The Story of Red Feather: A Tale of the American Frontier, Edward Sylvester Ellis [icecream ebook reader .txt] 📗
- Author: Edward Sylvester Ellis
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Having but a single horse, he was obliged to leave part of his load behind, and such slow progress was made in his crippled condition that the day was well gone before he reached Barwell.
There he was startled to learn that his children had started home[97]ward early in the day, and were still absent. He set about organizing a rescue party at once. Fortunately, Nat Trumbull and several of his rangers were present, and they eagerly gave their help. Within half an hour after the father received the alarming tidings Trumbull was cantering southward with a dozen tried men and true, and among them was Archibald Clarendon himself.
Although the escape of the three parties from the beleaguered cabin may strike you as wonderful, yet, after all, there was nothing very remarkable in it.
Red Feather would have forgotten his lifelong training, had he failed to see and take instant advantage of the providential diversion when the Sioux, in the gathering darkness, made all haste to the top of the hill to learn about the horsemen approaching from the north.
Had the Sioux suspected that the brain of one of their shrewdest chiefs was helping the boy and girl, they would have been far more vigilant; but, as it was, they must have believed that nothing could draw the lad outside of his shelter until the appearance of his friends.
Red Feather was standing as before at one of the upper windows when the stampede took place to the crest of the hill. He read its meaning, and saw his golden opportunity.
"Now we go," he said in an undertone; "me carry pappoose (child)—you come 'long—put blanket round—den look like Indian."
There was another reason for using the blanket; the air was cold enough to require it.
Melville was quick to catch the idea, and, whipping a quilt from the bed, he gathered it about his shoulders, so that it came almost to his crown. His straw hat would have been too conspicuous, and [98]he held that in front of his breast, under the blanket, to be put in its proper place again when it should become safe to do so.
"I'm ready," he said, standing erect, and looking at Red Feather as well as he could in the gloom.
"Me too."
The chief had lifted Dot in his arms, and he covered her with his thick blanket, doing so with such skill that hardly any one would have suspected the nature of the precious burden he carried next to his heart.
Not a minute was lost. Red Feather passed down the steps, paused in front of the door, and waited for Melville to unfasten it. The youth donned his hat, flung aside his blanket, and set his gun down to give his arms play. The heavy bar was lifted from its place, and then, in obedience to an odd whim, he thrust the end of the leathern string through the orifice above the latch.
He gathered his blanket about his shoulders and head as before, doffing his hat and returning it to its hiding-place, and paused for the chieftain to precede him.
Red Feather stood a minute on the threshold, peering out in the darkness. Everything looked favorable, and he stepped forward. Melville was directly behind him, and softly closed the door as he left the cabin.
The Sioux, instead of walking straight away from the building, moved stealthily along the front, passed around the corner, and started southward. By this means he interposed the cabin between himself and the party on the hill.[99]
"The youth was almost on his heels. His heart beat fast, and he was eager to break into a run."—Page 98
The youth was almost on his heels. His heart beat fast, and he was eager to break into a run that would quickly increase the [101]distance between him and the war-party. He was about to suggest that they should hasten, when, to his surprise, he perceived that his friend was moving so much faster than he that he threatened to leave him out of sight altogether. Red Feather had struck a peculiar gait. It looked as if he was walking, but his pace was a loping trot, in which the feet were lifted only slightly from the ground. The movement was as smooth as that of a pacing horse, and he adopted it in order to save Dot from jolting.
The Sioux, on emerging from the building, had glanced sharply about him, in the hope of catching sight of his own pony, or one belonging to a warrior; but there was none convenient, and he dared not wait.
"Saladin must be hovering somewhere in the neighborhood," thought his young owner, "and it would be mighty fine if I could run against him, but it doesn't look as if there is much chance."
Red Feather continued his loping gait for two or three hundred yards, when he once more dropped to a walk; but his steps were so lengthy and rapid that the lad had to trot most of the time to hold his own.
Melville fancied his leader was changing his course, but he could only guess its direction. Looking back, nothing was visible of the cabin left a few minutes before. Everything was dark, the country being an undulating prairie. Mr. Clarendon used no fences, and the ground travelled by the fugitives had not been broken.
It seemed to the youth that the most natural thing for Red Feather to do was to make directly for the settlement, ten miles to the northward. It was a long tramp, but the two were capable of doing much more without special fatigue.
[102]The chieftain did not speak as he hurried forward; and the boy asked him no questions, content to wait until he chose to tell his plans. His pace grew more moderate, and soon became easy for Melville to keep his place beside him.
It need not be said that both made good use of their eyes and ears. Although beyond sight of the house, it was too soon to think themselves safe. If a collision took place between Tall Bear and the new-comers, some of the Indians were likely to be skurrying backwards and forwards on their ponies, and it was probable they would come upon the fugitives.
Whenever Red Feather should meet his fellows there would be a sensation, but he was not the warrior to shrink the test, though he wished it to be deferred until the brother and sister were beyond the resentment of every one of his tribe.
CHAPTER TENAN OLD FRIEND—SEPARATED
SUDDENLY Red Feather stopped. Melville did the same, wondering what the cause could be.
The youth stood so near that he saw the chief was looking to the right, as though he had heard a suspicious sound or saw something in that direction. The lad gave close attention, since he could detect nothing.
The Indian resumed his walk more slowly than before, but did not utter a word. His glances, however, to one side showed he was [103]not free from misgiving, and by-and-by he stopped walking and listened intently as before.
"What is it?" asked Melville, giving way to his curiosity.
"Me hear something," was the reply, the Indian going still slower.
"I can't detect anything," said the lad, as though the fact ought to lighten the fears of the other.
Red Feather now tenderly placed Dot on her feet. The little one was half asleep, and rubbed her eyes after the manner of children when disturbed.
A whispered word from her brother kept her quiet, and, kneeling down, Red Feather pressed his ear to the ground, holding it there for a full minute. Then he raised his head a few inches, looked off into the darkness, placed the side of his face against the ground for a few seconds more, after which he rose to his feet.
Instead of explaining, he turned to Melville.
"You see Red Feather do—you do same as him."
Melville promptly obeyed, assuming the same posture that his friend had taken. Closing his eyes, so as to shut out everything that might distract his senses, he gave all his efforts to that of hearing.
Yes, he did hear something—just the faintest irregular beating on the ground—so faint indeed that he would not have believed it anything except for what the Sioux had said.
"Hear nuffin?" asked the other, as the boy came to his feet.
"Yes, I think I did hear a faint noise."
"What him be?"
"That's more than I can tell, Red Feather."
"Hoss—hear hoss walking—dat what hear."
"Is that the fact?" asked Melville, somewhat startled, peering [104]toward the same point of the compass at which the chief had gazed though the lad had no other idea of the right course.
"Hoss—he come dis way."
"If that is so there is likely to be someone on him, and I don't think it is well for us to meet him."
To this wise remark Red Feather gave no answer, but continued peering in the same direction as before.
"If there is one horseman there is likely to be more——"
Melville cut short his own words, and whistled cautiously, checking that with equal suddenness, through fear of offending his friend.
But the chief showed no displeasure, and, before anything could be said, the form of a riderless horse came out of the gloom and trotted forward with a faint neigh of pleasure.
"Saladin, my own Saladin!" exclaimed the delighted youth, flinging his arms around the outstretched neck, and actually touching his lips to the silken nose of the noble steed.
"Saladin, old fellow, I'm proud of you," said Melville; "the Sioux did their best to steal you away from us, but you were too smart for them. One was cruel enough to shoot at you, but it don't look as if he did any damage."
The youth could not resist the temptation to place his foot in the stirrup, and leap into the saddle, where he was "at home."
"Now, Red Feather," he added, "things are beginning to look up; I can relieve you of carrying Dot; the truth is that after we cross the stream I shall feel safe. Under heaven, we owe everything to you; but you need go no farther with us."
"Ain't safe," said the chieftain sententiously; "Injins all round—Red Feather go all way home wid pappoose."
[105]"That is very kind, but I can relieve you of your burden."
"Me carry pappoose," replied the Sioux, moving toward the little one.
"Dot," said her brother, "which would you rather do—ride on Saladin with me or let Red Feather carry you?"
"A riderless horse came out of the gloom."
"It's a good deal nicer to have him carry me; take me, Red Feather," she added, reaching out her arms.
Melville was glad to hear this answer, for he knew it would touch the chieftain, whose heart had become wrapped up in the sweet little one.
Before he could lift her, however, he paused, and, saying "Wait," again knelt down with his ear to the ground.
The result was satisfactory, and, remarking that he heard nothing [106]more, he stood upon his feet, stooped over, and lifted the little one to her old place. Then the flight was taken up as before.
Melville held Saladin back, so as to follow the leader, who reached the side of the stream a few minutes later. Objects were indistinct, but the youth was so familiar with the spot that he recognized it as the Upper Crossing. When the lad would have lost himself the Sioux had gone as unerringly to the spot as though the sun were shining overhead to guide him.
"Now," said Melville, as they waited a minute or two on the brink, "there is no need for you to wade across, and wet your leggings to the knees; it can be easily fixed."
"Oogh! heap big load for hoss—carry all."
The lad laughed.
"That isn't what I mean; the pony is strong enough to bear us, but it isn't necessary; I'll ride him over, and then send him back after you."
This was a sensible course, for, though an Indian cares little for the inconvenience of wading through water of considerable depth, yet he will not do so when there in any practicable means of avoiding it.
"You must be careful," added Melville, as he was about to ride into the current, "for there are some deep places which the horse will have to skirt closely. If he steps into one, he will go over his depth, and that will make it bad for you and Dot; I think I had better carry her over with me."
"Oogh! Red Feather know holes, 'cause he fall in 'em—mebbe you fall in wid
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