CHAPTER XXXII
LITTLE NELL--CONCLUSION
Jean Bevoir was now thoroughly cowed, and once having exposed himself hedid all in his power to curry favor with those he had so deeply wronged,in the hope that they would relent in their treatment of him and perhapsgrant him his ultimate liberty. But neither Henry nor the others wouldmake him any promises, for nobody had any intention of letting him gofree.
"He deserves to become a prisoner," said Dave. "And he ought to be putin solitary confinement and on bread and water."
"Right ye are, lad," said Barringford. "He's wuss nor a snake in thegrass. I don't wonder Henry felt like pepperin' him on the spot."
It was well along in the middle of the afternoon and the rangers who hadbeen out on the hunt were thoroughly tired, yet it was arranged thatthose who had remained in camp should move to the cave near the fallswithout delay, after getting minute directions from Jean Bevoir, so thatthere should be no chance of making a mistake in the route. A strictguard was ordered over the trader and he was given to understand that ifanything went wrong with those who set out on the search for little Nelland the others the blame would fall upon him.
It must be said that the hearts of both Henry and Dave beat rapidly asthey pushed along the trail leading towards the falls. Henry, as weknow, loved his little sister dearly, and Dave's affection for hislittle cousin was scarcely less strong. Throughout the whole campaignthere had not been a day when they had not thought of her and of whatshe must be suffering.
Barringford led the advance, having questioned Bevoir so closely that hesaid he felt he could find the cave in the dark. As the party moved on,all kept their eyes and ears wide open for a possible surprise by theenemy.
But as we already know, French and Indians had fled in the direction oftheir boats beyond the upper rapids, and the only persons met with werehalf a dozen braves under White Buffalo, who were out doing spy duty forGeneral Johnson.
"Heap glad to see Dave well," said White Buffalo, when they met. "HearDave go into rushing waters. Glad Dave get out."
"So am I glad, White Buffalo. And how did you make out in the battle?"
For answer the chief pointed to his girdle, at which hung two freshlytaken Indian scalps. Then he pointed to the girdles of his followers,all similarly adorned. Dave nodded to show that he understood.
In these days such a showing would make one shiver, but in colonialtimes the taking of scalps by the Indians was such a common occurrencethat it occasioned little or no comment, especially when practiced on anenemy of the same color. A few of the French soldiers had been scalped,but not many, since General Johnson had given strict orders that nomutilation of the whites would be allowed. On the other hand, the FrenchIndians engaged in the battle had committed all the atrocities possiblebefore retreating to the upper river and the woods.
Learning what was taking place, White Buffalo asked the privilege ofjoining the party with one of his braves, and this was readily granted.On they went again, through the thick undergrowth and around the roughrocks, for in those days where the town of Niagara Falls now stands waslittle short of a complete wilderness.
At length White Buffalo called a halt and pointed to the ground.Barringford had been watching the trail intently.
"Fresh footprints, eh, White Buffalo?" queried the frontiersman.
"Indians close by," answered the chief, gravely. "No friends to theEnglish."
"Then we'll go slow."
The Indian grunted, and the word was passed for every soldier to be onhis guard. Barringford now calculated that they were less than quarterof a mile away from where Jean Bevoir had said the cave was situated.
Suddenly a shot rang out and this was followed by the whizzing of anarrow over Barringford's head. One of the rangers had been struck in theshoulder, although the wound was but a trifle.
"This way," shouted Barringford, who had been chosen as the leader, andall followed him to a thicket. In another moment they had caught sightof several Indians and two French traders hurrying along a trail leadingto the river bank above the falls.
"Look! look!" cried Dave, suddenly. "There is little Nell now! An Indianhas her in his arms!"
He was right, and soon they saw two other Indians who were carrying theRose twins. The dusky trio appeared but for a moment, then slipped outof sight in the timber.
With a yell to the others to follow, Dave darted after the redman whoheld little Nell, and Henry, Barringford and White Buffalo came closebehind him. On they went through thickets which almost tore the clothingfrom their bodies and over rough rocks. The Indians seemed to know theway and kept a good distance ahead despite their burdens.
But now those in front had to cross a little opening, and while doingthis Barringford and White Buffalo fired on them, bringing two of thenumber down. They were the Indians holding the Rose twins and in a fewminutes more the twins, who were sobbing in fright, were safe in therangers' care.
The Indian holding little Nell now bounded on with increased speed,making directly for the bluff overlooking the mighty falls. He knew ofthe opening under the falls and hoped by some chance to throw hispursuers off the scent and gain this hiding-place.
But those in pursuit were too clever for him, and in perplexity heturned, like a hunted hare, and started out on the bluff. Then, as hecame again into the open, he swung little Nell to his back and held herthere.
"He is making for the falls!" screamed Henry.
"What! do you think he means to jump over?" questioned Dave, in freshhorror.
"It looks like it. I reckon he's afraid if he's captured that we'lltorture him."
This was probably the truth, and having glanced back once, to see ifthey were still pursuing him, the Indian kept on, until he was less thanfifty feet away from the brink of the cataract.
"Oh, Dave--shall we--we shoot?" faltered Henry.
"We must!" was the quick answer. "It's our one chance to save Nell!"
Up came his gun, and up also came the weapons of Henry and severalothers of the party. Four reports rang out almost as one. The Indianstaggered a dozen steps and pitched headlong, carrying little Nell downwith him. Both lay perfectly still close to the brink of the cataract.
For the moment neither Henry nor Dave dared to go forward. Supposing oneof those four bullets had found little Nell's body instead of that ofthe Indian?
It was Barringford who advanced, with several of the rangers. A glanceshowed him that the Indian was dead, with two bullets through the lowerportion of his back. Little Nell lay beside the fallen Indian,unconscious and with the blood flowing from a scratch on her right lowerlimb. She was only stunned by the shock and as Barringford picked her upshe opened her eyes wildly.
"Let me go! Please let me go!" she screamed, and then, on catching sightof her preserver, stared in astonishment. "Oh, Mr. Barringford, is itreally you? Oh, I'm so glad! Save me from the naughty Indian."
"The Injun is dead, Nell," he answered, and then as Henry and Daverushed up, he added, "You are safe enough now."
Henry caught his little sister in his arms and both hugged each othertightly. The young soldier was too overcome to say a word, nor couldDave speak as he embraced his cousin. It was truly a happy moment.
In a little while the other rangers came up with the Rose twins, whowere as delighted as little Nell to find themselves among friends oncemore. In the mean time the other unfriendly Indians and the Frenchtraders disappeared, and although White Buffalo and some of the rangerswent after them, they could not be captured.
That evening, seated around a generous camp-fire, and after the bestsupper they had enjoyed for many a day, little Nell and her companionstold the tale of their captivity,--how the Indians had at first carriedthem off, how they had been moved from one spot to another, and of howJean Bevoir had finally taken charge of them. The little girls were tooyoung to understand how the rascally trader had hoped to make money byhaving them ransomed, but the boys and the other soldiers understood,and they made up their minds that Bevoir s
hould not escape them and thatthe whole matter should be laid before the proper authorities at theearliest possible date.
"But I am so glad to be with you again!" murmured little Nell, as shenestled down between Henry and Dave. "I hope the bad Indians never carryme off again!"
"They shall never do it if I can help it," answered Henry; and Daveechoed the sentiment.
* * * * *
Let me add a few words more and then bring to a close this story of twoyoung soldiers' adventures while "Marching on Niagara."
On the day following the rescue of little Nell and the Rose twins allour friends took themselves to Fort Niagara, which was now occupied byFrench and English combined. With the party went Jean Bevoir, athoroughly miserable prisoner of war. The trader begged hard to be givenhis freedom and offered all sorts of inducements to those having him incharge, but nobody would listen to him, and one ranger threatened tothrash him if he ever mentioned a bribe again. At the fort the matterwas laid before Sir William Johnson, and Bevoir was placed under guardin the military hospital; and that was the last seen or heard from himfor some time to come.
Little Nell was very anxious to get back home, to see her father andmother, as well as Rodney and her Uncle James, and it was finallydecided that she should be sent back, along with the Rose twins and anumber of other captives who had turned up. The party was placed incharge of a company of rangers including Hans Schnitzer, who in thesiege of the fort had lost an ear, and of Barringford, who had given hisword to Joseph Morris that if he found little Nell he would not leaveher out of his sight until the miss was once again with her parents.
"But what will you boys do?" questioned the backwoodsman of Dave andHenry.
"We have decided to remain in the army and see this war to a finish,"said Dave. "We've got the French and their Indian allies on the run, asthey call it, and both of us feel that it's our duty to remain at thefront."
"That feelin' does ye both credit," was Barringford's answer. "Well, Ireckon you'll git fighting enough before you're done. If it keeps onvery much longer I allow as how I'll be back with ye sooner or later."What Barringford said about getting fighting enough was true, and thefurther adventures of our young friends will be related in anothervolume, to be entitled "At the Fall of Montreal; Or, A Soldier Boy'sFinal Victory." In this volume we shall meet all our old friends againand learn what they did toward establishing a lasting victory overFrance in Canada.
It was not long after the taking of Fort Niagara that the boys receivedgood news from home. Matters were going well with all those left behind,and they were delighted to learn that little Nell was safe and wouldsoon be with them. Dave's father was likewise delighted to learn thatJean Bevoir was a prisoner and that the French hold on the Ohio Riverand its tributaries was broken. He felt certain that the French tradersand the Indians under them would never regain that which had been lost,and that in another season at the latest he would be perfectly safe inre-establishing his trading post on the Kinotah, and that by that timematters would be in proper shape for doing more trading than everbefore.
"I hope what he says proves true," said Dave, as he and Henry read theletter on the subject. "I think we deserve whatever we can get out ofthat trading-post, seeing how hard we have worked to gain possession ofour own."
"I am glad matters are going on so well at home," returned Henry. "My,but won't mother be glad to see Nell again! They'll hug each other todeath." And he wiped something like a tear from his eye as he picturedthe scene in his mind.
In the darkness of the evening Dave's hand stole into that of hiscousin. "I am just as glad over it all as you, Henry," he said softly.And then after a short silence he added: "There is no disputing it. Godhas been very good to us; don't you think so?"
For answer Henry gave his hand a tight squeeze. "We can be thankfulwe're alive, considering what we've gone through with. War is no holidaymaking."
"You're right it's not. But I'm glad I'm a soldier anyway--and I mean todo my duty to the end, no matter what comes."
A few minutes later both lay down to sleep, the hand of one resting inthat of the other; and here for the time being let us leave them, kindreader, with our best wishes.
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