CHAPTER III
AN INVISIBLE CHASE
Deep in a shadowed glade sat the five, eating a quiet breakfast, andtalking in low tones of satisfaction.
"I knew that you would come," said Paul, "and when I heard the four criesof the wolf I knew, too, that all four of you were there. When you sentthe call Braxton Wyatt, who alone might have suspected, was asleep. TheSpanish commander was awake, and he was troubled, but he did not knowwhy."
"Wa'al, I guess he knows now," said Shif'less Sol with a silent but deeplaugh. "Ef he's the kind o' man you say he is, Paul, an' I guess he is--heneeded our teachin' him a lesson. I hate a man who knows too much, who istoo almighty certain, an' I guess the Spaniard is one o' that kind. Thinko' him comin' out here in the woods, breakin' faith, so to speak, an'holdin' you, Paul. Ef I wuz to go over to Europe, which I ain't ever goin'to do--an' wuz to light down in one o' them big cities, Paris or London,do you think I'd tell the fellers in the streets that I knowed more abouttheir town than they did?"
"No, Sol," said Paul, "you're too wise a man ever to do such a thing."
"I should hope I wuz," said Sol emphatically. "Jest think o' me stoppin' alot o' French fellers in the streets o' Paris, me jest happened in fromthe woods fur the fust time, an' sayin' to them: 'Here, Bob, be keerfulhow you cross the street thar, it's a right bad spot fur wagons, an' you'dshorely git run over ef you tried it,' or 'Now, Dick, that thar is thewrong street that you're takin', ef you foller it you'll land a full milefrom your cabin.'"
"But Frenchmen are not named Bob and Dick," said Paul with a smile.
"Wa'al ef they ain't they ought to be," said the shiftless one withconviction. "Why they want to call theirselves by all them long namesnobody can pronounce, when there are a lot o' good, nice, short, handynames like Dick, an' Jim, an' Bill, an' Bob, an' Hank, layin' 'roun' loosean' jest beggin' to be used, is more'n I kin understand."
"We must soon decide what to do," said Henry. "If the Spanish captainconcludes to help the Indians, and with Braxton Wyatt at his elbow I thinkhe is likely to do it, our people in Kentucky will again be in greatdanger. We must drive the Spaniards back to New Orleans."
"I agree with you," said Paul, "but how is it to be done?"
"Mebbe we kin shoo 'em back, skeer 'em, so to speak," said Shif'less Sol."We're jest bound to keep Spain out o' this country."
"It is true," said Paul. "Great things grow out of little ones. Such aland as this is sure to have a great population some day and what we fivedo now, obscure and few as we are, may help to decide what that populationis to be."
As Paul spoke, his comrades and the shadowed glen floated away, and thelook of seer came upon him. Again he saw great towns and a nation. Theothers regarded him with a little awe. The spiritual, or rather prophetic,quality in Paul always had their deep respect.
"Paul shorely does take mighty long looks ahead," whispered Shif'less Solto Henry, "an' sometimes I can't follow him clean to the end. I mostlydrop by the way. I like to live this very minute, an' I'm pow'ful glad tobe alive right now. But I'm with him clean to the finish o' our big job."
Henry nodded and presently he and the shiftless one went away through thewoods. Paul, Ross, and Long Jim remained lying at ease in the forest--Paulhad learned the great wilderness lesson of patience--and about noon thetwo returned. They had been spying upon the Spanish camp, and theyreported that Alvarez and his men had not moved.
"They seem to be waiting for something," said Henry. "Braxton Wyatt isstill with them, and they have posted more sentinels in a wider circle. Idon't believe they will move camp for several days. So long as they keeptheirs there, we'll keep ours here."
"O' course," said the shiftless one. "We must keep the watch."
Several days passed and there was little to do. One or another of thefive at times crept close to the Spanish camp, and always reported thatthe men there were lounging at their ease and still waiting. Now and thenthe Spaniards hunted in detachments, usually guided by Braxton Wyatt, andbrought in both deer and buffalo. On the fourth day Henry and Paul alsowent hunting.
"The country west of here," said Henry, "opens out into a big prairie, andwe may see something worth seeing."
Paul did not ask what it was, content to go and see, and the two, rifle onshoulder, slipped away through the woods, taking a direct, western course.
Paul noticed that the country soon became much less hilly, and that theforest thinned. After a while hills and forest ceased altogether and thetwo stood upon the edge of a wide sweep of gently rolling, open country,extending so far that it met the horizon.
"Look," said Henry. "A great prairie!"
"And look what's on it!" exclaimed Paul.
Henry laughed and glanced at his comrade's pleased face. As far as the eyecould reach the prairie was covered with a multitude of great, darkanimals, grazing on the short, sweet grass. Near by these animals, as Paulsaw, were a few feet apart, but further on they seemed to blend into onesolid, black, but heaving mass.
"A real buffalo herd," said Henry.
Paul had seen buffaloes often in Kentucky, but there they were usually insmall groups of a dozen or so, owing to the wooded nature of the country,and now he looked for the first time upon a great herd, twenty thousand,thirty thousand, maybe more--one could not calculate. The spectacleappealed greatly to his imaginative temperament.
"What a grand sight!" he said.
"Yes," said Henry, "it is wonderful, but, Paul, this is nothing to whatyou can see on the great plains. When I was a captive with thenorthwestern Indians I've seen a herd that was passing our party all day,and it was also so wide you could not see across it."
They stood there some time looking. The huge, savage bulls were on theoutskirts of the herd, and just beyond them at the fringe of the forestwere snarling timber wolves, waiting for a chance to drag down somecareless calf, or a bull weakened to the last degree by old age.
As the two youths looked they heard a shot and saw a movement among thebuffaloes. Another shot followed and then a half dozen. The portion of theherd near by seemed suddenly to contract and to roll in upon itself. Thewaiting wolves disappeared in the woods, and snorts of terror arose fromthe herd.
"There they are! I see them!" exclaimed Paul. "It is the Spaniards, sureenough!"
Five or six men in the Spanish military attire burst from the forest, notmore than a hundred yards away, and continued to fire as fast as theycould into the herd.
"How foolish!" exclaimed Henry. "Either they are wasting their shots or ifthey don't waste them they are killing far more buffaloes than they canuse!"
The boys withdrew into a thicket, as they did not wish to be seen by theSpaniards, and watched closely. The soldiers continued to reload and fireand uttered shouts of joy whenever a buffalo fell. Transported byexcitement they scattered, and one man ran down near Paul and Henry,detaching himself unconsciously from the rest of his comrades.
This Spaniard was young and athletic, and he fired at a huge bull. Had hebeen an experienced hunter, he would have known better, as the bull wastoo big and tough to eat, and he was also one of the savage guardians ofthe herd. Moreover, the Spaniards were armed mostly with muskets, a weaponfar inferior to the Kentucky rifle.
This great bull stung in the flank, but stung only, uttered a roar ofpain, and, sharp horns down, charged directly upon the young Spaniard. Hewas a terrifying sight as he tore up the grass of the prairie, his redeyes flaming. The Spaniard, appalled, dropped his musket and ran for thewoods, the great beast thundering at his heels, and his hot breath, infancy at least, upon his back. Both Paul and Henry at that instantrecognized him. It was one of the unfortunate sentinels. Luiz.
"I'll save him," said Henry, "but keep back, Paul! Don't let him see you!"
The Spaniard was about to reach the edge of the wood, but another jumpwould bring the raging buffalo upon him. His foot caught among some rootsand with a despairing cry he fell upon his face. But as he struck theground there was a sharp, lashing report, far different from t
he dull boomof a musket, and the great animal suddenly ploughed forward on his head.So violent was his plunge, as he was stricken in mid-charge, that his neckwas broken, and, after his crashing fall, he lay quite still.
The young Spaniard, Luiz, sprang to his feet unharmed, and he wasconfronted by a figure that startled him, the figure of a very tall andpowerful youth, clad wholly in deerskin, leaning on a long, slenderbarreled Kentucky rifle, and looking at him contemplatively. So sudden washis appearance and so fixed his gaze that Luiz, although joyful over hisescape from death, was startled and awed. His adventure of a few nightsbefore when he was seized, bound, and gagged by unseen but powerful handshad left him shaken, and now his brain was whirling.
The young Spaniard stared at the figure, which neither moved nor spoke,but which returned his gaze with a fixed look. Was it a spirit, or was itreally one of the Americans? But whatever it was, it had, beyond a doubt,saved his life, and deep down in his Spanish heart he was not ungrateful.
"Thanks, Senor!" he stammered. "Your shot--it came just in time!"
The apparition spoke, but only a few words.
"We are your friends, not your enemies, don't forget," it said, and thestartled Luiz rubbed his eyes. The figure of the great youth was gone. Ithad been there and then it was not there, and only some bushes, wavingslightly, told where it had been. He regained his musket, and, stillbewildered, rejoined his comrades to tell them a story that they did notmore than half believe.
Henry, laughing a little, returned to Paul. It had been a simple trick. Hehad merely darted away among the bushes, while Luiz was still in a daze.
"I did not want to see the man killed," he said, "and maybe we have soweda good seed, that will grow up in time, and produce something."
"It may be," added Paul.
They went a little farther into the forest and watched the Spaniardsfinish their hunt, gather up as much of their game as they could carry,and depart. When they were well out of sight, Henry and Paul went to aslain cow that the soldiers had neglected, cut out some of the choicestportions, and took the way to their own camp.
"I think the Spaniards are likely to be disturbed over what has happened,"said Henry.
In fact, the shiftless one, who was the scout the following night,returned with a story that the Spanish camp was greatly agitated. BraxtonWyatt and Alvarez were positive that the five were still lingeringsomewhere near, but the uneducated soldiers were not sure that a spiritwas not lurking in the wilderness. It might be a beneficent spirit, as ithad saved Luiz, but, on the other hand, it had taken away the Americanprisoner, and they were afraid of the unknown and mysterious. These vast,dark woods were so different from the open and sunny plains of Spain,where a man knew what to expect, that they were inspired with awe.
Yet Alvarez would not move, so Shif'less Sol reported. He seemed to bestill waiting for something, and on the following night Henry, Paul, andShif'less Sol went forth to watch the Spanish camp again.
"I've a feelin' in me," said the shiftless one, "that somethin' is goin'to happen to-night. I often have these feelin's, omens some people call'em, min'-readin' other people say. I notice that I gena'lly have 'em jestabout when all the circumstances show that things are comm' to a head,jest ez ef Paul here wuz to feel along about 6 or 7 o'clock in theafternoon that sundown couldn't be fur away. You can't beat it. Now whenI've gone fifteen or eighteen hours without food I have a feelin'--an'it's a strong one, too--that I'm goin' to be hungry, an' I'm sca'cely evermistook, jest ez I've got a feelin' when the skies are filled with bigblack clouds that it's liable to rain purty soon. I tell you, Paul, it's agreat thing to have this here power you call second sight."
The three walked steadily on in Indian file through the forest, theirtrained feet making no sound among the trunks and brushes. The night wasdark, just suited to their purpose, and clouds floated up to dim theskies. No stars came out, and the moon was hidden. By and bye the windrose, and dashes of rain were whipped into their faces.
But the three did not mind. Such things as these had become trifles tothem long since. Henry led with sure step, Shif'less Sol came next, andPaul brought up the rear. Henry stopped after a while, and sank downamong the bushes. The other two did likewise, and, after a little pause inwhich they heard nothing, they began to creep forward, taking the utmostcare to make not even the slightest sound. They saw presently through thetrees and bushes a faint red shade that grew fast to a glow and then to aglare.
Henry stopped, sank lower, and beckoned to his comrades. They crept to hisside and looked over a steep little cliff directly upon the Spanish camp.Most of the soldiers were grouped about a large camp fire, and FranciscoAlvarez was among them in a place of honor.
Hidden in the deep shrubbery the three occupied points of vantage, and,while secure from observation themselves, they could easily see all thatpassed in the glade. Several tents had been set, although the flaps werewide open and within one of these sat Francisco Alvarez in all thegorgeous attire of a Spanish officer, most fastidious in his taste. Thegold on his uniform glittered, the lace on his cuffs was snowy and fresh,and the polished hilt of his small sword gleamed in the firelight. He hadthe air of one who expected distinguished guests.
"Now I wonder what has become of Braxton Wyatt," whispered Paul. Nowherecould he see a sign of the renegade.
"He is coming," whispered Henry, who had what Shif'less Sol would havecalled an intuition.
Two of the Spaniards heaped more wood upon the fire. The logs crackledand blazed merrily, casting long tongues of flame across the glade, andsending a grateful heat into the veins of the warm-blooded Southerners.The flurries of rain ceased, and the skies brightened a little. A star ortwo peeped out.
"Ah!" said Henry in the lowest of whispers, "here they come!"
The bushes at the far side of the glade parted and three figures came intothe open. They took but two or three steps forward and then stopped fullin the blaze of the firelight, where every feature showed like carving inthe red glow.
The hidden watchers recognized at once the three who had come. They wereBraxton Wyatt, Yellow Panther the Miami chief, and Red Eagle the Shawneechief. Paul repressed a little cry of amazement that he should see the twoIndian leaders so far from the territory of their tribes. They must intendmuch to come such a journey.
Braxton Wyatt stepped back a little, as if having performed his functionof guide he would now remain awhile in the background, but the two greatchiefs stood motionless, side by side, magnificent specimens of savagelife, bronze of skin, tall of figure, powerful of chest, thin, eagle-likefaces, and defiant scalp-locks waving above. The imaginative Paul, seeinghow well they fitted into the wilderness scene, was forced to admire. Thefirelight flickered and blazed over them, but they were immovable in alltheir savage dignity. Henry put his hand upon Paul's shoulder, and pressedgently. It was an intimation to look with all his eyes and listen withall attention. But Paul did not need the hint.
Francisco Alvarez also was impressed. He loved the towns and luxury, buthe had acuteness and perception, and he knew that these were strong men oftheir kind, men with whom he must deal according to the courtesy of thewoods. He rose from his tent, bowed to them, and walked forward. Hehimself was a splendid figure in his gorgeous uniform, and his carriagewas marked by dignity.
"Now see them salute," whispered the shiftless one in Paul's ear.
Braxton Wyatt stepped forward again, produced a pipe with a beautifullycarved horn handle, and filled it carefully with tobacco, which he lightedwith a coal from the fire. Then he handed it to Red Eagle, who was theolder of the chiefs, and Red Eagle gravely took a half dozen whiffs. Thenhe passed it to Yellow Panther, who did likewise, and the chief in histurn handed it to the Spanish commander. Alvarez smoked gravely for a halfminute, and then Braxton Wyatt took the pipe.
"Now for the big confab," whispered Sol.
Fine buffalo robes were spread before the fire, and the three leaders andBraxton Wyatt sat upon them. All others kept at a respectful distance. Thefour
began to talk and, although only an occasional word reached thewatching three, they knew too well their subject of converse. It was thegreat conspiracy to draw the Spanish from Louisiana into an attack uponthe infant settlements, upon the ground that they were or would beinterlopers. It was cannon that the assailants needed to smash the blockhouses, and cannon in abundance could be brought on the great rivers fromNew Orleans.
The watchers presently saw Braxton Wyatt take a small parcel from theinside of his deerskin hunting shirt. He unfolded the parcel and thewatchers could see that it consisted of large pieces of the finest, tanneddeerskin.
"Maps," said Paul intuitively. "That scoundrel, Braxton Wyatt, has madethem for the aid of the Spanish, and to disclose all our weak points!"
The fire blazed higher and they could see that on the white deerskin weredrawn lines in colored pigment, and the rest they guessed. It was trueenough. Braxton Wyatt, no mean draughtsman, had drawn, with the mostelaborate care and attention to detail, maps on a large scale of every oneof the infant settlements. There was nothing about Wareville in particularthat he did not show, and he also designated all the rivers, hills, andvalleys as far as they were known. With such aid a Spanish force, backedby cannon and the warriors, must triumph over every post in Kentucky.
"I never thought of this," whispered Paul. Henry merely pressed hisshoulder again to indicate that they were ready to deal with it, if mancould.
The three watchers remained there more than an hour, and Alvarez, Wyatt,and the chiefs still discussed the maps with every appearance ofagreement, bending their heads over them, and now and then disclosingeager faces, as they lifted them in the firelight.
"Alvarez wants to help them," whispered Paul. "He hates us, and, if hecan, he will commit the Governor of Louisiana to the Indian alliance."
"Beyond a doubt," replied Henry, "and so it's not worth while for us towait here any longer."
They slid away in the dark and returned to their own camp. There Long Jimand Tom Ross were placidly awaiting them, and they were not at allsurprised at the news. Then the five held another of their conferences.
"I think it likely," said Paul, "that Alvarez will go back at once to NewOrleans. He will tell the Governor there that armed bands of Americans aretrespassing upon Spanish territory and that they must be driven off. Hewill come back with cannon and a powerful force to do the driving. Thatmeans war, of course, and an attack upon us in Kentucky. How will theGovernor of New Orleans know whether the fighting is on Spanish territoryor not? And even if Alvarez overstepped the limits he could say that hewas attacked first."
"Of course," said Henry, "and it means that we must follow Alvarez all theway to New Orleans if necessary, and it may be that we shall have to carrythe message of the Kentuckians to Bernardo Galvez, the Spanish GovernorGeneral himself."
"We're ready," said Shif'less Sol lazily. "I wouldn't mind seein' thatfurrin town. I saw a town once when I wuz a little boy. It wuz Baltimore,an' a pow'ful big place it wuz, most nigh set my head to swimmin'. Iheard tell that ez many ez eight or ten thousand people lived thar. Soundsimpossible but some o' 'em swore it wuz true."
"We'll prepare at once for the journey," said Henry.
All set to work.
The Free Rangers: A Story of the Early Days Along the Mississippi Page 3