A DESPERATE STRUGGLE.
Tom Mitchell had told the truth. The plantation of Joshua Dickson had
been attacked by a numerous party.
This is how it had come about.
Tubash-Shah and the squatter, Lagrenay, excited by a common hatred, had
come to an understanding.
The old wretch, whose whole thoughts were bent on the vast treasure
concealed in the valley, had promised the Indian, not only his share
of the gold, but the possession of a beautiful white girl, at least as
beautiful as Evening Dew.
He further suggested that as Numank-Charake would be sure to join
Clinton, he could kill him too.
He would then have the two most beautiful wives on the prairie.
The Indian was easily seduced by this radiant project, which the old
squatter fluttered before his eyes.
An alliance defensive and offensive was struck up.
It was Tubash-Shah who suggested the treacherous visit of the redskins
on the occasion of the great marriage.
In order to facilitate the attack on the settlement, old Lagrenay sent
a secret message to the squatters, who fell into the trap prepared for
them. Tubash-Shah was outside, waiting to take them, when he himself
was made prisoner.
This nearly spoiled all. But, after only half an hour's detention,
Tubash escaped.
He joined his expectant companions, and the plantation was at once
attacked on all sides by Indians.
But the Americans were on the watch, and received the redskins in a way
that rather surprised them.
Tom Mitchell, warned by his spies, had given them sufficient hints,
while himself preparing.
One hundred and fifty outlaws, under the orders of Tête de Plume, had
been secretly sent into the fort by George Clinton.
He had then, with Charbonneau, gone and concealed himself near
Lagrenay's hut.
Camotte had been sent to the village of the Huron Bisons to
Numank-Charake, and Bright-eye, to ask for the assistance of all the
warriors of the tribe who could be spared.
On the other hand, Tom Mitchell, at the head of his most daring
companions, had placed himself in a position to be at hand at anytime.
But if the defence had been well arranged, the attack was most fierce
and desperate; the redskins fought like demons; brave, well armed, and
counting on the vast superiority of their numbers, the Indians rushed
to the charge against the intrenchments with a ferocity quite unusual.
These intrenchments had been hastily thrown up, and could not long
resist such an attack.
Tubash-Shah, at the head of a picked band of warriors, did wonders. He
was a host in himself.
The struggle became at one time so desperate that Tom Mitchell
himself began to despair; then it was that he dashed off to the hut
of Lagrenay, and called to arms all who were collected together in
deliberation.
Then he started again at the head of the reinforcement, like a storm
cloud on the wing.
Again the combat seemed desperate.
The war cry of the American Indians and the hurrahs of the whites were
mixed with the fusillade.
Then a rush of horse was heard, an awful war whoop, and three hundred
warriors, led by Numank-Charake, Bright-eye, and Camotte, appeared on
the scene.
Tom Mitchell gave a cry of joy.
He divided his terrible cavaliers into three detachments, one commanded
by Numank and Bright-eye, gave half his outlaws to Oliver, and took the
rest under his own immediate orders.
Then at a given signal, the three troops rushed, with horrible yells
and cries, upon the astonished assailants.
Though taken aback, the brave redskins fronted both ways, and made a
most terrible defence.
Samuel Dickson and his brother meantime contrived to enter the
settlement, amid joyous acclamations.
It was time; the palisades and intrenchments were giving way, and the
Indians were rushing in.
The combat became now gigantic in its proportions. The redskins, led by
Tubash-Shah, fought with desperate valour.
He kept the _élite_ of his men together, and worked his way towards the
interior of the settlement.
Presently he drew forth his human thighbone whistle and darted for the
house. He had seen Diana.
The young girl, seeing the demon covered by blood and powder,
brandishing his hatchet, and forcing, with a hideous cry, his horse
towards the women, gave a desperate shriek of agonised terror.
"Ah, ah!" cried Tubash-Shah, in triumph; "The paleface girl. At last
she is mine."
He urged forward his horse, which reared with abject terror, and threw
his master heavily.
Dardar, the faithful dog, always in attendance on Diana, had seized the
warhorse by the nostrils.
He then let him go, and caught the Indian himself by the throat.
"Good dog," shouted George Clinton, as he ran up with Charbonneau,
Drack, and Nadeje.
The battle was over. The few Indians who were left threw down their
arms in despair.
"My daughter, oh, my daughter!" cried Joshua, who came rushing from the
inside of the house.
"She is here, sir," said Clinton.
"And her abductor?" he continued.
"Is dead," he answered, pointing to the corpse, which the dog was
worrying as he would have done a rat.
"My son, I thank you," said Joshua; "what do I not owe to you? Take
her."
* * * * *
Two days after M. Hebrard returned to the fort a wiser man. Oliver
proved his rank, name, and right to fortune, to the satisfaction of
everybody.
"Tell my relatives," he said, "that as long as they leave me alone, I
shall be quiet. Go, and let us never meet again."
A week later, after the marriage of George and Diana, Tom Mitchell,
Bright-eye, Oliver, and Captain Durand, started on the dangerous
expedition undertaken by the outlaw, and of which, probably, we shall
give some account at a future time.
[For further adventures of Bright-eye, see the "Prairie Flower," and
the "Indian Scout," same publishers.]