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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. 1 2 3 22X 1 2 3 4 5 6 TRUE AMER] Author of "Th "InFresdo ILx LONE COPP CLAR] TOEO ITRUE TO THE OLD FLAG A TALE OF THE AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE BY G. A. HENTY Author of "The Won of the North" "With Clire in India" "Through the Fray "In Fre^rfomi Cauw" "The Dragon and the Bavea" Facing Death" Ac ILLUSTRATED BY GORDON BROWNE / LONDON: BLACKIE & SON, LIMITED COPP CLARK CO. LTD. WILLIAM BRIGGS TORONTO TORONTO PPMr7£S Ma iwar between [which we wei lowing to th( I anna, British left for Amei their own co gazettes, lettei only, have na strong colour writers have I ' implicitly. Tl to the story, ai whole of the I relied upon as account of the i under Howe, CI contemporary s lul — and succes bility— the Brit PREFACE Many people have been accustomed to regard the Iwar between England and her Colonies in America as one in which we were not only beaten but to some extent humiliated. Owing to the war having been an unsuccessful one for our anns, British writers have avoided the subject, and it has been left for American historians to describe. These, writing for their own countrymen, and drawing for their facts upon gazettes, letters, and other documents emanating from one side only, have naturally, and no doubt insensibly, given a very strong colour to their own views of the events, and English writers have been too much inclined to accept their account implicitly There is. however, another and very different side to the stoiy, and this I have endeavoured to show you. The whole of the facts and details connected with the war can be rehed upon as accurate. They are dn.wn fi.>m the valuable account of the struggle written by Major Stedman. who served under Howe. Clinton, and Cornwallis, and from other authentic contemporary sources. You will see that although unsurcess- lu^-and success was. under the circumstances, a sheer impossi- bihty-the British troops fought with a bravery which was -e... .._.eu. aud that their victories in actual conflict ^ PRBFAOI. \ vastly outnumbered their defeats. Indeed it may be doubted wnether in any war in which this country has been engaged have our soldiers exhibited the qualities of endurance and couiage in a higher degree. G. A. HENTY. Chap. T. IL IIL IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. XI. XII. XIIL XIV. XV. XVI. XVII. XVIII. XIX. XX. XXL An ] Thi Thb Bunk: Scx)in Is TB QCEBI Thb £ A Tr] Thi ( Thb S Sabat Bbsou: Thb Ii Thb G Thb Si Thb S: In an Thb V) The E] be doubted en engaged urance and CONTENTS. rEN'jy. Chajk T. A Pbontiib Farm. . . '^'^ • • . 9 IL Aw Indian Raid. . . ' S6 IIL Thb Red-skin Attaok. , rv. The Fioht at Lbxinoton, . -- V. Bunker's Him. . . 76 VI. SOOUTINO, .... 96 VII. In the Fobest, ... ""•^""^ '.'■".". :»2 IX. The Sdepbibb of Trenton, jgo X. A Thbaoherocs Planter, -yo XI. The Oaptcre o» Philadbuhia, . 200 XII. The Settler's Hot, XIIL Saratooa, 2UV. Rescued. . . . 268 XV. The Island Refuoe, XVI. The Oreat Storm, XVII. The Scout's Story, XVIII. The SiEOB Of Savannah, ! . 328 XIX. In an American Prison, . • g^j XX. The War in South Carouna, .' .' . 867 XXL The End of the Struoqli. .... ' ooit 7 ILLUSTRATIONS I "That was a prettt good shot" «... "*® Frontispiece 33 Tub Bboinnino op the War 70 Thb Seooxd Advance at Bunkeu's Hill ... -. John Coffin AND BAiBNSFKATHEn IX THE Battert igg A Tbbachebods Friend caught 181 The Defence of the Hut 226 "The Indian darted OFF across the ice" . . oo„ '•■••• 280 "The Highlanders maintained A DESPERATE RESISTANCE" . . 334 Plan of the Action at Bunker's Hill ■'•'••• 83 Sketch of Gen. Puttenham's Position and British Advance . . 147 Plan of Burgoyne's Position at Saratoga . . «>.« Plan of the Siege of Savannah . . 839 Plan of the Battle fought near Camden . . 847 Plan of the Battle of Guildford e 871 8 TRU; A TALE OP you gave us a few monthi future wUl e it is therefoi frontier life; quietly at ho] ture; but as ] here and mov "Maasachus tern states, an again, fc the g< 7o| TRUE TO THE OLD FLAG: A TALE OF THE AMERICAN WAR OP INDEPENDENCE. CHAPTER I. A FRONTIER FARM. JIT-Tk r^ "Concord, March 1,1774. ^ Y Dear Cousin,-! am leaving next week with my husband for England, where we intend to p^ some time visiting his friends. John and 1 have determined to accept tlu; invitation you gave us last summer for Harold to co.ar3 and spend ?utTe wT' "'*' ^°" ^'' ''^^^^^ *^-ks that a gTat iM« f>, /'" «^^y years open in the West, and that Wi T/^'! """^ *^' ^y «^^"'^ ^'^^ something of frontier life; for myself, I would rather that he stfyed quietly at home, for he is at present over fond of adven- ture; but as my husband is meditating selling his estate here and moving west, it is perhaps better for him." Massachusetts is in a ferment, a^ indeed are all the Eas- tern states, and the people talk openly of armed resistance Si^"4f---"""^ My husband being of English Dir5„, „a(i x.«v.ag ijervea m tiie king's army, cannot brook 9 10 TlIE BEOINNINO OF TROUBLE. what he calls the rebellious talk which is common among his neighbours, and is already on bad terms with many around us. I myself am, as it were, a neutral ; as an Ame- rican woman, it seems to me that the colonists have been dealt with somewhat hardly by the English parliament,and that the measures of the latter have been high-lianded and arbitrary; upon the other hand, I naturally incline toward my husband's views. He maintains that as the king's army has driven out the French and gives protection to the colony, it is only fair that the colonists should contribute to its expensea The English ask for no contributions towards | the expenses of their own country, but demand that at least the expenses of the protection of the colony shall not be charged upon the heavily-taxed people at home. As to the law that the colony shall trade only with the mother country, my husband says that this is the rule in the colonies of Spain, France, Portugal, and the Nether- lands, and that the people here, who can obtain what land they choose, and till it without rent, should not grumble at paying this small tax to the mother country. How- ever it be, I fear that troubles will come; and this place being the head and focus of the party hostile to England, my husband, feeling himself out of accord with all his neighbours, saving a few loyal gentlemen like himself, is thinking much and seriously of selling our estate here and of moving away into the new countries of the West, where he will be free from all the disputation and con- tentious talk which occupies men's time here. " Indeed, Cousin, times have sadly changed since you were staying with rs five years ago. Then our life was a peaceful and quiet one; now there is nothing but wrang- ,%t REASONS FOR MOVINO WEST. 11 says was the case in England before the great civU war the fomenters of this discontent There are many busybodies who pass their time in stirring up the people by violent harangues and seditious writing; therefore everyone takes one side or the other, and there is neither peace nor comfort in life. " Accustomed as I have always been to living in ease and affluence, I dread somewhat the thought of a life on the Indian frontier. One has heard so many dreadful stories of Indian fights and massacres, that I tremble a little at the prospect; but I do not mention this to John, for as other women are, like yourself, brave enough to support; these dangers,I would not appear a coward in his eyes. You will see, Cousin, that as this prospect is before us. it is well that Harold should learn the ways of a frontier life. Moreover John does not like the thoughtof leaving him here while we «,re in England, for, as he says, the boy might learn to be- come a rebel in his absence; therefore, my dear cousin, we have r^olved to send him to you. An opporiiunity offers m the fw;t that a gentleman of our acquaintance is, with his family, going this week west with the intention of settling there; and he will, he tells us, go first to Detroit whence he will be able to send Harold forward to your farm. The boy himself is delighted at the thought and promises to return an accomplished backwoodsman.' John joins me in kind love to yourself and your husband, and believe me to remain your affectionate cousin, "Mart Wilson." Fo^ months after the date of the above letter a lad some fifteen years old was walking with a man of middle age, oii the shores of Luke Huron. Behind them was 12 A BACKWOODS CLKARINO. distance of somfl thr-ac u j f cattle, stood at a enlarging the U^its oS. *^^ proprietor w« atiU at a ^disLc^ rf twe2 vS ^"""""'^-g *>>« h„u«e. »me seven feet in S f^;77 ' """« "^^"^^ at the upper endC Jed ir2./T« '"^ f^*^ The house itseMrit ^'J' " ">« S™""-! able thao X mferitf o^ri" 'P^ ""^ '"'^ """f-rt- builtinthe^^rSon of s^r*^ ff^ahous^, ^^ designed to resist Xi' '°^' '"'* '"» '^"^^^y SM ^^ ^te^arnr^-.^n''^^- » «"» tatioa It would havfi hlT • *^® ''®^^* ^^bi- ordinary circult^Ztl^eTuS™^ ^^^ -^« lonely a position, so far remnvo.i - """^f^^ iiimself m so assistance' in cas^ of alTte X ^^f "''^ »' just after Pontiac, who waTatTll v. 7 f "' '«"'«''«, aU the Indian Wbl of tt™! the head of an alliance of and desperate sieS Fort Ktt''^'''^- '^*^' *''« ^»°« finding that his friends the ^nlP!^'^"^'""^"'' thought of further r^istant to t^e e1,T° ?/' entirely abandoned the counb^ Li^u 2t \°f ;^K in the <^^^:t^L:^^'C'XT^'f ".moved from the confines of civilizatioa ^' ^" i he spot was a natural clearinjr of sonw fnr*. extent, sloping down to thHlft^s^'l'^J ?!«.!" charming i had broug East, and cutting doi In spite, fertility of advantages supply of convey his regretted h there had 1 the Indians cursions; th nately only to beat off; Wm, he had child and hi which he cai refuge in the ings destroy had serious gether; but i wards him, « before long, a upon which h hold on, hopii other settlers The house 1 He now emp] since his retur of this story, taken up on tl a extent; a stood at a ' the lake; n the sun; I sound of P was still the house, ', stockade es pointed le ground i comfort- uses, was evidently B on this rest habi- ct, under self in so ibility of however, liance of the long us upon t up all ind had ihought, o reign 3h him- ?on, far teres in n SuOFO A SETTLER'S TKOUBLEa 13 supply of &h and i rhighwav t wV f f''""'"^ convey his produce to markftTJh ^ "* ^ """" regretted his choice ot^h^f' ^ *^ """^ " »«"» there had beeTno Indi^ i,*"*'""" " ""^ '™« *>»* the Indians h^ seve^'1,17 T " ^^' "«»'«; •»" cumions; three timLhe^TK ''*" »"t in sudden in- nately oily CsZTZj^ ^? '^^^^- l'»t forta- to bit off; See whe^?"' '''""^ '•^ '"^ •>«» """Wed him, he h^ w"bLd7" 'l"T *"«<>' ""^'"o-od child and his m„«Sle d^Z^"? T?'' '"'^ "'^« <«'<' which he carried hi! nli^ ^ *^^ " *'''' S^o^t scow in refuge in Z^UlZ!n^T^r'"l''- ■"<• ^ad to take mgs destroyed and hulil^aS^ itT *'^- '""."■ had serious thoughts nt l^. Z 7 *^** ^^"^^ ^« gether; but the "^l:^e.t^tet'7ten^- '""""S, ''*<^ wards him, and with « TI ! *f'?''<*"'g rapidly to- betore long ^d thTnatLa^r! °^ '"^^ neighbour, upon whil' he h^^l"^"'""'"? *o «*™ "P* Place hold on, hoping that m»rf^ Z^"^ *°"- "•* ''^^d^ to "'Arhfv?^"-"^'^^^^^^^^^ He''n:Xt?ed'lr r ' -rr^'ythan befor. since his return to ht"al;r ""^ *^^" unmolested of this story Ak-adv^T' ?.' ''T ^^""^ «"« «J»te taken up on theXl'f ^,';t°^.?"^ '«»;«»- '"^ '^•' "" ™= .»k;b beyond him; a viUage 14 fiAD NEWS. h II had grown up thirty-five miles away,aiid several settlers had ^tabhshed themselves between that place and his « So you are going out fishing this morning. Harold?" Mr. Welch said. "I hope you will bring bfik a good supply, for the larder is low. I was looking at you yes- terday, and I see that you are becoming a first-rate hand at the management of a canoe." I " So I ought to be." the boy said. « considering that for n^^rly three months I have done nothing butThoot andf "You have a sharp eye. Harold, and will make a first-l rate backwoodsman one of these daya You can shoot nearly as well as I can now. It is lucky that I had a good stock of powder and lead on hand; firing awav by the hour together as you do consmnes a large amount of ammumtioa See. there is a canoe on the lake: it is coming this way too. There is but one man in it; he is a white by his clothea" ' For a minute or two they stood watehmg the boat I a^d ttien seemg that its course was directed towards' the shore, they walked down to the edge of the lake to meet it. - i .u"^lff'^''' " *^** y°"^" ^^- Welch asked «I| thought I knew your long sweeping stroke at a distence. hZ ^^ti.^^'^ ^*«^g. I see; that is a fine stag you have got there. What is the news?" said. The Irroquois have dug up the tomahawk again, and are out on the war-path. They have mass^ed John Brent and his family. I heard a telk of it amongst some hunters I met ten days since in tL« wnnH« ^^ AN INDUN OUTBREAK. j» , wtx^:^7t :z rb?""' """ «■«'- «*'"'• whole frontier had hLw- *^"''lr"'* ''*™^* »° «>« told them, I i.e^d.^:tt"7al^r "' *° ""• «' farther and farther into thfLkni^^? "T ^'"'^ less they drove them Ck theR^l T-^' *"'* '^^^ ""- would be gone. I honTdtW ^C- "" '>"''«°g-g«'unds but I migf t have kn'^t te 'flfh""!' T' "' ''^ begin to stir there is sn™ .„ i^ • Y}""" **" Red-skins quiet again" » »>™ *» be mischief before they are L.,^v* T'"" """^ somewhat left Mr Welrf.'. „i, i, the hunter spoke. welch s cheeks as badti"';rritsioS:;^h"'^?''>-' "• Just when he eot wT^ i, ?^'' * "^"^ <>* PO't saw smoke ntlf iL t d'a^i^-^ .*"'. '"J"", y*"^' -<« and made trackf I met hS t\ "P^"* ^^ '^'^ just arrived. Johnson l„ "/°'"«'»''b. where he had loanoe and come down the lalc« „; • ** **''* "y Ion the way I siom..H ! c ' ? ""^ y"" "" warning said he should dt^Tut ^t ol"T ^^ "~P^'''^ ^""^ Ling " th^ugr tir^ rsrrk"""' fed's lSr^tldT^•^f^-^^-^^ Us bar raised if the Initio " ^^f^^o-ed he would get ghat's his bu™» •''"" "^^ *^'" ''»y; bot in couL ioni?:hi,'?afr.Sis t"r' v^ "■" ■«'« «''-- '■It „n.,l,i 1,7.^ ™ *''« "'^'^ Of the Red-skina» ' ■' "= " i'^y- '"«'« Welch, that's as true' as 16 A DITFICULT DECISION. gospel; it's the likeliest clearing within fifty miles round, and you've fixed the place up as snug and comfortable as if it were a farm in the old provinces. In course the ques- tion is, what this War Eagle intends to do. His section of the tribe is pretty considerable strong, and although at prese 1 1 ain't heard that any others have joined, these Injuns are like barrels of gunpowder: when the spark is once struck there is no saying how far the explosion may spread. When one band of them sees as how another is taking scalps, and getting plunder and honour, they all, want to be at the same work. I reckon War Eagle ha got some two hundred braves who will follow him; bu when the news spreads that he has begun his work, ali the Irroquois, to say nothing of the Shawnees, Delawares, and other varmint, may dig up the hatchet The questio is, what War Eagle's intentions are? He may make clean sweep down, attacking all the outlying farms, an* waiting till he is joined by a lot more of the red reptilei before attacking the settlements. Then, on the othe hand, he may think himself strong enough to strike j blow at Gloucester and some other border villages a once. In that case he might leave the outlying farmi alone, as the news of the burning of these would reac the settlements and put them on their guard, and h knows in course that if he succeeds there he can eat yo all up at his leisure." "The attack upon Brent's place looks as if he mean to make a clean sweep down," Mr. Welch said. " Well,"the huntercontmued thoughtfully, "I don't kno, as I sees it in that light. Brent's place was a long wa from any other. He might have wished to give his ban, a taste of blood, and so raise their spirits, and he migli| on't mind losi (f4ft) f>iaetuing to bra (Ui) .iles round, I "" hdntihs ARonMSNiSi „ fortablo as t^foably conclude that nout wo„M i i othequea-l /»' days, perhaps weeks to ^^ b»W„ about ais section r^k "night have been madrbv 2,e ^ ' f^"'"* **« I although r'thout orders. Ifs a dubious ™,T '"'tSghng party ined. thil" J^nds here, I think a.d;„S°"i hl°" '"'^ ^' >e spark is|"f« »h«>' pretty straight with a rifll' . T ^^ y"" losion mayr. »»«.• «nd «s this yoSng C^he™ V ' '''* "^ "=<»"'' another ^r"* ^ »^°<"i"'g-iron,^t mak',; " ^''°'' "^ *^ .r, they all| « '^ong one,-and youlSd L?„l"^' y""' ?'■"» E.«Ie hal-^y- My idea is, thatCfia^f ^f "7 '"''^S""? hto; buf:^,.«»Hhe phce would make a litfl^.^T P'^''^ . work, al|^ ?"°« »>y making a regu wCk "!ff ^ " T * *'^'« QelawareslfW »".' ^r twenty-foufho™ at Z^ • ^°" ""s"" .equestloJ?'" "^'t no shelter to beT^ wl ^?A»P™' »°d ■y ""*• fc: "fj".?' ""^ '"■1 this would 47^ J: "^« 'o "? "Pti^fcfe''''' '-™ yo" alone forTe'L^"^? ' ^}?^ tarma, tauMT- ""•"" "moourage his warriors mv..*i xt "'S"^"'i Bd reptil J^".Ea«le will leave yonXeforT^^' ^?' ^ "^^'^ the other ;!f 1 "^d a scout to see whefter vt /r'°*^ ^^^ > strike r J'tdy as not that oaeTS" r''"^'^"'' ''"'' tillages ar""W *^'> t«es now. I should ^^^ ,^ somewhere in/f.!* the «iimals and .»fi„ J!'?, ^™« .»» t™e in driving illages ai ing farmi 'uld read d, and hi the animals and gettinr; J TZt^" '? "^"^S you are prepared theviilli '"■■ "''^n they » the present! a^terwaVllT* y»» alone, at lej epend on how hey Z a^ ^1 Z^^^^' *^'" '^l cceed there and ga^fb'j^:!!."'--^ » *ey in eat yor^^" °n how they geis on at «,. o *.i '' »* ""*' "^^ ™' ■^"1 cceed there and IJllZ ^ * '^t'l^menta If they he meal? -y march ':L'°^^o^^ZfT':l'^^- .m. hurry to get to their ymJZt^HrL^Z -" on'tkno long wa > his ban he mig] (S46) iinahunytogettothr,?., .^ ^'"'•' ">«y will I reckon they will pay you a tSf f '^' »»t"ements, » back without scalpa Cv w 11 ■ '""' *^''^ ''«'°'* KC' l°^« '»- -" ^- - -— "■" ""• "-mg «> b^g about when they g^t i^Z InZ^, u 18 OALUNO IN THB HAND& Master Welch, I must be going on, for I want to tak the news down to the settlementa before War Eagle gets there, and he may be ahead of me now for aught I know, I don't give you no advice as to what you had best do you can judge the circumstances as well as I can. Whei I have been to the settlements and put them on thei guard, maybe I shall be coming back again, and in tha case you know Jack Pearson's rifle is at your disposa You may as well tote this stag up to the house; yo won't be doing much hunting just for the present, ani the meat may oome in handy." The stag was landed, and a minute later the canoe shu away from shore under the steady stroke of the hunter) powerful arma Mr. Welch at once threw the stag ove his shoulders, and, accompanied by Harold, strode awa; towards the house. On reaching it he threw down thi stag at the door, seized a rope which hung agamst t: wall, and the sounds of a large bell rung in quick sha strokes summoned the hands from the fields. The soum of the woodman's axe ceased at once, and the shouts the men as they drove the cattle towards the house r on the still air. "What is the matter, WilUam?" Mra Welch asked she ran from the house. "I have bad news, my dear; the Indians are out aga and I fear we have trouble before us. We must ho that they will not come in this direction, but must prepared for the worst. Wait till I see all the han and beasts in the stockade, and then we can talk t matter over quietly." In a few minutes the hands arrived, drivrng bef( them the horses and cattle. "What u bell sure eni "The hi6 force. Thej towards the they may nc Get the bea scythes and which is hij nothing else [yards of the with you and [heard the belj [guess that W( attempt a surj [other ajar, wi 'lave to make look-out while Having seer into the house, usual, pale, ; "Now, Jane exactly how ma ihe news, has t ourae we had I After he had e reasons for i 'ent on, "Now 'hether ve sha fainst any attj 'all at once en lown to the settJ PrJEPARAnONS TOB DIFENoi. I beU rrel^oi^h'T '" ""'^ '^«^' "'^' w„ tho alar.- towards the settlemenT^^Tht '^ ""^ "« ""k^* they may not; at anyrate w. ^'^ ft^ "°°" *» ^V or Get the beaato intTSe ^11?!, ^ ^^P"''' f« t^en. scythes and set to work to ctiZ "l? "" ^O" »" ^^ which is high enough to °l T "■*' P*'* of coin, nothing else which |rutvr!^*^™'.*«''«i there's lyards of the house. 01 ZZ " .?""° * '""d'cd jwith you and keep a dZ ^1^* "^ "^^ y<»" '^es Iheard the beU if theySth^ • 'V^' ^^^^ '^ ^'^^^ (guess that we are ol Z l^Tt^^'^ «d "ill lattempt a surprise. Shut on. J .i, °^ "* ■">* '"'ely to lother ajar, w?th the t^'Cdy to'pS*" "?" '"^' ">« fave to make a run for it Hardd ' •,? "" «^ y»» W-out while you are at work " ">" «<> "P to the I Having seen that all was rhI^j j ^ „ kto the house, where hiTwifetl*"' ^l' ^''* ''^t I XNOW, Jane ha aairl w -x j Wly how matters S ^farTp""^ ^ ^"^ *«" ^^u [be news, has told -e C'you ste'^'^ '""^^* [ourse we had better take." ^^^''^^ aa to the After he had told her all ih.t- t> he reasons for and against exneln "" ^^^ '^'^' ^^ ent on, "Now. it rLX for^^^^T'^ f ^°^' ^« Whether ve shaU stay and defend?); ^ ^^^''' ^ ^^^^^e Ut any attack LTityt^^"^' *? *^« ^-* ball at once embark in thL^J^ a '''' "^^^^^^^ ^« [own to the settlements." ' ^^ '"*^® *»^ way 11 20 TIIK FINAL DECISION. "What do you think, William?" his wife asked "I scarcely know myself," he answered; "but if I had quite my own way, I should send you and Nelly down to the settlements m the scow, and fight it out here with the hands. "You certainly will not have your own way in that" his wife said. "If you go, of course I go; if you stay I stay. I would a thousand times rather go through a' siege here and risk the worst, than go down to Glouce-ste ' and have the frightful anxiety of not knowing what ww happenmg hera Besides, it is very possible, as you say that the Indians may attack the settlement itself; man of the people there have had no experience in Indian wa' and the Red-skins are likely to be far more successful their surprise there than they would be here. If we g, we should have to leave our house, our bams, our stack and our animals to the mercy of the savages. You capital IS pretty nearly all embarked here now, and th, ^^ of all this would be ruin to us. At anyrai William, I am ready to stay here, and to risk what ma come, if you are. A life on the frontier is necessarily' lite of danger; and if we are to abandon everything to have to commence life afresh every time the Ind go on the war-path, we had better give it up at once return to Massachusetts." "Very well, my dear," her husband said gravely " Y. are a true frontierman's wife; you have chosen as should have done. It is a choice of evils; but God h blessed and protected us since we came out into t: wilderness; we will trust and confide in him now. anyrate, he went on more cheerfuUy, "there is no £< of the enemy starving us out We got in our store provisions o everything f our well faili dance; seeing had an extra ^^y; there u for months, a cutting brou^ Jt will be use; heap of it soal with it in ca their fire-arro\ The day pea nightfall the ^minterrupted hundred yards: fell, two out of 'fastened out in [e^hty yards o within the stoci |watche8, two me 5ach other everj 'is companion «cited at the i •ead of the desp nd the Indians, 'enturous work ; 'ad come, and thi a desperate sti The first watcl elch and Harolt ^ported that all - id. if I had down to with the an< ^odhJ ON THE ALERT. provisions onlv a fni4«: i^ . ^' everything for a th^^^J"?"- '»<' hsve enough of our well failing „,. rdtf^^^fS* .^?ero is „o fL of dance; seeing how Harold was "l?'"""."*'"'^* "•"■»- had an extra supply whenTh^ f * '^"^^'^ »"<» M, I day; there is pZy oTc^^! "^^ «»»« ^ tie other for months, and I will hirZ ^ ^V"' *« '^'»«1» cuttmg brought in as a lup^tTf'^i* the men are It will be usefd for another nurnn/""'* for the cowa heap of it soaked with water "S-,°°' "" ""' keep a w.th it in case of atta* T? J?j" T"' ">' '''■%'es then: fire-arrows." " "^ efiectuaUy quench h'KXl^f J'^r^l:,* »%htest alarm, and by '».ntem,pted view of ZjZf'^. "^"y- "«» » hundred yards from the houS^ .ff^*? '^'"'*^<^ °f « N, two out of the four do^bT ^"'^'"^ ^en night fctened out in the open t^ d^'r^""* *° «>« f«™ w?,; e«hjy yards of the'^ront tt'*°r''*'"'°'™'<»'tyto '"thin the stockade. The^ „** "*"" •«"» retained kches. two men being on^'!? r.*^"*"^ ^'» three h* other every three ho™ Mr W fw"""*' "««^^« ^■» companion on the w^ih tT *? '~'' ^"^'d <« read of the desperate fishta bot»,. *:? . ® '"^ often »'^^^ - • -.>«o, oiiu mat they ss INDIAN SOOtmi hod heard no suspicious cries of any kind. When the men had retired to their room Mr. Welch told Harold that he should take a turn round the stockade and visit i the dogs. Harold was to keep watch at the gate, to close it after he went out, to put up the bar, and to stand beside it ready to open it instantly if called upon. Then the famer stepped out into the darkness, and, treading noiselessly, at once disappeared from Harold'sj sight The latter closed the gate, replaced the heavy barJ and stood with one hand on this and the other holding hi rifle, listening intently. Once he thought he heard a lo^ growling from one of the dogs, but this presently ceasedl and all was quiet again. The gate was a solid onel formed of strong timbers placed at a few inches apar' and bolted to horizontal bars. Presently he felt the gate upon which his hand rested quiver as if pressure was applied from without Hij first impulse was to say "Is that you?" but Mr. Welch had told him that he would give a low whistle as he ap| preached the gate; he therefore stood quiet with hi whole attention absorbed in listening. Without makiuJ the least stir he peered through the bars, and made oi two dark figures behind them. After once or twic shaking the gate, one took his place against it and tl other sprang upon his shoulders. Harold looked up and saw a man's head appear the sky. Dim as was the light, he could see that it wj no European head-gear, a long feather or two projectid from it In an instant he levelled his rifle and firej There was a heavy fall, and then all was silent Harol again peered through the barf. The second figure ht j:.»««.%tta«<»1 ar\A A 1^To/>1r mnoA Iav at the foot of the £rat 3n the larold d visit oclo3e beside agfi iit wi THE WATOH-DOO 8LAIN. 23 In an instant the men came running from the house ^t^'w'^^^r "''''' "-'^^^^ "^^- "He went out to scout round the house. leaving me at the gate, Harold said. "Two men, I think Lians I thmk he IS lying outside-the other hw disappeared." We must get the master in," one of the men said; "he bened. Mr. Welch," he shouted, « it is all safe here, so far we know; we are all on the look-out to cover you as ou come up. ' ^ Immediately a whistle was heard close to the gate- A ^^ ^'J^^^^fy opened a few inches, and was closed md barred airectly Mr. Welch entered. Harold told him what had happned. "I thought it was something of the sort. I heard Wolf 'owl, and felt sure that it was not at me. I threw myself lown and crept up to him, and found him shot through ;he heart with an Indian arrow. I was crawling ba<;k to ^e house when I heard Harold's shot. Then I waited to lee If It was followed by the war-whoop, which the Red- ikins would have raised at once on finding that they were hscovered, had they been about to attack in force. Seeing ;hat all was quiet, I conjectured that it wa^ probably^ ittempt on the part of a spy to discover if we were upon ,he alert. Then I heard your call and at once came oa do not expect any attack to-night now, as these fellows iust have been alone; but we will all keep watch till the lorning. You have done very well, Harold, and have lown yourself a keen watchman. It is fortunate that • 'ou had the presence of mind neither to sfir nnr to "-u u THE DEAD INDIAN. !!? ^'^ r^^"* ^^^^^ *^"'"' ^°^ ^^^ yo" done 80. yon would proi.aMy have got an arrow baween your n\J.os poor Wolf has done." When it was daylight and the gate was opened, th body of an Indian waa seen lying without; a small mari on his forehead showed where Harold's bullet had entered death bemg instantaneous. His war-paint and the em broidery of his leggings showed him at once to be a Im)quois. Beside him lay his bow. with an arrow whid H^rnlH I i^^ ^l*'^ ^ *^^ «*""& ^^' i°«<^<^ work Harold shuddered when he saw it. and congratulate^ himself on having stood perfectly quiet. A Save w^ dug a short distance away, the Indian was buried, an the household proceeded about their work The day, a^ was usual in households in America, w begun with prayer, and the supplicatious of Mr. Welch the protection of God over the household were warn axid earnest The men proceeded to feed the animals narft W ' 'Y ^""^'^ ""' °^ '^' ^"^^^^"re. one of Jh party being always on watch in the little tower whicl had been erected for that purpose some ten or twelvlf j above the roof of the house. From this spot a vTew wa obtamabk nght over the clearing to the forest whTr surrounded it on three sides. The^other ^1^11^ e to cut down more of the com. so as to extend thTlev space around the house. ®^ \ iHATd; night remai thati the air. " What sort animals? for if ** No," the mi to feel the noia it was firing ve "The iiight i would be heard " I cannot sa^ tromble in the a W!ien the na "'» H.i still aga] intently. ** Jackson was thing in the air. a sort of murm bear it, Harold?* " I seem to hea e 80, you r ribs, as ica, Wi elch fo: 9 wa; animals of th ' whici Ive fee ew w whic )ceede e lev CHAPTER IL AN INDIAN RAID. jHAT day and the next passed quietly The fir«t it was firing very many n>Se3 off" ' *°"" ^^ """ wouM It^a'aCi •■'"• ""' "'•' """"' »' ' «"» a sort of murmur no Inn^n,. *k , . "' -^^ ^ [hear it, HaroldT" *^*" * '^^^P^'^' ^^ you "I seem to hear something." Harold said, "i^ 25 1^1 1 36 RETURN OP THE HUNTER. the sound of the sea a very long way off, just as one can hear it many miles from the coast, on a still night at home. What do you think it is?" "If it is not fancy," Mr. Welch replied, "and I do not] think that we should aU be deceived, it is an attackl upon Gloucester." "But Gloucester is 35 miles away," Harold answered. "It is," Mr. Welch replied; "but on so still a night aa\ this sounds can be heard from an immense distance. If it is not this, I cannot say what it is." f Upon the following night, just as Mr. Welch's watch was at an end, a low whistle was heard near the gatel " Who is there?" Mr. Welch at once challenged. "Jack Pearson, and the sooner you open the gate the! better; there is no saying where these red devils may be lying round." "^ Harold and the farmer instantly ran down and openec the gate. "I should advise you to stop down here," the hunterl said, as they replaced the bars; "if you did not hear me] you certainly would not hear the Red-skins, and thej would all be over the palisade before you had time tol fire a shot. I am glad to see you safe, for I was badly scared lest I should find nothing but a heap of ashes here.1 The next two men now turned out, and Mr. Welch led! hia visitor into the house and struck a light. "Hallof Pearson, you must have been in a skirmish," he saiS seeing that the hunter's head was bound up with a blood] stained bandage. "It was all that," Pearson said, "and wusa I weni down to Gloucester and told 'em what I had heard; buj the darned fools tuk it as quiet as if all King George'J BASH OONFTOENOK S7 )op8 With fixed bayonets had been camped round 'em '^^Tf.F^ *?^'*^^' ^^ palavered for an hour, and included that there was no chance, whatever, of the rrroquo^ venturing to attack such a powerful place as ploucester. I told them that the Red-skins would go bver their stockade at a squirrel's jump; and that as War Gagle alone had at lea^t 150 braves, while there wam't Dore than fifty able-bodied men in Gloucester and all the farms around it, things would go bad with 'em if Ihey did not mind. But, bless yer, they knew more than I did about It; most of them had moved from the Ea^t Jnd had never seen an Injun in his war-paint. Glou-' bester had never been attacked since it was founded niffh ten years ago, and they did not see no reason why it bhould be attacked now. There wa^ a few old frontiers- men like myself among them, who did their best to stir them up; but It waa no manner of good. When the bouncil was over we put our heads together, and just irent through th^ township a talking to the women, and .e had^ not much difficulty in getting up such a scare ^inong em, that before nightfall every one of 'em in the farms around made their husbands move into the stockade pi the village. "When the night pa^ed off quietly, most of the men rere just as savage with us as if it had been a false Warm altogether I pinted out that it was not because War Eagle had left them alone that night that he was bound to do so the next night, or any night after. But ^ spite of the women they would have started out to Iheir farms the fust thing in the morning, if a man had not come in with the news that Carter's farm had ^,^,, ^^ „„e wuuie 01 ine people killed and 28 AN ATTACK ON ▲ SEITLEIIENT. scoped As Carter'8 farm lay only about 15 mUes off night before. Then they asked us old hands to take Z utnf to'nr' *" "^ '"'^' "* '"'^ them; bif:ht' It came to it theu- promises were not worth the breatl ftj had spent upon them. There were lit ofte houses outs.de the stockade, and in course we wLtod these pulled down; but they would not hear ofTt ^wl ever, we got them to work to strengthen the lck^«' to make loopholes in the houses nL them!r^„ru1 "wT^ 7«d'vided into three watohes. | well, just as I expected, about eleven o'clock at niirh a.e Injuns attacked. Our watch might just « wtu W h^ adeep for any good they did, f?r it waslT «11 ft Eed-skms had crept up to the stockade aU round ^ opened fire between the timber on them, that ^Cl fl^hfTr'* "r. ^ '*° them justice to say thatThe^ fought stiff' enough then, and for four hours they held ft hne of houses; every Eed-skin who climbedThe st«bS fell dead maide it Four fires had been light^ dS] they attacked to enable us to keep them frl scaWth •Thi Red V 'V'^r' "" *»» *» "^^ enemy,:f Zrt^ h./ Red-skms took possession of the houe4 which J tor ua Then they shot such showers of bumini sr t: ^:;f ^v'"'* '''^ »^ «>» house, w'.:'^! Wight We tned to get our men to sally out and to holf "Mumer of good; each man wanted to stick to his wife J DESTRUCTION OF THE VILLAGE. 39 lan }i«lf ^; ^*1®^°* <^own; and when at last more Ip our ifrd" whit teT . ^"'' °* """*• '"'' '°«' ""^0 be Injuns cImeT x^ 'to'kade, just opposite where kd Kill T ? f^' """^ •f*"'' Sobi"' he wL shot own and Bill.!.7V f?,' *™ °' *•"•*« ™ them went Jdef Ln hS r ^""^'- ^"' •""! " M in the lawk m h.H "''?, "^^ "•« "^^^-J ''ith » toma- Tm w"^"?* ** '"'"« '" »° «tea rifle." Mr. Welch told the hunter of the visit nf it,. * rfian spies two nighta before. ""* *"" J!lfk*'i° ^1**' °*''^' "^ '«•*»" f<" the present you b not hkely to be disturbed. The Injuns havTteken binl ^ "' ""^.'""^ '■■^0 t- hundr^sS^! puniinff tne wnmnn o»»/l «UJij , ,. "v-cw^/o, ^« vxiixuiun, ana tiiey moved off 80 AWAITINO ATTACK. at daybreak this morning in the direction of Tottenj ham, which I reckon they will attack to-nighi Howl Bomever, Bill has gone on there to warn them, and aftei the sack of Gloucester the people of Tottenham won't b^ caught napping, and there are two or three old frontiers men who have pettled down there, and War Eagle wil| get a hot reception if he tries it. As far as his banc is concerned you are safe for some days; the only feaj is that some others of the tribe, hurrying up^ at hearin/ of his success, may take this place as they go past. Ana now, I guess that I will take a few hours' sleep; I hav^ not closed an eye for the last two nights." A week passed quietly. Pearson, after remaining twJ days, again went down the lake to gather news, anj returned a day later with the intelligence that almost al the settlements had been deserted by their inhabitant/ the Indians were out in great strength, and had attackeJ the settlers at many points along the frontier, commit[ ting frightful devastations. Still another week passed, and Mr. Welch began hope that his little clearing had been overlooked asJ forgotten by the Indians. The hands now went aboul their work as usual, but always carried arms with thei while one was constantly stationed on the watch-towe Harold resumed his fishing, never, however, going ou of sight of the house. Sometimes he took with hid little IS elly Welch, it being considered that she was safe in the canoe as she was in the house, especially the boat was always in sight, and the way up from tli landing to the house was under cover of the rifles of tl defenders; so that, even in case of an attack, they wouj probably be able to make their way back. THE HIDDEN FOK, 31 One afternoon tney had been out together for two or iree hours; everything looked as quiet and peaceable as lu^; the hands were in the fields near the house, a few •f the cows were grazing close to the gate. Harold had .een successful in his fishing, and had obtained as many ^? ^A M frl^ ?^"^- ^® '*^PP^^ °"* f^«°^ tl^e canoe, lelped Nelly to land, slung his rifle across his back, and jcked up th.e fish, which were strung on a withy parsed hrough their gills. He had made but a few steps when a yell arose so loud id temble that for a moment his heart seemed to stop leatmg. Then from the corn-fields leaped up a hundred ark figures; then came the sharp crack of rifles, and two |f the hands dashed down at full speed towards the house. ^- had fallen. The fourth man was in the watch- ir. The surprise had been complete. The Indians lad made their way like snakes through the long com ^hose wavmg had been unperceived by the sentinel, who m dozing at his post, half-asleep in the heat of the sun larold saw m a moment that it was too late for him to iegam the house; the Red-skins were already nearer to * than he was. "Now, Nelly! into the boat again; quick!" he said We must keep out of the way till 'tis all over." Nelly was about twelve years old, and her Hfe in the |oods had given her a courage and quickness beyond her rears. Without wasting a moment on cries or lamenta- lons she sprang back into the canoe. Harold took his place leside her, and the light craft darted rapidly out into the like. Not until he was some three or four hundred yards /om the shore did Harold pause to look round. Then wl^-n le felt he was out of gunshot distance, he ceased paddling S2 THE CANOB ON THE LAKE. The fight WM raging now around the house; fron loopholes and turret the white puffs of smoke darted angnly out The fire had not been ineffectual, for severJ dark forms could be seen lying round the stockade; anl the bulk of the Indians, foiled in their attempt to carry th piace at a rush, had taken shelter in the com, and kei up a scattering fire round the house, broken only on t side facmg the lake, where there was no growing croD afford them shelter. ^ f •'They are all right now," Harold said cheerfuUj Do not be anxious, Nelly; they will beat them ofl Pearson is a host in himself. I expect he must have bee] lying down when the attack was made. I know he wal scouting round the house aU night. If he had been oJ the watch, those fellows would never have succeeded creeping up so close unobserved." "I wish we were inside," Nelly said, speaking for tl first time. " If I were only with them I should not mine I am sure I wish we were," Harold agreed. "It too hard being useless out here when such a splend, fight IS going oa Ah! they have their eyes on ud he exclaimed as a puff of smoke burst out from sod bushes near the shore, and a ball came skipping aloi on the surface of the water, sinking, however, before reached it. " O^ose Indian muskets are no good," Harold said cod temptuously,"and the trade powder the Indians get very poor stuff; but I think that they are well witl range of my rifle." ^ The weapon which Harold carried was an English ni of very perfect make and finish which his father hj given him on parting. ^ A LURKING TOE. mm Lr-ge of that fellow Se ^U t ' 1' ^d iTn *° :acUy where he is lying." ^ ' ^ ^ **" '«« Nelly, who was efficient in the management of a canoe kthlrtold lir*?^'^ *»*•" ^"W »ii "Tour m through the bodr T W f^ '-^f ^ *^P^' ^ •>" d fired « little aSt N„w t^r^^^t '"" y"^' wrhesaid nhere;th'l::^'^^„p?^„trr'i e W. Put your hat on the paddle^IZat ir? "' Kly" *''™"^'°« »*'»-«. Haroldr the girl i long 88 the sieffe i« wl? "^ *1"'*^ ''^^^^ *^a* |d tfere i,r^yCrwTo;^rmT;c'•-^rrt K.'^'. What chance is there% ^tl "f^J^* *" c 34 AN UNSUG0ES8FUL ATTEMPT. Are there any other canoes on the lake within a shoi distance?" "They have one at Braithwaite's," the girl said, "foi miles oflf; but look, there is Pearson's canoe Ivini? bv t shore." Jf H y^ " So there is," Harold exclaimed. " I never thought thai I expect the Indians have not noticed it. Tl bank is rather high where it is lying. They are sure find it sooner or later. I think, Nelly, the best pi would be to paddle back again so as to be within ti range of my rifle while still beyond the reach of thei I think I can keep them from usmg the boat until it dark." "But after it is dark, Harold ?" *' Well, then, we must paddle out mto the lake so as be well out of sight; when it gets quite dark we ( paddle in again, and sleep safely anywhere a mile or t from the house." An hour passed without change. Then Nelly si " There is a movement in the bushes near the canoe." Presently an arm was extended, and proceeded to K the canoe towards the shore by its head rope. As it touchi the bank an Indian rose from the bushes and was about step in, while a number of flashes of smoke burst out aloi the shore and the bullets skipped over the water towa. the canoe, one of them striking it with sufficient force penetrate the thin bark a few inches above the watei edge. Harold had not moved; but as the savage step into the canoe he fired, and the Indian fell heavily the water, upsetting the canoe as he did so. A yell of rage broke from his comrades. "I don't thmk they will try that game again as I — >">^ Kuxiua xiaVi bin a sho) OUT ON THI LAKl said, " fo ing by t. tliought d it. T are sure best pli within tl I of theii until it ^„ v ^ratei. still we may SB weU avoid aoci. Jtsr another hour pa»ed the fi„ „„„d the house , Do you think the Indian« have gone awayr Nel.y a They ^ not fond nJ T °'^''* '"'* ">«" t^ ir father are no Sl tiT^ '"'"■ '"'' ^"^^'^ and '. Harold m J^kTnef hfaL v'''' '^^' ">« ^'^■' "e. while Nelly h^diete D he "nf^hT g away from the shore ont into Zt^ *^' ^ ^^iS::LzT^t^^r^^^H on. eived. Harold doubttd wheteHrw ' .^k""' """'^ » the boat from shore but i.^ " T^^ ^ I^iW* "» off the s^nt, shonM ml be ?^" ^ ?"" ""^ ,»»f8 head to the soutt anTn Lt ! ^*' ""^ '"™«1 [perfectly dark ""* P*^""""* »^«y "ntU it SP;.!L^Tr "" *"" '«"'«'" he said to Ven, -- .kms „,ve wonderful eyes; so if they pr^^^ se LAKDINa at all, they will do it in that direction. At anyratoj human being, unless he borrowed the eyes of an could see us now; so we will turn and paddle the o way." For two hours they rowed in this direction. "We go into shore now," Harold said at last. "We musi seven or eight miles beyond the house." The distance to the shore was longer than theyi pected, for they had only the light of the atars to them, and neither had any experience in night travel They had therefore made much further out into the than they had intended. At length, however, the line of trees rose in front of them, and in a few miii the canoe lay alongside the bank, arti its late occu were stretched on a soft layer of moss and fallen lea " What are we going to do to-morrow about ^uti Nelly asked. " There are four or five good-sized fish in the bol of the canoe," Harold replied. *' Fortunately we cai more than I could carry, and I intended to mal second trip from the house for these. I am afrai shall not be able to cook them, for the Indians cai smoke any distance. If the worse comes to the wo: must eat them raw, but we are sure to find some bei in the wood to-morrow. Now, dear, you had better sleep as fast as you can; but first let us kneel dowiij pray God to protect us and your father and niother."tQ^T* "^" ^ "*^ The boy and girl knelt in the darkness and their simple prayers. Then they lay down, and Hi was pleased to hear in a few minutes the steady b; ing which told him that his cousin was asleep. It long time before he followed her example. Dur: he had kept u ake the best o e he felt the fu his companion atened them b d prolong the that no reinfo e gf iTison. Aj e had pretended nders of the hoi 10 large a numb( t he felt certain neutralizes th< er marksmanshi y down with th he done so wh istant firing. scene of the enc distinct to the ; and he could e^ the faint yells of im, he sat listeni consciously to h a starts to find ] streaming down i e started to his i t ago that I wi If— "that is, thai wad daylight." Id's first care canoe, and he four >t anyrato, of an i the o AN ANXIOUS VIQIU 37 "We 'e musi 1 theyj •8 to travel bo the r, the iw mi occu 3n lea t :iuii he bofl we caj o mall afraic Qs can > wor ne be| atteri dowiil )th6r.i and I id lybB .JwAf l'^! "f * *^'*^" ^'•^^t »«d had endeavoured le he felt the fuU weight of the responsibility of imid id DTOlom; «.. .• * " °''" **■*' "»e Indians aiari?*^ -t **f* *" 'O"* «■"•■ « they would be .e hS'73 ^ ^rr'' ""^ ''y "» ■»«»™ felt «> «u« it hrfl ..!*•.? 'heir ravage foea In the day- it be felt certain they could beat them off but d»rt neut^lizes the effect both of superior ^^Id f" f "ksmanship. It was nearly SshTL? t rer^r t™^^"°" tJsSSlc^^ly r^ of 2^" '^'"'°"«'' SIX or seven miles from iim, ne sat listening to the distant contest anH ih^r. mconsciously to himself, dozed off toXn L^- t a stari, to find Nelly Wup b^e^^l^d^^^^^ streaming down through the boughs. ' te started to his feet "Bless m^" h^ r.^ i - ^ , kl dayjht-^' ' '" ™'* *'""''• """ "«" -« «« »v*»uiia.uciy «, aaa touched 88 A FOREST BRIAKFAST. the shore at a spot where the boughs of the trees o^ head drooped into the water beyond it» so that it cc not be seen by anyone passing along the lake. This the more fortunate, as he saw some three miles awa canoe with three figures on board. For a long dista on either side the boughs of the trees drooped into] water, with only an opening here and there such as through which the boat had passed the night before. "We must be moving. Nelly; here are the marks wl we scrambled up the banks laat night If the Indf take it into their heads to search the shore both wayl likely enough they may do, they will be sure to see ti In the first place let us gather a stock of berries, and we will get into the boat again, and paddle along m this arcade of boughs till we get to some place wherJ can land without leaving marks of our feet If] Indians find the place where we landed here they willi pose that we went ofi* again before daylight" For some time they rambled in the wood, and succe in gathering a store of berries and wild fruit 1 these Nelly made her breakfast, but Harold's apr was sufficiently ravenous to enable him to fall to a the fish, which, he declared, were not so bad after] Then they took their places in the canoe again, paddled on for nearly a mile. "See, Haroldl" Nelly exclaimed, as she got a e\h through the boughs into the lake, " there is another a they must have got the Braithwaite boat; we paasedl place coming here, you know. I wonder what happened there." "What do you think is best to do, Nelly?" Harold m "Your opinion is just as good as mine about it: thai] A nUlNDLT STRIAU. Jg i« our canoe behind, land, and tako to the wood.- or ..U we etop quietly in the canoe in shelter hereTd,.S ■e take to the lake and trust to our speed t^";*. way r^r "T ^?v '"'°''' " *'-«y "hould come up I cT^d ■I doXhrnWr^^"" t'T "''''8»' within reX« .r head "Yon shoot very well, but it is not an e^ and they paddle so fast that if you miss them onc^ ithirjli f° r "^""Kside-at anyrate we shouldT ^ithm reach of their guns-before you could load again hey would be sure to catch us, tor although we S «.d^e nearly as fast for a time, they would fert^nlyte out Then as to waiting here in the canoe, if thev ime along on foot looking for us, we should be ik the'r Itefr^an^i "'"•"• •"" ' "^"^ '""'' «>''' -"'<> ^e "I think so too, Nelly, if we can manage to do it with- .t eavmg a track. We must not go much farthertor le tr^ are getting thinner ahead? and we sho,^d t len by the canoes." Fifty yards farther Harold stopped paddling. "Here just the place, Nelly." ^ ® At this point a little stream of three or four feet wide ^edm^ the lake; Harold directed the boat's head t^! ards It. The water in the stream was but a few inches "Now Nelly," he said, "we must step out into the v^the sharpest Red-skin to find our track then." ' iney stepped into thn wnf^Ar tto««i^ *.!_•_- ,, , 40 HIDmO THIIR TBAOKa. rope of the caaoe and towing the light boat-whid when empty, did not draw mo« th^ two mohes ll ful as she walked, not to touch any of the bushes, whic at times nearly met across the stream. to m!'*^''?^^''^ or withered leaf would be quito enoug toteU the Indians that we came along this way " he Z "Where the bushes are thick you must maS to e^ ZH^' ''^™''^''»'»"'«»"-gwet.yo?^'=:: Slowly and cautiously they made their way no tl stream for nearly a mile; it had for some dS^'^bed narrowing rapidly, being only fed by little riSXn td surrounding swamp land. Harold had so farloS? marks of theur feet Presently they came to a d\2 ... ^-^ '"I d». Nelly," Harold said. "Now above ,11 ftmgs, you must be careful not to break off'^yolj mo» or bark; you had better take your shoes off L 1 :^Ll Eg ':z^' -' y- - -'^'^ ^^ It waa hard work for Nelly to take off her drenehedf boote, but she n^anaged at la.t. Harold lifted her on to the trunk, and said, "Walk along as far as vou^ ! J get down as lightly as possible'on to a fim Tee o ^ound; It rises rapidly here, and is, I expecTa drsoa where the upper end of the tree lies." ^ ' "How are you going to get out, Harold ?«» I can swing myself up by that projecting root " I the :^':!:rf^, ^^^ '^ -/ ^^^ --' -e end tne canoe ana placed it on the trunk of the tree; then! Ji-i IN THE WOODa *j tking especial p^i^ St !-,.''«''* ''"'' '^'^' ""d ^e found,