The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 336: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

330 ara THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI'S YOUNG CAPTAIN. ee ee eae eee which I had learnt long ago from the Redskins, and waved my handkerchief in defiance. « ¢ They chased me for more than ten miles with- out drawing rein; but perceiving that I was ap- proaching some settlement, which they could plainly see by your camp fires, they turned their backs and retraced their steps. Here I am then, Captain Frank, all but exhausted, and I have no doubt but what the red devils will attack us to-nigh some time.’ “ This is all I learned from the Trapper. , “He was really so fatigued from hard riding, hard fighting, and loss of blood, that he could scarcely stand. $ | ‘‘ The information that he brought, however, was of the utmost importance. “ Tn the first place it confirmed my long sus- picions that the French were making a league With all the Indian tribes they could. “ By dint of money they had reconciled, or at- tempted to reconcile, the Blackfeet and Conan wi two tribes which for centuries had been at war , each other. x “ This was a sign that the French had great in- fluence with the Redskins, and that they intended to attack us by marching down both banks of the © bat two distinct | 2untme-etoun river, and commencing the battle from two distine | di®appeated like dew upon the grass ; their camp points. | | “That this was their intention I perceived ata glance, and made proper @ispositions to meet every — chance, “In the first place I called the secret. ‘“ Next, I got one of the half-bred Mexicans, who ~ was well acquainted with the Comanches, and gave him secret instructions what to do. “What his office was, you will perceive from what follows. This half-breed left our camp immediately, and I resolved upon a retreat to a position much stronger than the one I then occupied. “This resolve seemed to fill the Mexicans with alarm, ‘who could not make out how'it' was we should be so much alarmed at the ‘approach of a few Indians. “ However, I did not think proper, at that mo- ment, to explain my plans to them, so that in less than ‘four hours our camps were struck, and we moved several miles down the river. “ The half-breed I haye spoken of, however, had not left our camp more than an hour when he fell into an ambuscade of Comanches, who had been secreted inthe woods and looking out for stragglers. This half-breed no sooner fell into their hands than the exultant Indians carried him off in great haste to their chief, who, sitting in his wigwam, smoking, was cursing loudly at the escape of the Blackfeet, and of the slaughter which the trapper Red Jacket had caused among his braves. ‘At first the Indian chief was for having the half-breed burned alive, but when it was discovered that he had deserted from us, the Indians were more joyous than ever. “« Why did you leave the Pale-faces?’ asked the Indian chief, “* Because I would not fight against my brothers, the Redskins,’ said the half-breed, “A grunt of satisfaction escaped from the chief, “‘* They are numerous, are they not?’ puffed the chief ; ‘the Pale-faces count many lodges,’ ‘‘* No,’ said the half-breed, ‘they have not so many warriors as they had ; they have died,’ | Bey Soldiers — around me, and explained the situation Of affairs in — “6 Died in war ?’ ““< No; from fevers and the like.’ Tis well, Have they ever heard of my braves?’ ve . “¢They have, and are in dread of my brothers the Redskins. They have already removed their lodges to some place of greater safety, in fear.’ “‘¢ What,’ said the chief, ‘are the Pale-faces so much afraid as that?’ ; “« They are,’ : | _“¢Then they are no better than women or children, They are not the braves I took them for,’ “ After a pause, the chief said, “<«How am I to know that what you say is true ?’ “Bh “¢ Let one of your fleetest horsemen go forth, and he will soon bring back word whether what I say is true or false.’ “<*Tis well,’ grunted the chief. th “He had scarcely spoken, however, when an Indiapgider came galloping into the camp. “ F@Multed of his horse, and immediately re- paited to the tent of his chief. _ “What news, Grey Eagle?’ asked the chief. “<The White-faces are moving away from our huntiig-grounds ; their white lodges (tents) have fires are out. They marched away with downcast looks and sorrow in their faces.’ “<< Now I know that this deserter has spoken th® truth,’ Said the chief ; ‘if he had come to us with a lie upon his tongue, he should have died ere sun- set.’ “ After a pause, the chief said, “« Whither have the pale men gone? Have none of you watched where they intend to put up their lodges again, or have you allowed them to escape altogether ?’ “<«They cannot escape across the river,’ said Grey Eagle, ‘for our friends—the French—are there, and, wherever they go, Buffalo, my brother, watches them like a fox in the grass.’ “<‘Tet half-a-dozen of our swiftest riders go to Young Buffalo, then, and, when they have ascer- tained ‘all they can about the Pale-faces, let’ them return as quickly as possible.’ : “This order was obeyed. : “In less than two hours a courier came from Buftalo, with important news for the chief. of ’ Have the Pale-faces escaped us?’ asked the chief. *“*No; they have halted a from their former camp.’ “« Have any of you approached near ito them 2’ *“* Yes, Young Buffalo, Grey Hagile’s brother, has been within bowshot of them, and told me to come and report all he thought and saw.’ [ “« And what did he see ?’ | ‘‘* The Pale-faces have lost all heart. ‘They are not the same men we have heard of ‘before. One oe their chiefs have died, and ‘they have buried 1m,’ dy “Did you see the body PNW" se Ni ia “*Young Buffalo did ; and says that it was that of the Red Devil, who fought with the Blackfeet against us,’ . ) “The chief grinned with s Aer a pause he said, ‘Have the white-faces built a high wall x their wigwams, as usual?’ * aR ' ae “'No. They lay upon the grass, sleeping and quarter-day’s journey pleasure at this news, en Comicbooks"#eom