THE FORT IN THE WILDERNESS
OR
THE SOLDIER BOYS OF THE INDIAN TRAILS
BY EDWARD STRATEMEYER
Author of "With Washington in the West," "Larry the
Wanderer," "American Boys' Life of William
McKinley," "Old Glory Series," "Pan-American
Series," etc.
_ILLUSTRATED BY A. B. SHUTE_
BOSTON
LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO.
Published September, 1905.
COPYRIGHT, 1905, BY LOTHROP, LEE AND SHEPARD COMPANY
_All rights reserved_
THE FORT IN THE WILDERNESS
Norwood Press
BERWICK AND SMITH CO.
Norwood, Mass.
U. S. A.
PREFACE
"The Fort in the Wilderness" is a complete tale in itself, but forms
the fifth volume in a line known under the general title of "Colonial
Series."
When I began this series I had in mind to pen not more than three
volumes, embracing colonial times during the fourth intercolonial war,
when Canada, and the territory lying between the Great Lakes and the
Mississippi, were wrested from the domination of France. The first
volume, entitled "With Washington in the West," told of the disastrous
Braddock campaign against Fort Duquesne; the second, called "Marching
on Niagara," related the particulars of General Forbes's expedition
against Fort Duquesne, and also the advance of Generals Prideaux and
Johnson against Fort Niagara; while the third volume, "At the Fall of
Montreal," took our youthful heroes down the mighty St. Lawrence, to
fight under General Wolfe and to witness the conclusion of a struggle
which had lasted for years and had been bloody in the extreme.
After this war the Colonists hoped for peace, but this was not to be.
The Indians were enraged to see the English occupying territory which
they considered their own, and soon, led by the wily and resourceful
Pontiac, they entered into a conspiracy to fall upon all the frontier
forts and settlements simultaneously and massacre all who dared oppose
them. There was a demand that I relate something of these times to my
youthful readers, and in the fourth volume of the series, called "On
the Trail of Pontiac," I told of what was done by Indians and whites
during the years 1761 and 1762, when the great conspiracy was slowly
drawing to a head and more than one small settlement was wiped out in
the crudest manner imaginable.
Early in the year 1763 Chief Pontiac considered the time ripe to
strike, and in the present volume are related the particulars of the
siege of Detroit, the attack upon Fort Pitt, and the uprisings at
numerous other points, followed by the advance of Colonel Bouquet
against the red men, the memorable battle of Bushy Run, and other
contests, by which the Indians were forced to give up a struggle they
at last realized was hopeless. In this volume the Morris boys do their
duty as of old, helping to make this grand country of ours what it is
to-day.
In writing this volume the author has tried to be as accurate,
historically, as possible. May the reading of the work prove an
inspiration to all who have the good of our land at heart.
EDWARD STRATEMEYER.
July 15, 1905.
CONTENTS
I. OUT IN THE FOREST
II. FACING A BIG BEAR
III. IN CAMP WITH OLD FRIENDS
IV. A TRAMP THROUGH THE SNOW
V. A LETTER OF INTEREST
VI. THE TRADING-POST ON THE OHIO
VII. HENRY'S STRANGE DISCOVERY
VIII. SURROUNDED BY THE INDIANS
IX. THE ATTACK ON THE TRADING-POST
X. JEAN BEVOIR APPEARS
XI. THE FLIGHT FROM THE POST
XII. WHITE BUFFALO'S PERIL
XIII. SUGAR MAKING, AND HUNTING
XIV. THE BEGINNING OF THE UPRISING
XV. AT FORT CUMBERLAND
XVI. UP THE OHIO
XVII. THE ARRIVAL AT FORT PITT
XVIII. SOMETHING CONCERNING THE TWINS
XIX. IN WHICH BARRINGFORD IS MADE PRISONER
XX. DEEP IN THE WILDERNESS
XXI. AT FORT DETROIT
XXII. THE ATTACK ON FORT DETROIT
XXIII. IN THE WILDERNESS ONCE MORE
XXIV. LOST
XXV. THE ATTACK ON FORT PITT
XXVI. THE MISSING CHILDREN
XXVII. IN THE RANKS ONCE MORE
XXVIII. THE BATTLE OF BUSHY RUN
XXIX. DAVE AMONG THE INDIANS
XXX. ESCAPE AND FLIGHT
XXXI. THE LAST FIGHT--CONCLUSION
ILLUSTRATIONS
"Look out!" screamed Rodney. "He's coming for you. Run! Run!"
They presently discovered the form of a man lying in a heap in the
snow.
Crack! went one of his guns and another Indian went down.
The party came suddenly upon White Buffalo, with Grace Chowith in
his arms.
They ran into half a dozen half-starved wolves.
These preparations made Dave faint at heart.
As the Indian chiefs came in they had to pass between two long
files of soldiers.
The young soldiers were loading and firing as rapidly as possible.
THE FORT IN THE WILDERNESS
CHAPTER I
OUT IN THE FOREST
"There's your chance, Rodney. You can't miss him if you are careful."
"I'll do my best, Dave. But you must remember I haven't had as much
experience at hunting as you and Henry," answered Rodney Morris, as
he examined his long rifle, to see that the flintlock and the priming
were in proper condition for use. "Hadn't I better try to get a little
closer?"
"Just a little, but don't wait too long, or that deer will get away
from you," returned Dave Morris. "Remember, the wind is blowing almost
toward him, and if he scents us he'll be off like a streak."
"Perhaps you had better do the shooting, Dave. If I miss him----"
"Never mind, Rodney. Do the best you can. You've got to get into
practice sooner or later, and you might as well begin right now."
"But you were the one to see the deer first."
"And you saw the tracks in the snow. Go ahead. I'm sure you can bring
him down if you are careful," urged Dave Morris.
"You stand ready to give him a second shot, if I miss," answered
Rodney, and then moved off through the snow, with his cousin at his
heels. The two young hunters were in the depths of a Virginia forest,
and had crossed the tracks of a deer but a short while before. The
animal was now in sight, stripping the bark from a young tree several
hundred feet away.
Such a shot as now presented itself would have been easy for Dave
Morris, but with Rodney it was different. The latter had been a cripple
for several years, and had had scant opportunity for going out after
game. His eye was not as trained as that of his younger cousin, nor was
his nerve as steady.
"Make for the clump of hemlocks," whispered Dave. "You ought to get a
fine shot from there."
Rodney did as directed, and in a few seconds more was in a position to
draw an excellent "bead" on the deer, that was feeding as peacefully as
ever.
It must be admitted that Rodney's hand trembled slightly as he raised
his long rifle and gazed along the shining barrel. There was a brief
pause, during which Dave also brought up his weapon. Bang! went
Rodney's piece, and up into the air leaped the deer, shot through the
shoulder.
"Good!" shouted Dave. "You've got him, Rodney."
"I--I don't know about that," was the quick reply. "See, he is trying
to run away."
"I'll finish him, but he's your game," was Dave's answer, and an
instant later his own weapon spoke out, and the deer leaped once more,
and then fell dead in its tracks.
Hurrying up, the young hunters surveyed the haul with interest. The
deer was of good size, but rather lean, for the winter had been severe,
and food was scarce.
"I'm glad we got him," said Rodney, with a quiet smile. "Mother was
wishing for fresh venison only yesterday. He's not as fat as he might
be, but that can't be helped. Do you think there are any more around?"
"If there were, they ran off at the shots," answered Dave. He walked a
few feet away. "See here, Rodney!"
"What is it?"
"The track of a bear, unless I am greatly mistaken."
"A bear!"
"Yes, and the track isn't very old either."
"Let us go after him, Dave!" cried his cousin. "I'd give almost
anything to bring down a bear. It would give us so much meat,--and the
skin would come in handy, too."
"I'm willing. But we must be careful. A bear at this time of year is
an ugly creature to tackle. Don't you remember how old Bard Donaldson
was chewed up by one last winter? And how that old she-bear tackled Nat
Striker in his own dooryard the first year I went to the war?"
"Of course, I remember. But a fellow on the hunt must take some
chances. I'll wager you and Henry have taken many chances when out."
"That is true, and we got into more than one tight hole, too. But I'm
willing to go after his bearship as soon as we've reloaded. Let us
throw the deer into a crotch of a tree, so the wolves can't get at him.
Those wolves are getting pretty bold lately," added Dave.
The game was soon hoisted to a place of temporary safety, and then each
of the young hunters inspected his rifle with care, and reloaded the
weapon. This done, they began to follow up the tracks of the bear, with
eyes on the alert for the first sign of the creature. While they are on
this trail, let me introduce them more specifically than has already
been done.
Dave Morris was the only son of James Morris, a trapper and fur trader,
who, when at home, lived at Will's Creek, Virginia, close to where the
town of Cumberland now stands. Dave's father was a widower, and the
pair made their home with Mr. Morris's brother Joseph, whose household
consisted of his wife Lucy, his son Rodney, already mentioned, Henry,
a sturdy youth of about Dave's age, and little Nell, a girl of tender
years, dear to the hearts of all.
James Morris was a natural trader, and when his wife died he left Dave
in charge of his brother, and drifted to what was then called the West,
or "Western Countries," where he established a trading-post on the
Kinotah, a small stream of water flowing into the Ohio River. This was
at the time when George Washington, our first President, was a young
surveyor, and in the first volume of this series, entitled, "With
Washington in the West," I related how Dave worked for Washington, and
later on became a soldier, to fight under General Braddock and under
Washington during the ill-fated expedition against Fort Duquesne,
afterwards called Fort Pitt, and located where the great manufacturing
city of Pittsburg stands.
The colonial war between England and France had now become a certainty,
and with the repulse of General Braddock at Fort Duquesne, the French,
aided by the Indians, sought to drive out every English settler
and trader in the north and west. As a consequence, James Morris's
trading-post was attacked, and he was made a prisoner. During the
conflict Dave was also captured, but both were rescued from the enemy
by the clever work of Sam Barringford, a frontiersman well known to
them, aided by White Buffalo, a friendly Indian.
Thinking that the English settlers would have their hands full
fighting the French, the Indians became very bold, and plundered many
settlements, and not infrequently massacred the inhabitants. In some
cases children were carried off into captivity, and this was what
happened to little Nell Morris, much to the horror of all her relatives.
Aroused to the situation at last, strong forces were sent against the
enemy, and in the second volume of the series, entitled "Marching
on Niagara," I related how Fort Duquesne was finally captured, and
what was done to bring about the surrender of Fort Niagara, a French
stronghold on the Great Lakes. In this campaign Dave Morris and his
cousin Henry took an active part, accompanied by old Sam Barringford,
and when the fighting was over, succeeded in rescuing little Nell, who
was found in the custody of some Indians under the command of rascally
French trader named Jean Bevoir, who had caused the Morrises a great
deal of trouble in the past.
The fall of Fort Niagara and of Fort Duquesne put the English once more
in possession of all the territory lying between the Great Lakes and
the Mississippi River. But the terrible war was not yet at an end, and
in the third volume of this series, entitled "At the Fall of Montreal,"
I related how Dave and Henry continued to do their duty as young
soldiers, fighting under the heroic General Wolfe and others, until the
bloody struggle came to an end, and Canada passed into the hands of
England.
The home-coming of the young soldiers had been a time of great
rejoicing. Everybody was glad that the long-drawn war was at an end,
and the boys and Sam Barringford, who had continued to fight with them,
had to tell their stories over and over again.
"I sincerely trust you never have to go to war again," Mrs. Morris
had said. "This constant turmoil and butchery is enough to drive one
insane."
"And it has cost our Colonies a tremendous sum," added her husband. "I
do not know if we can ever pay the debt."
"Now the war is at an end, I am going back to the West," James Morris
had said. The old trading-post had been burned down, but he was willing
to go to the labor and expense of building another, knowing well
that fur trading in the immediate future was to become exceedingly
profitable. He departed, taking with him Dave and Henry, as well as old
Sam Barringford, and some other trappers, and White Buffalo, with his
handful of faithful Delawares.
The hope for peace at this time was a vain one. The war was at an
end so far as France was concerned, but the Indians who had favored
the French were not satisfied, and led by the wily chief Pontiac and
other leaders, they soon joined in a conspiracy, which had for its
object a simultaneous attack on all the forts and settlements of the
English frontier. What effect this Indian war had upon the Morrises,
and the new trading-post, is told in part in the fourth volume of
this series, entitled "On the Trail of Pontiac." The fighting was
exceedingly bitter, and on more than one occasion it looked as if the
whites would be totally exterminated. Dave was captured by the red
men, and then fell into the hands of the rascally Jean Bevoir. But his
father, Barringford, White Buffalo, and some others, came up in the
nick of time and saved him, and Jean Bevoir was seriously wounded,
and had to ride away at a break-neck speed to save his life. In the
meantime, a part of the plot of Pontiac and his followers was exposed,
and the Indians had to withdraw for the time being, to rearrange their
bloodthirsty plans. Thus far Pontiac had been fighting for two years;
he now resolved that the third year of the conflict should witness the
total subjugation or annihilation of the English on the frontier. He
laid his plans with greater secrecy than ever; and what the outcome was
will be told in the pages which follow.
"He's a crafty one, an' he means business," was the comment of old Sam
Barringford. "Ye have got to watch him with both eyes an' ears open."
"My white brother speaks the truth," was what White Buffalo said.
"Pontiac is as a fox for slyness, a wolf for plunder, and a buffalo
for strength. More than that, he is of the great magicians, and his
word is a command to thousands." Even though the others had scoffed at
Pontiac's powers as a so-called magician, White Buffalo, in common with
all other red men, still believed in his power of magic.
The capture of Dave had occurred while he, Barringford, and White
Buffalo, were on the way to Will's Creek. After being rescued, the
youth and his friends had continued the journey, arriving finally at
the homestead in safety. James Morris had returned to the trading-post,
and his nephew Henry remained with him.