CHAPTER XIV
SIX FIGURES IN THE DUSK
The hours moved slowly, and Henry began to believe that hisgrandiloquent speech--purposely so--had met with some success. No attackwas made, and delay was what he wanted. The woods seemed to remain thehome of peace and quiet. Major Braithwaite had a pair of strong militaryglasses, and, as an additional precaution, he and Henry searched thewoods with them from the upper windows of the blockhouse. Still therewas no evidence of Indian attack, and Henry turned the glasses upon theriver. He could now make out definitely the canoes, half hidden underthe foliage on the far bank, but no stir was there. All things seemed tobe waiting.
Henry turned the glasses down the river. He had a long view, but he sawonly the Ohio and its yellow ripples. He lowered the glasses with animpatient little movement and handed them back to their owner.
"Why are you disappointed?" asked Major Braithwaite.
"I was hoping that the fleet might be coming, which would be a vast helpto you here, but I see no sign of its approach. Of course it's slow workfor rowers and oarsmen to come week after week against a strong current,and they have been delayed, too, by storms."
The news, confined hitherto to a few, spread through the fort, that afleet might come soon to their help, and there was a wonderful revivalof spirits. People were continually climbing to the cupola of theblockhouse, and the Major's glasses were in unbroken use. Always theywere pointed down the stream, and women's eyes as well as men's lookedanxiously for a boat, a boat bearing white men, the vanguard of theforce that would come to save them. The sight of these women so eagerlystudying the Ohio moved Henry. He knew, perhaps better than they, thatthey had the most to fear, and he resolved never to desert them.
In this interval of quiet Henry went down to the little spring which wasjust east of the last row of houses, but a full twenty yards from thepalisade. The ground sank away abruptly there, leaving a little bluff ofstone three or four feet high. The stream, two inches deep and sixinches broad, beautifully clear and almost as cold as ice, flowed froman opening at the base of the bluff. A round pool, five or six feetacross and two feet deep, had been cut in the stone at the outlet of thespring, and a gourd lay beside it for the use of all who wished todrink.
Henry drank from the pool and sat down beside it with his back against arock. He watched the water, as it overflowed the pool, trickle awaytoward the river, and then, closing his eyes, he thought of hiscomrades, the faithful four. Where were they now? He felt a powerfultemptation, now that he had warned Fort Prescott, to slip away in thedarkness of the night that was to come and seek them. Three of them werewounded and Paul, who alone was unhurt, did not have the skill of theothers in the forest. But powerful as the temptation was, it was atemptation only and he put it away. They must wait, as he himself wouldhave been glad to wait, had it been Shif'less Sol or any other who hadarrived instead of himself.
He kept his eyes shut a long while. It seemed to him at this time thathe could think more strongly and clearly with all external objects shutout. He saw now without any flattery to self that his presence in thefort was invaluable. Major Braithwaite did not understand foreststrategy, but nature and circumstance combined had compelled the boy tolearn them. He knew, too, of the fleet of Adam Colfax and its elements,and the plans of the allied tribes and their elements. He seemed to holdthe very threads of fate in his hands, whether for good or ill.
Henry Ware opened his eyes, and chance directed that he should open themwhen his gaze would rest up the stream. There was a black beam in thevery center of the circle of vision, and he stared at it. It was moving,and he rose to his feet. He knew that the object was a boat, but it wasmuch larger than an Indian canoe, much larger even than the great warcanoes that they sometimes built, capable of carrying thirty or fortymen. It was not long, slim, and graceful, but broad of beam, and cameslowly and heavily like one of the large square flatboats in which thepioneers sometimes came down the Ohio.
Henry believed this boat an object to be dreaded, and he walked swiftlytoward the blockhouse, where Major Braithwaite was standing. The Majornoticed his manner and asked:
"Is it anything alarming?"
"I am afraid so. It's the big boat that you see out there in the river.Suppose we go to the top of the blockhouse and look at it through yourglasses."
The Major went without a word. He was unconsciously relying more andmore upon the boy whom he variously addressed as "Young sir" and "Myyoung friend." Nor did he take the first look. He handed the glasses toHenry, who made a long examination of the boat and then, sighing, passedthem back to the Major.
Major Braithwaite's survey was not so long and he looked puzzled when hetook the glasses down.
"Now, what in the name of Neptune do you make of it, young sir?" heasked.
"It's a flatboat that once belonged to an emigrant party," said Henry."Such boats, built for long voyages and much freight, are of heavytimbers and this is no exception. They have mounted upon it two cannon,twelve pounds at least. I can see their muzzles and the places that havebeen cut away in the boat's side to admit them."
Major Braithwaite's face whitened.
"Cannon here in the wilderness!" he exclaimed.
"One of our stations in Kentucky has been attacked with cannon."
"Where do they get them?"
"They are brought all the way from Canada and they are worked by therenegades and white men from Canada."
"This is a great danger to us."
"It is certainly a very great danger, Major."
Henry took another look through the glasses. The boat, driven by greatsweeps, came on in a diagonal course across the river, bearing down uponthe fort. Nobody on board it could yet be seen, so well protected werethey by the high sides. It was near enough now to be observed byeverybody in the fort, and many curious eyes were turned upon it,although the people did not yet know, as Henry and the Major did, thedeadly nature of its burden.
The two descended from the blockhouse. The boat was now much nearer,still coming on, black and silent, but behind it at some distance,hovered a swarm of canoes filled with warriors.
The big boat stopped and swayed a little in the current. There was aflash of flame from her side, a puff of smoke, and a crash that traveledfar up and down the river. A cannon ball struck inside the palisade, butburied itself harmlessly in the ground, merely sending up a shower ofdirt. There was a second flash, a second puff and crash, and anothercannon ball struck near its predecessor, like the first doing no harm.
But consternation spread inside the fort. They could reply to rifleswith rifles, but how were they to defend themselves from cannon whichfrom a safe range could batter them to pieces?
While the terrible problem was yet fresh in their minds, the attack onland was resumed. Hundreds of the warriors issued from the woods andbegan to fire upon the palisade, while the cannon shot were sent atintervals from the floating fortress.
Major Braithwaite retained his courage and presence of mind. All thewomen and children were told to remain within the heavy log houses,which were thick enough to turn cannon balls, and the best shots of thegarrison manned the palisade, replying to the Indian fire.
Henry did not yet take much part in the combat. He believed that theattack upon the palisade was largely in the nature of a feint, intendedto keep the defenders busy while the cannon did the real work. Not evenWyandots would storm in broad daylight walls held by good riflemen. Hesoon knew that he was right, as the rifle fire remained at long rangewith little damage to either side, while the flatboat was steadilydrawing nearer, and the cannon were beginning to do damage. One man waskilled and another wounded. Several houses were struck, and here andthere stakes in the palisade were knocked away.
Major Braithwaite, despite his courage, showed alarm.
"How can we fight those cannons?" he said.
"Who is the best marksman you have?" asked Henry.
"Seth Cole?" replied the Major promptly.
"Will you call Seth Cole?"
> Seth Cole came promptly. He was a tall, thin man, cool of eye and slowof speech.
"Are you ready to go with me anywhere, Mr. Cole?" asked Henry.
"I'm thinkin' that what another feller kin stand I kin, too," repliedSeth.
"Then you're ready," said Henry, and he quickly told his plan.
Major Braithwaite was astonished.
"How in the name of Neptune do you ever expect to get back again, myyoung friend?" he exclaimed.
"We'll get back," replied the boy confidently. "Let us slip out asquietly as we can, Major, but if you see any movement of the Indians togain that side you might open a covering fire."
"I'll do it," said the Major, "and God bless you both."
He wrung their hands and they slipped away.
The palisade fronting the river ran along the very edge of the cliff,which rose at a sharp angle and was covered with bushes clusteringthickly. It was impossible for a formidable Indian force to approachfrom that side, climbing up the steep cliff, and but little attentionwas paid to it.
Henry and Seth Cole waited until one of the cannon was fired, hiding theflatboat in its smoke, and then they leaped lightly over the palisade,landing among the bushes, where they lay hidden.
"You're sure that no one saw us?" said Henry.
"I'm thinkin' that I'm shore," replied Seth.
"Then we'll go on down the cliff."
Nimble and light-footed, they began the descent, clinging to rocks andbushes and sedulously keeping under cover. Luckily the bushes remainedthick, and three-fourths of the way to the bottom they stopped, Henryresting in the hollow of a rock and Seth lying easily in a clump ofbushes. They were now much nearer the flatboat, and while hiddenthemselves they could see easily.
Henry had uncommonly keen sight, and the eyes of the sharpshooter SethCole were but little inferior to his. He now saw clearly the muzzles ofthe two cannon, elevated that they might pitch their balls into thefort, and he marked those who served them, renegades and men fromCanada, gunners, spongers, and rammers. He could even discern theexpression upon their faces, a mingling of eagerness and savage elation.Behind the flatboat, at a distance of fifty or sixty yards, stillhovered the swarm of canoes filled with Wyandots, Shawnees, Miamis,Illinois, Ottawas, and Delawares, raising a fierce yell of joy everytime a shot struck within the palisade.
"Do you think you can reach them with a bullet, Seth Cole?" asked HenryWare.
"I'm thinkin' I kin."
"I'm sure _I_ can. See them reloading the cannon. You take the fellowwith the sponge and I'll attend to the gunner himself."
"I'm thinkin' I'll do it," said Seth Cole. "Jest you give the word whento pull the trigger."
The two remained silent, each settling himself a little firmer in hisposition in the thick shrubbery. The sponger ran his sponge into themuzzle of the cannon, cleaned out the barrel, and an Indian next to him,evidently trained for the purpose, handed him a fresh charge. The gunnertook aim, but he did not fire. A bullet struck him in the heart, and hefell beside the gun. The sponger, hit in the head, fell beside him. Bothdied quietly. The Indian, staring for a few moments, snatched up thesponge, but Henry had reloaded swiftly, and a third shot struck himdown.
There was consternation on the flatboat. The light wisps of white smokemade by the rifles of the sharpshooters were lost in the dusky cloudraised by the cannon fire, and they did not know whence these deadlybullets came.
The second cannon was ready a couple of minutes later, but, like thefirst, its load was not discharged at the fort. The gunner was struckdown at his gun and the rammer, hit in the shoulder, fell into thestream. Two Indians standing near were wounded, and panic seized thewarriors at the sweep. The Ohio had seldom witnessed such sharpshooting,and Manitou was certainly turning his face away from them. They began touse the sweeps frantically, and the boat with its cannon sheered away toescape the deadly bullets.
Henry and Seth were reloading with quickness and dispatch.
"These are good rifles of ours that carry far, and they're still withinrange," said Henry.
"I'm thinkin' that we kin reach 'em," said Seth.
"I'll take the warrior near the head of the boat."
"I'll take the one a leetle further down."
"Ready, Seth?"
"I'm thinkin' I am."
The two pulled trigger at the same time, and both warriors fell. Theboat, rocking heavily under the efforts of many hands at the sweeps, wasdriven furiously out of range, and Henry and Seth laughed low, but withpleased content. This was war, and they were fighting for the lives ofwomen and children.
"I'm thinkin' that we've put 'em to guessin' for a while," said Seth.
"We surely have," said Henry, "and as those cannon won't come intoaction again for some time we'd better get back into the fort."
"Yes, we had," said Seth, "but I'm thinkin' I'm mighty glad you broughtme along. Don't know when I've enjoyed myself so much. Curious, though,they didn't spot us there."
"Too much of their own cannon smoke floating about. Anyway, we've beatcannon balls with rifle bullets--that is, for the present. See, all thecanoes, too, are going back to the other side of the river."
"Yes, an' the firin' on the fur side o' the fort's dyin' down. They musthave seen what's happened, and are changin' tactics."
The ascent of the cliff was more difficult, but they managed to make it,still keeping under cover, and scaled the palisade. Major Braithwaitegreeted them with joy and gratitude.
"I was afraid that neither of you would ever come back," he said, "buthere you are and you've driven off the cannon with rifles. It was greatwork, in the name of Neptune, it was!"
"No work at all," said Seth Cole, "jest play. Enjoyed myselftremenjeously."
The attack from the woods now ceased, as Henry reckoned it would whenthe cannon were driven off. He believed that there was concerted actionon land and water, and that Timmendiquas had arrived. All the movementsof the besieging force showed the mind of a general.
When the last shot was fired the Major and Henry made a tour about thefort. Three more lives had been lost and there were wounds, someserious, but they were upborne by a second success and the courage ofthe garrison grew. Several of the houses had been struck by cannonballs, but they were not damaged, and three or four small boys werealready playing with a ball that they had dug from the earth.
"I wish we had cannon with which to reply to them," said MajorBraithwaite. "Every fort in this wilderness should have at least one.You have driven away the boat with its guns, but it will come back, andwhen it returns it will be on guard against your sharpshooting."
"It will certainly come back if it has a chance," said Henry.
There was significance in his tone, and the Major looked at him.
"If it has a chance? What do you mean by those words?" he asked.
"We've got to put that boat out of action."
"Sink it?"
"No, if we sank it they might raise it again and have the cannon readyfor action again in a few hours. We've got to burn the boat and then thecannon will be warped and twisted so they can't fix it short of afoundry."
"But we can't get at the boat."
"It must be done or this fort will surely be taken to-morrow. You knowwhat that means."
Major Braithwaite groaned. He had a vision of his own wife and children,but he thought of the others, too.
"How?" he asked.
Henry talked to him earnestly, but the Major shook his head.
"Too dangerous!" he said. "You would all be lost. I cannot sanction suchan enterprise. The fort cannot spare good men, nor could I let you go inthis way to your death."
Henry talked more earnestly. He urged the necessity, the cruelnecessity, of such an attempt, and the Major yielded at last, althoughwith great reluctance.
"You want volunteers, I suppose?" he said.
"Yes. I know that Seth Cole will go, and I'm sure that others, too, willbe willing to do so."
The remainder of the day passed without any
demonstration from thebesiegers, and Henry noticed with pleasure that the coming nightpromised to be dark. Already he had selected his assistants, Seth Coleand four others, all powerful swimmers, but the enterprise was kept asecret among the six and Major Braithwaite.
He ate a hearty supper, lay down and slept a while. When he awoke, hefound that the promise of the night was fulfilled. It was quite dark,with clouds and light flurries of rain. There was no moon.
It was past midnight, and the Indian encampment, both on land and water,showed no sign of movement. The woods were without camp fires, but atthe far bank of the river several lights could be seen. The river itselfwas in shadow. Most of the people at the fort, exhausted by their longlabors and watches, were asleep, but Henry and his five comradesgathered near the spring, carrying with them three little iron pots,carefully covered with tin tops.
"It's a pity we haven't two or three hand grenades," said MajorBraithwaite. "These are rather cumbrous things."
"I've heard Paul say that they used pots like these in ancient times,"said Henry, "and I guess that if they did so, we can, too. What do yousay, Seth?"
"I'm thinkin' that we kin," said Seth confidently. "Leastways, I'mthinkin' that we're ready to try."
"That is surely the right spirit," said Major Braithwaite, with a littletremor in his voice. "You lads are about to embark upon a desperateundertaking. I would not say that the chances are against you, if youdid not know it already, but there is nothing truer than the fact thatfortune favors those who dare much. I pray that all of you may comeback."
He shook hands with them all, and stood by the palisade as, one by one,they climbed over it and dropped into the dark.
Henry and his five comrades on the outside of the palisade remained fora little space crouched against the wooden wall. All six searched thethickets on the slope with eye and ear, but they could neither see norhear anything that betokened the presence of an enemy. It was not likelythat Indian scouts would be lying in such a place, practically hangingto the side of the cliff between the palisade and the river, but Henrywas not willing to neglect any precaution. The slightest mischance wouldruin all. He gave silent but devout thanks that this night of all nightsshould prove to be so dark.
It was a singular file that made its way down the cliff through thethick brush, six dusky figures carrying rifles, and three of them, inaddition, gingerly bearing small iron pots. When nearly to the bottom ofthe cliff their singularity increased. They stopped in a little alcoveof the rocks, hid their rifles and ammunition among the bushes, took offevery particle of clothing, all of which they hid, also, except theirbelts.
They buckled the belts tightly around their bare waists, but every beltcarried in it a tomahawk and hunting knife. They still bore the threelittle iron pots which they handled so gingerly.
Six white figures slipped through the remaining bushes, six whitefigures reached the edge of the river, and then all six slid silentlyinto the water, which received them and enveloped them to the chin.Henry, Seth Cole, and a man named Tom Wilmore bore the three iron potsabove their heads, swimming with a single hand.