CHAPTER VIII

A Battle with a Wolf

The battle between Dick Dare and the wolf went on fiercely, in the old cabin in the forest. The wolf was lithe and nimble, and evaded the majority of the blows aimed at it by the youth, but at the same time it dared not get close enough to bite, for fear of getting hit.

Had Dick’s ankles been free, he would have been able to defend himself much easier, and could soon have landed some telling blows, but his ankles were tied, and he could not get around very well, having to stay in one position, and merely keep turning his face toward the animal as it made its rushes toward him.

Finally, however, the youth managed to land a hard blow on the head of the wolf, with the heavy stool, which knocked the animal off its feet. Seeing his advantage, Dick threw himself forward, and struck the wolf several blows, till finally the animal stretched out, apparently lifeless.

“Thank goodness!” murmured Dick, dropping to a sitting posture, and panting at a great rate. “That was about the fiercest battle I ever had. Now, to get my ankles free.”

He drew a clasp-knife from his pocket and cut the rope binding his legs. Then he sat down and chafed his ankles, till he got the blood to circulating again. This done, he went to the door and looking out, saw that the coast seemed to be clear.

“I guess Gurley won’t be back for quite a while,” thought Dick. “I will set out at once and make my way to the patriot encampment.”

Dick left the cabin and made his way through the forest, heading northward, and hastened onward as rapidly as he could. He had already lost considerable time, and he was eager to reach the patriot encampment as quickly as possible, and get General Greene and his army started to the rescue of the settlers in the fort in Peaceful Valley.

At noon Dick stopped at the house of a settler, and ate dinner there. He learned that the settler was a patriot, and told him where he was going, and why, and the settler told him he could have one of his horses to ride.

“Thank you, sir,” said Dick. “That is kind of you. I’ll leave the horse here as we come back.”

“That’s all right, Dick Dare. I am a patriot an’ want to do all I can to help get help to the patriot settlers in Peaceful Valley.”

Dick thanked him again, and a few minutes later was mounted on a horse and riding northward proceeding now at a rapid pace. He believed that he would be able to reach the patriot encampment by noon of the next day, and by pushing onward nearly through the night, he was enabled to do so.

As soon as he reached the encampment, he went to the headquarters tent, and found General Greene and some of the other officers there, among them Captain Morgan, of Dick’s own company.

“Ah, Dick, how are you?” greeted the general, shaking the youth’s hand.

“I am feeling well, sir,” was the reply. And then Dick, after shaking hands with the other officers, said: “I have important news for you, sir.”

“Let’s hear the news, Dick?” eagerly.

“Very well, sir.” And then Dick told about the desperate needs of the settlers of Peaceful Valley, whose homes had been burned by the Indians, and who were now in the little fort, surrounded by the Indians, who would undoubtedly capture the patriots soon if help was not vouchsafed.

“How far is the fort from here?” asked General Greene.

“Nearly a hundred miles, I should judge.”

“A good three days’ march from here,” said the general. “I think we had better break camp and start with the entire force. Give the orders to your respective companies, officers. We will move at once.”

The officers saluted and hastened out, and Dick remained to answer the questions that General Greene wished to ask about the location of the fort, the number of the settlers, and particulars concerning the Indians, etc.

Within an hour after dinner, the little army was ready to start, and at the word from General Greene, it set out on the march.

In the lead rode General Greene and some of the officers, and Dick, while behind came the soldiers, marching steadily, and with a grim, determined look on their faces. They knew that they were going to the rescue of a party of settlers surrounded by redskins, and were eager to reach their destination and get a chance at the Indians.

When evening came, they stopped for a brief interval on the bank of a little stream. Here they built campfires, cooked and ate supper, and after resting an hour, set out again, it being moonlight till after midnight.

They marched till the moon went down and it grew so dark they could not see to make their way onward. Then they stopped and went into camp for the rest of the night.

They were up early next morning, however, these hardy patriots and after having eaten breakfast, again set out, marching steadily onward till noon, stopping then less than an hour, to eat a cold bite for dinner.

They kept up the march till near midnight, again, with stops for supper, and to rest a few minutes at a time. Then slept four or five hours, and were up and away again.

They arrived in the vicinity of Peaceful Valley about the middle of the following afternoon, and stopped about a mile away, while Dick went forward to reconnoiter and see what the Indians were doing, to ascertain if they were still there and the fort had not been captured.

Dick advanced at a moderate pace, keeping a sharp lookout around him, till within about a third of a mile of the edge of the valley, and then he made his way forward at a slower pace, pausing frequently, to look about him, to see if there were any signs of redskins in the vicinity.

Presently he paused and took a position behind a tree, gazing steadily ahead. He had caught sight of the Indians. He got down on his hands and knees and crawled forward, till he reached a point from which he could see the fort, and after a careful survey, he came to the conclusion that the Indians had not succeeded as yet in making the settlers surrender.

“Good,” thought Dick. “I’ll return and make my report to General Greene.”

As he started to turn, however, to make his way back to where he had left the patriot soldiers, he heard a rustling sound, and the next moment he was confronted by seven or eight Indian warriors, who had appeared from behind trees.

Dick was taken by surprise, but did not intend to permit the redskins to capture him, if he could help it, and drawing his pistols, he fired two shots quickly, dropping one Indian, dead, and wounding another. Then he sprang forward, in an attempt to make his escape, but the redskins, giving utterance to thrilling war-cries, leaped upon him and bore him struggling to the ground.

He fought fiercely, for he wanted to make his escape and get back with the patriot soldiers and help make the attack on the savages, but the redskins were too numerous and too strong. He presently, therefore, found himself made a prisoner, his wrists being bound with a piece of thong.

Then he was dragged forward into the presence of the main party of the tribe, who had appeared in all directions when they heard the shots and yells, and were advancing toward the spot where the encounter had taken place.

Dick was a prisoner in the hands of the redskins, within a few hundred yards of the settlers in the fort, and also within half a mile of the patriot soldiers.