CHAPTER XXIII
A CANOE TRIP IN THE STARLIGHT
IT was Jacques Larue!
The keen-eyed and suspicious French trader had by chance seen BlueJacket slip away from his people and silently paddle his canoe down theriver a short distance. He had followed, and watched him hide the barkhere in the rushes bordering the shore.
And of course the trader had no difficulty in guessing what this meant.He knew Blue Jacket intended that the white prisoner should escape bythis means.
Why Larue did not go at once to the head men, and tell of hisdiscovery, will never be known. Perhaps he fancied that Sandy wouldcome alone to the boat, and it struck him as a fine chance to frustratethe designs of the boy just when doubtless his heart would beat highwith hope.
At any rate here he was, possibly somewhat surprised that three darkfigures confronted him instead of one shrinking lad.
"What would you?" demanded Bob, turning quickly around, just as he wasin the act of entering the canoe, which was floating among the rushes.
"So, you are zere, too, it seems?" sneered the man. "I remember zerewas also ze second Armstrong cub. Zis is vat I call neat. Two newShawanee boys, adopted into ze tribe! Perhaps ze new Eenglish traderlike to exchange hees goods for sons! Sacre! suppose you come back tolodges wiz me. I haf got ze gun pointed straight; and my fingair, itpress on ze trigger. You refuse, and pouf! bang, down you go!"
"What! do you mean that you would force us to go back to captivity; andyou a white man at that? Shame on you, Jacques Larue! Better paint yourface, and stick feathers in your hair; for you are more savage than thereddest Indian!" cried the reckless Sandy.
The trader gave vent to a low cry of anger. Bob feared that theFrenchman might be urged to shoot by these taunts, for he wasundoubtedly hot-blooded, like most of his countrymen.
It was surely a time for action. The young pioneer made a sudden lungeforward and struck out with his right arm. Long handling of the axehad given Bob the muscles of an athlete; and when his clenched fistcame in contact with the jaw of the French trader the result wasdisastrous to Larue.
He went floundering on his back. His gun was discharged; but themissile that it had contained did no more damage than to shoot a holethrough the atmosphere, for it was aimed at the time at the sky.
"Away!" cried Blue Jacket, pushing Bob toward the boat; for the boyhad acted as though tempted to follow up his one blow by giving theinsulting trader the whipping he deserved.
Prudence prevailed, and Bob hastened to leap aboard. Then the youngShawanee gave the canoe a shove that sent it out through the rushes,and upon the bosom of the flowing stream.
Jacques Larue struggled to his feet, and wildly pranced up and downon the shore, shouting threats of what he would do if ever he camein contact with either of those Armstrong "cubs" again. But Bob gavelittle heed to what he said, being much more concerned with othermatters.
Of course the report of the heavily-charged gun, together with thecries of the angry French trader, must by this time have aroused thevillage.
"I wonder if they will pursue us?" ventured Sandy, as he worked awayvaliantly at the paddle which he had taken up.
"The current of this stream is swift, and the shores so filled withunderbrush that we can make faster time than any brave could afoot,"remarked Bob, while he, too, bent to the task before him, so that thelittle boat fairly danced along on the starlit stream, heading downtoward the junction with the big Ohio.
"But they have other canoes, for I saw three at least?" ventured Sandy.
"But Blue Jacket knew that," returned the other, shrewdly; "and dependon it he saw to it that they were hidden away where they could not befound in a hurry. We may be pursued, but I am not afraid."
They could hear some sort of hubbub taking place back toward the placewhere the village stood. No doubt the greatest confusion ensued whenthe absence of all the canoes was discovered.
"I only hope he will not be made to suffer for what he did," musedSandy; "because Blue Jacket is our red brother now, and he thinks aheap of you, Bob."
"Yes, and of you, too, Sandy, because he said as much. How nice it hasall turned out after all! And it pays, sometimes, brother, just as ourmother says, to be kind toward an enemy. If we had let the poor fellowdie, think what would be your condition to-night."
Sandy worked for a long time in silence; but he was undoubtedlythinking over the stirring events of the last few hours, and the lessonmust have sunk deep into his heart, never to be forgotten.
"I believe we are close to the big river!" remarked Bob, after a time.
"Why, you took the very words out of my mouth," returned Sandy; "for Ican see much water ahead, and the waves seem to be getting larger. Wemust keep to the right, and paddle close to the shore."
Presently they entered upon the vast expanse of the Ohio, and theirprogress became much slower, since now they were compelled to fightagainst a strong current, instead of having the benefit of one.
"Jacques Larue seems to be in mortal fear about father taking histrade away from him," said Sandy, after a time.
"That is because he has been robbing the Indians," observed thethoughtful Bob. "He knows that the English do not trade after thatstyle, but believe in giving more for the pelts. And, brother, Ibelieve that what has happened may assist father very much in histrade. You heard what the chief said--that never would the Shawaneeswar upon the family of Armstrong. That means they will be our friends,even though at war with the whites."
"The skies seem to be brightening all around," remarked Sandy. "If onlythe truth would come out about that barn burning! It is the one blackblot on our name, and father feels it keenly, though he tries to be sobrave. His honor is very dear to him."
"As it should be," cried Sandy. "But mother never loses hope. Does shenot constantly say that in God's good time all must be made clear? AndI believe that mother knows best. I keep hoping that some fine day weshall have news from our old home in Virginia, and that word will cometo tell us father's name is cleared."
They said no more for some time. Indeed, all of their breath wasneeded in the violent exertion of forcing the canoe against thatcurrent, running six miles or more an hour.
"Oh! I believe we must be near home now!" cried Sandy suddenly,pointing with his extended paddle toward the nearby shore. "See, thatbunch of trees on the hill-top looks like the one we can look at fromour cabin. Yes, it must be, Bob! Shall we land here, and climb up?"
"Ten minutes more ought to do it, brother," said the other, quietly."So dip deep, and push hard. It is nearly over; and think of the joy ofbeing home again."
"Oh! yes. They must be dreadfully worried after knowing about thatfire. How fortunate that it did not sweep this way," declared Sandy,between gasps; for he was very nearly done up, not having all therugged physique of his brother.
"We have much to be thankful for," replied Bob, working away.
When the time set by Bob had expired the canoe was turned toward theshore, and the two landed, securing the frail craft, for they hoped tohave many a trip in it on the broad bosom of the mighty Ohio.
After this they mounted the hill. Bob, knowing that there were alwayssentinels on duty, and not wishing to be fired on by mistake, gave asignal that would be recognized; and presently they were met by onewhom they knew well, being ushered by the guard into the settlement.
There was a light burning in the Armstrong cabin, and they could easilyunderstand that sleepless eyes reigned there. As they drew near, thedoor opened, and the two lads saw a well-known figure appear. It wasthe anxious mother who stood there, shading her eyes with her hand, fora fire burned near by. She had heard voices that thrilled her soul.
Impulsive Sandy gave a shout and rushed forward, to be crushed to thatloving breast, and kissed again and again. Then came the wide-eyedKate, and the delighted father, to renew the tender caresses.
Neighbors who had been aroused also flocked into the Armstrong cabin,eager to hear of the boys' adventures. So for an hour, or until
nearlydawn, they had to relate the strange things that had befallen themsince leaving home on that eventful hunt.
Looking around the big room, where the fire burned so cheerily, andthe kettle sang its home-like tune, Sandy heaved a great sigh ofhappiness.
"It's just Heaven to be here!" he said; and, while his good mothershook her head in mild reproof at his words, she smiled with pleasureto realize that her boys thought so much of their home, humble thoughit might be, and devoid of many things others would deem necessities.
After a warm meal the boys were compelled to go to bed, and secure somerest, of which both of them were certainly in sore need. Later on thatday, when the full particulars of the captivity were told, David turnedto his wife and said:
"Yes, your way was the best way after all, Mary. See how blessed areturn that poor wounded and almost dying Shawanee has made. With hislife, if need be, he was determined to repay the debt. And to thinkthat they call us _friends_, these red men with whom I expect to domuch trading after a while! Son, that was surely the best day's workyou ever did when you bound up the wounds of Blue Jacket, and took himin by our fireside. I will never forget the lesson, wife. Our breadcast upon the waters _did_ return, and that before many days."
And the gentle Mary only said in reply:
"Still have faith that the other cloud will yet be lifted in good time,David!"
The Pioneer Boys of the Ohio; or, Clearing the Wilderness Page 26
