CHAPTER VII
A DOUBLE WARNING
As my old readers know, the cabin of the Morris family was located in awide clearing, between a fair-sized creek and a brook flowing into thelarger stream. When we saw it before, it was a long, low but comfortablebuilding, containing four rooms on the ground floor, and a loft underthe sloping roof which was principally used for the storage of wintersupplies.
During the past summer Mr. Joseph Morris had made an addition to thecabin by building on at what was the kitchen end. This was now a newkitchen while the old kitchen had become the general living room. Theold living room, so called, had been divided into two bedrooms, so thatthe house was now large enough not alone for the regular family but alsofor such occasional visitors as came that way.
The coming of night made all of those at home anxious for the return ofthe two young hunters. Feeling that both would be thoroughly hungry,Mrs. Morris had cooked a liberal supper, of which after waiting anhour, those in the cabin had eaten their share. The remainder nowsimmered in the pot and kettle hung over the big open fire, while Mrs.Morris moved uneasily about, clearing away the dirty dishes andoccasionally glancing out of the doorway in the direction she fanciedthey must come.
"It is strange what is keeping them," she said to the others. "I trustthey haven't gotten into trouble."
"Perhaps they have struck more deer than they bargained for," answeredher husband, who had just entered with a bucket of water from the well."Henry said he felt certain he would bag something--and he rarelydeceives himself when it comes to game. Like as not they'll come alongtoting all they can carry."
"I wish they'd bring mamma another bear skin," put in little Nell."Wouldn't it be beautiful--if it matched the one Mr. Washington letcousin Dave have?"
"No! no! A bear might harm them!" put in Mrs. Morris hastily. "It's abad time of year to tackle such beasts, so I heard Sam Barringford say."
"You let Henry and Dave alone when it comes to any kind of game," camefrom Rodney, who sat in his easy chair close to the roaring fire. "Why,the worst game they could meet wouldn't be half as bad as the Indiansand French they had to face when they went to war. You forget, mother,what splendid shots both of them are."
But the mother turned away shaking her head doubtfully. Perhaps herinstinct told her what grave trouble was brooding. She looked out of thedoorway once more and spoke to her husband.
"Did James say when he should be back?"
"He couldn't tell, because he didn't know if he could complete hisbusiness right away or if he would have to wait to see certain parties.Like as not he won't come back until to-morrow, or the day after. Heknew there was no need to hurry. We can't do anything much on the farmjust now."
As even home-made candles were somewhat scarce, the family did withoutany light excepting that afforded by the fire in the big-mouthedchimney, the genial glare of which threw fantastic shadows on the walls.Little Nell did not particularly fancy those shadows and so askedpermission to climb into Rodney's lap.
"Why of course," said the cripple, and took her up at once. Then sheinsisted that he tell a story, "but not about bears, or wolves, orIndians, but about a fairy and a princess, and a castle full of gold,"and Rodney did his best to tell the most marvelous story his brain couldinvent. But long before the good fairy had given the princess abeautiful prince for a husband, and the castle full of gold in thebargain, little Nell was sound asleep, so the story was never finished.
As the night wore on even Mr. Morris began to show his anxiety, andwithout saying a word he got down his musket from over the chimney shelfand brought forth his horn of powder and his little bag of home-madebullets.
"You are going after them?" asked Mrs. Morris.
"I'll wait a bit longer," he answered. "But I thought I'd be prepared,in case anything was wrong."
Having put little Nell to bed, Mrs. Morris brought forth her knittingand for some time only the click-clicking of the polished needles brokethe silence. Then Rodney, who had been sitting with his chin in hishands, watching the burning logs, roused up.
"I don't suppose there is any use of my staying up," he said. "My backdoesn't feel quite as well as it did yesterday. I'll go to bed," and heshuffled off to the bedroom he occupied. This was the one nearest to thekitchen, on the south side, and had been given to the cripple because itwas warmer in the winter than the others.
Left to themselves, the time seemed to drag more heavily than ever toMr. and Mrs. Morris. Every thought was centered on their son Henry andnephew David. What could be keeping the pair?
"They must have met with an accident," said the pioneer at length."Perhaps one of them fell in a hole and broke a leg. I know there areseveral nasty pitfalls in the vicinity of the salt lick. I guess I hadbetter go out and look for them."
Joseph Morris was soon ready for the journey, promising, whether hefound them or not, to be back inside of two hours. He went on horseback,riding Fanny, Dave's favorite mare, the animal that had once been stolenand so fortunately recovered.
Left to herself, Mrs. Morris knitted faster than ever. But even theflying needles could not stop her anxiety, and more than once she threwdown the work, to go to the doorway and gaze earnestly in everydirection. How dark and lonely the mighty forest looked. Somethingcaused her to shiver in spite of herself. She listened intently.
What was that? A sound at a great distance. As it drew closer she madeout the hoof-beats of a horse on a gallop. She ran into the cabin and intrue pioneer fashion armed herself with a musket, ready to considerevery newcomer an enemy until he proved himself a friend. Swiftly thehorse came closer and she now made out a youth hanging heavily over theanimal's neck.
"Dave! is it you?"
"Yes, Aunt Lucy," was the answer. The boy rode up and dropped heavily tothe ground. "Are you all safe?"
"Safe? Of course we are. What has happened? Where is Henry?"
"I don't know where Henry is--just now. I left him in the woods doingwhat he could for Mrs. Risley. The Indians surrounded their cabin andburnt it down, and Mrs. Risley escaped to the milk-house. We rescued herfrom her hiding place in the water and got her into the woods. Then Istarted for home, but I met Mr. Risley and had to take him back to whereI had left Henry and Mrs. Risley. We couldn't find either of them, andit looked as if they had had a fight. Mr. Risley remained to investigateand I came home as quickly as I could to give the alarm. The Indians arerising all over and are going to massacre everybody they can lay handson."
While talking Dave staggered into the kitchen and sank down heavily on abench.
"Mercy on us, Dave, you don't really mean it! The Risley cabin burntdown, and the Indians on the war-path! Why, we'll all be murdered!"
"We shall be unless we take means to defend ourselves, Aunt Lucy. Whereare father and Uncle Joe?"
"Your father has gone to Winchester and won't be back before to-morrowor next day. Your uncle went off a spell ago to look for you and Henry.Are the Indians coming this way? Tell me about Henry."
As anxious as she was the good woman saw that her nephew was not onlytired out but also hungry, and as she talked she bustled about andprepared his meal for him at the corner of the table nearest to thefire. Dave devoured his supper in short order, telling all he had torelate at the same time. It is needless to state that Mrs. Morris wasgreatly alarmed. The loud talking of the pair aroused Rodney, who calledfrom the bedroom to know what was wrong, and when told the cripple lostno time in dressing himself.
"If they come here we'll have to defend ourselves as best we can," saidRodney. "I can't run but I can shoot pretty straight, and if mother willload for us I guess we can give 'em some pretty good shots. What we wantto do first of all is to shut all the shutters tight and get in all thewater we can--to drink and to put out fires with. It's lucky father cutthose port-holes in the roof. They'll be just the spots to bring downInjuns from."
"My boy, you cannot do it!" cried Mrs. Morris, in increased alarm. "Evenif your father gets back what can three do against a horde of reds
kins?They will fire the cabin and shoot you down the moment you are drivenout by the flames."
"Well, I don't believe in letting the rascals have our cabin andbelongings," returned Rodney, stubbornly. "I'm only a cripple, but I'mwilling to fight to the last. If we run for it, how much can we takealong? Not much, I can tell you that."
"Yes, but our lives are more precious to us than our things here," saidhis mother. "And remember Nell, Rodney. If she fell into the Indians'hands--" Mrs. Morris did not finish, but her breast heaved and two bigtears started from her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.
"Well, you wouldn't want to go before father got back, would you?" askedRodney, after a pause.
"He is coming now--at least I hear somebody on horseback!" cried Dave."Perhaps it's an Indian," and he reached for his gun, which he hadbrought in and placed beside the door.
He went out, and Mrs. Morris and Rodney came behind him, each with somesort of firearm. As the horseman came closer they saw that it was indeedan Indian. But the white feathers and the general bearing of the newarrival soon reassured them.
"White Buffalo!" called Dave, and ran to meet the Indian chief who hadbeen the family's friend for so many years.
"How-how!" returned the Indian, and came straight up to the cabin door."Where is my white brother Joseph, and my white brother James?" hequestioned anxiously.
"Father is at Winchester," answered Dave. "Uncle Joseph went off awhileago to look for Henry and me. We were out hunting but found out theIndians are rising. Do you know about that, White Buffalo?"
"So the white boy knows the news already?" White Buffalo's face fell alittle, for he had hoped to be the first to bear intelligence. "Yes, itis true, they have dug up the war hatchet, and have murdered many peoplealready. I came to help you, and I bring a message from Captain Tanner."
"And your tribe--will they join those who rise against the English?"asked Rodney.
For a moment White Buffalo hung his head on his breast. Then with aneffort he straightened up. "Some of the Delawares are fools--they willnot listen to White Buffalo but listen to Skunk Tail and drink thefire-water the French give them. We have had a pow-wow and some would goto the French and some to the English. At Big Tree I left eighteenbraves who will follow me and fight for the English. The others havejoined Skunk Tail and Fox Head of the Miamis, and the tribes underRolling Thunder and Canshanran, and will fight for themselves and forthe French. They think not of right or of honor, but will burn andmurder and steal all they can. A black day and a black night are coming,and how it will end only He who rules the Happy Hunting Ground cantell."