A CANOE TRIP IN THE STARLIGHT
IT was Jacques Larue!
The keen-eyed and suspicious French trader had by chance seen Blue
Jacket slip away from his people and silently paddle his canoe down the
river a short distance. He had followed, and watched him hide the bark
here in the rushes bordering the shore.
And of course the trader had no difficulty in guessing what this meant.
He knew Blue Jacket intended that the white prisoner should escape by
this means.
Why Larue did not go at once to the head men, and tell of his
discovery, will never be known. Perhaps he fancied that Sandy would
come alone to the boat, and it struck him as a fine chance to frustrate
the designs of the boy just when doubtless his heart would beat high
with hope.
At any rate here he was, possibly somewhat surprised that three dark
figures confronted him instead of one shrinking lad.
"What would you?" demanded Bob, turning quickly around, just as he was
in the act of entering the canoe, which was floating among the rushes.
"So, you are zere, too, it seems?" sneered the man. "I remember zere
was also ze second Armstrong cub. Zis is vat I call neat. Two new
Shawanee boys, adopted into ze tribe! Perhaps ze new Eenglish trader
like to exchange hees goods for sons! Sacre! suppose you come back to
lodges wiz me. I haf got ze gun pointed straight; and my fingair, it
press on ze trigger. You refuse, and pouf! bang, down you go!"
"What! do you mean that you would force us to go back to captivity; and
you a white man at that? Shame on you, Jacques Larue! Better paint your
face, and stick feathers in your hair; for you are more savage than the
reddest Indian!" cried the reckless Sandy.
The trader gave vent to a low cry of anger. Bob feared that the
Frenchman might be urged to shoot by these taunts, for he was
undoubtedly hot-blooded, like most of his countrymen.
It was surely a time for action. The young pioneer made a sudden lunge
forward and struck out with his right arm. Long handling of the axe
had given Bob the muscles of an athlete; and when his clenched fist
came in contact with the jaw of the French trader the result was
disastrous to Larue.
He went floundering on his back. His gun was discharged; but the
missile that it had contained did no more damage than to shoot a hole
through the atmosphere, for it was aimed at the time at the sky.
"Away!" cried Blue Jacket, pushing Bob toward the boat; for the boy
had acted as though tempted to follow up his one blow by giving the
insulting trader the whipping he deserved.
Prudence prevailed, and Bob hastened to leap aboard. Then the young
Shawanee gave the canoe a shove that sent it out through the rushes,
and upon the bosom of the flowing stream.
Jacques Larue struggled to his feet, and wildly pranced up and down
on the shore, shouting threats of what he would do if ever he came
in contact with either of those Armstrong "cubs" again. But Bob gave
little heed to what he said, being much more concerned with other
matters.
Of course the report of the heavily-charged gun, together with the
cries of the angry French trader, must by this time have aroused the
village.
"I wonder if they will pursue us?" ventured Sandy, as he worked away
valiantly at the paddle which he had taken up.
"The current of this stream is swift, and the shores so filled with
underbrush that we can make faster time than any brave could afoot,"
remarked Bob, while he, too, bent to the task before him, so that the
little boat fairly danced along on the starlit stream, heading down
toward the junction with the big Ohio.
"But they have other canoes, for I saw three at least?" ventured Sandy.
"But Blue Jacket knew that," returned the other, shrewdly; "and depend
on it he saw to it that they were hidden away where they could not be
found in a hurry. We may be pursued, but I am not afraid."
They could hear some sort of hubbub taking place back toward the place
where the village stood. No doubt the greatest confusion ensued when
the absence of all the canoes was discovered.
"I only hope he will not be made to suffer for what he did," mused
Sandy; "because Blue Jacket is our red brother now, and he thinks a
heap of you, Bob."
"Yes, and of you, too, Sandy, because he said as much. How nice it has
all turned out after all! And it pays, sometimes, brother, just as our
mother says, to be kind toward an enemy. If we had let the poor fellow
die, think what would be your condition to-night."
Sandy worked for a long time in silence; but he was undoubtedly
thinking over the stirring events of the last few hours, and the lesson
must have sunk deep into his heart, never to be forgotten.
"I believe we are close to the big river!" remarked Bob, after a time.
"Why, you took the very words out of my mouth," returned Sandy; "for I
can see much water ahead, and the waves seem to be getting larger. We
must keep to the right, and paddle close to the shore."
Presently they entered upon the vast expanse of the Ohio, and their
progress became much slower, since now they were compelled to fight
against a strong current, instead of having the benefit of one.
"Jacques Larue seems to be in mortal fear about father taking his
trade away from him," said Sandy, after a time.
"That is because he has been robbing the Indians," observed the
thoughtful Bob. "He knows that the English do not trade after that
style, but believe in giving more for the pelts. And, brother, I
believe that what has happened may assist father very much in his
trade. You heard what the chief said--that never would the Shawanees
war upon the family of Armstrong. That means they will be our friends,
even though at war with the whites."
"The skies seem to be brightening all around," remarked Sandy. "If only
the truth would come out about that barn burning! It is the one black
blot on our name, and father feels it keenly, though he tries to be so
brave. His honor is very dear to him."
"As it should be," cried Sandy. "But mother never loses hope. Does she
not constantly say that in God's good time all must be made clear? And
I believe that mother knows best. I keep hoping that some fine day we
shall have news from our old home in Virginia, and that word will come
to tell us father's name is cleared."
They said no more for some time. Indeed, all of their breath was
needed in the violent exertion of forcing the canoe against that
current, running six miles or more an hour.
"Oh! I believe we must be near home now!" cried Sandy suddenly,
pointing with his extended paddle toward the nearby shore. "See, that
bunch of trees on the hill-top looks like the one we can look at from
our cabin. Yes, it must be, Bob! Shall we land here, and climb up?"
"Ten minutes more ought to do it, brother," said the other, quietly.
"So dip deep, and push hard. It is nearly over; and think of the joy of
being home again."
"Oh! yes. They must be dreadfully worried after knowing about that
fire. How fortunate that it did not sweep this way," declared Sandy,
between gasps; for he was very nearly done up, not having all the
rugged physique of his brother.
"We have much to be thankful for," replied Bob, working away.
When the time set by Bob had expired the canoe was turned toward the
shore, and the two landed, securing the frail craft, for they hoped to
have many a trip in it on the broad bosom of the mighty Ohio.
After this they mounted the hill. Bob, knowing that there were always
sentinels on duty, and not wishing to be fired on by mistake, gave a
signal that would be recognized; and presently they were met by one
whom they knew well, being ushered by the guard into the settlement.
There was a light burning in the Armstrong cabin, and they could easily
understand that sleepless eyes reigned there. As they drew near, the
door opened, and the two lads saw a well-known figure appear. It was
the anxious mother who stood there, shading her eyes with her hand, for
a fire burned near by. She had heard voices that thrilled her soul.
Impulsive Sandy gave a shout and rushed forward, to be crushed to that
loving breast, and kissed again and again. Then came the wide-eyed
Kate, and the delighted father, to renew the tender caresses.
Neighbors who had been aroused also flocked into the Armstrong cabin,
eager to hear of the boys' adventures. So for an hour, or until nearly
dawn, they had to relate the strange things that had befallen them
since leaving home on that eventful hunt.
Looking around the big room, where the fire burned so cheerily, and
the kettle sang its home-like tune, Sandy heaved a great sigh of
happiness.
"It's just Heaven to be here!" he said; and, while his good mother
shook her head in mild reproof at his words, she smiled with pleasure
to realize that her boys thought so much of their home, humble though
it might be, and devoid of many things others would deem necessities.
After a warm meal the boys were compelled to go to bed, and secure some
rest, of which both of them were certainly in sore need. Later on that
day, when the full particulars of the captivity were told, David turned
to his wife and said:
"Yes, your way was the best way after all, Mary. See how blessed a
return that poor wounded and almost dying Shawanee has made. With his
life, if need be, he was determined to repay the debt. And to think
that they call us _friends_, these red men with whom I expect to do
much trading after a while! Son, that was surely the best day's work
you ever did when you bound up the wounds of Blue Jacket, and took him
in by our fireside. I will never forget the lesson, wife. Our bread
cast upon the waters _did_ return, and that before many days."
And the gentle Mary only said in reply:
"Still have faith that the other cloud will yet be lifted in good time,
David!"