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James Otis >> Neal, the Miller
During all this time, while he had laboured as industriously as if it was
some project of his own, the Indian remained comparatively silent. He had
told the rescuer his name was Sewatis; that he was a member of the
Penobscot tribe, and acquainted with "Jim Albert," but never a word
regarding the reason for being in that vicinity.
There had been no scarcity of food; the forest teemed with game, and if
the labourers fancied deer, bear or birds, it was only necessary to go a
short distance from the encampment in order to get it.
Almost unconsciously Walter had explained to his assistant what it was he
hoped to do. There had been many times when it seemed positively necessary
he should speak with some one, and to the silent Indian the boy talked
freely. It was as if thinking aloud, because no reply was made unless one
was absolutely required; and it is quite possible the young messenger
would have been greatly surprised had some one been there to tell him he
had confided more fully in Sewatis than in any other person except his
mother.
More than once had Walter suggested that there was no reason why the
Indian should remain if he had business elsewhere.
"I suppose you think because I pulled you from under that tree you must
stay here and work, but it is all a mistake. You have already repaid me
ten-fold, and I don't want you to believe there is any necessity of
stopping with me."
"Me wait," Sewatis would say, whenever the conversation touched upon this
subject, and by the end of a week Walter would have felt decidedly lonely
without his silent companion.
"There's one thing about it," the boy said once, when the Indian had
refused to leave him, "while you are here I feel as if I could learn at
any time how matters are at home. It wouldn't be much of a task for you to
go into Portsmouth? "
Sewatis made a gesture which signified that such a journey would be as
nothing.
"I think you had better go and see my mother presently. Of course she
won't be worrying about me, for she knows I am able to take care of
myself; but at the same time it will give her some satisfaction to know
what I am doing. You could find my mother?"
Sewatis nodded.
"And it wouldn't be too hard work for you to tell her what we have done."
Another nod, and something very like a smile on the silent Indian's lips.
"If you don't open your mouth to her any oftener than you do to me, you
might stay on the farm a year without her knowing what we have been
doing."
"I tell all; make heap much talk."
"Then we'll start you off about day after to-morrow. How long would you
want for the journey?"
"Go to-day, back to-morrow."
"Of course you understand it wouldn't do to say a word about me to Jim
Albert, or anyone whom, he knows? "
"Jim Albert, rascal!-I fix him."
"But you mustn't get into trouble while you are there, Sewatis, or I
shouldn't see you back again very soon. The white men wouldn't allow any
fighting in town, and there is no reason why you should settle with Jim
Albert on my account."
"I fix him," Sewatis repeated; and Walter began to fancy it might not be
prudent to send the Indian into the town, however eager he was to learn
what Master McCleary had done in his behalf.
He argued the matter for some time with his companion, receiving; only the
same reply, and then abandoned the attempt.
"It is certain Sewatis won't tell many secrets, whoever he may meet, or
whatever trouble he may get into, therefore I need feel no anxiety on that
score. Perhaps it will be as well to let him go, and take the chances of
his not meeting the half-breed."
The next day was the Sabbath, and the two remained in camp, doing nothing
save to prepare the meals.
Next morning Walter set about hewing timber, and Sewatis was sent into the
forest after game, for the larder was not as well filled as it should be.
The Indian was absent the greater portion of the day, and when he
returned, Walter was half a mile from the camp, up the river.
"What's the matter?" the boy asked, as the Indian approached suddenly,
looking disturbed.
"White man come; down shore, huntin' for trail! "
Walter dropped his axe in dismay. He could think of but one reason why any
person should seek him, and that was to arrest him for stealing Samuel
Haines's horse.
"They mustn't see me," he muttered. "Go back to the camp, that they may
think it is you who has been doing this work, and I win strike off into
the forest."
Sewatis handed Walter the gun, and silently turned to retrace his steps.
CHAPTER V STEPHEN KIDDER
Walter's first impulse was to bury himself in the depths of the forest,
and he had already started toward the denser portion when the thought
occurred to him that he was reasonably safe in the vicinity of the camp,
where he would be able to learn when the newcomer retraced his steps.
"If it is a white man I'll guarantee to keep out of his way, and yet
remain near enough to hear what may be said," he muttered to himself, as
he halted suddenly, and then moved cautiously toward the lean-to.
After ten minutes had elapsed he could distinguish the sound of voices,
and a few seconds later he was running at full speed toward the person
from whom he had previously been trying to escape.
He recognized the speaker's tones, and knew Stephen Kidder had come to pay
a visit, or bring the cheering news that he might return.
"Am I to go back to town?" he cried, as he came into the cleared space
wherein the camp had been built; and then, seeing Sewatis standing in a
threatening attitude in front of the shanty, he added, "This is a friend
of mine; make him welcome."
The Indian obeyed by moving quickly out of sight among the foliage, and he
had hardly disappeared when the two clasped each other's hands in a
caressing way, as Stephen said,-
"I wish I had come to bid you go home; but Master McCleary says you must
have patience yet a little longer. Haines still threatens to have you
arrested, and the Sons of Liberty are more obnoxious than ever in the eyes
of those who pay homage to the king."
"Would Governor Wentworth, who has so often spoken in a friendly tone to
me, allow an act of injustice such as my arrest would be, for I simply
sought to escape from him who held me unlawfully? "
"The members of the Council are not in accord with the new ideas, and
Master McCleary believes they might allow Haines, who has no slight
influence among them, to do as he desires."
"Let it be so, then. When did you see my mother last?"
"Yesterday."
"And she is well? "
"Well, and contented that you should be here. She is cared for by your
friends in town, and prefers that you remain until the winter comes,
rather than venture back to be thrown into prison."
"You say she is cared for?"
"Master McCleary attends to it that she wants for nothing. She is now with
his mother; the crops have been harvested, and there is no longer reason
why anyone should stay on the farm. There have been brave doings in town
since you left, and unless the Sons of Liberty are all imprisoned, it
looks as if we might some day be freed from the heavy burden of taxes."
"Tell me everything!" and Walter threw himself on the ground in front of
the camp, looking positively happy, now he had been assured his mother did
not suffer because of his absence.
"In the first place, the New Hampshire Gazette appeared with a heavy
mourning border on the day before the Stamp Act was to go into effect, and
Master McCleary read aloud to the people on the street the article calling
upon those who would be free men to resist this most unjust tax. If so
many of the best citizens had not been abroad that night, I believe the
Governor would have called the guards out; but there were too many
prominent men mingled with the throng to make such a proceeding safe or
possible. On the first day of November the church bells were tolled, as if
for a funeral, and when a large crowd had gathered near Samuel Leavitt's
store, a figure called the Goddess of Liberty was brought out on a bier,
with Thomas Pickering, John Jones, Jotham Lewis and Nehemiah Yartridge
acting as pall-bearers.
"All the people on the streets, myself among the number, followed the
procession to where a grave had been dug, and when the image was about to
be buried, Jotham Lewis called out that he thought he perceived some signs
of 1ife in Liberty. With that the statue was carried back to Master
Leavitt's store, and Master McCleary addressed the assembled throng,
saying that if the Goddess could be restored to health her Sons were the
ones to do it. He was greeted with mighty cheers, such as must have been
heard even at the Governor's house; and when the tumult had died away,
Master George Messerve declared that he did not intend to accept the
office the king had bestowed upon him. He then delivered his commission
and instructions to the Sons of Liberty, and next morning all who are
known as belonging to that association marched around the town, carrying
the parchments like a banner, on the point of a sword.
"Master Messerve then took his oath before Justice Claget that he would
not attempt to issue stamps, and the commission was given to the captain
of the 'Saucy Mary,' who is sworn to deliver it up to the Commissioners of
the Stamp Office in London immediately upon his arrival in England. You
see, matters have changed considerably since the day you started out to
deliver a message to Master Revere."
"If I had only been there!" Walter exclaimed, when Stephen ceased speaking
from sheer lack of breath.
"You would not have seen much of the bravery, I fear. The Sons of Liberty
could not attempt to prevent your being made a prisoner on the charge of
stealing, however well they understand the case; or that would, as Master
McCleary says, be too much like trying to overthrow all law and order,
whereas they profess only to battle against injustice."
"What is injustice, if not. imprisoning me on such a charge? "
"You understand what I mean, Walter. Haines does not think for a moment
that you would be declared guilty; but by making the arrest he can have
revenge, since you must lay in jail some time before being brought to
trial."
"Yes, yes; I understand it all. But there are times when I feel bitterly
the necessity of remaining in hiding, as if I was in fact a criminal. Have
you any more news?"
"A messenger from Boston told of effigies of certain persons being burned,
or hung on the gallows, and from the reports I think it safe to say there
has been quite as much excitement in that city over the Stamp Act as in
Portsmouth. People who a few weeks ago denounced the Sons of Liberty as
seditious persons, now speak of them with respect, saving as in the case
of Haines and his following. Master Leavitt declares the time has arrived
when the Province of New Hampshire shall rule herself, and that unless the
king shows a more friendly disposition, he will lose his possessions in
America; but of course anything of that kind cannot happen."
"Greater deeds have been done."
"But not by a few people against so mighty a king. I am afraid we shall
all be made to suffer because of what has already been done against his
majesty's commands."
If the people can prevent the use of stamps they can do very much more;
but we won't talk of such matters now. It is enough that I have with me a
friend with whom I can speak, and I must make the most of your company
while you are here."
"Then suppose you begin by telling me where you found the Indian?"
Walter gave his friend a detailed account of all that had happened since
the two parted in the woods ten days previous, and concluded by showing
him what progress had been made toward the erection of the mill.
Stephen was astonished because of the amount of work which had been
performed, and said, laughingly,-
"Indeed, I begin to think Samuel Haines did you a favour when he made it
necessary for you to hide in this place. At the rate you have been
labouring, the mill will be in working order within a month."
"It would, for a certainty, if I had the necessary materials, which can
only be procured with money. I truly believe Sewatis and I could do very
nearly the whole of the task."
"There's no question about it. Shall you try to frame the building?"
"Yes, so far as to get the timbers hewn but we could not make shift to
raise it without assistance, and what lumber we have in shape will not be
hurt by seasoning, although I do not use it for two years. Now let me show
you where I propose to locate the road in order best to accommodate those
living this side of Portsmouth."
Stephen was more interested in the progress of Walter's work than in the
stirring events he had just been describing, and the remainder of the day
was spent by the two young men in discussing every detail connected with
the proposed mill.
Shortly before nightfall Sewatis returned to camp with a fine buck, and
prepared the evening meal after his own fashion, which was certainly a
fashion not to be despised.
It was Stephen's intention to return to Portsmouth on the following
morning, and the friends sat around the camp-fire until a late hour that
evening. Walter had many messages to send to his mother and Master
McCleary, and if the messenger remembered them all his memory must have
been prodigious.
Finally, the young men crept into the lean-to where Sewatis lay,
apparently sleeping, and very shortly after they had stretched themselves
out on the fragrant fir boughs their eyes were closed in slumber.
Then, if a spectator had been in the vicinity, would have been witnessed a
singular scene.
Soon after the heavy breathing of the white men told that they were in the
land of dreams, Sewatis rose to a sitting posture, listened intently,
although nothing could be heard save the cries of the night-birds and the
usual sounds of a forest when the mantle of darkness has fallen.
The Indian lay down again; but even as his head touched the fir he began
to slip softly toward the fire until his body was outside the shelter of
the lean-to. Then he rolled over and over until the bushes hid him
completely, and no sound came to tell of his whereabouts.
Ten minutes after he disappeared a face peered from amid the foliage, and
the odour of rum might have been detected upon the air.
The sleepers were suddenly awakened by a crashing amid the underbrush, and
as they leaped to their feet, awake and on the alert in an instant, Walter
cried,-
"Look out, there! don't shoot! One of those is Sewatis; but who is he
struggling with? "
At that moment the combatants rolled toward the fire in such a manner that
the faces of both could be seen, and Stephen cried,-
"It's Jim Albert! Look out for yourself, Walter; he has come here for
mischief!"
"And he seems to be getting about as much as he wants," Walter replied,
grimly, as he darted forward to assist Sewatis in case it should become
necessary.
The Indian did not require aid, for before either of the boys could have
interfered, he was uppermost, clutching Jim Albert by the throat so
vigorously that the latter's tongue was protruding from his mouth.
"Don't kill him! Don't kill him! " Walter shouted.
"Not yet; big rascal!" Sewatis muttered, as he deftly tied his blanket
around the upper portion of the prisoner's body in such a manner that the
intruder was helpless to do anything save kick, and that was not a
pleasant form of exercise, as he soon learned, for the fire was so near
that at the first attempt his toes were buried among the glowing coals.
After that painful experience the prisoner remained quiet, and in a few
seconds Sewatis had him trussed hand and foot, like a chicken ready for
roasting.
"Me fix him! heap big rascal!" the captor exclaimed, lying down once more
as unconcernedly as if nothing out of the usual course of events had
transpired.
"What do you suppose this fellow came here for?" Stephen asked, as if
unable to surmise the reason for Jim Albert's presence.
"He is in the pay of Sam Haines, and tracked you, most likely, in order to
discover my hiding-place,"
"If that had been the case he would have been in Portsmouth again by this
time."
A sudden thought came to Walter, and bending over the prisoner quickly, he
searched under his greasy belt.
"That is why he came!" the boy cried, as he leaped to his feet, holding a
parchment in his hand. "The halfbreed had undertaken to arrest me, and
here is his warrant."
Not until Stephen had examined the document carefully was he satisfied the
statement was correct, and then he said, holding the parchment over the
fire,-
"We can dispose of this easily enough, but what shall be done with Jim is
more than I can decide."
Before he could drop the document from his fingers Sewatis leaped from his
couch, seized the warrant, and went back to his slumbers, saying, as he
did so,-
"Heap big rascal! me keep talkin'-skin."
"We shall have to let the Indian take care of Jim and his belongings
whether we want to or not," Walter said, with a mournful smile. "The whole
affair shows me, however, that I am not secure from Sam Haines even here
in the woods. He has found one messenger, and can readily get another."
"Now, don't despair. Your red friend has some scheme in his head, or I'm
mistaken. He has taken such good care of the fellow that we needn't worry
about him, and if I am to leave this place at daylight, it's time I got
some sleep."
Stephen resumed his place on the bed, and Walter followed his example, but
not to rest.
He had believed himself free from all pursuit while he remained in the
forest; and during the past hour had been shown how vain was that idea.
The stillness of the night, the soothing sounds of the foliage, moved to
and fro by the gentle wind, soon lulled him to sleep, despite his anxiety;
and when he next opened his eyes the sun was shining directly upon him
through the leaves; but neither Sewatis nor the prisoner could be seen.
Walter leaped to his feet, searched to and fro several moments in vain,
and then found a trail leading eastward across the river.
Sewatis had returned to his own tribe, and with him had gone, however
unwillingly, James Albert and the warrant for the young messenger's
arrest.
CHAPTER VI SEWATIS
STEPHEN was naturally surprised when, on being awakened, he was informed
of the departure of Sewatis with the prisoner; but he did not regard it as
a matter of any very great importance, save as it indicated that the
disreputable half-breed would not probably be seen in Portsmouth again.
"Most likely Jim Albert did some wrong to the members of Sewatis's tribe,
and that is why the old fellow hung around here, waiting for just such a
chance as he finally got. I don't see why we should trouble our heads
about it."
"I am sorry Sewatis has gone. In addition to being of great assistance to
me, he was a companion, and now I shall be entirely alone."
"In that way it has worked you an injury," Stephen replied, carelessly;
"but on the other hand, you need not fear the half-breed will hunt you
down again in behalf of Sam Haines, which is more than a fair off-set."
Walter made no reply; a sensation of utter loneliness such as he never
before experienced had come over him, and he would have been better
pleased to know James Albert was seeking an opportunity to arrest him,
providing that by such a change in the situation of affairs Sewatis had
remained.
It was useless to give words to his troubles, however, and he did his best
to appear contented, lest Stephen should carry to his mother the report
that her son had lost courage.
Walter prepared the morning meal; Stephen did full justice to it, and then
made ready to take his departure.
"I will come again within a week or ten days. What shall I bring?"
"Powder, if you can buy it for me on credit."
"I fancy Master McCleary will provide you with plenty."
"Say to my mother that I suffer for nothing save the opportunity to see
her. She knows full well what other words I would speak if she were here."
With a hearty clasp of the hands the two friends I separated, Stephen to
make his way through the forest ten miles or more, and Walter to resume
the labour which might prove useless.
The would-be miller found it very difficult to continue at his task during
that day. More than once he almost decided to remain idle until word
should come that he was at liberty to return home; but then he remembered
the goal he had set for himself, and laboured more industriously than
before.
It was no longer possible, now he was alone, to move the larger logs, and
all he could do was to hew them into shape, without an attempt to remove
the timbers to the site of the mill.
The days passed slowly and wearily. The Sabbath seemed to have in it three
times the usual number of hours. He indulged in hunting only when it
became absolutely necessary he should have food, for the supply of powder
bid fair to be exhausted before the time set for Stephen's return.
A week elapsed, and the young exile grew more cheerful. His friend must
soon come. As for Sewatis, Walter did not believe he would ever see him
again.
At the close of the eighth day, when the solitary supper had been cooked
and eaten, more as one performs an important duty than something to be
enjoyed, Walter was lying on the bed of boughs, dreaming of the time he
could return home without fear of an unjust arrest, when a shadow came
between his eyes and the fire.
Springing up in alarm, he seized the musket, which stood where it could be
reached handily, and made ready to defend himself, for it seemed certain
Sam Haines or one of his emissaries had come to carry him to jail.
Sewatis stood before him.
One would have said that the Indian had been absent but a few moments, and
was wholly at a Joss to understand the look of surprise on the boy's face.
"I thought you were never coming back!" Walter cried, in a tone of most
intense relief.
"Come to see mill," the Indian replied, as he seated himself and began to
eat a deer-steak which had been left near the fire.
"I am beginning to fear you will never see one of mine," the boy said,
despondently. "I have been foolish enough to think I could borrow as much
as would be needed, while money is so scarce in this province."
"Build mill next day," Sewatis said, more indistinctly than usual, because
his mouth was full of meat.
Walter understood the Indian to mean that he would continue the work on
the morrow, and was not particularly interested in the proposed labour,
for during the time he had been alone the possibility of ever getting a
sufficient capital seemed an obstacle which could not be surmounted.
"What did you do with Jim Albert? "
"Big rascal! Jim gone Castine; never come back."
"Castine, eh? Well, you took him far enough away, at all events."
"Heap rascal fetch heap money," and Sewatis drew from beneath his blanket
a bag which, on being opened, proved to be filled with gold pieces. "
Hundred pound; more Jim worth alive."
It was some time before Walter could understand the Indian's meaning, and
then the thought came that he had heard some one say the half-breed came
to Portsmouth from the Penobscot River.
"Do you mean that there was a price set on Jim's head?" he asked, eagerly.
"Hundred pound," and Sewatis held up the bag once more. "Now build mill."
"But I have nothing to do with that," Walter cried, as the Indian pushed
the money toward him.
"Build mill."
"But I surely can't do it with your money, you must understand that."
"Why?"
"Because it ---you know I couldn't."
"Would from white man? "
"That is different. If Master McCleary or Master Leavitt would lend it to
me, taking a mortgage to secure themselves - "
Sewatis pushed his bag toward Walter once more, and when the latter shook
his head, as if to refuse the loan, or gift, which ever it might be
called, the Indian rose to his feet, pulling his blanket more closely
around him.
"What is the matter? Where are you going?"
Sewatis pointed toward the east, and moved slowly away.
"Come back!" Walter cried, entreatingly. "Come back and help me as you did
before."
"Build mill?" and the Indian touched the bag of money with his foot.
"Do you mean that you won't stay unless I use that gold? "
Sewatis nodded.
"Suppose I did take it ?"
The Indian seated himself as if to show he would remain.
It was fully an hour before Walter spoke again, and during that time he
pondered over the matter in all its bearings. It seemed much like taking
an undue advantage of Sewatis to use his money, and yet there could be no
question but that he was pained when it was refused.
"I don't know why the fact of his being an Indian should prevent me from
accepting the offer," the boy said to himself. "I would be perfectly
willing to receive a loan from Master Leavitt, who has never shown half
the friendship for me this red man has."
Sewatis watched him intently, and finally pushed the bag nearer.
"Yes, I will take it," Walter said, decidedly. "It is only to be loaned,
and until I can pay it back you shall have half the profits of the
business."