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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/28663-h.zip b/28663-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0211579 --- /dev/null +++ b/28663-h.zip diff --git a/28663-h/28663-h.htm b/28663-h/28663-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a984e0f --- /dev/null +++ b/28663-h/28663-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4779 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Ranger, by Edward S. Ellis. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} +--> + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Ranger, by Edward S. 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 Ranger + or The Fugitives of the Border + +Author: Edward S. Ellis + +Release Date: May 3, 2009 [EBook #28663] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RANGER *** + + + + +Produced by Curtis Weyant, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h1>THE RANGER</h1> + +<h3>OR</h3> + +<h2>THE FUGITIVES OF THE BORDER</h2> + +<h2>BY EDWARD S. ELLIS</h2> + +<h3>AUTHOR OF "OONOMOO," "SET JONES," "IRONA," ETC.</h3> + + + +<h4>NEW YORK<br /> +HURST & COMPANY<br /> +PUBLISHERS</h4> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Copyright</span>, 1911,<br /> +BY<br /> +HURST & COMPANY.</h4> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="frontis" id="frontis"></a> +<img src="images/frontis.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>"<span class="smcap">Hold! You strike the white man's friend!</span>"</h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I. Zeb and his Master</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II. The Night of Terror</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III. Kent and Leslie</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV. The Captives</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V. The Meeting on the River</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI. The Raft</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII. Lost and Found</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII. The Companion in Captivity</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX. Zeb's Revenge</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X. The Brief Reprieve</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI. A Friend</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII. Escape</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII. The Captive</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV. The Rescue</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV. The Fugitives Flying no Longer</a><br /><br /> +<a href="#BOY_INVENTORS_SERIES">BOY INVENTORS SERIES</a><br /> +<a href="#BUNGALOW_BOYS_SERIES">BUNGALOW BOYS SERIES</a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2> + + +<p><a href="#frontis">"Hold! You strike the white man's friend!"</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus1">George and Rosalind</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus2">"Them varmints," said he, "are playing particular devil in these parts"</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus3">There were two horses in the party, and upon one of these Rosalind had +been placed</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus4">"Ready," whispered Leslie, "you take the nearest one."</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus5">"You shoot Indian, eh?" said one, brandishing his knife at the same time</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus6">The savages were amusing themselves by ascertaining who could send his +tomahawk nearest the body of their captive without touching him</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus7">"Does the maiden remember Pequanon?"</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus8">Two savages were left on shore</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus9">"Yonder is something approaching."</a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>KENT, THE RANGER.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>ZEB AND HIS MASTER.</h3> + + +<p>At the southern part of Ohio, where the river of that name swerves from +its south-western course, and makes a sweeping bend toward the +north-west, many years ago stood a large and imposing dwelling. Its +character, so different and superior to others found here and there +along the Ohio, showed that its owner must have been a man both of +superior taste and abundant means. It had been built by Sir William +Leland, who had emigrated from Europe with his young wife, and erected a +home in the western wilderness. Here they lived a goodly number of days; +and when, at last, they took their departure within a year of each +other, they left behind them a son and daughter to cherish and inherit +their home.</p> + +<p>George Leland, at the time of which we speak, was but twenty, while his +sister Rosalind was three years his junior. Yet both, with the +assistance of a faithful negro servant, managed to live quite +comfortably. The soil was exceedingly rich, and, with a little pains, +yielded abundantly every thing that could be wished, while the river and +wood were unfailing resources. Three years had elapsed since the elder +Leland's death, and during that time, although living in a country +swarming with Indians, nothing had occurred to alarm the fears of our +friends, or even to give them the slightest suspicion that danger +threatened them.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus1" id="illus1"></a> +<img src="images/illus1.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>George and Rosalind.</h3> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>When Sir William settled in this section, he followed the example of the +great founder of Pennsylvania, and purchased every foot of his land from +those who claimed it; and, in addition to the liberal remuneration which +each received, they were given some charming present by their pale-faced +brother. This secured their friendship; and, although many miles +intervened between the whites and their nearest kindred, yet they had +nothing to fear from the savages who surrounded them. Thus matters stood +when George and Rosalind were left orphans, some years before the +opening of our story.</p> + +<p>It was a pleasant day in early summer that George and his sister were +seated in front of their house. The sun was just setting, and they had +remained thus a long time. Zeb, the negro, was absent for the time, and +they were thus undisturbed.</p> + +<p>"Do you really think," pursued the sister, "it can be true that the +Indians have perpetrated the outrages which have been reported?"</p> + +<p>"I should be glad to think differently, could I have reason for doing +so; but these reports certainly have foundation; and what is more +alarming, the suspicion that we are <i>not</i> safe, which was awakened some +time ago, is now confirmed. For two or three days I have detected +suspicious appearances, and Zeb informed me that he discovered a couple +of savages lurking around the edge of the forest. I fear there is strong +reason to apprehend danger."</p> + +<p>"But, brother, will not the kindness which our parents showed them while +living be a guaranty of our protection?"</p> + +<p>"It may, to some extent; but you must remember that there are hundreds +of Indians who have never seen or heard of them, who would not hesitate +to kill or take us prisoners at the first opportunity."</p> + +<p>"Can it be possible?"</p> + +<p>"It is not only possible but true. You remember Roland Leslie, who was +here last summer? Yesterday I saw him up the river, and he gave me the +information that I have repeated. At first I deferred mentioning it to +you, for the reason that I did not wish to alarm you until it could not +be avoided."</p> + +<p>"Why did he not come here?" asked the sister.</p> + +<p>"He said that he should shortly visit us. He had heard rumors of +another massacre some miles up the river, and wished to satisfy himself +in regard to it before calling here. Leslie, although young, is an +experienced hunter and backwoodsman, and I have not much fear for his +personal safety. He assured me that, should he find the Indians above +ravaging the country as fearfully as reported, he would immediately +return to us."</p> + +<p>"I hope so," earnestly replied Rosalind.</p> + +<p>"Still," continued George, "what can we do, even then? He intends to +bring a hunter back with him, and that will make only three of us +against perhaps a thousand savages."</p> + +<p>"But have we not the house to protect us?"</p> + +<p>"And have they not the forest? Can they not lurk around until we die of +hunger, or until they fire the building? There are a hundred +contingencies that will bar an escape, while I confess no prospect of +getting safely away presents itself."</p> + +<p>"We have arms and ammunition," said Rosalind. "Of course Leslie and his +friend are good marksmen, and why can we not do enough to deter and +intimidate the savages? Finding us well prepared, they will doubtless +retreat and not disturb us again. I hope the trouble will soon be over."</p> + +<p>"I <i>hope</i> so too; but it is hoping against hope. This war will be a long +and bloody one, and when it is over the country will present a different +appearance. Many lives must be lost ere it is done, and perhaps ours are +among that number."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps so, brother; but do not be so depressed. Let us hope and pray +for the best. It is not such a sad thing to die, and the country which +has given us birth has certainly a strong claim upon us."</p> + +<p>"Noble girl," exclaimed George, "it is so, and we have no cause for +murmuring."</p> + +<p>At this moment Zeb appeared. He was a short, dumpy, thick-set negro, +with a most luxuriant head of wool, a portion of which hung around his +head in small, close braids, resembling bits of decayed rope. His eyes +were large and protruding, and his face glistened like a mirror. He was +a genuine African. Some of their qualities in him were carried to the +extreme. Instead of being a coward, as is often the case with his +nation, he seemed never to know when there really was danger. He always +was reckless and careless, and seemed to escape by accident.</p> + +<p>"Heigh! massa George, what's up?" he exclaimed, observing the solemn +appearance of the two before him.</p> + +<p>"Nothing but what is known to you, Zeb. We were just speaking of the +danger which you are aware is threatening us. Have you seen anything +lately to excite suspicion?"</p> + +<p>"Nothin' worth speakin' of," replied he, seating himself in front of +George and Rosalind.</p> + +<p>"What was it, Zeb?" asked the latter.</p> + +<p>"When I's out tendin' to things, I t'ought as how I'd sit down and rest, +and 'cordin'ly I squats on a big stone. Purty soon de stone begin to +move, and come to look, 'twas a big Injin.</p> + +<p>"'Heigh!' says I, 'what you doin' here?'</p> + +<p>"'Ugh!' he grunted.</p> + +<p>"'Yes, I'll "ugh!" you,' says I, 'if I cotches you here ag'in.' With dat +I pitches him two, free rods off, and tells him to make tracks fur +home."</p> + +<p>"Heavens! if you would only tell the truth, Zeb. Did you really see an +Indian, though?"</p> + +<p>"'Deed I did, and he run when he see'd me in arnist."</p> + +<p>"And you saw others yesterday, did you?" remarked Rosalind.</p> + +<p>"Two or free, down toward de woods. I spied 'em crawlin' and smellin' +down dar, and axes dem dar business. Dey said as how dey's lookin' for a +jack-knife dat dey lost dar last summer. I told 'em dat dey oughter be +'shamed demselves to be smellin' round dat way; and to provide against +dar doin's in future, I give dem each a good kick and sent dem away."</p> + +<p>"Do not exaggerate your story so much," said Rosalind. "Give the truth +and nothing else."</p> + +<p>"Qua'r, folks won't believe all dis pusson observes," said he, with an +offended air.</p> + +<p>"Tell the truth and they will in all cases; but should you deceive once, +you will always be suspected afterward."</p> + +<p>"Dat's it," commenced the negro, spreading out his broad hand like an +orator to illustrate the point. "If I tells de truf dey're sure to t'ink +I's lyin', and what's de use?"</p> + +<p>"Zeb," commenced George, not regarding the last remark, "you, as well as +we, are aware that we are encompassed by peril. You have seen that the +Indians are constantly prowling around, and evidently for no good +purpose. What would you advise us to do under the circumstances?"</p> + +<p>"Give 'em all a good floggin' and set 'em to work," he replied.</p> + +<p>"Come, come, Zeb, we want no jesting," interrupted Rosalind.</p> + +<p>"Dar 'tis ag'in. Who war jestin'? Dat's what I t'ink is de best. Give +'em a good lickin', and set 'em to work clearin' off de wood till dar +spunk is gone."</p> + +<p>"Fudge!" said George, impatiently, turning his back toward Zeb, whose +head ducked down with a chuckle.</p> + +<p>"Rosalind," said George, "the best plan is certainly to wait until +Leslie returns, which will be either to-morrow or the next day. We will +then determine upon what course to pursue. Perhaps we shall be +undisturbed until that time. If not, it cannot be helped."</p> + +<p>"Wished dis pusson warn't so hungry," remarked Zeb, picking up a stick +and whittling it.</p> + +<p>Rosalind smiled as she arose and remarked:</p> + +<p>"It is getting late, George, and it perhaps is best to have supper."</p> + +<p>He made no answer and turned toward the negro.</p> + +<p>"Zeb," said he, "in all probability we shall be obliged to leave this +place in a few days for a safer location. Of course you will accompany +us, and I wish it to be understood that you are to lay aside this levity +and carelessness. Remember that you are in danger, as much as ourselves. +Your scalp may be the first taken."</p> + +<p>"What, dis yere wool of mine? Yah! yah! yah! Lord bless you, dey'd have +a handful!"</p> + +<p>"How would you relish being roasted at the stake?" asked George, hoping +to terrify him.</p> + +<p>"Yah! yah! Dey'd be some sizzlin', I guess."</p> + +<p>"You will think soberly about the matter, perhaps sooner than you +suspect."</p> + +<p>"Yas," said Zeb, and his face straightened out in an instant, while he +slowly and thoughtfully continued whittling.</p> + +<p>"Zeb," continued George, leaning toward him and speaking in an +undertone, "I think we shall be attacked in two days at the latest."</p> + +<p>"Jest keep de whip in good order, and I'll put it into 'em and teach 'em +manners."</p> + +<p>"I fear you will learn wisdom only by experience, even if you do then," +returned George. "It would be a good thing for you, should you meet with +something that would impress you with a sense of your peril. I can only +wonder at your stupidity."</p> + +<p>"Gorra mighty! do you s'pose dere's anything that'd make <i>me</i> afeard of +dem Injins? Why, bless you, forty of 'em wouldn't dare to frow a stone +at me. I've licked free, four dozen of 'em, and dey all respect me +awful."</p> + +<p>"I suppose so," rejoined young Leland, with mock seriousness.</p> + +<p>"Last summer," pursued Zeb, "when you's down de river fishin', dere's +thirteen of 'em come up one day to borrer de wood-box. I s'pose dey +wanted to keep dar dogs and pappooses in it, and I 'cluded as how dey +warn't gwine to get it. So I told 'em I's very sorry dat I couldn't +'commodate 'em, but de fact war we wanted to put de wood in it +ourselves. When I said dat, one of de niggers begin to got sassy. I just +informed 'em dat dey'd better make demselves scarce mighty quick, if dey +didn't want dis pusson in dar wool. Dey didn't mind what was said, +howsumever, and purty soon I cotched 'em runnin' off wid de wood-box. +Dat raised my dander, and I grabbed de box and frowed it right over dar +heads and cotched 'em fast. Den I put a big stone on it, and kept 'em +dere free weeks, and afore I let 'em out I made 'em promise to behave +'emselves. Now I considers dat we'd better serve 'em some sich trick. +Tie two, free hundred to de fence, and leave 'em dere for a few months."</p> + +<p>"You are welcome to try it," returned George, rather disgusted at the +negro's propensity for big story telling. He arose and passed within, +where the ample table was laid. Yet he could not eat the plain, sweet +food which Rosalind's own hands had prepared. The dreadful sense of +danger was too real a guest for any rest or peace of mind.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>THE NIGHT OF TERROR.</h3> + + +<p>Few words were interchanged during the evening. George and Rosalind had +enough to occupy their minds, and Zeb, finding them taciturn, relapsed +into a sullen silence.</p> + +<p>At an early hour each retired. Rosalind now felt more than George that +unaccountable presentiment which sometimes comes over one in cases of +danger. During the last few hours it had increased until it nearly +resolved itself into a certainty.</p> + +<p>The view from the front of the house was clear and unobstructed to the +river, a quarter of a mile distant. Along this lay the cultivated +clearing, while the forest, stretching miles away, approached to within +a few yards of the rear of the house.</p> + +<p>Rosalind's room overlooked this wilderness. Instead of retiring, she +seated herself by the window to gaze out upon it. There was a faint +moon, and the tree-tops for a considerable distance could be seen +swaying in the gentle night-wind. The silence was so profound that it +seemed to make itself <i>felt</i> and, in that vast solitude, few indeed +could remain without being impressed with the solemn grandeur of nature +around.</p> + +<p>Hour after hour wore away; still Rosalind remained at the window. As +there was no inclination to sleep, she determined to remain in her +position until morning. She knew that it must be far beyond midnight, +and at the thought there sprung up a faint hope within her breast. But +she was startled by the dismal hoot of an owl. She sprang up, with a +beating heart, listening intently and painfully; but no other sound was +heard. Trying to smile at her trepidation, she again seated herself and +listened; in a moment that cry was repeated, now in an opposite +direction from which the first note was heard.</p> + +<p>Rosalind wondered that the simple circumstance should so affect her; but +try as much as she might, she could not shake it off. Again, for a few +minutes, she remained trembling with an undefinable fear, when there +came another hoot, followed instantly by another, in an opposite +direction. She began now to entertain a fearful suspicion.</p> + +<p>Her first impulse was to awaken her brother, but, after a moment's +thought, she concluded to wait a short time. A few more sounds were +heard, when they entirely ceased. During this time, Rosalind, although +suffering an intense fear, had been gazing vacantly toward the point or +clearing nearest the house. As her eyes rested upon the spot, she caught +the shadowy outlines of a dark body moving stealthily and noiselessly +along upon the ground.</p> + +<p>Without waiting a moment, she darted to George's room. He had not slept, +and in an instant was by her side.</p> + +<p>"Call Zeb," she exclaimed. "We are surrounded by Indians."</p> + +<p>Leland disappeared, and in a moment came back with the negro.</p> + +<p>"Gorra mighty!" said the latter, in a hurried, husky whisper, "where am +de cussed niggers? Heigh, Miss Rosa?"</p> + +<p>"Keep quiet," she replied, "or you will be heard."</p> + +<p>"Dat's just what I wants to be, and I calkilates I'll be <i>felt</i> too, if +dar are any of 'em 'bout."</p> + +<p>"Stay here a moment," said George, "while I look out. Rosalind, what did +you see?"</p> + +<p>"A body approaching the house from the woods. Be careful and do not +expose yourself, George."</p> + +<p>He made no answer and entered her room, followed by herself and the +negro, who remained at a safe distance, while he cautiously approached +the window. He had no more than reached it, when Zeb asked:</p> + +<p>"See noffin'?"</p> + +<p>This question was repeated perhaps a dozen times without an answer, when +the patience of Zeb becoming exhausted, he shuffled to the window and +pressed his head forward, exclaiming:</p> + +<p>"Gorra mighty, whar am dey?"</p> + +<p>"Hist! there is one now—yes, two of them!"</p> + +<p>"Whar—whar?"</p> + +<p>"Keep your mouth shut," interrupted the young man, his vexation causing +him to speak louder than he intended.</p> + +<p>"Heigh! dat's him! Look out!"</p> + +<p>And before young Leland suspected his intentions or could prevent it, +Zeb had taken aim and fired. This was so sudden and unexpected that, for +a moment, nothing was heard but the dull echo, rolling off over the +forest and up the river. Then arose a piercing, agonized yell, that told +how effectual was the shot of the negro. Rosalind's face blanched with +terror as she heard the fearful chorus of enraged voices, and thought of +the fearful scene that must follow.</p> + +<p>"Are the doors secured?" she asked, laying her hand upon George's +shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I barricaded them all," he answered. "If they do not fire the +building, we may be able to keep them off until morning. I don't know +but what Zeb's shot was the best, after all—God save us!"</p> + +<p>This last exclamation was caused by a bullet whizzing past, within an +inch of his face. For a while Leland was uncertain of the proper course +to pursue. Should he expose his person at the window, he was almost +certain to be struck; yet this or some other one equally exposed, was +the only place where he could exchange shots, and the savages must be +kept in check.</p> + +<p>Zeb had reloaded his gun, and peering around the edge of the window, +caught a glimpse of an Indian. As reckless of danger as usual, he raised +his rifle and discharged it. He was a good marksman, and the shot was as +effective as the other.</p> + +<p>"Gorra mighty!" he exclaimed, "I can dodge dar lead. Didn't I pick dat +darkey off awful nice? Just wait till I load ag'n." Chuckling over his +achievements, he proceeded to prime his rifle. George Leland withdrew to +the window of another room, from which he succeeded in slaying a +savage, and by being careful and cautious, he was able to make his few +shots tell with effect.</p> + +<p>When Zeb shot the first savage, the red-skins sprung to their feet and +commenced yelling and leaping, feeling that those within were already at +their mercy; but the succeeding shots convinced them of their mistake, +and retreating to cover, they were more careful in exposing themselves. +Several stole around to the front of the house, but George had +anticipated them, and there being no means of concealing their +appearance, they were easily kept at a distance. Rosalind followed and +assisted him as far as lay in her power, while Zeb was left alone in his +delight and glory.</p> + +<p>"Be careful," said Leland; "don't come too near. Just have the powder +and wadding ready and hand it to me when I need it."</p> + +<p>"I will," she replied, in a calm, unexcited voice, as she reached him +his rod.</p> + +<p>"Just see what Zeb is at, while I watch my chance."</p> + +<p>She disappeared, and in a moment returned.</p> + +<p>"He seems frantic with delight, and is yet unharmed."</p> + +<p>"God preserve him," said George, "for his assistance is needed."</p> + +<p>"Be careful," said Rosalind, as George approached the window.</p> + +<p>"I shall—whew! that's a close rub!" he muttered, as a bullet pierced +his cap. "There, <i>you're</i> past harm," he added, as he discharged his +gun.</p> + +<p>Thus the contest was kept up for over an hour. But few shots were +interchanged on either side, each party becoming more careful in their +action. Young Leland remained at his window, and kept a close watch upon +his field; but no human being was seen. Zeb laughed, ducked his head, +and made numerous threats toward his enemies, but seemed to attract no +notice from them.</p> + +<p>Now and then Rosalind spoke a word to her brother, but the suspense +which the silence of their enemies had put them in, sealed their lips, +and, for a long while, the silence was unbroken by either. They were +startled at length by the report of Zeb's rifle, and the next minute he +appeared among them, exclaiming:</p> + +<p>"Gorra mighty! I shot out my ramrod. I seen a good chance, and blazed +away 'fore I thought to take it out. It went through six of 'em, and +stuck into a tree and hung 'em fast. Heigh! it's fun to see 'em."</p> + +<p>"Here, take mine, and for God's sake, cease your jesting!" said Leland, +handing his rod to him.</p> + +<p>"Wish I could string some more up," added Zeb, as he rammed home his +charge. "Yer oughter seen it, Miss Rosa. It went right frough de fust +feller's eye, and den frough de oder one's foot, den frough de oder's +gizzard, and half way frough de tree. Gorra, how dey wriggled! Looked +just like a lot of mackerel hung up to dry. Heigh!"</p> + +<p>At this point Leland discharged his gun, and said, without changing his +position:</p> + +<p>"They are trying to approach the house. Go, Zeb, and attend to your +side. Be very sharp!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I's dar, stringing 'em up," he rejoined, as he turned away.</p> + +<p>"Hark!" exclaimed Rosalind, when he had gone. "What noise is that?"</p> + +<p>Leland listened awhile, and his heart died within him as he answered:</p> + +<p>"Merciful Heaven! the house is on fire! All hope is now gone!"</p> + +<p>"Shall we give ourselves up?" hurriedly asked Rosalind.</p> + +<p>"No; come with me."</p> + +<p>"Hurry up, massa, dey's gwine to roast us. De grease begins to siss in +my face a'ready," said Zeb, as he joined them.</p> + +<p>The fugitives retreated to the lower story, and Leland led the way to a +door which opened upon the kitchen, at the end of the house. His hope +was that from this they might have a chance of escaping to the wood, but +a short distance off, ere they were discovered.</p> + +<p>Cautiously opening the door, he saw with anxious, hopeful joy, that no +Indians were visible.</p> + +<p>"Now, Rosalind," he whispered, "be quick. Make for the nearest trees, +and if you succeed in reaching them, pass to the river-bank and wait for +me. Move softly and rapidly."</p> + +<p>Rosalind stepped quickly out. The yells of the infuriated savages +deafened her; but, although fearfully near, she saw none, and started +rapidly forward. Leland watched each step with an agony of fear and +anxiety which cannot be described. The trees were within twenty yards, +and half the distance was passed, when Leland knew that her flight was +discovered. A number of savages darted forward, but a shot from him +stopped the course of the foremost. Taking advantage of the confusion +which this had occasioned, Rosalind sprung away and succeeded in +reaching the cover; but here, upon the very threshold of escape, she was +reached and captured.</p> + +<p>"Gorra mighty!" shouted Zeb, as he saw her seized and borne away. "Ef I +don't cowhide ebery nigger of 'em for dat trick."</p> + +<p>And clenching his hands he stalked boldly forward and demanded:</p> + +<p>"Whar's dat lady? Ef you doesn't want to git into trouble, I calkilate +you'd better bring her back in double-quick time."</p> + +<p>Several savages sprung toward him, and Zeb prepared himself for the +struggle. His huge fist felled the first and the second; but ere he +could do further damage he found himself thrown down and bound.</p> + +<p>"Well, dar, if dat ain't de meanest trick yet, servin' a decent prisoner +dis way. I'll cowhide ebery one ob you. Oh, dear, I wish I had de whip!" +he muttered, writhing and rolling in helpless rage upon the ground.</p> + +<p>Leland had seen this occurrence and taken advantage of it. It had served +to divert the action of the savages, and the attention of all being +occupied with their two prisoners, he managed with considerable +difficulty to reach the wood without being discovered.</p> + +<p>Here, at a safe distance, he watched the progress of things. The +building was now one mass of flame, which lit up the sky with a lurid, +unearthly glare. The border of the forest was visible and the trunks +and limbs of the trees appeared as if scorched and reddened by the +consuming heat. The savages resembled demons dancing and yelling around +the ruin which they had caused. It was with difficulty that Leland +restrained himself from firing upon them. With a sad heart he saw the +house which had sheltered him from infancy fall inward with a crash. The +splinters and ashes of fire were hurled in the air and fell at his feet, +and the thick volume of smoke reached him.</p> + +<p>Yet he thought more of the captives which were in the hands of their +merciless enemies. Their safety demanded his attention. Thoughtfully and +despondingly he turned upon his heel and disappeared in the shadows of +the great forest.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>KENT AND LESLIE.</h3> + + +<p>When Roland Leslie reached his destination some miles up the Ohio, his +fears and suspicions were confirmed. There had been a massacre, a week +previous, of a number of settlers, and the Indians were scouring the +country for more victims.</p> + +<p>This information was given by Kent Whiteman, the person for whom he was +searching. This personage was a strange character, some forty years of +age, who led a wandering hunter's life, and was known by every white man +for a great distance along the Ohio. Roland Leslie had made his +acquaintance when but a mere lad, and they often spent weeks together +hunting and roaming through the great wilderness, which was the home of +both. He cherished an implacable hatred to every red-man, and they in +turn often sought his life, for they had no enemy so dangerous as he.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, them varmints," said he, as he leaned upon his long rifle and +gazed at Leslie, "are playing particular devil in these parts, and I +calkelate it's a game that two can play at."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus2" id="illus2"></a> +<img src="images/illus2.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>"Them varmints," said he, "are playing particular devil +in these parts."</h3> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>"Jump in the boat, Kent," said Leslie, "and ride down with me; I +promised George Leland that if he needed assistance I would bring it to +him."</p> + +<p>"He needs it, that's a p'inted fact, and as soon as it can conveniently +reach him too."</p> + +<p>"Well, let us be off." Leslie dipped his oars in the water and pulled +out into the stream. It was the morning after the burning of the +Lelands' home, which of course was unknown to them. For a few moments +the boat glided rapidly down the stream, when Whiteman spoke:</p> + +<p>"Where'd you put up last night, Leslie?"</p> + +<p>"About ten miles down the river. I ran in under the bank and had an +undisturbed night's rest?"</p> + +<p>"Didn't hear nothin' of the red-skins?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Wal, it's a wonder; they're as thick as flies in August, and I +calkelate I'll have rich times with 'em."</p> + +<p>"I cannot understand how it is, Kent, that you cherish such a deadly +hatred for these Indians."</p> + +<p>"I have good reason," returned the hunter, compressing his lips.</p> + +<p>"How long is it that you have felt thus?"</p> + +<p>"Ever since I's a boy. Ever since <i>that</i> time."</p> + +<p>"What time, Kent?"</p> + +<p>"I have never told you, I believe, why the sight of a red-skin throws me +into such a fit, have I?"</p> + +<p>"No; I should certainly be glad to hear."</p> + +<p>"Wal, it doesn't take long to tell. Yet how few persons know it except +myself. It is nigh thirty years ago," commenced Kent, "that I lived +about a dozen miles above the place that we left this morning. There I +was born and lived with my old father and mother until I was ten or +eleven years old.</p> + +<p>"One dark, stormy night we war attacked by them red devils, and that +father and mother were butchered before my eyes. During the confusion of +the attack, I escaped to the woods and secreted m'self until it was +over. It was a hard matter to lie there, scorched by the flames of your +own home, and see your parents, while begging for mercy, tomahawked and +slain before your eyes. But in such a position I was placed, and +remained until the savages, satisfied with their bloody work, took their +departure.</p> + +<p>"When the rain, which fell in torrents, had extinguished the smoking +ruins, I crawled from my hiding-place. I felt around until I come upon +the cold bodies of my father and mother lyin' side by side, and then +kneelin' over them, I took a fearful oath—an oath to which I have +devoted my life. I swore that as long as life was given me, it should be +used for revengin' the slaughter of my parents. That night these savages +contracted a debt of which they little dreamed. Before they left the +place, I had marked each of the dozen, and I never forgot them. For ten +years I follered and tracked them, and at the end of that time I had +sent the last one to his final account. Yet that did not satisfy me. I +swore <i>eternal</i> enmity against the whole people, and as I said, it shall +be carried out. While Kent is alive, he is the mortal enemy of every +red-skin."</p> + +<p>The hunter looked up in the face of Leslie, and his gleaming eyes and +gnashing teeth told his earnestness. His manner and recital had +impressed the latter, and he forbore speaking to him for some time.</p> + +<p>"I should think," observed Leslie, after a short silence, "that you had +nearly paid that debt, Kent."</p> + +<p>"It is a debt which will be balanced," rejoined the hunter, "when I am +unable to make any more payments."</p> + +<p>"Well, I shouldn't want you for an enemy," added Leslie, glancing over +his shoulder at the stream in front of him.</p> + +<p>Both banks of the river at this point, and, in fact, for many miles, +were lined with overhanging trees and bushes, which might afford shelter +to any enemy. Kent sat in the stern and glanced suspiciously at each +bank, as the boat was impelled swiftly yet silently forward, and there +was not even a falling leaf that escaped his keen eye.</p> + +<p>"Strikes me," said Leslie, leaning on his oars, "that we are in rather a +dangerous vicinity. Those thick bushes along the shore, over there, +might easily contain a few red gentlemen."</p> + +<p>"Don't be alarmed," returned the hunter, "I'll keep a good watch. +They've got to make some movement before they can harm us, and I'll be +sure to see them. The river's wide, too, and there ain't so much to +fear, after all."</p> + +<p>Leslie again dipped his oars, and the boat shot forward in silence. +Nothing but the suppressed dip of the slender ashen blades, or the dull +sighing of the wind through the tree-tops, broke the silence of the +great solitude. Suddenly, as Leslie bent forward and gazed into the +hunter's face, he saw him start and gaze anxiously at the right shore, +some distance ahead.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked Leslie.</p> + +<p>"Just wait a minute," returned the hunter, rising and gazing in the same +direction. "Stop the boat. Back water!" he added, in a hurried tone.</p> + +<p>Leslie did as he was bidden, and again spoke:</p> + +<p>"What is it, Kent?"</p> + +<p>"Do you see them bushes hangin' a little further out in the stream than +the others?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; what of them?"</p> + +<p>"Watch them a minute. There—look quick!" said Kent.</p> + +<p>"I can see a fluttering among the branches, as if a bird had flown from +it," answered Leslie.</p> + +<p>"Wal, them birds is Indians, that's all," remarked the hunter, dropping +composedly back into the boat. "Go ahead!"</p> + +<p>"They will fire into us, no doubt. Had I not better run in to the other +shore?"</p> + +<p>"No; there may be a host of 'em there. Keep in the middle of the stream, +and we'll give 'em the slip yet."</p> + +<p>It must be confessed that Leslie experienced rather strange sensations +as he neared the locality which had excited their suspicion, especially +when he knew that he was exposed to any shot that they might feel +inclined to give. A shudder ran through his frame, when, directly +opposite the spot, he distinctly heard a groan of agony.</p> + +<p>Kent made a motion for him to cease rowing. Bending their heads down and +listening, they again heard that now loud, agonizing expression of +mortal pain.</p> + +<p>As soon as Leslie was certain that the sound proceeded from some being +in distress, he headed the boat toward the shore.</p> + +<p>"Stop!" commanded Kent; "you should have more sense than that."</p> + +<p>"But will you not assist a person in distress?" asked he, gazing +reproachfully into his face.</p> + +<p>"Who's in distress?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Gorra mighty! I's been dyin'," now came from the shore.</p> + +<p>"Hallo there! what's wantin'?" called Whiteman.</p> + +<p>"Help, help, 'fore dis Indian gentleman—'fore I dies from de wounds dat +dey's given me."</p> + +<p>"I've heard that voice before," remarked Kent to Leslie, in an +undertone.</p> + +<p>"So have I," replied the latter. "Why, it is George Leland's negro; <i>he</i> +wouldn't decoy us into danger. Let us go in."</p> + +<p>"Wait until I speak further with him." (Then, to the person upon shore): +"What might be your name?"</p> + +<p>"Zeb Langdon. Isn't dat old Kent?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; how came you in this scrape, Zeb?"</p> + +<p>"Gorra mighty! I didn't come into it. Dem red dogs—dese here nice +fellers—brought me here 'bout two months ago, and den dey all fired at +me fur two or free days, and den dey hung me up and left me to starve to +death. Boo-hoo-oo!"</p> + +<p>"But," said Leslie, "you were at home yesterday when I came up the +river."</p> + +<p>"Yes; dey burned down de house last night, and cooked us all and eat us +up. I's come to live ag'in, and crawled down here to get you fellers to +take me home; but, Lord bless you, don't come ashore—blast you, quit a +hittin' me over de head," added the negro, evidently to some one near +him.</p> + +<p>Leslie and Whiteman exchanged significant glances, and silently worked +the boat further from the land.</p> + +<p>"Who is that you spoke to?" asked the former, when they were at a safe +distance.</p> + +<p>"Dis yere blasted limb reached down and pulled my wool," replied the +negro, with perfect <i>nonchalance</i>.</p> + +<p>"Where is George Leland?" asked Leslie.</p> + +<p>"Dunno; slipped away from dese yere nice fellers what's pulled all de +wool out of me head, and is tellin' me a lot o' yarns to tell you. Gorra +mighty! can't you let a feller 'lone, when he's yarnin' as good as he +can?"</p> + +<p>"Where is Miss Leland?"</p> + +<p>"How does I know? A lot of 'em run off wid her last night."</p> + +<p>"Oh God! what I expected," said Leslie, dropping his voice, and gazing +with an agonizing look at Whiteman. The latter, regardless of his +emotion, continued his conversation with Zeb.</p> + +<p>"Are you hurt any?"</p> + +<p>"Considerable."</p> + +<p>"Now, Zeb, tell the truth. Did they capture George Leland?"</p> + +<p>"Bless you, no. He got away during de trouble."</p> + +<p>"Did they get Miss Leland?"</p> + +<p>"'Deed they did."</p> + +<p>"Is she with you?"</p> + +<p>"No. It took forty of 'em to watch me and de rest."</p> + +<p>Here the negro's words were cut short with a jerk, and he gave vent to a +loud groan.</p> + +<p>"Gorra mighty!" he ejaculated, in fury. "Come ashore, Mr. Whiteman and +Mr. Leslie. Come quick, and let dese yer fellers got you. Dey wants yer +too."</p> + +<p>"Are there any of the imps with you?" asked Kent, more for amusement +than anything else.</p> + +<p>"What shall I tell him?" the negro asked, in a husky whisper, loud +enough to be plainly heard by the two in the boat.</p> + +<p>"Dey say dar ain't any of 'em. Talk yourself, if dat doesn't suit you," +he added, in great wrath.</p> + +<p>"Three cheers for you," shouted Whiteman. "Are there any of 'em upon the +other side?"</p> + +<p>"Dese fellers say dey am all dar. Gorra, don't kill me."</p> + +<p>"Good; you're the best nigger 'long the 'Hio. I guess we'll go over to +the other side and visit them."</p> + +<p>So saying, Kent seized the oars and pulled for the opposite shore. He +had not taken more than a couple of strokes when a dozen rifles cracked +simultaneously from the bushes, and as many bullets struck the boat and +glanced over the water.</p> + +<p>"Drop down," he whispered to Leslie. Instead of doing the same himself, +he bent the more vigorously to his oars. A few minutes sufficed to carry +them so far down that little danger was to be apprehended from the +Indians, who uttered their loudest shouts and discharged their rifles, +as they passed beyond their reach.</p> + +<p>"That's too good a chance to be lost," muttered the ranger, bringing his +long rifle to his shoulder. Leslie followed the direction of his aim, +and saw a daring savage standing boldly out to view, and making furious +gesticulations toward them. The next instant Kent's rifle uttered its +sharp report, and the Indian, with a yell, sprung several feet in the +air, and fell to the ground.</p> + +<p>"That was a good shot," remarked Leslie, gazing at the fallen body.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and it's done just what I wanted it to," replied Kent, heading the +boat toward shore.</p> + +<p>"They are going to pursue us, are they not?" asked Leslie.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and we'll have fun," added the ranger, as the boat touched the +shore, and he sprung out.</p> + +<p>"Come along and make up yer mind for a long run," said he, glancing +furtively toward the savages.</p> + +<p>Leslie sprung after him, and they darted away into the forest.</p> + +<p>When Whiteman had fired his fatal shot the Indians were so infuriated, +that, setting up their demoniac yells, they plunged down the banks of +the stream, determined to revenge their fallen companion.</p> + +<p>This was what Kent desired. He exulted as he saw that he was being +gratified. "If there isn't fun pretty shortly it won't be my fault," +said he, as he plunged onward into the forest.</p> + +<p>In a short time the pursuers gained the opposite shore, and followed +with renewed ardor into the wilderness. Kent and Leslie, however, had +gained a good start. Both being rapid runners, they had not much to +fear. Had nothing unusual occurred, they would easily have distanced +their pursuers. But Leslie, following Kent in a leap across a rocky +gorge, struck in his comrade's footsteps in the earth upon its edge. The +earth had become loosened and started by the shock, and ere Leslie could +recover his footing, he fell some fifteen or twenty feet to the bottom. +The fall bruised him so much that he was unable to rise, or in fact +hardly to stir.</p> + +<p>"Hurt?" asked the ranger, gazing over at him.</p> + +<p>"Yes," groaned Leslie. "I can't get up. Don't wait for me, for it's no +use. Go on and save yourself."</p> + +<p>"I hate to leave you, but it's got to be done. Lay down there; crawl in +under that rock. Perhaps they won't see you. Quick, for I hear 'em +comin'."</p> + +<p>With these words the hunter turned and disappeared, and succeeded in +getting beyond the gorge without being seen by his pursuers; but this +delay had given them time to gain a great deal upon him, and when he +started their hurried tramp could be distinctly heard.</p> + +<p>His words had roused Leslie to a sense of his peril. By struggling and +laboring for a few minutes he succeeded in disengaging himself and +managed to crawl beneath a projecting ridge of rock. This effectually +concealed him from sight, and had his pursuers no suspicion of his +fall, he yet stood a chance of escaping.</p> + +<p>In a few moments he heard them overhead, and the pain of his wounds was +forgotten in the anxiety which he now felt for his safety. He knew that +they had hesitated, but whether it was on account of the leap which they +were required to make, or on account of any suspicion that they might +entertain, he could not divine.</p> + +<p>The place in which he had fallen had probably once been swept by a +torrent, but now a tiny stream only warbled through it. The murmur of +this, by Leslie's side, prevented his understanding the words of those +above. The hum of their voices could be heard but not their words.</p> + +<p>Presently, however, he distinguished a well-known voice evidently in +expostulation with some one.</p> + +<p>"Gorra mighty! does yer s'pects I can jump dat? It's bad 'nough to make +me git drownded in dat river without broken my neck down dar!"</p> + +<p>Leslie could not help wondering why Zeb was brought along, nor how he +managed to keep pace with the rest. But as he had not heard his voice +before, he concluded that the negro must have been brought by several +Indians who remained behind for that purpose. This conclusion was +confirmed by the words which he heard the next minute.</p> + +<p>"Whar's de use ob jumpin'? Dem yere fellers'll soon be back, coz dey +ain't agwine to cotch dat man nohow. He can run like a streak o' +sunshine, and likes as not dey'll all get shot. You'd better go on and +coax 'em to come back while I stay here and waits fur ye."</p> + +<p>In answer to this, Leslie heard some angry muttering and mumbling, but +could distinguish no words. In a moment, however, Zeb's voice was +audible.</p> + +<p>"Bless yer, you're de all-firedest fools I eber see'd. How does you +s'pects I's gwine to light on toder side. Ef one of you'll take me on +your back, I won't mind lettin' you try to carry me over; but I tells +you I ain't agwine to try it. So you can shut up yer rat-traps."</p> + +<p>Hardly a second elapsed before he again spoke:</p> + +<p>"Hold on dar; you kickin' all my brains out! I'll try it!"</p> + +<p>The next moment Leslie heard a dull thump, and Zeb came rolling down +directly beside him.</p> + +<p>"I's killed! Ebery bone is broken. I can't live anoder second."</p> + +<p>"Zeb! Zeb!" whispered Leslie, in a hurried whisper.</p> + +<p>The negro suddenly ceased his groaning and exclamations, and rolling his +head over toward him, asked, in a whisper.</p> + +<p>"Who's dat?"</p> + +<p>"It's I, Zeb. Get up quick, for God's sake, before they come down, or +I'm lost!"</p> + +<p>The negro clambered to his feet without difficulty, and disappeared, +shouting to those above:</p> + +<p>"I isn't hurt. It war de rock dat was broke by my head striking it! How +de pieces flewed!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>THE CAPTIVES.</h3> + + +<p>When Rosalind Leland felt herself seized by the savage, she fainted in +the arms of her swarthy captor, and so remained for a long space of +time. When she recovered, she found that she was a secure prisoner in +the hands of her enemies. She was grieved to see that Zeb was a +companion in captivity. She felt that, could she alone suffer, she would +willingly bear it. Although acquainted with many Indians, she was unable +to recognize any of those around. This, of course, was a gratification. +It showed that the kindness of her parents and herself had not been lost +upon them. Although the recipients of her kindness might not strive to +prevent violence being done her, yet they refused to participate in it +themselves.</p> + +<p>The whole Indian force numbered about thirty. As soon as they had done +all in their power, and were convinced that there were no more captives +to be secured, they took up the line of march. In the course of their +journey, Rosalind found that she was near enough to hold a conversation +with Zeb, and after a few minutes' silence, she ventured:</p> + +<p>"How do you feel, Zeb?"</p> + +<p>"Bless you, missus, if dese niggers doesn't get the all-firedest +walloping when I gets de chance, dey may feel glad."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but I'm afraid that you will not get the chance very soon."</p> + +<p>"Oh, dey daresn't kill me; fur if dey did, I'd hang ebery one ob dem."</p> + +<p>Despite Rosalind's painful situation, she could not but smile at the +earnestness of tone in which Zeb delivered himself of this. She resumed:</p> + +<p>"Are you bound, Zeb?"</p> + +<p>"Not much; only a dozen ropes tied around one leg, and as many round de +rest ob me body."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Zeb, don't tell such stories."</p> + +<p>"Fact, Missus Leland. I counted 'em when dey's puttin' 'em on, and dey +cut like forty, too."</p> + +<p>"Forty-two what?" asked a gruff voice by Zeb's side, in very good +English.</p> + +<p>"Gorra mighty, <i>who's dat</i>?"</p> + +<p>No answer was given.</p> + +<p>"Who de debbil was dat?" asked Zeb, speaking to Rosalind.</p> + +<p>She made no answer and appeared to be lost in a reverie. Zeb repeated +his question but failed to elicit any reply. Muttering something to +himself, he permitted her silence to remain undisturbed.</p> + +<p>There were two horses in the party, and upon one of these Rosalind had +been placed. The other was bestrode by a savage, who appeared to be the +leader of the band. Zeb's hands were pinioned behind his back, and he +was compelled to walk behind the horse of Rosalind, with a guard that +kept a close eye upon his movements.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus3" id="illus3"></a> +<img src="images/illus3.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>There were two horses in the party, and upon one of these +Rosalind had been placed.</h3> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Silently yet rapidly the body moved along through the forest of +impenetrable darkness, where a perfect knowledge was required in order +to make the least progress. Rosalind's horse was a powerful creature, +and carried her with comparative comfort. Now and then the cold leaves +brushed her face, or her body grazed some tree, yet the animal carried +her safely and unharmed. Several times the thought of escape flashed +upon her. It seemed easy to turn her horse's head and gallop beyond the +reach of her enemies. But one of them was mounted, and she believed she +could elude him. She could ride down those immediately around her, and +what was there to prevent her making good her escape?</p> + +<p>And yet, after a few more minutes of thought, she abandoned all hopes of +liberty for the present. Her brother was free, and would leave no means +untried until she was again restored to him; and there was <i>another +one</i>, who, she knew in her heart, would exert himself to the utmost to +save her. This thought caused her heart to beat faster and faster. +There was a slight tremor in her voice as she spoke:</p> + +<p>"Zeb, come a little nearer to me."</p> + +<p>He made a movement, but was unable to approach much nearer.</p> + +<p>"Are you listening?" she asked, in a subdued tone.</p> + +<p>"Yes, missus; mouth, ears and eyes is open."</p> + +<p>"Then," said she, bending toward him and lowering her voice still more, +"I wish to ask you, Zeb, whether you would do me a favor?"</p> + +<p>"Lord bless you, missus, you knows I'd die a hundred times for you."</p> + +<p>"I believe you would," returned Rosalind, touched by his tone and words; +"but it is no hardship that I ask of you."</p> + +<p>"Well, out with it quick, fur dese fellers don't like to see yer horse's +side rubbin' all de wool off ob my head."</p> + +<p>"You are acquainted with Roland Leslie, Zeb?" asked Rosalind, bending +lower and speaking in a whisper which she scarcely heard herself.</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Zeb, breathing hurriedly.</p> + +<p>"Well, should you see him, tell him of my situation; and—and—tell him +not to run into danger for my sake."</p> + +<p>"I will," rejoined Zeb, fervently.</p> + +<p>Here a savage, judging that matters had gone far enough, jerked the +negro rudely back.</p> + +<p>"You needn't be so spiteful," retorted Zeb; "she's told me all she's +agwine to."</p> + +<p>Rosalind had done so; nothing further passed between them.</p> + +<p>Toward morning they reached the banks of a stream, where the savages +divided into two parties. The one which retained the negro started down +the Ohio, while those who held Rosalind continued their journey in a +southerly direction.</p> + +<p>The course of the former has already been given, and also a part of +their doings. The latter, which numbered twenty, experienced nothing +worthy of record for a considerable time. They moved forward rapidly, +as they had some fears of pursuit. This was their reason for retaining +Rosalind with them. They were cunning enough to know that what efforts +might be made would be for her sake, while probably the negro would be +left to himself.</p> + +<p>Their progress south continued until Rosalind knew that she was many +miles in Kentucky. They had kept along the banks of a river during the +whole time, which she also knew to be the Big Sandy. From this she +judged that her captors were a tribe, or at least a part of one, which +belonged many miles distant from where her home had been.</p> + +<p>Throughout all her trials, Rosalind relied upon Providence with a firm, +unshaken faith. Although hope dawned but faintly upon her, she murmured +not. Her fears were great for others beside herself. She was young, and +her youthful blood coursed through her veins, bearing with it the +pleasures and hopes of life just commenced. It was hard to die, hard to +give up the hopes which had only begun to dawn in her bosom; yet, if it +was His will, she felt that she could go without a murmur. "Thy will be +done," was the prayer which but herself and Heaven heard.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>THE MEETING ON THE RIVER.</h3> + + +<p>For some minutes after Zeb's disappearance, Leslie remained without +moving, scarcely breathing for fear there might still be some Indians +overhead; but as minute after minute wore by, and no sound above warned +him that his enemies were in the vicinity, he managed to creep from his +hiding-place and seat himself upon a rock near by.</p> + +<p>Now that he was safe for the present, he began to examine his wounds. +There being no strong emotion to occupy his mind, the pain again came +upon him, and he feared that he might be dangerously hurt; but, upon +examination he was gratified to see that he was only bruised in two or +three places. In falling, he had first struck upon his feet; his side, +from the force of the concussion, came rather violently in contact with +the jagged, projecting rocks. This gave a few severe flesh-cuts, which, +for the time being, were more painful and distressing than would have +been a wound of a more serious character.</p> + +<p>Still, he found that he was unable to walk without great labor and pain, +and concluded to remain in his present position until morning. He +crawled back into the hiding-place, and disposed of himself for the +night. Little sleep, however, was gained, and the night seemed the +longest that he had ever spent.</p> + +<p>When morning dawned, he emerged from his hard resting-place, and, with +great difficulty, made his way to the top. Then, shaping his course +toward the river, he reached it in the course of an hour or so. Here, to +his great joy, he found the boat that he and Kent had left. It was +pulled high and dry upon the bank, yet he succeeded in getting it in the +water, and, with a light heart, pushed out from the shore.</p> + +<p>It was so much easier to propel the boat than to walk, that he had no +difficulty in making good headway. He had determined upon no course to +pursue, but continued moving forward with a sort of instinct, hardly +caring in what direction he went. He was moving toward the spot where +once the house of the Lelands stood; some impulse seemed drawing him +thitherward.</p> + +<p>The truth was, Roland Leslie was thinking of Rosalind and her situation. +Although he had spoken to her but comparatively a few times, yet those +occasions had awakened a feeling in his breast which he found could not +be subdued; his love was growing day by day. He knew not whether she was +aware of his passion, but his fluttering heart told him, at least, that +she had not frowned upon him.</p> + +<p>Young love rests upon the slightest foundation; thus Leslie was +encouraged and made hopeful by the remembrance of the friendly meeting +which he had with Rosalind. Then, as he awoke from this pleasant reverie +into which he had fallen, the consciousness that she was now a captive +among the Indians, the thought maddened him. He dipped his oars deep in +the water, and moved swiftly along.</p> + +<p>It occurred to him that perhaps it would be best to keep a watch of the +shores ahead, to prevent running carelessly into danger. There might be +Indians concealed or lurking in the vicinity, and he would be easily +drawn into a decoy, should he be careless and thoughtless.</p> + +<p>He turned around and scanned the shore more closely and searchingly. +Seeing nothing suspicious, he was about to resume rowing again, when, +from an overhanging cluster of bushes came the sharp crack of a rifle, +and a bullet split one of the oars, a few inches below his hand. Seizing +his rifle, he turned toward the point from which the shot had come, but +could see no person. The thin wreath of smoke curling slowly up from the +bushes showed the point from which it had been given; but whoever the +person might be, he kept himself well concealed. In a moment another +shot was given, which glanced over the water a few feet from the stern.</p> + +<p>Leslie began to think that he was in rather a close situation, and +clutching his rifle nervously, endeavored to ascertain the point from +which the shot had come, determined to return one at all hazards. He did +not dare to pass over to the opposite side, for he had a suspicion that +they were intended for that purpose. He believed that his person had not +been aimed at, but the balls had been intended to pass closely enough to +alarm him and cause him to seek safety by pulling for the other shore, +where, probably, a foe was waiting. While he sat undetermined what +course to pursue, a form stepped out in full view upon the bank, and +accosted him.</p> + +<p>"Frightened any?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I should think I ought to be. Why, is that you, George?"</p> + +<p>"I believe so. Come in and take me aboard."</p> + +<p>"What reason had you for firing upon me?" asked Leslie, approaching him.</p> + +<p>"Well, not any. I saw you coming down-stream, and an idea seized me to +learn if you were easily frightened."</p> + +<p>"I felt rather nervous when that shot came," returned Leslie, pointing +at the hole in his oar.</p> + +<p>"It was a close rub; but, of course, I took good care not to make it too +close."</p> + +<p>"What is the news? What reason have you for being here?" asked Leslie, +interrupting him.</p> + +<p>"News enough," returned Leland, gloomily.</p> + +<p>"Step in the boat and let me hear it."</p> + +<p>As they passed down-stream, Leland narrated his story, and when he had +finished, remarked:</p> + +<p>"Roland, I have sought you for advice and assistance, and I trust both +will be given."</p> + +<p>"Gladly! Do you think, George, that I could rest as long as your sister +is in the hands of those savages?"</p> + +<p>"Pardon me," returned Leland, "if I at all doubted. This affliction +weighs heavily upon me."</p> + +<p>"I suspected this state of things," continued Leslie, "and it is the +reason that I hurried down-stream. Yet the uncertainty of seeing you or +any friend, deterred me from making haste to your place."</p> + +<p>Here Leslie gave the circumstances of his encountering Zeb, and his +subsequent misfortune, or, as he termed it, his fortune, of falling in +the gorge.</p> + +<p>"Then Kent is gone, is he?" asked George, when he had finished. "That is +too bad, for we need his assistance greatly."</p> + +<p>"In fact, I do not understand what we shall be able to do without him," +added Leslie.</p> + +<p>"Nor I; and here we are as helpless as if we were already in the hands +of the Indians, so far as regards any assistance that we can give +Rosalind," continued Leland.</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't despair so soon. I trust that Kent will soon turn up, and we +shall then have a good chance to recover her."</p> + +<p>"Where do you suppose that Kent can be?"</p> + +<p>"I can only guess."</p> + +<p>"What reason have you then for thinking that we shall meet him?"</p> + +<p>"This reason. He saw me fall, and was obliged to leave me for a time, as +the pursuers were close at hand. I am certain that, as soon as he +eluded and escaped them, he would return to the place for me."</p> + +<p>"And find you gone and give you up."</p> + +<p>"No; he would search the place, and seeing my trail, would follow it. I +left a pretty plain one, and he will meet with no difficulty."</p> + +<p>"But suppose the ranger is captured himself?"</p> + +<p>"There is no supposition in the case," rejoined Leslie, with an air of +assurance.</p> + +<p>"Well, admitting what you say," continued Leland, "did you leave a trail +after getting in the boat, that will be easy for him to follow?"</p> + +<p>"Easy enough. He knows what course I would take, and, consequently, he +knows what one to pursue."</p> + +<p>"But, even then, can he overtake you?"</p> + +<p>"I have not come very rapidly, and I think that he can. I believe that +at this moment he is on the way."</p> + +<p>"Well, Roland, we have probably speculated enough upon our chances of +meeting him. In the meantime, what do you propose that we do with +ourselves?"</p> + +<p>"As to that, I am hardly decided. There is great danger in our remaining +on the river, and yet I see no means which will be so apt to bring us in +communication with Kent."</p> + +<p>"This gliding down the Ohio in broad daylight, when we know the woods on +both sides are full of our enemies, is rather dangerous business, +although it may possess some advantages for us."</p> + +<p>"I leave the matter with you," said Leslie. "The stream is very broad +for a considerable distance, and both of us ought to understand enough +of woodcraft to prevent running into danger."</p> + +<p>"We <i>ought</i> to understand enough," said Leland, significantly, "but the +fact is, we do <i>not</i>. There are so many contrivances these cunning +rascals devise for a white man's destruction, that one needs to have a +schooling of years in their ways to understand them. However," he added, +in a whisper, "I understand <i>that</i> contrivance yonder."</p> + +<p>"What is that?" inquired his companion, in some excitement.</p> + +<p>"Take a careful look down-stream and tell me whether you see anything +unusual."</p> + +<p>"No—I don't know as I do," slowly repeated Leslie. "Hold on—yes, I +do—yonder is a log, or more likely two or three of them—a raft. I +suppose, Leland, it is for our benefit."</p> + +<p>"Undoubtedly. It was constructed for the benefit of the white race +generally; and, as we come first we are to be served first."</p> + +<p>"Let us cut in to shore and give them the slip."</p> + +<p>"It may be the very thing they wish us to do. The action of the savages, +so far, shows that they are more anxious to take prisoners than to slay +men. So keep quiet and don't allow yourself to become nervous."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>THE RAFT.</h3> + + +<p>Slowly, silently and gently the boat glided onward—both Leslie and +Leland as motionless as death, yet with hearts throbbing wildly and +fearfully. The former stooped and whispered:</p> + +<p>"There are three Indians on it, upon the opposite side from us. We must +pass beyond the log before they will be in range of our guns. They will +not fire until we begin to pass them. Take a quick but sure aim, and +drop down in the bottom of the boat the instant your gun is discharged."</p> + +<p>Nearer and nearer came the canoe to the log, until but a few rods +separated them, but not a breath or fluttering of a leaf disturbed the +profound silence.</p> + +<p>When at the nearest point, scarcely more than two rods would separate +them. Still onward the boat swept until its prow was even with the log.</p> + +<p>"Ready," whispered Leslie, "you take the nearest one."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus4" id="illus4"></a> +<img src="images/illus4.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>"Ready," whispered Leslie, "you take the nearest one."</h3> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>The next instant the enemies were in full view of each other. +Simultaneously the two rifles in the boat broke the solemn stillness. +But not a sound showed whether their shots had produced any effect at +all! Not a savage's head, however, could be seen! They either had been +slain or else had quietly drawn out of sight when they became aware of +the danger that menaced them. The latter was most probably the case, +although neither of the whites could satisfy himself upon that point.</p> + +<p>As the thin haze from the guns diffused itself over the spot, the same +oppressive silence settled upon the water, and the same absence of life +was manifest in everything around. So sudden had been the interruption, +that, a few minutes afterward, it was almost impossible to realize that +it had actually occurred. More than once both Leslie and Leland caught +themselves debating this very point in their minds.</p> + +<p>For a few moments the two remained concealed within the boat, for they +well knew that danger yet threatened; but, nervously excited over the +event, Leland, with a sad want of discretion, peered over the gunwale of +the canoe.</p> + +<p>"Down, instantly," admonished his companion, catching his shoulder.</p> + +<p>The report of another gun came at that very instant, and George dropped +so suddenly and awkwardly out of sight, that Leslie inquired with much +concern:</p> + +<p>"Are you hurt?"</p> + +<p>"Pretty near it, at any rate," returned Leland, putting his hand to his +face.</p> + +<p>He was not struck, however, although the ball had grazed and marked his +cheek. The instant Leland saw that he was not injured, he raised himself +and aimed toward the log. No sign of an enemy was visible, and not +knowing but what there might be more loaded rifles behind the +contrivance, he dropped his head again.</p> + +<p>Peering cautiously over the gunwale, the young man saw the raft +gradually approaching the Kentucky shore. The Indians possessing no +means of reloading their pieces without running great risk, probably +deemed it best to make a safe retreat.</p> + +<p>The distance between the whites and the savages slowly but surely +increased, and when the former judged they were comparatively safe, they +arose and plied their paddles.</p> + +<p>"Now if we can only come across Kent, I shall be pretty hopeful of +getting out of the woods," remarked Leslie.</p> + +<p>"But how is that to be done? There is just the trouble."</p> + +<p>"I think he will find <i>us</i> if we only wait for him."</p> + +<p>"I agree with you, that it is all that we can do. We will row +down-stream a short distance further, where we will be sheltered more +from the observation of our enemies, and wait until he comes, or until +it is pretty certain that he will not."</p> + +<p>Leslie bent to his oars, and the boat again shot forward. Each now felt +a stronger hope. The depression of spirits under which Leland was +laboring began to undergo a reaction.</p> + +<p>Leslie was naturally of a more buoyant disposition than Leland, and +seldom suffered those spells of melancholy which are so apt to affect +those of a temperament less sanguine. The latter at seasons was more +light-hearted than the former, yet adverse circumstances easily affected +and depressed him.</p> + +<p>The locality to which Leslie had referred was a place in the river where +the overhanging boughs and underwood were so thick and luxuriant that it +was an easy matter to send a small boat beneath them and remain +effectually hidden from any enemy passing up or down the river.</p> + +<p>Their plan was to conceal themselves, and thus, while affording +themselves comparative security, to keep an unremitting watch for the +appearance of Kent. They expected, and in fact were certain, that he +would descend the opposite side, which, from their hiding-place, could +be easily seen.</p> + +<p>Leslie, with a vigorous pull, sent the boat under the sweeping branches, +and, coming to rest, remarked:</p> + +<p>"There, George, we are safe for the present. An Indian might pass within +twenty feet of us, and not dream of our proximity."</p> + +<p>"True, Leland, I feel glad that we are thus fortunate."</p> + +<p>"See," continued Leslie, "what a nice arrangement. From my seat I can +keep a good view of the opposite side."</p> + +<p>"How long do you intend to remain here?" asked Leland, whose fears were +ever on the alert.</p> + +<p>"Can't say precisely."</p> + +<p>"Remember that food will be necessary, and soon necessary, too."</p> + +<p>"I am aware of that, yet we can do without it for some time. If Kent is +going to pass us, it will be during to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Leslie," said Leland, earnestly, "I have been thinking deeply upon our +chances of meeting him, and I must confess that they seem few indeed."</p> + +<p>"I do not doubt it. They would have the same appearance to me, were it +not for one thing. I have been calculating, and though, of course, a +great deal of guess-work has been employed, yet I think that I have come +to a very nearly correct conclusion. I'm pretty positive that if Kent +reaches us, it will be in the neighborhood of to-morrow at mid-day. Not +seeing him, I shall fire my rifle. Kent knows the sound of it, and will +search for us."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he may not be upon the opposite shore."</p> + +<p>"Which will be as well, yet I can think of no reason that would induce +him to cross."</p> + +<p>"In the meantime, how do you propose that we pass away time and keep off +<i>ennui</i>."</p> + +<p>"In sleep, if that is possible."</p> + +<p>"I think it is with myself," returned Leland, with a light laugh.</p> + +<p>"And the same with me," added Leslie.</p> + +<p>"Well, the circumstances being favorable, I propose that we commence +operations at once."</p> + +<p>"A good suggestion."</p> + +<p>Both disposed themselves as best they could in the boat, and being tired +and fatigued, were soon asleep.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>LOST AND FOUND.</h3> + + +<p>The two young men slept soundly through the night. When Leslie awoke it +was broad day, and his companion was still asleep. He suffered him to +remain so until the day was well advanced. Then each felt the pangs of +hunger. Leland proposed that one should land and go in quest of food, +but Leslie answered:</p> + +<p>"If Kent appears, it will be in the course of a few hours. We had better +wait and see what comes of patience."</p> + +<p>Another hour of silence wore away. Leland was about to speak when Leslie +exclaimed, in a whisper:</p> + +<p>"Hush!"</p> + +<p>They listened intently. In a moment the steady measured dip of paddles +could be heard. Whoever was approaching had little fear or apprehension +of danger; for they came fearlessly along, and were moving with +considerable noise and swiftness.</p> + +<p>Leland and Leslie held their breath as the sound came steadily nearer. +Not a whisper was exchanged. The former, from his position, could not +discern any object that might be passing, but the latter had a full view +of the river.</p> + +<p>In a moment the whole force passed before Leslie's eyes. Two canoes +loaded with Indians glided past, unconscious of their proximity. Each +drew a long breath of relief; but for a considerable time neither +ventured a whisper.</p> + +<p>"It appears to me that Indians are plenty in these parts," remarked +Leland.</p> + +<p>"Rather more than I could wish," returned his companion.</p> + +<p>"Confound it, it will soon be time to fire your gun, and of course the +savages will hear it."</p> + +<p>"But for all that I shall risk it. It will not do to let Kent escape +us."</p> + +<p>"How soon do you intend discharging your piece?"</p> + +<p>"In an hour or so."</p> + +<p>"Well, see here, Roland, if Kent comes, it can not be expected that he +will have any food. The report of your gun will doubtless reach the ears +of enemies as well as friends."</p> + +<p>"I expect it will."</p> + +<p>"And still further: if such be the case, we shall not dare to land for +fear of an encounter. We may be obliged to remain concealed for a few +days, and no means will be left to procure food during that time. Now, +what I am coming at is this: while we have an opportunity to get it, let +us do it."</p> + +<p>"How do you propose obtaining it?"</p> + +<p>"Easily enough. Just let me land, and I will insure you success in a +short time."</p> + +<p>"But you have overlooked one thing."</p> + +<p>"What is it?"</p> + +<p>"The report of your gun will be heard as well as mine, and will be as +likely to attract the attention of any enemies in the neighborhood."</p> + +<p>"That is true, but I can reach the boat in time."</p> + +<p>"And although Kent is within a short distance, I shall not dare to +apprise him of our situation."</p> + +<p>"Such appears to be the case; but you must see that it is absolutely +necessary that <i>some</i> means should be taken to secure food."</p> + +<p>"I admit it, and am willing that you should try."</p> + +<p>"Hold!" exclaimed Leland, brightening up. "I have a plan. You say that +Kent, in the course of an hour or so, will probably be near enough for +you to fire. I will try and not bring down any game until that time, and +the minute you hear the report of my gun you must discharge yours. This +will have the effect that you wish, and I shall have time to reach you +before any one can come up."</p> + +<p>"A capital idea," said Leslie. "Hearing two guns, the Indians will have +a little more fear in approaching us, than they would did they hear but +one. You deserve credit, George, for the thought."</p> + +<p>"Remember, and wait until you hear my gun, before you fire yours," +replied he.</p> + +<p>"I will wait an hour, George; and then, whether I hear yours or not, I +shall discharge mine. As I said a while ago, it won't do to let Kent +escape us, and I must be sure to warn him."</p> + +<p>"I trust that I shall encounter game before that time; but should I not, +you must do as you said. I will return upon hearing you."</p> + +<p>"And return instantly," said Leslie, impressively. "Don't wait until the +danger is increased. Although it may seem that a few minutes will enable +you to procure abundant food, don't wait a single minute. It may cost +you your life, if you do."</p> + +<p>"I will remember your advice. Now shove in a little nearer shore and I +will be off."</p> + +<p>Leslie brought the boat to the bank, and Leland stepped off.</p> + +<p>"Try and not be gone long; do not wander too far, for it will be an easy +thing to get lost in this forest. Remember that it will take you +considerable time to reach me, and if the distance be too great, an +enemy may be ahead of you. Be careful in all your movements, and be sure +to return the instant that my gun is heard."</p> + +<p>"I will try and obey you," returned Leland. And George disappeared in +the mazes of the woods.</p> + +<p>Leslie returned to his former position, and more to occupy his mind than +anything else, gazed out upon the broad bosom of the Ohio, as it glided +majestically along, through the dark shadows of the forest. It then +presented a far different appearance from what it does at this day. No +crowded cities then lined its banks. The flaming steamboat had not +broken its surface; the canoe, gliding noiselessly over it, was all that +gave token of the presence of man. A rude cabin erected in some lone +spot in the wilderness, like a green spot in the desert, showed the +feeble footing which he had upon the soil.</p> + +<p>Solemnly and silently the old Ohio rolled along through its hundreds of +miles until it as solemnly and silently united with the great father of +waters.</p> + +<p>When one has recently passed through an exciting and momentous +occurrence, and is then left completely alone, it is difficult to keep +from falling into a reverie; the subject which interests the mind most +will finally occupy it to the exclusion of everything else.</p> + +<p>Thus it was with Roland Leslie. At first he began speculating upon the +probable success of Leland's enterprise; then upon the probability of +his arresting the attention of Kent, should he chance to be in the +vicinity. Having considered this for some time, he reflected upon the +dangers through which he had passed, and upon the likelihood of further +deliverance from them. This thought called to mind his mishap among the +rocks, and he proceeded to examine his wounds, of which, for some time, +he had entirely ceased to think. These being not very severe, as we have +shown, had failed to trouble him, and he was glad to see that they +needed no more attention.</p> + +<p>Again left to his thoughts, they shortly wandered to Rosalind Leland. +Where was she? Was she alive, or already slain? Was there any hope of +meeting her again? Could <i>he</i> do anything toward rescuing her from +bondage? He felt certain that she was alive, although a close prisoner, +and was confident that recovery was possible. That he determined she +<i>should be</i> rescued, and that he should be the one that would do it, was +not strange.</p> + +<p>Love will upset the mind of any person, and at times play the <i>wild</i> +with him. Leslie was naturally clear-headed, far-sighted and sagacious; +yet, when he permitted his ideas to dwell upon the object of his love, +they sadly misused him. At such times he was another person. He lost +sight of the obstacles and dangers which would have been apparent to any +one gifted with ordinary shrewdness; and he formed plans which, in his +sober moments, would have only excited his ridicule.</p> + +<p>Strange as it may seem for such a person to have been guilty of such an +idea, Leslie had not pondered upon the absorbing topic for any length of +time before he deliberately came to the conclusion to rescue Rosalind in +the course of three days, to rebuild her old home, and settle down with +her for the rest of his life! Of course the savages would never disturb +him, and he should be, without doubt, the happiest mortal in existence!</p> + +<p>He was suddenly awakened from his reverie by the faint report of +Leland's rifle. It sounded fully a mile distant, and the certainty of +his danger made him tremble with apprehension. George, as he feared, had +forgotten the warning given him, and, in the excitement, had +unconsciously wandered to a greater distance than he supposed. In all +probability he was lost, and would be obliged to seek the river and +follow it in order to find Leslie. This would require time, and he had +already exposed himself to danger by firing his gun.</p> + +<p>Although Roland had promised to fire upon hearing Leland, yet he +forebore to do it. The difference which a half-hour would make in the +probability of Kent's hearing his own gun, would be in his favor. He +supposed that Leland, upon discharging his piece, had instantly set out +to return, and he wished to give him almost sufficient time to reach +him.</p> + +<p>Anxiously and painfully Roland listened, with his finger upon the +trigger of his gun; and, as minute after minute wore away without a +sound reaching him, he began to hope that Leland could be at no great +distance.</p> + +<p>A few more minutes were passed, when Roland concluded that the time for +firing his signal had arrived. It would serve to guide Leland, and, had +he not deceived himself, would reach the ears of Kent. Standing up in +the boat, he raised the gun above his head, and was already pressing the +trigger, when he paused, as he heard the sharp crack of Leland's rifle +at no great distance. He waited a few seconds, until the echo had died +away, and then discharged his own.</p> + +<p>He remained stationary a moment, as though to permit the sound to escape +entirely from his rifle. Then, reseating himself, proceeded to reload +it. This done, he impatiently listened for a returning signal. He had +placed a great deal of reliance and hope upon that shot, and, as he now +was so soon to learn whether it had accomplished what he wished, he +could not keep down his fearful anxiety.</p> + +<p>He was nervous, and listened with painful interest for the slightest +sound. The falling of a leaf startled him; and, at last, unable to +restrain himself, he determined again to fire his gun.</p> + +<p>At that instant there came a crash of Leland's rifle, followed by the +maddened shouts of infuriated savages, so near that Leslie sprung to his +feet and gazed about him. Recovering himself, he stooped, and, seizing a +paddle, began shoving the boat toward shore, fully determined to afford +his friend all the assistance that lay in his power.</p> + +<p>The boat had hardly touched, when there was a rustling in the bushes +directly before him, and the next instant Kent stood beside him.</p> + +<p>"Quick—shove out! They are after me!" he exclaimed, springing into the +boat and grasping the oars.</p> + +<p>"Where is George?" asked Leslie.</p> + +<p>"They've got him, and came nigh getting me. Cuss the infernal devils!"</p> + +<p>In a moment the two had freed themselves from the bushes. As the yells +of their enemies were heard upon the shore, they had reached the center +of the stream, and were passing swiftly downward.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE COMPANION IN CAPTIVITY.</h3> + + +<p>When Leland left the boat, he wandered forward for a considerable +distance, not noticing the direction in which he was going, only intent +upon securing game of some sort or other. Still, he exercised +considerable caution in his movements, and determined not to risk a shot +unless he was certain of his success. Birds and quadrupeds were plenty, +and he did not entertain any doubts of his ability to secure all that he +wished. He permitted several good shots to pass, for the reason that he +did not wish to fire until the hour was up. By this means he +unconsciously increased the distance between himself and Leslie, until +it occurred to him that the hour had nearly expired. A few minutes +after, having a good opportunity, he improved it, and, securing his +prize, turned to retrace his steps.</p> + +<p>Then it flashed upon him, for the first time, that he was lost. As we +said, he had failed to notice the direction, and had no idea of the +course to pursue in order to reach the river. The only means left was to +proceed by guess; contrary to what might be expected, he took the right +course. His anxiety caused him to be somewhat heedless; and after +proceeding a short distance, he again discharged his rifle. Then hearing +the report of Leslie's rifle but a short distance away, he set joyously +forward, confident of soon coming up to him. He had not gone far when he +heard a suppressed, significant whistle. Hardly conscious of its +meaning, he paused and listened. It was repeated, and becoming +suspicious, he sprung behind a tree. While listening, the subdued voice +of Kent reached him:</p> + +<p>"Make for the river, George; the imps are on your trail."</p> + +<p>He turned to obey this injunction, but had not taken a dozen steps when +a rifle flamed from some concealment, and a twinge in his side told him +that he was wounded. At the same instant several savages sprung toward +him, setting up their demoniac howls. The pain of his wound maddened +him, and, regardless of consequences, he raised his rifle and shot the +foremost through the breast, when scarcely the length of his gun from +him.</p> + +<p>This act, though rash, and one which he would not have done in his +cooler moments, was the means eventually of saving his life. The +intention of the savages was to kill him on the spot; but the death of +one of their number increased their fury and thirst for vengeance, and +the chief or leader deterred the others from further violence, +determined that his death should be at the stake.</p> + +<p>"You shoot Indian, eh?" said one, through his closed teeth, brandishing +his knife at the same time in the face of the young man.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus5" id="illus5"></a> +<img src="images/illus5.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>"You shoot Indian, eh?" said one, brandishing his knife +at the same time.</h3> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>He made no reply; but weakened by the loss of blood, sunk fainting to +the ground. He was jerked to his feet, and although barely able to +stand, was forced forward, and compelled to keep pace with the others.</p> + +<p>The Indians who had thus captured Leland were the same band who had +pursued him and Kent. The latter had taken a circuitous course, and, +after placing a considerable distance between himself and his enemies, +took the back track and reached the gorge where Leslie had fallen, +hoping to find him there; but being disappointed, followed his trail to +the river where he saw that he had embarked in the boat.</p> + +<p>Kent knew that his own trail would be followed. In order to mislead the +savages, he took to the water and swam about a half-mile down-stream +before he landed upon the opposite side. But it seemed that fate was +against him. The savages in pursuing him had separated somewhat. Kent's +ruse one of them accidentally discovered, and apprised his companions. +They collected and immediately took the right trail. The first +intimation the ranger had of his danger was the whistling of a bullet a +few inches from his head, as he was nearing the bank; and when his feet +rested upon land, his unwearied and tenacious enemies were in the river, +boldly crossing toward him.</p> + +<p>When the Indians reached the bank, Kent was already at a great distance, +yet they continued their pursuit, and had gone some distance, when the +first report of Leland's rifle reached their ears. This they mistook for +Kent's, and abandoning the trail, made directly toward it. The second +discharge of the young man's gun occurred when he was but a short +distance from them. Kent endeavored to warn him of his danger, but as we +have seen, it was too late. He himself was discovered and hotly pursued +to the boat, where he barely succeeded in making his escape.</p> + +<p>Leland's captors took up their march toward the Ohio. Here, although +their captive was suffering intense agony, they forced him into the +water, and compelled him to swim across. Every stroke he thought would +be his last, yet he reached the shore in safety. The band set forward at +once. There were six savages, upon two of whom the duty of attending +Leland devolved. Yet he required little watching or attention. The +thought of escape was far from his mind; he was in a sad situation to +rebel or offer resistance. Both hands were firmly secured behind him, +and his strength was taxed to the utmost to keep up with his captors.</p> + +<p>In the course of a couple of hours they came upon two of their +companions, seated around and amusing themselves with a negro. Each +appeared to enjoy himself prodigiously at the expense of the poor +African, who was boiling over with furious rage.</p> + +<p>"Get out, niggers!" he shouted, "my head's split wide open now, sure!"</p> + +<p>Here one of the savages amused himself by letting the end of a weighty +stick fall upon the head of the negro. The luxuriant wool caused it to +re-bound again, to the infinite delight of the tormentors, who smiled +horribly at it.</p> + +<p>Leland recognized Zeb as he came up. It gave him a sort of pleasure, or +rather served to lighten his pain, to know that they were to be +companions in captivity. He could probably obtain information of +Rosalind, while the conversation of the slave might assist to keep off +the gloom which was settling over him.</p> + +<p>"Gorra, ef dar ain't massa Leland," exclaimed the negro, turning toward +the approaching Indians. "High! whar'd <i>you</i> come from, George? What did +you let 'em cotch <i>you</i> fur?"</p> + +<p>"Because I could not prevent it," returned he, with a faint smile.</p> + +<p>"Well, now, if't had been dis pusson, you see, dey'd 've had some +trouble."</p> + +<p>"How is it that you are here, then?"</p> + +<p>"Well, dat question requires considerable explanation. I know'd as how +dey's agoin' to git <i>you</i>, and so I just come along to help you out de +scrape."</p> + +<p>Here the conversation ceased for the present. Leland had stretched +himself upon the ground, and the pain of his wound increased. A savage +noticing this, prepared a sort of poultice of pounded leaves and herbs, +and placed it upon his side. Had this been done with a view to +alleviate his suffering and not to preserve him for a great and awful +torture, as it really was, Leland might have felt disposed to thank him +for it.</p> + +<p>It had now begun to grow dark. A fire was started, and in a short time a +large quantity of meat was roasted. A piece of this was offered to +Leland, but, though a short time before he had felt keenly the pangs of +hunger, the sight of food now filled him with loathing.</p> + +<p>"S'posen you offer dis pusson a few pounds, just to see if he'll take +it," suggested Zeb, gazing wistfully toward the Indian who held it.</p> + +<p>Several pieces were given him, all of which he devoured voraciously and +demanded more. An Indian approached him, and holding a piece within a +few inches of his mouth, jerked it away as he was about to seize it. +This was repeated several times, until Zeb, losing all patience, became +morose and sullen and refused to snap at it. The savage seemed disposed +to humor him and held it still closer. Zeb, watching his opportunity, +made a quick motion, and nearly severed the finger of his tormentor's +hand, between his teeth. The savage dropped the meat with a howl, and +furiously shaking his wounded member, fairly danced with pain. He would +have undoubtedly killed the negro had not his companions prevented. They +enjoyed the sport and encouraged Zeb, who devoured his food for some +time in dignified silence.</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't mind tryin' some more. S'posen you hold out yer other hand!"</p> + +<p>No one noticed this remark, and the negro was obliged to rest satisfied +with what he had obtained.</p> + +<p>As night came on, the savages stretched themselves upon the earth and +left the prisoners to themselves. Each was securely fastened. Leland was +within a few feet of Zeb, yet he concluded to wait until all were asleep +before he ventured to hold converse with him.</p> + +<p>At length when the night had considerably advanced, and the heavy +breathing of the savages showed that slumber had at last settled upon +them, George turned his head so that he faced the negro, and abruptly +asked:</p> + +<p>"Zeb, what do you know of my sister?"</p> + +<p>"Noffin'!" returned the negro, earnestly.</p> + +<p>"Were you not taken off together?"</p> + +<p>"At fust we was; but dey took her one way and me anoder." He then +proceeded to narrate all the circumstances which had occurred to him, +since the burning of the house, in his own characteristic way.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid you will soon have your last adventure," said Leland.</p> + +<p>"Gorra! does you s'pose dat dey'd dare to shake a stick at me when I's +mad."</p> + +<p>"I think they were engaged at that when I came up."</p> + +<p>"Well, dat you see is a mistake."</p> + +<p>"Have you heard anything hinted of the manner in which they intend to +dispose of you?"</p> + +<p>"Not much, but I consates dat I knows. Dey'll just make me dar chief, if +I'll stay wid 'em, and I's bout 'cluded dat I would, just so dat I can +pay 'em for dis trick."</p> + +<p>"Have they made the proposition yet?" asked George, feeling a strange +impulse to amuse himself.</p> + +<p>"Well, 'bout as good. Dey axed me not to hurt 'em, and said somefin' +'bout tying somebody to a tree and roastin' 'em. S'pose dey's 'fraid +I'll do it to all ob 'em one dese days, if dey isn't careful."</p> + +<p>"Why do they misuse you, if they intend to elevate you?"</p> + +<p>"Well, dat's hard to tell. They've gone and went and cut all my curls +off."</p> + +<p>"Never mind such things," said Leland, again feeling depressed. "In all +probability neither you nor I will see many more days. Unless we are +rescued pretty soon, we shall be past all human help. I advise you, Zeb, +to let serious thoughts enter your mind. Think of the world which you +are soon to enter, and try and make some preparation for it."</p> + +<p>The negro gazed wonderingly at Leland, then turned his head without +speaking. The words probably had some effect upon him, for he made no +further observations. His silence seemed occasioned by the doom pending +over him.</p> + +<p>That night was one never to be forgotten by Leland. The pain of his +wound, and the still greater pain of his thoughts, prevented a moment's +sleep. Hour after hour he gazed into the smoldering embers before him, +buried in deep meditation, and conjuring up fantastic figures in the +glowing coals. Then he watched the few stars which were twinkling +through the branches overhead, and the sighing of the solemn night-wind +made music that chorded with the feelings of his soul.</p> + +<p>Far in the small hours of the night, he lay still awake, sending up his +prayer to the only eye that saw him, and to the only one that could +assist him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>ZEB'S REVENGE.</h3> + + +<p>When the King of Terrors shakes his sword at his victim, unwonted +yearnings come over the human heart. To die alone, removed from home and +friends, when strange faces are beside us, is a fate which we all +fervently pray may not be ours. Yet, when these strangers are enemies, +and our death is at their hands—when every shriek or moan elicits only +jeers and laughter, how unspeakably dreadful is the fate! He who has +lost a dear friend in war, that has languished and died in the hands of +strangers, and perhaps received no burial at their hands—he who mourns +such a loss, may be able to appreciate, in some degree, the mournful +situation of young Leland, in the hands of the malignant Shawnees.</p> + +<p>It is at such times as these, if at no other, that the stricken and +bowed heart turns to the One who alone can cheer and sustain. When shut +out from all prospect of human help, and conscious that there is but one +arm which is not shortened, we do not draw back from calling upon that +arm to sustain us in the dark hour of trial.</p> + +<p>With the dull glow of the slumbering camp-fire, the grotesque groups of +almost unconscious sleepers, the solemn sighing of the night-wind, and +the twinkle of the stars through the branches overhead—with such +mournful surroundings as these, George Leland sent up his prayer of +agony to God.</p> + +<p>He prayed, not for life, but for the preparation to meet the death +impending. The soft wailing of the night-zephyr seemed to warn him that +the death-angel was approaching every moment. He prayed for his beloved +sister in the hands of ruthless enemies—prayed only as he could pray +when he realized her peril. And he sent up his petition for the safety +of Leslie, who might still be awaiting his return—for the rough ranger +with him, and for the rude, untutored negro, now his brother-prisoner.</p> + +<p>A short distance away, he could discern the shadowy form of Zeb, bound +against a tree, while scattered around him were stretched the savage +sentinels, whether asleep or not he was unable to tell. As for that +matter, however, they might as well have been unconscious as awake, for +the slumber of the North American Indian is so delicate that a falling +leaf is sufficient to disturb it.</p> + +<p>The heart of Leland bled for the poor ignorant colored man. His +prolonged silence showed that he had begun to realize, in some measure, +his appalling situation. His natural thoughtlessness and recklessness +could not last forever. It might carry him into many a danger, but not +<i>beyond</i> it.</p> + +<p>The Shawnees seemed to imagine that the bonds of the prisoners were +secure, and that there was no possibility of their escape. In fact, +Leland had no hopes of release. Had his hands been free, he might have +ventured to do something; but at present they were as useless as if he +were deprived altogether of those members.</p> + +<p>It was fully an hour beyond midnight, when, in spite of his situation, +Leland began to yield to the fatigue of the day. His head drooped upon +his breast, and he started fitfully. It is at such times as these that +the nervous system seems to be most fully alive to what is passing. The +prisoner was just in this state of mind when his attention was arrested +by a sound no louder than the murmuring wind above him—so low, indeed, +that it would have escaped his attention altogether, had it not been of +a character different from that monotonous moaning.</p> + +<p>With the consciousness of this sound, came also the knowledge that it +was a continuous one, and had been in progress some time. At first it +seemed to be in the tree above him, but a moment's listening proved that +it came from the direction of the negro, Zeb. The darkness had deepened +somewhat during the last hour, so that he could barely make the outline +of the fellow, but could not discern any motion upon his part, unless it +was an absolute change of position.</p> + +<p>All doubt as to Zeb being the author of the disturbing sound was removed +as soon as Leland became fully awake. It came directly from toward him, +and was of such a nature that it could not have been caused by one of +the sleeping Shawnees. With his eyes intently fixed upon the shadowy +outlines of the negro, Leland saw the upper part of his body move +forward, and then suddenly straighten itself again. This singular +movement was repeated several times, and then, to his amazement, he saw +the African step clear away from the tree and approach him!</p> + +<p>As Zeb deposited his foot upon the ground, it was slowly and cautiously, +and at each time he threw his outstretched arms upward, like a bird when +flying, distorting his face also, as if the effort caused him extreme +pain. But he passed the sleepers safely, and was soon beside his master.</p> + +<p>"How did you succeed in freeing yourself?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Golly, I chawed 'em off!" he replied, with a suppressed chuckle. "Had a +great notion of chawin' de tree off, so dat it mought fall on dem and +broke dar necks."</p> + +<p>"'Sh! you are making too much noise," admonished Leland, in a guarded +whisper.</p> + +<p>"Shall I eat up your cords?"</p> + +<p>"Loosen them around my wrists and arms, and then I will help myself."</p> + +<p>"Yere's de instruments dat will do dat same t'ing," said Zeb, applying +himself to the task at once. He progressed with such celerity and +success that in a few moments, to Leland's unspeakable delight, he found +his arms at liberty. It need scarcely be said that these were +immediately used to assist the negro in his further efforts.</p> + +<p>The excitement and nervousness of the young man were so great, that when +his limbs were freed of the fetters he was scarcely able to stand, and, +for a few moments, was on the very verge of fainting. The sudden renewal +of hope overcame him for the time. By a powerful effort he regained his +self-possession, and strove, in the few hurried seconds that were his, +to decide upon some means of action.</p> + +<p>It may be said that the two prisoners were literally surrounded by +savages. They were stretched on every side of them, and before either +dare hope to escape, it was necessary (if the expression be allowable) +to scale the dreaded prisonwall. Leland had good cause to fear success +for himself and his sable companion in this attempt. He found, to his +chagrin and dismay, that scarcely any reliance at all could be placed +upon his own limbs. His legs especially, from their long confinement in +one position, were so cramped and spasmodic, that, when he stepped out +from the tree to join the negro, one of them doubled like a reed beneath +him and let him fall to the ground. He believed it was all over with +him; but his fall was so gentle as not to disturb the sleepers, and he +once more raised himself to his feet.</p> + +<p>"Shan't I carry dat sick leg while you walk wid de oder one?" inquired +Zeb, in a sympathetic tone.</p> + +<p>"It is almost useless to me at present," replied Leland. "Let me lean +upon you while we walk, and for the love of heaven, Zeb, be cautious. A +single mismove, and it will be all up with us."</p> + +<p>"Strikes dis chile dat it was ober wid you jes' now, de way you +cawalloped onto de ground jes' now."</p> + +<p>"My leg is asleep and numb."</p> + +<p>"Let's wake it up, den."</p> + +<p>Leland paused a few moments until the circulation was somewhat restored; +but, as every moment seemed so fraught with peril to him, he whispered +to the negro to move ahead, repeating his petition for him to exercise +the most extreme caution in all his movements.</p> + +<p>After all, the young man knew that the peril of both lay in the habitual +recklessness of the ignorant fellow.</p> + +<p>At first Zeb entirely overdid the matter. The trained elephant that +steps over the prostrate and pompous form of Van Amburgh, was not more +careful and tardy in the performance of his feat than was the negro in +passing the unconscious form of a Shawnee. Although Leland deemed this +circumspection unnecessary, he did not protest, as he feared, in case he +did so, the negro would run into the opposite extreme.</p> + +<p>The foot of Zeb was lifted in the very act of stepping over the third +and last savage, when a smoldering ember parted, and a twist of flame +flared up. At that instant, he looked down and recognized in the +features of the Indian, the one who had taken such especial delight in +tormenting him through the day. The negro paused while he was yet +astride of him.</p> + +<p>"Look dar!" he whispered, "dat's him; tired himself out so much pullin' +at my wool, dat he is sleepin' like a chicken in de egg."</p> + +<p>Leland made no reply, but motioned for him to proceed; but Zeb +stubbornly maintained his position.</p> + +<p>"Look what a mouf he has!" he added; "tremenjus! If 'twas only two, free +inches wider on each side, he mought outshine me; but it's no use de way +de affair is got up jes' now."</p> + +<p>"Go on! go on!" repeated Leland, shoving him impatiently with his hand.</p> + +<p>"In jes' one minit. Dat's him dat bothered me so much to-day. I'd like +to smoke him for it! Gorra! if he hain't woke. Dar—take dat!"</p> + +<p>The savage, who had been awakened and alarmed by the voice of the negro, +received a smashing blow in his face, that straightened him out +completely. Realizing his imminent peril, Leland at once leaped away in +the woods at the top of his speed, the negro taking a direction almost +opposite. Every Shawnee was aroused; the critical moment for the +fugitives was upon them.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>THE BRIEF REPRIEVE.</h3> + + +<p>Leland succeeded in getting outside the circle of savages when, feeling +himself in the open woods, he dashed away at the top of his speed. He +ran with astonishing swiftness for a few moments, when, as might +naturally be expected, he so exhausted himself that he was scarcely able +to stand.</p> + +<p>From the moment of starting, the Shawnees seemed to understand the +identity of the fugitives; and while they did not neglect to send in +pursuit of the flying negro, four of their fleetest runners instantly +dashed after the white man. Were it in the daylight, the latter would +not have stood a moment's chance against them; but he hoped to elude +them in the darkness and gloom of the woods. The obscuration being only +partial, his pursuers close in his rear, and the noise of the rustling +leaves beneath his feet betraying every step, it will be seen at once +that he was in the most constant and imminent danger.</p> + +<p>Pausing but a few seconds—barely sufficient to catch his "second +breath," he again leaped away. There is no telling how long he would +have run, had he not stepped into a hole, deep and narrow—the mouth of +a fox's burrow evidently, for it was quite hidden by overgrowth—he fell +into the hole with a sudden violence which confused and stunned him. +Panting and exhausted, he lay still and awaited his pursuers.</p> + +<p>They were far closer than he imagined. He seemed scarcely to have +disappeared, when the whole four passed within a few feet of him. How +fearfully his heart throbbed as the foot of one threw several leaves +upon his person!</p> + +<p>Leland had lain here less than five minutes, when a second footstep +startled him. It came from an entirely different direction; and +approaching to within about a dozen feet, it halted. Rising to his +hands and feet so that his head was brought upon a level with the +ground, he peered through the darkness at the object. One long, earnest, +scrutinizing look, revealed the dress of a large Indian. His position +was so favorable that he could even make out the rifle he held in his +hand.</p> + +<p>He stood as motionless as a statue for a moment, and then gave utterance +to a cry that resembled exactly that of the whippoorwill. Receiving no +response, he repeated it again, but with no better success than before. +The cowering fugitive was listening for the slightest movement upon his +part, when to his unfeigned amazement, the Indian in a suppressed +whisper called out, "<i>Leland!</i>"</p> + +<p>The young man, however, was not thrown off his guard. He knew that every +one of his captors spoke the English language, some of them quite +fluently. It need scarcely be said that he made no response to the call, +even when it was iterated again and again. The savage during these +utterances did not stir a hand or foot, but seemed to bend all his +faculties into the one of listening. He had stood but a few moments, +when Leland caught the rustle of approaching feet.</p> + +<p>The Indian detected them at the same moment, and instantly moved off, +but with such a catlike tread that the young man scarcely heard him at +all. Ah! had he but known the identity of that strange Indian, and +responded to his call, he would have been saved.</p> + +<p>It was scarcely a moment later when the whole four Indians came back at +a leisurely gait, and halted not more than a rod from where Leland +imagined he lay concealed. They commenced conversing at once in broken +English:</p> + +<p>"White man got legs of deer—run fast," said one.</p> + +<p>"Yeh!—git away from four Shummumdewumrum—run much fast," added +another.</p> + +<p>"Go back to camp—stay dere—won't come among Shawnee ag'in—don't like +him, t'ink."</p> + +<p>"He run much fast—mebbe fast as black man."</p> + +<p>At this point the whole four laughed immoderately, as if in remembrance +of the ludicrous figure of Zeb. Their mirth continued for several +moments, when they sobered down and renewed their conversation.</p> + +<p>"Wait till daylight—den foller trail t'rough woods—Shummumdewumrum git +eye on it—soon cotch him."</p> + +<p>This Leland felt was now his great danger. Should his pursuers return to +their camp, he hoped the distance that he thus gained upon them would be +sufficient to carry him entirely beyond their reach; but if they decided +to remain where they were, his only chance was to steal away before the +morning came. Judging such to be their intention, he determined to make +the attempt at once.</p> + +<p>On his hands and knees he commenced crawling forward, listening to every +word that was uttered.</p> + +<p>"White man try hard to git away—don't like Shawnee great much."</p> + +<p>"He run much fast, <i>den fall down in woods</i>!"</p> + +<p>"<i>Den try to crawl away like snake!</i>"</p> + +<p>Leland saw that it was all over with him and gave up at once. The +Indians had been aware of his hiding-place from the moment he fell, and +their passage beyond it, their return and their conversation, were all +made on purpose to toy with his fears, as a cat would play with a mouse +before destroying it.</p> + +<p>As one of the savages uttered the last words, he walked directly to the +prostrate man, and ordered him to arise. Leland judged it best to resist +no further. He accordingly obeyed; and, saddened and despairing, was led +back a prisoner to the Indian camp.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>We have heard of a fish, known in the humble fisherman's parlance as the +<i>ink-fish</i>, which, when pursued by an enemy, has the power of tinging +the water in its immediate vicinity with such a dark color, that its +pursuer is completely befogged and gives up the hopeless chase in +disgust.</p> + +<p>A realizing sense of his recklessness and his imminent peril came over +Zeb when he felled the rising Shawnee to the earth. It was his +intention, in the first place, to serve every one in the same manner; +but as they came to their feet far more rapidly than he anticipated, he +gave over the idea, and, with a "Ki! yi!" plunged headlong into the +woods. At this very juncture, the attention of the Indians was taken up +with Leland, as the more important captive of the two, and for a moment +the negro escaped notice; but the instant the four started after him, +two others gave Zeb their undivided attention.</p> + +<p>The sable fugitive, with all his recklessness, did the very best thing +that could have been done under the circumstances. Instead of fleeing, +as did Leland, he ran less than a hundred yards, when he halted abruptly +and took a position behind a sapling. Here he stood as motionless as +death, while his enemies came on. Whether his intensely black +countenance had the power of diffusing deeper darkness into the +surrounding gloom, or whether it was the unexpected manner of his flight +that deluded his pursuers, we are unable to say. Certain it is that +although the two savages passed very closely to him, neither saw nor +suspected his presence.</p> + +<p>"Gorra, but dat's soothin'," chuckled Zeb. "Dey've missed me dis time, +shuah! Wonder whether dey'll outlive dar disapp'intment, when dey finds +out dat when dey finds me, dey hain't found me! Ki! yi!"</p> + +<p>He maintained his motionless position for several moments longer, all +the while listening for his enemies. As their footsteps finally died out +in the distance, and he realized that he was left alone indeed, his +former characteristic returned to him.</p> + +<p>"What's to be done, dat <i>am</i> de question!" said he, speaking in an +incautiously loud voice, as he spread out his left hand at the same +time, and rested the forefinger of his right upon it. "In de <i>fust</i> +place, I don't know what has become of Master Leland. If he's done got +away, how am I to find him? If I sets up a yell to cotch his ear, like +'nuff de oders will hear it also likewise. Den if he hasn't got away +what <i>am</i> de use ob bawlin' to him. Guess I won't bawl."</p> + +<p>So much was settled at least. The fact that it would not only be a +useless but an extremely dangerous undertaking to make an outcry at that +particular time, worked itself through his head, and the intention was +accordingly given over for the present.</p> + +<p>"One thing <i>am</i> sartin, howsumever," he added. "I'm hungry, and I know +dar am some meat left by dat camp-fire, dat would relish high jus' now. +But had I oughter to go dar or not? Dey mought found me, but den I'm +hungry."</p> + +<p>When our own personal feelings are put into the balance, they are apt to +outweigh the dictates of prudence and sense. The experiences of the +night, although fraught in their teachings to the ignorant black man, +had not as yet attained sufficient dignity to stand before the animal +feelings of his nature.</p> + +<p>Although he comprehended in a degree the risk he run, he decided it was +worth his while to do it, rather than suffer for a few hours longer the +cravings of what was only a moderate degree of hunger.</p> + +<p>"De stummich am de most importantest part ob man, and consequently am de +fust thing dat should receive his undiwided attention."</p> + +<p>With this philosophical conclusion, he turned his footsteps toward the +camp-fire. Despite its proximity, he experienced considerable difficulty +in finding it. The few smoldering embers, gleaming like a demon's eye, +guided him, however, to the spot.</p> + +<p>"Dar <i>am</i> anoder matter sartin," thought he, as he came up. "Mr. +Zebenezer Langdon is not agwine to be able to s'arch here for de meat +onless he has some more light—Ki! dat coal am warm!" he exclaimed, as +he hopped off from the fiery end of a fagot.</p> + +<p>It required but a few moments to gather sufficient fuel to replenish the +fire. The hot coals set the wood almost immediately into a roaring +blaze, which threw a warm, rich light through the surrounding woods for +many yards around.</p> + +<p>Zeb was radiant with smiles. The cool night and the constrained position +had chilled him considerably, and he gave the fire a few moments to +infuse the comfortable warmth into his person.</p> + +<p>"Now I'll jes' warm up my hands like," said he, after a few minutes, +"and den I'll go to work;" and forthwith he held them toward the blaze, +rubbing and turning them into each other with great zest and enjoyment.</p> + +<p>"<i>Dar</i>, I guess dat'll do. Now I'll make a s'arch—Gorra! whar did <i>you</i> +come from?"</p> + +<p>As the negro turned, he found himself standing face to face with the two +Shawnees who had started in his pursuit but a short time before! He +realized that he was recaptured, and made no resistance. He was +instantly re-bound to the very tree from which he had escaped, while the +Indians sat upon the ground very near him, firmly resolved that he +should not again have so favorable an opportunity to leave them.</p> + +<p>The negro was hardly secured, when the other savages made their +appearance with Leland. He was also fastened to the identical tree from +which he had been loosened; and there, sad, gloomy and despairing, he +was left until morning.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>A FRIEND.</h3> + + +<p>In a short time the whole body of Indians were awake and astir. The +morning meal was soon prepared and hastily eaten, and they set forward. +Leland found that his wound was much better, and he traveled without +difficulty. The savages took a southerly direction, and appeared to be +journeying toward the destination of those who held Rosalind.</p> + +<p>Their march continued without interruption until noon, when they halted +for a couple of hours for rest and food. For the first time, George +partook of some, and felt in a more hopeful frame of mind. Zeb was as +usual, and continued quarreling and abusing and threatening every one +within his reach.</p> + +<p>"If dis isn't shameful, treating a pusson like me in dis way. I's sorry +dat I ever come wid you. I 'spects ebery bone in my body is broke in +pieces."</p> + +<p>"You said last night that they dare not touch you," interrupted Leland.</p> + +<p>"Well, dat's a subject dat you can't understand, and I haven't time to +'splain it. Dey're perwoken, anyhow, and dey's agwine to cotch dar pay +some ob dese days."</p> + +<p>Consoled with this reflection, Zeb kept steadily upon his way, seemingly +as happy as a person could be when laboring under a slight provocation. +No further words passed between him and Leland for a considerable time. +The latter was busy with his own thoughts, and began to feel the +fatigues of their long-continued journey. They had set out at an early +hour, and had halted only at noon. The traveling was very difficult at +times, often leading through tangled underwood and swamps, where a +person's weight bore him deep into the mire; and now and then some +sluggish, poisonous serpent crawled from beneath their feet, or hissed +at them from some decayed tree.</p> + +<p>About the middle of the afternoon they paused upon the banks of a stream +of considerable size, which was a tributary to the Big Sandy. Though +broad, it was not deep, and could be easily forded. The water flowed +quite swiftly, and being perfectly translucent, the bottom could be seen +from either shore.</p> + +<p>Here the Indians exhibited their usual cunning and foresight. During +their journey, they had proceeded in "Indian file," permitting their +prisoners, however, to walk after their usual manner. The reason for +their adopting the caution mentioned with themselves, was more from +habit than anything else. Although suspecting they might be pursued, yet +they had little fear of an enemy, and omitted, as we have seen, to +employ a sentinel at night.</p> + +<p>One of the savages stepped into the water, and, taking a few steps, was +followed by another, who placed his feet upon the stones, in the tracks +that he had used and made. Thus each one did until Leland and Zeb were +driven in and warned to do likewise. The former had no difficulty in +obeying, but the latter, either through mistake or design, made several +provoking blunders. He seemed to use his utmost endeavors to step into +the tracks of those before him, but instead of succeeding, was sure to +place his foot a good distance from it; and losing his foothold when +about in the center of the stream, came down with an awkward splash into +the water.</p> + +<p>"Gorra!" he exclaimed, regaining his position, "dat fish pulled awful." +The savages nearest cast threatening looks toward him, and he reached +the shore without further mishap.</p> + +<p>At about sundown the party came to a halt, and a fire was started. +Leland and Zeb found themselves in the same condition as upon the +preceding night, with the exception that a closer surveillance was kept +upon their actions. George partook sparingly of supper, while Zeb's +appetite was as insatiate as ever. A guard was stationed as soon as it +was fully dark, and the Indians appeared disposed to amuse and enjoy +themselves until a late hour. One of their number, with a hoarse, +guttural "Ugh!" approached the negro.</p> + +<p>"You needn't come here," ejaculated Zeb, divining his intention. The +savage paid no attention to him, but continued approaching. Had the +negro been free, he might have offered resistance and occasioned +considerable trouble; but besides having his arms bound; his legs were +joined at the ankles and he was thus rendered helpless.</p> + +<p>"Plenty wool," said the savage, placing his hand upon his head. He made +no answer, but glanced furtively and suspiciously at him. "Nice, good," +he added; then closing his hand, gave a vigorous jerk.</p> + +<p>"Lord help me!" screamed Zeb, rolling over in helpless agony.</p> + +<p>"Poor fellow," repeated the Indian, approaching him and rubbing his +back, after the manner which a celebrated horse-tamer advises. Then, +watching his opportunity, he seized another quantity and pulled it +forth. To his surprise, this elicited no remark from his victim, and he +repeated it.</p> + +<p>This time he succeeded no better than before.</p> + +<p>Zeb was lying upon his back and staring at his tormentor in unspeakable +fury. The Indian, still determined upon amusement, again approached. Zeb +remained motionless until he stooped over him; then bending his knees to +his chin, he gathered all his strength, and planted both feet in his +chest, throwing him a dozen feet. The savage groaned and doubled up in +his agony, and gasped spasmodically for breath.</p> + +<p>"Dar, how does dat set on your stummich? Yah! yah! dat's fun!"</p> + +<p>Although this for the moment amused the others, yet it likewise excited +their anger, and there is no telling what the end would have been, had +not their attention been suddenly called in another direction. This was +occasioned by the arrival of a stranger among them.</p> + +<p>Leland gazed at the new-comer, and saw a tall, powerfully-built and +well-shaped savage stalk boldly forward toward the fire, and exchange +salutations with those seated around. All regarded him suspiciously at +first, yet his boldness and assurance seemed to disarm them, and room +was made for him. The pipe was passed to him, and taking it, he smoked +several minutes in silence, during which time he seemed unconscious that +the eye of every one was bent upon him. Having finished, he turned and +passed it to the one nearest him, then gazing thoughtfully for a few +moments in the fire, commenced a conversation with the chief. He spoke +their tongue as correctly and fluently as any of them, which served to +disarm them still more. He stated that he had been out with a couple of +Indians, scouring the country for prey, when they were set upon and +pursued by two hunters, who at the first shot killed his companion. He +succeeded in effecting his escape after a hot pursuit of nearly a day, +and encountering a trail which he supposed to be his friends', he +followed it up and found that he was not mistaken.</p> + +<p>On hearing this recital, several of the savages appeared to suspect that +Kent and Leland were the two to whom he referred, and directed his +attention toward their captives. The savage stared wonderingly toward +them for a moment, and slowly shook his head. He had never seen either +before.</p> + +<p>Although none of the Indians could show any reason for suspecting their +visitor, except his strange arrival among them, still they were not +reckless and foolish enough to leave him to himself, or to permit him to +depart. Besides the two who were stationed at a distance as sentinels, +one remained awake to keep an eye upon his movements. Yet this +precaution was useless; for to all appearances, he slept as deeply as +any of them, and was among the latest who awoke in the morning.</p> + +<p>Leland fell asleep about midnight, and gained a few hours of undisturbed +rest. In the morning he was considerably refreshed, and had it not been +for the awful doom that threatened him, would have possessed a joyous +fund of spirits. His wound, which had been only an ugly flesh one, had +ceased to trouble him, and he experienced no pain except from the +ligaments that bound him. As he increased in strength, these were +increased in number and tightness, until his limbs swelled and pained +him more than his hurt.</p> + +<p>It is the same with the body as with the mind. The sorest affliction +that can visit us will not occasion half the murmuring and discontent +that the petty annoyances and grievances of every-day life do. Could the +pain which harassed Leland, and in the end nearly drove him frantic, +have been concentrated into a few moments, or even into a half-hour, he +could have borne it without a murmur; but it was the continual, +never-ceasing, monotonous length of it that troubled him.</p> + +<p>Several times in the course of their journey, Leland was upon the point +of beseeching his enemies to kill him at once, and end his misery; and +had he reason to believe that they would have gratified him, he would +not have hesitated a moment; but such a request would have been useless.</p> + +<p>At noon, as usual, the party came to a halt, and a couple proceeded to +bind Leland to a tree. During the proceeding he broke the cords that +pained him so much, and they were replaced by others. The latter, +however, were much more lax, and he felt greatly relieved when they were +placed upon him.</p> + +<p>As soon as he was secured to the body of the tree, the savage left him +and joined his companions. Leland closed his eyes as if to shut out the +terrible reality, and the dancing lights that flickered before him, +together with the hum that filled his ears, told him that for a moment +he had succeeded. But he was soon recalled to a sense of his situation +by the <i>zip</i> of a tomahawk within a few inches of his head. Opening his +eyes, he soon comprehended the state of things. The savages were amusing +themselves by ascertaining who could send his tomahawk nearest the body +of their captive without touching him. The first weapon that had been +sent had missed his head, as we have said, by a few inches; but the next +was still closer, and Leland felt the wind of it, as it buried itself in +the solid oak by his cheek. He again closed his eyes, and fervently +prayed that one of their hatchets might sink into his skull instead of +the tree; yet there was not much danger of such an occurrence; for the +savages exercised perfect skill, and rarely failed of sending their +weapons to the very point intended.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus6" id="illus6"></a> +<img src="images/illus6.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>The savages were amusing themselves by ascertaining who +could send his tomahawk nearest the body of their captive without +touching him.</h3> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Leland opened his eyes as a tomahawk came fearfully close to his +forehead. He wished to see who had hurled it. He soon saw that it was +the strange Indian, who was approaching to withdraw it. It was buried +deeper than the others; and as the savage placed his hand upon it, it +required considerable of an effort to extricate it. While doing so, +Leland heard the following words whispered by the stranger:</p> + +<p>"Don't be scart, George; it's Kent Whiteman that has got his eye upon +you."</p> + +<p>These words came near proving fatal to both. They so startled Leland +that he could not prevent himself from betraying somewhat his emotion +and excitement. This was observed by a savage near at hand, who +approached to satisfy himself of the cause. Leland, suspecting his +motive, repeated the action and accompanied it by a shudder, as though +the scene which was being enacted had overcome him. This satisfied the +wily Indian, who retreated and joined the others.</p> + +<p>Hope was again awakened in Leland's breast—painful hope, that increased +his doubts and fears—hope that drowned the torture that beset him—hope +that sent the life-blood coursing rapidly and hotly through his veins, +and increased the charms which life had held out to him.</p> + +<p>Leland was shortly released from his unenviable situation, and Zeb put +in his place. The negro made no threats or declaration, but submitted to +the trying ordeal without a word. The scenes through which he had passed +had evidently had some effect upon him. He seemed to possess a faint +realization of the danger in which he and his companion were placed. And +yet it could not be said that he was really frightened, for he evinced +no fear of any of his enemies, and his silence had the appearance of +being occasioned by sullenness and apathy. He did not tremble in the +least, but gazed unflinchingly at the tomahawks, as they came revolving +and seemingly directed toward his head, and struck beside him.</p> + +<p>Finding that they had about lost their power over their captives, the +Indians released Zeb, and permitted him and his master to lie down upon +the ground.</p> + +<p>Leland could not prevent his gaze from wandering toward Kent now and +then, yet their eyes did not meet. The latter betrayed no interest +whatever in either of the captives, and seemed as indifferent to their +fate as any of the others.</p> + +<p>The negro had no suspicion of the true state of things, and perhaps it +was best that he had not. He might have unwittingly betrayed it, and +Kent did not choose to warn him. The fact was, it could have done him +but little good at any rate; for Kent had determined to rescue Leland, +if possible, and leave Zeb for the present to shift for himself. The +white <i>man</i> was the first upon whom they would wreak their vengeance, +and aside from the greater estimation in which his life was held, from +the very nature of the case, he required the first attention.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>ESCAPE.</h3> + + +<p>The hunter in the course of the day had gained a full knowledge of the +intentions of the Indians in regard to their captives. Leland was to +suffer death at the stake at an early period, while the negro was to be +reserved until some indefinite time in the future, to be tortured.</p> + +<p>The hunter had completely succeeded in disarming his enemies of every +suspicion. He had employed himself, as we have seen, in throwing his +tomahawk at Leland; and learning through a casual remark that he was to +be put to the torture, he expressed his opinion strongly in favor of it, +urging them at the same time to do it as soon as possible. He made +himself perfectly at home, and was so free among them, that a stranger +would have considered him one of the leading characters.</p> + +<p>So perfectly had Kent dissembled, that at night, unexpectedly to +himself, he was chosen as one to watch Leland. The negro was firmly +fastened to a tree and left to himself, while George was to sleep +between two savages.</p> + +<p>At supper-time Kent brought him a good-sized piece of well-cooked meat, +and gave him to understand that he was to eat it at all events. Leland +took it without daring to meet his benefactor's eye, and ate all that +was possible. The negro received his meal from the same hand without the +remotest suspicion that a friend was so near him, and even went so far +as to insult him as much as was in his power, for not bringing him a +larger quantity of food. To carry out still further the appearance of +things, Kent tore a small tuft from the negro's head, as if to revenge +himself.</p> + +<p>"Blast you," he shouted, "if I doesn't flog you till you can't stand. +Just hold out your paw a minute."</p> + +<p>Zeb used his utmost powers of persuasion to induce Kent to reach his +hand toward him, hoping to revenge himself as he had upon a former +occasion; but the hunter was too shrewd for him, and with a threatening +gesture, left him to himself, and joined his companions.</p> + +<p>"Gorra!" said Zeb to Leland, "if I doesn't believe dat dat's de nigger I +sawed up in de barn toder day."</p> + +<p>"You mean cut up?"</p> + +<p>"All de same; leastways ef 'tis him, he's cotched his pay afore he come +sneakin' about here."</p> + +<p>Now that Leland knew assistance was at hand, he experienced a desire to +converse with the negro, and thus help to pass away time, which had +grown intolerably monotonous. Turning to the old slave, he resumed:</p> + +<p>"He is a savage-looking individual."</p> + +<p>This was said in order to quell any suspicion or doubt that might have +entered his head.</p> + +<p>"Dat he is; but he'd better keep away from me, if he doesn't want his +picter sp'iled," returned the negro.</p> + +<p>"What were you abusing him for, a few minutes ago, when he brought your +food?"</p> + +<p>"Well, you see, he's afraid I's agwine to hurt him, and begun to beg +off. It makes me <i>so</i> mad to see any feller afraid dat I let out on him, +and he took himself off in a mighty big hurry."</p> + +<p>"Have you lost much of your wool?"</p> + +<p>"Two or free hands full; dat's all. 'Bout all growed in ag'in; but I +ca'culate dat de next dat gits his hand in my head'll get it in a +steel-trap. If I gits my grinder on 'im he'll see," said Zeb, with a +meaning shake of his head.</p> + +<p>"I guess that they will not trouble you further for the present," added +Leland, with that air of assurance which one feels for the safety of +another when his own case is free from danger.</p> + +<p>"Don't know 'bout dat, but I'd like to have 'em try."</p> + +<p>"Well, your wish is about to be gratified," said Leland, as he noticed a +savage approaching him.</p> + +<p>"Gorra, don't come here!" said Zeb, staring at him. The savage did not +heed his warning, however, but continued to advance, and made a motion +as if to strike him. The black man closed his eyes, bent his head toward +him and drew his face in all manner of furious contortions. The savage, +however, left him without provoking him further.</p> + +<p>Leland was allowed to remain in his position until the savages stretched +themselves out to rest. They remained up later than usual, smoking and +recounting their deeds and boasting of the exploits they intended to +accomplish. Kent narrated some marvelous stories, which greatly excited +their wonder and admiration of him.</p> + +<p>The time thus occupied seemed interminable to Leland, who was in a fever +of excitement and anxiety; but at last Kent stretched himself beside +him, while the other watch did the same upon the opposite side.</p> + +<p>Still it would probably be hours before anything could be done, and +Leland was compelled to suffer the most intense and anxious impatience +for a long time. His thoughts prevented him from feeling the least +desire to sleep, and he could only worry and writhe in his helpless +position.</p> + +<p>Kent, in arranging a place for himself beside him, bent his head to his +ear and breathed:</p> + +<p>"Pretend to sleep."</p> + +<p>Although this was said in less than a whisper, Leland heard the words +distinctly and prepared to follow the warning. To prevent the slightest +suspicion, he continued to groan and move for some minutes; but he +gradually ceased, and after a while settled down into a state of rest. +Soon his heavy, regular breathing would have led any one into the belief +that a heavy sleep was upon him. Not the slightest voluntary motion was +made, and Kent remarked to his brother sentinel that their captive must +be unconscious of the doom that awaited him.</p> + +<p>A cord was fastened to Leland's wrist and then to Kent's arm, so that +the slightest movement upon the part of the former would disturb and +awake the latter should he fall asleep. The other watch, noticing this, +failed to adopt the same precaution.</p> + +<p>For a few more minutes the savage held a conversation with Kent; but in +the course of a half-hour the answers of the latter began to grow brief +and indistinct, and finally ceased altogether; then he began to breathe +more slowly and heavily, and the savage at last believed that both guard +and prisoner were sound asleep.</p> + +<p>When lying upon the earth at night, with no one with whom a conversation +can be held, and with nothing but the will to combat the approach of +sleep, the person is almost sure to succumb sooner or later. At any +rate, such was the case with the savage in question, and scarce an hour +had elapsed since he had ceased speaking when he was as unconscious of +the state of things around as though he had never been born.</p> + +<p>Now was the time to commence operations; the critical moment had +arrived, and Kent commenced the work upon which probably more than one +life depended.</p> + +<p>First he withdrew his knife from his belt, and severed the cord that +bound him to Leland. Then as cautiously, silently and quickly, cut the +thong that held his feet. This was the first intimation Leland had that +his friend was at work.</p> + +<p>Leland's hands, as we have said, were bound behind; consequently it was +necessary that he should turn upon his side in order that Kent might +reach them. He knew this and made the movement; but his excitement and +agitation were so great that he turned too far, and in recovering +himself, awoke the savage. His presence of mind and Kent's cunning saved +him. He groaned deeply and muttered to himself, while the hunter started +up as though he had just awoke, and gazed wonderingly at him.</p> + +<p>"I wish he'd keep still," said he, in the Indian tongue, lying down +again. This satisfied the other, who fell back and closed his eyes.</p> + +<p>For an hour neither stirred. At the end of that time, Kent raised his +head and gazed cautiously around upon the circle of sleeping savages. +Zeb was at a short distance, resting as calmly as an infant upon its +mother's breast. The one beside Leland had again passed off to the land +of dreams; yet an Indian never sleeps soundly, and the slightest mishap +upon the part of those who were awake and expecting to move, might +arouse the whole body and bring certain and instant death upon them. It +would not do to awaken the sleeping sentinel again. Life now hung upon a +thread.</p> + +<p>Kent reached beneath Leland and cut the cord. He was now free and at +liberty to move.</p> + +<p>"Be careful!" whispered the hunter, as he assisted him to his feet. +Leland could not suppress his agitation, yet he used all the caution in +his power. But cautious as they both were, the savage nearest them +awoke. Kent had his eye upon him, and the instant he stirred, sprung +like a panther toward him. One hand clutched his mouth, his knee pressed +heavily upon his breast, and whipping out his knife, he forced it to the +hilt in his body. Nothing but the dull, fleshy sound, as it sunk into +the seat of life, was heard. The bloody stream silently followed its +withdrawal, there were several spasmodic struggles, and the savage +straightened out in death.</p> + +<p>Kent arose from the body and motioned to Leland to follow him. Not +another being was awake, and tremblingly he followed over their +prostrate, sleeping forms. They were just passing into the thick +surrounding darkness, when the negro, through some means, awoke.</p> + +<p>"Gorra," he shouted, "isn't you gwine to help dis pusson too?"</p> + +<p>"Cuss that nigger," muttered the hunter. "Keep close to me and use your +pegs, fur a long run's before us."</p> + +<p>Both darted away together, as the wild yells told them that their escape +was discovered. Those horrid, unearthly whoops, of which no idea can be +had unless they be heard, set Leland's blood on fire. In a moment the +whole forest seemed swarming with their enemies, and the yells of many +were fearfully near. Kent could distance any of them when alone, yet the +presence of Leland retarded him somewhat. However, by taking the +latter's hand, they both passed over the ground with great swiftness, +and neither had much fear of being overtaken.</p> + +<p>On, on plunged the pursued, until many a mile had been passed; still +they halted not. The voices and answering shouts of the savages could be +heard upon every side, and they had yet by no means reached a place of +safety. Now some limb brushed in Leland's face, or he stumbled over some +fallen tree, and then, without a murmur, arose and pursued his way. On, +on they hurried, until the dispersing darkness told them that the day +was not far distant.</p> + +<p>"I can travel no further," said Leland, sinking to the earth.</p> + +<p>"Give out?" queried Kent.</p> + +<p>"I believe I have. This is a terrible chase; but the prospect of a +recapture and death cannot goad me further, until I have rested."</p> + +<p>"Wal, no mistake we have tramped some; but Lord save you, this is just +fun for me."</p> + +<p>"Do you not think that they will abandon pursuit?"</p> + +<p>"No danger of that. As soon as 'tis light they'll pounce upon our trail, +and foller it until it's lost or we are cotched."</p> + +<p>"Which must not be."</p> + +<p>"Wal, p'raps if they get their claws on you you wouldn't feel very +comfortable."</p> + +<p>But they had passed through the most trying ordeals, and had now only to +make their way as best they could. Kent had some idea of the nature of +the ground, and they progressed with greater ease and rapidity, after a +short rest.</p> + +<p>"Here we are," said the hunter, coming to a halt. Leland gazed ahead, +and saw a broad sheet of water which he knew must be the Ohio.</p> + +<p>"And now," added Kent, "we've got to hunt up Leslie. He can't be far +off, and I'm in hopes we'll stumble upon him afore day. Just squat and +make yourself miserable while I take a run up and down the bank."</p> + +<p>Leland obeyed him, and in a moment was left alone, shivering in the +chilly night-air, and feeling miserable indeed in his lonely situation. +But he was not disposed to murmur; he had escaped death—that was +enough.</p> + +<p>In the course of an hour Kent returned with the information that he had +found the boat about half a mile up, but that Leslie was not in it. Both +started, and, after stumbling over bushes loaded with water, and sinking +into the miry shore, and wading in the river by turns, they came upon +it, pulled high up on the bank. It was becoming lighter every moment, +and as Kent knew that as soon as possible their trail would be followed, +he was unwilling to brook the slightest delay.</p> + +<p>"As soon as one is out the scrape another gets in. Here you have got +clear, and now <i>he</i> must go and make a fool of himself. If he's got +taken, that's the meanest trick yet."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he is not far off," said Leland, stepping in the boat and +searching it. "He is not here, certainly," he added, after looking over +it.</p> + +<p>"I'll wait a while, and then we must look out for ourselves. No use of +losing our own hair in tryin' to help him," rejoined Kent.</p> + +<p>Both took the boat, and turning it over so as to free it from water, +shoved it out from the beach.</p> + +<p>"Halloa, Leslie! If you're about just say so, and if you ain't let us +know," shouted Kent, in a loud voice.</p> + +<p>A silence of a few moments followed, when he repeated the call. To the +surprise of both it was answered.</p> + +<p>"That you, Kent?" came a voice as if its owner had just waked.</p> + +<p>"Wal, I rather guess so; and it's my private opinion that you'd better +tumble yourself in here in short order," returned Kent.</p> + +<p>A dark form arose to all appearance from the ground, and pitching +awkwardly forward, exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"You don't suppose a fellow would be in the boat through all that rain, +do you? Oh! is Leland there?" he asked, pausing and collecting his +senses.</p> + +<p>"No! Poor fellow's scalped and burned at the stake. Had to kill nine of +them to save my own hair."</p> + +<p>Leslie made no reply, but stepped silently into the boat. Making his way +toward the stern, he encountered the very person of whom he had been +speaking.</p> + +<p>"Hey! who is this?" he exclaimed, starting back.</p> + +<p>"A dead red-skin that I cotched," answered Kent.</p> + +<p>"Leland, sure as I live!" said Leslie, joyously catching his hand.</p> + +<p>For a few moments they heeded not the mirth of Kent at his joke, in +their mutual congratulations. Then they turned and heard him say:</p> + +<p>"What a couple of fools."</p> + +<p>They appreciated his rough kindness too well to make any reply. The boat +was out in the river, and under the long, powerful impulses that the +hunter gave it, was moving rapidly downward.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE CAPTIVE.</h3> + + +<p>Leland and Leslie conversed and recounted to each other their adventures +until those were exhausted, when they endeavored to keep off the chill +by taking turns at the oars. Morning at length began to appear. In a +short time darkness lifted from the water, and the bright rays of the +morning sun pierced the foliage of the forest and rested upon the +stream.</p> + +<p>About the middle of the forenoon, Kent ran in under the bank and sprung +ashore. The day was quite warm, and it was a pleasure for the three to +step upon the land and stretch themselves in the genial sunshine. They +had, however, halted for consultation, and to determine upon the plan to +pursue in order to rescue Rosalind.</p> + +<p>"One more job finished and we'll rest a while," said Kent.</p> + +<p>"And as we have depended upon and been guided and saved by your wisdom," +said Leslie, "of course, in this most important case your advice must be +followed."</p> + +<p>"Let's hear what you chaps have got to say first, 'cause p'raps you +might accidentally say somethin' smart without knowin' it. I'll decide +it after we all get through."</p> + +<p>"What seems to me the most feasible is this," commenced Leland. "Let all +three of us follow the savages which have taken my sister, and after +reaching their vicinity, by stratagem recover her. If it be impossible +to do it in this way, make a bold dash and venture among them, and take +her at all events."</p> + +<p>"Killin' first 'bout one hundred Injins, just to get 'em out the way, +you know," said Kent, with mock gravity. "Come, Leslie, it's your turn; +and bein' you're so much interested, I 'spects to hear somethin' awful +grand."</p> + +<p>Leslie, to save his life, could not prevent a blush at this allusion. As +might be expected, he had thought of more than one plan, long before +asked for it, and replied without hesitation:</p> + +<p>"What I say is, <i>rescue</i> her at all events, as George has said. Of +course, it's out of the question to do it by force, and we must outwit +the savages. This I think possible, for the good reason that it has so +often been done. All three of us, or perhaps, what would be better, you +and myself can follow them up and retake her. George, in his present +state, could do but little to aid us, and in all probability, will +endanger the safety of all concerned."</p> + +<p>"I agrees with you there; and a little further. Mr. Leslie, 'in his +present state,' <i>would</i> do but little to aid us, and in all probability, +endanger the safety of all concerned."</p> + +<p>"There is no need of jesting, Kent. You know that it would be the best +for you to have a companion, and who can you take but me?"</p> + +<p>"Don't know but what it would. Now, s'posen an old feller that don't +know nothin' says somethin'?" said Kent, good-humoredly; for he, as is +generally the case with those of his class, had a habit of depreciating +his own sagacity and foresight, when he really knew how much superior it +was to his companion's.</p> + +<p>"Don't know but what it would," he repeated. "S'pose if I's in your +case, I'd feel the same; but you see, there's somethin' else to think +of. S'posen we gets her, we hain't got any place to stick our heads in, +and may be hunted forever after by the skunks. Now as soon as +convenient, we'll paddle down to the place where Leland's house was +burned, and drop him there; fur it won't do to take <i>you</i> 'long, George. +Leslie understands the Injins better than you, and it would just git us +all into a muss, and like enough, make 'em knock her on the head, to +save trouble. We'll take you up to your farm 'cause that'll be a place +we can't miss very well; and if there's a shed or anything left, you can +stow yourself away till we gets back. Keep a good lookout, and don't get +into any trouble. I'll take Leslie along, for I s'pose he won't stay, +and I've thought of a plan that'll take him to work with. There, you +have my plan."</p> + +<p>"Which you must admit, is the one that must be followed," said Leslie, +turning toward Leland.</p> + +<p>"I suppose," he returned, "that your advice should be taken, although I +confess that I had hoped to accompany you; but as I said, Kent knows +best, and the only proper course is to obey him."</p> + +<p>"Well, let us not wait, now that we have decided what to do," said +Leslie, rising to his feet.</p> + +<p>"No; we ought to be movin', fur I opine we've a good tramp afore us."</p> + +<p>Again the boat was shoved out, and shot onward. Nothing worthy of +mention occurred on the way. The next day, at noon, they reached their +destination. Leland's heart sunk within him, as he gazed up from the +river and saw, where once his home had been, nothing but black and +charred ruins. A portion of what had once been used as the barn remained +entire, having escaped the flames.</p> + +<p>"This is just the thing," said Kent, approaching it. "We'll fix it up +a little and I'd advise you to go to sleep, and stay so until we get +back."</p> + +<p>The three set vigorously to work, and in a short time they had made it +quite comfortable. It consisted of logs placed firmly and compactly +together, and secured so that a single person well armed could offer +effectual resistance to a formidable enemy. Being in a sort of clearing, +it had the additional advantage of affording its inhabitant such a view +that he could not be approached by any person without their being +observed and thus giving him time to prepare for them.</p> + +<p>"There!" said the hunter, retreating a short distance and gazing at it. +"I wouldn't ax a better place. You might bring down a hundred Injins, +and give me plenty powder and ball, I'd have the best fun in creation."</p> + +<p>"Suppose they come upon all sides?" suggested Leland.</p> + +<p>"All you got to do is to take the stock off your gun and shoot out of +both ends of the barrel."</p> + +<p>"You can go now as soon as you please; but first tell me what time to +expect you back."</p> + +<p>Kent folded both arms over the muzzle of his gun, and shutting one eye, +remained for a few moments buried in earnest thought. Then he replied:</p> + +<p>"Between five and eight days; probably on the sixth."</p> + +<p>"All ready?" queried Leslie.</p> + +<p>"All ready," returned Kent.</p> + +<p>Both bade Leland good-by, and after a few unimportant words, started +upon their journey. Leslie felt a wild, joyous thrill as he realized +that he was really nearing Rosalind; that in a short time, as he firmly +believed, he should see and be able to assist her to procure her +liberty. He could hardly restrain his impatience, but vainly urged Kent +to quicken his thoughtful, lagging steps. The sun had set, and darkness +was slowly spreading over the great forest, when the two plunged into +its depths and ventured upon their perilous, doubtful undertaking.</p> + +<p>For a considerable time we have left Rosalind to herself, and with the +reader's permission we will now return to her.</p> + +<p>The Indians which held her, as was stated, journeyed far into the +interior of Kentucky before making a final halt. Here they reached the +village or headquarters of their tribe, and gave her to understand that +her journey was at an end.</p> + +<p>The village numbered several hundred, and considering her defenseless +position, the savages allowed her considerable liberty. From the first, +however, she was made a slave and a drudge, and compelled to toil with +the hardy squaws of their tribe, bearing their insults and sometimes +even their blows. The hope and prospect of a speedy relief and +deliverance enabled her to bear this without murmuring. She had not much +fear of death, as she judged by their actions that their intention was +to make her a prisoner for life.</p> + +<p>There is nothing in the animal creation but which is affected by +kindness and obedience, and there is no race upon which it makes a more +ready impression than the American. Rosalind's continual gentleness and +pleasing manner melted the hearts of many of the warriors, and more than +one rude epithet was restrained by the meek loveliness of her face.</p> + +<p>Yet she was sometimes in greater danger than she ever dreamed. All did +not act and feel thus toward her; more than one voice demanded her +blood, and while she lay quietly dreaming of some loved one, there was +many an angry discussion over her life. Deadly, baleful glances were +given her, when in her musings she was unconscious of the notice of any +one; and among the entire female portion there was not a squaw but what +regarded her with feelings of jealousy and hatred. Had she remained a +month, at the end of that time her life would no doubt have been +sacrificed. To quiet the continual broiling and angry feelings, the +Indians would have acted as they did in nearly a similar case some years +before; she would have been tomahawked, as was the young Miss McCrea.</p> + +<p>Rosalind often wondered who the person could be that had interrupted her +conversation with Zeb upon the first night of her captivity. One day she +was gratified with the knowledge. A savage approached her and commenced +a conversation:</p> + +<p>"How is the pale-faced maiden?"</p> + +<p>She started at hearing her tongue spoken so well, and looking up +recognized a middle-aged Indian, that had frequently visited her house +during her father's life. She replied:</p> + +<p>"Very well."</p> + +<p>The savage was uneasy, and waited a few moments for her to speak +further, but as she evinced no disposition to do so, he at length added:</p> + +<p>"Does the maiden remember Pequanon?"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus7" id="illus7"></a> +<img src="images/illus7.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>"Does the maiden remember Pequanon?"</h3> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>"She does," she returned, looking him steadily in the face. "She +remembers him as one who received kindness both from her father's hand +and her own, and as one who shows his gratitude by treacherously burning +her home, and carrying her into captivity. Yes, Pequanon," she +continued, bursting into tears at the remembrance of the event, "she +remembers you and can never forget your conduct."</p> + +<p>"Pequanon saved your life," he returned, feelingly.</p> + +<p>"And gave me a fate that is worse."</p> + +<p>"He went with his brothers when they burned your home, but he did not +help. He went to save your life, and did do it. When the tomahawk was +lifted over your head, he caught the arm and turned it aside. When your +blood was called for, Pequanon swore that it should not be had, and he +has kept his word. Pequanon never forgets kindness, and will die for the +maiden that clothed and fed him."</p> + +<p>Rosalind felt her heart moved with pity toward the poor, untutored +savage who had thus really been grateful, and no doubt had done all in +his power for her good. She recalled many instances where she believed +that he was the cause of the lenity upon the part of the captors, and +where it seemed that some one had shown an interest in her welfare. She +informed him that she believed he had done her all the good that was in +his power, and expressed her heartfelt thanks for it. The Indian seemed +gratified beyond measure, and after further conversation took his +departure, promising eternal fidelity to her.</p> + +<p>This circumstance, though trivial in itself, had a great influence upon +Rosalind. It gave her a knowledge of the true position in which she +stood. Although she doubted not but that she had friends among the +savage beings around her, yet she well knew that there were many deadly +enemies, who, when an opportunity offered, would not hesitate to take +her life. Every night when she lay down, it was with the prayer that her +life might be preserved until morning, and that, were it in the power of +her friends to rescue her, they would do it speedily.</p> + +<p>The lodge in which she slept was that of the chief. Besides his own +wife, several squaws remained in it during the night. A young woman, her +most bitter and hateful enemy, slept beside Rosalind most of the time, +and the slightest movement on the part of the latter was sure to +occasion some insulting word or command from her. She bore this without +a word, hoping each night that it was the last she was to spend in this +manner.</p> + +<p>One night she suddenly awoke to a full state of consciousness—so +suddenly that it startled and alarmed her. It seemed as though something +had awakened her, and yet she could recall nothing. She turned her head +and gazed at her companion, but she, to all appearances, was sound +asleep, and could not have been the cause. She experienced no more of +drowsiness or inclination to sleep, but concluded to feign it in the +hope of satisfying herself of any danger that might be lurking near her.</p> + +<p>She half closed her eyes, yet kept a close watch of everything around +her. In a moment there was a rustling upon the outside; the next instant +the point of a knife protruded through a gap in the skin of the lodge, +and two eyes were seen gleaming like a tiger's; then the hand that held +the knife was thrust forward, and it was held over her.</p> + +<p>Rosalind tried to scream, but could not utter a sound. She seemed frozen +with terror, and only made a spasmodic movement that awoke her +companion. As soon as the latter moved, the hand was withdrawn and the +rent closed of its own accord.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" she murmured, "did you see it?"</p> + +<p>Her companion, more angered on account of being awakened from her sleep, +struck her a blow and commanded silence; but Rosalind could not remain +in her position, and arising and stepping softly over the sleeping form +beside her, seated herself in the center of the lodge. Here she remained +until morning, when she made the inmates understand the nature of her +nocturnal fright. All treated it lightly, and she began to entertain a +suspicion that they knew more of it than she did herself.</p> + +<p>In the course of the day she narrated the circumstance to Pequanon, +showing him also the aperture that had been made in the lodge. He +examined it carefully, and appeared troubled about it. The marks of a +person's knee and moccasin could be seen upon the soft earth, and there +was no doubt that her life had been sought. Pequanon informed her of +something that surprised and alarmed her as much as this. Several of the +warriors, since her first appearance among them, had shown a desire to +obtain Rosalind for a wife; and although it may seem strange that she +herself was not aware of the fact, Pequanon had noticed it from the +commencement, and now for the first time warned her of it. One who +suspected that he should be disappointed, had taken the means to procure +the revenge that we have mentioned. Ever after this Pequanon remained in +the lodge during the night, and Rosalind was careful to keep at a safe +distance from the sides of it.</p> + +<p>She saw in the fact that he had given her, the cause of the hatred upon +the part of the females toward her. They had seen the favor with which +she was regarded by numbers of the warriors, and were filled with +jealousy at it. From them she had as much to fear as from the Indians +who wished to obtain her.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>THE RESCUE.</h3> + + +<p>Rosalind was a good distance from the Ohio, and consequently a long way +was to be traveled by Kent and Leslie. During the first night of their +journey, a bright moon favored them, and they continued on without +halting until morning. The hunter struck the trail at an early hour in +the day, and the two continued their pursuit with renewed ardor until +the sun was high in the heavens, when they halted for rest.</p> + +<p>When they finally halted, it was on the banks of Big Sandy, at the point +where the West Fork unites with it. Here they discovered signs of the +encampment of a large body of Indians. Leslie felt hope increase, and +was impatient to pursue their way. They judged it best—or rather Kent +judged it best—to remain in their present position, and follow the +trail only during the day.</p> + +<p>The hunter left Leslie in order to search for game, as they both were +exceedingly hungry. He returned in a short time, to the surprise of +Leslie, who had not heard the report of his gun. Kent informed him that +he had slain it without firing a shot, as he dared not to risk one. A +fire was started, it being concealed by the river-bank as much as +possible, and their food was cooked. This finished, the fire was +extinguished, and they partook of the repast.</p> + +<p>A moon as bright as that of the preceding night arose, and the clear +river, glistening in the moonlight like liquid silver, was visible for a +great distance. Leslie was soon asleep, but Kent lay awake the greater +part of the night, revolving in his mind the best course to pursue in +regard to capturing Rosalind. At last he hit upon the plan, and having +fully determined what to do, he fell into a peaceful slumber.</p> + +<p>"Now to the rescue," said Leslie, springing to his feet as soon as it +was fairly light.</p> + +<p>"I'd advise you to put a stopper on that jaw of yourn, if you don't want +the whole pack down here in a twinklin'," quickly retorted the hunter, +slowly coming to the sitting posture.</p> + +<p>"Why, what's the matter, Kent?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, nothin'; only there's a few Injins squatted over on t'other shore."</p> + +<p>"Ah! well, they can't see us, at any rate, for a thick fog has gathered +during the night and is resting upon the river."</p> + +<p>"Wal, they can hear you easy 'nough, 'specially if you go on that way."</p> + +<p>"Come, come, Kent, don't be cross. I'll wager that they haven't heard +me, and I promise that they shall not."</p> + +<p>The two shouldered their rifles, and, as the mist was slowly rising from +the river, again commenced their journey. The trail was now easily +discovered, and followed without difficulty. It led most of the time +along the bank of the river, and its distinctness showed that the +savages had no fear or cared little for pursuit. Instead of proceeding +in Indian file, as they had at first, they traveled promiscuously and +carelessly, and their number could be easily made out by their +footsteps. During the course of the day Kent gave the exact number to +Leslie, and the precise time that they had journeyed over the ground.</p> + +<p>Leslie, in the ardor of his hopes, still had a fear that they might not +really be upon the track of Rosalind. Might not some other party be +misleading them? Was it not possible that the party had subdivided, and +the one that held her taken an entirely different course? The +probability of error prevented him from experiencing the joyous +hopefulness that he might have otherwise felt. This worried and caused +him so much anxiety, that he expressed his fears to Kent.</p> + +<p>"Don't know but what we are," returned the hunter, composedly.</p> + +<p>"Do you <i>think</i> that we are?" asked Leslie, earnestly.</p> + +<p>"Can't say; I'll go back if you want to."</p> + +<p>"Heigh! what's that?"</p> + +<p>He sprung forward and caught a shred fluttering from a bush.</p> + +<p>"That's it! that's it!" he shouted, fairly leaping with joy.</p> + +<p>"That's what?" asked the hunter, seemingly disgusted at this display of +childlike emotion.</p> + +<p>"Why, a piece of her dress, sure enough," responded Leslie.</p> + +<p>Here the corners of Kent's mouth gave a downward twitch, and turning his +head so as to glance at Leslie, a deprecating grunt escaped him.</p> + +<p>"She did it on purpose to guide us," added Leslie, not heeding him.</p> + +<p>Kent's mouth jerked forward, and a loud guffaw was given.</p> + +<p>"Let us hurry," said Leslie, starting forward.</p> + +<p>"I allow," commenced the hunter, unable to restrain himself further, +"that if you play many more such capers you'll go alone. If the sight of +her dress sets you in such fits, what do you s'pose'll 'come of you when +you set your eyes on her? and I daresn't think of the consequences of +once gettin' your arm around her. Whew!"</p> + +<p>"You must pardon my feeling, Kent; but the sudden assurance that we were +not mistaken or proceeding by guess, completely overcame me."</p> + +<p>"Somethin' queer come over you, no mistake."</p> + +<p>"Well, if you don't like to see it, I will try and repress it in +future."</p> + +<p>"I hope you will when I'm about."</p> + +<p>The two hurried on without further conversation for some time. At noon +they made a shorter halt than usual, as Kent informed Leslie that, by +pressing forward, they could gain the region of the savages by +nightfall. As the afternoon advanced, the experienced eye of the hunter +began to detect unmistakable signs of the presence of Indians.</p> + +<p>Leslie could not repress his agitation as he realized that every minute +was bringing him nearer and nearer to the object of his desires. Fear +and hope filled him, and he was alternately gladdened by the one and +tormented by the other.</p> + +<p>He did not notice that Kent had changed his direction, and was +proceeding more cautiously than before; he only knew that he was +following closely in his footsteps, and relying entirely upon his +guidance.</p> + +<p>All at once the hunter came to a stop, and laid his hand upon Leslie's +arm. He looked up, and there, before him, was the Indian village. Kent +had conducted him to a sort of rising ground, which afforded them a +complete view of it, while the forest gave them an effectual +concealment.</p> + +<p>"Is this the place?" asked he, in astonishment.</p> + +<p>"This is the place," answered the ranger.</p> + +<p>Leslie feasted his eyes a long time upon the scene before he withdrew +his gaze. Every wigwam was visible, and the squaws and children could be +seen passing to and fro through the sort of street or highway. Many of +the warriors were gathered in groups, and reclined upon the ground, +lazily chatting; while their far better halves were patiently toiling +and drudging at the most difficult kinds of work.</p> + +<p>Leslie scanned each form that came under his eye, in the hope of +distinguishing <i>one</i>; but he was disappointed, and compelled to see the +night closely settle over the village without obtaining a glimpse of +her. "After all," he thought, "she may not be there, and I am doomed to +be frustrated, at last." But again hope whispered in his ear, and +rendered him impatient for the hour when his fate must be decided.</p> + +<p>The moon arose at about midnight, consequently, all that was to be done +must be done before that time. As soon as it had become fairly dark, so +that Leslie was unable to distinguish anything in the village, he seated +himself beside Kent to ascertain his intentions.</p> + +<p>"The time," said he, "has arrove when we must commence business, and I +allow that we must be at it soon. Here's your part. You are to stay here +till I come back. I am goin' down into their nest to hunt her up, and +when I come back you'll know whether she's to be got or not. Keep quiet, +and don't stir from this spot till I give you the order. Remember, if +we're goin' to do anythin', you must do as I tell you. Take care of +yourself."</p> + +<p>With these words the hunter departed—departed so silently and +stealthily, that Leslie hardly comprehended that he was gone.</p> + +<p>Kent, while it was yet light, had taken a survey of the village, and +viewed it, too, with a scout's eye. He had distinguished the chief's +lodge from the others, and rightly conjectured that this would be the +most likely to contain Rosalind. Accordingly, he determined to direct +his footsteps toward it, before looking in any other direction. This was +situated in the center. He was, consequently, exposed to greater danger +in reaching it; yet he placed great reliance upon his disguise, which he +yet assumed, and determined to venture within the village in a short +time.</p> + +<p>He stood at the extreme end, and now and then could discern a shadowy +form passing silently before him, or, perhaps, the voice of some warrior +or squaw; but soon these sights and sounds ceased, and he commenced +moving forward. Not a savage was encountered until he stood before the +lodge for which he was seeking. He had now reached the point where his +most subtle powers of cunning were called into requisition, yet thought +not of hesitating.</p> + +<p>Standing a second in front of the lodge, he glanced about him, but not a +form was to be seen. Had he been observed he must have been taken for an +Indian, and attracted no further notice. Kent being certain that his way +was clear, sunk to the earth, and lying upon his face, worked himself +slowly and cautiously toward the lodge. He seemed to glide precisely +like a serpent, so easy and silent were his motions. In a moment he was +beside it, and, as he believed, within ten feet of the object of his +search. A dim light was burning. By its light he hoped to satisfy +himself shortly of the truth of his conjectures. Running the keen point +of his knife along the skin that formed the lodge, he had pierced it +enough to admit his gaze, when the light was suddenly extinguished.</p> + +<p>For a moment the hunter's calculations were at fault. He had not counted +upon this, but had hoped to gain a view of the interior while the light +was burning. He felt barely able to repress his disappointment, as he +was again compelled to devise some other plan. For once he had been +frustrated in his design, and he felt it keenly.</p> + +<p>But he determined to risk a look at all hazards. The aperture was +completed; Kent raised his head and peered in—and betrayed himself.</p> + +<p>Pequanon was at his place in the inside as usual, watching, in the +nobleness of his soul, the life of Rosalind. His quick ear detected the +noise, slight as it was, occasioned by Kent's labor. The latter +supposing the inmates of the lodge would be slumbering, hoped for an +opportunity to do what he wished. But Pequanon was on the alert, and +detected him at work. When his face was placed at the opening, it was +brought between the sky and the darkness of the lodge, and the Indian +plainly observed the outlines of his face. His first impulse was to +seize a rifle and shoot the intruder instantly, for he believed that it +was the one who sought the life of Rosalind; but checking himself, he +arose and passed out noiselessly, determined to satisfy himself before +action.</p> + +<p>Two consummate hunters were now maneuvering against each other. The +movements of both with respect to themselves were as much at fault as +though they were inexperienced youngsters. The noise of Pequanon was so +slight that it failed to awake either Rosalind or any of the inmates; +yet Kent heard it distinctly, and crouched down upon the ground and +listened. In an instant he caught the step upon the outside. He knew +that he could spring to his feet and easily make his escape; but in +doing so, he would raise an alarm, and thus effectually prevent anything +of use being done by himself. He therefore withdrew some ten or fifteen +feet, and trusted that the Indian would not search further; but he was +mistaken. Pequanon was determined to satisfy himself in regard to +Rosalind's secret enemy; and espying the shadowy form gliding along from +him, he sprung toward it, hoping and expecting that it might leap to its +feet.</p> + +<p>The form leaped to its feet in a manner that he little suspected. Kent +saw that an encounter was unavoidable, when, concentrating his strength, +he bounded like a panther toward the savage, bearing him to the earth, +with his iron hand clutching his throat. Pequanon struggled, but was +powerless, and could not make a sound above a painful gurgle. Kent +whipped out his knife, and had just aimed at his breast, when the savage +found voice to speak a few words.</p> + +<p>"Hold! you strike the white man's friend!"</p> + +<p>The excellent English startled Kent, and he relaxed his hold.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"Pequanon, the white man's friend."</p> + +<p>"What did you come nosin' out here fur then?"</p> + +<p>Kent's knees were upon the arms of the Indian, while he was seated upon +his breast. The hunter loosed his grasp.</p> + +<p>"The pale-faced maiden. Pequanon wished to save her."</p> + +<p>"Wal, see here, old red-skin, I'm after her. You's sayin' as how you's +her friend. Mind to help?"</p> + +<p>The Indian answered in the affirmative.</p> + +<p>"Wal, I'll let you up, pervidin' you'll go and bring her out. What you +say?"</p> + +<p>"Is it her friends that wish her?"</p> + +<p>"You've hit it there. Goin' to help?"</p> + +<p>"Pequanon will lay his life down for the captive."</p> + +<p>"I'll let you up then, and give you two minutes to trot her out. If you +undertake to come any of your tricks over me, I'll blow your brains +out."</p> + +<p>Kent permitted Pequanon to arise, who departed silently for the lodge +without giving a reply to his remark.</p> + +<p>The hunter was not to be deceived by any artifice of the savage, and to +guard against treachery, withdrew still further from the lodge. He +doubted very much whether the Indian would endeavor to assist him at +all, but he had done the best he could under the circumstances.</p> + +<p>In a moment his doubts were put to flight by the reappearance of the +noble Indian, with Rosalind. As cool and collected as was the hunter, he +could not repress a joyous start as he gazed upon her form.</p> + +<p>"That's the fust Injin, accordin' to my opine," he muttered to himself, +"that ever <i>was</i> a man."</p> + +<p>Rosalind, all trembling eagerness and anxiety, on coming up to Kent, +seemed unable to speak. The hunter noticed her action and forbore +speaking, making a motion, as an apology, for silence. For a second the +trio remained motionless and undetermined what course to pursue. +Pequanon noticed this and started toward the river.</p> + +<p>"Hold on, cap'n!" said Kent; "there's another chap that come with me."</p> + +<p>The hunter now took the lead; and leaving them hopefully pursuing their +way, let us glance at Leslie until they arrive.</p> + +<p>Chafing, fretting, hoping, fearing and doubting sat Leslie, impatiently +awaiting the appearance of Kent. The falling of a leaf, or rustling of +the branches under some light breeze startled him; and when a +night-bird, that had been resting above him gave utterance to its +unearthly hoot, and swooped past, its voice he mistook for the yell of +his savage foes, and the flap of its wings for their approaching tread.</p> + +<p>Now he pictured the bliss that he hoped to feel; then again he was the +prey of most poignant doubts and fears. Would he see her, and clasp her +to his bosom, or was she a hopeless captive? Was she living or dead? +Would Kent come back without information or hope? Suddenly there arose a +wild, prolonged yell, that fairly froze him with terror. Kent was +discovered, and all hope was gone! Oh, the agony of that moment!</p> + +<p>Hardly comprehending the state of things, he formed a dozen different +plans at once. Now he was going to rush madly forward and rescue +Rosalind during the confusion, and then was about shouting for Kent.</p> + +<p>All at once he heard a footstep. The pursuers were then at hand! +Resolved to lay one savage low, he rushed forward toward the approaching +figure. Could it be possible? Was it not a dream? There she stood before +his eyes. His limbs trembled, and he felt upon the point of falling.</p> + +<p>"Is this Mr. Leslie?" asked a sweet voice that had thrilled him more +than once before.</p> + +<p>"I guess it's him or his spook," answered Kent, for him. "If there's +goin' to be any huggin' done, hurry up with it, fur they're follerin' +us."</p> + +<p>This threw off all reserve. Leslie folded Rosalind to his breast. She +spoke not—resisted not—her trembling limbs and sobs told more than +words could have done.</p> + +<p>"That'll do for the present," interrupted Kent, in a kind tone. "We must +be off now, fur the red-skins have smelt the rat, and I should judge by +the noise they're makin' that they're in a confounded muss. Never mind, +don't cry. When we get down home out of danger, I'll let you hug and cry +as much as you please. Which way, Mr. Red-skin?"</p> + +<p>Pequanon turned to the left and took long, impatient strides. Kent +followed closely in his footsteps, while Leslie led the trembling +Rosalind. Often, regardless of the danger which threatened, he pressed +her to him and whispered words of which we can only guess the meaning.</p> + +<p>On they hurried, half running, over the tangled underwood and fallen +trees until they paused upon the brink of the river.</p> + +<p>Here, to the surprise and joy of all, Pequanon running to a clump of +bushes pulled forth a large canoe and shoved it into the stream. The +others needed no admonition to use it.</p> + +<p>"Here," said their guide, "we part. May the great Spirit guide you."</p> + +<p>"Say, you, you'll get into trouble, won't you, if you go back?" queried +Kent.</p> + +<p>"The Great Spirit will protect me. Farewell."</p> + +<p>"Wait, Pequanon," said Rosalind, rising from her seat.</p> + +<p>"Pequanon has only paid his debt to the pale-faced maiden."</p> + +<p>The Indian was gone.</p> + +<p>Rosalind sunk back upon her seat in tears.</p> + +<p>"He's the first Injin that I ever got my clutches on that has got away +after it, and the first one that I ever felt like lettin' go. Somehow or +other my old gun didn't burn and wriggle when I sot my eyes on him, as +it is used to doin' in such cases; and if it wasn't fur that red hide of +hisn' I wouldn't believe he was one of them."</p> + +<p>All this time the shouts and yells of the savages could be heard, and +now and then it seemed to the fugitives that they must have been +discovered. Kent pulled the boat to the opposite shore, and as he +expressed it, "hugged the bank mighty close." He had little fear of +being discovered, but the utmost caution was to be used, for, in their +rage, the savages would use every means in their power to recapture +them.</p> + +<p>Kent knew that by keeping on, he would in time reach the banks of the +Ohio. Their enemies would probably suspect the true nature of their +escape and take to the river in pursuit; and, as the Indians, in case of +discovery, could easily overtake and recapture them, they must +necessarily be saved by fortune and stratagem. Though scarce a ripple +was heard, the shadowy form of the boat shot swiftly under the hanging +trees and round the projecting points of the bank, like some serpent +gliding noiselessly over the surface.</p> + +<p>Soon the edge of the great moon slowly rose above the dark line of the +forest, and its long rays streamed over wood and river; when it had +finally risen high up in the heavens, the stream shone as brightly as at +noonday. Its winding course could be discerned ahead until it was lost +in the forest, and for miles behind, its banks were as clearly defined +as it could have been under the sun's rays.</p> + +<p>Now that the river and its objects were so plainly depicted, Kent kept +closer yet under the shadows of the friendly bank. Now and then he +hurried through some opening in the trees of the shore, where, for a +minute, he was exposed to any gaze that might chance to be given; then, +when the water was shallow, he struck the muddy bottom, and patiently +worked himself on again. Being engaged in rowing, his face was turned +toward the stern, and thus had a full sweep of the river which he had +passed over, the only point from which he had reason to apprehend +danger.</p> + +<p>He was upon the point of speaking, when his quick eye detected a speck +in view around a bend in the river, some distance back. He halted, for +he knew its character.</p> + +<p>"We're follered!" said he, guiding the boat in to shore.</p> + +<p>A few minutes more and the boat could be plainly seen by all three. It +was in the center of the stream, and approaching rapidly. The heads of +four or five Indians could be discerned. Their object was plain to all.</p> + +<p>Kent had run his boat against the shore, and the three were now waiting +breathlessly for their enemies to pass.</p> + +<p>The Indians plainly had no suspicion that the fugitives were so close at +hand, and kept steadily onward. Hardly daring to breathe, our three +friends saw the long, sharp canoe, with five of their mortal enemies, +shoot past, and disappear.</p> + +<p>"Did you see how my gun kept twitchin' and jumpin'? Why, I had all I +could do to hold him. Thunder! it's too bad to see them fellers give +you such a nice shot and then miss it," said the ranger, again taking +the oars.</p> + +<p>Kent now guided the boat with greater caution, ever and anon turning and +looking ahead, not daring to leave the sole watch to Leslie, who had +other things far more interesting to himself with which to occupy his +mind.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>THE FUGITIVES FLYING NO LONGER.</h3> + + +<p>The fugitives continued moving forward until morning, when, to guard +against needless exposure, Kent again ran the canoe under the bank, and +remained at rest the entire day. All suffered so much from hunger, that +the hunter left the boat during the afternoon, and, after a few hours' +absence, obtained a sufficient quantity of meat for them all. This was +cooked after his usual cautious and expert fashion, and was thankfully +partaken of by his companions.</p> + +<p>Roland and the maid were resting on the sheltered bank of the river; +none but Kent ventured out of sight of the spot during the day. For +aught they knew there might be hordes of savages within hearing of their +voices, scouring the woods in every direction in their search; it needed +but the slightest inadvertency upon their part to insure their own +destruction.</p> + +<p>Leslie sat conversing with Rosalind, when Kent started up, and, glancing +behind, stepped down the river-bank and peered out upon the stream. +Leslie was beside him in an instant, and, as the two gazed out, the boat +which they had seen pursuing them during the night came into view. It +was coming up-stream, evidently returning from the chase. It now +contained but three savages. Although Leslie had but little to fear, +nevertheless he watched the boat with intense interest. Pausing a +second, he glanced around, and exclaimed, in terror:</p> + +<p>"As sure as heaven, they are heading toward this point."</p> + +<p>Kent commanded, in a whisper:</p> + +<p>"Get your shootin'-iron ready, and be ready yourself. They're comin' in +below us."</p> + +<p>The savages had landed a few hundred yards down-stream, and seemed to +suspect the presence of no one. Suddenly one of them uttered a loud +whoop. In a moment it was repeated, and an answer came, apparently from +a distance. Ere long two savages approached the canoe, and, entering, +the five again shoved out, and commenced paddling up-stream. Leslie +asked Kent the meaning of these proceedings.</p> + +<p>"Plain enough," he answered; "they left them two fellers on the shore +last night, so that, if they passed us, they would see us when we came +along, and they've been watching there ever since. If we'd gone a half a +mile further, they'd have shot us; but as we happened to stop afore they +got eyes on us, they've missed us, that's all."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus8" id="illus8"></a> +<img src="images/illus8.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>Two savages were left on shore.</h3> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>At night they again set out, proceeding fearlessly. When morning again +dawned, many miles were placed between Rosalind and her captors.</p> + +<p>It is needless to dwell upon the further particulars of their homeward +journey. Every day occupied was like its predecessor: pressing boldly +forward when the shade of night favored them; proceeding more cautiously +through the day; resting sometimes in the center of the stream, and then +again approaching the shore for food; now a prey to some imaginary fear, +and then thrilling with hope, when they finally glided into the fair +Ohio. Safely they reached their destination unpursued, and fearing no +enemy.</p> + +<p>"Wonder who's in them pile of logs up thar," remarked Kent, glancing +suspiciously at Leslie, when they were approaching the ruins of the +house.</p> + +<p>"Why, who would be there?" returned he, with well-feigned ignorance.</p> + +<p>"Looks as though somebody had fitted it up. Hallo, here!" demanded Kent, +battering against the structure.</p> + +<p>At this summons George Leland stepped forth.</p> + +<p>The meeting was such as can be easily imagined; joy complete filled the +hearts of all; friend, brother, sister and lover were reunited; nothing +was wanting to fill their cup of bliss. The old hunter, as soon as his +brief salutation was over, withdrew to the background. Leaning on his +rifle, he remarked that he was "goin' to look on and see the fun."</p> + +<p>As soon as the emotion of all had subsided, they turned toward the +hunter. They were without shelter and home, and something must be done +at once.</p> + +<p>Kent at once divined their thoughts and said: "Wal, sit down and I'll +tell you what's to be done."</p> + +<p>The three did as required, and Kent unfolded his plan.</p> + +<p>"There's too much trouble for you in these parts; you must leave. Up the +river some distance is quite a settlement, and there's the only place +you can stay, what I propose is this: we must leave here as soon as +possible, and let us do it <i>now</i>."</p> + +<p>"More than once have I thought of the plan which Kent has given," said +Leslie, "and I hope that it will be carried out at the earliest moment. +Every hour passed here is an hour of peril."</p> + +<p>"The matter is then settled," said George. "Let us prepare to pass our +last night here; then to seek another home."</p> + +<p>The shelter in which Leland had spent his time during the absence of the +others was found to be commodious enough to accommodate all, and into it +they went. The old hunter kept watch during the night, while the rest +slept, and we doubt very much whether four happier, more hopeful beings +ever were congregated.</p> + +<p>At the earliest streak of morn, the hunter aroused the others, and they +prepared to take their final departure. The canoe in which the three had +come was found to be sufficiently capacious for the entire party. With a +tear of regret for the old home, the fair Rosalind entered the canoe, +and soon it was cutting the waters on its upward course.</p> + +<p>It is not necessary in this place to dwell upon the particulars of their +journey. They encountered nothing unusual or alarming until, in rounding +a bend in the river, they were startled by the sight of an unusual +object far up the stream. With the exception of Kent, all manifested +considerable surprise and apprehension.</p> + +<p>"What are we to encounter now?" asked Leslie, as he earnestly +scrutinized the approaching object. "Are we never to be rid of these +brutes?"</p> + +<p>"It is undoubtedly one of their contrivances," added Leland, "and I'm +afraid we shall have to take to the woods again to give it a go-by. How +is it, Kent?"</p> + +<p>The face of the hunter wore a quizzical look, and his only reply was a +quiet smile. As he observed the looks of wonder his companions cast upon +him, he became more thoughtful.</p> + +<p>"This is bad business," said he, shaking his head; "<i>that</i> is something I +didn't expect to see."</p> + +<p>The progress of the canoe by this time was checked, and it was drifting +with the current. The two young men had no desire for a nearer approach +to the apparently formidable contrivance.</p> + +<p>"Can't either one of you two chaps make out what sort of ship that is +coming down-stream?"</p> + +<p>Both Leland and Leslie were considerably puzzled, when they saw Rosalind +smile, as if enjoying their stupidity.</p> + +<p>"If you can't tell, just ask the gal," added the hunter, bursting into a +loud laugh.</p> + +<p>"Why, George I thought you had lived long enough in the western country +to recognize a <i>flat-boat</i>!"</p> + +<p>"What dunces we both are. How could any one imagine that to be anything +else than a genuine flat-boat? Let us approach it and make the +acquaintance of those on board."</p> + +<p>"Sart'in, boys," said the hunter, dipping his paddles deep into the +water and impelling the canoe rapidly forward.</p> + +<p>"A cheer for them!" exclaimed Leslie, rising in the boat and swinging +his hat over his head.</p> + +<p>How unspeakably thankful were the hearts of the fugitives, as their +salutation was returned by more than one voice! Friends indeed were +near, and their dangers were over.</p> + +<p>A few moments later the canoe was beside the flat-boat.</p> + +<p>"Thank God! thank God!" fervently uttered Leland, as he clasped his +sister in his arms and realized that they were now safe, safe! For the +first time in weeks he felt the sweet consciousness of safety.</p> + +<p>"It is almost worth the sufferings we have undergone!" said he. "This +sweet consciousness that we are really beyond the reach of our foes is +an enjoyment that we have not experienced for a long time."</p> + +<p>"Do not forget the all-sustaining Hand that has brought us out of the +very jaws of death."</p> + +<p>"Forget it? May He forget me when I fail to remember Him. Great Father," +said Leland, meekly uncovering and bowing his head, while the tears fell +like rain down his face, "Great Father, for this and all other mercies I +thank thee!"</p> + +<p>"I join in thanksgiving with theirs," said Leslie, in the same reverent +manner, as he approached brother and sister.</p> + +<p>The flat-boat was no other than the celebrated expedition under Major +Taylor, which established such a firm and prosperous settlement upon the +northern bank of the Ohio. He had about thirty souls on board, a dozen +of whom were men. The true cause of the astonishing success of this +company was that both the leader and his comrades fully understood the +perils they encountered in venturing into the great western wilderness. +They were not men who could be decoyed into the simplest or most +cunning contrivances that Indian ingenuity could suggest, nor were they +those who expected to spend a life of ease and enjoyment in the woods. +They simply understood and prepared for what was before them.</p> + +<p>Major Taylor was a man rather inclined to corpulency, with a red face, +Roman nose and eagle eye that seemed to penetrate everything at which it +glanced. He was very affable and social, a great favorite among all his +acquaintances, especially the female portion, who always felt safe in +his presence. His men, nearly all of whom had served under him in the +Revolution, trusted implicitly in him.</p> + +<p>"Friends, you are welcome, doubly welcome to this boat," said he, +raising his hat and saluting Rosalind with all the stately politeness of +a gentleman of the old school. "I trust your stay upon it will be as +prolonged as our own, who, in all probability, will be the last +passengers it will ever carry."</p> + +<p>Leslie related in a few words the main facts concerning the burning of +Leland's home, the capture and subsequent escape of himself and sister, +and finally of their desire to reach the upper settlements. The +commiserations of all were given them. For Rosalind especially they +seemed unable to do enough. She was taken within their cabin, where +everything that was possible was done for her comfort.</p> + +<p>"I must now insist that you remain with us," said Major Taylor. "Now +that you have no home to which to return, you must accompany us and +build a new one. If the red-skins take <i>our</i> homes from us they are +welcome to do so; but when they undertake it, I suspect they will find +they are troubling a set of men that know a trick or two as well as +themselves. We've all seen service among the dogs."</p> + +<p>"Do you think, Cap'n, there's likely to be a scrimmage where you drive +your stakes?" inquired Kent, with a considerable degree of curiosity.</p> + +<p>"I am sure I cannot tell," replied Major Taylor. "It certainly seems +probable, but why do you ask?"</p> + +<p>"'Cause if there's any likelibility of it, I'll agree to accept your +invite and go with you."</p> + +<p>"Well, well, my good man, you will go with us anyway, and take the +chances of a brush with them. You strike me as a man who has seen +considerable of the woods."</p> + +<p>"He has indeed," said Leslie. "Under heaven, our safety is owing to his +experience and sagacity. He has spent a lifetime in the woods, and I can +honestly say he will be a valuable acquisition to your party."</p> + +<p>"Come, none of that now, or I'll leave you!" said the hunter, in a +warning tone to his young friend.</p> + +<p>"I have no doubt of it—no doubt of it in the least. We need him, and if +he will only go with us, I think I can promise that he will occasionally +see the service for which his soul longs. But, you have not given us +your decision."</p> + +<p>"We are very grateful for your offer," said Leland; "we have indeed no +other refuge to which we can go. The house which has sheltered my sister +and myself since infancy is swept away by those whom we had learned to +look upon as our friends and protectors. I think when we see men at +your age beginning life again, we can afford to do it ourselves."</p> + +<p>"Of course you can—of course you can," replied the officer, in his +hearty manner. "We'll start a settlement on a grand scale. One of our +men once took orders, and is licensed to marry, so that if either of you +gentlemen should need his services at <i>any</i> time, you will always find +him at hand."</p> + +<p>"There is a servant—a negro, who was taken at the same time with my +sister. I feel as though some effort should be made to recover him," +added Leland, a few minutes later. "We shall be in a situation to do +that by accompanying you, or, at least, we shall be more likely to find +some means of doing so, than if we followed out the idea, entertained +some time ago, of leaving the country altogether."</p> + +<p>"I am decidedly of the opinion——"</p> + +<p>The officer was interrupted by a man at the front of the boat, calling +out his name. He instantly hastened beside him, and demanded what he +wanted.</p> + +<p>"Yonder is something approaching, and I cannot satisfy myself as to what +it is. What do you make of it?" he asked.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus9" id="illus9"></a> +<img src="images/illus9.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>"Yonder is something approaching."</h3> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Major Taylor bent his sharp gaze upon the object in question for a +moment, and then replied:</p> + +<p>"It looks like the head of a person, and yet it is certainly an +odd-looking head. We will call this hunter that has just come on board. +Undoubtedly he can assist us."</p> + +<p>In answer to the summons, Kent approached the bow of the boat, rifle in +hand. He peered across the water, but for a time, failed to identify the +thing.</p> + +<p>"Stand back a little, and I'll give it a shot. I'll graze it at first, +so as to be sure of what I am going to hit when I shoot next time."</p> + +<p>The hunter raised his rifle, and holding it a second, fired. At the same +instant the unknown object disappeared.</p> + +<p>"I think you struck it!" remarked Leland.</p> + +<p>"I didn't aim <i>at</i> it, and consequently it ain't been hit," returned +Kent, with an air of assurance.</p> + +<p>"Yonder it is this moment!"</p> + +<p>As these words were uttered, it again appeared, and to the amazement of +all, called out to them:</p> + +<p>"Gorra! what you wastin' your bullets on dis nigger's head for? Reckoned +Kent knowed better."</p> + +<p>The hunter seemed on the point of falling from laughter.</p> + +<p>"Who'd a thought it was Zeb! Where has he come from? He beats all +niggers in Kentuck for adventures and walloping lies."</p> + +<p>A few minutes later the negro was received upon the flat-boat. It is +scarcely necessary to say that his friends all experienced unfeigned joy +at his return. He was as jubilant and reckless of the truth as ever, and +it was a long time before they got at the truth regarding his escape +from the Shawnees.</p> + +<p>The flight of Leland, under Providence, was really the means of +liberating the negro. The confusion occasioned by the escape of the +former was so great, that the savages imagined he also had fled with +him. Understanding that it was "do or die" with him, he tugged and +struggled at his bonds with the strength of desperation. Being secured +to a tree as usual, at some distance from the center of confusion, he +escaped observation for a few moments. It is doubtful, however, whether +he would have succeeded in freeing himself, had he not been covertly +assisted by some unknown friend. Who this personage could be, was never +known; perhaps some Indian who had been befriended by the Leland family, +and who experienced some compunctions of honor (not of conscience) at +the situation of the poor negro.</p> + +<p>Zeb had learned enough by this time to exercise a little common sense. +Accordingly, when he found himself free, he made the best use of his +feet and wits, and used every effort to reach the Ohio river. According +to his own narration, he overcame all manner of perils before +succeeding. Undoubtedly he incurred great risk in the undertaking, and +finally succeeded.</p> + +<p>He was trudging wearily along the river margin, listening for some sound +of his relentless enemies, who, he doubted not, were upon his trail, +when he caught sight of the flat-boat. Although he did not identify it +at once, he understood from its size and formation that the hand of the +white man alone was concerned in its structure. He immediately plunged +into the river, reaching it in due time, as we have already shown.</p> + +<p>At last the pioneers reached their destination, and began a settlement +which, at this day, is not a town merely but a flourishing city. As we +have hinted in another place, their experience of frontier life and the +sagacity and foresight of their nominal head, saved them from the +misfortunes and sufferings that often befall settlers in the new +country. It is true the red wave of the dreadful war in the West surged +to their very doors; but they saw far away in the heavens the portentous +signs, and so prepared that they passed through it unscathed.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The passing years touched lightly the heads of Roland and Rosalind +Leslie. As the palmy days of peace settled upon them, an old hunter +frequently spent days and weeks at their house. At such times, he took +the children upon his knees, and told them of the hardships and +suffering their parents had endured, and recounted many of his own +adventures to them. Old Kent was a universal favorite in the settlement. +As he became too old to spend his time entirely in the woods, he joined +the boys in their hunts, and there was not one who would not have braved +death in his defense. He died peacefully and happily, under the roof of +those whom he had served so well, and was given a burial, at his own +request, in the grand old woods which had ever been his delight and +enjoyment.</p> + +<p>The wife of Leland survived all of those who have figured in these +pages; but she too has been laid in the valley. Their descendants are +now a numerous and influential family, proud of their ancestry, and +enthusiastic over the deeds of <span class="smcap">The Ranger</span>.</p> + +<h3>THE END.</h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="BOY_INVENTORS_SERIES" id="BOY_INVENTORS_SERIES"></a>BOY INVENTORS SERIES</h2> + +<h3>Stories of Skill and Ingenuity</h3> + +<h3>By RICHARD BONNER</h3> + +<h3>THE BOY INVENTORS' WIRELESS TELEGRAPH.</h3> + +<p>Blest with natural curiosity,—sometimes called the instinct of +investigation,—favored with golden opportunity, and gifted with +creative ability, the Boy Inventors meet emergencies and contrive +mechanical wonders that interest and convince the reader because they +always "work" when put to the test.</p> + +<h3>THE BOY INVENTORS' VANISHING GUN.</h3> + +<p>A thought, a belief, an experiment; discouragement, hope, effort and +final success—this is the history of many an invention; a history in +which excitement, competition, danger, despair and persistence figure. +This merely suggests the circumstances which draw the daring Boy +Inventors into strange experiences and startling adventures, and which +demonstrate the practical use of their vanishing gun.</p> + +<h3>THE BOY INVENTORS' DIVING TORPEDO BOAT.</h3> + +<p>As in the previous stories of the Boy Inventors, new and interesting +triumphs of mechanism are produced which become immediately valuable, +and the stage for their proving and testing is again the water. On the +surface and below it, the boys have jolly, contagious fun, and the story +of their serious, purposeful inventions challenge the reader's deepest +attention.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="BUNGALOW_BOYS_SERIES" id="BUNGALOW_BOYS_SERIES"></a>BUNGALOW BOYS SERIES</h2> + +<h3>LIVE STORIES OF OUTDOOR LIFE</h3> + +<h3>By DEXTER J. FORRESTER.</h3> + +<h3>THE BUNGALOW BOYS.</h3> + +<p>How the Bungalow Boys received their title and how they retained the +right to it in spite of much opposition makes a lively narrative for +lively boys.</p> + +<h3>THE BUNGALOW BOYS MAROONED IN THE TROPICS.</h3> + +<p>A real treasure hunt of the most thrilling kind, with a sunken Spanish +galleon as its object, makes a subject of intense interest at any time, +but add to that a band of desperate men, a dark plot and a devil fish, +and you have the combination that brings strange adventures into the +lives of the Bungalow Boys.</p> + +<h3>THE BUNGALOW BOYS IN THE GREAT NORTH WEST.</h3> + +<p>The clever assistance of a young detective saves the boys from the +clutches of Chinese smugglers, of whose nefarious trade they know too +much. How the Professor's invention relieves a critical situation is +also an exciting incident of this book.</p> + +<h3>THE BUNGALOW BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES.</h3> + +<p>The Bungalow Boys start out for a quiet cruise on the Great Lakes and a +visit to an island. A storm and a band of wreckers interfere with the +serenity of their trip, and a submarine adds zest and adventure to it.</p> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Ranger, by Edward S. 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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 Ranger + or The Fugitives of the Border + +Author: Edward S. Ellis + +Release Date: May 3, 2009 [EBook #28663] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RANGER *** + + + + +Produced by Curtis Weyant, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + THE RANGER + + OR + + THE FUGITIVES OF THE BORDER + + BY EDWARD S. ELLIS + + AUTHOR OF "OONOMOO," "SET JONES," "IRONA," ETC. + + +NEW YORK +HURST & COMPANY +PUBLISHERS + +COPYRIGHT, 1911, +BY +HURST & COMPANY. + + + + +[Illustration: "Hold! You strike the white man's friend!"] + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + I. Zeb and his Master + + II. The Night of Terror + + III. Kent and Leslie + + IV. The Captives + + V. The Meeting on the River + + VI. The Raft + + VII. Lost and Found + + VIII. The Companion in Captivity + + IX. Zeb's Revenge + + X. The Brief Reprieve + + XI. A Friend + + XII. Escape + + XIII. The Captive + + XIV. The Rescue + + XV. The Fugitives Flying no Longer + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + +"Hold! You strike the white man's friend!" + +George and Rosalind + +"Them varmints," said he, "are playing particular devil in these parts" + +There were two horses in the party, and upon one of these Rosalind had +been placed + +"Ready," whispered Leslie, "you take the nearest one." + +"You shoot Indian, eh?" said one, brandishing his knife at the same time + +The savages were amusing themselves by ascertaining who could send his +tomahawk nearest the body of their captive without touching him + +"Does the maiden remember Pequanon?" + +Two savages were left on shore + +"Yonder is something approaching." + + + + +KENT, THE RANGER. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +ZEB AND HIS MASTER. + + +At the southern part of Ohio, where the river of that name swerves from +its south-western course, and makes a sweeping bend toward the +north-west, many years ago stood a large and imposing dwelling. Its +character, so different and superior to others found here and there +along the Ohio, showed that its owner must have been a man both of +superior taste and abundant means. It had been built by Sir William +Leland, who had emigrated from Europe with his young wife, and erected a +home in the western wilderness. Here they lived a goodly number of days; +and when, at last, they took their departure within a year of each +other, they left behind them a son and daughter to cherish and inherit +their home. + +George Leland, at the time of which we speak, was but twenty, while his +sister Rosalind was three years his junior. Yet both, with the +assistance of a faithful negro servant, managed to live quite +comfortably. The soil was exceedingly rich, and, with a little pains, +yielded abundantly every thing that could be wished, while the river and +wood were unfailing resources. Three years had elapsed since the elder +Leland's death, and during that time, although living in a country +swarming with Indians, nothing had occurred to alarm the fears of our +friends, or even to give them the slightest suspicion that danger +threatened them. + +[Illustration: George and Rosalind.] + +When Sir William settled in this section, he followed the example of the +great founder of Pennsylvania, and purchased every foot of his land from +those who claimed it; and, in addition to the liberal remuneration which +each received, they were given some charming present by their pale-faced +brother. This secured their friendship; and, although many miles +intervened between the whites and their nearest kindred, yet they had +nothing to fear from the savages who surrounded them. Thus matters stood +when George and Rosalind were left orphans, some years before the +opening of our story. + +It was a pleasant day in early summer that George and his sister were +seated in front of their house. The sun was just setting, and they had +remained thus a long time. Zeb, the negro, was absent for the time, and +they were thus undisturbed. + +"Do you really think," pursued the sister, "it can be true that the +Indians have perpetrated the outrages which have been reported?" + +"I should be glad to think differently, could I have reason for doing +so; but these reports certainly have foundation; and what is more +alarming, the suspicion that we are _not_ safe, which was awakened some +time ago, is now confirmed. For two or three days I have detected +suspicious appearances, and Zeb informed me that he discovered a couple +of savages lurking around the edge of the forest. I fear there is strong +reason to apprehend danger." + +"But, brother, will not the kindness which our parents showed them while +living be a guaranty of our protection?" + +"It may, to some extent; but you must remember that there are hundreds +of Indians who have never seen or heard of them, who would not hesitate +to kill or take us prisoners at the first opportunity." + +"Can it be possible?" + +"It is not only possible but true. You remember Roland Leslie, who was +here last summer? Yesterday I saw him up the river, and he gave me the +information that I have repeated. At first I deferred mentioning it to +you, for the reason that I did not wish to alarm you until it could not +be avoided." + +"Why did he not come here?" asked the sister. + +"He said that he should shortly visit us. He had heard rumors of +another massacre some miles up the river, and wished to satisfy himself +in regard to it before calling here. Leslie, although young, is an +experienced hunter and backwoodsman, and I have not much fear for his +personal safety. He assured me that, should he find the Indians above +ravaging the country as fearfully as reported, he would immediately +return to us." + +"I hope so," earnestly replied Rosalind. + +"Still," continued George, "what can we do, even then? He intends to +bring a hunter back with him, and that will make only three of us +against perhaps a thousand savages." + +"But have we not the house to protect us?" + +"And have they not the forest? Can they not lurk around until we die of +hunger, or until they fire the building? There are a hundred +contingencies that will bar an escape, while I confess no prospect of +getting safely away presents itself." + +"We have arms and ammunition," said Rosalind. "Of course Leslie and his +friend are good marksmen, and why can we not do enough to deter and +intimidate the savages? Finding us well prepared, they will doubtless +retreat and not disturb us again. I hope the trouble will soon be over." + +"I _hope_ so too; but it is hoping against hope. This war will be a long +and bloody one, and when it is over the country will present a different +appearance. Many lives must be lost ere it is done, and perhaps ours are +among that number." + +"Perhaps so, brother; but do not be so depressed. Let us hope and pray +for the best. It is not such a sad thing to die, and the country which +has given us birth has certainly a strong claim upon us." + +"Noble girl," exclaimed George, "it is so, and we have no cause for +murmuring." + +At this moment Zeb appeared. He was a short, dumpy, thick-set negro, +with a most luxuriant head of wool, a portion of which hung around his +head in small, close braids, resembling bits of decayed rope. His eyes +were large and protruding, and his face glistened like a mirror. He was +a genuine African. Some of their qualities in him were carried to the +extreme. Instead of being a coward, as is often the case with his +nation, he seemed never to know when there really was danger. He always +was reckless and careless, and seemed to escape by accident. + +"Heigh! massa George, what's up?" he exclaimed, observing the solemn +appearance of the two before him. + +"Nothing but what is known to you, Zeb. We were just speaking of the +danger which you are aware is threatening us. Have you seen anything +lately to excite suspicion?" + +"Nothin' worth speakin' of," replied he, seating himself in front of +George and Rosalind. + +"What was it, Zeb?" asked the latter. + +"When I's out tendin' to things, I t'ought as how I'd sit down and rest, +and 'cordin'ly I squats on a big stone. Purty soon de stone begin to +move, and come to look, 'twas a big Injin. + +"'Heigh!' says I, 'what you doin' here?' + +"'Ugh!' he grunted. + +"'Yes, I'll "ugh!" you,' says I, 'if I cotches you here ag'in.' With dat +I pitches him two, free rods off, and tells him to make tracks fur +home." + +"Heavens! if you would only tell the truth, Zeb. Did you really see an +Indian, though?" + +"'Deed I did, and he run when he see'd me in arnist." + +"And you saw others yesterday, did you?" remarked Rosalind. + +"Two or free, down toward de woods. I spied 'em crawlin' and smellin' +down dar, and axes dem dar business. Dey said as how dey's lookin' for a +jack-knife dat dey lost dar last summer. I told 'em dat dey oughter be +'shamed demselves to be smellin' round dat way; and to provide against +dar doin's in future, I give dem each a good kick and sent dem away." + +"Do not exaggerate your story so much," said Rosalind. "Give the truth +and nothing else." + +"Qua'r, folks won't believe all dis pusson observes," said he, with an +offended air. + +"Tell the truth and they will in all cases; but should you deceive once, +you will always be suspected afterward." + +"Dat's it," commenced the negro, spreading out his broad hand like an +orator to illustrate the point. "If I tells de truf dey're sure to t'ink +I's lyin', and what's de use?" + +"Zeb," commenced George, not regarding the last remark, "you, as well as +we, are aware that we are encompassed by peril. You have seen that the +Indians are constantly prowling around, and evidently for no good +purpose. What would you advise us to do under the circumstances?" + +"Give 'em all a good floggin' and set 'em to work," he replied. + +"Come, come, Zeb, we want no jesting," interrupted Rosalind. + +"Dar 'tis ag'in. Who war jestin'? Dat's what I t'ink is de best. Give +'em a good lickin', and set 'em to work clearin' off de wood till dar +spunk is gone." + +"Fudge!" said George, impatiently, turning his back toward Zeb, whose +head ducked down with a chuckle. + +"Rosalind," said George, "the best plan is certainly to wait until +Leslie returns, which will be either to-morrow or the next day. We will +then determine upon what course to pursue. Perhaps we shall be +undisturbed until that time. If not, it cannot be helped." + +"Wished dis pusson warn't so hungry," remarked Zeb, picking up a stick +and whittling it. + +Rosalind smiled as she arose and remarked: + +"It is getting late, George, and it perhaps is best to have supper." + +He made no answer and turned toward the negro. + +"Zeb," said he, "in all probability we shall be obliged to leave this +place in a few days for a safer location. Of course you will accompany +us, and I wish it to be understood that you are to lay aside this levity +and carelessness. Remember that you are in danger, as much as ourselves. +Your scalp may be the first taken." + +"What, dis yere wool of mine? Yah! yah! yah! Lord bless you, dey'd have +a handful!" + +"How would you relish being roasted at the stake?" asked George, hoping +to terrify him. + +"Yah! yah! Dey'd be some sizzlin', I guess." + +"You will think soberly about the matter, perhaps sooner than you +suspect." + +"Yas," said Zeb, and his face straightened out in an instant, while he +slowly and thoughtfully continued whittling. + +"Zeb," continued George, leaning toward him and speaking in an +undertone, "I think we shall be attacked in two days at the latest." + +"Jest keep de whip in good order, and I'll put it into 'em and teach 'em +manners." + +"I fear you will learn wisdom only by experience, even if you do then," +returned George. "It would be a good thing for you, should you meet with +something that would impress you with a sense of your peril. I can only +wonder at your stupidity." + +"Gorra mighty! do you s'pose dere's anything that'd make _me_ afeard of +dem Injins? Why, bless you, forty of 'em wouldn't dare to frow a stone +at me. I've licked free, four dozen of 'em, and dey all respect me +awful." + +"I suppose so," rejoined young Leland, with mock seriousness. + +"Last summer," pursued Zeb, "when you's down de river fishin', dere's +thirteen of 'em come up one day to borrer de wood-box. I s'pose dey +wanted to keep dar dogs and pappooses in it, and I 'cluded as how dey +warn't gwine to get it. So I told 'em I's very sorry dat I couldn't +'commodate 'em, but de fact war we wanted to put de wood in it +ourselves. When I said dat, one of de niggers begin to got sassy. I just +informed 'em dat dey'd better make demselves scarce mighty quick, if dey +didn't want dis pusson in dar wool. Dey didn't mind what was said, +howsumever, and purty soon I cotched 'em runnin' off wid de wood-box. +Dat raised my dander, and I grabbed de box and frowed it right over dar +heads and cotched 'em fast. Den I put a big stone on it, and kept 'em +dere free weeks, and afore I let 'em out I made 'em promise to behave +'emselves. Now I considers dat we'd better serve 'em some sich trick. +Tie two, free hundred to de fence, and leave 'em dere for a few months." + +"You are welcome to try it," returned George, rather disgusted at the +negro's propensity for big story telling. He arose and passed within, +where the ample table was laid. Yet he could not eat the plain, sweet +food which Rosalind's own hands had prepared. The dreadful sense of +danger was too real a guest for any rest or peace of mind. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE NIGHT OF TERROR. + + +Few words were interchanged during the evening. George and Rosalind had +enough to occupy their minds, and Zeb, finding them taciturn, relapsed +into a sullen silence. + +At an early hour each retired. Rosalind now felt more than George that +unaccountable presentiment which sometimes comes over one in cases of +danger. During the last few hours it had increased until it nearly +resolved itself into a certainty. + +The view from the front of the house was clear and unobstructed to the +river, a quarter of a mile distant. Along this lay the cultivated +clearing, while the forest, stretching miles away, approached to within +a few yards of the rear of the house. + +Rosalind's room overlooked this wilderness. Instead of retiring, she +seated herself by the window to gaze out upon it. There was a faint +moon, and the tree-tops for a considerable distance could be seen +swaying in the gentle night-wind. The silence was so profound that it +seemed to make itself _felt_ and, in that vast solitude, few indeed +could remain without being impressed with the solemn grandeur of nature +around. + +Hour after hour wore away; still Rosalind remained at the window. As +there was no inclination to sleep, she determined to remain in her +position until morning. She knew that it must be far beyond midnight, +and at the thought there sprung up a faint hope within her breast. But +she was startled by the dismal hoot of an owl. She sprang up, with a +beating heart, listening intently and painfully; but no other sound was +heard. Trying to smile at her trepidation, she again seated herself and +listened; in a moment that cry was repeated, now in an opposite +direction from which the first note was heard. + +Rosalind wondered that the simple circumstance should so affect her; but +try as much as she might, she could not shake it off. Again, for a few +minutes, she remained trembling with an undefinable fear, when there +came another hoot, followed instantly by another, in an opposite +direction. She began now to entertain a fearful suspicion. + +Her first impulse was to awaken her brother, but, after a moment's +thought, she concluded to wait a short time. A few more sounds were +heard, when they entirely ceased. During this time, Rosalind, although +suffering an intense fear, had been gazing vacantly toward the point or +clearing nearest the house. As her eyes rested upon the spot, she caught +the shadowy outlines of a dark body moving stealthily and noiselessly +along upon the ground. + +Without waiting a moment, she darted to George's room. He had not slept, +and in an instant was by her side. + +"Call Zeb," she exclaimed. "We are surrounded by Indians." + +Leland disappeared, and in a moment came back with the negro. + +"Gorra mighty!" said the latter, in a hurried, husky whisper, "where am +de cussed niggers? Heigh, Miss Rosa?" + +"Keep quiet," she replied, "or you will be heard." + +"Dat's just what I wants to be, and I calkilates I'll be _felt_ too, if +dar are any of 'em 'bout." + +"Stay here a moment," said George, "while I look out. Rosalind, what did +you see?" + +"A body approaching the house from the woods. Be careful and do not +expose yourself, George." + +He made no answer and entered her room, followed by herself and the +negro, who remained at a safe distance, while he cautiously approached +the window. He had no more than reached it, when Zeb asked: + +"See noffin'?" + +This question was repeated perhaps a dozen times without an answer, when +the patience of Zeb becoming exhausted, he shuffled to the window and +pressed his head forward, exclaiming: + +"Gorra mighty, whar am dey?" + +"Hist! there is one now--yes, two of them!" + +"Whar--whar?" + +"Keep your mouth shut," interrupted the young man, his vexation causing +him to speak louder than he intended. + +"Heigh! dat's him! Look out!" + +And before young Leland suspected his intentions or could prevent it, +Zeb had taken aim and fired. This was so sudden and unexpected that, for +a moment, nothing was heard but the dull echo, rolling off over the +forest and up the river. Then arose a piercing, agonized yell, that told +how effectual was the shot of the negro. Rosalind's face blanched with +terror as she heard the fearful chorus of enraged voices, and thought of +the fearful scene that must follow. + +"Are the doors secured?" she asked, laying her hand upon George's +shoulder. + +"Yes, I barricaded them all," he answered. "If they do not fire the +building, we may be able to keep them off until morning. I don't know +but what Zeb's shot was the best, after all--God save us!" + +This last exclamation was caused by a bullet whizzing past, within an +inch of his face. For a while Leland was uncertain of the proper course +to pursue. Should he expose his person at the window, he was almost +certain to be struck; yet this or some other one equally exposed, was +the only place where he could exchange shots, and the savages must be +kept in check. + +Zeb had reloaded his gun, and peering around the edge of the window, +caught a glimpse of an Indian. As reckless of danger as usual, he raised +his rifle and discharged it. He was a good marksman, and the shot was as +effective as the other. + +"Gorra mighty!" he exclaimed, "I can dodge dar lead. Didn't I pick dat +darkey off awful nice? Just wait till I load ag'n." Chuckling over his +achievements, he proceeded to prime his rifle. George Leland withdrew to +the window of another room, from which he succeeded in slaying a +savage, and by being careful and cautious, he was able to make his few +shots tell with effect. + +When Zeb shot the first savage, the red-skins sprung to their feet and +commenced yelling and leaping, feeling that those within were already at +their mercy; but the succeeding shots convinced them of their mistake, +and retreating to cover, they were more careful in exposing themselves. +Several stole around to the front of the house, but George had +anticipated them, and there being no means of concealing their +appearance, they were easily kept at a distance. Rosalind followed and +assisted him as far as lay in her power, while Zeb was left alone in his +delight and glory. + +"Be careful," said Leland; "don't come too near. Just have the powder +and wadding ready and hand it to me when I need it." + +"I will," she replied, in a calm, unexcited voice, as she reached him +his rod. + +"Just see what Zeb is at, while I watch my chance." + +She disappeared, and in a moment returned. + +"He seems frantic with delight, and is yet unharmed." + +"God preserve him," said George, "for his assistance is needed." + +"Be careful," said Rosalind, as George approached the window. + +"I shall--whew! that's a close rub!" he muttered, as a bullet pierced +his cap. "There, _you're_ past harm," he added, as he discharged his +gun. + +Thus the contest was kept up for over an hour. But few shots were +interchanged on either side, each party becoming more careful in their +action. Young Leland remained at his window, and kept a close watch upon +his field; but no human being was seen. Zeb laughed, ducked his head, +and made numerous threats toward his enemies, but seemed to attract no +notice from them. + +Now and then Rosalind spoke a word to her brother, but the suspense +which the silence of their enemies had put them in, sealed their lips, +and, for a long while, the silence was unbroken by either. They were +startled at length by the report of Zeb's rifle, and the next minute he +appeared among them, exclaiming: + +"Gorra mighty! I shot out my ramrod. I seen a good chance, and blazed +away 'fore I thought to take it out. It went through six of 'em, and +stuck into a tree and hung 'em fast. Heigh! it's fun to see 'em." + +"Here, take mine, and for God's sake, cease your jesting!" said Leland, +handing his rod to him. + +"Wish I could string some more up," added Zeb, as he rammed home his +charge. "Yer oughter seen it, Miss Rosa. It went right frough de fust +feller's eye, and den frough de oder one's foot, den frough de oder's +gizzard, and half way frough de tree. Gorra, how dey wriggled! Looked +just like a lot of mackerel hung up to dry. Heigh!" + +At this point Leland discharged his gun, and said, without changing his +position: + +"They are trying to approach the house. Go, Zeb, and attend to your +side. Be very sharp!" + +"Yes, I's dar, stringing 'em up," he rejoined, as he turned away. + +"Hark!" exclaimed Rosalind, when he had gone. "What noise is that?" + +Leland listened awhile, and his heart died within him as he answered: + +"Merciful Heaven! the house is on fire! All hope is now gone!" + +"Shall we give ourselves up?" hurriedly asked Rosalind. + +"No; come with me." + +"Hurry up, massa, dey's gwine to roast us. De grease begins to siss in +my face a'ready," said Zeb, as he joined them. + +The fugitives retreated to the lower story, and Leland led the way to a +door which opened upon the kitchen, at the end of the house. His hope +was that from this they might have a chance of escaping to the wood, but +a short distance off, ere they were discovered. + +Cautiously opening the door, he saw with anxious, hopeful joy, that no +Indians were visible. + +"Now, Rosalind," he whispered, "be quick. Make for the nearest trees, +and if you succeed in reaching them, pass to the river-bank and wait for +me. Move softly and rapidly." + +Rosalind stepped quickly out. The yells of the infuriated savages +deafened her; but, although fearfully near, she saw none, and started +rapidly forward. Leland watched each step with an agony of fear and +anxiety which cannot be described. The trees were within twenty yards, +and half the distance was passed, when Leland knew that her flight was +discovered. A number of savages darted forward, but a shot from him +stopped the course of the foremost. Taking advantage of the confusion +which this had occasioned, Rosalind sprung away and succeeded in +reaching the cover; but here, upon the very threshold of escape, she was +reached and captured. + +"Gorra mighty!" shouted Zeb, as he saw her seized and borne away. "Ef I +don't cowhide ebery nigger of 'em for dat trick." + +And clenching his hands he stalked boldly forward and demanded: + +"Whar's dat lady? Ef you doesn't want to git into trouble, I calkilate +you'd better bring her back in double-quick time." + +Several savages sprung toward him, and Zeb prepared himself for the +struggle. His huge fist felled the first and the second; but ere he +could do further damage he found himself thrown down and bound. + +"Well, dar, if dat ain't de meanest trick yet, servin' a decent prisoner +dis way. I'll cowhide ebery one ob you. Oh, dear, I wish I had de whip!" +he muttered, writhing and rolling in helpless rage upon the ground. + +Leland had seen this occurrence and taken advantage of it. It had served +to divert the action of the savages, and the attention of all being +occupied with their two prisoners, he managed with considerable +difficulty to reach the wood without being discovered. + +Here, at a safe distance, he watched the progress of things. The +building was now one mass of flame, which lit up the sky with a lurid, +unearthly glare. The border of the forest was visible and the trunks +and limbs of the trees appeared as if scorched and reddened by the +consuming heat. The savages resembled demons dancing and yelling around +the ruin which they had caused. It was with difficulty that Leland +restrained himself from firing upon them. With a sad heart he saw the +house which had sheltered him from infancy fall inward with a crash. The +splinters and ashes of fire were hurled in the air and fell at his feet, +and the thick volume of smoke reached him. + +Yet he thought more of the captives which were in the hands of their +merciless enemies. Their safety demanded his attention. Thoughtfully and +despondingly he turned upon his heel and disappeared in the shadows of +the great forest. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +KENT AND LESLIE. + + +When Roland Leslie reached his destination some miles up the Ohio, his +fears and suspicions were confirmed. There had been a massacre, a week +previous, of a number of settlers, and the Indians were scouring the +country for more victims. + +This information was given by Kent Whiteman, the person for whom he was +searching. This personage was a strange character, some forty years of +age, who led a wandering hunter's life, and was known by every white man +for a great distance along the Ohio. Roland Leslie had made his +acquaintance when but a mere lad, and they often spent weeks together +hunting and roaming through the great wilderness, which was the home of +both. He cherished an implacable hatred to every red-man, and they in +turn often sought his life, for they had no enemy so dangerous as he. + +"Yes, sir, them varmints," said he, as he leaned upon his long rifle and +gazed at Leslie, "are playing particular devil in these parts, and I +calkelate it's a game that two can play at." + +[Illustration: "Them varmints," said he, "are playing particular devil +in these parts."] + +"Jump in the boat, Kent," said Leslie, "and ride down with me; I +promised George Leland that if he needed assistance I would bring it to +him." + +"He needs it, that's a p'inted fact, and as soon as it can conveniently +reach him too." + +"Well, let us be off." Leslie dipped his oars in the water and pulled +out into the stream. It was the morning after the burning of the +Lelands' home, which of course was unknown to them. For a few moments +the boat glided rapidly down the stream, when Whiteman spoke: + +"Where'd you put up last night, Leslie?" + +"About ten miles down the river. I ran in under the bank and had an +undisturbed night's rest?" + +"Didn't hear nothin' of the red-skins?" + +"No." + +"Wal, it's a wonder; they're as thick as flies in August, and I +calkelate I'll have rich times with 'em." + +"I cannot understand how it is, Kent, that you cherish such a deadly +hatred for these Indians." + +"I have good reason," returned the hunter, compressing his lips. + +"How long is it that you have felt thus?" + +"Ever since I's a boy. Ever since _that_ time." + +"What time, Kent?" + +"I have never told you, I believe, why the sight of a red-skin throws me +into such a fit, have I?" + +"No; I should certainly be glad to hear." + +"Wal, it doesn't take long to tell. Yet how few persons know it except +myself. It is nigh thirty years ago," commenced Kent, "that I lived +about a dozen miles above the place that we left this morning. There I +was born and lived with my old father and mother until I was ten or +eleven years old. + +"One dark, stormy night we war attacked by them red devils, and that +father and mother were butchered before my eyes. During the confusion of +the attack, I escaped to the woods and secreted m'self until it was +over. It was a hard matter to lie there, scorched by the flames of your +own home, and see your parents, while begging for mercy, tomahawked and +slain before your eyes. But in such a position I was placed, and +remained until the savages, satisfied with their bloody work, took their +departure. + +"When the rain, which fell in torrents, had extinguished the smoking +ruins, I crawled from my hiding-place. I felt around until I come upon +the cold bodies of my father and mother lyin' side by side, and then +kneelin' over them, I took a fearful oath--an oath to which I have +devoted my life. I swore that as long as life was given me, it should be +used for revengin' the slaughter of my parents. That night these savages +contracted a debt of which they little dreamed. Before they left the +place, I had marked each of the dozen, and I never forgot them. For ten +years I follered and tracked them, and at the end of that time I had +sent the last one to his final account. Yet that did not satisfy me. I +swore _eternal_ enmity against the whole people, and as I said, it shall +be carried out. While Kent is alive, he is the mortal enemy of every +red-skin." + +The hunter looked up in the face of Leslie, and his gleaming eyes and +gnashing teeth told his earnestness. His manner and recital had +impressed the latter, and he forbore speaking to him for some time. + +"I should think," observed Leslie, after a short silence, "that you had +nearly paid that debt, Kent." + +"It is a debt which will be balanced," rejoined the hunter, "when I am +unable to make any more payments." + +"Well, I shouldn't want you for an enemy," added Leslie, glancing over +his shoulder at the stream in front of him. + +Both banks of the river at this point, and, in fact, for many miles, +were lined with overhanging trees and bushes, which might afford shelter +to any enemy. Kent sat in the stern and glanced suspiciously at each +bank, as the boat was impelled swiftly yet silently forward, and there +was not even a falling leaf that escaped his keen eye. + +"Strikes me," said Leslie, leaning on his oars, "that we are in rather a +dangerous vicinity. Those thick bushes along the shore, over there, +might easily contain a few red gentlemen." + +"Don't be alarmed," returned the hunter, "I'll keep a good watch. +They've got to make some movement before they can harm us, and I'll be +sure to see them. The river's wide, too, and there ain't so much to +fear, after all." + +Leslie again dipped his oars, and the boat shot forward in silence. +Nothing but the suppressed dip of the slender ashen blades, or the dull +sighing of the wind through the tree-tops, broke the silence of the +great solitude. Suddenly, as Leslie bent forward and gazed into the +hunter's face, he saw him start and gaze anxiously at the right shore, +some distance ahead. + +"What's the matter?" asked Leslie. + +"Just wait a minute," returned the hunter, rising and gazing in the same +direction. "Stop the boat. Back water!" he added, in a hurried tone. + +Leslie did as he was bidden, and again spoke: + +"What is it, Kent?" + +"Do you see them bushes hangin' a little further out in the stream than +the others?" + +"Yes; what of them?" + +"Watch them a minute. There--look quick!" said Kent. + +"I can see a fluttering among the branches, as if a bird had flown from +it," answered Leslie. + +"Wal, them birds is Indians, that's all," remarked the hunter, dropping +composedly back into the boat. "Go ahead!" + +"They will fire into us, no doubt. Had I not better run in to the other +shore?" + +"No; there may be a host of 'em there. Keep in the middle of the stream, +and we'll give 'em the slip yet." + +It must be confessed that Leslie experienced rather strange sensations +as he neared the locality which had excited their suspicion, especially +when he knew that he was exposed to any shot that they might feel +inclined to give. A shudder ran through his frame, when, directly +opposite the spot, he distinctly heard a groan of agony. + +Kent made a motion for him to cease rowing. Bending their heads down and +listening, they again heard that now loud, agonizing expression of +mortal pain. + +As soon as Leslie was certain that the sound proceeded from some being +in distress, he headed the boat toward the shore. + +"Stop!" commanded Kent; "you should have more sense than that." + +"But will you not assist a person in distress?" asked he, gazing +reproachfully into his face. + +"Who's in distress?" + +"Oh, Gorra mighty! I's been dyin'," now came from the shore. + +"Hallo there! what's wantin'?" called Whiteman. + +"Help, help, 'fore dis Indian gentleman--'fore I dies from de wounds dat +dey's given me." + +"I've heard that voice before," remarked Kent to Leslie, in an +undertone. + +"So have I," replied the latter. "Why, it is George Leland's negro; _he_ +wouldn't decoy us into danger. Let us go in." + +"Wait until I speak further with him." (Then, to the person upon shore): +"What might be your name?" + +"Zeb Langdon. Isn't dat old Kent?" + +"Yes; how came you in this scrape, Zeb?" + +"Gorra mighty! I didn't come into it. Dem red dogs--dese here nice +fellers--brought me here 'bout two months ago, and den dey all fired at +me fur two or free days, and den dey hung me up and left me to starve to +death. Boo-hoo-oo!" + +"But," said Leslie, "you were at home yesterday when I came up the +river." + +"Yes; dey burned down de house last night, and cooked us all and eat us +up. I's come to live ag'in, and crawled down here to get you fellers to +take me home; but, Lord bless you, don't come ashore--blast you, quit a +hittin' me over de head," added the negro, evidently to some one near +him. + +Leslie and Whiteman exchanged significant glances, and silently worked +the boat further from the land. + +"Who is that you spoke to?" asked the former, when they were at a safe +distance. + +"Dis yere blasted limb reached down and pulled my wool," replied the +negro, with perfect _nonchalance_. + +"Where is George Leland?" asked Leslie. + +"Dunno; slipped away from dese yere nice fellers what's pulled all de +wool out of me head, and is tellin' me a lot o' yarns to tell you. Gorra +mighty! can't you let a feller 'lone, when he's yarnin' as good as he +can?" + +"Where is Miss Leland?" + +"How does I know? A lot of 'em run off wid her last night." + +"Oh God! what I expected," said Leslie, dropping his voice, and gazing +with an agonizing look at Whiteman. The latter, regardless of his +emotion, continued his conversation with Zeb. + +"Are you hurt any?" + +"Considerable." + +"Now, Zeb, tell the truth. Did they capture George Leland?" + +"Bless you, no. He got away during de trouble." + +"Did they get Miss Leland?" + +"'Deed they did." + +"Is she with you?" + +"No. It took forty of 'em to watch me and de rest." + +Here the negro's words were cut short with a jerk, and he gave vent to a +loud groan. + +"Gorra mighty!" he ejaculated, in fury. "Come ashore, Mr. Whiteman and +Mr. Leslie. Come quick, and let dese yer fellers got you. Dey wants yer +too." + +"Are there any of the imps with you?" asked Kent, more for amusement +than anything else. + +"What shall I tell him?" the negro asked, in a husky whisper, loud +enough to be plainly heard by the two in the boat. + +"Dey say dar ain't any of 'em. Talk yourself, if dat doesn't suit you," +he added, in great wrath. + +"Three cheers for you," shouted Whiteman. "Are there any of 'em upon the +other side?" + +"Dese fellers say dey am all dar. Gorra, don't kill me." + +"Good; you're the best nigger 'long the 'Hio. I guess we'll go over to +the other side and visit them." + +So saying, Kent seized the oars and pulled for the opposite shore. He +had not taken more than a couple of strokes when a dozen rifles cracked +simultaneously from the bushes, and as many bullets struck the boat and +glanced over the water. + +"Drop down," he whispered to Leslie. Instead of doing the same himself, +he bent the more vigorously to his oars. A few minutes sufficed to carry +them so far down that little danger was to be apprehended from the +Indians, who uttered their loudest shouts and discharged their rifles, +as they passed beyond their reach. + +"That's too good a chance to be lost," muttered the ranger, bringing his +long rifle to his shoulder. Leslie followed the direction of his aim, +and saw a daring savage standing boldly out to view, and making furious +gesticulations toward them. The next instant Kent's rifle uttered its +sharp report, and the Indian, with a yell, sprung several feet in the +air, and fell to the ground. + +"That was a good shot," remarked Leslie, gazing at the fallen body. + +"Yes, and it's done just what I wanted it to," replied Kent, heading the +boat toward shore. + +"They are going to pursue us, are they not?" asked Leslie. + +"Yes, and we'll have fun," added the ranger, as the boat touched the +shore, and he sprung out. + +"Come along and make up yer mind for a long run," said he, glancing +furtively toward the savages. + +Leslie sprung after him, and they darted away into the forest. + +When Whiteman had fired his fatal shot the Indians were so infuriated, +that, setting up their demoniac yells, they plunged down the banks of +the stream, determined to revenge their fallen companion. + +This was what Kent desired. He exulted as he saw that he was being +gratified. "If there isn't fun pretty shortly it won't be my fault," +said he, as he plunged onward into the forest. + +In a short time the pursuers gained the opposite shore, and followed +with renewed ardor into the wilderness. Kent and Leslie, however, had +gained a good start. Both being rapid runners, they had not much to +fear. Had nothing unusual occurred, they would easily have distanced +their pursuers. But Leslie, following Kent in a leap across a rocky +gorge, struck in his comrade's footsteps in the earth upon its edge. The +earth had become loosened and started by the shock, and ere Leslie could +recover his footing, he fell some fifteen or twenty feet to the bottom. +The fall bruised him so much that he was unable to rise, or in fact +hardly to stir. + +"Hurt?" asked the ranger, gazing over at him. + +"Yes," groaned Leslie. "I can't get up. Don't wait for me, for it's no +use. Go on and save yourself." + +"I hate to leave you, but it's got to be done. Lay down there; crawl in +under that rock. Perhaps they won't see you. Quick, for I hear 'em +comin'." + +With these words the hunter turned and disappeared, and succeeded in +getting beyond the gorge without being seen by his pursuers; but this +delay had given them time to gain a great deal upon him, and when he +started their hurried tramp could be distinctly heard. + +His words had roused Leslie to a sense of his peril. By struggling and +laboring for a few minutes he succeeded in disengaging himself and +managed to crawl beneath a projecting ridge of rock. This effectually +concealed him from sight, and had his pursuers no suspicion of his +fall, he yet stood a chance of escaping. + +In a few moments he heard them overhead, and the pain of his wounds was +forgotten in the anxiety which he now felt for his safety. He knew that +they had hesitated, but whether it was on account of the leap which they +were required to make, or on account of any suspicion that they might +entertain, he could not divine. + +The place in which he had fallen had probably once been swept by a +torrent, but now a tiny stream only warbled through it. The murmur of +this, by Leslie's side, prevented his understanding the words of those +above. The hum of their voices could be heard but not their words. + +Presently, however, he distinguished a well-known voice evidently in +expostulation with some one. + +"Gorra mighty! does yer s'pects I can jump dat? It's bad 'nough to make +me git drownded in dat river without broken my neck down dar!" + +Leslie could not help wondering why Zeb was brought along, nor how he +managed to keep pace with the rest. But as he had not heard his voice +before, he concluded that the negro must have been brought by several +Indians who remained behind for that purpose. This conclusion was +confirmed by the words which he heard the next minute. + +"Whar's de use ob jumpin'? Dem yere fellers'll soon be back, coz dey +ain't agwine to cotch dat man nohow. He can run like a streak o' +sunshine, and likes as not dey'll all get shot. You'd better go on and +coax 'em to come back while I stay here and waits fur ye." + +In answer to this, Leslie heard some angry muttering and mumbling, but +could distinguish no words. In a moment, however, Zeb's voice was +audible. + +"Bless yer, you're de all-firedest fools I eber see'd. How does you +s'pects I's gwine to light on toder side. Ef one of you'll take me on +your back, I won't mind lettin' you try to carry me over; but I tells +you I ain't agwine to try it. So you can shut up yer rat-traps." + +Hardly a second elapsed before he again spoke: + +"Hold on dar; you kickin' all my brains out! I'll try it!" + +The next moment Leslie heard a dull thump, and Zeb came rolling down +directly beside him. + +"I's killed! Ebery bone is broken. I can't live anoder second." + +"Zeb! Zeb!" whispered Leslie, in a hurried whisper. + +The negro suddenly ceased his groaning and exclamations, and rolling his +head over toward him, asked, in a whisper. + +"Who's dat?" + +"It's I, Zeb. Get up quick, for God's sake, before they come down, or +I'm lost!" + +The negro clambered to his feet without difficulty, and disappeared, +shouting to those above: + +"I isn't hurt. It war de rock dat was broke by my head striking it! How +de pieces flewed!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE CAPTIVES. + + +When Rosalind Leland felt herself seized by the savage, she fainted in +the arms of her swarthy captor, and so remained for a long space of +time. When she recovered, she found that she was a secure prisoner in +the hands of her enemies. She was grieved to see that Zeb was a +companion in captivity. She felt that, could she alone suffer, she would +willingly bear it. Although acquainted with many Indians, she was unable +to recognize any of those around. This, of course, was a gratification. +It showed that the kindness of her parents and herself had not been lost +upon them. Although the recipients of her kindness might not strive to +prevent violence being done her, yet they refused to participate in it +themselves. + +The whole Indian force numbered about thirty. As soon as they had done +all in their power, and were convinced that there were no more captives +to be secured, they took up the line of march. In the course of their +journey, Rosalind found that she was near enough to hold a conversation +with Zeb, and after a few minutes' silence, she ventured: + +"How do you feel, Zeb?" + +"Bless you, missus, if dese niggers doesn't get the all-firedest +walloping when I gets de chance, dey may feel glad." + +"Yes, but I'm afraid that you will not get the chance very soon." + +"Oh, dey daresn't kill me; fur if dey did, I'd hang ebery one ob dem." + +Despite Rosalind's painful situation, she could not but smile at the +earnestness of tone in which Zeb delivered himself of this. She resumed: + +"Are you bound, Zeb?" + +"Not much; only a dozen ropes tied around one leg, and as many round de +rest ob me body." + +"Oh, Zeb, don't tell such stories." + +"Fact, Missus Leland. I counted 'em when dey's puttin' 'em on, and dey +cut like forty, too." + +"Forty-two what?" asked a gruff voice by Zeb's side, in very good +English. + +"Gorra mighty, _who's dat_?" + +No answer was given. + +"Who de debbil was dat?" asked Zeb, speaking to Rosalind. + +She made no answer and appeared to be lost in a reverie. Zeb repeated +his question but failed to elicit any reply. Muttering something to +himself, he permitted her silence to remain undisturbed. + +There were two horses in the party, and upon one of these Rosalind had +been placed. The other was bestrode by a savage, who appeared to be the +leader of the band. Zeb's hands were pinioned behind his back, and he +was compelled to walk behind the horse of Rosalind, with a guard that +kept a close eye upon his movements. + +[Illustration: There were two horses in the party, and upon one of these +Rosalind had been placed.] + +Silently yet rapidly the body moved along through the forest of +impenetrable darkness, where a perfect knowledge was required in order +to make the least progress. Rosalind's horse was a powerful creature, +and carried her with comparative comfort. Now and then the cold leaves +brushed her face, or her body grazed some tree, yet the animal carried +her safely and unharmed. Several times the thought of escape flashed +upon her. It seemed easy to turn her horse's head and gallop beyond the +reach of her enemies. But one of them was mounted, and she believed she +could elude him. She could ride down those immediately around her, and +what was there to prevent her making good her escape? + +And yet, after a few more minutes of thought, she abandoned all hopes of +liberty for the present. Her brother was free, and would leave no means +untried until she was again restored to him; and there was _another +one_, who, she knew in her heart, would exert himself to the utmost to +save her. This thought caused her heart to beat faster and faster. +There was a slight tremor in her voice as she spoke: + +"Zeb, come a little nearer to me." + +He made a movement, but was unable to approach much nearer. + +"Are you listening?" she asked, in a subdued tone. + +"Yes, missus; mouth, ears and eyes is open." + +"Then," said she, bending toward him and lowering her voice still more, +"I wish to ask you, Zeb, whether you would do me a favor?" + +"Lord bless you, missus, you knows I'd die a hundred times for you." + +"I believe you would," returned Rosalind, touched by his tone and words; +"but it is no hardship that I ask of you." + +"Well, out with it quick, fur dese fellers don't like to see yer horse's +side rubbin' all de wool off ob my head." + +"You are acquainted with Roland Leslie, Zeb?" asked Rosalind, bending +lower and speaking in a whisper which she scarcely heard herself. + +"Yes," answered Zeb, breathing hurriedly. + +"Well, should you see him, tell him of my situation; and--and--tell him +not to run into danger for my sake." + +"I will," rejoined Zeb, fervently. + +Here a savage, judging that matters had gone far enough, jerked the +negro rudely back. + +"You needn't be so spiteful," retorted Zeb; "she's told me all she's +agwine to." + +Rosalind had done so; nothing further passed between them. + +Toward morning they reached the banks of a stream, where the savages +divided into two parties. The one which retained the negro started down +the Ohio, while those who held Rosalind continued their journey in a +southerly direction. + +The course of the former has already been given, and also a part of +their doings. The latter, which numbered twenty, experienced nothing +worthy of record for a considerable time. They moved forward rapidly, +as they had some fears of pursuit. This was their reason for retaining +Rosalind with them. They were cunning enough to know that what efforts +might be made would be for her sake, while probably the negro would be +left to himself. + +Their progress south continued until Rosalind knew that she was many +miles in Kentucky. They had kept along the banks of a river during the +whole time, which she also knew to be the Big Sandy. From this she +judged that her captors were a tribe, or at least a part of one, which +belonged many miles distant from where her home had been. + +Throughout all her trials, Rosalind relied upon Providence with a firm, +unshaken faith. Although hope dawned but faintly upon her, she murmured +not. Her fears were great for others beside herself. She was young, and +her youthful blood coursed through her veins, bearing with it the +pleasures and hopes of life just commenced. It was hard to die, hard to +give up the hopes which had only begun to dawn in her bosom; yet, if it +was His will, she felt that she could go without a murmur. "Thy will be +done," was the prayer which but herself and Heaven heard. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE MEETING ON THE RIVER. + + +For some minutes after Zeb's disappearance, Leslie remained without +moving, scarcely breathing for fear there might still be some Indians +overhead; but as minute after minute wore by, and no sound above warned +him that his enemies were in the vicinity, he managed to creep from his +hiding-place and seat himself upon a rock near by. + +Now that he was safe for the present, he began to examine his wounds. +There being no strong emotion to occupy his mind, the pain again came +upon him, and he feared that he might be dangerously hurt; but, upon +examination he was gratified to see that he was only bruised in two or +three places. In falling, he had first struck upon his feet; his side, +from the force of the concussion, came rather violently in contact with +the jagged, projecting rocks. This gave a few severe flesh-cuts, which, +for the time being, were more painful and distressing than would have +been a wound of a more serious character. + +Still, he found that he was unable to walk without great labor and pain, +and concluded to remain in his present position until morning. He +crawled back into the hiding-place, and disposed of himself for the +night. Little sleep, however, was gained, and the night seemed the +longest that he had ever spent. + +When morning dawned, he emerged from his hard resting-place, and, with +great difficulty, made his way to the top. Then, shaping his course +toward the river, he reached it in the course of an hour or so. Here, to +his great joy, he found the boat that he and Kent had left. It was +pulled high and dry upon the bank, yet he succeeded in getting it in the +water, and, with a light heart, pushed out from the shore. + +It was so much easier to propel the boat than to walk, that he had no +difficulty in making good headway. He had determined upon no course to +pursue, but continued moving forward with a sort of instinct, hardly +caring in what direction he went. He was moving toward the spot where +once the house of the Lelands stood; some impulse seemed drawing him +thitherward. + +The truth was, Roland Leslie was thinking of Rosalind and her situation. +Although he had spoken to her but comparatively a few times, yet those +occasions had awakened a feeling in his breast which he found could not +be subdued; his love was growing day by day. He knew not whether she was +aware of his passion, but his fluttering heart told him, at least, that +she had not frowned upon him. + +Young love rests upon the slightest foundation; thus Leslie was +encouraged and made hopeful by the remembrance of the friendly meeting +which he had with Rosalind. Then, as he awoke from this pleasant reverie +into which he had fallen, the consciousness that she was now a captive +among the Indians, the thought maddened him. He dipped his oars deep in +the water, and moved swiftly along. + +It occurred to him that perhaps it would be best to keep a watch of the +shores ahead, to prevent running carelessly into danger. There might be +Indians concealed or lurking in the vicinity, and he would be easily +drawn into a decoy, should he be careless and thoughtless. + +He turned around and scanned the shore more closely and searchingly. +Seeing nothing suspicious, he was about to resume rowing again, when, +from an overhanging cluster of bushes came the sharp crack of a rifle, +and a bullet split one of the oars, a few inches below his hand. Seizing +his rifle, he turned toward the point from which the shot had come, but +could see no person. The thin wreath of smoke curling slowly up from the +bushes showed the point from which it had been given; but whoever the +person might be, he kept himself well concealed. In a moment another +shot was given, which glanced over the water a few feet from the stern. + +Leslie began to think that he was in rather a close situation, and +clutching his rifle nervously, endeavored to ascertain the point from +which the shot had come, determined to return one at all hazards. He did +not dare to pass over to the opposite side, for he had a suspicion that +they were intended for that purpose. He believed that his person had not +been aimed at, but the balls had been intended to pass closely enough to +alarm him and cause him to seek safety by pulling for the other shore, +where, probably, a foe was waiting. While he sat undetermined what +course to pursue, a form stepped out in full view upon the bank, and +accosted him. + +"Frightened any?" + +"Well, I should think I ought to be. Why, is that you, George?" + +"I believe so. Come in and take me aboard." + +"What reason had you for firing upon me?" asked Leslie, approaching him. + +"Well, not any. I saw you coming down-stream, and an idea seized me to +learn if you were easily frightened." + +"I felt rather nervous when that shot came," returned Leslie, pointing +at the hole in his oar. + +"It was a close rub; but, of course, I took good care not to make it too +close." + +"What is the news? What reason have you for being here?" asked Leslie, +interrupting him. + +"News enough," returned Leland, gloomily. + +"Step in the boat and let me hear it." + +As they passed down-stream, Leland narrated his story, and when he had +finished, remarked: + +"Roland, I have sought you for advice and assistance, and I trust both +will be given." + +"Gladly! Do you think, George, that I could rest as long as your sister +is in the hands of those savages?" + +"Pardon me," returned Leland, "if I at all doubted. This affliction +weighs heavily upon me." + +"I suspected this state of things," continued Leslie, "and it is the +reason that I hurried down-stream. Yet the uncertainty of seeing you or +any friend, deterred me from making haste to your place." + +Here Leslie gave the circumstances of his encountering Zeb, and his +subsequent misfortune, or, as he termed it, his fortune, of falling in +the gorge. + +"Then Kent is gone, is he?" asked George, when he had finished. "That is +too bad, for we need his assistance greatly." + +"In fact, I do not understand what we shall be able to do without him," +added Leslie. + +"Nor I; and here we are as helpless as if we were already in the hands +of the Indians, so far as regards any assistance that we can give +Rosalind," continued Leland. + +"Oh, don't despair so soon. I trust that Kent will soon turn up, and we +shall then have a good chance to recover her." + +"Where do you suppose that Kent can be?" + +"I can only guess." + +"What reason have you then for thinking that we shall meet him?" + +"This reason. He saw me fall, and was obliged to leave me for a time, as +the pursuers were close at hand. I am certain that, as soon as he +eluded and escaped them, he would return to the place for me." + +"And find you gone and give you up." + +"No; he would search the place, and seeing my trail, would follow it. I +left a pretty plain one, and he will meet with no difficulty." + +"But suppose the ranger is captured himself?" + +"There is no supposition in the case," rejoined Leslie, with an air of +assurance. + +"Well, admitting what you say," continued Leland, "did you leave a trail +after getting in the boat, that will be easy for him to follow?" + +"Easy enough. He knows what course I would take, and, consequently, he +knows what one to pursue." + +"But, even then, can he overtake you?" + +"I have not come very rapidly, and I think that he can. I believe that +at this moment he is on the way." + +"Well, Roland, we have probably speculated enough upon our chances of +meeting him. In the meantime, what do you propose that we do with +ourselves?" + +"As to that, I am hardly decided. There is great danger in our remaining +on the river, and yet I see no means which will be so apt to bring us in +communication with Kent." + +"This gliding down the Ohio in broad daylight, when we know the woods on +both sides are full of our enemies, is rather dangerous business, +although it may possess some advantages for us." + +"I leave the matter with you," said Leslie. "The stream is very broad +for a considerable distance, and both of us ought to understand enough +of woodcraft to prevent running into danger." + +"We _ought_ to understand enough," said Leland, significantly, "but the +fact is, we do _not_. There are so many contrivances these cunning +rascals devise for a white man's destruction, that one needs to have a +schooling of years in their ways to understand them. However," he added, +in a whisper, "I understand _that_ contrivance yonder." + +"What is that?" inquired his companion, in some excitement. + +"Take a careful look down-stream and tell me whether you see anything +unusual." + +"No--I don't know as I do," slowly repeated Leslie. "Hold on--yes, I +do--yonder is a log, or more likely two or three of them--a raft. I +suppose, Leland, it is for our benefit." + +"Undoubtedly. It was constructed for the benefit of the white race +generally; and, as we come first we are to be served first." + +"Let us cut in to shore and give them the slip." + +"It may be the very thing they wish us to do. The action of the savages, +so far, shows that they are more anxious to take prisoners than to slay +men. So keep quiet and don't allow yourself to become nervous." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE RAFT. + + +Slowly, silently and gently the boat glided onward--both Leslie and +Leland as motionless as death, yet with hearts throbbing wildly and +fearfully. The former stooped and whispered: + +"There are three Indians on it, upon the opposite side from us. We must +pass beyond the log before they will be in range of our guns. They will +not fire until we begin to pass them. Take a quick but sure aim, and +drop down in the bottom of the boat the instant your gun is discharged." + +Nearer and nearer came the canoe to the log, until but a few rods +separated them, but not a breath or fluttering of a leaf disturbed the +profound silence. + +When at the nearest point, scarcely more than two rods would separate +them. Still onward the boat swept until its prow was even with the log. + +"Ready," whispered Leslie, "you take the nearest one." + +[Illustration: "Ready," whispered Leslie, "you take the nearest one."] + +The next instant the enemies were in full view of each other. +Simultaneously the two rifles in the boat broke the solemn stillness. +But not a sound showed whether their shots had produced any effect at +all! Not a savage's head, however, could be seen! They either had been +slain or else had quietly drawn out of sight when they became aware of +the danger that menaced them. The latter was most probably the case, +although neither of the whites could satisfy himself upon that point. + +As the thin haze from the guns diffused itself over the spot, the same +oppressive silence settled upon the water, and the same absence of life +was manifest in everything around. So sudden had been the interruption, +that, a few minutes afterward, it was almost impossible to realize that +it had actually occurred. More than once both Leslie and Leland caught +themselves debating this very point in their minds. + +For a few moments the two remained concealed within the boat, for they +well knew that danger yet threatened; but, nervously excited over the +event, Leland, with a sad want of discretion, peered over the gunwale of +the canoe. + +"Down, instantly," admonished his companion, catching his shoulder. + +The report of another gun came at that very instant, and George dropped +so suddenly and awkwardly out of sight, that Leslie inquired with much +concern: + +"Are you hurt?" + +"Pretty near it, at any rate," returned Leland, putting his hand to his +face. + +He was not struck, however, although the ball had grazed and marked his +cheek. The instant Leland saw that he was not injured, he raised himself +and aimed toward the log. No sign of an enemy was visible, and not +knowing but what there might be more loaded rifles behind the +contrivance, he dropped his head again. + +Peering cautiously over the gunwale, the young man saw the raft +gradually approaching the Kentucky shore. The Indians possessing no +means of reloading their pieces without running great risk, probably +deemed it best to make a safe retreat. + +The distance between the whites and the savages slowly but surely +increased, and when the former judged they were comparatively safe, they +arose and plied their paddles. + +"Now if we can only come across Kent, I shall be pretty hopeful of +getting out of the woods," remarked Leslie. + +"But how is that to be done? There is just the trouble." + +"I think he will find _us_ if we only wait for him." + +"I agree with you, that it is all that we can do. We will row +down-stream a short distance further, where we will be sheltered more +from the observation of our enemies, and wait until he comes, or until +it is pretty certain that he will not." + +Leslie bent to his oars, and the boat again shot forward. Each now felt +a stronger hope. The depression of spirits under which Leland was +laboring began to undergo a reaction. + +Leslie was naturally of a more buoyant disposition than Leland, and +seldom suffered those spells of melancholy which are so apt to affect +those of a temperament less sanguine. The latter at seasons was more +light-hearted than the former, yet adverse circumstances easily affected +and depressed him. + +The locality to which Leslie had referred was a place in the river where +the overhanging boughs and underwood were so thick and luxuriant that it +was an easy matter to send a small boat beneath them and remain +effectually hidden from any enemy passing up or down the river. + +Their plan was to conceal themselves, and thus, while affording +themselves comparative security, to keep an unremitting watch for the +appearance of Kent. They expected, and in fact were certain, that he +would descend the opposite side, which, from their hiding-place, could +be easily seen. + +Leslie, with a vigorous pull, sent the boat under the sweeping branches, +and, coming to rest, remarked: + +"There, George, we are safe for the present. An Indian might pass within +twenty feet of us, and not dream of our proximity." + +"True, Leland, I feel glad that we are thus fortunate." + +"See," continued Leslie, "what a nice arrangement. From my seat I can +keep a good view of the opposite side." + +"How long do you intend to remain here?" asked Leland, whose fears were +ever on the alert. + +"Can't say precisely." + +"Remember that food will be necessary, and soon necessary, too." + +"I am aware of that, yet we can do without it for some time. If Kent is +going to pass us, it will be during to-morrow." + +"Leslie," said Leland, earnestly, "I have been thinking deeply upon our +chances of meeting him, and I must confess that they seem few indeed." + +"I do not doubt it. They would have the same appearance to me, were it +not for one thing. I have been calculating, and though, of course, a +great deal of guess-work has been employed, yet I think that I have come +to a very nearly correct conclusion. I'm pretty positive that if Kent +reaches us, it will be in the neighborhood of to-morrow at mid-day. Not +seeing him, I shall fire my rifle. Kent knows the sound of it, and will +search for us." + +"Perhaps he may not be upon the opposite shore." + +"Which will be as well, yet I can think of no reason that would induce +him to cross." + +"In the meantime, how do you propose that we pass away time and keep off +_ennui_." + +"In sleep, if that is possible." + +"I think it is with myself," returned Leland, with a light laugh. + +"And the same with me," added Leslie. + +"Well, the circumstances being favorable, I propose that we commence +operations at once." + +"A good suggestion." + +Both disposed themselves as best they could in the boat, and being tired +and fatigued, were soon asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +LOST AND FOUND. + + +The two young men slept soundly through the night. When Leslie awoke it +was broad day, and his companion was still asleep. He suffered him to +remain so until the day was well advanced. Then each felt the pangs of +hunger. Leland proposed that one should land and go in quest of food, +but Leslie answered: + +"If Kent appears, it will be in the course of a few hours. We had better +wait and see what comes of patience." + +Another hour of silence wore away. Leland was about to speak when Leslie +exclaimed, in a whisper: + +"Hush!" + +They listened intently. In a moment the steady measured dip of paddles +could be heard. Whoever was approaching had little fear or apprehension +of danger; for they came fearlessly along, and were moving with +considerable noise and swiftness. + +Leland and Leslie held their breath as the sound came steadily nearer. +Not a whisper was exchanged. The former, from his position, could not +discern any object that might be passing, but the latter had a full view +of the river. + +In a moment the whole force passed before Leslie's eyes. Two canoes +loaded with Indians glided past, unconscious of their proximity. Each +drew a long breath of relief; but for a considerable time neither +ventured a whisper. + +"It appears to me that Indians are plenty in these parts," remarked +Leland. + +"Rather more than I could wish," returned his companion. + +"Confound it, it will soon be time to fire your gun, and of course the +savages will hear it." + +"But for all that I shall risk it. It will not do to let Kent escape +us." + +"How soon do you intend discharging your piece?" + +"In an hour or so." + +"Well, see here, Roland, if Kent comes, it can not be expected that he +will have any food. The report of your gun will doubtless reach the ears +of enemies as well as friends." + +"I expect it will." + +"And still further: if such be the case, we shall not dare to land for +fear of an encounter. We may be obliged to remain concealed for a few +days, and no means will be left to procure food during that time. Now, +what I am coming at is this: while we have an opportunity to get it, let +us do it." + +"How do you propose obtaining it?" + +"Easily enough. Just let me land, and I will insure you success in a +short time." + +"But you have overlooked one thing." + +"What is it?" + +"The report of your gun will be heard as well as mine, and will be as +likely to attract the attention of any enemies in the neighborhood." + +"That is true, but I can reach the boat in time." + +"And although Kent is within a short distance, I shall not dare to +apprise him of our situation." + +"Such appears to be the case; but you must see that it is absolutely +necessary that _some_ means should be taken to secure food." + +"I admit it, and am willing that you should try." + +"Hold!" exclaimed Leland, brightening up. "I have a plan. You say that +Kent, in the course of an hour or so, will probably be near enough for +you to fire. I will try and not bring down any game until that time, and +the minute you hear the report of my gun you must discharge yours. This +will have the effect that you wish, and I shall have time to reach you +before any one can come up." + +"A capital idea," said Leslie. "Hearing two guns, the Indians will have +a little more fear in approaching us, than they would did they hear but +one. You deserve credit, George, for the thought." + +"Remember, and wait until you hear my gun, before you fire yours," +replied he. + +"I will wait an hour, George; and then, whether I hear yours or not, I +shall discharge mine. As I said a while ago, it won't do to let Kent +escape us, and I must be sure to warn him." + +"I trust that I shall encounter game before that time; but should I not, +you must do as you said. I will return upon hearing you." + +"And return instantly," said Leslie, impressively. "Don't wait until the +danger is increased. Although it may seem that a few minutes will enable +you to procure abundant food, don't wait a single minute. It may cost +you your life, if you do." + +"I will remember your advice. Now shove in a little nearer shore and I +will be off." + +Leslie brought the boat to the bank, and Leland stepped off. + +"Try and not be gone long; do not wander too far, for it will be an easy +thing to get lost in this forest. Remember that it will take you +considerable time to reach me, and if the distance be too great, an +enemy may be ahead of you. Be careful in all your movements, and be sure +to return the instant that my gun is heard." + +"I will try and obey you," returned Leland. And George disappeared in +the mazes of the woods. + +Leslie returned to his former position, and more to occupy his mind than +anything else, gazed out upon the broad bosom of the Ohio, as it glided +majestically along, through the dark shadows of the forest. It then +presented a far different appearance from what it does at this day. No +crowded cities then lined its banks. The flaming steamboat had not +broken its surface; the canoe, gliding noiselessly over it, was all that +gave token of the presence of man. A rude cabin erected in some lone +spot in the wilderness, like a green spot in the desert, showed the +feeble footing which he had upon the soil. + +Solemnly and silently the old Ohio rolled along through its hundreds of +miles until it as solemnly and silently united with the great father of +waters. + +When one has recently passed through an exciting and momentous +occurrence, and is then left completely alone, it is difficult to keep +from falling into a reverie; the subject which interests the mind most +will finally occupy it to the exclusion of everything else. + +Thus it was with Roland Leslie. At first he began speculating upon the +probable success of Leland's enterprise; then upon the probability of +his arresting the attention of Kent, should he chance to be in the +vicinity. Having considered this for some time, he reflected upon the +dangers through which he had passed, and upon the likelihood of further +deliverance from them. This thought called to mind his mishap among the +rocks, and he proceeded to examine his wounds, of which, for some time, +he had entirely ceased to think. These being not very severe, as we have +shown, had failed to trouble him, and he was glad to see that they +needed no more attention. + +Again left to his thoughts, they shortly wandered to Rosalind Leland. +Where was she? Was she alive, or already slain? Was there any hope of +meeting her again? Could _he_ do anything toward rescuing her from +bondage? He felt certain that she was alive, although a close prisoner, +and was confident that recovery was possible. That he determined she +_should be_ rescued, and that he should be the one that would do it, was +not strange. + +Love will upset the mind of any person, and at times play the _wild_ +with him. Leslie was naturally clear-headed, far-sighted and sagacious; +yet, when he permitted his ideas to dwell upon the object of his love, +they sadly misused him. At such times he was another person. He lost +sight of the obstacles and dangers which would have been apparent to any +one gifted with ordinary shrewdness; and he formed plans which, in his +sober moments, would have only excited his ridicule. + +Strange as it may seem for such a person to have been guilty of such an +idea, Leslie had not pondered upon the absorbing topic for any length of +time before he deliberately came to the conclusion to rescue Rosalind in +the course of three days, to rebuild her old home, and settle down with +her for the rest of his life! Of course the savages would never disturb +him, and he should be, without doubt, the happiest mortal in existence! + +He was suddenly awakened from his reverie by the faint report of +Leland's rifle. It sounded fully a mile distant, and the certainty of +his danger made him tremble with apprehension. George, as he feared, had +forgotten the warning given him, and, in the excitement, had +unconsciously wandered to a greater distance than he supposed. In all +probability he was lost, and would be obliged to seek the river and +follow it in order to find Leslie. This would require time, and he had +already exposed himself to danger by firing his gun. + +Although Roland had promised to fire upon hearing Leland, yet he +forebore to do it. The difference which a half-hour would make in the +probability of Kent's hearing his own gun, would be in his favor. He +supposed that Leland, upon discharging his piece, had instantly set out +to return, and he wished to give him almost sufficient time to reach +him. + +Anxiously and painfully Roland listened, with his finger upon the +trigger of his gun; and, as minute after minute wore away without a +sound reaching him, he began to hope that Leland could be at no great +distance. + +A few more minutes were passed, when Roland concluded that the time for +firing his signal had arrived. It would serve to guide Leland, and, had +he not deceived himself, would reach the ears of Kent. Standing up in +the boat, he raised the gun above his head, and was already pressing the +trigger, when he paused, as he heard the sharp crack of Leland's rifle +at no great distance. He waited a few seconds, until the echo had died +away, and then discharged his own. + +He remained stationary a moment, as though to permit the sound to escape +entirely from his rifle. Then, reseating himself, proceeded to reload +it. This done, he impatiently listened for a returning signal. He had +placed a great deal of reliance and hope upon that shot, and, as he now +was so soon to learn whether it had accomplished what he wished, he +could not keep down his fearful anxiety. + +He was nervous, and listened with painful interest for the slightest +sound. The falling of a leaf startled him; and, at last, unable to +restrain himself, he determined again to fire his gun. + +At that instant there came a crash of Leland's rifle, followed by the +maddened shouts of infuriated savages, so near that Leslie sprung to his +feet and gazed about him. Recovering himself, he stooped, and, seizing a +paddle, began shoving the boat toward shore, fully determined to afford +his friend all the assistance that lay in his power. + +The boat had hardly touched, when there was a rustling in the bushes +directly before him, and the next instant Kent stood beside him. + +"Quick--shove out! They are after me!" he exclaimed, springing into the +boat and grasping the oars. + +"Where is George?" asked Leslie. + +"They've got him, and came nigh getting me. Cuss the infernal devils!" + +In a moment the two had freed themselves from the bushes. As the yells +of their enemies were heard upon the shore, they had reached the center +of the stream, and were passing swiftly downward. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE COMPANION IN CAPTIVITY. + + +When Leland left the boat, he wandered forward for a considerable +distance, not noticing the direction in which he was going, only intent +upon securing game of some sort or other. Still, he exercised +considerable caution in his movements, and determined not to risk a shot +unless he was certain of his success. Birds and quadrupeds were plenty, +and he did not entertain any doubts of his ability to secure all that he +wished. He permitted several good shots to pass, for the reason that he +did not wish to fire until the hour was up. By this means he +unconsciously increased the distance between himself and Leslie, until +it occurred to him that the hour had nearly expired. A few minutes +after, having a good opportunity, he improved it, and, securing his +prize, turned to retrace his steps. + +Then it flashed upon him, for the first time, that he was lost. As we +said, he had failed to notice the direction, and had no idea of the +course to pursue in order to reach the river. The only means left was to +proceed by guess; contrary to what might be expected, he took the right +course. His anxiety caused him to be somewhat heedless; and after +proceeding a short distance, he again discharged his rifle. Then hearing +the report of Leslie's rifle but a short distance away, he set joyously +forward, confident of soon coming up to him. He had not gone far when he +heard a suppressed, significant whistle. Hardly conscious of its +meaning, he paused and listened. It was repeated, and becoming +suspicious, he sprung behind a tree. While listening, the subdued voice +of Kent reached him: + +"Make for the river, George; the imps are on your trail." + +He turned to obey this injunction, but had not taken a dozen steps when +a rifle flamed from some concealment, and a twinge in his side told him +that he was wounded. At the same instant several savages sprung toward +him, setting up their demoniac howls. The pain of his wound maddened +him, and, regardless of consequences, he raised his rifle and shot the +foremost through the breast, when scarcely the length of his gun from +him. + +This act, though rash, and one which he would not have done in his +cooler moments, was the means eventually of saving his life. The +intention of the savages was to kill him on the spot; but the death of +one of their number increased their fury and thirst for vengeance, and +the chief or leader deterred the others from further violence, +determined that his death should be at the stake. + +"You shoot Indian, eh?" said one, through his closed teeth, brandishing +his knife at the same time in the face of the young man. + +[Illustration: "You shoot Indian, eh?" said one, brandishing his knife +at the same time.] + +He made no reply; but weakened by the loss of blood, sunk fainting to +the ground. He was jerked to his feet, and although barely able to +stand, was forced forward, and compelled to keep pace with the others. + +The Indians who had thus captured Leland were the same band who had +pursued him and Kent. The latter had taken a circuitous course, and, +after placing a considerable distance between himself and his enemies, +took the back track and reached the gorge where Leslie had fallen, +hoping to find him there; but being disappointed, followed his trail to +the river where he saw that he had embarked in the boat. + +Kent knew that his own trail would be followed. In order to mislead the +savages, he took to the water and swam about a half-mile down-stream +before he landed upon the opposite side. But it seemed that fate was +against him. The savages in pursuing him had separated somewhat. Kent's +ruse one of them accidentally discovered, and apprised his companions. +They collected and immediately took the right trail. The first +intimation the ranger had of his danger was the whistling of a bullet a +few inches from his head, as he was nearing the bank; and when his feet +rested upon land, his unwearied and tenacious enemies were in the river, +boldly crossing toward him. + +When the Indians reached the bank, Kent was already at a great distance, +yet they continued their pursuit, and had gone some distance, when the +first report of Leland's rifle reached their ears. This they mistook for +Kent's, and abandoning the trail, made directly toward it. The second +discharge of the young man's gun occurred when he was but a short +distance from them. Kent endeavored to warn him of his danger, but as we +have seen, it was too late. He himself was discovered and hotly pursued +to the boat, where he barely succeeded in making his escape. + +Leland's captors took up their march toward the Ohio. Here, although +their captive was suffering intense agony, they forced him into the +water, and compelled him to swim across. Every stroke he thought would +be his last, yet he reached the shore in safety. The band set forward at +once. There were six savages, upon two of whom the duty of attending +Leland devolved. Yet he required little watching or attention. The +thought of escape was far from his mind; he was in a sad situation to +rebel or offer resistance. Both hands were firmly secured behind him, +and his strength was taxed to the utmost to keep up with his captors. + +In the course of a couple of hours they came upon two of their +companions, seated around and amusing themselves with a negro. Each +appeared to enjoy himself prodigiously at the expense of the poor +African, who was boiling over with furious rage. + +"Get out, niggers!" he shouted, "my head's split wide open now, sure!" + +Here one of the savages amused himself by letting the end of a weighty +stick fall upon the head of the negro. The luxuriant wool caused it to +re-bound again, to the infinite delight of the tormentors, who smiled +horribly at it. + +Leland recognized Zeb as he came up. It gave him a sort of pleasure, or +rather served to lighten his pain, to know that they were to be +companions in captivity. He could probably obtain information of +Rosalind, while the conversation of the slave might assist to keep off +the gloom which was settling over him. + +"Gorra, ef dar ain't massa Leland," exclaimed the negro, turning toward +the approaching Indians. "High! whar'd _you_ come from, George? What did +you let 'em cotch _you_ fur?" + +"Because I could not prevent it," returned he, with a faint smile. + +"Well, now, if't had been dis pusson, you see, dey'd 've had some +trouble." + +"How is it that you are here, then?" + +"Well, dat question requires considerable explanation. I know'd as how +dey's agoin' to git _you_, and so I just come along to help you out de +scrape." + +Here the conversation ceased for the present. Leland had stretched +himself upon the ground, and the pain of his wound increased. A savage +noticing this, prepared a sort of poultice of pounded leaves and herbs, +and placed it upon his side. Had this been done with a view to +alleviate his suffering and not to preserve him for a great and awful +torture, as it really was, Leland might have felt disposed to thank him +for it. + +It had now begun to grow dark. A fire was started, and in a short time a +large quantity of meat was roasted. A piece of this was offered to +Leland, but, though a short time before he had felt keenly the pangs of +hunger, the sight of food now filled him with loathing. + +"S'posen you offer dis pusson a few pounds, just to see if he'll take +it," suggested Zeb, gazing wistfully toward the Indian who held it. + +Several pieces were given him, all of which he devoured voraciously and +demanded more. An Indian approached him, and holding a piece within a +few inches of his mouth, jerked it away as he was about to seize it. +This was repeated several times, until Zeb, losing all patience, became +morose and sullen and refused to snap at it. The savage seemed disposed +to humor him and held it still closer. Zeb, watching his opportunity, +made a quick motion, and nearly severed the finger of his tormentor's +hand, between his teeth. The savage dropped the meat with a howl, and +furiously shaking his wounded member, fairly danced with pain. He would +have undoubtedly killed the negro had not his companions prevented. They +enjoyed the sport and encouraged Zeb, who devoured his food for some +time in dignified silence. + +"Wouldn't mind tryin' some more. S'posen you hold out yer other hand!" + +No one noticed this remark, and the negro was obliged to rest satisfied +with what he had obtained. + +As night came on, the savages stretched themselves upon the earth and +left the prisoners to themselves. Each was securely fastened. Leland was +within a few feet of Zeb, yet he concluded to wait until all were asleep +before he ventured to hold converse with him. + +At length when the night had considerably advanced, and the heavy +breathing of the savages showed that slumber had at last settled upon +them, George turned his head so that he faced the negro, and abruptly +asked: + +"Zeb, what do you know of my sister?" + +"Noffin'!" returned the negro, earnestly. + +"Were you not taken off together?" + +"At fust we was; but dey took her one way and me anoder." He then +proceeded to narrate all the circumstances which had occurred to him, +since the burning of the house, in his own characteristic way. + +"I am afraid you will soon have your last adventure," said Leland. + +"Gorra! does you s'pose dat dey'd dare to shake a stick at me when I's +mad." + +"I think they were engaged at that when I came up." + +"Well, dat you see is a mistake." + +"Have you heard anything hinted of the manner in which they intend to +dispose of you?" + +"Not much, but I consates dat I knows. Dey'll just make me dar chief, if +I'll stay wid 'em, and I's bout 'cluded dat I would, just so dat I can +pay 'em for dis trick." + +"Have they made the proposition yet?" asked George, feeling a strange +impulse to amuse himself. + +"Well, 'bout as good. Dey axed me not to hurt 'em, and said somefin' +'bout tying somebody to a tree and roastin' 'em. S'pose dey's 'fraid +I'll do it to all ob 'em one dese days, if dey isn't careful." + +"Why do they misuse you, if they intend to elevate you?" + +"Well, dat's hard to tell. They've gone and went and cut all my curls +off." + +"Never mind such things," said Leland, again feeling depressed. "In all +probability neither you nor I will see many more days. Unless we are +rescued pretty soon, we shall be past all human help. I advise you, Zeb, +to let serious thoughts enter your mind. Think of the world which you +are soon to enter, and try and make some preparation for it." + +The negro gazed wonderingly at Leland, then turned his head without +speaking. The words probably had some effect upon him, for he made no +further observations. His silence seemed occasioned by the doom pending +over him. + +That night was one never to be forgotten by Leland. The pain of his +wound, and the still greater pain of his thoughts, prevented a moment's +sleep. Hour after hour he gazed into the smoldering embers before him, +buried in deep meditation, and conjuring up fantastic figures in the +glowing coals. Then he watched the few stars which were twinkling +through the branches overhead, and the sighing of the solemn night-wind +made music that chorded with the feelings of his soul. + +Far in the small hours of the night, he lay still awake, sending up his +prayer to the only eye that saw him, and to the only one that could +assist him. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +ZEB'S REVENGE. + + +When the King of Terrors shakes his sword at his victim, unwonted +yearnings come over the human heart. To die alone, removed from home and +friends, when strange faces are beside us, is a fate which we all +fervently pray may not be ours. Yet, when these strangers are enemies, +and our death is at their hands--when every shriek or moan elicits only +jeers and laughter, how unspeakably dreadful is the fate! He who has +lost a dear friend in war, that has languished and died in the hands of +strangers, and perhaps received no burial at their hands--he who mourns +such a loss, may be able to appreciate, in some degree, the mournful +situation of young Leland, in the hands of the malignant Shawnees. + +It is at such times as these, if at no other, that the stricken and +bowed heart turns to the One who alone can cheer and sustain. When shut +out from all prospect of human help, and conscious that there is but one +arm which is not shortened, we do not draw back from calling upon that +arm to sustain us in the dark hour of trial. + +With the dull glow of the slumbering camp-fire, the grotesque groups of +almost unconscious sleepers, the solemn sighing of the night-wind, and +the twinkle of the stars through the branches overhead--with such +mournful surroundings as these, George Leland sent up his prayer of +agony to God. + +He prayed, not for life, but for the preparation to meet the death +impending. The soft wailing of the night-zephyr seemed to warn him that +the death-angel was approaching every moment. He prayed for his beloved +sister in the hands of ruthless enemies--prayed only as he could pray +when he realized her peril. And he sent up his petition for the safety +of Leslie, who might still be awaiting his return--for the rough ranger +with him, and for the rude, untutored negro, now his brother-prisoner. + +A short distance away, he could discern the shadowy form of Zeb, bound +against a tree, while scattered around him were stretched the savage +sentinels, whether asleep or not he was unable to tell. As for that +matter, however, they might as well have been unconscious as awake, for +the slumber of the North American Indian is so delicate that a falling +leaf is sufficient to disturb it. + +The heart of Leland bled for the poor ignorant colored man. His +prolonged silence showed that he had begun to realize, in some measure, +his appalling situation. His natural thoughtlessness and recklessness +could not last forever. It might carry him into many a danger, but not +_beyond_ it. + +The Shawnees seemed to imagine that the bonds of the prisoners were +secure, and that there was no possibility of their escape. In fact, +Leland had no hopes of release. Had his hands been free, he might have +ventured to do something; but at present they were as useless as if he +were deprived altogether of those members. + +It was fully an hour beyond midnight, when, in spite of his situation, +Leland began to yield to the fatigue of the day. His head drooped upon +his breast, and he started fitfully. It is at such times as these that +the nervous system seems to be most fully alive to what is passing. The +prisoner was just in this state of mind when his attention was arrested +by a sound no louder than the murmuring wind above him--so low, indeed, +that it would have escaped his attention altogether, had it not been of +a character different from that monotonous moaning. + +With the consciousness of this sound, came also the knowledge that it +was a continuous one, and had been in progress some time. At first it +seemed to be in the tree above him, but a moment's listening proved that +it came from the direction of the negro, Zeb. The darkness had deepened +somewhat during the last hour, so that he could barely make the outline +of the fellow, but could not discern any motion upon his part, unless it +was an absolute change of position. + +All doubt as to Zeb being the author of the disturbing sound was removed +as soon as Leland became fully awake. It came directly from toward him, +and was of such a nature that it could not have been caused by one of +the sleeping Shawnees. With his eyes intently fixed upon the shadowy +outlines of the negro, Leland saw the upper part of his body move +forward, and then suddenly straighten itself again. This singular +movement was repeated several times, and then, to his amazement, he saw +the African step clear away from the tree and approach him! + +As Zeb deposited his foot upon the ground, it was slowly and cautiously, +and at each time he threw his outstretched arms upward, like a bird when +flying, distorting his face also, as if the effort caused him extreme +pain. But he passed the sleepers safely, and was soon beside his master. + +"How did you succeed in freeing yourself?" he asked. + +"Golly, I chawed 'em off!" he replied, with a suppressed chuckle. "Had a +great notion of chawin' de tree off, so dat it mought fall on dem and +broke dar necks." + +"'Sh! you are making too much noise," admonished Leland, in a guarded +whisper. + +"Shall I eat up your cords?" + +"Loosen them around my wrists and arms, and then I will help myself." + +"Yere's de instruments dat will do dat same t'ing," said Zeb, applying +himself to the task at once. He progressed with such celerity and +success that in a few moments, to Leland's unspeakable delight, he found +his arms at liberty. It need scarcely be said that these were +immediately used to assist the negro in his further efforts. + +The excitement and nervousness of the young man were so great, that when +his limbs were freed of the fetters he was scarcely able to stand, and, +for a few moments, was on the very verge of fainting. The sudden renewal +of hope overcame him for the time. By a powerful effort he regained his +self-possession, and strove, in the few hurried seconds that were his, +to decide upon some means of action. + +It may be said that the two prisoners were literally surrounded by +savages. They were stretched on every side of them, and before either +dare hope to escape, it was necessary (if the expression be allowable) +to scale the dreaded prisonwall. Leland had good cause to fear success +for himself and his sable companion in this attempt. He found, to his +chagrin and dismay, that scarcely any reliance at all could be placed +upon his own limbs. His legs especially, from their long confinement in +one position, were so cramped and spasmodic, that, when he stepped out +from the tree to join the negro, one of them doubled like a reed beneath +him and let him fall to the ground. He believed it was all over with +him; but his fall was so gentle as not to disturb the sleepers, and he +once more raised himself to his feet. + +"Shan't I carry dat sick leg while you walk wid de oder one?" inquired +Zeb, in a sympathetic tone. + +"It is almost useless to me at present," replied Leland. "Let me lean +upon you while we walk, and for the love of heaven, Zeb, be cautious. A +single mismove, and it will be all up with us." + +"Strikes dis chile dat it was ober wid you jes' now, de way you +cawalloped onto de ground jes' now." + +"My leg is asleep and numb." + +"Let's wake it up, den." + +Leland paused a few moments until the circulation was somewhat restored; +but, as every moment seemed so fraught with peril to him, he whispered +to the negro to move ahead, repeating his petition for him to exercise +the most extreme caution in all his movements. + +After all, the young man knew that the peril of both lay in the habitual +recklessness of the ignorant fellow. + +At first Zeb entirely overdid the matter. The trained elephant that +steps over the prostrate and pompous form of Van Amburgh, was not more +careful and tardy in the performance of his feat than was the negro in +passing the unconscious form of a Shawnee. Although Leland deemed this +circumspection unnecessary, he did not protest, as he feared, in case he +did so, the negro would run into the opposite extreme. + +The foot of Zeb was lifted in the very act of stepping over the third +and last savage, when a smoldering ember parted, and a twist of flame +flared up. At that instant, he looked down and recognized in the +features of the Indian, the one who had taken such especial delight in +tormenting him through the day. The negro paused while he was yet +astride of him. + +"Look dar!" he whispered, "dat's him; tired himself out so much pullin' +at my wool, dat he is sleepin' like a chicken in de egg." + +Leland made no reply, but motioned for him to proceed; but Zeb +stubbornly maintained his position. + +"Look what a mouf he has!" he added; "tremenjus! If 'twas only two, free +inches wider on each side, he mought outshine me; but it's no use de way +de affair is got up jes' now." + +"Go on! go on!" repeated Leland, shoving him impatiently with his hand. + +"In jes' one minit. Dat's him dat bothered me so much to-day. I'd like +to smoke him for it! Gorra! if he hain't woke. Dar--take dat!" + +The savage, who had been awakened and alarmed by the voice of the negro, +received a smashing blow in his face, that straightened him out +completely. Realizing his imminent peril, Leland at once leaped away in +the woods at the top of his speed, the negro taking a direction almost +opposite. Every Shawnee was aroused; the critical moment for the +fugitives was upon them. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE BRIEF REPRIEVE. + + +Leland succeeded in getting outside the circle of savages when, feeling +himself in the open woods, he dashed away at the top of his speed. He +ran with astonishing swiftness for a few moments, when, as might +naturally be expected, he so exhausted himself that he was scarcely able +to stand. + +From the moment of starting, the Shawnees seemed to understand the +identity of the fugitives; and while they did not neglect to send in +pursuit of the flying negro, four of their fleetest runners instantly +dashed after the white man. Were it in the daylight, the latter would +not have stood a moment's chance against them; but he hoped to elude +them in the darkness and gloom of the woods. The obscuration being only +partial, his pursuers close in his rear, and the noise of the rustling +leaves beneath his feet betraying every step, it will be seen at once +that he was in the most constant and imminent danger. + +Pausing but a few seconds--barely sufficient to catch his "second +breath," he again leaped away. There is no telling how long he would +have run, had he not stepped into a hole, deep and narrow--the mouth of +a fox's burrow evidently, for it was quite hidden by overgrowth--he fell +into the hole with a sudden violence which confused and stunned him. +Panting and exhausted, he lay still and awaited his pursuers. + +They were far closer than he imagined. He seemed scarcely to have +disappeared, when the whole four passed within a few feet of him. How +fearfully his heart throbbed as the foot of one threw several leaves +upon his person! + +Leland had lain here less than five minutes, when a second footstep +startled him. It came from an entirely different direction; and +approaching to within about a dozen feet, it halted. Rising to his +hands and feet so that his head was brought upon a level with the +ground, he peered through the darkness at the object. One long, earnest, +scrutinizing look, revealed the dress of a large Indian. His position +was so favorable that he could even make out the rifle he held in his +hand. + +He stood as motionless as a statue for a moment, and then gave utterance +to a cry that resembled exactly that of the whippoorwill. Receiving no +response, he repeated it again, but with no better success than before. +The cowering fugitive was listening for the slightest movement upon his +part, when to his unfeigned amazement, the Indian in a suppressed +whisper called out, "_Leland!_" + +The young man, however, was not thrown off his guard. He knew that every +one of his captors spoke the English language, some of them quite +fluently. It need scarcely be said that he made no response to the call, +even when it was iterated again and again. The savage during these +utterances did not stir a hand or foot, but seemed to bend all his +faculties into the one of listening. He had stood but a few moments, +when Leland caught the rustle of approaching feet. + +The Indian detected them at the same moment, and instantly moved off, +but with such a catlike tread that the young man scarcely heard him at +all. Ah! had he but known the identity of that strange Indian, and +responded to his call, he would have been saved. + +It was scarcely a moment later when the whole four Indians came back at +a leisurely gait, and halted not more than a rod from where Leland +imagined he lay concealed. They commenced conversing at once in broken +English: + +"White man got legs of deer--run fast," said one. + +"Yeh!--git away from four Shummumdewumrum--run much fast," added +another. + +"Go back to camp--stay dere--won't come among Shawnee ag'in--don't like +him, t'ink." + +"He run much fast--mebbe fast as black man." + +At this point the whole four laughed immoderately, as if in remembrance +of the ludicrous figure of Zeb. Their mirth continued for several +moments, when they sobered down and renewed their conversation. + +"Wait till daylight--den foller trail t'rough woods--Shummumdewumrum git +eye on it--soon cotch him." + +This Leland felt was now his great danger. Should his pursuers return to +their camp, he hoped the distance that he thus gained upon them would be +sufficient to carry him entirely beyond their reach; but if they decided +to remain where they were, his only chance was to steal away before the +morning came. Judging such to be their intention, he determined to make +the attempt at once. + +On his hands and knees he commenced crawling forward, listening to every +word that was uttered. + +"White man try hard to git away--don't like Shawnee great much." + +"He run much fast, _den fall down in woods_!" + +"_Den try to crawl away like snake!_" + +Leland saw that it was all over with him and gave up at once. The +Indians had been aware of his hiding-place from the moment he fell, and +their passage beyond it, their return and their conversation, were all +made on purpose to toy with his fears, as a cat would play with a mouse +before destroying it. + +As one of the savages uttered the last words, he walked directly to the +prostrate man, and ordered him to arise. Leland judged it best to resist +no further. He accordingly obeyed; and, saddened and despairing, was led +back a prisoner to the Indian camp. + + * * * * * + +We have heard of a fish, known in the humble fisherman's parlance as the +_ink-fish_, which, when pursued by an enemy, has the power of tinging +the water in its immediate vicinity with such a dark color, that its +pursuer is completely befogged and gives up the hopeless chase in +disgust. + +A realizing sense of his recklessness and his imminent peril came over +Zeb when he felled the rising Shawnee to the earth. It was his +intention, in the first place, to serve every one in the same manner; +but as they came to their feet far more rapidly than he anticipated, he +gave over the idea, and, with a "Ki! yi!" plunged headlong into the +woods. At this very juncture, the attention of the Indians was taken up +with Leland, as the more important captive of the two, and for a moment +the negro escaped notice; but the instant the four started after him, +two others gave Zeb their undivided attention. + +The sable fugitive, with all his recklessness, did the very best thing +that could have been done under the circumstances. Instead of fleeing, +as did Leland, he ran less than a hundred yards, when he halted abruptly +and took a position behind a sapling. Here he stood as motionless as +death, while his enemies came on. Whether his intensely black +countenance had the power of diffusing deeper darkness into the +surrounding gloom, or whether it was the unexpected manner of his flight +that deluded his pursuers, we are unable to say. Certain it is that +although the two savages passed very closely to him, neither saw nor +suspected his presence. + +"Gorra, but dat's soothin'," chuckled Zeb. "Dey've missed me dis time, +shuah! Wonder whether dey'll outlive dar disapp'intment, when dey finds +out dat when dey finds me, dey hain't found me! Ki! yi!" + +He maintained his motionless position for several moments longer, all +the while listening for his enemies. As their footsteps finally died out +in the distance, and he realized that he was left alone indeed, his +former characteristic returned to him. + +"What's to be done, dat _am_ de question!" said he, speaking in an +incautiously loud voice, as he spread out his left hand at the same +time, and rested the forefinger of his right upon it. "In de _fust_ +place, I don't know what has become of Master Leland. If he's done got +away, how am I to find him? If I sets up a yell to cotch his ear, like +'nuff de oders will hear it also likewise. Den if he hasn't got away +what _am_ de use ob bawlin' to him. Guess I won't bawl." + +So much was settled at least. The fact that it would not only be a +useless but an extremely dangerous undertaking to make an outcry at that +particular time, worked itself through his head, and the intention was +accordingly given over for the present. + +"One thing _am_ sartin, howsumever," he added. "I'm hungry, and I know +dar am some meat left by dat camp-fire, dat would relish high jus' now. +But had I oughter to go dar or not? Dey mought found me, but den I'm +hungry." + +When our own personal feelings are put into the balance, they are apt to +outweigh the dictates of prudence and sense. The experiences of the +night, although fraught in their teachings to the ignorant black man, +had not as yet attained sufficient dignity to stand before the animal +feelings of his nature. + +Although he comprehended in a degree the risk he run, he decided it was +worth his while to do it, rather than suffer for a few hours longer the +cravings of what was only a moderate degree of hunger. + +"De stummich am de most importantest part ob man, and consequently am de +fust thing dat should receive his undiwided attention." + +With this philosophical conclusion, he turned his footsteps toward the +camp-fire. Despite its proximity, he experienced considerable difficulty +in finding it. The few smoldering embers, gleaming like a demon's eye, +guided him, however, to the spot. + +"Dar _am_ anoder matter sartin," thought he, as he came up. "Mr. +Zebenezer Langdon is not agwine to be able to s'arch here for de meat +onless he has some more light--Ki! dat coal am warm!" he exclaimed, as +he hopped off from the fiery end of a fagot. + +It required but a few moments to gather sufficient fuel to replenish the +fire. The hot coals set the wood almost immediately into a roaring +blaze, which threw a warm, rich light through the surrounding woods for +many yards around. + +Zeb was radiant with smiles. The cool night and the constrained position +had chilled him considerably, and he gave the fire a few moments to +infuse the comfortable warmth into his person. + +"Now I'll jes' warm up my hands like," said he, after a few minutes, +"and den I'll go to work;" and forthwith he held them toward the blaze, +rubbing and turning them into each other with great zest and enjoyment. + +"_Dar_, I guess dat'll do. Now I'll make a s'arch--Gorra! whar did _you_ +come from?" + +As the negro turned, he found himself standing face to face with the two +Shawnees who had started in his pursuit but a short time before! He +realized that he was recaptured, and made no resistance. He was +instantly re-bound to the very tree from which he had escaped, while the +Indians sat upon the ground very near him, firmly resolved that he +should not again have so favorable an opportunity to leave them. + +The negro was hardly secured, when the other savages made their +appearance with Leland. He was also fastened to the identical tree from +which he had been loosened; and there, sad, gloomy and despairing, he +was left until morning. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A FRIEND. + + +In a short time the whole body of Indians were awake and astir. The +morning meal was soon prepared and hastily eaten, and they set forward. +Leland found that his wound was much better, and he traveled without +difficulty. The savages took a southerly direction, and appeared to be +journeying toward the destination of those who held Rosalind. + +Their march continued without interruption until noon, when they halted +for a couple of hours for rest and food. For the first time, George +partook of some, and felt in a more hopeful frame of mind. Zeb was as +usual, and continued quarreling and abusing and threatening every one +within his reach. + +"If dis isn't shameful, treating a pusson like me in dis way. I's sorry +dat I ever come wid you. I 'spects ebery bone in my body is broke in +pieces." + +"You said last night that they dare not touch you," interrupted Leland. + +"Well, dat's a subject dat you can't understand, and I haven't time to +'splain it. Dey're perwoken, anyhow, and dey's agwine to cotch dar pay +some ob dese days." + +Consoled with this reflection, Zeb kept steadily upon his way, seemingly +as happy as a person could be when laboring under a slight provocation. +No further words passed between him and Leland for a considerable time. +The latter was busy with his own thoughts, and began to feel the +fatigues of their long-continued journey. They had set out at an early +hour, and had halted only at noon. The traveling was very difficult at +times, often leading through tangled underwood and swamps, where a +person's weight bore him deep into the mire; and now and then some +sluggish, poisonous serpent crawled from beneath their feet, or hissed +at them from some decayed tree. + +About the middle of the afternoon they paused upon the banks of a stream +of considerable size, which was a tributary to the Big Sandy. Though +broad, it was not deep, and could be easily forded. The water flowed +quite swiftly, and being perfectly translucent, the bottom could be seen +from either shore. + +Here the Indians exhibited their usual cunning and foresight. During +their journey, they had proceeded in "Indian file," permitting their +prisoners, however, to walk after their usual manner. The reason for +their adopting the caution mentioned with themselves, was more from +habit than anything else. Although suspecting they might be pursued, yet +they had little fear of an enemy, and omitted, as we have seen, to +employ a sentinel at night. + +One of the savages stepped into the water, and, taking a few steps, was +followed by another, who placed his feet upon the stones, in the tracks +that he had used and made. Thus each one did until Leland and Zeb were +driven in and warned to do likewise. The former had no difficulty in +obeying, but the latter, either through mistake or design, made several +provoking blunders. He seemed to use his utmost endeavors to step into +the tracks of those before him, but instead of succeeding, was sure to +place his foot a good distance from it; and losing his foothold when +about in the center of the stream, came down with an awkward splash into +the water. + +"Gorra!" he exclaimed, regaining his position, "dat fish pulled awful." +The savages nearest cast threatening looks toward him, and he reached +the shore without further mishap. + +At about sundown the party came to a halt, and a fire was started. +Leland and Zeb found themselves in the same condition as upon the +preceding night, with the exception that a closer surveillance was kept +upon their actions. George partook sparingly of supper, while Zeb's +appetite was as insatiate as ever. A guard was stationed as soon as it +was fully dark, and the Indians appeared disposed to amuse and enjoy +themselves until a late hour. One of their number, with a hoarse, +guttural "Ugh!" approached the negro. + +"You needn't come here," ejaculated Zeb, divining his intention. The +savage paid no attention to him, but continued approaching. Had the +negro been free, he might have offered resistance and occasioned +considerable trouble; but besides having his arms bound; his legs were +joined at the ankles and he was thus rendered helpless. + +"Plenty wool," said the savage, placing his hand upon his head. He made +no answer, but glanced furtively and suspiciously at him. "Nice, good," +he added; then closing his hand, gave a vigorous jerk. + +"Lord help me!" screamed Zeb, rolling over in helpless agony. + +"Poor fellow," repeated the Indian, approaching him and rubbing his +back, after the manner which a celebrated horse-tamer advises. Then, +watching his opportunity, he seized another quantity and pulled it +forth. To his surprise, this elicited no remark from his victim, and he +repeated it. + +This time he succeeded no better than before. + +Zeb was lying upon his back and staring at his tormentor in unspeakable +fury. The Indian, still determined upon amusement, again approached. Zeb +remained motionless until he stooped over him; then bending his knees to +his chin, he gathered all his strength, and planted both feet in his +chest, throwing him a dozen feet. The savage groaned and doubled up in +his agony, and gasped spasmodically for breath. + +"Dar, how does dat set on your stummich? Yah! yah! dat's fun!" + +Although this for the moment amused the others, yet it likewise excited +their anger, and there is no telling what the end would have been, had +not their attention been suddenly called in another direction. This was +occasioned by the arrival of a stranger among them. + +Leland gazed at the new-comer, and saw a tall, powerfully-built and +well-shaped savage stalk boldly forward toward the fire, and exchange +salutations with those seated around. All regarded him suspiciously at +first, yet his boldness and assurance seemed to disarm them, and room +was made for him. The pipe was passed to him, and taking it, he smoked +several minutes in silence, during which time he seemed unconscious that +the eye of every one was bent upon him. Having finished, he turned and +passed it to the one nearest him, then gazing thoughtfully for a few +moments in the fire, commenced a conversation with the chief. He spoke +their tongue as correctly and fluently as any of them, which served to +disarm them still more. He stated that he had been out with a couple of +Indians, scouring the country for prey, when they were set upon and +pursued by two hunters, who at the first shot killed his companion. He +succeeded in effecting his escape after a hot pursuit of nearly a day, +and encountering a trail which he supposed to be his friends', he +followed it up and found that he was not mistaken. + +On hearing this recital, several of the savages appeared to suspect that +Kent and Leland were the two to whom he referred, and directed his +attention toward their captives. The savage stared wonderingly toward +them for a moment, and slowly shook his head. He had never seen either +before. + +Although none of the Indians could show any reason for suspecting their +visitor, except his strange arrival among them, still they were not +reckless and foolish enough to leave him to himself, or to permit him to +depart. Besides the two who were stationed at a distance as sentinels, +one remained awake to keep an eye upon his movements. Yet this +precaution was useless; for to all appearances, he slept as deeply as +any of them, and was among the latest who awoke in the morning. + +Leland fell asleep about midnight, and gained a few hours of undisturbed +rest. In the morning he was considerably refreshed, and had it not been +for the awful doom that threatened him, would have possessed a joyous +fund of spirits. His wound, which had been only an ugly flesh one, had +ceased to trouble him, and he experienced no pain except from the +ligaments that bound him. As he increased in strength, these were +increased in number and tightness, until his limbs swelled and pained +him more than his hurt. + +It is the same with the body as with the mind. The sorest affliction +that can visit us will not occasion half the murmuring and discontent +that the petty annoyances and grievances of every-day life do. Could the +pain which harassed Leland, and in the end nearly drove him frantic, +have been concentrated into a few moments, or even into a half-hour, he +could have borne it without a murmur; but it was the continual, +never-ceasing, monotonous length of it that troubled him. + +Several times in the course of their journey, Leland was upon the point +of beseeching his enemies to kill him at once, and end his misery; and +had he reason to believe that they would have gratified him, he would +not have hesitated a moment; but such a request would have been useless. + +At noon, as usual, the party came to a halt, and a couple proceeded to +bind Leland to a tree. During the proceeding he broke the cords that +pained him so much, and they were replaced by others. The latter, +however, were much more lax, and he felt greatly relieved when they were +placed upon him. + +As soon as he was secured to the body of the tree, the savage left him +and joined his companions. Leland closed his eyes as if to shut out the +terrible reality, and the dancing lights that flickered before him, +together with the hum that filled his ears, told him that for a moment +he had succeeded. But he was soon recalled to a sense of his situation +by the _zip_ of a tomahawk within a few inches of his head. Opening his +eyes, he soon comprehended the state of things. The savages were amusing +themselves by ascertaining who could send his tomahawk nearest the body +of their captive without touching him. The first weapon that had been +sent had missed his head, as we have said, by a few inches; but the next +was still closer, and Leland felt the wind of it, as it buried itself in +the solid oak by his cheek. He again closed his eyes, and fervently +prayed that one of their hatchets might sink into his skull instead of +the tree; yet there was not much danger of such an occurrence; for the +savages exercised perfect skill, and rarely failed of sending their +weapons to the very point intended. + +[Illustration: The savages were amusing themselves by ascertaining who +could send his tomahawk nearest the body of their captive without +touching him.] + +Leland opened his eyes as a tomahawk came fearfully close to his +forehead. He wished to see who had hurled it. He soon saw that it was +the strange Indian, who was approaching to withdraw it. It was buried +deeper than the others; and as the savage placed his hand upon it, it +required considerable of an effort to extricate it. While doing so, +Leland heard the following words whispered by the stranger: + +"Don't be scart, George; it's Kent Whiteman that has got his eye upon +you." + +These words came near proving fatal to both. They so startled Leland +that he could not prevent himself from betraying somewhat his emotion +and excitement. This was observed by a savage near at hand, who +approached to satisfy himself of the cause. Leland, suspecting his +motive, repeated the action and accompanied it by a shudder, as though +the scene which was being enacted had overcome him. This satisfied the +wily Indian, who retreated and joined the others. + +Hope was again awakened in Leland's breast--painful hope, that increased +his doubts and fears--hope that drowned the torture that beset him--hope +that sent the life-blood coursing rapidly and hotly through his veins, +and increased the charms which life had held out to him. + +Leland was shortly released from his unenviable situation, and Zeb put +in his place. The negro made no threats or declaration, but submitted to +the trying ordeal without a word. The scenes through which he had passed +had evidently had some effect upon him. He seemed to possess a faint +realization of the danger in which he and his companion were placed. And +yet it could not be said that he was really frightened, for he evinced +no fear of any of his enemies, and his silence had the appearance of +being occasioned by sullenness and apathy. He did not tremble in the +least, but gazed unflinchingly at the tomahawks, as they came revolving +and seemingly directed toward his head, and struck beside him. + +Finding that they had about lost their power over their captives, the +Indians released Zeb, and permitted him and his master to lie down upon +the ground. + +Leland could not prevent his gaze from wandering toward Kent now and +then, yet their eyes did not meet. The latter betrayed no interest +whatever in either of the captives, and seemed as indifferent to their +fate as any of the others. + +The negro had no suspicion of the true state of things, and perhaps it +was best that he had not. He might have unwittingly betrayed it, and +Kent did not choose to warn him. The fact was, it could have done him +but little good at any rate; for Kent had determined to rescue Leland, +if possible, and leave Zeb for the present to shift for himself. The +white _man_ was the first upon whom they would wreak their vengeance, +and aside from the greater estimation in which his life was held, from +the very nature of the case, he required the first attention. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +ESCAPE. + + +The hunter in the course of the day had gained a full knowledge of the +intentions of the Indians in regard to their captives. Leland was to +suffer death at the stake at an early period, while the negro was to be +reserved until some indefinite time in the future, to be tortured. + +The hunter had completely succeeded in disarming his enemies of every +suspicion. He had employed himself, as we have seen, in throwing his +tomahawk at Leland; and learning through a casual remark that he was to +be put to the torture, he expressed his opinion strongly in favor of it, +urging them at the same time to do it as soon as possible. He made +himself perfectly at home, and was so free among them, that a stranger +would have considered him one of the leading characters. + +So perfectly had Kent dissembled, that at night, unexpectedly to +himself, he was chosen as one to watch Leland. The negro was firmly +fastened to a tree and left to himself, while George was to sleep +between two savages. + +At supper-time Kent brought him a good-sized piece of well-cooked meat, +and gave him to understand that he was to eat it at all events. Leland +took it without daring to meet his benefactor's eye, and ate all that +was possible. The negro received his meal from the same hand without the +remotest suspicion that a friend was so near him, and even went so far +as to insult him as much as was in his power, for not bringing him a +larger quantity of food. To carry out still further the appearance of +things, Kent tore a small tuft from the negro's head, as if to revenge +himself. + +"Blast you," he shouted, "if I doesn't flog you till you can't stand. +Just hold out your paw a minute." + +Zeb used his utmost powers of persuasion to induce Kent to reach his +hand toward him, hoping to revenge himself as he had upon a former +occasion; but the hunter was too shrewd for him, and with a threatening +gesture, left him to himself, and joined his companions. + +"Gorra!" said Zeb to Leland, "if I doesn't believe dat dat's de nigger I +sawed up in de barn toder day." + +"You mean cut up?" + +"All de same; leastways ef 'tis him, he's cotched his pay afore he come +sneakin' about here." + +Now that Leland knew assistance was at hand, he experienced a desire to +converse with the negro, and thus help to pass away time, which had +grown intolerably monotonous. Turning to the old slave, he resumed: + +"He is a savage-looking individual." + +This was said in order to quell any suspicion or doubt that might have +entered his head. + +"Dat he is; but he'd better keep away from me, if he doesn't want his +picter sp'iled," returned the negro. + +"What were you abusing him for, a few minutes ago, when he brought your +food?" + +"Well, you see, he's afraid I's agwine to hurt him, and begun to beg +off. It makes me _so_ mad to see any feller afraid dat I let out on him, +and he took himself off in a mighty big hurry." + +"Have you lost much of your wool?" + +"Two or free hands full; dat's all. 'Bout all growed in ag'in; but I +ca'culate dat de next dat gits his hand in my head'll get it in a +steel-trap. If I gits my grinder on 'im he'll see," said Zeb, with a +meaning shake of his head. + +"I guess that they will not trouble you further for the present," added +Leland, with that air of assurance which one feels for the safety of +another when his own case is free from danger. + +"Don't know 'bout dat, but I'd like to have 'em try." + +"Well, your wish is about to be gratified," said Leland, as he noticed a +savage approaching him. + +"Gorra, don't come here!" said Zeb, staring at him. The savage did not +heed his warning, however, but continued to advance, and made a motion +as if to strike him. The black man closed his eyes, bent his head toward +him and drew his face in all manner of furious contortions. The savage, +however, left him without provoking him further. + +Leland was allowed to remain in his position until the savages stretched +themselves out to rest. They remained up later than usual, smoking and +recounting their deeds and boasting of the exploits they intended to +accomplish. Kent narrated some marvelous stories, which greatly excited +their wonder and admiration of him. + +The time thus occupied seemed interminable to Leland, who was in a fever +of excitement and anxiety; but at last Kent stretched himself beside +him, while the other watch did the same upon the opposite side. + +Still it would probably be hours before anything could be done, and +Leland was compelled to suffer the most intense and anxious impatience +for a long time. His thoughts prevented him from feeling the least +desire to sleep, and he could only worry and writhe in his helpless +position. + +Kent, in arranging a place for himself beside him, bent his head to his +ear and breathed: + +"Pretend to sleep." + +Although this was said in less than a whisper, Leland heard the words +distinctly and prepared to follow the warning. To prevent the slightest +suspicion, he continued to groan and move for some minutes; but he +gradually ceased, and after a while settled down into a state of rest. +Soon his heavy, regular breathing would have led any one into the belief +that a heavy sleep was upon him. Not the slightest voluntary motion was +made, and Kent remarked to his brother sentinel that their captive must +be unconscious of the doom that awaited him. + +A cord was fastened to Leland's wrist and then to Kent's arm, so that +the slightest movement upon the part of the former would disturb and +awake the latter should he fall asleep. The other watch, noticing this, +failed to adopt the same precaution. + +For a few more minutes the savage held a conversation with Kent; but in +the course of a half-hour the answers of the latter began to grow brief +and indistinct, and finally ceased altogether; then he began to breathe +more slowly and heavily, and the savage at last believed that both guard +and prisoner were sound asleep. + +When lying upon the earth at night, with no one with whom a conversation +can be held, and with nothing but the will to combat the approach of +sleep, the person is almost sure to succumb sooner or later. At any +rate, such was the case with the savage in question, and scarce an hour +had elapsed since he had ceased speaking when he was as unconscious of +the state of things around as though he had never been born. + +Now was the time to commence operations; the critical moment had +arrived, and Kent commenced the work upon which probably more than one +life depended. + +First he withdrew his knife from his belt, and severed the cord that +bound him to Leland. Then as cautiously, silently and quickly, cut the +thong that held his feet. This was the first intimation Leland had that +his friend was at work. + +Leland's hands, as we have said, were bound behind; consequently it was +necessary that he should turn upon his side in order that Kent might +reach them. He knew this and made the movement; but his excitement and +agitation were so great that he turned too far, and in recovering +himself, awoke the savage. His presence of mind and Kent's cunning saved +him. He groaned deeply and muttered to himself, while the hunter started +up as though he had just awoke, and gazed wonderingly at him. + +"I wish he'd keep still," said he, in the Indian tongue, lying down +again. This satisfied the other, who fell back and closed his eyes. + +For an hour neither stirred. At the end of that time, Kent raised his +head and gazed cautiously around upon the circle of sleeping savages. +Zeb was at a short distance, resting as calmly as an infant upon its +mother's breast. The one beside Leland had again passed off to the land +of dreams; yet an Indian never sleeps soundly, and the slightest mishap +upon the part of those who were awake and expecting to move, might +arouse the whole body and bring certain and instant death upon them. It +would not do to awaken the sleeping sentinel again. Life now hung upon a +thread. + +Kent reached beneath Leland and cut the cord. He was now free and at +liberty to move. + +"Be careful!" whispered the hunter, as he assisted him to his feet. +Leland could not suppress his agitation, yet he used all the caution in +his power. But cautious as they both were, the savage nearest them +awoke. Kent had his eye upon him, and the instant he stirred, sprung +like a panther toward him. One hand clutched his mouth, his knee pressed +heavily upon his breast, and whipping out his knife, he forced it to the +hilt in his body. Nothing but the dull, fleshy sound, as it sunk into +the seat of life, was heard. The bloody stream silently followed its +withdrawal, there were several spasmodic struggles, and the savage +straightened out in death. + +Kent arose from the body and motioned to Leland to follow him. Not +another being was awake, and tremblingly he followed over their +prostrate, sleeping forms. They were just passing into the thick +surrounding darkness, when the negro, through some means, awoke. + +"Gorra," he shouted, "isn't you gwine to help dis pusson too?" + +"Cuss that nigger," muttered the hunter. "Keep close to me and use your +pegs, fur a long run's before us." + +Both darted away together, as the wild yells told them that their escape +was discovered. Those horrid, unearthly whoops, of which no idea can be +had unless they be heard, set Leland's blood on fire. In a moment the +whole forest seemed swarming with their enemies, and the yells of many +were fearfully near. Kent could distance any of them when alone, yet the +presence of Leland retarded him somewhat. However, by taking the +latter's hand, they both passed over the ground with great swiftness, +and neither had much fear of being overtaken. + +On, on plunged the pursued, until many a mile had been passed; still +they halted not. The voices and answering shouts of the savages could be +heard upon every side, and they had yet by no means reached a place of +safety. Now some limb brushed in Leland's face, or he stumbled over some +fallen tree, and then, without a murmur, arose and pursued his way. On, +on they hurried, until the dispersing darkness told them that the day +was not far distant. + +"I can travel no further," said Leland, sinking to the earth. + +"Give out?" queried Kent. + +"I believe I have. This is a terrible chase; but the prospect of a +recapture and death cannot goad me further, until I have rested." + +"Wal, no mistake we have tramped some; but Lord save you, this is just +fun for me." + +"Do you not think that they will abandon pursuit?" + +"No danger of that. As soon as 'tis light they'll pounce upon our trail, +and foller it until it's lost or we are cotched." + +"Which must not be." + +"Wal, p'raps if they get their claws on you you wouldn't feel very +comfortable." + +But they had passed through the most trying ordeals, and had now only to +make their way as best they could. Kent had some idea of the nature of +the ground, and they progressed with greater ease and rapidity, after a +short rest. + +"Here we are," said the hunter, coming to a halt. Leland gazed ahead, +and saw a broad sheet of water which he knew must be the Ohio. + +"And now," added Kent, "we've got to hunt up Leslie. He can't be far +off, and I'm in hopes we'll stumble upon him afore day. Just squat and +make yourself miserable while I take a run up and down the bank." + +Leland obeyed him, and in a moment was left alone, shivering in the +chilly night-air, and feeling miserable indeed in his lonely situation. +But he was not disposed to murmur; he had escaped death--that was +enough. + +In the course of an hour Kent returned with the information that he had +found the boat about half a mile up, but that Leslie was not in it. Both +started, and, after stumbling over bushes loaded with water, and sinking +into the miry shore, and wading in the river by turns, they came upon +it, pulled high up on the bank. It was becoming lighter every moment, +and as Kent knew that as soon as possible their trail would be followed, +he was unwilling to brook the slightest delay. + +"As soon as one is out the scrape another gets in. Here you have got +clear, and now _he_ must go and make a fool of himself. If he's got +taken, that's the meanest trick yet." + +"Perhaps he is not far off," said Leland, stepping in the boat and +searching it. "He is not here, certainly," he added, after looking over +it. + +"I'll wait a while, and then we must look out for ourselves. No use of +losing our own hair in tryin' to help him," rejoined Kent. + +Both took the boat, and turning it over so as to free it from water, +shoved it out from the beach. + +"Halloa, Leslie! If you're about just say so, and if you ain't let us +know," shouted Kent, in a loud voice. + +A silence of a few moments followed, when he repeated the call. To the +surprise of both it was answered. + +"That you, Kent?" came a voice as if its owner had just waked. + +"Wal, I rather guess so; and it's my private opinion that you'd better +tumble yourself in here in short order," returned Kent. + +A dark form arose to all appearance from the ground, and pitching +awkwardly forward, exclaimed: + +"You don't suppose a fellow would be in the boat through all that rain, +do you? Oh! is Leland there?" he asked, pausing and collecting his +senses. + +"No! Poor fellow's scalped and burned at the stake. Had to kill nine of +them to save my own hair." + +Leslie made no reply, but stepped silently into the boat. Making his way +toward the stern, he encountered the very person of whom he had been +speaking. + +"Hey! who is this?" he exclaimed, starting back. + +"A dead red-skin that I cotched," answered Kent. + +"Leland, sure as I live!" said Leslie, joyously catching his hand. + +For a few moments they heeded not the mirth of Kent at his joke, in +their mutual congratulations. Then they turned and heard him say: + +"What a couple of fools." + +They appreciated his rough kindness too well to make any reply. The boat +was out in the river, and under the long, powerful impulses that the +hunter gave it, was moving rapidly downward. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE CAPTIVE. + + +Leland and Leslie conversed and recounted to each other their adventures +until those were exhausted, when they endeavored to keep off the chill +by taking turns at the oars. Morning at length began to appear. In a +short time darkness lifted from the water, and the bright rays of the +morning sun pierced the foliage of the forest and rested upon the +stream. + +About the middle of the forenoon, Kent ran in under the bank and sprung +ashore. The day was quite warm, and it was a pleasure for the three to +step upon the land and stretch themselves in the genial sunshine. They +had, however, halted for consultation, and to determine upon the plan to +pursue in order to rescue Rosalind. + +"One more job finished and we'll rest a while," said Kent. + +"And as we have depended upon and been guided and saved by your wisdom," +said Leslie, "of course, in this most important case your advice must be +followed." + +"Let's hear what you chaps have got to say first, 'cause p'raps you +might accidentally say somethin' smart without knowin' it. I'll decide +it after we all get through." + +"What seems to me the most feasible is this," commenced Leland. "Let all +three of us follow the savages which have taken my sister, and after +reaching their vicinity, by stratagem recover her. If it be impossible +to do it in this way, make a bold dash and venture among them, and take +her at all events." + +"Killin' first 'bout one hundred Injins, just to get 'em out the way, +you know," said Kent, with mock gravity. "Come, Leslie, it's your turn; +and bein' you're so much interested, I 'spects to hear somethin' awful +grand." + +Leslie, to save his life, could not prevent a blush at this allusion. As +might be expected, he had thought of more than one plan, long before +asked for it, and replied without hesitation: + +"What I say is, _rescue_ her at all events, as George has said. Of +course, it's out of the question to do it by force, and we must outwit +the savages. This I think possible, for the good reason that it has so +often been done. All three of us, or perhaps, what would be better, you +and myself can follow them up and retake her. George, in his present +state, could do but little to aid us, and in all probability, will +endanger the safety of all concerned." + +"I agrees with you there; and a little further. Mr. Leslie, 'in his +present state,' _would_ do but little to aid us, and in all probability, +endanger the safety of all concerned." + +"There is no need of jesting, Kent. You know that it would be the best +for you to have a companion, and who can you take but me?" + +"Don't know but what it would. Now, s'posen an old feller that don't +know nothin' says somethin'?" said Kent, good-humoredly; for he, as is +generally the case with those of his class, had a habit of depreciating +his own sagacity and foresight, when he really knew how much superior it +was to his companion's. + +"Don't know but what it would," he repeated. "S'pose if I's in your +case, I'd feel the same; but you see, there's somethin' else to think +of. S'posen we gets her, we hain't got any place to stick our heads in, +and may be hunted forever after by the skunks. Now as soon as +convenient, we'll paddle down to the place where Leland's house was +burned, and drop him there; fur it won't do to take _you_ 'long, George. +Leslie understands the Injins better than you, and it would just git us +all into a muss, and like enough, make 'em knock her on the head, to +save trouble. We'll take you up to your farm 'cause that'll be a place +we can't miss very well; and if there's a shed or anything left, you can +stow yourself away till we gets back. Keep a good lookout, and don't get +into any trouble. I'll take Leslie along, for I s'pose he won't stay, +and I've thought of a plan that'll take him to work with. There, you +have my plan." + +"Which you must admit, is the one that must be followed," said Leslie, +turning toward Leland. + +"I suppose," he returned, "that your advice should be taken, although I +confess that I had hoped to accompany you; but as I said, Kent knows +best, and the only proper course is to obey him." + +"Well, let us not wait, now that we have decided what to do," said +Leslie, rising to his feet. + +"No; we ought to be movin', fur I opine we've a good tramp afore us." + +Again the boat was shoved out, and shot onward. Nothing worthy of +mention occurred on the way. The next day, at noon, they reached their +destination. Leland's heart sunk within him, as he gazed up from the +river and saw, where once his home had been, nothing but black and +charred ruins. A portion of what had once been used as the barn remained +entire, having escaped the flames. + +"This is just the thing," said Kent, approaching it. "We'll fix it up +a little and I'd advise you to go to sleep, and stay so until we get +back." + +The three set vigorously to work, and in a short time they had made it +quite comfortable. It consisted of logs placed firmly and compactly +together, and secured so that a single person well armed could offer +effectual resistance to a formidable enemy. Being in a sort of clearing, +it had the additional advantage of affording its inhabitant such a view +that he could not be approached by any person without their being +observed and thus giving him time to prepare for them. + +"There!" said the hunter, retreating a short distance and gazing at it. +"I wouldn't ax a better place. You might bring down a hundred Injins, +and give me plenty powder and ball, I'd have the best fun in creation." + +"Suppose they come upon all sides?" suggested Leland. + +"All you got to do is to take the stock off your gun and shoot out of +both ends of the barrel." + +"You can go now as soon as you please; but first tell me what time to +expect you back." + +Kent folded both arms over the muzzle of his gun, and shutting one eye, +remained for a few moments buried in earnest thought. Then he replied: + +"Between five and eight days; probably on the sixth." + +"All ready?" queried Leslie. + +"All ready," returned Kent. + +Both bade Leland good-by, and after a few unimportant words, started +upon their journey. Leslie felt a wild, joyous thrill as he realized +that he was really nearing Rosalind; that in a short time, as he firmly +believed, he should see and be able to assist her to procure her +liberty. He could hardly restrain his impatience, but vainly urged Kent +to quicken his thoughtful, lagging steps. The sun had set, and darkness +was slowly spreading over the great forest, when the two plunged into +its depths and ventured upon their perilous, doubtful undertaking. + +For a considerable time we have left Rosalind to herself, and with the +reader's permission we will now return to her. + +The Indians which held her, as was stated, journeyed far into the +interior of Kentucky before making a final halt. Here they reached the +village or headquarters of their tribe, and gave her to understand that +her journey was at an end. + +The village numbered several hundred, and considering her defenseless +position, the savages allowed her considerable liberty. From the first, +however, she was made a slave and a drudge, and compelled to toil with +the hardy squaws of their tribe, bearing their insults and sometimes +even their blows. The hope and prospect of a speedy relief and +deliverance enabled her to bear this without murmuring. She had not much +fear of death, as she judged by their actions that their intention was +to make her a prisoner for life. + +There is nothing in the animal creation but which is affected by +kindness and obedience, and there is no race upon which it makes a more +ready impression than the American. Rosalind's continual gentleness and +pleasing manner melted the hearts of many of the warriors, and more than +one rude epithet was restrained by the meek loveliness of her face. + +Yet she was sometimes in greater danger than she ever dreamed. All did +not act and feel thus toward her; more than one voice demanded her +blood, and while she lay quietly dreaming of some loved one, there was +many an angry discussion over her life. Deadly, baleful glances were +given her, when in her musings she was unconscious of the notice of any +one; and among the entire female portion there was not a squaw but what +regarded her with feelings of jealousy and hatred. Had she remained a +month, at the end of that time her life would no doubt have been +sacrificed. To quiet the continual broiling and angry feelings, the +Indians would have acted as they did in nearly a similar case some years +before; she would have been tomahawked, as was the young Miss McCrea. + +Rosalind often wondered who the person could be that had interrupted her +conversation with Zeb upon the first night of her captivity. One day she +was gratified with the knowledge. A savage approached her and commenced +a conversation: + +"How is the pale-faced maiden?" + +She started at hearing her tongue spoken so well, and looking up +recognized a middle-aged Indian, that had frequently visited her house +during her father's life. She replied: + +"Very well." + +The savage was uneasy, and waited a few moments for her to speak +further, but as she evinced no disposition to do so, he at length added: + +"Does the maiden remember Pequanon?" + +[Illustration: "Does the maiden remember Pequanon?"] + +"She does," she returned, looking him steadily in the face. "She +remembers him as one who received kindness both from her father's hand +and her own, and as one who shows his gratitude by treacherously burning +her home, and carrying her into captivity. Yes, Pequanon," she +continued, bursting into tears at the remembrance of the event, "she +remembers you and can never forget your conduct." + +"Pequanon saved your life," he returned, feelingly. + +"And gave me a fate that is worse." + +"He went with his brothers when they burned your home, but he did not +help. He went to save your life, and did do it. When the tomahawk was +lifted over your head, he caught the arm and turned it aside. When your +blood was called for, Pequanon swore that it should not be had, and he +has kept his word. Pequanon never forgets kindness, and will die for the +maiden that clothed and fed him." + +Rosalind felt her heart moved with pity toward the poor, untutored +savage who had thus really been grateful, and no doubt had done all in +his power for her good. She recalled many instances where she believed +that he was the cause of the lenity upon the part of the captors, and +where it seemed that some one had shown an interest in her welfare. She +informed him that she believed he had done her all the good that was in +his power, and expressed her heartfelt thanks for it. The Indian seemed +gratified beyond measure, and after further conversation took his +departure, promising eternal fidelity to her. + +This circumstance, though trivial in itself, had a great influence upon +Rosalind. It gave her a knowledge of the true position in which she +stood. Although she doubted not but that she had friends among the +savage beings around her, yet she well knew that there were many deadly +enemies, who, when an opportunity offered, would not hesitate to take +her life. Every night when she lay down, it was with the prayer that her +life might be preserved until morning, and that, were it in the power of +her friends to rescue her, they would do it speedily. + +The lodge in which she slept was that of the chief. Besides his own +wife, several squaws remained in it during the night. A young woman, her +most bitter and hateful enemy, slept beside Rosalind most of the time, +and the slightest movement on the part of the latter was sure to +occasion some insulting word or command from her. She bore this without +a word, hoping each night that it was the last she was to spend in this +manner. + +One night she suddenly awoke to a full state of consciousness--so +suddenly that it startled and alarmed her. It seemed as though something +had awakened her, and yet she could recall nothing. She turned her head +and gazed at her companion, but she, to all appearances, was sound +asleep, and could not have been the cause. She experienced no more of +drowsiness or inclination to sleep, but concluded to feign it in the +hope of satisfying herself of any danger that might be lurking near her. + +She half closed her eyes, yet kept a close watch of everything around +her. In a moment there was a rustling upon the outside; the next instant +the point of a knife protruded through a gap in the skin of the lodge, +and two eyes were seen gleaming like a tiger's; then the hand that held +the knife was thrust forward, and it was held over her. + +Rosalind tried to scream, but could not utter a sound. She seemed frozen +with terror, and only made a spasmodic movement that awoke her +companion. As soon as the latter moved, the hand was withdrawn and the +rent closed of its own accord. + +"Oh!" she murmured, "did you see it?" + +Her companion, more angered on account of being awakened from her sleep, +struck her a blow and commanded silence; but Rosalind could not remain +in her position, and arising and stepping softly over the sleeping form +beside her, seated herself in the center of the lodge. Here she remained +until morning, when she made the inmates understand the nature of her +nocturnal fright. All treated it lightly, and she began to entertain a +suspicion that they knew more of it than she did herself. + +In the course of the day she narrated the circumstance to Pequanon, +showing him also the aperture that had been made in the lodge. He +examined it carefully, and appeared troubled about it. The marks of a +person's knee and moccasin could be seen upon the soft earth, and there +was no doubt that her life had been sought. Pequanon informed her of +something that surprised and alarmed her as much as this. Several of the +warriors, since her first appearance among them, had shown a desire to +obtain Rosalind for a wife; and although it may seem strange that she +herself was not aware of the fact, Pequanon had noticed it from the +commencement, and now for the first time warned her of it. One who +suspected that he should be disappointed, had taken the means to procure +the revenge that we have mentioned. Ever after this Pequanon remained in +the lodge during the night, and Rosalind was careful to keep at a safe +distance from the sides of it. + +She saw in the fact that he had given her, the cause of the hatred upon +the part of the females toward her. They had seen the favor with which +she was regarded by numbers of the warriors, and were filled with +jealousy at it. From them she had as much to fear as from the Indians +who wished to obtain her. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE RESCUE. + + +Rosalind was a good distance from the Ohio, and consequently a long way +was to be traveled by Kent and Leslie. During the first night of their +journey, a bright moon favored them, and they continued on without +halting until morning. The hunter struck the trail at an early hour in +the day, and the two continued their pursuit with renewed ardor until +the sun was high in the heavens, when they halted for rest. + +When they finally halted, it was on the banks of Big Sandy, at the point +where the West Fork unites with it. Here they discovered signs of the +encampment of a large body of Indians. Leslie felt hope increase, and +was impatient to pursue their way. They judged it best--or rather Kent +judged it best--to remain in their present position, and follow the +trail only during the day. + +The hunter left Leslie in order to search for game, as they both were +exceedingly hungry. He returned in a short time, to the surprise of +Leslie, who had not heard the report of his gun. Kent informed him that +he had slain it without firing a shot, as he dared not to risk one. A +fire was started, it being concealed by the river-bank as much as +possible, and their food was cooked. This finished, the fire was +extinguished, and they partook of the repast. + +A moon as bright as that of the preceding night arose, and the clear +river, glistening in the moonlight like liquid silver, was visible for a +great distance. Leslie was soon asleep, but Kent lay awake the greater +part of the night, revolving in his mind the best course to pursue in +regard to capturing Rosalind. At last he hit upon the plan, and having +fully determined what to do, he fell into a peaceful slumber. + +"Now to the rescue," said Leslie, springing to his feet as soon as it +was fairly light. + +"I'd advise you to put a stopper on that jaw of yourn, if you don't want +the whole pack down here in a twinklin'," quickly retorted the hunter, +slowly coming to the sitting posture. + +"Why, what's the matter, Kent?" + +"Oh, nothin'; only there's a few Injins squatted over on t'other shore." + +"Ah! well, they can't see us, at any rate, for a thick fog has gathered +during the night and is resting upon the river." + +"Wal, they can hear you easy 'nough, 'specially if you go on that way." + +"Come, come, Kent, don't be cross. I'll wager that they haven't heard +me, and I promise that they shall not." + +The two shouldered their rifles, and, as the mist was slowly rising from +the river, again commenced their journey. The trail was now easily +discovered, and followed without difficulty. It led most of the time +along the bank of the river, and its distinctness showed that the +savages had no fear or cared little for pursuit. Instead of proceeding +in Indian file, as they had at first, they traveled promiscuously and +carelessly, and their number could be easily made out by their +footsteps. During the course of the day Kent gave the exact number to +Leslie, and the precise time that they had journeyed over the ground. + +Leslie, in the ardor of his hopes, still had a fear that they might not +really be upon the track of Rosalind. Might not some other party be +misleading them? Was it not possible that the party had subdivided, and +the one that held her taken an entirely different course? The +probability of error prevented him from experiencing the joyous +hopefulness that he might have otherwise felt. This worried and caused +him so much anxiety, that he expressed his fears to Kent. + +"Don't know but what we are," returned the hunter, composedly. + +"Do you _think_ that we are?" asked Leslie, earnestly. + +"Can't say; I'll go back if you want to." + +"Heigh! what's that?" + +He sprung forward and caught a shred fluttering from a bush. + +"That's it! that's it!" he shouted, fairly leaping with joy. + +"That's what?" asked the hunter, seemingly disgusted at this display of +childlike emotion. + +"Why, a piece of her dress, sure enough," responded Leslie. + +Here the corners of Kent's mouth gave a downward twitch, and turning his +head so as to glance at Leslie, a deprecating grunt escaped him. + +"She did it on purpose to guide us," added Leslie, not heeding him. + +Kent's mouth jerked forward, and a loud guffaw was given. + +"Let us hurry," said Leslie, starting forward. + +"I allow," commenced the hunter, unable to restrain himself further, +"that if you play many more such capers you'll go alone. If the sight of +her dress sets you in such fits, what do you s'pose'll 'come of you when +you set your eyes on her? and I daresn't think of the consequences of +once gettin' your arm around her. Whew!" + +"You must pardon my feeling, Kent; but the sudden assurance that we were +not mistaken or proceeding by guess, completely overcame me." + +"Somethin' queer come over you, no mistake." + +"Well, if you don't like to see it, I will try and repress it in +future." + +"I hope you will when I'm about." + +The two hurried on without further conversation for some time. At noon +they made a shorter halt than usual, as Kent informed Leslie that, by +pressing forward, they could gain the region of the savages by +nightfall. As the afternoon advanced, the experienced eye of the hunter +began to detect unmistakable signs of the presence of Indians. + +Leslie could not repress his agitation as he realized that every minute +was bringing him nearer and nearer to the object of his desires. Fear +and hope filled him, and he was alternately gladdened by the one and +tormented by the other. + +He did not notice that Kent had changed his direction, and was +proceeding more cautiously than before; he only knew that he was +following closely in his footsteps, and relying entirely upon his +guidance. + +All at once the hunter came to a stop, and laid his hand upon Leslie's +arm. He looked up, and there, before him, was the Indian village. Kent +had conducted him to a sort of rising ground, which afforded them a +complete view of it, while the forest gave them an effectual +concealment. + +"Is this the place?" asked he, in astonishment. + +"This is the place," answered the ranger. + +Leslie feasted his eyes a long time upon the scene before he withdrew +his gaze. Every wigwam was visible, and the squaws and children could be +seen passing to and fro through the sort of street or highway. Many of +the warriors were gathered in groups, and reclined upon the ground, +lazily chatting; while their far better halves were patiently toiling +and drudging at the most difficult kinds of work. + +Leslie scanned each form that came under his eye, in the hope of +distinguishing _one_; but he was disappointed, and compelled to see the +night closely settle over the village without obtaining a glimpse of +her. "After all," he thought, "she may not be there, and I am doomed to +be frustrated, at last." But again hope whispered in his ear, and +rendered him impatient for the hour when his fate must be decided. + +The moon arose at about midnight, consequently, all that was to be done +must be done before that time. As soon as it had become fairly dark, so +that Leslie was unable to distinguish anything in the village, he seated +himself beside Kent to ascertain his intentions. + +"The time," said he, "has arrove when we must commence business, and I +allow that we must be at it soon. Here's your part. You are to stay here +till I come back. I am goin' down into their nest to hunt her up, and +when I come back you'll know whether she's to be got or not. Keep quiet, +and don't stir from this spot till I give you the order. Remember, if +we're goin' to do anythin', you must do as I tell you. Take care of +yourself." + +With these words the hunter departed--departed so silently and +stealthily, that Leslie hardly comprehended that he was gone. + +Kent, while it was yet light, had taken a survey of the village, and +viewed it, too, with a scout's eye. He had distinguished the chief's +lodge from the others, and rightly conjectured that this would be the +most likely to contain Rosalind. Accordingly, he determined to direct +his footsteps toward it, before looking in any other direction. This was +situated in the center. He was, consequently, exposed to greater danger +in reaching it; yet he placed great reliance upon his disguise, which he +yet assumed, and determined to venture within the village in a short +time. + +He stood at the extreme end, and now and then could discern a shadowy +form passing silently before him, or, perhaps, the voice of some warrior +or squaw; but soon these sights and sounds ceased, and he commenced +moving forward. Not a savage was encountered until he stood before the +lodge for which he was seeking. He had now reached the point where his +most subtle powers of cunning were called into requisition, yet thought +not of hesitating. + +Standing a second in front of the lodge, he glanced about him, but not a +form was to be seen. Had he been observed he must have been taken for an +Indian, and attracted no further notice. Kent being certain that his way +was clear, sunk to the earth, and lying upon his face, worked himself +slowly and cautiously toward the lodge. He seemed to glide precisely +like a serpent, so easy and silent were his motions. In a moment he was +beside it, and, as he believed, within ten feet of the object of his +search. A dim light was burning. By its light he hoped to satisfy +himself shortly of the truth of his conjectures. Running the keen point +of his knife along the skin that formed the lodge, he had pierced it +enough to admit his gaze, when the light was suddenly extinguished. + +For a moment the hunter's calculations were at fault. He had not counted +upon this, but had hoped to gain a view of the interior while the light +was burning. He felt barely able to repress his disappointment, as he +was again compelled to devise some other plan. For once he had been +frustrated in his design, and he felt it keenly. + +But he determined to risk a look at all hazards. The aperture was +completed; Kent raised his head and peered in--and betrayed himself. + +Pequanon was at his place in the inside as usual, watching, in the +nobleness of his soul, the life of Rosalind. His quick ear detected the +noise, slight as it was, occasioned by Kent's labor. The latter +supposing the inmates of the lodge would be slumbering, hoped for an +opportunity to do what he wished. But Pequanon was on the alert, and +detected him at work. When his face was placed at the opening, it was +brought between the sky and the darkness of the lodge, and the Indian +plainly observed the outlines of his face. His first impulse was to +seize a rifle and shoot the intruder instantly, for he believed that it +was the one who sought the life of Rosalind; but checking himself, he +arose and passed out noiselessly, determined to satisfy himself before +action. + +Two consummate hunters were now maneuvering against each other. The +movements of both with respect to themselves were as much at fault as +though they were inexperienced youngsters. The noise of Pequanon was so +slight that it failed to awake either Rosalind or any of the inmates; +yet Kent heard it distinctly, and crouched down upon the ground and +listened. In an instant he caught the step upon the outside. He knew +that he could spring to his feet and easily make his escape; but in +doing so, he would raise an alarm, and thus effectually prevent anything +of use being done by himself. He therefore withdrew some ten or fifteen +feet, and trusted that the Indian would not search further; but he was +mistaken. Pequanon was determined to satisfy himself in regard to +Rosalind's secret enemy; and espying the shadowy form gliding along from +him, he sprung toward it, hoping and expecting that it might leap to its +feet. + +The form leaped to its feet in a manner that he little suspected. Kent +saw that an encounter was unavoidable, when, concentrating his strength, +he bounded like a panther toward the savage, bearing him to the earth, +with his iron hand clutching his throat. Pequanon struggled, but was +powerless, and could not make a sound above a painful gurgle. Kent +whipped out his knife, and had just aimed at his breast, when the savage +found voice to speak a few words. + +"Hold! you strike the white man's friend!" + +The excellent English startled Kent, and he relaxed his hold. + +"Who are you?" he demanded. + +"Pequanon, the white man's friend." + +"What did you come nosin' out here fur then?" + +Kent's knees were upon the arms of the Indian, while he was seated upon +his breast. The hunter loosed his grasp. + +"The pale-faced maiden. Pequanon wished to save her." + +"Wal, see here, old red-skin, I'm after her. You's sayin' as how you's +her friend. Mind to help?" + +The Indian answered in the affirmative. + +"Wal, I'll let you up, pervidin' you'll go and bring her out. What you +say?" + +"Is it her friends that wish her?" + +"You've hit it there. Goin' to help?" + +"Pequanon will lay his life down for the captive." + +"I'll let you up then, and give you two minutes to trot her out. If you +undertake to come any of your tricks over me, I'll blow your brains +out." + +Kent permitted Pequanon to arise, who departed silently for the lodge +without giving a reply to his remark. + +The hunter was not to be deceived by any artifice of the savage, and to +guard against treachery, withdrew still further from the lodge. He +doubted very much whether the Indian would endeavor to assist him at +all, but he had done the best he could under the circumstances. + +In a moment his doubts were put to flight by the reappearance of the +noble Indian, with Rosalind. As cool and collected as was the hunter, he +could not repress a joyous start as he gazed upon her form. + +"That's the fust Injin, accordin' to my opine," he muttered to himself, +"that ever _was_ a man." + +Rosalind, all trembling eagerness and anxiety, on coming up to Kent, +seemed unable to speak. The hunter noticed her action and forbore +speaking, making a motion, as an apology, for silence. For a second the +trio remained motionless and undetermined what course to pursue. +Pequanon noticed this and started toward the river. + +"Hold on, cap'n!" said Kent; "there's another chap that come with me." + +The hunter now took the lead; and leaving them hopefully pursuing their +way, let us glance at Leslie until they arrive. + +Chafing, fretting, hoping, fearing and doubting sat Leslie, impatiently +awaiting the appearance of Kent. The falling of a leaf, or rustling of +the branches under some light breeze startled him; and when a +night-bird, that had been resting above him gave utterance to its +unearthly hoot, and swooped past, its voice he mistook for the yell of +his savage foes, and the flap of its wings for their approaching tread. + +Now he pictured the bliss that he hoped to feel; then again he was the +prey of most poignant doubts and fears. Would he see her, and clasp her +to his bosom, or was she a hopeless captive? Was she living or dead? +Would Kent come back without information or hope? Suddenly there arose a +wild, prolonged yell, that fairly froze him with terror. Kent was +discovered, and all hope was gone! Oh, the agony of that moment! + +Hardly comprehending the state of things, he formed a dozen different +plans at once. Now he was going to rush madly forward and rescue +Rosalind during the confusion, and then was about shouting for Kent. + +All at once he heard a footstep. The pursuers were then at hand! +Resolved to lay one savage low, he rushed forward toward the approaching +figure. Could it be possible? Was it not a dream? There she stood before +his eyes. His limbs trembled, and he felt upon the point of falling. + +"Is this Mr. Leslie?" asked a sweet voice that had thrilled him more +than once before. + +"I guess it's him or his spook," answered Kent, for him. "If there's +goin' to be any huggin' done, hurry up with it, fur they're follerin' +us." + +This threw off all reserve. Leslie folded Rosalind to his breast. She +spoke not--resisted not--her trembling limbs and sobs told more than +words could have done. + +"That'll do for the present," interrupted Kent, in a kind tone. "We must +be off now, fur the red-skins have smelt the rat, and I should judge by +the noise they're makin' that they're in a confounded muss. Never mind, +don't cry. When we get down home out of danger, I'll let you hug and cry +as much as you please. Which way, Mr. Red-skin?" + +Pequanon turned to the left and took long, impatient strides. Kent +followed closely in his footsteps, while Leslie led the trembling +Rosalind. Often, regardless of the danger which threatened, he pressed +her to him and whispered words of which we can only guess the meaning. + +On they hurried, half running, over the tangled underwood and fallen +trees until they paused upon the brink of the river. + +Here, to the surprise and joy of all, Pequanon running to a clump of +bushes pulled forth a large canoe and shoved it into the stream. The +others needed no admonition to use it. + +"Here," said their guide, "we part. May the great Spirit guide you." + +"Say, you, you'll get into trouble, won't you, if you go back?" queried +Kent. + +"The Great Spirit will protect me. Farewell." + +"Wait, Pequanon," said Rosalind, rising from her seat. + +"Pequanon has only paid his debt to the pale-faced maiden." + +The Indian was gone. + +Rosalind sunk back upon her seat in tears. + +"He's the first Injin that I ever got my clutches on that has got away +after it, and the first one that I ever felt like lettin' go. Somehow or +other my old gun didn't burn and wriggle when I sot my eyes on him, as +it is used to doin' in such cases; and if it wasn't fur that red hide of +hisn' I wouldn't believe he was one of them." + +All this time the shouts and yells of the savages could be heard, and +now and then it seemed to the fugitives that they must have been +discovered. Kent pulled the boat to the opposite shore, and as he +expressed it, "hugged the bank mighty close." He had little fear of +being discovered, but the utmost caution was to be used, for, in their +rage, the savages would use every means in their power to recapture +them. + +Kent knew that by keeping on, he would in time reach the banks of the +Ohio. Their enemies would probably suspect the true nature of their +escape and take to the river in pursuit; and, as the Indians, in case of +discovery, could easily overtake and recapture them, they must +necessarily be saved by fortune and stratagem. Though scarce a ripple +was heard, the shadowy form of the boat shot swiftly under the hanging +trees and round the projecting points of the bank, like some serpent +gliding noiselessly over the surface. + +Soon the edge of the great moon slowly rose above the dark line of the +forest, and its long rays streamed over wood and river; when it had +finally risen high up in the heavens, the stream shone as brightly as at +noonday. Its winding course could be discerned ahead until it was lost +in the forest, and for miles behind, its banks were as clearly defined +as it could have been under the sun's rays. + +Now that the river and its objects were so plainly depicted, Kent kept +closer yet under the shadows of the friendly bank. Now and then he +hurried through some opening in the trees of the shore, where, for a +minute, he was exposed to any gaze that might chance to be given; then, +when the water was shallow, he struck the muddy bottom, and patiently +worked himself on again. Being engaged in rowing, his face was turned +toward the stern, and thus had a full sweep of the river which he had +passed over, the only point from which he had reason to apprehend +danger. + +He was upon the point of speaking, when his quick eye detected a speck +in view around a bend in the river, some distance back. He halted, for +he knew its character. + +"We're follered!" said he, guiding the boat in to shore. + +A few minutes more and the boat could be plainly seen by all three. It +was in the center of the stream, and approaching rapidly. The heads of +four or five Indians could be discerned. Their object was plain to all. + +Kent had run his boat against the shore, and the three were now waiting +breathlessly for their enemies to pass. + +The Indians plainly had no suspicion that the fugitives were so close at +hand, and kept steadily onward. Hardly daring to breathe, our three +friends saw the long, sharp canoe, with five of their mortal enemies, +shoot past, and disappear. + +"Did you see how my gun kept twitchin' and jumpin'? Why, I had all I +could do to hold him. Thunder! it's too bad to see them fellers give +you such a nice shot and then miss it," said the ranger, again taking +the oars. + +Kent now guided the boat with greater caution, ever and anon turning and +looking ahead, not daring to leave the sole watch to Leslie, who had +other things far more interesting to himself with which to occupy his +mind. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE FUGITIVES FLYING NO LONGER. + + +The fugitives continued moving forward until morning, when, to guard +against needless exposure, Kent again ran the canoe under the bank, and +remained at rest the entire day. All suffered so much from hunger, that +the hunter left the boat during the afternoon, and, after a few hours' +absence, obtained a sufficient quantity of meat for them all. This was +cooked after his usual cautious and expert fashion, and was thankfully +partaken of by his companions. + +Roland and the maid were resting on the sheltered bank of the river; +none but Kent ventured out of sight of the spot during the day. For +aught they knew there might be hordes of savages within hearing of their +voices, scouring the woods in every direction in their search; it needed +but the slightest inadvertency upon their part to insure their own +destruction. + +Leslie sat conversing with Rosalind, when Kent started up, and, glancing +behind, stepped down the river-bank and peered out upon the stream. +Leslie was beside him in an instant, and, as the two gazed out, the boat +which they had seen pursuing them during the night came into view. It +was coming up-stream, evidently returning from the chase. It now +contained but three savages. Although Leslie had but little to fear, +nevertheless he watched the boat with intense interest. Pausing a +second, he glanced around, and exclaimed, in terror: + +"As sure as heaven, they are heading toward this point." + +Kent commanded, in a whisper: + +"Get your shootin'-iron ready, and be ready yourself. They're comin' in +below us." + +The savages had landed a few hundred yards down-stream, and seemed to +suspect the presence of no one. Suddenly one of them uttered a loud +whoop. In a moment it was repeated, and an answer came, apparently from +a distance. Ere long two savages approached the canoe, and, entering, +the five again shoved out, and commenced paddling up-stream. Leslie +asked Kent the meaning of these proceedings. + +"Plain enough," he answered; "they left them two fellers on the shore +last night, so that, if they passed us, they would see us when we came +along, and they've been watching there ever since. If we'd gone a half a +mile further, they'd have shot us; but as we happened to stop afore they +got eyes on us, they've missed us, that's all." + +[Illustration: Two savages were left on shore.] + +At night they again set out, proceeding fearlessly. When morning again +dawned, many miles were placed between Rosalind and her captors. + +It is needless to dwell upon the further particulars of their homeward +journey. Every day occupied was like its predecessor: pressing boldly +forward when the shade of night favored them; proceeding more cautiously +through the day; resting sometimes in the center of the stream, and then +again approaching the shore for food; now a prey to some imaginary fear, +and then thrilling with hope, when they finally glided into the fair +Ohio. Safely they reached their destination unpursued, and fearing no +enemy. + +"Wonder who's in them pile of logs up thar," remarked Kent, glancing +suspiciously at Leslie, when they were approaching the ruins of the +house. + +"Why, who would be there?" returned he, with well-feigned ignorance. + +"Looks as though somebody had fitted it up. Hallo, here!" demanded Kent, +battering against the structure. + +At this summons George Leland stepped forth. + +The meeting was such as can be easily imagined; joy complete filled the +hearts of all; friend, brother, sister and lover were reunited; nothing +was wanting to fill their cup of bliss. The old hunter, as soon as his +brief salutation was over, withdrew to the background. Leaning on his +rifle, he remarked that he was "goin' to look on and see the fun." + +As soon as the emotion of all had subsided, they turned toward the +hunter. They were without shelter and home, and something must be done +at once. + +Kent at once divined their thoughts and said: "Wal, sit down and I'll +tell you what's to be done." + +The three did as required, and Kent unfolded his plan. + +"There's too much trouble for you in these parts; you must leave. Up the +river some distance is quite a settlement, and there's the only place +you can stay, what I propose is this: we must leave here as soon as +possible, and let us do it _now_." + +"More than once have I thought of the plan which Kent has given," said +Leslie, "and I hope that it will be carried out at the earliest moment. +Every hour passed here is an hour of peril." + +"The matter is then settled," said George. "Let us prepare to pass our +last night here; then to seek another home." + +The shelter in which Leland had spent his time during the absence of the +others was found to be commodious enough to accommodate all, and into it +they went. The old hunter kept watch during the night, while the rest +slept, and we doubt very much whether four happier, more hopeful beings +ever were congregated. + +At the earliest streak of morn, the hunter aroused the others, and they +prepared to take their final departure. The canoe in which the three had +come was found to be sufficiently capacious for the entire party. With a +tear of regret for the old home, the fair Rosalind entered the canoe, +and soon it was cutting the waters on its upward course. + +It is not necessary in this place to dwell upon the particulars of their +journey. They encountered nothing unusual or alarming until, in rounding +a bend in the river, they were startled by the sight of an unusual +object far up the stream. With the exception of Kent, all manifested +considerable surprise and apprehension. + +"What are we to encounter now?" asked Leslie, as he earnestly +scrutinized the approaching object. "Are we never to be rid of these +brutes?" + +"It is undoubtedly one of their contrivances," added Leland, "and I'm +afraid we shall have to take to the woods again to give it a go-by. How +is it, Kent?" + +The face of the hunter wore a quizzical look, and his only reply was a +quiet smile. As he observed the looks of wonder his companions cast upon +him, he became more thoughtful. + +"This is bad business," said he, shaking his head; "_that_ is something I +didn't expect to see." + +The progress of the canoe by this time was checked, and it was drifting +with the current. The two young men had no desire for a nearer approach +to the apparently formidable contrivance. + +"Can't either one of you two chaps make out what sort of ship that is +coming down-stream?" + +Both Leland and Leslie were considerably puzzled, when they saw Rosalind +smile, as if enjoying their stupidity. + +"If you can't tell, just ask the gal," added the hunter, bursting into a +loud laugh. + +"Why, George I thought you had lived long enough in the western country +to recognize a _flat-boat_!" + +"What dunces we both are. How could any one imagine that to be anything +else than a genuine flat-boat? Let us approach it and make the +acquaintance of those on board." + +"Sart'in, boys," said the hunter, dipping his paddles deep into the +water and impelling the canoe rapidly forward. + +"A cheer for them!" exclaimed Leslie, rising in the boat and swinging +his hat over his head. + +How unspeakably thankful were the hearts of the fugitives, as their +salutation was returned by more than one voice! Friends indeed were +near, and their dangers were over. + +A few moments later the canoe was beside the flat-boat. + +"Thank God! thank God!" fervently uttered Leland, as he clasped his +sister in his arms and realized that they were now safe, safe! For the +first time in weeks he felt the sweet consciousness of safety. + +"It is almost worth the sufferings we have undergone!" said he. "This +sweet consciousness that we are really beyond the reach of our foes is +an enjoyment that we have not experienced for a long time." + +"Do not forget the all-sustaining Hand that has brought us out of the +very jaws of death." + +"Forget it? May He forget me when I fail to remember Him. Great Father," +said Leland, meekly uncovering and bowing his head, while the tears fell +like rain down his face, "Great Father, for this and all other mercies I +thank thee!" + +"I join in thanksgiving with theirs," said Leslie, in the same reverent +manner, as he approached brother and sister. + +The flat-boat was no other than the celebrated expedition under Major +Taylor, which established such a firm and prosperous settlement upon the +northern bank of the Ohio. He had about thirty souls on board, a dozen +of whom were men. The true cause of the astonishing success of this +company was that both the leader and his comrades fully understood the +perils they encountered in venturing into the great western wilderness. +They were not men who could be decoyed into the simplest or most +cunning contrivances that Indian ingenuity could suggest, nor were they +those who expected to spend a life of ease and enjoyment in the woods. +They simply understood and prepared for what was before them. + +Major Taylor was a man rather inclined to corpulency, with a red face, +Roman nose and eagle eye that seemed to penetrate everything at which it +glanced. He was very affable and social, a great favorite among all his +acquaintances, especially the female portion, who always felt safe in +his presence. His men, nearly all of whom had served under him in the +Revolution, trusted implicitly in him. + +"Friends, you are welcome, doubly welcome to this boat," said he, +raising his hat and saluting Rosalind with all the stately politeness of +a gentleman of the old school. "I trust your stay upon it will be as +prolonged as our own, who, in all probability, will be the last +passengers it will ever carry." + +Leslie related in a few words the main facts concerning the burning of +Leland's home, the capture and subsequent escape of himself and sister, +and finally of their desire to reach the upper settlements. The +commiserations of all were given them. For Rosalind especially they +seemed unable to do enough. She was taken within their cabin, where +everything that was possible was done for her comfort. + +"I must now insist that you remain with us," said Major Taylor. "Now +that you have no home to which to return, you must accompany us and +build a new one. If the red-skins take _our_ homes from us they are +welcome to do so; but when they undertake it, I suspect they will find +they are troubling a set of men that know a trick or two as well as +themselves. We've all seen service among the dogs." + +"Do you think, Cap'n, there's likely to be a scrimmage where you drive +your stakes?" inquired Kent, with a considerable degree of curiosity. + +"I am sure I cannot tell," replied Major Taylor. "It certainly seems +probable, but why do you ask?" + +"'Cause if there's any likelibility of it, I'll agree to accept your +invite and go with you." + +"Well, well, my good man, you will go with us anyway, and take the +chances of a brush with them. You strike me as a man who has seen +considerable of the woods." + +"He has indeed," said Leslie. "Under heaven, our safety is owing to his +experience and sagacity. He has spent a lifetime in the woods, and I can +honestly say he will be a valuable acquisition to your party." + +"Come, none of that now, or I'll leave you!" said the hunter, in a +warning tone to his young friend. + +"I have no doubt of it--no doubt of it in the least. We need him, and if +he will only go with us, I think I can promise that he will occasionally +see the service for which his soul longs. But, you have not given us +your decision." + +"We are very grateful for your offer," said Leland; "we have indeed no +other refuge to which we can go. The house which has sheltered my sister +and myself since infancy is swept away by those whom we had learned to +look upon as our friends and protectors. I think when we see men at +your age beginning life again, we can afford to do it ourselves." + +"Of course you can--of course you can," replied the officer, in his +hearty manner. "We'll start a settlement on a grand scale. One of our +men once took orders, and is licensed to marry, so that if either of you +gentlemen should need his services at _any_ time, you will always find +him at hand." + +"There is a servant--a negro, who was taken at the same time with my +sister. I feel as though some effort should be made to recover him," +added Leland, a few minutes later. "We shall be in a situation to do +that by accompanying you, or, at least, we shall be more likely to find +some means of doing so, than if we followed out the idea, entertained +some time ago, of leaving the country altogether." + +"I am decidedly of the opinion----" + +The officer was interrupted by a man at the front of the boat, calling +out his name. He instantly hastened beside him, and demanded what he +wanted. + +"Yonder is something approaching, and I cannot satisfy myself as to what +it is. What do you make of it?" he asked. + +[Illustration: "Yonder is something approaching."] + +Major Taylor bent his sharp gaze upon the object in question for a +moment, and then replied: + +"It looks like the head of a person, and yet it is certainly an +odd-looking head. We will call this hunter that has just come on board. +Undoubtedly he can assist us." + +In answer to the summons, Kent approached the bow of the boat, rifle in +hand. He peered across the water, but for a time, failed to identify the +thing. + +"Stand back a little, and I'll give it a shot. I'll graze it at first, +so as to be sure of what I am going to hit when I shoot next time." + +The hunter raised his rifle, and holding it a second, fired. At the same +instant the unknown object disappeared. + +"I think you struck it!" remarked Leland. + +"I didn't aim _at_ it, and consequently it ain't been hit," returned +Kent, with an air of assurance. + +"Yonder it is this moment!" + +As these words were uttered, it again appeared, and to the amazement of +all, called out to them: + +"Gorra! what you wastin' your bullets on dis nigger's head for? Reckoned +Kent knowed better." + +The hunter seemed on the point of falling from laughter. + +"Who'd a thought it was Zeb! Where has he come from? He beats all +niggers in Kentuck for adventures and walloping lies." + +A few minutes later the negro was received upon the flat-boat. It is +scarcely necessary to say that his friends all experienced unfeigned joy +at his return. He was as jubilant and reckless of the truth as ever, and +it was a long time before they got at the truth regarding his escape +from the Shawnees. + +The flight of Leland, under Providence, was really the means of +liberating the negro. The confusion occasioned by the escape of the +former was so great, that the savages imagined he also had fled with +him. Understanding that it was "do or die" with him, he tugged and +struggled at his bonds with the strength of desperation. Being secured +to a tree as usual, at some distance from the center of confusion, he +escaped observation for a few moments. It is doubtful, however, whether +he would have succeeded in freeing himself, had he not been covertly +assisted by some unknown friend. Who this personage could be, was never +known; perhaps some Indian who had been befriended by the Leland family, +and who experienced some compunctions of honor (not of conscience) at +the situation of the poor negro. + +Zeb had learned enough by this time to exercise a little common sense. +Accordingly, when he found himself free, he made the best use of his +feet and wits, and used every effort to reach the Ohio river. According +to his own narration, he overcame all manner of perils before +succeeding. Undoubtedly he incurred great risk in the undertaking, and +finally succeeded. + +He was trudging wearily along the river margin, listening for some sound +of his relentless enemies, who, he doubted not, were upon his trail, +when he caught sight of the flat-boat. Although he did not identify it +at once, he understood from its size and formation that the hand of the +white man alone was concerned in its structure. He immediately plunged +into the river, reaching it in due time, as we have already shown. + +At last the pioneers reached their destination, and began a settlement +which, at this day, is not a town merely but a flourishing city. As we +have hinted in another place, their experience of frontier life and the +sagacity and foresight of their nominal head, saved them from the +misfortunes and sufferings that often befall settlers in the new +country. It is true the red wave of the dreadful war in the West surged +to their very doors; but they saw far away in the heavens the portentous +signs, and so prepared that they passed through it unscathed. + + * * * * * + +The passing years touched lightly the heads of Roland and Rosalind +Leslie. As the palmy days of peace settled upon them, an old hunter +frequently spent days and weeks at their house. At such times, he took +the children upon his knees, and told them of the hardships and +suffering their parents had endured, and recounted many of his own +adventures to them. Old Kent was a universal favorite in the settlement. +As he became too old to spend his time entirely in the woods, he joined +the boys in their hunts, and there was not one who would not have braved +death in his defense. He died peacefully and happily, under the roof of +those whom he had served so well, and was given a burial, at his own +request, in the grand old woods which had ever been his delight and +enjoyment. + +The wife of Leland survived all of those who have figured in these +pages; but she too has been laid in the valley. Their descendants are +now a numerous and influential family, proud of their ancestry, and +enthusiastic over the deeds of THE RANGER. + + +THE END. + + * * * * * + + +BOY INVENTORS SERIES + +Stories of Skill and Ingenuity + +By RICHARD BONNER + +THE BOY INVENTORS' WIRELESS TELEGRAPH. + +Blest with natural curiosity,--sometimes called the instinct of +investigation,--favored with golden opportunity, and gifted with +creative ability, the Boy Inventors meet emergencies and contrive +mechanical wonders that interest and convince the reader because they +always "work" when put to the test. + +THE BOY INVENTORS' VANISHING GUN. + +A thought, a belief, an experiment; discouragement, hope, effort and +final success--this is the history of many an invention; a history in +which excitement, competition, danger, despair and persistence figure. +This merely suggests the circumstances which draw the daring Boy +Inventors into strange experiences and startling adventures, and which +demonstrate the practical use of their vanishing gun. + +THE BOY INVENTORS' DIVING TORPEDO BOAT. + +As in the previous stories of the Boy Inventors, new and interesting +triumphs of mechanism are produced which become immediately valuable, +and the stage for their proving and testing is again the water. On the +surface and below it, the boys have jolly, contagious fun, and the story +of their serious, purposeful inventions challenge the reader's deepest +attention. + +Any volume sent postpaid upon receipt of price. + + * * * * * + +BUNGALOW BOYS SERIES + +LIVE STORIES OF OUTDOOR LIFE + +By DEXTER J. FORRESTER. + +THE BUNGALOW BOYS. + +How the Bungalow Boys received their title and how they retained the +right to it in spite of much opposition makes a lively narrative for +lively boys. + +THE BUNGALOW BOYS MAROONED IN THE TROPICS. + +A real treasure hunt of the most thrilling kind, with a sunken Spanish +galleon as its object, makes a subject of intense interest at any time, +but add to that a band of desperate men, a dark plot and a devil fish, +and you have the combination that brings strange adventures into the +lives of the Bungalow Boys. + +THE BUNGALOW BOYS IN THE GREAT NORTH WEST. + +The clever assistance of a young detective saves the boys from the +clutches of Chinese smugglers, of whose nefarious trade they know too +much. How the Professor's invention relieves a critical situation is +also an exciting incident of this book. + +THE BUNGALOW BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES. + +The Bungalow Boys start out for a quiet cruise on the Great Lakes and a +visit to an island. A storm and a band of wreckers interfere with the +serenity of their trip, and a submarine adds zest and adventure to it. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Ranger, by Edward S. Ellis + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RANGER *** + +***** This file should be named 28663.txt or 28663.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/6/6/28663/ + +Produced by Curtis Weyant, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +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. 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