CHAPTER X
ATTACKED BY INDIANS
"IT looks as if Pat expected trouble to-night, Bob."
"Well, the men have been holding a council, and father says it is bestto be on the safe side; so the guard after this will be doubled."
The two brothers were sitting on the outskirts of the camp. It didnot look like the cheerful spectacle that up to now had marked everystopping place on the journey.
A fire had been made late in the afternoon, and all the cooking donebefore it grew dark; then the blaze was allowed to die out. This hadbeen done through the advice of the Irish trapper, who knew that theeyes of Indians are especially keen, and that, when darkness came,they could see a light like a camp-fire a long distance off. Even thisprecaution might not prevent their being attacked before dawn; but itwas reducing the chances to a minimum.
From where the brothers sat they could just make out the camp, with thehorses quietly feeding, and the rude shelters erected to protect thewomen and children from the damp night air. The more hardy men, whennot on duty, were accustomed to dropping down anywhere, and going tosleep.
On one side several fallen trees had been formed into a rude sort oframpart, behind which, in a pinch, the members of the expedition mightfind shelter from plunging arrows, should the worst come.
All these preparations were just what they had been expecting mustcome sooner or later. Nevertheless, they naturally gave the boysconsiderable uneasiness, not so much on account of themselves, asbecause of those loved ones, their mother and Kate.
"There are several scouts out, too, to discover the approach of anyhostiles, and bring warning," remarked Bob.
"Oh! I hope nothing happens," said Sandy, with a sigh; for, now thatthey were face to face with the long-anticipated trouble, somehowthings looked different from when he surveyed them before leaving thatVirginia home in the valley of the Shenandoah.
"Pat says these redskins are not accustomed to the sound of firearms,"the older boy continued. "Few among them have guns; and those havebeen sold to them by the treacherous French traders, who are alwayssetting the Indians on the English."
"Just because they want to have a line of trading posts stretchingbetween their possessions up in Canada, and down in Louisiana,"remarked Sandy, bitterly; for this was a subject that all the colonistsfelt deeply; because the French traders lost no opportunity forcausing ill blood between the Iroquois, Shawanees, Delawares, Sacs andPottawatomies on the one side, and the English on the other.
"Yes," replied Bob, "that is supposed to be the reason. Then, again,these Indian tribes see the end of their hunting grounds if thepalefaces keep coming across the mountains year by year, and they willfight. Sooner or later we must encounter them. Father knew it; yes, andthat is why mother has that sad look in her eyes."
No longer did the boys belonging to the camp venture upon any of theirsports and games while the expedition rested for the night. On otheroccasions they had wrestled, run races afoot, and engaged in varioussmall rivalries, though there had been no shooting at a mark, sinceammunition was far too valuable to be thus wasted.
To-night they hung around, listening to the subdued talk, and imbuedwith some of the same spirit that cause the women to huddle togetheraround their little ones and speak in hushed voices.
A silence seemed to be upon the very forest itself, though at thisearly period in the spring there were usually few birds moving, andanimated nature had not as yet wholly issued forth after the winterhibernation, so that this in itself was not so strange.
"Shall we go in and try to sleep?" asked Sandy, after two hours hadpassed with no alarm being given.
"You might," returned Bob; "but I mean to stay up as long as I can."
"But, you know, Pat was telling us that these red men of the westusually attack just before dawn, when sleep hangs heaviest and thedarkness is strongest!" remarked Sandy, shrewdly.
"All very true," Bob hastened to say; "but this once they may see fitto change their tactics. Besides, I do not feel at all sleepy. You goin and lie down; but keep your gun close beside you, and remember whatthe orders are in case of an alarm."
"I have not forgotten. Every man has his position; and, as we canhandle a gun, we count for the same. But, if you expect to stay righthere, why should I not lie down and sleep under this tree, as well asin there?"
Bob being unable to advance any plausible reason why this would notanswer, the younger boy curled himself up in a knot right there on thebare ground, and inside of five minutes his regular breathing announcedthat he was asleep.
Sitting there, Bob allowed his thoughts to wander far afield, andof course, in spite of himself, they went back to the home of hischildhood, to that familiar old cabin under the wide-spreading oak.
But he had no regrets. The bitterness caused by the unkind conduct ofthose one-time friends and neighbors still swayed him; and he was gladat the thought of being gone forever from such unhappy surroundings.
What was that? He certainly had heard a sound like some one running;and, even as he started up to listen, a figure brushed past, and wenton into the camp!
Bob's heart began to beat more rapidly. He knew that this must beone of the scouts. What news did he bring? Were the Indians about todescend upon them?
"Wake up, Sandy!" he said, as he laid a hand on the sleeping boy.
The other sat up, rubbing his eyes as though hardly understanding wherehe was; but suddenly he seemed to comprehend.
"What is it, Bob?" he asked, eagerly, "are they coming; and must wefight in the dark?"
"I do not exactly know," returned the other; "only, some one hurried byus, and I think he brings news. Yes, see, the men are quietly rising upall around. The signal must have been given. Come, let us get back intocamp before we are cut off by the enemy."
The two boys soon joined the rest, when they learned that the scouthad indeed brought startling news. The Indians were coming in force,and advancing secretly to try to take the settlers by surprise. At anyminute they might spring up and send a cloud of missiles into the camp.
All preparations as yet undone must now be hurriedly looked after. Thewomen and children were placed behind the shelter of the log rampart.Each, man took the position that had been marked out for him; then,with bated breath, they waited for what was coming.
None would ever forget that night! It was their first real experiencewith the wily and treacherous red foe, with whom they were fated inafter years to become so familiar, and to hate so cordially.
Pat O'Mara was perhaps the only one among them fully acquainted withthe tricky ways of the redskins; and he had endeavored to put every manon his guard against being caught unawares. Besides, he had laid out ashrewd plan of campaign, by means of which it was hoped to demoralizethe assailants.
After what seemed like an interminable wait there was a sudden shot.One of those on guard had possibly caught sight of an enemy creepingcloser to the outskirts of the camp.
It was enough to tell the prowling Indians that their plans were nosecret; for immediately the forest resounded with their shrill whoops.They seemed to spring up from every direction. Seeing their numbers inthe faint light of the stars, the defenders of the camp might well beexcused for feeling new alarm.
Then guns began to sound and to join their ringing reports with theawful shouts of the enemy. The arrows flew like hail, and lucky thewhite who had found shelter in time behind some friendly tree.
It was in this exciting moment that Pat O'Mara proved his worth.
Above the dreadful clamor his brave Irish voice rang out, cheering themen on.
"Hurroo! give it till 'em, me byes! Shoot straight ivery toime, andmake each bit av lead count! Remimber the wimmen and childer, itis; and knock ivery head ye say!" he kept shouting, seeming to beeverywhere at once.
He had arranged it so that the men fought in couples. While one firedthe other was reloading his gun; and thus there was always a detailcapable of sending in a volley, should it be desperately needed.
Bob and Sandy crouched low, doing manful work, though filled withunspeakable dread lest the Indians should rush the camp, carrying allbefore them.
"Are they retreating, brother?" asked Sandy at length, after this riotof terrible sounds had been going on for what seemed an age.
"I think it must be so," returned Bob, hardly able to believe thetruth himself. "Their shouts seem to be further away; and the arrowshave stopped falling!"
"Oh! I wonder what damage has been done, and if--" But even thestout-hearted Sandy dare not voice the fear that was in his soul, forhis thoughts had turned to the beloved father and the two others whocrouched back of that poor shelter of logs.
Were any of them injured?
"Lights! Start the fire, so that we can see what damage has been done!"called the leader of the emigrant band; and almost like magic tinderwas ignited, to be applied to the fires prepared against this time ofneed.