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FagejoS. QUEEN ESTHER THROWS THE TOMAHAWK. Frontispiece. 
 
RED JACKET 
 
 THE LAST OF THE SENEGAS 
 
 BY 
 
 COLONEL H. R. GORDON fi^cM^A. of- 
 
 AUTHOR OF " PONTIAC," "TECUMSEH," "OSCEOLA." ETC. 
 
 ^i«.f, 
 
 JACK AND THE SENECA.- Pagf jr2 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY 
 31 West Twenty-third Street 
 
■p2-7 
 
 Copyright, iqoo 
 
 BY 
 
 E. P. DUTTON & CO. 
 
 tlbe «nicl!eilJocft6v press, Iftew Botfe 
 
RED JACKET, 
 
 (SA-GO- YE- WA T-ffA) 
 
 THE LAST OF THE SENEGAS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 AN IMPORTANT PROJECT. 
 
 ONE afternoon in the early spring of 1779, two 
 distinguished-looking men were engaged in 
 an earnest conference in the upper room of a mod- 
 est residence on Market Street, Philadelphia. 
 
 The apartment was furnished with great plainness, 
 devoid of carpet and pictures, and with only a few 
 chairs ; a large fiat table in the centre of the room, 
 littered with papers, documents, several quill pens, 
 a squatty bottle of ink, sandbox, and sheets of 
 foolscap ; while a new tallow candle stood as erect as 
 a sentinel on duty on the mantel above the broad 
 fireplace. Evidently the place was the office of one 
 of the men. Had the door communicating with 
 the adjoining apartment been open, it would have 
 
2 Red Jacket. 
 
 revealed an ordinary high bedstead, with figured 
 coverlets, and furnishings of equal plainness. 
 
 Seated on a splint-bottomed chair, high-backed 
 and placed near the window which opened on the 
 street, his elbow resting at ease upon the sill, was 
 a man about forty years of age, of swarthy com- 
 plexion, and with black eyes and hair, the latter 
 showing a few streaks of silver. He was below the 
 ordinary stature, quite stout, displaying a double 
 chin, with smooth-shaven face, except a small tuft 
 of whiskers in front of each ear. The forehead was 
 so high, and the hair so scant on the crown, as to 
 indicate approaching baldness. 
 
 He was in the uniform of a major-general of the 
 American army, with blue coat and yellow facings, 
 double-breasted, and fastened to the broad, open 
 collar. Above this was the high stock, encircling 
 the throat, and the shoulders were ornamented with 
 gold epaulettes, indicating the high rank of the 
 ofificer. His three-cornered hat lay on the floor 
 beside his chair, and his buff gloves had been 
 flung carelessly into it. The usual sword was upon 
 his left hip, and the boots reached almost to his 
 knees, where the bottom of the buff breeches were 
 buttoned. 
 
 While talking, he had a curious habit of drawing 
 with one hand the boot of his crossed leg nearer to 
 his body, since the smooth cloth and his own 
 
An Important Project. 3 
 
 plumpness caused the foot continually to slip down 
 toward the knee which supported it. The uncon- 
 scious action was a sign of the individual's nervous- 
 ness, and perhaps showed a certain degree of 
 embarrassment in the presence of his host seated on 
 the other side of the table. 
 
 The man whom we have thus introduced with 
 some particularity was General John Sullivan, a 
 native of Maine, a major of militia before the Revo- 
 lution, appointed a brigadier-general by Congress, 
 in 1775, and made a major-general a year later. He 
 was an officer of unequal ability, but always patriotic 
 and brave. He was blamable for the defeat of Long 
 Island, but displayed excellent qualities at Trenton 
 and Princeton, and in his raid on Staten Island. His 
 generalship was poor at Brandywine, but he fought 
 like a lion there and at Germantown, and won the 
 battle of Butts Hill in Rhode Island in 1778. 
 
 The second figure in the room possessed an impos- 
 ing majesty that would have awakened admiration 
 anywhere. His stature was fully six inches greater 
 than Sullivan's, and the massiveness of his herculean 
 frame showed that he must have weighed consider- 
 ably more than two hundred pounds. He sat, as 
 was his favorite custom, with his legs crossed, and 
 no man ever had more magnificent thighs, and it 
 cannot be denied that he was aware of the fact. 
 
 The hands and feet were large, and his uniform 
 
4 Red Jacket, 
 
 was much the same as his visitor's, but the cloth 
 was finer, newer, and brighter, and the huge cavalry 
 bpots were polished and scarcely soiled by a speck 
 of dirt. Evidently this officer was fastidious in his 
 dress and appearance, for the rufifled linen of his 
 shirt and sleeves was spotless. 
 
 The smooth, benignant countenance, illumined by 
 the light blue eyes, had a dignity and grandeur all 
 their own. There was an impressive personality 
 and overpowering magnetism that was the sure 
 stamp of the highest human greatness — placed there 
 by God himself, for this man was General George 
 Washington. 
 
 He sat Just back from the table, his legs crossed, 
 as described, the upper foot swinging gently up and 
 down for an inch or two, so that the toe of the boot 
 almost touched, at regular intervals, the under side 
 of the table. It was as unconscious on his part as 
 the action of Sullivan in drawing up the foot that 
 was continually slipping away from him. 
 
 He was calm, serene, and kind, always dignified, 
 yet gentle, requiring terrific provocation to rouse 
 him, but, when roused, as awful in his wrath as a 
 bolt from the heavens. He read all men whom he 
 met with an intuition that was marvellous. He had 
 accurately taken the measure of General Sullivan, 
 and, knowing his merits and weaknesses, had sent 
 for him to come to Philadelphia to receive his final 
 
\ \ \ X X X 
 
 GEN. GEORGE WASHINGTON AND GEN. JOHN SULLIVAN Page 4. 
 
An Important Project. 5 
 
 instructions in a most important enterprise that he 
 was about to place in his hands. 
 
 And why was Washington at the national capital 
 at that time, instead of being with the army in its 
 winter quarters among the Highlands of the Hudson? 
 
 Simply, if the reason must be told, because Con- 
 gress caused him as much trouble at times as did 
 the public enemy. Washington insisted that each 
 State should send its ablest men to Philadelphia 
 and hold them sternly to their work ; but, with the 
 few exceptions that will occur to the reader, his 
 advice was disregarded. Days went by without a 
 quorum coming together. As is the rule, the most 
 incapable members were the most strenuous in their 
 views, and the body, as a whole, was continually 
 hatching some plan of campaign that the great 
 man's military genius told him was suicidal. He 
 had just succeeded in quenching a scheme for the 
 invasion of Canada, though some of the members 
 were still insistent for it, being too blind or stub- 
 born to see the force of the unanswerable arguments, 
 which the Commander-in-chief brought against it. 
 
 But Washington was not always successful in 
 enforcing his views upon the law-makers. The 
 shameless ' ' Conway cabal ' ' had its supporters 
 among Congressmen, and more than once unpar- 
 donable snubs and slights were put upon him ; but 
 that wonderful patriot heeded them not. Seeing 
 
6 Red Jacket. 
 
 with unwavering faith the victory from the begin- 
 ning, as unerringly as ever the prophet of the Lord 
 read aright his divine vision, he went unfalteringly 
 forward to the triumphant end. 
 
 On the present occasion, however, Washington 
 and Congress were in accord. They had agreed 
 upon a most important campaign, and it was that 
 which was under discussion between him and his 
 visitor. 
 
 " The outrages of the Indians have passed be- 
 yond bearing," he said, calmly addressing Sullivan 
 across the table. " Last July they laid waste the set- 
 tlement at Wyoming, and a few months later ravaged 
 Cherry Valley. They have made many raids else- 
 where, slaying helpless old men, women, and chil- 
 dren, and showing no mercy to any one. There is 
 only one way, ' ' added Washington, compressing his 
 lips and nodding his head slightly forward, " to end 
 all this." 
 
 " And that is to strike the dusky devils such a 
 blow that they wont -be able to hit back for a long 
 time to come — confound them and the Tories! " 
 
 General Sullivan came near uttering a stronger 
 word, but checked himself. He struck his knee 
 with his open palm, his eyes flashed, and he angrily 
 added : 
 
 ' ' I wish I could have a chance at them ! ' ' 
 
 " You shall have it! I have selected you to lead 
 
An Important Project. 7 
 
 the expedition into the Indian country, there to 
 work all the destruction and mischief possible. The 
 lesson which you are to teach the red men must be 
 as severe as you can make it. ' ' 
 
 The swarthy face of General Sullivan glowed with 
 pleasure. No man revered Washington more than 
 he. He recalled that after the disaster at Long 
 Island (when the Commander-in-chief alone saved 
 the Continental army from destruction), and at 
 Brandywine, Washington did not utter the slightest 
 reproof because of Sullivan's mismanagement. That 
 officer's self-reproach would have been less bitter 
 had his superior vented some of his displeasure 
 upon him. 
 
 And here was another proof of the great man's 
 confidence in him, who was ready to die for his 
 beloved commander. 
 
 " The plan of the campaign has been carefully 
 thought out. You will rendezvous at Wyoming, 
 where you will assemble a force consisting of regu- 
 lars and Pennsylvania and Connecticut militia to the 
 number of three thousand men. As soon as you 
 can make ready, you will advance up the Susque- 
 hanna into the country of the Six Nations, and 
 there spread fire and desolation. 
 
 " It shall be done! " exclaimed Sullivan, with an 
 emphatic nod; " for it is the Iroquois who are at 
 the bottom of all the mischief." 
 
8 Red Jacket. 
 
 " Trtie. They are masters of all the neighboring 
 tribes, and would have been masters of the continent 
 before this if the white men had not come to 
 America. It was they, and especially the Senecas, 
 who wrought such dire havoc at Wyoming and 
 Cherry Valley, and. General, they must feel the 
 weight of the hardest blow you can strike." 
 
 " God willing, they shall! " 
 
 " While you are advancing northward, General 
 Clinton will march westward from Albany up the 
 Mohawk Valley to the headwaters of the Susque- 
 hanna, down which he will make his way until he 
 meets you. He will take a thousand men, more or 
 less, so that, when he joins you, you will have a con- 
 siderable force under your command." 
 
 ' ' More than I should have asked, and more than 
 I expected." 
 
 " You see. General, we can afford to run no risk of 
 failure in an enterprise of this kind. About the 
 same time that you start, Colonel Daniel Brodhead 
 will set out from Pittsburg, at the head of six hun- 
 dred men for the Indian country." 
 
 " As a diversion, sir, I suppose ? " 
 
 Washington nodded. 
 
 " They will have work of their own to do; but 
 you have correctly interpreted the purpose of Col- 
 onel Brodhead. Is it necessary. General, for me to 
 give you any counsel ? ' ' 
 
An Important Project. 9 
 
 " Counsel itomyou is always valuable, no matter 
 to whom it is given. Congress would lead us to the 
 dogs, but for you. ' ' 
 
 The great man smiled. Flattery produced no 
 n^ore effect upon him than abuse. 
 
 ' ' I am fallible, like all men, and I make plenty of 
 errors. ' ' 
 
 " I never have seen any of them; and, begging 
 your parfon, I doubt whether any one else has." 
 
 " None the less, I have a lively consciousness of 
 them. I am sorry that Congress was so strenuous 
 in asking the help of France for the invasion of 
 Canada. The fleets of England are stronger than 
 those of our ally. She would blockade their ships 
 in the St. Lawrence and hold them there. While 
 her armies descended upon the posts, we should be 
 obliged to weaken to help in the conquest of Canada, 
 and our situation would be most hapless, indeed." 
 
 " And if Canada were conquered, France would 
 claim it as her share of the spoils." 
 
 " Undoubtedly. After helping England to win 
 the province from France, we should help France td* 
 win it back from England. I am loath to place our- 
 selves under too great obligation to a foreign power, 
 even though she be our ally." 
 
 "How far, sir, is it safe to count upon the friend- 
 ship of a nation ? ' ' 
 
 " Just so far as it is to her interest to extend that 
 
lo Red Jacket. 
 
 friendship, and no further," was the emphatic reply 
 of Washington, " France is our friend, not so much 
 because she loves us as because she hates England. 
 
 " And an infernally poor friend she has proven 
 herself to be ! " said Sullivan hotly, having in mind 
 the behavior of D'Estaing, with his fleet off New- 
 port, the preceding summer, which came near result- 
 ing in the undoing of Sullivan. " Whenever there 's 
 a chance to help us, they run for the West Indies, 
 where they claim important business requires their 
 attention." 
 
 " France has done us valuable service, and will do 
 still more. But we have wandered from the busi- 
 ness in hand. My most earnest counsel to you is 
 to bear in mind every hour of the day and night that 
 you are advancing into an Indian country, and will 
 have to fight the most cunning and the bravest of 
 red men. Beware of an ambuscade ! One mistake 
 may be fatal. When ready, strike hard ; I repeat 
 it, strike hard ! For in doing so you will save the 
 lives of many of our own people. The Senecas 
 have been the chief offenders, and should therefore 
 receive the chief punishment. And yet," added 
 Washington, with curious thoughtfulness, " there is 
 one among them to whom, if he comes in your way, 
 I shall be glad to have you show consideration. ' ' 
 
 " I shall be pleased to obey your wishes in the 
 smallest respect." 
 
An Important Project. ii 
 
 " I will explain to you some time why I have 
 asked consideration for one member of the Senecas. 
 He whom I have in mind is the Sachem, Red Jacket." 
 
 " I assure you, sir, your request shall ever be 
 before me." 
 
 Washington gravely bowed, and, after further 
 discussion of the preparations for, and the particular 
 conduct of, the projected expedition into the Indian 
 country, General Sullivan bade his chief good-by 
 and withdrew. 
 
CHAPTER 11. 
 
 JED STIFFENS. 
 
 THE Iroquois, or Six Nations, was the most 
 remarkable Indian confederation ever known 
 on this continent. They originally occupied Central 
 New York, and when first known consisted of the 
 Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Sene- 
 cas, their title then being the Five Nations ; but the 
 Tuscaroras of the South were added at the beginn- 
 ing of the eighteenth century, when the name was 
 changed to the Six Nations. 
 
 This confederacy was compact, well organized, 
 and well governed, to which fact its fast-growing 
 supremacy over all adjoining tribes was to be attrib- 
 uted. They have been termed the Romans of the 
 New World, and Washington's remark, that had 
 the coming of the white man been delayed the Iro- 
 quois would in time have conquered all the aborigi- 
 nes of the continent, was founded upon logic and 
 probability. 
 
 This is not the place to give the many interesting 
 facts regarding the Iroquois, except so far as they 
 are concerned with the events we have set out to 
 
Jed Stiffens. 13 
 
 narrate. During the Revolution, these Indians ar- 
 rayed themselves on the side of the English, the 
 only exception being those who were living at that 
 time in Canada. Their bravery and fine discipline 
 enabled them to strike ferocious blows against our 
 exposed frontier, until the time arrived when Con- 
 gress and Washington saw that the only salvation 
 of the border from devastation, outrage, and de- 
 struction was by administering a chastisement that 
 would seriously cripple the terrible red men. It 
 was, therefore, determined to send a strong force 
 into the heart of the Iroquois country, burn their 
 towns, destroy their crops, and show the severity 
 that the Indians themselves had displayed toward 
 the white people ; though of course the Americans 
 could never resort to the merciless methods of the 
 savages. 
 
 General Sullivan, who was intrusted with the im- 
 portant work, remained in Philadelphia, conferring 
 with Washington and leading members of Congress 
 until all the details of the campaign were thoroughly 
 evolved and agreed upon. Our readers will recall 
 that the year 1779 was comparatively barren of im- 
 portant events, so far as the Revolution was con- 
 cerned. The first flush of the struggle was over. 
 Defeats and victories, sufferings and privations, and 
 the long-continued struggle, had brought their nat- 
 ural result in a subsidence of enthusiasm on both 
 
14 Red Jacket. 
 
 sides. The prosecution of the war languished, and 
 it looked in many quarters as if each army was 
 waiting to see what the other meant to do. 
 
 Beginning in New England, the war had steadily 
 drifted southward. At the close of the preceding 
 year, the British had captured Savannah, and soon 
 after Georgia was so overrun and subjugated by the 
 enemy that a royal governor was installed. After 
 Howe had evacuated Philadelphia, he was pursued 
 by Washington and overtaken and defeated at Mon- 
 mouth in June, 1778. Washington then returned 
 to his old camp, near White Plains, and passed the 
 winter in a line of positions extending from the 
 Highlands to the Delaware. There were no import- 
 ant movements, the most brilliant exploit being the 
 capture of Stony Point by General Wayne in the 
 month of July. Such being the public situation, 
 the time was favorable for Sullivan to press his cam- 
 paign against the Iroquois in Central New York. 
 
 The scene, therefore, shifts to Wyoming, the lovely 
 settlement in Eastern Pennsylvania, on the Susque- 
 hanna, which was desolated by the Tories and In- 
 dians during the preceding July. Very different 
 was the appearance of the place in the spring months 
 of 1779 from what it presented when it vainly op- 
 posed the spoilers. Troops began moving toward 
 Wyoming at the opening of May, and converged 
 steadily upon the settlement through the weeks 
 
Jed Stiffens. 15 
 
 that followed. The march was slow and laborious, 
 for roads had to be cut through the woods, marshes 
 and swamps bridged, and the ^vay cleared for the 
 transport of the artillery and baggage between 
 the Delaware and Susquehanna. It was not until the 
 middle of June that the first important arrival of 
 troops took place at Wyoming ; but within the fol- 
 lowing month all had reached that point, and on the 
 last day in July, the preparations being completed, 
 the three thousand men faced northward, and began 
 their advance into the Indian country. 
 
 The scene was picturesque and striking. The 
 troops marched along the banks of the beautiful 
 river, which naturally grew shallower and shallower 
 as they ascended towards its source. One hundred 
 and fifty fiatboats, laden with cannon and stores, 
 were driven by means of poles or drawn up-stream 
 with T"opes pulled by men walking along the banks. 
 So powerful was the force that there was nothing to 
 be feared, and discipline was much relaxed. The 
 men sang, and at times were as boisterous as so many 
 boys let out for play. The bands awoke the woods 
 with their tuneful strains, when they felt in the 
 mood for doing so, and every now and then squads 
 of soldiers came out from the surrounding forests 
 with the game which they had bagged; while a 
 number of those on the boats managed, by the exer- 
 cise of a great deal of skill and patience, to woo some 
 
1 6 Red Jacket. 
 
 of the inhabitants from the Susquehanna, as the 
 noisy boatmen used their poles or were dragged up 
 stream by their ' ' yo-hoing ' ' comrades. 
 
 At nightfall, the boats were moored to the bank, 
 and the scores of camp-fires twinkled far up and 
 down stream. Around these were gathered, the 
 soldiers: some engaged in preparing the evening 
 meal, most of them singing, smoking, and indulging 
 in antics ; while the officers, having turned over their 
 animals to the care of their attendants, sat perhaps 
 by themselves, looking with indulgent eyes upon 
 the singular picture, or discussing the features of the 
 campaign that must of necessity assume a more seri- 
 ous character as they approached the hostile country. 
 
 The most thoughtful man in this large company 
 was General Sullivan himself. As was to be ex- 
 pected, he had had several quarrels with congress- 
 men before leaving New York, because of his 
 insistence upon, their following his wishes as con- 
 cerned the campaign. At one time,he probably would 
 have been removed, and compelled to give place to 
 a more tractable officer, but for the tact of Washing- 
 ton. Here he was at last, close to the New York 
 frontier, with everything in shape to carry out in 
 spirit and letter the instructions of the Commander- 
 in-chief; for Sullivan invariably placed his orders 
 above any received from Congress. 
 
 On the night we have in mind, when the sky 
 
Jed Stiffens. 17 
 
 was full of stars, and scarcely a breath of air ruffled 
 the leaves of the surrounding woods, General Sulli- 
 van was seated on a blanket spread upon the ground, 
 his back against a stump, his chubby legs stretched 
 out in front, and a pipe in his mouth. Although 
 the night was sultry, a small fire was burning near 
 the middle of the tent, probably for the purpose of 
 illuminating the interior, since the temperature 
 would have been more comfortable without any- 
 thing of that nature. The officer held his arms 
 folded over his chest, but was so indifferent to 
 the air, which most of the men found discom- 
 forting, that he did not so much as unbutton his 
 coat. 
 
 Sunk in deep thought, he puffed slowly at his 
 pipe; but it was evident he was expecting a call, 
 since, when the orderly announced the name " Mr. 
 Stiffens," the General instantly said, " Show him 
 in!" 
 
 The man who entered was tall, sinewy, alert of 
 manner, and in the prime of an unusually vigorous 
 manhood. His dress was a nondescript, consisting 
 of a slouch hat, a coat resembling that worn by the 
 cavalry of the Continental army, with belt around 
 his waist, and with the leggings and moccasins of an 
 Indian. Powder-horn and bullet-pouch were sus- 
 pended from his neck, and he carried in one hand a 
 long old-fashioned flint-lock rifle. In short, the 
 
1 8 Red Jacket. 
 
 man, who saluted the General, and at his request 
 seated himself on the ground near him, was Jed 
 Stiffens, the most famous scout and ranger attached 
 to the American army, whose services were of so 
 brilliant a nature that they attracted the attention 
 of Washington, and caused him to recommend his 
 employment by Sullivan. 
 
 One fact lent additional value to the peculiar 
 work of Jed Stiffens, so far as it could be rendered 
 in behalf of General Sullivan. His birthplace was 
 Central New York. When a boy, he had done fine 
 work in the French and Indian War; he had been 
 a prisoner for several years among the Indians, and, 
 gifted by nature with a special aptitude for acquir- 
 ing languages, he was as much at home among any 
 member of the Iroquois confederation, so far as 
 their tongue was concerned, as were the Indians 
 themselves. 
 
 Fully trusted by Sullivan, who, it need not be 
 said, had a large number of other scouts on duty, 
 that officer relied more upon what Jed told him than 
 upon all the others. He treated him with every 
 consideration, and when the two were seated near 
 each other, no one, not observing the two uniforms, 
 would have suspected there was any diflerence of 
 rank between them. 
 
 " Jed," said Sullivan, puffing his pipe faster, and 
 then removing it with a nervous quickness from 
 
Jed Stiffens. 19 
 
 between his lips, " we 're getting pretty close to the 
 Indian country: the Iroquois must know what 's 
 coming." 
 
 " There 's no doubt of that, Gin'ral. They 'd be 
 bigger fools than they was ever took for if they 
 had n't found it out long ago." 
 
 " What are they doing ? " 
 
 " Their runners have been goin' back and forth 
 for nigh onto a week; they '11 get their warriors 
 together and make a fight. ' ' 
 
 General Sullivan gave a contemptuous sniff, 
 smoked rapidly for a few seconds, and then said : 
 
 " Nothing would suit me better. But, Jed, it 
 never struck me that that 's the Indian style of 
 doing business. There 's nothing they dislike more 
 than to stand up in a fair, open, square fight. ' ' 
 
 " And they won't do nothin' of the kind this 
 time." 
 
 " But you said as much a moment ago." 
 
 " I did n't say nothin' of the kind, Gin'ral," was 
 the blunt response of the scout, which caused the 
 impulsive officer to turn angrily upon him ; but be- 
 fore he could utter the sharp reproof that was on 
 his lips, Jed Stiffens added : 
 
 " I said they 'd git their warriors together and 
 make a fight; but when that 's done, it '11 be in the 
 ginooine, reg'lar style, which the same is to say 
 that they '11 do their purtiest to draw you into 
 
20 Red Jacket. 
 
 ambush, jest as Braddock catched it when you and 
 me was boys." 
 
 " When they find the scheme won't work, what 
 then ? " 
 
 " They '11 try to hold a powwow, and patch up a 
 treaty with you, with the idee of gettin' you to turn 
 back and let 'em alone. Then, when you re fairly 
 out of the way, they '11 begin their deviltry agin. 
 They '11 wait till you and Gin'ral Washington have 
 got your hands full, and then they '11 make things 
 hum." 
 
 " Well," said the General, with something like a 
 chuckle, " when they find that the second scheme 
 won't work any better than an ambuscade, what 
 then?" 
 
 Jed Stiffens shrugged his shoulders, deliberately 
 drew a clay pipe from an interior pocket of his coat, 
 filled it with bits of tobacco, which he rolled and 
 crumpled in the palm of one hand, then pressed them 
 with his forefinger into the bowl of his pipe, which 
 was lit with an ember dexterously flirted from the 
 tiny fire ; after which he puffed for a minute or two, 
 so that the interior was pretty well filled with vapor. 
 Finally he spoke, with the pipe still between his 
 teeth : 
 
 " A cat, when druv into a corner, will fight like a 
 wounded painter, and a redskin is jest like a wounded 
 painter [panther]." 
 
Jed Stiffens. 21 
 
 That suits me, ' ' was the grim comment of Gen- 
 eral Sullivan; who asked, the next moment, as if 
 the thought had just come to him: " I suppose, 
 Jed, you are acquainted with Red Jacket ? " 
 
 " Well, rayther — confound his eyes! " 
 
 " What do you think of him ? " 
 
 " I dunno," was the curious response; " he 's a 
 mystery to me and a good many of his people. 
 You know some of his brother chiefs have called 
 him a coward to his face, and he did n't deny it." 
 
 " I have heard such statements; are they based 
 on truth ?" 
 
 " If you mean to ask whether Red Jacket has 
 been called a coward, I answer, yes, for I heard 
 Young King, Captain Pollard, and Little Billy, all 
 three of 'em chiefs, tell him he had the heart of a 
 sick squaw,and always hid when the fightin' begun." 
 
 ' ' And Red Jacket submitted to the charge ? ' ' 
 exclaimed the General, removing his pipe, and 
 looking at the scout in surprise. 
 
 " He could n't help himself. Red Jacket says he 
 is an orator, which was what the Great Spirit meant 
 he should be ; and, by gracious ! the Sachem is right. 
 He 's the greatest orator the Senecas or any of the 
 Six Nations ever had — or by thunder ever will have ! 
 When I listen to him, I feel jes' the same as if my 
 crown had been skulped." 
 
 " Yes; he has the reputation of being a wonderful 
 
2 2 Red Jacket. 
 
 orator ; he has been active in stirring up his people 
 to fight us; he has been oYi the war-path him- 
 self, and he had a good deal to do, one way or 
 other, both at Wyoming and Cherry Valley, though 
 Brant, Butler, Cornplanter, and the other leaders 
 were the most active ; and yet, when I was talking 
 with Washington, at the time he placed me in com- 
 mand of this expedition, he made a special request 
 of me." 
 
 "What was it, Gin'ral ? " 
 
 " That, if I should happen to meet Red Jacket, 
 as seems likely to be the case, I should show him 
 special consideration. Such a wish on the part of 
 General Washington is equivalent to a command to 
 both of us." 
 
 " That depends," was the blunt response of Scout 
 Stiffens. 
 
 " How so?" 
 
 ' ' So fur as / 'm concerned. Red Jacket will git 
 the same consideration from me as / git from kim, 
 which the same is what I 'd tell the Gin'ral if he 
 was a settin' here this minute, the same as you. 
 He 's a mighty smart man, and there ain't many 
 things I would n't do fur him; but one of them 
 things is trustin' an Injin, 'specially when his name 
 is Red Jacket, and he is a sachem of the Senecas." 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 IN PERIL. 
 
 JED STIFFENS had been caught in some of the 
 most perilous situations conceivable during his 
 long and adventurous career, and more than one of 
 his escapes bordered on the marvellous ; but he was 
 forced to confess to himself, on the second day suc- 
 ceeding the interview with General Sullivan, just 
 narrated, that he was so close to death that all hope 
 dwindled to a shadow which threatened to vanish 
 at any moment. 
 
 With the approach to the Indian country, the lax 
 discipline of the invading army diminished, and 
 every precaution against blunder and disaster was 
 taken. The commander of the American forces 
 kept his scouts well in advance, under orders to 
 exercise sleepless vigilance, and especially to guard 
 against ambuscade, since there was no doubt that 
 the Iroquois would call into play all the wonderful 
 cunning they possessed to bring about the ruin of 
 the invading force, which was too strong for them 
 to meet in open battle. 
 
 A runner had arrived from General James Clinton, 
 23 
 
24 Red Jacket. 
 
 who, as will be remembered, was advancing up the 
 Mohawk Valley, with the intention of effecting a 
 junction with Sullivan. Clinton was at the head 
 of about a thousand men, with which force he 
 reached Otsego Lake, whose outlet, as the reader is 
 aware, is the source of the Susquehanna. The 
 stream at that point is no more than a brook 
 across which a person can readily leap, and in many 
 places its depth at certain seasons is only a few 
 inches. 
 
 It will be seen, therefore, that in its shape it was 
 useless for the purposes of General Clinton. But 
 there are few difficulties which cannot be overcome 
 by Yankee ingenuity. Across the head of the outlet 
 a strong dam was built, while the two hundred and 
 twenty boats, loaded with men and supplies, ranged 
 themselves in front of it. Gradually the waters of 
 the lake rose until they reached a height of several 
 feet above the usual level, when the dam was sud- 
 denly torn away, and the outrushing torrent carried 
 the craft to a depth sufficient to float them all 
 with safety. News of this occurrence was carried 
 to Sullivan, who looked for a junction with his sub- 
 ordinate as one of the certainties of the immediate 
 future. 
 
 Well aware of the reliance placed upon him by 
 the leader of the expedition, and appreciating fully 
 his responsibility, Jed Stiffens called all his brilliant 
 
In Peril. 25 
 
 woodcraft into play, and assumed risks from which 
 the bravest man might have shrunk without discredit 
 to himself. 
 
 Despite all the precaution he could use, the fact 
 that he was compelled to mancEuvre against fully a 
 dozen, if not more, of the best scouts of the Six 
 Nations, was a handicap that might well have ex- 
 cluded hope of outwitting them. What Jed spe- 
 cially strove against was to prevent detection by 
 these men ; for, in the event of his own discovery, 
 his movements must of necessity assume a defen- 
 sive character. None of the white men was so well 
 known to the Iroquois as he, and it would be an 
 enormous advantage for them, at the start, if they 
 could ' ' remove * ' him from the momentous problem 
 by which they were confronted. 
 
 So brilliantly did the white man carry himself 
 that he had pushed forward for several miles, and 
 made a number of important discoveries before, de- 
 spite all he could do, his enemies detected his 
 presence in the woods, and rightly surmised his 
 business. 
 
 It happened in this way : 
 
 The scout interpreted the signals that became 
 manifest to the ear as well as the eye. From 
 several wooded elevations he observed fine wisps of 
 smoke, so thin and fine against the summer sky that 
 the ordinary vision would not have noticed them. 
 
26 Red Jacket. 
 
 Some were vertical, like shadowy streaks against the 
 clear blue, while others were broken, with distinct 
 intervals of atmosphere between their parts. Jed's 
 Indian training told him how these were made. A 
 few bits -of twigs and leaves were kindled, and, 
 when fairly ablaze, were partly smothered by a 
 blanket flung over the fire for a few moments, and 
 then removed. This being done at regular inter- 
 vals, the vapor ascended in spots, as may be said, 
 and when shown against the sky beyond presented 
 a curiously mottled appearance. 
 
 It was not the first time he had seen signals made 
 in that manner, and, as has been said, he knew what 
 they signified. Then there were bird calls that 
 vibrated through the forest arches, all emitted with 
 a skill that would have misled the most experienced 
 scout, but which did not deceive him. The fact 
 that a number of these were within a few rods of 
 where he was stealing through the dense, rocky 
 wood, warned him of his peril, and yet he continued 
 to press on. 
 
 The interpretation which the veteran gave to all 
 this was that a force of fully a hundred scouts were 
 manoeuvring in front, at varying distances, while 
 not a few were in his immediate neighborhood. 
 Beyond them, to the northward, was a force of 
 probably a thousand Iroquois, possibly greater, who 
 were steadily falling back before the advance of the 
 
In Peril. 
 
 27 
 
 American army. Somewhere along that line of 
 march they intended to ambuscade the white men, 
 if Indian cunning proved sufificient for the task. 
 The precise spot perhaps was already fixed by the 
 Iroquois, but, whether it was a mile or fifty miles in 
 advance, there was no means as yet of finding out. 
 Despite the seeming impossibility of the task, Jed 
 Stiffens was determined not to return to Genereil 
 Sullivan until he could clear away all doubt on the 
 point. 
 
 The scout had reached a slope, not more than a 
 hundred feet in height, thickly wooded^ with abun- 
 dant undergrowth, and interspersed^ here and there 
 with rocks and large boulders. It will be remem- 
 bered that it was the season of the year when the 
 foliage was at its best, and that there were places in 
 the wood where a person could not see six feet in 
 advance. 
 
 It was necessary for the scout to pass over this 
 ridge, and enter a comparatively level stretch of 
 country beyond, which was only partly wooded and 
 whose configuration was familiar to him. But he 
 knew that the Indian scouts were on all sides, and if 
 he succeeded in reaching the crest undiscovered, he 
 was almost certain to be seen when at the summit. 
 To retreat from such a position might well tax the 
 skill of an insect itself, and, despite his dauntless 
 bravery, Jed came to a halt with the question in his 
 
28 Red Jacket. 
 
 mind : " Having already gone further than any one 
 else dare go, won't it be certain death for me to 
 keep on ? " 
 
 Had it been night — even though there was a full 
 moon — he would not have paused ; but the morning 
 of the long summer day was only well advanced, and 
 time seemed too valuable for him to throw away 
 the intervening hours in idleness. 
 
 Among the peculiarities of this remarkable man 
 was a firm belief in what he was pleased to term his 
 " promptings," which was another name for the 
 more scientific term intuition — that mysterious 
 impulse which is a more or less controlling factor in 
 the lives of us all, and of whose nature the pro- 
 foundest brain can form no clear conception. 
 
 Jed's " promptings" were to enter the jaws of 
 death by passing over the ridge, or at least climbing 
 to the summit; but an equally strong impulse ad- 
 vised him to be in no hurry about it. 
 
 In his favorite crouching posture, he had crept up 
 to the side of a rock some twenty feet in extent, 
 standing less than half his height above the ground 
 in which it was imbedded. Instead of rising to his 
 feet, now that he was at the end of his journey for 
 the moment, he sat down in a peculiar sidelong 
 position, with his head against the stone and most 
 of his body on the ground. Almost unconsciously 
 he placed himself under an overhanging bush, which 
 
In Peril. 29 
 
 screened him from the observation of any one who 
 might walk past within three or four steps. 
 
 But Jed Stiffens never lost sight of one fact, — that 
 was, the wonderful keenness of vision on the part of 
 the Indians which enabled them to trail a man 
 through the wood and over the^round where the 
 faintest trace was barely visible. The scout had 
 the knack of walking like a warrior, which may be 
 described as lifting up and placing down the foot 
 with each movement made at the same instant. 
 Thus, instead of first resting the heel, and then the 
 ball and toe, as the weight of the body is thrown 
 forward, the entire bottom of the foot touches the 
 ground simultaneously. 
 
 Jed had copied this habit from the Senecas, for it 
 is the true way to walk when on the war-path. The 
 footprints are much lighter, and where the ground is 
 favorable they can be completely hidden. 
 
 But Jed himself could distinguish the trails which 
 he crossed before reaching the ridge. All the skill 
 of the Iroquois could not conceal them from his 
 eyes, where the leaves lay so abundantly on the 
 ground. Naturally, therefore, he concluded that 
 if he was equal to such a performance, the Indian 
 scouts could do as well. 
 
 But it has been shown that he wore moccasins. 
 Consequently, if an Iroquois noticed his faint foot- 
 prints, by what possible means could he be led to 
 
30 Red Jacket. 
 
 suspect that they were made by a white man, and 
 not by one of his own people ? 
 
 Unfortunately, there was a way of learning the 
 fact. An Indian in walking puts down his feet with 
 the toes pointed to the front, or so nearly so that the 
 variation is not perceptible. A white man turns out 
 his toes to a greater or less degree. Despite all the 
 crucial training to which Jed Stiffens had subjected 
 himself since boyhood, he was never able to over- 
 come this habit, which it is wrong to call a pecu- 
 liarity, since naturally it belongs to us all. He 
 could tread the wood for hours, and walk for miles 
 in absolute imitation of an Indian, and then he 
 would forget himself and drop back into his old 
 practice. It would have been strange had it been 
 otherwise, when his brain was intently occupied 
 with more important matters. He knew beyond a 
 doubt that within a hundred feet of where he was 
 crouching, he had walked with his feet turned out, 
 as was natural with him. Consequently, if one of 
 his lynx-eyed enemies caught sight of the shadowy 
 impressions on the leaves, he would know they had 
 been made by a white man. 
 
 " And knowin' that I 'm the only chap as would 
 ventur' 'mong them like this," muttered Jed, with 
 pardonable assurance, " he 'd know it was me to a 
 dead sartinty. What I oughter done," he added 
 with self-disgust, " is to have tied my toes in so as 
 
In Peril. 31 
 
 to make me walk like an Injin when I war n't 
 thinkin'. One of these days I '11 try it." 
 
 Faintly through the warm summer air sounded 
 the soft cawing of a crow, as if calling to its mate 
 from one of the tree tops. The note was so gentle 
 that, with all his acuteness, the scout could not make 
 certain whether it was within a hundred feet or a 
 hundred yards of where he was crouching. 
 
 " 'T was well done; but if that ain't a Seneca 
 warrior signallin' to Red Jacket or Young King, or 
 some one else, then my name ain't Jed Stiffens — I 
 thought so! " 
 
 Precisely the same note was returned from an- 
 other point of the compass ; but there must have been 
 a millionth of a note out of accord, for the listener 
 had no trouble in locating it as coming from between 
 him and the crest of the slope, and consequently 
 only a very short distance from his hiding-place. 
 
 ■" Now, that cawin' may mean one of a dozen 
 things," he continued. " As like as not, it is only 
 meant to let the two know where they are ; and yet 
 it may signerfy that an Injin scout has diskivered 
 that Jed Stiffens is foolin' 'mong 'em, and it 's a 
 toss up as to which one shall have the pleasure of 
 wearin' his topknot at his girdle. Howsumever, 
 my promptin's says : ' Jed, you must climb to the 
 top of the hill afore you turns back to Gin'ral Sulli- 
 van.' Wal, I '11 be shot ! " 
 
32 Red Jacket. 
 
 The ear that just then was pressed against the 
 side of the rock brought a low, almost inaudible 
 rustling to his consciousness. Like a flash, the 
 meaning broke upon him. There was an Indian 
 warrior on the other side of that huge stone, 
 crouching low like himself, almost within arm's 
 reach — and, what was more, he was aware, too, of 
 the presence of the white man so near him ! 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 WITHIN THE LINES. 
 
 JED STIFFENS, the most skilful and subtle of 
 all the American scouts, suddenly awoke to 
 the fact that he was face to face with a dusky enemy 
 as shrewd and daring as himself. 
 
 True, the breadth of a massive rock lay between 
 them, but that at the most'was no more than six 
 feet. Whether the warrior was there when the 
 white man arrived, or whether he had just reached 
 the point, was something that could not be deter- 
 mined; but that he knew of the presence of the 
 white man as his vis-h-vis Jed did not for a moment 
 doubt. 
 
 The situation could not have been more peculiar. 
 Under such circumstances, Jed had learned that he 
 must think fast, even though his action was tardy. 
 What should he do, now that the new danger must 
 be disposed of in some way ? 
 
 Naturally, several lines of action suggested them- 
 selves. He might creep round the rock and attack 
 his enemy. He had no fear of the result of a per- 
 sonal encounter with any Iroquois, and, could he 
 
 33 
 
34 Red Jacket. 
 
 have been assured of a " square deal," he would 
 have taken that course ; but it was liable to bring a 
 variety of disasters. If Jed could leap upon his 
 man and bear him to the earth, he could not ex- 
 tinguish life quickly enough to prevent his adver- 
 sary making an outcry, which would instantly bring 
 others to the spot, with a result that must be fatal 
 to the white man. 
 
 He might wait where he was, in the hope that the 
 warrior would venture upon an attack; while the 
 most expeditious course was to creep softly and 
 swiftly over the upper part of the rock to the other 
 side and drop like an avalanche upon the miscreant, 
 crushing him to the ground before he could emit a 
 single yawp. But, suppose the Indian was on the 
 lookout for such an attack ? At what a fine dis- 
 advantage he would catch his enemy, as he began 
 crawling over the top of the rock ! 
 
 It must be borne in mind that these two men 
 were not armed as they would have been had the 
 time been a hundred years later. While pistols 
 were comparatively common during the Revolution, 
 their use was mostly confined to officers, and espe- 
 cially on shipboard. Being flintlocks, they were 
 big, cumbrous affairs, unfitted to be worn by men 
 on foot. Scouts like Stiffens and Indians never 
 carried them. They confined themselves to rifles 
 and hunting-knives, while the dusky antagonist 
 
Within the Lines. 35 
 
 sometimes sported a tomahawk. Thus Jed had 
 his long-bladed and keen knife thrust in his girdle ; 
 though it was a fashion with many in those days to 
 carry it suspended by a support directly in front of 
 the chest, where it could be brought into play with 
 a trifle more quickness than when in the sash or 
 girdle. It will be borne in mind, too, that all the 
 larger weapons were heavy, single-barrelled, and 
 muzzle-loading. It was an unusually skilful hunter 
 who could fire and reload his rifle five or six times 
 a minute, though Jed Stiffens once surpassed that 
 astonishing rate, and thereby won a record among 
 his friends. 
 
 All are aware that a solid substance like a rock 
 is a much better conductor of sound than the air. 
 But for the white man placing one ear against the 
 stone, he would have failed to discover his danger. 
 The act was purely aimless on his part, and the 
 result, as we have shown, astonished him, for he 
 was not dreaming of anything of the kind. 
 
 The almost inaudible noise was such as would 
 have been made by some portion of a person's body 
 or clothing rubbing against the rock. It showed 
 that the Indian was moving, or rather had moved, 
 for the faint sound was audible only for an instant, 
 when it ceased, and throughout the four or five min- 
 utes that Jed Stiffens held his ear glued against the 
 stone he failed to catch the faint disturbance again. 
 
36 Red Jacket. 
 
 The one course which manifestly was that of 
 common sense has not been mentioned. That was 
 for Jed to withdraw from the spot and not lose a 
 minute in getting out of the perilous neighborhood. 
 He had been discovered to the enemy, and for the 
 time his usefulness as a scout was ended. Baffled 
 at this point, he should fall back and make his 
 essay elsewhere. Such a course would have been 
 prudent, but Jed was not yet ready to adopt it. 
 He meant to pick up a few fragments of knowledge 
 before he abandoned the scent. 
 
 Fired with this new resolve, he acted promptly, 
 doing the very thing that it would seem of all 
 others he ought not to have done. Instead of pass- 
 ing around the rock in either direction, he silently 
 rose to a nearly perpendicular attitude, placed one 
 knee on the edge and gently raised himself to the 
 top. Then, with the same absence of noise, he 
 began crawling to the opposite side. 
 
 And yet, if his enemy resorted to the same means 
 that he had employed, he must have heard him. 
 Nevertheless, Jed Stiffens kept on, his rifle in his 
 left hand and his knife tightly grasped in his right, 
 for that was the weapon on which his chief reliance 
 was placed, believing, as he did, that a deadly 
 encounter would be precipitated within the next 
 minute. 
 
 Hearing and seeing nothing, he suspected the 
 
Within the Lines. 37 
 
 Indian was unaware of his approach. Jed now laid 
 down his gun, assumed a stooping posture, with his 
 feet firmly under him, and drawing in his breath, 
 with the knife upraised, he made a single, cat-like 
 bound over the further side of the rock, certain of 
 descending directly upon the shoulders of the un- 
 suspecting redskin and throtthng him ere he could 
 make the first outcry. 
 
 But the scout was disappointed. Instead of 
 dropping upon the head and shoulders of a fierce 
 Iroquois, he fell plumply to the ground. Suspect- 
 ing his foe had discovered his approach and leaped 
 to one side, Jed made a second bound that carried 
 him several paces further, and then whirled about, 
 knife in hand and at bay. 
 
 Not a living person was in sight. For a moment 
 he suspected the whole thing was a blunder, and 
 the sound that had startled him had not been made 
 by an Indian ; but a moment's investigation proved 
 he was not mistaken. There were the imprints on 
 the leaves and soft ground made unmistakably by a 
 pair of moccasins, showing on the very spot where 
 he had expected to find the owner of them. 
 
 The explanation was self-evident : learning of 
 the presence of the white scout, the Indian had 
 withdrawn undetected ; not necessarily because he 
 held Jed in personal fear, but that he might sum- 
 mon enough help to make it impossible for his 
 
38 Red Jacket. 
 
 antagonist to escape from the trap into which he 
 had run. 
 
 There could be no question now as to the only 
 course left to Jed. His prompting to climb to the 
 crest of the slope disappeared with that drop from 
 the top of the rock, and he knew that the only 
 chance for his life was to get away from the spot 
 without a second's unnecessary delay. 
 
 He listened intently, and glanced sharply around. 
 He neither heard nor saw anything to cause imme- 
 diate alarm. Stepping quickly to the side of the 
 rock, he extended his hand, seized his rifle and, 
 sinking again to a crouching position, began stealing 
 toward the base of the slope, which was close at 
 hand, intending to follow it a short way and then 
 to flank the dangerous spot by a long turn to the 
 left. The impulse was strong still to place himself 
 on the other side of the summit, and he was confi- 
 dent that when he succeeded in doing so the result 
 would repay tenfold for all the risk involved. 
 
 He had gone about twenty steps, at a moderate 
 lope, when his quick ear caught the snapping of a 
 twig, so directly in front that he instantly turned 
 again to the left, but doing so at a sharper angle 
 than before. Thrusting his knife back into his 
 girdle, he held his rifle ready for instant use, for it 
 was not to be supposed that when the impending 
 collision occurred it would be a hand-to-hand one. 
 
Within the Lines. 39 
 
 For the moment, Jed Stiffens was in the position 
 of the immortal John Smith. He found so much 
 use for his eyes that he could pay no heed to his 
 feet. While, unlike his famous predecessor, he did 
 not sink into a bog, he stepped upon a stone which 
 was almost circular and large enough to roll under 
 his foot. Despite his activity, he dropped like a 
 flash on his side, though the fall only caused a jar. 
 
 " Confound it ! " he angrily muttered ; " I oughter 
 knowed " 
 
 But before the words could frame themselves the 
 vicious crack of a rifle rang among the trees, and 
 the bullet aimed at the head of the scout whizzed a 
 few inches above his crown. The fall and the re- 
 port of the rifle, fired only a few yards away, were 
 so nearly simultaneous that the Seneca who aimed 
 the weapon believed he had slain the white man as 
 he meant to do, and, with smoking rifle in one hand 
 and knife in the other, he emitted a faint but 
 triumphant cry and dashed forward to wrench the 
 reeking trophy from the head of his victim. 
 
 The warrior was scarcely a second behind the 
 white man in awaking to the fact that he had made 
 a mistake ; for, short as was the interval separating 
 the two, barely one half of it was passed by the 
 Iroquois when he saw his intended victim whirl 
 with lightning quickness on his side, rise to one 
 knee and bring his rifle to his shoulder. 
 
40 Red Jacket. 
 
 " Not just yet, my beauty! " said Jed, speaking 
 in the Seneca tongue; for he had recognized his 
 assailant as belonging to that tribe. 
 
 The Indian was caught at frightful disadvantage. 
 The smoking rifle which he grasped in one hand 
 was useless, and he was too far off to bring his knife 
 into play ; but, with inimitable dexterity, he made 
 a tremendous side-leap for the nearest tree trunk 
 that could shelter his body. The quickest man that 
 lived, however, cannot equal the speed of a bullet 
 from a rifle, and Jed Stiffens caught him " on the 
 fly," the savage making a bound into the air and 
 sprawling headlong at the base of the tree which he 
 had intended to use as his shield. 
 
 " If the aforesaid Jedediah Stiffens knows any- 
 thing about this bus'ness," muttered the scout as- 
 suming the upright posture, " Gin'ral Sullivan 
 need n't bother himself 'bout your botherin' 
 him." 
 
 But the narrow escape was of necessity only for 
 the moment. The report of the gun, the cry of the 
 victim as he went down, and the sight of the white 
 man's footprints, which must have greeted more 
 than one of his enemies, would bring an indefin- 
 ite number of the Iroquois to the spot within the 
 next few minutes. Jed's promptings, therefore, im- 
 pelled him to lose no time in taking himself some- 
 where else with the least appreciable delay. The 
 
JED STIFFENS AND THE INDIAN. 
 
 Page 40. 
 
Within the Lines. 41 
 
 necessity of ascending the wooded slope was as 
 imperative as ever, but it must be postponed. 
 
 Jed either heard or fancied he heard something 
 moving through the wood. He once more changed 
 his line of flight, which carried him a brief distance 
 from the foot of the ridge, when he again turned, 
 and took a course parallel with the crest of the 
 elevation. Critical as was his situation, he smiled 
 at his own action in turning the toes of his feet to 
 the front. Probably in all his experience there was 
 never less need of his doing this than in the present 
 instance ; for, if his enemies were on his trail and 
 near at hand, none of them could be switched off 
 by such an artifice. 
 
 It need not be said that at such times the highly 
 trained faculties of the fugitive were keyed to the 
 highest point. Nothing that was visible or audible 
 escaped him. So wonderfully skilful was his own 
 progress that he seemed to pass over the leaves 
 without ruffling them or making the least noise; 
 but, with all his skill in those respects, he knew that 
 every Indian within a hundred feet who was on the 
 alert was aware of his location and the 'course he 
 was following. 
 
 One of Jed Stiff ens's accomplishments was his 
 fleetness of foot. Framed by nature for speed, his 
 long training had given him an ability in that re- 
 spect which he had never seen surpassed, and indeed 
 
42 Red Jacket. 
 
 very seldom equalled. Such was his confidence in 
 his sprinting ability that he had never hesitated to 
 place himself in situations where his life depended 
 upon that single quality. Many a time his doom 
 would have been sealed had only one of his pur- 
 suers been able to run as fast as he. 
 
 His purpose now was to reach a point where all 
 or most of his pursuers would be thrown behind 
 him. That accomplished, he would have considered 
 the incident over, — the necessity of running an in- 
 definite distance being in the nature of a simple 
 formality. 
 
 But, as often happens in this life, that which was 
 believed to be the moment of safety proved to be 
 the one of extremest peril. He was still speeding 
 through the wood on a swift loping trot, when 
 something flickered among the vegetation in front. 
 The peculiar appearance did not present itself at 
 one point, but at two, — one being well to the right 
 and the other to the left. 
 
 He read their meaning aright. By some exas- 
 perating mischance, two Indians had obtained a 
 position in advance, and if he continued running he 
 must of necessity pass directly between them. More 
 properly, he would have to make the attempt, since 
 success was as impossible as to save his life by leap- 
 ing over a precipice a thousand feet in height. 
 
 Each Indian had sheltered himself behind a tree 
 
Within the Lines. 43 
 
 trunk more than a foot in diameter, where, with 
 ready weapon, he coolly awaited the moment when 
 the white man should come fairly within range. 
 Only a brief distance more was necessary. Jed 
 Stiffens had but to take a half-dozen steps when he 
 would be exactly where his enemies wanted him. 
 
 But it need not be said that Jed Stiffens refrained 
 from taking the steps mentioned. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 JACK RIPLEY. 
 
 IT will be noted that the scout held one corner of 
 a triangle, while each of his dusky enemies 
 occupied another. They would be mutually sepa- 
 rated by a distance of perhaps fifty yards. This 
 was an easy range for a marksman, and no one of 
 the three would have asked anything better, but for 
 the interfering vegetation. There was so much of 
 this that it was liable to spoil the aim of the keenest-- 
 eyed hunter or most unerring rifleman. 
 
 The dense undergrowth and shrubbery caused the 
 two Iroquois to believe they had not been observed 
 as they flitted behind the trunks of the trees, and it 
 led them to hold their fire until they believed it 
 could not fail them. But, as we have shown, the 
 vigilant Jed detected his danger on the instant it 
 appeared, and he not only paused, but, bending low, 
 also took to cover. Thus for a brief time the three 
 were securely sheltered. 
 
 Hardly had the white man taken this precaution 
 when he made an exclamation of self-disgust. With 
 all his training and experience, he had committed 
 
 44 
 
Jack Ripley. 45 
 
 an oversight which rarely occurred with him, and 
 for which it must be agreed there was no palliation. 
 The lesson that his father had impressed upon him 
 when a boy was that invariably the first thing to do ' 
 after firing his gun was to reload it. 
 
 " Never stir from your tracks or make a move till 
 Old Betsey is loaded and primed," was the homely 
 law of the parent which the son had repeated times 
 innumerable to his friends, until it was known as 
 one of his proverbs. 
 
 And yet Jed Stiffens had violated this fundamen- 
 tal rule within the preceding ten minutes. He had 
 discharged his weapon at the Seneca as he was 
 rushing upon him, and then turned and ran without 
 once thinking of reloading his rifle, until he was 
 again brought to bay and confronted, not by one 
 enemy but by two. 
 
 " There now! I 'm ready for bus'ness," he mut- 
 tered, as he poured the powder into the pan of his 
 gun from the narrow neck of the horn and let the 
 clasp down upon it. " If I make such an onspeak- 
 able fool of myself agin, I hope I may be shot, 
 skulped, drawn, and quartered ! ' ' 
 
 Now it will be understood that when two enemies 
 confront each other, with the trunk of a tree serving 
 as a screen at the command of either, there can be 
 slight or no advantage to them ; but the situation is 
 decisively changed when one man is obliged to 
 
46 Red Jacket. 
 
 confront two, for it is generally in the power of the 
 allies so to shift their positions as to gain a fatal 
 advantage over the single opponent. He of neces- 
 sity must keep the trunk of the tree between his 
 body and the muzzles of his enemies ; but if they 
 succeed in separating, so that one gains a position 
 far to the right and the other to the left, this task 
 becomes impossible. Consequently, he must in 
 shifting about place himself within range of one of 
 his enemies. 
 
 Such was the situation of Jed Stiffens, or rather 
 such it threatened to become within a very brief 
 while ; a still further complication being threatened 
 by the arrival of other Iroquois on the spot at any 
 moment. 
 
 The three combatants caught on to the situation 
 at the same moment, and each was on the alert to 
 take instant advantage of the slightest remissness 
 on the part of his enemy. 
 
 Let it be stated at this point that neither Jed 
 Stiffens nor either of the Iroquois resorted to the 
 artifice with which doubtless every reader is familiar. 
 The story is that a white man, caught as was Jed, 
 placed his cap on the muzzle of his gun and thrust 
 it just far enough from behind the sheltering tree to 
 catch the eye of his enemy, who instantly fired, and, 
 not doubting that he had slain the white man, 
 leaped into sight with a triumphant shout, only to 
 
Jack Ripley. 47 
 
 be winged by the cunning hunter who had fooled 
 him so cleverly. 
 
 Jed Stiffens, we say, did not try this trick, for 
 the reason that he knew there was no possibility of 
 deceiving his enemies by such a transparent fraud, 
 which, if the truth must be told, probably never 
 deceived any one. Most likely the artifice did not 
 present itself to the two Indians, alert to seize any 
 chance ; and if it did, they did not wear the right 
 kind of headgear to put it into practice. 
 
 However, matters by no means remained at a 
 standstill. Jed was standing close against the 
 shaggy bark, reflecting what a narrow margin was 
 at his command" to screen himself from the bullets 
 of his enemies, when again something flickered 
 among the leaves, as if a dun-colored bird had 
 darted through the vegetation. It presented itself 
 some twenty feet to the right of the trunk which 
 sheltered the Iroquois who was on that side of him, 
 and indicated that the warrior had made a swift run 
 to a shelter farther in the direction named. This, 
 it will be noted, widened the space between the two 
 allies, and came nearer than before to bringing the 
 scout within range of both. 
 
 " Now it 'syour turn," muttered Jed, glancing to 
 his left. " S'pose you make a dash for a trunk, and 
 see how purty I '11 wing you ! " 
 
 He held himself ready to fire, but the second 
 
48 Red Jacket. 
 
 Indian appeared to be content to stay where he 
 was, since his partner would not have to make more 
 than one more dash to gain the fatal advantage that 
 would quickly bring the singular contest to an issue. 
 Thus Jed was kept busy in watching for a chance at 
 his foes, one of whom was on his right and the 
 other on his left ; and since, when they appeared, it 
 would be only for a twinkling, his eyes were con- 
 tinually flitting from one side to the other, his rifle 
 held so as to fire on the instant. Indeed, if he 
 should succeed in winging his man, it would be a 
 proof of his marvellous cleverness, but he was con- 
 fident of his ability to do the trick. 
 
 " There 's only one thing that I don't want them 
 varmints to do," muttered Jed, " which the same 
 is not to make the jump at the same time." 
 
 And that is precisely what was done. One of the 
 Iroquois, crouching low, made a lightning-like dash 
 to the right, and precisely at the same instant the 
 second dived to the left. If either succeeded in 
 reaching the screen for which he was aiming, the 
 position of Jed Stiffens would instantly become 
 untenable. In other words, he would be caught so 
 inextricably between two fires that he was certain 
 to fall. 
 
 An incredible sequence. Instead of either Iro- 
 quois succeeding, both failed ! 
 
 With a quickness almost too great for the eye to 
 
Jack Ripley. 49 
 
 follow, Joe Stiffens picked off the warrior on his 
 right, and at the same instant his ally on the left 
 emitted a shriek that could have been heard a mile, 
 flung his arms aloft and plunged headlong to the 
 ground as dead as dead could be. 
 
 Thus both Iroquois were slain at the same in- 
 stant, and, since the scout could have had a hand in 
 only one of the exploits, it followed that a friend in 
 need had come forward at the most critical moment. 
 
 Without giving expression to his amazement, Jed 
 carried out his precept respecting promptness in re- 
 loading his gun, and never stirred from his position 
 until the weapon was again ready for use. 
 
 " I war n't lookin' fur neighbors jest at this 
 time," he muttered; " but I seem to have one of 
 'em that could n't have made his call fit in better 
 than he done. If it 's all the same to him, I 'd like 
 to shake his hand. ' ' 
 
 The stranger presented himself while the words 
 were on the lips of the scout, and while he was in 
 the act of stepping from behind the tree. Although 
 the day was not yet half gone, it had been full of 
 surprises to the veteran, but none of them equalled 
 that which he now felt when he made the discovery 
 that the friend in need, instead of being one of the 
 scouts attached to General Sullivan's army, or some 
 hunter, was unmistakably a boy ! 
 
 That he was tall of stature, active, strong, cool, 
 
50 Red Jacket. 
 
 and a good rifleman need scarcely be said ; but his 
 years were so few that no beard as yet showed on 
 his face, which was smooth, rounded, and glowed 
 with the pink tint of health. He was attired in the 
 homespun of the period, with a close-fitting fur cap, 
 a short coat or hunting shirt, gathered at the waist 
 by a girdle made of the same brown material as the 
 garment itself, with powder-horn and bullet-pouch 
 suspended from his neck, breeches of the same 
 coarse, strong, brown cloth as his coat, buttoned 
 at the knee, below which were leathern leggings 
 much the same as are worn by sportsmen to-day, 
 though, instead of moccasins, he had heavy shoes, 
 made of cowhide, and intended for use rather than 
 ornament. 
 
 The boy was tall, as has been stated, quite slim, 
 probably because he was not yet done growing, very 
 erect, and a natural athlete, as was shown by his 
 litheness and ease of movement. His features were 
 regular and pleasing, and, when he smiled as he 
 advanced to meet the astonished scout he displayed 
 as fine a set of teeth as ever graced the mouth of a 
 princess. 
 
 What added to the perplexity of Jed Stiffens was 
 that the moment he fairly saw the handsome youth 
 he was impressed by something familiar in his looks, 
 and yet could not recall where he had ever seen him 
 before. i 
 
Jack Ripley. 51 
 
 But the moment they were within reach of each 
 other they warmly clasped hands. 
 
 " I 'm much obleeged to you, younker, for makin' 
 your call jest when you did ; fur if you had took a 
 week to fix the minute you could n't have hit it 
 better," 
 
 " I 'm glad to meet you, Jed." 
 
 ' ' So you know me, do you ? That 's more than 
 I can say of you, though there 's somethin' in your 
 looks that reminds me of somebody. ' ' 
 
 The boy broke into the joyous laughter of 
 youth. 
 
 " You don't remember me, eh ? Well, that 's 
 funny." 
 
 " Funnier for you than me. Who the mischief 
 are you ? ' ' 
 
 " I sha'n't tell you," replied the lad, still laugh- 
 ing. " Find out for yourself." 
 
 " Wal, I '11 do it afore long; but see here, 
 younker, it won't do for us to hang round these 
 parts," added the scout, with quick glances from 
 side to side. " The lattertude here 's rayther too 
 warm for both of us. ' ' 
 
 " I should n't be surprised if it is. Where shall 
 we go ? " 
 
 " FoUer me, and keep your eyes so wide open 
 that you can't wink." 
 
 He started over the general course he had been 
 
52 Red Jacket. 
 
 following, but had taken only a few steps when he 
 halted abruptly and looked around. 
 
 " Is that gun of yourn loaded ? " 
 
 " Of course it is; I 've never forgotten what you 
 told me about always reloading my rifle the moment 
 it was fired." 
 
 " Hain't forgot what I told him 'bout reloadin' 
 his rifle the moment it was fired!" repeated Jed 
 Stiffens, as he resumed his stealthy advance. ' ' When 
 in the mischief did I ever tell him that f I don't 
 remember ever havin' seed him afore; but there 's 
 no mistake 'bout his knowin' me. Wal," was the 
 self-satisfied thought of the scout, " Jedediah Stif- 
 fens is purty well knowed 'mong folks, and it would 
 be strange if more people had n't heered of him 
 than he had of them." 
 
 Puzzling as was the question, the scout did not 
 allow it to interfere with -his duty. The two were 
 in a perilous position, and nothing was to be thought 
 of until they were extricated ; though, as is natural, 
 even in the most critical moments, he was annoyed 
 by his inability to identify his youthful compan- 
 ion. 
 
 The latter maintained his position a few paces 
 behind his leader, who was pleased to note the 
 extraordinary woodcraft of the youth. He stepped 
 so softly that the trained ear heard only the faintest 
 rustling of the barely disturbed leaves now and then, 
 
Jack Ripley. 53 
 
 and, when he glanced over his shoulder, he saw that 
 the lad was as watchful and alert as himself. 
 
 " Whoever the younker is, he 's used to the 
 woods, and he 's got the right sort of eddycation. 
 Instead of foolin' his time tryin' to larn to read 
 and write, which the same won't never do him any 
 good, he 's studied how to take care of himself 
 when he 's in the woods with the varmints all 'bout 
 him." 
 
 Neither spoke until they had gone fully a fourth 
 of a mile. That the scout led the course in the 
 right direction was proven by the fact that not once 
 during this guarded walk were they checked by 
 alarming sight or sound. 
 
 Finally, Jed Stiffens, who had been passing over 
 a comparatively level part of the country, parted the 
 undergrowth in front and picked hjg way with sur- 
 prising noiselessness through the' dense vegetation, 
 passed down an abrupt slope, only several yards in 
 extent, until they reached a small winding brook 
 of crystalline water. A fallen tree was stretched 
 along the bank, and upon this the scout seated 
 himself, making a gesture for his companion to do 
 the same. 
 
 " It 's safe for us to stay here awhile, younker." 
 
 The smiling youth acted upon the invitation, 
 with the question : 
 
 " Why don't you call me by my name, Jed ? " 
 
54 Red Jacket, 
 
 " 'Cause I don't know it. Who the deuce are 
 you ?" 
 
 " Do you give it up ? " 
 
 " Yes; I can't figger it out." 
 
 " Can it be you 've forgotten Jack Ripley ? " 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 A YOUNG PATRIOT. 
 
 THE astonished scout looked keenly into the 
 bright, boyish face at his side, and for a mo- 
 ment did not speak. Then he gave an exclamation 
 of amazement. 
 
 "No! that ain't you! Jack Ripley is a little 
 younker, not more 'n knee high to a grasshopper." 
 
 " He may have been when you saw him last; but 
 how long ago was that, Jed ? " 
 
 " Only a little while; you could n't have growed 
 and changed like all this in that time. ' ' 
 
 " It was four years ago, and I was twelve years 
 old. Don't you remember that it was just after the 
 news of the battle of Lexington that you came over 
 to our house and had a long talk with father ? You 
 and he agreed that it was your duty to enlist in the 
 service of your country. You had n't any family, 
 but mother was willing that father should go, 
 though it left her and me alone." 
 
 " And you 're that little codger that I took on 
 my knee and told of my adventur's in the French 
 and Injin War ? You 're the tiny younker that I 
 
 55 
 
56 Red Jacket. 
 
 took out in the woods and showed how to aim and 
 shoot your father's rifle! " 
 
 " And told me always to make sure of reloading 
 it as soon as it was fired. 
 
 " The gun was so heavy you had to rest it on a 
 log, or in the crotch of a tree ; but you soon larned 
 to aim straight. Say, now," grinned Jed, " you 
 ain't little Jack Ripley? " 
 
 " I am Jack Ripley; but you must remember, 
 Jed, that a boy generally grows a good deal between 
 the ages of twelve and sixteen years, — at least he 
 ought to ; and that 's what I 've been doing since 
 you saw me last." 
 
 " Stand up! " 
 
 Jack promptly rose to his feet. The scout did 
 the same. Standing side by side, there was barely 
 three inches difference in their stature in favor of 
 the elder. 
 
 " And you 're only sixteen," remarked Jed, as 
 they resumed their seats. " I 'm more than twice 
 your age. If you keep on the way you 've started 
 you '11 be eighteen and a half feet high by the time 
 you are as old as me." 
 
 " But I don't expect to keep on at this rate for 
 many years more ; it may be I shall not become any 
 taller, — at any rate not more than a few inches." 
 
 Jed Stiffens looked at him admiringly. Little 
 Jack Ripley had always been a pet of hiS, for he 
 
A Young Patriot. 57 
 
 was not only a bright, plucky, manly fellow, but he 
 was the son of his dearest friend, Horatio Ripley, 
 who away back in the French and Indian War had 
 saved Jed's life during that hideous disaster known 
 in history as Braddock's massacre. 
 
 These two men were alike only in their personal 
 bravery, patriotism, and friendship for each other. 
 Horatio Ripley was a graduate of Harvard College, 
 cultured and refined, while Jed Stiffens lacked the 
 ability to write his own name. The two entered 
 the service of their country in the early summer of 
 1775. It has been shown that Jed's brilliant wood- 
 craft made him the most valuable scout attached 
 to the American army, though the fact that he 
 had attracted the special attention of Washington 
 was probably mainly due to Horatio Ripley, who 
 never let slip an opportunity of befriending his old 
 comrade. 
 
 The elder Ripley began his services as lieutenant 
 of the company which he helped to raise. His con- 
 spicuous bravery at Trenton and Princeton made 
 him a captain and won the praise of Washington. 
 Brandywine and Germantown brought him a 
 colonelcy, with the certainty that if his life were 
 spared still higher honors awaited him. In fact, 
 the Commander-in-chief manifested a strong personal 
 friendship for the brave and refined officer, whose 
 attachment to his beloved leader led him to decline 
 
58 Red Jacket, 
 
 several tempting offers for the reason that they 
 would take him from the side of Washington. 
 
 All our readers know the history of the " Conway 
 Cabal, ' ' which was a conspiracy hatched by an Irish 
 adventurer, Thomas Conway, who was made in- 
 spector-general of the army, and was aimed to 
 depose Washington from the chief command and 
 put in his place the conceited General Gates, an 
 Englishman by birth, who received the credit for 
 the surrender of Burgoyne that belonged to Arnold 
 and other subordinates. Conway was desperately 
 wounded in a duel with General Cadwalader because 
 of his course in that discreditable affair, and when 
 he believed himself dying sent a message to Wash- 
 ington begging his forgiveness. 
 
 The foregoing is history; but another truthful 
 incident is not generally known, which was that 
 Colonel Horatio Ripley deliberately struck one of 
 the leading ofificers concerned in the conspiracy with 
 his glove across the face, in order to bring on a 
 duel, which had been refused by note. Though the 
 insult was given in public, it was not resented, and 
 the disgusted colonel pronounced the coward a fair 
 type of all who ever dared to utter a word against 
 Washington. 
 
 But this is wandering from the subject, and is re- 
 called for the purpose of showing the kind of stock to 
 which young Jack Ripley belonged. His home was 
 
A Young Patriot. 59 
 
 on the Hudson, so far north of the city of New 
 York that his mother and the servants had not as 
 yet been disturbed by the outrages of war, though 
 they had had several narrow escapes. 
 
 Communication between Colonel Ripley and his 
 family was irregular and uncertain, but there was 
 one matter that was never allowed to be forgotten. 
 When his father kissed his wife and boy good-by, 
 the latter asked him to set the time when he should 
 be allowed to shoulder his musket and join the 
 patriots fighting for the independence of their 
 country. 
 
 " On the day that you are sixteen," was the 
 reply, " you have my permission to offer your ser- 
 vices wherever they may happen to be most needed ; 
 but I pray they may not be needed — not. so much 
 on your account as for the sake of my country." 
 
 Jack Ripley treasured up the pledge, and as the 
 war went on longed for the tardy years to hurry 
 by in order that he might bear his part in the un- 
 equal struggle. With the spring of 1779 he began 
 counting the days. So did his patriotic mother, 
 with a solicitude known only to her heavenly Father 
 and herself. When the eventful morning arrived 
 which saw the completion of sixteen years of her 
 son's existence, she took him to her heart, held 
 him there for a minute, kissed him, and with an 
 unfaltering voice, said : 
 
6o Red Jacket. 
 
 " Go, my dear son, and God go with you! You 
 are my only child, but I cheerfully give up you and 
 my husband, only regretting, as did poor Nathan 
 Hale when he stood at the gallows, that I have no 
 more to offer to my country." 
 
 Jack's first intention was to seek out his father, 
 who was with Washington, a long distance down 
 the river in the direction of New York; but he 
 changed his mind for two reasons. In order to 
 reach the American army, he would be obliged to 
 pass through a district infested with Tories, whom 
 his mother dreaded more than the wild Indians. 
 If he should fall into their hands, as was more than 
 probable, she felt that his career would be termin- 
 ated on its very threshold. Then, too, as has been 
 shown, the main force of the Americans was not 
 actively engaged at that time in any military move- 
 ment, and the ardent nature of the youth longed 
 for something to do. He dreaded unspeakably 
 lying idle when the fortunes of his country were 
 trembling in the balance. 
 
 Well-founded rumors penetrated to the home of 
 Jack Ripley of Sullivan's expedition against the Six 
 Nations. A letter from his father confirmed the 
 news, and he remarked that his old friend, Jed 
 Stiffens, was to accompany General Sullivan, and 
 there could be no doubt that his services would be 
 of the highest value. It was because of these 
 
A Young Patriot. 6i 
 
 reasons that Jack Ripley, when he left his home, 
 circled around to the westward of the Hudson until 
 well clear of the territory infested by the Tories, 
 when he changed his course for the Susquehanna, 
 aiming to strike it near the line between New York 
 and Pennsylvania. The letter from his father gave 
 many particulars concerning the campaign, so that 
 his son knew that General Sullivan was advancing 
 northward at the head of a large force, while General 
 Clinton had gone up the Mohawk with the purpose 
 of following the river southward and meet^ing his 
 superior officer. 
 
 " If my birthday had only come a week or two 
 sooner," said Jack, after telling his story to X^ 
 Stiffens, ' ' I should have gone with General Clinton, 
 for you know we don't live very far from Albany." 
 
 " I don't b'lieve your father would have cared if 
 you 'd started a little ahead of time," suggested the 
 scout. 
 
 " Very likely he would not, and mother told me 
 to do as I tliought best; and I did." 
 
 " What was that ? " 
 
 " Obeyed my father. His promise was that 
 when I reached the age of sixteen I should be free 
 to enlist for the war. I reached that age on the 
 eleventh of last month, and that 's the day on which 
 I started." 
 
 " You 're a fine younker, Jack, and I 'm proud 
 
 \ 
 
62 Red Jacket. 
 
 of you. The most that I can say is, you 're jest 
 like your father." 
 
 " And all I ask is, that your words will prove 
 true," replied the boy, with kindling eyes. "He's 
 my example." 
 
 " You could n't have a better one, onless it was 
 Gin'ral Washington, — no, I '11 be hanged if he 's 
 any better ! ' ' 
 
 " We will put them on the same level, Jed." 
 
 The scout flung one leg over the other, and with 
 that quick, searching glance which was a part of his 
 nature, and which took in every part of his sur- 
 roundings, said: 
 
 " 'Raish Ripley would n't tell a lie to save his 
 life, while I 'd tell five hundred thousand without 
 winkin'. In the days of the old war, me and your 
 father was took prisoners by a party of French and 
 Injins. An ofiScer took a great fancy to your father, 
 as was nateral, and told him if he would say he was 
 a Captain Bridges, that did n't amount to nothin', 
 he would have him exchanged right off, otherwise 
 the Injins that was beginnin' to load up on whiskey 
 would be likely to become ongovernable and toma- 
 hawk him. Your father told the officer he 'd see 
 
 him first, or words to that effect. He was 
 
 Captain 'Raish Ripl jy, and he spoke it out loud, so 
 that .everybody mought hear him. I suggested to 
 the officer that, if it was agreeable to him, I 'd stand 
 
A Young Patriot. 63 
 
 for Captain Bridges or Colonel Washington, as he 
 was then, or for anybody else that would suit him ; 
 but the Frenchman had the ill manners to say that 
 the best thing I could do was to stay jest what I 
 was, for I did n't 'mount to nothin', and never 
 would. I 'd like to have had a chance to square 
 matters with that Frenchman 'cording to my 
 promptin's," added Jed, with a grieved air, " but 
 I never got it. ' ' 
 
 " Yet you both escaped." 
 
 " Yas. It war n't long afore Colonel Washington 
 mixed up things so we got a show, and we took it. 
 But, Jack, your father is all right, now that he 's a 
 colonel." 
 
 "When was he made a colonel?" asked the 
 astonished Jack. 
 
 " Why, last fall — right after Germantown." 
 
 " That 's strange; he never said anything about 
 it in his letters to mother and me." 
 
 " And that 's jest like him. If they make him 
 commander-in-chief, as they 're likely to do, if 
 Gin'ral Washington pegs out, it won't make him 
 a bit proud. But let 's keep down to bus'ness, 
 younker. You 've had a long tramp to git here, 
 and I don't 'zactly see how you managed it." 
 
 " I had no special trouble. I started with con- 
 siderable money — not Continental currency that the 
 farmers are so shy of^but British gold. Though I 
 
64 Red Jacket. 
 
 had to use very little, for when the people along 
 the road found out I was on my way to join the 
 army they were glad to do what they could for me. " 
 
 ' ' You come all the way on foot ? ' ' 
 
 " Yes. I might have ridden my pony, but what 
 use would he be in a place like this ? Sometimes 
 the houses were so far apart that I had to tramp for 
 two days without seeing one. Once I was three 
 days and two nights on the road without meeting a 
 living person. ' ' 
 
 " How 'd you manage it ? " 
 
 " The season was so pleasant that it was no hard- 
 ship to sleep in the woods, and I found enough fruit 
 to keep me in good condition." 
 
 " Where 'd you strike the Susquehanna ? " 
 I should judge about fifteen or twenty miles to 
 the north. You see, I 'm ahead of General Clinton, 
 but he can't be very far behind me." 
 
 But I don't understand it. You got right in 
 among the Injins, and yet you give 'em all the slip, 
 and then turned' round and picked off the varmint 
 that had me to a dead sartinty. How was it, 
 younker ? " 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 UP A TREE. 
 
 JED STIFFENS spoke truly when he said that 
 Jack Ripley was a reproduction in miniature of 
 his father. Among the many admirable qualities he 
 inherited were a fine sense of honor and truthful- 
 ness, together with modesty. When, therefore, the 
 scout expressed his wonder at his success in travel- 
 ling such a long way, the latter of it exposed to the 
 malignant hatred of the Six Nations, and asked him 
 to make clear how it all came about, the youth was 
 embarrassed. 
 
 " I don't see anything so remarkable in it. I 
 was n't in any danger until the last day or two, and 
 then I had only to keep my eyes open and dodge 
 whatever peril presented itself. ' ' 
 
 " It must have took some tall dodgin', for you 
 see what hard work / had. ' ' 
 
 ' ' That was only near here. ' ' 
 
 " But you was in it too." 
 
 " Well, all I have to say is that I picked my way 
 over the ridge, using all the care I could ; but I had 
 no idea of running upon you as I did." 
 
 ' 65 
 
66 Red Jacket 
 
 How was it ? " 
 
 " I heard the report of your gun, and thought it 
 likely that some white man was in trouble, for I 
 could n't see what reason there was for an Indian to 
 use his rifle when so near the army. I set out to 
 find whether I could be of any help, and happened 
 to arrive in time to do you a favor, which I know 
 you would have done for any one caught as you 
 were." 
 
 ' ' Of course. I say, when did you eat last ? ' ' 
 
 " Food has n't been over plenty for the last day 
 or two, ' ' replied Jack, with a smile. ' ' I had a few 
 green apples yesterday. ' ' 
 
 " And they must have been powerful green at 
 this season of the year; the wonder is they hain't 
 give you the gripes. ' ' 
 
 " I feel quite comfortable." 
 
 " Think you could put yourself outside of some 
 cold meat and bread ? ' ' 
 
 I should soon show you, if I had the chance." 
 
 '.' Wal, I 'm goin' to give you the chance, younker. 
 When I 'm out on a scout, it is n't safe to shoot at 
 any game, though you may have plenty of chances; 
 so I bring my grub with me. ' ' 
 
 He slipped his hand within his loose coat, and 
 brought forth a substantial lunch of well-cooked 
 beef and coarse brown bread, wrapped up in com- 
 mon paper, and handed it to the youth. 
 
Up a Tree. 67 
 
 " If you want to presarve my respect, you '11 not 
 stop chawin' and swallerin' as long as there 's a bit 
 in sight." 
 
 " I could n't think of that, Jed." 
 
 " Don't want you to think of it. Start in! " 
 
 " What about you ?" 
 
 " I had all I could eat afore I left camp this 
 mornin'." 
 
 "And the day is half gone. You must be hungry 
 too; and where will you get your supper ? " 
 
 " In camp. It ain't fur back, and I 've promised 
 to report to Gin'ral Sullivan to-night. I don't 
 mind goin' three or four days without anything to 
 eat, when there 's a necessity for the same. When 
 there ain't no necessity, I never eat more 'n twice a 
 day, 'cause I feel better for doin' so." 
 
 " Since you are determined I shall gorge myself, 
 here goes." 
 
 And without knife, fork, or so much as using his 
 jack-knife. Jack Ripley proceeded to make his 
 lunch, and, when he was through, there was hardly 
 a crumb left to brush off his clothing. 
 
 " There! " he said, with a sigh of content, " I 
 feel as if I should not want another mouthful for a 
 week. ' ' 
 
 "-Which ain't the way you 'U feel to-morrer 
 mornin'. It 's done me as much good as you to see 
 you eat like a Christian." 
 
68 Red Jacket. 
 
 " The next thing is this." 
 
 With which the youth lay down on his face and 
 drank deeply from the clear, crystalline brook that 
 flowed at their feet. The scout imitated him, when 
 both were ready for business. They had sat for 
 nearly an hour on the fallen tree, conversing, 
 pleasantly, one as glad as the other at this curious 
 meeting that had taken place in the depth of the 
 forest. 
 
 But there were two things that were never absent 
 from the brain of the scout. During the most ab- 
 sorbing moments of their chat, he was continually 
 glancing about, and in all directions, on the alert 
 for danger. His sense of hearing was equally 
 awake, and the slightest rustling would have caught 
 his attention. That nothing of the kind occurred 
 was proof that they were safe for the time. 
 
 It naturally was different with Jack. When 
 alone and dependent upon himself, he was as cir- 
 cumspect in all he did as the veteran, even though 
 unable to read the almost invisible and inaudible 
 signs around him. But, while in the company of 
 the scout, he forgot the necessity of precaution, 
 and relied wholly upon him. 
 
 The second fact that was present with Jed was 
 that he was on duty, and the task that he had set 
 out to perform for himself was still before him. 
 Questioning his young friend convinced him that he 
 
Up a Tree. 69 
 
 brought no information such as the elder was seek- 
 ing, and it would have been strange had the lad 
 succeeded in penetrating the plans of the Indians, 
 as they affected the invasion of their territory. 
 
 " My promptin's are to climb the ridge and take 
 an observation from the top," remarked the scout, 
 rising to his feet. " What 're yourn ? " 
 
 "To do as you do. I wish to stick by you, 
 Jed." 
 
 That 's what I expected to hear you say. Afore 
 we start, we must fix on our plan. Have you forgot 
 them signals I teached you when you was a wee bit 
 of a younker ? ' ' 
 
 By way of answer, Jack emitted several faint, 
 bird-like calls that might have deceived the sus- 
 picious ear of a Mohawk or Seneca. 
 
 " That 's good. When you hear me give two 
 like this — you will know it means I want you to 
 come to me, and they '11 mean the same if I hear 
 'em from you. If you catch three of 'em from me, 
 it will mean that the varmints are powerful close, 
 and you must look out for yourself without tryin' 
 to get to where I am. If I make three of 'em twice, 
 it will mean that you are to stay where you happen 
 to be while I try to jine you. I guess that will be 
 'nough, onless you can think of something else." 
 
 " No, I think of none; if there were too many, 
 I should be likely to forget their meaning. I 
 
70 Red Jacket. 
 
 understand, then, that you are to take one direction 
 and I another ? ' ' 
 
 ' ' That 's it. Do you obsarve that oak tree yender, 
 'bout half a mile off ? The top has been broke off 
 by a stroke of lightnin', and, the bark being mostly 
 gone, the wood looks white and shiny." 
 
 The object indicated by the scout was so con- 
 spicuous amid the surrounding trees that the pointing 
 of his finger toward it was unnecessary. 
 
 " Yes; I see it," replied Jack. 
 
 " When you 're through with seein' what you can 
 see, pick your way to the foot of that oak and wait 
 for me. If I 'm done first, I '11 do the same for 
 you." 
 
 " Suppose something happens to one of us, so he 
 can't get there ? " 
 
 It was a natural supposition, and Jed was pleased 
 at the thoughtfulness of his young friend. The 
 contingency he named was a probable one. 
 
 " If you reach the tree first, hang 'round till the 
 sun goes down ; don't wait any longer, but git back 
 to the army as soon as you can ; hunt out the 
 Gin'ral, and tell him all you know." 
 
 " But I shall not know anything to tell him." 
 
 " Wal, you can tell the Gin'ral that, can't you ? " 
 
 " How long will you wait for me ? " 
 
 " Till you come." 
 
 " Suppose I don't come ? " 
 
Up a Tree. 71 
 
 " Then I '11 go after you, and find out what 's 
 keepin' you." 
 
 The spirited boy smiled at the earnestness of his 
 friend. 
 
 " Then, ii ^ou should happen to be delayed, why 
 should not I go after you ? ' ' 
 ' The scout gravely shook his head. 
 
 " Don't bother 'bout me; you '11 have all you can 
 do to take care of yourself; likely it '11 be the same 
 with me. There ain't any use of me tellin' you to 
 keep your eyes and ears open. So good-by." 
 
 Two minutes later the friends were as invisible to 
 each other as if separated by leagues of forest. 
 Jack Ripley turned back partly over the trail along 
 which they had made their way to the brook in the 
 hollow, while the course of the scout was toward the 
 opposite point of the compass. It will be remem- 
 bered that the neighborhood was familiar to him, 
 and he was making for a more elevated portion of 
 the ridge, which he was " prompted " to climb, in 
 order to secure an extended survey of the wooded 
 country to the northward. It~is unnecessary to say 
 that in the division of the delicate but important 
 work on which the two were engaged, the arrange- 
 ment was meant to place the chief burden on the 
 veteran. 
 
 Alert, vigilant, and watchful, the scout threaded 
 his way through the forest, keeping at the base of 
 
72 Red Jacket. 
 
 the slope, until opposite the highest portion, when 
 he turned in order to climb to the summit. There, 
 as he knew was the case, the face of the country 
 underwent considerable change. Much of the wood 
 disappeared, and was replaced by stretches of 
 natural openings, some of which were so extensive 
 as to suggest that they had been cleared by wood- 
 men and afterwards abandoned by them. The fer- 
 tility of the soil was proven by the abundance of 
 grass everywhere. 
 
 It need not be explained that such openings were 
 far more dangerous to a man in the situation of Jed 
 Stiffens than was the surrounding forest, since he 
 was liable to be exposed to the shots of one or 
 more invisible enemies. 
 
 He neither crossed nor avoided them, but skirted 
 their margins, where the journeying was easier, and 
 he could dart into cover on the first appearance of 
 danger. With -his rifle in a trailing position, his 
 shoulders thrown slightly forward, his noiseless 
 step, and his keen eyes flitting to the right and left, 
 he glided along the edge of one opening after 
 another, all the while steadily ascending the slope, 
 which, directly in his front, attained an elevation of 
 three or four hundred feet, and bristled with oaks, 
 beeches, poplars, maples, ash, and the various 
 growths that go to make up an American forest in 
 that latitude. There was less underbrush, so that 
 
up a Tree. 73 
 
 travelling continued easy, but the opportunity for a 
 trained woodman to avail himself of effective screen 
 and shelter was always at his command. 
 
 Singular as it may seem, nothing had been seen 
 or heard to cause anxiety since his meeting with 
 Jack Ripley. The surrounding forest remained as 
 silent as at " creation's morn," unbroken by the 
 crack of rifle or cry of Indian, bird, or animal ; and 
 yet all this being so, it may be said that peril lurked 
 in the very air and vindictive enemies were prowling 
 on every hand. 
 
 It was a brief climb to the summit of the ridge, 
 and Jed Stiffens speedily found himself at the foot 
 of the towering oak that had been his objective 
 point from the first. The trunk was several feet in 
 diameter, and the lowermost limbs, as rugged and 
 sturdy as saplings, were but a short distance above 
 his head. The scout slung his rifle over his shoulder, 
 where it was supported by a strong cord fastened in 
 a ring near the muzzle and on the lower side, and 
 tied to the front of the trigger guard. Thus the 
 weapon was out of the way, and he had the free use 
 of his hands. 
 
 Spending only a few seconds in peering around 
 and listening, he stooped slightly and then leaped 
 upward with the spryness of a cat. The hand ex- 
 tended above his head seized one of the limbs, and 
 in a twinkling he drew himself among the branches. 
 
74 Red Jacket. 
 
 in and out of which he passed, on his way to the 
 top, with the facility of a climbing panther. When 
 he paused, he was in the very highest part of the 
 tree, screened by the enveloping foliage, and above 
 the tops of the surrounding trunks. He had-selected 
 this forest monarch because of the manifest advan- 
 tage it gave. 
 
 He now carefully adjusted himself, and, parting 
 the leaves in front of his face, leaned outward and 
 surveyed the broad expanse of country spread be- 
 fore him. He was facing northward, studying the 
 region over which it was to be expected that Gen- 
 eral Sullivan and his army would march within the 
 next day or two. He saw the beautiful winding 
 Susquehanna, dotted here and there by islets, whose 
 green surface made them look like bouquets of 
 vegetation and flowers set in the water. The stream 
 was no broader than a fair-sized creek, and it 
 steadily narrowed to the nqrthward toward its 
 source. 
 
 For a number of miles the eye failed to observe 
 the faintest sign of life, but far away in the very 
 horizon, the scout detected something which caused 
 him to draw the small single telescope from his 
 inner pocket and carefully adjust it to his eye. The 
 instrument was a gift from Colonel Ripley, and, de- 
 spite the remarkable strength of Jed's vision, it had 
 proven of material aid to him in more than one 
 
Up a Tree. 75 
 
 critical situation, as it was destined to do once more 
 in the present instance. 
 
 He spent only a aiinute or two in scanning the 
 country to the north, when he uttered an exclama- 
 tion. 
 
 " Jest what I thought! There ain't no doubt 
 'bout it!" 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 A DESPERATE RUN. 
 
 FULLY a dozen miles to the northward, where 
 the misty line of forest was dissolved into the 
 soft blue of the horizon, the scout with the aid of 
 the telescope traced fully a score of shadowy lines 
 against the clear sky. They were uniform in appear- 
 ance, and so faint that when he lowered the glass 
 he was unable to distinguish them. 
 
 Turning his gaze behind him, he saw an almost 
 exact reproduction of the vague picture. To the 
 southward, the same almost invisible forms dis- 
 closed themselves, but their number was greater. 
 
 The conclusion was inevitable: they were the 
 smoke from the camp-fires of his friends. Those to 
 the rear belonged to the main army of General Sulli- 
 van; those in front were General Clinton's, on his 
 way to join his superior ofificer. Both forces had 
 made their noon halt, and the many camp-fires were 
 necessary in the preparation of their meals. It was 
 idle for such bodies of men to attempt to conceal 
 their advance, and in truth no necessity existed for 
 doing so. 
 
 76 
 
A Desperate Run. ']'j 
 
 Thus Jed Stiffens had located the coming rein- 
 forcements of General Clinton. The junction must 
 take place within the next two days, and the dis- 
 covery of the fact carried with it a still more import- 
 ant one. 
 
 Although it was possible, and indeed quite 
 probable, that hundreds of Iroquois were prowling 
 through the country between the forces, yet they 
 would make no attempt to ambuscade, since, if suc- 
 cessful, it could avail them nothing. The Indians 
 of necessity would place themselves between two 
 fires, and, if Clinton or Sullivan were caught in a 
 trap, the other would speedily advance to his help 
 and utterly annihilate the assailants. The chiefs 
 and warriors of the Six Nations were too prudent 
 to make such a blunder. 
 
 The work of the scout was finished for the day. 
 It only remained for him to descend the oak and 
 report to General Sullivan, to whom the news would 
 be most welcome. Jed had been more successful 
 than he anticipated, and he now paused only long 
 enough to make a quick study of the wood directly 
 around him. So far as he could judge, there was no 
 cause for misgiving. 
 
 The task had been completed so quickly that the 
 scout's chief concern was transferred to Jack Ripley. 
 He had penetrated into the more dangerous terri- 
 tory, and was not likely, even if all went well, to 
 
78 Red Jacket. 
 
 appear at the foot of the oak for an hour or two to 
 come. If he could be notified of the gratifying 
 change of situation, the meeting could be hastened, 
 and a great deal of unnecessary peril to the lad 
 averted. 
 
 With this purpose in view, Jed turned back and 
 began threading his way through the wood at a 
 rapid walk. He followed a faintly marked trail, 
 which had been made a long time before by ani- 
 mals in passing to and returning from water. He re- 
 membered it well, and knew of several others which 
 converged at the point where the little brook already 
 referred to expanded into a miniature lake or pond. 
 
 When there was hope that he had reached a point 
 where the listening Jack could hear him, the scout 
 emitted the clear, bird-like signal agreed upon. 
 Scarcely had it passed his lips when it was answered, 
 but, although the reply was a repetition of his own, 
 and was therefore right in that respect, Jed Stiffens 
 knew on the instant that it had not issued from the 
 lips of his young friend. 
 
 " I '11 be skulped! but that is a smart trick! " he 
 muttered, stopping short and peering in the direc- 
 tion whence the signal had come. " If that call 
 was n't made by one of the devilish Six Nations, 
 and most likely a Seneca, then my name ain't 
 Jedediah Stiffens, and my promptin's have all gone 
 wrong. ' ' 
 
A Desperate Run. 79 
 
 The scout did not repeat the signal, for the an- 
 swer that had been wafted back to him through the 
 arches of the forest came from a most uncomfort- 
 ably near point. In truth, his promptings caused 
 him not only to stop but to turn about and begin a 
 guarded retreat or withdrawal from the neighbor- 
 hood. 
 
 No more than twenty paces were taken, when the 
 signal was heard again, and from a point directly in 
 front — that is (since he had changed his course), 
 from a spot opposite to where the first issued ; proof 
 that the calls were made by different persons. 
 
 Not doubting for a moment that these signals had 
 reference to him, and that but for the call emitted 
 by himself, which, fortunately seemed to have been 
 mistaken by his enemies, he would have walked in- 
 extricably into a trap, Jed now broke into his long 
 silent lope, his rifle trailing, and his head thrust 
 forward in his favorite attitude, when making haste 
 through the wood. 
 
 Since the last signal was in front, it was clear it 
 would never do for him to continue in that direction. 
 If his memory served him right, there was a forking 
 of these trails a little way ahead, and it would be 
 safe to push on until he reached it. 
 
 His memory did serve him right, for, at the very 
 point anticipated, he saw the faintly marked path, 
 into which he bounded, increasing his stride at the 
 
8o Red Jacket. 
 
 same time to as high a point as was prudent. It 
 will not be forgotten that he had not returned any 
 of the signals emitted in response to his own. To 
 do so would have been to reveal his whereabouts, 
 which it was important he should conceal, while he 
 had nothing to gain by the subterfuge, since he did 
 not know the meaning of the Iroquois calls. 
 
 " It looks as if I 've dodged 'bout so as to throw 
 all the varmints behind me," he muttered with con- 
 siderable satisfaction; " and when the same is the 
 fac' it 's only high-class fun to trot away from 'em. 
 Wal, I ' 11 be shot!" 
 
 He stopped short, for again the low whistle trem- 
 bled among the trees, and once more it was in front 
 of him ! The Iroquois were becoming more numerous 
 every minute. In truth, the woods were full of them. 
 
 It would n't do for Jed Stiffens to turn back, for 
 that would bring him into collision with the enemies 
 from whom he had been fleeing for some minutes 
 past. The only recourse was to change abruptly to 
 the right or left, and abandon the trail altogether ; 
 but, instead of doing this, the scout resumed his 
 advance, with moderated pace, directly over the 
 path along which . he was loping when checked so 
 abruptly by the last danger signal. 
 
 Instead of making the change of direction, the 
 fugitive, as he may be considered, resumed his ad- 
 vance along the path, but at a slower pace than 
 
A Desperate Run. 8i 
 
 before. ^ Not only that, but, as he grasped his rifle, 
 and held it in front, ready for use, he answered, for 
 the first time, the signal. 
 
 With scarcely a second's interval, it sounded 
 again. The gray eyes of the scout flashed, for he 
 had located the, exact spot whence it came. 
 
 He now moved forward, slowly and guardedly, 
 and instead of looking directly in front, he peered 
 upward, for he had learned that the call issued not 
 from the ground, but from the branches of a tree. 
 His enemy had perched himself there, apparently 
 with the belief that, if his proximity should be sus- 
 pected, the white man would not dream that he had 
 taken such a singular position. 
 
 The two caught sight of each other at the same 
 moment. Perhaps there was a fraction of a second 
 in favor of the scout, for he thereby gained a fatal 
 advantage, inasmuch, as he had time to shelter him- 
 self behind a friendly tree before his foe could aim 
 and fire. 
 
 The blunder of the Seneca was in climbing so 
 high, that the diameter of the tree was not sufficient 
 to shelter him. Aware of his mistake, he made a 
 frenzied attempt to scramble a short distance lower, 
 where the broadness of the trunk would screen him 
 from the bullet of his adversary. 
 
 He moved nimbly, but the ball of Jed Stiffens 
 was quicker, and, catching him fairly, he emitted a 
 
 6 
 
82 Red Jacket. 
 
 rasping screech, and the next moment slumped 
 downward, striking the limbs below in turn and 
 sprawling on the ground with a thump that sent 
 his rifle flying a dozen feet from the limp and lifeless 
 body. Without pausing to pick up the weapon, or 
 to notice the inanimate form, the scout broke into 
 a lope again, still keeping to the trail, and running 
 with great speed, though seemingly with no more 
 noise than when walking over the leaves. 
 
 " I wonder if there 's any more of 'em," was his 
 thought, as with an impatient exclamation at his 
 forgetfulness, shown a short time before, he abruptly 
 ^halted and proceeded with quick deliberation to re- 
 load his gun. It was easily accomplished within a 
 minute, when he resumed his flight, at a more tardy 
 pace than before. 
 
 His acquaintance with the path saved him from 
 any mistake. He knew that a short distance in 
 advance it forked, the main trail continuing to the 
 left, along which he meant to make his way, until, 
 after some windings, he reached the oak where he 
 had agreed to meet Jack Ripley. 
 
 An instinctive feeling told him he was not yet 
 " out of the woods," and a few minutes were suffi- 
 cient to bring proof of the fact. The path made a 
 turn to the right, and just beyond he noted the 
 point where the bifurcation took place, and, at the 
 same time that he observed it he observed also 
 
RED jacket's escape. 
 
 Page 83. 
 
A Desperate Run. 83 
 
 the form of a Seneca warrior standing at the parting 
 of the ways and waiting for him ! 
 
 The sight was a surprise to Jed Stiffens, but a 
 greater one to the Indian, who, apparently, was 
 looking for no such attack. He stood erect, gun in 
 hand, held sloping in front of him, so as to permit 
 its being raised and used on a moment's notice, 
 when the white man burst upon his sight. 
 
 The meeting was a startling one to both. Neither 
 made a move to leap to shelter. In a flash, Jed 
 brought his weapon to his shoulder and levelled it 
 at his enemy. The latter, instead of imitating him, 
 wheeled about and ran off with the speed of a deer ! 
 
 Nothing could have been easier than for Jed to 
 bring him down as he fled in such frantic haste, for 
 of necessity there were several seconds during which 
 he was in plain view before he plunged into the 
 wood and disappeared ; but, with his finger pressing 
 the trigger, the scout refrained. When his foe had 
 passed from sight, he lowered his weapon, let down 
 the clumsy hammer with its flint, and shook with 
 silent laughter. 
 
 " Why did n't I shoot the dog that was waiting 
 for a chance to shoot me ? " he asked himself. 
 " 'Cause Gin'ral Washington asked Gin'ral Sullivan 
 to show consideration for Red Jacket, and I reckon 
 I 've done it." 
 
 The first glance of the scout at the Indian revealed 
 
84 Red Jacket. 
 
 his identity, and the rifle of the white man was 
 raised and held in the threatening position in order 
 to frighten the Indian from firing. Had he made a 
 motion to raise his gun, the career of Red Jacket — 
 undoubtedly the most famous member of the Seneca 
 branch of the Six Nations that ever lived — would 
 have terminated then and there. 
 
 It cannot be said that the great sachem cut a 
 creditable figure, in thus turning and fleeing for his 
 life from a white man, but it is an unquestionable 
 fact that the incident just narrated was not the first 
 nor the last time that Red Jacket displayed coward- 
 ice in the presence of danger. 
 
 And yet that extraordinary man was one of the 
 most wonderful of orators. His was the divine gift 
 that enabled him to rouse his warriors to the highest 
 pitch of enthusiasm and, in the words of the poet, 
 to send them into battle and the presence of death 
 " as to a festival." 
 
 Jed Stiffens did not stop to moralize over the in- 
 cident. He was willing to comply with the wishes 
 of Washington, and show consideration for the re- 
 markable sachem of the Senecas, but never to the 
 extent of thereby risking his own safety. So long 
 as Red Jacket could be frightened from committing 
 mischief, he was content thus to frighten him, but 
 that was the furthest extent to which the famous 
 scout would go. 
 
A Desperate Run. 85 
 
 I guess he must have knowed me," was the 
 self-satisfied conclusion of Jed, " and that 's the 
 reason why he was so scared." 
 
 It will be recalled that the two were old acquaint- 
 ances, and that during the days of peace Jed Stiffens 
 had spent many a night among the lodges of the Six 
 Nations. He understood the lingo of all the tribes, 
 and could converse in Seneca as well aS Red Jacket 
 himself. 
 
 But the veteran's concern was for Jack Ripley. It 
 was impossible that he should not be in danger, and, 
 reasoning from his own experience, it would seem 
 that the chances were altogether against the youth's 
 escaping the perils by which he must be environed. 
 
 "Thoughtfully and depressed, the scout made his 
 way to the smitten oak that had been appointed for 
 their rendezvous, but, though he emitted many of 
 the signals that had been agreed upon between 
 them, his straining ears caught no reply, and his 
 straining vision saw no glimpse of the form he 
 longed to see. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 A STRANGE OCCURRENCE. 
 
 JACK RIPLEY did not need to be reminded, 
 when he parted company with his old friend, 
 that he was going into the gravest kind of peril. 
 
 Had not Jed Stiffens understood the high-spirited 
 youth so well, he would have permitted nothing of 
 the kind, but would have insisted that he should 
 continue on his way to the camp of General Sullivan 
 without any avoidable delay. But had the scout 
 attempted to order him, it is quite likely that Jack 
 would have reminded him that he possessed no 
 authority, and that no attempt must be made to dis- 
 suade him from what he conceived to be his duty. 
 
 The lad had learned enough from the conversa- 
 tion with Jed to know that his intention was to 
 ascend some tree upon the summit of the ridge that 
 would give him a survey of the country beyond. 
 
 "It is from that direction that General Clinton 
 will come, and there are lots of Indians in that sec- 
 tion. It may be my good fortune to make a dis- 
 covery that it will be worth while to report to 
 General Sullivan." 
 
 86 
 
A Strange Occurrence. 87 
 
 Thus his errand was of the same nature as his 
 friend's. It was easy to understand why it was 
 better for them to separate than to keep together, 
 for they not only incurred less risk of discovery, but 
 would gain two independent points of observation ; 
 or, as Jack viewed it, the prospects of success would 
 be doubled, without, at the worst, increasing the 
 probability of disaster. 
 
 The remarkable good fortune that had accom- 
 panied him since leaving his home on the bank of 
 the distant Hudson remained for a time longer; for 
 he picked his way for fully a furlong through the 
 wood at the base of the ridge without encountering 
 any enemy, when, from what has been related, it 
 will be understood that there was never a moment 
 that he was free from peril. 
 
 When he had traversed the distance named, 
 he concluded it was time to begin the ascent of 
 the slope, in order to secure the best point from 
 which to make his survey. As guarded and care- 
 ful as he had been from the first, he climbed the 
 moderate elevation, but was disappointed upon 
 reaching the top not to find a suitable tree for his 
 purpose. 
 
 Of course, there were plenty of trees, but their 
 height was substantially uniform. He began a 
 search for one that towered so far above the others 
 that there would be no danger of having his view 
 
88 Red Jacket. 
 
 obscured, but the hunt was exasperating in that he 
 kept it up for a half-hour without success. 
 
 The difficulty, is apparent to the reader. His 
 weight would prevent his climbing to the very top, 
 since the branches would not support him. Com- 
 pelled to stop within ten or twelve feet of the sum- 
 mit, he would find his view shut off by the upper 
 branches of some other tree, really no higher than 
 his own. 
 
 Finally, he believed he had succeeded when he 
 paused in front of a lofty ash and looked upward 
 among the enveloping branches. It was plain that 
 it was the highest of its fellows, though whether 
 sufficiently so to serve him was uncertain until 
 tested. It was necessary to climb fully twenty feet 
 before reaching the lowermost limb, but that was a 
 matter of small moment to him, except for a diffi- 
 culty that now presen^ted itself. 
 
 His rifle, which had been presented to him by his 
 father two years before, was of a special pattern, 
 and so suitable for his years that he could handle it 
 with ease, but it was unprovided with the cord that 
 served Jed Stiffens so well, when climbing the tree 
 he had selected. If any of my young readers think 
 it an easy thing to work his way up the shaggy 
 trunk of a tall tree, carrying a rifle in one hand, let 
 him make the test, and he will be quickly undeceived. 
 
 Jack Ripley stood for some minutes, debating 
 
A Strange Occurrence. 89 
 
 what was best to do. Common sense would have 
 suggested that the duty he had imposed upon him- 
 self was of such trifling account, when Jed Stiffens 
 was similarly engaged at the same time, that he 
 ought to have abandoned it and contented himself 
 with threading his way to the riven oak, and there 
 wait until his friend joined him; but to take this 
 course would be to confess a failure, and the reader 
 will understand how repugnant that was to the son 
 of Colonel Horatio Ripley, who had not yet fairly 
 entered into the military service of his country. 
 
 He leaned his rifle against the trunk of the ash, 
 and walked backward a few steps to a position that 
 gave him a good view of the top. A few minutes 
 spent in scrutinizing the upper branches convinced 
 him that the experiment was worth making. 
 
 " I think I can work it by holding my gun in one 
 hand, for it won't do to leave it on the ground till 
 I descend " 
 
 Just then an astounding occiffrence took place. 
 He had lowered his gaze and started to walk toward 
 the tree, with the intention of making the attempt, 
 when his eyes rested on his weapon, whose stock 
 was on the ground with the top against the trunk of 
 the ash, when a hand darted around the tree and the 
 weapon was silently whisked out of sight. 
 
 Only the forearm of an Indian warrior came into 
 view for the instant, and the startling occurrence 
 
go Red Jacket. 
 
 was like a piece of magic, not a word being uttered, 
 nor the slightest sound being audible. 
 
 But Jack Ripley needed no enlightenment as to 
 what it meant. He stood transfixed, gazing at the 
 point where his gun had vanished, and well aware 
 of the means by which he had been robbed of it. 
 It was useless to attempt to flee, for that would have 
 invited the fatal shot or a pursuit that must end in 
 his quick capture. Nor could he think of offering 
 resistance, since he had only an ordinary pocket- 
 knife in his possession. With feelings of dismay, 
 he awaited the next development in the drama, 
 which was not long in coming. 
 
 This was the extraordinary situation when the 
 sharp report of a rifle rang through the woods, fired 
 at some distance from where he was standing. It 
 was the shot of Jed Stiffens which tumbled his 
 crouching antagonist from the branches of the tree, 
 though, of course, his young friend could form no 
 idea of the occurrence. 
 
 But the noise acted like a signal to the two Sene- 
 cas, who immediately stepped from behind the ash 
 and walked toward the youth. It may be stated at 
 this point that the Indians were chiefs of the Seneca 
 branch of the Six Nations, whose names were re- 
 spectively Ga-yan-quia-ton, or Young King, and 
 Ha-lon-to-wa-nen, or Captain Pollard. In a remark- 
 able document, signed forty-eight years later by 
 
A Strange Occurrence. 91 
 
 twenty-five chiefs of the Six Nations (Seneca 
 branch), deposing Red Jacket from his sachemship, 
 or chieftancy, the first two names attached to the 
 paper are those we have given, exactly as they are 
 printed. But at the time of the events we have set 
 out to relate the couple were devoted partisans of 
 Red Jacket. 
 
 The taller of the Senecas was Young King, and 
 it was he who, after stealing forward with Captain 
 Pollard unperceived, had deftly reached around the 
 trunk of the tree and captured the rifle of Jack 
 Ripley. 
 
 His irregular, angular face, daubed with rings of 
 black and red paint as evidence that he was on the 
 war-path, was bisected by a grin, and, shifting the 
 gun of the prisoner to his companion as he ad- 
 vanced, he extended his right, and said in broken 
 English : 
 
 " How do, brudder ?" 
 
 Jack could not well refuse the proferred hand, 
 but it is not to be supposed that there was much 
 cordiality in his clasp or in his reply : 
 
 " I am well." 
 
 Captain Pollard halted a pace or two behind his 
 comrade, and contented himself with a nod and 
 grin, grunting something which, being in his own 
 tongue, was unintelligible to the distressed youth. 
 The upper part of their bodies was bare, and striped 
 
92 Red Jacket. 
 
 with black and red paint, but below the hunting- 
 shirt were leggings and moccasins, while the long 
 black hair was gathered and tied in a knot over the 
 crown (a fashion which has almost disappeared 
 within the last half century among the aborigines 
 of our country), in the symbolical form that is said 
 to be a defiance to all enemies, who are invited to 
 take the scalps if they can. 
 
 Besides being tied in such a knot, stained turkey 
 feathers were thrust among the coarse hair, thereby 
 adding to the hideous picturesqueness of the red 
 men, who, it may be said, were among the most 
 daring fighters of their tribe. 
 
 The present tormenting question with Jack Rip- 
 ley was as to what his captors intended to do with 
 him. The most natural presumption was that they 
 meant to put him to death, though they seemed in 
 no hurry about it. 
 
 Had he been able to regain his rifle, he would 
 have made a fight; but, since such a fight would 
 have been absolutely certain to result in his own 
 death, it was well that he was deprived of all means 
 of defence. 
 
 It did not add to Jack's peace of mind to observe 
 that the two Senecas seemed all at once to lose in- 
 terest in him, for they began talking with each other 
 in an earnest fashion. Captain Pollard indulged in 
 the most gesture, and evidently lost his temper, for 
 
A Strange Occurrence. 93 
 
 his black, snakish eyes flashed dangerously, and for 
 a moment it looked as if the two were about to come 
 to blows, — a complication for which the youth fer- 
 vently prayed, since possibly it might have resulted 
 in advantage to him. 
 
 That he was the subject of their conversation was 
 certain, and he believed they were disputing as to 
 whether to slay him at once or reserve him for a 
 brief while. If he was correct in this belief, the 
 Iroquois who favored delay carried his point. 
 Young King deliberately drew back the hammer 
 and flint of the rifle of the prisoner, and turning it 
 over shook all the powder from the pan. Then he 
 let down the claw-like hammer and handed the 
 weapon to its owner. 
 
 The act of the Seneca had " spiked his gun," so 
 to speak. The charge was still in the barrel, but 
 the piece could not be fired until powder was again 
 poured into the pan, ready to catch the spark from 
 the descending flint. To do that would take so 
 much time on the part of Jack that he would be 
 observed the instant he made the attempt. The 
 gun was returned to him because it suited the whim 
 of his captors to make him carry it. What they had 
 done was equivalent to removing the percussion-cap 
 from the tube of a rifle. 
 
 " Go wid me," commanded Young King, who 
 did all the talking to the lad. As he spoke, he 
 
94 Red Jacket. 
 
 started into the wood, taking one of the faintly 
 marked trails to which we have already referred. 
 Jack unhesitatingly obeyed, and Captain Pollard 
 stepped in behind him, the position of the youth 
 being such that he had no more chance of escaping 
 than if immured in a dungeon a thousand feet 
 under ground. 
 
 One fact caused the lad a faint flutter of hope. 
 The course taken by the Seneca was similar to that 
 which Jed Stiffens had followed. It seemed, there- 
 fore, that there was a possibility of his friend dis- 
 covering his helpless situation in time to come to 
 his aid. On the other hand, it seemed certain that 
 the two Senecas were on their way to join a larger 
 party not far off, and if Jed should defer his at- 
 tempt to help his young friend until then, he would 
 be robbed of all earthly chance of benefiting him at 
 all. 
 
 A hundred yards along the trail, and a third Indian 
 appeared, who was breathing hard, as if he had been 
 running fast. When it is added that this new 
 arrival was Red Jacket, and the reader recalls the 
 particulars of his meeting with Jed Stiffens, the 
 cause of his quickened respiration will be under- 
 stood. 
 
 Again there was a halt, and the famous orator 
 held a long talk with his friends, every word being 
 unintelligible to the one most concerned, though 
 
A Strange Occurrence. 95 
 
 from a close study of the three faces he was con- 
 firmed in his belief that the discussion was as to the 
 time when he should be put to death. 
 
 Jack did not suspect the identity of the noted 
 sachem and orator of the Senecas, for it was the 
 first time he had ever seen him. Red Jacket gained 
 the name by which he is remembered from a bril- 
 liant crimson waistcoat with which he was presented, 
 and of which he was so fond that he managed at all 
 times during peace to possess one; but he laid it 
 aside when on the war-path, and there was nothing 
 in his dress and appearance to distinguish him from 
 his brother chiefs. 
 
 The discussion had not continued long when the 
 watchful Jack Ripley, who stood a pace or two 
 back, with folded arms, closely watching all three, 
 saw clearly that the dominant member of the trio 
 was the last arrival — that is, Red Jacket. The 
 other two appealed to him, and several times when 
 he replied, both nodded their heads to signify that 
 they acquiesced in his decision. He talked much 
 less than either, but his words had more weight than 
 both. 
 
 These facts caused the youth to study the sachem 
 more closely. He noticed that though he was un- 
 mistakably a full-blooded Indian, he possessed 
 Caucasian features. While he wore his hair like 
 the rest of his people, yet his forehead was high 
 
96 Red Jacket. 
 
 and remarkably well developed. His nose was 
 rather large and slightly Roman in form, and the 
 eyes were unusually brilliant, even for an Indian. 
 He displayed a peculiarity that was noted all 
 through his life, — that of looking intently into the 
 eyes of the person addressing him. The contour 
 of the face was symmetrical, the mouth and chin all 
 that could be desired, while his stature was perhaps 
 two or three inches less than six feet. He was 
 lithe, graceful, well formed, and since his age at 
 that time was under thirty years, it will be under- 
 stood that he formed an exceedingly attractive 
 looking Indian. 
 
 The discussion was briefer than Jack Ripley ex- 
 pected. He saw the leader say something, when 
 he immediately compressed his thin lips and nodded 
 emphatically first to the one on his right and then 
 to him on his left. They nodded in reply to signify 
 that they accepted the decision. Then Young King 
 turned to Jack Ripley and announced it to him : 
 
 " Brudder must die — go wid us — me take gun." 
 
 ' ' Why must I die ? ' ' asked the youth, looking 
 into the face of the tall warrior, as he handed his 
 weapon to him. 
 
 ' ' Red Jacket say so — Red Jacket great sachem — 
 we his children." 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 AN ASTOUNDING OCCURRENCE. 
 
 IT was the first knowledge that came to Jack Rip- 
 ley of the identity of the sachem who had 
 sentenced him to death. Despite the melancholy 
 nature of the words that had just been spoken, he 
 turned and looked at the famous Seneca, whose 
 name he had often heard, with feelings akin to 
 wonder and admiration. 
 
 Red Jacket had fixed those piercing black eyes of 
 his upon the face of the youth, as if he saw some- 
 thing of peculiar interest in the handsome counte- 
 nance. The gaze of the two met, and for several 
 seconds they stared unflinchingly at each other. 
 Jack's arms were folded, his head thrown back, and 
 he must have been an accurate picture of his father 
 at the same age. There was no embarrassment in 
 his manner, though he was considering the question 
 whether it was worth his while to make an appeal 
 to the sachem, who, he knew, was an old acquaint- 
 ance of his parent. 
 
 Slight as was the hope offered, it is probable Jack 
 would have disclosed his identity and made the 
 
 ' 97 
 
98 Red Jacket 
 
 appeal but for the unexpected action of Red Jacket. 
 Turning to Young King, he said something in his 
 native tongue. That chief in turn addressed Jack 
 Ripley : 
 
 " Be you son of Colonel Ripley ? " 
 
 What an amazing question ! Red Jacket had not 
 only surpassed Jed Stiffens in recognizing the re- 
 semblance of the son to his father, but he knew the 
 rank of that father in the American army, — a know- 
 ledge that had come to the son only an hour or two 
 previous. 
 
 " Tell Red Jacket I am the son of his friend, 
 Colonel Ripley," was the proud response of the 
 youth, his arms still folded, one foot thrust slightly 
 forward, and his head thrown back. 
 
 When the words were translated to the sachem, 
 his black eyes flashed and his whole frame quivered 
 with rage. He spoke rapidly to Young King for 
 several minutes, but the latter did not deem it 
 necessary to interpret all he said. 
 
 " Big lie — Colonel Ripley no friend ob Seneca! — 
 he bad man — where he be ? " 
 
 " He is not a bad man, Seneca! " replied Jack, 
 with heaving breast. " He is worth a thousand 
 Red Jackets! He is fighting for his country, and 
 when he takes a prisoner he treats him like a 
 Christian. He has been the friend of Red Jacket, 
 and given him food and taken care of him when he 
 
^-^4k^ 
 
 JACK RIPLEY AND RED JACKET. 
 
 Fage gS. 
 
An Astounding Occurrence 99 
 
 was drunk like the dog he is ! Let him not mention 
 the name of my father again ! " 
 
 All this was made clear to the sachem, who was 
 literally struck dumb for the moment by the daring 
 of the youth. Red Jacket was still holding his rifle 
 in one hand, and he suddenly laid the other upon 
 the tomahawk at his girdle, as if about to snatch it 
 forth and bury it in the head of the boy who had 
 not shrunk from defying him to his face. But if 
 such was his inclination, he restrained himself, and 
 stood like a statue, looking across the brief, inter- 
 vening space into the countenance of the youth, 
 who returned his gaze without quailing. Not for 
 the sake of a hundred lives would Jack Ripley 
 cringe at the feet of that barbarian. 
 
 Young King still retained the rifle of the youth, 
 to whom, under the circumstances, it would have 
 been useless. Withdrawing his penetrating gaze 
 from the face of the prisoner, Red Jacket said 
 something to him which evidently was a command, 
 for the chief turned to Jack and, with a slight in- 
 clination of his head, said : 
 
 " Come!" 
 
 Again the Seneca led, the captive walking closely 
 behind him, while Captain Pollard came next. Red 
 Jacket bringing up the rear. 
 
 The walk continued for more than a hundred 
 yards, when the party debouched into an opening 
 
loo Red Jacket. 
 
 of less than an acre in extent. Covered with a rank 
 growth of grass, it was devoid of trees, rocks, 
 boulders, and stones, and as level as the floor of a 
 house. If a natural opening, it was one of the most 
 striking to be found in that part of the country. 
 
 Evidently the great Seneca orator had a poetic 
 eye, for his manner indicated that he had selected 
 this spot for the " last scene of all " for his prisoner. 
 
 It would be idle to attempt to give the thoughts 
 of Jack Ripley, which were of a solemn and distress- 
 ing nature. He' had abandoned hope, but, like his 
 brave father, he was too proud to sue for mercy, 
 even when it might seem there was a possibility of 
 its being granted. He had endeavored, under the 
 instruction and training of his noble parents, to live 
 a clean, manly life, acceptable to his heavenly 
 Father, to whose will he was ready at all times to 
 bow without murmuring. 
 
 Young King stood several paces to the right, 
 Captain Pollard to the left, while midway between, 
 and slightly advanced. Red Jacket faced the youth, 
 who stood perhaps a dozen feet distant, his arms 
 again folded, one foot advanced, and his head erect. 
 The pose was perfect as expressive of absolute fear- 
 lessness in the presence of death. 
 
 An impressive hush rested upon the surrounding 
 forest, as if nature were in sympathy with the dread- 
 ful scene. 
 
An Astounding Occurrence loi 
 
 Once more fastening his burning gaze upon the 
 pale face of Jack Ripley, Red Jacket began speak- 
 ing. His voice was low, though his whole frame 
 seemed tremulous with suppressed emotion. Not a 
 word, of course, was intelligible, but Jack believed 
 the chief was denouncing him and his parent, and 
 it was this belief that ruffled the feelings of the 
 youth when he should have been calm, thoughtful, 
 and resigned. Had he been assured that his sus- 
 picion was correct, he would have interrupted the 
 sachem with words of burning indignation. 
 
 They would have produced their effect, too, for it 
 is a fact that although Red Jacket scorned to make 
 use of the English language, except brokenly and 
 under exceptional circumstances, he readily under- 
 stood what was said to him in that tongue. 
 
 The Seneca had spoken a few minutes only when 
 he hesitated, and then suddenly raised his voice and 
 delivered the following extraordinary address, which, 
 as will be perceived, was directed not to the prisoner, 
 but to Young King and Captain Pollard : 
 
 " Brothers, the palefaces who came across the 
 great water are like the leaves on the trees and the 
 stars in the sky. They are pressing hard the red 
 men, who are the loved children of the Great Spirit ; 
 but they shall rally and drive back the palefaces into 
 the deep water. 
 
 " Brothers, not all the palefaces are evil. There 
 
I02 Red Jacket. 
 
 are some who do not speak with a double tongue. 
 It is true they are few, for they are only so many 
 (holding up the fingers of one of his hands). 
 
 " Brothers, there is one who is the friend of Sa- 
 go-ye-wat-ha. When he was hungry, his white 
 brother gave him food ; when he was thirsty, and 
 his blood was a red fire in his body, the white man 
 held the cup of cold water to his lips ; when Sa-go- 
 ye-wat-ha was ill and weak, he made a soft couch 
 for him, and Sa-go-ye-wat-ha slept with sweet 
 dreams like the pappoose on the breast of its 
 mother. 
 
 " Brothers, do you ask the name of the white 
 man whom the Great Spirit loves, and to whom the 
 heart of Sa-go-ye-wat-ha is always open ? It is 
 Colonel Ripley, who fights for his country, but 
 does not make war upon the Six Nations, because 
 he knows they are fighting for their homes, nor does 
 he kill our women and children. 
 
 " Brothers, Colonel Ripley is not with General 
 Sullivan, who is marching against our villages, and 
 means to burn our homes and crops, and kill our 
 people. Colonel Ripley is far away, and has never 
 harmed a red man. 
 
 " Brothers (pointing to Jack Ripley), he is the 
 son of Colonel Ripley, the friend of Sa-go-ye-wat- 
 ha. Not a hair of his head shall be touched ! He 
 shall be set free, and when it shall be told to Colonel 
 
An Astounding Occurrence 103 
 
 Ripley what Sa-go-ye-wat-ha has done, his heart will 
 be glad, and he will know that if Sa-go-ye-wat-ha 
 smites his friends in his anger he does not forget the 
 white man who speaks with a single tongue, who gives 
 Sa-go-ye-wat-ha food and drink, and is his friend. 
 
 " Brothers, let the words that Sa-go-ye-wat-ha 
 has spoken be made known to the son of Colonel 
 Ripley." 
 
 Now, if the reader deems several statements that 
 follow incredible, we beg him to " suspend judg- 
 ment " until all is made clear. 
 
 It need not be said that Jack Ripley was unable 
 to understand a word of the foregoing speech. The 
 reader will then naturally ask how it came to our 
 knowledge. The answer will shortly be given. 
 
 Furthermore, though the youth had no knowl- 
 edge of Seneca, he had a strong and well-founded 
 suspicion of the import of Red Jacket's words ; and 
 this was not gleaned from the looks and manner of 
 the dusky orator, which would seem to be the only 
 possible clew, but from a totally different source. 
 
 When this declaration is made, the indulgent 
 reader will suspect us of trifling with his credulity ; 
 but let him be assured we are not. Jack Ripley 
 was the possessor of art astonishing secret, which 
 interpreted the words of the Seneca and made clear 
 the cause of their utterance. 
 
 Still more, the youth carried that secret for a 
 
I04 Red Jacket. 
 
 number of years in his breast, never hinting it even 
 to his trusted friend, Jed Stiffens. When the time 
 arrived for making it known, he told the astounding 
 story to General Washington at Mount Vernon, and 
 that great man did not attempt to conceal his 
 astonishment. 
 
 If Jack Ripley could carry this secret for years, 
 we beg the reader to wait until we have proceeded 
 somewhat further with our narrative, assuring him 
 that everything shall be made plain before the 
 closing paragraph is reached. 
 
 An Indian is trained to repress his emotions in 
 the presence of others, but neither the stoicism nor 
 the paint on the faces of Young King and Captain 
 Pollard could hide their feelings at the complete 
 change of front of their leader. Had he been any 
 one else, it is not improbable that they would have 
 revolted, and refused to submit to such an unpre- 
 cedented decision. But the sway of the wonderful 
 orator over them was absolute. Nearly a half-cen- 
 tury passed before they rebelled to the extent that 
 they attached their names (or rather their marks) to 
 the paper which deposed Red Jacket from his 
 chieftainship. 
 
 In his imperious manner, the orator directed 
 Young King to return the rifle of Jack Ripley to 
 him. Obeying also the order uttered a brief while 
 before, the chief said : 
 
An Astounding Occurrence. 105 
 
 " You be free — Seneca no hurt — but.^damn! " 
 
 The indignant Seneca could not wholly restrain 
 his indignation. Despite all the youth could do, 
 he laughed. The rebound from despair to hope 
 was so complete that doubtless it had much to do 
 with his mirth, but the expression of disgust on the 
 face of Young King when he passed his weapon 
 back was what stirred the risibilities of Jack, who 
 now did something which deserves record among 
 the apparently incredible statements already made. 
 
 The youth, as he took his favorite rifle, bowed 
 gracefully, and thanked the Seneca. Then he 
 turned to Red Jacket, whose attitude and pose was 
 strikingly graceful, and suggestive of that taken by 
 the youth himself a short time before. 
 
 The sachem kept his gun with him, and grasping 
 the barrel near the muzzle so as to hold it upright 
 while the stock rested on the ground, he took a 
 single step backward, as if recoiling from some 
 object, but holding himself proudly erect, with his 
 left hand on the tomahawk at his girdle, he bent 
 his burning gaze upon the youth to whom he had 
 just given back his life. 
 
 As he had done several times before, Jack Ripley 
 met that gaze with one as fixed and dauntless. A 
 smile still lingered on the boyish countenance and, 
 looking straight in to those basilisk-like orbs, he 
 deliberately winked at Red Jacket ! 
 
CHAPTER XI. 
 
 A PARTY OF FRIENDS. 
 
 NOW that Jack Ripley was restored to^hope and 
 safety, and once more felt the grasp of his 
 reliable rifle, he was embarrassed as to his next 
 step. He did not fancy turning his back upon Red 
 Jacket and walking off, as he felt at liberty to do, 
 for he believed the opportunity would prove too 
 tempting for the treacl^erous Senecas to resist. He 
 therefore decided to wait, for the time, where he 
 was. 
 
 Staring straight into the fierce, dignified face of 
 Red Jacket, the audacious youth had winked at the 
 terrible sachem, of whom FitzGreene Halleck after- 
 ward wrote : 
 
 " Who would believe that, with a smile whose blessing 
 Like the patriarch's might soothe a dying hour, — 
 With voice as low, as gentle and caressing, 
 As e'er won maiden's heart in moonlit bower, — 
 
 ' With form like patient Job's, eschewing evil. 
 With motions graceful as a bird in air, — 
 Thou wert in truth the veriest devil 
 
 That e'er clenched fingers in a captive's hair ; 
 io6 
 
A Party of Friends. 107 
 
 " That in thy veins there flows a fountain 
 
 Deadlier than that which bathes the upas tree ; 
 And in thy wrath a nursing cat o' mountain 
 Is calm as a babe's sleep compared to thee." 
 
 The act of the youth was a stupendous insult to 
 the majesty of the orator of the Senecas. It was 
 impossible that he should not have seen it, and he 
 did the only thing possible, — ignored it. 
 
 The strained situation had lasted hardly a minute 
 when three white men suddenly presented them- 
 selves, two issuing from the wood on the left, while 
 the third emerged from the right. The last was Jed 
 Stiffens, and the action of his friends was so timed 
 that it was clear they had obeyed a signal from him. 
 
 The other two were Jo EUers and Wade Mills, 
 brother scouts of Jed, whose coming, it will be ad- 
 mitted, could not have been more timely. Had 
 their arrival been in these days, the situation would 
 have been described by saying that Jed and his 
 friends " had the drop " on Red Jacket and his 
 friends; for each white man held his unerring rifle 
 half-raised in front and grasped with both hands, in 
 which position he could bring it to a level and fire 
 on the instant, anticipating the greatest possible 
 dexterity on the jterfof their enemies. 
 
 Red Jacket started with a frightened exclamation 
 when he observed the three men as they came out 
 from among the trees. He made as if to use his 
 
io8 Red Jacket. 
 
 gun, but fortunately changed his mind, for, had he 
 persisted, Jed Stiffens would have shown him the 
 " consideration " which, as he remarked to General 
 Sullivan, he would show the Seneca leader when- 
 ever the occasion warranted it. 
 
 Young King and Captain Pollard displayed more 
 self-possession, but the proof that they were at the 
 mercy of their deadly foes was anything but com- 
 forting. They were caught in the open, and so 
 surrounded that they knew better than to make the 
 first move toward flight or resistance. They stood 
 sullen and glowering, stoically awaiting whatever 
 doom their masters had in store for them. 
 
 " Don't harm them," called Jack Ripley. " I 
 was a prisoner, but Red Jacket spared my life, and 
 gave me back my gun, as you can see. ' ' 
 
 " I 've obsarved the same," replied Jed, halting 
 a few paces distant. ' ' And me and my pards arriv 
 in time to catch that speech of Red Jacket. By 
 gracious! but it was a roarer! He 's the greatest 
 chap in that line that lives ! He said some mighty 
 nice things 'bout your father, the Colonel." 
 
 " I 'm glad to know that," replied the lad, who 
 refrained from mentioning that the sachem had 
 talked very differently a shor?time before. 
 
 " I '11 never forget that speech as long as I live. 
 I can repeat every word of it, and when there 's a 
 good chance I '11 do it for you." 
 
A Party of Friends. 109 
 
 This remark will make clear to the reader how it 
 was that the speech of Red Jacket came to be pre- 
 served. For Jed Stiffens spoke the truth when he 
 declared he would never forget a word of it. It 
 lingered in his memory for years, and he repeated 
 it many times to the admirers of the wonderful 
 orator, some of whose speeches have become a part 
 of the literature of our country. 
 
 Jed now lifted the strain by addressing himself 
 directly to Red Jacket, as the leader of the Senecas : 
 
 " Drop that gun of yourn quicker 'n lightning! " 
 
 The command was uttered in English, and that 
 the sachem understood the order was proven by the 
 promptness with which he loosened his grasp on 
 the weapon and allowed it to tumble over on the 
 ground. The act was not without a certain dignity, 
 though it revealed the timidity of the Seneca. 
 
 " Likewise, Young King, you '11 do the same." 
 
 The chief's obedience was fully as ready as that 
 of his leader. 
 
 " And, Captain Pollard, you '11 f oiler suit." 
 
 The third Seneca was sullen, and hesitated to 
 part with his most effective means of defence. The 
 rifle of Jed Stiffens was at his shoulder in a flash. 
 
 " Hang your eyes! Drop that gun, or I '11 blow 
 you to kingdom come! " 
 
 Captain Pollard bounded backward as if he had 
 heard the warning of a rattlesnake at his feet, the 
 
no Red Jacket. 
 
 rifle toppling over a couple of paces in front of him. 
 
 " That 's the way to do it! Now, git, all of 
 you!" 
 
 Red Jacket led the procession across the open 
 space, and his tread had the majesty of a conqueror, 
 slow, deliberate, and uniform, as if he were walking 
 to his throne from which to issue his royal com- 
 mands to his subjects. Young King was only two 
 or three paces behind him, but Captain Pollard, 
 who had dared to hesitate, seemed to be in a shiver 
 from the scare caused by the levelled weapon of Jed 
 Stiffens. Instead of taking his place with the com- 
 posure of his companions at the rear, he made .a 
 sudden dash for the shelter of the wood, running- 
 by both of them. 
 
 His action took him within arm's reach of Jo 
 EUers, standing at present arms. That scout 
 wheeled as the Seneca was passing, and, concen- 
 trating his tremendous strength in his good right 
 foot, aimed a terrific kick at the retreating chief, 
 which, had it landed, must have lifted him clear of 
 the ground and sent him sprawling on his face. 
 
 But Jo slightly miscalculated, and, missing his aim 
 by a hair's breadth, his foot shot high in air, raised 
 him from his balance, and dropped him on his back 
 with a resounding thump that was audible for 
 several rods. Captain Pollard did not look around, 
 but, plunging into the wood, vanished, as may be 
 
A Party of Friends. i ri 
 
 said, in the twinkling of an eye, while the friends 
 of Jo, including Jack Ripley, broke into laughter. 
 
 Hangnation!" exclaimed the scout, climbing 
 to his feet. " If that kick had landed, it would 
 have h'isted Captain Pollard among the tree tops. 
 Jed, why did you let them two go ? " he asked 
 impatiently: of Stiffens. 
 
 'Cause they b'longed to the party of Red 
 Jacket. They did n't do any harm to the younker 
 here, which I beg the favor of introdoocin' to you 
 as Jack Ripley, the son of Colonel Ripley, the finest 
 man that ever lived 'ceptin' Gin'ral Washington, 
 and he 's Jest as good as him. Jack, this is Jo 
 Ellers and Wade Mills, two of the loafers b'longin' 
 to Gin'ral Sullivan's army, which I 'm tryin' to 
 teach 'em a little sense, though I find it mighty 
 hard work." 
 
 The youth warmly shook the hands of the two 
 scouts in turn, expressing his pleasure at meeting 
 them. 
 
 " I thought you were to wait at the oak for me," 
 remarked Jack, turning to Jed. 
 
 ' ' You know what I told you ; I was to stay there 
 as long as I oughter, and then I said I 'd set out to 
 hunt you up." 
 
 " How long did you wait ? " 
 
 " Must have been ten minutes at least," was the 
 reply. 
 
112 Red Jacket. 
 
 " I fancied you had more patience than that." 
 
 " I knowed you would run your head inter 
 trouble, and what 's the use of my hangin' round 
 without doin' anything ? " 
 
 " Your arrival was as timely as mine when you 
 were trying to dodge two Iroquois." 
 
 " Yas," remarked Jed, thoughtfully; " but there 
 war n't no need of my comin', fur Red Jacket made 
 up his mind to let you go afore I showed myself. 
 It was a qu'ar piece of bus'ness for him." 
 
 Jack Ripley looked keenly at his friend, suspect- 
 ing his words were intended to veil his meaning 
 from him and his companions. But the one search- 
 ing glance of the youth told him such was not the 
 fact, and Jack wondered that it was so. 
 
 " Strange that he does n't know," thought the 
 lad. " Well, I shall not tell him, — at least not for 
 the present." 
 
 Thus it was that Jed Stiffens never learned Jack 
 Ripley's secret until years afterward. 
 
 " I obsarve that your gun is n't loaded, Jack," 
 said the veteran, with a reproving glance at the 
 weapon in the hands of his young friend. 
 
 " Your eyes deceive you for once, Jed. There 
 is a full charge in the barrel. ' ' 
 
 " But there ain't no powder in the pan." 
 
 " May I be permitted to explain ? " 
 
 " You may try it." 
 
A Party of Friends. 1 1 3 
 
 Jack thereupon related how, when the weapon 
 was taken from him, Young King had emptied the 
 powder-pan. The scout listened gravely and shook 
 his head. 
 
 " Sev'ral minutes has passed since the gun was 
 give back to you." 
 
 By way of reply, the youth drew back the ham- 
 mer with its clawed flint, and, unstopping the neck 
 of his powder-horn, poured the black grains into 
 the pan, making sure that some of them percolated 
 through the vent-hole, so as to communicate with 
 the powder nestling behind the bullet. 
 
 " There! " said Jack, " the gun is now ready for 
 service. I hope by the time I am as old as you 
 that I will remember as well as you do." 
 
 " If you don't remember any better, you '11 never 
 live to grow another half -inch. ' ' 
 
 "How 's that?" asked the astonished Jack, 
 while the others looked inquiringly at their leader. 
 
 " I furgot to reload my gun twice to-day, like the 
 blamed fool I am!" he exclaimed, unwilling to 
 receive unmerited credit. 
 
 The announcement was too overwhelming to 
 permit the others to think of suitable comment, 
 therefore they remained mute. 
 
 Each of the three men had appropriated one of 
 the captured weapons, so that, with the exception 
 of Jack Ripley, all were doubly armed. Naturally, 
 
 8 
 
114 R^<i Jacket. 
 
 Jed'Stiffens came into the possession of Red Jacket's 
 property, and he turned it over and examined it 
 with considerable interest. It was an unusually fine 
 rifle, silver mounted, and in the best condition. 
 
 ' ' A present from some inf arnal fool that has faith 
 in Red Jacket," was his comment. " They don't 
 know him as well as me. 
 
 Jack Ripley could not help saying: 
 
 " General Washington holds him in esteem." 
 
 " Which goes to show he don't know much about 
 him." 
 
 " My father had always been a friend of Red 
 Jacket." 
 
 " Wal, if he 's his friend, I '11 take back all I said. 
 But I say, younker, have you heard the 'pinion of 
 the Colonel lately ? " 
 
 " I could not, for he has been away from home 
 for several years, and has never referred to Red 
 Jacket in his letters. ' ' 
 
 " Then you don't know nothin' 'bout the 'pinion 
 of the Colonel, and if you '11 take the advice of a 
 friend you won't be quite so free in tellin' your 
 elders what the 'pinion of the Colonel happens to be 
 on var'ous matters." 
 
 The gravity with which these words were uttered 
 gave them an irresistible drollery. Jack slapped 
 the scout on his shoulder and mollified him with 
 the remark, if indeed he needed mollifying : 
 
A Party of Friends. 1 1 5 
 
 " All right; we '11 wait till we hear father's views 
 from his own lips." 
 
 The party felt so secure in their situation that 
 they remained some time in conversation, though 
 they changed their precise location to the edge of 
 the wood, and none of the men forgot to listen 
 and watch for the signs that might appear at any 
 moment. 
 
 Jed Stiffens related his experience to Jack Ripley, 
 as it had been during their comparatively brief sepa- 
 ration. The cowardice shown by Red Jacket would 
 have been hard to believe had the instance named 
 beep the first known, but Jo Ellers and Wade Mills 
 spoke from their own knowledge when they declared 
 it to be precisely what they expected. 
 
 ' ' The danger from that chap, ' ' was the comment 
 of Jo, " ain't what he does himself, but what he 
 rouses others to do. The Iroquois have got some 
 powerful smart speakers, like Cornplanter, Little 
 Billy, and a lot of others, but there ain't none that 
 can hold a candle to Red Jacket when he lets him- 
 self out." 
 
 Thereupon Jed Stiffens repeated the address of 
 the sachem as he made it in his own tongue when 
 confronting Jack Ripley, who had given over all 
 hope of escaping with his life. The youth was im- 
 pressed with its rude eloquence, but he would have 
 been still more impressed had he known less of the 
 
ii6 Red Jacket,' 
 
 orator, and had he not possessed the secret which 
 was yet unsuspected by the shrewd scout who, in 
 his particular line was without a superior, and indeed 
 had few equals. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 GENERAL SULLIVAN'S CALLERS. 
 
 NIGHT had once more descended on the armed 
 host that was steadily pressing northward 
 along the upper Susquehanna, on its way to the 
 doomed towns of the Iroquois, who were running to 
 and fro and making what hurried preparations they 
 could to check and turn back the avenging army, 
 that could be neither halted nor swerved from its 
 stern purpose of chastising the merciless hordes that 
 had already been spared too long. 
 
 A mild summer night, with the full moon riding 
 high in the clear heavens, a gentle breeze stealing 
 through the forest and rippling the beautiful river, 
 whose banks witnessed such a scene as they had 
 never before known. 
 
 The myriad of boats that all day had been 
 dragged and poled up-stream with their freight of 
 artillery and supplies were moored to shore; the 
 galloping oflficers had dropped from their saddles, 
 and their tired animals were munching the succulent 
 grass that was so plentiful that scant draughts were 
 made upon the reserve of hay and oats ; the bands 
 
 117 
 
ii8 Red Jacket. 
 
 whose martial strains had stirred the echoes among 
 the forest arches were silent, but the thousands of 
 soldiers were moving to and fro, or pausing here 
 and there for jest, or song, or conversation, or to 
 partake of the food that was being prepared at fully 
 a hundred twinkling camp-fires. All were in high 
 spirits, for they had unlimited confidence in the 
 strength of their numbers, they trusted their leader 
 and their officers, and it had become known that 
 General Clinton, with fully a thousand more soldiers, 
 was within a few miles, and the two armies were 
 steadily, drawing near each other with every passing 
 hour of the day. When united, their number 
 would be nearly five thousand, which was more 
 than three times the force that the Six Nations 
 could put in the field. What cause could there be 
 for misgiving ? 
 
 But General Sullivan, had he been disposed to be 
 careless, could not have been so with the impressive 
 warning of Washington lingering in his ears. His 
 scouts were on duty day and night ; he never waited 
 until darkness before going into camp, and he 
 selected his ground with the utmost care. Double 
 guards were placed, and, in short, every possible 
 precaution that prudence could suggest was taken 
 to prevent their watchful and vigilant enemy from 
 gaining any advantage. 
 
 As was the custom, the tent of General Sullivan 
 
General Sullivan's Callers. 119 
 
 was pitched near the river, in which he and several of 
 his officers had spent a half-hour in bathing, just as 
 the sun was setting. He had held a conference 
 with them after the evening meal, and was still 
 chatting informally when the orderly made known 
 that Jed Stiffens and a friend were waiting outside 
 the tent. 
 
 Rarely was such a request refused, for General 
 Sullivan appreciated the value of the famous scout, 
 who never intruded upon him without bringing in- 
 formation that was well worth his attention. 
 
 Jed and his companions had reached camp two 
 hours before, and it was the veteran who brought 
 the news of the proximity of General Clinton and 
 his force. He had made his report to the com- 
 mander, whom he told of the arrival of the son of 
 Colonel Ripley, who had offered himself as a volun- 
 teer in the patriot army. The commander asked 
 Jed to bring the young man to his tent after supper, 
 which was what Jed and the youth desired. Con- 
 sequently, the present call was by appointment. 
 
 The interior of the tent was wholly devoid of 
 furnishing, except with a few articles of the officer's 
 personal luggage, and, as before, it was lit up by 
 the burning wood in the centre. There was not 
 even a camp chair, and a heavy blanket spread on 
 the bare earth was all that served for a bed ; but it 
 was easy to produce several pieces of logs or large 
 
1 20 Red Jacket. 
 
 bits of wood, which served quite well for seats. The 
 mildness of the weather, the general sense of secu- 
 rity, and the excellent health of the command, 
 kept all in good spirits, and averted everything in 
 the nature of hardship or suffering. 
 
 When the handsome youth followed the scout 
 into the general's tent, and made his military salute, 
 the officer rose and warmly clasped his hand. 
 
 " I assure you, my lad, that I have the greatest 
 pleasure in greeting the son of my valued friend. 
 Colonel Ripley, — one of the best officers in the army. 
 I have heard of you as a worthy son of a worthy 
 father." 
 
 No words could have pleased Jack Ripley more 
 than these, which impressed him as in the best of 
 taste, as did everything that was complimentary to 
 his parent. The ruddy firelight could not hide the 
 flush that mantled the winsome countenance of the 
 youth as he thanked the officer for his sentiments, 
 and accepted his invitation to seat himself on a bit 
 of stump at his side, the grinning Jed Stiffens doing 
 the same across the tent, and quite content to listen 
 to the conversation of the two, rarely injecting any- 
 thing unless invited to do so. 
 
 " I am told that you have the consent of Colonel 
 Ripley to volunteer in the service of your country ? ' ' 
 
 " Yes, sir. I should hardly dare offer myself 
 without such consent. I am a little more than a 
 
General Sullivan's Callers. 121 
 
 week over sixteen years of age, and my mother was 
 willing that I should leave home on the morning of 
 my birthday." 
 
 " As I said, it is only what one would expect who 
 is acquainted with your father, whom you favor 
 very much in looks." 
 
 I should much rather favor him in my mental 
 and moral qualities." 
 
 " There can be no doubt that the resemblance is 
 as close in the one as in the other. Well, now, do 
 you wish to begin as lieutenant or captain ? " 
 
 Jack looked in surprise at General Sullivan, but 
 the twinkle of his dark eyes showed he was jesting. 
 Encouraged thereat, the youth said : 
 
 " Is there any objection to my beginning as 
 colonel ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 "What is it, sir?" 
 
 " It would hardly be fair to your father, who had 
 to go through many years' service in order to reach 
 that position. How would you feel to come out of 
 the war as major-general while he was but a brig- 
 adier ? " 
 
 " I did not think of that. No doubt he would 
 grieve, and therefore it cannot be thought of. The 
 safer plan will be to commence as private." 
 
 " Howsumever," interjected Jed Stiffens, " the 
 colonel begun as lieutenant, and a mighty good one 
 
122 Red Jacket. 
 
 he was, too, — but that was 'way back in the old 
 French and Injin War." 
 
 " You must have been a small boy when your 
 father left home. ' ' 
 
 " I should say so," remarked Jed; " so small 
 that I did n't know him when I met him in the 
 woods to-day ; but, little as was the chap, the colonel 
 used to drill him as he did his men in the war." 
 
 General Sullivan looked pleased, and said inquir- 
 ingly to Jack: 
 
 " Have you remembered what he taught you ? " 
 
 " I think so; try me." 
 
 The youth came promptly to his feet in the middle 
 of the tent, and, straightening up, the commander 
 proceeded to put him through the manual of arms. 
 In those days, and indeed down to the war of 1812, 
 the American army had no regular system of tactics. 
 It is a historical fact that General Winfield Scott 
 was obliged to translate a French instruction book, 
 and drill his officers like common soldiers ; but the 
 earlier war was a West Point to the older officers of 
 the Revolution. General Sullivan was too young 
 to take part in the events of more than a score of 
 years previous, but, as has been stated, he was a 
 major of militia when appointed to command by 
 Congress, and possessed good military knowledge. 
 
 His test of Jack Ripley, therefore, was thorough. 
 He called out the commands sharply, and the lad 
 
General Sullivan's Callers. 123 
 
 went through them all correctly and without mis- 
 take or hesitation. 
 
 ' ' Good ! ' ' exclaimed the General, slapping his 
 knee as he settled back to his former position of 
 ease. ' ' So far as knowledge of the manual goes, 
 you are fitted to drill any company I have. A few 
 months' campaigning will harden and steady you, 
 and I have not the remotest doubt that you will win 
 honor under the flag of your country." 
 
 " Thank you," replied the blushing Jack, resum- 
 ing his seat. ' ' I shall certainly do the best I can ; 
 but I do not want any ofSce, — only a chance to 
 help things along. ' ' 
 
 " It is just such fellows who make the best kind 
 of officers. Captain Wells is one of the finest we 
 have in the service. I will turn you over to his 
 care to-morrow, and I am sure you will like him. ' ' 
 
 During this conversation, Jed Stiffens was silent, 
 though deeply interested, as he now showed. 
 
 " Gin'ral, I like very much what you have said, 
 and it 's plain that the younker does likewise ; but 
 it 's in my mind to ask you a favor." 
 
 " You know that it will give me pleasure to do 
 anything I can for such a faithful fellow as you." 
 
 " Which the same is this: don't put Jack into 
 the ranks for a few days.'' 
 
 " Why not ? " 
 
 " I want him to help me in scoutin' till the time 
 
124 R^fi Jacket, 
 
 comes to strike the Iroquois. Why, he 's a born 
 scout!" exclaimed Jed with a vigorous gesture. 
 " He takes to it as nat'ral as duck to water; there 's 
 some big work to be done in the next few days, and 
 though we ve got plenty of good chaps like Jo 
 EUers and Wade Mills, yet I 'd rather have this 
 younker with me than any of 'em." 
 
 The surprised General looked at Jack with the 
 question : 
 
 "How does that suit you ? " 
 
 " Jed and I are old friends, and if you have no 
 objection I shall be glad to serve with him for a 
 time." 
 
 " Then it is settled. " 
 
 At this moment the orderly made an astonishing 
 announcement. 
 
 " An Indian asks the favor of speaking with Gen- 
 eral Sullivan." 
 
 The three looked at one another with amazement. 
 Jack Ripley showed his good breeding by instantly 
 rising to his feet. 
 
 " Then, Jed, we will retire." 
 
 The scout imitated him, but General Sullivan 
 raised his hand. 
 
 " I am likely to need you, Jed, as interpreter, 
 and I shall be pleased to have you both remain. 
 Be seated. Orderly, show the visitor in." 
 
 The next moment a Seneca Indian in his war- 
 
General Sullivan's Callers. 125 
 
 paint, with knife and tomahawk in his girdle, but 
 without rifle, stalked into the firelit enclosure. He 
 made a military salute to the General, but did not 
 seem to see the other two, who watched him 
 curiously as he accepted the hand of the officer, 
 who rose to his feet. 
 
 " I am glad to meet you, my brother. Are you 
 a chief of your tribe ? " 
 
 " Why, Gin'ral," said the amused Jed Stiffens, 
 forgetting that Sullivan had never seen the caller 
 before, " that 's Red Jacket! " 
 
 The officer's amazement increased. His first 
 thought was as to how this distinguished represen- 
 tative of the Six Nations had managed to penetrate 
 the lines to his tent ; but he quickly reflected that 
 that could be done readily by one without the 
 countersign, since he had but to make known his 
 errand to the outer sentinels, who, following the 
 prescribed rule, would conduct him to the presence 
 of the commanding officer, taking due precaution 
 against his doing harm. 
 
 Red Jacket's visit was in spirit a call under a flag 
 of truce, though no such emblem was displayed. 
 He was not blindfolded, since there was a purpose 
 in permitting him to see with his own eyes the 
 strength of the force invading his country. 
 
 " Red Jacket, I welcome you! " said the Gen- 
 eral, shaking his hand again, and waving him with 
 
126 Red Jacket. 
 
 courtly grace to a seat beside him. The savage 
 accepted the invitation with dignity, uttering the 
 formula of those of his people who possess but a 
 slight knowledge of English : " How do, brudder ? " 
 
 ' ' My health could not be better. I hope no harm 
 has befallen my great and good brother, Red Jacket, 
 sachem of the Senecas. ' ' 
 
 " The Great Spirit loves His children who are the 
 red men." 
 
 General Sullivan looked curiously in the face of 
 his visitor, for he did not understand a word of what 
 was addressed to him. Then he turned to the grin- 
 ning Jed Stiffens, who translated the remark. 
 Thenceforward the few interchanges of sentences 
 were made through the scout. 
 
 ' ' The Great Spirit will love His red children 
 better if they will stop murdering the women and 
 children of the palefaces," said Sullivan, who was 
 in no mood to mince matters with the visitor, whose 
 oratorical genius had done much to excite the Iro- 
 quois to their manifold outrages. 
 
 It was the white men who first slew the women 
 and children of the Iroquois. It was they who came 
 across the deep water and stole the hunting-grounds 
 of the red men. They were thieves and murderers. ' ' 
 
 " Well, Red Jacket, that has been gone over 
 hundreds of times before ; we will not waste words 
 in doing it again. I will admit that many of my 
 
General Sullivan's Callers. 127 
 
 people have used yours badly, but the people who 
 did that were not those who lived at Wyoming and 
 Cherry Valley." 
 
 The reproof was a keen one, but it failed of its 
 mark, since no American Indian can be persuaded to 
 see that it is not right for him to retaliate upon inno- 
 cent persons the sins of the guilty whom he cannot 
 reach. Since the grievances of his people were against 
 the whites, their manifest duty was to strike all the 
 whites they could, even though most of them were 
 not born at the time the offences were committed. 
 
 General Sullivan was invading the country of the 
 Six Nations as a conqueror, and he did not mean to 
 submit to any berating from the tongue of even so 
 prominent a representative as the head sachem and 
 orator of the Iroquois. 
 
 " You have come to my tent, Red Jacket, and I 
 receive you with the kindness I endeavor to show 
 all my guests. But some business brings you 
 hither, and I should like to learn what it is." 
 
 Although these words spoken in English were 
 clearly intelligible to Red Jacket, he waited until 
 Jed Stiffens had translated them. Then, with the 
 same deliberation, he dictated his reply to the de- 
 mand of the General. The scout started to inter- 
 pret it for the officer, but had hardly begun to do 
 so when he stopped, threw back his head, and broke 
 into uproarious laughter. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 NIGHT IN CAMP. 
 
 RED JACKET'S reply to the brusque demand 
 of General Sullivan was thus interpreted by 
 the scout, Jed Stiffens : 
 
 ' ' The chief says he has a fine rifle that was pre- 
 sented to him by Sir William Johnson jest afore his 
 death, five years ago. I stole it from him to-day 
 when he was n't watchin', and he says you must 
 make me give it back to him. ' ' 
 
 " I am sorry, Jed," replied Sullivan, with assumed 
 gravity, ' ' that you have fallen into the bad habit of 
 doing such things. After this, I forbid you to steal 
 a Seneca's rifle unless he is looking at you." 
 
 The situation within the officer's tent was one of 
 the most unique that can be pictured. Jack Ripley 
 sat silent and greatly interested. Near him was the 
 scout who acted as interpreter for the chief actors 
 in the comedy, one feature of which impressed itself 
 upon General Sullivan and caused a quiet smile. 
 
 Red Jacket absolutely ignored the man who had 
 put so great a humiliation upon him only a brief 
 while before. When he spoke to the commander, 
 
 128 
 
Night in Camp. 129 
 
 the Seneca, as was his custom, looked him straight 
 in the eye, and he did the same, while Jed Stiffens 
 was turning the words of himself or his host into 
 understandable language. Sullivan's eyes naturally 
 wandered to Jed when he was speaking, but his 
 visitor conducted himself as if the conversation was 
 directly between him and the officer. 
 
 Red Jacket awaited the decision of General Sulli- 
 van, who lowered hisvoice and spoke so rapidly that 
 the visitor could not catch the meaning of his words. 
 
 " Jed, you may do as you choose about the gun. 
 By the rules of war, it is yours, and it is a piece of 
 impudence for Red Jacket to come into camp and 
 demand that it shall be given back to him. I give 
 you no advice; act your own pleasure." 
 
 " He may have it, for it is n't likely to do any of 
 us harm so long as it is in his hands. I left it with 
 Captain Wells, and, if you '11 'low me, I '11 fetch it." 
 
 Addressing himself to the chief, the scout made 
 one of his greatest efforts : 
 
 " The commander of the thousands of soldiers 
 who are marching into the country of the Six 
 Nations to cut them off from the earth, takes great 
 happiness to himself that it is his privilege to give 
 back into the hands of the greatest sachem of the 
 Iroquois the rifle that was presented to him by Sir 
 William Johnson, because of his admiration for the 
 bravery of the greatest American Indian leader, 
 
130 Red Jacket. 
 
 fighter, and orator that ever lived. He has ordered 
 his dog of a scout never to take away the gun from , 
 Red Jacket, under pain of his displeasure, and he 
 begs that if the dog of a scout dares to do so, he 
 asks Red Jacket to bring or send him word as quick 
 as he can that he may put the dog of a scout to 
 death and hang his scalp from the ridge-pole of his 
 wigwam. He assures Red Jacket that he loves him 
 more than his own brother." 
 
 What a fortunate thing for Jed Stiffens that Gen- 
 eral Sullivan did not understand a word of the 
 Seneca tongue! He was serenely unconscious of 
 the fraud played upon him until months afterwards, 
 
 " I '11 be back in a few minutes with his gun," 
 remarked Jed, hastening out of the tent. His de- 
 parture made the situation peculiarly embarrassing, 
 for Sullivan could not undertake to keep up the 
 conversation with Red Jacket, who would not 
 respond, though able to do so in his broken way. 
 And yet he understood everything said in the 
 foreign tongue, and the courteous instincts of the 
 American ofificer impelled him to treat his visitor 
 with every consideration. 
 
 Of course the sachem gave no indication that he 
 was aware of the presence of Jack Ripley, even 
 though he had honored him with a special address 
 some hours before, and given utterance to many 
 high compliments to his father. The grim Seneca, 
 
RED JACKET VISITS GENERAL SULLIVAN. 
 
 Page J30. 
 
Night in Camp. 131 
 
 upon the departure of the scout, rose to his feet, 
 folded his arms, and fixed his keen gaze upon the 
 flap of the tent that had been raised to allow Jed 
 Stiffens to pass out. His manner was as if he were 
 unaware of the presence of Sullivan himself, and 
 were simply awaiting the return of a messenger that 
 had gone forth upon some order given to him by 
 the sachem. During the brief interval when neither 
 General Sullivan nor Jack Ripley spoke, the latter 
 recalled that extraordinary secret which had come 
 to him earlier in the day, when he stood in front of 
 Red Jacket and knew he was condemned to death. 
 
 " Shall I tell General Sullivan what I know ?" 
 the youth asked himself, meaning, of course, that 
 in the event of his doing so he would wait until the 
 caller had departed. " If there seemed to be any 
 good likely to result from it, I should do so, and 
 should let Jed know about it. But I can see no 
 harm that will come to any one by my keeping the 
 matter to myself. I will think it over." 
 
 The myriad sounds of the camp life came to the 
 three within the tent. The evening was so well 
 advanced that most of the men had stretched them- 
 selves out on their blankets on the bare ground, and 
 were sleeping the deep, refreshing slumber of health 
 and weariness; but enough remained awake and 
 gathered about the camp-fires to fill the air with the 
 sounds of their singing and laughter. In the distance 
 
132 Red Jacket. 
 
 the faint notes of a band floated through the air, 
 and the tune was that exceedingly lively one known 
 the world over as " Yankee Doodle." 
 
 And just here we must diverge for a paragraph 
 to give one or two historical facts regarding this 
 famous air. It originated seven hundred years ago 
 in the Roman Catholic Church, and was first used 
 as a chant. When played slowly on an organ, its 
 fitness for that purpose will be perceived. It was 
 adopted several hundred years later by Holland as 
 a pastoral song. Then England appropriated it, in 
 the sixteenth century, and used it at Lexington to 
 taunt the Americans, who took it out of their 
 mouths, as may be said, and sang it at them when 
 they were retreating in disorder to Boston. As 
 General Gage bitterly remarked, ' ' We marched out 
 to the tune of ' Yankee Doodle, ' and danced back 
 to the same jig." 
 
 The last notes of the melody were lingering in 
 the night air on the banks of the Susquehanna 
 when the flap of the tent was drawn aside, and the 
 stooping form of Jed Stiffens entered, bearing in 
 his hand the coveted weapon. 
 
 ' ' Take your rifle, Red Jacket, and the next time 
 you meet the scout of the Americans, don't be afraid 
 of shootin' afore you turn tail and run like the big 
 coward you are. ' ' 
 
 The sachem accepted the gun, without a word or 
 
Night in Camp. 133 
 
 inclination of his head, and, passing out of the tent, 
 was taken in charge by the two soldiers that had 
 conducted him thither. Sullivan nodded to Jed 
 Stiffens without speaking, and, understanding the 
 meaning of the sign, he followed their visitor. 
 
 Keeping a few paces behind the trio, the scout 
 kept on to the outer line of sentinels, where there 
 was a brief interchange of words when Red Jacket, 
 being given to understand he was at liberty to 
 depart, silently disappeared in the gloom of the sur- 
 rounding woods. Jed ventured upon a suggestion 
 of unremitting watchfulness on the part of the sen- 
 tries, and then made his way back to the tent of the 
 commanding general, to whom he reported what 
 had taken place. 
 
 " Jed," said that ofificer, " what was Red Jacket's 
 real errand in coming here ? ' ' 
 
 " He thinks a good deal of that gun of his, and 
 it 's a powerful fine weapon." 
 
 ' ' But was that his sole purpose in coming to my 
 tent ?" 
 
 " No; have you give any orders, Gin'ral, 'bout 
 him?" 
 
 " Yes; I may say that, from what I have heard, 
 I expected a call from the chief, and I left directions 
 that if he made himself known he should be brought 
 to me. But, I admit that I supposed he would 
 make his call in the daytime." 
 
134 Red Jacket. 
 
 " He come to see our camp for himself." 
 
 " But it is easy for him or any of his people to 
 learn our number and strength without placing him- 
 self in our power." 
 
 " It war n't that; he wanted to find out what 
 sort of watch was kept, and what chance there was 
 for him and the Iroquois to s'prise you." 
 
 " Well, he learned that there is n't any chance at 
 all." 
 
 ' ' That 's sartin ; and you see that the night time 
 was the hour when he should take a look at things. 
 His visit has done good, for though they may shoot 
 a few of our sentinels, they won't make any attack 
 — that 's sartin." 
 
 " Jed, I am disturbed by this call of Red Jacket, 
 I wish you would make a circuit of the sentries, and 
 see that everything is right." 
 
 " I '11 be glad to do so, for the idee is a good one. 
 We '11 bid you good-night, Gin'ral." 
 
 Jed and Jack saluted the commander, and passed 
 out of the tent into the bright moonlight, speaking 
 to the orderly who was on duty, and who knew 
 both. 
 
 " Younker," said the scout, " you ain't in on this 
 deal." 
 
 " Why not, Jed ? Can't I help you ? " 
 
 " Not a bit. But don't feel bad ; I '11 find plenty 
 for you to do to-morrer. What you want jest now 
 
Night in Camp. 135 
 
 IS to sleep like a top, and I reckon you hain't forgot 
 how to do that. ' ' 
 
 It was a disappointment to Jack Ripley, but he 
 made no complaint, and walked by the challenging 
 sentinels until they reached a huge smouldering 
 camp-fire, where scores of men were stretched on 
 the ground, some partly covered with blankets, 
 more with the coverings cast entirely aside, because 
 of the mildness of the night, while others were pro- 
 vided with no blankets at all. Their arms were 
 stacked within easy reach, and a force attempting 
 to surprise the camp of General Sullivan on that 
 summer night in 1779 would have been met with a 
 surprise itself. Jed had a place reserved, where his 
 blanket was rolled and awaiting use. Nodding to 
 it, he said : 
 
 " I reckon you can make yourself comfor'ble 
 there." 
 
 ' ' There 's no doubt of it. Good-night and good 
 luck to you. ' ' 
 
 Returning the salutation, the scout turned about 
 and began carefully picking his way among the 
 sleeping soldiers and through the camp to the outer 
 range of sentinels. 
 
 General Sullivan would have shown himself crimi- 
 nally ignorant of his duty had he neglected any 
 precaution for the safety of the men so peculiarly ex- 
 posed to peril in an Indian country. His camping 
 
136 Red Jacket. 
 
 ground was selected with the utmost care, and, 
 as a rule, a goodly space was preserved between the 
 sentries and the woods that were so favorable for 
 concealing a lurking foe. Still this was not always 
 possible, and in the present instance the camp to 
 the north was fronted by a patch of forest which 
 approached so nigh that the sentinel on duty in that 
 quarter was in fair range of any foe who, if he chose, 
 could steal up undetected in the gloom. 
 
 The night was peculiarly favorable for such work, 
 for the moon was at the full and riding high in the 
 sky. The sentry, as he paced slowly back and 
 forth, was almost in as plain sight as if the sun were 
 shining, while the forest beyond, because of its 
 luxuriant foliage, was wrapped in shadow. More- 
 over, the beat of the guard was over an uneven 
 ground interspersed with patches of undergrowth 
 and hollows, in many of which a foe could readily 
 hide himself, provided he had the opportunity of 
 gaining the places unperceived. 
 
 When perils of the nature described threatened 
 the camp, it was the custom of General Sullivan's 
 officers to detail several of the scouts to pass stealth- 
 ily back and forth through the forest itself in order 
 to head off or give warning of the approach of the 
 treacherous enemy. It would seem, therefore, that 
 the sentries were so well guarded themselves that 
 none was in more danger than another. 
 
Night in Camp. 137 
 
 Although Jed Stiffens was provided with the 
 countersign, it was fully half an hour before he 
 reached the station to which particular reference has 
 been made. He seemed to be known to almost 
 every man in the army, and, after the formal ex- 
 change of salutations, he generally tarried for a brief 
 conversation. He stopped to speak a few words in 
 this informal manner with the man stationed next 
 to the sentry to whom Jed intended to give particu- 
 lar attention, when, glancing to the left, he asked : 
 
 " Who b'longs over there ? " 
 
 " Sam Farnham." 
 
 " I don't see him; he oughter be in sight." 
 
 " Of course; that 's strange," added the sentry, 
 looking in the direction indicated. " I saw him only 
 a minute ago. I can't imagine where he has gone. " 
 
 It will be understood that the two sentinels should 
 have been in sight of each other all the time. That 
 one had vanished so unaccountably was cause for 
 the gravest misgiving. Since the second could not 
 leave his beat, Jed Stiffens hurried away. 
 
 He was on the alert, for he was sure some deviltry 
 was on foot. He kept his rifle in hand, ready for 
 use at a moment's call, while nothing escaped his 
 eye. 
 
 He passed a short way over the beat, giving 
 special attention to the wood on his right, and won- 
 dering whether the scouts sent thither earlier in the 
 
138 Red Jacket. 
 
 evening had failed to attend to their duty, when, 
 in one of the hollows referred to, he descried the 
 missing sentinel. 
 
 His posture was so peculiar that, at the first 
 glance, Jed Stiffens was convinced that his friend, 
 feeling drowsy, had sat down on the ground and 
 fallen asleep. He was sitting, with his knees partly 
 drawn up and his head bowed on his breast, motion- 
 less and silent. 
 
 The scout stood still and listened. He heard 
 nothing of the heavy breathing that ought to have 
 been the result of the constrained position. Then, 
 while studying the form, he noticed a peculiar 
 object in the vivid moonlight. 
 
 It was the feathered barb of an Indian arrow, 
 whose keen flint was buried deep in the chest of the 
 lifeless sentinel. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 SUPERB WOODCRAFT. 
 
 DIED at the post of duty," was the epitaph 
 that deserved to be engraven on the tomb 
 of Sam Farnham, who perished while serving as one 
 of the sentinels of General Sullivan. 
 
 Jed Stiffens, not forgetting that he was exposed 
 to the same peril, stepped hastily forward and bent 
 over the lifeless figure. Placing his hand tenderly 
 on the shoulder, he pronounced the poor fellow's 
 name, even though he knew there could not possibly 
 be any response. Then he laid him gently upon 
 his side, grasped the reed of the arrow and pulled 
 hard, in the hope of drawing it forth from the cruel 
 wound. 
 
 It was useless. The diamond-shaped head was 
 driven almost entirely through the body, and it 
 was impossible to withdraw it, such inability being 
 the result of design on the part of the maker of the 
 missile, which, acting as a stopper of the hurt it 
 had made, allowed little blood to escape. 
 
 Straightening up, Jed turned his head and called 
 to the other friend in a guarded voice what had 
 
 139 
 
140 Red Jacket. 
 
 taken place. That sentinel, as in duty bound, sum- 
 moned the corporal of the guard, who brought two 
 men with him, removed the body, and put his suc- 
 cessor in place. 
 
 " It 's a ticklish spot, Jim," remarked the corpo- 
 ral, when the preliminaries were over; " but the 
 orders are that a sentinel must be stationed here, 
 and there seems to be no help for it. ' ' 
 
 Jim Dunn was a strapping fellow from Connecti- 
 cut, more than six feet in height, though barely 
 twenty years of age. He had the reputation of 
 being one of the bravest men in the army, and his 
 reply was characteristic : 
 
 " Have you heard me growl ? " 
 
 " Of course not. You would n't growl if you had 
 to sail into five hundred redskins." 
 
 " Well, what are you driving at ? Do you think 
 such talk as yours is calculated to cheer up a chap 
 in my position ? " 
 
 " I did n't mean to depress you." 
 
 " What the mischief did you mean ? " 
 
 " Whatever you choose," replied the nettled 
 corporal, walking away with his companion and 
 leaving Jed Stiffens with the giant sentinel. 
 
 " Jim," said the scout, " I 'm goin' to try the 
 grand sneak on the varmint that played that mean 
 trick on poor Sam." 
 
 " What do you mean ? " 
 
Superb Woodcraft. 141 
 
 " He 's off there now in the wood waitin' for a 
 chance to drive an arrer through you; more 'n 
 likely he 's got his eyes on us this minute." 
 
 " Why don't he shoot ? He could n't have a 
 better chance." 
 
 " 'Cause there 's two of us. He could n't wipe 
 us both out very well at the same shot, and the one 
 that he did n't hit would be apt to call on him and 
 make things onpleasant." 
 
 " You think, Jed, that he '11 wait for a chance at 
 me ?" 
 
 " There ain't no doubt of it. How did you in- 
 tend to fix things if you was left here alone ? ' ' 
 
 " Hanged if I know. I suppose he would be so 
 careful, knowing that we had found out what he 
 had done, that he would wait a while and show him- 
 self on the edge of the wood, where I could get a 
 crack at him." 
 
 " That ain't the Injin style of doin' bus'ness; he 
 ain't likely to bother you for a half-hour or more, 
 and I '11 get my work in by that time. ' ' 
 
 Bidding Jim good-night, Jed Stiffens sauntered 
 in the direction of the other sentinel, who was ex- 
 posed to almost as much danger as the first. Aware 
 of this, the scout cautioned him to be on the 
 alert, though Jed observed that he was nervous 
 and ill at ease, and the warning was hardly neces- 
 sary. Then Jed continued his stroll, as if his 
 
142 Red Jacket. 
 
 intention was to enter the camp and sleep for the 
 rest of the night. 
 
 But, as has been intimated, he had no such pur- 
 pose. By a circuitous course, far longer and more 
 guarded than any one else would have adopted, he 
 entered the wood which had already proven such a 
 nest of danger to the American sentinels. 
 
 ' ' Now, if that varmint has got his work in while 
 I was away," was his discomfiting thought, " why 
 it '11 be too bad." 
 
 But peering out from among the trees, he was 
 vastly relieved to see the tall form stalking back 
 and forth with as much deliberation as if no such 
 thing as peril was known in the wide world. 
 
 " Gracious!" exclaimed Jed to himself. " One 
 of the sneakin' Iroquois could n't ask a . better 
 chance to pick off our poor fellows." 
 
 The situation was one which called into play the 
 most subtle and wonderful qualities of the famous 
 scout — the ones that had given him a pre-eminence 
 among his numerous associates in the difficult work 
 to which he had devoted the best years of his life. 
 He had taken his station perhaps a dozen paces, or 
 slightly less, from the edge of the wood, and his act 
 in doing so was in obedience to the marvellous skill 
 with which he adapted the means to the ends he 
 had in view. 
 
 In the first place, that portion of the forest was 
 
Superb Woodcraft. 143 
 
 almost wholly devoid of undergrowth, a fact which 
 had its advantages as well as disadvantages. It was 
 easier for him to move about and manoeuvre than 
 if his limbs and body were hampered by vegetation, 
 but the fact would also be favorable to the particu- 
 lar Iroquois whom he had in mind. 
 
 He reasoned that while the latter would take care 
 not to expose himself to view by emerging into the 
 open space, he would be compelled to go nigh 
 enough to secure an unobstructed aim at the senti- 
 nel. By looking behind him, Jed Stiffens would be 
 unable to detect his enemy when a yard distant, 
 because the dense foliage overhead and the closeness 
 of the trees excluded every beam of moonlight, but, 
 by getting to the rear of the dusky miscreant, his 
 form would be thrown against the open space where 
 the moongleam had full play, and his outlines must 
 be revealed, provided Jed located the spot where his 
 foe would endeavor to discharge the fatal missile at 
 the exposed sentinel. 
 
 If, however, the Seneca stole forward at a point 
 several rods to the right or left of the station taken 
 by the scout, the latter would miss him, and Jim 
 Dunn in all earthly probability would be sent to 
 keep company with his predecessor. It would seem 
 as it it were drawing matters altogether too fine to 
 say that Jed Stiffens was able to fix upon the exact 
 spot where the assassin would station himself, in 
 
144 Red Jacket. 
 
 order to launch his arrow at the sentinel in the 
 moonlight ; and yet that was the precise feat which 
 the extraordinary scout set out to accomplish and 
 in which he was confident he would succeed. 
 
 How ? 
 
 Through the single sense of hearing, since that 
 was the only one that could be of the slightest as- 
 sistance to him at the opening of the tragedy, as it 
 may be called. With all the stealth that the Iro- 
 quois might put forth, and with the amazing skill 
 acquired by years of training, he could not avoid 
 making the slightest possible rustling, inasmuch as 
 the gloom would not allow him to see where he set 
 down his moccasins. Besides, it was not likely he 
 would feel the necessity of using more than ordinary 
 vigilance. 
 
 There must be the rustle of a leaf now and then ; 
 his breech-clout must softly graze the trunk of 
 some tree ; his hands must touch the obstructions 
 he could not see, and though the sound would be 
 too faint to rouse a watching panther, yet Jed Stif- 
 fens, would hear it and read its meaning. 
 
 Aye, he would detect the almost inaudible rus- 
 tling, even if fifty feet distant from where he stood 
 on the side of a trunk which faced the clearing. 
 Had he placed himself on the opposite side, the 
 I'roquois might have discovered his presence by 
 touching him with one of his outstretched hands as 
 
Superb Woodcraft. 145 
 
 he groped along, but he could not do so with the 
 trees intervening between them. 
 
 Again, if the soft tell-tale rustling apprised Jed 
 Stiffens that his adversary was groping forward, but 
 at some distance to the right or left, it would be- 
 come necessary for the white man to resort to the 
 same mancEuvring that had betrayed the red one, 
 in order to ' ' get the drop ' ' on the other. But Jed 
 had no misgiving as to his ability to do that seem- 
 ingly impossible thing. 
 
 One factor in his favor should be noted. He was 
 looking for the Iroquois, while the Iroquois was not 
 looking for him. There is more significance in this 
 statement than would at first seem. 
 
 It is impossible to conceive of the sense of hear- 
 ing being trained to a more miraculous edge than 
 was that of Jed Stiffens. As he stood in the 
 gloom, absolutely invisible to one a single pace 
 away, nothing escaped him. The voice of some 
 one who spoke in an ordinary conversational tone, 
 far off in the camp, was plainly audible ; he detected 
 the soft flow of the river, which, being without 
 rapids or obstruction, seemed to give out no sound 
 whatever. The night was unusually calm, but a 
 breath of air stirred a few leaves in the tops of two 
 or three trees, and Jed glanced upward as if he 
 expected a shadowy figure to drop down on his 
 shoulders. 
 
146 Red Jacket. 
 
 But none of these interested him. Then suddenly 
 a leaf was disturbed on the carpeted ground. It 
 might have been done by a serpent gliding away 
 from the presence of the enemy that it scented, or 
 by some nocturnal bird searching for food, but Jed 
 Stiffens believed it was caused by the moccasin of 
 an Iroquois. Be that as it may, he fixed upon the 
 precise point, as about the same distance from the 
 edge of the clearing as his own station, but more 
 than twenty feet " off side." It was necessary, 
 therefore, for him to effect a change of base in order 
 to bring the redskin between him and the back- 
 ground of moonlight, and without a moment's delay 
 he set out to do so. 
 
 While the movement of the Seneca was as stealthy 
 as that of a creeping panther, that of the scout was 
 literally noiseless, for had the suspicion of the dusky 
 wretch been stirred, he would not have discovered 
 the fearful danger that was stealing upon him, like the 
 shadow of a cloud passing over the face of the moon. 
 
 The Iroquois was using more caution than Jed 
 expected, but, great as it was, it did not avail him, 
 and, within less time than would be supposed from 
 the moment of making his discovery, Jed Stiffens 
 had secured the position which placed him in the 
 rear of his man, who could not advance to the point 
 from which to launch his arrow without being 
 observed by his master. 
 
Superb Woodcraft. 147 
 
 There seemed to be a movement of the shadow 
 in the direction of the open ground. At first in- 
 visible, because of the obstructing trees, it glided 
 forward, farther out of the labyrinth of gloom, and 
 revealed the faintest possible outlines of a tufted 
 head and one shoulder. 
 
 The scout had seen his man, and decided to use 
 his rifle, and since there was no cause for delay, and 
 much danger to Jim Dunn in it, Jed Stiffens 
 brought his weapon to bear with a result which it is 
 unnecessary to state. 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 A BIG BLACK BEAR. 
 
 JED STIFFENS never stirred from his position 
 until he completed the duty which he had so 
 many times impressed upon Jack Ripley and his 
 friends. With the sulphurous vapor circling about 
 his face from the muzzle of his rifle, he poured out 
 the proper amount of powder from the horn sus- 
 pended from his neck, into the palm of his hand, 
 leaned the weapon over, so as to incline the barrel 
 to the right angle, and then carefully emptied the 
 grains into the muzzle, down which they softly 
 rattled to the bottom of the cylinder. Then he 
 took a bullet from his pouch, wrapped it about with 
 a bit of linen, which he shoved down 'upon the 
 powder with the iron ramrod, extracted from its 
 sheathing at the rear of the gun itself. It was 
 pressed until the lead rested snugly on the powder. 
 It was a common practice in those days to pound 
 the wadding upon the powder, after which the bullet 
 rolled loosely after it, and another bit of wadding 
 was packed with less force upon it ; but the scout 
 followed the practice described, which, as will be 
 
 148 
 
A Big Black Bear. 149 
 
 noted, saved valuable time. Restoring the ramrod 
 to its place, he next poured powder into the pan of 
 the gun, letting down the hammer and flint, so that 
 the movement locked the grains in the receptacle, 
 ready to receive the spark from the flint when the 
 pressure of the trigger should let the spring throw 
 it forward and impinge against the bit of steel that 
 caused the spark -to light the powder and send the 
 flash through the vent-hole into the charge in the 
 gun barrel. 
 
 The method of firing the old-fashioned weapons 
 of our ancestors was cumbrous and awkward as 
 compared with the breech-loading guns of the 
 present day, but those same ancestors needed no 
 instruction in the aiming and discharge of their 
 rifles, whose accuracy at times approached the mar- 
 vellous. 
 
 It will be understood that everything done by 
 Jed Stiffens was from the sense of feeling, but the 
 fact mattered nothing to him. He had done the 
 same thing before, and it was as perfect in its way 
 as if the sun had been at meridian. When finished, 
 and he quietly grasped the rifle, he knew it would 
 not fail him. 
 
 The silence was as profound as before, and with 
 his wonderfully acute sense of hearing he listened 
 for the stealthy approach of another foe. It would 
 seem likely that other Iroquois were in the 
 
150 Red Jacket. 
 
 neighborhood and, unaware of the white man's pres- 
 ence, would steal forward to reconnoitre for them- 
 selves. Jed hoped they would do so, for he did not 
 consider his task as yet quite completed. He wished 
 to impress upon the dusky miscreants that it would 
 not pay them to try their treacherous methods on 
 the American soldiers. 
 
 One thing was certain: if, among the Iroquois, 
 there happened to be one possessing the amazing 
 acuteness of Jed Stiffens, his gifts would serve him 
 no purpose so long as the situation remained as it 
 was, for the scout maintained his absolutely motion- 
 less position, and therefore gave out no sound that 
 any human being could detect. 
 
 He stood so far back among the trees that his 
 view of the open space beyond was much obstructed, 
 but now and then he could see the shadowy figure 
 of Jim Dunn, pacing back and forth with the same 
 cool deliberation he had shown from the first. 
 Brave as was the man, his nerves had been sub- 
 jected to one of the most trying tests conceivable, 
 but he went through it well. 
 
 For half an hour everything remained unchanged. 
 Jed was convinced that none of his enemies was in 
 the vicinity, for had one of them been near at hand 
 there would have been evidence of it. This fact led 
 him to believe that the work of slaying the white 
 sentinels by means of the noiseless bow and arrow 
 
A Big Black Bear. 151 
 
 was the idea of a single daring warrior, who was 
 willing to take risks from which his comrades shrank. 
 Having paid the penalty, there was no one to take 
 his place, since it had been demonstrated to the 
 Iroquois that while one of their number was steal- 
 ing into a position from which to launch his missile 
 at the sentinel, the miscreant was really at that time 
 exposed to the friends of the sentinel, who were as 
 fine adepts in woodcraft as he. 
 
 Of necessity, all this was speculation on the part 
 of Jed Stiffens, but it was characteristic of him that, 
 having reached the conclusion, he acted upon it 
 without hesitation. Passing only a short distance 
 to the left — that is to say, toward the point where 
 he had entered the wood, — he boldly stepped out 
 into the moonlight and advanced toward Jim Dunn, 
 the sentinel. The latter was on the alert, but he 
 had his wits about him, and, vastly to his relief, 
 recognized the scout, who approached him in the 
 vivid moonlight. ' 
 
 " I don't think there are any more varmints 
 about," quietly remarked the scout, as he joined 
 the fellow, who ceased his pacing and awaited his 
 approach. 
 
 " One thing is certain," replied Dunn, grimly; 
 " that particular specimen won't bother any of us. 
 How was it ? " 
 
 In a few words Jed told what had taken place. 
 
152" Red Jacket. 
 
 " Dick, over yender is a little skeery. I '11 call 
 on him and tell him I 'm sure he has n't anything 
 to be afeard of," added the scout, moving toward 
 the adjoining sentinel, who, it will be remembered, 
 had displayed considerable nervousness. Jed had 
 slight difficulty in soothing his fears, after which he 
 turned in the direction of camp, and made his way 
 past the sentinels until he reached the group where 
 he had bidden Jack Ripley good-night. 
 
 There lay the youth, partly wrapped in the 
 blanket, his rifle beside him, and one arm doubled 
 under his head for a pillow. He was sleeping as 
 soundly as if in his bed at home, after his mother 
 had tucked him up and kissed him good-night. The 
 moonlight fell on his face, lighting up the handsome 
 features and countenance, and imparting a sweet, 
 softened beauty to them that was wholly its own. 
 
 Some folks would have distrusted this exposure 
 to the moon's rays, but to the scout it meant 
 nothing. He stood for a few minutes amid the 
 group of sleepers, looking down on the lad, who, 
 somehow or other, he felt was entrusted to his care, 
 and over whom it was his duty to hold special guard. 
 The grim veteran of the woods was strangely 
 affected, and murmured to himself: 
 
 "It 's the purtiest face I ever laid eyes on. 
 He 's got all the beauty of his father and mother, 
 and they 're the purtiest of their kind — and he 's got 
 
A Big Black Bear. 153 
 
 all their vartues, too ! " he added, impulsively. " It 's 
 a pity he war n't born twenty years airlier, for, if 
 he had been, he would have been in the place of 
 Gin'ral Sullivan to-night. 
 
 " I wonder if he '11 come out of this bus'ness 
 alive?" continued the scout, musingly, yielding to 
 a depression of spirits very unusual with him. 
 " There 's bound to be a fight with the Injins, and 
 some of our men will never see home agin ; a good 
 many more must pass under afore the war ends, and 
 mebbe the colonel and the younker and myself will 
 not live to see the end. It don't matter 'bout me, 
 but it will be a bad thing for the country if the 
 colonel and his boy peg out. Ah, well ! heaven has 
 been kind to us all, and my promptin's is to hold on 
 to the last." 
 
 With another sigh, he lay down beside his young 
 friend, taking care not to disturb him, and within 
 the following ten minutes was sleeping as soundly 
 as Jack Ripley himself. 
 
 Meanwhile, Jim Dunn found his position any- 
 thing but soothing. So long as he knew that Jed 
 Stiffens was in the neighborhood, he felt safe ; but 
 when the scout passed from view in the direction of 
 the camp, he understood that he considered his 
 duty over for the night, and was not likely to be 
 seen before the morrow. 
 
 " Jed has a way of figuring out things that I could 
 
154 Red Jacket. 
 
 never understand. He seems somehow to have come 
 to the belief that we won't be bothered any more 
 to-night with any of the Six Nations; but I can't 
 feel that way. It will be two hours before the relief 
 will come, and," he added, compressing his lips, 
 ' ' a good deal may happen in two hours. ' ' 
 
 Continually casting his glance in the direction of 
 the dreaded wood, he saw that the moon was now 
 so directly overhead that the shrinking ribbon of 
 shadow along the margin of the clearing had van- 
 ished. The moonlight touched the fringe of trees, 
 and by and by was thrown against them. The fact 
 was a relief to the sentinel, though it could not 
 wholly remove his fears. 
 
 Every one knows the insidious nature of sleep, 
 and how, when we are the most confident that we 
 are master of our senses, they leave us. Hence the 
 requirement that a sentinel must keep in motion, 
 since a few minutes' pause is likely to cause him to 
 give way to drowsiness. 
 
 No one understood the logic of this better than 
 Jim Dunn; but, all the same, he deliberately de- 
 cided to violate regulations. His predecessor on 
 post had been killed by an arrow fired so noiselessly 
 that it was not probable he caught the twang of the 
 string. What had been was likely to be again. 
 
 Who that bore a hand in the land fighting at 
 Santiago will forget the creepy, horrible sensation 
 
A Big Black Bear, 155 
 
 caused by the Spaniards' use of smokeless powder ? 
 When the bullets were whistling about the ears of 
 the Americans, entering head or body, and stretch- 
 ing brave fellows lifeless, it was exasperating beyond 
 description to be unable to tell the point whence 
 came the fatal fire. It was much like being tied to 
 a tree, and having a band of savages amuse them- 
 selves by hurling their tomahawks at you. 
 
 The sensations of Jim Dunn were similar, for 
 there was no means of telling when the deadly arrow 
 would flash out from among the trees, without so 
 much as a hiss, in the way of warning, as it plunged 
 into his body. Giving the matter but a moment's 
 thought, he stepped into one of the hollows or de- 
 pressions of the earth, crouched down, and peered 
 over the edge at the wood. It may- be said that he 
 was turning to account the natural trench which 
 nature offered him. 
 
 Fortunately, in the case of the sentinel there was 
 no danger of his falling asleep. His nerves were 
 too highly wrought to permit that. Pointing his 
 gun over the ground in front, he raised his head 
 sufficiently to gain a clear view of the forest within 
 easy range, and for the following half hour scarcely 
 removed his gaze. It was only when the continued 
 straining of his vision made it indistinct that he 
 glanced in other directions, and thus secured mo- 
 mentary relief. 
 
156 Red Jacket. 
 
 As the minutes passed, the sentinel gradually 
 came to the belief that, after all, Jed Stiffens must 
 have had warrant for his conclusion, and that the 
 night was to end without any further demonstration 
 on the part of the Iroquois. 
 
 But the conviction had hardly time to form in his 
 mind, when he gave a start, for at the very point 
 upon which his gaze happened to be fixed, he saw 
 something move. There could be no doubt of it, 
 for he was expecting nothing of the kind, and it 
 was impossible, therefore, that it should be imagina- 
 tion. Whatever the nature of the object, its ap- 
 pearance was too vague and brief for it to be 
 identified until a second view was obtained. 
 
 " Some new sort of devilment, I suppose — 
 helloa! " 
 
 That which caught his eye was now seen so dis- 
 tinctly that he identified" it as a quadruped, moving 
 along the edge of the wood, as if distrustful about 
 venturing farther into view. Its form and awkward, 
 lumbering gait, showed it was a bear, or at least the 
 perfect image of one. 
 
 Jim Dunn grinned. 
 
 " I wish Jed had waited to see this trick. I don't 
 wonder that he did n't believe the Indians would 
 try that old dodge on us — helloa again ! ' ' 
 
 The hesitation of the brute lasted only a few 
 minutes. Stopping short, with his head pointed 
 
A Big Black Bear. 157 
 
 toward the trench where the watchful sentinel 
 crouched, he seemed to be looking for him and 
 wondering where he had gone. Then, as if yielding 
 to curiosity, he began swinging across the open 
 space, and advanced directly upon the white man, 
 whose rifle barrel gleamed in the moonlight, as he 
 drew a careful bead upon the quadruped. 
 
 Custom would have required Jim Dunn to chal- 
 lenge the intruder before advancing, but the situa- 
 tion warranted a different course. He waited until 
 half the distance was passed, when he pulled trigger. 
 The creature made a convulsive movement, uttered 
 a peculiar sound, partly rose on its feet, and then 
 toppled over on its side and lay motionless. Re- 
 loading his gun, the sentinel waited a few minutes 
 until sure that no life remained in the body, when 
 he crept forward to investigate, feeling somewhat 
 mystified at certain phases of the strange occur- 
 rence. 
 
 Pausing before the carcase, he kicked it with his 
 foot, so as to shift its position. This was repeated 
 several times until all doubt was removed. Then 
 he exclaimed, disgustedly : 
 
 " By gracious! It was a bear after all! " 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 THE ARMY OF INVASION. 
 
 THE scene on the following morning was in 
 striking contrast to the quiet and stillness of 
 the night that preceded it. Three thousand men, 
 as may be said, sprang at the sound of the reveille 
 from slumber into activity. There was hurrying to 
 and fro, fires were rekindled, the air was laden with 
 the odor of cooking food, guards were sent out to 
 take the places of those called in, commands were 
 uttered by the hundred, horses were saddled and 
 bridled ; each man seemed to have something to do 
 and only a few minutes in which to do it, and all 
 this the result of the rattling drums that had awak- 
 ened the echoes of the woods and hills but a brief 
 while before. 
 
 There was method, however, in this seeming con- 
 fusion, for the multitude was composed of trained 
 soldiers, who had long since become accustomed to 
 their duties, and all fell into position like parts of a 
 well-oiled machine. In less time than would be sup- 
 posed, the army was marching northward, the flat- 
 boats gliding smoothly up the shallow Susquehanna, 
 
 158 
 
The Army of Invasion. , ^59 
 
 propelled by the poles of the boatmen, and in some 
 instances assisted, as before, by the ropes pf \'che 
 soldiers dragging them from the shore. An army 
 must needs carry an immense amount y'r baggage, 
 and many a time its lack or loss has brought disas- 
 ter to a formidable force. 
 
 General Sullivan and his officers were the types 
 of watchfulness and activity. Flanking parties were 
 moving ahead, and in advance of them were the 
 eyes of the army, in the persons of the scouts, of 
 which Jed Stiffens was the leader, with young Jack 
 Ripley as his companion. 
 
 On the top of the ridge which was the scene of 
 most of the incidents already described, the advance- 
 guard halted, and General Sullivan with his staff 
 peered off to the northward, each with glasses to his 
 eyes, scanning the country for signs of the reinforce- 
 ments under General James Clinton, who, it was 
 known, were not far off. 
 
 In the morning haze, on the edge of the horizon, 
 were distinguished columns of smoke climbing into 
 the summer sky. They marked the scene of Clin- 
 ton's camp, and, instead of continuing his march to 
 the southward, he was awaiting the coming of the 
 main army. 
 
 Suddenly, through the warm, pulsating air came 
 a low booming sound, followed at a brief interval 
 by another and another, until a dozen of them had 
 
J.6o Red Jacket. 
 
 swept over thb miles of intervening forest and clear- 
 ing and t-feached the ears of all in the army. 
 
 They were the signal-guns of General Clinton, 
 annouitcing that he had located his friends, and 
 knew of their coming. By direction of General 
 Sullivan, his own cannon answered, and thus it may 
 be said an understanding was effected between the 
 smaller and larger body of troops. 
 
 " Clinton is wise," remarked Sullivan to General 
 Hand, commander of the rifle corps; " for he has 
 a strong position, and means to hold it until we 
 come up." 
 
 " He is strong enough to advance and meet us," 
 replied that valiant ofiScer, one of the best in the 
 American army. 
 
 ' ' Most likely you are right ; but there would be 
 considerable risk, and the necessity for incurring it 
 i^ lacking." 
 
 ' ' Surely, there is little to be feared from the Six 
 Nations." 
 
 " Not if we had them alone to fight ; but the news 
 of our coming has long since spread among them. 
 We shall meet not only Iroquois, but British regu- 
 lars and Tories." 
 
 " I am glad to hear that," remarked General 
 Hand, with a flash of his fine gray eyes. 
 
 " And so am I," added the commander, with 
 a forcible exclamation ; "for General Washington 
 
The Army of Invasion. i6i 
 
 impressed upon me that this must be the hardest 
 kind of blow we know how to strike, and the more 
 of our enemies we can get in front the more we 
 shall have to punish." 
 
 " The trouble is, they won't stand." 
 
 " Don't feel so certain of that, General. The 
 situation is peculiar. ' ' 
 
 ' ' In what respect ? ' ' 
 
 " A wildcat will fight like fury to defend her 
 young. While we are not making war upon the 
 squaws and papooses of the Six Nations, we are 
 going straight for their houses and farms and crops, 
 and they know it ! Somewhere between here and 
 their villages we shall have warm work. ' ' 
 
 " I am constrained to agree with you, and it gives 
 me pleasure to do so. I understand. General, that 
 you received a call from Red Jacket last night." 
 
 ' ' Such is the fact. He accused Jed Stiffens, the 
 scout, of stealing his rifle when he was n't looking, 
 and Jed was good enough to give it back to him." 
 
 The commander laughed as he recalled the inci- 
 dent, and added: 
 
 " Possibly that was a part of the sachem's errand, 
 for I am told the weapon was a present from Sir 
 William Johnson, and naturally the sachem valued it 
 highly. It was one of the finest guns I ever saw. But 
 Jed was right when, he declared that our visitor used 
 the pretext to gain a knowledge of our camp itself." 
 
1 62 Red Jacket. 
 
 " I have heard that Red Jacket is not noted for 
 his personal courage. ' ' 
 
 " Such is the fact; for Cornplanter, Brandt, and 
 Butler have told him so to his face, and since he 
 did not resent the charge, it is proof of the truth of 
 their words. None the less, he is a most dangerous 
 fellow." 
 
 " In what respect ? " 
 
 " He is the greatest orator ever produced by the 
 Six Nations, and you know they are the most re- 
 markable Indians on this continent. He knows 
 how to stir up the savages until they are ready to 
 attack a mountain wall." 
 
 " Why not manage to take him prisoner ? From 
 what you have told me, he must have been in the 
 power of Jed Stiffens when he secured his gun." 
 
 " General," said Sullivan, as they rode forward 
 side by side, " there are some things connected 
 with Red Jacket that are so peculiar that I must 
 confess I do not understand them. He was the 
 prisoner of Jed Stiffens who, with two companions, 
 captured him and two more chiefs of the Senecas — 
 Young King and Captain Pollard. But just before 
 this was done, Red Jacket had the young son of 
 Colonel Horatio Ripley in his power, but gave him 
 back his freedom, after restoring his rifle to him. ' ' 
 
 " What was the cause of such unusual mercy by 
 one of the leaders of the Senecas ? ' ' 
 
The Army of Invasion. 163 
 
 " Red Jacket, despite his hatred of our race, 
 seems to feel a gratitude and strong friendship for 
 Colonel Ripley, — so strong, indeed, that it extends 
 to his son. ' ' 
 
 All who know Colonel Ripley feel the same way 
 — that is, those of our own race do ; but it is un- 
 accountable to me that the feeling should influence 
 an Iroquois on the war-path." 
 
 " Such is not the rule, I admit. We have heard 
 a good deal about the gratitude and chivalry of the 
 red man, but you and I have seen precious little of 
 it in real life. Still it may exist, and be true of 
 Red Jacket." 
 
 " I do not see how such a condition lessens the 
 necessity of pulling the fangs of the great orator, or 
 rather, closing his mouth." 
 
 The ofificers had fallen somewhat behind the ad- 
 vance, and as everything was progressing smoothly, 
 they spoke freely. General Sullivan was silent a 
 moment, and then he remarked, more thoughtfully : 
 
 " General, I am carrying out the wishes of our 
 Commander-in-Chief. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Of Washington ! ' ' exclaimed General Hand, in 
 astonishment. His superior nodded his head. 
 
 " He instructed me to show every consideration I 
 could to Red Jacket. Had I made him prisoner 
 under the circumstances I have explained to you, 
 and which I should have been compelled to explain 
 
164 Red Jacket. 
 
 in turn to the General, I fear he would disapprove 
 of what I had done. ' ' 
 
 " In what way could General Washington have 
 gained any knowledge of Red Jacket ? ' ' 
 
 " Is there anything of which he has n't knowl- 
 edge ? " asked Sullivan, in a burst of admiration. 
 " I cannot at this moment recall any circumstances 
 under which he and Red Jacket could have met, for 
 their scenes of activity have been far apart ; but it 
 looks as if there had been some communication be- 
 tween them." 
 
 ' ' That need not follow ; but can it be ? " asked 
 General Hand, lowering his voice and betraying 
 considerable excitement, " that Red Jacket is in 
 truth a friend of ours ? — that he and General Wash- 
 ington understand each other, and that the Seneca 
 is playing into our hands ? ' ' 
 
 " I have asked myself that question, but I see no 
 way by which it can be answered in the affirmative. 
 It may be that something of the kind has been on 
 foot, but from what I have been able to learn of 
 Red Jacket, he cannot be trusted. If he professes 
 to be friendly to us, it is only a pretence. I sus- 
 pected once or twice last night that he came to my 
 tent to make some proposition, but was restrained 
 by the necessity of Jed Stiffens acting as interpreter. 
 He hates Jed." 
 
 ' ' Well, everything must be surmise on our part. 
 
The Army of Invasion. 165 
 
 and we can only be ready for whatever comes, 
 whether it be good or evil." 
 
 The philosophy of this remark may not have been 
 brilliant, but it was sound, and the commanding 
 general said so. Naturally, their interest was cen- 
 tred in the country in front, through which they 
 were making their way. It was mostly wooded, 
 but there were many openings, some of them num- 
 bering many acres, while others were of so slight 
 area as to seem only patches in the landscape. 
 
 As has been shown, Sullivan used every possible 
 precaution, knowing that his men were liable to a 
 vicious attack at any hour. When necessary to 
 pass through a piece of wood sufficiently extensive 
 to conceal a considerable number of the foe, it was 
 first reconnoitred by the scouts or skirmishers, 
 and then generally shelled. The wisdom of the 
 latter precaution was shown when, after a seemingly 
 unfavorable piece of forest had been pronounced 
 free from serious danger by several scouts, a few 
 shells were dropped among the trees. A few minutes 
 later, fully a hundred warriors were seen as they 
 scurried out of range and dived into other cover 
 before the shots of the Americans had opportunity 
 to harm them. 
 
 From eight or ten points, separated by distances 
 varying from a mile to ten times that space, columns 
 of smoke were observed climbing into the clear sky. 
 
1 66 Red Jacket. 
 
 Some ascended vertically, some had a peculiar wavy 
 form, while others were broken into distinct layers, 
 as has been described in another place. Every man 
 in the army who noticed these knew they were Iro- 
 quois signal-fires, and that the information conveyed 
 from one body to another was as intelligible as if 
 uttered by word of mouth. 
 
 The precise meaning of the signals no one knew. 
 Even Jed Stiffens found it impossible to translate 
 them. That, however, was a small matter, since it 
 was of no importance to the Americans what the 
 red men said. The most they could do was to 
 notify the different bodies of Indians, Tories, and 
 British of the course taken by the invading army, 
 as it moved steadily and resistlessly toward the 
 doomed villages of the Six Nations. 
 
 The afternoon was well advanced when General 
 Sullivan's army reached Tioga, where General Clin- 
 ton was awaiting them with more than a thousand 
 men, he having descended the Upper Susquehanna 
 from Otsego Lake. As has been intimated, Clinton 
 had taken a strong position, with intrenchments 
 thrown up, instead of pushing farther southward to 
 meet his superior officer. This was a wise step on 
 his part, and received the commendation of Sulli- 
 van ; for, since the plan of campaign was to press to 
 the northward, Clinton would of necessity be com- 
 pelled to turn about and retrace his own steps, and 
 
The Army of Invasion. 167 
 
 no advantage as a whole would thereby accrue to 
 the combined forces. He had therefore felt his 
 way south as far as it was prudent to go. 
 
 During this singular march down the Susque- 
 hanna, Clinton was in constant expectation of at- 
 tack, and there was surprise expressed by more than 
 one veteran campaigner that the attack was not 
 made, for its prospect of success was inevitably 
 greater when the Americans numbered only about 
 a third of the united army. Several reasons for 
 this immunity existed, one of which was of a singu- 
 lar nature. It will be recalled that Clinton carried 
 his boats out of Otsego Lake by constructing a 
 dam across the outlet and holding his craft until 
 the accumulated waters carried them away with a 
 rush. There was something so astounding in the 
 sight to the watching Indians, who had never 
 dreamed of anything of the kind, that they looked 
 upon it as an interposition of the Great Spirit, who 
 was displeased with them. A widespread demorali- 
 zation, therefore, hampered their actions for a time. 
 
 Moreover, since General Clinton, instead of 
 marching toward their villages, was going directly 
 away from them, he was doing the most pleasing 
 thing possible to them. Why, therefore, should 
 they interfere ? 
 
 The time, of course, soon came when the real 
 purpose of Clinton dawned upon the Iroquois. 
 
1 68 Red Jacket. 
 
 Then there was hurrying to and fro, and more than 
 one plan was discussed of cutting him off before he 
 could reach the main army. But his extreme vigi- 
 lance and wise skill prevented this, and, by the time 
 a formidable force of red men, Tories, and British 
 could be brought together, it was too late to inter- 
 pose an effective check to the smaller force. 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 A PRISONER OF WAR. / 
 
 AT a point in the woods too far to the westward 
 to be in the path of the flanking party which 
 General Sullivan had sent in that direction, three 
 men were holding an earnest conference at the time 
 the main body was approaching Tioga, where Gen- 
 eral Clinton awaited its coming. 
 
 The spot selected was in a hollow, so hidden by 
 undergrowth that not one of the three felt any fear 
 of interruption. They were seated upon a fallen 
 tree, each within touch of the other, and a glance at 
 their faces would have shown that all were impressed 
 by the gravity of the situation. 
 
 The man who sat nearest the butt of the prostrate 
 tree wore the uniform of a colonel of the British 
 army. Such, indeed, was his rank, his title being 
 
 Colonel Howard Rossiter, of his Majesty's 
 
 Foot. He carried no rifle, but wore a sword and 
 pistol. The man next to him was the Seneca war- 
 chief. Little Billy, whose principal business was that 
 of acting as interpreter between the colonel on his 
 right and Red Jacket on his left. 
 
 169 
 
170 Red Jacket. 
 
 " It has been clear for several days," remarked 
 the officer, " that this large force is on its way to 
 your towns, and it is quite likely that they will push 
 on and attack Fort Niagara." 
 
 " Then," said Red Jacket, bitterly, speaking, of 
 course, through the interpreter, " why have not 
 your people come to our help ? " 
 
 " We have not the men, and not enough notice 
 was given us. Did you dream that so large a force 
 of Americans would advance into this part of the 
 country ? " 
 
 " Yes; I knew it long ago," was the sullen reply. 
 
 " Then why did you not tell us of it, that the 
 soldiers of your Father across the water might have 
 hurried to the help of their red brothers ? " 
 
 " Because," was the biting response of the Seneca, 
 " we did not know where to look for you. You 
 were hiding in the woods, glad to get behind the 
 Iroquois, that the blow aimed at your heads should 
 fall upon ours." 
 
 Colonel Rossiter knew the reputation of Red 
 Jacket as a poltroon, and he was nettled by these 
 unjust words. 
 
 " When there is any running to be done, Red 
 Jacket is always in the lead. He is great with his 
 tongue, but greater with his heels." 
 
 The sachem had charged the British as a whole 
 with deserting their Iroquois allies, but Colonel 
 
A Prisoner of War. 171 
 
 Rossiter accused Red Jacket personally of being a 
 coward. Unless a coward, he would resent the charge. 
 
 As the interpreter made a direct translation of the 
 words (possibly with a grim enjoyment of his own), 
 the dusky countenance seemed to flush under its 
 paint, and the sachem suddenly sprang to his feet, 
 with his hand upon his tomahawk. Colonel Rossi- 
 ter rose at the same instant and held his pistol half- 
 drawn. Little Billy looked up at both, as if it was 
 all very entertaining to him. 
 
 The situation, apparently so tragic in its nature, 
 was not lacking in its comic features. The Seneca 
 looked fiercely at the white man, as if hurriedly 
 debating the quickest way to slay him. The white 
 man calmly confronted him, as if the question had 
 no. special interest to him. Red Jacket was fright- 
 ened by the bold front of the other. When he ex- 
 pected the colonel to be cowed in the presence of 
 two armed Senecas, he defied him. 
 
 With that calm dignity which never quite forsook 
 the sachem, he resumed his seat and inquired : 
 
 " Where shall the white men and Iroquois make 
 a stand against the Americans ? " 
 
 " At the best spot that can be selected. Red 
 Jacket and his people should know." 
 
 " There is no place near here; every American 
 sleeps with one of his eyes open. Red Jacket crept 
 into their camp last night, and saw for himself." 
 
172 Red Jacket. 
 
 Colonel Rossiter would have complimented the 
 Seneca on his daring but for the fact that he did 
 not believe his statement. The idea of Red Jacket 
 worming his way into the camp of the vigilant 
 Americans was too preposterous to be credited, 
 even by his most ardent partisans. 
 
 At this point in the conversation, Little Billy 
 took upon himself to offer a suggestion : 
 
 " There is a spot beyond the camp of General 
 Clinton — the white men will reach it when the sun 
 has passed part way down the sky — that will serve 
 as a trap for the American soldiers." 
 
 " Yes," growled Colonel Rossiter, " if they are 
 fools enough to walk into the trap. What do you 
 think about it. Red Jacket ? " 
 
 " My brother means the place that he and I have 
 talked about ? " he said, looking inquiringly at Little 
 Billy, who nodded his head and grunted an affirma- 
 tive. 
 
 " It is a good spot — there can none be found any 
 better." 
 
 It should be stated at this point that after the 
 little flurry between the English colonel and the 
 Seneca sachem, both talked considerably louder 
 than before, and the fact was unfortunate for the par- 
 ties themselves, and very welcome and fortunate for 
 a certain friend of ours who was crouching only a few 
 paces distant, breathlessly listening to every word. 
 
A Prisoner of War. 1 73 
 
 " Then we shall make our fight there," was the 
 emphatic comment of Colonel Rossiter. " I recall 
 the place; it is very strong; we can muster more 
 than a thousand men, counting your Indians, and all 
 will be well armed, and will fight as bravely as any 
 men in the world can fight. ' ' 
 
 " The Iroquois will do so," was the sour remark 
 of the sachem. 
 
 " And Red Jacket will have a chance to place 
 himself at their head, and teach the warriors who 
 are younger than he how to fire the rifle, hurl the 
 tomahawk, and use the scalping-knife, " remarked 
 the Colonel, again resting his hand on his pistol, and 
 alert for any movement of the dusky sachem. 
 
 The latter, however, did not seem to hear the 
 slur, but rose to his feet with the calmness of the 
 summer day itself. The officer and Little Billy did 
 the same, for all were impressed with the truth 
 that enough had been said. Nothing more was to 
 be gained by discussion. So far as Red Jacket and 
 his companions were concerned, the spot where the 
 attempt was to be made to ambuscade General Sulli- 
 van was settled. It only remained, therefore, to 
 complete the preparations for repeating the Brad- 
 dock disaster of nearly a quarter of a century before. 
 
 " Let Red Jacket hasten to his people," said the 
 Colonel, ' ' and I will hasten to mine ; neither of us 
 will lose any time. ' ' 
 
174 Ked Jacket. 
 
 " The woods are full of our enemies," said Red 
 Jacket ; ' ' let my brother go with us, that we may 
 tEike care of him." 
 
 " From what I have learned of Red Jacket," re- 
 plied the officer, who evidently did not entertain a 
 very profound respect for the Seneca, ' ' he will have 
 all he can do to take care of himself. I will go 
 alone." 
 
 It is not impossible that Colonel Rossiter believed 
 himself safer when away from Red Jacket than in 
 his company. Be that as it may, and no matter 
 what the feelings of the sachem might have been, 
 he and Little Billy strode off in one direction, not 
 once looking behind them, though the officer stood 
 calmly gazing after them until they passed from 
 sight among the trees. Then, with a significant 
 smile on his bearded face, he moved in a directly 
 opposite direction, his action showing that he in- 
 tended to maintain a goodly distance between him 
 and the Seneca orator, in whom he placed precious 
 little confidence. 
 
 Colonel Rossiter went up the side of the hollow 
 with a brisk step, and was walking at his ordinary 
 gait through the forest when an astounding thing 
 took place. From behind the trunk of a large 
 chestnut, only a few paces in front, a person 
 stepped quietly into sight and, with his rifle levelled, 
 said in a low but peremptory voice : 
 
COLONEL ROSSITER AND JACK. 
 
 Page 17J. 
 
A Prisoner of War. 175 
 
 " Halt!" 
 
 It hardly need be said that the order was promptly 
 obeyed. As a military man, Colonel Rossiter knew 
 the peril of refusal under the circumstances. As he 
 did so, he could not repress an exclamation of 
 amazement, for, instead of a full-grown nfan who 
 had thus halted him, it was a boy ! 
 
 True, he was a large boy, but his smooth face 
 and juvenile appearance left no doubt that he was 
 still in his teens. That such was the fact, the 
 reader will understand when he is told that the 
 young gentleman who thus brought Colonel Rossi- 
 ter to book was Jack Ripley, who had scarcely lost 
 a word of the conversation between the officer and 
 Red Jacket, and when the sentences, too, are re- 
 called, it will be admitted that they were of the 
 highest importance. 
 
 " Well, I '11 be hanged! If this does n't beat 
 the bugs ! ' ' muttered thfe prisoner, staring at his 
 youthful captor. " What do you want of me ? " 
 
 " You are my prisoner," replied Jack, keeping 
 his weapon levelled. 
 
 ' ' I guess not, ' ' said the officer, slipping his hand 
 to his side where he carried his pistol. 
 
 " Stop! " commanded Jack. " If you draw that 
 pistol, I '11 fire!" 
 
 The situation certainly was serious. The Colonel 
 snatched his hand away as if the butt had blistered 
 
176 Red Jacket. 
 
 his fingers. Then he realized how matters stood, 
 and, strange as it may seem, he smiled. 
 
 " Well, I must confess that you have me foul, 
 young man. I am in a ridiculous position, but 
 fortunately am not yet delivered into your camp, 
 and don't think I shall be for some time to come." 
 
 " I don't see any reason for your confidence. 
 General Sullivan is not so very far off, and I will 
 give you the choice of walking quietly there or 
 being shot: which shall it be ? " 
 
 Colonel Rossiter smiled again. His discomfiture 
 was unquestionably complete, and yet there was 
 something in the idea of his being made captive by 
 an American lad that appealed to his sense of the 
 humorous. 
 
 " Colonel," said Jack Ripley, who did not under- 
 stand why the man should take the matter so 
 lightly, " you can see that my rifle is pointed at 
 you. I have only to press the trigger a little harder 
 to send the bullet through your body. I should 
 dislike very much to do that, and it will not be my 
 fault if I fire ; it rests with you. If you will walk 
 straight ahead as I tell you, no harm shall come to 
 you. Which do you intend to do ? " 
 
 Colonel Rossiter, standing less than fifty feet dis- 
 tant, looked searchingly at the boy. Doubtless he 
 was debating with himself as to the best means 
 of sweeping him from his path ; but it must be 
 
A Prisoner of War. 177 
 
 admitted that the problem was a difficult one. To 
 repeat an expression already used, and quite com- 
 mon in these later days, Jack Ripley had the drop 
 on his man. 
 
 ' ' Do you know who I am ? ' ' asked the latter in 
 a lower voice, keeping his gaze steadily on the 
 youth. 
 
 ' ' Only that you are a colonel in the British army, 
 as I see from your uniform." 
 
 " You are right. My name is Howard Rossiter, 
 Colonel of his Majesty's Foot." 
 
 " I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Colo- 
 nel," replied the lad, who now felt something of 
 the humor of the situation. 
 
 " Yes; confoundedly more pleased than I am to 
 make j/ours," growled the officer. 
 
 " My name is Jack Ripley," said the youth; 
 " but I am only a private in the American army. 
 If I ever become a colonel, I shall be proud, in- 
 deed." 
 
 ' ' No doubt you will be a major-general in a few 
 years. But you Americans have no more money 
 than you need." 
 
 ' ' I never knew any one to have so much as that. 
 Our people are fighting, not for money, but for 
 liberty, and are willing to suffer hunger and priva- 
 tion." 
 
 " You have the greatest chance of your life to 
 
1 78 Red Jacket. 
 
 make a fortune. If you will lower that infernal gun, 
 and call it quits, I will pay you a thousand ■" 
 
 " Colonel Rossiter, stop right there! It is best 
 you should not finish that sentence. I am growing 
 tired of holding my gun at a level. My finger is on 
 the trigger ; shall I press it a little harder, or do you 
 prefer to submit ? Take your choice. ' ' 
 
 At this point, an interesting question presents 
 itself. Suppose Colonel Rossiter had absolutely 
 refused to submit, and had defied his young captor, 
 what would Jack Ripley have done ? Years later, 
 the direct question was put to him by his father, 
 and the reply was prompt : 
 
 " I shoot Colonel Rossiter! Never! I know I 
 should have been justified by the laws of warfare, 
 but not for a moment did I have such a thought. 
 I remember that when I stood with my gun pointed, 
 and my finger on the trigger, I kept the muzzle so 
 high that if it had been fired the bullet would have 
 passed over his head. He was a handsome man, 
 and old enough to have a boy of my age. I asked ^ 
 myself how I would feel if his son should shoot you 
 down, father." 
 
 " God bless you! " replied Colonel Ripley, laying 
 his hand on the head of his boy. ' ' I am proud of 
 you." 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 CHECKMATED. 
 
 COLONEL HOWARD ROSSITER was a man 
 of sense. It was humiliating thus to be cap- 
 tured by a boy, but the cold hard fact was before 
 him, and he had no choice. 
 
 " I acknowledge myself your prisoner. Jack. Do 
 you wish me to hand over my sword and pistol ? ' ' 
 
 " If you will give me your pledge not to attempt 
 to use them against me, you may keep them." 
 
 " You have my word of honor that I will do as 
 you wish." 
 
 " That is all I ask," said Jack, immediately 
 lowering his rifle. ' ' Come forward, please, Colonel. ' ' 
 
 The smile again lit up the face of the officer, but 
 as he approached his conqueror he extended his 
 hand. 
 
 " Unfortunate as I have been, I cannot help com- 
 plimenting you on your exploit. Certainly, few 
 boys can boast of making prisoner an officer of the 
 opposing army. ' ' 
 
 " I sympathize too much with you. Colonel, ever 
 to boast of what was only a lucky chance on my 
 
 179 
 
i8o Red Jacket. 
 
 part. Such a thing would not be likely to happen 
 again in a hundred years. ' ' 
 
 " I should hope not. Be good enough to tell me 
 how the mischief it did happen. ' ' 
 
 The two began walking side by side, as if they 
 were old friends, but Jack Ripley took care that the 
 course led in the direction of the main body of Gen- 
 eral Sullivan's army. He could not feel at ease for 
 some time to come, since he was liable to meet 
 enemies, in which event he would have to change 
 situations with Colonel Rossiter. 
 
 " I was out with one of our scouts, when we 
 separated to work each for himself. We knew some 
 of the Iroquois were near, for we had worked well 
 over to the left of our flanking party, and so were as 
 careful as we could be. By nothing but the merest 
 accident in the world I found myself within a few 
 paces of the fallen tree in the hollow, just as you. 
 Red Jacket, and the other Seneca sat down. I was 
 so near, indeed, that I did not dare attempt to leave, 
 lest you should see me. So I hid myself, and waited 
 until you should go away. You can understand 
 what an unlucky thing it would have been for me if 
 Red Jacket and his friend had started toward me, 
 instead of taking the opposite course. ' ' 
 
 " It might have proved unpleasant, for it is n't 
 likely they would have shown you the consideration 
 you gave me." 
 
Checkmated. i8i 
 
 A sudden thought flashed upon Colonel Rossi- 
 ter. 
 
 I suppose you heard what passed between us ? " 
 I saw you stand up in front of Red Jacket when 
 he tried to frighten you, but did not succeed," re- 
 plied Jack Ripley, evading the question ; for, as has 
 been intimated, hardly a word of the important 
 conversation escaped him. 
 
 Bah! That fellow is a hulking coward, and I 
 can't understand how it is he has so much influence 
 with his people." 
 
 "It is because he is such a wonderful orator. 
 He is like all the bands of our army united in rous- 
 ing the others to fight. ' ' 
 
 " I never had much opinion of him; but we have 
 to defer to him, since he possesses so much influence 
 among his people. Then I assume you heard what 
 was said by him and me, with the help of Little 
 Billy, the interpreter." 
 
 Picking their way side by side through the wood, 
 chatting as if friends of years. Jack Ripley looked 
 sideways at his companion, who was but slightly 
 taller than himself, and smiled : 
 
 " There can be no objection to your assuming 
 that. Colonel, but ' ' 
 
 At that moment the startling crack of a rifle 
 sounded from a point only a few rods in advance. 
 The two instantly halted, and started in the 
 
1 82 Red Jacket. 
 
 direction. Jack instinctively grasped his gun, and 
 Colonel Rossiter laid his hand on his sword. 
 
 The two stood on the border line, as may be 
 said, for the advance was not far enough to take 
 them beyond danger of colliding with some of the 
 prowling Iroquois ; and yet it was possible that such 
 was the fact. Whoever it was that had fired the 
 shot, he must be a friend of either the officer or the 
 youth. The latter had no wish to change places 
 with his companion; but, if it were done, it was 
 fortunate in one sense for the youth, since he was 
 assured of honorable treatment from Colonel Rossi- 
 ter under the changed conditions. 
 
 What the report of the gun meant was never 
 known to either, since it was the only suspicious 
 sound that reached them. No cry followed it, as 
 would have been the case had a member of the 
 American race been stricken, and the only other 
 noises heard came from the advancing armed bodies, 
 fully a mile beyond. 
 
 Jack Ripley was prudent enoughjo make a sharp 
 divergence in the course they were following, so 
 that the suspicious point was left well to their left. 
 Within the following half hour, the couple were 
 challenged by the outer guards of the American 
 army, and, making himself known. Jack Ripley was 
 conducted with his prisoner to the presence of Gen- 
 eral Sullivan, who had halted for the regular noon 
 
Checkmated. 183 
 
 rest, the junction with General Clinton, already 
 referred to, not taking place until later in the after- 
 noon. 
 
 The sight of the British officer making his way 
 through the camp, accompanied by the lad, attracted 
 considerable curiosity and speculation. A number' 
 of prisoners had already been captured, and were 
 safely guarded, but the only instance of any of them 
 being brought in singly was the one described. 
 
 General Sullivan was seated on a log, eating his 
 noonday lunch in true democratic fashion, several 
 of his staff similarly employed around him, when 
 Jack Ripley and Colonel Rossiter were conducted 
 into his presence. 
 
 " General, I am glad to see you doing so well," 
 said the prisoner, saluting the commander, who 
 rose to his feet and looked at him curiously for a 
 moment. 
 
 " Am I mistaken in believing this is Colonel Ros- 
 siter ? ' ' asked the astonished General, glancing in- 
 quiringly from him to Jack Ripley, as if in doubt 
 which ought to answer the question. 
 
 " I am sorry to say you are not mistaken. It 
 happens that I have been made prisoner by this 
 young gentleman attached to your command; at 
 your service, sir," and again the Colonel saluted 
 and bowed. 
 
 Laying down the food upon whifh he was 
 
184 Red Jacket. 
 
 engaged. General Sullivan stepped forward and 
 offered his hand. 
 
 " I can truly say you have my sympathy, Colo- 
 nel." 
 
 " Because I am a prisoner, or because I was made 
 so by a boy ? ' ' asked Colonel Rossiter, with his old 
 smile. 
 
 " Because of your misfortune in being a prisoner. 
 That it fell to the lot of Jack Ripley to escort you 
 to our camp was a piece of good fortune." 
 
 " I am constrained to agree with you, for none 
 could have treated me more kindly, and I am proud 
 to say so in the presence of yourself and officers. 
 My experience is not one of which to be proud " 
 
 " There, there, Colonel, never mind about that," 
 interrupted General Sullivan; " it is a part of the 
 fortunes of war. Sit right down here at our table, 
 and join us at dinner. Time enough to talk of that 
 afterwards. If my recollection serves me right, it is 
 not so very long since I received considerable kind- 
 ness at your hands. ' ' 
 
 Colonel Rossiter knew to what his host referred. 
 General Sullivan was partly responsible for the dis- 
 aster on Long Island, when the American army was 
 almost cut to pieces. He fought with the utmost 
 desperation, but was made prisoner. The officer 
 principally concerned in his capture was Colonel 
 Rossiter, and he treated the American general with 
 
Checkmated, 185 
 
 the utmost consideration until he was exchanged. 
 Therefore, in the present instance, Sullivan was 
 actuated largely by gratitude for favors previously 
 received. 
 
 There was no more ceremony in the meal to 
 which the prisoner sat down than in the one of 
 sweet potatoes upon which Marion, " the Swamp 
 Fox," and the British officer as his guest, dined in 
 one of the thickets of South Carolina. In the in- 
 stance before us, however, the repast was more 
 sumptuous; for General Sullivan never failed to 
 have his commissary department well looked after. 
 There were cold meat and coarse, palatable bread in 
 abundance, with a liberal supply of rich cow's milk. 
 No coffee or warm food, however, appeared, since 
 the noon halt was too brief to permit of the prepara- 
 tion of the refreshing drink. Old campaigners 
 would have been charmed with the meal, and the 
 guest complimented it. 
 
 " If you would like some wine, you have only to 
 name the brand," said Sullivan. Then, observing 
 the wondering expression on the face of Colonel 
 Rossiter, he added, with a twinkle of his black eyes, 
 " you will be as likely to get one kind as another." 
 
 " The selection is too much of a task for me," 
 replied the Colonel, munching his bread and meat ; 
 " let us defer our wine until the good days when 
 King George shall welcome back his American 
 
1 86 Red Jacket. 
 
 colonies as they were before that little misunder- 
 standing at Lexington and Concord. ' ' 
 
 " Then I am sorry to say, Colonel, that you and 
 I will never touch glasses," remarked the com- 
 manding officer, with a compression of his lips and 
 an unmistakable earnestness of manner. " If you 
 will change your proposal so as to make it when the 
 thirteen States shall be free and independent, I 
 shall be most happy to make the engagement with 
 you." 
 
 " In that case. General, will not the date be 
 removed to an equally indefinite period in the 
 future ? " 
 
 " By no means; a year or two, at the furthest." 
 
 " Very well," laughed the prisoner, who seemed 
 to be in unusually good spirits for one in his situa- 
 tion; "it is an engagement, and may God grant 
 that your life may be spared for many years to 
 come ! ' ' 
 
 " I thank you, and heartily reciprocate your 
 good wishes." 
 
 Now, while it was not in accordance with strict 
 military etiquette for General Sullivan to invite a 
 private of his army to take dinner with him, espe- 
 cially in the presence of his officers, it must not be 
 supposed that throughout this pleasant interchange 
 of courtesies between General Sullivan and Colonel 
 Rossiter, Jack Ripley, who was blessed with a more 
 
Checkmated 187 
 
 vigorous appetite than either, was permitted to 
 stand looking idly on. While there was strict dis- 
 cipline in many cases in the Continental armies, in 
 others the question of rank was often ignored to such 
 an extent as to excite ridicule among their oppo- 
 nents. This may not always have been wise, but, all 
 the same, our forefathers won their independence, 
 and that, too, within the time set by General Sulli- 
 van, and the rule in the affairs of this world is, on 
 the whole, to judge by results. 
 
 Accordingly, there was no surprise shown when 
 the commanding general insisted that Jack Ripley 
 should find room for himself upon the same log 
 which served as a seat and table for host and guest. 
 It must be confessed, too, that the young man did 
 not require urging. He was sure he never felt more 
 ahungered in all his life. 
 
 " It seems to me," he thought, " that I could 
 spend the whole day in eating, and then not get all 
 I want. I hope General Sullivan has enough sup- 
 plies with him, for if the rest of his men are as 
 ravenous as I, they will soon start a famine." 
 
 The good taste of the youth prevented his intru- 
 ding any remarks of his own, though he was amused 
 by the conversation between the two officers, as 
 were the others seated around in picturesque atti- 
 tudeso 
 
 For a few minutes. Jack Ripley gave his whole 
 
1 88 Red Jacket. 
 
 attention to disposing of the food, of which he was 
 furnished a bountiful supply, but by and by his 
 ears were wider open than ever. 
 
 " Colonel Rossiter, I recall with gratitude the 
 kindness you showed me three years ago this month 
 on Long Island," said General Sullivan, when the 
 humble repast was completed. 
 
 "It is hardly entitled to such reference, since 
 each of us claims to belong to a civilized nation." 
 
 " Nevertheless, there are exceptions to the con- 
 duct I have named. ' ' 
 
 It was on the tongue of the American commander 
 to denounce the employment of the Indians, espe- 
 cially the desperate fighters among the Iroquois, by 
 the British in their warfare against the States ; but 
 he felt that that was neither the time nor place, 
 and it would be a display of bad taste on his part 
 thus to address a man who was his prisoner. More- 
 over, Colonel Rossiter was not responsible for the 
 act, which was a discredit to the English authorities. 
 The host therefore refrained, and added : 
 
 " If it is your desire, I will parole you." 
 
 " I shall be greatly pleased to give you my parole." 
 
 At this juncture. Jack Ripley showed great em- 
 barrassment. He set down the " blue plate " from 
 which he had been eating, and rose from the log. 
 Taking a step forward, he hesitated, then recoiled 
 and stood still with flushed face. His action was so 
 
Checkmated. 189 
 
 singular that General Sullivan and Colonel Rossiter 
 looked wonderingly at him, and the commander 
 asked, in a kindly voice : 
 
 " Well, Jack, my boy, what is it ? " 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 SHARP WORK. 
 
 THE embarrassment of Jack Ripley lasted for 
 several moments. He was on the point of 
 apologizing and resuming his seat on the log, when 
 a sense of duty asserted itself, and he remained 
 standing. The two officers continued looking 
 curiously at him, silent and expectant. General 
 Sullivan repeated his invitation for him to speak. 
 
 " You will pardon me for my forwardness, but — 
 General — it will not do to parole Colonel Rossiter." 
 
 " Not do to parole Colonel Rossiter!" repeated 
 the commander ; ' ' and will you be good enough to 
 tell me why f" 
 
 " I overheard his conversation with Red Jacket a 
 while ago. I heard them make an agreement where 
 the British, Tories, and Indians are to attempt to 
 ambuscade our army. Colonel Rossiter knows that 
 I know it. If you parole him, and he goes back to 
 his friends, though he will not fight against us until 
 he is exchanged, yet he will warn our enemies that 
 their plans are known, and they will fix upon some 
 other place which we may not be able to turn. ' ' 
 
 I go 
 
Sharp Work. 191 
 
 The astonished General Sullivan emitted a low 
 whistle. Colonel Rossiter's face turned crimson, 
 for the very scheme that had been exposed was in 
 his mind. 
 
 ' ' Ah ! That puts a different face on matters. I 
 presume, Colonel, the young man is not mistaken ? 
 I leave it to you to answer." 
 
 I must decline to do so, ' ' replied the prisoner, 
 trying to hide his vexation. 
 
 " Your declination is a confirmation of his words. 
 Under the circumstances, you must permit me to 
 withdraw my offer. I regret it, but I shall have to 
 retain you until this little business is settled. ' ' 
 
 " As you please, sir." 
 
 " But you shall not be permitted to complain of 
 our unkindness." 
 
 "It is unnecessary to state that. A British 
 oflficer could fall into no more pleasant hands than 
 those of General Sullivan." 
 
 " Thank you," said the commander, bowing, 
 while Jack Ripley, with a mixed feeling of mean- 
 ness and of pleasure over duty done, quietly reseated 
 himself. 
 
 The incident, seemingly slight of itself, opened a 
 chasm between the American commander and his 
 prisoner. If possible, they were more courteous 
 and deferential to each other than before ; but on 
 the one hand was extreme annoyance at being 
 
192 Red Jacket. 
 
 baffled in a far-reaching scheme, and on the other a 
 self-disgust that his intended kindness had come so 
 nigh resulting ill for the army under his command. 
 
 General Sullivan determined to keep his man in 
 safe custody until the end of the campaign. Under 
 ordinary circumstances, that would have been the 
 only course to take, since Colonel Rossiter's coming 
 into camp had given him an extensive knowledge 
 that would have been of extreme value to the 
 enemy ; but it so happened that, as in the case of 
 Red Jacket, the knowledge was of the kind that the 
 American commander wished to be known to his 
 adversary. The strength of the invaders was so 
 overwhelming that it might serve to deter the resist- 
 ance that otherwise would have been certain. 
 
 The meal was completed, and it was time to re- 
 sume the march. Colonel Rossiter was turned over 
 to the custody of the proper guard, with instructions 
 to take every precaution against his escape. Gen- 
 eral Sullivan and his staff remounted, and, by his 
 direction. Jack Ripley was provided with a horse 
 and rode at his side. 
 
 Now, my young friend," said he, when the 
 opportunity for free conversation came, " I want 
 you to give me the particulars of 'your capture of 
 Colonel Rossiter. You can understand that, out of 
 consideration for him, I avoided reference to it while 
 he was present. ' ' 
 
Sharp Work. 193 
 
 Jack told his story with a modesty that was 
 natural to him, insisting that it was by the merest 
 of accidents that he was enabled to make a prisoner 
 of the British officer. 
 
 " All the same, it was a mighty clever expliait, 
 since, when you did it, Red Jacket and the other 
 Seneca could not have been far off. But I am 
 specially anxious to know of the conversation be- 
 tween Colonel Rossiter and Red Jacket. You are 
 convinced that you heard it all ? " 
 
 " I heard all that took place after they reached 
 the hollow and sat down on the fallen tree; but 
 what was said before, of course, is unknown to 
 me." 
 
 " Why are you sure that you lost nothing ? " 
 
 " I saw them arrive and seat themselves, and I 
 kept my place until they parted company, the Sen- 
 ecas going one way and the Colonel another. You 
 understand, General, that the translation of the 
 words was a help to me." 
 
 " How?" 
 
 " I have noticed that when a man is trying to 
 make himself understood by a person who does not 
 know his language, he is apt to speak louder. 
 Have n't you noticed the same thing ? " 
 
 " I believe I have," replied the commander, 
 smiling at the simplicity and shrewdness of the lad, 
 for whom he had formed a strong attachment. 
 13 
 
194 I^ed Jacket. 
 
 " But where, all this time, was your friend, Jed 
 Stiffens ? " 
 
 " I have n't the slightest idea. We left camp 
 very early this morning, but had not gone a mile 
 when he proposed that we part company." 
 
 " Was there no understanding between you ? " 
 
 " None, except that each was to do the best he 
 could. Jed and I have a system of signals by which 
 we can communicate when not too far apart, but I 
 have n't heard any of his to-day. He is doing 
 good work somewhere. ' ' 
 
 " There is no question as to that; but it must be 
 said that Red Jacket and his companion did not 
 locate very definitely the place where they intend 
 to try their ambuscade upon us. ' ' 
 
 " They gave it no name, but its distance was 
 fixed closely enough for Jed to understand. When 
 he hears what was said, he won't have any trouble 
 about that. Besides, he may have been as lucky as 
 I." 
 
 " I don't see how that could well be. He 
 could n't have been near you, for you would have 
 discovered him, and what he heard would inevitably 
 have been the same as what reached you. ' ' 
 
 " I mean, that he may have been able to catch 
 . something said among the Indians or white leaders. 
 You know he understands the tongues used by the 
 Iroquois as well as he does his own. ' ' 
 
Sharp Work. 195 
 
 ' But what was said by Red Jacket and Colonel 
 Rossiter indicates that they were the first and prob- 
 ably the only ones to reach the decision about the 
 ambuscade." 
 
 " Several hours have passed since then, and Jed 
 may pick up a good deal between now and night." 
 
 Now, it so happened that the experience of Jed 
 Stiffens on that memorable afternoon was in direct 
 contrast to his young friend's. 
 
 It has been shown that it was an article of faith 
 with the scout that when from any cause he failed 
 to obey his " promptings," disaster was sure to 
 follow. True, it sometimes overtook him when he 
 obeyed that mysterious impulse, which, after all, may 
 have had a logical basis ; but that did not affect his be- 
 lief, since such disaster was bound to come anyway. 
 
 His separation from Jack Ripley, as he explained 
 to his young friend, was in obedience to his prompt- 
 ings from within, and, urged by the same impulse, 
 he circled to the left of the American army, which 
 was the same course that Jack took, except that the 
 . latter went farther to the westward. It would have 
 been more prudent had he followed in the footsteps 
 of Jack, but the reader does not need to be reminded 
 that Jed Stiffens was fond of taking risks. 
 
 Perhaps it was not singular that the primal busi- 
 ness of Jed was to find the information that had 
 come to the youth unsought. There was no danger 
 
196 Red Jacket. 
 
 of the enemy attempting an ambuscade for a day or 
 two to come, but that they would resort to their 
 favorite artifice, which has so often proven fatal to 
 white men, Jed considered as certain as that the 
 sun would rise. His wish, therefore, was to ascer- 
 tain where such a demonstration was intended. 
 
 How should he learn ? 
 
 Only one method suggested itself: to catch some 
 expression from the Indians or white men that 
 would yield the secret. Of course his intimate 
 knowledge of the Indian tongues was vastly in his 
 favor, but the chances of his gaining an opportunity 
 to overhear a secret of that nature were so remote 
 that it seemed to be folly to hope for success. 
 
 In the first place, it would be about impossible to 
 steal near enough to a group of Iroquois to overhear 
 their words without being instantly detected. Then, 
 in case of success, what reason had the scout to be- 
 lieve the subject under discussion by the Indians 
 would be of a nature to afford the information he 
 sought ? 
 
 In short, it looked very much as if the daring 
 fellow had undertaken a contract in which he would 
 find himself unable to deliver the goods. Neverthe- 
 less, he went about the task with the grim resolution 
 that marked everything he took in hand. 
 
 One of the cardinal virtues of a scout is patience. 
 It is a historical record that the two most famous 
 
Sharp Work. 197 
 
 pioneers of Kentucky, Daniel Boone and Simon 
 Kenton, once arrived on opposite sides of the Ohio 
 River, just as the sun was rising. Each became 
 aware at the same moment that a person was on the 
 other bank, and the time and circumstances war- 
 ranted the suspicion that he was an enemy. They 
 therefore set to work to ascertain the truth, and, 
 just as the sun was dipping below the horizon, the 
 intimate friends discovered themselves to each other. 
 
 When noon came and passed, Jed Stiffens had not 
 made the slightest progress in his task, but his de- 
 termination to persevere was as strong as ever. He 
 had caught glimpses, more than once, of Iroquois 
 flitting among the trees, and it necessitated lively 
 work on his part to avoid a collision with them. 
 Several times he had the opportunity of leaping 
 upon one of the red men, and bearing him to the 
 earth, with the presumption that he could be com- 
 pelled to disgorge his secret (provided he possessed 
 it), but such information would always remain open 
 to the fear that it was untrustworthy. 
 
 However, the afternoon was yet young, when the 
 scout fancied his chance had come. In the densest 
 part of the wood he caught sight of five Senecas 
 standing and consulting together. They seemed to 
 have met in obedience to some understanding, and 
 the animated gestures showed that they were dis- 
 cussing something with great earnestness. 
 
198 Red Jacket. 
 
 What more likely than that they were talking 
 over their scheme for ambuscading the invading 
 army ? 
 
 It was necessary to edge a good deal nearer, and, 
 makhig sure that no one was behind him, the scout 
 stole forward with a skill that could not have been 
 surpassed. The difficulty of this work can hardly 
 be imagined, for in gliding from tree to tree he was 
 compelled to expose himself to observation, if by 
 chance one of the five turned his eyes in the direc- 
 tion of the white man. Jed overcame the appar- 
 ently insurmountable difficulty by studying the 
 group from behind a tree until able to foretell by a 
 few seconds the pose and action he was likely to 
 take. As it was, the risk was fearful, but he over- 
 came it with a success that seemed incredible, and 
 continued working closer and closer until half the 
 intervening space was passed. 
 
 Realizing that each moment was liable to bring 
 discovery, Jed's purpose was to make a dash for 
 freedom, and, with the slight start and his wonder- 
 ful fleettiess, he was confident of getting safely 
 away. As it was, he had reached a point which 
 enabled him to catch a word now and then of the 
 speakers, and he felt that one or two more moves 
 would take him to the coign of vantage, where he 
 could gain an intelligible knowledge of the discus- 
 sion that was as earnest as ever. 
 
Sharp Work. 199 
 
 It was at this juncture, when hope was so clearly 
 defined, that the catastrophe came. 
 
 In obedience to his habits of caution, the scout, 
 while awaiting the moment to make another ven- 
 ture, glanced behind him to learn whether the aoast 
 was clear in that direction. One look was sufficient. 
 Red Jacket, Young King, Captain Pollard, Little 
 Billy, and six warriors were walking directly toward 
 him. Not only that, but they were spread apart so 
 as to cover a line twenty yards in length, and each 
 wing was more advanced than the centre. He was 
 caught between two fires, and virtually surrounded. 
 
 True, he could make a dash to the right or left, 
 but to do so would bring him within a few paces of 
 his enemies, while to run to the front or rear in- 
 sured a " head-on " collision. Every Iroquois was 
 armed with a rifle, and the glimpse he first caught 
 revealed that two of Red Jacket's party were Onon- 
 dagas, fully as dangerous as the Senecas. On the 
 first attempt to run, the Indians would open fire, 
 and where all were good marksmen it was impossible 
 that more than one or twq should miss. 
 
 The course adopted by Jed Stiffens was extraor- 
 dinary, and was another proof of his marvellous 
 coolness in moments of the greatest peril. 
 
CHAPTER XX. 
 CUNNING AND DUPLICITY. 
 
 WITHOUT the least evidence of fright, and 
 within the first five seconds of the discovery 
 of his fearful peril, Jed Stiffens wheeled around and 
 strode in the direction of Red Jacket and his party. 
 His gait was his usual one, and he carried his gun 
 in a trailing position to signify that his disposition 
 was peaceful. 
 
 " It 's my promptin's to do so," he muttered; 
 " but, by gracious! if I ain't runnin' my head into 
 a b'ar's mouth this time, my name ain't Jed 
 Stiffens! " 
 
 The action of the scout was so unexpected that 
 the Iroquois halted, and two of them raised their 
 rifles as if about to fire. The white man loftily 
 waved them aside and continued his deliberate 
 advance. 
 
 At the same moment, the party now thrown to 
 the rear of the scout became aware of the remark- 
 able state of affairs, and started toward the white 
 man, whose situation was thereby rendered more 
 helpless than before. 
 
 2CX> 
 
Cunning and Duplicity. 201 
 
 Jed fixed his eyes on Red Jacket, who, it need 
 not be said, was surveying him intently and with 
 anything but kindly feelings. When a couple of 
 rods separated them, Jed made a military salute, 
 and said: 
 
 " I would speak to my brother, the great Red 
 Jacket, sachem of the Senecas. I bring him words 
 that are for his ear alone. ' ' . 
 
 Red Jacket was more mystified than ever. In- 
 stead of going forward, he stood irresolute, but with 
 his gaze upon the white man, who now beckoned to 
 him to approach. There was something so com- 
 manding in the gesture that he obeyed, though with 
 evident reluctance, for he held the terrible scout in 
 dread, and did not relish the thought of placing 
 himself in his power, even when so many of his 
 friends were within instant call. 
 
 He and Jed never once removed their eyes from 
 each other's face until the sachem halted eight or 
 ten feet distant, prepared to leap back and run if 
 the scout attempted to approach closer. The Iro- 
 quois beyond, being in Jed's field of vision, he 
 could see were motionless and mute gazing upon 
 the remarkable scene. 
 
 " Come no nearer," said Red Jacket, in a voice 
 so low that only the ears for which the words were 
 intended caught them. 
 
 " I have no wish to harm my brother," replied 
 
202 Red Jacket. 
 
 Jed, in the same guarded voice; " but I come from 
 General Sullivan, the Father of the great army that 
 is marching through the woods to burn the villages 
 of the Six Nations. ' ' 
 
 (All of which was strictly true.) 
 
 " Has he any message for Red Jacket ? " 
 
 " He has something to tell Red Jacket that no 
 one else must hear. " 
 
 " Red Jacket's ears are open." 
 
 " But the words cannot be spoken here. They 
 must be said to Red Jacket, my great brother, by 
 the Father of the army that is like the leaves on the 
 trees. ' ' 
 
 As may be supposed, Jed Stiffens was studying 
 the painted face of the sachem with all the skill he 
 possessed. That which he saw, though faintly 
 defined, was favorable. 
 
 " Does my brother wish to have his lodge and his 
 wife and children and his crops spared by the white 
 man ? Does he wish to receive the wampum of the 
 great Father ? Then let him come to the tent of 
 the Father when the moon is high in the sky to- 
 night." 
 
 (All of which was a monumental fib, and the 
 white man was now drawing things with a tremen- 
 dously long bow). 
 
 " What is it the great Father has to say to me ? " 
 asked the sachem, his duplicity and greed awakened. 
 
Cunning and Duplicity. 203 
 
 Unconsciously he took a step nearer. Joe Stiffens 
 scored a point, which only needed to be followed up 
 promptly. 
 
 " He forbade me to say the words to Red Jacket, 
 for the leaves might hear; but in the tent of the 
 Father all will be safe, for there are no leaves to 
 listen. The Father will say his words to me, and I 
 will say them to the great sachem in his own 
 tongue, and no other shall know of them. They 
 will make the heart of Red Jacket glad. ' ' 
 
 " Did my brother come to look for Red Jacket ? " 
 
 " I have been hunting for him all day." 
 
 The question of the Seneca indicated that a grain 
 of doubt lingered in his mind, and the white man 
 saw he must strike while the iron was hot. 
 
 ' ' The Father is waiting to hear what message Red 
 Jacket sends back to him. What shall I say to the 
 Father at the head of our armies ? " 
 
 " Tell him Red Jacket will come when the moon 
 is high in the sky to-night. ' ' 
 
 " The great sachem of the Senecas is wise. His 
 words shall be told to the Father, and his eyes will 
 not be closed to-night until they have looked upon 
 Red Jacket." 
 
 Then Jed Stiffens made an elaborate military 
 salute, and, still carrying his rifle in a trailing posi- 
 tion, he walked away! In doing so, he did not 
 glance to the right or left, though nearly all the 
 
204 Red Jacket. 
 
 transfixed warriors were in his field of vision, and 
 he was on the alert for a demonstration from them. 
 
 It was a most extraordinary proceeding, but it 
 was the statue-like pose of Red Jacket that held 
 his Senecas motionless while the most hated of 
 white men, well known by reputation and recog- 
 nized by all, coolly strode off into the woods. The 
 impressive manner of the scout must have cast 
 something in the nature of a spell over the sachem, 
 aided by the cunning deception of the white man ; 
 but the latter knew that the strange influence could 
 last but a brief time. It was liable to be broken at 
 any moment, and when the break did come, the 
 last desperate struggle would be on. 
 
 Never was there more call for self-restraint and 
 control than when the scout was leaving the spot in 
 the deliberate manner described. Where every- 
 thing depended upon placing a safe distance be- 
 tween him and his enemies, the temptation to break 
 into a run weis almost irresistible ; but the certainty 
 that the instant he did so the whole horde of red- 
 skins would be after him like a cyclone, firing as 
 they sped, kept the lithe, sinewy limbs moving with 
 the regularity of an automaton until more than a 
 hundred yards intervened between him and the 
 nearest enemy. 
 
 Then Jed Stiffens could contain himself no 
 longer. With a defiant whoop, he bounded several 
 
Cunning and Duplicity. 205 
 
 feet into the air, and was off like an arrow from the 
 bow. That shout and that leap dissipated the 
 hypnotic spell resting on the group. Instantly they 
 answered the cry with shouts, several guns were 
 fired, and the whole party dashed forward on his 
 trail like so many hounds after the fleeing deer. 
 
 The scout was so far off when he made his break 
 that the intervening trees spoiled the aim of his 
 pursuers, though more than one bullet cut the twigs 
 and leaves about his head, and urged him to the 
 highest speed of which he was capable. It has been 
 said that he possessed wonderful fleetness, and never 
 did he run faster than when dashing in and out 
 among the trees, for he knew he was speeding for 
 life. 
 
 Among the noted attainments of Red Jacket was 
 also his fleetness of foot. One of the first presents 
 he received from a British officer, when a mere 
 youth, was a crimson waistcoat for the swiftness he 
 displayed in carrying messages. The Seneca was 
 so proud of the garment that he wore a similar one 
 for many years — a fact that gave him the English 
 name by which he is best known. 
 
 Among the pursuers. Red Jacket was the best 
 runner of all, and yet not once did he lead the pro- 
 cession streaming after the fugitive. In truth, 
 several of his companions passed him, and main- 
 tained the advance, although when the sachem 
 
2o6 Red Jacket. 
 
 aimed and fired his gun at the scout he strove his 
 best to bring him down. Moreover, he came nearer 
 doing it than any of the other marksmen,- for his 
 bullet nipped the ear of Jed Stiffens ; but, somehow 
 or other, the Seneca seemed unable to draw away 
 from the main party. That he possessed the ability 
 to do so cannot be denied, and his failure must be 
 attributed to his fear of overtaking the terrible 
 white man. His predicament was similar to that of 
 the hunter who, after pursuing a grizzly bear for a 
 couple of days, suddenly ceased and turned back for 
 the reason that the trail was becoming too fresh. 
 
 Enough perhaps has been told to make clear the 
 termination of the chase. For several minutes the 
 gaunt form of the scout was discerned darting in 
 and out among the trees, which became more numer- 
 ous between pursuers and fugitive until only occa- 
 sional glimpses were caught of him, and finally he 
 disappeared altogether. 
 
 The Indians kept up the pursuit but a short time 
 longer; for, much as they yearned to capture the 
 scalp of the man who had wrought them so much 
 evil, they knew when it became impossible to do 
 so, and gave over the effort ; their next move being 
 in the nature of strategy. A number of them 
 turned to the right and others to the left, and, acting 
 on the assumption that the white man would soon 
 change the course he was following, they aimed to 
 
Cunning and Duplicity. 207 
 
 head him off. Had they succeeded, we should be 
 compelled to admit that Jed Stiffens did not merit 
 his reputation as the greatest scout connected with 
 the American army. 
 
 What the thoughts of Red Jacket were when 
 finally the scattered group came together near the 
 spot where the chase had begun can only be con- 
 jectured from the incidents that followed. He 
 looked around and saw that every man was there, 
 proof that all attempts to overtake the scout were 
 abandoned. 
 
 Not only was the whole party present, but one of 
 the most notable leaders of the Six Nations had 
 come from somewhere, in the person of the famous 
 half-breed, Cornplanter, one of the bravest of men, 
 who read Red Jacket like a book. From the nature 
 of the environments of the two, they were in a cer- 
 tain sense rivals. Among all the tribes, there was 
 not a man or woman who did not know that Corn- 
 planter was immeasurably the superior as a warrior 
 of Red Jacket, and no more striking proof of the 
 wonderful power of the sachem's gift of oratory can 
 be given than that he not only retained his suprem- 
 acy, but grew in influence, and that, too, in the face 
 of his numerous exhibitions of cowardice. 
 
 Cornplanter was in a rage. His black eyes snap- 
 ped fire, and the paint on his stern countenance 
 seemed to take on a more fiery hue. He knew 
 
2o8 Red Jacket. 
 
 what had occurred, and he accepted it as a proof of 
 the treachery and duplicity of the famous sachem 
 of the Senecas. Yet Cornplanter exhibited admir- 
 able self-restraint. Fixing his burning gaze upon 
 the face of Red Jacket, he asked the meaning of 
 what had just taken place. A liberal translation of 
 their conversation may be given. 
 
 " The dog of a white man was a prisoner of Red 
 Jacket. Why was he allowed to go to his home ? 
 Was it the wish of Red Jacket that he should slay 
 more of the true children of the Great Spirit ? " 
 
 " The white dog lied to Red Jacket," was the 
 reply, given with composure. 
 
 " But the white dogs always speak with a double 
 tongue. Is Red Jacket a child, that he believes 
 what they say to him ? ' ' 
 
 He deceived Red Jacket; he would have de- 
 ceived Ga-nio-di-euh [the Indian name of Corn- 
 planter, meaning Handsome Lake, though it is 
 sometimes spelled differently], for he told him he 
 came from the Father of the American army that is 
 marching toward the towns of the Six Nations. ' ' 
 
 ' ' It was a foolish lie, for had he come from him, 
 he would have shown the flag that is white. Did 
 he carry such a flag ? " 
 
 ' ' The white men do not always carry the white 
 flag, and the Iroquois have gone into their camp 
 without it." 
 
Cunning and Duplicity, 209 
 
 " What was his message to Red Jacket ? " asked 
 Cornplanter, still keeping his anger under good 
 control. 
 
 " That the Father of the white men would make 
 a treaty with the Iroquois if they would send their 
 chiefs to him. ' ' 
 
 Cornplanter knew this was a falsehood, for the 
 veriest child would understand that the American 
 commander would not march a large army into the 
 Indian country, and then halt at the door to offer a 
 treaty to the people whom he had come so far to 
 punish. But the war-chief was forced to dissemble. 
 There were muttering and uneasiness among the 
 listening warriors that showed the remarkable power 
 Red Jacket held over them. Had a personal en- 
 counter taken place at that moment between the 
 speakers, all would have rallied to the help of the 
 orator. And that, too, when Cornplanter, as has 
 been shown, was vastly the superior of the Seneca 
 in every respect save the single one named. 
 
 The chief knew it, but his thoughts were busy, 
 and he bided his time. He could not repress, how- 
 ever, a parting shot. 
 
 " When Red Jacket becomes older, he will gain 
 wisdom, for now he is only a child. The white men 
 are marching toward our towns, and we are needed. 
 There is no time for us to tarry ; let us make haste. " 
 
 Cornplanter strode off to indicate the matter was 
 
 14 
 
2IO Red Jacket. 
 
 ended, and Red Jacket was relieved that such was 
 the fact ; for, had his rival pressed him closely, he 
 would have found it hard to explain satisfactorily 
 all he had done. 
 
 There must have been a lingering suspicion in his 
 mind that the white scout had some warrant for the 
 message he professed to bring from General Sulli- 
 van ; for late that night Red Jacket, instead of going 
 himself, sent a trusted messenger to the American 
 commander to learn what he had to say. 
 
 But the sagacious Cornplanter suspected a move 
 of that kind and was on the watch. He knew the 
 meaning of the stealthy withdrawal of the messenger 
 from camp, and he followed him without attracting 
 attention to himself. Suffice it to say that the 
 warrior speeding through the darkness never reached 
 General Sullivan, for the reason that he was switched 
 off upon a route which landed him in his happy 
 hunting-grounds. 
 
CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 hog's back. 
 
 THE time has come when a brief diversion must 
 be made in order to give a few particulars con- 
 cerning several individuals who now assume an 
 active part in the historical incidents we are now 
 narrating. 
 
 The reader has learned something of Red Jacket 
 and General Sullivan, and enough has been told 
 regarding the war-chiefs, Young King, Captain Pol- 
 lard, and Little Billy. Cornplanter, who has been 
 referred to as a half-breed, took a prominent part in 
 the massacre of Braddock, and was therefore con- 
 siderably older than Red Jacket. His dauntless 
 bravery was never questioned. He was the most 
 effective of the Indian leaders in opposing Sullivan's 
 advance, and repeatedly exposed himself to death, 
 but went through that terrific campaign without a 
 scratch. 
 
 Although a ferocious enemy of the Americans all 
 through the Revolution, Cornplanter faithfully ad- 
 hered to the terms of peace, and became their de- 
 voted friend. He was a fine orator, but not the 
 
212 Red Jacket. 
 
 equal of Red Jacket. The western Indians made 
 strenuous efforts to draw him to their side in their 
 wars toward the close of the century, but he refused, 
 assisted in making treaties with the white people, 
 did his utmost to aid in civilizing the Indians, and 
 by his example and counsel did much to stay the 
 ravages of intemperance among them. At his 
 death, in 1836, respected by the whole American 
 nation, he was more than one hundred years old. 
 
 Joseph Brant, another famous Indian leader, was 
 a Mohawk sachem, and it is probable there was 
 white blood in his veins. His native name was Thay- 
 en-da-ne-ga. His brightness attracted the attention 
 of Sir William Johnson, the British Superintendent 
 of Indian Affairs, and he gave him a fair English 
 education. He refused all persuasions to fight on 
 the side of the Americans in the Revolution, and 
 was one of their bitterest and most merciless enemies. 
 He committed many shocking outrages, and at the 
 battle of Oriskany tortured his prisoners, as he did 
 in many other instances. Contrary to the general 
 belief, Brant took no part in the Wyoming massacre 
 of July 3, 1778, for the reason that he was just then 
 similarly employed elsewhere. 
 
 Colonel John Butler was a prominent leader 
 among the Tories, and the chief officer in the hor- 
 rible Wyoming massacres. Great as was his sav- 
 agery, he sometimes showed mercy to a conquered 
 
Hog's Back. 213 
 
 foe ; but it was different with his son, Captain Walter 
 N. Butler, who was never known to display that 
 weakness. It was he who planned and carried out 
 the Cherry Valley slaughter a few months after that 
 of Wyoming. Brant, Cornplanter, and Captain 
 Butler were at the head of the forces opposing the 
 advance of General Sullivan into the Indian country, 
 and therefore merit this brief notice at our hands. 
 
 In a direct line between the beautiful Wyoming 
 monument and the site of old Fort Wintermoot, on 
 the brow of a high bank, supposed to be the former 
 shore of the Susquehanna, the visitor to the lovely 
 Wyoming Valley is shown a large stone, known as 
 " Queen Esther's Rock," or" Bloody Rock." It 
 rises about a foot and a half above the ground, and 
 a portion of it is of a dull reddish color, a fact which 
 had led to the superstition that the tint was caused 
 by blood that soaked into the flinty substance. 
 
 Although nothing of the kind could have occurred, 
 there is no question that blood was shed around the 
 historic stone. 
 
 Catharine Montour, often referred to as " Queen 
 Esther," was a half-breed who was educated in 
 Canada. Possessing unusual brightness and beauty, 
 she became for a time a social favorite in Philadel- 
 phia. Returning to the Seneca tribe, which she 
 claimed as her own, she was treated as vastly 
 superior to the rest of her sex. One of the towns 
 
214 Red Jacket. 
 
 was named in her honor, and her residence was re- 
 ferred to as the palace. At this day, it would bear 
 comparison with the majority of modern dwellings. 
 
 When there was talk of war, Queen Esther op- 
 posed it, but when it came she became one of its 
 foremost and most savage leaders. She seemed to 
 be controlled by an unquenchable hatred of the 
 white people, and there was no atrocity to which 
 she did not urge her warriors, and in many of which, 
 when possible, she took a prominent part. 
 
 When the invasion of the Wyoming Valley oc- 
 curred, in 1778, Catharine Montour was nearly 
 eighty years old. Yet she eagerly went with the 
 Indians and Tories, for she saw the prospect of wit- 
 nessing and assisting in bringing suffering to the 
 helpless and inoffensive settlers. 
 
 In the preliminary fighting the son of Queen 
 Esther was killed. The fact filled her with de- 
 moniac rage against the white people, most of 
 whom were old men, women, and children, the 
 majority of the able-bodied adults being absent 
 with the armies, fighting the battles of their country. 
 
 On the night after the defeat of the small force of 
 patriots, sixteen prisoners were ranged in a circle 
 around the rock described, awaiting death at the 
 hands of the enraged Catharine Montour, or Queen 
 Esther. Armed with a death-maul and hatchet, as 
 the prisoners were seated one after the other on the 
 
Hog's Back. 215 
 
 rock and held securely by two strong Indians, she 
 began chanting a death dirge, and, using one of the 
 deadly implements, dashed out the brains of her 
 victims. 
 
 While the terrible tragedy was going on, two men, 
 awaiting their turn, Lebbeus Hammond and Joseph 
 Elliott by name, made a sudden break and dashed 
 off at desperate speed. In the confusion neither 
 was fired upon, but a number of warriors started in 
 pursuit. Hammond made for the river, and, glanc- 
 ing over his shoulder, saw that the Indians were 
 running with a view of heading him off. He 
 changed his course, and was speeding with might 
 and main when his toe caught in a root, and he 
 rolled headlong down the bank, under the bushy 
 head of a prostrate tree. Instantly it occurred to 
 him that the best thing to do was to lie still, and 
 he did so. In a short time, several of his enemies 
 approached the spot, peering here and there, and 
 came so close that he believed he must be betrayed 
 by the beating of his heart ; but they gave up the 
 hunt, and, waiting until the way was clear, he 
 cautiously entered the river, swam to Monocacy 
 Island, and thence found his way to the fort of 
 Wilkesbarre. 
 
 Meanwhile, Elliott plunged into the river, with 
 the enemies directly behind him. He was a power- 
 ful swimmer, and kept under the water most of the 
 
2i6 Red Jacket. 
 
 time, but whenever he rose to catch his breath he 
 was fired upon, and received a painful wound in the 
 shoulder. But he succeeded in reaching the other 
 side of the river, where he found an estray horse, 
 which he mounted, using the bark of a hickory 
 sapling for a bridle. He reached the fort at Wilkes- 
 barre ahead of Hammond, had his wound dressed, 
 and the two lived many years afterwards to tell of 
 their wonderful escape from the vengeance of Queen 
 Esther of the Senecas. 
 
 Returning to the course of our narrative, it re- 
 mains to be said that Jed Stiffens rejoined the 
 advancing army late on the afternoon of his clever 
 outwitting of Red Jacket, and reported his disap- 
 pointment to General Sullivan. When he learned 
 that the information he was seeking had been 
 secured by Jack Ripley, he was delighted, and in 
 his jocose manner proposed that he and the rest of 
 the scouts should resign and turn over their work to 
 the youth, who had been more successful than any 
 of them. As for Jack, he blushed in his usual 
 modest way, and begged his friend to talk of some- 
 thing else. From the words repeated to him by the 
 lad, the veteran recognized the spot where the enemy 
 intended to try to ambuscade the American army. 
 
 The next day, while Sullivan was pushing forward 
 in his guarded manner, with flanking parties on 
 each side of the line of march, and strong guards in 
 
Hog's Back. 217 
 
 front and rear, word was brought back by Jed 
 Stiffens and several scouts that the whole force of 
 the enemy had made a stand at a place called Hog's 
 Back, and were awaiting the approach of the in- 
 vaders. The Iroquois were under the command of 
 Cornplanter, Brant, and Red Jacket, and the Tories 
 were led by Colonel Butler, his son the Captain, and 
 Sir John Johnson, son of Sir William Johnson, who 
 had died several years before. 
 
 The opposition thus offered to the American ad- 
 vance was more serious than would be supposed. 
 The enemy numbered fully a thousand, and among 
 them was a good sprinkling of British regulars, as 
 the presence of Colonel Howard Rossiter indicated. 
 Their left rested on Hog's Back, which was a hill, 
 arid their right on a ridge running parallel with the 
 river. Regular and well-constructed intrenchments 
 were thrown up, and they were fully a half mile in 
 extent. In addition, the pines and scrub-oaks 
 which covered the ground gave good protection. 
 The works themselves were cunningly hidden by 
 green boughs planted in front. 
 
 Before these formidable works, Sullivan halted 
 and made his arrangements for attack. After 
 thoroughly acquainting himself with the nature of 
 the defences, he ordered General Hand and the rifle 
 corps to assail in front while Generals Clinton and 
 Poor cleared the hill on the Indian left. 
 
2i8 Red Jacket. 
 
 Jack Ripley, by his own request, was assigned a 
 place in the ranks of the rifle corps, where he was 
 to receive his first baptism of fire. He took his 
 place like a veteran, and, while waiting a few min- 
 utes for the order to advance, the man on his right, 
 with the reckless coolness which soldiers often show 
 in the moments of greatest peril, ventured upon a 
 few words in an undertone. 
 
 " You look rather young, my son." 
 
 " I m sixteen years old," replied Jack, in the 
 same guarded voice, for the conversation was con- 
 trary to rules. 
 
 " Is this your first battle ? " 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 " Well, you look mighty cool for a youngster. 
 Ain't you scared ? " 
 
 "Yes, I am; but I mean to do my duty." 
 
 "Good for you! If you had said you war n't 
 scared, I 'd 've knowed you was lying, for the bravest 
 man that ever lived always feels pokerish when the 
 battle is 'bout to open." 
 
 " You don't look that way," ventured Jack. 
 I am, all the same, and so is every one about 
 us, though they try to look as if they did n't care a 
 rush. But as soon as the shooting begins, it will be 
 all over. The trouble, then, is to keep from diving 
 ahead of the rest. My advice to you, young man, 
 is to keep cool. Shout and yell if you want to, and 
 
Hog's Back. 219 
 
 I don't b'leve you can help it; but don't run ahead 
 of us, for, if you do, you 're purty sure to get 
 plugged. Listen for orders, and do your best to 
 obey 'em; but if " 
 
 At that instant the command rang out, and the 
 riflemen sprang forward in their charge against the 
 intrenchments. It seemed to Jack as if he were 
 lifted entirely off his feet, and was treading on air. 
 He heard the shouts about him, and unconsciously 
 he hurrahed at the top of his lungs. Then the 
 firing began, and what looked like inextricable con- 
 fusion, though it was not, was all around him. 
 
 He saw the flame from the muzzles of the guns 
 pointed over the breastworks ; he heard the answer- 
 ing shouts from within them, and the air appeared 
 to be full of smoke, flying objects, and whistling 
 bullets. A slight twinge shot along his cheek, but 
 in the fearful excitement he did not notice that it 
 meant a bullet had grazed his face. He fired at the 
 intrenchments, without selecting any special target, 
 and then, almost instinctively, and in obedience to 
 the instructions of Jed Stiffens, stood still and began 
 reloading his rifle, which, of course, was unprovided 
 with a bayonet like those around him. 
 
 He was surprised at his own coolness while doing 
 this, but there was no nervousness nor mistake, 
 though the operation was hurried. The moment, 
 however, the powder was poured into the pan, and 
 
220 Red Jacket. 
 
 the hammer drawn back ready for firing, he seemed 
 to lose his senses. Again he yelled, and broke into 
 a wild run directly up the slope in the face of the 
 flaming outburst from the intrenchments. But for 
 the halt he had made to reload his weapon, he 
 would have been the first in leaping over the de- 
 fences and among the men who were fighting hand 
 to hand. 
 
 Letting fly at the first redskin at whom he saw a 
 chance, Jack had no time to put another charge into 
 his gun, but, clubbing it, he began laying about him 
 with the lustiness of a young Hercules. Directly 
 behind, and unseen by him, a brawny Onondaga 
 bounded forward with upraised tomahawk, but, be- 
 fore he could bring it down, the veteran with whom 
 Jack had been talking a short time before pinned 
 the redskin to the earth with his bayonet. 
 
 ' ' Keep your eyes all about you ! ' ' shouted the 
 fellow in a voice that rose above the fearful din. 
 Jack turned his head and saw how his friend had 
 saved him. The man's face was crimsoned from a 
 wound in the forehead, but he fought on with the 
 same grim vigor and effectiveness as if wholly un- 
 harmed. With scarcely a pause. Jack was at it 
 again, hitting, like an Irishman, at a head wherever 
 it presented itself. 
 
 He struck something with his foot, and narrowly 
 saved himself from falling. Glancing down, he saw 
 
Hog's Back. 221 
 
 that it was a man limp and lifeless, his fighting 
 ended forever. Others lay here and there, but 
 most of them were Indians or Tories. 
 
 The fight for the possession of the intrenchments 
 was as brief as it was terrific. The artillery played 
 havoc among the defenders, and, as is always the 
 case, it greatly frightened them. They gave 
 ground, but, darting behind rocks, trees, and every- 
 thing that afforded shelter, kept up a vicious fire as 
 rapidly as they could reload and aim their guns. 
 
 But nothing could check the impetuosity of the 
 Americans, who pressed their enemy resistlessly. 
 The Indians and Tories would have broken and fled 
 but for Brant, who darted here and there, shouting 
 commands and encouragement to his men, and set- 
 ting the example of absolute recklessness in exposing 
 himself to death. That he escaped was incompre- 
 hensible, for more than one of the riflemen, all excel- 
 lent shots, aimed carefully at the leader, whom they 
 recognized as one of the most vicious miscreants of 
 the Six Nations, whom all were eager to make bite 
 the dust. 
 
 But the war-chief seemed to bear a charmed life, 
 and so inspiring were his appeals that many of his 
 followers feared him more than the assaulting 
 columns. One warrior suddenly observed a white 
 man dashing toward him, and turned in a panic to 
 run. Two steps brought him to the side of Brant, 
 
222 Red Jacket. 
 
 who drove his tomahawk deep into his brain, and 
 then, raising the dripping weapon, he hurled it with 
 frightful fierceness directly at the approaching 
 soldier, who, unprepared for the terrible missile, 
 received the blow in his chest and sank down, killed 
 as quickly as the dusky coward a few feet away. 
 
 Stooping over, Brant snatched the tomahawk 
 from the belt of the inanimate form at his feet, and 
 dashed among his warriors, who again gave signs of 
 yielding. Under his imperious commands they 
 stood their ground, and some of the Americans 
 wavered for a few minutes ; but their leaders were 
 fearless and skilful, and, placing themselves at the 
 head of the soldiers, they led another charge which 
 swept everything before them. 
 
 When Brant saw the bayonets bearing down upon 
 him and his warriors, he raised the desparing cry, 
 " Oonah! Oonnah!" and the same instant the 
 whole force broke and fled in tumultuous confusion. 
 
 The battle was won, and, despite the furious 
 fighting, the American loss was only six killed, 
 though fully fifty were wounded, some of them 
 dangerously. 
 
CHAPTER XXII. 
 THE FLAG OF TRUCE. 
 
 THE real horrors of battle are not seen in all 
 their fulness until the fighting has ceased, and 
 the oppressive lull follows. The burying of the 
 dead, the caring for the wounded, the repairing of 
 damages, so far as it is possible to repair them, the 
 awful quiet, as friends gather and talk of those who 
 have fallen, some of whom prepared their last mes- 
 sages before entering into the conflict, and intrusted 
 their precious words and a few simple mementos 
 to be sent to the loved and mourning ones, who will 
 look in vain through the years that follow for the 
 coming of those who left them in high spirits and 
 with their hearts throbbing with hope. These and 
 other melancholy experiences make men wonder 
 why they should strive so fiercely to slay one 
 another, and they sigh for the times that seem so 
 far away in the future, when nations and peoples 
 shall learn war no more. 
 
 As has been shown, the fighting at Hog's Back 
 was desperate, but, fortunately, the losses among 
 the Americans were much the same as when in these 
 
 223 
 
224 Red Jacket. 
 
 later days our troops have encountered those of 
 Spain. The dead were tenderly laid away to rest in 
 mother earth, the wounded received the best atten- 
 tion possible, and preparations were hurried for 
 forcing the advance on the morrow into the heart 
 of the Indian country, across whose border the in- 
 vading army had already passed. 
 
 Shortly after the defeat and flight of the Tories 
 and Indians, a flag of truce arrived on the lines from 
 Colonel Butler, with the request for permission to 
 look after their dead and wounded. It was granted, 
 as a matter of course, and while the lanterns of the 
 Americans flickered here and there, as their parties 
 engaged in their merciful work, the shadowy forms 
 of the enemies were seen flitting hither and thither 
 upon the same merciful errand. It was a strange 
 situation, with the deadly enemies so near each 
 other while no one raised his hand to offer violence ; 
 though, it must be confessed that something of the 
 kind was expected from the Tories and Iroquois; 
 and the fact that it did not take place was un- 
 doubtedly due more to fear than to any sense of 
 humanity, or the rights of the white flag. 
 
 It is the custom of the Indians to carry away 
 their dead for sepulture at their homes or far re- 
 moved from the scene of battle. One of their vil- 
 lages stood near Hog's Back, and extensive fields 
 of corn were growing so close at hand that some of 
 
The Flag of Truce. 225 
 
 the missiles fell between the stalks. The battle 
 itself diverted attention from everything else, but 
 there could be no doubt that General Sullivan would 
 remember them on the morrow. 
 
 By midnight not an enemy was in sight. All, 
 including the wounded, had been removed, and it 
 was not believed that any more serious trouble would 
 occur, since the defeat of the Tories and Iroquois 
 was decisive; but the turn of night had hardly 
 passed when a second flag of truce presented itself 
 at the lines, and permission was asked to see General 
 Sullivan. 
 
 The bearers of this message were Red Jacket and 
 a companion, who accompanied the sachem as his 
 interpreter. His dislike of Jed Stiffens was too 
 deep-seated to endure his presence ; and probably it 
 was as well that they did not meet, even in the 
 presence of the American commander. 
 
 The latter was in conference with his leading 
 officers in his tent when the message was brought 
 to him. It will be remembered that it was on the 
 second night succeeding the scout's remarkable 
 escape from Red Jacket and his party. 
 
 General Sullivan's first impulse was to refuse the 
 request, for he could not see what possible good 
 was to result from the interview. He recalled, 
 however, the instructions of Washington, to show 
 consideration to the great Seneca orator, and he 
 
226 Red Jacket, 
 
 therefore ordered that the visitor be brought into 
 his presence, without blindfolding, either, for there 
 was nothing they could learn that would give them 
 encouragement to continue their resistance to the 
 advance of the American army. 
 
 When, some fifteen minutes later, the two Senecas 
 were presented at the door of the tent, the officer 
 received them with that suave courtesy for which 
 he was noted, taking each of the visitors by the 
 hand, and bidding them be seated upon the chunks 
 of wood that served for chairs. 
 
 The scene was much the same as when Red 
 Jacket made his call a couple of nights before, 
 though the locality was different. It was the same 
 small tent, with a fire burning near the centre, and 
 filling the interior with warmth and light. The 
 afternoon had been cloudy, and toward night there 
 was a perceptible chill in the air, so that the blaze 
 was not as unwelcome as on the previous occasion. 
 
 Naturally, neither of the two Senecas carried any 
 weapons, while Red Jacket had a blanket flung 
 around his shoulders. His appearance undeniably 
 was handsome and impressive, for his fine figure was 
 erect and his step proud, while the midnight eyes had 
 an intensity and piercing power not often seen, even 
 among his own people, where such orbs are the rule. 
 
 The two were seated, in answer to the invitation 
 of the officer, the companion placing himself between 
 
The Flag of Truce. 227 
 
 the two, as was befitting in an interpreter. The officer 
 recognized his function, and, looking at him, said : 
 
 " What is the errand of Red Jacket in coming to 
 my tent at this late hour, and so soon after his war- 
 riors have fought our men ? " 
 
 As has been intimated elsewhere, the sachem's 
 knowledge of English was sufficient for him to 
 understand the question ; but, true to his character, 
 he would not admit the fact, and held his peace 
 until the words were translated to him by his com- 
 panion, whose knowledge of English surprised the 
 American officer. 
 
 ' ' My brother comes from the Father of the Thir- 
 teen Fires," said Red Jacket, alluding to Washing- 
 ton, as the commander of the armies of the warring 
 States ; " he is a great and good man. Why has he 
 sent his armies into the country of his red children, 
 to destroy their crops and burn their homes ? " 
 
 Sullivan's quick temper instantly showed itself. 
 
 " Because," he said, raising his voice, " the Iro- 
 quois have joined the enemies of our country ; they 
 do not fight like civilized persons ; they kill old men 
 and women and children ; they torture their prison- 
 ers, as they did at Wyoming, at Cherry Valley, at 
 Schoharie, and other places. The Father of the 
 Thirteen Fires is angry ; his patience has left him. 
 He has sent me to punish the Iroquois." 
 
 " Red Jacket was not at Wyoming, or Cherry 
 
228 Red Jacket. 
 
 Valley, or Schoharie, or any of the places his brother 
 has named." 
 
 " The most that I have been able to learn is that 
 he was n't at Wyoming. I am not so certain about 
 Cherry Valley and Schoharie. But my army has n't 
 marched all the way into the Indian country to 
 punish Red Jacket alone. If he were the only one 
 concerned, the Father of the Thirteen Fires would 
 send one of his children to punish Red Jacket." 
 
 Although these slurring words were translated to 
 the Seneca, he did not evince the slightest resent- 
 ment. He listened calmly, and was silent for a 
 moment before continuing: 
 
 " Red Jacket is the friend of the white man." 
 
 " Then he has an infernally poor way of showing 
 it ! Was he not in the battle to-day ? " 
 
 " He was fighting for his women and children and 
 his home." 
 
 " He does n't do us much harm so long as he 
 keeps to that ; but the Great Spirit has given him 
 the gift of oratory, and his speeches to his warriors 
 make them fight harder than they would if he held 
 his tongue mute." 
 
 Red Jacket had a streak of vanity in his composi- 
 tion, and the compliment implied in this charge 
 pleased him. He nodded his head and grunted, 
 and again paused before saying: 
 
 " When the Great Spirit commands him to speak, 
 
The Flag of Truce. 229 
 
 he must obey. The Great Spirit tells him to urge 
 his children to fight for their people and hunting 
 grounds." 
 
 "What does it tell him about tomahawking women 
 and children, and the torturing of prisoners ? " was 
 the sarcastic question of General Sullivan. 
 
 Red Jacket has never told his warriors to slay 
 women and children, or to make their prisoners 
 suffer; he has begged them not to do those things." 
 
 The American commander indulged in a sneering 
 smile, for he was not deceived by this assertion. 
 
 " If the sachem of the Senecas wishes me to listen 
 to his words, he must not speak with a double 
 tongue; he must not try to deceive me. I tell no 
 lies, and I will not listen to them from Red Jacket." 
 
 This remark may be described as personal in its 
 application, but none knew better how to pocket an 
 insult than the greatest orator produced by the Six 
 Nations. With the same dignified composure as 
 before, he asked : 
 
 " How shall Red Jacket show his brother that he 
 is a friend to the white men ? " 
 
 ' ' By using his eloquence in favor of peace instead 
 of war." 
 
 ' ' Red Jacket will do' as his brother wishes if his 
 brother will turn back his armies, and leave his 
 people at peace. 
 
 This remark enlightened the American commander 
 
230 Red Jacket. 
 
 as to the purpose of his visitor. Seeing the im- 
 possibility of checking the advance of the invaders. 
 Red Jacket resorted to trickery, and sought, by 
 making fair promises, to roll back the tide of ruin 
 that wa^ sweeping over his country. 
 
 Instantly Sullivan yielded to the curiosity to 
 know whether the sachem came in his individual 
 capacity, or whether he was sent into camp _by 
 Butler, Brant, Johnson, and Cornplanter. It was 
 idle to ask the sachem the question, for his answer 
 could not be relied on. He therefore addressed the 
 interpreter directly. 
 
 " Does Red Jacket come from the other chiefs 
 and leaders, or does he come for himself alone ? I 
 askjow. Answer me! " 
 
 The man was caught off his guard, and replied : 
 
 " He comes for none of them. He speaks only 
 for Red Jacket." 
 
 The sachem turned angrily upon the interpreter, 
 and demanded what had been said to him by their 
 brother, though Red Jacket must have caught its 
 meaning. The Indian spoke truthfully, for he 
 dared not do otherwise. Fortunately, the answer 
 was the one that the sachem wished the ofificer to 
 believe, for he hoped it would strengthen his con- 
 fidence in his visitor. Red Jacket felt no concern 
 for his fellow leaders. If he could save his own 
 skin and his family, he would be satisfied. 
 
The Flag of Truce. 23 1 
 
 But his project disgusted General Sullivan. He 
 would not have hesitated to use him, if practicable, 
 against his people ; but no reliance could be placed 
 on any of his promises. 
 
 He directed the interpreter to say all this to Red 
 Jacket, and to tell him he must leave at once, for 
 they were enemies, and nothing he could say or do 
 would stay the hand that was raised to smite. 
 
CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 JED STIFFENS'S "IDEE." 
 
 IT has been said that one of the Iroquois villages 
 stood near the scene of the fight at Hog's Back. 
 It numbered about fifty cabins, all made of logs, 
 the whole inferior to the Indian settlements to the 
 northward, though some of the dwellings were the 
 equal of those found among the white settlers. 
 Each house was surrounded by a patch of cultivated 
 ground, where were grown vegetables, flowers, and 
 in some instances fruit trees. In addition, there 
 were more than a hundred acres of fine growing 
 corn, for the soil was fertile, and most of the mem- 
 bers of the Six Nations were good farmers. 
 
 The inhabitants of this town fled upon the ap- 
 proach of the invading army, though many lingered 
 within sound of the guns, and, as the fateful after- 
 noon drew to a close, watched the battle from afar, 
 praying for the defeat of the white men. Among 
 one of the groups was Fa-te-na-non, the famous 
 medicine man, who indulged in his grotesque incan- 
 tations and heathen ceremonies, shouting all the 
 time that the Indians were sure to win the battle, 
 
 232 
 
Jed Stiff ens's " Idee." 233 
 
 and that not one of the white dogs should be left to 
 carry the dismal tidings back to the Council of the 
 Thirteen Fires. 
 
 At the end of two hours, when the Tories and 
 Iroquois were fleeing in every direction before the 
 resistless charges of the Americans, Fa-te-na-non 
 was compelled to revise his prophecy and consent 
 to a postponement of its fulfilment. 
 
 When the summer daybreak lit up the sad scene. 
 General Sullivan's troops gave their attention to 
 the property of their enemies. The wooden struc- 
 tures offered the most combustible kind of fuel, and 
 the torch was applied in a score of places at the 
 same moment. Almost immediately the village 
 was one roaring conflagration, which continued 
 until every house was in ashes. The owners had 
 taken away but a small quantity of their simple 
 furniture, there being a general hope that their 
 homes would be spared, or that the invaders would 
 be defeated. As a consequence, the destruction 
 could not have been more complete. 
 
 The fruit trees and cornfields were not forgotten. 
 The former, many of them laden with apples,,pears, 
 peaches, and plums, were ruthlessly chopped down ; 
 the animals that remained were shot, while soldiers 
 on foot and horseback tramped back and forth among 
 the stalks, uprooting, trampling, and cutting them 
 to the earth, until the field was level and every ear 
 
234 Red Jacket. 
 
 ruined. As Jed Stiffens remarked, there was not 
 enough left to sustain a Seneca warrior for three 
 days during the coming winter. 
 
 " It looks rough," was the comment of General 
 Sullivan to General Poor; " but it is n't a circum- 
 stance to what is coming." 
 
 The belief prevailed among the general officers 
 that no more serious fighting awaited them, because 
 of the crushing defeat that had been administered 
 to the largest force their enemies could bring to- 
 gether. There had been some apprehension that 
 the British would send a body of troops from Fort 
 Niagara, with artillery, in which event the result 
 of the battle might have been more doubtful, since 
 the enemy would have had the choice of position, 
 and been able to put up a stubborn defence; but 
 although, as has been shown, there were a few Brit- 
 ish soldiers among the Tories, their number was 
 insignificant, and they could hardly be considered a 
 factor in the decision of the battle. It was now too 
 late for them to offer effective resistance; while the 
 garrison at Fort Niagara was in danger of being 
 attacked upon the conclusion of Sullivan's campaign 
 against the Indians. 
 
 As for the attempt at ambuscade, there were 
 various opinions about the probability of that, and 
 the puzzle of it was that Jed Stiffens, the highest 
 authority on the question, was undecided in his 
 
Jed Stiffens's " Idee." 235 
 
 own mind. The place selected by Red Jacket and 
 Colonel Rossiter was favorable in every respect, and 
 but for the crushing defeat of the Iroquois he would 
 have looked upon the attempted ambuscade as 
 inevitable. 
 
 Now, for a small force of Iroquois to entrap an 
 army of nearly five thousand men may be set down 
 as one of the impossibilities, unless there is as much 
 criminal negligence shown as was the case with 
 Braddock, and it has been demonstrated that Gen- 
 eral Sullivan neglected no precaution against sur- 
 prise. 
 
 On the other hand, the severe chastisement 
 received by Cornplanter, the Butlers, and their 
 hordes, had roused them to the highest pitch of 
 fury, and they had already proven with what des- 
 peration they could fight under competent leaders. 
 It would seem reasonable, therefore, that, like the 
 wounded rattlesnake, they would strike before ex- 
 piring. They would hover on the wings of the 
 army, picking off such soldiers as they could with- 
 out too much risk to themselves, and it might be 
 they would try to ambuscade, to a partial extent, 
 the army itself, counting upon inflicting severe 
 losses before being routed, as was certain to be the 
 final issue. 
 
 " I don't see that anything is to be gained by 
 speculating over the matter," remarked General 
 
236 Red Jacket. 
 
 Sullivan at the noon halt, when, in the company 
 of his leading officers, he was discussing the matter 
 with his favorite scout. " All that we have to do 
 is to be ready for any move on their part. As 
 before, Jed, we depend greatly upon you." 
 
 " Not forgittin' Jack Ripley," grinned the vet- 
 eran. " I must take him with me on this trip." 
 
 The youth was absent with his company, where 
 he had been regularly enrolled. 
 
 He has been extremely fortunate thus far, and 
 I learn that he fought like a veteran yesterday in 
 the charge against the intrenchments. ' ' 
 " Of course." 
 
 "And why ' of course' ?" asked the amused 
 commander. 
 
 " 'Cause he could n't do anything else." 
 " And why could n't he do anything else ? " 
 " 'Cause he 's the son of Colonel 'Raish Ripley." 
 " I admit that there 's no disputing that argu- 
 ment. Since there is n't likely to be much need of 
 his services in the ranks for some time to come, he 
 may be considered to be in your charge, Jed; 
 though I must say that, since we are now fairly 
 within the Iroquois country, his position will be 
 more dangerous to him than if he remains in the 
 ranks with the rest of the men. ' ' 
 
 "What difference does that make to him?" 
 asked the scout, with fine scorn. 
 
Jed Stiffens's " Idee." 237 
 
 ' ' None, unless it may be an additional attraction. 
 'How soon may we expect to reach the place where 
 it was intended by the Iroquois to try their ainbus- 
 cade ?" 
 
 " To-morrer afternoon, not much after this time. 
 Gin'ral, I 've had an idee ever since last night." 
 
 ' ' I supposed you were possessed of several ideas, 
 Jed." 
 
 " But this one is worth all the others. Would 
 you like to know what it is ? " 
 
 ' ' I am always interested in anything that interests 
 you. ' ' 
 
 The manner of the scout was so peculiar that 
 the commander and all the officers who saw it 
 smile^. First, he stepped forward until he stood 
 close in front of the seated General. Then he glanced 
 right and left, as if afraid of being overheard, 
 though he meant all the group to hear him. He 
 closed an eye, cocked his head slightly to one 
 side, grinned broadly, and then asked in a husky 
 undertone : 
 
 ' ' Did Colonel Rossiter git away last night ? ' ' 
 
 " Certainly not, so far as I have heard," replied 
 the startled commander, looking inquiringly round 
 in the faces of his officers; " am I mistaken, gentle- 
 men ? " 
 
 He was assured that the British officer was still in 
 custody. 
 
238 Red Jacket. 
 
 " I should have been surprised to hear otherwise, 
 for my orders regarding him were very strict. 
 
 Jed Stiffens's voice sank lower, and he thrust his 
 face slightly further forward, with a more expansive 
 grin than before. 
 
 " Can't you afford to let the chap git away ? " 
 
 " I do not understand what you mean by that 
 question." 
 
 " It 's my 'pinion that it would be the best thing 
 to do." 
 
 " Why, Jed," said Sullivan, gravely; " that is a 
 strange remark, when we know that if he should be 
 paroled now, the first thing he would do on rejoin- 
 ing his friends would be to tell them we knew all 
 about their intended ambuscade." 
 
 " Wal, s'pose he did. What of it ? " 
 
 " Why — why, they would n't make the attempt 
 to ambuscade us at that point." 
 
 " Are you anxious, Gin'ral, they should ? " 
 
 " I am not anxious they should try it at all; but 
 when they do, I want it to be where we shall know 
 about it, instead of at a strange place. ' ' 
 
 S'pose there ain't any strange place ? " 
 
 The commander looked at the scout more puzzled 
 than ever, though a light began to dawn upon him. 
 
 " There is no end to them." 
 
 " In course, in course; but there ain't any that 
 will suit the varmints like the one we 've been talkin' 
 
Jed Stiffens's " Idee." 239 
 
 'bout, and when they find we 've lamed all we need 
 to know, they '11 be up aginst trouble." 
 
 The " idee " of Jed Stiffens was now plain to all. 
 As he viewed the situation, it was best that Corn- 
 planter. Red Jacket, Brant, and the Butlers should 
 learn that Sullivan knew about the ambuscade, 
 which was such a pet project with them ; and the 
 only way they could ascertain the fact was through 
 Colonel Rossiter. 
 
 Several of the officers were impressed by the 
 cleverness of the scheme and expressed themselves 
 in favor of it, but General Sullivan, as the head of 
 the army, was more deliberate. 
 
 " It would be easy enough for me to arrange 
 that," he remarked to Jed, " without having him 
 run the risk he would have to take in escaping from 
 our lines. I should have to parole him — that 's all. 
 While he would be bound to take no part in the 
 fighting until exchanged, he would be at hberty to 
 talk as much as he chose, and it would be strange if 
 he did not do so." 
 
 " S'pose he made a run for it ? " 
 
 " He has the right to make the attempt, and, if 
 he succeeded, he would be an escaped prisoner, at 
 liberty to act as if he had never been captured." 
 
 " Don't you see, Gin'ral," said Jed, screwing his 
 wrinkled countenance into a more ludicrous contor- 
 tion than before, " that the Colonel knows you 've 
 
240 Red Jacket. 
 
 held him pris'ner 'cause you did n't want him to tell 
 the varmints 'bout the ambush ? Now, if after 
 you 've told him you did n't mean to let him go, 
 you all at once turn him loose, what will he think ? ' ' 
 
 " I don't suppose he will think anything in par- 
 ticular ? " 
 
 " Yes, he will, Gin'ral, by a big majority; he '11 
 know you let him go 'cause you wanted him to carry 
 the news to his friends. He can't help thinkin' 
 that." 
 
 There was a general smile among the officers, and 
 the quick-tempered commander's face flushed. He 
 did not relish being tripped in this fashion ; but his 
 resentment quickly vanished. He was too fond of 
 Jed Stiffens, and too great an admirer of his wood- 
 craft, to begrudge him the credit that belonged to 
 him. 
 
 " And you also see, Gin'ral," added the scout, 
 driving the nail home, " that if he is give a chance 
 to make a sneak of it, he won't 'spect nothin'. Do 
 you catch my idee, Gin'ral ? " 
 
 " I do, Jed, and think so well of it that it shall be 
 adopted." 
 
 " I 'm obleeged," remarked the scout, who, with 
 the privilege that no other person present dared to 
 take, added, " Gin'ral, you 're 'most cute 'nough 
 to larn the purfession of a scout." 
 
 Saluting the officer, Jed withdrew, and, accom- 
 
Jed Stiff ens's " Idee." 241 
 
 panied by Jack Ripley, set out to resume his scout- 
 ing on the outskirts of the army. The afternoon 
 was only fairly begun, and, though he did not 
 expect to pick up any specially important informa- 
 tion, his experience taught him that more than once 
 it was on just such occasions he had gained more 
 knowledge than he was seeking. 
 
 That night the invading army reached and partly 
 encamped in a swamp six or eight miles in ex- 
 tent. A marked change was made in the line of 
 march, for instead of following the river, which was 
 becoming too shallow to be of much use, the troops 
 turned off and struck directly into the wilderness. 
 The purpose in doing this was to flank some of the 
 positions where there was likely to be trouble, while 
 at the same time the route to Catharine's Town 
 would be shortened. 
 
 This was the residence of Queen Esther, who 
 has been referred to in a preceding chapter. None 
 knew the merciless woman better than General Sul- 
 livan. While gathering his troops at Wyoming, he 
 had talked with Lebbeus Hammond and Joseph 
 Elliott, and learned the particulars of their remark- 
 able escape from the furious Hecate, and of her 
 other frightful deeds. 
 
 " Thither we go," said Sullivan, with a compres- 
 sion of his lips. " Our expedition would be incom- 
 plete if she were not made to feel our anger." 
 16 
 
CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 WHAT JED AND JACK DISCOVERED. 
 
 SEVERAL causes operated to lead General Sulli- 
 van to make the change of route into the heart 
 of the Indian country. 
 
 One has been indicated : his wish to pay a deso- 
 lating visit to Catharine's Town at the earliest pos- 
 sible hour. Knowing well the frightful outrages 
 committed by her during the Wyoming massacre of 
 the preceding summer, he vowed that his expedition 
 should never return until it made a call upon her. 
 He could have pushed straight ahead, and taken in 
 her branch of the tribe on his return, by deviating 
 somewhat from the route first laid out ; but he was 
 unwilling to wait. The line he was following was 
 the most direct course to the home of Queen 
 Esther. 
 
 The more he reflected upon the plan of releasing 
 Colonel Rossiter, or, what amounted to the same 
 thing, allowing him to escape, the more doubtful 
 the commander became of the consequences of the 
 step. He was an intelligent officer, and, after having 
 been kept in such close custody, the opportunity of 
 
 242 
 
What Jed and Jack Discovered. 243 
 
 escape, when it came to him, might rouse suspicion 
 on his part of the truth ; but, even if it did not, he 
 would naturally believe that the Americans, know- 
 ing where the ambuscade was to be laid, and aware, 
 too, that he knew they knew it, would expect him 
 to warn his friends. 
 
 However, as the commander viewed it, no harm 
 could come in permitting him to slip away that 
 night, even if no good followed. Accordingly, as 
 it was easy to arrange the matter with his guard, 
 the chance was given the prisoner; but Colonel 
 Rossiter spoiled everything by not taking advant- 
 age of it. He persistently closed his eyes to the 
 open door, and slept peacefully through the night, 
 ascertaining which. General Sullivan paroled him, 
 and the two parted with mutual expressions of 
 good-will. 
 
 Inasmuch as the change in the line of march had 
 been made before this, the ideas of Colonel Rossiter, 
 to say the least, were likely to be confused, and no 
 further attention was given to him by those among 
 whom he had lately been a prisoner. 
 
 The valley of the Susquehanna offered a natural 
 pathway for the invading army, but the upper 
 waters of that beautiful river are so shallow, the 
 width so narrow, and the current so swift, that the 
 heavily laden boats were comparatively useless. 
 The artillery and supplies, therefore, were taken 
 
244 Red Jacket. 
 
 from them, and, as has been stated, a course fol- 
 lowed which led directly into the wilderness. 
 
 But so large and cumbersome a body as nearly 
 five thousand men and their impedimenta could not 
 escape the eagle eyes of the Iroquois scouts that 
 were watching them from a hundred vantage points, 
 and the danger of an attempted ambuscade still 
 confronted the invading army. Because of this, 
 the scouts were kept busy, and the flanking parties 
 and the strong guards at the front and rear were 
 maintained. 
 
 Naturally, therefore, it came about that on the 
 forenoon of the day after the change in the line of 
 march, Jed Stiffens and Jack Ripley, scouting far in 
 advance and in company, reached a point where the 
 veteran decided it necessary to make an observation 
 of the country spread out before them, and through 
 which it was intended the army should push into the 
 heart of the Indian country. 
 
 He selected a slightly elevated piece of ground, 
 picked out his tree with great care, it being a tower- 
 ing oak, to which species he was partial, and the 
 two climbed it in company. The assurance of the 
 veteran that none of their enemies was in the imme- 
 diate vicinity, and his assistance to Jack in managing 
 his gun, one of the most awkward of impediments 
 under the circumstances, made the climbing of the 
 forest monarch an easy task. 
 
What Jed and Jack J3iscovered. 245 
 
 Carefully they picked their way among the limbs 
 to the top. When half-way there, they were invis- 
 ible to the keenest eyes from below, so that, being 
 assured that they had not been discovered, they 
 were equally certain of remaining unseen so long as 
 they stayed in the tree. 
 
 Jed took upon himself to make the first survey. 
 Without using his glass, he parted the leaves in front 
 of his face and spent several minutes in peering out 
 over the several miles of landscape. While thus en- 
 gaged he did not speak, nor was Jack Ripley, while 
 closely studying the seamed countenance, iable to tell 
 what was passing in his mind, or whether he had 
 made any discovery worth all the time and trouble. 
 
 " Now, you take a look, younker," he quietly re- 
 marked. " You can do it as well from the limb you 
 are a-settin' on as from mine." 
 
 Jack was only a foot or two below his companion, 
 and slightly farther out on the branch. Imitating 
 the action of Jed, he parted the interposing leaves 
 with one hand, and, steadying himself with the^ 
 other, " surveyed the landscape o'er.". 
 
 He saw in front of him a stretch of wilderness, 
 mostly undulating, but with no special elevation 
 within a couple of miles. At that distance, how- 
 ever, two ridges, running parallel and extending 
 north and south, approached to within a furlong; 
 but a short distance beyond they diverged again, 
 
246 Red Jacket. 
 
 the ridges sloping away until they were merged into 
 the comparatively level forest which enveloped the 
 visible country to the horizon in the far north. 
 
 A slight rustling caused him to withdraw his gaze 
 for a moment and to look up at his friend. He saw 
 that the latter had taken his glass from his pocket 
 and was intently studying the scene. 
 
 " If the varmints was goin' to try one of their 
 ambuscades," quietly remarked the scout, " where 
 do you think it would be ? " 
 
 " In that narrow valley, about two miles ahead, 
 where the ridges come quite close to each other. ' ' 
 
 " Umph! you do, eh ? What makes you think 
 so?" 
 
 " Because the topography of the country is so 
 favorable. ' ' 
 
 " Topoggerphy ! " muttered Jed, with a grunt, 
 " what does that mean ? " 
 
 " I suppose you would call it the ' lay of the land,' 
 replied Jack with a quiet smile. " Do you under- 
 stand that ? " 
 
 " In course I do, for it 's English. When 
 you *re talkin' to me, use English, or some of the 
 Injin lingoes which I can git the hang of." 
 
 ' ' What I meant was that, supposing General Sulli- 
 van intends to take the route in front of us " 
 
 " Which the same he does." 
 
 "He would have to pass between those two 
 
JED AND JACK MAKING OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 Page 246. 
 
What Jed and Jack Discovered. 247 
 
 ridges, where the Indians could hide themselves 
 
 among the trees and behind the rocks " 
 
 How do you know there are any rocks over 
 there ?" 
 
 " I don't; I am only guessing." 
 
 " Wal, you guessed right; there 's plenty of 'em. 
 Go ahead." 
 
 " I meant only to say that nature seems to have 
 fitted the place for just such a trap as the army 
 would march into." 
 
 " Humph! You think that, do you ? " 
 
 " Yes; don't you ?" 
 
 Instead of replying, Jed handed the spyglass down 
 to the youth. 
 
 " You 've got purty good eyes, but not so good 
 that this thing won't help you. Now use it the 
 best you know how, and tell me what you see. ' ' 
 
 Jack Ripley was certain that his friend would not 
 have acted thus had he not himself made some im- 
 portant discovery, and he was determined to even 
 up matters by finding out for himself what that dis- 
 covery was. 
 
 He therefore studied every point in the landscape, 
 but especially the narrow valley that has already 
 been described. Shifting the glass as was neces- 
 sary, his keen eyes roved from spot to spot, from 
 tree to tree and to the crest of each inclosing ridge. 
 He was sure that nothing escaped his scrutiny, and 
 
248 Red Jacket, 
 
 then he went all over his work again, repeating it 
 twice, but with no more result than in the first 
 instance, and he was compelled so to report. 
 
 " I can see nothing of any person, nor signs of 
 their presence. I suppose they will not gather until 
 they know our army " 
 
 " Never mind 'bout s'posin' nothin'. What do 
 you know ? ' ' 
 
 " Nothing." 
 
 Something resembling a chuckle sounded over his 
 head. 
 
 " You have larned nothin', eh ? " 
 
 " Not a thing more than I have told you." 
 
 " And you don't think any of the varmints are 
 there ? " 
 
 I won't say that — only that I see nothing of 
 any." 
 
 Again the chuckling was heard. Jed turned his 
 wrinkled and grinning countenance so as to look 
 down on the lad directly beneath him, and, in the 
 guarded tone which he always used when on a scout, 
 he said : 
 
 " All the same, younker, there are a hundred 
 Iroquois in that valley, and more of 'em are comin' 
 every minute! " 
 
 It was astounding news to Jack Ripley, but he 
 could not doubt the declaration. He asked in a 
 wondering, half-whisper: 
 
What Jed and Jack Discovered. 249 
 
 " Why, Jed, how did you find it out ? " 
 
 " By usin' my eyes, which the same some folks 
 don't know how to use." 
 
 The soft chuckling was heard again, and the 
 scout said : 
 
 " You 've got purty good eyes, as I remarked 
 afore, younker; but there 's some things they can't 
 see as well as Jed Stiffens, which the same is old 
 'nough to be your father." 
 
 The veteran seemed to forget the momentous 
 meaning of his discovery in the triumph over the 
 youth, who promptly replied : 
 
 " There are a good many things, Jed, in which 
 your eyes are better than mine. You must remem- 
 ber that you have had a much longer training than 
 I." 
 
 " Howsumever, you 're doin' purty well for a be- 
 ginner. You 've got the glass yet. Jest p'irit it 
 toward that spot on the right of the ridge, where 
 the tops of three trees show close together. One 
 of 'em is an oak, one an ash, and the other a 
 maple. The oak is in the middle, and is 'bout four 
 feet higher than the ash, which is a foot and a half 
 taller than the maple. ' ' 
 
 Wondering how the woodman could identify the 
 trees at that distance, even with the aid of the glass. 
 Jack levelled the instrument at the group described 
 so accurately that he recognized them at once. 
 
250 Red Jacket. 
 
 For a minute or two he suspected his friend was 
 trifling with him, but, by and by, he fancied he de- 
 tected a slight movement among the upper limbs, 
 such as would have been made by a gentle breeze, 
 but he could not distinguish anything more, and 
 said so. 
 
 " Which the same bein' the case," commented 
 Jed, " there ain't no use in askin' you to shoot off 
 your ^eyes at var'ous other spots in the country 
 ahead. ' ' 
 
 " I saw a slight movement among the limbs of 
 one of the three trees, though I can't tell which one 
 it was. " What was the cause of it ? " 
 
 " In them three tree tops there is ten or twelve 
 Injins watchin' for the comin' of Gin'ral Sullivan. 
 They ain't burnin' any signal fires, like they gener- 
 ally do, for there ain't no use for 'em. But they 're 
 gatherin' fast by means of calls that they 're a little 
 too far off for us to hear." 
 
 " Then they intend to try to ambuscade us there?" 
 
 " As sure as the sun is shinin' in the sky above 
 us." 
 
 " Then, if I may be permitted to suggest, the 
 best thing we can do is to hurry to General Sulli- 
 van, and let him know all this." 
 
 " That 's what my promptin's lead me to do. 
 But there ain't no cause for hurry 'bout the same. 
 Climb down, pardner, and I '11 f oiler." 
 
What Jed and Jack Discovered. 251 
 
 Jack Ripley obeyed with the same care he had 
 used in ascending the tree, and when the two 
 dropped lightly to the ground, the veteran assured 
 him they were in no immediate danger. While it 
 was possible that some of the Iroquois scouts were 
 prowling through the woods at no great distance, 
 yet their attention was concentrated upon the spot 
 where they had intended to try to ambuscade the 
 American army, which was approaching, and already 
 within a comparatively short distance. 
 
 An hour later, Jed Stiffens and Jack Ripley 
 reached the main body and reported the important 
 discovery they had made. Instantly the flanking 
 forces and guards were signalled to halt, and a 
 council of war was called, at which Jed was present 
 and explained in detail the grave situation. While 
 he was thus engaged, other scouts came in with 
 additional particulars, all confirming what the 
 veteran had told. 
 
 Cornplanter, Brant, Red Jacket, and both the 
 Butlers were using every energy to concentrate all 
 the available Tories and Iroquois on the sides of the 
 narrow valley through which the course of the march 
 must lead the American army, unless they discovered 
 their peril in time to flank the position. It was to 
 be the last desperate stand of the enemy, who real- 
 ized that they had more at stake than ever before in 
 their history. They would fight like tigers, and. 
 
252 Red Jacket. 
 
 protected by the rocks and dense wood and under- 
 growth, would be able to inflict great loss of life 
 and damage upon the invaders. 
 
 One obvious course was open for General Sullivan : 
 that was to flank the position of the enemy. He 
 proceeded to do this with such skill that the baffled 
 horde fled in dismay. They had made their last 
 despairing effort, and offered no further opposition 
 to the resistless advance of the wrathful avengers 
 who were now fairly upon them. 
 
CHAPTER XXV. 
 "FAIR AS THE GARDEN OF THE LORD." 
 
 ENOUGH has been stated to make it clear that 
 General Sullivan was sternly resolved to carry 
 out the instructions of Washingtbn, to make his 
 blow against the Six Nations as severe as it was 
 possible for human energy to make it. " At 
 Wyoming, the mercy was the tomahawk; here it 
 shall be the firebrand, ' ' was the motto of the invad- 
 ers, many of whose families had suffered from the 
 ferocity of the Iroquois and Tories. 
 
 The incidents which follow may strike the reader 
 as cruel, and they were cruel to the last degree. 
 But what is war but the summary of all cruelty ? 
 Washington was a merciful man, but, as was shown 
 at the opening of our story, he could not close his 
 eyes to the woful fact that the only way to save the 
 exposed settlements from outrage and massacre was 
 by carrying the war into the very core of. the hostile 
 country, and smiting the savages so remorselessly 
 that they would never dare to repeat the crimes 
 hitherto committed with impunity. 
 
 Wyoming had been compelled to drink deep of 
 253 
 
254 Red Jacket. 
 
 the bitter cup because most of her able-bodied men 
 were hundreds of miles distant, fighting the battles 
 of their country. They had the right to demand, and 
 they did demand, that their families should be pro- 
 tected, and, if this were not done, they declared they 
 would leave the array and go to their homes to save 
 their loved ones from death at the hands of those 
 who knew not the meaning of the word mercy. 
 
 Marching northward, the army of Sullivan reached 
 the Indian village of Conewawah, a name which in 
 the Iroquois means a-head-on-a-pole. It stood on 
 the site of the town afterward known as Newtown, 
 where is now the city of Elmira, one of the most 
 flourishing in the State of New York. 
 
 People who to-day pass through the Indian Terri- 
 tory, where are the homes of the Five Civilized 
 Tribes, are amazed at the evidences of civilization 
 on every hand. The Indians have schools, acad- 
 emies, colleges, churches, newspapers, and a system 
 of government modelled after our own, with the 
 house of representatives, the senate, and the gover- 
 nor and public officers elected the same as our own 
 are elected. In many of the houses are carpets, 
 sewing-machines, and pianos, with signs of thrift 
 and enterprise continually in evidence. In short, 
 the Indians referred to are thoroughly civilized. 
 
 Strange as'it may sound, the Osage tribe are the 
 wealthiest people in the world, for every baby born 
 
"Fair as the Garden of the Lord." 255 
 
 among them is entitled to $15,000, the proceeds of 
 the sales of their lands to the United States, which 
 give to each person, male and female, that hand- 
 some sum, while many of the men have greatly in- 
 creased their portions by judicious investment and 
 management. 
 
 These things may not sound so strange at the 
 present day, but who would have thought of any- 
 thing of the kind during the Revolution ? While it 
 cannot be claimed that the Iroquois had attained 
 the high civilization shown in the Indian Nation at 
 the present time, yet they had reached a degree of 
 advancement and prosperity not generally known 
 or suspected. 
 
 The Senecas and Cayugas had regularly laid-out 
 villages, with frame houses, tastefully painted, and 
 provided with broad stone chimneys, built mainly 
 on the outside, in accordance with the fashion of 
 the times. In the surrounding grounds grew frag- 
 rant flowers, and their fields were extensive and 
 fruitful, with thousands of apple, pear, and peach 
 trees. They had horses, cows, and fowls, and from 
 the abundant crops they garnered enough to sup- 
 port them in comfort through the long, cold winters, 
 no matter how scarce game might be, or how indis- 
 posed they felt to hunt for it. 
 
 Had the Six Nations been as wise during the 
 l^evolution as they were on many other occasions, 
 
256 Red Jacket. 
 
 and, choosing not to fight on the side of the Ameri- 
 cans, but to remain neutral, as they could easily 
 have done, they would have been left undisturbed, 
 and might have enjoyed all their plenty and com- 
 fort in peace. But they decided to aid Great Britain, 
 and to prosecute the war in the horrible manner de- 
 scribed, with the result that retribution was visited 
 upon them when they were looking for nothing 
 of the kind and considered their situation secure 
 against any force of Americans that could be 
 brought against it. Their awakening was sudden 
 and startling. 
 
 It was into this region, " fair as the garden of the 
 Lord," that the American army swept. The Iro- 
 quois had removed their women and children be- 
 yond reach ; a step that was unnecessary, since the 
 invaders were not making war upon helpless ones, 
 though some of the very women who fled had been 
 among the most savage assailants of the helpless 
 Americans. Sullivan's orders were strict, and his 
 officers gave the soldiers to understand that any 
 violation of the instructions would be followed by 
 swift punishment. 
 
 As the advance-guard drew near Conewawah, 
 glimpses were caught of many warriors dodging 
 behind and between the houses, and skulking 
 among the trees, but with no intention of holding 
 their ground against the invaders. A remarkable 
 
" Fair as the Garden of the Lord." 257 
 
 incident was, that the first shot fired by one of these 
 prowlers killed an' officer riding on horseback, he 
 being struck down so instantly that he did not 
 speak a word. The shot was fired from so great a 
 distance that its effect was wholly accidental. 
 
 The advance broke into shouts, and then dashed 
 into the village on the double-quick. The Iroquois 
 darted here and there, and fired fully fifty more 
 shots before they took to their heels, but none in- 
 flicted injury, nor, so far as could be noted, was any 
 of the Indians killed. One of them, however, was 
 wounded, for he was seen to be supported by two 
 others who hurried him beyond range, which was 
 the last sight of the defenders of Conewawah. 
 
 The way being open, the troops lost no time. 
 The frame houses offered the best kind of fuel for 
 the torch, and not one was spared. The heavy 
 smoke rolled upward into the summer sky, and at 
 one time the heat became so blistering that a num- 
 ber engaged in slashing the fruit trees had to desist 
 until the flames partly subsided. 
 
 Had the Butlers possessed a company of trained 
 cavalry, they could have visited sharp punishment 
 upon the Americans, who, feeling no misgiving, 
 scattered everywhere and eagerly engaged in the 
 work of destruction. They jested about the blazing 
 buildings, played jokes upon one another as they 
 levelled fruit trees and the growing corn, and chased 
 
 17 
 
258 Red Jacket. 
 
 their comrades back and forth like so many school- 
 boys. A dash of cavalry among them would have 
 laid many low, but, had there been any danger of 
 that nature. General Sullivan would not have per- 
 mitted the risk. As it was, a goodly portion of the 
 army was kept under arms and on the qui vive for 
 any demonstration from the Tories and Iroquois, 
 numbers of whom hovered in the distance, firing as 
 opportunity presented, but generally at such long 
 range that no harm was done. 
 
 The work of destruction was pressed vigorously 
 so long as anything remained unfinished. Finally, 
 the order of march was taken up again. 
 
 Although Jed Stiffens had assisted in the destruc- 
 tion of the Indian village. Jack Ripley played the 
 part of a looker-on. When rallied for his squeam- 
 ishness, he said, with a shake of his head : 
 
 " No doubt this is all right, Jed, but it does n't 
 look to me like war." 
 
 " I admit, it 's a little different from chargin' in- 
 trenchments and batterin' down the skulps of the 
 varmints with the butt of your gun ; but, so long as 
 they won't stand their ground, what are you goin' 
 to do 'bout it ?" 
 
 " I 'm not criticising this business. It is enough 
 to know that it is carrying out the orders of General 
 Washington. He would n't have commanded it if 
 it had n't been necessary." 
 
" Fair as the Garden of the Lord." 259 
 
 " Then, younker, why don't you turn in and 
 help ?" 
 
 " I don't seem to be, needed, Jed. The men are 
 getting on very well. ' ' 
 
 " There 's no denyin' that — thunder! " 
 
 Some one from behind the corner of one of the 
 burning buildings launched an ear of green corn at 
 that moment with such surprising accuracy that it 
 landed squarely against the half-opened mouth of 
 the scout, imparting at the same time a crispness 
 to the exclamation that escaped him. He turned to 
 identify the aggressor, and, catching a glimpse of 
 his grinning countenance, was off like a shot, while 
 Jack Ripley broke into irrestrainable laughter. 
 Some fifteen minutes later, when he descried Jed 
 returning, he asked: 
 
 " Did you catch him ?" 
 
 "No; but I lambasted another chap, and that 
 made it even." 
 
 " And what did ^^ do ?" 
 
 " Lambasted somebody else." 
 
 " I should think " 
 
 Jack checked himself, for at that moment the first 
 offender disclosed himself in the same position as be- 
 fore, grinning harder than ever, grasping another ear 
 of corn, and evidently making ready to launch it at 
 Jed, whose back was toward him. Catching the eye of 
 the youth, he signalled to him not to reveal the 
 
26o Red Jacket. 
 
 situation. Jack was quite willing to help in the by- 
 play,and,checking himself for a moment,he resumed : 
 
 " I should think such a way of settling accounts 
 would not be very satisfactory to all concerned. 
 
 The quick-witted scout was accustomed to read- 
 ing a person's thoughts from his expression, and 
 manner. He noticed the hesitancy of the lad and 
 caught the peculiar flitting of his eyes. He knew 
 that he had detected something unusual behind the 
 scout. The latter turned like a flash, and saw his 
 man in the act of throwing the missile. 
 
 With an Indian war-whoop, Jed bounded toward 
 him. The sudden charge interfered with the aim of 
 the aggressor, and the ear of corn flew wild. Whirl- 
 ing about, the fellow was off like a shot, with Jed 
 hot-foot after him. The soldier was unusually fleet 
 of foot, but none in the army was the equal of Jed 
 Stiffens. Had the race been a fair one, he would 
 have overhauled the fugitive in a few minutes, but 
 with the burning buildings, the slashing of shade 
 and fruit trees, the shouting and running to and fro, 
 and general confusion everywhere, caused by the 
 hundreds of men engaged in the work of destruc- 
 tion, the offender doubled, turned, and at the mo- 
 ment his pursuer was at his heels, dodged among a 
 party coming around the corner of another blazing 
 structure, and vanished as utterly as if the ground 
 had opened and swallowed him. 
 
" Fair as the Garden of the Lord." 261 
 
 The baffled Jed stopped short and stared around 
 him. 
 
 " Where the mischief did that fellow go ? " 
 
 " What fellow ?" innocently asked the biggest 
 man of the party, rightly surmising the condition 
 of affairs. 
 
 " Why, Tom Seton! You seen him! He went 
 by here a minute ago ! Where is he ? " 
 
 " Don't know nothin' 'bout him ; hain't seen 
 nothin' of him ; reckon you 're gettin' a little top- 
 heavy in your upper works, Jed ! Better go down 
 to the lake and cool off for the rest of the day." 
 
 " You 'II sarve as well as Tom ! " 
 
 As he uttered the words, Jed Stiffens leaped upon 
 the unsuspecting fellow, bore him to the ground and 
 began pounding him with might and main. His vic- 
 tim was powerful, and quickly rallied. The two rolled 
 over and over, pummeling each other as if it were a 
 life and death struggle, whereas both were laughing 
 so heartily that little strength was left to them. 
 
 The group gathered about the two, and cheered 
 them on, vociferously declaring that each was bound 
 to get a crushing advantage over his opponent pro- 
 vided he kept at it and did not weaken. Thus 
 cheered, they did keep at it, until both were ex- 
 hausted, when they ceased and climbed weakly to 
 their feet. Each spectator had constituted himself 
 a referee, and the general agreement was that the 
 
262 Red Jacket. 
 
 struggle was a draw, to be decided on the first favor- 
 able opportunity. 
 
 Jack Ripley held his first position, laughing at 
 the absurd exhibition, the latter part of which was 
 enacted beyond his sight, when the original offender, 
 who was the cause of it all, appeared for the third 
 time in his first position, with an ear of corn in his 
 good right hand, grinning more expansively than 
 ever. 
 
 " That 's the way you help a chap to a little 
 innocent fun, is it ?" he called. " Very well; here 
 goes for you / " 
 
 But, having warning of what was coming, Jack 
 deftly dodged the missile. The one previously 
 thrown at Jed Stiffens still lay on the ground within 
 easy reach. Jack snatched it up as the man turned 
 to run, and let fly with such accuracy that it landed 
 on the back of the other's head with a force that 
 caused his hat to fly off as he sprawled forward on 
 his hands and knees. Before he could rise to his 
 feet, Jack concluded it best to do some running 
 himself, and accordingly he took to his heels. 
 
 Amid such rollicking fun as this, General Sullivan 
 sat on his horse a short distance away, and calmly 
 contemplated the work of ruin and devastation. 
 When it was completed, and nothing more remained 
 to be done, he said, with a compression of his lips and 
 a flash of his black eyes, "Now for Catharine's Town!" 
 
CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 A NIGHT EXPEDITION. 
 
 THE Indian village known as Queen Catharine's 
 Town stood near the head of Seneca Lake, on 
 the site of the present town of Havana. It num- 
 bered some fifty dwellings, nearly all of which were 
 of excellent make, and superior to those of whose 
 destruction we have just given an account. They 
 were constructed of timber, there being only one or 
 two log cabins near the further end of the town; 
 they were painted, had regular chimneys, were 
 mostly two stories in height, and divided into con- 
 venient rooms both above and below. All faced the 
 single street or broad highway, and had small 
 patches of grass or yards in front, but were unpro- 
 tected by fences, since such protection was unneces- 
 sary. 
 
 Flowers diffused their fragrance from many points ; 
 vines climbed the gables and fronts of the houses ; 
 peach, pear, and apple trees grew near, and, earlier 
 in the season, made the avenue look like a lane 
 through fairyland. Back of and surrounding these 
 were hundreds of acres of corn and fruit, the whole 
 
 263 
 
264 Red Jacket. 
 
 forming one of the most attractive pictures of pros- 
 perity, contentment, and happiness that can be 
 imagined. 
 
 One feature of the scene was pathetic. At the 
 sides or in front of many of the houses were to be 
 seen the playthings of the Indian children. Some 
 of them were toy carts, each with box body, two 
 wheels sawed from boards, and the long, curving 
 tongue, the furthest point tipped forward and rest- 
 ing on the ground. There were wagons with four 
 similiar wheels, excepting that the front ones were 
 less in diameter than the rear, as is the fashion of 
 the present time. There were piles of wood partly 
 chopped into fuel of uniform length, a number of 
 rag dolls, with " saw horses," saws, axes, and the 
 various utensils needed by households. All these 
 and others lay scattered or reposing here and there, 
 just as if the owners had whisked into the different 
 houses to escape a squall that had suddenly burst in 
 the heavens. 
 
 But not a living inhabitant was in sight. Long 
 before the avenging host could reach the town, its 
 inhabitants fled to escape the wrath that they knew 
 would be wreaked upon them if they remained. 
 
 Almost precisely in the centre of the town stood 
 a larger building than any of the others. It had 
 been freshly painted of a bright white color, and 
 the shutters were a vivid green. A broad piazza 
 
A Night Expedition. 265 
 
 extended along the front ; the grass was green and 
 fresh, decked here and there with flowers, climbing 
 honeysuckles were at the sides, while an arbor of 
 ripening grapes extended fifty feet along the sides 
 of the spacious dwelling. Everything betokened 
 the prosperity and wealth of the owner, and the 
 house and grounds were fully double in extent 
 those of any of the neighbors. 
 
 This was the ' ' palace, ' ' or residence of Catharine 
 Montour, otherwise known in history as Queen 
 Esther of the Senecas. How hard to imagine that 
 the occupant, so well remembered at that time by 
 old people of fashion in Philadelphia, could be 
 otherwise than gentle, kind, and considerate ! And 
 yet she was one of 
 
 " The veriest devils that e'er clinched fingers in a captive's hair." 
 
 It was from this serene, tranquil home, that she 
 had gone forth with the most ferocious of the painted 
 Iroquois, to revel in outrage, massacre, and crime in 
 the valley of Wyoming. The picture drawn of her 
 dashing out the brains of the captives held helplessly 
 in place about " Bloody Rock " is no picture of the 
 imagination, but it all occurred just as described on 
 that fateful summer day in 1778. 
 
 The advance of General Sullivan's army arrived 
 at the head of Seneca Lake on the afternoon of a 
 day early in September. They had marched a long 
 
266 Red Jacket. 
 
 distance, the weather was sultry and oppressive, and 
 orders were issued for the troops to rest on their 
 arms until the morrow, when, with renewed vigor, 
 they would resume their work of destruction. It 
 was understood that not a stick of Catharine's 
 Town, not a flower, stalk of corn, fruit tree, or twig, 
 animal or fowl, should be spared. 
 
 " She shall have a taste of the medicine she gave 
 Wyoming! " said the American commander, with a^ 
 forceful exclamation. " When I recall the horrors 
 she committed there, my blood boils, and I am 
 tempted to make her the one exception to the rules 
 that have been issued to the men." 
 
 ' ' To what do you refer ? ' ' asked General Clinton. 
 
 " To the rule forbidding them to harm any of the 
 women." 
 
 ' ' And she is nearly eighty years old ! Think of 
 it!" 
 
 " A veritable Hecate! She would dance with 
 delight at the chance of repeating her deeds of last 
 summer. But she has taken good care to place her- 
 self beyond reach, so we need n't give any thought 
 to her, or, indeed, to any of the Six Nations. 
 That little try at ambuscading in the wilderness was 
 the last spark, and we shall have no serious trouble. 
 I hope that Colonel Brodhead, marching from Pitts- 
 burg, has been as fortunate as we. ' ' 
 
 It may as well be stated in this place that Colonel 
 
A Night Expedition, 267 
 
 Brodhead, in one respect, was more fortunate than 
 General Sullivan; for, advancing northward from 
 the point named, he inflicted great damage upon 
 the hostiles, and, when his work was completed, 
 returned eastward without having lost a single man. 
 
 The nature of the expedition, and the circum- 
 stances by which it was encompassed, brought a 
 change also in the nature of Jack Rfpley's duties. 
 He had entered the rank of the army as a private, 
 and we have demonstrated how well he did his duty 
 at Hog's Back; but the necessity of continuing that 
 work had vanished for the time, since the enemy no 
 longer offered a united opposition. 
 
 It has been shown further that the youth did ex- 
 cellent service as a scout in the company of Jed 
 Stiffens; but the necessity for that had also, in a 
 great measure, passed, since while the Iroquois were 
 active, it was a matter of slight concern to the in- 
 vaders, for they could do little or nothing to affect 
 the army's movements or action. 
 
 The moon did not rise until it was too late to 
 benefit those who could have found use for its illu- 
 mination, but the sky was clear and studded with 
 millions of twinkling stars. Scanning the heavens 
 from horizon to zenith in all directions, not a cloud 
 as large as a man's hand could be found to obscure 
 the stargleam. The night was one of the most 
 beautiful of the year. 
 
268 Red Jacket. 
 
 It was comparatively early in the evening, when 
 Jed Stiffens and Jack Ripley withdrew from camp 
 and made their way by a roundabout course to the 
 side of the lake, near its head or extreme southern 
 point. The personality of the veteran was so 
 familiar throughout the army that he had no diffi- 
 culty in entering and leaving the lines whenever he 
 chose. 
 
 He was in a section more familiar to him than the 
 country through which they had been making their 
 way for the last few weeks, for he had hunted along 
 the shores of Seneca Lake and fished in its crystal- 
 line depths. In the times when peace reigned 
 among the Six Nations, he had spent many days 
 and nights among the Senecas, Cayugas, Ononda- 
 gas, and different tribes, forming the acquaintance 
 of Brant, Cornplanter, and others, and gaining a 
 knowledge of Red Jacket that enabled him to take 
 his true measure. 
 
 Threading their way along paths that led through 
 the wood, and which had been made by the Senecas 
 in going to and from the lake, the two soon reached 
 the shore, where they paused for a few whispered 
 words. 
 
 " I s'pose this is a foolish piece of bus'ness," said 
 Jed, in his guarded voice, while he glanced hither 
 and thither, and listened for the slightest sound. 
 ' ' But I told you when we started that it was to be 
 
A Night Expedition. 269 
 
 for the good of a chap that you did n't know nothin' 
 'bout." 
 
 Yes ; I remember that, ' ' assented Jack. 
 
 " Wal, don't you know who he is ? " 
 
 " I have n't the first idea." 
 
 " Bill Patterson, a member of Company G." 
 
 ' ' I never heard of him. ' ' 
 
 " Wal, that don't make no difference. He seems 
 to have been sorter careless like, strolled off too fur 
 in the woods, and was gobbled up by a party of 
 Brant's folks." 
 
 " Too bad. But Patterson is n't the first of our 
 men that the Iroquois have killed. ' ' 
 
 " If it was that, I would n't be here. If they 
 had killed Bill, that would have been the end of 
 him, and he would have been lucky. But they 've 
 got him dead fast, and they '11 burn him at the 
 stake, if they 're not headed off. ' ' 
 
 Jack started at the thought, and exclaimed : 
 
 " And you have set out to save him ! How can 
 you do it, Jed ? ' ' 
 
 " I don't know as I 'm goin' to do it," was the 
 dogged reply. . 
 
 " But you must have hope, or you would n't 
 make the effort. How do you expect to aid the 
 poor fellow ? " 
 
 The scout did not reply. Since it was self- 
 evident that he had some scheme in mind, he must 
 
270 Red Jacket. 
 
 have had also a reason for not revealing it to his 
 companion. Suspecting the fact, Jack did not 
 question him further. 
 
 " I s'pose you 're wonderin' why I brought you 
 along," said Jed, with no reference to the question. 
 " The fact is, I don't expect you to give me a bit of 
 help. You 're goin' into danger, sartin sure, and, 
 if you prefer, you may turn back." 
 
 " If I had had no wish to share your danger, Jed, 
 I should not have started so willingly with you." 
 
 ' ' I beg your pardon, younker, ' ' the elder hastened 
 to say, seeing he had hurt the feelings of the youth ; 
 " but I brought you 'cause I knowed you was true 
 blue, and 'cause — I like you, next to your father, 
 more 'n anybody in the world." 
 
 " It 's all right, Jed. Go ahead, and say no more 
 about it." 
 
 Without another word, the veteran turned and 
 began picking his way along the shore of the lake, 
 with the youth almost treading on his heels. That 
 the leader believed they were in peril from the first 
 was apparent from the great care he used, threading 
 his course with as much caution as if entering the 
 lines of the hostiles ; as indeed was the fact, since it 
 was known that scores, if not hundreds, of the Iro- 
 quois were hovering in the neighborhood, safely out 
 of reach of the armed forces advancing against their 
 towns. 
 
A Night Expedition. 271 
 
 But Jed Stiffens was hunting for something un- 
 suspected by Jaclf, and he had not penetrated a 
 hundred yards from his starting-point when he came 
 upon it, in the shape of a small Indian canoe drawn 
 well up the bank, where it could not be washed free 
 by the action of the water. 
 
 Stopping short, he said, in a low tone : 
 
 I knowed I 'd find something of the kind, for 
 there are plenty of 'em 'long the lake, and it shows 
 the owners ain't fur ofJ." 
 
 As noiselessly as a shadow, he shoved the craft 
 clear of the shore, and whispered to Jack to enter 
 it. The youth was accustomed to boating, for his 
 home from infancy had been along the Hudson, and 
 he stepped carefully into the frail structure, and 
 picked up the long ashen paddle that his foot 
 touched. He seated himself near the end, and Jed 
 stepped after him at the moment he gave the craft 
 a shove that sent it several yards from shore. Tak- 
 ing the paddle which the youth held toward him, he 
 dipped it silently into the water, and, running the 
 boat so close to the bank that the overhanging limbs 
 brushed their faces, he began propelling it toward 
 the lower end of the lake. 
 
 Neither spoke, for there was no call for it. Jed 
 Stiffens was master of the expedition, and Jack Rip- 
 ley was only his " silent partner," calmly awaiting 
 the carrying out of his plans and wishes. 
 
2 72 Red Jacket. 
 
 The scene was impressive in its loneliness. Over- 
 head gleamed the myriads of stars, reflected in the 
 mirror-like surface of the lake, which was un- 
 wrinkled by the slightest ripple. A bank of shadow 
 marked the other shore at this narrow portion, but 
 it speedily dissolved in the gloom caused by the 
 widening of the sheet of water. They were stealing 
 along the right or eastern bank, hugging it so close 
 that at any moment the occupants could have 
 reached out and grasped some of the overhanging 
 limbs which softly tickled their faces as they glided 
 silently past. 
 
 It was not the first time that Jack Ripley had 
 shared an Indian canoe with the veteran scout, but 
 years had passed since they entered one of the pecul- 
 iar craft together, and his admiration of the skill of 
 Jed was unbounded. First upon the right and then 
 upon the left of the boat the point of the paddle 
 was dipped, with no more noise than the swimming 
 of a fish beneath the surface. It seemed, indeed, 
 as if he manipulated the implement with such 
 wonderful skill that not a drop of water dripped 
 from the moist blade, as it was swung from one side 
 to the other. Occasionally, he was forced to turn 
 the canoe slightly outward to avoid a limb protrud- 
 ing more than usual, but he returned the next 
 moment, maintaining his sinuous course with con- 
 summate skill. 
 
A Night Expedition. 273 
 
 The stillness was like that of the tomb. No 
 sound came from the encampment of the army, 
 more than a mile distant, where, it may be said, the 
 men were sleeping on their arms, impatient to re- 
 sume the work of destruction on the morrow, while 
 the vast, arching forest sweeping away to their right 
 was as silent as at " creation's morn." 
 
 Seated near the stern of the delicate craft, Jack 
 Ripley had nothing to do but to use his eyes and 
 ears, and to speculate upon what the next step 
 would be in the tragedy of the night. All that he 
 could see was the dazzling stars overhead, their re- 
 flection in the gleaming lake, the gloom on the left, 
 right, and in front, into which they were pushing 
 their way like phantoms of the darkness. 
 
 The listening ear caught the report of a gun, but 
 it was so faint as to show that it came from some 
 point far distant, and its meaning could be no con- 
 cern of the two in the canoe. It may have signified 
 nothing, or it may have meant a good deal; but^ 
 whichever it was, was of no concern to our friends. 
 
 Then the peculiar, shrilling cry of a loon was 
 borne across the darkened waters. The bird was 
 well toward the western bank, and, as the most 
 trivial thoughts will intrude upon a person at critical 
 moments, Jack Ripley smiled to himself and asked 
 the mental question : 
 
 " Could I shoot the bird if I had a fair chance at 
 
2 74 Red Jacket. 
 
 him ? I have tried it many times, but he always 
 dodged the bullet." 
 
 A minute later, the most dismal of all cries pierced 
 the ear of night. It was the lonely ' ' Whoo-oo-o ! ' ' 
 of an owl from the branches of a tree, so close that 
 it must have been disturbed by the action of some 
 one near at hand. 
 
 Suddenly, without a word, Jed Stiffens headed 
 the prow of the canoe to the right, and, with one 
 powerful sweep of the paddle, sent it under the over- 
 hanging branches. His marvellously trained ear had 
 detected the approach of danger, though no warning 
 reached the consciousness of the listening Jack 
 Ripley. 
 
CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 A RIFLE SHOT. 
 
 JACK RIPLEY did not stir or speak, even in the 
 lowest whisper. The canoe had been driven 
 under the overhanging limbs along shore so deftly 
 that it was done almost before he comprehended 
 the change. 
 
 The next instant the sbft dip of a paddle was 
 heard, and, turning his head so as to look over his 
 shoulder, he caught the faint outlines of a canoe 
 similar to their own, as it glided along the fringe of 
 undergrowth and was thrown into almost invisible 
 relief against the background of stargleam in the 
 opposite horizon. In the craft were seated three 
 warriors, one of whom was swaying the single pad- 
 dle, as was shown by the slight forward and back- 
 ward rocking of his shoulders. 
 
 The gentle dip of the paddle could be distin- 
 guished for some moments after the party had 
 passed out of sight, proof that they had no thought 
 of enemies Taeing so near, else they would not thus 
 have betrayed themselves. It was fortunate in one 
 sense that Jed Stiffens was able to detect them the 
 
 275 
 
276 Red Jacket. 
 
 instant he did, for, while he probably could have 
 secured the escape of himself and companion, it 
 would have been the end of the business that had 
 brought him thither. 
 
 For ten minutes the scout did not stir nor 
 speak. He was listening for another craft, but 
 he heard none. Then leaning forward, so as to 
 bring his face close to that of his companion, he 
 whispered : 
 
 " The varmints are lookin' for us." 
 
 " How can you know that ? " was the astonished 
 question of Jack Ripley. 
 
 " I don't mean it 's 'tic'larly for us" he replied. 
 " But they don't mean that any of our people shall 
 come the sneak act over 'em. There ain't no doubt 
 now 'bout poor Billy Patterson." 
 
 The meaning of the last remark was not under- 
 stood by Jack, but he asked no questions, quite 
 content to let the scout manage his affairs as he 
 thought best. 
 
 " Did you hear anything of that canoe, younker?" 
 
 " Not the slightest sound." 
 
 The scout chuckled. 
 
 " You '11 have to train them ears as well as them 
 eyes of yourn afore you can put yourself alongside 
 of Jed Stiflens." 
 
 " There 's no doubt about that; but I 'm doing 
 the best I can." 
 
A Rifle Shot. '277 
 
 " Wal, continner to keep on doin' so, and you '11 
 get there one of these days. ' ' 
 
 At that moment a sweep of the paddle drove the 
 canoe out from its hiding-place, and Jed resumed 
 the stealthy skirting of the shore, he and his com- 
 panion on the alert as before, though Jack knew 
 that if the occurrence were repeated, the whole de- 
 pendence for escape must rest with the scout himself. 
 
 As nearly as the youth could determine, their 
 progress continued until they had gone more than 
 a mile from their starting-point. Then Jed ceased 
 swaying the paddle, and, grasping a twig overhead, 
 held the boat motionless while he spent several 
 minutes in listening. He was gratified to hear 
 nothing to cause misgiving. 
 
 " Here I 'm goin' to leave you, younker," he 
 whispered. " I don't know how long I '11 be gone, 
 but when you hear the crack of my rifle, you may 
 expect me back in a hurry. If I don't arriv' purty 
 soon, you need n't wait for me." 
 
 ' ' Why not ? ' ' asked Jack, mystified by the words 
 of his friend. " You don't mean me to understand 
 that you will be — dead ? " 
 
 A slight chuckle preceded the reply. 
 
 " That war n't what I meant ; but it will mean that 
 I '11 have to take some other course back to camp, 
 while you can stick to the canoe, and you had n't 
 oughter have any trouble in takin' care of yourself." 
 
278 Red Jacket. 
 
 " I have no fear as to that. But am I to under- 
 stand that when the report of a gun reaches to me, 
 I shall be certain it was fired by you ? ' ' 
 
 " That 's my idee, though there may be a slip; 
 but my promptin's tell me that I '11 be the first to 
 shoot my gun. Then, mebbe, there '11 be some 
 shootin' at me, but I don't expect to git hit, though 
 I 'm sure to catch it one of these days. Stay right 
 here, onless, of course, somethin' should turn up 
 that '11 drive you out, — ontil, say, ten or fifteen 
 minutes. If I don't show up by that time, you can 
 make up your mind that I 'm headin' for camp by 
 'nother route, and the best thing you can do is to 
 paddle for the same p'int;for," added the scout, 
 impressively, " we 've reached an all-fired hot part 
 of the country, jest as sure as you live! " 
 
 The scout never stood on ceremony when duty 
 awaited him, and no one disliked a scene more than 
 he. Without an additional word, he stepped softly 
 out of the canoe, and vanished like the flitting of a 
 cloud, leaving his young friend to the unspeakably 
 dismal task of waiting through the dreary interval 
 until he should return, with the added torture of 
 the possibility that he would never return at all. 
 
 From what has been stated, it will be understood 
 that one of the American soldiers named Patterson 
 had fallen into the hands of the Indians. Had he 
 simply been killed, no further thought would have 
 
A Rifle Shot. 279 
 
 been given him, for such a fate always impends over 
 those of his profession, but it was the fact that when 
 last seen by his friends, he was alive and a prisoner. 
 
 As evidence of his frightful peril, it may be added 
 at this point that, while Lieutenant Boyd was mak- 
 ing a reconnaissance to Little Beard's town, he was 
 ambushed by Brant, nearly all of his men killed, 
 and himself made prisoner, after which he was 
 tortured to death, with frightful barbarities. It 
 must be expected in the nature of things that occa- 
 sional mishaps like these should befall General Sulli- 
 van's expedition, despite its overwhelming numbers. 
 
 The question may occur to the reader as to why, 
 if it was known that the soldier was a captive of the 
 Iroquois, a prompt attempt was not made to rescue 
 him. The answer is that it was utterly impossible 
 for the Americans to do so. The Indians had shown 
 the ease with which they could keep out of the reach 
 of the troops, and the advance of a party of any 
 strength was certain to be discovered by the hostiles 
 long before it reached striking distance, and with- 
 out the slightest difficulty they could remove their 
 prisoner to some inaccessible point. Moreover, if 
 it were possible to corner the redskins, all they 
 would have to do would be to slay their captive and 
 scatter. 
 
 Since it was apparently beyond the power of any 
 armed force to save the hapless prisoner, it would 
 
28o Red Jacket. 
 
 seem that the chances were infinitely less for the 
 success of a single man, even when that man was so 
 consummate a master of woodcraft, as Jed Stiffens. 
 
 What, then, meant this extraordinary night ex- 
 pedition in the Indian canoe, with Jack Ripley as 
 his only companion ? 
 
 Let the answer be given in the incidents that 
 follow. 
 
 Jed Stiffens was now depending upon his intimate 
 knowledge of his surroundings for carrying out the 
 grim errand upon which he had entered. Moving 
 through the wood for a short distance, with the 
 darkness as impenetrable as that of ancient Egypt, 
 he knew from the feeling of his feet that he had 
 struck a well-defined trail. Two hundred yards 
 away it forked, and at the junction of the two paths 
 he expected to face the business that had drawn him 
 thither. 
 
 His astounding woodcraft did not mislead him, 
 for he was still threading his course through the 
 gloom when he caught the twinkling light among 
 the trees that warned him he was approaching the 
 camp of the enemy. Since it was possible that one 
 or more of the Iroquois were following the same 
 trail, he stepped aside, and with his inimitable skill 
 approached the camp until it was in plain view, 
 while he himself was enveloped in gloom. 
 
 The sight that greeted his eyes caused him to 
 
A Rifle Shot. 281 
 
 gnash his teeth. Billy Patterson, the captive of the 
 Iroquois, faced him, with the reflected firelight 
 bringing out every detail of his personality as dis- 
 tinctly as if the sun were in the heavens overhead 
 and he himself stood in an open plain. 
 
 His back was against a sapling half a foot in 
 diameter, his hands tied behind him, his cap off, 
 and his ankles bound with hickory withes. Another 
 withe encircled his waist, and still another below 
 the knees held him immovably secured to the sap- 
 ling. He wore the uniform of an American private 
 soldier, but his musket had been taken from him, 
 and was nowhere in sight. He had long black hair, 
 and the lower part of his face was hidden by a 
 scraggy beard of the same color. Above these, his 
 countenance showed, pale and composed, for the 
 fellow had abandoned all hope, and braced himself 
 for the terrifying ordeal before him. He was look- 
 ing calmly at the group of tormentors, and grimly 
 waited for them to begin their tortures. 
 
 The blazing fire kindled a few paces in front of 
 him lit up a frightful scene. The Iroquois num- 
 bered fully a score, all painted hideously, fully 
 armed, and exulting over the prospect of the enjoy- 
 ment before them. 
 
 That Jed Stiffens had not arrived a moment too 
 soon was shown by the pile of fagots at the feet of 
 the prisoner, only awaiting kindling, while nearly 
 
282 Red Jacket. 
 
 every warrior grasped his hunting-knife, eager to 
 add to the anguish and sufferings of the miserable 
 fellow, as helpless as an infant, in their power. 
 
 The most notable figure in this group was an aged 
 woman, of slight frame, dressed in civilized costume ; 
 that is, with calico dress, and with shoes and stock- 
 ings, but without any covering for her head, except- 
 ing the long, iron-gray hair that dangled about her 
 bony shoulders. She had rolled up her sleeves to 
 the elbows, disclosing the skinny, muscular fore- 
 arms, and in one hand she grasped a long, formidable 
 knife, which she swung and circled in front of the 
 prisoner, as if it were hard to restrain her longing to 
 plunge it into his body. 
 
 Taking the position named, she began a weird 
 dance, springing as lightly from the ground as a girl 
 could have done, and chanting in a low monotone 
 the death song of her people. She oscillated from 
 side to side, her draggling skirts swinging back and 
 forth with the swaying of her body, while the grating 
 monotone did not vary a note. 
 
 This lasted several minutes, throughout which Jed 
 Stiffens held his rifle at a dead level, and pointed 
 toward the wrinkled face of Queen Esther. He 
 was waiting the moment for her to place herself in 
 fair range with the bound prisoner ! 
 
 Fortunately for Catharine Montour, this did not 
 occur. She kept in front of the man, circling the 
 
QUEEN ESTHER AND BILLY PATTERSON. 
 
 Page 282. 
 
A Rifle Shot. 283 
 
 knife over her head, chanting her dirge, and fully 
 revealed by the glow of the firelight. Then turning 
 abruptly, as she stopped singing, she uttered an 
 angry command to one of the Senecas, who sprang 
 quickly forward, snatched a brand from the fire, and 
 knelt at the foot of the sapling to apply it to the 
 combustibles heaped there. 
 
 At that moment, the sharp crack of Jed Stiffens' s 
 rifle rang through the woods. The occasion was 
 one of the very few which justified him in not 
 waiting to reload his weapon, for he whirled about 
 like a flash, and was gone. As for the startled Iro- 
 quois and Queen Esther, when they looked at the 
 prisoner, they saw to their rage that he was beyond 
 reach of any torture they could inflict upon his body. 
 
CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 GROPING IN THE DARK. 
 
 IT has been stated that it was the purpose of Jed 
 Stiffens to rejoin Jack Ripley where he was 
 waiting in the Indian canoe, under the shadows of 
 the overhanging limbs, just as soon as it was pos- 
 sible for him to do so. In assuring him of this in- 
 tention, the scout had also intimated that it was not 
 improbable that he would be unable to join him at 
 all. 
 
 The latter fear proved well founded, for, while 
 Jed was travelling through the dark woods at a 
 dangerous rate of speed, he became aware that a 
 considerable number of Iroquois were between him 
 and the lake, and directly in the section through 
 which he must needs pass to reach his friend. 
 Since the party gathered round the camp could not 
 have attained that position so quickly, it was evi- 
 dent that the hostiles must be a new party, who 
 chanced to be making their' way to camp, and pos- 
 sibly were belated at the time the scout fired his 
 rifle. Be that as it may, there were too many of 
 them for him to attempt to pass through their line, 
 
 284 '' 
 
Groping in the Dark. 285 
 
 since the report of the rifle had placed them on the 
 qui vive. 
 
 Had the necessity existed for such an attempt, he 
 would have made it, and it is not unlikely that he 
 would have succeeded. But there was no such 
 necessity, and he showed his sense by not running 
 a risk that could well be avoided. 
 
 " I told the younker to wait ten or fifteen minutes 
 after hearin' my gun go off, and then to make his 
 way home in the canoe without me," he reflected. 
 " He has 'nough sense to do that, and he knows 
 how to do it. Gracious ! how much like his father, 
 the Colonel, he is ! " 
 
 There were no answering shots from the Iroquois, 
 for at the best it would have been throwing away 
 their ammunition to fire in the general direction of 
 the white man who had baffled them in their in- 
 tended enjoyment ; but there was a quick scattering, 
 and the whole group, with the exception of a single 
 warrior and Queen Esther, started on a hunt for the 
 daring white man. 
 
 Jed Stiffens cared little for all they could do. He 
 would have looked upon it as only a pleasant diver- 
 sion to outwit the whole band, even by broad day- 
 light, inasmuch as they were at the rear, and he had 
 never yet met the redskin who could outrun him. 
 
 But one of the wisest admonitions ever uttered 
 is that the man who thinks he stands should take 
 
286 Red Jacket. 
 
 heed lest he fall. With all of Jed Stiffens's subtlety, 
 cunning, and woodcraft, he ran into an unexpected 
 danger at the very moment when he believed none 
 threatened him. 
 
 It did not take him long to throw all his enemies 
 hopelessly behind. The first thing he did after that, 
 was to halt and reload his rifle, in accordance with 
 his rule, which has already been referred to more 
 than once. Then, since he had decided to make no 
 attempt to return to the Indian canoe, where he had 
 left Jack Ripley, he threaded his way through the 
 dark wood to the head of the lake, aiming for the 
 point where the two had first entered the boat. 
 This enabled him to flank the party that had ap- 
 peared so unexpectedly, and headed him off. 
 
 The logical theory of the scout was, that by taking 
 this course he arrived at the spot named consider- 
 ably in advance of the possible coming of his friend ; 
 for he had travelled fast, and his instructions to Jack 
 were to await his return for a brief period before 
 attempting to leave in the canoe. He knew the lad 
 would stay longer than the time set, and would not 
 return along the shore of the lake until assured in 
 his own mind that it was useless to wait any longer 
 for him. 
 
 Acting upon this theory, which certainly seemed 
 flawless, the scout came down to the silent lake and 
 stood motionless in the deep shadows, as the 
 
Groping in the Dark. 287 
 
 minutes passed while he awaited the appearance of 
 his young friend. He was too accustomed to such 
 experiences to make the common mistake of believ- 
 ing time was passing faster than was the fact. He 
 decided that Jack would hold his position for half 
 an hour, when he would start along the shore over 
 the same course the two had followed when to- 
 gether. Since it had taken the scout about a half 
 hour to reach the place where he was waiting, he 
 allotted about the same period for the youth to 
 bring the boat to him,' for he was certain to use ex- 
 treme care in the effort. When, therefore, a full 
 hour had gone by, he found himself listening and 
 peering into the gloom for the coming of Jack 
 Ripley. 
 
 The same impressive silence broodejl over lake 
 and forest. The scout, standing thus, with his 
 faculties keyed to the highest point, looked upward 
 at the stars twinkling in the vault of heaven, and, 
 with that reverent emotion which is natural to the 
 most reckless of men, when they find themselves 
 alone in a vast solitude, he instinctively asked the 
 One whom he knew dwelt beyond those orbs of 
 light, to hold the precious boy in His keeping and 
 bring him safely out of the labyrinth of peril in 
 which he was involved. 
 
 " It is You alone who can do it," he whispered in 
 spirit. " And You have done it so many times for 
 
288 Red Jacket. 
 
 Jed Stiffens, who ain't worth thinkin' 'bout, that 
 I 'm sure You won't forgit to take care of the son 
 of Colonel Ripley. For You must know he is too 
 good a man to be spared." 
 
 Sh ! — a faint, soft sound, like the flirt of a fish when 
 it rises to the surface, stole through the stillness to 
 the ear of the scout, and his thoughts dropped like 
 a flash again to earth. 
 
 " It 's him," was his thought. " He handles a 
 paddle like a master, and the only ears that could 
 hear that ripple is them that b'longs to Jed Stiffens. ' ' 
 
 Faint as was the noise, it was from the right direc- 
 tion. An Indian canoe was creeping like a shadow 
 along the wooded shore, heading toward the point 
 where the scout was standing, expectant and de- 
 lighted. He took a single step, which placed the 
 toe of his moccasin in the edge of the water, and, 
 leaning slightly forward, peered into the obscurity. 
 Slowly the dim outlines of the prow of a boat as- 
 sumed vague form, growing in distinctness so tardily 
 that several moments seemed to pass without an 
 increase of vision. 
 
 The pleased veteran emitted the guarded whistle, 
 which he knew would be recognized the instant it 
 reached the ears of Jack Ripley. Then he chuckled 
 in his peculiar fashion, and said in a voice that 
 ordinarily would not have been heard ten feet 
 distant : 
 
Groping in the Dark. 289 
 
 You 're a little late, younker " 
 
 The words were in his mouth, when the gloom 
 into which he was peering was lit up by a blinding 
 flash, the vicious crack of, a discharged rifle broke 
 the silence, and the canoe darted toward him like an 
 arrow driven from a bow. 
 
 At the very moment that the scout was framing 
 the words that were partly uttered, a sudden sus- 
 picion of his mistake flashed upon him. He had no 
 time to leap back out of range, but with incredible 
 quickness he bent his knees and dropped the upper 
 part of his body. 
 
 Had the instinctive movement been the fraction of 
 a second later, the bullet would have bored its way 
 through his brain, but it passed over his crown and 
 zipped among the undergrowth behind him. Before 
 the shot could be repeated, he made a tremendous 
 backward leap that landed him a dozen feet away, 
 whirled about, darted several paces, and then 
 abruptly halted, for he knew he was safe. 
 
 Jed Stiffens had made one of the few mistakes of 
 his life, one that could not have brought him nearer 
 death without reaching it, and his "promptings " did 
 not allow him to spare himself. 
 
 " Of all the infarnal fools that has been 'lowed to 
 keep his skulp on his crown, I 'm the biggest ! The 
 next time I do a thing like that, I '11 stand still and 
 let the redskins have their own fun makin' holes in 
 
290 Red Jacket. 
 
 my carcase, fur I '11 be so 'shamed that I won't be 
 able to duck my head! " 
 
 As for the Senecas in the boat, who touched the 
 shore a moment after the firing of the gun, they 
 must have been puzzled to comprehend how it was 
 the white man did not fall dead in his tracks, for 
 the warrior who fired saw the form of the scout 
 distinctly, since his situation was more conspicuous 
 than that of those in the craft ; but, in some unac- 
 countable way, there was a miss, and the man, 
 having whisked from sight into the depths of the 
 wood, it was useless, to pursue him, and no effort 
 was made to do so. 
 
 Jed Stiffens's promptings were to steal back to 
 the water's side, and return the shot that had given 
 him such a shock, but it was characteristic of him to 
 refrain. Now that he was safe himself, his thoughts 
 instantly went out to Jack Ripley, and all his 
 anxiety was centred in him. 
 
 The intrusion of the canoe and its occupants on 
 the scene boded ill for the absent youth, for they 
 had come from the direction of the hiding-place of 
 the lad, while the new party that had shut off the 
 fleeing scout from joining his young friend advanced 
 from the same direction, demonstrating unquestion- 
 ably that he w£is in the midst of danger and his 
 enemies were on every side of him. 
 
 Had he taken care of himself when thus 
 
Groping in the Dark. 291 
 
 threatened ? If so, would he still be able to extri- 
 cate himself, when the Iroquois were not only in the 
 wood but on the lake ? Where there were so many 
 of them prowling through the forest in search of the 
 scout, would they not inevitably come upon Jack 
 Ripley, no matter how great the skill with which 
 he endeavored to outwit them ? 
 
 The answers to these questions made the scout 
 shudder. He needed no one to tell him what would 
 follow if Jack Ripley should be captured. All of 
 the scout's sympathies and thoughts went out to 
 him. Could he have been given the power to place 
 the youth safely back in camp by yielding his, own 
 life, he would have done it without a moment's 
 hesitation. 
 
 But those were not the days of miracles, and he 
 grimly set out to do all that was humanly possible 
 for the absent lad. 
 
 The hope of Jed was that Jack was still hiding in 
 the undergrowth along shore, or else skirting the 
 bank in his canoe in the wake of the one that had 
 preceded him. He, therefore, started to return to 
 the spot. 
 
 In doing so, he kept near the lake, often pausing 
 and listening for the faint dip of his paddle, but 
 hearing nothing of it. Great as was his familiarity 
 with the wood and his surroundings, it was impos- 
 sible for him to determine the exact point where he 
 
292 Red Jacket 
 
 had made his landing, since it possessed no charac- 
 teristic to distinguish it above any other portion of 
 the wilderness in that vicinity. 
 
 But his woodcraft enabled him to hit it pretty 
 closely, and as he drew near his halts became more 
 frequent, while he did not hesitate to emit the 
 faint whistling signals that had been agreed upon 
 by him and Jack several days before. They were 
 low and guarded, and he had been given a proof of 
 the mischief they were likely to cause, when de- 
 tected by an enemy ; but the necessity for communi- 
 cating with the youth was so pressing that the scout 
 could neglect no possibility of doing so. 
 
 Standing motionless by the side of the lake, 
 where he could look out on the vivid surface, he 
 issued the low, trilling whistle at intervals of a few 
 seconds, and then, standing like a statue, held his 
 breath while waiting for the reply. So keen was his 
 sense of hearing that absolutely no sound escaped 
 him. He noted the rippling fall of a leaf behind 
 him ; the plash of a small fish that flirted to the sur- 
 face far out on the lake was heard, and the soft 
 whirr of a bird that skimmed past beyond his sight, 
 as its wings fanned the darkness, reached his ear. But 
 among them all was nothing suggestive of the sound 
 that had passed his own lips fully a score of times. 
 
 The scout kept along the shore of the lake until 
 he knew he had passed some distance beyond the 
 
Groping in the Dark. 293 
 
 hiding-place of the youth, when he turned, and in 
 the same guarded manner retraced his steps to the 
 original starting-point. He had not discovered the 
 first evidence of the fate of his friend. Then, with 
 a depression of spirits which no pen can describe, 
 he turned into the wood, and penetrated deeply in 
 his search for the camp-fire of the hostiles, impelled 
 thereto by the awful fear that Jack Ripley was a 
 prisoner in their hands. It was relief indescribable 
 that he discovered no proof of that catastrophe, 
 though he could not forget that such might have 
 been the fate of his young friend without his gain- 
 ing knowledge of it. 
 
 Finally, Jed Stiffens returned to where they first 
 entered the canoe, and, resting the stock of his rifle 
 on the ground, and leaning on the muzzle, he gave 
 himself up to a few minutes of meditation. 
 
 It is a merciful provision of nature that no one's 
 spirits can remain depressed continuously. The re- 
 bound or reaction is certain to manifest itself. De- 
 spite the despair of the preceding hour or more, the 
 scout began to see ground for hope. Perhaps Jack 
 had crossed to the other side of the lake with his 
 canoe, and made his way along the western shore 
 on his return to camp. Perhaps he was doing so at 
 that moment ; or it may be he had already reached 
 camp, and was wondering over the long absence of 
 Jed himself. 
 
294 Red Jacket. 
 
 There was one way of testing these theories, and 
 the scout tested them. He hastened to camp and 
 instituted careful inquiries. Alas! the result was 
 the proof that his young friend was still absent. 
 
 Meanwhile, where was Jack Ripley ? 
 
CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 A STRANGE MEETING. 
 
 I AM sure that the reader of these chapters has 
 formed a pretty good opinion of Jack Ripley. 
 He was brave, patriotic, high-spirited, rtianly, and 
 bright-witted, — qualities that were inherited from 
 his parents, who gave him as freely to the service of 
 his country as he offered himself. 
 
 But, after all. Jack was just as human as the rest 
 of us, and I am compelled now to tell something 
 about him which is anything but romantic, though 
 it is not at all to his discredit. Since it is to be pre- 
 sumed that the reader is somewhat interested as to 
 his whereabouts while his friend Jed Stiffens was 
 making his search for him, I can give the informa- 
 tion in a single sentence. 
 
 Jack Ripley was asleep ! 
 
 His rest for several nights had been broken, but 
 when he assumed the most comfortable posture 
 possible in the canoe drawn well up under the bank, 
 he had no more thought of succumbing to drowsi- 
 ness than had Jed Stiffens while threading his way 
 through the wilderness to the, camp-fire of the 
 
 295 
 
296 Red Jacket, 
 
 Iroquois ; and thinking thus, he sank into a refresh- 
 ing, dreamless slumber which continued right 
 through that eventful night until the summer's sun 
 appeared above the horizon. 
 
 Now, there was nothing strange, after all, in this, 
 for the strongest man cannot fight off the insidious 
 approach of sleep without action of the body that 
 forces him to keep his senses about him; but the 
 extraordinary feature of the situation was that 
 Jack's lapse from consciousness should have brought 
 no ill consequences to him. There can be no ques- 
 tion that more than one of the hostiles who headed 
 off Jed Stiffens's return to his friend passed within 
 a few paces of the sleeping lad. The other canoe 
 must have paddled not beyond arm's length of the 
 stern, though the motionless boat was well hidden 
 from view ; but, most wonderful of all, Jed Stiffens, 
 the peerless scout, unquestionably walked by his 
 friend twice on that night, when there could not 
 have been more than a rod between them. From a 
 comparison of notes afterward, it is probable that 
 when he made one of his many halts and signalled 
 to Jack, the latter was reclining almost at his feet. 
 Had there been the least light in the wood, Jed 
 must have discovered him, but it has been shown 
 that, with no suspicion of the truth, he passed on. 
 
 The lad must have slumbered as quietly as when 
 a babe on his mother's breast, for the wonderfully 
 
A Strange Meeting. 297 
 
 acute sense of hearing with which Jed Stiffens was 
 gifted failed to note the gentle breathing of his 
 friend, who sank into a state of delicious uncon- 
 sciousness so promptly after the departure of the 
 scout that he heard nothing of the report of his 
 rifle, that followed within a brief space of time. 
 
 Jack Ripley, therefore, fell asleep off-hand, as 
 may be said, and when he opened his eyes again 
 the surrounding wood and lake were bathed in the 
 warm sunlight of a bright summer day. It was 
 some minutes before he recalled his wandering 
 senses. He had sunk into an easy position in the 
 bottom of the canoe, and, rising to a sitting pos- 
 ture, he stared wonderingly about him. The over- 
 hanging limbs, the water which showed at the stern 
 of the craft, and the brooding stillness, quickly 
 brought back the incidents of the preceding night. 
 
 In accordance with his invariable custom, he re- 
 turned thanks to the One who had watched over 
 him through the darkness, bathed his face and 
 hands in the clear waters of the lake, and then, sit- 
 ting up again, after using his pocket-handkerchief 
 for a napkin, broke into hearty laughter, which he 
 had learned to make as silent as his friend's. 
 
 " Well, if this does n't beat everything! " was his 
 thought. " I was to wait a few minutes for Jed 
 to come back, and I 've waited all night, and he 
 has n't come yet; or, if he did," he added more 
 
298 Red Jacket, 
 
 thoughtfully, " he did n't find me. I begin to feel 
 worried about Jed. ' ' 
 
 Aye, but how much more worried. Jack, your 
 friend was about you ! 
 
 The lad felt a lively sense of hunger, but forced 
 it from him, for much more momentous matters de- 
 manded his attention and thoughts. Stepping out 
 from the canoe to stretch his limbs, he pondered 
 deeply over his peculiar situation, and it did not 
 take him long to reach in a general way the truth. 
 
 " If nothing happened to Jed, he came back to 
 look for me, but was unable to locate the canoe in 
 the darkness, though he must have come very near it. 
 He has made up his mind that I grew tired of wait- 
 ing for him, and went back to camp alone. Not find- 
 ing me there, he is probably still searching for me." 
 
 Brief reflection convinced Jack Ripley that the 
 best thing he could do was to look after himself, for 
 he needed no one to warn him that he was in a most 
 critical situation. His experience of the previous 
 night was proof that the Iroquois were hovering in 
 the woods all around him, and it was a work of ex- 
 treme difficulty and danger to make his way through 
 their lines to those of the army. 
 
 Stepping softly to the stern of the canoe, he 
 parted the undergrowth and looked toward the head 
 of the lake. The sight that greeted him was thrill- 
 ing, for the sky in that direction was filled with 
 
A Strange Meeting, 299 
 
 masses of black smoke, climbing toward the zenith, 
 while sparks and embers were dropping like hail- 
 stones into the water, some of them being carried 
 almost to where he stood. 
 
 General Sullivan's army was getting in its fine 
 work in style. Catharine's Town was in flames, 
 which would continue until the whole was reduced 
 to ashes and smouldering embers, while the destruc- 
 tion of the animals, fruit trees, and crops was certain 
 to be as thorough as in the preceding instances. 
 One of the primal objects of this invasion of the 
 Indian country was already accomplished. 
 
 " How enraged the Iroquois must be! " reflected 
 Jack. " If they could get hold of me and any of 
 the rest of General Sullivan's men, would n't they 
 make it lively for us ! " 
 
 But the question remained, as to what he should 
 do to extricate himself from his perilous surround- 
 ings. The course of the main army would be down 
 the western side of the lake, whose shore was more 
 than a mile distant from the youth, or slightly 
 greater than that to the head of the sheet of water. 
 It was easy to paddle the canoe to either point, pro- 
 vided there was safety in doing so. But there re- 
 mained the likelihood of the Iroquois being on the 
 opposite shore until driven away by the approach 
 of the troops. They could remain until the soldiers 
 were almost upon them. 
 
300 Red Jacket. 
 
 If, therefore, Jack should set out to paddle across 
 the water, he was likely to run into a trap, for, see- 
 ing his approach, the Indians would wait in conceal- 
 ment until it was impossible for him to return. 
 His situation would be hopeless, if he was observed 
 (as was quite likely) by enemies on the shore he 
 was leaving, for then he would be caught between 
 two fires. 
 
 The other course was to follow the eastern side, 
 over the same route taken by. him and Jed the 
 evening before. But while, as it seemed to him, 
 he was less liable to discovery, he would necessarily 
 run into danger upon reaching the head of the lake, 
 where many of the hostiles were prowling, even 
 though they must be quite near the troops of 
 General Sullivan. 
 
 The final plan was to abandon the canoe, and at- 
 tempt to thread his way through the wilderness to 
 the army by passing around the head of Seneca 
 Lake. Any one of these three methods was of 
 necessity attended with extreme risk, and Jack Rip- 
 ley displayed only ordinary prudence when he sat 
 down by the canoe ancf tried to decide in his own 
 mind the best thing to do. 
 
 It would be tedious to follow the thread of his 
 thoughts, for they took a wide range, but the deci- 
 sion he reached was to tarry a while longer, and then 
 paddle with might and main for a point directly 
 
A Strange Meeting. 301 
 
 opposite. His hope was that by waiting until the 
 army was on the march again, he would have a 
 chance of reaching it by adopting the course named. 
 That he would be exposed to great danger, he 
 did not attempt to deny to himself; for, if it so 
 happened that he was descried by hostiles on the 
 shore he was leaving, they could open fire or pursue 
 him with a fair probability of capture before his 
 friends could help him. 
 
 But, without dwelling further upon his perplexi- 
 ties, suffice it to say that he set about carrying out 
 his decision. Seizing the prow of the canoe, he 
 began to shove it clear of the bank, intending to 
 leap into it and catch up the paddle, while the craft 
 was gliding clear. But, instead of carrying out his 
 purpose, he suddenly gripped the boat with both 
 hands, and drew it still farther up the shore, 
 snatched his rifle, and stood on the defensive. 
 
 At the critical moment, he heard the guttural ex- 
 clamation of an Indian, accompanied by the ripple 
 of a paddle. Another canoe was coming along the 
 shore, and would pass the same minute. Had he 
 been a few seconds earlier in shoving out his boat, 
 it would have been all over with him. As it was, it 
 looked very much as if he was caught in a snare. 
 
 But once more fortune was kind, for his act in 
 drawing up the craft screened it from discovery, 
 and, as he crouched down behind the prow of his 
 
302 "Red Jacket. 
 
 own craft, with weapon firmly grasped, he caught 
 only a momentary glimpse of the other canoe and 
 its occupants as it sped past on its way to the head 
 of the lake. 
 
 This incident, so nearly fatal in its consequences, 
 wrought a complete change in the plans of Jack 
 Ripley. In a certain sense, it warped the clear 
 judgment he had displayed in more than one critical 
 situation. He felt that he could place no trust in 
 the canoe. His enemies were more numerous in 
 his immediate neighborhood than he had supposed, 
 and by venturing out upon the open lake in the 
 daytime, he would bring his own destruction. 
 
 His decision, therefore, was to attempt to pick 
 his way back to the army overland, whereas, had he 
 given full time to the consideration of the question, 
 he would have seen that his wisest cpurse was to 
 stay where he was, either until darkness came again, 
 when he could make use of the boat, or until the 
 presence of the troops across the lake rendered it 
 safe for him to make a dash for them. 
 
 Perhaps it was only natural that the last shock 
 should render him nervously anxious to rejoin his 
 friends. Be that as it may, no more than fifteen 
 minutes had elapsed after the passage of the Indian 
 canoe, when holding his rifle in a trailing position 
 in his right hand, he turned his back upon the little 
 boat that had served him so well, and started 
 
A Strange Meeting. 303 
 
 through the mile of intervening wilderness to the 
 head of the lake, where the invading army was 
 working such mischief with the town and crops of 
 the Queen of the Senecas. 
 
 But Jed Stiffens himself could not have been 
 more cautious and guarded in his movements than 
 Jack Ripley. He literally advanced step by step, 
 often pausing to listen and peer into the surround- 
 ing twilight of the forest. He was in that highly 
 wrought condition that made him see danger when 
 none existed, and his progress was therefore slow 
 and labored. Frequently he crouched in the dense 
 undergrowth, and waited throughout the exciting 
 minutes for the passage of a foe who was nowhere 
 near. His gun was kept at a full cock all the time, 
 for he was resolved not to be caught off his guard, 
 but, if it should be necessary to go down, to sink 
 with colors flying. 
 
 It thus came about that he had passed two thirds 
 of the distance to the head of the lake without 
 the occurrence of anything serious, when he was 
 caught. 
 
 He had halted, under the impression that some 
 sound had reached him whose nature he did not 
 understand, nor was he able to determine the point 
 whence it came. Wh^e listening and trying to 
 solve the puzzle, it sounded again, directly behind 
 him, and, turning his head like a flash, he found 
 
304 Red Jacket. 
 
 himself confronted by a single person, and that per- 
 son a woman ! 
 
 She was dressed in a short calico dress, of gaudy 
 , color, and in anything but a state of tidiness. Be- 
 neath it her thin ankles showed, covered with brown 
 woollen stockings, and she wore coarse shoes. A 
 sash was gathered about her waist, and behind it 
 was thrust the handle of a tomahawk, whose blade 
 rested above. A thin red shawl was flung about her 
 shoulders and held in place in front by the left hand, 
 whose muscular fingers clasped it over the flat breast. 
 
 The head was bare of any artificial covering, but 
 the gray hair was luxuriant, and dangled in front 
 and at the back, where it descended to a length of 
 fully three feet. The face was that of a very 
 aged woman, for it was seamed with innumerable 
 wrinkles, and only one or two teeth showed when 
 she opened her mouth to speak. 
 
 The most notable point in her strange appearance 
 was her eyes, which were small and bead-like, and 
 overhung by shaggy eyebrows, black, and without 
 a gray hair visible. Beneath them the intensely 
 black eyes glittered like a serpent's, and, as she 
 fastened them upon the amazed Jack Ripley, they 
 sparkled and glowed with a hatred as deadly as that 
 of a wounded she-panther. 
 
CHAPTER XXX. 
 A STIRRING EXPERIENCE. 
 
 JACK RIPLEY recognized the singular looking 
 creature before him as Catharine Montour, 
 otherwise Queen Esther, of the Seneca branch of the 
 Six Nations. He had heard her described so often 
 that no doubt was in his mind.. The reader will 
 note that, since Jed Stiffens looked upon her the 
 previous night, she had procured an additional gar- 
 ment in the shawl, and her ugly knife had given 
 place to the equally murderous tomahawk, which 
 she was capable of handling with the expertness of 
 Brant or Red Jacket himself. 
 
 Jack's first anxiety, after the shock of the surprise, 
 was to know whether any of her friends were within 
 sight or easy call. His failure to discover them 
 was a great relief. His own gun was ready for in- 
 stant use, and he did not propose to be offered up a 
 sacrifice by another person, even though it was a 
 woman. 
 
 For a full minute the two stared silently at each 
 other, without the slightest movement on the part 
 
 of either. The old woman could not fail to observe 
 
 20 
 
 305 
 
3o6 Red Jacket. 
 
 that the youth held a cocked rifle so grasped that it 
 could be aimed and fired in a twinkling, and she 
 was therefore circumspect. 
 
 " Do you know who I am ? " she suddenly asked 
 in a low voice, that was by no means harsh and 
 whose accent was faultless. 
 
 A peculiar waggish emotion came over Jack Rip- 
 ley, probably the result of the reaction from the 
 great strain he had been under for the previous hour 
 or more. 
 
 "Yes; you 're the woman that killed over a 
 dozen men at Wyoming last summer, when they 
 could n't help themselves. What a brave old thing 
 you are, to dash out the brains of prisoners when 
 you had others to hold them fast for you! " 
 
 The wrinkled face glowed with fury. 
 
 "Yes; I did itj." she said, with indescribable 
 fierceness. " I wish I could do it to all of your 
 people! Do you see the smoke that is in the air, 
 and all through the woods, so that one can hardly 
 breathe. Do you know what that means ? ' ' 
 
 " It means that Catharine's Town is fast going 
 up in fire. It means that General Sullivan is giving 
 your people a taste of what you gave ours. But he 
 does not come when all your warriors are away. 
 They are at home or hiding in the woods. Why does 
 not Queen Esther rally them and drive back the in- 
 vaders ? Shall I tell the reason ? It is because you 
 
A Stirring Experience. 307 
 
 and they are cowards ! You can make war against 
 old men and women, and children but your hearts 
 sink when you see men before you. ' ' 
 
 ' ' You are brave to speak to a woman thus. The 
 beard is not yet grown on your face." 
 
 Jack Ripley gravely passed one hand along his 
 cheeks and over his chin, as if to test the truth of 
 this charge. With an odd smile, he replied : 
 
 " There are signs of a beard there, though you 
 may not see them. It '11 come in due time, and I 
 can wait. But hold on! " he said, warningly. 
 
 Watching her closely, he saw signs that indicated 
 she was about to utter a cry or signal intended to 
 bring some of her allies to the spot. 
 
 ' ' If you want to see a poor, humble private shoot 
 the life out of a queen, just let out a single yawp, or 
 try to bring some of your Indians here ! There are 
 not many of my people that would spare you as 
 long as I have. It is well that you hide yourself 
 where none of the frieijids of those you murdered 
 can reach you! I 'm watching you for the first 
 movement of a trick! If you want to deprive 
 the Senecas of their queen, just open thait pretty 
 mouth of yours and try to signal to some of the 
 Iroquois." 
 
 It must be admitted that Jack Ripley was personal 
 in his remarks, but he " had the drop " on Queen 
 Esther, and could not deny himself the privilege. 
 
3o8 Red Jacket. 
 
 though the time and place were anything but 
 befitting. 
 
 As for Catharine Montour, she could not repress 
 her burning hatred of the handsome youth who 
 flaunted her thus openly. She placed her thin right 
 hand on the handle of the tomahawk at her waist, 
 and took a step forward. 
 
 " Hold! Don't come any nearer! " warned the 
 youth. " I don't fancy your looks. I prefer a 
 rattlesnake to you ! ' ' 
 
 ' ' Ah ! if you would lay aside that gun, I would 
 wring your neck like a chicken, though I could 
 never wash the stain from my hands." 
 
 " I don't think I should be much afraid of that, 
 even if you are pretty good at wringing necks of 
 those that cannot help themselves. But I 'm a 
 pretty good-sized boy, and would be apt to make 
 trouble." 
 
 It struck Jack at that moment that Queen Esther 
 was looking at something behind him, and, fearing 
 that one of her friends was stealing upon him from 
 the rear, he turned his head for a second and glanced 
 thither but saw no one. 
 
 It was a clever trick of the woman, and one that 
 has been imitated many times since by shrewd men 
 when caught in a similar dilemma. Quick as was 
 the turning of his head and instant as was the bring- 
 ing of it back, it gave her the opportunity for which 
 
A Stirring Experience. . 309 
 
 she had manoeuvred. With lightning-like swiftness 
 she snatched the tomahawk from the girdle at her 
 waist, circled it over her head, and let it fly as 
 unerringly as an arrow, and with incredible force, 
 directly, at his face. 
 
 Not less quick was the youth in ducking. He 
 heard the terrible missile whizz with vicious swift- 
 ness over his crown, and, striking the trunk of a 
 hickory directly behind him, the blade was half- 
 buried in the solid wood, the handle quivering from 
 the violence of the impact. 
 
 In a twinkling he straightened up, and his rifle 
 was at his shoulder. Seeing the failure of her 
 frightful effort, Catharine Montour uttered a wild 
 shriek, and, whirling on her heel, dashed off at the 
 top of her speed. 
 
 Despite her age, she could run like a deer, and, 
 as she sped in and out among the trees, she dodged 
 from side to side, in the effort to disconcert the aim 
 of the youth, giving utterance to piercing cries as 
 she ran. 
 
 Jack Ripley could have brought her down with 
 the greatest ease, and there was a single moment 
 when he meditated doing so. But he did not fire, 
 for there was something unspeakably repugnant in 
 the thought of shooting an old woman, even though 
 she was the most ferocious of her sex. 
 
 But those cries of hers meant mischief for him, and, 
 
3IO Red Jacket. 
 
 while she Wcis leaping from side to side, and going 
 like a panic-stricken Indian, he also wheeled and 
 gave evidence of his attainments in the same line. 
 Thus two mortal enemies presented the extra- 
 ordinary sight of fleeing from each other at the 
 same moment at their most desperate speed. 
 
 One of the features of the unique situation was 
 that neither of the fugitives, as they may be con- 
 sidered, looked around for a time, since to do that, 
 when swiftness is the sole purpose of a runner, is 
 often fatal. As the immeasurably precious seconds 
 passed, without the discharge of the rifle that the 
 aged woman had seen levelled at her, she must have 
 felt a revival of hope, for, with every leap an in- 
 creased number of trees were interposed between 
 her and her enemy, and his aim must inevitably 
 become more uncertain. None the less, she kept 
 her yelling fully up to the first standard. 
 
 Meanwhile, Jack Ripley, as he used his legs for 
 all that was in them, was thinking hard. Although 
 comparatively near the head of the lake, he was cer- 
 tain that to maintain his headlong pace would carry 
 him inextricably into the power of the Iroquois. 
 Believing, too, that Catharine Montour had noted 
 the course he had taken, he ventured to look back, 
 after gaining a safe distance, to make sure he was 
 out of her field of vision. Assured of that, he 
 changed his line of flight abruptly ; and, instead of 
 
A Stirring Experience. 3 1 1 
 
 following a course parallel with the shore of the 
 lake, he headed for the lake itself. 
 
 The distance was so brief that a few minutes took 
 him to the shore, and, at the instant of doing so, he 
 discovered he was in for it again; for, directly in 
 front of him, was an Indian canoe with a single 
 occupant, who was in the very act of landing. He 
 was stepping from the boat when the noise made 
 by the feet of the youth caused him to look up, and 
 he saw him not a dozen paces away and coming like 
 a racehorse. • 
 
 The gun of the Iroquois still lay in the boat, and 
 he was about to reach for it, when Jack called in a 
 suppressed but fierce voice : 
 
 "Drop that! Clear out! I want that canoe! " 
 
 The Indian may not have been a profound Eng- 
 lish scholar, but he could not fail to understand the 
 meaning of this command. There was no opening 
 for his escape on shore, and he gave over his attempt 
 to recover his weapon ; but, as the only recourse left, 
 he gathered his muscles and, with a tremendous 
 bound, went far out into the lake and disappeared. 
 Like all his race, he was a powerful swimmer, and 
 his sole aim was to elude the foe bearing down upon 
 him. 
 
 Jack was very glad to have the Iroquois out of his 
 path, and, without waiting to see where his head 
 reappeared, he ran the canoe clear of the shore. 
 
312 Red Jacket. 
 
 sprang into it, and, dropping his gun beside the 
 other weapon, caught up the paddle. One sweep 
 spun the craft about, and he sent it skimming along 
 the bank toward the head of the lake, upon which 
 he had now fixed his hopes. 
 
 He was fairly going when the terrified Seneca, 
 having swum a goodly distance below the surface, 
 was forced to come up for a mouthful of air, the 
 depth of the lake close inshore giving him oppor- 
 tunity for swimming and diving. Unaware of the 
 change of position of the canoS, his crown rose 
 directly on the right of the boat, and within arm's 
 reach. Catching sight of the mass of black hair and 
 dripping eagle feathers, Jack Ripley brought down 
 the paddle with spiteful force upon the warrior's 
 crown. The victim was so startled that, pausing 
 only long enough to catch a half-breath, he went 
 down again, making sure that when he rose next 
 time, it was at a safe distance from the tormentor 
 who pursued him with so much malevolence. 
 
 He was successful and, scrambling to land, began 
 a series of yells after the style of Catharine Mon- 
 tour, and, like hers, intended to draw the attention 
 of his friends in the wood, though her calls had 
 ceased some time before. 
 
 There was no way of stopping these summonses, 
 and, without paying them attention. Jack Ripley 
 swung the ashen blade with all the skill of which he 
 
A Stirring Experience. 313 
 
 was master. It will be remembered that he was now 
 comparatively near the head of the lake, and he was 
 aiming for that point, hopeful that it was so close 
 to a strong body of troops that by leaping out of the 
 canoe and making a short run he could reach safety. 
 
 The conflagration of Catharine's Town was still 
 raging. The smoke at times was so dense and all- 
 pervading that it was difficult to breathe, while the 
 live sparks were continually dropping about him. 
 Several stinging points, like needle-pricks, apprised 
 Jack that some of them had landed on his neck and 
 hands, but he paid them no heed. Had the woods 
 been dry enough to burn, the whole country would 
 have been swept by flames. 
 
 One exasperating accompaniment of this was that 
 in places the smoke gathered in layers or strata, 
 and was so thick that not only did Jack's eyes 
 smart, as he paddled through them, but often he 
 could not see where he was going. Once or twice 
 he ran inshore, and then speedily found himself 
 farther out on the lake than he intended. 
 
 But he was making for the head of the sheet of 
 water, and it could not be far off. From the direc- 
 tion of the burning town came shouts and the sound 
 of gun-firing. Then the rattle of rifles was heard 
 on the bank to his left. He was wondering at the 
 cause of all this shooting, since manifestly it was 
 impossible for the Indians to make any organized 
 
314 Red Jacket. 
 
 resistance, when a splinter flew from the paddle 
 near his upper hand, and he heard the ping of a 
 bullet as it passed in front of his eyes. 
 
 " By gracious ! .they 're shooting at me ! " was the 
 startling conviction that came to him the same 
 moment. 
 
 The smoke was so heavy all about him that he 
 could not tell where the flying bullets came from, 
 except that they were from the shore he had left. 
 Not meaning to be diverted from his goal, he headed 
 the canoe farther out into the lake, with the hope of 
 getting beyond sight of the redskins who were using 
 him for a target. But going only a short distance, 
 he swerved again, and aiming for the upper part of 
 the lake, dipped the paddle deep, and swung it with 
 all the strength of his muscular arms. 
 
 Again there was a rattling fire, but inasmuch as 
 he saw no evidence of the bullets passing near him, 
 he hoped he was not serving once more as a target. 
 If he was wrong, the Iroquois were unmistakably 
 displaying poor markmanship that forenoon. 
 
 A brief while afterward. Jack turned the prow of 
 the boat toward land, and, driving it hard against 
 the shore, leaped out, caught up his own rifle, leav- 
 ing that of the Indian whom he had frightened 
 away. He had determined to abandon the boat, 
 and make a run for the brief space intervening be- 
 tween him and safety. 
 
A Stirring Experience. 315 
 
 To his dying day, General Sullivan maintained 
 that the arrival of Jack Ripley, at the end of the 
 flight we have described, was one of the most strik- 
 ing special providences in the career of that well- 
 known military leader. 
 
CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 A TIMELY ARRIVAL. 
 
 NOW that General Sullivan had fairly entered 
 upon his work, he displayed the same merci- 
 less vigor that he had shown from the first. 
 
 Like all his officers and men, he was astir at an 
 early hour. Before the torch was applied to Cath- 
 arine's Town, he and General Clinton walked 
 through the street, surveying with grim anticipa- 
 tion the pretty residences that were doomed soon 
 to go up in flame and smoke. They halted in front 
 of the handsome dwelling near the centre, of which 
 we have already given a description, and surveyed 
 the structure and its surroundings. 
 
 " That 's the home of Queen Esther," remarked 
 the commander. " Did I not know her terrible 
 character, and the hideous ferocity she has shown to 
 our race, I should feel a tinge of pity for her, for 
 she is a very old woman." 
 
 " Old in sin and wickedness," commented Clin- 
 ton, whose sternness of disposition equalled that of 
 his senior in command. ' ' The most unwise thing we 
 could do would be to show leniency toward her." 
 
 316 
 
A Timely Arrival. 3 1 7 
 
 " None is to be shown, — you may depend upon 
 that. If I could lay hands upon the Hecate, I 
 should make her a prisoner, and hold her as a hostage 
 for the Christian treatment of our own people. She 
 has a great deal of influence among the Senecas 
 and all the Six Nations. Were she and Red Jacket 
 dead, we should have little trouble with the 
 Iroquois." 
 
 General Sullivan beckoned to a group of soldiers 
 to approach. They came forward, and the leader of 
 the squad saluted. 
 
 " Begin on that building," said the General, 
 pointing to the " palace." " There seems to be no 
 wind, and you will have to start the fire in other 
 places, but we must show the absent Queen due 
 consideration," added Sullivan, with a smile. 
 
 Three of the men ran forward and stepped upon 
 the piazza fronting the house. The door was 
 locked, but several lusty kicks caused it to swing 
 backward on its hinges, and the men passed inside. 
 They had with them flint and steel and tinder, and 
 a few minutes later a thin, blue column of smoke 
 began curling through the open door. The crash 
 and jingle of glass followed, and the vapor poured 
 from the windows. 
 
 " All is going well," said Sullivan ; " and if we 
 do not move we shall find our position uncomfort- 
 able." 
 
3i8 Red Jacket. 
 
 The conflagration seemed to start from a dozen 
 different points at the same moment and, by the 
 time the two were fairly clear of the town, the 
 houses were one mass of roaring flame. 
 
 Just beyond the buildings the two officers sepa- 
 rated. Sullivan saw that everything was going 
 right, and, leaving his horse in charge of an aide, 
 he walked a little way to a piece of rising ground 
 near the lake which afforded him a better view of 
 the work of his devastating army. Although every- 
 thing seemed to be in inextricable confusion, as is 
 generally the case under similar circumstances, yet 
 his experienced eye told them that no further direc- 
 tions were required from him. His staff and assist- 
 ants could be depended upon to direct every action 
 with promptness and skill. 
 
 Taking a position so near the burning town that 
 he distinctly felt the additional warmth in the air. 
 General Sullivan folded his arms over his chest, and 
 watched the strange and stirring scene. With all 
 his military experience and skill, and in view of the 
 admirable manner in which he had brought his com- 
 mand thus far through the Indian country, it did 
 not occur to the officer that he was assuming any 
 personal risk in thus moving to one side, even for 
 so short a distance from his army. 
 
 The Iroquois, like sullen, wild beasts, were prowl- 
 ing through the surrounding woods, and the sight of 
 
I'v -■ wvs'i. 
 
 GENERAL SULLIVAN AND RED JACKET. 
 
 Pagesig. 
 
A Timely Arrival. 319 
 
 the conflagration so incensed them that many dis- 
 played more daring than at any time previous. 
 Shots were exchanged between the warriors and the 
 exposed troops, several of whom were injured, while 
 a still larger number of Indians were picked off by 
 the soldiers. 
 
 The space where General Sullivan was standing 
 was hardly half an acre in extent. Between him 
 and the burning town the course was comparatively 
 open, but a thin fringe of forest and undergrowth 
 intervened between him and the lake. He had 
 stood but a brief while in this position, when to his 
 amazement an Indian emerged from the wood in 
 the direction of the lake and approached him on a 
 swift, noiseless walk. 
 
 The sight of the Iroquois awoke the ofificer to the 
 risk he ran in taking this exposed position, for 
 nothing would have been easier than for the Seneca 
 to pick him off without the slightest warning. The 
 General laid his hand on his sword, and in his quick, 
 impulsive way confronted the savage. 
 
 " What do you want of me ?" he demanded. 
 
 As he asked the question, he recognized the 
 Indian as Red Jacket, who, contrary to his custom, 
 was unaccompanied by an interpreter. The exigency 
 of the situation forbade his making use of such a 
 convenience, and, despite his usual stoicism and 
 self-possession, it was plain he was laboring under 
 
320 Red Jacket. 
 
 great excitement. Such must have been the case, 
 for, otherwise, he would not have attempted to hold 
 a conversation in the language of his hated enemies. 
 General Sullivan was exasperated at sight of the 
 sachem, for he rightly suspected his errand. He 
 had learned the duplicity of the Seneca, who never 
 would have dared thus to expose himself to the 
 anger of the white men but for the protection that 
 had been extended to him by the commander of the 
 army. He was liable to be observed at any mo- 
 ment, and, had he been any one else, the probabili- 
 ties are that he would have been shot before he had 
 a chance to exchange a word with the American 
 officer. 
 
 Red Jacket stopped in his walk when a half-dozen 
 paces from the General, who angrily faced him. As 
 if to intimate that he was approaching in the spirit 
 of a flag of truce, he had left his rifle and hunting- 
 knife behind, but a tomahawk was at his girdle. 
 
 Heap bad! " remarked the Seneca, waving his 
 hand toward the burning town. 
 
 I suppose it is to you ; but to me and my men 
 it looks good. It will remind your people of 
 Wyoming, Schoharie, and Cherry Valley. ' ' 
 
 Red Jacket no see — he not dere." 
 This remark confirmed the belief of Sullivan, and 
 deepened his anger. He knew Red Jacket had ap- 
 proached him for some Selfish purpose of his own. 
 
A Timely Arrival. 321 
 
 He cared little what calamities came upon the rest 
 of his people, provided he escaped. 
 
 " I have heard that story before, and want to hear 
 no more of it. You have been with your people 
 ever since I started up the Susquehanna, and done 
 all you could to rouse the Six Nations to fight us. 
 I don't blame you for that, for that was your right, 
 and we were invading your country. But you are 
 the coward who stood behind and urged your men 
 to battle. You deserve punishment as much as 
 Queen Esther; and, what is more. Red Jacket, you 
 will receive no further consideration from me," 
 
 Instead of resenting these words, the Seneca said 
 in a low, pleading voice, which none knew better 
 than he how to assume : 
 
 " Kanadaseaga dere — Red Jacket lib dere." 
 
 He pointed down the lake in the direction of the 
 village he named, which was the capital of the 
 Senecas, and stood on the site of the present town 
 of Geneva. 
 
 " I learned that long ago, and because of that you 
 may be sure some of my men will pay it a visit and 
 treat it as they have treated Catharine's Town. We 
 shall not spare a dwelling, and I shall make sure 
 that yours is the first to burn. ' ' 
 
 " Red Jacket friend ob white man — he " 
 
 The impetuous Sullivan could hold his temper no 
 longer. Instead of making reply to the Seneca, he 
 
32 2 Red Jacket. 
 
 whirled angrily on his heel, and started to walk 
 away, as notice that he would hold no further con- 
 versation with him. 
 
 The instant his back was turned, the painted face 
 of Red Jacket became like a demon's. All the 
 fierce hatred of his nature flamed to a white heat. 
 Here was the commander of the American army 
 with his back toward him ! In a twinkling the sav- 
 age could drive his tomahawk into his head or body, 
 and then dart off into the forest. True, there 
 would be some risk, but in the confusion he had a 
 good chance of getting away before his deed was 
 discovered. 
 
 And what an exploit for Red Jacket! How 
 Cornplanter, Brant, and the rest would become 
 dumb in his presence when it was learned that he, 
 Red Jacket, had slain General Sullivan in personal 
 combat! No opportunity could be more favorable 
 than that which was now suddenly and unexpectedly 
 presented to him. 
 
 These thoughts, and the sachem's resolution 
 crystallized in the twinkling of an eye. He grasped 
 his tomahawk, which none could hurl with more 
 deadly force and accuracy than he. But, at the 
 moment he was about to draw and launch the 
 missile, he glanced behind him to make sure his 
 line of retreat was open. 
 
 It was not, for at that very moment Jack Ripley, 
 
A Timely Arrival. 323 
 
 completing his desperate run from the margin of 
 the lake, where he had leaped out of his canoe, 
 emerged into the clearing, rifle in hand, and stopped 
 short at the extraordinary sight before him. 
 
 It was impossible at the first glance to catch its 
 full meaning. The Seneca was quick to grasp the 
 situation. He knew that if he hurled the toma- 
 hawk, as he was on the point of doing, he would be 
 shot dead by the young American, who probably 
 would fire while the sachem was in the act of driving 
 the missile into the body of the officer. 
 
 Something in the expression of the Seneca's face 
 suddenly impressed General Sullivan, before he had 
 taken five steps, when, realizing his own rashness, 
 he drew his sword and whirled to confront the one 
 whom he thoroughly distrusted. He saw Jack Rip- 
 ley just beyond, his rifle half-raised, and evidently 
 with a suspicion of the truth. Red Jacket's hand 
 was on the partly drawn weapon, when, quick to 
 note his " flash in the pan," he shoved the imple- 
 ment back into his girdle, strode hastily to the 
 forest, and vanished. 
 
 " Give me your hand, Jack! " was the impulsive 
 exclamation of General Sullivan, as he strode toward 
 the astonished youth. " You saved my life! " 
 
 " I am not so sure of that," replied Jack, to 
 whom matters were not yet fully clear. " I don't 
 quite understand what 's been going on." 
 
324 Red Jacket. 
 
 " If you don't, I do. I had snubbed Red Jacket, 
 and was walking away from him. He was so 
 angered that he was in the act of drawing his toma- 
 hawk to bury into my head or back, when I suppose 
 he glanced around to see whether the way was open 
 for his escape. He happened to see you, and that 
 was enough, or, rather, too much for him." 
 
 The incensed youth looked toward the wood, 
 where the Seneca had disappeared. His temper 
 was fully roused. 
 
 " If I had known that, I should have shot him 
 any way. I will do it yet !" 
 
 He started on a run after the sachem, for never 
 since the reader has made the acquaintance of the 
 young patriot was he so enraged over any incident. 
 But General Sullivan sternly called him back. 
 
 Have you lost your wits ? How far could you 
 follow him without some of his people shooting you 
 down ? ' ' 
 
 " Sartinly. Don't try to be a bigger fool than 
 you are now, 'cause you 're a big 'nough one 
 already." 
 
 It was Jed Stiffens who stalked into the opening, 
 coming from the direction of the burning town. 
 He was prosecuting his despairing search for his 
 young friend, when providentially he came upon 
 him, a few minutes after his flight from the harass- 
 ing Iroquois. 
 
A Timely Arrival. 325 
 
 Jack was slightly bewildered by the turn of mat- 
 ters. He had just' awakened to the fact that it was 
 his opportune arrival that prevented Red Jacket 
 killing General Sullivan, when, as he viewed it, the 
 whole thing was spoiled by his own idiotic attempt 
 to pursue the Seneca, from whose people he had just 
 effected one of the narrowest escapes conceivable. 
 
 Ashamed, he was on the point of apologizing, 
 when his old friend the scout joined them, and in- 
 dulged in his personal remark, that was not calcu- 
 lated to improve matters. 
 
 " None of that, Jed," said the commander. 
 ' ' This young man has been the means of saving my 
 life, and I cannot permit any slur upon him in my 
 presence." 
 
 " Wal," was the imperturbable response ; "there 's 
 a good many kind of fools, Gin'ral ; and to my mind 
 the wust is the head of a army that walks off into 
 the wood, knowin' that the varmints is all 'round 
 him, and, by doin' the same as aforesaid, says to 
 the aforesaid varmints, ' Here I is; if you don't 
 want to plug me with a bullet, why I hain't no 
 'bjection to you splittin' me apart with a tomahawk.' 
 Gin'ral, what do you think of that sort of fool ? " 
 
 A most impudent question, indeed. But, though 
 the face of General Sullivan flushed, he could not 
 be angry at the grinning Jed Stiffens, who " paused 
 for a reply." 
 
326 Red Jacket. 
 
 I think it is wise for us to make a change of 
 base. As for you. Jack, be assured that the favor 
 you did me this morning shall not be forgotten. 
 Come, my friends, we must not linger here." 
 
CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 " THE LAST OF THE SENEGAS." 
 
 IT is useless to dwell upon the further particulars 
 of the historic invasion of the country of the 
 Six Nations by General Sullivan, in the summer and 
 early autumn of 1779. The work was so similar to 
 that already described that the story would be un- 
 interesting because of its sameness. 
 
 The capital of the Senecas, Schoharie, near Cayuga 
 Lake, Canandaigua, at the head of the sheet of water 
 of the same name, and Honeoye, were laid in ashes 
 without any resistance on the part of the inhabitants. 
 Entering the lovely valley of the Genesee, the In- 
 dians, having hidden their women and children in 
 the forest, lay in wait on the ilais near the head of 
 Conesus Lake, but were quickly put to flight. 
 Upon approaching Little Beard's town. Lieutenant 
 Boyd went forward to reconnoitre. As stated in 
 another place, his party was ambushed by Brant and 
 his warriors, nearly every man, killed and Lieuten- 
 ant Boyd captured and tortured to death. 
 
 General Sullivan then spread his troops over the 
 valley, laying waste the splendid fields of grain, 
 
 327 
 
328 Red Jacket. 
 
 shooting the cattle, destroying forty towns, among 
 which was Genesee, the capital of the Six Nations, 
 and turning a fertile region into a black, smoulder- 
 ing waste. So complete was the destruction, that 
 many of the Indians perished of hunger during the 
 following winter. The American commander's 
 intention was to push westward and capture the 
 English fort at Niagara, the centre of British and 
 Indian intrigue ; but he advanced so slowly that he 
 was obliged to turn back without accomplishing this 
 desirable purpose. 
 
 The blow to the Six Nations was a terrific one, 
 but they were not destroyed and, before many 
 months passed, renewed their outrages against the 
 exposed settlements, though not to the extent that 
 would have been the case but for Sullivan's devas- 
 tating visit. 
 
 A strange fact must be mentioned. The Iroquois 
 knew all this had been done by the direct command 
 of General Washington, whom they called the Town 
 Destroyer, and yet their veneration for that remark- 
 able man seemed never to diminish. The belief 
 prevailed among the Iroquois that he was the only 
 white man that ever was allowed to enter heaven. 
 According to their legend, he occupies a mansion at 
 the entrance to the happy hunting grounds, walking 
 back and forth in full uniform, while the faithful In- 
 dians, as they pass him, bow low in respectful silence. 
 
" The Last of the Senecas." 329 
 
 On the charred ruins of their burned towns, some 
 of the Indians buiU a few huts, and eked out a mis- 
 erable existence until the dismal winter — one of the 
 severest of the century — had passed. The others 
 fled to Niagara, where the garrison gave them what 
 scant succor was at their command. 
 
 General Sullivan, on his return, arrived at Easton, 
 Pa. , about the middle of October, having been ab- 
 sent five and a half months, traversing nearly three 
 hundred miles over mpuntains, through forests, 
 across swamps and rivers, and amid hostile Indians, 
 with a comparatively trifling loss of his men. He 
 received the thanks of Congress for his work. As 
 has been stated. Colonel Daniel Brodhead, starting 
 from Pittsburg, destroyed a number of Indian towns, 
 and returned without losing a member of his 
 command. 
 
 A few words may be added concerning General 
 Sullivan. He never forgot his obligation to Jack 
 Ripley, and, on his recommendation, the young 
 patriot was made a first lieutenant before he reached 
 the age of seventeen years. At the same time, he 
 wrote a letter to his father, Colonel Ripley, and to 
 General Washington, in which he referred to the 
 young man in the warmest terms of admiration. 
 
 It was said at the opening of this work that Gen- 
 eral John Sullivan was an officer of unequal ability. 
 He cannot be ranked among the best generals of 
 
330 Red Jacket, 
 
 the Revolution, though he was a fine patriot, a 
 good soldier, and did excellent service. His impul- 
 siveness, his persistency in enforcing his own views 
 upon Congress, his strenuous complaints when he 
 did not conceive himself rightly used, and his out- 
 spoken condemnation of many of the acts of the 
 law-making body, made him unpopular with the 
 members, and he would have been deprived of his 
 command but for the influence of Washington. 
 
 His health had suffered somewhat on his Indian 
 
 • 
 
 campaign, and, not feeling satisfied with his treat- 
 ment, he resigned. Congress promptly accepting his 
 resignation. Upon his return home, he resumed 
 the practice of law, and was immediately elected to 
 Congress, in which body he took his seat in 1780. 
 He withdrew the following year, and resumed his 
 law practice at Durham, New Hampshire, where 
 he made his home. He was appointed Attorney- 
 General of the State in 1783, helped to frame the 
 State constitution, and was chosen a member of the 
 Council. He was elected Governor in 1786, re- 
 elected the next year, and again in 1789. When 
 Washington was President, he appointed him Judge 
 of the District of New Hampshire, which office he 
 filled until his death, in January, 1795. 
 
 After the conclusion of the campaign against the 
 Six Nations, Jack Ripley joined the army under the 
 immediate command of Washington, where, greatly 
 
" The Last of the Senecas." 331 
 
 to his delight, he was brought into close contact 
 with his father. The two passed safely through the 
 final campaign at Yorktown, where the brilliant ser- 
 vices of the young man made him a captain, and 
 won the promotion of brigadier-general for his 
 father. Our last words regarding these two admir- 
 able characters will be found in the succeeding 
 chapter. 
 
 In recalling what has been written about Red 
 Jacket, sachem and orator of the Senecas, we 
 are aware that much of it has not been of a 
 pleasing nature, but it was all true, and charac- 
 teristic of that extraordinary man. He lacked the 
 unselfish ambition of King Philip and Pontiac, 
 and had none of the ability of Tecumseh, who 
 was undoubtedly the greatest American Indian that 
 ever lived. 
 
 Red Jacket had the one merit of understanding 
 his own deficiencies. Cornplanter, Brant, and 
 others rallied him to his face on his cowardice, and 
 he did not deny it. The following incident is 
 quoted from the Life of Brant, by Colonel William 
 L. Stone: 
 
 " During the Revolutionary war he had, on some 
 occasion, exhorted his followers to behave with 
 courage in an engagement expected to take place, 
 projnising that he would himself be found in the 
 hottest of the fight. But when the engagement 
 
332 Red Jacket. 
 
 came on, Red Jacket was missing, and was found 
 during the battle cutting up a cow belonging to an 
 Indian, which he had killed. One day, when dining 
 at my house [Thomas Morris] with Captain Brant, 
 Cornplanter told the story as if the act had been 
 committed by some other Indian. He and Brant 
 laughed exceedingly at the anecdote and at Red 
 Jacket's confusion. The latter attempted to join 
 in the laugh, but was evidently very much embar- 
 rassed." 
 
 It was because of tjiis incident that Captain 
 Joseph Brant, in a letter to his friend, the Duke of 
 Northumberland, in 1805, referred to Red Jacket 
 as "Cow Killer." 
 
 Of the Seneca's duplicity and double dealing 
 there are too many authentic instances for it to be 
 doubted. It is not worth while to recall them. In 
 our references to him we have taken some slight 
 liberties, which may be conceded to be the privilege 
 of the story-writer. Red Jacket was not a sachem 
 throughout the Sullivan campaign, that distinction 
 coming to him some time later ; but his great ability 
 had already made him a man of vast influence among 
 his people, and, though the title may not have been 
 technically his, yet to all intents and purposes he 
 was a sachem. 
 
 When once asked if he was a warrior, the Seneca 
 replied, " I am an orator — I was born an orator, ' ' 
 
" The Last of the Senecas." 333 
 
 and it is as such that he will always be remembered 1 
 and honored, for we can but repeat the statement 
 already made, that he was unquestionably the 
 greatest orator ever produced by his race. 
 
 We have referred to him, as have many writers, 
 as " The Last of the Senecas," which, in point of 
 fact, is a misnomer, since the Senecas are probably 
 as numerous to-day as ever in their history, and 
 many have been living for years upon their fine 
 reservation in Western New York. But the senti- 
 ment intended is that the tribe has never produced 
 an orator since the death of Red Jacket that can be 
 compared with him. 
 
 Peace was made with the Six Nations in 1784, 
 when many of them emigrated to Canada. They 
 fought on the side of the Americans in the War of 
 1812, with the exception 6T a portion in Ohio, who 
 joined the hostiles in that section. They emigrated 
 to the Indian Territory in 1831, but the rest re- 
 mained in New York. 
 
 The wise Washington knew of Red Jacket's 
 genius, and of his great and growing iniluence 
 among his people. His aim was to win him over to 
 the side of civilization, 'and thereby gain his assist- 
 ance in the improvement of his people, and their 
 elevation from their degrading barbarism. Since 
 Red Jacket was an enemy, it was necessary to strike 
 at him, but Washington requested General Sullivan 
 
334 Rsd Jacket. 
 
 to extend all consideration to him that was fitting 
 in the peculiar condition of affairs. 
 
 Although the incidents narrated may make it seem 
 that these efforts were unsuccessful, yet they were 
 not wholly so. Red Jacket always retained a ven- 
 eration for the Father of his Country, and was one 
 of those who believed he was the only white man 
 admitted to heaven. In 1792, during the Presi- 
 dency of Washington, Red Jacket 'headed a delega- 
 tion of his tribe which visited Philadelphia. He 
 made a number of speeches, all of which were 
 creditable to his genius. It was on this occasion 
 that Washington presented him with a fine silver 
 medal, bearing the President's likeness. Red Jacket 
 was very proud of it, and wore it conspicuously to 
 his death. 
 
 He remained a friend* of the American people 
 through the remainder of his life, for he saw that it 
 was folly and madness to contend against a nation 
 so immeasurably superior in strength to his own. 
 But in one respect he was unchangeable. He was 
 a pagan at heart, and immovably opposed to Christ- 
 ianity. When, in later years, his wife became a 
 Christian, he refused to live' with her, though they 
 were afterwards reconciled. 
 
 His replies to the arguments of the missionaries 
 were ingenious and able, but it is a sad fact that his 
 most powerful logic was when he pointed out the 
 
" The Last of the Sfenecas." 335 
 
 inconsistencies of the professing Christians, and 
 showed how greatly the Indians had suffered and 
 how much they had been degraded by contact with 
 the whites. 
 
 Red Jacket furnished proof in his own person of 
 the moral injury resulting from his acquaintance 
 with the white people, for he became fond of strong 
 drink, and when he was in middle life gave way to 
 frequent debauchery. When selected to make a 
 speech upon an important occasion, he would do so 
 in his earnest and impressive manner, and an hour 
 later be found helplessly intoxicated. Regarding 
 the peculiarity of his wonderful gift of oratory, it 
 was said that although those who were ignorant of 
 his language could not fully appreciate the force 
 and beauty of his speeches, when received through 
 the medium of an interpreter — generally coarse and 
 clumsy — yet such was the peculiar gracefulness of 
 his person, attitudes and action, and the mellow 
 tones of his Seneca dialect, and such the astonish- 
 ing effects produced on that part of the auditory 
 who did fully understand them, and whose souls 
 appeared to be engrossed and borne away with the 
 orator, that he was listened to by all with perfect 
 delight. His figures were so sublime, so apposite, 
 so beautiful, that the interpreters often said the 
 English language was not rich enough to allow of 
 doing him justice. 
 
336 Red Jacket. 
 
 When his children had died of consumption, an 
 old lady friend, who had known Red Jacket from 
 his youth, expressed her sympathy for him. Fixing 
 his black eyes upon the face of the lady, he replied : 
 
 ' ' Red Jacket was once a great man and in favor 
 with the Great Spirit. He was a lofty pine among 
 the smaller trees of the forest. But after years 
 of glory he degraded himself by drinking the fire- 
 water of the white man. The Great Spirit has 
 looked upon him in anger, and His lightning has 
 stripped the pine of its branches." 
 
 The condition of the chief became so degraded 
 because of his intemperate habits that at a Council 
 of the Senecas, called for that purpose in Septem- 
 ber, 1827, he was formally deposed from his chief- 
 taincy. As stated elsewhere, the first three names 
 attached to this extraordinary document were those 
 of Red Jacket's former partisans — ^Young King, 
 Captain Pollard, and Little Billy. 
 
 This indignity roused in the tottering old man all 
 the fire and eloquence of his greatest days. In an 
 appeal to the Council he swept everything before 
 him, and he was restored to his former rank by a 
 unanimous vote. This was the greatest of his many 
 signal triumphs, and as an orator stamped him as 
 " The Last of the Senecas." 
 
 The monument erected over his remains bears the 
 following inscription : 
 
"The Last of the Senecas." 337 
 
 SA-GO-YE-WAT-HA, 
 (he-keeps-them-awake,) 
 
 RED JACKET, 
 
 CHIEF OF THE 
 
 WOLF TRIBE OF THE SENECAS, 
 
 THE FRIEND AND PROTECTOR OF HIS PEOPLE, 
 
 DIED JAn'y 20, 1830, 
 
 AGED 78 YEARS. 
 
CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 A MEMORABLE EVENING. 
 
 ON a cool, crisp autumn evening, toward the 
 close of the century, a group of three men 
 sat in front of the roaring hickory-wood fire, in the 
 spacious sitting room at Mount Vernon. Two of 
 them were visitors, and the third was the host, 
 General George Washington. 
 
 The fame of the peerless patriot was complete and 
 world-spread. The dominant, all-controlling spirit 
 of the Revolution, the first President of the Repub- 
 lic, was nearing the end of a career, the most hon- 
 orable in all history ; the quiet home-life for 
 which he had yearned through the stormy days of 
 the past had come to him at last, and he was con- 
 tent, happy, and satisfied. 
 
 Distinguished men, not only of his own country but 
 from across the Atlantic, made their pilgrimages to 
 that modest home in order to meet face to face and 
 converse with the Father of his Country, — the man 
 of transcendant military and civic ability, who was 
 unselfish and without ambition, save for the good 
 of the land which he loved better than his life, 
 
 338 
 
A Memorable Evening. 339 
 
 who gave his inestimable services without pay, who 
 scorned self-aggrandizement, who kindly but firmly 
 refused a third election to the presidency after hav- 
 ing been twice the unanimous choice of his admiring 
 citizens. This wonderful patriot was now a humble 
 Virginia farmer, never so satisfied as when in the 
 field with his toiling workmen, or sitting by his 
 cheerful fire conversing with his old comrades of the 
 Revolution, recalling the days that tried men's, 
 souls, when all but him believed the sun of liberty 
 had set, and when he alone, with unfaltering vision 
 and faith, saw the triumph that was certain to come 
 to his country. 
 
 Washington was now an old man. He had the 
 same magnificent frame that made him the greatest 
 of athletes in his young manhood; but the grand 
 proportions had shrunken somewhat, his step had 
 lost a part of its elasticity, and when he read a 
 paper or letter he was obliged to use spectacles, as 
 befits those of his years. 
 
 The doors of Mount Vernon were never closed, 
 for every one was welcome. The Southerners have 
 always been the soul of hospitality, and Washington 
 was their chief. His manner on this evening, when 
 Lady Washington had bidden her visitors good- 
 night and withdrawn to her apartments, showed his 
 pleasure in the company of the two men, whose 
 conversation ranged over many subjects, but centred 
 
340 Red Jacket. 
 
 mainly upon the days when they were comrades in 
 arms. 
 
 The elder of the callers was about the age of 
 Washington, but was better preserved ; for no other 
 man had ever carried so mountainous a load as he 
 and survived. He was remarkably handsome, with 
 regular features, a complexion as fair as a woman's, 
 erect, military carriage, and all the grace and cour- 
 tesy of a gentleman of the old school. He was 
 dressed with good taste, and, despite the general 
 and widespread poverty of the country, was evi- 
 dently in good circumstances. 
 
 The striking likeness between him and his com- 
 panion left no doubt that they were father and son. 
 The latter was approaching middle life, and was as 
 attractive physically as the massive Washington at 
 his age. He had the same classic features as his 
 parent, but the dark hair and moustache showed 
 none of the gray hairs that were plentifully sprinkled 
 among those of his father, while his polished man- 
 ner proved the excellent training received in his 
 own home. 
 
 The elder was General Horatio Ripley, and the 
 son was Captain Jack Ripley, our old friend and 
 acquaintance, and their visit was in response to 
 several urgent invitations from Mount Vernon. 
 
 It would be entertaining to give the entire con- 
 versation, which ran far into the evening, but we 
 
A Memorable Evening. 341 
 
 have space for only a portion, that without effort on 
 the part of any one finally drifted back to the time 
 when Jack, at the age of sixteen years, eagerly avail- 
 ing himself of the permission of his parent, kissed his 
 mother (still living and in good health), and tramped 
 many miles through Central New York, by a round- 
 about course, to join General Sullivan in his expedi- 
 tion against the Iroquois or Six Nations. 
 
 " My old friend, Jed Stiffens, visited me some 
 weeks ago," remarked Washington; " no one could 
 be more welcome. Now that he has married, and 
 become a sedate old farmer like myself, few unac- 
 quainted with his history would suspect that he was 
 the most remarkable scout, so far as my knowledge 
 extends, connected with our army at any time 
 during the Revolution. His woodcraft was often 
 incredible, and the strangest part of it all was that, 
 throughout his perilous career, he was never seri- 
 ously wounded." 
 
 " He was no more exposed, sir, than you," re- 
 marked Jack; " and you were not harmed." 
 
 " God protects those who have a divine mission 
 to perform," were the reverent words of General 
 Ripley. " That Jed incurred great risk is beyond 
 question, but his wonderful woodcraft made it less 
 than would be supposed ; while you, my dear 
 General, were the 'target again and again of Indian 
 sharpshooters, as at Braddock's massacre, and of 
 
342 Red Jacket. 
 
 the best marksmen in the British army, as at Prince- 
 ton, Monmouth, and many other places. ' ' 
 
 Seated in front of the crackling logs, Washington 
 looked thoughtfully into the cheerful blaze. It was 
 not the first time that substantially the same remark 
 had been made in his hearing, and his own religious 
 nature inclined him to believe it was true ; for had 
 he not been miraculously preserved through all 
 manner of perils, from his thousand-mile journey 
 through the wilderness, across the province of Vir- 
 ginia, with his message to the French commander, 
 more than forty years before, to the close of the 
 Yorktown campaign, that brought independence to 
 America ? And for what purpose was the boon 
 granted to him when it was denied to multitudes of 
 others ? 
 
 ' ' Perhaps you are right, ' ' he said, after a minute's 
 musing. " Looking back over those eventful years, 
 and through my administration, I can see many, ah, 
 many errors, that I have made, but I am sure my 
 countrymen will give me credit for integrity of pur- 
 pose in what I did." 
 
 " So will all coming generations who ever hear 
 the name of Washington," said General Ripley, 
 with moisture in his eyes and a gentle tremulous- 
 ness in his voice. 
 
 " I am grateful — I am more than satisfied. My 
 reward is beyond my deserts ; but, after all, the true 
 
A Memorable Evening. 343 
 
 iieroes were the men who starved, dressed in rags, 
 shivered in winter, panted in summer, without pay, 
 and who underwent every possible privation and 
 suffering for their country. Some of them were 
 mere boys, impatient for their fathers' permission 
 to shoulder their muskets and march forth to risk 
 their lives, and who seized such permission the very 
 day and hour it was granted." 
 
 That there might be no mistake as to this allusion, 
 Washington, with the firelight falling full upon his 
 benignant countenance, looked directly at Jack and 
 smiled. The words came so unexpectedly that the 
 fellow blushed furiously (a pleasing habit that still 
 clung to him), and fidgeted in his seat. He tried to 
 think of something to say in the way of parrying so 
 direct a compliment, but could not, and his father 
 came to his relief, or rather to his more complete 
 discomfiture. 
 
 " Jack deserves all the praise you have given 
 him, General. You have described just what he 
 did, though plenty of others were equally patriotic, 
 and you know he fought under our eyes at York- 
 town. ' ' 
 
 Poor Jack was desperate. He must say some- 
 thing to stop all this, and he did it in the most 
 awkward manner conceivable, by an abrupt question 
 that had nothing whatever to do with the matter 
 under discussion. 
 
344 Red Jacket. 
 
 " Did Jed Stiffens ever say anything to you, 
 General, about Red Jacket, the Seneca chieftain, 
 sparing my life after taking me prisoner ? ' ' 
 
 Washington laughed quite heartily at the comical 
 embarrassment of his young friend, but he could 
 not refuse to go to his relief. 
 
 " He did; he claimed to understand Red Jacket 
 as well as any one could understand him, and I 
 thought I had a fair knowledge of his character ; but 
 Jed confessed that he could never make out why he 
 decided to set you free when you were helplessly in 
 his power. ' ' 
 
 "Jed overheard him refer very complimentarily 
 to my father." 
 
 " That might have been genuine with most In- 
 dians, but it was not with Red Jacket. He hated 
 all white people intensely, though he has become 
 a good friend to us since. There must have been 
 some other reason for his leniency to you. If you 
 can enlighten me, I pray you to do so, for I confess 
 that I have formed considerable curiosity on the 
 subject." 
 
 It was Jack Ripley's turn: and throwing back his 
 head, he made the big room ring with his merriment. 
 
 " The most unaccountable thing to me is that, 
 with all of Jed's woodcraft, he never suspected the 
 truth, which was as plain as the nose on his face. I 
 meant to have a little sport with him over it, but it 
 
A Memorable Evening. 345 
 
 had almost passed from my mind. I will not let 
 him off easily when we meet again, for you know 
 his farm is close to ours. ' ' 
 
 " Yes ; he told me your father presented him with 
 a hundred acres. ' ' 
 
 " The rascal! " exclaimed General Ripley, with a 
 start. " I cautioned him particularly that he was 
 never to say a word of that to any one. I have a 
 great mind " 
 
 " No, you have n't, General," interrupted Wash- 
 ington, reaching across from his chair, and laying his 
 hand familiarly on the shoulder of his friend. " Jed 
 did n't tell me until after he ha;J talked a while. 
 I accused you of doing that very thing, and the 
 truthful fellow could not deny it. I suspected you 
 from the first. ' ' 
 
 " And why did you suspect me ? " 
 
 " Because, my dear General, it was just like you. 
 It was your nature; but," he added, "we are off 
 the subject. Captain, be good enough to clear up 
 that little mystery we were talking about a minute 
 ago." ^ 
 
 " Red Jacket was looking directly in my face, 
 and, though I could not comprehend his words, he 
 was denouncing me and my father and uttering in 
 his high-flown language my condemnation to death. 
 I was certain of that from his manner. I was 
 watching him closely, when, for the fraction of a 
 
346 Red Jacket. 
 
 second he glanced, by pure accident, or perhaps in 
 obedience to some subtle impulse, to the side of the 
 clearing where we had halted. Instinctively and 
 with the same swiftness I darted a look at the same 
 point. As I did so, I saw the gleam of the barrel 
 of a rifle, pointed from behind a tree full at the 
 chief. He had caught sight of it, and knew what it 
 meant. The trigger of that rifle would be pressed 
 the instant he made the first movement against me, 
 and Red Jacket knew it. Taking the cue like a 
 flash, and so quickly that no one beside myself and 
 he understood why, he changed his words to praise 
 of my father, and declared that my life shoiild be 
 spared because of his friendship for him. It was a 
 single beam of sunlight that had told him the mo- 
 mentous secret, and with astonishing cunning he 
 took instant advantage of it. Had he not glanced 
 toward the point, or had he done so a moment later 
 or earlier, he would not have made the life-and- 
 death discovery. Then he raised his voice so that 
 the listening Jed should not miss a word of his 
 revised speech, and set me free." 
 
 " And Jed Stiffens never suspected the truth ? " 
 asked the surprised Washington. 
 
 " No; it was not merely Red Jacket's lightning- 
 like quickness in availing himself of the knowledge, 
 but his amazement was so well counterfeited, when 
 directly afterward Jed and his companions stepped 
 
A Memorable Evening. 1^47 
 
 forth, that the deception was complete. Thfe old 
 scout was outwitted by the Seneca sachem." 
 
 " And why," asked Jack's father, " did you 
 never tell Jed the truth ? " / 
 
 " General Washington had expressed to General 
 Sullivan his wish that consideration should be shown 
 to Red Jacket. Jed disliked the Seneca. As it 
 was, he came near shooting him more than once, 
 for he thoroughly despised him. I was afraid that, 
 if I revealed Red Jacket's duplicity, it might in- 
 crease his danger from the ill-will of the scout. 
 There is no reason to keep the secret longer, and 
 you may be sure that I shall have some quiet fun in 
 rallying Jed on his blindness, which, after all, is not 
 to be wondered at." 
 
 " It was a remarkable experience," commented 
 Washington, " and your course reflects credit upon 
 your motives." 
 
 At a late hour the reminiscences of the three came 
 to an end, and they bade one another good-night 
 and withdrew to their apartments. On the morrow. 
 General Ripley and his son bade Washington fare- 
 well, and, returning to their home, never saw him 
 again, for in the last month of the year 1799 the 
 great man quietly breathed his last. 
 
 THE END.