CHAPTER XVIII.
"INJUN NO FOOL."
Sam's despatch, written by the light of a few pine knots and with asmuch care as if it had been an important state paper,--for whateverSam Hardwicke did he tried to do well,--was in these words:--
TO MAJOR GENERAL JACKSON,
Commanding Department of the South-West,
MOBILE, ALABAMA.
GENERAL:
I arrived with my party to-day. In Pensacola, I found the British hospitably entertained, not only by the people, but by Governor Mauriquez himself. They are actually enlisting the savages in their service, arming them with rifles and knives and attempting to make regular soldiers out of them. I saw a British captain drilling about fifty Indians in the public square of the town at noon to-day.
I beg to report, also, that the British occupy the defensive works of the town, including Fort Barrancas, from the flagstaffs of which float both the British and the Spanish ensigns, as if the two were allies in this war.
I am unable to report as yet what the strength of the British force here is. I have observed men from seven different companies, in the streets, but have been unable to learn, without direct inquiry, which would excite suspicion, whether all these companies are present in full strength, or whether there are also others here.
The ships in the bay, so far as I can make them out, are the Hermes, Captain Percy, 22 guns; the Sophia, Captain Lockyer, 18 guns; the Carron, 20 guns; and the Childers, 18 guns.
I shall diligently seek to discover the plans and purposes of the expedition, and will not neglect to report to you promptly, whatever I may be able to find out. At present it is evident only that an expedition is fitting out here against some point on our coast.
I shall send this by a trusty messenger at daybreak.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
(Signed,)
SAMUEL HARDWICKE,
Commanding Scouting Party.
This document was duly dated from "Fishing Camp, Five miles belowPensacola," and when it was written, Sam quietly waked Bob Sharp.
"Bob," he said, "I have an important duty for you to do."
"I'm your man, Sam, for anything that turns up."
"Yes, I know that," replied Sam, "and that is why I picked you outfor this business. The choice lay between you and Sid Russell, and Ichose you, because I shall need a very rapid walker a little later tocarry a still more important despatch, I fancy."
"It's a despatch, then," said Bob.
"Yes, a despatch to General Jackson. You'll find him at Mobile, and itisn't more than sixty or seventy miles across the country. I boughtthree compasses in Pensacola to-day, and you can take one of them withyou. I can't give you my map, but I'll copy it for you on a sheet ofpaper. Go to bed now, and be ready to start at daylight. I'll cook upsome food for you, so that you needn't stop on the way to do anycooking. You must make the distance in the shortest time you can!"
"After delivering the despatch, then what?" asked Bob.
"Well, if you want to, you can come back here."
"Of course I want to," said Bob.
"But you must rest first, and I'm not at all sure that you'll find ushere. Perhaps you'd better wait in Mobile, at least till my nextdespatch comes. Then General Jackson will tell you what to do."
"If you'll just give me permission to start right back, I'll be herein a week. I kin make twenty-five miles a day, easy, an' that'll more'n git me back here in that time."
"Very well, come back then."
At daylight Bob was off, and when the boys awoke they were full ofcuriosity to know the meaning of his absence. While Thlucco was aroundSam would tell them nothing except that he had sent Bob away on anerrand. When Thlucco went to the boat to arrange something about thefishing tackle, Sam briefly explained the matter, and cautioned theboys to talk of it no more.
An hour later they went fishing on a slack tide, and when it turnedand began to run too full for the fish to bite they sailed their boatto the shore, with fish enough in it to satisfy the most eager offishermen.
During the afternoon Sam sent Sid Russell, into the town, nominally tobuy some trifling thing but really with secret instructions to findout what he could about the British forces, their movements, theirpurposes and their plans.
"Injun go town, too," said Thlucco, and without more ado "Injun" went.
When he returned, about ten o'clock that night, he brought with him agun of superior workmanship, and a pouch full of ammunition.
"Where did you get that?" asked Sam in surprise.
"Pensacola," said the young savage.
"How?"
"Injun 'list. Big-hat-red-coat-white man give Injun gun, drill Injun."
"What in the world did you do that for?" asked Sam.
"Um. Injun got eyes. Sam got no guns. Sam need um. Injun git um. Injun'list agin. Big-hat-red-coat-white man give Injun 'nother gun. Injun'list six, seven times, git guns for boys."
"But we don't want any guns, Thlucco."
"Um. Injun no fool. Sam Jackson man. Injun know. Sam Jackson man. BoysJackson men. Sam find out things, boys go tell Jackson. Bob go first.Um. Injun no fool. Injun Jackson man. Injun git guns, heap."
"But what can we do with them when you get them, Thlucco?"
"Um. Injun no fool. May be red coat men spy Sam. Sam caught. Sam wantguns. Um. Injun no fool."
Sam saw that it was useless to prolong the conversation. Thlucco wasstolidly bent upon doing as he pleased, and the only thing for Sam todo was to take care to conceal the guns from the observation ofanybody who might happen to visit the camp.
Thlucco went to town every day and enlisted anew, only to desert withhis gun each time. Finally he enlisted twice in one day, and the nextday three times, bringing to Sam a gun for each enlistment. By the endof the week Sam had an armory of ten new rifles, with a store ofammunition for each. Thlucco could not count very well, and itrequired a good deal of persuasion on Sam's part to induce him to stopenlisting. He was persuaded at last, however, that there were morethan enough guns in camp to arm the whole party, and then he consentedto remain away from the town.
On the evening of the sixth day of their stay in the fishing camp, theboys were just sitting down to their supper of fried fish, when afamiliar voice said:--
"I think you might make room for me."
"Bob Sharp back again, as sure's we're here!" exclaimed Billy Bowlegs,and all the boys rose hastily to greet their comrade.
Captain Sam: The Boy Scouts of 1814 Page 18