The Cabin on the Prairie Part 19

But she was a person who "made it a point" to carry her point in all domestic arrangements and controversies with her lord; and partly on this principle, and partly, we hope, from a worthier motive, she rallied, and added,--

"But I'll risk it, if you will, James. An' I'm more in danger 'n you are, bein' I'm so fleshy. You can hide most anywhere in the woods, and they couldn't find ye any more 'n a needle in a haymow; an' I never could stand it to think on't that we'd been sich cowards--"

"Cowards!" interrupted her husband, goaded by this; for on the matter of size and courage he was specially sore--a wound which his spouse took care to keep open. "Cowards!" and, bristling about, and striking his feet together, he bustled out, and, with commendable energy, soon had the horse in the buggy before the door. Tom sprang in, as the kind-hearted woman pa.s.sed him a bountiful supply of provisions, saying, as she wiped her eyes with her ap.r.o.n,--

"I hope next time you come this way you'll be alive an' well; but I'm dreadful afeard the Injuns'll git ye." The latter remark seemed to have more effect upon her husband than Tom, for the flush disappeared from his cheeks again.

The ponderous wife watched the wagon until it was out of sight, then, with much pains, fastened the little window and the outer door, and, going to her trunk, took from thence a copy of the Bible, and sat down and read a chapter--a duty which she always performed on extra occasions, and especially in times of danger. It mattered not to her what chapter she read; and she now opened to the genealogical records in First Chronicles. She was a poor reader at best; but she struggled on with those names of foreign accent, feeling much safer with the exercise, while her thoughts were far away, following Tom and her husband. In truth, she had done a good deed, and one that had cost her a real sacrifice, in sending away her husband with the horse to accompany the lad; and the consciousness of this began to fill her with happiness, calmed as she was by the feeling of security which the use of the good Book imparted. Hers was a simple-hearted faith; but who shall say that she was not accepted and blessed according to the measure of her light?

Who would not choose to be such a one, with her defective knowledge and her weak superst.i.tion,--as some would call it,--than the proud sceptic, ever croaking, like some hideous night-bird, as he turns his bleared eyes away from the beams of the Sun of Righteousness, "No G.o.d, no Bible, no Saviour, no Heaven of blessedness, no Immortality,"

wandering through life without hope and G.o.d in the world, and, at death, taking a frightful "leap in the dark"!

CHAPTER XVI.

A BELEAGUERED CABIN.

It was a misty morning when Tom and his companion approached the fort.

The air was damp with vapor, and the American flag, with its glorious stars and stripes, drooped heavily. The fortress was on the very outskirts of civilization, on an elevated point of land, commanding an extensive prospect on every side. Richly diversified prairies, rarely pressed by the white man's foot, gave one an impressive sense of vastness and magnificence. As the sun arose, and the curtain of fog rolled off, Tom gazed on the landscape, spell-bound; for, accustomed as he was to prairie scenery, he had never seen any view that equalled this.

"Not an Injun could come nigh this ere fort," said the little man that held the reins; "everybody has to be seen, no matter how fur off they be, specially when the officers gits their telescopes to their eyes.

Why, I suppose they can see hundreds o' miles with one of them big gla.s.ses; any rate, I heard tell about their seeing clean up to the stars, an' a good piece beyend."

They had now approached a gate, before which paced an armed sentry, in answer to whose challenge, the little man, who grew consequential as he neared the citadel, said,--

"This ere youngster, Mr. Sojer, wants to see the commander of this ere inst.i.tution on very perticler business, which admits of no delay."

The man with the gun sent a message into the fort without a word in reply, until the messenger returned, when he said, laconically,--

"Pa.s.s in."

Tom had never before seen a fortress, and surveyed with eager interest the rows of heavy guns, and the cannon-b.a.l.l.s in conical shaped piles, and the long, four-storied brick buildings extending around the s.p.a.cious square, from the centre of which rose the flagstaff. Grimly as frowned the guns and warlike munitions, the neatness and order that reigned had a pleasing effect on Tom's mind. And within those many-roomed buildings, standing amid the solitudes of the wilderness, in the families of the officers gayety and mirth often held carnival.

Already a gush of music, elicited by fair fingers from a richly-toned piano, was borne through an open window into the court below. Then a clear, sweet voice accompanied the instrument.

"Pooty as a bird, and a plaguy sight nicer," exclaimed the little man as he frisked about, hitching his horse to an iron-ringed post.

Tom and his friend were shown into the dining-room of the commander of the fort. The officer was an early riser, and breakfasted betimes.

The mahogany extension table was set with an elegant service.

General McElroy was a tall, slender man, with iron-gray hair and weather-beaten face. His wife, a richly-dressed, stately lady, sat at the head of the table, and a boy of seven, in Highland costume, was at her side, while black Nancy flitted in and out with viands in her hands.

"Well, my lad," said the general, sedately, "what do you want of me?"

motioning his callers to be seated.

Tom commenced to state the occasion of his calling, and the general's stolid features lighted up with growing interest; and he said,--

"Wait a moment, my boy; I guess you've a message important enough, and it will save time for you to relate it to two of us at once;" and pulling a bell-rope, a soldier appeared, to whom he said,--

"Tell Captain Manly that I wish to see him."

In a moment the last-named personage came in. He was about forty, of frank, open face, and soldierly bearing. Tom liked him at the first glance.

"Captain," said the general, "I want you to hear this boy's story.

Commence again, my lad, and state the whole as briefly and connectedly as you can."

When Tom finished his recital, "You are a brave little fellow," said the general, "and in my opinion, if you were in the ranks, you would be sure to be well spoken of;" then turning to the captain, he added, "This is grave business, Manly, and something should be done for the settlers whom this boy represents. I heard that an Indian called at the fort, and tried to make us understand that there was an uprising; and I suppose it was this Long Hair that the lad tells about, but I did not attach much importance to what he said. And now, Manly, I want you to take a detachment of men,--for I think I can depend on you to do it up right. See that they are well mounted and provisioned, and that their arms are in good order,--but you understand all about that,--and go to the relief of the settlement that these villains have beset."

Then turning to Tom, he asked,--

"What is your name, young man?"

"Thomas Jones," he replied.

"Well, Thomas, I conclude you will want to go with the men."

"Yes, sir."

"And do you know, the shortest route to the settlement in question?"

Tom answered affirmatively.

"Include a horse for the boy's use, captain, and see that he is well provided for. He may be of use in piloting the way. At any rate he is a n.o.ble-spirited fellow, and deserves consideration at our hands. How many men will you need, captain?"

"I'd as lief have forty as more, if I can have my pick."

"Make such arrangements as will please you; and I hope to have a good report when you come back. The rascally red-skins should be taught a severe lesson for this outrage, or they may commit more."

Tom and his friend rose to withdraw with the under-officer, when the general said,--

"But you have not told me how far you came this morning."

"We rode all night," returned Tom; "I took supper at this man's cabin, and he brought me here in his wagon to save time."

"Bless me!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the general, as he left the table; "that has the true ring in it. Nancy, see that these folks have a sip of coffee, and something to eat, and when you've broke your fast, my lad, come out into the square. I guess the captain will be ready by that time."

Tom felt some diffidence about accepting the invitation of the general; but Mrs. McElroy was a true lady, and her winning smile, as she filled his cup with the fragrant beverage from the silver urn, put him at ease. She had many a woman's question to ask about his adventures of yesterday morning, and seemed never to tire admiring his heroic conduct. He was just explaining for the third time how he pushed the savage from the cliff, when his voice was drowned by that of a girl, who came tripping and singing through the long hall that led into the dining-room. Hers were the same bird-like notes that came through the open window. It was the general's only daughter, Alice, who, as she burst into the apartment, stopped in surprise as she saw strangers there.

"Just in time, Alice," said the mother, pleasantly, "to hear this story."

The girl was scarcely in her teens, and her fair face, expressive of good sense, gentleness, and intellectuality, was set off by a wealth of auburn curls that fell in careless profusion over her shoulders.

Tom had never known anything of sentiment, or thought much of personal looks, but he had a quick eye for grace and beauty, and, charmed at the unexpected ingress of the little fairy, he forgot alike his food, his manners, and his story, and gazed in stupid silence at the lovely apparition. The mother comprehended the state of things, and, with a look of gratified maternal pride, said to Tom,--

"But you mustn't forget your plate; you have had a long ride, you know, and have another before you."

This recalled Tom to his senses, and in his straightforward, manly way he finished the account of the affair.