CHAPTER XXXI.
THE NEW ROUTE.
Simon Kenton had spent so many years of his life in the woods and hadbeen among the Shawanoes so much that he spoke their language like anative. The reader need not be told that he was once a prisoner of theShawanoes, and was condemned to death by them, but was saved through theinterference of the renegade Simon Girty, to whom the scout had done akindness years before. This is the only instance of the kind known ofthat miscreant.
It had also fallen to the lot of Kenton to run the gantlet, and he haddesperate scrimmages without number with members of that warlike tribe.His frequent association with them, his companionship with theextraordinary but unfortunate Deerfoot, had given him a mastery of thetongue used by these people.
Kenton now turned to Red Crow and addressed him in the language of histribe:
"Arqu-wao, tell me why you wish to prove yourself a friend of the whiteman."
"Arqu-wao crept upon the palefaces; they ran away with his canoe; theycame near his home, where the red and white man must not come; but theywent away, they did not hurt his canoe; he followed them; he was aboutto kill them when they slept, but they awoke; they could have killedhim, but they did not; they spared his life; then the Great Spiritwhispered in his heart that he must be the friend of the palefaceyouths; so Arqu-wao is their friend; he will give his life for them."
Kenton listened gravely to this singular statement. His knowledge of theIndian character assured him that every word was the truth. Red Crow didnot show by his words or manner that his brain was not as clear as thatof his brother, Blazing Arrow. The probability was that it was partiallyaffected only by the injury received years before. It had led him tomake a recluse of himself, and to indulge in some whimsicalperformances. In other respects, as he had proven, his cunning andability were greater than before.
All doubt of his loyalty removed, Kenton proceeded to the business hehad in mind:
"To-day you met your brother, and you had a quarrel."
The black eyes flashed.
"Blazing Arrow is a snake in the grass, that bites when you are notlooking; he hates Arqu-wao; Arqu-wao hates him; some time one will killthe other; the Great Spirit has said so."
"But you quarrelled," repeated Kenton, wishing to hear the explanationof that dispute.
"Blazing Arrow said to Arqu-wao that he had turned against his people;he said he had become the friend of the white man, and he said he wouldkill him."
"And what did Arqu-wao do?"
"He drew his bow and arrow," replied Red Crow, with another flash of hisblack eyes, "but Blazing Arrow said he would wait till he learned more;then he would kill him."
Kenton suspected this from what the boys had told him, and he plainlyforesaw that the fatal encounter must come, sooner or later, betweenthese brothers, who hated each other with consuming hate.
"You say that you know a better way to the settlement, where we can takethe horses?"
"Yes--me know--me show," replied Red Crow, with such haste that heunconsciously dropped into English, which he spoke ill.
"Where is it?"
The Shawanoe pointed behind him, and almost in the direction of thelake, on whose shore he made his home.
"Ober dere--not far--show de way."
While Kenton believed in the truthfulness of the strange being, he wasdisturbed by the fact that he himself had traversed this section so manytimes that he was familiar with every portion, and he could not recallany part answering to the description of Red Crow. He feared that, whilehis intention was honest, the thing itself was only a figment of theIndian's brain, and that he was liable to draw them into greaterdifficulties than before.
If this should prove to be the case, it would be better to abandon theanimals at once, for the remark of Mr. Edwards about the forest beingmost difficult of passage was true. Not only that, but it grew worse,until it became absolutely impassable for any quadruped as large as ahorse.
The plan the scout had in mind was that of the whole party returningwithout delay to the block-house, and waiting till the danger passed.Inasmuch as there was no call for haste on the part of the pioneer inreaching his home, this, unquestionably, was the better course to adopt.But Kenton was curious to learn something more about this new route, forhe saw that if it proved an actuality, and was known to the Shawanoes,it was sure to be of vast value to himself and other rangers who werecompelled frequently to pass back and forth between the two points. So,after a little more unimportant talk, he added:
"Well, Arqu-wao, we will follow you. Show the way."
It will be remembered that when the pioneer and his wife set out withRed Crow to find the boys they left the two horses behind them. It wasuseless to bring them back over the route that had cost the animals somuch labor, and which would necessitate the whole thing being done overagain. In order to carry out the plan of Red Crow it was necessary to goto where the horses were, or to bring them back to the party. Kentonasked him what should be done, and he replied that they were to awaithim where they were while he brought the beasts to them. Accordingly thecompany assumed new positions on the ground, Wharton sitting close tohis mother.
Before Red Cloud left, the boys restored to him the knife and tomahawk,so that he was as fully armed as before. The Indian smiled in hisshadowy way, and showed that he appreciated the confidence implied inthe little act, which would have been performed before had it not beenoverlooked.
When the Shawanoe was beyond hearing, Kenton said:
"I shouldn't be surprised if that varmint had trouble afore he bringsthem hosses back."
"Why so?" asked Mr. Edwards.
"We've been talkin' and actin' as though thar warn't one of themvarmints in ten miles of us; but I haven't forgot that Blazing Arrowknows why you turned off the trail with the hosses, and if he hain'tgone back himself he has sent some of 'em to l'arn how things aregoin'."
"Why haven't they appeared to us?"
"We ain't in the hole they want to get us into," replied Kenton, who, inaccordance with the custom of those of his calling, kept glancing to theright and left, on the lookout for the first appearance of peril. "Theymay have had a peep at us, and will keep an eye on our movements, butare more likely to watch the hosses. They ain't fur off, Brigham?"
"No; I didn't go far with them."
"Has Red Crow had time to reach the spot?"
"If he kept up the gait with which he started I should say he is aboutthere."
"Now, don't speak till I give the word," said Kenton, in a low voice,"but listen with all your ears."
The entire party assumed attitudes of intense attention, and wererewarded sooner than they anticipated. Amid the profound stillness asudden, sharp, twanging noise reached them, followed instantly by asmothered, gasping cry, and then all was still.
The party looked in one another's faces. No need of any one speaking aword, for all knew what those awful sounds meant.
Red Crow had driven an arrow into some dusky thief with such swiftnessand force that he had no time to utter the proverbial yell of his racewhen he sank to the ground.
"Thar must have been only one of 'em," quietly remarked Kenton, "or tharwould be more of a rumpus. He has started."
The sound of the animals laboring through the bushes and among the treeswas plainly heard, and a minute later Red Crow appeared, leading thepioneer's horse, while that of his wife followed close behind.
It was agreed that no reference should be made by any one to the tragedythat had taken place so near them. They waited for Red Crow himself totell the story, but though he was questioned quite closely, he neversaid a word.
"Arqu-wao," said Kenton, in the Shawanoe language, "you have a singletongue; you are a good Indian; now lead the way; we believe in you andwill trust you to the death."
For the first time since the Shawanoe had joined them, his painted facegave evidence of emotion. He stood for several seconds with his eyesfixed on Kenton, who calmly confronted him. He was on the point ofspeaking, and once the boys,
who were studying his countenance withcurious interest, observed a movement of his thin lips, but he changedhis mind and no words escaped him.
Turning abruptly away, he held the bridle-rein of the pioneer's horse inone hand, and, with his long bow in the other, began moving through thewood, which route may roughly be described as half way between that justfollowed and the course of the trail nearest them.
The work for a time was as hard as before, and the animal showed so muchreluctance that, in addition to the tugging at the rein by the leader,he required some vigorous prodding from his master before he would dohis duty; but ere long a pleasant fact became apparent to all; the woodwas so open that it was a comparatively easy matter for all to advance.If it should remain thus, they could push on with little more troublethan that encountered in travelling over the trail itself.
Of course, nothing was easier than for the Shawanoes to follow thefootprints of the party, and it was to guard against any surprise ofthis kind that Kenton remained some distance behind the others.