Far Past the Frontier
James A. Braden
Produced by Roger Frank and the Online DistributedProofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
He met the hot-mouthed, vicious brute, his rude spearclasped in both hands]
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FAR PAST THE FRONTIER
ByJAMES A. BRADEN
Illustrated byW. H. FRY
C
Akron, OhioTHE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING CO.New York--Chicago
MADE IN U. S. A.
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Copyright, 1902ByThe Saalfield Publishing Company
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE I The Flight of Big Pete Ellis. 5 II A Bound Boy's Story. 19 III The Beginning of a Perilous Journey. 32 IV The Man Under the Bed. 47 V A Mysterious Shot in the Darkness. 62 VI On Lonely Mountain Roads. 76 VII On Into the Wilderness. 91 VIII Friends or Foes? 105 IX The Scalp at Big Buffalo's Belt. 121 X A Night With the Indians. 134 XI Again a Hidden Enemy. 150 XII Building a Cabin. 164 XIII The Strange Story of Arthur Bridges. 179 XIV Treed by Wolves. 192 XV A Maple Sugar Camp in the Wilderness. 206 XVI The Hatred of Big Buffalo. 219 XVII Danger. 232
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FAR PAST THE FRONTIER.
CHAPTER I.
The Flight of Big Pete Ellis.
"Look out thar!"
A young, red-bearded man of herculean frame fiercely jerked the wordsbetween his teeth as he leaped between two boys who were about to enterthe country store, from the door of which he sprang.
Diving aside, but quickly turning, the lads saw the cause of their suddenmovement bound into a wagon standing near, and with a furious cry to thehorses, whip them to such instant, rapid speed that the strap with whichthe animals were tied, snapped like a bit of string. With a clatter andrumbling roar the team and wagon dashed around a corner, the clumsyvehicle all but upsetting, as the wheels on one side flew clear of theground.
Running forward, the boys were in time to see, fast disappearing down theroad toward where the September sun was setting, the reckless driverbending over, lashing the horses to a frantic gallop. The wagon swayedand jolted over the ruts and holes, threatening momentarily to throw thefellow headlong. An empty barrel in the box bounced up and down and fromside to side like a thing alive.
"Something has happened! Big Pete isn't doing that for fun!" the largerof the boys exclaimed.
"Run for Dr. Cartwright, quick! Big Pete has killed Jim Huson, I'mafraid!"
The speaker was Marvel Rice, proprietor of the store in which Huson was aclerk. "Tell him to hurry--hurry!" the merchant cried again, as without asecond's hesitation the two boys sped away along the tan-bark path.
"Are you coming, Ree?" asked the more slender lad, glancing over hisshoulder with a droll smile. He was a wiry chap of sixteen and ran like agrey hound, easily taking the lead.
His companion made no reply, but his spirit fired by the sarcasticquestion, he forged ahead, and the other found it necessary to waste nomore breath in humor.
An admirer of youthful strength and development would have clapped hishands with delight to have seen the boys' close race. Return Kingdom,whom the slender lad had called "Ree," was a tall, strongly built,muscular fellow of seventeen. His fine black hair waved under the brim ofa dilapidated beaver as he ran. His brown eyes were serious and keen andhis mouth and chin emphasized the determination expressed in them. Thoughhis clothes were of rough home-spun stuff, and his feet were encased incoarse boots, an observing person would have seen that he was possessedof the decision and strength in both mind and body which go to makeleaders among men.
The smaller boy was John Jerome--quick, vigorous, brown-haired,blue-eyed, freckled, and his attire was like that of his companion whosefollower he was in everything save foot-racing. In that he would give wayto no one, not excluding the trained Indian runners who sometimes came tothe neighboring village.
"Easy, easy!" Dr. Cartwright sang out, the boys nearly colliding with himas he was driving from his dooryard. "Somebody dying?" he asked as therunners halted.
"Jim Huson's been hurt; they want you at the store, quick," Ree Kingdombreathlessly explained.
"Badly?" asked the doctor with provoking deliberation, drawing on hisgloves.
"Pretty nigh killed, I guess; Big Pete Ellis did it," put in John Jerome,amazed that the physician did not at once drive off at lightning speed.
"And they want me to finish the job do they?" smiled Dr. Cartwright, whowas never known to become excited. "Well, I'll see what I can do. Daisy,get up."
The latter words were for the faithful mare that had drawn the doctor'schaise, or two-wheeled carriage, summer and winter for so many years thatshe was as well known as the physician himself. The horse set off at aleisurely jog, but the master's second "Get up Daisy," though drawled outas if haste were the last thing to be thought of, quickened the animal'sspeed to a lively trot.
The boys started back at a walk, speculating on what could have provokedBig Pete's assault and how serious Jim Huson's injury might be.
"It upsets all our plans," said John; "for Jim was just the fellow totell us the price of everything and just what western emigrants shouldtake along. We can't talk to Mr. Rice about our going, as we could talkto Jim."
"Mr. Rice is so excitable he may have thought Huson worse hurt than heis," Ree answered. "Anyway, we are not to start for three weeks, and Jimmay be up and around long before we go. So don't be blue. There is morethan one way to skin a cat. If we can't have Jim's advice we can talkwith some one else, or use our own judgment as to what we must buy. Inthe end we will have to depend entirely on ourselves as to what we shouldor should not do, anyway; but come what may, three weeks from this veryMonday, we shall go, if we live and have our health."
"Bully for you, Ree! In three weeks our faces will be turned toward thesetting sun!"
"Our backs will be toward the rising sun in three weeks, less one day,"Ree answered. "But scamper along; let's get back to the store and findout first how Jim was hurt and how badly. It will be a sorry job for PeteEllis, if they catch him."
The assault on the clerk at the Corners' store had aroused theneighborhood. Coming at the hour of sundown when the day's work wasnearly over, it found people with leisure to hurry to the scene to learnall about the affair. A dozen men and boys and a few women and childrenwere gathered near when Return Kingdom and John Jerome arrived. The boysfound that their injured friend had been carried to the inn across thestreet, where Dr. Cartwright was attending him, and all were anxiouslywaiting that good man's opinion.
The story of the assault as it was told, over and over again, as thecrowd about the store increased, was that Big Pete had attempted to passcounterfeit money on Jim Huson. The latter refused it, accusing Ellis ofhaving brought spurious coin to him at other times as well, andthreatening to cause his arrest. Without warning Big Pete seized a heavybutter firkin and threw it squarely at the clerk's head.
Huson dropped unconscious to the floor, and Mr. Rice, who ran to his aid,received a similar blow. Ellis lost no time in dashing through the opendoor, then adding to his other crimes the theft of horses and wagon toassist in his escape.
"Well, there is no great loss without some small gain," said one man. "Weare quit of Big Pete, that's certain, and it i
s a good riddance of badrubbish. He was the worst man in this bailiwick, and I am thinking thatmore than one job of pilfering might safely be laid at his door."
It was, indeed, true. Big Pete was not looked upon as a desirablecitizen. So bad had his name become that he could scarcely findemployment where he was known. The honest people of old Connecticut hadlittle liking for dishonesty, notwithstanding the stories of themoney-making ingenuity of that state's inhabitants.
Leaning against a post, apart from the other men, Ree Kingdom presentlynoticed an aged farmer, alternately wringing his hands and burying hisface in them. He was the owner of the team which had been stolen, and,heedless of all else idly lamented his loss, complaining that no one wentin pursuit of the thief to secure his horses, but wholly forgetful of thebest of scriptural proverbs that God helps those who help themselves. Theboy was about to speak to him, when two men dashed up on horseback.
"There's the constable," John Jerome exclaimed--"The constable and hisbrother, and they are going after Big Pete."
Before Ree could answer, the officer called for volunteers to assist inhis undertaking, for Ellis was known to be a dangerous man.
"Here, some of you young bucks that can ride bare-back, strip the harnessoff my team an' help ketch that murderous heathen! Only wish't I wasn'tall crippled up with rheumatics, I'd show him!"
The speaker was Captain William Bowen, who had fought in theRevolutionary War, ending seven years earlier, (1783) and was proud ofit; and who, though really sadly crippled by rheumatism, was still a sureshot and not the man to be trifled with by law-breakers. He would permitno one to call him anything but "Captain." His old rifle was alwayswithin reach and two big pistols were ever his companions.
For a minute no one made a move to accept the captain's offer, and thenwith: "Come on, John," Ree Kingdom waited no longer. In a twinkling theboys unharnessed the horses, leaving only the bridles on them, and weremounted. Tom Huson, the blacksmith and Peter Piper, a half-breed Indian,a sort of roustabout in the neighborhood, had also hurriedly prepared tojoin in the chase.
"Take my twins, lads, they bite as hard as they bark," called CaptainBowen, passing his brace of pistols up to Ree and John, and in anothermoment the party was galloping in pursuit of the big fellow whose crimemight yet be murder, Dr. Cartwright having reported that only time couldtell.
"Who-ho-ho-ho-ho!" John Jerome could not resist the temptation to give anIndian war-whoop. There is an exhilaration in a rapid ride by moonlightat any time, and with the clatter of the hoofs of a half dozen horsesupon the beaten road, the forms of other riders, shadowy and ghost-likeon either side to lend a feeling of companionship, and a knowledge ofdanger's presence to make every sense the more alert, there is no finerexcitement. Little wonder is it that John could not repress a yell, andthough of a much quieter disposition, Ree felt like shouting, also.
"Who-ho-ho-ho!" John yelled again, a half hour later, and the women andchildren ran to the door of a house they were passing to see who it mightbe that was dashing by at such breakneck speed. The air came soft andcool to the riders half hidden in the shadows of the trees which borderedthe road, though the moon was shining gloriously.
"We will send you on ahead to tell Pete we are coming, if you are so fondof making it known, youngster," exclaimed the constable as John gavestill another whoop.
"He'd have a cat fit if he knew you were after him, I'll wager," the boyanswered, nettled by the man's sarcasm. "Suppose I do ride on and let himknow."
John leaned back and slapped his horse's flank. The animal, scarcely morethan a colt, sprang forward at great speed. At the same time the youngrider raised up on his knees, then on his feet and keeping his balancewith seeming ease, standing nearly erect, the horse running its fastest,he held the reins in one hand, waved his hat in the other, and againyelled like an Indian.
"That young dare-devil will kill himself one of these days," said theblacksmith. "That colt of Captain Bowen's is likely to take it into herhead to bring up short at any minute. Better call him back, Kingdom."
Ree had no fear that his friend could not take care of himself, but inanswer to the suggestion, he gave a shrill, peculiar whistle which madethe woodland ring. Like a shot John dropped to a sitting posture as heheard the call, and in another minute Ree had ridden up beside him.Before either could speak, a black object loomed up in the narrow roadand they had barely time to rein their horses in before they were uponit, the animals leaping sidewise to avoid a collision.
"Big Pete's wagon, sure as shooting! It's broken down!" ejaculated Ree.
"Scotland! Where would I have landed if I had been standing up and thiscolt had run into it?" John exclaimed. As he spoke the others of theirparty came up.
"Here's the wagon, but Pete and the horses are gone," called Ree. "Hecan't be far ahead."
"There's no telling. Hurry on," answered the constable who had hastilysprung off his horse to examine the wreck. "Here are the harnesses, butPete is trying to get away with both horses. Keep your wits about you,boys, there is likely to be some shooting!"
Ree had been the first to start forward, and was one hundred yards inadvance of the others when his quick eye detected the dim outlines of aman on horseback in the shadow of a low branching oak just before him atthe roadside. He recognized the huge figure of Big Pete and without aword guided his horse straight toward the fellow. The criminal saw himand with a yell started off.
Ree's horse with a splendid bound cleared the ditch beside the highway,and in another moment the boy had seized the bridle of the horse Big Petewas leading, just as the fellow was getting the animal he bestrode underrapid way for a race for his liberty. It was clear that he had beendelayed by the breaking down of the wagon, and had hidden at the roadsidehoping his pursuers would pass him by. With a determined grip Ree clungto the bridle of the lead horse, though he was nearly jerked to theground. With his other hand he sought to check his own animal, but theskittish young thing had taken fright and was now running ahead of theflying criminal's horses.
A great out-cry came from the constable and his party as they saw whathad happened and dug spurs into their mounts. Down the road the pursuedand pursuers raced, Ree Kingdom wholly unable to retard Big Pete'sprogress but still clinging to the bridle of the horse between them, theconstable and his men trying their best to overtake the fugitive, butunable to gain on him.
"Shoot! why don't you shoot?" yelled Ree to his friends at last, and apair of pistols cracked simultaneously, a third and fourth rapidlyfollowing.
Ree heard the bullets whistle near his head and realized that he was inalmost as much danger of being hit, as Big Pete. But again he cried:
"Shoot!"
The pursuers were slowly but surely falling behind in the race. The burlyEllis, glancing back, was quick to see that fortune favored him. Heleaned far over from his horse and before Ree Kingdom could detect hispurpose in the dusky light, seized the boy by the neck. With a giant'sstrength he pulled the lad partially from his seat, endeavoring to hurlhim to the ground. Failing, he relinquished his hold on the reins, andusing both hands, succeeded in drawing Kingdom over the unridden horsebetween them to the shoulders of his own horse. And then with herculeanefforts he tried to throw the boy to the earth.
But Ree held to his own horse's reins with bull dog ferocity, and withall his strength resisted the other's effort. As he was jerked from hisseat, however, the strain on the reins caused his horse to sharply swerveinward, crowding against the other animals, and in a twinkling the threeof them, already frantic with the fury of their wild race, left thecourse and sped across a woodland at the unfenced roadside.
Gasping an oath, the enraged giant tried again to push Ree to the ground,and this time he succeeded; but he himself went off head-foremost withthe boy, who held to his arm with a grip of steel, dragging him suddenlydown. Freed of their burden, the horses ran on, Big Pete cursingfrightfully as he sprang to his feet to find them far beyond his reach.
Lying still, bruised but not seriously hurt by
his fall, Ree Kingdom wasthinking fast. He felt for his pistol inspired by the thought that hewould capture the criminal yet, and wishing he had used it earlier. Butthe weapon was gone--lost in the wild ride, no doubt. The next instantEllis swiftly turned and seized him by the throat; and he knew that hislife was in the giant's hands.
