The Hunters of the Ozark | Page 8

probably suspected his imitation of the action of the animal
was so poor that it was likely to cause distrust, and therefore he was
sparing in resorting to the stratagem.
Now, nothing can be clearer than that if the warrior was in such a plain
view of Terry Clark, the latter was equally exposed to his eye. The
Indian was moving in his guarded fashion over a course at right angles
to that followed by the lad, who was quick to realize his peril. He knew
that every second he remained thus exposed he was likely to be seen.
He had hardly taken a glance of his enemy, when he stooped so that his
knees almost touched the ground, and moved as noiselessly and quickly
as he could to the nearest tree, behind which he took shelter.

This tree was an oak, large enough to hide two such boys, standing side
by side, so that the youth felt secure for the time.
"Ah, if I only had me gun," was the regret that naturally came to him;
"I would quickly settle with the spalpeen that stole old Brindle, and
now wants to run away wid me."
It will be admitted that the situation of Terry was peculiar, for he was
quite close to the warrior, who, there was every reason to believe, was
hunting for him, and who was so nigh that there was imminent danger
of discovery. It might be asked why the redskin should have taken this
course, for in some respects it had more than one absurd feature. If he
wanted to kill a white person, all this maneuvering with a cow-bell was
ridiculous, while his conduct from first to last was in some respects
unreasonable. The best explanation was that which was made sometime
afterward by a person, who as yet has not been introduced to the reader,
but who, when he does appear, will be admitted to be the best judge. I
allude to Deerfoot the Shawanoe.
The Indian with the cow-bell was a Winnebago warrior, whose home
was a long ways to the northward, but who had gone thither in
company with several others on what may be called a tour of
investigation. The driving off of the cow was probably an inspiration of
the moment. The Indians kept her until they had got all the milk they
wanted, first removing the bell so that her friends could not recover her
until they were through. The stratagem which I have been describing
was an afterthought. None of the Winnebagos except the one who tried
the plan would have any thing to do with it, though they were willing
enough that every white person in the settlement of Greville should
perish, if the same could be brought about without risk to them.
Left to himself, the Winnebago decided to make a prisoner of
whomsoever should be sent to find the cow. He had reason to believe
that this person would be a youth, and since every thing was so quiet in
that section, he was not likely to be armed. Hence, it would be an easy
matter to decoy him a goodly distance from the settlement, when the
warrior could pounce upon, make him a prisoner and compel him to go
with him. After the couple were far enough from the settlement the lad

could be put to death, if his captor or the party to which the captor
belonged, should so elect.
Terry Clark had stood behind the sheltering tree for perhaps five
minutes, when he became aware of an alarming fact: the warrior with
the bell was slowly approaching him. The faint tinkle that it gave out
once or twice told this, and when finally the lad ventured to peep
around the side of the tree, the sight was a startling one. The Indian had
risen almost to the upright posture, and holding the gun and bell as
described, was moving directly toward the oak behind which the boy
stood. Moreover at the moment the latter took the cautious look, the
visage of the Indian showed that he was looking straight at the tree.
"By the powers!" gasped Terry, "but the spalpeen observed me, and I'm
thinkin' that he saw me before I did him."
It was not at all unlikely that such was the case. The Indian may have
felt sure of his victim, and so he indulged in a little by-play, as a cat
often does with a mouse. Such a cruel proceeding was characteristic of
his race.
The belief that this was the case placed Terry Clark in a most trying
position. He was without the means with which to defend himself, and
in fact was hopeless. It was useless to try to run away, for if the warrior
could not overtake