AROUND THE CAMP-FIRE
On a tempestuous night in midwinter the little settlement of
Coatesville, in Kentucky, was assailed by a fierce band of Shawanoes
and Hurons. The pioneers were surprised, for the hour was near
daybreak, and, accustomed as they were to the forays of the border,
they were without the slightest warning of the danger which burst
upon them. They rallied, however, and made an heroic defense, but
when with the dawning of day the warriors withdrew, they left more
than half the hearthstones darkened with sorrow and woe, because of
one or more of its defenders who had fallen in the strife.
Among those that had perished was Abram Carleton, shot down on his
own threshold while fighting for his wife and his boy Jack, who
themselves were doing their utmost to beat back their merciless
enemies.
The youth, as he grew older, gradually recovered from his grief, but
the blow was so terrible to the stricken widow that its effect
remained with her through all the years that followed. The
vivacious, bright-hearted wife became the sad, thoughtful woman, who
rarely smiled, and who walked forever in the shadow of her
desolation. She had only her boy Jack, and to him she gave the
whole wealth of her attention; but she could never forget the brave
one that had yielded his life for her and her child.
Some years later a portion of the settlers became dissatisfied with
their home, peculiarly exposed as it was to attacks from marauding
red men, and determined to cross the Mississippi into that portion
of Louisiana which to-day forms the great State of Missouri.
To many it seemed a strange refuge, for the change, it may be said,
took them still further from civilization; but the reader well
knows that the settlement of no portion of the Union was marked by
such deeds of ferocity as that of the Dark and Bloody Ground, and
the pioneers had good grounds to hope for better things in the
strange land toward which they turned their footsteps.
The lead mines of Missouri attracted notice a early as 1720, and
Saint Genevieve, its oldest town, was founded in 1755. At the
breaking out of the Revolution, St. Louis contained nearly a
thousand inhabitants, the country at that time belonging to Spain,
and a considerable fur trade was carried on with the Indians.
Among those who crossed the Mississippi was the widow Carleton. Her
friends believed that if she removed forever from the scene of her
great affliction she might recover; but if she remained she must
soon succumb. She suffered herself to be persuaded, and went in the
company of those who promised to give her the tenderest attention
and care.
Her decision was not made until the little company, that had spent
weeks in preparation, was on the eve of starting. It thus became
necessary for Jack to stay behind to look after certain interests of
both, his purpose being to follow in the course of a few weeks.
The long journey westward was made in safety, a thriving settlement
begun, and young Otto Relstaub, the son of a hard-hearted, penurious
German, was sent back over the trail, according to promise, to guide
Jack Carleton, who was impatiently awaiting him. The next morning
after his arrival the two started westward, all their earthly
effects packed upon the single horse.
They took turns in riding the animal. Accustomed as they were to
constant activity, they would have enjoyed the journey on foot much
more than on horseback. At first both walked, but, after their
animal had run away several times, his capture causing much delay,
trouble, and roiling of temper, they concluded that a change would
have to be made if they expected ever to reach their destination.
One afternoon, when Otto was riding considerably in advance of his
friend, he was fired upon by Indians, narrowly escaping with his
life. The incidents immediately following have already been told the
reader.
It was yet early in the evening when Deerfoot the Shawanoe acted
upon the request of Otto, that some more convenient spot should be
selected in which to continue their talk.
Inasmuch as the destination of the boys lay to the westward, it
seemed to Jack Carleton that, the wisest thing to do was to enter
the canoe, and allow the young Shawanoe to paddle them across; but
he held the gifts and skill of the wonderful warrior in such high
estimation that he feared a hint of the kind might not be received
with favor.
Deerfoot led the way through the wood until a depression was
reached, where considerable undergrowth grew. He came to a stop and
seemed to be looking around in the darkness, which to the others was
impenetrable.
"Let a fire be kindled," said he.
Only a few minutes were needed to gather all the fuel required. It
was heaped against the trunk of a tree, and as each carried a flint
and steel, a bright roaring blaze was soon under way.
Had Jack and Otto been alone, they would have been troubled by the
fear that their campfire would be seen by prowling enemies but the
air of unconcern on the part of the Shawanoe infused into them a
feeling of confidence which drove away all fear.
Enough branches and leaves were piled together to afford them the
best sort of couch. Not one had it blanket with him, and had the
weather been cold, they must have suffered not a little. The boys
had lost theirs when their horse ran away the last time, and
Deerfoot had not brought any with him, though one remained in his
canoe.
Fortunately the night was not only mild, but scarcely a breath of
air was stirring. The fire radiated all the heat needed to make
each comfortable. They assumed easy postures on the ground, and, as
the reflection lit up each countenance, they looked curiously at one
another, as if seeking more intimate knowledge of their appearance.
Deerfoot and Jack have already been sufficiently referred to, and a
little attention is due to the honest German youth, who has his part
to play in the following pages.
Otto was about a year younger than his friend, and bore very little
resemblance to him. Jack possessed a certain rugged grace, and,
while he was not handsome, his face showed intelligence with mental
strength, sustained by bounding youth, and a physical vigor which
was perfect.
Otto was a head shorter than Jack, and his growth seemed to run
mostly to breadth. His short legs bowed outward at the knees, and a
curve seemed necessary in order to preserve the harmony of general
expanse.
His face was very wide, the small twinkling eyes fax apart, and the
funny pug nose inclined in the same direction. His neck was short,
and hair long and thick. His dress was similar to that worn by Jack
Carleton, except that everything, even to the shoes, were of the
coarsest possible nature.
Jacob Relstaub, the father of Otto, was not merely penurious, but he
was miserly and mean. Jack Carleton knew him so well that he was
certain there would be serious trouble with the lad if he showed
himself in the little frontier town without the valuable horse which
had run away and swam the river.
There was one respect in which the dress of the German differed from
that of the American. Instead of wearing a cap, he was furnished
with a hat something similar to those seen in some portions of the
Tyrol. It had a brim of moderate width, and the crown gradually
tapered until it attained a height of six inches, where it ended in
it point. The thrifty mother possessed a secret of imparting a
stiffness to the head gear which caused it to keep its shape, except
when limp from moisture.
Such youths as Otto and Jack are always blessed with the most
vigorous appetites, but they had eaten during the afternoon and were
well content to wait until the morrow. As for Deerfoot, it made
little difference to him whether he had partaken since the rising of
the sun, for he had been taught from his infancy to hold every
propensity of his nature in the sternest check. Oft-times he went
hungry for no other purpose than that of self-discipline.
"How was it you came to meet Otto?" asked Jack of the dusky youth,
who, assuming an easy position on the ground, was examining his bow.
He looked up, smiled faintly, and hesitated a moment before
answering.
"Two suns ago Deerfoot came upon a log cabin. It was raining and
cold, and he was a long ways from home. He saw the glimmer of a
light and reached for the latch-string, but it was pulled in. He
knocked on the door and it was opened by the man who lived there.
Deerfoot asked that he might stay till morning, but the pale face
called him an Indian dog, and said that if he did not hasten away he
would shoot him--"
"Don't you know who dot vos?" interrupted Otto, whose face seemed to
grow wider with its immense grin.
"How should I know." asked Jack, in turn.
"Dot was mine fader. I dinks yon vosn't such a fool dot you
wouldn't know dot right away."
"I knew that he was the stingiest man in Kentucky, but I didn't
suppose you spelled his name 'h-o-g."'
"Dot's just de way to spell it," said Otto, slapping his friend on
the shoulder and laughing as though pleased beyond measure. "Wait
till you don't know him as well as I don't."
"Deerfoot turned to walk away," continued the young Shawanoe; "he
had slept many times in the wood, and he was not afraid, but he had
not taken many steps when some one called him. It was too dark to
see, but the voice was of a boy. While Deerfoot waited he threw a
heavy, blanket over his shoulders and made Deerfoot walk back to the
cabin. He asked him to enter the window where the father could not
see him, and he told Deerfoot he would place him in his bed and he
should have food."
The narrator paused in his story and glanced toward Otto Relstaub.
Jack, with a laugh, looked at the stubby youngster, who was blushing
deeply and holding one hand over his face, the fingers spread so far
apart that he could see the others. Otto was also smiling, and his
hand could not begin to hide it, so that each side of his mouth wits
in sight.
"Deerfoot was too proud to receive the offer of the boy, but he took
the blanket."
"And mine gracious!" struck in the lad again; "didn't mine fader
whip me for dat? He proke up three hickory sticks onto me and kept
me dancing out of de cabin and in again, and over the roof, till I
vos so disgusted as nefer vos."
"How did you explain the absence of the blanket?" asked Jack.
"I told mine fader I didn't know not any nodings apout it, and he
whipped me 'cause I didn't know vot I did know, and, when Deerfoot
brought pack de blanket next day, den he knows dat I lied and he
whipped some more as nefer pefore."
Jack Carleton threw back his bead and laughed, though he took care
that he made little noise in doing so; but the face of the Shawanoe
was grave. His refined nature could see nothing mirthful in the
cruel punishment inflicted upon the boy because he did a kindness to
a stranger of another race. The brutal father had only to thank the
Christian restraint of Deerfoot that he was not pierced by an arrow
from his bow for his conduct.
The Shawanoe did not need explain that the little act of Otto had
secured his lasting gratitude. The latter was not one to seek his
company or intrude himself upon him; but he was ready to do the
young German any service in his power.
A few days before, when Deerfoot was returning from the direction of
the Mississippi, he met Otto on horseback. The latter told him he
was going to Coatesville to bring back a young friend, whose mother
was in the new settlement. For some reason, which the Shawanoe did
not make known, he could not accompany Otto, or he would have done
so; but he gave him full directions and numerous suggestions, every
one of which Otto forgot within the following fifteen minutes.
Deerfoot, however, after making some calculations as to the time the
boys would reach the Mississippi on their return, promised to meet
them there and to take them across in his canoe, which was hidden
not far away.
The Shawanoe particularly instructed Otto that, if the meeting
should take place at night, he would make known his departure from
the Louisiana side by swinging a torch in a circular manner. It was
this signal which recalled the agreement to the mind of Otto
Relstaub, who remembered much more than he would have Jack Carleton
believe.