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diff --git a/24097.txt b/24097.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..339bc15 --- /dev/null +++ b/24097.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3924 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Story of Red Feather, by Edward S. +(Edward Sylvester) Ellis + + +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: The Story of Red Feather + A Tale of the American Frontier + + +Author: Edward S. (Edward Sylvester) Ellis + + + +Release Date: December 31, 2007 [eBook #24097] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF RED FEATHER*** + + +E-text prepared by Mark C. Orton, Jacqueline Jeremy, Ian Deane, Linda +McKeown, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team +(https://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 24097-h.htm or 24097-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/0/9/24097/24097-h/24097-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/0/9/24097/24097-h.zip) + + + + + +THE STORY OF RED FEATHER + +A Tale of the American Frontier + +by + +EDWARD S. ELLIS + +Illustrated + + + + + + + +[Illustration] + + + +McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. + +Made in U. S. A. +McLoughlin Bros. Inc. +Springfield Mass. +Publishers +1828 + + +[Illustration: "To-wika talked soothingly to him."--Page 118] + + + + +CONTENTS + + CHAPTER ONE + Brother and Sister--The Signal 3 + + CHAPTER TWO + An Important Letter--Shut in 14 + + CHAPTER THREE + Caught Fast--A Friend in Need 25 + + CHAPTER FOUR + The Consultation--On the Roof 36 + + CHAPTER FIVE + A Strange Visit--Ominous Signs 47 + + CHAPTER SIX + The Muddy Creek Band--The Torch 58 + + CHAPTER SEVEN + "A Little Child Shall Lead Them"--Surrounded by Peril 69 + + CHAPTER EIGHT + Tall Bear and his Warriors--A Surprising Discovery 80 + + CHAPTER NINE + Nat Trumbull and his Men--Out in the Night 91 + + CHAPTER TEN + An Old Friend--Separated 102 + + CHAPTER ELEVEN + At the Lower Crossing--Tall Bear's Last Failure 114 + + CHAPTER TWELVE + Conclusion 127 + + + + +THE STORY OF RED FEATHER + +CHAPTER ONE + +BROTHER AND SISTER--THE SIGNAL + + +It is within my memory that Melville Clarendon, a lad of sixteen years, +was riding through Southern Minnesota, in company with his sister +Dorothy, a sweet little miss not quite half his own age. + +They were mounted on Saladin, a high-spirited, fleet, and good-tempered +pony of coal-black color. Melville, who claimed the steed as his own +special property, had given him his Arabian name because he fancied +there were many points of resemblance between him and the winged +coursers of the East, made famous as long ago as the time of the +Crusades. + +The lad sat his horse like a skilled equestrian, and indeed it would be +hard to find his superior in that respect throughout that broad stretch +of sparsely settled country. Those who live on the American frontier are +trained from their earliest youth in the management of quadrupeds, and +often display a proficiency that cannot fail to excite admiration. + +Melville's fine breech-loading rifle was slung over his shoulder, and +held in place by a strap that passed in front. It could be quickly drawn +from its position whenever needed. It was not of the repeating pattern, +but the youth was so handy with the weapon that he could put the +cartridges in place, aim, and fire not only with great accuracy, but +with marked rapidity. + +In addition, he carried a good revolver, though he did not expect to use +either weapon on the short journey he was making. He followed, however, +the law of the border, which teaches the pioneer never to venture beyond +sight of his home unprepared for every emergency that is likely to +arise. + +It was quite early in the forenoon, Melville having made an early start +from the border-town of Barwell, and he was well on his way to his home, +which lay ten miles to the south. "Dot," as his little sister was called +by her friends, had been on a week's visit to her uncle's at the +settlement, the agreement all round being that she should stay there for +a fortnight at least; but her parents and her big brother rebelled at +the end of the week. They missed the prattle and sunshine which only Dot +could bring into their home, and Melville's heart was delighted when his +father told him to mount Saladin and bring her home. + +And when, on the seventh day of her visit, Dot found her handsome +brother had come after her, and was to take her home the following +morning, she leaped into his arms with a cry of happiness; for though +her relatives had never suspected it, she was dreadfully home-sick and +anxious to get back to her own people. + +In riding northward to the settlement, young Clarendon followed the +regular trail, over which he had passed scores of times. Not far from +the house he crossed a broad stream at a point where the current (except +when there was rain) was less than two feet deep. Its shallowness led to +its use by all the settlers within a large radius to the southward, so +that the faintly marked trails converged at this point something like +the spokes of a large wheel, and became one from that point northward to +the settlement. + +A mile to the east was another crossing which was formerly used. It was +not only broader, but there were one or two deep holes into which a +horse was likely to plunge unless much care was used. Several unpleasant +accidents of this nature led to its practical abandonment. + +The ten miles between the home of the Clarendons and the little town of +Barwell consisted of prairie, stream, and woodland. A ride over the +trail, therefore, during pleasant weather afforded a most pleasing +variety of scenery, this being especially the case in spring and summer. +The eastern trail was more marked in this respect and it did not unite +with the other until within about two miles of the settlement. Southward +from the point of union the divergence was such that parties separating +were quickly lost to view of each other, remaining thus until the stream +of which I have spoken was crossed. There the country became so open +that on a clear day the vision covered all the space between. + +I have been thus particular in explaining the "lay of the land," as it +is called, because it is necessary in order to understand the incidents +that follow. + +Melville laughed at the prattle of Dot, who sat in front of him, one of +his arms encircling her chubby form, while Saladin was allowed to walk +and occasionally gallop, as the mood prompted him. + +There was no end of her chatter; and he asked her questions about her +week's experience at Uncle Jack's, and told her in turn how much he and +her father and mother had missed her, and what jolly times they would +have when she got back. + +Melville hesitated for a minute on reaching the diverging point of the +paths. He was anxious to get home; but his wish to give his loved sister +all the enjoyment possible in the ride led him to take the abandoned +trail, and it proved a most unfortunate thing that he did so. + +Just here I must tell you that Melville and Dot Clarendon were dressed +very much as boys and girls of their age are dressed to-day in the more +settled parts of my native country. Remember that the incidents I have +set out to tell you took place only a very few years ago. + +Instead of the coon-skin cap, buckskin suit, leggings and moccasins, of +the early frontier, Melville wore a straw hat, a thick flannel shirt, +and, since the weather was quite warm, he was without coat or vest. His +trousers, of the ordinary pattern, were clasped at the waist by his +cartridge belt, and his shapely feet were encased in strong well-made +shoes. His revolver was thrust in his hip-pocket, and the broad collar +of his shirt was clasped at the neck by a twisted silk handkerchief. + +As for Dot, her clustering curls rippled from under a jaunty straw hat, +and fluttered about her pretty shoulders, while the rest of her visible +attire consisted of a simple dress, shoes, and stockings. The extra +clothing taken with her on her visit was tied in a neat small bundle, +fastened to the saddle behind Melville. Should they encounter any sudden +change in the weather, they were within easy reach, while the lad looked +upon himself as strong enough to make useless any such care for him. + +Once or twice Melville stopped Saladin and let Dot down to the ground, +that she might gather some of the bright flowers growing by the wayside; +and at a spring of bubbling icy-cold water both halted and quaffed their +fill, after which Saladin was allowed to push his nose into the clear +fluid and do the same. + +Once more they mounted, and without any occurrence worth the telling, +reached the bank of the stream at the Upper Crossing. He halted a minute +or two to look around before entering the water, for, as you will bear +in mind, he had now reached a spot which gave him a more extended view +than any yet passed. + +Their own home was in plain sight, and naturally the eyes of the brother +and sister were first turned in that direction. It appeared just as they +expected. Moderate in size, built of logs somewhat after the fashion on +the frontier at an earlier date, with outbuildings and abundant signs of +thrift, it was an excellent type of the home of the sturdy American +settler of the present. + +"Oh, Mel!" suddenly exclaimed Dot, calling her brother by the name she +always used, "who is that on horseback?" + +Dot pointed to a slight eminence between their house and the stream; +and, shifting his glance, Melville saw an Indian horseman standing as +motionless as if he and his animal were carved in stone. He seemed to +have reined up on the crest of the elevation, and, coming to a halt, was +doing the same as the brother and sister--surveying his surroundings. + +His position was midway between Melville and his house, and his horse +faced the brother and sister. The distance was too great to distinguish +the features of the red man clearly, but the two believed he was looking +at them. + +Now, there was nothing to cause special alarm in this sight, for it was +a common thing to meet Indians in that part of the country, where indeed +many of them may be seen to-day; but the lad suddenly remembered that +when looking in the direction of his home he had failed to see any signs +of life, and he was at once filled with a misgiving which caused him to +swallow a lump in his throat before answering the question-- + +"Who is it, Mel?" + +"Some Indian; he is too far off for me to tell who he is, and likely +enough we have never seen him before." + +"What's he looking at us so sharply for?" + +"I'm not sure that he is looking at us; his face seems to be turned this +way, but he may have his eyes on something else." + +"Watch him! See what he is doing!" + +No need to tell the lad to watch, for his attention was fixed upon the +warrior. Just as Dot spoke he made a signal which the intelligent youth +could not comprehend. He flung one end of a blanket in the air slightly +above and in front of him, and, holding the other part in his hand, +waved it vigorously several times. + +That it was intended for the eyes of the brother and sister seemed +beyond all question; but, as I have said, they did not know what it +meant, for it might have signified a number of things. It is a practice +with many Indians to use such means as a taunt to their enemies, but +they generally utter shouts and defiant cries, and nothing of the kind +was now heard. + +Besides this, it was not to be supposed that a Sioux warrior (that, no +doubt, being the tribe of the red man before them) would indulge in any +such action in the presence of a single white youth and small girl. + +"I don't understand it," said Melville, "but I'll be as polite as he." + +With which, he took off his hat and swung it above his head. Then, +seeing that the Indian had ceased waving his blanket, he replaced his +hat, still watching his movements. + +[Illustration: "The distance was too great to distinguish the features +of the red man."--Page 7] + +The next moment the Sioux wheeled his horse, and heading westward, +galloped off with such speed that he almost instantly vanished. + +The Indian had been gone less than a minute when Melville spoke to +Saladin, and he stepped into the water. + +The instant his hoof rested on dry land the youth struck him into a +swift canter, which was not checked until he arrived at the house. While +yet some distance, the lad's fears were deepened by what he saw, or +rather by what he failed to see. Not a horse or cow was in sight; only +the ducks and chickens were there, the former waddling to the water. + +When Archie Clarendon made his home on that spot, a few years before, +one of the questions he had to meet was as to the best way of guarding +against attacks from Indians, for there were plenty of them in that part +of the country. There are very few red men who will not steal; and they +are so fond of "firewater," or intoxicating drink, that they are likely +to commit worse crimes. + +The pioneer, therefore, built his house much stronger than he would have +done had he waited several years before putting it up. + +It was made of logs, strongly put together, and the windows were so +narrow that no person, unless very slim, could push his way through +them. Of course the door was heavy, and it could be fastened in its +place so firmly that it would have resisted the assault of a strong body +of men. + +By this time Melville, who had galloped up to the front and brought his +horse to a halt, was almost sure that something dreadful had happened, +and he hesitated a moment before dismounting or lowering Dot to the +ground. She began twisting about in his grasp, saying plaintively-- + +"Let me down, Mel; I want to see papa and mamma." + +"I don't think they are there," he said, again swallowing a lump in his +throat. + +She turned her head around and looked wonderingly up in his face, not +knowing what he meant. He could not explain, and he allowed her to drop +lightly on her feet. + +"Wait a minute," he called, "till I take a look inside." + +In imagination he saw an awful sight. It was that of his beloved parents +slain by the cruel red men--one of whom had waved his blanket tauntingly +at him only a few minutes before. + +He could not bear that Dot should look upon the scene that would haunt +her, as it would haunt him, to her dying day. He meant to hold her back +until he could take a look inside; but her nimble feet carried her +ahead, and she was on the porch before he could check her. + +Saladin was a horse that would stand without tying; and, paying no heed +to him, the youth hurried after his sister, seizing her hand as it was +raised to draw the string hanging outside the door. + +"Dot," he said, "why do you not obey me? You must wait till I first go +in." + +It was not often her big brother spoke so sternly, and there came a tear +into each of the bright eyes, as she stepped back and poutingly waited +for him to do as he thought best. + +Melville raised his hand to draw the latch, but his heart failed. +Stepping to one side, he peered through the narrow window that helped to +light up the lower floor. + +The muslin curtain was partly drawn, but he was able to see most of the +interior. Table, chairs, and furniture were all in place, but not a +glimpse of a living person was visible. + +[Illustration: "He peered through the narrow window."] + +The emotions of childhood are as changeable as the shadows of the +flitting clouds. + +Dot was pouting while Mel stood irresolute on the small porch, and was +sure she would never, never speak to the mean fellow again; but the +instant he peeped through the narrow window she forgot everything else, +and darted forward to take her place at his side, and find out what it +was that made him act so queerly. + +Before she reached him she stopped short with the exclamation-- + +"Oh, Mel! here's a letter for you!" + + + + +CHAPTER TWO + +AN IMPORTANT LETTER--SHUT IN + + +Astonished by the cry, young Clarendon turned his head and looked at his +sister, who landed at his side that moment like a fairy. She was holding +a sheet of paper in her hand. It was folded in the form of an envelope, +and pencilled on the outside in bold letters were the words-- + + "Melville Clarendon. + "In haste; read instantly." + +He took the letter from his sister and trembled, as if from a chill, as +he hurriedly unfolded the paper and read-- + + "MY DEAR MEL,--Leave at once! The Sioux have taken the war-path, + and a party of their worst warriors from the Muddy Creek country + have started out on a raid. They are sure to come this way, and + I suppose the house will be burned, and everything on which they + can lay hands destroyed. They are under the lead of the + desperate Red Feather, and will spare nothing. A friendly Sioux + stopped this morning before daylight and warned me. I gathered + the animals together, and your mother and I set out for Barwell + in all haste, driving the beasts before us. + + "I feel certain of either finding you and Dot at my brother's in + the settlement or of meeting you on the way, for I suppose, of + course, you will follow the regular trail; but, at the moment of + starting, your mother suggests the possibility that you may take + the upper route. To make sure, I write this letter. If the + Indians reach the building before you, they will leave such + traces of their presence that you will take the alarm. If you + arrive first and see this note, re-mount Saladin, turn + northward, and lose not a minute in galloping to the settlement. + None of them can overtake you. Avoid the upper trail, where it + is much easier for them to ambush you; keep as much on the open + prairie as possible; see that your weapons are loaded; make + Saladin do his best; and God be with you and Darling Dot.-- + Your Father." + +[Illustration: "He hurriedly unfolded the paper and read."] + +The youth read this important message aloud to Dot, who stood at his +side, looking wistfully up in his face. She was too young to comprehend +fully its meaning, but she knew that her parents had left for the +settlement, and that her father had ordered Melville to follow at once +with her. + +"The bad Indians are coming," he added, "and if we stay here they will +shoot us. I don't think," he said, glancing around, "that they are +anywhere near; but they are likely to come any minute, so we won't +wait." + +"Oh, Mel!" suddenly spoke up Dot, "you know I forgot to take Susie with +me when I went away; can't I get her now?" + +Susie was Dot's pet doll, and the fact that she left it behind when +making her visit to Uncle Jack's had a great deal more to do with her +home-sickness than her friends suspected. The thought of leaving it +behind again almost broke her heart. + +"I am sure mother took it with her when she went off this morning," +replied Melville, feeling a little uneasy over the request. + +"I'll soon find out," said she, stepping hastily towards the door. + +He could not refuse her wish, for he understood the depth of the +affection she felt for the doll, whose dress was somewhat torn, and +whose face was not always as clean as her own. Besides, it could take +only a minute or two to get the plaything, if it had been left in the +house. Although his situation prevented his seeing anything in the rear +of the building, he was sure the dreaded Indians were not yet in sight, +and he desired to make a hasty survey of the interior of the house +himself. + +How familiar everything looked! There were the chairs placed against the +wall, and the deal table in the middle of the room. Melville noticed +that the pictures which had hung so long on the walls had been taken +away. They were portraits of the members of the family, and the mother +looked upon them as too precious to be allowed to run any risk of loss. +A few other valuables, including the old Bible, had been removed; but +the parents were too wise to increase their own danger by loading +themselves with goods, however much they regretted leaving them behind. + +Although there was an old-fashioned fire-place, the Clarendons used a +large stove standing near it. Curiosity led Melville to examine it, and +he smiled to find it still warm. The ashes within, when stirred, showed +some embers glowing beneath. There was something in the fact which made +the youth feel as though the distance between him and his parents had +become less than a short time before. + +"Strange that I took the upper trail," he said to himself, resuming his +standing position, "and thereby missed them. It's the first time I have +been over that course for a long while, and it beats me that to-day when +I shouldn't have done so I must do it; but fortunately no harm was +done." + +It struck him that Dot was taking an unusually long time in the search +for her doll. Walking to the foot of the stairs, he called to her-- + +"It won't do to wait any longer, Dot; we must be off. If you can't find +your doll, it's because mother took it with her." + +"I've found it! I've found it!" she exclaimed, dancing with delight; "I +had hid it in the bed, where mother didn't see it; bless your soul, +Susie!" + +And Melville laughed as he heard a number of vigorous smacks which told +how much the child loved her pet. + +"I suppose you are happy now," remarked Melville, taking her hand, while +he held his gun in the other, as they walked towards the door. + +"Indeed I am," she replied, with that emphatic shake of the head by +which children of her years often give force to their words. + +Melville placed his hand on the latch of the door, and, raising it, drew +the structure inward. He had lowered his arm and once more taken the +hand of his sister, and was in the act of stepping outside, when the +sharp report of a rifle broke the stillness, and he felt the whiz of the +bullet, which grazed his face and buried itself in the wall behind him. + +The lad was quick-witted enough to know on the instant what it meant; +and, leaping back, he hastily closed the door, drew in the latch-string, +and, leaning his rifle against the side of the room, slipped the bar in +place. + +He had hardly done so when there was a shock, as if some heavy body were +flung violently against it. Such was the fact, a Sioux warrior having +turned himself sideways at the moment of leaping, so that his shoulder +struck it with a force sufficient to carry a door off its hinges. + +"What's the matter?" asked the frightened Dot; "why do you fasten the +door, Mel?" + +"The bad Indians have come; they are trying to get into the house so as +to hurt us." + +"And do they want Susie?" she asked Melville, hugging her doll very +closely to her breast. + +"Yes, but we won't let them have her. Keep away from the window!" he +added, catching her arm, and drawing her back from the dangerous +position into which her curiosity was leading her. "Sit down there," he +said, pointing to one of the chairs which was beyond reach of any bullet +that could be fired through a window; "don't stir unless I tell you to, +or the bad Indians will take you and dolly, and you will never see +father or mother or me again." + +This was terrible enough to scare the little one into the most implicit +obedience of her brother. She meekly took her seat, with Susie still +clasped in her arms, willing to do anything to save the precious one +from danger, and content to leave everything to her brother. + +The youth had not time to explain matters more fully to his sister, nor +would it have been wise to do so; she had been told enough already to +distress and render her obedient to his wishes. + +Following the startling shock against the door came a voice from the +outside. The words were in broken English, and were uttered by the Sioux +warrior that had made the vain effort to drive the structure inward. + +"Open door--open door, brudder." + +"I will not open the door," called back Melville. + +"Open door--Injin won't hurt pale-face--come in--eat wid him." + +"You cannot come in; we want no visitors. Go away, or I will shoot you!" + +This was a brave threat, but it did not do all that the lad hoped. +Whether the assailants knew how weak the force was within the house the +youth could not say. He was not without belief that they might think +there were several armed defenders who would make an attack or siege on +the part of the Sioux too costly for them to continue it long. + +The first purpose of Melville, therefore, was to learn how strong the +force was that had made such a sudden attack. It was too perilous to +attempt to look through one of the four narrow windows lighting the +large room where he stood, and which covered the entire lower part of +the building, and he decided, therefore, to got upstairs. + +Before doing so, he made Dot repeat her promise to sit still where she +was. She assured him that he need have no fear whatever, and he +hurriedly made his way to the rooms above. + +Advancing to one of the windows at the front, he peered out with the +utmost caution. + +The first Indian whom he saw was the very one he dreaded above all +others. He recognized him at the first glance by the cluster of +eagle-feathers stuck in his crown. There were stained of a crimson red, +several of the longer ones drooping behind, so as to mingle with his +coarse black hair which streamed over his shoulders. + +This was Red Feather, one of the most desperate Sioux known in the +history of the border. Years before he was a chief noted for his daring +and detestation of the white men. As the country became partly settled +he acquired most of the vices and few of the virtues of the white race. +He was fond of "firewater," was an inveterate thief, sullen and +revengeful, quarrelsome at all times; and, when under the influence of +drink, was feared almost as much by his own people as by the whites. + +Red Feather was mounted on a fine-looking horse, which there is little +doubt had been stolen from some of the settlers in that part of the +country. He had brought him to a stand about a hundred yards from the +building, he and the animal facing the house. + +As the Sioux chieftain held this position the lad was struck by his +resemblance to the horseman whom he and Dot noticed at the time they +halted on the other bank of the stream. + +[Illustration: "Red Feather, one of the most desperate Sioux."--Page 20] + +This discovery of young Clarendon suggested an explanation of the sight +which so puzzled him and his sister. The chief had descried them at the +same moment, if not before they saw him. Inasmuch as the occupants of +the building were absent, he must have thought they had gone off +together, and he could not have believed that, if such were the case, +any members of the company would return--the boy, therefore, had +ridden part way back to learn what was to be fate of the cabin and +property left behind. Red Feather had waved his blanket as a taunt, and +then rode off for his warriors, encamped near by, with the purpose of +directing them in an attack on the house. + +It was a most unfortunate oversight that Melville did not make a survey +of the surrounding country before entering his own home, for had he done +so, he would have learned of his peril; but you will remember that his +first purpose was not to enter his house, and in truth it was Susie, the +little doll, that brought all the trouble. + +The dismay caused by his unexpected imprisonment was not without +something in the nature of relief. + +In the first place, a careful survey of his surroundings showed there +were only six Sioux warriors in the attacking party. All were mounted, +as a matter of course, fully armed, and eager to massacre the settler +and his family. You will say these were enough to frighten any lad, +however brave; but you must remember that Melville held a strong +position in the house. + +Such a fine horse as Saladin could not fail to catch the eye of the +dusky scamps, and at the moment Red Feather fired his well-nigh fatal +shot at the youth three warriors were putting forth their utmost efforts +to capture the prize. + +But the wise Saladin showed no liking for the red men, and would not +permit any of them to lay hands on him. It was an easy matter to do +this, for among them all there was not one that could approach him in +fleetness. He suffered them to come quite near, and then, flinging up +his head with a defiant neigh, sped beyond their reach like an arrow +darting from the bow. + +Melville's eyes kindled. + +"I am proud of you, Saladin," he said, "and if I dared, I would give +you a hurrah." + +He watched the performance for several minutes, the rapid movement of +the horses causing him to shift his position once or twice from one side +of the house to the other. Finally, one of the Sioux saw how idle their +pursuit was, and, angered at being baffled, deliberately raised his +rifle and fired at Saladin. + +[Illustration: "Saladin showed no liking for the red men."] + +Whether he hit the horse or not Melville could not say, though the +animal showed no signs of being hurt: but the lad was so indignant that +he levelled his own weapon, and, pointing the muzzle out of the narrow +window, muttered-- + +"If you want to try that kind of business, I'm willing, and I think I +can make a better shot than you did." + +Before, however, he could be sure of his aim, he was startled by a cry +from Dot-- + +"Come down here quick, Mel! A great big Indian is getting in the house +by the window!" + + + + +CHAPTER THREE + +CAUGHT FAST--A FRIEND IN NEED + + +Melville Clarendon was so interested in the efforts of the three Sioux +to capture his horse, that for a minute or two he forgot that Dot was +below-stairs. Her cry, however, roused him to the situation and truth, +and he flew down the steps. + +In fact, the little girl had had a stirring time. While she was too +young to realize the full danger of herself and brother, she knew there +were bad Indians trying to get into the house, and the best thing for +her to do was to obey every instruction Melville gave to her. + +It will be recalled that Melville had a few words of conversation with +one of the Sioux outside the door, who asked to be admitted. After the +youth's refusal, there was silence for a minute or two, and, supposing +the Indian was gone, the lad hurried to the upper story to gain a survey +of his surroundings. + +But the warrior had not left. After the departure of Melville he resumed +his knocking on the door, but so gently that no one heard him except +Dot. In her innocence she forgot the warnings given to her, and, sliding +off her chair, stepped forward, and began shoving the end of the +leathern string through, so that the Indian could raise the latch. She +had tried to raise it herself, but the pressure from the outside was so +strong that the friction prevented. + +[Illustration: "Pull the string, and the door will open."] + +"There!" said the little girl; "all you've got to do is to pull the +string, and the door will open." + +When the Indian saw the head of the string groping its way through the +little hole in the door like a tiny serpent, he grasped the end, and +gave it such a smart jerk that the latch flew up. + +But, fortunately, it was necessary to do more than draw the latch to +open the door. The massive bar was in place, and the Sioux, most likely +with a suspicion of the truth, made no effort to force the structure. + +But while he was thus employed Red Feather had slipped from the back of +his pony and approached the house. He took the side opposite to that +from which Melville was looking forth, so that the youth did not notice +his action. He saw the idleness of trying to make his way through the +door, and formed another plan. + +With little effort he raised the sash in the narrow window on the +right. About half-way to the top was a wooden button to hold the lower +sash in place when raised. The occupants of the house used no care in +securing the windows, since, as I have explained, they were too narrow +to allow any person, unless very thin of figure, to force his way +through them. + +Red Feather seemed to forget that he had tried to take the life of one +of the white persons only a few minutes before; but, since no return +shot had come from within the building, he must have concluded the +defenders were panic-stricken, or else he showed a daring that amounted +to recklessness; for, after raising the sash, he pushed the curtain +aside, and began carefully shoving his head through the opening. + +Now, the house being of logs, it was necessary for the chieftain to +force his shoulders a slight distance to allow his head fairly to enter +the room. This required great care and labor, and more risk on the part +of the Sioux than he suspected--since he should have known that it is +easier to advance under such circumstances than to retreat, and, +inasmuch as it was so hard to push on, it was likely to be still harder +to retreat. + +Dot Clarendon, like her brother, was so interested in another direction +that she failed for the time to note that which was of far more +importance. + +But the feeling that she and her brother were in a situation of great +danger became so strong that she felt there was only One who could save +them, and, just as she had been taught from earliest infancy, she now +asked that One to take care of them. + +Sinking on her chubby knees, she folded her hands, shut her eyes and +poured out the simple prayer of faith and love to Him whose ear is +never closed to the appeal of the most helpless. Her eyes were still +closed, and her lips moving, when the noise made by Red Feather in +forcing himself through the narrow opening caused her to stop suddenly +and look around. + +The sight which met her gaze was enough to startle the bravest man. The +head and shoulders of a hideous Sioux warrior were within six feet of +where she was kneeling. The Indian was still struggling but he could get +no farther, and, as it was, he was wedged very closely. + +It must have caused strange feelings in the heart of the wicked savage +when he observed the tiny figure kneeling on the floor, with clasped +hands, closed eyes, upturned face, and murmuring lips. It is hard to +think there could be any one untouched by the sight, though Red Feather +gave no sign of such emotion at the time. + +The face of the Sioux was not painted, though it is the fashion of his +people to do so when upon the war-trail. It could not have looked more +frightful had it been daubed with streaks and spots, and Dot was +terrified. Springing to her feet, she recoiled with a gasp, and stared +at the dreadful countenance. + +Red Feather beckoned as best he could for the little one to come nigh +him. + +It was at this juncture that Dot uttered the cry which brought Melville +in such haste from the room above. He rushed down, loaded gun in hand, +and it is stating the matter mildly to say that he effected a change in +the situation. Startled by the sound of the steps on the stairs, Red +Feather glanced up and saw the lad, his face white with anger, and a +very dangerous-looking rifle in his hand. + +"I'll teach you manners!" called out Melville, halting on reaching the +floor, and bringing his weapon to a level; "such a rogue as you ain't +fit to live." + +[Illustration: "Poured out the simple prayer of faith and love."] + +As you may suppose, Red Feather was satisfied that the best thing for +him to do was to leave that place as quickly as he knew how. He began +struggling fiercely to back out, and he must have been surprised when he +found he was fast, and that the more he strove to free himself the more +firmly he became wedged in. + +Seeing his predicament, Melville advanced a couple of steps, holding his +weapon so that its muzzle was within arm's length of the terrified +visage of the chieftain. + +"I've got you, Red Feather!" said the exultant youth; "and the best +thing I can do is to shoot you." + +"Oh, Mel!" called Dot, running towards her brother, "don't hurt him, +for that would be wicked." + +I must do Melville Clarendon the justice to state that he had no +intention of shooting the Sioux chieftain who was caught fast in such a +curious way. Such an act would have been cruel, though many persons +would say it was right, because Red Feather was trying to slay both +Melville and his little sister. + +But the youth could not help enjoying the strange fix in which the +Indian was caught, and he meant to make the best use of it. It is not +often that an American Indian loses his wits when in danger, but Red +Feather, for a few minutes, was under the control of a feeling such as a +soldier shows when stricken by panic. + +Had he kept cool, and carefully turned and twisted about as required, +while slowly drawing backward, he could have released himself from the +snare without trouble; but it was his frantic effort which defeated his +own purpose, and forced him to stop, panting and despairing, with his +head still within the room, and at the mercy of the youth, who seemed to +lower his gun only at the earnest pleading of his little sister. + +It was no more than natural that the Sioux should have felt certain that +his head and shoulders were beginning to swell, and that, even if the +lad spared him, he would never be able to get himself out of the scrape, +unless the side of the house should be first taken down. + +It was a time to sue for mercy, and the desperate, ugly-tempered Red +Feather was prompt to do so. Ceasing his efforts, and turning his face, +all aglow with cold perspiration, towards the boy, who had just lowered +the muzzle of his gun, he tried to smile, though the expression of his +countenance was anything but smiling, and said-- + +"Red Feather love white boy--love white girl!" + +It is hard to restrain one's pity for another when in actual distress, +and Melville's heart was touched the instant the words were uttered. + +"Sit down in your chair," he said gently to Dot, "and don't disobey me +again by leaving it until I tell you." + +"But you won't hurt him, will you?" she pleaded, half obeying, and yet +hesitating until she could receive his answer. + +Not wishing Red Feather to know his decision, he stooped over and +whispered in her ear-- + +"No, Dot, I will not hurt him; but don't say anything, for I don't want +him to know it just yet." + +It is more than likely that the distressed Sioux saw enough in the +bright face to awaken hope, for he renewed his begging for mercy. + +"Red Feather love white folks--he been bad Injin--he be good Injin +now--'cause he love white folks." + +"Red Feather," said he, lowering his voice so as not to reach the ears +of the other Sioux, drawn to the spot by the strange occurrence; "you do +not deserve mercy, for you came to kill me and all my folk. There! don't +deny it, for you speak with a double tongue. But _she_ has asked me to +spare you, and perhaps I will. If I keep away all harm from you, what +will you do for us?" + +"Love white folks--Red Feather go away--won't hurt--bring game to his +brother." + +Having rested a few minutes, the Sioux began wriggling desperately +again, hoping to free himself by sheer strength; but he could not budge +his head and shoulders from their vice-like imprisonment, and something +like despair must have settled over him when all doubt that he was +swelling fast was removed. + +It was at the same instant that two of the warriors on the outside, +seeing the hapless position of their chief, seized his feet, and began +tugging with all their power. + +They quickly let go, however; for the impatient sachem delivered such a +vigorous kick that both went over backward, with their feet pointed +towards the clouds. + +"Red Feather," said Melville, standing close enough to the hapless +prisoner to touch him with his hand, "if I help you out of that place +and do not hurt you, will you and your warriors go away?" + +The Sioux nodded so vigorously that he struck his chin against the wood +hard enough to cause him some pain. + +"Me go away--all Sioux go away--neber come here 'gin--don't hurt +nuffin--hurry way." + +"And you will not come back to harm us?" + +"Neber come back--stay way--love white folks." + +"I don't believe you will ever love them, and I don't ask you to do so; +but you know that my father and mother and I have always treated your +people kindly, and they have no reason to hurt us." + +"Dat so--dat so--Red Feather love fader, love moder, love son, love +pappoose of white folks." + +"You see how easy it would be for me to shoot you where you are now +without any risk to myself, but I shall not hurt you. I will help to get +your head and shoulders loose; but I am afraid that when you mount your +horse again and ride out on the prairie you will forget all you promised +me." + +"Neber, neber, neber!" replied the chieftain, with all the energy at his +command. + +[Illustration: "Oh, Mel!" called Dot "don't hurt him."--Page 30] + +"You will think that you know enough never to run your head into that +window again, and you will want to set fire to the house and tomahawk +us." + +The Sioux looked as if he was deeply pained at this distrust of his +honorable intentions, and he seemed at a loss to know what to say to +restore himself to the good graces of his youthful master. + +"You are sure you won't forget your promise, Red Feather?" + +"Red Feather Sioux chief--he neber tell lie--he speak wid single +tongue--he love white folks." + +"I counted five warriors with you; are they all you have?" + +"Dey all--hab no more." + +Melville believed the Indian spoke the truth. + +"Where are the rest?" + +"Go down oder side Muddy Riber--won't come here." + +Melville was inclined to credit this statement also. If Red Feather +spoke the truth, the rest of his band, numbering fully a score, were +twenty miles distant, and were not likely to appear in that part of the +country. Such raids as that on which they were engaged must of necessity +be pushed hard and fast. Even if the settlers do not instantly rally, +the American cavalry are quite sure to follow them, and the Indians have +no time to loiter. The rest of the band, if a score of miles away, were +likely to have their hands full without riding thus far out of their +course. + +"Well," said Melville, after a moment's thought, as if still in doubt as +to what he ought to do, "I shall not hurt you--more than that, I will +help you to free yourself." + +He leaned his gun against the table near him, and stepped forward and +placed his hands on the head and shoulders of the suffering prisoner. + +"Oogh!" grunted Red Feather; "grow bigger--swell up fast--bimeby Red +Feather get so big, he die." + +"I don't think it is as bad as _that_," remarked Melville, unable to +repress a smile, "but it will take some work to get you loose." + + + + +CHAPTER FOUR + +THE CONSULTATION--ON THE ROOF + + +Melville now examined the fix of the chieftain more closely. His +struggles had hurt the skin about his neck and shoulders, and there +could be no doubt he was suffering considerably. + +Clasping the dusky head with his hands, the youth turned it gently, so +that it offered the least possible resistance. Then he asked him to move +his shoulder slightly to the left, and, while Melville pushed carefully +but strongly, told him to exert himself, not hastily but slowly, and +with all the power at his command. + +Resting a minute or two, the attempt was renewed and this time Red +Feather succeeded in withdrawing for an inch or two, though the effort +plainly caused him pain. + +"That's right," added Melville, encouragingly; "we shall succeed--try it +again." + +There was a vigorous scraping, tugging, and pulling, and all at once the +head and shoulders vanished through the window. Red Feather was released +from the vice. + +"There, I knew you would be all right!" called the lad through the +opening. "Good-bye, Red Feather." + +The chief must have been not only confused and bewildered, but +chagrined by the exhibition made before the lad and his own warriors, +who, had they possessed any sense of humor, would have laughed at the +sorry plight of their leader. + +Stepping back from the window, so as not to tempt any shot from the +other Sioux, all of whom had gathered about the chief, Melville found +himself in a dilemma. + +"Shall I take Red Feather at his word?" he asked himself; "shall I open +the door and walk out with Dot, mount Saladin and gallop off to Barwell, +or--wait?" + +There is little doubt, from what followed, that the former would have +been the wiser course of the youth. Despite the treacherous character of +the Sioux leader, he was so relieved by his release from what he felt at +the time was a fatal snare, and by the kindness received from the boy, +that his heart was stirred by something akin to gratitude, and he would +have restrained his warriors from violence. + +Had Melville been alone, he would not have hesitated; but he was +irresolute on account of Dot. Looking down in her sweet trustful face, +his heart misgave him; he felt that, so long as she was with him, he +could assume no risks. He was comparatively safe for a time in the +building, while there was no saying what would follow if he should place +himself and Dot in the power of Indians that had set out to destroy and +slay. + +Besides, if Red Feather meant to keep his promise he could do so without +involving the brother and sister in the least danger. He had only to +ride off with his warriors, when Melville would walk forth, call Saladin +to him, mount, and ride away. + +"If he is honest," was his decision, "he will do that; I will wait +until they are only a short distance off, and then will gallop to the +settlement." + +"Come," said he, taking the hand of Dot, "let's go upstairs." + +"Why don't you stay down here, Mel?" + +"Well, I am afraid to leave you alone because you are so apt to forget +your promises to me; and since I want to go upstairs I must take you +with me." + +She made no objection, and holding Susie clasped by one arm, she placed +the other hand in her brother's, and, side by side, the two walked up +the steps to the larger room, occupied by their parents when at home. + +"Now," said Melville, speaking with great seriousness, "you must do just +as I tell you, Dot; for it you don't the bad Indians will surely hurt +you, and you will never see Susie again." + +She gave her pledge with such earnestness that he could depend upon her +from that time forward. + +"You must not go near the window unless I tell you to do so: the reason +for that is that some of the Indians will see you, and they will fire +their guns at you. If the bullet does not strike Dot and kill her, it +will hit Susie, and that will be the last of _her_. The best thing you +can do is to lie down on the bed and rest." + +Dot obeyed cheerfully, reclining on the couch, with her round plump face +against the pillow, where a few minutes later she sank into a sweet +sleep. Poor child! little did she dream of what was yet to come. + +She was safe so long as she remained thus, since, though a bullet fired +through any one of the windows must cross the room, it would pass above +the bed, missing her by several feet. + +[Illustration: "The chief and his five followers had re-mounted their +ponies."--Page 41] + +Relieved of all present anxiety concerning her, Melville now gave his +attention to Red Feather and his warriors. That which he saw was not +calculated to add to his peace of mind. + +The chief and his five followers had re-mounted their ponies, and ridden +to a point some two hundred yards distant on the prairie, where they +halted, as if for consultation. + +"Just what I feared," said the youth, feeling it safe to stand before +the upper window and watch every movement; "Red Feather has already +begun to repent of his pledge to me, and his warriors are trying to +persuade him to break his promise. I don't believe they will find it +hard work to change his mind." + +But whatever was said, it was plain that the Sioux were much in earnest. +All were talking, and their arms swung about their heads, and they +nodded with a vigor that left no doubt all were taking part in the +dispute, and each one meant what he said. + +"Where there is so much wrangling, it looks as if some were in favor of +letting us alone," thought Melville, who added the next minute--"I don't +know that that follows, for it may be they are quarrelling over the best +plan of slaying us, with no thought on the part of any one that they are +bound in honor to spare us." + +By-and-by the ponies, which kept moving uneasily about, took position so +that the heads of all were turned fully or partly towards the building, +from which the lad was attentively watching their movements. + +During these exciting moments Melville did not forget Saladin. The +sagacious animal, being no longer troubled by those that were so anxious +to steal him, had halted at a distance of an eighth of a mile, where he +was eating the grass as though there was nothing unusual in his +surroundings. + +"I hope you will be wise enough, old fellow," muttered his young +master, "to keep them at a distance; that shot couldn't have hit you, +or, if it did, it caused nothing more than a scratch." + +The horse's wisdom was tested the next minute. One of the warriors +withdrew from the group, and began riding at a gallop towards Saladin. +As he drew near he brought his pony down to a walk, and evidently hoped +to calm the other's fears sufficiently to permit a still closer +approach. + +Melville's heart throbbed painfully as the distance lessened, and he +began to believe he was to lose his priceless animal after all. + +"Why didn't I think of it?" he asked himself, placing his finger in his +mouth, and emitting a shrill whistle that could have been heard a mile +distant. + +It was a signal with which Saladin was familiar. He instantly raised his +head and looked towards the house. As he did so he saw one of his +mounted enemies slowly approaching, and within a dozen rods. It was +enough, and breaking into a gallop, he quickly ended all hope of his +capture by _that_ Sioux brave. + +That signal of Melville Clarendon had also been heard by all the Sioux, +who must have thought it was due to that alone that the warrior failed +to secure the valuable animal. The youth saw the group looking +inquiringly at the house, as if to learn from what point the sound came, +and the expression on the dark faces was anything but pleasing to him. + +He wished to give Red Feather credit for the delay on the part of the +Sioux. Their actions showed they were hotly disputing over something, +and what more likely than that it was the question of assailing the +house and outbuildings? + +But there were several facts against this theory. Red Feather held such +despotic sway over his followers that it was hard to understand what +cause could arise for any dispute with them about the disposal to be +made of the brother and sister. If he desired to leave them alone, what +was to prevent him riding off and obliging every one of his warriors to +go with him? + +This was the question which Melville continually asked himself, and +which he could not answer as he wished, being unable to drive away the +belief that the chief was acting a double part. + +The Sioux had reached some decision; for, on the return of the one who +failed to secure Saladin, they ceased disputing, and rode towards the +window from which Melville was watching them. + +Their ponies were on a slow walk, and the expression on their forbidding +faces was plainly seen as their eyes ranged over the front of the +building. The youth had withdrawn, so as to stand out of range; but, to +end the doubt in his mind, he now stepped out in full view of every one +of the warriors. + +[Illustration: "Melville had warning enough to leap back."] + +The doubt was removed at once. Previous to this the lad had raised the +lower sash, so as to give him the chance to fire, and as he stood, his +waist and shoulders were in front of the upper part of the glass. It so +happened that Red Feather and one of his warriors were looking at the +very window at which he appeared. Like a flash both guns went to their +shoulders and were discharged. + +[Illustration: "He pointed his own weapon outward, and fired."] + +But Melville had enough warning to leap back, as the jingle and crash of +glass showed how well the miscreants had aimed. Stirred to the deepest +anger, he pointed his own weapon outward and fired into the party, doing +so with such haste that he really took no aim at all. + +It is not likely that his bullet had gone anywhere near the Sioux, but +it had served the purpose of warning them that he was as much in earnest +as themselves. + +Melville placed a cartridge in the breech of his rifle with as much +coolness as a veteran, and prepared himself for what he believed was to +be a desperate defence of himself and sister. + +It must not be thought that he was in despair; for, when he came to look +over the situation, he found much to encourage him. In the first place, +although besieged by a half-dozen fierce Sioux, he was sure the siege +could not last long. Whatever they did must be done within a few hours. + +While it was impossible to tell the hour when his parents started from +Barwell, it must have been quite early in the morning, and there was +every reason to hope they would reach the settlement by noon at the +latest. The moment they did so they would learn that Melville had left +long before for home, and therefore had taken the upper trail, since, +had he not done so, the parties would have met on the road. + +True, Mr. Clarendon would feel strong hope that his son, being so well +mounted, would wheel about and follow without delay the counsel in the +letter; but he was too shrewd to rely fully on such hope. What could be +more certain than that he would instantly gather a party of friends and +set out to their relief? + +The great dread of the youth was that the Sioux would set fire to the +buildings, and he wondered many times that this was not done at the time +Red Feather learned of the flight of the family. + +Melville glanced at Dot, and, seeing she was asleep, he decided to go +downstairs and make a fuller examination of the means of defence. + +"Everything seems to be as secure as it can be," he said, standing in +the middle of the room and looking around; "that door has already been +tried, and found not wanting. The only other means of entrance is +through the windows, and after Red Feather's experience I am sure +neither he nor any of his warriors will try _that_." + +There were four windows--two at the front and two at the rear--all of +the same shape and size. There was but the single door, of which so much +has already been said, and therefore the lower portion of the building +could not be made safer. + +The stone chimney, so broad at the base that it was more than half as +wide as the side of the outside wall, was built of stone, and rose a +half-dozen feet above the roof. It was almost entirely out of doors, but +was solid and strong. + +"If the Indians were not such lazy people," said Melville--looking +earnestly at the broad fire-place, in front of which stood the +new-fashioned stove--"they might set to work and take down the chimney, +but I don't think there is much danger of _that_." + +He had hardly given expression to the thought when he fancied he heard a +slight noise on the outside, and close to the chimney itself. He stepped +forward, and held his ear to the stones composing the walls of the +fire-place. + +Still the sounds were faint, and he then touched his ear against them, +knowing that solid substances are much better conductors of sound than +air. He now detected the noise more plainly, but it was still so faint +that he could not identify it. + +He was still striving hard to do so when, to his amazement, Dot called +him from above-stairs-- + +"Where are you, Mel? Is that you that I can hear crawling about over the +roof?" + + + + +CHAPTER FIVE + +A STRANGE VISIT--OMINOUS SIGNS + + +Melville Clarendon went up the short stairs three steps at a time, +startled as much by the call of his sister as by anything that had taken +place since the siege of the cabin began. + +As he entered the room he saw Dot sitting up in bed, and staring +wonderingly at the shivered window-glass, particles of which lay all +around. + +"Oh, Mel!" said she, "papa will scold you for doing that; how came you +to do it?" + +"It was the bad Indians who fired through the window at me, and I fired +at them: you were sleeping so soundly that you only half awoke; but you +must keep still a few minutes longer." + +"I thought that was you on the roof," she added, in a lower voice. + +That there was someone overhead was certain. The rasping sound of a +person moving carefully along the peak of the roof was audible. The lad +understood the meaning of that which puzzled him when on the lower +floor: one of the warriors was carefully climbing the chimney--a task +not difficult, because of its rough uneven formation. + +The significance of such a strange act remained to be seen. It appeared +unlikely that any of the Sioux were daring enough to attempt a descent +of the chimney; but that such was really his purpose became clear within +the following minute. + +The Indian, after making his way a short distance along the peak, +returned to the chimney, where, from the noises which reached the +listening ones, it was manifest that he was actually making his way +down the flue, broad enough to admit the passage of a larger body than +himself. + +"I won't be caught foul _this_ time," said Melville, turning to descend +the stairs again; "Dot, stay right where you are on the bed till I come +back or call to you." + +She promised to obey, and there could be no doubt that she would do so. + +"They must think I'm stupid," muttered the youth, taking his position in +the middle of the room, with his rifle cocked and ready for instant use; +"but they will find out the idiot is some one else." + +He had not long to wait when in the large open space at the back of the +stove appeared a pair of moccasins groping vaguely about for support. +The pipe from the stove, instead of passing directly up the chimney, +entered it by means of an elbow. Had it been otherwise, the daring +warrior would have found himself in a bad fix on arriving at the bottom. + +It would have been idle for the young man standing on the watch to fire +at the feet or legs, and he waited an instant, when the Indian dropped +lightly on his feet, and, without the least hesitation, stepped forward +in the apartment and confronted Melville. + +The latter was dumbfounded, for the first glance at his face showed that +he was the chieftain Red Feather, the Indian whom of all others he least +expected to see. + +The act of the savage was without any possible explanation to the +astonished youth, who, recoiling a step, stared at him, and uttered the +single exclamation-- + +"Red Feather!" + +"Howly do, broder?" was the salutation of the Sioux, whose dusky face +showed just the faintest smile. + +Red Feather's descent of the chimney had not been without some +disagreeable features. His blanket and garments, never very tidy, were +covered with soot, enough of which had got on his face to suggest that +he had adopted the usual means of his people to show they were on the +war-path. + +[Illustration: "A pair of moccasins groping vaguely about for support."] + +His knife and tomahawk were thrust in his girdle at his waist, and +throughout this laborious task he had held his rifle fast, so that he +was fully armed. + +"Howly do?" he repeated, extending his hand, which Melville was too +prudent to accept. + +"No," he replied, compressing his lips, and keeping his finger on the +trigger of his gun, "Red Feather speaks with a double tongue; he is not +our friend." + +"Red Feather been bad Injin--want white folks' scalp--don't want 'em +now--little pappoose pray to Great Spirit--_dat_ make Red Feather feel +bad--he hab pappoose--he lub Injin pappoose--lub white pappoose--much lub +white pappoose." + +This remark shed light upon the singular incident. To Melville it was a +mystery beyond understanding that any person could look upon the sweet +innocent face of Dot without loving her. Knowing how vile an Indian Red +Feather had been, it was yet a question with the youth whether he could +find it in his heart to wish ill to his wee bit of a sister. + +Was it unreasonable, therefore, to believe that this savage warrior had +been touched by the sight of the little one on her knees, with her hands +clasped in prayer, and by her eagerness to keep away all harm from him? + +This theory helped to explain what took place after the release of Red +Feather from his odd imprisonment. The five warriors whom he had brought +with him upon his raid must have combated his proposal to leave the +children unharmed. In the face of his savage overbearing disposition +they had fought his wish to keep the pledge to them, while he as firmly +insisted upon its fulfilment. + +But if such were the fact, how could his descent of the chimney be +explained? + +Melville did not try to explain it, for he had no time just then to +speculate upon it; the explanation would come shortly. + +The youth, however, was too wise to act upon that which he hoped was the +truth. He had retreated nearly to the other side of the room, where he +maintained the same defiant attitude as at first. + +Red Feather read the distrust in his face and manner. With a +deliberation that was not lacking in dignity, he walked slowly to the +corner of the apartment, Melville closely following him with his eye, +and leaned his gun against the logs. Then he drew his knife and +tomahawk from his girdle, and threw them on the floor beside the more +valuable weapon. That done, he moved back to the fire-place, folded his +arms, and, fixing his black eyes on the countenance of the lad, +repeated--"Red Feather friend of white folk." + +"I believe you," responded Melville, carefully letting down the hammer +of his rifle and resting the stock on the floor; "now I am glad to shake +hands with you." + +A broader smile than before lit up the dusky face as the chief warmly +pressed the hand of the youth, who felt just a little trepidation when +their palms met. + +"Where pappoose?" asked Red Feather, looking suggestively at the steps +leading to the upper story. + +"Dot!" called Melville, "come down here; someone wants to see you." + +The patter of feet was heard, and the next instant the little one came +tripping downstairs, with her doll clasped by one arm to her breast. + +"Red Feather is a good Indian now, and he wants to shake hands with +you." + +With a faint blush and a sweet smile Dot ran across the floor and held +out her tiny hand. The chieftain stooped, and not only took the palm of +the little girl, but placed each of his own under her shoulders and +lifted her from the floor. Straightening up, he touched his dusky lips +to those of the innocent one, murmuring, with a depth of emotion which +cannot be described-- + +"Red Feather lub white pappoose--she make him good Injin--he be her +friend always." + +The chieftain touched his lips but once to those of the little one, who +showed no hesitation in accepting the salute. Pure, innocent, and good +herself, she had not yet learned how evil the human heart may become. + +Not only did she receive the salute willingly, but threw her free arm +around the neck of the Indian and gave him a kiss. + +"Red Feather, what made you come down the chimney?" questioned Melville +when the Indian had released his sister. + +"Can't come oder way," was the instant response. + +"True; but why do you want to enter this house?" + +"Be friend of white folk--come tell 'em." + +"I am sure of that; but what can you do for us?" + +Red Feather gave no direct answer to this question, but walked upstairs. +As he did so he left every one of his weapons on the lower floor, and by +a glance cast over his shoulder expressed the wish that the brother and +sister should follow him. They did so, Dot tripping ahead, while +Melville retained his weapons. + +Reaching the upper floor, the Sioux walked directly to the window +through which the shots had come that shattered the two panes of glass. + +There was a curious smile on his swarthy face as he pointed at the pane +on the left, and said-- + +"Red Feather fire _dat!_" + +The explanation of his remark was that had Melville kept his place in +front of the window at the moment the rifles were discharged, only one +of the bullets would have hit him, and that would have been the one +which Red Feather did not fire. + +[Illustration: "'She make him good Injin--he be her friend +always.'"--Page 51] + +The shot which he sent into the apartment, and which filled the youth +with so much indignation, had been fired for the purpose of making the +other warriors believe the chieftain was as bitter an enemy of the +brother and sister as he was of all white people. + +Having convinced his followers on this point, he made his position still +stronger with them by declaring his purpose of descending the chimney, +and having it out with them, or rather with the lad, within the +building. + +Red Feather peered out of the window, taking care that none of his +warriors saw him, though they must have felt a strong curiosity to learn +the result of his strange effort to overcome the little garrison. +Melville supposed that he had arranged to communicate with them by +signal, for the result of the attempt must be settled quickly. + +The youth took the liberty of peeping forth from the other window on the +same side of the house. + +Only two of the Sioux were in their field of vision, and their actions +did not show that they felt much concern for their chief. They were +mounted on their horses, and riding at a walk towards the elevations +from which Red Feather had waved his blanket to the brother and sister +when on the other side of the stream. + +Melville's first thought was that they had decided to leave the place, +but that hope was quickly dispelled by the action of the warriors. At +the highest point of the hill they checked their ponies, and sat for a +minute gazing fixedly to the northward in the direction of the +settlement. + +"They are looking for our friends," thought the youth, "but I am afraid +they will not be in sight for a good while to come." + +At this juncture one of the warriors deliberately rose to a standing +position on the back of his pony, and turned his gaze to the westward. + +"Now they are looking for _their_ friends," was the correct conclusion +of Melville, "and I am afraid they see them; yes, there is no doubt of +it." + +The warrior, in assuming his delicate position, passed his rifle to his +companion, whose horse was beside him. Then, with his two hands free, he +drew his blanket from around his shoulders and began waving it, as Red +Feather had done earlier in the day. + +Melville glanced across at Red Feather, who was attentively watching the +performance. He saw the countenance grow more forbidding, while a scowl +settled on his brow. + +It was easy to translate all this. The Sioux had caught sight of some of +their friends, and signalled them. This would not have been done had +there not been some person or persons to observe it. + +The party which the chieftain had described as being in the Muddy Creek +country must have changed their course and hastened to join Red Feather +and the smaller party. If such were the fact, they would arrive on the +spot within a brief space of time. + +The interesting question arose whether, in the event of such arrival, +and the attack that was sure to follow, Red Feather would come out as +open defender of the children against his own people. Had there been +only the five original warriors, he might have played a part something +akin to neutrality, on the ground that his descent of the chimney had +turned out ill for him, and, being caught at disadvantage he was held +idle under the threat of instant death. Still further, it might have +been his province to assume the character of hostage, and thus to defeat +the overthrow of the couple by the Sioux. + +But the arrival of the larger party would change everything. Among the +Muddy Creek band were several who disliked Red Feather intensely enough +to be glad of a chance to help his discomfiture. + +He had agreed that, in the event of his surprising the lad who was +making such a brave defence, he would immediately appear at the front +window and announce it, after which he would unbar the door and admit +the warriors to the "last scene of all." + +[Illustration: "'Let the Sioux send more of his warriors down the +chimney!'"] + +Several minutes had now passed, and no such announcement was made. The +other three Sioux were lingering near the building, awaiting the signal +which came not. + +While the two were engaged on the crest of the hill the others suddenly +came round in front of the house. They were on foot, and looked +inquiringly at the windows, as if at a loss to understand the cause of +the silence. Red Feather instantly drew back, and said in a low voice to +Melville-- + +"Speak to Injin--dem tink Red Feather lose scalp." + +Grasping the situation, the youth showed himself at the window, where +the Sioux were sure to see him, and uttered a tantalizing shout. + +"Let the Sioux send more of their warriors down the chimney!" he called +out; "the white youth is waiting for them, that he may take their +scalps." + +This was followed by another shout, as the lad withdrew beyond reach of +a rifle-ball, that left no doubt of its meaning on the minds of the +astounded warriors. + + + + +CHAPTER SIX + +THE MUDDY CREEK BAND--THE TORCH + + +It was easy for any spectator to interpret the actions and signals of +the Sioux warrior who was standing erect on his pony and waving his +blanket at some party invisible to the others. + +After a minute or two he rested, with the blanket trailing beside him, +while he still held his erect position, and continued gazing earnestly +over the prairie. This showed that he was waiting for an answer to his +signal. Either there was none, or that which was given was not +satisfactory, for up went the blanket once more, and he swung it more +vigorously than before, stopping and gazing away again. + +This time the reply was what was desired, for the warrior dropped as +suddenly astride of his horse as though his feet had been knocked from +under him, and, wheeling about, he and his companion galloped down the +hill to where the others were viewing the cabin. + +The taunting words which Melville had called through the front window +must have convinced the Sioux that the pitcher had gone once too often +to the fountain. Red Feather had escaped by a wonderful piece of good +fortune when wedged in the window, and had been encouraged to another +attempt, which ended in his ruin. + +"Red Feather," said Melville, stepping close to the chieftain, who was +still peering through one of the windows, "the other Sioux will soon be +here." + +"Dat so--dat so," replied the Indian, looking around at him and nodding +his head several times. + +"What will they do?" + +[Illustration: "Standing erect and waving his blanket."] + +Instead of replying to this question the chief seemed to be plunged in +thought. He gazed fixedly in the face of the youth, as if uncertain what +he ought to answer, and then he walked to the head of the stairs. + +"Wait here--don't come." + +And, without anything more, he went down the steps slowly, and without +the slightest noise. Melville listened, but could hear nothing of his +footfalls, though certain that he was moving across the floor. + +"I don't like this," muttered the lad, compressing his lips and shaking +his head; "it makes me uneasy." + +He was now in the lower story, where he left his rifle, knife, and +tomahawk. He was therefore more fully armed than the youth, and, if he +chose to play the traitor, there was nothing to prevent it. + +It seemed to Melville that the coming of the larger party was likely to +change whatever plans Red Feather might have formed for befriending him +and his sister. What more probable than that he had decided to return to +his first love? + +But speculation could go on this way for ever, and without reaching any +result. + +"I'll do as I have done all along," he muttered; "I'll trust in Heaven +and do the best I can. I'm sure of one thing," he added; "whatever +comes, Red Feather won't hurt Dot: he has spared me on her account: and +if he turns against me now, he will do what he can to save her. +Therefore I'll make use of the little one." + +Dot had held her peace through these trying moments, but he now called +her to him and explained what he wished her to do. It was that she +should place herself at the head of the stairs and watch Red Feather. In +case he started to open the door, or to come up the stairs, she was to +tell him. Dot was beginning to understand more clearly than before the +situation in which she was placed. The belief that she could be of some +use to her brother made her more anxious than ever to do her part. She +walked to the head of the stairs and sat down where she could see what +went on below. + +Returning to his place at the window, Melville found enough to interest +him without thinking of Red Feather. + +[Illustration: "The whole party broke out in a series of +yells."--Page 63] + +The band from the Muddy Creek country had just arrived, and as nearly +as he could judge, there were fully a score--all wild, ugly-looking +fellows, eager for mischief. They had just galloped up the hill, where +they gathered round the man that had first signalled them, he having +ridden forward to meet them. They talked for several minutes, evidently +to learn what had taken place in and around the Clarendon cabin. + +This was soon made clear to them, and then the whole party broke into a +series of yells enough to startle the bravest man. At the same time they +began riding rapidly back and forth, swinging their rifles over their +heads, swaying their bodies first on one side and then on another, and +apparently growing more excited every minute. + +At first they described short circles on the prairie, and then suddenly +extended them so as to pass entirely around the house. + +The Sioux, as they came in sight in front of the cabin, were in such a +fire range that the youth felt sure he could bring down a warrior at +every shot. He was tempted to do so, but restrained himself. + +He reflected that, though several shots had been fired, no one, so far +as he knew, had been hurt on either side. He had brought his own rifle +to his shoulder more than once, and but a feather's weight more pressure +on the trigger would have discharged it, but he was glad he had not done +so. + +"I shall not shoot any one," he said, determinedly, "until I see it must +be done for the sake of Dot or myself. I wonder what Red Feather is at?" + +Dot was still sitting at the head of the stairs, dividing her attention +between Susie her doll and the chieftain. Stepping softly toward her, +Melville asked-- + +"What is he doing, Dot?" + +"Nothing." + +"Where is he standing?" + +"Beside the front window, looking out just like you did a minute ago." + +This was reassuring information, and helped to drive away the fear that +had troubled the youth ever since the Sioux passed below stairs. + +"Mel," called his sister the next minute, "I'm awful hungry; ain't it +past dinner-time?" + +"I'm afraid there is nothing to eat in the house." + +"I'm awful thirsty, too." + +"I feel a little that way myself, but I don't believe there is anything +to eat or drink. You know, father and mother didn't expect us to stay +here, or they would have left something for us." + +"Can't I go downstairs and look?" + +"Yes, if you will keep away from the windows, and tell Red Feather what +you are doing." + +"Hasn't he got eyes that he can see for himself?" asked the little one +as she hurried down the steps. + +The chief looked around when he heard the dainty steps, wondering what +errand brought her downstairs. + +"Red Feather," said the young lady, "I'm hungry; ain't you?" + +"No--me no hungry," he answered, his dark face lighting up with pleasure +at sight of the picture of innocence. + +"Then you must have eaten an awful big breakfast this morning," remarked +Dot, walking straight to the cupboard in the farther corner of the room, +into which Melville had glanced when he first entered the house; "I know +where mother keeps her jam and nice things." + +That she knew where the delicacies were stored Dot proved the next +minute, when, to her delight, she found everything that heart, or rather +appetite, could wish. + +There were a jar of currant jam, a pan of cool milk, on which a thick +crust of yellow cream had formed, three-fourths of a loaf of bread, and +an abundance of butter. Good Mrs. Clarendon left them behind because she +had an abundance without them. Little did she dream of the good service +they were destined to do. + +Dot uttered such a cry of delight that the chief walked toward her, and +Melville seized the excuse to hurry below. + +The first thing that struck him was that Red Feather's tomahawk and +knife still lay in the corner where he had placed them. He simply held +his rifle which most likely he was ready to use against his own people +whenever the necessity arose. + +"Well, Dot, you _have_ found a prize," said her brother, following the +chief, who was looking over her shoulder; "I had no idea that mother had +left anything behind; there's enough for all." + +She insisted that the others should partake while she waited, but +neither would permit it. No matter how a-hungered either might have +been, he enjoyed the sight of seeing her eat tenfold more than in +partaking himself. + +And you may be sure that Dot did ample justice to the rich find. +Melville cut a thick slice for her, and spread the butter and jam on it, +while a portion of the milk was poured into a cup. + +I never heard of a little girl who could eat a piece of bread well +covered with jam or preserves without failing to get most of it on her +mouth. Dot Clarendon was no exception to the rule; and before she was +through a goodly part of it, the sticky sweet stuff was on her cheeks +and nose. When she looked up at the two who were watching her, the sight +was so comical that Red Feather did that which I do not believe he had +done a dozen times in all his life--he threw back his head and laughed +loud. Melville caught the contagion and gave way to his mirth, which was +increased by the naive remark of Dot that she couldn't see anything to +laugh at. + +[Illustration: "He threw back his head and laughed loud."] + +The appetite of the young queen having been satisfied, Melville insisted +on Red Feather sharing what was left with him. The Sioux declined at +first, but yielded, and the remaining bread and milk furnished them a +grateful and nourishing repast. They did not use all, but saved enough +to supply another meal for Dot, whose appetite was sure to make itself +felt before many hours passed by. + +Like most boys of his age in these later days, Melville Clarendon +carried a watch, which showed that it was past three o'clock in the +afternoon. This was considerably later than he supposed, and proved that +in the rush of incidents time had passed faster than he had suspected. + +"What shall I do?" asked the youth, turning to the chief. + +"Go--up up," he replied, pointing up the steps; "watch out. Red +Feather--he watch out here." + +"Do you want Dot to stay with you?" asked Melville, pausing on his way +to the steps. + +"Leave wid Red Feather--he take heap care ob pappoose." + +"There can be no doubt of _that_," remarked the brother, as he bounded +up the stairs, resuming his former station near the window. + +Looking out with the same care he had shown from the first, he found the +Sioux had grown tired of galloping round the house and buildings, or +they were plotting some other kind of mischief, for only one of them was +in sight. + +He was seated on his pony on the crest of the hill from which the +signals were made to the Muddy Creek warriors. A moment's study of the +red men showed that his attention was directed not toward the west but +the north, in the direction of the settlement. + +"He is now looking for enemies instead of friends," was the conclusion +of Melville. + +The truth was, the youth was beginning to wonder why the settlers did +not come. If no accident had befallen his parents, they ought to have +reached Barwell several hours before, and a gallop of ten miles was only +a moderate ride for a party of horsemen eager to strike the marauders a +blow. + +But the fact that they were not yet in sight set the youth speculating +as to what the result was likely to be if they did not come at all, or +rather, if their coming should be delayed until nightfall, for it was +not to be supposed that relief would not be sent sooner or later. + +"There is only a faint moon to-night," he reflected; "and I'm afraid +that's against us." + +The American Indian prefers to do his mischief in the dark, and, since +it would be impossible for the horsemen to conceal their approach, they +would be likely to suffer in the first collision with the red men. + +But, on the other hand, would not the gloom be of help to Red Feather in +some scheme doubtless formed to help the children whose friend he had so +suddenly become? + +What the nature of this scheme was (if such existed) Melville could not +guess; it might be that it required a bright moon for its success. + +It may be said that the Sioux chieftain, as he stood beside one of the +narrow windows on the lower floor, racked his brain until he hit upon a +way of aiding the brother and sister--especially the latter--in their +desperate peril. It was a strange plan, indeed, and, with all his +adroitness, he knew the chances were ten to one against its success. + +But the chief gave no hint to Melville of what was going on in his mind, +and the latter could only wait, and hope and pray that the same Heavenly +Father who had protected and preserved them thus far would keep them to +the end. + +The youth was in the midst of his speculations over the matter when he +fancied he detected a peculiar odor from the outside. He could not tell +its nature, though he snuffed the air repeatedly. He was alarmed, for he +connected it with the silence of the war-party outside. + +He was on the point of appealing to Red Feather downstairs, when its +nature flashed upon him. _It was smoke!_ + +He had hardly reached the decision when a mass of thick vapor rolled in +front of the house, so dense and blinding that for the moment it shut +from his sight the mounted sentinel on the hill. + +What was dreaded by the besieged had come at last. The Sioux, aware of +the great value of the minutes, had resorted to the torch. + + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN + +"A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM."--SURROUNDED BY PERIL + + +Within a distance of a dozen yards of the house of Archibald Clarendon +stood his barn. It was what might be called a nondescript building, +being open at the bottom to an extent sufficient to admit his wagons, +ploughs, farming implements, harnesses, and indeed about everything used +in the cultivation of the fertile land. + +In the upper portion were stowed his hay and grain, and in the rear of +the lower part were the stables for his horses and cows. The latter, +with his principal wagon, had been removed that morning, when the +settler started with his family on their hasty flight northward to the +settlement of Barwell; but the timber was dry, and enough hay was stored +in the loft to render the building very combustible. + +It was to this structure that the Sioux had applied the torch, and at +the moment the smoke rolled in front of the house the whole building was +in flames. Unfortunately, there was a gentle breeze blowing from the +barn directly toward the house, and it was because of this favoring fact +that the former was fired. The marauders had every reason to believe the +flames would soon communicate with the dwelling and burn it to the +ground. + +The barn faced the end with the broad stone chimney, through which Red +Feather made his singular entrance. It was therefore out of the field of +vision of the inmates, since there was not a single window up or down +stairs with an outlook in that direction. + +Melville started to run down the steps on making the startling +discovery, but met Red Feather coming up with one hand grasping that of +Dot. + +"My gracious!" exclaimed the youth; "what can be done now, Red Feather? +We shall all be burned alive." + +"Oogh! not yet--house ain't afire!" replied the chieftain, without any +evidence of excitement. + +"But the wind is blowing this way, and the house is sure to go." + +"Mebbe go--mebbe won't go," was the reply with the same stolidity of +manner; "wait--see bimeby." + +It would seem that, since the Sioux had such a good chance to do +mischief, they would have applied the fire to the house itself. But, +though the logs were dry enough to burn readily when the flames were +fairly started, it was still a task requiring considerable time and +work. It was necessary to pile the fuel against the logs, and to nurse +the flames until they set the heavy material going. The barn was so +inflammable that a tiny match would ignite it, and, should the fire +reach the house, the task would be equally effective, and far more +enjoyable to the cruel spectators. + +[Illustration: "It was to this structure that the Sioux had applied the +torch."--Page 69] + +While Red Feather and Melville stood near each other on the upper +floor, talking in low tones, Dot slipped her hand from the grasp of +the chieftain, and walking to the side of the bed on which she had been +lying, knelt down, closed her eyes, and clasped her hands, just as she +had been accustomed to do at her mother's knee ever since she was old +enough to form the words after her parent. + +"She is praying," whispered her brother. + +After repeating a simple prayer for their safety the child opened her +eyes, and, seeing her friends looking at her, she sprang nimbly up and +ran to them. + +"Don't be scared, brother and Red Feather; I prayed that we might all be +taken care of, and I'm not afraid one bit now, are you?" + +Melville tried to speak, but his voice choked him. His eyes filled, and, +lifting the precious one in his arms, he pressed her to his breast and +kissed her again and again. + +The chieftain said nothing, but he too raised the child in his arms and +touched his lips to hers. Not only that, but he filled her with delight +by saluting Susie in the same manner. + +Who shall try to make known the emotions which stirred that savage +heart? He had often turned in scorn from the words of the good +missionaries who had come to his country; but there was something in the +faith of the sweet child which touched his nature as it had never been +touched before. + +Having set the little one on her feet, the Sioux stepped across the main +room to the window from which most of their observations had been made +on that floor. Melville followed him, and noticed that the smoke had +vanished, so that the sentinel on the hill was in sight again. + +Red Feather thrust his hand through the windows, so that his fingers +projected slightly beyond. This was done to ascertain the direction of +the wind. + +"Oogh!" he muttered, with a curious expression on his countenance "_wind +blow oder way!_ Great Spirit hear what pappoose say." + +"Can it be possible?" asked the awed Melville. + +There was no doubt of it; the slight breeze, which had been coming +directly from the barn toward the house had changed, and was now blowing +in exactly the opposite direction. + +The chief and the youth passed into the smaller apartment which was +nearest the chimney. The former pressed his ear against the logs to help +his hearing. Had they caught the flames from the barn, which was still +burning furiously, he could not have failed to detect the fact. A +moment's attention told him that up to the present the building was +safe. + +But it was not in the nature of things that the Sioux should refrain +because their first effort failed. They were not the ones to give up on +a single trial. + +Several noteworthy things took place during the latter part of this +eventful afternoon. First of all, there was such a decided lowering of +the temperature that a fire would have felt comfortable to the occupants +of the building. It looked indeed to Melville as though one of those +fearful storms known in the west as "blizzards" was approaching. + +This was hardly possible, for it was summer-time, but the plains of +Texas and many portions of the west are often swept by what are termed +"northers" during the warm season. These winds are accompanied by such +cutting cold that people and animals often perish, the suddenness of +the visitation shutting them out from securing refuge. + +Red Feather offered his blanket to Dot, but she shook her head. "It's +too dirty," she said, noticing the soot which the owner did not seem to +mind; "I can use a blanket from the bed, for mamma did not take them all +with her." + +Had Melville suspected the thought in the mind of his little sister, he +would have checked its utterance through fear of offending the +chieftain, but there was no need of that: one of the impossibilities was +for Dot to hurt his feelings. + +The next most interesting event was the second failure of the Sioux to +set fire to the house. This was singular, for there seemed no reason why +they should not have succeeded with such facilities at command. + +The barn burned so readily that long before dusk it was reduced to a +mass of smoking ruins. + +From these, it would have appeared, enough brands could have been +collected to make a bonfire of the structure. + +Several of the Sioux gathered fuel at one corner of the building, and +made an attempt to fire it. The sounds which reached those within left +no doubt of what was going on, and you may be sure they listened with +anxiety. + +It was while matters were in this critical shape that Melville put the +direct question to Red Feather as to what he would do in the event of +the house being fired. The chieftain replied that, when he saw there was +no saving the building, he intended to take Dot in his arms and walk out +of the door among his own warriors. The lad was to follow immediately, +and he would insist that the lives of the children should be spared +because of the promise made by him to them. + +Pressed further, the chief admitted that the plan was likely to be only +partially successful. He was confident he could save Dot, because of her +sex and years; but there was little hope for Melville. Unless prevented +by the care of the little girl, Red Feather was willing to join in the +fight which the youth would have to make for his life with scarcely an +earthly prospect of winning. + +But the attempt to fire the log structure came to naught, and, strangest +of all, the Sioux gave it up--at least for a time, for it would have +been contrary to Indian nature had they abandoned the effort to destroy +their enemies so long as there was a chance of success. + +Thus matters stood until the shadows of night began closing over the +prairie. During the interval, many glimpses of the Sioux had been +caught, as they moved backward and forward at will, sometimes mounted +and often on foot. The sentinel kept his place on the crest of the hill, +or rather, he exchanged it with one of his brother warriors, who walked +about, sat down, smoked his pipe, and used every means at his command to +cause the time to pass comfortably to him. + +The failure of the arrival of help caused not only surprise but distress +to Melville Clarendon; for there was but one way of interpreting it: +something had befallen his parents by which they were prevented from +reaching the settlement. + +The youth had tried all through the afternoon to drive away the +misgivings which had troubled him on this score; but he could do so no +longer. It was in keeping with the tactics of the Indians that, after +arranging to attack the home of Clarendons, they should circle to the +northward, so as to approach it from the direction of the settlement. +Had they done this, with a view of shutting off all escape to Barwell, +it was more than likely they did it early enough in the day to meet the +pioneer and his wife hurrying from the place of danger. + +Had this meeting taken place, nothing could have saved the couple. +Melville secured some consolation from the belief that, if such an awful +calamity had overtaken his parents, the Sioux would give evidence of the +fact. That is to say, they would have taken possession of the horses and +enough of the property for the lad to see them on the first survey of +the assailants. + +The fact that he did not detect anything of the kind might be accepted +as proof that no meeting had taken place with the particular party under +the leadership of Red Feather. + +But that question was easily answered by Red Feather himself. He assured +Melville that he and his warriors had come from the south, arriving on +the spot only a short time before the appearance of the brother and +sister on the other bank of the stream. He had waved his blanket at the +children as a taunt, not supposing they would come any closer after +seeing him; but, riding over the hill, he peeped cautiously back, and +learned that Melville, not catching the meaning of the gesture, was +approaching his home. Thereupon the chief called back his men who were +riding off, and arranged to secure the young birds returning to the nest +from which the parents had flown. + +All the comfort that the youth might have got from this story was +spoiled by the declaration of the chief that he believed an encounter +had taken place between Mr. Clarendon and the other party of Sioux which +reached the spot later in the afternoon. These were under the lead of +Tall Bear, a rival of Red Feather, between whom a jealousy amounting to +bitter enmity existed. + +Had Red Feather not seen Tall Bear among the group he would have +adopted a course which the presence of that rival prevented. He would +have gone out among his own warriors, and insisted on his rights with a +vigor that could hardly have failed of success. Though his men were not +afraid of dispute with him, yet they were not likely to invite violence. +When they saw he was fully resolved they would yield. The conclusion to +be reached from this statement is that Red Feather after all did not +make half as determined an argument in behalf of his friends as he +appeared to have done. Melville, therefore, was right in his first +suspicion, though he was too thoughtful to say so. + +[Illustration: "Something unusual was going on among the Sioux +outside."] + +Darkness had not fully come when it became clear to the watchers within +the building that something unusual was going on among the Sioux +outside. Nearly the entire party came together on the crest of the hill, +where they were only dimly visible in the gathering gloom. They could be +seen walking back and forth, making many gestures, and talking so loud +that their voices were clearly heard. + +[Illustration: "Red Feather strained his hearing to catch some words."] + +Leaning against the side of the window, Red Feather strained his hearing +to catch some words that would give him an inkling of what it all meant. + +The heart of the youth throbbed with the hope that the long-expected +help was in sight at last. It seemed to him the Sioux were acting just +as they would do in case they detected the approach of hostile horsemen. + +But the sorely-tried lad could only wait until Red Feather should answer +the question on his tongue, or until it should be answered by the events +themselves. + + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT + +TALL BEAR AND HIS WARRIORS--A SURPRISING DISCOVERY + + +You will recall that when Red Feather wedged himself in the narrow +window he said, in answer to the sharp questioning of Melville +Clarendon, that the Muddy Creek band of Sioux were so far off that +nothing was to be feared from them. + +The original band of marauders numbered over a score, and were under the +joint leadership of Tall Bear and Red Feather, both of whom were eager +to sweep along the thin line of settlements like a cyclone, scattering +death and destruction in their path. It may strike you that so small a +force was hardly equal to the task of such a raid; but I have only to +remind you that the famous Geronimo and his Apaches, who made their home +among the alkali deserts and mountain fastnesses of Arizona and New +Mexico, numbered few warriors at times, and yet they baffled for years a +regiment of United States cavalry. It was only when the chieftain chose +to come in and surrender himself under the pledge of good treatment that +hostilities ended. + +The twenty-odd horsemen under the leadership of Red Feather and Tall +Bear were fitting types of that savage horde which in the early summer +of 1876 blotted out General Custer and his troops. It so happened, +however, with the smaller party that they found no such favoring +circumstances to help them. At the first settler's cabin assailed they +discovered the inmates ready for them. In some way or other, several +families had learned of their danger in time to prepare for their +assailants. + +It was clear to the Indians that the settlers in that section had taken +the alarm, and Red Feather proposed they should abandon their first plan +and push northward towards Barwell, attacking the isolated homes to the +south of that settlement. Tall Bear opposed so warmly, and with such +slurs on his rival, that a personal conflict was narrowly averted. + +The end of the quarrel was that Red Feather, with five of his followers, +drew off from the rest and rode northward. The result of this separation +was unsatisfactory to both parties. + +The friendly Indian who had hastened toward Barwell to warn the pioneers +of their danger did his work so well that hardly one was neglected. The +inmates of the first cabin attacked by Red Feather were awaiting him. +Only a few shots were exchanged, when the wrathful chieftain withdrew, +and, pushing to the northward, next swooped down on the dwelling of +Archibald Clarendon. + +No resistance was encountered there, for, as you know, the inmates had +left some time before. For some reason never fully explained, Red +Feather did not fire the buildings at once. Shortly after, Melville +Clarendon and his sister appeared on the scene, and the incidents which +followed have already been told. + +Meanwhile, Tall Bear and his warriors met with no better success than +the smaller party. The proof became so strong that the whole district +was on the alert that he abruptly changed his mind and led his warriors +at a sweeping gallop to the northward over the trail of Red Feather and +his warriors. + +When he arrived on the scene he heard the curious story the five +warriors had to tell. A dwelling at last had been found in which the +occupants were not fully prepared, or rather, were so insignificant in +strength that no company of Sioux, however small, could consent to a +repulse. + +But there stood the cabin defying them. Red Feather had forced his way +partly through the window and then was caught so fast that, but for the +mercy of the sturdy youth within, he would have been killed without +being able to use a finger to defend himself. + +Among the whole party who heard the remarkable narrative, there was not +one who would have thought of keeping a promise made under such +circumstances as was that of the chief. No pledge could have been more +solemn, and yet those are the very ones that are first repudiated by the +red man. + +To Tall Bear and his band the action of Red Feather in descending the +chimney was natural. The bitterest enemy of the chieftain never +questioned his courage, and, knowing how chagrined he must feel over his +mishap, they could understand the desperate feeling that prompted the +deed, the like of which was seldom if ever known before. + +There was little said about Red Feather's wish to keep his agreement +with Melville, for the reason I have already hinted--his proposal to do +so was not earnest enough to mislead them. + +But to the Sioux outside it looked very much as if the descent of the +chimney by the chief had marked the end of his career. Among all the +warriors there was not one who believed the truth--that he had been +changed from the fiercest enemy into the most beloved friend of the boy +and girl. + +The tantalizing shout of Melville from the window was proof to the +warriors that Red Feather had been slain by the boy, though, as I have +said, no report of a gun was heard from within the building. + +The chieftain's course, after proving himself a friend of the brother +and sister, showed his desire to keep his presence in the house +unsuspected by his own people. He took care that no glimpse of him was +caught through the windows, and he refrained from firing when he had any +number of chances to bring down an Indian. + +Doubtless there were several reasons for this forbearance. Such a shot +would be credited to Melville, and might excite the Sioux to an attack +too furious to be resisted. At the same time, it is hardly to be +supposed that Red Feather's feelings had so changed, because of his wish +to save Dot and her brother, that he was ready to turn about and begin +shooting at the very ones whom he had led on this raid. + +It cannot be said that Tall Bear grieved any more over the loss of his +rival leader than did most of the warriors. He prudently uttered some +words of sympathy, but they hardly deceived those who heard them. They +agreed with him, however, in declaring that his fall must be avenged, +and that the boy who had caused his death, as well as his little sister, +must suffer torture-punishment for the deed. + +Several circuits around the building proved that it could hardly be +carried by the most determined assault in their power. All the windows +were too narrow to be used as a means of entrance, even if any one was +brave enough to repeat the disastrous experiment of the other chief. The +single door had already resisted the strongest shock they could give it, +and no weak point was visible. + +True, the path used by Red Feather when he finally succeeded in gaining +the interior was open to the rest; but it is no reflection on their +courage to say that among the whole party there was not one willing to +head the procession down the chimney, even though but a solitary boy and +a single rifle stood in the way. + +Clearly there was one means at the command of Tall Bear and his Sioux +which was not only terrible, but effective. They could set fire to the +building and reduce it to ashes. + +The lookout on the hill reported the horizon clear in every direction; +and, since his wide sweep of vision extended toward every point of the +compass, he was able to discover the approach of hostile horsemen a good +while before they could reach the spot. He knew that if help came it +would be from the northward, where Barwell lay, whither Mr. Clarendon +and his wife had hurried on the first alarm. The prairie for a couple of +miles was under a scrutiny that would let nothing escape. + +The circumstances were so favorable that Tall Bear and his party decided +to indulge in a feast. Enough poultry were wandering about the premises +to afford a fine meal for a larger band than he had with him, and it +took only a short time to wring the necks of more than a score of ducks +and chickens. + +The Sioux gathered to the westward of the barn and ate like so many wild +animals until all were satisfied. The meal finished, they gave their +attention to the serious business before them. Had the incidents I am +relating taken place half a century ago, the red men would have been +obliged to resort to the old-fashioned flint and steel with which our +forefathers used to start a fire; but they were abreast of these modern +times to that extent that nearly every one carried more or less +lucifer-matches. + +The favoring wind led to the barn being fired, under the belief that the +flames would quickly communicate with the house but a short distance +off; but, as you have learned, Providence favored the threatened ones to +that extent that the breeze changed its course, and for a time Dot and +Melville were saved. + +[Illustration: "His attention was drawn to the sentinel on the +hill."--Page 86] + +Tall Bear and the Sioux waited till, to their disappointment and +surprise, they saw the barn sink into blazing ruins and leave the house +intact. + +The next proceeding was to gather what embers they could and pile them +against the dwelling, where they speedily burst into flames. It now +looked certain that the structure was doomed; but the heavy logs, +although dry on the outside, were damp within. It takes such timber a +long time to part with its natural moisture, and, fortunately for our +friends, a driving rain-storm less than a week previous had so soaked +the wood that only an intense and long-continued heat could set it +aflame. The logs were charred and scorched, and more than once appeared +to be on the point of breaking into a roaring blaze; but the brands +piled against the end of the house finally sank down to embers and +ashes, and though considerable smoke arose, the house stood really as +firm and as strong as at the first. + +This was a keener disappointment than Tall Bear had yet met, for it +looked as though the most potent if not the only means at his command +was powerless to bring the boy to terms. + +The chieftain himself examined the logs which had been subjected to the +fire. He dug his hunting-knife into them, and soon discovered why they +resisted the fire so effectually. Then he tested other parts of the +house in the same manner and with the same result. + +For the first time since his arrival on the spot he was forced to see +the probability of another failure. His career from the hour he bounded +upon his pony and entered so eagerly on the raid had been a continual +disappointment. He was angered and resentful toward the supposed dead +Red Feather, because he allowed himself to be baffled at the beginning +by a solitary boy. + +Tall Bear's pride was stirred, and he was unwilling to confess himself +beaten after openly blaming his predecessor for failing to capture the +place with less than one-third of his force. + +But there seemed to be no help for it, unless he should persevere with +the fire until the logs of the house were forced into combustion. They +must yield in time, if the effort was kept up; and he was on the point +of renewing the attempt on a larger scale than before when his attention +was drawn to the sentinel on the hill, who uttered the startling cry +that horsemen were in sight to the northward. + +[Illustration: "More Sioux comin'--open door quick."--Page 90] + +The chief and the warriors who were not already on the spot hurried +thither to learn what it meant. + +As I have explained elsewhere, this discovery did not take place until +near nightfall, when darkness was beginning to render surrounding +objects indistinct. The long delay in the arrival of help for the +children of the pioneer led Tall Bear to believe it was not likely to +come before morning; but once more it looked as if Providence was about +to interfere to bring his wicked schemes to naught. + +The gloom overspreading stream and prairie prevented the Sioux from +seeing the horsemen clearly enough to identify them. The forms were so +shadowy and vague that nothing more could be learned than that there +were about a dozen men mounted on horses, and riding toward the cabin on +a slow walk, as if not without some misgiving. + +It was certain that while the sentinel on the hill commanded an +unusually wide sweep of vision, he himself was conspicuous, and the +others had been as quick to discover him as he was to detect them. Both +parties, therefore, were aware of the presence of the other, and neither +was likely to make a mistake at this critical juncture. + +But neither Tall Bear nor any of his warriors could tell of a surety +whether the approaching horsemen were white or red men. The Sioux +grouped around the house were not the only ones by any means that were +engaged on this memorable raid in Southern Minnesota, and it was not +impossible that a party of friends were in sight. + +It was somewhat curious that the majority of the Sioux believed a party +of their own people at hand. Tall Bear himself was inclined to think the +same; but to guard against any fatal mistake, he directed his warriors +to ride down the hill on the east, so as to interpose between them and +the strangers, who could now be barely distinguished. + +Two other Sioux were to wait until the horsemen came near enough to +settle the question, when they would make it known by signal, after +which the course of the band would be open. If the new-comers proved to +be enemies, a sharp fight was likely to follow, in which serious damage +was certain to be inflicted on both sides. + +The directions of the leader were promptly followed, the warriors +galloping off and quickly disappearing in the direction of the upper +trail, along which Melville and Dot had ridden on their way from the +settlement. + +[Illustration: "The door swung inward."] + +While they were thus engaged, Tall Bear cantered to the front of the +cabin and leaped to the ground. He had determined to attempt a trick. + +Striking his fist against the door, he called out-- + +"More Sioux comin'--open door quick--Tall Bear won't hurt--don't wait." + +He hoped the actions of himself and warriors had made known the former +fact before he announced it in words. He counted upon a panic that would +show the lad his situation was hopeless, and induce him to surrender +while there was hope of mercy. + +There was no reply to his summons, and he raised his fist to strike the +door again, when he discovered the latch-string on the outside. With no +suspicion of what it meant, he gave it a twitch. + +To his amazement, the door swung inward of its own weight, and, before +he could check himself, he had to take a step within to escape falling. + +With a vague suspicion of the truth, he called to the lad again, and +groped about the lower room. + +He quickly discovered that it was empty, and then, with little personal +fear, he hurried up the stairs. + +Two minutes were enough to make clear the truth. + +He was the only living person in the cabin! + + + + +CHAPTER NINE + +NAT TRUMBULL AND HIS MEN--OUT IN THE NIGHT + + +The American Indian rarely shows any emotion that may be stirring his +heart. I am sure, however, that if one could have had a look at the face +of Tall Bear when he made the discovery that neither the brother nor +sister was in the cabin he would have seen a picture of as blank +amazement as ever held a person speechless. + +This was not caused so much by what the children had done as by the +course of the Sioux themselves, for nothing was plainer to the chieftain +than the manner in which Melville and Dot had escaped. + +They had been on the alert, and when the warriors hastened to the top of +the hill Melville Clarendon was bright enough to seize the opportunity +thus given. He had quietly stepped out of the front door, where, in the +gloom and the absorbing interest of the red men in another direction, +neither he nor the little girl attracted notice. The two were doubtless +making all haste from the endangered spot. + +But the chieftain was astounded over another discovery: in order to make +his search absolutely thorough he had caught up a smouldering brand, +quickly fanned it into a flame, and then explored the upper and lower +storys. Not a nook or corner was left unvisited, and a hiding cat would +have been brought to light. + +That which almost knocked Tall Bear breathless was the fact that he +found nothing of the remains of Red Feather, who had entered the chimney +before the eyes of five of his own warriors. + +[Illustration: "Explored the upper and lower storys."] + +The inference was certain: Red Feather had not been killed, but had gone +out of the front door just as the children had done. + +Tall Bear was still far from suspecting the whole truth, though, had he +been left with nothing else on his mind for a short time only, he must +have divined, or at least suspected, what actually took place. + +But a party of horsemen were approaching, and must already be close at +hand. They required attention, for if they should prove to be enemies, +the chief would have his hands full. His position, with a lighted torch +within the building, was not the most prudent he could take, and as he +came outside he flung the light to the ground where it sputtered out in +the darkness. + +Tall Bear's pony was standing where he had left him, and vaulting +lightly upon his back, he sent him on a gallop to the top of the hill, +to learn something about the new-comers. + +The main party of warriors were some distance off, awaiting the signal +to know whether they were to fight or to join the parties whose identity +was still in doubt. The couple whom Tall Bear had despatched to +reconnoitre were still absent, so that he found himself alone on the +elevation. + +It is at such times that the American Indian displays a wonderful +keenness of sight and hearing. The chief sat motionless, peering into +the gloom and listening. None could know better than he that he had +taken a most dangerous position. + +If the horsemen, who could not be far off, were hostile, they would +surround the hill whereon they last saw the Sioux, and unless Tall Bear +kept his wits about him he was likely to be shut in on every hand. + +But it would have been hard for the most skilful Indian scout to take +him unawares. He was certain to see and hear the approach of any one as +soon as the latter could see or hear him, and the chieftain was not the +one to fall asleep under such circumstances. + +Darting his penetrating glances here, there, and everywhere, he suddenly +fixed them upon a point directly ahead. Something was vaguely assuming +form in the gloom, and a minute later he observed a man walking toward +him. + +Tall Bear leaned forward over the neck of his pony, that he might not +lose the advantage of an inch of space. The stranger was advancing +without any more noise than if he was a shadow, and he was alone, or, if +he had any companions, they were so far behind when he was in full view +as to be invisible. + +The man on foot came to a halt while still too far off to be more than +faintly visible, and emitted a low tremulous whistle. Tall Bear promptly +answered in the same manner, and then the other ran forward to his side. +He was one of the two scouts the chief had sent out, and he brought +important tidings. + +The party of horsemen which caused the Sioux such concern were white +men--every one--under the leadership of the famous frontier scout Nat +Trumbull. The warrior had ventured near enough to the company to +recognize his voice when he gave the order for his men to move around to +the south and approach the house from that direction. + +Trumbull was a veteran who had done good service during the lurid summer +of 1862, when the Sioux desolated a large portion of the Minnesota +frontier, and Tall Bear feared him more than any white man living. He +knew that if Trumbull and his rangers got a chance at the Sioux they +would force matters without mercy. No sooner, therefore, did the Sioux +scout tell what he had learned than Tall Bear made up his mind that the +best place for him and his warriors was somewhere else. When he asked +after the other scout who accompanied the one that returned, the +chieftain was told that he had ventured so near the white men that he +narrowly escaped capture, and was forced to dodge off in another +direction. + +That was enough. Tall Bear wheeled his pony like a flash, and galloped +toward the point where he knew his warriors were awaiting the news with +as much anxiety as his own. + +Such tidings travel fast, and within five minutes after the return of +the scout with his message Tall Bear and his warriors were riding as if +for life from the neighborhood. + +It may as well be explained how it was that the relief which Melville +Clarendon expected hours before was so delayed that, but for an +unexpected occurrence, it would have arrived too late. + +You have learned that Mr. Clarendon and his wife left their home early +that morning and hurried northward over the ten miles between them and +Barwell. + +All went well until they had passed half the distance, when the sudden +appearance of three mounted Indians showed that they were not likely to +get through without trouble. The settler at once came to a halt and +prepared to make the best defence possible. The animals were gathered +near the wagon, where Mr. Clarendon made his wife crouch down to escape +the flying bullets, and, loaded gun in hand, he waited the attack that +was sure to come. + +A skilful marksman in the situation of Mr. Clarendon generally considers +himself the equal of three mounted men on the open plain, and the +conduct of the warriors showed that they held the settler in respect. +Keeping beyond easy range, they circled about the wagon and its inmates +as if looking for an opening, and finally all three brought their guns +to their shoulders and let fly. + +The volley killed one of the horses, which dropped dead as he stood near +the wagon. + +The settler instantly returned the shot, and--rather curiously--though +the distance was considerable, he brought down the pony of the nearest +Indian, which made such a frenzied leap that his rider was thrown. Mr. +Clarendon at first thought it was he who had been struck; but he +quickly sprang to his feet and vaulted upon another pony behind one of +his comrades. + +The Sioux continued circling around the settler at a still greater +distance, and sent in another volley, which did no harm. At last they +concluded the risk of a charge and attack too great, and drew off, +finally disappearing in the distance. + +[Illustration: "He brought down the pony of the nearest Indian."] + +Mr. Clarendon waited an hour or more, expecting them to return, but they +did not, and he resumed his journey to the settlement. + +Having but a single horse, he was obliged to leave part of his load +behind, and such slow progress was made in his crippled condition that +the day was well gone before he reached Barwell. + +There he was startled to learn that his children had started homeward +early in the day, and were still absent. He set about organizing a +rescue party at once. Fortunately, Nat Trumbull and several of his +rangers were present, and they eagerly gave their help. Within half an +hour after the father received the alarming tidings Trumbull was +cantering southward with a dozen tried men and true, and among them was +Archibald Clarendon himself. + +Although the escape of the three parties from the beleaguered cabin may +strike you as wonderful, yet, after all, there was nothing very +remarkable in it. + +Red Feather would have forgotten his lifelong training, had he failed to +see and take instant advantage of the providential diversion when the +Sioux, in the gathering darkness, made all haste to the top of the hill +to learn about the horsemen approaching from the north. + +Had the Sioux suspected that the brain of one of their shrewdest chiefs +was helping the boy and girl, they would have been far more vigilant; +but, as it was, they must have believed that nothing could draw the lad +outside of his shelter until the appearance of his friends. + +Red Feather was standing as before at one of the upper windows when the +stampede took place to the crest of the hill. He read its meaning, and +saw his golden opportunity. + +"Now we go," he said in an undertone; "me carry pappoose (child)--you +come 'long--put blanket round--den look like Indian." + +There was another reason for using the blanket; the air was cold enough +to require it. + +Melville was quick to catch the idea, and, whipping a quilt from the +bed, he gathered it about his shoulders, so that it came almost to his +crown. His straw hat would have been too conspicuous, and he held that +in front of his breast, under the blanket, to be put in its proper place +again when it should become safe to do so. + +"I'm ready," he said, standing erect, and looking at Red Feather as well +as he could in the gloom. + +"Me too." + +The chief had lifted Dot in his arms, and he covered her with his thick +blanket, doing so with such skill that hardly any one would have +suspected the nature of the precious burden he carried next to his +heart. + +Not a minute was lost. Red Feather passed down the steps, paused in +front of the door, and waited for Melville to unfasten it. The youth +donned his hat, flung aside his blanket, and set his gun down to give +his arms play. The heavy bar was lifted from its place, and then, in +obedience to an odd whim, he thrust the end of the leathern string +through the orifice above the latch. + +He gathered his blanket about his shoulders and head as before, doffing +his hat and returning it to its hiding-place, and paused for the +chieftain to precede him. + +Red Feather stood a minute on the threshold, peering out in the +darkness. Everything looked favorable, and he stepped forward. Melville +was directly behind him, and softly closed the door as he left the +cabin. + +The Sioux, instead of walking straight away from the building, moved +stealthily along the front, passed around the corner, and started +southward. By this means he interposed the cabin between himself and the +party on the hill. + +[Illustration: "The youth was almost on his heels. His heart beat fast, +and he was eager to break into a run."--Page 98] + +The youth was almost on his heels. His heart beat fast, and he was eager +to break into a run that would quickly increase the distance between +him and the war-party. He was about to suggest that they should hasten, +when, to his surprise, he perceived that his friend was moving so much +faster than he that he threatened to leave him out of sight altogether. +Red Feather had struck a peculiar gait. It looked as if he was walking, +but his pace was a loping trot, in which the feet were lifted only +slightly from the ground. The movement was as smooth as that of a pacing +horse, and he adopted it in order to save Dot from jolting. + +The Sioux, on emerging from the building, had glanced sharply about him, +in the hope of catching sight of his own pony, or one belonging to a +warrior; but there was none convenient, and he dared not wait. + +"Saladin must be hovering somewhere in the neighborhood," thought his +young owner, "and it would be mighty fine if I could run against him, +but it doesn't look as if there is much chance." + +Red Feather continued his loping gait for two or three hundred yards, +when he once more dropped to a walk; but his steps were so lengthy and +rapid that the lad had to trot most of the time to hold his own. + +Melville fancied his leader was changing his course, but he could only +guess its direction. Looking back, nothing was visible of the cabin left +a few minutes before. Everything was dark, the country being an +undulating prairie. Mr. Clarendon used no fences, and the ground +travelled by the fugitives had not been broken. + +It seemed to the youth that the most natural thing for Red Feather to do +was to make directly for the settlement, ten miles to the northward. It +was a long tramp, but the two were capable of doing much more without +special fatigue. + +The chieftain did not speak as he hurried forward; and the boy asked +him no questions, content to wait until he chose to tell his plans. His +pace grew more moderate, and soon became easy for Melville to keep his +place beside him. + +It need not be said that both made good use of their eyes and ears. +Although beyond sight of the house, it was too soon to think themselves +safe. If a collision took place between Tall Bear and the new-comers, +some of the Indians were likely to be skurrying backwards and forwards +on their ponies, and it was probable they would come upon the fugitives. + +Whenever Red Feather should meet his fellows there would be a sensation, +but he was not the warrior to shrink the test, though he wished it to be +deferred until the brother and sister were beyond the resentment of +every one of his tribe. + + + + +CHAPTER TEN + +AN OLD FRIEND--SEPARATED + + +Suddenly Red Feather stopped. Melville did the same, wondering what the +cause could be. + +The youth stood so near that he saw the chief was looking to the right, +as though he had heard a suspicious sound or saw something in that +direction. The lad gave close attention, since he could detect nothing. + +The Indian resumed his walk more slowly than before, but did not utter a +word. His glances, however, to one side showed he was not free from +misgiving, and by-and-by he stopped walking and listened intently as +before. + +"What is it?" asked Melville, giving way to his curiosity. + +"Me hear something," was the reply, the Indian going still slower. + +"I can't detect anything," said the lad, as though the fact ought to +lighten the fears of the other. + +Red Feather now tenderly placed Dot on her feet. The little one was half +asleep, and rubbed her eyes after the manner of children when disturbed. + +A whispered word from her brother kept her quiet, and, kneeling down, +Red Feather pressed his ear to the ground, holding it there for a full +minute. Then he raised his head a few inches, looked off into the +darkness, placed the side of his face against the ground for a few +seconds more, after which he rose to his feet. + +Instead of explaining, he turned to Melville. + +"You see Red Feather do--you do same as him." + +Melville promptly obeyed, assuming the same posture that his friend had +taken. Closing his eyes, so as to shut out everything that might +distract his senses, he gave all his efforts to that of hearing. + +Yes, he _did_ hear something--just the faintest irregular beating on the +ground--so faint indeed that he would not have believed it anything +except for what the Sioux had said. + +"Hear nuffin?" asked the other, as the boy came to his feet. + +"Yes, I think I did hear a faint noise." + +"What him be?" + +"That's more than I can tell, Red Feather." + +"Hoss--hear hoss walking--dat what hear." + +"Is that the fact?" asked Melville, somewhat startled, peering toward +the same point of the compass at which the chief had gazed though the +lad had no other idea of the right course. + +"Hoss--he come dis way." + +"If that is so there is likely to be someone on him, and I don't think +it is well for us to meet him." + +To this wise remark Red Feather gave no answer, but continued peering in +the same direction as before. + +"If there is one horseman there is likely to be more----" + +Melville cut short his own words, and whistled cautiously, checking that +with equal suddenness, through fear of offending his friend. + +But the chief showed no displeasure, and, before anything could be said, +the form of a riderless horse came out of the gloom and trotted forward +with a faint neigh of pleasure. + +"Saladin, my own Saladin!" exclaimed the delighted youth, flinging his +arms around the outstretched neck, and actually touching his lips to the +silken nose of the noble steed. + +"Saladin, old fellow, I'm proud of you," said Melville; "the Sioux did +their best to steal you away from us, but you were too smart for them. +One was cruel enough to shoot at you, but it don't look as if he did any +damage." + +The youth could not resist the temptation to place his foot in the +stirrup, and leap into the saddle, where he was "at home." + +"Now, Red Feather," he added, "things are beginning to look up; I can +relieve you of carrying Dot; the truth is that after we cross the stream +I shall feel safe. Under heaven, we owe everything to you; but you need +go no farther with us." + +"Ain't safe," said the chieftain sententiously; "Injins all round--Red +Feather go all way home wid pappoose." + +"That is very kind, but I can relieve you of your burden." + +"Me carry pappoose," replied the Sioux, moving toward the little one. + +"Dot," said her brother, "which would you rather do--ride on Saladin +with me or let Red Feather carry you?" + +[Illustration: "A riderless horse came out of the gloom."] + +"It's a good deal nicer to have him carry me; take me, Red Feather," she +added, reaching out her arms. + +Melville was glad to hear this answer, for he knew it would touch the +chieftain, whose heart had become wrapped up in the sweet little one. + +Before he could lift her, however, he paused, and, saying "Wait," again +knelt down with his ear to the ground. + +The result was satisfactory, and, remarking that he heard nothing more, +he stood upon his feet, stooped over, and lifted the little one to her +old place. Then the flight was taken up as before. + +Melville held Saladin back, so as to follow the leader, who reached the +side of the stream a few minutes later. Objects were indistinct, but the +youth was so familiar with the spot that he recognized it as the Upper +Crossing. When the lad would have lost himself the Sioux had gone as +unerringly to the spot as though the sun were shining overhead to guide +him. + +"Now," said Melville, as they waited a minute or two on the brink, +"there is no need for you to wade across, and wet your leggings to the +knees; it can be easily fixed." + +"Oogh! heap big load for hoss--carry all." + +The lad laughed. + +"That isn't what I mean; the pony is strong enough to bear us, but it +isn't necessary; I'll ride him over, and then send him back after you." + +This was a sensible course, for, though an Indian cares little for the +inconvenience of wading through water of considerable depth, yet he will +not do so when there in any practicable means of avoiding it. + +"You must be careful," added Melville, as he was about to ride into the +current, "for there are some deep places which the horse will have to +skirt closely. If he steps into one, he will go over his depth, and that +will make it bad for you and Dot; I think I had better carry her over +with me." + +"Oogh! Red Feather know holes, 'cause he fall in 'em--mebbe you fall in +wid pappoose--how den, eh?" + +"All right," replied the youth with a smile, as he gave the word to +Saladin, who began wading with the same snuffing and care that his kind +always show when entering a body of water. + +His rider was wise enough to decide that the safest course was to leave +everything to him, for he had travelled that way often enough to be +familiar with its dangers. + +He narrowly missed plunging into a hole near the other bank, but he +saved himself, and finally emerged on the farther shore with his rider +dry-shod. + +"Now, old fellow," said Melville, affectionately patting his head, "go +back and bring over Red Feather and Dot. Try not to come as near making +a slip as you did with me." + +[Illustration: "Go back and bring over Red Feather and Dot."] + +The pony showed his comprehension of the request by stepping at once in +the stream and making his way toward the other shore. + +Long before the little party reached the stream just crossed by Melville +night had fully come. The moon did not rise until late in the evening, +and the darkness was such that, after parting with Saladin, he saw him +vanish when he was no more than half-way across the creek. Of course, +therefore, Red Feather and Dot were out of sight altogether. + +Melville sat down on the sloping bank, with his rifle across his knees, +to await the coming of his friend. In the stillness, the slightest sound +could be heard a long way. The plashing of the pony's feet as he +carefully felt his way through the water was so plain that it was easy +to tell every step he took. + +The youth was looking idly off in the gloom when he observed a rapidly +growing light toward the south-east, which you will bear in mind was on +the other side of the stream. He watched it for a minute or two, when +the cause became apparent. + +A couple of miles east of the Clarendon home was that of the nearest +neighbor. He was without any family, his only companion being a hired +man. They had received warning of the impending danger in time to +escape, but being well mounted and armed, took a different direction +from that leading toward Barwell, whither Mr. Clarendon and his wife +hastened. + +They were gone, but their property remained. The buildings were more +extensive than those of Mr. Clarendon, and they had been fired by the +Sioux. They created a huge glare which lit up the horizon in every +direction. + +"It must be," thought Melville, "that Tall Bear and his warriors have +been scared away by the appearance of white men, and have touched off +those buildings out of revenge. If Red Feather and I could have only +known that friends were coming we could have stayed at home. I wonder +they didn't try to fire that again, now that they can get inside and +have so much better chance." + +Melville watched the glare growing brighter and brighter, until it +suddenly occurred to him that Red Feather was a long time in crossing +the stream. The light from the conflagration brought the opposite shore +into faint view, but failed to reveal the Sioux. While the youth was +looking and wondering, however, he heard the splashing of water and +observed Saladin making his way back. + +But, instead of doing so at the regular ferry-place, he had gone some +distance above, where the depth was greater. Even while staring at the +pony, the animal sank down so low that it was plain he was swimming. + +This of itself was curious, without the additional fact that there was +no one upon his back; he was returning, as may be said, empty handed. + +As you may well believe, Melville was startled and alarmed; something +unusual must have happened on the other shore. There could be no doubt +that Saladin had gone entirely across, and now came back without the +chief who expected to ride over the ford. + +The lad rose and walked down to the edge of the water to meet his steed. +The latter was obliged to swim only a short distance, when the depth +became so shallow that his body rose above the surface, and he quickly +stepped out on dry land. + +"What can this mean?" muttered Melville examining the wetted saddle, +bridle, and accoutrements; "were you sent back, Saladin, or did you come +of your own accord? Ah, if you had the gift of speech!" + +It seemed to the lad that he could discern something moving on the other +side, but, with the help of the glare of the distant fire, he could not +make it out. + +He ventured to signal to Red Feather by means of the whistle with which +he was accustomed to summon Saladin. The Sioux was sure to identify it +if it reached his ears. + +The signal was emitted with such care that it could not have been heard +more than a hundred yards away, and the youth listened with a rapidly +beating heart for the reply. + +It came, but in a far different form than was expected or desired. The +sounds showed that other animals had entered the water and were +approaching the opposite bank. At this juncture, too, the glare from the +burning buildings increased to that extent that the other shore came out +more distinctly than ever. + +To his dismay Melville observed that the bank was lined with mounted +Indians, three of whom had already ridden into the stream and were +urging their ponies across. They were doing this, too, with a skill +which left no doubt that they knew all about the holes into which one +was likely to plunge. + +Where these Sioux--as they undoubtedly were--could have come from with +such abruptness was more than the startled lad could tell, though he +naturally supposed they belonged to the party that had fired the burning +buildings. Whether they were members of Tall Bear's band or an +independent body could not be told just then, and Melville had no time +or inclination to puzzle himself over the question. + +It was enough to know that he and his pony were in imminent danger, and +that not a second was to be lost in leaving the spot. + +He was in the saddle in a twinkling, and turned the head of Saladin to +the north. + +"A good deal depends on _you_," he said, patting the neck of the noble +animal; "we have a rugged path to travel, and there isn't much chance to +show them what you can do in the way of speed, but I know they can't +beat you." + +[Illustration: "To his dismay Melville observed that the bank was lined +with mounted Indians."--Page 110] + +I told you in the earlier part of this story that the upper trail, as it +was called, was much more rugged and difficult to traverse than the +lower one, which fact accounted for its general abandonment by those who +had occasion to cross the stream. Had the ground for some distance been +open prairie, Saladin would have shown a clean pair of heels to his +enemies, and speedily borne his master beyond danger; but within a +hundred yards of the bank of the stream the surface became so broken +that it was difficult for a horse to travel faster than a walk. + +But our young friend did not hesitate to assume the risk, and Saladin +instantly broke into a canter, which, to say the least, was the equal in +speed of any pace his pursuers dare attempt. The difficulty, however, +was that the latter were already so close that a volley from them could +not fail to do damage. The fact that they had some distance yet to +travel through the water, where their ponies could not be forced off a +walk, was a vast help to Melville, who improved the brief space to that +extent that he was almost out of sight when the horsemen forced their +animals up the bank and struck into a gallop. + +Melville rode a reckless gait, which proved to be the wisest thing he +could do; for, though Saladin came near stumbling more than once, he did +not fall, and drew so far away from his pursuers that he soon left them +out of sight. Satisfying himself of this, the youth abruptly drew him to +one side, forced him among some rocks and bushes, faced about, and held +him motionless. + +"I don't know what has happened to Red Feather and Dot," he said, "and +it may be they don't need my help; but I shan't do anything that looks +like deserting them--_sh!_" + +At that moment, the hoofs of the pursuing horses fell on his ear in his +hiding-place, and he knew the three Sioux were at hand. + + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN + +AT THE LOWER CROSSING--TALL BEAR'S LAST FAILURE + + +Nothing could have shown more strongly the confidence of Melville +Clarendon in Saladin than the course he followed in trying to throw the +pursuing Sioux off his track. + +He had halted at a distance of less than fifty feet from the path, and, +sitting erect on the back of the steed, he waited for the three Indians +to ride past. + +At such times a horse is quicker than its rider to discover the presence +of other animals, and the temptation to make it known by a whinny or +neigh has often upset all calculations and overthrown the plans of the +fugitive or scout. + +Melville knew the peril from this source, but he had little misgiving +about Saladin. He softly patted his neck, and knew he understood the +situation well enough to hold his peace; but how would it be with the +other animals--would they betray their discovery of the motionless steed +at the side of the trail? A faint neigh from them would be certain to +give their cunning riders a clue to the truth; and, checking their own +horses, they would leap to the ground, and be upon the youth before he +could dash into cover. + +You may understand, therefore, the anxiety of Melville when through the +gloom he caught the dim outlines of the first horseman, as he came +opposite, closely followed by the others. + +The suspense was short. While the boy held his breath, the last of the +three horsemen vanished in the gloom, and he was placed at the rear, +with enemies on both sides of him. + +The ruse of Melville had succeeded, and the question now to be answered +was as to what use he should make of his opportunity, if such it should +prove to be? + +It would seem that nothing could be more reckless than for the youth, +after eluding his three immediate pursuers, to return over the trail to +the crossing, but only a moment's thought was necessary for him to +decide to do that very thing. + +[Illustration: "The last of the three horsemen vanished in the gloom."] + +From where he sat on his pony, screened by bushes and rocks, he observed +that the light from the burning buildings to the south-east was fast +diminishing. The fire had been rapid, and before long total darkness +would rest on the stream and plain again. It would therefore be safe for +him to approach the edge of the creek, provided none of the remaining +Sioux had crossed over. + +Waiting only long enough to make sure that the three Indians were beyond +reach of the sound of Saladin's hoofs, he gently jerked the bit and +spoke softly to him. The steed stepped forward with as much care as his +rider could have shown, and soon stood in the path again. + +Here Melville held him motionless a moment or two, while he peered +around and listened. Nothing was seen or heard of the Indians, and, +heading toward the stream, the horse advanced on a gentle walk. + +Melville kept his pony at a walk for no other reason than to prevent any +betrayal from the sound of his feet. The distance was slight, and soon +he came to a halt on the very edge of the stream, while the rider, +peering across, failed to catch the faintest outline of the horsemen +that were in sight a short time before. + +Nothing could have justified the risk of attempting to ride to the other +bank; for if the Sioux were in the neighborhood they would not only +discover the youth, but would have him at such disadvantage that escape +would be out of the question. + +The lad held no such purpose, but, turning his animal to the right, +began making his way down stream, toward the Lower Crossing, near his +own home. It was easy to do this by keeping close to the water, since +the unevenness of the ground did not begin until a few yards or rods +from the bank. + +The darkness was such that Saladin was left to himself, Melville knowing +he could give him no help by any attempt at guiding him. The sagacious +beast thrust his nose forward, and, like an elephant, crossing the +stream, seemed to feel every foot of the way. + +Despite the extreme care, he had not taken a dozen steps when a rolling +stone caused him to stumble, and the rider narrowly missed taking a +header over his ears. Saladin quickly recovered himself, but at the +moment of doing so the youth was startled by a whistle from the other +shore, instantly answered by a similar call from the bank along which he +was riding. + +This proved that not only were the main party waiting, but the three +Sioux that had started to pursue the young fugitive had returned. + +But if the stumble of Saladin had revealed his whereabouts, Melville was +still in great peril. Without waiting to assure himself on the point, he +urged his pony to a brisk walk, never pausing until fully two hundred +yards were placed behind him. Then, when he looked back and listened, he +was convinced his fears were groundless, and it was a simple coincidence +that the signals which startled him were emitted at the moment of the +slight mishap to his horse. + +So far as he could judge, he had a clear course now, and he allowed +Saladin to advance as rapidly as he chose. + +His chief distress was concerning Dot. The withdrawal of Red Feather was +so sudden that some unusual cause must have been at the bottom. The lad +could not help thinking the chieftain should have given him a hint of +his course before the youth learned it at such a risk to himself. + +He was not without fear that harm had befallen his beloved sister, but +his confidence in Red Feather was perfect, and he knew that he would do +his best to take care of her. + +Convinced that the Sioux at the Upper Crossing were the ones that had +fired the buildings to the south-east, and that they belonged to Tall +Bear's band, it followed that something must have taken place to drive +them from the siege of Melville's home. + +It might be that, learning of the flight of the children, they had +scattered to search for them. It would seem that they were small game +for such a big effort, but the ill success that had marked Tall Bear's +brief career as a raider may have made him glad of even a small degree +of success. Besides, it might be that only a portion of his party was on +the hunt. + +But to Melville the most likely belief was the one formed some time +before, to the effect that company whose appearance had caused such +excitement were white men numerous and strong enough to send the Sioux +skurrying away to avoid a fight with them. + +It was this belief which caused Melville to seek the Lower Crossing, +when there was much risk involved in the attempt. + +"If father and a lot of his friends have scared off Tall Bear and his +Sioux, they can't be far off----" + +"Climb down thar, pard, mighty quick!" + +It was a startling summons that thus broke in upon the reverie of +Melville, but he quickly recovered from the shock, knowing by the voice +that it was that of a friend. + +He had reached the Lower Crossing, when a horseman that was awaiting him +suddenly loomed in sight through the gloom, and hailed him with the +rough command to dismount. + +"I don't see why I should get off my horse when he isn't stolen," +replied the youth with a laugh. + +"Wal, to be sure, if it isn't young Clarendon! Hello, Archie, here's +your younker (boy), sure as you live." + +It was the famous scout Nat Trumbull who spoke these cheery words, and, +before the youth knew it, it looked as if a dozen horsemen had sprung +from the ground and surrounded him. + +"We're looking for Injins," added Nat; "thar was plenty of 'em a while +ago, but they've become powerful scarce all of a sudden." + +"I've seen more than I wished," replied Melville, "but I guess, you've +frightened them off----" + +At this juncture the boy's father rode hurriedly forward through the +group, and, leaning from his saddle, gratefully pressed the hand of his +son, and anxiously asked about Dot. + +The youth, as briefly as he could, told the story which is familiar to +you. The amazement of the listeners was great, and to more than one it +seemed impossible that the detested Red Feather should have proved +himself a friend instead of the most cruel enemy of the children. + +"Why, it's him that we war after more than any one else," said Nat +Trumbull; "but if he's made a change like that, why I'll shake hands +with him and call the account squar." + +Mr. Clarendon's distress over the uncertainty about Dot was so great +that the thoughts of all were turned toward her; and when he asked that +an effort should be made to trace her and Red Feather, Nat and the rest +gave their eager consent, and the start was made without a minute's +unnecessary delay. + +Nat Trumbull was disappointed because of his failure to locate Tall Bear +and his band. The outbreak of the Sioux was so sudden that even those +who were best acquainted with their ways did not believe it was so near, +but when the truth became known the authorities saw the only right +course to take. + +There were many hundred Sioux within the boundaries of Minnesota at that +time, and unless the revolt was suppressed at once and with a strong +hand it would rapidly spread, with the most lamentable consequences. +There was a hasty organization and gathering of forces to start after +the raiders and bring them to terms before they should gain courage by +any important successes. + +It was the ardent desire of the rangers under Trumbull to force Red +Feather and his band into a fight where there would be no getting away +on either side. The scout meant to hit hard when he did strike. + +This statement will make clear the course of the irregular cavalry--as +they may be called--when they became aware that the Indians whom they +were after were gathered around the home of Archibald Clarendon. That +gentleman was eager for himself and friends to dash forward, but Nat +reminded him that the presence of the Sioux and the fact that, although +the barn was a mass of ashes and smoking ruins, his house stood intact +were proofs that the raiders had been unable to burn down the cabin or +secure his children. + +Such being the case, Trumbull began manoeuvring with a view of getting +matters in such a shape that a fight would be certain. There were +several glasses among the rangers, and in the deepening darkness they +gave important aid. + +It was evident from the manner of the Sioux that they were not sure of +the identity of the horsemen. Could they have used spy-glasses like the +white men, they could not have failed to learn the truth. + +Trumbull turned this uncertainty to his own advantage. He purposely held +his men back to prevent the truth becoming known; but as the darkness +increased he kept edging to the southward, spreading the horsemen out to +an extent that would have proved costly had the Sioux been sagacious +enough to take advantage of it. + +Nat's force was too small to attempt to surround the Indians, and he was +still hopeful of forcing them into a fight. He did not lose a minute, +but worked farther and farther along, until all were far from that part +of the horizon where first seen. + +[Illustration: "Pressed the hand of his son, and anxiously asked about +Dot."--Page 119] + +But while Nat Trumbull was vigorously pushing things, it became known +that two of the Sioux were hovering near and watching every movement. +That these fellows were wonderfully cunning and quick was proved by +their escape when both were charged by the horsemen. Despite everything +that could be done, these scouts made off, and of course carried their +important news to their chief. + +The flight of the Sioux scouts caused a change in the plans of Nat +Trumbull. Knowing it was useless to try to surprise the dusky rogues, he +brought his men together and rode rapidly toward the Clarendon cabin. He +hoped to arrive before the raiders could get away, and to administer +sharp punishment to them. + +Trumbull approached the house and smoking ruins with care, for there was +abundant chance for their enemies to hide themselves and give the white +men a rattling volley before they could escape the peril. It required +considerable time for the rangers to learn that none of their enemies +were there, and then Mr. Clarendon himself discovered the door of his +house open. Still uncertain of the truth, he and his friends waited some +time before daring to venture within. + +The conclusion of this examination was the natural one, that the Sioux +had fled, taking the children with them. But, as it was clear they could +not have gone far, Trumbull galloped with most of his men to the +crossing, in the hope of coming upon the marauders there. + +He had no more than fairly convinced himself that he was in error again +when Melville Clarendon rode up on Saladin, his father making his +appearance shortly after. + +The light in the south-east had attracted the notice of the scouts some +time before, and the story told by the youth led Trumbull to believe +the main body was near the Upper Crossing, where doubtless they had made +Red Feather prisoner. + +Accordingly, the dozen horsemen set their faces in that direction and +struck into a rapid gallop. The leader was hopeful that, if the slippery +scamps were located, he could reach them. He believed his men were as +well mounted as they, and, if only a fair chance were given, they would +compel the others to fight. + +Nat rode at the head, with Mr. Clarendon and Melville just behind him. +The keen eyes of the ranger peered through the darkness into which he +was plunging so swiftly, on the alert for the first sign of an enemy. As +he drew near the Upper Crossing he slackened his pace slightly, those +behind doing the same, with the exception of the settler and his son, +who found themselves at the side of the leader. + +"Helloa! there's one of 'em!" exclaimed Nat. + +The three saw the figure of an Indian running over the ground with great +swiftness. Knowing his danger, he flung aside his blankets, so that his +flight was unimpeded, and his exhibition of speed excited the admiration +of his pursuers. + +"Let him alone," added Trumbull; "I don't want any one else to +interfere--he belongs to _me_." + +And then, to the astonishment of every one, the scout made a flying leap +from the saddle, and bounded after the fugitive on foot. + +It was an odd chivalrous feeling which led him to do this. Inasmuch as +the warrior had no pony, Trumbull meant that the contest between them +should be without any unfair advantage to either party. + +The Sioux was running like a deer, but the white man beat him. Nat +Trumbull is to-day one of the fleetest runners in the north-west, and +no doubt he felt a natural wish to show this Indian, as well as his own +friends, what he could do in that line. + +It may be said that from the first the fugitive was doomed; for if +Trumbull should prove unequal to the task of running him down, the +cavalry would do it, and if his strangely absent comrades should rally +to his help, they would be fiercely attacked in turn. Since the white +man quickly proved his superiority, it must be admitted that the outlook +for the fleeing warrior was discouraging from the beginning. + +Steadily and rapidly Nat gained on the desperate fugitive, until, in +less time than would be supposed, he was almost at his elbow. + +"Surrender, pard!" called out the scout; "for you don't know how to run, +and I've got you, dead sure." + +Realizing that there was no escape by flight, the Sioux dropped his +rifle, and, whipping out his hunting-knife while still fleeing at the +highest bent of his speed, he stopped short, wheeled about, and struck +viciously at his pursuer with the weapon. + +But the veteran scout was expecting that very thing, and parrying the +blow with admirable skill, he sent the knife spinning a dozen feet to +one side. Dropping his own gun, Trumbull then dashed in and seized the +warrior around the waist. + +"It's you, Tall Bear, is it?" said he, recognizing his old antagonist; +"we'll settle this again by a wrestling-match. If you can throw me, +we'll let you go without a scratch; but if I fling you, then you're +mine. Keep back boys, and may the best man win!" + +It was a curious scene, but the contest could not have been fairer. +Trumbull waited till his opponent had secured his best hold, for Tall +Bear was as quick to identify his rival as the latter was to recognize +him. + +The scout waited till the chief said he was ready. Then, like a flash, +he dropped to a low stooping posture, seized each leg of the other below +the knee in a grip of iron, and straightening up with marvelous +quickness and power sent Tall Bear sprawling like a frog through the +air, and over his head. + +[Illustration: "Sent Tall Bear sprawling like a frog through the air."] + +Despite the remarkable agility of the Sioux, he could not save himself, +but alighted on his crown with tremendous force. + +Not the least amusing part of this contest was that, at the instant Tall +Bear started on his aerial flight, he called out-- + +"Me surrender! Tall Bear good Injin--he lub white----" + +The crash of his head against the solid ground checked his words, and +left for ever uncertain what the chieftain meant to say. He quickly +recovered from the shock, for possibly, it may be said, he was becoming +accustomed to such rough treatment and could stand it better than at +first. + +In the course of a minute or two Tall Bear staggered uncertainly to his +feet, and looking up in the faces of the horsemen who were on every side +of him, was compelled to admit that he was their prisoner. + +So it proved that the last essay of the chieftain who was on a little +scout for himself was the greatest failure of them all, and in the end +it was fortunate that such was the fact; for when the strong arm of the +authorities was laid upon the raiders the chief had no trouble in +proving that he had inflicted no serious harm to the settlers. True, he +had destroyed some property, and tried hard to do greater damage; but, +as I have said, he failed utterly. + + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE + +CONCLUSION + + +But for his solicitude for Dot Clarendon, Red Feather never would have +made the error he did, when waiting on the southern bank of the Upper +Crossing for the return of the pony which was to carry them across to +the waiting Melville on the other side. + +The weather was still crisp and chilly, and, when he found himself +alone, he began carefully gathering the blanket around the precious +form, so, as to keep away all cold from her body. No mother could have +handled her more gently. His left arm remained immovable, while his +right fingered about her. He was quick to discover that she was in a +sound slumber--a pleasant proof of the success of the grim warrior in +the _role_ of a soothing friend to the imperilled little one. + +Softly raising a corner of the blanket, he looked down in the sweet +face, which, though seen dimly, was as the face of an angel. Pure and +holy emotions were stirred in that dark heart as never before that +evening. He had parted his lips to utter something in his own language, +when he was sharply reminded of his remissness by the clamp of horse's +feet. Quickly replacing the blanket, he looked behind him, and saw +outlined against the glare of the burning buildings the figures of six +or eight horsemen, so close that it was useless for him to think of +hiding or getting away. + +Red Feather made no attempt to do either; for, like most of his people, +he had a strong sense of dignity, which would have been disturbed by +such action. His chief regret was that the horsemen had come upon him so +suddenly that his action with the blanket must have betrayed, or at +least raised a suspicion of, the truth. Had he but a minute's time, he +would have gathered the covering about the form in such a way that in +the darkness he might have kept secret the fact that he carried a small +child in his arms. + +His supposition was that these Indians were his own warriors; and a +curious meeting must follow between them and the chief whom they thought +dead, unless they had learned of his flight from the house, in which +event a troublesome explanation must be made to them. + +But the chief was pleased to observe that the men belonged to still +another band, that had come from the south-east on their way to the +Lower Crossing, in the hope of intercepting the settlers and their +families fleeing in the direction of Barwell. + +To use a common expression, Red Feather decided to "take the bull by +the horns." He was well known and held in fear by all the warriors. He +said he had captured a small child, stepping forward and parting the +blanket enough for them to see her in his arms, and adding that he meant +to take her home to his own wigwam as a present to his squaw. If the +latter did not want her, he would put her out of the way, or hold her +for ransom. + +Had the new-comers possessed the courage, they might have asked Red +Feather some troublesome questions, but they feared to rouse his anger. + +He tried to keep their attention away from the other shore; but just +then the glare from the burning buildings became so bright that he +failed, and not only was Saladin observed making his way to that bank, +but Melville was discovered as he rose to his feet. + +Red Feather affected great surprise at the discovery, and offered no +objection when the three Sioux set out to capture the lad and his +valuable animal. + +In the presence of these warriors Red Feather was his old, domineering, +ugly self. He spoke sharply, and finally ordered one of the horsemen to +dismount and give up his animal. He offered no theory to account for the +appearance of the boy on the other shore, or for the singular fact that +he was on foot himself. + +The promptness with which his order was obeyed would have been amusing +under other circumstances. Red Feather took possession of his property +secured in this rather questionable manner, and then calmly awaited the +return of the three who had set out to capture Melville and Saladin. + +His fear was that the main party under Tall Bear might arrive and +complicate matters; for the chief had formed the conclusion that the +strange horsemen whose appearance allowed him to escape so easily from +the cabin were white men, and that the main band of Sioux therefore had +withdrawn. + +By-and-by the warriors returned from the other side, with the +announcement that the lad had escaped, and it was useless to follow him +farther. + +There was no chief with the smaller company, and Red Feather told them +that, since there was no chance of finding any settlers in the +neighborhood, they would ride back to their own villages, which lay to +the south-east. + +The start was made, and the horsemen passed fully a mile in grim +silence. At the end of the mile he ordered them to keep the course they +were following, while he alone turned to the right in quest of Tall Bear +and his band of Muddy Creek Sioux. + +Left to himself, Red Feather rode a short distance to the right, and +then, changing his course due north, struck the pony into a gallop. + +He was now heading toward the home of the Clarendons, where he had met +so many singular experiences during the earlier part of the evening. He +held Dot with such care that she continued sleeping as sweetly as if +lying in her own bed at home. + +Never was Red Feather more cautious and skilful. Thoroughly trained in +woodcraft, and an adept in all the cunning of his people, he used those +gifts with success, and, though he approached close to the party of +Sioux which were hurrying away from the vengeance of the white men, they +never suspected the fact, and the meeting was avoided. + +Within the succeeding half-hour his listening ear caught the neigh of a +horse which had detected his own while the two were invisible. Instantly +the chieftain brought the pony to a standstill, and peered and listened +with all the acuteness he possessed. + +The horsemen were coming that way, and would soon be in sight. At the +very moment their figures were beginning to outline themselves he +emitted a whistle, precisely the same as that used by Melville Clarendon +when he signaled to him from the Upper Crossing. + +[Illustration: "The horseman were coming that way."] + +As he did so he held his pony ready to send him flying over the prairie +at break-neck speed. + +But his heart was thrilled almost in the same second by a reply, which +he knew came from no lips except those of the boy himself. + +Yes; Melville had recognized the call, and sending back the reply, he +shouted-- + +"That's Red Feather! Come, father; I know he's got Dot!" + +In a twinkling, as may be said, the chief found himself in the middle +of the band of Nat Trumbull and his rangers, where he was overwhelmed +with congratulations. Although Dot was asleep, her father could not be +restrained, and caught her in his arms and pressed her to his heart +with tears of joy and thanks to Heaven for its mercy in restoring her +to him unharmed. + +It must be said that Dot was disposed to be cross at being awakened in +this summary fashion; but when her little brain came to understand all +that had taken place, and she saw that it was her own father who was +caressing her, she laughed and shouted, and wanted to kiss and embrace +every one of the party, who were just as much pleased to fondle the +child as though each had a proprietary interest in her. + +Since it was evident the Sioux could not be brought to book, Nat +Trumbull turned about and headed for Barwell, which the whole party +reached before the morning sun appeared. Red Feather kept them company, +and I must say that I doubt whether the President of the United States +himself could have received a warmer welcome when the whole truth became +known to the pioneers. + +The outbreak of the Sioux was repressed before it had time to assume +serious proportions, and, inasmuch as every one who had taken any part +in it was anxious to clear himself, the leaders envied the position of +Red Feather, who had faced about so early that no suspicion could attach +to him. He was re-established in the good graces of his people, and +since that time has acted in such a manner that no one will question his +right to be considered a good Indian. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF RED FEATHER*** + + +******* This file should be named 24097.txt or 24097.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/0/9/24097 + + + +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. 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