A TERRIFIED BAND
It was Peleg's first experience in taking command of a party. The
helplessness of the surveyors, however, and the fact that they all
turned to him for directions, at once decided the young scout to lead,
and he well knew there was no time to be lost.
In his position he was aware also that the Englishman was in dire
distress, and apparently he was the only one who could aid him. The
decision to act had come to the young scout promptly, and he had almost
instinctively raised Singing Susan to his shoulder and fired at the
Indians, whom he could see darting from tree to tree and plainly trying
to come nearer the spring.
Before he reloaded his gun Peleg turned to his companions, two of whom
were already disappearing among the trees in the distance.
"Come here," he said in a low voice. "Help me with this man."
Two of the young surveyors obeyed his word, and with all speed the trio
carried the body of their fallen comrade within the shelter of the
forest. When Peleg looked down into the face of the suffering man he was
convinced that his wound was fatal.
It would never do, however, to leave the man in his misery. Turning to
his companions he called: "Retreat cautiously! Use the tree trunks for
shelter! Take this man with you!"
While speaking, the young scout hastily reloaded his gun. This task
completed, he turned once more to his companions and said: "Take the man
now and go! Do as I tell you! I shall bring up the rear and do my best
to stave off the Indians. They are sure to follow us, though I do not
think there are more than eight or ten in the whole band."
Three of the men who were members of the party which had visited the
spring had brought their guns with them. Two of these weapons were in
the hands of the men who were to carry the young surveyor back to the
settlement.
Seizing these weapons and making certain that all were loaded and
primed, Peleg darted behind a huge maple, from which he was able to see
that the Indians were stealthily approaching. No cry had been heard from
them since the loud whoop they had given when first they had darted into
the open space and fired upon the unsuspecting men.
Peleg waited until the men who were carrying the surveyor had had an
opportunity to withdraw to a considerable distance among the trees, and
as he saw the red men were coming nearer he abruptly fired upon them. He
first discharged Singing Susan, and then, before the smoke had cleared,
he fired the other two guns in quick succession.
A low exclamation of pleasure escaped his lips when he saw that his
shots had taken sufficient effect to cause the Indians hastily to
disappear from sight and to send forth several of their noisy
challenges.
Taking advantage of the favouring opportunity, the young scout reloaded
his own rifle and, casting the other two guns from him, ran at his
utmost speed in the direction in which his recent companions had
disappeared.
As soon as he had overtaken them he was aware that the Indians were
again closing in upon the retreating band. He was startled to find that
the red men were moving in the form of a semicircle. By this means they
doubtless hoped to cut off the men before they could regain the safety
of the settlement.
Bidding his friends make haste with their burden, Peleg once more fired
upon the yelling Indians. His main purpose was to try to impress upon
their minds the fact that the retreating band was armed and prepared to
defend itself. He was more and more disturbed, however, by his
increasing fear that their retreat would be cut off, and all three might
fall into the hands of the yelling savages.
Several times the same maneuvers were followed, Peleg bidding his
friends, who still were carrying the young surveyor, to precede him on
their way back to the settlement, while he himself remained behind to
fire Singing Susan at such of the Indians as exposed themselves. After
each shot he hastily reloaded his rifle and withdrew to join his
companions.
After his third shot Peleg was almost persuaded that escape was
impossible. The semicircle had been extended until he was fearful that
if the warriors should rush upon them they would enclose the three white
men.
Still the boy was determined to do his utmost to help the fallen
surveyor and protect the two men who were bearing their unconscious
comrade through the forest. In his zeal the young scout had almost
forgotten his own peril. His attention was divided between the
retreating party and the Indians who were pressing so swiftly upon them.
Suddenly Peleg said to himself, as he heard the report of a rifle far
away, "There is Daniel Boone! If he and the other surveyors have come
out to help us we may stand a little better chance of getting out of
this alive."
The report of the rifle which had been heard by Peleg was speedily
followed by the sound of other guns. Convinced by what he had heard that
help was at hand, Peleg regretted the loss of the guns which he had cast
aside in his fear that they might hinder him and his friends in their
efforts to withdraw from the spring. Soon the reports of the guns were
repeated, and as Peleg sent forth his wild halloo he was answered by a
cry which he recognized as coming from Daniel Boone himself.
It was not long before Peleg saw the scout approaching through the
forest. The silent man was thoroughly aroused. Usually quiet in his
manner and deliberate in his actions, it now seemed as if his every
nerve was tingling in his excitement. Sheltered behind nearby trees,
Peleg watched the approaching surveyors, some of whom were loading their
rifles rapidly, while others were firing at the enemy.
It was soon evident that the Indians, disheartened by this fresh attack,
were withdrawing into the forest.
As soon as Daniel Boone saw Peleg and the two men approaching with their
burden, his plan instantly changed. Summoning the young scout, he said,
"Send all the rest of them back to the settlement as fast as they can
go. You and I, lad, are the only ones prepared, so we are the only ones
who can protect these men."
"Will the Indians leave?" inquired Peleg in a low voice.
"For a time, yes," answered Daniel Boone. "If the surveyors make haste
they will be able to get back to the settlement. You and I, lad, must
try to hold these Indians off until our friends have had time to carry
back the man who was shot. Was he killed?"
"No. He was alive when I saw him last, but I do not think he will live
long."
"Was it an arrow?"
"Yes, sir."
Daniel Boone nodded his head and made no further reply. Darting from
tree to tree, the two scouts stealthily made their way through the
forest in the direction in which their friends had gone.
Apparently there was no longer any peril of an immediate attack by the
Indians. None of them appeared within sight, and the sound of their wild
cries no longer was heard.
Alternately stopping and retreating, Daniel Boone and his young
companion at last regained the shelter of the settlement at the Falls of
the Ohio.
The little houses of logs were well protected, and as there was an
abundance of ammunition as well as of food on hand, the great scout said
to Peleg: "We could hold out here two months if it should be necessary."
"But we are not to stay here, are we?" inquired Peleg anxiously.
"No. We must leave just as soon as we can do so safely."
The conversation was interrupted by the entrance of the surveyors in a
body. Fear, and even panic, was manifest in the face of every one. The
unexpected attack upon their comrade had confirmed the warning which
Governor Dunmore had sent by the two scouts, and not only did no one
want to remain, but all were eager to be gone at once.
"We must start to-night," said MacHale, the oldest of the party. "We
must not remain!"
"Not to-night," said Daniel Boone quietly.
"Why not?"
"It is as necessary for us to know our way as it is for us to retreat."
"But you found your way here! Why can you not find it when you go back?"
"I can," replied Boone quietly. "It is not for myself I fear. I would
not be the leader of a party unfamiliar with the woods and facing what
we must if we leave here in the night. You must be prepared to start as
soon as the gray of dawn appears."
"But we want to go before!" persisted the surveyor.
Boone quietly shook his head and gave no further explanation. The matter
was decided, and plainly the scout thought there was nothing more to be
said. Ignoring the anger as well as the alarm of the surveyors, the
great scout at once busied himself in preparing for the departure which
would not take place until the following morning. The services of Boone,
however, were not required in caring for the wounded surveyor, because
life had fled before the party regained the settlement.
There was a hasty burial in the dim light, and then Boone bade his
companions obtain such sleep as they could, he himself preparing to
serve as guard throughout the night.
At last, however, he consented to the pleadings of Peleg and permitted
the lad to keep watch during the earlier hours. As soon as this had been
decided Boone cast himself upon the ground and, apparently confiding in
the ability of Peleg to protect the camp, was soon sleeping soundly.
Just before daybreak the entire band departed from the Falls of the
Ohio. In advance went Daniel Boone as guide, while Peleg was to serve as
the rear guard.
"It is a long race," the scout explained to his companions. "We have
four hundred miles to cross before we arrive at the settlement on the
Clinch River. Our safety depends largely upon the promptness with which
you do my bidding. If there is one of you who is not willing to obey me
in every particular I shall greatly prefer to have him go by himself."
Every member of the party, however, assured the scout that his word was
to be law and that every one would implicitly follow his directions
throughout the long journey. When daylight came it was manifest in the
faces of the surveyors that the terror of the forest was still strong
upon them. Every man was armed, and every one carried a small pack upon
his back.
It was impossible to make as good time on the return as had been made by
Boone and Peleg in the journey to the Falls. However, both hunters were
urgent and seldom stopped even when heavy storms came upon them.
At last, when the long journey had been safely made, and the settlement
on the Clinch River had been gained, the spirits of the surveyors
revived, although they were free to declare that it was the care and
wisdom of Boone and his young companion which had brought them safely
through the wilderness.
Nearly eight hundred miles had been covered by the two scouts in their
long journey, and only sixty-two days had been required to complete it.
Boone and his companion, however, were not to be permitted to rest long.
Less than a week had elapsed after their return when Boone called Peleg
aside one morning and explained to him that a new project, and one still
more perilous than that through which they had safely come, was now to
be undertaken.