FRANK LEARNS SOMETHING.
Frank was as frightened as a boy could be. Amazed at the suddenness of
the assault, he gazed in stupid wonder at the savages, winked his eyes
hard to make sure that he was not dreaming, and looked again. But there
was no dreaming about it--it was all a reality; and as he stood there
powerless among his captors, and looked at their glittering weapons, and
painted, scowling faces, all the stories he had heard the trappers
relate of their experience among the Indians, came fresh to his memory.
He recognized one of the savages, and that was the chief. His blanket
and buckskin hunting shirt were gone, he wore the tomahawk and scalping
knife in his belt, his face was covered with paint, and altogether he
looked fierce enough to frighten any boy who had never seen Indians in
war costume before.
Frank took these things in at a glance; and while he was wondering what
object the Indians could have in view in capturing him, and what they
intended to do with him, he was trying hard to summon all his courage to
his aid, and to appear as unconcerned as possible. If there had been any
hostile Indians in that part of the country, he could have understood
the matter; but he had been told that they were all friendly.
"Look here, chief," said he, "I'd like to know what this means. You have
made a mistake."
The savage paid no more attention to his words than if he had not spoken
at all. He gave a few orders in his native tongue to his companions, two
of whom placed Frank on Roderick's back and held him there, while a
third seized the horse by the bridle, and followed after the chief, who
led the way down the ravine. How far they went, or in what direction,
Frank could not have told, for his mind was in too great confusion. He
was trying to arrive at some satisfactory explanation concerning the
Indians' conduct. He had expected that the first action on their part
would be to pull his hair, strike at him with their knives and
tomahawks, point their guns and arrows at him, and try, by every means
in their power, to frighten him. That was the way they always served
their prisoners; but thus far he had no reason to complain of their
treatment. He wished the chief would explain matters to him, and thus
relieve him of suspense.
At the end of half an hour, during which time Frank made several
unsuccessful attempts to induce some of the Indians to talk to him, the
chief emerged from the ravine, and led the way into a little valley,
similar to the one in which Mr. Brent's rancho was located. The sight
that here met Frank's gaze astonished him. The valley was filled with
lodges, and Frank saw more Indians at the single glance he swept about
the camp than he had ever seen before in all his life. Children were
playing about in front of the lodges, the women were engaged in various
occupations, and the braves, all of whom were in their war-paint,
smoked their pipes, and lounged in the shade. Frank was greatly relieved
to find that no one noticed the chief and his party. When he first came
in sight of the village, he had screwed up all his courage again,
expecting no very friendly reception. Bob and Dick had told him that
when they were carried into an Indian camp as prisoners, every man,
woman, and child turned out to meet them, and to amuse themselves by
beating them with switches and clubs; but nothing of the kind was
attempted now. Those who looked at Frank at all, merely took one glance
at him; and the most of them did not even look up when he passed.
The chief walked straight through the village, and stopped in front of a
large wigwam that stood a little apart from the others. At a sign from
him, Frank was pulled from his horse, and after his hands had been
unbound, a corner of the wigwam, which served as a door, was lifted up,
and he was pushed under it. Then the door was dropped to its place, and
Frank heard the Indians moving off with Roderick.
The light was all shut out from the inside of the lodge, and as soon as
the prisoner's eyes became accustomed to the darkness, he began to look
about him. The lodge was about fifteen feet in diameter, and was built
of neatly-dressed skins, supported on a frame-work of saplings. Weapons
of all kinds were suspended from the walls, the chiefs blanket, bridle,
spear, and head-dress occupied one corner, and several buffalo robes,
which doubtless served him for a bed, were piled in another. There was
no one in the lodge, and Frank, being no longer compelled to wear the
appearance of unconcern he had assumed while in the presence of the
Indians, gave full vent to his pent-up feelings. His forced calmness
forsook him, a feeling of desolation such as he had never before
experienced came over him, and covering his face with his hands, he
staggered toward the buffalo robes, and threw himself upon them.
"If I only knew what they intend to do with me," sobbed Frank, "I should
not feel so badly about it. If they have made up their minds to tie me
to the stake, or to compel me to run the gauntlet, why don't they tell
me so, and give me a chance to prepare for it? Can it be possible that
that race and wrestling match have any thing to do with my capture? The
Indians seemed friendly enough when I first visited their camp at the
trading-post, and I'd like to know what they mean by taking me prisoner
when I wasn't doing any thing to them! What could have induced them to
change their camp so suddenly, any how? A few hours ago there were not
more than a hundred in the band; now there must be five times as many,
and the braves are all in war-paint, too? I can't understand it."
A step outside the lodge, and a rustling among the skins which formed
the door, aroused Frank, and he once more made a strong effort to
compose himself. The door was raised, and a face appeared at the
opening--a dark, scarred, scowling face, which was almost concealed by a
fur cap and thick bushy whiskers. Frank was thunderstruck. He leaned
forward to examine the face more closely, and then his heart seemed to
stop beating, and with a cry of alarm he sprang to his feet. As much as
he feared the Indians, he feared this man more.
"Ah, my young cub, are you thar?" growled the visitor, as he stepped
into the lodge.
"_Black Bill!_" exclaimed Frank, in dismay.
"Ay! That's what they call me. 'Member me, don't you? Heered all about
me, most likely, from ole Bob and Dick Lewis. They didn't tell you
nothin' good of me, I reckon."
Frank tried to speak, but he seemed to have lost all control over his
tongue. He had trembled every time he thought of the night he had passed
in the camp of the outlaws, and he had hoped that he should never meet
them again; but here he was, face to face with one of them, when he
least expected it.
"I didn't kalkerlate on seein' you agin," said the outlaw, with a savage
smile, "an' I aint agoin' to say that I'm glad to see you now, 'cause I
aint. I hate any body that's a friend to Bob an' Dick, an' if I could
have my way I'd split your wizzen fur you in a minit. But you b'long to
the chief, an' I don't reckon he would see harm come to you."
"To the chief!" repeated Frank, drawing a long breath as if a heavy
load had been removed from his shoulders. It was a great satisfaction to
him to know that this man could not do as he pleased with him.
"That's what I said," replied the visitor.
"But what does he want to do with me? What is his object in taking me
prisoner?" asked Frank.
"He's goin' to make an Injun of you."
"What! I--you don't mean----"
"Sartin I do. It's a fact. He's goin' to take you into the tribe an'
make an Injun of you," said the outlaw, in a louder tone.
"And never let me go home again, but keep me here always?" demanded
Frank, growing more and more astonished.
"Exactly!"
"Well, he can't do it--he shan't. I don't want to be adopted into the
tribe, and I won't be, either."
"I don't reckon you can help yourself, can you?" said the outlaw, with a
grin. "You see, the chief used to have a son just about your age--an' a
smart, lively young Injun he was, too; but he was killed a little while
ago in a scrimmage with the Blackfeet, an' the chief wants another.
You're an amazin' chap fur runnin' an' wrastlin' fur one of your years,
an' that's the reason he picked you out."
"I don't care if it is; he sha'n't have me. I won't stay here and be his
son. Why, I never heard of such a thing. Why don't he select some Indian
boy?"
"That's his business, an' not mine. But if you only knowed it,
youngster, it's lucky fur you that the chief tuk sich a monstrous fancy
fur you, 'cause if you had stayed at the fort, you would have been
massacreed with the rest."
"Massacred!" echoed Frank. "Killed!"
"Yes; killed an' scalped. You'll hear of some fun at that tradin'-post
afore you are two days older, an' then, if you go down thar, you won't
see nothin' but the ashes of it. It would have been done last night if
that ar fur trader had kept away from thar. We had to send off arter
more help. I don't mind tellin' you this, 'cause 'taint no ways likely
that you'll ever have a chance to blab it. But I come in here to ax you
about Adam Brent. Where does he sleep?"
Frank did not reply; indeed, he scarcely heard the question, his mind
was so busy with what the outlaw had said to him. He knew now where all
those Indians came from, and why they were there. The information he had
received almost paralyzed him, and he shuddered when he pictured to
himself the scenes of horror that would be enacted in that quiet valley,
if the savages were permitted to carry out their designs. What would
become of his cousin, of the trappers, of Captain Porter, and of
himself? Of course his friends would all be included in the massacre,
and he, having no one to look to for help, would be compelled to drag
out a miserable existence among those savages. But Frank determined that
the massacre should not take place. At the risk of his own life he would
do something to stop it. His courage always increased in proportion to
the number of obstacles he found in his way, and the danger he was in,
and now he was thoroughly reckless and determined.
"I axed you do you know where Adam Brent sleeps?" said the outlaw, who
had grown tired of waiting for an answer to his question.
"He sleeps in the house, of course," replied Frank.
"Wal, I reckon I knowed that much afore you told me; but what part of
the house?"
"I can't tell. I haven't taken the trouble to inquire into Mr. Brent's
family matters."
"I'll allow that you tell the truth thar; 'cause if you had axed any
questions, you would know that Brent is my own brother, an' that Adam is
my nephew. Aint I a nice lookin' uncle?"
"I don't believe a word of it. What do you want with Adam?
"I reckon that's my business, aint it? I only axed you where he sleeps
'cause I've got something to say to him to-night, an' I shouldn't care
to have his father hear me blunderin' about the house. I've got a leetle
business with ole Bob Kelly, too."
"If you will take my advice you will let him alone," said Frank. "Dick
Lewis is his chum now."
"That don't make no sort of difference to me. I'm half hoss an' half
buffaler, with a leetle sprinklin' of catamounts, grizzly bars, an'
sich like varmints throwed in. I'm one of them kind of fellers as don't
stand no nonsense from nobody; an' I'm the wust man in a
rough-an'-tumble this side of the States. I aint afeered of Dick Lewis."
Having said this, the outlaw took his departure, and Frank, who had gone
through this interview like one in a dream, again seated himself on the
buffalo robes to think over what he had heard, and to determine upon
some course of action. He had little imagined that he would ever be
placed in a situation like this, and he did not wonder now at the hatred
which Dick and old Bob cherished toward the Indians. Here they were,
awaiting the arrival of reinforcements, and preparing for a descent on
the fort; and there were his friends in the valley, all unconscious of
the danger hanging over them. There had been no Indian depredations in
that section for a long time, and the officers of the fort and the
settlers had been lulled into a feeling of security that promised to be
fatal to them. They did not dream of such a thing as an attack; the
fortifications had not been kept in a state of defense; and unless they
were warned of their danger, the success of the Indians would be
complete.
"Oh, if they only knew what is going on here!" cried Frank, springing to
his feet, and pacing restlessly up and down the lodge. "If I could see
them for just one minute, wouldn't these savages meet with a warm
reception when they make the attack on the fort? But how will they find
it out unless I carry them the information; and how can I effect my
escape, surrounded as I am by enemies?"
This thought made Frank almost beside himself. It rendered him
desperate; and he resolved that if he could see the least chance for
escape, he would make the attempt at once--that very moment. There was
not a single instant to be lost, for there was no telling when the
Indians would be ready to make the attack. He rushed to the door, tore
it open, and looked out. The first object that met his gaze was a
warrior standing close beside the lodge, leaning on his spear. He was
undoubtedly a sentry, and had been placed there to watch the prisoner.
Frank took one glance at him, and then dropped the door to its place,
and hurrying to the other side of the lodge pulled up the skins and
looked under them. He saw now what he had not noticed before--that the
lodge in which he was confined was in the very center of the village.
The nearest wigwams were pitched about fifty yards from it, leaving a
clear space on each side that was devoted to the holding of councils and
dances. Frank knew that he could never cross that space in broad
daylight without being discovered and recaptured, and with a look of
disappointment on his face, he dropped the skins and crawled back to his
seat on the buffalo robes.