THE NEW ROUTE.
Simon Kenton had spent so many years of his life in the woods and had
been among the Shawanoes so much that he spoke their language like a
native. The reader need not be told that he was once a prisoner of the
Shawanoes, and was condemned to death by them, but was saved through the
interference of the renegade Simon Girty, to whom the scout had done a
kindness years before. This is the only instance of the kind known of
that miscreant.
It had also fallen to the lot of Kenton to run the gantlet, and he had
desperate scrimmages without number with members of that warlike tribe.
His frequent association with them, his companionship with the
extraordinary but unfortunate Deerfoot, had given him a mastery of the
tongue used by these people.
Kenton now turned to Red Crow and addressed him in the language of his
tribe:
"Arqu-wao, tell me why you wish to prove yourself a friend of the white
man."
"Arqu-wao crept upon the palefaces; they ran away with his canoe; they
came near his home, where the red and white man must not come; but they
went away, they did not hurt his canoe; he followed them; he was about
to kill them when they slept, but they awoke; they could have killed
him, but they did not; they spared his life; then the Great Spirit
whispered in his heart that he must be the friend of the paleface
youths; so Arqu-wao is their friend; he will give his life for them."
Kenton listened gravely to this singular statement. His knowledge of the
Indian character assured him that every word was the truth. Red Crow did
not show by his words or manner that his brain was not as clear as that
of his brother, Blazing Arrow. The probability was that it was partially
affected only by the injury received years before. It had led him to
make a recluse of himself, and to indulge in some whimsical
performances. In other respects, as he had proven, his cunning and
ability were greater than before.
All doubt of his loyalty removed, Kenton proceeded to the business he
had in mind:
"To-day you met your brother, and you had a quarrel."
The black eyes flashed.
"Blazing Arrow is a snake in the grass, that bites when you are not
looking; he hates Arqu-wao; Arqu-wao hates him; some time one will kill
the other; the Great Spirit has said so."
"But you quarrelled," repeated Kenton, wishing to hear the explanation
of that dispute.
"Blazing Arrow said to Arqu-wao that he had turned against his people;
he said he had become the friend of the white man, and he said he would
kill him."
"And what did Arqu-wao do?"
"He drew his bow and arrow," replied Red Crow, with another flash of his
black eyes, "but Blazing Arrow said he would wait till he learned more;
then he would kill him."
Kenton suspected this from what the boys had told him, and he plainly
foresaw that the fatal encounter must come, sooner or later, between
these brothers, who hated each other with consuming hate.
"You say that you know a better way to the settlement, where we can take
the horses?"
"Yes--me know--me show," replied Red Crow, with such haste that he
unconsciously dropped into English, which he spoke ill.
"Where is it?"
The Shawanoe pointed behind him, and almost in the direction of the
lake, on whose shore he made his home.
"Ober dere--not far--show de way."
While Kenton believed in the truthfulness of the strange being, he was
disturbed by the fact that he himself had traversed this section so many
times that he was familiar with every portion, and he could not recall
any part answering to the description of Red Crow. He feared that, while
his intention was honest, the thing itself was only a figment of the
Indian's brain, and that he was liable to draw them into greater
difficulties than before.
If this should prove to be the case, it would be better to abandon the
animals at once, for the remark of Mr. Edwards about the forest being
most difficult of passage was true. Not only that, but it grew worse,
until it became absolutely impassable for any quadruped as large as a
horse.
The plan the scout had in mind was that of the whole party returning
without delay to the block-house, and waiting till the danger passed.
Inasmuch as there was no call for haste on the part of the pioneer in
reaching his home, this, unquestionably, was the better course to adopt.
But Kenton was curious to learn something more about this new route, for
he saw that if it proved an actuality, and was known to the Shawanoes,
it was sure to be of vast value to himself and other rangers who were
compelled frequently to pass back and forth between the two points. So,
after a little more unimportant talk, he added:
"Well, Arqu-wao, we will follow you. Show the way."
It will be remembered that when the pioneer and his wife set out with
Red Crow to find the boys they left the two horses behind them. It was
useless to bring them back over the route that had cost the animals so
much labor, and which would necessitate the whole thing being done over
again. In order to carry out the plan of Red Crow it was necessary to go
to where the horses were, or to bring them back to the party. Kenton
asked him what should be done, and he replied that they were to await
him where they were while he brought the beasts to them. Accordingly the
company assumed new positions on the ground, Wharton sitting close to
his mother.
Before Red Cloud left, the boys restored to him the knife and tomahawk,
so that he was as fully armed as before. The Indian smiled in his
shadowy way, and showed that he appreciated the confidence implied in
the little act, which would have been performed before had it not been
overlooked.
When the Shawanoe was beyond hearing, Kenton said:
"I shouldn't be surprised if that varmint had trouble afore he brings
them hosses back."
"Why so?" asked Mr. Edwards.
"We've been talkin' and actin' as though thar warn't one of them
varmints in ten miles of us; but I haven't forgot that Blazing Arrow
knows why you turned off the trail with the hosses, and if he hain't
gone back himself he has sent some of 'em to l'arn how things are
goin'."
"Why haven't they appeared to us?"
"We ain't in the hole they want to get us into," replied Kenton, who, in
accordance with the custom of those of his calling, kept glancing to the
right and left, on the lookout for the first appearance of peril. "They
may have had a peep at us, and will keep an eye on our movements, but
are more likely to watch the hosses. They ain't fur off, Brigham?"
"No; I didn't go far with them."
"Has Red Crow had time to reach the spot?"
"If he kept up the gait with which he started I should say he is about
there."
"Now, don't speak till I give the word," said Kenton, in a low voice,
"but listen with all your ears."
The entire party assumed attitudes of intense attention, and were
rewarded sooner than they anticipated. Amid the profound stillness a
sudden, sharp, twanging noise reached them, followed instantly by a
smothered, gasping cry, and then all was still.
The party looked in one another's faces. No need of any one speaking a
word, for all knew what those awful sounds meant.
Red Crow had driven an arrow into some dusky thief with such swiftness
and force that he had no time to utter the proverbial yell of his race
when he sank to the ground.
"Thar must have been only one of 'em," quietly remarked Kenton, "or thar
would be more of a rumpus. He has started."
The sound of the animals laboring through the bushes and among the trees
was plainly heard, and a minute later Red Crow appeared, leading the
pioneer's horse, while that of his wife followed close behind.
It was agreed that no reference should be made by any one to the tragedy
that had taken place so near them. They waited for Red Crow himself to
tell the story, but though he was questioned quite closely, he never
said a word.
"Arqu-wao," said Kenton, in the Shawanoe language, "you have a single
tongue; you are a good Indian; now lead the way; we believe in you and
will trust you to the death."
For the first time since the Shawanoe had joined them, his painted face
gave evidence of emotion. He stood for several seconds with his eyes
fixed on Kenton, who calmly confronted him. He was on the point of
speaking, and once the boys, who were studying his countenance with
curious interest, observed a movement of his thin lips, but he changed
his mind and no words escaped him.
Turning abruptly away, he held the bridle-rein of the pioneer's horse in
one hand, and, with his long bow in the other, began moving through the
wood, which route may roughly be described as half way between that just
followed and the course of the trail nearest them.
The work for a time was as hard as before, and the animal showed so much
reluctance that, in addition to the tugging at the rein by the leader,
he required some vigorous prodding from his master before he would do
his duty; but ere long a pleasant fact became apparent to all; the wood
was so open that it was a comparatively easy matter for all to advance.
If it should remain thus, they could push on with little more trouble
than that encountered in travelling over the trail itself.
Of course, nothing was easier than for the Shawanoes to follow the
footprints of the party, and it was to guard against any surprise of
this kind that Kenton remained some distance behind the others.