True to the Old Flag | Page 4

When the redskins begin to

stir there's sure to be mischief before they're quiet again."
The color had somewhat left Mr. Welch's cheeks as the hunter spoke.
"This is bad news, indeed, Pearson," he said gravely. "Are you sure
about the attack on the Brents?"
"Sartin sure," the hunter said. "I met their herder; he had been down to
Johnson's to fetch a barrel of pork. Just when he got back he heard the
Injun yells and saw smoke rising in the clearing, so he dropped the
barrel and made tracks. I met him at Johnson's, where he had just
arrived. Johnson was packing up with all haste and was going to leave,
and so I said I would take my canoe and come down the lake, giving
you all warning on the way. I stopped at Burns' and Hooper's. Burns
said he should clear out at once, but Hooper talked about seeing it
through. He's got no wife to be skeary about, and reckoned that, with
his two hands, he could defend his log hut. I told him I reckoned he
would get his har raised if the Injuns came that way; but, in course,
that's his business."
"What do you advise, Pearson? I do not like abandoning this farm to
the mercy of the redskins."
"It would be a pity, Master Welch, that's as true as Gospel. It's the
likeliest clearing within fifty miles round, and you've fixed the place up
as snug and comfortable as if it were a farm in the old provinces. In
course the question is what this War Eagle intends to do. His section of
the tribe is pretty considerable strong, and although at present I aint
heard that any others have joined, these Injuns are like barrels of
gunpowder: when the spark is once struck there's no saying how far the
explosion may spread. When one band of 'em sees as how another is
taking scalps and getting plunder and honor, they all want to be at the
same work. I reckon War Eagle has got some two hundred braves who
will follow him; but when the news spreads that he has begun his work,
all the Iroquois, to say nothing of the Shawnees, Delawares, and other
varmint, may dig up the hatchet. The question is what War Eagle's
intentions are. He may make a clean sweep down, attacking all the
outlying farms and waiting till he is joined by a lot more of the red

reptiles before attacking the settlements. Then, on the other hand, he
may think himself strong enough to strike a blow at Gloucester and
some other border villages at once. In that case he might leave the
outlying farms alone, as the news of the burning of these would reach
the settlements and put 'em on their guard, and he knows, in course,
that if he succeeds there he can eat you all up at his leisure."
"The attack upon Brent's place looks as if he meant to make a clean
sweep down," Mr. Welch said.
"Well," the hunter continued thoughtfully, "I don't know as I sees it in
that light. Brent's place was a long way from any other. He might have
wished to give his band a taste of blood, and so raise their spirits, and
he might reasonably conclude that naught would be known about it for
days, perhaps weeks to come. Then, again, the attack might have been
made by some straggling party without orders. It's a dubious question.
You've got four hands here, I think, and yourself. I have seen your wife
shoot pretty straight with a rifle, so she can count as one, and as this
young un, here, has a good idea, too, with his shooting-iron, that makes
six guns. Your place is a strong one, and you could beat off any
straggling party. My idea is that War Eagle, who knows pretty well that
the place would make a stout fight, won't waste his time by making a
regular attack upon it. You might hold out for twenty-four hours; the
clearing is open and there aint no shelter to be had. He would be safe to
lose a sight of men, and this would be a bad beginning, and would
discourage his warriors greatly. No, I reckon War Eagle will leave you
alone for the present. Maybe he will send a scout to see whether you
are prepared; it's as likely as not that one is spying at us somewhere
among the trees now. I should lose no time in driving in the animals
and getting well in shelter. When they see you are prepared they will
leave you alone; at least, for the present. Afterward there's no
saying--that will depend on how they get on at the settlements. If they