ASTRAY.
It seemed to me that the noise of the firearms had come from a point
about half a mile from the shore, and less than a third of this distance
up-stream, therefore I bent my way in that direction, heeding nothing
save the terrible fear that Simon Kenton had been taken prisoner, or
killed outright.
Could I have learned that he was dead my heart might have been somewhat
lighter, for I knew full well how terrible would be the torture
inflicted upon him once the savages understood who he was.
In such case, Paul and I were bound to carry the sad news back to the
volunteers without delay; but while there was a chance of our being able
to give him succor, I held that it was our duty to make every effort in
such direction.
When I was older grown, and had seen more of warfare, I came to
understand that the life of one man counts for but little when compared
with the general good, and had such fact been impressed upon my mind at
this time, I would never have set out on the foolhardy errand which bid
fair to lead Paul Sampson and me to our death.
The lad whom Simon Kenton and I had saved from the stake was an apt
pupil, as he showed on this night when he followed close in my
footsteps, betraying no signs of fear when he might well have been
excused for betraying timorousness, and moving with the utmost caution.
It is not for me to say that we advanced as silently as the young scout
could have done; but I was satisfied that we were not moving in a clumsy
fashion, and began to feel a certain pride in thus showing Paul how we
of the frontier followed on the trail of our enemies.
During perhaps half an hour we two went steadily but cautiously forward,
and then it seemed to me as if we should have arrived at the spot from
which the shots had come.
I halted and listened intently. Not a sound could be heard save the
soughing of the wind among the foliage, or the countless faint noises of
the night which tell of life when the world is supposed to be sleeping.
For the first time a sense of distrust in my own ability found lodgment
in my mind. It seemed positive we had either traveled in the wrong
direction, or the savages had left the vicinity where the encounter had
taken place. Surely we ought to have come across Kenton, unless he made
a wider detour than at first seemed probable, or, as I feared, had been
taken prisoners.
A certain numbness as of despair took possession of me; I pressed
forward with less heed than before to the direction I was taking, and
again stood still to listen.
When we made this second halt I believed we were no less than two miles
from where the canoe lay, and it was positive the enemy had not been so
far away when the weapons were discharged.
Paul pressed my arm in token that he wanted to say something; but I
clapped my hand over his mouth. The fact that I had made a most grievous
mistake was beginning to find lodgment in my dull brain, and a nervous
fear was creeping over me.
The thought that he, a lad from the east who knew nothing of woodcraft,
had good reason to distrust my ability, angered me, and like a fool I
advanced once more, this time at right angles with the course we had
been pursuing, even though I should have known that such traveling at
random was not calculated to produce the desired results.
When we had forced our way through the underbrush for a distance of
perhaps another mile, we were halted by a swamp.
It was not possible that either the Indians or Simon Kenton had
attempted to cross such a place where one must flounder around with
noise enough to proclaim his every movement, and I leaned against the
trunk of a tree fully realizing all the mischief I had wrought.
Again Paul gave token of wishing to speak, and I no longer attempted to
check him.
"If we are to hunt for Kenton, or count on learning what has become of
him, would it not be better that we went back to the canoe, and waited
for the coming of day?"
"Then it is our duty to push up stream to warn the volunteers," I
replied moodily.
"We cannot hope to find him while it is dark, and it may be that we
shall lose our way," he suggested mildly, whereupon, and without reason,
I turned upon him angrily.
"We have lost it already!"
"Can you not retrace your steps to the river?" he asked mildly, and
without show of fear.
"We should be able to strike the stream; but, having done so, I could
not say whether we were above or below the canoe, and we might travel
for hours in the wrong direction."
"We would be able to learn our course by the current, and if it be not
possible to find the boat, then must we go up the river to warn the
volunteers."
"And leave Simon Kenton in the hands of the savage brutes?" I asked
angrily, grown unreasoning in my nervous fears and the knowledge that I
had made a fool of myself.
"We are not leaving Kenton, because we have never found him, and since,
as seems true, we only wander about aimlessly, would it not be wisest to
think of the others, who rely upon us to point out the danger which may
await them?"
Paul Sampson was speaking like a sensible lad, and I realized it fully.
He, the boy ignorant of woodcraft, should have been the leader, and I
wished most devoutly I had consulted with him before setting out on
this wild-goose chase.
While one might have counted twenty I stood unwilling to acknowledge my
helplessness, and then something like a gleam of common sense came into
my mind. I stood ready to confess that I had acted like a simple, and he
must have understood something of the truth, when I said:
"It shall be as you propose, Paul, and we'll make for the river; but
this time I am not counting on taking the lead, having already shown
that I have no right to direct our movements."
"If you despair like this, then are we lost indeed," he said mildly.
"Remember that I know nothing whatever of such work. Go on as before,
using your best efforts to lead us to the river. Then we should aim to
meet the volunteers, so it seems to me, forgetting poor Kenton because
of the many others who need to know exactly what has happened here."
Without attempting an argument, even had I been able to find one which
would warrant our traveling to and fro as we had done, I acted upon his
suggestion.
Either we had traveled in a southerly direction to where the river took
a sharp bend, or were much deeper in the forest than had at first seemed
possible to me, for a full hour was spent making our way through the
tangled underbrush, now slowly because of the necessity for silence, and
again pressing forward as rapidly as we deemed safe, and not until such
a length of time had elapsed did we come to the bank of the stream.
That I had allowed myself to be completely turned around was proven by
the current of the river, for without such evidence I would have gone
toward the south, believing I was making my way northward.
"The canoe must be above us," Paul said as we halted, "and by following
the shore it should be possible to come upon it."
This seemed no more than reasonable, and hope once more filled my heart
as I led the way along the bank, now moving with greater caution because
it was more probable we might come upon the enemy.
One place looked much like another in the darkness, and yet before
midnight we arrived at a spot where I firmly believed the dugout had
been left.
Paul was of the same opinion, even going so far as to declare that he
had noted on coming ashore the gum tree which we were standing near
while holding the consultation.
I was disposed to believe as he did, but yet the fact that the canoe
could not be found caused me to think both of us were mistaken.
"Surely this can't be the place," I argued, "for none save Simon Kenton
could have come upon the canoe in the darkness, and, on failing to find
us, he would wait a certain time for our return."
"You can't say that positively," Paul replied, "for the scout realizes
that the safety of the volunteers depends upon him in a measure, and
would count our lives as of but little value compared with so many as
are coming down the river."
"Then you think he has been here and gone away in the boat?" I asked.
"That I do, for the gum tree is as familiar to my eyes as anything can
be on so dark a night as this."
I was overcome by the possibility. If what Paul declared with such
assurance was true, then were we two lads left alone upon the banks of
the river amid a savage foe, to make our way back to Corn Island, or,
what would be a far more difficult and dangerous task, to continue on to
the mouth of the Tennessee River.
By going back we should proclaim the fact of my folly, and prove me to
be a lad whose ignorance was near to crime; while to advance seemed
little less than the sacrifice of our own lives.
Somewhat of this I said to Paul, and he replied like the true-hearted,
brave lad he was:
"It is better to acknowledge one's ignorance than try to purchase
secrecy at the expense of life. If we have made a mistake, why not admit
it?"
I, who had plumed myself upon the fact that Simon Kenton was willing to
take me with him as a scout, felt that almost anything was better than
returning, and yet I knew it was my duty to push on up the stream to
warn those who were descending, because we were not yet positive that
the scout had taken away the boat.
Kenton might be a prisoner in the hands of the savages, and in such case
it was of the utmost importance Major Clarke and his volunteers should
know the facts.
Not without a severe mental struggle did I decide to smother my pride
and follow Paul's advice; but once having settled upon a course of
action, I was eager to pursue it.
Prudence dictated that we should wait until daybreak; but I believe of
a verity it would have made me wild to remain in that spot inactive,
thinking only of my folly, and now, as when we left the canoe, I pressed
on with but one idea in mind; but, fortunately, yet retaining so much of
common sense as to understand that we must be on the alert to gain such
information as was possible during the journey.
The further we continued on up the river, the more firmly did I become
convinced that our last halting place was at the spot where the canoe
had been left, for we saw no other such familiar indentation on the
shore, and now the important question in my mind was as to whether Simon
Kenton had embarked in the dugout, or if the Indians had carried her
away. This last proposition appeared to me so improbable that I hardly
gave it a place in my thoughts.
On, on, we went, traveling at the rate of no more than two miles an
hour, because of being forced to move silently and at the same time
carrying out the plan of learning if there might be enemies in the
vicinity, and it was nearabout daybreak when, as I believed, we had been
advancing for no less than three hours, our progress was checked as we
came suddenly upon a party of savages, the greater number of whom were
asleep.
It was accident, rather than wisdom, which prevented our tumbling
directly in upon them, and thereby insuring our own captivity or death.
I was in the lead, as Paul had insisted should be the case, and my
thoughts were occupied with speculations concerning Simon Kenton rather
than the work which lay before me, when a noise as of some one snoring
arrested my footsteps.
I had come to a halt within a dozen paces of the savages, and could see,
where the underbrush was thinnest, the form of a feather-bedecked brute
leaning against a tree evidently on guard.
A dozen steps more and we had been directly upon them.
Turning quickly, I clasped my hand over Paul's mouth, lest he should
speak, although the lad had shown himself to be a better frontiersman
than I, and this movement of mine told him of the danger so near at
hand.
During twenty seconds, perhaps, we two stood peering into the gloom,
able only to learn that there could not be less than twenty Indians here
encamped, and then silently as shadows, for our lives depended upon the
movement, we turned about, retracing our steps until thirty yards or
more lay between us and the sleeping murderers.
Then I whispered in my comrade's ear:
"We must make a detour here lest those brutes come to know of our
whereabouts, so keep well in mind the direction of the river."
"Do you count on going forward without learning if Simon Kenton may be
among the savages?" he asked, and a flood of shame came over me as I
thus realized that my own danger had caused me to forget the scout at a
time when his possible fate should have been uppermost in mind.
Of a verity Paul Sampson ought to have been the leader, and I his humble
follower.
So abased was I by his thoughtfulness and my own stupidity, that I would
have suggested he reconnoiter the camp, but an instant later, realizing
that such dangerous work should be performed by me if for no other
reason than that I might atone for my past folly, I whispered:
"Stay here, while I go forward."
"Why should I not follow? If it so be Kenton is not there, we may
continue on, and thus save the time you would spend in returning to find
me."
Again he was right, and again was I stupid.
Well, we did as he suggested, and no lad on the frontier could have done
better work than this same Paul, who was so lately come from the east.
Skirting around the sleeping scoundrels so silently that the quick-eared
watchers failed to take alarm, we got such view of the brutes as could
be had in the darkness, and when half an hour or more was spent in the
work, I could say of a truth that Simon Kenton had not been made
prisoner by this band.
It was a great relief of mind, and yet only served to increase my shame,
for now did I begin to believe that the scout had taken away the canoe,
going up the river, or down, as might seem to him best, regardless of us
two who had committed such a fault as was ours.
The gray light was filtering through the foliage when we were clear of
the foe and could with some degree of safety continue the journey.
I pushed on at a swift pace that we might put the greatest possible
distance between them and us before the day should have fully come; and
the sun was rising when we halted for a breathing spell.
Now I found that Paul had much the same idea as I regarding Kenton's
whereabouts, save that he contended the scout had continued on down the
river, believing a band of twenty would hardly attempt to lay an ambush
for three or four boats heavily laden with armed men.
"A party like that might do great mischief firing upon the boats from
the thicket," I said, "and if Simon Kenton saw them, I make certain he
has gone back. If not, we may gain some little credit, although hardly
enough to counterbalance the shame, by returning."
We knew the volunteers would begin the journey as soon as day broke,
therefore within an hour, if we traveled at our best pace, it should be
possible to hail the foremost craft.
The Indians might also move in the same direction, therefore it stood us
in hand to advance as rapidly as possible, and I led the way once more
at my best pace.
Lest it may seem that I set down too much concerning what we did, and
too little regarding the brave men who were about to risk their lives in
order that the settlers on the frontier might be more safe, this
account shall be cut short with no further mention of ourselves until we
saw, far in the distance, the first of the flat-boats.
Making our way with all speed to the outermost portion of the point on
which we were standing at the moment, we waved our arms vigorously, not
daring to shout, and the craft was yet a quarter of a mile away when we
saw by the commotion aboard that our signals had been seen and
understood.
Then two men set out in a canoe, paddling in advance of the unwieldy
flat-boat in order that there might be no necessity of her rounding-to,
and within a comparatively short time we were ferried out to the larger
craft, on which was Major Clarke, eager to learn why we were returning.
I had no desire to shield myself, although knowing full well that in the
minds of such men as listened to the story I had committed almost a
crime in deserting the canoe while Simon Kenton was ashore. The entire
tale was told without reserve, and then was I gladdened by the major's
words:
"It may be fortunate that you acted the part of a foolish lad, for
certain it is that Simon Kenton would not have disregarded such a
company as you saw on shore. It must be that he either failed to find
them, or came across another band. It stands us in hand to look after
the party of reptiles lest they be on their way to Corn Island, there to
fall upon the women and children."
Having said this he gave certain orders to the men, and without delay
the long sweeps were worked until the heavy craft was forced close into
the western bank, where she was made fast.
Then thirty or more were ordered ashore, the major going with them after
he had given us lads permission to follow.
"That we will do, sir," I said, "if we are needed to lead the way."
"We would be poor frontiersmen if we failed to follow your trail, lads,"
Major Clarke said with a smile. "You shall do as you please."
Now it would have suited me better to remain in safety aboard the
flat-boat, yet there was a chance that now I might show my desire to
repair the wrong committed, and I replied as if my heart was full of
courage:
"We may not be of much assistance, sir; but I should like it better if
we had a hand in the work."
Whereupon Paul stepped closely to my side as if to say I had but spoken
the thoughts which were in his mind.
Thus it was that we two followed the volunteers, knowing full well we
might fall into an ambush, and certain we would soon be battling with
our enemies.
Among these men led by Major Clarke, there was not one ignorant of how
the work before him should be accomplished. No orders, were necessary.
The volunteers moved ten or twelve paces apart, stretching far up from
the river until they were what would be called by military men a
"skirmish line," and then began the advance, while the flat-boat
remained moored to the bank and two settlers were paddling at full speed
up-stream to warn the other craft.
Save for the bungling movements of Paul and myself, not a sound could be
heard as we pressed forward, keenly on the alert for the enemy, and
ready for an immediate attack.
It was as if a company of shadows flitted here and there amid the
underbrush, so far as might be told from sound, and although the advance
was noiseless, it was made swiftly.
Paul and I were left somewhat in the rear because of not being able to
keep the pace silently, and during more than half of the hour which
passed, I failed to see a single man ahead of us.
Then suddenly, although we knew full well it must soon come, the report
of a rifle rang out on the still air; after this another and another,
until there could be no question but that the foremost of the party had
come upon those of whom we gave warning.
My timorousness was forgotten on the instant--cast out of mind by the
knowledge that our lives must be defended, and Paul, whom I believe of a
verity had never been timid, pressed forward so rapidly to take part in
the struggle that I laid hold of him lest he should unnecessarily run
into danger.
We advanced three hundred paces or more before coming to where our men
were sheltered behind trees, trying to pick off the foe who were in
similar positions, and I heard Major Clarke say in a sharp, low tone:
"Get to cover, lads! The reptiles are close upon us, and you are giving
them fair targets."
I leaped behind a gum tree, giving no heed to Paul's movements, and had
but just gained this shelter when a bullet cut the bark within an inch
of my face.
The Indians were ready for battle, although I had often heard it said
they would never stand up in a fair fight, and there came into my mind
the fear that Paul and I might have seen only a portion of their
force--that possibly we were confronting a large body led by British
officers.