icon 0
icon TOP UP
rightIcon
icon Reading History
rightIcon
icon Log out
rightIcon
icon Get the APP
rightIcon

The Border Watch

Chapter 9 THE NORTHWARD MARCH

Word Count: 4073    |    Released on: 06/12/2017

received the pistol, hatchet, and knife which Henry drew

is truly a great warrior. Never have I seen such a fight as that which he

d Henry, as he stood there, wet with perspiration and breathing heavily, exemplified all that they considered best in man. Few of these savage warriors had any intention of sparing him

Timmendiquas bore for Henry, and he feared that through it the prisoner might escape the usual fate of captives. It was his part to prevent any s

oner South with you," h

red to Timmendiq

t in as mild a tone as he could assume, "and

hose influence was great among the

th saw the appeal to the pride of Bird who pull

ast. "The prisoner is mine, s

underlying every word, was a menace, which

ainst Kaintuckee, and he has no need of prisoners. The words of Wyatt are nothing. Girty has become one of our chiefs, but it is not for him to judge

own people could not afford to lose the favor of the Indians. Girty, also, evaded. Full of craft, it was no part of his policy to quarrel with Timmendiquas. Bird alone was disposed

taken in my camp

said low i

d them in our attack on Kentucky, and already they are dissatisfied with th

He spoke to Timmendiquas, as if h

Lightning of the Wyandots. Take the pr

o two of his warriors who bound Henry's arms securely, though not painfully, and led him away to one of the smaller fires. H

rning. Had he returned to his comrades with the news, they might have solved the problem by dividing their force. Two could have hurried to Kentucky ahead of Bird's army, and three might have gone to Detroit to watch what preparations were made there. He c

ession. Henry had escaped once from the Wyandots. Perhaps it was a feat that could not be repeated a second time-indeed all the chances were against it-but in spite of everything his courage came back. He had far too much strength, vita

before the fire. It was not altogether an assumed manner to impress his guard, because he wa

g. He saw the camp dimly, the dark figures of the warriors becoming shadowy now, the murmur of voices sinking t

cross his tanned face. Great in body, he was also great in mind, and whatever torture the chief, Timmendiquas, intended for

y had made an end of him in the f

Timmendiquas cannot tie him so tight that there is no possibility of escape, an

tied up as he is," s

aughed

t against one's own white race one must hate well. You need not flush, man. I have

most formidable weapon that had ever been brought into the western forest. When they looked at them, the spirit of Wyatt and Girty sprang high. They exulted in the prospect of victory. The Kentucky sharpshooters behind their light palisades had been able hitherto to defeat any number of Indians. But what

active with the preparations of Bird's army to resume its march southward. Timmendiquas stood beside him, and, at his order, one of the Wyandot guards cut the thongs that

you to Detroit. As you have seen, the renegades, Girty and Wyatt do not love me, and whatever I may receive at your

d we need all the allies we can get. So we permit them in our lodges. I may tell you now that they deb

" said Henry, "but I am glad that

iquas, "that parties were sent out last night to searc

ked inquiringly at Timmendiquas.

ot find the

ry, but we are proud to have taken the leader.

all the freshness and courage that belong to youth. Time was everything, and certainly nothing would be done to him until they reached Detroit. Moreover, his four c

he march northward in the center of the Wyandot force. At the same time, Bird and his army resumed their southern advance. Henry heard twigs and dead boughs cracking under the w

hief, also kept away. The country, hilly hitherto, now became level and frequently swampy. Here the travelling was difficult. Often their feet sank in the soft mud above the ankles, Briars reached out and scratc

forest, and with many streams and little lakes. Most of the lakes were dotted with wild fowl, and often they saw deer in the shallow port

to Detroit, the great Northwestern fort of the British and Indians. They would arrive there to-morrow, and they spent that l

o or three, even four or five, but a score more would be on him at once. Henry knew this well and bore himself more as if he were a member of the band than a captive. It was a part of his policy to appear cheerful and contented. No Indian should surpass him in careless and apparent indifference, but to-night he felt gloomier than at any time since the moments that immediately followe

usand mischances could befall, and the neighborhood of Detroit was the most dangerous part of all the Indian country. Besides the villages pitc

only acute ear and his power of singleness and concentration enabled him to listen to the sound that he wished to hear, to the exclusion of all others. The noises in the camp, although they were as great as ever, seemed to die. Instead, he heard the rustling of the young leaves far away, and then another sound

and he knew that it would not be expected. Joy was under the mask of his sad and dreaming face. He rejoiced, not only for himself, but for two other things; because they were safe and because they were near, following zealously and seeking every chance. He lo

e to confer with the commander, de Peyster, and to receive many rifles and much amm

e not dwell in peace in Kentucky, while the Wyandots, the Shawnees, the Miamis and o

ot from the dark e

and where the mighty confederation of the Six Nations, with their great chief, Thayendanegea, at their head, fight against them in vain? Have I not seen the rich villages of the Indians go up in smoke? The Indians themselves still fight. They strike down many of

peace with us here in the West, le

of Timmendi

Here in the West you are few and your villages are tiny.

y si

replied. "It seems as you say, that the white men and the red men cannot dwell t

d and replied in a tone ti

born of one race and I of another. It

ly acknowledged that he was a forest king, a lofty and mighty spirit, born to rule in the wilderness. Then he took the two blankets which had been left him, enfolded h

it has probably sent forth more scalping parties of Indians than any other place on the North American continent. Here the warlike tribes constantly came for rifles, ammunition, blankets and other supplies, and here the agents of the king inci

y had made and should make, they expected large gifts from the king, and with such great chiefs as White

e far shores of the greatest of all lakes. Many of these looked admiringly at the prisoner whom Timmendiquas had brought, and were sorry that they had not secu

t the ends. His hair was black and long and his eyes, too, were black. His dress diff

ellow. But he was conscious that the stranger was eyeing him from head to foot in the most scrutinizing manner, just a

of Timmendiquas, mon p

that he did not understand. But the tone was friendly, a

mmendiquas, and I am going with him and his

ng two magnificent row

voyageur, coureur du bois, l'homme of ze wind ovair ze mountains an' ze plain. I am Pierre Louis

ew that he was a man of good heart and he liked

ntucky. I was captured by Timmendiquas and his warriors a few days ago. They're taking me to Detroit, but

n hearing then, and

t love ze Anglais. When I was a boy, I fight wit' ze great Montcalm at Quebec against Wolfe an' les Anglais. We lose an' ze Bourbon lilies are gone; ze roug

aid Henry, "and I am certain that my people are no enemies

is, "I come into the town in four days a

ignal and in another ho

Claim Your Bonus at the APP

Open