The Pioneer Boys of the Mississippi; or, The Homestead in the Wilderness

by St. George Rathborne

  CHAPTER XIII

  BLUE JACKET GIVES WARNING

  THREE days had now passed.

  All this time the flatboat had made good progress down the river, whichcontinually opened up new and most beautiful pictures to the eyes ofthe voyagers. It was very slow travelling, to be sure; but then theearly pioneers had never ridden on a lightning express train, nor satin an automobile that was flying along country roads at the rate of amile a minute; so such tedious progress was not irksome to them.

  One night only had they anchored out from the shore, when Blue Jacketand the Irish trapper did not like the idea of tying up to the trees onthe bank, having discovered some signs of Indians about.

  As yet there had been no attack upon the people on the flatboat, andperhaps a feeling of renewed confidence was beginning to steal intotheir hearts. But the men knew better than to allow such immunity fromdanger to render them a particle less cautious. And each evening theykept up the same programme that had been first instituted.

  One man was to be on guard aboard the boat, constantly watching theshore for signs of anything moving. He had his orders to shoot, if anapproaching figure, upon being challenged, failed to give the correctpassword. And then every one of the others knew just what his part ofthe defence was to be, so that they would leap to their stations as oneman.

  After supper on this night, when they were tied up again to the shore,Blue Jacket went away to scour the immediate vicinity, and keep on thealert for the first signs of an impending attack.

  It was to be the very last night of the young Shawanee among them; forhe had announced that, since they were now far away from the lodges ofhis people, he must on the morrow shake the hands of his white friendsin farewell, and turn his face toward the rising sun.

  The boys would be sorry. They had come to think most highly of BlueJacket; and Bob predicted that, in time to come, the young brave wouldmake a name for himself among his people. (Note 9.)

  The young moon was now getting of a size to give considerable light formuch of the night, and this fact afforded every one much satisfaction,since it took away from the gloom of the dense forest, that was peopledwith unknown evil things.

  Sandy and Bob sat on deck, after supper had been eaten, and the youngermembers of the expedition were being put to sleep in the cabin. Some ofthe men were smoking their long pipes, and talking in low tones nearby. Doubtless they felt well pleased over the way things were going,and their conversation may have been along about the same lines asmarked that of the two lads.

  "Three good days, and all is well," remarked Sandy, who had a fishingline over the side, with which he expected to take in a number of fineprizes before thinking of sleep.

  "Yes, and if this sort of thing would only keep up right along, nobodywould complain, that I know of," Bob added; for he was feeling verycomfortable after the good supper he had enjoyed a short time before.

  "Oh! that was a fierce bite, all right!" exclaimed Sandy, giving a jerkto his stout line; "and I've got him, too, I do believe! My goodness!how he pulls, Bob! Now, I hope he doesn't break loose! This must be thebiggest fish I've had hold of yet."

  Bob, of course, offered to lend a hand in order to get the prize in;but Sandy, with all a fisherman's ardor, would not think of allowingsuch a thing.

  And presently, after a deal of pulling, and expressing fears that hemight lose his hard-fighting prize, Sandy managed to drag the fishaboard. It proved to be a very large specimen of what has since becomeknown as the buffalo fish, found along the whole length of the Ohio,and which is considered fairly good for the table.

  To these people of the early days such a feast was always eagerlywelcomed; and, of course, all the women had to come out to see thenoble proportions of Sandy's capture, even the children following,filled with delight because it meant a feast for all.

  Although the persistent fisherman kept up the good work, and landedseveral more of the same species of fish, none approached in size hisfirst capture; but, then, by the time Sandy was ready to take in hisline, for he was yawning sadly, the moon had crept along to top thetrees toward the southwest, and he had secured an abundance for theirtemporary wants.

  Sandy had just completed winding up his line on the piece of smoothwood he had prepared for this especial purpose, when suddenly the voiceof the sentry was heard calling out:

  "Who goes there? Speak, and give the countersign!" for Mr. Armstronghad organized his little company very much on a military basis.

  Of course every one started up, and many a hand reached out for the gunthat was always kept within reach, day and night. Sandy and Bob were noexception to the rule, and they scrambled to their feet, as, from thetree-lined shore, came the word that had been selected for the night:

  "Washington!"

  It was Blue Jacket, coming hastily aboard. His actions told that hemust be bringing important news; and a thrill swept through the heartsof the two lads at the prospect of immediate danger.

  Mr. Armstrong was the first one to meet the Indian as he came crawlingover the side of the flatboat, which stood rather high out of thewater, despite the load it carried, thanks to the splendid constructionof the craft.

  "Get away--quick--many Indians, like the leaves of the forest--comecreep up through trees. No say what, but slip loose, and run!" was theway Blue Jacket expressed himself.

  Upon hearing these significant words, every one started to carryout his special part of the duty of freeing the boat. There was nonoise--no confusion; and this spoke well, not only for the brave heartsthat were aboard the boat, but for the rules of discipline institutedby the commander.

  Two men jumped ashore, and proceeded to unfasten the ropes; thoughreally this could have been done from aboard, as the painters had beenso fastened that all it required was a strong pull. Others stooped tograsp the long, stout push poles, with which to urge the unwieldy craftahead. Once in the clutch of the current, of course that part of thebusiness would be ended; though they might continue to drop the polesover, and strain their backs, as long as they were able to touch bottom.

  Others, still, crouched, guns in hand, ready to commence shooting atthe first indication of the presence of the fierce enemy.

  Everything worked smoothly. The ropes were unfastened, and broughtaboard, without any trouble. Already a load was lifted from the heartsof the voyagers; and this lightened still more when they could feel theheavy craft beginning to move in response to the muscular efforts ofthose who were straining at the poles.

  Soon the sweeps could be brought into play, when their movement wouldbecome more rapid. Eager eyes scanned the line of trees from which twodozen feet of sand and water now separated them. At any second theyexpected to see dusky figures leap into view, followed by the crash ofmany guns. Looking to such a contingency, Mr. Armstrong had sent arounda whispered caution that at the very first appearance of the wily foeeverybody should shelter themselves as best they could behind therampart afforded by the gunwale of the flatboat, expressly built up forthis purpose.

  "Do you think they are really coming?" whispered Sandy, as he and Bobcrouched there, sheltered by the heavy bulwark, and keeping their eyesfastened on the edge of the forest.

  "Some of the men are already beginning to say that Blue Jacket musthave heard a buffalo passing, or deer hunting for new feeding grounds;and that, after all, it may be only a false alarm; but I do not believethat can be. You know, Sandy, how wonderfully he can tell just whatevery sound means, when they seem alike to us. If Blue Jacket saysthere are Indians afoot in the forest this night, I feel sure it mustbe so."

  "Oh! I thought I saw what looked like a feathered head thrust out ofthe bushes up yonder!" exclaimed Sandy.

  Hardly had he spoken than a single shrill yell rang out. It seemed tobe some sort of signal, and it must have conveyed the information thatthe boat was slipping away; for Bob felt sure he could detect both rageand disappointment in the loud cry.

  "There, that tells the story!" he exclaimed, as he nervously handledhis musket, and made
ready to give a good account of the bullet itcontained, if called up. "Blue Jacket knew what he was saying, just asI told you."

  "But we are far enough from the shore to be safe from an attack,"declared the other lad, joyfully; "and moving further out in the streamevery second, now that they've got the big sweeps to working. Let theIndians come, for all I care. They will be sorry if they try to swimout to us, with that fine moon shining. Why, we could see their headseasily, and hit them every time."

  Sandy might have gone on talking in this boastful strain, only that hiswords were deadened by a chorus of angry yells that broke out all alongthe shore. It was as though the savage enemy had been creeping forwardin a long semi-circle, meaning to close in on the tied-up flatboat, andrender escape impossible. And now, on discovering that those they hadexpected to make their victims were really beyond their reach, theygave vent to this expression of their furious rage.

  And women shuddered, while children held their very breath in fear,when they, for the first time on the voyage, heard the savage outburstthat told of red-skinned foes lurking within the depths of theprimitive forest, eager to wipe out every member of that brave littleexpedition.