN THE VVOOnS AGAIN 77 For an hour they waited on the hank in silence, keeping careful watch in every direction, alike afraid of some sudden attack upon themselves, and of some danger hefalling the brother in the woods across the creek. In the course of two hours Tom returned, declar- ing that he could find no signs of Fort Pierce. " I'm completely puzzled," he said, "and I don't know what to say or where to turn, hut the only thmg we can do is to keep on up the creek, and see what we can find." . Greatly dejected, the party resumed their march, and tilled with sad forebodings again started on their search for Fort Pierce. mtm^^mr^* ' ■ , ' I " '-J-r ■ '■," ■** '"■ ' » ' " '— , ^ <^ ^ i** 78 TECUMSEFI'S YOUNG BRAVES CHA.PTER VIII THE MASSACRE THE fugitives were nearer Fort Pierce than they knew, for but a few moments had elapsed before they saw the walls of the strange-looking place rising before them. An entrance was obtained, and, although the number of refugees here was far less than at Fort Mims, and the defence much weaker, they soon entered into the life of the place, and the boys took their part in the work of the garrison. Two days filled with anxiety passed, and they were becoming somewhat accustomed to the monotony of the life there. It was the afternoon watch, and both our boys were on guard at one of the gates. Suddenly their atten- tion was arrested by the sight of two men approaching. As they came nearer they were impresHod by their worn and weary appearance, and the eviduuce of come struggle through which they hpd passed. " It's Hunter Josiah," said Tom excitedly. " It's Josiah Fletcher;" and he hailed his former companion and welcomed him within the fort. e than they iipsed before ' place rising li the number d Mims, and jred into the r part in the ad they were monotony of lur boys were y their atten- approaching. serl by their leiice of Dome tedly. "It's ler companion TIIK MASSACRE 79 The appearance of tlie two men was such as to in- dicate the suffering and excitement which recently had been theirs. For some time Josiah wius unable to speak, but at hist, when he had been served with food and rested a little, he began his story. " It's all up with Fort Mims," said the hunter, "and there's hardly a soul left to tell the story. Only about a dozen have escaped with their lives." "What! Out of the whole number? " said Jeriy, aghast. " There must have been five hundred and fifty there when we left." "So there were," replied the hunter, "but a dozen people are all that's got away, and one of those is Hester, a negro woman, and another is Socca, a friendly ^ Indian. But if you'll be quiet I'll tell you the whole story. You know that Peter McQueen, after the battle of Burnt Com creek, went down to Pensacola with all his followers. There the British stocked them up again, and I'm told offered as much as five dollars for eveiy white man's scalp they would bring in. They were to do all the damage they could everywhere, and if they should happen to be defeated, they were to send their women and children down to Pensacola. Then, if the Americans should prove too much for them all, they explained to Peter how they had ves- sels enough there to cany them all to Havana. "Well, McQueen started out with his followei-s, along with Josiah Francis and William Weatherford, 80 TECUMSEirS YOUNG IJRAVES both of them half-breeds, you know, though I'll say for Weatherford that he's the Iwst one I ever saw, if he did lead the attack against Fort Mims. He's a magnificent-looking man. He's tall and strong, and as decent as it's possible for such a man to be. " Well, they had a great gathering of the Injuns up at Toockabatcha, and there they got ready to start out. You see the Spaniards wanted the trouble made up there, to draw off our men from Mobile." "Why?" asked Jerry. " Oh, the Spaniards have felt all along as if Mobile belonged to them, and they have wanted to take it again ; but late in August, Weatherford had his men at the plantation of Zachariah McGirth. There he wiis lucky enough — or unlucky, if you look at it from our side — to seize some darkies, and from them he learned all about the state of things at Fort Mims. One of the darkies, by the way, escaped and came down to our fort, but Beasley wouldn't listen to him, and had liim flogged just as he had the others." Josiah stopped for a moment as if the story he was telling was almost too much for his feelings, rough hunter though lie was. But in a moment he resumed and said, " The morning of the last of Augxist was a day I shall always remember. It was hot and clear. The people inside the fort felt all right then, and Beasley even had sent a messenger to Oeneral Claiborne to give him word that he could hold the fort, THE MASSAOKE 81 h rilsay er saw, if . He's a brong, and to be. Injuns up y to start uble made if Mobile to take it id his men There he : at it from n them he i'oit Minis. and came ten to him, ere." »ry he was ings, rough he resumed ^.ugxist was LS hot and right then, to Oeneral old the fort, agaiiiHt any numlier of Injuns ; but Beasley was too drunk to know nuich, and that explains nuieh of the trouble, after all. " I can see the women now as they were getting dinner ready. Some of the soldiers were hanging around doing nothing, or else playing cards, and some of them, I renaember, were fast asleep on the ground. I should think there were a hundred youngstera, too, playing and dodging around among the cabins and tents, and some of the young fellows and the girls wHire dancing. " I remember, too, how that poor negro stood there tied to the stake, with his back all bare for the flogging. The people, of course, didn't know it, but it was the most awful moment in their lives. You remember that ravine out beyond the eastern gate?" " The one all covered over with trees, and in which everything grew so rank?" asked Jerry. " Yes," replied Josiah. " Well, right there, there were a thousand Creek warriors hidden, and all ready to spring on the fort. They were nearly naked, and I never saw men so painted as they were. You see, they had some of the prophets along with them, and one or two of them I was lucky enough to pick off myself a little later. They had their faces all painted black, and their rods and medicine-bags were by their sides. 1 82 TECUM8EH S VOUNG BRAVES " Pretty quick the drnin Ixjgan to beat for dinner. I had noticed, just a little while iKifore that, that the eastern gate was wide open, and that a whole lot of sand had drifted agaiuHt it. It waH so deep that the gate could not Ikj shut, and I wax just going to work to shovel it away myself, when I heard the dium beat for dinner. " The Injuns knew something of the habits of the people at the fort; at lea«t, I think they must have known, for they acted just as if the fii^t tap wa.s the signal they were waiting for. The first thing we knew there Wius the most awful yell you ever lieard, and the whole gang of them came running through that open gate. "Beasley wiw a fool, but I'll say for him he was not a coward, and the first thing he did was to run for the gate and try to close it. Some of his sokUers were quick-witted enough to rush to the portrholes, but I'll never forget to my dying day the sight of the women and children, and the men who didn't have any guns, as they all tried to crowd into the houses and cabins. "The major was not quick enough. Before he could dig out the sand and shut the gate, the Injuns were at him. They used their clubs and tomahawks first, and chopped him, and then they rushed over his body into the new enclosure. ^ Beasley had life enough left in him to crawl behind the gate, and though he THE MASSACRE 83 )!• dinner. , that the ole lot of ) tliat tho g to work the (bum [)its of the nust have ap wius the thing we ver heard, ig through im he was was to run his soldiers port-holes, ight of the lidn't have the houses Before he , the Injuns tomahawks led over his life enough though lie didn't live but a few minutes, as long as ho could breathe he called out to his men to light. ''The InjnnH soon filled up the outer enclosure, and in the field beyond there was a great crowd of yelling savages. I rememl)er noticing how the proi)hets k'gau their dances ; but one or two of them won't dance any more, that I'm sure of," and Josiah tapped his gun signifimntly. " Five of their pr < dropped pretty quick, and the Injuns stopped iui a moment and made as if they were going to clear out, but others crowded in, and with such yells and howls as you never hoard, they began to fire through the port-holes. "I remember that poor negro tied out there wait- ing for the lash that never was to fall on him, and for doing what would have been the best deed the fort ever had done for it ; but he was shot among the very first. Captain Middleton had charge of the eastern side, but it didn't seem a minute before he was dead, and every man with him. Captain Jack, off on the south side, and his rifle company were fighting like demons. Lieutenant Randon was fighting from the port-holes on the west, and Captain Bailey, who had general charge after Beasley was killed, seemed to be everywhere at once. It was great work he did. " But it was the toughest time I ever saw. You remember there were two enclosures, and how they were separated by a row of log pickets with port- u TBCUMSEirS YOUNG URAVES ( holes and an opon givto. On one side were the women and the .•liildren, and a few soldiew and men wlio liadn't any j^uns; and on the other wore those yelling savages. " The only thing for the people inside the fort to do was to kill the savages or Iw killed by them, and pretty quick they got their second wind and their courage came back. They fired through the portr holes, and I tell you they made some pretty bi-^' holes a.-nnf? Ilxi savages ; but it didn't seem to do much good, for ^there rushed in and took their idaces, and there were so many of them that a few losses didn't count. " Even the boys and the old men were fighting, and I saw some women too who handled the guns like '.leroes. Hailey kept telling the people to hold on a little longer, and that the Injuns never fought very long at a time, and he tried to get some to go with him, and make a dash against them, but nobody seemed to want to follow him. " The fight went on for tliree hours, and then just as Bailey had said, the Injuns began to get tired. They didn't howl as they had been doing, and were not fir- ing as they had been before. The people shut up in the maui fort began to think the end was coming, but they never were more mistaken in their lives. "Weatherford, who knew pretty well the condition of things, was riding on one of the handsomest gray the women men who 080 yelling 3 fort to do them, and and their li the v"'"^ ;y bi;^ holes to do much places, and )88e8 didn't ighting, and e gnna like ) hold on a fought very B to go with but nobody then just as ;ired. They were not fir- ) shut up in coming, but ives. the condition Isomest gray .--.-^^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 4< ^ 1.0 I.I 1.25 2.2 I 1^ 1.8 U IIIIII.6 w^^i w Photographic Sciences Corporation •./ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14S80 (716) 872-4503 ^ .§^ •SJ ^\ ^ # ">> \^ k. r" CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductlons / Instltut Canadian de microreproductions historlques THE MAS8ACRE 85 horses I ever saw, and he took after the Injuns, who were beginning to move away, and pretty soon got them back again. At least I think it was Weather- ford, though some said it wasn't ; but everybody was excited, and couldn't tell very well just what was go- ing on. The Injuns came back and went to fight- ing again, anyway. They yelled like demons as they came on together, and filled up the outer enclosure. Captain Bailey had some pretty good sharpshooters with him, and they kept them back a little, and I know I shot a good many of them myself ; but Weath- erford was watching everything, and pretty soon he got some of his men to begin to shoot burning arrows, and in a little while the foit was on fire, and some of the people started for some of the other buildings, but a good many stayed behind and were roasted right there. " The fire rapidly spread to the other buildings, and I never shall forget the sight, when in a few minutes almost everything was roaring and crackling in the flames. You could hear the shrieks of the women and children, and that of course made matters a good deal worse. " There was only one place left now, and that was Patrick's loom-house. You remember that wsis on the northern side and had been enclosed with extra strong pickets. There Bailey, and those who were left alive of liis company, took their stand, and kept J' 86 TECUMSEirS YOUNG BRAVES shooting at the savages. These were now in ths main fort, and everyl)ody was trying to get to the loom- house ; but lots of them were killed by the Injuns a.s they ran, and the children and the old people were trampled to death. » I saw old Samuel Mima, while he wa.s tiying to mn for this place, shot down, and while he was yet alive, an Injun, all covered with blood, cut off his scalp, and with a yell waved it in the air. " The fire and the Injuns both together went at the loom-house then. They broke down the pickets and began to torture those who were inside. They took the little tots by their feet and knocked their brains out against the pickets. They ripped open lots of the people who were killed, and you could have seen them waving the scalps they had cut from the women, holding them up by their long hair. " You see the women's scalps are worth five dollars apiece just as the men's are. The sight was too much for Weatherford. He tried to call off his men, and begged them to spare the women and the children, but they turned and began to shake their clubs at him, and I didn't know for a minute but it was all up with him ; but he couldn't hold his men, and they soon left liim, and the butchery went on. " Four hundred out of the five hundred refugees at Fort Mims were dead by sunset. There was not a white woman or child that escaped. They had THE MASSACRE 87 in ths main ;o the loom- le Injuns a.s people were ran ti-ying to } he was yet cut off his air. • went at the pickets and They took L their brains open lots of lid have seen n the women, ;h five dollars was too much his men, and the children, r clubs at him, as all up with they soon left blocked up every way out of the fort, and yet a dozen of us managed to cut our way through. Captain Bailey was with us, but he died out here by the swamp. That negro woman, Hester, though slie had a ball in her breast, managed to get away, and I don't know what's Income of her, though I think she has gone down the river. The Injuns didn't kill many of the darkies, for they kept them to he their slaves." " How many of the Indians were killed ? " asked Tom in a low voice. " Four hundred, anyway, and I know that crowds were back in the morning trying to carry off their dead. Oh, it was a fearful sight, and while a good many of them have gone down to Pensacola or farther up the countiy, there are a lot hanging around here yet, and Fort Pierce will be the next spot attacked." "Come on, then, Josiah," said Tom, "let's talk it over with the captain." And as a result of their interview, that very day all the inmates of the fort were packed into canoes and started down the river towards Mobile. idred refugees ['here was not d. They had V i -^: i " '** .i" »W [ *p! ^,i>ji m i W ' ' .H I' H. JJ: 88 TECUMSEirS YOUNG BRAVES CHAPTER IX THE llETUUN THE trip to Mobile wna safely made in spite of the wily Indians, whose presence they more than once detected on their voyage. Here, however, there waK great fear, and the news of the fearful mtussacre at Fort Minis spread dismay throughout that portion of the country. Many of the pioneera flocked to the various settlements, and left their families under the protection of the soldiei's there, while they them- selves took their guns and started forth for the field of action. As soon as Tom and Jerry had seen that their family was comfortably settled, they, with Josiah and Martin, who also was among the dozen that had suc- ceeded in making their escape from the fort, started once more for the scene of the massacre. The cry for help went northward as well as else- where, and although the people in New York did not hear of the massacre until thirty-one days had passed, the sensation it produced there was not as marked as it ought to have been, because the recent victoiy of Perry on Lake Erie had produced a feeling of joy ^^' '• " ' J S J " i jgg^ „ -g? ^5 e ^M acar - 'E8 in spite of the hey more than however, there earful miussacre lut that portion s flocked to the iiilies under the lile they them- th for the field 3een that their ivith Josiah and sn that had suc- the fort, started lore. as well as else- w York did not lays had passed, )t as marked as ecer-t victoiy of 1 feeling of joy THE RETURN 89 tln-oughout the nation, and the thoughts of all the people were turned with intense interest to the move- ments of General Harrison, who was then just ahout to enter Canada, and who soon retrieved the national misfortunes and disgraces of the preceding year at Detroit. It was ten days after the massacre before our boys arrived at Fort Minis with Major Kennedy, who had been sent by General Claiborne to bury the dead. As they approached the place, it was a sad and horrible spectacle that presented itself. The air was filled with the buzzards who had come from miles around to feast on the bodies of the dead. Along with these there were many dogs who were not merely fighting among themselves, but contending with the buzzards for the foul banquet. The spec- tacle was almost too much even for those hardy soldiers to endure. Many of them were made sick by the sight, and a fearful cry for vengeance was raised by them all. Not many of the bodies could be recognized, and they found none that had not been scalped. At once the brave men prepared for action, and soon two large pits were dug, into which they were to cast the bodies of the slain. Separate burial was impos- sible, and as very few of the bodies could be recog- nized, it was impossible to mark even the names of the slain upon a head-stone. »■•;■; .^,. „ . . ..ii .j iip pmi 1 11 ii » - ii iii iuM ' -r ; 00 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BUAVEH Thirteen peoi)le only, it had been learned, had made their way through the enemy's lines, and now the soldiers were prepared to cover the remains of those who had been slain. Mutilated white men and women, along with the bodies of little children and those of Indians and negroes as well, were lying in one promiscuous mass. Some had been butchered in a manner that language cannot describe. But after a time, even that sad labor was ended, and the ruins of the buildings and stockade were all that were left to show that there ever had been such a place as Fort Mims. The main buildings had been burned to ashes, and these were almost fUled with bones. The plains and the adjoining woods were tliickly strewn with the bodies of the dead. Every wooden building had been consumed except the block-house and a part of the pickets. It was a far different sight from the merry scene which greeted the boys on their first visit to the fort, when the inmates in their fancied security had been passing the time as if they were engaged in a picnic, or were on some expedition of pleasure. When the work at last had been completed, and all the bones and bodies had been buried in the two pits which the men had dug, the desire for ven- geance was intensified. The most intense excitement and alarm had spread now throughout all the south- west, and the powerful Indian prophet Francis was m ^r-Tw mmtfi^fy^i I learned, had lines, and now ;he renmins of white men and e children and , were lying in jeen butchered iscribe. bor was ended, ackade were all had been such Idings had been aost filled with Qg woods were e dead. Every led except the J. It was a far I which greeted fort, when the d been passing I picnic, or were mpleted, and all led in the two desire for ven- tense excitement ut £^11 the south- )het Francis was THE RETURN m especially busy in increasing the fear, and in inciting the victorious Indians to spread destruction throughout the region that lay between the Alabama and the Tombigbee rivers. Every little stockade now WiJS filled with the frightened refugees, and sickness and death carried off more than even the savage Indians themselves. The distress can scarcely be imagined. General Jackson, as we shall soon see, was now, i«J he had been for some time, busliy engaged in his efforte to overcome the wily and treacherous Indians, and pro- tect the scattered people from attacks. Settlers living, far from the homes of others were first sought out by the savages, and many of them were , slain long before the news had reached them of the massacre of Fort Minis, or they had been made aware that the Indian uprising had become anything like as general as it was afterward known to be. Our boys, with Josiah, now planned to push their way northward to Fort Madison. There was nothing for them to do at home, and as they had provided for the safety of the family, they all three resolved that they would have a shar« in the efforts of the country to subdue the Indian rmd overcome the British and the Spaniards, who were 'en more active, though less open, in their movements than the Creeks. Under the direct influence of Weatherford, helped on by these British and Spanish officers, the Indians ■^■■ I- 92 TKCUMSKII'S YOUNG BUAVI'IS had Iwcome ho active in tliat region, tlin*. CieniTal Flournoy, who, up to this time, liad not allowed General Claiborne to act except on the defensive, soon was aroused to a sense of the necessity of some oflfensive measures, and not many days had passed before lie ordered General Claiborne to take his army, and advance into the heart of the Creek country. They were to defend the settlere, some of whom were trying to gather the crops that were yet in the field, and "to drive the enemy" from the frontiers; to follow them up to their contiguous boundaries, and to kill, burn, and destroy all their negroes, houses, and cattle and other property that could not be conven- iently brought to the depots." This order, which was regarded at the time by many, especially by those in the North, as being unnecessarily cruel and blood-thirety, the Georgia general justified by the conduct of Great Britain and the cruel deeds of her Indian allies. General Claiborne at once acted, and, crossing the Tombigbee, began to scour the country on its eastern side ; but although he met and scattered some of the Indian bands, it was impossible to bring them to an open battle anywhere. Josiah Fletcher and the boys, as we have said, now began to push their way northward. Again and again they passed some home which had been burned to the lis , thii*. rieiiiTiil ] not ullnwed tlu) (Icfeiisivo, iessity of some lys had pii8scd B to tivko Ilia of the Creek ionie of whom rere yet in the le frontiers ; to (oundaries, and les, houses, and lot be conven- ts time by many, ^ unnecessarily eneral justified ihe cruel deeds d, crossing the r on its eastern ed some of the ag them to an have said, now Lgain and again 1 burned to the THE RETURN 93 ground, and fre{iuently found tlie bones of the women and children who had l)een massacred. Day after day they advanced, their food l>eing scanty, and constantly seeing signs of their Indian enemies. At last, one day m they were making their way through a thick forest, Josiah turned to the lK)y8 with liis (piiet word of warning, and at his gesture they (quickly stepped l)ehind the large trees among which they were passing. " There's somebody coming," said Josiah, " and I've a dim suspicion that it's a body of Indians." " How do you know ? " asked Tom. " I'm not sure," replied Josiah. " And I haven't time to explain to you now what it is that makes me suspicious. We shall soon see or hear some one, I'm positive. Yes, they're coming," repeated Josiah, in a whisper. " Keep out of sight, and it's possible that they may not strike our trail right away." Yes, there they were in plain sight now, and Josiah's wortls were true. As the boys peered through the bushes they counted a party of ten Indians marching in single file after their custom, hideously painted, and evidently bent on no good errand. As they passed, the boys glanced at each other quickly when they recognized the young Indians, who brought up the rear of the procession, as Tecumseh's young braves. As soon as they had passed out of sight, Josiah called the boys, and with all the speed they could i ».y. iii wn n w F ' > i»^ , 04 TKCuiwaEirs yoiino nuwRs nmkc, uiul yet m (iiiietly oh jtossiliKs they Htartod on ill the (liroction from which tlio IikUhiih had como. Thoy hud littlo expcftiitiou that ihv'w own trail wouhl ('HPai)O the notice of these vvanioi-s, hut their only hope in any event hiy in their altility to i>ut lus great u distance as powsihle hotween them and this party. For an hour they pasHcd on an nipidly as they could go and then 8topi)ed for a brief rest. " There are no signs of them yet, are tliere, .fosiali ? " said Tom ; but the hunter only shook his head in reply. " I'm going to double on our trail, now," said he, "and we'll start right back in the way we came. It's going to be dark pretty soon, and our only dianee of escaping these tiends will be to double on our tracks and try to throw them off the scent. I don't know that we can do it, but I'm so confident that they'll find us, or at leiust that they'll strike our trail, that the only thing that I want to do now is to get out of their way. It is not a very pleasant feeling to know that any mo- nient you may be shot down, and that when you're least suspecting it a bullet, or some Injun arrow or tomahawk, may come flying through the air and take you off before you know it." The dusk soon deepened into darkness. Our little party of three did not dare to kindle a fire, as this would only increase the certainty and the zeal of their Indian pursuers. Josiah constantly spoke of them as Mvy HtarUid on s had cnmo. hv'w own trail rioi-s, Imt their hility to [)Ut as them and this y iis they could there, .losiah ? " is liead in reply, now," said he, we came. It's only cliance of e on our tracks I don't know that they'll find 11, that the only ut of their way. »w that any mo- at when you're Injun arrow or he air and take ess. Our little e a fire, as this the zeal of their poke of them as TMK UKTUUM 05 „.oUK'h they were f..llowinK, Imt as yet no sign of their presence ha, "an.l it's pretty largely a « difficult to distinguish between the step of a crafty foe and the sounds among the trees. It must have been near uudnight when Josiah siud, " I think it's late enough now for us to start. We 11 make a trial of it, anyway, and if we civn once find the river I tliink we can get away from these men. "I don't see why you think they are foUowuig us. Surely they parsed by, when we saw them, without n-ving a sign .that they thouglit there was any sucn taing as a white man within hearing," said Jerry. "That's all true enough," replied the hunter, "but when you have had as much experience as I with B * •U Au — ^ J. j ! yKWMIUi'» l'' > " " ' " 9G TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES tliese red variniiits, you'll know that they won't pass over a trail made by three white men, when they have a band three times the size, without stopping to examine it pretty carefully, and most likely following it up ; but we must not stay here to talk any more. I think I can find the way all right, and we want to j keep close together." And the little party started out once more into the darkness. Every step was made cautiously now, and even Josiah displayed an alarm that increased the fear of his young companions. They moved like the shadows and almost as silently. The river was not far distant, and if once they could gain its bank, they thought their safety would be assured. ^\ i^ j,-it"°"j'?4i ii f""'"*^" THE SPEECH OF TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVE 97 sy won't pass I, when they it stopping to ely following ilk any more. 1 we want to party started w, and even 1 the fear of e the shadows ot far distant, they thought • .-^ CHAPTER X THE SPEECH OF TECUMSEH's YOUNG BRAVE mHE progress winch our party made was very slow. T T y'planned to keep together, -.us they knew an att..ck if one were to ^oe made, would come suddenly :"o^^^ a word of warning. They made frequen IpHnd listened for any sounds of an approachmg ^"Z'keen a« Josiah Fletcher w.. he V^^^^^ ,e w.. mistaken .. he led the party «" .^f ^J^^ frequent stops they made may have deceived him as ol distance they had covered, or it may l.ve W that he wa. not as familiar with the region as he had hn-mt^d himself to be. . On they went in single file, the boys espee,a^ty heing fearful, and quiet enough to -t^'y -» *" keenlceuted hunter. ThU was n.w work for them and hardy hoys as they were, the scanty ood th. long ma-ihes, and the cons..».t presence of danger. woL heeanse unseen, hegan to tell upon them. At tat, when three hou» must have pa^ed, hey stopped for a moment, and Josiah sa,d. We U luve fl;iwM'*iaa ' .-.at> .,tMa »i «an- 98 TECUMSEH'S YOU^JG BRAVES to change our positions. Tom, you go ahead now, and, Jerry, you take the middle and I'll follow up the rear. I don't see why it is we don't come to the river. It can't be far from here. I've always thought I could find my way to the Alabama blind- folded and in the darkest night if I was set down anywhere within a hundred miles of it ; but I seem to be a little off in my calculations to-night, and I don't see why it is that I don't find any signs of the water." The eyes of the boys were now somewhat accus- tomed to the darkness, and they had less difficulty in making their way through the forest. When the march wa« resumed they had gone but a short dis- tance before they came to a little knoll, from which Tom, who was now in advance, was certain he could see the river. The water looked like silver. The light was dim, but it fell upon something in advance of the party which he thought must be the glimmer- ing of the little waves. " Yes, that's the river," said Josiah as he came up, " I'm sure of it. I didn't think we could be far out of the way. I've not travelled this region all my life to get lost for nothing when the worst pinch comes ; but you wait here a bit while I go on and see what the prospect is," The boys remained where they were and waited for hira in silence. The scene about them was strangely iffs ES o ahead now, follow up the t come to the I've always labama blind- miH set down ;; but I seem >night, and I ^ signs of the newhat accus- is difficulty in ;. When the t a sliort dis- 11, from which tain he could ! silver. The ig in advance the glimmer- 3 he came up, ild be far out ion all my life pinch comes; and see what .nd waited for was strangely TUB SPKECH OF TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVE 99 beautiful. The mighty trees amongst ^hi«l^^^«y stood, the high bank from which they looked out over the river, and the water, that went by hem quietly and peacefully would naturally carry their JhougL far from the war and bloodshed. Indeed there was little in their surroundings to remmd them of the sad scenes through which they had passed, and the danger in which they then were. They had not long to wait, however, for Josiah soon returned, and said, "I know where I am now I've been here hundreds of times. I ve stood on this little hill and watched the white men and the Injuns lK>th, as they went up or down the nver I've seen the settlei. push those rafts of theirs up the stream, and the little canoes of the Injuns float hke leaves with the current. It looks as peaceful now as it ever did, but I shouldn't be surprised xf our greates danger came before we got across it; but if were once on the other side we can snap our fingei. at every redskin in that party. Come on now, added Josiah quietly, "we'll go down this little lull and perhaps we'll find something in the bay down there we can use to help us cross over the nver. As they moved on down the hillside they suddenly .arae to a place where the bank was much steeper, and almost before they were aware all three were sliding down ite side ; but the surprise which came to them at their quickened movements was a.s nothmg if** r II r :| I k 100 TECUMSEH'S YOUNO BRAVES compared with that which was theirs when they arrived at the base of the hill. The gravel, sliding under their feet and rattling before them, the efforts they made to stop themselves, and the exclamations they uttered as they slipped and rolled down the bank, became as nothing to the yell which greeted them when they once more were enabled to stand upon their feet. As unexpectedly as if they had dropped from the skies, they had slipped into the very midst of a party of Indians, who had Ijeen camping under the shelter of the high bank. There were a dozen or more of these who leaped to their feet at the sudden appearance of our friends, and the silence of the night was broken by their whoops and yells. Almost as motionless as if they had been turned to stone, all three of our party stood and waited until the Indians surrounded them, and but a few moments had passed before tlieir hands had been bound securely behind them, and their feet had been tied together, and they were placed near the smouldering fire as captives of this Indian band. This fire was now rekindled, and in the light of its flames the boys could see that it was the same party of Indians wliich had passed them on the preceding day, and of whom Josiah had been in such fear. Jerry watched the Indians, and at once recognized Tecumseh's young braves among them. Indeed, one ■ aaiiB B Dutu e aJtti»Mg i I is wide here, and t,> the lK.ys it seemed m if they never would gain a sight of the further shore in the darkness. They stopped for a moment to consider the ques- tion whether they should keep on in the directum in which they were going and cross to the fui-ther shore, or whether when they had reached the middle of the river they should swim with the current and go down the stream. The latter coui-se was chosen, and turn- ing upon their backs they floated on the slow-movmg water for several minutes ; but the canoe, which Josiah felt certain he had seen, they all could see now, and their main effort was to keep themselves concealed and escape the notice of ite occupants They swam now with their faces just above the water, and were nearer the shore than they had l,een. Indeed, they could see the bushes that lined the banks, but they could also hear the paddles which the Indians were using in the oncoming canoe. Swiftly and silently these made their way down the stream, and the boys were soon satisRed that there 41 iJlriiin,mn»ir ■ I I y . 108 TECUMSEirS YOUNO nTlAVES 11 wero but two of thorn in [mfsuit; Imt in liiich canoe thoie wiiH a torch, and iw tho fiiwi ono approached tluMn, they all silently «ank into the water and re- mained beneath it as lonj? as they (M)nld hold their breath. Rising again to the surfa(!e they saw that tlio first canoe had passed them, Imt the light of the flaming torch in tho second also showed that the other wiw dose by. Again they sank into the water, but this time they were unable to remain iw long lus they had before. Indeed, their efforts had well-nigh used all the strength they had, and now, at the time when there wan tho greatest cull for it, they all felt it would bo lacking. As Tom rose to tho surfaco of the river the light of a torch fell full on his face. His fti-st thought wivs that everything was lost now, and that all three of them wero certain to be discovered. In the canoe he could see there wero three Indians, two of whom were paddling, and one holding a gun and also gi-asping the torch. Tom never could understand how it was that when the light fell upon his face there had been no call in the canoe ; but in a few monients it had passed, and all three of the prisoners were left in the darkness that seemed to be greater than before the glare of the torch had fallen on tho water. " Wo must make for the shore now as fast as we can," said Josiah ; but he spoke in a labored manner, i-fSSJUH'jsM'mmmsmmM mgmmm E8 ill inich canoo \w iipiH'oivcliud water iiiul re- •iilfl holr distanee they had eomo were telling mnv severely upon him than upon either of his younger companions. u If we ean onee get ashore," said Jerry, " we can hide in those bushes, I'm sure ; but those canoes are coming back again, and one of them i^^''^^^^, along this shore, and the other is going along by the further bank." . The three were together now, and were uncertain in which direction to go or what movement to make. They were swimming slowly and quietly, and were in constant fear of the approaching canoe, but they were rejoiced when they saw that this was pivssing between them and the bank. Kemaining as silent as poHsible in the water, where they were, they soon found that they had again escaped the notice of their pun^uers, and this time with renewed hope they started for the shore. , . , i Josiah was almost exhausted when they crawled out of the water and up on the bank, quickly conceal- ing themselves behind the bushes. It wa^ necessary for them to rest awhile, and they all were so chilled now by their wet clothing, and worn by the exertions which they had undergone, that the rest w.w accept, able to them all in spite of it« ^^^^"'^^^'^'^'''^ ^ As soon as Josiah had recovered a httle from his weakness, they all three started inland as rapidly as i i^^ , Josiah Fletcher speedily followed. The 116 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES Indians, surprised at the sudden attack, quickly began to back the great canoe out into tlie river, and the boys saw that there were three swimming on the side which was not exposed to the bullets, and all the othera were lying flat on the l)ottom. It was a stirring scene that followed, and one which displayed the qualities of the hardy Sam Dale to their best advantage. One of the Indian warriors, thinking when they had gone out some distance into the river that they must he safe now, raised his head and shouted for Weatherford. This was the firat intima- tion our party had had that this noted chief was in that neighborhood, and his well-known name caused some of them to stop for a moment ; but Captain Dale was undaunted by the call, and once more raising his gun to his shoulder sent a bullet into the brain of the Indian who had shouted. He had been one of the three who had been guid- ing the canoe, and now deprived of his aid, the un- gainly craft turned broadside to the current, and slowly began to float down the stream. The captain quickly ordered six of the men who were on the eastern bank to bring the canoes, as he had determined to use them in attacking the Indians in their huge craft. As the little party approached the larger canoe, they were unsuspicious of what it contained, but as one of them looked over the edge he screamed as •^ll '!«';■ t-^ii :!»- WUc to do in thU story, although our reader would doub less tod them as ilresting as the later events m hu, hfe, r: t.n the War of 1812 was declared, no one in aU lltn wJmo^ rejoiced than Andrew Jackso. To r British he owed the l»s of his .nother and Wttr He had heen a captive in their hands, and W nM forgotten his own early sufferings. H,s feel- t, oTreveL was natural, and the public sentiment 2h tZ upheld him. Perhaps if he M been born fi uy Jla^r his heart might not have been so hard afty y°"» "^ . ^ „„„,a have appreciated "'rrtttly, Andrew ^-C-on speedily had ^ f„^ of twenty^ive hundred volunteers who had d^ Cd that they would foUowhim wherever be won d l»^ them He tendered their services to the rresi dettd 'these were acceptod, although there w» - foU t» be any immediate demand for them. All the 124 TECUMSEirS YOUNG BUAVES M interests of the government seemed to he centred upon the Northwest, but if President Madison could have known of the surrender of Detroit and the catas- trophe at the River Raisin, and also of the hickory-like qualities of Andrew Jackson, doubtless he would have been glad to have sent liim there in place of the in- effhsient leaders who were in command. Jackson and his men chafed under the long delay that followed the acceptance of their offers, but on the first of November he received word from Washington, directing him to equip and organize fifteen hundred infantry and riflemen and go down to New Orleans to reinforce General WUkinson, who then waa in com- mand there. The men began to assemble early m December, 1812, some coming from places many miles distant, so strong was their desire to follow Jackson ; but delay followed delay. The government seemed to think its full duty was done when it had given the order for the men to assemble. No funds had been provided from which they were to be paid, and arms and ammunition were very sparingly furnished. But General Jackson was undismayed, and seemed to be roused the more by the very problems that faced liim, and at last, on the tliirty-first of December, 1812, he despatched Colonel Coffee with the mounted men for Natchez, and on the seventh of January- he em- barked his two infantry regiments m flat-boats on the ANDREW JACKSON 125 > be centred adison could nd the catas- I hickory-like 3 would have ce of the in- e long delay rs, but on the Washington, ieen hundred New Orleans n was in com- cember, 1812, ant, so strong lelay followed k its full duty or the men to d from which nunition were d, and seemed sms that faced jcember, 1812, mounted men ,nuary he em- it-boats on the Cumberlaml, but it ^ not until the flfteenth of iob- ™:X fe .un«l£ anivea at Natehe., »here h. found Colonel Coffee waiting for h™- At thta place a request came from General Wilkm ,. SZL at New Orleans, .» halt h« eommand a^' ^port his fo^s and instruetions. Perhap, the l^rL suspicious that it ™s the intenfon of J k- r^ upersede him, but as there was no mieat.™ T li\, unon New Orleans, the Tennessee general of an attack upon lie" ti,(. tmoos were „.orard more hnpatient. Indeed, patrenco never W taen one of the pK,minent elements m h.s eta- f One letter did not satisfy him, and he sent a • ^t winrida where the Bntisn ana rllSrrweU r:*nlns, were exceedingly SZ;.e. But Wore e"her letl^r amve^ J; Washington, he «eeived an orier from ft « ^ c " sider his force as d^missed, and to .l""'^' " public property he had in his possession U, General ^~n w. astounded; and omee« and men t«. ,1 126 TECUMSEirS YOUNG BRAVES alike joined in denouncing General Armstrong, the Secretary of War. The anger increased daily, as they were unable to undei-stand the motives for such cold-blooded work (for Jackson had received only a curt tender of thanks for his laboi-s), until a letter came from General Wilkinson suggesting the recruit- ing of the regular service from his command. General Jackson underatood it all now. Wilkin- son was jealous of the younger leader, and had tried to undermine him. How little Jackson cared for the order of his superiors can be judged from the fact that when a few days later the recruiting officer came, he was informed that if he tried to lead away a single volunteer from the corps, he would be drummed out of the camp. And yet the brave general scarcely knew what to do. IJi3 follower were mostly young men, and now they were five hundred miles from home and were to be deprived of their arms and tente and provisions, and even the sick were to be left behind, uncared for and unattended. He would not submit, and in no very choice language he wrote the Secretary of War just what he thought of his actions. Genenxl Armstrong received many puzzling letters during the war, but we have no doubt he understood very clearly what Andrew Jackson wrote him. He also wrote the President, and in part explained why he did not inUjnd to obey his orders. ANDREW JACKSON 1-27 mstroiig, the led daily, as tives for such jeived only a until a letter ,g the recruit- nand. ow. Wilkin- and had tried cared for the X the fact that flRcer came, he away a single drummed out knew what to men, and now le and were to ,nd provisions, d, uncared for hoice language lat he thought received many have no douht idrew Jackson snt, and in part ey his orders. ,„,. .ago. »ua »„,. . ™ .U^t„ g .» ro ^^^__^ to retiun their amis. He al»o uor ^'"'" , , '^\ ..f the return march lay Two hundred maes "^'^J^ „„, chick,. saOT, and aliont all tne expe to ovemve the«e d>«ky wamo,. ° "'' :J.yeheeredhyh.e.an,p.ea„d«r^. But Andrew .I.tek»on, true to his ow h,a no thought of aWloning >- P"^ in 'to »«=o .trngg-e for -— ^-'^r^ered ^ *« Uot of was bv his treatment, and angerea uy r wlr Department, the dis^^t^ni to our cause m the C^::rheAi"aneag.o that I should he happy 1-28 TKCUMSKirS YoUN(J HU.WKS *arrivc(l iit tl.oir h()ino«, and (leiioml .hicksnii as uiikmI tlieii- i.ay lihnst-lf, tlioujrh, after a long delay, he was reinibui-sed by CongroHS. The Indian troubles did not allow the resolute general to remain long in retirement, and he was again calle.1 upon to lead a large body of troops into the Indian country. The alarm caused by the mas- sacre at Fort Minis had aroused the entire region. The general government was too busy in its cam- paigns on the northern border to give much heed to this, • and the local olHcei-s were called upon to act at once. The governor of Tennessee was authorized to call out thirty-five hundred men, in addition to the fifteen hundred required by the general government, and Andrew Jackson was immediately placed in com- mand. He directed a part of the cavalry to report at Huntsville by forced marches, and Colonel Coffee's division was soon sent on to Fort St. Stephen's, which was said to be threatened by the Indians. When, on the seventh of October, General Jackson arrived at Fayetteville, the place where his troops had gathered, Ul in health and with his arm carried in a sling, he found a despatch from Colonel Coffee that he liad inarched with thirteen hundred men a short distance Ijeyond Huntsville, and that the Creeks had divided their forces. It had been thought that Mobile would be the ANDREW JACKSON 1S9 m ;i,s umnd lay, ho wiis lio resolute ,11(1 he w«a troops into |)y the mas- biro region, in its cam- lieed to this, ict at once. I to call out the fifteen nment, and ed in com- report at nel Coffee's (hen's, which When, on 1 arrived at ad gathered, n a sling, he that he liad lort distance had divided ould be the n fi«it iiftu'k but relieved by place the enemy would first attack, ''^'' ' the information he received, Genenvl Jacksoa p^ pll to strike a few auick and energetic blows, and to crush the rebellion in a brief time. There were al)out four thousand of the Creek r^ Id thev were surrounded by an American "r:ro-::::tthen>„™>„.oC*„ eleven^ „t Octotor, a m<»«cnger arrived torn Colonel Coffee ",i:,r'lfh:w7l.>eo„then>a.ohint.oh„»« *" ,f h!rLe!ru„.tatoo., that Ge„e«l Coeke .ould lasting to word, Oeneral Jaeton at onee pat to Zl under arms and started. They soareely halted dXt day, and by eight o'clock in the evenmg til Ld arrived at Hunt,viUe. Here the rumo« o! tindLn attack we,, not toUeved, but he started ™ :;■: the next day, and at evening had jomed the CotnStffiwith si. hundred men against Black- 130 TKCUMSEHS YDlTNO BIIAVRS I \ warrior's Town, a huntlnnl miles Hinitli, wliile he waitiMl for tlio supplies which did not come. At hwt he resolved to advance, thoufrh lie had scarcely a week's rations on hand. He could not abandon his enteri)rise, and thouj,di few men would have had the courage to g(> on in the face of such obstacles, he would not give up, and resolved that the friendly Creeks should not look in vain to him for aid. Famine threatened him, and yet he deter- mined to advance to the Ten Islands, and then sweep down the country to the forks of the Coosa and Tal- lapoosa, where the Red Sticks were said to bo gathering. He again sent letters to those who had promised him supplies, and he himself promised to pay some of the private citizens if they would furnish his army with provisions. Colonel Coffee returned from his expedition to Blackwarrior's Town, where he had not seen an Indian, but had taken three hundred busliels of corn. The provisions of his men were so nearly exhausted, that during the bust four days of the march they had subsisted upon parched corn. General Jackson established a depot for provisions at Fort Deposit, and again started inland. He marched with his troops in three columns, so that instantly they could be formed in order of battle if an attack should be made. On the march he despatched ANDBKW JACKaoN ISl I, while he le. [i^h lio had 1 could not men would iico of such isolved that vain to him et he deter- l then sweep isa and Tal- said to be ftd promised pay some of sh his army tpedition to lot seen an lels of corn. y exhausted, rch they had jr provisions inland. He mas, so that if battle if an le despatched „„ hunare.. c.™.ry, w.o .U..t™y«. the .n.«»n vU-.^^ , I itu.f,.Wli<* luul .■olWctod «omo ion. an I i » w t r mIwUU. hi. tr„oi„ were n-n,™-!. »"«' ^ho^'fl'l clinging f. hi, aea,. r;'!-^^-'-' '"^^Il"; C»- "::;;: rrirH.»e.h.o.n, on, and JL Fort Strothe. ana the P™™- X.' N ,>ui^ n „^«.l Toffee were sent on to Huntsvuie. i pCtLl "t l^e" receive,., and the "-y --'[ "rth^l^nrS K— a ™n„e. a^ved with J^Xnce that a .a.ge body "' C^e^.e.-«« Talladega, about thirty mile, Bonth, and »ete pre nirrrit'-di-played the .orce o. .U „„tX„ ^U, and with twelve hundred infartvy and •>f^ MM«M»iWM*>W*! 132 TECUMSEH'H YOUNG BRAVES eiglit hundred cavalry ho Htarted for Talladega. Ho croHHod the (/oosa in the night, and on the evening of the eighth encamped within six miles of his des- tination. About midnight a friendly Indian chief named Chenubhy arrived with word from General White that ho (lould send no supplies, tis he had Iwen ordered farther up the Coosa. The last message was almost enough to crush any ordinary man, Imt Andrew Jackson did not give up, but pressed on towards Talladega. A stirring engagement there took place, but who could withstand the determined man? The friendly Indians in the fort were released, and the hostilcs fled, leaving three hundred of their warriora dead upon the field. As soon as the victory was complete, the general at once started back for Fort Strother. Tho horaes were nearly famished, and tho men were sulTering from hunger. Jackson, who was in the van of the returning troo^w, noticed some acorns on the ground JUS ho passed. Hastily dismounting, he threw the bridle over his arm, and, having gathered a fow of the nuts, sat down on the roots of a large tree to eat them. One of the soldiers, noticing him, approached, and demanded something to eat. " I never turn away tho hungry," said the genenvl, " while I have anything to give them." He then offered the soldier some of the acorns, saying, " I will iij i t' i aT ll riJ n mm > - ■ ANHIIBW JACKSON 183 liuloga. Ho the evening i of luH (leH- [nilian cliief oni General , a» he \m\ liiHt message ry man, luit ; pressed on ICO, but who rhe friendly the hostilcs arriora dead the general Tho hoi'ses jro sulfering ) van of the the ground ) threw tho a few of the I tree to eat , approached, tho geneml, " He then ^ing, " I will ehocrfuUy divido vrith you .u«h UM .» I !"»• Mortifl...! ana .xkuucd, Iho ...ldi.T vMmM W lu. wtw::re,K,rting the iudacnt,,„,d tho ■„«.■„.«■■„.«» "'orthrrvlmKot «. oWe„th of Nov«n.«r,tho , °rivJ. «t Ko,t St,.thor, hut «... hitterly d». :;;;!iri wh.„ th.y l..ruod th„t,am.«tno,™v«>o.« :s:r:h— t..„..a,.d.oo,.tho»h„. ''™i:::^tx4'-h..o™ed«the ™intTaLimeut« had determined to leave the camp, Tt r. onteed the volunteer brigade unde,- arm8,and at once orue ^^^^ ^j„j„ to ECThrha;thcde.i.de«cct,a,>a,ui,t ''«zr«rr:drdrtVitweiy.u,,p.i.wo^d Jri the camp, Andrew JacW. made an elo- ';X:Utimng appeal to hi. M-v-'P-^'^t that if provisions did not arrive withm two days, he wl f wlldleadthem back where there was plenty I.I w - iii ilii ir- i «ifi|i' i'l ', i' 134 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES I w' declared that it two men would stay by him that he would remain in the camp, one hundred and nine men were found who promised to remain also. He was confident, however, that the supplies were near, and he joined the departing militia, making the one condition, that if they should meet the supply party, they all would return with him to the camp. Within ten or twelve miles of the fort they met a party with one hundred and fifty beeves. The column at once halted, the cattle were knocked down, and the half-famished men had such a repast as they had not known for weelcs. When, however, the order to return was given, none obeyed. One company had already started, and the angry general, with a few men, dashed ahead of them and declared he would shoot the first one who endeavored to pass him. These men then fell back, but the others were not so easily moved. The general argued and pleaded, but without avail. Finally, snatching a musket from a soldier he threw it across the neck of his horse, and declared he would shoot the first man who mofld a single step in advance. For several minutes not a word was uttered. At length the men gave way before the iron will and resolute daring of their leader, and in a short time were on their way back to Fort Strother. If they had known that the niusket was out of order, and ANDREW JACKSON 135 him that he md nine men applies were , making the t the supply the camp, ort they met beeves. The locked down, repast as they the general's arm too weak to hold it, they might not have been 80 quickly cowed. Such was the daring of Andrew Jackson. The e deeds we have recorded were slight -"H-ed J^* those that followed; but for the account of them we n^ust wait for some of the chapters to follow. Th^ outline of his work, however, was necessary before we went on, and will help to explam many of the incidents ani adventures that will U related further on in our story. IS given, none irted, and the ihead of them irst one who bhers were not I and pleaded, 1 musket from his horse, and who moT^d a s uttered. At iron will and I a short time )ther. If they ; of order, and 136 TECUMSEirS YOUNG BRAVES -%« 1^ \ CHAPTER XIV TECTJMSEH's young BRAVES AGAIN FOR fifteen days the boys remained at Fort Madi- son, where Captain Dale and all his party ar- rived safely. The danger in the country, however, was increasing every moment. The whole region seemed to he infested with the savage and treacher- ous foes. Almost every day information wt'H be brought to the fort that the family of some Ion;- '•■ >cr had been murdered; and many refugees we. . i received. All of them realized now that the time had come for decisive action, and nearly all the avail- able men were in the service. When about two weeks had passed, our boys, with their friend Josiah Fletcher, left Fort Madison . ^ be the bearere of a message to General Claflbme. They knew that a long march was before them, and as well equipped as the scanty condition of the fort warranted, they started forth early one morning on their way to the camp of Claiborne. They crossed the river in a canoe which €8e8ar gave them, and near the farther shore began to go down ij0: W TECUMSEirS YOUNG BUAVES AGAIN 137 lGAIN ,t Fort Madi- his party ar- try, liowever, whole region and treacher- ion wT'^*^ be ne lon;^ ' hx les we* i ; ' i that the time y all the avail- our boys, with •t Madison ^ ^ 3ral Claroome. ifore them, and on of the fort ne morning on ich Caesar gave m to go down the stream. M wonder why so many of the darides are called Ciesar," said 1 om. ,, .They seem to like the name I reckon, rephed the hunter " I don't know any other reason. Though the huntti. ^^^^^ ^ jg a *i>ia Ti'sar here that we vc juau tad the same name at fort M"'«- « y- , the fellow's sereeehe., now, and -— J^ ^^ „ke up in the night, the r>et..n^ ^^,y>edas w,u,tothc wlnpplng-l«t, and h>» l"" » ' house is one's »" >"ome Jhe a. « ^^ u There's our horse," said Jerry. Uia i^ Ti^^:,rr::^r-H-e carried .n.o« Wore this. It looks as though there w» »o one here," said Tom. *i-' % *r 188 TECUMSEirS YOUNG BRAVES i^ "I don't l)elieve any one has been here," said Josiah ; and when all three entered the house, they could find no evidence of any one having visited the place during their absence. "It's a little tough to come back to your own home," said Jerry, " and find everything as blank as it is here." " Yes, but not half so bad," said Josiah, " as what we've found at so many of these houses, where the settlei-s insisted on staying until it was too late for them to get away." " I wonder," said Tom, " how many murdered men, women, and children we've found ! " " Too many, too many," said Josiah, as he busied himself in making preparations for their supper. They all remained there during the night, and Josiah was astir in the morning long before either of the boys was awake. He liad gone outside the house, and was carefully examining all the signs about the place, when he suddenly stopped and listened. His atten- tion was fastened upon a little canoe which he saw coming very rapidly down the river, and he soon was able to perceive that tlu-ee men were in it. Josiah stood and watched the fleet little craft, endeav- oring to make out what it was and who were paddling it, but all he could determine was that the occupants were Indians and that the place the canoe was making for was the very one on which he himself stood. TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES AGAIN 139 here," said 3 house, they ig visited the to your own g as blank as iah, " as what 38, where the s too late for lurdered men, , as he busied jir supper, ht, and Josiah iier of the boys le house, and 30ut the place, id. His atten- which he saw and he soon n were in it. } craft, endeav- were paddling the occupants oe was making himself stood. With an e.c.™atio„ o. *g>.»t, ''rj^^lil'^rg „„d entered the hou»e, and aromed both the rfctprng '"ihev all were startled as they came out into the opl'air nd watched the swiftly m-ro-h-g "- AU three of the Indians were paddling, and the little "ven by the force of their strokes, was n,ak,ng rapid headway towards the shore _ "We want to get out of this, boys, sau Mt ™y ^ they'i.' alone, and then -.ybe 'W -"^ alone. Let's get tehind *-».f :»•"*: '^ barn, anyway," a suggestion which the boys speedily '"N^t and nearer they could see that the canoe w^tZng, and Josiah said, "We - P^k *e. la now. Each of you boys can take one, an* ^fj yon'U he lucky enough ■ o hit something, and 1 U take the third." . ,, • j t^.,, " We "We don't want to shoot yeV said Fo.n. We don'Tknow whether they're friendly Indians or not. tI way" *ch they're coming shows they re com- Alio wojr fViovVp in a hurry about it, rxi:i^r:r^Xwe.t.Lg..t Again ana g ^^^.^^ ^^ ^ rtdirrtirr:.:e:tJfLl»yseaehtime he gave up his project. tm TECUMHEIl'S YOUNG BRAVES " Lot's go into the house, boys," said Josiah, after a few moments had passed. "We can get in without lK?ing seen from the river, and if we have to fight for our lives, we can do it better there than we can anywhere else." "Here goes, then," said Jerry, as he led the way, and soon all three were inside the house, and the door had been barred in such a manner that it could not be easily opened from without. "No other canoe is in sight," said JeiTy, as they took their positions where they could watch the move- ments of the little boat, "and I don't believe there's any one else with them. We'll wait and see what they're up to." , ., ' " They're almost up to the shore now, and they re going to land," said Josiah; "that's what they're going to do. It would have been a good deal better to have dropped them in their canoe, and saved them all this trouble, to say nothing of ourselves." Tom made no reply, for with renewed interest he was watching the approachin«r Indians. " Jerry, do^ou see who that is? " he said to his brother in a low voice. "Why, it's Tecumseh's young braves," replied- ■ Jerry. " Captain Jim has a strut Uke a turkey gob- bler. I don't believe he has got over the glory yet that he won at the butchery at Mims." "Keep quiet," said his brother. "Let's see what TKCUMSEirS YOUNG BRAVES AGAIN 141 ;s Josiah, after a ot in without have to fight ( than we can ! led the way, ouse, and the that it could JeiTy, as they atch the move- believe there's and see what »w, and they're i what they're ood deal better ,nd saved them slves." ived interest he I. he said to his iraves," replied- e a turkey gob- er the glory yet ns."- " Let's see what thcy'm gcnng to do. Tl.oy ."ay te going to .et liro r the to,u,t, to_l«y u» for th. time when wo got away fion^ them." , Jasiah again volunteered his advxce that they should waste no tin^e, and shoot every one of die three Indians ; but the boys were unwilhng to do tlus as thcv had a good deal of curiosity concerning the visit of the young warrior, and wanted to learn what obiect they had in coming. As soon as the canoe had been concealed among the bushes on the bmk, the three yo^^sl^d^-^ turned and advanced towards the house, holding out the palms of their hands. Each of t^em carried a gun, in addition to the bow and quiver, which they never had discarded. ^, u They're ou a peaceful errand this time, said Tom, "and it's a good thing we didn't shoot It may be they have got a message for us, and have Teamed that we ai. here. I'm going to step outeide and see, at any rate." And he opened the door and motioned for the young Indians to approach. The surprise which their visit had aroused was as nothing compared with the message which they gave the ^"" They've left the fighters," said Tom, as he re- turned. " They've gone over to our side.'' uWhatl" said Jerry. ^^ "Aren't they Tecumsehs young braves any more ? " • nanjgi in n J,i,»,|fl!l* 142 TECUMSEirS YOUNO BRAVKS "Tecuimeh'8 young braves," muttered Captain Jim, with a special emphasis on the first word. " No Weatherford's. No Ucd Eagle's. No Hoponika Futsahia's." They were not inclined to talk very much, and yet the reason for their coming was soon learned. Briefly stated, the course of events which led up to this action on the part of Tecumseh's young bmves was this: Brigadier-General John Floyd, with nine hundred and fifty b<.ld followers, who were guided by Mordecai, a Jew trader whom our boys already knew, had entered the hostile region, aroused by the cry for help that had gone abroad after the massacre at Fort Mims. 1 -ii. General Floyd crossed the Chattahoochee, and with . his forces pushed steadily westward towards the Tallapoosa, where he had been informed that a large number of the hostile Indians had been assembled at the Indian village of Auttose. This village was suj^ posed to be "holy ground," and the prophets had told their superstitious followers that no white man ever could set foot on that ground and live. This town was on the left bank of the Tallapoosa, about twenty miles above the place where it joined the Coosa. On the 28th of November General Floyd encamped within a few miles of tliis spot, and shortly after midnight started with all his men to attack the place. TECUMSEUS YOUNG BRAVES AGAIN 143 red Captain word. " No Hoponika uch, and yet ned. Briefly to this action ves was this : hundred and by Mordecai, y knew, had f the cry for ssacre at Fort jhee, and with towards the 1 that a large 1 assembled at lUage was sup- >phets had told rhitQ man ever he Tallapoosa, vhere it joined General Floyd lot, and shortly men to attack At dawn ho wrivort Mow tl.« tow", ami amngcd hU t »" to three columns for Wtle. The fnendly :uZ\ve» with him, led l-y" '"' ""^^ Tm J William M.ujki.ito.h, and a clue! called the Miul "tnf:r;io,ahadinte„aed.snn^^^^^^^^^^ but when the morning light came, he sa.v were two villages instead of one, and it was nec^s..y for him at once to change the position of his fore • One t«wn w..« about one hundred rods below the other, and to this lower village one of the three com- panies was sent, and the attack ^'«;>^^^", The battle at once became general, the ndians ap^^ pearing at nearly eveiy point and fightmg bravely fox TZl but the boom of the heavy artilleiy which GenT^; Floyd had brought with him and the funous Wonet changes so frightened them that thej. turned and fled to the cane-covered caves which had l)een cut in the bluffs of the river. The events which followed were a source of shame to all the Americans, and the only excuse which can Toffered wa. the anger and fear whxch had been ^used by the massacre at Fort Mims, and which led Thesoldi- on to harsher measui^s than otherwise would have been used. Four hundred ef the Indian dwelling, «orne of which were large andeontained many valuahle art.d«, wore fired, and the dismayed Indians were htmted and ?!'2S^rii^^^>''i*^'* -■ ■'" 144 TKrilMSKIIS YOrNd IIUAVKS l,uU-lu..r,l in al.uust us Huv;if,n; a niuuner ,»* tl.o wlates Fully iwo h.uulml nf the In.lians w..v nmnlcvd, while 'Floyd lost only dcv.n kilh-.l ami I.Hy-four wonn.liMl. lie ha.l nvarehe.l one l.un.l.v.l a.i.l twenty .niles in neven .lays, and .u. Auttose wa.s s.xiy nnles fron» any dep'^t -^ !»---""«' '" '' "": '"''"" back to Fort Mitchell. HiB retnr.unK' fmees were hHvn«.»ed Honu^what by son.e desperate survives of Autt.«»e, but no great damage WiW done. But the loss of " holy g-""'! " '""^ P''«^*'",.*:;' '"I"^'! for the faith of Tecuniseh's young l.mves. 1 hey had i,nplicitly iKlieved their prophets when they had dilared'that no white n.an could set foot on tha .round and live ; but the ^vhite .nen had fared )etter than the Indians there, and thoroughly disgusted now, the young bmves had felt a reaction, and had given up all hope for the success of their cause. They had resolved that, l^efore it Wivs too late, they would enter the service of the Americans convinced now that all their efforts against them would be fruit, less. In some way, which they did not explam to the hovs, they had learned of their presence at their old hie, and their former feeling of frieiulslup re- turnine they had resolved to seek them there. TheS coming wa« eagerly welcomed by the ^b, who were glad of their aid, and rejoiced to have them In their own side; but Josiah did not share m tixe TKCUMSKllS YC.UNO HHAVE9 AO.MN 145 iM tlio whites ■ re iiinnl»MH'(l, m»l lifty-four (I iui«l twimty IS sixty miles jiu'c hiisteiied g forces were i survivoi-s of >ne. ■ovcii too much cs. They had l»eu they had t foot on that ad fared Ixitter disgusted now, and had given cause. 18 too hvto, they cans, convinced would ho fruit- not explain to lesence at their •f friendship re- them there, ed by the boys, ed to have them lot share in the .»r..,nious llewasalwolutvly tat tbo youn« l„,.vc.» . - t' j,„i„l,, howev«v, with good measure. 146 TECUMSEira YOUNG BRAVES CHAPTER XV THE SEARCH FOR J08IAH THE addition of three members to our party not merely increiwed its size, but its perils its well. If danger arose it would be much ujore difficult for them to conceal themselves, and the presence of six men would be far more likely to be discovered than of three. They all were tough and hardy, however, accustomed to the presence of danger, and a tramp of many miles through the forest had no feara for them. Josiah, indeed, suspicious of Tecumseh's young braves, was continually watchful of them, but in the hearts of the boys there was no such feeling concerning them. They had known them for a long time, and while they were as fickle as the Indians are proverbially known to be, and had been thoroughly frightened in the over- throw of the place which they had considered " holy ground," yet they were no cowards. The boys were satisfied that their presence would increase their strength and in many ways might serve to avert the dangers of the march. THE BEAUCII FOR .TOSlAll 147 ir party not 8 ii8 well. If 3ult for them I of hIx men ;red than of ily, however, and a tramp 1X0 feara for Tecumseh's of them, but such feeling nd while they bially known d in the over- jidered " holy lie boys were acrease their to avert the E„riv in the. u..,nh« tWy -UrtM out »..»« th. ,2;;,t,.u,t.,«t.tK„..ow.,.a,«w..^ tl„.u- «»»i.timc.. i" l.n»"""K to.«l. VVIUU, u J r:;.,r. :.!:».- .^^ „,.. «,,. ,„>«.. ,.•.„« ,..« ,X,lt.»nof.u,:.m,.,«..awaw.t,,,,y.^^^^^^ „„, „t n*»t .mv. at u . - ;"^^^^^ ,„„i, U, ,«.» tl„, msl.t. I., the ".™"-2f ,,,„,„„ „„„„ ssr:^:t^cr.;:™. ...- brought them all to a halt. uWhati8it,Jim?"a8ked Terry. ^ usmoke," said the Indiaiv hn. ly. Rnt the IK.VS were not able to see it, and even man's smoke.' ,iprlared to be Were these men the young bra^es decla^^ . , f ^a 9 The Question could not ue seir near, friends or foes? The que ^^ ^^^^ tied where th,V '^^«^ ^^^^^V""'^' ? .'e ' ^^^ the as vet had seeu ihe indications of the P^^senc X men of which the young bi.ve appeared to be jnni i gfy 148 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES SO positive. It was finally decided that Captain Jim should go and make such discoveries as he could. He at once expressed his willingness to do this, and declared that the smoke indicated that the camp of the strangers was distant not more than a half-hour's journey. All six pushed on for a part of the way, and then five of them remained behind, while the young Indian went in advance to make a closer observation of the smoke before them. They all could see it now, and the sight had strengthened the confidence they had in the Indian's faithf uhiess, as well as in the keenness of his vision. They waited impatiently for the young brave, re- maining quietly in the place they had chosen, and their patience was rewarded in a brief time by the return of their companion. Three white men and three Indians, Captain Jim declared to be in the camp ahead of them, indicating the number by the fingers of his hand. Of the white men he declared one was a pale-face and two were black, by which they understood that the party con- sisted of three Indians, one British officer, and two Spaniards, for the swarthy complexion of the last named frequently led the Indians to call them the "dark pale-faces." Captain Jim also declared they were not friends, and his opinion was not changed by anything Josiah THE SEARCH FOR JOSIAH 149 Captain Jim IS lie could, do this, and the camp of a half-hour's ay, and then oung Indian '^ation of the it now, and ice they had the keenness ng brave, re- chosen, and time by the Captain Jim m, indicating Of the white nd two were he party con- icer, and two of the last all them the ! not friends, ything Josiah could say to him. The hunter was still sceptical of he young Indian's ability and worth, and he declared thit he w-,s going on to make an observation for him- elf of the party in advance of them. He would not Zl to any of'the remonstrances of liis compamons, and immediately leaving them «t*'^«'l a^one^ A half hour, as much as the young bmve had con sumed in his journey, parsed, and Jo-h djd - return. Another half hour passed and still there TZ no signs of the missing hunter. When another Tour also had gone, they began to feel uneasy about L, and fearful that he had fallen into some troub • "Why doesn't he come?" said Jerry, with consid- erable irritation. '' If the redskins are near us, we don't want to stay here any longer than we have U>, and he ought not to keep us waitmg. -It may be he doesn't come because he cant come," said Tom ; but Captain Jim at once arose and delred that he would go and see what had befallen the " white hunter." The young Indian was not ignor^t of the sus picion with which Josiah regarded him and while he had entered into no convei^ation with him and made no effort, to win his favor, his proposal was eagerly hailed by the boys, as they knew the o d mlJ would appreciate the effort, in his beha^ and perhaps be drawn more closely to him if^ he was in any difficulty. 4 . m i Kfi w« i i n iiii i»!, < y i . '» % 150 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES In less time than ho had consumed before, the young Indian made his observations and was back in the camp; but as he entered he gave no sign of his having seen Josiali and said no word about his journey. ''Did you see him?" asked Tom; but Captain Jim was silent for a few moments, and then said briefly, "Gone." " He's gone ? What do you mean, Josiah or those men you saw?" asked Jerry. "All gone," replied the Indian. "White hunter gone, too." " Where have they gone ? " asked Tom. " Same way we go," replied the Indian. " White hunter go as a prisoner." "Prisoner!" said both boys together. "How do you know ? " Captain Jim was not inclined to explain the methods by which he had arrived at his information, except to repeat his words that the entire party had left the camp, and that he knew Josiah had been a prisoner because he marched in the middle of the group. The Indians had gone in front of him, and the white men had marched l)ehind. AH this he had learned from his study of the trail they had left. He also declared that Josiah's gun had been taken away from him, and that he thought his hands were bound be- hind him, but of this latter point he was not pasitive. THE SEARCH FOR JOSIAH 151 before, the was back in sign of his lI about his Captain Jim said briefly, isiah or those ^hite hunter n. an. " White jr. "How do explain the } information, lire party had h had been a niddle of the t of him, and 11 this he had had left. He 3n taken away ftrere bound be- ts not positive. Greatly diBtmbed. the party began «» *f "f" "''"^ ,Wd .^ done now, and as t^y talked *e^^- think if he really n ^^^^.^^^^ ^ have been his own fault, tor ne nuti out, especially if they're going m the same "c;"n'jin, tho,.nghly approved of the p.p«- ZI eompelled to allow the young Ind^,. ^ Uke Z^Ly considered very go«l ^ ^ '_^;^™ following. iJir-' i fn i. '< ii rT i>i . ii i^ i j | ft « - m TECUMSEirS YOUNG BRAVES Josiah's captors evidently had not gone in a direct way, and frequently had turned in a direction oppo- site to the one they supposed they had taken; but they followed them as well as they could, and at night came near to Randon's creek. Here all signs of the other party were lost, and Captain Jim declared that they must have crossed to the other side. But how had they done this ? There were no canoes anywhere to be seen, and the creek was too deep for them to have waded across it, and they did not believe that all would have been tempted to swim in such cold water. A delay of an hour occurred at the bank of this creek, as not all of the Indians could swim and the boys were unwilling to leave any of them behind. The three young braves were positive that the other party could not be far in advance now, and were eager to cross to the other side. At last this crossing was made by means of a log they found farther up the stream, and which they brought down for the use of the Indians. It did not take long, when once they were on the opposite bank, to find again the trail they had lost for a time, and they pushed on as rapidly and as quietly as they were able. At last when they stopped to rest, and to eat the few roasted acorns they had in their pockets, it was decided that Captain Jim, with one of the Indian braves, should go on in advance for a time, Jk. — ;s >ne in a direct irection oppo- d taken; but , and at night I signs of the declared that de. But how IOCS anywhere p for them to t believe that in such cold s bank of this swim and the I behind. The ;he other party were eager to i crossing was 'arther up the 1 for the use y were on the ley had lost for and as quietly stopped to rest, y had in their .m, with one of mce for a time, TUB SEARCH FOR JOSIAH 153 ^a then .tan. ana .po.to '^ ^;;^:::; covered. He appc»«l ^ '» "» "? ^ „ ^turned and brought «ord that the pa. J ^ B >„. ea„,p ahout « "■'•"^; — ^r with the three Indiana and t™" f I»^^f ;^ « ^.j, « he Britteh soldier, were st.ll there, l.e P^ l«d not teen able to see anyth..^ of Jc^^ , ^ he was eonfident that he was «"* j"™ "^ found traces of his footprinJ» "U *e «^ ^^ What should now -« *°™ ^ J'^ L/upon the the darkness eame on and ■»»"«» ,„ othe« when *«, w«e unsus^c.ous^J _^^_P,^ ^^^^ lldt^^irrUelMence^ their ahiUt. to . part of the ™2;rg:tadv:eecarefully. ca.np, at any rate, and they oeg No eat could have been ™-,f' ;^" ' .t^i- ^ listen. Qi ! 154 TBCUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES Captain Jim was positive that the other j-arty was not suspicious of their presence, and consequently he was much bolder than the boys and urged them to ad- vance more rapidly. At last they all could catch an occasional gleam of the camp fire, and knew that they were coming near the place they were seeking. It was not like Indians to build such a fire as they saw before them, and they knew that the white men must have kindled it. They stopped j.or a few moments to rest and to deliberate about their further actions. They made no fire themselves, as they knew that, although the wind was blowing in their di- rection, the other Indians would be quick to see it ; but when an hour had passed they decided to start on again, and increasing their carefulness they made their way silently nearer the camp and soon arrived at a place from which they could look down upon the scene before them. The boys were excited now, but the young Indians were as calm as when they had first started on the march. None of the party spoke, and all stood for some minutes gazing down upon the strange sight which the camp before them presented. IS JOSIAH'S MESSAGE 155 ler }-iirty was isequently he cl them to atl- ould catch an id knew that were seeking, a fire as they at the white ped j.or a few ; their further as they knew in their di- quick to see icided to start ;s8 they made soon arrived It down upon 'oung Indians tarted on the all stood for strange sight CHAPTER XVI JOSIAH'S MESSAGE mHE sight upon which the boys looked stirred thcdr Til and inspired somethingof a feeUngoHea ^^ XT r. HiP fire the three white men lay last V' ^rotldl their forms and faces, and asleep. Ihey coum ac shadows over ""xt^rXe that his feet and hand, were bound, J^^ntly he also was asleep. Evidently none ^iTTdX suspicions of the presence of enennes, tr::Tz — «>.- r;:a::rori: formed them of the proximity of the party ^ri^eieret^e boys advanced nearer the . ^ To^ who now was greatly excited, stepping fire, -^\Tom who now w g ^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ Z:::T.t:^^^ in endeavormg . recover JiS ^t^^^ig i ^ rr miim^ jl t ojli m** ' ** • m TKCUMSEII'S YOUNG BKAVES ri! himself, imide a iioiso which at onco aroused all the sleeping men. The Indian who was acting as guard at once jumped to his feet, and threw over the smouldering fire a lot of wood which for a time deadened the flame. Tom and Jerry were undecided for a moment as to what was best to be done. Should they shoot ? They could hardly bring themselves to the point of shooting men who were helpless before them. It wa-s true their own hearts had been greatly moved by the fiendish work of the Indians at Fort Minis, but this feeling had been more than balanced by the murders which the white men had committed at Auttose. Yet they were not at all sentimental. They knew that in war harsh measures at times were xxot only necessary to protect themselves, but to gain an ad- vantage over their enemies. If they were not prompt in their own actions, they were well aware that all the advantage would be with the other side. While the boys were deliberating about these matters, and hesitating as to their course of action, the young braves, who were not moved by any of the scruples and fears of their wliite companions, quickly brought their guns to their shoulders, and two of them fired. The sound of their guns roused the boys again, and they looked to see whether any harm had befallen their hunter friend. .-^'^f^ mm JOSIAH'S MESSAGE 157 ouscd uU the ; once jumped ring fire a lot lame. moment as to ihoot ? Tliey it of shooting It wius true loved by the [ims, but this y the murders at Auttose. They knew v^ere not only ) gain an ad- re not prompt ware that all side. about theae rse of action, by any of the iiions, quickly I, and two of oys again, and I had befallen .Look out for Jo«iah," «>id Jerry >.. a lo« v J to Captain Jim, and they again lookcl carefa% to„ard» tlie camp to »oe whether any damage had •*: tZ arl from »on.e one who .^ been hit, but all ave of our friends were afraid to oome out mto the light. They eaught the sound of men runnmg rll.e eamp, but whether they ha>l done more than f^k the shelter of the wood,, or were trymg to eome Tthe rear of the advancing party, they could not *Ty"deeided to retain the position they held and await further development.. The ™t'"« "»» Lr most difficult task, for the time dragged on so slowly, and their own hearta were so filled w th a that the stirring of the ^w dead leaves on the bmnchcs often made them start as if some hidden foe was advancing upon them. . , . , Wa. Josiah still in the camp? The fresh wood had soon caught fire and the blaze illuminated all the camp, and they could see plainly the entire p ace_^ uNo,he's not there," whispered Jerry. "I tok they must have carried him away with them. u Yes I thought I saw a couple of white men cut his thongs, and start off with him right after our guus were fired," said Tom. But nei;her of the boys dared to approach the camp aa yet, or come out into the Ught, and so all five of J^ 158 TECUMSEirS YOUNG BRAVES t i the party remained in the same cramped positions which they had Iteen liolding. The fire flickered and started up, and then it died down, tlu-owing such fantastic slui(h)W8 all alwut, that more than once they were certain the Indians or the white men had returned to the camp, and were about to advance against the foe that had so unex- pectedly fired at them. Captain Jim was certain that the Indians would not come back, and while the l)oy8 well knew that he wiw more familiar with the traits of Indian character, and the customs and habits of his own people, than they, yet they were by no means as jiositive that the party would not return as were the young braves. The only thing they could do for a time was to wait, and they remained in their hiding-places till their arms and legs ached, and they were more weary than they would have been if they had been marching many miles. Would the morning never come ? It seemed to them as if enough time had been consumed to make up two or three nights, and their fears increased the strain to such a degree, that when at last there began to be a few faint streaks of light, they were almost unable to move. As the light increased, U\e boys looked cautiously out from their places of -.oncealment and soon could discern one body strrcchcd jpon the ground near the ashes where the fud had been. .lOSIAIl'S MKa8A(}K I.M) aped positions I then it died ws all ulx)ut, the Indians or amp, and were had so unex- [ians would not ew that he was character, and •pie, than they, that the party raves. a time was to ling-places till jre more weary been marching seemed to them to make up two ed the strain to began to be a I almost unable tie boys looked onc^alment and ihcd jpon the e had been. J imn t,fc \"» knito »"'' ■='" ^''" """''' ''°"' -^vUatU. young Mian w..Join^ "So it dcKW mo, repUeil Ji-iry, .p„i;,,,it „„lv thi-ir way of doing tlunga, I »uW>o»o. To J in. tXl «.y «™e than putting a buUet u. an,au ''i;:;:f"tuc cho»t.w, .... ..«»«„ to «„>*«. C "ek rebellion, and they we«= "urprael tat t ,e ' t they l,ad „ain, ov .thev "J-^ ^'"• " «.* »..ould '- !— :, t t^tate. when "«>prved him right, saiu io»> give them any ciewiw t vuoved when so :,. i„ wtat direction the pvrty j " ^^ » ^ ' J-" W(»-^*l^ 4 s«uMMMl>«M«*«H|N tm TEciTMSKiis yoi:no nnAVES tlio oDtiic Jiaiiy liiul luiuli! ofl' us mi>i(lly iiM they could j((), tiikiiij^ tluiir iirisoiuir with tlicin. " I Iclh) I " Hiiiil .Icny u moment hiter, " what's this ? " lie stooped and pit^lied up a piece of hrowu paper on which it Heenied to liim some stningo ciiaractein had been written. His words brought his brotlier to his side, and Tom exchiimeil, "That's something .losiah Ujft beliind him. I don't see just liow ho couhl have done it, for when wo saw him, his hands were tied iMjhind him. " He's written it," said Jerry, "with a burnt stick. I can't just make out the words, can you?" " Let me take it," said his brother, and ho had just stretched forth his hand to grasp tho paper, which they conjectured .losiah had left Ixihind, when an arrow suddenly whizzed past their heads and buried itaelf in the arm of one of the young bmves. They waited for no further demonstration, but at once turned and ran in tho direction from which they had come, and did not stop until a half mile lay be- tween them and the camp. The young Indian had been running with them, and they had not noticed, until they came to a halt, that the arrow was yet in his arm. Captain Jim and Jerry both took hold of the shaft and drew it out. The young brave never flinched during this operation, although they knew he must be weak from loss of blood, and was suffering great ■Hill [tmrntrnm iiM tliuy could what's tluH?" )\vii paper on liaractuix had lidf, and Tom t holiind him. e it, for when him. fi burnt stick. 1?" d ho had just pap(!r, vvliich nd, when an ds and buried bnives. ration, but at m which they [f mile lay be- g Indian had I not noticed, )W was yet in 1 of the shaft lever flinched cnew he must uffering great JOSIAirS MKSSAOE m j„i,. They bound up his una aHln.st they could and then startod on again. „ .. W.- ,uu,t K,.t uw,.y f..,n thi« »» fat » " e "■ „.U1 Ton,. " 'nu.,,.'. "o knnwi.,« Ww nmuy ."C" .>»y iHi on onr Iniil witlii" » I'"" I"""" . .' Hut wluTc «li,iU w.^ 1?" ? ■• •»'<"1 •''■"T- .. I don't .,uv," .Hi.l Ton, ; •' an) wl,.,o .u„ „nyl,ow. ., I'n, „- wo «..t out of U,i. region," nml thoy nil "Cy';i,3'"no.l,.rl,.Un,nol.t«cnthem,,nd ey tri ,1 to .lo.il>:« tin- -'.""«« '■"-■»■'"" "";•: Sal, Of tl,o writing w,« l,i») Lad wvitteu upon tl,o "Tu',r-^ef™nJo«ial,."™l...Ten;y,"Inever saw any of his writing l«^»^^ ""'' >' "„» ,» a .ample of it I l,op„ I shan't «eo any of it again very soon. K„, some ti„,e lx,tl, ls,y» worked over the stmnge- luoking .nessage, an.l at l,.t we,. e„,.l,le.l to dec.pher ,n,M of the eharacte,^ which .los,,,!, had wr,t en " ,i» writing," said To,n, "looks like a wlnrlw.nd in .Ust,«. I don't helieve he eonld ,nake wo«e- looking letters if he tried." , , i „f .I'm not troubled half so much about the looks of the letten» ^ I am in trying to find out what it w.^ that he wanted us to know," said his brother ; but at :t as pe^everance will accomplish almost anything even the deciphaing of letters, as strange as those a^fsssi^sssi^ Ml t 162 TECUMSEH'8 YOUNG BRAVES the boys found upon the paper, wiis accomplished. Either the message had been pui-posely left at the camp, or else abandoned in the hasty flight which had taken place when the young Indians had fired the shots. As soon as they had made out the message the boys looked into each other's face with something of dismay written there. " That changes every one of our plans," aid Tom. " It does, if we do what he suggests," replied Jerry. "But there's nothing else to be done," said his brother. " No ; that's so, if we are cei"tain that Josiah wrote these words. I don't know whether he can write or not." " Oh, he yan write ; I know he can, for I remember some letters he sent father, and they were written just about as well as this one we've just read." " I hope it didn't take father as long to make it out as it did us, for if it did, Josiah might a good deal better have brought his word himself and saved time. He could have come from T^ensacola two or three times while father was trying to make out what he had written in any one of his letters." " Well, I'm sure this is from Josiah, and we've got to act, and act right away." " All right," said his brother, " we'll chance it any- way ; but the first thing we want to do is to get away from this region about as fast as we can go, and if '!TJT"^ — N&^^^MpM*' ccomplished. ' left at the it which had vd fired the the message ;h something " >nid Tom. eplied Jerry, le," said his Josiah wrote can write or JOSIAH'S MESSAGE 163 we come to our journey's end. E^^aently the t™.e « -- -J^'^.^^, ,,ey having eaten a few of the ro ^^ ^.^^.^ noon. r I remember were written read." y to make it night a good ilf and saved lacola two or lake out what md we've got jhance it any- s to get away ;an go, and if ■ «*:''! . .. , i> , in» i > i ' W 'V 164 TBCUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES 'If CHAPTER XVII JEBRY DEPARTS rriHE boys had been unable to decipher all the words ■^ in the message which so strangely had been left for them at the camp. It was evident that Josiah had concluded that his young friends would not abandon him, and had expected that some effort would be made soon for his release. How he had been enabled to write, or where he had obtained the paper, the boys, of course, could not tell, but they had been able to read enough of the strange-looking words to in- form them that General Claiborne and his army were near Limestone creek. This was a far different location from the one for which they had started, and in which they had ex- pected to find the general and his men. If the words were true, it completely changed the direction of their journey, and it was with many misgivings they finally decided to make a trial of the suggestion that Josiah had given them. Should they at onco penetrate this region and seek the general in this unexpected place? They I seek I werr I - -n;««v*,»!WL»'-"'"r" JERRY DEPARTS 165 ill the words ad been left t.t Josiah had not abandon rt would be been enabled le paper, the ad been able words to in- is army were the one for they had ex- If the words jtion of their 8 they fmally L that Josiah ion and seek They seek I werr I bearers of a mmage for him from Fort M^ltoon »nd wTed, it «a. for L very purfK^e they had left that '""^ What can Claihome he doing up by Limestone oreek ? " said Jeny, a» they stopped at tat to r^^ " I euppose he's after redskins," said Ton^ J™ . know th!y said down at Fort MadUon that Cla.borne tr-t saLed with acting on the defense on^ ^ more, and that he planned to have a_sha.-e m this cam paign as well as Jackson or Coffee. __ "Yes that may be the explanation of it all, said Jerry": nd he's not so far away, if he's where Josu.h Zi« ». that we shall lose very much iime on oui Z even if we should find that the report is alse. They had ventured to kindle a Are and cooked the bird' whteh the young Indians had shot with thei ^™„ for none of them dared to use their guns, ^ rrknew if General Claiborne were near it won d Tml that many lurking Indian. wouU not « far away. Tecumseh's young braves wel kne« L Ze which had been indicated in the letter of jimi they undertook to lead the others to it xCal^ndon J everything like ataaten t^ik, ^4 started out in directions that to the boys were new r^ftrange; but they had such confl-lj-n^^ abiUty of their Indian companions to find *<"' ^^ tougi" the forest, tliat they trusted them impl citly Sowed withoutaword,eveu though manytimes T'f i iw i rti l i r 1G6 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES m it seemed to them they were going in a direction opposite to the one they themselves would have taken, if they liad been left to their own resources. " It's strange how Captain Jim can find his way," said Jerry. " Josiah's pretty good at picking his way through the woods, but he's not to be mentioned with these young Indians." "It just seems to be born in them," said Tom. " It's a kind of a second nature. They can find their way among the trees as well as wliite men can along the streets of a big town like Mobile." But there was little inclination for conversation on the part of either of the boys, as the journey was a difficult one, and often led through swamps and over rough ground. Steadily all the day they kept on, stopping only for occasional rests or when Captain Jim, who was the leader, became suspicious of the presence of Indians. They had but little food with them, and they depended largely upon such things as they could secure on their journey. They were almost afraid to kindle a fire, and when they did, it was only to have just enough to roast the birds they shot, and then it was at once smothered. The young braves seemed to be fearful that they were pursued, though just why they suspected this they did not explain; but the boys knew enough of the habits of the Indians to be well aware that the mnm_ j_i» lj fl j ii|i)i. i :« i H,i»n JERRY DEPARTS 167 a direction have taken, d his way," picking his I mentioned said Tom. in find their ti can along irersation on lurney was a ips and over ey kept on, len Captain 3ious of the a, and they 1 they could est afraid to only to have ■j, and then it 'ul that they iispected this raew enough ware that the .^..hichhadheenshot^tth^nwl^^^^ gone to the camp where they ^^^ I ^^^_ Lter, indicated that some of ^^^^ ,^^ pHsed there ^J^J:^^:,.y were cer- had been in control of the "^^^ ^^ ^,,,a tain that they would carefully examme th would at once know how many were m the pa y what its character was. , ^^^^^ Accordingly they ;^-* J^tgtpUhem steadily the fe.u- of pu«mt,and '■^J^^J^ „„,„ that it on their way, even after they '»«'™ ^,,„„e -r *:%" r h^tatC too »«^t he another step. He ftoug .„^ h„d shot ti«d ui»n ae suddenly m ™" ™ J. ^ „„e, and .t Jodah', captor, w- l^^]^Z L calU of rT::ZZ:T^y^^^^ *en. fo«a.d. Captain Jim, wno wiw j ^^ ^^^ ;^''-^nir.:f:tet7t;t'f:n> the wind of a small hill wnicn p ^^^j. and ..nnished *-; ^^^ugh « one of the ,nany the river they would have sougn e.,« which the I-^i-^J^^^at^cotlal by a '°"^* roflnrxtett^ '->»'•»* P"'^"^- r;St:lh:«renotdug.farfron.ther.veras the campi..g-plaee of our l»jm. The next day they resumed their journey, v J on^l mo. HHMly than they W gone on the pre 168 TECUMSEH'S YOUNO BRAVES ceding day. Soon after noon Captain Jim, who was in advance as usual, suddenly raised his hand in warning, and the entire party immediately halted. He turned towards them, and beckonhig with his hand, indicated his wish for them all to advance to . the place where he was standing. - Claiborne there," said Captain Jim laconically, pointing tr, a place ihey all could see now. "That must be so," said Jerry ; - but wliat a place he's made." There was a strange-looking stockade at least two hundred feet square, which had been built, and tliey could also see three block-houses and a half-moon bat- tery that commanded the rear. They did not know then, what they learned soon after, that this defence had been built by General Claiborne himself, who had pushed across the country to the Alabama with tliree hundred volunteers, some dragoons and mditia, and a band of Choctaw Indians. These Indians, the young braves informed the l)oys, were led by Pushainataha and Mushullatubba. General Claiborne had crossed 1 ' Alabama on the seventeenth r,f November, althougli our boys were in ignorance of his movements, and on the twenty-eighth had been joined by the third regiment of the national troops, which Colonel Gilbert Russell was command- ing This stockade and fort, which the boys now beheld, was intended as a place where provisions ■S^Ba^ffiJi^BiiEs ^{f^^'f ,1, who was 8 hand in ely halted. T with his , advance to . laconically, rliat a place it least two lit, and they If-moon bat- d not know this defence elf, who had la with tliree nilitia, and a IS, the young Pushainataha ibama on the hoys were in iwenty-eighth : the national (ras command- bhe boys now ire provisions JERRY DEPARTS 169 , f ^h^ Tennessee troops General -""• '« '"'"' Jls r„ *: norther., P»rt of the country. J „,„n,ent8 in silence, Ouv little l»ty »'- y° ;;;, „t .„rk np.n the watching the »'«" .""'""""Jv, „Uhe young braveB to feel somewhat »1»™'^' f^*"4 Tom and Jeny. „„fear,tl>eleadw.«aton eUk^^^^^^ ^^.^ ___^„ who «uvea the. »" P'"'°"; „t „„ce started on, would do them '''>}'""'■ ' „ ^yal welcome and soon entered the eamp, where y ,^ given them. ^^^ prisonera What was their Burpnse «» «»" 7° f ^ „,Jtain had a Spaniard and - Jf " "t^, ^lade a prisoner '^T "\"%^:inrn -carrying hi, arm in a sling. of Josiah. Ihe inaia , i„ti„g u> the and Jerry, turnmg <« Kanawh ^„„„pii,hed wounded warrior, said; You see.j something, a, well » Ca^'^J^.-^-,,,™ nothing as to From these P™7?^^;>'::, the other n,eml«rs of what had heeome of J""^" "" ^ ,^ft the others their party. They tlremseWes h^ le^ ^^^ ^^^^ when they Bed ^->«' ^^^^^^ were making their rdro::;rnor;i:fwLhad.comeof the hunter and their compamons. 0^*-^ -.q f^m r- 170 TECUMSEH'8 YOUNG BRAVKS " I don't believe they know," said Jerry. "Neither do I," replied Tom; "and if they did know, they would not tell us. I don't know what's the matter with these Spaniards." .. I "I do," said Jerry. "The mischief with them is, that they want to stir up all the Indians they can, and then, by acting with the British, they think there'll be trouble enough mised so that they can fall on Mobile when all the men have been taken away from^ there, farther up the country, to fight the savages." " T hope nothing will happen to mother and Nance," said Tom soberly. "So do I," replied Jerry; "but I tell you, Nance can take care of herself, and mother and the clxildren too. - You need not worry about her." " I know she can take care of herself and the others under ordinary circumstances, but if a crowd of those yelling Creeks and blood-thii-sty Spaniards should happen to fall on Mobile, when they were not expect- ing them, even Nance, brave girl as she is, wouldn't be able to do anything more against them tlian the people at Fort Mims could do against Weatherford," said Tom. " But Weatherford is up in this part of the country somewhere," said Jerry. " At least, that's what they said at Fort Madison, and I'm positive they knew what they were talking about, so that we've nothing to fear from that quarter." -i* ;*J,iS5ae&iaei2£i'''i JEKBY DEPARTS 171 if they did know what's . • ■ ' i (vith them is, they can, and ik there'll be ill on Mobile y from there, vages." • and Nance," 11 you, Nance the children md the others rowd of those liards should re not expect- le is, wouldn't hem than the Weatherford," of the country lat's what they ve they knew we've nothing . , ' o a l.iir enouffh contract," replied T:^ro„:x:ur:An„w,«nawe•,uee "'* 'V:Z dI hJ^^T'i h, 1 Wg canoe „„t long tafore every ma. m the "J W ^ :rct:r;crj:nr-----» -rt::rn,:Lr:t:-.H.o..wo.eeK ;Lr»:ri;:na^-^^;-rr:;: Ltery that had beenJ..ct«Un «,e e r ^^ ^V^^_ the etoekade. strong »« " "°f ' "^ , ;„ December h„„e, that had I-- ''"^f j '^V;!' ,va. strong r;'tore::dtrfo^;o,o.penetra. i„g L the heart o.the 0^\^^ ^ ,^„, „„, appeals for help wn ^ition. Messengers him eager to start on his expe also brought him the mf ormation that more g Wm 172 TEC'^iViSEirS YOUNG BRAVKS •*f vessels had arrived at Pensacola bay, and had brought many soldiers and hirge quantities of supplies for the hostile Indians. All this, together with the rumors of the movements of the Indians, increased the eagerness of the general and quickened his preparations. Early in December he felt that it would be safe to leave the fort, and he at once prepared to advance. To Jerry, who was to l)e accompanied by Tecumseli's young braves, he intrusted a message which he wished them to carry to General Jackson. This meant a long and difficult journey, but the boys willingly undertook the work, and one bright day in the early part of December they left the general's quarters t» start on their long journey to General Jackson's army. General Claiborne gave them careful directions, and furnished them with the best equipment he could give, and as he bade them good-by he added, "You tell General Jackson that I sympathize with him in his troubles, and I know something of his feelings from my own experience. I only wish I was authorized to take Pensacola, that sink of iniquity, that depot of Tories and instigator of disturbances all along the southern frontier; but good-by, and good luck to you," he called out to the boys aa they left the fort, and soon disappeared in the forest beyond. •II . , and had lautitios o! is, together he Indians, 1 quickened d be safe to to advance. Tecumseli's jh he wislied tils meant a ys willingly in the early J quarters to il Jackson's d directions, juipment he oy he added, ipathize with ithing of his ly wish I was I of iniquity, iturbances all by, and good s aa they left est beyond. THE PIECE OF CANE 178 CHAPTER XVIII THE PIECE OF CANE TOSIAH FLi. .CHER, at the time when the unex- J pectcd visit had been made by his friends and the young Indian braves, had l)een hopeful for a moment that the opportunity for his release had come ; but his thoughts had received a rude shock when one of the Spaniards quickly approached him, and cutting the thongs that bound his feet and hands, roughly or- dered him to rise and follow him. As Josiah was well acquainted with the feehngs of this Spaniard, and as he wa. poollive that his captor would waste no words with him, he quickly obeyed and followed him, as the man was armed, not merely with a gun on which a bayonet was attached, but with a knife which even in the darkness Josiah could see, and without which few Spaniards at that time were to be found. He marched in advance of the man, and a mile or more had been covered before they came to a halt. Here his captor stopped and listened intently for a moment, but aa no sound was heard, the march was 13 il T' / J^ 174 TFXUMSEirS YOUNG BRAVES m.um.Ml and the paoo at whii-h th«y had Iwen Roing wa.. considerably quickened. They had gom- <- t a short distance when a sound as though made l)y ^"n.« squirrtd in the bushes near by, onco more caused him suddenly to stop and listen intently. Again the sound wa« heard, and this time his captor replied to it. Two or three times the sound, whic*. Josiah then knew was a call of some kind, aas given and ftiiswered, and in the dawn, which wns rapidly ap- proaching, he soon could see the form of a stalwart Indian advancing. As Josiah looked at him his he;at sank. He v.-'og- nized the man as one of the noted Creek warriors, and one who for a brief time had been with the party which had captured him on the preceding day. The Spaniard and the Indian immediately entered into a convereation which lasted for half an hour. Josiah, somewhat familiar with the language, for they spoke in the Creek tongue, was enabled to hear many of the words, and those which he co^Jd distinguish greatly increased his fear. Again and again he heard the word "Econochaca," and each time his heart sank at the sound; but at last the cUscussion was ended, and they started on once more, the Indian also going with them. The hunter had been hopeful, as long as only one man was with him, that a favorable opportunity would soon present itself, and that he would be enabled s>a4. • w; IMAGE EVALUATION TI:ST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1.8 11-25 11.4 ii.6 y Photographic Sciences Coiporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for l^istorical Microreproductions / institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques «5- THE PIECE OF CANE 175 somehow to escape ; but with two sucli men near him, he knew how slight thiit hope wius now, and how unlikely it would be that he could overcome them l)oth, or escape the close attention which they con- stantly gave him. The party went on swiftly and in silence, and Josiah was familiar enough with the region through which they were journeying to know they were rapidly approaching the river; but the word which he had overheard the Indian use so many times, " Econochaca," kept sounding in his eai^s. He knew it was a place which the Indians considered as holy ground, and strange reports had been current of the cruelty and the suffering which were prevalent there ; but his captors gave him no time to meditate over the possibilities of the dangers he might encounter when once they had arrived at the "holy ground" (if that was to be their destination), and steadily kept up the pace which they had set at the beginning of their march. There was an occasional halt made, and the Indian would listen intently as if he was expecting new arrivals or was suspicious of some approaching danger. The parched acorns furnished the only food they had, but with unflagging zeal they steadily held to their march. At one time there was a warm dispute between the Spaniard and the Indian, of which Josiah knew him- -<• 176 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES self to be the cause. Evidently the Spaniard was desirous of ridding himself at once of the presence of the hunter, and wished to put him out of the way immediately ; but to this the Indian would not give his consent, and, as he evidently was a man of great influence, and one whose good opinion this Spaniard was desirous of holding, the proposal was refused, and they steadily kept on their way towards the place they were seeking. Several hours passed in this mannei', and soon the suspicions that Josiah had had that they were making their way towards the river were confirmed, and he caught occasional glimpses through the trees of the water ; but they did not halt until they had arrived at the bank of the stream, where once more an earnest and animated conversation took place between his two captors. Josiah could not hear many of their words, and yet it was evident that the Indian was trying to explain something to his companion, and , was insisting with a good deal of earnestness that his own scheme should be carried out. ^At last the Spaniard appeared to be satisfied, and as soon as his consent had been received, the Indian departed, going swiftly up the bank of the river and leaving them where they were. They both seated themselves now, the Spaniard holding his gun in such a position that he could quickly use. it if the occasion demanded, and Josiah became somewhat I /rjffj^t^^j,:-:;-rxj,s -» , i«i».-j.vi«»it^»jM^.^^^ paniard was I presence of of the way ikl not give lau of great lis Spaniard refused, and lie place they and soon the were making med, and he trees of the ad arrived at re an earnest between his any of their ! Indian was opanion, and tiestness that satisfied, and d, the Indian the river and both seated ; his gun in use. it if the ne somewhat I THE PIECE OF CANE 177 despondent as the chances of his escaping slipped away. The hunter stooped and picked up a stick, which was a little more than a yard in length, and idly began to push the pebbles down the bank into the river with it. It was a long, light piece of cane which he held in his hand, and he had no thought of retaining it, and yet, had he known it, his very life Wivs depending upon that light and harmless branch, which he had taken in a moment of thoughtlessness. His companion scarcely noticed it, and the silence remained unbroken. The hunter noticed as he brought one end of the cane near his face that the piece wa.s hollow, and he peered through it at the further bank, and watched the birds that were Hying near. He did not know where the Indian had gone, but the fact that he and the Spaniard were resting on the bank led him to think that he would soon return, and in this supposition he was not deceived, although the warrior came back in a manner far different from that which Josiah had conceived. The Spaniard had kept his attention on a point up the river, and frequently Josiah followed his gaze and found himself watching and waiting for some- thing he knew not what. Soon, around the bend of the river, he saw a canoe swiftly coming, and long before it had approached he recognized its occupant f J OW^-f.'"?! 178 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES as the Creek warrior who had joined them on their march. He soon arrived at the bank where they were waiting, and Josiah, following the command of the Spaniard, took his place in the canoe with the other men. For some reason, which he never could explain, he took the light little piece of cane, which he had been holding in his hands, with him, and although the Indian scowled at first when he saw this, as soon as he recognized how harmless it was, he paid no further attention to it. The canoe was heavily loaded, now that three men were in it, and the Spaniard soon joined with the Indian in using the paddles, althougli at first he had taken his seat in the stem, holding his gun in readiness for use at any moment. Assuredly there was no chance for Josiah to escape if he plunged into the water. The canoe would soon overtake him, and the only plan he could think of was by some sudden movement to overturn it and thi'ow all three into the river, and then trust to his ability to contend with both the men at the disadvantage in which they then would he placed. He thought quite seriously of this plan for some time, but finally abandoned it as being hopeless, and more and more resigned himself to the fate which he feared wtis to be his. The canoe was kept near the shore, and evidently both men were fearful, though of just what they [ jm on their they were land of the h the other lever could cane, which h him, and hen lie saw 88 it was, he t three men ;h the Indian e had taken readiness for 18 no chance ) the water, [id the only sn movement lie river, and th both the len would he liis plan for ing hopeless, le fate which nd evidently ; what they THE PIECE OF CANE 179 were afraid Josiah was unaware. He watehed them Thy wielded their paddles, the Spaniard bemg lost'a. dexterous as the ^^^^^^^^^^ ^'^^^^^^ what a rapid rate they were leaving behind them the ;iace where they had been, and drawing nearer to Ue point where he suspected they were to leave the river and start overland for Econochaca. Josiah had laid the piece of -n« ^-h .^^^ ^;;^ carried with him across Ibe canoe, but lifting it for a moment he brought one end of it to his eye. He had known that it w^ hollow, but as he brought it this time near his face he instantly fornied a plan by which he thought he might escape. His face had Ug^Ld up for the moment, and the Spaniard who ut at that time turned his head, noted the change ; Lt so confident was he of the inability of their cap- tive to escape them, that only a cruel smile passed Lr his face, and he gave no furOier attention to the ""'Ste suspect? Josiah's courage fled for a moment as he thought of that possibility, but in a moment he realized how improbable it w«. that even a suspicion of the plan he had formed could have entered the Ld of the whit. man. He endeavored to resume his former calm and impassive attitude, -"^yet ^ was all the time watehing for the suitable place to b^ found in which he could put his plan into op^a i.n^ Meanwhile, mile after mile was passed, and now .SWOMiJ-H^^'.il'" mm i*^ —* » ■ — ^^iBp— » I J ■> "il I ^ i: 180 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES the Spaniard was beginning to show signs of fatigue, although the Indian wan apparently as fresh sis wlien they had first started. Josiah noticed as lie glanced ahead of them that they were coming somewhat nearer the shore, and from the bank not far in advance of them, he saw the long roots of a large tree that spread down into the water and evidently reached out for some distance into the river. Some of the roots were near the surface and had served as a barrier in the current of the river, and around them a large mass of floating rubbish had gathered. "That's my place," said Josiah to himself, "and if I'm ever going to put my plan into operation that's the very spot." But what could he do ? He glanced at each of his captors, but neither was apparently giving him any thought or attention. The Spaniard was laboring hard now, and although the day was cool the perspiration was pouring down his face. It was hard work for him, and Josiah was delighted as he heard the Spaniard say to his com- panion, " Why don't we make this man take his share in the work? He knows how to paddle, I'll warrant, and I don't think he should be carried all the way. He ought to work his passage, for I'm nearly worked out myself." The Indian gave a grunt of assent, which to Josiah seemed to imply as much disgust for the weakness of his companion as his willingness to comply with his THE PIECE OF CANE 181 IS of fatigue, resli as wlien 8 lie glanced Bwhat nearer 1 advance of ) that spread shed out for le roots were arrier in the arge mass of 3elf, " and if ration that's He glanced 1 apparently nd although uring down Josiah was to his com- ke his share ['11 warrant, .11 the way. uly worked h to Josiah v^eakness of ly with his wishes ; but he withdrew his paddle from the water and waited for the two men to attempt that which .was exceedingly dangerous in a light canoe. The Spaniard had bidden his prisoner change places with him and take his turn at paddling. Josiah, with grout apparent eagerness, had given his assent, and both men stood up, balancuig themselves in the canoe as only those who are familiar with one can do. They were now nearly opposite this spot in the river which Josiah had noted, where the long roots of the tree were jutting out into the water, and the rub- ■ bish and scum had gathered. He saw with much satisfaction that this was more in quantity than he thought when he first had noticed it when they were farther down the stream. When Josiah had arisen he had taken the little piece of cane in his hand, and as he turned about to face the Spaniard, he noticed with much satisfaction that the latter had laid his gun on the bottom of the canoe. " It's just the place I wanted," said Josiah to him- self, "and they have furnished me just the time I was looking for." He took a step forward as if about to exchange places with his v ;; tor, when suddenly, and without a word of warning, . all gi-asping the stick in his hand, he turned quickly and leaped into the river, and dis- appeared from the view of his companions before either of tliem was fully aware of what had happened. 182 TECUMSEII'S YOUNG HRAVE9 CHAPTER XIX J081AH REAPPEARS TT was late in the afternoon when Josiah took his A sudden departure from his ,con.panions in the canoe, and although he did not notice it at the time the sun ah-eady mxs low in the western sky. AU this W.VS in his favor, as a clear light would have interfered with his plans, and at once have brought him into trouble. f t 4- The startled men, scarcely aware at fii-st of what had happened, were almost thro^vn from their feet by the push which Josiah gave the canoe as he departed head foremost over its side. For a minute or two it seemed ius if they must lose their balance, and that both, in spite of their best efforts, w.>uld be thrown into the water, and there become companions of their prisoner. At hist the canoe was righted again, and as soon as they had regained their equilibrium the Spaniard reached for his gun. He looked up for a moment as he heard an exclamation of surprise from his com- panion, who already had taken his gun and was peer- J JOSIAII RKAITKAUS 183 lah took his ions in the at the time, n sky. All would have lave brought fiist of what their feet by 8 he departed lute or two it ice, and that hi be thrown nions of their md as soon as the Spaniard • a moment as from his com- and was peer- ins into the water to ftnd .ou>e token of the ,n»enee °'M,it,ile thee»noe had ,Wtted out of ,.» pl.ce. „„d r Indian laid ,»ide hi. gun fo.- a n.on.eM, vWle he took hi. paddle and by a few »'">';«• -^ troke, again brought it into l««ition. He had not C 1 1 of U.0 «P»t "1.™ J-iah had d«ppe«red Z i they we di^otly over the plaee mto wlueh ""Xto l^rird held the gun, while the Inxlian in the bow kept LiB paddle bo that he could hold the eanoe ta tapo-ition. Both watched the water carefully 1 and waited for the oppovtunity to *»'•.» ""J leZ eertain that the daring hunter would qu.ekly be eomnelled to eorae to the surface again to breathe andTl Spaniard had resolved that that moment should 1« the last .Io»iaU should have to hvo. All through their journey he had 1«n des.rous of putt ng Josfah out of the way, but for some reason S the hunter could not fully unde.tand he „u^ given way to hU eompanion, who appeared U, be el™" to have the prisoner kept for son.e purpoj, a^d although Josiahw^ r. all the reply the Ind.au made, except to shake his hea.l and declare that t W must wait longer. A quarter of an hour p^tssed m this way and still there was m. sign of the nnssmg man. Apparently there was little use in remanung where they were, and the conviction deepened m the w In e In's mind that the hunter was dead, and the further search was now useless ; but for some re.u,on be Indian w.« the leading «l-\-^ ^^^f [;^^;, followed his bidding; hut soon the chie , urn mg about, sent the canoe towards the shore, and Bj.pp mg out, iM-ckoned to his friend to follow. They drew the little skiff up on the bank, and thenleaving his companion there, the Indian went a litUe farther dowTi the stream and took his station near the nver He stood there motionless as the trees, save i^ his glance ^vm quickly turned now up and now do^ 1 river. Evidently he had no thought of aban- doning their search, and appeared to be far more 186 TECUMSEIl'S YOUNG BRAVKS suspicions of the white hunter's ahility to remain alive, even thougli he was under the water, than his companion was. The sun sank lower and lower. The deepening twilight intensified the silence which rested over everything, and wliich was hroken only by an occa- sional splash of some fish as it came to the surface, or by the cry of some bird slowly making its way across the river. The chill of the air became more and more marked as the sun disappeared, and the waiting more and more tedious, and the Spaniard grew im- patient. He was fully satisfied that Josiah was dead, and every moment spent near the river now, to him appeared to be a mere wsiste of time. But w.os the hunter dead ? Let us see. Josiah Fletcher, in spite of his lack of training in the schools, was not without his own wisdom. His long experience in the *orests, and his practical obser- vations, had quickened his every faculty, until the hunter was a wise man in the ways of the woods, if not in the ways of the world outside. He was always extremely careful in all his move- ments. The many adventures he had had with the wild beasts and Indians had made him quick of decision and prompt in Ws actions, and the plan which he had formed during their voyage up the stream was as bold as it was sudden. As the canoe in which he was carried a prisoner f ^ ty to remain itor, than his lie deepening rested over y by an occa- he snrface, or ts way across me more and d the waiting tird grew ini- iah was dead, now, to him le. of training in wisdom. His iractical obser- ilty, until the the woods, if all his move- had with the him quick of and the plan oyage up the led a prisoner "" ■ " '^ " \ JOSIAH RKAPPEARS 187 had been making ite way up the river, more than once, ,u, we have already related, he had been tempted to upset the entire party, and trust to his chances of escaping in the confusion that would follow; but he had held this as a last resort, determined to use it only after everything else had failed. His attention had been attracted, as we have seen in our la^t chapter, by the long roots tiiat ran far out into the river from the great tree that grew on the bank. He quickly and carefully estimated how far out those branches extended, and, as he noted the quantity of rubbish which had been gathered near the surface, the thought had flaslied into his mind that the very time and place had been found for which he had been waiting, and when he arose to change places with the Spaniard, and apparently had been wil ing to take his turn in wielding the paddle, he decided that his opportunity had arrived. ■ Tightly grasping the piece of cane, to which we have referred, he plunged headlong into the river. The water was cold now, but he paid little attention to the chill which it produced. He had drawn in his breath, as he left the canoe, and he well knew how to hold it, and to hold it longer than many men were able to do. ' , , , . „„j Down, down into the river he forced his way, and then under the water swam rapidly towards the roots which he knew he would find in the bed of the s 188 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES Stream. He quickly came to these, and grasped them with his hands. He had a firm hoU, and yet what good would it all do him? A few moments and he would he compelled to rise to the surface for breath, and the moment his body appeared, a shot from the gun of one of his captors would at once put an end to his life. But was his scheme a foolliardy one ? Did he forfeit a good chance for a poor one ? Josiah had not lost his hold on the piece of cane, which we have already mentioned several times. As he found that he had a firm grasp on the roots, and could easily maintain his position there, he held to his place with one hand, and with the other he thrust the cane up throu-h the wat«r, fitting one end to his mouth. But would it reach the surface? This was the fear which was in the hunter's heart, and every hope of safety he had, depended upon the length of the cane. Quickly he thrust the little hollow branch up towards the surface, and then began to blow out the water which filled it. What a relief it was ! But the moment his breath was gone it would be necessary for him to draw it in again, and if water and not air should follow the suction, he knew his every chance would be gone ; but the hunter's heart rejoiced when he found that, after he had blown the water from the tube, he was able to fill his lungs with air, and his hopes of escaping increased. ^Ijiglggligta grasped them md yet what nents and he ce for breath, ;hot from the put an end to ly one ? Did piece of cane, ral times. As the roots, and re, he held to ither he thrust )ne end to his ;e? This was art, and every le length of the low branch up 3 blow out the lent his breath a to draw it in aid follow the ould be gone; he found that, 1 the tube, he nd his hopes of JOSIAII REAPPEARS 189 Gradually lie lowered the cane until the water began t(j trickle through it once more, and then he knew the end of it must be near the surface. Having arranged this to his satisfaction, he held the cane in his mouth, and with l)oth hands grasped the roots. The water was cold, and in a few moments he was thoroughly chilled and almost numb; but steadily he held to his position, finding that he could breathe ejisily through the cane, and he waited for the minutes to pass. If the water had been clear enough, he could have seen the canoe more than once, directly over liim; but the floating mass and muddy water prevented him from discerning this, and thereby adde*! +•> his peace of mind. The little piece of cane ^hil•h Josial' allowed to protrude from the water sevei ■' titn( s w;i3 pushed aside by the paddle of the Indian, nt ev.^n lus quick-witted mind never suspected the ability of the hunter to breathe through what appeared to be only a broken branch, held somehow in its place. Perhaps the increasing twilight aided the hunter in all this, but at any rate his device was not suspected, and the moments slowly passed. The party in the canoe were wondering where the hunter could be, and Josiah also was beginning to be puzzled .^s to how long he could remain under the cold water and cling to the roots. In this way a quart, r of an hour passed, although \ ,u Miiiiiiiiiy the bank. hundred yards )pped again out L which he had 4(l***f '• oivW i ') t ;fi i ".(' i tf . » » i >» -^/ 192 TECUMSEirS YOUNG BRAVES CHAPTER XX THE PLACE OF TORAIENT TF Josiali Fletcher had not had wet clothing cling- ing to him, and had not heen so thoroughly chilled and weakened by his experiences of the past half hour, escape might have been possible for him ; but as it was, numb with the cold, weakened by his efforts, and startled by the sudden appearance of the men watching and waiting for him on the bank, the prospect before him was not encouraging. And yet as he entered the forest he ran as perhaps never he had run before. Glancing behind him he saw that both men were in pursuit, and only a few moments had passed before he realized that an escape by flight was an impossibility. He was too weak long to keep up the pace at wliich he had started, and already he could hear his pursuers, and he knew they were steadily gaining upon him. Some other plan must be tried, and that without a moment's delay. Josiah, noticing a large tree near him, stepped quickly out of the path, and dodged behind its shelter. 7ES clothing cling- so thoroughly 3es of the past >88ible for him ; eakened by his pearance of the II the bank, the jing. And yet rhaps never he ith men were in tassed before he a impossibility. I pace at wliich ar his pursuers, g upon him. that without a large tree near h, and dodged THE PLACE OF TORMENT 193 The Spaniard was in advance, and swiftly he passed Josiah's hiding-place without stopping, and apparently unsuspicious of the presence of the hunter. Hope le- vived, and he began to think there might be a pos- sibility of his doubling on his purauers, and making his way to the river again, and of ushig the canoe which he was certain they had left not far from the place where he had climbed the bank. As he glanced out from behind the tree his hopes were scattered in a moment, as he saw the Indian standing directly heiom him and apparently waiting for him to ai)pear. " White man a fish. Breathe water. Have gills," said the warrior. But Josiah made no reply to the Indian's Avords, as there was nothing for him to say, and the little con- fidence he had gained by the clever way in wliich he had deceived both his captoi-s was dispelled now, and he knew that his present situation was much more critical than that in which he had been before, and from which he so successfully had escaped. The Spaniard was recalled by liis companion in a moment, and as he returned he, too, put questions to Josiah, to which the hunter made no response. Again the Spaniard urged that their prisoner should be shot and put out of the way. Why his advice was not listened to, Josiah could not tell, but in Ixis heart there was a deeper fear that his perils were not les- : » i «tUf« up with the d, and a small e freed long wet clothing e Indian now idings of the )rs were not hich they had Soon, after rted on once THE PLACE OF TORMENT 195 l''(tr two days the journey was kept up, and the Htops wliich were made were not frcMpiunt, and eael) was oidy for a brief time. JoHiah, liardy woodsman though he was, wiw nearly worn out by the struggles through which he had passed. His clothing wa.s in shreils, and the moccasins whicli he had were worn and torn ; but Josiah noticed with some satisfaction that the Spaniard wiw in even a worse plight than he, and that the jcmmey had told upon his strength even more than it had upon his own. The Indian appar- ently did not notice the difficulties, and, as far as Josiah could see, was as fresh now as when they had alMindoned their canoe and started through the woods. The confidence of his captors increased rai)idly, and it was evident that they were near the end of their journey. Josiah had no other clew to this than the word " Econochaca," which he had heard in their con- vei-sation, and which he was aware could not be far away. All his doubts were soon settled, for in the afternoon of the second day they approached a place wliich he heard the Indian call " Econochaca," as he encouraged his companion by declaring that this was to be the end of their journey. Econochaca, or " holy ground," was situated in a pathless wilderness, on a bluff on the left bank of the Alabama river. Weatherford himself had built the village a few months before this time, having selected the most ol)scure place he could find, and had had it . J . i . XJ j i^ I tm i' i Wh i O 'lr fc ^i . i .ii-| i 196 TECUMSEH'S YOUNO BRAVES dedicated by the Shawnee prophets whom Tecuinseh had left behind him. This liad been luade a place of refuge for the wounded, and for tlie fugitives who niiglit be com- pelled to flee from their homes in the adjacent Indian settlements. At the time when Josiah entered the village there were many of the Indian women and children there, although these soon after were removed to another place for greater safety. Not a path or trail led to this village, and in their wild and reckless speeches the prophets again and again declared to the credulous warriors that, like Auttose, this place also was " holy ground," and that no white man could ever enter it and live. Sad forebodings filled the mind of Josiah as they approached this village, for rumors of the strange rites and ceremonies practised there, and the cruel customs of the place, had been heard by him for sev- eral weeks past. Little attention was paid to our party as they entered, and Josiah noticed that there was a large square ui the centre of the village. Even as they approached, the priests were performing their incanta- tions, and as he glanced about him, his heart sank as he noticed on one side of the square ten large stakes which had been driven securely into the ground. To these stakes were bound even then some white men ~-3a^=*:«^^^? pjSawi' horn Tecumseh refuge for the niiglit be com- idjiicent Indian le village there cliildren there, ved to another trail led to thia 8 speeches the the credulous also was "holy 1 ever enter it Josiah as they >f the strange and the cruel )y him for sev- party as they 3 was a large Even as they J their incanta- leart sank as he n large stakes e ground. To me white men THE PLACE OF TORMENT 197 and a few Indians whom ho rec ignized as friendly Creeks. The piirpose of all this wan only too evident, and Josiah knew that they were to Ih) the victinis of the prophets' fury, and the offerings of these poor, de- luded savages to the unseen powei>i. He knew also, now, why his Indian captor had so pei-sistently refused the request of the Spaniard that he might l)e shot, and oven the sturdy hunter's cheek blanched as ho thought of tb.e fate which in all probability was in store for him. The party stopped, and for a few moments watched the crowd of yelling savages. Even the women and cliildren were present, and joined in the exciting sport. About the feet of the wretched victims were gathered quantities of pine knots which liad been soaked in pitch, and the children were anmsing them- selves by driving long splinters into the bodies of the helpless prisoners. A kind of dance was soon entered upon, and the yells of the warriors, and the excitement of the othei-s, soon wrought the fury up to a pitch such as Josiah, familiar as he was with Indian customs, never before had seen. The medicine-men, or prophets, led in the dance, and the high excitement under which they labored seemed to inspire a sijnilar feeling in the minds of all the others. For some time this dance went on, but at last the torch was applied to the fagots, and one [»ile ' KWW 19ft TECUMSEIl'S VOUN(i HUAVKS ufUT another wiw soon in tlunu's. Tlie "i^lit of the tiro Hoemed to incroiwe tlio fury of tlic Hi»t'ctiit(»i-s,iina tlu! tauntinj,'s of tlie victims and tlie yt'lls of tJio war- rioi'H incri'iixetl. Sonio of the wretched prisoneiN },nive vent to their feclingH hy such screanw of agony and fear »w Josiah had never heard Ixifore. Othei-s were silent, and seemed to pride themselves upon the fact that even in their death a^'ony they did n(.t give their cai)- tors the pleasuri; of witnessing any weakness on their part. lUit the resinous wood soon burned out and made an end to this scene, and the excitenient died down almost as rapidly as it had arisen. Josiah thought that even the cniel Spaniard was touched by the sight they had just seen, but as he did not speak he had no means of judging of his feelings, and certainly he expected little mercy at his hands. But Josiah Fletcher was heartsick. Here he was a prisoner in this village of Econochaca, which the In- dians firmly Mieved to have been built on "holy ground," and into which as yet no white man had ever come except as a prisoner. Behind him lay a pathless wilderness. The exact location of the village even was unknown to the white men, at least so Josiah thought, and only rumors had been scattered of the life there and the deeds that were done by the Indians. There was little hope of aid from without — of that he felt positive. I 1 M » «ijl»i * H|l" ■IW»li > ' 10 Hi}jht of the siH'ctiiUti-s, and 'lis of the wai- vont to their feiir iw .losiah ire Hilent, uiul fact that even ive thi'ir ca^)- vkness on their urned out and xcitenient died sen. [ Spaniard was 1, hut as ho did of his feelings, J at his hands. Here he was a , which the In- huilt on "holy wliite man had !88. The exact wn to the white mly rumors had the deeds that 18 little hope of sitive. r 1 '•Till' siiiht of tlio liri' sofiniMl to incroasi' the fury of tlio siii'ctiitors." I'lKJI I US. THE PLACE OF TORMKNT 199 1 As he glanced about the village he wah suqjrised at the large number of warriors he saw, and he knew that even if a party of white men slumld try to enter the place, they would not be of much avail unless there were many of them ; and such an advance on the part of the soldiera was something Josiah did not expect, and which he regarded as exceedingly improbable. Wearied by his march, his clothing in a sad condi- tion, his strength wasted by the lack of sufficient food and his exertions, the sight of the men burned at the stake served to rob the hunter of the little coui-age he had had. He was certain his turn would come soon, and that he, too, would be tied to some stake and a scene similar to the one he had just watched, again would be enacted. " Well, it's lucky," said Josiah to himself, trying to take as calm a view as possible of liis situation, " that there's no one dependent upon me, and if I am going to go up in smoke, it's probably just as well that there aren't very many to feel badly about it. We've all of us got to go some time, and if my time has come now, why, I'll try to make the best of it. If those Indians could die without a whimper, I think I'll try to keep my tongue between my teeth even if it's hot enough to blister it, and see if I can't rob these fiends of the pleasure of seeing my torments. But I'll not give up yet. It may be some way will s .il 200 TECUMSEirS YOUNG HRAVE8 open, and that I can manage to cut loose in spite of these redskins. I don't propose to give way till the end conies, and then if I have to, why I U have to and that's all there is ahout it. Meanwhile I intend to keep my mouth shut and my eyes open, and it 1 have half a chance, I'm going to he quick to make the most of it." Josiah again looked all ahout him, and aa he saw the walls which had heen huilt, and how strong the place was, he could not keep from himself the con- elusion that any such thing a.s an escape was most un- likely. But his thoughts were interrupted hy the approach of several Indians whom he took to he chiefs He did not recognize any of them, and could not hear the conversation which they held with his captors. This, however, was soon at an end, and he w^ led away by two of the braves, who secure y bound his hands and feet, and throwing him rouglily into a tent left him there alone. t ■:«#ii» ■ -iv^ AT THE STAKE 201 e in spite of J way till the I'll have to, hile I intend pen, and if I aick to make nd as he saw ow strong the iiself the con- ! was most un- rupted by the le took to be lem, and could held with his an end, and he who securely g him rouglily CHAPTER XXI AT THE STAKE DAY after day passed and Josiah Fletcher was still kept a prisoner. His feet and hands were tightly bound, and any effort to escape which he might have felt inclmed to have made would have been as useless as it was hopeless. What was to become of him? What purpose had they in retaining him as a prisoner and keeping him in such close l)ondage ? The fear deepened every day in the hunteit's heart that he was kept for no good purpose, and he became almost certain that he too was to be offered as a victim, as were those he had seen when he first en- tered the village. Not a word could he get from his guard, and the uncertainty, together with his scanty food and the cramped position which he was compelled to keep day and night, soon told upon the rugged Josiah. Two or three times his thongs were loosed and he was led out into the square, which, as we have said, was in the centre of the town ; but the horrors and ^'^T i^ TKCUMSEirS YOUNG BRAVES Buffei'ing which he saw there on tlio occasion of each visit affected him far more than even his captivity iteelf. The fanaticism of the priests led all the warriors to make these human sacrifices, on the ground that they were necessary for their success in the war which they were waging with tlie whites. The most of these victims were white captives, or half-breeds who were suspected of being too friendly to the white men's cause. Some friendly Creeks also were burned, and in this way the medicine-men thought to strike terror to the hearts of the halting, and inflame the zeal of all those who were already committed to the cause so dear to Tecumseh's heart. On the first occasion when Josiah was led out into the square many women and children were in the town, and these were even more cruel than the war- riors themselves. They had not the strength of the men, but they were far more ingenious in contriving ways to increase the tortures of the prisoner's. Josiah was scarcely able to stand when he was first led out, and had barely risen to his feet before an Indian boy shot at him a blunt arrow ; and the pain which it inflicted — for the worn Josiah could not repress his feelings — brought a yell of delight from all who witnessed it, and encouraged the boys to try their skill again and again. They soon left him, how- ever, to resume their occupatiou of forcing splinters -k wi yw w y ' R i* n^)n ii .i J 5S Elision of each his captivity he warriors to unci that they ar whicli they f these victims vere suspected cause. Some 1 this way the ) the hearts of liose who were Tecumseh's 15 led out into were in the than the war- rength of the in contriving mers. Josiah first led out, re an Indian 16 pain which d not repress from all who s to try their ift him, how- cing splinters AT THE STAKE 203 under the skin of those who were alwut to l)e Imrned. Sometimes the victims were compelled to run the gauntlet, but not one of them ever escaped, and, bruised and bleeding from the blows which were inflicted upon them, they were brought back, only to be tied to the stake and have the resinous wood piled all al)out them. The second time Josiah wsw led forth, expecting a repetition of his former torments, he was sur>rised as he observed that no women and children were to be seen, and as none of them appeared again he concluded that they had been removed to some other place for safety. At first this brought a ray of hope to the hunter's heart, and he thought there was a possibility that the Indians were preparing to resist an attack. But as day after day passed and no further indica- tions of such an event were seen, hope almost died in Josiah's heart, and he abandoned himself to the death which he was certain would soon be his. He noticed in the village one day a half-breed whom he at once recognized as Weatherford. The influence he had over the others, the respect they all paid him, his evident strength and commanding form, all served to bring back to the captive's mind the man whom he had seen a few times before and whose name was so well known. Indeed, Josiah dared to hope a little when he recalled the efforts of Weatherford to restrain his warriors at Fort Mims. What he was doing at ff^ ii^ UmT^ Hp k- ^ * i i ^'^0 » fi ^* r^^f »'- 1 204 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES Econochaca ho could not (wcertain, but on each suc- ceeding day when Josiah wiis led into the square he saw him, and concluded that he either was waiting for some attack, or making preparations for some expedition he was about to lead- in this way two weeks passed. Why something was not done with him Josiah could not tell, but at last there came a morning when he was led forth into the square, and from the looks which were given him he concluded that the day of his trial had come. He was brought near to a circle of wan-iors who were seated upon the ground, as silent when he approached as though they had been statues. He could see their faces and hear their words, and as he was somewhat familiar with their language, he had little difficulty in understanding the purpose of the deliberations which soon began. There was a debate concerning himself. Weather- ford rose to speak, and as the hunter heard him make pleas for the life of the prisoner, his heart began to beat again with hope. Earnestly and strongly the half-breed appealed, and when he sat down a murmur of applause made Josiah think that either his execu- tion was about to be put off, or that he would be held for exchange as Weatherford had urged. After a brief silence one of the prophets arose and Ixjgan an impassioned harangue in which he urged the Indians not to be beguiled by the smooth words of IRBlHiajHiaiMMHPW VES ut on each suc- the square he ler was waiting tions for some IVhy something not tell, but at 18 led forth into were given him had come. He Tiors who were 1 he approached 5 could see their ) was somewhat little difficulty le deliberations [iself. Weather- heard him make heart began to ad strongly the down a murmur ither his execu- e would be held 3d. iphets arose and ch he urged the mooth words of AT THE STAKE 805 even so great a man as VVeatherford. There wivs no hope for success to be looked for except an human sacrifices were offered. The cause demanded this, the people themselves were entitled to it, and the larger the number of victims, the greater the prospect of success. Josiah could see that the prophet's speech produced an impression far deeper than that of Weatherford's, and he became an eager listener as the debate pro- gressed. Now for him, and now against him, some man of prominence would speak; but the prophets evidently knew the temiier of the warriors better than did Weatherford liimself, acknowledged leader though he was. ' At last the long debate was ended, and with a sink- ing heart Josiah realized that the decision had been against him. Still bound he was left where he was, in charge of his guard for a short time, while other ijnhappy prisoners were brought forth, and he could see them as they were bound to the stakes and the fagots piled about them. Soon three or four of the Indians seized him and carried him back to the wigwam from which he had been taken ; but he knew from their actioas that he was not to escape the fate which he believed waa in store for him. Soon he was brought forth again by these same warriors, and as he glanced about the square he sdw twelve stakes, at eleven of which there fe 206 TECUMSEir.S YOUNO BRAVEa wen. already victims boun.l. Tho one stake wlmh apparently had been left free he at onee cone uded was for himself, and the question wiu» soon settled a. he mv. carried near it. The thongs were loosed and he was told to rise. So stiff was he and weak, that he was scarcely able to stand erect, and as he took a few tottering steps forward, a yell of derision arose from the crowd which was watching him. "Well I'll show them how a white man dies, said Joeiah to' himself. " Nary a groan shall they get from "" And yet with all of Josiah's bravery he never had been in such danger a. then faced him. He glanced along the row of victims, and saw that n.ore than half of them were white. He noticed also several half- breed, and two or three friendly Creek waniors in the r.mber, who looked at him with but little more ex- pression than the stakes themselves had. The women and the children were gone, and a« a consequence no .plinte« were thrust under the skin of the victims this day, and there was a strange hush over aU. Noticing that he was scarcely able to move, two of the warriors seized him and roughly helped him for- ward to the stake, to which he was soon fast bound. Not merely were his hands and feet tied, but a long lash was wound around his body, so that even his con- tortions would be prevented when the agony began. AT TIIK STAKR m ce which ietU(Ml lis )0scd ivuil i-cely able ring stops wd which lies," said y get from never had le glanced 3 than half veral half- riors in the ie more ex- rhe women Bquence no the victims over all. ove, two of ed him for- East bound. , but a long ven his con- gony began. His head wiis left free, mid ho looked up at the sky al)ove him. The wliite (douds were moving there, and nothing ho could see in any way ap()eared to re- flect the scene Ijeneatli. He glanced at the other victims for a moment, and felt rejoiced as ho noticed that one or two of them had fainted. What wan that? In the midst of his own grief .losiah noticed that one of the victims was a woman, and apparently she was unconscious of anything occurring about her. " I'm glad of it," said Josiah to himself. " Her troubles will soon be over, and I Iioik; she won't wake up in time to give these redskins any chance to enjoy her sufferings." The prophets were busy now, and with strange in- cantations were moving about amongst the crowd. How hideously they were dressed ! Skins of beiwts were curiously wrought and fivstened about them. Their faces were black, and as they shouted or sang their voices sounded almost unearthly. He could see Weatherford on the margin of the crowd, mounted on his magnificent gray horse. As he stood there, horse and rider both motionless, the appearance they presented was more like that of a statue than of life. How long would it take before the agony would bo over? When would the prophets cease their din and the real work begin ? Josiah hoped it would not be TECUMSEIIH YOIINO DUAVKS • I.)iig ; iiiid iw now lio could lliiiik of no poHsiMo wti) of escaiK!, tlic hooiilt tlio end ciUiH) tlui Iwltcr for him. Th« wood liivd Ik-cu [lilcil very \\\\f\\ idMmt him, and rt'iichcd idniost to his iuini)it*t. VVliy it wiw that liis head had IxHin kift freo \w couUl not uniUii'stand, hut with aHtranj,'c calm ho was olwcrving tlio inovemcntH of tlic crowd and the antics of tlic niedicine-nicn. Soon, however, he noticed a change. The niedieine-nien ceased from tlieir incantations, and one of them, who appeared to he a leacUsr, stepped in front of the as- Kcmhly and kigan an impassioned harangue. More and more excited did he l)ecome as he went on. All the men except Weatherford appeared to share in his feelings. The glance which Josiah cast at the half-breed dis- closed the look of scorn on the brave man's face, for he was entirely free from the snpewtitions of the people, and unmoved by the wild harangue of the prophet. The gesticulations of the speakci-s Ixjcame wilder. They threw their hands and waved their arms about their heads, and the people were fast approaching a state of frenzy. One Indian quickly seized a blazing iagot, and, approaching the stake at the other end of the line, set fire to the pile. Louder than the voices of the prophets rose the scream of agony from the white man who had been bound there ; but no other pile was fired as yet. Why was this ? ►(♦^-i^ rr AT TIIK STAKE 20!) IS i bit! \VH\ if fur him. b Iiiiii, luul j4 that his xtiiiid, hut veuuditH of ill. Soon, iliciiio-ineii them, wlio of tho IIH- ue. More it on. All hare in his f-breed dis- face, for he tho people, prophet, ime wilder, arras about preaching a id a blazing ther end of its rose the ) had been yet. Why "The (Udiions are going tf> take us one by one," thought Josiah, " and my turn is coiniiig Iiust. Tluiy'rc! going tt> leave us to see all the sulYcrijigs of the othei's, and draw this tiling out as long m they can." Still tho prophets spoke, and the warriora wore divided in their attentions between tho excited speakei-s and tho sight of tho bhizing pile. The llames soon died down, and Josiah shuddered iw he saw in tl)o midst of the ashes a few bones, showing all that was left of the man who had been lM)und there. Again one of the prophets began to speak, and for a ujoment tlio Indians stopped to listen to him. The voice of the speaker was shrill and high. Never had the hunter seen anything like the scene l)efore him. Some smoke still was rising from he smouldering fire. The whole multitude of warrioiv were standing as one man facing the speaker, who wjis appix)aching tho end of liis hiiraiigue. As ho drew near to tho close he seemed to be in a perfect fury, and there was scarcely any one in all the assembly who did not share with him in his feelings. Again a warrior seized a fagot as there came a pause in the speaker's words, and was about to start towards the second stake. He had taken but a few steps when suddenly a hush came over the assembly. The entire band appeared to be startled, and were lis- tening intently to some sounds which Josiah could not hear. >t , lil t. Ill f llllllllllllf , 1 ' ' ', ' '"""., ' '" ' * " ''* " 210 TECUMSEirS YOUNG BRAVES What could be the meaning of it? Josiah had little feeling now, as long since he had abandoned all hope of escaping ; but something unusual evidently was at hand, and in a moment he saw the crowd thrown into confusion and together start and run towai-ds one of the forts. L I m m nmm ^iM j- i u. ^^ - ^ <^ " ECONOCHACA 211 osiah had ndoned all evidently the crowd t and run CHAPTER XXII ECONOCHACA tlTHEN Jeny and Tecumseh's young braves left "' the camp of General Claiborne as the Ijearers of his message to General Jackson, Tom accompanied them as far as the borders of the forest. Another party left at the same time with a message for Gov- ernor Blount, and the boys stopped to watch the others until they disappeared amongst the trees. " Well, Jerry," said Tom, " I don't know when we'll get together again, and I hate more than I can tell you to be separated from you ; but there's noth- ing else to be done now." " It won't be long," replied Jerry confidently, " and Tecumseh's young braves know every inch of the country around here, and we'll soon have the mes- sage delivered and be on our way back again." " Probably we shan't be here then," replied Tom, "for there's a good deal of talk, as you know, of starting right off towards the Creek country, and the general is just determined to strike some blow that will put an end to these troubles." 212 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES " Well, I hope he will," replied Jerry, " and that soon, too. This uncertainty is worse than a real fight. If we could only meet them once hand to hand and get the matter settled, everybody would be a good deal more contented." "Your talk is very brave," replied his brother, " but I think in your heart you're as scared as I am. I didn't think when we started out on that raft, with Nance and mother and the children, that we'd ever be ha .ring a share in this war. I thought an end Avould come in a few days or weeks at the most, and that then we'd go back home and go to work once more clearing up the place." "Oh, well, never mind, Tom," said Jerry; "the country is getting roused now, and even Tecumseh's young braves have seen which way the wind is blow- ing, and they have come in on the winning side; haven't you. Captain Jim ? " But the Indians made no reply, and Jerry con- tinued : " But we can't stay here to talk any more, for we must start ; so good-by." And without once looking behind them, Jerry and his companions started on their long journey. Tom watched them as long as they could be seen, and then stood for some moments looking towards the place in the forest where they had disappeared. Slowly then he returned to the camp, his heart filled with forebodings, and much more fearful of the com- I ,. t— U lg tl a-^ 1 ▲. ECONOCHACA 213 and that ,n a real hand to iy would brother, as I am. raft, with we'd ever it an end most, and rork once rry; -the ecumseh's d is blow- img side; Ferry con- any more, hout once ins started d be seen, g towards sappeared. leart filled f the com- ing events than he had been willing to acknowledge to his brother. Soon every one in the camp was astir. General Claiborne was determiiiod to strike an effective blow, both for the sake of his own reputation and his desire to put an end to the terrible uncertainty under which the scattered settlers were lalioring. Anything like the usual work on the clearings was impossible. Families had been shot down in cold blood, and often the men had been tomahawked while they were in the fields harvesting the crojjs. Even the women and children were not safe, and many a mother had seen her little one raised aloft in the arms of some brawny savage, and its brains dashed out against the walls of the home in wliich she lived. There were about a thousand men in the army now, and Tom, with great interest, watched the movements of the soldiers. There was a battalion of horse which Major Cassell led, and also one of militia of which Major Smoot was in charge. In this latter battalion he recognized "aptain Sam Dale, and his courage returned when he thought of the encounter which he had witnessed between this man and the Indians in the great canoe a few weeks before. The regulars were commanded by Colonel Russell, and there was a band of Mississippi volunteers led by Colonel Carson, who liad enlisted for twelve months. '( — 214 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES In addition to all these, there were about one hundred and fifty Indians, mostly Choctaws, whom Pudha- mataha led. A sufficient garrison was left at the fort, and then the little army started. Rapidly they pushed their way onward, stopping only for such halts as were alisolutely necessary, making an unbroken march for eighty miles. There they stopped long enough to build a station for pro- visions, which they named Fort Deposit, and then the march was resumed, the army pushing steadily on again for nearly thirty miles. They were passing through a patlUess wilderness now, an\l only the baggage and provisions that were alisolut^ly necessary were carried. Men and officers alike suffered greatly on this marcL, and on most of the way they subsisted chiefly on boiled acorns. It was currently reported in the army that they were bound for Econochaca, the "holy ground" of the Indians; and when the last thirty miles of the march had been completed the entire army halted, and General Claiborne sent foi-ward his scouts to spy out the land. Among those who were sent on this expedition was our young hero Tom Curry, aldng with the soldier whom Josiah had familiarly called Martin, and in whose care he had left his young companion. Other men also were sent out on scouting expeditions, as the general was determined to learn the exact location L hundred 1 Pudha- the fort, stopping lecessarjs 1. There n for pro- and then T steadily vild^mess that were [id officers m most of acorns, that they round" of les of the ny halted, »uts to spy dition was the soldier in, and in on. Other ions, as the ct location f ECONOCHACA »» of the place l)efore he prepared to strike what he hoped would prove to be a fatal blow. The spies found the place strongly guarded, after the Indian fashion, and had every reiuson to believe that none of the inmates had any suspicion of the danger threatening them; but as we already know, rumors had penetrated the Indian village suffi- cient to lead the warriors to carry their women and chil- dren across the river into safe places among the thick forests, and the defenders of the place as a consequence were without any hindrance to a vigorous defence. Tom and his companion reported what they had dis- covered to the general, and told of the deep ravines and swamps that almost surrounded the town and rendered an approach an exceedingly difficult matter. However, they all declared that the place where the Indians had entered was one into which the white men could go too, and after some time approaches suitable for the army were found. General Claiborne carefully made his plans, and in three columns the army closed upon the town by a simultaneous movement. Colonel Carson's Mississippi volvmteers were the first to be seen by the enemj-, and so furiously did they make their attack that before Colonel Russell and Major Smoot could bring their men fairly into the fight, the Indians in dismay had broken and fled. The most of these escaped, as Major Cas- sell had failed to follow his directions and occupy ^— rH-WF-^»«»»T^-ffT " nmm^if niiiWMjinn ■ Miijri..i,ff '■ 210 TECUMSBH'S YOUNG BRAVES the Imnk of the AUibama west of the town with his hattalion of horse. These Indians fled in droves, running swiftly along the Iwink of the river, and whenever they eould find an opportunity plunged into the water, some swimming and some using the canoes wliich they had hidden along the hanks. Some, who were fortunate enough to gain these, made their way to the farther side of the river and joined their families, who were concealed In the woods there. Here Weatherford gave a display of liis courage and skill that was long talked of after the war WJis ended. As we have related in a preceding chapter, he was usually seen mounted on a swift gray horse that seemed to share the spirit of luis rider. When the half-breed found that his warriors had deserted him and were unwilling to listen to the calls of the prophets, he was compelled to flee for his own life ; but he was the last to leave. The horse he was riding responded to liis every touch, and bore him along the ravines to a high bluff which overlooked the river, and behind which there was a steep precipice. With a shout of exultation the soldiere pressed closely upon liim, thinking that now they had their dreaded enemy in their clutches. On one side lay the river far below the bluff, and on the other side were the deep ravines, while beyon^ him lay a swamp through which escape was impossible ; sam* with his swiftly ey could er, some they had 'ortunate e farther vho were courage war wji« chapter, •ay horse tVheu the irt«d him prophets, at he was liis every highhluff lich there ixultation iking that r clutches, bluff, and ile beyon^ npossible ; ECONOCIIACA 217 but not hesitating even for a moment Weatherford touched his powerful steed with his hand, and with one mighty bound horse and rider l)oth left the bluff and disappeared beneath the water of the river. So sudden was this movement, and unexpected by the soldiera, that they all stopped for a moment, and a cry of dismay arose from the ranks ; and yet the bravery of the half-breed and the wonderful response of the horse he was riding aroused their admiration, and a sound almost like that of applause waa heard among the soldiers as they stood motionless, and watched for the reappearance of the horse and his rider. In a moment both rose to the surface, and Weather- ford grasped the mane of his hoi-se with one hand and held his rifle vnth the other. Evidently he knew the noble animal wliich had been carrying him, and when they had gone a little distance out into the stream, Weatherford once more lifted himself into the saddle, and, waving his hands defiantly at his enemies behind him, was carried by his faithful steed safely to the farther shore. The soldiers at once returned to Econochaca and began to plunder the village. At their entrance they had quickly spied the eleven victims of whom we have told in our last chapter, who were still fast bound to the stakes in the square in the centre of the town, and about whom the fagots were piled high. I 218 TECUMSEirS YOUNG HUAVrCS i^ There was no more Hiiipiised lH)y in Alulwina than Tom Curry wlieii lie re(;o},'nizell<> a.. thronjjh tlie ri nvciy h'u\v. >tH, mid loii<^' [)liu;uH. Tluf IV tmck, but « Indians in The Hilenco s d()ul)Iy ini- Htanco in ad- ind wius not ,vere covered ood distance vl Claiborne iw slackened ' said Tom, the destruc- haca. as I thought ace either," bter in close V them to do r they have thought the so long as I AN INTKUimi'TKI) I'AHSA(JK thought they would," said Tom. " They gave up ft good di'al sdoni'r than I oxpoctcij thi-in to. IJiit what a leap that was that NVcatherfurd took on his horse, wasn't it ? I should like to have that homo, and I wish I had a body like that half-breed's." "More stuff and more nonsense," said .Tosiah. " You don't want any of the half-breed's make-up. If I had his body here I'd put a bullet-hole in it. That's alxmt all it's good for." "I can't help feeling," said Tom, "that Weather- ford is fighting for what he thinks is his own country, anyway." " Oh, well, he's not so bad as some of them," re- plied Josiah, " I'll say that much for him ; but Injun blood is iMvd blood wherever you find it." " I wish I could have heard something from Nance iMjfore I started," said Tom. " I'd like to kiiow how they all are at Mobile." "Oh, Nance is all right," replied the hunter, "she can take care of herself and the others too." "I'm not afraid of her," said Tom, somewhat proudly ; " but after all there's a good deal of danger there, and if the British and the Spaniards together make an attack on Mobile, I'm afraid it will go hard with the town. I almost wish we'd sta> id there, and if I'd ever thought that this trouble with the Indians was going to last anything like the time it has, I don't think cither Jerry or I would have left." ' : i I ■■ W'^ tW*' ^ ' i *i ' i »w ^ iiii HJjl l Ti i ^ i >v>i i .j^ i i i ' i .ur ri'i «&«»•• *■*!*" -»<««i« 224 TECUMSEirS YOUNG BRAVES " Oh, you can do a good deal more for Nance and your mother up here putting a stop to those Indian raids, than you ever could have done at Mobile. But we've got to start on again ; I see the Indians are in a hurry," replied the hunter. And once more they resumed their journey. Tliey were fearful of the scattered bands of tlie Indians now, and did not know but some of the defeated warriora miglit rally and return, and if they did, it was more than likely that they would fall in with some of these parties before they arrived at their journey's end. At nightfall they kindled no fire, and in the morning made only enough to cook the birds which Josiah shot, and then quickly covered it. They steadily advanced, and whenever they found a level stretch they often used the lope, or half run, whicli was a favorite mode of travelling with the Indians, and in wliich both these white men showed great endurance. Late in the second day they arrived at the bank of the Tallapoosa. Ho^v they were to cross this now became their problem. " Let's swim it," said Tom. But Josiah, who had a vivid recollection of his recent experiences in the water, and whose teeth almost chattered as he recalled the cold and numbness from which he had suffered, decidedly opposed the suggestion, declaring tliat it was too long a swim, and as the water was cold some J.I I J i J I J 'I' . ll . '' • AN INTERRUPTED PASSAGE 225 Nance .and licse Indian obile. But lians are in ney. Tliey the Indians j tie defeated they did, it fall in with 3d at their led no fire, io cook the dy covered they found )r half run, g with the nen showed ^'' ;hey arrived ey were to ih, who had nces in the he recalled id suffered, ing tliat it 3 cold some of them very likely would be taken with a cramp he- fore they could gain the farther shore. The Indians searched the bank for a canoe, but none was found, and when they returned to the others it was with a suggestion that a raft should be built. The shore was strewn with Uie trees which had been broken in the hun-icane and carried down the river. The suggestion was approved by both the white men, and the work was at once begun. They experi- enced more difficulty in lashing these lin^bs and trunks of trees together than they had expected, but at last they made the vfdt only large enough to carry two. Josiah fasliioned a rude i)addle with his hunting- knife and declared that he would be the ferryman, and would himself carry the others across, taking one on each trip. When the raft had been completed it was late in the day, and Tom, who was the first to be carried across, when he took his place on the treacherous- looking craft noticed that the sun had almost disap- peared from sight. But Josiah safely and quickly carried him across the river, and soon landed him on the farther shore. He at once began his return trip for the others, Tom meanwhile standing near the place where he had landed, Avatching the ferryman in his efforts to guide his unwieldy craft. " How slow Josiah is ! I think I could make that raft hum if I held the paddle," said Tom to himself. •I \ 226 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES But the hunter had scarcely made his way to the middle of the river before Tom was startled, as glanc- ing up the stream his attention was arrested by the sight of a canoe which was rapidly approaching. He called to Josiuh, and warned him of the approaching boat, and as the young man stepped quickly back into the bushes where he could not be seen by any one who was psissing, he was sui-prised to see Josiah quickly let liimself into the water. Tom divined the plan of the hunter at once, and saw that he was holding to the side of the raft. He was on the side nearer the shore, and evidently was hop- ing that by keeping his head out of sight he might escape the notice of the new-comers and receive no attention from them. The water was cold, and Tom slli^cr'- a<» he thought of the plight in which .Josiah mui-r '. \ ,t- hai>8 the men in the canoe would pass „ ..,wuut noticing the raft. There were many floating logs in the river now, and it was barely possible that the rough structure, made as it was of the trunks and limbs broken from the trees by the storm, would appear so like the other floating d<5bris, that the party would not stop to examine it. The canoe was rapidly approaching now, and as it came nearer, Tom could see that tliere were four men in it, two of whom were paddling. He ako was soon enabled to see that one of the party was a white man, 4a»jsKf!s^-- .. y^w)*»fti««*^^*rtft5i«'r«^*>*- ■ vay to the :1, as glanc- ited by the jhing. m of the m stepped luld not be 3 surprised the water. !e, and saw ;. He was Y was hop- t he might receive no r" as he r, ; r ,r- S „ ..,wi»Ut ing logs in e that the runks and rm, would b the party and as it 3 four men > was soon vhite man. AN INTERRUPTED PASSAGE and he had just begun to hope that they would pass without noticing the raft, when a sudden exclamation from one of the Indians caused both of the men Avho were paddling to cease from their laboi-s and bring the canoe to a standstill. What would they do? Whs it the ratt which had attracted their attention ? Perhaps Tom himself had been seen, and at the thought the boy drew back farther mto the bushes, but still remained near enough to the river to watch the movements of the men in the canoe. No, it was the raft which had been seen by them ; and as they turned from their courae and started towards it, Tom knew that his friend would soon be in great danger. Evidently the men were suspicious but not afraid, and had stopped to examine the strange-looking craft more from motives of curiosity than anything else. They had been coming so swiftly down the stream that it was evident they were in a hurry. Tom WM excited now, and as the canoe drew nearer to the raft his breath came faster. He knew that Josiah had no gun, nor anything by which he could protect himself. He liimself must do something to divert the attention of these men, and aid his companion in his predica- ment. It would be death for Josiah if the party found him, and Tom now had no hope that the hunter ■ ij[W|U -* w y v« T t^-W^g^^ -^«>-g"-r^ * i^ H - | j^■^ ■ L^.^ I H - 228 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES could escape their notice. The paddle which Josiah had used he saw was lying on the raft, and evidently was the subject of conversation on board the canoe. This was within five yards now, and if Tom was to do anything the moment had arrived. Twice the boy brought his gun to his shoulder before he could decide to shoot, but at last, taking careful aim, he fired. All the men in the canoe turned quickly at the sound of the gun, and looked at the puff of smoke which rose above the bushes be- hind which Tom was concealed. Evidently they had been taken by surprise ; but a greater surprise yet was in store for them, for suddenly tliere was the sound of two guns fired from the other shore, and not with- out, effect, for Tom saw one of the Indians fall for- ward, and another suddenly clapped his hand upon his shoulder. They were startled now, and quickly seizing the paddles of their canoe started again down the stream as rapidly as they could go. They were not yet out of sight when Josiah crawled up on the raft. He shouted at the party which was now far down the stream, but no attention was paid to Ids hail. Josiah stood and watched them until they were out of sight, and then taking Ixis paddle again sought the farther bank. Tom waited behind the bushes and soon began to wonder why the raft did not return. He could not ■ W- i MH i J ' . l '. ' -l'' hich Josiah d evidently 1 the canoe, rom was to lis shoulder last, taking I the canoe and looked B bushes be- ;ly they had >rise yet was i the sound id not with- ms fall for- hand upon seizing the I the stream not yet out e raft. He r doAvn the ail. Josiah •ut of sight, the farther AN INTERRUPTED PA8SAGE 229 see the men in the canoe now, and the raft itself was out of sight behind the little point on the farther shore. More and more puzzled Tom waited, but when a half hour had passed and none of the party appeared he »)egan to be alarmed. What was the meaning of it? Why did they not come ? It would soon be dark, and he began to fear that he had been abandoned by the others. He did not know the way to Jackson's camp, and as he thought of possible treachery on the part of their Indian companions, he began to be seriously alarmed, not only for himself but also for his hunter friend. Meanwhile the gloom incresised, the sun had long since disappeared, and the darkness would soon be at hand. )n began to e could not f" -sr- - I ji i ^, yn HI . . 230 TECUMSEirS YOUNG BRAVES CHAPTER XXIV I FOLLOWED THE darkness deepened while Tom waited for his companions, and he began to think they were prevented from coming. He was afraid something had happened to Josiah, and the suspicions wliich his companion had entertained concerning the Indians returned now to him, and he, too, began to fear that there had been foul play somewhere. He did not know whether to go away, or to wait longer where he was. If evil had befallen the hunter, it might soon be his turn to share in it also, for the Indians knew where he was, and if they had dealt foully with Josiah, it would be a comparatively easy matter for them to cross the river farther up the stream, and come upon him while he was un- aware. He decided that he would remain for a little while where he was, and await further developments. Several minutes passed in this way, but the only sounds that were heard were of the lapping of the waters and the wind sighing through the tree-tops. ited for his they were i something cions wliiclx erning the 90, began to iwhere. He wait longer le hunter, it also, for the jy had dealt •atively easy ther up the te was un- i little while Bvelopments. ut the only )ping of the he tree-tops. FOLLOWED 231 Suddenly his attention was directed by a sound that came from the river. What wsis that? It sounded very much like a paddle, and the slight spla-sh in the water wius soon followed by another; but who WiUs it coming? Was it Josiah returning, or did it mean danger for him- self? He peered out into the darkness and soon saw slowly emerging the outlines of the raft. He could discern the two bodies that were on it, and he hesi- tated a moment between his inclination to run, and his desire to wait and see who the approaching men were. Suddenly he heard a wliistle low and clear from the raft, and he recognized it at once as Josiah's signal. Reivssured by the familiar sound, he watched the progress of the raft as it was sent towards the shore by the combined efforts of the two men, for both were paddling. Yes, it was Josiah and one of the Indians. Tom had no difficulty now in recognizing them, and as soon as they landed he listened to the explanation which Josiah gave for their long delay. One of the Indians, as soon as the canoe had gone down the stream, had quickly started towards the little point below them that projected into the river, and taken his stand where he could watch the move- ments of the party that was fleeing. He had expressed to the hunter his fear that they might 232 TECUMSEirS YOlTSr, BRAVES return, and by making a detour come upon them from l)eliind, after they thought all (huiger liad piussed. " But you'i-e wet through, Josiah," said Tom, *' and your teeth are chattering like a woodpecker's bill against a tree. You're not fit to go over again. I'll take the raft this time and go over for thg other man, and you wait for me here." Josiah interposed a few feeble objections, but evi- dently he was glad of the proffer of his young friend, and Tom soon stepped upon the raft and grasping the paddle quickly moved out into the stream. It wjis not new work, for many times he had made a voyage down the river in a small canoe, or on one of the larger rafts that sometimes were made up by settlers and sent down to the mouth of the Alabama. Slowly he sent the little craft onward, trying to make as little noise iis possible, for he did not know but another party of stragglers might be coming down the river by this time, and he was not without fear that the party which had passed them might return. His progress consequently was not very rapid, and the young pioneer wjis watchful on every side ; but at last he crossed the stream in safety and looked about for the Indian who was supposed to be waiting for him. He approached the shore and stepped out upon the bank, but not a sign of the Indian could he see. He did not know but he had come to the wrong k fl | M«, i ' l M' FOLLOWED 233 them from tissod. laid Tom, odpecker's )ver again. r thg other J, but evi- mg friend, I grasping tream. had made or on one lade up by } Alabama. , trying to I not know ming down ithout fear jht return, rapid, and ide ; but at oked about ivaiting for it upon the >e see. He the wrong pUce, or perhaps Ik, had gone larther down the Itn-an. than he ha.l intended to; and yet he scarce y .lared to call, and was for the time undecided m to what ho had best (h). For several nanutes he stood there on the bank waiting for some sign of the presence of tbe ndian and he was about to resume his position on the ratt, and go farther up the stream, when he wiu, startled ,,y the sudden api.earanee ..f the young bmve. He uttered no word, but stepped quickly upon t,he mft and taking the other paddle began to ^^ssist Fom a once, and together they sent the little raft farther out into the river. ,„,,... They had not gone more than a third of the distance across the strean. when the Indian suddenly stopped and uttered a low warning word to his companion. He evidently heard sometliing that disturbed him. Yes Tom could hear it now, too. There was a sphvshof some kind farther up the river or was it down the stream? Tom could not tell at fi«t, but following the example of his companion he dropped his paddle, and taking his gun they both -silently awaited developments. For several minutes they retained their positions, not even uttering a word or doing so much as to wliisper to each other. Their raft meanwhile had drifted some distance with the current, and they wei^ afraid they would lose their bearings. The sound r~ w t ( i 2'M TKCFMSKirs VOUNCi BUAVKS wliicli liiid iii-nwted their uttontioii wiw not repeutiJtl, and once nioie gmsping tlioir piuldUw tlioy Hent tho iiift quite Hwiftly over the water and soon arrive' i at tlie I'artlier hank. Here they were connwlled to go some little distance up the stream Injfore they landed, so far had they drifted Indow tlie landing-place, and when once more they were with their companions tliey told of their delay and tho alarm wliich the sudden sphish in the river had caused them. Tom's companion, who hitherto had Iwen silent, said, " Canoe come back. Chase the white huntei-s." And from his convei-sation they learned that when he had gone down to the point, as Josiah had related, he had seen the men who were in the canoe, when they thought they were beyond the sight of the party that had fired upon them, turn about in their couree, and seek the bank which was on the side of the river on which they tliemselves then were. The Indian also urged them at once to start inland and make the best possible time. " He's right," said Josiah ; " he's right. I'm chilled to the bone, but we must put out of here right away. We've got a good many miles to go, and with woods as full of Indians as these are now, we'll be lucky if we ever arrive at Jackson's camp." " We can make a start, anyway," said Tom. "Yes," replied Josiah; "but there's no knowing )t repeiiUitl, oy Hent tlio II arrive' i at btle distance ir had they I once more ihl of their phvsh in the Ijeen silent, e hnntei-s." . that when had related, 3anoe, when of the party bheir couree, of the river The Indian d make the I'm chilled right away, with woods L be lucky if Pom. 10 knowing FOMiOWKl) 235 what we may run into. IM like to know wlu'th,-. Jerry and those yoiu.« bnives of 'Pecumseh's nuulc^ tlu'.r way all right, iind succeeded in getting into (Jeneral Jack- sou's camp. If they did, I don't see why we can't." "Of course they did," said Torn. "Jerry duhi't close his eyes on that journey, I'll warrant, and when his eyes are open, they're wide open." For some time they journeyed on in the darkness. Many mishaps were theirs, and frequently they stumbled over logs and were tripped by the vines, and more than once stepped into some mai-shy or boggy place that threw some of them forward upon their faces. At length, after three hours had passed, they made a brief halt, and as it was near morning now, they decided that it would lie safe for them to start; a small fire. They did this ; but as soon as Josiah's clothing wiw diy, and they had cooked what little food they had, they at once sttvrted on again. Their Indian companions now apparently had lost much of their fear, and explained that if they were pursued, it was more chan likely that by this time the others had lost trace of them. In another hour it was broad daylight, and then the Indians strongly urged them to wait for a few hours and see whether they were followed. "That's a good plan," said Josiah, "and we'll try it. It won't do us any harm to get a little rest, and ^ 236 TKriTMSKH'S YOUNO BR.VVKH it may he that wo hIuiII get rid of hdiiu! dangeiin by tmvdlling in the iiij,'lit and resting in the (hiytinie. To tell the truth," .losiah added, after he and Tom had stretclied theniselveH upon the Ixiughs they liad eol- lected, " I'm a good deal afniid that those fellows in the canoe will not give us up. They don't know how many of us there were, nor who we were, but whciii you po[>i)ed at them on one side and the two Indians on the other side, they must have concluded at once that you were acting together, and that there were only three of you all told. If that's so, it's very likely they'll send somebody after those they think are on the other side of the river, while they'll either come themselves or send somelwdy else after those who were on this side, and I think we'd better keep pretty (juiet tonlay." The Indians had Ijoth withdrawn from the camp and gone into the woods, and sis they had not exi)Iained their purpose in leaving, Josiah's feara returned, and he again became suspicious of treachery on the part of their guides. "I tell you, we can't trust 'em. We can't trust 'em, and this little nap that you and I planned to take, we'll have to give up — at least, I shall." "Well, I think if there had been any treachery in the minds of these Indiiins," said Tom, "they wouldn't have been apt to hit two of those men who were iu the canoe, and that's just what they did." I ■< Ak iwtiMriHmmtMKi iiirni ilinifft'i'H l)y tl Tom liml ey liiul col- fellows in on't know ! were, but ,nd the two ! concliuled that there so, it's very they think ey'll either after those setter keep 1 the camp y had not siah's feara )f treachery can't trust ned to take, Y treachery 'om, " they 80 men who ey did." % POLLOWKD 237 "That's 80," said Josiah slowly; "I'd forgotten that. They did tickle two of those fellows in the canoe, didn't they ? We're not j^oiiij; to IwiTow any trouble l)cfore we have to, and so we might just as well turn in and have a little nap, after all." This advice Tom (juickly followed, and soon both of these hardy pioneers were fast asleep. When they awc;v:e, both Indians had returned to the cami) and were prepaiing tlr birds they had shot for their breakfiwt. They had not used their guns, as they were fearful of the Drcsence of the enemy, but their arrows, wliich, evon thouf ^ they carried fire-arms, they were not willing to dir^i lu, had quietly and just as efficiently accomplish* J their pvrpose. The small fire was kept jsi long enough :• cook these birds, and then was put out again. Slowly the hours of the long day passed, and as the dusk drew on again, they made their preparations for resuming the journey. They were almost ready to start when Tom felt the to'.oh of one of the Indian's hands laid upon his own. He glanced up quickly and saw that the Indian liad also placed his finger upon liis lips. He whispered the one word "Com- ing," and although Tom was not able to detect any unusual sound in the forest, in a few minutes he too could hear th : v.upping of branches, and knew that some one was approaching. All of them had drawn back now, leaving their l;':: ..»».i. >-^ i. y«j i : ' j f * <» r'* - 238 TECUMSEH'8 YOUNG BIUVKS camp, and had hidden themselves behind the trees. They were excited and fearful. How many there were in the approaching party they had no means of knowing, and whether they were friends or foes they could not tell ; but soon they stepped forth into the cleared space and Tom could scarcely repress the exclamation of fear which rose upon his I'ps. There were five Indians and one white man whom Josiah at once recognized as the Spaniard who had formed one of the party which had captured him, and with whom he had gone to Econochaca. How the Spaniard had escaped from that place, when General Claiborne made his attack, he had never known; but as he had not found his body among the slain, he concluded that he had succeeded in making his way across the river, and had hidden with the Indians in the forest. But there were only four who had been in the canoe which had passed them while they were trying to make their way across the river, and here there were five of the Indians, not one of whom showed any sit^ns of a wound, and a Spaniard who perhaps might have been a member of the party; but the two additional wai-riors certainly showed that others were scouring the country, and that reinforcement had been drawn from them. The entire party stopped at the camp and curiously examined the remains of the meal which had been SSs^ssesw liiid the trees. iv uiany there d no means of Is or foes they forth into the ly repress the his I'ps. ite man whom niard who had tured him, and Dm that place, vttack, he had jund his body had succeeded ind had hidden ,d been in the ley were trying and here there whom showed ■d who perhaps by ; but the two hat others were forcements had ip and curiously ivhich had been FOLLOWED 239 left there. They tegan to examine the ground and look for the trail again, and Josiah almost chuckled iu^ he saw that they had followed the one made by - the Indians when they had left the camp in their search for birds. Tliny waited until all of them had parsed, and then Josiah whispered, " Phe Indians were right, Tom. Those fellows are follow- ing us." . "But where are our Indians?" said Tom quickly. ^ There's only one here. Where's the other one ? " " That's true," said Josiah, somewhat startled, " and I don't know what it means; but we've got to put out of this, and make better time than we have been doing, or they'll get us, after all." Summoning their companion, they stai-ted as swiftly and silently as they could go once more into the forest. They knew the enemy was near them, and they were in danger of an attack at any moment. Their fears were increased by the strange disappear- ance of the Indian who had been with them, and it was with many forebodings that they resumed their journey. „ "I hardly think they'll follow us in the darkness, said Josiah in a low whisper to Tom. "They'll think we're not suspicious of them, and that very likely we'll go into camp somewhere at night, and they'll plan to fall upon us then if they can." - "But what's that?" asked Tom suddenly as he ^1 »i »/,< - '"i JU P iLf ■* «> » '''" l ! ' J« « Wi' ^ i Hj7f^ i« rt't ii ti i o«w"g ' . i iiB ' ' wg >'< r» 240 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG KRAVES "There's some pointed into the forest by their side, one coining." All three of the men grasped their guns and stood silently awaiting the approach of this stranger. They could see his form, but could not determine whether he was friend or foe. How noiselessly he stepped over the dead branches with which the ground was strewn ! IIow swiftly he made his way even in the dim light ! They could see that he was walking confi- dently, and yet he made no sound that they could hear; but evidently he was approaching, and still holding their guns they all waited for him to come near. 11 There's some ns and stood inger. They nine whether y he stepped I ground was f even in the valking confi- it they coukl ng, and still him to come EMUCFAU 241 CHAPTER XXV EMUCFAU THE approaching Indian was soon recognized as their missing companion, and their immediate fears, as a consequence, were quieted; but the report which he brought was alarming, and they resolved to make all possible luiste and push their way on in the darkness, and through the unknown country. The Indian told them how he had seen the mem- bei-s of the other party apparently scouring the woods, and the hunter well knew that when they had begun a search of that kind it would not soon be abandoned. The Indian guides now led the way, and there was nothing for the white men to do except to follow their directions. However strong their own fears were,— and Josiah did not hesitate to express his own distrust freely,— there was nothing left for them to do but to make all possible haste and try to find some way of eluding their pursuers. All night long they worked their way onward, occa- sionally stopping to rest and to make such observa- tions as they could of the region about them. Several f I 5 m ^ , ^ fk i^0^ t^i m mt t i»,,. niiwi Bm^jH^ti]- 242 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES times they thought they recognized the presence of their pursuers, but each time they were fortunate enough to escape without observation, and when the daylight came it found them far on their way. The Indians led them to several places where they could lie concealed, and where they took such rest as they could gain. The journey was an exciting one now, and Tom declared that }ie thought he appreci- ated the feeling of the foxes they had chased when the boys had been on their hunting expeditions with Josiah. But all things have an end, and at last, in spite of Josiah's fears, the Indians led them near the place which they had no difficulty in recognizing as the camp of General Jackson. Fort Strother, where the general made his headquarters, presented an unusual appearance as our little party entered. Near the gate stood a tall, vigorous man, apparently in the prime of life, grasping a rifle in his hands and shouting excitedly to the soldiers near him, who evi- dently were awed by his words. So great was the excitement among the men that but little attention was paid to the entering party, and it was some time before they learned the condition of affairs at the fort. They were rejoiced, however, at soon seeing Jerry and Tecumseh's young braves approaching, who had succeeded in making their way into the fort, and who . jj^cJiai^Si! >iS! !! few,i..- ;«iM'»pf-=^" rf g ei»ii,* i j^ j;|jw n iiii ' >< rftf'MS ! r* » wi<^ • • ■ n ii ii t h mt 0m i» n i itfrmi t i j ltrin i mt iii j; i i^ fiiiil^ i . 244 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES forgotten. Apparently he was always in motion, and almost alone he had traversed the wilderness between the Coosa and the Tennessee, going backward and forward, stopping at none of the places for a long time, and yet lending his presence and his aid to all the movements. His chief desire now was to hasten forward the supplies for his new army, which was quite rapidly being gathered, and which was to take the place of his former one. The boys were greatly ii. erested, we may be sure, when they saw the advance of these new men. The first to arrive were two regiments, many of the soldiers being mounted. They had enlisted for sixty days and numbered about nine hundred men. They were, however, raw recruits and without any experi- ence in Indian warfare, except such as the border men continually had in their rough life. General Jackson determined to put them in motion at once and start towards the enemy. The Indians had recovered somewliat from their late disasters, and were beginning to show an aggressive disposition again. The general was satisfied that this must be quickly checked, or new and greater dangers would threaten the entire region. It was the fifteenth of January when Jackson led his new trooixs across the Coosa to the place where the liattle of Talladega had taken place. There he l< <| Hl | H ^ Hll. >ii , •«*4W>in>r i. ^ UIIJI l"' EMUCFAU 245 notion, and 388 between kward and for a long I aid to all jrward the lite rapidly 16 place of erested, we I these new nany of the }d for sixty len. They any experi- the border II in motion he Indians masters, and disposition is must be gers would n Jackson jlace where There he was joined by a band of two hundred Indians, most of whom were Cherokees and friendly Creeks ; and there, too, came Chief Jim Fife, for whom our boys had named one of Tecuraseh's young braves, who, as we know, was famiUarly called " Captain Jim." The warrior had brought with him some of the artillery that had remained at Fort Strother when the other troops had departed, and he also had a six-pounder of which he was exceedingly proud. Altogether there were nine hundred and thirty men now with Jackson, besides the Indians, and with these he started on what he called an " excursion " towards the Tallapoosa. In advance of him he sent two companies of spies, who frequently reported the condition of affairs in front. General Coffee, who had only forty men left of all his followers, all the others having deserted, was also among the number. On the twentieth they encamped at Enatochopco, near the Hillabee creek. Emucfau was only twelve miles distant now, and for this place the entire army started. When they had come near the village, the scouts reported that they had found a beaten trail, and the watchful general at once knew that a large force of Indians was probably not far away. Accord- ingly he thought it was prudent to lialt, and recon- noitre before advancing. He doubled the number of his sentinels, sent out spies in every direction, and formed his troops in a ^jWWffi ffw 3 W^C * ^ *T"^ i^^'-'- l^ 'XjjlLJ^ ' ii ri'». i t .i' 246 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES II I hollow square. All the soldiera were excited now, and yet there was a silence over the entire army. Hour after hour passed, and the men began to com- plain. They were kept in their positions uselessly, they claimed, and yet none of them dared to dispute the command of the resolute general. The scouts returned about midnight, and again reported that they had seen numbers of the Indians prowling about ; and at the same time when these messages were brought, another scout entered, reporting to the gen- eral that about three miles away there was a large body of Indians in camp. Some of these, he said, were engaged in a war dance, and others were remov- ing the women and cliildi'en from the camp as rapidly *aa possible. All these the general accepted as signp of an imme- diate attack, and he resolved to await it where he then was. His position was an excellent one, and he did not care to throw away his advantage by mak- ing any false moves. He knew that the usual hour when the Indians made an attack was near morning, and yet he did not wish his men to advance then from the position they were holding. The long night passed, and just as the first gray of the dawn was seen, the Indians, with yells, and bran- dishing their weapons, fell suddenly and with great fury on the left flank of Jackson's camp. This was composed of the troops which Colonel Higgins was mmS!0. ccited now, army. ypan to com- 1 uselessly, to dispute riie scouts >orted that ling about ; sages were to the gen- vas a large le, he said, vere remov- ) as rapidly ^i an imrae- t where he it one, and ge by inak- usual hour X morning, v^ance then irstgray of I, and bran- with great This was [iggins was EMUCFAU 247 commanding, and Geneml Coffee also w.i8 there and Imder his direction, assisted by the other officei^, these untrained men began a desperate fight, and .u^tomshod themselves by their own coolness. The Indians were held in check for ;, time, and when the light became clearer, reinforced now by Captain FerriU's infantry, General Coffee led the whole body in a vigorous charge against the savages. This was too much for the Indian courage, ihey could fight much better in a sudden attack of their own than they could when the situation was re- versed, and quickly thrown into confusion, they scattered and fied. For two miles the soldiei^ pur- sued them, and many an Indian fell by the way. General Jackson, who had been busy every mo- ment, as soon aa he saw the break in the forces of , the assailants, immediately sent General Coffee with four hundred men and all the friendly Indians to destroy all the camps at Emucfau. As soon as they appi-oached this place, they saw that it was too strongly fortified to be taken without artillery; so General Coffee marched back for the purpose of guarding the cannon on its way to a posi- tion where it could be brought to bear upon the town. This movement was misunderstood by the Indians, and they thought their assailante were now retreating, and with renewed courage a large body of them tell upon the right of Jackson's encampment. ' "A.Jif.U 1" t.„!._JUlil 4^' m 248 TECUMSEfl'S YOUNG IJKAVK8 (leiioml Coffee, whose excitement liiul nowl)ecoine inteiise, obtaiMi'd leave to load two luiiidred nieii to the support of that wing, and phuined to I'all upon tlie left of the cuidny at the same iiionient when the friendly Indians should fall upon their right flank. Here a great mistake was made, but whose fault it was no one ever knew. Only Hfty-four men followed General Coffee, but the excited officer, without wait- ing for more, at once, with those who were with him, fell upon the Indians, and General Jackson ordered the friendly Indians at the same time to fall upon the right flank of the foe. Quickly his order was oUiyed, and it produced a marked effect. The plan of the assailants had Ijeen to attack the right as a mere fehit, and then when attention had been called in that direction to fall with their main force on the left flank, wliich they bad expected to find weakened and in disorder. But General Jackson was too wary a man to be caught in this wise, and suspecting some such move- ment, he had not only ordered the men on his left to remain firm, but had gone there at om^c himself, and had ordered Captain Ferrill to bring the reserves immediately to this spot. As a consequence, the unsuspecting enemy, instead of meeting the left wing in their attack, met the whole main body, who, after two or tliree volleys were fired, charged them with the bayonet. This low iMJCoine red nieii to () fall upon t wlu!ii the right Haiik. )8e fault it sn followed thout wait- ! with him, on ordered 11 upon the produced a s liiid Ijeen then when on to fall h they had man to be luch move- his left to mself, and e reserves ny, instead :, met the ee volleys net. This EMUCPAU 249 was too much for the Indians' courage, and they fled in great confusion and were hotly i)ui> *iUf-' ■'.- ' " 1" '.' % - ."} ' '".-".• ' '■'. .-f^" - i J!-",' ' i in Jack- :erent from y had had, d constant le, and had 5w who re- xed by the wise dis- d that his its reward. 1 East Ten- owards the ly more ar- se. His joy ral at Fort h. Regiment trong. I brigade of » a troop of THE WRESTLERS 253 East Tennessee dragoons. The Choctaw Indians, also, now openly announced their allegiance to the United States, and by the end of February there was every promise that he would have five thousand men under his command. Meanwliile the few militia in the camp were Vjusied in the construction of flat-boats, and our boys had a share in this work. Amongst all the soldiers there was a feeling of unbounded admiration for General Jackson, and many accounts were given of his courage and his prowess. At that time he bad no living relatives, but his bravery, his physical strength, and undaunted will were the admiration of his soldiers. The stories were told how when he was a little fellow only thir- teen <>v fourteen years of age he had taken part in the struggle of the Colonists against Great Britain. His work as a soldier, his courage when a prisoner, and his kind heart were the themes of many a con- versation around the camp fires. The story, which is now familiar to every boy, of the refusal of Jackson, when he was taken prisoner, to clean the boots of tha British commander, was, perhapb, the most frequently told ; and the wound he had received, when he had been struck on the head and arms with the sword of the irritated officer, aroused the anger of his followers even then. His brother Robert, who also had refused the i ill ■; , 254 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES brutal eommaiid of the same oificer, had received a wound from which he never had recovered. They also told how, when Jackson was a prisoner, lie had used the razor-blade, which liad been left as the only means by which the captives could carve their food, to remove a knot in the wall enclosing the prisoner's, and had witnessed the action on Hobkirk's Hill. While these captives had been suffering from small- pox, the mother of the Jackson boys effected their exchange, and took them back to their home at Waxham, where Robert died, and where many months passed before Andrew's health was fully restored. Their widowed mother had then gone to Charleston to aid the American prisoners there, but she had been stricken with ship fever, and soon died. Andrew, as we know, worked for a time in a saddler's shop, and then taught school ; but before he had completed his eighteenth year he had resolved to become a lawyer, and although he paid more attention to horse-racing, foot-racing, cock-fighting, and other similar amusements which were common at the time, than he did to his studies, yet he managed to make a fair preparation, and soon entered upon a large practice. As the men at Fort Strother worked at the flat- boats, stories of Jackson's personal encounters were frequently told, and perhaps incited the men to many similar attempts, for the tedium of the camp ,| IS ad received a ivered. They isoner, he had "t as the only ve their food, the prisoner, •k's Hill, ng from small- effected their heir home at ) many months Eully restored, to Charleston t she had been a time in a but before he lad resolved to more attention ng, and other n at the time, aged to make upon -A large ed at the flat- counters were the men to I of the camp THE WRESTLERS 2r)r) life was relieved by frequent contests among the men. Their games were rough, and oftentimes led to feel- ings which occasionally resulted in a duel, although this was strongly condemned by the general himself. They shot at a mark, threw knives at a small piece of paper fastened to a tree, flung hatchets and tomahawks as tests of skill, and frequently engaged in wrestling- bouts. These were some of the rotigh means the hardy soldiers found to relieve their lonesomeness and test their skill and strength. These tests often led to quarrels which became at times bitter and full of danger, but the work of building the flat-boats went steadily on. The Indians did not work, but employed their time either in trying to furnish game and thereby add to the scanty supplies of the camp, or else they sat in silence and watched the white men at their labors. Among the militia there was one young man who had gained the name of " Big Bob." He was a quarrelsome man, perhaps three or four years older than our boys, and played the part of a bully amongst the men. He had been brought into contact with Tom several times in his labors, and for some reason, ap- parently had acquired a strong dislike for our hardy young soldier. He had noticed his warm feeling for Tecumseh's young braves, and as a method of torment- inf him had made disparaging remaiks about the \l ^■P 256 TKCUMSKJrS YOUNG lUi.WES young Iiuliiins, and had done all ho could to annoy them. At last Tom ventured to enter a protest, wliich the bully took as a personal grievance. Warm words followed, and in a few momenta Big Bob had chal- lenged our young soldier. Tom had no wish to fight, and yet he could not see his way to avoid a conflict, knowing as he tlid the feelings of the men and the interpretation they would place upon his refusal. Josiah Fletcher undertook the work of peacemaking, and in a long interview which he had with Big Bob tried to effect a compromise by a shooting-match. To all his proposals, however, the bully would not listen. Strong in his confidence in his own power, and per- haps feeling that the young soldier was afraid of him, he scornfully refused all the overtures of Josiah, until at last the hunter proposed that instead of a duel with guns, they should have a wrestling-match in the presence of the others. Big Bob agreed to this last proposal, declaring that he would "eat up the little upstart, and not leave a piece of him large enough to be found by the crows." The match was arranged for the following day, and it soon became evident that Big Bob intended to do all the harm possible to the young soldier. Tom had accepted the compromise of Josiah, but all Uirough the day he was quiet and thoughtful, as he well knew the strength of his opponent and the possibiUty of a ■MP TIIK WRESTLpniS £07 Id to annoy ;t, wliich the Tuvm words )b had chal- krish to fight, id a conflict, nen and the refusal. )eacemaking, ith Big Bob [-match. To Id not listen, vver, and per- iraid of him, Josiah, until id of a duel -match in the 1 to this last up the little large enough Dllowing day, lb intended to 3oldier. Tom ut all liirough he well knew •ossibility of a defeat which would make him the laughing-stock of the camp. The match was taken up by the men, and soon all were interested in the coming event. Tom spent some little time in practising witli his brother and Captain Jim, who wiis liimself no mean wrestler, and who knew some tricks which he tried to teach his friend. The next day th.e arrangements were completed, and the time soon came when the ccmtest was to take place. A large ring had l)eeu formed, around wliich gathered nearly all the soldiers of the camp. As Big Bob stepped fortli from the crowd of soldiera, Josiah could not conceal his fear, for the bully was well named. He towered above his young rival by a head, and liis large frame apparently wfis the very embodi- ment of strength. He was at least twenty-five pounds heavier than Tom, and his added years gave him another advanttige ; and yet as the hunter noticed his young friend he could not conceal his feeling of con- fideiicG in his ability to care for himself. Torn AVius somewhat pale and very qmet. He uttered no such boastful words as his rival did, and well knew that the task before liim was no slight one ; and yet the young soldier was no mean antagonist. While he was smalier and lighter than Big Bob, his body was athletic and the muscles stood out on his frame like wlupcords. His long experience in the 258 TECUMSEirS YOUNG BRAVES *p- pioneer life felling the trees, and doing such heavy work iw came upon the hoys after their father's death, had developed every muscle of his hody, and Josiah knew that he would do his host, and that " hest " would he something of which he need not ho ashamed, if no accitlent or unfair methods were used. In spite of the cold the men stripped to the waist and turned to the umpire for him to give the word to U'gin. '•' Which shall it he," said the man, who had heen selected to serve in tliat capacity, "a square hold or a side hold?" " A square hold," said Tom. "I don't want any square hold," growled the big bully ; " that's only fit for baby play and boys. If we're going to have a square test, let's have a side hold." Tom, stung by the scornful words of Big Bob, acquiesced, although he knew that this gave every advantage to his rival, for size and weight would count for much in a struggle of this kind; but the young soldier determined that, come what would, he would show no signs of fear. His heart was cheered as he noted the evident sitnis of sympathy for him amongfst the soldiers. " All ready, then," said the umpire. " It will be the best two out of three falls." Big Bob laughed as he said, " There'll be only one fall. That'll be enough." max -"^ter: THE WRESTLERS 259 ■ such heavy ithei's death, r, and Josiah that "Ixjst" b be ivsliamed, ed. I to the waist ive the word wlio had been qiiare hold or owled the big (oys. If we're , side hold." of Big Bob, is gave every weight would kind ; but the /hat would, he t was cheered pathy for him . " It will be '11 be only one He was full of confidence, perhaps a trifle over-con- fident, and yet Tom realized Jis he faced him now, that his antagonist was one not to be despised, and that all his strength and skill would be called into use. With a quick movement the men grasped each other and the struggle began. Big Bob tried, by putting forth all his strength, to tlirow Tom in such a way that he would fall upon him and perhaps crush him with his weight, but he was surprised when he found that the task was not so easily accomplished as he had thought. The young pioneer was not to be caught off his guard, and was holding liis own in a way that sur- prised the bully, and brought a cheer from the soldiers, who were interested spectators. Several times Tom wavered and almost lost his balance, but he clung to his opponent each time and managed to keep his position. At last both men were seen to topple, and in a moment it was evident there would be a fall. " There they go ! " shouted the men as together the wrestlers fell upon the ground ; but even then the bully was unable to force hia rival upon his back, and found, when he tried to move, that his own head wps held as in a vice. Side by side the two men lay, the face of each upon the ground, and unable to move, until with a sudden motion the bully drew back his fist and struck Tom in the face. A shout of anger was heard among the spectators v t tt mt ,, i m i l: " i ^ii ' . jpwi i u. i »m tffmw 260 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVB8 and a cry of " foul " arose from the crowd, and in a moment the struggling men were torn apart. A few moments of rest followed, and then the struggle began again. Big Bob was breathing hard now and evi- dently was very angry, and he entered into the work with even more spirit than before, and lees than a minute had passed before he had caught his young antagonist and thrown him to the ground, falling heavily upon him as he went down. The fall was fair, and evidently not unexpected by the men. Another rest followed, and Tom as he glanced about him could see that while the sympathy was with him, almost none of the crowd thought he was a match for his bulky foe. A third trial now foUowed, and as Tom stepped into the ring Captain Jim whispered to him, " Try the trick." Tom nodded his head by way of reply, and in a moment the struggle was renewed. Both wrestlers were straining now, and doing their utmost to end the contest. Several times Tom almost fell, but managed to regain his position, and for a time held out against his heavy antagonist. " He's down ! he's down ! " shouted the men, as again Tom almost lost his balance. " No, he isn't ! " shouted others, as they saw the young soldier regain his position and cling desperately to the bully. Tom was in a position now where he could look out upon the crowd. Who was that man standing on the outer edge? Could it be General Jackson? s 3wd, and in a part. A few truggle began low and evi- nto the work d lees than a [ht his young round, falling The fall was the men. s he glanced athy was with ;ht he was a Tom stepped to him, " Try way of reply, snewed. Both ig their utmost m almost fell, ind for a time t. d the men, as No, he isn't ! " ; soldier regain le bully. he could look , man standing neral Jackson? tr F "Ik- was thrown lu'iiillDiia- iiiul liiinl iqiDii tin- tirouiul." I'lKIr -JO I. I 1JIMP m^mmmi^mmg/m v.- »^l,niiAi'»***i*~*'»— ■"•- |ftUgfcjlff>>Wi^ I t f ^ ^^jjUaSEmit m m'inx ^.^ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHIVi/ICMH Collection de microfiches. jfe. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques iL THE WRESTLERS 261 Yes, it certainly was, and apparently he was an interested spectator. Again Tom almost fell, but as he regained his position he found the opportunity for which he had been waiting. The bully's arm had slipped a little lower in the struggle than it ought to have been, and the young soldier was quick to take advantage of the weakness in his antagonist. Putting forth all his might, he grasped the bully about the neck and slipped under him, exerting all his strength as he tried to throw him over his back. His head was bent far down now, and a shout of encouragement rose from the spectators as they saw Big Bob lifted for a moment from the ground ; but by a desperate effort he regained his position, although he found himself helpless in the grasp of his foe. Again Tom put forth all his strength, this time exerting himself as he never had done before, and the shouts of the crowd redoubled. Big Bob had lost the advantage. Slowly his feet came up from the ground, and almost before he was aware of it his body was brought over that of the young soldier beneath him and he was thrown head- long and hard upon the ground, lymg at full length, and stunned for a moment by the fall. The young soldier turned to the crowd, which now was cheering and shouting as though it had gained a victory over the Creek nation itself. They were rude and rough men, and the "rough and tumble" 262 TECUMSEirS YOUNG BRAVES which they had just witnessed, and which was a strut,'gle after their own hearts, made them heip their congratuhitions upon the young hero, for as such they regarded him. Tom, the moment he had thrown his antagonist, had started from the ring. He was panting from his exertions, and could scarcely reply to the words of pi-aise that were heaped upon him. Josiah, a.s proud as though Tom had l)een his own boy, was shaking him by the hand, but Tecumseh's young braves, though they had been interested spectators, were silent. "Tom," said Josiah, "did you know General Jackson had been here, and that he saw you throw that big bully?" " Yes, I caught a glimpse of him just before I tried that trick Captain Jim taught me, and I reckon it was the sight of him that gave me strength enough to lift that big fellow. I feel as though I had been moving a mountain." "That's all right as long as you moved it," said Josiah. " But the general says he wants to see you, and he wants you to come to his tent at once." Joined by Jerry they left the assembly and started towards the quarters of the general, wondering what the summons could mean, and half afraid that some punishment would be mea.sured out to them for engaging in the struggle through which they had just passed. 'hich was a m heip their for as such 4 THE CANE-COVERED CAVES 263 ■I antagonist, ing from lus the words of iah, as proud was shaking 3ung braves, 3, were silent, [low General w you throw before I tried i I reckon it mgth enough 1 I had been aved it," said its to see you, b at once." ly and started )ndering what aid that some to them for I they had just CHAPTER XXVII THE CANE-COVERED CAVES AUR young hero, for as such he was regarded by all the men in the assembly now, quickly re- covered from the effects of the struggle through which he had passed, and with his friend Josiah soon arrived at the general's quarters. " I wonder what Old Hickory wants of you," said the hunter. "I don't know any more about it than you do," replied Tom. " But why is it all the men call him ♦Hickory'?" " Oh, that was a name they gave him when he led his army })ack to Tennessee after that fiasco last year. They said he was as tough as the hickory. He wouldn't give up and couldn't be broken, and some- how the name has stayed by him ever since; but here we are, and we'll soon find out what he wants of you." They were at once admitted into the presence of the general, and here Tom again found all his courage going from him. The tall form of Andrew Jackson, /r*" 264 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVE8 his determined look, and above all the respect which he commanded, so impressed the bashful boy that he was at a loss for words. «I saw you," said the general abruptly, "lift that great hulking mass of humanity off from the ground and aing it over your back. You did well. I've been known as something of a rough-and-ready man m\'self, and I think I appreciate the qualities you showed as well as another; but I want to say one thinl'y;- y>ir>»-« jgf ?iar » * -rr5PK— r; ss THE SOLITARY GUARD 273 d the entrance ecision on the would remain 11 were to be which Captain these arrange- brave left the the coverings, 'ees and could which had ap- indred yards of he had allowed rved the move- 3ty was much ed and almost Behind the L could defend it each time he waited, so eager was he in watching the movements which the othera made. Keen though they were, they had not yet seen him ; and standing as lie was witliin the shadow of the trees, he had no difficulty, in the moonlight, in seeuig all that the othei-s did. They were in the light, and while they were watchful, as yet he had seen no signs which indicated their suspicion of the presence of any one in this well-known place of concealment. It soon became evident that they had come for the same purpose that had led Captain Jim's party to the place. He did not think from their actions that they were meditating any attack, but were simply seeking the shelter which the caves provided. He could see now that the party was divided just as liis was, and that there were tliree white men and three Indians in it. Suddenly the question occurred to him, " Suppose they should come to the same caves in which Josiah and the boys are ? " There were six of these caves, and they must occupy two of them, and if by any chance they should approach the very ones in which his companions were concealed tliere would he trouble at once. As this thought occurred to him, he started as though he would go again to summon liis friends ; but the others were too near now, and any movement on his part would be seen at once, and might pre- cipitate a trouble which there was still a possibility of avoiding. 274 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES Captain Jim stepped buck again into the shadow of the tree, and, almost fascinated now, watched the six men as they slowly and cautiously approached the caves. Which would they enter? The question was soon settled, for as they drew near they acted as though they were about to remove the covering of the one in which Tom and the two Indians were con- cealed. Captain Jim grasped his gun and prepared to dis- pute their entrance if they should attempt to make one there ; but his fear was relieved when he saw a change in their movements and they turned to the other caves whicli were farther down the stream. They quickly removed the cane, and, entering the two that were on the limits, pulled the covering back into place and quickly were hidden from sight. Captain Jim was now perplexed about his own movements. Should he still remain on guard, or summon his friends and with them try to escape at once from the danger which was so near them? He waited to see if the other party would place any one on guard, but he was relieved when he found after a few moments that evidently no one was to take that position, and all six remained within the shelter of the caves. He decided that he would retain his position and await further developments. There was no sign now of the presence of any one. "^i • ES to the shadow V, watched the 3ly approached The question r they acted as covering of the . lians were con- irepared to dis- tempt to make when he saw a ' turned to the vn the stream, d, entering the i the covering J hidden from about his own a. on guard, or try to escape at lear them? He d place any one he found after a ras to take that n the shelter of ould retain his lents. lence of any one. THE SOLITARY GUARD 275 Silence rested over the river, and not a movement was made along its banks. The occasional call of some bird in the forest and the lapping of the little waves upon the shore were the only sounds he could hear. Motionless as the tree behind which he stood concealed, the Indian waited ; and when a half hour had gone, the silence was still unbroken. Another half hour passed, and as nothing unusual was seen, he had about decided to summon his friends and with them seek the canoes which they had hidden down the stream, and attempt to make their escape. He had taken a step out from behind the tree when he was startled by tlie sight of some one emerg- ing from one of the caves occupied by the strangers. It was an Indian, who carefully replaced the canes and approached the shore. Back and forth he walked along the bank, with his head bowed, as though in deep thought. Evidently he was unsuspicious of the presence of ,any one there beside his companions. Suddenly Captain Jim started as the outlines of the figure became more distinct in the moonlight, and he recognized the well-known leader of the Creeks, the half-breed Weatherford. Captain Jim was greatly moved by the sight. What a noble-looking man he was ! Evi lently from his appearance he was in great trouble or perplexity. Once more the stru -Gfle which his nation was making for what they considered to be their own i ■J m$ TECUMSEFl'S YOUNG BRAVES liberty, and the preservation of the homes of their ancestors from the ruthless invasion of the white men, came back to the young Indian. He thought of the successful attack they had made on Fort Minis, and his heart stirred within him i\s he recalled the bravery of Weatherford on that day. His mind went back to the visit of Tecumseh and his brother, and again he could hear the burning words of the prophet as he addressed the assembled wan-iors. Many of the expressions he had used came back to the young brave's mind, and again he shared in the enthusiasm of that hour. Ho thought of the devotion of the braves to their leaders, and the determination so many of them had displayed to fight to the last, rather than give up to the white men. It was a tryhig moment for Captain Jim, and even more trying for his companions, although they all were unconscious of the presence of the great Indian leader, and of the struggle in the heart of Tecumseh's young brave. His mind wavered, and with the return of his former feelings he was almost ready to step forth and salute the great chief, and return once more to his al- legiance ; but he was watching Weatherford now, and sometimes the half-breed stood as though in contem- plation and motionless as a statue, looking out over the river and evidently seeing more than the moon- light disclosed. Then up and down the bank he would pace, frequently stopping and resuming hLs •*!^3SP«<»^.42f •-*»*»■ «• rrrr s ^'^^^'1 THE SOLITARY GUARD 277 unes of their of the white He thought ade on Fort as he recalled y. His mind I his brother, words of the )led wan'iors. came back to shared in the f the devotion determination it to the last, Jim, and even V they all were Indian leader, imseh's young e return of his step forth and nore to his al- ford now, and igh in contem- king out over lan the moon- the bank he resuming his attitude of contemplation. The younger Indian thought there waa an element of sadness now in Weatherford's bearing, and it seemed to him that much of his hopefulness had disappeared. It was a picture for an artist — the silent river flowing onward to the sea, the mighty forests that lined its banks, the moonlight streaming over all and revealing the noble figure of one Indian standing by the shore, and that of the younger one concealed behind the great tree. As we have said. Captain Jim's mind was waver- ing. His heart had been so stirred by the sight of his former leader, and moved by his evident trouble and sadness, that he was on the point of going out to meet him and of returning to the place he had occupied among his followers; but suddenly Weatherford turned and looked sharply down the river. Perhaps he was suspicious now of the presence of the other Creek, but in a moment he turned again, and going to the cave from which he hafl come, removed the cover- ing, and entering once more was soon lost to the sight of Captain Jim, whose pei-plexity and uncer- tainty were now much increased. Still Captain Jim waited. He did not know but the chief might return, and he watched the cave far more than he did the river or the shores. The strag- gle meanwhile went on in the young Indian's heart. He had no thought of betriaying his friends, and yet >^.r- ; i ;., i u j)i i ftt i r i f f ijy « r , i i b i . ii ^.5U. ii 278 TECUMSRII'S YOUNG BRAVES he waa yearning now for his own kindred. The recol- lection of the hravery of those he had left, and the presence of Weatherford, had revived his slumbering l)atriotisni, and his heart went out in longing for those who were of his own blood. When an hour had gone and Weatherford had not appeared again, the love for Tom and Jerry proved to be stronger than his yearning for his kindred ; and now that silence had again returned, he knew the time had arrived for him to summon his friends, and with them attempt to make their way from tliis place so filled with danger. Like a moving shadow now, the young Indian ad- vanced from his hiding-place, an- pear to be pretty much like blocks , bu;, the best thing we can do is to pull out of this right away." " That's the thing to do, " said Josiah, " especially since the redskin has disappeared now, and for all that we know he may be coming around tlu-ough the woods to outflank us." Yes, Weatherford had disappeared, and all six gave their attention to the canoes. They took their places silently, and, without using their paddles, at fust allowed the light canoes to float with the current. They kept near the shore and under the shadow of the bank, and soon a good distance had been placed l)etween them and the caves they had recently left. — i-^nsSWte-: tat TECUMSEirS YOUNG lUtAVES CHAPTER XXIX 1! WHERE WEHK THE BIIAVE8? OUR escaping party, for as such they considered themselves, were silent for a time, but soon they thought they were far enough from the place they had left to resume their paddling, and swiftly the little l)oatH moved with the current. Not more than a half hour had passed before, at a word from Josiah, the two canoes were brought closely together, and the hunter began to talk with his companions concerning the position in which they found themselves. " You see it's this way," said Josiah. " That other party was coming down the stream, and it's evident they were going in the same direction we are." " But they don't know we're anywhere near them," said Tom. "That's all true enough," said the hunter; "but we are near, and we may be in a good deal of danger from them too. There's one of two things we can do. We either can make the best time we can and try to keep ahead of them, or we can stop some- where and wait for them to pass." ..-^^mH-lHtmirt'immatm ■ mi»mi ' .m"f • ey considered but soon they le place they d Hwiftly the J^^ot more than i from Josiah, ;ether, and the )n8 concerning elves. " That other id it's evident n we are." re near them," hunter; "but leal of danger things we can ne we can and in stop some- /' WUEBK WKUE TIIK UUAVKSi' 283 » Oh, the other is tlio letter phm. Wf don't want to stop any more. Let's keep going until we're so far ahead of them there'll be no danger of their over- taking us," said Jerry. , , , " That's just what I should say," said the hunter, " if we were not pretty well tired out. You see Tom had all he wanted to do yesterday before we started, and we've l)een keeping pretty steadily at our work all the time. If we could have had a good rest to- night in those holes in the ground we f f I I „^15!m ' .' " *»'. ' U^ I ' / •2Hi TKCL'MSKIIS YOUNd HH.VVKH concciilcd upon tho bank, tho htyn (aiinlwd tlio 'oluff. " This is II j^ood i)lacP," said Tom, " we can see far up tho rivor and just as far down." " Yes, and wo can't 1mi soon oursolvos," said .lorry; "so I vote for inakinj,' this our camp." Thoy roturnod to tiio canoos and liid them moro so(Hiroly among tho hushes that Unod tho hank, and thon roturning to tho hluff made thoir i)hins for pass- ing tho romaiiKhjr of tho night. It wius agrood that only Olio should romain on guard, and that ho should summon tho othei-s if any signs of an approafdiing pjyty should Iw) soon. Ono of tho Indian hravos volunteerod to sorvo in this capacity, and soon tho othoiw wcu'o fast asleep. Scarcely an hour had passed before they were awakened by thoir guard, who called their attention to two tiny specks on the river which could bo seen in the moonlight far away. Captain Jim, long before any of the othoi-s were able to make out the occupants of the approacliing canoes, declared that they were the very ones who had landed at the caves. Nearer and nearer came the little boats, and at la«t, when they were opposite the bluff on which our party were concealed, they all could see that there were six men in tho canoes, and Captain Jim declared that he was able to discern Weatherford himself in the one which was nearer. cUiiiImuI tlio we CUM Hee fur 9," said Jerry ; id thorn moro tliK bank, and plans for i)ass- n\s agreed that that he shouUl n approaehing Indian braves , and soon the ore they were their attention could be seen im, long before t the occupants that they were fives. ats, and at la^^t, vhich our party ; there were six leclared that he iself in the one WIIKHK WKRK THE HH.VVE8? 28ft Josiah again .leclared that hr would not let this opportunity [.ass, and that he would tiy ^lie effect of a shot on the chief, 'i'he lM)ys, too, were eager Jiow, as they felt that they were in a place of safety and could eiwily defend themselves if au attack against them should Ik; made. The yoang braves wens silent, for they well knew that their ()i)position would l)e misun(lei>*tood, and iw the shot of Josiah rang out they looked keenly to see what the effect of it \vm. " I've missed him," said the hunter, chagrined; " at least, I can't see that I've done any damage. That's a great note for me, isn't it? " Hut the shot produced one effect, in that it quick- ened the movements of the men in the canoes, and soon they had disappeared down the stream. " I'm inclined to thhik that shot of yours was a mistake, after all," said Tom. " We don't know that these two canoes may not be followed by others, and if they are, your gun may have done more damage to us than it could to VVeatherford or any of his party." " Well, we can't do anything now," said the hunter, "except turn in for a time and get what rest we can, for before it's light we must start on our way again. That will give the others a good start, and I don't think they'll be apt to come back here to see how it was that we saluted them as they passed this bluff." . „ " If they keep up the rate at which they're going, r 286 TECUMSEirS YOUNG BRAVES said Jerry, " they'll soon be so far away that it will take them a full day to eonie back here against the current. I don't believe I ever saw a canoe slip over the water ius those did after you fired at them, and I think I know something about paddling a canoe myself." " We'd better wait here a while," said Tom, " and see whether there are any others in the party. Then if we don't see any one else, I think it will be safe for us to start." " Then we'd better get what sleep we can," said Josiah ; and they all stretched themselves upon the ground except the young brave, who resumed his position as guard. Josiah had declared that they were not far from Hatchet creek, and that he knew the region in which they were, as well as he did the place in which he had l)een born. In fact, he was certain that he could find his way over every foot of the ground in the darkness, but he had yielded to the suggestion of Tom that they should use their canoes as had been agreed, and go as far down the Coosa as Hatchet creek. They were all so thorouglily tired now, and worn by their exertions of the day and night, that in a moment they were fast asleep. It would have taken a very keen observer to have noticed anything un- usual on the bluff if he had been pi\ssing that night, for no fire had been kindled, and no one could be seen ..jA.^miem-'-^ VE8 way that it will ere against the , canoe slip over (d at them, and iddling a canoe said Tom, " and lie party. Then : it will be safe p we can," said selves upon the ho resumed his ire not far from I region in which in which he had hat he could find I in the darkness, ion of Tom that been agreed, and t creek. 1 now, and worn night, that in a k^ould have taken 3ed anything un- iwjsing that night, one could be seen WIIKIll': WKllK THE UKAVES: 287 except the young Indian, who was seated upon the grouiid motionless and still. He sat within the shadow of the trees, which effectually concealed him from the view of any one who might be passing on the river, and yet enabled him to see far over the waters. The owb hooted occasionally, and the sound of the ripples of the river could be heard, but neither of these kept any of the party awake. For some time they had slept uninterruptedly, when Tom sud- denly was awakened. Just how long he had been suileep he could not tell, nor wtvs he aware of what had aroused him. He wiis sitting upright now, and at fii-st could scarcely realize where he was. He glanced at the sleeping forms beside him, and the experiences of the past day at once came back to his mind. Somehow there was a feeling of fear in his heart, and he was conscious of some impending ill ; but the young pioneer was not prone to illusions, and he tried to shake off his nervousness. He resumed his posi- tion upon the ground, but found that he was unable to close his eyes. He remained there for some time, but his feeling of uneasiness increased every moment. "This is strange," said he to himself. "I don't know what's come over me. I think I'll just step out and relieve the young brave. If I can't sleep I might just as well serve as guard, and let the rest of them take their turn." 1 1I1.OI1 WiMW ll» ■ 288 TECUMSEII'S YOUNG BRAVES But for several moments he did not move, trying agiiin to fall asleep. Satisfied at liust that it would be impossible for him to sleep more, and as his feeling of nervousness wjus increiwing, he arose ar. I started towards the place where he had left the young brave on guard. As he moved out from the camp he was unable to discern the familiar figure, and he said to himself, " He's changed his position. 1 left him right here by the tree. I presume he'll be back in a moment, so I'll just wait for him." But when several minutes had passed and the guard did not return, he started up the bank to see if he was there. Not finding liim on that side of the camp, he turned and went to the other side, but not a sign of the young Indian appeared. , " That's strange," said Tom, feeling somewhat an- noyed; "perhaps he's gone into the woods or down by the river. I think I'll follow him up and see what's happened to him. He may be in trouble, or have fallen somewhere." But his search was unrewarded, and no, trace of the Indian guard could be seen. " I wonder whether anything could have happened," said Tom, now beginning to feel alarmed, and strange forelwdings coming into his heart; but he put away such thoughts, for he had not lost his confidence in the young Indian in spite of Josiah's suspicions ; and, indeed, the hunter had not mentioned his feara of late, ES t move, trying lilt it would be as his feeling se ar. I started e young brave wiis unable to iid to himself, lim right here : in a moment, 1 and the guard ik to see if he ide of the camp, but not a sign » somewhat aii- jods or down by > and see what's rouble, or have vas unrewarded, Id be seen, have happened," ned, and strange ut he put away lis confidence in suspicions ; and, I his feai-s of late, WIIEKE WERE THE BRAVES? 289 and apparently had come to Mieve in the mtegnty of the young bmves a.s much ii8 the boys did. He now began a thorough search. For a half hour he moved about amongst the trees and along the shore, but his search wiis still unrewarded. u Perhaps he's come back to the camp by this time, said Tom, " and I'll go back there myself and see. But when he returned it was to find that the guard wa3 not there, and his forebodings now were fast pa^s- l. into fears. Suddenly the thought of the other Indians occurred to him, and he did not know but they might be able to explain the absence of the guard ; and he stepped among the sleeping forms to fpeak to them. He w.vs thorougWy alarmed when he could find no trace of either of them. " They're gone, too," said Tom, -and something is • wrong. I'll have to arouse Josiah and Jerry, and per- haps they can shed a little light on tliis mystery. it wa/ some time before his brother and the hunter were awakened, but when they had listened to what Tom had to tell them, they were at once thoroughly awake, and alanned as well. .That's no more than I expected," said M. "I told you you never could trust a redskin, and its ,ny belief that these young braves who have l^en with Thave x^ally been acting in concert with Weather- lord and his party. K they l^ve, it means trouble for us, and that right away." .1 Mi ' ^^ ' * ' *" * s •• J^ 292 TECUMSEH'8 YOUNG BRAVES \ CHAPTER XXX JEKRY 8 VENTURE (TIHE discovery of the loss of the canoe increased -'- the anger of Josiah, which already was very keen at the disappearance of the young braves. He gave vent to his feelings in many rough expressions and sharp words. He declared again that he knew they were traitors, and had l^een traitora from the beginning. He was certain they never had had any serious intention of leaving the Creeks, and, indeed, he suspected they had been in their employ all the time and were in reality spies. He was positive that they knew of the visit of Weatherford, and had been acting in conjunction with him ; and why they them- selves had not been betrayed into the hands of the other party he could not tell, but he was certain that it was through no lack of willingness on the part qf the young Indians. To all of Josiah's charges the boys made no reply. They were silent and thoughtful now, and indeed there was little for them to say. The appearances certainly were against their friends, and while they £8 JERRY'S VENTURE 298 anoe increaaed iady was very g braves. lie gh expressions that he knew itora from the r had had any :s, and, indeed, employ all the a positive that , and had been vhy they them- ) hands of the as certain that on the part of nade no reply, w, and indeed le appearances ind while they had not entirely lost confidence in them, yet they knew that nothing they could say would place their case in any better light. Certainly their departure was strange, and the more the boys thought about it the less could they fii}d any cause for it. Josiah called their attention again to the events of the past day, and pointed out the behavior of Captain Jim at the cave, his opposition to their shoot- ing at the passing party, and the silence wliich he had maintained ever since they had left Jackson's camp. All these were not forgotten by the boys, and yet they were not quite so ready as their friend to condemn the young braves, and had a famt hope that in some way their disappearance would yet be explained. , , t • t, "But what's to be done now, boys?" asked Josiah. " We shall have to act, and right away too." " What do you think is the best thing to be done ? " asked Tom. "I feel about it in this way," said the hunter. "Those redskins will adopt one of two courses. They either will come back here with reinforcements, or else they'll plan to catch us as we go down the stream. You see, they must know now that we're here, and they know, too, what spot we're bound for, so they'll do one of these two things, I'm certain." « Do you suppose they're with Weatherford now?" asked JeiTy. 294 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG nilAVES " Yes, 1 think they're with Weiitherford," replied Josiiih scornfully, "and I think they've Men with him all the time in heart ; but I'll tell you what we must do. We'll have to change our camp, or else start again on our trip, and I'm inclined to think the fii'st plan is the better." " Where sliall we go? " disked Tom. i " My advice is to go straight across the river to the other side, and keep quiet there for a time and watch the couree of events. Something's likely to happen within the next twenty-four hours, and by that time we'll know what to do ; besides, you two boys liaven't rested enough yet to stand a hard tussle, and periiai)8 the break we'll have won't do you any harm." " We had better go right away, then," said Jerry, " if we're going to go." " That's my opinion too," said Josiah. And they started at once for the place where they had left their canoe. The long night was almost ended now, and the first faint streaks of the dawn were plainly visible. They took their places in the canoe, and paddled rapidly across the river ; but the other shore was somewhat different from the one they had left, and at first they could not find a place suitable for a landing. They went up the stream for a short distance, but as still they found no place, they reversed their course, and a little farther down the stream they landed at a spot which Josiah j-.i»i lirffttHiiiMimnifi •* ■I , III ■ m u m" ES * •ford," replied 've been with [ you what we camp, or else 1 to think the ;he river to the ime and watch tely to happen d by that time m boys liaven't le, and perhai^ harm." m," said Jerry, ,h. ace where they jht was almost cs of the dawn Ir places in the I river ; but the om the one they ot find a place up the stream they found no [ a little farther )ot which Josiah JERKY'S VENTURE 295 declared to be just such a one as tliey were looking The canoe was carried up the hank and hidden l,e- hind the great trees which grew close to the shore. As soon an this had been done, they returned and e„deavore.l to remove all tmces of their landu,g. They did not dare to start a lire, and made a break- fivstaa l)est they could from the provisions they had brought with them. ^ The waiting soon became tedious. Two of them were on guard all the time, while the third wius al- lowed to rest. Josiah declared that he had not the slightest thought of giving up their expedition, and, indeed, he said he wa^ more determined to go on to lloi^e Shoe Bend now than ever. But their danger was greatly increased. The whole region w^us filled with bands of prowling Indians, and they could not tell when they might have to fight for their lives. The apparent treacheiy of Tecumseh's young bi-aves increased their perplexity, and perhai)s added to their '^''"Tthey come back," said Josiah, "they might come by land, though I hardly think they'll take us to.be fools enough to stay there where we were, and be ffaught in their trap." -But they don't know we're on this side of the river," said Tom ; "and if they come by land they 11 have no means of coming near us." 2\)C) TECUMSKII'S YOlJNO BHAVKS "Thut'H 80," 8ai(l .loHiah, "anil so prokibly they won't ret.irn in that way. They'll think we won't abandon our canoe, an.l they'll l.e on the watch for u« as we KO .lown the river; hut I'm certain they won t give us crclit for giving up, an.l they know us well enough to iK) Hure that if they search long enough they'll find us somewhere between here and Howe Shoe Bend. " A constant watch was now maintained, one keeping his attention fastened upo' the upp. • nart of the river and the other guard Ai'i.tching the ic^ «)eh.w. Several times they saw logs Moating with the current, and at first were alarmed, as they took these to l)e canoes, but their nearer approach each time scattered their feai>*, although they did not ceiwe to maintiun their watch. The trees behind them were large, and grew close to the water's .dgo. Danger might l)e h king in the midst of these, and occasionally one of the lK)ys left the bank anJ wandered for a short distance witlnn the forest, but no sign of an approaching en»«>y was seen, and the long day at last drew to a close. "They'll Ik3 sure to return," said Josiah, " there s no doubt about that; but if we get tluough tfa|night all right, it'll ho safe enough for us to stM agaui, though I'm inclined to tlunk now that our better couree will l)e not to go down to Hatchet Creek at all, but to cross the river and start overland." T n prokibly they ihink we won't he watch for us •tJiin they won't )y know us well sh long enough here and Ilorae led, one keeping )j)r- nart of the he i«. iKjhtw. ,vith the current, x>ok these to Ixj ih time scattered Base to niaintiviu J, and grew close he h king in the > of the Ixjys left t distance within ching eni«iy was ;o a close. i Josiah, " there's Juough Jfta^ight 18 to stOTlT again, that our better Hatchet Creek at jverland." JBUllY'8 VENTURE 297 u But there'll l)e danger there too," said Tom. .1 doubt,'' replied the hunter; l^lnath^^^^^^^^^^^^ .vdskins knew we had started for Hatchet (. leek, so r th opinion that they'll 1. watclung for u, . Zve if they don't come back here pretty soon. O , t^^^Z^^^^ri^-- r-s sure that wen retcm again, .« I am that to-morrow's BunwUl "u Hut if Oeneml Jackson is right and the Indians are ally gtft^ering at lUn.e Shoe Bend," saxd Jerry, " don 'sSat we'll l.tter matter, by gomg across the river. It will be like jumping out of the fryxng- pan into the ftV replied the hunter; "That may all be true, lei'" .. J„„e d»„gcr »iU be only ge-eml and the other « U bo very Uieub.r, tor tbereU to a party down C tl» nouth of Hatchet Creek watehing for J t to or three day. yet, you .»ay n»t a^snred of ""only one ward wa» maintained daring the night, .„d Xh Lu hta turn at t,>e h.bor, the^ber, -- „ble to sleep and pun their needed -^t;^ /hey ventOBd to start a small iir. in the »orn ng, ,^t 'm&o cook the fish whieh Ton, caught They la^f^red to «sume their «atch and Josjah had *^:Ln his position when he -OO-'^ ""^^ ^1 " There's a canoe cminj up the nver, and both boys came quickly to his side. I— uifj i,lW<]« riiii 208 TK( TMSKIIH YOIINIJ nUAVKS m I Y»'«, tlioii! WiiH II littlo moving njint wliiili thuy could Hft! fur down t]w riviT. 'i'lio ki'i-ii Ki;rl,t wliii-li nil posHfSMotl HiitiHCu'd each tliiit the ImntcrV wohIh wi'i-o tnu', and forj,n!ttiiij; nil tlio other daiijjeix they Htood and watrlu'd the approaihinj,' object. It Moon took on a more definite f«»rni, and they could clearly see the outlines of the canoe, and discern the three figures which were in it. No other canoes were I'ol lowing, at least none that they could see iw yet, and it was not long before they could clearly make out the bodies of the men as they plied their paddles. "That's C'aptain .lim's canoe," said Tom at last excitedly; "and if I am not very much mistaken, they're Tecumseh's ycunig braves themselves." The three men were soon near enough to confirm the trutb of Tom's words, and the hunter iw well ua the l)oy8 were highly excited iw they watched their move- ments. As the canoe approached the place where their cam}) had been, one of the Indians laid iwide his paddle, while they cautiously and slowly approached the shore. Evidently there wa« something strange in all this, and the boys eagerly waited to see what the outcome would be. Their curiosity was soon satisfied when the little canoe was sent ashore and the three Indians, after diawing it upon the bank, disappeared among the bushes. What could be the meaning of it all ? Had they returned hoi)ing to find their companions in the place Tfc.'l-'jl . .1 I ll 1 HFTT «I— r kVKS ipdt wlii(!h thtiy een Mij^lit wliicli IiiiiiU;i''h \V(Hut the way I feel now. I knew what the redskins would do, and yo.i see they ve done it, though whether it promises us any good or not 1 ra not certain." , « i.u Suddenly Jeny bi-oke in uj^n the words of the hunter, saying, " I'm going to take our canoe and go over there and see for myself what Tecuniseh s young n ifu j *> . a>i»>g^^.j 300 TECUMSEHS YOUNG BRAVES biuves are doing. I never half believed they were as bad as Josiah tries to make them out, and I'm going to tiy now to find out just what they're up to." "Well, you're not going alone, then," said Tom, " for I'm going with you." "That you're not," said the hunter; "and I'm opposed to ei ther one of you going." " But I'm going to go," said Jeriy firmly, "whether you're opposed to it or not. I'm going to have this matter settled. I don't believe Captain Jim was ever a traitor, and I know I shan't run into any harm." "Well, if you're bound to go," said Josiah, "it's better for one to go than two. So, Jerry, you take the canoe and go alone. If you get into any trouble, you're to use your gun, and we'll know then that we're to come and help you." " Yes, without any canoe," said Jerry. " Oh, that's so ! " said the hunter ; " I hadn't thought of that. I don't believe you'd better go at all." " But I'm going," said Jerry ; " so good-by to you." He ran quickly down to the shore, and stepping into the canoe began to paddle his way rapidly across tlie river. ■ V ^ M i ' Jwii ^ ' m *: id they were as , and I'm going 6 up to." en," said Tom, ^r; "and I'm rmly, " whether ig to have this n Jim was ever > any harm." id Josiah, "it's ry, you take the to any trouble, lUow then that [ hadn't thought go at all." jood-by to you." }, and stepping y rapidly across A DISTURB Kl) PAKTY 301 CHAPTER XXXI A DISTURBED PARTY THERE were sad forebodings in the hearts of those who stood on the bank and watched Jerry as he made his way across the stream. They were afraid of treachery on the part of the Indians who had so strangely left them and so unexpectedly returned. Josiah frequently repeated his expressions of fear and lack of confidence in the young braves, and again and agam declared that he had known from the beginning that they would prove to be traitors and bring nothing but trouble upon their friends. His words were not wthout their effect upon Tom, who watched the movements of his brother with increasing distrust. They held their guns in readi- ness, and although they had but little hope of being able to inflict any damage at the distance they were from the other bank, still they resolved to do what they could, and assist the young pioneer if he should meet with unexpected perils. Jerry meanwhile was paddling his way across the river, and was not without misgivings of his own. / r , ift{ ili Vfatf~ .iWi' ii "' I I " jai.v 302 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES As he approaclied the bank these feara increased, and his heart was beating rapidly when at last he landed, and, after drawing his canoe into a safe place, started towards the bluff. He could see the Indians before they noticed him, and they were evidently examining the camp for signs which would indicate in which direction their recent companions had gone. i As Jerry approached and spoke to them, Captain Jim uttered a low exclamation, and all three turned and faced liim, waiting for him to join them. The conversation that followed was not a lengthy one, iis the Indians were not much given to talking; but before they could have explained the cause of their sudden disappearance and the reason for their return, there suddenly came the w^aming signal from the other bank which had been agreed upon. Jerry at once answered, indicating that he would return, and calling to the young braves, he bade them follow him. lief ore they could step into their canoes the warning was repeated, and tliis time it was given in such an urgent manner that Jerry knew some danger was near. Although he could not see what it was, he was certain that it was close by and threatening. He called upon his companions to hurry, and in a few moments they were paddling rapidly across the river. They had scarcely arrived at the other shore, and drawn their canoes into a place of concealment, when ! , ' a i sa ? ,i>j!eww- ably doing all they can to stir up the Indians, and furnish supplies and arms for the redskins. I wish we could stop them. I'd like to take that fellow into my charge, as he did me into his." • ' Meanwhile the canoe came swiftly on. There was no indication that the men were intending to land, and the fears of our party were relieved when they saw the new-comers pass. They came so close to the shore that they could easily discern the features of the men, and it liecarae evident that Josiah was right, and the Spaniard who had captured him was one of the three men in the passing canoe. Almost as rapidly as it had come, the little boat went on down the stream and in a brief time had disappeared from sight. " What shall we do now?" asked Jerry, breathing a sigh of relief. " That remains to be seen," said Josiah. " We'd better find out what these young Indians have got to tell us. What made you go. Captain Jim, and where have you been ? " The young Indian felt the suspicion in Josiah's tone, and it was evident that he reciprocated the feel- ings of the hunter. He would reply to no questions ■i ^f^—rnfmn, : ' '■"' ''.., 306 TECUMSEirS YOUNG BRAVES I at first, but after a time he briefly told them that he had heard of the gathering at Ilorae Shoe Bend, and that he now wiis informed as to the numbers there, and the fortifications which were l)eing built, and also that he knew of the preparations which were being made to receive the expected attack of Jackson's army. " How do you know all this ? " asked Josiah sus- piciously. But Captain Jim made no reply, nor would he enter into any explanation of the cause of their dis- appearance on the previous. night. The boys, with the return of the young braves, felt their own confi- dence in them somewhat restored, and were willing to trust the words of Captain Jim, and return at once to Fort Strother with the message he had brought ; but Josiah so strongly objected to this that they were compelled to listen, and prepared to follow his instructions. "We'll go on now," said Josiah. "I think our best course will be to go down to Hatchet creek as we first planned. All the parties we've seen have been going in that direction, and while we're likely to run into a nest of the redskins somewhere, or find some of these treacherous Spaniards and British in our course, we're strong enough to find our way if there are not too many of them, and hold our own with the best of them." them that he oe Bend, and imbers there, uilt, and also 1 were being of Jackson's d Josiah sus- lor would he of their dis- le boys, with eir own confi- rere willing to iturn at once had brought ; lis that they to follow his "I think our chet creek as ve seen have ) we're likely where, or find British in our r way if there own with the A DISTURBED PARTY 807 As soon as this courae of action had l)een decided upon, they brought their canoes once more down to the river, and as soon a.s everything was in readmess, resumed their places and sUuted. They were more watchful now than ever, and the sensa of danger increased every moment. Josiah was calm and col- lected, and apparently cared no more for the dangers into which they were entering than he did for the quiet life at the camp ; but the boys were unable to restrain their feelings, and as they went on their nervousness increased. In this way they had gone about five miles, when Captain Jim called the attention of them all to smoke which he could see on the left bank farther down the river. He declared that it was the smoke of a white man's fire, and the keen^eyed hunter, who, in spite of liis age, could see far better than the boys, comcided in the judgment of the young Indian. He expressed liis fear in low tones to the boys, that the Indians were leading them into some trap; but Tom assured him that if such wai the motive of Captain Jim he had taken a very strange method of action, for he had called their attention to the sign of danger when they were still far away from it. "We'll go on for a little farther," said Josiah re- luctantly. "We'll go slowly and carefully, though, and hug the shore all the way." The smoke became more distinct now, and both Mm. i .wH i itmun' I w. 808 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES Tom and Jerry were able to see it clearly. They kept on their course until they were about a half mile above the phce where they thought the fire was, and then landed. Their canoes were hidden in the bushes, and they withdrew into the forest to talk over their plans. Josiah declared that he knew every foot of the country here, and his advice was that they should advance carefully and see what there was about the fire. " There are six of us," said the hunter, "and I've no doubt that that smoke comes from the fire that those three white men we saw pass us up the river have kindled. I should like to turn the tables on them, and carry that Spaniard into camp with me." " But we didn't come out here to take prisoners," said Jerry. " If we should be lucky enough to capture these men, it would prevent us from going on to Horae Shoe Bend, and I think that General Jackson would a good deal rather know a little about the con- dition of affairs there than he would that we had come back to camp with three prisoners ; besides, we don't know that this camp ahead belongs to the men we saw, at all. It may be that there's a dozen there." "That's so," said the hunter thoughtfully, "and perhaps we'd better send some one ahead to try and find out just the lay of the land. We can't be more rjt'iirtiiiti[Trfmf*"°™ I learly. They lut a half mile 5 fire was, and idden in the orest to talk hat he knew is advice was ind see what ter, "and I've . the fire that IS us up the to turn the ird into camp ke prisoners," ugh to capture going on to neral Jackson about the con- that we had s ; besides, we gs to the men ere's a dozen [htfuUy, "and ad to try and can't be more 'It .lu«l li'tnli' thrill tlli'\ cullM -.-.■ till' Cillllll /',i(l, :!H;i. A DISTUUBEl) I'AUTY 300 thiin half a miU- away, and it won't take long to find out the condition of atl'aii-H ahead." It wiw accordingly decided that Jerry and Captain Jim Hhould advance and learn all they could alnnit the party which they suspected wiw ho near tl>em. Ah 8oon as iK)HHil)le they were to return to the otliers, who would remain in waiting where they then were, and their future couitte of acti(m would lie decided upon. In accordance with this plan Jerry and the young Indian started through the woods, and after they had gone the niost of the distance, they l)cgan to advance with great caution. They stealthily a^iproached, all the time endeavor- ing to keep some large tree l)etween them and the camp, which now they thought they might see at any mo- ment. They went on for some distance in this manner and their search was at last rewarded by the view which they obtained. Just before them they could see the camp. There were only tlu-ee men about the fire, and they had no difficulty in recognizing them as the ones who had come down the river in the canoe. Two of them were English and one was a Spaniard, and they also saw that Josiah was right when he declared that he had been his captor. The men were talking earnestly, and while their tones were not low, the boys were unable to hear what the)' said. Accordingly they tried to creep a little nearer the camp, and so successful were they 310 TECUM SEHS YOUNG BRAVES that at last, standing behind a large tree, thoy were enabled to hear the conversation, and distinguish the words of tlie men before tlieni. Jerry was esjiecially interested in what he heard, for it fully confirmed the report which Captain Jim had brought, and strengthened the confidence which he had in Tecumseh's young braves. The men were talking about Hoi-se Shoe Bend. It was evident that they had been on some expedition which concerned the gathering of the Indians, and that they also had been busied in strengthening the courage and hopes of the Creeks. Supplies had been furnished from Pensa- cola, and a large number of white men had been at the Bend, assisting the Indians in erecting the fortifi- cations and strengthening their defences. Their conversation soon turned upon the number of men who were assembled there, and Jerry was de- lighted as he heard even the number of the Indians declared, and also the numbers of the reinforcements which they were expecting. So interested were they in what they heard, that more time passed than they realized, and Jerry was startled when his companion suddenly touched his arm and pointed towards the forest behind them. Jerry looked in the direction Captain Jim had in- dicated, and could plainly see a number of men who were approaching the camp after the manner in which tree, tlioy were distinguish the what he heard, 3h Captain Jim )nfidence which The men were i^as evident that hich concerned it they also had ige and hopes of lied from Pensa- en had been at 3ting the fortifi- !es. n the number of I Jerry wiis de- of the Indians reinforcements hey heard, that zed, and Jerry ddenly touched forest behind lin Jim had in- bei" of men who lanner in which A DISTURBED PARTY 311 they themselves had come. They dodged from one tree to another, and were endeavoring all the time to keep themselves concealed within the shadows of the forest. Jerry's firat thought was to break and run. Here he was beset by two dangera, and in the midst «* both he was fearful that his own chances of escape would be very poor indeed. He turned to put his thought into action when he was startled as he recognized his brother as one of those who were approaching. Together with Captain Jim, he then withdrew from the place in which he had been standing, and soon they met their advancing companions. The cause of their approach was quickly explained, and Josiah told them how after so long a time had elaaped, and noth- ing having been heard from them, they began to be fearful of some evil having befallen Jerry and his companion, and decided to advance to their aid. Jerry told his friends of the conversation he had over- heard and urged them at once to return to their canoes. Josiah, however, was determined to see for himself the condition of affairs in the camp, and started for- ward. He had taken but a few steps when his ap- proach was overheard, and the three men, thoroughly alarmed, quickly rose to their feet. They caught a glimpse of the othei-s in the forest, who as soon as they had seen that Josiah's approach f 312 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES W118 known had started to advance to his assistance ; but the white men did not wait to make fu- ther inves- tigations, for it was evident that they thought a large party wsus approaching. Their presence now could no loncer be concealed, and for a moment the two parties stood silently facing each other. aMaiifiTiifriTtHHiiit'- J I . .ir ij XiiiuHTain his assistance; e fu! ther inves- thought a large nee now could oment the two ler. UP THE COOSA m CHAPTER XXXII UP THE COOSA THE confusion we have described in our last chap- ter lasted but a moment. When all the mem- bers of our party stepped forth into view, the three men into whose camp they had broken evidently thought that a multitude was approachmg. Each party had been fearful of an attack, and the unex- pectid meeting which had taken place left neither ready for prompt action. The three white men, how- ever, without waiting to make further investigations, at once turned and ran from the camp. At first they started towards the river where they had left their canoe, but they had gone but a short distance when the folly of this course was seen and they turned quickly and ran along the shore. They dodged in and out among the trees and disappeared from sight almost before the others realized what had occurred. They were gone, that was evident, but they had taken no guns with them, and there was little danger now if an engagement should occur. 314 TECUM8EHS YOUNG BRAVES Consequently, Jasiiih, urging his young companions to follow, immediately started after them. The Imnter kept up well with the younger men, and for fifteen minutes they ran in the direction in which they thought the othei-s had gone. During this time they caught no glimpse of the men, and finally Josiah, almost breathless, stopped and said, " There's no use in our following them any further. We might as well look for a needle in a hay-stack. The thing for us to do now is to go back where we came from, and take our canoes and start on again. I don't think these men will be very likely to trouble us. They seemed to be more afraid of us than we were of them." The mention of the canoes at once aroused his com- panions' interest, and they returned as rapidly as possible to the place where they had left them. If these had been taken, they would be left without any means of continuing their voyage down the river, or of returning. As they approached the river again, Captain Jim called their attention to a little canoe they could see far out on the water. In it there were three men, and they had no difficulty in recog- nizing them at once as those whom they had been pursuing. "They've doubled on us arid got away," said Josiah. " They led us down the stream and then dodged about amongst the trees and came back to ' ^." • •' *i / r m ng companions im. 3 younger men, the direction in gone. During the men, and iped and said, in any further. in a hay-stack, back where we start on again, ikely to trouble of us than we roused his com- as rapidly as [ left them. If Bft without any m the river, or lie river again, ) a little canoe r. In it there culty in recog- they had been jt away," said ream and then came back to UP THE COOSA 315 their camp. They've got their canoe now, and we shan't be able to catch them." "I wonder if they have their guns, too," snid Jerry, and he started towards the camp which they had abandoned, but he soon saw that nothing had been left behind. They had been outwitted cleverly, and there was nothing for them to do now but to decide what their own movements should be. « It's that young Indian's fault," said Josiah in a surly tone, pointing to Captain Jim. " I think he knows more about this camp than he cares to tell." But the young brave was silent, apparently not hearing the hunter, or giving him any attention if he had heard liis words. Josiah was much chagrined. He prided himself upon his woodcraft, and his ability to do in the forest more than other men, and now to have been outwitted by his captor and the tv o men who were with him, increased the mortification of the hunter, and he was inclined to vent his feelings upon his companions. He stood on the bluff for a moment, and fired a shot at the departing canoe, but it was too far away for him to inflict any damage. One of the men waved his hand tauntingly, but that was the only reply they received. Our party now assembled about the fire which the others had abandoned, and there Jeny told the story which he had overheard when he had approached the camp. The wamors from the Hickory Ground, Oak- 316 TECUMSKirS YOUNG BKAVES choye, P^ufauliihachc, Fish Pond town, and many others had gathered together at the Horse Shoe Bond, or Tohopeka, as the Indians called the peninsula formed by the loop of the Tallapoosa. In this little peninsula there were about one hundred acres. Jerry reported that many wliite men from Pensacola either were there now, or had been there recently, and along with some of the half-breeds had built a very strong brciustwork of logs across the neck of the peninsula. Through this breastwork they had cut two rows of port-holes, and arranged them in such a manner that those who should assail the place would be exposed to a cross-fire from those within. Behind this breastwork was a mass of logs and brush, and near the river at the base of the peninsula there was a village of log huta where the Indians had moored hundreds of their canoes, so that if the garrison should be hard pressed they would have means of escape convenient. The most of this peninsula was covered with trees. Stores and supplies of food sufficient for a long siege had been collected in the fort, and the Indians assembled there thought they were prepared: to resist almost any attack that might be made upon them. Jeny told all this to his interested listeners, and Josiah quietly asked, " Did you hear them say how many there were there?" "Yes, they said that with the women and children J US n, and many •se Shoe Bond, the peninsula re about one my wliite men , or had been the half-breeds logs across the lis breastwork and arranged [) should assail •fire from those a mass of logs le base of the iut3 where the leir canoes, so . pressed they ent. jred with trees, [or a long siege 1 the Indians epared- to resist upon them, i listeners, and ■ them say how m and children UP THE COOSA 317 there were about twelve hundred. I think they said that about a quarter of the number was made up of these. It seems," continued Jerry, "the Indians regard this spot as absolutely safe, and they're a good deal cheered up since the fight at Emucfau and Econochaca." " Emucfau is only about four or five miles away from the Bend," said Josiah, "and they haven't had far to go since the la.st fight. They call this Horae Shoe Bend Cholocco Litabixee in their language, and it's a good place, too." "But what shall we do now? The words Jerry has heard," said Tom, "are just like those which Captain Jim" reported. I don't see any use in our going on, and I think we'd better start back for the fort. We should have to take a good many char^ces in making our way on to the Bend, for it's a good forty miles from here at least, and if we should happen to be taken prisoners, or any accident occur, this infor- mation which we have now had from two sources would be lost to General Jackson, and I think he cares more about that than anything else that we can do just now." "Well, our white men have gone," said Josiah, " but they've left some information behind them." "Yes, and that's a good deal better than taking three prisoners," said Tom. 'Well, I reckon," said Josiah, "that we've got tn;. 818 TECUMSRII'S YOUNO BRAVES 'i about tlie truth of the mutter, and tlie general will Ije glad to hear it, and, of course, he ought to know what we've learned although we have had it Hecond hand. We might get off, as Tom says, if we started to go across the country, so I'm inclined to think that we'd better do as he suggests." This proposal was at once agreed to, and going to their canoes they immediately embarked and started on their voyage up the river. Captain Jim insisted upon taking Jerry in his canoe, and this left one of the young Indians to go in the other. As they paddled on. Captain Jim told his young friend the story of his absence. He did this in few words, and in a very disjointed manner, but Jerry learned a new side of his friend's character. It seemed that the sight of Weatherford, or Red Eagle as he was often called, had aroused the feelings of the young brave more than he knew at the time. The thought uppermost in his mind was of the strug- gle all his friends were making to keep the lands of the Creek Indians from the white men, and hold them for the use of their own people. Into this region many reckless and evil-minded men had come, and the Indians had suffered greatly at their hands. It was natural that they should wish to retaliate, and they had done this after their own traditions and customs. After Weatherford and his party had gone down the stream, Captain Jim thought over these things, AVES UP THE COOSA 319 le general will Ije fbt to know what (1 it second hand, we started to go D thiiik that we'd to, and going to rked and started iain Jim insisted . this left one of other. As they ^ouiig friend the I few words, and ry learned a new .therford, or Red used the feelings new at the time, was of the strug- eep the lands of n, and hold them Into this region lad come, and the r hands. It was taliate, and they )ns and customs, had gone down '^er these things, and could not rouse himself from their influenc(f. More and nu)re he longed to sec the halt'-hreed leader again, and to hear frouj him some word such as he had often spoken to his young brave. The feeling had iHJcome so intense, that at last during the night, when he was on guard, he had resolved to leave his white companions and once more join the warriors of his nation. He knew that Weatherford could not be very far down the stream in advance of them, and summoning the two young braves they had taken their canoe and stai-ted down the river. They had soon found Weatherford, and to him Captain Jim had freely told hif. own feelings, and his experiences during the past few weeks. Weatherford had replied in a dignified manner, but sadly, and told the young braves that, while he should be glad to have their aid, he was liimself convinced that the war was almost over, and that this last stand that the Creeks were trying to make at Horse Shoe Bend would be the end of the struggle. Perhaps it also would be the end of the existence of the nation. At any rate, he had not encouraged the young braves to follow him, and had told them that if they could re- main where they were, without fighting against their own nation, it would be better for them to do so. When Captain Jim had told him of the expedition on which he had started with the other braves and 8S0 TECUMSKirS YOUNO BRAVES his white f()ini»iiuion9, VVcatherfora hud replied that he hud no het ituti(.ii in dechiiing just the condition of affaii-8 ut IIo'--»e Shoe Hend, and it wus from him that the young brave had (jhtained tlie information which he brought back to his comi)anion8, and had reported soon after hi» arrival. Somehow in Jerry'H heart there was an increiwed i-espect for TecumHeh's young braves. He realized now as he never had before how severe wa« the strug- gle in their own hearts, and how strong the love they had for their own nation. They were as much ItatriotB a** any men who had fought for their land and homes, and the only trouble arose from the fact that others had envied their possessions and had striven to drive them away from the homes of their ancestora. This convei-sation Jerry did not repeat until years afterwaid, and then only to his brother. The canoes meanwhile steadily made their way up the Coosa, and by nightfall our party had arrived at the caves in which they had sought shelter so re- cently. In spite of the danger, it was decided that they would again use these places ; but this time no visitors came, and without any interruption they re- sumed their voyage early on the following morning. Late in the afternoon they arrived at Fort Strother, but as they entered within the enclosure it was appai> ent that there was confusion in the fort. The fiist man they saw was Big Bob, who good-naturedly s replied that B coiulitiou of TOin him that Illation which had reported an increiised He realized was the strug- the love they ere as much their land and the fact that d had striven heir ancestora. it until years 3 their way up liad arrived at shelter so re- 3 decided that t this time no option they re- ing morning. , Fort Strother, re it was appai^ fort. The fiist good-naturedly UP THE COOSA 321 ndvanocd and volunt4>ered the information that every- iKidy wius ready for something, and seemed to Ikj wait- ing for it, but just what it was he could not make out, though he told them that there had l)een many ad- ditions to the fon-es at the fort since their departure, and that everything seemed to Iw ready for Jackson to start for some other place. " And that's what I think he's up to," said Big Bob as he left them. The appearance of the fort had greatly changed dur- ing the absence of our friends, and many of the forces which we have mentioned, already had arrived. While the boys were curiously olwerving the now- comens, Josiah left them to go and report to Geneml Jackson the result of their expedition. He did this with considerable fear, for he thought the general might l)e inclined to blame them for returning before they had carried out his instructions ; but when Josiah entered his quartera he soon found that he already had received news from the Horse Shoe, and this ex- actly corresponded with the report which Captain Jim had brought and the words which Jerry had overheard in the camp they had disturbed. " Your young Indian was right," said Josiah, as he returned once more to the boys, " but how and where he learned it is more than I can tell." Jerry knew that he could enlighten him, but he had no disposition to do so, and the secret of the young brave was secure. 322 TKCUMSKIIR YOITNO BRAVRS The camp wiw a busy place now, and the arrange- ment went forward liurriedly for the Htart which was soon to Ih) made for I loi-se Shoe Bend. One morning tht) lK)y8 were surprised when Teeunjseh's yoiing ))rave.s did not join them as they ' usually did, and lus the hours went on they con- eluded that they must have left the camp. " There's no accounting for Indians," said Jfwiah. "You think you've got them, and then you haven't; and it's just as likely as not they have cleared out to take word to Weatherford of what's going on here." Jerry hintself had fears that the hunter's words might Ikj true, and yet he had a stronger confidence in his Indian friends than he ever had had before Cap- tain Jim told him his story in the canoe. All things at last were in readiness, and the start was alx)ut to be made. Genei-al Jackson sent his stores in flat-boats down the Coosa, and in charge of them placed Colonel Williams and his regiment. He left Colonel Steele with a garrison of four hundred and fifty men at Fort Strother, and then with all the remainder of his army he commenced his march towards the Tallapoosa on the sixteenth day of March, 1814. The soldiers were eager for the journey, and although there was only one drum in the entire force, the march was not lacking ux spirit. i J the iirrange- irt which was U0U8E 81I0B BEND 323 rprised when tht'in iw they on they con- amp. " said Jfwiah. you haven't; cleared out to ng on here." unter's words ' conhdence in id before Cap- and the start ikson sent his d in charge of regiment. He four hundred en with all the jed his march 1 day of March, e journey, and he entire force. CHAPTER XXXHI HORSE SHOE BEVD nENEllAL JACKSON, along .^ith the flatboats VJ which he had sent down the nver, h.ul despatched a large l«dy of the regulars with orde,^ to n.eet lam near'tho mouth of Cedar creek. Before hcleft h camp, however, he had stirred the hearts of all b . Boldiei., and especially impressed the muxds of oar young acquaintances by the summary pui- .h^ ant he visited upon one of his men. As we know, he had been troubled by the mutmous spirit among his soldiei., and one man m particular among the West Tennessee troops had again and again incited his companions to mutinv. He wa. only a private, and yet the gcneml felt that the txme had come to visit summary punishment upon such disturbers. Accordingly this man waB sentenced to • death, and a. this wa. his second offence, the genera finnly refused to pardon h=.. The sentence was at once carried into effect, a :. l.e example Urns pre- sented exerted a very salutary influence on the entire army. 1 #fr .. .v.W > 324 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES The journey of his forces was slowly made for the reason that a road had to be cut through the woods for much of the way. The river was badly swollen by the rains, and even the little creeks were filled to the tops of their banks ; but so resolute was the leader, and so willing now were his foUowera, that by the twenty-first they arrived at the mouth of Cedar creek. The supply boats and the regulars johied them the very next day, and there Fort Williams was built as a basis of supplies, and plans were made by which tliis place was to be kept in open communication with Fort Strother. He left a large body of his followers here, and with about two thousand effective men resumed his march for the Horse Shoe Bend. Previous to this time General Jackson had arranged the forces under his command in such a manner as to cover all that region. He was determined to strike a blow which would put an end to the war, even if it exterminated the " Red Sticks." Colonel Dvor had been ordered to scour the country between the Coosa, the Black Warrior, and Cahawba as far down as the old towns ; the Choctaws and Chickasaws, who were now acting with him, were directed to watch the country west of the Tombigbee and prevent any of the " Red Sticks " escaping from beyond the Missis- sippi ; and the Cherokees received very careful instruc- tions to range about the head waters of the Tallapoosa. -B»rwa«r- '■ES }wly made for It through the ver was badly ble creeks were so resolute was his foUowei-s, b the mouth of i the regulars id there Fort )lies, and plans )e kept in open le left a large ith about two march for the m had arranged a manner as to .ned to strike a war, even if it onel Dvor had reen the Coosa, s far down as lickasaws, who cted to watch prevent any of md the Missis- 3areful instruc- the Tallapoosa. HORSE SHOE BEND 325 At the same time there was a large force of North Carolina and South Carolina militia, of which Colonel Pearson was in charge, who had relieved tho Georgia troops which General Floyd had led on the eustorn borders of the Creek country, and these were held in readiness to act in any movement that might be made against the fastnesses and liiding-places of the hostile Indians. As soon as the work at Fort Williams was far enough advanced to satisfy the energetic general, he again took up the line of march and started across the country on the morning of the twenty-fourth for the H^^rse Shoe Bend. The men who remained at Fort Williams — and there weio many of these — were told to protect the supplies and continue the labor on the fortifications there. Old Hickory pushed steadily eastward, and early on the morning of the twenty-seventh he halted within a few miles of the breastworks at the Horse Shoe Bend and sent out parties to reconnoitre. His spies soon informed him of the position of the Indians, and General Jackson was delighted with the news they brought. As we know, the Indians had erected a breastwork of logs from five to eight feet high across the narrow neck of the Bend. In this there were double port-holes which had been arranged with much skill and ingenuity. In this labor the British and Spaniards had assisted, and many of the half- ■1 326 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES '!i* breeds had been active in planning and forwarding the work. Within this enclosure there were about a hundred acres of land. The centre was high ground covered with brush and fallen timber. At the lower extrem- ity of the peninsula, on the river bottom, as it was called, was the Indian village. ' General Jackson was now but six miles distant from the Horse Shoe, and as his spies had given him full information of the number and location of the foes, he prepared at once to act, and early on the following morning sent General Coffee with the mounted men and most of the Indians with instruc- tions to cross the river at a ford two miles below the village, and to take possession of the high grounds on the opposite bank, so that all escape in that quarter would be cut off. With the remainder of his forces General Jackson marched to a position in front of the enemy's breast- works, where he halted and waited for the signal which had been previously agreed upon, and which would inform him that General Coffee was ready for the action to begin. As soon as this had been received, the main column immediately moved forward. The two pieces of artillery, a six and a three pounder, were planted on a hill only about eighty yards from the left of the enemy's line, and at half- ..-^smt IS id forwarding )ut a hundred round covered lower extrem- tom, as it was miles distant )ies had given ind location of and early on ;^offee with the is with instruc- ailes below the ! high grounds I in that quarter eneral Jackson enemy's breast- for the signal pon, and which le was ready for he main column Ix and a three ly about eighty lue, and at half- HORSE SHOE BEND 327 past ten fire was opened on the works, under the direction of Captain Bradford, the chief engineer; but the wall was not seriously affected. Indeed, as the small balls were buried in the logs and earth, the Indians shouted in derision, and fiercely defied the attacking forces, meanwhile warmly return- ing their fire. For nearly two hours the cannonade was kept up with great spirit and activity, although many of the rifles or muskets were not used except when the dusky warriora incautiously exposed them- selves. Meanwhile the friendly Indians had advanced to the left bank of the river, while General Coffee re- mained on the high ground with the rest of his troops. Some of the Cherokees, who were very active in the fight, now discovered that the enemy's canoes, which were drawn up on the shore, as we know, near the village, had been left unguarded. Tliey at once plunged into the stream, swam across the river, and paddled back with many of the canoes which they had seized. Means having been thus pro- vided for crossing, the Cherokees, headed by their chief, Robert Brown, and accompanied by Colonel Morgan and Captain Russell, accompanied the spies across to the village, set the little town on fire, and at once moved against the enemy in the rear of their works. The smoke from the burning huts assured General Jackson that all tilings were moving in that 6im^!^mmse^ ■^"IPWfp^^-W?^ 328 TECUMSEH'9 YOUNG BRAVES quarter as he desired, but the slackening of the fire of the assailants made him think they wore too few to tUslodge the Indians, and very Ukely were in peril themselves. The Indians were fighting with the utmost bravery and desperation. Every avenue by which they might have fled now was occupied by the American troops, and their homes were in flames. Still they refused to surrender, and thus far were successfully resist- ing every attempt of the spies and the Cherokees to te, dislodge them. General Jactaon's soldiers were now clamoring loudly to be led to the assault, but he had hesitated to give the order until he became convinced that the party in the rear were not strong enough to overcome the opposition they encountered. For two full hours he had been battering at the breastworks with cannon- balls, and apparently without producing any effect. The command which he at last gave to storm, was received with shouts and acclamations. The Thirty-ninth United States Infantry under Colonel Williams led the way. They were well sup- ported by the East Tennessee Brigade, and the whole assailing party behaved most gallantly. A fierce struggle was maintained for a short time through the port-holes muzzle%) muzzle, the action being so close at times that General Jackson afterward wrote in his despatch, " Many of the enemy's balls were welded to the American bayonets." V^ES ning of the fire y wore too few ly were in peril utmost bravery hich they might Lmerican troops, till they refused Bcessfully resist- ;he Cherokees to now clamoring he had hesitated ivinced that the lUgh to overcome )r two full hours irks with cannon- icing any effect. ie to storm, was ons. Infantry under ey were well sup- ie, and the whole iantly. A fierce time through the on being so close vard wrote in his Is were welded to M.,ior M.M.t..oiiu.rv was tlu' first 1., >\'v\n- ni.ni. tli. l.n.istw.M-ks " ,«iiiii wU i ltfji)M iw ' >l*' nHiU ill'lUm HORSE SHOE BEND 320 l^he contest weut ou for several minutes, and then Major Montgomery wivs the first to spring npon the IneLtworks, but he was shot dead among las eon. rades who were rushing forward to sustain hnn. A young man at his side, San. Houston of whom ou Ls in Uvter yean, heard again after ho beeame the Jt president of the llepubUe of Texas, and hvter a , member of Congress, w.u. severely wounded in the thigh by a UvrlK^d arrow, but he leaped bold y down amongst the yelling savages and ealled upon Ins eom- panioL to follow him. At the fall of M*3or M^j- gomery a smothered ery for vengeance had rolled all along the line, and the example of young Ensign Hoi^ton had so stirred them that the whole eolumn now dashed over the feeble barrier like an avalanche, crushing and bearing down everything before it. The " Red Sticks " were now fighting with the fury of despair, and they met the shock of the new-comei. with clubbed muskete and rifles, and with the gleam- ing knife and tomahawk ; but they were not able long - to withstand the dexterous use of the bayonet and in wild confusion began to flee to the woods and thick- ete. Some few attempted to escape by swimming the river, but were shot down in their flight by the spies and the mounted men under General Coffee. Mos of them, however, fought and died where they Btood -behind the ramparts, which they were unable to defend. mo TKCUMSKirS YOUNO HRAVKS ^;: ■,. . I' The conflict nctw turned into a hutclitny, and was continued for lioui-s. No <»iu! iisked for (juiuU'r. The Talliipoosii wiis running,' iimI with the bh)o"i. « 1 il ltii»t<, and while many ot the dead hud received huriid, many more had liecui sunk Injueath the watei-s of tlie CooHa, a8 the only method of keeping them safe from the desecration of Havago hands. Five h)ng days were conHumed in tliis return march, and although they encountered many of the hostile Indians on their way, they always fled at their ap- proach. 'J'ho spirit of the " Ked Sticks " was almost hroken, and few had any heart to tiy to make a defen- sive stand anywhere. Terrihle vengeance had l)een taken for the nuissacre at Fort Minis and the other cruelties that the Indians had perpetrated since the war began. For five days the army remained at Fort Williams, and during this time our boys sought in vain for their young Indian friends, — Tecumseh's young bnives. They liad seen nothing of them in the engagement, and were unable to learn whether or not they had rejoined their countrymen in this desperate stand. If they had, there was little likelihood that any of them were alive now ; but Tom somehow had the feeling in his heart that he would meet them again, and that they would give no bad account of themselves. Many of the hostile Indians now made their way into Florida, so careless were the South Carolina men in carrying out the work which General Jackson had AVES HOltSi: SIIOH liKMI) I nmrcli towanlH carrii'd on littoi's, iveil hiiriiil, iniiny oiw t)f the CooHii, in Miifo from thu his return muroh, iiy of tho hostili) flctl at thojr ap- Ltks " was alnioHt to make a defen- jeaiice had Ixjcn 18 and tlie other ted since the war t Fort Williams, i in vain for their s young bnives. the engagement, or not they had lesperate stand, that any of them ad the feeling in again, and that lemselves. made their way th Carolina men ral Jackson had intmstod to them, and wiio, as we know, were on tho Ml bank of t!<<) Tallapoosa to prevent tho escapo of any of the Creeks. McQueen, one of the most prominent chiefs among tlie Creeks, was captured, and soon made his escapo to the Es(uunl)ia river with live hundred of his fol- lowei-s ; but, in spite of all this, f Jenenil Jackson regarded his exiiedition as a great sticcess, and evi- dently looked for tho end of the struggle soon to come. While Genoml Jackson was at Fort Williams, re- maining, as we know, for five days, reports were brought to him of the condition of the Indians, and he at once made prepamtions for aggressive work, and deteiv mined then and there to complete the work not yet quite finished. The campaign was not ended, and our boys were to have their share in the exciting experiences of the next few days. ^ f^ ^.^. .,. i i^j:-i i ■ "" ! ••• ' I ff I • I ' i nT' i i""' -I" ,"' ' i |T "" TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES r- CHAPTER XXXIV THE SEARCH FOR NANCE AFTER a brief delay at Fort Williams, General Jackson pushed on to what ^vaa known as the "Hickory Ground." His march was through the country, flooded now by the spring rains and swollen streams, and at the head of the peninsula where the Coosa and Tallapoosa joined, on the site of a fort which a hundred years before this time had been built by Governor Bienville, he halted, and there erected a new place of defence. The old French entrance was cleaned out and deepened, and on this foundation was built a fort which, in honor of the leader, was named Fort Jackson. Village after village of the Indians was destroyed by the energetic and enraged soldiers, and now many a band of the humiliated Creeks made their way to Fort Jackson to sue for pardon and peace for them- selves and their broken tribes. General Jackson received all these deputations courteously, but with much sternness. He accepted the offers of all, naming as the one condition that ^N^ T\ lAVES THE SEARCH FOR NANCE 335 LU :v NCE iVilliams, General fiis known as the was through the rains and swollen ninsula where the the site of a fort 8 time had been halted, and there The old French )ened, and on this , in honor of the ans was destroyed srs, and now many- made their way to d peace for them- these deputations ess. He accepted )ne condition that they should now make their homes above Fort Williams, in what was known as the "neutral ground." There, he told them, they would be treated with, and what the government should at last demand would be made known; but to every one he declared the one condition on which peace could be secured was that the noted leader, Weath- erford, or Red Eagle, or Hoponika Futsahia (Truth- maker), as he was variously known, should be captured and brought to Mm. The Indians, thoroughly subdued and willing now to purchase peace at almost any price, complied with his demand, and the search for Weatherford began. But that haughty cKvef did not wait to be taken and dragged as a crimiial into the presence of his con- queror, but, learning of the condition which General Jackson had named, aware now that every hope for his nation had fled, he mounted his swift, gray horse, on which he had made the leap from that high bluff at the " holy ground," and made his way directly to Jackson's camp. The sun was just setting as he made his approach, and General Jackson happened to be alone in his tent. The haughty chief entered, and drawing him- self up tx) his full height (six feet and two inches), folding his arms, and looking calmly at his conqueror, said, " I am Weatherford, the chief who commanded at Fort Mims. I have nothing to request for myself. ii jm i jv u ■ I^ < 1 I J^-J" i.iii ' wi H > H i i [ ■ mt » *' - ■ / r i» i * g » 336 TECUMSEirS YOUNG BRAVES You can kill me if you desire. I have come to beg you to send for the women and cliildren of the war party who are now starving in the woods. Their fields and crops have been destroyed by your people, who have driven them to the woods without an ear of corn. I hope that you will send out parties who will conduct them safely here in order that they may be fed. 1 exerted myself in vain to prevent the mi^sacre of the women and children at Fort Mims. I have come now to ask peace for my people, but not for mjrself." General Jackson in astonishment looked at the brave man, and felt his own heart grow warm within him as he recognized the true nobility of his foe. " How dare you come here into my very presence and ask for peace and protection?" at last the general managed to say. " I am in your power. Do with me as you please," replied Weatherford proudly. "I am a soldier. I have done the wliite people all the harm I could. I have fought them, and fought them bravely ; and if I liad an army I would yet fight and contend to the last; but I have none. My people are aU gone. I can do no more now than weep over the misfortunes of my nation." Jackson realized that there was something of the "hickory" in Weatherford as well as in himself. Here was a man who had gone into wf>r to protect VES ,ve come to beg dren of the war 1 woods. Their by your people, without an ear out parties who )r that they may to prevent the I at Fort Mims. ' people, but not t looked at the row warm within y of his foe. ny very presence ?" at last the le as you please," am a soldier. I le harm I could, n bravely ; and if d contend to the are all gone. I r the misfortunes something of the II as in himself, to wf^r to protect I , ,„„ in your i.owrr Do uith in. as > on l''^;'|J|;-;^,,^. 'wS^'., ■fTS^rSi-i.k:^ f •'"'■"-'- f rrif - 1 iw^ liwffTwwi- THE SEAKCII FOR NANCE 337 the homes of his people from the invader, and who had fought with all his cunning and strength as long as hope remained. He had endeavored to he merci- ful, hut often his efforts had heen in vain, and now he stood here in the presence of his conqueror, fear- lessly expressing his opinions, and apparently with little regard for one who had power over his own Ufo. " If you truly desire to submit," said the general, ♦'your nation must make its home beyond the Missis- sippi. That is the only wise policy for you to pursue. If, however, you desire to continue the war, and feel prepared to meet the consequences, you may depart in peace and unite yourself with the war party, if you choose." Again Weatherford drew himself up to his full height and his eyes flashed half in scorn, half in anger, as he replied, "I may well be addressed in such language now. There was a time when I liad a choice and could have answered you ; I have none now ; nay, even hope is ended. Once I could ani- mate my warriora to battle, but I cannot animate the dead: my warriors can no longer hear my voice. Their bones are at Talladega, Tallaschatche, Emuc- fau, Econochaca, and Tohopeka. I have not sur- rendered myself thoughtlessly. While there was a chance for success I never left my post nor supplicated peace. But my people are gone, and now I ask it for 3SS>**' "-^w^ — 388 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES my nation, not for myself. On the miseries and mis- fortunes brought upon my countiy I look back with deepest sorrow, and wish to avert still greater calami- ties. If I had been left to contend with the Georgia army, I would have raised my corn on one bank of the river and fought them on the other. But your people have destroyed my nation. You are a brave man ; I rely upon your generosity. You will exact no terms of a conquered people but such as they should agree to. Whatever they may be, it would now be folly and madness to oppose. If they are opposed, you will fmd me among the sternest enforcers of obedience. Those who would still hold out can be influenced only by a mean spirit of revenge, and to this they must not and shall not sacrifice the last remnant of their country. You have told our nation where we might go and be safe. This is good talk, and they ought to listen to it. They shall listen to it." General Jackson, strong as he was and unyielding in his efforts to crush any enemy, was deeply moved by these brave words of the half-breed, and immedi- ately bade Weatherford go to the forest and search for his scattered followers and counsel pearo. But for a long time in all that region there was no peace for the Creek warrior. The people whose relatives had been massacred at Fort Mims were filled with thoughts of vengeance, and were untiring 31168 and mis- lok back with reater calami- h the Georgia I one bank of jr. But your u are a brave ''ou will exact such as they r be, it would . If they are meat enforcers hold out can revenge, and 3rifice the last old our nation J is good talk, iy shall listen nd unyielding deeply moved I, and immedi- ;st and search 1 pearo. 1 there was no people whose rt Mims were were untiring THE SEAUCn FOB NANCE 339 in their efforts to find and punish this leader. Con- sequently Weatherford remained away until the war was finished, and what he did upon liis return we shall tell in another chapter. On the twentieth of April General Pinckney arrived at Fort Jackson with troops from North and South CaroUna. The defeat of the Creeks practically had put an end to this war, and the new general at once directed the West Tennesseeans to go home, and said he would leave a brigade to garrison Fort Williams. The order was hailed with joy by the West Tennesseeans, and within two hours after it had been received they had started up the Coosa. They moved rapidly, and crossing the Tennessee river were discharged at Fayetteville. There Old Hickory gave them a farewell address, and left them for his own home, which was on a large farm near Nashville, and called the "Hermitage." Tom and Jerry, freed now from the restraints and labor of the camp life, started at once for Mobile, m company with their friend Josiah. It had been long since they had seen any of their family, and weeks had passed since any word had been received from them. :. , . . i. • vj. " I'm afraid we shall not find everythmg just nght at Mobile," said Jerry. " Oh," repUed the hunter, » if there had been any trouble there, I think you would have heard long =K:;5= rTTr'Trrr-r •- 340 TECUMSEirS YO'JMQ BRAVES before this. Everybody wivs afraid after the massacre at Fort Mims that the Indians would start for Mobile at once. That's just what the Spaniards wanted them to do, and the British were behind it all. If they ^ had done that, there wouldn't have been anything left of the town ; but instead of going south they went north, and we know what they've been up to." ' "Yes," said Jeiry, "but Mobile is only a little village, and there's not a building there that isn't wooden. They haven't anything that's much good to fight with against artillery, and they couldn't make much of a show against the rifles of the Indians. Why, there aren't a thousand people there altogether." "That's all true enough," said Josiah, "but you forget Fort Bowyer at the edge of the bay." "No, I don't," replied Jerry; "but that's thirty miles from Mobile, out at the end of that little narrow sand cape. It hasn't over twenty guns altogether, and only two of these are large. If the British and Spaniards, to say nothing of the Indians, once get in- side of that there'll be no hope for Mobile." "Still they've done nothing so far," said Josiah, " and we'll go so fast that they won't have time to do anytlung before we get there ; and now that this war is over, you can take them all and start for home liefore any further trouble arises." Accordingly our party of three made their way as i-apidly as possible, and in the course of a lew days MtMimxMRtMl THE SEARCH FOR NANCE 341 the massacre irt for Mobile wanted them all. If they leen anything ig south they s been up to." only a little ere that isn't much good to iouldn't make ; the Indians, re altogether." iah, "but you bay." ; tlrnt's thirty it little narrow- ins altogether, le British and 18, once get in- die." " said Josiah, lave time to do V that this war itart for home le their way as of a lew daya arrived at Mobile. They at once went to the house where the other menilwrs of the family Imd Iwen left. They were surprised when they entered to learn that they had diangtid their (piartera, and wt'vo now to be found at another house in a distant pai-t of the vil- lage. They started for this place, and in response to their summons a man opened the door and listened to their words. " I've come for my motn. r and the children," said Tom. "They told me they had moved here." " Your mother and the children?" said the man. "Why, who are they?" " Why, you know, Mrs. Curry and Nance and the cliildren." ."' " Mrs. Curry," said a woman in a sharp voice, who came and looked over the shoulder of the man. " Why, they've been gone from liere more than two weeks." " Gone ! " said the boys aghast. " What do you mean? Gone where?" " I mean that they've gone, that's all there is of it," said the woman shaiply. "They were the most unsociable lot of folks T ever saw. They wouldn't talk much with me, though I tried to be neighborly and sociable too, but it seems to me that the more I talked the less they said." " But surely they must have said something about where they were going," said Tom. " They haven't left the village, have they?" , 841 TECUMSEirS YOUNG DIUVES " I don't kii.'W ivnything al)ont it," Hixid tlie woman ; ♦' they've gone, und tluit'H all. No, lu)ld on a minute," she added a moment later; "I iK^lieve the girl did leave ii letter which she Haid sonio one would call for, and mayl)e you're the one that wanted it." " Yes, I'm the one," said Tom quickly ; - let me have it." " Well, I'll look for it," replied the woman, " thongli I don't just ..'member where I put it." The boys wiited impatiently while she went on her search, and at last when she returned she said, " I can't find it. I'm sure I put it somewhere, Vat just as likely as not it got burned up. I took all the rub- bish out of the room where they were and set lire to ;i, and it's just as likely as not that letter was in tin; mess." « Oh, but look again," said Tom ; " we must have that letter." "Well, I'll try," said the woman, "but I know 1 shan't find it." And her words proved to be t ue, and the boys left the house without any knowledge of where their mother wiis. "Well, what shall we do now?" asked Tom, as they turned and went slowly down the street. "Why, we'll make a search through the town," said Josiah. "We'll find them all right, never you fear." Accordingly the boys began their search, but none il the woman ; on a inimittj," > the girl did vould call for, t." kly; "let me man, " thougli 10 went on her she Haid, " I /here, i at just ok all the ruh- and set lire to letter wa8 in ' we must have 'but I know I ired to be t -ue, y knowledge of fwked Tom, as the street, xgh the town," ight, never you earch, but none . ..-.v-bj. Jitruv ' sBwasfctJ^^.aB i-' a i t ^'i fia V-?*- ^>. ^ ^ V IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) 1.0 I.I l^|2^ 12.5 ijo i"^™ niiiii^i 1^ 1^ 11 2.2 "i2.0 1.8 11-25 111.4 IIIIII.6 V' HiotDgraphic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAtN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. M580 (716) 872-4503 l^^-^' signs of life ap- gloomily. " We CONCLUSION 347 might better have stayed at Mobile and followed up our clews there." " We did follow them all up," said Jerry, " and we didn't have anything left but this one that Josiah gave us." "But even that's failed," replied Tom, " for there's nobody here, you see." " Nobody here ! " said Jerry, with almost a shout. " There's somebody out by the corner of the house now. It's Nance, a« I live." And dropping Ids paddle for a moment he shouted as loudly as he was able, but his words were not heard, and the figure he had seen disappeared, and their fore- bodings returned with the returning silence which seemed more intense than ever before. But the little canoe was sent forward more rapidly now, and in a brief time they approached the bank and started rapidly for the house. Before they had arrived at the bank the figure they had seen again appeared, and this time none of them had any difficulty in recognizing it as Nance. " Hello, Nance 1 " shouted Tom, starting on a run as soon as he had leaped ashore. His sister, for indeed it was she, startled at the call and the sound of the famiUar voice, screamed and started towards the young men. Brave as she was, she could not control her feelings, and indeed there were traces of a strange moisture in the eyes of both I i. 1 ^ I i nm I Hill ■ , ■ ■ I jj ."i g ^ iN^i L gt M 348 TECUMSEirS YOUNCJ IJKAVKS 1 I I the boys. Even Iluiitor Josh was deeply touched, and apparently fastened his attention ui)on the ciw^s which were flying across the river and uttering tlic same hoarse notes they had given when the party fu-st set sail so many montLs before. The children, hearing tlie uproar, soon came forth from the house, and clinging to their brothera' knees added their words of welcome. The little group" at once entered and found Mrs. Curry just coming to the door to meet them. The welcome the boys re- ceived was a wai-m one, and yet they had scarcely seated themselves at the table to eat the food which Nance speedily prepared for them, before their mother began again in the familia'r'L. ain to which the boys had become accustomed since their father's death. " I don't think you did right at all," she said. "Why, you've been gone for montlis now and left Nance and the children, to say nothing of me, in that old town of Mobile ; and such a time as we've had ! I don't think you ought to have gone at all." " But, mother," said Tom, " it isn't very likely we should be here to-day if we hadn't taken our share in this war. Somebody had to go, and there was no reason why we shouldn't go as well as the others." " Oh, yes, there was," said his mother. " I'm always the one that's left. I don't believe any one in the world ever had such a lonesome time as I've had. Your father would come away off into this forsaken i «^ '»< . i 'L 'l lAVKS I deeply toucluul, ti upon the Croix's niid uttering the I when the party re. soon came forth lir brothers' knees le little group" at y just coming to ome the boys re- ;hey had scarcely at the food which jfore their mother o which the boys r father's death, at all," she said. tlis now and left ing of me, in that e as we've had ! I at all." a't very likely we 3,ken our share in id there was no ill as the others." ;her. "I'm always e any one in the time as I've had. nto this forsaken [ CONCLUSION 349 country, and, of coume, I couldn't leave him to come alone ; and then he wius so fond of ' Tom and Jerry.' " " Hush, mother," said Jerry. " Of course ho wius fond of us, for I know you must mean us boys. Father's gone, and we don't want to say anything against him. Poor man, he had the worst of it." ' I suppose so," replied his mother, " I suppose so, but nobody knows how hard it's been for me to be left with no one but boys to protect me, and then have them run off and fight the Indians, and leave me with the children so long alone. I never saw any harm in the Indians." " I've seen some one you know," said Nance, break- ing in. " Some of your ' nds." " What do you mean ( " asked Tom quickly. " Why, some of your Indian friends," said Nance. "I don't know how we ever should have got here if it hadn't been for them." " What ! Tecumseh's young braves ? " said Jerry. "Yes," replied Nance, "and they've been good friends to us, too. You see, the way of it was this : we heard at Mobile that the fight with the Creeks was over, and lots of the people there began to start for home. Well, we wanted to go to:, aud when we found a party coming right up this -m\ we made ar- rangements for them to bring us, just as I told you in that letter I left." « That letter you left? " said Tom. " We couldn't ?? fiSegj^w«wagv i g^ ql • 350 t» TKCUMSEII'S VOUNG IIUAVES :i find it iinywhere. The woiuan in whoso liouse yon were stayiii},' Heiirehed for it high iiud low, but she couldn't liud it, and we hadn't the reniotost idea what had beconu! of you, or where you were." "Is that so?" iusked Nance, in lustoniHlunent. " Why, I don't see how you ever thought of coming back hero for us, then." "Way, they tried everything else," said Josiah, " and iw tliey didn't find you there, they knew this was the oidy place where you could lie, so I peravxaded them to start for home, and said they would find you here. And you see I'm right," he added, turning to the boys. " But what about these young redskins ? They were traitors, I know." " They were no traitors," said Nance indignantly ; " but when they found us in that party, — for we met them coming down the river, — they insisted upon taking us home themselves, and they've been a great help to us too." " Yes, the Indians are all good, as far as I can see," said Mrs. Curry. " I never have believed any of the time in having this war, and if it hadn't been for the white men probably there wouldn't have been any." " Probably not," said Josiah dryly. " But come, boys, I want you to see what I've been doing," said Nance. " You see we've been home ten days now, and I found the old horse and the cow here, too. They were both pretty shy at fust, but A==, J -^ __- •- • BKAVE8 II whoso liouse you li 1111(1 low, hut she I reinoU'st iduu what weru." i, iu iwtonishiuent. thought of coming else," said Josiah, jre, they knew this tl l)e, so I pei-suaded hey would find you le added, turning to ie young redskins? Nance indignantly ; party, — for we met they insisted upon hey've been a great is far as I can see," believed any of the hadn't been for the 't have been any." see what I've been e've been home ten horse and the cow y shy at first, but CONCLUSION 3.") I I've niauagod to tame tlioin so Uu-y'll follow nte now, and you'll liud them l)otli in the barn." " You didn't see anything of the chickens or the pig, did y()U?" asked .b^rry. " 1 didn't see anything of the chiiikens," said Nance, "but I wius (mt in the woods one day, and I heard a noise, and looked up and there wsus our old grunter. lie eyed me for a time as if he half rememl)cred some- thing about me, but when I moved he started oil for the forest, and I've not seen or heard anything of him since. But come out here, I want to show you what I've done." The bnive girl led the way to the clearing and showed her brothers what she had done in the way of ploughing and planting, alone and unaided. " You're a great girl, Nance," said Tom proudly. " I think Old Hickory would have been glad to have had you in his amiy." "Yes, I presume he would," said Mi-s. Curry. " I haven't any doubt that he wasn't satisfied with hav- ing only the men, but that he would take the women and the children too if he could. All he wanted was to kill off these poor Indians and make a name for himself. I know all about such men, and I don't feel very well about your leaving me all alone through these months, and not knowing what was going to happen to us any minute." "I'll tell the general the next time I see him,'' 1 II 352 TKflJMSKII'S YOUNO DRAVKH sai.l tlK' ImiiUT .Iryly. " I've no doubt l.e'U feel very much put out whuu ho liciii-s tibotit it." lint iH'ihiipH Josiah .lid uot luivo pationco enough with this woman who had soon so unu-h of the hai-«her side of pioneer lifo that hor spirit was ahnost broken, and she had fallen into this way of eomphiining about everything pertaining to her lot in life. The lH)ys at one.! rt^smncd their work ui)on the pla.!e, and so.)n a stranger would never have known from it>* appearance that it ever had l)een neglected or abandoned for so long a time. On the second day after their return they were surprised as they sat at the table in the morning by the entrance of Tecum- seh's young braves. They came into the room silently, and for half an hour uttered no word; but when the boys went out to the barn the Indians fol- lowed them, and there Captain Jim told his friend of their experiences. When Jackson's army had started for Horse Shoo Bend the young braves at first had thought to go with him, but soon their remembrance of their former friends, and the fact that they were on an expedition against the people of their own blood, had so moved them that quietly they had left the army and taken no part in the struggle. They were convinced that the end was not in doubt, and while they knew that defeat awaited their own nation they cottld not bring themselves to take part in accomplishing it. But •mr^ VKS )t liu'U feel very [Kitienco enough •h of the liaitthor s almost broken, mplainiiig about work ui)on the ver have known [ iKjen neglecited 1 th(! second day >d as they sat at ranue of Tecuni- into the room )d no word; but I the Indians fol- told his friend of il for Horse Shoo id thought to go ce of their former on an expedition od, had 80 moved 3 army and taken re convinced that le they knew that y cottld not bring plishing it. But CONCLUHION 858 (^iptain Jim assure.l the boys of their strong personal fri.^ndship lor them, and in his grai.hie way toUl of the feeling they still liad. ^'Our hearts cling to youi^," said Captain .Inn, -as the moss to the trees by the river. The white men have strong hearts like hickory, - they iHUid.but are never broken. The white man's hand luw l)een heavy on my people, and the Red Sticks' homo is no more ; but Tecumseh's young braves have not for- gotten the kindness of the white people who dwell in. the hut by the river." Fre(iuently the young braves visited the home, apparently unmindful of Jackson's decree; but m they were never molested, their visits either were unknown, or passed over without notice by the men in authority. Weatherford remained in hiding till the close ol the War of 1812, and then returning settled upon a rich farm in Alabama. He was well supplied with negro slaves, and soon gained a positionof prommence and influence in all that region. The feelings aroused by the struggle became cooler, and almost all came to recognize in the great half-breed th^' qualities of a noble and true man. Not long after his return he married (it was his third venture in this line), and Sam Dale, strange as it may seem, was his best man at the wedding. Weatherford said that although he was bom on the Hickoi-y firound he could not live '^mmmiiiimm\M ■atartflJarg^^SH'ftteaafciP ' '-'-> M 354 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES there. His old companions, the Creeks, did not for- get their feelings towards him so easily, and while tliey had followed him bravely when he was their leader, they regarded the change in his life as wrong, and so, as Weatherford himself said, " I've come to live among gentlemen." His own nation had thrown him out. He became a successful business man, but never lost his love for the woods. In 1826 he engaged with others in a bear hunt, but the perils find exertions proved to he too much for his weakened frame, and he died from the effects of the fatigue of that hunt. Sam Dale entered more fully into the struggle, and before the war was ended received the commis- sion of brevet brigadier-general. When the war closed he settled at Dale's Ferry on the Alabama river, and engaged in business. He, too, was suc- cessful, and came to occupy many responsible posi- tions which his friends thrust upon him. He was a member of the convention that was called to divide the Mississippi Territory, and wJts also a delegate to the first general assembly of the Territory of Alabama, which, as we know, before that time was the eastern portion of Mississippi. He served several terms in the Legislature of Alabama, and was on the committee appointed to escort Lafayette when he visited the capital of the State. He was engaged much in public life, and when he died, on the twenty-fourth [ iiJHwrni ■WMMM ««^' LVE8 eks, did not for- liisily, and while en he was their lis life as wrong, I, "I've come to ttion had thrown osiness man, but a bear hunt, but be too much for ora the effects of ito the struggle, ved the commis- When the war on the Alabama [e, too, was suc- responsible posi- him. He was a called to divide ilso a delegate to itory of Alabama, ! was the eastern several terms in on the committee 11 he visited the igaged much in he twenty-fourth CONCLUSION 355 day of May, 1841, he was in the seventieth year of his age. His struggle with the Indians in the canoe, which wo have related in this book, was by many regarded, however, as the great deed of his life, and for many years it was a familiar story by the lire- sides, and found ite way into the songs that were popular along the border. General Jackson, at the close of the Creek war, returned, as we already know, to the "Hermitage," his home near Nashville. When General Harrison resigned. President Madison nominated him as a brigadier-general and a major-general by brevet. General Hampton, whose inefficiency we have al- ready recorded in the "Boy Offieera of 1812," left the army, and Andrew Jackson was appointed a full major-general in his place. He received both com- missions at the same time, but we may be sure that the latter was the one he accepted. In the summer of 1814 General Jackson was ordered to take command of the Seventh Military DLstrict, and established liis headquarters at Mobile. The most stirring scenes in his Ufe followed, and of these we shall have something to say in another book. As for Tom and Jeriy Curry they were not allowed to remain home long, and they, too, had a share in the exciting events that soon took place not far away ; and Josiah Fletcher, making frequent visits 356 TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES as he did at their home, so caught the spirit of the war and of the boys, that again he went with his young friends and shared in many of their experi- ences. , ' As for Tecumseh's young braves, they had no scruples in taking part in the struggle against the British and the Spaniards, and of their experiences also we shall have more to say. In the course of time these young men of whom we have told in this story, in a strange manner met some of our heroes Vt^hose deeds we have recorded in the other books of this series, but of that meeting we cannot here write. The War of 1 812 was not ended with the close of the Creek rebellion, and many stirring deeds were yet to be done. Of those deeds, and of the part some of our young acquaintances took in them, we shall tell in the next book of this series, which will be called — The Boys of the Lakes. VE9 he spirit of the went with his of their experi- I, they had no gle against the leir experiences B course of time Id in this story, r heroes w^hose r books of this >t here write, ith the close of ing deeds were ind of the part ok in them, we sries, which will :e8. OLIVER OPTIC'S BOO KS The Blue and tlio Gray -Afloat. By Oliver Optic Six volumes. Illustrated. Beautiful binding in blue and gray, with emblematic dies. Cloth. Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.50. The Blue and the Gray — on Liand. 1. Brother aRalnst Brother. »• I" *'»" Saildlo. 3. A Lieutenant Ht ElBht«en. ( Ol/ier volumes i'« f reparation., "There never has been a. more interesting writer in the field of juvenile literatur?than Mr. W.T. Adams, who, under his well-known pseudonym, s known and admirJd by every boy and girl in the country, and by thousands whohaveloSe since passed the Lundaries of youtu, y. ./ho remember with nleasure the lenial, interesting pen that did so much to interest instruct and JntertiTn their vounRcr years. 'Vhe Blue and the Gray' is a title that is suf- ficient v indicative ^^ the nature and spirit of the latest scries while the name ofOLiVERO^icissufficicntwarrantoftheabsorbingstyk^ This • ^.^.o^hrllrht niul enteitaininir as any work that Mr. Adams has yet put Jnl^ramfwrnf-eareiirerly perused as any that has home his name It would S^fb'e fK the'profpect^iv'l reader to deprive, him of the "«t which come, fmm the unexDectcd bv entering into a synopsis of the story. A word, liow- e^e" shouTbeS in rl.gard to^beaut/and approp^^^^^ which makes it a most attractive volume." — Boston Budget. -Woodville Stories. By Oliver Optic. Six volumes. Illus- trated Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25. 1 iii..h aui Hnmble: OR, The Mission of Beh tiia Grant. a fn Schoo' ' "™Out; or. The CoNowiVth"''Bh°ne; or. Young America in Germany, "The story from its inception, and through the twelve volumes (sec Second Spriesl is "rhewitchinff one, while the information imparted concernms the founTr :-s of 1 uro e anhhe isles of the sea is not only correct "> -^very par Ucu- f^r but is told in a captivating style. Oliver Optic will continue to be the fovs> IHend and his pleasant bo6ks will continue to be read by thousands of aTo, c in bovs Wha a fine holiday present either or both series of ' Young A rr c: \lmml • wo. Id be for a vounVfriend ! It would make a little library highwjri^ed by the recipient, and wo7.rd not be an expensive o^^."-Provi. deuce Press. Yountr America Abroad. Ry Oliver Optic. Second Series. Six volumes. Illustrated. Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25. 1. r,. the Baltic; or, Vouno America in Norway. Sweden, and 2 No'ithe'rn'']Land8; ou. Young America in Russia and Prussia %\ C?«*«andereS^nt; U.Young Am.^«ica in Turkey and Gc^. 1 si.inuv Shores: or. Young America in Italy and Austria. 5' Vine and Oliver or. Young America in Spain and Portugal. %: iBles of the sea; or. Young Ambrica Homeward Bound. " Or ivfr Optic is a nom de flume that is known and loved by almost every hov of \nteUigrnce in the land. ^^We have seen a highly iiitellectiml and worlif- we'^.ry man, feynfc whose heart was somewhat embittered by its large experl S "ss can Thus find plelsLe in a book for boys, no additional words of recm- menSation are needed."— ^a/irfoy Ttmes. VS. AND 8HEPARQ, BOSTON. SEND THEIR COMPLETE CATALOGUE FREE. IVF.R OPTir:. First ^1.25. OF IwOUlS Belokave. ISK OF TUB GUAKDIAN r THE West Indies. IN KiiRorEAN Waters. ?ER Oi'Tic. Second $1.25. HE OltlKNT. ^KUISK OK THE " MaUD. * ITUKEKS IN AKKICA. ING. iVER Oi'Tic. Third $1.25- East. ncivilized. IN Tiin Tropics. V OF Travel and •liver Optic, lllus- eries. Six volumes, volume, $1.25. FLOAT. £KicA IN Ireland and AND AND Wales. iicA IN Holland and RICA IN France and N Germany, velvc volumes (sec Second 1 iiiipiirted coiicerninff the ly correct in every piirticu- IC will continue to be the be read by thousiinds of r or both series of ' Younji vould iniiUe a little library 1 expensive one." — Provi- PTic. Second Series, ime sold separately. Norway, Sweden, and ■J Russia and Prussia. IN Turkey and Gkeece. TALY and Austria. Spain and Portugal. OMEWARD Bound. 1 and loved by almost every rhly intellectual and world- bittere'd by its larj^e experl- ic's books, and read it at a lation of the pages. Whea i; despoiled of all its fresh, additional words of recaa- \l CATALOGUE FREE. OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS The Great Western Scries. By Oliver Optic. In six vol- umes. Illustrated. Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25. 1. OoliiK West; or, The Perils or A Poor Hoy. ». Out W«'st; OR, UouGiiiNii it on the Great Lakes. 3. I.ake Ilrcezeft; or. The Cruise ov the Svlvania. 4. Oolnir South; or, Yachting on the Atlantic Coast. B. Down South; or. Yacht Adventures in !■ i.okida. 6. Up the Blv«r; or. Yachting on the Mississippi. "This is the latest series of bonks issued bvtliis popular writer, and drali with life on the Gre;it Lakes, for which a careful study was macle by the author In a summer tour of the immense water sources ol Ameru a. I he story, which carric-i the same hero throuiih the six books of the series, is always eutertani- inir, novel scenes and varied incidents (fivinir a constantly ch;iiii;ini,f yet always attractive aspect to the narrative. Oliver Optic has written nolluiitj better. The Yacht Club Series. By Oliver Oi-tic. I:i six vohmies. Illustrated. Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25. 1. tittle Bobtail; OR, The Wreck of the Penohscot. a. The Yarht Club; or. The Young Boat IIuilders. 3. Monov- Maker; or. The Victory ok the Basilisk. 4. The (Joining Wave; or. The Treasure of ilioii Rock, 5. The Dorcas Club; or. Our Girls Afloat. «. Ocean Born; or. The Cruise of the Cluhs. "The series has this peculiarUv, that all of its constituent vohimcs are inde- ncndent of one another, and therefore each story is conipUle in itself. OLIVER Optic is perhups, the favorite author of the boys aurl jrirls of this country, and he seems destined to enjov an en.lless popularity, lie deserves his success, for he makes very interestinur st.ni.s, and inculcates none but the best senti- ments, ami the 'Yacht Club' is no exception to this rule." — AVw Jlavtn yoitrnal and Courier. Onward and Upward Series. By Oliver Oitic volumes. Illustrated. Any volume sold separately per volume, $1.25. 1. Field and Forest; or, The Fortunes of a Farmer. ». Plane and Plank; or. The Mishaps of a Mechanic. 3. Desk and Debit; or. The Catastrophes of a Clerk. 4 Crlnele and Crosstree; or. The Sea Swashes of a Sailor. B. Bivouac and Battle; or. The Strugc.les of a Soldier. «. Sea and Shore; or. The Tramps of a 1 raveli.ek. "P.aul Farringford, the hero of these tales, is, like mo^t of this author's In six Price il farringiora, me nero 01 inu^c i., ....■>,.;., ...^ ■■■- ..-...-- heroes, a young man of hiirh spirit, and of high aims an< correct nnnciples, nie in tlie differeni olumcs as a farmer, a captain, a bookkceoer, a soldh-r, a sailor, and a tra..ller. In all of them the hero meets with 'JT appeari soldier, a sailor, ana a ira.i uer. in ui. w' y'^"\ y^- •.'"'" .V""-' W"' „ exciting adventures, told in the graphic style for which the author is famous The Lake Sliore Series. By Oliver Optic. In six voUimes. Illustrated. Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $I.2C. , 1, Through by Daylight; or, The Young Engineer of the Lakr Shore Railroad. a. T^Ishtnlng Express; or, The Rival Academies. 3 On Time; or, The Young Captain of the Ucayga Steamer. 4. Switch Off; OR, The War of the Students. B. Brake Up; or. The Young Peacemakers. S: Bear anrfForbear; or. The Young Skipper of Lake Ucayoa. " Oliver Oitic is one of the most fascinating writers for youth, and with^ one of the best to be found in this or any past «ge. I mops of younj,^ people hangoverhis vivid pages ; and not one of them ever learned to be mean, ignoble, cowardlylselfish, or to^ yield to any vice from anything they ever read frcin hn. pen." — Providence Press. LEE AND 8HEPARD. BOSTON. SEND THEIR COMPLETE CATALOGUE FREL 1 I - t-T»,w,">y-:'j '^' • * ="t*, ' OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS 1 TH« Soldier Boy; or, Tom Somers in the Army. a. Hrlve Old Salt; o«, Life on the Quautek Uisck. "This scries of six volumes recounts the » events of « All A- "' I. ^M'j* Jj. ' .'.f u ^iirrtBj iai Mi l fciUJgiftawtMMt i ^ ic. Six vr.iumes. Price per volume, RMY. AN Ahmy Ofpicer. ,'AVV Okficek. K Ofhicek. )ECK. of two brothers, Tom ill thu (jri-.il Civil War. the hrothcrs are thrill- of the ({rent events of y a library of entcrtaiii- • for young people ever In six volumes. Price per volume, [CS. HOUSB. mle art of boat building, ike the ownership of^a in this Boat Bulldern ter^voven with the infor- Dory, the hero of ' All sequent volumes of the im, and every boy who s friend." PTic. Twelve vol- Price : cloth, per per set, $2.00. d and Lazy. less Kate, nson Crusoe, Jr. Picnic Party. Gold Thimble. Do-Somethlngg. 'TIC. Six volumes. ;»rice per volume, 30 }M Kate, and I. kBon Crusoe, Jr. Six volumes. Illus- ice per volume, 30 tmas Gift. ) Ben', iday Party. n who are unable to com- Navy Series. But they ting the little folks. They inculcating good lesaoni. CATALDBUE FBFF. ^^^-...^iWWWP'W.^W^W^ mm>mmmi^ , iii l ii - » j ii iiffptgw ii^i 1,1111^11. ^^i|iii III III LEE AND SHEPARDS ILLUSTRATED JUVENILES » J. T. TROWBRTDGE'S BOOKS THE START IN LIFE SERIES. 4 volumes. Bjr A Start in Life: A Story of the Genkskk Country J. T. Trowbridge. Ulustraleil. $1.00. In this story the author recounts the hardships of a V"unL' la.l in his first endeavor to start out for himself. It is a tale t^ial is full of enthusiasm and budd ng h pes. The writer shows how hard the youths of a century ago were compeired to work. This he does in an eiiterta iimK wav, uiiMtrliiie fun and adveiitures with their daily labors. The hero is a striking example of the honest boy, who is not too^Iazy to work, nor too dull to thoroughly appreciate a joke. Biding His Time. ByJ. T. Trowdridge. Illustrated. $1.00. " It is full of spirit and .idventurc, and presents a plucky hero who was willing to 'bide his tiiile,' MO matter how' great the ex peclatious that he ■■«l«ll?edm from his uncle's vast wealth, which he did not iii the least covet. . . . lie was eft a poor orphan in Ohio at seventeen years of af.n;, and soon after heard of a rich uncle wL lived near Boston. He sets olV on the Inni; journey to Boston, fi^ds his uncle" an eccentric old man, is hospitublv received by him, but seeks employment in a humble wav, and proves that he is a persevering and plucky young man." — Boston Home Journal. Tlie Kelp Gatherers: A Story of the Maine Coast. J. T. Trowbridge. Illustrated. $1.00 Bjr This book is full of interesting information upon the l?'-\"t life of the sea- shore and the life of marine animals; but it is also a bright and readable story w"th all the hints of character and the vicissitudes of human life, in depicting which the author is an acknowledged master. The Scarlet Tanager, and Other Bipeds. By J. T. Trowbridge. Illustrated. $100. Every new story which Mr. Tkowbkidoe begins is followed through succes. sive chapters by thousands who have read and re-read manv times h.s pic-'ed ng toles 6neof liis greatest charms is his absolute truthtu^ness. •!« J»;^.s »ot depict little saints, or incorrigible rasca\s, '..ut just Aoc*. This siime fidelity to nature s seen in his latest Sook, " The Scarlet Tanager, and Other Bipeds." There is enoCgh adventure in this tale to commend it to the liveliest reader, and all the lessons it teaches are wholesome. LEE AND 8HEPARD, BOSTON. SEND THEIR COMPLETE CATALOGUE FREL ] \ J. T. TROWBRIDGE'S BOOKS THE Sni-VEU MKIJAL STOIIIKS. vnliiinrn. By J. T. Trow- Tlie Sliver Modal, and Other Stories. uuiDiie. Illustrated. $i.25- Tlicre were some sclicxilhoys who liail tiirncil linuscbre.ikcrs, nnd ninnn^ their fliimlerwiis a silver niudal Ihal liail liceii niveii li> one Jdhii llarrisnn by the iuinaiie Siiciity lor rescuirn; troTii drowniin; a certain lliiiton liarry. Now Uentoii Harry was one of the wretihfd hmisehreakers. 'I'his is the summary of the opening chapter. The story is intensely interesting in its serious as well us its humorous parts. 11 is Own Master. ByJ. T. Trowiiridoe. Illustrated. $1.25. " This is a book after the typical boy's own heart. Its hero is a plucky younj; fellow, who, seeing no chance Cor hiniseltat home, determines to make Ins own way in the world. . . . He sets out accordinnly, truos/o« llomt Journal. Bound in Honor. By J. T. Trowbriuge. Illustrated. $1.25. a lad, who, lhou)ih not uuilty of ■ :ct of his comrades, and felt ny bad action, had been an liound in Honor" not This «^lory is of •ye-wiiness of the cC'H' to tell. "The d'hnpses we get of New Enijland character are free from any distor- tion, and their humorous phases are always entertaining. Mr. Tkowbridge's brilliant descriiitive faculty is shown to great advantage in the opening chapter of the book bv a vivid picture of a village fire, and is manifested elsewhere with equally telling ellect." — Boston Courier. The Pocket Rifle. By J. T. Trowbridge. Illustrated. $1.25. "A boy's story which will be read with avidity, as it ought to he, it is so brightly and fran'kly written, and with such evident knowledge of the tempera- meats and habits, the friendships and enmities of schoolboys." — AVie York Mail. "This is a capital story for bovs. Trowuridgb never tells a story poorly. It teaches honesty, integrity, and friendship, and how best they can be pro- moted. It shows the danger of h.asty judgment and circumstantial evidence; that right-doing pays, and dishonesty never."— Chicago Inter-Ocean. The .i^olly Rover. By J. T. Trowbridge. Illustrated. $1.25. " This book will help to neutralize the ill effects of any poison which children may have swallowed in the wayof sham-adventurous stories and wildly fictitious tales. 'The Jolly Rover' runs away from home, and meets life as it is, till he is glad enough to seek again his fiither's house. Mr. Tkowuhidge has the power of making an instructive story absorbing in its interest, and of covering a moral so that it is easy to take."— Christian Intelligencer. Youngr Joe, and Other Boys. By J. T. Trowbridge. Illus- trated. $1.25. «' Young Joe," who lived at Bass Cove, where he shot wild ducks, took some to town for sale, and attracted the attention of a portly gentleman ftmd of shoot- ing. This gentleman went duck shooting with Joe, and their adventures were more amusing to the boy than to the amateur sportsman. There are thirteen other short stories in the book which will be sure to please the young folks. The Vagabonds : An Illustrated Poem. By J. T. Trow- bridge. Cloth. $1.50. " The Vagabonds " are a strolling fiddler and his dog. The fiddler has been ruined by drink, and his monologue is one of the most pathetic and effective pieces in our literature. UE AND 8HEPARD, BOSTON, SEND THEIR COMPLETE CATALOGUE FREL lOOKS 4. a V(>lilinrGE. Illustrated. $1.25. 1" any had action, had been an felt" liound in Honor" not icter are free from any distor- laininx. Mr. Tkowuridge's .intake in the opening chapter is manifested elsewhere with >OB. Illustrated. $i.25. ty, as it ouRht to be, it is so nt knowledge of the tempera- of schoolboys." — AVie York iGE never tells a story poorly, id how best they can be pro. and circumstantial evidence; 'Chicago Inter-Ocean. GE. Illustrated. $1.25. 5 of any poison which children >us stories and wildly fictitious , and meets life as it is, till he :. Mr. TiiowuHiDGE has the n its interest, and of covering ttelligencer. r. Trowbridge. IUus- he shot wild ducks, look some ortly gentleman fond of shoot- |oc, and their adventures were irtsman. )k which will be sure to please ?OEM. By J. T. Trow- liis dog. The fiddler has been lie most pathetic and effective LETE CATALOGUE FREE. J. T. TROWBRIDGE'S BOOKS THE TIDE-Mll,l4 8TORIKH. fl volumeli. Phil ami His* Friemls. By J. T. Trowbridge. Illustrated. The luro is the son of a man who from drink got into debt, and, after having Biven a naper to a creditor authorizing hiin to keep the son as a security for his .laini, ran awav, leaving poor IMiil a licind slave. The story involves a ureit many unexiiceteil incidents, some ot which are painful, and some comic. I'liil maiifiilly works for a year, eancelliiiL' his father's debt, and then escapes. The characters are strongly drawn, and tlie story is absorbingly interesting. The Tiiikliain Brotlicrs* Tide-Mill Illustrated. $1-25. " The Titikhain Ilriithers " were the devoted sons n' ai By J. T. Trowbridge. Invalid mother. The storv tells how they purchased a tide-mill, which alterwaids, by the ill-will and obstinacy of neit'hbiirs, became a su . ^»_^'y f,,^,,\,,^. „„thor hna related ith toucli.nK «''"P' ."-'y.!" thowuridoe is pnt iis become classic. T he It is well known that ,'^\'-.' "'.^"^..^Hyn; ,J>ers of the STersarctruech'iUlrenof |^;="-:T '"^ *"•''";„ w ha soll.i basis, and with an iSuv^lirarlcUIon^'ll^ h^ -^''-" an uninteresting book. Woodle Thorpe's PilgrirS«', ^^ ,?"'" ^'°''"- "^ — 5/. Botolph. i _-.._. ,.,„iTrorta n Dhases of characier. ^" e..^J„atp!i — I)ov€r . 'scrn'eTCv^ rare skill.- G/»^;««;/|^^^^^^^^^ . .. _ r...*i.„-»o v»nRt-— *7(0wrw«». ik^te^uir?;fc^"Sil^-*-^^^^^^^^ ^ torylnalivewithadventuresand nc.^c^^^^ ^^^,„„,^,, W hichisoneofTROWBBiDGEshnghtestan oA^rr^r. ^ ei^p easant r<^^i^^^-,^Zr^ir^ a solid basis, and with an an uninteresting book. OTHER Stories. By .25- ikeness, and will please many ose delectation it is intended, .nlyrsincerc, and in the best no^cant, but principles of letly inculcated by example; for reading books like this.. JDGE. Cloth. $1.50- ed. The praise from the dif- Gloucester Telegraph. 'ew Bedford Standard. . ^fascinates -Z)<»w A?'""- "''"''• uu . Commonwealtn. f /earth and Uome. trikingand vivid.— Xtoi'"- .S""^' d best. — Boston Transcript. < Observer. Montana American. iven Register. PLETE CATALOBUE FREE. ™ ^ . ¥P ^ n.. •■ (••■