THE FLIGHT.
The individual who was seen hastening across the clearing, showed in
his actions that he was an acquaintance of Bungslager and his niece.
"Well, Sebastian, what is it?" asked the latter, while the quick flush
that overspread her face told Colonel Crockett at once what relation
existed between them. Even in that moment of excitement the young man
had time to cast one admiring glance upon the maiden.
"I've bad news! the worst news!"
All turned away from the table and looked expectantly toward him.
"What is it?"
"Three runners reached Brownston, a couple of hours ago, with the news
that a big war-party of Comanches are approaching!"
"Ish dat all?" exclaimed Hans, with a sigh. "I dinks my cow has tumbled
over a log, and hurts herself."
"But they will be there by to-night."
"Does my frow know it?"
"Yes; she besought me to hurry to you, and urge you to come at once,
without a moment's delay. As soon as I learned it, I prepared to come,
although several urged me against it, as they thought I would be
intercepted before I could get back; but I have made all haste."
"From what p'int are they coming?" asked Crockett, who had the sense to
perceive that this was a serious peril that threatened the Dutchman and
his niece.
"From the north-east," replied Sebastian, turning toward Crockett, who
had risen to his feet.
"How do you know that they intend attacking the village?"
The young man looked at the hunter a moment without replying.
"I suppose you are a stranger in these parts, for if you wasn't, you
would know that Brownston has been attacked several times before,
although never by such a large force as now threatens it. A good many
of our men are off in the Texan war, and a good many more are going;
but, we've had so many of these raids by the Comanches, that we've got
used to them. We're better prepared than we used to be."
"Do you think the village is in danger itself?"
"No," was the prompt reply. "As we have been warned, I do not see as
there is any danger at all."
"Then if we can get _there_, we shall be safe?"
"Undoubtedly."
"It is about a dozen miles away," added Crockett, in a voice which
showed he was considerably relieved; "it ain't likely that the
red-skins will be there before night."
"No; we do not fear for Brownston itself, now that we have been
notified, but it is the outlying houses, that are in such danger, and
quite a number of the folks have gone out to warn them."
"Then let's set down and make a meal on b'ar-steaks, and all go to the
village together," setting the example, by taking his place at the
table again.
The coolness with which this was uttered had a most reassuring effect
upon the others. Sebastian, (as the young Texan was called,) was a
volunteer in the war of independence of the Lone Star State, and was
home in his native village of Brownston for a short time to see his
friends, when this alarm reached his ears.
Knowing full well the ferocious character of the Comanches, and that
in their wars, they made no discrimination between Mexican, Texan or
American, the tidings filled him with the gravest alarm, concerning the
beautiful Katrina and her uncle.
He was glad to find a guest there whose appearance showed him to be a
man of knowledge, skill and daring, and who could not fail to prove a
most valuable auxiliary in escaping the peril which had descended so
suddenly upon them. He advanced and offered his hand.
"I am Sebastian Carsfield, a Texan, fighting against Santa Anna. I am
glad to make your acquaintance."
"And I am on my way to the Alamo," replied Crockett, warmly shaking his
hand.
"Then we are brothers: I join you at the meal."
"I dinks you ain't so much hungry as I vas," said Hans, who was quite
impatient at the delay, and who attacked the viands with renewed
appetite. Katrina was so flustered by the exciting news and the
presence of her lover, that she became quite thoughtful and ate very
little.
Crockett seemed to have forgotten entirely that such a thing as a
hostile force was threatening them, and joked and jested in his usual
manner. He related many of his adventures in Tennessee, in hunting
bears, and some incidents of his eventful career in Congress, and his
memorable tour through the northern States.
In this way the afternoon wore rapidly away, the dinner was lengthened,
and by the time that the party rose from the table, the latter part of
the day was half gone.
As the "frow" of Bungslager had gone to the village of Brownston in
the canoe, there was no means of making the journey by water, so it
was arranged that the dozen intervening miles should be made overland.
Hans owned a sturdy horse, not very fleet, but tough and enduring, upon
which he proposed to load every thing necessary, while he and Katrina
walked.
Sebastian had come on foot, not pausing to procure a horse, and
Crockett offered to yield his mustang to her, as the animal was at no
great distance, and he intended to procure him before setting out for
the village.
But she declined. None of the party were more able to walk than she,
and in the labyrinths of the woods, she had more confidence in her own
limbs than in those of any quadruped or biped.
It was agreed that Crockett should go after his mustang and then follow
a bridle-path that he could easily find, which struck the creek about
a mile below the cabin of Bungslager, and there await the coming of
his friends. At the same time Sebastian was to descend the river some
distance below, to see whether any thing more could be discovered
regarding the Comanches, and then was to return to the point mentioned,
where it was believed that all would rendezvous at the end of a couple
of hours.
With this understanding the parties separated--Crockett taking the
trail made by the bear, while he was pursuing it, as the speediest way
of reaching the point where he had left his mustang tied. Sebastian
located the bridle-path with such exactness that he was certain of
finding it without any delay.
The Texan, with his heavy rifle slung over his shoulder, strode off
in an eastern direction, following the course of the creek. As he
looked up to the sky, and saw how near the sun was setting, a shade
of anxiety crossed his face. He felt that they had lingered too long
in the cabin, after the danger became known. It was now impossible to
get fairly started for Brownston, before night was closing in, and the
probabilities were that the place would not be reached before daylight.
These hours of darkness would be hours of the greatest peril to his
friends. He had no doubt that the vigilant, ferocious Comanches would
be between them and the village before the night was half gone. Such
a large party could hardly hope to make their way through the lines
without discovery--especially with the blundering Hans Bungslager, who
seemed incapable of comprehending the grave character of the danger
that menaced them.
"I am afraid we shall see the worst kind of trouble, before many hours
come and go!" muttered the Texan, as he strode thoughtfully through the
forest.