A Battle with a Wolf
The battle between Dick Dare and the wolf went on fiercely, in the old
cabin in the forest. The wolf was lithe and nimble, and evaded the
majority of the blows aimed at it by the youth, but at the same time it
dared not get close enough to bite, for fear of getting hit.
Had Dick’s ankles been free, he would have been able to defend himself
much easier, and could soon have landed some telling blows, but his
ankles were tied, and he could not get around very well, having to stay
in one position, and merely keep turning his face toward the animal as
it made its rushes toward him.
Finally, however, the youth managed to land a hard blow on the head of
the wolf, with the heavy stool, which knocked the animal off its feet.
Seeing his advantage, Dick threw himself forward, and struck the wolf
several blows, till finally the animal stretched out, apparently
lifeless.
“Thank goodness!” murmured Dick, dropping to a sitting posture, and
panting at a great rate. “That was about the fiercest battle I ever had.
Now, to get my ankles free.”
He drew a clasp-knife from his pocket and cut the rope binding his legs.
Then he sat down and chafed his ankles, till he got the blood to
circulating again. This done, he went to the door and looking out, saw
that the coast seemed to be clear.
“I guess Gurley won’t be back for quite a while,” thought Dick. “I will
set out at once and make my way to the patriot encampment.”
Dick left the cabin and made his way through the forest, heading
northward, and hastened onward as rapidly as he could. He had already
lost considerable time, and he was eager to reach the patriot encampment
as quickly as possible, and get General Greene and his army started to
the rescue of the settlers in the fort in Peaceful Valley.
At noon Dick stopped at the house of a settler, and ate dinner there. He
learned that the settler was a patriot, and told him where he was going,
and why, and the settler told him he could have one of his horses to
ride.
“Thank you, sir,” said Dick. “That is kind of you. I’ll leave the horse
here as we come back.”
“That’s all right, Dick Dare. I am a patriot an’ want to do all I can to
help get help to the patriot settlers in Peaceful Valley.”
Dick thanked him again, and a few minutes later was mounted on a horse
and riding northward proceeding now at a rapid pace. He believed that he
would be able to reach the patriot encampment by noon of the next day,
and by pushing onward nearly through the night, he was enabled to do so.
As soon as he reached the encampment, he went to the headquarters tent,
and found General Greene and some of the other officers there, among
them Captain Morgan, of Dick’s own company.
“Ah, Dick, how are you?” greeted the general, shaking the youth’s hand.
“I am feeling well, sir,” was the reply. And then Dick, after shaking
hands with the other officers, said: “I have important news for you,
sir.”
“Let’s hear the news, Dick?” eagerly.
“Very well, sir.” And then Dick told about the desperate needs of the
settlers of Peaceful Valley, whose homes had been burned by the Indians,
and who were now in the little fort, surrounded by the Indians, who
would undoubtedly capture the patriots soon if help was not vouchsafed.
“How far is the fort from here?” asked General Greene.
“Nearly a hundred miles, I should judge.”
“A good three days’ march from here,” said the general. “I think we had
better break camp and start with the entire force. Give the orders to
your respective companies, officers. We will move at once.”
The officers saluted and hastened out, and Dick remained to answer the
questions that General Greene wished to ask about the location of the
fort, the number of the settlers, and particulars concerning the
Indians, etc.
Within an hour after dinner, the little army was ready to start, and at
the word from General Greene, it set out on the march.
In the lead rode General Greene and some of the officers, and Dick,
while behind came the soldiers, marching steadily, and with a grim,
determined look on their faces. They knew that they were going to the
rescue of a party of settlers surrounded by redskins, and were eager to
reach their destination and get a chance at the Indians.
When evening came, they stopped for a brief interval on the bank of a
little stream. Here they built campfires, cooked and ate supper, and
after resting an hour, set out again, it being moonlight till after
midnight.
They marched till the moon went down and it grew so dark they could not
see to make their way onward. Then they stopped and went into camp for
the rest of the night.
They were up early next morning, however, these hardy patriots and after
having eaten breakfast, again set out, marching steadily onward till
noon, stopping then less than an hour, to eat a cold bite for dinner.
They kept up the march till near midnight, again, with stops for supper,
and to rest a few minutes at a time. Then slept four or five hours, and
were up and away again.
They arrived in the vicinity of Peaceful Valley about the middle of the
following afternoon, and stopped about a mile away, while Dick went
forward to reconnoiter and see what the Indians were doing, to ascertain
if they were still there and the fort had not been captured.
Dick advanced at a moderate pace, keeping a sharp lookout around him,
till within about a third of a mile of the edge of the valley, and then
he made his way forward at a slower pace, pausing frequently, to look
about him, to see if there were any signs of redskins in the vicinity.
Presently he paused and took a position behind a tree, gazing steadily
ahead. He had caught sight of the Indians. He got down on his hands and
knees and crawled forward, till he reached a point from which he could
see the fort, and after a careful survey, he came to the conclusion that
the Indians had not succeeded as yet in making the settlers surrender.
“Good,” thought Dick. “I’ll return and make my report to General
Greene.”
As he started to turn, however, to make his way back to where he had
left the patriot soldiers, he heard a rustling sound, and the next
moment he was confronted by seven or eight Indian warriors, who had
appeared from behind trees.
Dick was taken by surprise, but did not intend to permit the redskins to
capture him, if he could help it, and drawing his pistols, he fired two
shots quickly, dropping one Indian, dead, and wounding another. Then he
sprang forward, in an attempt to make his escape, but the redskins,
giving utterance to thrilling war-cries, leaped upon him and bore him
struggling to the ground.
He fought fiercely, for he wanted to make his escape and get back with
the patriot soldiers and help make the attack on the savages, but the
redskins were too numerous and too strong. He presently, therefore,
found himself made a prisoner, his wrists being bound with a piece of
thong.
Then he was dragged forward into the presence of the main party of the
tribe, who had appeared in all directions when they heard the shots and
yells, and were advancing toward the spot where the encounter had taken
place.
Dick was a prisoner in the hands of the redskins, within a few hundred
yards of the settlers in the fort, and also within half a mile of the
patriot soldiers.