"Here come Martin and John at last," said Mr. Campbell, after they had
been about a quarter of an hour at table.
But he was mistaken; instead of Martin and John, Malachi Bone made his
appearance, and, to their surprise, accompanied by his young squaw, the
Strawberry Plant.
Every one rose to welcome them, and the Misses Percival went to their
little female acquaintance, and would have made her sit down with them,
but she refused and took her seat on the floor near the fire.
"She ain't used to chairs and stools, miss; let her be where she is,"
said old Bone, "she'll be more comfortable, and that's what you want
her to be, I'm sure. I brought her with me, because I could not carry
all the venison myself, and also to show her the way in and out of the
house, and how it is fastened, in case of sending a message by night."
"Of sending a message by night," said Mrs. Campbell, with surprise,
"why, what possible occasion could there be for that?"
Captain Sinclair and Alfred, who perceived that the old hunter had said
too much, were quite at a loss what to say. They did not like to
frighten Mrs. Campbell and the girls about the Indians, especially as
they had just been so much alarmed with the accident of the morning. At
last Alfred replied, "The fact is, my dear mother, that 'forewarned is
being forearmed,' as the saying is; and I told Martin to request Malachi
Bone, if he should hear of any Indians being about or near us, to let us
know immediately."
"Yes, ma'am, that is the whole story," continued Malachi. "It's the best
plan, when you're in the woods, always to have your rifle loaded."
Mrs. Campbell and the girls were evidently not a little fluttered at
this fresh intimation of danger. Captain Sinclair perceived it, and
said, "We have always spies on the look-out at the fort, that we may
know where the Indians are and what they are about. Last month, we know
that they held a council, but that it broke up without their coming to
any determination, and that no hostile feeling was expressed so far as
we could ascertain. But we never trust the Indians, and they, knowing
that we watch them, have been very careful not to commit any outrages;
they have not done so for a long while, nor do I think they will venture
again. At the same time, we like to know where they are, and I requested
Alfred to speak to Malachi Bone, to send us immediately word if he heard
or saw any thing of them: not, however, that I intended that the ladies
should be wakened up in the middle of the night," continued Captain
Sinclair, laughing; "that was not at all necessary."
Malachi Bone would have responded, but Alfred pinched his arm; the old
man understood what was meant, and held his tongue; at last he said--
"Well, well, there's no harm done, it's just as well that the Strawberry
should know her way about the location, if it's only to know where the
dogs are, in case she comes of a message."
"No, no," replied Mr. Campbell, "I'm glad that she is come, and hope she
will come very often. Now, Malachi, sit down and eat something."
"Well, but about the Indians, Captain Sinclair,--" said Mrs. Campbell;
"that you have not told us all I am certain, and the conviction that
such is the case, will make me and the girls very uneasy; so pray do
treat us as we ought to be treated; we share the danger, and we ought to
know what the danger is."
"I do not think that there is any danger, Mrs. Campbell," replied
Captain Sinclair, "unless Malachi has further information to give us. I
do, however, perfectly agree with you, that you ought to know all that
we know, and am quite ready to enter upon the subject, trifling as it
is."
"So I presume it must be, my dear," observed Mr. Campbell, "for I have
as yet known nothing about the matter. So pray, Captain Sinclair,
instruct us all."
Captain Sinclair then stated what he had before mentioned to Alfred, and
having so done, and pointed out that there was no occasion for alarm, he
requested Malachi Bone would say if he had any further information.
"The Injuns did meet as you say, and they could not agree, so they broke
up, and are now all out upon their hunting and trapping for furs. But
there's one thing I don't exactly feel comfortable about, which is that
the 'Angry Snake,' as he is called, who was at the 'talk,' and was
mighty venomous against the English, has squatted for the winter
somewhere hereabout."
"The Angry Snake," said Captain Sinclair. "Is that the chief who served
with the French, and wears a medal?"
"The very same, sir. He's not a chief though; he was a very good warrior
in his day, and the French were very partial to him, as he served them
well; but he is no chief, although he was considered as a sort of one
from the consequence he obtained with the French. He is an old man now,
and a very bitter one. Many's the Englishman that he has tied to the
stake, and tortured during the war; He hates us, and is always stirring
up the Injuns to make war with us; but his day is gone by, and they do
not heed him at the council now."
"Then, why are you uncomfortable about him?" said Mr. Campbell.
"Because he has taken up his quarters for the winter hunting not far
from us, with six or seven of the young warriors, who look up to him,
and he is mischievous. If the Injun nation won't make war, he will do
something on his own account, if he possibly can. He's not badly named,
I can tell you."
"Will he attack you?"
"Me! no, no; he knows better. He knows my rifle well; he has the mark on
his body; not but that he would if he dared, but I am Injun myself, and
know Injun craft. Then you see, these people have strange ideas. During
the whole war they never could even hit me with their rifles, and they
think I am not to be hurt--that's their superstition--and my rifle, they
think, never misses (they're almost right there, for it does not once in
a hundred times), so what with this and that, they fear me as a
supernatural, as we call it. But that's not the case with you all here;
and if the Snake could creep within these palisades, he might be
mischievous."
"But the tribes know very well that any attack of this kind would be
considered as a declaration of hostilities," said Captain Sinclair, "and
that we should retaliate."
"Yes; but you see the Snake don't belong to these tribes about us; his
nation is much further off,--too far to go for redress; and the tribes
here, although they allow him to join the 'talk' as an old warrior who
had served against the English and from respect to his age, do not
acknowledge him or his doings. They would disavow them immediately and
with truth, but they can not prevent his doing mischief."
"What, then, is the redress in case of his doing any mischief?" said
Henry.
"Why, upon him and his band, whenever you can find them. You may
destroy them all, and the Injuns here won't say a word, or make any
complaint. That's all that can be done; and that's what I will do; I
mean to tell him so, when I meet him. He fears me, and so do his men;
they think me medicine."
"Medicine! What is that?" said Henry.
"It means that he has a charmed life," replied Captain Sinclair. "The
Indians are very superstitious."
"Yes, they be; well, perhaps, I'll prove medicine; and I'll give them a
pill or two out of my rifle," said Malachi, with a grim smile.
"Howsomever, I'll soon learn more about them, and will let you know when
I do. Just keep your palisade gates fast at night and the dogs inside of
them, and at any time I'll give you warning. If I am on their trail the
Strawberry shall come, and that's why I brought her here. If you hear
three knocks outside the palisade at any hour of the night, why, it will
be her, so let her in."
"Well," said Mrs. Campbell, "I'm very glad that you have told me all
this; now I know what we have to expect, I shall be more courageous and
much more on my guard."
"I think we have done wisely in letting you know all we knew ourselves,"
said Captain Sinclair. "I must soon take my leave, as I must be at the
fort before sunset. Martin and John are to come with me, and bring back
the dog."
"Ain't the boy going with me?" said Malachi.
"Yes; to-morrow morning he may go, but after his return from the fort it
will be too late."
"Well, then, I may as well stay here," replied Malachi. "Where is he?"
"He is gone to skin a wolf, which he shot this morning," replied Alfred.
"He will soon be here."
Mrs. Campbell shortly related to Malachi the adventure of the wolf. The
old hunter listened in silence, and then gave a nod of approbation.
"I reckon he'll bring home more skins than that this winter," said he.
The party then rose just as Martin and John made their appearance.
Captain Sinclair conversed with the Misses Percival, while the old
hunter spoke to the Strawberry Plant in her own dialect; the others
either went out or were busy in clearing the table, till Captain
Sinclair took his departure with John and Martin, each armed with a
rifle.
"Well, this has been an exciting day," observed Mr. Campbell, a little
before they retired to bed. "We have much to thank God for, and great
reason to pray for His continued protection and assistance. God bless
you all, my children; good-night."