The original band of marauders numbered over a score, and were under the joint2 leadership of Tall Bear and Red Feather, both of whom were eager to sweep along the thin line of settlements like a cyclone3, scattering4 death and destruction in their path. It may strike you that so small a force was hardly equal to the task of such a raid; but I have only to remind you that the famous Geronimo and his Apaches, who made their home among the alkali deserts and mountain fastnesses of Arizona and New Mexico, numbered few warriors5 at times, and yet they baffled for years a regiment6 of United States cavalry7. It was only when the chieftain chose to come in and surrender himself under the pledge of good treatment that hostilities8 ended.
The twenty-odd horsemen under the leadership of Red Feather and Tall Bear were fitting types of that savage9 horde10 which in the early summer of 1876 blotted11 out General Custer and his troops. It so happened, however, with the smaller party that they found no such favoring circumstances to help them. At the first settler's cabin assailed12 they discovered the inmates13 ready for them. In some way or other, several families had learned of their danger in time to prepare for their assailants.
[81]It was clear to the Indians that the settlers in that section had taken the alarm, and Red Feather proposed they should abandon their first plan and push northward14 towards Barwell, attacking the isolated15 homes to the south of that settlement. Tall Bear opposed so warmly, and with such slurs16 on his rival, that a personal conflict was narrowly averted17.
The end of the quarrel was that Red Feather, with five of his followers18, drew off from the rest and rode northward. The result of this separation was unsatisfactory to both parties.
The friendly Indian who had hastened toward Barwell to warn the pioneers of their danger did his work so well that hardly one was neglected. The inmates of the first cabin attacked by Red Feather were awaiting him. Only a few shots were exchanged, when the wrathful chieftain withdrew, and, pushing to the northward, next swooped19 down on the dwelling20 of Archibald Clarendon.
No resistance was encountered there, for, as you know, the inmates had left some time before. For some reason never fully21 explained, Red Feather did not fire the buildings at once. Shortly after, Melville Clarendon and his sister appeared on the scene, and the incidents which followed have already been told.
Meanwhile, Tall Bear and his warriors met with no better success than the smaller party. The proof became so strong that the whole district was on the alert that he abruptly22 changed his mind and led his warriors at a sweeping23 gallop24 to the northward over the trail of Red Feather and his warriors.
When he arrived on the scene he heard the curious story the five warriors had to tell. A dwelling at last had been found in which the occupants were not fully prepared, or rather, were so insignificant25 [82]in strength that no company of Sioux, however small, could consent to a repulse26.
But there stood the cabin defying them. Red Feather had forced his way partly through the window and then was caught so fast that, but for the mercy of the sturdy youth within, he would have been killed without being able to use a finger to defend himself.
Among the whole party who heard the remarkable27 narrative28, there was not one who would have thought of keeping a promise made under such circumstances as was that of the chief. No pledge could have been more solemn, and yet those are the very ones that are first repudiated29 by the red man.
To Tall Bear and his band the action of Red Feather in descending30 the chimney was natural. The bitterest enemy of the chieftain never questioned his courage, and, knowing how chagrined31 he must feel over his mishap32, they could understand the desperate feeling that prompted the deed, the like of which was seldom if ever known before.
There was little said about Red Feather's wish to keep his agreement with Melville, for the reason I have already hinted—his proposal to do so was not earnest enough to mislead them.
But to the Sioux outside it looked very much as if the descent of the chimney by the chief had marked the end of his career. Among all the warriors there was not one who believed the truth—that he had been changed from the fiercest enemy into the most beloved friend of the boy and girl.
The tantalizing33 shout of Melville from the window was proof to the warriors that Red Feather had been slain34 by the boy, though, as I have said, no report of a gun was heard from within the building.
[83]The chieftain's course, after proving himself a friend of the brother and sister, showed his desire to keep his presence in the house unsuspected by his own people. He took care that no glimpse of him was caught through the windows, and he refrained from firing when he had any number of chances to bring down an Indian.
Doubtless there were several reasons for this forbearance. Such a shot would be credited to Melville, and might excite the Sioux to an attack too furious to be resisted. At the same time, it is hardly to be supposed that Red Feather's feelings had so changed, because of his wish to save Dot and her brother, that he was ready to turn about and begin shooting at the very ones whom he had led on this raid.
It cannot be said that Tall Bear grieved any more over the loss of his rival leader than did most of the warriors. He prudently35 uttered some words of sympathy, but they hardly deceived those who heard them. They agreed with him, however, in declaring that his fall must be avenged36, and that the boy who had caused his death, as well as his little sister, must suffer torture-punishment for the deed.
Several circuits around the building proved that it could hardly be carried by the most determined37 assault in their power. All the windows were too narrow to be used as a means of entrance, even if any one was brave enough to repeat the disastrous38 experiment of the other chief. The single door had already resisted the strongest shock they could give it, and no weak point was visible.
True, the path used by Red Feather when he finally succeeded in gaining the interior was open to the rest; but it is no reflection on their courage to say that among the whole party there was not one [84]willing to head the procession down the chimney, even though but a solitary39 boy and a single rifle stood in the way.
Clearly there was one means at the command of Tall Bear and his Sioux which was not only terrible, but effective. They could set fire to the building and reduce it to ashes.
The lookout40 on the hill reported the horizon clear in every direction; and, since his wide sweep of vision extended toward every point of the compass, he was able to discover the approach of hostile horsemen a good while before they could reach the spot. He knew that if help came it would be from the northward, where Barwell lay, whither Mr. Clarendon and his wife had hurried on the first alarm. The prairie for a couple of miles was under a scrutiny41 that would let nothing escape.
The circumstances were so favorable that Tall Bear and his party decided42 to indulge in a feast. Enough poultry43 were wandering about the premises44 to afford a fine meal for a larger band than he had with him, and it took only a short time to wring45 the necks of more than a score of ducks and chickens.
The Sioux gathered to the westward46 of the barn and ate like so many wild animals until all were satisfied. The meal finished, they gave their attention to the serious business before them. Had the incidents I am relating taken place half a century ago, the red men would have been obliged to resort to the old-fashioned flint and steel with which our forefathers47 used to start a fire; but they were abreast48 of these modern times to that extent that nearly every one carried more or less lucifer-matches.
The favoring wind led to the barn being fired, under the belief that the flames would quickly communicate with the house but a short [85]distance off; but, as you have learned, Providence49 favored the threatened ones to that extent that the breeze changed its course, and for a time Dot and Melville were saved.
"His attention was drawn50 to the sentinel on the hill."—Page 86
Tall Bear and the Sioux waited till, to their disappointment and surprise, they saw the barn sink into blazing ruins and leave the house intact.
The next proceeding51 was to gather what embers they could and pile them against the dwelling, where they speedily burst into flames. It now looked certain that the structure was doomed52; but the heavy logs, although dry on the outside, were damp within. It takes such timber a long time to part with its natural moisture, and, fortunately for our friends, a driving rain-storm less than a week previous had so [86]soaked the wood that only an intense and long-continued heat could set it aflame. The logs were charred53 and scorched54, and more than once appeared to be on the point of breaking into a roaring blaze; but the brands piled against the end of the house finally sank down to embers and ashes, and though considerable smoke arose, the house stood really as firm and as strong as at the first.
This was a keener disappointment than Tall Bear had yet met, for it looked as though the most potent55 if not the only means at his command was powerless to bring the boy to terms.
The chieftain himself examined the logs which had been subjected to the fire. He dug his hunting-knife into them, and soon discovered why they resisted the fire so effectually. Then he tested other parts of the house in the same manner and with the same result.
For the first time since his arrival on the spot he was forced to see the probability of another failure. His career from the hour he bounded upon his pony56 and entered so eagerly on the raid had been a continual disappointment. He was angered and resentful toward the supposed dead Red Feather, because he allowed himself to be baffled at the beginning by a solitary boy.
Tall Bear's pride was stirred, and he was unwilling57 to confess himself beaten after openly blaming his predecessor58 for failing to capture the place with less than one-third of his force.
But there seemed to be no help for it, unless he should persevere59 with the fire until the logs of the house were forced into combustion60. They must yield in time, if the effort was kept up; and he was on the point of renewing the attempt on a larger scale than before when his attention was drawn to the sentinel on the hill, who uttered the startling cry that horsemen were in sight to the northward.[87]
[88] "More Sioux comin'—open door quick."—Page 90
[89]The chief and the warriors who were not already on the spot hurried thither61 to learn what it meant.
As I have explained elsewhere, this discovery did not take place until near nightfall, when darkness was beginning to render surrounding objects indistinct. The long delay in the arrival of help for the children of the pioneer led Tall Bear to believe it was not likely to come before morning; but once more it looked as if Providence was about to interfere62 to bring his wicked schemes to naught63.
The gloom overspreading stream and prairie prevented the Sioux from seeing the horsemen clearly enough to identify them. The forms were so shadowy and vague that nothing more could be learned than that there were about a dozen men mounted on horses, and riding toward the cabin on a slow walk, as if not without some misgiving64.
It was certain that while the sentinel on the hill commanded an unusually wide sweep of vision, he himself was conspicuous65, and the others had been as quick to discover him as he was to detect them. Both parties, therefore, were aware of the presence of the other, and neither was likely to make a mistake at this critical juncture66.
But neither Tall Bear nor any of his warriors could tell of a surety whether the approaching horsemen were white or red men. The Sioux grouped around the house were not the only ones by any means that were engaged on this memorable67 raid in Southern Minnesota, and it was not impossible that a party of friends were in sight.
It was somewhat curious that the majority of the Sioux believed a party of their own people at hand. Tall Bear himself was inclined to think the same; but to guard against any fatal mistake, he directed his warriors to ride down the hill on the east, so as to interpose [90]between them and the strangers, who could now be barely distinguished68.
Two other Sioux were to wait until the horsemen came near enough to settle the question, when they would make it known by signal, after which the course of the band would be open. If the new-comers proved to be enemies, a sharp fight was likely to follow, in which serious damage was certain to be inflicted69 on both sides.
The directions of the leader were promptly70 followed, the warriors galloping71 off and quickly disappearing in the direction of the upper trail, along which Melville and Dot had ridden on their way from the settlement.
"The door swung inward."
While they were thus engaged, Tall Bear cantered to the front of the cabin and leaped to the ground. He had determined to attempt a trick.
Striking his fist against the door, he called out—
"More Sioux comin'—open door quick—Tall Bear won't hurt—don't wait."
He hoped the actions of himself and warriors had made known the former fact before he announced it in words. He counted upon a panic that would show the lad his situation was hopeless, and induce him to surrender while there was hope of mercy.
[91]There was no reply to his summons, and he raised his fist to strike the door again, when he discovered the latch-string on the outside. With no suspicion of what it meant, he gave it a twitch72.
To his amazement73, the door swung inward of its own weight, and, before he could check himself, he had to take a step within to escape falling.
With a vague suspicion of the truth, he called to the lad again, and groped about the lower room.
He quickly discovered that it was empty, and then, with little personal fear, he hurried up the stairs.
Two minutes were enough to make clear the truth.
He was the only living person in the cabin!
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1
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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2
joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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3
cyclone
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| n.旋风，龙卷风 | |
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4
scattering
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| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
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5
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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7
cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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8
hostilities
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| n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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horde
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| n.群众，一大群 | |
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blotted
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| 涂污( blot的过去式和过去分词 )； （用吸墨纸）吸干 | |
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12
assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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13
inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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14
northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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15
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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slurs
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| 含糊的发音( slur的名词复数 )； 玷污； 连奏线； 连唱线 | |
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averted
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| 防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移 | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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swooped
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| 俯冲，猛冲( swoop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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repulse
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| n.击退，拒绝；vt.逐退，击退，拒绝 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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repudiated
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| v.（正式地）否认( repudiate的过去式和过去分词 )；拒绝接受；拒绝与…往来；拒不履行（法律义务） | |
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30
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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chagrined
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| adj.懊恼的，苦恼的v.使懊恼，使懊丧，使悔恨( chagrin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
mishap
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| n.不幸的事，不幸；灾祸 | |
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tantalizing
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| adj.逗人的；惹弄人的；撩人的；煽情的v.逗弄，引诱，折磨( tantalize的现在分词 ) | |
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34
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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prudently
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| adv. 谨慎地，慎重地 | |
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avenged
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| v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 )；为…报复 | |
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37
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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38
disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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40
lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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41
scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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42
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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43
poultry
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| n.家禽，禽肉 | |
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44
premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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45
wring
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| n.扭绞；v.拧，绞出，扭 | |
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46
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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47
forefathers
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| n.祖先，先人；祖先，祖宗( forefather的名词复数 )；列祖列宗；前人 | |
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48
abreast
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| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
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49
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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50
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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51
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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52
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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53
charred
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| v.把…烧成炭( char的过去式)；烧焦 | |
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54
scorched
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| 烧焦，烤焦( scorch的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（植物）枯萎，把…晒枯； 高速行驶； 枯焦 | |
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55
potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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56
pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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57
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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58
predecessor
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| n.前辈，前任 | |
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59
persevere
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| v.坚持，坚忍，不屈不挠 | |
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60
combustion
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| n.燃烧；氧化；骚动 | |
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61
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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62
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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63
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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64
misgiving
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕 | |
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65
conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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66
juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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67
memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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68
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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69
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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70
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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71
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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72
twitch
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| v.急拉，抽动，痉挛，抽搐；n.扯，阵痛，痉挛 | |
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73
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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