The Keepers of the Trail

with the returning war party made him think much. It was likely that other small bands had gone on the great adventure in the south. The young warriors, in part

thought told him that the chief danger lay in the great war band under Yellow Panthe

steaks over a fire that he lit with his flint and steel. It refreshed him greatly, and putting other choice portions in his

ear of leaving a trail that even the keenest Indian could follow. But he picked up several trails himself. One was that of a small party coming from the east, and he thought they might be Wyandots bound for the great camp. A

ell provided with canoes, and by lashing some of the stoutest together they could make a support strong enough for the twelve pounders. It was an idea worth considering, and he and his comrades would watch the stream. Then it occurred to him that he might go there now, an

the east, slackening speed and awaiting the night, under cover of w

and one of his young officers who had passed that way with the Indians. As they were going toward the river it

the belief that the five were in the vicinity they were in too large numbers to f

was almost a sure indication that the party included Yellow Panther and Red Eagle, or at least one of them. Th

boots. So, the two pairs of moccasins indicated that both chiefs were present. The four had sat on the log and talked some time. In the crevices of the ba

ain down, the crushed grass showing faint traces of their figures. Two small bones of the deer, recently

they would not stop to talk about it so long. Hence it must mean the transportation of the c

o discern among them two pairs, the toes of which turned outward. These moccasins, of course, were worn by Blackstaffe and Wyatt, who, whatever

lked. Then they walked on, but the moccasins moved forward in a much straighter and more precise manner than the boots, which were now veering a little from side to side. The two British officers, not trained to it like the others, were g

d. The campfire was large and around it sat Alloway, the younger officer, Red Eagle and Yellow Panther, and at a little d

s through the primeval wilderness is no light tas

he was not the equal of the renegades and the warriors. Henry saw a faint ironic smile upon

ccasins in place of those heavy boots. They carry you over the ground

s face turned to a deeper tin

Blackstaffe," he said, "

choleric man like Alloway to hear anyone saying words that he could n

it that you're saying to

nt Cartwright, had been made weary by the long walk through the woods, and th

the younger officer who had been watching his c

. Campaigning in this wilderness is not l

h dignity, were impressive. Presently one of them took from under his deerskin tunic a pipe, with a long stem, and a bowl, carved beautifully. He crowded some to

rstand the meaning of the pipe at that par

e of pea

a pipe of peace when

nther and Red Eagle, are the heads of powerful tribes, and if their feelings are hurt in any manner they will resent it, even to the point

moked, and thus it was passed around the circle. It came back to Red Eagle, who kn

utly and apparently able to sustain a great weight. He knew at once that they were intended for the cannon and that they had been brought down the Ohio and then up the tributary stream. Both had oars and he surmised that the white gun crews wo

e presence of his comrades. The five together might accomplish something real before the dawn, and then he resolved that si

r. But the idea came at last. It was full of danger, and it called for almost supernatural skill, but he believed that he could do it. Then the fev

ause none seemed to be needed. Then blankets were spread for them under the trees, and they went to sleep. Most of the warriors followed their example, and no

the bushes farther up the stream to a point where he noticed the last canoe lying empty

he began the most perilous part of his task. He returned toward the sleeping officers and chiefs, and, lying flat upon the ground in the deep grass and heavy shadows, began slowly to worm himself forward. It was a thing that no one could hav

arge horn of powder and he was likely to be careless about it, a belief that was verified as he drew near. Th

ed with triumph. The first link in his chain had been forged. He crept back into the bushes, and stopped there twice, lying very still. He saw the Indian

he shook the powder horn triumphantly, put it down at the foot of a tree and covered it up with some

their supper was a little distance back of the present camp, where he was quite sure that it was still smoldering, although deserte

forged and he felt now that he would carry it to its full length and success. He had never been more skillful, never more in command of all his faculties, and they had never worked in more perfect co?rdination. Ther

res of three of the sentinels on land. Two of them were brawny warriors naked to the waist, and painted heavily. The third was quite young, younger than himself, a mere boy,

len brushwood which lay kiln-dry at the river's brink. Then he hid his rifle, other weapons and ammunition in t

im the few feet that separated him from the canoe. Then he passed around it, putting it between him and the land, and carefully lifted eve

f the fire in the dry wood. Now new difficulties arose. He must time everything exactly, and fo

another look over the edge of the canoe. In two minutes, he calculated, the fire would reach the powder horn. Then he

eded all his skill and complete command over his will. The sputtering of the fire increased, and he knew that it was rapidly approaching the horn of powde

happened to look over the river and see it moving. There would have been nothing curious in a canoe breaking its slender thong and floating with

st at the powder horn. Giving his fire ship a mighty shove he sent it directly between the scows and then he made a great dive

d steaming fragments. The crash was stunning, and the light for a moment or two was intense. Then it sank almost as suddenly and again came the d

omplete success every link in his chain of destruction. The scows intended for the transportation of the cannon were blown t

seemed almost incredible. But here he was, and the deed was done. He laughed to himself in silent pleasure. Wyatt, Blackstaffe and the others would undoubtedly t

much. But he laughed once more back of his teeth. In the darkness they might as well try to follow a bird of the air. He curved away, reached one of the numerous brooks intersecting the stream, and ran for a long time in its bed. Then he emerged, passed int

on of courage and dexterity and perfect timing. A second more or less might have ruined everything. He could imagine the chagrin of the choleric colonel. Unless Wyatt and Blackstaffe restraine

e might find a way to get at them. He rolled on one side, made himself comfortable on the dead leaves and then h

muscles a little, to remove all stiffness or soreness he emerged from the canebrake. After examining a circle of t

d off into the blue dawn. So he inferred that they were yet uncertain about their campaign and that their forces would remain stationary for a little while. But he was

f. He began another of his great curves and it took him away from the refuge in the cliff, coming back in two or three hours to the stream that bore the little Indian fleet. His triumph of the night before

alley of the Ohio, and toward evening clouds gathered, although there was not a sufficient closeness of the air to indicate rain. But the moon was feeble and by

e river, around which sat the two chiefs, the renegades and the British officers. Henry saw that the faces of all of them

l fall into the river," said Alloway querulously. "How in thund

sir, just before the explosion," said Cartwright, "a

losion was over, but he supposed some Indian had used the opportunity to s

, smoothly but with just a trace of iron

the scows and in some manner equally careless it's been exploded. The tale of the cano

you and to state that opinion t

gry glance, but he had

But whatever it was it was most unfortunate. It delays us gr

dread the unknown, and this event has affected them unpleasantly.

impatiently. "Why should a force

does things that a

cross his great bare chest, arose and raised his hand. Braxton Wya

eak, sir, and if you will pardon me for sa

d Alloway. "Tell

of the Miamis, veteran of many wars,

s, have brought with them the great cannon which will batter down the forts of the Long Knives in Kaintuckee. But the signs are bad. The boats which were to carry the cannon on

roup of borderers could hold up a great force like theirs, armed with cannon too. But he was acute eno

irs of their strongest canoes lashed together in the stream, ready for the reception of the cannon when they should come. How was he t

he excelled nearly all the scouts of the border was because he thought so m

scovering him was much smaller. There he waited a space, while the night darkened still more, the moon and stars being shut out entirely

sleep there by the coals. From his covert in the bushes he saw them presently spreading their blankets, and then they lay down with their feet to the smoldering fire. The chiefs soon followed them and e

and his original training among the Northwestern Indians, had acquired it in the highest degree. He could sit or lie an almost incredible length of time, so still that he would seem to blend into the foliage, and now as he lay

lmost akin. The squirrel saw that the gigantic figure on the ground did not move, and that the light in the eyes was friendly. He crept a little nearer, devoured by curiosity. He had never seen a human being before, and

ch is a necessity of the wild. He saw the fire, before which the white men and the chiefs lay sleeping, sink lower and lower. The night remained dark. The heavy drifting clouds which nevertheless were not ready to open for rain, moved overh

d that the time for him to act had come. He took off all his clothing, made it, his weapons and ammunition in a bundle which he fastened on his head, and then swam across the river.

her up, made a considerable current, and Henry floated with it. But the bank on the camp sid

ark surface of the stream, and he was so powerful in the water that he swam like a fish without n

ms. He was skillful and strong, but it took him a half-hour to finish the task, and he stopped at intervals to see if t

eeping in the shelter of the near shore. Then he dived, rose just behind a curve and walked out on the opposite bank, his figure gleaming white for a

he sinking canoes. Even as they looked, and as the alarm brought others, the

aw the amazement on the faces of the warriors, and the anger on the faces of the white men,

and the emotions of the Indians. He knew that the second destruction of the boats, but in a different way, w

ch of the dangerous foe who had visited them twice. None had yet come to his side of the river, but he knew tha