BLUE JACKET GIVES WARNING
THREE days had now passed.
All this time the flatboat had made good progress down the river, which
continually opened up new and most beautiful pictures to the eyes of
the voyagers. It was very slow travelling, to be sure; but then the
early pioneers had never ridden on a lightning express train, nor sat
in an automobile that was flying along country roads at the rate of a
mile a minute; so such tedious progress was not irksome to them.
One night only had they anchored out from the shore, when Blue Jacket
and the Irish trapper did not like the idea of tying up to the trees on
the bank, having discovered some signs of Indians about.
As yet there had been no attack upon the people on the flatboat, and
perhaps a feeling of renewed confidence was beginning to steal into
their hearts. But the men knew better than to allow such immunity from
danger to render them a particle less cautious. And each evening they
kept up the same programme that had been first instituted.
One man was to be on guard aboard the boat, constantly watching the
shore for signs of anything moving. He had his orders to shoot, if an
approaching figure, upon being challenged, failed to give the correct
password. And then every one of the others knew just what his part of
the defence was to be, so that they would leap to their stations as one
man.
After supper on this night, when they were tied up again to the shore,
Blue Jacket went away to scour the immediate vicinity, and keep on the
alert for the first signs of an impending attack.
It was to be the very last night of the young Shawanee among them; for
he had announced that, since they were now far away from the lodges of
his people, he must on the morrow shake the hands of his white friends
in farewell, and turn his face toward the rising sun.
The boys would be sorry. They had come to think most highly of Blue
Jacket; and Bob predicted that, in time to come, the young brave would
make a name for himself among his people. (Note 9.)
The young moon was now getting of a size to give considerable light for
much of the night, and this fact afforded every one much satisfaction,
since it took away from the gloom of the dense forest, that was peopled
with unknown evil things.
Sandy and Bob sat on deck, after supper had been eaten, and the younger
members of the expedition were being put to sleep in the cabin. Some of
the men were smoking their long pipes, and talking in low tones near
by. Doubtless they felt well pleased over the way things were going,
and their conversation may have been along about the same lines as
marked that of the two lads.
"Three good days, and all is well," remarked Sandy, who had a fishing
line over the side, with which he expected to take in a number of fine
prizes before thinking of sleep.
"Yes, and if this sort of thing would only keep up right along, nobody
would complain, that I know of," Bob added; for he was feeling very
comfortable after the good supper he had enjoyed a short time before.
"Oh! that was a fierce bite, all right!" exclaimed Sandy, giving a jerk
to his stout line; "and I've got him, too, I do believe! My goodness!
how he pulls, Bob! Now, I hope he doesn't break loose! This must be the
biggest fish I've had hold of yet."
Bob, of course, offered to lend a hand in order to get the prize in;
but Sandy, with all a fisherman's ardor, would not think of allowing
such a thing.
And presently, after a deal of pulling, and expressing fears that he
might lose his hard-fighting prize, Sandy managed to drag the fish
aboard. It proved to be a very large specimen of what has since become
known as the buffalo fish, found along the whole length of the Ohio,
and which is considered fairly good for the table.
To these people of the early days such a feast was always eagerly
welcomed; and, of course, all the women had to come out to see the
noble proportions of Sandy's capture, even the children following,
filled with delight because it meant a feast for all.
Although the persistent fisherman kept up the good work, and landed
several more of the same species of fish, none approached in size his
first capture; but, then, by the time Sandy was ready to take in his
line, for he was yawning sadly, the moon had crept along to top the
trees toward the southwest, and he had secured an abundance for their
temporary wants.
Sandy had just completed winding up his line on the piece of smooth
wood he had prepared for this especial purpose, when suddenly the voice
of the sentry was heard calling out:
"Who goes there? Speak, and give the countersign!" for Mr. Armstrong
had organized his little company very much on a military basis.
Of course every one started up, and many a hand reached out for the gun
that was always kept within reach, day and night. Sandy and Bob were no
exception to the rule, and they scrambled to their feet, as, from the
tree-lined shore, came the word that had been selected for the night:
"Washington!"
It was Blue Jacket, coming hastily aboard. His actions told that he
must be bringing important news; and a thrill swept through the hearts
of the two lads at the prospect of immediate danger.
Mr. Armstrong was the first one to meet the Indian as he came crawling
over the side of the flatboat, which stood rather high out of the
water, despite the load it carried, thanks to the splendid construction
of the craft.
"Get away--quick--many Indians, like the leaves of the forest--come
creep up through trees. No say what, but slip loose, and run!" was the
way Blue Jacket expressed himself.
Upon hearing these significant words, every one started to carry
out his special part of the duty of freeing the boat. There was no
noise--no confusion; and this spoke well, not only for the brave hearts
that were aboard the boat, but for the rules of discipline instituted
by the commander.
Two men jumped ashore, and proceeded to unfasten the ropes; though
really this could have been done from aboard, as the painters had been
so fastened that all it required was a strong pull. Others stooped to
grasp the long, stout push poles, with which to urge the unwieldy craft
ahead. Once in the clutch of the current, of course that part of the
business would be ended; though they might continue to drop the poles
over, and strain their backs, as long as they were able to touch bottom.
Others, still, crouched, guns in hand, ready to commence shooting at
the first indication of the presence of the fierce enemy.
Everything worked smoothly. The ropes were unfastened, and brought
aboard, without any trouble. Already a load was lifted from the hearts
of the voyagers; and this lightened still more when they could feel the
heavy craft beginning to move in response to the muscular efforts of
those who were straining at the poles.
Soon the sweeps could be brought into play, when their movement would
become more rapid. Eager eyes scanned the line of trees from which two
dozen feet of sand and water now separated them. At any second they
expected to see dusky figures leap into view, followed by the crash of
many guns. Looking to such a contingency, Mr. Armstrong had sent around
a whispered caution that at the very first appearance of the wily foe
everybody should shelter themselves as best they could behind the
rampart afforded by the gunwale of the flatboat, expressly built up for
this purpose.
"Do you think they are really coming?" whispered Sandy, as he and Bob
crouched there, sheltered by the heavy bulwark, and keeping their eyes
fastened on the edge of the forest.
"Some of the men are already beginning to say that Blue Jacket must
have heard a buffalo passing, or deer hunting for new feeding grounds;
and that, after all, it may be only a false alarm; but I do not believe
that can be. You know, Sandy, how wonderfully he can tell just what
every sound means, when they seem alike to us. If Blue Jacket says
there are Indians afoot in the forest this night, I feel sure it must
be so."
"Oh! I thought I saw what looked like a feathered head thrust out of
the bushes up yonder!" exclaimed Sandy.
Hardly had he spoken than a single shrill yell rang out. It seemed to
be some sort of signal, and it must have conveyed the information that
the boat was slipping away; for Bob felt sure he could detect both rage
and disappointment in the loud cry.
"There, that tells the story!" he exclaimed, as he nervously handled
his musket, and made ready to give a good account of the bullet it
contained, if called up. "Blue Jacket knew what he was saying, just as
I told you."
"But we are far enough from the shore to be safe from an attack,"
declared the other lad, joyfully; "and moving further out in the stream
every second, now that they've got the big sweeps to working. Let the
Indians come, for all I care. They will be sorry if they try to swim
out to us, with that fine moon shining. Why, we could see their heads
easily, and hit them every time."
Sandy might have gone on talking in this boastful strain, only that his
words were deadened by a chorus of angry yells that broke out all along
the shore. It was as though the savage enemy had been creeping forward
in a long semi-circle, meaning to close in on the tied-up flatboat, and
render escape impossible. And now, on discovering that those they had
expected to make their victims were really beyond their reach, they
gave vent to this expression of their furious rage.
And women shuddered, while children held their very breath in fear,
when they, for the first time on the voyage, heard the savage outburst
that told of red-skinned foes lurking within the depths of the
primitive forest, eager to wipe out every member of that brave little
expedition.