diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 15424-8.txt | 8857 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 15424-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 192255 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 15424-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 197930 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 15424-h/15424-h.htm | 9013 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 15424.txt | 8857 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 15424.zip | bin | 0 -> 192238 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
9 files changed, 26743 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/15424-8.txt b/15424-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b16aa76 --- /dev/null +++ b/15424-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8857 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ella Barnwell, by Emerson Bennett + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Ella Barnwell + A Historical Romance of Border Life + +Author: Emerson Bennett + +Release Date: March 21, 2005 [EBook #15424] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ELLA BARNWELL *** + + + + +Produced by Kentuckiana Digital Library, David Garcia, +Pilar Somoza and the PG Online Distributed Proofreading +Team. + + + + + + +ELLA BARNWELL: + +A Historical Romance of Border Life + + +BY EMERSON BENNETT, + +AUTHOR OF +"PRAIRIE FLOWER," "LENI LEOTI," "FOREST ROSE," "MIKE FINK," "VIOLA," +"CLARA MORELAND," "FORGED WILL," "TRAITOR," "FEMALE SPY," "ROSALIE DU +PONT," "FAIR REBEL," ETC., ETC. + + +CINCINNATI: +PUBLISHED BY U.P. JAMES, +No. 177 RACE STREET. + + +Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1853, BY J.A. & +U.P. JAMES, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United +States, for the District of Ohio. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +In putting to press a new and revised edition of the following story, +the author would state, that his original design was to combine fact and +fiction, in such a way, as, while making his story move forward to a +proper _denouement_, to give the reader a correct picture of the dress, +customs, and social and war-like habits of the early pioneers of the +west; and also embody a series of historical events which took place on +the frontiers during that revolutionary struggle by which we gained our +glorious independence. For this purpose, Kentucky, in her infancy, was +selected as the scene of action; and most of the existing records of her +early settlements were read with care, each compared with the others, +and only the best authenticated accounts presented to the reader. So +much in fact did the author labor to make the present story historical, +that there is scarcely a scene or character in its pages that had not +its counterpart in reality. + +He would only add, that, for important reasons, the original title has +been changed to that which now heads its title-page. "What's in a name?" +queried the great bard. Had he lived in our day, and been a novelist +instead of a poet, he would either not have asked the question, or +answered it very differently than he did. + + + + +ELLA BARNWELL. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE STRANGER. + + +That portion of territory known throughout Christendom as Kentucky, was, +at an early period, the theatre of some of the wildest, most hardily +contested, and bloody scenes ever placed on record. In fact its very +name, derived from the Indian word Kan-tuck-kee, which was applied to it +long before its discovery by the whites, is peculiarly significant in +meaning--being no less than "the dark and bloody ground." History makes +no mention of its being inhabited prior to its settlement by the present +race; but rather serves to aid us to the inference, that from time +immemorial it was used as a "neutral ground," whereon the different +savage tribes were wont to meet in deadly strife; and hence the +portentious name by which it was known among them. But notwithstanding +its ominous title, Kentucky, when first beheld by the white hunter, +presented all the attractions he would have envied in Paradise itself. +The climate was congenial to his feelings--the country was devoid of +savages--while its thick tangles of green cane--abounding with deer, +elk, bears, buffaloes, panthers, wolves and wild cats, and its more open +woods with pheasant, turkey and partridge--made it the full realization +of his hopes--his longings. What more could he ask? And when he again +stood among his friends, beyond the Alleghanies, is it to be wondered at +that his excited feelings, aided by distance, should lead him to +describe it as the El Dorado of the world? Such indeed he did describe +it; and to such glowing descriptions, Kentucky was doubtless partially +indebted for her settlement so much in advance of the surrounding +territory. + +As it is not our purpose, in the present instance, to enter into a +history of the country, further than is necessary to the development of +our story, the reader will pardon us for omitting that account of its +early settlement which can readily be gleaned from numerous works +already familiar to the reading public. It may not be amiss, however, to +remark here, what almost every reader knows, that first and foremost in +the dangerous struggles of pioneer life, was the celebrated Daniel +Boone; whose name, in the west, and particularly in Kentucky, is a +household word; and whose fame, as a fearless hunter, has extended not +only throughout this continent, but over Europe. The birth place of this +renowned individual has been accredited to several states, by as many +writers; but one, more than the rest, is positive in asserting it to +have been Bucks county, Pennsylvania; and the year of his birth 1732; +which is sufficient for our purpose, whether strictly correct or not. At +an early period of his life, all agree that he removed with his father +to a very thinly settled section of North Carolina, where he spent his +time in hunting--thereby supplying the family with meat and destroying +the wild beasts, while his brothers assisted the father in tilling the +farm--and where he afterwards, in a romantic manner, became acquainted +with a settler's daughter, whom he married; and whence, in the spring +of 1769, in company with five others, he set out on an expedition of +danger across the mountains, to explore the western wilds; and after +undergoing hardships innumerable, and losing all his companions in +various ways, he at last succeeded in erecting the first log cabin, and +being the first white settler within the borders of Kentucky. To follow +up, even from this time, a detail of his trials, adventures, captures by +the Indians, and hair-breadth escapes, to the close of his eventful +career, would be sufficient to fill a volume; therefore we shall drop +him for the time--merely remarking, by the way, that he will be found to +figure occasionally in the following pages. + +From the first appearance of Boone in the wilds of Kentucky, we shall +pass over a space of some ten or twelve years, and open our story in the +fall of 1781. During this period, the aspect of the country for a +considerable distance around the present site of Lexington, had become +materially changed; and the smoke from the cabin of the white settler +arose in an hundred places, where, a dozen years before, prowled the +wolf, the bear, and the panther, in perfect security. In sooth, the year +in question had been very propitious to the immigrants; who, flocking in +from eastern settlements in goodly numbers, were allowed to domiciliate +themselves in their new homes, with but few exceptions, entirely +unmolested by the savage foe. So much in fact was this the case, that +instead of taking up their residence in a fort--or station, as they were +more generally called--the new comers erected cabins for themselves, at +such points as they considered most agreeable; gradually venturing +further and further from the strongholds, until some of them became too +distant to look hopefully for succor in cases of extreme necessity. + +Among the stations most prominent at this period, as being most secure, +and against which the attacks of the Indians were most frequent and +unsuccessful, may be mentioned Harrod's, Boone's, Logan's, and Bryan's, +so called in honor of their founders. The first two named, probably from +being the two earliest founded, were particularly unfortunate in drawing +down upon themselves the concentrated fury of the savages, who at +various times surrounded them in great numbers and attempted to take +them by storm. These attacks not unfrequently lasted several days, in +which a brisk fire was maintained on both sides, whenever a foe could be +seen; until wearied out with fruitless endeavors, or surprised by a +reinforcement of the whites, the Indians would raise the siege, with a +howl of rage, and depart. One of the longest and most remarkable of +these on record, we believe, was that of Boonesborough, which was +attacked in June, 1778, by five hundred Indians, led on by Duquesne, a +Frenchman, and which, with only a small garrison, commanded by Boone +himself, nobly held out for eight days, when the enemy withdrew in +despair. But, as we before remarked, it not being our purpose to enter +into a general history of the time, we will now proceed with our story. + +It was near the close of a mild, beautiful day, in the autumn of 1781, +that a young man, some twenty-two years of age, emerged from a wood into +an open space or clearing, at a distance of perhaps fifteen miles +eastward from Lexington. The general appearance of this individual +betokened the hunter, but at the same time one who followed it for +pleasure, rather than as a means of support. This was evident from his +dress, which although somewhat characteristic of the time, was much +superior to that generally worn by the woodsman. He had on a woolen +hunting frock, of fine texture, of a dark green color, that came a few +inches below the hips. Beneath this, and fitting closely around his +shoulders, neck and breast, was a scarlet jacket, ornamented with two +rows of round, white metal buttons. A large cape, with a deep red +fringe, of about inch in width, was attached to the frock, and extended +from the shoulders nearly to the elbow. Around the waist, outside the +frock, passed a dark leather belt, in which were confined a brace of +handsome pistols, and a long silver-hilted hunting knife. Breeches of +cloth, like the frock, were connected with leggins of tanned deer skin, +which in turn extended over, and partly concealed, heavy cow-hide boots. +A neatly made cap of deer skin, with the hair outside, surmounted a +finely shaped head. His features, though somewhat pale and haggard, as +if from recent grief or trouble, were mostly of the Grecian cast. He had +a high, noble forehead; a large, clear, fascinating gray eye; a well +formed mouth, and a prominent chin. In height he was about five feet and +ten inches, broad shouldered, straight, heavy set, with handsome +proportions. + +Upon the shoulder of the young man, as he emerged from the wood, rested +an elegant rifle; which, after advancing a short distance, he brought +into a trailing position; and then pausing, he dropped the breech upon +the ground, placed his hands over the muzzle, and, carelessly leaning +his chin upon them, swept with his eye the surrounding country, to which +he was evidently a stranger. + +The day had been one of those mild and smoky ones, peculiar to the +climate and season; and the sun, large and red, was near to sinking +behind the far western ridge, giving a beautiful crimson, mellow tinge +to each object which came beneath his rays. The landscape, over which +the stranger gazed, was by no means unpleasing. His position was on an +eminence, overlooking a fertile valley, partly cleared, and partly +shaded by woods, through which wound a crystal stream, whose gentle +murmurs could be heard even where he stood. Beyond this stream, the +ground, in pleasing undulations, took a gentle rise, to a goodly height, +and was covered by what is termed an open wood--a wood peculiar to +Kentucky at this period--consisting of trees in the regularity of an +orchard, at some distance apart, devoid of underbrush, beneath which the +earth was beautifully carpeted with a rank growth of clover, high grass, +and wild flowers innumerable. In the rear of the young hunter, as if to +form a background to the picture, was the wood he had just quitted, +which, continuing the elevation spoken of, but more abruptly, rose high +above him, and was crowned by a ledge of rocks. Far in the distance, to +his right, could be seen another high ridge; while to the left, +spreading far away from the mouth of the valley, if we may so term it, +like the prairies of Missouri, was a beautiful tangle, or cane-brake, +containing its thousands of wild animals. The open space wherein the +hunter stood was not large, covering an area of not more than half a +dozen acres. It was of an oblong form, and sloped off from his position +to the right, left, and front, and reached from the wood down to the +stream in the valley, where stood a rather neat log cabin, from which a +light blue smoke ascended in graceful wreaths. The eye of the stranger, +glancing over the scene, fell upon this latter with that gleam of +satisfaction which is felt by a person after performing a long fatiguing +journey, when he sees before him a comfortable inn, where he is to +repose for the night; and pausing for a couple of minutes, he replaced +his rifle upon his shoulder, and started forward down the hill, at a +leisure pace. + +Scarcely had the stranger advanced twenty paces, when he was startled by +a fierce yell, accompanied by the report of a rifle, the ball of which +whizzed past him, within an inch of his head. Ere he could recover from +his surprise, a sharp pain in the side, followed by another report, +caused him to reel like one intoxicated, and finally sink to the earth. +As the young man fell, two Indians sprung from behind a cluster of +bushes, which skirted the clearing some seventy-five yards to the right, +and, with a whoop of triumph, tomahawk in hand, rushed toward him. +Believing that his life now depended upon his own speedy exertions, the +young hunter, by a great effort, succeeded in raising himself on his +knees; and drawing up his rifle with a hasty aim, he fired; but with no +other success than that of causing one of the savages to jerk his head +suddenly aside without slackening his speed. There was still a chance +left him; and setting his teeth hard, the wounded man drew his pistols +from his belt, and awaited the approach of his enemies; who, when within +thirty paces, discovering the weapons of death, suddenly came to a halt, +and commenced loading their rifles with great rapidity. + +The young hunter now perceived, with painful regret, that only an +interposition of Providence could save him, for his life was hanging on +a thread that might snap at any moment. It was an awful moment of +suspense, as there, on his knees, far, far away from the land of his +birth, in a strange country, he, in the prime of life, without a friend +near, wounded and weak, was waiting to die, like a wild beast, by the +hands of savages, with his scalp to be borne hence as a trophy, his +flesh to be devoured by wolves, and his bones left to bleach in the open +air. It was an awful moment of suspense! and a thousand thoughts came +rushing through his mind; and he felt he would have given worlds, were +they his, for the existence of even half an hour, with a friend by, to +receive his dying requests. To add to his despair, he felt himself fast +growing weaker and weaker; and with an unsteady vision, as his last +hope, he turned his eye in the direction of the cottage, to note if any +assistance were at hand; but he saw none; and nature failing to support +him longer in his position, he sunk back upon the ground, believing the +last sands of his existence were run. + +Meantime, the Indians had loaded their rifles; and one of them, stepping +a pace in front of his companion, was already in the act of aiming, +when, perceiving the young man falter and sink back, he lowered the +muzzle of his gun, and, grasping his tomahawk, darted forward to +despatch him without further loss of ammunition. Already had he reached +within five or six paces of his victim, who, now unable to exert himself +in his own defence, could only look upon his savage enemy and the weapon +uplifted for his destruction, when, crack went another rifle, in an +opposite direction whence the Indians approached, and, bounding into the +air, with a terrific yell, the foremost fell dead by the young man's +side. On seeing his companion fall, the other Indian, who was only a few +paces behind, stopped suddenly, and, with a yell of fear and +disappointment, turned and fled. + +Those only who have been placed in peril sufficient to extinguish the +last gleam of hope, and have suddenly been relieved by a mysterious +interposition of Providence, can fully realize the feelings with which +the wounded hunter saw himself rescued from an ignominious death. True, +he was weak and faint from a wound which was, perhaps, mortal; still it +was a great consolation to feel that he should die among those who would +bury him, and perhaps bear a message to friends in a far-off land. With +such thoughts uppermost in his mind, the young man, by great exertion, +raised himself upon his elbow, and turned his head in the direction +whence his deliverer might be expected; but, to his surprise and +disappointment, no one appeared; and after vainly attempting to regain +his feet, he sunk back, completely exhausted. The wound in his side had +now grown very painful, and was bleeding freely; while he became +conscious, that unless the hemorrhage could be stanched immediately, the +only good service a friend could render him, would be to inter his +remains. In this helpless state, something like a minute elapsed, when +he felt a strange sensation about his heart--his head grew dizzy--his +thoughts seemed confused--the sky appeared suddenly to grow dark, and he +believed the icy grasp of death was already settling upon him. At this +moment a form--but whether of friend or foe he could not tell--flitted +before his uncertain vision; and then all became darkness and nonentity. +He had swooned. + +When the young stranger recovered his senses, after a lapse of some ten +minutes, his glance rested on the form of a white hunter, of noble +aspect, who was bending over him with a compassionate look; and who, +meantime, had opened his dress to the wound and stanched the blood, by +covering it with a few pieces of coarse linen, which he had torn into +shreds for the purpose, and secured there by means of his belt. + +As this latter personage is destined to figure somewhat in the following +pages, we shall take this opportunity of describing him as he appeared +to our wounded friend. + +In height and proportion--but not in age--these two individuals were +somewhat alike--the new comer being full five feet, ten inches, with a +robust, athletic frame, and all the concomitants of a powerful man. At +the moment when first beheld by the young man, after regaining his +senses, he was kneeling by his side, his cap of the wild-cat skin was +lying on the ground, and the last mellow rays of the setting sun were +streaming upon an intelligent and manly countenance, which, now rendered +more deeply interesting by the earnest, compassionate look wherewith he +regarded the other, made him appear to that other, in his peculiar +situation, this most noble being he had ever seen. Of years he had seen +some fifty; though there was a freshness about his face, owing probably +to his hardy, healthy mode of life, which made him appear much younger. +His countenance was open and pleasing, with good, regular, though not, +strictly speaking, handsome features. His forehead was high and full, +beneath which beamed a mild, clear blue eye. His nose was rather long +and angular; his cheekbones high and bold; his lips thin and compressed, +covering a goodly set of teeth; his chin round and prominent; the whole +together conveying an expression of energy, decision, hardy recklessness +and manly courage. His dress was fashioned much like the other's, +already described, but of coarser materials--the frock being of +linsey-woolsey; the breeches and leggings of deerskin; and the +moccasins, in place of boots of the same material. Around his waist +passed a belt; wherein, instead of pistols, were confined a tomahawk and +scalping knife--two weapons which were considered as indispensable to +the regular white hunter of that day as to the Indian warrior himself. + +So soon as the elder of the two became aware of consciousness on the +part of the younger, a friendly smile succeeded to the look of anxiety +with which he had been regarding him; and in the frank, cordial, +familiar tone of that period, when every man's cabin was the traveler's +home, and every strange guest was treated with the hospitality of an old +acquaintance, he said: + +"Well, stranger, I'm right glad to welcome you back to life agin; for I +war beginning to fear your account with earthly matters had closed. By +the Power that made me! but you've had a narrow escape on't; and ef +Betsy (putting his hand on his rifle, which was lying by his side,) +hadn't spoke out as she did, that thar red skin varmint (pointing to the +dead Indian) would have been skulking now like a thief through yonder +woods, with your crown piece hanging to his girdle." + +"A thousand thanks," returned the wounded man, pressing the hand of the +other as much as his strength would permit, and accompanying it with a +look of gratitude more eloquent than words: "A thousand thanks, sir, for +your timely shot, and subsequent kindness and interest in behalf of one +you know not, but who will ever remember you with gratitude." + +"See here, stranger, I reckon you've not been long in these parts?" + +"But a few days, sir." + +"And you've come from a good ways east o' the Alleghanies?" + +"I have." + +"I knew it. I'd have bet Betsey agin a bushel of corn, and that's large +odds you know, that such war the fact, from the particular trouble +you've taken to thank me for doing the duty of a man. Let me assure you, +stranger, that you're in a country now whar equality exists; and whar +one man's just as good as another, provided he is no coward, and behaves +himself as he should do; and whether stranger or not, is equally +entitled to the assistance of his fellows; perticularly when about being +treed by such a sneaking varmint as that lying yonder. Besides, I don't +want any body to thank me for shooting Indians; for I always do it, +whensomever I get a chance, as Betsey would tell you, ef she could speak +English; for somehow thar's no perticular agreement atween us, unless +it's for each to make the most he can off the other; and so far I reckon +thar's a ballance in my favor, though the wretches are ever trying +desperate hard to get even. But come, stranger, it won't do for you to +be lying thar with that hole in your side; and so just have patience a +minute, till I've secured the top-knot of this beauty here, and then +I'll assist you down to yonder cabin, whar I doubt not you'll be well +cared for." + +As he spoke, the old woodsman rose to his feet, drew his knife, and +turning to the dead Indian, to the surprise of the other, who was but +little familiar with Kentucky customs of that day, deliberately took off +the scalp, which he attached to his belt;[1] and then spurning the body +with his foot, he muttered: "Go, worthless dog! and fill the belly of +some wolf! and may your cowardly companion be soon keeping you company." +Then, as he turned to the other, and noticed his look of surprise, he +added: "Well, stranger, I reckon this business looks a little odd to +you, coming from away beyond the mountains as you do." + +"Why, if truth must be told, I confess it does," answered the other. + +"Don't doubt it, stranger; but you'll do it yourself afore you've +wintered here two seasons." + +"I must beg leave to differ with you on that point." + +"Well, well, we'll not quarrel about it--it arn't worth while; but ef +you stay here two year, without scalping a red-skin and perhaps skinning +one, I'll agree to pay you for your time in bar-skins at your own +valuation." + +"I am much obliged to you for the offer," answered the young man--a +faint smile lighting his pale features; "but I think it hardly probable +I shall remain in the country that length of time." + +"Not unless you have good care, I reckon," returned the other; "for that +thar wound o' yourn arn't none o' the slightest; though I don't want you +to be skeered, for I've seen many a worse one cured. But come, I'll +assist you down to yon cabin, and then I must be off--for I've got a +good distance to travel afore daylight to-morrow;" and bending down as +he spoke, the veteran hunter placed his arms under the arms of the +wounded man, and gently raised him upon his feet. + +Although extremely weak from loss of blood, the latter, by this means of +support, was enabled to walk, at a slow pace; and the two descended the +hill--the elder, the while, talking much, and endeavoring by his +discourse to amuse and cheer up his companion. + +"Why," he continued, "you think your case a hard one, no doubt, +stranger; but it's nothing compared to what some of us old settlers have +seen and been through with, without even winking, as one may say. Within +the last few year, I've seen a brother and a son shot by the infernal +red-skins--have lost I don't know how many companions in the same +way--been shot at fifty times myself, and captured several; and yet you +see here I am, hale and hearty, and just as eager, with Betsey's +permission, to talk to the varmints now as I war ten year ago." + +"But do you not weary of this fatiguing and dangerous mode of life?" +inquired the other. + +"Weary, stranger? Lord bless ye! you're but a young hunter to ax such a +question as that. Weary, friend? Why I war born to it--nursed to it--had +a rifle for a plaything; and the first thing I can remember +particularly, war shooting a painter;[2] and it's become as nateral and +necessary as breathing; and when I get so I can't follow the one, I want +to quit the other. Weary on't, indeed! Why, thar's more real +satisfaction in sarcumventing and scalping one o' there red heathen, +than in all the amusement you could scare up in a thick-peopled, +peaceable settlement in a life time." + +"By the way," said the other, "pray tell me how you chanced to be so +opportune in saving my life?" + +"Why, you must know, I war just crossing through the wood back here +about a mile, on my way home from the Licks, when I came across the +trail of two Indians, whom I 'spected war arter no good; and as Betsey +war itching for something to do, I kind o' kept on the same way, and +happened round on the other side o' this ridge, just as the red varmints +fired. I saw you fall, but could'nt see them, on account o' the hill; +but as I knowed they'd be for showing themselves soon, I got Betsey into +a comfortable position, and waited as patiently as I could, until the +ugly face of that rascal yonder showed clar; when I told her to speak to +him, which she did in rale backwood's dialect, and he died a answering +her. I then hurried round on the skirt of the wood, loading Betsey as I +went; but finding the other varmint had got off, I hastened to you and +found you senseless: the rest you know." + +By this time the two had reached nearly to the foot of the hill, and +within a hundred yards of the cabin. Here they were joined by a tall, +lank, lantern-jawed, awkward young man, some twenty years of age, with +small, dark eyes, a long, peaked nose, and flaxen hair that floated down +over his ungainly shoulders, like weeping willows over a scrub oak, and +who carried in his hand a rifle nearly as long and ugly as himself. + +"Why, colonel, how are ye? good even' to ye, stranger," was his +salutation, as he came up. "I war down by the tangle yonder, when I +heerd some firing, and some yelling, and I legged it home, ahead o' the +old man, just to keep the women folks in sperets, in case they war +attacked, and get a pop or so at an Injen myself; but thank the Lord, +they warn't thar; and so I ventered on, with long Nance here, to see +whar they mought be." + +"Well, Isaac," returned the one addressed as colonel, "I don't doubt +your being a brave lad, and I've had some opportunity o' seeing you +tried; but being is how thar's no Indians to shoot just now, I'll ax you +to show your good qualities in another way. This young man's been badly +wounded, and ef you'll give him a little extra care, you'll put me under +obligations which I'll be happy to repay whensomever needed." + +"It don't need them thar inducements you've just mentioned, colonel, to +rouse all my sympathies for a wounded stranger. Rely on't, he shan't +suffer for want o' attention." + +"Rightly said, lad; rightly said; and so I leave him in your care. +Tender my regards to your family, for I must be off, and can't stay to +see them." Then turning to the wounded man, he grasped his hand and +said: "Stranger, thar's something about you I like; I don't say it of +every man I meet; and so you may put it down for a compliment or not, +just as you please. Give me your name?" + +"Algernon Reynolds." + +"Algernon Reynolds, I hope we shall meet again, though in a different +manner from our introduction; but whether or no, ef you ever need the +assistance of either Betsey or myself, just make it known, and we'll do +our best for you. Good bye, sir--good bye, Isaac!" and without waiting a +reply, the speaker sprung suddenly behind a cluster of bushes near which +the party stood, and the next moment was lost to view in the gathering +darkness. + +"A great man, that thar, sir!--a powerful great man," observed Isaac, +gazing with admiration after the retreating form of the hunter. "Always +doing good deeds, and never looking for pay nor thanks; may God give him +four-score and ten." + +"Amen to that!" returned Reynolds. "But pray tell me his name." + +"And you don't know him?" + +"I do not." + +"And you didn't inquire his name?" + +"I did not." + +"And ef you had, sir, ten to one but he'd a given you a fictitious one, +to keep clar o' your surprise and extra thanks. Why that, sir, war the +great white hunter, Colonel Daniel Boone." + +"Indeed!" exclaimed Reynolds, in no feigned surprise--"the very man I +have so longed to behold; for his fame has already extended far beyond +the Alleghanies. But come, friend Isaac, my wound grows painful; my +exertions thus far have weakened me exceedingly; and with your +permission, I will proceed to the cottage. Ah! I feel myself growing +faint--fainter--fa-i-n-t;" and he sunk senseless into the other's arms; +who, raising him, apparently without an effort, bore him into the house. + + +[Footnote 1: However barbarous such a proceeding may appear to thousands +in the present day of civilization and refinement, we can assure them, +on the authority of numerous historians of that period, that it was a +general custom with the early settlers of the west, to take the scalp of +an Indian slain by their hand, whenever opportunity presented.] + +[Footnote 2: Backwoods name for a panther.] + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +NEW CHARACTERS. + + +When young Reynolds again regained his senses, it was some minutes +before he could sufficiently recover from the confusion of ideas +consequent upon his mishap, to follow up the train of events that had +occurred to place him in his present situation. His first recollection +was of the attack made upon him by the Indians; and it required +considerable argument with himself, to prove conclusively, to his own +mind, that he was not even now a captive to the savage foe. Gradually, +one by one, each event recurred to his mind, until he had traced himself +to the moment of his swooning in the arms of a tall, ungainly young man, +called Isaac; but of what, had taken place since--where he now was--or +what length of time had intervened--he had not the remotest idea. He was +lying on his back, upon a rude, though by no means uncomfortable, bed; +and, to the best of his judgment, within the four walls of some +cabin--though to him but two of the walls were visible--owing to the +quantity of skins of the buffalo, bear, and deer, which were suspended +around the foot and front of his pallet. He was undressed; and, as he +judged, upon applying his hand to the wounded part, had been treated +with care; for it came in contact with a nicely arranged bandage of +cloth, which was even now moist with some spirituous liquid. But what +perplexed him most, was the peculiar light, with the aid of which, +though dim, he could discern every object so distinctly. It could not +proceed from a candle--it was too generally diffused; nor from the +fire--it was too gray, and did not flicker; nor from the moon--it was +not silvery enough: from what then did it proceed? It appeared the most +like daylight; but this it could not be, he reasoned, from the fact that +he was wounded just before night-fall--unless--and the idea seemed to +startle him--unless he had lain in a senseless state for many hours, and +it was indeed again morning. Determined, however, to satisfy himself on +this point, he attempted to rise for the purpose; but found, to his no +small surprise and regret, that he had not even strength sufficient to +lift his body from the bed; and, therefore, that nothing was left him, +but to surmise whatever he chose, until some one should appear to solve +the riddle; which, he doubted not, would be ere long. + +While these reflections and surmises were rapidly passing through the +mind of our hero--for such we must acknowledge him to be--he heard no +sound indicating the immediate vicinity of any other human being; and +turning his thoughts upon this latter, he was beginning to doubt +whether, at the moment, he was not the only individual beneath the roof; +when he heard a step, as of some one entering another apartment; and, +directly following, a female voice addressed to some person within. + +"Have ye looked to the stranger agin, Ella, and moisted his bandage?" + +"I have, mother," was the answer, in a sweet and silvery voice, which +caused our wounded hero to start with a thrill of pleasing astonishment. + +"And how appeared he, Ella?" continued the first speaker. + +"Why, I thought a little better," answered the same soft, musical voice; +"he seemed asleep, and entirely tranquil." + +"God send it, gal, for he's had a tougher, sartin. Three days, now, +nater's bin tugging away for him; and I'd hate to see him die now, arter +all; and being the colonel's recommind, too; for Isaac says the colonel +injuncted him strongly to take car o' him; and I'd do any thing to +oblege sech a man as him. He didn't appear to have his senses, I +reckon?" + +"I judged not," answered Ella; "though, from his tranquil sleep, I +argued favorably of his case." + +"Well," rejoined the other, "it's my opine the crisis is at hand; and +that he'll ayther come out o' this _lethargick_--as they calls it--a +rational, or die straight off. 'Spose you look at him agin, Ella; or, +stay, I'll look myself. Poor feller! how he did rave and run on 'bout +his troubles at home, that's away off, until I all but cried, in +reckoning how I'd feel ef it war Isaac as war going on so.". + +As the speaker concluded, she advanced to where the object of her +remarks was lying; and, drawing aside in a gentle manner, some of the +skins near his head, gazed upon him. + +As will be surmised by the reader, not a syllable of the foregoing +colloquy had been lost upon Reynolds; who heard, with unbounded +astonishment, of his narrow escape from that dark valley whence none who +enter again return, and that three days had elapsed since he had fallen +into an unconscious state. He learned, too, with regret, that he had +been communicating matters--to what extent he knew not--to others, which +he wished safely locked in his own breast; and judging it best, in the +present instance, to dissemble a little, that his informant might not be +aware of his having overheard her, he feigned to be asleep on her +approach. + +"He's sleeping yit, poor creater," continued the hostess, as she bent +over the bed of our hero, until he felt her breath upon his face. "I +hope it arn't a going to be his final sleep--so young, and so handsome +too! but, O dear, thar's no telling what them Injen bullets will do, for +folks does say as how they have a knack o' pizening them, that's orful +to tell on! O Lord o' marcy, Ella, child, do come here!" cried the dame +suddenly: "I do believe he's coming to, for sartin." + +This latter speech was occasioned by a movement of the pretended +sleeper, and the gradual opening of his eyes, with the rude stare of +bewildered surprise natural to one in his supposed situation, and such +as he would have exhibited without feigning, had the hostess been +present some ten minutes sooner. Discovering, as already intimated, a +returning consciousness on the part of her guest, the good woman drew +back her head, but still kept her position by the bed, and her eyes +fixed upon him, with an expression which betrayed a fear lest her hopes +of this important event should prove entirely fallacious. Behind her, +with timid step, stole up Ella, and, peeping over her shoulders, +encountered the eyes of the young man beaming upon her, with a look +which her acute perception told her was any thing but insane; and +instantly starting back, the blood rushed upward, crimsoning her neck +and face with a beautiful glow. As for Reynolds--in whom, as already +stated, the voice of Ella alone was sufficient to awaken a thrill of +pleasure--no sooner did he behold her, though but for an instant, than +he felt that thrill revived with a sensation, which, in spite of +himself, he knew was expressed in his own countenance; and he hastened +to speak, in order as much as possible to conceal it. + +"Will you have the goodness, madam, to inform me where I am?" + +"Thar, thar, Ella, child!" exclaimed the matron, joyously; "I told ye +so--I know'd it--he's come to, for sartin--the Lord be praised!" Then +addressing herself to Reynolds, she continued: "Whar are you, stranger, +do you ax? Why you're in the cabin o' Ben Younker--as honest a man as +ever shot a painter--who's my husband, and father of Isaac Younker, what +brought ye here, according to the directions of Colonel Boone, arter you +war shot by the Injens, the varmints, three days ago; and uncle of Ella +Barnwell here, as I calls daughter, 'cause her parents is dead, poor +creaters, and she hadn't a home to go to, but come'd to live with us, +that are fetching her up in a a dutiful way;" and the good woman +concluded her lucid account of family matters with a sound that much +resembled a person taking breath after some laborious exertion. + +"And is it possible," answered Reynolds, who hastened to reply, in order +to conceal a strong inclination he felt for laughing, "that I have lain +here three whole days?" + +"Three days, and four nights, and part o' another day, jest as true as +buffaloes run in cane-brakes, and Injen varmints shoot white folks +whensomever they git a chance," replied Mrs. Younker, with great +volubility. "And Ella, the darling, has tended on ye like you war her +own nateral born brother; and Isaac, and Ben, and myself ha' tended on +ye too, while you war raving and running on at an orful rate, though +you've had the best bed, and best o' every thing we've got in the +house." + +"For all of which I am at a loss for terms to express my gratitude," +returned Reynolds, coloring slightly as he thought of the assiduous +attentions he had unconsciously received from Ella Barnwell, who already +began to be an object in his eyes of no little importance. + +"Don't mention about gratitude," rejoined the kind hearted Mrs. Younker; +"don't talk about gratitude, for a lettle favor sech as every body's got +a right to, what comes into this country and gits shot by savages. We +havn't done no more for you than we'd a done for any body else in like +sarcumstances; and, la, sir, the pleasure o' knowing you're a going to +git well agin, arter being shot by Injen's pizen bullets,[3] is enough +to pay us twenty times over--Eh! Ella, child--don't you say so?" + +"No one, save the gentleman himself, or his dearest friends, can be more +rejoiced at his favorable symptoms than myself," responded Ella, +timidly, in a voice so low, sweet and touching, that Reynolds, who heard +without seeing her--for she kept the rude curtain of skins between +them--felt his heart beat strangely, while his eyes involuntarily grew +moist. + +"That's truly said, gal--truly said, I do believe," rejoined Mrs. +Younker; "for she's hung over you, sir, (turning to the wounded man) +night and day, like a mother over her child, until we've had to use +right smart authority to make her go to bed, for fear as how she'd be +sick too." + +"And if I live," answered Reynolds, in a voice that trembled with +emotion, "and it is ever in my power to repay such disinterested +attention and kindness, I will do it, even to the sacrificing that life +which she, together with you and your family, good woman, has been the +means, under God, of preserving." + +"Under God," repeated the matron; "that's true; I like the way you said +that, stranger; it sounds reverential--it's just--and it raises my +respect for you a good deal; for all our doings is under God's permit;" +and she turned her eyes upward, with a devout look, in which position +she remained several seconds; while Ella, with her fair hands clasped, +followed her example, and seemed, with her moving lips, engaged in +prayer. + +"But come," resumed the dame, "it won't do for you, stranger, to be +disturbed too much jest now; for you arn't any too strong, I reckon; and +so you'll jest take my advice, and go to sleep awhile, and you'll feel +all the better for't agin Ben and Isaac come home, which'll be in two or +three hours." + +Saying this, Mrs. Younker again disposed the curtains so as to conceal +from Reynolds all external objects; and, together with Ella, withdrew, +leaving him to repose. Whether he profited by her advice immediately, or +whether he meditated for some time on other matters, not excluding Ella, +we shall leave to the imagination of the reader; while we proceed, by +way of episode, to give a general, though brief account, of the Younker +family. + +Benjamin Younker was a man about fifty-five years of age--tall, +raw-boned and very muscular--and although now past the prime, even the +meridian of life, was still possessed of uncommon strength. His form, +never handsome, even in youth, was now disfigured by a stoop in the +shoulders, caused by hard labor and rheumatism. His face corresponded +with his body--being long and thin, with hollow cheeks, and high cheek +bones,--his eyes were small and gray, with heavy eye-brows; his nose +long and pointed; his mouth large and homely, though expressive; and his +forehead medium, surmounted by a sprinkling of brown-gray hair. In +speech he was deliberate, generally pointed, and seldom spoke when not +absolutely necessary. He was a good farmer--such being his occupation; a +keen hunter, whenever he chose to amuse himself in that way; a sure +marksman; and, although ignorant in book learning, possessed a sound +judgment, and a common-sense understanding on all subjects of general +utility. He was a native of Eastern Virginia, where the greater portion +of his life had been spent in hunting and agricultural pursuits--where +he was married and had been blessed with two children--a son and a +daughter--of whom the former only was now living, and has already been +introduced to the reader as Isaac--and whence, at the instance of his +wife and son, he removed, in the spring of 1779, into the borders of +Kentucky--finally purchased and settled where he now resided; and where, +although somewhat exposed, he and his family had thus far remained +unmolested. + +The dame, Mrs. Younker, was a large, corpulent woman of forty-five, with +features rather coarse and masculine, yet expressive of shrewdness and +courage, and, withal, a goodly share of benevolence. She was one of that +peculiar class of females, who, if there is any thing to be said, always +claim the privilege of saying it; in other words, an inveterate talker; +and who, if we may be allowed the phrase, managed her husband, and all +around her, with the length of her tongue. In the country where she was +brought up and known, to say of another, that he or she could compete +with Ben Younker's wife in talking, was considered the extreme of +comparison; and it is not recorded that any individual ever presumed on +the credulity of the public sufficient to assert that the vocal powers +of the said Mrs. Younker were ever surpassed. Unlike most great talkers, +she was rarely heard to speak ill of any, and then only such as were +really deserving of censure; while her rough kind of piety--if we may so +term it--and her genuine goodness of heart, known to all with whom she +came in contact, served to procure her a long list of friends. She +possessed, as the reader has doubtless judged from the specimen we have +given, little or no education; but this deficiency, in her eyes, as well +as in most of those who lived on the frontiers, was of minor +consequence--the knowledge of hunting, farming, spinning and weaving, +being considered by far the more necessary qualifications for +discharging the social duties of life. + +Of Isaac, with whom the reader is already, acquainted, we shall not now +speak, other than to say, he could barely read and write--rather +preferring that he develop his character in his own peculiar way. But +there is another, and though last, we trust will not prove least in +point of interest to the reader, with whom we shall close, this +episodical history--namely--Ella Barnwell. + +The mother of Ella--a half sister to the elder-Younker--died when she +was very young, leaving her to the care of a kind and indulgent father, +who, having no other child, lavished on her his whole affections. At the +demise of his wife, Barnwell was a prosperous, if not wealthy merchant, +in one of the eastern cities of Virginia; and knowing the instability of +wealth, together with his desire to fit his daughter for any station in +society, he spared no expense necessary to educate her in all the +different branches of English usually studied by a female. To this was +added drawing, needle-work, music and dancing; and as Ella proved by no +means a backward scholar in whatever she undertook, she was, at the age +of fifteen, to use a familiar phrase, turned out an accomplished young +lady. But alas! she had been qualified for a station which fate seemed +determined not to let her occupy; for just at this important period of +her life, her father became involved in an unfortunate speculation, that +ended in ruin, dishonor, and his own bodily confinement in prison for +debts he could never discharge. Naturally high spirited and proud, this +misfortune and persecution proved too much for his philosophy--and what +was more, his reason--and in a state of mental derangement, he one night +hung himself to the bars of his prison window--leaving his daughter at +the age we have named, a poor, unprotected, we might almost add +friendless, orphan; for moneyless and friendless are too often +synonymous terms, as poor Ella soon learned to her mortification and +sorrow. + +Ella Barnwell, the young, the beautiful, and accomplished heiress, +was a very different personage from poor Ella Barnwell the bankrupt's +daughter; and those who had fawned upon and flattered and courted the +one, now saw proper to pass the other by in silent contempt. It was a +hard, a very hard lesson for one at the tender age of Ella, who had been +petted and pampered all her life, and taught by her own simplicity of +heart to look upon all pretenders as real friends--it was a hard lesson, +we say, for one of her years, to be forced at one bold stroke to learn +the world, and see her happy, artless dreams vanish like froth from the +foaming cup; but if hard, it was salutary--at least with her; and +instead of blasting in the bud, as it might have done a frailer flower, +it set her reason to work, destroyed the romantic sentimentalism usually +attached to females of that excitable age, taught her to rely more upon +herself, and less upon others, more upon actions and less upon words, +and, in short, made a strong minded woman of her at once. Yet this was +not accomplished without many a heart-rending pang, as the briny tears +of chagrin, disappointment, and almost hopeless destitution, that +nightly chased each other down the pale cheeks of Ella Barnwell to the +pillow which supported her feverish head, for weeks, and even months +after the death of her father, could well attest. + +The father of Ella was an Englishman, who had emigrated to this country +a few years previous to his marriage; and as none of his near relations +had seen proper to follow his example, Ella, on his side, was left +entirely destitute of any to whom she could apply for assistance and +protection. On her mother's side, she knew of none who would be likely +to assist her so readily as her half uncle, Benjamin Younker, whom she +remembered as having seen at the funeral of her mother; and who then, +taking her in his brawny arms, while the tears dimmed his eyes, in a +solemn, impressive manner told her, that, in the ups and downs of life, +should she ever stand in need of another's strong arm or purse, to call +on him, and that, while blest with either himself, she should not want. +This at the time had made a deep impression on her youthful mind, but +subsequently had been nearly or quite obliterated, until retouched by +feeling the want of that aid then so solemnly and generously tendered. +Accordingly, after trying some of her supposed true-hearted friends--who +had more than once been sharers in her generosity; and who, in return, +had professed the most devoted attachment; but who now, in her distress, +unkindly treated her urgent requests with cold neglect,--Ella hastened +to make her situation known to her uncle; the result of which had been +her adoption into a family, who, if not graced with that refinement and +education to which she had been accustomed, at least possessed virtues +that many of the refined and learned were strangers to--namely--truth, +honesty, benevolence, and fidelity. + +Ella, in her new situation, with her altered views of society in +general, soon grew to love her benefactor and his family, and take that +sincere pleasure in their rude ways, which, at one time, she would have +considered as next to impossible. With a happy faculty, belonging only +to the few, she managed to work herself into their affections, by little +and little, almost imperceptibly, until, ere they were aware of the fact +themselves, she was looked upon rather as a daughter and sister, than a +more distant relation. In sooth, the former appellation the reader has +already seen applied to her during the recorded conversation of the +voluble Mrs. Younker--an appellation which Ella ever took good care to +acknowledge by the corresponding title of mother. + +About a year from the period of Ella's becoming a member of the family, +the Younkers had removed, as already stated, to what was then considered +the "Far West," and had finally purchased and settled where we find them +in the opening of our story. In this expedition, Ella, though somewhat +reluctantly, had accompanied them--had remained with them ever +since--and was now, notwithstanding her former lady-like mode of life, +through the tuition of Mrs. Younker, regularly installed into all the +mysteries of milking, churning, sewing, baking, spinning and weaving. +With this brief outline of her past history, we shall proceed to +describe her personal appearance, at the time of her introduction to the +reader, and then leave her to speak and act for herself during the +progress of this drama of life. + +Eighteen years of sunshine and cloud, had served to mould the form of +Ella Barnwell into one of peculiar beauty and grace. In height she was a +little above five feet, had a full round bust, and limbs of that +beautiful and airy symmetry, which ever give to their possessor an +appearance of etherial lightness. Her complexion was sufficiently dark +to entitle her to the appellation of brunette; though by many it would +have been thought too light, perhaps, owing to the soft, rich +transparency of her skin; through which, by a crimson tint, could be +traced the "tell-tale-blood," on the slightest provocation tending to +excitement. Her features, if examined closely, could not be put down as +entirely regular, owing to a very slight defect in the mouth, which +otherwise was very handsome, and which was graced with two plump, +pretty, half pouting lips. This defect, however, was only apparent when +the countenance was in stern repose; and, as this was seldom, when in +company with others, it was of course seldom observed. The remainder of +her features were decidedly good, and, seen in profile, really +beautiful. Her eye was a full, soft, animated hazel, that could beam +tenderly with love, sparkle brilliantly with wit, or flash scornfully +with anger; but inclining more to the first and second qualities than +the last. Her eye-brows were well defined, and just sufficiently arched +to correspond with the eyes themselves. Her forehead was prominent, of a +noble cast, and added dignity to her whole appearance. Her hair was a +rich, dark brown, fine and glossy, and although neatly arranged about +the head, evidently required but little training to enable it to fall +gracefully about her neck in beautiful ringlets. The general expression +of her face, was a soft, bewitching playfulness, which, combined with +the half timid, benevolent look, beaming from her large, mild, hazel +eye, invariably won upon the beholder at the first glance, and increased +upon acquaintance. Her voice we have already spoken of as possessing a +silvery sweetness; and if one could be moved at merely seeing her, it +only required this addition to complete the charm. To all of the +foregoing, let us add an ardent temperament--capable of the most tender, +lasting and devoted attachment, when once the affections were placed on +an object--a sweet disposition, modest deportment, and graceful +manners--and you have the portrait in full of Ella Barnwell, the orphan, +the model of her sex, and the admiration of all who knew her. + + +[Footnote 3: Mrs. Younker is the only authority we have for supposing +Indians poison their bullets, although we have read of poisoned arrows, +and hence infer such a proceeding to be rather a supposition with her +than a certainty.] + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE TALE AND FATAL SECRET. + + +The dwelling of Benjamin Younker, as already mentioned, stood at the +base of a hill, on the margin of a beautiful valley, and within a +hundred feet of a lucid stream, whose waters, finding their source in +the neighboring bills, rushed down, all gleesome and sparkling, over a +limestone bed, and + + "From morn till night, from night till morn," + +sung gentle melodies for all who chose to listen. + +The building itself though rough, both externally and internally, was +what at that period was termed a double cabin; and in this respect was +entitled to a superiority over most of its neighbors. As this may serve +for a representative of the houses or cabins of the early settlers of +Kentucky, we shall proceed to describe its structure and general +appearance somewhat more minutely than might otherwise be deemed +necessary. + +The sides of the cottage in question, were composed of logs, rough from +the woods where they had been felled, with the bark still clinging to +them, and without having undergone other transformation than being cut +to a certain length, and notched at either end, so as to sink into each +other, when crossed at right angles, until their bodies met, thereby +forming a structure of compactness, strength and solidity. Some ten or +twelve feet from the ground, the two upper end logs of the cabin +projected a foot or eighteen inches beyond the lower, and supported what +were called _butting poles_--poles which crossed these projections at +right angles, and, extending along the front and back of the building, +formed the eaves of the roof. This latter was constructed by gradually +shortening the logs at either end, until those which crossed them, as we +said before, at right angles, came together at an angle of forty-five +degrees, and the last one formed the ridge-pole or comb of the whole. On +these logs, lapping one over the other, and the lower tier resting +against the butting poles, were laid slabs of clapboard--a species of +plank split from some straight-grained tree--about four feet long, and +from three to four wide. These were secured in their places by logs in +turn resting on them, at certain intervals, and answering the purpose of +nails; necessity requiring these latter articles of convenience to be +dispensed with in the early settlements of the West. As the cabin was +double, two doors gave entrance from without, one into either apartment. +These entrances were formed by cutting away the logs for the space of +three feet by six, and were closed by rude doors, made of rough slabs, +pinned strongly to heavy cross bars, and hung on hinges of the same +material. These, like the rest of the building, were rendered, by their +thickness, bullet proof--so that when closed and bolted, the house was +capable of withstanding an ordinary attack of the Indians. With the +exception of one window, opening into the apartment generally occupied +by the family, and flanked by a heavy shutter, the doors and chimney +were the only means through which light and air were admitted. These +were all firmly secured at night--the unsettled and exposed state of the +country, and the dangerous proximity of the pioneers to the ruthless +savage, particularly those without the forts, rendering necessary, on +their part, the most vigilant caution. + +The internal appearance of the cabin corresponded well with the +external. The apartment occupied by the family during the day, where the +meals were cooked and served, and the general household affairs attended +to, was very homely; and might, if contrasted with some of the present +time, be termed almost wretched; though considered, at the period of +which we write, rather above than below the ordinary. The floor was +composed of what by the settlers were termed puncheons; which were made +by splitting in half trees of some eighteen inches in diameter, and +hewing the faces of them as regular as possible with the broad-axe. +These were laid, bark side downwards, upon sleepers running crosswise +for the purpose, and formed at least a dry, solid and durable, if not +polished, floor. At one end of the cabin was the chimney, built of logs, +outside the apartment, but connecting with it by a space cut away for +the purpose. The back, jambs, and hearth of this chimney were of stone, +and put together, in a manner not likely to be imitated by masons of +the present day. A coarse kind of plaster filled up the surrounding +crevices, and served to keep out the air and give a rude finish to the +whole. + +The furniture of the Younkers, if the title be not too ambiguous, would +scarcely have been coveted by any of our modern exquisites, even had +they been living in that age of straight-forward common sense. A large, +rough slab, split from some tree, and supported by round legs set in +auger holes, had the honor of standing for a table--around which, like a +brood of chickens around their mother, were promiscuously collected +several three-legged stools of similar workmanship. In one corner of the +room were a few shelves; on which were ranged some wooden trenchers, +pewter plates, knives and forks, and the like necessary articles, while +a not very costly collection of pots and kettles took a less dignified +and prominent position beneath. Another corner was occupied by a bed, +the covering of which was composed of skins of different animals, with +sheetings of home-made linen. In the vicinity of the bed, along the +wall, was a row of pegs, suspending various garments of the occupants; +all of which--with the exception of a few articles, belonging to Ella, +procured for her before the death of her father--were of the plainest +and coarsest description. A churn--a clock--the latter a very rare thing +among the pioneers of Kentucky--a footwheel for spinning flax--a small +mirror--together with several minor articles, of which it is needless to +speak--completed the inventory of the apartment. From this room were two +exits, besides the outer door--one by a ladder leading above to a sort +of attic chamber, where were two beds; and the other through the wall +into the adjoining cabin, whither our hero had been borne in a state of +insensibility on the night of his mishap, and where he was for the +second time presented to the reader. This latter place was graced with a +bed, a loom for weaving, a spinning-wheel, a large oaken chest, and a +few rough benches. + +Such, reader, as our description has set forth, was the general +appearance of Younker's dwelling, both without and within, in the year +of our Lord 1781; and, moreover, a fair representative of an hundred +others of the period in question--so arbitrary was necessity in making +one imitate the other. But to resume our story. + +In the after part of a day as mild and beautiful as the one on which we +opened our narrative, but some four weeks later, Ella Barnwell, +needle-work in hand, was seated near the open door leading from the +apartment first described to the reader. Her head was bent forward, and +her eyes were apparently fixed upon her occupation with great +intentness--though a close observer might have detected furtive glances +occasionally thrown upon a young man, with a pale and somewhat agitated +countenance, who was pacing to and fro on the ground without. With the +exception of these two, no person was within sight--though the rattling +of a loom in the other apartment or cabin, betokened the vicinity of the +industrious hostess. + +For some moments the young man--a no less personage than our hero--paced +back and forth like one whose mind is harrowed by some disagreeable +thought: then suddenly halting in front of the doorway, and in a voice +which, though not intended to be so, was slightly tremulous, he +addressed himself to the young lady, in words denoting a previous +conversation. + +"Then I must have said some strange things, Ella--I beg pardon--Miss +Barnwell." + +"Have I not requested you, Mr. Reynolds, on more than one occasion, to +call me Ella, instead of using the formality which rather belongs to +strangers in fashionable society than to those dwelling beneath the same +roof, in the wilds of Kentucky?" responded the person addressed, in a +tone of pique, while she raised her head and let her soft, dark eyes +rest reproachfully on the other. + +"Well, well, Ella," rejoined Reynolds, "I crave pardon for my +heedlessness; and promise you, on that score at least, no more cause for +offence in future." + +"Offence!" said Ella, quickly, catching at the word: "O, no--no--not +offence, Mr. Reynolds! I should be sorry to take offence at what was +meant in all kindness, and with true respect; but somehow I--that +is--perhaps it may not appear so to others--but I--to me it appears +studied--and--and--cold;" and as she concluded, in a hesitating manner, +she quickly bent her head forward, while her cheek crimsoned at the +thought, that she might perhaps have ventured too far, and laid herself +liable to misconstruction. + +"And yet, Ella," returned Reynolds, somewhat playfully, "you resemble +many others I have known, in preaching what you do not practice. You +request me to lay aside all formality, and address you by your name +only; while you, in that very request, apply to me the title you +consider as studied, formal and cold." + +"You have reference to my saying _Mr._ Reynolds, I presume," answered +Ella; "but I see no analogy between the two; as in addressing you thus, +I do but what, under the circumstances, is proper; and what, doubtless, +habit has rendered familiar to your ear; while, on the other hand, no +one ever thinks of calling me any thing but Ella, or at the most, Ella +Barnwell--and hence all superfluities grate harshly." + +"Even complimentary adjectives, eh?" asked Reynolds, with an arch look. + +"Even those, Mr. Reynolds; and those most of all are offensive, I assure +you." + +"I thought all of your sex were fond of flattery." + +"Then have you greatly erred in thinking." + +"But thus says general report." + +"Then, sir, general report is a slanderer, and should not be credited. +Those who court flattery, are weak-minded and vain; and I trust you do +not so consider all our sex." + +"Heaven forbid," answered Reynolds, with energy, "that I should think +thus of all, or judge any too harshly!--but there may be causes to force +one into the conviction, that the exceptions are too few to spoil the +rule." + +"I trust such is not your case," responded Ella, quickly, while her eyes +rested on the other with a searching glance. + +"No one is required to criminate himself in law," replied Reynolds, +evasively, with a sigh; and then immediately added, as if anxious to +change the topic: "But I am eager for you to inform me what I said +during my delirium." + +"O, many things," returned Ella, "the half of which I could not repeat; +but more particularly you spoke of troubles at home, and often repeated +the name of Elvira with great bitterness. Then you would run on +incoherently, for some time, about pistols, and swords, and end by +saying that the quarrel was just--that you were provoked to it, until it +became almost self defence--and that if he died, his blood would be on +his own head." + +"Good heavens, Ella! did I indeed say this?" exclaimed Reynolds, with a +start, while his features became deadly pale. "Did I say more? did I +mention further particulars?--speak! tell me--tell me truly!" + +"Not in my hearing," answered Ella, while her own face blanched at the +sudden vehemence of the other. + +"Well, well, do not be alarmed!" said Reynolds, evidently somewhat +relieved, and softening his voice, as he noticed the change in her +countenance; "people sometimes say strange things, when reason, the +great regulator of the tongue, is absent. What construction did you put +upon my words, Ella?" + +"Why, in sooth," replied Ella, watching his features closely as she +spoke, "I thought nothing of them, other than to suppose you might +formerly have had some trouble; and that in the chaos of wild images +crowding your brain, after being attacked and wounded by savages, it was +natural some of these image should be of a bloody nature." + +"Then you did not look upon the words as having reference to a reality." + +"No! at the time I did not." + +"At the time?" repeated Reynolds, with a slight fall of countenance; +"have you then seen or heard any thing since to make you suspicious?" + +"Nothing--until--" + +"Well, well," said Reynolds, quickly, as she hesitated; "speak out and +fear nothing!" + +"Until but now, when you became so agitated, and spoke so vehemently on +my repeating your delirious language," added Ella, concluding the +sentence. + +"Ha!" ejaculated Reynolds, as if to himself; "sanity has done more to +betray me than delirium. Well, Ella," continued he, addressing her more +direct, "you have heard enough to make you doubtful of my character; +therefore you must needs hear the whole, that you may not judge me worse +than I am; but remember, withal, the tale is for your ear alone." + +"Nay, Mr. Reynolds, if it be a secret, I would rather not have it in +keeping," answered Ella. + +"It is a secret," returned Reynolds, solemnly, with his eyes cast down +in a dejected manner; "a secret, I would to Heaven I had not myself in +keeping! but hear it you must, Ella, for various reasons, from my lips; +and then we part--(his voice slightly faltered) we part--forever!" + +"Forever!" gasped Ella, quickly, with a choking sensation, while her +features grew pale, and then suddenly flushed, and her work +unconsciously dropped from her hand. Then, as if ashamed of having +betrayed her feelings, she became confused, and endeavored to cover the +exposure by adding, with a forced laugh: "But really, Mr. Reynolds, I +must crave pardon for my silly behavior--but your manner of speaking, +somehow, startled me--and--and I--before I was aware--really, it was +very silly--indeed it was, and I pray you overlook it!" + +"Were circumstances not as I have too much reason to fear they are," +returned Reynolds, slowly, sadly, and impressively, with his eyes fixed +earnestly and even tenderly upon the other, "I would not exchange that +simple expression of yours, Ella, for a mine of gold. By that alone you +have spoken volumes, and told me what I already feared was true, but +hoped was otherwise. Nay, turn not your head away, Ella--dear Ella, if +you will allow me so to address you--it is better, under the +circumstances, that we speak plainly and understandingly, as the time of +our final separation draweth near. I fear that my manner and language +have hitherto too much expressed my feelings, and encouraged hopes in +you that can never be realized. Oh! Ella, if such be the case, I would, +for your dear sake, we had never met!--and the thought hereafter, that I +have caused you a pang, will add its weight of anguish to my already +bitter lot. The days that I have spent beneath this hospitable roof, and +in your sweet presence, are so many of bright sunshine, in a life of +cloud and storm; but will only serve, as I recall them, to make the +remainder, by contrast, seem more dark and dreary. From the first I +learned you were an orphan, and my sympathy was aroused in your behalf; +subsequently, I listened to your recital of grief, and trouble, and cold +treatment by the world--told in an artless manner--and in spite of me, +in spite of my struggles to the contrary, I discovered awakening in my +breast a feeling of a stronger nature. Had my wound permitted, I should +have torn myself from your presence then, with the endeavor, if such a +thing were possible, to forget you; but, alas! fate ordered otherwise, +and the consequence I fear will be to add sorrow to both. But one thing, +dear Ella, before I go further, let me ask: Can you, and will you +forgive me, for the manner in which I have conducted myself in your +company?" + +"I have nothing to forgive; and had I, it should be forgiven," answered +Ella, sweetly, in a timid voice, her hands unconsciously toying with her +needle-work, and her face half averted, whereon could be traced the +suppressed workings of internal emotion. + +"Thank you, Ella--thank you, for taking a weight from my heart. And now, +ere I proceed with what to both of us will prove a painful revelation, +let me make one request more--a foolish one I know--but one I trust you +will grant nevertheless." + +"Name it," said Ella, timidly, as the other paused. + +"It is, simply, that in judging me by the evidence I shall give against +myself, you will lean strongly to the side of mercy; and, when I am +gone, think of me rather as an unfortunate than criminal being." + +"You alarm me, Mr. Reynolds, with such a request!" answered Ella, +looking up to the other with a pale, anxious countenance. "I know not +the meaning of it! and, as I said before, I would rather not have your +secret in keeping--the more so, as you say the revelation will be a +painful one to both." + +For a moment the young man paused, as though undecided as to his reply, +while his countenance expressed a look of mortified regret really +painful to behold--so much so, that Ella, moved by this to a feeling of +compassion, said: + +"I perceive my answer wounds your feelings--I meant no harm; go on with +your story; I will listen, and endeavor to concede all you desire." + +"Thank you--again thank you!" returned the other, energetically, with +emotion. "I will make my narrative brief as possible." + +Saying which, he entered the apartment where the other was sitting, and +seating himself a few feet distant from her, after some little +hesitation, as if to bring his resolution to the point, thus began: + +"I shall pass over all minor affairs of my life, and come at once to the +period and event, which changed me from a happy youth, blessed with home +and friends, to a wanderer--I know not but an outlaw--on the face of the +earth. I was born in the state of Connecticut, A.D. 1759; and my father +being a man of property, and one determined on giving his children (of +whom there were two, one older than myself) a liberal education, I was +at an early age sent to a neighboring school, where I remained until +turned of eighteen, and then returned to my parents. + +"About this period, an old, eccentric lady--a maiden aunt of my +father--died, bequeathing to me--or rather to the second born of her +nephew, Albert Reynolds, which chanced to be myself--the bulk of her +property--in value some fifty thousand dollars, on condition, that, +between the ages of eighteen and twenty-two, I should marry a certain +Elvira Longworth--a lady some three years my junior, for whom my great +aunt had formed a strong attachment. And the will further provided, That +in case the said second born of Albert Reynolds, either through the +intervention of Providence, in removing him from off the face of the +earth, (so it was worded) and from among the living, or through a mutual +dislike of the parties seemed, did not between the specified ages, +celebrate, with due rejoicing, the said nuptials with the said Elvira +Longworth, the sum of twenty thousand dollars should be paid over to the +said Elvira, if living, and the remainder of the property (or in case +she was deceased the whole) should revert to the regular heirs at law. + +"Such was the will--one of the most singular perhaps on record--which, +whatever the design of its author, was destined, by a train of +circumstances no one could foresee, to result in the most terrible +consequences to those it should have benefited. On the reading thereof, +no little dissatisfaction was expressed in regard to it, by numerous +relatives of the deceased; each of whom, as a matter of course, was +expecting a considerable share of the old lady's property; and all of +whom, with but few exceptions, were nearer akin than myself; and +therefore, in that respect, more properly entitled to it. As a +consequence of the will, I, though innocent of its construction--for +none could be more surprised at it than myself--became a regular target +for the ridicule, envy, and hate of those who chanced to be disappointed +thereby. At the outset, I had no intention of seeking a title to the +property by complying with the specification set forth at the instance +of its late owner; and only looked upon it as a piece of crack-brained +folly, that would serve for a nine days' comment and jest, and then be +forgotten; but when I saw, that instead of being treated with the +courtesy and respect no conscious act of mine had ever forfeited, I was +ridiculed, sneered at, and looked upon with jealousy and hate by those +whose souls were too narrow to believe in a noble action--and who, +measuring and judging me by their own sordid standards of avaricious +justice, deemed I would spare no pains to legally rob them, as they +termed it,--when I saw this, I say, my blood became heated, my fiercer +passions were roused, and I inwardly swore, that if it were now in my +power to accomplish what they feared, I would do it, though the lady in +question were a fright to look upon. In this decision I was rather +encouraged by my father, who being at the time somewhat involved, +thought it a feasible plan of providing for me, and then, by my aid, +recovering from his own pecuniary embarrassments. + +"As yet I had never seen Elvira--she living in an adjoining county, +some thirty miles distant, where my aunt, on a visit to a distant +relative, had first made her acquaintance, and formed that singular +attachment, peculiar to eccentric temperaments, which had resulted in +the manner already shown. Accordingly, one fine spring morning, I +mounted my horse, and set forth to seek my intended, and behold what +manner of person she was of. Late at night I arrived at the village +where she resided--stabled my beast--took lodging at a hotel--inquired +out her residence--and, betimes, the morning following, made my +obeisance in her presence, and with that bashful, awkward grace--if I +may be allowed so paradoxical a term--which my youth present purpose, +and former good breeding combined, were calculated to produce. I was +more embarrassed still a minute after, when, having given my name, and +hinted at the singular document of the old lady deceased, I found my +fair intended, as well as her family, were in total ignorance of my +meaning; and could I at the moment have been suddenly transferred to my +horse, I do not think I should have paused to make the necessary +explanation. As it was, there was no alternative; and accordingly +begging a private interview with Elvira, I disclosed the whole secret; +which she listened to for a time with unfeigned surprise; and then +bursting into a wild, ringing laugh, declared it to be 'The funniest and +most ridiculous thing she ever heard of.' + +"She was a gay, sprightly, beautiful being--fresh in the bloom of some +fifteen summers--with a bright, sparkling, roguish eye--long, floating, +auburn ringlets--a musical voice--a ringing laugh--the latter frequent +and long,--so that I soon felt it needed not the stimulating desire of +wealth and revenge to urge me on to that, which, under any +circumstances, would have been by no means disagreeable. To make a long +story short, I called upon her at stated periods; and, within a year +from our first acquaintance, we were plighted to each other. About this +time my father, together with some influential friends, procured me a +lieutenancy, to serve in our present struggle for the maintainance of +that glorious independence, drawn up by the immortal Jefferson, and +signed by the noble patriots some two years before. I served a two +years' campaign, and fought in the unfortunate and bloody battle of +Camden; which resulted, as doubtless you have heard, in great loss and +defeat to the American arms. Shortly after the action commenced, our +captain was killed, and the command of the company devolved on me. I +fulfilled my duties to the best of my ability, and myself and men were +in the hottest of the fight. But from some alleged misdemeanor, whereof +I can take my oath I was guiltless, I was afterward very severely +censured by one of my superior officers; which so wounded my feelings, +that I at once resigned my commission and returned to my native state. + +"On arriving at home, to my surprise and mortification, I learned that +my intended was just on the eve of marriage with a cousin of mine--a +worthless fellow--who, urged on by the relatives interested, and his own +desire of acquiring the handsome competence of twenty thousand dollars, +had taken advantage of my absence to calumniate me, (in which design he +had been aided by several worthy assistants) and supplant me in the good +graces--I will not say affections, as I think the term too strong--of +Elvira Longworth. + +"The lady in question I do not think I ever loved--at least as I +understand the meaning of that term--and now--that she had listened to +slander against me while absent, and, without waiting to know whether it +would be refuted on my return, had engaged herself to another--I cared +less for her than before;--but my pride was touched, that I should be +thus tamely set aside for one I heartily despised; and this, together +with my desire to thwart the machinations of the whole intriguing clique +arrayed against me, determined me, if feasible, to regain the favor of +Elvira, and have the ceremony performed as soon as possible. This, Ella, +I know you think, and I am ready to admit it, was wrong--very wrong; +but I make no pretensions to be other than a frail mortal, liable to all +the errors appertaining thereto; and were this is the only sin to be +laid to my charge, my conscience were far less troublesome than now. + +"I determined, I say, to regain my former place in her favor or +affection--whichever you like--and, to be brief, I apparently succeeded. +The day was set for our marriage; which, for several reasons unnecessary +to be detailed, was to take place at the residence of my father; and, as +the will specified it should be with all due rejoicings, great +preparations were accordingly made, and a goodly number of guests +invited. + +"At length the day came--the eventful day. Never shall I forget it; nor +with what feelings, at the appointed hour, I entered the crowded hall, +where the ceremony was to take place, with Elvira leaning tremblingly on +my arm, her features devoid of all color, and approached the spot where +the divine stood ready to unite us forever. All eyes were now fixed upon +us; and the marriage rite was begun amid that deep and almost awful +solemnity, which not unfrequently characterizes such proceedings on +peculiar occasions, when every spectator, as well as the actors +themselves, feel a secret awe steal over them, as though about to +witness a tragic, rather than a civil, performance. + +"I have mentioned that Elvira trembled violently when we entered the +hall; but this trembling increased after the divine commenced the +ritual; so that when I had answered in the affirmative the solemn +question pertaining to my taking the being by my side as mine till +death, her trepidation had become so great that it was with difficulty I +could support her; and when the same interrogative was put to her, a +silence of some moments followed; and then the answer came forth, low +and trembling, but still sufficiently distinct to be generally +understood; and was, to the unbounded astonishment of all, in the +negative!" + +"In the negative!" exclaimed Ella, suddenly, who had during the last few +sentences been unconsciously leaning forward, as though to devour each +syllable as it was uttered, and who now resumed her former position with +a long drawn breath. "In the negative say you, Alger--a--a--Mr. +Reynolds?" + +"Call me Algernon, Ella, I pray you; it sounds more sweet and friendly. +Ay, she answered in the negative. Heavens! what a shock was there for +my proud nature! To be thus publicly insulted and rejected--to be thus +made the butt and ridicule of fools and knaves--a mark for the jests and +sneers of friend and foe! Oh! how my blood boiled and coursed in lava +streams through my heated veins! I saw it all. I was the dupe of some +artful design, intended to stigmatize me forever; and wild with a +thousand terrible brain-searing thoughts, I rushed from the hall to my +own apartment, seized upon my pistols, and was just in the act of +putting a period to my existence, when my arm was suddenly grasped, and +my hated rival and cousin stood before me. + +"'Fiend!' cried I in frenzy; 'devil in human shape!--do you seek me in +the body? What want you here?' + +"His features were pale with excitement, and his lips quivered as he +made answer: 'Be calm, Algernon, be calm; it was meant but in jest!' + +"'Jest!' screamed I; 'do you then own to a knowledge of it, +villain?--were you its author?--then take that, and answer it as you +dare!'--and as I spoke, with the breech of my undischarged pistol, I +stretched him senseless at my feet. Under the excitement of the moment, +I was about to take a more terrible revenge; when others suddenly rushed +in--seized and disarmed me--bore my rival from my sight--and, to +conclude, placed me in bed, where I was confined for three weeks by a +delirious fever, and then only recovered as it were by a miracle. + +"During my convalescence, I learned that my cousin, soon after my +return, had been privately married to Elvira; and prompted by his evil +genius, and some of my enemies, had induced his wife to enter into the +plot, the result of which has already been briefly narrated. I do not +think she did it through malice, and doubtless little thought of the +consequences that were destined to follow; but whether so or not, her +punishment has, I think, been fully adequate to her crime; for the last +I heard of her, she was an inmate of a mad-house--remorse for her +conduct, the abuse heaped upon her by society, and her own severe fright +at the termination of the stratagem, having driven her insane. Now comes +the most tragic part of my narrative. + +"When so far recovered as to again be abroad, I was cautioned by my +parents against my rash act; and for their sakes, I promised to be +temperate in all my movements; but, alas! how little we know when we +promise, what we may be in sooth destined to perform. On my father's +estate, about a mile distant from his residence, was a beautiful +grove--whither, for recreation, I was in the habit of repairing at all +periods of my life; and where, so soon as my strength permitted, after +my sickness, I rambled daily. About ten days from my recovery, as I was +taking my usual stroll through these grounds, I was suddenly confronted +by my cousin. His cheeks were hollow and pale, and his whole appearance +haggard in the extreme. His eyes, too, seemed to flash, or burn, as it +were, with an unearthly brightness; and his voice, as he addressed me, +was hoarse, and his manner hurried. + +"'We meet well,' he said, 'well! I have watched for you long.' + +"'Away!' cried I; 'tempt me no more--or something will follow I may +regret hereafter!' + +"'Ha, ha, ha!' laughed he, in derision, with that peculiar, hollow +sound, which even now, as I recall it, makes my blood run cold:--'Say +you so, cousin?--I came for that;' and again he laughed as before. 'See +here--see here!' and he presented, as he spoke, with the butts toward +me, a brace of pistols. 'Here is what will settle all our animosities,' +he continued; 'take your choice, and be quick, or perchance we may be +interrupted.' + +"'Are you mad,' cried I, 'that you thus seek my life, after the wrongs +you have done me?' + +"'Mad!--ha, ha!--yes!--yes!--I believe I am,' he answered; 'and my wife +is mad also. I did you wrong, I know--went to apologise for it, and you +struck me down. Whatever the offence, a blow I never did and never will +forgive; so take your choice, and be quick, for one or both of us must +never quit this place alive.' + +"'Away!' cried I, turning aside; 'I will not stain my hands with the +blood of my kin. Go! the world is large enough to hold us both.' + +"'Coward!' hissed he; 'take that, then, and bear what I have borne;' and +with the palm of his hand he smote me on the cheek. + +"I could bear no more--I was no longer myself--I was maddened with +passion--and snatching a pistol from his hand, which was still extended +toward me, without scarcely knowing what I did, I exclaimed, 'Your blood +be on your own head!'--and--and--Oh, Heaven!--pardon me, Ella--I--shot +him through the body." + +Ella, who had partly risen from her seat, and was listening with +breathless attention, now uttered an exclamation of horror, and sunk +back, with features ghastly pale; while the other, burying his face in +his hands, shook his whole frame with convulsive sobs. For some time +neither spoke; and then the young man, slowly raising his face, which +was now a sad spectacle of the workings of grief and remorse, again +proceeded: + +"Horror-stricken--aghast at what I had done--I stood for a moment, +gazing upon him weltering in his blood, with eyes that burned and seemed +starting from their sockets--with feelings that are indescribable--and +then rushing to him, I endeavored to raise him, and learn the extent of +his injury. + +"'Fly!' said he, faintly, as I bent over him--'fly for your life! I have +got my due--I am mortally wounded--and if you remain, you will surely be +arrested as my murderer. Farewell, Algernon--the fault was mine--but +this you can not prove; and so leave me--leave me while you have +opportunity.' + +"His words were true; I felt them in force; if he died, I would be +arraigned as his murderer--I had no proof to the contrary--circumstances +would be against me--I should be imprisoned--condemned--perhaps +executed--a loathsome sight for gaping thousands--I could not bear the +thought--I might escape--ay, would escape--and bidding him a hasty +farewell, I turned and fled. Not a hundred rods distant I met my father; +and falling on my knees before him, I hurriedly related what had taken +place, and begged advice for myself, and his immediate attendance upon +my cousin. He turned pale and trembled violently at my narration; and, +as I concluded, drew forth a purse of gold, which he chanced to have +with him, and placing it in my hand, exclaimed: + +"'Fly--son--child--Algernon--for Heaven's sake, fly!' + +"'Whither, father?' + +"'To the far western wilds, beyond the reach of civilization--at least +beyond the reach of justice--and spare my old eyes the awful sight of +seeing a beloved son arraigned as a criminal!' + +"'And my mother?' + +"'You can not see her--it might cost you your life,--farewell!' and with +the last word trembling on his lips, he embraced me fondly, and we +parted--perchance forever. + +"I fled, feeling that the brand of Cain was on me; that henceforth my +life was to be one of remorse and misery; that I was to be a wanderer +upon the face of the earth--mayhap an Ishmael, with every man's hand +against me. To atone in a measure to my conscience for the awful deed I +had committed, I knelt upon the earth, and swore, by all I held sacred +in time and eternity, that if the wound inflicted upon my cousin should +prove mortal, I would live a life of celibacy, and become a wandering +pilgrim in the western wilds of America till God should see proper to +call me hence." + +"And--and did the wound prove mortal?" asked Ella, breathlessly. + +"Alas! I know not, Ella, and I fear to know. Four months have passed +since then; and after many adventures, hardships, sufferings, and +hair-breadth escapes, you see me here before you, a miserable man." + +"But not one guilty of murder, Algernon," said Ella, energetically. + +"I know not that--Heaven grant it true!" + +"O, then, do not despair, Algernon!--trust in God, and hope for the +best. I have a hope that all will yet be well." + +"Amen to that, dear Ella; and a thousand, thousand thanks, for your +sweet words of consolation; they are as balm to my torn and bleeding +heart; but until I _know_ my fate, we must not meet again; and if, oh +Heaven! and if the worst be true--then--then farewell forever! But who +comes here?" + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE STRANGER. + + +The closing sentence of the preceding chapter was occasioned by the +glimpse of a man's shadow, that for a moment swept along in the +sunlight, some twenty paces distant from the speaker, and then suddenly +disappeared by being swallowed up in the larger and more stationary +shade thrown from the cottage by the sinking sun. Scarcely were the +words alluded to uttered, ere the sound of a step was heard close by the +door, and the next moment the cause of the shadow and remark divided the +light of the entrance. + +The individual in question, was a stout built, broad-shouldered, +athletic man--some five feet nine inches in height--whose age, judging +from his general appearance, as well as his features, might range from +twenty-seven to thirty years. At the moment when he appeared before our +acquaintances of the foregoing chapter, his right arm was held in a +manner so as to screen the lower portion of his face; while a hat, not +very much unlike those of the present day, pressed down upon his +forehead, left but little of his countenance, and that mainly about the +eyes, visible. With the latter he gave a quick, searching, suspicious +glance at the two before him; and then, as if satisfied he had nothing +to fear, lowered his arm and raised his hat from his forehead, exposing +a physiognomy by no means pleasing to one skilled in reading the heart +thereby. His complexion was swarthy--his skin coarse--and the general +expression of his features repulsive in the extreme; this expression +arising from the combination of three distinct parts of his +countenance--namely: the forehead which was low and receding from two +dark-red, shaggy eye-brows,--the eyes themselves, which were small, +bloodshot and very fiery; and the mouth, which was narrow, thin-lipped, +and habitually contracted into a sneering, sinister smile. In this +general expression, was combined cunning, deceit, treachery, and +bloodthirsty ferocity--each one of which passions were sufficiently +powerful, when fully excited, to predominate over the whole combination. +The hair of his head was short, thick, coarse and red, grew low upon his +forehead, and, in its own peculiar way, added a fierceness to his whole +appearance. Nature had evidently designed him for a villain of the +darkest die; and on the same principle that she gives a rattle to a +certain venomous snake, that other creatures may be warned of the deadly +fang in time to avoid it--so had she stamped him with a look wherein his +passions were mirrored, that those who gazed thereon might know with +whom and what they had to do, and be prepared accordingly. The costume +too of the stranger was rather singular, and worthy of note--being +composed, for the most part, of an extraordinary long frock or +overcoat--more like the gown of some monk than either--which reached +almost down to the moccasins covering his feet, and was laced together +in front, nearly the whole length, by thongs of deerskin. Around the +waist passed a rude belt of the same material--carelessly tied at one +side--in which, contrary to the usual custom of that period, there was +not confined a single weapon, not even so much as a knife; and this +fact, together with the general appearance of the individual and his own +suspicious movements, led Algernon, almost at the first glance, to +consider the long frock or gown an article of disguise, beneath which +the stranger was doubtless doubly armed and costumed in a very +different manner. + +As the eyes of the new comer, after closely scanning Reynolds, rested +for the first time upon Ella, there flashed across his ugly features an +expression of admiration and surprise--while the look of suspicion which +he had previously exhibited, seemed entirely to disappear. Turning to +the young man, who on his appearance had risen from his seat, and now +stood as if waiting to know his commands, in a voice evidently much +softened from its usual tones, but still by no means pleasant and +harmonious, he said: + +"Will you be kind enough to inform me, sir, to whom this dwelling +belongs?" + +"It is owned, I believe, by one Benjamin Younker," answered Algernon, in +a cavalier manner, still eyeing the other closely. + +"May I ask his occupation?" + +"He is a farmer, sir--a tiller of the soil." + +"Will you favor me with a description of his personal appearance?" + +"I can do so," replied Algernon, somewhat surprised at the question, +"provided I know the motive of inquiry to be a good one." + +"It is no other, I assure you," returned the stranger. "It was simply +prompted by curiosity." + +"Well, then, the individual in question is a man who has seen more than +fifty years--is tall, raw-boned, muscular, has a stoop in the shoulder, +a long, thin face, small eyes, and hair slightly gray." + +"Has he any sons?" inquired the stranger. + +"One, a youth of twenty, who bears a strong resemblance to his father." + +"Daughters?" + +"He has no other child." + +"Then this young lady"--slightly bowing to Ella. + +"Is a more distant relation--a niece," answered Ella, rising as she +spoke and disappearing from his sight. + +"A beautiful creature!" said the stranger, musingly, as if to +himself--"a beautiful creature! Pardon me," added he, again addressing +Algernon; "but may I inquire concerning yourself?" + +"I am a guest here, sir." + +"Aha--yes; a hunter I presume?" + +"I sometimes hunt." + +"Pardon me again--but are there more indwellers here than you have +mentioned?" + +"One, sir--the good dame of the cottage." + +For a moment or two the stranger mused, as if running over in his mind +all that had been said; and then observed: + +"Doubtless you think me very inquisitive; but I had a reason for all my +questions; and I thank you sincerely, sir, for your prompt replies. It +is now growing late; the sun will presently be down; and as I am a +traveler--a stranger in this region--I would rather not pursue my +journey further, providing I could be entertained here for the night." + +"As to that, I am unable to answer," said Algernon; "but if you will +step within, I will make the necessary inquiries." + +"Thank you," replied the stranger, with a show of cordiality; "thank +you;" and he immediately entered the cottage. + +Those days, as before said, were the good old days of hospitality--and, +as far as population went, of social intercourse also--when every man's +cabin was the stranger's home, and every neighbor every neighbor's +friend. There were no distinct grades of society then as now, from which +an honest individual of moral worth must be excluded because of +poverty--a good character for upright dealing being the standard by +which all were judged; and whoever possessed this, could rank equally +with the best, though poor as the beggar Lazarus. Doubtless intellect +and education then, as well as at the present day, held in many things a +superiority over imbecility and ignorance; but there were no distinct +lines of demarcation drawn; and in the ordinary routine of intercourse +one with another, there was no superiority claimed, and none +acknowledged. And this arose, probably, from the necessity each felt +for there being a general unity--a general blending together of all +qualifications, as it were, into one body politic--by which each +individual became an individual member of the whole, perfect in his +place, and capable of supplying what another might chance to need; as +the man of education might be puny in stature and deficient of a strong +arm; the man of strong arm deficient in education; the imbecile man +might be a superior woodman--the man of intellect an inferior one:--so +that, as before remarked, each of these qualities, being essential to +perfect the whole, each one of course was called upon to exercise his +peculiar talent, and take his position on an equality with his neighbor. +There has been great change in society since then; those days of simple +equality have gone forever; but we question if the present race, with +all their privileges, with all their security, with all their means of +enjoyment, are as happy as those noble old pioneers, with all their +necessities, with all their dangers, with all their sufferings. + +According, therefore, to the established custom of the early settlers, +the stranger for whom Algernon proceeded to make inquiries, was entitled +to all the rights of hospitality; and whether liked or disliked, could +not consistently be smiled away, nor frowned away, as doubtless he would +have been, had he lived in this civil, wonderworking age of lightning +and steam; and though his appearance was any thing but agreeable to Mrs. +Younker, who surveyed him through her spectacles (being a little near +sighted) from the adjoining cabin, whither Algernon had repaired to +learn her decision; and though it would prove inconvenient to herself +to grant his request; yet, as she expressed it, "He war a stranger, as +hadn't no home and didn't know whar to go to; and prehaps war hungry, +poor man; and it wouldn't be right nor Christian-like to refuse him jest +a night's lodging like;" and so the matter was settled, and Algernon was +deputed to inform him that he could stay and would be welcome to such +fare as their humble means afforded. + +Some half an hour later, a loud hallooing announced the arrival of the +two Younkers with the domestic cattle--consisting of the kine and some +pet sheep which ran with them--from their labors in a distant field, +where they had been engaged in harvesting corn. A few minutes after, the +elder Younker entered the cabin, bearing upon his shoulder a rifle, from +which depended a large, fat turkey that he had shot during his absence. +With a slight but friendly nod to the stranger, he proceeded to deposit +his game on the hearth--where it was presently examined and commented on +at considerable length by the good dame--and then carefully placing his +rifle on a couple of horn hooks depending from the ceiling for the +purpose, he seated himself on a stool, his back to the wall, with the +air of one who is very much fatigued, and does not wish to mingle in +conversation of any kind. + +The sun by this time was already below the horizon; twilight was fast +deepening into night; and the matron, having finished her remarks on the +turkey, and "Wondered ef sech birds wouldn't git to being scaser arter a +while, when all on, 'em war shot?" proceeded to the cow-yard, to assist +Isaac in milking; while Ella hurried hither and thither, with almost +noiseless activity, to prepare the evening repast. A bright fire was +soon kindled in the chimney, over which was suspended a kettle for +boiling water; while in front, nearly perpendicular, was placed a large +corn loaf, whose savory odor, as it began to cook, was far from being +disagreeable to the olfactory organs of the lookers on. The table, of +which we have previously given a description, was next drawn into the +middle of the apartment and covered with a home-made cloth of linen; on +which were placed a medley of dishes of various sizes and +materials--some of wood, some of pewter, some of earthern, and one of +stone--with knives and forks to correspond. Three of these dishes were +occupied--one with clean, fresh butter, another with rich old cheese, +and the third with a quantity of cold venison steak. In the course of +another half hour, the cake was baked and on the table--Isaac and his +mother had entered with the milk--the announcement was made by Ella that +all was ready; and the whole party, taking seats around the humble +board, proceeded to do justice to the fare before them. + +A light, placed in the center of the table, threw its gleams upon +the faces of each, and exhibited a singular variety of expressions. +That of the stranger was downcast, sinister, and suspicious, combined +with an evident desire of appearing exactly the reverse. Occasionally, +when he thought no eye was on him, he would steal a glance at Ella; +and some times gaze steadily--like one who is resolved upon a +certain event, without being decided as to the exact manner of its +accomplishment--until he found himself observed, when his glance would +fall to his plate, or be directed to some other object, with the +seeming embarrassment of one caught in some guilty act. This was noticed +more than once by Algernon; who, perhaps, more than either of the +others, felt from the first that strong dislike, that suspicious +repugnance to the stranger, which can only be explained as one of the +mysteries of nature, whereby we are sometimes warned of whom we should +shun, as the instinct of an animal makes known to it its inveterate foe; +and though he strove to think there was nothing of evil meant by a +circumstance apparently so trifling--that the glance of the stranger was +simply one of admiration or curiosity--yet the thought that it might be +otherwise--that he might be planning something wicked to the fair being +before him--haunted his mind like some hideous vision, made him for +the time more distrustful, more watchful than ever, and was afterward +reverted to with a painful sensation. The features of Algernon also +exhibited an expression of remorse and hopeless melancholy; the reason +whereof the reader, who has now been made acquainted with the secret, +will readily understand. The face of Ella, too, was paler than +usual--more sad and thoughtful--so much so, that it was remarked by Mrs. +Younker, who immediately instituted the necessary inquiries concerning +her health, and explained to her at some length the most approved method +of curing a cold, in case that were the cause. In striking contrast to +the sober looks of the others--for Younker himself was a man who seldom +exhibited other than a sedate expression--was the general appearance and +manner of Isaac. He seemed exceedingly exhilarated in spirits, yet kept +his eyes down, and appeared at times very absent minded. Whatever his +thoughts were, it was evident they were pleasing ones; for he would +smile to himself, and occasionally display a comical nervousness, as +though he had some very important secret to make known, yet was not +ready to communicate it. This had been observed in him through the day; +and was so different from his usual manner, and so much beyond any +conjecture his mother could form of the cause, that at last her +curiosity became so excited, that to restrain it longer was like holding +down the safety-valve to an over-heated steam boiler; and, accordingly, +taking advantage of another mysterious smile, which Isaac chanced to +display while looking at a large piece of corn bread, already on its way +to his capacious jaws, she exclaimed: + +"Why, what on yarth _is_ the matter with you, Isaac, that you keep a +grinning, and grinning, and fidgetting about all to yourself so much +like a plaguy nateral born fool for?" + +So loudly, suddenly and unexpectedly was this question put--for all had +been silent some minutes previous--that Isaac started, blushed, dropped +the bread--already near enough to his teeth to have felt uncomfortable, +had it been capable of feeling--endeavored to catch it--blundered--and +finally upset his plate and contents into his lap, in a manner so truly +ridiculous, that Ella and Mrs. Younker, unable to restrain their mirth, +laughed heartily, while the stranger and Algernon smiled, and the stern +features of the father relaxed into an expression of quiet humor seldom +seen on his countenance. + +"'Pon my word," continued Mrs. Younker, so soon as she could collect +breath enough after laughing to go on; "I do raley believe as how the +boy's ayther crazy, or in love, for sartin. What does ail ye, Isaac?--do +tell!" + +"Perhaps he was thinking of his dear Peggy," said Ella, archly; who was, +by the way, very fond of teasing him whenever opportunity presented; and +could not even now, despite her previous low spirits, forbear a little +innocent raillery--her temperament being such, that wit and humor were +ever ready on the slightest provocation to take the ascendancy, as old +wine when stirred ever sends its sparkling beads upward. "I wonder, +Isaac, if you looked as amiable and interesting in the eyes of dear +Peggy, and made as graceful an appearance, when you popped the +question?" + +"Why, how in the name o' all Christen nater did you find out I'd done +it?" asked Isaac, in reply; who having, meantime, regained his former +position, and restored the plate, minus some of its contents, now sat a +perfect picture of comical surprise, with his mouth slightly ajar, and +his small eyes strained to their utmost and fastened seriously upon the +querist as he awaited her answer. + +"Murder will out, dear Isaac," replied Ella, with a ringing laugh; in +which she was joined by most of the others; and particularly by the +subject of the joke; who perceiving, too late for retreat, that he had +been betrayed into an acknowledgment of his secret, deemed this his +wisest course for defence. + +"And so, Isaac, you have really proposed to darling Peggy, then? and we +are to have a wedding shortly?" continued his tormentor. "And pray which +did look the most foolish of the two?--or was it a drawn-game, as we +sometimes say of draughts?" + +"Why," rejoined Isaac, changing color as rapidly as an aurora borealis, +and evidently much embarrassed; "I 'spect I mought as well own up, +being's I've got cotched in my own trap; and besides, it won't make no +great difference, only as I war intending it for a surprise. You see I +axed Peggy the question last night; and it's all settled; and we're +going to be married in less nor a week, ef nothing unforeseen don't +happen; and as Mr. Reynolds ar a stranger in these diggins, I thought +prehaps as how he'd like a little amusement like, and so I've fixed on +him for my groomsman." + +"I am much obliged for your kind intentions, and the honor you would +confer on me," answered Reynolds, sadly; "but I am sorry to say, I shall +be under the necessity of declining your invitation; as on the morrow I +design taking a farewell leave of you all, and quitting this part of the +country forever." + +Mr. Younker, his wife, and son, all started, with looks of surprise, at +this announcement, while Ella again grew deadly pale; and rising, with +some little trepidation, retired from the table. The stranger was the +only one unmoved. + +"To-morrow!" ejaculated Mrs. Younker. + +"Take leave o' us!" said the host. + +"Quit the country forever!" repeated Isaac. + +"Such, I assure you, is my determination," rejoined Algernon. + +"But your wound, Mr. Reynolds?" suggested Younker. + +"Is not entirely healed," returned Algernon; "yet I trust sufficiently +so to allow me to pursue my journey. The wound, as you are aware, was +only a flesh one--the ball having entered the right side, glanced on the +lower rib, and passed out nearly in front--and though very dangerous at +the time from excessive hemorrhage, has of late been rapidly healing, +and now troubles me but little if any." + +"Well, now, Mr. Reynolds," rejoined Mrs. Younker, "I'm a considerable +older woman nor you ar--that is, I mean to say, I'm a much older +individule--and I 'spect I've had in my time some lettle experience +in matters that you don't know nothing about; and so you musn't go to +thinking hard o' me, ef I give you a lettle advice, and tell you to +stay right whar you ar, and not stir a single step away for three +weeks;--'cause ef you do, your wound may get rupturous agin, and in +some lone place jest carry you right straight off into the shader o' +the valley of death--as our good old Rev. Mr. Allprayer used to say, +when he wanted to comfort the sick. O, dear good man he war, Preacher +Allprayer,"--continued the voluble old lady, with a sigh, her mind now +wholly occupied with his virtues--"dear good man he war! I jest +remember--Lor bless ye, I'll never forgit it--how he come'd to me when I +war sick--with tears a running out o' his eyes like he'd been eating raw +inyuns, poor man--and told me that I war going to die right straight +away, and never need to hope to be no better; and that I'd most likely +go right straight to that orful place whar all bad folks goes to. O, the +dear man! I never could help always liking him arter that--it made me +feel so orful narvous and religious like. Why, what on yarth be you +grinning at agin, Isaac?--jest for all the world like a monkey for?" + +"Nothing, mother," answered Isaac, nearly choking with smothered +laughter; "only I war jest kind o' thinking what a kind comforter Mr. +Allprayer war, to tell you you couldn't live any longer; and that when +you died you'd jest go right straight to--to--" + +"Silence! you irrelevant boy, you!" (irreverent was doubtless meant) +interrupted the dame, angrily: "How dare you to go making fun o' the +pious Rev. Mr. Allprayer?--him as used to preach all Sunday long, and +pray all Sunday night, and never did nothing wrong--though he did git +turned out o' the meeting house arterward for getting drunk and +swearing; but then the poor man cried and said it were nothing but a +accident, which hadn't happened more nor ten times to him sence he'd bin +a preacher of the everlasting gospel. Thar, thar, the crazy head's a +giggling agin! I do wish, Ben, you'd see to Isaac, and make him behave +himself--for he's got so tittery like, sence he's axed Peggy, thar's no +use o' trying to do nothing with him." + +"Isaac! Isaac!" said his father with a reproving glance; and, as though +that voice and look possessed a spell, the features of the young man +instantly became grave, almost solemn. Then turning to Algernon, the old +man continued: "As to leaving us, Mr. Reynolds, you of course know your +own business best, and it arn't my desire to interfere; but ef you could +put up with our humble fare, say a week or ten days longer, I think as +how it would be much better for you, and would give us a deal of +pleasure besides." + +"Why, I'll jest tell you what tis," put in Isaac: "I've fixed on you for +groomsman, and I arn't a going to gin in no how; so unless you want to +quarrel; you'll have to stay; and more'n that, it's spected you'll see +to takin Ella thar; for I know she don't like to go with any o' the +fellers round here; and I shall gin out she's going with you; which may +be won't hurt your feelings none--at any rate, I know it won't hers." + +At the mention of Ella, Algernon crimsoned to the eyes, and became so +exceedingly confused, that he could with difficulty stammer forth, by +way of reply, the query as to the time when the important event was +expected to take place. + +"Let me see," answered Isaac, telling off the days on his fingers: +"to-morrow's Friday; then Saturday's one, Sunday's two, Monday's three, +and Tuesday's four--only four days from to-morrow morning, Mr. Reynolds." + +"Then, as you so urgently insist upon it," rejoined Reynolds, "I will +postpone my departure till after the wedding." + +Isaac thanked him cordially, and the father and mother looked gratified +at the result; Ella he could not see--she having withdrawn from the +table, as previously noted. Some further conversation ensued relative to +the manner in which weddings were conducted in that country, and the +design of proceeding with the one in question; but as we intend the +reader to be present at the wedding itself, we shall not detail it. +We will remark here, by the way, that the stranger seemed to take a +singular interest in all that was said concerning the residence of the +intended bride, the road the party were expected to take to reach there, +their probable number, manner of travel, and the time when they would be +likely to set forth and return. In all this it was observed by Algernon, +that whenever he asked a question direct, it was put in such a careless +manner as would lead one not otherwise suspicious to suppose him +perfectly indifferent as to whether it were answered or not; but he +somehow fancied, he scarce knew why, that there was a strong under +current to this outward seeming. And furthermore he observed, that the +stranger in general avoided putting a question at all--rather seeking +his information by conjecturing or supposing what would immediately be +contradicted or confirmed. This mode of interrogation, so closely +followed up to every particular, yet apparently with such indifference, +together with the stranger's treacherous look and several minor things +all bearing a suspicious cast, more than half convinced Algernon that +the other was a spy, and that some foul play was assuredly meditated; +though what, and to whom, or for what purpose, he was at a loss to +determine. + +From the particulars of the coming wedding, the stranger, after a +little, adroitly turned the conversation upon the wound of Reynolds; +asked a number of questions, and appeared deeply interested in the whole +narration concerning it--the attack upon him by the Indians and his +providential escape through the assistance of Boone--all of which was +detailed by Isaac in his own peculiar way. From this case in particular, +the conversation gradually changed to other cases that had happened +in the vicinity; and also to the state of the country, with regard +to what it had been and now was--its settlements--its increase of +inhabitants--the many Indian invasions and massacres that had occurred +within the last five years on the borders--and the present supposed +population of the frontiers. + +"As to myself," said Younker, in reply to some observation of the +stranger, "as to myself and family, we've been extremely fortunate in +'scaping the red foe--though I've bin daily fearful that when I went +away to my work in the morning, I'd may be come back agin at noon or +night and find my women folks gone, or murdered, and my cot in ashes; +but, thank the Lord! I've been so far spared sech a heart rending +sight." + +"And had you no personal fears?" asked the stranger. + +"I don't know's I understand you." + +"Had you no fears for yourself individually?" + +"Well, I can't say's I had," answered the other. "I'm an old man--or at +least I'm in my second half century--and I've so endeavored to live, as +not to fear to go at any moment when God sees fit, and by whatsomever +means he may choose to take me." + +"I suppose you now consider yourself in a measure safe from Indian +encroachments?" observed the other. + +"No man, stranger--I beg pardon, but I'd like to know your name!" + +"Certainly, sir," answered the other, a little embarrassed. "My name +is--is--Williams." + +"Thank you! No man, Mr. Williams, ar justified in considering himself +safe from Injens, in a country like this; but to tell the truth, I don't +feel so fearful of 'em, as when I first come out here with my family, +two year ago; though thar's no telling what may hap in the course o' two +year more." + +"And did you venture here at once on your arrival in this western +country?" + +"Not exactly; for the land laws o' Virginna, passed the year I come out, +made it rayther difficult gitting hold o' land, about which thar war a +great deal o' disputing; and which war kept up till the commissioners +came out and settled the matter; and so while this war agitating, I took +my family to Boonesborough, whar they remained, excepting Isaac, who +went along with me, until we'd got all matters fixed for moving 'em +here. But as you've axed considerable many questions, pray may I know ef +you're from the east?--And ef so, what news thar is with respect to this +here war with the Britishers?" "Why," replied the other, hesitatingly, +"though not strictly speaking from the east, yet I've been eastward the +past season, and have some news of the war; and, as far as I am able to +judge, think it will result in the total subjugation of the colonies." + +"Heaven forbid!" exclaimed Younker. + +"Heaven forefend!" said Reynolds, with a start. + +"Lord presarve us!--marsy on us!" cried Mrs. Younker, with vehemence. +"What on yarth shall we do, ef them plaguy Britishers git uppermost? +They'll take away all our lands, for sartin!--and Ben's bin and bought +four hundred acres, poor man, at forty cents a acre, under the new laws +of Varginna[4]--which comes to one hundred and sixty dollars, hard +money; and now maybe he'll have to lose it all, and not git nothing for +it; and then what in the name o' the whole univarsal creation will +become on us?" + +"Well, well, Dorothy--don't fret about it till it happens--thar'll be +plenty o' time then," said Younker, gravely; "and perhaps it won't +happen at all." + +"Don't talk to me about fretting, Mr. Younker!" rejoined the now +irritated dame, a la Caudle: "I reckon I don't fret no easier nor you +do, nor half so much nother; but I'd like to know who wouldn't fret, +when they know they're going to lose all thar property by them thar good +for nothing red-coated Britishers, who I do believe is jest as mean as +Injens, and they're too mean to live, that's sartin. Fret, indeed! I +reckon it wouldn't do for you to be letting Preacher Allprayer hear ye +say so; for he said one time with his own mouth--and to me too, mind +that!--that I'd got the bestest disposition in the whole universal yarth +o' creation under the sun!" and the voluble old lady paused to take +breath. + +"It's my opine, that ef Preacher Allprayer had lived with you as long as +I have, he wouldn't repeat that thar sentence under oath," returned +Younker, quietly. Then perceiving that a storm was brewing, he hastened +to change the conversation, by addressing the stranger: "What cause have +you, Mr. Williams, for speaking so discourageous o' the war?" + +"The failure of the American arms in battle, the weakness of their +resources, and the strength of their opponents," replied the other. "I +presume you have heard of the battles of Guilford and Camden, in both of +which General Greene was defeated?" + +"General _Gates_ commanded at Camden, sir!" interposed Reynolds somewhat +haughtily. + +"I beg pardon, sir!" retorted the other, in a sneering, sarcastic tone; +"but I was speaking of the defeat of General _Greene!_" + +"At Camden?" + +"At Camden, sir!" + +"I am sorry you are no better informed," rejoined Algernon, with +flashing eyes. "I repeat that General Gates commanded at Camden; and as, +unfortunately, I chanced to be in the fight, I claim the privilege of +being positive." + +"The youth is doubtless speaking of the battle fought a year or two +ago," rejoined Williams, turning to Younker, in a manner the most +insulting to Reynolds; who clenched his hand, and pressed his nether lip +with his teeth until the blood sprang through, but said nothing. "I have +reference to the two engagements which took place at Guilford Court +House and Camden, in March and April last; whereby, as I said before, +General Greene, who commanded at both, was twice defeated, and retreated +with great loss; although in the former action his forces outnumbered +those of his opponent, Lord Cornwallis, as two to one; and in the +latter, far exceeded those of Lord Rawdon, his opponent also." + +"This is indeed startling news," answered Younker, "and I'm fearful o' +the result!" + +"You may depend on't, them thar four-hundred acres is all gone clean to +smash," observed Mrs. Younker; "and its my opine, Ben, you'd better sell +right straight out immediately, afore the news gits about any further, +for fear o' accidents and them things." + +"I suppose in reality the present war with England does not trouble you +here?" said the stranger, interrogatively. + +"Why not in reality," answered Younker, "only so far as the Britishers +and thar accursed renegade agents set on the Injens agin us." + +"To what renegade agents do you allude?" inquired the other, with a +degree of interest he had not before exhibited. + +"Why, to the Girtys, McKee, and Elliot--and perticularly to that thar +scoundrel, Simon Girty the worst o' all on 'em." + +"Ha! Simon Girty," said the other, with a slight start and change of +countenance; "what know you of him?" + +"Nothing that's good, you may be sartin, and every thing that's evil. +He's leagued with the Injens, purposely to excite 'em agin his own white +brethren--to have them murder women and children, that he may feast his +eyes on thar innocent blood. I'm not given to be o' a revengeful speret, +Mr. Williams; but I never think o' that thar renegade, Simon Girty, but +I inwardly pray for the curse o' an avenging God to light upon him; and +come it will, ayther soon or late, you may depend on't!" + +"Amen to that thar sentiment!" responded the dame; while the stranger +became very much agitated, on account, as he said, of a violent pain in +his side, to which he was subject. + +Mrs. Younker was on the point of bringing down her invectives on the +head of the renegade in a speech of some considerable length, when, +perceiving the distressful look of the other, the kind-hearted woman +suddenly forgot her animosity in sympathy for her suffering guest; and +forthwith proceeded, with all the eloquence of which she was master, to +recommend a certain essence that chanced to be in the house, as a never +failing remedy for all griping and other pains with which unfortunate +humanity was oftentimes afflicted. + +"It's one o' the bestest things as ever war invented," continued the +good woman, in her eulogy of the article in question; "and has did more +good in it's time, nor all the doctors on the univarsal yarth put +together could do, in the way of curing sprains, and bruises, and +stomach-pains, and them things; and ef you don't believe it, Mr. +Williams, you can see it all in print, ef you can read, and I spect you +can, on the bottle itself, jest as plain as any thing; and besides, I've +got the testament (testimony, doubtless) of the good and pious Rev. Mr. +Allprayer, who tuk some on't once for the gout; and he said as how the +contracting (counteracting?) pains war so many, that he didn't no more +feel the gout for a long time to come afterwards. I've no doubt it'll +sarve you jest the same way, and I'll go and fetch it right straight +off." + +But the mission of the good woman was prevented by the complainant's +insisting that he was much better, would presently be well, and wished +to retire for the night. His request was granted--but little more was +said--and all shortly after betook themselves to bed--to think, or +sleep, or dream, as the case might be with each. + +When the family arose on the following morning, they found the stranger +had departed; but when or whither none could tell. + + +[Footnote 4: It may be proper to note here, for the benefit of those +unfamiliar with the early history of Kentucky, that, at the period of +which we write, it was claimed and held by Virginia as a portion of her +territory, for which she legislated accordingly.] + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE WEDDING. + + +The year 1781 was remarkable in the history of Kentucky for the immense +emigration from the east into its territory of unmarried females. It +appears, in looking over the records of the time, as though some mighty +barrier had hitherto kept them in check, which, being removed, allowed +them to rush forward in overwhelming force, like to the pent up waters +of some stream when its obstruction suddenly gives way. Whatever this +hitherto obstruction or barrier may have been, we do not pretend to say; +but the fact itself we record as we find it chronicled in history. The +result of this influx of females into a region almost wholly populated +by the opposite sex was one, as will readily be perceived, of great +importance to the well-being of the embryo state; and was duly +celebrated by the rising generation, in a general jubilee of +marriages--one following fast upon another, like drops of rain in a +genial summer shower; and, to extend the simile, with an effect by no +means less productive of fertility, in a long run, to the country round +about. + +A wedding in those days was an affair of great importance to the +neighborhood of its location; and was looked forward to by old and +young--the latter in particular--as a grand holiday of feasting, +dancing, and general rejoicing. Nor can this be wondered at, when we +take into consideration the fact, that, in the early settlement of the +country, a wedding was almost the only gathering, as they were called, +which was not accompanied with some laborious employment--such as +harvesting, log-rolling, and the like. Occasionally there might be some +dissatisfaction felt and expressed by some, who, from some cause or +another, chanced to be left out of the almost general invitation; in +which case a special resentment not unfrequently followed. This was +accomplished in various ways--sometimes by felling trees, or placing +other obstacles across some narrow portion of the horse-path by which +the wedding party were advancing, thereby causing considerable delay for +their removal--sometimes by ambushing and firing a volley of blank +cartridges at the party in question, so as to frighten the horses, by +which means more or less were frequently injured, by being thrown to the +ground--and sometimes by shearing the manes and tails of the horses +themselves, while their owners were being occupied with the feast, and +the dance, and the gay carousal of the occasion. But to proceed. + +The morning of the day set apart by Isaac Younker, as the one which was +to see him duly united to Peggy Wilson, came in due time--as many an +important one has both before and since--without one visible sign in the +heavens, or otherwise, to denote that any thing remarkable was about to +happen. In fact it might be put down to the reverse of all this; for, +unlike the generality of wished-for days, it was exceedingly fair, +balmy, and beautiful. The sun rose at the expected time, large and red, +and saluted the hills and tree-tops, and anon the vales, with a smiling +light, as though he felt exceedingly happy to greet them again after a +calm night's repose. The dew sparkled on blade and leaf, as if with +delight at his appearance; a few flowers modestly uncovered their +blooming heads; a few warblers of the forest--for although autumn had +nearly half advanced, some had delayed their journey to the sunny +south--sung gleesome songs; and altogether the morning in question was +really a delightful one. + +The family of the Younkers were stirring betimes, making the necessary +preparations for their departure, and looking out for the expected +guests; who, according to the custom of the period, first assembled at +the residence of the groom, to proceed thence in company with him to +the mansion of the bride, which place they must always reach in time to +have the ceremony performed before partaking of the dinner prepared for +the occasion. For this purpose, as the distance to the house of the fair +intended was not unfrequently considerable, they generally came at an +early hour; and as Isaac's fair Peggy was not likely to be visible short +of a ten miles' ride, his companions for the journey accordingly began +to appear in couples before his father's dwelling, ere the sun was an +hour above the hills. + +Isaac, on the present occasion, stood ready to receive them as they +rode up, arrayed in his wedding garments; which--save a few trifling +exceptions in some minor articles, and the addition of five or six metal +buttons displayed on his hunting frock in a very singular manner, and +a couple of knee buckles, all old family relics--presented the same +appearance as those worn by him during his ordinary labors. And this, +by the way, exhibits another feature of the extreme simplicity of the +time--and one too highly praise-worthy--when the individual was sought +for himself alone, and not for the tinsel gew-gaws, comparatively +speaking, he might chance to exhibit. Necessity forced all to be plain +and substantial in the matter of dress; and consequently comfort and +convenience were looked to, rather than ostentatious display. All at +that day were habited much alike--so that a description of the costume +of one of either sex, as in the case of their habitations, previously +noted, would describe that of a whole community. + +"Let the reader," says a historian, in speaking of the manners and dress +of those noble pioneers, "imagine an assemblage of people, without a +store, tailor, or mantuamaker within an hundred miles; and an assemblage +of horses, without a blacksmith or saddler within an equal distance. The +gentlemen dressed in shoepacks, moccasins, leather breeches, leggins, +linsey hunting-shirts, and all home-made. The ladies dressed in linsey +petticoats, and linsey or linen bed-gowns, coarse shoes, stockings, +handkerchiefs, and buckskin gloves, if any. If there were any buckles, +rings, buttons or ruffles, they were the relics of old times--family +pieces from parents or grandparents. The horses were caparisoned with +old saddles, old bridles or halters, and packsaddles, with a bag or +blanket thrown over them--a rope or string as often constituting the +girth as a piece of leather." + +But to our story: + +Since leaving Isaac in the preceding chapter, after his important +announcement, as therein recorded, he had been by no means idle. The two +days immediately following had been spent by him in riding post-haste +through the surrounding country, to inform his friends that he was on +the point of becoming a married man, and require their presence at the +appointed hour and place of ceremony. The rest of the time (Sunday of +course exempted) had been carefully husbanded by him in making all due +preparation; and he now stood before his expected guests with the air +one, to use a common phrase, who has not been caught napping. For each, +as they rode up, he had a friendly salutation and familiar word; and +inviting them to dismount and enter, until the whole number should be +arrived, he led away and secured their horses to the neighboring trees. + +In due time the last couple made their appearance; and having partaken +of some refreshment, which was highly recommended and presented by Mrs. +Younker herself--whose tongue, by the way, had seen no rest for at least +two hours--the whole party, in gleeful spirits, prepared to mount and +set forth on their journey. Even Algernon, as he assisted the graceful +Ella into her saddle, and then sprung lightly himself upon the back of +a high mettled, beautiful steed by her side, could not avoid exhibiting +a look of cheerfulness, almost gaiety, in striking contrast to his +habitual gloom. And this too produced a like effect upon Ella; who, +mounted upon a fine spirited, noble animal, and displaying all the ease +and grace of an accomplished rider, with her flushed cheek and sparkling +eyes, seemed the personification of loveliness. Her dress was +exceedingly neat, of the fashion and quality worn in the east--being one +she had brought with her on her removal hither. A neat hood, to which +was attached a green veil, now thrown carelessly back and floating down +behind, covered her head and partially concealed a profusion of +beautiful ringlets. + +The company at length being all mounted, Isaac took it upon himself to +lead the way; for the reason, as he alleged, that having traveled the +ground oftener than either of the others, he of course knew the best and +nearest path to the abode of Peggy Wilson. Algernon as groomsman rode +next with Ella; followed in turn by the father and mother of the groom; +and then in double file by the whole company--talking, laughing and full +of glee--to the number of some fifteen couples. Turning the corner of +the house, they forded the streamlet previously mentioned, crossed the +valley, and ascended by a narrow horse-path the opposite hill, leaving +the canebrake some distance away to the left. + +In those days a road--or at least such a highway as we of the present +so denominate--was a something unknown; a few horse-paths, so termed, +traversing the country in various directions--narrow, oftentimes +obstructed, and sometimes dangerous. Over one of this latter class, as +before said, our wedding party now wended their way, in high spirits; +sometimes riding at a brisk trot or gallop, where their course lay open +and clear, sometimes walking their horses very slow, in single file, +where the path, winding across craggy bluffs, among rocks and trees, +became very narrow and unsafe. Twice, on this latter account, did the +gentlemen of the company dismount and lead the horses of their partners +for some considerable distance past the stony and dangerous defile, by +which means all accidents were avoided. When they had reached within +a mile of their destination, Isaac drew rein and all came to a halt. +Turning upon his saddle, with the air of a commander of some important +expedition, he sang out in a loud, shrill voice; + +"Well, boys and gals, here we ar--this here's the spot--who's agoing to +run for the bottle?" + +"Whoop! yaho! give way thar!" was the answer from a couple of voices in +the rear; and at the same instant, two young men, separating from their +partners, came bounding forward, on two blood horses, at break-neck +speed. + +"Stop!" thundered Isaac, as they came tearing up to where he was sitting +astride his beast; and obedient to his command, the two individuals in +question reined in their impatient steeds, hard abreast, close by his +side. "Well, ef you arn't a couple o' beauties, then jest put it down +that I don't know," continued Isaac, eying them coolly from head to +heel, with a quizzical, comical look. "You'd both on ye average two +decent looking fellars--for whar Seth Stokes is too long, Sam Switcher +arn't long enough; and whar Sam Switcher's got too much, Seth Stokes +han't got nothing." + +A roar of laughter, in which both Seth and Sam joined, followed Isaac's +closing remarks; for besides partaking of the ludicrous, none could deny +that his description was correct. The two worthies in question were +certainly two very singular looking beings to be brought together for a +race, and presented a most laughable appearance. The one bearing the +poetical appellation of Seth Stokes, was long, thin and bony, with sharp +features, and legs that reminded one of a carpenter's compass; while his +companion, Sam Switcher, was round-favored, short in limbs and stature, +and fat almost to corpulency--thus forming a contrast to the other of +the most striking kind. + +As soon as the laugh at their expense had subsided, Isaac again sang +out: "Squar your hosses' heads thar--get ready, boys--now clippet, and +don't keep us long waiting the bottle! for I reckon as how some on us +is gitting dry. Yehep! yahoa!" and ere the sound of his voice had died +away, down came the switches, accompanied by a terrible yell, and off +went horses and bottle-riders--over stumps, logs and rocks--past trees +and brush, and whatever obstacle might lie in their course--with a speed +that threatened them with death at every moment; while the others +remained quietly seated on their ponies, enjoying the sport, and +sometimes shouting after them such words of encouragement as, "Go it, +Seth!" "Up to him, Sammy!" "Pull up, legs!" "Jump it, fatty!" so long as +the racers were in sight. + +This race for the bottle, as it was called, was a peculiar feature for +displaying the horsemanship and hardy recklessness of the early +settlers; as a more dangerous one, to both horse and rider, could not +well be imagined. That the reader may form a clear conception of what it +was in reality--and also to destroy the idea if any such may have been +formed, that it existed only in our imagination--we shall take the +liberty of giving a short extract from the author already quoted. In +speaking of the foregoing, he says: + +"The worse the path--the more logs, brush, and deep hollows, the +better--as these obstacles afforded an opportunity for the greater +display of intrepidity and horsemanship. The English fox-chase, in point +of danger to the riders and their horses, is nothing to this race for +the bottle. The start was announced by an Indian yell; when logs, brush, +muddy hollows, hill and glen, were speedily passed by the rival ponies. +The bottle was always filled for the occasion, so that there was no use +for judges; for the first who reached the door was presented with the +prize, with which he returned in triumph to the company. On approaching +them, he announced his victory over his rival by a shrill whoop. At the +head of the troop he gave the bottle first to the groom and his +attendants, and then to each pair in succession to the rear of the line, +giving each a drachm; and then putting the bottle in the bosom of his +hunting shirt, took his station in the company." + +In something like a quarter of an hour, the clatter of horses' feet was +heard by the company, the rival-racers presently appeared in sight, and +all became anxious to learn who was the successful runner. They were not +long kept in suspense; for advancing at a fast gallop, the riders were, +soon within speaking distance; when a loud, shrill whoop from Seth +Stokes, announced that in this case success had at least been with the +long, if not with the strong. + +"How's this, Sammy?" cried a dozen voices, as the rivals rode up to the +party. + +"I don't exactly know," answered the individual addressed, shaking his +head with a serio-comical expression; "but stifle me with the night-mar, +if ever I'm cotched riding a race with death on horseback agin." + +This allusion to the bony appearance of his companion, caused a roar +of laughter at the expense of the winner, in which he good-humoredly +joined. According to custom, as previously mentioned, the bottle was +presented first to Isaac, and then passed in regular order through +the lines--Algernon and Ella merely putting it to their lips without +drinking. When this ceremony was over, the party resumed their +journey--no less merry on account of the whiskey--and by half an hour +past eleven o'clock, all drew rein before the door of Abijah Wilson, +the father of the fair intended. + +Here another party, the friends of the bride, were waiting to receive +them; and after some few introductions, much shaking of hands, and other +demonstrations of joy, the announcement was made, that the squire was +ready to perform the ceremony. Instantly all talking was suspended, the +company proceeded to form into a half circle, and then all became silent +and solemn as the house of death. Isaac presently appeared from behind a +coarse, temporary screen of cloth, hung up for the occasion--the house +having no division save a chamber over head--leading the blushing Peggy +by the hand, (a rosy cheeked, buxom lass of eighteen) both looking as +frightened and foolish as could reasonably be expected. Behind the bride +and groom came Algernon, in company with a dark-eyed, pretty brunette, +who performed the part of bridesmaid. Taking their several places, the +Squire, as he was termed--a man of forty--stepped forward, and said a +few words concerning the importance of the present event, asked the +necessary questions, joined their hands, and pronounced them man and +wife. Then followed the usual amount of congratulations, good wishes for +the future happiness of the married pair, kissing of the bride, and so +forth, in all of which proceedings they differed not materially from +their successors of the present day. + +About half an hour from the close of the ceremony, the guests were +invited to partake of a sumptuous dinner, prepared expressly for the +occasion. It was placed on rough tables made of large slabs, supported +by small, round legs, set in auger holes; and though there was a +scantiness of dishes--and these in the main consisting of a few +pewter-plates, several wooden trenchers, with spoons of like material, +interspersed with some of horn--and though the scarcity of knives +required many of the gentlemen to make use of those carried in their +belts--yet the food itself was such as might have rejoiced an epicure. +It consisted of beef, roasted and boiled--pork, roasted and +fried--together with chicken, turkey, partridge, and venison--well +flanked on every side by bread, butter, and cheese, potatoes, cabbage, +and various other vegetables. That it was both acceptable and palatable, +was sufficiently proved by the hearty, joyous manner, in which each +individual performed his or her part, and the rapidity with which it +disappeared. The dessert was composed of two or three kinds of pies and +puddings, washed down (at least by those who chose so to do) with +whiskey. Great hilarity prevailed--particularly after the introduction +of the bottle. Immediately dinner was over, the tables were removed, the +fiddler was called for, and the dance commenced, which was to last till +the following morning. The dance was opened by Isaac and the bridesmaid, +with another couple--beginning with a square four, and ending with what +was termed a jig. From this time forth, until the party separated, the +poor fiddler experienced but little relaxation or comfort--unless in +being encouraged, occasionally, by a refreshing salute from the lips of +Black Betty; a being of no greater intellect, reader, than a bottle of +whiskey. + +Some two hours after dinner, the father and mother of Isaac announced +their intention of forthwith returning home; and, although seriously +pressed to tarry longer, shortly after took their leave of the +company--Mrs. Younker adding, as a farewell speech, "That she hoped to +gracious Peggy'd jest make Isaac as good a wife nor she had Ben, and +then thar wouldn't never be no need o' having trouble;" and wound up by +quoting the Rev. Mr. Allprayer as the best authority on the subject. +Younker stood by her side, calmly heard her through, and then shrugging +his shoulders with a very significant expression, walked away without +saying a word, to the great amusement of the whole assemblage. + +As to Algernon, he seemed to take no delight in what was going forward; +and though he participated somewhat in the dance, yet it was evident to +all observers that his mind went not with his body, and that what he did +was done more with a design of concealing his real feelings, than for +any amusement it afforded himself. When not occupied in this manner, or +in conversation, he would steal away, seat himself where he was least +likely to be observed, and fall into a gloomy, abstracted mood; from +which, when suddenly roused by some loud peal of laughter, or by the +touch and voice of some person near, he would sometimes start and look +around as one just awakened from a frightful vision. This gloomy +abstraction, too, appeared to grow upon him more and more, as the day +settled into night and the night wore on, as though he felt some dreaded +calamity had been hanging over, and was now about to fall upon him. So +apparent was this toward the last, that even the most careless began to +observe, and make remarks, and ask questions concerning him; and some +even proceeded to inquire of him regarding the state of his health. His +answers to all interrogatives now became so brief and abrupt, that but +few ventured to address him the second time. Whatever the cause of his +present gloomy state of mind, it was evidently not the ordinary one--at +least not wholly that--for never before had Ella (who was in the habit, +since their acquaintance, of observing him narrowly) seen him in such a +mood as now. It was, perhaps, one of those strange mental foresights, +peculiar to certain temperaments, whereby the individual is sometimes +warned of impending danger, and feels oppressed by a weight of +despondency impossible to shake off. + +This serious change in the appearance of Algernon, was not without its +effect upon Ella. Naturally of a tender, affectionate, and sympathetic +disposition, she could not feel at ease when another was suffering, and +particularly when that other was one standing so high in her estimation +as Algernon Reynolds. Naturally, too, possessing light and buoyant +spirits--fond of gaiety where all were gay--she exhibited on the present +occasion the effect of two strong but counteracting passions. Her +features, if we may be allowed the comparison, were like the noon-day +heavens, when filled with the broken clouds of a passing storm. Now all +would be bright and cheerful, and the sun of mirth would sparkle in her +eyes; and anon some dark cloud of dejection would sweep along, shut +out the merry light, and cast its shadow drearily over the whole +countenance,--or, to use language without simile, she would one moment +be merry and another sad. Toward the last, however, the latter feeling +gained the ascendancy; she appeared to take no further share in the +merriment of the dance; and had any watched her closely, they might +have guessed the cause, from the manner in which she from time to time +gazed at the pale face of Algernon. + +Meantime the dance went bravely on, Black Betty circulated somewhat +freely, and the mirth of the revelers grew more and more boisterous. +Taking advantage of a slight cessation in the general hilarity, about +nine o'clock in the evening, and while the fiddler with some of the +party were engaged in partaking of refreshment, Seth Stokes, encouraged +doubtless by the inspiration he had received from the whiskey, stepped +boldly into the middle of the apartment with the bottle in his hand, and +said: + +"Jest allow me, my jollies, to give a toast." + +"Harken all! A toast--a toast--from the long man o' the bony frame!" +cried the voice of Sam Switcher. A laugh, and then silence followed. + +"Here's to--to Isaac and Peggy Younker--two beauties!" continued Seth. +"May thar union be duly acknowledged by the rising generation o' old +Kaintuck;" and the speaker gravely proceeded to drink. + +"Bravo! bravo!" cried a dozen voices, with a merry shout, accompanied +with great clapping of bands; while Isaac, who was sitting by his new +wife, arose, blushed, bowed rather awkwardly, and then sat down again. + +"Isaac! Isaac!--A toast from Isaac!" shouted a chorus of voices. + +Isaac at first looked very much confused--scratched his head and twisted +around in a very fidgetty manner,--but presently his countenance +flushed, and a smile of triumph crossing his sharp features, announced +that he had been suddenly favored with an idea apropos. This was +instantly perceived by some of the wags standing near, one of whom +exclaimed: + +"I see it--it's coming!" + +"He's got it!" said a second. + +"I knew it--I'd ha' bet a bar-skin he'd fetch it," cried a third. + +"Out with it, Ike, afore you forget it," shouted the fourth. + +"Hold your jabbering tongues--!" cried Isaac, in vexation. "You're +enough to bother a feller to death. I'd like to see some o' the rest on +ye cramped up fur a toast, jest to see how _you'd_ feel with all on 'em +hollering like." A hearty laugh at his expense was all the sympathy poor +Isaac received. + +"Give us the bottle!" resumed Isaac. "Now here goes," continued he, +rising and holding Black Betty by the neck. "Here's to the gals o' old +Kaintuck--Heaven bless 'em! May they bloom like clover heads, be +plentier nor bar-skins, and follow the example o' Peggy, every mother's +daughter on 'em!--hooray!" And having drank, the speaker resumed his +seat, amid roars of laughter and three rounds of applause. + +By the time this mirth had subsided, the fiddler struck up, and the +dance again went on as before. Some two hours later the bridesmaid, with +two or three others, managed to steal away the bride unobserved; and +proceeding to a ladder at one end of the apartment, ascended to the +chamber above, and saw her safely lodged in bed. In the course of +another half hour the same number of gentlemen performed a like service +for Isaac--such being customary at all weddings of that period. + +During the night Black Betty, in company with more substantial +refreshment, was sent up to the newly married pair some two or three +times; and always returned (Black Betty we mean) considerable lighter +than she went; thus proving, that if lovers can live on air, the married +ones do not always partake of things less spiritual. About three o'clock +in the morning, Algernon and Ella took leave of the company and set out +upon their return--he pleading illness as an apology for withdrawing +thus early. The remainder of the party keep together until five, when +they gradually began to separate; and by six the dancing had ceased, and +the greater portion of them had taken their departure. Thus ended the +wedding of Isaac Younker--a fair specimen, by the way, of a backwood's +wedding in the early settlement of the west. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE PRESENTIMENT. + + +Deep and gloomy were the meditations of Algernon Reynolds, as, in +company with Ella Barnwell, he rode slowly along the narrow path which +he had traversed, if not with buoyant, at least with far lighter +spirits than now, the morning before. From some, latent cause, he felt +oppressed with a weight of despondency, as previously mentioned, that +served to prostrate in a measure both his mental powers and physical +system. He felt, though he could give no reason why, that some calamity +was about to befall himself and the fair being by his side; and he +strove to arouse himself and shake off the gloomy thoughts; but if he +succeeded, it was only momentary, and they would again rush back with an +increased power. He had been subject, since his unfortunate quarrel with +his cousin, to gloomy reveries and depressions of spirits--but never +before had he felt exactly as now; and though in all former cases the +event referred to had been the cause of his sad abstractions, yet in the +present instance it scarcely held a place in his thoughts. Could it be a +presentiment, he asked himself, sent to warn him of danger and prepare +him to meet it? But the question he could not answer. + +The night, or rather the morning, though clear overhead, was uncommonly +dark; and the stars, what few could be discerned, shed only pale, faint +gleams, as though their lights were about to be extinguished. For some +time both Algernon and Ella continued their journey without exchanging a +syllable--she too, as well as himself, being deeply absorbed in no very +pleasant reflections. She thought of him, of his hard fate, to meet with +so many bitter disappointments at an age so young; and at last, for no +premeditated, no intentional crime, be forced to fly from home and +friends, and all he held dear, to wander in a far off land, among +strangers--or worse, among the solitudes of the wilderness--exposed to a +thousand dangers from wild savage beasts, and wilder and more savage +human beings; and perhaps, withal, be branded as a felon and fugitive +from justice. She thought what must be his feelings, his sense of utter +desolation, with none around to sympathize--no sweet being by his side +to whisper a single word of encouragement and hope; or, should the worst +prove true, to share his painful lot, and endeavor to render less +burdensome his remorseful thoughts, by smiles of endearment and looks of +love. She thought, too, that to-morrow--perhaps today--he would take his +departure, peradventure never to behold her again; and this was the +saddest of the train. Until she saw him, Ella had never known what it +was to love--perchance she did not now--but at least she had experienced +those fluttering sensations, those deep and strange emotions, those +involuntary yearnings of the heart toward some object in his presence, +that aching void in his absence, which the more experienced would +doubtless put down to that cause, and which no other being had ever even +for a moment awakened in her breast. For something like half an hour the +two rode on together, buried in their own sad reflections, when Ella +broke the silence, by saying, in a low, touching voice: + +"You seem sad to-night, Algernon." + +Algernon started, sighed heavily, and turning slightly on his saddle, +said: "I am sad, Ella--very, very sad." + +"May I ask the cause?" rejoined Ella, gently. + +"Doubtless you will think it strange, Ella, but the cause I believe to +have originated in a waking vision or presentiment." + +"That does seem strange!" observed Ella, in return. + +"Did it never strike you, dear Ella, that we are all strange beings, +subject to strange influences, and destined, many of us, to strange +ends?" inquired Reynolds, solemnly. + +"Perhaps I do not understand you," replied Ella; "but with regard to +destiny, I am inclined to think that we in a measure shape our own. As +to our being strange, there are many things relating to us that we may +not understand, and therefore look upon them in the light of which you +speak." + +"Are there any we do understand, Ella?" rejoined Algernon. "When I say +understand, I mean the word to be used in its minutest and broadest +sense. You say there are many things we may not understand concerning +ourselves--what ones, I pray you, do we fully comprehend? We are here +upon the earth--so much we know. We shall die and pass away--so much we +know also. But how came we here, and why? How do we exist? How do we +think, reason, speak, feel, move, see, hear, smell, taste? All these +we do, we know; but yet not one--not a single one of them can we +comprehend. You wish to raise your hand; and forthwith, by some +extraordinary power--extraordinary because you cannot tell where it is, +nor how it is--you raise it. Why cannot a dead person do the same? +Strange question you will say to yourself with a smile--but one easily +answered! Why, because in such a person life is extinct--there is no +vital principle--the heart is stopped--the blood has ceased to flow +in its regular channels! Ay! but let me ask you _why_ that life is +extinct?--why that breath has stopped?--and why that blood has ceased +to flow? There was just the same amount of air when the person died as +before! There were the same ingredients still left to stimulate that +blood to action! Then wherefore should both cease?--and with them the +power of thought, reason, speech, and all the other senses? It was not +by a design of the individual himself; for he strove to his utmost to +breathe longer; he was not ready to die--he did not want to quit this +earth so soon; and yet with all his efforts to the contrary, reason +fled, the breath stopped, the blood ceased, the limbs became palsied and +cold, and corruption, decay and dust stood ready to follow. Now why was +this? There is but one answer: 'God willed it!' If then one question +resolves itself into one answer,--'the will of God'--so may all of +the same species; and we come out, after a long train of analytical +reasoning, exactly where we started--with this difference--that when we +set out, we believed in being able to explain the wherefore; but when we +came to the end, we could only assert it as a wonderful fact, whereof +not a single iota could we understand." + +Algernon spoke in a clear, distinct, earnest tone--in a manner that +showed the subject was not new to his thoughts; and after a short pause, +during which Ella made no reply, he again proceeded. + +"In this grand organ of man--where all things are strange and +incomprehensible--to me the combination of the physical and mental is +strangest of all. The soul and the body are united and yet divided. Each +is distinct from and acts without the other at times, and yet both act +in concert with a wonderful power. The soul plans and the body executes. +The body exercises the soul--the soul the body. The one is visible--the +other invisible; the one is mortal--the other immortal. Now why do they +act together here? Why was not each placed in its separate sphere of +action? Again: What is the soul? Men tell us it is a spirit. What is a +spirit? An invisible something that never dies. Who can comprehend it? +None. Whither does it go when separated forever from the body? None can +answer, save in language of Scripture: 'It returns to God who gave it.'" + +"I have never heard the proposition advanced by another," continued +Algernon, after another slight pause, "but I have sometimes thought +myself, that the soul departs from the body, for a brief season, and +wanders at will among scenes either near or remote, and returns with +its impressions, either clouded or clear, to communicate them to the +corporeal or not, as the case may be: hence dreams or visions, and +strong impressions when we wake, that something bright and good has +refreshed our sleep, or something dark and evil has made it troubled and +feverish. Again I have sometimes thought that this soul--this invisible +and immortal something within us--has power at times to look into the +future, and see events about to transpire; which events being sometimes +of a dark and terrible nature, leave upon it like impressions; and hence +gloomy and melancholy forebodings. This may be all sophistry--as much of +our better reasoning on things we know nothing about often is--but if it +be true, then may I trust to account for my present sadness." + +"Have you really, then, sad forebodings?" inquired Ella, quickly and +earnestly. + +"Against my will and sober reason, dear Ella, I must own I have. +Perchance, however, the feeling was only called up by a train of +melancholy meditations. While sitting there to-night, gazing upon +the many bounding forms--some full of beauty and grace, and some of +strength--noting their joyous faces, and listening occasionally to the +lightsome jest, and merry, ringing laugh--I could not avoid contrasting +with the present the time when I was as happy and full full of mirth as +they. I pictured to myself how they would stare and shudder and draw +away from me, did they know my hand was stained with the blood of my +own kin. Then I began, involuntarily as it were, to picture to myself +the fate of each; and they came up before me in the form of a vision, +(though if such, it was a waking one) but in regular order; and I saw +them pass on one after another--some gliding smoothly down the stream of +time to old age--some wretched and crippled, groping their way along +over barren wastes, without water or food, though nearly dying for the +want of both--some wading through streams of blood, with fierce and +angry looks--and some with pale faces, red eyes, and hollow cheeks, +roving amid coffins, sepulchres and bones; but of all, the very fewest +number happy." + +"Oh! it was an awful vision!" exclaimed Ella, with a shudder. + +"It was awful enough," rejoined Algernon; "and despite of me, it made me +more and more sad as I thought upon it. Could it indeed be a dream? But +no! I was--seemingly at least--as wide awake and conscious as at the +present moment. I saw the dance going on as ever--I saw the merry +smiles, and heard the jest and laugh as before. Could it be some strange +hallucination of the brain--some wild imagining--caused by my previous +exercise and over heat? I pondered upon it long and seriously, but could +not determine. Suddenly--I know not how nor why--that ill-looking +stranger who lodged one night at your uncle's, and departed so +mysteriously, came up in my mind; and almost at the same moment, I +fancied myself riding with you, dear Ella, through a dark and lonely +wood--when all of a sudden there came a fierce yell--several dark, +hideous forms, with him among them, swam around me--I heard you shriek +for aid--and then all became darkness and confusion; from which I was +aroused by some one inquiring if I were ill? What I answered I know not; +but the querist immediately took his leave." + +"It all seems very strange, Algernon," observed Ella, thoughtfully; "but +it was probably nothing more than a feverish dream, brought about by +your exercise acting too suddenly and powerfully upon your nervous +system, which doubtless has not as yet recovered from the prostration +caused by your wound." + +"So I tried to think, dear Ella," returned Algernon, with a sigh; "but +I have not even yet been able to shake off the gloomy impression, that, +whatever the cause, it was sent as a warning of danger. But I am +foolish, perhaps, to think as I do; and so let us change the subject. +You spoke a few moments since of destiny. You said, if I mistake not, +you believed each individual capable of shaping his own." + +"I did," answered Ella; "with the exception, that I qualified it by +saying in a measure. No person, I think, has the power of moulding +himself to an end which is contrary to the law of nature and his own +physical organization; but at the same time he has many ways, some good +and some evil, left open for him to choose; else he were not a free +agent." + +"Ay," rejoined Algernon, "by-paths all to the same great end. I look +upon every one here, Ella, as a traveler placed upon the great highway +called destiny--with a secret power within that impels him forward, but +allows no pause nor retrograde. Along this highway are flowers, and +briars, and thistles, and weeds, and shady woods, and barren rocks, and +sterile bluffs, and glassy plots; but proportioned differently to each, +as the Maker of all designs his path to be pleasant or otherwise. Beside +this highway are perhaps a dozen minor paths, all running a similar +course, and all finally merging into it--either near or far, as the case +may be--before its termination at the great gate of death. The free +agency you speak of, is in choosing of these lesser paths--some of which +are full of the snares of temptation, the chasms of ruin, and the +pitfalls of destruction; and some of the flowers of peace, the bowers of +plenty, and the green woods of contentment. But how to follow the proper +one is the difficulty; for they run into one another--cross and recross +in a thousand different ways--so that the best disposed as often hit the +wrong as the right one, and are entrapped before they are aware of their +dangerous course. Worldly wisdom is here put at fault, and the fool as +often goes right as the wise man of lore--thus showing, notwithstanding +our free agency, that circumstances govern us; and that what many put +down as crime, is, in fact, oftentimes, neither more nor less than error +of judgment." + +"Then you consider free agency only a chance game, depending, as it +were, upon the throw of a die?" observed Ella, inquiringly. + +"I believe this much of free agency, that a train of circumstances often +forces some to evil and others to good; and that we should look upon the +former, in many cases--mind I do not say all--as unfortunate rather than +criminal--with pity rather than scorn; and so endeavor to reclaim them. +Were this doctrine more practiced by Christians--by those whom the world +terms good, (but whom circumstances alone have made better than their +fellows,) there would be far less of sin, misery, and crime abounding +for them to deplore. Let the creed of churches only be to ameliorate the +condition of the poor, relieve the distressed, remove temptations from +youth, encourage the virtuous, and endeavor, by gently means, to reclaim +the erring--and the holy design of Him who died to save would nobly +progress, prisons would be turned into asylums, and scaffolds be things +known only by tradition." + +Algernon spoke with an easy, earnest eloquence, and a force of emphasis, +that made each word tell with proper effect upon his fair hearer. To +Ella the ideas he advanced were, many of them, entirely new; and she +mused thoughtfully upon them, as they rode along, without reply; while +he, becoming warm upon a subject that evidently occupied no inferior +place in his mind, went on to speak of the wrongs and abuses which +society in general heaped upon the unfortunate, as he termed +them--contrasted the charity of professing Christians of the eighteenth +century with that of Christ himself--and pointed out what he considered +the most effectual means of remedy. To show that a train of +circumstances would frequently force persons against their own will and +reason to be what society terms criminal, he referred to himself, and +his own so far eventful destiny; and Ella could not but admit to +herself, that, in his case at least, his arguments were well grounded, +and she shaped her replies accordingly. + +Thus conversing, they continued upon their course, until they came to +the brow of a steep descent, down which the path ran in a zigzag manner, +through a dark, gloomy ravine, now rendered intensely so to our +travelers, by the hour, their thoughts, the wildness of the scenery +around, and the dense growth of cedars covering the hollow, whose +untrimmed branches, growing even to the ground, overreached and partly +obstructed their way. By this time only one or two stars were visible in +the heavens; and they shone with pale, faint gleams; while in the east +the beautiful gray and crimson tints of Aurora announced that day was +already breaking on the slumbering world. Drawing rein, Algernon and +Ella paused as if to contemplate the scene. Below and around them each +object presented that misty, indistinct appearance, which leaves the +imagination power to give it either a pleasing or hideous shape. In the +immediate vicinity, the country was uneven; rocky, and covered with +cedars; but far off to the right could be discerned the even surface of +the cane-brake, previously mentioned, now stretching away in the +distance like the unruffled bosom of some beautiful lake. A light breeze +slightly rustled the leaves of the trees, among whose branches an +occasional songster piped forth his morning lay of rejoicing. + +"How lovely is nature in all her varieties!" exclaimed Ella, with +animation, as she glanced over the scene. + +"Ay, and in that variety lies her loveliness," answered Algernon. +"It is the constant and eternal change going forward that interests us, +and gives to nature her undying charm. Man--high-souled, contemplative +man--was not born to sameness. Variety is to his mind what food is to +his body; and as the latter, deprived of its usual nourishment, sinks to +decay--so the former, from like deprivation of its strengthening power, +becomes weak and imbecile. Again: as coarse, plain food and hardy +exercise add health and vigor to the physical--so does the contemplation +of nature in her wildness and grandeur give to the mental a powerful and +lofty tone. Of all writers for poetical and vigorous intellects, give me +those who have been reared among cloud-capped hills, and craggy steeps, +and rushing streams, and roaring cataracts; for their conceptions are +grand, their comparisons beautiful, and the founts from which they draw, +as exhaustless almost as nature herself." + +"I have often thought the same myself," returned Ella; "for I never gaze +upon a beautiful scene in nature, that I do not feel refreshed. To me +the two most delightful are morning and evening. I love to stand upon +some eminence, and mark, as now, the first gray, crimson and golden +streaks that rush up in the eastern sky; and catch the first rays of old +Sol, as he, surrounded by a reddened halo, shows his welcome face above +the hills; or at calm eve watch his departure, as with a last, fond, +lingering look he takes his leave, as 'twere in sorrow that he could not +longer tarry; while earth, not thus to be outdone in point of grief, +puts on her sable dress to mourn his absence." + +"Ah! Ella," said Algernon, turning to her with a gentle smile, "methinks +morning and evening are somewhat indebted to you for a touch of poetry +in their behalf." + +"Rather say I am indebted to them for a thousand fine feelings I have +not even power to express," rejoined Ella. + +Algernon was on the point of returning an answer, when, casting his eyes +down into the ravine, he slightly started, his gaze became fixed, and +his features grew a shade more pale. Ella noticed this sudden change, +and in a voice slightly tremulous inquired the cause. For nearly a +minute Algernon made no reply, but kept his eyes steadily bent in the +same direction, apparently riveted on some object below. Ella also +looked down; but seeing nothing worthy of note, and growing somewhat +alarmed at his silence, was on the point of addressing him again, when, +slightly turning his head, and rubbing his eyes with his hand, he said: + +"Methought I saw a dark object move in the hollow below; but I think I +must have been mistaken, for all appears quiet there now--not even a +limb or so much as a leaf stirs. Lest there should be danger, however, +dear Ella, I will ride down first and ascertain. If I give an alarm, +turn your horse and do not spare him till you reach Wilson's." + +"No, no, no!" exclaimed Ella, with vehemence, laying her hand upon his +arm, as he was about starting forward, her own features now growing very +pale. "If you go, Algernon, you go not alone! If there is danger, I will +share it with you." + +Algernon turned towards her a face that, one moment crimsoned with +animation and the next became deadly pale; while his whole frame +quivered with intense emotion, and he seemed vainly struggling to +command contending feelings. Suddenly clasping her hand in his, he +pressed it warmly, raised it to his lips, and in a trembling tone said: + +"Ella--dear Ella--God bless you! If ever--but--no--no--no;" and covering +his face with his hands, he wept convulsively; while she, no less deeply +affected, could scarcely sit her horse. + +At length Algernon withdrew his hands, and exhibited features pale but +calm. Drawing forth his pistols, he carefully examined their priming, +and then replaced them in his belt. During this proceeding, he failed +not to urge Ella to alter her design and remain, while he went forward; +but finding her determined on keeping him company, he signified his +readiness to proceed, and both started slowly down the hill together. +They reached the ravine in safety, and advanced some twenty yards +further, when suddenly there arose a terrific Indian yell, followed +instantly by the sharp report of several fire-arms, a wild, piercing +shriek, some two or three heavy groans, a rustling among the trees, and +then by a stillness as deep and awfully solemn as that which pervades +the narrow house appointed for all living. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE OLD WOODSMAN AND HIS DOG. + + +The sun was perhaps an hour above the mountain tops, when a solitary +hunter, in the direction of the cane-brake, might have been seen shaping +his course toward the hill whereon Algernon and Ella had so lately +paused to contemplate the dawning day. Upon his shoulder rested a long +rifle, and a dog of the Newfoundland species followed in his steps or +trotted along by his side. In a few minutes he reached the place +referred to; when the snuffling of his canine companion causing him to +look down, his attention instantly became fixed upon the foot-prints of +the horses which had passed there the day before, and particularly on +the two that had repassed there so lately. + +"What is it, Cæsar?" said he, addressing the brute. "Nothing wrong here, +I reckon." Cæsar, as if conscious of his master's language, raised his +head, and looking down into the ravine, appeared to snuff the air; +then darting forward, he was quickly lost among the branching cedars. +Scarcely thirty seconds elapsed, ere a long, low howl came up from the +valley; and starting like one suddenly surprised by some disagreeable +occurrence, the hunter, with a cheek slightly blanched, hurried down the +crooked path, muttering as he went, "Thar's something wrong, for +sartin--for Cæsar never lies." + +In less than a minute the hunter came in sight of his dog, which he +found standing with his hind feet on the ground and his fore-paws +resting on the carcass of a horse, that had apparently been dead but a +short time. As Cæsar perceived his master approach, he uttered another +of those peculiar, long, low, mournful howls, which the superstitious +not unfrequently interpret as omens of evil. + +"Good heavens!" exclaimed the hunter, as he came up; "thar's been foul +play here, Cæsar--foul play, for sartin. D'ye think, dog, it war Indians +as done it?" + +The brute looked up into the speaker's face, with one of those +expressions of intelligence or sagacity, which seem to speak what the +tongue has not power to utter, and then wagging his tail, gave a sharp, +fierce bark. + +"Right, dog!" continued the other, as, stooping to the ground, he began +to examine with great care the prints left there by human feet. "Right, +dog, they're the rale varmints, and no mistake. Ef all folks war as +sensible and knowing as you, thar would'nt be many fools about, I +reckon." + +Having finished his examination of the ground, the hunter again turned +to look at the carcass of the horse, which was lying on its left side, +some two feet from the path, and had apparently fallen dead from a shot +in the forehead, between the eyes. An old saddle, devoid of straps, lay +just concealed under the branching cedars. The ground around was trodden +as if from a scuffle, and the limbs of the trees were broken in many +places--while in two or three others could be seen spots of blood, not +even yet dry--none of which informants of the recent struggle escaped +the keen observation of the woodsman. Suddenly the dog, which had been +watching his master's motions intently, put his nose to the ground, +darted along the path further into the ravine, and presently resounded +another of those mournful howls. + +"Ha! another diskivery!" exclaimed the hunter, as he started after his +companion. + +About thirty yards further on, he came upon the carcass of another +horse, which had been killed by a ball in the right side, and the blow +of some weapon, probably a tomahawk, on the head. By its side also lay +a lady's saddle, stripped like the former of its trappings. This the +woodsman now proceeded to examine attentively, for something like a +minute, during which time a troubled expression rested on his dark, +sunburnt features. + +"I'm either mightily mistaken," said he at length, with a grave look, +"or that thar horse and saddle is the property of Ben Younker; and I +reckon it's the same critter as is rid by Ella Barnwell. Heaven forbid, +sweet lady, that it be thou as met with this terrible misfortune!--but +ef it be, by the Power that made me, I swar to follow on thy trail; and +ef I meet any of thy captors, then, Betsey, I'll just call on you for a +backwoods sentiment." + +As he concluded, the hunter turned with a look of affection towards his +rifle, which he firmly grasped with a nervous motion. At this moment, +the dog, which had been busying himself by running to and fro with his +nose to the ground, suddenly paused, and laying back his ears, uttered +a low, fierce growl. The hunter cast toward him a quick glance; and +dropping upon his knees, applied his ear to the earth, where he remained +some fifteen seconds; then rising to his feet, he made a motion with his +hand, and together with Cæsar withdrew into the thicket. + +For some time no sound was heard to justify this precaution of the +woodsman; but at length a slight jarring of the ground became apparent, +followed by a noise at some distance, resembling the clatter of horses' +feet, which, gradually growing louder as the cause drew nearer, soon +became sufficiently so to put all doubts on the matter at rest. In less +than five minutes from the disappearance of the hunter, some eight +or ten horses, bearing as many riders, approached the hill from the +direction of Wilson's, and began to descend into the ravine. The party, +composed of both sexes, were in high glee--some jesting, some singing, +and some laughing uproariously. Nothing occurred to interrupt their +merriment, until they began to lose themselves among the cedars of the +hollow, when the foremost horse suddenly gave a snort and bounded to one +side--a movement which his companion, close behind, imitated--while the +rider of the latter, a female, uttered a loud, piercing scream of +fright. In a moment the whole party was in confusion--some turning their +horses to the right about and riding back towards Wilson's, at headlong +speed--and some pausing in fear, undecided what to do. The two foremost +horses now became very refractory, rearing and plunging in a manner that +threatened to unseat their riders every moment. Of the two, the one +ridden by the lady was the most ungovernable; and in spite of her +efforts to quiet or hold him, he seized the bit in his teeth, and, +rearing on his hind legs, plunged madly forward, until he came to where +the other carcass was lying, when, giving another snort of fear, he +again reared, and turning aside into the thicket, left his rider almost +senseless in the path he had just quitted. Fortunately the beast shaped +his course to where the hunter was concealed, who, with a sudden spring, +as he was rushing past, seized upon the bridle near the bit, and +succeeded, after a struggle, in mastering and leading him back to the +path. + +By this time the companion of the lady had come up; and seeing her +condition, was dismounting to render her assistance; when his eye +falling upon the stranger, he started, and placed his hand quickly to +his belt, as if in search of some weapon of defence. The hunter saw the +movement, and said, with a gesture of command: + +"Hold! young man; don't do any thing rash!" + +"Who are you, sir?" + +"A friend." + +"Your name!" continued the other, as he sprang to the ground. + +"Names don't matter, stranger, in cases sech as this. I said I war a +friend." + +"By what may I know you as such." + +"My deeds," returned the other, laconically. "Think you, stranger, ef I +wanted to harm ye, I couldn't have done it without you seeing me?" and +as he spoke, he glanced significantly toward his rifle. + +"True," returned the other; "but what's the meaning of this?" and he +pointed toward the dead horse. + +"It means Indians, as nigh as I can come at it," replied the hunter. +"But look to the living afore the dead!" And the woodsman in turn +pointed toward the lady. + +"Right!" said the other; and springing to her side, he raised her in his +arms. + +She was not injured, other than slightly stunned by the fall, and she +quickly regained her senses. At first she was somewhat alarmed; but +perceiving who supported her, and nothing in the mild, noble, benevolent +countenance of the stranger, who was still holding her horse by the +bridle, of a sinister nature, she anxiously inquired what had happened. + +"I can only guess by what I see;" answered the hunter, "that some o' +your company have been less fortunate than you. Didn't two o' them set +out in advance?" + +"Gracious heavens!" cried the young man supporting the lady; "it is Ella +Barnwell and the stranger Reynolds!" + +"Then they must be quickly trailed!" rejoined the hunter briefly. "Go, +young man, take your lady back agin, and raise an armed party for +pursuit. Be quick in your operations, and I'll wait and join you here. +Leave your horses thar, for we must take it afoot; and besides, gather +as much provision as you can all easily carry, for Heaven only knows +whar or when our journey'll end." + +"But do you think they're still living?" + +"I hope so." + +"Then let us return, Henry," said the lady, "as quick as possible, so +that a party for pursuit may be collected before the wedding guests have +all separated." + +"I fear it will be difficult, Mary, but we must try it," replied the +young man, as he assisted her to mount. Then, turning to the stranger, +he added: "But won't you accompany us, sir?" + +"No, it can do no good; besides I'm afoot, and would only cause delay, +and thar's been too much o' that already." + +"At least, sir, favor me with your name." + +"The first white hunter o' old Kaintuck," answered the other, stroking +the neck of the fiery beast on which the lady was now sitting. + +"What!" exclaimed the other, in a tone of surprise: "Boone! Colonel +Daniel Boone?" + +"Why, I'm sometimes called colonel," returned the hunter, dryly, still +stroking the horse's neck; "but Daniel's the older title, and a little +the most familiar one besides." + +"I crave pardon for my former rudeness, Colonel," said the other, +advancing and offering his hand; "but you were a stranger to me you +know." + +"Well, well, it's all right--I'd have done exactly so myself," answered +Boone, grasping the young man's hand with a cordiality that showed no +offence had been taken. "And now--a--how do you call yourself?" + +"Henry Millbanks." + +"Now, Master Millbanks, pray be speedy; for while we talk, our friends +may die, and it goes agin nater to think on't," said Boone, anxiously. + +As he spoke, he led forward the lady's horse past the other carcass; +while Henry, springing upon his own beast, followed after. Having seen +them safely out of the ravine, the noble hunter turned back to wait the +arrival of the expected assistance. He had just gained the center of the +thicket, when he was slightly startled again by the growl of his dog, +and the tramp of what appeared to be another horse, coming from the +direction of Younker's. Hastily secreting himself, he awaited in silence +the approach of the new comer, whom he soon discovered to be an old +acquaintance, who was riding at a fast gallop, bearing some heavy weight +in his arms. As he came up to the carcass of Ella's horse, he slackened +his speed, looked at it earnestly, then gazed cautiously around, and was +about to spur his boast onward again, when the sound of Boone's voice +reached, his ear; requesting him to pause; and at the same time, to his +astonishment, Boone himself emerged into the path before him. + +"Ha! Colonel Boone," said the horsemen, quickly; "I'm glad to meet ye; +for now is a time when every true man's wanted." + +"What's the news, David Billings?" inquired Boone, anxiously, as he +noticed a troubled, earnest expression on the countenance of the other. + +"Bad!" answered Billings, emphatically. "The Injens have been down upon +us agin in a shocking manner." + +"Heaven forbid thar be many victims!" ejaculated Boone, unconsciously +tightening the grasp on his rifle. + +"Too many--too many!" rejoined Billings, shaking his head sadly. "Thar's +my neighbor Millbanks' family--" + +"Well? well?" cried Boone, impatiently, as the other seemed to hesitate. + +"Have all been murdered, and his house burnt to ashes." + +"All?" echoed Boone. + +"All but young Harry, who's fortunately away to a wedding at Wilson's." + +"Why, the one you speak of war just now here," said Boone, with a start; +"and I sent him back to raise a party to trail the red varmints, who've +been operating as you see yonder: Good heavens! what awful news for poor +Harry, who seems so likely a lad." + +"Yes, likely you may well say," returned the other; "and so war the +whole family--God ha' mercy on 'em! But what's been done here?" + +"Why, I suppose Ella Barnwell--Younker's niece, you know--and a likely +young stranger who war along with her, called Reynolds, have been +captured." + +"Ha! well it's supposed Younker and his wife are captives too, or else +that thar bones lie white among the ashes of thar own ruins." + +"Good heavens!" cried Boone. "Any more, David?" + +"Yes, thar's Absalom Switcher and his wife, and a young gal of twelve; +and Ephraim Stokes' wife and a young boy of five; who war left by +themselves, (Stokes himself being away, and his son Seth at the wedding, +as was a son o' Switcher's also) have all bin foully mardered--besides +Johnny Long's family, Peter Pierson's, and a young child of Fred Mason's +that happened to be at Pierson's house, and one or two others whose +names I disremember." + +"But when did this happen, David?" + +"Last night," replied the other. "It's suspected that the Injens ha bin +warting round here, and took advantage of this wedding, when the greater +part on 'em war away. It's thought too that thar war a white spy out, +who gin 'em information, and led 'em on--as a villainous looking chap +war seed about the vicinity not long ago." + +"Do they suspicion who war the spy?" asked Boone. + +"Why some thinks as how it war that thar accussed renegade, Simon +Girty." + +"Wretch!" muttered Boone, grasping his rifle almost fiercely; "I'd like +to have old Bess, here, hold a short conflab with him. But what have you +got thar in your arms, that seems so heavy, David?" + +"Rifles, Colonel. I've bin riding round and collecting on 'em for this +mad party of Younker's, who went off without any precaution; and I'm now +on my way to deliver 'em, that they may start instanter arter the cussed +red skins, and punish 'em according to the Mosaic law." + +"Spur on then, David, and you may perhaps overtake some o' them; and all +that you do, arm and send 'em here as quick as possible--for I'm +dreadful impatient to be off." + +The colloquy between the two thus concluded, the horseman--a +strongly-built, hard-favored, muscular man of forty--set spurs to his +horse; and bounding onward toward Wilson's (distant some five miles--the +ravine being about half way between the residence of the groom and +bride,) he was quickly lost to the sight of the other, who quietly +seated himself to await the reinforcement. + +In the course of half an hour, Boone was joined by some three or four of +the wedding party, who bad been overtaken by Billings, learned the news, +accepted a rifle each, bidden their fair companions adieu, and sent them +and the horses back to the house of the bride, while they moved forward +to meet danger, rescue the living, and seek revenge. + +In the course of an hour and a half, Billings himself returned, +accompanied by some seven or eight stout hearts; among whom were young +Switcher, Stokes, Millbanks, and, lastly, Isaac Younker, who had been +roused from the nuptial bed to hear of the terrible calamity that had +befallen his friends. Isaac, on the present occasion, did not disgrace +his training, the land which gave him birth, nor the country he now +inhabited. When the messenger came with the direful news, although +somewhat late in the morning, Isaac had been found in his bed, closely +folded in the arms of the god of sleep. On being awakened and told of +what had taken place, he slowly rose up into a sitting posture, rubbed +his eyes, stared searchingly at his informant, gathered himself upon his +feet, threw on his wedding garments, and made all haste to descend +below; where he at once sought out his new wife, Peggy, who had risen +an hour before; and grasping her by the hand, in a voice slightly +tremulous, but with a firm, determined expression on his features, said: + +"Peggy, dear, I 'spect you've heard the whole on't. Father, mother, Ella +and Reynolds--all gone, and our house in ashes, I'm going to follow, +Peggy. Good bye--God bless you! Ef I don't never come back, Peggy"--and +the tears started into his eyes--"you may jest put it down I've been +clean sarcumvented, skinned, and eat up by them thar ripscallious +Injens;" and turning upon his heel, as his tender-hearted spouse burst +into tears, he seized upon same provisions that had graced the last +night's entertainment, gave Black Betty a long and cordial salute with +his lips, shook hands with his wife's father and mother, kissed Peggy +once again, pulled his cap over his eyes, and, without another word, set +forth with rapid strides on the eastern path leading to the rendezvous +of Daniel Boone. + +On the faces of those now assembled, who had lost their best and dearest +friends, could be seen the intense workings of the strong passions of +grief and revenge, while their fingers clutched their faithful rifles +with a nervous power. The greatest change was apparent in the features +of Henry Millbanks. He was a fine-favored, good-looking youth of +eighteen, with light hair and a florid complexion. The natural +expression of his handsome countenance was an easy, dignified smile, +which was rendered extremely fascinating by a broad, noble forehead, and +a clear, expressive, gray eye; but now the floridity had given place to +a pale, almost sallow hue, the forehead was wrinkled with grief, the +lips were compressed, and the smile had been succeeded by a look of +great fierceness, aided by the eye; which was more than usually sunken +and bloodshot. + +But little was said by any of the party; for all felt the chilling +gloom of the present, so strongly contrasted with the bright hours and +merry jests which had so lately been apportioned to each. Boone called +to Cæsar and bade him seek the Indian trail; a task which the noble +brute flew to execute; and in a few minutes the whole company were on +their way; with the exception of Billings; who, by the unanimous request +of all, returned to Wilson's; to cheer, console and protect the females; +and, if thought advisable, to conduct them to Bryan's Station--a strong +fort a few miles distant--where they might remain in comparative +security. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE INDIANS AND THEIR PRISONERS. + + +While the events just chronicled were enacting in one part of the +country, others, of a different nature, but somewhat connected with +them, were taking place in another. In a dark, lonely pass or gorge of +the hills, some ten miles to the north of the scene of the preceding +chapter, where the surrounding trees grew so thick with branches and +leaves that they almost entirely excluded the sunlight from the waters +of a stream which there rolled foaming and roaring between the hills and +over and against the rocks of its precipitous bed, or, plunging down +some frightful precipice, lay as if stunned or exhausted by the fall in +the chasm below, mirroring in its still bosom with a gloomy reflection +the craggy steeps rising majestically above it--in this dark and lonely +pass, we say, was a party of human beings, to whom the proper +development of our story now calls us. + +The company in question was composed of eight persons, five of whom were +Indians of the Seneca tribe;[5] the others--a thin-faced, gaunt, +stoop-shouldered man past the middle age--a rather corpulent, masculine +looking woman, a few years his junior--a little fair-haired, blue-eyed, +pretty-faced girl of six--were white captives. Four of the Indians were +seated or partly reclining on the ground, with their guns beside them, +ready for instant use if necessary, engaged in roasting slices of deer +meat before a fire that had been kindled for the purpose. The fifth +savage was pacing to and fro, with his rifle on his arm, performing the +double duty of sentinel and guard over the prisoners, who were kept in +durance by strong cords some ten paces distant. The old man was secured +by a stick passing across his back horizontally, to which both wrists +and arms were tightly bound with thongs of deer skin. To prevent the +possibility of escape, both legs were fastened together by the same +material, and a long, stout rope, encircling his neck, was attached to +a tree hard by. This latter precaution, and much of the former, seemed +unnecessary; for there was a mild look of resigned dejection on his +features, as they bent toward the earth, with his chin resting on his +bosom, that appeared strongly at variance with any thing like flight or +strife. His female companion was fastened in like manner to the tree, +but in other respects only bound by a stout thong around the wrists in +front. The third member of the white party, the little girl, was seated +at the feet of the old man, with her small wrists also bound until they +had swollen so as to pain her, looking up from time to time into his +face with a heart-rending expression of grief, fear and anxiety. + +Of the Indians themselves, we presume it would be difficult to find, +among all the tribes of America, five more blood-thirsty, villainous +looking beings than the ones in question. They were only partially +dressed, after the manner of their tribe, with skins around their loins, +extending down to their knees, and moccasins on their feet, leaving the +rest of their bodies and limbs bare. Around their waists were belts, for +the tomahawk and scalping knife, at three of which now hung freshly +taken scalps. Their faces had been hideously painted for the war-path; +but heat and perspiration had since out done the artist, by running the +composition into streaks, in such a way as to give them the most +diabolical appearance imaginable. On each of their heads was a tuft of +feathers, some of which had the appearance of having recently been +scorched and blackened by fire, while their arms and bodies were here +and there besmeared with blood. + +The four around the fire were in high glee, as they roasted and +devoured their meat, judging from their nods, and grins, and grunts +of approbation, whenever their eyes glanced in the direction of their +prisoners--the effect of which was far from consoling to the matron of +the latter; who, having eyed them for some time in indignant silence, +at length burst forth with angry vehemence: + +"Well, now, jest grin, and jabber, and grin, like a pesky set o' natural +born monkeys, that's ten times better nor you is any day of your good +for nothing, sneaking lives. Goodness, gracious, marsy on me alive!" +continued the dame, whom the reader has doubtless recognized as Mrs. +Younker; "I only jest wish you had to change places with me and Ben here +for about five minutes; and ef I didn't make your old daubed, nasty, +villainous, unyarthly looking faces grin to another tune, I hope I may +never be blessed with liberty agin in creation, as long as I live on the +face o' this univarsal yarth!" + +"Ugh!" ejaculated the sentinel, turning towards the speaker, as she +concluded her fierce tirade, at the same time placing his hand on the +tomahawk in his belt with an angry gesture: "Ugh! me squaw kill--she no +stop much talky!" + +"You'd kill me, would ye? you mean, dirty, ripscallious looking varmint +of the woods you, that don't know a pin from a powder horn!" rejoined +the undaunted Mrs. Younker, in a vehement tone: "You'd kill me for using +the freedom of tongue, as these blessed Colonies is this moment fighting +for with the tarnal Britishers? You'd kill me, would ye? Well, it's jest +my first nateral come at opinion, as I tolled Ben here, not more'n a +quarter o' an hour ago, that you war jest mean enough for any thing, as +ever war invented, in the whole univarsal yarth o' creation--so ef you +do kill me, I won't be in the leastest grain disappinted, no how." + +"Don't, Dorothy--don't irritate the savage for nothing at all!" said her +husband, who, raising his head at the first remark of the Indian, now +saw in his fierce, flashing eyes, angry gestures, and awful contortions +of visage, that which boded the sudden fulfillment of his threat: "Don't +irritate him, and git murdered for your pains, Dorothy! Why can't you be +more quiet?" + +"Don't talk to me about being quiet, Benjamin Younker, away out here in +the woods, a captive to such imps an them thar, with our house all burnt +to nothing like, and our cows and sheeps and hosses destructed, and--" + +Here the speech of the good woman was suddenly cut short by the whizzing +of a tomahawk past her head, which slightly grazed her cheek, and lodged +in the tree a few feet beyond. Whether it was aimed at her life and +missed its mark, or whether it was merely done to frighten her, does not +appear; though the manner of the savage, after the weapon was thrown, +inclines us to the latter supposition; for instead of rushing upon her +with his knife, he walked deliberately to the tree, withdrew the +tomahawk, and then turning to her, and brandishing it over her head, +said: + +"Squaw, still be! Speak much, me killum!" + +Be the design of the Indian what it might, the whole proceeding +certainly produced one result, which nothing had ever been known to do +before--it awed to silence the tongue of Mrs. Younker, just at a moment +when talking would have been such a relief to her overcharged spirit; +and merely muttering, in an under tone, "I do jest believe the +ripscallious varmint is in arnest, sure enough!" she held her speech for +the extraordinary space of half an hour. + +Meantime the other savages finished their repast; and having offered a +portion of it to the prisoners, which the latter refused, they proceeded +to destroy their fire, by casting the burning brands into the rushing +waters of the stream below. This done, they extended their circle +somewhat--each placing himself by a tree or rock--and then in the most +profound silence stood like bronzed statuary, apparently awaiting the +arrival of another party. At last--and just as the sun was beginning to +peep over the brow of the steep above them, and let his rays struggle +with the matted foliage of the trees, for a glimpse of the roaring +waters underneath--one of the Indians started, looked cautiously around, +dropped flat upon the earth; and then rising, and motioning with his +hand for all to be silent, glided noiselessly away, like the shadow of +some evil spirit, into the surrounding thicket. He had scarcely been +absent three minutes, when a slight crackling among the brush was heard +near at hand; and immediately after he rejoined his companions, followed +by a party of eight Indian warriors, and two white prisoners, headed by +a low browed, sinister, blood-thirsty looking white man, in a garb +resembling that worn by a subordinate British officer. His coat was red, +with facings of another color, underneath which was partially displayed +a handsome vest and ruffled shirt. About his waist passed a broad wampum +belt, in which were confined a brace of silver mounted pistols, another +pair of less finish and value, a silver handled dirk, a scalping knife +and tomahawk, on whose blades could be seen traces of blood. Around his +neck was a neatly tied cravat, and dangling in front of his vest a gold +chain, which connected with a watch hid in a pocket of his breeches, +whence depended a larger chain of steel, supporting in turn three +splendid gold seals and two keys. His nether garments were breeches, +leggins, and moccasins, all of deer skin, and without ornament. His hat, +not unlike those of the present day, was on this occasion graced with a +red feather, which protruded above the crown, and corresponded well with +his general appearance. + +The Indian companions of this individual were not remarkable for any +thing, unless it might be ferocity of expression. They were habited, +with but one exception, like those previously described, and evidently +belonged to the same tribe. This exception was a large, athletic, +powerful Indian, rather rising of six feet, around whose waist was a +finely worked wampum belt, over whose right shoulder, in a transverse +direction, extended a red scarf, carelessly tied under the left arm, +and in whose nose and ears were large, heavy rings, denoting him to be +either a chief or one in command. His age was about thirty; and his +features, though perhaps less ferocious than some of his companions, +were still enough so to make him an object of dread and fear. His +forehead was low, his eye black and piercing, and his nose rather flat +and widely distended at the nostrils. He was called Peshewa: Anglice, +Wild cat. + +As the prisoners of the latter party came in sight of those of the +former, there was a general start and exclamation of surprise; while the +sad faces of each showed how little pleasure they felt in meeting each +other under such painful circumstances. The last comers, as the reader +has doubtless conjectured, were Algernon and Ella. Immediately on their +entering the ravine, as previously recorded, they had been set upon +by savages, their horses shot from under them, and themselves made +captives. This result, however, as regards Algernon, had not been +effected without considerable effort on the part of his numerous +enemies. At the first fire, his horse fell; but disentangling himself, +and drawing his pistols, he sprung upon the side of his dying beast, and +discharged them both at his nearest foes--one of which took effect, and +sent a warrior to his last account. Then leaping in among them, he drew +his knife and cut madly about him until secured; though doubtless he +would have been tomahawked on the spot, only that he might be reserved +for the tortures, when his brutal captors should arrive at their +destination. Meantime the animal which bore the lovely Ella, being +wounded by the same fire which killed her companion's, bounded forward +some twenty paces, when a blow on the head with a tomahawk laid him +prostrate, and she was secured also. The party then proceeded to bury +the dead, at some little distance, and start upon their journey, to join +their companions--which latter we have just seen accomplished. + +As soon as mutual recognitions had passed between the prisoners, the +individual habited in the British uniform stepped forward, and said, +jocosely: + +"So, friends, we all meet again, do we, eh?--ha, ha, ha!" + +At the sound of his voice, the old man and his wife, both of whom had +been too intently occupied with Algernon and Ella to notice him before, +started, and turning their eyes suddenly upon him, simultaneously +exclaimed: + +"Mr. Williams!" + +"_Sometimes_ Mr. Williams," answered the other, with a strong emphasis +on the first word, accompanying it with a horrible oath; "but now, when +disguise is no longer necessary, Simon Girty, the renegade, +by ----!--ha, ha, ha!" + +As he uttered these words, in a coarse, ruffianly tone, a visible +shudder of fear or disgust, or both combined, passed through the frame +of each of the prisoners; and Algernon turning to him, with an +expression of loathing contempt, said: + +"I more than half suspected as much, when I sometime since contemplated +your low-browed, hang-dog countenance. Of course we can expect no mercy +at such hands." + +"Mercy!" cried Girty, turning fiercely upon him, his eyes gleaming +savagely, his mouth twisting into a shape intended to express the most +withering contempt, while his words fairly hissed from between his +tightly set teeth: "Mercy? dog! No, by h----l! for none like you! Hark ye, +Mr. Reynolds! Were you in the damnable cells of the Inquisition, accused +of heresy, and about to be put to the tortures, you might think yourself +in Paradise compared to what you shall yet undergo!" + +As he uttered these words, Ella shrieked and fell fainting to the earth. +Springing to her, Girty raised her in his arms; and pointing to her pale +features, as he did so, continued: + +"See! Mr. Reynolds, this girl loves you; I love her; we are rivals; and +you, my rival, are in my power: and, by ----! and all the powers of +darkness, you shall feel my vengeance!" + +"You love her?" broke in Mrs. Younker, who, in spite of her previous +dangerous warning, could hold her peace no longer: "You love her! you +mean, contemptible, red headed puppy! I don't believe as how you knows +enough to love nothing! And so you're Simon Girty, hey? that thar +sneaking, red-coat renegade? Well, I reckon as how you've told the truth +once; for I've hearn tell that he war an orful mean looking imp o' +Satan; and I jest don't believe as how a meaner one nor yourself could +be skeer'd up in the whole universal yarth o' creation." + +"Rail on, old woman!" replied Girty, as he chafed the temples of Ella +with his hands; "but in a little lower key; or I shall be under the +necessity of ordering a stopper to your mouth; which, saving the +tortures of the stake, is the worst punishment for you I can now invent. +As for you, Mr. Younker," continued he, turning his face to the old man, +with a peculiar expression; "you seem to have nothing to say to an old +friend--ha, ha, ha!" + +"Whensomever I mention the name o' Simon Girty," replied Younker, in a +deliberate and startlingly solemn tone, "I al'ays call down God's curse +upon the fiendish renegade--and I do so now." + +"By ----! old man," cried Girty, casting Ella roughly from him, and +starting upright, the perfect picture of a fiend in human shape; +"another word, and your brains shall be scattered to the four winds of +heaven!" + +As he spoke, he brandished his tomahawk over the other's head; while the +child, before noticed, uttered a wild scream, and sprung to Mrs. +Younker, at whose side she crouched in absolute terror. + +"Strike!" answered Younker, mildly, with an unchanged countenance, his +eye resting steadily upon the other, who could not meet his gaze in the +same manner. "Strike! Simon Girty; for I'm a man that's never feared +death, and don't now; besides, I reiterate all I've said, and with my +dying breath pray God to curse ye!" + +"Not yet!" rejoined Girty, smothering his rage, as he replaced his +weapon. "Not yet, Ben Younker; for you take death too easy; and by ----! +I'll make it have terrors for you! But what child is this?" continued +he, grasping the little girl fiercely by the arm, causing her to utter a +cry of pain and fear. "By heavens! what do we with squalling children? +Here, Oshasqua, I give her in your charge; and if she yelp again, brain +her, by ----!" and he closed with an oath. + +The Indian whom we have previously noticed as the sentinel, stepped +forward, with a demoniac gleam of satisfaction on his ugly countenance, +and taking the child by the hand, led her away some ten paces, where he +amused himself by stripping her of such apparel as he fancied might +ornament his own person; while she, poor little thing, afraid to cry +aloud, could only sob forth the bitterness of her heart. + +Meantime Girty turning to Ella, and finding her gradually recovering, +assisted her to rise; and then motioning the chief aside, he held a +short consultation with him, in the Indian dialect, regarding their next +proceedings, and the disposal of the prisoners. + +"Were it not, Peshewa, for his own base words," said the renegade, in +reply to some remark of his Indian ally, "I would have spared him; but +now," and his features exhibited a concentrated expression of infernal +hate and revenge; "but now, Peshewa, he dies! with all the horrors of +the stake, that you, a noble master of the art of torture, can invent +and inflict. The Long Knife[6] must not curse the red man's friend in +his own camp and go unpunished. I commend him to your mercy, +Peshewa--ha, ha, ha!" and he ended with a hoarse, fiend-like laugh. + +"Ugh!" returned Wild-cat, giving a gutteral grunt of satisfaction, +although not a muscle of his rigid features moved, and, save a peculiar +gleam of his dark eye, nothing to show that he felt uncommon interest +in the sentence of Younker: "Peshewa a chief! The Great Spirit give him +memory--the Great Spirit give him invention. He will remember what he +has done to prisoners at the stake,--he can invent new tortures. But +the squaw?" + +"Ay, the squaw!" answered the renegade, musingly; "the old man's +wife--she must be disposed of also. Ha! a thought strikes me, Peshewa: +You have no wife--(the savage gave a grunt)--suppose you take her?" + +Peshewa started, and his eyes flashed fire, as he said, with great +energy: "Does the wolf mate with his hunter, that you ask a chief of the +Great Spirit's red children to mate with their white destroyer?" + +"Then do with her what you ---- please," rejoined Girty, throwing in an +oath. "I was only jesting, Peshewa. But come, we must be on the move! +for this last job will not be long a secret; and then we shall have the +Long Knives after us as hot as h----l. We must divide our party. I will +take with me these last prisoners and six warriors, and you the others. +A quarter of a mile below here we will separate and break our trail +in the stream; you and your party by going up a piece--I and mine by +going down. This will perplex them, and give us time. Make your trail +conspicuous, Peshewa, and I will be careful to leave none whatever, if I +can help it; for, by ----! I must be sure to escape with my prisoners. +If you are close pressed, you can brain and scalp yours; but for some +important reasons, I want mine to live. We will meet, my noble Peshewa, +at the first bend of the Big Miama." + +The Indian heard him through, without moving a muscle of his seemingly +blank features, and then answered, a little haughtily: + +"Kitchokema[7] plans all, and gives his red brother all the danger; but +Peshewa is brave, and fears not." + +"And do you think it's through fear?" asked Girty, angrily. + +"Peshewa makes no charges against his brother," answered Wild-cat, +quietly. + +"Perhaps it is as well he don't," rejoined Girty, in an under tone, +knitting his brows; and then quickly added: "Come, Peshewa, let us move; +for while we tarry, we are giving time to our white foes." + +Thus ended the conference; and in a few minutes after the whole party +was in motion. Following the course of the waters down to the base of +the hills, they came to a sloping hollow of some considerable extent, +where the stream ran shallow over a smooth, beautiful bed. Into this +latter the whole company now entered, for the purpose of breaking the +trail, as previously arranged by Girty; and here they divided, according +to his former plan also. + +If the unhappy prisoners regretted meeting one another in distress, +their parting regrets were an hundred fold more poignant; for to them +it seemed evidently the last time they would ever behold on earth each +others faces; and this thought alone was enough to dim the eyes of Ella +and her adopted mother with burning tears, and shake their frames with +heart-rending sobs of anguish; while the old man and Algernon, though +both strove to be stoical, could not look on unmoved to a similar show +of grief. Since their meeting, the captives had managed to converse +together sufficiently to learn the manner of each others capture, and +give each other some hope of being successfully followed and released +by their friends; but now, when they saw the caution displayed by their +enemies in breaking the trail, they began to fear for the result. Just +before entering the stream, they passed through a cluster of bushes +that skirted the river's bank; and Ella, the only prisoner whose hands +were unbound, by a quick and sly movement succeeded in detaching a +portion of her dress, which she there left as a sign to those who might +follow, that she was still alive, and so encourage them to proceed, in +case they were about to falter and turn back. + +The separation being now speedily effected, the two parties were quickly +lost to each other--Girty and his band going down the bed of the stream +some two hundred yards before touching the bank; and the others, headed +by Wild-cat, going up about half that distance. + +Leaving each to their journey, let us now return to the band already in +pursuit. + + +[Footnote 5: Some historians have stated that the Indians here alluded +to were Mingoes, and _not_ Senecas; and that they were a remnant of the +celebrated Logan's tribe.] + +[Footnote 6: Sometimes Big Knife--first applied to the Virginians by the +Indians.] + +[Footnote 7: Great Chief--a term sometimes given to Girty by the +Indians.] + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE PURSUERS. + + +About a hundred yards from where Boone and his young companions set +forth, the dog, which was running along before them, paused, and with +his nose to the ground, set up a fierce bark. When arrived at the spot, +the party halted, and perceived the body of an Indian, slightly covered +with earth, leaves, and a few dry bushes. Hastily throwing off the +covering from his head, they discovered hideous features, wildly +distorted by the last throe of death, and bloody from a wound in his +forehead made by a ball. His scalp had been taken off also, by those who +buried him--from fear, probably, that he would be found by enemies, and +this secured as a trophy--a matter of disgrace which the savage, under +all circumstances, ever seeks to avoid, both for himself and friends. + +"Well done, Master Reynolds!" observed Boone, musingly, spurning the +body with his foot, turning away, and resuming his journey: "You're a +brave young man; and I'll bet my life to a bar-skin, did your best under +the sarcumstances; and ef it's possible, we'll do somewhat for you in +return." + +"Well, ef he arn't a brave chap--that thar same Algernon Reynolds--then +jest put it down as how Isaac Younker don't know nothing 'bout faces," +returned the individual in question, in reply to Boone. "I never seed a +man with his fore'ed and eye as would run from danger when a friend war +by wanting his sarvice." + +"Ay, he is indeed a clever youth!" rejoined Boone. + +"Well, Colonel, he's all that," again returned Isaac; "and I'll al'ays +look 'pon't in the light o' a sarvice, that you jest placed him in my +hands, when he war wounded; for to do sech as him a kindness, al'ays +carries along its own reward. And Ella--my poor, sweet cousin, as war +raised up in good sarcumstances, and lost her all--she too I reckon +feels kind o' grateful to you, Colonel, besides." + +"As how?" asked Boone. + +"Why, I don't know's it's exactly right for me to tell as how," replied +Isaac, shrewdly, who was fearful of saying what Ella herself might wish +kept a secret. + +"I understand ye," said Boone, in a low tone, heard only by Isaac; and +the subject was then changed for one more immediately connected with +their present journey. + +In the course of conversation that followed, it was asked of Boone how +he chanced to be in the vicinity, and learned of the calamity that had +befallen Algernon and Ella, before any of the others; to which he +replied, by stating that he was on his way from Boonesborough to Bryan's +Station, and coming into the path just above the ravine, had been +indebted to his noble brute companion for the discovery--a circumstance +which raised Cæsar in the estimation of the whole party to a wonderful +degree. Nor was this estimation lessened by the conduct of Cæsar himself +in the present instance; for true to his training, instinct, and great +sagacity, he led them forward at a rapid pace, and seemed possessed of +reasoning powers that would have done no discredit to an intelligent +human being. One instance in point is worthy of note. In passing through +a dense thicket on the Indian trail, the noble brute discovered a small +fragment of ribbon, which he instantly seized in his mouth, and, turning +back to his master, came up to him, wagging his tail, with a look +expressive of joy, and dropped it at his feet. On examination it was +recognized as a detached portion of a ribbon worn by Ella; and this +little incident gave great animation and encouragement to the party--as +it proved that she at least was yet alive, and had a hope of being +followed by friends. + +Some two hours from their leaving the ravine, they came to the dark +pass, where we have seen the meeting between the two Indian parties. +Here our pursuers halted a few minutes to examine the ground, and form +conjectures as to what had taken place--in doing which, all paid the +greatest deference to the opinions and judgment of Boone, who was looked +upon by all who knew him as a master of the woodman's craft. + +After gazing intently for some time at the foot prints, Boone informed +his companions that another party had been in waiting, had been joined +by the others, and that all had proceeded together down the stream; and +moreover, that there was an addition of white prisoners, one of which +was a child. This caused a great sensation among his listeners--many of +whom had lost their relatives, as the reader already knows--and Hope, +the cheering angel, which hovers around us on our pathway through life, +began to revive in each breast, that the friends they were mourning as +dead, might still be among the living, and so made them more eager than +ever to press on to the rescue. + +At the river's bank, the sagacious Cæsar discovered another piece of +ribbon--dropped there as the reader knows by Ella--which he carried in +triumph to his master, and received in turn a few fond caresses. + +"Here," said Boone, as himself and companions entered the streamlet, +whose clear, bright waters, to the depth of some three inches, rolled +merrily over a smooth bed, with a pleasing murmur: "Here, lads, I reckon +we'll have difficulty; for the red varmints never enter a stream for +nothing; and calculating pretty shrewdly they'd be followed soon, no +doubt they've taken good care to puzzle us for the trail. Ef it be as +I suspect, we'll divide on the other side, and a part o' us go up, and +a part down, till we come agin upon thar track. But then agin," added +Boone, musingly, with a troubled expression, "it don't follow, that +because they entered the stream they crossed it; and it's just as likely +they've come out on the same side they went in; so that we'll have to +make four divisions, and start on the sarch." + +Accordingly on reaching the other shore, and finding the trail was lost, +Boone divided the party--assigning each his place--and separating, six +of them recrossed the stream; and dividing again, two, headed by Isaac, +went up, and two, led by Henry Millbanks, went down along the bank; +while Boone and Seth Stokes, with the rest, proceeded in like manner on +the opposite side; and the dog flew hither and yon, to render what +service he could also. For something like a quarter of an hour not the +least trace of the savages could be found, when at last the voice of +Isaac was heard shouting: + +"I've got it--I've got it! Here it is, jest as plain and nateral as +cornstalks--Hooray!" + +In a few minutes the whole company was gathered around Isaac, who +pointed triumphantly to his discovery. + +"That's the trail, sure enough," observed Boone, bending down to scan +it closely; "and rather broad it is too. It's not common for the wily +varmints to do thar business in so open a manner, and I suspicion it's +done for some trickery. Look well to your rifles, lads, and be prepared +for an ambush in yon thicket just above thar, while I look carefully +along this, for a few rods, just to see ef I can make out thar meaning. +They've spread themselves here considerable," continued the old hunter, +after examining the trail a few minutes in silence; "but ef they think +to deceive one that has been arter 'em as many times as I, they've made +quite a mistake; for I can see clean through their tricks, as easy as +light comes through greased paper." + +"What discovery have you made now?" inquired young Millbanks, who, +together with the others, pressed eagerly around Boone to hear his +answer. + +"Why I've diskivered what I war most afeard on," answered the woodsman. +"I've diskivered that the varmints have divided, for the sake of giving +us trouble, or leading us astray from them as they cares most about. See +here!" and bending down to the ground, Boone pointed out to his young +companions, many of whom were entirely ignorant of that ingenious art of +wood-craft, whereby the experienced hunter knows his safety or danger in +the forest as readily as the sailor knows his on the ocean, and which +appears to the uninitiated like a knowledge superhuman--Boone pointed +out to them, we say, three distinct foot prints, which he positively +asserted were neither made by the Indians nor the captives of the +ravine. + +"But I'd jest like to know, Colonel Boone, how you can be so sartin o' +what you declar, ef it would'nt be for putting you to too much trouble," +said one of the party, in surprise. + +"Obsarve," replied Boone, who, notwithstanding it would cause some +little delay, was willing to gratify his young friends, by imparting to +them what information he could regarding an art so important to frontier +life: "Obsarve that print thar (pointing with his finger to the largest +one of the three;) now that war never made by Master Reynolds, for it's +much too big; and this I know from having got the dimension o' his track +afore I left the ravine to trail him; and I know it war never made by +one o' the red heathen, for it arn't, the shape o' thar feet,; and +besides, you'll notice how the toe turns out'ard from the heel--a thing +an Indian war never guilty on--for they larn from children to tread +straight forward. The next one you'll obsarve turns out in like manner; +and though it's smaller nor the first, it arn't exactly the shape of +Reynold's, and it's too big for Ella's; and moreover I opine it's a +woman's--though for the matter o' that I only guess at it. The third you +perceive is the child's; and them thar three are the only ones you can +find that arn't Indian's. Now note agin that the trail's spread here, +and that here and thar a twig's snapped on the bushes along thar way; +which the red-skins have done a purpose to make thar course conspicuous, +to draw thar pursuers on arter 'em, prehaps for an ambush, prehaps to +keep them from looking arter the others." + +"In this perplexity what are we to do?" inquired young Millbanks. + +"Why," answered Boone, energetically, "Heaven knows my heart yearns to +rescue all my fellow creaters who're in distress; but more particularly, +prehaps, them as I know's desarving; and as I set out for Master +Reynolds, and his sweet companion, Ella Barnwell, God bless her! I +somehow reckon it's my duty to follow them--though I leave the rest o' +ye to choose for yourselves. Ef you want to divide, and part go this +trail and part follow me, mayhap it'll be as well in the end." + +This plan seemed the best that could be adopted under the circumstances; +and after some further consultation among themselves, it was finally +agreed that Isaac, with six others--two of whom were Switcher and +Stokes--should proceed on the present trail; while Millbanks and the +remainder should accompany Boone. Isaac was chosen as the most suitable +one to lead his party, on account of his foresight and shrewdness, and, +withal, some little knowledge which he possessed of the country and the +woodsman's art, previously gained in a tour with his father, when +seeking a location, together with an expedition of considerable extent +shortly after made with Boone himself. + +To him, as the leader, the noble old hunter now turned, and in a brief +manner imparted some very important advice, regarding his mode of +proceeding under various difficulties, particularly cautioned him +against any rash act, and concluded by saying, "Wharsomever or +howsomever you may be fixed, Isaac, and you his companions, (addressing +the young men by his side) don't never forget the injunction o' Daniel +Boone, your friend, that you must be cool, steady and firm; and +whensomever you fire at a painted varmint, be sure you don't throw away +your powder!" + +He then proceeded to shake hands with each, bidding them farewell and +God speed, in a manner so earnest and touching as to draw tears from +many an eye unused to the melting mood. The parting example of Boone was +now imitated by the others, and in a few minutes both divisions had +resumed their journey. + +Dividing his party again as before, Boone proceeded with them to examine +closely both banks of the stream for the other trail. Commencing where +they had left off on the announcement of Isaac, they moved slowly +downward, taking due note of every bush, leaf and blade as they went +along--often pausing and bending on their knees, to observe some spot +more minutely, where it seemed probable their enemies had withdrawn from +the water. Cæsar, too, apparently comprehending the object of their +search, ran to and fro, snuffing at every thing he saw, sometimes with +his nose to the ground and sometimes elevated in the air. At length he +gave a peculiar whine, at a spot about twenty yards below that which had +been reached by his master, on the side opposite Isaac's discovery; and +hastening to him, Boone immediately communicated to the others the +cheering intelligence that the trail had been found. + +Each now hurrying forward, the old hunter was soon joined by his young +friends; not one of whom, on coming up, failed to express surprise that +he should be so positive of what their eyes gave them not the least +proof. The place where they were now assembled, was at the base of a +hill, which terminated the flat or hollow in that direction, and turned +the stream at a short bend off to the left, along whose side its waters +ran for some twenty yards, when the arm projection of the ridge ended, +and allowed it to turn and almost retrace its path on the opposite +side--thus forming an elliptical bow. At the point in question, rose a +steep bank of rocks, of limestone formation, against which the stream, +during the spring and fall floods had rolled its tide to a height of six +or eight feet; and had lodged there, from time to time, various sorts of +refuse--such as old leaves, branches and roots of trees, and the like +encumbrances to the smooth flow of its waters. On these rocks it was +that the eyes of the party were now fixed; while their faces exhibited +expressions of astonishment, that the old hunter should be able to +distinguish marks of a recent trail, where they could perceive nothing +but the undisturbed surface of what perhaps had been ages in forming. + +"And so, lads, you don't see no trail thar, eh?" said Boone, with a +quiet smile, after having listened to various observations of the party, +during which time he had been carelessly leaning on his rifle. + +"Why, I must confess I can see nothing of the kind," answered Henry. + +"Nor I," rejoined another of the party. + +"Well, ef thar be any marks o' a trail here, jest shoot me with red +pepper and salt, ef ever I'm cotched bragging on my eyes agin," returned +a third. + +"That thar observation'll hold good with me too" uttered a fourth. + +"Here's in," said the fifth and last. + +"You're all young men, and have got a right smart deal to larn yet," +resumed Boone, "afore you can be turned out rale ginuine woodsmen and +hunters. Now mark that thar small pebble stone, that lies by your feet +on the rock. Ef you look at it right close, you'll perceive that on one +side on't the dirt looks new and fresh--which proves it's jest been +started from its long quietude. Now cast your eyes a little higher up, +agin yon dirt ridge which partly kivers them thar larger stones, and +you'll see an indent that this here pebble stone just fits. Now +something had to throw that down, o' course; and ef you'll just look +right sharp above it, you'll see a smaller dent, that war made by the +toe of some human foot, in getting up the bank. Agin you'll observe that +thar dry twig, just above still, has been lately broke, as ef by the +person war climbing up taking hold on't for assistance; but that warn't +the reason the climber broke it--it war done purposely; as you'll see by +the top part being bent up the hill, as ef to point us on. By the Power +that made me!" added Boone, gazing for a moment at the broken twig +intently, "ef I arn't wondrously mistaken, thar's a leaf hanging to it +in a way nater never fixed it." + +"Right, there is!" cried Henry, who, looking up with, the rest, chanced +to observe it at the same moment with Boone; and springing forward with +a light bound, he soon reached the spot, and returned with it in his +hand. It was a fall leaf, which had been fastened in a hasty manner to +the twig in question, by a pin through its center. On one side of it was +scrawled, in characters difficult to be deciphered: + +"_Follow--fast--for the love of Heaven!--E._" + +As Millbanks, after looking at it closely, read off these words, Boone +started, clutched his rifle with an iron grasp, and merely saying, in a +quiet manner, "Onward, lads--I trust you're now satisfied!" he sprang up +the rocks with an agility that threatened to leave his young companions +far in the rear. + +All now pressed forward with renewed energy; and having gained the +summit of the hill, which here rose to the height of eighty feet, they +were enabled, by the aid of Cæsar, to come quickly upon the trail of +the Indians, who, doubtless supposing themselves now safe from pursuit, +had taken little or no pains to conceal their course. Of this their +pursuers now took advantage, and hurried onward with long and rapid +strides; now through thick dark woods and gloomy hollows; now up steep +hills and rocky barren cliffs; now through tangles and over marshy +grounds--clearing all obstacles that presented themselves with an ease +which showed that notwithstanding some of them might be inferior as +woodsmen, none were at all events as travelers in the woods. + +By noon the party had advanced some considerable distance, and were +probably not far in the rear of the pursued--at least such was the +opinion of Boone--when they were again, to their great vexation, put at +fault for the trail, by the cunning of the renegade, who, to prevent all +accidents, had here once more broken it, by entering another small +streamlet--a branch of Eagle river; and although our friends set to with +all energy and diligence to find it, yet, from the nature of the ground +round about, the darkness of the wood through which the rivulet +meandered, and several other causes, they were unable to do so for three +good hours. + +This delay tended not a little to discourage the younger members of our +pursuing party, who, in consequence, began to be low spirited, and less +eager than before to press forward when the trail was again found; but +a few words from Boone in a chiding manner, telling them that if they +faltered at every little obstacle, they would be unfit representatives +of border life, served to stimulate them to renewed exertions. To add to +the discomfort of all--not excepting Boone himself--the sun, which had +thus far shone out warm and brilliant, began to grow more and more dim, +as a thick haze spread through the atmosphere overhead, foretokening an +approaching storm--an event which might prove entirely disastrous to +their hopes, by obliterating all vestiges of the pursued. As the gallant +old hunter moved onward with rapid strides--preceded by the faithful +brute, which, on the regular trail, greatly facilitated their progress, +by saving the company a close scrutiny of their course--he from time to +time cast his eyes upward and noted the thickening atmosphere with an +anxious and troubled expression. + +For some time the sun shone faintly; then his rays became entirely +obscured, and his position could only be discerned by a bright spot in +the heavens; this, ere he reached the horizon, became obscured also; +when the old hunter, who had watched every sign closely, looking +anxiously toward the west, observed: + +"I don't like it, lads; thar's a storm a brewing for sartin, and we +shall be drenched afore to-morrow morning. Howsomever," he continued, +"it arn't the wetting as I cares any thing about--for I'm used to the +elements in all thar stages, and don't fear 'em no more'n a dandy does a +feather bed--but the trail will be lost, in arnest this time; and then +we'll have to give in, or follow on by guess work. It's this as troubles +me; for I'm fearful poor Ella and Reynolds won't get succor in time. But +keep stout hearts, lads," he added, as he noticed gloomy expressions +sweep over the faces of his followers; "keep stout hearts--don't get +melancholy; for in this here world we've got to take things as we find +'em; and no doubt this storm's all for the best, ef we could only see +ahead like into futurity." + +With this consoling reflection the hunter again quickened his pace, and +pressed forward until the shadows of evening warned him to seek out an +encampment for the gathering night. Accordingly, sweeping the adjoining +country with an experienced eye, his glance soon rested on a rocky +ridge, some quarter of a mile to the right, at whose base he judged +might be found a comfortable shelter from the coming rain. Communicating +his thoughts to his companions, all immediately quitted the trail and +advanced toward it, where they arrived in a few minutes, and found, to +their delight, that the experienced woodsman had not been wrong in his +conjectures. A cave of no mean dimensions was fortunately discovered, +after a short search among the rocks, into which all now gathered; and +striking a light, they made a small fire near the entrance; around which +they assembled and partook of the refreshments brought with them--Boone +declaring he had not tasted a morsel of food since leaving Boonsborough +early in the morning. The meal over, the young men disposed themselves +about the cave in the best manner possible for their own comfort: and +being greatly fatigued by their journey, and the revels of the night +previous, they very soon gave evidence of being in a sleep too deep for +dreams. Boone sat by the fire, apparently in deep contemplation, until +a few embers only remained; then pointing Cæsar to his place near the +entrance, he threw himself at length upon the ground, and was soon +imitating the example of his young comrades. + +Early in the evening it came on to blow very hard from the east; and +about midnight set in to rain, as Boone had predicted; which it +continued to do the rest of the night; nor were there any signs of its +abatement, when the party arose to resume their journey on the following +morning. + +"What can't be cured must be endured," said Boone, quoting an old +proverb, as he gazed forth upon the storm. "We must take sech as comes, +lads, without grumbling; though I do'nt know's thar's any sin in wishing +it war a little more to our liking. Howsomever," he added, "prehaps it +won't be so much agin us arter all; for the red varmints mayhap 'll +think as how all traces of 'em have been washed away, and, feeling safe +from pursuit, be less cautious about their proceedings; and by keeping +on the same course, we may chance upon 'em unawares. So come, lads, +let's eat and be off." + +Accordingly, making a hasty breakfast, and securing the remainder of +their provision as well as ammunition in the ample bosoms of their +hunting frocks--which were always made large for such and similar +purposes--tightening the belts about their bodies, and placing their +rifles, locks downward, under the ample skirts of their frocks, to +shield them from the rain, the whole party sallied forth upon their +second day's adventure. Regaining the spot they had quitted the evening +before, Boone took a long look in the direction whence they first +approached; and then shaping his course so as to bear as near as +possible on a direct line with it, set forward at a quick pace, going a +very little west of due north. + +In this manner our pursuers continued their journey for some three or +four hours, scarcely exchanging a syllable--the storm beating fiercely +against their faces and drenching their bodies--when an incident +occurred of the most alarming kind. + +They had descended a hill, and were crossing an almost open plain of +some considerable extent--which was bounded on the right by a wood, and +on the left by a cane-brake--and had nearly gained its center, when they +were startled by a deep rumbling sound, resembling the mighty rushing of +a thousand horse. Nearer and nearer came the rushing sound; while each +one paused, and many a pale face was turned with an anxious, inquiring +glance upon Boone; whose own, though a shade paler than usual, was +composed in every feature, as he gazed, without speaking, in the +direction whence the noise proceeded. + +"Good heavens! what is it?" cried Henry, in alarm. + +"Behold!" answered Boone, pointing calmly toward the cane-brake. + +A cry of surprise, despair and horror, escaped every tongue but the old +hunter's--as, at that moment, a tremendous herd of buffaloes, numbering +thousands, was seen rushing from the brake, and bearing directly toward +the spot where our party stood. Escape by flight was impossible; for the +animals were scarcely four hundred yards distant, and booming forward +with the speed of the frightened wild horse of the prairie. Nothing was +apparent but speedy death, and in its most horrible form, that of dying +unknown beneath the hoofs of the wild beasts of the wilderness. In this +awful moment of suspense, which seemingly but preceded the disuniting of +soul and body, each of the young men turned a breathless look of horror +upon the old hunter, such as landsmen in a terrible gale at sea would +turn upon the commander of the vessel; but, save an almost imperceptible +quiver of the lips, not a muscle of the now stern countenance of Boone +changed. + +"Merciful Heaven!--we are lost!" cried Henry, wildly. "Oh! such a +death!" + +"Every man's got to die when his time comes--but none afore; and yourn +hasn't come yet, Master Harry," replied Boone, quietly; "unless," he +added, a moment after, as he raised his rifle to his eye, "Betsey here's +forgot her old tricks." + +As he spoke, his gun flashed, a report followed, and one of the foremost +of the herd, an old bull, which had gained a point within a hundred +yards of the marksman, stumbled forward and rolled over on the earth, +with a loud bellow of pain His companions, which were pressing close +behind, snorted with fear, as they successively came up; and turning +aside, on either hand, made a furrow in their ranks; that, gradually +widening as they advanced, finally cleared our friends by a space of +twenty yards; and so passed they on, making the very earth tremble under +their mighty trend.[8] + +It was a sublime sight--to behold such a tremendous caravan of wild +beasts rushing past--and one that filled each of the spectators, even +when they knew all danger was over, with a sense of trembling awe; and +they stood and gazed in silence, until the last of the herd was lost to +their vision; then advancing to the noble hunter, Henry silently grasped +his hard, weather-beaten hand, and turned away with tearful eyes--an +example that was followed by each of the others, and which was more +heart touchingly expressive of their feelings, than would have been a +vocabulary of appropriate words. + +Our party next proceeded to examine the wounded bull, which was still +bellowing with rage and pain; and having carefully approached and +despatched him with their knives, they found that the ball of Boone had +entered a vital part. Taking from him a few slices of meat, to serve +them in case their provisions ran short, they once more resumed their +journey--the wind still easterly and the storm raging. + +About three hours past noon the storm began to show signs of +abatement--the wind blew less hard, and had veered several points to the +north--an event which the old hunter noted with great satisfaction. They +had now gained a point within ten miles of the beautiful Ohio; when the +dog--which, since he had had no trail to guide him, ran where he +chose--commenced barking spiritedly, some fifty paces to the left of the +party, who immediately set off at a brisk gait to learn the cause. + +"I'll wager what you dare, lads, the pup's found the trail," said Boone. + +The event proved him in the right; for on coming up, the footsteps of +both captors and captives, who had evidently passed there not over three +hours before, could be distinctly traced in the soft earth. A shout--not +inferior in power and duration to that set up by crazy-headed +politicians, on the election of some favorite--was sent away to the +hills, announcing the joy of our party; which the hills, as if partakers +also of the hilarious feelings, in turn duly echoed. + +This new, important, and unexpected discovery, raised the spirits of all +our company to a high degree; and they again set forward at a faster +gait than ever, so as to overtake the pursued if possible before they +crossed the Ohio river. The trail was now broad and distinct; and the +footprints of the Indians, as also those of their captives, Algernon and +Ella, could be clearly defined wherever the ground chanced to be of a +clayey nature. In something like two hours our pursuers succeeded in +reaching the river; but unfortunately too late to intercept their +enemies and rescue their friends, who had already crossed sometime +before. By trailing them to the water's edge, they discovered the very +spot where the canoes of the savages had been secreted on the beach, +behind some drift-logs, nearly opposite the mouth of the Great Miami. + +"Ef we'd only been here a little sooner," observed Boone, musingly, +"we'd ha' saved some o' the varmints the trouble of paddling over thar; +or ef we only had the means o' crossing now, we'd be upon 'em afore they +war aware on't. Howsomever, as it is, I suppose we'll have to make a +raft to cross on, and so give the red heathen a little more time." + +"Is it not possible, Colonel," answered Millbanks, in a suggestive way, +"that the Indians, forming the two parties, may all be of the game +tribe, and have crossed here together, when they came over to make the +attack? and that the boats of the other division, unless they have +recrossed, may still be secreted not far hence?" + +"By the Power that made me!" exclaimed Boone, energetically; "a good +thought, lad--a good thought, Master Harry--and we'll act on't at once, +by sarching along the banks above here; for as the other varmints took +off to the east, it am't improbable they've just steered a little round +about, to come down on 'em, while these went right straight ahead." + +At once proceeding upon this suggestion, Boone and his companions +commenced a close examination along the shore; which finally resulted +in their finding, as had been premised, not the canoes themselves, but +traces of where they had recently been, together with the trail of the +other party, who had also arrived at this point and crossed over. +This caused no little sensation among our pursuers; who, scanning the +footprints eagerly, and perceiving thereby that the prisoners were +still along with their captors, scarcely knew whether most to grieve or +rejoice. One thing at least was cheering--they were still alive; and +could their friends, the present party, succeed in crossing the river +during the night, might be rescued. But where was Isaac and his band, +was the next important query. If, as they ardently hoped, he and his +comrades had not lost the trail, they might be expected to join them +soon--a reinforcement which would render them comparatively safe. + +Meantime the storm had wholly subsided--the wind blew strong and cold +from the northwest--a few broken, dripping clouds sailed slowly +onward--while the sun, a little above the horizon, again shone out clear +and bright, and painted a beautiful bow on the cloudy ground of the +eastern heavens. + +"Well, lads, the storm's over, thank God!" said Boone, glancing upward, +with an expression of satisfaction; "and now, as day-light'll be scarce +presently, we'll improve what there is, in constructing a raft to cross +over on; and maybe Isaac and the rest on 'em will join us in time to get +a ride." + +As the old hunter concluded, he at once applied himself to laying out +such drift logs as were thought suitable for the purpose, in which he +was assisted by three of the others, the remaining two proceeding into +the bushes to cut withes for binding them together; and so energetic and +diligent was each in his labors, that, ere twilight had deepened into +night, the rude vessel was made, launched, and ready to transport its +builders over the waters. They now resolved to take some refreshment, +and wait until night had fully set in, in the faint hope that Isaac +might possibly make his appearance. With this intent, our party retired +up the bank, into the edge of the wood that lined the shore, for the +purpose of kindling a fire, that they might dry their garments, and +roast some portions of the slaughtered bull. + +Scarcely had they succeeded, after several attempts, in effecting a +bright, ruddy blaze--which threw from their forms, dark, fantastic +shadows, against the earth, trees and neighboring bushes--when Cæsar +uttered a low, deep growl; and Boone, grasping his rifle tightly, +motioned his companions to follow him in silence into an adjoining +thicket. Here, after cautioning them to remain perfectly quiet, unless +they heard some alarm, he carefully parted the bushes, and glided +noiselessly away, saying, in a low tone, as he departed: + +"I rather 'spect it's Isaac; but I'd like to be sartin on't, afore I +commit myself." + +For some five or ten minutes after the old hunter disappeared, all was +silent, save the crackling of the fire, the rustling of the leaves, the +sighing of the wind among the trees, and the rippling of the now swollen +and muddy waters of the Ohio. At length the sound of a voice was heard +some fifty paces distant, followed immediately by another in a louder +tone. + +On hearing this, our friends in the thicket rushed forward, and were +soon engaged in shaking the hands of Isaac and his comrades, with a +heartiness on both sides that showed the pleasure of meeting was +earnest, and unalloyed. + +As more important matters are now pressing hard upon us, and as our +space is limited, we shall omit the detail of Isaac's adventures, as +also the further proceedings of both parties for the present, and +substitute a brief summary. + +The trail on which Isaac and his party started the day before, being +broad and open, they had experienced but little difficulty in following +it, until about noon, when they reached a stream where it was broken, +which caused them some two hours delay. This, doubtless, prevented them +from overtaking the enemy that day; and the night succeeding, not having +found quarters as comfortable as Boone's, they had been thoroughly +soaked with rain. The trail in the morning was entirely obliterated; but +pursuing their course in a manner simitar to that adopted by Boone, the +result had happily been the same, and the meeting of the two parties the +consequence, at a moment most fortunate to both. + +All now gathered around the fire, to dry their garments, refresh +themselves with food, tell over to each other their adventures, and +consult as to their future course. It was finally agreed to cross the +stream that night; in the hope, by following up the Miami, to stumble +upon the encampment of their adversaries; who were, doubtless, at no +great distance; and who, as they judged, feeling themselves secure, +might easily be surprised to advantage. How they succeeded in their +perilous undertaking, coming events must show. + + +[Footnote 8: A similar occurrence to the above is recorded of Boone's +first appearance in the Western Wilds.--_See Boone's Life--By Flint_] + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE RENEGADE AND HIS PRISONERS. + + +The feelings in the breasts of Algernon and Ella, as they reluctantly +moved onward, captives to a savage, bloodthirsty foe, are impossible +to be described. To what awful end had fate destined them? and in what +place were they to drain the last bitter dregs of woe? How much anguish +of heart, how much racking of soul, and how much bodily suffering was +to be their portion, ere death, almost their only hope, would set them +free? True, they might be rescued by friends--such things had been +done--but the probability thereof was as ten to one against them; and +when they perceived the care with which the renegade sought to destroy +all vestiges of their course, their last gleam of hope became nearly +extinguished. + +We have previously stated that Ella was left unbound; but wherefore, +would perhaps be hard to conjecture; unless we suppose that the +renegade--feeling for her that selfish affection which pervades the +breasts of all beings, however base or criminal, to a greater or less +degree--fancied it would be adding unnecessary cruelty to bind heir +delicate hands. Whatever the cause, matters but little; but the fact +itself was of considerable importance to Ella; who took advantage of +her freedom, in passing the bushes before noticed, to snatch a leaf +unperceived, whereon, by great adroitness, she managed to trace with a +pin a few almost illegible characters; and also, in ascending the bank, +which she was allowed to do in her own way, to throw down with her foot +the stone, break the twig at the same instant, and pin the leaf to it, +in the faint hope that an old hunter might follow on the trail, who, +if he came to the spot, would hardly fail to notice it. + +The freedom thus given to Ella, and the deference shown her by the +renegade and his allies--who appeared to treat her with the same respect +they would have done the wife of their chief--were in striking contrast +with their manners toward Algernon, on whom they seemed disposed to vent +their scorn by petty insults. Believing that his doom was sealed, he +became apparently resigned to his fate, nor seemed to notice, save with +stoical indifference, any thing that took place around him. This quiet, +inoffensive manner, was far from pleasing to Girty, who would much +rather have seen him chafing under his bondage, and manifesting a desire +to escape its toil. But if this was the outward appearance, not so was +the inward feelings of our hero. He knew his fate--unless he could +effect an escape, of which he had little hope--and he nerved himself to +meet and seem to his captors careless of it; but his soul was already on +the rack of torture. This was not for himself alone; for Algernon was a +brave man, and in reality feared not death; though, like many another +brave man, be had no desire to die at his time of life, especially with +all the tortures of the stake, which he knew, from Girty's remark, would +be his assignment; but his soul was harrowed at the thought of Ella--her +awful doom--and what she might be called upon to undergo: perhaps a +punishment a thousand times worse than death--that of being the +pretended wife, but in reality the mistress, of the loathsome renegade. +This thought to him was torture--almost madness--and it was only by the +most powerful struggle with himself, that he could avoid exposing his +feelings. + +For a time, after ascending the rocky bank of the stream and gaining the +hill, the renegade and his Indian allies, with their captives, moved +silently onward at a fast pace; but at length, slackening his speed +somewhat, Girty approached the side of Algernon, who was bound in a +manner similar to Younker, with his wrists corded to a cross bar behind +his back; and apparently examining them a moment or two, in a sneering +tone, said: + +"How-comes it that the bully fighter of the British, under the cowardly +General Gates, should be so tightly bound, away out in this Indian +country, and a captive to a _renegade_ agent?--ha, ha, ha!" + +The pale features of Algernon, as he heard this taunt, grew suddenly +crimson, and then more deadly white than ever--his fingers fairly worked +in their cords, and his respiration seemed almost to stifle him--so +powerfully were his passions wrought upon by the cowardly insults of his +adversary; but at last all became calm and stoical again; when turning +to Girty, he coolly examined him from head to heel, from heel to head; +and then moving away his eyes, as if the sight were offensive to him, +quietly said: + +"An honest man would be degraded by condescending to hold discourse with +so mean a _thing_ as Simon Girty the renegade." + +At these words Girty started, as if bit by a serpent--the aspect of his +dark sinister features changed to one concentrated expression of hellish +rage--his eyes seemed to turn red--his lips quivered--the nostrils of +his flat ugly nose distended--froth issued from his mouth--while his +fingers worked convulsively at the handle of his tomahawk, and his whole +frame trembled like a tree shaken by a whirlwind. For some time he +essayed to speak, in vain; but at last he hissed forth, as he whirled +the tomahawk aloft: + +"Die!--dog!--die!" + +Ella uttered a piercing shriek of fear, and sprung forward to arrest the +blow; but ere she could have reached the renegade; the axe would have +been buried to the helve in the brain of Algernon, had not a tall, +powerful Indian suddenly interposed his rifle between it and the victim. + +"Is the great chief a child, or in his dotage," he said to Girty, in the +Shawanoe dialect, "that he lets passion run away with his reason? Is not +the Big Knife already doomed to the tortures? And would the white chief +give him the death of a warrior?" + +"No, by ----!" cried Girty, with an oath. "He shall have a dog's death! +Right! Mugwaha--right! I thank you for your interference--I was beside +myself. The stake--the torture--the stake--ha, ha, ha!" added he in +English, with a hoarse laugh, which his recent passion made sound +fiend-like and unearthly; and as he concluded, he smote Algernon on the +cheek with the palm of his hand. + +The latter winced somewhat, but mastered his feelings and made no reply; +and the renegade resuming his former pace, the party again proceeded in +silence. + +Toward night, Ella became so fatigued and exhausted by the long day's +march, that it was with the greatest difficulty she could move forward +at all; and Girty, taking some compassion on her, ordered the party to +halt, until a rough kind of litter could be prepared; on which being +seated, she was borne forward by four of the Indians. At dark they +halted at the base of a hill, where they encamped and found a partial +shelter from the wind and rain. At daylight they again resumed their +journey; and by four o'clock in the afternoon arrived at the river, +which they immediately crossed in their canoes; and, as the water was +found in a good stage, did not land until they reached the first bend +of the Miami--the place agreed on for the meeting between Girty and +Wild-cat. + +As the latter chief and his party had not yet made their appearance, +Girty and his band went ashore with their prisoners, and took shelter +under one of the largest trees in the vicinity, to await their coming. +Of this expected meeting, the captives as yet knew nothing; and it was +of course not without considerable surprise, mingled with a saddened +joy, that they observed the approach, some half an hour later, of their +friends and enemies. + +Ella, on first perceiving their canoes silently advancing up the stream, +started up with a cry of joy, which was the next moment saddened by the +thought that she was only welcoming her relatives to a miserable doom. +Still it was a joy to know they were yet alive; and as the sinking heart +is ever buoyed up with hope, until completely engulfed in the dark +billows of despair--so she could not, or would not, altogether banish +the animating feeling, that something might yet interfere to save them +all from destruction. As the canoes touched the shore, Ella sprung +forward to greet her adopted mother and father; but her course was +suddenly checked by one of the Indian warriors, who, grasping her +somewhat roughly by the arm, with a gutteral grunt and fierce gesture of +displeasure, pointed her back to her former place. Ella, downcast and +frightened, tremblingly retraced her steps, and could only observe the +pale faces and fatigued looks of her relatives and the little girl at a +distance; but she saw enough to send a thrill of anguish to her heart; +and Girty, who perceived the expressions of agony her sweet features now +displayed, at once advanced to her, and, modulating his voice somewhat +from its usual tones, said: + +"Grieve not, Ella. I will endeavor to procure you an interview with your +friends." + +The kindness manifested in the tones of the speaker, caused Ella to look +up with a start of surprise and hope; and thinking he might perhaps be +moved to mercy, by a direct appeal to his better feelings, she replied, +energetically, with a flush on her now animated countenance: + +"Oh, sir! I perceive you are not lost to all feelings of humanity." Here +the compression of Girty's lips, and a knitting together of his shaggy +brows, warned Ella she was treading on dangerous ground, and she quickly +added: "All of us are liable to err; and there may be circumstances, +unknown to others, that force us to be, or seem to be, that which in our +hearts we are not; and to do acts which our calm moments of reason tell +us are wrong, and which we afterwards sincerely regret." + +"I know not that I understand you," said the renegade, evasively. + +"To be more explicit, then," rejoined Ella, "I trust that you, Simon +Girty, whose acts hitherto have been such as to draw down reproaches +and even curses upon your head, from many of your own race, may now be +induced, by the prayer of her before you, to do an act of justice and +generosity." + +"Speak out your desire!" returned Girty, as Ella, evidently fearful of +broaching the subject too suddenly, paused, in order to observe the +effect of what had already been said. "Speak out briefly, girl; for +yonder stands Wild-cat awaiting me." + +"Oh, then, let me implore you to listen, and God grant your heart may +be touched by my words!" rejoined Ella, eagerly, as she fancied she +saw something of relentment in his stern features. "Look yonder! Behold +that poor old man!--whose head is already sprinkled with the silvery +threads of over fifty winters--beside whom stands the companion of +his sorrows--both of whose lives have been spent in quiet, honest +pursuits--whose doors have ever stood open--whose board has ever been +free to the needy wayfarer. You yourself have been a partaker of their +hospitality, in their own home--which, alas! I have since learned is +in ashes--and can testify to their liberality and kindness. Is this +a proper return therefor, think you?" + +"But did not he, yon gray-headed man, then and there curse me to my +face?" returned the renegade, fiercely, in whose eye could be seen the +cold, sullen gleam of deadly hate; "and shall I, the outcast of my +race--I, whose deeds have made the boldest tremble--I, whose name is a +by-word for curses--now spare him, that has defied and called down God's +maledictions on me?" + +"Oh, yes! yes!" cried Ella, energetically. "Convince him, by your acts +of generosity, that you are not deserving of his censure, and he, I +assure you, will be eager to do you justice. Oh, return good for evil, +where evil has been done you, and God's blessing, instead of His curse, +will be yours!" + +"It may be the _Christian's_ creed to return good for evil," answered +Girty, with a strong emphasis on the word Christian, accompanied with a +sneer; "but by ----! such belongs not to me, nor to those I mate with! +Hark you, Ella Barnwell! I could be induced to do much for you--for I +possess for you a passion stronger than I have ever before felt for any +human being--but were I ever so much disposed to grant your request, it +is now beyond my power." + +"As how?" asked Ella, quickly. + +"Listen! I will tell you briefly. When first I saw, I felt I loved you, +and from that moment resolved you should be mine. Nay, do not shudder +so, and turn away, and look so pale--a worse fate than being the wife +of a British agent might have been apportioned you. To win you by fair +words, I knew at once was out of the question--for one glance showed me +my rival. Besides, I was not handsome, I knew--had not an oily tongue, +and did not like the plan of venturing too much among those who have +good reasons for fearing and hating me--therefore I resolved on your +capture. I had already meditated an attack on some of the settlers in +the vicinity, and I resolved that both should be accomplished at one +time. The result you know. Younker and his wife became my prisoners. +This was done for two purposes. First, to revenge me for the insults +heaped upon Simon Girty. Secondly, to spare their lives; for had it not +been for my positive injunctions, they would have shared the fate of +their neighbors. My design, I say, was to spare their lives and send +them back, whenever it could be done with safety, provided they showed +any signs of contrition. Did they? No! they again upbraided me to my +face. I was again cursed. My blood is hot--my nature revengeful. That +moment sealed their doom. I gave them up to Peshewa. They are no longer +my prisoners. For their lives you must plead with him. I can do nothing. +Have you more to ask?" + +Girty, toward the last, spoke rapidly, in short sentences, as one to +whom the conversation was disagreeable; and Ella listened breathlessly, +with a pale cheek and trembling form; for she saw, alas! there was +nothing favorable to be gained. As he concluded, she suddenly started, +clasped her hands together, and looked up into his stern countenance, +with a wild, thrilling expression, saying, in a trembling voice: + +"You have said you love me!" + +"I repeat it." + +"Then, for Heaven's sake! as you are a human being, and hope for peace +in this world and salvation in the next--restore me--restore us all to +our homes--and to my dying day will I bless and pray for you." + +"Umph!" returned the renegade, drily; "I had much rather _hear_ your +sweet voice, though in anger, than to merely _think_ you may be praying +for me at a distance. But I see Wild-cat is getting impatient;" and +as he concluded, he turned abruptly on his heel, and advanced to +Peshewa--who was now standing with his warriors and prisoners on the +bank of the stream, some fifty paces distant, awaiting a consultation +with him--while Ella hid her face in her hands and wept convulsively. + +"Welcome, Peshewa!" said Girty, as he approached the chief. "You and +your band are here safe, I perceive; and by ----! you have timed it well, +too, for we have only headed you by half an hour." + +"Ugh!" grunted Wild-cat, with that look and gutteral sound peculiar to +the Indian. "Kitchokema has learned Peshewa is here!" + +"Come! come!" answered the renegade, in a somewhat nettled manner; "no +insinuations! I saw Peshewa when he arrived." + +"But could not leave the Big Knife squaw to greet him," added the +Indian. + +"Why, I am not particularly fond of being hurried in my affairs, you +know." + +"But there may be that which will not leave Kitchokema slow to act, in +safety," rejoined Wild-cat, significantly. + +"How, chief! what mean you?" asked Girty, quickly. + +"The Shemanoes--"[9] + +"Well?" said Girty. + +"Are on the trail," concluded Wild-cat, briefly. + +"Ha!" exclaimed the renegade, with a start, involuntarily placing his +hand upon the breech of a pistol in his girdle. "But are you sure, +Peshewa?" + +"Peshewa speaks only what he knows," returned the chief, quietly. + +"Speak out, then--_how_ do you know?" rejoined Girty, in an excited +tone. + +"Peshewa a chief," answered the Indian, in that somewhat obscure and +metaphorical manner peculiar to his race. "He sleeps not soundly on the +war-path. He shuts not his eyes when he enters the den of the wolf. He +_saw_ the camp-fires of the pale-face." + +Such had been the fact. Knowing that his trail was left broad and open, +and that in all probability it would soon be followed, Wild-cat had +been diligently on the watch and as his course had been shaped in a +roundabout, rather than opposite direction (as the reader might at first +glance have supposed) from that taken by Boone, he and his band, by +reason of this, had encamped, on the night in question, not haif a +mile distant from our old hunter, but on the other side of the ridge. +Ascending this himself, to note if any signs of an enemy were visible, +Peshewa had discovered the light of Boone's fire, and traced it to its +source. Without venturing near enough to expose himself, the wily savage +had, nevertheless, gone sufficiently close to ascertain they were the +foes of his race. His first idea had been to return, collect a part of +his warriors, and attack them; but prudence had soon got the better of +his valor; from the fact, as he reasoned, that his band were now in the +enemy's country, where their late depredations had already aroused the +inhabitants to vengeance; and he neither knew the force of Boone's +party--for the reader will remember they were concealed in a cave--nor +what other of his foes might be in the vicinity;--besides which, his +purpose had been accomplished, and he was now on the return with his +prisoners;--the whole of which considerations, had decided him to leave +them unmolested, and ere daylight resume his journey; so that, even +should they accidentally come upon his trail, he would be far enough in +advance to reach and cross the river before them. Such was the substance +of what Wild-cat, in his own peculiar way, now made known to Girty; and +having inquired out the location distinctly, the latter exclaimed: + +"By heavens! I remember leaving that ridge away to the right, which +proves that the white dogs must have been on my trail. I took pains +enough to conceal it before that night; but if they got the better of +me, I don't think they did of the rain that fell afterwards--so that +they have doubtless found themselves on a fool's errand, long ere this, +and given up the search. Besides, should they reach the river's bank, +they have no means of crossing, and therefore we are safe." + +Wild-cat seemed to muse on the remarks of Girty, for a moment or two, +and then said: + +"Why did Mishemenetoc[10] give the chief cunning, but that he might use +it against his foes?--why caution, but that he might avoid danger?" + +"Why that, of course, is all well enough at times," answered Girty; "but +I don't think either particular cunning or caution need be exercised +now--from the fact that I don't believe there is any danger. Even should +the enemies you saw be fool-hardy enough to follow us, they are not many +in number probably, and will only serve to add a few more scalps to our +girdles. However, we are safe for to-night, at all events; for if they +reach the river, as I said before, they won't be able to cross, unless +they make a raft or swim it; and you may rest assured, Peshewa, they +will sleep on the other side, if for nothing else than their own +safety." + +"What, therefore, does my brother propose?" asked Wild-cat. + +"Why, I am for encamping, as soon as we can find a suitable spot--say +within a mile of here--for by ----! I am not only hungry but cold, and my +very bones ache, from traveling in this untimely storm, which I perceive +is on the point of clearing up." + +"Peshewa likes not sleeping with danger so near," replied the savage. + +"Well, I'm not _afraid_," rejoined Girty, laying particular stress on +the latter word; "and so suppose you take the prisoners, with a part of +the band, and go forward, while myself and the balance remain behind to +reconnoitre in the morning; for by ----! that will be time enough to look +for the lazy white dogs. Yet stay!" he added, a moment after, as if +struck by a new thought. "Suppose you take the two Big Knives, and leave +the squaws with me--for being very tired, they will only be a drag upon +your party--and then you can have the stakes ready for the others, if +you get in first, so that we can have the music of their groans to make +us merry on our second meeting." + +To this latter proposition, the chief gave a grunt of assent, and the +whole matter being speedily arranged, the council ended. + +The conversation between these two worthies having been carried on in +the Indian dialect, was of course wholly unintelligible to Mrs. Younker +and her husband, who were standing near; and trying in vain, for some +time, to gain a clue to the discussion, the good lady at last gave +evidence, that if her body and limbs were weary, her tongue was not; +and that with all the warnings she had received, her old habits of +volubility had not as yet been entirely superseded by thoughtful +silence. + +"I do wonder what on yarth," she said, "that thar read-headed Simon +Girty, and that thar ripscallious old varmint, as calls himself a chief, +be coniving at?--and why the pesky Injens don't let me and Ella and the +rest on 'em come together agin, as we did afore? Thar she stands--the +darling--as pale nor a lily, and crying like all nater, jest as if +her little heart war a going to break and done with it. I 'spect the +varmints is hatching some orful plans to put us out o' the way--prehaps +to hitch us to the stake and burn us all to cinder, like they did our +housen, and them things. Well, Heaven's will be done!--as Preacher +Allprayer said, when they turned him out o' meeting for gitting drunk +and swearing--the dear good man!--but I do wish, for gracious sake, I +could only jest change places with 'em--ef jest for five minutes--and +I reckon as how they'd be glad to quit their gibberish, and talk like +Christian folks, once in thar sneaking lives! Thar, they're done now, +I do hope to all marcy's sake! and I reckons as how we'll soon have the +gist on't." + +The foregoing remarks of Mrs. Younker, were made in a low tone, +and evidently not intended, like Dickens' Notes, for general +circulation--the nearly fatal termination of a former speech of hers, +having taught her to be a little cautious in the camp of the enemy. +The conclusion was succeeded by a stare of surprise, on being civilly +informed by Girty, that she was now at liberty to join Ella as soon as +she pleased. + +"Well, now, that's something like," returned the dame, with a smile that +was intended to be a complimentary one; "and shows, jest as clear as any +thing, that thar is a few streaks o' human nater in you arter all." + +Then, as if fearful the permission would be countermanded, the good +lady at once set off in haste to join her adopted daughter. Subsequent +events, however, soon changed the favorable opinion Mrs. Younker had +began to entertain of Girty--particularly when she discovered, as she +imagined, that the liberty allowed her, had only been as a ruse to +withdraw her from her husband--who, as she departed, had been +immediately hurried away, without so much as a parting farewell. + +Orders now being rapidly given by Girty and Wild-cat, were quickly and +silently executed by their swarthy subordinates; and in a few minutes, +the latter chief was on his way, with four warriors, the two male +prisoners, and the little girl--Oshasqua, to whom the latter had been +consigned by Girty, as the reader will remember, and who still continued +to accompany Wild-cat, refusing to leave her behind. + +When informed by Girty, in an authoritative tone, that he must join the +detachment of Wild-cat, Algernon turned toward Ella, and in a trembling +voice said: + +"Farewell, dear Ella! If God wills that we never meet again on earth, +let us hope we may in the Land of Spirits;" and ere she, overcome by her +emotion, had power to reply, he had passed on beyond the reach of her +silvery voice. + +Immediately on the departure of Peshewa, Girty ordered the canoes to be +drawn ashore and concealed in a thicket near by, where they would be +ready in case they should be wanted for another expedition; and then +leading the way himself, the party proceeded slowly up the Miami, for +about a mile, and encamped for the night, within a hundred yards of the +river. + + +[Footnote 9: Americans, or Big Knives. We would remark here, that we +have made use altogether of the Shawanoe dialect; that being most common +among all the Ohio tribes, save the Wyandots or Hurons, who spoke an +entirely different language.] + +[Footnote 10: Great Spirit.] + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE ENCAMPMENT OF THE RENEGADE. + + +It was about ten o'clock on the evening in question, and Simon Girty was +seated by a fire, around which lay stretched at full length some six or +eight dark Indian forms, and near him, on the right, two of another sex +and race. He was evidently in some deep contemplation; for his hat and +rifle were lying by his side, his hands were locked just below his +knees, as if for the purpose of balancing his body in an easy position, +and his eyes fixed intently on the flame, that, waving to and fro in +the wind, threw over his ugly features a ruddy, flickering light, and +extended his shadow to the size and shape of some frightful monster. +The clouds of the late storm had entirely passed away, and through the +checkered openings in the trees overhead could be discerned a few bright +stars, which seemed to sparkle with uncommon brilliancy, owing to the +clearness of the atmosphere. All beyond the immediate circle lighted by +the fire, appeared dark and silent, save the solemn, almost mournful, +sighing of the wind, as it swept among the tree-tops and through the +branches of the surrounding mighty forest. + +What the meditations of the renegade were, we shall not essay to tell; +but doubtless they were of a gloomy nature; for after sitting in the +position we have described, some moments, without moving, he suddenly +started, unclasped his hands, and looked hurriedly around him on every +side, as if half expecting, yet fearful of beholding, some frightful +phantom; but he apparently saw nothing to confirm his fears; and with +a heavy sigh, he resumed his former position. + +What were the thoughts of that dark man, as he sat there?--he whose soul +had been steeped in crime!--he whose hands had long been made red with +the blood of numberless innocent victims! Who shall say what guilty +deeds of the past might have been harrowing up his soul to fear and even +remorse? Who shall say he was not then and there meditating upon death, +and the dread eternity and judgment that must quickly follow +dissolution? Who shall say he was not secretly repenting of that life of +crime, which had already drawn down the curses of thousands upon his +head? Something of the kind, or something equally powerful, must have +been at work within him; for his features ever and anon, by their +mournful contortions--if we may be allowed the phrase--gave visible +tokens of one in deep agony of mind. It would be no pleasant task to +analyze and lay bare the secret workings of so dark a spirit, even had +we power to do it; and so we will leave his thoughts, whether good or +evil, to himself and his God. + +By his side, and within two feet of the renegade, lay extended the +beautiful form of Ella Barnwell--with nothing but a blanket and her own +garments between her and the earth--with none but a similar covering +over her--with her head resting upon a stone, and apparently asleep. We +say apparently asleep; but the drowsy son of Erebus and Nox had not yet +closed her eyelids in slumber; for there were thoughts in her breast +more potent than all his persuasive arts of forgetfulness, or those +of his prime minister, Morpheus. Was she thinking of her own hard +fate--away there in that lonely forest--with not a friend nigh that +could render her assistance--with no hope of escape from the awful doom +to which she was hastening? Or was she thinking of him, for whom her +heart yearned with all the thousand, undefined, indescribable sympathies +of affection?--of him who so lately had been her companion?--for +the heart of love measures duration, not by the cold mathematical +calculation of minutes and hours, and days and weeks, and months and +years, but by events and feelings; and the acquaintance of weeks may +seem the friend of years, and the acquaintance of years be almost +forgotten in weeks;--was she thinking of him, we say--of Algernon? who, +even in misery, had been torn from her side, had said perchance his last +trembling farewell, and gone to suffer a death at which humanity must +shudder! Ay, all these thoughts, and a thousand others, were rushing +wildly through her feverish brain. She thought of her own fate--of +his--of her relations--pictured out in her imagination the terrible doom +of each--and her tender heart became wrung to the most excruciating +point of agony. + +By the side of Ella, was her adopted mother--buried in that troubled +sleep which great fatigue sends to the body, even when the mind is +ill at ease, filling it with startling visions--and around the fire, +as we said before, lay the dusky forms of the savages, lost to all +consciousness of the outer world. The position of Ella was such, that, +by slightly turning her head, she could command a view of the features +of the renegade; whose strange workings, as before noted, served to fix +her attention and divide her thoughts between him, as the cause of her +present unhappiness, and that unhappiness itself--and she gazed on his +loathsome, contorted countenance, with much the same feeling as one +might be supposed to gaze upon a serpent coiling itself around the +body, whose deadly fangs, either sooner or later, would assuredly give +the fatal stroke of death. She noted the sudden start of Girty, and the +wildness with which he peered around him, with feelings of hope and +fear--hope, that rescue might be at hand--fear, lest something more +dreadful was about to happen. At length Girty started again, and turned +his head toward Ella so suddenly, that she had not time to withdraw her +eyes ere his were fixed searchingly upon them. + +"And are you too awake?" he said, with something resembling a sigh. +"I thought the innocent could ever sleep!" + +"Not when the guilty are abroad, with deeds of death, and friends +exposed," returned Ella, bitterly. + +"Ah! true--true!" rejoined Girty, again looking toward the fire, in a +musing mood. + +"Well may you muse and writhe under the tortures of your guilty acts," +continued Ella, in the same bitter tone; "for you have much to answer +for, Simon Girty." + +"And who told you the past tortured me?" cried Girty, quickly, turning +on her a fierce expression. + +"Your changing features and guilty starts," answered Ella. + +"Ha! then you have been a spy upon me, have you?" said Girty, pressing +the words slowly through his clenched teeth, knitting his shaggy brows, +and fixing his eye with intensity upon hers, until she quailed and +trembled beneath its seeming fiery glance; which the light, whereby it +was seen, rendered more demon-like than usual; while it made shadow +chase shadow, like waves of the sea, across his face: "You have been +a spy upon my actions, eh? Beware! Ella Barnwell--beware! Do not +put your head in the lion's mouth too often, or he may think the bait +troublesome; and by ----! had other than you told me what I just now +heard, he or she had not lived to repeat it." + +"Far better an early death and innocence, than a long life of guilt and +misery," returned Ella, at once regaining her boldness of speech; "Far +better the fate you speak of, than mine." + +"And would you prefer being wedded to death, rather than me?" asked +Girty, quickly, in surprise. + +"Ay, a thousand times!" replied Ella, energetically, rising as she +spoke, into a sitting posture, and looking fearlessly upon the renegade, +her previously pale features now flushed with excitement. "I fear not +death, Simon Girty; I have done no act that should make me fear the +change that all must sooner or later undergo; but I could not join my +hand to that of a man of blood, without loathing and horror, and feeling +criminal in the sight of God and man; and least of all to you, Simon +Girty, whose name has become a word of terror to the weak and innocent +of my race, and whose deeds of late have been such as to make me join my +voice in the general maledictions called down upon you." + +During this speech of Ella, Girty sat and gazed upon her with the look +of a baffled demon; and, as she concluded, fairly hissed through his +teeth: + +"And so you would prefer death to me, eh? By ----! you shall have your +choice!" + +As he spoke, he grasped Ella by the wrist with one hand, seized his +tomahawk with the other, and sprung upon his feet. His rapid movement +and wild manner now really frightened her; and uttering a faint cry of +horror, she endeavored to release his hold; while the warriors, aroused +by the noise, bounded up from the earth, weapon in hand, with looks of +alarm. + +Turning to them, Girty now spoke a few words in the Indian tongue; and, +with significant glances at Ella, they were just in the act of again +encamping, when crack went some five or six rifles, followed by yells +little less savage than their own, and four of them rolled upon the +earth, groaning with pain; while the others, surprised and bewildered, +grasped their weapons and shouted: + +"The Shemanoes!" "The Long Knives!" not knowing whether to stand or fly. + +Girty, meantime, had been left unharmed; although the shivering of the +helve of the tomahawk in his hand, in front of his breast, showed him +he had been a target for no mean marksman, and that his life had been +preserved almost by a miracle. For a moment he stood irresolute--his +nostrils fairly dilated with fear and rage, still holding Ella by +the wrist, who was too paralyzed with what she had seen to speak or +move--straining his eyes in every direction to note, if possible, the +number of his foes and whence their approach. The whole glance was +momentary; but he saw himself nearly surrounded by his enemies, who +were fast closing in toward the center with fierce yells; and pausing +no longer in indecision, he encircled Ella's waist with his left arm, +raised her from the ground, and keeping her as much as possible between +himself and his enemies, to deter them from firing, darted away toward +a thicket, some fifty yards distant, pursued by two of the attacking +party. + +Just as Girty gained the thicket, one of his pursuers made a sudden +bound forward and grasped him by the arm; but his hold was the next +moment shaken off by the renegade, who, being now rendered desperate, +drew a pistol from his belt, with the rapidity of lightning, and laid +the bold adventurer dead at his feet. Almost at the same moment, Girty +received a blow on the back of his head, from the breech of the rifle of +his other antagonist, that staggered him forward; when, releasing his +hold of Ella, he turned and darted off in another direction, firing a +pistol as he went, the ball of which whizzed close to the head of him +for whom it was designed; and in a moment more he was lost in the mazes +of the forest. + +Meantime the bloody work was going forward in the center; for at the +moment when Girty darted away, the report of some three or four rifles +again echoed through the wood, two more of the red warriors bit the +dust, while the other two fled in opposite directions, leaving Boone and +his party sole masters of the field. + +Eager, excited, reckless and wild, several of the young men now rushed +forward, with yells of triumph, to the wounded Indians, whom they +immediately tomahawked without mercy, and began to scalp, when the voice +of Boone, who had been more cautious, reached them from a distance: + +"Beware o' the fire-light, lads! or the red varmints will draw a +bead[11] on some of ye." + +Scarcely were the words uttered, ere his warning was sadly fulfilled; +for the two savages finding they were not pursued, and thirsting for +revenge, turned and fired almost simultaneously, with aims so deadly, +that one of the young men, by the name of Beecher, fell mortally wounded +and expired a moment after; and another, by the name of Morris, had his +wrist shattered by a ball. This fatal event produced a panic in the +others, who at once fled precipitately into the darkness, leaving Mrs. +Younker, who had by this time gained her feet, standing alone by the +fire, a bewildered spectator of the terrible tragedies that had so +lately been enacted by her side. To her Boone now immediately advanced, +notwithstanding the caution he had given the others; and turning to him +as he came up, the good lady exclaimed, in a tone of astonishment: + +"Why, Colonel Boone, be this here you? Why when did you come--and how +on yarth did ye git here--and what in the name o' all creation has been +happening? For ye see I war jest dosing away thar by the fire, and +dreaming all sorts of things, like all nater, when somehow I kind o' +thought I'd all at once turned into a man and gone to war a rale +soldier; and the battle had opened, and the big guns war blazing away, +and the little guns war popping off, and the soldiers war shrieking and +groaning and falling around me, like all possessed; and men a trampling, +and horses a running like skeered deer; and then I sort o' woke up, and +jumped up, and seed all them dead Injen wretches; and then I jest begun +to think as how it warn't no dream at all, but a living truth, all 'cept +my being a man and a soldier, as you com'd up. Well, ef this arn't a +queer world," resumed the good dame, catching breath meanwhile, "as +Preacher Allprayer used to say, then maybe as how I don't know nothing +at all about it." + +"Your dream war a very nateral one, Mrs. Younker," returned Boone, +who, during the speech of the other, had been actively employed in +scattering the burning brands, to prevent the recurrence of another sad +catastrophe; "and I'm rejoiced to see that you've escaped unharmed, amid +this bloody work. Allow me to set you free;" and as he spoke, he drew his +scalping knife, and severed the thongs that bound her wrists. + +"Gracious on me!" cried the dame, chafing the parts which had been +swollen by the tightness of the cords; "how clever 'tis to get free +agin, and have the use o' one's hands and tongue, to do and say jest +what a body pleases; for d'ye know, Colonel Boone, them thar imps of +Satan war awfully afeared o' my talking to 'em, to convince 'em they +war the meanest varmints in the whole univarsul yarth o' creation; +and actually put a peremshus stop to my saying what I thought on 'em; +although I told 'em as how it war a liberty as these blessed colonies +war this moment fighting for with the hateful red-coated Britishers. +But, Lord presarve us! gracious on us! where in marcy's sake is my dear, +darling Ella?" concluded Mrs. Younker, with vehemence and alarm, as she +now missed her adopted daughter for the first time. + +"She's here, mother," answered a voice close behind her; and turning +round, the dame uttered a cry of joy, sprung into the arms of her son +Isaac, and wept upon his neck--occasionally articulating, in a choked +voice: + +"God bless you, Isaac! God bless you, son!--you're a good boy--the +Lord's presarved you through the whole on't--the Lord be praised!--but +your father, poor lad--your father!" and with a strong burst of emotion, +she buried her face upon his breast, and wept aloud. + +"I know it," sobbed forth Isaac, his whole frame shaken with the force +of his feelings: "I--I know the whole on't, mother--Ella's told me. I'd +rather he'd bin killed a thousand times; but thar's no help for it now!" + +"No help for it!" cried Ella in alarm, who, having greeted the old +hunter, with tearful eyes, now stood weeping by his side. "No help for +it! Heaven have mercy!--say not so! They must--they must be rescued!" +Then turning wildly to Boone, she grasped his hand in both of hers, and +exclaimed: "Oh! sir, speak! tell me they can be saved--and on my knees +will I bless you!" + +A few words now rapidly uttered by Isaac, put the old hunter in +possession of the facts, concerning the forced march of Younker and +Reynolds, of which he had previously heard nothing; and musing on the +information a few moments, he shook his head sadly, and said, with a +sigh: + +"I'm sorry for you, Ella--I'm sorry for all o' ye--I'm sorry on my own +account--but I'm o' the opinion o' Isaac, that thar's no help for it +now. They're too far beyond us--we're in the Indian country--our numbers +are few--two or three o' the red varmints have escaped to give 'em +information o' what's been done--they'll be thirsty for revenge--and +nothing but a special Providence can now alter that prisoners' doom. I +had hoped it war to be otherwise; but we must submit to God's decrees;" +and raising his hand to his eyes, the old woodsman hastily brushed away +a tear, and turned aside to conceal his emotion; while Ella, overcome by +her feelings, at the thought of having parted, perhaps for the last +time, from Algernon and her uncle, staggered forward and sunk powerless +into the arms of Mrs. Younker, whose tears now mingled with her own. + +By this time the whole party had gathered silently around their noble +leader, and were observing the sad scene as much as the feeble light of +the scattered brands would permit, their faces exhibiting a mournfulness +of expression in striking contrast to that they had so lately displayed, +previous to the death of their comrade. To them Boone now turned, and +running his eye slowly over the whole, said, in a sad voice: + +"Well, lads, one o' our party's gone to his last account, I perceive," +and he pointed mournfully to the still body of Beecher, some three or +four paces distant; "another I see is wounded, and a third's missing. +I hope no harm's befallen him, the noble Master Harry Millbanks!" + +"Alas! he's dead, Colonel!" answered Isaac, covering his eyes with his +hand. + +"Dead?" echoed Boone. + +"Dead?" cried the others, simultaneously. + +"Yes," rejoined Isaac, with a sigh; "He and I war chasing that thar +infernal renegade Girty, who war running away with Ella thar; and he'd +jest got up to him, and got him by the arm, when Girty shuk him off like +it warn't nothing at all, and then shot him dead on the spot. Ef he +hadn't a bin quite so quick about it, I think as how it wouldn't a +happened; for the next moment I hit him a rap on the head with the +butt-end o' my rifle, that sent him a staggering off, and would ha' +fetched him to the ground, ef it hadn't first struck a limb. Howsomever, +it made him let go o' Ella, and start up a new trail--jest leaving his +compliments for me in the shape of a bullet, which, ef it didn't do me +no harm, it warn't 'cause he didn't intend it to. I jest stopped to look +at poor Harry; and finding he war dead, I took Ella by the hand and come +straight down here." + +"Who's that you said war dead, Isaac?" inquired his mother, who had +partially overheard the conversation. + +"Harry Millbanks, mother." + +"Harry Millbanks!" repeated the dame in astonishment. "What, young +Harry?--our Harry?--Goodness gracious, marcy on me! what orful mean +wretches them Injens is, to kill sech as him. Dear me! then the hull +family is gone; for I hearn from Rosetta, that her father and mother and +all war killed afore her eyes; and now she's bin taken on to be killed +too, the darling." + +"Ha! yes," said Boone, as if struck with a new thought; "I remember +seeing the foot-prints of a child--war they made by this unfortunate +young man's sister?" + +"I reckon as how they war," answered Mrs. Younker; "for the poor thing +war a prisoner along with us, crying whensomever she dared to, like all +nater." + +"Well," rejoined the old hunter, musingly, "we've done all we could--I'm +sorry it didn't turn out better--but we must now leave their fates in +the hands o' Providence, and return to our homes. We must bury our dead +first; and I don't know o' any better way than to sink thar bodies in +the Ohio." + +Accordingly, after some further conversation, four of the party +proceeded for the body of Millbanks--with which they soon +returned--while Boone conducted the ladies away from the scene of +horror, and down to where Ella informed him the canoes were hidden, +leaving his younger companions to rifle and scalp the savages if they +chose. In a few minutes from his arrival at the point in question, he +was joined by the others, who came slowly, in silence, bearing the +mortal remains of Millbanks and Beecher. Placing the canoes in the +water, the whole party entered them, in the same silent and solemn +manner, and pulled slowly down the Miami, into the middle of the Ohio; +then leaving the vessels to float with the current, they uncovered their +heads, and mournfully consigned the bodies of the deceased to the watery +element. + +It was a sad and impressive scene--there, on the turbid Ohio, near the +midnight hour--to give to the rolling waters the last remains of those +who had been their friends and companions, and as full of life and +activity as themselves but an hour before;--it was a sad, impressive, +and affecting scene--one that was looked upon with weeping eyes--and +one which, by those who witnessed it, was never to be forgotten. +There were no loud bursts of grief--there were no frantic exclamations +of woe--but the place, the hour, and withal the various events which +had transpired to call them so soon from a scene of festivity to one of +mourning--together with the thoughts of other friends departed, or in +terrible captivity--served to render it a most painfully solemn one--and +one, as we said before, that was destined never to be forgotten. + +For a short space after the river engulphed the bodies, all gazed upon +the waters in silence; when Boone said, in a voice slightly trembling. + +"They did their duties--they have gone--God rest their souls, and give +peace to their bones!" and taking up a paddle, the noble old hunter +pulled steadily for the Kentucky shore in silence, followed by the other +boats in the same manner. There they landed, placed the canoes in +safety, in case they should again be needed, rekindled their fire, and +encamped for the night. + +On the following morning, they set out upon their homeward journey; +where they finally arrived, without any events occurring worthy of note. + + +[Footnote 11: A hunter's phrase for taking sight.] + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE INDIANS AND THEIR PRISONERS. + + +As you ascend the Miami from its mouth at the present day, you come +almost immediately upon what are termed the Bottoms, or Bottom Lands, +which are rich and fertile tracts of country, of miles in extent, and +sometimes miles in breadth, almost water level, with the stream in +question slowly winding its course through them, like a deep blue ribbon +carelessly unrolled upon a dark surface. They are now mostly under +culture, and almost entirely devoted to the production of maize, which, +in the autumn of the year, presents the goodly sight of a golden +harvest. At the time of which we write, there were no such pleasant +demonstrations of civilization, but a vast unbroken forest instead, some +vestiges of which still remain, in the shape of old decaying trees, +standing grim and naked, + + "To summer's heat and winter's blast," + +like the ruins of ancient structures, to remind the beholder of former +days. + +On these Bottoms, about ten miles above the mouth of the Miami, +Wild-cat and his party, with their prisoners, encamped on the evening +the attack was made upon the renegade, as shown in the preceding chapter. +Possessing caution in a great degree, and fearful of the escape of his +prisoners, Wild-cat spared no precautions which he thought might enhance +the security of Younker and Reynolds. Accordingly, when arrived at the +spot where he intended to remain for the night, the chief ordered stakes +to be driven deep into the earth, some distance apart, to which the feet +of the two in question, after being thrown flat upon their backs, in +opposite directions, were tightly bound, with their hands still corded +to the crossbars as before. A rope was next fastened around the neck +of each, and secured to a neighboring sapling, in which uncomfortable +manner they were left to pass the night; while their captors, starting +a fire, threw themselves upon the earth around it, and soon to all +appearance were sound asleep. + +To the tortures of her older companions in captivity, little Rosetta +was not subjected; for Oshasqua--the fierce warrior to whom Girty had +consigned her, in the expectation, probably, that she would long ere +this have been knocked on the head and scalped--had, by one of those +strange mysterious phenomena of nature, (so difficult of comprehension, +and which have been known to link the rough and bloody with the gentle +and innocent,) already begun to feel towards her a sort of affection, +and to treat her with great kindness whenever he could do so unobserved +by the others. The apparel of which he had at first divested her, to +ornament his own person, had been restored, piece by piece; and this, +together with the change in his manner, had at length been observed by +the child, with feelings of gratitude. Poor little thing! to whom could +she look for protection now? Her father and mother were dead--had been +murdered before her own eyes--her brother was away, and she herself a +captive to an almost merciless foe; could she feel other than grateful +for an act of kindness, from one at whose hands she looked for nothing +but abuse and death? Nay, more: So strange and complex is the human +heart--so singular in its developments--that we see nothing to wonder +at, in her feeling for the savage, under the circumstances--loathsome +and offensive as he might have been to her under others--a sort of +affection--or rather, a yearning toward him as a protector. Such she did +feel; and thus between two human beings, as much antagonistical perhaps, +in every particular, as Nature ever presented, was already established +a kind of magnetic sympathy--or, in other words, a gradual blending +together of opposites. The result of all this, as may be imagined, was +highly beneficial to Rosetta, who, in consequence, fared as well as +circumstances would permit. At night she slept unbound beside Oshasqua, +who secured her from escape by passing his brawny arm under her head, +which also in a measure served her for a pillow. So slept she on the +night in question. + +With Younker and Reynolds there was little that could be called +sleep--the minds of both being too actively employed with the events +which had transpired, and with thoughts of those so dear to them, who +had been left behind, for what fate God only knew. Besides, there was +little wherewithal to court the drowsy god, in the manner of their +repose--each limb being strained and corded in a position the most +painful--and if they slept at all, it was that feverish and fitful +slumber, which, though it serve in part the design of nature, brings +with it nothing refreshing to the individual himself. To both, +therefore, the night proved one of torture to body and mind; and bad as +was their condition after the encampment, it was destined to be worse +ere the gray dawn of morning, by the arrival of Girty and the only two +Indians who had escaped the deadly rifles of the Kentuckians. + +"Up, warriors!" cried the renegade, with a blasphemous oath, as he came +upon the detachment. "Up, warriors! and sharpen your wits to invent the +most damnable tortures that the mind of man can conceive!" and at the +sound of his voice, which was loud and hoarse, each Indian sprung to his +feet, with an anxious and troubled face. + +"And you, ye miserable white dogs!" continued Girty, turning to Younker +and Reynolds, on whom he bestowed numerous kicks, as if by way of +enforcing the truth his assertion; "were you suffering all the torments +of hell, you might consider yourselves in perfect bliss, compared to +what you shall yet undergo ere death snatches you from me!" + +"What new troubles ha' ye got, Simon Girty?" asked Younker, composedly. +"But you needn't answer; I can see what's writ on your face; thar's bin +a rescue--you've lost your prisoners--for which the Lord be praised! I +can die content now, with all your tortures." + +"Can you, by ----!" cried the renegade, in a paroxysm of rage; "we shall +see!" + +As he concluded, he bestowed upon Younker a kick in the face, so violent +that a stream of blood followed it. The old man uttered a slight groan, +but made no other answer; and Girty turned away to communicate to the +others the intelligence of what had transpired since their parting; for +although they believed it to be of the utmost consequence, and tragical +in all its bearings, yet so far there had not been a question asked nor +an event related concerning it on either side--such being the force of +habit in all matters of grave importance, and the deference to his +superiors shown by the Indian on all similar occasions. + +As soon as Girty had made known the sad disaster that had befallen his +party, there was one universal yell of rage, accompanied by violent +demonstrations of grief and anger--such as beating their bodies, +stamping fiercely on the ground, and brandishing their tomahawks over +their heads with terrific gestures. They then proceeded to dance around +Younker and Reynolds, uttering horrid yells, accompanied with kicks and +blows; after which, a consultation was held between Girty and Wild-cat, +wherein it was agreed to take them to Piqua, a Shawanoe settlement on +the Miami, and there have them put to the tortures. Accordingly, without +further delay, they unbound their prisoners, with the exception of their +hands, and forced them to set forward at a fast pace--treating them, +meanwhile, in the most brutal manner. Oshasqua, however, took good care +there should be no violence done to Rosetta; for he kept her closely by +his side; and occasionally, when he saw her little limbs growing weary, +raised and bore her forward, for a considerable distance, in his arms. + +It was a strange, but by no means unpleasing sight, to behold that dark, +bloodstained warrior--whose very nature was cruel and ferocious, and who +probably had never before loved or sought to protect aught bearing the +human form--now exhibiting such tender regard for a weak, trembling +prisoner, placed in his hands for a speedy sacrifice. It was withal an +affecting sight, to Younker and Reynolds, who looked upon it with +moistened eyes, and felt it in the force of a revelation from Heaven, +that He, who sees the sparrow fall, was even now moving through the +wilderness, and teaching one lesson of mercy at least to the most +obdurate heart of the savage race. + +To the renegade, however, this conduct of Oshasqua was far from being +agreeable; for so much did he delight in cruelty, and so bitterly did he +hate all his race--particularly now, after having been foiled by them +so lately--that he would a thousand times rather have heard the dying +groans of the child, and seen her in the last agonies of death, than in +the warrior's arms. At length he advanced to the side of the Indian, and +said in the Shawanoe dialect, with a sneer: + +"Is Oshasqua a squaw, that he should turn nurse?" + +Probably from the whole vocabulary of the Indian tongue, a phrase more +expressive of contempt, and one that would have been more severely felt +by the savage warrior, who abhors any thing of a womanly nature, could +not have been selected; and this Girty, who understood well to whom he +was speaking, knew, and was prepared to see the hellish design of his +heart meet with a ready second from Oshasqua. For a moment after he +spoke, the latter looked upon the renegade with flashing eyes; and then +seizing Rosetta roughly, he raised her aloft, as if with the intention +of dashing her brains out at his feet. She doubtless understood from +his fierce movement the murderous intent in his breast, and uttered a +heart-rending cry of anguish. In an instant the grim features of the +Indian softened; and lowering her again to her former position in his +arms, he turned coldly to Girty, and smiting his breast with his hand, +said, with dignity: + +"Oshasqua a warrior above suspicion. He can save and defend with his +life whom he loves!" + +Girty bit his lips, and uttering a deep malediction in English, turned +away to consult with Wild-cat on the matter; but finding the chief would +not join him in interfering with the rights of the other, he growled out +another dreadful oath, and let the subject drop. + +Late at night the party encamped within something like a mile of Piqua; +and by daylight a warrior was despatched to convey intelligence of their +approach, their prisoners, and the sad disaster they had experienced on +their journey. In the course of an hour the messenger returned, bringing +with him a vast number of savages of both sexes and all ages, who +immediately set up the most horrid yells, danced around Younker and +Algernon like madmen, not unfrequently beating and kicking them +unmercifully. They then departed for the town, taking the prisoners with +them, where their fate was to be decided by the council.[12] But ere +sentence should be pronounced, it was the unanimous decision of the +savages, that they should have some amusement, by forcing the prisoners +to run the gauntlet. This, to the women and children, as well as the +warriors themselves, was a most delightful sport, and they at once made +the welkin ring with yells of joy. + +"It's a hard task we've got to undergo now, Algernon," said Younker, in +a low voice; "and God send it may be my last; for I'd much rayther die +this way, nor at the stake. I don't at all calculate on escaping--but +something tells me you will--and ef you do--" + +Here the old man was interrupted by Girty, who forced himself between +the two and separated them. Younker being the first selected to run the +gauntlet, was immediately unbound, and stripped to the skin,[13] +preparatory to the race. The assemblage now formed themselves into two +lines, facing each other, only a few feet apart, and extending the +distance of a hundred yards, terminating near the council-house, which +stood in the center of the village. Through these lines, the old man was +informed by Girty, he must run; while the savages on either side, armed +with clubs, were at liberty to inflict as many blows upon him as they +could in passing; and therefore it would stand him in hand to reach the +other extremity as soon as possible. + +"I'm an old man, Simon Girty," said Younker, in reply, "and can't run as +I once could--so you needn't reckon on my gitting through alive." + +"But, by ----! you must get through alive, or else not at all; for we +can't spare you quite so soon, as we want you to try the pleasures of +the stake," answered the renegade, with a laugh. + +"God's will be done--not yourn nor mine!" rejoined Younker, solemnly. +"But tell me, Simon Girty, as the only favor I'll ever ask o' ye--war my +wife and Ella rescued?" + +"Why," said Girty, "if it will do you any good to know it, I will tell +you they were; but I will add, for your particular benefit, that they +will again be in my power; for I will excite every tribe of the Six +Nations to the war path; and then, woe to the pioneers of Kentucky!--for +desolation, rapine and blood shall mark our trail, until the race become +extinct. I have sworn, and will fulfill it. But come--all is ready." + +"For the first o' your information, I thank you," returned Younker; "for +the last on't, I'll only say, thar's a power above ye. I'm ready--lead +on!" + +Girty now conducted the old man to the lines; and having cautioned the +savages, in a loud voice, to beware of taking his life, gave the signal +for him to start. Instantly Younker darted forward, and with such speed, +that the nearest Indians neglected to strike until he had passed them, +by which means he gained some six or eight paces without receiving a +blow; but now they fell hard and fast upon him, accompanied with screams +and yells of the most diabolical nature; and ere he had gone thirty +yards, he began to stagger, when a heavy stroke on the head laid him +senseless on the earth. In a moment the renegade, who had kept him +company outside, burst through the lines, just in time to ward off the +blow of a powerful warrior, aimed at the skull of Younker, which, +without doubt, would have been fatal. + +"Fool!" cried Girty, fiercely, to the Indian. "Did I not tell you his +life must be spared for the stake?" + +The savage drew himself up with dignity, and walked away without reply; +while the renegade, examining the bruises of the fallen man for a moment +or two, ordered him to be taken to the council-house, and, if possible, +restored to consciousness. He then returned to Algernon, who had been +left standing a sad spectator of the whole proceedings, and said, in a +gruff voice: + +"Now, by ----! young man, it's your turn; and let me tell you, it will +stand you in hand to do your best. Come, let us see what sort of a +figure you will cut." + +As he concluded, he severed the thongs around the hands of our hero, and +unceremoniously began to strip him, in which he was aided by a couple of +old squaws. + +The features of Algernon were pale, but composed; and he allowed himself +to be handled as one who felt an escape from his doom to be impossible, +and who had nerved himself to undergo it with as much stoicism as he +could command. As his vestments were rent from his body, the wound +in his side was discovered to be nearly healed; and would have been +entirely so, probably, but for the irritation occasioned it of late by +his long marches, exposure and fatigue, which had served to render it at +present not a little painful. As his eye for a moment rested upon it, +his mind instantly reverted to its cause--recalled, with the rapidity +of thought, which is the swiftest comparison we can make, the many and +important events that had since transpired up to the present time, +wherein the gentle Ella Barnwell held no second place--and he sighed, +half aloud: + +"I would to Heaven it had been mortal!--how much misery had then been +spared me?" + +As he said this, one of the squaws, who had been observing it intently, +struck him thereon a violent blow with her fist, which started it to +bleeding afresh, and, in spite of himself, caused Algernon to utter a +sharp cry of pain, at which all laughed heartily. Thinking doubtless +this species of amusement as interesting as any, the old hag was on the +point of repeating the blow, when Girty arrested it, by saying something +to her in the Indian tongue, and all three turned aside, as if to +consult together, leaving our hero standing alone, unbound. + +A wild thought now suddenly thrilled him. He was free, perchance he +might escape; at least he could but die in the attempt; and that, at +all events, was preferable to a lingering death of torture! He looked +hurriedly around. Only the renegade and the squaws were close at hand, +and they engaged in conversation. The main body of the Indians were at a +distance, awaiting him to run the gauntlet. He needed no second thought +to prompt him to the trial; and wheeling about, he placed his hand upon +the wound, and bounded away with the fleetness of the deer. In a moment +the yells of an hundred savages in pursuit, sounded in his ear, and +urged him onward to the utmost of his strength. He was no mean runner at +any time; now he was flying to save his life, and every nerve did its +duty. Before him was a slope, that stretched away to the river Miami; +and down this he fled with a velocity that astonished himself; while +yell after yell of the demons behind, now in full chase, were to him +only so many death cries, to stimulate him to renewed exertions. At last +he gained the river and rushed into the water. It was not deep, and he +struggled forward with all his might. On the opposite side was a steep +hill and thicket. Could he but gain that, hope whispered he might elude +his pursuers and escape. Again he redoubled his exertions; and, joy--joy +to his heart--he reached it, just as the foremost of his adversaries, +a powerful and fleet young warrior, dashed into the stream from the +opposite bank. He now for the first time began to feel weak and +fatigued; but his life was yet in danger, and he still pressed onward. +Alas! alas! just on the point of escape, his strength was failing him +fast, the blood was trickling too from his wound, and a sharp, severe +pain afflicted him in his side. Oh God! he thought--what would he not +give for the strength and soundness of body he once possessed! The +thicket he had entered was dense and dark, so that it was impossible to +move through it with much velocity, or see ahead any distance; and as +the thought just recorded rushed through his brain, he came suddenly +upon a high, steep rock. By this time his nearest pursuer was also +entering the thicket; and in a minute or two more he felt capture would +be certain, unless he could instantly secrete himself till his strength +should be again renewed. Fortune for once now seemed to stand his +friend; for stooping down at the base of the rock, he discovered it +to be shelving and projecting somewhat over the declivity; so that by +dropping upon the ground and crawling up under it, he would, owing to +the density and darkness of the thicket, as before mentioned, be wholly +concealed from any one standing upright. To do this was the work of a +moment; and the next he heard his pursuing foe rush panting by, with +much the same sense of relief that one experiences on awakening from a +horrible dream, where death seemed inevitable, and finding oneself lying +safely and easily in a comfortable bed. + +We say Algernon experienced much the same sense of relief as the +awakened dreamer; but unlike the latter, his was only momentary; for +yell upon yell still sounded in his ear; and plunge after plunge into +the stream, followed quickly by a rustling of the bushes around, the +trampling of many feet close by, and the war-whoops of his enemies, +warned him, that, if he had escaped one, there were hundreds yet to +be eluded before he could consider himself as safe. Wildly his heart +palpitated, as now one stirred the bushes within reach of his hand, and, +slightly pausing, as if to examine the spot of his concealment, uttered +a horrid yell, as of discovery, and then, just as he fancied all was +lost, to his great relief darted suddenly away. + +Thus one after another passed on; and their fierce yells gradually +sounding more and more distant, renewed his hope, that he might yet +escape their vigilant eyes, and again be free to roam the earth at will. +O, potent, joyful thought!--how it made his very heart leap, and the +blood course swiftly through his heated veins!--and then, when some +sound was heard more near, how his heart sickened at the fear he might +again be captured, and forced to a lingering, agonizing death!--how he +shuddered as he thought, until his flesh felt chill and clammy, and cold +drops of perspiration, wrung forth by mental agony, stood upon his pale +features! Even death, before his escape, possessed not half the terrors +for him it would have now; for then he had nerved himself to meet it, +and prepared himself for the worst; but now he had again had a taste of +freedom, and would feel the reverse in a thousand accumulated horrors. + +Thus for a few minutes he lay, in painful thought, when he became aware, +by the different sounds, that many of the savages were returning. +Presently some two or three paused by the rock, and beat back the bushes +around it. Then, dropping upon his knees, one of the Indians actually +put his head to the ground, and peered up into the cavity. It was a +horrible moment of suspense to Algernon, as he beheld the hideous visage +of the savage so near, and evidently gazing upon him; and thinking +himself discovered, he was on the point of coming forth, when a certain +vagueness in the look of the Indian, led him to hope he was not yet +perceived; and he lay motionless, with his breath suspended. But, alas! +his hope was soon changed to despair; for after gazing a moment longer, +the Indian suddenly started, his features expressed satisfaction, he +uttered a significant grunt, and, springing to his feet, gave a loud, +long, peculiar whoop. The next moment our hero was roughly seized, and, +ere he could exert himself at all, dragged forth by the heels, by which +means his limbs and body became not a little bruised and lacerated. + +The savages now came running towards their prisoner from all quarters, +in high glee at his recapture--being attracted hither, probably, by the +signal whoop of success made by the one who first discovered him. Among +the rest came Girty; who, as he approached Algernon, burst into a loud +laugh, saying, in a jocular manner: + +"Well, my fine bird, so you are caught again, eh? I was most infernally +afraid you had got away in earnest; I was, by ----! But we'll soon fix +you now, so that you won't run away again in a hurry." + +Then turning to the savages around him, the renegade continued his +remarks in the Indian tongue, occasionally laughing boisterously, in +which they not unfrequently joined. In this manner, the whole party +returned in triumph to the village--being met on their way thither by +the women and children, who set up yells of delight, sung and danced +around their prisoner, whom they beat with their fists and with sticks, +until he became sore from head to heel. + +The gauntlet was soon again made ready, and Algernon started upon the +race; but fatigued in body and mind, from the late events--weak and +faint from the bleeding of his wound and bruises--he scarcely reached +twenty paces down the lines, ere he sunk overpowered to the earth; from +which he was immediately raised, and borne forward to the council-house, +where, according to the Indian custom, the chiefs and warriors were to +decide upon his fate. + + +[Footnote 12: Lest there should seem to the reader an inconsistency +in one tribe yielding the fate of their prisoners to the decision of +another, we would remark here, that at the period of which we write, the +Six Nations were allied and fought for one common interest against the +Americans, on the British side, and therefore not unfrequently shared +each others dangers and partook of each others spoils.] + +[Footnote 13: A practice sometimes, but not always, followed.] + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE TRIAL, SENTENCE, AND EXECUTION. + + +The council-house in question, was a building of good size, of +larger dimensions than its neighbors, stood on a slight elevation, and, +as we before remarked, near the center of the village. Into this the +warriors and head men of the Piqua tribe now speedily gathered, and +proceeded at once to business. An old chief--whose wrinkled features and +slightly-tremulous limbs, denoted extreme age--was allowed, by common +consent, to act as chairman; and taking his position near the center of +the apartment, with a knife and a small stick in his hand, the warriors +and chief men of the nation formed a circle around him. + +Among these latter--conspicuous above all for his beautiful and graceful +form, his dignified manner, and look of intelligence, to whom all eyes +turned with seeming deference--was the celebrated Shawanoe chief, +Catahecassa, (Black Hoof) whose name occupies no inferior place on the +historic page of the present day, as being at first the inveterate foe, +and afterward the warm friend of the whites. In stature he was small, +being only about five feet eight inches, lightly made, but strongly put +together, with a countenance marked and manly, and one that would be +pleasing to a friend, but the reverse to an enemy. He was a great +orator, a keen, cunning and sagacious warrior, and one who held the +confidence and love of his tribe. At the period referred to, he was far +past what is usually termed the middle age; though, as subsequent events +have proved, only in his noon of life--for at his death he numbered one +hundred and ten years. + +Upon the ground, within the circle, and near the old chief in the +center, were seated Algernon and Younker--the latter having recovered +consciousness--both haggard and bloody from their recent brutal +treatment. They were sad spectacles to behold, truly, and would have +moved to pity any hearts less obdurate than those by which they were +surrounded. Their faces bore those expressions of dejection and wan +despair, which may sometimes be perceived in the look of a criminal, +when, loth to die, he is assured all hope of pardon is past. Not that +either Younker or Reynolds felt criminal, or feared death in its +ordinary way; but there were a thousand things to harass their minds, +besides the dreadful thought of that lingering, horrible torture, which +was enough to make the boldest quail, and which they now had not the +faintest hope of escaping. There is ever something solemn and awful in +the thought of death, let it come in the mildest form possible--for the +individual feels he is hastening to that silent bourne, whence none +have e'er returned to tell its mysteries--yet such is as nothing in +comparison with the death our prisoners were now silently awaiting, away +from friends and all sympathy, in the full vigor of animal life, to be +fairly worn out by the most excruciating pains, amid the hootings and +revilings of a savage foe. It was enough to have made the stoutest heart +faint, trembling and sick; and thus our unfortunate friends felt, as +they slowly gazed around and saw nothing but fierce, angry looks bent +upon them. + +Girty was the first to address the assemblage, in the Indian dialect, +in an animated and angry speech of five minutes duration; occasionally +turning his sinister visage upon the prisoners, with an expression of +mortal hatred; gesticulating the while in that vehement manner which +would have left no doubts on their minds as to the nature of his +discourse, had they not previously known him to be their determined foe. +He narrated to the savages, clearly and briefly, the wrongs which had +been done them, as well as himself, by the whites; how, as the ally and +friend of the red-man, he had been cursed, defied and treated with much +contumely, by those here present; how their friends had followed and +slaughtered his braves; how the whites were every day becoming stronger +and more aggressive; how that, unless speedily exterminated, they would +presently drive the red-men from their hunting grounds, burn their +wigwams, and murder their wives and children; referred them, as a proof, +to the sacking and burning of the Chillicothe and Piqua villages, on the +Little Miami and Mad rivers, the year preceding, by General Clark and +his men;[15] and wound up by demanding the death of the prisoners at the +stake, and a speedy and bloody retaliation upon the pioneers of +Kentucky. + +As Girty concluded his speech, which was listened to in breathless +silence, there was a great sensation in the house, and an almost +unanimous grunt of approval from the chiefs and braves there assembled. +It needed but this, to arouse their vindictive passions against the +white invader to the extreme; and they bent upon the unfortunate +prisoners, eyes which seemed inflamed with rage and revenge. Girty +perceived, at a glance, that he had succeeded to the full of his heart's +desire; and with a devilish smile of satisfaction on his features, he +drew back among the warriors, to listen to the harangues of the others. + +Black Hoof was the next to follow the renegade, in a similar but more +eloquent strain; during which his countenance became greatly animated; +and it was easy for the prisoners to perceive--who could not understand +a word he uttered--that he spoke with great enthusiasm. He also pressed +upon his companions the vast importance of exterminating the whites, +ere they, as he expressed it, became as the leaves of the forest, and +covered the red-man's soil; that, for this purpose, they should prepare +themselves as soon as possible, to open a deadly, unyielding warfare +upon the frontiers; but said, withal, that he was opposed to burning +the prisoners--as that was a barbarism which he feared would not be +sanctioned by the great Spirit--and urged that they should be put to +death in, a quicker and milder form.[14] + +Black Hoof's speech was warmly received, with the exception of what +referred to the prisoners, and this rather coldly. They were excited to +a powerful degree--their passions were up for revenge--and they could +not bear the idea of sending a prisoner out of the world, without first +enjoying the delight of seeing him writhe under the tortures of the +stake. + +Wild-cat next followed Black Hoof, in a brief speech, in which he but +echoed the sentiments of Girty throughout, and received, like his +colleague, an almost universal grunt of approbation. He was succeeded by +one or two others, to the same effect--each urging the burning of the +prisoners--and on their conclusion, no other appearing to speak, the old +chief in the center at once proceeded to decide, by vote, the matter +at issue. Advancing to the warrior nearest the door, he handed him a +war-club, and then resumed his place in the circle, to record the will +of each. He who was in favor of burning the prisoners, struck the +ground fiercely with the weapon in question, and then passed it to his +neighbor; he who was otherwise disposed, passed it quietly, in silence; +thus it went through the whole assemblage--the old chief recording the +vote of each, by cutting a notch on the stick in his hand; those for +mercy being placed on one side, and those for the torture on the +opposite. Some three or four only, besides Black Hoof, passed it +quietly--consequently the sentence of death was carried by a decided +majority. Had there been any doubt in the minds of Younker and Reynolds +as to the result, it would have needed only one glance at Girty, who was +now grinning upon them like a demon, to assure them their doom was +sealed. + +The question next came up as to the time and place for executing the +sentence; and after some further debate, it was decided that the old man +should be burnt forthwith, in the village, that their women and children +might have a holiday pastime; but that Algernon must be made a grand +national example of, before the assembled tribes at Upper Sandusky, when +they should be met to receive presents from the British agent.[16] This +latter decision was mainly effected by the eloquence of Black Hoof; who, +from some cause, for which it would be impossible to account--only as a +mysterious working of an overruling Providence--had secretly determined, +if such a thing were possible, to save the life of Algernon; and took +this method as the only one likely to aid his purpose by protecting him +from immediate death. + +The trial concluded, the council now broke up, and Girty was authorized +to inform the prisoners of their sentence; while four young braves were +selected to take charge of Algernon, and to set off with him, so soon as +the burning of Younker should be over, for Upper Sandusky, where he was +to be kept in durance until wanted. Advancing directly to the prisoners, +the renegade now said, with a sneer: + +"Well, my beauties, are you ready to die?" + +"We don't expect any thing else, Simon Girty," answered the old man +mildly. + +"Don't you, by ----!" rejoined Girty. "Perhaps it's just as well you +don't--ha, ha, ha! Come, old dotard," he continued, "down on your marrow +bones and say your prayers; for, by ----! you will never behold the +setting of another sun." + +"I've said my prayers regular for thirty year," answered Younker; "and +I've been ready to die whensomever the Lord should see fit to call me; +and therefore don't feel myself no more obligated to pray jest at this +particular time, than ef I war told I war going to live twenty year +more. It's only them as hain't lived right, that the near coming o' +death makes pray, more nor at another time; and so jest allow me, Simon +Girty, to return you your advice, which is very good, and which, ef you +follow yourself, you'll be likely to make a much better man nor you've +ever done afore." + +"Fool!" muttered the renegade, with an oath. Then turning to Algernon, +he continued: "You, sirrah, are destined to live a little longer--though +by no design of mine, I can assure you. Don't flatter yourself, though, +that you are going to escape," he added, as he perceived the countenance +of Algernon slightly brighten at his intelligence; "for, by ----! if I +thought there was a probability of such a thing happening, I would brain +you where you sit, if I died for it the next moment. No, young man, +there is no escape for you; you are condemned to be burnt, as well as +Younker, only at another place; and, by ----! I will follow you myself, +to see that the sentence is enforced with all its horrors." + +"For all of which you doubtless feel yourself entitled to my thanks," +returned Algernon, bitterly. "Do your worst, Simon Girty; but understand +me, before you go further, that though life is as dear to me at the +present moment as to another, yet so much do I abhor and loathe the very +sight of you, that, could I have it for the asking, I would not stoop to +beg it of so brutal and cowardly a thing as yourself." + +"By ----!" cried Girty, in a transport of rage; "the time will come, +when, if you do not sue for life, you will for death, and at my hands; +and till then will I forego my revenge for your insolence now. And let +me tell you one thing further, that you may muse upon it in my absence. +I will raise an army, ere many months are over, and march upon the +frontiers of Kentucky; and by all the powers of good and evil, I swear +again to get possession of the girl you love, but whom I now hate--hate +as the arch-fiend hates Heaven--and she shall thenceforth be my mistress +and slave; and to make her feel more happy, I will ever and anon whisper +your name in her ear, and tell her how you died, and the part I took in +your death; and in the still hours of night, will I picture to her your +agonies and dying groans, and repeat your prayers for death to release +you. Ha! you may well shudder and grow pale; for again I swear, by all +the elements, and by every thing mortal and immortal, I will accomplish +the deed! Then, and not till then, will I feel my revenge complete." + +The countenance of Girty, as he said this, was terrible to behold; for +so enraged was he, that he fairly foamed at the mouth, and his eyes +seemed like two balls of fire. As he concluded, he turned away abruptly; +and muttering something in the Indian tongue, to some of the savages who +were standing around, immediately quitted the council-house. + +As Girty departed, the four young warriors who were to have charge of +Algernon, immediately advanced to him; and one of them tapping him on +the shoulder, moved away, motioning him to follow. As he prepared to +obey, Younker grasped him by the hand, and, with eyes full of tears, +in a trembling, pathetic voice, said: + +"Good-bye, lad! God bless and be with you. Something tells me we won't +never meet agin. Keep up as stout a heart as you can, and ef you should +escape, tell my (here the old man's voice faltered so that he could +scarcely articulate a syllable)--tell my wife, and--and children--that +I died happy, a thinking o' them, and praying for 'em--to--to the last. +Good-bye! good-bye!" and wringing his hand again, the old man fairly +sobbed aloud; while the rough warriors stood looking on in silence, and +Algernon could only groan forth a farewell. + +So they parted--never to meet again on earth. + +Algernon was now conducted, by his guards, to a small building on the +outskirts of the village; where, after receiving food and water, and +having his clothes restored to him, he was informed by one of the +Indians--who could speak a smattering of English--that he might be bound +and remain, or accompany them to see the Big Knife tortured. He chose +the former without hesitation; and was immediately secured in a manner +similar to what he had been the night previously, and then left alone to +the anguish of his own thoughts. What the feelings of our hero were, as +thus he lay, suffering from his bruises and wound--his mind recurring to +the dire events taking place in another part of the village, and his own +awful doom--we shall leave to the imagination of the reader: suffice it +to say, however, that when his guards returned, some two hours later, he +was found in a swooning state, with large cold drops of perspiration +standing thickly on his features. + +Meantime, Younker was brought forth from the council-house--amid the +hootings, revilings, and personal abuse of the savage mob--and then +painted black,[17] preparatory to undergoing the awful death-sentence. +He was then offered food--probably with the kind intention of +strengthening him, and thus prolonging his life and tortures--but this +he absolutely refused, and was immediately conducted to the place of +execution, which was on the brow of the slope before described as +reaching to the river. Here his wrists were immediately bound behind +him; and then a rope, fastened to the ligature, was secured to a +stake--driven into the earth for the purpose and left sufficiently long +for him sit down, stand up, or walk around a circle of some six or eight +feet in diameter. + +During this proceeding, the Indians failed not to abuse him in various +ways--some by pinching, and others by pounding him with their fists, +with stones, and with clubs,--all of which he seemed to bear with great +patience and resignation. + +As soon as all was ready for the more diabolical tortures, Girty made +the announcement, in a brief speech to the Indians; and then taking up a +rifle, loaded with powder only, discharged it upon the prisoner's naked +body. A loud yell of satisfaction, from the excited mob, followed this +inhuman act; while several savages, rushing forward with rifles loaded +in the same manner, now strove who should be first to imitate the +renegade's example; by which means, no less than fifty discharges were +made, in quick succession, until the flesh of the old man, from the neck +downwards, was completely filled with burnt powder. Younker uttered a +few groans, but bore all with manly fortitude, and made no complaints. + +This part of the hellish ceremony over, a fire was kindled of hickory +poles, placed in a circle round the stake, outside of that which his +rope allowed Younker to make, in order that he might feel all the +torments of roasting alive, without being sufficiently near to the flame +to get a speedy relief by death. To add even more torture, if possible, +to this infernal proceeding, the Indians would take up brands, and place +the burning parts against the old man's body; and then, as they saw him +cringe and writhe under the pain thus inflicted, would burst into horrid +laughs, in which they were ever joined by the renegade. The old squaws +too, and even the children, not wishing to be outdone in this refinement +of cruelty, would take slabs, and having loaded them with live coals and +ashes, would throw them upon his head and body, until not only both +became covered, but the ground around him, so that there was no cool +place for his feet; while at every new infliction of pain, the crowd +would break forth in strains of wild, discordant laughter. + +Thus passed some three-quarters of an hour of tortures the most +horrible, during which the old man bore up under his sufferings with +a strength and manliness that not only astonished his tormentors, but +excited for himself, even in savage breasts, a feeling of respect. +Girty, it may be, was moved to a similar feeling; for at length, +advancing to his victim, he said, in a tone of more deference than he +had hitherto used: + +"You bear up well, old man--well. I have seen many a one die, in a +similar way, who was thought to be courageous--yet none with that +firmness you have thus far displayed." + +Younker, who was slowly walking around the stake, with his face bent +toward the earth, suddenly paused, as Girty addressed him, and turning +his eyes mildly upon the renegade, in a feeble voice, replied: + +"My firmness is given me from above. I can bear my torments, Simon +Girty, for they're arthly, and will soon be over; but yourn--who'll say +what yourn'll be, when you come to answer afore Almighty God for this +and other crimes! But that arn't for the like o' me to speak of now. I'm +a dying man, and trust soon to be in a better world. Ef I ever did you +wrong, Simon Girty, I don't remember it now; and I'm very sartin I never +did nothing to merit this. You came to my house, and war treated to the +best I had, and here am I in return for't. Howsomever, the reckoning's +got to come yit atween you and your God; and so I leave you--farewell." + +"But say," returned Girty, who now seemed greatly moved by the manner +and tone of Younker: "But say, old man, that you forgive me, and I will +own that I did you wrong." + +"I don't know's I've any enemies, except these round here," replied the +other, feebly, "and I'd like to die at peace with all the world; but +what you ax, Simon Girty, I can't grant; it's agin my nater and +conscience; I can't say I forgive ye, for what you've done, for I don't. +I may be wrong--it may not be Christian like--but ef it's a sin, it's +one I've got to answer for myself. No, Girty, I can't forgive--pre'aps +God will--you must look to him: I can't. Girty, I can't; and so, +farewell forever! God be merciful to me a sinner," he added, looking +upward devoutly; "and ef I've done wrong, oh! pardon me, for Christ's +sake!" + +With these words, the lips of Younker were sealed forever. + +Girty stood and gazed upon him in silence, for a few minutes, as one +whose mind is ill at ease, and then walked slowly away, in a mood of +deep abstraction. Younker continued alive some three-quarters of an hour +longer--bearing his tortures with great fortitude--and then sunk down +with a groan and expired. The Indians then proceeded to scalp him; after +which they gradually dispersed, with the apparent satisfaction of wolves +that have gorged their fill on some sheep-fold. + +When Algernon's guards returned, they found him in a swooning state, +as previously recorded; and fearful that his life might be lost, and +another day's sport thus spoiled, they immediately called in their great +medicine man, who at once set about bandaging his wound, and applying +to it such healing remedies as were known by him to be speedily +efficacious, and for which the Indians are proverbially remarkable. His +bruises were also rubbed with a soothing liquid; and by noon of the day +following, he had gained sufficient strength to start upon his journey, +accompanied by his guards. + +On that journey we shall now leave him, and turn to other, and more +important events; merely remarking, by the way, lest the reader should +consider the neglect an oversight, that, on entering the Piqua village, +Oshasqua had taken care to render the life of little Rosetta Millbanks +safe, and had secured to her as much comfort as circumstances would +permit. + + +[Footnote 14: In the action at Piqua here referred to, Simon Girty +commanded three hundred Mingoes, whom he withdrew on account of the +desperation with which the whites fought.] + +[Footnote 15: This was a peculiar characteristic of this great chief, +as drawn from the pages of history; and the more peculiar, that he was +a fierce, determined warrior, and the very last to hold out against a +peace with his white enemy. But there were some noble traits in the man; +and when, at last, he was wrought upon to sign the treaty of Greenville, +in 1795--twenty-four years after the date of the foregoing events--so +keen was his sense of honor, that no entreaty nor persuasion could +thenceforth induce him to break his bond; and he remained a firm friend +of the Americans to the day of his death. He was opposed to burning +prisoners, and to polygamy, and is said to have lived forty years with +one wife, rearing a numerous family of children.--_See Drake's Life of +Tecumseh_.] + +[Footnote 16: The reader will bear in mind, that these events transpired +during the American Revolution; that the Indians were, at this time, +allies of the British; who paid them, in consequence, regular annuities, +at Upper Sandusky.] + +[Footnote 17: This was a customary proceeding of the savages at that +day, with all prisoners doomed to death.] + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +HISTORICAL EVENTS. + + +From the first inroads of the whites upon what the Indians considered +their lawful possessions, although by them unoccupied--namely, the +territory known as Kan-tuck-kee--up to the year which opens our story, +there had been scarcely any cessation of hostilities between the two +races so antagonistical in their habits and principles. Whenever an +opportunity presented itself favorable to their purpose, the savages +would steal down from their settlements--generally situated on the +Bottom Lands of the principal rivers in the present State of Ohio--cross +over _La Belle Riviere_ into Kentucky, and, having committed as many +murders and other horrible acts as were thought prudent for their +safety, would return in triumph, if successful, to their homes, taking +along with them scalps of both sexes and all ages, from the infant to +the gray-beard, and not unfrequently a few prisoners for the amusement +of burning at the stake. + +These flying visits of the savages were generally repaid by similar +acts of kindness on the part of the whites; who, on several occasions, +marched with large armies into their very midst, destroyed their crops +and stores, and burnt their towns. An expedition of this kind was +prosecuted by General Clark, in August of the year preceding the events +we have detailed, of which mention has been previously made. He had +under his command one thousand men, mostly from Kentucky, and marched +direct upon old Chillicothe, which the Indians deserted and burnt on +his approach. He next moved upon the Piqua towns, on Mad river, where +a desperate engagement ensued between the whites and Indians, in which +the former proved victorious. Having secured what plunder they could, +together with the horses, the Kentuckians destroyed the town, and cut +down some two hundred acres of standing corn. They then returned to +Chillicothe on their homeward route, where they destroyed other large +fields of produce, supposed in all to amount to something like five +hundred acres. + +We have mentioned this expedition for the purpose of showing why the +year which opens our story, 1781, was less disastrous to the frontier +settlers than the preceding ones--the Indians being too busily occupied +in repairing the damage done them, and in hunting to support their +families, to have much thought for the war-path, or time to follow it; +consequently the year in question, as regards Kentucky, may be said to +have passed away in a comparatively quiet manner, with no events more +worthy of note than those we have laid before the reader. + +But if the vengeance of the savage slumbered for the time being, it was +only like some pent up fire, burning in secret, until opportunity should +present for it to burst forth in a manner most appalling, carrying +destruction and terror throughout its course; and in consequence of +this, the year 1782 was destined to be one most signally marked by +bloody deeds in the annals of Kentucky. The winter of '81 and '82 +passed quietly away; but early in the ensuing spring hostilities were +again renewed, with a zeal which showed that neither faction had +forgotten old grudges during the intervening quietude. Girty did all +that lay in his power to stir up the vindictive feelings of the Indians, +and was aided in his laudable endeavors by one or two others[18] who +wore the uniform of British officers. It was the design of the renegade +to raise a grand army from the union of the Six Nations, lead them +quietly into the heart of Kentucky, and, by a bold move, seize some +prominent station, murder the garrison, and thus secure at once a +stronghold, from which to sally forth, spread death and desolation in +every quarter, and, if possible, depopulate the entire country. Long +and ardently did he labor in stirring up the Indians by inflammatory +speeches; till at last he succeeded in uniting a grand body for his +hellish purpose; which, on the very eve of success, as one may say, was +at last frustrated by what seemed a direct Providence, of which more +anon, and its proper place. + +Previously, however, to the event just referred to, parties of Indians, +numbering from five to fifty, prowled about the frontiers, committing +at every opportunity all manner of horrid deeds, and thus rousing the +whites to defence and retaliation. One of these skirmishes has been more +particularly dwelt on, by the historians of Kentucky, than any of the +others; on account, probably, of the desperate and sanguinary struggle +for mastery between the two contending parties, and the cruel desertion, +at a time of need, of a portion of the whites; by which means the +Indians had advantage of numbers, that otherwise would have been equally +opposed. We allude to what is generally known as Estill's Defeat. + +It is not our province in the present work to detail any thing not +directly connected with our story; and therefore we shall pass on, after +a cursory glance at the main facts in question. Sometime in March, a +party of Wyandots made a descent upon Estill's station, which stood near +the present site of Richmond; and having killed and scalped a young +lady, and captured a Negro slave, were induced, by the exaggerated +account which the latter gave of the force within, to an immediate +retreat; whereby, probably, the lives of the women and children, almost +the only occupants, were saved--Captain Estill himself, with his +garrison, and several new recruits, being at the time away, on a search +for these very savages, who were known by some unmistakable signs to be +in the vicinity. Word being despatched to Estill, of what had transpired +in his absence, he immediately sought out the trail of the retreating +foes, which he followed with his men, and toward night of the second day +overtook them at Hinston's Fork of Licking, where a desperate engagement +immediately ensued. At the onset, there were twenty-five Indians, and +exactly the same number of whites; but the immediate desertion, in a +cowardly manner, of a certain Lieutenant Miller, with six men under his +command, left the odds greatly in favor of the Wyandots, who were all +picked warriors. Notwithstanding the cowardice of their companions, our +little Spartan band fought most heroically for an hour and +three-quarters; when the few survivors, on both sides, being almost worn +out, ceased hostilities as by mutual consent. In this ever memorable +action, Captain Estill, a brave and popular man, together with nine of +his gallant companions, fell to rise no more. Four others were badly +wounded, leaving only the same number of unharmed survivors. The +Indians, it was afterwards ascertained, had seventeen warriors killed on +the field, among whom was one of their bravest chiefs, and two others +severely wounded; and there has been a tradition since among the +Wyandots, that only one survivor ever returned to tell the tale. + +The news of the foregoing disastrous skirmish flew like wild fire, to +use a common phrase, throughout the borders, and, together with others +of less note, served to kindle the fire of vengeance in the bosoms of +the settlers, and excite a deeper hostility than ever against the savage +foe. Nor was the subsequent conduct of the Indians themselves calculated +to soften this bitter feeling against them; for, to use the words of a +modern writer, "The woods again teemed with savages, and no one was safe +from attack beyond the walls of a station. The influence of the British, +and the constant pressure of the Long Knives, upon the red-men, had +produced a union of the various tribes of the northwest, who seemed to +be gathering again to strike a fatal blow at the frontier settlements; +and had they been led by a Phillip, a Pontiac, or a Tecumseh, it is +impossible to estimate the injury they might have inflicted." + +Whether the foregoing remarks may be deemed by the reader a digression, +or otherwise, we have certainly felt ourself justified in making them; +from the fact, that our story is designed to be historical in all its +bearings; and because many months being supposed to elapse, ere our +characters are again brought upon the stage of action, it seemed +expedient to give a general view of what was taking place in the +interval. Having done so, we will now forthwith resume our narrative. + +About five miles from Lexington, a little to the left of the present +road leading thence to Maysville, and on a gentle rise of the southern +bank of the Elkhorn, at the time of which we write, stood Bryan's +Station, to which we must now call the reader's attention. This station +was founded in the year 1779, by William Bryan, (a brother-in-law of +Daniel Boone,) who had, prior to the events we are now about to +describe, been surprised and killed by the Indians in the vicinity of a +stream called Cane Run. + +This fort, at the period in question, was one of great importance to the +early settlers--standing as it did on what was considered at the time of +its erection, the extreme frontier, and, by this means, extending their +area of security. The station consisted of forty cabins, placed in +parallel lines, connected by strong pallisades, forming a parallelogram +of thirty rods by twenty, and enclosing something like four acres of +ground. Outside of the cabins and pallisades, to render the fort still +more secure, were planted heavy pickets, a foot in diameter, and some +twelve feet in height above the ground; so that it was impossible for an +enemy to scale them, or affect them in the least, with any thing short +of fire and cannon ball. To guard against the former, and prevent the +besiegers making a lodgment under the walls, at each of the four corners +or angles, was erected what was called a block-house--a building which +projected beyond the pickets, a few feet above the ground, and enabled +the besieged to pour a raking fire across the advanced party of the +assailants. Large folding gates, on huge, wooden hinges, in front and +rear, opened into the enclosure, through which men, wagons, horses, and +domestic cattle, had admittance and exit. In the center, as the reader +has doubtless already divined, was a broad space, into which the doors +of the cabins opened, and which served the purpose of a regular common, +where teams and cattle were oftentimes secured, where wrestling and +other athletic sports took place. The cabins were all well constructed, +with puncheon floors, the roofs of which sloped inward, to avoid as much +as possible their being set on fire by burning arrows, shot by the +Indians for the purpose, a practice by no means uncommon during a siege. +This fort, at the period referred to, was garrisoned by from forty to +fifty men; and though somewhat out of repair, in respect to a few of its +pallisades, was still in a condition to resist an overwhelming force, +unless taken wholly by surprise. There was one great error, however, +connected with its design--and one that seems to have been common +to most of the stations of that period--which was, that the spring, +supplying the inmates with water, had not been enclosed within the +pickets. The reader can at once imagine the misery that must have ensued +from this cause, in case of their being suddenly assaulted by a superior +enemy, and the siege protracted to any considerable length of time. + +Within this fort, on their return from captivity, Mrs. Younker and Ella +had taken up their abode, to remain until another cabin should be +erected, or it should be thought safe for them to live again in a more +exposed manner. Isaac had straightway repaired to his father-in-law's, +to behold again the idol of his heart, and pour into her ear his grief +for the loss of his father and friend, and receive her sympathy for his +affliction in return. The disastrous affair which had called him and his +companions so suddenly from a scene of festivity to one of mourning--the +loss of so many valuable neighbors, and the result of the expedition +in pursuit of the enemy--created at the time no little excitement +throughout the frontiers, and caused some of the more timid to resort +to the nearest stations for security. But as time wore on, and as +nothing serious happened during the fall and winter, confidence and +courage gradually became restored; and the affair was almost forgotten, +save by the friends and relatives of the deceased and those particularly +concerned in it. + +Spring, however, revived the alarm of the settlers, by the reappearance +of the enemy in all quarters, and the outrages they committed, as before +mentioned; so that but very few persons ventured to remain without the +walls of a fort; and these, such of them as were fortunate enough to +escape death or captivity, were fain to seek refuge therein before the +close of summer. + +Immediately on the receipt of the alarming intelligence of Estill's +defeat, Isaac, his wife, and the family of his father-in-law, Wilson, +repaired to Bryan's Station, and joined Mrs. Younker and Ella, who had +meantime remained there in security. + + +[Footnote 18: McKee and Elliot.] + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +OLD CHARACTERS AND NEW. + + +It was toward night of a hot sultry day in the month of August, that +Ella Barnwell was seated by the door of a cabin, within the walls of +Bryan's Station, gazing forth, with what seemed a vacant stare, upon a +group of individuals, who were standing near the center of the common +before spoken of, engaged in a very animated conversation. Her features +perhaps were no paler than when we saw her last; but there was a tender, +melancholy expression on her sweet countenance, of deep abiding grief, +and a look of mournfulness in her beautiful eyes, that touched +involuntarily the hearts of all who met her gaze. + +Since we last beheld her, days of anxious solicitude, and sleepless +nights, had been apportioned Ella; for memory--all potent memory--had +kept constantly before her mind's eye the images of those who were gone, +and mourned as forever lost to the living; and her imagination had a +thousand times traced them to the awful stake, seen their terrible +tortures, heard their agonizing, dying groans; and her heart had bled +for them in secret; and tears of anguish, at their untimely fate, had +often dimmed her eyes. Even now, as she apparently gazed upon that group +of individuals, whom she saw not, and whose voices, sounding in her ear, +she heard not, her mind was occupied with the probable fate of her uncle +and Algernon, the still all-absorbing theme of her soul. + +While seated thus, Mrs. Younker approached Ella from behind, unperceived +by the latter, and now stood gazing upon her with a sorrowful look. The +countenance of the good dame had altered less, perhaps, than Ella's, +owing to her strong masculine spirit; but still there was an expression +of anxiety and sadness thereon, which, until of late, had never been +visible--not even when on her march to what, as she then believed, +was her final doom--the excitement whereof, and the many events that +occurred on the route, having been sufficient to occupy her mind in a +different manner from what it had been in brooding over the fate of her +husband for months in secret, and in a place of comparative safety. At +length a remark, in a loud voice, of one of the individuals of the group +before alluded to, arrested the attention of both Mrs. Younker and Ella. + +"I tell you," said the speaker, who was evidently much excited, "it was +that infernal cut-throat Girty's doings, and no mistake. Heaven's curses +on him for a villain!--and I don't think he'll more nor git his just +dues, to suffer them hell fires of torment, hereafter, that he's kindled +so often around his victims on arth." + +At these words Ella started to her feet, and exclaiming wildly, + +"Who are they--who are Girty's victims?" sprung swiftly towards the +group, followed by Mrs. Younker. + +All eyes, from all quarters, were now turned upon her, as, like a +spirit, she glided noiselessly forward, her sweet countenance radiant +with the flush of excitement, her eyes dilated and sparkling, and her +glossy ringlets floating on the breeze. Curiosity could no longer remain +unsatisfied; and by one spontaneous movement, from every point of +compass, women and children now hurried toward the center of the common, +to gather the tidings. + +The quiet, modest, melancholy air of Ella, had, one time with another, +since her first appearance in the Station, attracted the attention, +and won the regard of its inmates; most of whom had made inquiries +concerning her, and learned the cause of her sadness; and now, as she +gained the crowd, each gazed upon her with a look of respect; and at +once moving aside to let her pass, she presently stood the central +attraction of an excited multitude, of both sexes, all ages and sizes. + +"Who are they?" cried she again, turning from one to the other, rapidly, +with an anxious look: "who are the victims of the renegade Girty?" + +"We were speaking, Miss Barnwell," answered a youth, of genteel +appearance, doffing his hat, and making at the same time a polite and +respectful bow: "We were speaking of the defeat, capture, and burning +of Colonel Crawford, by the Indians, in their own country, in which the +notorious Simon Girty is said to have taken an active part[19]--news +whereof has just reached us." + +At the mention of the name of Crawford, so different from the one she +was expecting to hear, the momentary insanity, or delusion of Ella, +vanished; she saw her position at a glance, and the hundred eyes that +were upon her; and instantly her face became suffused with blushes; +while she shrunk back, with a sense of maidenly shame and bashful +timidity, almost overpowering to herself, and really painful for others +to behold. She now strove to speak--to give an excuse for her singular +conduct--but her tongue failed her, and she would have sunk to the +earth, only for the support of Mrs. Younker, who at this moment gained +her side. + +"Never mind it. Miss Barnwell--it don't need any excuse--we understand +your feelings for lost friends," were some of the remarks from the +crowd, as the throng again made a passage for her to depart. + +"Goodness, gracious, marcy on me alive! what a splurge you did make +on't, darling!" said Mrs. Younker to Ella, as they moved away by +themselves. "Why, you jest kind o' started up, for all the world like a +skeered deer; and afore I could get my hands on ye, you war off like an +Injen's arrow. Well, thar, thar, poor gal--never mind it!" added the +good dame, consolingly, as Ella turned towards her a painful, imploring +look; "we all knows your feelings, darling, and so never mind it. +Mistakes will happen in the best o' families, as the Rev. Mr. Allprayer +used to say, when any body accused him o' doing any thing he hadn't +oughter a done." + +"Mother," said Ella, feebly, "I feel faint; this shock, I fear, may be +too much for my nervous system." + +"Oh! my child, darling, don't mind it--every body knows your +feelings--and nobody'll think any thing strange on't. In course you war +thinking o' your friends--as war nateral you should--and so war I; and +when I heerd the name o' that ripscallious renegade, it jest set my hull +blood to biling, like it war hot water, and I felt orful revengeful. But +the Lord's will be done, child. He knows what's best; and let us pray to +him, that ef our friends is among the land of the living, they may be +restored to us, or taken straight away to His presence." + +As Mrs. Younker said this, she and Ella entered the cottage. + +"Poor girl!" said a voice among the crowd, as soon as Ella was out of +hearing; "they do say as how she eats but little now, and scarcely takes +any rest at all lately, on account of the trouble of her mind. Poor +girl! she's not long for this world;" and the speaker shook his head +sadly. + +"But what is it?--what is it as troubles her so?" inquired an old woman, +in a voice tremulous with age, who, being somewhat of a new-comer, had +not heard the oft-repeated story. + +"I'll tell it ye--I'll tell it ye," answered another gossiping crone, +standing beside the querist, who, fearful of being forestalled, now +eagerly began her scandalous narration. + +Meantime, the male portion of the crowd had resumed their conversation, +concerning the unfortunate campaign of Crawford; during which manifold +invectives were bestowed upon the savages, and the renegade Girty. Some +of the more reckless among them were for raising another army, as soon +as possible, to pursue the Indians, even to the death, and spare none +that fell into their hands, neither the aged, women, nor children; but +these propositions were speedily overruled by cooler and wiser heads; +who stated that Kentucky had scarcely fighting men enough to protect +one another on their own ground--much less to march into the enemy's +country, and leave their wives and children exposed to certain +destruction. + +While these discussions were in progress, the attention of each was +suddenly arrested by the cry of some person from the right hand +block-house, looking toward the south, announcing that a single horseman +was approaching with a speed which betokened evil tidings. These were +times of excitement, when news of disaster and death was borne on almost +every breeze; and consequently all now sprung rapidly to the southern +pickets, where, through loop-holes and crevices in the partially decayed +pallisades, they perceived an individual riding as if for life. + +"How he rides!--Who is it?--What can have happened?" were some of the +remarks now rapidly uttered, as the horseman was seen bounding forward +on his foaming steed. Instantly the nearest gate was thrown open; and, +in less than two minutes, horse and rider stood within the enclosure, +surrounded by a breathless multitude, eager for his intelligence. + +"Arm!" cried the horseman, a good looking youth of eighteen: "Arm--all +that can be spared--and on to the rescue!" + +"What's happened, Dick Allison?" asked one who had recognized the rider. + +"I have it on the best authority," answered Dick, "that Hoy's Station +has just been attacked, by a large body of Indians, and Captain Holder +and his men defeated." + +"But whar d'ye get your news?" inquired another voice; while a look of +alarm, and resolute determination to avenge the fallen, could be seen +depicted on the upturned countenances of the assemblage. + +"I was riding in that direction, when I met a messenger on his way to +Lexington for assistance; and turning my horse, I spurred hither with +all speed." + +"Have the red devils got possession of the fort?" inquired another. + +"I am not certain, for I did not wait to hear particulars; but I'm under +the impression they have not, and that Holder was defeated outside the +walls." + +"Well, they must have assistance, and that as soon as it can be got +to 'em," rejoined a white-haired veteran, one of the head men of the +garrison, whose countenance was remarkable for its noble, benevolent +expression, and who, from love and veneration, was generally called +Father Albach. "It's too late in the day, though, to muster and march +thar to-night," continued the old man; "but we'll have our horses got up +and put in here to night, and our guns cleaned, and every thing fixed +for to start at daylight to-morrow. Eh! my gallant lads--what say ye?" +and he glanced playfully around upon the bystanders. + +"Yes--yes--yes--father!" cried a score of voices, in a breath; and the +next moment a long, loud cheer, attested the popularity of the old man's +decision. + +"Another cheer for Father Albach, and three more for licking the +ripscallious varmints clean to death!" cried our old acquaintance, Isaac +Younker, who, having been otherwise occupied during the discussion +concerning Crawford's defeat, had joined the crowd on the arrival of the +messenger. + +"Good for Ike," shouted one: "Hurray!" and four lusty cheers followed. + +All now became bustle and confusion, as each set himself to preparing +for the morrow's expedition. Guns were brought out and cleaned, +locks examined, new flints put in place of old ones, bullets cast, +powder-horns replenished, horses driven within the enclosure, saddles +and bridles overhauled, and, in fact, every thing requisite for the +journey was made ready as fast as possible. + +Isaac, on the present occasion, was by no means indolent; for having +examined his rifle, and found it in a good condition, he immediately +brought forth an old saddle and bridle, somewhat the worse for wear, and +set himself down to repairing them, wherever needed, by thongs of +deerskin. While engaged in this laudable occupation, a young lad came +running to and informed him, that there was a stranger down by the gate +who wished to speak with him immediately. + +"A stranger!" replied Isaac, looking up in surprise. "Why, what in the +name o' all creation can a stranger be wanting with me? Why don't he +come and see me, if he wants to see me, and not put me to all this here +trouble, jest when I'm gitting ready to go and lick some o' them red +heathen like all nater?" + +"Don't know, sir," answered the lad, "what his reasons be for not +coming, any more nor you; but he said to the man as opened the gate for +him, 'Is Isaac Younker in the fort?' and the man said, 'Yes;' and then +he said to me, 'Run, my little lad, and tell him to come here, and I'll +gin you some thing;' and that's all I knows about it." + +"Well, I 'spose I'll have to go," rejoined Isaac, rising to his feet; +"but I don't think much o' the feller as puts a gentleman to all this +here trouble, jest for nothing at all, as one may say, when a feller's +in a hurry too. Howsomever," continued he, soliloquizing, as he walked +forward in the proper direction, "I 'spect it's some chap as wants to +hoax me, or else he's putting on the extras; ef so, I'll fix him, so he +won't want to do it agin right immediately, I reckon." + +Thus muttering to himself, Isaac drew near the front gate, against +which, within the pallisades, the stranger in question was leaning, +with his hat pressed down over his forehead, as though he desired +concealment. His habiliments, after the fashion of the day, were +originally of a superior quality to those generally worn on the +frontiers, but soiled and torn in several places, as from the wear and +tear of a long, fatiguing journey. His features, what portion of them +could be seen under his hat, were pale and haggard, denoting one who had +experienced many and severe vicissitudes. As Isaac approached, he raised +his eyes from the ground, turned them full upon him, and then, taking a +step forward, said, in a voice tremulous with emotion: + +"Thank God! Isaac Younker, I am able to behold you once again." + +As a distinct view of his features fell upon the curious gaze of the +latter, and his voice sounded in his ear, Isaac paused for a moment, as +one stupefied with amazement; the next, he staggered back a pace or two, +dropped his hands upon his knees, in a stooping posture, as if to peer +more closely into the face of the stranger; and then bounding from the +earth, he uttered a wild yell of delight, threw his hat upon the ground +in a transport of joy, and rushed into the extended arms of Algernon +Reynolds, where he wept like a child upon his neck, neither of them able +to utter a syllable for something like a minute. + +"The Lord be praised!" were the first articulate words of Isaac, in a +voice choked with emotion. "God bless you! Mr. Reynolds;" and again the +tears of joy fell fast and long. "Is it you?" resumed he, again starting +back and gazing wildly upon the other, as if fearful of some mistake. +"Yes! yes! it's you--there's no mistaking that thar face--the dead's +come to life again, for sartin;" and once more he sprung upon the +other's neck, with all the apparent delight of a mother meeting with a +lost child. + +"Yes, yes, Isaac, thank God! it is myself you really behold--one who +never expected to see you again in this world," rejoined Algernon, +affected himself to tears, by the noble, heart-touching, affectionate +manner of his companion. "But--but Isaac--our friends here--are +they--all--all well, Isaac?" This was said in a voice, which, in spite +of the speaker's efforts to be calm, trembled from anxiety and +apprehension. + +"Why," answered Isaac, in a somewhat hesitating manner, "I don't know's +thar's any body exactly sick--but--" + +"But what, Isaac?" interrupted Algernon, with a start. + +"Why, Ella, you know--" + +"Yes, yes, Isaac--what of her?" and grasping him by the arm, Algernon +gazed upon the other's features with a look of alarm. + +"Now don't be skeered, Mr. Reynolds--thar han't nothing happened--only I +'spect she's bin a thinking o' you--who every body thought war dead--and +she's kind o' grown thin and pale on't, and we war gitting afeared it +might end badly; but as you've come now, I know as how it'll all be +right agin." + +Algernon released the speaker's arm, and for some moments gazed +abstractedly upon the ground; while over his countenance swept one of +those painful expressions of the deep workings of the soul, to which, +from causes known to the reader, he was subject. At length he said, with +a sigh: + +"Well, Isaac, I have come to behold her once again, and then--" + +He paused, apparently overpowered by some latent feeling. + +"And then!" said Isaac, repeating the words, with a look of surprise: +"I reckon you arn't a going to leave us agin soon, Mr. Reynolds?" + +"There are circumstances, unknown to you, friend Isaac, which I fear +will compel me so to do." + +"What!" cried the other; "start off agin, and put your scalp into the +hands of the infernal, ripscallious, painted Injens? No, by thunder! +you shan't do it, Mr. Reynolds; for sting me with a nest o' hornets, +ef I don't hang to ye like a tick to a sheep. No, no, Mr. Reynolds; +don't--don't think o' sech a thing. But come, go in and see Ella--she'd +be crazy ef she knew you war here." + +"Ay," answered Algernon, sadly, "that is what I fear. I dare not meet +her suddenly, Isaac--the shock might be too much for her nerves. I have +sent for you to go first and communicate intelligence of my arrival, in +a way to surprise her as little as possible." + +"I'll do it, Mr. Reynolds; but--(here Isaac's voice trembled, his +features grew pale as death, and his whole frame quivered with intense +emotion)--but--but my--my father--what--" + +He could say no more--his voice had completely failed him. + +"Alas! Isaac," replied Algernon, deeply affected, and turning away his +face; "think the worst." + +"Oh God!" groaned Isaac, covering his face with his hands, and +endeavoring to master his feelings. "But--but--he's dead, Mr. Reynolds?" + +"He is." + +For a few moments Isaac sobbed grievously; then withdrawing his hands, +and raising himself to an erect posture, with a look of resignation, +he said: + +"I--I can bear it now--for I know he's in Heaven. Stay here, Mr. +Reynolds, till I come back;" and he turned abruptly away. + +In a few minutes Isaac returned--his features calm, but very pale--and +silently motioned the other to follow him. On their way to the cottage, +they had to cross the common, where their progress was greatly impeded +by a crowd of persons, who, having heard of Algernon's arrival, were +deeply anxious to gather what tidings he might have concerning the +movements of the Indians. In reply, he informed them of the threats made +by Girty to him while a captive; and that, having since been a prisoner +of the British at Detroit, he had learned, from reliable sources, that +a grand army of the Indians was forming to march upon the frontiers, +attack some stronghold, and, if possible, desolate the entire country +of Kentucky; and that he believed they were already on their way. + +"More'n that, they're already here," cried a voice; "for it's them, I +'spect, as has attacked Hoy's Station, of which we've just got news, and +are gitting ready to march at daylight and attack them in turn. Arm, +boys, arm! Don't let us dally here, and be lagging when the time comes +to march and fight!" + +With this the speaker turned away, and the crowd instantly dispersed to +resume their occupations of preparing for the coming expedition, while +our hero and Isaac pressed forward to the cottage of Mrs. Younker. At +the door they were met by the good dame herself, who, with eyes wet with +tears, caught the proffered hand of Reynolds in both of hers, pressed it +warmly in silence, and led him into the house. Ella, who was seated at a +short distance, on the entrance of Algernon, rose to her feet, took a +step forward, staggered back, and the next moment her insensible form +was caught in the arms of the being she loved, but had long mourned as +dead. + + +[Footnote 19: This happened in June, 1782. For particulars of Crawford's +disastrous campaign, and horrible fate--_See Howe's Ohio_, p. 542.] + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE ALARM AND STRATAGEM. + + +It was late at night; but still Algernon Reynolds sat beside Ella +Barnwell, relating the sad story of his many hair-breadth escapes and +almost intolerable sufferings. A rude sort of light, on a rough table, a +few feet distant, threw its faint gleams over the homely apartment, and +revealed the persons of Isaac and his mother, his wife and her parents, +together with several others, attracted hither by curiosity, grouped +around our hero, and listening to his thrilling narrative with +breathless attention. + +"After being sufficiently recovered from my wound and bruises, to +proceed upon my journey, (continued Reynolds, to resume the account +of his adventures since leaving him at Piqua) Girty came to me, and +inquired what I thought of my fate, and how I felt concerning it; to +which I replied, rather briefly, that it was no worse than I had +expected, since knowing into whose hands I had fallen. + +"'Perhaps you think to escape?' said he, sneeringly. + +"'I have no such hope,' I replied. + +"'No, and by ----! you needn't have, either,' rejoined he, with a savage +grin; 'for I'm determined you shall experience the torture to its +fullest extent, if for nothing else than to revenge myself on you for +your insults. I have only one thing to regret; and that is, that you +didn't suffer in place of Younker, who is the only one whose torments I +would I had had no hand in. But you--_you_ I could see tormented +forever, and laugh heartily throughout. But I'll wreak my vengeance on +you yet; I will by ----!' and with these words he left me to the charge +of my guards, with whom he spoke a short time in the Indian +tongue--probably giving them instructions of caution regarding myself. + +"It was about mid-day, when, with my arms tightly bound, we set off +for Upper Sandusky, where, as I had previously been informed by Girty, +I was condemned to suffer before the assembled tribes of the different +nations, who would there shortly meet to receive their annual presents +from the British. Our march, very fatiguing to myself, was without +incident worthy of note, until one night we arrived at a small village +on the Scioto river, where one of my guards, who could speak a little +English, informed me resided the celebrated Mingo chief, Logan. A +thought suddenly flashed across my brain. I had often heard of Logan, +as the great and good chief, humane in his principles, and friendly +to the whites--particularly those who were signally unfortunate--and it +occurred to me, that could I gain an interview, I might perhaps prevail +upon him to assist me in making my escape; and accordingly I at once +expressed to my informant my desire of beholding one so celebrated. To +my great delight, he replied that it was in Logan's cabin I was to pass +the night--such being the private orders, as I afterwards learned, of +Black Hoof--who had, it seems, from some cause unknown to myself, formed +the design of saving my life; and had sent by the Indian in question, +a verbal request to Logan, to use all his influence to this effect. + +"As we entered the village, we were immediately surrounded by men, women +and children, who stared hard at me, but offered no violence. In a few +minutes we gained Logan's hut, in the door of which I observed standing +an old, noble-looking warrior, with a commanding form, and mild, +benevolent countenance, who proved to be the chief himself. To him one +of my guards now addressed a few words in Indian; and uttering a grunt, +and looking closely at me some seconds, he moved aside, and we all +passed in. Here I soon had a good supper of homminy provided me, whereof +I did not partake lightly, having been from sunrise to sunset without +tasting a morsel of food. Immediately after I had finished my repast, +Logan approached me, and, in tolerable good English, said: + +"'White man, where from?' + +"I motioned toward the east, and answered: + +"'From sunrise--away beyond the big mountains.' + +"Logan shook his head sadly, and replied, with a sigh: + +"'Ah! so all come. Poor Indian get run over--he no place lay he head. +But how you come all tied so?' + +"In answer, I entered into a full explanation of all that had occurred +respecting the proceedings of Girty, from first to last. Logan listened +throughout with great attention, shook his head, and rejoined: + +"'Ah! Simon Girty bad man--berry. Me always think so. Me sorry for you. +Me do all me can for you. You shall sleep here. Me promise you nothing. +Me tell you more sometime--to-morrow mebby!' + +"With this he rose and left the cottage, and I saw him no more that +night. + +"Early in the morning, however, he came to me, and said that I was to +remain at his cabin through the day; that he had laid a plan to effect +my release from death, but not from captivity--the latter not being in +accordance with his principles, nor in his power; that for this purpose +he had despatched two young braves to Upper Sandusky, to speak a word +in my favor; but that I must not be elated with hope, as it was very +doubtful how much they might effect.[21] Notwithstanding his caution to +the contrary, my spirits became exceedingly exhilarated; and grasping +his hand in both mine, I pressed it to my heart in silence; while my +eyes became suffused with tears, and the old chief himself seemed not +a little affected. + +"Late the night following, the messengers returned; and on the morning +succeeding, we resumed our journey. In parting from the noble old chief, +he shook my hand cordially, but gave me no intimation of what would +probably be my fate. + +"When within sight of Upper Sandusky, crowds of warriors, women and +children came out to meet us, and, seeing me, set up many a hideous +yell, until I again became alarmed for my safety, and fearful that Logan +had not succeeded in his magnanimous design. This impression was the +more strongly confirmed, shortly after, by one of my guides informing me +that I must again run the gauntlet. Accordingly every preparation being +speedily effected, I started upon the course; but possessing more +strength and activity than before, and a better knowledge of what I had +to perform, I succeeded in breaking through the lines, and reaching the +council house unharmed. Here I was safe for the present; or until, as I +was informed, my fate should once more be decided by a grand council. + +"The council in question was speedily convened; and on the opening +thereof, a British agent, one Captain Druyer, made his appearance, +and requested permission to address the assemblage, which was readily +granted. He spoke rapidly, for a few minutes, with great vehemence; and +though I understood not a word he uttered, yet something whispered me it +was in my favor; for I observed that the glances directed towards me, +were milder far than those on my previous trial. + +"To sum up briefly, it seems that Logan had despatched his messengers to +Druyer, urging him to exert all his influence in obtaining my reprieve; +and to effect this humane design, the latter had begun by stating to +the Indians that their great white father, of whom he was an humble +representative, was at war with the Long Knives; that nothing would +please him better, than to hear of his red children having sacrificed +all their enemies; but that in war, policy was ofttimes more effectual +than personal revenge in accomplishing their destruction; and that he +doubted not, if the prisoner present were put in his possession and +taken to Detroit, that the great white chiefs of his own nation would +there be able to extort from him such valuable information as would +make the final conquest of the Long Knives comparatively easy. To this +proposition, which was received rather coldly, he had added, that for +this privilege he was willing to pay a fair recompense; and that so soon +as all the information necessary had been gleaned from the prisoner, he +should, if thought advisable, again be returned to them, to be put to +death or not, as they might see proper. To this arrangement, all having +at last consented, the gallant Captain advanced to me, shook my hand, +and said that my life was for the present safe, and that I was to +accompany him to Detroit, where I would be treated as a prisoner of war. + +"It is impossible to describe my feelings, on hearing this joyful +intelligence; therefore I shall leave you to imagine them, aided as you +will be by your own experience under similar circumstances. And now let +me close my long narrative as briefly as possible; for the hour is +already late, and I must rise betimes on the morrow to join this +expedition against the savages." + +"Surely, Algernon," exclaimed Ella, with pale features, "you are not +going to leave us again so soon?" + +"Where duty calls, Ella, there is my place; and if I fall in honorable +action, in defence of my country and friends, perchance my life may +atone for matters whereof _you_ are not ignorant." + +Ella buried her face in her hands, to conceal her emotion; and Algernon, +with an effort at composure, again proceeded. + +"At Detroit I experienced kind treatment, as a prisoner of war; but +still it was captivity, and I longed for freedom. Many, many an hour +did I employ in planning my escape; yet month upon month rolled on, and +still I remained in durance. At last startling rumors reached me, that +the Indians of the different tribes were banding together, to march upon +the frontiers and depopulate the country; and remembering the savage +threat of Girty, I doubted not he was the instigator, and would be +leader of the expedition; and I determined, at all hazards, if such a +thing were in the province of possibility, to effect my escape, and give +the country warning of the impending danger. To be brief, I succeeded, +as my presence here tells for itself; but no one knows, save myself, and +He who knows all things, the misery I suffered from fatigue, lack of +food, and the fear of again being captured by some roving band of +savages--the which I shall detail, perhaps, should my life be spared me, +at some future period, but not at the present. + +"I swam the Ohio, a short distance above the Falls, and made my way, +to the best of my judgment, directly towards Boonesborough, where I +arrived, a few days since, in a state of complete exhaustion. The noble +old hunter received me warmly; from whose lips I heard, with thrilling +emotion, the particulars of the pursuit, headed by himself, and the +rescue of two of my dearest friends, their present abode, as also many +startling events that had transpired during my absence; and in return, +I communicated to him the alarming intelligence which I have before +alluded to. So soon as I felt myself sufficiently strong for the +journey, I left Boonesborough for Bryan's Station, and here I am, and +thus my tale." + +"And a mighty tough time you've had on't Mr. Reynolds, for sartin, and +no mistake," rejoined Mrs. Younker, with a sigh, wiping her eyes. "Ah! +me--poor Ben!--poor Ben!--I'm a widder now in arnest. Well, the Lord's +will be done. The good Book says, 'The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh +away, blessed be the name of the Lord;' and them good words, my children +and friends, must be our consolation." + +But little more was said; for each of the party felt oppressed with a +weight of sadness, at the thought of the many mournful events a year had +brought forth; and as the hour was late, each and all presently betook +themselves to rest. + +Meantime, the preparations of the garrison for the morrow had been going +forward in every part of the station; lights were moving to and fro; and +all within the cabins, and on the common, was bustle and activity. At +last the sounds gradually ceased, the lights went out one by one, and +all finally became tranquil for the night. + +About an hour before day-break, the sleepers began to rouse themselves, +and all was soon again in commotion. Horses were led forth, saddled, +returned and fed, and every thing got in readiness to throw open the +gates and march forth so soon as it should become sufficiently light for +the purpose. + +At last came the exciting moment of all. Some were standing in groups, +and weeping bitterly at the thought of parting, perhaps for the last +time, with their fathers, husbands and sons; some were running to and +fro with anxious messages; some were clasping each other to their +hearts, in agonizing silence, and praying in secret that the Great Ruler +of all might preserve and happily restore them again to the idols of +their affections; some had mounted their noble steeds, or were leading +them forth for the purpose--and all was in Babel-like confusion. + +"Farewell, my friends," said Algernon, as he stood in the door of Mrs. +Younker's cottage, grasping one after another the proffered hands of +its weeping inmates, among whom was the wife and mother-in-law of +Isaac. "Farewell, dearest Ella; we may never meet again on earth. +Farewell--farewell!" and pressing her hand to his lips, he rushed +forth with a heaving heart, not daring to trust himself longer in her +presence. + +Isaac and his father-in-law followed the example of Reynolds, moved away +with weeping eyes, and all were quickly in their saddles. + +A few minutes later the roll was called, and the order given by the +commanding officer to form in double file and throw open the eastern +gate. Scarcely were the words uttered, when there arose a series of +terrific Indian yells, accompanied by a volley of firearms, and every +face became blanched with surprise and dismay, and looked from one to +the other in astonishment. + +"By heavens!" cried a voice; "our fighting 'll be at home, I reckon, +judging by the specimen before us." + +Dismounting from their horses, the garrison, together with many of the +women and children, now rushed to the southern pickets, where, through +loop-holes and crevices, they beheld, only a few rods distant, about +a hundred savages, running to and fro, jumping up and down, whooping, +yelling, screeching and firing at the station, accompanied with all +the wild, fantastic gestures of loosened madmen. + +"Thar's not more nor a hundred o' the varmints, any how," cried Isaac; +"and I reckon as how we can jest lick them, and no mistake. Hurray for +a fight." + +"Hurray for a fight!" echoed a dozen voices, as they rushed back to +remount their horses. + +"Hold!" cried the deep voice of Father Albach. "Hold! lads; don't do +things rash! Them Indians wouldn't be dancing and sky-larking round that +way, ef thar warn't some object in it, you may depend on." + +"And that's my opinion too," answered another gray-headed veteran. "The +fact is, they're only a decoy party, sent our thar from the main body, +jest to draw us out, so that the others can rush on and make an easy +conquest on't. I tell you, friends, thar's no mistaking it; we're +surrounded by a tremendous body o' the red heathen, and we're likely to +have warm work on't. I've lived in the woods all my life, and I know the +nater of the painted varmints as well as I know my own. Ef them war all +thar war on 'em, we'd have seen very different proceedings, I assure +you." + +"But what's to be done?" cried several voices in consternation. + +"I would suggest that we send immediately to Lexington for a +reinforcement," spoke up Reynolds, in reply. + +"Who'll volunteer to go with me on the dangerous mission?" cried a young +man, by the name of Bell. + +"I will!" instantly responded another, called Tomlinson. + +"Brave lads!" returned Father Albach. "You'll be doing us and your +country a service, which we at least will ever gratefully remember. I'd +advise your leaving by the western gate, riding round the station, and +keeping away to the right, and you'll maybe pass them without trouble. +But ef you go, now's your only chance." + +As he spoke, the young men in question sprung forward to their horses, +and immediately quitted the fort, amid cheers for their gallantry and +courage, and prayers for their safety and success. + +A council of the leading men was now speedily convened to deliberate +upon the best means of insuring the safety of themselves, their wives, +and children. + +"They'll no doubt attack us on the western side," said Father Albach, +"where the pallisades are somewhat out o' kilter; and it's my opinion, +that we'd better repair them as soon as possible, and station the main +part of the garrison thar, ready to receive 'em with a military salute, +while we send out a few o' our young men to fire on them as is in sight, +to deceive the others; for I believe with neighbor Nickolson, here, that +thar's a large party in ambush close by." + +"Ay, and doubtless led by the renegade," said Reynolds; "as I presume +this Indian army is the same whose approach I have foretold. Thank God!" +added he, with energy and emotion, as his mind reverted to Ella, "that +they came as they did; for an hour later, and they would have found the +fort defenceless, when all within would have been food for the tomahawk +and scalping knife." + +He shuddered at the thought, and placed his hand to his eyes. + +"Indeed, it seems like a direct Providence in our favor," rejoined +another. + +"But thar's one thing you've overlooked, in your proposition, Albach," +said the old veteran called Nickolson. "Ef the seige be protracted, what +are we to do for water?" + +Each face of the company blanched, and turned toward the speaker with a +startled look. It was a question of the most grave importance, and all +felt it to be so. The spring was without the pallisades, as we have +previously mentioned, on the northwestern side of the station. The path +to it was through a rank growth of tall weeds, wherein the main body of +the Indians was supposed to be concealed--so that, should the garrison +venture forth in that direction, they would in all probability be cut +off, and the fort fall into the possession of the enemy. This of course +was not to be thought of. But what was to be done? To be without water +in a protected siege, was a dangerous and painful alternative. In this +agitating dilemma, one of the council suddenly exclaimed: + +"I have it!--I have it!" All looked at the speaker in breathless +expectation. "I have it!" continued he joyfully. "The women!--the +women!" + +"The women!" echoed several voices at once. + +"Ay! you know they're in the habit of going for water--and this the +savages know too--and ef they venture forth by themselves, as usual, the +wily scoundrels will be deceived for once--for they won't mistrust thar +hiding place is known; and as thar object is to carry the fort by +stratagem, they won't unmask till they hear firing on t'other side." + +"Good!--good!" exclaimed several voices; and forthwith the council +proceeded to summon all the women of the station, and make known their +plan for procuring a supply of water. + +Not a little consternation was expressed in the faces of the latter, +when informed of the perilous undertaking required of them. + +"What! go right straight in among the Injen warmints--them male +critters?" cried an old maid, holding up her hands in horror. + +"Do you think we're invisible, and they can't see us?" said a second. + +"Or bullet proof?" added a third. + +"Or that our scalps arn't worth as much as yourn?" rejoined a fourth. + +"Or of so little account you arn't afeared to lose us?" put in a fifth. + +"We don't think any thing o' the kind," returned the spokesman on the +part of the council; "but we do think, as I before explained, that you +can go and come in safety; and that ef we don't have a supply o' water, +we're likely to perish any how, and might as well throw open the gates +and be butchered at once." + +This last brief speech produced the desired effect, and a few words from +Mrs. Younker completely carried the day. + +"Is this here a time," she cried, with enthusiasm, her eyes flashing as +she spoke, "to be hanging back, till the all important moment's gone by, +and then choke to death for want o'water? What's our lives any more'n +the men's, that we should be so orful skeered about a few ripscallious, +painted varmints, as arn't o' no account, no how? Han't I bin amongst +'em once?--and didn't the Lord preserve me?--and shall I doubt His +protection now, when a hundred lives is at stake? No! no! I'm not +skeered; and I'll go, too, ef I has to go alone. Who'll follow me?" + +"I will!" cried one. + +"And I!" said a second. + +"We'll all go!" exclaimed several voices. + +Dispersing in every direction, each flew to her own cabin, and seizing +upon a bucket, hurried to the rear gate, where, all being assembled, +they were at once given exit.[20] + +Perhaps in the whole annals of history, a more singular proceeding than +this--of men allowing their wives and daughters to deliberately put +themselves into the power of a ferocious, blood-thirsty enemy, and women +with nerve and courage to dare all so bravely--can not be found. But +these were times of stern necessity, when each individual--man, woman +or child--was called upon to dare and do that which would surprise and +startle their descendants. Still it must not be supposed that they, on +either side, were without fears, and those of the most alarming kind. +Many a palpitating heart moved over the ground to the spring, and many +a pale face was reflected in its placid waters; while many a courageous +soul within the fort trembled at the thought of the venture, and what +might be its result, as they had never done before--even with death +staring them in the face--and as they probably would never do again. +Each party, however, knew the step taken to be a serious alternative; +and the women believed that on their caution and presence of mind, their +own lives, and those of their fathers, husbands, and children were +depending; and in consequence of this, they assumed an indifference and +gaiety the most foreign to their present feelings. As for Algernon, +we leave the task to lovers of imagining his feelings, when he saw the +lovely Ella depart with the rest. It was indeed a most anxious time +for all; but the stratagem succeeded to a charm; and, to use the words +of a historian on the subject, "Although their steps became quicker +and quicker on their return, and, when near the gate of the fort, +degenerated into a rather unmilitary celerity, attended with some +little crowding in passing the aperture, yet not more than one-fifth of +the water was spilled, and the eyes of the youngest had not dilated to +more than double their ordinary size." + + +[Footnote 20: In both the foregoing and subsequent details, we have +followed history to the letter.] + +[Footnote 21: The reader, familiar with the history of the early +pioneers of Kentucky, will doubtless observe a similarity between the +account given by Reynolds of his escape from captivity, and that of Gen. +Simon Kenton, as narrated by his biographer, Col. John McDonald.] + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE ATTACK AND RESULT. + + +Meantime the repairing of the pallisades had been going bravely forward, +every moment rendering the garrison more and more secure, which served +not a little to revive their spirits; and when at length the women had +all entered, the gate been barred, and they had seen themselves well +supplied with water, they could restrain their feelings no longer, and +one grand, simultaneous cheer burst from their lips. + +"Now then," said Father Albach, "let 'em come, and I reckon as how +they'll meet with a warm reception. But to draw 'em on, we must send out +a party to make a feint to fight the others." + +Thirteen young men, among whom was Isaac, were accordingly selected, +to pass out by the eastern gate and commence firing rapidly; while the +remainder, with loaded muskets, were to range themselves along the +western pickets, and be ready to pour their deadly contents into the +swarthy horde of besiegers, in case their attack should be made in that +quarter. As the young men departed, all relapsed into a solemn silence +of anxious suspense; which was presently broken by the rapid discharge +of firearms, outside the fort, accompanied with cheers and yells from +both the whites and Indians. Now was the all important moment--the war +sounds were gradually growing more and more distant--and every eye of +the inner garrison was strained in breathless expectation, in the +direction of the spring, while every rifle was cocked and in rest, ready +for any emergency. + +Suddenly the tall weeds--which a moment before had been quietly waving +in the morning breeze--became dreadfully agitated; and the next instant, +as if by magic, the ground was peopled by some five hundred hideous +savages; who, led on by the notorious renegade, now rushed forward, with +wild frantic yells, to the western pallisades, where our gallant little +band stood drawn up ready to receive them. They had advanced in a +tremendous body, to within a few feet of the fort, when the word "Fire," +uttered in a clear, manly voice, resounded above their own frightful +yells, and was followed the next moment by a terrible volley of leaden +balls, that carried death and terror into their serried ranks. With one +simultaneous yell of rage, consternation, and disappointment, they +halted a moment in indecision; when another death-dealing volley, from +the gallant Kentuckians, decided their course of action; and again +yelling fearfully, they parted to the right and left, and bearing their +dead and wounded with them, rushed for the covert of a neighboring +forest. At the same moment, the party which had sallied forth upon the +Lexington road, to make a feint of attacking their decoys, entered the +fort by the eastern gate, in high spirits at the success of their +maneuver. + +The warfare was now carried on in the usual manner, after the failure of +stratagem, for several hours, with but little success on either side. +The block-houses were immediately manned by the garrison, who by this +means could command every point of compass; and whenever an Indian +came in sight, he was at once made the target for three or four keen +riflemen, who rarely missed their mark. In consequence of this, the +wily savage rarely showed himself in an open manner; but would creep +stealthily among the tall weeds, or among the tall standing corn, that +covered about an hundred acres of ground on the southern side of the +station, or ensconce himself behind some stump or trunk of a tree in +the vicinity, and discharge his rifle at any mark thought suitable, +or let fly his burning arrows upon the roofs of the cabins. To avoid, +if possible, a conflagration, every boy of ten years and upwards, was +ordered upon the roofs of the houses, to throw off these burning +missiles; but notwithstanding their great vigilance, so rapidly were +they sent at one period, that two of the cabins, being in a very +combustible state, took fire, to the great consternation of all, and, +before they could be extinguished, were totally consumed. Here again the +hand of an overruling Providence was manifest; for a light wind drove +the flames from the other buildings, and thus a terrible and fatal +calamity was averted. + +From the attack in the morning by the main body, a sharp fire was +maintained on both sides till towards noon; when it began to slacken +considerably; and a little past meridian ceased altogether--the savages +having withdrawn for another purpose, as we shall show anon, leaving the +garrison in suspense as to whether they had totally abandoned the siege +or not. + +We have previously stated that Bryan's Station stood on a gentle rise on +the southern bunk of the Elkhorn, whereby it commanded a view of much +of the surrounding country. A considerable portion of the land in the +immediate vicinity had been cleared and was under cultivation; but +still, in some places, the forest approached to a close proximity; so +that it was impossible, without traversing the ground, to determine +whether the foe had withdrawn altogether, or, as was more probable, now +lay hidden therein, awaiting an unguarded moment of the besieged to +renew hostilities. Where the Maysville and Lexington road now runs, was +a long narrow lane, bounded on one side by the large cornfield before +alluded to, and on the other by a heavy wood. Through this lane the +reinforcements from Lexington must naturally pass, to reach the station; +and knowing this, and that they were expected, (for the escape of the +two couriers in the morning had not been overlooked) the Indians, to +the number of more than three hundred, had concealed themselves in the +thicket, within pistol shot of the road, and were now quietly waiting to +cut them off. + +Notwithstanding the quiet which had succeeded the sounds of warfare, the +garrison were still on the lookout, fearful of being surprised. In this +manner an hour or two passed away, without any event occurring worth +being recorded, when a voice shouted joyfully: + +"The Lexington reinforcements are at hand!" + +In a moment the whole station was in commotion--men, women, and children +rushing to the block-houses and pallisades nearest to and overlooking +the long lane just mentioned. The force in question numbered some +sixteen horsemen, and about twice as many foot; who, not having heard +any firing, nor seen any savages thus far, were somewhat carelessly +approaching the fort at a leisure pace, thinking, as was not uncommon in +those times of danger, when such things were often exaggerated, that +perhaps the alarm had been unfounded, or, at the most, based only on +slight grounds. They had been overtaken on the road between Lexington +and Hoy's station, for which place they had marched on receiving the +news of Holder's defeat, and had been informed by Tomlinson and Bell +that Bryan's station was surrounded by a large body of Indians, of whose +numbers they knew nothing. On hearing this, and knowing the unguarded +condition of Lexington, they had instantly turned back, and pressed +forward at what speed they could to the assistance of their neighbors, +of whom they were now in sight. + +"Great Heaven!" cried the voice of the look-out, at this moment, in +consternation. "See!--see!--they are ambushed, and will all be cut off!" + +As he spoke, a long rolling line of fire could he discerned; and +presently was heard the report of a tremendous volley of musketry, +followed by a cloud of dust and smoke, which for a time completely hid +them from view. In a few minutes, however, the horsemen were seen close +at hand, spurring forward with lightning speed. Some three or four +individuals instantly sprung to and threw open the eastern gate, and in +less than two minutes they reined in their panting steeds in the court +of the station. At the first shot of the savages, they had put spurs to +their horses, and, as the ground was very dry, a cloud of dust had +instantly enveloped them, by which means, fortunately, every one of them +had escaped unharmed, although on their way they had drawn the fire of +more than three hundred Indian rifles, successively discharged at them +while passing the lines of the ambuscade. Not thus easily, however, +escaped their companions on foot. + +At the commencement of the firing, these latter were advancing toward +the station through the cornfield, and, being completely hidden from +the savages thereby, they might, had they pressed rapidly forward, have +gained the fort in safety. Not so was their conduct. They were brave, +hot-blooded, noble men. They could not think of flying and leaving their +friends in danger; and more noble and reckless than wise and prudent, +they turned and rushed to their assistance. They saw their error, but +too late to retrieve it. Their friends had fled, and were safe, but +they were now placed within a few paces of three hundred blood-thirsty +warriors. On seeing them, the savages uttered the most hideous yells, +rushed forward and cut them off from the fort, and then sprung after +them, tomahawk in hand. Luckily, however, for our little band of heroes, +the Indians had just discharged their rifles, and their own were loaded; +by which means, when hard pressed, they turned and kept their foes at +bay--the savage, in all cases, being too cautious to rush upon a weapon +so deadly, with only a tomahawk wherewith to defend himself. Moreover, +the corn was stout and tall, among which they ran and dodged with great +agility; and whenever an Indian halted to load his rifle, the fugitive +for whom its contents were designed, generally managed, by extra +exertion, to gain a safe distance before it was completed, and thus +effect his escape. Some five or six, however, were so unfortunate as +to be knocked or shot down, when they were immediately tomahawked and +scalped; but the remainder, in various directions and by various +artifices, succeeded in making their escape. A few reached the fort in +a roundabout manner; but the main body of them returned to Lexington; +where, had the savages followed them, they would have found an easy +conquest. Fortunately for the whites, however, the red men were not +so inclined; and pursuing them a few hundred yards only, the latter +abandoned the chase as hopeless. + +One of the most active and ferocious on the part of the Indians during +this skirmish, which lasted nearly an hour, was Simon Girty. Enraged to +madness at the failure of his stratagem in the morning, he gnashed his +teeth and rushed after the fugitives, with all the fury depicted on his +countenance of a demon let loose from the infernal regions of Pluto. Two +with his own hand he sent to their last account; and was in hot pursuit +of a third--a handsome, active youth--who, being hard pressed, turned +round, and raising his rifle to his shoulder, with a scornful smile upon +his face, bitterly exclaimed, as he discharged it: + +"Take that, you ---- renegade, and see how it'll digest!" + +As he fired, Girty fell, and perceiving this, the Indians, with a yell +of despair, instantly gathered round him, while the man effected his +escape. This closed the exciting contest of the cornfield--which had +been witnessed throughout from the station with feelings better imagined +than described--but, unfortunately for humanity, did not end the career +of Girty; for the ball had taken effect in his shot pouch instead of his +body; and though wounded, his case was in no wise critical; and he was +soon able to take his place at the council fire, to deliberate upon what +further should be done.[22] + +The council alluded to, lasted some two or three hours. The Indians were +disheartened at their loss in the morning, and the failure of all their +stratagems, even to cutting off the reinforcements of the enemy. They +were sufficiently convinced they could not carry the fort by storm; and +they also believed it unsafe to longer remain where they were; as the +alarm of their presence had spread far and wide, and there was no +telling at what moment a force equal to their own might be brought +against them; therefore, they were now anxious to abandon the siege and +return home. Girty, however, was by no means satisfied with the turn +matters had taken. He had with great difficulty and masterly persuasion +succeeded in getting them to unite and march in a body (contrary to +their usual mode of warfare, which consisted in skirmishing with small +parties,) against the whites; and he now felt that his reputation was in +a manner staked on the issue; consequently he could illy bear to leave +without the trial of one more stratagem. This he made known to the +chiefs of the council, and offered, in case of failure, to retreat with +them at once. + +As this last design of Girty was merely to deceive the whites, and +frighten them into capitulation, without any further risk to themselves, +the Indians agreed to it, and the council broke up. + +It was nearly sundown; and every one in the station had been on the +alert, ready to repel another attack should the Indians renew +hostilities, as was not unlikely, when a voice cried out: + +"Hang me to the nearest cross-bar, ef the red sons of Satan hav'nt sent +out a flag of truce!" + +This at once drew the attention of most of the garrison to a small white +flag on a temporary pole, which at no great distance was gradually +nearing them, supported in an upright position by some object crawling +along on the ground. At length the object gained a stump; and having +mounted it, was at once recognized by Reynolds as the renegade--although +Girty on this expedition had doffed the British uniform, in which we +once described him, and now appeared in a costume not unlike his swarthy +companions. + +"Halloo the garrison!" he shouted. + +"Halloo yourself!--what's wanted?" cried a voice back again. + +"Respect this flag of truce, and listen!" rejoined Girty; and waving it +from side to side as he spoke, he again proceeded: "Courage can do much +in war, and is in all cases a noble trait, which I for one do ever +respect; but there may be circumstances where manly courage can avail +nothing, and where to practice it only becomes fool-hardy, and is sure +to draw down certain destruction on the actor or actors. Such I hasten +to assure you, gentlemen, is exactly your case in the present instance. +No one admires the heroism which you have, one and all, even to your +women and children, this day displayed, more than myself; but I feel it +my duty to inform you that henceforth the utmost daring of each and +all of you combined can be of no avail whatever. Resistance on your +part will henceforth be a crime rather than a virtue. It is to save +bloodshed, and you all from a horrible fate, that I have ventured hither +at the risk of my life. You are surrounded by an army of six hundred +savages. To-morrow there will be a large reinforcement with cannon; +when, unless you surrender now, your bulwark will be demolished, and +you, gentlemen, with your wives and children, will become victims +to an unrelenting, cruel foe. Death will then be the mildest of your +punishments. I would save you from this. I am one of your race; and, +although on the side of your enemy, would at this time counsel and act +toward you a friendly part. Do you not know me? I am Simon Girty--an +agent of the British. Take my advice and surrender now your fort into +my hands, and I swear to you not a single hair of your heads shall be +harmed. But if you hold out until you are carried by storm I can not +save you; for the Indians will have become thirsty for your blood, +and no commander on earth could then restrain them. Be not hasty in +rejecting my friendly offer. It is for your good I have spoken--and so +weigh the matter well. I pause for an answer." + +The effect of Girty's speech upon the garrison, was to alarm them not a +little. His mention of reinforcements with cannon, caused many a stout +heart to tremble, and many a face to blanch and turn to its neighbor +with an expression of dismay. Against cannon they knew, as Girty stated, +resistance would be of no avail; and cannon had, in 1780, advanced up +the Licking Valley, and destroyed Riddle's and Martin's stations. If +Girty told the truth, their case was truly alarming. + +As the renegade concluded, Reynolds--who saw the effect his words had +produced, and who, knowing him better than any of the others, believed +his whole tale to be false--at once begged leave to reply for the +garrison, which was immediately granted. Placing himself in full view of +Girty, he answered as follows, in a tone of raillery: + +"Well done, my old worthy companion! and are you really there, carrying +out another of your noble and humane designs? When, O when, I humbly beg +to know, will your philanthropic efforts end? I suppose not until death +has laid his claim, and the devil has got his due. You ask us if we know +you. What! not know the amiable Simon Girty, surnamed the Renegade? +Could you indeed for a moment suppose such a thing possible? Know you? +Why, we have an untrusty, worthless cur-dog in the fort here, that has +been named Simon Girty, in compliment to you--he is so like you in every +thing that is ugly, wicked and mean. You say you expect reinforcements +of artillery. Well, if you stay in this quarter long, I know of no one +that will be more likely to need them than yourself and the cowardly +cut-throats who call you chief. We too expect reinforcements; for +the country is roused in every direction; and if you remain here +twenty-four hours longer, the scalps of yourself and companions will +be drying on our cabins. Bring on your cannon and blaze away as soon +as you please! We shall fear you not, even then; for if you succeed in +entering, along with your naked, rascally companions, we shall set our +old women to work, and have you scourged to death with rods, of which we +have on hand a goodly stock for the purpose. And now to wind up, allow +me to say I believe you to be a liar, and _know_ you to be a most +depraved, inhuman villain. This knowledge of your character is not +second-hand. I paid dearly for it, by a year's captivity. I defied +you when in your power: I spit at and defy you now in behalf of the +garrison! My name you may remember. It is Algernon Reynolds. What would +you more?"[23] + +"Would that I had you in my power again," shouted back Girty; "for +by ----! I would willingly forego all other vengeance on the whites, to +take my revenge on you. I regret the garrison did not choose some one +to reply who was not already doomed to death. It was my desire to save +bloodshed; but my offer has been rejected from the mouth of one I hate; +and now I leave you to your fate. To-morrow morning will see your +bulwarks in ruins, and yourselves, your wives and little ones, in the +power of a foe that never forgives an injury nor forgets an insult. +Farewell till then! I bide my time." + +As Girty concluded altogether, he began to ease himself down from the +stump, when his progress was not a little accelerated by hearing a voice +from the garrison cry out: + +"Shoot the ---- rascal!--don't let him escape!" + +Instantly some five or six rifles were brought to bear upon him; and +his fate might then have been decided forever, had not the voice of +Nickolson warned them to beware of firing upon a flag of truce. Girty, +however, made good his retreat, and the garrison was disturbed no more +that night. Before morning the Indians, after having killed all the +domestic cattle they could find belonging to the station, began their +retreat; and by daylight their camp was deserted; though many of their +fires were still burning brightly, and several pieces of meat were found +on roasting-sticks around them, all showing a late and hasty departure. + + +[Footnote 22: The foregoing is strictly authentic.] + +[Footnote 23: This celebrated reply of Reynolds to Girty, is published, +with but slight variations, in all the historical sketches that we have +seen relating to the attack on Bryan's Station and is, perhaps, familiar +to the reader.] + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE FOE PURSUED. + + +As Algernon had stated to Girty, the country was indeed roused to a +sense of their danger. The news of the storming of Bryan's Station +had spread fast and far; and, early on the day succeeding the attack, +reinforcements began to come in from all quarters; so that by noon of +the fourth day, the station numbered over one hundred and eighty +fighting men. + +Colonel Daniel Boone, accompanied by his son Israel, and brother Samuel, +commanded a considerable force from Boonesborough--Colonel Stephen +Trigg, a large company from Harrodsburgh--and Colonel John Todd, the +militia from Lexington. A large portion of these forces was composed +of commissioned officers, who, having heard of the attack on Bryan's +Station by an overwhelming body of Indians, had hurried to the scene of +hostilities, and, like brave and gallant soldiers as they were, had at +once taken their places in the ranks as privates. Most noted among those +who still held command under the rank of Colonel, were Majors Harlan, +McGary, McBride, and Levi Todd; and Captains Bulger, Patterson and +Gordon. + +Of those now assembled, Colonel Todd, as senior officer, was allowed to +take command--though, from the tumultuous council of war which was held +in the afternoon, it appears that each had a voice, and that but little +order was observed. It was well known that Colonel Benjamin Logan was +then in the act of raising a large force in Lincoln county; and at the +furthest would join them in twenty-four hours; which would render them +safe in pursuing the savages; and for this purpose the more prudent, +among whom was our old friend, Colonel Boone, advised their delay; +stating, as a reason, that the Indians were known to outnumber them +all, as three to one; and that to pursue them with a force so small, +could only result, should they be overtaken, in a total defeat of the +whites. Besides which, Boone stated that the scouts who had been sent +out to examine the Indian trail, had reported that it was very broad, +and that the trees on either side had been marked with their tomahawks; +thereby showing a willingness on the part of the enemy to be pursued, +and a design to draw the whites into an ambuscade, the consequences of +which must necessarily be terrible. In this view of the case, Colonel +Boone was strongly seconded by Major McGary, who, though a hot-headed +young officer, eager on almost all occasions for a fight, now gave his +voice on the side of prudence. + +But these prudent measures were combatted and overruled by Todd; who, +being an ambitious man, forsaw that, in waiting for Logan, he would be +deprived of his authority as commander-in-chief of the expedition, and +the glory which a successful battle would now cast upon him. By him it +was urged, in opposition to Boone and McGary, that to await the arrival +of Colonel Logan, was only to act the part of cowards, and allow the +Indians a safe retreat; that in case they were overtaken and their +numbers found to be double their own--which report he believed to be +false--the ardor and superior skill of the Kentuckians would more than +make them equal, and the victory and glory would be their own. Whereas, +should the Indians be allowed to escape without an effort to harass +them, the Kentuckians would be held eternally disgraced in the minds of +their countrymen. + +The dispute on the matter waxed warm, high words ensued, and the +discussion was in a fair way of being drawn out to great extent; when +Boone, becoming tired and disgusted with the whole proceedings, replied: + +"Well, I've given my conscientious opinion about the affair, and now you +can do as you please. Of course I shall go with the majority, and my +seniors in command; and ef the decision's for a fight, why a fight we +must venter, though every man o' Kaintuck be laid on his back for the +risking. Ef we fail--and its my opine we shall--let them as takes the +responsibility bear the blame. I'll give my voice, though, to the last, +that we'd better wait the reinforcements o' Colonel Logan." + +"Sir!" exclaimed Colonel Todd, turning fiercely to Boone; "if you are +not a _coward_, you talk like one! Don't you know, sir, that if we wait +for Logan, he will gain all the laurels?--and that if we press forward, +we shall gain all the glory?" + +"As to my being a coward, Colonel Todd," replied Boone, mildly, with +dignity, "when the word's explained so as I know the full meaning on't, +prehaps I'll be able to decide ef I be or not. Ef it means prudence in a +time o' danger, on which the welfare o' my country and the lives o' my +countrymen depends, I'd rather be thought cowardly than rash. Ef it +means a fear to risk my own poor body in defence o' others, I reckon as +how my past life'll speak for itself; and for the futer, wharsomever +Colonel Todd dars to venter, Daniel Boone dars to lead. As to _glory_, +we'll talk about that arter the battle's fought." + +Thus ended the discussion; and the matter being put to vote, it was +carried by an overwhelming majority in favor of Todd's proposition, that +the Indians should be pursued without further delay. It was now about +three o'clock in the afternoon; and immediately on the final decision +being made, the council broke up, and orders were rapidly given to +prepare to depart forthwith. All the horses in or about the station +were now collected together, on which most of the officers and many of +the privates were soon mounted; and by four o'clock the eastern gate +was thrown open, the order to march given by Colonel Todd, and the +procession, composed of the flower of Kentucky's gallant sons, moved +forth, amid sighs and tears from the opposite sex. Reynolds--who, during +the past two or three days, since the retreat of the enemy, had employed +his leisure moments in the company of the being he loved, and who was +now finely mounted on a superb charger which had been presented him by +Colonel Boone--turned upon his saddle, as he was leaving the station, +and waved another adieu to Ella, who stood in the door of her cottage, +gazing upon his noble form, with a pale cheek, tearful eye, and beating +heart. She raised her lily hand, and, with a graceful motion, returned +his parting salute; and then, to conceal her emotion, retired into the +house. + +The Indians, it was found, had followed the buffalo trace, and, +according to the account given by the scouts, had made their trail +obvious as possible, by hacking the trees on either side with their +tomahawks. Their camp fires, however, were very few, comparatively +speaking, which to Boone seemed plainly evident of a desire to mask +their numbers. He had lived in the woods all his life, was the oldest +settler on the borders, and had been several times a prisoner of the +Indians; so that he was familiar with their artifices for decoying their +enemies; and he believed, from what he saw, that it was their desire to +be followed by the whites; and that they would probably seek to draw the +latter into an ambuscade in the vicinity of the Blue Licks, where the +wild country was particularly favorable to their purpose. In imagination +he already saw the disastrous result that was destined to follow this +hasty expedition; but his counsel to the contrary had been disregarded, +and it was not a time now to dampen the ardor of the soldiers, on which +alone success could depend, by expressing his fears and laying himself +liable to further reproach and contumely. He had said and done all that +was consistent in his situation to prevent the present step; and he now +saw proper to keep his fears of the result to himself; the more so, as +a retreat was out of the question. + +About dark the party came to halt, and encamped in the woods for the +night. Early on the ensuing morning they resumed their march; and +a little before noon reached the southern bluffs of Licking river, +opposite the Lower Blue Lick, distant from Bryan's Station some +thirty-six miles, and the place where, according to the opinion of +Boone, the savages would be likely to lie in wait to give them battle. + +The scenery in the vicinity of the Licks, even at the present day, is +peculiarly wild and romantic; but at the period in question, it was +relieved by nothing in the shape of civilization. The Licks themselves +had for ages been the resort of buffalo and other wild animals, which +had come there to lick the saline rocks, and had cropped the surrounding +hills of every green thing, thereby giving them a barren, desolate, +gloomy appearance. On the northern bank--the one opposite our little +army--arose a tremendous bluff, entirely destitute of vegetation, the +brow of which was trodden hard by the immense herds of buffalo which had +passed over it from time immemorial on their way to and from the salt +springs at its base. To add to its dismal appearance, the rains of +centuries had sloughed deep gullies in its side, and washed the earth +from the rocks around its base, which, being blackened in the sun, now +rose grim and bare, frowning in their majesty like fettered monsters of +the infernal regions. As you ascended this ridge, a hard level trace or +road led back for something like a mile--free from tree, stump or +bush--when you came to a point where two ravines, one on either hand, +met at the top, and, thickly wooded, ran in opposite directions down to +the river, which, beginning on the right, went sweeping round a large +circuit, in the form of an iron magnet, and made a sort of inland +peninsula of the bluff in question. Back from this buffalo trace, on the +southern bank of the Licking, dark heavy woods extended for miles in +every direction, and made the whole scene impressive with a kind of +gloomy grandeur. + +As our gallant band of Kentuckians gained the river, they descried some +three or four savages leisurely ascending the stony ridge on the +opposite side. On perceiving the troops, the Indians paused, gazed at +them a few moments in silence, and then, quietly continuing their +ascent, disappeared on the other side. A halt was now ordered by Colonel +Todd, and a council of war called to deliberate on what was best to be +done. The wild gloomy country around them, their distance from any post +of succor, and the startling idea that perchance they were in the +presence of a body of savages of double or treble their own numbers, was +not without its effect upon Todd and those who had seconded his hasty +movements, and served much toward cooling their ardor, and inspiring +each other with a secret awe. + +Immediately on the halt of the troops, some twenty officers assembled in +front of the lines for consultation; when, turning to them, Colonel Todd +said: + +"Gentlemen, for aught I know to the contrary we are now in the presence +of a superior enemy--superior at least in point of numbers--and I +desire to know your minds as to what course we had best pursue. And +particularly, Colonel Boone," continued Todd, politely bowing to the +veteran woodsman, "would I solicit your views on the matter; believing +as I do, notwithstanding any hasty words I may have uttered in the heat +of excitement to the contrary, that you are a brave soldier, cool under +all circumstances, amply experienced in Indian stratagem, and +consequently capable of rendering much valuable advice in the present +instance." + +Boone was not a revengeful man under any circumstances; and though he +had felt more stung and nettled at the implication of Todd the day +before than he cared to let others see, yet now that the other had made +the apology due him, he showed nothing like haughtiness or triumph in +his mild, benevolent countenance, but, bowing slightly, with his +characteristic frankness replied: + +"As you say, Colonel Todd, I've had some little experience with the +varmints at different times, not excepting my capter at these same Licks +in 1778; and, besides, I've have traversed this here country in every +direction, and know every secret hiding-place round about, as well as +the rest o' ye know the ground we've jest traveled; and it's on account +o' this knowledge partly, and partly on account o' the lazy movements o' +them red heathen we've jest seen go over the hill yonder, and the wide +trail, and marked trees behind us, that I'm led to opine thar's a +tremendous body o' the naked rascals hid in a couple o' ravines, that +run down to the river on either side of that ridge, about a mile ahead, +who are waiting to take us by surprise. Now I think we'd better do one +of two things. Either wait for the reinforcement o' Colonel Logan--who's +no doubt on his march by this time to join us--or else divide our party, +and let half on 'em go up stream and cross at the rapids, and so get +round behind the ravines, ready to attack the savages in the rear; while +the rest cross the ford here, and keep straight on along the ridge to +attack 'em in front--by which maneuver we may prehaps be able to beat +them. But ef you don't see proper, gentlemen, to take up with either o' +these proposals--don't, for Heaven's sake! I beg o' ye, venter forward, +without first sending on scouts to reconnoitre--else we're likely to be +in an ambuscade afore we know it, and prehaps all be cut off." + +"Well, all things considered," answered Colonel Todd, who now, becoming +aware of the fearful responsibility resting upon him as commander, felt +little inclined to press rashly forward, "I think it advisable to wait +the reinforcements of Logan before proceeding further. It can delay us +but a day or two, and then we shall be sure of a victory; whereas, if +we press forward now, and run into an ambuscade, of which Colonel Boone +feels certain, we shall doubtless rue the day by a total defeat." + +"I'm of the same opinion," rejoined Major Levi Todd. + +"And I," said Captain Patterson. + +"And I," rejoined several other voices. + +"But I'm opposed to waiting for Logan," said Colonel Trigg; "as delays +on the point of a battle are rarely ever beneficial. I think we had +better take up with Colonel Boone's second proposition--divide our +forces, and proceed at once to action; though, for the matter of +prudence, it may be advisable to send a couple of scouts ahead, before +deciding upon any thing positive." + +Majors Harlan and McBride, with two or three others of inferior rank, +took sides with Trigg; and the discussion seemed likely to be protracted +for some considerable time; when Major Hugh McGary, who had been +listening to the proceedings with the utmost impatience, suddenly +startled and broke up the council by a loud whoop, resembling that of an +Indian; and spurring his high mettled charger forward, he waved his hat +over his head, and shouted, in a voice that reached the whole length of +the line, these ever memorable words: + +"Those among you who are not d--d cowards, follow me! I'll soon show you +where the Indians are!" + +As he spoke he rushed his fiery steed into the river, with all the rash +impetuosity of a desperate soldier charging at the cannon's mouth. + +The effect of McGary's words and actions were electrical. The troops, +mounted and on foot, officers and privates, suddenly became animated +with a wild enthusiasm. Whooping and yelling like Indians, more than a +hundred of them now sprung forward, and in a tumultuous body rushed into +the stream and struggled for the opposite shore. A few lingered around +Boone, Todd, and Twigg, to await their orders. But the pause of these +commanders was only momentary. They saw their ranks in confusion, and +more than two-thirds of their soldiers in the water, struggling after +the hot-headed McGary, and most of the other officers. The mischief was +already done. To delay was but to doom their enthusiastic comrades to +certain destruction; and shouting to those who yet remained to follow, +Todd put spurs to his horse, and, together with Trigg and Boone dashed +after the main body. It was a wild scene of excitement. Horsemen and +footmen, officers and privates, all mixed up together in confusion, and +pushing forward in one "rolling and irregular mass." + +By violent threats and repeated exertions, with their swords drawn and +flashing in the sunlight, Colonels Todd, Trigg and Boone at length +succeeded, after reaching the opposite bank, in restoring something like +order to the half-crazed troops. On gaining the brow of the buffalo +ridge, Todd commanded a halt; then drawing a pistol from the holster of +his saddle, he rode to the front of the lines, and, with eyes flashing +fire, exclaimed: + +"Men! we must have order! Without order we are lost. I command a halt; +and the first man that moves from the ranks, officer or private, until +so commanded, I swear to scatter his brains on the land he disgraces!" + +His speech produced the desired effect; not a man ventured, by +disobeying, to put his threat to the test; and after gazing on them +sternly a few moments in silence, he turned to McGary, who was sitting +his horse a few paces distant, and said: + +"Sir! you have acted unbecoming, both as an officer and a gentleman; and +if we two live through an engagement which I fear is near at hand, and +which your rashness will have brought about, I will have you put under +arrest and tried by court martial." + +"As you please, Colonel Todd," replied McGary, with a fierce look. "But +you will bear in mind, sir, that at the council yesterday, you scouted +at the proposition advanced by Colonel Boone, and seconded by myself +and others, of waiting for the reinforcements of Colonel Logan, and +insinuated that we were cowards. As _you_, sir, were so _very_ brave, +and so eager for a fight when at a distance, I swore that, if we came +where a fight could be had, I would either draw you into action, or +forever damn you as a coward in the eyes of your soldiers. If I have +succeeded, I rest satisfied to let you do your worst." + +"Resume your place, sir! and break an order this day at your peril!" +cried Todd, sharply, his face flushed with indignation. + +As McGary slowly obeyed, Todd called to Boone, Trigg, and one or two +others, with whom he held a short consultation as to the propriety of +sending forward scouts before advancing with the main army. This being +decided in the affirmative, Isaac Younker and another individual were +selected from the ranks, and appointed to go on the dangerous mission; +with orders to follow the buffalo trace and examine it carefully on both +sides--particularly round about the ravines--and if they saw any traces +of Indians, to hasten back with all speed; but if not, to continue their +examination for a half mile further on, where the great trace gradually +became lost in lesser paths, which branched off in every direction. + +Immediately on the departure of these two scouts, the troops were drawn +up in a long line, ready for action at a moment's notice. Colonel Trigg +commanded the Harrodsburgh forces on the right; Colonel Boone the +Boonesborough soldiers on the left; and Colonel Todd, assisted by Majors +McGary and McBride, the Lexington militia in the center. Major Harlan +led the van, and Major Levi Todd brought up the rear. This was the order +in which they went into battle. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE BATTLE OF BLUE LICKS + + +In less than an hour, Isaac and his companions returned, and reported +that they had seen no signs of Indians whatever. On the receipt of this +intelligence, the order to march was immediately given, and the whole +body of soldiers, under the scorching rays of an August sun, moved +rapidly forward. Nothing occurred to interrupt their progress, until the +van had reached within a few yards of the ravines before mentioned, when +the appalling truth of a tremendous ambuscade of the savages suddenly +became known, by the pouring therefrom, into their ranks, a terrible +volley, which carried with it death, terror and confusion. Never were +soldiers taken more by surprise, and at greater disadvantage to +themselves, both as to numbers and position. They had relied upon the +report of the scouts, who had themselves been deceived by the quiet of +everything about the ravines; and now here they were, less than two +hundred in number, on an open spot, exposed to the deadly rifles of more +than five hundred Indian warriors, who were lying concealed among the +dark cedars of the ravines. + +The first fire was severely destructive, particularly on the right, +where the gallant Colonel Trigg fell mortally wounded, and was soon +after tomahawked and scalped. With him went down several officers of +inferior grade, and a large portion of the Harrodsburgh troops; but, +undaunted, his little band of survivors returned the fire of the +Indians, and, assisted by those in the rear, pressed forward like heroes +to the support of the center and van, where the work of death and +carnage was now becoming terrible. + +"Onward!" shouted Colonel Todd, as he rode to and fro, animating his men +by his voice and gestures: "Onward, my noble soldiers, and strike for +your country and firesides! Oh God!" exclaimed he the next moment, as a +ball pierced his breast; "I am mortally wounded; but strike! press on, +and mind me not!" + +As he spoke, he reeled in his saddle, the rein slipped from his grasp, +and his fiery steed rushed away, bearing him to the enemy and his +untimely doom. + +"Fight, my lads, and falter not!" cried Major Harlan in the van; and the +next moment his horse went down, some five or six balls lodged in his +body, and he fell to rise no more. + +But his men remembered their orders, and fought without faltering, until +but three remained alive to tell the fate of the party. + +"At 'em, lads!--don't spare the varmints!" said Boone, as he urged the +left wing into action; and the immediate report of more than fifty +rifles in that quarter, told him he was obeyed. In this wing fought +Algernon, Isaac, the brother and son of Boone, with a heroic desperation +worthy of Spartans; and at every fire an Indian went down before each of +their deadly rifles. + +But what could avail heroism here on that ill-fated day? Our brave +little band of Kentuckians was opposed by a foe of treble their number; +who, on their first terrible fire being expended, rushed forth from +their covert, with horrible yells, tomahawk in hand, and, gradually +extending their lines down the buffalo trace, on either side, so as to +cut off the retreat of the whites, closed in upon them in overwhelming +numbers, and the slaughter became immense. Major McGary rushed his +horse to and fro among the enemy, and shouted and fought with all the +desperate impetuosity of his nature. Major Todd did his best to press on +the rear, and Colonel Boone still urged his men to the fight with all +the backwoods eloquence in his power. But, alas! of what avail was +coolness, impetuosity, or desperation now? The Indians were closing in +thicker and thicker. Officers and privates, horsemen and footmen, were +falling before the destructive fire of their rifles, or sinking beneath +their bloody tomahawks, amid yells and screeches the most diabolical. +Cries, groans, and curses, resounded on every hand, from the living, the +wounded, and dying. But few now remained in command. Colonels Todd and +Trigg, Majors Harlan and McBride, Captains Bulger and Gordon, with a +host of other gallant officers, were now no more. Already had the +Indians enclosed them as in a net, hemmed them in on all sides, and they +were falling as grass before the scythe of the mower. Retreat was almost +cut off--in a few minutes it would be entirely. They could hope for +nothing against such odds, but a certain and bloody death. There was a +possibility of escape. A few minutes and it would be too late. They +hesitated--they wavered--they turned and fled; and now it was that a +horrible sight presented itself. + +The space between the head of the ravines and the ford of the river a +distance of more than a mile, suddenly became the scene of a hard and +bloody race. As the whites fled, the Indians sprung after them, with +whoops and yells that more resembled those of infuriated demons than +human beings; and whenever an unfortunate Kentuckian was overtaken, he +instantly fell a victim to the tomahawk and scalping knife. Those who +were mounted generally escaped; but the foot suffered dreadfully; and +the whole distance presented an appalling sight of bloody, mangled +corses, strewing the ground in every direction. Girty, the renegade, was +now at the height of his hellish enjoyment. With oaths and curses, and +horrid laughter, his hands and weapons reeking with blood of the slain, +he rushed on after new victims, braining and scalping all that came +within his reach. + +At the river the carnage was in no wise abated. Horsemen and footmen, +victors and vanquished, rushed down the slope, pell-mell, and plunged +into the stream--some striving for life and liberty, some for death and +vengeance--and the dark rolling waters went sweeping on, colored with +the blood of the slaughtered. + +An act of heroic gallantry and presence of mind here occurred, which +has often been mentioned in history, tending to check somewhat the +blood-thirsty savages, and give many of the fugitives time to escape. +Some twelve or fifteen horsemen had already passed the ford in safety, +and were in the act of spurring forward, regardless of the fate of their +unfortunate companions on foot, when one of their number, a man by the +name of Netherland, who had previously been accused of cowardice, +suddenly shouted, as if giving the word of command: + +"Halt! Fire on the Indians, and protect the men in the river!" + +The order was obeyed, in the same spirit it was given; and the sudden +discharge of more than a dozen rifles, made the infuriated savages +recoil in dismay, and thereby saved many a poor fellow's life. The +reaction, however, speedily followed. Many of the savages now swam the +river above and below the ford, and gave chase to the fugitives for +fifteen and even twenty miles--though with but little success after +crossing the stream--as the latter generally plunged into the +neighboring thickets, and so eluded the vigilance of the former. + +Such were the general features of the disastrous battle of Blue Licks--a +battle of dreadful import to the pioneers of Kentucky--which threw the +land into mourning, and made a most solemn and startling impression upon +the minds of its inhabitants. Had we space to chronicle individual +heroism, we might fill page after page with brave and noble +achievements; but as it is, we shall confine ourself to those connected +with our most prominent characters. + +We have stated previously, that Algernon Reynolds fought in the left +wing, under the command of Boone; where, for the few minutes which the +action lasted, he sustained himself with great gallantry; and, by his +undaunted courage, inspired those immediately around him with like +ardor. On the retreat of the whites, he found himself cut off from the +river by a large body of Indians, headed by his old foe, Simon Girty, +who, having recognized him, was now pressing forward with several +stalwart warriors, to again make him prisoner. For the first time since +the commencement of the battle, he felt his heart sink. To be taken +alive was a thousand times worse than death, and escape seemed +impossible. However, there was no time for consideration; another moment +might be fatal; his foes were upon him; it was now or never. Luckily he +was mounted on a fiery steed--which had thus far escaped a scratch--and +had one undischarged pistol in his holster. This he drew forth as his +last hope; and, tightening the rein, wheeled his horse and spurred down +upon his enemies with tremendous velocity. + +"I have you now, by ----!" cried the renegade. + +As he spoke, he sprung forward to grasp the bridle of Algernon's horse; +but stumbled and fell, and the beast passed over him, unfortunately +though without doing him any injury. + +But Algernon had not yet got clear of his enemies; for on the fall of +Girty, he found himself surrounded by a host of savages, whooping and +yelling frightfully, and his direct course to the river cut off by a +body of more than a hundred. There was only one point, and that a few +yards to his left, where there appeared a possibility of his breaking +through their lines. In the twinkling of an eye, and while his horse was +yet under full headway, his decision was made. Rushing his steed hard to +the right, in order to deceive his foes, he suddenly wheeled him again +to the left; and the side of the beast striking against some three +or four of the Indians, who were on the point of seizing his rein, +staggered them back upon their companions, creating no little confusion. +Taking advantage of this, our hero, with the speed of a flying arrow, +bore down upon the weakest point; where, after shooting down a powerful +savage, who had succeeded in grasping his bridle and was on the point of +tomahawking his horse, he passed their lines, amid a volley of rifle +balls, which cut his clothes in several places, but left himself and +steed unharmed. + +The worst of the danger now seemed over; but still his road ahead was +beset with Indians, who were killing and scalping all that fell in their +power; and behind him were the infuriated renegade and his party now in +hot pursuit. His steed, however, was strong and fleet, and he put him to +his wind; by which means he not only distanced those behind him, but +passed one or two parties in front unharmed. About half way between the +ravines and the river, he overtook Major McGary, and some five or six +other horsemen, who were dashing forward at a fast gallop; and checking +his fiery beast somewhat, he silently joined them. A little further on, +Reynolds observed an officer on foot, who, exhausted by his recent +exertions, and lame from former wounds, had fallen behind his +companions. On coming up, he recognized in the crippled soldier the +brave Captain Patterson; and with a magnanimity and self-sacrifice +worthy of all imitation, he instantly reined in his horse and +dismounted, while the others kept upon their course. + +"Sir!" cried he to Patterson; "you are, I perceive, fatigued and weak. +Your life is in great danger. Mount, sir--mount! I am fresh and will +take my chance on foot." + +"God bless you, sir!--God bless you for this noble act!" exclaimed +Patterson, as Reynolds assisted him, into the saddle. "If I escape--" + +"Enough!" said Reynolds, hurriedly, interrupting him. "Fly, sir--fly! +God be with you! Adieu!" + +And turning away as he spoke, he sprung down the side of the ridge, and +running along the edge of the river some little distance, plunged into +the water and swam to the opposite shore. Unfortunately for our hero, +he had changed his garments at Bryan's Station, and now wore a pair of +buckskin breeches, which, in swimming the stream, had become so soaked +and heavy that he was obliged to remove them in order to display his +usual agility. While seated upon the bank and occupied in this manner, +he was startled by a hand being placed upon his shoulder, and the +familiar grunt of an Indian sounding in his ear. On looking up, he at +once recognized the grim features of Wild-cat, and saw himself in the +power of some half a dozen savages. + +"Me wanty you," said Wild-cat, quietly. "Kitchokema give much for Long +Knife. Come!" + +There was no alternative now; and Algernon rose to his feet, and +suffered his weapons to be taken from him, with what feelings we leave +the reader to imagine. Taking him along, the savages set forward, on the +alert for other game; and presently three of them darted away in chase +of a party of whites; and directly after, two others, leaving our hero +alone with Wild-cat. Hope now revived that he might yet escape; nor +was he this time disappointed; for after advancing a short distance, +Wild-cat stooped down to tie his moccasin; when Reynolds immediately +sprung upon him, knocked him down with his fist, seized his rifle, +tomahawk, and knife, fled into the thicket, and reached Bryan's Station, +during the night succeeding, unscathed.[24] + +Throughout the short but severe action at the ravines, Boone maintained +his ground with great coolness and courage, animating his soldiers by +word and deed, until the rout became general, when he found it +necessary, to prevent falling into the hands of the enemy, to have +recourse to immediate flight. As he cast his eyes around him for this +purpose, he saw himself cut off from the ford by the large body of +Indians, through whose lines our hero was even then struggling. At this +moment he heard a groan which attracted his attention; and looking down, +he perceived his son Israel lying on the ground, scarcely five paces +distant, weltering in his blood. With all a father's feelings of +affection and alarm, he instantly sprung from his horse, and, raising +the youth in his arms, darted into the nearest ravine, and made with all +speed for the river. A few of the Indians were herein concealed, who +discharged their rifles at him as he passed, without injury, and then +joined in pursuit. One, a powerful warrior, having outstripped his +companions, was rushing upon the old woodsman with his tomahawk, when +the latter, with backwoods celerity, instantly raised his rifle and shot +him through the body. Finding himself hard pressed, and that his son was +already in the agonies of death, the old hunter strained him for the +last time to his heart, with choking emotion, pressed his lips to those +already growing cold, and then, with a groan of agony, left him to his +fate and the scalping-knife of the savage, while he barely made his own +escape by swimming the river below the bend. To him this was a mournful +day--never to be forgotten--and one that, even long, long years after, +could never be mentioned but with tears. + +In this action the brother of Boone was wounded; but in company with +Isaac Younker, and some three or four others, he succeeded in making his +escape. + +On the day of the battle, Colonel Logan arrived at Bryan's Station with +a command of four hundred and fifty soldiers. On learning that the +garrison with their reinforcements had gone the day preceding in pursuit +of the Indians, and fearful of some disaster, he resolved on a forced +march to give them assistance as soon as possible. For this purpose he +immediately set forward on their trail; but had advanced only a few +miles, when he met a party of the fugitives returning from the scene of +slaughter. They were alarmed and excited, and of course their account of +the battle was greatly exaggerated, believing as they did that they were +the only escaped survivors. Their report, to say the least, was very +startling, allowing that only the half were true; and in consequence, +Logan decided on retracing his steps to the station, until he should be +able to collect more definite news concerning the fight. Gradually one +party after another came dropping in; and by nine o'clock nearly or +quite all of the survivors were assembled in the fortress; when it was +ascertained that a little over one-third of the party, or between sixty +and seventy of those engaged in the battle, were missing. It was a sad +night of wailing, and lamentation, and dreadful excitement in the +station; for scarcely a family there, but was mourning the loss of some +friend or relation. Algernon and Isaac had returned, to the great joy of +those most interested in their welfare; but the father-in-law of the +latter came not, and there was mourning in consequence. + +A consultation between Colonels Logan and Boone, resulted in the +decision to march forthwith to the battle-ground. Accordingly every +thing being got in readiness, Colonel Logan set out with his command, +at a late hour the same night, accompanied by Boone, and a few of the +survivors of the ill-fated engagement. Towards morning a halt of three +hours was ordered for rest and refreshment: when the line of march was +again taken up; and by noon of the day succeeding the battle, the forces +arrived upon the ground, where a most horribly repulsive scene met their +view. + +The Indians had departed on their homeward route, bearing their killed +and wounded away from the field of carnage; but the dead and mutilated +bodies of the whites still remained where they had fallen, presenting +a spectacle the most hideous and revolting possibly to be conceived. +In the edge of the stream, on the banks, up the ridge, and along the +buffalo trace to the ravines, were lying the bloody and mangled corses +of the gallant heroes--who, the day before, full of ardor and life, +had rushed on to the battle and an untimely and inglorious death--now +swollen, putrid, and in the first stage of decomposition, from the +action of the scorching rays of an August sun--surrounded by vultures +and crows, and all species of carrion fowl; many of which, having gorged +themselves on the horrid repast, were either sweeping overhead in large +flocks, and screeching their funeral dirges, or wiping their bloody +bills on the neighboring trees. Some of the bodies in the stream had +been gnawed by fishes--others by wolves--and all had been so disfigured, +by one means and another, that but very few could be recognized by their +friends. + +"Great Heaven! what a sight!" exclaimed Colonel Logan, as he ran his eye +over the scene. + +"A dark and terrible day for Kaintuck," answered Boone, who was standing +by his side; and as he spoke, the old hunter turned away his head to +conceal his emotion; for his mind reverted to the death of his noble +son. + +Orders were now given by Colonel Logan, to have the bodies collected, +and interred in a manner as decent as circumstances would permit. This +being accomplished, he returned with his men to Bryan's Station, and +there dismissed them--it not being thought advisable to pursue the enemy +further. In this ever memorable battle of Blue Licks, the Kentuckians +had sixty killed, twelve wounded, and seven taken prisoners, most of +whom were afterwards put to the tortures. As we said before, it was +a sad day for Kentucky, and threw the land into mourning and gloom. +Colonels Todd and Trigg, and Majors Harlan and McBride, were men beloved +and respected in life, and bitterly lamented in death by a long list of +true-hearted friends. + +The great trace where the battle was fought, is now green with low +branching cedars; and a solitary monument near by, informs the curious +spectator of the sad disaster of by gone times. The Blue Lick Springs +are much resorted to in the summer season by invalids and others, for +whose convenience a magnificent hotel stands upon the banks of the +lovely and romantic Licking. + +A few words more and our general history will be closed. On receiving +the intelligence of the battle of Blue Licks, General Clark--who then +occupied a fort at the Falls of the Ohio, on the present site of +Louisville--resolved upon another expedition to the enemy's country; for +which purpose it was proposed to raise an army of one thousand men, who, +under their respective commanders, should congregate opposite the mouth +of the Licking, on the present site of Cincinnati. The interior and +upper country were to rendezvous at Bryan's Station, under the command +of Colonels Logan and Floyd; and the lower settlements at the Falls of +Ohio, under General Clark; who, on all parties arriving at the grand +rendezvous, was to be commander-in-chief of the expedition. One thousand +mounted riflemen were raised without a draft, who marched upon the +enemy in their own country, destroyed their villages, provisions, and +cornfields, took several prisoners, and carried with them so much terror +and desolation, that the Indians never sufficiently recovered from the +shock to renew hostilities in a formidable body; and the Kentuckians +henceforth, save in individual cases, were left unmolested. + +On their march they came upon the rear of Girty's party, returning from +their successful battle; but an Indian scout gave the renegade and his +companions warning in time for them to escape the whites by flight. In +this expedition, Colonel Boone volunteered and served as a private; +being the last in which the noble old hunter was ever engaged in defence +of the settlements of Kentucky. Algernon Reynolds and Isaac Younker were +his companions in arms; who, on the dismissal of the troops, returned +again to Bryan's Station. + + +[Footnote 24: It may perhaps add interest to the story, for the reader +to know that the foregoing account concerning Reynolds and Captain +Patterson, is historically true; as is also the one which follows with +regard to Boone and his son.] + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +THE FINALE. + + +Month upon month rolled away, quiet succeeded to the alarm and commotion +of war, hostilities between Great Britain and America ceased, and the +country both east and west now began to look up from the depression and +gloom which had pervaded it during its long and sanguinary struggle for +independence. In Kentucky the effect was really invigorating; and the +settlers, who for a year past had been driven from their homes in terror +and dismay--who had quitted their peaceable farming implements for the +destructive weapons of strife and bloodshed--now ventured to return to +their desolate firesides, and renew their honest occupations of tilling +the soil. Some, however, more predisposed to financiering than their +neighbors, sought only speculation; in consequence whereof the Land +Offices of the Virginia Commissioners--which opened in November, +after the return of the troops under Clark--were daily thronged with +applicants for the best locations; whereby was laid the first grand +corner-stone of subsequent litigation, disaffection, and civil discord +among the pioneers. But with these, further than to mention the facts as +connected with the history of the time, we have nothing to do; and shall +now forthwith pass on to the finale of our story. + +Month upon month, as we said before, had rolled away, spring had come, +and with it had departed many of those who had occupied Bryan's Station +during the siege of August; but still, besides the regular garrison and +their families, a few of the individuals who had sought refuge therein, +yet remained; among whom we may mention Mrs. Younker, Ella, Isaac and +his wife, and so forth. Algernon, too--by the entreaty of his friends, +and contrary to his previous calculations, and what he considered his +duty--had been induced to defer his departure until the opening of +spring. Possibly there might have been a secret power, stronger than the +mere entreaties of others, which had prevailed over his resolution to +depart; but further the records say not. Be that as it may, the extreme +limit of time which he had set for remaining, was now nearly expired; +and he was, at the moment when we again present him to the reader, +engaged in conversation with Ella on the painful subject. Suddenly he +was startled by the information that a stranger in the court desired to +speak with him. + +"A stranger!" exclaimed Algernon, in surprise; and as he spoke, his face +became very pale, his lips quivered, and his hands trembled. Turning +upon Ella a look of agony, which seemed to say, "I am an arrested +felon," he wheeled upon his heel, and followed the messenger in silence; +while she, knowing the cause of his agitation, and fearful of the worst, +sunk almost lifeless upon a seat. + +As Algernon passed out of the cottage, he beheld, in the center of the +common, a well dressed, good-looking individual, who was standing on the +ground and holding by the bridle a horse, which, as well as the rider +himself, appeared both travel-stained and weary. Approaching the +stranger with a firm step, but with a pale countenance and throbbing +heart, he said: + +"I understand, sir, you have business with me." + +"Your name, then," returned the other, quietly, "I presume to be +Algernon Reynolds?" + +"The same." + +"You are, too, I infer, a native of ----, Connecticut, and son of Albert +Reynolds of that place?" + +"Again right," answered Algernon, in a voice which, in spite of himself, +was a little tremulous. + +"Then, sir," rejoined the stranger, with a satisfied air, "I may say +that I have business with you, and of vast importance. A long chase you +have led me, i' faith; and weeks of travel have you cost me; so you may +rest assured that I am happy in finding you at last." + +"Proceed!" said Algernon, compressing his lips, as one whose mind is +made up for the worst. "Proceed, sir. I know your mission." + +"The deuce you do!" replied the other, in astonishment; "then you must +have a very remarkable faculty for divining secrets. I rather guess you +are mistaken though," he added, as he drew forth a couple of letters +from a side pocket; "but these will inform you whether you are or not." + +Seizing the proffered letters with trembling eagerness, Algernon hastily +glanced at their superscription; then, breaking the seals, he devoured +their contents with the utmost avidity; while the stranger stood noting +the varying expressions of his handsome countenance, with a quiet smile. +At first his pale features seemed flushed with surprise--then became +radiant with joy--and then gradually saddened with sorrow; yet a certain +cheerfulness prevailed over all--such as he had not exhibited for many a +long month. As he finished a hasty perusal of the epistles, he turned to +the stranger, grasped his hand, and, shaking it heartily, while tears of +joy filled his eyes, exclaimed: + +"I _was_ mistaken, sir--God be thanked! God bless you too, sir! for +being the messenger of peace between myself and conscience. Excuse me. +Tarry a moment, sir, and I will send some one to take charge of your +weary beast, and show yourself a place of rest and refreshment." + +As he spoke, Algernon darted away toward the cottage. Observing Isaac, +he ran to and caught him by the hand: + +"Isaac," he said, in a gay tone, while his eyes sparkled with delight, +"wish me joy! I have good news. I--but stay; I forgot; you know nothing +of the matter. Oblige me, though, by showing yonder gentleman and his +beast due hospitality;" and wringing his hand, he sprung into the +apartment where Ella was sitting alone, leaving Isaac staring after him +with open mouth, and wondering whether he were in his right senses or +not. + +"Ella!" he exclaimed, wildly, as he suddenly appeared before her with a +flushed countenance: "Ella, God bless you! Listen. I--I am free! I am no +longer a criminal, thank God! These, Ella--these!" and he held aloft the +letters with one hand, and tapped them nervously with the other. + +The next moment his features grew pale, his whole frame quivered, and he +sunk upon a seat, completely overcome by the nervous excitement produced +by the sudden transition from despair to hope and freedom. + +Ella was alarmed; and springing to him, she exclaimed: + +"For Heaven's sake! Algernon, what is the matter?--what has +happened?--are you in your senses? Speak!--speak!" + +"Read!" answered he, faintly, placing the letters in her hand: "Read, +Ella--read!" + +Ella hesitated a moment on the propriety of complying with his request, +but a moment only; and the next she turned to one of the epistles. It +was from the father of Algernon, and ran as follows: + + + "DEAR SON:--If in the land of the living, return as speedily as possible + to your afflicted and anxious parents, who are even now mourning you as + dead. You can return in safety; for your cousin, whom you supposed you + had fatally wounded, recovered therefrom, and publicly exonerated you + from all blame in the matter. He is now, however, no more--having died + of late. Elvira, his wife, is also dead. She died insane. As a partial + restitution for the injury done you, your cousin has made you heir, by + will, to all his property, real estate and personal, amounting, it is + said, to over twenty thousand dollars. Your mother is in feeble health, + caused by anxiety on your account. For further information, inquire of + the messenger who will bear you this. + + Your affectionate father, + ALBERT REYNOLDS." + Nov. 12th, 1782. + + +The other epistle was from a lawyer, informing Reynolds of his +acquisition to a large amount of property, by a will of his late cousin; +and that he, the said lawyer, being executor thereof, required the +presence of him, the said Reynolds, or his proxy forthwith. + +"I knew it: I felt that all would yet be well: I told you to hope for +the best!" cried Ella, as she concluded the letter, her eyes moist with +tears, and her face beaming like the sun through a summer shower. + +"God bless you, dearest Ella--you did indeed!" exclaimed Reynolds, +suddenly, bounding from his seat and clasping her in his arms. "You did +indeed tell me to hope--and you told me truly;" and he pressed kiss +after kiss, again and again, upon her sweet lips, with all the wild, +trembling, rapturous feelings of a lover in his first ecstasy of bliss, +when he has surmounted all obstacles, and gained the heart of the being +he loves. + +"Now, dearest Ella," continued Algernon, when the excitement of the +moment had been succeeded by a calmer, though not less blissful mood: +"Now, dearest Ella, I am free--my sacred oath binds me no longer--and +now can I say, with propriety, that I deeply, solemnly, and devotedly +love you, and you alone. I am not rich; but I have enough of this +world's goods to live in ease, if not in splendor. Will you share with +me, and be partner of my lot, be it for good or ill, through life? My +heart you have had long--my hand I now offer you. Say, dearest, will you +be mine?" + +Ella did not speak--she could not; but she looked up into his face, with +a sweet, modest, affectionate smile; and her dark, soft, beautiful eyes, +suffused with tears, wherein a soul of love lay mirrored, gave answer, +with a heart-felt eloquence surpassing words. + +"I understand you, Ella," said Algernon, with emotion. "You are +mine--mine forever!" and he strained her trembling form to his heart in +silence--a deep, joyful and holy silence--that had in it more of Heaven +than earth. + + * * * * * + +It was a mild, lovely day in the spring of 1783. Earth had donned her +green mantle, and decorated it with flowers of every hue and variety. +The trees were in leaf and in bloom; among whose soft, waving branches, +gay birds from the sunny south sung most sweetly; and nature seemed +every where to rejoice. In the court of Bryan's Station was a large +concourse of people--many of whom were from a distance--and all +assembled there to witness the solemn ceremony which was to unite +Algernon Reynolds and Ella Barnwell forever; for who shall say the holy +marriage rite is not eternally binding in the great Hereafter. There +were congregated both sexes and all ages, from the infant to the hoary +headed veteran of eighty winters. There were assembled youth and +manhood, whose names have since graced the historic page, and whose +deeds have stamped them benefactors of their race and nation. All were +in order, and silent, and the scene was most solemnly impressive. On the +right and left of the bride and groom and their attendants, stood, +promiscuously, the general spectators of both sexes. In front was drawn +up the garrison, in three platoons, under arms, in compliment to the +noble bravery of our hero at the battle of Blue Licks. + +Never did Algernon appear more noble than now--never did Ella look more +beautiful; as, pale and trembling, she seemed to cling to his arm for +support. The ceremony was at length begun and ended, amid a deep and +breathless silence. As the last words, "_I pronounce you man and wife_," +died away upon the air, the first platoon advanced a pace and fired a +volley--the second and third followed--and then arose a soft bewitching +strain of music; during which the friends of the newly married pair came +forward to offer their congratulations, and wishes for their long life +and happiness. + +Among the party present was Colonel Boone; and approaching Algernon and +Ella--who were now seated where the solemn rite had taken place--he took +the hand of each, and said, in a voice of some emotion: + +"My children--for ye seem to me as such--may you both live long and be +happy. You've both o' ye had a deal o' trouble since I first saw ye--and +that's but a little while ago--but I hope its now over. Don't think I +want to flatter, sir, when I say I think you're a brave and honorable +young man, and that you've got a wife every way worthy of ye--and she a +husband worthy o' her--and that's saying much. God bless ye both! and ef +you ever need a friend, call on Daniel Boone." + +With this he shook their hands heartily, and strode away. + +The next who advanced to them was Captain Patterson--the officer, it +will be remembered, whose life Algernon so generously saved at the risk +of his own. After the usual congratulations, he took our hero by the +hand, and said, with deep feeling: + +"Sir! I feel that to you, for risking your own life to save mine, I owe +a debt I can never cancel; and an attempt to express to you in words +my sense of obligation for the noble act, would be worse than vain: +therefore accept this, as a slight testimonial of the gratitude of one +who will ever remember you in his prayers, and wear your image in his +heart." + +As he concluded, Captain Patterson placed in the hands of Algernon a +sealed packet, and moved away.[25] + +"Well, its all over," said Mrs. Younker, coming up in turn to wish the +young couple joy. "I al'ays 'spected as how it 'ud come to this here. +Goodness, gracious, marsy on me alive! what a flustration they has made +about ye, sure enough, for sartin--han't they? I never seed the like +on't afore in all my born days. Why, it's like you war governor's folks, +sure enough. And my own Ella, too; and the stranger as com'd to my house +all bleeding to death like! My! my!--what strange doings Providence +does! Well, its to be hoped you'll al'ays git bread enough to keep +from starving, and that you won't fight nor quarrel more nor is +necessitous--as the Reverend Preacher Allprayer said, when he married +me and Ben together. Ah!--poor Ben!--poor Ben!--I'm a lone widder now. +Well, the Lord's will be done!" And the good dame moved sadly away, to +make room for others, and console herself by recounting her afflictions +to some patient listener, together with the virtues of her deceased and +living friends. + +"I don't 'spect it's o' much account my telling you I wish ye joy," said +Isaac, "when every body's doing the same thing; but it comes from the +heart, and I can't help it. Well, you'll be happy, I know; for thar's +nothing like married life; and I speak from experience. I'm sorry you've +got to leave us so soon; but you won't git far from me; for I've got you +both here;" and placing his hand upon his heart, he bowed, smiled, and +passed on. + +As soon as the congratulations were over, Algernon and Ella were +escorted into the cottage occupied by Mrs. Younker; where a sumptuous +dinner was already prepared for them, their relatives, and a few select +friends, among whom was Colonel Boone and Captain Patterson. For the +remainder, long tables were ranged around the common, where the greatest +conviviality prevailed; and toasts were drank, and songs were sung, and +all were merry. After dinner there were music and dancing on the common +and in the cabins: and the coming night shut in a scene of festivity, +such as was but seldom witnessed even in those early times; and which +was remembered and spoken of long, long years after, when many of those +who were then actors in the scene had sunk beneath the clods of the +valley. + +Years have rolled away to the dark and unapproachable past since the +transpiring of the events which we have chronicled, and vast mutations +have marked the steps of all conquering time. Our beloved country, which +then weak and oppressed was struggling for her independence against the +most powerful nation on the globe, has since nobly won a name and place +among the mighty ones of earth, and planted her stars and stripes from +the Atlantic to the Pacific, and built cities and towns amid dark and +mighty forests, where then roved in freedom the wild, untutored +aborigines of America. + +Kentucky, too, has since become a rich, populous, and powerful state; +and her noble sons, by their courage and generosity, have well +maintained that name and fame which was won for them by their fathers, +and which shall go down to future ages all green and unfading. Bryan's +Station--the theatre of many a scene of gay frolic and sanguinary +strife--of festivity and mourning--has long since sunk to ruin and dust; +and on its site now stands the private dwelling of a gentleman of +fortune. But where are they who once inhabited it? Those hoary headed +veterans--those middle aged men--or those fiery and impetuous youths +ever ready for either love or war? Where are they now? Gone! Passed away +like moving shadows that leave no trace behind. Gone out, one by one, as +lights in the late deserted hall of revelry, or stars at the dawn of +day. But very few--and these mere striplings then--now remain to tell +the tale; of whom it may with truth be said, "The places which know them +now shall soon know them no more forever." + +Reader, a word or two more and we have done; and in your hands we leave +the decision, as to whether our task has been faithfully fulfilled or +not. + +Shortly after their marriage, Algernon and Ella bade farewell to their +friends in the west, and returned to the east, where a long and happy +career awaited them; and where they lived to recount to their children +and grand-children, the thrilling narratives of their captivity, and +their wild and romantic adventures while pioneers on the borders of +Kentucky. + +Isaac returned to the farm of his father--rebuilt the cottage destroyed +by the Indians--and there, with his dear Peggy, lived happily to a green +old age, beloved and respected by all who knew him; and there his +posterity still continue to multiply the name of Younker. With him the +good dame, his mother, sojourned for several years, as industrious and +talkative as ever; and at last passed quietly from among the living, +even while in the act of making a sublime quotation on the subject of +dying from her favorite, the immortal Preacher Allprayer. + +Boone continued a resident of Kentucky, until he fancied it too populous +for his comfort; when he removed with his family to Missouri; where he +spent much of his time in fishing and hunting, and where he finally died +at an advanced age. From thence his remains were conveyed to Frankfort, +the capital of Kentucky, where they now repose; and where a rough slab, +with a few half intelligible characters thereon, points out to the +curious stranger the last earthly resting place of the noblest, the most +daring, and famous hunter and pioneer the world has ever produced. + +The fate of little Rosetta Millbanks, the captive, is unknown. + +Girty, notwithstanding his outrageous crimes against humanity, continued +to live among the Indians for a great number of years, the inveterate +and barbarous foe of his race. In the celebrated battle of the Thames, +a desperate white man led on a band of savages, who fought with great +fury, but were at length overpowered and their leader cut to pieces by +Colonel Johnson's mounted men. The mangled corse of this leader was +afterwards recognized as the notorious and once dreaded Simon Girty. + + +[Footnote 25: This was found to contain a deed of two hundred acres of +the best land in Kentucky. A historical fact.] + + + + +THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Ella Barnwell, by Emerson Bennett + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ELLA BARNWELL *** + +***** This file should be named 15424-8.txt or 15424-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/4/2/15424/ + +Produced by Kentuckiana Digital Library, David Garcia, +Pilar Somoza and the PG Online Distributed Proofreading +Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/15424-8.zip b/15424-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cf42dbd --- /dev/null +++ b/15424-8.zip diff --git a/15424-h.zip b/15424-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b29019b --- /dev/null +++ b/15424-h.zip diff --git a/15424-h/15424-h.htm b/15424-h/15424-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8676773 --- /dev/null +++ b/15424-h/15424-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9013 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Ella Barnwell: A Romance of Border Life, + by Emerson Bennett. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + text-indent: 1.5em; + } + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 25%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + + .center {text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span {display: block; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + .poem span.i1 {display: block; margin-left: 1em;} + .poem span.i11 {display: block; margin-left: 11em;} + .poem span.i19 {display: block; margin-left: 19em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ella Barnwell, by Emerson Bennett + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Ella Barnwell + A Historical Romance of Border Life + +Author: Emerson Bennett + +Release Date: March 21, 2005 [EBook #15424] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ELLA BARNWELL *** + + + + +Produced by Kentuckiana Digital Library, David Garcia, +Pilar Somoza and the PG Online Distributed Proofreading +Team. + + + + + + +</pre> + + <br/><br/> +<h1>ELLA BARNWELL:</h1> + <br/> +<center><h4>A +Historical Romance of Border Life</h4></center> + <br/> +<h3>BY</h3> + <br/> +<h2>EMERSON BENNETT</h2> +<br/><hr style="width: 10%;" /> +<center>AUTHOR OF<br/> +"PRAIRIE FLOWER," "LENI LEOTI," "FOREST ROSE," "MIKE FINK," "VIOLA," +"CLARA MORELAND," "FORGED WILL," "TRAITOR," "FEMALE SPY," "ROSALIE DU +PONT," "FAIR REBEL," ETC., ETC.</center> +<br/> +<center>CINCINNATI:<br/> +PUBLISHED BY U.P. JAMES,<br/> +No. 177 RACE STREET.</center> + <hr style="width: 10%;" /> +<br/><center>Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1853,<br/> +BY J.A. & U.P. JAMES,<br/> +In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for +the District of Ohio.</center> + + + +<hr style="width: 30%;" /> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> + <tr> + <td align='right'><a href="#PREFACE"><b>PREFACE.</b></a></td> + <td align='left'></td></tr> + <tr> + <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_I"><b>CHAPTER I.</b></a></td> + <td align='left'>THE STRANGER.</td></tr> + <tr> + <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_II"><b>CHAPTER II.</b></a></td> + <td align='left'>NEW CHARACTERS.</td></tr> + <tr> + <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_III"><b>CHAPTER III.</b></a></td> + <td align='left'>THE TALE AND FATAL SECRET.</td></tr> + <tr> + <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><b>CHAPTER IV.</b></a></td> + <td align='left'>THE STRANGER.</td></tr> + <tr> + <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_V"><b>CHAPTER V.</b></a></td> + <td align='left'>THE WEDDING.</td></tr> + <tr> + <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><b>CHAPTER VI.</b></a></td> + <td align='left'>THE PRESENTIMENT.</td></tr> + <tr> + <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_VII"><b>CHAPTER VII.</b></a></td> + <td align='left'>THE OLD WOODSMAN AND HIS DOG.</td></tr> + <tr> + <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"><b>CHAPTER VIII.</b></a></td> + <td align='left'>THE INDIANS AND THEIR PRISONERS.</td></tr> + <tr> + <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_IX"><b>CHAPTER IX.</b></a></td> + <td align='left'>THE PURSUERS.</td></tr> + <tr> + <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_X"><b>CHAPTER X.</b></a></td> + <td align='left'>THE RENEGADE AND HIS PRISONERS.</td></tr> + <tr> + <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XI"><b>CHAPTER XI.</b></a></td> + <td align='left'>THE ENCAMPMENT OF THE RENEGADE.</td></tr> + <tr> + <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XII"><b>CHAPTER XII.</b></a></td> + <td align='left'>THE INDIANS AND THEIR PRISONERS.</td></tr> + <tr> + <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII"><b>CHAPTER XIII.</b></a></td> + <td align='left'>THE TRIAL, SENTENCE, AND EXECUTION.</td></tr> + <tr> + <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV"><b>CHAPTER XIV.</b></a></td> + <td align='left'>HISTORICAL EVENTS.</td></tr> + <tr> + <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XV"><b>CHAPTER XV.</b></a></td> + <td align='left'>OLD CHARACTERS AND NEW.</td></tr> + <tr> + <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI"><b>CHAPTER XVI.</b></a></td> + <td align='left'>THE ALARM AND STRATAGEM.</td></tr> + <tr> + <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII"><b>CHAPTER XVII.</b></a></td> + <td align='left'>THE ATTACK AND RESULT.</td></tr> + <tr> + <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII"><b>CHAPTER XVIII.</b></a></td> + <td align='left'>THE FOE PURSUED.</td></tr> + <tr> + <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX"><b>CHAPTER XIX.</b></a></td> + <td align='left'>THE BATTLE OF BLUE LICKS.</td></tr> + <tr> + <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XX"><b>CHAPTER XX.</b></a></td> + <td align='left'>THE FINALE.</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 30%;" /> + +<h2><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE" />PREFACE.</h2> + + +<p>In putting to press a new and revised edition of the following story, +the author would state, that his original design was to combine fact and +fiction, in such a way, as, while making his story move forward to a +proper <i>denouement</i>, to give the reader a correct picture of the dress, +customs, and social and war-like habits of the early pioneers of the +west; and also embody a series of historical events which took place on +the frontiers during that revolutionary struggle by which we gained our +glorious independence. For this purpose, Kentucky, in her infancy, was +selected as the scene of action; and most of the existing records of her +early settlements were read with care, each compared with the others, +and only the best authenticated accounts presented to the reader. So +much in fact did the author labor to make the present story historical, +that there is scarcely a scene or character in its pages that had not +its counterpart in reality.</p> + +<p>He would only add, that, for important reasons, the original title has +been changed to that which now heads its title-page. "What's in a name?" +queried the great bard. Had he lived in our day, and been a novelist +instead of a poet, he would either not have asked the question, or +answered it very differently than he did.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="ELLA_BARNWELL" id="ELLA_BARNWELL"></a>ELLA BARNWELL.</h2> +<br/><br/> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<center>THE STRANGER.</center> +<br/> +<p>That portion of territory known throughout Christendom as Kentucky, was, +at an early period, the theatre of some of the wildest, most hardily +contested, and bloody scenes ever placed on record. In fact its very +name, derived from the Indian word Kan-tuck-kee, which was applied to it +long before its discovery by the whites, is peculiarly significant in +meaning—being no less than "the dark and bloody ground." History makes +no mention of its being inhabited prior to its settlement by the present +race; but rather serves to aid us to the inference, that from time +immemorial it was used as a "neutral ground," whereon the different +savage tribes were wont to meet in deadly strife; and hence the +portentious name by which it was known among them. But notwithstanding +its ominous title, Kentucky, when first beheld by the white hunter, +presented all the attractions he would have envied in Paradise itself. +The climate was congenial to his feelings—the country was devoid of +savages—while its thick tangles of green cane—abounding with deer, +elk, bears, buffaloes, panthers, wolves and wild cats, and its more open +woods with pheasant, turkey and partridge—made it the full realization +of his hopes—his longings. What more could he ask? And when he again +stood among his friends, beyond the Alleghanies, is it to be wondered at +that his excited feelings, aided by distance, should lead him to +describe it as the El Dorado of the world? Such indeed he did describe +it; and to such glowing descriptions, Kentucky was doubtless partially +indebted for her settlement so much in advance of the surrounding +territory.</p> + +<p>As it is not our purpose, in the present instance, to enter into a +history of the country, further than is necessary to the development of +our story, the reader will pardon us for omitting that account of its +early settlement which can readily be gleaned from numerous works +already familiar to the reading public. It may not be amiss, however, to +remark here, what almost every reader knows, that first and foremost in +the dangerous struggles of pioneer life, was the celebrated Daniel +Boone; whose name, in the west, and particularly in Kentucky, is a +household word; and whose fame, as a fearless hunter, has extended not +only throughout this continent, but over Europe. The birth place of this +renowned individual has been accredited to several states, by as many +writers; but one, more than the rest, is positive in asserting it to +have been Bucks county, Pennsylvania; and the year of his birth 1732; +which is sufficient for our purpose, whether strictly correct or not. At +an early period of his life, all agree that he removed with his father +to a very thinly settled section of North Carolina, where he spent his +time in hunting—thereby supplying the family with meat and destroying +the wild beasts, while his brothers assisted the father in tilling the +farm—and where he afterwards, in a romantic manner, became acquainted +with a settler's daughter, whom he married; and whence, in the spring +of 1769, in company with five others, he set out on an expedition of +danger across the mountains, to explore the western wilds; and after +undergoing hardships innumerable, and losing all his companions in +various ways, he at last succeeded in erecting the first log cabin, and +being the first white settler within the borders of Kentucky. To follow +up, even from this time, a detail of his trials, adventures, captures by +the Indians, and hair-breadth escapes, to the close of his eventful +career, would be sufficient to fill a volume; therefore we shall drop +him for the time—merely remarking, by the way, that he will be found to +figure occasionally in the following pages.</p> + +<p>From the first appearance of Boone in the wilds of Kentucky, we shall +pass over a space of some ten or twelve years, and open our story in the +fall of 1781. During this period, the aspect of the country for a +considerable distance around the present site of Lexington, had become +materially changed; and the smoke from the cabin of the white settler +arose in an hundred places, where, a dozen years before, prowled the +wolf, the bear, and the panther, in perfect security. In sooth, the year +in question had been very propitious to the immigrants; who, flocking in +from eastern settlements in goodly numbers, were allowed to domiciliate +themselves in their new homes, with but few exceptions, entirely +unmolested by the savage foe. So much in fact was this the case, that +instead of taking up their residence in a fort—or station, as they were +more generally called—the new comers erected cabins for themselves, at +such points as they considered most agreeable; gradually venturing +further and further from the strongholds, until some of them became too +distant to look hopefully for succor in cases of extreme necessity.</p> + +<p>Among the stations most prominent at this period, as being most secure, +and against which the attacks of the Indians were most frequent and +unsuccessful, may be mentioned Harrod's, Boone's, Logan's, and Bryan's, +so called in honor of their founders. The first two named, probably from +being the two earliest founded, were particularly unfortunate in drawing +down upon themselves the concentrated fury of the savages, who at +various times surrounded them in great numbers and attempted to take +them by storm. These attacks not unfrequently lasted several days, in +which a brisk fire was maintained on both sides, whenever a foe could be +seen; until wearied out with fruitless endeavors, or surprised by a +reinforcement of the whites, the Indians would raise the siege, with a +howl of rage, and depart. One of the longest and most remarkable of +these on record, we believe, was that of Boonesborough, which was +attacked in June, 1778, by five hundred Indians, led on by Duquesne, a +Frenchman, and which, with only a small garrison, commanded by Boone +himself, nobly held out for eight days, when the enemy withdrew in +despair. But, as we before remarked, it not being our purpose to enter +into a general history of the time, we will now proceed with our story.</p> + +<p>It was near the close of a mild, beautiful day, in the autumn of 1781, +that a young man, some twenty-two years of age, emerged from a wood into +an open space or clearing, at a distance of perhaps fifteen miles +eastward from Lexington. The general appearance of this individual +betokened the hunter, but at the same time one who followed it for +pleasure, rather than as a means of support. This was evident from his +dress, which although somewhat characteristic of the time, was much +superior to that generally worn by the woodsman. He had on a woolen +hunting frock, of fine texture, of a dark green color, that came a few +inches below the hips. Beneath this, and fitting closely around his +shoulders, neck and breast, was a scarlet jacket, ornamented with two +rows of round, white metal buttons. A large cape, with a deep red +fringe, of about inch in width, was attached to the frock, and extended +from the shoulders nearly to the elbow. Around the waist, outside the +frock, passed a dark leather belt, in which were confined a brace of +handsome pistols, and a long silver-hilted hunting knife. Breeches of +cloth, like the frock, were connected with leggins of tanned deer skin, +which in turn extended over, and partly concealed, heavy cow-hide boots. +A neatly made cap of deer skin, with the hair outside, surmounted a +finely shaped head. His features, though somewhat pale and haggard, as +if from recent grief or trouble, were mostly of the Grecian cast. He had +a high, noble forehead; a large, clear, fascinating gray eye; a well +formed mouth, and a prominent chin. In height he was about five feet and +ten inches, broad shouldered, straight, heavy set, with handsome +proportions.</p> + +<p>Upon the shoulder of the young man, as he emerged from the wood, rested +an elegant rifle; which, after advancing a short distance, he brought +into a trailing position; and then pausing, he dropped the breech upon +the ground, placed his hands over the muzzle, and, carelessly leaning +his chin upon them, swept with his eye the surrounding country, to which +he was evidently a stranger.</p> + +<p>The day had been one of those mild and smoky ones, peculiar to the +climate and season; and the sun, large and red, was near to sinking +behind the far western ridge, giving a beautiful crimson, mellow tinge +to each object which came beneath his rays. The landscape, over which +the stranger gazed, was by no means unpleasing. His position was on an +eminence, overlooking a fertile valley, partly cleared, and partly +shaded by woods, through which wound a crystal stream, whose gentle +murmurs could be heard even where he stood. Beyond this stream, the +ground, in pleasing undulations, took a gentle rise, to a goodly height, +and was covered by what is termed an open wood—a wood peculiar to +Kentucky at this period—consisting of trees in the regularity of an +orchard, at some distance apart, devoid of underbrush, beneath which the +earth was beautifully carpeted with a rank growth of clover, high grass, +and wild flowers innumerable. In the rear of the young hunter, as if to +form a background to the picture, was the wood he had just quitted, +which, continuing the elevation spoken of, but more abruptly, rose high +above him, and was crowned by a ledge of rocks. Far in the distance, to +his right, could be seen another high ridge; while to the left, +spreading far away from the mouth of the valley, if we may so term it, +like the prairies of Missouri, was a beautiful tangle, or cane-brake, +containing its thousands of wild animals. The open space wherein the +hunter stood was not large, covering an area of not more than half a +dozen acres. It was of an oblong form, and sloped off from his position +to the right, left, and front, and reached from the wood down to the +stream in the valley, where stood a rather neat log cabin, from which a +light blue smoke ascended in graceful wreaths. The eye of the stranger, +glancing over the scene, fell upon this latter with that gleam of +satisfaction which is felt by a person after performing a long fatiguing +journey, when he sees before him a comfortable inn, where he is to +repose for the night; and pausing for a couple of minutes, he replaced +his rifle upon his shoulder, and started forward down the hill, at a +leisure pace.</p> + +<p>Scarcely had the stranger advanced twenty paces, when he was startled by +a fierce yell, accompanied by the report of a rifle, the ball of which +whizzed past him, within an inch of his head. Ere he could recover from +his surprise, a sharp pain in the side, followed by another report, +caused him to reel like one intoxicated, and finally sink to the earth. +As the young man fell, two Indians sprung from behind a cluster of +bushes, which skirted the clearing some seventy-five yards to the right, +and, with a whoop of triumph, tomahawk in hand, rushed toward him. +Believing that his life now depended upon his own speedy exertions, the +young hunter, by a great effort, succeeded in raising himself on his +knees; and drawing up his rifle with a hasty aim, he fired; but with no +other success than that of causing one of the savages to jerk his head +suddenly aside without slackening his speed. There was still a chance +left him; and setting his teeth hard, the wounded man drew his pistols +from his belt, and awaited the approach of his enemies; who, when within +thirty paces, discovering the weapons of death, suddenly came to a halt, +and commenced loading their rifles with great rapidity.</p> + +<p>The young hunter now perceived, with painful regret, that only an +interposition of Providence could save him, for his life was hanging on +a thread that might snap at any moment. It was an awful moment of +suspense, as there, on his knees, far, far away from the land of his +birth, in a strange country, he, in the prime of life, without a friend +near, wounded and weak, was waiting to die, like a wild beast, by the +hands of savages, with his scalp to be borne hence as a trophy, his +flesh to be devoured by wolves, and his bones left to bleach in the open +air. It was an awful moment of suspense! and a thousand thoughts came +rushing through his mind; and he felt he would have given worlds, were +they his, for the existence of even half an hour, with a friend by, to +receive his dying requests. To add to his despair, he felt himself fast +growing weaker and weaker; and with an unsteady vision, as his last +hope, he turned his eye in the direction of the cottage, to note if any +assistance were at hand; but he saw none; and nature failing to support +him longer in his position, he sunk back upon the ground, believing the +last sands of his existence were run.</p> + +<p>Meantime, the Indians had loaded their rifles; and one of them, stepping +a pace in front of his companion, was already in the act of aiming, +when, perceiving the young man falter and sink back, he lowered the +muzzle of his gun, and, grasping his tomahawk, darted forward to +despatch him without further loss of ammunition. Already had he reached +within five or six paces of his victim, who, now unable to exert himself +in his own defence, could only look upon his savage enemy and the weapon +uplifted for his destruction, when, crack went another rifle, in an +opposite direction whence the Indians approached, and, bounding into the +air, with a terrific yell, the foremost fell dead by the young man's +side. On seeing his companion fall, the other Indian, who was only a few +paces behind, stopped suddenly, and, with a yell of fear and +disappointment, turned and fled.</p> + +<p>Those only who have been placed in peril sufficient to extinguish the +last gleam of hope, and have suddenly been relieved by a mysterious +interposition of Providence, can fully realize the feelings with which +the wounded hunter saw himself rescued from an ignominious death. True, +he was weak and faint from a wound which was, perhaps, mortal; still it +was a great consolation to feel that he should die among those who would +bury him, and perhaps bear a message to friends in a far-off land. With +such thoughts uppermost in his mind, the young man, by great exertion, +raised himself upon his elbow, and turned his head in the direction +whence his deliverer might be expected; but, to his surprise and +disappointment, no one appeared; and after vainly attempting to regain +his feet, he sunk back, completely exhausted. The wound in his side had +now grown very painful, and was bleeding freely; while he became +conscious, that unless the hemorrhage could be stanched immediately, the +only good service a friend could render him, would be to inter his +remains. In this helpless state, something like a minute elapsed, when +he felt a strange sensation about his heart—his head grew dizzy—his +thoughts seemed confused—the sky appeared suddenly to grow dark, and he +believed the icy grasp of death was already settling upon him. At this +moment a form—but whether of friend or foe he could not tell—flitted +before his uncertain vision; and then all became darkness and nonentity. +He had swooned.</p> + +<p>When the young stranger recovered his senses, after a lapse of some ten +minutes, his glance rested on the form of a white hunter, of noble +aspect, who was bending over him with a compassionate look; and who, +meantime, had opened his dress to the wound and stanched the blood, by +covering it with a few pieces of coarse linen, which he had torn into +shreds for the purpose, and secured there by means of his belt.</p> + +<p>As this latter personage is destined to figure somewhat in the following +pages, we shall take this opportunity of describing him as he appeared +to our wounded friend.</p> + +<p>In height and proportion—but not in age—these two individuals were +somewhat alike—the new comer being full five feet, ten inches, with a +robust, athletic frame, and all the concomitants of a powerful man. At +the moment when first beheld by the young man, after regaining his +senses, he was kneeling by his side, his cap of the wild-cat skin was +lying on the ground, and the last mellow rays of the setting sun were +streaming upon an intelligent and manly countenance, which, now rendered +more deeply interesting by the earnest, compassionate look wherewith he +regarded the other, made him appear to that other, in his peculiar +situation, this most noble being he had ever seen. Of years he had seen +some fifty; though there was a freshness about his face, owing probably +to his hardy, healthy mode of life, which made him appear much younger. +His countenance was open and pleasing, with good, regular, though not, +strictly speaking, handsome features. His forehead was high and full, +beneath which beamed a mild, clear blue eye. His nose was rather long +and angular; his cheekbones high and bold; his lips thin and compressed, +covering a goodly set of teeth; his chin round and prominent; the whole +together conveying an expression of energy, decision, hardy recklessness +and manly courage. His dress was fashioned much like the other's, +already described, but of coarser materials—the frock being of +linsey-woolsey; the breeches and leggings of deerskin; and the +moccasins, in place of boots of the same material. Around his waist +passed a belt; wherein, instead of pistols, were confined a tomahawk and +scalping knife—two weapons which were considered as indispensable to +the regular white hunter of that day as to the Indian warrior himself.</p> + +<p>So soon as the elder of the two became aware of consciousness on the +part of the younger, a friendly smile succeeded to the look of anxiety +with which he had been regarding him; and in the frank, cordial, +familiar tone of that period, when every man's cabin was the traveler's +home, and every strange guest was treated with the hospitality of an old +acquaintance, he said:</p> + +<p>"Well, stranger, I'm right glad to welcome you back to life agin; for I +war beginning to fear your account with earthly matters had closed. By +the Power that made me! but you've had a narrow escape on't; and ef +Betsy (putting his hand on his rifle, which was lying by his side,) +hadn't spoke out as she did, that thar red skin varmint (pointing to the +dead Indian) would have been skulking now like a thief through yonder +woods, with your crown piece hanging to his girdle."</p> + +<p>"A thousand thanks," returned the wounded man, pressing the hand of the +other as much as his strength would permit, and accompanying it with a +look of gratitude more eloquent than words: "A thousand thanks, sir, for +your timely shot, and subsequent kindness and interest in behalf of one +you know not, but who will ever remember you with gratitude."</p> + +<p>"See here, stranger, I reckon you've not been long in these parts?"</p> + +<p>"But a few days, sir."</p> + +<p>"And you've come from a good ways east o' the Alleghanies?"</p> + +<p>"I have."</p> + +<p>"I knew it. I'd have bet Betsey agin a bushel of corn, and that's large +odds you know, that such war the fact, from the particular trouble +you've taken to thank me for doing the duty of a man. Let me assure you, +stranger, that you're in a country now whar equality exists; and whar +one man's just as good as another, provided he is no coward, and behaves +himself as he should do; and whether stranger or not, is equally +entitled to the assistance of his fellows; perticularly when about being +treed by such a sneaking varmint as that lying yonder. Besides, I don't +want any body to thank me for shooting Indians; for I always do it, +whensomever I get a chance, as Betsey would tell you, ef she could speak +English; for somehow thar's no perticular agreement atween us, unless +it's for each to make the most he can off the other; and so far I reckon +thar's a ballance in my favor, though the wretches are ever trying +desperate hard to get even. But come, stranger, it won't do for you to +be lying thar with that hole in your side; and so just have patience a +minute, till I've secured the top-knot of this beauty here, and then +I'll assist you down to yonder cabin, whar I doubt not you'll be well +cared for."</p> + +<p>As he spoke, the old woodsman rose to his feet, drew his knife, and +turning to the dead Indian, to the surprise of the other, who was but +little familiar with Kentucky customs of that day, deliberately took off +the scalp, which he attached to his belt;<a name="FNanchor_1" id="FNanchor_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> and then spurning the body +with his foot, he muttered: "Go, worthless dog! and fill the belly of +some wolf! and may your cowardly companion be soon keeping you company." +Then, as he turned to the other, and noticed his look of surprise, he +added: "Well, stranger, I reckon this business looks a little odd to +you, coming from away beyond the mountains as you do."</p> + +<p>"Why, if truth must be told, I confess it does," answered the other.</p> + +<p>"Don't doubt it, stranger; but you'll do it yourself afore you've +wintered here two seasons."</p> + +<p>"I must beg leave to differ with you on that point."</p> + +<p>"Well, well, we'll not quarrel about it—it arn't worth while; but ef +you stay here two year, without scalping a red-skin and perhaps skinning +one, I'll agree to pay you for your time in bar-skins at your own +valuation."</p> + +<p>"I am much obliged to you for the offer," answered the young man—a +faint smile lighting his pale features; "but I think it hardly probable +I shall remain in the country that length of time."</p> + +<p>"Not unless you have good care, I reckon," returned the other; "for that +thar wound o' yourn arn't none o' the slightest; though I don't want you +to be skeered, for I've seen many a worse one cured. But come, I'll +assist you down to yon cabin, and then I must be off—for I've got a +good distance to travel afore daylight to-morrow;" and bending down as +he spoke, the veteran hunter placed his arms under the arms of the +wounded man, and gently raised him upon his feet.</p> + +<p>Although extremely weak from loss of blood, the latter, by this means of +support, was enabled to walk, at a slow pace; and the two descended the +hill—the elder, the while, talking much, and endeavoring by his +discourse to amuse and cheer up his companion.</p> + +<p>"Why," he continued, "you think your case a hard one, no doubt, +stranger; but it's nothing compared to what some of us old settlers have +seen and been through with, without even winking, as one may say. Within +the last few year, I've seen a brother and a son shot by the infernal +red-skins—have lost I don't know how many companions in the same +way—been shot at fifty times myself, and captured several; and yet you +see here I am, hale and hearty, and just as eager, with Betsey's +permission, to talk to the varmints now as I war ten year ago."</p> + +<p>"But do you not weary of this fatiguing and dangerous mode of life?" +inquired the other.</p> + +<p>"Weary, stranger? Lord bless ye! you're but a young hunter to ax such a +question as that. Weary, friend? Why I war born to it—nursed to it—had +a rifle for a plaything; and the first thing I can remember +particularly, war shooting a painter;<a name="FNanchor_2" id="FNanchor_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> and it's become as nateral and +necessary as breathing; and when I get so I can't follow the one, I want +to quit the other. Weary on't, indeed! Why, thar's more real +satisfaction in sarcumventing and scalping one o' there red heathen, +than in all the amusement you could scare up in a thick-peopled, +peaceable settlement in a life time."</p> + +<p>"By the way," said the other, "pray tell me how you chanced to be so +opportune in saving my life?"</p> + +<p>"Why, you must know, I war just crossing through the wood back here +about a mile, on my way home from the Licks, when I came across the +trail of two Indians, whom I 'spected war arter no good; and as Betsey +war itching for something to do, I kind o' kept on the same way, and +happened round on the other side o' this ridge, just as the red varmints +fired. I saw you fall, but could'nt see them, on account o' the hill; +but as I knowed they'd be for showing themselves soon, I got Betsey into +a comfortable position, and waited as patiently as I could, until the +ugly face of that rascal yonder showed clar; when I told her to speak to +him, which she did in rale backwood's dialect, and he died a answering +her. I then hurried round on the skirt of the wood, loading Betsey as I +went; but finding the other varmint had got off, I hastened to you and +found you senseless: the rest you know."</p> + +<p>By this time the two had reached nearly to the foot of the hill, and +within a hundred yards of the cabin. Here they were joined by a tall, +lank, lantern-jawed, awkward young man, some twenty years of age, with +small, dark eyes, a long, peaked nose, and flaxen hair that floated down +over his ungainly shoulders, like weeping willows over a scrub oak, and +who carried in his hand a rifle nearly as long and ugly as himself.</p> + +<p>"Why, colonel, how are ye? good even' to ye, stranger," was his +salutation, as he came up. "I war down by the tangle yonder, when I +heerd some firing, and some yelling, and I legged it home, ahead o' the +old man, just to keep the women folks in sperets, in case they war +attacked, and get a pop or so at an Injen myself; but thank the Lord, +they warn't thar; and so I ventered on, with long Nance here, to see +whar they mought be."</p> + +<p>"Well, Isaac," returned the one addressed as colonel, "I don't doubt +your being a brave lad, and I've had some opportunity o' seeing you +tried; but being is how thar's no Indians to shoot just now, I'll ax you +to show your good qualities in another way. This young man's been badly +wounded, and ef you'll give him a little extra care, you'll put me under +obligations which I'll be happy to repay whensomever needed."</p> + +<p>"It don't need them thar inducements you've just mentioned, colonel, to +rouse all my sympathies for a wounded stranger. Rely on't, he shan't +suffer for want o' attention."</p> + +<p>"Rightly said, lad; rightly said; and so I leave him in your care. +Tender my regards to your family, for I must be off, and can't stay to +see them." Then turning to the wounded man, he grasped his hand and +said: "Stranger, thar's something about you I like; I don't say it of +every man I meet; and so you may put it down for a compliment or not, +just as you please. Give me your name?"</p> + +<p>"Algernon Reynolds."</p> + +<p>"Algernon Reynolds, I hope we shall meet again, though in a different +manner from our introduction; but whether or no, ef you ever need the +assistance of either Betsey or myself, just make it known, and we'll do +our best for you. Good bye, sir—good bye, Isaac!" and without waiting a +reply, the speaker sprung suddenly behind a cluster of bushes near which +the party stood, and the next moment was lost to view in the gathering +darkness.</p> + +<p>"A great man, that thar, sir!—a powerful great man," observed Isaac, +gazing with admiration after the retreating form of the hunter. "Always +doing good deeds, and never looking for pay nor thanks; may God give him +four-score and ten."</p> + +<p>"Amen to that!" returned Reynolds. "But pray tell me his name."</p> + +<p>"And you don't know him?"</p> + +<p>"I do not."</p> + +<p>"And you didn't inquire his name?"</p> + +<p>"I did not."</p> + +<p>"And ef you had, sir, ten to one but he'd a given you a fictitious one, +to keep clar o' your surprise and extra thanks. Why that, sir, war the +great white hunter, Colonel Daniel Boone."</p> + +<p>"Indeed!" exclaimed Reynolds, in no feigned surprise—"the very man I +have so longed to behold; for his fame has already extended far beyond +the Alleghanies. But come, friend Isaac, my wound grows painful; my +exertions thus far have weakened me exceedingly; and with your +permission, I will proceed to the cottage. Ah! I feel myself growing +faint—fainter—fa-i-n-t;" and he sunk senseless into the other's arms; +who, raising him, apparently without an effort, bore him into the house.</p> + + +<a name="Footnote_1" id="Footnote_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a><div class="footnote"><p> However barbarous such a proceeding may appear to thousands +in the present day of civilization and refinement, we can assure them, +on the authority of numerous historians of that period, that it was a +general custom with the early settlers of the west, to take the scalp of +an Indian slain by their hand, whenever opportunity presented.</p></div> + +<a name="Footnote_2" id="Footnote_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a><div class="footnote"><p> Backwoods name for a panther.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<center>NEW CHARACTERS.</center> +<br/> + +<p>When young Reynolds again regained his senses, it was some minutes +before he could sufficiently recover from the confusion of ideas +consequent upon his mishap, to follow up the train of events that had +occurred to place him in his present situation. His first recollection +was of the attack made upon him by the Indians; and it required +considerable argument with himself, to prove conclusively, to his own +mind, that he was not even now a captive to the savage foe. Gradually, +one by one, each event recurred to his mind, until he had traced himself +to the moment of his swooning in the arms of a tall, ungainly young man, +called Isaac; but of what, had taken place since—where he now was—or +what length of time had intervened—he had not the remotest idea. He was +lying on his back, upon a rude, though by no means uncomfortable, bed; +and, to the best of his judgment, within the four walls of some +cabin—though to him but two of the walls were visible—owing to the +quantity of skins of the buffalo, bear, and deer, which were suspended +around the foot and front of his pallet. He was undressed; and, as he +judged, upon applying his hand to the wounded part, had been treated +with care; for it came in contact with a nicely arranged bandage of +cloth, which was even now moist with some spirituous liquid. But what +perplexed him most, was the peculiar light, with the aid of which, +though dim, he could discern every object so distinctly. It could not +proceed from a candle—it was too generally diffused; nor from the +fire—it was too gray, and did not flicker; nor from the moon—it was +not silvery enough: from what then did it proceed? It appeared the most +like daylight; but this it could not be, he reasoned, from the fact that +he was wounded just before night-fall—unless—and the idea seemed to +startle him—unless he had lain in a senseless state for many hours, and +it was indeed again morning. Determined, however, to satisfy himself on +this point, he attempted to rise for the purpose; but found, to his no +small surprise and regret, that he had not even strength sufficient to +lift his body from the bed; and, therefore, that nothing was left him, +but to surmise whatever he chose, until some one should appear to solve +the riddle; which, he doubted not, would be ere long.</p> + +<p>While these reflections and surmises were rapidly passing through the +mind of our hero—for such we must acknowledge him to be—he heard no +sound indicating the immediate vicinity of any other human being; and +turning his thoughts upon this latter, he was beginning to doubt +whether, at the moment, he was not the only individual beneath the roof; +when he heard a step, as of some one entering another apartment; and, +directly following, a female voice addressed to some person within.</p> + +<p>"Have ye looked to the stranger agin, Ella, and moisted his bandage?"</p> + +<p>"I have, mother," was the answer, in a sweet and silvery voice, which +caused our wounded hero to start with a thrill of pleasing astonishment.</p> + +<p>"And how appeared he, Ella?" continued the first speaker.</p> + +<p>"Why, I thought a little better," answered the same soft, musical voice; +"he seemed asleep, and entirely tranquil."</p> + +<p>"God send it, gal, for he's had a tougher, sartin. Three days, now, +nater's bin tugging away for him; and I'd hate to see him die now, arter +all; and being the colonel's recommind, too; for Isaac says the colonel +injuncted him strongly to take car o' him; and I'd do any thing to +oblege sech a man as him. He didn't appear to have his senses, I +reckon?"</p> + +<p>"I judged not," answered Ella; "though, from his tranquil sleep, I +argued favorably of his case."</p> + +<p>"Well," rejoined the other, "it's my opine the crisis is at hand; and +that he'll ayther come out o' this <i>lethargick</i>—as they calls it—a +rational, or die straight off. 'Spose you look at him agin, Ella; or, +stay, I'll look myself. Poor feller! how he did rave and run on 'bout +his troubles at home, that's away off, until I all but cried, in +reckoning how I'd feel ef it war Isaac as war going on so.".</p> + +<p>As the speaker concluded, she advanced to where the object of her +remarks was lying; and, drawing aside in a gentle manner, some of the +skins near his head, gazed upon him.</p> + +<p>As will be surmised by the reader, not a syllable of the foregoing +colloquy had been lost upon Reynolds; who heard, with unbounded +astonishment, of his narrow escape from that dark valley whence none who +enter again return, and that three days had elapsed since he had fallen +into an unconscious state. He learned, too, with regret, that he had +been communicating matters—to what extent he knew not—to others, which +he wished safely locked in his own breast; and judging it best, in the +present instance, to dissemble a little, that his informant might not be +aware of his having overheard her, he feigned to be asleep on her +approach.</p> + +<p>"He's sleeping yit, poor creater," continued the hostess, as she bent +over the bed of our hero, until he felt her breath upon his face. "I +hope it arn't a going to be his final sleep—so young, and so handsome +too! but, O dear, thar's no telling what them Injen bullets will do, for +folks does say as how they have a knack o' pizening them, that's orful +to tell on! O Lord o' marcy, Ella, child, do come here!" cried the dame +suddenly: "I do believe he's coming to, for sartin."</p> + +<p>This latter speech was occasioned by a movement of the pretended +sleeper, and the gradual opening of his eyes, with the rude stare of +bewildered surprise natural to one in his supposed situation, and such +as he would have exhibited without feigning, had the hostess been +present some ten minutes sooner. Discovering, as already intimated, a +returning consciousness on the part of her guest, the good woman drew +back her head, but still kept her position by the bed, and her eyes +fixed upon him, with an expression which betrayed a fear lest her hopes +of this important event should prove entirely fallacious. Behind her, +with timid step, stole up Ella, and, peeping over her shoulders, +encountered the eyes of the young man beaming upon her, with a look +which her acute perception told her was any thing but insane; and +instantly starting back, the blood rushed upward, crimsoning her neck +and face with a beautiful glow. As for Reynolds—in whom, as already +stated, the voice of Ella alone was sufficient to awaken a thrill of +pleasure—no sooner did he behold her, though but for an instant, than +he felt that thrill revived with a sensation, which, in spite of +himself, he knew was expressed in his own countenance; and he hastened +to speak, in order as much as possible to conceal it.</p> + +<p>"Will you have the goodness, madam, to inform me where I am?"</p> + +<p>"Thar, thar, Ella, child!" exclaimed the matron, joyously; "I told ye +so—I know'd it—he's come to, for sartin—the Lord be praised!" Then +addressing herself to Reynolds, she continued: "Whar are you, stranger, +do you ax? Why you're in the cabin o' Ben Younker—as honest a man as +ever shot a painter—who's my husband, and father of Isaac Younker, what +brought ye here, according to the directions of Colonel Boone, arter you +war shot by the Injens, the varmints, three days ago; and uncle of Ella +Barnwell here, as I calls daughter, 'cause her parents is dead, poor +creaters, and she hadn't a home to go to, but come'd to live with us, +that are fetching her up in a a dutiful way;" and the good woman +concluded her lucid account of family matters with a sound that much +resembled a person taking breath after some laborious exertion.</p> + +<p>"And is it possible," answered Reynolds, who hastened to reply, in order +to conceal a strong inclination he felt for laughing, "that I have lain +here three whole days?"</p> + +<p>"Three days, and four nights, and part o' another day, jest as true as +buffaloes run in cane-brakes, and Injen varmints shoot white folks +whensomever they git a chance," replied Mrs. Younker, with great +volubility. "And Ella, the darling, has tended on ye like you war her +own nateral born brother; and Isaac, and Ben, and myself ha' tended on +ye too, while you war raving and running on at an orful rate, though +you've had the best bed, and best o' every thing we've got in the +house."</p> + +<p>"For all of which I am at a loss for terms to express my gratitude," +returned Reynolds, coloring slightly as he thought of the assiduous +attentions he had unconsciously received from Ella Barnwell, who already +began to be an object in his eyes of no little importance.</p> + +<p>"Don't mention about gratitude," rejoined the kind hearted Mrs. Younker; +"don't talk about gratitude, for a lettle favor sech as every body's got +a right to, what comes into this country and gits shot by savages. We +havn't done no more for you than we'd a done for any body else in like +sarcumstances; and, la, sir, the pleasure o' knowing you're a going to +git well agin, arter being shot by Injen's pizen bullets,<a name="FNanchor_3" id="FNanchor_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> is enough +to pay us twenty times over—Eh! Ella, child—don't you say so?"</p> + +<p>"No one, save the gentleman himself, or his dearest friends, can be more +rejoiced at his favorable symptoms than myself," responded Ella, +timidly, in a voice so low, sweet and touching, that Reynolds, who heard +without seeing her—for she kept the rude curtain of skins between +them—felt his heart beat strangely, while his eyes involuntarily grew +moist.</p> + +<p>"That's truly said, gal—truly said, I do believe," rejoined Mrs. +Younker; "for she's hung over you, sir, (turning to the wounded man) +night and day, like a mother over her child, until we've had to use +right smart authority to make her go to bed, for fear as how she'd be +sick too."</p> + +<p>"And if I live," answered Reynolds, in a voice that trembled with +emotion, "and it is ever in my power to repay such disinterested +attention and kindness, I will do it, even to the sacrificing that life +which she, together with you and your family, good woman, has been the +means, under God, of preserving."</p> + +<p>"Under God," repeated the matron; "that's true; I like the way you said +that, stranger; it sounds reverential—it's just—and it raises my +respect for you a good deal; for all our doings is under God's permit;" +and she turned her eyes upward, with a devout look, in which position +she remained several seconds; while Ella, with her fair hands clasped, +followed her example, and seemed, with her moving lips, engaged in +prayer.</p> + +<p>"But come," resumed the dame, "it won't do for you, stranger, to be +disturbed too much jest now; for you arn't any too strong, I reckon; and +so you'll jest take my advice, and go to sleep awhile, and you'll feel +all the better for't agin Ben and Isaac come home, which'll be in two or +three hours."</p> + +<p>Saying this, Mrs. Younker again disposed the curtains so as to conceal +from Reynolds all external objects; and, together with Ella, withdrew, +leaving him to repose. Whether he profited by her advice immediately, or +whether he meditated for some time on other matters, not excluding Ella, +we shall leave to the imagination of the reader; while we proceed, by +way of episode, to give a general, though brief account, of the Younker +family.</p> + +<p>Benjamin Younker was a man about fifty-five years of age—tall, +raw-boned and very muscular—and although now past the prime, even the +meridian of life, was still possessed of uncommon strength. His form, +never handsome, even in youth, was now disfigured by a stoop in the +shoulders, caused by hard labor and rheumatism. His face corresponded +with his body—being long and thin, with hollow cheeks, and high cheek +bones,—his eyes were small and gray, with heavy eye-brows; his nose +long and pointed; his mouth large and homely, though expressive; and his +forehead medium, surmounted by a sprinkling of brown-gray hair. In +speech he was deliberate, generally pointed, and seldom spoke when not +absolutely necessary. He was a good farmer—such being his occupation; a +keen hunter, whenever he chose to amuse himself in that way; a sure +marksman; and, although ignorant in book learning, possessed a sound +judgment, and a common-sense understanding on all subjects of general +utility. He was a native of Eastern Virginia, where the greater portion +of his life had been spent in hunting and agricultural pursuits—where +he was married and had been blessed with two children—a son and a +daughter—of whom the former only was now living, and has already been +introduced to the reader as Isaac—and whence, at the instance of his +wife and son, he removed, in the spring of 1779, into the borders of +Kentucky—finally purchased and settled where he now resided; and where, +although somewhat exposed, he and his family had thus far remained +unmolested.</p> + +<p>The dame, Mrs. Younker, was a large, corpulent woman of forty-five, with +features rather coarse and masculine, yet expressive of shrewdness and +courage, and, withal, a goodly share of benevolence. She was one of that +peculiar class of females, who, if there is any thing to be said, always +claim the privilege of saying it; in other words, an inveterate talker; +and who, if we may be allowed the phrase, managed her husband, and all +around her, with the length of her tongue. In the country where she was +brought up and known, to say of another, that he or she could compete +with Ben Younker's wife in talking, was considered the extreme of +comparison; and it is not recorded that any individual ever presumed on +the credulity of the public sufficient to assert that the vocal powers +of the said Mrs. Younker were ever surpassed. Unlike most great talkers, +she was rarely heard to speak ill of any, and then only such as were +really deserving of censure; while her rough kind of piety—if we may so +term it—and her genuine goodness of heart, known to all with whom she +came in contact, served to procure her a long list of friends. She +possessed, as the reader has doubtless judged from the specimen we have +given, little or no education; but this deficiency, in her eyes, as well +as in most of those who lived on the frontiers, was of minor +consequence—the knowledge of hunting, farming, spinning and weaving, +being considered by far the more necessary qualifications for +discharging the social duties of life.</p> + +<p>Of Isaac, with whom the reader is already, acquainted, we shall not now +speak, other than to say, he could barely read and write—rather +preferring that he develop his character in his own peculiar way. But +there is another, and though last, we trust will not prove least in +point of interest to the reader, with whom we shall close, this +episodical history—namely—Ella Barnwell.</p> + +<p>The mother of Ella—a half sister to the elder-Younker—died when she +was very young, leaving her to the care of a kind and indulgent father, +who, having no other child, lavished on her his whole affections. At the +demise of his wife, Barnwell was a prosperous, if not wealthy merchant, +in one of the eastern cities of Virginia; and knowing the instability of +wealth, together with his desire to fit his daughter for any station in +society, he spared no expense necessary to educate her in all the +different branches of English usually studied by a female. To this was +added drawing, needle-work, music and dancing; and as Ella proved by no +means a backward scholar in whatever she undertook, she was, at the age +of fifteen, to use a familiar phrase, turned out an accomplished young +lady. But alas! she had been qualified for a station which fate seemed +determined not to let her occupy; for just at this important period of +her life, her father became involved in an unfortunate speculation, that +ended in ruin, dishonor, and his own bodily confinement in prison for +debts he could never discharge. Naturally high spirited and proud, this +misfortune and persecution proved too much for his philosophy—and what +was more, his reason—and in a state of mental derangement, he one night +hung himself to the bars of his prison window—leaving his daughter at +the age we have named, a poor, unprotected, we might almost add +friendless, orphan; for moneyless and friendless are too often +synonymous terms, as poor Ella soon learned to her mortification and +sorrow.</p> + +<p>Ella Barnwell, the young, the beautiful, and accomplished heiress, was a +very different personage from poor Ella Barnwell the bankrupt's +daughter; and those who had fawned upon and flattered and courted the +one, now saw proper to pass the other by in silent contempt. It was a +hard, a very hard lesson for one at the tender age of Ella, who had been +petted and pampered all her life, and taught by her own simplicity of +heart to look upon all pretenders as real friends—it was a hard lesson, +we say, for one of her years, to be forced at one bold stroke to learn +the world, and see her happy, artless dreams vanish like froth from the +foaming cup; but if hard, it was salutary—at least with her; and +instead of blasting in the bud, as it might have done a frailer flower, +it set her reason to work, destroyed the romantic sentimentalism usually +attached to females of that excitable age, taught her to rely more upon +herself, and less upon others, more upon actions and less upon words, +and, in short, made a strong minded woman of her at once. Yet this was +not accomplished without many a heart-rending pang, as the briny tears +of chagrin, disappointment, and almost hopeless destitution, that +nightly chased each other down the pale cheeks of Ella Barnwell to the +pillow which supported her feverish head, for weeks, and even months +after the death of her father, could well attest.</p> + +<p>The father of Ella was an Englishman, who had emigrated to this country +a few years previous to his marriage; and as none of his near relations +had seen proper to follow his example, Ella, on his side, was left +entirely destitute of any to whom she could apply for assistance and +protection. On her mother's side, she knew of none who would be likely +to assist her so readily as her half uncle, Benjamin Younker, whom she +remembered as having seen at the funeral of her mother; and who then, +taking her in his brawny arms, while the tears dimmed his eyes, in a +solemn, impressive manner told her, that, in the ups and downs of life, +should she ever stand in need of another's strong arm or purse, to call +on him, and that, while blest with either himself, she should not want. +This at the time had made a deep impression on her youthful mind, but +subsequently had been nearly or quite obliterated, until retouched by +feeling the want of that aid then so solemnly and generously tendered. +Accordingly, after trying some of her supposed true-hearted friends—who +had more than once been sharers in her generosity; and who, in return, +had professed the most devoted attachment; but who now, in her distress, +unkindly treated her urgent requests with cold neglect,—Ella hastened +to make her situation known to her uncle; the result of which had been +her adoption into a family, who, if not graced with that refinement and +education to which she had been accustomed, at least possessed virtues +that many of the refined and learned were strangers to—namely—truth, +honesty, benevolence, and fidelity.</p> + +<p>Ella, in her new situation, with her altered views of society in +general, soon grew to love her benefactor and his family, and take that +sincere pleasure in their rude ways, which, at one time, she would have +considered as next to impossible. With a happy faculty, belonging only +to the few, she managed to work herself into their affections, by little +and little, almost imperceptibly, until, ere they were aware of the fact +themselves, she was looked upon rather as a daughter and sister, than a +more distant relation. In sooth, the former appellation the reader has +already seen applied to her during the recorded conversation of the +voluble Mrs. Younker—an appellation which Ella ever took good care to +acknowledge by the corresponding title of mother.</p> + +<p>About a year from the period of Ella's becoming a member of the family, +the Younkers had removed, as already stated, to what was then considered +the "Far West," and had finally purchased and settled where we find them +in the opening of our story. In this expedition, Ella, though somewhat +reluctantly, had accompanied them—had remained with them ever +since—and was now, notwithstanding her former lady-like mode of life, +through the tuition of Mrs. Younker, regularly installed into all the +mysteries of milking, churning, sewing, baking, spinning and weaving. +With this brief outline of her past history, we shall proceed to +describe her personal appearance, at the time of her introduction to the +reader, and then leave her to speak and act for herself during the +progress of this drama of life.</p> + +<p>Eighteen years of sunshine and cloud, had served to mould the form of +Ella Barnwell into one of peculiar beauty and grace. In height she was a +little above five feet, had a full round bust, and limbs of that +beautiful and airy symmetry, which ever give to their possessor an +appearance of etherial lightness. Her complexion was sufficiently dark +to entitle her to the appellation of brunette; though by many it would +have been thought too light, perhaps, owing to the soft, rich +transparency of her skin; through which, by a crimson tint, could be +traced the "tell-tale-blood," on the slightest provocation tending to +excitement. Her features, if examined closely, could not be put down as +entirely regular, owing to a very slight defect in the mouth, which +otherwise was very handsome, and which was graced with two plump, +pretty, half pouting lips. This defect, however, was only apparent when +the countenance was in stern repose; and, as this was seldom, when in +company with others, it was of course seldom observed. The remainder of +her features were decidedly good, and, seen in profile, really +beautiful. Her eye was a full, soft, animated hazel, that could beam +tenderly with love, sparkle brilliantly with wit, or flash scornfully +with anger; but inclining more to the first and second qualities than +the last. Her eye-brows were well defined, and just sufficiently arched +to correspond with the eyes themselves. Her forehead was prominent, of a +noble cast, and added dignity to her whole appearance. Her hair was a +rich, dark brown, fine and glossy, and although neatly arranged about +the head, evidently required but little training to enable it to fall +gracefully about her neck in beautiful ringlets. The general expression +of her face, was a soft, bewitching playfulness, which, combined with +the half timid, benevolent look, beaming from her large, mild, hazel +eye, invariably won upon the beholder at the first glance, and increased +upon acquaintance. Her voice we have already spoken of as possessing a +silvery sweetness; and if one could be moved at merely seeing her, it +only required this addition to complete the charm. To all of the +foregoing, let us add an ardent temperament—capable of the most tender, +lasting and devoted attachment, when once the affections were placed on +an object—a sweet disposition, modest deportment, and graceful +manners—and you have the portrait in full of Ella Barnwell, the orphan, +the model of her sex, and the admiration of all who knew her.</p> + + +<a name="Footnote_3" id="Footnote_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a><div class="footnote"><p> Mrs. Younker is the only authority we have for supposing +Indians poison their bullets, although we have read of poisoned arrows, +and hence infer such a proceeding to be rather a supposition with her +than a certainty.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<center>THE TALE AND FATAL SECRET.</center> +<br/> + +<p>The dwelling of Benjamin Younker, as already mentioned, stood at the +base of a hill, on the margin of a beautiful valley, and within a +hundred feet of a lucid stream, whose waters, finding their source in +the neighboring bills, rushed down, all gleesome and sparkling, over a +limestone bed, and</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>"From morn till night, from night till morn,"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>sung gentle melodies for all who chose to listen.</p> + +<p>The building itself though rough, both externally and internally, was +what at that period was termed a double cabin; and in this respect was +entitled to a superiority over most of its neighbors. As this may serve +for a representative of the houses or cabins of the early settlers of +Kentucky, we shall proceed to describe its structure and general +appearance somewhat more minutely than might otherwise be deemed +necessary.</p> + +<p>The sides of the cottage in question, were composed of logs, rough from +the woods where they had been felled, with the bark still clinging to +them, and without having undergone other transformation than being cut +to a certain length, and notched at either end, so as to sink into each +other, when crossed at right angles, until their bodies met, thereby +forming a structure of compactness, strength and solidity. Some ten or +twelve feet from the ground, the two upper end logs of the cabin +projected a foot or eighteen inches beyond the lower, and supported what +were called <i>butting poles</i>—poles which crossed these projections at +right angles, and, extending along the front and back of the building, +formed the eaves of the roof. This latter was constructed by gradually +shortening the logs at either end, until those which crossed them, as we +said before, at right angles, came together at an angle of forty-five +degrees, and the last one formed the ridge-pole or comb of the whole. On +these logs, lapping one over the other, and the lower tier resting +against the butting poles, were laid slabs of clapboard—a species of +plank split from some straight-grained tree—about four feet long, and +from three to four wide. These were secured in their places by logs in +turn resting on them, at certain intervals, and answering the purpose of +nails; necessity requiring these latter articles of convenience to be +dispensed with in the early settlements of the West. As the cabin was +double, two doors gave entrance from without, one into either apartment. +These entrances were formed by cutting away the logs for the space of +three feet by six, and were closed by rude doors, made of rough slabs, +pinned strongly to heavy cross bars, and hung on hinges of the same +material. These, like the rest of the building, were rendered, by their +thickness, bullet proof—so that when closed and bolted, the house was +capable of withstanding an ordinary attack of the Indians. With the +exception of one window, opening into the apartment generally occupied +by the family, and flanked by a heavy shutter, the doors and chimney +were the only means through which light and air were admitted. These +were all firmly secured at night—the unsettled and exposed state of the +country, and the dangerous proximity of the pioneers to the ruthless +savage, particularly those without the forts, rendering necessary, on +their part, the most vigilant caution.</p> + +<p>The internal appearance of the cabin corresponded well with the +external. The apartment occupied by the family during the day, where the +meals were cooked and served, and the general household affairs attended +to, was very homely; and might, if contrasted with some of the present +time, be termed almost wretched; though considered, at the period of +which we write, rather above than below the ordinary. The floor was +composed of what by the settlers were termed puncheons; which were made +by splitting in half trees of some eighteen inches in diameter, and +hewing the faces of them as regular as possible with the broad-axe. +These were laid, bark side downwards, upon sleepers running crosswise +for the purpose, and formed at least a dry, solid and durable, if not +polished, floor. At one end of the cabin was the chimney, built of logs, +outside the apartment, but connecting with it by a space cut away for +the purpose. The back, jambs, and hearth of this chimney were of stone, +and put together, in a manner not likely to be imitated by masons of +the present day. A coarse kind of plaster filled up the surrounding +crevices, and served to keep out the air and give a rude finish to the +whole.</p> + +<p>The furniture of the Younkers, if the title be not too ambiguous, would +scarcely have been coveted by any of our modern exquisites, even had +they been living in that age of straight-forward common sense. A large, +rough slab, split from some tree, and supported by round legs set in +auger holes, had the honor of standing for a table—around which, like a +brood of chickens around their mother, were promiscuously collected +several three-legged stools of similar workmanship. In one corner of the +room were a few shelves; on which were ranged some wooden trenchers, +pewter plates, knives and forks, and the like necessary articles, while +a not very costly collection of pots and kettles took a less dignified +and prominent position beneath. Another corner was occupied by a bed, +the covering of which was composed of skins of different animals, with +sheetings of home-made linen. In the vicinity of the bed, along the +wall, was a row of pegs, suspending various garments of the occupants; +all of which—with the exception of a few articles, belonging to Ella, +procured for her before the death of her father—were of the plainest +and coarsest description. A churn—a clock—the latter a very rare thing +among the pioneers of Kentucky—a footwheel for spinning flax—a small +mirror—together with several minor articles, of which it is needless to +speak—completed the inventory of the apartment. From this room were two +exits, besides the outer door—one by a ladder leading above to a sort +of attic chamber, where were two beds; and the other through the wall +into the adjoining cabin, whither our hero had been borne in a state of +insensibility on the night of his mishap, and where he was for the +second time presented to the reader. This latter place was graced with a +bed, a loom for weaving, a spinning-wheel, a large oaken chest, and a +few rough benches.</p> + +<p>Such, reader, as our description has set forth, was the general +appearance of Younker's dwelling, both without and within, in the year +of our Lord 1781; and, moreover, a fair representative of an hundred +others of the period in question—so arbitrary was necessity in making +one imitate the other. But to resume our story.</p> + +<p>In the after part of a day as mild and beautiful as the one on which we +opened our narrative, but some four weeks later, Ella Barnwell, +needle-work in hand, was seated near the open door leading from the +apartment first described to the reader. Her head was bent forward, and +her eyes were apparently fixed upon her occupation with great +intentness—though a close observer might have detected furtive glances +occasionally thrown upon a young man, with a pale and somewhat agitated +countenance, who was pacing to and fro on the ground without. With the +exception of these two, no person was within sight—though the rattling +of a loom in the other apartment or cabin, betokened the vicinity of the +industrious hostess.</p> + +<p>For some moments the young man—a no less personage than our hero—paced +back and forth like one whose mind is harrowed by some disagreeable +thought: then suddenly halting in front of the doorway, and in a voice +which, though not intended to be so, was slightly tremulous, he +addressed himself to the young lady, in words denoting a previous +conversation.</p> + +<p>"Then I must have said some strange things, Ella—I beg pardon—Miss +Barnwell."</p> + +<p>"Have I not requested you, Mr. Reynolds, on more than one occasion, to +call me Ella, instead of using the formality which rather belongs to +strangers in fashionable society than to those dwelling beneath the same +roof, in the wilds of Kentucky?" responded the person addressed, in a +tone of pique, while she raised her head and let her soft, dark eyes +rest reproachfully on the other.</p> + +<p>"Well, well, Ella," rejoined Reynolds, "I crave pardon for my +heedlessness; and promise you, on that score at least, no more cause for +offence in future."</p> + +<p>"Offence!" said Ella, quickly, catching at the word: "O, no—no—not +offence, Mr. Reynolds! I should be sorry to take offence at what was +meant in all kindness, and with true respect; but somehow I—that +is—perhaps it may not appear so to others—but I—to me it appears +studied—and—and—cold;" and as she concluded, in a hesitating manner, +she quickly bent her head forward, while her cheek crimsoned at the +thought, that she might perhaps have ventured too far, and laid herself +liable to misconstruction.</p> + +<p>"And yet, Ella," returned Reynolds, somewhat playfully, "you resemble +many others I have known, in preaching what you do not practice. You +request me to lay aside all formality, and address you by your name +only; while you, in that very request, apply to me the title you +consider as studied, formal and cold."</p> + +<p>"You have reference to my saying <i>Mr.</i> Reynolds, I presume," answered +Ella; "but I see no analogy between the two; as in addressing you thus, +I do but what, under the circumstances, is proper; and what, doubtless, +habit has rendered familiar to your ear; while, on the other hand, no +one ever thinks of calling me any thing but Ella, or at the most, Ella +Barnwell—and hence all superfluities grate harshly."</p> + +<p>"Even complimentary adjectives, eh?" asked Reynolds, with an arch look.</p> + +<p>"Even those, Mr. Reynolds; and those most of all are offensive, I assure +you."</p> + +<p>"I thought all of your sex were fond of flattery."</p> + +<p>"Then have you greatly erred in thinking."</p> + +<p>"But thus says general report."</p> + +<p>"Then, sir, general report is a slanderer, and should not be credited. +Those who court flattery, are weak-minded and vain; and I trust you do +not so consider all our sex."</p> + +<p>"Heaven forbid," answered Reynolds, with energy, "that I should think +thus of all, or judge any too harshly!—but there may be causes to force +one into the conviction, that the exceptions are too few to spoil the +rule."</p> + +<p>"I trust such is not your case," responded Ella, quickly, while her eyes +rested on the other with a searching glance.</p> + +<p>"No one is required to criminate himself in law," replied Reynolds, +evasively, with a sigh; and then immediately added, as if anxious to +change the topic: "But I am eager for you to inform me what I said +during my delirium."</p> + +<p>"O, many things," returned Ella, "the half of which I could not repeat; +but more particularly you spoke of troubles at home, and often repeated +the name of Elvira with great bitterness. Then you would run on +incoherently, for some time, about pistols, and swords, and end by +saying that the quarrel was just—that you were provoked to it, until it +became almost self defence—and that if he died, his blood would be on +his own head."</p> + +<p>"Good heavens, Ella! did I indeed say this?" exclaimed Reynolds, with a +start, while his features became deadly pale. "Did I say more? did I +mention further particulars?—speak! tell me—tell me truly!"</p> + +<p>"Not in my hearing," answered Ella, while her own face blanched at the +sudden vehemence of the other.</p> + +<p>"Well, well, do not be alarmed!" said Reynolds, evidently somewhat +relieved, and softening his voice, as he noticed the change in her +countenance; "people sometimes say strange things, when reason, the +great regulator of the tongue, is absent. What construction did you put +upon my words, Ella?"</p> + +<p>"Why, in sooth," replied Ella, watching his features closely as she +spoke, "I thought nothing of them, other than to suppose you might +formerly have had some trouble; and that in the chaos of wild images +crowding your brain, after being attacked and wounded by savages, it was +natural some of these image should be of a bloody nature."</p> + +<p>"Then you did not look upon the words as having reference to a reality."</p> + +<p>"No! at the time I did not."</p> + +<p>"At the time?" repeated Reynolds, with a slight fall of countenance; +"have you then seen or heard any thing since to make you suspicious?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing—until—"</p> + +<p>"Well, well," said Reynolds, quickly, as she hesitated; "speak out and +fear nothing!"</p> + +<p>"Until but now, when you became so agitated, and spoke so vehemently on +my repeating your delirious language," added Ella, concluding the +sentence.</p> + +<p>"Ha!" ejaculated Reynolds, as if to himself; "sanity has done more to +betray me than delirium. Well, Ella," continued he, addressing her more +direct, "you have heard enough to make you doubtful of my character; +therefore you must needs hear the whole, that you may not judge me worse +than I am; but remember, withal, the tale is for your ear alone."</p> + +<p>"Nay, Mr. Reynolds, if it be a secret, I would rather not have it in +keeping," answered Ella.</p> + +<p>"It is a secret," returned Reynolds, solemnly, with his eyes cast down +in a dejected manner; "a secret, I would to Heaven I had not myself in +keeping! but hear it you must, Ella, for various reasons, from my lips; +and then we part—(his voice slightly faltered) we part—forever!"</p> + +<p>"Forever!" gasped Ella, quickly, with a choking sensation, while her +features grew pale, and then suddenly flushed, and her work +unconsciously dropped from her hand. Then, as if ashamed of having +betrayed her feelings, she became confused, and endeavored to cover the +exposure by adding, with a forced laugh: "But really, Mr. Reynolds, I +must crave pardon for my silly behavior—but your manner of speaking, +somehow, startled me—and—and I—before I was aware—really, it was +very silly—indeed it was, and I pray you overlook it!"</p> + +<p>"Were circumstances not as I have too much reason to fear they are," +returned Reynolds, slowly, sadly, and impressively, with his eyes fixed +earnestly and even tenderly upon the other, "I would not exchange that +simple expression of yours, Ella, for a mine of gold. By that alone you +have spoken volumes, and told me what I already feared was true, but +hoped was otherwise. Nay, turn not your head away, Ella—dear Ella, if +you will allow me so to address you—it is better, under the +circumstances, that we speak plainly and understandingly, as the time of +our final separation draweth near. I fear that my manner and language +have hitherto too much expressed my feelings, and encouraged hopes in +you that can never be realized. Oh! Ella, if such be the case, I would, +for your dear sake, we had never met!—and the thought hereafter, that I +have caused you a pang, will add its weight of anguish to my already +bitter lot. The days that I have spent beneath this hospitable roof, and +in your sweet presence, are so many of bright sunshine, in a life of +cloud and storm; but will only serve, as I recall them, to make the +remainder, by contrast, seem more dark and dreary. From the first I +learned you were an orphan, and my sympathy was aroused in your behalf; +subsequently, I listened to your recital of grief, and trouble, and cold +treatment by the world—told in an artless manner—and in spite of me, +in spite of my struggles to the contrary, I discovered awakening in my +breast a feeling of a stronger nature. Had my wound permitted, I should +have torn myself from your presence then, with the endeavor, if such a +thing were possible, to forget you; but, alas! fate ordered otherwise, +and the consequence I fear will be to add sorrow to both. But one thing, +dear Ella, before I go further, let me ask: Can you, and will you +forgive me, for the manner in which I have conducted myself in your +company?"</p> + +<p>"I have nothing to forgive; and had I, it should be forgiven," answered +Ella, sweetly, in a timid voice, her hands unconsciously toying with her +needle-work, and her face half averted, whereon could be traced the +suppressed workings of internal emotion.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Ella—thank you, for taking a weight from my heart. And now, +ere I proceed with what to both of us will prove a painful revelation, +let me make one request more—a foolish one I know—but one I trust you +will grant nevertheless."</p> + +<p>"Name it," said Ella, timidly, as the other paused.</p> + +<p>"It is, simply, that in judging me by the evidence I shall give against +myself, you will lean strongly to the side of mercy; and, when I am +gone, think of me rather as an unfortunate than criminal being."</p> + +<p>"You alarm me, Mr. Reynolds, with such a request!" answered Ella, +looking up to the other with a pale, anxious countenance. "I know not +the meaning of it! and, as I said before, I would rather not have your +secret in keeping—the more so, as you say the revelation will be a +painful one to both."</p> + +<p>For a moment the young man paused, as though undecided as to his reply, +while his countenance expressed a look of mortified regret really +painful to behold—so much so, that Ella, moved by this to a feeling of +compassion, said:</p> + +<p>"I perceive my answer wounds your feelings—I meant no harm; go on with +your story; I will listen, and endeavor to concede all you desire."</p> + +<p>"Thank you—again thank you!" returned the other, energetically, with +emotion. "I will make my narrative brief as possible."</p> + +<p>Saying which, he entered the apartment where the other was sitting, and +seating himself a few feet distant from her, after some little +hesitation, as if to bring his resolution to the point, thus began:</p> + +<p>"I shall pass over all minor affairs of my life, and come at once to the +period and event, which changed me from a happy youth, blessed with home +and friends, to a wanderer—I know not but an outlaw—on the face of the +earth. I was born in the state of Connecticut, A.D. 1759; and my father +being a man of property, and one determined on giving his children (of +whom there were two, one older than myself) a liberal education, I was +at an early age sent to a neighboring school, where I remained until +turned of eighteen, and then returned to my parents.</p> + +<p>"About this period, an old, eccentric lady—a maiden aunt of my +father—died, bequeathing to me—or rather to the second born of her +nephew, Albert Reynolds, which chanced to be myself—the bulk of her +property—in value some fifty thousand dollars, on condition, that, +between the ages of eighteen and twenty-two, I should marry a certain +Elvira Longworth—a lady some three years my junior, for whom my great +aunt had formed a strong attachment. And the will further provided, That +in case the said second born of Albert Reynolds, either through the +intervention of Providence, in removing him from off the face of the +earth, (so it was worded) and from among the living, or through a mutual +dislike of the parties seemed, did not between the specified ages, +celebrate, with due rejoicing, the said nuptials with the said Elvira +Longworth, the sum of twenty thousand dollars should be paid over to the +said Elvira, if living, and the remainder of the property (or in case +she was deceased the whole) should revert to the regular heirs at law.</p> + +<p>"Such was the will—one of the most singular perhaps on record—which, +whatever the design of its author, was destined, by a train of +circumstances no one could foresee, to result in the most terrible +consequences to those it should have benefited. On the reading thereof, +no little dissatisfaction was expressed in regard to it, by numerous +relatives of the deceased; each of whom, as a matter of course, was +expecting a considerable share of the old lady's property; and all of +whom, with but few exceptions, were nearer akin than myself; and +therefore, in that respect, more properly entitled to it. As a +consequence of the will, I, though innocent of its construction—for +none could be more surprised at it than myself—became a regular target +for the ridicule, envy, and hate of those who chanced to be disappointed +thereby. At the outset, I had no intention of seeking a title to the +property by complying with the specification set forth at the instance +of its late owner; and only looked upon it as a piece of crack-brained +folly, that would serve for a nine days' comment and jest, and then be +forgotten; but when I saw, that instead of being treated with the +courtesy and respect no conscious act of mine had ever forfeited, I was +ridiculed, sneered at, and looked upon with jealousy and hate by those +whose souls were too narrow to believe in a noble action—and who, +measuring and judging me by their own sordid standards of avaricious +justice, deemed I would spare no pains to legally rob them, as they +termed it,—when I saw this, I say, my blood became heated, my fiercer +passions were roused, and I inwardly swore, that if it were now in my +power to accomplish what they feared, I would do it, though the lady in +question were a fright to look upon. In this decision I was rather +encouraged by my father, who being at the time somewhat involved, +thought it a feasible plan of providing for me, and then, by my aid, +recovering from his own pecuniary embarrassments.</p> + +<p>"As yet I had never seen Elvira—she living in an adjoining county, +some thirty miles distant, where my aunt, on a visit to a distant +relative, had first made her acquaintance, and formed that singular +attachment, peculiar to eccentric temperaments, which had resulted in +the manner already shown. Accordingly, one fine spring morning, I +mounted my horse, and set forth to seek my intended, and behold what +manner of person she was of. Late at night I arrived at the village +where she resided—stabled my beast—took lodging at a hotel—inquired +out her residence—and, betimes, the morning following, made my +obeisance in her presence, and with that bashful, awkward grace—if I +may be allowed so paradoxical a term—which my youth present purpose, +and former good breeding combined, were calculated to produce. I was +more embarrassed still a minute after, when, having given my name, and +hinted at the singular document of the old lady deceased, I found my +fair intended, as well as her family, were in total ignorance of my +meaning; and could I at the moment have been suddenly transferred to my +horse, I do not think I should have paused to make the necessary +explanation. As it was, there was no alternative; and accordingly +begging a private interview with Elvira, I disclosed the whole secret; +which she listened to for a time with unfeigned surprise; and then +bursting into a wild, ringing laugh, declared it to be 'The funniest and +most ridiculous thing she ever heard of.'</p> + +<p>"She was a gay, sprightly, beautiful being—fresh in the bloom of some +fifteen summers—with a bright, sparkling, roguish eye—long, floating, +auburn ringlets—a musical voice—a ringing laugh—the latter frequent +and long,—so that I soon felt it needed not the stimulating desire of +wealth and revenge to urge me on to that, which, under any +circumstances, would have been by no means disagreeable. To make a long +story short, I called upon her at stated periods; and, within a year +from our first acquaintance, we were plighted to each other. About this +time my father, together with some influential friends, procured me a +lieutenancy, to serve in our present struggle for the maintainance of +that glorious independence, drawn up by the immortal Jefferson, and +signed by the noble patriots some two years before. I served a two +years' campaign, and fought in the unfortunate and bloody battle of +Camden; which resulted, as doubtless you have heard, in great loss and +defeat to the American arms. Shortly after the action commenced, our +captain was killed, and the command of the company devolved on me. I +fulfilled my duties to the best of my ability, and myself and men were +in the hottest of the fight. But from some alleged misdemeanor, whereof +I can take my oath I was guiltless, I was afterward very severely +censured by one of my superior officers; which so wounded my feelings, +that I at once resigned my commission and returned to my native state.</p> + +<p>"On arriving at home, to my surprise and mortification, I learned that +my intended was just on the eve of marriage with a cousin of mine—a +worthless fellow—who, urged on by the relatives interested, and his own +desire of acquiring the handsome competence of twenty thousand dollars, +had taken advantage of my absence to calumniate me, (in which design he +had been aided by several worthy assistants) and supplant me in the good +graces—I will not say affections, as I think the term too strong—of +Elvira Longworth.</p> + +<p>"The lady in question I do not think I ever loved—at least as I +understand the meaning of that term—and now—that she had listened to +slander against me while absent, and, without waiting to know whether it +would be refuted on my return, had engaged herself to another—I cared +less for her than before;—but my pride was touched, that I should be +thus tamely set aside for one I heartily despised; and this, together +with my desire to thwart the machinations of the whole intriguing clique +arrayed against me, determined me, if feasible, to regain the favor of +Elvira, and have the ceremony performed as soon as possible. This, Ella, +I know you think, and I am ready to admit it, was wrong—very wrong; +but I make no pretensions to be other than a frail mortal, liable to all +the errors appertaining thereto; and were this is the only sin to be +laid to my charge, my conscience were far less troublesome than now.</p> + +<p>"I determined, I say, to regain my former place in her favor or +affection—whichever you like—and, to be brief, I apparently succeeded. +The day was set for our marriage; which, for several reasons unnecessary +to be detailed, was to take place at the residence of my father; and, as +the will specified it should be with all due rejoicings, great +preparations were accordingly made, and a goodly number of guests +invited.</p> + +<p>"At length the day came—the eventful day. Never shall I forget it; nor +with what feelings, at the appointed hour, I entered the crowded hall, +where the ceremony was to take place, with Elvira leaning tremblingly on +my arm, her features devoid of all color, and approached the spot where +the divine stood ready to unite us forever. All eyes were now fixed upon +us; and the marriage rite was begun amid that deep and almost awful +solemnity, which not unfrequently characterizes such proceedings on +peculiar occasions, when every spectator, as well as the actors +themselves, feel a secret awe steal over them, as though about to +witness a tragic, rather than a civil, performance.</p> + +<p>"I have mentioned that Elvira trembled violently when we entered the +hall; but this trembling increased after the divine commenced the +ritual; so that when I had answered in the affirmative the solemn +question pertaining to my taking the being by my side as mine till +death, her trepidation had become so great that it was with difficulty I +could support her; and when the same interrogative was put to her, a +silence of some moments followed; and then the answer came forth, low +and trembling, but still sufficiently distinct to be generally +understood; and was, to the unbounded astonishment of all, in the +negative!"</p> + +<p>"In the negative!" exclaimed Ella, suddenly, who had during the last few +sentences been unconsciously leaning forward, as though to devour each +syllable as it was uttered, and who now resumed her former position with +a long drawn breath. "In the negative say you, Alger—a—a—Mr. +Reynolds?"</p> + +<p>"Call me Algernon, Ella, I pray you; it sounds more sweet and friendly. +Ay, she answered in the negative. Heavens! what a shock was there for +my proud nature! To be thus publicly insulted and rejected—to be thus +made the butt and ridicule of fools and knaves—a mark for the jests and +sneers of friend and foe! Oh! how my blood boiled and coursed in lava +streams through my heated veins! I saw it all. I was the dupe of some +artful design, intended to stigmatize me forever; and wild with a +thousand terrible brain-searing thoughts, I rushed from the hall to my +own apartment, seized upon my pistols, and was just in the act of +putting a period to my existence, when my arm was suddenly grasped, and +my hated rival and cousin stood before me.</p> + +<p>"'Fiend!' cried I in frenzy; 'devil in human shape!—do you seek me in +the body? What want you here?'</p> + +<p>"His features were pale with excitement, and his lips quivered as he +made answer: 'Be calm, Algernon, be calm; it was meant but in jest!'</p> + +<p>"'Jest!' screamed I; 'do you then own to a knowledge of it, +villain?—were you its author?—then take that, and answer it as you +dare!'—and as I spoke, with the breech of my undischarged pistol, I +stretched him senseless at my feet. Under the excitement of the moment, +I was about to take a more terrible revenge; when others suddenly rushed +in—seized and disarmed me—bore my rival from my sight—and, to +conclude, placed me in bed, where I was confined for three weeks by a +delirious fever, and then only recovered as it were by a miracle.</p> + +<p>"During my convalescence, I learned that my cousin, soon after my +return, had been privately married to Elvira; and prompted by his evil +genius, and some of my enemies, had induced his wife to enter into the +plot, the result of which has already been briefly narrated. I do not +think she did it through malice, and doubtless little thought of the +consequences that were destined to follow; but whether so or not, her +punishment has, I think, been fully adequate to her crime; for the last +I heard of her, she was an inmate of a mad-house—remorse for her +conduct, the abuse heaped upon her by society, and her own severe fright +at the termination of the stratagem, having driven her insane. Now comes +the most tragic part of my narrative.</p> + +<p>"When so far recovered as to again be abroad, I was cautioned by my +parents against my rash act; and for their sakes, I promised to be +temperate in all my movements; but, alas! how little we know when we +promise, what we may be in sooth destined to perform. On my father's +estate, about a mile distant from his residence, was a beautiful +grove—whither, for recreation, I was in the habit of repairing at all +periods of my life; and where, so soon as my strength permitted, after +my sickness, I rambled daily. About ten days from my recovery, as I was +taking my usual stroll through these grounds, I was suddenly confronted +by my cousin. His cheeks were hollow and pale, and his whole appearance +haggard in the extreme. His eyes, too, seemed to flash, or burn, as it +were, with an unearthly brightness; and his voice, as he addressed me, +was hoarse, and his manner hurried.</p> + +<p>"'We meet well,' he said, 'well! I have watched for you long.'</p> + +<p>"'Away!' cried I; 'tempt me no more—or something will follow I may +regret hereafter!'</p> + +<p>"'Ha, ha, ha!' laughed he, in derision, with that peculiar, hollow +sound, which even now, as I recall it, makes my blood run cold:—'Say +you so, cousin?—I came for that;' and again he laughed as before. 'See +here—see here!' and he presented, as he spoke, with the butts toward +me, a brace of pistols. 'Here is what will settle all our animosities,' +he continued; 'take your choice, and be quick, or perchance we may be +interrupted.'</p> + +<p>"'Are you mad,' cried I, 'that you thus seek my life, after the wrongs +you have done me?'</p> + +<p>"'Mad!—ha, ha!—yes!—yes!—I believe I am,' he answered; 'and my wife +is mad also. I did you wrong, I know—went to apologise for it, and you +struck me down. Whatever the offence, a blow I never did and never will +forgive; so take your choice, and be quick, for one or both of us must +never quit this place alive.'</p> + +<p>"'Away!' cried I, turning aside; 'I will not stain my hands with the +blood of my kin. Go! the world is large enough to hold us both.'</p> + +<p>"'Coward!' hissed he; 'take that, then, and bear what I have borne;' and +with the palm of his hand he smote me on the cheek.</p> + +<p>"I could bear no more—I was no longer myself—I was maddened with +passion—and snatching a pistol from his hand, which was still extended +toward me, without scarcely knowing what I did, I exclaimed, 'Your blood +be on your own head!'—and—and—Oh, Heaven!—pardon me, Ella—I—shot +him through the body."</p> + +<p>Ella, who had partly risen from her seat, and was listening with +breathless attention, now uttered an exclamation of horror, and sunk +back, with features ghastly pale; while the other, burying his face in +his hands, shook his whole frame with convulsive sobs. For some time +neither spoke; and then the young man, slowly raising his face, which +was now a sad spectacle of the workings of grief and remorse, again +proceeded:</p> + +<p>"Horror-stricken—aghast at what I had done—I stood for a moment, +gazing upon him weltering in his blood, with eyes that burned and seemed +starting from their sockets—with feelings that are indescribable—and +then rushing to him, I endeavored to raise him, and learn the extent of +his injury.</p> + +<p>"'Fly!' said he, faintly, as I bent over him—'fly for your life! I have +got my due—I am mortally wounded—and if you remain, you will surely be +arrested as my murderer. Farewell, Algernon—the fault was mine—but +this you can not prove; and so leave me—leave me while you have +opportunity.'</p> + +<p>"His words were true; I felt them in force; if he died, I would be +arraigned as his murderer—I had no proof to the contrary—circumstances +would be against me—I should be imprisoned—condemned—perhaps +executed—a loathsome sight for gaping thousands—I could not bear the +thought—I might escape—ay, would escape—and bidding him a hasty +farewell, I turned and fled. Not a hundred rods distant I met my father; +and falling on my knees before him, I hurriedly related what had taken +place, and begged advice for myself, and his immediate attendance upon +my cousin. He turned pale and trembled violently at my narration; and, +as I concluded, drew forth a purse of gold, which he chanced to have +with him, and placing it in my hand, exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"'Fly—son—child—Algernon—for Heaven's sake, fly!'</p> + +<p>"'Whither, father?'</p> + +<p>"'To the far western wilds, beyond the reach of civilization—at least +beyond the reach of justice—and spare my old eyes the awful sight of +seeing a beloved son arraigned as a criminal!'</p> + +<p>"'And my mother?'</p> + +<p>"'You can not see her—it might cost you your life,—farewell!' and with +the last word trembling on his lips, he embraced me fondly, and we +parted—perchance forever.</p> + +<p>"I fled, feeling that the brand of Cain was on me; that henceforth my +life was to be one of remorse and misery; that I was to be a wanderer +upon the face of the earth—mayhap an Ishmael, with every man's hand +against me. To atone in a measure to my conscience for the awful deed I +had committed, I knelt upon the earth, and swore, by all I held sacred +in time and eternity, that if the wound inflicted upon my cousin should +prove mortal, I would live a life of celibacy, and become a wandering +pilgrim in the western wilds of America till God should see proper to +call me hence."</p> + +<p>"And—and did the wound prove mortal?" asked Ella, breathlessly.</p> + +<p>"Alas! I know not, Ella, and I fear to know. Four months have passed +since then; and after many adventures, hardships, sufferings, and +hair-breadth escapes, you see me here before you, a miserable man."</p> + +<p>"But not one guilty of murder, Algernon," said Ella, energetically.</p> + +<p>"I know not that—Heaven grant it true!"</p> + +<p>"O, then, do not despair, Algernon!—trust in God, and hope for the +best. I have a hope that all will yet be well."</p> + +<p>"Amen to that, dear Ella; and a thousand, thousand thanks, for your +sweet words of consolation; they are as balm to my torn and bleeding +heart; but until I <i>know</i> my fate, we must not meet again; and if, oh +Heaven! and if the worst be true—then—then farewell forever! But who +comes here?"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<center>THE STRANGER.</center> +<br/> + +<p>The closing sentence of the preceding chapter was occasioned by the +glimpse of a man's shadow, that for a moment swept along in the +sunlight, some twenty paces distant from the speaker, and then suddenly +disappeared by being swallowed up in the larger and more stationary +shade thrown from the cottage by the sinking sun. Scarcely were the +words alluded to uttered, ere the sound of a step was heard close by the +door, and the next moment the cause of the shadow and remark divided the +light of the entrance.</p> + +<p>The individual in question, was a stout built, broad-shouldered, +athletic man—some five feet nine inches in height—whose age, judging +from his general appearance, as well as his features, might range from +twenty-seven to thirty years. At the moment when he appeared before our +acquaintances of the foregoing chapter, his right arm was held in a +manner so as to screen the lower portion of his face; while a hat, not +very much unlike those of the present day, pressed down upon his +forehead, left but little of his countenance, and that mainly about the +eyes, visible. With the latter he gave a quick, searching, suspicious +glance at the two before him; and then, as if satisfied he had nothing +to fear, lowered his arm and raised his hat from his forehead, exposing +a physiognomy by no means pleasing to one skilled in reading the heart +thereby. His complexion was swarthy—his skin coarse—and the general +expression of his features repulsive in the extreme; this expression +arising from the combination of three distinct parts of his +countenance—namely: the forehead which was low and receding from two +dark-red, shaggy eye-brows,—the eyes themselves, which were small, +bloodshot and very fiery; and the mouth, which was narrow, thin-lipped, +and habitually contracted into a sneering, sinister smile. In this +general expression, was combined cunning, deceit, treachery, and +bloodthirsty ferocity—each one of which passions were sufficiently +powerful, when fully excited, to predominate over the whole combination. +The hair of his head was short, thick, coarse and red, grew low upon his +forehead, and, in its own peculiar way, added a fierceness to his whole +appearance. Nature had evidently designed him for a villain of the +darkest die; and on the same principle that she gives a rattle to a +certain venomous snake, that other creatures may be warned of the deadly +fang in time to avoid it—so had she stamped him with a look wherein his +passions were mirrored, that those who gazed thereon might know with +whom and what they had to do, and be prepared accordingly. The costume +too of the stranger was rather singular, and worthy of note—being +composed, for the most part, of an extraordinary long frock or +overcoat—more like the gown of some monk than either—which reached +almost down to the moccasins covering his feet, and was laced together +in front, nearly the whole length, by thongs of deerskin. Around the +waist passed a rude belt of the same material—carelessly tied at one +side—in which, contrary to the usual custom of that period, there was +not confined a single weapon, not even so much as a knife; and this +fact, together with the general appearance of the individual and his own +suspicious movements, led Algernon, almost at the first glance, to +consider the long frock or gown an article of disguise, beneath which +the stranger was doubtless doubly armed and costumed in a very +different manner.</p> + +<p>As the eyes of the new comer, after closely scanning Reynolds, rested +for the first time upon Ella, there flashed across his ugly features an +expression of admiration and surprise—while the look of suspicion which +he had previously exhibited, seemed entirely to disappear. Turning to +the young man, who on his appearance had risen from his seat, and now +stood as if waiting to know his commands, in a voice evidently much +softened from its usual tones, but still by no means pleasant and +harmonious, he said:</p> + +<p>"Will you be kind enough to inform me, sir, to whom this dwelling +belongs?"</p> + +<p>"It is owned, I believe, by one Benjamin Younker," answered Algernon, in +a cavalier manner, still eyeing the other closely.</p> + +<p>"May I ask his occupation?"</p> + +<p>"He is a farmer, sir—a tiller of the soil."</p> + +<p>"Will you favor me with a description of his personal appearance?"</p> + +<p>"I can do so," replied Algernon, somewhat surprised at the question, +"provided I know the motive of inquiry to be a good one."</p> + +<p>"It is no other, I assure you," returned the stranger. "It was simply +prompted by curiosity."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, the individual in question is a man who has seen more than +fifty years—is tall, raw-boned, muscular, has a stoop in the shoulder, +a long, thin face, small eyes, and hair slightly gray."</p> + +<p>"Has he any sons?" inquired the stranger.</p> + +<p>"One, a youth of twenty, who bears a strong resemblance to his father."</p> + +<p>"Daughters?"</p> + +<p>"He has no other child."</p> + +<p>"Then this young lady"—slightly bowing to Ella.</p> + +<p>"Is a more distant relation—a niece," answered Ella, rising as she +spoke and disappearing from his sight.</p> + +<p>"A beautiful creature!" said the stranger, musingly, as if to +himself—"a beautiful creature! Pardon me," added he, again addressing +Algernon; "but may I inquire concerning yourself?"</p> + +<p>"I am a guest here, sir."</p> + +<p>"Aha—yes; a hunter I presume?"</p> + +<p>"I sometimes hunt."</p> + +<p>"Pardon me again—but are there more indwellers here than you have +mentioned?"</p> + +<p>"One, sir—the good dame of the cottage."</p> + +<p>For a moment or two the stranger mused, as if running over in his mind +all that had been said; and then observed:</p> + +<p>"Doubtless you think me very inquisitive; but I had a reason for all my +questions; and I thank you sincerely, sir, for your prompt replies. It +is now growing late; the sun will presently be down; and as I am a +traveler—a stranger in this region—I would rather not pursue my +journey further, providing I could be entertained here for the night."</p> + +<p>"As to that, I am unable to answer," said Algernon; "but if you will +step within, I will make the necessary inquiries."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," replied the stranger, with a show of cordiality; "thank +you;" and he immediately entered the cottage.</p> + +<p>Those days, as before said, were the good old days of hospitality—and, +as far as population went, of social intercourse also—when every man's +cabin was the stranger's home, and every neighbor every neighbor's +friend. There were no distinct grades of society then as now, from which +an honest individual of moral worth must be excluded because of +poverty—a good character for upright dealing being the standard by +which all were judged; and whoever possessed this, could rank equally +with the best, though poor as the beggar Lazarus. Doubtless intellect +and education then, as well as at the present day, held in many things a +superiority over imbecility and ignorance; but there were no distinct +lines of demarcation drawn; and in the ordinary routine of intercourse +one with another, there was no superiority claimed, and none +acknowledged. And this arose, probably, from the necessity each felt for +there being a general unity—a general blending together of all +qualifications, as it were, into one body politic—by which each +individual became an individual member of the whole, perfect in his +place, and capable of supplying what another might chance to need; as +the man of education might be puny in stature and deficient of a strong +arm; the man of strong arm deficient in education; the imbecile man +might be a superior woodman—the man of intellect an inferior one:—so +that, as before remarked, each of these qualities, being essential to +perfect the whole, each one of course was called upon to exercise his +peculiar talent, and take his position on an equality with his neighbor. +There has been great change in society since then; those days of simple +equality have gone forever; but we question if the present race, with +all their privileges, with all their security, with all their means of +enjoyment, are as happy as those noble old pioneers, with all their +necessities, with all their dangers, with all their sufferings.</p> + +<p>According, therefore, to the established custom of the early settlers, +the stranger for whom Algernon proceeded to make inquiries, was entitled +to all the rights of hospitality; and whether liked or disliked, could +not consistently be smiled away, nor frowned away, as doubtless he would +have been, had he lived in this civil, wonderworking age of lightning +and steam; and though his appearance was any thing but agreeable to Mrs. +Younker, who surveyed him through her spectacles (being a little near +sighted) from the adjoining cabin, whither Algernon had repaired to +learn her decision; and though it would prove inconvenient to herself to +grant his request; yet, as she expressed it, "He war a stranger, as +hadn't no home and didn't know whar to go to; and prehaps war hungry, +poor man; and it wouldn't be right nor Christian-like to refuse him jest +a night's lodging like;" and so the matter was settled, and Algernon was +deputed to inform him that he could stay and would be welcome to such +fare as their humble means afforded.</p> + +<p>Some half an hour later, a loud hallooing announced the arrival of the +two Younkers with the domestic cattle—consisting of the kine and some +pet sheep which ran with them—from their labors in a distant field, +where they had been engaged in harvesting corn. A few minutes after, the +elder Younker entered the cabin, bearing upon his shoulder a rifle, from +which depended a large, fat turkey that he had shot during his absence. +With a slight but friendly nod to the stranger, he proceeded to deposit +his game on the hearth—where it was presently examined and commented on +at considerable length by the good dame—and then carefully placing his +rifle on a couple of horn hooks depending from the ceiling for the +purpose, he seated himself on a stool, his back to the wall, with the +air of one who is very much fatigued, and does not wish to mingle in +conversation of any kind.</p> + +<p>The sun by this time was already below the horizon; twilight was fast +deepening into night; and the matron, having finished her remarks on the +turkey, and "Wondered ef sech birds wouldn't git to being scaser arter a +while, when all on, 'em war shot?" proceeded to the cow-yard, to assist +Isaac in milking; while Ella hurried hither and thither, with almost +noiseless activity, to prepare the evening repast. A bright fire was +soon kindled in the chimney, over which was suspended a kettle for +boiling water; while in front, nearly perpendicular, was placed a large +corn loaf, whose savory odor, as it began to cook, was far from being +disagreeable to the olfactory organs of the lookers on. The table, of +which we have previously given a description, was next drawn into the +middle of the apartment and covered with a home-made cloth of linen; on +which were placed a medley of dishes of various sizes and +materials—some of wood, some of pewter, some of earthern, and one of +stone—with knives and forks to correspond. Three of these dishes were +occupied—one with clean, fresh butter, another with rich old cheese, +and the third with a quantity of cold venison steak. In the course of +another half hour, the cake was baked and on the table—Isaac and his +mother had entered with the milk—the announcement was made by Ella that +all was ready; and the whole party, taking seats around the humble +board, proceeded to do justice to the fare before them.</p> + +<p>A light, placed in the center of the table, threw its gleams upon the +faces of each, and exhibited a singular variety of expressions. That of +the stranger was downcast, sinister, and suspicious, combined with an +evident desire of appearing exactly the reverse. Occasionally, when he +thought no eye was on him, he would steal a glance at Ella; and some +times gaze steadily—like one who is resolved upon a certain +event, without being decided as to the exact manner of its +accomplishment—until he found himself observed, when his glance would +fall to his plate, or be directed to some other object, with the +seeming embarrassment of one caught in some guilty act. This was noticed +more than once by Algernon; who, perhaps, more than either of the +others, felt from the first that strong dislike, that suspicious +repugnance to the stranger, which can only be explained as one of the +mysteries of nature, whereby we are sometimes warned of whom we should +shun, as the instinct of an animal makes known to it its inveterate foe; +and though he strove to think there was nothing of evil meant by a +circumstance apparently so trifling—that the glance of the stranger was +simply one of admiration or curiosity—yet the thought that it might be +otherwise—that he might be planning something wicked to the fair being +before him—haunted his mind like some hideous vision, made him for the +time more distrustful, more watchful than ever, and was afterward +reverted to with a painful sensation. The features of Algernon also +exhibited an expression of remorse and hopeless melancholy; the reason +whereof the reader, who has now been made acquainted with the secret, +will readily understand. The face of Ella, too, was paler than +usual—more sad and thoughtful—so much so, that it was remarked by Mrs. +Younker, who immediately instituted the necessary inquiries concerning +her health, and explained to her at some length the most approved method +of curing a cold, in case that were the cause. In striking contrast to +the sober looks of the others—for Younker himself was a man who seldom +exhibited other than a sedate expression—was the general appearance and +manner of Isaac. He seemed exceedingly exhilarated in spirits, yet kept +his eyes down, and appeared at times very absent minded. Whatever his +thoughts were, it was evident they were pleasing ones; for he would +smile to himself, and occasionally display a comical nervousness, as +though he had some very important secret to make known, yet was not +ready to communicate it. This had been observed in him through the day; +and was so different from his usual manner, and so much beyond any +conjecture his mother could form of the cause, that at last her +curiosity became so excited, that to restrain it longer was like holding +down the safety-valve to an over-heated steam boiler; and, accordingly, +taking advantage of another mysterious smile, which Isaac chanced to +display while looking at a large piece of corn bread, already on its way +to his capacious jaws, she exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Why, what on yarth <i>is</i> the matter with you, Isaac, that you keep a +grinning, and grinning, and fidgetting about all to yourself so much +like a plaguy nateral born fool for?"</p> + +<p>So loudly, suddenly and unexpectedly was this question put—for all had +been silent some minutes previous—that Isaac started, blushed, dropped +the bread—already near enough to his teeth to have felt uncomfortable, +had it been capable of feeling—endeavored to catch it—blundered—and +finally upset his plate and contents into his lap, in a manner so truly +ridiculous, that Ella and Mrs. Younker, unable to restrain their mirth, +laughed heartily, while the stranger and Algernon smiled, and the stern +features of the father relaxed into an expression of quiet humor seldom +seen on his countenance.</p> + +<p>"'Pon my word," continued Mrs. Younker, so soon as she could collect +breath enough after laughing to go on; "I do raley believe as how the +boy's ayther crazy, or in love, for sartin. What does ail ye, Isaac?—do +tell!"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he was thinking of his dear Peggy," said Ella, archly; who was, +by the way, very fond of teasing him whenever opportunity presented; and +could not even now, despite her previous low spirits, forbear a little +innocent raillery—her temperament being such, that wit and humor were +ever ready on the slightest provocation to take the ascendancy, as old +wine when stirred ever sends its sparkling beads upward. "I wonder, +Isaac, if you looked as amiable and interesting in the eyes of dear +Peggy, and made as graceful an appearance, when you popped the +question?"</p> + +<p>"Why, how in the name o' all Christen nater did you find out I'd done +it?" asked Isaac, in reply; who having, meantime, regained his former +position, and restored the plate, minus some of its contents, now sat a +perfect picture of comical surprise, with his mouth slightly ajar, and +his small eyes strained to their utmost and fastened seriously upon the +querist as he awaited her answer.</p> + +<p>"Murder will out, dear Isaac," replied Ella, with a ringing laugh; in +which she was joined by most of the others; and particularly by the +subject of the joke; who perceiving, too late for retreat, that he had +been betrayed into an acknowledgment of his secret, deemed this his +wisest course for defence.</p> + +<p>"And so, Isaac, you have really proposed to darling Peggy, then? and we +are to have a wedding shortly?" continued his tormentor. "And pray which +did look the most foolish of the two?—or was it a drawn-game, as we +sometimes say of draughts?"</p> + +<p>"Why," rejoined Isaac, changing color as rapidly as an aurora borealis, +and evidently much embarrassed; "I 'spect I mought as well own up, +being's I've got cotched in my own trap; and besides, it won't make no +great difference, only as I war intending it for a surprise. You see I +axed Peggy the question last night; and it's all settled; and we're +going to be married in less nor a week, ef nothing unforeseen don't +happen; and as Mr. Reynolds ar a stranger in these diggins, I thought +prehaps as how he'd like a little amusement like, and so I've fixed on +him for my groomsman."</p> + +<p>"I am much obliged for your kind intentions, and the honor you would +confer on me," answered Reynolds, sadly; "but I am sorry to say, I shall +be under the necessity of declining your invitation; as on the morrow I +design taking a farewell leave of you all, and quitting this part of the +country forever."</p> + +<p>Mr. Younker, his wife, and son, all started, with looks of surprise, at +this announcement, while Ella again grew deadly pale; and rising, with +some little trepidation, retired from the table. The stranger was the +only one unmoved.</p> + +<p>"To-morrow!" ejaculated Mrs. Younker.</p> + +<p>"Take leave o' us!" said the host.</p> + +<p>"Quit the country forever!" repeated Isaac.</p> + +<p>"Such, I assure you, is my determination," rejoined Algernon.</p> + +<p>"But your wound, Mr. Reynolds?" suggested Younker.</p> + +<p>"Is not entirely healed," returned Algernon; "yet I trust sufficiently +so to allow me to pursue my journey. The wound, as you are aware, was +only a flesh one—the ball having entered the right side, glanced on the +lower rib, and passed out nearly in front—and though very dangerous at +the time from excessive hemorrhage, has of late been rapidly healing, +and now troubles me but little if any."</p> + +<p>"Well, now, Mr. Reynolds," rejoined Mrs. Younker, "I'm a considerable +older woman nor you ar—that is, I mean to say, I'm a much older +individule—and I 'spect I've had in my time some lettle experience in +matters that you don't know nothing about; and so you musn't go to +thinking hard o' me, ef I give you a lettle advice, and tell you to stay +right whar you ar, and not stir a single step away for three +weeks;—'cause ef you do, your wound may get rupturous agin, and in some +lone place jest carry you right straight off into the shader o' the +valley of death—as our good old Rev. Mr. Allprayer used to say, when he +wanted to comfort the sick. O, dear good man he war, Preacher +Allprayer,"—continued the voluble old lady, with a sigh, her mind now +wholly occupied with his virtues—"dear good man he war! I jest +remember—Lor bless ye, I'll never forgit it—how he come'd to me when I +war sick—with tears a running out o' his eyes like he'd been eating raw +inyuns, poor man—and told me that I war going to die right straight +away, and never need to hope to be no better; and that I'd most likely +go right straight to that orful place whar all bad folks goes to. O, the +dear man! I never could help always liking him arter that—it made me +feel so orful narvous and religious like. Why, what on yarth be you +grinning at agin, Isaac?—jest for all the world like a monkey for?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing, mother," answered Isaac, nearly choking with smothered +laughter; "only I war jest kind o' thinking what a kind comforter Mr. +Allprayer war, to tell you you couldn't live any longer; and that when +you died you'd jest go right straight to—to—"</p> + +<p>"Silence! you irrelevant boy, you!" (irreverent was doubtless meant) +interrupted the dame, angrily: "How dare you to go making fun o' the +pious Rev. Mr. Allprayer?—him as used to preach all Sunday long, and +pray all Sunday night, and never did nothing wrong—though he did git +turned out o' the meeting house arterward for getting drunk and +swearing; but then the poor man cried and said it were nothing but a +accident, which hadn't happened more nor ten times to him sence he'd bin +a preacher of the everlasting gospel. Thar, thar, the crazy head's a +giggling agin! I do wish, Ben, you'd see to Isaac, and make him behave +himself—for he's got so tittery like, sence he's axed Peggy, thar's no +use o' trying to do nothing with him."</p> + +<p>"Isaac! Isaac!" said his father with a reproving glance; and, as though +that voice and look possessed a spell, the features of the young man +instantly became grave, almost solemn. Then turning to Algernon, the old +man continued: "As to leaving us, Mr. Reynolds, you of course know your +own business best, and it arn't my desire to interfere; but ef you could +put up with our humble fare, say a week or ten days longer, I think as +how it would be much better for you, and would give us a deal of +pleasure besides."</p> + +<p>"Why, I'll jest tell you what tis," put in Isaac: "I've fixed on you for +groomsman, and I arn't a going to gin in no how; so unless you want to +quarrel; you'll have to stay; and more'n that, it's spected you'll see +to takin Ella thar; for I know she don't like to go with any o' the +fellers round here; and I shall gin out she's going with you; which may +be won't hurt your feelings none—at any rate, I know it won't hers."</p> + +<p>At the mention of Ella, Algernon crimsoned to the eyes, and became so +exceedingly confused, that he could with difficulty stammer forth, by +way of reply, the query as to the time when the important event was +expected to take place.</p> + +<p>"Let me see," answered Isaac, telling off the days on his fingers: +"to-morrow's Friday; then Saturday's one, Sunday's two, Monday's three, +and Tuesday's four—only four days from to-morrow morning, Mr. +Reynolds."</p> + +<p>"Then, as you so urgently insist upon it," rejoined Reynolds, "I will +postpone my departure till after the wedding."</p> + +<p>Isaac thanked him cordially, and the father and mother looked gratified +at the result; Ella he could not see—she having withdrawn from the +table, as previously noted. Some further conversation ensued relative to +the manner in which weddings were conducted in that country, and the +design of proceeding with the one in question; but as we intend the +reader to be present at the wedding itself, we shall not detail it. We +will remark here, by the way, that the stranger seemed to take a +singular interest in all that was said concerning the residence of the +intended bride, the road the party were expected to take to reach there, +their probable number, manner of travel, and the time when they would be +likely to set forth and return. In all this it was observed by Algernon, +that whenever he asked a question direct, it was put in such a careless +manner as would lead one not otherwise suspicious to suppose him +perfectly indifferent as to whether it were answered or not; but he +somehow fancied, he scarce knew why, that there was a strong under +current to this outward seeming. And furthermore he observed, that the +stranger in general avoided putting a question at all—rather seeking +his information by conjecturing or supposing what would immediately be +contradicted or confirmed. This mode of interrogation, so closely +followed up to every particular, yet apparently with such indifference, +together with the stranger's treacherous look and several minor things +all bearing a suspicious cast, more than half convinced Algernon that +the other was a spy, and that some foul play was assuredly meditated; +though what, and to whom, or for what purpose, he was at a loss to +determine.</p> + +<p>From the particulars of the coming wedding, the stranger, after a +little, adroitly turned the conversation upon the wound of Reynolds; +asked a number of questions, and appeared deeply interested in the whole +narration concerning it—the attack upon him by the Indians and his +providential escape through the assistance of Boone—all of which was +detailed by Isaac in his own peculiar way. From this case in particular, +the conversation gradually changed to other cases that had happened in +the vicinity; and also to the state of the country, with regard to what +it had been and now was—its settlements—its increase of +inhabitants—the many Indian invasions and massacres that had +occurred within the last five years on the borders—and the present +supposed population of the frontiers.</p> + +<p>"As to myself," said Younker, in reply to some observation of the +stranger, "as to myself and family, we've been extremely fortunate in +'scaping the red foe—though I've bin daily fearful that when I went +away to my work in the morning, I'd may be come back agin at noon or +night and find my women folks gone, or murdered, and my cot in ashes; +but, thank the Lord! I've been so far spared sech a heart rending +sight."</p> + +<p>"And had you no personal fears?" asked the stranger.</p> + +<p>"I don't know's I understand you."</p> + +<p>"Had you no fears for yourself individually?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I can't say's I had," answered the other. "I'm an old man—or at +least I'm in my second half century—and I've so endeavored to live, as +not to fear to go at any moment when God sees fit, and by whatsomever +means he may choose to take me."</p> + +<p>"I suppose you now consider yourself in a measure safe from Indian +encroachments?" observed the other.</p> + +<p>"No man, stranger—I beg pardon, but I'd like to know your name!"</p> + +<p>"Certainly, sir," answered the other, a little embarrassed. "My name +is—is—Williams."</p> + +<p>"Thank you! No man, Mr. Williams, ar justified in considering himself +safe from Injens, in a country like this; but to tell the truth, I don't +feel so fearful of 'em, as when I first come out here with my family, +two year ago; though thar's no telling what may hap in the course o' two +year more."</p> + +<p>"And did you venture here at once on your arrival in this western +country?"</p> + +<p>"Not exactly; for the land laws o' Virginna, passed the year I come out, +made it rayther difficult gitting hold o' land, about which thar war a +great deal o' disputing; and which war kept up till the commissioners +came out and settled the matter; and so while this war agitating, I took +my family to Boonesborough, whar they remained, excepting Isaac, who +went along with me, until we'd got all matters fixed for moving 'em +here. But as you've axed considerable many questions, pray may I know ef +you're from the east?—And ef so, what news thar is with respect to this +here war with the Britishers?" "Why," replied the other, hesitatingly, +"though not strictly speaking from the east, yet I've been eastward the +past season, and have some news of the war; and, as far as I am able to +judge, think it will result in the total subjugation of the colonies."</p> + +<p>"Heaven forbid!" exclaimed Younker.</p> + +<p>"Heaven forefend!" said Reynolds, with a start.</p> + +<p>"Lord presarve us!—marsy on us!" cried Mrs. Younker, with vehemence. +"What on yarth shall we do, ef them plaguy Britishers git uppermost? +They'll take away all our lands, for sartin!—and Ben's bin and bought +four hundred acres, poor man, at forty cents a acre, under the new laws +of Varginna<a name="FNanchor_4" id="FNanchor_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a>—which comes to one hundred and sixty dollars, hard +money; and now maybe he'll have to lose it all, and not git nothing for +it; and then what in the name o' the whole univarsal creation will +become on us?"</p> + +<p>"Well, well, Dorothy—don't fret about it till it happens—thar'll be +plenty o' time then," said Younker, gravely; "and perhaps it won't +happen at all."</p> + +<p>"Don't talk to me about fretting, Mr. Younker!" rejoined the now +irritated dame, a la Caudle: "I reckon I don't fret no easier nor you +do, nor half so much nother; but I'd like to know who wouldn't fret, +when they know they're going to lose all thar property by them thar good +for nothing red-coated Britishers, who I do believe is jest as mean as +Injens, and they're too mean to live, that's sartin. Fret, indeed! I +reckon it wouldn't do for you to be letting Preacher Allprayer hear ye +say so; for he said one time with his own mouth—and to me too, mind +that!—that I'd got the bestest disposition in the whole universal yarth +o' creation under the sun!" and the voluble old lady paused to take +breath.</p> + +<p>"It's my opine, that ef Preacher Allprayer had lived with you as long as +I have, he wouldn't repeat that thar sentence under oath," returned +Younker, quietly. Then perceiving that a storm was brewing, he hastened +to change the conversation, by addressing the stranger: "What cause have +you, Mr. Williams, for speaking so discourageous o' the war?"</p> + +<p>"The failure of the American arms in battle, the weakness of their +resources, and the strength of their opponents," replied the other. "I +presume you have heard of the battles of Guilford and Camden, in both of +which General Greene was defeated?"</p> + +<p>"General <i>Gates</i> commanded at Camden, sir!" interposed Reynolds somewhat +haughtily.</p> + +<p>"I beg pardon, sir!" retorted the other, in a sneering, sarcastic tone; +"but I was speaking of the defeat of General <i>Greene!</i>"</p> + +<p>"At Camden?"</p> + +<p>"At Camden, sir!"</p> + +<p>"I am sorry you are no better informed," rejoined Algernon, with +flashing eyes. "I repeat that General Gates commanded at Camden; and as, +unfortunately, I chanced to be in the fight, I claim the privilege of +being positive."</p> + +<p>"The youth is doubtless speaking of the battle fought a year or two +ago," rejoined Williams, turning to Younker, in a manner the most +insulting to Reynolds; who clenched his hand, and pressed his nether lip +with his teeth until the blood sprang through, but said nothing. "I have +reference to the two engagements which took place at Guilford Court +House and Camden, in March and April last; whereby, as I said before, +General Greene, who commanded at both, was twice defeated, and retreated +with great loss; although in the former action his forces outnumbered +those of his opponent, Lord Cornwallis, as two to one; and in the +latter, far exceeded those of Lord Rawdon, his opponent also."</p> + +<p>"This is indeed startling news," answered Younker, "and I'm fearful o' +the result!"</p> + +<p>"You may depend on't, them thar four-hundred acres is all gone clean to +smash," observed Mrs. Younker; "and its my opine, Ben, you'd better sell +right straight out immediately, afore the news gits about any further, +for fear o' accidents and them things."</p> + +<p>"I suppose in reality the present war with England does not trouble you +here?" said the stranger, interrogatively.</p> + +<p>"Why not in reality," answered Younker, "only so far as the Britishers +and thar accursed renegade agents set on the Injens agin us."</p> + +<p>"To what renegade agents do you allude?" inquired the other, with a +degree of interest he had not before exhibited.</p> + +<p>"Why, to the Girtys, McKee, and Elliot—and perticularly to that thar +scoundrel, Simon Girty the worst o' all on 'em."</p> + +<p>"Ha! Simon Girty," said the other, with a slight start and change of +countenance; "what know you of him?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing that's good, you may be sartin, and every thing that's evil. +He's leagued with the Injens, purposely to excite 'em agin his own white +brethren—to have them murder women and children, that he may feast his +eyes on thar innocent blood. I'm not given to be o' a revengeful speret, +Mr. Williams; but I never think o' that thar renegade, Simon Girty, but +I inwardly pray for the curse o' an avenging God to light upon him; and +come it will, ayther soon or late, you may depend on't!"</p> + +<p>"Amen to that thar sentiment!" responded the dame; while the stranger +became very much agitated, on account, as he said, of a violent pain in +his side, to which he was subject.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Younker was on the point of bringing down her invectives on the +head of the renegade in a speech of some considerable length, when, +perceiving the distressful look of the other, the kind-hearted woman +suddenly forgot her animosity in sympathy for her suffering guest; and +forthwith proceeded, with all the eloquence of which she was master, to +recommend a certain essence that chanced to be in the house, as a never +failing remedy for all griping and other pains with which unfortunate +humanity was oftentimes afflicted.</p> + +<p>"It's one o' the bestest things as ever war invented," continued the +good woman, in her eulogy of the article in question; "and has did more +good in it's time, nor all the doctors on the univarsal yarth put +together could do, in the way of curing sprains, and bruises, and +stomach-pains, and them things; and ef you don't believe it, Mr. +Williams, you can see it all in print, ef you can read, and I spect you +can, on the bottle itself, jest as plain as any thing; and besides, I've +got the testament (testimony, doubtless) of the good and pious Rev. Mr. +Allprayer, who tuk some on't once for the gout; and he said as how the +contracting (counteracting?) pains war so many, that he didn't no more +feel the gout for a long time to come afterwards. I've no doubt it'll +sarve you jest the same way, and I'll go and fetch it right straight +off."</p> + +<p>But the mission of the good woman was prevented by the complainant's +insisting that he was much better, would presently be well, and wished +to retire for the night. His request was granted—but little more was +said—and all shortly after betook themselves to bed—to think, or +sleep, or dream, as the case might be with each.</p> + +<p>When the family arose on the following morning, they found the stranger +had departed; but when or whither none could tell.</p> + + +<a name="Footnote_4" id="Footnote_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a><div class="footnote"><p> It may be proper to note here, for the benefit of those +unfamiliar with the early history of Kentucky, that, at the period of +which we write, it was claimed and held by Virginia as a portion of her +territory, for which she legislated accordingly.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<center>THE WEDDING.</center> +<br/> + +<p>The year 1781 was remarkable in the history of Kentucky for the immense +emigration from the east into its territory of unmarried females. It +appears, in looking over the records of the time, as though some mighty +barrier had hitherto kept them in check, which, being removed, allowed +them to rush forward in overwhelming force, like to the pent up waters +of some stream when its obstruction suddenly gives way. Whatever this +hitherto obstruction or barrier may have been, we do not pretend to say; +but the fact itself we record as we find it chronicled in history. The +result of this influx of females into a region almost wholly populated +by the opposite sex was one, as will readily be perceived, of great +importance to the well-being of the embryo state; and was duly +celebrated by the rising generation, in a general jubilee of +marriages—one following fast upon another, like drops of rain in a +genial summer shower; and, to extend the simile, with an effect by no +means less productive of fertility, in a long run, to the country round +about.</p> + +<p>A wedding in those days was an affair of great importance to the +neighborhood of its location; and was looked forward to by old and +young—the latter in particular—as a grand holiday of feasting, +dancing, and general rejoicing. Nor can this be wondered at, when we +take into consideration the fact, that, in the early settlement of the +country, a wedding was almost the only gathering, as they were called, +which was not accompanied with some laborious employment—such as +harvesting, log-rolling, and the like. Occasionally there might be some +dissatisfaction felt and expressed by some, who, from some cause or +another, chanced to be left out of the almost general invitation; in +which case a special resentment not unfrequently followed. This was +accomplished in various ways—sometimes by felling trees, or placing +other obstacles across some narrow portion of the horse-path by which +the wedding party were advancing, thereby causing considerable delay for +their removal—sometimes by ambushing and firing a volley of blank +cartridges at the party in question, so as to frighten the horses, by +which means more or less were frequently injured, by being thrown to the +ground—and sometimes by shearing the manes and tails of the horses +themselves, while their owners were being occupied with the feast, and +the dance, and the gay carousal of the occasion. But to proceed.</p> + +<p>The morning of the day set apart by Isaac Younker, as the one which was +to see him duly united to Peggy Wilson, came in due time—as many an +important one has both before and since—without one visible sign in the +heavens, or otherwise, to denote that any thing remarkable was about to +happen. In fact it might be put down to the reverse of all this; for, +unlike the generality of wished-for days, it was exceedingly fair, +balmy, and beautiful. The sun rose at the expected time, large and red, +and saluted the hills and tree-tops, and anon the vales, with a smiling +light, as though he felt exceedingly happy to greet them again after a +calm night's repose. The dew sparkled on blade and leaf, as if with +delight at his appearance; a few flowers modestly uncovered their +blooming heads; a few warblers of the forest—for although autumn had +nearly half advanced, some had delayed their journey to the sunny +south—sung gleesome songs; and altogether the morning in question was +really a delightful one.</p> + +<p>The family of the Younkers were stirring betimes, making the necessary +preparations for their departure, and looking out for the expected +guests; who, according to the custom of the period, first assembled at +the residence of the groom, to proceed thence in company with him to +the mansion of the bride, which place they must always reach in time to +have the ceremony performed before partaking of the dinner prepared for +the occasion. For this purpose, as the distance to the house of the fair +intended was not unfrequently considerable, they generally came at an +early hour; and as Isaac's fair Peggy was not likely to be visible short +of a ten miles' ride, his companions for the journey accordingly began +to appear in couples before his father's dwelling, ere the sun was an +hour above the hills.</p> + +<p>Isaac, on the present occasion, stood ready to receive them as they rode +up, arrayed in his wedding garments; which—save a few trifling +exceptions in some minor articles, and the addition of five or six metal +buttons displayed on his hunting frock in a very singular manner, and a +couple of knee buckles, all old family relics—presented the same +appearance as those worn by him during his ordinary labors. And this, by +the way, exhibits another feature of the extreme simplicity of the +time—and one too highly praise-worthy—when the individual was sought +for himself alone, and not for the tinsel gew-gaws, comparatively +speaking, he might chance to exhibit. Necessity forced all to be plain +and substantial in the matter of dress; and consequently comfort and +convenience were looked to, rather than ostentatious display. All at +that day were habited much alike—so that a description of the costume +of one of either sex, as in the case of their habitations, previously +noted, would describe that of a whole community.</p> + +<p>"Let the reader," says a historian, in speaking of the manners and dress +of those noble pioneers, "imagine an assemblage of people, without a +store, tailor, or mantuamaker within an hundred miles; and an assemblage +of horses, without a blacksmith or saddler within an equal distance. The +gentlemen dressed in shoepacks, moccasins, leather breeches, leggins, +linsey hunting-shirts, and all home-made. The ladies dressed in linsey +petticoats, and linsey or linen bed-gowns, coarse shoes, stockings, +handkerchiefs, and buckskin gloves, if any. If there were any buckles, +rings, buttons or ruffles, they were the relics of old times—family +pieces from parents or grandparents. The horses were caparisoned with +old saddles, old bridles or halters, and packsaddles, with a bag or +blanket thrown over them—a rope or string as often constituting the +girth as a piece of leather."</p> + +<p>But to our story:</p> + +<p>Since leaving Isaac in the preceding chapter, after his important +announcement, as therein recorded, he had been by no means idle. The two +days immediately following had been spent by him in riding post-haste +through the surrounding country, to inform his friends that he was on +the point of becoming a married man, and require their presence at the +appointed hour and place of ceremony. The rest of the time (Sunday of +course exempted) had been carefully husbanded by him in making all due +preparation; and he now stood before his expected guests with the air +one, to use a common phrase, who has not been caught napping. For each, +as they rode up, he had a friendly salutation and familiar word; and +inviting them to dismount and enter, until the whole number should be +arrived, he led away and secured their horses to the neighboring trees.</p> + +<p>In due time the last couple made their appearance; and having partaken +of some refreshment, which was highly recommended and presented by Mrs. +Younker herself—whose tongue, by the way, had seen no rest for at least +two hours—the whole party, in gleeful spirits, prepared to mount and +set forth on their journey. Even Algernon, as he assisted the graceful +Ella into her saddle, and then sprung lightly himself upon the back of a +high mettled, beautiful steed by her side, could not avoid exhibiting a +look of cheerfulness, almost gaiety, in striking contrast to his +habitual gloom. And this too produced a like effect upon Ella; who, +mounted upon a fine spirited, noble animal, and displaying all the ease +and grace of an accomplished rider, with her flushed cheek and sparkling +eyes, seemed the personification of loveliness. Her dress was +exceedingly neat, of the fashion and quality worn in the east—being one +she had brought with her on her removal hither. A neat hood, to which +was attached a green veil, now thrown carelessly back and floating down +behind, covered her head and partially concealed a profusion of +beautiful ringlets.</p> + +<p>The company at length being all mounted, Isaac took it upon himself to +lead the way; for the reason, as he alleged, that having traveled the +ground oftener than either of the others, he of course knew the best and +nearest path to the abode of Peggy Wilson. Algernon as groomsman rode +next with Ella; followed in turn by the father and mother of the groom; +and then in double file by the whole company—talking, laughing and full +of glee—to the number of some fifteen couples. Turning the corner of +the house, they forded the streamlet previously mentioned, crossed the +valley, and ascended by a narrow horse-path the opposite hill, leaving +the canebrake some distance away to the left.</p> + +<p>In those days a road—or at least such a highway as we of the present so +denominate—was a something unknown; a few horse-paths, so termed, +traversing the country in various directions—narrow, oftentimes +obstructed, and sometimes dangerous. Over one of this latter class, as +before said, our wedding party now wended their way, in high spirits; +sometimes riding at a brisk trot or gallop, where their course lay open +and clear, sometimes walking their horses very slow, in single file, +where the path, winding across craggy bluffs, among rocks and trees, +became very narrow and unsafe. Twice, on this latter account, did the +gentlemen of the company dismount and lead the horses of their partners +for some considerable distance past the stony and dangerous defile, by +which means all accidents were avoided. When they had reached within a +mile of their destination, Isaac drew rein and all came to a halt. +Turning upon his saddle, with the air of a commander of some important +expedition, he sang out in a loud, shrill voice;</p> + +<p>"Well, boys and gals, here we ar—this here's the spot—who's agoing to +run for the bottle?"</p> + +<p>"Whoop! yaho! give way thar!" was the answer from a couple of voices in +the rear; and at the same instant, two young men, separating from their +partners, came bounding forward, on two blood horses, at break-neck +speed.</p> + +<p>"Stop!" thundered Isaac, as they came tearing up to where he was sitting +astride his beast; and obedient to his command, the two individuals in +question reined in their impatient steeds, hard abreast, close by his +side. "Well, ef you arn't a couple o' beauties, then jest put it down +that I don't know," continued Isaac, eying them coolly from head to +heel, with a quizzical, comical look. "You'd both on ye average two +decent looking fellars—for whar Seth Stokes is too long, Sam Switcher +arn't long enough; and whar Sam Switcher's got too much, Seth Stokes +han't got nothing."</p> + +<p>A roar of laughter, in which both Seth and Sam joined, followed Isaac's +closing remarks; for besides partaking of the ludicrous, none could deny +that his description was correct. The two worthies in question were +certainly two very singular looking beings to be brought together for a +race, and presented a most laughable appearance. The one bearing the +poetical appellation of Seth Stokes, was long, thin and bony, with sharp +features, and legs that reminded one of a carpenter's compass; while his +companion, Sam Switcher, was round-favored, short in limbs and stature, +and fat almost to corpulency—thus forming a contrast to the other of +the most striking kind.</p> + +<p>As soon as the laugh at their expense had subsided, Isaac again sang +out: "Squar your hosses' heads thar—get ready, boys—now clippet, and +don't keep us long waiting the bottle! for I reckon as how some on us is +gitting dry. Yehep! yahoa!" and ere the sound of his voice had died +away, down came the switches, accompanied by a terrible yell, and off +went horses and bottle-riders—over stumps, logs and rocks—past trees +and brush, and whatever obstacle might lie in their course—with a speed +that threatened them with death at every moment; while the others +remained quietly seated on their ponies, enjoying the sport, and +sometimes shouting after them such words of encouragement as, "Go it, +Seth!" "Up to him, Sammy!" "Pull up, legs!" "Jump it, fatty!" so long as +the racers were in sight.</p> + +<p>This race for the bottle, as it was called, was a peculiar feature for +displaying the horsemanship and hardy recklessness of the early +settlers; as a more dangerous one, to both horse and rider, could not +well be imagined. That the reader may form a clear conception of what it +was in reality—and also to destroy the idea if any such may have been +formed, that it existed only in our imagination—we shall take the +liberty of giving a short extract from the author already quoted. In +speaking of the foregoing, he says:</p> + +<p>"The worse the path—the more logs, brush, and deep hollows, the +better—as these obstacles afforded an opportunity for the greater +display of intrepidity and horsemanship. The English fox-chase, in point +of danger to the riders and their horses, is nothing to this race for +the bottle. The start was announced by an Indian yell; when logs, brush, +muddy hollows, hill and glen, were speedily passed by the rival ponies. +The bottle was always filled for the occasion, so that there was no use +for judges; for the first who reached the door was presented with the +prize, with which he returned in triumph to the company. On approaching +them, he announced his victory over his rival by a shrill whoop. At the +head of the troop he gave the bottle first to the groom and his +attendants, and then to each pair in succession to the rear of the line, +giving each a drachm; and then putting the bottle in the bosom of his +hunting shirt, took his station in the company."</p> + +<p>In something like a quarter of an hour, the clatter of horses' feet was +heard by the company, the rival-racers presently appeared in sight, and +all became anxious to learn who was the successful runner. They were not +long kept in suspense; for advancing at a fast gallop, the riders were, +soon within speaking distance; when a loud, shrill whoop from Seth +Stokes, announced that in this case success had at least been with the +long, if not with the strong.</p> + +<p>"How's this, Sammy?" cried a dozen voices, as the rivals rode up to the +party.</p> + +<p>"I don't exactly know," answered the individual addressed, shaking his +head with a serio-comical expression; "but stifle me with the night-mar, +if ever I'm cotched riding a race with death on horseback agin."</p> + +<p>This allusion to the bony appearance of his companion, caused a roar of +laughter at the expense of the winner, in which he good-humoredly +joined. According to custom, as previously mentioned, the bottle was +presented first to Isaac, and then passed in regular order through the +lines—Algernon and Ella merely putting it to their lips without +drinking. When this ceremony was over, the party resumed their +journey—no less merry on account of the whiskey—and by half an hour +past eleven o'clock, all drew rein before the door of Abijah Wilson, the +father of the fair intended.</p> + +<p>Here another party, the friends of the bride, were waiting to receive +them; and after some few introductions, much shaking of hands, and other +demonstrations of joy, the announcement was made, that the squire was +ready to perform the ceremony. Instantly all talking was suspended, the +company proceeded to form into a half circle, and then all became silent +and solemn as the house of death. Isaac presently appeared from behind a +coarse, temporary screen of cloth, hung up for the occasion—the house +having no division save a chamber over head—leading the blushing Peggy +by the hand, (a rosy cheeked, buxom lass of eighteen) both looking as +frightened and foolish as could reasonably be expected. Behind the bride +and groom came Algernon, in company with a dark-eyed, pretty brunette, +who performed the part of bridesmaid. Taking their several places, the +Squire, as he was termed—a man of forty—stepped forward, and said a +few words concerning the importance of the present event, asked the +necessary questions, joined their hands, and pronounced them man and +wife. Then followed the usual amount of congratulations, good wishes for +the future happiness of the married pair, kissing of the bride, and so +forth, in all of which proceedings they differed not materially from +their successors of the present day.</p> + +<p>About half an hour from the close of the ceremony, the guests were +invited to partake of a sumptuous dinner, prepared expressly for the +occasion. It was placed on rough tables made of large slabs, supported +by small, round legs, set in auger holes; and though there was a +scantiness of dishes—and these in the main consisting of a few +pewter-plates, several wooden trenchers, with spoons of like material, +interspersed with some of horn—and though the scarcity of knives +required many of the gentlemen to make use of those carried in their +belts—yet the food itself was such as might have rejoiced an epicure. +It consisted of beef, roasted and boiled—pork, roasted and +fried—together with chicken, turkey, partridge, and venison—well +flanked on every side by bread, butter, and cheese, potatoes, cabbage, +and various other vegetables. That it was both acceptable and palatable, +was sufficiently proved by the hearty, joyous manner, in which each +individual performed his or her part, and the rapidity with which it +disappeared. The dessert was composed of two or three kinds of pies and +puddings, washed down (at least by those who chose so to do) with +whiskey. Great hilarity prevailed—particularly after the introduction +of the bottle. Immediately dinner was over, the tables were removed, the +fiddler was called for, and the dance commenced, which was to last till +the following morning. The dance was opened by Isaac and the bridesmaid, +with another couple—beginning with a square four, and ending with what +was termed a jig. From this time forth, until the party separated, the +poor fiddler experienced but little relaxation or comfort—unless in +being encouraged, occasionally, by a refreshing salute from the lips of +Black Betty; a being of no greater intellect, reader, than a bottle of +whiskey.</p> + +<p>Some two hours after dinner, the father and mother of Isaac announced +their intention of forthwith returning home; and, although seriously +pressed to tarry longer, shortly after took their leave of the +company—Mrs. Younker adding, as a farewell speech, "That she hoped to +gracious Peggy'd jest make Isaac as good a wife nor she had Ben, and +then thar wouldn't never be no need o' having trouble;" and wound up by +quoting the Rev. Mr. Allprayer as the best authority on the subject. +Younker stood by her side, calmly heard her through, and then shrugging +his shoulders with a very significant expression, walked away without +saying a word, to the great amusement of the whole assemblage.</p> + +<p>As to Algernon, he seemed to take no delight in what was going forward; +and though he participated somewhat in the dance, yet it was evident to +all observers that his mind went not with his body, and that what he did +was done more with a design of concealing his real feelings, than for +any amusement it afforded himself. When not occupied in this manner, or +in conversation, he would steal away, seat himself where he was least +likely to be observed, and fall into a gloomy, abstracted mood; from +which, when suddenly roused by some loud peal of laughter, or by the +touch and voice of some person near, he would sometimes start and look +around as one just awakened from a frightful vision. This gloomy +abstraction, too, appeared to grow upon him more and more, as the day +settled into night and the night wore on, as though he felt some dreaded +calamity had been hanging over, and was now about to fall upon him. So +apparent was this toward the last, that even the most careless began to +observe, and make remarks, and ask questions concerning him; and some +even proceeded to inquire of him regarding the state of his health. His +answers to all interrogatives now became so brief and abrupt, that but +few ventured to address him the second time. Whatever the cause of his +present gloomy state of mind, it was evidently not the ordinary one—at +least not wholly that—for never before had Ella (who was in the habit, +since their acquaintance, of observing him narrowly) seen him in such a +mood as now. It was, perhaps, one of those strange mental foresights, +peculiar to certain temperaments, whereby the individual is sometimes +warned of impending danger, and feels oppressed by a weight of +despondency impossible to shake off.</p> + +<p>This serious change in the appearance of Algernon, was not without its +effect upon Ella. Naturally of a tender, affectionate, and sympathetic +disposition, she could not feel at ease when another was suffering, and +particularly when that other was one standing so high in her estimation +as Algernon Reynolds. Naturally, too, possessing light and buoyant +spirits—fond of gaiety where all were gay—she exhibited on the present +occasion the effect of two strong but counteracting passions. Her +features, if we may be allowed the comparison, were like the noon-day +heavens, when filled with the broken clouds of a passing storm. Now all +would be bright and cheerful, and the sun of mirth would sparkle in her +eyes; and anon some dark cloud of dejection would sweep along, shut out +the merry light, and cast its shadow drearily over the whole +countenance,—or, to use language without simile, she would one moment +be merry and another sad. Toward the last, however, the latter feeling +gained the ascendancy; she appeared to take no further share in the +merriment of the dance; and had any watched her closely, they might +have guessed the cause, from the manner in which she from time to time +gazed at the pale face of Algernon.</p> + +<p>Meantime the dance went bravely on, Black Betty circulated somewhat +freely, and the mirth of the revelers grew more and more boisterous. +Taking advantage of a slight cessation in the general hilarity, about +nine o'clock in the evening, and while the fiddler with some of the +party were engaged in partaking of refreshment, Seth Stokes, encouraged +doubtless by the inspiration he had received from the whiskey, stepped +boldly into the middle of the apartment with the bottle in his hand, and +said:</p> + +<p>"Jest allow me, my jollies, to give a toast."</p> + +<p>"Harken all! A toast—a toast—from the long man o' the bony frame!" +cried the voice of Sam Switcher. A laugh, and then silence followed.</p> + +<p>"Here's to—to Isaac and Peggy Younker—two beauties!" continued Seth. +"May thar union be duly acknowledged by the rising generation o' old +Kaintuck;" and the speaker gravely proceeded to drink.</p> + +<p>"Bravo! bravo!" cried a dozen voices, with a merry shout, accompanied +with great clapping of bands; while Isaac, who was sitting by his new +wife, arose, blushed, bowed rather awkwardly, and then sat down again.</p> + +<p>"Isaac! Isaac!—A toast from Isaac!" shouted a chorus of voices.</p> + +<p>Isaac at first looked very much confused—scratched his head and twisted +around in a very fidgetty manner,—but presently his countenance +flushed, and a smile of triumph crossing his sharp features, announced +that he had been suddenly favored with an idea apropos. This was +instantly perceived by some of the wags standing near, one of whom +exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"I see it—it's coming!"</p> + +<p>"He's got it!" said a second.</p> + +<p>"I knew it—I'd ha' bet a bar-skin he'd fetch it," cried a third.</p> + +<p>"Out with it, Ike, afore you forget it," shouted the fourth.</p> + +<p>"Hold your jabbering tongues—!" cried Isaac, in vexation. "You're +enough to bother a feller to death. I'd like to see some o' the rest on +ye cramped up fur a toast, jest to see how <i>you'd</i> feel with all on 'em +hollering like." A hearty laugh at his expense was all the sympathy poor +Isaac received.</p> + +<p>"Give us the bottle!" resumed Isaac. "Now here goes," continued he, +rising and holding Black Betty by the neck. "Here's to the gals o' old +Kaintuck—Heaven bless 'em! May they bloom like clover heads, be +plentier nor bar-skins, and follow the example o' Peggy, every mother's +daughter on 'em!—hooray!" And having drank, the speaker resumed his +seat, amid roars of laughter and three rounds of applause.</p> + +<p>By the time this mirth had subsided, the fiddler struck up, and the +dance again went on as before. Some two hours later the bridesmaid, with +two or three others, managed to steal away the bride unobserved; and +proceeding to a ladder at one end of the apartment, ascended to the +chamber above, and saw her safely lodged in bed. In the course of +another half hour the same number of gentlemen performed a like service +for Isaac—such being customary at all weddings of that period.</p> + +<p>During the night Black Betty, in company with more substantial +refreshment, was sent up to the newly married pair some two or three +times; and always returned (Black Betty we mean) considerable lighter +than she went; thus proving, that if lovers can live on air, the married +ones do not always partake of things less spiritual. About three o'clock +in the morning, Algernon and Ella took leave of the company and set out +upon their return—he pleading illness as an apology for withdrawing +thus early. The remainder of the party keep together until five, when +they gradually began to separate; and by six the dancing had ceased, and +the greater portion of them had taken their departure. Thus ended the +wedding of Isaac Younker—a fair specimen, by the way, of a backwood's +wedding in the early settlement of the west.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<center>THE PRESENTIMENT.</center> +<br/> + +<p>Deep and gloomy were the meditations of Algernon Reynolds, as, in +company with Ella Barnwell, he rode slowly along the narrow path which +he had traversed, if not with buoyant, at least with far lighter +spirits than now, the morning before. From some, latent cause, he felt +oppressed with a weight of despondency, as previously mentioned, that +served to prostrate in a measure both his mental powers and physical +system. He felt, though he could give no reason why, that some calamity +was about to befall himself and the fair being by his side; and he +strove to arouse himself and shake off the gloomy thoughts; but if he +succeeded, it was only momentary, and they would again rush back with an +increased power. He had been subject, since his unfortunate quarrel with +his cousin, to gloomy reveries and depressions of spirits—but never +before had he felt exactly as now; and though in all former cases the +event referred to had been the cause of his sad abstractions, yet in the +present instance it scarcely held a place in his thoughts. Could it be a +presentiment, he asked himself, sent to warn him of danger and prepare +him to meet it? But the question he could not answer.</p> + +<p>The night, or rather the morning, though clear overhead, was uncommonly +dark; and the stars, what few could be discerned, shed only pale, faint +gleams, as though their lights were about to be extinguished. For some +time both Algernon and Ella continued their journey without exchanging a +syllable—she too, as well as himself, being deeply absorbed in no very +pleasant reflections. She thought of him, of his hard fate, to meet with +so many bitter disappointments at an age so young; and at last, for no +premeditated, no intentional crime, be forced to fly from home and +friends, and all he held dear, to wander in a far off land, among +strangers—or worse, among the solitudes of the wilderness—exposed to a +thousand dangers from wild savage beasts, and wilder and more savage +human beings; and perhaps, withal, be branded as a felon and fugitive +from justice. She thought what must be his feelings, his sense of utter +desolation, with none around to sympathize—no sweet being by his side +to whisper a single word of encouragement and hope; or, should the worst +prove true, to share his painful lot, and endeavor to render less +burdensome his remorseful thoughts, by smiles of endearment and looks of +love. She thought, too, that to-morrow—perhaps today—he would take his +departure, peradventure never to behold her again; and this was the +saddest of the train. Until she saw him, Ella had never known what it +was to love—perchance she did not now—but at least she had experienced +those fluttering sensations, those deep and strange emotions, those +involuntary yearnings of the heart toward some object in his presence, +that aching void in his absence, which the more experienced would +doubtless put down to that cause, and which no other being had ever even +for a moment awakened in her breast. For something like half an hour the +two rode on together, buried in their own sad reflections, when Ella +broke the silence, by saying, in a low, touching voice:</p> + +<p>"You seem sad to-night, Algernon."</p> + +<p>Algernon started, sighed heavily, and turning slightly on his saddle, +said: "I am sad, Ella—very, very sad."</p> + +<p>"May I ask the cause?" rejoined Ella, gently.</p> + +<p>"Doubtless you will think it strange, Ella, but the cause I believe to +have originated in a waking vision or presentiment."</p> + +<p>"That does seem strange!" observed Ella, in return.</p> + +<p>"Did it never strike you, dear Ella, that we are all strange beings, +subject to strange influences, and destined, many of us, to strange +ends?" inquired Reynolds, solemnly.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I do not understand you," replied Ella; "but with regard to +destiny, I am inclined to think that we in a measure shape our own. As +to our being strange, there are many things relating to us that we may +not understand, and therefore look upon them in the light of which you +speak."</p> + +<p>"Are there any we do understand, Ella?" rejoined Algernon. "When I say +understand, I mean the word to be used in its minutest and broadest +sense. You say there are many things we may not understand concerning +ourselves—what ones, I pray you, do we fully comprehend? We are here +upon the earth—so much we know. We shall die and pass away—so much we +know also. But how came we here, and why? How do we exist? How do we +think, reason, speak, feel, move, see, hear, smell, taste? All these we +do, we know; but yet not one—not a single one of them can we +comprehend. You wish to raise your hand; and forthwith, by some +extraordinary power—extraordinary because you cannot tell where it is, +nor how it is—you raise it. Why cannot a dead person do the same? +Strange question you will say to yourself with a smile—but one easily +answered! Why, because in such a person life is extinct—there is no +vital principle—the heart is stopped—the blood has ceased to flow in +its regular channels! Ay! but let me ask you <i>why</i> that life is +extinct?—why that breath has stopped?—and why that blood has ceased to +flow? There was just the same amount of air when the person died as +before! There were the same ingredients still left to stimulate that +blood to action! Then wherefore should both cease?—and with them the +power of thought, reason, speech, and all the other senses? It was not +by a design of the individual himself; for he strove to his utmost to +breathe longer; he was not ready to die—he did not want to quit this +earth so soon; and yet with all his efforts to the contrary, reason +fled, the breath stopped, the blood ceased, the limbs became palsied and +cold, and corruption, decay and dust stood ready to follow. Now why was +this? There is but one answer: 'God willed it!' If then one question +resolves itself into one answer,—'the will of God'—so may all of the +same species; and we come out, after a long train of analytical +reasoning, exactly where we started—with this difference—that when we +set out, we believed in being able to explain the wherefore; but when we +came to the end, we could only assert it as a wonderful fact, whereof +not a single iota could we understand."</p> + +<p>Algernon spoke in a clear, distinct, earnest tone—in a manner that +showed the subject was not new to his thoughts; and after a short pause, +during which Ella made no reply, he again proceeded.</p> + +<p>"In this grand organ of man—where all things are strange and +incomprehensible—to me the combination of the physical and mental is +strangest of all. The soul and the body are united and yet divided. Each +is distinct from and acts without the other at times, and yet both act +in concert with a wonderful power. The soul plans and the body executes. +The body exercises the soul—the soul the body. The one is visible—the +other invisible; the one is mortal—the other immortal. Now why do they +act together here? Why was not each placed in its separate sphere of +action? Again: What is the soul? Men tell us it is a spirit. What is a +spirit? An invisible something that never dies. Who can comprehend it? +None. Whither does it go when separated forever from the body? None can +answer, save in language of Scripture: 'It returns to God who gave it.'"</p> + +<p>"I have never heard the proposition advanced by another," continued +Algernon, after another slight pause, "but I have sometimes thought +myself, that the soul departs from the body, for a brief season, and +wanders at will among scenes either near or remote, and returns with its +impressions, either clouded or clear, to communicate them to the +corporeal or not, as the case may be: hence dreams or visions, and +strong impressions when we wake, that something bright and good has +refreshed our sleep, or something dark and evil has made it troubled and +feverish. Again I have sometimes thought that this soul—this invisible +and immortal something within us—has power at times to look into the +future, and see events about to transpire; which events being sometimes +of a dark and terrible nature, leave upon it like impressions; and hence +gloomy and melancholy forebodings. This may be all sophistry—as much of +our better reasoning on things we know nothing about often is—but if it +be true, then may I trust to account for my present sadness."</p> + +<p>"Have you really, then, sad forebodings?" inquired Ella, quickly and +earnestly.</p> + +<p>"Against my will and sober reason, dear Ella, I must own I have. +Perchance, however, the feeling was only called up by a train of +melancholy meditations. While sitting there to-night, gazing upon the +many bounding forms—some full of beauty and grace, and some of +strength—noting their joyous faces, and listening occasionally to the +lightsome jest, and merry, ringing laugh—I could not avoid contrasting +with the present the time when I was as happy and full full of mirth as +they. I pictured to myself how they would stare and shudder and draw +away from me, did they know my hand was stained with the blood of my +own kin. Then I began, involuntarily as it were, to picture to myself +the fate of each; and they came up before me in the form of a vision, +(though if such, it was a waking one) but in regular order; and I saw +them pass on one after another—some gliding smoothly down the stream of +time to old age—some wretched and crippled, groping their way along +over barren wastes, without water or food, though nearly dying for the +want of both—some wading through streams of blood, with fierce and +angry looks—and some with pale faces, red eyes, and hollow cheeks, +roving amid coffins, sepulchres and bones; but of all, the very fewest +number happy."</p> + +<p>"Oh! it was an awful vision!" exclaimed Ella, with a shudder.</p> + +<p>"It was awful enough," rejoined Algernon; "and despite of me, it made me +more and more sad as I thought upon it. Could it indeed be a dream? But +no! I was—seemingly at least—as wide awake and conscious as at the +present moment. I saw the dance going on as ever—I saw the merry +smiles, and heard the jest and laugh as before. Could it be some strange +hallucination of the brain—some wild imagining—caused by my previous +exercise and over heat? I pondered upon it long and seriously, but could +not determine. Suddenly—I know not how nor why—that ill-looking +stranger who lodged one night at your uncle's, and departed so +mysteriously, came up in my mind; and almost at the same moment, I +fancied myself riding with you, dear Ella, through a dark and lonely +wood—when all of a sudden there came a fierce yell—several dark, +hideous forms, with him among them, swam around me—I heard you shriek +for aid—and then all became darkness and confusion; from which I was +aroused by some one inquiring if I were ill? What I answered I know not; +but the querist immediately took his leave."</p> + +<p>"It all seems very strange, Algernon," observed Ella, thoughtfully; "but +it was probably nothing more than a feverish dream, brought about by +your exercise acting too suddenly and powerfully upon your nervous +system, which doubtless has not as yet recovered from the prostration +caused by your wound."</p> + +<p>"So I tried to think, dear Ella," returned Algernon, with a sigh; "but I +have not even yet been able to shake off the gloomy impression, that, +whatever the cause, it was sent as a warning of danger. But I am +foolish, perhaps, to think as I do; and so let us change the subject. +You spoke a few moments since of destiny. You said, if I mistake not, +you believed each individual capable of shaping his own."</p> + +<p>"I did," answered Ella; "with the exception, that I qualified it by +saying in a measure. No person, I think, has the power of moulding +himself to an end which is contrary to the law of nature and his own +physical organization; but at the same time he has many ways, some good +and some evil, left open for him to choose; else he were not a free +agent."</p> + +<p>"Ay," rejoined Algernon, "by-paths all to the same great end. I look +upon every one here, Ella, as a traveler placed upon the great highway +called destiny—with a secret power within that impels him forward, but +allows no pause nor retrograde. Along this highway are flowers, and +briars, and thistles, and weeds, and shady woods, and barren rocks, and +sterile bluffs, and glassy plots; but proportioned differently to each, +as the Maker of all designs his path to be pleasant or otherwise. Beside +this highway are perhaps a dozen minor paths, all running a similar +course, and all finally merging into it—either near or far, as the case +may be—before its termination at the great gate of death. The free +agency you speak of, is in choosing of these lesser paths—some of which +are full of the snares of temptation, the chasms of ruin, and the +pitfalls of destruction; and some of the flowers of peace, the bowers of +plenty, and the green woods of contentment. But how to follow the proper +one is the difficulty; for they run into one another—cross and recross +in a thousand different ways—so that the best disposed as often hit the +wrong as the right one, and are entrapped before they are aware of their +dangerous course. Worldly wisdom is here put at fault, and the fool as +often goes right as the wise man of lore—thus showing, notwithstanding +our free agency, that circumstances govern us; and that what many put +down as crime, is, in fact, oftentimes, neither more nor less than error +of judgment."</p> + +<p>"Then you consider free agency only a chance game, depending, as it +were, upon the throw of a die?" observed Ella, inquiringly.</p> + +<p>"I believe this much of free agency, that a train of circumstances often +forces some to evil and others to good; and that we should look upon the +former, in many cases—mind I do not say all—as unfortunate rather than +criminal—with pity rather than scorn; and so endeavor to reclaim them. +Were this doctrine more practiced by Christians—by those whom the world +terms good, (but whom circumstances alone have made better than their +fellows,) there would be far less of sin, misery, and crime abounding +for them to deplore. Let the creed of churches only be to ameliorate the +condition of the poor, relieve the distressed, remove temptations from +youth, encourage the virtuous, and endeavor, by gently means, to reclaim +the erring—and the holy design of Him who died to save would nobly +progress, prisons would be turned into asylums, and scaffolds be things +known only by tradition."</p> + +<p>Algernon spoke with an easy, earnest eloquence, and a force of emphasis, +that made each word tell with proper effect upon his fair hearer. To +Ella the ideas he advanced were, many of them, entirely new; and she +mused thoughtfully upon them, as they rode along, without reply; while +he, becoming warm upon a subject that evidently occupied no inferior +place in his mind, went on to speak of the wrongs and abuses which +society in general heaped upon the unfortunate, as he termed +them—contrasted the charity of professing Christians of the eighteenth +century with that of Christ himself—and pointed out what he considered +the most effectual means of remedy. To show that a train of +circumstances would frequently force persons against their own will and +reason to be what society terms criminal, he referred to himself, and +his own so far eventful destiny; and Ella could not but admit to +herself, that, in his case at least, his arguments were well grounded, +and she shaped her replies accordingly.</p> + +<p>Thus conversing, they continued upon their course, until they came to +the brow of a steep descent, down which the path ran in a zigzag manner, +through a dark, gloomy ravine, now rendered intensely so to our +travelers, by the hour, their thoughts, the wildness of the scenery +around, and the dense growth of cedars covering the hollow, whose +untrimmed branches, growing even to the ground, overreached and partly +obstructed their way. By this time only one or two stars were visible in +the heavens; and they shone with pale, faint gleams; while in the east +the beautiful gray and crimson tints of Aurora announced that day was +already breaking on the slumbering world. Drawing rein, Algernon and +Ella paused as if to contemplate the scene. Below and around them each +object presented that misty, indistinct appearance, which leaves the +imagination power to give it either a pleasing or hideous shape. In the +immediate vicinity, the country was uneven; rocky, and covered with +cedars; but far off to the right could be discerned the even surface of +the cane-brake, previously mentioned, now stretching away in the +distance like the unruffled bosom of some beautiful lake. A light breeze +slightly rustled the leaves of the trees, among whose branches an +occasional songster piped forth his morning lay of rejoicing.</p> + +<p>"How lovely is nature in all her varieties!" exclaimed Ella, with +animation, as she glanced over the scene.</p> + +<p>"Ay, and in that variety lies her loveliness," answered Algernon. "It is +the constant and eternal change going forward that interests us, and +gives to nature her undying charm. Man—high-souled, contemplative +man—was not born to sameness. Variety is to his mind what food is to +his body; and as the latter, deprived of its usual nourishment, sinks to +decay—so the former, from like deprivation of its strengthening power, +becomes weak and imbecile. Again: as coarse, plain food and hardy +exercise add health and vigor to the physical—so does the contemplation +of nature in her wildness and grandeur give to the mental a powerful and +lofty tone. Of all writers for poetical and vigorous intellects, give me +those who have been reared among cloud-capped hills, and craggy steeps, +and rushing streams, and roaring cataracts; for their conceptions are +grand, their comparisons beautiful, and the founts from which they draw, +as exhaustless almost as nature herself."</p> + +<p>"I have often thought the same myself," returned Ella; "for I never gaze +upon a beautiful scene in nature, that I do not feel refreshed. To me +the two most delightful are morning and evening. I love to stand upon +some eminence, and mark, as now, the first gray, crimson and golden +streaks that rush up in the eastern sky; and catch the first rays of old +Sol, as he, surrounded by a reddened halo, shows his welcome face above +the hills; or at calm eve watch his departure, as with a last, fond, +lingering look he takes his leave, as 'twere in sorrow that he could not +longer tarry; while earth, not thus to be outdone in point of grief, +puts on her sable dress to mourn his absence."</p> + +<p>"Ah! Ella," said Algernon, turning to her with a gentle smile, "methinks +morning and evening are somewhat indebted to you for a touch of poetry +in their behalf."</p> + +<p>"Rather say I am indebted to them for a thousand fine feelings I have +not even power to express," rejoined Ella.</p> + +<p>Algernon was on the point of returning an answer, when, casting his eyes +down into the ravine, he slightly started, his gaze became fixed, and +his features grew a shade more pale. Ella noticed this sudden change, +and in a voice slightly tremulous inquired the cause. For nearly a +minute Algernon made no reply, but kept his eyes steadily bent in the +same direction, apparently riveted on some object below. Ella also +looked down; but seeing nothing worthy of note, and growing somewhat +alarmed at his silence, was on the point of addressing him again, when, +slightly turning his head, and rubbing his eyes with his hand, he said:</p> + +<p>"Methought I saw a dark object move in the hollow below; but I think I +must have been mistaken, for all appears quiet there now—not even a +limb or so much as a leaf stirs. Lest there should be danger, however, +dear Ella, I will ride down first and ascertain. If I give an alarm, +turn your horse and do not spare him till you reach Wilson's."</p> + +<p>"No, no, no!" exclaimed Ella, with vehemence, laying her hand upon his +arm, as he was about starting forward, her own features now growing very +pale. "If you go, Algernon, you go not alone! If there is danger, I will +share it with you."</p> + +<p>Algernon turned towards her a face that, one moment crimsoned with +animation and the next became deadly pale; while his whole frame +quivered with intense emotion, and he seemed vainly struggling to +command contending feelings. Suddenly clasping her hand in his, he +pressed it warmly, raised it to his lips, and in a trembling tone said:</p> + +<p>"Ella—dear Ella—God bless you! If ever—but—no—no—no;" and covering +his face with his hands, he wept convulsively; while she, no less deeply +affected, could scarcely sit her horse.</p> + +<p>At length Algernon withdrew his hands, and exhibited features pale but +calm. Drawing forth his pistols, he carefully examined their priming, +and then replaced them in his belt. During this proceeding, he failed +not to urge Ella to alter her design and remain, while he went forward; +but finding her determined on keeping him company, he signified his +readiness to proceed, and both started slowly down the hill together. +They reached the ravine in safety, and advanced some twenty yards +further, when suddenly there arose a terrific Indian yell, followed +instantly by the sharp report of several fire-arms, a wild, piercing +shriek, some two or three heavy groans, a rustling among the trees, and +then by a stillness as deep and awfully solemn as that which pervades +the narrow house appointed for all living.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<center>THE OLD WOODSMAN AND HIS DOG.</center> +<br/> + +<p>The sun was perhaps an hour above the mountain tops, when a solitary +hunter, in the direction of the cane-brake, might have been seen shaping +his course toward the hill whereon Algernon and Ella had so lately +paused to contemplate the dawning day. Upon his shoulder rested a long +rifle, and a dog of the Newfoundland species followed in his steps or +trotted along by his side. In a few minutes he reached the place +referred to; when the snuffling of his canine companion causing him to +look down, his attention instantly became fixed upon the foot-prints of +the horses which had passed there the day before, and particularly on +the two that had repassed there so lately.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Cæsar?" said he, addressing the brute. "Nothing wrong here, +I reckon." Cæsar, as if conscious of his master's language, raised his +head, and looking down into the ravine, appeared to snuff the air; then +darting forward, he was quickly lost among the branching cedars. +Scarcely thirty seconds elapsed, ere a long, low howl came up from the +valley; and starting like one suddenly surprised by some disagreeable +occurrence, the hunter, with a cheek slightly blanched, hurried down the +crooked path, muttering as he went, "Thar's something wrong, for +sartin—for Cæsar never lies."</p> + +<p>In less than a minute the hunter came in sight of his dog, which he +found standing with his hind feet on the ground and his fore-paws +resting on the carcass of a horse, that had apparently been dead but a +short time. As Cæsar perceived his master approach, he uttered another +of those peculiar, long, low, mournful howls, which the superstitious +not unfrequently interpret as omens of evil.</p> + +<p>"Good heavens!" exclaimed the hunter, as he came up; "thar's been foul +play here, Cæsar—foul play, for sartin. D'ye think, dog, it war Indians +as done it?"</p> + +<p>The brute looked up into the speaker's face, with one of those +expressions of intelligence or sagacity, which seem to speak what the +tongue has not power to utter, and then wagging his tail, gave a sharp, +fierce bark.</p> + +<p>"Right, dog!" continued the other, as, stooping to the ground, he began +to examine with great care the prints left there by human feet. "Right, +dog, they're the rale varmints, and no mistake. Ef all folks war as +sensible and knowing as you, thar would'nt be many fools about, I +reckon."</p> + +<p>Having finished his examination of the ground, the hunter again turned +to look at the carcass of the horse, which was lying on its left side, +some two feet from the path, and had apparently fallen dead from a shot +in the forehead, between the eyes. An old saddle, devoid of straps, lay +just concealed under the branching cedars. The ground around was trodden +as if from a scuffle, and the limbs of the trees were broken in many +places—while in two or three others could be seen spots of blood, not +even yet dry—none of which informants of the recent struggle escaped +the keen observation of the woodsman. Suddenly the dog, which had been +watching his master's motions intently, put his nose to the ground, +darted along the path further into the ravine, and presently resounded +another of those mournful howls.</p> + +<p>"Ha! another diskivery!" exclaimed the hunter, as he started after his +companion.</p> + +<p>About thirty yards further on, he came upon the carcass of another +horse, which had been killed by a ball in the right side, and the blow +of some weapon, probably a tomahawk, on the head. By its side also lay a +lady's saddle, stripped like the former of its trappings. This the +woodsman now proceeded to examine attentively, for something like a +minute, during which time a troubled expression rested on his dark, +sunburnt features.</p> + +<p>"I'm either mightily mistaken," said he at length, with a grave look, +"or that thar horse and saddle is the property of Ben Younker; and I +reckon it's the same critter as is rid by Ella Barnwell. Heaven forbid, +sweet lady, that it be thou as met with this terrible misfortune!—but +ef it be, by the Power that made me, I swar to follow on thy trail; and +ef I meet any of thy captors, then, Betsey, I'll just call on you for a +backwoods sentiment."</p> + +<p>As he concluded, the hunter turned with a look of affection towards his +rifle, which he firmly grasped with a nervous motion. At this moment, +the dog, which had been busying himself by running to and fro with his +nose to the ground, suddenly paused, and laying back his ears, uttered a +low, fierce growl. The hunter cast toward him a quick glance; and +dropping upon his knees, applied his ear to the earth, where he remained +some fifteen seconds; then rising to his feet, he made a motion with his +hand, and together with Cæsar withdrew into the thicket.</p> + +<p>For some time no sound was heard to justify this precaution of the +woodsman; but at length a slight jarring of the ground became apparent, +followed by a noise at some distance, resembling the clatter of horses' +feet, which, gradually growing louder as the cause drew nearer, soon +became sufficiently so to put all doubts on the matter at rest. In less +than five minutes from the disappearance of the hunter, some eight or +ten horses, bearing as many riders, approached the hill from the +direction of Wilson's, and began to descend into the ravine. The party, +composed of both sexes, were in high glee—some jesting, some singing, +and some laughing uproariously. Nothing occurred to interrupt their +merriment, until they began to lose themselves among the cedars of the +hollow, when the foremost horse suddenly gave a snort and bounded to one +side—a movement which his companion, close behind, imitated—while the +rider of the latter, a female, uttered a loud, piercing scream of +fright. In a moment the whole party was in confusion—some turning their +horses to the right about and riding back towards Wilson's, at headlong +speed—and some pausing in fear, undecided what to do. The two foremost +horses now became very refractory, rearing and plunging in a manner that +threatened to unseat their riders every moment. Of the two, the one +ridden by the lady was the most ungovernable; and in spite of her +efforts to quiet or hold him, he seized the bit in his teeth, and, +rearing on his hind legs, plunged madly forward, until he came to where +the other carcass was lying, when, giving another snort of fear, he +again reared, and turning aside into the thicket, left his rider almost +senseless in the path he had just quitted. Fortunately the beast shaped +his course to where the hunter was concealed, who, with a sudden spring, +as he was rushing past, seized upon the bridle near the bit, and +succeeded, after a struggle, in mastering and leading him back to the +path.</p> + +<p>By this time the companion of the lady had come up; and seeing her +condition, was dismounting to render her assistance; when his eye +falling upon the stranger, he started, and placed his hand quickly to +his belt, as if in search of some weapon of defence. The hunter saw the +movement, and said, with a gesture of command:</p> + +<p>"Hold! young man; don't do any thing rash!"</p> + +<p>"Who are you, sir?"</p> + +<p>"A friend."</p> + +<p>"Your name!" continued the other, as he sprang to the ground.</p> + +<p>"Names don't matter, stranger, in cases sech as this. I said I war a +friend."</p> + +<p>"By what may I know you as such."</p> + +<p>"My deeds," returned the other, laconically. "Think you, stranger, ef I +wanted to harm ye, I couldn't have done it without you seeing me?" and +as he spoke, he glanced significantly toward his rifle.</p> + +<p>"True," returned the other; "but what's the meaning of this?" and he +pointed toward the dead horse.</p> + +<p>"It means Indians, as nigh as I can come at it," replied the hunter. +"But look to the living afore the dead!" And the woodsman in turn +pointed toward the lady.</p> + +<p>"Right!" said the other; and springing to her side, he raised her in his +arms.</p> + +<p>She was not injured, other than slightly stunned by the fall, and she +quickly regained her senses. At first she was somewhat alarmed; but +perceiving who supported her, and nothing in the mild, noble, benevolent +countenance of the stranger, who was still holding her horse by the +bridle, of a sinister nature, she anxiously inquired what had happened.</p> + +<p>"I can only guess by what I see;" answered the hunter, "that some o' +your company have been less fortunate than you. Didn't two o' them set +out in advance?"</p> + +<p>"Gracious heavens!" cried the young man supporting the lady; "it is Ella +Barnwell and the stranger Reynolds!"</p> + +<p>"Then they must be quickly trailed!" rejoined the hunter briefly. "Go, +young man, take your lady back agin, and raise an armed party for +pursuit. Be quick in your operations, and I'll wait and join you here. +Leave your horses thar, for we must take it afoot; and besides, gather +as much provision as you can all easily carry, for Heaven only knows +whar or when our journey'll end."</p> + +<p>"But do you think they're still living?"</p> + +<p>"I hope so."</p> + +<p>"Then let us return, Henry," said the lady, "as quick as possible, so +that a party for pursuit may be collected before the wedding guests have +all separated."</p> + +<p>"I fear it will be difficult, Mary, but we must try it," replied the +young man, as he assisted her to mount. Then, turning to the stranger, +he added: "But won't you accompany us, sir?"</p> + +<p>"No, it can do no good; besides I'm afoot, and would only cause delay, +and thar's been too much o' that already."</p> + +<p>"At least, sir, favor me with your name."</p> + +<p>"The first white hunter o' old Kaintuck," answered the other, stroking +the neck of the fiery beast on which the lady was now sitting.</p> + +<p>"What!" exclaimed the other, in a tone of surprise: "Boone! Colonel +Daniel Boone?"</p> + +<p>"Why, I'm sometimes called colonel," returned the hunter, dryly, still +stroking the horse's neck; "but Daniel's the older title, and a little +the most familiar one besides."</p> + +<p>"I crave pardon for my former rudeness, Colonel," said the other, +advancing and offering his hand; "but you were a stranger to me you +know."</p> + +<p>"Well, well, it's all right—I'd have done exactly so myself," answered +Boone, grasping the young man's hand with a cordiality that showed no +offence had been taken. "And now—a—how do you call yourself?"</p> + +<p>"Henry Millbanks."</p> + +<p>"Now, Master Millbanks, pray be speedy; for while we talk, our friends +may die, and it goes agin nater to think on't," said Boone, anxiously.</p> + +<p>As he spoke, he led forward the lady's horse past the other carcass; +while Henry, springing upon his own beast, followed after. Having seen +them safely out of the ravine, the noble hunter turned back to wait the +arrival of the expected assistance. He had just gained the center of the +thicket, when he was slightly startled again by the growl of his dog, +and the tramp of what appeared to be another horse, coming from the +direction of Younker's. Hastily secreting himself, he awaited in silence +the approach of the new comer, whom he soon discovered to be an old +acquaintance, who was riding at a fast gallop, bearing some heavy weight +in his arms. As he came up to the carcass of Ella's horse, he slackened +his speed, looked at it earnestly, then gazed cautiously around, and was +about to spur his boast onward again, when the sound of Boone's voice +reached, his ear; requesting him to pause; and at the same time, to his +astonishment, Boone himself emerged into the path before him.</p> + +<p>"Ha! Colonel Boone," said the horsemen, quickly; "I'm glad to meet ye; +for now is a time when every true man's wanted."</p> + +<p>"What's the news, David Billings?" inquired Boone, anxiously, as he +noticed a troubled, earnest expression on the countenance of the other.</p> + +<p>"Bad!" answered Billings, emphatically. "The Injens have been down upon +us agin in a shocking manner."</p> + +<p>"Heaven forbid thar be many victims!" ejaculated Boone, unconsciously +tightening the grasp on his rifle.</p> + +<p>"Too many—too many!" rejoined Billings, shaking his head sadly. "Thar's +my neighbor Millbanks' family—"</p> + +<p>"Well? well?" cried Boone, impatiently, as the other seemed to hesitate.</p> + +<p>"Have all been murdered, and his house burnt to ashes."</p> + +<p>"All?" echoed Boone.</p> + +<p>"All but young Harry, who's fortunately away to a wedding at Wilson's."</p> + +<p>"Why, the one you speak of war just now here," said Boone, with a start; +"and I sent him back to raise a party to trail the red varmints, who've +been operating as you see yonder: Good heavens! what awful news for poor +Harry, who seems so likely a lad."</p> + +<p>"Yes, likely you may well say," returned the other; "and so war the +whole family—God ha' mercy on 'em! But what's been done here?"</p> + +<p>"Why, I suppose Ella Barnwell—Younker's niece, you know—and a likely +young stranger who war along with her, called Reynolds, have been +captured."</p> + +<p>"Ha! well it's supposed Younker and his wife are captives too, or else +that thar bones lie white among the ashes of thar own ruins."</p> + +<p>"Good heavens!" cried Boone. "Any more, David?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, thar's Absalom Switcher and his wife, and a young gal of twelve; +and Ephraim Stokes' wife and a young boy of five; who war left by +themselves, (Stokes himself being away, and his son Seth at the wedding, +as was a son o' Switcher's also) have all bin foully mardered—besides +Johnny Long's family, Peter Pierson's, and a young child of Fred Mason's +that happened to be at Pierson's house, and one or two others whose +names I disremember."</p> + +<p>"But when did this happen, David?"</p> + +<p>"Last night," replied the other. "It's suspected that the Injens ha bin +warting round here, and took advantage of this wedding, when the greater +part on 'em war away. It's thought too that thar war a white spy out, +who gin 'em information, and led 'em on—as a villainous looking chap +war seed about the vicinity not long ago."</p> + +<p>"Do they suspicion who war the spy?" asked Boone.</p> + +<p>"Why some thinks as how it war that thar accussed renegade, Simon +Girty."</p> + +<p>"Wretch!" muttered Boone, grasping his rifle almost fiercely; "I'd like +to have old Bess, here, hold a short conflab with him. But what have you +got thar in your arms, that seems so heavy, David?"</p> + +<p>"Rifles, Colonel. I've bin riding round and collecting on 'em for this +mad party of Younker's, who went off without any precaution; and I'm now +on my way to deliver 'em, that they may start instanter arter the cussed +red skins, and punish 'em according to the Mosaic law."</p> + +<p>"Spur on then, David, and you may perhaps overtake some o' them; and all +that you do, arm and send 'em here as quick as possible—for I'm +dreadful impatient to be off."</p> + +<p>The colloquy between the two thus concluded, the horseman—a +strongly-built, hard-favored, muscular man of forty—set spurs to his +horse; and bounding onward toward Wilson's (distant some five miles—the +ravine being about half way between the residence of the groom and +bride,) he was quickly lost to the sight of the other, who quietly +seated himself to await the reinforcement.</p> + +<p>In the course of half an hour, Boone was joined by some three or four of +the wedding party, who bad been overtaken by Billings, learned the news, +accepted a rifle each, bidden their fair companions adieu, and sent them +and the horses back to the house of the bride, while they moved forward +to meet danger, rescue the living, and seek revenge.</p> + +<p>In the course of an hour and a half, Billings himself returned, +accompanied by some seven or eight stout hearts; among whom were young +Switcher, Stokes, Millbanks, and, lastly, Isaac Younker, who had been +roused from the nuptial bed to hear of the terrible calamity that had +befallen his friends. Isaac, on the present occasion, did not disgrace +his training, the land which gave him birth, nor the country he now +inhabited. When the messenger came with the direful news, although +somewhat late in the morning, Isaac had been found in his bed, closely +folded in the arms of the god of sleep. On being awakened and told of +what had taken place, he slowly rose up into a sitting posture, rubbed +his eyes, stared searchingly at his informant, gathered himself upon his +feet, threw on his wedding garments, and made all haste to descend +below; where he at once sought out his new wife, Peggy, who had risen an +hour before; and grasping her by the hand, in a voice slightly +tremulous, but with a firm, determined expression on his features, said:</p> + +<p>"Peggy, dear, I 'spect you've heard the whole on't. Father, mother, Ella +and Reynolds—all gone, and our house in ashes, I'm going to follow, +Peggy. Good bye—God bless you! Ef I don't never come back, Peggy"—and +the tears started into his eyes—"you may jest put it down I've been +clean sarcumvented, skinned, and eat up by them thar ripscallious +Injens;" and turning upon his heel, as his tender-hearted spouse burst +into tears, he seized upon same provisions that had graced the last +night's entertainment, gave Black Betty a long and cordial salute with +his lips, shook hands with his wife's father and mother, kissed Peggy +once again, pulled his cap over his eyes, and, without another word, set +forth with rapid strides on the eastern path leading to the rendezvous +of Daniel Boone.</p> + +<p>On the faces of those now assembled, who had lost their best and dearest +friends, could be seen the intense workings of the strong passions of +grief and revenge, while their fingers clutched their faithful rifles +with a nervous power. The greatest change was apparent in the features +of Henry Millbanks. He was a fine-favored, good-looking youth of +eighteen, with light hair and a florid complexion. The natural +expression of his handsome countenance was an easy, dignified smile, +which was rendered extremely fascinating by a broad, noble forehead, and +a clear, expressive, gray eye; but now the floridity had given place to +a pale, almost sallow hue, the forehead was wrinkled with grief, the +lips were compressed, and the smile had been succeeded by a look of +great fierceness, aided by the eye; which was more than usually sunken +and bloodshot.</p> + +<p>But little was said by any of the party; for all felt the chilling +gloom of the present, so strongly contrasted with the bright hours and +merry jests which had so lately been apportioned to each. Boone called +to Cæsar and bade him seek the Indian trail; a task which the noble +brute flew to execute; and in a few minutes the whole company were on +their way; with the exception of Billings; who, by the unanimous request +of all, returned to Wilson's; to cheer, console and protect the females; +and, if thought advisable, to conduct them to Bryan's Station—a strong +fort a few miles distant—where they might remain in comparative +security.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<center>THE INDIANS AND THEIR PRISONERS.</center> +<br/> + +<p>While the events just chronicled were enacting in one part of the +country, others, of a different nature, but somewhat connected with +them, were taking place in another. In a dark, lonely pass or gorge of +the hills, some ten miles to the north of the scene of the preceding +chapter, where the surrounding trees grew so thick with branches and +leaves that they almost entirely excluded the sunlight from the waters +of a stream which there rolled foaming and roaring between the hills and +over and against the rocks of its precipitous bed, or, plunging down +some frightful precipice, lay as if stunned or exhausted by the fall in +the chasm below, mirroring in its still bosom with a gloomy reflection +the craggy steeps rising majestically above it—in this dark and lonely +pass, we say, was a party of human beings, to whom the proper +development of our story now calls us.</p> + +<p>The company in question was composed of eight persons, five of whom were +Indians of the Seneca tribe;<a name="FNanchor_5" id="FNanchor_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> the others—a thin-faced, gaunt, +stoop-shouldered man past the middle age—a rather corpulent, masculine +looking woman, a few years his junior—a little fair-haired, blue-eyed, +pretty-faced girl of six—were white captives. Four of the Indians were +seated or partly reclining on the ground, with their guns beside them, +ready for instant use if necessary, engaged in roasting slices of deer +meat before a fire that had been kindled for the purpose. The fifth +savage was pacing to and fro, with his rifle on his arm, performing the +double duty of sentinel and guard over the prisoners, who were kept in +durance by strong cords some ten paces distant. The old man was secured +by a stick passing across his back horizontally, to which both wrists +and arms were tightly bound with thongs of deer skin. To prevent the +possibility of escape, both legs were fastened together by the same +material, and a long, stout rope, encircling his neck, was attached to a +tree hard by. This latter precaution, and much of the former, seemed +unnecessary; for there was a mild look of resigned dejection on his +features, as they bent toward the earth, with his chin resting on his +bosom, that appeared strongly at variance with any thing like flight or +strife. His female companion was fastened in like manner to the tree, +but in other respects only bound by a stout thong around the wrists in +front. The third member of the white party, the little girl, was seated +at the feet of the old man, with her small wrists also bound until they +had swollen so as to pain her, looking up from time to time into his +face with a heart-rending expression of grief, fear and anxiety.</p> + +<p>Of the Indians themselves, we presume it would be difficult to find, +among all the tribes of America, five more blood-thirsty, villainous +looking beings than the ones in question. They were only partially +dressed, after the manner of their tribe, with skins around their loins, +extending down to their knees, and moccasins on their feet, leaving the +rest of their bodies and limbs bare. Around their waists were belts, for +the tomahawk and scalping knife, at three of which now hung freshly +taken scalps. Their faces had been hideously painted for the war-path; +but heat and perspiration had since out done the artist, by running the +composition into streaks, in such a way as to give them the most +diabolical appearance imaginable. On each of their heads was a tuft of +feathers, some of which had the appearance of having recently been +scorched and blackened by fire, while their arms and bodies were here +and there besmeared with blood.</p> + +<p>The four around the fire were in high glee, as they roasted and devoured +their meat, judging from their nods, and grins, and grunts of +approbation, whenever their eyes glanced in the direction of their +prisoners—the effect of which was far from consoling to the matron of +the latter; who, having eyed them for some time in indignant silence, at +length burst forth with angry vehemence:</p> + +<p>"Well, now, jest grin, and jabber, and grin, like a pesky set o' natural +born monkeys, that's ten times better nor you is any day of your good +for nothing, sneaking lives. Goodness, gracious, marsy on me alive!" +continued the dame, whom the reader has doubtless recognized as Mrs. +Younker; "I only jest wish you had to change places with me and Ben here +for about five minutes; and ef I didn't make your old daubed, nasty, +villainous, unyarthly looking faces grin to another tune, I hope I may +never be blessed with liberty agin in creation, as long as I live on the +face o' this univarsal yarth!"</p> + +<p>"Ugh!" ejaculated the sentinel, turning towards the speaker, as she +concluded her fierce tirade, at the same time placing his hand on the +tomahawk in his belt with an angry gesture: "Ugh! me squaw kill—she no +stop much talky!"</p> + +<p>"You'd kill me, would ye? you mean, dirty, ripscallious looking varmint +of the woods you, that don't know a pin from a powder horn!" rejoined +the undaunted Mrs. Younker, in a vehement tone: "You'd kill me for using +the freedom of tongue, as these blessed Colonies is this moment fighting +for with the tarnal Britishers? You'd kill me, would ye? Well, it's jest +my first nateral come at opinion, as I tolled Ben here, not more'n a +quarter o' an hour ago, that you war jest mean enough for any thing, as +ever war invented, in the whole univarsal yarth o' creation—so ef you +do kill me, I won't be in the leastest grain disappinted, no how."</p> + +<p>"Don't, Dorothy—don't irritate the savage for nothing at all!" said her +husband, who, raising his head at the first remark of the Indian, now +saw in his fierce, flashing eyes, angry gestures, and awful contortions +of visage, that which boded the sudden fulfillment of his threat: "Don't +irritate him, and git murdered for your pains, Dorothy! Why can't you be +more quiet?"</p> + +<p>"Don't talk to me about being quiet, Benjamin Younker, away out here in +the woods, a captive to such imps an them thar, with our house all burnt +to nothing like, and our cows and sheeps and hosses destructed, and—"</p> + +<p>Here the speech of the good woman was suddenly cut short by the whizzing +of a tomahawk past her head, which slightly grazed her cheek, and lodged +in the tree a few feet beyond. Whether it was aimed at her life and +missed its mark, or whether it was merely done to frighten her, does not +appear; though the manner of the savage, after the weapon was thrown, +inclines us to the latter supposition; for instead of rushing upon her +with his knife, he walked deliberately to the tree, withdrew the +tomahawk, and then turning to her, and brandishing it over her head, +said:</p> + +<p>"Squaw, still be! Speak much, me killum!"</p> + +<p>Be the design of the Indian what it might, the whole proceeding +certainly produced one result, which nothing had ever been known to do +before—it awed to silence the tongue of Mrs. Younker, just at a moment +when talking would have been such a relief to her overcharged spirit; +and merely muttering, in an under tone, "I do jest believe the +ripscallious varmint is in arnest, sure enough!" she held her speech for +the extraordinary space of half an hour.</p> + +<p>Meantime the other savages finished their repast; and having offered a +portion of it to the prisoners, which the latter refused, they proceeded +to destroy their fire, by casting the burning brands into the rushing +waters of the stream below. This done, they extended their circle +somewhat—each placing himself by a tree or rock—and then in the most +profound silence stood like bronzed statuary, apparently awaiting the +arrival of another party. At last—and just as the sun was beginning to +peep over the brow of the steep above them, and let his rays struggle +with the matted foliage of the trees, for a glimpse of the roaring +waters underneath—one of the Indians started, looked cautiously around, +dropped flat upon the earth; and then rising, and motioning with his +hand for all to be silent, glided noiselessly away, like the shadow of +some evil spirit, into the surrounding thicket. He had scarcely been +absent three minutes, when a slight crackling among the brush was heard +near at hand; and immediately after he rejoined his companions, followed +by a party of eight Indian warriors, and two white prisoners, headed by +a low browed, sinister, blood-thirsty looking white man, in a garb +resembling that worn by a subordinate British officer. His coat was red, +with facings of another color, underneath which was partially displayed +a handsome vest and ruffled shirt. About his waist passed a broad wampum +belt, in which were confined a brace of silver mounted pistols, another +pair of less finish and value, a silver handled dirk, a scalping knife +and tomahawk, on whose blades could be seen traces of blood. Around his +neck was a neatly tied cravat, and dangling in front of his vest a gold +chain, which connected with a watch hid in a pocket of his breeches, +whence depended a larger chain of steel, supporting in turn three +splendid gold seals and two keys. His nether garments were breeches, +leggins, and moccasins, all of deer skin, and without ornament. His hat, +not unlike those of the present day, was on this occasion graced with a +red feather, which protruded above the crown, and corresponded well with +his general appearance.</p> + +<p>The Indian companions of this individual were not remarkable for any +thing, unless it might be ferocity of expression. They were habited, +with but one exception, like those previously described, and evidently +belonged to the same tribe. This exception was a large, athletic, +powerful Indian, rather rising of six feet, around whose waist was a +finely worked wampum belt, over whose right shoulder, in a transverse +direction, extended a red scarf, carelessly tied under the left arm, and +in whose nose and ears were large, heavy rings, denoting him to be +either a chief or one in command. His age was about thirty; and his +features, though perhaps less ferocious than some of his companions, +were still enough so to make him an object of dread and fear. His +forehead was low, his eye black and piercing, and his nose rather flat +and widely distended at the nostrils. He was called Peshewa: Anglice, +Wild cat.</p> + +<p>As the prisoners of the latter party came in sight of those of the +former, there was a general start and exclamation of surprise; while the +sad faces of each showed how little pleasure they felt in meeting each +other under such painful circumstances. The last comers, as the reader +has doubtless conjectured, were Algernon and Ella. Immediately on their +entering the ravine, as previously recorded, they had been set upon by +savages, their horses shot from under them, and themselves made +captives. This result, however, as regards Algernon, had not been +effected without considerable effort on the part of his numerous +enemies. At the first fire, his horse fell; but disentangling himself, +and drawing his pistols, he sprung upon the side of his dying beast, and +discharged them both at his nearest foes—one of which took effect, and +sent a warrior to his last account. Then leaping in among them, he drew +his knife and cut madly about him until secured; though doubtless he +would have been tomahawked on the spot, only that he might be reserved +for the tortures, when his brutal captors should arrive at their +destination. Meantime the animal which bore the lovely Ella, being +wounded by the same fire which killed her companion's, bounded forward +some twenty paces, when a blow on the head with a tomahawk laid him +prostrate, and she was secured also. The party then proceeded to bury +the dead, at some little distance, and start upon their journey, to join +their companions—which latter we have just seen accomplished.</p> + +<p>As soon as mutual recognitions had passed between the prisoners, the +individual habited in the British uniform stepped forward, and said, +jocosely:</p> + +<p>"So, friends, we all meet again, do we, eh?—ha, ha, ha!"</p> + +<p>At the sound of his voice, the old man and his wife, both of whom had +been too intently occupied with Algernon and Ella to notice him before, +started, and turning their eyes suddenly upon him, simultaneously +exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Williams!"</p> + +<p>"<i>Sometimes</i> Mr. Williams," answered the other, with a strong emphasis +on the first word, accompanying it with a horrible oath; "but now, when +disguise is no longer necessary, Simon Girty, the renegade, +by ——!—ha, ha, ha!"</p> + +<p>As he uttered these words, in a coarse, ruffianly tone, a visible +shudder of fear or disgust, or both combined, passed through the frame +of each of the prisoners; and Algernon turning to him, with an +expression of loathing contempt, said:</p> + +<p>"I more than half suspected as much, when I sometime since contemplated +your low-browed, hang-dog countenance. Of course we can expect no mercy +at such hands."</p> + +<p>"Mercy!" cried Girty, turning fiercely upon him, his eyes gleaming +savagely, his mouth twisting into a shape intended to express the most +withering contempt, while his words fairly hissed from between his +tightly set teeth: "Mercy? dog! No, by h——l! for none like you! Hark ye, +Mr. Reynolds! Were you in the damnable cells of the Inquisition, accused +of heresy, and about to be put to the tortures, you might think yourself +in Paradise compared to what you shall yet undergo!"</p> + +<p>As he uttered these words, Ella shrieked and fell fainting to the earth. +Springing to her, Girty raised her in his arms; and pointing to her pale +features, as he did so, continued:</p> + +<p>"See! Mr. Reynolds, this girl loves you; I love her; we are rivals; and +you, my rival, are in my power: and, by ——! and all the powers of +darkness, you shall feel my vengeance!"</p> + +<p>"You love her?" broke in Mrs. Younker, who, in spite of her previous +dangerous warning, could hold her peace no longer: "You love her! you +mean, contemptible, red headed puppy! I don't believe as how you knows +enough to love nothing! And so you're Simon Girty, hey? that thar +sneaking, red-coat renegade? Well, I reckon as how you've told the truth +once; for I've hearn tell that he war an orful mean looking imp o' +Satan; and I jest don't believe as how a meaner one nor yourself could +be skeer'd up in the whole universal yarth o' creation."</p> + +<p>"Rail on, old woman!" replied Girty, as he chafed the temples of Ella +with his hands; "but in a little lower key; or I shall be under the +necessity of ordering a stopper to your mouth; which, saving the +tortures of the stake, is the worst punishment for you I can now invent. +As for you, Mr. Younker," continued he, turning his face to the old man, +with a peculiar expression; "you seem to have nothing to say to an old +friend—ha, ha, ha!"</p> + +<p>"Whensomever I mention the name o' Simon Girty," replied Younker, in a +deliberate and startlingly solemn tone, "I al'ays call down God's curse +upon the fiendish renegade—and I do so now."</p> + +<p>"By ——! old man," cried Girty, casting Ella roughly from him, and +starting upright, the perfect picture of a fiend in human shape; +"another word, and your brains shall be scattered to the four winds of +heaven!"</p> + +<p>As he spoke, he brandished his tomahawk over the other's head; while the +child, before noticed, uttered a wild scream, and sprung to Mrs. +Younker, at whose side she crouched in absolute terror.</p> + +<p>"Strike!" answered Younker, mildly, with an unchanged countenance, his +eye resting steadily upon the other, who could not meet his gaze in the +same manner. "Strike! Simon Girty; for I'm a man that's never feared +death, and don't now; besides, I reiterate all I've said, and with my +dying breath pray God to curse ye!"</p> + +<p>"Not yet!" rejoined Girty, smothering his rage, as he replaced his +weapon. "Not yet, Ben Younker; for you take death too easy; and by ——! +I'll make it have terrors for you! But what child is this?" continued +he, grasping the little girl fiercely by the arm, causing her to utter a +cry of pain and fear. "By heavens! what do we with squalling children? +Here, Oshasqua, I give her in your charge; and if she yelp again, brain +her, by ——!" and he closed with an oath.</p> + +<p>The Indian whom we have previously noticed as the sentinel, stepped +forward, with a demoniac gleam of satisfaction on his ugly countenance, +and taking the child by the hand, led her away some ten paces, where he +amused himself by stripping her of such apparel as he fancied might +ornament his own person; while she, poor little thing, afraid to cry +aloud, could only sob forth the bitterness of her heart.</p> + +<p>Meantime Girty turning to Ella, and finding her gradually recovering, +assisted her to rise; and then motioning the chief aside, he held a +short consultation with him, in the Indian dialect, regarding their next +proceedings, and the disposal of the prisoners.</p> + +<p>"Were it not, Peshewa, for his own base words," said the renegade, in +reply to some remark of his Indian ally, "I would have spared him; but +now," and his features exhibited a concentrated expression of infernal +hate and revenge; "but now, Peshewa, he dies! with all the horrors of +the stake, that you, a noble master of the art of torture, can invent +and inflict. The Long Knife<a name="FNanchor_6" id="FNanchor_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> must not curse the red man's friend in +his own camp and go unpunished. I commend him to your mercy, +Peshewa—ha, ha, ha!" and he ended with a hoarse, fiend-like laugh.</p> + +<p>"Ugh!" returned Wild-cat, giving a gutteral grunt of satisfaction, +although not a muscle of his rigid features moved, and, save a peculiar +gleam of his dark eye, nothing to show that he felt uncommon interest in +the sentence of Younker: "Peshewa a chief! The Great Spirit give him +memory—the Great Spirit give him invention. He will remember what he +has done to prisoners at the stake,—he can invent new tortures. But the +squaw?"</p> + +<p>"Ay, the squaw!" answered the renegade, musingly; "the old man's +wife—she must be disposed of also. Ha! a thought strikes me, Peshewa: +You have no wife—(the savage gave a grunt)—suppose you take her?"</p> + +<p>Peshewa started, and his eyes flashed fire, as he said, with great +energy: "Does the wolf mate with his hunter, that you ask a chief of the +Great Spirit's red children to mate with their white destroyer?"</p> + +<p>"Then do with her what you —— please," rejoined Girty, throwing in an +oath. "I was only jesting, Peshewa. But come, we must be on the move! +for this last job will not be long a secret; and then we shall have the +Long Knives after us as hot as h——l. We must divide our party. I will +take with me these last prisoners and six warriors, and you the others. +A quarter of a mile below here we will separate and break our trail in +the stream; you and your party by going up a piece—I and mine by going +down. This will perplex them, and give us time. Make your trail +conspicuous, Peshewa, and I will be careful to leave none whatever, if I +can help it; for, by ——! I must be sure to escape with my prisoners. If +you are close pressed, you can brain and scalp yours; but for some +important reasons, I want mine to live. We will meet, my noble Peshewa, +at the first bend of the Big Miama."</p> + +<p>The Indian heard him through, without moving a muscle of his seemingly +blank features, and then answered, a little haughtily:</p> + +<p>"Kitchokema<a name="FNanchor_7" id="FNanchor_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> plans all, and gives his red brother all the danger; but +Peshewa is brave, and fears not."</p> + +<p>"And do you think it's through fear?" asked Girty, angrily.</p> + +<p>"Peshewa makes no charges against his brother," answered Wild-cat, +quietly.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it is as well he don't," rejoined Girty, in an under tone, +knitting his brows; and then quickly added: "Come, Peshewa, let us move; +for while we tarry, we are giving time to our white foes."</p> + +<p>Thus ended the conference; and in a few minutes after the whole party +was in motion. Following the course of the waters down to the base of +the hills, they came to a sloping hollow of some considerable extent, +where the stream ran shallow over a smooth, beautiful bed. Into this +latter the whole company now entered, for the purpose of breaking the +trail, as previously arranged by Girty; and here they divided, according +to his former plan also.</p> + +<p>If the unhappy prisoners regretted meeting one another in distress, +their parting regrets were an hundred fold more poignant; for to them it +seemed evidently the last time they would ever behold on earth each +others faces; and this thought alone was enough to dim the eyes of Ella +and her adopted mother with burning tears, and shake their frames with +heart-rending sobs of anguish; while the old man and Algernon, though +both strove to be stoical, could not look on unmoved to a similar show +of grief. Since their meeting, the captives had managed to converse +together sufficiently to learn the manner of each others capture, and +give each other some hope of being successfully followed and released by +their friends; but now, when they saw the caution displayed by their +enemies in breaking the trail, they began to fear for the result. Just +before entering the stream, they passed through a cluster of bushes +that skirted the river's bank; and Ella, the only prisoner whose hands +were unbound, by a quick and sly movement succeeded in detaching a +portion of her dress, which she there left as a sign to those who might +follow, that she was still alive, and so encourage them to proceed, in +case they were about to falter and turn back.</p> + +<p>The separation being now speedily effected, the two parties were quickly +lost to each other—Girty and his band going down the bed of the stream +some two hundred yards before touching the bank; and the others, headed +by Wild-cat, going up about half that distance.</p> + +<p>Leaving each to their journey, let us now return to the band already in +pursuit.</p> + + +<a name="Footnote_5" id="Footnote_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a><div class="footnote"><p> Some historians have stated that the Indians here alluded +to were Mingoes, and <i>not</i> Senecas; and that they were a remnant of the +celebrated Logan's tribe.</p></div> + +<a name="Footnote_6" id="Footnote_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a><div class="footnote"><p> Sometimes Big Knife—first applied to the Virginians by the +Indians.</p></div> + +<a name="Footnote_7" id="Footnote_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a><div class="footnote"><p> Great Chief—a term sometimes given to Girty by the +Indians.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<center>THE PURSUERS.</center> +<br/> + +<p>About a hundred yards from where Boone and his young companions set +forth, the dog, which was running along before them, paused, and with +his nose to the ground, set up a fierce bark. When arrived at the spot, +the party halted, and perceived the body of an Indian, slightly covered +with earth, leaves, and a few dry bushes. Hastily throwing off the +covering from his head, they discovered hideous features, wildly +distorted by the last throe of death, and bloody from a wound in his +forehead made by a ball. His scalp had been taken off also, by those who +buried him—from fear, probably, that he would be found by enemies, and +this secured as a trophy—a matter of disgrace which the savage, under +all circumstances, ever seeks to avoid, both for himself and friends.</p> + +<p>"Well done, Master Reynolds!" observed Boone, musingly, spurning the +body with his foot, turning away, and resuming his journey: "You're a +brave young man; and I'll bet my life to a bar-skin, did your best under +the sarcumstances; and ef it's possible, we'll do somewhat for you in +return."</p> + +<p>"Well, ef he arn't a brave chap—that thar same Algernon Reynolds—then +jest put it down as how Isaac Younker don't know nothing 'bout faces," +returned the individual in question, in reply to Boone. "I never seed a +man with his fore'ed and eye as would run from danger when a friend war +by wanting his sarvice."</p> + +<p>"Ay, he is indeed a clever youth!" rejoined Boone.</p> + +<p>"Well, Colonel, he's all that," again returned Isaac; "and I'll al'ays +look 'pon't in the light o' a sarvice, that you jest placed him in my +hands, when he war wounded; for to do sech as him a kindness, al'ays +carries along its own reward. And Ella—my poor, sweet cousin, as war +raised up in good sarcumstances, and lost her all—she too I reckon +feels kind o' grateful to you, Colonel, besides."</p> + +<p>"As how?" asked Boone.</p> + +<p>"Why, I don't know's it's exactly right for me to tell as how," replied +Isaac, shrewdly, who was fearful of saying what Ella herself might wish +kept a secret.</p> + +<p>"I understand ye," said Boone, in a low tone, heard only by Isaac; and +the subject was then changed for one more immediately connected with +their present journey.</p> + +<p>In the course of conversation that followed, it was asked of Boone how +he chanced to be in the vicinity, and learned of the calamity that had +befallen Algernon and Ella, before any of the others; to which he +replied, by stating that he was on his way from Boonesborough to Bryan's +Station, and coming into the path just above the ravine, had been +indebted to his noble brute companion for the discovery—a circumstance +which raised Cæsar in the estimation of the whole party to a wonderful +degree. Nor was this estimation lessened by the conduct of Cæsar himself +in the present instance; for true to his training, instinct, and great +sagacity, he led them forward at a rapid pace, and seemed possessed of +reasoning powers that would have done no discredit to an intelligent +human being. One instance in point is worthy of note. In passing through +a dense thicket on the Indian trail, the noble brute discovered a small +fragment of ribbon, which he instantly seized in his mouth, and, turning +back to his master, came up to him, wagging his tail, with a look +expressive of joy, and dropped it at his feet. On examination it was +recognized as a detached portion of a ribbon worn by Ella; and this +little incident gave great animation and encouragement to the party—as +it proved that she at least was yet alive, and had a hope of being +followed by friends.</p> + +<p>Some two hours from their leaving the ravine, they came to the dark +pass, where we have seen the meeting between the two Indian parties. +Here our pursuers halted a few minutes to examine the ground, and form +conjectures as to what had taken place—in doing which, all paid the +greatest deference to the opinions and judgment of Boone, who was looked +upon by all who knew him as a master of the woodman's craft.</p> + +<p>After gazing intently for some time at the foot prints, Boone informed +his companions that another party had been in waiting, had been joined +by the others, and that all had proceeded together down the stream; and +moreover, that there was an addition of white prisoners, one of which +was a child. This caused a great sensation among his listeners—many of +whom had lost their relatives, as the reader already knows—and Hope, +the cheering angel, which hovers around us on our pathway through life, +began to revive in each breast, that the friends they were mourning as +dead, might still be among the living, and so made them more eager than +ever to press on to the rescue.</p> + +<p>At the river's bank, the sagacious Cæsar discovered another piece of +ribbon—dropped there as the reader knows by Ella—which he carried in +triumph to his master, and received in turn a few fond caresses.</p> + +<p>"Here," said Boone, as himself and companions entered the streamlet, +whose clear, bright waters, to the depth of some three inches, rolled +merrily over a smooth bed, with a pleasing murmur: "Here, lads, I reckon +we'll have difficulty; for the red varmints never enter a stream for +nothing; and calculating pretty shrewdly they'd be followed soon, no +doubt they've taken good care to puzzle us for the trail. Ef it be as I +suspect, we'll divide on the other side, and a part o' us go up, and a +part down, till we come agin upon thar track. But then agin," added +Boone, musingly, with a troubled expression, "it don't follow, that +because they entered the stream they crossed it; and it's just as likely +they've come out on the same side they went in; so that we'll have to +make four divisions, and start on the sarch."</p> + +<p>Accordingly on reaching the other shore, and finding the trail was lost, +Boone divided the party—assigning each his place—and separating, six +of them recrossed the stream; and dividing again, two, headed by Isaac, +went up, and two, led by Henry Millbanks, went down along the bank; +while Boone and Seth Stokes, with the rest, proceeded in like manner on +the opposite side; and the dog flew hither and yon, to render what +service he could also. For something like a quarter of an hour not the +least trace of the savages could be found, when at last the voice of +Isaac was heard shouting:</p> + +<p>"I've got it—I've got it! Here it is, jest as plain and nateral as +cornstalks—Hooray!"</p> + +<p>In a few minutes the whole company was gathered around Isaac, who +pointed triumphantly to his discovery.</p> + +<p>"That's the trail, sure enough," observed Boone, bending down to scan it +closely; "and rather broad it is too. It's not common for the wily +varmints to do thar business in so open a manner, and I suspicion it's +done for some trickery. Look well to your rifles, lads, and be prepared +for an ambush in yon thicket just above thar, while I look carefully +along this, for a few rods, just to see ef I can make out thar meaning. +They've spread themselves here considerable," continued the old hunter, +after examining the trail a few minutes in silence; "but ef they think +to deceive one that has been arter 'em as many times as I, they've made +quite a mistake; for I can see clean through their tricks, as easy as +light comes through greased paper."</p> + +<p>"What discovery have you made now?" inquired young Millbanks, who, +together with the others, pressed eagerly around Boone to hear his +answer.</p> + +<p>"Why I've diskivered what I war most afeard on," answered the woodsman. +"I've diskivered that the varmints have divided, for the sake of giving +us trouble, or leading us astray from them as they cares most about. See +here!" and bending down to the ground, Boone pointed out to his young +companions, many of whom were entirely ignorant of that ingenious art of +wood-craft, whereby the experienced hunter knows his safety or danger in +the forest as readily as the sailor knows his on the ocean, and which +appears to the uninitiated like a knowledge superhuman—Boone pointed +out to them, we say, three distinct foot prints, which he positively +asserted were neither made by the Indians nor the captives of the +ravine.</p> + +<p>"But I'd jest like to know, Colonel Boone, how you can be so sartin o' +what you declar, ef it would'nt be for putting you to too much trouble," +said one of the party, in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Obsarve," replied Boone, who, notwithstanding it would cause some +little delay, was willing to gratify his young friends, by imparting to +them what information he could regarding an art so important to frontier +life: "Obsarve that print thar (pointing with his finger to the largest +one of the three;) now that war never made by Master Reynolds, for it's +much too big; and this I know from having got the dimension o' his track +afore I left the ravine to trail him; and I know it war never made by +one o' the red heathen, for it arn't, the shape o' thar feet,; and +besides, you'll notice how the toe turns out'ard from the heel—a thing +an Indian war never guilty on—for they larn from children to tread +straight forward. The next one you'll obsarve turns out in like manner; +and though it's smaller nor the first, it arn't exactly the shape of +Reynold's, and it's too big for Ella's; and moreover I opine it's a +woman's—though for the matter o' that I only guess at it. The third you +perceive is the child's; and them thar three are the only ones you can +find that arn't Indian's. Now note agin that the trail's spread here, +and that here and thar a twig's snapped on the bushes along thar way; +which the red-skins have done a purpose to make thar course conspicuous, +to draw thar pursuers on arter 'em, prehaps for an ambush, prehaps to +keep them from looking arter the others."</p> + +<p>"In this perplexity what are we to do?" inquired young Millbanks.</p> + +<p>"Why," answered Boone, energetically, "Heaven knows my heart yearns to +rescue all my fellow creaters who're in distress; but more particularly, +prehaps, them as I know's desarving; and as I set out for Master +Reynolds, and his sweet companion, Ella Barnwell, God bless her! I +somehow reckon it's my duty to follow them—though I leave the rest o' +ye to choose for yourselves. Ef you want to divide, and part go this +trail and part follow me, mayhap it'll be as well in the end."</p> + +<p>This plan seemed the best that could be adopted under the circumstances; +and after some further consultation among themselves, it was finally +agreed that Isaac, with six others—two of whom were Switcher and +Stokes—should proceed on the present trail; while Millbanks and the +remainder should accompany Boone. Isaac was chosen as the most suitable +one to lead his party, on account of his foresight and shrewdness, and, +withal, some little knowledge which he possessed of the country and the +woodsman's art, previously gained in a tour with his father, when +seeking a location, together with an expedition of considerable extent +shortly after made with Boone himself.</p> + +<p>To him, as the leader, the noble old hunter now turned, and in a brief +manner imparted some very important advice, regarding his mode of +proceeding under various difficulties, particularly cautioned him +against any rash act, and concluded by saying, "Wharsomever or +howsomever you may be fixed, Isaac, and you his companions, (addressing +the young men by his side) don't never forget the injunction o' Daniel +Boone, your friend, that you must be cool, steady and firm; and +whensomever you fire at a painted varmint, be sure you don't throw away +your powder!"</p> + +<p>He then proceeded to shake hands with each, bidding them farewell and +God speed, in a manner so earnest and touching as to draw tears from +many an eye unused to the melting mood. The parting example of Boone was +now imitated by the others, and in a few minutes both divisions had +resumed their journey.</p> + +<p>Dividing his party again as before, Boone proceeded with them to examine +closely both banks of the stream for the other trail. Commencing where +they had left off on the announcement of Isaac, they moved slowly +downward, taking due note of every bush, leaf and blade as they went +along—often pausing and bending on their knees, to observe some spot +more minutely, where it seemed probable their enemies had withdrawn from +the water. Cæsar, too, apparently comprehending the object of their +search, ran to and fro, snuffing at every thing he saw, sometimes with +his nose to the ground and sometimes elevated in the air. At length he +gave a peculiar whine, at a spot about twenty yards below that which had +been reached by his master, on the side opposite Isaac's discovery; and +hastening to him, Boone immediately communicated to the others the +cheering intelligence that the trail had been found.</p> + +<p>Each now hurrying forward, the old hunter was soon joined by his young +friends; not one of whom, on coming up, failed to express surprise that +he should be so positive of what their eyes gave them not the least +proof. The place where they were now assembled, was at the base of a +hill, which terminated the flat or hollow in that direction, and turned +the stream at a short bend off to the left, along whose side its waters +ran for some twenty yards, when the arm projection of the ridge ended, +and allowed it to turn and almost retrace its path on the opposite +side—thus forming an elliptical bow. At the point in question, rose a +steep bank of rocks, of limestone formation, against which the stream, +during the spring and fall floods had rolled its tide to a height of six +or eight feet; and had lodged there, from time to time, various sorts of +refuse—such as old leaves, branches and roots of trees, and the like +encumbrances to the smooth flow of its waters. On these rocks it was +that the eyes of the party were now fixed; while their faces exhibited +expressions of astonishment, that the old hunter should be able to +distinguish marks of a recent trail, where they could perceive nothing +but the undisturbed surface of what perhaps had been ages in forming.</p> + +<p>"And so, lads, you don't see no trail thar, eh?" said Boone, with a +quiet smile, after having listened to various observations of the party, +during which time he had been carelessly leaning on his rifle.</p> + +<p>"Why, I must confess I can see nothing of the kind," answered Henry.</p> + +<p>"Nor I," rejoined another of the party.</p> + +<p>"Well, ef thar be any marks o' a trail here, jest shoot me with red +pepper and salt, ef ever I'm cotched bragging on my eyes agin," returned +a third.</p> + +<p>"That thar observation'll hold good with me too" uttered a fourth.</p> + +<p>"Here's in," said the fifth and last.</p> + +<p>"You're all young men, and have got a right smart deal to larn yet," +resumed Boone, "afore you can be turned out rale ginuine woodsmen and +hunters. Now mark that thar small pebble stone, that lies by your feet +on the rock. Ef you look at it right close, you'll perceive that on one +side on't the dirt looks new and fresh—which proves it's jest been +started from its long quietude. Now cast your eyes a little higher up, +agin yon dirt ridge which partly kivers them thar larger stones, and +you'll see an indent that this here pebble stone just fits. Now +something had to throw that down, o' course; and ef you'll just look +right sharp above it, you'll see a smaller dent, that war made by the +toe of some human foot, in getting up the bank. Agin you'll observe that +thar dry twig, just above still, has been lately broke, as ef by the +person war climbing up taking hold on't for assistance; but that warn't +the reason the climber broke it—it war done purposely; as you'll see by +the top part being bent up the hill, as ef to point us on. By the Power +that made me!" added Boone, gazing for a moment at the broken twig +intently, "ef I arn't wondrously mistaken, thar's a leaf hanging to it +in a way nater never fixed it."</p> + +<p>"Right, there is!" cried Henry, who, looking up with, the rest, chanced +to observe it at the same moment with Boone; and springing forward with +a light bound, he soon reached the spot, and returned with it in his +hand. It was a fall leaf, which had been fastened in a hasty manner to +the twig in question, by a pin through its center. On one side of it was +scrawled, in characters difficult to be deciphered:</p> + +<p>"<i>Follow—fast—for the love of Heaven!—E.</i>"</p> + +<p>As Millbanks, after looking at it closely, read off these words, Boone +started, clutched his rifle with an iron grasp, and merely saying, in a +quiet manner, "Onward, lads—I trust you're now satisfied!" he sprang up +the rocks with an agility that threatened to leave his young companions +far in the rear.</p> + +<p>All now pressed forward with renewed energy; and having gained the +summit of the hill, which here rose to the height of eighty feet, they +were enabled, by the aid of Cæsar, to come quickly upon the trail of +the Indians, who, doubtless supposing themselves now safe from pursuit, +had taken little or no pains to conceal their course. Of this their +pursuers now took advantage, and hurried onward with long and rapid +strides; now through thick dark woods and gloomy hollows; now up steep +hills and rocky barren cliffs; now through tangles and over marshy +grounds—clearing all obstacles that presented themselves with an ease +which showed that notwithstanding some of them might be inferior as +woodsmen, none were at all events as travelers in the woods.</p> + +<p>By noon the party had advanced some considerable distance, and were +probably not far in the rear of the pursued—at least such was the +opinion of Boone—when they were again, to their great vexation, put at +fault for the trail, by the cunning of the renegade, who, to prevent all +accidents, had here once more broken it, by entering another small +streamlet—a branch of Eagle river; and although our friends set to with +all energy and diligence to find it, yet, from the nature of the ground +round about, the darkness of the wood through which the rivulet +meandered, and several other causes, they were unable to do so for three +good hours.</p> + +<p>This delay tended not a little to discourage the younger members of our +pursuing party, who, in consequence, began to be low spirited, and less +eager than before to press forward when the trail was again found; but a +few words from Boone in a chiding manner, telling them that if they +faltered at every little obstacle, they would be unfit representatives +of border life, served to stimulate them to renewed exertions. To add to +the discomfort of all—not excepting Boone himself—the sun, which had +thus far shone out warm and brilliant, began to grow more and more dim, +as a thick haze spread through the atmosphere overhead, foretokening an +approaching storm—an event which might prove entirely disastrous to +their hopes, by obliterating all vestiges of the pursued. As the gallant +old hunter moved onward with rapid strides—preceded by the faithful +brute, which, on the regular trail, greatly facilitated their progress, +by saving the company a close scrutiny of their course—he from time to +time cast his eyes upward and noted the thickening atmosphere with an +anxious and troubled expression.</p> + +<p>For some time the sun shone faintly; then his rays became entirely +obscured, and his position could only be discerned by a bright spot in +the heavens; this, ere he reached the horizon, became obscured also; +when the old hunter, who had watched every sign closely, looking +anxiously toward the west, observed:</p> + +<p>"I don't like it, lads; thar's a storm a brewing for sartin, and we +shall be drenched afore to-morrow morning. Howsomever," he continued, +"it arn't the wetting as I cares any thing about—for I'm used to the +elements in all thar stages, and don't fear 'em no more'n a dandy does a +feather bed—but the trail will be lost, in arnest this time; and then +we'll have to give in, or follow on by guess work. It's this as troubles +me; for I'm fearful poor Ella and Reynolds won't get succor in time. But +keep stout hearts, lads," he added, as he noticed gloomy expressions +sweep over the faces of his followers; "keep stout hearts—don't get +melancholy; for in this here world we've got to take things as we find +'em; and no doubt this storm's all for the best, ef we could only see +ahead like into futurity."</p> + +<p>With this consoling reflection the hunter again quickened his pace, and +pressed forward until the shadows of evening warned him to seek out an +encampment for the gathering night. Accordingly, sweeping the adjoining +country with an experienced eye, his glance soon rested on a rocky +ridge, some quarter of a mile to the right, at whose base he judged +might be found a comfortable shelter from the coming rain. Communicating +his thoughts to his companions, all immediately quitted the trail and +advanced toward it, where they arrived in a few minutes, and found, to +their delight, that the experienced woodsman had not been wrong in his +conjectures. A cave of no mean dimensions was fortunately discovered, +after a short search among the rocks, into which all now gathered; and +striking a light, they made a small fire near the entrance; around which +they assembled and partook of the refreshments brought with them—Boone +declaring he had not tasted a morsel of food since leaving Boonsborough +early in the morning. The meal over, the young men disposed themselves +about the cave in the best manner possible for their own comfort: and +being greatly fatigued by their journey, and the revels of the night +previous, they very soon gave evidence of being in a sleep too deep for +dreams. Boone sat by the fire, apparently in deep contemplation, until a +few embers only remained; then pointing Cæsar to his place near the +entrance, he threw himself at length upon the ground, and was soon +imitating the example of his young comrades.</p> + +<p>Early in the evening it came on to blow very hard from the east; and +about midnight set in to rain, as Boone had predicted; which it +continued to do the rest of the night; nor were there any signs of its +abatement, when the party arose to resume their journey on the following +morning.</p> + +<p>"What can't be cured must be endured," said Boone, quoting an old +proverb, as he gazed forth upon the storm. "We must take sech as comes, +lads, without grumbling; though I do'nt know's thar's any sin in wishing +it war a little more to our liking. Howsomever," he added, "prehaps it +won't be so much agin us arter all; for the red varmints mayhap 'll +think as how all traces of 'em have been washed away, and, feeling safe +from pursuit, be less cautious about their proceedings; and by keeping +on the same course, we may chance upon 'em unawares. So come, lads, +let's eat and be off."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, making a hasty breakfast, and securing the remainder of +their provision as well as ammunition in the ample bosoms of their +hunting frocks—which were always made large for such and similar +purposes—tightening the belts about their bodies, and placing their +rifles, locks downward, under the ample skirts of their frocks, to +shield them from the rain, the whole party sallied forth upon their +second day's adventure. Regaining the spot they had quitted the evening +before, Boone took a long look in the direction whence they first +approached; and then shaping his course so as to bear as near as +possible on a direct line with it, set forward at a quick pace, going a +very little west of due north.</p> + +<p>In this manner our pursuers continued their journey for some three or +four hours, scarcely exchanging a syllable—the storm beating fiercely +against their faces and drenching their bodies—when an incident +occurred of the most alarming kind.</p> + +<p>They had descended a hill, and were crossing an almost open plain of +some considerable extent—which was bounded on the right by a wood, and +on the left by a cane-brake—and had nearly gained its center, when they +were startled by a deep rumbling sound, resembling the mighty rushing of +a thousand horse. Nearer and nearer came the rushing sound; while each +one paused, and many a pale face was turned with an anxious, inquiring +glance upon Boone; whose own, though a shade paler than usual, was +composed in every feature, as he gazed, without speaking, in the +direction whence the noise proceeded.</p> + +<p>"Good heavens! what is it?" cried Henry, in alarm.</p> + +<p>"Behold!" answered Boone, pointing calmly toward the cane-brake.</p> + +<p>A cry of surprise, despair and horror, escaped every tongue but the old +hunter's—as, at that moment, a tremendous herd of buffaloes, numbering +thousands, was seen rushing from the brake, and bearing directly toward +the spot where our party stood. Escape by flight was impossible; for the +animals were scarcely four hundred yards distant, and booming forward +with the speed of the frightened wild horse of the prairie. Nothing was +apparent but speedy death, and in its most horrible form, that of dying +unknown beneath the hoofs of the wild beasts of the wilderness. In this +awful moment of suspense, which seemingly but preceded the disuniting of +soul and body, each of the young men turned a breathless look of horror +upon the old hunter, such as landsmen in a terrible gale at sea would +turn upon the commander of the vessel; but, save an almost imperceptible +quiver of the lips, not a muscle of the now stern countenance of Boone +changed.</p> + +<p>"Merciful Heaven!—we are lost!" cried Henry, wildly. "Oh! such a +death!"</p> + +<p>"Every man's got to die when his time comes—but none afore; and yourn +hasn't come yet, Master Harry," replied Boone, quietly; "unless," he +added, a moment after, as he raised his rifle to his eye, "Betsey here's +forgot her old tricks."</p> + +<p>As he spoke, his gun flashed, a report followed, and one of the foremost +of the herd, an old bull, which had gained a point within a hundred +yards of the marksman, stumbled forward and rolled over on the earth, +with a loud bellow of pain His companions, which were pressing close +behind, snorted with fear, as they successively came up; and turning +aside, on either hand, made a furrow in their ranks; that, gradually +widening as they advanced, finally cleared our friends by a space of +twenty yards; and so passed they on, making the very earth tremble under +their mighty trend.<a name="FNanchor_8" id="FNanchor_8" /><a href="#Footnote_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a></p> + +<p>It was a sublime sight—to behold such a tremendous caravan of wild +beasts rushing past—and one that filled each of the spectators, even +when they knew all danger was over, with a sense of trembling awe; and +they stood and gazed in silence, until the last of the herd was lost to +their vision; then advancing to the noble hunter, Henry silently grasped +his hard, weather-beaten hand, and turned away with tearful eyes—an +example that was followed by each of the others, and which was more +heart touchingly expressive of their feelings, than would have been a +vocabulary of appropriate words.</p> + +<p>Our party next proceeded to examine the wounded bull, which was still +bellowing with rage and pain; and having carefully approached and +despatched him with their knives, they found that the ball of Boone had +entered a vital part. Taking from him a few slices of meat, to serve +them in case their provisions ran short, they once more resumed their +journey—the wind still easterly and the storm raging.</p> + +<p>About three hours past noon the storm began to show signs of +abatement—the wind blew less hard, and had veered several points to the +north—an event which the old hunter noted with great satisfaction. They +had now gained a point within ten miles of the beautiful Ohio; when the +dog—which, since he had had no trail to guide him, ran where he +chose—commenced barking spiritedly, some fifty paces to the left of the +party, who immediately set off at a brisk gait to learn the cause.</p> + +<p>"I'll wager what you dare, lads, the pup's found the trail," said Boone.</p> + +<p>The event proved him in the right; for on coming up, the footsteps of +both captors and captives, who had evidently passed there not over three +hours before, could be distinctly traced in the soft earth. A shout—not +inferior in power and duration to that set up by crazy-headed +politicians, on the election of some favorite—was sent away to the +hills, announcing the joy of our party; which the hills, as if partakers +also of the hilarious feelings, in turn duly echoed.</p> + +<p>This new, important, and unexpected discovery, raised the spirits of all +our company to a high degree; and they again set forward at a faster +gait than ever, so as to overtake the pursued if possible before they +crossed the Ohio river. The trail was now broad and distinct; and the +footprints of the Indians, as also those of their captives, Algernon and +Ella, could be clearly defined wherever the ground chanced to be of a +clayey nature. In something like two hours our pursuers succeeded in +reaching the river; but unfortunately too late to intercept their +enemies and rescue their friends, who had already crossed sometime +before. By trailing them to the water's edge, they discovered the very +spot where the canoes of the savages had been secreted on the beach, +behind some drift-logs, nearly opposite the mouth of the Great Miami.</p> + +<p>"Ef we'd only been here a little sooner," observed Boone, musingly, +"we'd ha' saved some o' the varmints the trouble of paddling over thar; +or ef we only had the means o' crossing now, we'd be upon 'em afore they +war aware on't. Howsomever, as it is, I suppose we'll have to make a +raft to cross on, and so give the red heathen a little more time."</p> + +<p>"Is it not possible, Colonel," answered Millbanks, in a suggestive way, +"that the Indians, forming the two parties, may all be of the game +tribe, and have crossed here together, when they came over to make the +attack? and that the boats of the other division, unless they have +recrossed, may still be secreted not far hence?"</p> + +<p>"By the Power that made me!" exclaimed Boone, energetically; "a good +thought, lad—a good thought, Master Harry—and we'll act on't at once, +by sarching along the banks above here; for as the other varmints took +off to the east, it am't improbable they've just steered a little round +about, to come down on 'em, while these went right straight ahead."</p> + +<p>At once proceeding upon this suggestion, Boone and his companions +commenced a close examination along the shore; which finally resulted in +their finding, as had been premised, not the canoes themselves, but +traces of where they had recently been, together with the trail of the +other party, who had also arrived at this point and crossed over. This +caused no little sensation among our pursuers; who, scanning the +footprints eagerly, and perceiving thereby that the prisoners were still +along with their captors, scarcely knew whether most to grieve or +rejoice. One thing at least was cheering—they were still alive; and +could their friends, the present party, succeed in crossing the river +during the night, might be rescued. But where was Isaac and his band, +was the next important query. If, as they ardently hoped, he and his +comrades had not lost the trail, they might be expected to join them +soon—a reinforcement which would render them comparatively safe.</p> + +<p>Meantime the storm had wholly subsided—the wind blew strong and cold +from the northwest—a few broken, dripping clouds sailed slowly +onward—while the sun, a little above the horizon, again shone out clear +and bright, and painted a beautiful bow on the cloudy ground of the +eastern heavens.</p> + +<p>"Well, lads, the storm's over, thank God!" said Boone, glancing upward, +with an expression of satisfaction; "and now, as day-light'll be scarce +presently, we'll improve what there is, in constructing a raft to cross +over on; and maybe Isaac and the rest on 'em will join us in time to get +a ride."</p> + +<p>As the old hunter concluded, he at once applied himself to laying out +such drift logs as were thought suitable for the purpose, in which he +was assisted by three of the others, the remaining two proceeding into +the bushes to cut withes for binding them together; and so energetic and +diligent was each in his labors, that, ere twilight had deepened into +night, the rude vessel was made, launched, and ready to transport its +builders over the waters. They now resolved to take some refreshment, +and wait until night had fully set in, in the faint hope that Isaac +might possibly make his appearance. With this intent, our party retired +up the bank, into the edge of the wood that lined the shore, for the +purpose of kindling a fire, that they might dry their garments, and +roast some portions of the slaughtered bull.</p> + +<p>Scarcely had they succeeded, after several attempts, in effecting a +bright, ruddy blaze—which threw from their forms, dark, fantastic +shadows, against the earth, trees and neighboring bushes—when Cæsar +uttered a low, deep growl; and Boone, grasping his rifle tightly, +motioned his companions to follow him in silence into an adjoining +thicket. Here, after cautioning them to remain perfectly quiet, unless +they heard some alarm, he carefully parted the bushes, and glided +noiselessly away, saying, in a low tone, as he departed:</p> + +<p>"I rather 'spect it's Isaac; but I'd like to be sartin on't, afore I +commit myself."</p> + +<p>For some five or ten minutes after the old hunter disappeared, all was +silent, save the crackling of the fire, the rustling of the leaves, the +sighing of the wind among the trees, and the rippling of the now swollen +and muddy waters of the Ohio. At length the sound of a voice was heard +some fifty paces distant, followed immediately by another in a louder +tone.</p> + +<p>On hearing this, our friends in the thicket rushed forward, and were +soon engaged in shaking the hands of Isaac and his comrades, with a +heartiness on both sides that showed the pleasure of meeting was +earnest, and unalloyed.</p> + +<p>As more important matters are now pressing hard upon us, and as our +space is limited, we shall omit the detail of Isaac's adventures, as +also the further proceedings of both parties for the present, and +substitute a brief summary.</p> + +<p>The trail on which Isaac and his party started the day before, being +broad and open, they had experienced but little difficulty in following +it, until about noon, when they reached a stream where it was broken, +which caused them some two hours delay. This, doubtless, prevented them +from overtaking the enemy that day; and the night succeeding, not having +found quarters as comfortable as Boone's, they had been thoroughly +soaked with rain. The trail in the morning was entirely obliterated; but +pursuing their course in a manner simitar to that adopted by Boone, the +result had happily been the same, and the meeting of the two parties the +consequence, at a moment most fortunate to both.</p> + +<p>All now gathered around the fire, to dry their garments, refresh +themselves with food, tell over to each other their adventures, and +consult as to their future course. It was finally agreed to cross the +stream that night; in the hope, by following up the Miami, to stumble +upon the encampment of their adversaries; who were, doubtless, at no +great distance; and who, as they judged, feeling themselves secure, +might easily be surprised to advantage. How they succeeded in their +perilous undertaking, coming events must show.</p> + + +<a name="Footnote_8" id="Footnote_8" /><a href="#FNanchor_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a><div class="footnote"><p> A similar occurrence to the above is recorded of Boone's +first appearance in the Western Wilds.—<i>See Boone's Life—By Flint</i></p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<center>THE RENEGADE AND HIS PRISONERS.</center> +<br/> + +<p>The feelings in the breasts of Algernon and Ella, as they reluctantly +moved onward, captives to a savage, bloodthirsty foe, are impossible to +be described. To what awful end had fate destined them? and in what +place were they to drain the last bitter dregs of woe? How much anguish +of heart, how much racking of soul, and how much bodily suffering was to +be their portion, ere death, almost their only hope, would set them +free? True, they might be rescued by friends—such things had been +done—but the probability thereof was as ten to one against them; and +when they perceived the care with which the renegade sought to destroy +all vestiges of their course, their last gleam of hope became nearly +extinguished.</p> + +<p>We have previously stated that Ella was left unbound; but wherefore, +would perhaps be hard to conjecture; unless we suppose that the +renegade—feeling for her that selfish affection which pervades the +breasts of all beings, however base or criminal, to a greater or less +degree—fancied it would be adding unnecessary cruelty to bind heir +delicate hands. Whatever the cause, matters but little; but the fact +itself was of considerable importance to Ella; who took advantage of her +freedom, in passing the bushes before noticed, to snatch a leaf +unperceived, whereon, by great adroitness, she managed to trace with a +pin a few almost illegible characters; and also, in ascending the bank, +which she was allowed to do in her own way, to throw down with her foot +the stone, break the twig at the same instant, and pin the leaf to it, +in the faint hope that an old hunter might follow on the trail, who, if +he came to the spot, would hardly fail to notice it.</p> + +<p>The freedom thus given to Ella, and the deference shown her by the +renegade and his allies—who appeared to treat her with the same respect +they would have done the wife of their chief—were in striking contrast +with their manners toward Algernon, on whom they seemed disposed to vent +their scorn by petty insults. Believing that his doom was sealed, he +became apparently resigned to his fate, nor seemed to notice, save with +stoical indifference, any thing that took place around him. This quiet, +inoffensive manner, was far from pleasing to Girty, who would much +rather have seen him chafing under his bondage, and manifesting a desire +to escape its toil. But if this was the outward appearance, not so was +the inward feelings of our hero. He knew his fate—unless he could +effect an escape, of which he had little hope—and he nerved himself to +meet and seem to his captors careless of it; but his soul was already on +the rack of torture. This was not for himself alone; for Algernon was a +brave man, and in reality feared not death; though, like many another +brave man, be had no desire to die at his time of life, especially with +all the tortures of the stake, which he knew, from Girty's remark, would +be his assignment; but his soul was harrowed at the thought of Ella—her +awful doom—and what she might be called upon to undergo: perhaps a +punishment a thousand times worse than death—that of being the +pretended wife, but in reality the mistress, of the loathsome renegade. +This thought to him was torture—almost madness—and it was only by the +most powerful struggle with himself, that he could avoid exposing his +feelings.</p> + +<p>For a time, after ascending the rocky bank of the stream and gaining the +hill, the renegade and his Indian allies, with their captives, moved +silently onward at a fast pace; but at length, slackening his speed +somewhat, Girty approached the side of Algernon, who was bound in a +manner similar to Younker, with his wrists corded to a cross bar behind +his back; and apparently examining them a moment or two, in a sneering +tone, said:</p> + +<p>"How-comes it that the bully fighter of the British, under the cowardly +General Gates, should be so tightly bound, away out in this Indian +country, and a captive to a <i>renegade</i> agent?—ha, ha, ha!"</p> + +<p>The pale features of Algernon, as he heard this taunt, grew suddenly +crimson, and then more deadly white than ever—his fingers fairly worked +in their cords, and his respiration seemed almost to stifle him—so +powerfully were his passions wrought upon by the cowardly insults of his +adversary; but at last all became calm and stoical again; when turning +to Girty, he coolly examined him from head to heel, from heel to head; +and then moving away his eyes, as if the sight were offensive to him, +quietly said:</p> + +<p>"An honest man would be degraded by condescending to hold discourse with +so mean a <i>thing</i> as Simon Girty the renegade."</p> + +<p>At these words Girty started, as if bit by a serpent—the aspect of his +dark sinister features changed to one concentrated expression of hellish +rage—his eyes seemed to turn red—his lips quivered—the nostrils of +his flat ugly nose distended—froth issued from his mouth—while his +fingers worked convulsively at the handle of his tomahawk, and his whole +frame trembled like a tree shaken by a whirlwind. For some time he +essayed to speak, in vain; but at last he hissed forth, as he whirled +the tomahawk aloft:</p> + +<p>"Die!—dog!—die!"</p> + +<p>Ella uttered a piercing shriek of fear, and sprung forward to arrest the +blow; but ere she could have reached the renegade; the axe would have +been buried to the helve in the brain of Algernon, had not a tall, +powerful Indian suddenly interposed his rifle between it and the victim.</p> + +<p>"Is the great chief a child, or in his dotage," he said to Girty, in the +Shawanoe dialect, "that he lets passion run away with his reason? Is not +the Big Knife already doomed to the tortures? And would the white chief +give him the death of a warrior?"</p> + +<p>"No, by ——!" cried Girty, with an oath. "He shall have a dog's death! +Right! Mugwaha—right! I thank you for your interference—I was beside +myself. The stake—the torture—the stake—ha, ha, ha!" added he in +English, with a hoarse laugh, which his recent passion made sound +fiend-like and unearthly; and as he concluded, he smote Algernon on the +cheek with the palm of his hand.</p> + +<p>The latter winced somewhat, but mastered his feelings and made no reply; +and the renegade resuming his former pace, the party again proceeded in +silence.</p> + +<p>Toward night, Ella became so fatigued and exhausted by the long day's +march, that it was with the greatest difficulty she could move forward +at all; and Girty, taking some compassion on her, ordered the party to +halt, until a rough kind of litter could be prepared; on which being +seated, she was borne forward by four of the Indians. At dark they +halted at the base of a hill, where they encamped and found a partial +shelter from the wind and rain. At daylight they again resumed their +journey; and by four o'clock in the afternoon arrived at the river, +which they immediately crossed in their canoes; and, as the water was +found in a good stage, did not land until they reached the first bend of +the Miami—the place agreed on for the meeting between Girty and +Wild-cat.</p> + +<p>As the latter chief and his party had not yet made their appearance, +Girty and his band went ashore with their prisoners, and took shelter +under one of the largest trees in the vicinity, to await their coming. +Of this expected meeting, the captives as yet knew nothing; and it was +of course not without considerable surprise, mingled with a saddened +joy, that they observed the approach, some half an hour later, of their +friends and enemies.</p> + +<p>Ella, on first perceiving their canoes silently advancing up the stream, +started up with a cry of joy, which was the next moment saddened by the +thought that she was only welcoming her relatives to a miserable doom. +Still it was a joy to know they were yet alive; and as the sinking heart +is ever buoyed up with hope, until completely engulfed in the dark +billows of despair—so she could not, or would not, altogether banish +the animating feeling, that something might yet interfere to save them +all from destruction. As the canoes touched the shore, Ella sprung +forward to greet her adopted mother and father; but her course was +suddenly checked by one of the Indian warriors, who, grasping her +somewhat roughly by the arm, with a gutteral grunt and fierce gesture of +displeasure, pointed her back to her former place. Ella, downcast and +frightened, tremblingly retraced her steps, and could only observe the +pale faces and fatigued looks of her relatives and the little girl at a +distance; but she saw enough to send a thrill of anguish to her heart; +and Girty, who perceived the expressions of agony her sweet features now +displayed, at once advanced to her, and, modulating his voice somewhat +from its usual tones, said:</p> + +<p>"Grieve not, Ella. I will endeavor to procure you an interview with your +friends."</p> + +<p>The kindness manifested in the tones of the speaker, caused Ella to look +up with a start of surprise and hope; and thinking he might perhaps be +moved to mercy, by a direct appeal to his better feelings, she replied, +energetically, with a flush on her now animated countenance:</p> + +<p>"Oh, sir! I perceive you are not lost to all feelings of humanity." Here +the compression of Girty's lips, and a knitting together of his shaggy +brows, warned Ella she was treading on dangerous ground, and she quickly +added: "All of us are liable to err; and there may be circumstances, +unknown to others, that force us to be, or seem to be, that which in our +hearts we are not; and to do acts which our calm moments of reason tell +us are wrong, and which we afterwards sincerely regret."</p> + +<p>"I know not that I understand you," said the renegade, evasively.</p> + +<p>"To be more explicit, then," rejoined Ella, "I trust that you, Simon +Girty, whose acts hitherto have been such as to draw down reproaches and +even curses upon your head, from many of your own race, may now be +induced, by the prayer of her before you, to do an act of justice and +generosity."</p> + +<p>"Speak out your desire!" returned Girty, as Ella, evidently fearful of +broaching the subject too suddenly, paused, in order to observe the +effect of what had already been said. "Speak out briefly, girl; for +yonder stands Wild-cat awaiting me."</p> + +<p>"Oh, then, let me implore you to listen, and God grant your heart may be +touched by my words!" rejoined Ella, eagerly, as she fancied she saw +something of relentment in his stern features. "Look yonder! Behold that +poor old man!—whose head is already sprinkled with the silvery threads +of over fifty winters—beside whom stands the companion of his +sorrows—both of whose lives have been spent in quiet, honest +pursuits—whose doors have ever stood open—whose board has ever been +free to the needy wayfarer. You yourself have been a partaker of their +hospitality, in their own home—which, alas! I have since learned is in +ashes—and can testify to their liberality and kindness. Is this a +proper return therefor, think you?"</p> + +<p>"But did not he, yon gray-headed man, then and there curse me to my +face?" returned the renegade, fiercely, in whose eye could be seen the +cold, sullen gleam of deadly hate; "and shall I, the outcast of my +race—I, whose deeds have made the boldest tremble—I, whose name is a +by-word for curses—now spare him, that has defied and called down God's +maledictions on me?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes! yes!" cried Ella, energetically. "Convince him, by your acts +of generosity, that you are not deserving of his censure, and he, I +assure you, will be eager to do you justice. Oh, return good for evil, +where evil has been done you, and God's blessing, instead of His curse, +will be yours!"</p> + +<p>"It may be the <i>Christian's</i> creed to return good for evil," answered +Girty, with a strong emphasis on the word Christian, accompanied with a +sneer; "but by ——! such belongs not to me, nor to those I mate with! +Hark you, Ella Barnwell! I could be induced to do much for you—for I +possess for you a passion stronger than I have ever before felt for any +human being—but were I ever so much disposed to grant your request, it +is now beyond my power."</p> + +<p>"As how?" asked Ella, quickly.</p> + +<p>"Listen! I will tell you briefly. When first I saw, I felt I loved you, +and from that moment resolved you should be mine. Nay, do not shudder +so, and turn away, and look so pale—a worse fate than being the wife of +a British agent might have been apportioned you. To win you by fair +words, I knew at once was out of the question—for one glance showed me +my rival. Besides, I was not handsome, I knew—had not an oily tongue, +and did not like the plan of venturing too much among those who have +good reasons for fearing and hating me—therefore I resolved on your +capture. I had already meditated an attack on some of the settlers in +the vicinity, and I resolved that both should be accomplished at one +time. The result you know. Younker and his wife became my prisoners. +This was done for two purposes. First, to revenge me for the insults +heaped upon Simon Girty. Secondly, to spare their lives; for had it not +been for my positive injunctions, they would have shared the fate of +their neighbors. My design, I say, was to spare their lives and send +them back, whenever it could be done with safety, provided they showed +any signs of contrition. Did they? No! they again upbraided me to my +face. I was again cursed. My blood is hot—my nature revengeful. That +moment sealed their doom. I gave them up to Peshewa. They are no longer +my prisoners. For their lives you must plead with him. I can do nothing. +Have you more to ask?"</p> + +<p>Girty, toward the last, spoke rapidly, in short sentences, as one to +whom the conversation was disagreeable; and Ella listened breathlessly, +with a pale cheek and trembling form; for she saw, alas! there was +nothing favorable to be gained. As he concluded, she suddenly started, +clasped her hands together, and looked up into his stern countenance, +with a wild, thrilling expression, saying, in a trembling voice:</p> + +<p>"You have said you love me!"</p> + +<p>"I repeat it."</p> + +<p>"Then, for Heaven's sake! as you are a human being, and hope for peace +in this world and salvation in the next—restore me—restore us all to +our homes—and to my dying day will I bless and pray for you."</p> + +<p>"Umph!" returned the renegade, drily; "I had much rather <i>hear</i> your +sweet voice, though in anger, than to merely <i>think</i> you may be praying +for me at a distance. But I see Wild-cat is getting impatient;" and as +he concluded, he turned abruptly on his heel, and advanced to +Peshewa—who was now standing with his warriors and prisoners on the +bank of the stream, some fifty paces distant, awaiting a consultation +with him—while Ella hid her face in her hands and wept convulsively.</p> + +<p>"Welcome, Peshewa!" said Girty, as he approached the chief. "You and +your band are here safe, I perceive; and by ——! you have timed it well, +too, for we have only headed you by half an hour."</p> + +<p>"Ugh!" grunted Wild-cat, with that look and gutteral sound peculiar to +the Indian. "Kitchokema has learned Peshewa is here!"</p> + +<p>"Come! come!" answered the renegade, in a somewhat nettled manner; "no +insinuations! I saw Peshewa when he arrived."</p> + +<p>"But could not leave the Big Knife squaw to greet him," added the +Indian.</p> + +<p>"Why, I am not particularly fond of being hurried in my affairs, you +know."</p> + +<p>"But there may be that which will not leave Kitchokema slow to act, in +safety," rejoined Wild-cat, significantly.</p> + +<p>"How, chief! what mean you?" asked Girty, quickly.</p> + +<p>"The Shemanoes—"<a name="FNanchor_9" id="FNanchor_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a></p> + +<p>"Well?" said Girty.</p> + +<p>"Are on the trail," concluded Wild-cat, briefly.</p> + +<p>"Ha!" exclaimed the renegade, with a start, involuntarily placing his +hand upon the breech of a pistol in his girdle. "But are you sure, +Peshewa?"</p> + +<p>"Peshewa speaks only what he knows," returned the chief, quietly.</p> + +<p>"Speak out, then—<i>how</i> do you know?" rejoined Girty, in an excited +tone.</p> + +<p>"Peshewa a chief," answered the Indian, in that somewhat obscure and +metaphorical manner peculiar to his race. "He sleeps not soundly on the +war-path. He shuts not his eyes when he enters the den of the wolf. He +<i>saw</i> the camp-fires of the pale-face."</p> + +<p>Such had been the fact. Knowing that his trail was left broad and open, +and that in all probability it would soon be followed, Wild-cat had been +diligently on the watch and as his course had been shaped in a +roundabout, rather than opposite direction (as the reader might at first +glance have supposed) from that taken by Boone, he and his band, by +reason of this, had encamped, on the night in question, not haif a mile +distant from our old hunter, but on the other side of the ridge. +Ascending this himself, to note if any signs of an enemy were visible, +Peshewa had discovered the light of Boone's fire, and traced it to its +source. Without venturing near enough to expose himself, the wily savage +had, nevertheless, gone sufficiently close to ascertain they were the +foes of his race. His first idea had been to return, collect a part of +his warriors, and attack them; but prudence had soon got the better of +his valor; from the fact, as he reasoned, that his band were now in the +enemy's country, where their late depredations had already aroused the +inhabitants to vengeance; and he neither knew the force of Boone's +party—for the reader will remember they were concealed in a cave—nor +what other of his foes might be in the vicinity;—besides which, his +purpose had been accomplished, and he was now on the return with his +prisoners;—the whole of which considerations, had decided him to leave +them unmolested, and ere daylight resume his journey; so that, even +should they accidentally come upon his trail, he would be far enough in +advance to reach and cross the river before them. Such was the substance +of what Wild-cat, in his own peculiar way, now made known to Girty; and +having inquired out the location distinctly, the latter exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"By heavens! I remember leaving that ridge away to the right, which +proves that the white dogs must have been on my trail. I took pains +enough to conceal it before that night; but if they got the better of +me, I don't think they did of the rain that fell afterwards—so that +they have doubtless found themselves on a fool's errand, long ere this, +and given up the search. Besides, should they reach the river's bank, +they have no means of crossing, and therefore we are safe."</p> + +<p>Wild-cat seemed to muse on the remarks of Girty, for a moment or two, +and then said:</p> + +<p>"Why did Mishemenetoc<a name="FNanchor_10" id="FNanchor_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> give the chief cunning, but that he might use +it against his foes?—why caution, but that he might avoid danger?"</p> + +<p>"Why that, of course, is all well enough at times," answered Girty; "but +I don't think either particular cunning or caution need be exercised +now—from the fact that I don't believe there is any danger. Even should +the enemies you saw be fool-hardy enough to follow us, they are not many +in number probably, and will only serve to add a few more scalps to our +girdles. However, we are safe for to-night, at all events; for if they +reach the river, as I said before, they won't be able to cross, unless +they make a raft or swim it; and you may rest assured, Peshewa, they +will sleep on the other side, if for nothing else than their own +safety."</p> + +<p>"What, therefore, does my brother propose?" asked Wild-cat.</p> + +<p>"Why, I am for encamping, as soon as we can find a suitable spot—say +within a mile of here—for by ——! I am not only hungry but cold, and my +very bones ache, from traveling in this untimely storm, which I perceive +is on the point of clearing up."</p> + +<p>"Peshewa likes not sleeping with danger so near," replied the savage.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm not <i>afraid</i>," rejoined Girty, laying particular stress on +the latter word; "and so suppose you take the prisoners, with a part of +the band, and go forward, while myself and the balance remain behind to +reconnoitre in the morning; for by ——! that will be time enough to look +for the lazy white dogs. Yet stay!" he added, a moment after, as if +struck by a new thought. "Suppose you take the two Big Knives, and leave +the squaws with me—for being very tired, they will only be a drag upon +your party—and then you can have the stakes ready for the others, if +you get in first, so that we can have the music of their groans to make +us merry on our second meeting."</p> + +<p>To this latter proposition, the chief gave a grunt of assent, and the +whole matter being speedily arranged, the council ended.</p> + +<p>The conversation between these two worthies having been carried on in +the Indian dialect, was of course wholly unintelligible to Mrs. Younker +and her husband, who were standing near; and trying in vain, for some +time, to gain a clue to the discussion, the good lady at last gave +evidence, that if her body and limbs were weary, her tongue was not; and +that with all the warnings she had received, her old habits of +volubility had not as yet been entirely superseded by thoughtful +silence.</p> + +<p>"I do wonder what on yarth," she said, "that thar read-headed Simon +Girty, and that thar ripscallious old varmint, as calls himself a chief, +be coniving at?—and why the pesky Injens don't let me and Ella and the +rest on 'em come together agin, as we did afore? Thar she stands—the +darling—as pale nor a lily, and crying like all nater, jest as if her +little heart war a going to break and done with it. I 'spect the +varmints is hatching some orful plans to put us out o' the way—prehaps +to hitch us to the stake and burn us all to cinder, like they did our +housen, and them things. Well, Heaven's will be done!—as Preacher +Allprayer said, when they turned him out o' meeting for gitting drunk +and swearing—the dear good man!—but I do wish, for gracious sake, I +could only jest change places with 'em—ef jest for five minutes—and I +reckon as how they'd be glad to quit their gibberish, and talk like +Christian folks, once in thar sneaking lives! Thar, they're done now, I +do hope to all marcy's sake! and I reckons as how we'll soon have the +gist on't."</p> + +<p>The foregoing remarks of Mrs. Younker, were made in a low tone, and +evidently not intended, like Dickens' Notes, for general +circulation—the nearly fatal termination of a former speech of hers, +having taught her to be a little cautious in the camp of the enemy. The +conclusion was succeeded by a stare of surprise, on being civilly +informed by Girty, that she was now at liberty to join Ella as soon as +she pleased.</p> + +<p>"Well, now, that's something like," returned the dame, with a smile that +was intended to be a complimentary one; "and shows, jest as clear as any +thing, that thar is a few streaks o' human nater in you arter all."</p> + +<p>Then, as if fearful the permission would be countermanded, the good lady +at once set off in haste to join her adopted daughter. Subsequent +events, however, soon changed the favorable opinion Mrs. Younker had +began to entertain of Girty—particularly when she discovered, as she +imagined, that the liberty allowed her, had only been as a ruse to +withdraw her from her husband—who, as she departed, had been +immediately hurried away, without so much as a parting farewell.</p> + +<p>Orders now being rapidly given by Girty and Wild-cat, were quickly and +silently executed by their swarthy subordinates; and in a few minutes, +the latter chief was on his way, with four warriors, the two male +prisoners, and the little girl—Oshasqua, to whom the latter had been +consigned by Girty, as the reader will remember, and who still continued +to accompany Wild-cat, refusing to leave her behind.</p> + +<p>When informed by Girty, in an authoritative tone, that he must join the +detachment of Wild-cat, Algernon turned toward Ella, and in a trembling +voice said:</p> + +<p>"Farewell, dear Ella! If God wills that we never meet again on earth, +let us hope we may in the Land of Spirits;" and ere she, overcome by her +emotion, had power to reply, he had passed on beyond the reach of her +silvery voice.</p> + +<p>Immediately on the departure of Peshewa, Girty ordered the canoes to be +drawn ashore and concealed in a thicket near by, where they would be +ready in case they should be wanted for another expedition; and then +leading the way himself, the party proceeded slowly up the Miami, for +about a mile, and encamped for the night, within a hundred yards of the +river.</p> + + +<a name="Footnote_9" id="Footnote_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a><div class="footnote"><p> Americans, or Big Knives. We would remark here, that we +have made use altogether of the Shawanoe dialect; that being most common +among all the Ohio tribes, save the Wyandots or Hurons, who spoke an +entirely different language.</p></div> + +<a name="Footnote_10" id="Footnote_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a><div class="footnote"><p> Great Spirit.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<center>THE ENCAMPMENT OF THE RENEGADE.</center> +<br/> + +<p>It was about ten o'clock on the evening in question, and Simon Girty was +seated by a fire, around which lay stretched at full length some six or +eight dark Indian forms, and near him, on the right, two of another sex +and race. He was evidently in some deep contemplation; for his hat and +rifle were lying by his side, his hands were locked just below his +knees, as if for the purpose of balancing his body in an easy position, +and his eyes fixed intently on the flame, that, waving to and fro in the +wind, threw over his ugly features a ruddy, flickering light, and +extended his shadow to the size and shape of some frightful monster. +The clouds of the late storm had entirely passed away, and through the +checkered openings in the trees overhead could be discerned a few bright +stars, which seemed to sparkle with uncommon brilliancy, owing to the +clearness of the atmosphere. All beyond the immediate circle lighted by +the fire, appeared dark and silent, save the solemn, almost mournful, +sighing of the wind, as it swept among the tree-tops and through the +branches of the surrounding mighty forest.</p> + +<p>What the meditations of the renegade were, we shall not essay to tell; +but doubtless they were of a gloomy nature; for after sitting in the +position we have described, some moments, without moving, he suddenly +started, unclasped his hands, and looked hurriedly around him on every +side, as if half expecting, yet fearful of beholding, some frightful +phantom; but he apparently saw nothing to confirm his fears; and with a +heavy sigh, he resumed his former position.</p> + +<p>What were the thoughts of that dark man, as he sat there?—he whose soul +had been steeped in crime!—he whose hands had long been made red with +the blood of numberless innocent victims! Who shall say what guilty +deeds of the past might have been harrowing up his soul to fear and even +remorse? Who shall say he was not then and there meditating upon death, +and the dread eternity and judgment that must quickly follow +dissolution? Who shall say he was not secretly repenting of that life of +crime, which had already drawn down the curses of thousands upon his +head? Something of the kind, or something equally powerful, must have +been at work within him; for his features ever and anon, by their +mournful contortions—if we may be allowed the phrase—gave visible +tokens of one in deep agony of mind. It would be no pleasant task to +analyze and lay bare the secret workings of so dark a spirit, even had +we power to do it; and so we will leave his thoughts, whether good or +evil, to himself and his God.</p> + +<p>By his side, and within two feet of the renegade, lay extended the +beautiful form of Ella Barnwell—with nothing but a blanket and her own +garments between her and the earth—with none but a similar covering +over her—with her head resting upon a stone, and apparently asleep. We +say apparently asleep; but the drowsy son of Erebus and Nox had not yet +closed her eyelids in slumber; for there were thoughts in her breast +more potent than all his persuasive arts of forgetfulness, or those of +his prime minister, Morpheus. Was she thinking of her own hard +fate—away there in that lonely forest—with not a friend nigh that +could render her assistance—with no hope of escape from the awful doom +to which she was hastening? Or was she thinking of him, for whom her +heart yearned with all the thousand, undefined, indescribable sympathies +of affection?—of him who so lately had been her companion?—for the +heart of love measures duration, not by the cold mathematical +calculation of minutes and hours, and days and weeks, and months and +years, but by events and feelings; and the acquaintance of weeks may +seem the friend of years, and the acquaintance of years be almost +forgotten in weeks;—was she thinking of him, we say—of Algernon? who, +even in misery, had been torn from her side, had said perchance his last +trembling farewell, and gone to suffer a death at which humanity must +shudder! Ay, all these thoughts, and a thousand others, were rushing +wildly through her feverish brain. She thought of her own fate—of +his—of her relations—pictured out in her imagination the terrible doom +of each—and her tender heart became wrung to the most excruciating +point of agony.</p> + +<p>By the side of Ella, was her adopted mother—buried in that troubled +sleep which great fatigue sends to the body, even when the mind is ill +at ease, filling it with startling visions—and around the fire, as we +said before, lay the dusky forms of the savages, lost to all +consciousness of the outer world. The position of Ella was such, that, +by slightly turning her head, she could command a view of the features +of the renegade; whose strange workings, as before noted, served to fix +her attention and divide her thoughts between him, as the cause of her +present unhappiness, and that unhappiness itself—and she gazed on his +loathsome, contorted countenance, with much the same feeling as one +might be supposed to gaze upon a serpent coiling itself around the +body, whose deadly fangs, either sooner or later, would assuredly give +the fatal stroke of death. She noted the sudden start of Girty, and the +wildness with which he peered around him, with feelings of hope and +fear—hope, that rescue might be at hand—fear, lest something more +dreadful was about to happen. At length Girty started again, and turned +his head toward Ella so suddenly, that she had not time to withdraw her +eyes ere his were fixed searchingly upon them.</p> + +<p>"And are you too awake?" he said, with something resembling a sigh. "I +thought the innocent could ever sleep!"</p> + +<p>"Not when the guilty are abroad, with deeds of death, and friends +exposed," returned Ella, bitterly.</p> + +<p>"Ah! true—true!" rejoined Girty, again looking toward the fire, in a +musing mood.</p> + +<p>"Well may you muse and writhe under the tortures of your guilty acts," +continued Ella, in the same bitter tone; "for you have much to answer +for, Simon Girty."</p> + +<p>"And who told you the past tortured me?" cried Girty, quickly, turning +on her a fierce expression.</p> + +<p>"Your changing features and guilty starts," answered Ella.</p> + +<p>"Ha! then you have been a spy upon me, have you?" said Girty, pressing +the words slowly through his clenched teeth, knitting his shaggy brows, +and fixing his eye with intensity upon hers, until she quailed and +trembled beneath its seeming fiery glance; which the light, whereby it +was seen, rendered more demon-like than usual; while it made shadow +chase shadow, like waves of the sea, across his face: "You have been a +spy upon my actions, eh? Beware! Ella Barnwell—beware! Do not put your +head in the lion's mouth too often, or he may think the bait +troublesome; and by ——! had other than you told me what I just now +heard, he or she had not lived to repeat it."</p> + +<p>"Far better an early death and innocence, than a long life of guilt and +misery," returned Ella, at once regaining her boldness of speech; "Far +better the fate you speak of, than mine."</p> + +<p>"And would you prefer being wedded to death, rather than me?" asked +Girty, quickly, in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Ay, a thousand times!" replied Ella, energetically, rising as she +spoke, into a sitting posture, and looking fearlessly upon the renegade, +her previously pale features now flushed with excitement. "I fear not +death, Simon Girty; I have done no act that should make me fear the +change that all must sooner or later undergo; but I could not join my +hand to that of a man of blood, without loathing and horror, and feeling +criminal in the sight of God and man; and least of all to you, Simon +Girty, whose name has become a word of terror to the weak and innocent +of my race, and whose deeds of late have been such as to make me join my +voice in the general maledictions called down upon you."</p> + +<p>During this speech of Ella, Girty sat and gazed upon her with the look +of a baffled demon; and, as she concluded, fairly hissed through his +teeth:</p> + +<p>"And so you would prefer death to me, eh? By ——! you shall have your +choice!"</p> + +<p>As he spoke, he grasped Ella by the wrist with one hand, seized his +tomahawk with the other, and sprung upon his feet. His rapid movement +and wild manner now really frightened her; and uttering a faint cry of +horror, she endeavored to release his hold; while the warriors, aroused +by the noise, bounded up from the earth, weapon in hand, with looks of +alarm.</p> + +<p>Turning to them, Girty now spoke a few words in the Indian tongue; and, +with significant glances at Ella, they were just in the act of again +encamping, when crack went some five or six rifles, followed by yells +little less savage than their own, and four of them rolled upon the +earth, groaning with pain; while the others, surprised and bewildered, +grasped their weapons and shouted:</p> + +<p>"The Shemanoes!" "The Long Knives!" not knowing whether to stand or fly.</p> + +<p>Girty, meantime, had been left unharmed; although the shivering of the +helve of the tomahawk in his hand, in front of his breast, showed him he +had been a target for no mean marksman, and that his life had been +preserved almost by a miracle. For a moment he stood irresolute—his +nostrils fairly dilated with fear and rage, still holding Ella by the +wrist, who was too paralyzed with what she had seen to speak or +move—straining his eyes in every direction to note, if possible, the +number of his foes and whence their approach. The whole glance was +momentary; but he saw himself nearly surrounded by his enemies, who were +fast closing in toward the center with fierce yells; and pausing no +longer in indecision, he encircled Ella's waist with his left arm, +raised her from the ground, and keeping her as much as possible between +himself and his enemies, to deter them from firing, darted away toward a +thicket, some fifty yards distant, pursued by two of the attacking +party.</p> + +<p>Just as Girty gained the thicket, one of his pursuers made a sudden +bound forward and grasped him by the arm; but his hold was the next +moment shaken off by the renegade, who, being now rendered desperate, +drew a pistol from his belt, with the rapidity of lightning, and laid +the bold adventurer dead at his feet. Almost at the same moment, Girty +received a blow on the back of his head, from the breech of the rifle of +his other antagonist, that staggered him forward; when, releasing his +hold of Ella, he turned and darted off in another direction, firing a +pistol as he went, the ball of which whizzed close to the head of him +for whom it was designed; and in a moment more he was lost in the mazes +of the forest.</p> + +<p>Meantime the bloody work was going forward in the center; for at the +moment when Girty darted away, the report of some three or four rifles +again echoed through the wood, two more of the red warriors bit the +dust, while the other two fled in opposite directions, leaving Boone and +his party sole masters of the field.</p> + +<p>Eager, excited, reckless and wild, several of the young men now rushed +forward, with yells of triumph, to the wounded Indians, whom they +immediately tomahawked without mercy, and began to scalp, when the voice +of Boone, who had been more cautious, reached them from a distance:</p> + +<p>"Beware o' the fire-light, lads! or the red varmints will draw a +bead<a name="FNanchor_11" id="FNanchor_11" /><a href="#Footnote_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> on some of ye."</p> + +<p>Scarcely were the words uttered, ere his warning was sadly fulfilled; +for the two savages finding they were not pursued, and thirsting for +revenge, turned and fired almost simultaneously, with aims so deadly, +that one of the young men, by the name of Beecher, fell mortally wounded +and expired a moment after; and another, by the name of Morris, had his +wrist shattered by a ball. This fatal event produced a panic in the +others, who at once fled precipitately into the darkness, leaving Mrs. +Younker, who had by this time gained her feet, standing alone by the +fire, a bewildered spectator of the terrible tragedies that had so +lately been enacted by her side. To her Boone now immediately advanced, +notwithstanding the caution he had given the others; and turning to him +as he came up, the good lady exclaimed, in a tone of astonishment:</p> + +<p>"Why, Colonel Boone, be this here you? Why when did you come—and how on +yarth did ye git here—and what in the name o' all creation has been +happening? For ye see I war jest dosing away thar by the fire, and +dreaming all sorts of things, like all nater, when somehow I kind o' +thought I'd all at once turned into a man and gone to war a rale +soldier; and the battle had opened, and the big guns war blazing away, +and the little guns war popping off, and the soldiers war shrieking and +groaning and falling around me, like all possessed; and men a trampling, +and horses a running like skeered deer; and then I sort o' woke up, and +jumped up, and seed all them dead Injen wretches; and then I jest begun +to think as how it warn't no dream at all, but a living truth, all 'cept +my being a man and a soldier, as you com'd up. Well, ef this arn't a +queer world," resumed the good dame, catching breath meanwhile, "as +Preacher Allprayer used to say, then maybe as how I don't know nothing +at all about it."</p> + +<p>"Your dream war a very nateral one, Mrs. Younker," returned Boone, who, +during the speech of the other, had been actively employed in scattering +the burning brands, to prevent the recurrence of another sad +catastrophe; "and I'm rejoiced to see that you've escaped unharmed, amid +this bloody work. Allow me to set you free;" and as he spoke, he drew his +scalping knife, and severed the thongs that bound her wrists.</p> + +<p>"Gracious on me!" cried the dame, chafing the parts which had been +swollen by the tightness of the cords; "how clever 'tis to get free +agin, and have the use o' one's hands and tongue, to do and say jest +what a body pleases; for d'ye know, Colonel Boone, them thar imps of +Satan war awfully afeared o' my talking to 'em, to convince 'em they war +the meanest varmints in the whole univarsul yarth o' creation; and +actually put a peremshus stop to my saying what I thought on 'em; +although I told 'em as how it war a liberty as these blessed colonies +war this moment fighting for with the hateful red-coated Britishers. +But, Lord presarve us! gracious on us! where in marcy's sake is my dear, +darling Ella?" concluded Mrs. Younker, with vehemence and alarm, as she +now missed her adopted daughter for the first time.</p> + +<p>"She's here, mother," answered a voice close behind her; and turning +round, the dame uttered a cry of joy, sprung into the arms of her son +Isaac, and wept upon his neck—occasionally articulating, in a choked +voice:</p> + +<p>"God bless you, Isaac! God bless you, son!—you're a good boy—the +Lord's presarved you through the whole on't—the Lord be praised!—but +your father, poor lad—your father!" and with a strong burst of emotion, +she buried her face upon his breast, and wept aloud.</p> + +<p>"I know it," sobbed forth Isaac, his whole frame shaken with the force +of his feelings: "I—I know the whole on't, mother—Ella's told me. I'd +rather he'd bin killed a thousand times; but thar's no help for it now!"</p> + +<p>"No help for it!" cried Ella in alarm, who, having greeted the old +hunter, with tearful eyes, now stood weeping by his side. "No help for +it! Heaven have mercy!—say not so! They must—they must be rescued!" +Then turning wildly to Boone, she grasped his hand in both of hers, and +exclaimed: "Oh! sir, speak! tell me they can be saved—and on my knees +will I bless you!"</p> + +<p>A few words now rapidly uttered by Isaac, put the old hunter in +possession of the facts, concerning the forced march of Younker and +Reynolds, of which he had previously heard nothing; and musing on the +information a few moments, he shook his head sadly, and said, with a +sigh:</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry for you, Ella—I'm sorry for all o' ye—I'm sorry on my own +account—but I'm o' the opinion o' Isaac, that thar's no help for it +now. They're too far beyond us—we're in the Indian country—our numbers +are few—two or three o' the red varmints have escaped to give 'em +information o' what's been done—they'll be thirsty for revenge—and +nothing but a special Providence can now alter that prisoners' doom. I +had hoped it war to be otherwise; but we must submit to God's decrees;" +and raising his hand to his eyes, the old woodsman hastily brushed away +a tear, and turned aside to conceal his emotion; while Ella, overcome by +her feelings, at the thought of having parted, perhaps for the last +time, from Algernon and her uncle, staggered forward and sunk powerless +into the arms of Mrs. Younker, whose tears now mingled with her own.</p> + +<p>By this time the whole party had gathered silently around their noble +leader, and were observing the sad scene as much as the feeble light of +the scattered brands would permit, their faces exhibiting a mournfulness +of expression in striking contrast to that they had so lately displayed, +previous to the death of their comrade. To them Boone now turned, and +running his eye slowly over the whole, said, in a sad voice:</p> + +<p>"Well, lads, one o' our party's gone to his last account, I perceive," +and he pointed mournfully to the still body of Beecher, some three or +four paces distant; "another I see is wounded, and a third's missing. I +hope no harm's befallen him, the noble Master Harry Millbanks!"</p> + +<p>"Alas! he's dead, Colonel!" answered Isaac, covering his eyes with his +hand.</p> + +<p>"Dead?" echoed Boone.</p> + +<p>"Dead?" cried the others, simultaneously.</p> + +<p>"Yes," rejoined Isaac, with a sigh; "He and I war chasing that thar +infernal renegade Girty, who war running away with Ella thar; and he'd +jest got up to him, and got him by the arm, when Girty shuk him off like +it warn't nothing at all, and then shot him dead on the spot. Ef he +hadn't a bin quite so quick about it, I think as how it wouldn't a +happened; for the next moment I hit him a rap on the head with the +butt-end o' my rifle, that sent him a staggering off, and would ha' +fetched him to the ground, ef it hadn't first struck a limb. Howsomever, +it made him let go o' Ella, and start up a new trail—jest leaving his +compliments for me in the shape of a bullet, which, ef it didn't do me +no harm, it warn't 'cause he didn't intend it to. I jest stopped to look +at poor Harry; and finding he war dead, I took Ella by the hand and come +straight down here."</p> + +<p>"Who's that you said war dead, Isaac?" inquired his mother, who had +partially overheard the conversation.</p> + +<p>"Harry Millbanks, mother."</p> + +<p>"Harry Millbanks!" repeated the dame in astonishment. "What, young +Harry?—our Harry?—Goodness gracious, marcy on me! what orful mean +wretches them Injens is, to kill sech as him. Dear me! then the hull +family is gone; for I hearn from Rosetta, that her father and mother and +all war killed afore her eyes; and now she's bin taken on to be killed +too, the darling."</p> + +<p>"Ha! yes," said Boone, as if struck with a new thought; "I remember +seeing the foot-prints of a child—war they made by this unfortunate +young man's sister?"</p> + +<p>"I reckon as how they war," answered Mrs. Younker; "for the poor thing +war a prisoner along with us, crying whensomever she dared to, like all +nater."</p> + +<p>"Well," rejoined the old hunter, musingly, "we've done all we could—I'm +sorry it didn't turn out better—but we must now leave their fates in +the hands o' Providence, and return to our homes. We must bury our dead +first; and I don't know o' any better way than to sink thar bodies in +the Ohio."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, after some further conversation, four of the party +proceeded for the body of Millbanks—with which they soon +returned—while Boone conducted the ladies away from the scene of +horror, and down to where Ella informed him the canoes were hidden, +leaving his younger companions to rifle and scalp the savages if they +chose. In a few minutes from his arrival at the point in question, he +was joined by the others, who came slowly, in silence, bearing the +mortal remains of Millbanks and Beecher. Placing the canoes in the +water, the whole party entered them, in the same silent and solemn +manner, and pulled slowly down the Miami, into the middle of the Ohio; +then leaving the vessels to float with the current, they uncovered their +heads, and mournfully consigned the bodies of the deceased to the watery +element.</p> + +<p>It was a sad and impressive scene—there, on the turbid Ohio, near the +midnight hour—to give to the rolling waters the last remains of those +who had been their friends and companions, and as full of life and +activity as themselves but an hour before;—it was a sad, impressive, +and affecting scene—one that was looked upon with weeping eyes—and one +which, by those who witnessed it, was never to be forgotten. There were +no loud bursts of grief—there were no frantic exclamations of woe—but +the place, the hour, and withal the various events which had transpired +to call them so soon from a scene of festivity to one of +mourning—together with the thoughts of other friends departed, or in +terrible captivity—served to render it a most painfully solemn one—and +one, as we said before, that was destined never to be forgotten.</p> + +<p>For a short space after the river engulphed the bodies, all gazed upon +the waters in silence; when Boone said, in a voice slightly trembling.</p> + +<p>"They did their duties—they have gone—God rest their souls, and give +peace to their bones!" and taking up a paddle, the noble old hunter +pulled steadily for the Kentucky shore in silence, followed by the other +boats in the same manner. There they landed, placed the canoes in +safety, in case they should again be needed, rekindled their fire, and +encamped for the night.</p> + +<p>On the following morning, they set out upon their homeward journey; +where they finally arrived, without any events occurring worthy of note.</p> + + +<a name="Footnote_11" id="Footnote_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a><div class="footnote"><p> A hunter's phrase for taking sight.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<center>THE INDIANS AND THEIR PRISONERS.</center> +<br/> + +<p>As you ascend the Miami from its mouth at the present day, you come +almost immediately upon what are termed the Bottoms, or Bottom Lands, +which are rich and fertile tracts of country, of miles in extent, and +sometimes miles in breadth, almost water level, with the stream in +question slowly winding its course through them, like a deep blue ribbon +carelessly unrolled upon a dark surface. They are now mostly under +culture, and almost entirely devoted to the production of maize, which, +in the autumn of the year, presents the goodly sight of a golden +harvest. At the time of which we write, there were no such pleasant +demonstrations of civilization, but a vast unbroken forest instead, some +vestiges of which still remain, in the shape of old decaying trees, +standing grim and naked,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>"To summer's heat and winter's blast,"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>like the ruins of ancient structures, to remind the beholder of former +days.</p> + +<p>On these Bottoms, about ten miles above the mouth of the Miami, Wild-cat +and his party, with their prisoners, encamped on the evening the attack +was made upon the renegade, as shown in the preceding chapter. +Possessing caution in a great degree, and fearful of the escape of his +prisoners, Wild-cat spared no precautions which he thought might enhance +the security of Younker and Reynolds. Accordingly, when arrived at the +spot where he intended to remain for the night, the chief ordered stakes +to be driven deep into the earth, some distance apart, to which the feet +of the two in question, after being thrown flat upon their backs, in +opposite directions, were tightly bound, with their hands still corded +to the crossbars as before. A rope was next fastened around the neck of +each, and secured to a neighboring sapling, in which uncomfortable +manner they were left to pass the night; while their captors, starting a +fire, threw themselves upon the earth around it, and soon to all +appearance were sound asleep.</p> + +<p>To the tortures of her older companions in captivity, little Rosetta was +not subjected; for Oshasqua—the fierce warrior to whom Girty had +consigned her, in the expectation, probably, that she would long ere +this have been knocked on the head and scalped—had, by one of those +strange mysterious phenomena of nature, (so difficult of comprehension, +and which have been known to link the rough and bloody with the gentle +and innocent,) already begun to feel towards her a sort of affection, +and to treat her with great kindness whenever he could do so unobserved +by the others. The apparel of which he had at first divested her, to +ornament his own person, had been restored, piece by piece; and this, +together with the change in his manner, had at length been observed by +the child, with feelings of gratitude. Poor little thing! to whom could +she look for protection now? Her father and mother were dead—had been +murdered before her own eyes—her brother was away, and she herself a +captive to an almost merciless foe; could she feel other than grateful +for an act of kindness, from one at whose hands she looked for nothing +but abuse and death? Nay, more: So strange and complex is the human +heart—so singular in its developments—that we see nothing to wonder +at, in her feeling for the savage, under the circumstances—loathsome +and offensive as he might have been to her under others—a sort of +affection—or rather, a yearning toward him as a protector. Such she did +feel; and thus between two human beings, as much antagonistical perhaps, +in every particular, as Nature ever presented, was already established a +kind of magnetic sympathy—or, in other words, a gradual blending +together of opposites. The result of all this, as may be imagined, was +highly beneficial to Rosetta, who, in consequence, fared as well as +circumstances would permit. At night she slept unbound beside Oshasqua, +who secured her from escape by passing his brawny arm under her head, +which also in a measure served her for a pillow. So slept she on the +night in question.</p> + +<p>With Younker and Reynolds there was little that could be called +sleep—the minds of both being too actively employed with the events +which had transpired, and with thoughts of those so dear to them, who +had been left behind, for what fate God only knew. Besides, there was +little wherewithal to court the drowsy god, in the manner of their +repose—each limb being strained and corded in a position the most +painful—and if they slept at all, it was that feverish and fitful +slumber, which, though it serve in part the design of nature, brings +with it nothing refreshing to the individual himself. To both, +therefore, the night proved one of torture to body and mind; and bad as +was their condition after the encampment, it was destined to be worse +ere the gray dawn of morning, by the arrival of Girty and the only two +Indians who had escaped the deadly rifles of the Kentuckians.</p> + +<p>"Up, warriors!" cried the renegade, with a blasphemous oath, as he came +upon the detachment. "Up, warriors! and sharpen your wits to invent the +most damnable tortures that the mind of man can conceive!" and at the +sound of his voice, which was loud and hoarse, each Indian sprung to his +feet, with an anxious and troubled face.</p> + +<p>"And you, ye miserable white dogs!" continued Girty, turning to Younker +and Reynolds, on whom he bestowed numerous kicks, as if by way of +enforcing the truth his assertion; "were you suffering all the torments +of hell, you might consider yourselves in perfect bliss, compared to +what you shall yet undergo ere death snatches you from me!"</p> + +<p>"What new troubles ha' ye got, Simon Girty?" asked Younker, composedly. +"But you needn't answer; I can see what's writ on your face; thar's bin +a rescue—you've lost your prisoners—for which the Lord be praised! I +can die content now, with all your tortures."</p> + +<p>"Can you, by ——!" cried the renegade, in a paroxysm of rage; "we shall +see!"</p> + +<p>As he concluded, he bestowed upon Younker a kick in the face, so violent +that a stream of blood followed it. The old man uttered a slight groan, +but made no other answer; and Girty turned away to communicate to the +others the intelligence of what had transpired since their parting; for +although they believed it to be of the utmost consequence, and tragical +in all its bearings, yet so far there had not been a question asked nor +an event related concerning it on either side—such being the force of +habit in all matters of grave importance, and the deference to his +superiors shown by the Indian on all similar occasions.</p> + +<p>As soon as Girty had made known the sad disaster that had befallen his +party, there was one universal yell of rage, accompanied by violent +demonstrations of grief and anger—such as beating their bodies, +stamping fiercely on the ground, and brandishing their tomahawks over +their heads with terrific gestures. They then proceeded to dance around +Younker and Reynolds, uttering horrid yells, accompanied with kicks and +blows; after which, a consultation was held between Girty and Wild-cat, +wherein it was agreed to take them to Piqua, a Shawanoe settlement on +the Miami, and there have them put to the tortures. Accordingly, without +further delay, they unbound their prisoners, with the exception of their +hands, and forced them to set forward at a fast pace—treating them, +meanwhile, in the most brutal manner. Oshasqua, however, took good care +there should be no violence done to Rosetta; for he kept her closely by +his side; and occasionally, when he saw her little limbs growing weary, +raised and bore her forward, for a considerable distance, in his arms.</p> + +<p>It was a strange, but by no means unpleasing sight, to behold that dark, +bloodstained warrior—whose very nature was cruel and ferocious, and who +probably had never before loved or sought to protect aught bearing the +human form—now exhibiting such tender regard for a weak, trembling +prisoner, placed in his hands for a speedy sacrifice. It was withal an +affecting sight, to Younker and Reynolds, who looked upon it with +moistened eyes, and felt it in the force of a revelation from Heaven, +that He, who sees the sparrow fall, was even now moving through the +wilderness, and teaching one lesson of mercy at least to the most +obdurate heart of the savage race.</p> + +<p>To the renegade, however, this conduct of Oshasqua was far from being +agreeable; for so much did he delight in cruelty, and so bitterly did he +hate all his race—particularly now, after having been foiled by them so +lately—that he would a thousand times rather have heard the dying +groans of the child, and seen her in the last agonies of death, than in +the warrior's arms. At length he advanced to the side of the Indian, and +said in the Shawanoe dialect, with a sneer:</p> + +<p>"Is Oshasqua a squaw, that he should turn nurse?"</p> + +<p>Probably from the whole vocabulary of the Indian tongue, a phrase more +expressive of contempt, and one that would have been more severely felt +by the savage warrior, who abhors any thing of a womanly nature, could +not have been selected; and this Girty, who understood well to whom he +was speaking, knew, and was prepared to see the hellish design of his +heart meet with a ready second from Oshasqua. For a moment after he +spoke, the latter looked upon the renegade with flashing eyes; and then +seizing Rosetta roughly, he raised her aloft, as if with the intention +of dashing her brains out at his feet. She doubtless understood from his +fierce movement the murderous intent in his breast, and uttered a +heart-rending cry of anguish. In an instant the grim features of the +Indian softened; and lowering her again to her former position in his +arms, he turned coldly to Girty, and smiting his breast with his hand, +said, with dignity:</p> + +<p>"Oshasqua a warrior above suspicion. He can save and defend with his +life whom he loves!"</p> + +<p>Girty bit his lips, and uttering a deep malediction in English, turned +away to consult with Wild-cat on the matter; but finding the chief would +not join him in interfering with the rights of the other, he growled out +another dreadful oath, and let the subject drop.</p> + +<p>Late at night the party encamped within something like a mile of Piqua; +and by daylight a warrior was despatched to convey intelligence of their +approach, their prisoners, and the sad disaster they had experienced on +their journey. In the course of an hour the messenger returned, bringing +with him a vast number of savages of both sexes and all ages, who +immediately set up the most horrid yells, danced around Younker and +Algernon like madmen, not unfrequently beating and kicking them +unmercifully. They then departed for the town, taking the prisoners with +them, where their fate was to be decided by the council.<a name="FNanchor_12" id="FNanchor_12" /><a href="#Footnote_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> But ere +sentence should be pronounced, it was the unanimous decision of the +savages, that they should have some amusement, by forcing the prisoners +to run the gauntlet. This, to the women and children, as well as the +warriors themselves, was a most delightful sport, and they at once made +the welkin ring with yells of joy.</p> + +<p>"It's a hard task we've got to undergo now, Algernon," said Younker, in +a low voice; "and God send it may be my last; for I'd much rayther die +this way, nor at the stake. I don't at all calculate on escaping—but +something tells me you will—and ef you do—"</p> + +<p>Here the old man was interrupted by Girty, who forced himself between +the two and separated them. Younker being the first selected to run the +gauntlet, was immediately unbound, and stripped to the skin,<a name="FNanchor_13" id="FNanchor_13" /><a href="#Footnote_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> +preparatory to the race. The assemblage now formed themselves into two +lines, facing each other, only a few feet apart, and extending the +distance of a hundred yards, terminating near the council-house, which +stood in the center of the village. Through these lines, the old man was +informed by Girty, he must run; while the savages on either side, armed +with clubs, were at liberty to inflict as many blows upon him as they +could in passing; and therefore it would stand him in hand to reach the +other extremity as soon as possible.</p> + +<p>"I'm an old man, Simon Girty," said Younker, in reply, "and can't run as +I once could—so you needn't reckon on my gitting through alive."</p> + +<p>"But, by ——! you must get through alive, or else not at all; for we +can't spare you quite so soon, as we want you to try the pleasures of +the stake," answered the renegade, with a laugh.</p> + +<p>"God's will be done—not yourn nor mine!" rejoined Younker, solemnly. +"But tell me, Simon Girty, as the only favor I'll ever ask o' ye—war my +wife and Ella rescued?"</p> + +<p>"Why," said Girty, "if it will do you any good to know it, I will tell +you they were; but I will add, for your particular benefit, that they +will again be in my power; for I will excite every tribe of the Six +Nations to the war path; and then, woe to the pioneers of Kentucky!—for +desolation, rapine and blood shall mark our trail, until the race become +extinct. I have sworn, and will fulfill it. But come—all is ready."</p> + +<p>"For the first o' your information, I thank you," returned Younker; "for +the last on't, I'll only say, thar's a power above ye. I'm ready—lead +on!"</p> + +<p>Girty now conducted the old man to the lines; and having cautioned the +savages, in a loud voice, to beware of taking his life, gave the signal +for him to start. Instantly Younker darted forward, and with such speed, +that the nearest Indians neglected to strike until he had passed them, +by which means he gained some six or eight paces without receiving a +blow; but now they fell hard and fast upon him, accompanied with screams +and yells of the most diabolical nature; and ere he had gone thirty +yards, he began to stagger, when a heavy stroke on the head laid him +senseless on the earth. In a moment the renegade, who had kept him +company outside, burst through the lines, just in time to ward off the +blow of a powerful warrior, aimed at the skull of Younker, which, +without doubt, would have been fatal.</p> + +<p>"Fool!" cried Girty, fiercely, to the Indian. "Did I not tell you his +life must be spared for the stake?"</p> + +<p>The savage drew himself up with dignity, and walked away without reply; +while the renegade, examining the bruises of the fallen man for a moment +or two, ordered him to be taken to the council-house, and, if possible, +restored to consciousness. He then returned to Algernon, who had been +left standing a sad spectator of the whole proceedings, and said, in a +gruff voice:</p> + +<p>"Now, by ——! young man, it's your turn; and let me tell you, it will +stand you in hand to do your best. Come, let us see what sort of a +figure you will cut."</p> + +<p>As he concluded, he severed the thongs around the hands of our hero, and +unceremoniously began to strip him, in which he was aided by a couple of +old squaws.</p> + +<p>The features of Algernon were pale, but composed; and he allowed himself +to be handled as one who felt an escape from his doom to be impossible, +and who had nerved himself to undergo it with as much stoicism as he +could command. As his vestments were rent from his body, the wound in +his side was discovered to be nearly healed; and would have been +entirely so, probably, but for the irritation occasioned it of late by +his long marches, exposure and fatigue, which had served to render it at +present not a little painful. As his eye for a moment rested upon it, +his mind instantly reverted to its cause—recalled, with the rapidity of +thought, which is the swiftest comparison we can make, the many and +important events that had since transpired up to the present time, +wherein the gentle Ella Barnwell held no second place—and he sighed, +half aloud:</p> + +<p>"I would to Heaven it had been mortal!—how much misery had then been +spared me?"</p> + +<p>As he said this, one of the squaws, who had been observing it intently, +struck him thereon a violent blow with her fist, which started it to +bleeding afresh, and, in spite of himself, caused Algernon to utter a +sharp cry of pain, at which all laughed heartily. Thinking doubtless +this species of amusement as interesting as any, the old hag was on the +point of repeating the blow, when Girty arrested it, by saying something +to her in the Indian tongue, and all three turned aside, as if to +consult together, leaving our hero standing alone, unbound.</p> + +<p>A wild thought now suddenly thrilled him. He was free, perchance he +might escape; at least he could but die in the attempt; and that, at all +events, was preferable to a lingering death of torture! He looked +hurriedly around. Only the renegade and the squaws were close at hand, +and they engaged in conversation. The main body of the Indians were at a +distance, awaiting him to run the gauntlet. He needed no second thought +to prompt him to the trial; and wheeling about, he placed his hand upon +the wound, and bounded away with the fleetness of the deer. In a moment +the yells of an hundred savages in pursuit, sounded in his ear, and +urged him onward to the utmost of his strength. He was no mean runner at +any time; now he was flying to save his life, and every nerve did its +duty. Before him was a slope, that stretched away to the river Miami; +and down this he fled with a velocity that astonished himself; while +yell after yell of the demons behind, now in full chase, were to him +only so many death cries, to stimulate him to renewed exertions. At last +he gained the river and rushed into the water. It was not deep, and he +struggled forward with all his might. On the opposite side was a steep +hill and thicket. Could he but gain that, hope whispered he might elude +his pursuers and escape. Again he redoubled his exertions; and, joy—joy +to his heart—he reached it, just as the foremost of his adversaries, a +powerful and fleet young warrior, dashed into the stream from the +opposite bank. He now for the first time began to feel weak and +fatigued; but his life was yet in danger, and he still pressed onward. +Alas! alas! just on the point of escape, his strength was failing him +fast, the blood was trickling too from his wound, and a sharp, severe +pain afflicted him in his side. Oh God! he thought—what would he not +give for the strength and soundness of body he once possessed! The +thicket he had entered was dense and dark, so that it was impossible to +move through it with much velocity, or see ahead any distance; and as +the thought just recorded rushed through his brain, he came suddenly +upon a high, steep rock. By this time his nearest pursuer was also +entering the thicket; and in a minute or two more he felt capture would +be certain, unless he could instantly secrete himself till his strength +should be again renewed. Fortune for once now seemed to stand his +friend; for stooping down at the base of the rock, he discovered it to +be shelving and projecting somewhat over the declivity; so that by +dropping upon the ground and crawling up under it, he would, owing to +the density and darkness of the thicket, as before mentioned, be wholly +concealed from any one standing upright. To do this was the work of a +moment; and the next he heard his pursuing foe rush panting by, with +much the same sense of relief that one experiences on awakening from a +horrible dream, where death seemed inevitable, and finding oneself lying +safely and easily in a comfortable bed.</p> + +<p>We say Algernon experienced much the same sense of relief as the +awakened dreamer; but unlike the latter, his was only momentary; for +yell upon yell still sounded in his ear; and plunge after plunge into +the stream, followed quickly by a rustling of the bushes around, the +trampling of many feet close by, and the war-whoops of his enemies, +warned him, that, if he had escaped one, there were hundreds yet to be +eluded before he could consider himself as safe. Wildly his heart +palpitated, as now one stirred the bushes within reach of his hand, and, +slightly pausing, as if to examine the spot of his concealment, uttered +a horrid yell, as of discovery, and then, just as he fancied all was +lost, to his great relief darted suddenly away.</p> + +<p>Thus one after another passed on; and their fierce yells gradually +sounding more and more distant, renewed his hope, that he might yet +escape their vigilant eyes, and again be free to roam the earth at will. +O, potent, joyful thought!—how it made his very heart leap, and the +blood course swiftly through his heated veins!—and then, when some +sound was heard more near, how his heart sickened at the fear he might +again be captured, and forced to a lingering, agonizing death!—how he +shuddered as he thought, until his flesh felt chill and clammy, and cold +drops of perspiration, wrung forth by mental agony, stood upon his pale +features! Even death, before his escape, possessed not half the terrors +for him it would have now; for then he had nerved himself to meet it, +and prepared himself for the worst; but now he had again had a taste of +freedom, and would feel the reverse in a thousand accumulated horrors.</p> + +<p>Thus for a few minutes he lay, in painful thought, when he became aware, +by the different sounds, that many of the savages were returning. +Presently some two or three paused by the rock, and beat back the bushes +around it. Then, dropping upon his knees, one of the Indians actually +put his head to the ground, and peered up into the cavity. It was a +horrible moment of suspense to Algernon, as he beheld the hideous visage +of the savage so near, and evidently gazing upon him; and thinking +himself discovered, he was on the point of coming forth, when a certain +vagueness in the look of the Indian, led him to hope he was not yet +perceived; and he lay motionless, with his breath suspended. But, alas! +his hope was soon changed to despair; for after gazing a moment longer, +the Indian suddenly started, his features expressed satisfaction, he +uttered a significant grunt, and, springing to his feet, gave a loud, +long, peculiar whoop. The next moment our hero was roughly seized, and, +ere he could exert himself at all, dragged forth by the heels, by which +means his limbs and body became not a little bruised and lacerated.</p> + +<p>The savages now came running towards their prisoner from all quarters, +in high glee at his recapture—being attracted hither, probably, by the +signal whoop of success made by the one who first discovered him. Among +the rest came Girty; who, as he approached Algernon, burst into a loud +laugh, saying, in a jocular manner:</p> + +<p>"Well, my fine bird, so you are caught again, eh? I was most infernally +afraid you had got away in earnest; I was, by ——! But we'll soon fix +you now, so that you won't run away again in a hurry."</p> + +<p>Then turning to the savages around him, the renegade continued his +remarks in the Indian tongue, occasionally laughing boisterously, in +which they not unfrequently joined. In this manner, the whole party +returned in triumph to the village—being met on their way thither by +the women and children, who set up yells of delight, sung and danced +around their prisoner, whom they beat with their fists and with sticks, +until he became sore from head to heel.</p> + +<p>The gauntlet was soon again made ready, and Algernon started upon the +race; but fatigued in body and mind, from the late events—weak and +faint from the bleeding of his wound and bruises—he scarcely reached +twenty paces down the lines, ere he sunk overpowered to the earth; from +which he was immediately raised, and borne forward to the council-house, +where, according to the Indian custom, the chiefs and warriors were to +decide upon his fate.</p> + + +<a name="Footnote_12" id="Footnote_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a><div class="footnote"><p> Lest there should seem to the reader an inconsistency in +one tribe yielding the fate of their prisoners to the decision of +another, we would remark here, that at the period of which we write, the +Six Nations were allied and fought for one common interest against the +Americans, on the British side, and therefore not unfrequently shared +each others dangers and partook of each others spoils.</p></div> + +<a name="Footnote_13" id="Footnote_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a><div class="footnote"><p> A practice sometimes, but not always, followed.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<center>THE TRIAL, SENTENCE, AND EXECUTION.</center> +<br/> + +<p>The council-house in question, was a building of good size, of larger +dimensions than its neighbors, stood on a slight elevation, and, as we +before remarked, near the center of the village. Into this the warriors +and head men of the Piqua tribe now speedily gathered, and proceeded at +once to business. An old chief—whose wrinkled features and +slightly-tremulous limbs, denoted extreme age—was allowed, by common +consent, to act as chairman; and taking his position near the center of +the apartment, with a knife and a small stick in his hand, the warriors +and chief men of the nation formed a circle around him.</p> + +<p>Among these latter—conspicuous above all for his beautiful and graceful +form, his dignified manner, and look of intelligence, to whom all eyes +turned with seeming deference—was the celebrated Shawanoe chief, +Catahecassa, (Black Hoof) whose name occupies no inferior place on the +historic page of the present day, as being at first the inveterate foe, +and afterward the warm friend of the whites. In stature he was small, +being only about five feet eight inches, lightly made, but strongly put +together, with a countenance marked and manly, and one that would be +pleasing to a friend, but the reverse to an enemy. He was a great +orator, a keen, cunning and sagacious warrior, and one who held the +confidence and love of his tribe. At the period referred to, he was far +past what is usually termed the middle age; though, as subsequent events +have proved, only in his noon of life—for at his death he numbered one +hundred and ten years.</p> + +<p>Upon the ground, within the circle, and near the old chief in the +center, were seated Algernon and Younker—the latter having recovered +consciousness—both haggard and bloody from their recent brutal +treatment. They were sad spectacles to behold, truly, and would have +moved to pity any hearts less obdurate than those by which they were +surrounded. Their faces bore those expressions of dejection and wan +despair, which may sometimes be perceived in the look of a criminal, +when, loth to die, he is assured all hope of pardon is past. Not that +either Younker or Reynolds felt criminal, or feared death in its +ordinary way; but there were a thousand things to harass their minds, +besides the dreadful thought of that lingering, horrible torture, which +was enough to make the boldest quail, and which they now had not the +faintest hope of escaping. There is ever something solemn and awful in +the thought of death, let it come in the mildest form possible—for the +individual feels he is hastening to that silent bourne, whence none have +e'er returned to tell its mysteries—yet such is as nothing in +comparison with the death our prisoners were now silently awaiting, away +from friends and all sympathy, in the full vigor of animal life, to be +fairly worn out by the most excruciating pains, amid the hootings and +revilings of a savage foe. It was enough to have made the stoutest heart +faint, trembling and sick; and thus our unfortunate friends felt, as +they slowly gazed around and saw nothing but fierce, angry looks bent +upon them.</p> + +<p>Girty was the first to address the assemblage, in the Indian dialect, in +an animated and angry speech of five minutes duration; occasionally +turning his sinister visage upon the prisoners, with an expression of +mortal hatred; gesticulating the while in that vehement manner which +would have left no doubts on their minds as to the nature of his +discourse, had they not previously known him to be their determined foe. +He narrated to the savages, clearly and briefly, the wrongs which had +been done them, as well as himself, by the whites; how, as the ally and +friend of the red-man, he had been cursed, defied and treated with much +contumely, by those here present; how their friends had followed and +slaughtered his braves; how the whites were every day becoming stronger +and more aggressive; how that, unless speedily exterminated, they would +presently drive the red-men from their hunting grounds, burn their +wigwams, and murder their wives and children; referred them, as a proof, +to the sacking and burning of the Chillicothe and Piqua villages, on the +Little Miami and Mad rivers, the year preceding, by General Clark and +his men;<a name="FNanchor_15" id="FNanchor_15" /><a href="#Footnote_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> and wound up by demanding the death of the prisoners at the +stake, and a speedy and bloody retaliation upon the pioneers of +Kentucky.</p> + +<p>As Girty concluded his speech, which was listened to in breathless +silence, there was a great sensation in the house, and an almost +unanimous grunt of approval from the chiefs and braves there assembled. +It needed but this, to arouse their vindictive passions against the +white invader to the extreme; and they bent upon the unfortunate +prisoners, eyes which seemed inflamed with rage and revenge. Girty +perceived, at a glance, that he had succeeded to the full of his heart's +desire; and with a devilish smile of satisfaction on his features, he +drew back among the warriors, to listen to the harangues of the others.</p> + +<p>Black Hoof was the next to follow the renegade, in a similar but more +eloquent strain; during which his countenance became greatly animated; +and it was easy for the prisoners to perceive—who could not understand +a word he uttered—that he spoke with great enthusiasm. He also pressed +upon his companions the vast importance of exterminating the whites, ere +they, as he expressed it, became as the leaves of the forest, and +covered the red-man's soil; that, for this purpose, they should prepare +themselves as soon as possible, to open a deadly, unyielding warfare +upon the frontiers; but said, withal, that he was opposed to burning the +prisoners—as that was a barbarism which he feared would not be +sanctioned by the great Spirit—and urged that they should be put to +death in, a quicker and milder form.<a name="FNanchor_14" id="FNanchor_14" /><a href="#Footnote_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a></p> + +<p>Black Hoof's speech was warmly received, with the exception of what +referred to the prisoners, and this rather coldly. They were excited to +a powerful degree—their passions were up for revenge—and they could +not bear the idea of sending a prisoner out of the world, without first +enjoying the delight of seeing him writhe under the tortures of the +stake.</p> + +<p>Wild-cat next followed Black Hoof, in a brief speech, in which he but +echoed the sentiments of Girty throughout, and received, like his +colleague, an almost universal grunt of approbation. He was succeeded by +one or two others, to the same effect—each urging the burning of the +prisoners—and on their conclusion, no other appearing to speak, the old +chief in the center at once proceeded to decide, by vote, the matter at +issue. Advancing to the warrior nearest the door, he handed him a +war-club, and then resumed his place in the circle, to record the will +of each. He who was in favor of burning the prisoners, struck the ground +fiercely with the weapon in question, and then passed it to his +neighbor; he who was otherwise disposed, passed it quietly, in silence; +thus it went through the whole assemblage—the old chief recording the +vote of each, by cutting a notch on the stick in his hand; those for +mercy being placed on one side, and those for the torture on the +opposite. Some three or four only, besides Black Hoof, passed it +quietly—consequently the sentence of death was carried by a decided +majority. Had there been any doubt in the minds of Younker and Reynolds +as to the result, it would have needed only one glance at Girty, who was +now grinning upon them like a demon, to assure them their doom was +sealed.</p> + +<p>The question next came up as to the time and place for executing the +sentence; and after some further debate, it was decided that the old man +should be burnt forthwith, in the village, that their women and children +might have a holiday pastime; but that Algernon must be made a grand +national example of, before the assembled tribes at Upper Sandusky, when +they should be met to receive presents from the British agent.<a name="FNanchor_16" id="FNanchor_16" /><a href="#Footnote_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> This +latter decision was mainly effected by the eloquence of Black Hoof; who, +from some cause, for which it would be impossible to account—only as a +mysterious working of an overruling Providence—had secretly determined, +if such a thing were possible, to save the life of Algernon; and took +this method as the only one likely to aid his purpose by protecting him +from immediate death.</p> + +<p>The trial concluded, the council now broke up, and Girty was authorized +to inform the prisoners of their sentence; while four young braves were +selected to take charge of Algernon, and to set off with him, so soon as +the burning of Younker should be over, for Upper Sandusky, where he was +to be kept in durance until wanted. Advancing directly to the prisoners, +the renegade now said, with a sneer:</p> + +<p>"Well, my beauties, are you ready to die?"</p> + +<p>"We don't expect any thing else, Simon Girty," answered the old man +mildly.</p> + +<p>"Don't you, by ——!" rejoined Girty. "Perhaps it's just as well you +don't—ha, ha, ha! Come, old dotard," he continued, "down on your marrow +bones and say your prayers; for, by ——! you will never behold the +setting of another sun."</p> + +<p>"I've said my prayers regular for thirty year," answered Younker; "and +I've been ready to die whensomever the Lord should see fit to call me; +and therefore don't feel myself no more obligated to pray jest at this +particular time, than ef I war told I war going to live twenty year +more. It's only them as hain't lived right, that the near coming o' +death makes pray, more nor at another time; and so jest allow me, Simon +Girty, to return you your advice, which is very good, and which, ef you +follow yourself, you'll be likely to make a much better man nor you've +ever done afore."</p> + +<p>"Fool!" muttered the renegade, with an oath. Then turning to Algernon, +he continued: "You, sirrah, are destined to live a little longer—though +by no design of mine, I can assure you. Don't flatter yourself, though, +that you are going to escape," he added, as he perceived the countenance +of Algernon slightly brighten at his intelligence; "for, by ——! if I +thought there was a probability of such a thing happening, I would brain +you where you sit, if I died for it the next moment. No, young man, +there is no escape for you; you are condemned to be burnt, as well as +Younker, only at another place; and, by ——! I will follow you myself, +to see that the sentence is enforced with all its horrors."</p> + +<p>"For all of which you doubtless feel yourself entitled to my thanks," +returned Algernon, bitterly. "Do your worst, Simon Girty; but understand +me, before you go further, that though life is as dear to me at the +present moment as to another, yet so much do I abhor and loathe the very +sight of you, that, could I have it for the asking, I would not stoop to +beg it of so brutal and cowardly a thing as yourself."</p> + +<p>"By ——!" cried Girty, in a transport of rage; "the time will come, +when, if you do not sue for life, you will for death, and at my hands; +and till then will I forego my revenge for your insolence now. And let +me tell you one thing further, that you may muse upon it in my absence. +I will raise an army, ere many months are over, and march upon the +frontiers of Kentucky; and by all the powers of good and evil, I swear +again to get possession of the girl you love, but whom I now hate—hate +as the arch-fiend hates Heaven—and she shall thenceforth be my mistress +and slave; and to make her feel more happy, I will ever and anon whisper +your name in her ear, and tell her how you died, and the part I took in +your death; and in the still hours of night, will I picture to her your +agonies and dying groans, and repeat your prayers for death to release +you. Ha! you may well shudder and grow pale; for again I swear, by all +the elements, and by every thing mortal and immortal, I will accomplish +the deed! Then, and not till then, will I feel my revenge complete."</p> + +<p>The countenance of Girty, as he said this, was terrible to behold; for +so enraged was he, that he fairly foamed at the mouth, and his eyes +seemed like two balls of fire. As he concluded, he turned away abruptly; +and muttering something in the Indian tongue, to some of the savages who +were standing around, immediately quitted the council-house.</p> + +<p>As Girty departed, the four young warriors who were to have charge of +Algernon, immediately advanced to him; and one of them tapping him on +the shoulder, moved away, motioning him to follow. As he prepared to +obey, Younker grasped him by the hand, and, with eyes full of tears, in +a trembling, pathetic voice, said:</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, lad! God bless and be with you. Something tells me we won't +never meet agin. Keep up as stout a heart as you can, and ef you should +escape, tell my (here the old man's voice faltered so that he could +scarcely articulate a syllable)—tell my wife, and—and children—that I +died happy, a thinking o' them, and praying for 'em—to—to the last. +Good-bye! good-bye!" and wringing his hand again, the old man fairly +sobbed aloud; while the rough warriors stood looking on in silence, and +Algernon could only groan forth a farewell.</p> + +<p>So they parted—never to meet again on earth.</p> + +<p>Algernon was now conducted, by his guards, to a small building on the +outskirts of the village; where, after receiving food and water, and +having his clothes restored to him, he was informed by one of the +Indians—who could speak a smattering of English—that he might be bound +and remain, or accompany them to see the Big Knife tortured. He chose +the former without hesitation; and was immediately secured in a manner +similar to what he had been the night previously, and then left alone to +the anguish of his own thoughts. What the feelings of our hero were, as +thus he lay, suffering from his bruises and wound—his mind recurring to +the dire events taking place in another part of the village, and his own +awful doom—we shall leave to the imagination of the reader: suffice it +to say, however, that when his guards returned, some two hours later, he +was found in a swooning state, with large cold drops of perspiration +standing thickly on his features.</p> + +<p>Meantime, Younker was brought forth from the council-house—amid the +hootings, revilings, and personal abuse of the savage mob—and then +painted black,<a name="FNanchor_17" id="FNanchor_17" /><a href="#Footnote_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> preparatory to undergoing the awful death-sentence. +He was then offered food—probably with the kind intention of +strengthening him, and thus prolonging his life and tortures—but this +he absolutely refused, and was immediately conducted to the place of +execution, which was on the brow of the slope before described as +reaching to the river. Here his wrists were immediately bound behind +him; and then a rope, fastened to the ligature, was secured to a +stake—driven into the earth for the purpose and left sufficiently long +for him sit down, stand up, or walk around a circle of some six or eight +feet in diameter.</p> + +<p>During this proceeding, the Indians failed not to abuse him in various +ways—some by pinching, and others by pounding him with their fists, +with stones, and with clubs,—all of which he seemed to bear with great +patience and resignation.</p> + +<p>As soon as all was ready for the more diabolical tortures, Girty made +the announcement, in a brief speech to the Indians; and then taking up a +rifle, loaded with powder only, discharged it upon the prisoner's naked +body. A loud yell of satisfaction, from the excited mob, followed this +inhuman act; while several savages, rushing forward with rifles loaded +in the same manner, now strove who should be first to imitate the +renegade's example; by which means, no less than fifty discharges were +made, in quick succession, until the flesh of the old man, from the neck +downwards, was completely filled with burnt powder. Younker uttered a +few groans, but bore all with manly fortitude, and made no complaints.</p> + +<p>This part of the hellish ceremony over, a fire was kindled of hickory +poles, placed in a circle round the stake, outside of that which his +rope allowed Younker to make, in order that he might feel all the +torments of roasting alive, without being sufficiently near to the flame +to get a speedy relief by death. To add even more torture, if possible, +to this infernal proceeding, the Indians would take up brands, and place +the burning parts against the old man's body; and then, as they saw him +cringe and writhe under the pain thus inflicted, would burst into horrid +laughs, in which they were ever joined by the renegade. The old squaws +too, and even the children, not wishing to be outdone in this refinement +of cruelty, would take slabs, and having loaded them with live coals and +ashes, would throw them upon his head and body, until not only both +became covered, but the ground around him, so that there was no cool +place for his feet; while at every new infliction of pain, the crowd +would break forth in strains of wild, discordant laughter.</p> + +<p>Thus passed some three-quarters of an hour of tortures the most +horrible, during which the old man bore up under his sufferings with a +strength and manliness that not only astonished his tormentors, but +excited for himself, even in savage breasts, a feeling of respect. +Girty, it may be, was moved to a similar feeling; for at length, +advancing to his victim, he said, in a tone of more deference than he +had hitherto used:</p> + +<p>"You bear up well, old man—well. I have seen many a one die, in a +similar way, who was thought to be courageous—yet none with that +firmness you have thus far displayed."</p> + +<p>Younker, who was slowly walking around the stake, with his face bent +toward the earth, suddenly paused, as Girty addressed him, and turning +his eyes mildly upon the renegade, in a feeble voice, replied:</p> + +<p>"My firmness is given me from above. I can bear my torments, Simon +Girty, for they're arthly, and will soon be over; but yourn—who'll say +what yourn'll be, when you come to answer afore Almighty God for this +and other crimes! But that arn't for the like o' me to speak of now. I'm +a dying man, and trust soon to be in a better world. Ef I ever did you +wrong, Simon Girty, I don't remember it now; and I'm very sartin I never +did nothing to merit this. You came to my house, and war treated to the +best I had, and here am I in return for't. Howsomever, the reckoning's +got to come yit atween you and your God; and so I leave you—farewell."</p> + +<p>"But say," returned Girty, who now seemed greatly moved by the manner +and tone of Younker: "But say, old man, that you forgive me, and I will +own that I did you wrong."</p> + +<p>"I don't know's I've any enemies, except these round here," replied the +other, feebly, "and I'd like to die at peace with all the world; but +what you ax, Simon Girty, I can't grant; it's agin my nater and +conscience; I can't say I forgive ye, for what you've done, for I don't. +I may be wrong—it may not be Christian like—but ef it's a sin, it's +one I've got to answer for myself. No, Girty, I can't forgive—pre'aps +God will—you must look to him: I can't. Girty, I can't; and so, +farewell forever! God be merciful to me a sinner," he added, looking +upward devoutly; "and ef I've done wrong, oh! pardon me, for Christ's +sake!"</p> + +<p>With these words, the lips of Younker were sealed forever.</p> + +<p>Girty stood and gazed upon him in silence, for a few minutes, as one +whose mind is ill at ease, and then walked slowly away, in a mood of +deep abstraction. Younker continued alive some three-quarters of an hour +longer—bearing his tortures with great fortitude—and then sunk down +with a groan and expired. The Indians then proceeded to scalp him; after +which they gradually dispersed, with the apparent satisfaction of wolves +that have gorged their fill on some sheep-fold.</p> + +<p>When Algernon's guards returned, they found him in a swooning state, as +previously recorded; and fearful that his life might be lost, and +another day's sport thus spoiled, they immediately called in their great +medicine man, who at once set about bandaging his wound, and applying to +it such healing remedies as were known by him to be speedily +efficacious, and for which the Indians are proverbially remarkable. His +bruises were also rubbed with a soothing liquid; and by noon of the day +following, he had gained sufficient strength to start upon his journey, +accompanied by his guards.</p> + +<p>On that journey we shall now leave him, and turn to other, and more +important events; merely remarking, by the way, lest the reader should +consider the neglect an oversight, that, on entering the Piqua village, +Oshasqua had taken care to render the life of little Rosetta Millbanks +safe, and had secured to her as much comfort as circumstances would +permit.</p> + + +<a name="Footnote_14" id="Footnote_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a><div class="footnote"><p> In the action at Piqua here referred to, Simon Girty +commanded three hundred Mingoes, whom he withdrew on account of the +desperation with which the whites fought.</p></div> + +<a name="Footnote_15" id="Footnote_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a><div class="footnote"><p> This was a peculiar characteristic of this great chief, as +drawn from the pages of history; and the more peculiar, that he was a +fierce, determined warrior, and the very last to hold out against a +peace with his white enemy. But there were some noble traits in the man; +and when, at last, he was wrought upon to sign the treaty of Greenville, +in 1795—twenty-four years after the date of the foregoing events—so +keen was his sense of honor, that no entreaty nor persuasion could +thenceforth induce him to break his bond; and he remained a firm friend +of the Americans to the day of his death. He was opposed to burning +prisoners, and to polygamy, and is said to have lived forty years with +one wife, rearing a numerous family of children.—<i>See Drake's Life of +Tecumseh</i>.</p></div> + +<a name="Footnote_16" id="Footnote_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a><div class="footnote"><p> The reader will bear in mind, that these events transpired +during the American Revolution; that the Indians were, at this time, +allies of the British; who paid them, in consequence, regular annuities, +at Upper Sandusky.</p></div> + +<a name="Footnote_17" id="Footnote_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a><div class="footnote"><p> This was a customary proceeding of the savages at that +day, with all prisoners doomed to death.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<center>HISTORICAL EVENTS.</center> +<br/> + +<p>From the first inroads of the whites upon what the Indians considered +their lawful possessions, although by them unoccupied—namely, the +territory known as Kan-tuck-kee—up to the year which opens our story, +there had been scarcely any cessation of hostilities between the two +races so antagonistical in their habits and principles. Whenever an +opportunity presented itself favorable to their purpose, the savages +would steal down from their settlements—generally situated on the +Bottom Lands of the principal rivers in the present State of Ohio—cross +over <i>La Belle Riviere</i> into Kentucky, and, having committed as many +murders and other horrible acts as were thought prudent for their +safety, would return in triumph, if successful, to their homes, taking +along with them scalps of both sexes and all ages, from the infant to +the gray-beard, and not unfrequently a few prisoners for the amusement +of burning at the stake.</p> + +<p>These flying visits of the savages were generally repaid by similar acts +of kindness on the part of the whites; who, on several occasions, +marched with large armies into their very midst, destroyed their crops +and stores, and burnt their towns. An expedition of this kind was +prosecuted by General Clark, in August of the year preceding the events +we have detailed, of which mention has been previously made. He had +under his command one thousand men, mostly from Kentucky, and marched +direct upon old Chillicothe, which the Indians deserted and burnt on his +approach. He next moved upon the Piqua towns, on Mad river, where a +desperate engagement ensued between the whites and Indians, in which the +former proved victorious. Having secured what plunder they could, +together with the horses, the Kentuckians destroyed the town, and cut +down some two hundred acres of standing corn. They then returned to +Chillicothe on their homeward route, where they destroyed other large +fields of produce, supposed in all to amount to something like five +hundred acres.</p> + +<p>We have mentioned this expedition for the purpose of showing why the +year which opens our story, 1781, was less disastrous to the frontier +settlers than the preceding ones—the Indians being too busily occupied +in repairing the damage done them, and in hunting to support their +families, to have much thought for the war-path, or time to follow it; +consequently the year in question, as regards Kentucky, may be said to +have passed away in a comparatively quiet manner, with no events more +worthy of note than those we have laid before the reader.</p> + +<p>But if the vengeance of the savage slumbered for the time being, it was +only like some pent up fire, burning in secret, until opportunity should +present for it to burst forth in a manner most appalling, carrying +destruction and terror throughout its course; and in consequence of +this, the year 1782 was destined to be one most signally marked by +bloody deeds in the annals of Kentucky. The winter of '81 and '82 +passed quietly away; but early in the ensuing spring hostilities were +again renewed, with a zeal which showed that neither faction had +forgotten old grudges during the intervening quietude. Girty did all +that lay in his power to stir up the vindictive feelings of the Indians, +and was aided in his laudable endeavors by one or two others<a name="FNanchor_18" id="FNanchor_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> who +wore the uniform of British officers. It was the design of the renegade +to raise a grand army from the union of the Six Nations, lead them +quietly into the heart of Kentucky, and, by a bold move, seize some +prominent station, murder the garrison, and thus secure at once a +stronghold, from which to sally forth, spread death and desolation in +every quarter, and, if possible, depopulate the entire country. Long and +ardently did he labor in stirring up the Indians by inflammatory +speeches; till at last he succeeded in uniting a grand body for his +hellish purpose; which, on the very eve of success, as one may say, was +at last frustrated by what seemed a direct Providence, of which more +anon, and its proper place.</p> + +<p>Previously, however, to the event just referred to, parties of Indians, +numbering from five to fifty, prowled about the frontiers, committing at +every opportunity all manner of horrid deeds, and thus rousing the +whites to defence and retaliation. One of these skirmishes has been more +particularly dwelt on, by the historians of Kentucky, than any of the +others; on account, probably, of the desperate and sanguinary struggle +for mastery between the two contending parties, and the cruel desertion, +at a time of need, of a portion of the whites; by which means the +Indians had advantage of numbers, that otherwise would have been equally +opposed. We allude to what is generally known as Estill's Defeat.</p> + +<p>It is not our province in the present work to detail any thing not +directly connected with our story; and therefore we shall pass on, after +a cursory glance at the main facts in question. Sometime in March, a +party of Wyandots made a descent upon Estill's station, which stood near +the present site of Richmond; and having killed and scalped a young +lady, and captured a Negro slave, were induced, by the exaggerated +account which the latter gave of the force within, to an immediate +retreat; whereby, probably, the lives of the women and children, almost +the only occupants, were saved—Captain Estill himself, with his +garrison, and several new recruits, being at the time away, on a search +for these very savages, who were known by some unmistakable signs to be +in the vicinity. Word being despatched to Estill, of what had transpired +in his absence, he immediately sought out the trail of the retreating +foes, which he followed with his men, and toward night of the second day +overtook them at Hinston's Fork of Licking, where a desperate engagement +immediately ensued. At the onset, there were twenty-five Indians, and +exactly the same number of whites; but the immediate desertion, in a +cowardly manner, of a certain Lieutenant Miller, with six men under his +command, left the odds greatly in favor of the Wyandots, who were all +picked warriors. Notwithstanding the cowardice of their companions, our +little Spartan band fought most heroically for an hour and +three-quarters; when the few survivors, on both sides, being almost worn +out, ceased hostilities as by mutual consent. In this ever memorable +action, Captain Estill, a brave and popular man, together with nine of +his gallant companions, fell to rise no more. Four others were badly +wounded, leaving only the same number of unharmed survivors. The +Indians, it was afterwards ascertained, had seventeen warriors killed on +the field, among whom was one of their bravest chiefs, and two others +severely wounded; and there has been a tradition since among the +Wyandots, that only one survivor ever returned to tell the tale.</p> + +<p>The news of the foregoing disastrous skirmish flew like wild fire, to +use a common phrase, throughout the borders, and, together with others +of less note, served to kindle the fire of vengeance in the bosoms of +the settlers, and excite a deeper hostility than ever against the savage +foe. Nor was the subsequent conduct of the Indians themselves calculated +to soften this bitter feeling against them; for, to use the words of a +modern writer, "The woods again teemed with savages, and no one was safe +from attack beyond the walls of a station. The influence of the British, +and the constant pressure of the Long Knives, upon the red-men, had +produced a union of the various tribes of the northwest, who seemed to +be gathering again to strike a fatal blow at the frontier settlements; +and had they been led by a Phillip, a Pontiac, or a Tecumseh, it is +impossible to estimate the injury they might have inflicted."</p> + +<p>Whether the foregoing remarks may be deemed by the reader a digression, +or otherwise, we have certainly felt ourself justified in making them; +from the fact, that our story is designed to be historical in all its +bearings; and because many months being supposed to elapse, ere our +characters are again brought upon the stage of action, it seemed +expedient to give a general view of what was taking place in the +interval. Having done so, we will now forthwith resume our narrative.</p> + +<p>About five miles from Lexington, a little to the left of the present +road leading thence to Maysville, and on a gentle rise of the southern +bank of the Elkhorn, at the time of which we write, stood Bryan's +Station, to which we must now call the reader's attention. This station +was founded in the year 1779, by William Bryan, (a brother-in-law of +Daniel Boone,) who had, prior to the events we are now about to +describe, been surprised and killed by the Indians in the vicinity of a +stream called Cane Run.</p> + +<p>This fort, at the period in question, was one of great importance to the +early settlers—standing as it did on what was considered at the time of +its erection, the extreme frontier, and, by this means, extending their +area of security. The station consisted of forty cabins, placed in +parallel lines, connected by strong pallisades, forming a parallelogram +of thirty rods by twenty, and enclosing something like four acres of +ground. Outside of the cabins and pallisades, to render the fort still +more secure, were planted heavy pickets, a foot in diameter, and some +twelve feet in height above the ground; so that it was impossible for an +enemy to scale them, or affect them in the least, with any thing short +of fire and cannon ball. To guard against the former, and prevent the +besiegers making a lodgment under the walls, at each of the four corners +or angles, was erected what was called a block-house—a building which +projected beyond the pickets, a few feet above the ground, and enabled +the besieged to pour a raking fire across the advanced party of the +assailants. Large folding gates, on huge, wooden hinges, in front and +rear, opened into the enclosure, through which men, wagons, horses, and +domestic cattle, had admittance and exit. In the center, as the reader +has doubtless already divined, was a broad space, into which the doors +of the cabins opened, and which served the purpose of a regular common, +where teams and cattle were oftentimes secured, where wrestling and +other athletic sports took place. The cabins were all well constructed, +with puncheon floors, the roofs of which sloped inward, to avoid as much +as possible their being set on fire by burning arrows, shot by the +Indians for the purpose, a practice by no means uncommon during a siege. +This fort, at the period referred to, was garrisoned by from forty to +fifty men; and though somewhat out of repair, in respect to a few of its +pallisades, was still in a condition to resist an overwhelming force, +unless taken wholly by surprise. There was one great error, however, +connected with its design—and one that seems to have been common to +most of the stations of that period—which was, that the spring, +supplying the inmates with water, had not been enclosed within the +pickets. The reader can at once imagine the misery that must have ensued +from this cause, in case of their being suddenly assaulted by a superior +enemy, and the siege protracted to any considerable length of time.</p> + +<p>Within this fort, on their return from captivity, Mrs. Younker and Ella +had taken up their abode, to remain until another cabin should be +erected, or it should be thought safe for them to live again in a more +exposed manner. Isaac had straightway repaired to his father-in-law's, +to behold again the idol of his heart, and pour into her ear his grief +for the loss of his father and friend, and receive her sympathy for his +affliction in return. The disastrous affair which had called him and his +companions so suddenly from a scene of festivity to one of mourning—the +loss of so many valuable neighbors, and the result of the expedition in +pursuit of the enemy—created at the time no little excitement +throughout the frontiers, and caused some of the more timid to resort +to the nearest stations for security. But as time wore on, and as +nothing serious happened during the fall and winter, confidence and +courage gradually became restored; and the affair was almost forgotten, +save by the friends and relatives of the deceased and those particularly +concerned in it.</p> + +<p>Spring, however, revived the alarm of the settlers, by the reappearance +of the enemy in all quarters, and the outrages they committed, as before +mentioned; so that but very few persons ventured to remain without the +walls of a fort; and these, such of them as were fortunate enough to +escape death or captivity, were fain to seek refuge therein before the +close of summer.</p> + +<p>Immediately on the receipt of the alarming intelligence of Estill's +defeat, Isaac, his wife, and the family of his father-in-law, Wilson, +repaired to Bryan's Station, and joined Mrs. Younker and Ella, who had +meantime remained there in security.</p> + + +<a name="Footnote_18" id="Footnote_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a><div class="footnote"><p> McKee and Elliot.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<center>OLD CHARACTERS AND NEW.</center> +<br/> + +<p>It was toward night of a hot sultry day in the month of August, that +Ella Barnwell was seated by the door of a cabin, within the walls of +Bryan's Station, gazing forth, with what seemed a vacant stare, upon a +group of individuals, who were standing near the center of the common +before spoken of, engaged in a very animated conversation. Her features +perhaps were no paler than when we saw her last; but there was a tender, +melancholy expression on her sweet countenance, of deep abiding grief, +and a look of mournfulness in her beautiful eyes, that touched +involuntarily the hearts of all who met her gaze.</p> + +<p>Since we last beheld her, days of anxious solicitude, and sleepless +nights, had been apportioned Ella; for memory—all potent memory—had +kept constantly before her mind's eye the images of those who were gone, +and mourned as forever lost to the living; and her imagination had a +thousand times traced them to the awful stake, seen their terrible +tortures, heard their agonizing, dying groans; and her heart had bled +for them in secret; and tears of anguish, at their untimely fate, had +often dimmed her eyes. Even now, as she apparently gazed upon that group +of individuals, whom she saw not, and whose voices, sounding in her ear, +she heard not, her mind was occupied with the probable fate of her uncle +and Algernon, the still all-absorbing theme of her soul.</p> + +<p>While seated thus, Mrs. Younker approached Ella from behind, unperceived +by the latter, and now stood gazing upon her with a sorrowful look. The +countenance of the good dame had altered less, perhaps, than Ella's, +owing to her strong masculine spirit; but still there was an expression +of anxiety and sadness thereon, which, until of late, had never been +visible—not even when on her march to what, as she then believed, was +her final doom—the excitement whereof, and the many events that +occurred on the route, having been sufficient to occupy her mind in a +different manner from what it had been in brooding over the fate of her +husband for months in secret, and in a place of comparative safety. At +length a remark, in a loud voice, of one of the individuals of the group +before alluded to, arrested the attention of both Mrs. Younker and Ella.</p> + +<p>"I tell you," said the speaker, who was evidently much excited, "it was +that infernal cut-throat Girty's doings, and no mistake. Heaven's curses +on him for a villain!—and I don't think he'll more nor git his just +dues, to suffer them hell fires of torment, hereafter, that he's kindled +so often around his victims on arth."</p> + +<p>At these words Ella started to her feet, and exclaiming wildly,</p> + +<p>"Who are they—who are Girty's victims?" sprung swiftly towards the +group, followed by Mrs. Younker.</p> + +<p>All eyes, from all quarters, were now turned upon her, as, like a +spirit, she glided noiselessly forward, her sweet countenance radiant +with the flush of excitement, her eyes dilated and sparkling, and her +glossy ringlets floating on the breeze. Curiosity could no longer remain +unsatisfied; and by one spontaneous movement, from every point of +compass, women and children now hurried toward the center of the common, +to gather the tidings.</p> + +<p>The quiet, modest, melancholy air of Ella, had, one time with another, +since her first appearance in the Station, attracted the attention, and +won the regard of its inmates; most of whom had made inquiries +concerning her, and learned the cause of her sadness; and now, as she +gained the crowd, each gazed upon her with a look of respect; and at +once moving aside to let her pass, she presently stood the central +attraction of an excited multitude, of both sexes, all ages and sizes.</p> + +<p>"Who are they?" cried she again, turning from one to the other, rapidly, +with an anxious look: "who are the victims of the renegade Girty?"</p> + +<p>"We were speaking, Miss Barnwell," answered a youth, of genteel +appearance, doffing his hat, and making at the same time a polite and +respectful bow: "We were speaking of the defeat, capture, and burning of +Colonel Crawford, by the Indians, in their own country, in which the +notorious Simon Girty is said to have taken an active part<a name="FNanchor_19" id="FNanchor_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a>—news +whereof has just reached us."</p> + +<p>At the mention of the name of Crawford, so different from the one she +was expecting to hear, the momentary insanity, or delusion of Ella, +vanished; she saw her position at a glance, and the hundred eyes that +were upon her; and instantly her face became suffused with blushes; +while she shrunk back, with a sense of maidenly shame and bashful +timidity, almost overpowering to herself, and really painful for others +to behold. She now strove to speak—to give an excuse for her singular +conduct—but her tongue failed her, and she would have sunk to the +earth, only for the support of Mrs. Younker, who at this moment gained +her side.</p> + +<p>"Never mind it. Miss Barnwell—it don't need any excuse—we understand +your feelings for lost friends," were some of the remarks from the +crowd, as the throng again made a passage for her to depart.</p> + +<p>"Goodness, gracious, marcy on me alive! what a splurge you did make +on't, darling!" said Mrs. Younker to Ella, as they moved away by +themselves. "Why, you jest kind o' started up, for all the world like a +skeered deer; and afore I could get my hands on ye, you war off like an +Injen's arrow. Well, thar, thar, poor gal—never mind it!" added the +good dame, consolingly, as Ella turned towards her a painful, imploring +look; "we all knows your feelings, darling, and so never mind it. +Mistakes will happen in the best o' families, as the Rev. Mr. Allprayer +used to say, when any body accused him o' doing any thing he hadn't +oughter a done."</p> + +<p>"Mother," said Ella, feebly, "I feel faint; this shock, I fear, may be +too much for my nervous system."</p> + +<p>"Oh! my child, darling, don't mind it—every body knows your +feelings—and nobody'll think any thing strange on't. In course you war +thinking o' your friends—as war nateral you should—and so war I; and +when I heerd the name o' that ripscallious renegade, it jest set my hull +blood to biling, like it war hot water, and I felt orful revengeful. But +the Lord's will be done, child. He knows what's best; and let us pray to +him, that ef our friends is among the land of the living, they may be +restored to us, or taken straight away to His presence."</p> + +<p>As Mrs. Younker said this, she and Ella entered the cottage.</p> + +<p>"Poor girl!" said a voice among the crowd, as soon as Ella was out of +hearing; "they do say as how she eats but little now, and scarcely takes +any rest at all lately, on account of the trouble of her mind. Poor +girl! she's not long for this world;" and the speaker shook his head +sadly.</p> + +<p>"But what is it?—what is it as troubles her so?" inquired an old woman, +in a voice tremulous with age, who, being somewhat of a new-comer, had +not heard the oft-repeated story.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell it ye—I'll tell it ye," answered another gossiping crone, +standing beside the querist, who, fearful of being forestalled, now +eagerly began her scandalous narration.</p> + +<p>Meantime, the male portion of the crowd had resumed their conversation, +concerning the unfortunate campaign of Crawford; during which manifold +invectives were bestowed upon the savages, and the renegade Girty. Some +of the more reckless among them were for raising another army, as soon +as possible, to pursue the Indians, even to the death, and spare none +that fell into their hands, neither the aged, women, nor children; but +these propositions were speedily overruled by cooler and wiser heads; +who stated that Kentucky had scarcely fighting men enough to protect one +another on their own ground—much less to march into the enemy's +country, and leave their wives and children exposed to certain +destruction.</p> + +<p>While these discussions were in progress, the attention of each was +suddenly arrested by the cry of some person from the right hand +block-house, looking toward the south, announcing that a single horseman +was approaching with a speed which betokened evil tidings. These were +times of excitement, when news of disaster and death was borne on almost +every breeze; and consequently all now sprung rapidly to the southern +pickets, where, through loop-holes and crevices in the partially decayed +pallisades, they perceived an individual riding as if for life.</p> + +<p>"How he rides!—Who is it?—What can have happened?" were some of the +remarks now rapidly uttered, as the horseman was seen bounding forward +on his foaming steed. Instantly the nearest gate was thrown open; and, +in less than two minutes, horse and rider stood within the enclosure, +surrounded by a breathless multitude, eager for his intelligence.</p> + +<p>"Arm!" cried the horseman, a good looking youth of eighteen: "Arm—all +that can be spared—and on to the rescue!"</p> + +<p>"What's happened, Dick Allison?" asked one who had recognized the rider.</p> + +<p>"I have it on the best authority," answered Dick, "that Hoy's Station +has just been attacked, by a large body of Indians, and Captain Holder +and his men defeated."</p> + +<p>"But whar d'ye get your news?" inquired another voice; while a look of +alarm, and resolute determination to avenge the fallen, could be seen +depicted on the upturned countenances of the assemblage.</p> + +<p>"I was riding in that direction, when I met a messenger on his way to +Lexington for assistance; and turning my horse, I spurred hither with +all speed."</p> + +<p>"Have the red devils got possession of the fort?" inquired another.</p> + +<p>"I am not certain, for I did not wait to hear particulars; but I'm under +the impression they have not, and that Holder was defeated outside the +walls."</p> + +<p>"Well, they must have assistance, and that as soon as it can be got to +'em," rejoined a white-haired veteran, one of the head men of the +garrison, whose countenance was remarkable for its noble, benevolent +expression, and who, from love and veneration, was generally called +Father Albach. "It's too late in the day, though, to muster and march +thar to-night," continued the old man; "but we'll have our horses got up +and put in here to night, and our guns cleaned, and every thing fixed +for to start at daylight to-morrow. Eh! my gallant lads—what say ye?" +and he glanced playfully around upon the bystanders.</p> + +<p>"Yes—yes—yes—father!" cried a score of voices, in a breath; and the +next moment a long, loud cheer, attested the popularity of the old man's +decision.</p> + +<p>"Another cheer for Father Albach, and three more for licking the +ripscallious varmints clean to death!" cried our old acquaintance, Isaac +Younker, who, having been otherwise occupied during the discussion +concerning Crawford's defeat, had joined the crowd on the arrival of the +messenger.</p> + +<p>"Good for Ike," shouted one: "Hurray!" and four lusty cheers followed.</p> + +<p>All now became bustle and confusion, as each set himself to preparing +for the morrow's expedition. Guns were brought out and cleaned, locks +examined, new flints put in place of old ones, bullets cast, +powder-horns replenished, horses driven within the enclosure, saddles +and bridles overhauled, and, in fact, every thing requisite for the +journey was made ready as fast as possible.</p> + +<p>Isaac, on the present occasion, was by no means indolent; for having +examined his rifle, and found it in a good condition, he immediately +brought forth an old saddle and bridle, somewhat the worse for wear, and +set himself down to repairing them, wherever needed, by thongs of +deerskin. While engaged in this laudable occupation, a young lad came +running to and informed him, that there was a stranger down by the gate +who wished to speak with him immediately.</p> + +<p>"A stranger!" replied Isaac, looking up in surprise. "Why, what in the +name o' all creation can a stranger be wanting with me? Why don't he +come and see me, if he wants to see me, and not put me to all this here +trouble, jest when I'm gitting ready to go and lick some o' them red +heathen like all nater?"</p> + +<p>"Don't know, sir," answered the lad, "what his reasons be for not +coming, any more nor you; but he said to the man as opened the gate for +him, 'Is Isaac Younker in the fort?' and the man said, 'Yes;' and then +he said to me, 'Run, my little lad, and tell him to come here, and I'll +gin you some thing;' and that's all I knows about it."</p> + +<p>"Well, I 'spose I'll have to go," rejoined Isaac, rising to his feet; +"but I don't think much o' the feller as puts a gentleman to all this +here trouble, jest for nothing at all, as one may say, when a feller's +in a hurry too. Howsomever," continued he, soliloquizing, as he walked +forward in the proper direction, "I 'spect it's some chap as wants to +hoax me, or else he's putting on the extras; ef so, I'll fix him, so he +won't want to do it agin right immediately, I reckon."</p> + +<p>Thus muttering to himself, Isaac drew near the front gate, against +which, within the pallisades, the stranger in question was leaning, with +his hat pressed down over his forehead, as though he desired +concealment. His habiliments, after the fashion of the day, were +originally of a superior quality to those generally worn on the +frontiers, but soiled and torn in several places, as from the wear and +tear of a long, fatiguing journey. His features, what portion of them +could be seen under his hat, were pale and haggard, denoting one who had +experienced many and severe vicissitudes. As Isaac approached, he raised +his eyes from the ground, turned them full upon him, and then, taking a +step forward, said, in a voice tremulous with emotion:</p> + +<p>"Thank God! Isaac Younker, I am able to behold you once again."</p> + +<p>As a distinct view of his features fell upon the curious gaze of the +latter, and his voice sounded in his ear, Isaac paused for a moment, as +one stupefied with amazement; the next, he staggered back a pace or two, +dropped his hands upon his knees, in a stooping posture, as if to peer +more closely into the face of the stranger; and then bounding from the +earth, he uttered a wild yell of delight, threw his hat upon the ground +in a transport of joy, and rushed into the extended arms of Algernon +Reynolds, where he wept like a child upon his neck, neither of them able +to utter a syllable for something like a minute.</p> + +<p>"The Lord be praised!" were the first articulate words of Isaac, in a +voice choked with emotion. "God bless you! Mr. Reynolds;" and again the +tears of joy fell fast and long. "Is it you?" resumed he, again starting +back and gazing wildly upon the other, as if fearful of some mistake. +"Yes! yes! it's you—there's no mistaking that thar face—the dead's +come to life again, for sartin;" and once more he sprung upon the +other's neck, with all the apparent delight of a mother meeting with a +lost child.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, Isaac, thank God! it is myself you really behold—one who +never expected to see you again in this world," rejoined Algernon, +affected himself to tears, by the noble, heart-touching, affectionate +manner of his companion. "But—but Isaac—our friends here—are +they—all—all well, Isaac?" This was said in a voice, which, in spite +of the speaker's efforts to be calm, trembled from anxiety and +apprehension.</p> + +<p>"Why," answered Isaac, in a somewhat hesitating manner, "I don't know's +thar's any body exactly sick—but—"</p> + +<p>"But what, Isaac?" interrupted Algernon, with a start.</p> + +<p>"Why, Ella, you know—"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, Isaac—what of her?" and grasping him by the arm, Algernon +gazed upon the other's features with a look of alarm.</p> + +<p>"Now don't be skeered, Mr. Reynolds—thar han't nothing happened—only I +'spect she's bin a thinking o' you—who every body thought war dead—and +she's kind o' grown thin and pale on't, and we war gitting afeared it +might end badly; but as you've come now, I know as how it'll all be +right agin."</p> + +<p>Algernon released the speaker's arm, and for some moments gazed +abstractedly upon the ground; while over his countenance swept one of +those painful expressions of the deep workings of the soul, to which, +from causes known to the reader, he was subject. At length he said, with +a sigh:</p> + +<p>"Well, Isaac, I have come to behold her once again, and then—"</p> + +<p>He paused, apparently overpowered by some latent feeling.</p> + +<p>"And then!" said Isaac, repeating the words, with a look of surprise: "I +reckon you arn't a going to leave us agin soon, Mr. Reynolds?"</p> + +<p>"There are circumstances, unknown to you, friend Isaac, which I fear +will compel me so to do."</p> + +<p>"What!" cried the other; "start off agin, and put your scalp into the +hands of the infernal, ripscallious, painted Injens? No, by thunder! you +shan't do it, Mr. Reynolds; for sting me with a nest o' hornets, ef I +don't hang to ye like a tick to a sheep. No, no, Mr. Reynolds; +don't—don't think o' sech a thing. But come, go in and see Ella—she'd +be crazy ef she knew you war here."</p> + +<p>"Ay," answered Algernon, sadly, "that is what I fear. I dare not meet +her suddenly, Isaac—the shock might be too much for her nerves. I have +sent for you to go first and communicate intelligence of my arrival, in +a way to surprise her as little as possible."</p> + +<p>"I'll do it, Mr. Reynolds; but—(here Isaac's voice trembled, his +features grew pale as death, and his whole frame quivered with intense +emotion)—but—but my—my father—what—"</p> + +<p>He could say no more—his voice had completely failed him.</p> + +<p>"Alas! Isaac," replied Algernon, deeply affected, and turning away his +face; "think the worst."</p> + +<p>"Oh God!" groaned Isaac, covering his face with his hands, and +endeavoring to master his feelings. "But—but—he's dead, Mr. Reynolds?"</p> + +<p>"He is."</p> + +<p>For a few moments Isaac sobbed grievously; then withdrawing his hands, +and raising himself to an erect posture, with a look of resignation, he +said:</p> + +<p>"I—I can bear it now—for I know he's in Heaven. Stay here, Mr. +Reynolds, till I come back;" and he turned abruptly away.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes Isaac returned—his features calm, but very pale—and +silently motioned the other to follow him. On their way to the cottage, +they had to cross the common, where their progress was greatly impeded +by a crowd of persons, who, having heard of Algernon's arrival, were +deeply anxious to gather what tidings he might have concerning the +movements of the Indians. In reply, he informed them of the threats made +by Girty to him while a captive; and that, having since been a prisoner +of the British at Detroit, he had learned, from reliable sources, that a +grand army of the Indians was forming to march upon the frontiers, +attack some stronghold, and, if possible, desolate the entire country of +Kentucky; and that he believed they were already on their way.</p> + +<p>"More'n that, they're already here," cried a voice; "for it's them, I +'spect, as has attacked Hoy's Station, of which we've just got news, and +are gitting ready to march at daylight and attack them in turn. Arm, +boys, arm! Don't let us dally here, and be lagging when the time comes +to march and fight!"</p> + +<p>With this the speaker turned away, and the crowd instantly dispersed to +resume their occupations of preparing for the coming expedition, while +our hero and Isaac pressed forward to the cottage of Mrs. Younker. At +the door they were met by the good dame herself, who, with eyes wet with +tears, caught the proffered hand of Reynolds in both of hers, pressed it +warmly in silence, and led him into the house. Ella, who was seated at a +short distance, on the entrance of Algernon, rose to her feet, took a +step forward, staggered back, and the next moment her insensible form +was caught in the arms of the being she loved, but had long mourned as +dead.</p> + + +<a name="Footnote_19" id="Footnote_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a><div class="footnote"><p> This happened in June, 1782. For particulars of Crawford's +disastrous campaign, and horrible fate—<i>See Howe's Ohio</i>, p. 542.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<center>THE ALARM AND STRATAGEM.</center> +<br/> + +<p>It was late at night; but still Algernon Reynolds sat beside Ella +Barnwell, relating the sad story of his many hair-breadth escapes and +almost intolerable sufferings. A rude sort of light, on a rough table, a +few feet distant, threw its faint gleams over the homely apartment, and +revealed the persons of Isaac and his mother, his wife and her parents, +together with several others, attracted hither by curiosity, grouped +around our hero, and listening to his thrilling narrative with +breathless attention.</p> + +<p>"After being sufficiently recovered from my wound and bruises, to +proceed upon my journey, (continued Reynolds, to resume the account of +his adventures since leaving him at Piqua) Girty came to me, and +inquired what I thought of my fate, and how I felt concerning it; to +which I replied, rather briefly, that it was no worse than I had +expected, since knowing into whose hands I had fallen.</p> + +<p>"'Perhaps you think to escape?' said he, sneeringly.</p> + +<p>"'I have no such hope,' I replied.</p> + +<p>"'No, and by ——! you needn't have, either,' rejoined he, with a savage +grin; 'for I'm determined you shall experience the torture to its +fullest extent, if for nothing else than to revenge myself on you for +your insults. I have only one thing to regret; and that is, that you +didn't suffer in place of Younker, who is the only one whose torments I +would I had had no hand in. But you—<i>you</i> I could see tormented +forever, and laugh heartily throughout. But I'll wreak my vengeance on +you yet; I will by ——!' and with these words he left me to the charge +of my guards, with whom he spoke a short time in the Indian +tongue—probably giving them instructions of caution regarding myself.</p> + +<p>"It was about mid-day, when, with my arms tightly bound, we set off for +Upper Sandusky, where, as I had previously been informed by Girty, I was +condemned to suffer before the assembled tribes of the different +nations, who would there shortly meet to receive their annual presents +from the British. Our march, very fatiguing to myself, was without +incident worthy of note, until one night we arrived at a small village +on the Scioto river, where one of my guards, who could speak a little +English, informed me resided the celebrated Mingo chief, Logan. A +thought suddenly flashed across my brain. I had often heard of Logan, as +the great and good chief, humane in his principles, and friendly to the +whites—particularly those who were signally unfortunate—and it +occurred to me, that could I gain an interview, I might perhaps prevail +upon him to assist me in making my escape; and accordingly I at once +expressed to my informant my desire of beholding one so celebrated. To +my great delight, he replied that it was in Logan's cabin I was to pass +the night—such being the private orders, as I afterwards learned, of +Black Hoof—who had, it seems, from some cause unknown to myself, formed +the design of saving my life; and had sent by the Indian in question, a +verbal request to Logan, to use all his influence to this effect.</p> + +<p>"As we entered the village, we were immediately surrounded by men, women +and children, who stared hard at me, but offered no violence. In a few +minutes we gained Logan's hut, in the door of which I observed standing +an old, noble-looking warrior, with a commanding form, and mild, +benevolent countenance, who proved to be the chief himself. To him one +of my guards now addressed a few words in Indian; and uttering a grunt, +and looking closely at me some seconds, he moved aside, and we all +passed in. Here I soon had a good supper of homminy provided me, whereof +I did not partake lightly, having been from sunrise to sunset without +tasting a morsel of food. Immediately after I had finished my repast, +Logan approached me, and, in tolerable good English, said:</p> + +<p>"'White man, where from?'</p> + +<p>"I motioned toward the east, and answered:</p> + +<p>"'From sunrise—away beyond the big mountains.'</p> + +<p>"Logan shook his head sadly, and replied, with a sigh:</p> + +<p>"'Ah! so all come. Poor Indian get run over—he no place lay he head. +But how you come all tied so?'</p> + +<p>"In answer, I entered into a full explanation of all that had occurred +respecting the proceedings of Girty, from first to last. Logan listened +throughout with great attention, shook his head, and rejoined:</p> + +<p>"'Ah! Simon Girty bad man—berry. Me always think so. Me sorry for you. +Me do all me can for you. You shall sleep here. Me promise you nothing. +Me tell you more sometime—to-morrow mebby!'</p> + +<p>"With this he rose and left the cottage, and I saw him no more that +night.</p> + +<p>"Early in the morning, however, he came to me, and said that I was to +remain at his cabin through the day; that he had laid a plan to effect +my release from death, but not from captivity—the latter not being in +accordance with his principles, nor in his power; that for this purpose +he had despatched two young braves to Upper Sandusky, to speak a word in +my favor; but that I must not be elated with hope, as it was very +doubtful how much they might effect.<a name="FNanchor_21" id="FNanchor_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> Notwithstanding his caution to +the contrary, my spirits became exceedingly exhilarated; and grasping +his hand in both mine, I pressed it to my heart in silence; while my +eyes became suffused with tears, and the old chief himself seemed not a +little affected.</p> + +<p>"Late the night following, the messengers returned; and on the morning +succeeding, we resumed our journey. In parting from the noble old chief, +he shook my hand cordially, but gave me no intimation of what would +probably be my fate.</p> + +<p>"When within sight of Upper Sandusky, crowds of warriors, women and +children came out to meet us, and, seeing me, set up many a hideous +yell, until I again became alarmed for my safety, and fearful that Logan +had not succeeded in his magnanimous design. This impression was the +more strongly confirmed, shortly after, by one of my guides informing me +that I must again run the gauntlet. Accordingly every preparation being +speedily effected, I started upon the course; but possessing more +strength and activity than before, and a better knowledge of what I had +to perform, I succeeded in breaking through the lines, and reaching the +council house unharmed. Here I was safe for the present; or until, as I +was informed, my fate should once more be decided by a grand council.</p> + +<p>"The council in question was speedily convened; and on the opening +thereof, a British agent, one Captain Druyer, made his appearance, and +requested permission to address the assemblage, which was readily +granted. He spoke rapidly, for a few minutes, with great vehemence; and +though I understood not a word he uttered, yet something whispered me it +was in my favor; for I observed that the glances directed towards me, +were milder far than those on my previous trial.</p> + +<p>"To sum up briefly, it seems that Logan had despatched his messengers to +Druyer, urging him to exert all his influence in obtaining my reprieve; +and to effect this humane design, the latter had begun by stating to the +Indians that their great white father, of whom he was an humble +representative, was at war with the Long Knives; that nothing would +please him better, than to hear of his red children having sacrificed +all their enemies; but that in war, policy was ofttimes more effectual +than personal revenge in accomplishing their destruction; and that he +doubted not, if the prisoner present were put in his possession and +taken to Detroit, that the great white chiefs of his own nation would +there be able to extort from him such valuable information as would make +the final conquest of the Long Knives comparatively easy. To this +proposition, which was received rather coldly, he had added, that for +this privilege he was willing to pay a fair recompense; and that so soon +as all the information necessary had been gleaned from the prisoner, he +should, if thought advisable, again be returned to them, to be put to +death or not, as they might see proper. To this arrangement, all having +at last consented, the gallant Captain advanced to me, shook my hand, +and said that my life was for the present safe, and that I was to +accompany him to Detroit, where I would be treated as a prisoner of war.</p> + +<p>"It is impossible to describe my feelings, on hearing this joyful +intelligence; therefore I shall leave you to imagine them, aided as you +will be by your own experience under similar circumstances. And now let +me close my long narrative as briefly as possible; for the hour is +already late, and I must rise betimes on the morrow to join this +expedition against the savages."</p> + +<p>"Surely, Algernon," exclaimed Ella, with pale features, "you are not +going to leave us again so soon?"</p> + +<p>"Where duty calls, Ella, there is my place; and if I fall in honorable +action, in defence of my country and friends, perchance my life may +atone for matters whereof <i>you</i> are not ignorant."</p> + +<p>Ella buried her face in her hands, to conceal her emotion; and Algernon, +with an effort at composure, again proceeded.</p> + +<p>"At Detroit I experienced kind treatment, as a prisoner of war; but +still it was captivity, and I longed for freedom. Many, many an hour did +I employ in planning my escape; yet month upon month rolled on, and +still I remained in durance. At last startling rumors reached me, that +the Indians of the different tribes were banding together, to march upon +the frontiers and depopulate the country; and remembering the savage +threat of Girty, I doubted not he was the instigator, and would be +leader of the expedition; and I determined, at all hazards, if such a +thing were in the province of possibility, to effect my escape, and give +the country warning of the impending danger. To be brief, I succeeded, +as my presence here tells for itself; but no one knows, save myself, and +He who knows all things, the misery I suffered from fatigue, lack of +food, and the fear of again being captured by some roving band of +savages—the which I shall detail, perhaps, should my life be spared me, +at some future period, but not at the present.</p> + +<p>"I swam the Ohio, a short distance above the Falls, and made my way, to +the best of my judgment, directly towards Boonesborough, where I +arrived, a few days since, in a state of complete exhaustion. The noble +old hunter received me warmly; from whose lips I heard, with thrilling +emotion, the particulars of the pursuit, headed by himself, and the +rescue of two of my dearest friends, their present abode, as also many +startling events that had transpired during my absence; and in return, I +communicated to him the alarming intelligence which I have before +alluded to. So soon as I felt myself sufficiently strong for the +journey, I left Boonesborough for Bryan's Station, and here I am, and +thus my tale."</p> + +<p>"And a mighty tough time you've had on't Mr. Reynolds, for sartin, and +no mistake," rejoined Mrs. Younker, with a sigh, wiping her eyes. "Ah! +me—poor Ben!—poor Ben!—I'm a widder now in arnest. Well, the Lord's +will be done. The good Book says, 'The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh +away, blessed be the name of the Lord;' and them good words, my children +and friends, must be our consolation."</p> + +<p>But little more was said; for each of the party felt oppressed with a +weight of sadness, at the thought of the many mournful events a year had +brought forth; and as the hour was late, each and all presently betook +themselves to rest.</p> + +<p>Meantime, the preparations of the garrison for the morrow had been going +forward in every part of the station; lights were moving to and fro; and +all within the cabins, and on the common, was bustle and activity. At +last the sounds gradually ceased, the lights went out one by one, and +all finally became tranquil for the night.</p> + +<p>About an hour before day-break, the sleepers began to rouse themselves, +and all was soon again in commotion. Horses were led forth, saddled, +returned and fed, and every thing got in readiness to throw open the +gates and march forth so soon as it should become sufficiently light for +the purpose.</p> + +<p>At last came the exciting moment of all. Some were standing in groups, +and weeping bitterly at the thought of parting, perhaps for the last +time, with their fathers, husbands and sons; some were running to and +fro with anxious messages; some were clasping each other to their +hearts, in agonizing silence, and praying in secret that the Great Ruler +of all might preserve and happily restore them again to the idols of +their affections; some had mounted their noble steeds, or were leading +them forth for the purpose—and all was in Babel-like confusion.</p> + +<p>"Farewell, my friends," said Algernon, as he stood in the door of Mrs. +Younker's cottage, grasping one after another the proffered hands of its +weeping inmates, among whom was the wife and mother-in-law of Isaac. +"Farewell, dearest Ella; we may never meet again on earth. +Farewell—farewell!" and pressing her hand to his lips, he rushed forth +with a heaving heart, not daring to trust himself longer in her +presence.</p> + +<p>Isaac and his father-in-law followed the example of Reynolds, moved away +with weeping eyes, and all were quickly in their saddles.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later the roll was called, and the order given by the +commanding officer to form in double file and throw open the eastern +gate. Scarcely were the words uttered, when there arose a series of +terrific Indian yells, accompanied by a volley of firearms, and every +face became blanched with surprise and dismay, and looked from one to +the other in astonishment.</p> + +<p>"By heavens!" cried a voice; "our fighting 'll be at home, I reckon, +judging by the specimen before us."</p> + +<p>Dismounting from their horses, the garrison, together with many of the +women and children, now rushed to the southern pickets, where, through +loop-holes and crevices, they beheld, only a few rods distant, about a +hundred savages, running to and fro, jumping up and down, whooping, +yelling, screeching and firing at the station, accompanied with all the +wild, fantastic gestures of loosened madmen.</p> + +<p>"Thar's not more nor a hundred o' the varmints, any how," cried Isaac; +"and I reckon as how we can jest lick them, and no mistake. Hurray for a +fight."</p> + +<p>"Hurray for a fight!" echoed a dozen voices, as they rushed back to +remount their horses.</p> + +<p>"Hold!" cried the deep voice of Father Albach. "Hold! lads; don't do +things rash! Them Indians wouldn't be dancing and sky-larking round that +way, ef thar warn't some object in it, you may depend on."</p> + +<p>"And that's my opinion too," answered another gray-headed veteran. "The +fact is, they're only a decoy party, sent our thar from the main body, +jest to draw us out, so that the others can rush on and make an easy +conquest on't. I tell you, friends, thar's no mistaking it; we're +surrounded by a tremendous body o' the red heathen, and we're likely to +have warm work on't. I've lived in the woods all my life, and I know the +nater of the painted varmints as well as I know my own. Ef them war all +thar war on 'em, we'd have seen very different proceedings, I assure +you."</p> + +<p>"But what's to be done?" cried several voices in consternation.</p> + +<p>"I would suggest that we send immediately to Lexington for a +reinforcement," spoke up Reynolds, in reply.</p> + +<p>"Who'll volunteer to go with me on the dangerous mission?" cried a young +man, by the name of Bell.</p> + +<p>"I will!" instantly responded another, called Tomlinson.</p> + +<p>"Brave lads!" returned Father Albach. "You'll be doing us and your +country a service, which we at least will ever gratefully remember. I'd +advise your leaving by the western gate, riding round the station, and +keeping away to the right, and you'll maybe pass them without trouble. +But ef you go, now's your only chance."</p> + +<p>As he spoke, the young men in question sprung forward to their horses, +and immediately quitted the fort, amid cheers for their gallantry and +courage, and prayers for their safety and success.</p> + +<p>A council of the leading men was now speedily convened to deliberate +upon the best means of insuring the safety of themselves, their wives, +and children.</p> + +<p>"They'll no doubt attack us on the western side," said Father Albach, +"where the pallisades are somewhat out o' kilter; and it's my opinion, +that we'd better repair them as soon as possible, and station the main +part of the garrison thar, ready to receive 'em with a military salute, +while we send out a few o' our young men to fire on them as is in sight, +to deceive the others; for I believe with neighbor Nickolson, here, that +thar's a large party in ambush close by."</p> + +<p>"Ay, and doubtless led by the renegade," said Reynolds; "as I presume +this Indian army is the same whose approach I have foretold. Thank God!" +added he, with energy and emotion, as his mind reverted to Ella, "that +they came as they did; for an hour later, and they would have found the +fort defenceless, when all within would have been food for the tomahawk +and scalping knife."</p> + +<p>He shuddered at the thought, and placed his hand to his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Indeed, it seems like a direct Providence in our favor," rejoined +another.</p> + +<p>"But thar's one thing you've overlooked, in your proposition, Albach," +said the old veteran called Nickolson. "Ef the seige be protracted, what +are we to do for water?"</p> + +<p>Each face of the company blanched, and turned toward the speaker with a +startled look. It was a question of the most grave importance, and all +felt it to be so. The spring was without the pallisades, as we have +previously mentioned, on the northwestern side of the station. The path +to it was through a rank growth of tall weeds, wherein the main body of +the Indians was supposed to be concealed—so that, should the garrison +venture forth in that direction, they would in all probability be cut +off, and the fort fall into the possession of the enemy. This of course +was not to be thought of. But what was to be done? To be without water +in a protected siege, was a dangerous and painful alternative. In this +agitating dilemma, one of the council suddenly exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"I have it!—I have it!" All looked at the speaker in breathless +expectation. "I have it!" continued he joyfully. "The women!—the +women!"</p> + +<p>"The women!" echoed several voices at once.</p> + +<p>"Ay! you know they're in the habit of going for water—and this the +savages know too—and ef they venture forth by themselves, as usual, the +wily scoundrels will be deceived for once—for they won't mistrust thar +hiding place is known; and as thar object is to carry the fort by +stratagem, they won't unmask till they hear firing on t'other side."</p> + +<p>"Good!—good!" exclaimed several voices; and forthwith the council +proceeded to summon all the women of the station, and make known their +plan for procuring a supply of water.</p> + +<p>Not a little consternation was expressed in the faces of the latter, +when informed of the perilous undertaking required of them.</p> + +<p>"What! go right straight in among the Injen warmints—them male +critters?" cried an old maid, holding up her hands in horror.</p> + +<p>"Do you think we're invisible, and they can't see us?" said a second.</p> + +<p>"Or bullet proof?" added a third.</p> + +<p>"Or that our scalps arn't worth as much as yourn?" rejoined a fourth.</p> + +<p>"Or of so little account you arn't afeared to lose us?" put in a fifth.</p> + +<p>"We don't think any thing o' the kind," returned the spokesman on the +part of the council; "but we do think, as I before explained, that you +can go and come in safety; and that ef we don't have a supply o' water, +we're likely to perish any how, and might as well throw open the gates +and be butchered at once."</p> + +<p>This last brief speech produced the desired effect, and a few words from +Mrs. Younker completely carried the day.</p> + +<p>"Is this here a time," she cried, with enthusiasm, her eyes flashing as +she spoke, "to be hanging back, till the all important moment's gone by, +and then choke to death for want o'water? What's our lives any more'n +the men's, that we should be so orful skeered about a few ripscallious, +painted varmints, as arn't o' no account, no how? Han't I bin amongst +'em once?—and didn't the Lord preserve me?—and shall I doubt His +protection now, when a hundred lives is at stake? No! no! I'm not +skeered; and I'll go, too, ef I has to go alone. Who'll follow me?"</p> + +<p>"I will!" cried one.</p> + +<p>"And I!" said a second.</p> + +<p>"We'll all go!" exclaimed several voices.</p> + +<p>Dispersing in every direction, each flew to her own cabin, and seizing +upon a bucket, hurried to the rear gate, where, all being assembled, +they were at once given exit.<a name="FNanchor_20" id="FNanchor_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a></p> + +<p>Perhaps in the whole annals of history, a more singular proceeding than +this—of men allowing their wives and daughters to deliberately put +themselves into the power of a ferocious, blood-thirsty enemy, and women +with nerve and courage to dare all so bravely—can not be found. But +these were times of stern necessity, when each individual—man, woman or +child—was called upon to dare and do that which would surprise and +startle their descendants. Still it must not be supposed that they, on +either side, were without fears, and those of the most alarming kind. +Many a palpitating heart moved over the ground to the spring, and many a +pale face was reflected in its placid waters; while many a courageous +soul within the fort trembled at the thought of the venture, and what +might be its result, as they had never done before—even with death +staring them in the face—and as they probably would never do again. +Each party, however, knew the step taken to be a serious alternative; +and the women believed that on their caution and presence of mind, their +own lives, and those of their fathers, husbands, and children were +depending; and in consequence of this, they assumed an indifference and +gaiety the most foreign to their present feelings. As for Algernon, we +leave the task to lovers of imagining his feelings, when he saw the +lovely Ella depart with the rest. It was indeed a most anxious time for +all; but the stratagem succeeded to a charm; and, to use the words of a +historian on the subject, "Although their steps became quicker and +quicker on their return, and, when near the gate of the fort, +degenerated into a rather unmilitary celerity, attended with some +little crowding in passing the aperture, yet not more than one-fifth of +the water was spilled, and the eyes of the youngest had not dilated to +more than double their ordinary size."</p> + + +<a name="Footnote_20" id="Footnote_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a><div class="footnote"><p> In both the foregoing and subsequent details, we have +followed history to the letter.</p></div> + +<a name="Footnote_21" id="Footnote_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a><div class="footnote"><p> The reader, familiar with the history of the early +pioneers of Kentucky, will doubtless observe a similarity between the +account given by Reynolds of his escape from captivity, and that of Gen. +Simon Kenton, as narrated by his biographer, Col. John McDonald.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<center>THE ATTACK AND RESULT.</center> +<br/> + +<p>Meantime the repairing of the pallisades had been going bravely forward, +every moment rendering the garrison more and more secure, which served +not a little to revive their spirits; and when at length the women had +all entered, the gate been barred, and they had seen themselves well +supplied with water, they could restrain their feelings no longer, and +one grand, simultaneous cheer burst from their lips.</p> + +<p>"Now then," said Father Albach, "let 'em come, and I reckon as how +they'll meet with a warm reception. But to draw 'em on, we must send out +a party to make a feint to fight the others."</p> + +<p>Thirteen young men, among whom was Isaac, were accordingly selected, to +pass out by the eastern gate and commence firing rapidly; while the +remainder, with loaded muskets, were to range themselves along the +western pickets, and be ready to pour their deadly contents into the +swarthy horde of besiegers, in case their attack should be made in that +quarter. As the young men departed, all relapsed into a solemn silence +of anxious suspense; which was presently broken by the rapid discharge +of firearms, outside the fort, accompanied with cheers and yells from +both the whites and Indians. Now was the all important moment—the war +sounds were gradually growing more and more distant—and every eye of +the inner garrison was strained in breathless expectation, in the +direction of the spring, while every rifle was cocked and in rest, ready +for any emergency.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the tall weeds—which a moment before had been quietly waving +in the morning breeze—became dreadfully agitated; and the next instant, +as if by magic, the ground was peopled by some five hundred hideous +savages; who, led on by the notorious renegade, now rushed forward, with +wild frantic yells, to the western pallisades, where our gallant little +band stood drawn up ready to receive them. They had advanced in a +tremendous body, to within a few feet of the fort, when the word "Fire," +uttered in a clear, manly voice, resounded above their own frightful +yells, and was followed the next moment by a terrible volley of leaden +balls, that carried death and terror into their serried ranks. With one +simultaneous yell of rage, consternation, and disappointment, they +halted a moment in indecision; when another death-dealing volley, from +the gallant Kentuckians, decided their course of action; and again +yelling fearfully, they parted to the right and left, and bearing their +dead and wounded with them, rushed for the covert of a neighboring +forest. At the same moment, the party which had sallied forth upon the +Lexington road, to make a feint of attacking their decoys, entered the +fort by the eastern gate, in high spirits at the success of their +maneuver.</p> + +<p>The warfare was now carried on in the usual manner, after the failure of +stratagem, for several hours, with but little success on either side. +The block-houses were immediately manned by the garrison, who by this +means could command every point of compass; and whenever an Indian came +in sight, he was at once made the target for three or four keen +riflemen, who rarely missed their mark. In consequence of this, the wily +savage rarely showed himself in an open manner; but would creep +stealthily among the tall weeds, or among the tall standing corn, that +covered about an hundred acres of ground on the southern side of the +station, or ensconce himself behind some stump or trunk of a tree in the +vicinity, and discharge his rifle at any mark thought suitable, or let +fly his burning arrows upon the roofs of the cabins. To avoid, if +possible, a conflagration, every boy of ten years and upwards, was +ordered upon the roofs of the houses, to throw off these burning +missiles; but notwithstanding their great vigilance, so rapidly were +they sent at one period, that two of the cabins, being in a very +combustible state, took fire, to the great consternation of all, and, +before they could be extinguished, were totally consumed. Here again the +hand of an overruling Providence was manifest; for a light wind drove +the flames from the other buildings, and thus a terrible and fatal +calamity was averted.</p> + +<p>From the attack in the morning by the main body, a sharp fire was +maintained on both sides till towards noon; when it began to slacken +considerably; and a little past meridian ceased altogether—the savages +having withdrawn for another purpose, as we shall show anon, leaving the +garrison in suspense as to whether they had totally abandoned the siege +or not.</p> + +<p>We have previously stated that Bryan's Station stood on a gentle rise on +the southern bunk of the Elkhorn, whereby it commanded a view of much of +the surrounding country. A considerable portion of the land in the +immediate vicinity had been cleared and was under cultivation; but +still, in some places, the forest approached to a close proximity; so +that it was impossible, without traversing the ground, to determine +whether the foe had withdrawn altogether, or, as was more probable, now +lay hidden therein, awaiting an unguarded moment of the besieged to +renew hostilities. Where the Maysville and Lexington road now runs, was +a long narrow lane, bounded on one side by the large cornfield before +alluded to, and on the other by a heavy wood. Through this lane the +reinforcements from Lexington must naturally pass, to reach the station; +and knowing this, and that they were expected, (for the escape of the +two couriers in the morning had not been overlooked) the Indians, to the +number of more than three hundred, had concealed themselves in the +thicket, within pistol shot of the road, and were now quietly waiting to +cut them off.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the quiet which had succeeded the sounds of warfare, the +garrison were still on the lookout, fearful of being surprised. In this +manner an hour or two passed away, without any event occurring worth +being recorded, when a voice shouted joyfully:</p> + +<p>"The Lexington reinforcements are at hand!"</p> + +<p>In a moment the whole station was in commotion—men, women, and children +rushing to the block-houses and pallisades nearest to and overlooking +the long lane just mentioned. The force in question numbered some +sixteen horsemen, and about twice as many foot; who, not having heard +any firing, nor seen any savages thus far, were somewhat carelessly +approaching the fort at a leisure pace, thinking, as was not uncommon in +those times of danger, when such things were often exaggerated, that +perhaps the alarm had been unfounded, or, at the most, based only on +slight grounds. They had been overtaken on the road between Lexington +and Hoy's station, for which place they had marched on receiving the +news of Holder's defeat, and had been informed by Tomlinson and Bell +that Bryan's station was surrounded by a large body of Indians, of whose +numbers they knew nothing. On hearing this, and knowing the unguarded +condition of Lexington, they had instantly turned back, and pressed +forward at what speed they could to the assistance of their neighbors, +of whom they were now in sight.</p> + +<p>"Great Heaven!" cried the voice of the look-out, at this moment, in +consternation. "See!—see!—they are ambushed, and will all be cut off!"</p> + +<p>As he spoke, a long rolling line of fire could he discerned; and +presently was heard the report of a tremendous volley of musketry, +followed by a cloud of dust and smoke, which for a time completely hid +them from view. In a few minutes, however, the horsemen were seen close +at hand, spurring forward with lightning speed. Some three or four +individuals instantly sprung to and threw open the eastern gate, and in +less than two minutes they reined in their panting steeds in the court +of the station. At the first shot of the savages, they had put spurs to +their horses, and, as the ground was very dry, a cloud of dust had +instantly enveloped them, by which means, fortunately, every one of them +had escaped unharmed, although on their way they had drawn the fire of +more than three hundred Indian rifles, successively discharged at them +while passing the lines of the ambuscade. Not thus easily, however, +escaped their companions on foot.</p> + +<p>At the commencement of the firing, these latter were advancing toward +the station through the cornfield, and, being completely hidden from the +savages thereby, they might, had they pressed rapidly forward, have +gained the fort in safety. Not so was their conduct. They were brave, +hot-blooded, noble men. They could not think of flying and leaving their +friends in danger; and more noble and reckless than wise and prudent, +they turned and rushed to their assistance. They saw their error, but +too late to retrieve it. Their friends had fled, and were safe, but they +were now placed within a few paces of three hundred blood-thirsty +warriors. On seeing them, the savages uttered the most hideous yells, +rushed forward and cut them off from the fort, and then sprung after +them, tomahawk in hand. Luckily, however, for our little band of heroes, +the Indians had just discharged their rifles, and their own were loaded; +by which means, when hard pressed, they turned and kept their foes at +bay—the savage, in all cases, being too cautious to rush upon a weapon +so deadly, with only a tomahawk wherewith to defend himself. Moreover, +the corn was stout and tall, among which they ran and dodged with great +agility; and whenever an Indian halted to load his rifle, the fugitive +for whom its contents were designed, generally managed, by extra +exertion, to gain a safe distance before it was completed, and thus +effect his escape. Some five or six, however, were so unfortunate as to +be knocked or shot down, when they were immediately tomahawked and +scalped; but the remainder, in various directions and by various +artifices, succeeded in making their escape. A few reached the fort in a +roundabout manner; but the main body of them returned to Lexington; +where, had the savages followed them, they would have found an easy +conquest. Fortunately for the whites, however, the red men were not so +inclined; and pursuing them a few hundred yards only, the latter +abandoned the chase as hopeless.</p> + +<p>One of the most active and ferocious on the part of the Indians during +this skirmish, which lasted nearly an hour, was Simon Girty. Enraged to +madness at the failure of his stratagem in the morning, he gnashed his +teeth and rushed after the fugitives, with all the fury depicted on his +countenance of a demon let loose from the infernal regions of Pluto. Two +with his own hand he sent to their last account; and was in hot pursuit +of a third—a handsome, active youth—who, being hard pressed, turned +round, and raising his rifle to his shoulder, with a scornful smile upon +his face, bitterly exclaimed, as he discharged it:</p> + +<p>"Take that, you —— renegade, and see how it'll digest!"</p> + +<p>As he fired, Girty fell, and perceiving this, the Indians, with a yell +of despair, instantly gathered round him, while the man effected his +escape. This closed the exciting contest of the cornfield—which had +been witnessed throughout from the station with feelings better imagined +than described—but, unfortunately for humanity, did not end the career +of Girty; for the ball had taken effect in his shot pouch instead of his +body; and though wounded, his case was in no wise critical; and he was +soon able to take his place at the council fire, to deliberate upon what +further should be done.<a name="FNanchor_22" id="FNanchor_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a></p> + +<p>The council alluded to, lasted some two or three hours. The Indians were +disheartened at their loss in the morning, and the failure of all their +stratagems, even to cutting off the reinforcements of the enemy. They +were sufficiently convinced they could not carry the fort by storm; and +they also believed it unsafe to longer remain where they were; as the +alarm of their presence had spread far and wide, and there was no +telling at what moment a force equal to their own might be brought +against them; therefore, they were now anxious to abandon the siege and +return home. Girty, however, was by no means satisfied with the turn +matters had taken. He had with great difficulty and masterly persuasion +succeeded in getting them to unite and march in a body (contrary to +their usual mode of warfare, which consisted in skirmishing with small +parties,) against the whites; and he now felt that his reputation was in +a manner staked on the issue; consequently he could illy bear to leave +without the trial of one more stratagem. This he made known to the +chiefs of the council, and offered, in case of failure, to retreat with +them at once.</p> + +<p>As this last design of Girty was merely to deceive the whites, and +frighten them into capitulation, without any further risk to themselves, +the Indians agreed to it, and the council broke up.</p> + +<p>It was nearly sundown; and every one in the station had been on the +alert, ready to repel another attack should the Indians renew +hostilities, as was not unlikely, when a voice cried out:</p> + +<p>"Hang me to the nearest cross-bar, ef the red sons of Satan hav'nt sent +out a flag of truce!"</p> + +<p>This at once drew the attention of most of the garrison to a small white +flag on a temporary pole, which at no great distance was gradually +nearing them, supported in an upright position by some object crawling +along on the ground. At length the object gained a stump; and having +mounted it, was at once recognized by Reynolds as the renegade—although +Girty on this expedition had doffed the British uniform, in which we +once described him, and now appeared in a costume not unlike his swarthy +companions.</p> + +<p>"Halloo the garrison!" he shouted.</p> + +<p>"Halloo yourself!—what's wanted?" cried a voice back again.</p> + +<p>"Respect this flag of truce, and listen!" rejoined Girty; and waving it +from side to side as he spoke, he again proceeded: "Courage can do much +in war, and is in all cases a noble trait, which I for one do ever +respect; but there may be circumstances where manly courage can avail +nothing, and where to practice it only becomes fool-hardy, and is sure +to draw down certain destruction on the actor or actors. Such I hasten +to assure you, gentlemen, is exactly your case in the present instance. +No one admires the heroism which you have, one and all, even to your +women and children, this day displayed, more than myself; but I feel it +my duty to inform you that henceforth the utmost daring of each and all +of you combined can be of no avail whatever. Resistance on your part +will henceforth be a crime rather than a virtue. It is to save +bloodshed, and you all from a horrible fate, that I have ventured hither +at the risk of my life. You are surrounded by an army of six hundred +savages. To-morrow there will be a large reinforcement with cannon; +when, unless you surrender now, your bulwark will be demolished, and +you, gentlemen, with your wives and children, will become victims to an +unrelenting, cruel foe. Death will then be the mildest of your +punishments. I would save you from this. I am one of your race; and, +although on the side of your enemy, would at this time counsel and act +toward you a friendly part. Do you not know me? I am Simon Girty—an +agent of the British. Take my advice and surrender now your fort into my +hands, and I swear to you not a single hair of your heads shall be +harmed. But if you hold out until you are carried by storm I can not +save you; for the Indians will have become thirsty for your blood, and +no commander on earth could then restrain them. Be not hasty in +rejecting my friendly offer. It is for your good I have spoken—and so +weigh the matter well. I pause for an answer."</p> + +<p>The effect of Girty's speech upon the garrison, was to alarm them not a +little. His mention of reinforcements with cannon, caused many a stout +heart to tremble, and many a face to blanch and turn to its neighbor +with an expression of dismay. Against cannon they knew, as Girty stated, +resistance would be of no avail; and cannon had, in 1780, advanced up +the Licking Valley, and destroyed Riddle's and Martin's stations. If +Girty told the truth, their case was truly alarming.</p> + +<p>As the renegade concluded, Reynolds—who saw the effect his words had +produced, and who, knowing him better than any of the others, believed +his whole tale to be false—at once begged leave to reply for the +garrison, which was immediately granted. Placing himself in full view of +Girty, he answered as follows, in a tone of raillery:</p> + +<p>"Well done, my old worthy companion! and are you really there, carrying +out another of your noble and humane designs? When, O when, I humbly beg +to know, will your philanthropic efforts end? I suppose not until death +has laid his claim, and the devil has got his due. You ask us if we know +you. What! not know the amiable Simon Girty, surnamed the Renegade? +Could you indeed for a moment suppose such a thing possible? Know you? +Why, we have an untrusty, worthless cur-dog in the fort here, that has +been named Simon Girty, in compliment to you—he is so like you in every +thing that is ugly, wicked and mean. You say you expect reinforcements +of artillery. Well, if you stay in this quarter long, I know of no one +that will be more likely to need them than yourself and the cowardly +cut-throats who call you chief. We too expect reinforcements; for the +country is roused in every direction; and if you remain here +twenty-four hours longer, the scalps of yourself and companions will be +drying on our cabins. Bring on your cannon and blaze away as soon as you +please! We shall fear you not, even then; for if you succeed in +entering, along with your naked, rascally companions, we shall set our +old women to work, and have you scourged to death with rods, of which we +have on hand a goodly stock for the purpose. And now to wind up, allow +me to say I believe you to be a liar, and <i>know</i> you to be a most +depraved, inhuman villain. This knowledge of your character is not +second-hand. I paid dearly for it, by a year's captivity. I defied you +when in your power: I spit at and defy you now in behalf of the +garrison! My name you may remember. It is Algernon Reynolds. What would +you more?"<a name="FNanchor_23" id="FNanchor_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a></p> + +<p>"Would that I had you in my power again," shouted back Girty; "for +by ——! I would willingly forego all other vengeance on the whites, to +take my revenge on you. I regret the garrison did not choose some one to +reply who was not already doomed to death. It was my desire to save +bloodshed; but my offer has been rejected from the mouth of one I hate; +and now I leave you to your fate. To-morrow morning will see your +bulwarks in ruins, and yourselves, your wives and little ones, in the +power of a foe that never forgives an injury nor forgets an insult. +Farewell till then! I bide my time."</p> + +<p>As Girty concluded altogether, he began to ease himself down from the +stump, when his progress was not a little accelerated by hearing a voice +from the garrison cry out:</p> + +<p>"Shoot the —— rascal!—don't let him escape!"</p> + +<p>Instantly some five or six rifles were brought to bear upon him; and his +fate might then have been decided forever, had not the voice of +Nickolson warned them to beware of firing upon a flag of truce. Girty, +however, made good his retreat, and the garrison was disturbed no more +that night. Before morning the Indians, after having killed all the +domestic cattle they could find belonging to the station, began their +retreat; and by daylight their camp was deserted; though many of their +fires were still burning brightly, and several pieces of meat were found +on roasting-sticks around them, all showing a late and hasty departure.</p> + + +<a name="Footnote_22" id="Footnote_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a><div class="footnote"><p> The foregoing is strictly authentic.</p></div> + +<a name="Footnote_23" id="Footnote_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a><div class="footnote"><p> This celebrated reply of Reynolds to Girty, is published, +with but slight variations, in all the historical sketches that we have +seen relating to the attack on Bryan's Station and is, perhaps, familiar +to the reader.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<center>THE FOE PURSUED.</center> +<br/> + +<p>As Algernon had stated to Girty, the country was indeed roused to a +sense of their danger. The news of the storming of Bryan's Station had +spread fast and far; and, early on the day succeeding the attack, +reinforcements began to come in from all quarters; so that by noon of +the fourth day, the station numbered over one hundred and eighty +fighting men.</p> + +<p>Colonel Daniel Boone, accompanied by his son Israel, and brother Samuel, +commanded a considerable force from Boonesborough—Colonel Stephen +Trigg, a large company from Harrodsburgh—and Colonel John Todd, the +militia from Lexington. A large portion of these forces was composed of +commissioned officers, who, having heard of the attack on Bryan's +Station by an overwhelming body of Indians, had hurried to the scene of +hostilities, and, like brave and gallant soldiers as they were, had at +once taken their places in the ranks as privates. Most noted among those +who still held command under the rank of Colonel, were Majors Harlan, +McGary, McBride, and Levi Todd; and Captains Bulger, Patterson and +Gordon.</p> + +<p>Of those now assembled, Colonel Todd, as senior officer, was allowed to +take command—though, from the tumultuous council of war which was held +in the afternoon, it appears that each had a voice, and that but little +order was observed. It was well known that Colonel Benjamin Logan was +then in the act of raising a large force in Lincoln county; and at the +furthest would join them in twenty-four hours; which would render them +safe in pursuing the savages; and for this purpose the more prudent, +among whom was our old friend, Colonel Boone, advised their delay; +stating, as a reason, that the Indians were known to outnumber them +all, as three to one; and that to pursue them with a force so small, +could only result, should they be overtaken, in a total defeat of the +whites. Besides which, Boone stated that the scouts who had been sent +out to examine the Indian trail, had reported that it was very broad, +and that the trees on either side had been marked with their tomahawks; +thereby showing a willingness on the part of the enemy to be pursued, +and a design to draw the whites into an ambuscade, the consequences of +which must necessarily be terrible. In this view of the case, Colonel +Boone was strongly seconded by Major McGary, who, though a hot-headed +young officer, eager on almost all occasions for a fight, now gave his +voice on the side of prudence.</p> + +<p>But these prudent measures were combatted and overruled by Todd; who, +being an ambitious man, forsaw that, in waiting for Logan, he would be +deprived of his authority as commander-in-chief of the expedition, and +the glory which a successful battle would now cast upon him. By him it +was urged, in opposition to Boone and McGary, that to await the arrival +of Colonel Logan, was only to act the part of cowards, and allow the +Indians a safe retreat; that in case they were overtaken and their +numbers found to be double their own—which report he believed to be +false—the ardor and superior skill of the Kentuckians would more than +make them equal, and the victory and glory would be their own. Whereas, +should the Indians be allowed to escape without an effort to harass +them, the Kentuckians would be held eternally disgraced in the minds of +their countrymen.</p> + +<p>The dispute on the matter waxed warm, high words ensued, and the +discussion was in a fair way of being drawn out to great extent; when +Boone, becoming tired and disgusted with the whole proceedings, replied:</p> + +<p>"Well, I've given my conscientious opinion about the affair, and now you +can do as you please. Of course I shall go with the majority, and my +seniors in command; and ef the decision's for a fight, why a fight we +must venter, though every man o' Kaintuck be laid on his back for the +risking. Ef we fail—and its my opine we shall—let them as takes the +responsibility bear the blame. I'll give my voice, though, to the last, +that we'd better wait the reinforcements o' Colonel Logan."</p> + +<p>"Sir!" exclaimed Colonel Todd, turning fiercely to Boone; "if you are +not a <i>coward</i>, you talk like one! Don't you know, sir, that if we wait +for Logan, he will gain all the laurels?—and that if we press forward, +we shall gain all the glory?"</p> + +<p>"As to my being a coward, Colonel Todd," replied Boone, mildly, with +dignity, "when the word's explained so as I know the full meaning on't, +prehaps I'll be able to decide ef I be or not. Ef it means prudence in a +time o' danger, on which the welfare o' my country and the lives o' my +countrymen depends, I'd rather be thought cowardly than rash. Ef it +means a fear to risk my own poor body in defence o' others, I reckon as +how my past life'll speak for itself; and for the futer, wharsomever +Colonel Todd dars to venter, Daniel Boone dars to lead. As to <i>glory</i>, +we'll talk about that arter the battle's fought."</p> + +<p>Thus ended the discussion; and the matter being put to vote, it was +carried by an overwhelming majority in favor of Todd's proposition, that +the Indians should be pursued without further delay. It was now about +three o'clock in the afternoon; and immediately on the final decision +being made, the council broke up, and orders were rapidly given to +prepare to depart forthwith. All the horses in or about the station were +now collected together, on which most of the officers and many of the +privates were soon mounted; and by four o'clock the eastern gate was +thrown open, the order to march given by Colonel Todd, and the +procession, composed of the flower of Kentucky's gallant sons, moved +forth, amid sighs and tears from the opposite sex. Reynolds—who, during +the past two or three days, since the retreat of the enemy, had employed +his leisure moments in the company of the being he loved, and who was +now finely mounted on a superb charger which had been presented him by +Colonel Boone—turned upon his saddle, as he was leaving the station, +and waved another adieu to Ella, who stood in the door of her cottage, +gazing upon his noble form, with a pale cheek, tearful eye, and beating +heart. She raised her lily hand, and, with a graceful motion, returned +his parting salute; and then, to conceal her emotion, retired into the +house.</p> + +<p>The Indians, it was found, had followed the buffalo trace, and, +according to the account given by the scouts, had made their trail +obvious as possible, by hacking the trees on either side with their +tomahawks. Their camp fires, however, were very few, comparatively +speaking, which to Boone seemed plainly evident of a desire to mask +their numbers. He had lived in the woods all his life, was the oldest +settler on the borders, and had been several times a prisoner of the +Indians; so that he was familiar with their artifices for decoying their +enemies; and he believed, from what he saw, that it was their desire to +be followed by the whites; and that they would probably seek to draw the +latter into an ambuscade in the vicinity of the Blue Licks, where the +wild country was particularly favorable to their purpose. In imagination +he already saw the disastrous result that was destined to follow this +hasty expedition; but his counsel to the contrary had been disregarded, +and it was not a time now to dampen the ardor of the soldiers, on which +alone success could depend, by expressing his fears and laying himself +liable to further reproach and contumely. He had said and done all that +was consistent in his situation to prevent the present step; and he now +saw proper to keep his fears of the result to himself; the more so, as a +retreat was out of the question.</p> + +<p>About dark the party came to halt, and encamped in the woods for the +night. Early on the ensuing morning they resumed their march; and a +little before noon reached the southern bluffs of Licking river, +opposite the Lower Blue Lick, distant from Bryan's Station some +thirty-six miles, and the place where, according to the opinion of +Boone, the savages would be likely to lie in wait to give them battle.</p> + +<p>The scenery in the vicinity of the Licks, even at the present day, is +peculiarly wild and romantic; but at the period in question, it was +relieved by nothing in the shape of civilization. The Licks themselves +had for ages been the resort of buffalo and other wild animals, which +had come there to lick the saline rocks, and had cropped the surrounding +hills of every green thing, thereby giving them a barren, desolate, +gloomy appearance. On the northern bank—the one opposite our little +army—arose a tremendous bluff, entirely destitute of vegetation, the +brow of which was trodden hard by the immense herds of buffalo which had +passed over it from time immemorial on their way to and from the salt +springs at its base. To add to its dismal appearance, the rains of +centuries had sloughed deep gullies in its side, and washed the earth +from the rocks around its base, which, being blackened in the sun, now +rose grim and bare, frowning in their majesty like fettered monsters of +the infernal regions. As you ascended this ridge, a hard level trace or +road led back for something like a mile—free from tree, stump or +bush—when you came to a point where two ravines, one on either hand, +met at the top, and, thickly wooded, ran in opposite directions down to +the river, which, beginning on the right, went sweeping round a large +circuit, in the form of an iron magnet, and made a sort of inland +peninsula of the bluff in question. Back from this buffalo trace, on the +southern bank of the Licking, dark heavy woods extended for miles in +every direction, and made the whole scene impressive with a kind of +gloomy grandeur.</p> + +<p>As our gallant band of Kentuckians gained the river, they descried some +three or four savages leisurely ascending the stony ridge on the +opposite side. On perceiving the troops, the Indians paused, gazed at +them a few moments in silence, and then, quietly continuing their +ascent, disappeared on the other side. A halt was now ordered by Colonel +Todd, and a council of war called to deliberate on what was best to be +done. The wild gloomy country around them, their distance from any post +of succor, and the startling idea that perchance they were in the +presence of a body of savages of double or treble their own numbers, was +not without its effect upon Todd and those who had seconded his hasty +movements, and served much toward cooling their ardor, and inspiring +each other with a secret awe.</p> + +<p>Immediately on the halt of the troops, some twenty officers assembled in +front of the lines for consultation; when, turning to them, Colonel Todd +said:</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen, for aught I know to the contrary we are now in the presence +of a superior enemy—superior at least in point of numbers—and I +desire to know your minds as to what course we had best pursue. And +particularly, Colonel Boone," continued Todd, politely bowing to the +veteran woodsman, "would I solicit your views on the matter; believing +as I do, notwithstanding any hasty words I may have uttered in the heat +of excitement to the contrary, that you are a brave soldier, cool under +all circumstances, amply experienced in Indian stratagem, and +consequently capable of rendering much valuable advice in the present +instance."</p> + +<p>Boone was not a revengeful man under any circumstances; and though he +had felt more stung and nettled at the implication of Todd the day +before than he cared to let others see, yet now that the other had made +the apology due him, he showed nothing like haughtiness or triumph in +his mild, benevolent countenance, but, bowing slightly, with his +characteristic frankness replied:</p> + +<p>"As you say, Colonel Todd, I've had some little experience with the +varmints at different times, not excepting my capter at these same Licks +in 1778; and, besides, I've have traversed this here country in every +direction, and know every secret hiding-place round about, as well as +the rest o' ye know the ground we've jest traveled; and it's on account +o' this knowledge partly, and partly on account o' the lazy movements o' +them red heathen we've jest seen go over the hill yonder, and the wide +trail, and marked trees behind us, that I'm led to opine thar's a +tremendous body o' the naked rascals hid in a couple o' ravines, that +run down to the river on either side of that ridge, about a mile ahead, +who are waiting to take us by surprise. Now I think we'd better do one +of two things. Either wait for the reinforcement o' Colonel Logan—who's +no doubt on his march by this time to join us—or else divide our party, +and let half on 'em go up stream and cross at the rapids, and so get +round behind the ravines, ready to attack the savages in the rear; while +the rest cross the ford here, and keep straight on along the ridge to +attack 'em in front—by which maneuver we may prehaps be able to beat +them. But ef you don't see proper, gentlemen, to take up with either o' +these proposals—don't, for Heaven's sake! I beg o' ye, venter forward, +without first sending on scouts to reconnoitre—else we're likely to be +in an ambuscade afore we know it, and prehaps all be cut off."</p> + +<p>"Well, all things considered," answered Colonel Todd, who now, becoming +aware of the fearful responsibility resting upon him as commander, felt +little inclined to press rashly forward, "I think it advisable to wait +the reinforcements of Logan before proceeding further. It can delay us +but a day or two, and then we shall be sure of a victory; whereas, if we +press forward now, and run into an ambuscade, of which Colonel Boone +feels certain, we shall doubtless rue the day by a total defeat."</p> + +<p>"I'm of the same opinion," rejoined Major Levi Todd.</p> + +<p>"And I," said Captain Patterson.</p> + +<p>"And I," rejoined several other voices.</p> + +<p>"But I'm opposed to waiting for Logan," said Colonel Trigg; "as delays +on the point of a battle are rarely ever beneficial. I think we had +better take up with Colonel Boone's second proposition—divide our +forces, and proceed at once to action; though, for the matter of +prudence, it may be advisable to send a couple of scouts ahead, before +deciding upon any thing positive."</p> + +<p>Majors Harlan and McBride, with two or three others of inferior rank, +took sides with Trigg; and the discussion seemed likely to be protracted +for some considerable time; when Major Hugh McGary, who had been +listening to the proceedings with the utmost impatience, suddenly +startled and broke up the council by a loud whoop, resembling that of an +Indian; and spurring his high mettled charger forward, he waved his hat +over his head, and shouted, in a voice that reached the whole length of +the line, these ever memorable words:</p> + +<p>"Those among you who are not d—d cowards, follow me! I'll soon show you +where the Indians are!"</p> + +<p>As he spoke he rushed his fiery steed into the river, with all the rash +impetuosity of a desperate soldier charging at the cannon's mouth.</p> + +<p>The effect of McGary's words and actions were electrical. The troops, +mounted and on foot, officers and privates, suddenly became animated +with a wild enthusiasm. Whooping and yelling like Indians, more than a +hundred of them now sprung forward, and in a tumultuous body rushed into +the stream and struggled for the opposite shore. A few lingered around +Boone, Todd, and Twigg, to await their orders. But the pause of these +commanders was only momentary. They saw their ranks in confusion, and +more than two-thirds of their soldiers in the water, struggling after +the hot-headed McGary, and most of the other officers. The mischief was +already done. To delay was but to doom their enthusiastic comrades to +certain destruction; and shouting to those who yet remained to follow, +Todd put spurs to his horse, and, together with Trigg and Boone dashed +after the main body. It was a wild scene of excitement. Horsemen and +footmen, officers and privates, all mixed up together in confusion, and +pushing forward in one "rolling and irregular mass."</p> + +<p>By violent threats and repeated exertions, with their swords drawn and +flashing in the sunlight, Colonels Todd, Trigg and Boone at length +succeeded, after reaching the opposite bank, in restoring something like +order to the half-crazed troops. On gaining the brow of the buffalo +ridge, Todd commanded a halt; then drawing a pistol from the holster of +his saddle, he rode to the front of the lines, and, with eyes flashing +fire, exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Men! we must have order! Without order we are lost. I command a halt; +and the first man that moves from the ranks, officer or private, until +so commanded, I swear to scatter his brains on the land he disgraces!"</p> + +<p>His speech produced the desired effect; not a man ventured, by +disobeying, to put his threat to the test; and after gazing on them +sternly a few moments in silence, he turned to McGary, who was sitting +his horse a few paces distant, and said:</p> + +<p>"Sir! you have acted unbecoming, both as an officer and a gentleman; and +if we two live through an engagement which I fear is near at hand, and +which your rashness will have brought about, I will have you put under +arrest and tried by court martial."</p> + +<p>"As you please, Colonel Todd," replied McGary, with a fierce look. "But +you will bear in mind, sir, that at the council yesterday, you scouted +at the proposition advanced by Colonel Boone, and seconded by myself and +others, of waiting for the reinforcements of Colonel Logan, and +insinuated that we were cowards. As <i>you</i>, sir, were so <i>very</i> brave, +and so eager for a fight when at a distance, I swore that, if we came +where a fight could be had, I would either draw you into action, or +forever damn you as a coward in the eyes of your soldiers. If I have +succeeded, I rest satisfied to let you do your worst."</p> + +<p>"Resume your place, sir! and break an order this day at your peril!" +cried Todd, sharply, his face flushed with indignation.</p> + +<p>As McGary slowly obeyed, Todd called to Boone, Trigg, and one or two +others, with whom he held a short consultation as to the propriety of +sending forward scouts before advancing with the main army. This being +decided in the affirmative, Isaac Younker and another individual were +selected from the ranks, and appointed to go on the dangerous mission; +with orders to follow the buffalo trace and examine it carefully on both +sides—particularly round about the ravines—and if they saw any traces +of Indians, to hasten back with all speed; but if not, to continue their +examination for a half mile further on, where the great trace gradually +became lost in lesser paths, which branched off in every direction.</p> + +<p>Immediately on the departure of these two scouts, the troops were drawn +up in a long line, ready for action at a moment's notice. Colonel Trigg +commanded the Harrodsburgh forces on the right; Colonel Boone the +Boonesborough soldiers on the left; and Colonel Todd, assisted by Majors +McGary and McBride, the Lexington militia in the center. Major Harlan +led the van, and Major Levi Todd brought up the rear. This was the order +in which they went into battle.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<center>THE BATTLE OF BLUE LICKS</center> +<br/> + +<p>In less than an hour, Isaac and his companions returned, and reported +that they had seen no signs of Indians whatever. On the receipt of this +intelligence, the order to march was immediately given, and the whole +body of soldiers, under the scorching rays of an August sun, moved +rapidly forward. Nothing occurred to interrupt their progress, until the +van had reached within a few yards of the ravines before mentioned, when +the appalling truth of a tremendous ambuscade of the savages suddenly +became known, by the pouring therefrom, into their ranks, a terrible +volley, which carried with it death, terror and confusion. Never were +soldiers taken more by surprise, and at greater disadvantage to +themselves, both as to numbers and position. They had relied upon the +report of the scouts, who had themselves been deceived by the quiet of +everything about the ravines; and now here they were, less than two +hundred in number, on an open spot, exposed to the deadly rifles of more +than five hundred Indian warriors, who were lying concealed among the +dark cedars of the ravines.</p> + +<p>The first fire was severely destructive, particularly on the right, +where the gallant Colonel Trigg fell mortally wounded, and was soon +after tomahawked and scalped. With him went down several officers of +inferior grade, and a large portion of the Harrodsburgh troops; but, +undaunted, his little band of survivors returned the fire of the +Indians, and, assisted by those in the rear, pressed forward like heroes +to the support of the center and van, where the work of death and +carnage was now becoming terrible.</p> + +<p>"Onward!" shouted Colonel Todd, as he rode to and fro, animating his men +by his voice and gestures: "Onward, my noble soldiers, and strike for +your country and firesides! Oh God!" exclaimed he the next moment, as a +ball pierced his breast; "I am mortally wounded; but strike! press on, +and mind me not!"</p> + +<p>As he spoke, he reeled in his saddle, the rein slipped from his grasp, +and his fiery steed rushed away, bearing him to the enemy and his +untimely doom.</p> + +<p>"Fight, my lads, and falter not!" cried Major Harlan in the van; and the +next moment his horse went down, some five or six balls lodged in his +body, and he fell to rise no more.</p> + +<p>But his men remembered their orders, and fought without faltering, until +but three remained alive to tell the fate of the party.</p> + +<p>"At 'em, lads!—don't spare the varmints!" said Boone, as he urged the +left wing into action; and the immediate report of more than fifty +rifles in that quarter, told him he was obeyed. In this wing fought +Algernon, Isaac, the brother and son of Boone, with a heroic desperation +worthy of Spartans; and at every fire an Indian went down before each of +their deadly rifles.</p> + +<p>But what could avail heroism here on that ill-fated day? Our brave +little band of Kentuckians was opposed by a foe of treble their number; +who, on their first terrible fire being expended, rushed forth from +their covert, with horrible yells, tomahawk in hand, and, gradually +extending their lines down the buffalo trace, on either side, so as to +cut off the retreat of the whites, closed in upon them in overwhelming +numbers, and the slaughter became immense. Major McGary rushed his horse +to and fro among the enemy, and shouted and fought with all the +desperate impetuosity of his nature. Major Todd did his best to press on +the rear, and Colonel Boone still urged his men to the fight with all +the backwoods eloquence in his power. But, alas! of what avail was +coolness, impetuosity, or desperation now? The Indians were closing in +thicker and thicker. Officers and privates, horsemen and footmen, were +falling before the destructive fire of their rifles, or sinking beneath +their bloody tomahawks, amid yells and screeches the most diabolical. +Cries, groans, and curses, resounded on every hand, from the living, the +wounded, and dying. But few now remained in command. Colonels Todd and +Trigg, Majors Harlan and McBride, Captains Bulger and Gordon, with a +host of other gallant officers, were now no more. Already had the +Indians enclosed them as in a net, hemmed them in on all sides, and they +were falling as grass before the scythe of the mower. Retreat was almost +cut off—in a few minutes it would be entirely. They could hope for +nothing against such odds, but a certain and bloody death. There was a +possibility of escape. A few minutes and it would be too late. They +hesitated—they wavered—they turned and fled; and now it was that a +horrible sight presented itself.</p> + +<p>The space between the head of the ravines and the ford of the river a +distance of more than a mile, suddenly became the scene of a hard and +bloody race. As the whites fled, the Indians sprung after them, with +whoops and yells that more resembled those of infuriated demons than +human beings; and whenever an unfortunate Kentuckian was overtaken, he +instantly fell a victim to the tomahawk and scalping knife. Those who +were mounted generally escaped; but the foot suffered dreadfully; and +the whole distance presented an appalling sight of bloody, mangled +corses, strewing the ground in every direction. Girty, the renegade, was +now at the height of his hellish enjoyment. With oaths and curses, and +horrid laughter, his hands and weapons reeking with blood of the slain, +he rushed on after new victims, braining and scalping all that came +within his reach.</p> + +<p>At the river the carnage was in no wise abated. Horsemen and footmen, +victors and vanquished, rushed down the slope, pell-mell, and plunged +into the stream—some striving for life and liberty, some for death and +vengeance—and the dark rolling waters went sweeping on, colored with +the blood of the slaughtered.</p> + +<p>An act of heroic gallantry and presence of mind here occurred, which has +often been mentioned in history, tending to check somewhat the +blood-thirsty savages, and give many of the fugitives time to escape. +Some twelve or fifteen horsemen had already passed the ford in safety, +and were in the act of spurring forward, regardless of the fate of their +unfortunate companions on foot, when one of their number, a man by the +name of Netherland, who had previously been accused of cowardice, +suddenly shouted, as if giving the word of command:</p> + +<p>"Halt! Fire on the Indians, and protect the men in the river!"</p> + +<p>The order was obeyed, in the same spirit it was given; and the sudden +discharge of more than a dozen rifles, made the infuriated savages +recoil in dismay, and thereby saved many a poor fellow's life. The +reaction, however, speedily followed. Many of the savages now swam the +river above and below the ford, and gave chase to the fugitives for +fifteen and even twenty miles—though with but little success after +crossing the stream—as the latter generally plunged into the +neighboring thickets, and so eluded the vigilance of the former.</p> + +<p>Such were the general features of the disastrous battle of Blue Licks—a +battle of dreadful import to the pioneers of Kentucky—which threw the +land into mourning, and made a most solemn and startling impression upon +the minds of its inhabitants. Had we space to chronicle individual +heroism, we might fill page after page with brave and noble +achievements; but as it is, we shall confine ourself to those connected +with our most prominent characters.</p> + +<p>We have stated previously, that Algernon Reynolds fought in the left +wing, under the command of Boone; where, for the few minutes which the +action lasted, he sustained himself with great gallantry; and, by his +undaunted courage, inspired those immediately around him with like +ardor. On the retreat of the whites, he found himself cut off from the +river by a large body of Indians, headed by his old foe, Simon Girty, +who, having recognized him, was now pressing forward with several +stalwart warriors, to again make him prisoner. For the first time since +the commencement of the battle, he felt his heart sink. To be taken +alive was a thousand times worse than death, and escape seemed +impossible. However, there was no time for consideration; another moment +might be fatal; his foes were upon him; it was now or never. Luckily he +was mounted on a fiery steed—which had thus far escaped a scratch—and +had one undischarged pistol in his holster. This he drew forth as his +last hope; and, tightening the rein, wheeled his horse and spurred down +upon his enemies with tremendous velocity.</p> + +<p>"I have you now, by ——!" cried the renegade.</p> + +<p>As he spoke, he sprung forward to grasp the bridle of Algernon's horse; +but stumbled and fell, and the beast passed over him, unfortunately +though without doing him any injury.</p> + +<p>But Algernon had not yet got clear of his enemies; for on the fall of +Girty, he found himself surrounded by a host of savages, whooping and +yelling frightfully, and his direct course to the river cut off by a +body of more than a hundred. There was only one point, and that a few +yards to his left, where there appeared a possibility of his breaking +through their lines. In the twinkling of an eye, and while his horse was +yet under full headway, his decision was made. Rushing his steed hard to +the right, in order to deceive his foes, he suddenly wheeled him again +to the left; and the side of the beast striking against some three or +four of the Indians, who were on the point of seizing his rein, +staggered them back upon their companions, creating no little confusion. +Taking advantage of this, our hero, with the speed of a flying arrow, +bore down upon the weakest point; where, after shooting down a powerful +savage, who had succeeded in grasping his bridle and was on the point of +tomahawking his horse, he passed their lines, amid a volley of rifle +balls, which cut his clothes in several places, but left himself and +steed unharmed.</p> + +<p>The worst of the danger now seemed over; but still his road ahead was +beset with Indians, who were killing and scalping all that fell in their +power; and behind him were the infuriated renegade and his party now in +hot pursuit. His steed, however, was strong and fleet, and he put him to +his wind; by which means he not only distanced those behind him, but +passed one or two parties in front unharmed. About half way between the +ravines and the river, he overtook Major McGary, and some five or six +other horsemen, who were dashing forward at a fast gallop; and checking +his fiery beast somewhat, he silently joined them. A little further on, +Reynolds observed an officer on foot, who, exhausted by his recent +exertions, and lame from former wounds, had fallen behind his +companions. On coming up, he recognized in the crippled soldier the +brave Captain Patterson; and with a magnanimity and self-sacrifice +worthy of all imitation, he instantly reined in his horse and +dismounted, while the others kept upon their course.</p> + +<p>"Sir!" cried he to Patterson; "you are, I perceive, fatigued and weak. +Your life is in great danger. Mount, sir—mount! I am fresh and will +take my chance on foot."</p> + +<p>"God bless you, sir!—God bless you for this noble act!" exclaimed +Patterson, as Reynolds assisted him, into the saddle. "If I escape—"</p> + +<p>"Enough!" said Reynolds, hurriedly, interrupting him. "Fly, sir—fly! +God be with you! Adieu!"</p> + +<p>And turning away as he spoke, he sprung down the side of the ridge, and +running along the edge of the river some little distance, plunged into +the water and swam to the opposite shore. Unfortunately for our hero, he +had changed his garments at Bryan's Station, and now wore a pair of +buckskin breeches, which, in swimming the stream, had become so soaked +and heavy that he was obliged to remove them in order to display his +usual agility. While seated upon the bank and occupied in this manner, +he was startled by a hand being placed upon his shoulder, and the +familiar grunt of an Indian sounding in his ear. On looking up, he at +once recognized the grim features of Wild-cat, and saw himself in the +power of some half a dozen savages.</p> + +<p>"Me wanty you," said Wild-cat, quietly. "Kitchokema give much for Long +Knife. Come!"</p> + +<p>There was no alternative now; and Algernon rose to his feet, and +suffered his weapons to be taken from him, with what feelings we leave +the reader to imagine. Taking him along, the savages set forward, on the +alert for other game; and presently three of them darted away in chase +of a party of whites; and directly after, two others, leaving our hero +alone with Wild-cat. Hope now revived that he might yet escape; nor was +he this time disappointed; for after advancing a short distance, +Wild-cat stooped down to tie his moccasin; when Reynolds immediately +sprung upon him, knocked him down with his fist, seized his rifle, +tomahawk, and knife, fled into the thicket, and reached Bryan's Station, +during the night succeeding, unscathed.<a name="FNanchor_24" id="FNanchor_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a></p> + +<p>Throughout the short but severe action at the ravines, Boone maintained +his ground with great coolness and courage, animating his soldiers by +word and deed, until the rout became general, when he found it +necessary, to prevent falling into the hands of the enemy, to have +recourse to immediate flight. As he cast his eyes around him for this +purpose, he saw himself cut off from the ford by the large body of +Indians, through whose lines our hero was even then struggling. At this +moment he heard a groan which attracted his attention; and looking down, +he perceived his son Israel lying on the ground, scarcely five paces +distant, weltering in his blood. With all a father's feelings of +affection and alarm, he instantly sprung from his horse, and, raising +the youth in his arms, darted into the nearest ravine, and made with all +speed for the river. A few of the Indians were herein concealed, who +discharged their rifles at him as he passed, without injury, and then +joined in pursuit. One, a powerful warrior, having outstripped his +companions, was rushing upon the old woodsman with his tomahawk, when +the latter, with backwoods celerity, instantly raised his rifle and shot +him through the body. Finding himself hard pressed, and that his son was +already in the agonies of death, the old hunter strained him for the +last time to his heart, with choking emotion, pressed his lips to those +already growing cold, and then, with a groan of agony, left him to his +fate and the scalping-knife of the savage, while he barely made his own +escape by swimming the river below the bend. To him this was a mournful +day—never to be forgotten—and one that, even long, long years after, +could never be mentioned but with tears.</p> + +<p>In this action the brother of Boone was wounded; but in company with +Isaac Younker, and some three or four others, he succeeded in making his +escape.</p> + +<p>On the day of the battle, Colonel Logan arrived at Bryan's Station with +a command of four hundred and fifty soldiers. On learning that the +garrison with their reinforcements had gone the day preceding in pursuit +of the Indians, and fearful of some disaster, he resolved on a forced +march to give them assistance as soon as possible. For this purpose he +immediately set forward on their trail; but had advanced only a few +miles, when he met a party of the fugitives returning from the scene of +slaughter. They were alarmed and excited, and of course their account of +the battle was greatly exaggerated, believing as they did that they were +the only escaped survivors. Their report, to say the least, was very +startling, allowing that only the half were true; and in consequence, +Logan decided on retracing his steps to the station, until he should be +able to collect more definite news concerning the fight. Gradually one +party after another came dropping in; and by nine o'clock nearly or +quite all of the survivors were assembled in the fortress; when it was +ascertained that a little over one-third of the party, or between sixty +and seventy of those engaged in the battle, were missing. It was a sad +night of wailing, and lamentation, and dreadful excitement in the +station; for scarcely a family there, but was mourning the loss of some +friend or relation. Algernon and Isaac had returned, to the great joy of +those most interested in their welfare; but the father-in-law of the +latter came not, and there was mourning in consequence.</p> + +<p>A consultation between Colonels Logan and Boone, resulted in the +decision to march forthwith to the battle-ground. Accordingly every +thing being got in readiness, Colonel Logan set out with his command, at +a late hour the same night, accompanied by Boone, and a few of the +survivors of the ill-fated engagement. Towards morning a halt of three +hours was ordered for rest and refreshment: when the line of march was +again taken up; and by noon of the day succeeding the battle, the forces +arrived upon the ground, where a most horribly repulsive scene met their +view.</p> + +<p>The Indians had departed on their homeward route, bearing their killed +and wounded away from the field of carnage; but the dead and mutilated +bodies of the whites still remained where they had fallen, presenting a +spectacle the most hideous and revolting possibly to be conceived. In +the edge of the stream, on the banks, up the ridge, and along the +buffalo trace to the ravines, were lying the bloody and mangled corses +of the gallant heroes—who, the day before, full of ardor and life, had +rushed on to the battle and an untimely and inglorious death—now +swollen, putrid, and in the first stage of decomposition, from the +action of the scorching rays of an August sun—surrounded by vultures +and crows, and all species of carrion fowl; many of which, having gorged +themselves on the horrid repast, were either sweeping overhead in large +flocks, and screeching their funeral dirges, or wiping their bloody +bills on the neighboring trees. Some of the bodies in the stream had +been gnawed by fishes—others by wolves—and all had been so disfigured, +by one means and another, that but very few could be recognized by their +friends.</p> + +<p>"Great Heaven! what a sight!" exclaimed Colonel Logan, as he ran his eye +over the scene.</p> + +<p>"A dark and terrible day for Kaintuck," answered Boone, who was standing +by his side; and as he spoke, the old hunter turned away his head to +conceal his emotion; for his mind reverted to the death of his noble +son.</p> + +<p>Orders were now given by Colonel Logan, to have the bodies collected, +and interred in a manner as decent as circumstances would permit. This +being accomplished, he returned with his men to Bryan's Station, and +there dismissed them—it not being thought advisable to pursue the enemy +further. In this ever memorable battle of Blue Licks, the Kentuckians +had sixty killed, twelve wounded, and seven taken prisoners, most of +whom were afterwards put to the tortures. As we said before, it was a +sad day for Kentucky, and threw the land into mourning and gloom. +Colonels Todd and Trigg, and Majors Harlan and McBride, were men beloved +and respected in life, and bitterly lamented in death by a long list of +true-hearted friends.</p> + +<p>The great trace where the battle was fought, is now green with low +branching cedars; and a solitary monument near by, informs the curious +spectator of the sad disaster of by gone times. The Blue Lick Springs +are much resorted to in the summer season by invalids and others, for +whose convenience a magnificent hotel stands upon the banks of the +lovely and romantic Licking.</p> + +<p>A few words more and our general history will be closed. On receiving +the intelligence of the battle of Blue Licks, General Clark—who then +occupied a fort at the Falls of the Ohio, on the present site of +Louisville—resolved upon another expedition to the enemy's country; for +which purpose it was proposed to raise an army of one thousand men, who, +under their respective commanders, should congregate opposite the mouth +of the Licking, on the present site of Cincinnati. The interior and +upper country were to rendezvous at Bryan's Station, under the command +of Colonels Logan and Floyd; and the lower settlements at the Falls of +Ohio, under General Clark; who, on all parties arriving at the grand +rendezvous, was to be commander-in-chief of the expedition. One thousand +mounted riflemen were raised without a draft, who marched upon the enemy +in their own country, destroyed their villages, provisions, and +cornfields, took several prisoners, and carried with them so much terror +and desolation, that the Indians never sufficiently recovered from the +shock to renew hostilities in a formidable body; and the Kentuckians +henceforth, save in individual cases, were left unmolested.</p> + +<p>On their march they came upon the rear of Girty's party, returning from +their successful battle; but an Indian scout gave the renegade and his +companions warning in time for them to escape the whites by flight. In +this expedition, Colonel Boone volunteered and served as a private; +being the last in which the noble old hunter was ever engaged in defence +of the settlements of Kentucky. Algernon Reynolds and Isaac Younker were +his companions in arms; who, on the dismissal of the troops, returned +again to Bryan's Station.</p> + + +<a name="Footnote_24" id="Footnote_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a><div class="footnote"><p> It may perhaps add interest to the story, for the reader +to know that the foregoing account concerning Reynolds and Captain +Patterson, is historically true; as is also the one which follows with +regard to Boone and his son.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<center>THE FINALE.</center> +<br/> + +<p>Month upon month rolled away, quiet succeeded to the alarm and commotion +of war, hostilities between Great Britain and America ceased, and the +country both east and west now began to look up from the depression and +gloom which had pervaded it during its long and sanguinary struggle for +independence. In Kentucky the effect was really invigorating; and the +settlers, who for a year past had been driven from their homes in terror +and dismay—who had quitted their peaceable farming implements for the +destructive weapons of strife and bloodshed—now ventured to return to +their desolate firesides, and renew their honest occupations of tilling +the soil. Some, however, more predisposed to financiering than their +neighbors, sought only speculation; in consequence whereof the Land +Offices of the Virginia Commissioners—which opened in November, after +the return of the troops under Clark—were daily thronged with +applicants for the best locations; whereby was laid the first grand +corner-stone of subsequent litigation, disaffection, and civil discord +among the pioneers. But with these, further than to mention the facts as +connected with the history of the time, we have nothing to do; and shall +now forthwith pass on to the finale of our story.</p> + +<p>Month upon month, as we said before, had rolled away, spring had come, +and with it had departed many of those who had occupied Bryan's Station +during the siege of August; but still, besides the regular garrison and +their families, a few of the individuals who had sought refuge therein, +yet remained; among whom we may mention Mrs. Younker, Ella, Isaac and +his wife, and so forth. Algernon, too—by the entreaty of his friends, +and contrary to his previous calculations, and what he considered his +duty—had been induced to defer his departure until the opening of +spring. Possibly there might have been a secret power, stronger than the +mere entreaties of others, which had prevailed over his resolution to +depart; but further the records say not. Be that as it may, the extreme +limit of time which he had set for remaining, was now nearly expired; +and he was, at the moment when we again present him to the reader, +engaged in conversation with Ella on the painful subject. Suddenly he +was startled by the information that a stranger in the court desired to +speak with him.</p> + +<p>"A stranger!" exclaimed Algernon, in surprise; and as he spoke, his face +became very pale, his lips quivered, and his hands trembled. Turning +upon Ella a look of agony, which seemed to say, "I am an arrested +felon," he wheeled upon his heel, and followed the messenger in silence; +while she, knowing the cause of his agitation, and fearful of the worst, +sunk almost lifeless upon a seat.</p> + +<p>As Algernon passed out of the cottage, he beheld, in the center of the +common, a well dressed, good-looking individual, who was standing on the +ground and holding by the bridle a horse, which, as well as the rider +himself, appeared both travel-stained and weary. Approaching the +stranger with a firm step, but with a pale countenance and throbbing +heart, he said:</p> + +<p>"I understand, sir, you have business with me."</p> + +<p>"Your name, then," returned the other, quietly, "I presume to be +Algernon Reynolds?"</p> + +<p>"The same."</p> + +<p>"You are, too, I infer, a native of ——, Connecticut, and son of Albert +Reynolds of that place?"</p> + +<p>"Again right," answered Algernon, in a voice which, in spite of himself, +was a little tremulous.</p> + +<p>"Then, sir," rejoined the stranger, with a satisfied air, "I may say +that I have business with you, and of vast importance. A long chase you +have led me, i' faith; and weeks of travel have you cost me; so you may +rest assured that I am happy in finding you at last."</p> + +<p>"Proceed!" said Algernon, compressing his lips, as one whose mind is +made up for the worst. "Proceed, sir. I know your mission."</p> + +<p>"The deuce you do!" replied the other, in astonishment; "then you must +have a very remarkable faculty for divining secrets. I rather guess you +are mistaken though," he added, as he drew forth a couple of letters +from a side pocket; "but these will inform you whether you are or not."</p> + +<p>Seizing the proffered letters with trembling eagerness, Algernon hastily +glanced at their superscription; then, breaking the seals, he devoured +their contents with the utmost avidity; while the stranger stood noting +the varying expressions of his handsome countenance, with a quiet smile. +At first his pale features seemed flushed with surprise—then became +radiant with joy—and then gradually saddened with sorrow; yet a certain +cheerfulness prevailed over all—such as he had not exhibited for many a +long month. As he finished a hasty perusal of the epistles, he turned to +the stranger, grasped his hand, and, shaking it heartily, while tears of +joy filled his eyes, exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"I <i>was</i> mistaken, sir—God be thanked! God bless you too, sir! for +being the messenger of peace between myself and conscience. Excuse me. +Tarry a moment, sir, and I will send some one to take charge of your +weary beast, and show yourself a place of rest and refreshment."</p> + +<p>As he spoke, Algernon darted away toward the cottage. Observing Isaac, +he ran to and caught him by the hand:</p> + +<p>"Isaac," he said, in a gay tone, while his eyes sparkled with delight, +"wish me joy! I have good news. I—but stay; I forgot; you know nothing +of the matter. Oblige me, though, by showing yonder gentleman and his +beast due hospitality;" and wringing his hand, he sprung into the +apartment where Ella was sitting alone, leaving Isaac staring after him +with open mouth, and wondering whether he were in his right senses or +not.</p> + +<p>"Ella!" he exclaimed, wildly, as he suddenly appeared before her with a +flushed countenance: "Ella, God bless you! Listen. I—I am free! I am no +longer a criminal, thank God! These, Ella—these!" and he held aloft the +letters with one hand, and tapped them nervously with the other.</p> + +<p>The next moment his features grew pale, his whole frame quivered, and he +sunk upon a seat, completely overcome by the nervous excitement produced +by the sudden transition from despair to hope and freedom.</p> + +<p>Ella was alarmed; and springing to him, she exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"For Heaven's sake! Algernon, what is the matter?—what has +happened?—are you in your senses? Speak!—speak!"</p> + +<p>"Read!" answered he, faintly, placing the letters in her hand: "Read, +Ella—read!"</p> + +<p>Ella hesitated a moment on the propriety of complying with his request, +but a moment only; and the next she turned to one of the epistles. It +was from the father of Algernon, and ran as follows:</p><br/> + +<p style="margin: 1em;">"DEAR SON:—If in the land of the living, return as +speedily as possible to your afflicted and anxious parents, who are even +now mourning you as dead. You can return in safety; for your cousin, +whom you supposed you had fatally wounded, recovered therefrom, and +publicly exonerated you from all blame in the matter. He is now, +however, no more—having died of late. Elvira, his wife, is also +dead. She died insane. As a partial restitution for the injury done you, +your cousin has made you heir, by will, to all his property, real estate +and personal, amounting, it is said, to over twenty thousand dollars. +Your mother is in feeble health, caused by anxiety on your account. For +further information, inquire of the messenger who will bear you this.</p> + +<p style="text-align: right;"> +Your affectionate father,<br /> +ALBERT REYNOLDS."</p> +<p>Nov. 12th, 1782.</p><br/> + + +<p>The other epistle was from a lawyer, informing Reynolds of his +acquisition to a large amount of property, by a will of his late cousin; +and that he, the said lawyer, being executor thereof, required the +presence of him, the said Reynolds, or his proxy forthwith.</p> + +<p>"I knew it: I felt that all would yet be well: I told you to hope for +the best!" cried Ella, as she concluded the letter, her eyes moist with +tears, and her face beaming like the sun through a summer shower.</p> + +<p>"God bless you, dearest Ella—you did indeed!" exclaimed Reynolds, +suddenly, bounding from his seat and clasping her in his arms. "You did +indeed tell me to hope—and you told me truly;" and he pressed kiss +after kiss, again and again, upon her sweet lips, with all the wild, +trembling, rapturous feelings of a lover in his first ecstasy of bliss, +when he has surmounted all obstacles, and gained the heart of the being +he loves.</p> + +<p>"Now, dearest Ella," continued Algernon, when the excitement of the +moment had been succeeded by a calmer, though not less blissful mood: +"Now, dearest Ella, I am free—my sacred oath binds me no longer—and +now can I say, with propriety, that I deeply, solemnly, and devotedly +love you, and you alone. I am not rich; but I have enough of this +world's goods to live in ease, if not in splendor. Will you share with +me, and be partner of my lot, be it for good or ill, through life? My +heart you have had long—my hand I now offer you. Say, dearest, will you +be mine?"</p> + +<p>Ella did not speak—she could not; but she looked up into his face, with +a sweet, modest, affectionate smile; and her dark, soft, beautiful eyes, +suffused with tears, wherein a soul of love lay mirrored, gave answer, +with a heart-felt eloquence surpassing words.</p> + +<p>"I understand you, Ella," said Algernon, with emotion. "You are +mine—mine forever!" and he strained her trembling form to his heart in +silence—a deep, joyful and holy silence—that had in it more of Heaven +than earth.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>It was a mild, lovely day in the spring of 1783. Earth had donned her +green mantle, and decorated it with flowers of every hue and variety. +The trees were in leaf and in bloom; among whose soft, waving branches, +gay birds from the sunny south sung most sweetly; and nature seemed +every where to rejoice. In the court of Bryan's Station was a large +concourse of people—many of whom were from a distance—and all +assembled there to witness the solemn ceremony which was to unite +Algernon Reynolds and Ella Barnwell forever; for who shall say the holy +marriage rite is not eternally binding in the great Hereafter. There +were congregated both sexes and all ages, from the infant to the hoary +headed veteran of eighty winters. There were assembled youth and +manhood, whose names have since graced the historic page, and whose +deeds have stamped them benefactors of their race and nation. All were +in order, and silent, and the scene was most solemnly impressive. On the +right and left of the bride and groom and their attendants, stood, +promiscuously, the general spectators of both sexes. In front was drawn +up the garrison, in three platoons, under arms, in compliment to the +noble bravery of our hero at the battle of Blue Licks.</p> + +<p>Never did Algernon appear more noble than now—never did Ella look more +beautiful; as, pale and trembling, she seemed to cling to his arm for +support. The ceremony was at length begun and ended, amid a deep and +breathless silence. As the last words, "<i>I pronounce you man and wife</i>," +died away upon the air, the first platoon advanced a pace and fired a +volley—the second and third followed—and then arose a soft bewitching +strain of music; during which the friends of the newly married pair came +forward to offer their congratulations, and wishes for their long life +and happiness.</p> + +<p>Among the party present was Colonel Boone; and approaching Algernon and +Ella—who were now seated where the solemn rite had taken place—he took +the hand of each, and said, in a voice of some emotion:</p> + +<p>"My children—for ye seem to me as such—may you both live long and be +happy. You've both o' ye had a deal o' trouble since I first saw ye—and +that's but a little while ago—but I hope its now over. Don't think I +want to flatter, sir, when I say I think you're a brave and honorable +young man, and that you've got a wife every way worthy of ye—and she a +husband worthy o' her—and that's saying much. God bless ye both! and ef +you ever need a friend, call on Daniel Boone."</p> + +<p>With this he shook their hands heartily, and strode away.</p> + +<p>The next who advanced to them was Captain Patterson—the officer, it +will be remembered, whose life Algernon so generously saved at the risk +of his own. After the usual congratulations, he took our hero by the +hand, and said, with deep feeling:</p> + +<p>"Sir! I feel that to you, for risking your own life to save mine, I owe +a debt I can never cancel; and an attempt to express to you in words my +sense of obligation for the noble act, would be worse than vain: +therefore accept this, as a slight testimonial of the gratitude of one +who will ever remember you in his prayers, and wear your image in his +heart."</p> + +<p>As he concluded, Captain Patterson placed in the hands of Algernon a +sealed packet, and moved away.<a name="FNanchor_25" id="FNanchor_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a></p> + +<p>"Well, its all over," said Mrs. Younker, coming up in turn to wish the +young couple joy. "I al'ays 'spected as how it 'ud come to this here. +Goodness, gracious, marsy on me alive! what a flustration they has made +about ye, sure enough, for sartin—han't they? I never seed the like +on't afore in all my born days. Why, it's like you war governor's folks, +sure enough. And my own Ella, too; and the stranger as com'd to my house +all bleeding to death like! My! my!—what strange doings Providence +does! Well, its to be hoped you'll al'ays git bread enough to keep from +starving, and that you won't fight nor quarrel more nor is +necessitous—as the Reverend Preacher Allprayer said, when he married +me and Ben together. Ah!—poor Ben!—poor Ben!—I'm a lone widder now. +Well, the Lord's will be done!" And the good dame moved sadly away, to +make room for others, and console herself by recounting her afflictions +to some patient listener, together with the virtues of her deceased and +living friends.</p> + +<p>"I don't 'spect it's o' much account my telling you I wish ye joy," said +Isaac, "when every body's doing the same thing; but it comes from the +heart, and I can't help it. Well, you'll be happy, I know; for thar's +nothing like married life; and I speak from experience. I'm sorry you've +got to leave us so soon; but you won't git far from me; for I've got you +both here;" and placing his hand upon his heart, he bowed, smiled, and +passed on.</p> + +<p>As soon as the congratulations were over, Algernon and Ella were +escorted into the cottage occupied by Mrs. Younker; where a sumptuous +dinner was already prepared for them, their relatives, and a few select +friends, among whom was Colonel Boone and Captain Patterson. For the +remainder, long tables were ranged around the common, where the greatest +conviviality prevailed; and toasts were drank, and songs were sung, and +all were merry. After dinner there were music and dancing on the common +and in the cabins: and the coming night shut in a scene of festivity, +such as was but seldom witnessed even in those early times; and which +was remembered and spoken of long, long years after, when many of those +who were then actors in the scene had sunk beneath the clods of the +valley.</p> + +<p>Years have rolled away to the dark and unapproachable past since the +transpiring of the events which we have chronicled, and vast mutations +have marked the steps of all conquering time. Our beloved country, which +then weak and oppressed was struggling for her independence against the +most powerful nation on the globe, has since nobly won a name and place +among the mighty ones of earth, and planted her stars and stripes from +the Atlantic to the Pacific, and built cities and towns amid dark and +mighty forests, where then roved in freedom the wild, untutored +aborigines of America.</p> + +<p>Kentucky, too, has since become a rich, populous, and powerful state; +and her noble sons, by their courage and generosity, have well +maintained that name and fame which was won for them by their fathers, +and which shall go down to future ages all green and unfading. Bryan's +Station—the theatre of many a scene of gay frolic and sanguinary +strife—of festivity and mourning—has long since sunk to ruin and dust; +and on its site now stands the private dwelling of a gentleman of +fortune. But where are they who once inhabited it? Those hoary headed +veterans—those middle aged men—or those fiery and impetuous youths +ever ready for either love or war? Where are they now? Gone! Passed away +like moving shadows that leave no trace behind. Gone out, one by one, as +lights in the late deserted hall of revelry, or stars at the dawn of +day. But very few—and these mere striplings then—now remain to tell +the tale; of whom it may with truth be said, "The places which know them +now shall soon know them no more forever."</p> + +<p>Reader, a word or two more and we have done; and in your hands we leave +the decision, as to whether our task has been faithfully fulfilled or +not.</p> + +<p>Shortly after their marriage, Algernon and Ella bade farewell to their +friends in the west, and returned to the east, where a long and happy +career awaited them; and where they lived to recount to their children +and grand-children, the thrilling narratives of their captivity, and +their wild and romantic adventures while pioneers on the borders of +Kentucky.</p> + +<p>Isaac returned to the farm of his father—rebuilt the cottage destroyed +by the Indians—and there, with his dear Peggy, lived happily to a green +old age, beloved and respected by all who knew him; and there his +posterity still continue to multiply the name of Younker. With him the +good dame, his mother, sojourned for several years, as industrious and +talkative as ever; and at last passed quietly from among the living, +even while in the act of making a sublime quotation on the subject of +dying from her favorite, the immortal Preacher Allprayer.</p> + +<p>Boone continued a resident of Kentucky, until he fancied it too populous +for his comfort; when he removed with his family to Missouri; where he +spent much of his time in fishing and hunting, and where he finally died +at an advanced age. From thence his remains were conveyed to Frankfort, +the capital of Kentucky, where they now repose; and where a rough slab, +with a few half intelligible characters thereon, points out to the +curious stranger the last earthly resting place of the noblest, the most +daring, and famous hunter and pioneer the world has ever produced.</p> + +<p>The fate of little Rosetta Millbanks, the captive, is unknown.</p> + +<p>Girty, notwithstanding his outrageous crimes against humanity, continued +to live among the Indians for a great number of years, the inveterate +and barbarous foe of his race. In the celebrated battle of the Thames, a +desperate white man led on a band of savages, who fought with great +fury, but were at length overpowered and their leader cut to pieces by +Colonel Johnson's mounted men. The mangled corse of this leader was +afterwards recognized as the notorious and once dreaded Simon Girty.</p> + + +<a name="Footnote_25" id="Footnote_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a><div class="footnote"><p> This was found to contain a deed of two hundred acres of +the best land in Kentucky. A historical fact.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE END</h2> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Ella Barnwell, by Emerson Bennett + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ELLA BARNWELL *** + +***** This file should be named 15424-h.htm or 15424-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/4/2/15424/ + +Produced by Kentuckiana Digital Library, David Garcia, +Pilar Somoza and the PG Online Distributed Proofreading +Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/15424.txt b/15424.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1355d04 --- /dev/null +++ b/15424.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8857 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ella Barnwell, by Emerson Bennett + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Ella Barnwell + A Historical Romance of Border Life + +Author: Emerson Bennett + +Release Date: March 21, 2005 [EBook #15424] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ELLA BARNWELL *** + + + + +Produced by Kentuckiana Digital Library, David Garcia, +Pilar Somoza and the PG Online Distributed Proofreading +Team. + + + + + + +ELLA BARNWELL: + +A Historical Romance of Border Life + + +BY EMERSON BENNETT, + +AUTHOR OF +"PRAIRIE FLOWER," "LENI LEOTI," "FOREST ROSE," "MIKE FINK," "VIOLA," +"CLARA MORELAND," "FORGED WILL," "TRAITOR," "FEMALE SPY," "ROSALIE DU +PONT," "FAIR REBEL," ETC., ETC. + + +CINCINNATI: +PUBLISHED BY U.P. JAMES, +No. 177 RACE STREET. + + +Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1853, BY J.A. & +U.P. JAMES, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United +States, for the District of Ohio. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +In putting to press a new and revised edition of the following story, +the author would state, that his original design was to combine fact and +fiction, in such a way, as, while making his story move forward to a +proper _denouement_, to give the reader a correct picture of the dress, +customs, and social and war-like habits of the early pioneers of the +west; and also embody a series of historical events which took place on +the frontiers during that revolutionary struggle by which we gained our +glorious independence. For this purpose, Kentucky, in her infancy, was +selected as the scene of action; and most of the existing records of her +early settlements were read with care, each compared with the others, +and only the best authenticated accounts presented to the reader. So +much in fact did the author labor to make the present story historical, +that there is scarcely a scene or character in its pages that had not +its counterpart in reality. + +He would only add, that, for important reasons, the original title has +been changed to that which now heads its title-page. "What's in a name?" +queried the great bard. Had he lived in our day, and been a novelist +instead of a poet, he would either not have asked the question, or +answered it very differently than he did. + + + + +ELLA BARNWELL. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE STRANGER. + + +That portion of territory known throughout Christendom as Kentucky, was, +at an early period, the theatre of some of the wildest, most hardily +contested, and bloody scenes ever placed on record. In fact its very +name, derived from the Indian word Kan-tuck-kee, which was applied to it +long before its discovery by the whites, is peculiarly significant in +meaning--being no less than "the dark and bloody ground." History makes +no mention of its being inhabited prior to its settlement by the present +race; but rather serves to aid us to the inference, that from time +immemorial it was used as a "neutral ground," whereon the different +savage tribes were wont to meet in deadly strife; and hence the +portentious name by which it was known among them. But notwithstanding +its ominous title, Kentucky, when first beheld by the white hunter, +presented all the attractions he would have envied in Paradise itself. +The climate was congenial to his feelings--the country was devoid of +savages--while its thick tangles of green cane--abounding with deer, +elk, bears, buffaloes, panthers, wolves and wild cats, and its more open +woods with pheasant, turkey and partridge--made it the full realization +of his hopes--his longings. What more could he ask? And when he again +stood among his friends, beyond the Alleghanies, is it to be wondered at +that his excited feelings, aided by distance, should lead him to +describe it as the El Dorado of the world? Such indeed he did describe +it; and to such glowing descriptions, Kentucky was doubtless partially +indebted for her settlement so much in advance of the surrounding +territory. + +As it is not our purpose, in the present instance, to enter into a +history of the country, further than is necessary to the development of +our story, the reader will pardon us for omitting that account of its +early settlement which can readily be gleaned from numerous works +already familiar to the reading public. It may not be amiss, however, to +remark here, what almost every reader knows, that first and foremost in +the dangerous struggles of pioneer life, was the celebrated Daniel +Boone; whose name, in the west, and particularly in Kentucky, is a +household word; and whose fame, as a fearless hunter, has extended not +only throughout this continent, but over Europe. The birth place of this +renowned individual has been accredited to several states, by as many +writers; but one, more than the rest, is positive in asserting it to +have been Bucks county, Pennsylvania; and the year of his birth 1732; +which is sufficient for our purpose, whether strictly correct or not. At +an early period of his life, all agree that he removed with his father +to a very thinly settled section of North Carolina, where he spent his +time in hunting--thereby supplying the family with meat and destroying +the wild beasts, while his brothers assisted the father in tilling the +farm--and where he afterwards, in a romantic manner, became acquainted +with a settler's daughter, whom he married; and whence, in the spring +of 1769, in company with five others, he set out on an expedition of +danger across the mountains, to explore the western wilds; and after +undergoing hardships innumerable, and losing all his companions in +various ways, he at last succeeded in erecting the first log cabin, and +being the first white settler within the borders of Kentucky. To follow +up, even from this time, a detail of his trials, adventures, captures by +the Indians, and hair-breadth escapes, to the close of his eventful +career, would be sufficient to fill a volume; therefore we shall drop +him for the time--merely remarking, by the way, that he will be found to +figure occasionally in the following pages. + +From the first appearance of Boone in the wilds of Kentucky, we shall +pass over a space of some ten or twelve years, and open our story in the +fall of 1781. During this period, the aspect of the country for a +considerable distance around the present site of Lexington, had become +materially changed; and the smoke from the cabin of the white settler +arose in an hundred places, where, a dozen years before, prowled the +wolf, the bear, and the panther, in perfect security. In sooth, the year +in question had been very propitious to the immigrants; who, flocking in +from eastern settlements in goodly numbers, were allowed to domiciliate +themselves in their new homes, with but few exceptions, entirely +unmolested by the savage foe. So much in fact was this the case, that +instead of taking up their residence in a fort--or station, as they were +more generally called--the new comers erected cabins for themselves, at +such points as they considered most agreeable; gradually venturing +further and further from the strongholds, until some of them became too +distant to look hopefully for succor in cases of extreme necessity. + +Among the stations most prominent at this period, as being most secure, +and against which the attacks of the Indians were most frequent and +unsuccessful, may be mentioned Harrod's, Boone's, Logan's, and Bryan's, +so called in honor of their founders. The first two named, probably from +being the two earliest founded, were particularly unfortunate in drawing +down upon themselves the concentrated fury of the savages, who at +various times surrounded them in great numbers and attempted to take +them by storm. These attacks not unfrequently lasted several days, in +which a brisk fire was maintained on both sides, whenever a foe could be +seen; until wearied out with fruitless endeavors, or surprised by a +reinforcement of the whites, the Indians would raise the siege, with a +howl of rage, and depart. One of the longest and most remarkable of +these on record, we believe, was that of Boonesborough, which was +attacked in June, 1778, by five hundred Indians, led on by Duquesne, a +Frenchman, and which, with only a small garrison, commanded by Boone +himself, nobly held out for eight days, when the enemy withdrew in +despair. But, as we before remarked, it not being our purpose to enter +into a general history of the time, we will now proceed with our story. + +It was near the close of a mild, beautiful day, in the autumn of 1781, +that a young man, some twenty-two years of age, emerged from a wood into +an open space or clearing, at a distance of perhaps fifteen miles +eastward from Lexington. The general appearance of this individual +betokened the hunter, but at the same time one who followed it for +pleasure, rather than as a means of support. This was evident from his +dress, which although somewhat characteristic of the time, was much +superior to that generally worn by the woodsman. He had on a woolen +hunting frock, of fine texture, of a dark green color, that came a few +inches below the hips. Beneath this, and fitting closely around his +shoulders, neck and breast, was a scarlet jacket, ornamented with two +rows of round, white metal buttons. A large cape, with a deep red +fringe, of about inch in width, was attached to the frock, and extended +from the shoulders nearly to the elbow. Around the waist, outside the +frock, passed a dark leather belt, in which were confined a brace of +handsome pistols, and a long silver-hilted hunting knife. Breeches of +cloth, like the frock, were connected with leggins of tanned deer skin, +which in turn extended over, and partly concealed, heavy cow-hide boots. +A neatly made cap of deer skin, with the hair outside, surmounted a +finely shaped head. His features, though somewhat pale and haggard, as +if from recent grief or trouble, were mostly of the Grecian cast. He had +a high, noble forehead; a large, clear, fascinating gray eye; a well +formed mouth, and a prominent chin. In height he was about five feet and +ten inches, broad shouldered, straight, heavy set, with handsome +proportions. + +Upon the shoulder of the young man, as he emerged from the wood, rested +an elegant rifle; which, after advancing a short distance, he brought +into a trailing position; and then pausing, he dropped the breech upon +the ground, placed his hands over the muzzle, and, carelessly leaning +his chin upon them, swept with his eye the surrounding country, to which +he was evidently a stranger. + +The day had been one of those mild and smoky ones, peculiar to the +climate and season; and the sun, large and red, was near to sinking +behind the far western ridge, giving a beautiful crimson, mellow tinge +to each object which came beneath his rays. The landscape, over which +the stranger gazed, was by no means unpleasing. His position was on an +eminence, overlooking a fertile valley, partly cleared, and partly +shaded by woods, through which wound a crystal stream, whose gentle +murmurs could be heard even where he stood. Beyond this stream, the +ground, in pleasing undulations, took a gentle rise, to a goodly height, +and was covered by what is termed an open wood--a wood peculiar to +Kentucky at this period--consisting of trees in the regularity of an +orchard, at some distance apart, devoid of underbrush, beneath which the +earth was beautifully carpeted with a rank growth of clover, high grass, +and wild flowers innumerable. In the rear of the young hunter, as if to +form a background to the picture, was the wood he had just quitted, +which, continuing the elevation spoken of, but more abruptly, rose high +above him, and was crowned by a ledge of rocks. Far in the distance, to +his right, could be seen another high ridge; while to the left, +spreading far away from the mouth of the valley, if we may so term it, +like the prairies of Missouri, was a beautiful tangle, or cane-brake, +containing its thousands of wild animals. The open space wherein the +hunter stood was not large, covering an area of not more than half a +dozen acres. It was of an oblong form, and sloped off from his position +to the right, left, and front, and reached from the wood down to the +stream in the valley, where stood a rather neat log cabin, from which a +light blue smoke ascended in graceful wreaths. The eye of the stranger, +glancing over the scene, fell upon this latter with that gleam of +satisfaction which is felt by a person after performing a long fatiguing +journey, when he sees before him a comfortable inn, where he is to +repose for the night; and pausing for a couple of minutes, he replaced +his rifle upon his shoulder, and started forward down the hill, at a +leisure pace. + +Scarcely had the stranger advanced twenty paces, when he was startled by +a fierce yell, accompanied by the report of a rifle, the ball of which +whizzed past him, within an inch of his head. Ere he could recover from +his surprise, a sharp pain in the side, followed by another report, +caused him to reel like one intoxicated, and finally sink to the earth. +As the young man fell, two Indians sprung from behind a cluster of +bushes, which skirted the clearing some seventy-five yards to the right, +and, with a whoop of triumph, tomahawk in hand, rushed toward him. +Believing that his life now depended upon his own speedy exertions, the +young hunter, by a great effort, succeeded in raising himself on his +knees; and drawing up his rifle with a hasty aim, he fired; but with no +other success than that of causing one of the savages to jerk his head +suddenly aside without slackening his speed. There was still a chance +left him; and setting his teeth hard, the wounded man drew his pistols +from his belt, and awaited the approach of his enemies; who, when within +thirty paces, discovering the weapons of death, suddenly came to a halt, +and commenced loading their rifles with great rapidity. + +The young hunter now perceived, with painful regret, that only an +interposition of Providence could save him, for his life was hanging on +a thread that might snap at any moment. It was an awful moment of +suspense, as there, on his knees, far, far away from the land of his +birth, in a strange country, he, in the prime of life, without a friend +near, wounded and weak, was waiting to die, like a wild beast, by the +hands of savages, with his scalp to be borne hence as a trophy, his +flesh to be devoured by wolves, and his bones left to bleach in the open +air. It was an awful moment of suspense! and a thousand thoughts came +rushing through his mind; and he felt he would have given worlds, were +they his, for the existence of even half an hour, with a friend by, to +receive his dying requests. To add to his despair, he felt himself fast +growing weaker and weaker; and with an unsteady vision, as his last +hope, he turned his eye in the direction of the cottage, to note if any +assistance were at hand; but he saw none; and nature failing to support +him longer in his position, he sunk back upon the ground, believing the +last sands of his existence were run. + +Meantime, the Indians had loaded their rifles; and one of them, stepping +a pace in front of his companion, was already in the act of aiming, +when, perceiving the young man falter and sink back, he lowered the +muzzle of his gun, and, grasping his tomahawk, darted forward to +despatch him without further loss of ammunition. Already had he reached +within five or six paces of his victim, who, now unable to exert himself +in his own defence, could only look upon his savage enemy and the weapon +uplifted for his destruction, when, crack went another rifle, in an +opposite direction whence the Indians approached, and, bounding into the +air, with a terrific yell, the foremost fell dead by the young man's +side. On seeing his companion fall, the other Indian, who was only a few +paces behind, stopped suddenly, and, with a yell of fear and +disappointment, turned and fled. + +Those only who have been placed in peril sufficient to extinguish the +last gleam of hope, and have suddenly been relieved by a mysterious +interposition of Providence, can fully realize the feelings with which +the wounded hunter saw himself rescued from an ignominious death. True, +he was weak and faint from a wound which was, perhaps, mortal; still it +was a great consolation to feel that he should die among those who would +bury him, and perhaps bear a message to friends in a far-off land. With +such thoughts uppermost in his mind, the young man, by great exertion, +raised himself upon his elbow, and turned his head in the direction +whence his deliverer might be expected; but, to his surprise and +disappointment, no one appeared; and after vainly attempting to regain +his feet, he sunk back, completely exhausted. The wound in his side had +now grown very painful, and was bleeding freely; while he became +conscious, that unless the hemorrhage could be stanched immediately, the +only good service a friend could render him, would be to inter his +remains. In this helpless state, something like a minute elapsed, when +he felt a strange sensation about his heart--his head grew dizzy--his +thoughts seemed confused--the sky appeared suddenly to grow dark, and he +believed the icy grasp of death was already settling upon him. At this +moment a form--but whether of friend or foe he could not tell--flitted +before his uncertain vision; and then all became darkness and nonentity. +He had swooned. + +When the young stranger recovered his senses, after a lapse of some ten +minutes, his glance rested on the form of a white hunter, of noble +aspect, who was bending over him with a compassionate look; and who, +meantime, had opened his dress to the wound and stanched the blood, by +covering it with a few pieces of coarse linen, which he had torn into +shreds for the purpose, and secured there by means of his belt. + +As this latter personage is destined to figure somewhat in the following +pages, we shall take this opportunity of describing him as he appeared +to our wounded friend. + +In height and proportion--but not in age--these two individuals were +somewhat alike--the new comer being full five feet, ten inches, with a +robust, athletic frame, and all the concomitants of a powerful man. At +the moment when first beheld by the young man, after regaining his +senses, he was kneeling by his side, his cap of the wild-cat skin was +lying on the ground, and the last mellow rays of the setting sun were +streaming upon an intelligent and manly countenance, which, now rendered +more deeply interesting by the earnest, compassionate look wherewith he +regarded the other, made him appear to that other, in his peculiar +situation, this most noble being he had ever seen. Of years he had seen +some fifty; though there was a freshness about his face, owing probably +to his hardy, healthy mode of life, which made him appear much younger. +His countenance was open and pleasing, with good, regular, though not, +strictly speaking, handsome features. His forehead was high and full, +beneath which beamed a mild, clear blue eye. His nose was rather long +and angular; his cheekbones high and bold; his lips thin and compressed, +covering a goodly set of teeth; his chin round and prominent; the whole +together conveying an expression of energy, decision, hardy recklessness +and manly courage. His dress was fashioned much like the other's, +already described, but of coarser materials--the frock being of +linsey-woolsey; the breeches and leggings of deerskin; and the +moccasins, in place of boots of the same material. Around his waist +passed a belt; wherein, instead of pistols, were confined a tomahawk and +scalping knife--two weapons which were considered as indispensable to +the regular white hunter of that day as to the Indian warrior himself. + +So soon as the elder of the two became aware of consciousness on the +part of the younger, a friendly smile succeeded to the look of anxiety +with which he had been regarding him; and in the frank, cordial, +familiar tone of that period, when every man's cabin was the traveler's +home, and every strange guest was treated with the hospitality of an old +acquaintance, he said: + +"Well, stranger, I'm right glad to welcome you back to life agin; for I +war beginning to fear your account with earthly matters had closed. By +the Power that made me! but you've had a narrow escape on't; and ef +Betsy (putting his hand on his rifle, which was lying by his side,) +hadn't spoke out as she did, that thar red skin varmint (pointing to the +dead Indian) would have been skulking now like a thief through yonder +woods, with your crown piece hanging to his girdle." + +"A thousand thanks," returned the wounded man, pressing the hand of the +other as much as his strength would permit, and accompanying it with a +look of gratitude more eloquent than words: "A thousand thanks, sir, for +your timely shot, and subsequent kindness and interest in behalf of one +you know not, but who will ever remember you with gratitude." + +"See here, stranger, I reckon you've not been long in these parts?" + +"But a few days, sir." + +"And you've come from a good ways east o' the Alleghanies?" + +"I have." + +"I knew it. I'd have bet Betsey agin a bushel of corn, and that's large +odds you know, that such war the fact, from the particular trouble +you've taken to thank me for doing the duty of a man. Let me assure you, +stranger, that you're in a country now whar equality exists; and whar +one man's just as good as another, provided he is no coward, and behaves +himself as he should do; and whether stranger or not, is equally +entitled to the assistance of his fellows; perticularly when about being +treed by such a sneaking varmint as that lying yonder. Besides, I don't +want any body to thank me for shooting Indians; for I always do it, +whensomever I get a chance, as Betsey would tell you, ef she could speak +English; for somehow thar's no perticular agreement atween us, unless +it's for each to make the most he can off the other; and so far I reckon +thar's a ballance in my favor, though the wretches are ever trying +desperate hard to get even. But come, stranger, it won't do for you to +be lying thar with that hole in your side; and so just have patience a +minute, till I've secured the top-knot of this beauty here, and then +I'll assist you down to yonder cabin, whar I doubt not you'll be well +cared for." + +As he spoke, the old woodsman rose to his feet, drew his knife, and +turning to the dead Indian, to the surprise of the other, who was but +little familiar with Kentucky customs of that day, deliberately took off +the scalp, which he attached to his belt;[1] and then spurning the body +with his foot, he muttered: "Go, worthless dog! and fill the belly of +some wolf! and may your cowardly companion be soon keeping you company." +Then, as he turned to the other, and noticed his look of surprise, he +added: "Well, stranger, I reckon this business looks a little odd to +you, coming from away beyond the mountains as you do." + +"Why, if truth must be told, I confess it does," answered the other. + +"Don't doubt it, stranger; but you'll do it yourself afore you've +wintered here two seasons." + +"I must beg leave to differ with you on that point." + +"Well, well, we'll not quarrel about it--it arn't worth while; but ef +you stay here two year, without scalping a red-skin and perhaps skinning +one, I'll agree to pay you for your time in bar-skins at your own +valuation." + +"I am much obliged to you for the offer," answered the young man--a +faint smile lighting his pale features; "but I think it hardly probable +I shall remain in the country that length of time." + +"Not unless you have good care, I reckon," returned the other; "for that +thar wound o' yourn arn't none o' the slightest; though I don't want you +to be skeered, for I've seen many a worse one cured. But come, I'll +assist you down to yon cabin, and then I must be off--for I've got a +good distance to travel afore daylight to-morrow;" and bending down as +he spoke, the veteran hunter placed his arms under the arms of the +wounded man, and gently raised him upon his feet. + +Although extremely weak from loss of blood, the latter, by this means of +support, was enabled to walk, at a slow pace; and the two descended the +hill--the elder, the while, talking much, and endeavoring by his +discourse to amuse and cheer up his companion. + +"Why," he continued, "you think your case a hard one, no doubt, +stranger; but it's nothing compared to what some of us old settlers have +seen and been through with, without even winking, as one may say. Within +the last few year, I've seen a brother and a son shot by the infernal +red-skins--have lost I don't know how many companions in the same +way--been shot at fifty times myself, and captured several; and yet you +see here I am, hale and hearty, and just as eager, with Betsey's +permission, to talk to the varmints now as I war ten year ago." + +"But do you not weary of this fatiguing and dangerous mode of life?" +inquired the other. + +"Weary, stranger? Lord bless ye! you're but a young hunter to ax such a +question as that. Weary, friend? Why I war born to it--nursed to it--had +a rifle for a plaything; and the first thing I can remember +particularly, war shooting a painter;[2] and it's become as nateral and +necessary as breathing; and when I get so I can't follow the one, I want +to quit the other. Weary on't, indeed! Why, thar's more real +satisfaction in sarcumventing and scalping one o' there red heathen, +than in all the amusement you could scare up in a thick-peopled, +peaceable settlement in a life time." + +"By the way," said the other, "pray tell me how you chanced to be so +opportune in saving my life?" + +"Why, you must know, I war just crossing through the wood back here +about a mile, on my way home from the Licks, when I came across the +trail of two Indians, whom I 'spected war arter no good; and as Betsey +war itching for something to do, I kind o' kept on the same way, and +happened round on the other side o' this ridge, just as the red varmints +fired. I saw you fall, but could'nt see them, on account o' the hill; +but as I knowed they'd be for showing themselves soon, I got Betsey into +a comfortable position, and waited as patiently as I could, until the +ugly face of that rascal yonder showed clar; when I told her to speak to +him, which she did in rale backwood's dialect, and he died a answering +her. I then hurried round on the skirt of the wood, loading Betsey as I +went; but finding the other varmint had got off, I hastened to you and +found you senseless: the rest you know." + +By this time the two had reached nearly to the foot of the hill, and +within a hundred yards of the cabin. Here they were joined by a tall, +lank, lantern-jawed, awkward young man, some twenty years of age, with +small, dark eyes, a long, peaked nose, and flaxen hair that floated down +over his ungainly shoulders, like weeping willows over a scrub oak, and +who carried in his hand a rifle nearly as long and ugly as himself. + +"Why, colonel, how are ye? good even' to ye, stranger," was his +salutation, as he came up. "I war down by the tangle yonder, when I +heerd some firing, and some yelling, and I legged it home, ahead o' the +old man, just to keep the women folks in sperets, in case they war +attacked, and get a pop or so at an Injen myself; but thank the Lord, +they warn't thar; and so I ventered on, with long Nance here, to see +whar they mought be." + +"Well, Isaac," returned the one addressed as colonel, "I don't doubt +your being a brave lad, and I've had some opportunity o' seeing you +tried; but being is how thar's no Indians to shoot just now, I'll ax you +to show your good qualities in another way. This young man's been badly +wounded, and ef you'll give him a little extra care, you'll put me under +obligations which I'll be happy to repay whensomever needed." + +"It don't need them thar inducements you've just mentioned, colonel, to +rouse all my sympathies for a wounded stranger. Rely on't, he shan't +suffer for want o' attention." + +"Rightly said, lad; rightly said; and so I leave him in your care. +Tender my regards to your family, for I must be off, and can't stay to +see them." Then turning to the wounded man, he grasped his hand and +said: "Stranger, thar's something about you I like; I don't say it of +every man I meet; and so you may put it down for a compliment or not, +just as you please. Give me your name?" + +"Algernon Reynolds." + +"Algernon Reynolds, I hope we shall meet again, though in a different +manner from our introduction; but whether or no, ef you ever need the +assistance of either Betsey or myself, just make it known, and we'll do +our best for you. Good bye, sir--good bye, Isaac!" and without waiting a +reply, the speaker sprung suddenly behind a cluster of bushes near which +the party stood, and the next moment was lost to view in the gathering +darkness. + +"A great man, that thar, sir!--a powerful great man," observed Isaac, +gazing with admiration after the retreating form of the hunter. "Always +doing good deeds, and never looking for pay nor thanks; may God give him +four-score and ten." + +"Amen to that!" returned Reynolds. "But pray tell me his name." + +"And you don't know him?" + +"I do not." + +"And you didn't inquire his name?" + +"I did not." + +"And ef you had, sir, ten to one but he'd a given you a fictitious one, +to keep clar o' your surprise and extra thanks. Why that, sir, war the +great white hunter, Colonel Daniel Boone." + +"Indeed!" exclaimed Reynolds, in no feigned surprise--"the very man I +have so longed to behold; for his fame has already extended far beyond +the Alleghanies. But come, friend Isaac, my wound grows painful; my +exertions thus far have weakened me exceedingly; and with your +permission, I will proceed to the cottage. Ah! I feel myself growing +faint--fainter--fa-i-n-t;" and he sunk senseless into the other's arms; +who, raising him, apparently without an effort, bore him into the house. + + +[Footnote 1: However barbarous such a proceeding may appear to thousands +in the present day of civilization and refinement, we can assure them, +on the authority of numerous historians of that period, that it was a +general custom with the early settlers of the west, to take the scalp of +an Indian slain by their hand, whenever opportunity presented.] + +[Footnote 2: Backwoods name for a panther.] + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +NEW CHARACTERS. + + +When young Reynolds again regained his senses, it was some minutes +before he could sufficiently recover from the confusion of ideas +consequent upon his mishap, to follow up the train of events that had +occurred to place him in his present situation. His first recollection +was of the attack made upon him by the Indians; and it required +considerable argument with himself, to prove conclusively, to his own +mind, that he was not even now a captive to the savage foe. Gradually, +one by one, each event recurred to his mind, until he had traced himself +to the moment of his swooning in the arms of a tall, ungainly young man, +called Isaac; but of what, had taken place since--where he now was--or +what length of time had intervened--he had not the remotest idea. He was +lying on his back, upon a rude, though by no means uncomfortable, bed; +and, to the best of his judgment, within the four walls of some +cabin--though to him but two of the walls were visible--owing to the +quantity of skins of the buffalo, bear, and deer, which were suspended +around the foot and front of his pallet. He was undressed; and, as he +judged, upon applying his hand to the wounded part, had been treated +with care; for it came in contact with a nicely arranged bandage of +cloth, which was even now moist with some spirituous liquid. But what +perplexed him most, was the peculiar light, with the aid of which, +though dim, he could discern every object so distinctly. It could not +proceed from a candle--it was too generally diffused; nor from the +fire--it was too gray, and did not flicker; nor from the moon--it was +not silvery enough: from what then did it proceed? It appeared the most +like daylight; but this it could not be, he reasoned, from the fact that +he was wounded just before night-fall--unless--and the idea seemed to +startle him--unless he had lain in a senseless state for many hours, and +it was indeed again morning. Determined, however, to satisfy himself on +this point, he attempted to rise for the purpose; but found, to his no +small surprise and regret, that he had not even strength sufficient to +lift his body from the bed; and, therefore, that nothing was left him, +but to surmise whatever he chose, until some one should appear to solve +the riddle; which, he doubted not, would be ere long. + +While these reflections and surmises were rapidly passing through the +mind of our hero--for such we must acknowledge him to be--he heard no +sound indicating the immediate vicinity of any other human being; and +turning his thoughts upon this latter, he was beginning to doubt +whether, at the moment, he was not the only individual beneath the roof; +when he heard a step, as of some one entering another apartment; and, +directly following, a female voice addressed to some person within. + +"Have ye looked to the stranger agin, Ella, and moisted his bandage?" + +"I have, mother," was the answer, in a sweet and silvery voice, which +caused our wounded hero to start with a thrill of pleasing astonishment. + +"And how appeared he, Ella?" continued the first speaker. + +"Why, I thought a little better," answered the same soft, musical voice; +"he seemed asleep, and entirely tranquil." + +"God send it, gal, for he's had a tougher, sartin. Three days, now, +nater's bin tugging away for him; and I'd hate to see him die now, arter +all; and being the colonel's recommind, too; for Isaac says the colonel +injuncted him strongly to take car o' him; and I'd do any thing to +oblege sech a man as him. He didn't appear to have his senses, I +reckon?" + +"I judged not," answered Ella; "though, from his tranquil sleep, I +argued favorably of his case." + +"Well," rejoined the other, "it's my opine the crisis is at hand; and +that he'll ayther come out o' this _lethargick_--as they calls it--a +rational, or die straight off. 'Spose you look at him agin, Ella; or, +stay, I'll look myself. Poor feller! how he did rave and run on 'bout +his troubles at home, that's away off, until I all but cried, in +reckoning how I'd feel ef it war Isaac as war going on so.". + +As the speaker concluded, she advanced to where the object of her +remarks was lying; and, drawing aside in a gentle manner, some of the +skins near his head, gazed upon him. + +As will be surmised by the reader, not a syllable of the foregoing +colloquy had been lost upon Reynolds; who heard, with unbounded +astonishment, of his narrow escape from that dark valley whence none who +enter again return, and that three days had elapsed since he had fallen +into an unconscious state. He learned, too, with regret, that he had +been communicating matters--to what extent he knew not--to others, which +he wished safely locked in his own breast; and judging it best, in the +present instance, to dissemble a little, that his informant might not be +aware of his having overheard her, he feigned to be asleep on her +approach. + +"He's sleeping yit, poor creater," continued the hostess, as she bent +over the bed of our hero, until he felt her breath upon his face. "I +hope it arn't a going to be his final sleep--so young, and so handsome +too! but, O dear, thar's no telling what them Injen bullets will do, for +folks does say as how they have a knack o' pizening them, that's orful +to tell on! O Lord o' marcy, Ella, child, do come here!" cried the dame +suddenly: "I do believe he's coming to, for sartin." + +This latter speech was occasioned by a movement of the pretended +sleeper, and the gradual opening of his eyes, with the rude stare of +bewildered surprise natural to one in his supposed situation, and such +as he would have exhibited without feigning, had the hostess been +present some ten minutes sooner. Discovering, as already intimated, a +returning consciousness on the part of her guest, the good woman drew +back her head, but still kept her position by the bed, and her eyes +fixed upon him, with an expression which betrayed a fear lest her hopes +of this important event should prove entirely fallacious. Behind her, +with timid step, stole up Ella, and, peeping over her shoulders, +encountered the eyes of the young man beaming upon her, with a look +which her acute perception told her was any thing but insane; and +instantly starting back, the blood rushed upward, crimsoning her neck +and face with a beautiful glow. As for Reynolds--in whom, as already +stated, the voice of Ella alone was sufficient to awaken a thrill of +pleasure--no sooner did he behold her, though but for an instant, than +he felt that thrill revived with a sensation, which, in spite of +himself, he knew was expressed in his own countenance; and he hastened +to speak, in order as much as possible to conceal it. + +"Will you have the goodness, madam, to inform me where I am?" + +"Thar, thar, Ella, child!" exclaimed the matron, joyously; "I told ye +so--I know'd it--he's come to, for sartin--the Lord be praised!" Then +addressing herself to Reynolds, she continued: "Whar are you, stranger, +do you ax? Why you're in the cabin o' Ben Younker--as honest a man as +ever shot a painter--who's my husband, and father of Isaac Younker, what +brought ye here, according to the directions of Colonel Boone, arter you +war shot by the Injens, the varmints, three days ago; and uncle of Ella +Barnwell here, as I calls daughter, 'cause her parents is dead, poor +creaters, and she hadn't a home to go to, but come'd to live with us, +that are fetching her up in a a dutiful way;" and the good woman +concluded her lucid account of family matters with a sound that much +resembled a person taking breath after some laborious exertion. + +"And is it possible," answered Reynolds, who hastened to reply, in order +to conceal a strong inclination he felt for laughing, "that I have lain +here three whole days?" + +"Three days, and four nights, and part o' another day, jest as true as +buffaloes run in cane-brakes, and Injen varmints shoot white folks +whensomever they git a chance," replied Mrs. Younker, with great +volubility. "And Ella, the darling, has tended on ye like you war her +own nateral born brother; and Isaac, and Ben, and myself ha' tended on +ye too, while you war raving and running on at an orful rate, though +you've had the best bed, and best o' every thing we've got in the +house." + +"For all of which I am at a loss for terms to express my gratitude," +returned Reynolds, coloring slightly as he thought of the assiduous +attentions he had unconsciously received from Ella Barnwell, who already +began to be an object in his eyes of no little importance. + +"Don't mention about gratitude," rejoined the kind hearted Mrs. Younker; +"don't talk about gratitude, for a lettle favor sech as every body's got +a right to, what comes into this country and gits shot by savages. We +havn't done no more for you than we'd a done for any body else in like +sarcumstances; and, la, sir, the pleasure o' knowing you're a going to +git well agin, arter being shot by Injen's pizen bullets,[3] is enough +to pay us twenty times over--Eh! Ella, child--don't you say so?" + +"No one, save the gentleman himself, or his dearest friends, can be more +rejoiced at his favorable symptoms than myself," responded Ella, +timidly, in a voice so low, sweet and touching, that Reynolds, who heard +without seeing her--for she kept the rude curtain of skins between +them--felt his heart beat strangely, while his eyes involuntarily grew +moist. + +"That's truly said, gal--truly said, I do believe," rejoined Mrs. +Younker; "for she's hung over you, sir, (turning to the wounded man) +night and day, like a mother over her child, until we've had to use +right smart authority to make her go to bed, for fear as how she'd be +sick too." + +"And if I live," answered Reynolds, in a voice that trembled with +emotion, "and it is ever in my power to repay such disinterested +attention and kindness, I will do it, even to the sacrificing that life +which she, together with you and your family, good woman, has been the +means, under God, of preserving." + +"Under God," repeated the matron; "that's true; I like the way you said +that, stranger; it sounds reverential--it's just--and it raises my +respect for you a good deal; for all our doings is under God's permit;" +and she turned her eyes upward, with a devout look, in which position +she remained several seconds; while Ella, with her fair hands clasped, +followed her example, and seemed, with her moving lips, engaged in +prayer. + +"But come," resumed the dame, "it won't do for you, stranger, to be +disturbed too much jest now; for you arn't any too strong, I reckon; and +so you'll jest take my advice, and go to sleep awhile, and you'll feel +all the better for't agin Ben and Isaac come home, which'll be in two or +three hours." + +Saying this, Mrs. Younker again disposed the curtains so as to conceal +from Reynolds all external objects; and, together with Ella, withdrew, +leaving him to repose. Whether he profited by her advice immediately, or +whether he meditated for some time on other matters, not excluding Ella, +we shall leave to the imagination of the reader; while we proceed, by +way of episode, to give a general, though brief account, of the Younker +family. + +Benjamin Younker was a man about fifty-five years of age--tall, +raw-boned and very muscular--and although now past the prime, even the +meridian of life, was still possessed of uncommon strength. His form, +never handsome, even in youth, was now disfigured by a stoop in the +shoulders, caused by hard labor and rheumatism. His face corresponded +with his body--being long and thin, with hollow cheeks, and high cheek +bones,--his eyes were small and gray, with heavy eye-brows; his nose +long and pointed; his mouth large and homely, though expressive; and his +forehead medium, surmounted by a sprinkling of brown-gray hair. In +speech he was deliberate, generally pointed, and seldom spoke when not +absolutely necessary. He was a good farmer--such being his occupation; a +keen hunter, whenever he chose to amuse himself in that way; a sure +marksman; and, although ignorant in book learning, possessed a sound +judgment, and a common-sense understanding on all subjects of general +utility. He was a native of Eastern Virginia, where the greater portion +of his life had been spent in hunting and agricultural pursuits--where +he was married and had been blessed with two children--a son and a +daughter--of whom the former only was now living, and has already been +introduced to the reader as Isaac--and whence, at the instance of his +wife and son, he removed, in the spring of 1779, into the borders of +Kentucky--finally purchased and settled where he now resided; and where, +although somewhat exposed, he and his family had thus far remained +unmolested. + +The dame, Mrs. Younker, was a large, corpulent woman of forty-five, with +features rather coarse and masculine, yet expressive of shrewdness and +courage, and, withal, a goodly share of benevolence. She was one of that +peculiar class of females, who, if there is any thing to be said, always +claim the privilege of saying it; in other words, an inveterate talker; +and who, if we may be allowed the phrase, managed her husband, and all +around her, with the length of her tongue. In the country where she was +brought up and known, to say of another, that he or she could compete +with Ben Younker's wife in talking, was considered the extreme of +comparison; and it is not recorded that any individual ever presumed on +the credulity of the public sufficient to assert that the vocal powers +of the said Mrs. Younker were ever surpassed. Unlike most great talkers, +she was rarely heard to speak ill of any, and then only such as were +really deserving of censure; while her rough kind of piety--if we may so +term it--and her genuine goodness of heart, known to all with whom she +came in contact, served to procure her a long list of friends. She +possessed, as the reader has doubtless judged from the specimen we have +given, little or no education; but this deficiency, in her eyes, as well +as in most of those who lived on the frontiers, was of minor +consequence--the knowledge of hunting, farming, spinning and weaving, +being considered by far the more necessary qualifications for +discharging the social duties of life. + +Of Isaac, with whom the reader is already, acquainted, we shall not now +speak, other than to say, he could barely read and write--rather +preferring that he develop his character in his own peculiar way. But +there is another, and though last, we trust will not prove least in +point of interest to the reader, with whom we shall close, this +episodical history--namely--Ella Barnwell. + +The mother of Ella--a half sister to the elder-Younker--died when she +was very young, leaving her to the care of a kind and indulgent father, +who, having no other child, lavished on her his whole affections. At the +demise of his wife, Barnwell was a prosperous, if not wealthy merchant, +in one of the eastern cities of Virginia; and knowing the instability of +wealth, together with his desire to fit his daughter for any station in +society, he spared no expense necessary to educate her in all the +different branches of English usually studied by a female. To this was +added drawing, needle-work, music and dancing; and as Ella proved by no +means a backward scholar in whatever she undertook, she was, at the age +of fifteen, to use a familiar phrase, turned out an accomplished young +lady. But alas! she had been qualified for a station which fate seemed +determined not to let her occupy; for just at this important period of +her life, her father became involved in an unfortunate speculation, that +ended in ruin, dishonor, and his own bodily confinement in prison for +debts he could never discharge. Naturally high spirited and proud, this +misfortune and persecution proved too much for his philosophy--and what +was more, his reason--and in a state of mental derangement, he one night +hung himself to the bars of his prison window--leaving his daughter at +the age we have named, a poor, unprotected, we might almost add +friendless, orphan; for moneyless and friendless are too often +synonymous terms, as poor Ella soon learned to her mortification and +sorrow. + +Ella Barnwell, the young, the beautiful, and accomplished heiress, +was a very different personage from poor Ella Barnwell the bankrupt's +daughter; and those who had fawned upon and flattered and courted the +one, now saw proper to pass the other by in silent contempt. It was a +hard, a very hard lesson for one at the tender age of Ella, who had been +petted and pampered all her life, and taught by her own simplicity of +heart to look upon all pretenders as real friends--it was a hard lesson, +we say, for one of her years, to be forced at one bold stroke to learn +the world, and see her happy, artless dreams vanish like froth from the +foaming cup; but if hard, it was salutary--at least with her; and +instead of blasting in the bud, as it might have done a frailer flower, +it set her reason to work, destroyed the romantic sentimentalism usually +attached to females of that excitable age, taught her to rely more upon +herself, and less upon others, more upon actions and less upon words, +and, in short, made a strong minded woman of her at once. Yet this was +not accomplished without many a heart-rending pang, as the briny tears +of chagrin, disappointment, and almost hopeless destitution, that +nightly chased each other down the pale cheeks of Ella Barnwell to the +pillow which supported her feverish head, for weeks, and even months +after the death of her father, could well attest. + +The father of Ella was an Englishman, who had emigrated to this country +a few years previous to his marriage; and as none of his near relations +had seen proper to follow his example, Ella, on his side, was left +entirely destitute of any to whom she could apply for assistance and +protection. On her mother's side, she knew of none who would be likely +to assist her so readily as her half uncle, Benjamin Younker, whom she +remembered as having seen at the funeral of her mother; and who then, +taking her in his brawny arms, while the tears dimmed his eyes, in a +solemn, impressive manner told her, that, in the ups and downs of life, +should she ever stand in need of another's strong arm or purse, to call +on him, and that, while blest with either himself, she should not want. +This at the time had made a deep impression on her youthful mind, but +subsequently had been nearly or quite obliterated, until retouched by +feeling the want of that aid then so solemnly and generously tendered. +Accordingly, after trying some of her supposed true-hearted friends--who +had more than once been sharers in her generosity; and who, in return, +had professed the most devoted attachment; but who now, in her distress, +unkindly treated her urgent requests with cold neglect,--Ella hastened +to make her situation known to her uncle; the result of which had been +her adoption into a family, who, if not graced with that refinement and +education to which she had been accustomed, at least possessed virtues +that many of the refined and learned were strangers to--namely--truth, +honesty, benevolence, and fidelity. + +Ella, in her new situation, with her altered views of society in +general, soon grew to love her benefactor and his family, and take that +sincere pleasure in their rude ways, which, at one time, she would have +considered as next to impossible. With a happy faculty, belonging only +to the few, she managed to work herself into their affections, by little +and little, almost imperceptibly, until, ere they were aware of the fact +themselves, she was looked upon rather as a daughter and sister, than a +more distant relation. In sooth, the former appellation the reader has +already seen applied to her during the recorded conversation of the +voluble Mrs. Younker--an appellation which Ella ever took good care to +acknowledge by the corresponding title of mother. + +About a year from the period of Ella's becoming a member of the family, +the Younkers had removed, as already stated, to what was then considered +the "Far West," and had finally purchased and settled where we find them +in the opening of our story. In this expedition, Ella, though somewhat +reluctantly, had accompanied them--had remained with them ever +since--and was now, notwithstanding her former lady-like mode of life, +through the tuition of Mrs. Younker, regularly installed into all the +mysteries of milking, churning, sewing, baking, spinning and weaving. +With this brief outline of her past history, we shall proceed to +describe her personal appearance, at the time of her introduction to the +reader, and then leave her to speak and act for herself during the +progress of this drama of life. + +Eighteen years of sunshine and cloud, had served to mould the form of +Ella Barnwell into one of peculiar beauty and grace. In height she was a +little above five feet, had a full round bust, and limbs of that +beautiful and airy symmetry, which ever give to their possessor an +appearance of etherial lightness. Her complexion was sufficiently dark +to entitle her to the appellation of brunette; though by many it would +have been thought too light, perhaps, owing to the soft, rich +transparency of her skin; through which, by a crimson tint, could be +traced the "tell-tale-blood," on the slightest provocation tending to +excitement. Her features, if examined closely, could not be put down as +entirely regular, owing to a very slight defect in the mouth, which +otherwise was very handsome, and which was graced with two plump, +pretty, half pouting lips. This defect, however, was only apparent when +the countenance was in stern repose; and, as this was seldom, when in +company with others, it was of course seldom observed. The remainder of +her features were decidedly good, and, seen in profile, really +beautiful. Her eye was a full, soft, animated hazel, that could beam +tenderly with love, sparkle brilliantly with wit, or flash scornfully +with anger; but inclining more to the first and second qualities than +the last. Her eye-brows were well defined, and just sufficiently arched +to correspond with the eyes themselves. Her forehead was prominent, of a +noble cast, and added dignity to her whole appearance. Her hair was a +rich, dark brown, fine and glossy, and although neatly arranged about +the head, evidently required but little training to enable it to fall +gracefully about her neck in beautiful ringlets. The general expression +of her face, was a soft, bewitching playfulness, which, combined with +the half timid, benevolent look, beaming from her large, mild, hazel +eye, invariably won upon the beholder at the first glance, and increased +upon acquaintance. Her voice we have already spoken of as possessing a +silvery sweetness; and if one could be moved at merely seeing her, it +only required this addition to complete the charm. To all of the +foregoing, let us add an ardent temperament--capable of the most tender, +lasting and devoted attachment, when once the affections were placed on +an object--a sweet disposition, modest deportment, and graceful +manners--and you have the portrait in full of Ella Barnwell, the orphan, +the model of her sex, and the admiration of all who knew her. + + +[Footnote 3: Mrs. Younker is the only authority we have for supposing +Indians poison their bullets, although we have read of poisoned arrows, +and hence infer such a proceeding to be rather a supposition with her +than a certainty.] + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE TALE AND FATAL SECRET. + + +The dwelling of Benjamin Younker, as already mentioned, stood at the +base of a hill, on the margin of a beautiful valley, and within a +hundred feet of a lucid stream, whose waters, finding their source in +the neighboring bills, rushed down, all gleesome and sparkling, over a +limestone bed, and + + "From morn till night, from night till morn," + +sung gentle melodies for all who chose to listen. + +The building itself though rough, both externally and internally, was +what at that period was termed a double cabin; and in this respect was +entitled to a superiority over most of its neighbors. As this may serve +for a representative of the houses or cabins of the early settlers of +Kentucky, we shall proceed to describe its structure and general +appearance somewhat more minutely than might otherwise be deemed +necessary. + +The sides of the cottage in question, were composed of logs, rough from +the woods where they had been felled, with the bark still clinging to +them, and without having undergone other transformation than being cut +to a certain length, and notched at either end, so as to sink into each +other, when crossed at right angles, until their bodies met, thereby +forming a structure of compactness, strength and solidity. Some ten or +twelve feet from the ground, the two upper end logs of the cabin +projected a foot or eighteen inches beyond the lower, and supported what +were called _butting poles_--poles which crossed these projections at +right angles, and, extending along the front and back of the building, +formed the eaves of the roof. This latter was constructed by gradually +shortening the logs at either end, until those which crossed them, as we +said before, at right angles, came together at an angle of forty-five +degrees, and the last one formed the ridge-pole or comb of the whole. On +these logs, lapping one over the other, and the lower tier resting +against the butting poles, were laid slabs of clapboard--a species of +plank split from some straight-grained tree--about four feet long, and +from three to four wide. These were secured in their places by logs in +turn resting on them, at certain intervals, and answering the purpose of +nails; necessity requiring these latter articles of convenience to be +dispensed with in the early settlements of the West. As the cabin was +double, two doors gave entrance from without, one into either apartment. +These entrances were formed by cutting away the logs for the space of +three feet by six, and were closed by rude doors, made of rough slabs, +pinned strongly to heavy cross bars, and hung on hinges of the same +material. These, like the rest of the building, were rendered, by their +thickness, bullet proof--so that when closed and bolted, the house was +capable of withstanding an ordinary attack of the Indians. With the +exception of one window, opening into the apartment generally occupied +by the family, and flanked by a heavy shutter, the doors and chimney +were the only means through which light and air were admitted. These +were all firmly secured at night--the unsettled and exposed state of the +country, and the dangerous proximity of the pioneers to the ruthless +savage, particularly those without the forts, rendering necessary, on +their part, the most vigilant caution. + +The internal appearance of the cabin corresponded well with the +external. The apartment occupied by the family during the day, where the +meals were cooked and served, and the general household affairs attended +to, was very homely; and might, if contrasted with some of the present +time, be termed almost wretched; though considered, at the period of +which we write, rather above than below the ordinary. The floor was +composed of what by the settlers were termed puncheons; which were made +by splitting in half trees of some eighteen inches in diameter, and +hewing the faces of them as regular as possible with the broad-axe. +These were laid, bark side downwards, upon sleepers running crosswise +for the purpose, and formed at least a dry, solid and durable, if not +polished, floor. At one end of the cabin was the chimney, built of logs, +outside the apartment, but connecting with it by a space cut away for +the purpose. The back, jambs, and hearth of this chimney were of stone, +and put together, in a manner not likely to be imitated by masons of +the present day. A coarse kind of plaster filled up the surrounding +crevices, and served to keep out the air and give a rude finish to the +whole. + +The furniture of the Younkers, if the title be not too ambiguous, would +scarcely have been coveted by any of our modern exquisites, even had +they been living in that age of straight-forward common sense. A large, +rough slab, split from some tree, and supported by round legs set in +auger holes, had the honor of standing for a table--around which, like a +brood of chickens around their mother, were promiscuously collected +several three-legged stools of similar workmanship. In one corner of the +room were a few shelves; on which were ranged some wooden trenchers, +pewter plates, knives and forks, and the like necessary articles, while +a not very costly collection of pots and kettles took a less dignified +and prominent position beneath. Another corner was occupied by a bed, +the covering of which was composed of skins of different animals, with +sheetings of home-made linen. In the vicinity of the bed, along the +wall, was a row of pegs, suspending various garments of the occupants; +all of which--with the exception of a few articles, belonging to Ella, +procured for her before the death of her father--were of the plainest +and coarsest description. A churn--a clock--the latter a very rare thing +among the pioneers of Kentucky--a footwheel for spinning flax--a small +mirror--together with several minor articles, of which it is needless to +speak--completed the inventory of the apartment. From this room were two +exits, besides the outer door--one by a ladder leading above to a sort +of attic chamber, where were two beds; and the other through the wall +into the adjoining cabin, whither our hero had been borne in a state of +insensibility on the night of his mishap, and where he was for the +second time presented to the reader. This latter place was graced with a +bed, a loom for weaving, a spinning-wheel, a large oaken chest, and a +few rough benches. + +Such, reader, as our description has set forth, was the general +appearance of Younker's dwelling, both without and within, in the year +of our Lord 1781; and, moreover, a fair representative of an hundred +others of the period in question--so arbitrary was necessity in making +one imitate the other. But to resume our story. + +In the after part of a day as mild and beautiful as the one on which we +opened our narrative, but some four weeks later, Ella Barnwell, +needle-work in hand, was seated near the open door leading from the +apartment first described to the reader. Her head was bent forward, and +her eyes were apparently fixed upon her occupation with great +intentness--though a close observer might have detected furtive glances +occasionally thrown upon a young man, with a pale and somewhat agitated +countenance, who was pacing to and fro on the ground without. With the +exception of these two, no person was within sight--though the rattling +of a loom in the other apartment or cabin, betokened the vicinity of the +industrious hostess. + +For some moments the young man--a no less personage than our hero--paced +back and forth like one whose mind is harrowed by some disagreeable +thought: then suddenly halting in front of the doorway, and in a voice +which, though not intended to be so, was slightly tremulous, he +addressed himself to the young lady, in words denoting a previous +conversation. + +"Then I must have said some strange things, Ella--I beg pardon--Miss +Barnwell." + +"Have I not requested you, Mr. Reynolds, on more than one occasion, to +call me Ella, instead of using the formality which rather belongs to +strangers in fashionable society than to those dwelling beneath the same +roof, in the wilds of Kentucky?" responded the person addressed, in a +tone of pique, while she raised her head and let her soft, dark eyes +rest reproachfully on the other. + +"Well, well, Ella," rejoined Reynolds, "I crave pardon for my +heedlessness; and promise you, on that score at least, no more cause for +offence in future." + +"Offence!" said Ella, quickly, catching at the word: "O, no--no--not +offence, Mr. Reynolds! I should be sorry to take offence at what was +meant in all kindness, and with true respect; but somehow I--that +is--perhaps it may not appear so to others--but I--to me it appears +studied--and--and--cold;" and as she concluded, in a hesitating manner, +she quickly bent her head forward, while her cheek crimsoned at the +thought, that she might perhaps have ventured too far, and laid herself +liable to misconstruction. + +"And yet, Ella," returned Reynolds, somewhat playfully, "you resemble +many others I have known, in preaching what you do not practice. You +request me to lay aside all formality, and address you by your name +only; while you, in that very request, apply to me the title you +consider as studied, formal and cold." + +"You have reference to my saying _Mr._ Reynolds, I presume," answered +Ella; "but I see no analogy between the two; as in addressing you thus, +I do but what, under the circumstances, is proper; and what, doubtless, +habit has rendered familiar to your ear; while, on the other hand, no +one ever thinks of calling me any thing but Ella, or at the most, Ella +Barnwell--and hence all superfluities grate harshly." + +"Even complimentary adjectives, eh?" asked Reynolds, with an arch look. + +"Even those, Mr. Reynolds; and those most of all are offensive, I assure +you." + +"I thought all of your sex were fond of flattery." + +"Then have you greatly erred in thinking." + +"But thus says general report." + +"Then, sir, general report is a slanderer, and should not be credited. +Those who court flattery, are weak-minded and vain; and I trust you do +not so consider all our sex." + +"Heaven forbid," answered Reynolds, with energy, "that I should think +thus of all, or judge any too harshly!--but there may be causes to force +one into the conviction, that the exceptions are too few to spoil the +rule." + +"I trust such is not your case," responded Ella, quickly, while her eyes +rested on the other with a searching glance. + +"No one is required to criminate himself in law," replied Reynolds, +evasively, with a sigh; and then immediately added, as if anxious to +change the topic: "But I am eager for you to inform me what I said +during my delirium." + +"O, many things," returned Ella, "the half of which I could not repeat; +but more particularly you spoke of troubles at home, and often repeated +the name of Elvira with great bitterness. Then you would run on +incoherently, for some time, about pistols, and swords, and end by +saying that the quarrel was just--that you were provoked to it, until it +became almost self defence--and that if he died, his blood would be on +his own head." + +"Good heavens, Ella! did I indeed say this?" exclaimed Reynolds, with a +start, while his features became deadly pale. "Did I say more? did I +mention further particulars?--speak! tell me--tell me truly!" + +"Not in my hearing," answered Ella, while her own face blanched at the +sudden vehemence of the other. + +"Well, well, do not be alarmed!" said Reynolds, evidently somewhat +relieved, and softening his voice, as he noticed the change in her +countenance; "people sometimes say strange things, when reason, the +great regulator of the tongue, is absent. What construction did you put +upon my words, Ella?" + +"Why, in sooth," replied Ella, watching his features closely as she +spoke, "I thought nothing of them, other than to suppose you might +formerly have had some trouble; and that in the chaos of wild images +crowding your brain, after being attacked and wounded by savages, it was +natural some of these image should be of a bloody nature." + +"Then you did not look upon the words as having reference to a reality." + +"No! at the time I did not." + +"At the time?" repeated Reynolds, with a slight fall of countenance; +"have you then seen or heard any thing since to make you suspicious?" + +"Nothing--until--" + +"Well, well," said Reynolds, quickly, as she hesitated; "speak out and +fear nothing!" + +"Until but now, when you became so agitated, and spoke so vehemently on +my repeating your delirious language," added Ella, concluding the +sentence. + +"Ha!" ejaculated Reynolds, as if to himself; "sanity has done more to +betray me than delirium. Well, Ella," continued he, addressing her more +direct, "you have heard enough to make you doubtful of my character; +therefore you must needs hear the whole, that you may not judge me worse +than I am; but remember, withal, the tale is for your ear alone." + +"Nay, Mr. Reynolds, if it be a secret, I would rather not have it in +keeping," answered Ella. + +"It is a secret," returned Reynolds, solemnly, with his eyes cast down +in a dejected manner; "a secret, I would to Heaven I had not myself in +keeping! but hear it you must, Ella, for various reasons, from my lips; +and then we part--(his voice slightly faltered) we part--forever!" + +"Forever!" gasped Ella, quickly, with a choking sensation, while her +features grew pale, and then suddenly flushed, and her work +unconsciously dropped from her hand. Then, as if ashamed of having +betrayed her feelings, she became confused, and endeavored to cover the +exposure by adding, with a forced laugh: "But really, Mr. Reynolds, I +must crave pardon for my silly behavior--but your manner of speaking, +somehow, startled me--and--and I--before I was aware--really, it was +very silly--indeed it was, and I pray you overlook it!" + +"Were circumstances not as I have too much reason to fear they are," +returned Reynolds, slowly, sadly, and impressively, with his eyes fixed +earnestly and even tenderly upon the other, "I would not exchange that +simple expression of yours, Ella, for a mine of gold. By that alone you +have spoken volumes, and told me what I already feared was true, but +hoped was otherwise. Nay, turn not your head away, Ella--dear Ella, if +you will allow me so to address you--it is better, under the +circumstances, that we speak plainly and understandingly, as the time of +our final separation draweth near. I fear that my manner and language +have hitherto too much expressed my feelings, and encouraged hopes in +you that can never be realized. Oh! Ella, if such be the case, I would, +for your dear sake, we had never met!--and the thought hereafter, that I +have caused you a pang, will add its weight of anguish to my already +bitter lot. The days that I have spent beneath this hospitable roof, and +in your sweet presence, are so many of bright sunshine, in a life of +cloud and storm; but will only serve, as I recall them, to make the +remainder, by contrast, seem more dark and dreary. From the first I +learned you were an orphan, and my sympathy was aroused in your behalf; +subsequently, I listened to your recital of grief, and trouble, and cold +treatment by the world--told in an artless manner--and in spite of me, +in spite of my struggles to the contrary, I discovered awakening in my +breast a feeling of a stronger nature. Had my wound permitted, I should +have torn myself from your presence then, with the endeavor, if such a +thing were possible, to forget you; but, alas! fate ordered otherwise, +and the consequence I fear will be to add sorrow to both. But one thing, +dear Ella, before I go further, let me ask: Can you, and will you +forgive me, for the manner in which I have conducted myself in your +company?" + +"I have nothing to forgive; and had I, it should be forgiven," answered +Ella, sweetly, in a timid voice, her hands unconsciously toying with her +needle-work, and her face half averted, whereon could be traced the +suppressed workings of internal emotion. + +"Thank you, Ella--thank you, for taking a weight from my heart. And now, +ere I proceed with what to both of us will prove a painful revelation, +let me make one request more--a foolish one I know--but one I trust you +will grant nevertheless." + +"Name it," said Ella, timidly, as the other paused. + +"It is, simply, that in judging me by the evidence I shall give against +myself, you will lean strongly to the side of mercy; and, when I am +gone, think of me rather as an unfortunate than criminal being." + +"You alarm me, Mr. Reynolds, with such a request!" answered Ella, +looking up to the other with a pale, anxious countenance. "I know not +the meaning of it! and, as I said before, I would rather not have your +secret in keeping--the more so, as you say the revelation will be a +painful one to both." + +For a moment the young man paused, as though undecided as to his reply, +while his countenance expressed a look of mortified regret really +painful to behold--so much so, that Ella, moved by this to a feeling of +compassion, said: + +"I perceive my answer wounds your feelings--I meant no harm; go on with +your story; I will listen, and endeavor to concede all you desire." + +"Thank you--again thank you!" returned the other, energetically, with +emotion. "I will make my narrative brief as possible." + +Saying which, he entered the apartment where the other was sitting, and +seating himself a few feet distant from her, after some little +hesitation, as if to bring his resolution to the point, thus began: + +"I shall pass over all minor affairs of my life, and come at once to the +period and event, which changed me from a happy youth, blessed with home +and friends, to a wanderer--I know not but an outlaw--on the face of the +earth. I was born in the state of Connecticut, A.D. 1759; and my father +being a man of property, and one determined on giving his children (of +whom there were two, one older than myself) a liberal education, I was +at an early age sent to a neighboring school, where I remained until +turned of eighteen, and then returned to my parents. + +"About this period, an old, eccentric lady--a maiden aunt of my +father--died, bequeathing to me--or rather to the second born of her +nephew, Albert Reynolds, which chanced to be myself--the bulk of her +property--in value some fifty thousand dollars, on condition, that, +between the ages of eighteen and twenty-two, I should marry a certain +Elvira Longworth--a lady some three years my junior, for whom my great +aunt had formed a strong attachment. And the will further provided, That +in case the said second born of Albert Reynolds, either through the +intervention of Providence, in removing him from off the face of the +earth, (so it was worded) and from among the living, or through a mutual +dislike of the parties seemed, did not between the specified ages, +celebrate, with due rejoicing, the said nuptials with the said Elvira +Longworth, the sum of twenty thousand dollars should be paid over to the +said Elvira, if living, and the remainder of the property (or in case +she was deceased the whole) should revert to the regular heirs at law. + +"Such was the will--one of the most singular perhaps on record--which, +whatever the design of its author, was destined, by a train of +circumstances no one could foresee, to result in the most terrible +consequences to those it should have benefited. On the reading thereof, +no little dissatisfaction was expressed in regard to it, by numerous +relatives of the deceased; each of whom, as a matter of course, was +expecting a considerable share of the old lady's property; and all of +whom, with but few exceptions, were nearer akin than myself; and +therefore, in that respect, more properly entitled to it. As a +consequence of the will, I, though innocent of its construction--for +none could be more surprised at it than myself--became a regular target +for the ridicule, envy, and hate of those who chanced to be disappointed +thereby. At the outset, I had no intention of seeking a title to the +property by complying with the specification set forth at the instance +of its late owner; and only looked upon it as a piece of crack-brained +folly, that would serve for a nine days' comment and jest, and then be +forgotten; but when I saw, that instead of being treated with the +courtesy and respect no conscious act of mine had ever forfeited, I was +ridiculed, sneered at, and looked upon with jealousy and hate by those +whose souls were too narrow to believe in a noble action--and who, +measuring and judging me by their own sordid standards of avaricious +justice, deemed I would spare no pains to legally rob them, as they +termed it,--when I saw this, I say, my blood became heated, my fiercer +passions were roused, and I inwardly swore, that if it were now in my +power to accomplish what they feared, I would do it, though the lady in +question were a fright to look upon. In this decision I was rather +encouraged by my father, who being at the time somewhat involved, +thought it a feasible plan of providing for me, and then, by my aid, +recovering from his own pecuniary embarrassments. + +"As yet I had never seen Elvira--she living in an adjoining county, +some thirty miles distant, where my aunt, on a visit to a distant +relative, had first made her acquaintance, and formed that singular +attachment, peculiar to eccentric temperaments, which had resulted in +the manner already shown. Accordingly, one fine spring morning, I +mounted my horse, and set forth to seek my intended, and behold what +manner of person she was of. Late at night I arrived at the village +where she resided--stabled my beast--took lodging at a hotel--inquired +out her residence--and, betimes, the morning following, made my +obeisance in her presence, and with that bashful, awkward grace--if I +may be allowed so paradoxical a term--which my youth present purpose, +and former good breeding combined, were calculated to produce. I was +more embarrassed still a minute after, when, having given my name, and +hinted at the singular document of the old lady deceased, I found my +fair intended, as well as her family, were in total ignorance of my +meaning; and could I at the moment have been suddenly transferred to my +horse, I do not think I should have paused to make the necessary +explanation. As it was, there was no alternative; and accordingly +begging a private interview with Elvira, I disclosed the whole secret; +which she listened to for a time with unfeigned surprise; and then +bursting into a wild, ringing laugh, declared it to be 'The funniest and +most ridiculous thing she ever heard of.' + +"She was a gay, sprightly, beautiful being--fresh in the bloom of some +fifteen summers--with a bright, sparkling, roguish eye--long, floating, +auburn ringlets--a musical voice--a ringing laugh--the latter frequent +and long,--so that I soon felt it needed not the stimulating desire of +wealth and revenge to urge me on to that, which, under any +circumstances, would have been by no means disagreeable. To make a long +story short, I called upon her at stated periods; and, within a year +from our first acquaintance, we were plighted to each other. About this +time my father, together with some influential friends, procured me a +lieutenancy, to serve in our present struggle for the maintainance of +that glorious independence, drawn up by the immortal Jefferson, and +signed by the noble patriots some two years before. I served a two +years' campaign, and fought in the unfortunate and bloody battle of +Camden; which resulted, as doubtless you have heard, in great loss and +defeat to the American arms. Shortly after the action commenced, our +captain was killed, and the command of the company devolved on me. I +fulfilled my duties to the best of my ability, and myself and men were +in the hottest of the fight. But from some alleged misdemeanor, whereof +I can take my oath I was guiltless, I was afterward very severely +censured by one of my superior officers; which so wounded my feelings, +that I at once resigned my commission and returned to my native state. + +"On arriving at home, to my surprise and mortification, I learned that +my intended was just on the eve of marriage with a cousin of mine--a +worthless fellow--who, urged on by the relatives interested, and his own +desire of acquiring the handsome competence of twenty thousand dollars, +had taken advantage of my absence to calumniate me, (in which design he +had been aided by several worthy assistants) and supplant me in the good +graces--I will not say affections, as I think the term too strong--of +Elvira Longworth. + +"The lady in question I do not think I ever loved--at least as I +understand the meaning of that term--and now--that she had listened to +slander against me while absent, and, without waiting to know whether it +would be refuted on my return, had engaged herself to another--I cared +less for her than before;--but my pride was touched, that I should be +thus tamely set aside for one I heartily despised; and this, together +with my desire to thwart the machinations of the whole intriguing clique +arrayed against me, determined me, if feasible, to regain the favor of +Elvira, and have the ceremony performed as soon as possible. This, Ella, +I know you think, and I am ready to admit it, was wrong--very wrong; +but I make no pretensions to be other than a frail mortal, liable to all +the errors appertaining thereto; and were this is the only sin to be +laid to my charge, my conscience were far less troublesome than now. + +"I determined, I say, to regain my former place in her favor or +affection--whichever you like--and, to be brief, I apparently succeeded. +The day was set for our marriage; which, for several reasons unnecessary +to be detailed, was to take place at the residence of my father; and, as +the will specified it should be with all due rejoicings, great +preparations were accordingly made, and a goodly number of guests +invited. + +"At length the day came--the eventful day. Never shall I forget it; nor +with what feelings, at the appointed hour, I entered the crowded hall, +where the ceremony was to take place, with Elvira leaning tremblingly on +my arm, her features devoid of all color, and approached the spot where +the divine stood ready to unite us forever. All eyes were now fixed upon +us; and the marriage rite was begun amid that deep and almost awful +solemnity, which not unfrequently characterizes such proceedings on +peculiar occasions, when every spectator, as well as the actors +themselves, feel a secret awe steal over them, as though about to +witness a tragic, rather than a civil, performance. + +"I have mentioned that Elvira trembled violently when we entered the +hall; but this trembling increased after the divine commenced the +ritual; so that when I had answered in the affirmative the solemn +question pertaining to my taking the being by my side as mine till +death, her trepidation had become so great that it was with difficulty I +could support her; and when the same interrogative was put to her, a +silence of some moments followed; and then the answer came forth, low +and trembling, but still sufficiently distinct to be generally +understood; and was, to the unbounded astonishment of all, in the +negative!" + +"In the negative!" exclaimed Ella, suddenly, who had during the last few +sentences been unconsciously leaning forward, as though to devour each +syllable as it was uttered, and who now resumed her former position with +a long drawn breath. "In the negative say you, Alger--a--a--Mr. +Reynolds?" + +"Call me Algernon, Ella, I pray you; it sounds more sweet and friendly. +Ay, she answered in the negative. Heavens! what a shock was there for +my proud nature! To be thus publicly insulted and rejected--to be thus +made the butt and ridicule of fools and knaves--a mark for the jests and +sneers of friend and foe! Oh! how my blood boiled and coursed in lava +streams through my heated veins! I saw it all. I was the dupe of some +artful design, intended to stigmatize me forever; and wild with a +thousand terrible brain-searing thoughts, I rushed from the hall to my +own apartment, seized upon my pistols, and was just in the act of +putting a period to my existence, when my arm was suddenly grasped, and +my hated rival and cousin stood before me. + +"'Fiend!' cried I in frenzy; 'devil in human shape!--do you seek me in +the body? What want you here?' + +"His features were pale with excitement, and his lips quivered as he +made answer: 'Be calm, Algernon, be calm; it was meant but in jest!' + +"'Jest!' screamed I; 'do you then own to a knowledge of it, +villain?--were you its author?--then take that, and answer it as you +dare!'--and as I spoke, with the breech of my undischarged pistol, I +stretched him senseless at my feet. Under the excitement of the moment, +I was about to take a more terrible revenge; when others suddenly rushed +in--seized and disarmed me--bore my rival from my sight--and, to +conclude, placed me in bed, where I was confined for three weeks by a +delirious fever, and then only recovered as it were by a miracle. + +"During my convalescence, I learned that my cousin, soon after my +return, had been privately married to Elvira; and prompted by his evil +genius, and some of my enemies, had induced his wife to enter into the +plot, the result of which has already been briefly narrated. I do not +think she did it through malice, and doubtless little thought of the +consequences that were destined to follow; but whether so or not, her +punishment has, I think, been fully adequate to her crime; for the last +I heard of her, she was an inmate of a mad-house--remorse for her +conduct, the abuse heaped upon her by society, and her own severe fright +at the termination of the stratagem, having driven her insane. Now comes +the most tragic part of my narrative. + +"When so far recovered as to again be abroad, I was cautioned by my +parents against my rash act; and for their sakes, I promised to be +temperate in all my movements; but, alas! how little we know when we +promise, what we may be in sooth destined to perform. On my father's +estate, about a mile distant from his residence, was a beautiful +grove--whither, for recreation, I was in the habit of repairing at all +periods of my life; and where, so soon as my strength permitted, after +my sickness, I rambled daily. About ten days from my recovery, as I was +taking my usual stroll through these grounds, I was suddenly confronted +by my cousin. His cheeks were hollow and pale, and his whole appearance +haggard in the extreme. His eyes, too, seemed to flash, or burn, as it +were, with an unearthly brightness; and his voice, as he addressed me, +was hoarse, and his manner hurried. + +"'We meet well,' he said, 'well! I have watched for you long.' + +"'Away!' cried I; 'tempt me no more--or something will follow I may +regret hereafter!' + +"'Ha, ha, ha!' laughed he, in derision, with that peculiar, hollow +sound, which even now, as I recall it, makes my blood run cold:--'Say +you so, cousin?--I came for that;' and again he laughed as before. 'See +here--see here!' and he presented, as he spoke, with the butts toward +me, a brace of pistols. 'Here is what will settle all our animosities,' +he continued; 'take your choice, and be quick, or perchance we may be +interrupted.' + +"'Are you mad,' cried I, 'that you thus seek my life, after the wrongs +you have done me?' + +"'Mad!--ha, ha!--yes!--yes!--I believe I am,' he answered; 'and my wife +is mad also. I did you wrong, I know--went to apologise for it, and you +struck me down. Whatever the offence, a blow I never did and never will +forgive; so take your choice, and be quick, for one or both of us must +never quit this place alive.' + +"'Away!' cried I, turning aside; 'I will not stain my hands with the +blood of my kin. Go! the world is large enough to hold us both.' + +"'Coward!' hissed he; 'take that, then, and bear what I have borne;' and +with the palm of his hand he smote me on the cheek. + +"I could bear no more--I was no longer myself--I was maddened with +passion--and snatching a pistol from his hand, which was still extended +toward me, without scarcely knowing what I did, I exclaimed, 'Your blood +be on your own head!'--and--and--Oh, Heaven!--pardon me, Ella--I--shot +him through the body." + +Ella, who had partly risen from her seat, and was listening with +breathless attention, now uttered an exclamation of horror, and sunk +back, with features ghastly pale; while the other, burying his face in +his hands, shook his whole frame with convulsive sobs. For some time +neither spoke; and then the young man, slowly raising his face, which +was now a sad spectacle of the workings of grief and remorse, again +proceeded: + +"Horror-stricken--aghast at what I had done--I stood for a moment, +gazing upon him weltering in his blood, with eyes that burned and seemed +starting from their sockets--with feelings that are indescribable--and +then rushing to him, I endeavored to raise him, and learn the extent of +his injury. + +"'Fly!' said he, faintly, as I bent over him--'fly for your life! I have +got my due--I am mortally wounded--and if you remain, you will surely be +arrested as my murderer. Farewell, Algernon--the fault was mine--but +this you can not prove; and so leave me--leave me while you have +opportunity.' + +"His words were true; I felt them in force; if he died, I would be +arraigned as his murderer--I had no proof to the contrary--circumstances +would be against me--I should be imprisoned--condemned--perhaps +executed--a loathsome sight for gaping thousands--I could not bear the +thought--I might escape--ay, would escape--and bidding him a hasty +farewell, I turned and fled. Not a hundred rods distant I met my father; +and falling on my knees before him, I hurriedly related what had taken +place, and begged advice for myself, and his immediate attendance upon +my cousin. He turned pale and trembled violently at my narration; and, +as I concluded, drew forth a purse of gold, which he chanced to have +with him, and placing it in my hand, exclaimed: + +"'Fly--son--child--Algernon--for Heaven's sake, fly!' + +"'Whither, father?' + +"'To the far western wilds, beyond the reach of civilization--at least +beyond the reach of justice--and spare my old eyes the awful sight of +seeing a beloved son arraigned as a criminal!' + +"'And my mother?' + +"'You can not see her--it might cost you your life,--farewell!' and with +the last word trembling on his lips, he embraced me fondly, and we +parted--perchance forever. + +"I fled, feeling that the brand of Cain was on me; that henceforth my +life was to be one of remorse and misery; that I was to be a wanderer +upon the face of the earth--mayhap an Ishmael, with every man's hand +against me. To atone in a measure to my conscience for the awful deed I +had committed, I knelt upon the earth, and swore, by all I held sacred +in time and eternity, that if the wound inflicted upon my cousin should +prove mortal, I would live a life of celibacy, and become a wandering +pilgrim in the western wilds of America till God should see proper to +call me hence." + +"And--and did the wound prove mortal?" asked Ella, breathlessly. + +"Alas! I know not, Ella, and I fear to know. Four months have passed +since then; and after many adventures, hardships, sufferings, and +hair-breadth escapes, you see me here before you, a miserable man." + +"But not one guilty of murder, Algernon," said Ella, energetically. + +"I know not that--Heaven grant it true!" + +"O, then, do not despair, Algernon!--trust in God, and hope for the +best. I have a hope that all will yet be well." + +"Amen to that, dear Ella; and a thousand, thousand thanks, for your +sweet words of consolation; they are as balm to my torn and bleeding +heart; but until I _know_ my fate, we must not meet again; and if, oh +Heaven! and if the worst be true--then--then farewell forever! But who +comes here?" + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE STRANGER. + + +The closing sentence of the preceding chapter was occasioned by the +glimpse of a man's shadow, that for a moment swept along in the +sunlight, some twenty paces distant from the speaker, and then suddenly +disappeared by being swallowed up in the larger and more stationary +shade thrown from the cottage by the sinking sun. Scarcely were the +words alluded to uttered, ere the sound of a step was heard close by the +door, and the next moment the cause of the shadow and remark divided the +light of the entrance. + +The individual in question, was a stout built, broad-shouldered, +athletic man--some five feet nine inches in height--whose age, judging +from his general appearance, as well as his features, might range from +twenty-seven to thirty years. At the moment when he appeared before our +acquaintances of the foregoing chapter, his right arm was held in a +manner so as to screen the lower portion of his face; while a hat, not +very much unlike those of the present day, pressed down upon his +forehead, left but little of his countenance, and that mainly about the +eyes, visible. With the latter he gave a quick, searching, suspicious +glance at the two before him; and then, as if satisfied he had nothing +to fear, lowered his arm and raised his hat from his forehead, exposing +a physiognomy by no means pleasing to one skilled in reading the heart +thereby. His complexion was swarthy--his skin coarse--and the general +expression of his features repulsive in the extreme; this expression +arising from the combination of three distinct parts of his +countenance--namely: the forehead which was low and receding from two +dark-red, shaggy eye-brows,--the eyes themselves, which were small, +bloodshot and very fiery; and the mouth, which was narrow, thin-lipped, +and habitually contracted into a sneering, sinister smile. In this +general expression, was combined cunning, deceit, treachery, and +bloodthirsty ferocity--each one of which passions were sufficiently +powerful, when fully excited, to predominate over the whole combination. +The hair of his head was short, thick, coarse and red, grew low upon his +forehead, and, in its own peculiar way, added a fierceness to his whole +appearance. Nature had evidently designed him for a villain of the +darkest die; and on the same principle that she gives a rattle to a +certain venomous snake, that other creatures may be warned of the deadly +fang in time to avoid it--so had she stamped him with a look wherein his +passions were mirrored, that those who gazed thereon might know with +whom and what they had to do, and be prepared accordingly. The costume +too of the stranger was rather singular, and worthy of note--being +composed, for the most part, of an extraordinary long frock or +overcoat--more like the gown of some monk than either--which reached +almost down to the moccasins covering his feet, and was laced together +in front, nearly the whole length, by thongs of deerskin. Around the +waist passed a rude belt of the same material--carelessly tied at one +side--in which, contrary to the usual custom of that period, there was +not confined a single weapon, not even so much as a knife; and this +fact, together with the general appearance of the individual and his own +suspicious movements, led Algernon, almost at the first glance, to +consider the long frock or gown an article of disguise, beneath which +the stranger was doubtless doubly armed and costumed in a very +different manner. + +As the eyes of the new comer, after closely scanning Reynolds, rested +for the first time upon Ella, there flashed across his ugly features an +expression of admiration and surprise--while the look of suspicion which +he had previously exhibited, seemed entirely to disappear. Turning to +the young man, who on his appearance had risen from his seat, and now +stood as if waiting to know his commands, in a voice evidently much +softened from its usual tones, but still by no means pleasant and +harmonious, he said: + +"Will you be kind enough to inform me, sir, to whom this dwelling +belongs?" + +"It is owned, I believe, by one Benjamin Younker," answered Algernon, in +a cavalier manner, still eyeing the other closely. + +"May I ask his occupation?" + +"He is a farmer, sir--a tiller of the soil." + +"Will you favor me with a description of his personal appearance?" + +"I can do so," replied Algernon, somewhat surprised at the question, +"provided I know the motive of inquiry to be a good one." + +"It is no other, I assure you," returned the stranger. "It was simply +prompted by curiosity." + +"Well, then, the individual in question is a man who has seen more than +fifty years--is tall, raw-boned, muscular, has a stoop in the shoulder, +a long, thin face, small eyes, and hair slightly gray." + +"Has he any sons?" inquired the stranger. + +"One, a youth of twenty, who bears a strong resemblance to his father." + +"Daughters?" + +"He has no other child." + +"Then this young lady"--slightly bowing to Ella. + +"Is a more distant relation--a niece," answered Ella, rising as she +spoke and disappearing from his sight. + +"A beautiful creature!" said the stranger, musingly, as if to +himself--"a beautiful creature! Pardon me," added he, again addressing +Algernon; "but may I inquire concerning yourself?" + +"I am a guest here, sir." + +"Aha--yes; a hunter I presume?" + +"I sometimes hunt." + +"Pardon me again--but are there more indwellers here than you have +mentioned?" + +"One, sir--the good dame of the cottage." + +For a moment or two the stranger mused, as if running over in his mind +all that had been said; and then observed: + +"Doubtless you think me very inquisitive; but I had a reason for all my +questions; and I thank you sincerely, sir, for your prompt replies. It +is now growing late; the sun will presently be down; and as I am a +traveler--a stranger in this region--I would rather not pursue my +journey further, providing I could be entertained here for the night." + +"As to that, I am unable to answer," said Algernon; "but if you will +step within, I will make the necessary inquiries." + +"Thank you," replied the stranger, with a show of cordiality; "thank +you;" and he immediately entered the cottage. + +Those days, as before said, were the good old days of hospitality--and, +as far as population went, of social intercourse also--when every man's +cabin was the stranger's home, and every neighbor every neighbor's +friend. There were no distinct grades of society then as now, from which +an honest individual of moral worth must be excluded because of +poverty--a good character for upright dealing being the standard by +which all were judged; and whoever possessed this, could rank equally +with the best, though poor as the beggar Lazarus. Doubtless intellect +and education then, as well as at the present day, held in many things a +superiority over imbecility and ignorance; but there were no distinct +lines of demarcation drawn; and in the ordinary routine of intercourse +one with another, there was no superiority claimed, and none +acknowledged. And this arose, probably, from the necessity each felt +for there being a general unity--a general blending together of all +qualifications, as it were, into one body politic--by which each +individual became an individual member of the whole, perfect in his +place, and capable of supplying what another might chance to need; as +the man of education might be puny in stature and deficient of a strong +arm; the man of strong arm deficient in education; the imbecile man +might be a superior woodman--the man of intellect an inferior one:--so +that, as before remarked, each of these qualities, being essential to +perfect the whole, each one of course was called upon to exercise his +peculiar talent, and take his position on an equality with his neighbor. +There has been great change in society since then; those days of simple +equality have gone forever; but we question if the present race, with +all their privileges, with all their security, with all their means of +enjoyment, are as happy as those noble old pioneers, with all their +necessities, with all their dangers, with all their sufferings. + +According, therefore, to the established custom of the early settlers, +the stranger for whom Algernon proceeded to make inquiries, was entitled +to all the rights of hospitality; and whether liked or disliked, could +not consistently be smiled away, nor frowned away, as doubtless he would +have been, had he lived in this civil, wonderworking age of lightning +and steam; and though his appearance was any thing but agreeable to Mrs. +Younker, who surveyed him through her spectacles (being a little near +sighted) from the adjoining cabin, whither Algernon had repaired to +learn her decision; and though it would prove inconvenient to herself +to grant his request; yet, as she expressed it, "He war a stranger, as +hadn't no home and didn't know whar to go to; and prehaps war hungry, +poor man; and it wouldn't be right nor Christian-like to refuse him jest +a night's lodging like;" and so the matter was settled, and Algernon was +deputed to inform him that he could stay and would be welcome to such +fare as their humble means afforded. + +Some half an hour later, a loud hallooing announced the arrival of the +two Younkers with the domestic cattle--consisting of the kine and some +pet sheep which ran with them--from their labors in a distant field, +where they had been engaged in harvesting corn. A few minutes after, the +elder Younker entered the cabin, bearing upon his shoulder a rifle, from +which depended a large, fat turkey that he had shot during his absence. +With a slight but friendly nod to the stranger, he proceeded to deposit +his game on the hearth--where it was presently examined and commented on +at considerable length by the good dame--and then carefully placing his +rifle on a couple of horn hooks depending from the ceiling for the +purpose, he seated himself on a stool, his back to the wall, with the +air of one who is very much fatigued, and does not wish to mingle in +conversation of any kind. + +The sun by this time was already below the horizon; twilight was fast +deepening into night; and the matron, having finished her remarks on the +turkey, and "Wondered ef sech birds wouldn't git to being scaser arter a +while, when all on, 'em war shot?" proceeded to the cow-yard, to assist +Isaac in milking; while Ella hurried hither and thither, with almost +noiseless activity, to prepare the evening repast. A bright fire was +soon kindled in the chimney, over which was suspended a kettle for +boiling water; while in front, nearly perpendicular, was placed a large +corn loaf, whose savory odor, as it began to cook, was far from being +disagreeable to the olfactory organs of the lookers on. The table, of +which we have previously given a description, was next drawn into the +middle of the apartment and covered with a home-made cloth of linen; on +which were placed a medley of dishes of various sizes and +materials--some of wood, some of pewter, some of earthern, and one of +stone--with knives and forks to correspond. Three of these dishes were +occupied--one with clean, fresh butter, another with rich old cheese, +and the third with a quantity of cold venison steak. In the course of +another half hour, the cake was baked and on the table--Isaac and his +mother had entered with the milk--the announcement was made by Ella that +all was ready; and the whole party, taking seats around the humble +board, proceeded to do justice to the fare before them. + +A light, placed in the center of the table, threw its gleams upon +the faces of each, and exhibited a singular variety of expressions. +That of the stranger was downcast, sinister, and suspicious, combined +with an evident desire of appearing exactly the reverse. Occasionally, +when he thought no eye was on him, he would steal a glance at Ella; +and some times gaze steadily--like one who is resolved upon a +certain event, without being decided as to the exact manner of its +accomplishment--until he found himself observed, when his glance would +fall to his plate, or be directed to some other object, with the +seeming embarrassment of one caught in some guilty act. This was noticed +more than once by Algernon; who, perhaps, more than either of the +others, felt from the first that strong dislike, that suspicious +repugnance to the stranger, which can only be explained as one of the +mysteries of nature, whereby we are sometimes warned of whom we should +shun, as the instinct of an animal makes known to it its inveterate foe; +and though he strove to think there was nothing of evil meant by a +circumstance apparently so trifling--that the glance of the stranger was +simply one of admiration or curiosity--yet the thought that it might be +otherwise--that he might be planning something wicked to the fair being +before him--haunted his mind like some hideous vision, made him for +the time more distrustful, more watchful than ever, and was afterward +reverted to with a painful sensation. The features of Algernon also +exhibited an expression of remorse and hopeless melancholy; the reason +whereof the reader, who has now been made acquainted with the secret, +will readily understand. The face of Ella, too, was paler than +usual--more sad and thoughtful--so much so, that it was remarked by Mrs. +Younker, who immediately instituted the necessary inquiries concerning +her health, and explained to her at some length the most approved method +of curing a cold, in case that were the cause. In striking contrast to +the sober looks of the others--for Younker himself was a man who seldom +exhibited other than a sedate expression--was the general appearance and +manner of Isaac. He seemed exceedingly exhilarated in spirits, yet kept +his eyes down, and appeared at times very absent minded. Whatever his +thoughts were, it was evident they were pleasing ones; for he would +smile to himself, and occasionally display a comical nervousness, as +though he had some very important secret to make known, yet was not +ready to communicate it. This had been observed in him through the day; +and was so different from his usual manner, and so much beyond any +conjecture his mother could form of the cause, that at last her +curiosity became so excited, that to restrain it longer was like holding +down the safety-valve to an over-heated steam boiler; and, accordingly, +taking advantage of another mysterious smile, which Isaac chanced to +display while looking at a large piece of corn bread, already on its way +to his capacious jaws, she exclaimed: + +"Why, what on yarth _is_ the matter with you, Isaac, that you keep a +grinning, and grinning, and fidgetting about all to yourself so much +like a plaguy nateral born fool for?" + +So loudly, suddenly and unexpectedly was this question put--for all had +been silent some minutes previous--that Isaac started, blushed, dropped +the bread--already near enough to his teeth to have felt uncomfortable, +had it been capable of feeling--endeavored to catch it--blundered--and +finally upset his plate and contents into his lap, in a manner so truly +ridiculous, that Ella and Mrs. Younker, unable to restrain their mirth, +laughed heartily, while the stranger and Algernon smiled, and the stern +features of the father relaxed into an expression of quiet humor seldom +seen on his countenance. + +"'Pon my word," continued Mrs. Younker, so soon as she could collect +breath enough after laughing to go on; "I do raley believe as how the +boy's ayther crazy, or in love, for sartin. What does ail ye, Isaac?--do +tell!" + +"Perhaps he was thinking of his dear Peggy," said Ella, archly; who was, +by the way, very fond of teasing him whenever opportunity presented; and +could not even now, despite her previous low spirits, forbear a little +innocent raillery--her temperament being such, that wit and humor were +ever ready on the slightest provocation to take the ascendancy, as old +wine when stirred ever sends its sparkling beads upward. "I wonder, +Isaac, if you looked as amiable and interesting in the eyes of dear +Peggy, and made as graceful an appearance, when you popped the +question?" + +"Why, how in the name o' all Christen nater did you find out I'd done +it?" asked Isaac, in reply; who having, meantime, regained his former +position, and restored the plate, minus some of its contents, now sat a +perfect picture of comical surprise, with his mouth slightly ajar, and +his small eyes strained to their utmost and fastened seriously upon the +querist as he awaited her answer. + +"Murder will out, dear Isaac," replied Ella, with a ringing laugh; in +which she was joined by most of the others; and particularly by the +subject of the joke; who perceiving, too late for retreat, that he had +been betrayed into an acknowledgment of his secret, deemed this his +wisest course for defence. + +"And so, Isaac, you have really proposed to darling Peggy, then? and we +are to have a wedding shortly?" continued his tormentor. "And pray which +did look the most foolish of the two?--or was it a drawn-game, as we +sometimes say of draughts?" + +"Why," rejoined Isaac, changing color as rapidly as an aurora borealis, +and evidently much embarrassed; "I 'spect I mought as well own up, +being's I've got cotched in my own trap; and besides, it won't make no +great difference, only as I war intending it for a surprise. You see I +axed Peggy the question last night; and it's all settled; and we're +going to be married in less nor a week, ef nothing unforeseen don't +happen; and as Mr. Reynolds ar a stranger in these diggins, I thought +prehaps as how he'd like a little amusement like, and so I've fixed on +him for my groomsman." + +"I am much obliged for your kind intentions, and the honor you would +confer on me," answered Reynolds, sadly; "but I am sorry to say, I shall +be under the necessity of declining your invitation; as on the morrow I +design taking a farewell leave of you all, and quitting this part of the +country forever." + +Mr. Younker, his wife, and son, all started, with looks of surprise, at +this announcement, while Ella again grew deadly pale; and rising, with +some little trepidation, retired from the table. The stranger was the +only one unmoved. + +"To-morrow!" ejaculated Mrs. Younker. + +"Take leave o' us!" said the host. + +"Quit the country forever!" repeated Isaac. + +"Such, I assure you, is my determination," rejoined Algernon. + +"But your wound, Mr. Reynolds?" suggested Younker. + +"Is not entirely healed," returned Algernon; "yet I trust sufficiently +so to allow me to pursue my journey. The wound, as you are aware, was +only a flesh one--the ball having entered the right side, glanced on the +lower rib, and passed out nearly in front--and though very dangerous at +the time from excessive hemorrhage, has of late been rapidly healing, +and now troubles me but little if any." + +"Well, now, Mr. Reynolds," rejoined Mrs. Younker, "I'm a considerable +older woman nor you ar--that is, I mean to say, I'm a much older +individule--and I 'spect I've had in my time some lettle experience +in matters that you don't know nothing about; and so you musn't go to +thinking hard o' me, ef I give you a lettle advice, and tell you to +stay right whar you ar, and not stir a single step away for three +weeks;--'cause ef you do, your wound may get rupturous agin, and in +some lone place jest carry you right straight off into the shader o' +the valley of death--as our good old Rev. Mr. Allprayer used to say, +when he wanted to comfort the sick. O, dear good man he war, Preacher +Allprayer,"--continued the voluble old lady, with a sigh, her mind now +wholly occupied with his virtues--"dear good man he war! I jest +remember--Lor bless ye, I'll never forgit it--how he come'd to me when I +war sick--with tears a running out o' his eyes like he'd been eating raw +inyuns, poor man--and told me that I war going to die right straight +away, and never need to hope to be no better; and that I'd most likely +go right straight to that orful place whar all bad folks goes to. O, the +dear man! I never could help always liking him arter that--it made me +feel so orful narvous and religious like. Why, what on yarth be you +grinning at agin, Isaac?--jest for all the world like a monkey for?" + +"Nothing, mother," answered Isaac, nearly choking with smothered +laughter; "only I war jest kind o' thinking what a kind comforter Mr. +Allprayer war, to tell you you couldn't live any longer; and that when +you died you'd jest go right straight to--to--" + +"Silence! you irrelevant boy, you!" (irreverent was doubtless meant) +interrupted the dame, angrily: "How dare you to go making fun o' the +pious Rev. Mr. Allprayer?--him as used to preach all Sunday long, and +pray all Sunday night, and never did nothing wrong--though he did git +turned out o' the meeting house arterward for getting drunk and +swearing; but then the poor man cried and said it were nothing but a +accident, which hadn't happened more nor ten times to him sence he'd bin +a preacher of the everlasting gospel. Thar, thar, the crazy head's a +giggling agin! I do wish, Ben, you'd see to Isaac, and make him behave +himself--for he's got so tittery like, sence he's axed Peggy, thar's no +use o' trying to do nothing with him." + +"Isaac! Isaac!" said his father with a reproving glance; and, as though +that voice and look possessed a spell, the features of the young man +instantly became grave, almost solemn. Then turning to Algernon, the old +man continued: "As to leaving us, Mr. Reynolds, you of course know your +own business best, and it arn't my desire to interfere; but ef you could +put up with our humble fare, say a week or ten days longer, I think as +how it would be much better for you, and would give us a deal of +pleasure besides." + +"Why, I'll jest tell you what tis," put in Isaac: "I've fixed on you for +groomsman, and I arn't a going to gin in no how; so unless you want to +quarrel; you'll have to stay; and more'n that, it's spected you'll see +to takin Ella thar; for I know she don't like to go with any o' the +fellers round here; and I shall gin out she's going with you; which may +be won't hurt your feelings none--at any rate, I know it won't hers." + +At the mention of Ella, Algernon crimsoned to the eyes, and became so +exceedingly confused, that he could with difficulty stammer forth, by +way of reply, the query as to the time when the important event was +expected to take place. + +"Let me see," answered Isaac, telling off the days on his fingers: +"to-morrow's Friday; then Saturday's one, Sunday's two, Monday's three, +and Tuesday's four--only four days from to-morrow morning, Mr. Reynolds." + +"Then, as you so urgently insist upon it," rejoined Reynolds, "I will +postpone my departure till after the wedding." + +Isaac thanked him cordially, and the father and mother looked gratified +at the result; Ella he could not see--she having withdrawn from the +table, as previously noted. Some further conversation ensued relative to +the manner in which weddings were conducted in that country, and the +design of proceeding with the one in question; but as we intend the +reader to be present at the wedding itself, we shall not detail it. +We will remark here, by the way, that the stranger seemed to take a +singular interest in all that was said concerning the residence of the +intended bride, the road the party were expected to take to reach there, +their probable number, manner of travel, and the time when they would be +likely to set forth and return. In all this it was observed by Algernon, +that whenever he asked a question direct, it was put in such a careless +manner as would lead one not otherwise suspicious to suppose him +perfectly indifferent as to whether it were answered or not; but he +somehow fancied, he scarce knew why, that there was a strong under +current to this outward seeming. And furthermore he observed, that the +stranger in general avoided putting a question at all--rather seeking +his information by conjecturing or supposing what would immediately be +contradicted or confirmed. This mode of interrogation, so closely +followed up to every particular, yet apparently with such indifference, +together with the stranger's treacherous look and several minor things +all bearing a suspicious cast, more than half convinced Algernon that +the other was a spy, and that some foul play was assuredly meditated; +though what, and to whom, or for what purpose, he was at a loss to +determine. + +From the particulars of the coming wedding, the stranger, after a +little, adroitly turned the conversation upon the wound of Reynolds; +asked a number of questions, and appeared deeply interested in the whole +narration concerning it--the attack upon him by the Indians and his +providential escape through the assistance of Boone--all of which was +detailed by Isaac in his own peculiar way. From this case in particular, +the conversation gradually changed to other cases that had happened +in the vicinity; and also to the state of the country, with regard +to what it had been and now was--its settlements--its increase of +inhabitants--the many Indian invasions and massacres that had occurred +within the last five years on the borders--and the present supposed +population of the frontiers. + +"As to myself," said Younker, in reply to some observation of the +stranger, "as to myself and family, we've been extremely fortunate in +'scaping the red foe--though I've bin daily fearful that when I went +away to my work in the morning, I'd may be come back agin at noon or +night and find my women folks gone, or murdered, and my cot in ashes; +but, thank the Lord! I've been so far spared sech a heart rending +sight." + +"And had you no personal fears?" asked the stranger. + +"I don't know's I understand you." + +"Had you no fears for yourself individually?" + +"Well, I can't say's I had," answered the other. "I'm an old man--or at +least I'm in my second half century--and I've so endeavored to live, as +not to fear to go at any moment when God sees fit, and by whatsomever +means he may choose to take me." + +"I suppose you now consider yourself in a measure safe from Indian +encroachments?" observed the other. + +"No man, stranger--I beg pardon, but I'd like to know your name!" + +"Certainly, sir," answered the other, a little embarrassed. "My name +is--is--Williams." + +"Thank you! No man, Mr. Williams, ar justified in considering himself +safe from Injens, in a country like this; but to tell the truth, I don't +feel so fearful of 'em, as when I first come out here with my family, +two year ago; though thar's no telling what may hap in the course o' two +year more." + +"And did you venture here at once on your arrival in this western +country?" + +"Not exactly; for the land laws o' Virginna, passed the year I come out, +made it rayther difficult gitting hold o' land, about which thar war a +great deal o' disputing; and which war kept up till the commissioners +came out and settled the matter; and so while this war agitating, I took +my family to Boonesborough, whar they remained, excepting Isaac, who +went along with me, until we'd got all matters fixed for moving 'em +here. But as you've axed considerable many questions, pray may I know ef +you're from the east?--And ef so, what news thar is with respect to this +here war with the Britishers?" "Why," replied the other, hesitatingly, +"though not strictly speaking from the east, yet I've been eastward the +past season, and have some news of the war; and, as far as I am able to +judge, think it will result in the total subjugation of the colonies." + +"Heaven forbid!" exclaimed Younker. + +"Heaven forefend!" said Reynolds, with a start. + +"Lord presarve us!--marsy on us!" cried Mrs. Younker, with vehemence. +"What on yarth shall we do, ef them plaguy Britishers git uppermost? +They'll take away all our lands, for sartin!--and Ben's bin and bought +four hundred acres, poor man, at forty cents a acre, under the new laws +of Varginna[4]--which comes to one hundred and sixty dollars, hard +money; and now maybe he'll have to lose it all, and not git nothing for +it; and then what in the name o' the whole univarsal creation will +become on us?" + +"Well, well, Dorothy--don't fret about it till it happens--thar'll be +plenty o' time then," said Younker, gravely; "and perhaps it won't +happen at all." + +"Don't talk to me about fretting, Mr. Younker!" rejoined the now +irritated dame, a la Caudle: "I reckon I don't fret no easier nor you +do, nor half so much nother; but I'd like to know who wouldn't fret, +when they know they're going to lose all thar property by them thar good +for nothing red-coated Britishers, who I do believe is jest as mean as +Injens, and they're too mean to live, that's sartin. Fret, indeed! I +reckon it wouldn't do for you to be letting Preacher Allprayer hear ye +say so; for he said one time with his own mouth--and to me too, mind +that!--that I'd got the bestest disposition in the whole universal yarth +o' creation under the sun!" and the voluble old lady paused to take +breath. + +"It's my opine, that ef Preacher Allprayer had lived with you as long as +I have, he wouldn't repeat that thar sentence under oath," returned +Younker, quietly. Then perceiving that a storm was brewing, he hastened +to change the conversation, by addressing the stranger: "What cause have +you, Mr. Williams, for speaking so discourageous o' the war?" + +"The failure of the American arms in battle, the weakness of their +resources, and the strength of their opponents," replied the other. "I +presume you have heard of the battles of Guilford and Camden, in both of +which General Greene was defeated?" + +"General _Gates_ commanded at Camden, sir!" interposed Reynolds somewhat +haughtily. + +"I beg pardon, sir!" retorted the other, in a sneering, sarcastic tone; +"but I was speaking of the defeat of General _Greene!_" + +"At Camden?" + +"At Camden, sir!" + +"I am sorry you are no better informed," rejoined Algernon, with +flashing eyes. "I repeat that General Gates commanded at Camden; and as, +unfortunately, I chanced to be in the fight, I claim the privilege of +being positive." + +"The youth is doubtless speaking of the battle fought a year or two +ago," rejoined Williams, turning to Younker, in a manner the most +insulting to Reynolds; who clenched his hand, and pressed his nether lip +with his teeth until the blood sprang through, but said nothing. "I have +reference to the two engagements which took place at Guilford Court +House and Camden, in March and April last; whereby, as I said before, +General Greene, who commanded at both, was twice defeated, and retreated +with great loss; although in the former action his forces outnumbered +those of his opponent, Lord Cornwallis, as two to one; and in the +latter, far exceeded those of Lord Rawdon, his opponent also." + +"This is indeed startling news," answered Younker, "and I'm fearful o' +the result!" + +"You may depend on't, them thar four-hundred acres is all gone clean to +smash," observed Mrs. Younker; "and its my opine, Ben, you'd better sell +right straight out immediately, afore the news gits about any further, +for fear o' accidents and them things." + +"I suppose in reality the present war with England does not trouble you +here?" said the stranger, interrogatively. + +"Why not in reality," answered Younker, "only so far as the Britishers +and thar accursed renegade agents set on the Injens agin us." + +"To what renegade agents do you allude?" inquired the other, with a +degree of interest he had not before exhibited. + +"Why, to the Girtys, McKee, and Elliot--and perticularly to that thar +scoundrel, Simon Girty the worst o' all on 'em." + +"Ha! Simon Girty," said the other, with a slight start and change of +countenance; "what know you of him?" + +"Nothing that's good, you may be sartin, and every thing that's evil. +He's leagued with the Injens, purposely to excite 'em agin his own white +brethren--to have them murder women and children, that he may feast his +eyes on thar innocent blood. I'm not given to be o' a revengeful speret, +Mr. Williams; but I never think o' that thar renegade, Simon Girty, but +I inwardly pray for the curse o' an avenging God to light upon him; and +come it will, ayther soon or late, you may depend on't!" + +"Amen to that thar sentiment!" responded the dame; while the stranger +became very much agitated, on account, as he said, of a violent pain in +his side, to which he was subject. + +Mrs. Younker was on the point of bringing down her invectives on the +head of the renegade in a speech of some considerable length, when, +perceiving the distressful look of the other, the kind-hearted woman +suddenly forgot her animosity in sympathy for her suffering guest; and +forthwith proceeded, with all the eloquence of which she was master, to +recommend a certain essence that chanced to be in the house, as a never +failing remedy for all griping and other pains with which unfortunate +humanity was oftentimes afflicted. + +"It's one o' the bestest things as ever war invented," continued the +good woman, in her eulogy of the article in question; "and has did more +good in it's time, nor all the doctors on the univarsal yarth put +together could do, in the way of curing sprains, and bruises, and +stomach-pains, and them things; and ef you don't believe it, Mr. +Williams, you can see it all in print, ef you can read, and I spect you +can, on the bottle itself, jest as plain as any thing; and besides, I've +got the testament (testimony, doubtless) of the good and pious Rev. Mr. +Allprayer, who tuk some on't once for the gout; and he said as how the +contracting (counteracting?) pains war so many, that he didn't no more +feel the gout for a long time to come afterwards. I've no doubt it'll +sarve you jest the same way, and I'll go and fetch it right straight +off." + +But the mission of the good woman was prevented by the complainant's +insisting that he was much better, would presently be well, and wished +to retire for the night. His request was granted--but little more was +said--and all shortly after betook themselves to bed--to think, or +sleep, or dream, as the case might be with each. + +When the family arose on the following morning, they found the stranger +had departed; but when or whither none could tell. + + +[Footnote 4: It may be proper to note here, for the benefit of those +unfamiliar with the early history of Kentucky, that, at the period of +which we write, it was claimed and held by Virginia as a portion of her +territory, for which she legislated accordingly.] + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE WEDDING. + + +The year 1781 was remarkable in the history of Kentucky for the immense +emigration from the east into its territory of unmarried females. It +appears, in looking over the records of the time, as though some mighty +barrier had hitherto kept them in check, which, being removed, allowed +them to rush forward in overwhelming force, like to the pent up waters +of some stream when its obstruction suddenly gives way. Whatever this +hitherto obstruction or barrier may have been, we do not pretend to say; +but the fact itself we record as we find it chronicled in history. The +result of this influx of females into a region almost wholly populated +by the opposite sex was one, as will readily be perceived, of great +importance to the well-being of the embryo state; and was duly +celebrated by the rising generation, in a general jubilee of +marriages--one following fast upon another, like drops of rain in a +genial summer shower; and, to extend the simile, with an effect by no +means less productive of fertility, in a long run, to the country round +about. + +A wedding in those days was an affair of great importance to the +neighborhood of its location; and was looked forward to by old and +young--the latter in particular--as a grand holiday of feasting, +dancing, and general rejoicing. Nor can this be wondered at, when we +take into consideration the fact, that, in the early settlement of the +country, a wedding was almost the only gathering, as they were called, +which was not accompanied with some laborious employment--such as +harvesting, log-rolling, and the like. Occasionally there might be some +dissatisfaction felt and expressed by some, who, from some cause or +another, chanced to be left out of the almost general invitation; in +which case a special resentment not unfrequently followed. This was +accomplished in various ways--sometimes by felling trees, or placing +other obstacles across some narrow portion of the horse-path by which +the wedding party were advancing, thereby causing considerable delay for +their removal--sometimes by ambushing and firing a volley of blank +cartridges at the party in question, so as to frighten the horses, by +which means more or less were frequently injured, by being thrown to the +ground--and sometimes by shearing the manes and tails of the horses +themselves, while their owners were being occupied with the feast, and +the dance, and the gay carousal of the occasion. But to proceed. + +The morning of the day set apart by Isaac Younker, as the one which was +to see him duly united to Peggy Wilson, came in due time--as many an +important one has both before and since--without one visible sign in the +heavens, or otherwise, to denote that any thing remarkable was about to +happen. In fact it might be put down to the reverse of all this; for, +unlike the generality of wished-for days, it was exceedingly fair, +balmy, and beautiful. The sun rose at the expected time, large and red, +and saluted the hills and tree-tops, and anon the vales, with a smiling +light, as though he felt exceedingly happy to greet them again after a +calm night's repose. The dew sparkled on blade and leaf, as if with +delight at his appearance; a few flowers modestly uncovered their +blooming heads; a few warblers of the forest--for although autumn had +nearly half advanced, some had delayed their journey to the sunny +south--sung gleesome songs; and altogether the morning in question was +really a delightful one. + +The family of the Younkers were stirring betimes, making the necessary +preparations for their departure, and looking out for the expected +guests; who, according to the custom of the period, first assembled at +the residence of the groom, to proceed thence in company with him to +the mansion of the bride, which place they must always reach in time to +have the ceremony performed before partaking of the dinner prepared for +the occasion. For this purpose, as the distance to the house of the fair +intended was not unfrequently considerable, they generally came at an +early hour; and as Isaac's fair Peggy was not likely to be visible short +of a ten miles' ride, his companions for the journey accordingly began +to appear in couples before his father's dwelling, ere the sun was an +hour above the hills. + +Isaac, on the present occasion, stood ready to receive them as they +rode up, arrayed in his wedding garments; which--save a few trifling +exceptions in some minor articles, and the addition of five or six metal +buttons displayed on his hunting frock in a very singular manner, and +a couple of knee buckles, all old family relics--presented the same +appearance as those worn by him during his ordinary labors. And this, +by the way, exhibits another feature of the extreme simplicity of the +time--and one too highly praise-worthy--when the individual was sought +for himself alone, and not for the tinsel gew-gaws, comparatively +speaking, he might chance to exhibit. Necessity forced all to be plain +and substantial in the matter of dress; and consequently comfort and +convenience were looked to, rather than ostentatious display. All at +that day were habited much alike--so that a description of the costume +of one of either sex, as in the case of their habitations, previously +noted, would describe that of a whole community. + +"Let the reader," says a historian, in speaking of the manners and dress +of those noble pioneers, "imagine an assemblage of people, without a +store, tailor, or mantuamaker within an hundred miles; and an assemblage +of horses, without a blacksmith or saddler within an equal distance. The +gentlemen dressed in shoepacks, moccasins, leather breeches, leggins, +linsey hunting-shirts, and all home-made. The ladies dressed in linsey +petticoats, and linsey or linen bed-gowns, coarse shoes, stockings, +handkerchiefs, and buckskin gloves, if any. If there were any buckles, +rings, buttons or ruffles, they were the relics of old times--family +pieces from parents or grandparents. The horses were caparisoned with +old saddles, old bridles or halters, and packsaddles, with a bag or +blanket thrown over them--a rope or string as often constituting the +girth as a piece of leather." + +But to our story: + +Since leaving Isaac in the preceding chapter, after his important +announcement, as therein recorded, he had been by no means idle. The two +days immediately following had been spent by him in riding post-haste +through the surrounding country, to inform his friends that he was on +the point of becoming a married man, and require their presence at the +appointed hour and place of ceremony. The rest of the time (Sunday of +course exempted) had been carefully husbanded by him in making all due +preparation; and he now stood before his expected guests with the air +one, to use a common phrase, who has not been caught napping. For each, +as they rode up, he had a friendly salutation and familiar word; and +inviting them to dismount and enter, until the whole number should be +arrived, he led away and secured their horses to the neighboring trees. + +In due time the last couple made their appearance; and having partaken +of some refreshment, which was highly recommended and presented by Mrs. +Younker herself--whose tongue, by the way, had seen no rest for at least +two hours--the whole party, in gleeful spirits, prepared to mount and +set forth on their journey. Even Algernon, as he assisted the graceful +Ella into her saddle, and then sprung lightly himself upon the back of +a high mettled, beautiful steed by her side, could not avoid exhibiting +a look of cheerfulness, almost gaiety, in striking contrast to his +habitual gloom. And this too produced a like effect upon Ella; who, +mounted upon a fine spirited, noble animal, and displaying all the ease +and grace of an accomplished rider, with her flushed cheek and sparkling +eyes, seemed the personification of loveliness. Her dress was +exceedingly neat, of the fashion and quality worn in the east--being one +she had brought with her on her removal hither. A neat hood, to which +was attached a green veil, now thrown carelessly back and floating down +behind, covered her head and partially concealed a profusion of +beautiful ringlets. + +The company at length being all mounted, Isaac took it upon himself to +lead the way; for the reason, as he alleged, that having traveled the +ground oftener than either of the others, he of course knew the best and +nearest path to the abode of Peggy Wilson. Algernon as groomsman rode +next with Ella; followed in turn by the father and mother of the groom; +and then in double file by the whole company--talking, laughing and full +of glee--to the number of some fifteen couples. Turning the corner of +the house, they forded the streamlet previously mentioned, crossed the +valley, and ascended by a narrow horse-path the opposite hill, leaving +the canebrake some distance away to the left. + +In those days a road--or at least such a highway as we of the present +so denominate--was a something unknown; a few horse-paths, so termed, +traversing the country in various directions--narrow, oftentimes +obstructed, and sometimes dangerous. Over one of this latter class, as +before said, our wedding party now wended their way, in high spirits; +sometimes riding at a brisk trot or gallop, where their course lay open +and clear, sometimes walking their horses very slow, in single file, +where the path, winding across craggy bluffs, among rocks and trees, +became very narrow and unsafe. Twice, on this latter account, did the +gentlemen of the company dismount and lead the horses of their partners +for some considerable distance past the stony and dangerous defile, by +which means all accidents were avoided. When they had reached within +a mile of their destination, Isaac drew rein and all came to a halt. +Turning upon his saddle, with the air of a commander of some important +expedition, he sang out in a loud, shrill voice; + +"Well, boys and gals, here we ar--this here's the spot--who's agoing to +run for the bottle?" + +"Whoop! yaho! give way thar!" was the answer from a couple of voices in +the rear; and at the same instant, two young men, separating from their +partners, came bounding forward, on two blood horses, at break-neck +speed. + +"Stop!" thundered Isaac, as they came tearing up to where he was sitting +astride his beast; and obedient to his command, the two individuals in +question reined in their impatient steeds, hard abreast, close by his +side. "Well, ef you arn't a couple o' beauties, then jest put it down +that I don't know," continued Isaac, eying them coolly from head to +heel, with a quizzical, comical look. "You'd both on ye average two +decent looking fellars--for whar Seth Stokes is too long, Sam Switcher +arn't long enough; and whar Sam Switcher's got too much, Seth Stokes +han't got nothing." + +A roar of laughter, in which both Seth and Sam joined, followed Isaac's +closing remarks; for besides partaking of the ludicrous, none could deny +that his description was correct. The two worthies in question were +certainly two very singular looking beings to be brought together for a +race, and presented a most laughable appearance. The one bearing the +poetical appellation of Seth Stokes, was long, thin and bony, with sharp +features, and legs that reminded one of a carpenter's compass; while his +companion, Sam Switcher, was round-favored, short in limbs and stature, +and fat almost to corpulency--thus forming a contrast to the other of +the most striking kind. + +As soon as the laugh at their expense had subsided, Isaac again sang +out: "Squar your hosses' heads thar--get ready, boys--now clippet, and +don't keep us long waiting the bottle! for I reckon as how some on us +is gitting dry. Yehep! yahoa!" and ere the sound of his voice had died +away, down came the switches, accompanied by a terrible yell, and off +went horses and bottle-riders--over stumps, logs and rocks--past trees +and brush, and whatever obstacle might lie in their course--with a speed +that threatened them with death at every moment; while the others +remained quietly seated on their ponies, enjoying the sport, and +sometimes shouting after them such words of encouragement as, "Go it, +Seth!" "Up to him, Sammy!" "Pull up, legs!" "Jump it, fatty!" so long as +the racers were in sight. + +This race for the bottle, as it was called, was a peculiar feature for +displaying the horsemanship and hardy recklessness of the early +settlers; as a more dangerous one, to both horse and rider, could not +well be imagined. That the reader may form a clear conception of what it +was in reality--and also to destroy the idea if any such may have been +formed, that it existed only in our imagination--we shall take the +liberty of giving a short extract from the author already quoted. In +speaking of the foregoing, he says: + +"The worse the path--the more logs, brush, and deep hollows, the +better--as these obstacles afforded an opportunity for the greater +display of intrepidity and horsemanship. The English fox-chase, in point +of danger to the riders and their horses, is nothing to this race for +the bottle. The start was announced by an Indian yell; when logs, brush, +muddy hollows, hill and glen, were speedily passed by the rival ponies. +The bottle was always filled for the occasion, so that there was no use +for judges; for the first who reached the door was presented with the +prize, with which he returned in triumph to the company. On approaching +them, he announced his victory over his rival by a shrill whoop. At the +head of the troop he gave the bottle first to the groom and his +attendants, and then to each pair in succession to the rear of the line, +giving each a drachm; and then putting the bottle in the bosom of his +hunting shirt, took his station in the company." + +In something like a quarter of an hour, the clatter of horses' feet was +heard by the company, the rival-racers presently appeared in sight, and +all became anxious to learn who was the successful runner. They were not +long kept in suspense; for advancing at a fast gallop, the riders were, +soon within speaking distance; when a loud, shrill whoop from Seth +Stokes, announced that in this case success had at least been with the +long, if not with the strong. + +"How's this, Sammy?" cried a dozen voices, as the rivals rode up to the +party. + +"I don't exactly know," answered the individual addressed, shaking his +head with a serio-comical expression; "but stifle me with the night-mar, +if ever I'm cotched riding a race with death on horseback agin." + +This allusion to the bony appearance of his companion, caused a roar +of laughter at the expense of the winner, in which he good-humoredly +joined. According to custom, as previously mentioned, the bottle was +presented first to Isaac, and then passed in regular order through +the lines--Algernon and Ella merely putting it to their lips without +drinking. When this ceremony was over, the party resumed their +journey--no less merry on account of the whiskey--and by half an hour +past eleven o'clock, all drew rein before the door of Abijah Wilson, +the father of the fair intended. + +Here another party, the friends of the bride, were waiting to receive +them; and after some few introductions, much shaking of hands, and other +demonstrations of joy, the announcement was made, that the squire was +ready to perform the ceremony. Instantly all talking was suspended, the +company proceeded to form into a half circle, and then all became silent +and solemn as the house of death. Isaac presently appeared from behind a +coarse, temporary screen of cloth, hung up for the occasion--the house +having no division save a chamber over head--leading the blushing Peggy +by the hand, (a rosy cheeked, buxom lass of eighteen) both looking as +frightened and foolish as could reasonably be expected. Behind the bride +and groom came Algernon, in company with a dark-eyed, pretty brunette, +who performed the part of bridesmaid. Taking their several places, the +Squire, as he was termed--a man of forty--stepped forward, and said a +few words concerning the importance of the present event, asked the +necessary questions, joined their hands, and pronounced them man and +wife. Then followed the usual amount of congratulations, good wishes for +the future happiness of the married pair, kissing of the bride, and so +forth, in all of which proceedings they differed not materially from +their successors of the present day. + +About half an hour from the close of the ceremony, the guests were +invited to partake of a sumptuous dinner, prepared expressly for the +occasion. It was placed on rough tables made of large slabs, supported +by small, round legs, set in auger holes; and though there was a +scantiness of dishes--and these in the main consisting of a few +pewter-plates, several wooden trenchers, with spoons of like material, +interspersed with some of horn--and though the scarcity of knives +required many of the gentlemen to make use of those carried in their +belts--yet the food itself was such as might have rejoiced an epicure. +It consisted of beef, roasted and boiled--pork, roasted and +fried--together with chicken, turkey, partridge, and venison--well +flanked on every side by bread, butter, and cheese, potatoes, cabbage, +and various other vegetables. That it was both acceptable and palatable, +was sufficiently proved by the hearty, joyous manner, in which each +individual performed his or her part, and the rapidity with which it +disappeared. The dessert was composed of two or three kinds of pies and +puddings, washed down (at least by those who chose so to do) with +whiskey. Great hilarity prevailed--particularly after the introduction +of the bottle. Immediately dinner was over, the tables were removed, the +fiddler was called for, and the dance commenced, which was to last till +the following morning. The dance was opened by Isaac and the bridesmaid, +with another couple--beginning with a square four, and ending with what +was termed a jig. From this time forth, until the party separated, the +poor fiddler experienced but little relaxation or comfort--unless in +being encouraged, occasionally, by a refreshing salute from the lips of +Black Betty; a being of no greater intellect, reader, than a bottle of +whiskey. + +Some two hours after dinner, the father and mother of Isaac announced +their intention of forthwith returning home; and, although seriously +pressed to tarry longer, shortly after took their leave of the +company--Mrs. Younker adding, as a farewell speech, "That she hoped to +gracious Peggy'd jest make Isaac as good a wife nor she had Ben, and +then thar wouldn't never be no need o' having trouble;" and wound up by +quoting the Rev. Mr. Allprayer as the best authority on the subject. +Younker stood by her side, calmly heard her through, and then shrugging +his shoulders with a very significant expression, walked away without +saying a word, to the great amusement of the whole assemblage. + +As to Algernon, he seemed to take no delight in what was going forward; +and though he participated somewhat in the dance, yet it was evident to +all observers that his mind went not with his body, and that what he did +was done more with a design of concealing his real feelings, than for +any amusement it afforded himself. When not occupied in this manner, or +in conversation, he would steal away, seat himself where he was least +likely to be observed, and fall into a gloomy, abstracted mood; from +which, when suddenly roused by some loud peal of laughter, or by the +touch and voice of some person near, he would sometimes start and look +around as one just awakened from a frightful vision. This gloomy +abstraction, too, appeared to grow upon him more and more, as the day +settled into night and the night wore on, as though he felt some dreaded +calamity had been hanging over, and was now about to fall upon him. So +apparent was this toward the last, that even the most careless began to +observe, and make remarks, and ask questions concerning him; and some +even proceeded to inquire of him regarding the state of his health. His +answers to all interrogatives now became so brief and abrupt, that but +few ventured to address him the second time. Whatever the cause of his +present gloomy state of mind, it was evidently not the ordinary one--at +least not wholly that--for never before had Ella (who was in the habit, +since their acquaintance, of observing him narrowly) seen him in such a +mood as now. It was, perhaps, one of those strange mental foresights, +peculiar to certain temperaments, whereby the individual is sometimes +warned of impending danger, and feels oppressed by a weight of +despondency impossible to shake off. + +This serious change in the appearance of Algernon, was not without its +effect upon Ella. Naturally of a tender, affectionate, and sympathetic +disposition, she could not feel at ease when another was suffering, and +particularly when that other was one standing so high in her estimation +as Algernon Reynolds. Naturally, too, possessing light and buoyant +spirits--fond of gaiety where all were gay--she exhibited on the present +occasion the effect of two strong but counteracting passions. Her +features, if we may be allowed the comparison, were like the noon-day +heavens, when filled with the broken clouds of a passing storm. Now all +would be bright and cheerful, and the sun of mirth would sparkle in her +eyes; and anon some dark cloud of dejection would sweep along, shut +out the merry light, and cast its shadow drearily over the whole +countenance,--or, to use language without simile, she would one moment +be merry and another sad. Toward the last, however, the latter feeling +gained the ascendancy; she appeared to take no further share in the +merriment of the dance; and had any watched her closely, they might +have guessed the cause, from the manner in which she from time to time +gazed at the pale face of Algernon. + +Meantime the dance went bravely on, Black Betty circulated somewhat +freely, and the mirth of the revelers grew more and more boisterous. +Taking advantage of a slight cessation in the general hilarity, about +nine o'clock in the evening, and while the fiddler with some of the +party were engaged in partaking of refreshment, Seth Stokes, encouraged +doubtless by the inspiration he had received from the whiskey, stepped +boldly into the middle of the apartment with the bottle in his hand, and +said: + +"Jest allow me, my jollies, to give a toast." + +"Harken all! A toast--a toast--from the long man o' the bony frame!" +cried the voice of Sam Switcher. A laugh, and then silence followed. + +"Here's to--to Isaac and Peggy Younker--two beauties!" continued Seth. +"May thar union be duly acknowledged by the rising generation o' old +Kaintuck;" and the speaker gravely proceeded to drink. + +"Bravo! bravo!" cried a dozen voices, with a merry shout, accompanied +with great clapping of bands; while Isaac, who was sitting by his new +wife, arose, blushed, bowed rather awkwardly, and then sat down again. + +"Isaac! Isaac!--A toast from Isaac!" shouted a chorus of voices. + +Isaac at first looked very much confused--scratched his head and twisted +around in a very fidgetty manner,--but presently his countenance +flushed, and a smile of triumph crossing his sharp features, announced +that he had been suddenly favored with an idea apropos. This was +instantly perceived by some of the wags standing near, one of whom +exclaimed: + +"I see it--it's coming!" + +"He's got it!" said a second. + +"I knew it--I'd ha' bet a bar-skin he'd fetch it," cried a third. + +"Out with it, Ike, afore you forget it," shouted the fourth. + +"Hold your jabbering tongues--!" cried Isaac, in vexation. "You're +enough to bother a feller to death. I'd like to see some o' the rest on +ye cramped up fur a toast, jest to see how _you'd_ feel with all on 'em +hollering like." A hearty laugh at his expense was all the sympathy poor +Isaac received. + +"Give us the bottle!" resumed Isaac. "Now here goes," continued he, +rising and holding Black Betty by the neck. "Here's to the gals o' old +Kaintuck--Heaven bless 'em! May they bloom like clover heads, be +plentier nor bar-skins, and follow the example o' Peggy, every mother's +daughter on 'em!--hooray!" And having drank, the speaker resumed his +seat, amid roars of laughter and three rounds of applause. + +By the time this mirth had subsided, the fiddler struck up, and the +dance again went on as before. Some two hours later the bridesmaid, with +two or three others, managed to steal away the bride unobserved; and +proceeding to a ladder at one end of the apartment, ascended to the +chamber above, and saw her safely lodged in bed. In the course of +another half hour the same number of gentlemen performed a like service +for Isaac--such being customary at all weddings of that period. + +During the night Black Betty, in company with more substantial +refreshment, was sent up to the newly married pair some two or three +times; and always returned (Black Betty we mean) considerable lighter +than she went; thus proving, that if lovers can live on air, the married +ones do not always partake of things less spiritual. About three o'clock +in the morning, Algernon and Ella took leave of the company and set out +upon their return--he pleading illness as an apology for withdrawing +thus early. The remainder of the party keep together until five, when +they gradually began to separate; and by six the dancing had ceased, and +the greater portion of them had taken their departure. Thus ended the +wedding of Isaac Younker--a fair specimen, by the way, of a backwood's +wedding in the early settlement of the west. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE PRESENTIMENT. + + +Deep and gloomy were the meditations of Algernon Reynolds, as, in +company with Ella Barnwell, he rode slowly along the narrow path which +he had traversed, if not with buoyant, at least with far lighter +spirits than now, the morning before. From some, latent cause, he felt +oppressed with a weight of despondency, as previously mentioned, that +served to prostrate in a measure both his mental powers and physical +system. He felt, though he could give no reason why, that some calamity +was about to befall himself and the fair being by his side; and he +strove to arouse himself and shake off the gloomy thoughts; but if he +succeeded, it was only momentary, and they would again rush back with an +increased power. He had been subject, since his unfortunate quarrel with +his cousin, to gloomy reveries and depressions of spirits--but never +before had he felt exactly as now; and though in all former cases the +event referred to had been the cause of his sad abstractions, yet in the +present instance it scarcely held a place in his thoughts. Could it be a +presentiment, he asked himself, sent to warn him of danger and prepare +him to meet it? But the question he could not answer. + +The night, or rather the morning, though clear overhead, was uncommonly +dark; and the stars, what few could be discerned, shed only pale, faint +gleams, as though their lights were about to be extinguished. For some +time both Algernon and Ella continued their journey without exchanging a +syllable--she too, as well as himself, being deeply absorbed in no very +pleasant reflections. She thought of him, of his hard fate, to meet with +so many bitter disappointments at an age so young; and at last, for no +premeditated, no intentional crime, be forced to fly from home and +friends, and all he held dear, to wander in a far off land, among +strangers--or worse, among the solitudes of the wilderness--exposed to a +thousand dangers from wild savage beasts, and wilder and more savage +human beings; and perhaps, withal, be branded as a felon and fugitive +from justice. She thought what must be his feelings, his sense of utter +desolation, with none around to sympathize--no sweet being by his side +to whisper a single word of encouragement and hope; or, should the worst +prove true, to share his painful lot, and endeavor to render less +burdensome his remorseful thoughts, by smiles of endearment and looks of +love. She thought, too, that to-morrow--perhaps today--he would take his +departure, peradventure never to behold her again; and this was the +saddest of the train. Until she saw him, Ella had never known what it +was to love--perchance she did not now--but at least she had experienced +those fluttering sensations, those deep and strange emotions, those +involuntary yearnings of the heart toward some object in his presence, +that aching void in his absence, which the more experienced would +doubtless put down to that cause, and which no other being had ever even +for a moment awakened in her breast. For something like half an hour the +two rode on together, buried in their own sad reflections, when Ella +broke the silence, by saying, in a low, touching voice: + +"You seem sad to-night, Algernon." + +Algernon started, sighed heavily, and turning slightly on his saddle, +said: "I am sad, Ella--very, very sad." + +"May I ask the cause?" rejoined Ella, gently. + +"Doubtless you will think it strange, Ella, but the cause I believe to +have originated in a waking vision or presentiment." + +"That does seem strange!" observed Ella, in return. + +"Did it never strike you, dear Ella, that we are all strange beings, +subject to strange influences, and destined, many of us, to strange +ends?" inquired Reynolds, solemnly. + +"Perhaps I do not understand you," replied Ella; "but with regard to +destiny, I am inclined to think that we in a measure shape our own. As +to our being strange, there are many things relating to us that we may +not understand, and therefore look upon them in the light of which you +speak." + +"Are there any we do understand, Ella?" rejoined Algernon. "When I say +understand, I mean the word to be used in its minutest and broadest +sense. You say there are many things we may not understand concerning +ourselves--what ones, I pray you, do we fully comprehend? We are here +upon the earth--so much we know. We shall die and pass away--so much we +know also. But how came we here, and why? How do we exist? How do we +think, reason, speak, feel, move, see, hear, smell, taste? All these +we do, we know; but yet not one--not a single one of them can we +comprehend. You wish to raise your hand; and forthwith, by some +extraordinary power--extraordinary because you cannot tell where it is, +nor how it is--you raise it. Why cannot a dead person do the same? +Strange question you will say to yourself with a smile--but one easily +answered! Why, because in such a person life is extinct--there is no +vital principle--the heart is stopped--the blood has ceased to flow +in its regular channels! Ay! but let me ask you _why_ that life is +extinct?--why that breath has stopped?--and why that blood has ceased +to flow? There was just the same amount of air when the person died as +before! There were the same ingredients still left to stimulate that +blood to action! Then wherefore should both cease?--and with them the +power of thought, reason, speech, and all the other senses? It was not +by a design of the individual himself; for he strove to his utmost to +breathe longer; he was not ready to die--he did not want to quit this +earth so soon; and yet with all his efforts to the contrary, reason +fled, the breath stopped, the blood ceased, the limbs became palsied and +cold, and corruption, decay and dust stood ready to follow. Now why was +this? There is but one answer: 'God willed it!' If then one question +resolves itself into one answer,--'the will of God'--so may all of +the same species; and we come out, after a long train of analytical +reasoning, exactly where we started--with this difference--that when we +set out, we believed in being able to explain the wherefore; but when we +came to the end, we could only assert it as a wonderful fact, whereof +not a single iota could we understand." + +Algernon spoke in a clear, distinct, earnest tone--in a manner that +showed the subject was not new to his thoughts; and after a short pause, +during which Ella made no reply, he again proceeded. + +"In this grand organ of man--where all things are strange and +incomprehensible--to me the combination of the physical and mental is +strangest of all. The soul and the body are united and yet divided. Each +is distinct from and acts without the other at times, and yet both act +in concert with a wonderful power. The soul plans and the body executes. +The body exercises the soul--the soul the body. The one is visible--the +other invisible; the one is mortal--the other immortal. Now why do they +act together here? Why was not each placed in its separate sphere of +action? Again: What is the soul? Men tell us it is a spirit. What is a +spirit? An invisible something that never dies. Who can comprehend it? +None. Whither does it go when separated forever from the body? None can +answer, save in language of Scripture: 'It returns to God who gave it.'" + +"I have never heard the proposition advanced by another," continued +Algernon, after another slight pause, "but I have sometimes thought +myself, that the soul departs from the body, for a brief season, and +wanders at will among scenes either near or remote, and returns with +its impressions, either clouded or clear, to communicate them to the +corporeal or not, as the case may be: hence dreams or visions, and +strong impressions when we wake, that something bright and good has +refreshed our sleep, or something dark and evil has made it troubled and +feverish. Again I have sometimes thought that this soul--this invisible +and immortal something within us--has power at times to look into the +future, and see events about to transpire; which events being sometimes +of a dark and terrible nature, leave upon it like impressions; and hence +gloomy and melancholy forebodings. This may be all sophistry--as much of +our better reasoning on things we know nothing about often is--but if it +be true, then may I trust to account for my present sadness." + +"Have you really, then, sad forebodings?" inquired Ella, quickly and +earnestly. + +"Against my will and sober reason, dear Ella, I must own I have. +Perchance, however, the feeling was only called up by a train of +melancholy meditations. While sitting there to-night, gazing upon +the many bounding forms--some full of beauty and grace, and some of +strength--noting their joyous faces, and listening occasionally to the +lightsome jest, and merry, ringing laugh--I could not avoid contrasting +with the present the time when I was as happy and full full of mirth as +they. I pictured to myself how they would stare and shudder and draw +away from me, did they know my hand was stained with the blood of my +own kin. Then I began, involuntarily as it were, to picture to myself +the fate of each; and they came up before me in the form of a vision, +(though if such, it was a waking one) but in regular order; and I saw +them pass on one after another--some gliding smoothly down the stream of +time to old age--some wretched and crippled, groping their way along +over barren wastes, without water or food, though nearly dying for the +want of both--some wading through streams of blood, with fierce and +angry looks--and some with pale faces, red eyes, and hollow cheeks, +roving amid coffins, sepulchres and bones; but of all, the very fewest +number happy." + +"Oh! it was an awful vision!" exclaimed Ella, with a shudder. + +"It was awful enough," rejoined Algernon; "and despite of me, it made me +more and more sad as I thought upon it. Could it indeed be a dream? But +no! I was--seemingly at least--as wide awake and conscious as at the +present moment. I saw the dance going on as ever--I saw the merry +smiles, and heard the jest and laugh as before. Could it be some strange +hallucination of the brain--some wild imagining--caused by my previous +exercise and over heat? I pondered upon it long and seriously, but could +not determine. Suddenly--I know not how nor why--that ill-looking +stranger who lodged one night at your uncle's, and departed so +mysteriously, came up in my mind; and almost at the same moment, I +fancied myself riding with you, dear Ella, through a dark and lonely +wood--when all of a sudden there came a fierce yell--several dark, +hideous forms, with him among them, swam around me--I heard you shriek +for aid--and then all became darkness and confusion; from which I was +aroused by some one inquiring if I were ill? What I answered I know not; +but the querist immediately took his leave." + +"It all seems very strange, Algernon," observed Ella, thoughtfully; "but +it was probably nothing more than a feverish dream, brought about by +your exercise acting too suddenly and powerfully upon your nervous +system, which doubtless has not as yet recovered from the prostration +caused by your wound." + +"So I tried to think, dear Ella," returned Algernon, with a sigh; "but +I have not even yet been able to shake off the gloomy impression, that, +whatever the cause, it was sent as a warning of danger. But I am +foolish, perhaps, to think as I do; and so let us change the subject. +You spoke a few moments since of destiny. You said, if I mistake not, +you believed each individual capable of shaping his own." + +"I did," answered Ella; "with the exception, that I qualified it by +saying in a measure. No person, I think, has the power of moulding +himself to an end which is contrary to the law of nature and his own +physical organization; but at the same time he has many ways, some good +and some evil, left open for him to choose; else he were not a free +agent." + +"Ay," rejoined Algernon, "by-paths all to the same great end. I look +upon every one here, Ella, as a traveler placed upon the great highway +called destiny--with a secret power within that impels him forward, but +allows no pause nor retrograde. Along this highway are flowers, and +briars, and thistles, and weeds, and shady woods, and barren rocks, and +sterile bluffs, and glassy plots; but proportioned differently to each, +as the Maker of all designs his path to be pleasant or otherwise. Beside +this highway are perhaps a dozen minor paths, all running a similar +course, and all finally merging into it--either near or far, as the case +may be--before its termination at the great gate of death. The free +agency you speak of, is in choosing of these lesser paths--some of which +are full of the snares of temptation, the chasms of ruin, and the +pitfalls of destruction; and some of the flowers of peace, the bowers of +plenty, and the green woods of contentment. But how to follow the proper +one is the difficulty; for they run into one another--cross and recross +in a thousand different ways--so that the best disposed as often hit the +wrong as the right one, and are entrapped before they are aware of their +dangerous course. Worldly wisdom is here put at fault, and the fool as +often goes right as the wise man of lore--thus showing, notwithstanding +our free agency, that circumstances govern us; and that what many put +down as crime, is, in fact, oftentimes, neither more nor less than error +of judgment." + +"Then you consider free agency only a chance game, depending, as it +were, upon the throw of a die?" observed Ella, inquiringly. + +"I believe this much of free agency, that a train of circumstances often +forces some to evil and others to good; and that we should look upon the +former, in many cases--mind I do not say all--as unfortunate rather than +criminal--with pity rather than scorn; and so endeavor to reclaim them. +Were this doctrine more practiced by Christians--by those whom the world +terms good, (but whom circumstances alone have made better than their +fellows,) there would be far less of sin, misery, and crime abounding +for them to deplore. Let the creed of churches only be to ameliorate the +condition of the poor, relieve the distressed, remove temptations from +youth, encourage the virtuous, and endeavor, by gently means, to reclaim +the erring--and the holy design of Him who died to save would nobly +progress, prisons would be turned into asylums, and scaffolds be things +known only by tradition." + +Algernon spoke with an easy, earnest eloquence, and a force of emphasis, +that made each word tell with proper effect upon his fair hearer. To +Ella the ideas he advanced were, many of them, entirely new; and she +mused thoughtfully upon them, as they rode along, without reply; while +he, becoming warm upon a subject that evidently occupied no inferior +place in his mind, went on to speak of the wrongs and abuses which +society in general heaped upon the unfortunate, as he termed +them--contrasted the charity of professing Christians of the eighteenth +century with that of Christ himself--and pointed out what he considered +the most effectual means of remedy. To show that a train of +circumstances would frequently force persons against their own will and +reason to be what society terms criminal, he referred to himself, and +his own so far eventful destiny; and Ella could not but admit to +herself, that, in his case at least, his arguments were well grounded, +and she shaped her replies accordingly. + +Thus conversing, they continued upon their course, until they came to +the brow of a steep descent, down which the path ran in a zigzag manner, +through a dark, gloomy ravine, now rendered intensely so to our +travelers, by the hour, their thoughts, the wildness of the scenery +around, and the dense growth of cedars covering the hollow, whose +untrimmed branches, growing even to the ground, overreached and partly +obstructed their way. By this time only one or two stars were visible in +the heavens; and they shone with pale, faint gleams; while in the east +the beautiful gray and crimson tints of Aurora announced that day was +already breaking on the slumbering world. Drawing rein, Algernon and +Ella paused as if to contemplate the scene. Below and around them each +object presented that misty, indistinct appearance, which leaves the +imagination power to give it either a pleasing or hideous shape. In the +immediate vicinity, the country was uneven; rocky, and covered with +cedars; but far off to the right could be discerned the even surface of +the cane-brake, previously mentioned, now stretching away in the +distance like the unruffled bosom of some beautiful lake. A light breeze +slightly rustled the leaves of the trees, among whose branches an +occasional songster piped forth his morning lay of rejoicing. + +"How lovely is nature in all her varieties!" exclaimed Ella, with +animation, as she glanced over the scene. + +"Ay, and in that variety lies her loveliness," answered Algernon. +"It is the constant and eternal change going forward that interests us, +and gives to nature her undying charm. Man--high-souled, contemplative +man--was not born to sameness. Variety is to his mind what food is to +his body; and as the latter, deprived of its usual nourishment, sinks to +decay--so the former, from like deprivation of its strengthening power, +becomes weak and imbecile. Again: as coarse, plain food and hardy +exercise add health and vigor to the physical--so does the contemplation +of nature in her wildness and grandeur give to the mental a powerful and +lofty tone. Of all writers for poetical and vigorous intellects, give me +those who have been reared among cloud-capped hills, and craggy steeps, +and rushing streams, and roaring cataracts; for their conceptions are +grand, their comparisons beautiful, and the founts from which they draw, +as exhaustless almost as nature herself." + +"I have often thought the same myself," returned Ella; "for I never gaze +upon a beautiful scene in nature, that I do not feel refreshed. To me +the two most delightful are morning and evening. I love to stand upon +some eminence, and mark, as now, the first gray, crimson and golden +streaks that rush up in the eastern sky; and catch the first rays of old +Sol, as he, surrounded by a reddened halo, shows his welcome face above +the hills; or at calm eve watch his departure, as with a last, fond, +lingering look he takes his leave, as 'twere in sorrow that he could not +longer tarry; while earth, not thus to be outdone in point of grief, +puts on her sable dress to mourn his absence." + +"Ah! Ella," said Algernon, turning to her with a gentle smile, "methinks +morning and evening are somewhat indebted to you for a touch of poetry +in their behalf." + +"Rather say I am indebted to them for a thousand fine feelings I have +not even power to express," rejoined Ella. + +Algernon was on the point of returning an answer, when, casting his eyes +down into the ravine, he slightly started, his gaze became fixed, and +his features grew a shade more pale. Ella noticed this sudden change, +and in a voice slightly tremulous inquired the cause. For nearly a +minute Algernon made no reply, but kept his eyes steadily bent in the +same direction, apparently riveted on some object below. Ella also +looked down; but seeing nothing worthy of note, and growing somewhat +alarmed at his silence, was on the point of addressing him again, when, +slightly turning his head, and rubbing his eyes with his hand, he said: + +"Methought I saw a dark object move in the hollow below; but I think I +must have been mistaken, for all appears quiet there now--not even a +limb or so much as a leaf stirs. Lest there should be danger, however, +dear Ella, I will ride down first and ascertain. If I give an alarm, +turn your horse and do not spare him till you reach Wilson's." + +"No, no, no!" exclaimed Ella, with vehemence, laying her hand upon his +arm, as he was about starting forward, her own features now growing very +pale. "If you go, Algernon, you go not alone! If there is danger, I will +share it with you." + +Algernon turned towards her a face that, one moment crimsoned with +animation and the next became deadly pale; while his whole frame +quivered with intense emotion, and he seemed vainly struggling to +command contending feelings. Suddenly clasping her hand in his, he +pressed it warmly, raised it to his lips, and in a trembling tone said: + +"Ella--dear Ella--God bless you! If ever--but--no--no--no;" and covering +his face with his hands, he wept convulsively; while she, no less deeply +affected, could scarcely sit her horse. + +At length Algernon withdrew his hands, and exhibited features pale but +calm. Drawing forth his pistols, he carefully examined their priming, +and then replaced them in his belt. During this proceeding, he failed +not to urge Ella to alter her design and remain, while he went forward; +but finding her determined on keeping him company, he signified his +readiness to proceed, and both started slowly down the hill together. +They reached the ravine in safety, and advanced some twenty yards +further, when suddenly there arose a terrific Indian yell, followed +instantly by the sharp report of several fire-arms, a wild, piercing +shriek, some two or three heavy groans, a rustling among the trees, and +then by a stillness as deep and awfully solemn as that which pervades +the narrow house appointed for all living. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE OLD WOODSMAN AND HIS DOG. + + +The sun was perhaps an hour above the mountain tops, when a solitary +hunter, in the direction of the cane-brake, might have been seen shaping +his course toward the hill whereon Algernon and Ella had so lately +paused to contemplate the dawning day. Upon his shoulder rested a long +rifle, and a dog of the Newfoundland species followed in his steps or +trotted along by his side. In a few minutes he reached the place +referred to; when the snuffling of his canine companion causing him to +look down, his attention instantly became fixed upon the foot-prints of +the horses which had passed there the day before, and particularly on +the two that had repassed there so lately. + +"What is it, Caesar?" said he, addressing the brute. "Nothing wrong here, +I reckon." Caesar, as if conscious of his master's language, raised his +head, and looking down into the ravine, appeared to snuff the air; +then darting forward, he was quickly lost among the branching cedars. +Scarcely thirty seconds elapsed, ere a long, low howl came up from the +valley; and starting like one suddenly surprised by some disagreeable +occurrence, the hunter, with a cheek slightly blanched, hurried down the +crooked path, muttering as he went, "Thar's something wrong, for +sartin--for Caesar never lies." + +In less than a minute the hunter came in sight of his dog, which he +found standing with his hind feet on the ground and his fore-paws +resting on the carcass of a horse, that had apparently been dead but a +short time. As Caesar perceived his master approach, he uttered another +of those peculiar, long, low, mournful howls, which the superstitious +not unfrequently interpret as omens of evil. + +"Good heavens!" exclaimed the hunter, as he came up; "thar's been foul +play here, Caesar--foul play, for sartin. D'ye think, dog, it war Indians +as done it?" + +The brute looked up into the speaker's face, with one of those +expressions of intelligence or sagacity, which seem to speak what the +tongue has not power to utter, and then wagging his tail, gave a sharp, +fierce bark. + +"Right, dog!" continued the other, as, stooping to the ground, he began +to examine with great care the prints left there by human feet. "Right, +dog, they're the rale varmints, and no mistake. Ef all folks war as +sensible and knowing as you, thar would'nt be many fools about, I +reckon." + +Having finished his examination of the ground, the hunter again turned +to look at the carcass of the horse, which was lying on its left side, +some two feet from the path, and had apparently fallen dead from a shot +in the forehead, between the eyes. An old saddle, devoid of straps, lay +just concealed under the branching cedars. The ground around was trodden +as if from a scuffle, and the limbs of the trees were broken in many +places--while in two or three others could be seen spots of blood, not +even yet dry--none of which informants of the recent struggle escaped +the keen observation of the woodsman. Suddenly the dog, which had been +watching his master's motions intently, put his nose to the ground, +darted along the path further into the ravine, and presently resounded +another of those mournful howls. + +"Ha! another diskivery!" exclaimed the hunter, as he started after his +companion. + +About thirty yards further on, he came upon the carcass of another +horse, which had been killed by a ball in the right side, and the blow +of some weapon, probably a tomahawk, on the head. By its side also lay +a lady's saddle, stripped like the former of its trappings. This the +woodsman now proceeded to examine attentively, for something like a +minute, during which time a troubled expression rested on his dark, +sunburnt features. + +"I'm either mightily mistaken," said he at length, with a grave look, +"or that thar horse and saddle is the property of Ben Younker; and I +reckon it's the same critter as is rid by Ella Barnwell. Heaven forbid, +sweet lady, that it be thou as met with this terrible misfortune!--but +ef it be, by the Power that made me, I swar to follow on thy trail; and +ef I meet any of thy captors, then, Betsey, I'll just call on you for a +backwoods sentiment." + +As he concluded, the hunter turned with a look of affection towards his +rifle, which he firmly grasped with a nervous motion. At this moment, +the dog, which had been busying himself by running to and fro with his +nose to the ground, suddenly paused, and laying back his ears, uttered +a low, fierce growl. The hunter cast toward him a quick glance; and +dropping upon his knees, applied his ear to the earth, where he remained +some fifteen seconds; then rising to his feet, he made a motion with his +hand, and together with Caesar withdrew into the thicket. + +For some time no sound was heard to justify this precaution of the +woodsman; but at length a slight jarring of the ground became apparent, +followed by a noise at some distance, resembling the clatter of horses' +feet, which, gradually growing louder as the cause drew nearer, soon +became sufficiently so to put all doubts on the matter at rest. In less +than five minutes from the disappearance of the hunter, some eight +or ten horses, bearing as many riders, approached the hill from the +direction of Wilson's, and began to descend into the ravine. The party, +composed of both sexes, were in high glee--some jesting, some singing, +and some laughing uproariously. Nothing occurred to interrupt their +merriment, until they began to lose themselves among the cedars of the +hollow, when the foremost horse suddenly gave a snort and bounded to one +side--a movement which his companion, close behind, imitated--while the +rider of the latter, a female, uttered a loud, piercing scream of +fright. In a moment the whole party was in confusion--some turning their +horses to the right about and riding back towards Wilson's, at headlong +speed--and some pausing in fear, undecided what to do. The two foremost +horses now became very refractory, rearing and plunging in a manner that +threatened to unseat their riders every moment. Of the two, the one +ridden by the lady was the most ungovernable; and in spite of her +efforts to quiet or hold him, he seized the bit in his teeth, and, +rearing on his hind legs, plunged madly forward, until he came to where +the other carcass was lying, when, giving another snort of fear, he +again reared, and turning aside into the thicket, left his rider almost +senseless in the path he had just quitted. Fortunately the beast shaped +his course to where the hunter was concealed, who, with a sudden spring, +as he was rushing past, seized upon the bridle near the bit, and +succeeded, after a struggle, in mastering and leading him back to the +path. + +By this time the companion of the lady had come up; and seeing her +condition, was dismounting to render her assistance; when his eye +falling upon the stranger, he started, and placed his hand quickly to +his belt, as if in search of some weapon of defence. The hunter saw the +movement, and said, with a gesture of command: + +"Hold! young man; don't do any thing rash!" + +"Who are you, sir?" + +"A friend." + +"Your name!" continued the other, as he sprang to the ground. + +"Names don't matter, stranger, in cases sech as this. I said I war a +friend." + +"By what may I know you as such." + +"My deeds," returned the other, laconically. "Think you, stranger, ef I +wanted to harm ye, I couldn't have done it without you seeing me?" and +as he spoke, he glanced significantly toward his rifle. + +"True," returned the other; "but what's the meaning of this?" and he +pointed toward the dead horse. + +"It means Indians, as nigh as I can come at it," replied the hunter. +"But look to the living afore the dead!" And the woodsman in turn +pointed toward the lady. + +"Right!" said the other; and springing to her side, he raised her in his +arms. + +She was not injured, other than slightly stunned by the fall, and she +quickly regained her senses. At first she was somewhat alarmed; but +perceiving who supported her, and nothing in the mild, noble, benevolent +countenance of the stranger, who was still holding her horse by the +bridle, of a sinister nature, she anxiously inquired what had happened. + +"I can only guess by what I see;" answered the hunter, "that some o' +your company have been less fortunate than you. Didn't two o' them set +out in advance?" + +"Gracious heavens!" cried the young man supporting the lady; "it is Ella +Barnwell and the stranger Reynolds!" + +"Then they must be quickly trailed!" rejoined the hunter briefly. "Go, +young man, take your lady back agin, and raise an armed party for +pursuit. Be quick in your operations, and I'll wait and join you here. +Leave your horses thar, for we must take it afoot; and besides, gather +as much provision as you can all easily carry, for Heaven only knows +whar or when our journey'll end." + +"But do you think they're still living?" + +"I hope so." + +"Then let us return, Henry," said the lady, "as quick as possible, so +that a party for pursuit may be collected before the wedding guests have +all separated." + +"I fear it will be difficult, Mary, but we must try it," replied the +young man, as he assisted her to mount. Then, turning to the stranger, +he added: "But won't you accompany us, sir?" + +"No, it can do no good; besides I'm afoot, and would only cause delay, +and thar's been too much o' that already." + +"At least, sir, favor me with your name." + +"The first white hunter o' old Kaintuck," answered the other, stroking +the neck of the fiery beast on which the lady was now sitting. + +"What!" exclaimed the other, in a tone of surprise: "Boone! Colonel +Daniel Boone?" + +"Why, I'm sometimes called colonel," returned the hunter, dryly, still +stroking the horse's neck; "but Daniel's the older title, and a little +the most familiar one besides." + +"I crave pardon for my former rudeness, Colonel," said the other, +advancing and offering his hand; "but you were a stranger to me you +know." + +"Well, well, it's all right--I'd have done exactly so myself," answered +Boone, grasping the young man's hand with a cordiality that showed no +offence had been taken. "And now--a--how do you call yourself?" + +"Henry Millbanks." + +"Now, Master Millbanks, pray be speedy; for while we talk, our friends +may die, and it goes agin nater to think on't," said Boone, anxiously. + +As he spoke, he led forward the lady's horse past the other carcass; +while Henry, springing upon his own beast, followed after. Having seen +them safely out of the ravine, the noble hunter turned back to wait the +arrival of the expected assistance. He had just gained the center of the +thicket, when he was slightly startled again by the growl of his dog, +and the tramp of what appeared to be another horse, coming from the +direction of Younker's. Hastily secreting himself, he awaited in silence +the approach of the new comer, whom he soon discovered to be an old +acquaintance, who was riding at a fast gallop, bearing some heavy weight +in his arms. As he came up to the carcass of Ella's horse, he slackened +his speed, looked at it earnestly, then gazed cautiously around, and was +about to spur his boast onward again, when the sound of Boone's voice +reached, his ear; requesting him to pause; and at the same time, to his +astonishment, Boone himself emerged into the path before him. + +"Ha! Colonel Boone," said the horsemen, quickly; "I'm glad to meet ye; +for now is a time when every true man's wanted." + +"What's the news, David Billings?" inquired Boone, anxiously, as he +noticed a troubled, earnest expression on the countenance of the other. + +"Bad!" answered Billings, emphatically. "The Injens have been down upon +us agin in a shocking manner." + +"Heaven forbid thar be many victims!" ejaculated Boone, unconsciously +tightening the grasp on his rifle. + +"Too many--too many!" rejoined Billings, shaking his head sadly. "Thar's +my neighbor Millbanks' family--" + +"Well? well?" cried Boone, impatiently, as the other seemed to hesitate. + +"Have all been murdered, and his house burnt to ashes." + +"All?" echoed Boone. + +"All but young Harry, who's fortunately away to a wedding at Wilson's." + +"Why, the one you speak of war just now here," said Boone, with a start; +"and I sent him back to raise a party to trail the red varmints, who've +been operating as you see yonder: Good heavens! what awful news for poor +Harry, who seems so likely a lad." + +"Yes, likely you may well say," returned the other; "and so war the +whole family--God ha' mercy on 'em! But what's been done here?" + +"Why, I suppose Ella Barnwell--Younker's niece, you know--and a likely +young stranger who war along with her, called Reynolds, have been +captured." + +"Ha! well it's supposed Younker and his wife are captives too, or else +that thar bones lie white among the ashes of thar own ruins." + +"Good heavens!" cried Boone. "Any more, David?" + +"Yes, thar's Absalom Switcher and his wife, and a young gal of twelve; +and Ephraim Stokes' wife and a young boy of five; who war left by +themselves, (Stokes himself being away, and his son Seth at the wedding, +as was a son o' Switcher's also) have all bin foully mardered--besides +Johnny Long's family, Peter Pierson's, and a young child of Fred Mason's +that happened to be at Pierson's house, and one or two others whose +names I disremember." + +"But when did this happen, David?" + +"Last night," replied the other. "It's suspected that the Injens ha bin +warting round here, and took advantage of this wedding, when the greater +part on 'em war away. It's thought too that thar war a white spy out, +who gin 'em information, and led 'em on--as a villainous looking chap +war seed about the vicinity not long ago." + +"Do they suspicion who war the spy?" asked Boone. + +"Why some thinks as how it war that thar accussed renegade, Simon +Girty." + +"Wretch!" muttered Boone, grasping his rifle almost fiercely; "I'd like +to have old Bess, here, hold a short conflab with him. But what have you +got thar in your arms, that seems so heavy, David?" + +"Rifles, Colonel. I've bin riding round and collecting on 'em for this +mad party of Younker's, who went off without any precaution; and I'm now +on my way to deliver 'em, that they may start instanter arter the cussed +red skins, and punish 'em according to the Mosaic law." + +"Spur on then, David, and you may perhaps overtake some o' them; and all +that you do, arm and send 'em here as quick as possible--for I'm +dreadful impatient to be off." + +The colloquy between the two thus concluded, the horseman--a +strongly-built, hard-favored, muscular man of forty--set spurs to his +horse; and bounding onward toward Wilson's (distant some five miles--the +ravine being about half way between the residence of the groom and +bride,) he was quickly lost to the sight of the other, who quietly +seated himself to await the reinforcement. + +In the course of half an hour, Boone was joined by some three or four of +the wedding party, who bad been overtaken by Billings, learned the news, +accepted a rifle each, bidden their fair companions adieu, and sent them +and the horses back to the house of the bride, while they moved forward +to meet danger, rescue the living, and seek revenge. + +In the course of an hour and a half, Billings himself returned, +accompanied by some seven or eight stout hearts; among whom were young +Switcher, Stokes, Millbanks, and, lastly, Isaac Younker, who had been +roused from the nuptial bed to hear of the terrible calamity that had +befallen his friends. Isaac, on the present occasion, did not disgrace +his training, the land which gave him birth, nor the country he now +inhabited. When the messenger came with the direful news, although +somewhat late in the morning, Isaac had been found in his bed, closely +folded in the arms of the god of sleep. On being awakened and told of +what had taken place, he slowly rose up into a sitting posture, rubbed +his eyes, stared searchingly at his informant, gathered himself upon his +feet, threw on his wedding garments, and made all haste to descend +below; where he at once sought out his new wife, Peggy, who had risen +an hour before; and grasping her by the hand, in a voice slightly +tremulous, but with a firm, determined expression on his features, said: + +"Peggy, dear, I 'spect you've heard the whole on't. Father, mother, Ella +and Reynolds--all gone, and our house in ashes, I'm going to follow, +Peggy. Good bye--God bless you! Ef I don't never come back, Peggy"--and +the tears started into his eyes--"you may jest put it down I've been +clean sarcumvented, skinned, and eat up by them thar ripscallious +Injens;" and turning upon his heel, as his tender-hearted spouse burst +into tears, he seized upon same provisions that had graced the last +night's entertainment, gave Black Betty a long and cordial salute with +his lips, shook hands with his wife's father and mother, kissed Peggy +once again, pulled his cap over his eyes, and, without another word, set +forth with rapid strides on the eastern path leading to the rendezvous +of Daniel Boone. + +On the faces of those now assembled, who had lost their best and dearest +friends, could be seen the intense workings of the strong passions of +grief and revenge, while their fingers clutched their faithful rifles +with a nervous power. The greatest change was apparent in the features +of Henry Millbanks. He was a fine-favored, good-looking youth of +eighteen, with light hair and a florid complexion. The natural +expression of his handsome countenance was an easy, dignified smile, +which was rendered extremely fascinating by a broad, noble forehead, and +a clear, expressive, gray eye; but now the floridity had given place to +a pale, almost sallow hue, the forehead was wrinkled with grief, the +lips were compressed, and the smile had been succeeded by a look of +great fierceness, aided by the eye; which was more than usually sunken +and bloodshot. + +But little was said by any of the party; for all felt the chilling +gloom of the present, so strongly contrasted with the bright hours and +merry jests which had so lately been apportioned to each. Boone called +to Caesar and bade him seek the Indian trail; a task which the noble +brute flew to execute; and in a few minutes the whole company were on +their way; with the exception of Billings; who, by the unanimous request +of all, returned to Wilson's; to cheer, console and protect the females; +and, if thought advisable, to conduct them to Bryan's Station--a strong +fort a few miles distant--where they might remain in comparative +security. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE INDIANS AND THEIR PRISONERS. + + +While the events just chronicled were enacting in one part of the +country, others, of a different nature, but somewhat connected with +them, were taking place in another. In a dark, lonely pass or gorge of +the hills, some ten miles to the north of the scene of the preceding +chapter, where the surrounding trees grew so thick with branches and +leaves that they almost entirely excluded the sunlight from the waters +of a stream which there rolled foaming and roaring between the hills and +over and against the rocks of its precipitous bed, or, plunging down +some frightful precipice, lay as if stunned or exhausted by the fall in +the chasm below, mirroring in its still bosom with a gloomy reflection +the craggy steeps rising majestically above it--in this dark and lonely +pass, we say, was a party of human beings, to whom the proper +development of our story now calls us. + +The company in question was composed of eight persons, five of whom were +Indians of the Seneca tribe;[5] the others--a thin-faced, gaunt, +stoop-shouldered man past the middle age--a rather corpulent, masculine +looking woman, a few years his junior--a little fair-haired, blue-eyed, +pretty-faced girl of six--were white captives. Four of the Indians were +seated or partly reclining on the ground, with their guns beside them, +ready for instant use if necessary, engaged in roasting slices of deer +meat before a fire that had been kindled for the purpose. The fifth +savage was pacing to and fro, with his rifle on his arm, performing the +double duty of sentinel and guard over the prisoners, who were kept in +durance by strong cords some ten paces distant. The old man was secured +by a stick passing across his back horizontally, to which both wrists +and arms were tightly bound with thongs of deer skin. To prevent the +possibility of escape, both legs were fastened together by the same +material, and a long, stout rope, encircling his neck, was attached to +a tree hard by. This latter precaution, and much of the former, seemed +unnecessary; for there was a mild look of resigned dejection on his +features, as they bent toward the earth, with his chin resting on his +bosom, that appeared strongly at variance with any thing like flight or +strife. His female companion was fastened in like manner to the tree, +but in other respects only bound by a stout thong around the wrists in +front. The third member of the white party, the little girl, was seated +at the feet of the old man, with her small wrists also bound until they +had swollen so as to pain her, looking up from time to time into his +face with a heart-rending expression of grief, fear and anxiety. + +Of the Indians themselves, we presume it would be difficult to find, +among all the tribes of America, five more blood-thirsty, villainous +looking beings than the ones in question. They were only partially +dressed, after the manner of their tribe, with skins around their loins, +extending down to their knees, and moccasins on their feet, leaving the +rest of their bodies and limbs bare. Around their waists were belts, for +the tomahawk and scalping knife, at three of which now hung freshly +taken scalps. Their faces had been hideously painted for the war-path; +but heat and perspiration had since out done the artist, by running the +composition into streaks, in such a way as to give them the most +diabolical appearance imaginable. On each of their heads was a tuft of +feathers, some of which had the appearance of having recently been +scorched and blackened by fire, while their arms and bodies were here +and there besmeared with blood. + +The four around the fire were in high glee, as they roasted and +devoured their meat, judging from their nods, and grins, and grunts +of approbation, whenever their eyes glanced in the direction of their +prisoners--the effect of which was far from consoling to the matron of +the latter; who, having eyed them for some time in indignant silence, +at length burst forth with angry vehemence: + +"Well, now, jest grin, and jabber, and grin, like a pesky set o' natural +born monkeys, that's ten times better nor you is any day of your good +for nothing, sneaking lives. Goodness, gracious, marsy on me alive!" +continued the dame, whom the reader has doubtless recognized as Mrs. +Younker; "I only jest wish you had to change places with me and Ben here +for about five minutes; and ef I didn't make your old daubed, nasty, +villainous, unyarthly looking faces grin to another tune, I hope I may +never be blessed with liberty agin in creation, as long as I live on the +face o' this univarsal yarth!" + +"Ugh!" ejaculated the sentinel, turning towards the speaker, as she +concluded her fierce tirade, at the same time placing his hand on the +tomahawk in his belt with an angry gesture: "Ugh! me squaw kill--she no +stop much talky!" + +"You'd kill me, would ye? you mean, dirty, ripscallious looking varmint +of the woods you, that don't know a pin from a powder horn!" rejoined +the undaunted Mrs. Younker, in a vehement tone: "You'd kill me for using +the freedom of tongue, as these blessed Colonies is this moment fighting +for with the tarnal Britishers? You'd kill me, would ye? Well, it's jest +my first nateral come at opinion, as I tolled Ben here, not more'n a +quarter o' an hour ago, that you war jest mean enough for any thing, as +ever war invented, in the whole univarsal yarth o' creation--so ef you +do kill me, I won't be in the leastest grain disappinted, no how." + +"Don't, Dorothy--don't irritate the savage for nothing at all!" said her +husband, who, raising his head at the first remark of the Indian, now +saw in his fierce, flashing eyes, angry gestures, and awful contortions +of visage, that which boded the sudden fulfillment of his threat: "Don't +irritate him, and git murdered for your pains, Dorothy! Why can't you be +more quiet?" + +"Don't talk to me about being quiet, Benjamin Younker, away out here in +the woods, a captive to such imps an them thar, with our house all burnt +to nothing like, and our cows and sheeps and hosses destructed, and--" + +Here the speech of the good woman was suddenly cut short by the whizzing +of a tomahawk past her head, which slightly grazed her cheek, and lodged +in the tree a few feet beyond. Whether it was aimed at her life and +missed its mark, or whether it was merely done to frighten her, does not +appear; though the manner of the savage, after the weapon was thrown, +inclines us to the latter supposition; for instead of rushing upon her +with his knife, he walked deliberately to the tree, withdrew the +tomahawk, and then turning to her, and brandishing it over her head, +said: + +"Squaw, still be! Speak much, me killum!" + +Be the design of the Indian what it might, the whole proceeding +certainly produced one result, which nothing had ever been known to do +before--it awed to silence the tongue of Mrs. Younker, just at a moment +when talking would have been such a relief to her overcharged spirit; +and merely muttering, in an under tone, "I do jest believe the +ripscallious varmint is in arnest, sure enough!" she held her speech for +the extraordinary space of half an hour. + +Meantime the other savages finished their repast; and having offered a +portion of it to the prisoners, which the latter refused, they proceeded +to destroy their fire, by casting the burning brands into the rushing +waters of the stream below. This done, they extended their circle +somewhat--each placing himself by a tree or rock--and then in the most +profound silence stood like bronzed statuary, apparently awaiting the +arrival of another party. At last--and just as the sun was beginning to +peep over the brow of the steep above them, and let his rays struggle +with the matted foliage of the trees, for a glimpse of the roaring +waters underneath--one of the Indians started, looked cautiously around, +dropped flat upon the earth; and then rising, and motioning with his +hand for all to be silent, glided noiselessly away, like the shadow of +some evil spirit, into the surrounding thicket. He had scarcely been +absent three minutes, when a slight crackling among the brush was heard +near at hand; and immediately after he rejoined his companions, followed +by a party of eight Indian warriors, and two white prisoners, headed by +a low browed, sinister, blood-thirsty looking white man, in a garb +resembling that worn by a subordinate British officer. His coat was red, +with facings of another color, underneath which was partially displayed +a handsome vest and ruffled shirt. About his waist passed a broad wampum +belt, in which were confined a brace of silver mounted pistols, another +pair of less finish and value, a silver handled dirk, a scalping knife +and tomahawk, on whose blades could be seen traces of blood. Around his +neck was a neatly tied cravat, and dangling in front of his vest a gold +chain, which connected with a watch hid in a pocket of his breeches, +whence depended a larger chain of steel, supporting in turn three +splendid gold seals and two keys. His nether garments were breeches, +leggins, and moccasins, all of deer skin, and without ornament. His hat, +not unlike those of the present day, was on this occasion graced with a +red feather, which protruded above the crown, and corresponded well with +his general appearance. + +The Indian companions of this individual were not remarkable for any +thing, unless it might be ferocity of expression. They were habited, +with but one exception, like those previously described, and evidently +belonged to the same tribe. This exception was a large, athletic, +powerful Indian, rather rising of six feet, around whose waist was a +finely worked wampum belt, over whose right shoulder, in a transverse +direction, extended a red scarf, carelessly tied under the left arm, +and in whose nose and ears were large, heavy rings, denoting him to be +either a chief or one in command. His age was about thirty; and his +features, though perhaps less ferocious than some of his companions, +were still enough so to make him an object of dread and fear. His +forehead was low, his eye black and piercing, and his nose rather flat +and widely distended at the nostrils. He was called Peshewa: Anglice, +Wild cat. + +As the prisoners of the latter party came in sight of those of the +former, there was a general start and exclamation of surprise; while the +sad faces of each showed how little pleasure they felt in meeting each +other under such painful circumstances. The last comers, as the reader +has doubtless conjectured, were Algernon and Ella. Immediately on their +entering the ravine, as previously recorded, they had been set upon +by savages, their horses shot from under them, and themselves made +captives. This result, however, as regards Algernon, had not been +effected without considerable effort on the part of his numerous +enemies. At the first fire, his horse fell; but disentangling himself, +and drawing his pistols, he sprung upon the side of his dying beast, and +discharged them both at his nearest foes--one of which took effect, and +sent a warrior to his last account. Then leaping in among them, he drew +his knife and cut madly about him until secured; though doubtless he +would have been tomahawked on the spot, only that he might be reserved +for the tortures, when his brutal captors should arrive at their +destination. Meantime the animal which bore the lovely Ella, being +wounded by the same fire which killed her companion's, bounded forward +some twenty paces, when a blow on the head with a tomahawk laid him +prostrate, and she was secured also. The party then proceeded to bury +the dead, at some little distance, and start upon their journey, to join +their companions--which latter we have just seen accomplished. + +As soon as mutual recognitions had passed between the prisoners, the +individual habited in the British uniform stepped forward, and said, +jocosely: + +"So, friends, we all meet again, do we, eh?--ha, ha, ha!" + +At the sound of his voice, the old man and his wife, both of whom had +been too intently occupied with Algernon and Ella to notice him before, +started, and turning their eyes suddenly upon him, simultaneously +exclaimed: + +"Mr. Williams!" + +"_Sometimes_ Mr. Williams," answered the other, with a strong emphasis +on the first word, accompanying it with a horrible oath; "but now, when +disguise is no longer necessary, Simon Girty, the renegade, +by ----!--ha, ha, ha!" + +As he uttered these words, in a coarse, ruffianly tone, a visible +shudder of fear or disgust, or both combined, passed through the frame +of each of the prisoners; and Algernon turning to him, with an +expression of loathing contempt, said: + +"I more than half suspected as much, when I sometime since contemplated +your low-browed, hang-dog countenance. Of course we can expect no mercy +at such hands." + +"Mercy!" cried Girty, turning fiercely upon him, his eyes gleaming +savagely, his mouth twisting into a shape intended to express the most +withering contempt, while his words fairly hissed from between his +tightly set teeth: "Mercy? dog! No, by h----l! for none like you! Hark ye, +Mr. Reynolds! Were you in the damnable cells of the Inquisition, accused +of heresy, and about to be put to the tortures, you might think yourself +in Paradise compared to what you shall yet undergo!" + +As he uttered these words, Ella shrieked and fell fainting to the earth. +Springing to her, Girty raised her in his arms; and pointing to her pale +features, as he did so, continued: + +"See! Mr. Reynolds, this girl loves you; I love her; we are rivals; and +you, my rival, are in my power: and, by ----! and all the powers of +darkness, you shall feel my vengeance!" + +"You love her?" broke in Mrs. Younker, who, in spite of her previous +dangerous warning, could hold her peace no longer: "You love her! you +mean, contemptible, red headed puppy! I don't believe as how you knows +enough to love nothing! And so you're Simon Girty, hey? that thar +sneaking, red-coat renegade? Well, I reckon as how you've told the truth +once; for I've hearn tell that he war an orful mean looking imp o' +Satan; and I jest don't believe as how a meaner one nor yourself could +be skeer'd up in the whole universal yarth o' creation." + +"Rail on, old woman!" replied Girty, as he chafed the temples of Ella +with his hands; "but in a little lower key; or I shall be under the +necessity of ordering a stopper to your mouth; which, saving the +tortures of the stake, is the worst punishment for you I can now invent. +As for you, Mr. Younker," continued he, turning his face to the old man, +with a peculiar expression; "you seem to have nothing to say to an old +friend--ha, ha, ha!" + +"Whensomever I mention the name o' Simon Girty," replied Younker, in a +deliberate and startlingly solemn tone, "I al'ays call down God's curse +upon the fiendish renegade--and I do so now." + +"By ----! old man," cried Girty, casting Ella roughly from him, and +starting upright, the perfect picture of a fiend in human shape; +"another word, and your brains shall be scattered to the four winds of +heaven!" + +As he spoke, he brandished his tomahawk over the other's head; while the +child, before noticed, uttered a wild scream, and sprung to Mrs. +Younker, at whose side she crouched in absolute terror. + +"Strike!" answered Younker, mildly, with an unchanged countenance, his +eye resting steadily upon the other, who could not meet his gaze in the +same manner. "Strike! Simon Girty; for I'm a man that's never feared +death, and don't now; besides, I reiterate all I've said, and with my +dying breath pray God to curse ye!" + +"Not yet!" rejoined Girty, smothering his rage, as he replaced his +weapon. "Not yet, Ben Younker; for you take death too easy; and by ----! +I'll make it have terrors for you! But what child is this?" continued +he, grasping the little girl fiercely by the arm, causing her to utter a +cry of pain and fear. "By heavens! what do we with squalling children? +Here, Oshasqua, I give her in your charge; and if she yelp again, brain +her, by ----!" and he closed with an oath. + +The Indian whom we have previously noticed as the sentinel, stepped +forward, with a demoniac gleam of satisfaction on his ugly countenance, +and taking the child by the hand, led her away some ten paces, where he +amused himself by stripping her of such apparel as he fancied might +ornament his own person; while she, poor little thing, afraid to cry +aloud, could only sob forth the bitterness of her heart. + +Meantime Girty turning to Ella, and finding her gradually recovering, +assisted her to rise; and then motioning the chief aside, he held a +short consultation with him, in the Indian dialect, regarding their next +proceedings, and the disposal of the prisoners. + +"Were it not, Peshewa, for his own base words," said the renegade, in +reply to some remark of his Indian ally, "I would have spared him; but +now," and his features exhibited a concentrated expression of infernal +hate and revenge; "but now, Peshewa, he dies! with all the horrors of +the stake, that you, a noble master of the art of torture, can invent +and inflict. The Long Knife[6] must not curse the red man's friend in +his own camp and go unpunished. I commend him to your mercy, +Peshewa--ha, ha, ha!" and he ended with a hoarse, fiend-like laugh. + +"Ugh!" returned Wild-cat, giving a gutteral grunt of satisfaction, +although not a muscle of his rigid features moved, and, save a peculiar +gleam of his dark eye, nothing to show that he felt uncommon interest +in the sentence of Younker: "Peshewa a chief! The Great Spirit give him +memory--the Great Spirit give him invention. He will remember what he +has done to prisoners at the stake,--he can invent new tortures. But +the squaw?" + +"Ay, the squaw!" answered the renegade, musingly; "the old man's +wife--she must be disposed of also. Ha! a thought strikes me, Peshewa: +You have no wife--(the savage gave a grunt)--suppose you take her?" + +Peshewa started, and his eyes flashed fire, as he said, with great +energy: "Does the wolf mate with his hunter, that you ask a chief of the +Great Spirit's red children to mate with their white destroyer?" + +"Then do with her what you ---- please," rejoined Girty, throwing in an +oath. "I was only jesting, Peshewa. But come, we must be on the move! +for this last job will not be long a secret; and then we shall have the +Long Knives after us as hot as h----l. We must divide our party. I will +take with me these last prisoners and six warriors, and you the others. +A quarter of a mile below here we will separate and break our trail +in the stream; you and your party by going up a piece--I and mine by +going down. This will perplex them, and give us time. Make your trail +conspicuous, Peshewa, and I will be careful to leave none whatever, if I +can help it; for, by ----! I must be sure to escape with my prisoners. +If you are close pressed, you can brain and scalp yours; but for some +important reasons, I want mine to live. We will meet, my noble Peshewa, +at the first bend of the Big Miama." + +The Indian heard him through, without moving a muscle of his seemingly +blank features, and then answered, a little haughtily: + +"Kitchokema[7] plans all, and gives his red brother all the danger; but +Peshewa is brave, and fears not." + +"And do you think it's through fear?" asked Girty, angrily. + +"Peshewa makes no charges against his brother," answered Wild-cat, +quietly. + +"Perhaps it is as well he don't," rejoined Girty, in an under tone, +knitting his brows; and then quickly added: "Come, Peshewa, let us move; +for while we tarry, we are giving time to our white foes." + +Thus ended the conference; and in a few minutes after the whole party +was in motion. Following the course of the waters down to the base of +the hills, they came to a sloping hollow of some considerable extent, +where the stream ran shallow over a smooth, beautiful bed. Into this +latter the whole company now entered, for the purpose of breaking the +trail, as previously arranged by Girty; and here they divided, according +to his former plan also. + +If the unhappy prisoners regretted meeting one another in distress, +their parting regrets were an hundred fold more poignant; for to them +it seemed evidently the last time they would ever behold on earth each +others faces; and this thought alone was enough to dim the eyes of Ella +and her adopted mother with burning tears, and shake their frames with +heart-rending sobs of anguish; while the old man and Algernon, though +both strove to be stoical, could not look on unmoved to a similar show +of grief. Since their meeting, the captives had managed to converse +together sufficiently to learn the manner of each others capture, and +give each other some hope of being successfully followed and released +by their friends; but now, when they saw the caution displayed by their +enemies in breaking the trail, they began to fear for the result. Just +before entering the stream, they passed through a cluster of bushes +that skirted the river's bank; and Ella, the only prisoner whose hands +were unbound, by a quick and sly movement succeeded in detaching a +portion of her dress, which she there left as a sign to those who might +follow, that she was still alive, and so encourage them to proceed, in +case they were about to falter and turn back. + +The separation being now speedily effected, the two parties were quickly +lost to each other--Girty and his band going down the bed of the stream +some two hundred yards before touching the bank; and the others, headed +by Wild-cat, going up about half that distance. + +Leaving each to their journey, let us now return to the band already in +pursuit. + + +[Footnote 5: Some historians have stated that the Indians here alluded +to were Mingoes, and _not_ Senecas; and that they were a remnant of the +celebrated Logan's tribe.] + +[Footnote 6: Sometimes Big Knife--first applied to the Virginians by the +Indians.] + +[Footnote 7: Great Chief--a term sometimes given to Girty by the +Indians.] + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE PURSUERS. + + +About a hundred yards from where Boone and his young companions set +forth, the dog, which was running along before them, paused, and with +his nose to the ground, set up a fierce bark. When arrived at the spot, +the party halted, and perceived the body of an Indian, slightly covered +with earth, leaves, and a few dry bushes. Hastily throwing off the +covering from his head, they discovered hideous features, wildly +distorted by the last throe of death, and bloody from a wound in his +forehead made by a ball. His scalp had been taken off also, by those who +buried him--from fear, probably, that he would be found by enemies, and +this secured as a trophy--a matter of disgrace which the savage, under +all circumstances, ever seeks to avoid, both for himself and friends. + +"Well done, Master Reynolds!" observed Boone, musingly, spurning the +body with his foot, turning away, and resuming his journey: "You're a +brave young man; and I'll bet my life to a bar-skin, did your best under +the sarcumstances; and ef it's possible, we'll do somewhat for you in +return." + +"Well, ef he arn't a brave chap--that thar same Algernon Reynolds--then +jest put it down as how Isaac Younker don't know nothing 'bout faces," +returned the individual in question, in reply to Boone. "I never seed a +man with his fore'ed and eye as would run from danger when a friend war +by wanting his sarvice." + +"Ay, he is indeed a clever youth!" rejoined Boone. + +"Well, Colonel, he's all that," again returned Isaac; "and I'll al'ays +look 'pon't in the light o' a sarvice, that you jest placed him in my +hands, when he war wounded; for to do sech as him a kindness, al'ays +carries along its own reward. And Ella--my poor, sweet cousin, as war +raised up in good sarcumstances, and lost her all--she too I reckon +feels kind o' grateful to you, Colonel, besides." + +"As how?" asked Boone. + +"Why, I don't know's it's exactly right for me to tell as how," replied +Isaac, shrewdly, who was fearful of saying what Ella herself might wish +kept a secret. + +"I understand ye," said Boone, in a low tone, heard only by Isaac; and +the subject was then changed for one more immediately connected with +their present journey. + +In the course of conversation that followed, it was asked of Boone how +he chanced to be in the vicinity, and learned of the calamity that had +befallen Algernon and Ella, before any of the others; to which he +replied, by stating that he was on his way from Boonesborough to Bryan's +Station, and coming into the path just above the ravine, had been +indebted to his noble brute companion for the discovery--a circumstance +which raised Caesar in the estimation of the whole party to a wonderful +degree. Nor was this estimation lessened by the conduct of Caesar himself +in the present instance; for true to his training, instinct, and great +sagacity, he led them forward at a rapid pace, and seemed possessed of +reasoning powers that would have done no discredit to an intelligent +human being. One instance in point is worthy of note. In passing through +a dense thicket on the Indian trail, the noble brute discovered a small +fragment of ribbon, which he instantly seized in his mouth, and, turning +back to his master, came up to him, wagging his tail, with a look +expressive of joy, and dropped it at his feet. On examination it was +recognized as a detached portion of a ribbon worn by Ella; and this +little incident gave great animation and encouragement to the party--as +it proved that she at least was yet alive, and had a hope of being +followed by friends. + +Some two hours from their leaving the ravine, they came to the dark +pass, where we have seen the meeting between the two Indian parties. +Here our pursuers halted a few minutes to examine the ground, and form +conjectures as to what had taken place--in doing which, all paid the +greatest deference to the opinions and judgment of Boone, who was looked +upon by all who knew him as a master of the woodman's craft. + +After gazing intently for some time at the foot prints, Boone informed +his companions that another party had been in waiting, had been joined +by the others, and that all had proceeded together down the stream; and +moreover, that there was an addition of white prisoners, one of which +was a child. This caused a great sensation among his listeners--many of +whom had lost their relatives, as the reader already knows--and Hope, +the cheering angel, which hovers around us on our pathway through life, +began to revive in each breast, that the friends they were mourning as +dead, might still be among the living, and so made them more eager than +ever to press on to the rescue. + +At the river's bank, the sagacious Caesar discovered another piece of +ribbon--dropped there as the reader knows by Ella--which he carried in +triumph to his master, and received in turn a few fond caresses. + +"Here," said Boone, as himself and companions entered the streamlet, +whose clear, bright waters, to the depth of some three inches, rolled +merrily over a smooth bed, with a pleasing murmur: "Here, lads, I reckon +we'll have difficulty; for the red varmints never enter a stream for +nothing; and calculating pretty shrewdly they'd be followed soon, no +doubt they've taken good care to puzzle us for the trail. Ef it be as +I suspect, we'll divide on the other side, and a part o' us go up, and +a part down, till we come agin upon thar track. But then agin," added +Boone, musingly, with a troubled expression, "it don't follow, that +because they entered the stream they crossed it; and it's just as likely +they've come out on the same side they went in; so that we'll have to +make four divisions, and start on the sarch." + +Accordingly on reaching the other shore, and finding the trail was lost, +Boone divided the party--assigning each his place--and separating, six +of them recrossed the stream; and dividing again, two, headed by Isaac, +went up, and two, led by Henry Millbanks, went down along the bank; +while Boone and Seth Stokes, with the rest, proceeded in like manner on +the opposite side; and the dog flew hither and yon, to render what +service he could also. For something like a quarter of an hour not the +least trace of the savages could be found, when at last the voice of +Isaac was heard shouting: + +"I've got it--I've got it! Here it is, jest as plain and nateral as +cornstalks--Hooray!" + +In a few minutes the whole company was gathered around Isaac, who +pointed triumphantly to his discovery. + +"That's the trail, sure enough," observed Boone, bending down to scan +it closely; "and rather broad it is too. It's not common for the wily +varmints to do thar business in so open a manner, and I suspicion it's +done for some trickery. Look well to your rifles, lads, and be prepared +for an ambush in yon thicket just above thar, while I look carefully +along this, for a few rods, just to see ef I can make out thar meaning. +They've spread themselves here considerable," continued the old hunter, +after examining the trail a few minutes in silence; "but ef they think +to deceive one that has been arter 'em as many times as I, they've made +quite a mistake; for I can see clean through their tricks, as easy as +light comes through greased paper." + +"What discovery have you made now?" inquired young Millbanks, who, +together with the others, pressed eagerly around Boone to hear his +answer. + +"Why I've diskivered what I war most afeard on," answered the woodsman. +"I've diskivered that the varmints have divided, for the sake of giving +us trouble, or leading us astray from them as they cares most about. See +here!" and bending down to the ground, Boone pointed out to his young +companions, many of whom were entirely ignorant of that ingenious art of +wood-craft, whereby the experienced hunter knows his safety or danger in +the forest as readily as the sailor knows his on the ocean, and which +appears to the uninitiated like a knowledge superhuman--Boone pointed +out to them, we say, three distinct foot prints, which he positively +asserted were neither made by the Indians nor the captives of the +ravine. + +"But I'd jest like to know, Colonel Boone, how you can be so sartin o' +what you declar, ef it would'nt be for putting you to too much trouble," +said one of the party, in surprise. + +"Obsarve," replied Boone, who, notwithstanding it would cause some +little delay, was willing to gratify his young friends, by imparting to +them what information he could regarding an art so important to frontier +life: "Obsarve that print thar (pointing with his finger to the largest +one of the three;) now that war never made by Master Reynolds, for it's +much too big; and this I know from having got the dimension o' his track +afore I left the ravine to trail him; and I know it war never made by +one o' the red heathen, for it arn't, the shape o' thar feet,; and +besides, you'll notice how the toe turns out'ard from the heel--a thing +an Indian war never guilty on--for they larn from children to tread +straight forward. The next one you'll obsarve turns out in like manner; +and though it's smaller nor the first, it arn't exactly the shape of +Reynold's, and it's too big for Ella's; and moreover I opine it's a +woman's--though for the matter o' that I only guess at it. The third you +perceive is the child's; and them thar three are the only ones you can +find that arn't Indian's. Now note agin that the trail's spread here, +and that here and thar a twig's snapped on the bushes along thar way; +which the red-skins have done a purpose to make thar course conspicuous, +to draw thar pursuers on arter 'em, prehaps for an ambush, prehaps to +keep them from looking arter the others." + +"In this perplexity what are we to do?" inquired young Millbanks. + +"Why," answered Boone, energetically, "Heaven knows my heart yearns to +rescue all my fellow creaters who're in distress; but more particularly, +prehaps, them as I know's desarving; and as I set out for Master +Reynolds, and his sweet companion, Ella Barnwell, God bless her! I +somehow reckon it's my duty to follow them--though I leave the rest o' +ye to choose for yourselves. Ef you want to divide, and part go this +trail and part follow me, mayhap it'll be as well in the end." + +This plan seemed the best that could be adopted under the circumstances; +and after some further consultation among themselves, it was finally +agreed that Isaac, with six others--two of whom were Switcher and +Stokes--should proceed on the present trail; while Millbanks and the +remainder should accompany Boone. Isaac was chosen as the most suitable +one to lead his party, on account of his foresight and shrewdness, and, +withal, some little knowledge which he possessed of the country and the +woodsman's art, previously gained in a tour with his father, when +seeking a location, together with an expedition of considerable extent +shortly after made with Boone himself. + +To him, as the leader, the noble old hunter now turned, and in a brief +manner imparted some very important advice, regarding his mode of +proceeding under various difficulties, particularly cautioned him +against any rash act, and concluded by saying, "Wharsomever or +howsomever you may be fixed, Isaac, and you his companions, (addressing +the young men by his side) don't never forget the injunction o' Daniel +Boone, your friend, that you must be cool, steady and firm; and +whensomever you fire at a painted varmint, be sure you don't throw away +your powder!" + +He then proceeded to shake hands with each, bidding them farewell and +God speed, in a manner so earnest and touching as to draw tears from +many an eye unused to the melting mood. The parting example of Boone was +now imitated by the others, and in a few minutes both divisions had +resumed their journey. + +Dividing his party again as before, Boone proceeded with them to examine +closely both banks of the stream for the other trail. Commencing where +they had left off on the announcement of Isaac, they moved slowly +downward, taking due note of every bush, leaf and blade as they went +along--often pausing and bending on their knees, to observe some spot +more minutely, where it seemed probable their enemies had withdrawn from +the water. Caesar, too, apparently comprehending the object of their +search, ran to and fro, snuffing at every thing he saw, sometimes with +his nose to the ground and sometimes elevated in the air. At length he +gave a peculiar whine, at a spot about twenty yards below that which had +been reached by his master, on the side opposite Isaac's discovery; and +hastening to him, Boone immediately communicated to the others the +cheering intelligence that the trail had been found. + +Each now hurrying forward, the old hunter was soon joined by his young +friends; not one of whom, on coming up, failed to express surprise that +he should be so positive of what their eyes gave them not the least +proof. The place where they were now assembled, was at the base of a +hill, which terminated the flat or hollow in that direction, and turned +the stream at a short bend off to the left, along whose side its waters +ran for some twenty yards, when the arm projection of the ridge ended, +and allowed it to turn and almost retrace its path on the opposite +side--thus forming an elliptical bow. At the point in question, rose a +steep bank of rocks, of limestone formation, against which the stream, +during the spring and fall floods had rolled its tide to a height of six +or eight feet; and had lodged there, from time to time, various sorts of +refuse--such as old leaves, branches and roots of trees, and the like +encumbrances to the smooth flow of its waters. On these rocks it was +that the eyes of the party were now fixed; while their faces exhibited +expressions of astonishment, that the old hunter should be able to +distinguish marks of a recent trail, where they could perceive nothing +but the undisturbed surface of what perhaps had been ages in forming. + +"And so, lads, you don't see no trail thar, eh?" said Boone, with a +quiet smile, after having listened to various observations of the party, +during which time he had been carelessly leaning on his rifle. + +"Why, I must confess I can see nothing of the kind," answered Henry. + +"Nor I," rejoined another of the party. + +"Well, ef thar be any marks o' a trail here, jest shoot me with red +pepper and salt, ef ever I'm cotched bragging on my eyes agin," returned +a third. + +"That thar observation'll hold good with me too" uttered a fourth. + +"Here's in," said the fifth and last. + +"You're all young men, and have got a right smart deal to larn yet," +resumed Boone, "afore you can be turned out rale ginuine woodsmen and +hunters. Now mark that thar small pebble stone, that lies by your feet +on the rock. Ef you look at it right close, you'll perceive that on one +side on't the dirt looks new and fresh--which proves it's jest been +started from its long quietude. Now cast your eyes a little higher up, +agin yon dirt ridge which partly kivers them thar larger stones, and +you'll see an indent that this here pebble stone just fits. Now +something had to throw that down, o' course; and ef you'll just look +right sharp above it, you'll see a smaller dent, that war made by the +toe of some human foot, in getting up the bank. Agin you'll observe that +thar dry twig, just above still, has been lately broke, as ef by the +person war climbing up taking hold on't for assistance; but that warn't +the reason the climber broke it--it war done purposely; as you'll see by +the top part being bent up the hill, as ef to point us on. By the Power +that made me!" added Boone, gazing for a moment at the broken twig +intently, "ef I arn't wondrously mistaken, thar's a leaf hanging to it +in a way nater never fixed it." + +"Right, there is!" cried Henry, who, looking up with, the rest, chanced +to observe it at the same moment with Boone; and springing forward with +a light bound, he soon reached the spot, and returned with it in his +hand. It was a fall leaf, which had been fastened in a hasty manner to +the twig in question, by a pin through its center. On one side of it was +scrawled, in characters difficult to be deciphered: + +"_Follow--fast--for the love of Heaven!--E._" + +As Millbanks, after looking at it closely, read off these words, Boone +started, clutched his rifle with an iron grasp, and merely saying, in a +quiet manner, "Onward, lads--I trust you're now satisfied!" he sprang up +the rocks with an agility that threatened to leave his young companions +far in the rear. + +All now pressed forward with renewed energy; and having gained the +summit of the hill, which here rose to the height of eighty feet, they +were enabled, by the aid of Caesar, to come quickly upon the trail of +the Indians, who, doubtless supposing themselves now safe from pursuit, +had taken little or no pains to conceal their course. Of this their +pursuers now took advantage, and hurried onward with long and rapid +strides; now through thick dark woods and gloomy hollows; now up steep +hills and rocky barren cliffs; now through tangles and over marshy +grounds--clearing all obstacles that presented themselves with an ease +which showed that notwithstanding some of them might be inferior as +woodsmen, none were at all events as travelers in the woods. + +By noon the party had advanced some considerable distance, and were +probably not far in the rear of the pursued--at least such was the +opinion of Boone--when they were again, to their great vexation, put at +fault for the trail, by the cunning of the renegade, who, to prevent all +accidents, had here once more broken it, by entering another small +streamlet--a branch of Eagle river; and although our friends set to with +all energy and diligence to find it, yet, from the nature of the ground +round about, the darkness of the wood through which the rivulet +meandered, and several other causes, they were unable to do so for three +good hours. + +This delay tended not a little to discourage the younger members of our +pursuing party, who, in consequence, began to be low spirited, and less +eager than before to press forward when the trail was again found; but +a few words from Boone in a chiding manner, telling them that if they +faltered at every little obstacle, they would be unfit representatives +of border life, served to stimulate them to renewed exertions. To add to +the discomfort of all--not excepting Boone himself--the sun, which had +thus far shone out warm and brilliant, began to grow more and more dim, +as a thick haze spread through the atmosphere overhead, foretokening an +approaching storm--an event which might prove entirely disastrous to +their hopes, by obliterating all vestiges of the pursued. As the gallant +old hunter moved onward with rapid strides--preceded by the faithful +brute, which, on the regular trail, greatly facilitated their progress, +by saving the company a close scrutiny of their course--he from time to +time cast his eyes upward and noted the thickening atmosphere with an +anxious and troubled expression. + +For some time the sun shone faintly; then his rays became entirely +obscured, and his position could only be discerned by a bright spot in +the heavens; this, ere he reached the horizon, became obscured also; +when the old hunter, who had watched every sign closely, looking +anxiously toward the west, observed: + +"I don't like it, lads; thar's a storm a brewing for sartin, and we +shall be drenched afore to-morrow morning. Howsomever," he continued, +"it arn't the wetting as I cares any thing about--for I'm used to the +elements in all thar stages, and don't fear 'em no more'n a dandy does a +feather bed--but the trail will be lost, in arnest this time; and then +we'll have to give in, or follow on by guess work. It's this as troubles +me; for I'm fearful poor Ella and Reynolds won't get succor in time. But +keep stout hearts, lads," he added, as he noticed gloomy expressions +sweep over the faces of his followers; "keep stout hearts--don't get +melancholy; for in this here world we've got to take things as we find +'em; and no doubt this storm's all for the best, ef we could only see +ahead like into futurity." + +With this consoling reflection the hunter again quickened his pace, and +pressed forward until the shadows of evening warned him to seek out an +encampment for the gathering night. Accordingly, sweeping the adjoining +country with an experienced eye, his glance soon rested on a rocky +ridge, some quarter of a mile to the right, at whose base he judged +might be found a comfortable shelter from the coming rain. Communicating +his thoughts to his companions, all immediately quitted the trail and +advanced toward it, where they arrived in a few minutes, and found, to +their delight, that the experienced woodsman had not been wrong in his +conjectures. A cave of no mean dimensions was fortunately discovered, +after a short search among the rocks, into which all now gathered; and +striking a light, they made a small fire near the entrance; around which +they assembled and partook of the refreshments brought with them--Boone +declaring he had not tasted a morsel of food since leaving Boonsborough +early in the morning. The meal over, the young men disposed themselves +about the cave in the best manner possible for their own comfort: and +being greatly fatigued by their journey, and the revels of the night +previous, they very soon gave evidence of being in a sleep too deep for +dreams. Boone sat by the fire, apparently in deep contemplation, until +a few embers only remained; then pointing Caesar to his place near the +entrance, he threw himself at length upon the ground, and was soon +imitating the example of his young comrades. + +Early in the evening it came on to blow very hard from the east; and +about midnight set in to rain, as Boone had predicted; which it +continued to do the rest of the night; nor were there any signs of its +abatement, when the party arose to resume their journey on the following +morning. + +"What can't be cured must be endured," said Boone, quoting an old +proverb, as he gazed forth upon the storm. "We must take sech as comes, +lads, without grumbling; though I do'nt know's thar's any sin in wishing +it war a little more to our liking. Howsomever," he added, "prehaps it +won't be so much agin us arter all; for the red varmints mayhap 'll +think as how all traces of 'em have been washed away, and, feeling safe +from pursuit, be less cautious about their proceedings; and by keeping +on the same course, we may chance upon 'em unawares. So come, lads, +let's eat and be off." + +Accordingly, making a hasty breakfast, and securing the remainder of +their provision as well as ammunition in the ample bosoms of their +hunting frocks--which were always made large for such and similar +purposes--tightening the belts about their bodies, and placing their +rifles, locks downward, under the ample skirts of their frocks, to +shield them from the rain, the whole party sallied forth upon their +second day's adventure. Regaining the spot they had quitted the evening +before, Boone took a long look in the direction whence they first +approached; and then shaping his course so as to bear as near as +possible on a direct line with it, set forward at a quick pace, going a +very little west of due north. + +In this manner our pursuers continued their journey for some three or +four hours, scarcely exchanging a syllable--the storm beating fiercely +against their faces and drenching their bodies--when an incident +occurred of the most alarming kind. + +They had descended a hill, and were crossing an almost open plain of +some considerable extent--which was bounded on the right by a wood, and +on the left by a cane-brake--and had nearly gained its center, when they +were startled by a deep rumbling sound, resembling the mighty rushing of +a thousand horse. Nearer and nearer came the rushing sound; while each +one paused, and many a pale face was turned with an anxious, inquiring +glance upon Boone; whose own, though a shade paler than usual, was +composed in every feature, as he gazed, without speaking, in the +direction whence the noise proceeded. + +"Good heavens! what is it?" cried Henry, in alarm. + +"Behold!" answered Boone, pointing calmly toward the cane-brake. + +A cry of surprise, despair and horror, escaped every tongue but the old +hunter's--as, at that moment, a tremendous herd of buffaloes, numbering +thousands, was seen rushing from the brake, and bearing directly toward +the spot where our party stood. Escape by flight was impossible; for the +animals were scarcely four hundred yards distant, and booming forward +with the speed of the frightened wild horse of the prairie. Nothing was +apparent but speedy death, and in its most horrible form, that of dying +unknown beneath the hoofs of the wild beasts of the wilderness. In this +awful moment of suspense, which seemingly but preceded the disuniting of +soul and body, each of the young men turned a breathless look of horror +upon the old hunter, such as landsmen in a terrible gale at sea would +turn upon the commander of the vessel; but, save an almost imperceptible +quiver of the lips, not a muscle of the now stern countenance of Boone +changed. + +"Merciful Heaven!--we are lost!" cried Henry, wildly. "Oh! such a +death!" + +"Every man's got to die when his time comes--but none afore; and yourn +hasn't come yet, Master Harry," replied Boone, quietly; "unless," he +added, a moment after, as he raised his rifle to his eye, "Betsey here's +forgot her old tricks." + +As he spoke, his gun flashed, a report followed, and one of the foremost +of the herd, an old bull, which had gained a point within a hundred +yards of the marksman, stumbled forward and rolled over on the earth, +with a loud bellow of pain His companions, which were pressing close +behind, snorted with fear, as they successively came up; and turning +aside, on either hand, made a furrow in their ranks; that, gradually +widening as they advanced, finally cleared our friends by a space of +twenty yards; and so passed they on, making the very earth tremble under +their mighty trend.[8] + +It was a sublime sight--to behold such a tremendous caravan of wild +beasts rushing past--and one that filled each of the spectators, even +when they knew all danger was over, with a sense of trembling awe; and +they stood and gazed in silence, until the last of the herd was lost to +their vision; then advancing to the noble hunter, Henry silently grasped +his hard, weather-beaten hand, and turned away with tearful eyes--an +example that was followed by each of the others, and which was more +heart touchingly expressive of their feelings, than would have been a +vocabulary of appropriate words. + +Our party next proceeded to examine the wounded bull, which was still +bellowing with rage and pain; and having carefully approached and +despatched him with their knives, they found that the ball of Boone had +entered a vital part. Taking from him a few slices of meat, to serve +them in case their provisions ran short, they once more resumed their +journey--the wind still easterly and the storm raging. + +About three hours past noon the storm began to show signs of +abatement--the wind blew less hard, and had veered several points to the +north--an event which the old hunter noted with great satisfaction. They +had now gained a point within ten miles of the beautiful Ohio; when the +dog--which, since he had had no trail to guide him, ran where he +chose--commenced barking spiritedly, some fifty paces to the left of the +party, who immediately set off at a brisk gait to learn the cause. + +"I'll wager what you dare, lads, the pup's found the trail," said Boone. + +The event proved him in the right; for on coming up, the footsteps of +both captors and captives, who had evidently passed there not over three +hours before, could be distinctly traced in the soft earth. A shout--not +inferior in power and duration to that set up by crazy-headed +politicians, on the election of some favorite--was sent away to the +hills, announcing the joy of our party; which the hills, as if partakers +also of the hilarious feelings, in turn duly echoed. + +This new, important, and unexpected discovery, raised the spirits of all +our company to a high degree; and they again set forward at a faster +gait than ever, so as to overtake the pursued if possible before they +crossed the Ohio river. The trail was now broad and distinct; and the +footprints of the Indians, as also those of their captives, Algernon and +Ella, could be clearly defined wherever the ground chanced to be of a +clayey nature. In something like two hours our pursuers succeeded in +reaching the river; but unfortunately too late to intercept their +enemies and rescue their friends, who had already crossed sometime +before. By trailing them to the water's edge, they discovered the very +spot where the canoes of the savages had been secreted on the beach, +behind some drift-logs, nearly opposite the mouth of the Great Miami. + +"Ef we'd only been here a little sooner," observed Boone, musingly, +"we'd ha' saved some o' the varmints the trouble of paddling over thar; +or ef we only had the means o' crossing now, we'd be upon 'em afore they +war aware on't. Howsomever, as it is, I suppose we'll have to make a +raft to cross on, and so give the red heathen a little more time." + +"Is it not possible, Colonel," answered Millbanks, in a suggestive way, +"that the Indians, forming the two parties, may all be of the game +tribe, and have crossed here together, when they came over to make the +attack? and that the boats of the other division, unless they have +recrossed, may still be secreted not far hence?" + +"By the Power that made me!" exclaimed Boone, energetically; "a good +thought, lad--a good thought, Master Harry--and we'll act on't at once, +by sarching along the banks above here; for as the other varmints took +off to the east, it am't improbable they've just steered a little round +about, to come down on 'em, while these went right straight ahead." + +At once proceeding upon this suggestion, Boone and his companions +commenced a close examination along the shore; which finally resulted +in their finding, as had been premised, not the canoes themselves, but +traces of where they had recently been, together with the trail of the +other party, who had also arrived at this point and crossed over. +This caused no little sensation among our pursuers; who, scanning the +footprints eagerly, and perceiving thereby that the prisoners were +still along with their captors, scarcely knew whether most to grieve or +rejoice. One thing at least was cheering--they were still alive; and +could their friends, the present party, succeed in crossing the river +during the night, might be rescued. But where was Isaac and his band, +was the next important query. If, as they ardently hoped, he and his +comrades had not lost the trail, they might be expected to join them +soon--a reinforcement which would render them comparatively safe. + +Meantime the storm had wholly subsided--the wind blew strong and cold +from the northwest--a few broken, dripping clouds sailed slowly +onward--while the sun, a little above the horizon, again shone out clear +and bright, and painted a beautiful bow on the cloudy ground of the +eastern heavens. + +"Well, lads, the storm's over, thank God!" said Boone, glancing upward, +with an expression of satisfaction; "and now, as day-light'll be scarce +presently, we'll improve what there is, in constructing a raft to cross +over on; and maybe Isaac and the rest on 'em will join us in time to get +a ride." + +As the old hunter concluded, he at once applied himself to laying out +such drift logs as were thought suitable for the purpose, in which he +was assisted by three of the others, the remaining two proceeding into +the bushes to cut withes for binding them together; and so energetic and +diligent was each in his labors, that, ere twilight had deepened into +night, the rude vessel was made, launched, and ready to transport its +builders over the waters. They now resolved to take some refreshment, +and wait until night had fully set in, in the faint hope that Isaac +might possibly make his appearance. With this intent, our party retired +up the bank, into the edge of the wood that lined the shore, for the +purpose of kindling a fire, that they might dry their garments, and +roast some portions of the slaughtered bull. + +Scarcely had they succeeded, after several attempts, in effecting a +bright, ruddy blaze--which threw from their forms, dark, fantastic +shadows, against the earth, trees and neighboring bushes--when Caesar +uttered a low, deep growl; and Boone, grasping his rifle tightly, +motioned his companions to follow him in silence into an adjoining +thicket. Here, after cautioning them to remain perfectly quiet, unless +they heard some alarm, he carefully parted the bushes, and glided +noiselessly away, saying, in a low tone, as he departed: + +"I rather 'spect it's Isaac; but I'd like to be sartin on't, afore I +commit myself." + +For some five or ten minutes after the old hunter disappeared, all was +silent, save the crackling of the fire, the rustling of the leaves, the +sighing of the wind among the trees, and the rippling of the now swollen +and muddy waters of the Ohio. At length the sound of a voice was heard +some fifty paces distant, followed immediately by another in a louder +tone. + +On hearing this, our friends in the thicket rushed forward, and were +soon engaged in shaking the hands of Isaac and his comrades, with a +heartiness on both sides that showed the pleasure of meeting was +earnest, and unalloyed. + +As more important matters are now pressing hard upon us, and as our +space is limited, we shall omit the detail of Isaac's adventures, as +also the further proceedings of both parties for the present, and +substitute a brief summary. + +The trail on which Isaac and his party started the day before, being +broad and open, they had experienced but little difficulty in following +it, until about noon, when they reached a stream where it was broken, +which caused them some two hours delay. This, doubtless, prevented them +from overtaking the enemy that day; and the night succeeding, not having +found quarters as comfortable as Boone's, they had been thoroughly +soaked with rain. The trail in the morning was entirely obliterated; but +pursuing their course in a manner simitar to that adopted by Boone, the +result had happily been the same, and the meeting of the two parties the +consequence, at a moment most fortunate to both. + +All now gathered around the fire, to dry their garments, refresh +themselves with food, tell over to each other their adventures, and +consult as to their future course. It was finally agreed to cross the +stream that night; in the hope, by following up the Miami, to stumble +upon the encampment of their adversaries; who were, doubtless, at no +great distance; and who, as they judged, feeling themselves secure, +might easily be surprised to advantage. How they succeeded in their +perilous undertaking, coming events must show. + + +[Footnote 8: A similar occurrence to the above is recorded of Boone's +first appearance in the Western Wilds.--_See Boone's Life--By Flint_] + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE RENEGADE AND HIS PRISONERS. + + +The feelings in the breasts of Algernon and Ella, as they reluctantly +moved onward, captives to a savage, bloodthirsty foe, are impossible +to be described. To what awful end had fate destined them? and in what +place were they to drain the last bitter dregs of woe? How much anguish +of heart, how much racking of soul, and how much bodily suffering was +to be their portion, ere death, almost their only hope, would set them +free? True, they might be rescued by friends--such things had been +done--but the probability thereof was as ten to one against them; and +when they perceived the care with which the renegade sought to destroy +all vestiges of their course, their last gleam of hope became nearly +extinguished. + +We have previously stated that Ella was left unbound; but wherefore, +would perhaps be hard to conjecture; unless we suppose that the +renegade--feeling for her that selfish affection which pervades the +breasts of all beings, however base or criminal, to a greater or less +degree--fancied it would be adding unnecessary cruelty to bind heir +delicate hands. Whatever the cause, matters but little; but the fact +itself was of considerable importance to Ella; who took advantage of +her freedom, in passing the bushes before noticed, to snatch a leaf +unperceived, whereon, by great adroitness, she managed to trace with a +pin a few almost illegible characters; and also, in ascending the bank, +which she was allowed to do in her own way, to throw down with her foot +the stone, break the twig at the same instant, and pin the leaf to it, +in the faint hope that an old hunter might follow on the trail, who, +if he came to the spot, would hardly fail to notice it. + +The freedom thus given to Ella, and the deference shown her by the +renegade and his allies--who appeared to treat her with the same respect +they would have done the wife of their chief--were in striking contrast +with their manners toward Algernon, on whom they seemed disposed to vent +their scorn by petty insults. Believing that his doom was sealed, he +became apparently resigned to his fate, nor seemed to notice, save with +stoical indifference, any thing that took place around him. This quiet, +inoffensive manner, was far from pleasing to Girty, who would much +rather have seen him chafing under his bondage, and manifesting a desire +to escape its toil. But if this was the outward appearance, not so was +the inward feelings of our hero. He knew his fate--unless he could +effect an escape, of which he had little hope--and he nerved himself to +meet and seem to his captors careless of it; but his soul was already on +the rack of torture. This was not for himself alone; for Algernon was a +brave man, and in reality feared not death; though, like many another +brave man, be had no desire to die at his time of life, especially with +all the tortures of the stake, which he knew, from Girty's remark, would +be his assignment; but his soul was harrowed at the thought of Ella--her +awful doom--and what she might be called upon to undergo: perhaps a +punishment a thousand times worse than death--that of being the +pretended wife, but in reality the mistress, of the loathsome renegade. +This thought to him was torture--almost madness--and it was only by the +most powerful struggle with himself, that he could avoid exposing his +feelings. + +For a time, after ascending the rocky bank of the stream and gaining the +hill, the renegade and his Indian allies, with their captives, moved +silently onward at a fast pace; but at length, slackening his speed +somewhat, Girty approached the side of Algernon, who was bound in a +manner similar to Younker, with his wrists corded to a cross bar behind +his back; and apparently examining them a moment or two, in a sneering +tone, said: + +"How-comes it that the bully fighter of the British, under the cowardly +General Gates, should be so tightly bound, away out in this Indian +country, and a captive to a _renegade_ agent?--ha, ha, ha!" + +The pale features of Algernon, as he heard this taunt, grew suddenly +crimson, and then more deadly white than ever--his fingers fairly worked +in their cords, and his respiration seemed almost to stifle him--so +powerfully were his passions wrought upon by the cowardly insults of his +adversary; but at last all became calm and stoical again; when turning +to Girty, he coolly examined him from head to heel, from heel to head; +and then moving away his eyes, as if the sight were offensive to him, +quietly said: + +"An honest man would be degraded by condescending to hold discourse with +so mean a _thing_ as Simon Girty the renegade." + +At these words Girty started, as if bit by a serpent--the aspect of his +dark sinister features changed to one concentrated expression of hellish +rage--his eyes seemed to turn red--his lips quivered--the nostrils of +his flat ugly nose distended--froth issued from his mouth--while his +fingers worked convulsively at the handle of his tomahawk, and his whole +frame trembled like a tree shaken by a whirlwind. For some time he +essayed to speak, in vain; but at last he hissed forth, as he whirled +the tomahawk aloft: + +"Die!--dog!--die!" + +Ella uttered a piercing shriek of fear, and sprung forward to arrest the +blow; but ere she could have reached the renegade; the axe would have +been buried to the helve in the brain of Algernon, had not a tall, +powerful Indian suddenly interposed his rifle between it and the victim. + +"Is the great chief a child, or in his dotage," he said to Girty, in the +Shawanoe dialect, "that he lets passion run away with his reason? Is not +the Big Knife already doomed to the tortures? And would the white chief +give him the death of a warrior?" + +"No, by ----!" cried Girty, with an oath. "He shall have a dog's death! +Right! Mugwaha--right! I thank you for your interference--I was beside +myself. The stake--the torture--the stake--ha, ha, ha!" added he in +English, with a hoarse laugh, which his recent passion made sound +fiend-like and unearthly; and as he concluded, he smote Algernon on the +cheek with the palm of his hand. + +The latter winced somewhat, but mastered his feelings and made no reply; +and the renegade resuming his former pace, the party again proceeded in +silence. + +Toward night, Ella became so fatigued and exhausted by the long day's +march, that it was with the greatest difficulty she could move forward +at all; and Girty, taking some compassion on her, ordered the party to +halt, until a rough kind of litter could be prepared; on which being +seated, she was borne forward by four of the Indians. At dark they +halted at the base of a hill, where they encamped and found a partial +shelter from the wind and rain. At daylight they again resumed their +journey; and by four o'clock in the afternoon arrived at the river, +which they immediately crossed in their canoes; and, as the water was +found in a good stage, did not land until they reached the first bend +of the Miami--the place agreed on for the meeting between Girty and +Wild-cat. + +As the latter chief and his party had not yet made their appearance, +Girty and his band went ashore with their prisoners, and took shelter +under one of the largest trees in the vicinity, to await their coming. +Of this expected meeting, the captives as yet knew nothing; and it was +of course not without considerable surprise, mingled with a saddened +joy, that they observed the approach, some half an hour later, of their +friends and enemies. + +Ella, on first perceiving their canoes silently advancing up the stream, +started up with a cry of joy, which was the next moment saddened by the +thought that she was only welcoming her relatives to a miserable doom. +Still it was a joy to know they were yet alive; and as the sinking heart +is ever buoyed up with hope, until completely engulfed in the dark +billows of despair--so she could not, or would not, altogether banish +the animating feeling, that something might yet interfere to save them +all from destruction. As the canoes touched the shore, Ella sprung +forward to greet her adopted mother and father; but her course was +suddenly checked by one of the Indian warriors, who, grasping her +somewhat roughly by the arm, with a gutteral grunt and fierce gesture of +displeasure, pointed her back to her former place. Ella, downcast and +frightened, tremblingly retraced her steps, and could only observe the +pale faces and fatigued looks of her relatives and the little girl at a +distance; but she saw enough to send a thrill of anguish to her heart; +and Girty, who perceived the expressions of agony her sweet features now +displayed, at once advanced to her, and, modulating his voice somewhat +from its usual tones, said: + +"Grieve not, Ella. I will endeavor to procure you an interview with your +friends." + +The kindness manifested in the tones of the speaker, caused Ella to look +up with a start of surprise and hope; and thinking he might perhaps be +moved to mercy, by a direct appeal to his better feelings, she replied, +energetically, with a flush on her now animated countenance: + +"Oh, sir! I perceive you are not lost to all feelings of humanity." Here +the compression of Girty's lips, and a knitting together of his shaggy +brows, warned Ella she was treading on dangerous ground, and she quickly +added: "All of us are liable to err; and there may be circumstances, +unknown to others, that force us to be, or seem to be, that which in our +hearts we are not; and to do acts which our calm moments of reason tell +us are wrong, and which we afterwards sincerely regret." + +"I know not that I understand you," said the renegade, evasively. + +"To be more explicit, then," rejoined Ella, "I trust that you, Simon +Girty, whose acts hitherto have been such as to draw down reproaches +and even curses upon your head, from many of your own race, may now be +induced, by the prayer of her before you, to do an act of justice and +generosity." + +"Speak out your desire!" returned Girty, as Ella, evidently fearful of +broaching the subject too suddenly, paused, in order to observe the +effect of what had already been said. "Speak out briefly, girl; for +yonder stands Wild-cat awaiting me." + +"Oh, then, let me implore you to listen, and God grant your heart may +be touched by my words!" rejoined Ella, eagerly, as she fancied she +saw something of relentment in his stern features. "Look yonder! Behold +that poor old man!--whose head is already sprinkled with the silvery +threads of over fifty winters--beside whom stands the companion of +his sorrows--both of whose lives have been spent in quiet, honest +pursuits--whose doors have ever stood open--whose board has ever been +free to the needy wayfarer. You yourself have been a partaker of their +hospitality, in their own home--which, alas! I have since learned is +in ashes--and can testify to their liberality and kindness. Is this +a proper return therefor, think you?" + +"But did not he, yon gray-headed man, then and there curse me to my +face?" returned the renegade, fiercely, in whose eye could be seen the +cold, sullen gleam of deadly hate; "and shall I, the outcast of my +race--I, whose deeds have made the boldest tremble--I, whose name is a +by-word for curses--now spare him, that has defied and called down God's +maledictions on me?" + +"Oh, yes! yes!" cried Ella, energetically. "Convince him, by your acts +of generosity, that you are not deserving of his censure, and he, I +assure you, will be eager to do you justice. Oh, return good for evil, +where evil has been done you, and God's blessing, instead of His curse, +will be yours!" + +"It may be the _Christian's_ creed to return good for evil," answered +Girty, with a strong emphasis on the word Christian, accompanied with a +sneer; "but by ----! such belongs not to me, nor to those I mate with! +Hark you, Ella Barnwell! I could be induced to do much for you--for I +possess for you a passion stronger than I have ever before felt for any +human being--but were I ever so much disposed to grant your request, it +is now beyond my power." + +"As how?" asked Ella, quickly. + +"Listen! I will tell you briefly. When first I saw, I felt I loved you, +and from that moment resolved you should be mine. Nay, do not shudder +so, and turn away, and look so pale--a worse fate than being the wife +of a British agent might have been apportioned you. To win you by fair +words, I knew at once was out of the question--for one glance showed me +my rival. Besides, I was not handsome, I knew--had not an oily tongue, +and did not like the plan of venturing too much among those who have +good reasons for fearing and hating me--therefore I resolved on your +capture. I had already meditated an attack on some of the settlers in +the vicinity, and I resolved that both should be accomplished at one +time. The result you know. Younker and his wife became my prisoners. +This was done for two purposes. First, to revenge me for the insults +heaped upon Simon Girty. Secondly, to spare their lives; for had it not +been for my positive injunctions, they would have shared the fate of +their neighbors. My design, I say, was to spare their lives and send +them back, whenever it could be done with safety, provided they showed +any signs of contrition. Did they? No! they again upbraided me to my +face. I was again cursed. My blood is hot--my nature revengeful. That +moment sealed their doom. I gave them up to Peshewa. They are no longer +my prisoners. For their lives you must plead with him. I can do nothing. +Have you more to ask?" + +Girty, toward the last, spoke rapidly, in short sentences, as one to +whom the conversation was disagreeable; and Ella listened breathlessly, +with a pale cheek and trembling form; for she saw, alas! there was +nothing favorable to be gained. As he concluded, she suddenly started, +clasped her hands together, and looked up into his stern countenance, +with a wild, thrilling expression, saying, in a trembling voice: + +"You have said you love me!" + +"I repeat it." + +"Then, for Heaven's sake! as you are a human being, and hope for peace +in this world and salvation in the next--restore me--restore us all to +our homes--and to my dying day will I bless and pray for you." + +"Umph!" returned the renegade, drily; "I had much rather _hear_ your +sweet voice, though in anger, than to merely _think_ you may be praying +for me at a distance. But I see Wild-cat is getting impatient;" and +as he concluded, he turned abruptly on his heel, and advanced to +Peshewa--who was now standing with his warriors and prisoners on the +bank of the stream, some fifty paces distant, awaiting a consultation +with him--while Ella hid her face in her hands and wept convulsively. + +"Welcome, Peshewa!" said Girty, as he approached the chief. "You and +your band are here safe, I perceive; and by ----! you have timed it well, +too, for we have only headed you by half an hour." + +"Ugh!" grunted Wild-cat, with that look and gutteral sound peculiar to +the Indian. "Kitchokema has learned Peshewa is here!" + +"Come! come!" answered the renegade, in a somewhat nettled manner; "no +insinuations! I saw Peshewa when he arrived." + +"But could not leave the Big Knife squaw to greet him," added the +Indian. + +"Why, I am not particularly fond of being hurried in my affairs, you +know." + +"But there may be that which will not leave Kitchokema slow to act, in +safety," rejoined Wild-cat, significantly. + +"How, chief! what mean you?" asked Girty, quickly. + +"The Shemanoes--"[9] + +"Well?" said Girty. + +"Are on the trail," concluded Wild-cat, briefly. + +"Ha!" exclaimed the renegade, with a start, involuntarily placing his +hand upon the breech of a pistol in his girdle. "But are you sure, +Peshewa?" + +"Peshewa speaks only what he knows," returned the chief, quietly. + +"Speak out, then--_how_ do you know?" rejoined Girty, in an excited +tone. + +"Peshewa a chief," answered the Indian, in that somewhat obscure and +metaphorical manner peculiar to his race. "He sleeps not soundly on the +war-path. He shuts not his eyes when he enters the den of the wolf. He +_saw_ the camp-fires of the pale-face." + +Such had been the fact. Knowing that his trail was left broad and open, +and that in all probability it would soon be followed, Wild-cat had +been diligently on the watch and as his course had been shaped in a +roundabout, rather than opposite direction (as the reader might at first +glance have supposed) from that taken by Boone, he and his band, by +reason of this, had encamped, on the night in question, not haif a +mile distant from our old hunter, but on the other side of the ridge. +Ascending this himself, to note if any signs of an enemy were visible, +Peshewa had discovered the light of Boone's fire, and traced it to its +source. Without venturing near enough to expose himself, the wily savage +had, nevertheless, gone sufficiently close to ascertain they were the +foes of his race. His first idea had been to return, collect a part of +his warriors, and attack them; but prudence had soon got the better of +his valor; from the fact, as he reasoned, that his band were now in the +enemy's country, where their late depredations had already aroused the +inhabitants to vengeance; and he neither knew the force of Boone's +party--for the reader will remember they were concealed in a cave--nor +what other of his foes might be in the vicinity;--besides which, his +purpose had been accomplished, and he was now on the return with his +prisoners;--the whole of which considerations, had decided him to leave +them unmolested, and ere daylight resume his journey; so that, even +should they accidentally come upon his trail, he would be far enough in +advance to reach and cross the river before them. Such was the substance +of what Wild-cat, in his own peculiar way, now made known to Girty; and +having inquired out the location distinctly, the latter exclaimed: + +"By heavens! I remember leaving that ridge away to the right, which +proves that the white dogs must have been on my trail. I took pains +enough to conceal it before that night; but if they got the better of +me, I don't think they did of the rain that fell afterwards--so that +they have doubtless found themselves on a fool's errand, long ere this, +and given up the search. Besides, should they reach the river's bank, +they have no means of crossing, and therefore we are safe." + +Wild-cat seemed to muse on the remarks of Girty, for a moment or two, +and then said: + +"Why did Mishemenetoc[10] give the chief cunning, but that he might use +it against his foes?--why caution, but that he might avoid danger?" + +"Why that, of course, is all well enough at times," answered Girty; "but +I don't think either particular cunning or caution need be exercised +now--from the fact that I don't believe there is any danger. Even should +the enemies you saw be fool-hardy enough to follow us, they are not many +in number probably, and will only serve to add a few more scalps to our +girdles. However, we are safe for to-night, at all events; for if they +reach the river, as I said before, they won't be able to cross, unless +they make a raft or swim it; and you may rest assured, Peshewa, they +will sleep on the other side, if for nothing else than their own +safety." + +"What, therefore, does my brother propose?" asked Wild-cat. + +"Why, I am for encamping, as soon as we can find a suitable spot--say +within a mile of here--for by ----! I am not only hungry but cold, and my +very bones ache, from traveling in this untimely storm, which I perceive +is on the point of clearing up." + +"Peshewa likes not sleeping with danger so near," replied the savage. + +"Well, I'm not _afraid_," rejoined Girty, laying particular stress on +the latter word; "and so suppose you take the prisoners, with a part of +the band, and go forward, while myself and the balance remain behind to +reconnoitre in the morning; for by ----! that will be time enough to look +for the lazy white dogs. Yet stay!" he added, a moment after, as if +struck by a new thought. "Suppose you take the two Big Knives, and leave +the squaws with me--for being very tired, they will only be a drag upon +your party--and then you can have the stakes ready for the others, if +you get in first, so that we can have the music of their groans to make +us merry on our second meeting." + +To this latter proposition, the chief gave a grunt of assent, and the +whole matter being speedily arranged, the council ended. + +The conversation between these two worthies having been carried on in +the Indian dialect, was of course wholly unintelligible to Mrs. Younker +and her husband, who were standing near; and trying in vain, for some +time, to gain a clue to the discussion, the good lady at last gave +evidence, that if her body and limbs were weary, her tongue was not; +and that with all the warnings she had received, her old habits of +volubility had not as yet been entirely superseded by thoughtful +silence. + +"I do wonder what on yarth," she said, "that thar read-headed Simon +Girty, and that thar ripscallious old varmint, as calls himself a chief, +be coniving at?--and why the pesky Injens don't let me and Ella and the +rest on 'em come together agin, as we did afore? Thar she stands--the +darling--as pale nor a lily, and crying like all nater, jest as if +her little heart war a going to break and done with it. I 'spect the +varmints is hatching some orful plans to put us out o' the way--prehaps +to hitch us to the stake and burn us all to cinder, like they did our +housen, and them things. Well, Heaven's will be done!--as Preacher +Allprayer said, when they turned him out o' meeting for gitting drunk +and swearing--the dear good man!--but I do wish, for gracious sake, I +could only jest change places with 'em--ef jest for five minutes--and +I reckon as how they'd be glad to quit their gibberish, and talk like +Christian folks, once in thar sneaking lives! Thar, they're done now, +I do hope to all marcy's sake! and I reckons as how we'll soon have the +gist on't." + +The foregoing remarks of Mrs. Younker, were made in a low tone, +and evidently not intended, like Dickens' Notes, for general +circulation--the nearly fatal termination of a former speech of hers, +having taught her to be a little cautious in the camp of the enemy. +The conclusion was succeeded by a stare of surprise, on being civilly +informed by Girty, that she was now at liberty to join Ella as soon as +she pleased. + +"Well, now, that's something like," returned the dame, with a smile that +was intended to be a complimentary one; "and shows, jest as clear as any +thing, that thar is a few streaks o' human nater in you arter all." + +Then, as if fearful the permission would be countermanded, the good +lady at once set off in haste to join her adopted daughter. Subsequent +events, however, soon changed the favorable opinion Mrs. Younker had +began to entertain of Girty--particularly when she discovered, as she +imagined, that the liberty allowed her, had only been as a ruse to +withdraw her from her husband--who, as she departed, had been +immediately hurried away, without so much as a parting farewell. + +Orders now being rapidly given by Girty and Wild-cat, were quickly and +silently executed by their swarthy subordinates; and in a few minutes, +the latter chief was on his way, with four warriors, the two male +prisoners, and the little girl--Oshasqua, to whom the latter had been +consigned by Girty, as the reader will remember, and who still continued +to accompany Wild-cat, refusing to leave her behind. + +When informed by Girty, in an authoritative tone, that he must join the +detachment of Wild-cat, Algernon turned toward Ella, and in a trembling +voice said: + +"Farewell, dear Ella! If God wills that we never meet again on earth, +let us hope we may in the Land of Spirits;" and ere she, overcome by her +emotion, had power to reply, he had passed on beyond the reach of her +silvery voice. + +Immediately on the departure of Peshewa, Girty ordered the canoes to be +drawn ashore and concealed in a thicket near by, where they would be +ready in case they should be wanted for another expedition; and then +leading the way himself, the party proceeded slowly up the Miami, for +about a mile, and encamped for the night, within a hundred yards of the +river. + + +[Footnote 9: Americans, or Big Knives. We would remark here, that we +have made use altogether of the Shawanoe dialect; that being most common +among all the Ohio tribes, save the Wyandots or Hurons, who spoke an +entirely different language.] + +[Footnote 10: Great Spirit.] + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE ENCAMPMENT OF THE RENEGADE. + + +It was about ten o'clock on the evening in question, and Simon Girty was +seated by a fire, around which lay stretched at full length some six or +eight dark Indian forms, and near him, on the right, two of another sex +and race. He was evidently in some deep contemplation; for his hat and +rifle were lying by his side, his hands were locked just below his +knees, as if for the purpose of balancing his body in an easy position, +and his eyes fixed intently on the flame, that, waving to and fro in +the wind, threw over his ugly features a ruddy, flickering light, and +extended his shadow to the size and shape of some frightful monster. +The clouds of the late storm had entirely passed away, and through the +checkered openings in the trees overhead could be discerned a few bright +stars, which seemed to sparkle with uncommon brilliancy, owing to the +clearness of the atmosphere. All beyond the immediate circle lighted by +the fire, appeared dark and silent, save the solemn, almost mournful, +sighing of the wind, as it swept among the tree-tops and through the +branches of the surrounding mighty forest. + +What the meditations of the renegade were, we shall not essay to tell; +but doubtless they were of a gloomy nature; for after sitting in the +position we have described, some moments, without moving, he suddenly +started, unclasped his hands, and looked hurriedly around him on every +side, as if half expecting, yet fearful of beholding, some frightful +phantom; but he apparently saw nothing to confirm his fears; and with +a heavy sigh, he resumed his former position. + +What were the thoughts of that dark man, as he sat there?--he whose soul +had been steeped in crime!--he whose hands had long been made red with +the blood of numberless innocent victims! Who shall say what guilty +deeds of the past might have been harrowing up his soul to fear and even +remorse? Who shall say he was not then and there meditating upon death, +and the dread eternity and judgment that must quickly follow +dissolution? Who shall say he was not secretly repenting of that life of +crime, which had already drawn down the curses of thousands upon his +head? Something of the kind, or something equally powerful, must have +been at work within him; for his features ever and anon, by their +mournful contortions--if we may be allowed the phrase--gave visible +tokens of one in deep agony of mind. It would be no pleasant task to +analyze and lay bare the secret workings of so dark a spirit, even had +we power to do it; and so we will leave his thoughts, whether good or +evil, to himself and his God. + +By his side, and within two feet of the renegade, lay extended the +beautiful form of Ella Barnwell--with nothing but a blanket and her own +garments between her and the earth--with none but a similar covering +over her--with her head resting upon a stone, and apparently asleep. We +say apparently asleep; but the drowsy son of Erebus and Nox had not yet +closed her eyelids in slumber; for there were thoughts in her breast +more potent than all his persuasive arts of forgetfulness, or those +of his prime minister, Morpheus. Was she thinking of her own hard +fate--away there in that lonely forest--with not a friend nigh that +could render her assistance--with no hope of escape from the awful doom +to which she was hastening? Or was she thinking of him, for whom her +heart yearned with all the thousand, undefined, indescribable sympathies +of affection?--of him who so lately had been her companion?--for +the heart of love measures duration, not by the cold mathematical +calculation of minutes and hours, and days and weeks, and months and +years, but by events and feelings; and the acquaintance of weeks may +seem the friend of years, and the acquaintance of years be almost +forgotten in weeks;--was she thinking of him, we say--of Algernon? who, +even in misery, had been torn from her side, had said perchance his last +trembling farewell, and gone to suffer a death at which humanity must +shudder! Ay, all these thoughts, and a thousand others, were rushing +wildly through her feverish brain. She thought of her own fate--of +his--of her relations--pictured out in her imagination the terrible doom +of each--and her tender heart became wrung to the most excruciating +point of agony. + +By the side of Ella, was her adopted mother--buried in that troubled +sleep which great fatigue sends to the body, even when the mind is +ill at ease, filling it with startling visions--and around the fire, +as we said before, lay the dusky forms of the savages, lost to all +consciousness of the outer world. The position of Ella was such, that, +by slightly turning her head, she could command a view of the features +of the renegade; whose strange workings, as before noted, served to fix +her attention and divide her thoughts between him, as the cause of her +present unhappiness, and that unhappiness itself--and she gazed on his +loathsome, contorted countenance, with much the same feeling as one +might be supposed to gaze upon a serpent coiling itself around the +body, whose deadly fangs, either sooner or later, would assuredly give +the fatal stroke of death. She noted the sudden start of Girty, and the +wildness with which he peered around him, with feelings of hope and +fear--hope, that rescue might be at hand--fear, lest something more +dreadful was about to happen. At length Girty started again, and turned +his head toward Ella so suddenly, that she had not time to withdraw her +eyes ere his were fixed searchingly upon them. + +"And are you too awake?" he said, with something resembling a sigh. +"I thought the innocent could ever sleep!" + +"Not when the guilty are abroad, with deeds of death, and friends +exposed," returned Ella, bitterly. + +"Ah! true--true!" rejoined Girty, again looking toward the fire, in a +musing mood. + +"Well may you muse and writhe under the tortures of your guilty acts," +continued Ella, in the same bitter tone; "for you have much to answer +for, Simon Girty." + +"And who told you the past tortured me?" cried Girty, quickly, turning +on her a fierce expression. + +"Your changing features and guilty starts," answered Ella. + +"Ha! then you have been a spy upon me, have you?" said Girty, pressing +the words slowly through his clenched teeth, knitting his shaggy brows, +and fixing his eye with intensity upon hers, until she quailed and +trembled beneath its seeming fiery glance; which the light, whereby it +was seen, rendered more demon-like than usual; while it made shadow +chase shadow, like waves of the sea, across his face: "You have been +a spy upon my actions, eh? Beware! Ella Barnwell--beware! Do not +put your head in the lion's mouth too often, or he may think the bait +troublesome; and by ----! had other than you told me what I just now +heard, he or she had not lived to repeat it." + +"Far better an early death and innocence, than a long life of guilt and +misery," returned Ella, at once regaining her boldness of speech; "Far +better the fate you speak of, than mine." + +"And would you prefer being wedded to death, rather than me?" asked +Girty, quickly, in surprise. + +"Ay, a thousand times!" replied Ella, energetically, rising as she +spoke, into a sitting posture, and looking fearlessly upon the renegade, +her previously pale features now flushed with excitement. "I fear not +death, Simon Girty; I have done no act that should make me fear the +change that all must sooner or later undergo; but I could not join my +hand to that of a man of blood, without loathing and horror, and feeling +criminal in the sight of God and man; and least of all to you, Simon +Girty, whose name has become a word of terror to the weak and innocent +of my race, and whose deeds of late have been such as to make me join my +voice in the general maledictions called down upon you." + +During this speech of Ella, Girty sat and gazed upon her with the look +of a baffled demon; and, as she concluded, fairly hissed through his +teeth: + +"And so you would prefer death to me, eh? By ----! you shall have your +choice!" + +As he spoke, he grasped Ella by the wrist with one hand, seized his +tomahawk with the other, and sprung upon his feet. His rapid movement +and wild manner now really frightened her; and uttering a faint cry of +horror, she endeavored to release his hold; while the warriors, aroused +by the noise, bounded up from the earth, weapon in hand, with looks of +alarm. + +Turning to them, Girty now spoke a few words in the Indian tongue; and, +with significant glances at Ella, they were just in the act of again +encamping, when crack went some five or six rifles, followed by yells +little less savage than their own, and four of them rolled upon the +earth, groaning with pain; while the others, surprised and bewildered, +grasped their weapons and shouted: + +"The Shemanoes!" "The Long Knives!" not knowing whether to stand or fly. + +Girty, meantime, had been left unharmed; although the shivering of the +helve of the tomahawk in his hand, in front of his breast, showed him +he had been a target for no mean marksman, and that his life had been +preserved almost by a miracle. For a moment he stood irresolute--his +nostrils fairly dilated with fear and rage, still holding Ella by +the wrist, who was too paralyzed with what she had seen to speak or +move--straining his eyes in every direction to note, if possible, the +number of his foes and whence their approach. The whole glance was +momentary; but he saw himself nearly surrounded by his enemies, who +were fast closing in toward the center with fierce yells; and pausing +no longer in indecision, he encircled Ella's waist with his left arm, +raised her from the ground, and keeping her as much as possible between +himself and his enemies, to deter them from firing, darted away toward +a thicket, some fifty yards distant, pursued by two of the attacking +party. + +Just as Girty gained the thicket, one of his pursuers made a sudden +bound forward and grasped him by the arm; but his hold was the next +moment shaken off by the renegade, who, being now rendered desperate, +drew a pistol from his belt, with the rapidity of lightning, and laid +the bold adventurer dead at his feet. Almost at the same moment, Girty +received a blow on the back of his head, from the breech of the rifle of +his other antagonist, that staggered him forward; when, releasing his +hold of Ella, he turned and darted off in another direction, firing a +pistol as he went, the ball of which whizzed close to the head of him +for whom it was designed; and in a moment more he was lost in the mazes +of the forest. + +Meantime the bloody work was going forward in the center; for at the +moment when Girty darted away, the report of some three or four rifles +again echoed through the wood, two more of the red warriors bit the +dust, while the other two fled in opposite directions, leaving Boone and +his party sole masters of the field. + +Eager, excited, reckless and wild, several of the young men now rushed +forward, with yells of triumph, to the wounded Indians, whom they +immediately tomahawked without mercy, and began to scalp, when the voice +of Boone, who had been more cautious, reached them from a distance: + +"Beware o' the fire-light, lads! or the red varmints will draw a +bead[11] on some of ye." + +Scarcely were the words uttered, ere his warning was sadly fulfilled; +for the two savages finding they were not pursued, and thirsting for +revenge, turned and fired almost simultaneously, with aims so deadly, +that one of the young men, by the name of Beecher, fell mortally wounded +and expired a moment after; and another, by the name of Morris, had his +wrist shattered by a ball. This fatal event produced a panic in the +others, who at once fled precipitately into the darkness, leaving Mrs. +Younker, who had by this time gained her feet, standing alone by the +fire, a bewildered spectator of the terrible tragedies that had so +lately been enacted by her side. To her Boone now immediately advanced, +notwithstanding the caution he had given the others; and turning to him +as he came up, the good lady exclaimed, in a tone of astonishment: + +"Why, Colonel Boone, be this here you? Why when did you come--and how +on yarth did ye git here--and what in the name o' all creation has been +happening? For ye see I war jest dosing away thar by the fire, and +dreaming all sorts of things, like all nater, when somehow I kind o' +thought I'd all at once turned into a man and gone to war a rale +soldier; and the battle had opened, and the big guns war blazing away, +and the little guns war popping off, and the soldiers war shrieking and +groaning and falling around me, like all possessed; and men a trampling, +and horses a running like skeered deer; and then I sort o' woke up, and +jumped up, and seed all them dead Injen wretches; and then I jest begun +to think as how it warn't no dream at all, but a living truth, all 'cept +my being a man and a soldier, as you com'd up. Well, ef this arn't a +queer world," resumed the good dame, catching breath meanwhile, "as +Preacher Allprayer used to say, then maybe as how I don't know nothing +at all about it." + +"Your dream war a very nateral one, Mrs. Younker," returned Boone, +who, during the speech of the other, had been actively employed in +scattering the burning brands, to prevent the recurrence of another sad +catastrophe; "and I'm rejoiced to see that you've escaped unharmed, amid +this bloody work. Allow me to set you free;" and as he spoke, he drew his +scalping knife, and severed the thongs that bound her wrists. + +"Gracious on me!" cried the dame, chafing the parts which had been +swollen by the tightness of the cords; "how clever 'tis to get free +agin, and have the use o' one's hands and tongue, to do and say jest +what a body pleases; for d'ye know, Colonel Boone, them thar imps of +Satan war awfully afeared o' my talking to 'em, to convince 'em they +war the meanest varmints in the whole univarsul yarth o' creation; +and actually put a peremshus stop to my saying what I thought on 'em; +although I told 'em as how it war a liberty as these blessed colonies +war this moment fighting for with the hateful red-coated Britishers. +But, Lord presarve us! gracious on us! where in marcy's sake is my dear, +darling Ella?" concluded Mrs. Younker, with vehemence and alarm, as she +now missed her adopted daughter for the first time. + +"She's here, mother," answered a voice close behind her; and turning +round, the dame uttered a cry of joy, sprung into the arms of her son +Isaac, and wept upon his neck--occasionally articulating, in a choked +voice: + +"God bless you, Isaac! God bless you, son!--you're a good boy--the +Lord's presarved you through the whole on't--the Lord be praised!--but +your father, poor lad--your father!" and with a strong burst of emotion, +she buried her face upon his breast, and wept aloud. + +"I know it," sobbed forth Isaac, his whole frame shaken with the force +of his feelings: "I--I know the whole on't, mother--Ella's told me. I'd +rather he'd bin killed a thousand times; but thar's no help for it now!" + +"No help for it!" cried Ella in alarm, who, having greeted the old +hunter, with tearful eyes, now stood weeping by his side. "No help for +it! Heaven have mercy!--say not so! They must--they must be rescued!" +Then turning wildly to Boone, she grasped his hand in both of hers, and +exclaimed: "Oh! sir, speak! tell me they can be saved--and on my knees +will I bless you!" + +A few words now rapidly uttered by Isaac, put the old hunter in +possession of the facts, concerning the forced march of Younker and +Reynolds, of which he had previously heard nothing; and musing on the +information a few moments, he shook his head sadly, and said, with a +sigh: + +"I'm sorry for you, Ella--I'm sorry for all o' ye--I'm sorry on my own +account--but I'm o' the opinion o' Isaac, that thar's no help for it +now. They're too far beyond us--we're in the Indian country--our numbers +are few--two or three o' the red varmints have escaped to give 'em +information o' what's been done--they'll be thirsty for revenge--and +nothing but a special Providence can now alter that prisoners' doom. I +had hoped it war to be otherwise; but we must submit to God's decrees;" +and raising his hand to his eyes, the old woodsman hastily brushed away +a tear, and turned aside to conceal his emotion; while Ella, overcome by +her feelings, at the thought of having parted, perhaps for the last +time, from Algernon and her uncle, staggered forward and sunk powerless +into the arms of Mrs. Younker, whose tears now mingled with her own. + +By this time the whole party had gathered silently around their noble +leader, and were observing the sad scene as much as the feeble light of +the scattered brands would permit, their faces exhibiting a mournfulness +of expression in striking contrast to that they had so lately displayed, +previous to the death of their comrade. To them Boone now turned, and +running his eye slowly over the whole, said, in a sad voice: + +"Well, lads, one o' our party's gone to his last account, I perceive," +and he pointed mournfully to the still body of Beecher, some three or +four paces distant; "another I see is wounded, and a third's missing. +I hope no harm's befallen him, the noble Master Harry Millbanks!" + +"Alas! he's dead, Colonel!" answered Isaac, covering his eyes with his +hand. + +"Dead?" echoed Boone. + +"Dead?" cried the others, simultaneously. + +"Yes," rejoined Isaac, with a sigh; "He and I war chasing that thar +infernal renegade Girty, who war running away with Ella thar; and he'd +jest got up to him, and got him by the arm, when Girty shuk him off like +it warn't nothing at all, and then shot him dead on the spot. Ef he +hadn't a bin quite so quick about it, I think as how it wouldn't a +happened; for the next moment I hit him a rap on the head with the +butt-end o' my rifle, that sent him a staggering off, and would ha' +fetched him to the ground, ef it hadn't first struck a limb. Howsomever, +it made him let go o' Ella, and start up a new trail--jest leaving his +compliments for me in the shape of a bullet, which, ef it didn't do me +no harm, it warn't 'cause he didn't intend it to. I jest stopped to look +at poor Harry; and finding he war dead, I took Ella by the hand and come +straight down here." + +"Who's that you said war dead, Isaac?" inquired his mother, who had +partially overheard the conversation. + +"Harry Millbanks, mother." + +"Harry Millbanks!" repeated the dame in astonishment. "What, young +Harry?--our Harry?--Goodness gracious, marcy on me! what orful mean +wretches them Injens is, to kill sech as him. Dear me! then the hull +family is gone; for I hearn from Rosetta, that her father and mother and +all war killed afore her eyes; and now she's bin taken on to be killed +too, the darling." + +"Ha! yes," said Boone, as if struck with a new thought; "I remember +seeing the foot-prints of a child--war they made by this unfortunate +young man's sister?" + +"I reckon as how they war," answered Mrs. Younker; "for the poor thing +war a prisoner along with us, crying whensomever she dared to, like all +nater." + +"Well," rejoined the old hunter, musingly, "we've done all we could--I'm +sorry it didn't turn out better--but we must now leave their fates in +the hands o' Providence, and return to our homes. We must bury our dead +first; and I don't know o' any better way than to sink thar bodies in +the Ohio." + +Accordingly, after some further conversation, four of the party +proceeded for the body of Millbanks--with which they soon +returned--while Boone conducted the ladies away from the scene of +horror, and down to where Ella informed him the canoes were hidden, +leaving his younger companions to rifle and scalp the savages if they +chose. In a few minutes from his arrival at the point in question, he +was joined by the others, who came slowly, in silence, bearing the +mortal remains of Millbanks and Beecher. Placing the canoes in the +water, the whole party entered them, in the same silent and solemn +manner, and pulled slowly down the Miami, into the middle of the Ohio; +then leaving the vessels to float with the current, they uncovered their +heads, and mournfully consigned the bodies of the deceased to the watery +element. + +It was a sad and impressive scene--there, on the turbid Ohio, near the +midnight hour--to give to the rolling waters the last remains of those +who had been their friends and companions, and as full of life and +activity as themselves but an hour before;--it was a sad, impressive, +and affecting scene--one that was looked upon with weeping eyes--and +one which, by those who witnessed it, was never to be forgotten. +There were no loud bursts of grief--there were no frantic exclamations +of woe--but the place, the hour, and withal the various events which +had transpired to call them so soon from a scene of festivity to one of +mourning--together with the thoughts of other friends departed, or in +terrible captivity--served to render it a most painfully solemn one--and +one, as we said before, that was destined never to be forgotten. + +For a short space after the river engulphed the bodies, all gazed upon +the waters in silence; when Boone said, in a voice slightly trembling. + +"They did their duties--they have gone--God rest their souls, and give +peace to their bones!" and taking up a paddle, the noble old hunter +pulled steadily for the Kentucky shore in silence, followed by the other +boats in the same manner. There they landed, placed the canoes in +safety, in case they should again be needed, rekindled their fire, and +encamped for the night. + +On the following morning, they set out upon their homeward journey; +where they finally arrived, without any events occurring worthy of note. + + +[Footnote 11: A hunter's phrase for taking sight.] + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE INDIANS AND THEIR PRISONERS. + + +As you ascend the Miami from its mouth at the present day, you come +almost immediately upon what are termed the Bottoms, or Bottom Lands, +which are rich and fertile tracts of country, of miles in extent, and +sometimes miles in breadth, almost water level, with the stream in +question slowly winding its course through them, like a deep blue ribbon +carelessly unrolled upon a dark surface. They are now mostly under +culture, and almost entirely devoted to the production of maize, which, +in the autumn of the year, presents the goodly sight of a golden +harvest. At the time of which we write, there were no such pleasant +demonstrations of civilization, but a vast unbroken forest instead, some +vestiges of which still remain, in the shape of old decaying trees, +standing grim and naked, + + "To summer's heat and winter's blast," + +like the ruins of ancient structures, to remind the beholder of former +days. + +On these Bottoms, about ten miles above the mouth of the Miami, +Wild-cat and his party, with their prisoners, encamped on the evening +the attack was made upon the renegade, as shown in the preceding chapter. +Possessing caution in a great degree, and fearful of the escape of his +prisoners, Wild-cat spared no precautions which he thought might enhance +the security of Younker and Reynolds. Accordingly, when arrived at the +spot where he intended to remain for the night, the chief ordered stakes +to be driven deep into the earth, some distance apart, to which the feet +of the two in question, after being thrown flat upon their backs, in +opposite directions, were tightly bound, with their hands still corded +to the crossbars as before. A rope was next fastened around the neck +of each, and secured to a neighboring sapling, in which uncomfortable +manner they were left to pass the night; while their captors, starting +a fire, threw themselves upon the earth around it, and soon to all +appearance were sound asleep. + +To the tortures of her older companions in captivity, little Rosetta +was not subjected; for Oshasqua--the fierce warrior to whom Girty had +consigned her, in the expectation, probably, that she would long ere +this have been knocked on the head and scalped--had, by one of those +strange mysterious phenomena of nature, (so difficult of comprehension, +and which have been known to link the rough and bloody with the gentle +and innocent,) already begun to feel towards her a sort of affection, +and to treat her with great kindness whenever he could do so unobserved +by the others. The apparel of which he had at first divested her, to +ornament his own person, had been restored, piece by piece; and this, +together with the change in his manner, had at length been observed by +the child, with feelings of gratitude. Poor little thing! to whom could +she look for protection now? Her father and mother were dead--had been +murdered before her own eyes--her brother was away, and she herself a +captive to an almost merciless foe; could she feel other than grateful +for an act of kindness, from one at whose hands she looked for nothing +but abuse and death? Nay, more: So strange and complex is the human +heart--so singular in its developments--that we see nothing to wonder +at, in her feeling for the savage, under the circumstances--loathsome +and offensive as he might have been to her under others--a sort of +affection--or rather, a yearning toward him as a protector. Such she did +feel; and thus between two human beings, as much antagonistical perhaps, +in every particular, as Nature ever presented, was already established +a kind of magnetic sympathy--or, in other words, a gradual blending +together of opposites. The result of all this, as may be imagined, was +highly beneficial to Rosetta, who, in consequence, fared as well as +circumstances would permit. At night she slept unbound beside Oshasqua, +who secured her from escape by passing his brawny arm under her head, +which also in a measure served her for a pillow. So slept she on the +night in question. + +With Younker and Reynolds there was little that could be called +sleep--the minds of both being too actively employed with the events +which had transpired, and with thoughts of those so dear to them, who +had been left behind, for what fate God only knew. Besides, there was +little wherewithal to court the drowsy god, in the manner of their +repose--each limb being strained and corded in a position the most +painful--and if they slept at all, it was that feverish and fitful +slumber, which, though it serve in part the design of nature, brings +with it nothing refreshing to the individual himself. To both, +therefore, the night proved one of torture to body and mind; and bad as +was their condition after the encampment, it was destined to be worse +ere the gray dawn of morning, by the arrival of Girty and the only two +Indians who had escaped the deadly rifles of the Kentuckians. + +"Up, warriors!" cried the renegade, with a blasphemous oath, as he came +upon the detachment. "Up, warriors! and sharpen your wits to invent the +most damnable tortures that the mind of man can conceive!" and at the +sound of his voice, which was loud and hoarse, each Indian sprung to his +feet, with an anxious and troubled face. + +"And you, ye miserable white dogs!" continued Girty, turning to Younker +and Reynolds, on whom he bestowed numerous kicks, as if by way of +enforcing the truth his assertion; "were you suffering all the torments +of hell, you might consider yourselves in perfect bliss, compared to +what you shall yet undergo ere death snatches you from me!" + +"What new troubles ha' ye got, Simon Girty?" asked Younker, composedly. +"But you needn't answer; I can see what's writ on your face; thar's bin +a rescue--you've lost your prisoners--for which the Lord be praised! I +can die content now, with all your tortures." + +"Can you, by ----!" cried the renegade, in a paroxysm of rage; "we shall +see!" + +As he concluded, he bestowed upon Younker a kick in the face, so violent +that a stream of blood followed it. The old man uttered a slight groan, +but made no other answer; and Girty turned away to communicate to the +others the intelligence of what had transpired since their parting; for +although they believed it to be of the utmost consequence, and tragical +in all its bearings, yet so far there had not been a question asked nor +an event related concerning it on either side--such being the force of +habit in all matters of grave importance, and the deference to his +superiors shown by the Indian on all similar occasions. + +As soon as Girty had made known the sad disaster that had befallen his +party, there was one universal yell of rage, accompanied by violent +demonstrations of grief and anger--such as beating their bodies, +stamping fiercely on the ground, and brandishing their tomahawks over +their heads with terrific gestures. They then proceeded to dance around +Younker and Reynolds, uttering horrid yells, accompanied with kicks and +blows; after which, a consultation was held between Girty and Wild-cat, +wherein it was agreed to take them to Piqua, a Shawanoe settlement on +the Miami, and there have them put to the tortures. Accordingly, without +further delay, they unbound their prisoners, with the exception of their +hands, and forced them to set forward at a fast pace--treating them, +meanwhile, in the most brutal manner. Oshasqua, however, took good care +there should be no violence done to Rosetta; for he kept her closely by +his side; and occasionally, when he saw her little limbs growing weary, +raised and bore her forward, for a considerable distance, in his arms. + +It was a strange, but by no means unpleasing sight, to behold that dark, +bloodstained warrior--whose very nature was cruel and ferocious, and who +probably had never before loved or sought to protect aught bearing the +human form--now exhibiting such tender regard for a weak, trembling +prisoner, placed in his hands for a speedy sacrifice. It was withal an +affecting sight, to Younker and Reynolds, who looked upon it with +moistened eyes, and felt it in the force of a revelation from Heaven, +that He, who sees the sparrow fall, was even now moving through the +wilderness, and teaching one lesson of mercy at least to the most +obdurate heart of the savage race. + +To the renegade, however, this conduct of Oshasqua was far from being +agreeable; for so much did he delight in cruelty, and so bitterly did he +hate all his race--particularly now, after having been foiled by them +so lately--that he would a thousand times rather have heard the dying +groans of the child, and seen her in the last agonies of death, than in +the warrior's arms. At length he advanced to the side of the Indian, and +said in the Shawanoe dialect, with a sneer: + +"Is Oshasqua a squaw, that he should turn nurse?" + +Probably from the whole vocabulary of the Indian tongue, a phrase more +expressive of contempt, and one that would have been more severely felt +by the savage warrior, who abhors any thing of a womanly nature, could +not have been selected; and this Girty, who understood well to whom he +was speaking, knew, and was prepared to see the hellish design of his +heart meet with a ready second from Oshasqua. For a moment after he +spoke, the latter looked upon the renegade with flashing eyes; and then +seizing Rosetta roughly, he raised her aloft, as if with the intention +of dashing her brains out at his feet. She doubtless understood from +his fierce movement the murderous intent in his breast, and uttered a +heart-rending cry of anguish. In an instant the grim features of the +Indian softened; and lowering her again to her former position in his +arms, he turned coldly to Girty, and smiting his breast with his hand, +said, with dignity: + +"Oshasqua a warrior above suspicion. He can save and defend with his +life whom he loves!" + +Girty bit his lips, and uttering a deep malediction in English, turned +away to consult with Wild-cat on the matter; but finding the chief would +not join him in interfering with the rights of the other, he growled out +another dreadful oath, and let the subject drop. + +Late at night the party encamped within something like a mile of Piqua; +and by daylight a warrior was despatched to convey intelligence of their +approach, their prisoners, and the sad disaster they had experienced on +their journey. In the course of an hour the messenger returned, bringing +with him a vast number of savages of both sexes and all ages, who +immediately set up the most horrid yells, danced around Younker and +Algernon like madmen, not unfrequently beating and kicking them +unmercifully. They then departed for the town, taking the prisoners with +them, where their fate was to be decided by the council.[12] But ere +sentence should be pronounced, it was the unanimous decision of the +savages, that they should have some amusement, by forcing the prisoners +to run the gauntlet. This, to the women and children, as well as the +warriors themselves, was a most delightful sport, and they at once made +the welkin ring with yells of joy. + +"It's a hard task we've got to undergo now, Algernon," said Younker, in +a low voice; "and God send it may be my last; for I'd much rayther die +this way, nor at the stake. I don't at all calculate on escaping--but +something tells me you will--and ef you do--" + +Here the old man was interrupted by Girty, who forced himself between +the two and separated them. Younker being the first selected to run the +gauntlet, was immediately unbound, and stripped to the skin,[13] +preparatory to the race. The assemblage now formed themselves into two +lines, facing each other, only a few feet apart, and extending the +distance of a hundred yards, terminating near the council-house, which +stood in the center of the village. Through these lines, the old man was +informed by Girty, he must run; while the savages on either side, armed +with clubs, were at liberty to inflict as many blows upon him as they +could in passing; and therefore it would stand him in hand to reach the +other extremity as soon as possible. + +"I'm an old man, Simon Girty," said Younker, in reply, "and can't run as +I once could--so you needn't reckon on my gitting through alive." + +"But, by ----! you must get through alive, or else not at all; for we +can't spare you quite so soon, as we want you to try the pleasures of +the stake," answered the renegade, with a laugh. + +"God's will be done--not yourn nor mine!" rejoined Younker, solemnly. +"But tell me, Simon Girty, as the only favor I'll ever ask o' ye--war my +wife and Ella rescued?" + +"Why," said Girty, "if it will do you any good to know it, I will tell +you they were; but I will add, for your particular benefit, that they +will again be in my power; for I will excite every tribe of the Six +Nations to the war path; and then, woe to the pioneers of Kentucky!--for +desolation, rapine and blood shall mark our trail, until the race become +extinct. I have sworn, and will fulfill it. But come--all is ready." + +"For the first o' your information, I thank you," returned Younker; "for +the last on't, I'll only say, thar's a power above ye. I'm ready--lead +on!" + +Girty now conducted the old man to the lines; and having cautioned the +savages, in a loud voice, to beware of taking his life, gave the signal +for him to start. Instantly Younker darted forward, and with such speed, +that the nearest Indians neglected to strike until he had passed them, +by which means he gained some six or eight paces without receiving a +blow; but now they fell hard and fast upon him, accompanied with screams +and yells of the most diabolical nature; and ere he had gone thirty +yards, he began to stagger, when a heavy stroke on the head laid him +senseless on the earth. In a moment the renegade, who had kept him +company outside, burst through the lines, just in time to ward off the +blow of a powerful warrior, aimed at the skull of Younker, which, +without doubt, would have been fatal. + +"Fool!" cried Girty, fiercely, to the Indian. "Did I not tell you his +life must be spared for the stake?" + +The savage drew himself up with dignity, and walked away without reply; +while the renegade, examining the bruises of the fallen man for a moment +or two, ordered him to be taken to the council-house, and, if possible, +restored to consciousness. He then returned to Algernon, who had been +left standing a sad spectator of the whole proceedings, and said, in a +gruff voice: + +"Now, by ----! young man, it's your turn; and let me tell you, it will +stand you in hand to do your best. Come, let us see what sort of a +figure you will cut." + +As he concluded, he severed the thongs around the hands of our hero, and +unceremoniously began to strip him, in which he was aided by a couple of +old squaws. + +The features of Algernon were pale, but composed; and he allowed himself +to be handled as one who felt an escape from his doom to be impossible, +and who had nerved himself to undergo it with as much stoicism as he +could command. As his vestments were rent from his body, the wound +in his side was discovered to be nearly healed; and would have been +entirely so, probably, but for the irritation occasioned it of late by +his long marches, exposure and fatigue, which had served to render it at +present not a little painful. As his eye for a moment rested upon it, +his mind instantly reverted to its cause--recalled, with the rapidity +of thought, which is the swiftest comparison we can make, the many and +important events that had since transpired up to the present time, +wherein the gentle Ella Barnwell held no second place--and he sighed, +half aloud: + +"I would to Heaven it had been mortal!--how much misery had then been +spared me?" + +As he said this, one of the squaws, who had been observing it intently, +struck him thereon a violent blow with her fist, which started it to +bleeding afresh, and, in spite of himself, caused Algernon to utter a +sharp cry of pain, at which all laughed heartily. Thinking doubtless +this species of amusement as interesting as any, the old hag was on the +point of repeating the blow, when Girty arrested it, by saying something +to her in the Indian tongue, and all three turned aside, as if to +consult together, leaving our hero standing alone, unbound. + +A wild thought now suddenly thrilled him. He was free, perchance he +might escape; at least he could but die in the attempt; and that, at +all events, was preferable to a lingering death of torture! He looked +hurriedly around. Only the renegade and the squaws were close at hand, +and they engaged in conversation. The main body of the Indians were at a +distance, awaiting him to run the gauntlet. He needed no second thought +to prompt him to the trial; and wheeling about, he placed his hand upon +the wound, and bounded away with the fleetness of the deer. In a moment +the yells of an hundred savages in pursuit, sounded in his ear, and +urged him onward to the utmost of his strength. He was no mean runner at +any time; now he was flying to save his life, and every nerve did its +duty. Before him was a slope, that stretched away to the river Miami; +and down this he fled with a velocity that astonished himself; while +yell after yell of the demons behind, now in full chase, were to him +only so many death cries, to stimulate him to renewed exertions. At last +he gained the river and rushed into the water. It was not deep, and he +struggled forward with all his might. On the opposite side was a steep +hill and thicket. Could he but gain that, hope whispered he might elude +his pursuers and escape. Again he redoubled his exertions; and, joy--joy +to his heart--he reached it, just as the foremost of his adversaries, +a powerful and fleet young warrior, dashed into the stream from the +opposite bank. He now for the first time began to feel weak and +fatigued; but his life was yet in danger, and he still pressed onward. +Alas! alas! just on the point of escape, his strength was failing him +fast, the blood was trickling too from his wound, and a sharp, severe +pain afflicted him in his side. Oh God! he thought--what would he not +give for the strength and soundness of body he once possessed! The +thicket he had entered was dense and dark, so that it was impossible to +move through it with much velocity, or see ahead any distance; and as +the thought just recorded rushed through his brain, he came suddenly +upon a high, steep rock. By this time his nearest pursuer was also +entering the thicket; and in a minute or two more he felt capture would +be certain, unless he could instantly secrete himself till his strength +should be again renewed. Fortune for once now seemed to stand his +friend; for stooping down at the base of the rock, he discovered it +to be shelving and projecting somewhat over the declivity; so that by +dropping upon the ground and crawling up under it, he would, owing to +the density and darkness of the thicket, as before mentioned, be wholly +concealed from any one standing upright. To do this was the work of a +moment; and the next he heard his pursuing foe rush panting by, with +much the same sense of relief that one experiences on awakening from a +horrible dream, where death seemed inevitable, and finding oneself lying +safely and easily in a comfortable bed. + +We say Algernon experienced much the same sense of relief as the +awakened dreamer; but unlike the latter, his was only momentary; for +yell upon yell still sounded in his ear; and plunge after plunge into +the stream, followed quickly by a rustling of the bushes around, the +trampling of many feet close by, and the war-whoops of his enemies, +warned him, that, if he had escaped one, there were hundreds yet to +be eluded before he could consider himself as safe. Wildly his heart +palpitated, as now one stirred the bushes within reach of his hand, and, +slightly pausing, as if to examine the spot of his concealment, uttered +a horrid yell, as of discovery, and then, just as he fancied all was +lost, to his great relief darted suddenly away. + +Thus one after another passed on; and their fierce yells gradually +sounding more and more distant, renewed his hope, that he might yet +escape their vigilant eyes, and again be free to roam the earth at will. +O, potent, joyful thought!--how it made his very heart leap, and the +blood course swiftly through his heated veins!--and then, when some +sound was heard more near, how his heart sickened at the fear he might +again be captured, and forced to a lingering, agonizing death!--how he +shuddered as he thought, until his flesh felt chill and clammy, and cold +drops of perspiration, wrung forth by mental agony, stood upon his pale +features! Even death, before his escape, possessed not half the terrors +for him it would have now; for then he had nerved himself to meet it, +and prepared himself for the worst; but now he had again had a taste of +freedom, and would feel the reverse in a thousand accumulated horrors. + +Thus for a few minutes he lay, in painful thought, when he became aware, +by the different sounds, that many of the savages were returning. +Presently some two or three paused by the rock, and beat back the bushes +around it. Then, dropping upon his knees, one of the Indians actually +put his head to the ground, and peered up into the cavity. It was a +horrible moment of suspense to Algernon, as he beheld the hideous visage +of the savage so near, and evidently gazing upon him; and thinking +himself discovered, he was on the point of coming forth, when a certain +vagueness in the look of the Indian, led him to hope he was not yet +perceived; and he lay motionless, with his breath suspended. But, alas! +his hope was soon changed to despair; for after gazing a moment longer, +the Indian suddenly started, his features expressed satisfaction, he +uttered a significant grunt, and, springing to his feet, gave a loud, +long, peculiar whoop. The next moment our hero was roughly seized, and, +ere he could exert himself at all, dragged forth by the heels, by which +means his limbs and body became not a little bruised and lacerated. + +The savages now came running towards their prisoner from all quarters, +in high glee at his recapture--being attracted hither, probably, by the +signal whoop of success made by the one who first discovered him. Among +the rest came Girty; who, as he approached Algernon, burst into a loud +laugh, saying, in a jocular manner: + +"Well, my fine bird, so you are caught again, eh? I was most infernally +afraid you had got away in earnest; I was, by ----! But we'll soon fix +you now, so that you won't run away again in a hurry." + +Then turning to the savages around him, the renegade continued his +remarks in the Indian tongue, occasionally laughing boisterously, in +which they not unfrequently joined. In this manner, the whole party +returned in triumph to the village--being met on their way thither by +the women and children, who set up yells of delight, sung and danced +around their prisoner, whom they beat with their fists and with sticks, +until he became sore from head to heel. + +The gauntlet was soon again made ready, and Algernon started upon the +race; but fatigued in body and mind, from the late events--weak and +faint from the bleeding of his wound and bruises--he scarcely reached +twenty paces down the lines, ere he sunk overpowered to the earth; from +which he was immediately raised, and borne forward to the council-house, +where, according to the Indian custom, the chiefs and warriors were to +decide upon his fate. + + +[Footnote 12: Lest there should seem to the reader an inconsistency +in one tribe yielding the fate of their prisoners to the decision of +another, we would remark here, that at the period of which we write, the +Six Nations were allied and fought for one common interest against the +Americans, on the British side, and therefore not unfrequently shared +each others dangers and partook of each others spoils.] + +[Footnote 13: A practice sometimes, but not always, followed.] + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE TRIAL, SENTENCE, AND EXECUTION. + + +The council-house in question, was a building of good size, of +larger dimensions than its neighbors, stood on a slight elevation, and, +as we before remarked, near the center of the village. Into this the +warriors and head men of the Piqua tribe now speedily gathered, and +proceeded at once to business. An old chief--whose wrinkled features and +slightly-tremulous limbs, denoted extreme age--was allowed, by common +consent, to act as chairman; and taking his position near the center of +the apartment, with a knife and a small stick in his hand, the warriors +and chief men of the nation formed a circle around him. + +Among these latter--conspicuous above all for his beautiful and graceful +form, his dignified manner, and look of intelligence, to whom all eyes +turned with seeming deference--was the celebrated Shawanoe chief, +Catahecassa, (Black Hoof) whose name occupies no inferior place on the +historic page of the present day, as being at first the inveterate foe, +and afterward the warm friend of the whites. In stature he was small, +being only about five feet eight inches, lightly made, but strongly put +together, with a countenance marked and manly, and one that would be +pleasing to a friend, but the reverse to an enemy. He was a great +orator, a keen, cunning and sagacious warrior, and one who held the +confidence and love of his tribe. At the period referred to, he was far +past what is usually termed the middle age; though, as subsequent events +have proved, only in his noon of life--for at his death he numbered one +hundred and ten years. + +Upon the ground, within the circle, and near the old chief in the +center, were seated Algernon and Younker--the latter having recovered +consciousness--both haggard and bloody from their recent brutal +treatment. They were sad spectacles to behold, truly, and would have +moved to pity any hearts less obdurate than those by which they were +surrounded. Their faces bore those expressions of dejection and wan +despair, which may sometimes be perceived in the look of a criminal, +when, loth to die, he is assured all hope of pardon is past. Not that +either Younker or Reynolds felt criminal, or feared death in its +ordinary way; but there were a thousand things to harass their minds, +besides the dreadful thought of that lingering, horrible torture, which +was enough to make the boldest quail, and which they now had not the +faintest hope of escaping. There is ever something solemn and awful in +the thought of death, let it come in the mildest form possible--for the +individual feels he is hastening to that silent bourne, whence none +have e'er returned to tell its mysteries--yet such is as nothing in +comparison with the death our prisoners were now silently awaiting, away +from friends and all sympathy, in the full vigor of animal life, to be +fairly worn out by the most excruciating pains, amid the hootings and +revilings of a savage foe. It was enough to have made the stoutest heart +faint, trembling and sick; and thus our unfortunate friends felt, as +they slowly gazed around and saw nothing but fierce, angry looks bent +upon them. + +Girty was the first to address the assemblage, in the Indian dialect, +in an animated and angry speech of five minutes duration; occasionally +turning his sinister visage upon the prisoners, with an expression of +mortal hatred; gesticulating the while in that vehement manner which +would have left no doubts on their minds as to the nature of his +discourse, had they not previously known him to be their determined foe. +He narrated to the savages, clearly and briefly, the wrongs which had +been done them, as well as himself, by the whites; how, as the ally and +friend of the red-man, he had been cursed, defied and treated with much +contumely, by those here present; how their friends had followed and +slaughtered his braves; how the whites were every day becoming stronger +and more aggressive; how that, unless speedily exterminated, they would +presently drive the red-men from their hunting grounds, burn their +wigwams, and murder their wives and children; referred them, as a proof, +to the sacking and burning of the Chillicothe and Piqua villages, on the +Little Miami and Mad rivers, the year preceding, by General Clark and +his men;[15] and wound up by demanding the death of the prisoners at the +stake, and a speedy and bloody retaliation upon the pioneers of +Kentucky. + +As Girty concluded his speech, which was listened to in breathless +silence, there was a great sensation in the house, and an almost +unanimous grunt of approval from the chiefs and braves there assembled. +It needed but this, to arouse their vindictive passions against the +white invader to the extreme; and they bent upon the unfortunate +prisoners, eyes which seemed inflamed with rage and revenge. Girty +perceived, at a glance, that he had succeeded to the full of his heart's +desire; and with a devilish smile of satisfaction on his features, he +drew back among the warriors, to listen to the harangues of the others. + +Black Hoof was the next to follow the renegade, in a similar but more +eloquent strain; during which his countenance became greatly animated; +and it was easy for the prisoners to perceive--who could not understand +a word he uttered--that he spoke with great enthusiasm. He also pressed +upon his companions the vast importance of exterminating the whites, +ere they, as he expressed it, became as the leaves of the forest, and +covered the red-man's soil; that, for this purpose, they should prepare +themselves as soon as possible, to open a deadly, unyielding warfare +upon the frontiers; but said, withal, that he was opposed to burning +the prisoners--as that was a barbarism which he feared would not be +sanctioned by the great Spirit--and urged that they should be put to +death in, a quicker and milder form.[14] + +Black Hoof's speech was warmly received, with the exception of what +referred to the prisoners, and this rather coldly. They were excited to +a powerful degree--their passions were up for revenge--and they could +not bear the idea of sending a prisoner out of the world, without first +enjoying the delight of seeing him writhe under the tortures of the +stake. + +Wild-cat next followed Black Hoof, in a brief speech, in which he but +echoed the sentiments of Girty throughout, and received, like his +colleague, an almost universal grunt of approbation. He was succeeded by +one or two others, to the same effect--each urging the burning of the +prisoners--and on their conclusion, no other appearing to speak, the old +chief in the center at once proceeded to decide, by vote, the matter +at issue. Advancing to the warrior nearest the door, he handed him a +war-club, and then resumed his place in the circle, to record the will +of each. He who was in favor of burning the prisoners, struck the +ground fiercely with the weapon in question, and then passed it to his +neighbor; he who was otherwise disposed, passed it quietly, in silence; +thus it went through the whole assemblage--the old chief recording the +vote of each, by cutting a notch on the stick in his hand; those for +mercy being placed on one side, and those for the torture on the +opposite. Some three or four only, besides Black Hoof, passed it +quietly--consequently the sentence of death was carried by a decided +majority. Had there been any doubt in the minds of Younker and Reynolds +as to the result, it would have needed only one glance at Girty, who was +now grinning upon them like a demon, to assure them their doom was +sealed. + +The question next came up as to the time and place for executing the +sentence; and after some further debate, it was decided that the old man +should be burnt forthwith, in the village, that their women and children +might have a holiday pastime; but that Algernon must be made a grand +national example of, before the assembled tribes at Upper Sandusky, when +they should be met to receive presents from the British agent.[16] This +latter decision was mainly effected by the eloquence of Black Hoof; who, +from some cause, for which it would be impossible to account--only as a +mysterious working of an overruling Providence--had secretly determined, +if such a thing were possible, to save the life of Algernon; and took +this method as the only one likely to aid his purpose by protecting him +from immediate death. + +The trial concluded, the council now broke up, and Girty was authorized +to inform the prisoners of their sentence; while four young braves were +selected to take charge of Algernon, and to set off with him, so soon as +the burning of Younker should be over, for Upper Sandusky, where he was +to be kept in durance until wanted. Advancing directly to the prisoners, +the renegade now said, with a sneer: + +"Well, my beauties, are you ready to die?" + +"We don't expect any thing else, Simon Girty," answered the old man +mildly. + +"Don't you, by ----!" rejoined Girty. "Perhaps it's just as well you +don't--ha, ha, ha! Come, old dotard," he continued, "down on your marrow +bones and say your prayers; for, by ----! you will never behold the +setting of another sun." + +"I've said my prayers regular for thirty year," answered Younker; "and +I've been ready to die whensomever the Lord should see fit to call me; +and therefore don't feel myself no more obligated to pray jest at this +particular time, than ef I war told I war going to live twenty year +more. It's only them as hain't lived right, that the near coming o' +death makes pray, more nor at another time; and so jest allow me, Simon +Girty, to return you your advice, which is very good, and which, ef you +follow yourself, you'll be likely to make a much better man nor you've +ever done afore." + +"Fool!" muttered the renegade, with an oath. Then turning to Algernon, +he continued: "You, sirrah, are destined to live a little longer--though +by no design of mine, I can assure you. Don't flatter yourself, though, +that you are going to escape," he added, as he perceived the countenance +of Algernon slightly brighten at his intelligence; "for, by ----! if I +thought there was a probability of such a thing happening, I would brain +you where you sit, if I died for it the next moment. No, young man, +there is no escape for you; you are condemned to be burnt, as well as +Younker, only at another place; and, by ----! I will follow you myself, +to see that the sentence is enforced with all its horrors." + +"For all of which you doubtless feel yourself entitled to my thanks," +returned Algernon, bitterly. "Do your worst, Simon Girty; but understand +me, before you go further, that though life is as dear to me at the +present moment as to another, yet so much do I abhor and loathe the very +sight of you, that, could I have it for the asking, I would not stoop to +beg it of so brutal and cowardly a thing as yourself." + +"By ----!" cried Girty, in a transport of rage; "the time will come, +when, if you do not sue for life, you will for death, and at my hands; +and till then will I forego my revenge for your insolence now. And let +me tell you one thing further, that you may muse upon it in my absence. +I will raise an army, ere many months are over, and march upon the +frontiers of Kentucky; and by all the powers of good and evil, I swear +again to get possession of the girl you love, but whom I now hate--hate +as the arch-fiend hates Heaven--and she shall thenceforth be my mistress +and slave; and to make her feel more happy, I will ever and anon whisper +your name in her ear, and tell her how you died, and the part I took in +your death; and in the still hours of night, will I picture to her your +agonies and dying groans, and repeat your prayers for death to release +you. Ha! you may well shudder and grow pale; for again I swear, by all +the elements, and by every thing mortal and immortal, I will accomplish +the deed! Then, and not till then, will I feel my revenge complete." + +The countenance of Girty, as he said this, was terrible to behold; for +so enraged was he, that he fairly foamed at the mouth, and his eyes +seemed like two balls of fire. As he concluded, he turned away abruptly; +and muttering something in the Indian tongue, to some of the savages who +were standing around, immediately quitted the council-house. + +As Girty departed, the four young warriors who were to have charge of +Algernon, immediately advanced to him; and one of them tapping him on +the shoulder, moved away, motioning him to follow. As he prepared to +obey, Younker grasped him by the hand, and, with eyes full of tears, +in a trembling, pathetic voice, said: + +"Good-bye, lad! God bless and be with you. Something tells me we won't +never meet agin. Keep up as stout a heart as you can, and ef you should +escape, tell my (here the old man's voice faltered so that he could +scarcely articulate a syllable)--tell my wife, and--and children--that +I died happy, a thinking o' them, and praying for 'em--to--to the last. +Good-bye! good-bye!" and wringing his hand again, the old man fairly +sobbed aloud; while the rough warriors stood looking on in silence, and +Algernon could only groan forth a farewell. + +So they parted--never to meet again on earth. + +Algernon was now conducted, by his guards, to a small building on the +outskirts of the village; where, after receiving food and water, and +having his clothes restored to him, he was informed by one of the +Indians--who could speak a smattering of English--that he might be bound +and remain, or accompany them to see the Big Knife tortured. He chose +the former without hesitation; and was immediately secured in a manner +similar to what he had been the night previously, and then left alone to +the anguish of his own thoughts. What the feelings of our hero were, as +thus he lay, suffering from his bruises and wound--his mind recurring to +the dire events taking place in another part of the village, and his own +awful doom--we shall leave to the imagination of the reader: suffice it +to say, however, that when his guards returned, some two hours later, he +was found in a swooning state, with large cold drops of perspiration +standing thickly on his features. + +Meantime, Younker was brought forth from the council-house--amid the +hootings, revilings, and personal abuse of the savage mob--and then +painted black,[17] preparatory to undergoing the awful death-sentence. +He was then offered food--probably with the kind intention of +strengthening him, and thus prolonging his life and tortures--but this +he absolutely refused, and was immediately conducted to the place of +execution, which was on the brow of the slope before described as +reaching to the river. Here his wrists were immediately bound behind +him; and then a rope, fastened to the ligature, was secured to a +stake--driven into the earth for the purpose and left sufficiently long +for him sit down, stand up, or walk around a circle of some six or eight +feet in diameter. + +During this proceeding, the Indians failed not to abuse him in various +ways--some by pinching, and others by pounding him with their fists, +with stones, and with clubs,--all of which he seemed to bear with great +patience and resignation. + +As soon as all was ready for the more diabolical tortures, Girty made +the announcement, in a brief speech to the Indians; and then taking up a +rifle, loaded with powder only, discharged it upon the prisoner's naked +body. A loud yell of satisfaction, from the excited mob, followed this +inhuman act; while several savages, rushing forward with rifles loaded +in the same manner, now strove who should be first to imitate the +renegade's example; by which means, no less than fifty discharges were +made, in quick succession, until the flesh of the old man, from the neck +downwards, was completely filled with burnt powder. Younker uttered a +few groans, but bore all with manly fortitude, and made no complaints. + +This part of the hellish ceremony over, a fire was kindled of hickory +poles, placed in a circle round the stake, outside of that which his +rope allowed Younker to make, in order that he might feel all the +torments of roasting alive, without being sufficiently near to the flame +to get a speedy relief by death. To add even more torture, if possible, +to this infernal proceeding, the Indians would take up brands, and place +the burning parts against the old man's body; and then, as they saw him +cringe and writhe under the pain thus inflicted, would burst into horrid +laughs, in which they were ever joined by the renegade. The old squaws +too, and even the children, not wishing to be outdone in this refinement +of cruelty, would take slabs, and having loaded them with live coals and +ashes, would throw them upon his head and body, until not only both +became covered, but the ground around him, so that there was no cool +place for his feet; while at every new infliction of pain, the crowd +would break forth in strains of wild, discordant laughter. + +Thus passed some three-quarters of an hour of tortures the most +horrible, during which the old man bore up under his sufferings with +a strength and manliness that not only astonished his tormentors, but +excited for himself, even in savage breasts, a feeling of respect. +Girty, it may be, was moved to a similar feeling; for at length, +advancing to his victim, he said, in a tone of more deference than he +had hitherto used: + +"You bear up well, old man--well. I have seen many a one die, in a +similar way, who was thought to be courageous--yet none with that +firmness you have thus far displayed." + +Younker, who was slowly walking around the stake, with his face bent +toward the earth, suddenly paused, as Girty addressed him, and turning +his eyes mildly upon the renegade, in a feeble voice, replied: + +"My firmness is given me from above. I can bear my torments, Simon +Girty, for they're arthly, and will soon be over; but yourn--who'll say +what yourn'll be, when you come to answer afore Almighty God for this +and other crimes! But that arn't for the like o' me to speak of now. I'm +a dying man, and trust soon to be in a better world. Ef I ever did you +wrong, Simon Girty, I don't remember it now; and I'm very sartin I never +did nothing to merit this. You came to my house, and war treated to the +best I had, and here am I in return for't. Howsomever, the reckoning's +got to come yit atween you and your God; and so I leave you--farewell." + +"But say," returned Girty, who now seemed greatly moved by the manner +and tone of Younker: "But say, old man, that you forgive me, and I will +own that I did you wrong." + +"I don't know's I've any enemies, except these round here," replied the +other, feebly, "and I'd like to die at peace with all the world; but +what you ax, Simon Girty, I can't grant; it's agin my nater and +conscience; I can't say I forgive ye, for what you've done, for I don't. +I may be wrong--it may not be Christian like--but ef it's a sin, it's +one I've got to answer for myself. No, Girty, I can't forgive--pre'aps +God will--you must look to him: I can't. Girty, I can't; and so, +farewell forever! God be merciful to me a sinner," he added, looking +upward devoutly; "and ef I've done wrong, oh! pardon me, for Christ's +sake!" + +With these words, the lips of Younker were sealed forever. + +Girty stood and gazed upon him in silence, for a few minutes, as one +whose mind is ill at ease, and then walked slowly away, in a mood of +deep abstraction. Younker continued alive some three-quarters of an hour +longer--bearing his tortures with great fortitude--and then sunk down +with a groan and expired. The Indians then proceeded to scalp him; after +which they gradually dispersed, with the apparent satisfaction of wolves +that have gorged their fill on some sheep-fold. + +When Algernon's guards returned, they found him in a swooning state, +as previously recorded; and fearful that his life might be lost, and +another day's sport thus spoiled, they immediately called in their great +medicine man, who at once set about bandaging his wound, and applying +to it such healing remedies as were known by him to be speedily +efficacious, and for which the Indians are proverbially remarkable. His +bruises were also rubbed with a soothing liquid; and by noon of the day +following, he had gained sufficient strength to start upon his journey, +accompanied by his guards. + +On that journey we shall now leave him, and turn to other, and more +important events; merely remarking, by the way, lest the reader should +consider the neglect an oversight, that, on entering the Piqua village, +Oshasqua had taken care to render the life of little Rosetta Millbanks +safe, and had secured to her as much comfort as circumstances would +permit. + + +[Footnote 14: In the action at Piqua here referred to, Simon Girty +commanded three hundred Mingoes, whom he withdrew on account of the +desperation with which the whites fought.] + +[Footnote 15: This was a peculiar characteristic of this great chief, +as drawn from the pages of history; and the more peculiar, that he was +a fierce, determined warrior, and the very last to hold out against a +peace with his white enemy. But there were some noble traits in the man; +and when, at last, he was wrought upon to sign the treaty of Greenville, +in 1795--twenty-four years after the date of the foregoing events--so +keen was his sense of honor, that no entreaty nor persuasion could +thenceforth induce him to break his bond; and he remained a firm friend +of the Americans to the day of his death. He was opposed to burning +prisoners, and to polygamy, and is said to have lived forty years with +one wife, rearing a numerous family of children.--_See Drake's Life of +Tecumseh_.] + +[Footnote 16: The reader will bear in mind, that these events transpired +during the American Revolution; that the Indians were, at this time, +allies of the British; who paid them, in consequence, regular annuities, +at Upper Sandusky.] + +[Footnote 17: This was a customary proceeding of the savages at that +day, with all prisoners doomed to death.] + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +HISTORICAL EVENTS. + + +From the first inroads of the whites upon what the Indians considered +their lawful possessions, although by them unoccupied--namely, the +territory known as Kan-tuck-kee--up to the year which opens our story, +there had been scarcely any cessation of hostilities between the two +races so antagonistical in their habits and principles. Whenever an +opportunity presented itself favorable to their purpose, the savages +would steal down from their settlements--generally situated on the +Bottom Lands of the principal rivers in the present State of Ohio--cross +over _La Belle Riviere_ into Kentucky, and, having committed as many +murders and other horrible acts as were thought prudent for their +safety, would return in triumph, if successful, to their homes, taking +along with them scalps of both sexes and all ages, from the infant to +the gray-beard, and not unfrequently a few prisoners for the amusement +of burning at the stake. + +These flying visits of the savages were generally repaid by similar +acts of kindness on the part of the whites; who, on several occasions, +marched with large armies into their very midst, destroyed their crops +and stores, and burnt their towns. An expedition of this kind was +prosecuted by General Clark, in August of the year preceding the events +we have detailed, of which mention has been previously made. He had +under his command one thousand men, mostly from Kentucky, and marched +direct upon old Chillicothe, which the Indians deserted and burnt on +his approach. He next moved upon the Piqua towns, on Mad river, where +a desperate engagement ensued between the whites and Indians, in which +the former proved victorious. Having secured what plunder they could, +together with the horses, the Kentuckians destroyed the town, and cut +down some two hundred acres of standing corn. They then returned to +Chillicothe on their homeward route, where they destroyed other large +fields of produce, supposed in all to amount to something like five +hundred acres. + +We have mentioned this expedition for the purpose of showing why the +year which opens our story, 1781, was less disastrous to the frontier +settlers than the preceding ones--the Indians being too busily occupied +in repairing the damage done them, and in hunting to support their +families, to have much thought for the war-path, or time to follow it; +consequently the year in question, as regards Kentucky, may be said to +have passed away in a comparatively quiet manner, with no events more +worthy of note than those we have laid before the reader. + +But if the vengeance of the savage slumbered for the time being, it was +only like some pent up fire, burning in secret, until opportunity should +present for it to burst forth in a manner most appalling, carrying +destruction and terror throughout its course; and in consequence of +this, the year 1782 was destined to be one most signally marked by +bloody deeds in the annals of Kentucky. The winter of '81 and '82 +passed quietly away; but early in the ensuing spring hostilities were +again renewed, with a zeal which showed that neither faction had +forgotten old grudges during the intervening quietude. Girty did all +that lay in his power to stir up the vindictive feelings of the Indians, +and was aided in his laudable endeavors by one or two others[18] who +wore the uniform of British officers. It was the design of the renegade +to raise a grand army from the union of the Six Nations, lead them +quietly into the heart of Kentucky, and, by a bold move, seize some +prominent station, murder the garrison, and thus secure at once a +stronghold, from which to sally forth, spread death and desolation in +every quarter, and, if possible, depopulate the entire country. Long +and ardently did he labor in stirring up the Indians by inflammatory +speeches; till at last he succeeded in uniting a grand body for his +hellish purpose; which, on the very eve of success, as one may say, was +at last frustrated by what seemed a direct Providence, of which more +anon, and its proper place. + +Previously, however, to the event just referred to, parties of Indians, +numbering from five to fifty, prowled about the frontiers, committing +at every opportunity all manner of horrid deeds, and thus rousing the +whites to defence and retaliation. One of these skirmishes has been more +particularly dwelt on, by the historians of Kentucky, than any of the +others; on account, probably, of the desperate and sanguinary struggle +for mastery between the two contending parties, and the cruel desertion, +at a time of need, of a portion of the whites; by which means the +Indians had advantage of numbers, that otherwise would have been equally +opposed. We allude to what is generally known as Estill's Defeat. + +It is not our province in the present work to detail any thing not +directly connected with our story; and therefore we shall pass on, after +a cursory glance at the main facts in question. Sometime in March, a +party of Wyandots made a descent upon Estill's station, which stood near +the present site of Richmond; and having killed and scalped a young +lady, and captured a Negro slave, were induced, by the exaggerated +account which the latter gave of the force within, to an immediate +retreat; whereby, probably, the lives of the women and children, almost +the only occupants, were saved--Captain Estill himself, with his +garrison, and several new recruits, being at the time away, on a search +for these very savages, who were known by some unmistakable signs to be +in the vicinity. Word being despatched to Estill, of what had transpired +in his absence, he immediately sought out the trail of the retreating +foes, which he followed with his men, and toward night of the second day +overtook them at Hinston's Fork of Licking, where a desperate engagement +immediately ensued. At the onset, there were twenty-five Indians, and +exactly the same number of whites; but the immediate desertion, in a +cowardly manner, of a certain Lieutenant Miller, with six men under his +command, left the odds greatly in favor of the Wyandots, who were all +picked warriors. Notwithstanding the cowardice of their companions, our +little Spartan band fought most heroically for an hour and +three-quarters; when the few survivors, on both sides, being almost worn +out, ceased hostilities as by mutual consent. In this ever memorable +action, Captain Estill, a brave and popular man, together with nine of +his gallant companions, fell to rise no more. Four others were badly +wounded, leaving only the same number of unharmed survivors. The +Indians, it was afterwards ascertained, had seventeen warriors killed on +the field, among whom was one of their bravest chiefs, and two others +severely wounded; and there has been a tradition since among the +Wyandots, that only one survivor ever returned to tell the tale. + +The news of the foregoing disastrous skirmish flew like wild fire, to +use a common phrase, throughout the borders, and, together with others +of less note, served to kindle the fire of vengeance in the bosoms of +the settlers, and excite a deeper hostility than ever against the savage +foe. Nor was the subsequent conduct of the Indians themselves calculated +to soften this bitter feeling against them; for, to use the words of a +modern writer, "The woods again teemed with savages, and no one was safe +from attack beyond the walls of a station. The influence of the British, +and the constant pressure of the Long Knives, upon the red-men, had +produced a union of the various tribes of the northwest, who seemed to +be gathering again to strike a fatal blow at the frontier settlements; +and had they been led by a Phillip, a Pontiac, or a Tecumseh, it is +impossible to estimate the injury they might have inflicted." + +Whether the foregoing remarks may be deemed by the reader a digression, +or otherwise, we have certainly felt ourself justified in making them; +from the fact, that our story is designed to be historical in all its +bearings; and because many months being supposed to elapse, ere our +characters are again brought upon the stage of action, it seemed +expedient to give a general view of what was taking place in the +interval. Having done so, we will now forthwith resume our narrative. + +About five miles from Lexington, a little to the left of the present +road leading thence to Maysville, and on a gentle rise of the southern +bank of the Elkhorn, at the time of which we write, stood Bryan's +Station, to which we must now call the reader's attention. This station +was founded in the year 1779, by William Bryan, (a brother-in-law of +Daniel Boone,) who had, prior to the events we are now about to +describe, been surprised and killed by the Indians in the vicinity of a +stream called Cane Run. + +This fort, at the period in question, was one of great importance to the +early settlers--standing as it did on what was considered at the time of +its erection, the extreme frontier, and, by this means, extending their +area of security. The station consisted of forty cabins, placed in +parallel lines, connected by strong pallisades, forming a parallelogram +of thirty rods by twenty, and enclosing something like four acres of +ground. Outside of the cabins and pallisades, to render the fort still +more secure, were planted heavy pickets, a foot in diameter, and some +twelve feet in height above the ground; so that it was impossible for an +enemy to scale them, or affect them in the least, with any thing short +of fire and cannon ball. To guard against the former, and prevent the +besiegers making a lodgment under the walls, at each of the four corners +or angles, was erected what was called a block-house--a building which +projected beyond the pickets, a few feet above the ground, and enabled +the besieged to pour a raking fire across the advanced party of the +assailants. Large folding gates, on huge, wooden hinges, in front and +rear, opened into the enclosure, through which men, wagons, horses, and +domestic cattle, had admittance and exit. In the center, as the reader +has doubtless already divined, was a broad space, into which the doors +of the cabins opened, and which served the purpose of a regular common, +where teams and cattle were oftentimes secured, where wrestling and +other athletic sports took place. The cabins were all well constructed, +with puncheon floors, the roofs of which sloped inward, to avoid as much +as possible their being set on fire by burning arrows, shot by the +Indians for the purpose, a practice by no means uncommon during a siege. +This fort, at the period referred to, was garrisoned by from forty to +fifty men; and though somewhat out of repair, in respect to a few of its +pallisades, was still in a condition to resist an overwhelming force, +unless taken wholly by surprise. There was one great error, however, +connected with its design--and one that seems to have been common +to most of the stations of that period--which was, that the spring, +supplying the inmates with water, had not been enclosed within the +pickets. The reader can at once imagine the misery that must have ensued +from this cause, in case of their being suddenly assaulted by a superior +enemy, and the siege protracted to any considerable length of time. + +Within this fort, on their return from captivity, Mrs. Younker and Ella +had taken up their abode, to remain until another cabin should be +erected, or it should be thought safe for them to live again in a more +exposed manner. Isaac had straightway repaired to his father-in-law's, +to behold again the idol of his heart, and pour into her ear his grief +for the loss of his father and friend, and receive her sympathy for his +affliction in return. The disastrous affair which had called him and his +companions so suddenly from a scene of festivity to one of mourning--the +loss of so many valuable neighbors, and the result of the expedition +in pursuit of the enemy--created at the time no little excitement +throughout the frontiers, and caused some of the more timid to resort +to the nearest stations for security. But as time wore on, and as +nothing serious happened during the fall and winter, confidence and +courage gradually became restored; and the affair was almost forgotten, +save by the friends and relatives of the deceased and those particularly +concerned in it. + +Spring, however, revived the alarm of the settlers, by the reappearance +of the enemy in all quarters, and the outrages they committed, as before +mentioned; so that but very few persons ventured to remain without the +walls of a fort; and these, such of them as were fortunate enough to +escape death or captivity, were fain to seek refuge therein before the +close of summer. + +Immediately on the receipt of the alarming intelligence of Estill's +defeat, Isaac, his wife, and the family of his father-in-law, Wilson, +repaired to Bryan's Station, and joined Mrs. Younker and Ella, who had +meantime remained there in security. + + +[Footnote 18: McKee and Elliot.] + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +OLD CHARACTERS AND NEW. + + +It was toward night of a hot sultry day in the month of August, that +Ella Barnwell was seated by the door of a cabin, within the walls of +Bryan's Station, gazing forth, with what seemed a vacant stare, upon a +group of individuals, who were standing near the center of the common +before spoken of, engaged in a very animated conversation. Her features +perhaps were no paler than when we saw her last; but there was a tender, +melancholy expression on her sweet countenance, of deep abiding grief, +and a look of mournfulness in her beautiful eyes, that touched +involuntarily the hearts of all who met her gaze. + +Since we last beheld her, days of anxious solicitude, and sleepless +nights, had been apportioned Ella; for memory--all potent memory--had +kept constantly before her mind's eye the images of those who were gone, +and mourned as forever lost to the living; and her imagination had a +thousand times traced them to the awful stake, seen their terrible +tortures, heard their agonizing, dying groans; and her heart had bled +for them in secret; and tears of anguish, at their untimely fate, had +often dimmed her eyes. Even now, as she apparently gazed upon that group +of individuals, whom she saw not, and whose voices, sounding in her ear, +she heard not, her mind was occupied with the probable fate of her uncle +and Algernon, the still all-absorbing theme of her soul. + +While seated thus, Mrs. Younker approached Ella from behind, unperceived +by the latter, and now stood gazing upon her with a sorrowful look. The +countenance of the good dame had altered less, perhaps, than Ella's, +owing to her strong masculine spirit; but still there was an expression +of anxiety and sadness thereon, which, until of late, had never been +visible--not even when on her march to what, as she then believed, +was her final doom--the excitement whereof, and the many events that +occurred on the route, having been sufficient to occupy her mind in a +different manner from what it had been in brooding over the fate of her +husband for months in secret, and in a place of comparative safety. At +length a remark, in a loud voice, of one of the individuals of the group +before alluded to, arrested the attention of both Mrs. Younker and Ella. + +"I tell you," said the speaker, who was evidently much excited, "it was +that infernal cut-throat Girty's doings, and no mistake. Heaven's curses +on him for a villain!--and I don't think he'll more nor git his just +dues, to suffer them hell fires of torment, hereafter, that he's kindled +so often around his victims on arth." + +At these words Ella started to her feet, and exclaiming wildly, + +"Who are they--who are Girty's victims?" sprung swiftly towards the +group, followed by Mrs. Younker. + +All eyes, from all quarters, were now turned upon her, as, like a +spirit, she glided noiselessly forward, her sweet countenance radiant +with the flush of excitement, her eyes dilated and sparkling, and her +glossy ringlets floating on the breeze. Curiosity could no longer remain +unsatisfied; and by one spontaneous movement, from every point of +compass, women and children now hurried toward the center of the common, +to gather the tidings. + +The quiet, modest, melancholy air of Ella, had, one time with another, +since her first appearance in the Station, attracted the attention, +and won the regard of its inmates; most of whom had made inquiries +concerning her, and learned the cause of her sadness; and now, as she +gained the crowd, each gazed upon her with a look of respect; and at +once moving aside to let her pass, she presently stood the central +attraction of an excited multitude, of both sexes, all ages and sizes. + +"Who are they?" cried she again, turning from one to the other, rapidly, +with an anxious look: "who are the victims of the renegade Girty?" + +"We were speaking, Miss Barnwell," answered a youth, of genteel +appearance, doffing his hat, and making at the same time a polite and +respectful bow: "We were speaking of the defeat, capture, and burning +of Colonel Crawford, by the Indians, in their own country, in which the +notorious Simon Girty is said to have taken an active part[19]--news +whereof has just reached us." + +At the mention of the name of Crawford, so different from the one she +was expecting to hear, the momentary insanity, or delusion of Ella, +vanished; she saw her position at a glance, and the hundred eyes that +were upon her; and instantly her face became suffused with blushes; +while she shrunk back, with a sense of maidenly shame and bashful +timidity, almost overpowering to herself, and really painful for others +to behold. She now strove to speak--to give an excuse for her singular +conduct--but her tongue failed her, and she would have sunk to the +earth, only for the support of Mrs. Younker, who at this moment gained +her side. + +"Never mind it. Miss Barnwell--it don't need any excuse--we understand +your feelings for lost friends," were some of the remarks from the +crowd, as the throng again made a passage for her to depart. + +"Goodness, gracious, marcy on me alive! what a splurge you did make +on't, darling!" said Mrs. Younker to Ella, as they moved away by +themselves. "Why, you jest kind o' started up, for all the world like a +skeered deer; and afore I could get my hands on ye, you war off like an +Injen's arrow. Well, thar, thar, poor gal--never mind it!" added the +good dame, consolingly, as Ella turned towards her a painful, imploring +look; "we all knows your feelings, darling, and so never mind it. +Mistakes will happen in the best o' families, as the Rev. Mr. Allprayer +used to say, when any body accused him o' doing any thing he hadn't +oughter a done." + +"Mother," said Ella, feebly, "I feel faint; this shock, I fear, may be +too much for my nervous system." + +"Oh! my child, darling, don't mind it--every body knows your +feelings--and nobody'll think any thing strange on't. In course you war +thinking o' your friends--as war nateral you should--and so war I; and +when I heerd the name o' that ripscallious renegade, it jest set my hull +blood to biling, like it war hot water, and I felt orful revengeful. But +the Lord's will be done, child. He knows what's best; and let us pray to +him, that ef our friends is among the land of the living, they may be +restored to us, or taken straight away to His presence." + +As Mrs. Younker said this, she and Ella entered the cottage. + +"Poor girl!" said a voice among the crowd, as soon as Ella was out of +hearing; "they do say as how she eats but little now, and scarcely takes +any rest at all lately, on account of the trouble of her mind. Poor +girl! she's not long for this world;" and the speaker shook his head +sadly. + +"But what is it?--what is it as troubles her so?" inquired an old woman, +in a voice tremulous with age, who, being somewhat of a new-comer, had +not heard the oft-repeated story. + +"I'll tell it ye--I'll tell it ye," answered another gossiping crone, +standing beside the querist, who, fearful of being forestalled, now +eagerly began her scandalous narration. + +Meantime, the male portion of the crowd had resumed their conversation, +concerning the unfortunate campaign of Crawford; during which manifold +invectives were bestowed upon the savages, and the renegade Girty. Some +of the more reckless among them were for raising another army, as soon +as possible, to pursue the Indians, even to the death, and spare none +that fell into their hands, neither the aged, women, nor children; but +these propositions were speedily overruled by cooler and wiser heads; +who stated that Kentucky had scarcely fighting men enough to protect +one another on their own ground--much less to march into the enemy's +country, and leave their wives and children exposed to certain +destruction. + +While these discussions were in progress, the attention of each was +suddenly arrested by the cry of some person from the right hand +block-house, looking toward the south, announcing that a single horseman +was approaching with a speed which betokened evil tidings. These were +times of excitement, when news of disaster and death was borne on almost +every breeze; and consequently all now sprung rapidly to the southern +pickets, where, through loop-holes and crevices in the partially decayed +pallisades, they perceived an individual riding as if for life. + +"How he rides!--Who is it?--What can have happened?" were some of the +remarks now rapidly uttered, as the horseman was seen bounding forward +on his foaming steed. Instantly the nearest gate was thrown open; and, +in less than two minutes, horse and rider stood within the enclosure, +surrounded by a breathless multitude, eager for his intelligence. + +"Arm!" cried the horseman, a good looking youth of eighteen: "Arm--all +that can be spared--and on to the rescue!" + +"What's happened, Dick Allison?" asked one who had recognized the rider. + +"I have it on the best authority," answered Dick, "that Hoy's Station +has just been attacked, by a large body of Indians, and Captain Holder +and his men defeated." + +"But whar d'ye get your news?" inquired another voice; while a look of +alarm, and resolute determination to avenge the fallen, could be seen +depicted on the upturned countenances of the assemblage. + +"I was riding in that direction, when I met a messenger on his way to +Lexington for assistance; and turning my horse, I spurred hither with +all speed." + +"Have the red devils got possession of the fort?" inquired another. + +"I am not certain, for I did not wait to hear particulars; but I'm under +the impression they have not, and that Holder was defeated outside the +walls." + +"Well, they must have assistance, and that as soon as it can be got +to 'em," rejoined a white-haired veteran, one of the head men of the +garrison, whose countenance was remarkable for its noble, benevolent +expression, and who, from love and veneration, was generally called +Father Albach. "It's too late in the day, though, to muster and march +thar to-night," continued the old man; "but we'll have our horses got up +and put in here to night, and our guns cleaned, and every thing fixed +for to start at daylight to-morrow. Eh! my gallant lads--what say ye?" +and he glanced playfully around upon the bystanders. + +"Yes--yes--yes--father!" cried a score of voices, in a breath; and the +next moment a long, loud cheer, attested the popularity of the old man's +decision. + +"Another cheer for Father Albach, and three more for licking the +ripscallious varmints clean to death!" cried our old acquaintance, Isaac +Younker, who, having been otherwise occupied during the discussion +concerning Crawford's defeat, had joined the crowd on the arrival of the +messenger. + +"Good for Ike," shouted one: "Hurray!" and four lusty cheers followed. + +All now became bustle and confusion, as each set himself to preparing +for the morrow's expedition. Guns were brought out and cleaned, +locks examined, new flints put in place of old ones, bullets cast, +powder-horns replenished, horses driven within the enclosure, saddles +and bridles overhauled, and, in fact, every thing requisite for the +journey was made ready as fast as possible. + +Isaac, on the present occasion, was by no means indolent; for having +examined his rifle, and found it in a good condition, he immediately +brought forth an old saddle and bridle, somewhat the worse for wear, and +set himself down to repairing them, wherever needed, by thongs of +deerskin. While engaged in this laudable occupation, a young lad came +running to and informed him, that there was a stranger down by the gate +who wished to speak with him immediately. + +"A stranger!" replied Isaac, looking up in surprise. "Why, what in the +name o' all creation can a stranger be wanting with me? Why don't he +come and see me, if he wants to see me, and not put me to all this here +trouble, jest when I'm gitting ready to go and lick some o' them red +heathen like all nater?" + +"Don't know, sir," answered the lad, "what his reasons be for not +coming, any more nor you; but he said to the man as opened the gate for +him, 'Is Isaac Younker in the fort?' and the man said, 'Yes;' and then +he said to me, 'Run, my little lad, and tell him to come here, and I'll +gin you some thing;' and that's all I knows about it." + +"Well, I 'spose I'll have to go," rejoined Isaac, rising to his feet; +"but I don't think much o' the feller as puts a gentleman to all this +here trouble, jest for nothing at all, as one may say, when a feller's +in a hurry too. Howsomever," continued he, soliloquizing, as he walked +forward in the proper direction, "I 'spect it's some chap as wants to +hoax me, or else he's putting on the extras; ef so, I'll fix him, so he +won't want to do it agin right immediately, I reckon." + +Thus muttering to himself, Isaac drew near the front gate, against +which, within the pallisades, the stranger in question was leaning, +with his hat pressed down over his forehead, as though he desired +concealment. His habiliments, after the fashion of the day, were +originally of a superior quality to those generally worn on the +frontiers, but soiled and torn in several places, as from the wear and +tear of a long, fatiguing journey. His features, what portion of them +could be seen under his hat, were pale and haggard, denoting one who had +experienced many and severe vicissitudes. As Isaac approached, he raised +his eyes from the ground, turned them full upon him, and then, taking a +step forward, said, in a voice tremulous with emotion: + +"Thank God! Isaac Younker, I am able to behold you once again." + +As a distinct view of his features fell upon the curious gaze of the +latter, and his voice sounded in his ear, Isaac paused for a moment, as +one stupefied with amazement; the next, he staggered back a pace or two, +dropped his hands upon his knees, in a stooping posture, as if to peer +more closely into the face of the stranger; and then bounding from the +earth, he uttered a wild yell of delight, threw his hat upon the ground +in a transport of joy, and rushed into the extended arms of Algernon +Reynolds, where he wept like a child upon his neck, neither of them able +to utter a syllable for something like a minute. + +"The Lord be praised!" were the first articulate words of Isaac, in a +voice choked with emotion. "God bless you! Mr. Reynolds;" and again the +tears of joy fell fast and long. "Is it you?" resumed he, again starting +back and gazing wildly upon the other, as if fearful of some mistake. +"Yes! yes! it's you--there's no mistaking that thar face--the dead's +come to life again, for sartin;" and once more he sprung upon the +other's neck, with all the apparent delight of a mother meeting with a +lost child. + +"Yes, yes, Isaac, thank God! it is myself you really behold--one who +never expected to see you again in this world," rejoined Algernon, +affected himself to tears, by the noble, heart-touching, affectionate +manner of his companion. "But--but Isaac--our friends here--are +they--all--all well, Isaac?" This was said in a voice, which, in spite +of the speaker's efforts to be calm, trembled from anxiety and +apprehension. + +"Why," answered Isaac, in a somewhat hesitating manner, "I don't know's +thar's any body exactly sick--but--" + +"But what, Isaac?" interrupted Algernon, with a start. + +"Why, Ella, you know--" + +"Yes, yes, Isaac--what of her?" and grasping him by the arm, Algernon +gazed upon the other's features with a look of alarm. + +"Now don't be skeered, Mr. Reynolds--thar han't nothing happened--only I +'spect she's bin a thinking o' you--who every body thought war dead--and +she's kind o' grown thin and pale on't, and we war gitting afeared it +might end badly; but as you've come now, I know as how it'll all be +right agin." + +Algernon released the speaker's arm, and for some moments gazed +abstractedly upon the ground; while over his countenance swept one of +those painful expressions of the deep workings of the soul, to which, +from causes known to the reader, he was subject. At length he said, with +a sigh: + +"Well, Isaac, I have come to behold her once again, and then--" + +He paused, apparently overpowered by some latent feeling. + +"And then!" said Isaac, repeating the words, with a look of surprise: +"I reckon you arn't a going to leave us agin soon, Mr. Reynolds?" + +"There are circumstances, unknown to you, friend Isaac, which I fear +will compel me so to do." + +"What!" cried the other; "start off agin, and put your scalp into the +hands of the infernal, ripscallious, painted Injens? No, by thunder! +you shan't do it, Mr. Reynolds; for sting me with a nest o' hornets, +ef I don't hang to ye like a tick to a sheep. No, no, Mr. Reynolds; +don't--don't think o' sech a thing. But come, go in and see Ella--she'd +be crazy ef she knew you war here." + +"Ay," answered Algernon, sadly, "that is what I fear. I dare not meet +her suddenly, Isaac--the shock might be too much for her nerves. I have +sent for you to go first and communicate intelligence of my arrival, in +a way to surprise her as little as possible." + +"I'll do it, Mr. Reynolds; but--(here Isaac's voice trembled, his +features grew pale as death, and his whole frame quivered with intense +emotion)--but--but my--my father--what--" + +He could say no more--his voice had completely failed him. + +"Alas! Isaac," replied Algernon, deeply affected, and turning away his +face; "think the worst." + +"Oh God!" groaned Isaac, covering his face with his hands, and +endeavoring to master his feelings. "But--but--he's dead, Mr. Reynolds?" + +"He is." + +For a few moments Isaac sobbed grievously; then withdrawing his hands, +and raising himself to an erect posture, with a look of resignation, +he said: + +"I--I can bear it now--for I know he's in Heaven. Stay here, Mr. +Reynolds, till I come back;" and he turned abruptly away. + +In a few minutes Isaac returned--his features calm, but very pale--and +silently motioned the other to follow him. On their way to the cottage, +they had to cross the common, where their progress was greatly impeded +by a crowd of persons, who, having heard of Algernon's arrival, were +deeply anxious to gather what tidings he might have concerning the +movements of the Indians. In reply, he informed them of the threats made +by Girty to him while a captive; and that, having since been a prisoner +of the British at Detroit, he had learned, from reliable sources, that +a grand army of the Indians was forming to march upon the frontiers, +attack some stronghold, and, if possible, desolate the entire country +of Kentucky; and that he believed they were already on their way. + +"More'n that, they're already here," cried a voice; "for it's them, I +'spect, as has attacked Hoy's Station, of which we've just got news, and +are gitting ready to march at daylight and attack them in turn. Arm, +boys, arm! Don't let us dally here, and be lagging when the time comes +to march and fight!" + +With this the speaker turned away, and the crowd instantly dispersed to +resume their occupations of preparing for the coming expedition, while +our hero and Isaac pressed forward to the cottage of Mrs. Younker. At +the door they were met by the good dame herself, who, with eyes wet with +tears, caught the proffered hand of Reynolds in both of hers, pressed it +warmly in silence, and led him into the house. Ella, who was seated at a +short distance, on the entrance of Algernon, rose to her feet, took a +step forward, staggered back, and the next moment her insensible form +was caught in the arms of the being she loved, but had long mourned as +dead. + + +[Footnote 19: This happened in June, 1782. For particulars of Crawford's +disastrous campaign, and horrible fate--_See Howe's Ohio_, p. 542.] + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE ALARM AND STRATAGEM. + + +It was late at night; but still Algernon Reynolds sat beside Ella +Barnwell, relating the sad story of his many hair-breadth escapes and +almost intolerable sufferings. A rude sort of light, on a rough table, a +few feet distant, threw its faint gleams over the homely apartment, and +revealed the persons of Isaac and his mother, his wife and her parents, +together with several others, attracted hither by curiosity, grouped +around our hero, and listening to his thrilling narrative with +breathless attention. + +"After being sufficiently recovered from my wound and bruises, to +proceed upon my journey, (continued Reynolds, to resume the account +of his adventures since leaving him at Piqua) Girty came to me, and +inquired what I thought of my fate, and how I felt concerning it; to +which I replied, rather briefly, that it was no worse than I had +expected, since knowing into whose hands I had fallen. + +"'Perhaps you think to escape?' said he, sneeringly. + +"'I have no such hope,' I replied. + +"'No, and by ----! you needn't have, either,' rejoined he, with a savage +grin; 'for I'm determined you shall experience the torture to its +fullest extent, if for nothing else than to revenge myself on you for +your insults. I have only one thing to regret; and that is, that you +didn't suffer in place of Younker, who is the only one whose torments I +would I had had no hand in. But you--_you_ I could see tormented +forever, and laugh heartily throughout. But I'll wreak my vengeance on +you yet; I will by ----!' and with these words he left me to the charge +of my guards, with whom he spoke a short time in the Indian +tongue--probably giving them instructions of caution regarding myself. + +"It was about mid-day, when, with my arms tightly bound, we set off +for Upper Sandusky, where, as I had previously been informed by Girty, +I was condemned to suffer before the assembled tribes of the different +nations, who would there shortly meet to receive their annual presents +from the British. Our march, very fatiguing to myself, was without +incident worthy of note, until one night we arrived at a small village +on the Scioto river, where one of my guards, who could speak a little +English, informed me resided the celebrated Mingo chief, Logan. A +thought suddenly flashed across my brain. I had often heard of Logan, +as the great and good chief, humane in his principles, and friendly +to the whites--particularly those who were signally unfortunate--and it +occurred to me, that could I gain an interview, I might perhaps prevail +upon him to assist me in making my escape; and accordingly I at once +expressed to my informant my desire of beholding one so celebrated. To +my great delight, he replied that it was in Logan's cabin I was to pass +the night--such being the private orders, as I afterwards learned, of +Black Hoof--who had, it seems, from some cause unknown to myself, formed +the design of saving my life; and had sent by the Indian in question, +a verbal request to Logan, to use all his influence to this effect. + +"As we entered the village, we were immediately surrounded by men, women +and children, who stared hard at me, but offered no violence. In a few +minutes we gained Logan's hut, in the door of which I observed standing +an old, noble-looking warrior, with a commanding form, and mild, +benevolent countenance, who proved to be the chief himself. To him one +of my guards now addressed a few words in Indian; and uttering a grunt, +and looking closely at me some seconds, he moved aside, and we all +passed in. Here I soon had a good supper of homminy provided me, whereof +I did not partake lightly, having been from sunrise to sunset without +tasting a morsel of food. Immediately after I had finished my repast, +Logan approached me, and, in tolerable good English, said: + +"'White man, where from?' + +"I motioned toward the east, and answered: + +"'From sunrise--away beyond the big mountains.' + +"Logan shook his head sadly, and replied, with a sigh: + +"'Ah! so all come. Poor Indian get run over--he no place lay he head. +But how you come all tied so?' + +"In answer, I entered into a full explanation of all that had occurred +respecting the proceedings of Girty, from first to last. Logan listened +throughout with great attention, shook his head, and rejoined: + +"'Ah! Simon Girty bad man--berry. Me always think so. Me sorry for you. +Me do all me can for you. You shall sleep here. Me promise you nothing. +Me tell you more sometime--to-morrow mebby!' + +"With this he rose and left the cottage, and I saw him no more that +night. + +"Early in the morning, however, he came to me, and said that I was to +remain at his cabin through the day; that he had laid a plan to effect +my release from death, but not from captivity--the latter not being in +accordance with his principles, nor in his power; that for this purpose +he had despatched two young braves to Upper Sandusky, to speak a word +in my favor; but that I must not be elated with hope, as it was very +doubtful how much they might effect.[21] Notwithstanding his caution to +the contrary, my spirits became exceedingly exhilarated; and grasping +his hand in both mine, I pressed it to my heart in silence; while my +eyes became suffused with tears, and the old chief himself seemed not +a little affected. + +"Late the night following, the messengers returned; and on the morning +succeeding, we resumed our journey. In parting from the noble old chief, +he shook my hand cordially, but gave me no intimation of what would +probably be my fate. + +"When within sight of Upper Sandusky, crowds of warriors, women and +children came out to meet us, and, seeing me, set up many a hideous +yell, until I again became alarmed for my safety, and fearful that Logan +had not succeeded in his magnanimous design. This impression was the +more strongly confirmed, shortly after, by one of my guides informing me +that I must again run the gauntlet. Accordingly every preparation being +speedily effected, I started upon the course; but possessing more +strength and activity than before, and a better knowledge of what I had +to perform, I succeeded in breaking through the lines, and reaching the +council house unharmed. Here I was safe for the present; or until, as I +was informed, my fate should once more be decided by a grand council. + +"The council in question was speedily convened; and on the opening +thereof, a British agent, one Captain Druyer, made his appearance, +and requested permission to address the assemblage, which was readily +granted. He spoke rapidly, for a few minutes, with great vehemence; and +though I understood not a word he uttered, yet something whispered me it +was in my favor; for I observed that the glances directed towards me, +were milder far than those on my previous trial. + +"To sum up briefly, it seems that Logan had despatched his messengers to +Druyer, urging him to exert all his influence in obtaining my reprieve; +and to effect this humane design, the latter had begun by stating to +the Indians that their great white father, of whom he was an humble +representative, was at war with the Long Knives; that nothing would +please him better, than to hear of his red children having sacrificed +all their enemies; but that in war, policy was ofttimes more effectual +than personal revenge in accomplishing their destruction; and that he +doubted not, if the prisoner present were put in his possession and +taken to Detroit, that the great white chiefs of his own nation would +there be able to extort from him such valuable information as would +make the final conquest of the Long Knives comparatively easy. To this +proposition, which was received rather coldly, he had added, that for +this privilege he was willing to pay a fair recompense; and that so soon +as all the information necessary had been gleaned from the prisoner, he +should, if thought advisable, again be returned to them, to be put to +death or not, as they might see proper. To this arrangement, all having +at last consented, the gallant Captain advanced to me, shook my hand, +and said that my life was for the present safe, and that I was to +accompany him to Detroit, where I would be treated as a prisoner of war. + +"It is impossible to describe my feelings, on hearing this joyful +intelligence; therefore I shall leave you to imagine them, aided as you +will be by your own experience under similar circumstances. And now let +me close my long narrative as briefly as possible; for the hour is +already late, and I must rise betimes on the morrow to join this +expedition against the savages." + +"Surely, Algernon," exclaimed Ella, with pale features, "you are not +going to leave us again so soon?" + +"Where duty calls, Ella, there is my place; and if I fall in honorable +action, in defence of my country and friends, perchance my life may +atone for matters whereof _you_ are not ignorant." + +Ella buried her face in her hands, to conceal her emotion; and Algernon, +with an effort at composure, again proceeded. + +"At Detroit I experienced kind treatment, as a prisoner of war; but +still it was captivity, and I longed for freedom. Many, many an hour +did I employ in planning my escape; yet month upon month rolled on, and +still I remained in durance. At last startling rumors reached me, that +the Indians of the different tribes were banding together, to march upon +the frontiers and depopulate the country; and remembering the savage +threat of Girty, I doubted not he was the instigator, and would be +leader of the expedition; and I determined, at all hazards, if such a +thing were in the province of possibility, to effect my escape, and give +the country warning of the impending danger. To be brief, I succeeded, +as my presence here tells for itself; but no one knows, save myself, and +He who knows all things, the misery I suffered from fatigue, lack of +food, and the fear of again being captured by some roving band of +savages--the which I shall detail, perhaps, should my life be spared me, +at some future period, but not at the present. + +"I swam the Ohio, a short distance above the Falls, and made my way, +to the best of my judgment, directly towards Boonesborough, where I +arrived, a few days since, in a state of complete exhaustion. The noble +old hunter received me warmly; from whose lips I heard, with thrilling +emotion, the particulars of the pursuit, headed by himself, and the +rescue of two of my dearest friends, their present abode, as also many +startling events that had transpired during my absence; and in return, +I communicated to him the alarming intelligence which I have before +alluded to. So soon as I felt myself sufficiently strong for the +journey, I left Boonesborough for Bryan's Station, and here I am, and +thus my tale." + +"And a mighty tough time you've had on't Mr. Reynolds, for sartin, and +no mistake," rejoined Mrs. Younker, with a sigh, wiping her eyes. "Ah! +me--poor Ben!--poor Ben!--I'm a widder now in arnest. Well, the Lord's +will be done. The good Book says, 'The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh +away, blessed be the name of the Lord;' and them good words, my children +and friends, must be our consolation." + +But little more was said; for each of the party felt oppressed with a +weight of sadness, at the thought of the many mournful events a year had +brought forth; and as the hour was late, each and all presently betook +themselves to rest. + +Meantime, the preparations of the garrison for the morrow had been going +forward in every part of the station; lights were moving to and fro; and +all within the cabins, and on the common, was bustle and activity. At +last the sounds gradually ceased, the lights went out one by one, and +all finally became tranquil for the night. + +About an hour before day-break, the sleepers began to rouse themselves, +and all was soon again in commotion. Horses were led forth, saddled, +returned and fed, and every thing got in readiness to throw open the +gates and march forth so soon as it should become sufficiently light for +the purpose. + +At last came the exciting moment of all. Some were standing in groups, +and weeping bitterly at the thought of parting, perhaps for the last +time, with their fathers, husbands and sons; some were running to and +fro with anxious messages; some were clasping each other to their +hearts, in agonizing silence, and praying in secret that the Great Ruler +of all might preserve and happily restore them again to the idols of +their affections; some had mounted their noble steeds, or were leading +them forth for the purpose--and all was in Babel-like confusion. + +"Farewell, my friends," said Algernon, as he stood in the door of Mrs. +Younker's cottage, grasping one after another the proffered hands of +its weeping inmates, among whom was the wife and mother-in-law of +Isaac. "Farewell, dearest Ella; we may never meet again on earth. +Farewell--farewell!" and pressing her hand to his lips, he rushed +forth with a heaving heart, not daring to trust himself longer in her +presence. + +Isaac and his father-in-law followed the example of Reynolds, moved away +with weeping eyes, and all were quickly in their saddles. + +A few minutes later the roll was called, and the order given by the +commanding officer to form in double file and throw open the eastern +gate. Scarcely were the words uttered, when there arose a series of +terrific Indian yells, accompanied by a volley of firearms, and every +face became blanched with surprise and dismay, and looked from one to +the other in astonishment. + +"By heavens!" cried a voice; "our fighting 'll be at home, I reckon, +judging by the specimen before us." + +Dismounting from their horses, the garrison, together with many of the +women and children, now rushed to the southern pickets, where, through +loop-holes and crevices, they beheld, only a few rods distant, about +a hundred savages, running to and fro, jumping up and down, whooping, +yelling, screeching and firing at the station, accompanied with all +the wild, fantastic gestures of loosened madmen. + +"Thar's not more nor a hundred o' the varmints, any how," cried Isaac; +"and I reckon as how we can jest lick them, and no mistake. Hurray for +a fight." + +"Hurray for a fight!" echoed a dozen voices, as they rushed back to +remount their horses. + +"Hold!" cried the deep voice of Father Albach. "Hold! lads; don't do +things rash! Them Indians wouldn't be dancing and sky-larking round that +way, ef thar warn't some object in it, you may depend on." + +"And that's my opinion too," answered another gray-headed veteran. "The +fact is, they're only a decoy party, sent our thar from the main body, +jest to draw us out, so that the others can rush on and make an easy +conquest on't. I tell you, friends, thar's no mistaking it; we're +surrounded by a tremendous body o' the red heathen, and we're likely to +have warm work on't. I've lived in the woods all my life, and I know the +nater of the painted varmints as well as I know my own. Ef them war all +thar war on 'em, we'd have seen very different proceedings, I assure +you." + +"But what's to be done?" cried several voices in consternation. + +"I would suggest that we send immediately to Lexington for a +reinforcement," spoke up Reynolds, in reply. + +"Who'll volunteer to go with me on the dangerous mission?" cried a young +man, by the name of Bell. + +"I will!" instantly responded another, called Tomlinson. + +"Brave lads!" returned Father Albach. "You'll be doing us and your +country a service, which we at least will ever gratefully remember. I'd +advise your leaving by the western gate, riding round the station, and +keeping away to the right, and you'll maybe pass them without trouble. +But ef you go, now's your only chance." + +As he spoke, the young men in question sprung forward to their horses, +and immediately quitted the fort, amid cheers for their gallantry and +courage, and prayers for their safety and success. + +A council of the leading men was now speedily convened to deliberate +upon the best means of insuring the safety of themselves, their wives, +and children. + +"They'll no doubt attack us on the western side," said Father Albach, +"where the pallisades are somewhat out o' kilter; and it's my opinion, +that we'd better repair them as soon as possible, and station the main +part of the garrison thar, ready to receive 'em with a military salute, +while we send out a few o' our young men to fire on them as is in sight, +to deceive the others; for I believe with neighbor Nickolson, here, that +thar's a large party in ambush close by." + +"Ay, and doubtless led by the renegade," said Reynolds; "as I presume +this Indian army is the same whose approach I have foretold. Thank God!" +added he, with energy and emotion, as his mind reverted to Ella, "that +they came as they did; for an hour later, and they would have found the +fort defenceless, when all within would have been food for the tomahawk +and scalping knife." + +He shuddered at the thought, and placed his hand to his eyes. + +"Indeed, it seems like a direct Providence in our favor," rejoined +another. + +"But thar's one thing you've overlooked, in your proposition, Albach," +said the old veteran called Nickolson. "Ef the seige be protracted, what +are we to do for water?" + +Each face of the company blanched, and turned toward the speaker with a +startled look. It was a question of the most grave importance, and all +felt it to be so. The spring was without the pallisades, as we have +previously mentioned, on the northwestern side of the station. The path +to it was through a rank growth of tall weeds, wherein the main body of +the Indians was supposed to be concealed--so that, should the garrison +venture forth in that direction, they would in all probability be cut +off, and the fort fall into the possession of the enemy. This of course +was not to be thought of. But what was to be done? To be without water +in a protected siege, was a dangerous and painful alternative. In this +agitating dilemma, one of the council suddenly exclaimed: + +"I have it!--I have it!" All looked at the speaker in breathless +expectation. "I have it!" continued he joyfully. "The women!--the +women!" + +"The women!" echoed several voices at once. + +"Ay! you know they're in the habit of going for water--and this the +savages know too--and ef they venture forth by themselves, as usual, the +wily scoundrels will be deceived for once--for they won't mistrust thar +hiding place is known; and as thar object is to carry the fort by +stratagem, they won't unmask till they hear firing on t'other side." + +"Good!--good!" exclaimed several voices; and forthwith the council +proceeded to summon all the women of the station, and make known their +plan for procuring a supply of water. + +Not a little consternation was expressed in the faces of the latter, +when informed of the perilous undertaking required of them. + +"What! go right straight in among the Injen warmints--them male +critters?" cried an old maid, holding up her hands in horror. + +"Do you think we're invisible, and they can't see us?" said a second. + +"Or bullet proof?" added a third. + +"Or that our scalps arn't worth as much as yourn?" rejoined a fourth. + +"Or of so little account you arn't afeared to lose us?" put in a fifth. + +"We don't think any thing o' the kind," returned the spokesman on the +part of the council; "but we do think, as I before explained, that you +can go and come in safety; and that ef we don't have a supply o' water, +we're likely to perish any how, and might as well throw open the gates +and be butchered at once." + +This last brief speech produced the desired effect, and a few words from +Mrs. Younker completely carried the day. + +"Is this here a time," she cried, with enthusiasm, her eyes flashing as +she spoke, "to be hanging back, till the all important moment's gone by, +and then choke to death for want o'water? What's our lives any more'n +the men's, that we should be so orful skeered about a few ripscallious, +painted varmints, as arn't o' no account, no how? Han't I bin amongst +'em once?--and didn't the Lord preserve me?--and shall I doubt His +protection now, when a hundred lives is at stake? No! no! I'm not +skeered; and I'll go, too, ef I has to go alone. Who'll follow me?" + +"I will!" cried one. + +"And I!" said a second. + +"We'll all go!" exclaimed several voices. + +Dispersing in every direction, each flew to her own cabin, and seizing +upon a bucket, hurried to the rear gate, where, all being assembled, +they were at once given exit.[20] + +Perhaps in the whole annals of history, a more singular proceeding than +this--of men allowing their wives and daughters to deliberately put +themselves into the power of a ferocious, blood-thirsty enemy, and women +with nerve and courage to dare all so bravely--can not be found. But +these were times of stern necessity, when each individual--man, woman +or child--was called upon to dare and do that which would surprise and +startle their descendants. Still it must not be supposed that they, on +either side, were without fears, and those of the most alarming kind. +Many a palpitating heart moved over the ground to the spring, and many +a pale face was reflected in its placid waters; while many a courageous +soul within the fort trembled at the thought of the venture, and what +might be its result, as they had never done before--even with death +staring them in the face--and as they probably would never do again. +Each party, however, knew the step taken to be a serious alternative; +and the women believed that on their caution and presence of mind, their +own lives, and those of their fathers, husbands, and children were +depending; and in consequence of this, they assumed an indifference and +gaiety the most foreign to their present feelings. As for Algernon, +we leave the task to lovers of imagining his feelings, when he saw the +lovely Ella depart with the rest. It was indeed a most anxious time +for all; but the stratagem succeeded to a charm; and, to use the words +of a historian on the subject, "Although their steps became quicker +and quicker on their return, and, when near the gate of the fort, +degenerated into a rather unmilitary celerity, attended with some +little crowding in passing the aperture, yet not more than one-fifth of +the water was spilled, and the eyes of the youngest had not dilated to +more than double their ordinary size." + + +[Footnote 20: In both the foregoing and subsequent details, we have +followed history to the letter.] + +[Footnote 21: The reader, familiar with the history of the early +pioneers of Kentucky, will doubtless observe a similarity between the +account given by Reynolds of his escape from captivity, and that of Gen. +Simon Kenton, as narrated by his biographer, Col. John McDonald.] + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE ATTACK AND RESULT. + + +Meantime the repairing of the pallisades had been going bravely forward, +every moment rendering the garrison more and more secure, which served +not a little to revive their spirits; and when at length the women had +all entered, the gate been barred, and they had seen themselves well +supplied with water, they could restrain their feelings no longer, and +one grand, simultaneous cheer burst from their lips. + +"Now then," said Father Albach, "let 'em come, and I reckon as how +they'll meet with a warm reception. But to draw 'em on, we must send out +a party to make a feint to fight the others." + +Thirteen young men, among whom was Isaac, were accordingly selected, +to pass out by the eastern gate and commence firing rapidly; while the +remainder, with loaded muskets, were to range themselves along the +western pickets, and be ready to pour their deadly contents into the +swarthy horde of besiegers, in case their attack should be made in that +quarter. As the young men departed, all relapsed into a solemn silence +of anxious suspense; which was presently broken by the rapid discharge +of firearms, outside the fort, accompanied with cheers and yells from +both the whites and Indians. Now was the all important moment--the war +sounds were gradually growing more and more distant--and every eye of +the inner garrison was strained in breathless expectation, in the +direction of the spring, while every rifle was cocked and in rest, ready +for any emergency. + +Suddenly the tall weeds--which a moment before had been quietly waving +in the morning breeze--became dreadfully agitated; and the next instant, +as if by magic, the ground was peopled by some five hundred hideous +savages; who, led on by the notorious renegade, now rushed forward, with +wild frantic yells, to the western pallisades, where our gallant little +band stood drawn up ready to receive them. They had advanced in a +tremendous body, to within a few feet of the fort, when the word "Fire," +uttered in a clear, manly voice, resounded above their own frightful +yells, and was followed the next moment by a terrible volley of leaden +balls, that carried death and terror into their serried ranks. With one +simultaneous yell of rage, consternation, and disappointment, they +halted a moment in indecision; when another death-dealing volley, from +the gallant Kentuckians, decided their course of action; and again +yelling fearfully, they parted to the right and left, and bearing their +dead and wounded with them, rushed for the covert of a neighboring +forest. At the same moment, the party which had sallied forth upon the +Lexington road, to make a feint of attacking their decoys, entered the +fort by the eastern gate, in high spirits at the success of their +maneuver. + +The warfare was now carried on in the usual manner, after the failure of +stratagem, for several hours, with but little success on either side. +The block-houses were immediately manned by the garrison, who by this +means could command every point of compass; and whenever an Indian +came in sight, he was at once made the target for three or four keen +riflemen, who rarely missed their mark. In consequence of this, the +wily savage rarely showed himself in an open manner; but would creep +stealthily among the tall weeds, or among the tall standing corn, that +covered about an hundred acres of ground on the southern side of the +station, or ensconce himself behind some stump or trunk of a tree in +the vicinity, and discharge his rifle at any mark thought suitable, +or let fly his burning arrows upon the roofs of the cabins. To avoid, +if possible, a conflagration, every boy of ten years and upwards, was +ordered upon the roofs of the houses, to throw off these burning +missiles; but notwithstanding their great vigilance, so rapidly were +they sent at one period, that two of the cabins, being in a very +combustible state, took fire, to the great consternation of all, and, +before they could be extinguished, were totally consumed. Here again the +hand of an overruling Providence was manifest; for a light wind drove +the flames from the other buildings, and thus a terrible and fatal +calamity was averted. + +From the attack in the morning by the main body, a sharp fire was +maintained on both sides till towards noon; when it began to slacken +considerably; and a little past meridian ceased altogether--the savages +having withdrawn for another purpose, as we shall show anon, leaving the +garrison in suspense as to whether they had totally abandoned the siege +or not. + +We have previously stated that Bryan's Station stood on a gentle rise on +the southern bunk of the Elkhorn, whereby it commanded a view of much +of the surrounding country. A considerable portion of the land in the +immediate vicinity had been cleared and was under cultivation; but +still, in some places, the forest approached to a close proximity; so +that it was impossible, without traversing the ground, to determine +whether the foe had withdrawn altogether, or, as was more probable, now +lay hidden therein, awaiting an unguarded moment of the besieged to +renew hostilities. Where the Maysville and Lexington road now runs, was +a long narrow lane, bounded on one side by the large cornfield before +alluded to, and on the other by a heavy wood. Through this lane the +reinforcements from Lexington must naturally pass, to reach the station; +and knowing this, and that they were expected, (for the escape of the +two couriers in the morning had not been overlooked) the Indians, to +the number of more than three hundred, had concealed themselves in the +thicket, within pistol shot of the road, and were now quietly waiting to +cut them off. + +Notwithstanding the quiet which had succeeded the sounds of warfare, the +garrison were still on the lookout, fearful of being surprised. In this +manner an hour or two passed away, without any event occurring worth +being recorded, when a voice shouted joyfully: + +"The Lexington reinforcements are at hand!" + +In a moment the whole station was in commotion--men, women, and children +rushing to the block-houses and pallisades nearest to and overlooking +the long lane just mentioned. The force in question numbered some +sixteen horsemen, and about twice as many foot; who, not having heard +any firing, nor seen any savages thus far, were somewhat carelessly +approaching the fort at a leisure pace, thinking, as was not uncommon in +those times of danger, when such things were often exaggerated, that +perhaps the alarm had been unfounded, or, at the most, based only on +slight grounds. They had been overtaken on the road between Lexington +and Hoy's station, for which place they had marched on receiving the +news of Holder's defeat, and had been informed by Tomlinson and Bell +that Bryan's station was surrounded by a large body of Indians, of whose +numbers they knew nothing. On hearing this, and knowing the unguarded +condition of Lexington, they had instantly turned back, and pressed +forward at what speed they could to the assistance of their neighbors, +of whom they were now in sight. + +"Great Heaven!" cried the voice of the look-out, at this moment, in +consternation. "See!--see!--they are ambushed, and will all be cut off!" + +As he spoke, a long rolling line of fire could he discerned; and +presently was heard the report of a tremendous volley of musketry, +followed by a cloud of dust and smoke, which for a time completely hid +them from view. In a few minutes, however, the horsemen were seen close +at hand, spurring forward with lightning speed. Some three or four +individuals instantly sprung to and threw open the eastern gate, and in +less than two minutes they reined in their panting steeds in the court +of the station. At the first shot of the savages, they had put spurs to +their horses, and, as the ground was very dry, a cloud of dust had +instantly enveloped them, by which means, fortunately, every one of them +had escaped unharmed, although on their way they had drawn the fire of +more than three hundred Indian rifles, successively discharged at them +while passing the lines of the ambuscade. Not thus easily, however, +escaped their companions on foot. + +At the commencement of the firing, these latter were advancing toward +the station through the cornfield, and, being completely hidden from +the savages thereby, they might, had they pressed rapidly forward, have +gained the fort in safety. Not so was their conduct. They were brave, +hot-blooded, noble men. They could not think of flying and leaving their +friends in danger; and more noble and reckless than wise and prudent, +they turned and rushed to their assistance. They saw their error, but +too late to retrieve it. Their friends had fled, and were safe, but +they were now placed within a few paces of three hundred blood-thirsty +warriors. On seeing them, the savages uttered the most hideous yells, +rushed forward and cut them off from the fort, and then sprung after +them, tomahawk in hand. Luckily, however, for our little band of heroes, +the Indians had just discharged their rifles, and their own were loaded; +by which means, when hard pressed, they turned and kept their foes at +bay--the savage, in all cases, being too cautious to rush upon a weapon +so deadly, with only a tomahawk wherewith to defend himself. Moreover, +the corn was stout and tall, among which they ran and dodged with great +agility; and whenever an Indian halted to load his rifle, the fugitive +for whom its contents were designed, generally managed, by extra +exertion, to gain a safe distance before it was completed, and thus +effect his escape. Some five or six, however, were so unfortunate as +to be knocked or shot down, when they were immediately tomahawked and +scalped; but the remainder, in various directions and by various +artifices, succeeded in making their escape. A few reached the fort in +a roundabout manner; but the main body of them returned to Lexington; +where, had the savages followed them, they would have found an easy +conquest. Fortunately for the whites, however, the red men were not +so inclined; and pursuing them a few hundred yards only, the latter +abandoned the chase as hopeless. + +One of the most active and ferocious on the part of the Indians during +this skirmish, which lasted nearly an hour, was Simon Girty. Enraged to +madness at the failure of his stratagem in the morning, he gnashed his +teeth and rushed after the fugitives, with all the fury depicted on his +countenance of a demon let loose from the infernal regions of Pluto. Two +with his own hand he sent to their last account; and was in hot pursuit +of a third--a handsome, active youth--who, being hard pressed, turned +round, and raising his rifle to his shoulder, with a scornful smile upon +his face, bitterly exclaimed, as he discharged it: + +"Take that, you ---- renegade, and see how it'll digest!" + +As he fired, Girty fell, and perceiving this, the Indians, with a yell +of despair, instantly gathered round him, while the man effected his +escape. This closed the exciting contest of the cornfield--which had +been witnessed throughout from the station with feelings better imagined +than described--but, unfortunately for humanity, did not end the career +of Girty; for the ball had taken effect in his shot pouch instead of his +body; and though wounded, his case was in no wise critical; and he was +soon able to take his place at the council fire, to deliberate upon what +further should be done.[22] + +The council alluded to, lasted some two or three hours. The Indians were +disheartened at their loss in the morning, and the failure of all their +stratagems, even to cutting off the reinforcements of the enemy. They +were sufficiently convinced they could not carry the fort by storm; and +they also believed it unsafe to longer remain where they were; as the +alarm of their presence had spread far and wide, and there was no +telling at what moment a force equal to their own might be brought +against them; therefore, they were now anxious to abandon the siege and +return home. Girty, however, was by no means satisfied with the turn +matters had taken. He had with great difficulty and masterly persuasion +succeeded in getting them to unite and march in a body (contrary to +their usual mode of warfare, which consisted in skirmishing with small +parties,) against the whites; and he now felt that his reputation was in +a manner staked on the issue; consequently he could illy bear to leave +without the trial of one more stratagem. This he made known to the +chiefs of the council, and offered, in case of failure, to retreat with +them at once. + +As this last design of Girty was merely to deceive the whites, and +frighten them into capitulation, without any further risk to themselves, +the Indians agreed to it, and the council broke up. + +It was nearly sundown; and every one in the station had been on the +alert, ready to repel another attack should the Indians renew +hostilities, as was not unlikely, when a voice cried out: + +"Hang me to the nearest cross-bar, ef the red sons of Satan hav'nt sent +out a flag of truce!" + +This at once drew the attention of most of the garrison to a small white +flag on a temporary pole, which at no great distance was gradually +nearing them, supported in an upright position by some object crawling +along on the ground. At length the object gained a stump; and having +mounted it, was at once recognized by Reynolds as the renegade--although +Girty on this expedition had doffed the British uniform, in which we +once described him, and now appeared in a costume not unlike his swarthy +companions. + +"Halloo the garrison!" he shouted. + +"Halloo yourself!--what's wanted?" cried a voice back again. + +"Respect this flag of truce, and listen!" rejoined Girty; and waving it +from side to side as he spoke, he again proceeded: "Courage can do much +in war, and is in all cases a noble trait, which I for one do ever +respect; but there may be circumstances where manly courage can avail +nothing, and where to practice it only becomes fool-hardy, and is sure +to draw down certain destruction on the actor or actors. Such I hasten +to assure you, gentlemen, is exactly your case in the present instance. +No one admires the heroism which you have, one and all, even to your +women and children, this day displayed, more than myself; but I feel it +my duty to inform you that henceforth the utmost daring of each and +all of you combined can be of no avail whatever. Resistance on your +part will henceforth be a crime rather than a virtue. It is to save +bloodshed, and you all from a horrible fate, that I have ventured hither +at the risk of my life. You are surrounded by an army of six hundred +savages. To-morrow there will be a large reinforcement with cannon; +when, unless you surrender now, your bulwark will be demolished, and +you, gentlemen, with your wives and children, will become victims +to an unrelenting, cruel foe. Death will then be the mildest of your +punishments. I would save you from this. I am one of your race; and, +although on the side of your enemy, would at this time counsel and act +toward you a friendly part. Do you not know me? I am Simon Girty--an +agent of the British. Take my advice and surrender now your fort into +my hands, and I swear to you not a single hair of your heads shall be +harmed. But if you hold out until you are carried by storm I can not +save you; for the Indians will have become thirsty for your blood, +and no commander on earth could then restrain them. Be not hasty in +rejecting my friendly offer. It is for your good I have spoken--and so +weigh the matter well. I pause for an answer." + +The effect of Girty's speech upon the garrison, was to alarm them not a +little. His mention of reinforcements with cannon, caused many a stout +heart to tremble, and many a face to blanch and turn to its neighbor +with an expression of dismay. Against cannon they knew, as Girty stated, +resistance would be of no avail; and cannon had, in 1780, advanced up +the Licking Valley, and destroyed Riddle's and Martin's stations. If +Girty told the truth, their case was truly alarming. + +As the renegade concluded, Reynolds--who saw the effect his words had +produced, and who, knowing him better than any of the others, believed +his whole tale to be false--at once begged leave to reply for the +garrison, which was immediately granted. Placing himself in full view of +Girty, he answered as follows, in a tone of raillery: + +"Well done, my old worthy companion! and are you really there, carrying +out another of your noble and humane designs? When, O when, I humbly beg +to know, will your philanthropic efforts end? I suppose not until death +has laid his claim, and the devil has got his due. You ask us if we know +you. What! not know the amiable Simon Girty, surnamed the Renegade? +Could you indeed for a moment suppose such a thing possible? Know you? +Why, we have an untrusty, worthless cur-dog in the fort here, that has +been named Simon Girty, in compliment to you--he is so like you in every +thing that is ugly, wicked and mean. You say you expect reinforcements +of artillery. Well, if you stay in this quarter long, I know of no one +that will be more likely to need them than yourself and the cowardly +cut-throats who call you chief. We too expect reinforcements; for +the country is roused in every direction; and if you remain here +twenty-four hours longer, the scalps of yourself and companions will +be drying on our cabins. Bring on your cannon and blaze away as soon +as you please! We shall fear you not, even then; for if you succeed in +entering, along with your naked, rascally companions, we shall set our +old women to work, and have you scourged to death with rods, of which we +have on hand a goodly stock for the purpose. And now to wind up, allow +me to say I believe you to be a liar, and _know_ you to be a most +depraved, inhuman villain. This knowledge of your character is not +second-hand. I paid dearly for it, by a year's captivity. I defied +you when in your power: I spit at and defy you now in behalf of the +garrison! My name you may remember. It is Algernon Reynolds. What would +you more?"[23] + +"Would that I had you in my power again," shouted back Girty; "for +by ----! I would willingly forego all other vengeance on the whites, to +take my revenge on you. I regret the garrison did not choose some one +to reply who was not already doomed to death. It was my desire to save +bloodshed; but my offer has been rejected from the mouth of one I hate; +and now I leave you to your fate. To-morrow morning will see your +bulwarks in ruins, and yourselves, your wives and little ones, in the +power of a foe that never forgives an injury nor forgets an insult. +Farewell till then! I bide my time." + +As Girty concluded altogether, he began to ease himself down from the +stump, when his progress was not a little accelerated by hearing a voice +from the garrison cry out: + +"Shoot the ---- rascal!--don't let him escape!" + +Instantly some five or six rifles were brought to bear upon him; and +his fate might then have been decided forever, had not the voice of +Nickolson warned them to beware of firing upon a flag of truce. Girty, +however, made good his retreat, and the garrison was disturbed no more +that night. Before morning the Indians, after having killed all the +domestic cattle they could find belonging to the station, began their +retreat; and by daylight their camp was deserted; though many of their +fires were still burning brightly, and several pieces of meat were found +on roasting-sticks around them, all showing a late and hasty departure. + + +[Footnote 22: The foregoing is strictly authentic.] + +[Footnote 23: This celebrated reply of Reynolds to Girty, is published, +with but slight variations, in all the historical sketches that we have +seen relating to the attack on Bryan's Station and is, perhaps, familiar +to the reader.] + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE FOE PURSUED. + + +As Algernon had stated to Girty, the country was indeed roused to a +sense of their danger. The news of the storming of Bryan's Station +had spread fast and far; and, early on the day succeeding the attack, +reinforcements began to come in from all quarters; so that by noon of +the fourth day, the station numbered over one hundred and eighty +fighting men. + +Colonel Daniel Boone, accompanied by his son Israel, and brother Samuel, +commanded a considerable force from Boonesborough--Colonel Stephen +Trigg, a large company from Harrodsburgh--and Colonel John Todd, the +militia from Lexington. A large portion of these forces was composed +of commissioned officers, who, having heard of the attack on Bryan's +Station by an overwhelming body of Indians, had hurried to the scene of +hostilities, and, like brave and gallant soldiers as they were, had at +once taken their places in the ranks as privates. Most noted among those +who still held command under the rank of Colonel, were Majors Harlan, +McGary, McBride, and Levi Todd; and Captains Bulger, Patterson and +Gordon. + +Of those now assembled, Colonel Todd, as senior officer, was allowed to +take command--though, from the tumultuous council of war which was held +in the afternoon, it appears that each had a voice, and that but little +order was observed. It was well known that Colonel Benjamin Logan was +then in the act of raising a large force in Lincoln county; and at the +furthest would join them in twenty-four hours; which would render them +safe in pursuing the savages; and for this purpose the more prudent, +among whom was our old friend, Colonel Boone, advised their delay; +stating, as a reason, that the Indians were known to outnumber them +all, as three to one; and that to pursue them with a force so small, +could only result, should they be overtaken, in a total defeat of the +whites. Besides which, Boone stated that the scouts who had been sent +out to examine the Indian trail, had reported that it was very broad, +and that the trees on either side had been marked with their tomahawks; +thereby showing a willingness on the part of the enemy to be pursued, +and a design to draw the whites into an ambuscade, the consequences of +which must necessarily be terrible. In this view of the case, Colonel +Boone was strongly seconded by Major McGary, who, though a hot-headed +young officer, eager on almost all occasions for a fight, now gave his +voice on the side of prudence. + +But these prudent measures were combatted and overruled by Todd; who, +being an ambitious man, forsaw that, in waiting for Logan, he would be +deprived of his authority as commander-in-chief of the expedition, and +the glory which a successful battle would now cast upon him. By him it +was urged, in opposition to Boone and McGary, that to await the arrival +of Colonel Logan, was only to act the part of cowards, and allow the +Indians a safe retreat; that in case they were overtaken and their +numbers found to be double their own--which report he believed to be +false--the ardor and superior skill of the Kentuckians would more than +make them equal, and the victory and glory would be their own. Whereas, +should the Indians be allowed to escape without an effort to harass +them, the Kentuckians would be held eternally disgraced in the minds of +their countrymen. + +The dispute on the matter waxed warm, high words ensued, and the +discussion was in a fair way of being drawn out to great extent; when +Boone, becoming tired and disgusted with the whole proceedings, replied: + +"Well, I've given my conscientious opinion about the affair, and now you +can do as you please. Of course I shall go with the majority, and my +seniors in command; and ef the decision's for a fight, why a fight we +must venter, though every man o' Kaintuck be laid on his back for the +risking. Ef we fail--and its my opine we shall--let them as takes the +responsibility bear the blame. I'll give my voice, though, to the last, +that we'd better wait the reinforcements o' Colonel Logan." + +"Sir!" exclaimed Colonel Todd, turning fiercely to Boone; "if you are +not a _coward_, you talk like one! Don't you know, sir, that if we wait +for Logan, he will gain all the laurels?--and that if we press forward, +we shall gain all the glory?" + +"As to my being a coward, Colonel Todd," replied Boone, mildly, with +dignity, "when the word's explained so as I know the full meaning on't, +prehaps I'll be able to decide ef I be or not. Ef it means prudence in a +time o' danger, on which the welfare o' my country and the lives o' my +countrymen depends, I'd rather be thought cowardly than rash. Ef it +means a fear to risk my own poor body in defence o' others, I reckon as +how my past life'll speak for itself; and for the futer, wharsomever +Colonel Todd dars to venter, Daniel Boone dars to lead. As to _glory_, +we'll talk about that arter the battle's fought." + +Thus ended the discussion; and the matter being put to vote, it was +carried by an overwhelming majority in favor of Todd's proposition, that +the Indians should be pursued without further delay. It was now about +three o'clock in the afternoon; and immediately on the final decision +being made, the council broke up, and orders were rapidly given to +prepare to depart forthwith. All the horses in or about the station +were now collected together, on which most of the officers and many of +the privates were soon mounted; and by four o'clock the eastern gate +was thrown open, the order to march given by Colonel Todd, and the +procession, composed of the flower of Kentucky's gallant sons, moved +forth, amid sighs and tears from the opposite sex. Reynolds--who, during +the past two or three days, since the retreat of the enemy, had employed +his leisure moments in the company of the being he loved, and who was +now finely mounted on a superb charger which had been presented him by +Colonel Boone--turned upon his saddle, as he was leaving the station, +and waved another adieu to Ella, who stood in the door of her cottage, +gazing upon his noble form, with a pale cheek, tearful eye, and beating +heart. She raised her lily hand, and, with a graceful motion, returned +his parting salute; and then, to conceal her emotion, retired into the +house. + +The Indians, it was found, had followed the buffalo trace, and, +according to the account given by the scouts, had made their trail +obvious as possible, by hacking the trees on either side with their +tomahawks. Their camp fires, however, were very few, comparatively +speaking, which to Boone seemed plainly evident of a desire to mask +their numbers. He had lived in the woods all his life, was the oldest +settler on the borders, and had been several times a prisoner of the +Indians; so that he was familiar with their artifices for decoying their +enemies; and he believed, from what he saw, that it was their desire to +be followed by the whites; and that they would probably seek to draw the +latter into an ambuscade in the vicinity of the Blue Licks, where the +wild country was particularly favorable to their purpose. In imagination +he already saw the disastrous result that was destined to follow this +hasty expedition; but his counsel to the contrary had been disregarded, +and it was not a time now to dampen the ardor of the soldiers, on which +alone success could depend, by expressing his fears and laying himself +liable to further reproach and contumely. He had said and done all that +was consistent in his situation to prevent the present step; and he now +saw proper to keep his fears of the result to himself; the more so, as +a retreat was out of the question. + +About dark the party came to halt, and encamped in the woods for the +night. Early on the ensuing morning they resumed their march; and +a little before noon reached the southern bluffs of Licking river, +opposite the Lower Blue Lick, distant from Bryan's Station some +thirty-six miles, and the place where, according to the opinion of +Boone, the savages would be likely to lie in wait to give them battle. + +The scenery in the vicinity of the Licks, even at the present day, is +peculiarly wild and romantic; but at the period in question, it was +relieved by nothing in the shape of civilization. The Licks themselves +had for ages been the resort of buffalo and other wild animals, which +had come there to lick the saline rocks, and had cropped the surrounding +hills of every green thing, thereby giving them a barren, desolate, +gloomy appearance. On the northern bank--the one opposite our little +army--arose a tremendous bluff, entirely destitute of vegetation, the +brow of which was trodden hard by the immense herds of buffalo which had +passed over it from time immemorial on their way to and from the salt +springs at its base. To add to its dismal appearance, the rains of +centuries had sloughed deep gullies in its side, and washed the earth +from the rocks around its base, which, being blackened in the sun, now +rose grim and bare, frowning in their majesty like fettered monsters of +the infernal regions. As you ascended this ridge, a hard level trace or +road led back for something like a mile--free from tree, stump or +bush--when you came to a point where two ravines, one on either hand, +met at the top, and, thickly wooded, ran in opposite directions down to +the river, which, beginning on the right, went sweeping round a large +circuit, in the form of an iron magnet, and made a sort of inland +peninsula of the bluff in question. Back from this buffalo trace, on the +southern bank of the Licking, dark heavy woods extended for miles in +every direction, and made the whole scene impressive with a kind of +gloomy grandeur. + +As our gallant band of Kentuckians gained the river, they descried some +three or four savages leisurely ascending the stony ridge on the +opposite side. On perceiving the troops, the Indians paused, gazed at +them a few moments in silence, and then, quietly continuing their +ascent, disappeared on the other side. A halt was now ordered by Colonel +Todd, and a council of war called to deliberate on what was best to be +done. The wild gloomy country around them, their distance from any post +of succor, and the startling idea that perchance they were in the +presence of a body of savages of double or treble their own numbers, was +not without its effect upon Todd and those who had seconded his hasty +movements, and served much toward cooling their ardor, and inspiring +each other with a secret awe. + +Immediately on the halt of the troops, some twenty officers assembled in +front of the lines for consultation; when, turning to them, Colonel Todd +said: + +"Gentlemen, for aught I know to the contrary we are now in the presence +of a superior enemy--superior at least in point of numbers--and I +desire to know your minds as to what course we had best pursue. And +particularly, Colonel Boone," continued Todd, politely bowing to the +veteran woodsman, "would I solicit your views on the matter; believing +as I do, notwithstanding any hasty words I may have uttered in the heat +of excitement to the contrary, that you are a brave soldier, cool under +all circumstances, amply experienced in Indian stratagem, and +consequently capable of rendering much valuable advice in the present +instance." + +Boone was not a revengeful man under any circumstances; and though he +had felt more stung and nettled at the implication of Todd the day +before than he cared to let others see, yet now that the other had made +the apology due him, he showed nothing like haughtiness or triumph in +his mild, benevolent countenance, but, bowing slightly, with his +characteristic frankness replied: + +"As you say, Colonel Todd, I've had some little experience with the +varmints at different times, not excepting my capter at these same Licks +in 1778; and, besides, I've have traversed this here country in every +direction, and know every secret hiding-place round about, as well as +the rest o' ye know the ground we've jest traveled; and it's on account +o' this knowledge partly, and partly on account o' the lazy movements o' +them red heathen we've jest seen go over the hill yonder, and the wide +trail, and marked trees behind us, that I'm led to opine thar's a +tremendous body o' the naked rascals hid in a couple o' ravines, that +run down to the river on either side of that ridge, about a mile ahead, +who are waiting to take us by surprise. Now I think we'd better do one +of two things. Either wait for the reinforcement o' Colonel Logan--who's +no doubt on his march by this time to join us--or else divide our party, +and let half on 'em go up stream and cross at the rapids, and so get +round behind the ravines, ready to attack the savages in the rear; while +the rest cross the ford here, and keep straight on along the ridge to +attack 'em in front--by which maneuver we may prehaps be able to beat +them. But ef you don't see proper, gentlemen, to take up with either o' +these proposals--don't, for Heaven's sake! I beg o' ye, venter forward, +without first sending on scouts to reconnoitre--else we're likely to be +in an ambuscade afore we know it, and prehaps all be cut off." + +"Well, all things considered," answered Colonel Todd, who now, becoming +aware of the fearful responsibility resting upon him as commander, felt +little inclined to press rashly forward, "I think it advisable to wait +the reinforcements of Logan before proceeding further. It can delay us +but a day or two, and then we shall be sure of a victory; whereas, if +we press forward now, and run into an ambuscade, of which Colonel Boone +feels certain, we shall doubtless rue the day by a total defeat." + +"I'm of the same opinion," rejoined Major Levi Todd. + +"And I," said Captain Patterson. + +"And I," rejoined several other voices. + +"But I'm opposed to waiting for Logan," said Colonel Trigg; "as delays +on the point of a battle are rarely ever beneficial. I think we had +better take up with Colonel Boone's second proposition--divide our +forces, and proceed at once to action; though, for the matter of +prudence, it may be advisable to send a couple of scouts ahead, before +deciding upon any thing positive." + +Majors Harlan and McBride, with two or three others of inferior rank, +took sides with Trigg; and the discussion seemed likely to be protracted +for some considerable time; when Major Hugh McGary, who had been +listening to the proceedings with the utmost impatience, suddenly +startled and broke up the council by a loud whoop, resembling that of an +Indian; and spurring his high mettled charger forward, he waved his hat +over his head, and shouted, in a voice that reached the whole length of +the line, these ever memorable words: + +"Those among you who are not d--d cowards, follow me! I'll soon show you +where the Indians are!" + +As he spoke he rushed his fiery steed into the river, with all the rash +impetuosity of a desperate soldier charging at the cannon's mouth. + +The effect of McGary's words and actions were electrical. The troops, +mounted and on foot, officers and privates, suddenly became animated +with a wild enthusiasm. Whooping and yelling like Indians, more than a +hundred of them now sprung forward, and in a tumultuous body rushed into +the stream and struggled for the opposite shore. A few lingered around +Boone, Todd, and Twigg, to await their orders. But the pause of these +commanders was only momentary. They saw their ranks in confusion, and +more than two-thirds of their soldiers in the water, struggling after +the hot-headed McGary, and most of the other officers. The mischief was +already done. To delay was but to doom their enthusiastic comrades to +certain destruction; and shouting to those who yet remained to follow, +Todd put spurs to his horse, and, together with Trigg and Boone dashed +after the main body. It was a wild scene of excitement. Horsemen and +footmen, officers and privates, all mixed up together in confusion, and +pushing forward in one "rolling and irregular mass." + +By violent threats and repeated exertions, with their swords drawn and +flashing in the sunlight, Colonels Todd, Trigg and Boone at length +succeeded, after reaching the opposite bank, in restoring something like +order to the half-crazed troops. On gaining the brow of the buffalo +ridge, Todd commanded a halt; then drawing a pistol from the holster of +his saddle, he rode to the front of the lines, and, with eyes flashing +fire, exclaimed: + +"Men! we must have order! Without order we are lost. I command a halt; +and the first man that moves from the ranks, officer or private, until +so commanded, I swear to scatter his brains on the land he disgraces!" + +His speech produced the desired effect; not a man ventured, by +disobeying, to put his threat to the test; and after gazing on them +sternly a few moments in silence, he turned to McGary, who was sitting +his horse a few paces distant, and said: + +"Sir! you have acted unbecoming, both as an officer and a gentleman; and +if we two live through an engagement which I fear is near at hand, and +which your rashness will have brought about, I will have you put under +arrest and tried by court martial." + +"As you please, Colonel Todd," replied McGary, with a fierce look. "But +you will bear in mind, sir, that at the council yesterday, you scouted +at the proposition advanced by Colonel Boone, and seconded by myself +and others, of waiting for the reinforcements of Colonel Logan, and +insinuated that we were cowards. As _you_, sir, were so _very_ brave, +and so eager for a fight when at a distance, I swore that, if we came +where a fight could be had, I would either draw you into action, or +forever damn you as a coward in the eyes of your soldiers. If I have +succeeded, I rest satisfied to let you do your worst." + +"Resume your place, sir! and break an order this day at your peril!" +cried Todd, sharply, his face flushed with indignation. + +As McGary slowly obeyed, Todd called to Boone, Trigg, and one or two +others, with whom he held a short consultation as to the propriety of +sending forward scouts before advancing with the main army. This being +decided in the affirmative, Isaac Younker and another individual were +selected from the ranks, and appointed to go on the dangerous mission; +with orders to follow the buffalo trace and examine it carefully on both +sides--particularly round about the ravines--and if they saw any traces +of Indians, to hasten back with all speed; but if not, to continue their +examination for a half mile further on, where the great trace gradually +became lost in lesser paths, which branched off in every direction. + +Immediately on the departure of these two scouts, the troops were drawn +up in a long line, ready for action at a moment's notice. Colonel Trigg +commanded the Harrodsburgh forces on the right; Colonel Boone the +Boonesborough soldiers on the left; and Colonel Todd, assisted by Majors +McGary and McBride, the Lexington militia in the center. Major Harlan +led the van, and Major Levi Todd brought up the rear. This was the order +in which they went into battle. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE BATTLE OF BLUE LICKS + + +In less than an hour, Isaac and his companions returned, and reported +that they had seen no signs of Indians whatever. On the receipt of this +intelligence, the order to march was immediately given, and the whole +body of soldiers, under the scorching rays of an August sun, moved +rapidly forward. Nothing occurred to interrupt their progress, until the +van had reached within a few yards of the ravines before mentioned, when +the appalling truth of a tremendous ambuscade of the savages suddenly +became known, by the pouring therefrom, into their ranks, a terrible +volley, which carried with it death, terror and confusion. Never were +soldiers taken more by surprise, and at greater disadvantage to +themselves, both as to numbers and position. They had relied upon the +report of the scouts, who had themselves been deceived by the quiet of +everything about the ravines; and now here they were, less than two +hundred in number, on an open spot, exposed to the deadly rifles of more +than five hundred Indian warriors, who were lying concealed among the +dark cedars of the ravines. + +The first fire was severely destructive, particularly on the right, +where the gallant Colonel Trigg fell mortally wounded, and was soon +after tomahawked and scalped. With him went down several officers of +inferior grade, and a large portion of the Harrodsburgh troops; but, +undaunted, his little band of survivors returned the fire of the +Indians, and, assisted by those in the rear, pressed forward like heroes +to the support of the center and van, where the work of death and +carnage was now becoming terrible. + +"Onward!" shouted Colonel Todd, as he rode to and fro, animating his men +by his voice and gestures: "Onward, my noble soldiers, and strike for +your country and firesides! Oh God!" exclaimed he the next moment, as a +ball pierced his breast; "I am mortally wounded; but strike! press on, +and mind me not!" + +As he spoke, he reeled in his saddle, the rein slipped from his grasp, +and his fiery steed rushed away, bearing him to the enemy and his +untimely doom. + +"Fight, my lads, and falter not!" cried Major Harlan in the van; and the +next moment his horse went down, some five or six balls lodged in his +body, and he fell to rise no more. + +But his men remembered their orders, and fought without faltering, until +but three remained alive to tell the fate of the party. + +"At 'em, lads!--don't spare the varmints!" said Boone, as he urged the +left wing into action; and the immediate report of more than fifty +rifles in that quarter, told him he was obeyed. In this wing fought +Algernon, Isaac, the brother and son of Boone, with a heroic desperation +worthy of Spartans; and at every fire an Indian went down before each of +their deadly rifles. + +But what could avail heroism here on that ill-fated day? Our brave +little band of Kentuckians was opposed by a foe of treble their number; +who, on their first terrible fire being expended, rushed forth from +their covert, with horrible yells, tomahawk in hand, and, gradually +extending their lines down the buffalo trace, on either side, so as to +cut off the retreat of the whites, closed in upon them in overwhelming +numbers, and the slaughter became immense. Major McGary rushed his +horse to and fro among the enemy, and shouted and fought with all the +desperate impetuosity of his nature. Major Todd did his best to press on +the rear, and Colonel Boone still urged his men to the fight with all +the backwoods eloquence in his power. But, alas! of what avail was +coolness, impetuosity, or desperation now? The Indians were closing in +thicker and thicker. Officers and privates, horsemen and footmen, were +falling before the destructive fire of their rifles, or sinking beneath +their bloody tomahawks, amid yells and screeches the most diabolical. +Cries, groans, and curses, resounded on every hand, from the living, the +wounded, and dying. But few now remained in command. Colonels Todd and +Trigg, Majors Harlan and McBride, Captains Bulger and Gordon, with a +host of other gallant officers, were now no more. Already had the +Indians enclosed them as in a net, hemmed them in on all sides, and they +were falling as grass before the scythe of the mower. Retreat was almost +cut off--in a few minutes it would be entirely. They could hope for +nothing against such odds, but a certain and bloody death. There was a +possibility of escape. A few minutes and it would be too late. They +hesitated--they wavered--they turned and fled; and now it was that a +horrible sight presented itself. + +The space between the head of the ravines and the ford of the river a +distance of more than a mile, suddenly became the scene of a hard and +bloody race. As the whites fled, the Indians sprung after them, with +whoops and yells that more resembled those of infuriated demons than +human beings; and whenever an unfortunate Kentuckian was overtaken, he +instantly fell a victim to the tomahawk and scalping knife. Those who +were mounted generally escaped; but the foot suffered dreadfully; and +the whole distance presented an appalling sight of bloody, mangled +corses, strewing the ground in every direction. Girty, the renegade, was +now at the height of his hellish enjoyment. With oaths and curses, and +horrid laughter, his hands and weapons reeking with blood of the slain, +he rushed on after new victims, braining and scalping all that came +within his reach. + +At the river the carnage was in no wise abated. Horsemen and footmen, +victors and vanquished, rushed down the slope, pell-mell, and plunged +into the stream--some striving for life and liberty, some for death and +vengeance--and the dark rolling waters went sweeping on, colored with +the blood of the slaughtered. + +An act of heroic gallantry and presence of mind here occurred, which +has often been mentioned in history, tending to check somewhat the +blood-thirsty savages, and give many of the fugitives time to escape. +Some twelve or fifteen horsemen had already passed the ford in safety, +and were in the act of spurring forward, regardless of the fate of their +unfortunate companions on foot, when one of their number, a man by the +name of Netherland, who had previously been accused of cowardice, +suddenly shouted, as if giving the word of command: + +"Halt! Fire on the Indians, and protect the men in the river!" + +The order was obeyed, in the same spirit it was given; and the sudden +discharge of more than a dozen rifles, made the infuriated savages +recoil in dismay, and thereby saved many a poor fellow's life. The +reaction, however, speedily followed. Many of the savages now swam the +river above and below the ford, and gave chase to the fugitives for +fifteen and even twenty miles--though with but little success after +crossing the stream--as the latter generally plunged into the +neighboring thickets, and so eluded the vigilance of the former. + +Such were the general features of the disastrous battle of Blue Licks--a +battle of dreadful import to the pioneers of Kentucky--which threw the +land into mourning, and made a most solemn and startling impression upon +the minds of its inhabitants. Had we space to chronicle individual +heroism, we might fill page after page with brave and noble +achievements; but as it is, we shall confine ourself to those connected +with our most prominent characters. + +We have stated previously, that Algernon Reynolds fought in the left +wing, under the command of Boone; where, for the few minutes which the +action lasted, he sustained himself with great gallantry; and, by his +undaunted courage, inspired those immediately around him with like +ardor. On the retreat of the whites, he found himself cut off from the +river by a large body of Indians, headed by his old foe, Simon Girty, +who, having recognized him, was now pressing forward with several +stalwart warriors, to again make him prisoner. For the first time since +the commencement of the battle, he felt his heart sink. To be taken +alive was a thousand times worse than death, and escape seemed +impossible. However, there was no time for consideration; another moment +might be fatal; his foes were upon him; it was now or never. Luckily he +was mounted on a fiery steed--which had thus far escaped a scratch--and +had one undischarged pistol in his holster. This he drew forth as his +last hope; and, tightening the rein, wheeled his horse and spurred down +upon his enemies with tremendous velocity. + +"I have you now, by ----!" cried the renegade. + +As he spoke, he sprung forward to grasp the bridle of Algernon's horse; +but stumbled and fell, and the beast passed over him, unfortunately +though without doing him any injury. + +But Algernon had not yet got clear of his enemies; for on the fall of +Girty, he found himself surrounded by a host of savages, whooping and +yelling frightfully, and his direct course to the river cut off by a +body of more than a hundred. There was only one point, and that a few +yards to his left, where there appeared a possibility of his breaking +through their lines. In the twinkling of an eye, and while his horse was +yet under full headway, his decision was made. Rushing his steed hard to +the right, in order to deceive his foes, he suddenly wheeled him again +to the left; and the side of the beast striking against some three +or four of the Indians, who were on the point of seizing his rein, +staggered them back upon their companions, creating no little confusion. +Taking advantage of this, our hero, with the speed of a flying arrow, +bore down upon the weakest point; where, after shooting down a powerful +savage, who had succeeded in grasping his bridle and was on the point of +tomahawking his horse, he passed their lines, amid a volley of rifle +balls, which cut his clothes in several places, but left himself and +steed unharmed. + +The worst of the danger now seemed over; but still his road ahead was +beset with Indians, who were killing and scalping all that fell in their +power; and behind him were the infuriated renegade and his party now in +hot pursuit. His steed, however, was strong and fleet, and he put him to +his wind; by which means he not only distanced those behind him, but +passed one or two parties in front unharmed. About half way between the +ravines and the river, he overtook Major McGary, and some five or six +other horsemen, who were dashing forward at a fast gallop; and checking +his fiery beast somewhat, he silently joined them. A little further on, +Reynolds observed an officer on foot, who, exhausted by his recent +exertions, and lame from former wounds, had fallen behind his +companions. On coming up, he recognized in the crippled soldier the +brave Captain Patterson; and with a magnanimity and self-sacrifice +worthy of all imitation, he instantly reined in his horse and +dismounted, while the others kept upon their course. + +"Sir!" cried he to Patterson; "you are, I perceive, fatigued and weak. +Your life is in great danger. Mount, sir--mount! I am fresh and will +take my chance on foot." + +"God bless you, sir!--God bless you for this noble act!" exclaimed +Patterson, as Reynolds assisted him, into the saddle. "If I escape--" + +"Enough!" said Reynolds, hurriedly, interrupting him. "Fly, sir--fly! +God be with you! Adieu!" + +And turning away as he spoke, he sprung down the side of the ridge, and +running along the edge of the river some little distance, plunged into +the water and swam to the opposite shore. Unfortunately for our hero, +he had changed his garments at Bryan's Station, and now wore a pair of +buckskin breeches, which, in swimming the stream, had become so soaked +and heavy that he was obliged to remove them in order to display his +usual agility. While seated upon the bank and occupied in this manner, +he was startled by a hand being placed upon his shoulder, and the +familiar grunt of an Indian sounding in his ear. On looking up, he at +once recognized the grim features of Wild-cat, and saw himself in the +power of some half a dozen savages. + +"Me wanty you," said Wild-cat, quietly. "Kitchokema give much for Long +Knife. Come!" + +There was no alternative now; and Algernon rose to his feet, and +suffered his weapons to be taken from him, with what feelings we leave +the reader to imagine. Taking him along, the savages set forward, on the +alert for other game; and presently three of them darted away in chase +of a party of whites; and directly after, two others, leaving our hero +alone with Wild-cat. Hope now revived that he might yet escape; nor +was he this time disappointed; for after advancing a short distance, +Wild-cat stooped down to tie his moccasin; when Reynolds immediately +sprung upon him, knocked him down with his fist, seized his rifle, +tomahawk, and knife, fled into the thicket, and reached Bryan's Station, +during the night succeeding, unscathed.[24] + +Throughout the short but severe action at the ravines, Boone maintained +his ground with great coolness and courage, animating his soldiers by +word and deed, until the rout became general, when he found it +necessary, to prevent falling into the hands of the enemy, to have +recourse to immediate flight. As he cast his eyes around him for this +purpose, he saw himself cut off from the ford by the large body of +Indians, through whose lines our hero was even then struggling. At this +moment he heard a groan which attracted his attention; and looking down, +he perceived his son Israel lying on the ground, scarcely five paces +distant, weltering in his blood. With all a father's feelings of +affection and alarm, he instantly sprung from his horse, and, raising +the youth in his arms, darted into the nearest ravine, and made with all +speed for the river. A few of the Indians were herein concealed, who +discharged their rifles at him as he passed, without injury, and then +joined in pursuit. One, a powerful warrior, having outstripped his +companions, was rushing upon the old woodsman with his tomahawk, when +the latter, with backwoods celerity, instantly raised his rifle and shot +him through the body. Finding himself hard pressed, and that his son was +already in the agonies of death, the old hunter strained him for the +last time to his heart, with choking emotion, pressed his lips to those +already growing cold, and then, with a groan of agony, left him to his +fate and the scalping-knife of the savage, while he barely made his own +escape by swimming the river below the bend. To him this was a mournful +day--never to be forgotten--and one that, even long, long years after, +could never be mentioned but with tears. + +In this action the brother of Boone was wounded; but in company with +Isaac Younker, and some three or four others, he succeeded in making his +escape. + +On the day of the battle, Colonel Logan arrived at Bryan's Station with +a command of four hundred and fifty soldiers. On learning that the +garrison with their reinforcements had gone the day preceding in pursuit +of the Indians, and fearful of some disaster, he resolved on a forced +march to give them assistance as soon as possible. For this purpose he +immediately set forward on their trail; but had advanced only a few +miles, when he met a party of the fugitives returning from the scene of +slaughter. They were alarmed and excited, and of course their account of +the battle was greatly exaggerated, believing as they did that they were +the only escaped survivors. Their report, to say the least, was very +startling, allowing that only the half were true; and in consequence, +Logan decided on retracing his steps to the station, until he should be +able to collect more definite news concerning the fight. Gradually one +party after another came dropping in; and by nine o'clock nearly or +quite all of the survivors were assembled in the fortress; when it was +ascertained that a little over one-third of the party, or between sixty +and seventy of those engaged in the battle, were missing. It was a sad +night of wailing, and lamentation, and dreadful excitement in the +station; for scarcely a family there, but was mourning the loss of some +friend or relation. Algernon and Isaac had returned, to the great joy of +those most interested in their welfare; but the father-in-law of the +latter came not, and there was mourning in consequence. + +A consultation between Colonels Logan and Boone, resulted in the +decision to march forthwith to the battle-ground. Accordingly every +thing being got in readiness, Colonel Logan set out with his command, +at a late hour the same night, accompanied by Boone, and a few of the +survivors of the ill-fated engagement. Towards morning a halt of three +hours was ordered for rest and refreshment: when the line of march was +again taken up; and by noon of the day succeeding the battle, the forces +arrived upon the ground, where a most horribly repulsive scene met their +view. + +The Indians had departed on their homeward route, bearing their killed +and wounded away from the field of carnage; but the dead and mutilated +bodies of the whites still remained where they had fallen, presenting +a spectacle the most hideous and revolting possibly to be conceived. +In the edge of the stream, on the banks, up the ridge, and along the +buffalo trace to the ravines, were lying the bloody and mangled corses +of the gallant heroes--who, the day before, full of ardor and life, +had rushed on to the battle and an untimely and inglorious death--now +swollen, putrid, and in the first stage of decomposition, from the +action of the scorching rays of an August sun--surrounded by vultures +and crows, and all species of carrion fowl; many of which, having gorged +themselves on the horrid repast, were either sweeping overhead in large +flocks, and screeching their funeral dirges, or wiping their bloody +bills on the neighboring trees. Some of the bodies in the stream had +been gnawed by fishes--others by wolves--and all had been so disfigured, +by one means and another, that but very few could be recognized by their +friends. + +"Great Heaven! what a sight!" exclaimed Colonel Logan, as he ran his eye +over the scene. + +"A dark and terrible day for Kaintuck," answered Boone, who was standing +by his side; and as he spoke, the old hunter turned away his head to +conceal his emotion; for his mind reverted to the death of his noble +son. + +Orders were now given by Colonel Logan, to have the bodies collected, +and interred in a manner as decent as circumstances would permit. This +being accomplished, he returned with his men to Bryan's Station, and +there dismissed them--it not being thought advisable to pursue the enemy +further. In this ever memorable battle of Blue Licks, the Kentuckians +had sixty killed, twelve wounded, and seven taken prisoners, most of +whom were afterwards put to the tortures. As we said before, it was +a sad day for Kentucky, and threw the land into mourning and gloom. +Colonels Todd and Trigg, and Majors Harlan and McBride, were men beloved +and respected in life, and bitterly lamented in death by a long list of +true-hearted friends. + +The great trace where the battle was fought, is now green with low +branching cedars; and a solitary monument near by, informs the curious +spectator of the sad disaster of by gone times. The Blue Lick Springs +are much resorted to in the summer season by invalids and others, for +whose convenience a magnificent hotel stands upon the banks of the +lovely and romantic Licking. + +A few words more and our general history will be closed. On receiving +the intelligence of the battle of Blue Licks, General Clark--who then +occupied a fort at the Falls of the Ohio, on the present site of +Louisville--resolved upon another expedition to the enemy's country; for +which purpose it was proposed to raise an army of one thousand men, who, +under their respective commanders, should congregate opposite the mouth +of the Licking, on the present site of Cincinnati. The interior and +upper country were to rendezvous at Bryan's Station, under the command +of Colonels Logan and Floyd; and the lower settlements at the Falls of +Ohio, under General Clark; who, on all parties arriving at the grand +rendezvous, was to be commander-in-chief of the expedition. One thousand +mounted riflemen were raised without a draft, who marched upon the +enemy in their own country, destroyed their villages, provisions, and +cornfields, took several prisoners, and carried with them so much terror +and desolation, that the Indians never sufficiently recovered from the +shock to renew hostilities in a formidable body; and the Kentuckians +henceforth, save in individual cases, were left unmolested. + +On their march they came upon the rear of Girty's party, returning from +their successful battle; but an Indian scout gave the renegade and his +companions warning in time for them to escape the whites by flight. In +this expedition, Colonel Boone volunteered and served as a private; +being the last in which the noble old hunter was ever engaged in defence +of the settlements of Kentucky. Algernon Reynolds and Isaac Younker were +his companions in arms; who, on the dismissal of the troops, returned +again to Bryan's Station. + + +[Footnote 24: It may perhaps add interest to the story, for the reader +to know that the foregoing account concerning Reynolds and Captain +Patterson, is historically true; as is also the one which follows with +regard to Boone and his son.] + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +THE FINALE. + + +Month upon month rolled away, quiet succeeded to the alarm and commotion +of war, hostilities between Great Britain and America ceased, and the +country both east and west now began to look up from the depression and +gloom which had pervaded it during its long and sanguinary struggle for +independence. In Kentucky the effect was really invigorating; and the +settlers, who for a year past had been driven from their homes in terror +and dismay--who had quitted their peaceable farming implements for the +destructive weapons of strife and bloodshed--now ventured to return to +their desolate firesides, and renew their honest occupations of tilling +the soil. Some, however, more predisposed to financiering than their +neighbors, sought only speculation; in consequence whereof the Land +Offices of the Virginia Commissioners--which opened in November, +after the return of the troops under Clark--were daily thronged with +applicants for the best locations; whereby was laid the first grand +corner-stone of subsequent litigation, disaffection, and civil discord +among the pioneers. But with these, further than to mention the facts as +connected with the history of the time, we have nothing to do; and shall +now forthwith pass on to the finale of our story. + +Month upon month, as we said before, had rolled away, spring had come, +and with it had departed many of those who had occupied Bryan's Station +during the siege of August; but still, besides the regular garrison and +their families, a few of the individuals who had sought refuge therein, +yet remained; among whom we may mention Mrs. Younker, Ella, Isaac and +his wife, and so forth. Algernon, too--by the entreaty of his friends, +and contrary to his previous calculations, and what he considered his +duty--had been induced to defer his departure until the opening of +spring. Possibly there might have been a secret power, stronger than the +mere entreaties of others, which had prevailed over his resolution to +depart; but further the records say not. Be that as it may, the extreme +limit of time which he had set for remaining, was now nearly expired; +and he was, at the moment when we again present him to the reader, +engaged in conversation with Ella on the painful subject. Suddenly he +was startled by the information that a stranger in the court desired to +speak with him. + +"A stranger!" exclaimed Algernon, in surprise; and as he spoke, his face +became very pale, his lips quivered, and his hands trembled. Turning +upon Ella a look of agony, which seemed to say, "I am an arrested +felon," he wheeled upon his heel, and followed the messenger in silence; +while she, knowing the cause of his agitation, and fearful of the worst, +sunk almost lifeless upon a seat. + +As Algernon passed out of the cottage, he beheld, in the center of the +common, a well dressed, good-looking individual, who was standing on the +ground and holding by the bridle a horse, which, as well as the rider +himself, appeared both travel-stained and weary. Approaching the +stranger with a firm step, but with a pale countenance and throbbing +heart, he said: + +"I understand, sir, you have business with me." + +"Your name, then," returned the other, quietly, "I presume to be +Algernon Reynolds?" + +"The same." + +"You are, too, I infer, a native of ----, Connecticut, and son of Albert +Reynolds of that place?" + +"Again right," answered Algernon, in a voice which, in spite of himself, +was a little tremulous. + +"Then, sir," rejoined the stranger, with a satisfied air, "I may say +that I have business with you, and of vast importance. A long chase you +have led me, i' faith; and weeks of travel have you cost me; so you may +rest assured that I am happy in finding you at last." + +"Proceed!" said Algernon, compressing his lips, as one whose mind is +made up for the worst. "Proceed, sir. I know your mission." + +"The deuce you do!" replied the other, in astonishment; "then you must +have a very remarkable faculty for divining secrets. I rather guess you +are mistaken though," he added, as he drew forth a couple of letters +from a side pocket; "but these will inform you whether you are or not." + +Seizing the proffered letters with trembling eagerness, Algernon hastily +glanced at their superscription; then, breaking the seals, he devoured +their contents with the utmost avidity; while the stranger stood noting +the varying expressions of his handsome countenance, with a quiet smile. +At first his pale features seemed flushed with surprise--then became +radiant with joy--and then gradually saddened with sorrow; yet a certain +cheerfulness prevailed over all--such as he had not exhibited for many a +long month. As he finished a hasty perusal of the epistles, he turned to +the stranger, grasped his hand, and, shaking it heartily, while tears of +joy filled his eyes, exclaimed: + +"I _was_ mistaken, sir--God be thanked! God bless you too, sir! for +being the messenger of peace between myself and conscience. Excuse me. +Tarry a moment, sir, and I will send some one to take charge of your +weary beast, and show yourself a place of rest and refreshment." + +As he spoke, Algernon darted away toward the cottage. Observing Isaac, +he ran to and caught him by the hand: + +"Isaac," he said, in a gay tone, while his eyes sparkled with delight, +"wish me joy! I have good news. I--but stay; I forgot; you know nothing +of the matter. Oblige me, though, by showing yonder gentleman and his +beast due hospitality;" and wringing his hand, he sprung into the +apartment where Ella was sitting alone, leaving Isaac staring after him +with open mouth, and wondering whether he were in his right senses or +not. + +"Ella!" he exclaimed, wildly, as he suddenly appeared before her with a +flushed countenance: "Ella, God bless you! Listen. I--I am free! I am no +longer a criminal, thank God! These, Ella--these!" and he held aloft the +letters with one hand, and tapped them nervously with the other. + +The next moment his features grew pale, his whole frame quivered, and he +sunk upon a seat, completely overcome by the nervous excitement produced +by the sudden transition from despair to hope and freedom. + +Ella was alarmed; and springing to him, she exclaimed: + +"For Heaven's sake! Algernon, what is the matter?--what has +happened?--are you in your senses? Speak!--speak!" + +"Read!" answered he, faintly, placing the letters in her hand: "Read, +Ella--read!" + +Ella hesitated a moment on the propriety of complying with his request, +but a moment only; and the next she turned to one of the epistles. It +was from the father of Algernon, and ran as follows: + + + "DEAR SON:--If in the land of the living, return as speedily as possible + to your afflicted and anxious parents, who are even now mourning you as + dead. You can return in safety; for your cousin, whom you supposed you + had fatally wounded, recovered therefrom, and publicly exonerated you + from all blame in the matter. He is now, however, no more--having died + of late. Elvira, his wife, is also dead. She died insane. As a partial + restitution for the injury done you, your cousin has made you heir, by + will, to all his property, real estate and personal, amounting, it is + said, to over twenty thousand dollars. Your mother is in feeble health, + caused by anxiety on your account. For further information, inquire of + the messenger who will bear you this. + + Your affectionate father, + ALBERT REYNOLDS." + Nov. 12th, 1782. + + +The other epistle was from a lawyer, informing Reynolds of his +acquisition to a large amount of property, by a will of his late cousin; +and that he, the said lawyer, being executor thereof, required the +presence of him, the said Reynolds, or his proxy forthwith. + +"I knew it: I felt that all would yet be well: I told you to hope for +the best!" cried Ella, as she concluded the letter, her eyes moist with +tears, and her face beaming like the sun through a summer shower. + +"God bless you, dearest Ella--you did indeed!" exclaimed Reynolds, +suddenly, bounding from his seat and clasping her in his arms. "You did +indeed tell me to hope--and you told me truly;" and he pressed kiss +after kiss, again and again, upon her sweet lips, with all the wild, +trembling, rapturous feelings of a lover in his first ecstasy of bliss, +when he has surmounted all obstacles, and gained the heart of the being +he loves. + +"Now, dearest Ella," continued Algernon, when the excitement of the +moment had been succeeded by a calmer, though not less blissful mood: +"Now, dearest Ella, I am free--my sacred oath binds me no longer--and +now can I say, with propriety, that I deeply, solemnly, and devotedly +love you, and you alone. I am not rich; but I have enough of this +world's goods to live in ease, if not in splendor. Will you share with +me, and be partner of my lot, be it for good or ill, through life? My +heart you have had long--my hand I now offer you. Say, dearest, will you +be mine?" + +Ella did not speak--she could not; but she looked up into his face, with +a sweet, modest, affectionate smile; and her dark, soft, beautiful eyes, +suffused with tears, wherein a soul of love lay mirrored, gave answer, +with a heart-felt eloquence surpassing words. + +"I understand you, Ella," said Algernon, with emotion. "You are +mine--mine forever!" and he strained her trembling form to his heart in +silence--a deep, joyful and holy silence--that had in it more of Heaven +than earth. + + * * * * * + +It was a mild, lovely day in the spring of 1783. Earth had donned her +green mantle, and decorated it with flowers of every hue and variety. +The trees were in leaf and in bloom; among whose soft, waving branches, +gay birds from the sunny south sung most sweetly; and nature seemed +every where to rejoice. In the court of Bryan's Station was a large +concourse of people--many of whom were from a distance--and all +assembled there to witness the solemn ceremony which was to unite +Algernon Reynolds and Ella Barnwell forever; for who shall say the holy +marriage rite is not eternally binding in the great Hereafter. There +were congregated both sexes and all ages, from the infant to the hoary +headed veteran of eighty winters. There were assembled youth and +manhood, whose names have since graced the historic page, and whose +deeds have stamped them benefactors of their race and nation. All were +in order, and silent, and the scene was most solemnly impressive. On the +right and left of the bride and groom and their attendants, stood, +promiscuously, the general spectators of both sexes. In front was drawn +up the garrison, in three platoons, under arms, in compliment to the +noble bravery of our hero at the battle of Blue Licks. + +Never did Algernon appear more noble than now--never did Ella look more +beautiful; as, pale and trembling, she seemed to cling to his arm for +support. The ceremony was at length begun and ended, amid a deep and +breathless silence. As the last words, "_I pronounce you man and wife_," +died away upon the air, the first platoon advanced a pace and fired a +volley--the second and third followed--and then arose a soft bewitching +strain of music; during which the friends of the newly married pair came +forward to offer their congratulations, and wishes for their long life +and happiness. + +Among the party present was Colonel Boone; and approaching Algernon and +Ella--who were now seated where the solemn rite had taken place--he took +the hand of each, and said, in a voice of some emotion: + +"My children--for ye seem to me as such--may you both live long and be +happy. You've both o' ye had a deal o' trouble since I first saw ye--and +that's but a little while ago--but I hope its now over. Don't think I +want to flatter, sir, when I say I think you're a brave and honorable +young man, and that you've got a wife every way worthy of ye--and she a +husband worthy o' her--and that's saying much. God bless ye both! and ef +you ever need a friend, call on Daniel Boone." + +With this he shook their hands heartily, and strode away. + +The next who advanced to them was Captain Patterson--the officer, it +will be remembered, whose life Algernon so generously saved at the risk +of his own. After the usual congratulations, he took our hero by the +hand, and said, with deep feeling: + +"Sir! I feel that to you, for risking your own life to save mine, I owe +a debt I can never cancel; and an attempt to express to you in words +my sense of obligation for the noble act, would be worse than vain: +therefore accept this, as a slight testimonial of the gratitude of one +who will ever remember you in his prayers, and wear your image in his +heart." + +As he concluded, Captain Patterson placed in the hands of Algernon a +sealed packet, and moved away.[25] + +"Well, its all over," said Mrs. Younker, coming up in turn to wish the +young couple joy. "I al'ays 'spected as how it 'ud come to this here. +Goodness, gracious, marsy on me alive! what a flustration they has made +about ye, sure enough, for sartin--han't they? I never seed the like +on't afore in all my born days. Why, it's like you war governor's folks, +sure enough. And my own Ella, too; and the stranger as com'd to my house +all bleeding to death like! My! my!--what strange doings Providence +does! Well, its to be hoped you'll al'ays git bread enough to keep +from starving, and that you won't fight nor quarrel more nor is +necessitous--as the Reverend Preacher Allprayer said, when he married +me and Ben together. Ah!--poor Ben!--poor Ben!--I'm a lone widder now. +Well, the Lord's will be done!" And the good dame moved sadly away, to +make room for others, and console herself by recounting her afflictions +to some patient listener, together with the virtues of her deceased and +living friends. + +"I don't 'spect it's o' much account my telling you I wish ye joy," said +Isaac, "when every body's doing the same thing; but it comes from the +heart, and I can't help it. Well, you'll be happy, I know; for thar's +nothing like married life; and I speak from experience. I'm sorry you've +got to leave us so soon; but you won't git far from me; for I've got you +both here;" and placing his hand upon his heart, he bowed, smiled, and +passed on. + +As soon as the congratulations were over, Algernon and Ella were +escorted into the cottage occupied by Mrs. Younker; where a sumptuous +dinner was already prepared for them, their relatives, and a few select +friends, among whom was Colonel Boone and Captain Patterson. For the +remainder, long tables were ranged around the common, where the greatest +conviviality prevailed; and toasts were drank, and songs were sung, and +all were merry. After dinner there were music and dancing on the common +and in the cabins: and the coming night shut in a scene of festivity, +such as was but seldom witnessed even in those early times; and which +was remembered and spoken of long, long years after, when many of those +who were then actors in the scene had sunk beneath the clods of the +valley. + +Years have rolled away to the dark and unapproachable past since the +transpiring of the events which we have chronicled, and vast mutations +have marked the steps of all conquering time. Our beloved country, which +then weak and oppressed was struggling for her independence against the +most powerful nation on the globe, has since nobly won a name and place +among the mighty ones of earth, and planted her stars and stripes from +the Atlantic to the Pacific, and built cities and towns amid dark and +mighty forests, where then roved in freedom the wild, untutored +aborigines of America. + +Kentucky, too, has since become a rich, populous, and powerful state; +and her noble sons, by their courage and generosity, have well +maintained that name and fame which was won for them by their fathers, +and which shall go down to future ages all green and unfading. Bryan's +Station--the theatre of many a scene of gay frolic and sanguinary +strife--of festivity and mourning--has long since sunk to ruin and dust; +and on its site now stands the private dwelling of a gentleman of +fortune. But where are they who once inhabited it? Those hoary headed +veterans--those middle aged men--or those fiery and impetuous youths +ever ready for either love or war? Where are they now? Gone! Passed away +like moving shadows that leave no trace behind. Gone out, one by one, as +lights in the late deserted hall of revelry, or stars at the dawn of +day. But very few--and these mere striplings then--now remain to tell +the tale; of whom it may with truth be said, "The places which know them +now shall soon know them no more forever." + +Reader, a word or two more and we have done; and in your hands we leave +the decision, as to whether our task has been faithfully fulfilled or +not. + +Shortly after their marriage, Algernon and Ella bade farewell to their +friends in the west, and returned to the east, where a long and happy +career awaited them; and where they lived to recount to their children +and grand-children, the thrilling narratives of their captivity, and +their wild and romantic adventures while pioneers on the borders of +Kentucky. + +Isaac returned to the farm of his father--rebuilt the cottage destroyed +by the Indians--and there, with his dear Peggy, lived happily to a green +old age, beloved and respected by all who knew him; and there his +posterity still continue to multiply the name of Younker. With him the +good dame, his mother, sojourned for several years, as industrious and +talkative as ever; and at last passed quietly from among the living, +even while in the act of making a sublime quotation on the subject of +dying from her favorite, the immortal Preacher Allprayer. + +Boone continued a resident of Kentucky, until he fancied it too populous +for his comfort; when he removed with his family to Missouri; where he +spent much of his time in fishing and hunting, and where he finally died +at an advanced age. From thence his remains were conveyed to Frankfort, +the capital of Kentucky, where they now repose; and where a rough slab, +with a few half intelligible characters thereon, points out to the +curious stranger the last earthly resting place of the noblest, the most +daring, and famous hunter and pioneer the world has ever produced. + +The fate of little Rosetta Millbanks, the captive, is unknown. + +Girty, notwithstanding his outrageous crimes against humanity, continued +to live among the Indians for a great number of years, the inveterate +and barbarous foe of his race. In the celebrated battle of the Thames, +a desperate white man led on a band of savages, who fought with great +fury, but were at length overpowered and their leader cut to pieces by +Colonel Johnson's mounted men. The mangled corse of this leader was +afterwards recognized as the notorious and once dreaded Simon Girty. + + +[Footnote 25: This was found to contain a deed of two hundred acres of +the best land in Kentucky. A historical fact.] + + + + +THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Ella Barnwell, by Emerson Bennett + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ELLA BARNWELL *** + +***** This file should be named 15424.txt or 15424.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/4/2/15424/ + +Produced by Kentuckiana Digital Library, David Garcia, +Pilar Somoza and the PG Online Distributed Proofreading +Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/15424.zip b/15424.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e6737a2 --- /dev/null +++ b/15424.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..24e03da --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #15424 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/15424) |