CHAPTER VIII
A Battle with a Wolf
The battle between Dick Dare and the wolf went on fiercely, in the old cabin in the forest. The wolf was lithe and nimble, and evaded the majority of the blows aimed at it by the youth, but at the same time it dared not get close enough to bite, for fear of getting hit.
Had Dick’s ankles been free, he would have been able to defend himself much easier, and could soon have landed some telling blows, but his ankles were tied, and he could not get around very well, having to stay in one position, and merely keep turning his face toward the animal as it made its rushes toward him.
Finally, however, the youth managed to land a hard blow on the head of the wolf, with the heavy stool, which knocked the animal off its feet. Seeing his advantage, Dick threw himself forward, and struck the wolf several blows, till finally the animal stretched out, apparently lifeless.
“Thank goodness!” murmured Dick, dropping to a sitting posture, and panting at a great rate. “That was about the fiercest battle I ever had. Now, to get my ankles free.”
He drew a clasp-knife from his pocket and cut the rope binding his legs. Then he sat down and chafed his ankles, till he got the blood to circulating again. This done, he went to the door and looking out, saw that the coast seemed to be clear.
“I guess Gurley won’t be back for quite a while,” thought Dick. “I will set out at once and make my way to the patriot encampment.”
Dick left the cabin and made his way through the forest, heading northward, and hastened onward as rapidly as he could. He had already lost considerable time, and he was eager to reach the patriot encampment as quickly as possible, and get General Greene and his army started to the rescue of the settlers in the fort in Peaceful Valley.
At noon Dick stopped at the house of a settler, and ate dinner there. He learned that the settler was a patriot, and told him where he was going, and why, and the settler told him he could have one of his horses to ride.
“Thank you, sir,” said Dick. “That is kind of you. I’ll leave the horse here as we come back.”
“That’s all right, Dick Dare. I am a patriot an’ want to do all I can to help get help to the patriot settlers in Peaceful Valley.”
Dick thanked him again, and a few minutes later was mounted on a horse and riding northward proceeding now at a rapid pace. He believed that he would be able to reach the patriot encampment by noon of the next day, and by pushing onward nearly through the night, he was enabled to do so.
As soon as he reached the encampment, he went to the headquarters tent, and found General Greene and some of the other officers there, among them Captain Morgan, of Dick’s own company.
“Ah, Dick, how are you?” greeted the general, shaking the youth’s hand.
“I am feeling well, sir,” was the reply. And then Dick, after shaking hands with the other officers, said: “I have important news for you, sir.”
“Let’s hear the news, Dick?” eagerly.
“Very well, sir.” And then Dick told about the desperate needs of the settlers of Peaceful Valley, whose homes had been burned by the Indians, and who were now in the little fort, surrounded by the Indians, who would undoubtedly capture the patriots soon if help was not vouchsafed.
“How far is the fort from here?” asked General Greene.
“Nearly a hundred miles, I should judge.”
“A good three days’ march from here,” said the general. “I think we had better break camp and start with the entire force. Give the orders to your respective companies, officers. We will move at once.”
The officers saluted and hastened out, and Dick remained to answer the questions that General Greene wished to ask about the location of the fort, the number of the settlers, and particulars concerning the Indians, etc.
Within an hour after dinner, the little army was ready to start, and at the word from General Greene, it set out on the march.
In the lead rode General Greene and some of the officers, and Dick, while behind came the soldiers, marching steadily, and with a grim, determined look on their faces. They knew that they were going to the rescue of a party of settlers surrounded by redskins, and were eager to reach their destination and get a chance at the Indians.
When evening came, they stopped for a brief interval on the bank of a little stream. Here they built campfires, cooked and ate supper, and after resting an hour, set out again, it being moonlight till after midnight.
They marched till the moon went down and it grew so dark they could not see to make their way onward. Then they stopped and went into camp for the rest of the night.
They were up early next morning, however, these hardy patriots and after having eaten breakfast, again set out, marching steadily onward till noon, stopping then less than an hour, to eat a cold bite for dinner.
They kept up the march till near midnight, again, with stops for supper, and to rest a few minutes at a time. Then slept four or five hours, and were up and away again.
They arrived in the vicinity of Peaceful Valley about the middle of the following afternoon, and stopped about a mile away, while Dick went forward to reconnoiter and see what the Indians were doing, to ascertain if they were still there and the fort had not been captured.
Dick advanced at a moderate pace, keeping a sharp lookout around him, till within about a third of a mile of the edge of the valley, and then he made his way forward at a slower pace, pausing frequently, to look about him, to see if there were any signs of redskins in the vicinity.
Presently he paused and took a position behind a tree, gazing steadily ahead. He had caught sight of the Indians. He got down on his hands and knees and crawled forward, till he reached a point from which he could see the fort, and after a careful survey, he came to the conclusion that the Indians had not succeeded as yet in making the settlers surrender.
“Good,” thought Dick. “I’ll return and make my report to General Greene.”
As he started to turn, however, to make his way back to where he had left the patriot soldiers, he heard a rustling sound, and the next moment he was confronted by seven or eight Indian warriors, who had appeared from behind trees.
Dick was taken by surprise, but did not intend to permit the redskins to capture him, if he could help it, and drawing his pistols, he fired two shots quickly, dropping one Indian, dead, and wounding another. Then he sprang forward, in an attempt to make his escape, but the redskins, giving utterance to thrilling war-cries, leaped upon him and bore him struggling to the ground.
He fought fiercely, for he wanted to make his escape and get back with the patriot soldiers and help make the attack on the savages, but the redskins were too numerous and too strong. He presently, therefore, found himself made a prisoner, his wrists being bound with a piece of thong.
Then he was dragged forward into the presence of the main party of the tribe, who had appeared in all directions when they heard the shots and yells, and were advancing toward the spot where the encounter had taken place.
Dick was a prisoner in the hands of the redskins, within a few hundred yards of the settlers in the fort, and also within half a mile of the patriot soldiers.
CHAPTER IX
In Search of Tom
Dick’s capture by the redskins resulted in making it possible for the patriot soldiers to advance till close to the Indians without being discovered, owing to the fact that the redskins were giving their attention to their prisoner and were not keeping as sharp a lookout around them as usual.
When they did discover the soldiers, the latter were already within range, and as the Indians started to flee, Dick, with rare presence of mind, threw himself flat on the ground, at the same time yelling at the top of his voice. “Fire, comrades! You won’t hit me.”
The next moment a volley rang out, and ten or twelve of the Indians fell dead or seriously wounded, while several of those who were able to run, were wounded less severely.
Then the soldiers came forward on the run, firing their pistols, and the Indians fled at the top of their speed, their yells of fear, dismay and anger commingled.
They did not try to take their prisoner with them. Those unharmed were glad to get away with their lives, and Dick’s comrades quickly freed his arms, as he explained how he came to be in the hands of the redskins.
“Your shots were the signal for us to advance,” said General Greene. “We guessed that you had gotten into trouble, and so we hastened forward as quickly as possible.”
The settlers now came forth from the fort, and greeted General Greene, his officers and the army warmly.
“We were about out of provisions,” said Mr. Holden, “and could not have held the redskins at bay much longer.”
“Wasn’t there a white man among those Indians?” asked General Greene. “I thought I saw one, a big fellow.”
“Yes,” said Holden, “that was Gabe Gurley, a renegade. He is helping the redskins plunder the homes of the patriots in this part of the country.”
“That’s the scoundrel that captured me,” put in Dick. “He left me a prisoner in an old cabin, but I managed to escape.”
“He said he captured a young fellow, who he guessed was on his way to carry news to the patriot army,” said Holden.
“Yes,” said Dick. And then he looked around, and not seeing Tom, asked Ben where his brother was.
“Tom left here the night after you did, Dick,” was the reply. “He said he would try to find you and rescue you, but that if he failed in that, he would go on and carry the news regarding the settlers’ danger to General Greene. You didn’t see him then?”
“No, I haven’t seen him since I left here.”
A sober look settled on Dick’s face, and it was evident that he was worried. Ben looked anxious, also.
“Where can Tom be, Dick?” asked Ben, after a few moments.
“I’m afraid he has fallen into the hands of the Indians, or of a gang of Tories,” was the reply.
Ben nodded. “I think likely you are right,” he agreed. “What are you going to do?”
“Hunt for him, Ben.”
“When?”
“I shall start at once.”
“All right. I’ll go with you.”
“I’ll explain matters to General Greene, and get permission to go in search of him, Ben. I’ll be back in a few moments.”
While Dick was talking to General Greene, Ben told the settlers about Tom being missing, and that he and Dick were going in search of the youth.
The settlers, who had taken a great liking to the three patriot youths, expressed sympathy, and several offered to accompany the two, but Dick, when he joined them and they offered their services, said that he and Ben would be able to find Tom, likely, without assistance, and then they said good-by and set out, going toward the north.
“I suppose we will return to Peaceful Valley, after we find Tom,” said Ben.
“Yes, Ben. General Greene said he would remain there a while, and make a campaign against the Indians, so his army will be camped there for a while.”
“We may find Tom pretty quickly,” said Ben, hopefully.
“I hope so,” said Dick. “But this is a big country, and if he has been made a prisoner by Indians or Tories, we have no knowledge of the direction the force might take.”
“True,” said Ben. “Well, we’ll do our best to find and rescue him.”
They proceeded northward, moving at a fair pace, and keeping a sharp lookout all around them, for some signs of either redskins or Tories.
They were sharp-eyed, and if there were any enemies, in view, they would see them.
When they had reached the cabin where Dick had been made a prisoner by Gabe Gurley, they paused and rested a while, and Dick told Ben the story of his fight with the wolf.
They soon set out again, making an occasional inquiry and continued onward till they had gone several miles farther toward the north. Then they paused, held a council, and decided to turn to the left and go in the direction of Ninety-Six.
“It is likely,” said Dick, “that if Tom was captured by Tories, he would be taken to Ninety-Six, and so if we go in that direction, we may succeed in learning something regarding his whereabouts. We’ll inquire at all the settlers’ houses we come to.”
“That will be the best plan,” agreed Ben.
They headed westward, now, and walked at a moderate pace, keeping a sharp lookout around them, for they realized that every step they took in this direction led them deeper into the enemy’s country. The nearer they approached Ninety-Six, the more likely they would be to encounter parties of Indians, Tories or redcoats.
An hour or so later they came to a cabin in the woods, and knocked on the door. It was opened presently, by a woman of middle age, who looked at the youths somewhat wonderingly, and said: “How d’ye do?”
“Good afternoon, ma’am,” said Dick. “I wish to know if you have seen a party of Indians or British soldiers around here, any time to-day?”
“Ye’re rebels, hain’t ye?” the woman asked, a hard look coming over her face.
“No, we’re not rebels,” said Dick, guessing that the woman was a loyalist. “Will you kindly answer my question?”
“No, I won’t,” was the reply. “I’m sure ye’re rebels, an’ ye ain’t goin’ to get any information out of me.” Then she shut the door in the faces of the youths.
Dick and Ben looked at each other in rather a disconcerted manner, and then Dick said: “Oh, well, perhaps we may secure some information at the next house we come to.”
Then they set out, and the house was soon out of sight behind them.
The youths kept onward till they came to another cabin, which stood in a little clearing in the forest, and a woman opened the door when they knocked, as at the other cabin. But this woman answered Dick’s questions without hesitation, stating that she had not seen any parties of Indians or British soldiers.
The youths then bought some provisions, and thanking the woman, went on their way. They did not find another cabin before nightfall, however, and went into camp soon after dark, on the bank of a little stream.
They built a small campfire, cooked their supper, ate heartily, and then, after sitting there, talking a while, Ben lay down and went to sleep, while Dick sat up, it being their intention to take turns at standing guard throughout the night. They were in a hostile country, and might be approached and captured by redskins, Tories or redcoats while they slept.
Dick stayed awake till midnight, and then woke Ben and lay down in his turn to get some sleep.
Ben, although he had slept several hours, was still drowsy, and presently he dropped off to sleep again--only to be awakened later on by voices, and he looked up with a start, Dick awakening and rising to a sitting posture at the same tune, and they gazed with consternation on a party of redskins, fifteen or twenty in number, who had come upon them unawares, and surrounded them while they slept. Their ugly, painted faces looked fierce and threatening in the faint light from the moon, which shone down upon the scene, through an opening in the trees.
“Ugh,” grunted one of the Indians, grinning fiendishly, and brandishing a tomahawk threateningly, “we got young white man heap plenty. No try fight, or we kill, ugh.”
The youths gazed at the redskins in silent dismay.
CHAPTER X
At Fort Ninety-Six
The British soldiers had quickly tied the hands of Tom and Harkins, and then set out through the forest with the two prisoners in their midst.
“Where are you taking us?” asked Tom.
“To Ninety-Six,” was the reply.
“How far is that from here?”
“About fifty miles.”
“Why have you made us prisoners?”
“Because you are rebels.”
“Why do you think I am a rebel?”
“We have known that Harkins is a rebel for quite a while, and the fact that you were in his company proves that you are one also.”
“That is poor reasoning,” said Tom. “I was on my way up north to see some of my folks, and stopped at Mr. Harkins’ cabin for breakfast. He’ll tell you that I am speaking the truth.”
“Where do your folks live, that you were going to see?”
“About a hundred miles from here.”
The redcoat laughed derisively. “I think it more than likely that you are a rebel spy,” he said. “We will take you to Ninety-Six in company with Harkins, anyhow.”
Tom realized that it would do no good to talk to the redcoat, so he ceased, and walked onward in silence.
All that day they continued a steady tramp, and camped that evening beside a stream, remaining there till morning. Then they resumed the journey, and reached the fort at Ninety-Six about the middle of the afternoon.
Tom, knowing that it was General Greene’s intention to attempt to capture Ninety-Six, later on, took note of the surroundings with a keen and critical eye, and he decided that it would be a difficult matter to capture the fort, as it was strongly situated.
“If they have a strong force in the fort, it will be a big job to get the better of them,” he thought. “Well, I will try to learn all I can while I am here, and then if I succeed in making my escape, I will have some information to carry to General Greene.”
Harking had not had much, to say during the trip to Ninety-Six, but it was evident that he was not very well pleased at having been made a prisoner.
As soon as they were within the fort, the redcoats took Tom and Harkins before the commander, Colonel Cruger, who eyed them sternly for a few moments, and then said:
“Who are these men, lieutenant?”
“This man is Harkins, the outlaw that has been trying to organize a company of rebels,” was the reply. “And this young fellow says his name is Tom Dare, and that he was on his way to see some of his folks up north a hundred miles or so. He was at Harkins’ cabin when we got there, and so we brought him along.”
“H’m,” said the colonel. Then to Tom’s companion he said: “I suppose you are sorry, now, Harkins, that you took the side of the rebels?”
Harkins, who was a quiet, determined man, shook his head. “No, I’m not sorry,” he said.
“You will be sorry that you’re a rebel, before we get through with you,” sternly.
“I am not a rebel.”
“What are you, then, if not a rebel?” was the query.
“A patriot,” was the dignified reply.
“Bah,” sneered the officer, “a distinction without a difference.”
“It makes considerable difference to me,” said Harkins. “I do not consider that the patriots are rebels. They are fighting for their independence, which they are entitled to, which doesn’t make them rebels.”
“Well, they’ll never get their independence,” was the colonel’s reply. “They will lose the fight, and will have to again take up their allegiance to the king.”
“Perhaps, but I don’t believe it,” was the reply.
“If you will join a company of loyalists that I have formed, here, I will overlook your past actions in trying to organize a company of rebels,” said the colonel.
Harkins shook his head. “I will never take up arms in the service of the king,” he said.
“Very well, then,” exclaimed the colonel, angrily. “Take him to the guard-house.”
A couple of soldiers conducted Harkins from the room, and then Cruger looked sternly at Tom, and said:
“You are a rebel, are you not?”
Tom shook his head. “No,” he said.
“You are loyal to the king?”
“I haven’t given the matter much thought,” said the youth. “I suppose I am what would be termed neutral.”
“Then you would have no objections to joining the company that I spoke of to Harkins?”
Tom was silent a few moments. He was doing some swift thinking. He quickly decided that he could learn more regarding the strength of the fort, if he were to have the freedom that would come with being a member of the company in question; and also he would have a better chance to make his escape. So he said, quietly: “I will join the company, sir, unless you will let me go on my way up north to see my folks.”
The colonel shook his head. “I think I shall hold you prisoner, unless you join the company,” he said, “so you had better join.”
“Very well.”
The colonel then ordered that Tom be conducted to the quarters occupied by Captain Kane and his company of loyalists, and soon the youth stood in the captain’s presence. When the soldier that had conducted Tom thither explained to Captain Kane that Tom was to be a new recruit, the captain said: “Very well; glad to have all the recruits I can get. What is your name?”
“Tom Dare.”
The captain wrote this in a book. Then he asked: “Where do you live?”
“About fifty miles south of here,” was the reply.
The captain then asked a few more questions, and told Tom he was a member of the company and to make himself at home and get acquainted with his comrades.
“Very well, and thank you,” said the youth.
Then he began mingling with the other members of the company and engaging them in conversation, and quickly got acquainted with quite a number. He was a good-natured, jolly youth, and could make friends easily, and he endeavored to make a good impression, now, for he wished to learn all he could about the fort, and its strength, and also its weaknesses, with a view to carrying the information to General Greene as soon as he could make his escape.
His only worry was, what had become of his brother Dick?
CHAPTER XI
At the Stake
Dick and Ben were horrified, as well as amazed when they were confronted by the encircling gang of Indians.
That they could not escape was evident, for the redskins had them at such a disadvantage it would be folly to try to do so. They would be either cut down by tomahawks or pierced by arrows before they could draw their pistols.
The Indian who had spoken first now said something to his companion braves in a guttural voice, and a couple advanced and bound the arms of Dick and Ben together behind their backs.
Then they were encompassed about by the redskins and conducted away through the forest. They traveled westward for a period of two or three hours, and then they reached the camp of the Indians.
Dick and Tom were placed in a wigwam near the center of the village, and guards were placed about the wigwam.
“Well, this isn’t very pleasant, Dick,” said Ben, when they were alone.
“No, it isn’t, Ben,” was the reply.
“I wonder what they’ll do with us?”
“I don’t know. Hold us prisoners, I suppose.”
“Do you think they are likely to burn us at the stake?” asked Ben, an anxious note in his voice.
“I hardly think so,” was the reply. “I haven’t heard that the Cherokee Indians torture prisoners.”
“Indians are not to be trusted,” said Ben.
“Well, we’ll have to wait till morning and see what they intend doing,” said Dick. Then presently he went on: “I wonder where Tom is?”
“Possibly the Indians have got him a prisoner also, Dick.”
“Possibly, but I hope not. We must try to find out.”
They talked a while longer, and then lay down on the skins of wild animals that constituted their beds, and presently went to sleep, and in spite of their dangerous situation, they slept soundly till morning.
Food was brought them, after a while, and a couple of braves stood guard over them while they ate. Then their hands were bound again, and they were left to themselves an hour or more.
Then a couple of braves entered, and the two youths were conducted to a point where a circle of Indians sat on the ground, while in the center sat a big, ugly-looking Indian at least fifty years of age. This was the chief, and the youths were taken in front of him.
“Ugh,” he grunted. “Young white men cause a lot uv braves to die over in Peaceful Valley. Young white men’s lives must pay for braves. You die to-night, at the stake.”
The youths glanced at each other, and then looked at the old chief searchingly. They were trying to see whether he meant what he said, or not. And from the grim look on his face, they guessed that he did mean absolutely what he said. The part the youths had played in the affairs at Peaceful Valley had angered the Indians, and they intended taking revenge, now that they had the two captives helpless and in their power.
“Take um away,” said the chief, with a wave of his hand, and Dick and Ben were conducted back to the wigwam. As soon as they were alone, they looked at each other for a few moments in silence, a look of dismay on their faces.
“The outlook is not very pleasing for us, Dick,” said Ben, presently.
“You are right, Ben. I wonder if we could escape?”
Ben shook his head. “Not much chance of that,” he said. “Our arms are bound, and the wigwam is guarded. We couldn’t get away.”
“I guess you are right. But I don’t relish being burned at the stake, Ben.”
“Neither do I.”
“Perhaps we can make a break and escape as we are being taken to the place where they intend to conduct the ceremonies,” said Dick, thoughtfully.
“I am for making the attempt, Dick.”
“Well, we will do our best.”
The time passed slowly, that day, but also it passed faster than the two youths liked, for every hour that rolled away brought them nearer to the torture-stake.
After supper, that evening, they sat and waited in almost complete silence. They did not exchange many words, for they did not feel like talking. They reiterated their determination to try to make their escape, however, if any opportunity presented itself.
Presently it grew dark, and the youths heard considerable stirring about. They judged that the Indians were getting ready for the ceremony of burning them at the stake.
Slowly the time passed, and then presently into the wigwam came four Indian braves. They seized hold of the arms of Dick and Ben, and hustled them out of the wigwam, and conducted them toward a point just outside the edge of the village, where a fire was burning. As they drew nearer, the youths saw that several piles of wood had been gathered, and they knew that this was to be piled about them, and set fire to. In spite of the fact that they were brave youths, they shuddered.
They were led to a couple of tall, slender trees, about a foot in diameter, and their backs were placed against the trees. The moment had come when if at all the youths must make an attempt to get away, and suddenly they gave a strong wrench and attempted to jerk away from their captors’ grasp and make their escape, but they were quickly seized by a number of strong hands and held against the trees, while they were securely bound there with thongs.
Then the Indians began piling the wood around them, against their legs, while all the members of the band gathered around, to watch the proceedings.
Then brands from the fire were brought and stuck in among the dry wood that had been piled around them, and soon the wood was on fire and burning at a brisk rate.
Dick and Ben looked at each other, with despair in their eyes. They could see no possible chance of escape.
Louder crackled the burning wood, and as the flames neared the limbs of the prisoners, the redskins began chanting a guttural song of triumph.
CHAPTER XII
Fritz and the Indians
General Greene had a council with his officers, and with the settlers of Peaceful Valley, and mapped out a plan of campaign against the Indians.
He decided to send out three forces of one hundred each, and have them go to the south, and west, and look for the bands of marauding redskins.
“We must put a stop to such work as has been going on here,” he said. “Here in Peaceful Valley all the homes of the settlers have been burned to the ground, and the Indians will be doing the same at other points, unless they are prevented, and the only way to prevent them is to give them such a rough handling that they will be glad to retire to their villages and be peaceful and quiet.”
The other officers and the settlers agreed with him, and General Greene named three officers to take charge of the three parties of soldiers, Captain Morgan being one of the officers named, and he would, of course, take his company.
“I wish that I had the Dare Boys here, to go with me,” he said. “I always feel that I can get good reconnoitering work done if Dick Dare is with me. But, it is not likely that he will be back in time to go with my company.”
“Likely not,” said General Greene, “but if he should come soon after you leave, I will send him after you, if you wish.”
The three officers after making preparations took their departure, with their companies, and went in diverging directions, so as to cover as large a territory as possible.
The company with Captain Morgan made its way slowly westward, keeping a sharp lookout ahead, and to the right and the left, looking eagerly for signs of Indians, but evening came and they had not succeeded. They were then about twelve miles from Peaceful Valley, and they went into camp on the bank of a creek, in the midst of the woods.
Sentinels were stationed, for there was danger of an attack in the night, and the soldiers proceeded to cook and eat their suppers, they having brought sufficient provisions to last them several days.
Among the soldiers of this company were Tim Murphy, a jolly, good-hearted Irishman and Fritz Schmockenburg, a Dutchman, and they were great friends, though they quarreled good-naturedly a fair portion of the time. They were great friends of the Dare Boys, too, and were never so happy when Dick and Tom were not with the company.
“How you vos lige dis Injun fighdin’, Tim?” asked Fritz, as they sat beside each other on a log, eating their supper.
“Foine,” was the reply. “It is more excitin’ than foightin’ ridcoats, Dootchy. Don’t ye think so, yersilf?”
“Yah, I lige id firsd rate. But they are ugliness to loog at, und dot is so.”
“The only t’ing Oi don’t loike about it, Fritz,” said Tim, with a sly wink at some of his comrades nearby, “is thot av the ridskins catch ye, they’ll scalp ye, an’ then they’ll tie ye up to a stake an’ burn ye, sure an’ they will.”
Fritz looked worried. “Dot vould not be pleasantness, alretty,” he said.
“Oi should say not, Dootchy. Take care thot they don’t capture ye, Fritz.”
“I vill loog ouid dot dey don’t catch me, Tim Murphies.”
“You had betther, me bye.”
An hour or two after supper Fritz was sent to do sentinel duty, and he took his station about one hundred yards from camp, and stood, musket in hand, trying to peer into the darkness that encompassed him about.
Fritz was not a coward by any means, but he was always a bit fearful of being slipped up on by an enemy in the darkness, and so he stood there, looking eagerly around, and listening intently.
He heard occasional sounds, such as are usually to be heard in the timber at night, and at each sound he would grip his musket tightly, and face in the direction the sound came from, ready to fire if an enemy appeared.
After a while, however, he became somewhat used to the noises, and did not start or show signs of nervousness. Still, he was not very well pleased with the work of standing sentinel.
“I haf heard dot der retskins are so slyness dot dey gan slip up close midout anybody hearin’ dem,” Fritz muttered. “I vouldn’t lige to haf dem slip up on me, dot vay.”
Slowly the time passed, and Fritz was standing leaning against a tree, after a while, resting his hands on the muzzle of his musket.
He had been standing this way perhaps ten or fifteen minutes, when suddenly he heard a terrible racket in front of him. It startled Fritz, who thought that of course the noise was made by Indians, and he leveled his musket and fired a shot as quickly as possible, and then ran toward the encampment, yelling loudly:
“Injuns! Der Injuns are comin’!”
He did not stop till he was within the encampment, and the soldiers were up, muskets in hand, and many asked eagerly where the Indians were.
“Dey’re comin’ bretty quickness!” cried Fritz. “I shot some uf dem, und der rest vill be here quick, alretty. Be ready to shoot dem!”
The soldiers stood there, peering into the depths of the forest, but could not see any signs of Indians; nor was there any sound to indicate the presence of redskins.
“What kind of a noise did you hear, Fritz?” asked one of the soldiers.
“Oh, id vos a terrible racket, lige a lot uf Injuns fighdin’.”
“Sure an’ Oi don’t belave ye heard inny Injuns at all, Dootchy,” said Tim. “Come wid me, an’ we’ll find out phwat made the racket.”
One of the soldiers seized a brand from the fire, and quite a number made their way to the spot where Fritz had heard the noise, and there, stretched on the ground, dead, they found a wildcat.
“Ho, ho, ho!” laughed Tim. “Sure an’ it’s a woildcat ye wur afther thinkin’ wur Injuns.”
“He made a pretty good shot in the darkness, anyhow,” said another soldier.
“Veil, I am alvays a good shot, alretty,” said Fritz. “But der wildcats made so much racket dot I though dere vos a lot uv redsgins comin’.”
“If there were any redskins in the vicinity, you scared them away,” said a soldier.
“Yah, I guess dot dey vouldn’t come back tonight, alretty,” said Fritz.
The soldiers jollied Fritz a while, and then went back to camp and lay down and were soon asleep.
Fritz remained on sentinel duty an hour or so longer, and then was relieved from duty. But next morning the soldiers had quite a lot of sport jollying Fritz about his wildcat that he thought was a gang of Indians coming to surprise the camp.
CHAPTER XIII
Tom and the Redcoats
The day after Tom Dare became a member of the company of British soldiers, he went with a party of about twenty on a trip toward the southward, where it was said the patriots were thick, nearly all being patriots in fact.
Captain Kane instructed Lieutenant Wicks, who was to have charge of the party, to plunder the patriot homes and take prisoners, where the patriots showed signs of resistance or anger.
“Bring them here,” he said, “and we will make them join our force and fight for the king.”
“All right, Captain Kane,” was the reply.
“I have heard,” went on the captain, “that General Greene is on his way to Ninety-Six, with a force of about one thousand men, and if he has as strong a force as that, then we will need all the men we can get, for we have only about six hundred.”
Then the party set out, and made its way toward the south. For several miles their route was through a region where the majority of the settlers were loyalists, and these were not bothered.
“There is a settlement about twenty miles from here, in among the mountains,” said the lieutenant to the soldiers nearest to him as they made their way along, “and it is made up wholly of rebels. I have been wanting to get a chance at them for a good while, and I am going straight there. We will help ourselves to any of their belongings that we care for, and will take the men prisoners and make them come back to Ninety-Six and fight for the king when General Greene puts in an appearance.”
“I know where that settlement is,” said one of the soldiers. “They are strong rebels, up there.”
“Yes, but we’ll make them wish they were loyal to the king before we get through with them,” said the lieutenant.
Tom listened to the conversation of the lieutenant and the soldiers with interest, and he began wondering if he could not manage to in some manner get word to the settlers of their danger.
“I’ll try to do so,” he decided. “If any opportunity is offered to me, I will slip away and try to get to the settlement ahead of the redcoats and warn the settlers.”
The party of British soldiers did not hurry. They did not care to reach the settlement until evening, anyway, and so they made their way along at a moderate pace, and stopped an hour and a half at noon, and after they had eaten, they proceeded at the same moderate pace, and it was getting along toward evening when the lieutenant said they were within two miles of the settlement, which was in a high valley, up in among the mountains.
At the point where they were when the lieutenant made this statement, they were making their way along a path that wound around the side of a mountain, and at one side the mountain stretched up hundreds of feet in the air, while to the other side there was almost a precipice. The descent for a hundred feet was quite steep, but not so steep but what a man might descend it, by using care. Tom Dare, who had been trying to think of some manner of giving the party the slip and getting to the settlement ahead of the redcoats, decided on a plan. It was dangerous, but he would try it anyhow, and his plan was to pretend to stumble and then fall and go sliding down the declivity. He would then get to his feet, make his way to the settlement and warn the settlers.
He managed to work his way over till he was close to the edge of the descent, and then suddenly he stumbled, gave a cry of seeming alarm, fell and went rolling over and over down the steep mountain-side.
The soldiers were greatly excited and yelled advice and encouragement to the youth, but he was rolling so rapidly that their voices came to him only in an inarticulate murmur. He did not understand their words, and could not have acted on any of the suggestions had he done so.
“Stop,” yelled one soldier.
“Grab hold of something,” cried another.
“Whirl your body around and stick your heels in the earth,” was the suggestion from another.
On rolled Tom, and although he did his best to lessen his speed, he could do little, and he went down the side of the mountain with terrible speed. Fortunately, however, he was able to grasp a long trailing vine and this enabled him to twist himself into a more perpendicular position. Presently, when about one hundred feet down, he shot over a little precipice and went fifteen or twenty feet downward, directly into the top of a stunted fir tree. On through the branches he went, being buffeted first one way and then the other, and finally fell to the ground alighting upon the mossy bank of a little rivulet. Had he had in advance the slightest conception of the danger of his undertaking, he certainly would not have made the venture.
Luckily the branches of the tree had broken his fall considerably, and although he was somewhat stunned by the fall, and dazed by the swift whirling, he was not seriously injured, and in a few moments he was enabled to sit up, and a little later he rose to his feet, shook himself, and began figuring on getting to the settlement ahead of the redcoats.
Then to his hearing came the words, from the lieutenant: “Tom Dare! Are you alive? Where are you?”
“They’ll be looking for me in a few moments,” thought Tom. “I must hurry away from here.”
He set out in the direction of the settlement, picking his way along carefully, and gradually he worked his way upward, and when he had gone about a mile, he reached the path the soldiers had been following when he rolled down the mountain-side.
Tom looked back, but saw no signs of the British soldiers. He could see only about two hundred yards, however, as the path bent around the side of the mountain.
Tom did not linger there, however, and after one swift glance back, he set out along the path on the run, and in about ten minutes emerged from the path into a high valley of perhaps three or four miles long and a mile and a half in width. At a point near the center he saw a group of log houses, and toward these he hastened.
It was now about supper time, and Tom decided that the settlers were all at their homes. This would be better than if the men were scattered about, in the fields, at work, for they could make preparations for defense quickly.
Tom kept glancing back over his shoulder as he ran toward the houses, and each time he looked, he expected to see the British soldiers coming. He had gone about halfway to the houses, however, before he caught sight of the redcoats. They were just entering the valley, and they must have caught sight of Tom and guessed what he was intending to do, for a yell went up from their lips that came to his hearing.
“They have seen and recognized me,” thought Tom. “Well, I have the start of them, and will reach the settlement in time to make it possible for the men to get ready to show fight.”
On ran the youth, and the redcoats could be seen to be running also, but they were not so swift-footed as Tom, and he reached the settlement while the redcoats were still more than half a mile distant.
Tom stopped at the first house he came to, and opened the door without ceremony and called out:
“A party of redcoats is coming to attack the settlement, sir. Get the men together quickly, if you want to make a fight.”
A man came hastily to the door, and cried: “What’s thet you say, young man? Redcoats comin’ here?”
“Yes, sir. You can see them, yonder, and--”
“Why, ye’re one yourself!” exclaimed the man, noting Tom’s British uniform.
“No, I’m a patriot that was forced to join their force. I was with that party, but got ahead of them, and came to warn you. Get the men together, quickly. How many are there in the settlement?”
“About twenty-five.”
“There are only twenty of the redcoats. We can whip them. Get the other men at once.”
“All right. I’ll go to part of the houses and give the alarm, you go to the rest.”
Then they hastened from house to house, warning the settlers, and in a less number of minutes than it takes to tell, the men were gathered at the edge of the settlement, rifles in hand, ready for the redcoats.
The women and children were told to leave the houses and retire up the mountain-side, in the shelter of the rocks, and they promptly did so.
“We’ll protect ourselves by hiding behind the houses and fire at the redcoats, and hold them back or drive them away,” asserted one of the settlers, who seemed to be looked upon as the leader. “If we can save our houses and household goods, we will do so; but if they are too strong for us, we can retreat up the mountainside.”
“We can drive them away, I think, sir,” said Tom.
“I hope so, young man.” And then the settler added: “We thank you for bringing us warning of the approach of the British.”
“You are welcome, sir. I am a patriot, and a member of the patriot army under General Greene, whose army is about sixty or seventy miles east and north from here. I was captured by the British and made to join their force, but did so with the intention of making my escape at the earliest possible moment.”
“Well, it is lucky for us that you brought us the news of the coming of the redcoats just when you did.”
“They are almost within rifle-shot distance now,” said one of the settlers.
“All right,” replied the leader. “Keep your eyes on them, and as soon as they are within range, begin firing. Take aim, and make every shot tell.”
A few moments later, the British soldiers were close enough for the bullets from the rifles to reach them, and the settlers began firing.
Yells of anger went up from the lips of the redcoats.
CHAPTER XIV
Friends in Need
Dick Dare and Ben Foster were never nearer death’s door than at the moment when the flames of the fires built around them, as they stood tied to trees, began to scorch their clothing.
Both youths were very brave, but there was something so terrible about being burned at the stake, that a feeling of horror took hold upon them.
The Indians now leaped to their feet and began jumping about, and uttering cries, evidently of enjoyment at the spectacle that they were about to witness.
Then, just as the flames were about to begin burning the clothing of the youths, they felt the ropes that bound them to the trees loosen, and to the ears of each came the words: “When I say, ‘now,’ leap away from the tree and run for your life.”
The voices were strange to the youths, but they realized that the words were uttered by friends, and each replied, cautiously:
“All right.”
Smoke was going up from the fires, and when there came a moment that a thick sheet of smoke lay for a few moments between the youths and the redskins, they heard the word, “Now!”
The youths acted instantly. They leaped out from the midst of the piles of wood, and turned and ran with the swiftness of the wind in the opposite directions from where the Indians were dancing and singing.
Then the smoke lifted and the redskins caught sight of the vacant positions so recently occupied by their intended victims. Instantly their singing changed to wild yells of rage and chagrin, followed by war-whoops, and then the braves dashed in among the trees, in pursuit of the fugitives.
Dick and Tom did not see anything of their rescuers. In fact, it was so dark, in the midst of the timber, now that they were away from the light of the fires, that they could not see anything, and they had to run at random. In so doing, they ran against trees, through clumps of bushes, and stumbled over fallen trees, but managed to make pretty good headway, even under such circumstances. And they were urged on by the wild yells of the pursuing redskins, who were wild with rage because of the inexplicable escape of their intended victims.
The youths kept together, and plunged recklessly onward. They were determined to escape, if possible, for they realized that to be recaptured would be to be again fastened to the trees and burned to death. The Indians would keep them surrounded, next time, likely, and thus prevent them from escaping again.
On the two youths dashed, through the underbrush, and suddenly Dick felt emptiness beneath his feet, and went plunging downward, alighting on hard ground with a thump, his head struck something hard, causing him to see a lot of stars and flashing meteors, and then he knew nothing. He had been knocked senseless by the fall.
Ben, running swiftly, did not miss his comrade at once, but when he had gone perhaps fifty or seventy-five yards farther, and no sound of Dick running near him came to his hearing, he stopped, listened a few moments, and then called out, cautiously:
“Dick! Oh, Dick! Where are you?”
The sound of the shouting of the pursuing Indians came to his hearing, but although he listened intently, he did not hear any reply from Dick.
“Where can he be?” Ben murmured, anxiously. “Can anything have happened to him?”
Ben stood there a brief moment, called again, and then, not receiving any response, he set out through the forest as fast as his legs could carry him, and that, with a pursuing foe of savages determined upon his life, was pretty fast. His idea and hope was, that Dick was still hastening onward, and that he would escape from the disappointed redskins.
And Dick was lying senseless in a pit that had been made by hunters, for the purpose of trapping wild animals, for food and skins.
When Dick regained consciousness, he could not think for a few moments what had happened to him. Then he remembered being tied to the trees in the Indian village, with the fire burning about him, remembered having been freed by somebody, and that he and Ben had been running for their lives through the underbrush, pursued by the Indians, when he had taken a tumble and had got a bump on the head that had rendered him insensible, and the question now was: Where was he?
And then the thought came to him: Where was Ben?
He listened intently, but heard no sound to indicate Ben’s presence, nor did he hear the yells of the Indians. He judged, from this, that he had been in his present situation some time.
He rose to a sitting posture, and reached out and felt around him. He made out what seemed to be a solid wall of earth, at his back. Then he rose to his feet, and reached upward, trying to stretch to the top of the wall, but could not. Then he started to make his way along the wall, feeling with his hand, for guidance, and he had taken only five or six steps when he heard a low, menacing growl right in front of him.
Dick paused and gazed ahead, trying to penetrate the darkness, and then he saw what looked like two gleaming balls of fire, and then as another low, fierce growl came to his hearing, he realized the truth--that he was confronted by a wild animal of some kind, and from the sound of the growl he judged that the animal was likely a panther.
Dick had had considerable experience in hunting and trapping, and knew that pits were often dug for the purpose of trapping wild animals, and he guessed that he was in one of those old pits, and that he had for a companion a wildcat or panther!
Dick Dare realized that his situation was indeed a dangerous one. True, he had the use of his hands and feet, but what could he hope to do against the animal without weapons of any kind?
He felt that his danger was great, that his situation was indeed desperate, and he stood there, almost frozen to the spot, trying his best to think what he should do. Truly he had fled one danger but to encounter another. “From the frying pan into the fire.”
Again the low, but fierce and threatening growl came to Dick’s ears.
CHAPTER XV
Preparing for Trouble
Tom Dare and the settlers managed to hold their own against the redcoats, and the latter, after two or three attempts at forcing their way into the houses sheltering the marksmen, retreated about half a mile and evidently held a council, for they gesticulated quite a good deal. Then the settlers saw one of the soldiers take his leave, hastening down the valley, and Tom Dare exclaimed:
“He’s going back to the fort after reinforcements.”
“Do you think so?” asked Mr. Hicks, the man who was looked upon as being the leader at the settlement.
“Yes, that is what he is going to do. They know that they can’t capture the settlement with their present force, and as we have killed one or two of them and wounded several, they are determined to capture the settlement.”
“Well, they will be able to do so, if they have a strong enough force, I guess.”
“Yes. And that fellow will bring enough soldiers so that they will have no trouble in getting the best of you.”
The settlers looked sober and thoughtful. They realized that while they had gotten the better of the affair, so far, they would not be able to hold their own against overwhelming odds.
“What shall we do, anyhow?” remarked one of the settlers.
“I’ll tell you what,” said Tom, who had been doing considerable thinking. “Let’s take the offensive, and go out and attack those redcoats and drive them out of the valley.”
“What good will that do?” asked Mr. Hicks. “That soldier yonder will return with a strong force, and then we will have to retreat into the mountains.”
“No, I think we can arrange a trap for them,” said Tom.
“How?” with interest.
“I’ll tell you. You know that the path leading into this valley extends for several miles along the side of the mountain, with a steep descent on one side, and almost a perpendicular wall at the other.”
“Yes, we know that.”
“So do I,” mused Tom, rubbing some of the sore spots resultant from his precipitous departure from his British comrades.
“Tell us your plan, Tom.”
“Well, after we have driven these redcoats out of the valley and back along that path, we will climb up to the top of the precipice-wall, and will gather a large number of rocks of good size and place them right along the edge of the precipice. Then when the redcoats come, we will roll the stones down upon them.”
The settlers looked at one another, and it was easy to see that they thought the idea a good one. “That will likely be effective,” said Mr. Hicks. “I believe that we can put a stop to the advance of any force, no matter how strong, in that manner. We can move along the edge of the precipice, keeping above the redcoats, and keep rolling rocks down on them, till they are all annihilated or take the back track.”
The others said they thought Mr. Hicks was right, and so they began making preparations at once to attack the redcoats. They loaded their rifles and as many pistols as they could find, and then they withdrew from the houses, entered the woods and made their way along till they were opposite the point where the redcoats were stationed. Then they slipped to the edge of the covered wood land and suddenly rushed out upon the British soldiers, firing as they went, and yelling at the top of their voices.
The redcoats, taken by surprise, were seized with a feeling of terror, and sprang to their feet and ran toward the end of the valley at the top of their speed, leaving two or three seriously wounded soldiers behind them, however.
The settlers pursued the fleeing soldiers, and kept after them till they left the valley and were making their way along the path on the side of the mountain. Then the settlers paused and held a council.
“Now what shall we do next?” asked one of the settlers.
“A few of us will stay here and guard the entrance to the valley,” replied Tom. “And the rest will climb to the top of the precipice and gather stones and place them where they will be handy to roll down on the heads of the redcoats when they come.”
“That is good advice, I think,” said Mr. Hicks. “We will do that.”
Then he named six of the settlers, and told them to remain on guard at the entrance to the valley, after which the rest of the party climbed to the top of the precipice and began collecting rocks and placing them along the edge of the precipice.
“Those rocks will beat firearms as destructive weapons,” said Mr. Hicks.
“Yes, I think so,” replied Tom.
The soldiers who had been driven from the valley kept onward along the path till they reached the fairly level country at the end, a distance of about three miles, and then they stopped and went into camp, as the reinforcements from the fort would not reach there till about noon of the next day.
The settlers worked hard the rest of the afternoon, and when evening came they had a string of rocks piled along the edge of the precipice for a distance of a couple of miles, and they felt that they were now in a position to make it exceedingly hot for the British soldiers when they put in their expected appearance the following day.
The settlers now made their way back again and rejoined the six men on guard at the entrance to the valley, and after informing them that they would send six men to relieve them, so that they could come to the settlement and get supper, the main party made its way to the settlement. The women had supper ready, and the settlers ate, after which six of their number went and relieved the six at the entrance of the valley, and the three wounded redcoats were brought and placed in one of the houses. Their wounds had already been dressed by one of the settlers, an old man and a sort of doctor, who had not accompanied the party in its attack on the British, so the wounded men had been taken care of.
The settlers felt very well satisfied with the situation. Two or three had been wounded, but not seriously, and they felt that they had so far had much the better of the fight.
They got a good night’s sleep, and were up bright and early, ate breakfast, and then got ready for the work that was to be performed that day. Leaving the settlement, they made their way to the entrance of the valley, climbed to the top of the precipice, and then proceeded to the farther end of the string of stones, where they paused and settled down to await the coming of the British.
Tom Dare, however, who was never satisfied to remain quiet, said that he would go and reconnoiter and see if he could locate the party of redcoats that had been driven out of the valley.
“Very well,” said Mr. Hicks, “but be careful, my boy. Don’t let them capture you.”
“I won’t, sir. I will keep my eyes open.”
Then Tom made his way down the steep slope of the mountain, and into the heavy timber, and he made his way along, slowly and cautiously, for he believed that the party of redcoats was somewhere in the vicinity.
Tom advanced a few yards at a time, pausing then to look all around him, and when he had gone about half a mile he caught sight of the encampment.
“I thought I would find them somewhere around here,” thought Tom, “Well, now by keeping watch on this party of redcoats, I will know when the others join them, and when they start toward the valley, and can hasten and warn the settlers and they can be ready to begin the bombardment with the stones.”
Tom selected a good place from which to keep his eyes on the redcoats, and then settled down to take it easy. It was a warm morning, and Tom presently became somewhat drowsy. He would watch the encampment a little while, then he would nod slightly, but would presently rouse up again. It was during one of his nodding periods that Tom suddenly felt strong hands seize hold of him. Startled, he made an attempt to get free from the grasp, but could not do so, there being two of his assailants, and to Tom’s surprise they were Indians.
“That accounts for their being able to slip up on me without my hearing them,” thought Tom, with some bitterness.
His hands were quickly bound together behind his back with a thong, and then the Indians dragged Tom down to the British encampment, where he was given a rather grim reception.
“So, here you are again, eh, Tom Dare!” exclaimed Lieutenant Wicks. “Good. I am glad to see you. You played us a nice trick when you pretended to fall, rolled down the slope and then hastened on ahead and gave the settlers warning, didn’t you. Very good, I will settle with you for that, now that we have got you in our hands!” And he glared at the youth in a manner that showed he was very much wrought up, as indeed he had cause to be.
The truth was, that he was one of those who had been wounded by the bullets from the weapons of the settlers. His wound was not serious, but it was painful, and did not have a good effect on his temper.
“What are you going to do with me?” asked Tom, somewhat defiantly.
“I’ll show you at the proper time,” was the reply. “You will be very sorry that you acted as you did.”
“Perhaps so, perhaps not,” replied the patriot youth.
“You will find that it does not pay to try tricks on soldiers of the king,” said the lieutenant, sternly. “You will wish that you had remained a member of the British army.”
“No, I won’t,” said Tom. “I am a patriot, and I wouldn’t fight for the king.”
“You will be glad to fight for the king, before I get through with you, you blasted rebel!” cried the lieutenant, fiercely. Then he went on: “Just wait till the reinforcements get here. We will return to the valley and thrash the settlers and plunder their houses, and you are going to go along and help. Do you hear?”
“Yes, I hear,” replied Tom, “but I won’t do much helping, I can tell you that.”
He thought of the rocks that were to be rolled down on the redcoats, and did not like the prospect of being taken along with the force when it made its way along the path, in going to the valley.
Would the settlers roll the stones down, he wondered? They would, unless they knew that he was among the party. But would they discover this fact? If they did not, Tom would likely be killed by a rock, the same as if he were a redcoat.