RED CROW'S ERRAND.
The Shawanoe Indian known as Arqu-wao, or Red Crow, had come in sight of
the ravine, which was the scene of Blazing Arrow's mishap the preceding
day, when he halted with the abruptness described, for he had caught
sight of the three Indians, with his detested brother at their head.
They were walking rapidly, and when Red Crow stopped they soon passed
beyond his sight again. Looking for them to halt, and half expecting
them to turn back at any moment, he signalled the youths to hide
themselves, while he advanced in the cautious manner known to the
reader.
Sure enough, he had gone but a little way when he observed the three
Indians standing in a group and discussing some question with great
earnestness. Quite sure that it had something to do with the action of
the couple who had passed that way a short time before, he stealthily
watched them.
The truth was, Blazing Arrow, probably suspecting the identity of the
couple, was giving his attention to them. They were sure to run into
danger if they kept on to the falls, but they might escape unless he
took a hand in the business.
Almost on the edge of the clearing, in sight of the ravine, the
hoofprints showed that the horses had turned off from the trail, and
with the evident intention of coming back to it at some point farther
on. The result of the conference was that Blazing Arrow and one of his
warriors continued in the direction of the natural clearing, while the
third was sent to track the horses through the rough wood, and to signal
the results to the leader.
Red Crow cautiously followed the single warrior to learn how he made
out. No doubt the latter would have done well had he not run against an
unexpected obstruction in the person of Simon Kenton, who, having
accompanied Mr. Edwards and his wife a part of the way, turned back
with the intention of acting as a rear guard.
The meeting was as much of a surprise to the white man as to the red
man, but, as has been intimated by the famous scout himself, he was just
too quick for the Shawanoe. With characteristic bravery, Kenton leaped
behind a tree, reloaded his rifle, and coolly awaited the attack of
Blazing Arrow and his companion; but they proved their cowardice by
slinking off toward the clearing, across which they made their way, in
the hope of gaining a better chance at the couple, who could not be far
off.
Red Crow now kept well out of sight of Kenton, as well as of his
brother, not stirring from his hiding-place until the way was clear.
Then he stole along the tracks made by the horses. These were so clearly
defined that a child would have had no difficulty in following them.
He knew that the couple were the parents of the young men whom he had
set out to serve. The course of the great white hunter made it clear
that he would soon join the youths, while the route of Blazing Arrow
showed that they were in no present danger from him. Accordingly,
without taking the trouble of telling the boys his intention, he hurried
over the broken ground, anxious to meet the man and wife before they
penetrated too far.
Red Crow had formed a plan the moment he fully understood what was going
on, and he knew the need of haste.
Despite the almost marvellous cleverness he had displayed from the
beginning, he narrowly escaped making a fatal error. In his eagerness to
reach the couple he forgot that he was in war paint and resembled in
every respect, except one, the Shawanoe whom the settler was trying to
circumvent.
It was that one point of difference which saved Red Crow's life. Brigham
Edwards was picking his way as best he could, when he caught sight of
one of the Shawanoes hurrying along the trail as though intent on
overtaking him at the earliest moment.
Before the Indian knew his danger the vigilant settler had his unerring
rifle at his shoulder, and his keen eye was running along the barrel.
But he noticed that the Indian carried a bow and arrow instead of a gun.
This was so unusual that he hesitated. At the moment of doing so Red
Crow stopped short and looked up with a startled look, as though
recalling his forgetfulness. Despite his paint, Edwards recognized him
as Arqu-wao, whom he had often seen when he was actively engaged in
scouting along the frontier.
The pioneer had stopped both horses, and he and his wife were on foot
when this little episode took place.
"By George!" he exclaimed to his companion, "I came within a hair of
killing that poor crazy fool, Red Crow."
"What can be his business with us unless it be unfriendly?" asked the
wife, who also held a weapon in her hands. "He may have been sent
forward by some of the others."
"I don't think we have anything to fear from him. I never heard that he
harmed those who did not interfere with him. I will see what he wants
with us."
As Red Crow approached, Mr. Edwards addressed him by name and repeated
his own, but the Shawanoe showed no signs of recognizing it.
"Why did you come here?" asked the white man, sternly.
"Shaw'noe dere and dere and dere," replied Red Crow, pointing toward
every point except that of the block-house; "if go on path, Shaw'noe
kill white man--kill white woman."
"Do you want to help us?"
"Me show way--Shaw'noe not see--not find."
This promise was received with a good deal of skepticism, but the
feelings of the parents were greatly stirred by the next words that were
quickly uttered:
"White boy Wart'n--white boy Larr--dey come with Arqu-wao."
"What!" exclaimed the father, recognizing the names, and striding in
front of the Indian; "do you know anything about those two boys?"
Red Crow nodded his head several times.
"Where are they?"
"Up dere," he replied, pointing in the direction of the point in the
trail where he had left them but a short time before.
"What can this mean?" demanded the agitated parent. "I must investigate
it. We will leave the horses here while we go back with him."
The mother was as anxious to meet her son and Larry, and they quickly
made ready to start.