CONCLUSION.
It was a surprising discovery for Jack Carleton and Otto Relstaub when
they learned that the solitary Sauk warrior who welcomed them to his
camp, had in his possession the horse belonging to the German lad, for
which they had sought so long in vain.
"Mine gracious!" exclaimed Otto, when they seated themselves again by
the fire; "if we gots him, won't it be shust too good!"
"Then I suppose your father and mother will be satisfied."
"Yaw--but holds on!" he added, looking down at his clothing; "I have
torn my trowsers shust a little, and dot will gif dem de oxcuse to whip
me."
"No; they will be too glad to get the colt back to mind such a small
thing as that; but isn't it one of the strangest things in the world
that this Sauk should find and bring him all the way through the woods
and across streams and prairies to this point, and then that we should
come upon him."
"It peats everydings," replied Otto; "but he can't told us how he didn't
do it."
"No; we shall have to wait till Deerfoot comes; he can talk the Sauk
tongue and it won't take him long to find out the whole story."
The boys felt so little misgiving about entrusting themselves to the
care of the stranger, that when they began to feel drowsy they stretched
out on the blanket, with their backs against each other, and went to
sleep.
An hour later, just as the Sauk was on the point of also turning in for
the night, Deerfoot made his appearance. His coming was a surprise to
the warrior, and at first caused him some alarm, but, so soon as he
learned who he was, his feelings underwent a change, for, truth to tell,
the Shawanoe was the very one whom the Sauk had come so many miles to
meet.
The story of the Sauk was impressive. He was the brother of Hay-uta, and
on the return of the latter to his home, he told of his encounter with
Deerfoot, and dwelt on the extraordinary words of his conqueror. He,
too, had heard something similar from the missionaries, whom he had seen
at different posts in the West, but like most of his people he was
indifferent to their arguments.
But the "sermon" preached by Deerfoot, through his kindred, got hold of
the Sauk, and would not let go. He affected to despise the words, but he
could not drive them from him. Some time afterward Hay-uta told his
brother he must hunt up the friendly Shawanoe, and learn more of the
Great Spirit whom he told him about. He asked him to bear him company,
but the Sauk declined, just as all of us are prone to rebel against the
better promptings of our nature.
The time soon came however when he started to hunt, not only for
Hay-uta, but for Deerfoot also. Of necessity his search for awhile was a
blind one, but while threading his way through the woods he found the
horse of Otto Relstaub cropping the grass on a slight stretch of
prairie. Some curious fortune had given him his liberty and led him into
that section.
The brother was so prompt in following Hay-uta, that he kept to his
trail long after the latter had found Deerfoot and Jack Carleton, but a
peculiar shame-facedness held him back from joining them. Once or twice
he resolved to overtake them, but each time he shrank back, and finally
lingered so long that he lost the trail altogether.
But that restless longing for the great light, of which he had only the
dim glimmerings, kept his face turned westward, while he hoped and yet
dreaded to meet the young Shawanoe, who, unsuspected by himself, was the
cause of his strange discontent.
The meeting took place in the manner already told. It was Deerfoot who
found the Sauk instead of the Sauk who found him. In a tender,
sympathetic voice the Shawanoe gave the other the particulars of his
brother's death, making clear to him that when he crossed the dark river
it was to enter the hunting grounds of the true Great Spirit, who
beckoned him thither. The Sauk showed no grief over the loss of his
kindred, though he mourned him with an emotion that was a singular
mixture of sadness and pleasure. He seemed more interested in the story
which Deerfoot told him about the One who died that all men might live,
and whose approving smile could be won by whomsoever would do His will.
The two warriors lay a long time by the camp-fire, which was replenished
several times, while the Shawanoe read from his Bible and discoursed of
the momentous truths contained therein, and the listener questioned and
answered, and appropriated the revelations thus made to him. Deerfoot,
the Shawanoe, sowed good seed on that evening a long time ago; but the
full fruitage thereof shall never be known until the last great day, for
which all others were made.
When the Sauk learned that the horse which he had found astray in the
wilderness belonged to one of the sleeping boys, he said it should be
returned to him on the morrow. Deerfoot encouraged him by replying that
such action would always please the Great Spirit, who knew the thoughts,
words and deeds of every person that lived.
While the boys were sleeping, and when the gray light of morning was
creeping over the forest, Deerfoot scouted through the country
surrounding them. As he anticipated, he found no sign of enemies. The
Pawnees had been handled so roughly that they made no further attempt to
molest the little party that seemed to them to be under the special care
of the Evil One.
Jack Carleton and Otto Relstaub were permitted to sleep until breakfast
was ready; then, when aroused, they were in high spirits over the
prospect before them. The young Kentuckian, however, was saddened by the
tidings of the death of Hay-uta, the brother of the Sauk who had
befriended him.
Otto was informed that the lost colt was his property again, and all
that he had to do was to prevent him from wandering beyond his reach,
since no such good fortune was likely to repeat itself.
Three days later the Sauk bade them good-by, his course to his village
rendering a divergence necessary. When in sight of the humble cabins of
Martinsville, Deerfoot parted from Jack and Otto, expressing the hope
that he would soon meet them again; when urged to visit his friends in
the settlement he shook his head, making a reply which was not fully
understood.
"Deerfoot must hasten; he is wanted by others; he has no time to lose."
Then flirting the gun given him by Hay-uta over his head, he added with
a smile:
"Deerfoot uses the bow and arrows no more; the rifle is his weapon."
Waving them farewell again, he soon vanished from sight in the forest,
and they saw him no more.
I need not tell you of the welcome Jack Carleton received from his
mother and friends. He promised his anxious parent that he would never
leave her again, and his pledge was not broken.
Perhaps the long absence of Otto softened his father and mother's
hearts, or it may have been the return of the lost colt moved them to
greater kindness. Be that as it may, hence forward all went smoothly in
the Relstaub household, and the hardships and sufferings of Otto, so far
as his parents were concerned, were ended forever.
From this time forth, as Deerfoot, the Shawanoe, declared, the rifle was
his weapon. Great as was his skill with the bow and arrow, it could not
equal that which he displayed with his gun, and I am confident you will
agree with me when you come to read "The Hunters of the Ozark", which
will form number one of the DEERFOOT SERIES.
THE END.
Famous Castlemon Books.
No author of the present day has become a greater favorite with boys
than "Harry Castlemon," every book by him is sure to meet with hearty
reception by young readers generally. His naturalness and vivacity leads
his readers from page to page with breathless interest, and when one
volume is finished the fascinated reader, like Oliver Twist, asks "for
more."
By Harry Castlemon.
GUNBOAT SERIES.
Frank the Young Naturalist.
Frank in the Woods.
Frank on the Prairie.
Frank on a Gunboat.
Frank before Vicksburg.
Frank on the Lower Mississippi.
GO AHEAD SERIES.
Go Ahead; or, The Fisher Boy's Motto.
No Moss; or, The Career of a Rolling Stone.
Tom Newcombe; or, The Boy of Bad Habits.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN SERIES.
Frank at Don Carlos' Rancho.
Frank among the Rancheros.
Frank in the Mountains.
SPORTSMAN'S CLUB SERIES.
The Sportsman's Club in the Saddle.
The Sportsman's Club Afloat.
The Sportsman's Club among the Trappers.
FRANK NELSON SERIES.
Snowed up; or, The Sportsman's Club in the Mountains.
Frank Nelson in the Forecastle; or, the Sportsman's Club among the
Whalers.
The Boy Traders; or, The Sportsman's Club among the Boers.
BOY TRAPPER SERIES.
The Buried Treasure; or, Old Jordan's "Haunt"
The Boy Trapper; or, How Dave filled the Order.
The Mail Carrier.
ROUGHING IT SERIES.
George in Camp; or, Life on the Plains.
George at the Wheel; or, Life in a Pilot House.
George at the Fort; or, Life Among the Soldiers.
ROD AND GUN SERIES.
Don Gordon's Shooting Box.
Rod and Gun.
The Young Wild Fowlers.
Alger's Renowned Books.
Horatio Alger, Jr., has attained distinction as one of the most popular
writers of books for boys, and the following list comprises all of his
best books.
By Horatio Alger, Jr.
RAGGED DICK SERIES.
Ragged Dick; or, Street Life in New York.
Fame and Fortune; or, The Progress of Richard Hunter.
Mark the Match Boy; or, Richard Hunter's Ward.
Rough and Ready; or, Life among the New York Newsboys.
Ben the Luggage Boy; or, Among the Wharves.
Rufus and Rose; or, The Fortunes of Rough and Ready.
TATTERED TOM SERIES. (FIRST SERIES.)
Tattered Tom; or, The Story of a Street Arab.
Paul the Peddler; or, The Adventures of a Young Street Merchant.
Phil the Fiddler; or, The Young Street Musician.
Slow and Sure; or, From the Sidewalk to the Shop.
TATTERED TOM SERIES. (SECOND SERIES.)
Julius; or, The Street Boy Out West.
The Young Outlaw; or, Adrift in the World.
Sam's Chance and How He Improved it.
The Telegraph Boy.
LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES. (FIRST SERIES.)
Luck and Pluck; or, John Oakley's Inheritance.
Sink or Swim; or, Harry Raymond's Resolve.
Strong and Steady; or, Paddle Your Own Canoe.
Strive and Succeed; or, The Progress of Walter Conrad.
LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES. (SECOND SERIES.)
Try and Trust; or, The Story of a Bound Boy.
Bound to Rise; or, How Harry Walton Rose in the World.
Risen from the Ranks; or, Harry Walton's Success.
Herbert Carter's Legacy; or, The Inventor's Son.
BRAVE AND BOLD SERIES.
Brave and Bold; or, The Story of a Factory Boy.
Jack's Ward; or, The Boy Guardian.
Shifting for Himself; or, Gilbert Greyson's Fortunes.
Wait and Hope; or, Ben Bradford's Motto.
CAMPAIGN SERIES.
Frank's Campaign; or, the Farm and the Camp.
Paul Prescott's Charge.
Charlie Codman's Cruise.
PACIFIC SERIES.
The Young Adventurer; or, Tom's Trip Across the Plains.
The Young Miner; or, Tom Nelson in California.
The Young Explorer; or, Among the Sierras.
Ben's Nugget; or, A Boy's Search for Fortune. A Story of the Pacific
Coast.
ATLANTIC SERIES
The Young Circus Rider; or, The Mystery of Robert Rudd.
Do and Dare; or, A Brave Boy's Fight for Fortune.
Hector's Inheritance; or, Boys of Smith Institute.
By C. A. Stephens.
Rare books for boys--bright, breezy, wholesome and instructive--full of
adventure and incident, and information upon natural history--they blend
instruction with amusement--contain much useful and valuable information
upon the habits of animals, and plenty of adventure, fun and jollity.
CAMPING OUT SERIES.
Camping Out. As recorded by "Kit."
Left on Labrador; or, The Cruise of the Schooner Yacht "Curlew."
As recorded by "Wash."
Off to the Geysers; or, The Young Yachters in Iceland. As recorded
by "Wade."
Lynx Hunting. From Notes by the Author of "Camping Out."
Fox Hunting. As recorded by "Raed."
On the Amazon; or, the Cruise of the "Rambler." As recorded by "Wash."
By J. T. Trowbridge.
These stories will rank among the best of Mr. Trowbridge's books for the
young, and he has written some of the best of our juvenile literature.
JACK HAZARD SERIES.
Jack Hazard and his Fortunes.
A Chance for Himself; or, Jack Hazard and his Treasure.
Doing his Best.
Fast Friends.
The Young Surveyor; or, Jack on the Prairies.
Lawrence's Adventures Among the Ice Cutters, Glass Makers, Coal
Miners, Iron Men and Ship Builders.
By Edward S. Ellis.
A New Series of Books for Boys, equal in interest to the "Castlemon" and
"Alger" books. His power of description of Indian life and character is
equal to the best of Cooper.
BOY PIONEER SERIES.
Ned in the Block House; or, Life on the Frontier.
Ned in the Woods.
Ned on the River.
End of Project Gutenberg's Footprints in the Forest, by Edward Sylvester Ellis