War of 1812 Bicentennial

CHAPTER II.

MISSING.

BOTH Ezra and I knew, from what we had already seen of Captain Sam, and because of his record under Commodore Preble, that he was far from being a coward, and yet no man could have shown more fear than he when we set out from the encampment agreeably to orders.

During all the time he was at our poor home the old man had been as unconcerned, when hunting in the forest, as the most experienced woodsman, and there we were really in danger of encountering small bands of savages ready for mischief, yet now, while traveling from Dayton to Stanton, where there was no fear of meeting an enemy, he halted in alarm at the slightest unusual noise.

But for the fact that he had been told we were going into danger, I do not think he would have paid any particular attention to what might possibly be in our path, and it pained me to see him in such a state of terror.

Both Ezra and I explained that there was nothing to fear until after we had passed Urbana, the last settlement before arriving at the Rapids of the Maumee; but this did not revive his courage.

"I'm not given to bein' weak-kneed, lads, as any of my old shipmates could tell you; but I allow this 'ere funk comes of my bein' like a fish out of water, so to speak. If I was in a boat, no matter how small, I allow I'd carry sail in a different fashion."

However, as the hours wore on, and he began to realize that what we had told him was true, he put a different face on the matter, and so far became himself once more as to spin a yarn regarding his doings on the Barbary coast.

We slept at Stanton that night, and were given a right hearty welcome once it was known we were on our way to act as scouts in advance of the troops.

The good people who gave us lodgment looked upon Captain Sam as a hero, after learning that he had served under Commodore Preble, and until a late hour in the night he told of his adventures in foreign parts, adding so much to the stories we had previously heard that they seemed quite new.

The distance from Stanton to Urbana is but little more than twenty miles, over a good trail broad, enough to be called a road, and by starting at early light we covered the distance by noon.

Here we found the ourth Regiment of regulars under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Miller, and were received in camp as comrades.

Ezra and I were minded to push ahead as soon as dinner had been eaten, for from this point our advance must be slow, and we were eager to be done with the task; but to such a proposition Captain Sam objected decidedly.

He was tired, not being accustomed to walking such distances, and, moreover, found lodgment in the camp so pleasant that he would not willingly exchange it for the forest; therefore we gave way, although our better judgment told us it would be wiser to make no delay.

Once the savages understood that troops were to march across the trackless wilderness, every tree would hide an enemy, and if we aimed to save ourselves much danger, it stood us in hand to push ahead before the intentions of General Hull could be made known to the enemy.

However, it would have been useless to make any attempt at convincing Captain Sam of this fact, and we waited there impatiently while he spun yarns for the amusement of the idle soldiers, knowing all the time that duty and prudence demanded we should be on the move.

While in this camp we heard much said against the possibility of making the march in time to be of assistance to those in Detroit who were so sorely pressed.

Woodsmen who knew the country well told us of the Black Swamp which must be crossed if the troops were to push ahead in a straight line, such as Colonel McArthur had marked out on the map he gave into Ezra's keeping, and more than one predicted the journey could not be made in any reasonable length of time.

For nearly two hundred miles the men must press forward through a forest where not so much as an Indian trail could be found, encountering the morasses both before and beyond the big swamp, and all the while scourged by black flies and mosquitos in such numbers as were like to drive the more ner­vous ones crazy.

"This strikin' out on a bee-line is all very han'some while you're talkin' about it," one of the men said to Captain Sam; "but when it comes right down to footin' it, there's a different song to be sung. I don't say anything agin what General Hull knows of soldierin'; but I'll maintain, an' so will anybody what knows this section of the country, that he's a long bit out of his reckonin' when it comes to work in the woods."

In fact, Ezra and I had much the same opinion after we learned of the course to be taken; but it was not for us, a couple of lads who were wholly ignorant concerning methods of warfare, to say anything against a plan already decided upon.

Therefore it was we held our peace during the evening spent in this camp; but Captain Sam did not hesitate to express his opinion very freely, and when the time came for us to go to bed, he urged that we turn back with the report of what had already been heard.

"It'll save a deal of sufferin' for the men, an' perhaps be the means of gettin' the troops to Detroit in season to be of some service," he said at length, as if believing that argument should settle the dis­cussion.

"It will save nothing," Ezra replied impatiently, for the old sailor had been talking long and unreasonably. "You wouldn't get even Colonel McArthur, to listen to two boys like us, let alone the general himself."

"Then I will give my opinion, an' there'll be no goin' back of that."

"I suppose not," and Ezra spoke in a tone that aroused all my mirth, forcing me to stuff the sleeve of my shirt in my mouth to prevent an outburst of laughter. "Old sailors who have never seen an Indian, and who know nothing about woodcraft, would be listened to with the greatest attention on such a subject."

Captain Sam was not overly well pleased with this reply, as I understood from the fact that he remained silent, and while waiting for him to answer my comrade, I fell asleep, not awakening again until the beating of drums caused me to spring to my feet in alarm.

It can well be fancied that Ezra and I made no delay on this morning; but hurried Captain Sam off despite the fact that he had accepted an invitation to breakfast with a certain sergeant who had listened most attentively to his stories during the evening previous.

"We'll eat as we walk," Ezra said curtly in reply to the old sailor's remonstrances against leaving the camp with what he called "unseemly haste." "Our orders are to travel thirty miles into the wilderness and then come back, and I don't count on spending more time on the task than is necessary. "

Even though we were going into danger, there was a sense of relief in my mind when we finally plunged into the forest, and our work as scouts was begun.

Owing to the fact that we had not been able to get any news in the encampment regarding the savages, both Ezra and I were extra cautious from the moment we were well clear of the town, and because we advanced slowly, scrutinizing every tree and bush as though positive the enemy was close at hand, Captain Sam asked impatiently:

"What do you lads expect to see? It don' t stand to reason Indians would come so near the settlement."

"In this country it isn't safe for a man to believe he is in any place where it's certain an Indian isn't lurking. If all we have heard be true, there are red scouts in the forest as well as white ones, and it is our business to learn where they are," Ezra replied in a tone so grave that the old sailor could not fail to understand how great necessity there was for the utmost caution.

And not with any idea of increasing his fears, but rather that he might the better realize the situation as it really was, I added:

"We are more likely to find the painted scoundrels close around the settlement, than two days' journey beyond. Were we half way between Urbana and Detroit I should feel reasonably safe."

From that moment until we halted at noon the old sailor did not so much as speak.

He copied our every movement as faithfully as a mimic would have done, all of which was greatly to our liking, for a single incautious movement might bring death close at hand.

We had brought from the encampment such a supply of food as would suffice us during the first day's tramp, and after having partaken of our dinner Ezra stretched himself on the ground for a resting-spell.

Then it was that Captain Sam drew his pipe from his pocket and had begun to fill it, when Ezra said in a whisper, for loud talking was forbidden:

"You must get along without a smoke while we are in the wilderness, Captain Sam?"

The old man looked up in surprise, and I hastened

to say:

"An Indian can smell tobacco as well as either you or I, and once having done so he would not rest until he had learned from whence it came."

Captain Sam returned the pipe to his pocket, and while one might have counted twenty remained, silent and motionless as if in deep thought, after which he said in a gruff whisper that could have been heard at a greater distance than if ho had spoken in an ordinary tone:

"This 'ere is a leetle more'n I can stand, lads! It's bad enough to traipse 'round over fallen trees. an' through bushes where a cat couldn't see an inch before her nose, with flies an' mosquitoes thick as skippers in cheese; but when it comes to knockin' off a man's allowance of tobacco, I'm ready to throw up the job, which there's no reason why we shouldn't do, seein's how we haven't signed articles."

"It is a little late in the day for turning back, Captain Sam," Ezra replied, and I could see that he was trying hard to prevent the laughter in his heart from being read on his face. "Now we've got this far it is necessary to keep on till the work is finished."

"I' ll thank you to tell me why? What's to hinder our goin' back to the encampment where we were treated like gentlemen?"

"The fact that we have begun the task set us by your friend, Colonel McArthur. If the men who received us so well last night once came to believe us cowards, we shouldn't be made welcome."

This silenced Captain Sam, but did not make him any better satisfied with the situation, as I well understood by the expression on his face.

He made no effort to enter into conversation with us during the remainder of the day; but did all that was required of him with the air of one who is being deeply injured.

When an hour had passed Ezra gave the word for the march to be resumed, and during the afternoon we pressed forward in as nearly a direct course for Detroit as was possible: but without seeing or hearing anything betokening an enemy.

That night we made our camp in a clump of bushes which would serve to hide us from view, and by daylight next morning were tramping ahead once more, this time on the alert for game.

The provisions brought from the encampment had been consumed, and until we were with the troops again our rifles must supply us with food.

When the second day's march had come to an end, both Ezra and I believed we were not less than twenty miles from Urbana.

This was no great distance to make in eight and forty hours; but it must be remembered that we were forcing our way through the dense foliage, where no sign of a trail existed, and the advance could not be other than slow.

On this night we made camp in a small cave on the hillside, which might at some time have served as the den of a bear; but there were no signs of its having been occupied for some time.

It was nearly sunset when we stumbled upon the shelter, and the rain had been falling for an hour or more, which made this hole in the ground appear all the more agreeable as a resting-place.

Beyond examining the mouth of the cave we made no attempt at learning anything regarding it, being well content because it would serve to protect us from the storm.

We had of roasted rabbit, cooked that morning, an ample supply of meat for supper, and when the meal had been eaten Ezra said to Captain Sam:

"There's no reason why you shouldn't enjoy your pipe here. I'll promise there are no savages lurking around on this night, and even though there were a host but a short distance away, the cave would swallow up the fumes of the tobacco."

The old sailor's pipe was already filled, for he had indulged many times during the day in what he called a "dry whiff," and it seemed to me that Ezra had hardly ceased speaking before the smoke was forth in volumes from Captain Sam's mouth.

After enjoying himself in silence ten minutes or more, at the end of which time he was completely enveloped in the blue cloud, he grew more companionable than at any time since we had left Dayton, and speculated upon what we would do in case war was declared, or spun yarns of adventures at sea, until Ezra and I were asleep, at least, I believe such must have been the case, because the last sound either of us remembers of hearing on that night was his voice.

When I awakened next morning it was not yet daylight; but on looking out from the mouth of the cave I saw gray and yellow streaks in the sky which told of coming dawn, and I understood that it was time we made a move.

There was no breakfast to be cooked until after we had brought down game of some kind, and I stepped softly out, hoping to find meat close at hand.

The rain had ceased to fall, but the foliage was so wet that it was like taking a bath to push on through the bushes, and, knowing my rifle would soon be unfit for service if I continued the apparently useless labor, I went back to the cave.

By this time it was so light that I could see that portion of the excavation where we had slept, and to my surprise Ezra was there alone.

Captain Sam, when I saw him last, on the night previous, had been sitting at the left of Ezra toward the rear of the cave, and there he must have slept.

For a moment I was disturbed because of his absence, and then, saying to myself that he had most likely gone out for a look around, while I was searching for game, dismissed the matter from my mind.

Awakening Ezra I spoke of what we must encounter if we began the journey while everything was wet, and asked his opinion as to our remaining where we were until noon; but made no mention of the fact that our comrade was absent, nor did he appear to notice it.

It was finally decided between us that it would be wisest to continue the advance, even though it might be disagreeable, because we could not hope to break our fast so long as we remained there, and only after the discussion had come to an end did we grow concerned regarding the old man.

Ezra had neither seen nor heard anything of Captain Sam since the night before, when we fell asleep;while he was talking, and it was impossible for me to say whether the old man had been in the cave when I went out, because I had not looked for him.

As the moments passed we grew alarmed, and, regardless of the fact that by so doing we might bring Indians down upon us, both stood at the mouth of the cave shouting loudly the name of our absent friend.

No reply came, save in the echoes, and we looked at each other in mingled fear and bewilderment.

"Do you suppose he would be mad enough to make an attempt at finding his way back to the encampment?" Ezra asked, speaking in a whisper as if fearing to hear the sound of his own voice.

"That isn't to be thought of; even though Captain Sam had made up his mind to go back, he would have told us. There is no reason why he should sneak away."

"Except it might be he feared we would laugh at him."

"Even that would not have prevented him from saying what he proposed to do. The old sailor would never leave us in such a manner, for he knows full well the trouble it would cause. It must be——"

I did not finish the sentence, and, indeed, there was no need, for Ezra knew that which was in my mind.

Although we had not seen signs of Indians, it was possible there were many of the painted beasts close at hand, and that he had been taken prisoner by the red villains was the only reasonable explanation we could make of his absence.

As if the same thought was in the minds of both, we fell to examining the interior of the cave for his footprints, but the rock which formed a greater portion of the bottom had been swept clean by the wind, and an hundred men might have marched across it without leaving a trail.

At the entrance, where the earth was moist, our footprints could be seen, but I had come in and gone out so many times since daylight that nothing could be read there.

"There can be but one answer to the riddle," Ezra finally said "we believe ourselves fitted to act as scouts, when we know nothing whatever of woodcraft. Very likely we were followed by the savages during the whole of yesterday, and nothing but chance saved us from being killed or made prisoners. Captain Sam probably went out this morning simply for a look around, and, finding him unarmed, the red villains pounced upon him."

That the old man was without a weapon we knew because of the fact that his rifle was yet leaning against the side of the cave where it had been placed when we arrived, and the knowledge that it was there when I first went out prevented me from questioning whether he was yet with us.

It seemed to me as if the terrible trouble had come upon the old man wholly through us, for had we not insisted on joining the troops he would have been with us either at the clearing near Dayton, or on the road to Sackett's Harbor, and because we were responsible for this outcome I was bowed down with grief.

Ezra, fortunately, was more of a man, quicker to think, and more courageous to act, otherwise we might never again have seen Captain Sam in this world.

When perhaps half an hour had passed in the most mournful silence, we meanwhile listening intently for any sound which might betoken the presence of enemies, my comrade said, speaking so sturdily that I was heartened at once:

"We shall not only neglect our duty to the troops, but do nothing in the way of aiding either the poor old man or ourselves, if we sit here like stupids."

"What can we do?" I asked helplessly. "It isn't likely we could rescue him."

"What is our first duty?" he asked sharply, taking up his rifle as if thinking the danger so im­eminent that we must needs be prepared for it at an instant's warning.

"To find Captain Sam, of course."

"I do not think so. His is but one life, while there are hundreds of men who may walk into an ambush if we fail to give warning of what has been done."

"Do you believe we should go back without trying to help our old friend?" I asked in surprise, for Ezra was not wont to desert a comrade so readily.

"The most important thing is to have speech with Colonel McArthur, or some one in command; but we must also do what may be possible for Captain Sam. You can make your way back without fear, and it is likely the entire journey need not be performed, for the troops must have begun to advance before this. I will remain here, or push ahead, as may seem best, and you will join me later."

I looked at him as if believing he had taken leave of his senses, as indeed seemed to be the case for an instant, and he added:

"Both of these things must be done, and it is only by separating that it will be possible."

"Then why should you be the one to take all the danger? Why should I not search for the old man, while you go back? "

"Because I am the elder, and, perhaps, have a bit more knowledge regarding this kind of work."

I would have objected to that by insisting that we had had the same experience; but he would not listen an instant.

"You are to go while I stay here, or continue on as may seem best," he said in a tone such as I never heard him use before, and my tongue was silenced.

As if his was the right to command, and mine the duty to obey, I put myself in readiness for the journey, and when this had been done rose to my feet.

Then it was that the anger in my heart vanished suddenly, for Ezra took my hands in his with a loving clasp as he said almost tenderly:

"We are nearer each other than brothers usually are, David, because of what we have suffered together. The danger to him who pushes on is not much greater than that which he may meet who returns, yet if there be a difference, I would have the most perilous portion of the work. We shall be together again in a few days, and till then——"

He shoved me from him as if not daring to say more, and I, my eyes full to overflowing, turned away, going out of the cave without thought or heed of danger, so great was my grief.

"Not that way, David, not that way, or some skulking savage will soon have his hatchet in your brain!" the dear fellow shouted. "Keep your wits at work, for on you depends the lives, perhaps, of many who would aid those of Detroit."

Thus admonished I straightened myself up as a man should, and set out more bravely, but yet not daring to so much as look behind me lest a sight of him whom I feared I might never see again should make a woman of me.

Of my journey toward Urbana until I met the advance of the troops under Colonel McArthur, it is not necessary to write, because of the fact that no adventure befell me.

Had I been walking on the highway between two towns there would have been more of interest to set down.

It was as if the savages had never inhabited that section of the country, for I saw not so much as a feather from the moment I parted with dear old Ezra until I met the First regiment hewing their way through the wilderness.

Ten minutes after meeting the first of the soldiers was standing before the colonel, telling him the sad story, and he listened in silence until I had come to an end.

Then he mused for so long a time that I began to believe he had not heard what I said, but was intent on other matters, when he suddenly asked:

"Are you certain that during all this time there were no Indian signs?"

"We saw none, sir, and neither my comrade nor I was careless as we advanced."

"Did you search around the cave for the sailor?"

"No more than I have said. Had he been near, there was no reason why he should not have heard when we hailed him."

"It is because you shouted so loudly, thus proclaiming your whereabouts had there been any savages near at hand, that, causes me to believe his disappearance due to some other cause. It is not likely you would have been allowed to return with the information if he had been captured. Two boys penned up in a cave would have been such game as an Indian would most like to run across."

It was all very well for the colonel to speculate thus; but it did not lessen my fears for Captain Sam's safety.

I knew the old man would not willingly have left us to such anxiety as he must have understood would be ours, and unless the Indians had taken him prisoner, how could he so completely have dis­appeared?