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Read Ebook: On the Border with Andrew Jackson by McIntyre John T John Thomas Anderson Frederic A Illustrator
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Ebook has 667 lines and 67031 words, and 14 pages
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THE TRAPPER WAS SEATED IN THE DOORWAY 45
THEY SIGHTED THE FORT 99
THE ARROWS OF THE CREEKS RAINED ABOUT THEM 163
On the Border With Andrew Jackson
IN THE CREEK COUNTRY
"Much good place for camp! Heap fine water!"
It was a young Cherokee brave who spoke; from the back of his wiry little sorrel horse he pointed ahead to a small stream which could be seen winding its way among the trees.
"Yes; it looks as if it had been made for a camp, Running Elk," replied a bronzed athletic white boy. "What do you say, Frank, shall we pitch the tent there to-night?"
Frank Lawrence glanced toward the sun, which was already lowering toward the horizon.
"We might as well, Jack," replied he. "We couldn't go much farther, anyway."
Jack Davis shook the rein of his black horse; and so the three rode toward the stream, which was perhaps a quarter of a mile away. It was late autumn and the year was 1812. The Muscogee country, as the state of Alabama was then called, was green with mighty forests, and in places almost untrodden by the foot of the white man; game was to be met on every hand; and the red huntsmen ranged the hills and valleys, seeking not only food, but their foes as well.
The young Cherokee warrior led a packhorse which bore upon its back provisions and camp equipment. The youthful savage was a handsome, supple fellow, attired in the picturesque dress of his nation, and carrying a bow and quiver of arrows; also a tomahawk and knife hung at his belt.
Jack Davis was about eighteen years of age; he had been born and reared upon the Tennessee border, and had the keen, hardy look which comes of facing nature in her most rugged aspects. Frank Lawrence, on the other hand, was a product of civilization; he was fresh from Richmond; and while he had little of the bronze and none of the woodcraft of the other lad, still, ounce for ounce, it would have been a cunning choice to select the one who would have endured the greater fatigue.
Both wore fringed leggings, hunting shirts and coonskin caps; from the shoulders of each hung a long rifle, powder horn and bullet pouch; in their belts were thrust broad bladed hunting knives and keen edged hatchets.
"Since we got down into this country I've noticed a great number of small streams much like the one ahead," remarked Frank. "It's as though there were a sort of network of them."
Jack laughed.
"I noticed that, too, first time I got down this far," replied he. "Those streams gave the redskins of this region their name. They call themselves Muscogees; but the whites call them Creeks."
"It seems to me I've heard Running Elk speak of them by another name," said Frank, with a glance at the Cherokee.
"Oh, yes, Red Sticks," said Jack. "They get that name from the war club they carry, which is always colored red."
"Red Stick no good," spoke Running Elk, calmly. "Much bad medicine. Cherokee hate 'um."
Both the white boys laughed at this unhesitating declaration; their nags loped easily forward over the velvet-like sward toward the creek; they were intent only upon camp, a good supper and a comfortable rest after the long ride through the wilderness. Suddenly Running Elk reined in his sorrel horse so sharply as to throw it back upon its haunches. With a gesture of warning he threw up one hand.
"Stop!" said he.
The white boys scarcely needed the spoken warning; they had noted the young brave's sudden stop; and their own was almost as short. They were at the top of a hill.
"What is it?" asked Frank, surprised.
But Jack Davis had no need to ask; his sharp eyes, as accustomed as an Indian's to the signs of the forest, swept the growth of trees ahead, and at once saw the cause of Running Elk's action.
"Look there," said he, pointing.
Frank followed the direction of the indicating finger; from above the softly waving tops of the trees curled a slim column of smoke.
"Hello!" said he. "Some one else has camped there."
All three drew back into the cover of a clump of beech; Jack dismounted and began to examine the ground. And as he worked over it, going from place to place like a keen-scented hound, Frank joined him.
"Any tracks?" he inquired with interest.
"I don't see any here," replied the young borderer. "They may have come another way." Upon his hands and knees, taking advantage of the tall grass, fallen trees and hummocks of earth, he made his way to the right of their own trail. "Keep as close to the ground as you can," he warned Frank, who followed him. "We don't know who they are, and as they are almost sure to be on the watch, we don't want to be seen until we know they're friends."
About two score yards from their original stopping place he paused.
"Injuns!" said he.
Frank looked at the signs; there were the hoof tracks of a dozen or more horses; and the broad drag of the poles in the midst of these was unmistakable.
"I suppose none but the redskins drag their camp stuff on poles at their horses' heels that way, eh?" asked he.
"No," replied Jack Davis. "But there are other signs, too. If you'll notice, they rode in single file; Injuns almost always do that and white men never, unless the trail is narrow. And look where one of the redskins dismounted! See the print of his moccasin in the dust? Only Injuns have feet shaped like that."
They made their way, in the same cautious fashion, back to the place where the young Cherokee guarded the horses.
"They're Injuns," said Jack.
Running Elk nodded; he did not seem at all surprised.
"Red Sticks," spoke he. And then: "How many?"
"About ten--with packhorses, and lodge poles."
This latter statement seemed to attract the young warrior's attention. His keen eyes went in the direction of the curling column of smoke as it was lifted above the tree tops.
"Not hunters," said he. "Party from long way off."
"What makes you think that, Running Elk?" asked Frank.
"Hunters no carry tepee; pack meat on horses' backs."
From their concealment behind the clump of beeches, the three watched the ascending smoke for some little time; then as the sun sank below the line of forest and the shadows began to gather, Jack said:
"Well, it looks as though we couldn't venture down to the creek, at this point, anyhow; so, if we're going to have any supper, we'd best be looking for another camping place."
Remounting, they headed away to the west; darkness came upon them as they reached a narrow ravine. Here they built a small fire, carefully masked so as not to be observed by a chance prowler; some small game, shot during the afternoon, was roasted upon their ramrods, with flour cakes baked upon the gray coals. While they ate, Frank looked soberly at Jack.
"I suppose we've been very fortunate in not coming upon any roving Indian bands before now," said he.
Jack nodded.
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