CHAPTER IX
In Search of Tom
Dick's capture by the redskins resulted in making it possible for thepatriot soldiers to advance till close to the Indians without beingdiscovered, owing to the fact that the redskins were giving theirattention to their prisoner and were not keeping as sharp a lookoutaround them as usual.
When they did discover the soldiers, the latter were already withinrange, and as the Indians started to flee, Dick, with rare presence ofmind, threw himself flat on the ground, at the same time yelling at thetop of his voice. "Fire, comrades! You won't hit me."
The next moment a volley rang out, and ten or twelve of the Indians felldead or seriously wounded, while several of those who were able to run,were wounded less severely.
Then the soldiers came forward on the run, firing their pistols, and theIndians fled at the top of their speed, their yells of fear, dismay andanger commingled.
They did not try to take their prisoner with them. Those unharmed wereglad to get away with their lives, and Dick's comrades quickly freed hisarms, as he explained how he came to be in the hands of the redskins.
"Your shots were the signal for us to advance," said General Greene. "Weguessed that you had gotten into trouble, and so we hastened forward asquickly as possible."
The settlers now came forth from the fort, and greeted General Greene,his officers and the army warmly.
"We were about out of provisions," said Mr. Holden, "and could not haveheld the redskins at bay much longer."
"Wasn't there a white man among those Indians?" asked General Greene. "Ithought I saw one, a big fellow."
"Yes," said Holden, "that was Gabe Gurley, a renegade. He is helping theredskins plunder the homes of the patriots in this part of the country."
"That's the scoundrel that captured me," put in Dick. "He left me aprisoner in an old cabin, but I managed to escape."
"He said he captured a young fellow, who he guessed was on his way tocarry news to the patriot army," said Holden.
"Yes," said Dick. And then he looked around, and not seeing Tom, askedBen where his brother was.
"Tom left here the night after you did, Dick," was the reply. "He saidhe would try to find you and rescue you, but that if he failed in that,he would go on and carry the news regarding the settlers' danger toGeneral Greene. You didn't see him then?"
"No, I haven't seen him since I left here."
A sober look settled on Dick's face, and it was evident that he wasworried. Ben looked anxious, also.
"Where can Tom be, Dick?" asked Ben, after a few moments.
"I'm afraid he has fallen into the hands of the Indians, or of a gang ofTories," was the reply.
Ben nodded. "I think likely you are right," he agreed. "What are yougoing to do?"
"Hunt for him, Ben."
"When?"
"I shall start at once."
"All right. I'll go with you."
"I'll explain matters to General Greene, and get permission to go insearch of him, Ben. I'll be back in a few moments."
While Dick was talking to General Greene, Ben told the settlers aboutTom being missing, and that he and Dick were going in search of theyouth.
The settlers, who had taken a great liking to the three patriot youths,expressed sympathy, and several offered to accompany the two, but Dick,when he joined them and they offered their services, said that he andBen would be able to find Tom, likely, without assistance, and then theysaid good-by and set out, going toward the north.
"I suppose we will return to Peaceful Valley, after we find Tom," saidBen.
"Yes, Ben. General Greene said he would remain there a while, and make acampaign against the Indians, so his army will be camped there for awhile."
"We may find Tom pretty quickly," said Ben, hopefully.
"I hope so," said Dick. "But this is a big country, and if he has beenmade a prisoner by Indians or Tories, we have no knowledge of thedirection the force might take."
"True," said Ben. "Well, we'll do our best to find and rescue him."
They proceeded northward, moving at a fair pace, and keeping a sharplookout all around them, for some signs of either redskins or Tories.
They were sharp-eyed, and if there were any enemies, in view, they wouldsee them.
When they had reached the cabin where Dick had been made a prisoner byGabe Gurley, they paused and rested a while, and Dick told Ben the storyof his fight with the wolf.
They soon set out again, making an occasional inquiry and continuedonward till they had gone several miles farther toward the north. Thenthey paused, held a council, and decided to turn to the left and go inthe direction of Ninety-Six.
"It is likely," said Dick, "that if Tom was captured by Tories, he wouldbe taken to Ninety-Six, and so if we go in that direction, we maysucceed in learning something regarding his whereabouts. We'll inquireat all the settlers' houses we come to."
"That will be the best plan," agreed Ben.
They headed westward, now, and walked at a moderate pace, keeping asharp lookout around them, for they realized that every step they tookin this direction led them deeper into the enemy's country. The nearerthey approached Ninety-Six, the more likely they would be to encounterparties of Indians, Tories or redcoats.
An hour or so later they came to a cabin in the woods, and knocked onthe door. It was opened presently, by a woman of middle age, who lookedat the youths somewhat wonderingly, and said: "How d'ye do?"
"Good afternoon, ma'am," said Dick. "I wish to know if you have seen aparty of Indians or British soldiers around here, any time to-day?"
"Ye're rebels, hain't ye?" the woman asked, a hard look coming over herface.
"No, we're not rebels," said Dick, guessing that the woman was aloyalist. "Will you kindly answer my question?"
"No, I won't," was the reply. "I'm sure ye're rebels, an' ye ain't goin'to get any information out of me." Then she shut the door in the facesof the youths.
Dick and Ben looked at each other in rather a disconcerted manner, andthen Dick said: "Oh, well, perhaps we may secure some information at thenext house we come to."
Then they set out, and the house was soon out of sight behind them.
The youths kept onward till they came to another cabin, which stood in alittle clearing in the forest, and a woman opened the door when theyknocked, as at the other cabin. But this woman answered Dick's questionswithout hesitation, stating that she had not seen any parties of Indiansor British soldiers.
The youths then bought some provisions, and thanking the woman, went ontheir way. They did not find another cabin before nightfall, however,and went into camp soon after dark, on the bank of a little stream.
They built a small campfire, cooked their supper, ate heartily, andthen, after sitting there, talking a while, Ben lay down and went tosleep, while Dick sat up, it being their intention to take turns atstanding guard throughout the night. They were in a hostile country, andmight be approached and captured by redskins, Tories or redcoats whilethey slept.
Dick stayed awake till midnight, and then woke Ben and lay down in histurn to get some sleep.
Ben, although he had slept several hours, was still drowsy, andpresently he dropped off to sleep again--only to be awakened later on byvoices, and he looked up with a start, Dick awakening and rising to asitting posture at the same tune, and they gazed with consternation on aparty of redskins, fifteen or twenty in number, who had come upon themunawares, and surrounded them while they slept. Their ugly, paintedfaces looked fierce and threatening in the faint light from the moon,which shone down upon the scene, through an opening in the trees.
"Ugh," grunted one of the Indians, grinning fiendishly, and brandishinga tomahawk threateningly, "we got young white man heap plenty. No tryfight, or we kill, ugh."
The youths gazed at the redskins in silent dismay.