CHAPTER IX
DALE ESCAPES
When I recovered my senses I was being dragged over the ground by means ofa cord around my chest and under my arms. My wrists were lashed togetherand my ankles were likewise secured. The first thing my eyes beheld werethe red loopholes and window of the lower cabin, and the flames crawlingthrough the two holes I had made in the roof.
My capture had revealed our desertion of the cabin, and the Indians hadlost no time in entering and firing it. Smoke and flames were pouring fromthe end window of the Granville cabin also. As the red tongues lickedacross the top of the doorway they threw into relief the arm and hand ofthe old Englishman still hanging over the threshold.
My head felt as though it was cracked wide open and it throbbed mostsickeningly. I managed to lift it a bit to escape further bruises as mycaptor roughly hauled me to the forest. The third cabin, the one occupiedby the Dales, burst into flames as I was being yanked into the firstfringe of bushes. The valley was now brightly lighted, and my last view ofit included the lick-block. One phase of a successful Indian raid wasmissing; there were no warriors madly dancing about the burning homes. Farup the ridge rang out the infuriated cry of a panther, and I knew it wasfear of young Cousin's deadly rifle that was keeping the savages undercover.
"Let me stand up and walk," I said in Shawnee.
"Alive are you?" growled a white man's voice in English.
"You'll be John Ward," I said as some one lifted me to my feet.
"I am Red Arrow, a Shawnee. And don't you forget it."
"Where are the Dales?" I asked.
"Keep your mouth shut!" he ordered.
They untied my hands only to fasten them behind me. They shifted thewaist-cord to my neck, and then released my feet. Some one walked ahead,pulling on the cord, and I followed as best I could to escape beingstrangled. On each side of me walked a warrior, invisible except as whenwe crossed a glade where the starlight filtered down. Ward walked behindme, and warned:
"Any tricks and you'll get my ax."
"You were in the cabin with the dead Englishman?"
He chuckled softly and boasted:
"I killed him. When you two were fighting fire I got my chance to stealdown to the Dale cabin. Then it was easy to make the Granville cabin. Theold fool thought I was one of you when he heard my voice, and drew thebar. I was inside and had his life before he knew he had made a mistake. Iwaited. Then you crawled along. Curse that damned young devil who yellslike a panther! He was the one I wanted. I'd give a thousand of such asyou to get his hair! But he got by the door without my hearing him. Alittle more, and you'd have passed, too."
There was much crashing and running through the bushes behind us, andoccasionally I could make out dark shapes hurrying by. These were thewarriors who had fired the cabins, and now they were in haste to leave thespot. Owing to their fear of Cousin they dared not leave the valley exceptas they did so under cover. We made good time through the woods, however,although more than once my gasping cry warned Ward, or one of the savagesat my side, that I was being choked to death.
As a premature demise was not on their program the cord was quicklyloosened each time, and the man ahead warned to be more careful. Thesepartial strangulations resulted from the fellow's anxiety to escape fromthe neighborhood of the double-barrel rifle. On reaching the Bluestone wehalted while the savages collected their horses. From the few wordsexchanged I estimated that half the band was mounted. Without building afire or eating we started up the Bluestone. Neither Black Hoof nor theDales were with our party when we halted at daybreak. We paused only longenough to bolt some half-cooked deer-meat. I asked for the trader and hisdaughter, and Ward laughed and shook before my face the scalps he hadtaken in the Granville cabin. Two of them were pitiably small.
"You scalp other men's kills," I observed.
"You'll not say that when I scalp you."
"What does Dale now think of his Indian friends?"
This seemed to amuse him tremendously, and he laughed like a white man.
"He doesn't seem to know what has happened," he finally replied with muchrelish. "He stares at us, then at the girl, as if trying to understand."
"What about the girl?"
"That's enough. Keep still," he warned, and made a threatening gesturewith his ax.
My hands, which had been released long enough for me to eat, were trussedup again. My rough usage and the travel had worn on me, but I had nodesire to rest so long as Patricia Dale was to be found. My captors alsohad a definite plan--one that demanded haste. By daylight I perceived bythe signs that the greater number of the band had gone ahead, probablyunder the lead of Black Hoof.
Unless the Dales had been butchered in the woods they must be with thechief; and I could not believe they were dead. They would be too valuableas hostages should the settlers gather in force to block the Shawnees'return to the Ohio. Those of the Indians who had horses, with theexception of two, rode off. One of the mounted men to remain was Ward, whocame behind me. The other was the Indian holding the cord.
It was plain that every savage in the band was eager to advance with allpossible haste, nor was it fear of Cousin that was now driving them.Finally my aching head understood it all; the Howard's Creek settlementwas to be attacked and the savages afoot were afraid they would arrive toolate to participate.
On our left rose the wall of Great Flat Top Mountain, a short chain, inreality a continuation of Tug Ridge. On the right rose ridge after ridgeof the Alleghanies, punctuated by Peter's Mountain, where New River burstthrough the wall in its quest for the Ohio. A wild land, and yet birds,bees and deer were here, and the soil was ripe for happy homes.
I managed to keep up until after midday, when my legs suddenly refused tocarry me farther. I told Ward to tomahawk me if he wished, but that I mustrest before moving another step. There was no question as to hisinclination, for his brown hand fondled his ax most longingly. Hedismounted and boosted me on to his horse. The rest of the day was coveredwith me riding first Ward's and then the savage's animal.
We camped at dusk that night, and I was too exhausted to swallow more thana few mouthfuls of food before falling asleep. Before sunrise we were upand hurrying through the gray mists and reversing the route Cousin and Ihad followed on traveling to the valley. I recognized several of the campswhere the Dales and Ward had halted when the brute was leading them intothe death-trap.
"You nearly got me by dropping the girl's moccasin in the mountains," Iinformed him.
The abruptness of the accusation took him off his guard. With a wide grinhe said:
"Stole it from her just before we entered the settlement. Saw Hughesstriking into the hills and planned to catch him. But he got too far aheadfor me to ride around him. Dogged him until he met you, then rode back andlaid my trap. Hughes was the man I was after. His hair would count for adozen scalps like yours."
"But you didn't care to try a shot unless it could be from behind and sureto kill," I taunted.
"You'll pay a high price for that," he quietly assured me. "The chief saysyou are to be brought in alive. We will soon see how brave you are withthe girl looking on. Men should be very brave men when their squaws arewatching."
I was afoot and walking at his side. I lowered my head and tried to butthim from the saddle. He kicked me in the chest and the warrior yanked onthe cord and threw me down on my face and all but strangled me. After thatWard and I had no more words. He rode either ahead, or some distancebehind, leaving one of the Indians to walk at my heels. I have no doubt hedid this to avoid any temptation to brain me. I lost track of time, for wetraveled far into the night when the footing was good. We snatched a fewhours' sleep when absolutely necessary and fed indifferently. When I couldwalk no farther I was placed on one of the two horses. I hoped that Cousinin escaping from Abb's Valley had taken our horses with him; and I prayedhe would reach Howard's Creek ahead of Black Hoof.
At last we came to the outskirts of an Indian camp, which I estimated tobe within less than
half a mile of the creek settlement. A dozen warriorsswarmed forward to greet us, welcoming me with exaggerated courtesy. Whilethey were thus mocking me Black Hoof appeared, moving with great dignity,and dispersing my tormentors with a gesture.
I was led into the camp and my cord made fast to a tree. There was no airof triumph about the place. A warrior reclining on a pile of boughs andnursing a shattered shoulder suggested a futile attack on the cabins. Iglanced about for a display of fresh scalps and rejoiced at beholdingnone.
The Indians stared at me malevolently, but offered me no abuse. Wardproudly flourished the hair he had retrieved from the Granville cabin, andthe trophies were soon fastened to a tall pole and paraded around thecamp, after which demonstration the pole was stuck upright in the ground.
It required a second examination of the place to locate Dale. Like myselfhe was tied to a tree with sufficient length of cord to permit him to liedown. His face was heavy with unspeakable horror. When he met my gaze hedid not seem to recognize me at first. Then he muttered:
"You, too!"
My heart ached when I failed to discover any trace of Patricia. Before Icould question the trader, Ward yanked me to my feet and turned me about,and I found myself looking into the eyes of Black Hoof.
"The young man made a very brave fight," he said.
"It is sad to know a skunk and not a Shawnee warrior captured me," Ireplied.
Ward glared murder at me. Black Hoof gave him a warning glance, andinformed me:
"Red Arrow is a Shawnee warrior. Very brave. Very cunning. He will help ustake the cabins on the creek."
"You have tried once?" I asked, glancing at the man with the brokenshoulder.
The chief's brows contracted.
"Some of my young men were very foolish," he replied. "When Catahecassatries, the first time will be the last."
From the direction of the settlement came the scream of a panther, and atthe sound the camp seemed to stir uneasily. With a fiery glance at thewarriors Black Hoof gave an order, and a score of men glided into theforest. To me he quietly said:
"There was a panther's whelp in the little valley we did not get. TheShawnees would dance his scalp ahead of all the hair growing in any ofthese valleys. He rode to the settlement ahead of me. But we shall getthem now. We shall get him. Then we will see if his war-cry is strong whenhe feels fire."
"Where is the white woman? Did you kill her?" I asked, and I had to fightmyself to keep my voice from shaking.
Without deigning to answer he turned and walked over to Dale. At almostthe same moment Patricia and Shelby Cousin's sister entered the camp.Patricia walked ahead, the Cousin girl a few feet behind her. I forgot thecord and eagerly started to join her.
Ward snarled like an animal and jerked on the cord and pulled me violentlyback. Patricia glanced in our direction, and I saw her hand fly to herheart as she stared at me with lips parted. Black Hoof noticed this bit ofdrama, and wheeling about, he harshly commanded:
"Let Red Arrow remember I am chief. If the white man would talk to thewhite woman do not stop him. See that his hands are well tied and puthobbles on his legs."
"If I had my way with you!" hissed Ward.
An Indian slipped the cord from the tree and with it trailing behind me Ihurried to the girl. She dropped on a log, her face a white mask ofterror. Cousin's sister remained a few paces behind her. Her face wasexpressionless, but she did not remove her gaze from Patricia. PerhapsPatsy was the first white woman she had seen whose freshness suggested herown youth. Recognizing my desire to talk with the prisoner she withdrew,keeping in sight but out of hearing.
"At least they have not tied you," I said.
"I go and come as I will," was the listless answer.
"With the woman to watch you?"
"Not if I want to be alone."
"You mean you are free to go and come unwatched?" I demanded.
She nodded her head.
"Then why haven't you tried to make the settlement? It is near. Listen.Shelby Cousin is here. The Indians can't afford the time it will take tocapture the place. Walk along into the woods. Go due east. By God's graceI believe you can make it!"
"Basdel, you forget," she sorrowfully reproached. "You forget my father ishere. That is why they give me my freedom."
"He would rejoice and thank God if you would do as I say."
"But the Indian woman with the blue eyes has told me in English that if Irun away they will hurt him terribly."
Poor child! As if her presence could save Ericus Dale from dying the deathonce Black Hoof found time to indulge in his favorite pastime. Ivehemently begged her to flee, promising all sorts of absurd things if shewould but do so, even to assuring her I would effect her father'srelease.
She slowly shook her head, tempted not the least by my pleas.
"Even the Indians know me better than that. And to think we trusted them!Oh, Basdel, it doesn't seem possible! You were right. Father was wrong.God help him! And now they have taken you!"
"All will be well yet," I faltered.
"Yes, all will be well," she gently said. "All will be well, when we aredead and at peace."
"Patsy! Patsy!" I begged. "Don't give up hope. Don't lose your courage!Why, there's a dozen chances for us to fool these devils."
She patted my tied hands, and murmured:
"You're a good boy, Basdel. You were patient when I abused you. You toldme the truth. I am out of place out here. If I were a pioneer woman Icould help you plan to escape, but I am only a silly fool from over themountains. I am absolutely helpless. But you've been good to me, Basdel.You followed me into that horrible valley. You were caught because youtried to help us. Oh, the shame of it! The hideous cruelty of it! That youwere caught--Basdel, I pray my last thought will be about your goodness tome. Just that."
She was at the limit of her endurance and I backed away and Cousin'ssister glided forward. I flogged my mind for a scheme of escape whichwould include her; her father, if possible. But it was as she had said;she was no pioneer woman, resourceful and daring. The Shawnees saw herhelplessness, else they never would have allowed her the freedom of thecamp and surrounding woods.
They knew she would never leave her father, and that she lacked the borderwoman's daring initiative so necessary in any attempt to free him. As Iwas casting about for some plan to save her Black Hoof glided to my sideand took me by the arm and led me toward the tree where Dale was lying.
This closer inspection of the trader revealed how fearfully he hadsuffered in his mind. The flesh of his strong face hung in folds as if hisskin had suddenly become many sizes too large for him. His eyes hadretreated deeper into the sockets, and his thick lips, once so firm anddomineering, were loose and flabby. Black Hoof stirred him contemptuouslywith his foot. Dale dragged himself to a sitting posture and beganshivering as if suffering from ague.
"Oh, my God, Morris!" he groaned.
"The Pack-Horse-Man can save his life," sententiously began Black Hoof.
"My daughter?" gasped Dale, rising on his knees.
"He shall save his daughter's life," added the chief.
Dale moistened his lips and tried to recover some of his old spirit.
"Never mind, Morris. Give me a little time. I'll get us all out of thisfix. They're angry now. When they've had time to think they'll bereasonable. If they kill me, they'll kill their trade with the whites." Itwas the first time I ever heard him pronounce the word without stressingit.
Black Hoof glowered at the miserable man ferociously and said:
"You will go to the edge of the clearing with my warriors. You will speakto the settlers and tell them they shall save their lives if they put downtheir guns. After they put down their guns you and your daughter shall gofree."
The picture of Abb's Valley and the result of his trusting in theShawnees' promises must have flashed across the unhappy man's mind. Hesank, feebly moaning:
"No, no! Not that! The blood of the Granvilles--the little children--is onme. Kill me, but I'll lead
no more into your trap."
These were brave words even if brokenly voiced. But Black Hoof heard withgrim amusement in his small black eyes.
"You weak-hearted dog!" he hissed. "So you tell Catahecassa what he willand what he will not, do. Ho! You fat white man who always planned tocheat the Indians in a trade. You fill your ears against Catahecassa'swords? Ho! Then you are a brave man. The Shawnees have been blind not tosee your brave heart. Now, white trader, hear my talk. You will do asCatahecassa says, or you will be tied to a tree and your daughter shall beput to the torture before your eyes."
With a terrible cry Dale fell over on his side and remained unconscious.There was a second shriek, and the girl was pushing Black Hoof aside asshe hastened to kneel by her father. The chief darted a glance ofadmiration at her for her display of courage. The girl was blind to ourpresence as she fondled and petted the stricken man until he opened hiseyes. Black Hoof was pleased to have her there as a means of breaking downthe trader's will. Leaning over her shoulder to stare down into theterrified eyes of his victim the chief warned:
"Unless the settlers give themselves up it shall be as I have said. Itmust be before the sun goes down. Tell her all I have said."
With that he dragged me back to my tree. For a few minutes the chief'shorrible threat dulled my mind to the point of stupidity. He waited for meto collect my thoughts. At last I managed to ask:
"What you said back there was a trick of course? You would never torturethe daughter of the Pack-Horse-Man?"
"Unless he does as told she must die," he calmly assured me. "She will diesoon anyway. She is not strong enough to live our life, like the blue-eyedsquaw over there." And he glanced toward Cousin's sister. "Her childrenwould be neither red nor white. They would have squaw-hearts. If thetrader does not speak words that will bring the settlers from their cabinswith empty hands she shall be tortured until he does speak."
I do not remember falling, yet I found myself on the ground, and BlackHoof had departed. In his place stood Ward, staring at me curiously.
"You went down as if hit with an ax," he grunted.
"My legs are weak from hard travel and poor food," I said.
Patricia Dale passed quite close to us, a gourd of water in her hands. Shewas carrying it to her father. Ward exclaimed in English:
"What a woman!"
His brawny figure seemed to dilate and he made a queer hissing noise as helooked after her. Turning to me he hoarsely said:
"I was born white. It's her blood that calls me. When I saw her in Salem Isaid I would have her for my squaw if I could get her and her fool of afather into the mountains."
My mental paralysis lifted.
"Is she promised to you?" I asked.
"I am to have any two prisoners to do with as I like," he answered."Catahecassa said that when I started to enter the villages beyond themountains to get news. There was little chance of bringing any whitesback, but if I did I was to have two of them."
"Then you had better remind your chief of his promise," I warned. "He sayshe will torture the girl before her father's eyes if the father does nothelp in betraying the settlers."
"Ugh! I have his promise. He dare not break it."
The girl would kill herself before submitting to Ward's savage caresses.She would go mad if forced to witness the torture of her father. I hadseized upon Ward's passion as a means of gaining a bit more time. If hecould successfully claim the girl then she must be rescued from him. Butviewed from any angle I could find nothing but horrors.
Release by death would be very kind. If any harm were suffered by the girlI should lose my reason; my life, if God were merciful. No longer did ourtime of grace extend to the Scioto villages. At any moment our littledestinies might come to a fearful ending. In my soul I railed at the curseof it. Such a little way to go, and so much pain and sorrow.
Ward left me and strode up to the chief. They talked rapidly, and I couldread from Ward's mien that he was very angry. When he returned to me hewas in a rare rage.
"Catahecassa dodges by saying you and the trader are the two prisoners Imust take. He says he will burn the girl unless the trader makes the talkas told. If I can find a way of capturing the settlers the girl will begiven to me in place of either you or her father."
"I don't want to be your prisoner," I said.
"I do not believe you do," he agreed. "But I would take you if I did notneed the trader. If the girl refuses to become my squaw then I will builda little fire on Dale's back. That will make her accept my belts."
He left me with that thought in my mind. On the one hand the girl was tobe utilized in forcing Dale to betray the settlement. On the other, thetrader was to be used to make the girl submit to the renegade. I could notimagine a more horrible situation. I was still wallowing deep in my hellwhen the camp became very active. Dale was lifted to his feet and hiscords were removed.
The time had come for Black Hoof to try him as a decoy. There remained agood hour of light. Patricia, not understanding, yet fearing the worst,hovered about her father, her eyes wildly staring and her whole appearancedenoting a weakening of her reason. As they started to lead her fatherinto the woods she attempted to follow him, and Black Hoof pushed herback. Cousin's sister spoke up, saying:
"I will keep her."
The warriors disappeared in the direction of the settlement. The two womenleft the camp on the opposite side. Ward went along with the Indians, andI knew this was my golden opportunity to escape. Before I could make abeginning at freeing my hands a noose fell over my head and clutched at mythroat. The guards were taking no chances.
Great mental anguish is accompanied by no clarity of thought and graves noconnected memories on the mind. I know I suffered, but there are onlyfragments of recollections covering that black period of waiting.
I have a clear picture of the warrior holding the end of the cord callingfor some one to bring a gourd of water. I do not remember drinking, but aslater I found the front of my shirt soaked I assume the water was for me.Coherent memory resumes with the noise the warriors made in returning tothe camp. I shall never forget their appearance as they emerged from theundergrowth. Black Hoof walked ahead. Close behind him came two warriorsdragging Dale.
I was amazed to behold Patricia in the procession. She was leaning on LostSister's arm, and there was a lump on her forehead as though she had beenstruck most brutally. Then came the warriors and Ward. Dale was roughlythrown to the ground. Several men began trimming the branches from a stoutsapling. Others became busy searching the fallen timber for dry wood.
Ward walked over to me and kicked me in the side. I must have groanedaloud, for he commanded:
"Shut up! I'm ripe for a killing."
Matters had gone against his liking. He played with his ax nervously, hisbaleful gaze darting about the camp. I waited and at last his raceheritage compelled him to talk, and he commenced:
"The old man was scared into doing what the chief told him to do. He wouldnot at first, and the men were sent to bring the girl along. When he facedher he made a noise like a sheep bleating. Then he ran to the clearing andbegan his talk. The girl heard his words. She broke away and ran intosight of the cabins and screamed for them not to listen, that it was atrap. Black Hoof struck her with the flat of his ax. Now he swears he'llroast the fool."
"She is your prisoner!" I cried.
"He says she must burn."
"There must be some way, something you can do!" I wildly insisted, my onlythought being to spare her the immediate danger.
"I want her for my squaw bad enough to get her if I can," he growled. "Butif I'm to think of any plan I must be quick. They've got the stake nearlyready."
He walked to where the warriors were collecting small fuel from betweenthe fallen trees. One of them hauled a hollow maple log out of the debrisand threw it to one side as being too heavy for a quick fire. Ward haltedand rested a foot on it and bowed his head. Next he began tapping it withhis tomahawk. His actions attracted the attention of the men, and
BlackHoof asked:
"What does Red Arrow think is in the log? A snake?"
Ward startled the savages, and also me, by curtly replying:
"He sees a white man's cannon in the log. The fort holds all the settlerson the creek. Its walls are stout. If they can be broken down the Shawneeswill take many scalps and prisoners. It will be an easy victory. BlackHoof's name will be repeated far beyond Kaskaskia and the Great Lakes inthe North. He will be given many new war-names."
Black Hoof's eyes glittered as he pictured the glory and prestige thehollow log might confer upon him. He examined the log carefully andperceived only that it was hollow.
"Have you medicine to make it into a cannon?" he asked.
"I have big medicine. Before it will work for me I must be given the whitesquaw. There must be no taking back of the gift. If the medicine-cannondoes not give the settlers into our hands still the white squaw must bemine to do with as I will."
Black Hoof took some minutes to ponder over this proposition. He couldonly see a hollow log. Ward's intellect permitted him to see greaterpossibilities. While he waited for the chief to make a decision heexamined the maple more thoroughly, and smiled quietly.
Black Hoof at last said:
"Catahecassa gives the white woman to the Red Arrow. Tell your medicine tomake the big gun shoot."
Ward was exultant. To the wondering savages he explained:
"It must be bound tight with much rawhide. Small stones must be packedtight in the butt-end. I will make a hole for the priming. Then we willdraw it to the clearing and load it with powder and rocks."
This simple expedient, superior to the best plans of the Indians, wasgreeted with yells of triumph. The chief said:
"Red Arrow is a medicine-man."
The wooden tube was reinforced under Ward's directions. This done, thesavages danced and whooped about the grotesque cannon for some minutes.Ward stood with folded arms, his gaze gloating as it rested on the girl,and haughty with pride as he observed Black Hoof's respectful bearing.Coming back to me he said:
"You wanted that woman. You will die among the Shawnees. You showed youwanted her when you followed her into that valley. Her father spoke of youand by his words I knew you wanted her. Now I have her."
The girl came forward, attracted by Ward's speech to me, although shecould understand none of it. She drew aside in passing the renegade anddropped on her knees at my side.
"What do they plan? What will they do with me?" her dry lips demanded.
Ward, enraged by her show of aversion, seized her by the shoulder, rippingthe cloth, and dragged her to her feet, and informed her:
"Catahecassa ordered his men to burn you. I made him give you to me. Youare my woman. You are lucky I am not a red man."
"No! No! I'll burn, you monster! I'll burn a hundred times," she panted.And she struck her hand into his face, whereat the savages shouted inmerriment.
I believed he would kill her then and there, for he groaned aloud fromrage and raised his ax over his head.
"Strike me!" she begged, facing the uplifted ax unflinchingly; andalthough not of the border she displayed the fine courage of the WidowMcCabe and other frontier women.
With a whimpering, bestial note Ward managed to say:
"No! You shall live, and many times beg me to kill you. But you shallstill live till I trade you to some red hunter."
"I will kill myself some way before you can harm me!" she defied.
Ward slowly lowered his ax and began chuckling. He told her, pointing tome:
"This man. He loved you. He was a fool. I say was because his life isbehind him. It is something that is finished, a trace followed to the end.He is a dead man as he lies there. He loved you. I believe you loved him.He is my prisoner. Now you can guess why I know you will not harmyourself."
I knew. She was suffering too much to reason clearly. But he was eager tohelp her to understand He amplified by explaining:
"It will be for you to say if he is to be tortured. He is young andstrong. We could keep him alive many days after the fire began to burnhim. It will be a fine game to see whom you love the better, yourself orhim. You will be free to go about the camp. But this man will be watchedall the time. After we take the fort to-night you will come to me and askto be my woman.
"I had planned to take your father for my second prisoner. My medicinetells me to take this man as he will live longer. Remember; you will askto be my squaw. That sapling was trimmed for you; it will do for this man.You will come to me, or he goes to the stake. Now, go!"
And he reached out his hand and sent her spinning and reeling toward herfather.
"You dog! Set me free, empty-handed, and you take a knife and ax, and Iwill show the Shawnees what a poor dog you are," I told him in Shawnee.
But he was not to be tempted into any violence just now. He mocked:
"You are something to be watched and guarded. When my new wife is ugly tome I will order you to the fire. Then she will be kind and you will bekept alive. Some time you will go to the fire. When I get tired of her andwish a new wife."
Patricia crawled to her father and laid her head on his breast. No onegave her any heed except as the Cousin girl walked by her several times,watching her with inscrutable eyes. The Shawnees were impatient to trytheir new cannon.
At Ward's suggestion Black Hoof sent some of his warriors to make a feinton the east side of the fort, so that the cannon could be hurried forwardand mounted across a log while the garrison's attention was distracted. Itwas now dusk in the woods although the birds circling high above the gladecaught the sunlight on their wings. The clearing would now be in the firsttwilight shadows, and Black Hoof gave his final orders.
Acting on Ward's command two warriors fell upon me and fastened cords tomy wrists and ankles and staked me out in spread-eagle style, and then satbeside me, one on each side. Half a dozen of the older men remained in thecamp. Dale was mumbling something to the girl and she rose as if at hisbidding.
The Cousin girl glided forward and in English asked what she wanted. Itwas Dale who told her, asking for water in Shawnee. She motioned forPatricia to remain where she was and in a few minutes brought water in agourd, and some venison. Patricia drank but would eat nothing.
The Cousin woman tried to feed Dale, and succeeded but poorly. I asked forfood and water, and one of them brought a gourd and some meat. They liftedmy head so I might drink and fed me strips of smoked meat, but they wouldnot release my hands.
After a time we heard much shouting and the firing of many guns. Thiswould be the mock attack, I judged. It increased in volume, this firing,until I feared that what had been started as a feint was being pushedforward to a victory.
Suddenly the firing dropped away and only the yelling continued. Thiswould mean the savages had succeeded in rushing their wooden cannon closeenough to do damage.
Every Indian left in the camp, including my two guards, were now standinglistening eagerly for the voice of the cannon. It came, a loud explosionthat dwarfed all rifle-fire any of us had ever heard. With screams of joythe guard began dancing about me and the older men danced around theDales. They went through all the grotesque attitudes and steps which theyuse in their pantomimes of great victories.
This savage play was quickly stilled, however, as groans of pain andshouts of furious anger came to us. Now the cheering was that of whitevoices only. There was the noise of many feet hurrying back to the camp.Black Hoof came through the bushes first, and only the dusk saved my headfrom being split, as with a howl he threw his ax at me. Then came Ward,staggering like a drunken man and clawing at his left shoulder.
The full force of the catastrophe was revealed when four broken forms ofdead warriors were hurried into the little opening, followed by a dozenbraves bearing wounds, which would appall a town-dweller. Ward's medicinehad lied to them. The cannon had burst and had scattered its charge ofstones among the Shawnees. One of the corpses had been beheaded by a pieceof rock.
Several warriors rushed to
ward the Dales; others ran to me.
"Stop!" roared Black Hoof. "Do not touch the prisoners!"
Some one lighted a fire. Other fires sprang up until the glade was wellillumined. Black Hoof sent some of the younger men to scout the creek sothe camp might not be surprised by a sally. To the warriors remaining thechief announced:
"We must march for the Ohio. Bad medicine has dogged us for many sleeps. Iwill make a feast to my medicine and will tell you what it says shall bedone with the prisoners."
"That man and that woman are my prisoners!" hoarsely cried Ward.
"They were your prisoners while we believed your medicine was strong. Nowthat we know your medicine is weak and foolish they belong to all theShawnees. Red Arrow's medicine is bad at heart. It told him to make a biggun. Four of my warriors are dead. Many are hurt. It will take blood tocover the bodies of the dead. Red Arrow has no prisoners until he goes andcatches them."
Ward pulled his ax and limped toward me. No warrior made an effort to stophim. But Black Hoof reminded:
"When the Red Arrow is no longer a Shawnee he will be tied and left at theedge of the settlement. The prisoners are not to be harmed until mymedicine directs."
Ward halted. He was close enough for me to see that while he had escaped awound from the flying stones his shoulder was blown full of powder. Thesweat streamed down his face and intimated something of the agony he wassuffering.
"Black Hoof is a great warrior and a mighty chief!" he said huskily. "ButRed Arrow's medicine is weak because it has not been fed. Only blood willmake it strong. Let this man die before we break our camp." And he stirredme with his foot.
"The prisoners belong to the Shawnees. My medicine may whisper to kill oneof them, but the warriors in sound of my voice must decide. Those whowould see one of the three die show the ax."
Almost as soon as he had spoken the air was filled with spinning axes,ascending to the boughs and then falling to be deftly caught, each ax byits owner.
"It is good," said the chief. "My medicine shall pick the prisoners todie."
The explosion of the wooden cannon and the chief's ruling that we were nolonger Ward's prisoners appealed to me as a reprieve. At least the girlwas snatched from Ward's clutches. But the unanimous vote that one of usmust die threw me back on the rack.
It was inconceivable that Patricia Dale should thus die. And yet I had hadan earnest of the devil's ferocity. East of the mountains I could not haveimagined a hand ever being raised against her. And I had seen her buffetedand struck down this day. Therefore, I did comprehend the inconceivable.
I called out to the chief:
"Catahecassa, listen to a white medicine, for the red medicine is far awayor else is asleep. If the white woman is harmed you will shed tears ofblood before you reach your Scioto towns. The settlers are swarming in tohead you off. You have no time to spend in torturing any prisoner.
"But had you many sleeps of time it would be bad for you to harm the whitegirl. If you harm her you will have nothing to trade for an open path tothe river. If you are wise in war, as your enemies say you are, you willguard her carefully at least until you make your villages above theOhio."
The chief's eyes shifted uneasily, but his voice was ominous as he terselyadvised:
"The white man had better ask his strong medicine to keep him from thefire. One of the prisoners shall roast this night. I have said it."
He had not liked my words as they set his superstitions to working, but itwould never do for him to bow before the threats of a white medicine. Sohe remained inexorable in his determination to cover his dead with a whitevictim.
His raid into Virginia had been disastrous even though he could count thefour Grisdols, the seven men, women and children in Abb's Valley in hisdeath score. And he had taken three prisoners. Doubtless there were othervictims at the fire I had seen when on the Cheat. But the price he hadpaid for these various kills and us three prisoners was too heavy.
Every Indian slain had been a prime fighting man, one it would take yearsof training to replace. After counting his losses in the mountains aboutthe Grisdol clearing, the warriors killed in Abb's Valley, and now hislosses here at Howard's Creek, the score was distinctly against him. Nomatter how mighty and famous a chief may be, he will surely and quicklylose his following if disaster dogs his war-paths.
So I could understand Black Hoof's mental attitude. He attributed hismisfortunes to his weakening medicine. Let the cost be ever so dear hemust strengthen that medicine; and he firmly believed a human sacrificewould be the most acceptable offering he could make.
"Bring that man over to the fire," he directed, pointing to me.
My wrist-cords were loosed, my ankles were fastened only with a spancel,and strong hands jerked me to my feet. Taking short steps I advanced towhere the girl lay with her head on her father's breast.
Black Hoof selected a charred stick from the fire and stood staring at us,his eyes blank as though he did not see us. His warriors watched him withmuch awe. His spirit was far away up in the mountains communing with hismedicine. He was asking his manito which of the three victims would bemost acceptable.
Ward stood behind him, his lean face working in helpless rage for fear thegirl would be the choice, thereby costing him a new wife. I felt deathlysick, physically sick, fearing she was marked for death, fearing she wasreserved for worse than death.
Suddenly Black Hoof began shivering, then threw back his head and for amoment stared about him as if to collect his scattered senses. Reachingdown he pulled the girl from her father. She had swooned and was at leastspared these few minutes of awful dread. The charred stick hovered overher white face, then was withdrawn and darted at mine.
Instinctively I closed my eyes, but as the stick failed to leave its markI opened them and beheld Dale had been chosen: A black smooch extendedfrom the tip of his nose to the roots of his hair, and was bisected byanother mark across the bridge of his nose, and extending to his ears.
"Paint that man black," Black Hoof ordered.
Dale was very composed. He knew the worst. Perhaps he believed his deathwould save the girl. In a steady voice he said to me:
"Morris, I am sorry for you. Only God knows how I feel about Pat. I'vebeen worse than a fool. Don't tell her when she wakes up. Get the Cousinwoman to take her out of sight. It will be very hard but I will try to gothrough it like a man."
"If there is anything I could do!" I cried.
He shook his head and threw it back and his lips were drawn tight.
"I am to blame. It's best this way. You came after me to help me. That wasgood and foolish of you. Pray God she will be spared. Pray God you will bespared. They'll be satisfied with my death for a while. I think I shall gothrough it very well."
They pulled me away and fell to rubbing the unfortunate man's face andneck with charcoal. Cousin's sister with a magnificent show of strengthgathered the unconscious girl in her arms and walked toward the woods.Ward would have stopped her, but she hissed like a snake in his face, andthere was a hardness in the blue eyes he could not withstand.
As she disappeared with her burden Black Hoof said something to LostSister's red husband. This warrior, very loath to miss the spectacle of aburning, sullenly glided after the woman. I feared he was sent to bringthem back, but as they did not return I knew he was ordered to stand guardover them.
Now the opening was filled with the Shawnees, word having passed thatBlack Hoof was about to appease his war-medicine. Only the scouts and LostSister's man remained out. Dale was stood on his feet and his uppergarments were torn off from him. As they offered to lead him to the stakehe struck their hands aside and with firm step walked inside the circle ofbrush which had been heaped up some five feet from the stake.
I closed my eyes and endeavored not to witness the scene but was unable tokeep them closed. With a spancel rope fastened to his ankles Dale wasfurther secured by a long cord tied around one wrist and fastened somefifteen feet up the trimmed sapling.
When the fla
mes began to bite on one side he could hobble around the postto the opposite side. As the flames spread he would become very active,but each revolution around the post would shorten the slack of thewrist-cord. With the entire circle of fuel ablaze he would slowly roast.Black Hoof muttered some gibberish and applied the torch.
As the first billow of smoke rose and before the savages could commencetheir dancing and preliminary tortures, Ericus Dale threw back his headand loudly prayed:
"O God, protect my little girl! O God, have mercy upon me!"
Black Hoof jeered him, sardonically crying:
"The white man makes medicine to his white manito. Let Big Turtle[4] tryhim with a mouthful of fire. We will see if the white manito is weak orafraid to help his child."
A burly warrior scooped up coals on a piece of bark and with a fiendishgrin leaped through the smoke. Two rifle shots, so close together as to bealmost one, shattered the tense silence as the savages held their breathto enjoy every symptom of the excruciating agony. Dale went down on hisknees, a small blue hole showing where the bullet mercifully had struckhis heart. Big Turtle leaped backward and fell into the burning brush. Awarrior, acting mechanically, dragged the Turtle clear of the flames. Hewas stone-dead.
For several moments the Indians were incapable of motion, so astoundingwas this interference with their sport. It was the scream of a pantherthat awoke them to furious activity. Black Hoof shouted for his men tocatch the white scout. Then he turned on me and raised his ax. The act wasinvoluntary, for at once dropping his arm he ordered his men to extinguishthe fire and to see I did not escape. Then he hurried into the forest.
The fire was stamped out and Dale's body removed to one side. I asked themto cover the dead man with a blanket, which they readily did. Now LostSister returned, this time leading Patricia. I called to her in Shawnee:
"Bring the white girl here. Does she know her father is dead?"
"I told her. The men said he was killed by a white bullet," was the sullenreply.
"Leave her with me and wash the black from his face," I said.
She brought her charge to me. Patricia's eyes were hot as if with fever.She dropped beside me and stared wildly. Then she began to remember andsaid:
"My father is dead, they tell me."
"He is dead. He suffered none. It is as he wished. He could not escape. Heis at peace."
"Life is so terrible," she mumbled. "Death is so peaceful. Death is sobeautiful. Then one is so safe."
She gave a little scream and collapsed with her head resting on my boundhands. But although her slender frame shook convulsively she shed notears.
I tried to talk to her as I would to a little child. After a while sherose and her composure frightened me. She walked to her father. LostSister had removed the tell-tale black. The girl kneeled and kissed himand patted his hair. Then returning to me, she quietly said:
"He looks very peaceful. Very happy. I am glad he did not have to suffer.The bullet that took his life was very kind. It must be very beautiful tobe dead."
She ceased speaking and slowly began stretching her arms above her head,and with a long-drawn scream she fell over backward and I knew she hadlost her reason.
-----
[4] Also Daniel Boone's Shawnee name in later years.