CHAPTER XIII
FIGHTING OFF THE INDIANS
"It doesn't look much like an attack now."
It was Dave who spoke, as he leaned against the rocks and gazed sharplyout into the forest, beyond the tiny stream of water flowing beside theimprovised fort.
"When the redskins come they won't blow a trumpet," replied Rodney,grimly. "The more vicious the attack the more quiet they'll go about it.Isn't that so, father?"
"You're about right, my son," returned Joseph Morris. "I shouldn't besurprised if the Indians are much closer than we think."
"If only we knew where Henry is, and father," said Dave. "Perhaps theredskins have captured them both."
"They won't get your father so easily, Dave," came from Joseph Morris."They may----"
The pioneer broke off short and suddenly raised his gun. He had seensome war-like feathers floating above a fringe of brushwood between anumber of stately walnut trees. He took careful aim and fired.
A yell rent the air and in a trice that cry was echoed by half a hundredothers, filling the air with a sudden noise, which no pen can describe.As Dave said, it was truly "a hair raiser," and he felt a quick chillcreep down his backbone. That yell told only too well how the Indianswere aroused, and what they would do could they but gain the chance.
The report of Joseph Morris's gun was followed by the discharge ofRodney's weapon and then shots from several others. Rodney had seen awarrior running from one tree to another and had brought the Indian downmidway between the two. But the fellow was only wounded and he lost notime in crawling to cover.
Spat! spat! A bullet and an arrow hit the rocks directly in front of theMorrises and caused Dave to dodge quickly, although so far there wassmall danger of being hit. Then came other shots from both sides and forseveral minutes the air inside and outside the fort was filled withsmoke.
"There's a good number of them, that's certain," observed Joseph Morris,as he paused to reload. "I believe every Indian for a hundred and fiftymiles around has gathered here. Hark!"
They listened, and from a distance came other yells, gradually circlingaround in the forest to the other side of the fort. But this ruse didnot deceive those within.
"It's an old dodge," observed Joseph Morris. "They want us to look forthem on that side while they make a dash on this. See, here they comenow!"
"Yes, an' thar's fer 'em!" put in a pioneer standing near. His aim wastrue and a warrior went down just as he leaped out to cross the stream.
"Good for you, Pasney!" exclaimed Joseph Morris. "Never saw a truer shotin my life. You took him straight in the heart."
"Wall, thet's wot I reckoned on doin'," replied Pasney, coolly. He wasan old trapper, and had lived among friendly Indians for years. At riflepractice he had often won prizes for marksmanship.
With four of their warriors either killed or wounded, the Indiansretreated for the time being. So far nobody in the fort had beentouched, consequently the spirits of all, even of the women folks,revived.
"If we keep this up, we'll soon discourage them," said Captain Tanner."More than likely they'll hang around until to-morrow and then rush offto loot what they can and get back to their own territory."
"If they do that we ought to follow them," said Dave. "They should betaught a good lesson. Just think of our nice home being burnt to theground for no reason at all. It's a shame!"
Many of the women and children, as well as some of the men, were verytired, but sleep was out of the question for all old enough tocomprehend what was taking place. Even little Nell came out of a napwith a scream and clung closer than ever to her mother's skirt.
"Oh, mamma, what will they do with us?" she asked. "Will they scalp us?"
"Let us hope not, dear," answered Mrs. Morris, soothingly. "I think yourpapa and the others can keep them off."
Half an hour later came another attack. It was now dark, and only atrained eye could see what was taking place in the blackness of theforest surrounding the fort. To get a better view Pasney climbed one ofthe trees forming part of the stockade.
Hardly had he gained a favorable position than he uttered a cry ofalarm. Then came the whizzing of an arrow through the bare branches infront of him and his body came down with a thud just inside thedefence. Several rushed to him and raised him up, but it was too late.
"Shot through the heart!" whispered Dave, as he gazed on the body inhorror. "He got just what he gave that redskin a while ago." And heturned away, scarcely able to control his feelings.
Again the war-cry was given and once more the Indians made a rush, thistime attacking the fort on two sides. There was a constant discharge offirearms, and arrows came freely into the enclosure, one taking Rodneythrough the fleshy part of the arm and another grazing Dave's face.
"You are hit, Rodney," cried Dave, as he saw his crippled cousin staggerback.
"Reckon it ain't much," was the answer. "But it was a close call," andthen Rodney went to his mother, to have the wound bound up.
The fight had been waging for the best part of an hour when those in thefort saw that the enemy were changing their tactics. Through the airthere rushed a dozen or more arrows all carrying with them trails offire. They went up like so many rockets, to fall in graceful curvesdirectly into the fort. One had a horn of powder attached to it, which,on touching the ground, exploded with great violence. Fire was scatteredin all directions and for the moment it looked as if some of the womenfolks and children would be burnt alive.
Rodney was close to his mother and little Nell when the first shower ofburning arrows came down. He saw his mother's skirt go up into a blazeand like a flash tore the burning garment from her. Then he brushed somesparks from little Nell and himself and an old woman standing by.
"They intend to burn us alive!" was the cry, and many of the childrenbegan to scream louder than ever.
"Let the women take water and dirt and put out the fire!" orderedCaptain Tanner. "Every man is needed at the stockade. They are gettingready for another rush!"
Fortunately all the water possible had been brought into the fort andclothes were soaked in this and used for beating out the flames. It washard work, and soon the women were as smoke-begrimed as the men. To savethe children all their dresses were wet down so that the sparks mighthave no effect. Where the burning arrows fell among the baggage, andwater was not handy, the sod was dug up with spades and pike poles andthrown on as a blanket.
In the meantime what Captain Tanner had said about another attack wastrue. But this time the Indians were more cautious and they hardlyexposed themselves, while waiting for the fire to aid them. When theysaw that the blazing arrows had little or no effect they fell back oncemore, with two warriors wounded, one mortally.
Slowly the night wore away. The loss to the pioneers had been one mankilled and several wounded, although none seriously. One woman had beenburnt across the neck and one little boy had had an ear scorched.
When day dawned the vigilance at the stockade and the rocks was notrelaxed, for all felt that another attack might come at any moment.There was no water in the enclosure, all on hand having been used infighting fire.
"We've got to get water somehow," said Joseph Morris. "I'm dying for adrink and I reckon all of you are about the same."
"Oh, Joseph, do not expose yourself," pleaded Mrs. Morris. "More thanlikely the Indians know we want water and they'll watch the brooksclosely, to see if they can't catch whoever tries to get it."
This was proved to be the case a few minutes later, when a pioneer namedRaymond tried to get a bucket of water. Hardly had he showed himselfwhen two arrows whizzed in that direction, one cutting through hiscoonskin cap. Raymond dropped his bucket in a hurry and lost no time inregaining shelter.
"I know a way to get water," said Rodney. "Dig a hole down between therocks and then run a pike pole through that dirt bank. Some of the waterin that brook will be sure to flow in this direction."
The suggestion was thought a good one and several started to dig thehole immediat
ely. It was made four feet deep and the pike pole wasjammed through the soil at as low a point as possible. At first no watercame, but presently a few drops showed themselves and then followed astream the size of one's little finger.
"Hurrah!" cried Dave. "Rodney's scheme is all right. That hole will keepthe water here on a level with that in the stream and we'll have all wewish." And so it proved, much to the satisfaction of all in the fort. Tobe sure, the water was rather muddy, but even muddy water was muchbetter than none and nobody complained.
"White Buffalo ought to be on his way back," observed Joseph Morris, ashe and the boys sat on the rocks, eating the scant morning meal whichCaptain Tanner had had dealt out.
"Yes, and he ought to have some of Colonel Washington's rangers withhim," returned Dave.
"Your father will be with 'em," came from Rodney. "That is, unless hestruck out for the house instead."
The talking went on in low voices, for all ears were on guard, waitingfor sounds from the forest. Captain Tanner had hoped to get some wordfrom the Indians White Buffalo had left behind, but none of these showedthemselves.
An hour later an alarm came from the farther end of the stockade. TheIndians were gathering for a solid rush upon that quarter. Soon a yellwas heard and again came shots and arrows.
"We are in for it now!" cried Captain Tanner. "Every man must do hisduty or we are lost. They are coming on us a couple of hundredstronger!"
He was right, and now the enemy advanced boldly as if encouraged by themere force of numbers. Several carried notched limbs of trees, to beused as ladders in scaling the stockade.
Shots flew thick and fast and inside of a few minutes two more of thepioneers were wounded and a woman was killed outright. The Indianssuffered even a greater loss, but continued to come on until more than ascore of them were close to the stockade. In the meantime several of thenumber ran around to the rocks, thinking the pioneers had deserted thisend of the fort.
Joseph Morris, Rodney, Dave, and two others met those at the rocks witha rapid volley which speedily put three of the warriors out of thecontest. But more were coming, and in a few minutes our friends foundthemselves in what was almost a hand-to-hand encounter, only a few roughrocks separating them from the redskins.
Dave had just fired, and was reloading with all speed, when he saw anarrow aimed full at his uncle. He gave a shout of warning, but the crycame too late. Joseph Morris was struck in the breast and went down in aheap. He gave a strange little groan and then lay still.