Blazing Arrow: A Tale of the Frontier by Edward Sylvester Ellis

  CHAPTER XXII.

  ARQU-WAO.

  An inexplainable instinct sometimes warns a person of the approach ofperil. The experience of most of us confirms this statement, and we aretempted to suspect that it is another manifestation of that occult"sixth sense" of which we have only a shadowy conception.

  Wharton Edwards and Larry Murphy had been sleeping several hours, for itwill be remembered that they were exceedingly tired. Day was at hand,and yet, in the usual order of things, they would have slumbered severalhours longer; but, at the same moment, the two became as wide awake asthey were when hurrying along the trail to the block-house.

  This moment of awakening came when the Indian was in the act of layingdown his bow behind him. Larry, being nearer to the savage thanWharton, took upon himself to act promptly.

  In an instant he rose upon one knee and levelled his gun at theastonished Shawanoe. In the act of doing so the youth recalled that hehad not reloaded it since firing the weapon while in the canoe. Nothingin his manner, however, told the red man this interesting fact.

  "Do the same as mesilf," whispered Larry to his companion, "for I forgotto load my gun."

  Wharton was quick to obey, and the Indian stood petrified, absolutelyunable to move hand or foot.

  "I've got ye now, ye spalpeen!" said Larry, in a loud voice; "if ye stirI'll shoot!"

  To the amazement of the youth, the Indian replied in their own tongue:

  "No shoot--no hurt Arqu-wao--me good Indian."

  "Begorra, but ye're not acting like one," was the comment of Larry, whonow rose to his feet. "What were ye trying to do, anyway?"

  Wharton imitated the action of his companion, and said, in an undertone:

  "Don't hurt the poor fellow."

  "That depinds on himsilf," was the resolute response. "I spared himonce, and he mustn't go to heaving any more rocks at us, for he's toohandy at the business."

  The Indian, at the moment of turning around, had placed his hand on histomahawk, but snatched it away as though it had suddenly become red hot.He was a picture of abject fear, and trembled in every limb. Had heknown enough to wheel about and run, he would have been safe, forneither of the boys had the least desire to harm him. But, to use amodern expression, they had the drop on him.

  "Keep an eye on him," said Larry, "while I load my gun."

  The Indian must have experienced peculiar emotions when he received theproof that it was an empty weapon that had brought him to terms. Larryproceeded to reload his rifle in a deliberate fashion, while Whartoncovered their prisoner with his own gun.

  It was while this proceeding was under way that the couple noticed thatthe sun was almost in the horizon. The long eventful night was ended,and they were close upon more stirring events.

  "He calls himself Arqu-wao," said Wharton. "I wonder what the namemeans?"

  "I'm thinking it means an Indian half-scared to death; but, Whart,what'll we do wid him, now that we've got him?"

  "That's what puzzles me. If we hadn't waked up just as we did we neverwould have awaked at all, and if we let him go he'll probably sneak upbehind us and drive an arrow through each before we know our danger."

  "Let's keep him a prisoner."

  "How will we manage it?"

  "I'll fix it."

  Arqu-wao was still motionless, looking as if he expected to be punishedwith death for his attempt upon the lives of the youths. As Larry spoke,he strode toward him with a stern face and manner. The Indian instantlybegan pleading in the most pitiful manner for his life. The youth wastender-hearted, and said, kindly:

  "Be good Indian and we won't hurt, but let me have the tomahawk."

  The implement was meekly handed over.

  "Now the knife."

  That followed the other; and with all the gravity that Larry couldassume he shoved the handle of the first weapon between the waistband ofhis trousers and shirt.

  "Whart, you can take charge of that," he added, passing the knife to hiscompanion, who readily disposed of it about his person.

  The most dangerous implement of all still remained in the hands of theShawanoe, and the captors were perplexed for the moment as to how it wasto be disposed of. It would have been easy to render it useless, and thearrows might have been cast down the ravine, but they hesitated to takethat step.

  The same thought was in the minds of the lads. Arqu-wao might be used asa friend and an ally in the danger which still threatened, and, if so,he would need some weapon to be of avail in emergencies.

  Wharton now advanced and spoke:

  "Arqu-wao, do you know where the block-house is?"

  The expression of the Indian's face showed that he did not comprehendthe question.

  "Big house--fort--place where white men are?"

  "Yes--me know--me been dere," he replied, nodding his head vigorously.

  "It's off yonder, isn't it?" inquired Wharton, pointing with his hand inthe supposed direction.

  Arqu-wao shook his head.

  "Not dere--off dere," he said, indicating a point of the compass fullyforty-five degrees removed from the first.

  "I wonder if he's right?" said Wharton, doubtfully, turning toward hiscompanion.

  "Yes, for he's so scared he's sure to play square for a time."

  "Very well," said Wharton, looking toward the Indian. "Lead the way; ifyou go wrong, we shoot, we kill."

  "Arqu-wao go right--he go right--he good Shawanoe--broder of BlazingArrow."

  The latter remark was startling to the boys, and they looked inquiringlyat each other, wondering what he could mean.

  "Begorra, if he's a brother to him, it's a bad ricommindation tohimsilf," remarked Larry.

  "He may be the flower of the flock, but we will keep sharp watch onhim."

  The Indian, now that he understood that he had chance for his life, lostmost of the fear that had filled him from the moment he was arrested inthe very act of committing a crime.

  He showed his knowledge of what was said to him by walking, not parallelto the course of the torrent, which the boys had intended to take fortheir guidance, but diverging at quite a sharp angle from it. Neither ofthe youths could be satisfied whether this was favorable or not, butthere was logic in Larry's theory that their guide was so frightenedthat he would act honestly, at least for a time.

  If he was doing so, he was doing them a great favor, for, instead ofwalking a number of miles down the gorge, and then returning over thesame route, this distance would be saved by "cutting across lots," withthe probability of eluding the hostile Shawanoes waiting in ambush.Whether such was the fact or not must be left to future developments.

  The sun was now fairly above the horizon, and the day promised to be asclear and sunshiny as the preceding one. The hearty meal, eaten thenight before, and the rest, enabled the boys to continue their briskwalk for hours without fatigue. They would have been glad to keepstraight on, if it were possible, until they reached the block-house.

  When they leaped across a small brook of cold, sparkling water, Whartoncalled the guide to wait for a minute. He was walking about a rod inadvance, glancing sharply to the right and left, and even among thebranches of the trees, as though he suspected danger lurking there. Henever once looked back while thus engaged until he heard the sharpsummons of Wharton. Then he stopped short and turned half way round, andstood like a statue.

  There was something suggestive in his attitude, for his right hand washidden from the sight of the boys. If he chose he could slide it up overhis breast, stealthily withdraw an arrow from the quiver, and fit it tohis bow-string without detection. The launching of the missile would bedone so quickly that no shot from either rifle could anticipate it. Butthere were two boys, and this would frustrate any such purpose, unlessone should place himself at such disadvantage that he could not rise andrecover his gun before the firing of the second arrow.

  "Keep an eye on him," whispered Wharton; "I don't like his actions."