CHAPTER VIII.
AT THE RENDEZVOUS.
Even before the smoke had cleared away sufficiently for me to see thecaptives, our people rushed forward, all reloading as they ran, andduring two or three minutes the confusion was so great that I could notmake out what might be going on.
Paul and I had dashed forward with the rest, and, instinctively, so faras I was concerned, we directed our steps toward the prisoner, who wasbound hand and foot in such a manner that I question if he could havemoved either of his limbs by so much as a hair's breadth.
The effect of the fire was not so deadly as I had at first supposed.More than one of the savages must have dropped to the ground todisconcert our aim, as I now understood on seeing that no more thanfive lay stretched out on the ground near the captive.
The remainder had taken to cover a short distance away, and two of ourmen dropped as they ran forward, while I saw bloodstains on the shirtsof two others.
"We must get to shelter!" I shouted to Paul, swerving aside from thecourse we had been pursuing as I spoke, and clutching his arm in orderthat he should be forced to do the same.
The brave little lad had no idea of leaving Simon Kenton at the mercy ofthe painted brutes, however. It was reasonable to suppose they wouldshoot him rather than allow a rescue, and Paul was bent on saving him atthe hazard of his own life.
Wrenching his arm from my grasp, and almost at the same instant drawinghis hunting knife, he dashed on toward the tree to which the scout wasbound, and involuntarily I followed; but no credit should be given mefor the act, because I was hardly conscious of my own movements.
Here, there and everywhere around us, as it seemed to me, rang out thereports of rifles, and every weapon was held with deadly aim.
It was as if the air was full of death-dealing missiles, and yet no oneof them touched us as we sped across what was now an open space, bothwhite men and savages having retreated to the nearest shelter.
Paul was the first to reach the captive, and with an exultant shout hebegan hacking at the deer-hide thongs with which the poor fellow wasbound.
"You're lads after my own heart!" Simon Kenton cried, his voice ringingout clear and distinct even above the yells of the combatants and therattle of the rifles. "If I live it may be possible to pay you two forthis night's work!"
His words drove the timorousness from my heart, and before he ceasedspeaking I was aiding Paul in severing the thongs with as much eagernessas if it had been my idea rather than his to perform such perilous work.
The savages began to shoot at us in the hope of preventing our purpose,and, perhaps, to kill the prisoner at the same time, whereupon ourpeople opened such rapid and murderous fire that not a be-feathered headdared to show itself, and in a comparatively short space of time SimonKenton was running stiffly toward the nearest shelter.
He had been bound in one position so long that his limbs were nearlyhelpless; but he managed to get over the ground nearly as fast as couldwe two lads, and picked up a rifle that had fallen from a dead Indian'shand even as he ran.
It was to me as if the fight had hardly more than begun when we threewere in a place of comparative safety once more, and on the alert topick off a foe.
Paul and I had a sufficient amount of ammunition to provide the scoutwith what he needed in order to continue his portion of the fight, andas he stood behind a big gum tree watching keenly for an opportunity toavenge the insults he had endured, we carried on quite a friendlyconversation.
"What did you do when mornin' came an' I failed to show up?" Kentonasked, whereupon I replied quickly, thinking that the present was by farthe best time I would ever have in which to acknowledge my fault.
"We went in search of you after an hour had passed, and failed to findthe canoe on our return."
Then Paul, most like, understanding that I would have the story told ina manner favorable to myself, gave a hurried account of our adventuresfrom that time until we learned of the scout's trouble.
"I ran straight into the arms of four snakes who had heard me coming,and showed myself to be the biggest idiot that ever made a try of goin'down the Ohio River," Kenton said bitterly, and I rejoiced at the tone,for it told that he would not be likely to inquire very closely into myfolly.
He had been bound to the tree where we found him, since early morning,and during such time the savages had given him a slight foretaste ofwhat was to come, by cutting his body here and there until the bloodflowed in tiny streams.
At the moment it struck me as strange that we three should be talking ofthe past in this leisurely fashion, interrupting ourselves now and thento discharge our rifles when a tuft of feathers could be seen; but Iafterward came to know that in times of greatest danger Simon Kentonappeared to be occupied with the most trifling affairs.
I asked him once, when the conversation lagged, if he had thought MajorClarke's force might come to his relief, and he replied emphatically:
"I had no idea, lad, but that they were many miles below here. You canbe certain that I turned the matter over and over again in my mind.There was ample time for reflection, and I could see no way but for meto go into the other world as cheerfully as possible. I was determinedthose sneaks shouldn't bring a cry of pain to my lips. But for you two,for I'm countin' that some of the reptiles would have shot me beforethis if you hadn't come up like little men, riskin' the bullets, to setme free, I'd taken no more part in this 'ere trip of Major Clarke's. Ifeither of you ever get into a tight place, you can count on my standin'close alongside while the breath stays in my body."
This was the moment when I should have confessed that but for Paul, he,Simon Kenton, would yet be bound to the tree; but the words were notspoken, and I have never ceased to regret that I did not make theexplanation due my comrade.
As I read over what is here set down it seems much as if I had made itappear that we were giving little heed to whatever might be passingaround us, when, as a matter of fact, we were keenly alive to all thatwent on, and lost no opportunity of dealing the painted fiends a deadlyblow.
Nor were the other members of our party at all backward in doing theirduty. As when we faced the savages further up the river, every man didhis best, and this display of courage was not to the liking of suchsneaks as had counted on shedding Simon Kenton's blood.
Within half an hour from the time the scout was set free, they began todraw back, and we pressed our advantage until such a blow had been dealtas must have taught them a lesson.
Then was heard Major Clarke's voice ordering the men back to the canoes,and within a few moments we were being ferried across to the flat-boat,where the other members of the expedition were waiting anxiously tolearn the result of the venture.
There was no longer any urgent reason why we should remain silent, forthe noise of the conflict had alarmed every painted snake within soundof the rifles, and our men discussed the situation without taking theprecaution to speak in whispers.
The general belief appeared to be that these two parties whom we hadfought since daybreak, were one and the same. Our first meeting was withthose who were pushing on up the river in advance to spy out the land,and it was the main body that had made of Kenton a prisoner.
All that had happened was for the best. But for my folly many men mighthave been slain, and that folly would not have been committed but forthe fact of the scout's having been taking prisoner.
Clearly the good God had interposed in our favor, and we were come outof the fights with nothing more serious than wounds which, if properlycared for, would soon heal.
Within half an hour from the time we stepped on board the flat-boatafter having released Kenton, he insisted that Paul and I should laydown to sleep, and at the moment I believed this display of care for usarose from our efforts to release him at a time when death was lookinginto his face.
Having had no sleep the night before, we were only too glad to act uponhis suggestion, and in a short time both of us lads were sleepingsoundly as only tired boys can.
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p; At midnight we came to understand why Kenton had been so solicitous forour welfare.
Then he aroused us, saying as we opened our eyes:
"I reckon you lads don't want to stay here any longer, an' it's time wewere movin'?"
"Where are you going?" I asked sleepily.
"Ahead of the flat-boats. Unless we start now there's little chance wecan do the party much good, an' I'm countin' on makin' a better job thanwas the first one."
It was not to my liking, this setting out in the middle of the night todrift through a country infested, as we had by this time every reason tobelieve, with savage enemies, and I failed to understand how we could beof benefit to the volunteers by sailing down the river in the darknesswhen we might pass an hundred bands of reptiles without having anysuspicion they were near.
This much I said to Kenton, and he replied with a laugh:
"I reckon we can count on the river's bein' clear for the next thirtymiles, an' after we've gone that far it'll be a case of layin' alongsidethe bank to wait for daylight, or takin' a quiet little scout ashore."
"As you did last night," I said quietly, giving but little heed to thewords, and a second later I could have bitten my tongue for having madesuch a slip, for the scout said grimly:
"Perhaps it'll be as well if we don't talk much about last night. Thelad who leaves a canoe to search for a comrade who's out scoutin', nothavin' left any word as to where he might be goin', ain't in good trimto cast up old scores at others."
Now it was I understood why Simon Kenton had refrained from making anydisagreeable remark when Paul told of our movements. He realized that wehad done a reckless thing, but was not minded to say what might havehurt our feelings at a time when we had just aided in saving his life.
But for my quick tongue I should never have known that he realized fullyall my folly.
It can well be fancied that, after this reminder that I was not to betrusted in time of danger, my lips remained closed, and in silence I setabout making ready for the journey.
The dugout which Kenton had decided to take was lying alongside, and inher had already been placed such a supply of provisions as we mightneed.
There was little for Paul and I to do save get our sleepy eyes wideopen, and clamber over the side of the flat-boat, a task which weperformed in silence.
Major Clarke was awake to give us his final instructions, and after hehad held a private conversation with Kenton, the latter came into thecanoe, casting off the hawser as he said in answer to a whispered remarkof the commander's:
"Never fear but that I know full well what may happen, an' you can counton my bein' more careful than before."
I had an idea that these words might have reference to my foolishness ofthe night previous, and did not seek to learn what Major Clarke had beenwarning him against.
We pushed off into the darkness, our light craft moved quickly away bythe rapid current, and almost immediately it seemed as if we were whollyalone in the wilderness once more.
Save to keep the canoe in mid-stream, Kenton made no effort to directher movements, and we floated down the river in silence, keeping sharpwatch on either bank while I promised myself never again to be guilty ofgiving way to fear.
Paul, brave lad that he was, held his peace. Thus far he had coveredhimself with the glory which can be gained when one is pitted againstsuch enemies as were ours, and the fact that I had not given him fullcredit when there was an opportunity for so doing, only caused me tofeel the more keenly that he was my superior even though having had noprevious experience.
I guessed that the current carried us a good five miles an hour. Thedistance from Corn Island to the rendezvous at the mouth of theTennessee River was said to be considerably more than three hundredmiles, and at the rate of progress made by the heavy boats, lying byduring the night as they did, it would require full six days in which tomake the journey.
We in the canoe could not look forward to less than five days of thisdrifting on the river, in case we met with no delay, and while Ithought of my mother it seemed as if we were going to the other side ofthe world. I wondered whether I might ever see her again, and itappeared much as if the chances were against our meeting, judging fromthe dangers into which we had already run when the voyage was hardlymore than well begun.
By this dwelling upon the possibilities I soon worked myself into a mostcowardly frame of mind, from which I did not awaken until we were cometo a long stretch of sandy land either side of the river, where therewas no fear our enemies could find a hiding-place.
Then it was that Simon Kenton started a conversation, as if knowing Ineeded cheering, and he did not bring it to a close until we were nearthe wooded portion of the shores again.
When daylight came we had seen nothing to cause alarm, although all knewfull well that we might have passed scores of savages without beingaware of the fact, and the scout paddled the boat toward the westernshore, as he said in a low tone:
"I'm countin' on havin' a look around, lads, an' this time you'll stayquietly aboard till I come back, or the flat-boats heave in sight."
Paul, understanding that these words were somewhat in the nature of areproof to me, said boldly:
"It was well for you, Simon Kenton, that Louis insisted on going ashore,else the sun had never risen again for your eyes."
"All that I know right well, lad, an' I'd be a brute if I didn't givethe fact due weight; but I'm not willin' you should put your own livesin peril for me. You've got people who love you, while I----"
He ceased speaking suddenly as if having said more than he intended, andagain my tongue was an unruly member.
"Haven't you any kin who would mourn because of your absence?" I asked,and Simon Kenton's face grew pale, bronzed though it was by theweather.
"The less that's said about me the better," he replied curtly, and then,the canoe being alongside the bank, he sprang out to make her fast, thusputting an end to further words.
He was absent no more than half an hour, during which time Paul and Isat motionless and silent, hidden by the foliage, from the view of anywho might pass either by land or water.
When he returned we knew he had seen no signs of danger, although not aword was spoken until we were a mile or more from the halting place.Then he said quietly:
"I reckon we've already met all the reptiles who are roamin' hereabout,an' that we shan't run our noses into any more fights this side of theTennessee River. We'll keep a sharp lookout just the same, though, an'pull up to-night so's not to get too far ahead of the volunteers."
As he said so we did. During the day we drifted with the current seeingnaught of danger, and at nightfall pulled the canoe up under theoverhanging foliage to enjoy a good night's rest.
The story of this day's journey was that of the days which followeduntil we were come to the rendezvous, arriving, as we believed, not morethan four and twenty hours in advance of Major Clarke's force.
Since the day when Simon Kenton was made prisoner we had seen no signsof the foe, and it seemed certain that then we had come upon the onlywarlike band outside the British outposts.
When we stepped from the canoe at the mouth of the Tennessee River Idrew in a long breath of relief, for at that moment I was nearerexhaustion than I ever believed would be possible when one has donenothing more than remain inactive.
To sit in a narrow boat like our dugout day after day, not daring tomove lest she should be overset, is real labor. I had never had muchexperience in such traveling, and felt that I really needed no more.
We made camp by building a lean-to of light stuff, and while SimonKenton went back into the thicket to search for game of some kind, PaulSampson and I lounged lazily about, enjoying to the utmost thepossibility of stretching our limbs at full length.
The scout was yet absent when we saw emerge cautiously from the foliagefour white men, and but for the fact that they carried a goodly supplyof meat, thus showing they had been out hunting, I might have suspectedthem to be British spies.
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p; As it was, I did not feel at liberty to give any especial informationconcerning ourselves, and warned Paul to be on his guard againstspeaking of the flat-boats; but rather to let them believe we weresimply journeying down the river in search of a homestead location.
As a matter of course the sharp-eyed hunters saw our lean-toimmediately they emerged, from amid the underbrush, and came directlytoward us.
In the wilderness men are either enemies or friends; there is nohalf-way ground as amid townspeople, and I at once decided in my mindthat these newcomers might be depended upon, although I wished mostheartily for Simon Kenton, who could, take the responsibility ofreceiving them.
Their first question was as to whether we were alone, and on being toldwho was our companion and leader, one of the party expressed thegreatest pleasure at meeting him once more.
"I've scouted an' trapped with young Kenton," the hunter said warmly,"an' a better friend I never hope to have. Where are you headin', lads?"
I stammered, not willing to give much information until we knew moreregarding the strangers, and yet hesitating to refuse an answer to asimple question, when Paul said quickly, relieving me of myembarrassment:
"If you know Simon Kenton, sir, you can well understand that it does notbecome us boys to speak of his purpose. He has gone in search of meat,and will soon return to answer for himself."
"Well, said, lad. You have a cautious tongue, an' it's neededhereabouts, because some of us have white enemies as well as red. We canwait for Kenton, an' meanwhile there'll be no great harm done if we setto work cookin' a bit of this 'ere game."
Then the men took possession of our poor camp, and the odor of meatcooking was soon rising on the evening air, sharpening our appetitesuntil, but for the shame of it, I would have begged some of the foodbefore it had more than been browned by the flames.
The meal was not yet prepared when Simon Kenton appeared, and I wasrejoiced to see him greet the hunters as if they had been old friends,for it told that during this night at least we had nothing to fear.
Without hesitation he explained the purpose of our coming, and told ofthe flat-boats with their loads of volunteers which might be expected onthe morrow, whereupon the strangers seemed highly gratified.
It appeared, as I soon learned by the conversation, that these men hadcome from Kaskaskia; but were by no means on friendly terms with thecommander of the British post there.
They were in sympathy with the efforts of the colonists to shake off theyoke which the king had put upon them, and declared their purpose tojoin Major Clarke's force, if that officer should be willing to receivethem.
"I'll answer for it that the major gives you a hearty welcome," Kentonsaid in a tone of satisfaction, "an' by your aid we shall be able tosurprise the outpost."
Then the conversation ceased in order that all hands might partake ofthe meal, which by this time was prepared, and we two lads felt thatthe most dangerous portion of the enterprise was over, although at leasttwo British garrisons were yet to be captured.