SEEKING REFUGE AT THE BLOCKHOUSE
"LOOK! there is father coming out! He has heard it now!" gasped Sandy,
as he ran.
"And with poor little mother close behind him, waving her arms to us
to hurry. But where can Kate be, do you think?" asked Bob, as a sudden
suspicion came flashing into his mind.
"Perhaps at the spring. She often sits there, and plays. Surely she
could not be in the cabin, and fail to follow mother," his brother
declared.
"Keep straight on, and I'll go to see!" called Bob, suddenly turning
aside from the straight course they had been pursuing.
Sandy hesitated, for he wished to accompany his older brother; but,
during their many hunts, he had come to look upon Bob as the leader,
and gradually fallen into the way of obeying any instructions the other
might see fit to give. So he continued on to the cabin, where his
parents were waiting so anxiously.
Mary Armstrong had darted back into the large front room, and now once
more came into view, carrying the settler's trusty gun. Though his
left arm was still in a sling, David Armstrong gripped the weapon with
determination written on his sun-browned face. In defence of his loved
ones he would forget his injuries for the time being, and, if need be,
fight desperately.
Meanwhile, what of Bob?
The spring from which the Armstrongs secured their drinking water
bubbled up from the mossy ground under the trees at some little
distance from the cabin. It was reached by a circuitous path, well
beaten from frequent pilgrimages to and fro.
Jumping over bushes that intervened, for he was too eager to follow the
winding path even when he struck it, Bob quickly came in sight of the
spring. His heart was almost in his throat as he discovered the well
known sun-bonnet of his pretty sister, Kate, hanging to the bush that
overspread the spring; but failed to see the slightest sign of the girl.
Cold with the fear that oppressed him, he continued to advance. What if
Kate had already been carried off by some wandering red man? With the
vast wilderness stretching all around for hundreds of miles, how would
they ever know where to look for her?
"Kate! Oh! Kate!" he called, stopping short in his suspense to listen.
Then, to his great delight, a voice answered him; and the girl arose
from a shady nook where she was accustomed to amuse herself.
Apparently she had paid no attention to the brazen sound of the alarm
bell, being so wrapped up in her play. But, when Bob sprang to her
side, and caught one of her hands in his, the girl's face grew white
with fear.
"Oh! what is it, Bob?" she cried. "What has happened? The bell--I
didn't notice that it was sounding! Is there a fire? Has any one been
hurt like father was?"
"It must mean Indians!" answered Bob, as he hurried her along.
After that dreadful word had passed his lips there was no further need
of urging. Kate's feet seemed shod with fear, and she even led him in
the race for the cabin. There she was enfolded in the motherly arms and
hurried within, to be hastily burdened with several small packages in
case they were compelled to flee for safety to the blockhouse.
David Armstrong and the two lads stood without, guns in hand,
listening. The bell had now stopped its wild clamor; but they knew that
if it again burst out it would mean the worst. And thus, with every
sense on the alert, they waited.
While peace had so long hung over the favored settlement on the Ohio,
those who composed the little colony knew well what an Indian attack
must signify. True, few if any of them had had more than the one
experience when the pack train had been assailed in the night while
they were on the trail; but they were not apt to forget the fierce
whoops of the savages, on that occasion, which had been ringing in
their ears ever since.
David had built his cabin after the most approved fashion known among
pioneers of that perilous time. The walls had loopholes between the
logs in certain places, where guns could be thrust out and fired into
the faces of advancing foes. Even the small windows were secured
with heavy shutters, fastened from within, so that it would require
considerable skill and labor to effect an opening, should the inmates
be besieged.
But, of course, it was not the plan of David and his fellow settlers
to remain thus isolated, if an opportunity came whereby they could
gather in the blockhouse, which was always kept prepared for the
reception of the colony.
Mary was now busying herself in closing and fastening these shutters.
Bob sprang to assist his mother, ever mindful of her comfort, for he
was a thoughtful lad at all times. Impulsive Sandy had just as warm a
heart, but was more inclined to be careless and short sighted.
Then, without warning, once more that fearful sound broke forth! The
bell was giving out its second call, which meant that every soul within
hearing would do well to hasten without delay to the central point.
Perhaps, after all, it might prove to be a needless alarm; but, under
the circumstances, no one could take the chance of being caught
napping. For aught they knew those cruel Shawanees had finally overcome
the valiant defenders of far distant Boonesborough, and, determined to
wipe out every settlement west of the Alleghanies, were now advancing
north to the Ohio River region with their victorious bands.
"Wife, that settles it!" said David Armstrong, firmly; "we must go at
once to the fort!"
Each of them knew what was to be done. They had talked this thing
over on more than one occasion, and arranged a system that was to be
followed out in case of need.
The heavy puncheon door was closed, and locked with a ponderous padlock
that had been carried into the wilderness when they emigrated from
their former Virginia home. This being done, the little party started
on a run across the open field.
How gloomy, and filled with mysterious perils, did that dense
forest seem now! It was so easy to people its aisles with creeping,
treacherous foes, armed with bows and arrows, with guns sold by the
French traders to be used against the English-speaking colonists,
together with tomahawks and scalping knives.
And, when they had entered among the tall trees that grew so close
together, how every slight movement along the trail made them quiver
with sudden dread, in the belief that they were about to be confronted
by a painted horde of Indians, seeking their lives!
The blockhouse, fortunately, was not very far distant. When they began
to catch glimpses of it through the trees the hopes of the Armstrongs
once more mounted upward.
By now they had overtaken other fugitives, also making for the safety
of the central point, and laden with the most precious of their
possessions, which consisted for the most part of some family heirloom
which they dreaded to have go up in flame and smoke, if the savages put
their deserted cabins to the torch, as was their universal custom.
When they reached the palisade they found an excited crowd. The women
and children were hurried inside as fast as they arrived; while the
defenders of the post clustered near the gates, engaged in anxious
communion.
"Who saw the Indians?" asked David, always seeking information; and
both of his boys hovered near, with ears wide open to catch every word
that might be dropped.
Anthony Brady, who exercised something of the characteristics of a
commander among the settlers, by virtue of his age and experience, made
immediate answer.
"Old Reuben Jacks, the forest ranger, spied the bloodthirsty villains,"
he said. "He came first to my cabin, which is further away than the
rest. Then, as we ran, we shouted warning, and others, who heard, took
it up. Here he comes now. Ask him how many of the red scoundrels he
sighted, neighbors."
The man in question was clad in greasy buckskin garments. He had no
family; but stopped with different persons whenever he came to the
settlement. But, after the manner of the Irish trapper, old Reuben
could not long remain in one place, and thus he spent most of his time
roaming.
David quickly cornered old Reuben. The forest ranger was a quaint
fellow, who carried one of those long-barrelled rifles which were so
deadly in the hands of a good marksman. He had several rows of nicks
on the stock, and the boys had always been curious to know whether
these signified the various wild animals, like bears, and panthers, and
wildcats, that he had shot with the weapon, or something perhaps more
terrible. But Old Reuben would never tell.
"Where did you see the Indians, Reuben?" asked David, as others of the
men began to cluster around, filled with curiosity to know the worst.
"I reckons as how 'twar 'bout three furlongs t'other side o' Cap'n
Brady's cabin I see 'em," replied the old ranger in a mumbling tone,
due to the absence of teeth in his jaws.
"How many were there?" continued Mr. Armstrong.
"I see three before I turned and run," Reuben answered. "But the bushes
was shakin' like they mout 'a' ben a host more a'comin'. They was armed
with bows an' arrers, an' I dead sartin saw a scalp hangin' at the belt
o' one on 'em."
Bob and Sandy exchanged horrified glances at hearing this. They had
themselves passed through quite an experience with the hostile Indians
early in the season, when one of the brothers was captured and carried
away to the village of the Shawanees, from which he had finally been
rescued, after considerable peril had been encountered.
To hear that Indians had been seen so close to the settlement caused a
thrill to pass through the heart of the boldest man; and the hands that
clutched their guns tightened convulsively on the weapons.
"Were they Shawanees, Reuben?" David continued to ask.
The veteran ranger shook his head, with its straggly gray hair that
fell down on his shoulders from under the beaver cap.
"Delaware, I reckons," he said, simply; and they believed that so
experienced a woodsman could not be mistaken, for there were many
characteristics that distinguished the different tribes, even among the
famous Six Nations or Iroquois. (Note 2.)
"Are all here?" asked Captain Brady at this juncture; for they could no
longer see any sign of new arrivals hurrying toward the blockhouse.
A hurried count assured them that all families had reached the
stockade, with one exception.
"The Bancrofts are missing!" cried one man.
"And their clearing is almost as far away as mine! This looks bad,
men!" said Brady, with a grave expression on his set features.
"Something ought to be done, it seems to me," remarked David; for the
family in question had been among the first dozen seeking new homes on
the Ohio; and between them and his own little brood there had always
existed more or less friendship.
"Who'll go with me ter look 'em up?" demanded old Reuben, hoarsely.
Every man present signified his readiness to be of the rescue party;
but Captain Brady, of course, would not hear of such a thing.
"It would weaken our defence!" he declared. "We must hold this stockade
above all things. Take four men if you wish, Reuben, but no more. And
be careful lest you run into an ambush. These savages are treacherous
at the best. They would strike you in the back if the chance arose. And
if so be you have to shoot, make every bullet tell!"
Sandy pushed forward. He really hoped that the old ranger would pick
him out as one of those who were to make up the rescue party. Always
reckless, and fairly revelling in excitement, Sandy would have gladly
hailed a chance to undertake this perilous adventure.
"Wait!" called out David Armstrong just then. "Perhaps, after all, it
may not be necessary to go. Look yonder, Captain Brady, and you will
see that the Indians are even now coming out of the woods!"
These words created a new spasm of excitement. Turning their eyes in
the direction David had pointed, the gathered settlers saw that he
indeed spoke the truth; for several painted figures had just then
issued forth from the shelter of the fringe of forest, and started
toward the stockade!