CHAPTER XXVI
THE WAR DANCE
"WHAT of the weather?" asked Sandy, as soon as Simon Kenton once moreentered the cavern.
"So far there is good reason to hope," replied the borderer, cheerfully.
"You could not make me happier than by saying that!" cried the youngpioneer, the anxious expression vanishing from his face. "Then we canexpect to get away from here, and start things moving at the village ofKiashuta? May we go now?"
"Not for several hours," said Kenton, shaking his head.
"But the wind may die out by then; or something else might happen toupset all our plans?" urged the boy.
"Not much danger of that, Sandy," Bob put in. "If the wind is blowingfairly now, it will grow stronger before it dies out."
"Well said, Bob," declared the borderer; "for it is bound to do that,as I know from the look of the clouds. Blue Jacket, too, says a stormis brewing, though it may not break until early morning, so we need notfear that the lodges will get wet, and refuse to burn. My plan would beto start the fires just as the gale begins to sweep down. With the rushof the wind, and the roar of the flames, the reds will be half crazywith fear."
He made sure that Blue Jacket was not close by when he said this,because he knew how it would make the young chief wince.
"But what about your plan for dressing us all up to look like theIndians?" questioned Bob.
"We may as well get at that now," Kenton replied, promptly. "I've somepaints in my own ditty bag, and Blue Jacket will furnish the rest. Aswe do not mean to be seen at close quarters, it can be easily fixed.Come here, both of you, boys, and let me begin work."
In a short time the crafty hand of Kenton had daubed enough paint overthe faces and hands of the boys to make them look like young warriorsof the Senecas. So long as they kept well within the half shadows therewould seem to be little danger that their real identity would bediscovered.
Boylike, they rather enjoyed the strange experience. Sandy would havebeen even willing to venture into the village, and try to mingle withthe crowd, had Kenton given his permission; but this the borderer wasnot likely to do, since he knew what must follow.
After that the rangers decorated one another, so that they too mightpass for Seneca warriors if they kept on their guard.
"You see," remarked Kenton, as they sat there eating the evening meal,with only a torch fastened on the wall to give them light, "one thingthat is going to help us a heap is the fact that, just now, there aremany strange Indians in the Seneca village, more than I have ever seentogether, even in Old Chillicothe Town. We can pass for some of thosewho have journeyed far to listen to the words falling from the lips ofthe great Pontiac."
An hour later, Sandy was electrified by observing that the borderer hadgiven a signal to Blue Jacket, Abijah Cook and Pat O'Mara, at the sametime rising from his seat, where he had been squatted cross-legged onthe rocky floor.
"It is time!" said Kenton, in a quiet tone, though not a muscle in hiswhole body gave evidence of excitement.
"At last!" sighed Sandy, as he hastened to get on his feet, grippinghis musket in his fingers.
The borderer spoke a few last words, after which he made both ladspledge themselves to control their eagerness, and promise to obey hisorders.
Once out of the hateful cavern, and under the trees, the boys lookedabout them. They had had more or less experience as woodsmen, youngthough they were, and it was no great task for either Bob or Sandy toread the signs in the heavens.
Clouds drifted across the sky, coming up out of the west, so that onlyonce in a while were a few stars seen. The wind moaned fitfully in thetrees, and gave promise of increasing in strength as the night grewolder. Yes, just as Kenton had declared, there was a storm in prospect,though it might not break for several hours.
Kenton immediately took the lead, though Blue Jacket clung to his sideas if to advise in case the borderer needed assistance. But Kenton wasreally as much at home in the forest as the red son of the wilderness.To him all signs were plain to read. He knew just where the Senecavillage lay, and how long it was likely to take them to reach it.
They had left the three Frenchmen bound in the cavern. Larue hadpleaded to be released, vowing that not one of them would whisper tothe Indians concerning the presence of these invaders in their midst.But Kenton refused to take their word. He did not have a very highopinion of these French Canadian trappers as a whole; and feared lestthe fellow might betray them just to curry favor with Pontiac, withwhom he had quarrelled at the council. Once they were well away, BlueJacket would find some means of communicating with the Senecas, andtell them of the prisoners in the secret grotto under the cataract.
In Indian file they started for the distant lodges of the Senecas.Winding in and out of the woods, as Kenton picked his course, they leftthe stream behind them.
Two miles had been placed behind. The boys had known for some time thatthey were approaching the Seneca town. Lights could be seen ahead, asof numerous fires. Sounds also came to their ears--voices of warriorschanting; the monotonous beating of the war drum, known as a tomtom;barking of excited curs of which every Indian village boasted itsscores, most of them wolf-like in their savage nature; and even theloud laughter of half-grown Indian boys, who were perhaps indulging infoot races, or some other form of rivalry.
Closer still did Kenton lead them. Now and then he would stop, and holda few words of whispered conversation with Blue Jacket, after which,possibly, his course might change a trifle, as he received advice.
Finally they lay down, and began to crawl through the high grass andscattered weeds and bushes. The hearts of the two boys were throbbingwith intense excitement. They could see the numerous skin lodges everytime they raised their heads, and it thrilled Bob and Sandy to realizethat, in one of the many score before them, the little lost sistermight even then be crouching, waiting in mingled hope and fear for herbrothers' coming.
Not once did either lad feel the slightest fear, yet they knew wellwhat was likely to be their fate should the Indians discover theirpresence. Spies they would be deemed, and, after the gantlet running,they might expect death at the stake.
Finally they halted in the last cover on the border of the village.Before them they saw scores upon scores of Indians, gathering as if inexpectation of some great game or ceremony.
The crouching figures found space between the drooping twigs of thebushy screen to observe what was taking place.
Kenton whispered something in the ear of Bob, who in turn passed theintelligence on to his brother.
"War-dance!" was what he said, and both lads eagerly watched to see thewonderful spectacle of which they had so often heard, but up to nownever found a chance to observe.
A painted post had been driven into the ground in the midst of thecleared space. Around this the Indian braves and chiefs gathered, allfacing toward a common centre. Pontiac and some of the visiting headmen were given places of honor on a rude platform, where they couldremain spectators. And the great sachem was doubtless pleased at beingable to observe how his fiery words of exhortation had decided Kiashutaand his warlike Senecas to dig up the hatchet against the palefaceinvaders.
Fires and torches illuminated the scene, casting their deep red glareupon the dusky boughs of the surrounding pines, and upon the wildmultitude of warriors who, fluttering with feathers, and bedaubed withbright paint, had gathered for the celebration of the war-dance.
First of all Kiashuta himself leaped into the circle, brandishing histomahawk as if rushing upon an enemy. In a loud voice he chanted hisown past exploits, after the customary boastful way of an Indian, andthen those of his departed ancestors, whose memory he honored.
And, as he thus sang and shrieked, he acted the scenes over again,sending forth the shrill war-whoop with which the foe had so often beenterrorized, throwing himself into all the postures of actual combat,striking the post as though it were an enemy, and then tearing thescalp from the head of an imaginary victim.
Long before he
had completed his part in the drama another chief hadstarted in to excel Kiashuta; and, by degrees, still more, chiefs andbraves, joined in the mad carnival of noise and movement, until thesight was one that neither of the young pioneers would ever forget aslong as he lived.
Finally, the whole assembly, as if fired with sudden frenzy, rushedtogether into the ring, leaping, stamping, whooping and shrieking. Theybrandished knives and hatchets in the firelight, hacking and stabbingthe air in their great excitement, while at intervals their cries aroseto such a pitch that they might have been heard miles away over thelonely forest.
Kenton had undoubtedly witnessed this stirring scene before, andpossibly Abijah Cook may also have had that experience; but the twoboys stared and trembled as the war-dance grew more and more violent.
Finally the ceremony was over. Kiashuta himself gave a signal thathushed the mad carnival of noise. Once again it was possible for thosewho lay back of the friendly screen of grass and bushes to distinguishindividual sounds.
Bob heard his brother give a long sigh, close to his ear. He knew howeager Sandy had always been to witness strange sights and explore theuntracked wilderness. It was easy to understand that the boy mustconsider that he had just looked upon the most wonderful spectacle thathe would ever see in all the days of his life.
But they must not forget why they were there. It had been with nodesire to look upon any of the ceremonial dances of the Indians thatthey had taken their lives in their hands, and crept close to theborders of the hostile village of the Iroquois. Kate--that was themagic name by which they had been led over hundreds of weary miles,scorning peril, and laughing at all manner of privation.
Was the wind really strengthening, or did Bob dream it simply becausehe wished for such a thing to come about? Now that the racket had diedaway as suddenly as it had arisen, something like quiet settled downover the village, with its warriors exhausted by the violence of theirfierce, assumed fury. And Bob, listening, was sure the sound of thebreeze in the tops of the near-by pines had gained something in volume.
He knew how the plans of Kenton had been laid. There was nothing foreither himself or Sandy to do, save to remain where they were placed,and wait until their allies had accomplished their undertaking.
The white men were to start the blaze, because it was asking too muchof Blue Jacket to expect him to set fire to the lodges of his kind;but the young Shawanee chieftain had agreed, on his part, to stealKate from the wigwam of Black Beaver, and bring her to the appointedrendezvous.
But how long a time must elapse before the excited owners of all thesepainted lodges would settle down into quiet, so that operations couldbegin? Sandy knew he must again possess his soul in patience. He wasjust about to try to whisper something in the ear of his brother whenhe caught a low hiss.
Undoubtedly Kenton himself was responsible for this warning. Itsignified that sudden danger hung over their heads. Sandy flattenedhimself out on the ground as though he were a panther creeping up onits intended prey. And in doing this his ear came so closely in contactwith the earth that he was enabled to hear the swish of bushes, andthe low patter of feet upon the dead leaves in the forest behind them.Indians were coming, running on the dog-trot for which they have alwaysbeen famous!
The Pioneer Boys on the Great Lakes; or, On the Trail of the Iroquois Page 29