CHAPTER XI
THE RACE OF THE FIVE
They followed for a while in the trail of Girty and his band, and theyinferred from all the signs that the Indian force was still moving veryfast. The element of surprise would certainly be a great aid to thosewho attacked, and Henry judged that this was not alone the plan ofGirty. The master mind of Timmendiquas was somewhere back of it.
The day marched on. The skies were without a cloud, and the sun became ahot blue dome. No air stirred in the deep forest, and every face becamewet with perspiration, but the pace was not decreased until midwaybetween noon and twilight, when they stopped for another half hour ofcomplete rest.
They had left Girty's trail, but they had crossed several other trails,evidently of bands varying in numbers from twenty to fifty. But allconverged on the point which their map showed to be Fort Prescott, andthe dangers had thickened greatly. They were now near the Ohio, and thesavages swarmed in all the woods before them. They must not merely reachFort Prescott, but to do it they must pass through a cloud of theirfoes.
"I'm thinkin' that we'll have to fight before we reach the river," saidShif'less Sol to Henry.
"More than likely," replied the boy. "But remember our agreement. Someone of us must get into Fort Prescott."
"O' course," said Shif'less Sol.
When they started again they kept carefully into the deepest of thewoods, taking the thickets by preference. Their speed was decreased, butthey had reached the point now where it was of vital importance not tobe detected.
They passed the remains of two camp fires. At both the bones of buffaloand deer, eaten clean, had been thrown about carelessly, and at thesecond the ashes were not yet cold. Moreover, they began to hear theIndian calls in the forest, cry of bird or beast, and Henry watchedanxiously for the setting sun. Warriors might strike their trail at anymoment, and darkness would be their greatest protection.
The sun had never before been so slow to sink, but at last it went downunder the horizon, and the dusky veil was drawn over the earth. But themoon soon came out, an uncommonly brilliant moon, that flooded theforest with a pure white light, so intense that they could mark everyridge in the bark of the big trees. The stars, too, sprang out inmyriads, and contributed to the phenomenal brightness.
"This is bad," said Henry. "This is so much like daylight that I believethey could follow our tracks."
The long plaintive howl of a wolf came from a point directly behindthem, not a quarter of a mile away.
"They hev it now," said Long Jim, "an' they're follerin' us fast."
"Then there is nothing to do but run," said Henry. "We must not stop tofight if we can help it."
They broke into the long frontier trot, still heading south, slightly byeast, and they did not hear the plaintive cry again for a half hour, butwhen it came it was nearer to them than before, and they increased theirgait. A mile further on, Henry, who was in the lead, stopped abruptly.They had come to the steep banks of a wide and deep creek, a stream thatwould be called a river in almost any other region.
"We can't wade it," said Tom Ross.
"Then we must swim it," said Shif'less Sol.
"Yes. But listen," said Henry Ware.
From a point up the stream came a low, measured beat, like a long sigh.
"Paddles," said Henry, speaking low, "and those paddles belong to Indiancanoes, at least a dozen of them. They are coming down the creek, whichmust empty into the Ohio not a great many miles from here."
"If we run along the bank uv the creek we give them behind us a chanceto gain," said Tom Ross.
"And then be enclosed between the war party and the canoes," said Henry."No, we must swim for it at once. Every fellow tie his ammunition aroundhis neck, and hold his rifle above his head. If we have to fight we musthave weapons for the fighting."
His counsel was quickly taken, and then there was a plunk as he spranginto the creek. Four more plunks followed almost instantly, as every oneleaped into the water in his turn. Four heads appeared above the surfaceof the stream and, also, four outstretched arms holding rifles. It wasnot such an easy task to swim with a single arm, but all five hadlearned to do it, and across the creek they went, still in single file,Henry leading the way. Here, with no boughs and leaves to intercept it,the moonlight fell with uncommon brilliancy upon the water. The entiresurface of the creek, a deep and placid stream, was turned to moltensilver, shimmering slightly under the night wind. The heads, necks, andoutstretched arms of the swimmers were outlined perfectly against it.Every feature of the five was disclosed, and behind them, shown clearly,was the crumbling wake of every one.
They were compelled to swim somewhat with the stream, because theopposite bank was so steep that to climb it would take time that couldnot be spared. Henry, as he swam, with the strong, circular sweep of asingle arm, listened, and he heard the rhythmical sweep of the paddlesgrowing louder. The creek curved before him, and the steep bank, toodeep to climb at such a moment, was still there. He saw, too, that itran on for at least a hundred yards more, and meanwhile the canoes, withnothing in their way, were coming swiftly. He could almost count thestrokes of the paddles.
He glanced back and looked into the eyes of Shif'less Sol directlybehind him. He knew by his comrade's look that he, too, had heard. Thefaces of the others showed the same knowledge.
"Swim as fast as you can, boys," he whispered, "but be careful not tosplash the water!"
They scarcely needed this advice, because they were already makingsupreme efforts. Meanwhile, the unconscious pursuit was coming nearer.Only the curve that they had just turned kept them hidden from theoccupants of the canoes.
It was a terribly long hundred yards, and it seemed to all of the fivethat they scarcely moved, although they were swimming fast.
"I've been chased by the Injuns through the woods an' over the hills an'across the prairies," groaned Shif'less Sol, "an' now they've took tochasin' me through the water. They'd run me through the sky if theycould."
"Look out, Sol," said Henry. "The Indians are so near now that I think Ican hear them talking."
The sound of low voices came, in fact, from a point beyond the curve,and now they could hear not only the beat of the paddles, but thetrickle of the water when one was lifted occasionally from the stream.In another minute the canoes would turn the curve, and their occupantscould not keep from seeing the fugitives.
Henry swam desperately, not for himself alone, but to lead the way forhis comrades. At last he saw the shelving bank, twenty yards away, thenten, then five. His feet touched bottom, he ran forward and sprangashore, the water running from him as if from some young river god. Butrifle and ammunition had been kept above the flood, and were dry.
Just as he reached the bank a shout of triumph, having in it anindescribably ferocious note, filled all the forest and was returned indying echoes. The Indians in their canoes had turned the curve and hadinstantly seen the fugitives, four of whom were still in the creek.Exultant over this sudden find and what they regarded as a sure capture,they plied their paddles with such a spasm of energy that the canoesfairly leaped over the water.
Henry, on the bank, knew that only instant and deadly action could savehis comrades. He threw up his rifle, took a single glance along thepolished barrel, which glittered in the moonlight, and fired. An Indianin the foremost canoe, uttering a cry which was all the more terriblebecause it was checked half way, dropped his paddle into the water, fellover the side of the canoe, hung there a moment, and then sank into thecreek.
The boat itself stopped, and the one just behind it, unable to check itsimpetus, ran into it, and both capsized. Despite Indian stoicism, criesarose, and six or seven warriors were struggling in the water.Meanwhile, Shif'less Sol and Ross also gained the land and fired.Another warrior was slain, and another wounded.
All the canoes, menaced by such a deadly aim, stopped, and several ofthe occupants fired at the five on the bank. But firing from such anunsteady platform, their bullets went wild, and only cut
the leaves ofthe forest. Henry had now reloaded, but he did not pull the trigger asecond time. He had noticed a movement in the woods on the opposite bankof the creek, the one that they had just left. Bushes were waving, andin a moment their original pursuers came into view. Henry sent hisbullet toward them, and Shif'less Sol did the same. Then the five turnedto flee.
A great medley of shouts and yells arose behind them, yells of anger,shouts of encouragement as the two Indian parties, the one from thecanoes and the other from the woods, joined, and Henry heard splashafter splash, as pursuing warriors sprang into the water. He knew nowthat, in this instance, at least, the race would be to the swift, andthe battle to the strong.
They did not run in Indian file, but kept well abreast, although Henry,at the right end of the line, made the course. No one spoke. The onlysounds were the light, swift tread of moccasins and of rapid breathing.Their pursuers, too, had ceased to shout. Not a single war cry wasuttered, but every one of the five knew that the warriors would hang onhour after hour, throughout the night, and then throughout all the nextday, if need be.
For an hour they sped through the woods, and once or twice in the moreopen places, as Henry looked back, he saw dim brown figures, but theywere never near enough for a shot. Then he would increase his pace, andhis four comrades would do the same.
Fortune, which had favored them so many times, did not do so now. Itpersisted in remaining an uncommonly brilliant night. It seemed toHenry's troubled mind that it was like the full blaze of noonday. Themoon that rode so high was phenomenal, a prodigy in size, and burnishedto an exasperating degree. Every star was out and twinkling as if thiswere its last chance.
They reached the crest of a little hill, and now they saw the duskyfigures behind them more plainly. The Indians fired several shots, andHenry and Tom Ross replied, reloading as they ran.
"Faster! A little faster!" cried Henry, and their breath grew shorterand harder as they dashed on. The muscles of their legs ached. Littlepains smote them now and then in the chest, but they could not stop. Itwas just such a border fight and pursuit as the woods, both north andsouth of the Ohio, often witnessed, and of most of which there was neverany historian to tell.
Their speed was now decreasing, but they knew that the speed of theIndians must be decreasing, too. All were trained runners alike,pursuers and pursued, but they could not go on at such a high paceforever.
Fortunately the far side of the hill and much of the ground beyond wascovered thickly with hazel-nut bushes. Into these they dashed, and nowthey were hidden again from view. The closeness of the bushes causedthem to drop once more into Indian file, and now Henry, with those keenbackward glances of his, examined his comrades with an eye that wouldnot be deceived.
Paul showed signs of great weariness. He swayed a little from side toside as he ran, and the red of exertion in his face gave place to thewhite of exhaustion. Henry reckoned that he could not last much longerand he prayed for darkness and deep thickets without end.
He looked up again. Surely the dazzling splendor of that exasperatingmoon had been dimmed a little! And among the myriads of stars some weretwinkling with less fervor, if he could believe what he saw. Would badfortune turn to good? He looked again in five minutes, and now he wassure. A cloud, light and fleecy, but a cloud, nevertheless, was drawingitself closely across the face of the moon. Many of the stars, actuallygrown bashful, were not twinkling now at all, and others had becomequite pale and dim. The thickets, too, were holding out, and theirpursuers were not now in sight. They continued thus for a half hourmore, and the blessed clouds, not clouds of rain, but clouds of mistsand vapors, were increasing. The moon had become but a dim circle andthe last reluctant star was going. The forest was full of shadows. Henryturned once more to Paul, whose breath he could hear coming in gasps.
"Turn north, Paul," he said. "They will follow us and they will miss youin the darkness and these thickets. Hide in some good place and we'llcome back for you."
He held out his hand, Paul gave it one clasp, and turned away at a sharpangle. He ran northward while the pursuit rushed past him, and then hefell down in a thicket, where he lay panting.
The four, who had been a few minutes before the five, kept on, sayingnothing, but all thinking of Paul. They had not deserted him. It was inthe compact that even one should continue as long as he could. Theywould return for him. But would any one live to come back?
The way grew rougher. Once, as they crossed a hill, they were outlinedfor a moment on its crest, and a half dozen shots were fired by thepursuers. Long Jim checked an exclamation, but Shif'less Sol heard theslight sound.
"What is it, Jim?" he asked.
"Nuthin'," replied Long Jim, "'cept I stumbled a little. Them must beWyandots an' Shawnees follerin' us, Sol, from the way they hang on."
"It don't make much difference what they are so long ez they don'tquit."
The four went on now with measured tread under the dusky heavens, overhillocks, down little valleys, and across brooks, which they leaped withflying feet. It seemed that they would never tire, but the trainedwarriors behind them were no less enduring. Once, twice, thrice theycaught sight of them, and when a longer period of invisibility passedthey knew, nevertheless, that they were still there. Now Long Jimsuddenly wavered, but gathered himself together in an instant andcontinued his long leaps. Henry glanced at him and saw a patch of red onthe sleeve of his buckskin hunting shirt.
"You've been hit, Jim," he said.
"It's nuthin'," said Long Jim doggedly, but he staggered again as hespoke.
"Turn to the north, Jim," said Henry sharply. "We'll come for you, too!"
Long Jim lifted a face of agony to the heavens. It was not agony of thebody, but agony of the spirit, because he could not go on with theothers.
"Go, Jim, while they can't see you," repeated Henry.
Long Jim waved his hand in a gesture of farewell, and, turning abruptly,disappeared in the bushes as quickly as if great waters had closed overhim.
The three, who had been a minute before the four, did not look back.There were still life and strength in them, and the power to run. TheOhio could not be far away now, and they ought to strike it beforemorning.
"I'd like to stop an' fight," breathed Shif'less Sol. "I don'tpartickerly mind bein' chased sometimes, but I do mind bein' chased allthe way back to New Or-lee-yuns."
Henry, despite their desperate situation, could not withhold a smile,which, however, was hidden from the shiftless one by the darkness.
"No choice seems to be left to us," he said. "It's run, Sol, run andkeep on running."
A groan of weariness from the shiftless one was his only reply. But hekept by the side of Henry. Tom Ross was on the other side, and the threeflitted through the bushes with a long swinging stride that stillcovered ground at a remarkable rate. Once they came to low, marshy soil,a swamp almost, where back water from the Ohio or the creek evidentlystood in flood time, and they were forced to curve about, thus givingtheir pursuers a chance to come diagonally and to make a great gain uponthem.
As they turned due south, skirting the side of the marsh, Tom Ross wasin the woods furthest away from the soft ground. A rifle shot from somepoint deeper in the forest was fired at him, but the bullet onlywhistled by his ear and passed on to be lost in the marsh. Henry saw adusky figure spring from the darkness and hurl itself upon Tom. He andthe shiftless one instantly whirled about to help their comrade, but Tomand the warrior were now rolling over and over in the struggle of lifeand death.
Neither combatant in such a close grip could use his rifle, but each haddrawn a knife, and the blades glittered as the men sought for a blow.Henry and the shiftless one looked for an opening, but they could notstrike without as much danger to their comrade as to themselves, andthey stood by, lost for the moment in doubt, knowing that all the timethe pursuing band was coming nearer.
It was a furious struggle of bodily strength and passion, exerted to theutmost, and while the time seemed very long to those who would
help, butcould not find the chance, it was in reality not more than a minute.Then both knives flashed. One figure suddenly relaxed and lay still, butthe other sprang to its feet.
It was Tom Ross who arose, and a cry of relief, low, but very deep,broke from each of the spectators. But Tom had not gone unscathed. Theblade of the warrior had ripped open all the clothing on his leftshoulder and had also cut deep into the flesh. Already the black bloodwas dripping upon the leaves.
"Bound to weaken me, an' I must stop somewhar to tie it up," said Tomtersely. "You two go on."
"We'll come back for you, too, Tom," said Henry, deeply moved, knowinghow much it cost Silent Tom Ross to fall by the way.
"I turn to the east," said Tom. "I'll be restin' somewhar in the woods."
He slid away through the bushes and in an instant was gone. Henry, inorder to keep the pursuit in the main channel and let the departure ofTom Ross pass unnoticed, sent back a fierce and challenging cry, thefirst that the fugitives had given forth that night. It was answeredinstantly from a point very near, the triumphant shout issuing from thethroats of men who believed their victory sure and at hand.
"We must reach the Ohio, Sol," said Henry, "you and I, or you or I."
"Both or one," said Shif'less Sol. "Come on."
His face was upturned a little and, although there was no moonlight now,Henry saw it clearly. There was nothing of listlessness or despair inthe face of the shiftless one. The look of exaltation that sometimescame upon him shone from his eyes. Dauntless and true, he would remainto the last.
"Thar's a gleam among the trees," he said ten minutes later, "an' itlooks like water."
"It must be the Ohio! It surely is the Ohio!" said Henry. "We must swimfor it, Sol."
The shiftless one only nodded in reply, but both as they ran tied theirammunition again around their necks, seeing at the same time that theirpowder horns were stopped up tightly. The trees thinned fast, open muddyground appeared, and before them stretched a broad yellow current, theOhio. They called up the last reserve of their strength and ran asswiftly as they could over the moist, sinking earth. But they were nowvisible to their pursuers, who had not yet emerged from the forest, andmore bullets were fired.
"Are you hit, Sol?" asked Henry, anxiously of his comrade.
"No," replied the shiftless one. "Too dark fur 'em to take good aim."
The river seemed to widen as they approached it. It might be narrowenough somewhere near here for cannon to command it, but it was a giantstream, nevertheless, and a swimming head upon its surface would beexposed for a long way to rifle shots. Shif'less Sol wheeled and firedat the group that was now emerging from the woods, causing it tohesitate and then stop for a few minutes, although several shots werefired in return. The shiftless one felt a sharp, stinging pain in hisside as a bullet glanced off his ribs, but he did not wince.
"Jump, Henry," he cried, "jump ez fur out into the river ez you kin!"
The bank at the very edge of the water was about a dozen feet high, andHenry leaped as far as he could. He heard a splash behind him as Sol,too, sprang into the water of the Ohio, but the shiftless one remainedin the shadow of the bank.
"What is it, Sol?" cried Henry in alarm.
"I've been touched a leetle by a mite o' lead. It don't amount to much,but to-night I don't believe I kin swim the Ohio. I'll drift down riverunder the bank an' they'll never see me."
Sol was already floating away with the stream in the deepest shadow, andHenry, swimming as before with only one arm, struck out strongly for theKentucky shore.