CHAPTER IX
GATHERING AT FORT LAWRENCE
Fort Lawrence was little more than a fort in name only. It was a spotselected by the Morrises and others living within a radius of one totwenty-two miles, where they might congregate for safety at any timewhen the way to Will's Creek or Winchester should be cut off.
The fort was located at a point where two small streams joined. Here thebrushwood and trees had been cleared off for a distance of little overan acre. Some trees, running in a semi-circle from one brook to theother, had been left standing, and between these a rude stockade hadbeen planted of logs, ten to twelve feet high and sharp-pointed at thetop. Along the two watercourses were a series of rough rocks and on topof these other rocks had been placed, making a barrier almost as high asthe wooden one opposite. In the wooden stockade and among the rocks,port holes were placed, so that those inside could command every avenueof approach with their firearms. To the whole there was a rude gateway,but as yet no gate further than some heavy brushwood piled convenientlynear,--thorn-brush, which all Indians despised.
So far there had assembled at the fort six families, consisting of eightmen and seven women, with fifteen children of all ages, from boys andgirls of Dave's growth to an infant in arms. These pioneers had broughtwith them all the earthly possessions which they or their beasts ofburden could carry, and these goods were now piled high in the center ofthe stockade, where there was something of a hollow among the rocks.Back of this pile was a second hollow, rudely thatched with treebranches, and here the women and the smaller children assembled, thelittle ones either sleeping soundly or crying shrilly for the comfortsto which they were accustomed.
Among the men was Captain John Smith Tanner, a Virginian, of mixedEnglish and German blood. Captain Tanner had fought under Washington atBraddock's defeat and also done good work during several Indianuprisings, and this had won for him the military title, which, however,was not of the king's troops but of the local militia. The captain wasan out-and-out backwoodsman, a bachelor, and a man well-liked by nearlyall who knew him.
As we know, it was Captain Tanner who had sent the note to JosephMorris's house by White Buffalo, and now he and several others of thesettlers waited anxiously for the appearance of not alone these friends,but of five other pioneers, including Uriah Risley. Eight men to defendboth the stockade and the rocks were not many, and the captain felt thatshould the enemy appear in force matters would speedily reach a crisiswith the whites.
"Somebuddy comin'!" shouted one of the watchers, presently. "An Injun!"
"Can you make him out?" questioned the captain, but before the questionwas fairly finished the watcher continued:
"It's White Buffalo, and some white folks with him."
In a moment more the Morrises and Larkwells came into view, and thethorn-brush was pulled aside to allow them to enter the enclosure. Theparty rode in one at a time, Joseph Morris being the last to enter.Rodney was so tired and exhausted he could not stand and Dave led him toa seat on a tree stump and then assisted his aunt and little Nell toalight.
"Oh, dear! Where are we?" cried the little girl, who had just awakened."I thought I was home in bed!"
"You are safe with mamma, dear," answered Mrs. Morris, hugging hertightly. "We have come to the fort to get away from the wicked Indians."
"And I was asleep all the time? How funny!" Little Nell stared aroundher. "Oh, there is Mary Lee and Martha Brownley!" she ejaculated. "I'llhave company, won't I?"
"Yes," answered her mother, and they joined their neighbors,--if thoseliving miles away could be called such.
The woman on the litter cared for, all the "men folks," which includedseveral who were little more than boys, assembled to map out a plan ofaction and decide what should be done with White Buffalo and hiswarriors. The Indian Chief was willing to aid them as much as was in hispower, but did not wish to enter the stockade, preferring to fight fromthe shelter of the forest beyond.
"It is the redman's way," said White Buffalo, "even as it is the way ofthe wildcat to fight in the darkness. White Buffalo can do more from theoutside than from the inside of the fort."
"I reckon you're right, Injun," answered Captain Tanner. "But now you'vecarried one message for us I rather wish you'd carry another."
"White Buffalo will do what is best for his white brethren."
"I'd like to send word to Winchester, to Colonel Washington, letting himknow just how we're fixed here." The captain turned to those around him."Isn't that a good plan?"
"It is," said one, "but these Indians may give us lots of help,--if theenemy come on us in heavy numbers. They oughtn't all to go."
The matter was talked over, and at last it was decided to let WhiteBuffalo start for Winchester with two of his braves, leaving the otherredmen to scatter through the woods and give the alarm on the approachof the enemy. A letter was hastily written to Washington, and WhiteBuffalo started off just as the first streaks of dawn were beginning toappear in the east.
Fortunately for those present, some of the pioneers had brought withthem large stocks of provision, so there was no need for anybody to gohungry for a long while to come, should the Indians lay siege to them.Water could also be had in plenty, which was desirable both for drinkingpurposes and in case of fire.
With the coming of day those in the fort breathed more freely, for theyknew that even if the enemy came up it was not likely they would beginan attack until darkness once again settled down. In the meantime thework of strengthening the defense went on steadily, a laborer onlyquitting when he found it necessary to lie down for a few hours' sleep.
The Indians had gone out, the thorn-brush had been piled high in thegateway, and for the time being there seemed nothing for the pioneers todo but to sit down and await developments. Several camp-fires wereburning and over these a morning meal was cooked, to which all but oneor two invalids did ample justice. The assemblage divided itself intohalf a dozen groups, each talking in a low tone of the prospects.
The Morrises were chiefly concerned over the fate of Henry. When shethought of her boy perhaps murdered and scalped the bitter tears ofanguish rolled down Mrs. Morris's cheeks, and the little the otherscould do to cheer her up was of no avail.
"From what Dave says there must have been a fierce fight," she moaned."And more than likely our poor dear Henry got the worst of it. We'llnever see the brave boy again!" And her tears burst forth afresh.
"I would go on a hunt for him, only I know it would be next to useless,"returned her husband. "Besides, at such a time as this I feel my placeis at your side, and with Nell, Rodney, and Dave." And she had to admitthat this was true.
Slowly the morning wore along. It had stopped snowing and not a soundbroke the stillness, outside of the gentle murmur of the brooks as theymet between the rocks, and the songs of the birds in the forest. Not abreath of air was stirring, and as Dave climbed into one of the stockadetrees to survey the situation it looked as if no Indians were withinmiles of them. But this he knew to be untrue, since White Buffalo'swarriors could not be far off and the enemy was surely working their wayin that direction.
"I fancy it's the calm before the storm," he said to Rodney, who havinghad several hours of rest felt much stronger. "We'll catch it all theworse when it does come."
"If only I wasn't crippled," sighed Rodney. "I'd fight just as hard asany of 'em."
"I've no doubt of that, Rodney. Well, when the time comes perhaps you'llhave your share of the shooting same as any of us. You can watch from aport-hole, even if you have to sit down to it."
"Yes, I've already told Captain Tanner I wanted one of those places atthe north brook to-night. I don't intend to let you fellows do the workwhile I go and sleep. The women folks and the children are the only onesto take it easy."
"Even the women folks will have their hands full--loading for us--whenthe real attack begins. The first ten minutes are what counts. It wasthat way when the Indians attacked father's trading post. If we hadn'tput it to 'em hot-like from the first
minute we would never have beaten'em back."
By the middle of the afternoon all that could be done was finished, andthen Captain Tanner insisted upon it that the majority of the men andboys lie down to rest.
"You won't get any sleep to-night, so make the most of your time now,"were his words. Then he climbed the tallest tree in that vicinity, totake a long and careful look around. But this survey brought nothing newto light.
It was just sundown when the first alarm came in. An Indian carrying awhite feather was seen sneaking up to the stockade. Seeing it was one ofWhite Buffalo's followers the captain sent Joseph Morris out tointerview him.
"The Indians who side with the French are coming," announced thewarrior. "They come by the trail we traveled and by the trail in yonderpathway," pointing with his hand. "They are in four bands, and Gray Tailheard that they will strike to-night when darkness covers the land."
This was all that the Indian could tell, but it was enough, and JosephMorris ran back to inform Captain Tanner and the others. Those who weresleeping were aroused, and each man and boy was assigned to his place ofduty.
As he had desired, Rodney was placed near one of the brooks. The youngman's father was stationed some distance above him and Dave an equaldistance below. Next to Dave came a pioneer named Ike Lee, and theothers followed, completing the circle of the fort. Then all waitedanxiously for a first sign of the advancing enemy, each with his eyesstrained to their utmost and with his finger on the trigger of hisfirearm.
Marching on Niagara; Or, The Soldier Boys of the Old Frontier Page 12