Every ship sailing from Europe brought new colonists, and as the
settlements grew and thrived on the sea coast civilization advanced
further and further into the great wilderness. The Indians became more
ferocious and warlike, and day and night the settlers were in constant
fear of attack. Men built strong palisades of logs around their homes
and at each corner of the enclosure they placed block-houses, which
were simply square buildings two stories high with loopholes, through
which the defenders could fire their guns and still be hidden.
[Illustration: INDIANS TRYING TO SET FIRE TO A BLOCK-HOUSE]
In the daytime the gates of these crude forts were thrown open,
and those who tilled the ground went out to their work while men
stationed on the outskirts of the fields guarded the settlement. But
with all these precautions there are many sad tales of Indian attacks
accompanied by bloodshed and cruel torture.
For long periods the Indians would remain silent in the deep forests
and not show themselves at all. Then peace seemed to prevail in the
land, and naturally the settlement became careless and the guards grew
less vigilant. At just such times the crafty Indians made their most
successful raids. Silently and stealthily their scouts watched the men
at work in the fields and the children playing outside of the stockade.
Warriors came from all directions out of the forest depths and gathered
around their leader. Then, when all was in readiness, the terrible
war-whoop sounded and the dusky foes fairly leaped from behind every
bush, rock and tree. A wild scene of confusion ensued. Men rushed for
their arms while women and children crowded into the block-houses. The
strong doors were closed and barred and the fierce fight began.
[Illustration]
The Indians made every effort to get close enough to set fire to the
buildings, and it was the supreme danger against which the defenders
had to contend. Many times the settlers were thus forced to run out
into the midst of their foes to defend themselves by a hand-to-hand
encounter. If the Indians were successful in the attack a terrible
massacre followed, in which women and children were scalped and the men
bound and tortured. After the cruel scenes were over only a pile of
charred and smoking embers remained of the once prosperous settlement.
But usually, because of their superior arms, the white men were
victorious and the advance across the continent went ever onward toward
the Great West. Encountering many hardships and thrilling adventures,
these brave people made possible for us the happy, peaceful and
bountiful land in which we now live.
[Illustration: OLD FLINT-LOCK GUN AND KNIFE USED BY EARLY SETTLERS]
Young boys grew to a hardy manhood through trial and privation and gave
their lives to conquering the vast wilderness of the Far West.
One incident of border life shows the bravery and fearlessness of the
backwoods boy.
Two brothers, one aged eleven, the other thirteen, were stolen while
at play by two Mohawk warriors. The Indians struck a trail leading
into the deep forest and at nightfall were far enough away from
the settlement with their captives to rest without danger of being
overtaken. After a light supper they lay down to sleep, each holding
one of the boys in his arms. The oldest boy, too excited to feel
sleepy, only pretended to go to sleep, and managed with great care to
wriggle free from his sleeping captor’s arms. He crossed over to his
brother and gently released him from the embrace of the other sleeping
Indian and carefully carried him a short distance from the savages
before waking him.
“Come,” he whispered, “we must go home now.”
“They will follow us,” replied the younger brother.
The older boy put his hand to his lips, not daring to utter a sound.
He then placed the only gun the Indians had with the muzzle close to
the ear of one of the sleeping Mohawks. “Now,” he whispered to his
brother, “I’ll take the tomahawk, and when I give the signal you pull
the trigger of the gun.” When all was ready the brave boy lifted the
hatchet and his brother pulled the trigger. The Indian shot by the
gun rolled over dead, but the other was not killed by the first blow.
Nothing daunted, the brave youth rained blow after blow on the skull of
the stunned Mohawk until the warrior lay quite still. The boys had lost
their way, but after several days they finally succeeded in getting
out of the forest. As they entered their home they heard their mother
moaning to herself, “My poor boys, they must be killed.” With a great
shout they ran to her and threw themselves into her arms. It is inborn
bravery such as this that conquered the great wilderness and opened up
the vast country that was called the Wild West.
[Illustration: INDIAN KNIFE]