Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 8 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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So saying, he stepped into the bushes, where the dead body of the Indian was ying. Stooping over him, he removed the rifle from igid , took his bullet-pouch and powder-horn and handed them to Ina. “Now, there are five of us, all well armed,”’ said he, “‘and if any of them infarnal Mohawks gets ahead of us, we all desarve red night-caps for it. ‘* How are we to prevent it, when there seems to = _ times our number following us?"’ asked Haver- and. “The way on it is this *ere: there is about a dozen trying to sarcumvent us. They’re now ahead of us, and have laid an ambush forus. If we can pass that ambush we’re safe as if we was home fair and sure. And there must be no if about it, for that ambush must be passed to-night.” CHAPTER XVIIL GETTING OUT OF THE WILDERNESS. Nient, dark and gloomy, slowly settled over the forest. Nothing was heard save the dull se of the wind through the tree-tops, or the occasion how] of the wolf in the distance, or perhaps the near scream of the panther. Heavy, tumultuous clouds were wheeling through the sky, rendering the inky darkness doubly intense, and shrouding even the clearings in impenetrable gloom. By and by, the distant rumbling of thunder came faintly through the air, and then a quive fork of fire, like a stream of blood, trembling upon the edge of the dark storm-cloud for an instant. The heavy clouds, growing darker and more awful, poured for- ward until they seemed to concentrate in the west- ern sky, where they towered aloft like some old em- battled castle. The thunder grew heavier, until it sounded like the rolling of chariot-wheels over the courts of heaven, and the red streams of liquid fire streamed down the dark walls of the Storm Castle. Now and then the subtle element flamed out into a yoceamec instantaneous flash, and the bolt burst overhead, ‘**Keep close to me, and step light, for I tell you there’s enough lightning.”’ Seth had thoroughly reconnoitered the valley to which we have referred, and had found, as he had expected, that there was an ambush laid for them. There was a sort of footpath, apparently worn by the passing of wild animals, which nearly crossed the valley. It was here that the Indians supposed the fugitives would be entrapped, until the death of a too daring member of their party led them to sus- pect that their intentions were discovered. The little band was hours in crossing this valley. Seth, with an almost inaudible “’sh!” would often pause, and they would stand for many anxious min- utes listening intently for the dreaded danger. Then they would resume their march, stepping with pain- ful slowness. It was at least three hours after the fugitives commenced this journey, and when Seth judged that he must be nearly through it, that he suddenly discovered he was walking in the very path he had striven so carefully to avoid. He was considerably startled at this and left at once. "Sh! down!” he whispered, turning’ his face be- hind him. They were not ten feet from the path, when they all sunk quietly to the earth. Footsteps were now audible to all. The darkness was too profound to discern anything, but all heard their enemies almost ve enough to touch them with the outstretched and, The situation of our friends was imminently peri- lous. The Mohawks were not passing along the ath as at first pe agen but evidently searching it! aldidge and Seth felt that they could not be aware of their proximity, and yet they knew a dis- covery was unavoidable. : Seth Jones rose to his feet so silently that even Haldidge, who was within a foot of him, did not hear arustle. He then touched Haverland’s ear with his mouth, and whispered: ‘Scatter with the gal as quick as lightning, for they must find us out in a minute.” Haverland lifted Ina in his strong arm—she needed no caution—and stepped forward, It was impossi- ble not to make some noise, when the wet bushes brushed against them. The savages heard it and started cautiously forward. They evidently suspect- ed it was the fugitives, and had no suspicion that any one was lingering in the rear. The first warn- had was of a savage running plump against Beg your pardon, I didn’t see you,” exclaimed Seth, as each bounded backward. “Curse you,” he muttered, “I only wish I could sight you for a min- oe active aoe aoa rrahain were now HInAneny Er. i or s Indians. a i flash of light illuminated the scene, just at this right at each other’s attitudes and movements. The Indians, upon finding how near they were to their deadliest enemies, immediately bounded backward several yards, in order to avoid a too sudden collision with them. The three whites did p aie. each in bs own ached Gawain ata Seth aped to one side, cro usual panther-like manner, with his rifle ih his left hand and his knife in his ght, waiting until he could set- tle in his mind the precise spot upon which one of the savages was standing before m & lunge at him, ; It would be tedious to narrate the artifices and stratagem resorted to by these two opposing LORess. Simon Kenton and Daniel Boone once reached the opposite sides of the Ohio river at the same Moment, m, ‘“ Seth Jones. ae ee and at the same time each became aware of the oe of another person upon the opposite side. ese two old hunters and acquaintances reconnoi- tered for over (twenty-four hours, before they discov- ered that they were friends. For nearly two hours, the Mohawks and the whites maneuvered with the most consummate skill against each other; now re- treating and ss d and eluding, each striving to lead the other into some trap that was as skillfully avoided, until, judging that Haverland was safe, Seth concluded to retreat himself. According- ly, he cautiously withdrew, and ten minutes later ound himself upon the outermost edge of the val- vy en minutes after Seth departed, Haldidge moved off, of course unknown to himself, in precisely the same direction. G soon adopted the same course. They all came out of the rous valley within twenty feet of each other. It took them some time before they came together; but, as each sus- pected the identity of the other, this did not require as long as it otherwise would. ‘*Now, boys,” whispered Seth, ‘I cac’late we're out of the Valley of Death. Best give it a wide berth, is the private opinion of Seth Jones.” ‘*But how about Haverland?’’ Graham asked. “TIT think they must have come out near that point,’’ replied the other. ‘“‘Let us move round then, and we've got to be spry, for daylight can’t be far off, and I’m thinkin as how them Ingins will find out that we've abscond- ed; and, my gracious! won’t they feel cheap?” Just as the light of morning appeared in the east, they came upon Haverland, and resumed their jour- ney. No halt was made for breakfast, for they were all too anxious to get forward on their way. the course of an hour or so, they struck a sort of path, made by the passage of wild animals, which, besides an hardened as to conceal their trail, was easily raveled. Seth and Haldidge were too experienced woods- men to relax their vigilance. They maintained the same duty as before, the former ng it upon him- self to lead the way through the wilderness, and the latter to guard inst danger from behind. The settlement toward which they were so rae | hastening, was still several days distant, and to reac it, it was necessary to cross a river of considerable breadth. This river was reached by Seth at noon. ‘* By gracious! I forgot about this!’ he exclaimed to himself. ‘* Wonderif the gal can swim? If she can't, how are we going to get her over? Put her on a chip, I s’pose, and let the breeze blow her across; the rest of us can swim, in course,” A few minutes later, our friends stood consulting upon the banks of the stream. This consultation ended in active preparations for crossing on a raft. Hunting up material for con- structing a raft now was the order of the hour. This was a work of extreme difficulty. They had no in- struments except their hunting-knives, and these were little better than nothing. Large rotten limbs were broken from the trees, and placed together by Hayerland, who took upon himself the of lash- a pene with withes, while the others collected w Haldidge went up the river, and Seth and Graham went down. G m soon noticed a large, half-de- cayed log, partly lyingin the water. “ Jus the thing, exactly! y, it’s a raft itself. This will save further trouble. Let us launch it at once, and float it up to the spot,” he exclaimed, delightedly. The two approached it, stooped, and were in the very act of lifting it into,the water, when Seth sud- denly removed his shoulder, and arose to the upright position. é ‘**Come, give us a lift,” said Graham. “Graham, I guess I wouldn't take the log, I don't think it will answer.”’ ‘Won't answer! Why not? In the name of com- mon sense, give some reason.”’ ** Let that log alone! Do you understand ?” Graham looked up, and started at the appearance of Seth. His eyes fairly scintillated, and he seemed ppd to Spring upon him, for daring to utter a word of dispute. “Come along with me!’ commanded Seth, in a voice hoarse h_ passion. It wouldn't do to disregard that command; and, taking up his rifle, Graham lost no time in obeying it. But he wondered greatly whether Seth was sud- denly become crazy or foolish. He followed him a short distance, and then hastened up beside him. Seeing that his face had recovered its usual expres- sion, he gained courage and asked what he meant by such commands. ‘* Didn't you take notice that that log was holler?” - a bg aay it was, although I did not examine it osely. “Wal, if you had examined it closely, or even loosely, sO that you took a peep into the jo , you'd ots aa & big Mohawk curled up there snug and “Is it possible? How came you to see him?” The minute I see’d the log was holler, I had my s’picions that there might be something or other in it, and I madeup my mind that we shouldn't to lift it till I knowed how it.was. When I come to look closer, I kn thar was something sure enough, for the way the bark was scratched at the mouth showed that plain enough. It wouldn't a0, you see, to stoop down and peep in, for like as not the red- skin would blaze away smack into my face. So Ijest dropped my cap, and, as I stoo down to pick it up, I kind of slewed one eye ‘round over my shoul- der, and, as sure as blazes, I seen a big moccasin! I did, by gracious, TI then proceeded to argufy the uestion; and, after considerable discussion, both in the affirmative and negative, I came unanimously to the conclusion that asI’d seen an Ingin’s foot, if I'd —————— | FS 13 foller it up, I'd be pretty sure to find the Ingin him- self, and, moreover, also, if there was one Ingin about, you could make up your mind that there are plenty more not far off. gracious! if *t looked a little ram eous, you wouldn’ ve let go that log so very quick, eh?”’ ‘*No; you alarmed me considerably. But what is to be done?” “The cowards are poking around the woods, fixing out some plan to ambush us again. They've no idea we've smelt the rat that’s brewing in the bud, and they’re too cowardly to show their faces until they find they’ve got to, or let us slip.” “Shall we tell Haverland’” **No; I will let Haldidge know of it, if he hasn't found it out already. The raft has got to be made, and ve es nee at it till ean. meet as ph we nowed eve ng was . Keep still, now, or Alf will notice our talki ‘ie They were so close to the woodman that they changed their conversation. ‘““No material?’ asked Haverland, looking up. ‘““Tt’s rather scarce down where we've been,” re- plied Graham. “Sha'n’t I help you?” asked In sop ty A ta “T guess we won't need your help, as Haldidge seems to have enough ee ; The hunter at this moment eo eT bending under the weight of two hea bs. They were instantly lashed together, but it was found that the raft was much too weak and light, and more stuff was ema Me before it would even float Ina. Ac- cordingly, Haldidge Paar on into the wood again. Seth walked beside him until they were a few yards away, when he asked: “Do you understand?” “What?” asked the hunter, in astonishment. “Over there,” answered Seth, jerking his thumb over his shoulder, toward the log mentioned. ‘“*Red-skins?”’ ‘“*T rather guess so.” ‘*Tsmelt them a while ago. You'd better go back and watch Alf. I'll get enough wood. Danger?” oral they'll try some game; look out for your- With this Seth turned on his heel, and rejoined Haverland. Graham was a short distance away cut- ting withes, which the woodman was as busily using. As Seth came up he noticed Ina. She was sitting upon the ground a few feet from her father, and her attention seemed wholly absorbed with something down the stream. Seth watched her closely. ‘Isnt that a log yonder?” she asked. Seth looked in the direction indicated. With no small de of astonishment, he saw the identical tree which he and Graham disputed over, afloat in the river. This awoke his apprehensions, and he signaled at once for oe | ‘What's the row?” asked the hunter, as he came up. Seth gave his head a toss down-stream, by way of reply and added: ‘Don’t let °em see you're watching it, for it might scare ‘em.”’ Nevertheless Haldidge turned square around and took a long, searching look at the suspicious object. “What do you make of it?” “ Them Mohawks are the biggest fools I ever heard of, to think that such an old trick as that can amount to anything.” . ée What trick do you mean?” asked Haverland. trae: & you see that log yonder, half-sunk in the water, that we are all look at? Well, there are four or five Mohawks behind that, waiting for us to launch our raft.” ‘““Maybe it’s nothing more than a floating tree or log,’ said the woodman. “ Y-e-s,’’ drawled the hunter, sarcastically, ** ay- be so; I s*pose a log would be very apt to float up- stream, wouldn't it?” ‘“Why is it approaching?” asked Graham. ‘‘Not very fast,” answered Seth, “for I guess it's hard work for them fellers to swim up-stream. Ah, by gracious! I understand the game. Look; don’t pigs see it’s further out than it was? They're going o get as near the middle as they can, and so close to us that when we undertake to cross, the current will carry us right down plump st ‘em, when they'll rise up in their wrath and devour us. Fact, sure as you live!” “We ht as well understand matters at once,” added Haldidge. ‘‘The plan of the Indians is un- doubtedly the same as Seth sugge In crossing, we cannot help drifting iowaweras aa they are try- ing to locate themselves so as to make a collision be- tween us. But they will make no attack untli we are in the water. So you may keep at work u the raft, Alf, without any fear, while Seth and I re- connoiter. Come, Graham, may as well go along with us, Let us enter the wood separately at first, and we'll come together as soon as we can get out of sight. Act as though we didn’t suspicion any- thing, and I'll wager my rifle here ie your hat that we'll outwit the cowards after all.” tered the wood as proposed. After ards they came together again. * Now,” w red Seth, “by gracious, you will see fun. Follow close, boys, and keep shady.” Being now fairly within the wood, they roceeded ina on parallel with the course of the river, e caution, for it was more than probable that some of the Indian scouts were secreted in the wood. Keeping entirely away from the river until Seth ju they were below the ee log, they approached it, A reckless move, at this point, would have been fatal. Fortunately, there was a species of rass growing from the w out to a considerable istance in the water, Through this they made their way much after the fashion of snakes. Seth, as usual, was in the front, and it struck Graham that he GOMIIE IOOKS (EC)