Three Young Pioneers Part 14

"I am still expecting some troops," he said, "but as soon as these arrive, I shall march out to prevent our foes from getting too near the settlements. You boys, of course, will follow me, because you are well acquainted with the country and the ways of the Indians.

Besides, you speak the Mohican and Pequot language, and that is worth a great deal. In the meanwhile, you shall be my personal guests, and whatever you need, shall be given you. You shall eat and sleep in the officers' tents."

Fred and Matthew at once joined the troops, and drilled with them.

Among the soldiers they found many boys, who were not much older than they, and so they had good companions, with whom they romped, played, discussed warfare methods, and diverted themselves in a profitable manner in the few hours of leisure left to them.

Old John Rawlins could, of course, not take part in the work of the soldiers, but there was nevertheless much for him to do. His recovery was rapid, and while he still limped somewhat, he was of great a.s.sistance to the quartermaster in distributing and managing the supplies.

Agnes, who was a born missionary, soon found occasion to exert her talents. In the fort there were gathered not only men, but also women and children, and the latter she gathered into little groups and instructed them in the Bible. For this the mothers were very grateful, for the children now had something worthwhile to do, and quarrels and strifes were thus obviated. In short, everybody said that the three children proved themselves valuable to the inhabitants of the fort in many ways, and soon the topic of general conversation was nothing else than their varied and useful activity.

But the longer John Mason waited, the less could he repress the strong desire of his men to go and fight the Indians. News arrived every day of settlers captured and tortured to death, and the blood of the soldiers boiled with wrath as they heard of this.

So finally when October came, and the ground was frozen and covered with snow, the troops set out, led by faithful Mohican guides, to attack the Pequots in their own village. From a European point of view the army presented a pitiable appearance, being little more than a rabble of men.

But they all burned with a desire to punish the Indians, and every one of them could handle his gun with precision.

Slowly and carefully the whites proceeded to the Indian village at Mystic, where the fierce Pequot chief Sa.s.sacus had gathered almost a thousand Indians, the majority of whom could fight.

The Indian village was well concealed in a huge swamp, and had not the ground been frozen, the white men could never have approached it. But the cold winter, of which usually the colonists stood in dread, now proved their best friend, for they could march over the hard ground with ease and reach the Indian village in spite of the swamp which surrounded it.

One day, at noon, it was reported to Captain Mason that they had almost reached the village of Mystic. The troops were gathered in the thick woods, in a little valley, which shut them off from the inquisitive eyes of the Pequot scouts. It was a cold, unpleasant day, and a fierce storm was raging, which drove the sharp, icy flakes into the faces of the men as they moved forward.

Hurriedly John Mason called together his officers and discussed with them the matter of attack. Both the officers and the men desired to go forward at once, since the Indian village was only about seven miles away.

"We can make that in two hours," one of the men said; "and there will be sufficient time left to punish the redskins thoroughly." To this all seemed to agree.

"And what do you think of the situation?" the Captain asked Fred.

"Do you think we should attack right now?"

The eyes of all were turned upon the boy with eager expectancy, for not one had expected that so great a fighter as Mason should ask him for his advice.

Yet he answered briefly and truthfully.

"I would not do it, Captain," Fred said calmly; "if I were in command of the troops. Your men are worn out by the march, while the Indians are no doubt ready for an attack. Then, too, if the attack should fail, the night would intervene and disconcert us. My advice would be to give the troops a thorough rest, start out when darkness has set in, and attack the Pequot village toward the morning. This will not give them any time to gather their forces."

"That advice seems good to me," the Captain says; "I myself entertained similar thoughts. But pray, tell us more of the plan."

"We may start fires," Fred resumed, "since the storm rages and the woods hide the smoke. Also from the Indian village the smoke can not be seen, since it is closed in by trees. So the soldiers can thoroughly rest.

When we attack I would supply a number of brave and enterprising men with burning fire brands. These will proceed to the village and set it on fire. The rest is a matter for all of us who fight."

The plan was adopted, and the march was not resumed until late at night.

Just before daybreak the white men surrounded the slumbering village.

Due to the severe storm the Indians had not even placed guards around the village, since they did not expect the enemy to attack them.

So it happened that the attack worked out successfully. Fred himself led those who carried the fire brands, and they succeeded in entering the palisaded village and setting it on fire. Eggleston in his "History of the United States and Its People" reports the battle, and says: "In the war which followed this attack, the whole Pequot tribe was broken up, and the other Indians were so terrified that New England had peace for many years after."

All this is true, for Eggleston is a fine historian, who always relates the events truthfully and accurately. Yet the matter was not as simple as all that. In fact, there was much marching and lighting and suffering, before peace was restored. Fred and Matthew took part in it, until all was ended, and the troops returned to the settlements. But they were heartily glad that the fight was over, for war was very distasteful to them, and their aim in life was not to be good soldiers and kill, but to be useful citizens who could serve both whites and Indians with the more blessed and valuable arts and pursuits of peace.

How eager they were to accomplish these, will be learned from the last chapter of our story, in which we find our three young pioneers back at the trading post on the Connecticut River.

CHAPTER XIV

CHRISTMAS AT THE TRADING POST

Christmas Day is always a day of great joy and blessed peace.

Fred was glad that it could be celebrated in a peaceful manner, the only way which becomes this great peace day of the Prince of Peace.

Let us note how Fred with Matthew and Agnes, spent this day in glorifying their Lord.

The log house had been rebuilt, but it was much larger than the old one which the Indians had burned. In fact, it was a little fort with palisades surrounding it, for never again would they find themselves without the means of defense in a war with the Indians.

The main building was the trading post proper, which was twice as large as the old one and could accommodate all the furs and articles of trade which the increasing merchant ventures required. South of it on the bank of the river, with a wonderful view to the other side, stood a s.p.a.cious dwelling house, consisting of two stories, very conveniently built. West of these two buildings stood a school, which Agnes intended for the Indian children that would return with their elders to their old haunts. In fact, even now some of the tribes had come back, very sorry for the war in which they had engaged. But not far up the river a settlement of white people had been made, and even now log houses were being built for the settlers. Agnes was anxious to have in her school also such white children as would come.

John Rawlins had superintended the erection of the fort, and as he was clever in making plans, he had done his work well.

"Shall we proceed with our Christmas program?" Agnes asked her brother; "the school is filled with people, and they are becoming impatient."

"No, let us wait," Fred replied; "our friends from Boston must be here any minute. They started early from Hartford this morning, and I expect them every moment, for it is almost noon."

To his great joy, he soon heard the barking of dogs, and as the children ran forward toward the trail, they heard the hoofs of horses stamping the hard ground.

"They are coming," Matthew cried.

In a short time the visitors were welcomed by the men, women, and children of the trading post. There were Mr. and Mrs. Bradley, who where anxious to see the children, a young Puritan pastor, who had recently come from England, and to whom the new settlement in the woods was a.s.signed, and among other great and distinguished men, Captain John Mason, the hero of Mystic.

The joy of every one was great beyond words, and every one felt like talking, but Agnes urged them to come to the school, where the celebration was to take place.

We shall not enter into detail in describing the service, which was attended alike by white men and Indians. The new pastor preached a long and edifying sermon, and then Agnes with her cla.s.s of little ones sang hymns about the little Lord Jesus and His wondrous love. Though the time was short, Agnes and Matthew had drilled the story of the nativity well, and the children answered promptly. The service lasted three hours. Then each child received a small gift, and the whole company was treated royally with a feast that all remembered for a long time after.

John Rawlins, clever and resourceful, had arranged this in his usual thorough way. For many days before he had sent out his trappers and hunters, and these brought huge supplies of game,---turkeys, ducks, geese, partridges, bears, and what ever else could be found in the Connecticut woods, beautiful to behold and pleasant for food.

When finally the settlers and Indians had left, and darkness shrouded the woods, the children with their parents, John Rawlins, John Mason, and the new pastor gathered in the large living room of the new dwelling.

Here they related what had happened during the last months, and they united once more in giving thanks to the good Lord who doeth all things well.

They spoke also of the future.

"Now, you children must return to Boston," Mrs. Bradley said, "and never leave us again; for we miss you so much. The home seems dead to us since you left."

But the children demurred, very respectfully, but firmly.

"We shall always return to Boston and spend a number of weeks with you during the summer," Agnes said; "but this is our home, and you must promise to visit us often."

"And what will you do here?" Mr. Bradley asked.

"I will be a trapper and trader," Fred said proudly, "and will serve you faithfully und John Rawlins, so that Agnes and Matthew, who are not interested in this work, may have food and clothing."