CHAPTER VII
THE RED WEAPON
The night was admirably suited to their purpose--otherwise they wouldnot have dared to leave Fort Refuge--and Willet, Tayoga and Robertalone undertook the task. Wilton, Carson and others were anxious togo, but, as an enterprise of such great danger required surpassingskill, the three promptly ruled them out. The hunter and young Lennoxwould have disguised themselves as Indians, but as they did not haveany paint in the fort they were compelled to go forth in their owngarb.
The cold had softened greatly, and, as heavy clouds had come with it,there was promise of snow, which in truth the three hoped would fall,since it would be an admirable cloak for their purpose. But in anyevent theirs was to be a perilous path, and Colden shook hands withthe three as they lowered themselves softly from the palisade.
"Come back," he whispered. "If you find the task too dangerous let itgo and return at once. We need you here in the fort."
"We'll come back as victors," Robert replied with confidence. Then heand his comrades crouched, close against the palisade andlistened. The Indian fires showed dimly in the heavy dusk, and theyknew that sentinels were on watch in the woods, but still keeping inthe shadow of the palisade they went to the far side, where the Indianline was thinner. Then they dropped to hand and knee and crept towardthe forest.
They stopped at intervals, lying flat upon the ground, looking withall their eyes and listening with all their ears. They saw ahead butone fire, apparently about four hundred yards away, and they heardonly a light damp wind rustling the dry boughs and bushes. But theyknew they could not afford to relax their caution by a hair, and theycontinued a slow creeping progress until they reached the woods. Thenthey rested on their elbows in a thicket, and took long breaths ofrelief. They had been a quarter of an hour in crossing the open and itwas an immense relief to sit up again. They kept very close together,while their muscles recovered elasticity, and still used their eyesand ears to the utmost. It was impossible to say that a warrior wasnot near crouching in the thicket as they were, and they did notintend to run any useless risk. Moreover, if the alarm were raisednow, they would escape into the fort, and await another chance.
But they neither heard nor saw a hostile presence. In truth, they sawnothing that betokened a siege, save the dim light flickering severalhundred yards ahead of them, and they resumed their advance, bent solow that they could drop flat at the first menace. Their eyes lookedcontinually for a sentinel, but they saw none.
"Don't you think the wind is rising a bit, Tayoga?" whispered thehunter.
"Yes," replied the Onondaga.
"And it feels damper to the face?"
"Yes, Great Bear."
"And it doesn't mean rain, because the air's too cold, but it doesmean snow, for which the air is just right, and I think it's coming,as the clouds grow thicker and thicker all the time."
"Which proves that we are favored. Tododaho from his great and shiningstar, that we cannot see tonight, looks down upon us and will help us,since we have tried to do the things that are right. We wish the snowto come, because we wish a veil about us, while we confound ourenemies, and Tododaho will send it."
He spoke devoutly and Robert admired and respected his faith, thecenter of which was Manitou, and Manitou in the mind of the Christianboy was the same as God. He also shared the faith of Tayoga thatTododaho would wrap the snow like a white robe about them to hide themfrom their enemies. Meanwhile the three crept slowly toward the fire,and Robert felt something damp brush his face. It was the first flakeof snow, and Tododaho, on his shining star, was keeping his unspokenpromise.
Tayoga looked up toward the point in the heavens where the greatchief's star shone on clear nights, and, even in the dark, Robert sawthe spiritual exaltation on his face. The Onondaga never doubted foran instant. The mighty chief who had gone away four centuries ago hadanswered the prayer made to him by one of his loyal children, and wassending the snow that it might be a veil before them while theydestroyed the camp of their enemies. The soul of Tayoga leapedup. They had received a sign. They were in the care of Tododaho andthey could not fail.
Another flake fell on Robert's face and a third followed, and thenthey came down in a white and gentle stream that soon covered him,Willet and Tayoga and hung like a curtain before them. He looked backtoward the fort, but the veil there also hung between and he could notsee it. Then he looked again, and the dim fire had disappeared in thewhite mist.
"Will it keep their huts and lodges from burning?" he whispered tothe hunter.
Willet shook his head.
"If we get a fire started well," he said, "the snow will seem to feedit rather than put it out. It's going to help us in more ways thanone, too. I'd expected that we'd have to use flint and steel to touchoff our blaze, but as they're likely to leave their own fire and seekshelter, maybe we can get a torch there. Now, you two boys keep closeto me and we'll approach that fire, or the place where it was."
They continued a cautious advance, their moccasins making no sound inthe soft snow, all objects invisible at a distance of twelve orfifteen feet. Yet they saw one Indian warrior on watch, although hedid not see or hear them. He was under the boughs of a small tree andwas crouched against the trunk, protecting himself as well as he couldfrom the tumbling flakes. He was a Huron, a capable warrior with hisfive senses developed well, and in normal times he was ambitious andeager for distinction in his wilderness world, but just now he did notdream that any one from the fort could be near. So the three passedhim, unsuspected, and drew close to the fire, which now showed as awhite glow through the dusk, sufficient proof that it was stillburning. Further progress proved that the warriors had abandoned itfor shelter, and they left the next task to Tayoga.
The Onondaga lay down in the snow and crept forward until he reachedthe fire, where he paused and waited two or three minutes to see thathis presence was not detected. Then he took three burning sticks andpassed them back swiftly to his comrades. Willet had already discernedthe outline of a bark hut on his right and Robert had made out anotheron his left. Just beyond were skin tepees. They must now act quickly,and each went upon his chosen way.
Robert approached the hut on the left from the rear, and applied thetorch to the wall which was made of dry and seasoned bark. Despite thesnow, it ignited at once and burned with extraordinary speed. Theroar of flames from the right showed that the hunter had done as well,and a light flash among the skin tepees was proof that Tayoga was notbehind them.
The besieging force was taken completely by surprise. The three hadimitated to perfection the classic example of Scipio's soldiers in theCarthaginian camp. The confusion was terrible as French and Indiansrushed for their lives from the burning huts and lodges into theblinding snow, where they saw little, and, for the present, understoodless. Tayoga who, in the white dusk readily passed for one of theirown, slipped here and there, continually setting new fires, travelingin a circle about the fort, while Robert and Willet kept near him, buton the inner side of the circle and well behind the veil of snow.
The huts and lodges burned fiercely. Where they stood thickest eachbecame a lofty pyramid of fire and then blended into a mighty mass offlames, forming an intense red core in the white cloud of fallingsnow. French soldiers and Indian warriors ran about, seeking to savetheir arms, ammunition and stores, but they were not alwayssuccessful. Several explosions showed that the flames had reachedpowder, and Robert laughed to himself in pleasure. The destruction oftheir powder was a better result than he had hoped or foreseen.
The hunter uttered a low whistle and Tayoga throwing down his torch,at once joined him and Robert who had already cast theirs far fromthem.
"Back to the fort!" said Willet. "We've already done 'em damage theycan't repair in a long time, and maybe we've broken up their camp forthe winter! What a godsend the snow was!"
"It was Tododaho who sent it," said Tayoga, reverently. "They almostmake a red ring around our fort. We have succeeded because the mightychief, the founder of the gr
eat League of the Hodenosaunee, who wentaway to his star four centuries ago, willed for us to succeed. Howsplendidly the fires burn! Not a hut, not a lodge will be left!"
"And it's time for us to be going," said the hunter. "Men like DeCourcelles, Jumonville and Tandakora will soon bring order out of allthat tumult, and they'll be looking for those who set the torch. Thesnow is coming down heavier and heavier and it hides our flight,although it is not able to put out the fires. You're right, Tayoga,about Tododaho pouring his favor upon us."
It was easy for the three to regain the palisade, and they were notafraid of mistaken bullets fired at them for enemies, since Colden andWilton had warned the soldiers that they might expect the return ofthe three. Tododaho continued to watch over, them as they reached thepalisade, at the point where the young Philadelphia captain himselfstood upon the raised plank behind it.
"Captain Colden! Captain Colden!" called Willet through the whitecloud.
"Is it you, Mr. Willet?" exclaimed Colden. "Thank God you'vecome. I've been in great fear for you! I knew that you had set thefires, because my own eyes tell me so, but I didn't know what hadbecome of you."
"I'm here, safe and well."
"And Mr. Lennox?"
"Here, unhurt, too," replied Robert.
"And the Onondaga?"
"All right and rejoicing that we have done even more than we hoped todo," said Tayoga, in his measured and scholastic English.
The three, coated with snow until they looked like white bears,quickly scaled the wall, and received the joyous welcome, given tothose who have done a great deed, and who return unhurt to theircomrades. Colden, Wilton and Carson shook their hands again and againand Robert knew that it was due as much to pleasure at the return asat the destruction of the besieging camp.
The entire population of Fort Refuge was at the palisade, heedless ofthe snow, watching the burning huts and lodges. There was no wind, butcinders and ashes fell near them, to be covered quickly with white.Fierce yells now came from the forest and arrows and bullets werefired at the fort, but they were harmless and the defenders did notreply.
The flames began to decline by and by, then they sank fast, and aftera while the snow which still came down as if it meant never to stopcovered everything. The circling white wall enveloped the strongholdcompletely, and Robert knew that the disaster to the French andIndians had been overwhelming. Probably all of them had saved theirlives, but they had lost ammunition--the explosions had told himthat--much of their stores, and doubtless all of their food. Theywould have to withdraw, for the present at least.
Robert felt immense exultation. They had struck a great blow, and itwas he who had suggested the plan. His pride increased, although hehid it, when Willet put his large hand on his shoulder and said:
"'Twas well done, Robert, my lad, and 'twould not have been done atall had it not been for you. Your mind bred the idea, from which theaction flowed."
"And you think the French and Indians have gone away now?"
"Surely, lad! Surely! Indians can stand a lot, and so can French, butneither can stand still in the middle of a snow that bids fair to betwo feet deep and live. They may have to travel until they reach someIndian village farther west and north."
"Such being the case, there can be no pressing need for me just atpresent, and I think I shall sleep. I feel now as if I were bound torelax."
"The best thing you could do, and I'll take a turn between theblankets myself."
Robert had a great sleep. Some of the rooms in the blockhouse offereda high degree of frontier comfort, and he lay down upon a soft couchof skins. A fine fire blazing upon a stone hearth dried his deerskingarments, and, when he awoke about noon, he was strong and thoroughlyrefreshed. The snow was still falling heavily. The wilderness in itswhite blanket was beautiful, but it did not look like a possible hometo Robert now. His vivid imagination leaped up at once and picturedthe difficulties of any one struggling for life, even in that vastwhite silence.
Willet and Tayoga were up before him, and they were talking of anotherexpedition to see how far the besieging force had gone, but while theywere discussing it a figure appeared at the edge of the forest.
"It's a white man," exclaimed Wilton, "and so it must be one of theFrenchmen. He's a bold fellow walking directly within our range. Whaton earth can he want?"
One of the guards on the palisade raised his rifle, but Willetpromptly pushed down the muzzle.
"That's no Frenchman," he said.
"Then who is it?" asked Wilton.
"He's clothed in white, as any one walking in this snow is bound tobe, but I could tell at the first glimpse that it was none other thanour friend, Black Rifle."
"Coming to us for refuge, and so our fort is well named."
"Not for refuge. Black Rifle has taken care of himself too long in thewilderness to be at a loss at any time. I suspect that he hassomething of importance to tell us or he would not come at all."
At the command of Colden the great gate was thrown open that thestrange rover might enter in all honor, and as he came in, apparentlyoblivious of the storm, his eyes gleamed a little at the sight ofWillet, his friend.
"You've come to tell us something," said the hunter.
"So I have," said Black Rifle.
"Brush off the snow, warm yourself by the fire, and then we'lllisten."
"I can tell it now. I don't mind the snow. I saw from a distance thegreat fire last night, when the camp of the French and Indiansburned. It was clever to destroy their huts and lodges, and I knew atonce who did it. Such a thing as that could not have happened withoutyou having a hand in it, Dave Willet. I watched to see what theFrench and Indians would do, and I followed them in their hurriedretreat into the north. I hid in the snowy bushes, and heard some oftheir talk, too. They will not stop until they reach a village a fullhundred miles from here. The Frenchmen, De Courcelles and Jumonvilleare mad with anger and disappointment, and so is the Indian chiefTandakora."
"And well they may be!" jubilantly exclaimed Captain Colden, off whosemind a great weight seemed to have slid. "It was splendid tactics toburn their home over their heads. I wouldn't have thought of itmyself, but since others have thought of it, and, it has succeeded soadmirably, we can now do the work we were sent here to do."
Tayoga and Willet made snow-shoes and went out on them a few dayslater, confirming the report of Black Rifle. Then small parties weresent forth to search the forest for settlers and their families. Roberthad a large share in this work, and sometimes he looked upon terriblethings. In more than one place, torch and tomahawk had already donetheir dreadful work, but in others they found the people alive andwell, still clinging to their homes. It was often difficult, even inthe face of imminent danger, to persuade them to leave, and when theyfinally went, under mild compulsion, it was with the resolve to returnto their log cabins in the spring.
Fort Refuge now deserved its name. There were many axes, with plentyof strong and skillful arms to wield them, and new buildings wereerected within the palisade, the smoke rising from a half dozenchimneys. They were rude structures, but the people who occupiedthem, used all their lives to hardships, did not ask much, and theyseemed snug and comfortable enough to them. Fires always blazed on thebroad stone hearths and the voices of children were heard within thelog walls. The hands of women furnished the rooms, and made newclothes of deerskin.
The note of life at Fort Refuge was comfort and good cheer. They feltthat they could hold the little fortress against any force that mightcome. The hunters, Willet, Tayoga and Black Rifle at their head,brought in an abundance of game. There was no ill health. The littlechildren grew mightily, and, thus thrown together in a group, they hadthe happiest time they had ever known. Robert was their hero. No othercould tell such glorious tales. He had read fairy stories at Albany,and he not only brought them all from the store of his memory but heembroidered and enlarged them. He had a manner with him, too. Hismusical, golden voice, his vivid eyes and his intense earnestness oftone, the same that
had impressed so greatly the fifty sachems in thevale of Onondaga, carried conviction. If one telling a tale believedin it so thoroughly himself then those who heard it must believe in ittoo.
Robert fulfilled a great mission. He was not the orator, the goldenmouthed, for nothing. If the winter came down a little too fiercely,his vivid eyes and gay voice were sufficient to lift thedepression. Even the somber face of Black Rifle would light up when hecame near. Nor was the young Quaker, Wilton, far behind him. He was aspontaneously happy youth, always bubbling with good nature, and heformed an able second for Lennox.
"Will," said Robert, "I believe it actually gives you joy to be herein this log fortress in the snow and wilderness. You do not miss thegreat capital, Philadelphia, to which you have been used all yourlife."
"No, I don't, Robert. I like Fort Refuge, because I'm free fromrestraints. It's the first time my true nature has had a chance tocome out, and I'm making the most of the opportunity. Oh, I'mdeveloping! In the spring you'll see me the gayest and most recklessblade that ever came into the forest."
The deep snow lasted a long time. More snowshoes were made, but onlysix or eight of the soldiers learned to use them well. There weresufficient, however, as Willet, Robert, Tayoga and Black Rifle werealready adepts, and they ranged the forest far in all directions. Theysaw no further sign of French or Indians, but they steadily increasedtheir supply of game.
Christmas came, January passed and then the big snow began tomelt. New stirrings entered Robert's mind. He felt that their work atFort Refuge was done. They had gathered into it all the outlyingsettlers who could be reached, and Colden, Wilton and Carson were nowentirely competent to guard it and hold it. Robert felt that he andWillet should return to Albany, and get into the main current of thegreat war. Tayoga, of course, would go with them.
He talked it over with Willet and Tayoga, and they agreed with him atonce. Black Rifle also decided to depart about the same time, andColden, although grieved to see them go, could say nothing against it.When the four left they received an ovation that would have warmed theheart of any man. As they stood at the edge of the forest with theirpacks on their backs, Captain Colden gave a sharp command. Sixtyrifles turned their muzzles upward, and sixty fingers pulled sixtytriggers. Sixty weapons roared as one, and the four with dew in theireyes, lifted their caps to the splendid salute. Then a long, shrillcheer followed. Every child in the fort had been lifted above thepalisade, and they sent the best wishes of their hearts with those whowere going.
"That cheer of the little ones was mostly for you, Robert," saidWillet, when the forest hid them.
"It was for all of us equally," said Robert modestly.
"No, I'm right and it must help us to have the good wishes of littlechildren go with us. If they and Tododaho watch over us we can't cometo much harm."
"It is a good omen," said Tayoga soberly. "When I lie down to sleeptonight I shall hear their voices in my ear."
Black Rifle now left them, going on one of his solitary expeditionsinto the wilderness and the others traveled diligently all the day,but owing to the condition of the earth did not make their usualprogress. Most of the snow had melted and everything was drippingwith water. It fell from every bough and twig, and in every ravine andgully a rivulet was running, while ponds stood in everydepression. Many swollen brooks and creeks had to be forded, and whennight came they were wet and soaked to the waist.
But Tayoga then achieved a great triumph. In the face of difficultiesthat seemed insuperable, he coaxed a fire in the lee of a hill, andthe three fed it, until it threw out a great circle of heat in whichthey warmed and dried themselves. When they had eaten and rested along time they put out the fire, waited for the coals and ashes tocool, and then spread over them their blankets, thus securing a drybase upon which to sleep. They were so thoroughly exhausted, and theywere so sure that the forest contained no hostile presence that allthree went to sleep at the same time and remained buried in slumberthroughout the night.
Tayoga was the first to awake, and he saw the dawn of a new winterday, the earth reeking with cold damp and the thawing snow. Heunrolled himself from his blankets and arose a little stiffly, butwith a few movements of the limbs all his flexibility returned. Theair was chill and the scene in the black forest of winter wasdesolate, but Tayoga was happy. Tododaho on his great shining star hadwatched over him and showered him with favors, and he had no doubtthat he would remain under the protection of the mighty chief who hadgone away so long ago.
Tayoga looked down at his comrades, who still slept soundly, andsmiled. The three were bound together by powerful ties, and the eventsof recent months had made them stronger than ever. In the school atAlbany he had absorbed much of the white man's education, and, whilehis Indian nature remained unchanged, he understood also the whitepoint of view. He could meet both Robert and Willet on common ground,and theirs was a friendship that could not be severed.
Now he made a circle about their camp, and, being assured that noenemy was near, came back to the point where Robert and Willet yetslept. Then he took his flint and steel, and, withdrawing a little,kindled a fire, doing so as quietly as he could, in order that the twoawaking might have a pleasant surprise. When the little flames werelicking the wood, and the sparks began to fly upwards, he shook Robertby the shoulder.
"Arise, sluggard," he said. "Did not our teacher in Albany tell us itwas proof of a lazy nature to sleep while the sun was rising? The fireeven has grown impatient and has lighted itself while you abode withTarenyawagon (the sender of dreams). Get up and cook our breakfast,Oh, Heavy Head!"
Robert sat up and so did Willet. Then Robert drew his blankets abouthis body and lay down again.
"You've done so well with the fire, Tayoga, and you've shown such aspirit," he said, "that it would be a pity to interfere with youractivity. Go ahead, and awake me again when breakfast is ready."
Tayoga made a rush, seized the edge of his blanket and unrolled it,depositing Robert in the ashes. Then he darted away among the bushes,avoiding the white youth's pursuit. Willet meanwhile warmed himself bythe fire and laughed.
"Come back, you two," he said. "You think you're little lads again atyour school in Albany, but you're not. You're here in the wilderness,confronted by many difficulties, all of which you can overcome, andsubject to many perils, all of which you know how to avoid."
"I'll come," said Robert, "if you promise to protect me from thisfierce Onondaga chief who is trying to secure my scalp."
"Tayoga, return to the fire and cook these strips of venison. Here isthe sharp stick left from last night. Robert, take our canteens, finda spring and fill them with fresh water. By right of seniority I'm incommand this morning, and I intend to subject my army to extremelysevere discipline, because it's good for it. Obey at once!"
Tayoga obediently took the sharpened stick and began to fry strips ofvenison. Robert, the canteens over his shoulder, found a spring nearby and refilled them. Like Tayoga, the raw chill of the morning andthe desolate forest of winter had no effect upon him. He too, washappy, uplifted, and he sang to himself the song he had heard DeGalissonniere sing:
"Hier sur le pont d'Avignon J'ai oui chanter la belle, Lon, la, J'ai oui chanter la belle, Elle chantait d'un ton si doux Comme une demoiselle, Lon, la, Comme une demoiselle."
All that seemed far away now, yet the words of the song brought itback, and his extraordinary imagination made the scenes at Bigot'sball pass before his eyes again, almost as vivid as reality. Once morehe saw the Intendant, his portly figure swaying in the dance, his redface beaming, and once more he beheld the fiery duel in the gardenwhen the hunter dealt with Boucher, the bully and bravo.
Quebec was far away. He had been glad to go to it, and he had beenglad to come away, too. He would be glad to go to it again, and hefelt that he would do so some day, though the torrent of battle nowrolled between. He was still humming the air when he came back to thefire, and saluting Willet politely, tendered a canteen each to hi
m andTayoga.
"Sir David Willet, baronet and general," he said, "I have the honor toreport to you that in accordance with your command I have found thewater, spring water, fine, fresh, pure, as good as any the northernwilderness can furnish, and that is the best in the world. Shall Itender it to you, sir, on my bended knee!"
"No, Mr. Lennox, we can dispense with the bended knee, but I am glad,young sir, to note in your voice the tone of deep respect for yourelders which sometimes and sadly is lacking."
"If Dagaeoga works well, and always does as he is bidden," saidTayoga, "perhaps I'll let him look on at the ceremonies when I take myplace as one of the fifteen sachems of the Onondaga nation."
While they ate their venison and some bread they had also brought withthem, they discussed the next stage of their journey, and Tayoga madea suggestion. Traveling would remain difficult for several days, andinstead of going directly to Albany, their original purpose, theymight take a canoe, and visit Mount Johnson, the seat of ColonelWilliam Johnson, who was such a power with the Hodenosaunee, and whowas in his person a center of important affairs in North America. Fora while, Mount Johnson might, in truth, suit their purpose better thanAlbany.
The idea appealed at once to both Robert and Willet. Colonel Johnson,more than any one else could tell them what to do, and owing to hisstrong alliance, marital and otherwise, with the Mohawks, they werelikely to find chiefs of the Ganeagaono at his house or in theneighborhood.
"It is agreed," said Willet, after a brief discussion. "If mycalculations be correct we can reach Mount Johnson in four days, and Idon't think we're likely to cross the trail of an enemy, unlessSt. Luc is making some daring expedition."
"In any event, he's a nobler foe than De Courcelles or Jumonville,"said Robert.
"I grant you that, readily," said the hunter. "Still, I don't thinkwe're likely to encounter him on our way to Mount Johnson."
But on the second day they did cross a trail which they attributed toa hostile force. It contained, however, no white footsteps, and notpausing to investigate, they continued their course toward theirdestination. As all the snow was now gone, and the earth was dryingfast, they were able almost to double their speed and they pressedforward, eager to see the celebrated Colonel William Johnson, who wasnow filling and who was destined to fill for so long a time so large aplace in the affairs of North America.