THE CAPTIVE SCOUT.
To you who have read of, and perhaps taken part in, battles between two
armies, this encounter on the banks of the Ohio may seem trifling, and
devoid of interest, because there is no thrilling account of this
gallant charge, or that stubborn holding of a position.
Since the day when thirty men under command of Major Clarke confronted
an unknown number of Indians on the banks of the Ohio, driving them back
in such fashion that there was no longer spirit enough left in them to
carry out the murderous plan which they had formed for attacking the
defenseless ones on Corn Island--since that day, I say, this country
has seen much of warfare, and what was to Paul Sampson and myself like
a veritable battle has, even while I write, passed into history as
something too insignificant to be worthy of any extended mention.
To us lads, however, who stood there in the long, scattered line,
knowing that our lives depended upon our own exertions; knowing that the
least incautious movement--a single instant wasted when the trigger of a
rifle should have been pressed, might mean death, it was an engagement
as heavy and important as any that has been waged since the world began,
and with good reason, because our own safety hung in the balance.
In this world one is prone to give importance to, or detract from, an
event in such measure as it concerns himself alone, and, therefore, Paul
and I may well be excused for holding high in our memory this conflict
which meant everything to those people who on Corn Island awaited our
movements before they should begin to build that settlement which has
since become known as Louisville.
Of it I can tell no more than that which I saw, and I dare venture to
say that my experience was the same as that of every other in the line,
for no man could give attention save to what lay directly before him.
It was in fact nothing more, this battle, than standing behind gum or
pine tree, as the case might be, peering intently ahead and on either
side for a distance of twenty or thirty paces, hoping to catch a glimpse
of a tuft of feathers which would tell where a bullet might be sent with
deadly effect, or cowering back whenever a movement of the foliage told
that a rifle barrel was being thrust out so that the holder might take
deadly aim.
Commonplace enough it sounds when set down in words; but if he who
chances to read can imagine himself in such a position, his only effort
being to save his own life or take that of another, some little idea may
be had of the thrilling excitement which overcame me like unto a fever.
Now and then from different points could be heard voices shouting words
of encouragement to those in that line of brave men who might perchance
be for the moment faint-hearted. Again, and all too often, came the cry
of pain or an exclamation of anger when the bullet of a savage had
bitten the flesh, and meanwhile Major Clarke was calling out to this man
or to that as he leaped from one point of vantage to the other,
animating every one by his words as well as his example.
In such a situation the combatants do not give heed to the passage of
time. There are intervals when each second is as a dozen minutes, and
then again, when the minutes flit by apparently more quickly than one
could count.
Once, when having turned my back to the tree, knowing that my body was
fully sheltered while I reloaded my rifle, I observed Paul, calm and
collected as the mightiest hunter among us. If perchance his aim was
less true than some of the others, it was not because of nervousness or
anxiety concerning himself. He stood his ground like a man--a man who
fights to protect others, rather than for his own honor or to preserve
his own life.
On that morning Paul Sampson gave good proof that he was worthy to be
numbered among the defenders of the frontier, and showed that in him
could be found none of his father's fickle-mindedness.
The report of his rifle rang out as often as did that of the most eager
or most experienced in the line, and how much execution he might have
done I know not; but this is certain, that I saw no less than two tufts
of feathers rise convulsively and then sink suddenly out of sight when
his weapon had been discharged at them.
I say it is impossible to tell at such a time how long one faces his
foe; but it was afterwards told that the Indians stood up to the battle
for near an hour, and then came the word from Major Clarke that they
were falling back.
This information was in the nature of a command for us to advance, and
advance we did, leaping from one place of shelter to another, while
hastening the faint-hearted foe by bullets sent whithersoever the
swaying of the foliage told us one of the brutes was making his way
onward.
When we had advanced in such halting fashion for the distance of forty
or fifty paces, I was come to where the painted crew had made their
stand, and there saw good evidence of what we had accomplished.
No less than four bodies were stretched on the ground lifeless, and my
timorousness returned in a measure as I realized that near at hand,
perhaps making ready to take aim at me, might be some savage, so badly
wounded that he could not join his fellows in what had become little
less than a flight.
[Illustration: We advanced from one place of shelter to another,
firing rapidly,--Page 142. _On the Kentucky Frontier._]
At that moment we were in more danger of such of the savages than
from those who were yet sound in body; but as the time passed and I felt
neither the sting of a bullet nor the burning cut of a knife, my courage
came back again before those around me noted the fact of my having been
near to cowardice.
We advanced, leaping from one sheltered spot to another, until the word
was passed along the line that the remnant of the foe had taken to
flight, no longer trying to shelter themselves, and the battle was over,
save for those eager white men who pursued in the hope of shedding yet
more Indian blood.
Major Clarke gave the word for his force to fall back to the boat. He
told off four men to search the thicket for bodies of the savages in
order that we might know how many had fallen, and the remainder of the
party, save two or three who were so far in advance as not to have heard
the command, returned to where the flat-boat was moored.
It was in my mind to congratulate Paul upon his having been in action
and come out unscathed, believing a lad like him, who had stood up
against the enemy for the first time in his life, would be ready to hear
words of praise, or, at least, discuss the exciting events.
But the boy whom I had looked upon as ignorant because of never having
lived on the frontier, was now shaming me by his actions.
Instead of spending his time in useless words, Paul began cleaning his
heated rifle, and otherwise putting himself into condition to do a like
service if the occasion should suddenly require it.
Abashed by his calm and manly behavior, I held my peace, following his
example, and when the last of the pursuers had returned to the flat-boat
we two lads were ready to take part in another encounter.
Those who had been detailed to learn how much injury we inflicted upon
the foe, reported that fourteen killed or grievously wounded lay in the
thicket, and once more Major Clarke questioned us as to the probable
number we had seen in the encampment.
I was positive, as also was Paul, that there could not have been upward
of thirty, while it was more reasonable to believe the band numbered
less than twenty, and the major claimed that we might rest assured there
was no longer any danger to be feared from this particular band of
brutes.
While we were fighting in the thicket the other flat-boats had come down
the stream, rounded-to, and made fast alongside the first craft; but not
a man had gone on shore to take part in the battle because of the orders
left by our leader.
Now we were ready to continue the journey, and the major said to Paul
and me when we were on board once more, drifting with the current:
"I allow that it was a fortunate mishap for you lads to have lost sight
of Simon Kenton, otherwise we should have been called upon to bury a
certain number of dead from among the force, instead of having to count
only four slightly wounded. Had that party of reptiles fired on us from
the thicket as we drifted by, much loss of life must have followed.
Therefore I hold to it that you have done us, at the very beginning of
the journey, good service."
"But where can Simon Kenton be?" I asked.
"Pushing on down the river most like, believing you were captured while
he was spying upon the other members of that gang. We shall come across
him before many days have passed, unless it so be that he finds it
necessary to come back for the purpose of warning us."
If the major had intimated that Simon Kenton might at that moment be a
prisoner among the savages, I should have felt the keenest anxiety for
his safety; but here was a man who had had more experience on the
frontier than the eldest among us, speaking of the scout as if it was
not possible any danger could have come to him, and whatever fears
might have been in my mind prior to this time were speedily allayed.
Now I began to enjoy the journey down the river. We had nothing to do
save sit at our ease while the swift, strong current bore us onward
toward our destination, and such traveling was exceedingly pleasant,
more particularly since I no longer thought it necessary to blame myself
for having left the canoe when I should have remained by her.
Simon Kenton himself would censure me for having done as I did; but
after knowing how much good had resulted from it, his words of blame
could not be severe.
It was with such thoughts I comforted myself, and finally gave no heed
to anything save that which was pleasurable.
When noon came Paul and I shared the provisions of our companions, and,
after the meal was come to an end, lay stretched at full length in the
after part of the boat watching the panorama spread out before us.
It must not be supposed that while the boats drifted on in this lazy
fashion the men neglected to give due heed to possible danger.
Strict watch was kept on either bank, and when it became necessary to
round a point or pass some tiny cove fringed with trees wherein the
enemy might lurk to send a shower of bullets among us, the heavy craft
were forced to the greatest possible distance from the place of danger,
while every man stood, rifle in hand, ready to check an attack or return
a volley.
It was not permitted that we should hold converse in voices louder than
a whisper, and those who worked the heavy sweeps were careful to do so
in the most noiseless fashion, for we knew full well that the enemy
lurked on either shore, and every care was taken to avoid giving notice
of our approach.
When the day was near to an end the boats were allowed to come closer
together, and finally, when night was so near at hand that the shadows
on the shore grew dense, Major Clarke gave a signal, by gestures, that
we were to haul up till morning.
"Are we to lay by the bank over night?" Paul asked, and I, unable to
reply, appealed for information to the man nearest, who said much as if
believing the question a foolish one:
"I reckon there won't be any boatin' done after sunset, unless there's
some great need. Those who drift down this river just now had best do so
when it is possible to have a good view of either bank, and Major Clarke
is not the man to take needless chances."
"The savages can do no more mischief in the dark than when the sun
shines," Paul said quietly.
"That is where I'm not agreein' with you, my lad. In the light we can
give as good as they send; but after dark, when there's no chance of
seein' the reptiles, they have the upper hands. Howsomever, our opinion
on the matter won't have any very great weight with the major, and
you'll find that along about this time each day we'll be looking for a
place to halt."
The boat in which we sailed was the foremost of the fleet, and while the
man was yet speaking the crew worked the sweeps until she rounded to
under the bank, followed by the others, and in less than half an hour we
were moored for the night.
This done, the first duty was to learn whether there might be any of the
enemy in the vicinity, and scouts were sent out at once, while the
remainder of the company set about getting supper, or, perhaps I should
say, eating it, for such food as we carried at that time was already
cooked.
There was no thought of immediate danger in my mind; as a matter of
course I realized that we were surrounded by enemies, but after the
battle of the morning I was confident the enemy had been driven to a
respectful distance.
I had ceased to think of Simon Kenton, save as pushing on down the river
at his best pace, scolding because we were not with him to share in the
labor, and I counted on spending the night in rest.
It so chanced that Major Clarke was seated very near Paul and I when the
first of the scouts returned, and the information he brought was
sufficient to drive from the minds of every man on board all thought of
idling.
It appeared from the story we heard, that this scout, seeing a faint
glow as of a light on the opposite side of the river, a mile below where
we were lying, had taken a canoe from the nearest flat-boat and paddled
across.
There, after having landed, he crept noiselessly through the foliage an
hundred yards or more from the bank until he saw that which explained to
me, at least, why Paul and I failed to find the dugout when we returned
after our foolish tramp.
A party of fifty Indians, most likely a portion of the same band we
whipped that morning, had halted for the purpose of torturing a
prisoner to death, and that prisoner, so the man declared, was none
other than Simon Kenton.
He also had been rash and foolish when going ashore in search of
information, and at about the time we heard the reports of the firearms
he must have been made a prisoner.
Even as I shuddered at the possibility that those who would go to the
rescue might arrive too late, I thought with a certain sense of relief
that now he could not find fault with us for having abandoned our post.
Had we remained in the canoe, as we should have done, then beyond a
peradventure we had been captives with him, and the flat-boats, not
having been delayed by the battle, might at this time be too far down
stream for their occupants to render any aid.
It goes without saying that instantly this news was told preparations
were made for the rescue, and while the men were being told off, for
Major Clarke did not intend to take with him more than half a company,
Paul said to me quietly, as if there was nothing to excite or alarm:
"Of course it is our right to aid in the rescue of the scout."
"There are many others here who could do better service than we," I
replied, not relishing a second encounter.
If Paul and I had been alone in the thicket, and were the only ones who
could give assistance to Simon Kenton, then never for an instant would I
have dreamed of holding back; but here were near to four hundred men,
all of them with more experience in such bloody business than either he
or I, and it was only a question of desire that would carry us into the
conflict.
"We set out from Corn Island with him, and should be the first to go to
his relief," Paul said, as if the matter was already settled in his
mind, and I understood on the instant that he would apply to Major
Clarke for permission to join the force, whether I was disposed to
accompany him or not.
It would have shamed me wofully had Simon Kenton been alive when the
party reached him, and failed to see me with my comrade, therefore I
leaped up at once as if eager for another battle, and together we
approached the commander.
"It is our desire, sir, to take part in the rescue," Paul said modestly,
"We were his comrades, and should be the first to go to his relief."
Then it was Major Clarke made much the same answer as had I, replying
that it would be better the older men take the brunt of the affair; but
Paul held grimly to his purpose, by repeating:
"It is our duty, sir, and I believe it to be our right."
I was not disposed that he should be the only one to display courage and
a desire to aid Simon Kenton, therefore I said, throwing such of desire
into my tones as was possible:
"I pray you, sir, that we be allowed to join the party, if for no other
reason than because the scout was our comrade."
"It shall be as you say, lads," Major Clarke replied; "but I warn you
against being too eager for such frays. An attack in the night, while it
may sometimes be less dangerous than in the daytime, is likely to prove
far more hazardous."
The major might have convinced me that it was my duty to remain aboard
the flat-boat; but Paul Sampson was as headstrong once he had resolved,
as he was quiet in manner, and I understood, without the necessity for
words, that he would not be turned from his purpose.
It can well be supposed that after this word was brought in every man
gave due heed to silence, for should the savages who were making ready
to torture the prisoner, discover that we were near at hand, Simon
Kenton's death would speedily follow.
To make any attempt to gain the opposite shore with one of the large
flat-boats would be folly, therefore all the dugouts which we towed, or
carried aboard, were brought into line, and those men selected for the
enterprise clambered into them, Paul and I among the others.
Now to my surprise, instead of putting directly across the river, the
boats were allowed to drift down on the same side where the heavy craft
were moored, keeping well within the shadow of the trees, and not until
we were a mile or more below where it was said the Indians had halted,
was any effort made to cross.
By the time the opposite side was gained we were fully two miles down
stream, and even a greater distance from the place it would be necessary
to gain in order to rescue Kenton.
Here we landed, Major Clarke and one of the older men taking the lead,
while the remainder followed in single file.
Paul and I were midway of the line, and because strict orders had been
given that no word should be spoken, he pressed my arm from time to
time as if to convey by such means the thoughts that came into his mind.
I could not divine of what he might be thinking; but I knew it was a
very disagreeable fact that at any moment we might fall into an ambush,
for no man could say with certainty that the Indians had failed to note
our coming.
I suffered more during that tramp of two miles in the utter darkness,
than on the previous night when it had seemed as if Paul's fate and mine
was sealed.
When we were come so near to the place of torture that the light of the
fires kindled around the tree to which the captive was bound could be
plainly seen, but were screened from view of the river by the foliage,
my heart beat and thumped until it seemed, so nervous had I become, as
if the noise must give warning to the painted crew who were dancing
around their intended victim.
In whispers Major Clarke gave orders that the men should separate and
creep forward, each at a distance of six paces from the other, until we
had half encircled the murderous band, and then each was to be on the
alert, ready to fire when the first report of the commander's rifle was
heard.
By such means was it believed that a full half of the savages would be
slain at the first fire, and, thus taken by surprise, the remainder
would seek safety in flight.
When Paul and I, keeping nearer together than the orders permitted, had
come as close to the savages as might be done with safety, we had a full
view of the unfortunate Kenton.
I had no doubt but that the Indians recognized him as one who had worked
them no little harm in the past, for they were preparing to prolong his
tortures to the utmost. Sharp splinters of wood were being made ready
for use after the fashion of spears, lest knives should produce death
too quickly, and the painted crew were already circling close around
him, when, as I knew from what had been told me by the others, before
the fires were lighted which should burn his flesh, he would be cut and
mangled with a thousand superficial wounds.
A brave man was Simon Kenton, and so he showed himself at this moment
when there could have been no hope in his mind that help was near.
Stripped nearly naked in order that the murderous wolves might see where
to strike without inflicting too serious an injury, he faced them with
what was very like a smile on his face, while the blood was already
flowing down his body from tiny gashes, and I understood that however
much of anguish might come to him, never a cry of pain could be rung
from his lips.
Paul crept nearer to grasp my arm with a convulsive clutch, and I knew
the lad was feeling most keenly for the prisoner, being able to
understand full well what must have been the captive's thoughts, for had
he not occupied the same position?
I had leveled my rifle, aiming at the Indian who stood nearest Simon
Kenton, determined that the ball should find its billet, when the sharp
crack of Major Clarke's weapon rang out, and a dancing savage fell to
the ground with a shriek of pain and defiance.
Instantly half an hundred rifles were discharged, and it seemed to me as
if every feathered head went down, after which the scene was obscured
from view by clouds of sulphurous smoke.