The sign of the prophet

The clear green water wimpled musically at the bow of the vessel, and a frothy wake bubbled and eddied at the stern. The surface of the stream lay cool and dark in the shadow of...

A wagon-and-pack-train was slowly winding its way through the trackless wilds of the valley of the Wabash. Like some monstrous serpent, it dragged its sinuous body along the mar...

At four o’clock the next morning the troops—who had slept upon their arms—were roused from slumber and ordered to fall into rank. There they stood, guns in readiness, until the...

“Jest this minute,” Farley replied promptly. “That dang Kaintuckian waked me up with his caterwaulin’—an’ I found the Injin gone. Then I called you. Listen to that critter squal...

On that fateful morning of the battle of Tippecanoe, Ross Douglas fought in the front ranks until the savages broke and fled. Then he joined in the hot pursuit. Duke kept close...

It was the middle of the forenoon. Ross Douglas stood at one of the openings in the palisade, moodily watching the stream of savages filing through the gateway and setting out u...

Several days passed. Ross Douglas’s arms were not restored to him. He was permitted to wander about the camp at will; but he noted that whenever he approached the confines of th...

Steadily, monotonously, the rain poured down all night long. The morning dawned cheerless and murky. The earth was sodden; every rivulet was swollen; and the creek was bank full...

When Ross Douglas regained consciousness, it was still night; but the heavens were clear and starlit. The snow had ceased to fall; the air was still and cold. A thin mantle of s...

For days Ross Douglas lay unconscious, fighting all the powers of fever and delirium—battling for his life. Hiram Bradford was his constant companion and nurse. La Violette was...

Ross Douglas had almost recovered his wonted health and strength. A slight twinge of pain in his chest, at times, and a little shortness of breath, on exercise, alone remained t...

The night of Bradford’s departure was quite warm for the time of year. Ross Douglas sat in front of the cabin he had occupied since coming to the village. The balmy air was lade...

It was the close of a hot July day. The surface of the placid Scioto glinted in the red rays of the setting sun. The dark-green forests surrounding the little village of Frankli...

War between the United States and Great Britain had been declared in June, 1812. In July, Fort Mackinaw had fallen into the hands of the English; in August, Hull had basely surr...

About sixty miles above Fort Meigs, near the junction of the Auglaize and the Maumee, lay Fort Winchester—formerly Fort Defiance. Within its walls, General Green Clay and his Ke...

Late on the night of the fourth of May, General Clay and his relief expedition arrived at the head of the rapids, a few miles above Fort Meigs. Captain Oliver and a squad of men...

When Colonel Dudley disembarked his men upon the northern bank of the Maumee, Ross Douglas was among them. It was he who led the way toward the British batteries—his faithful fo...

On gaining entrance to the fort, Ross placed Amy and her child in care of some refugees, who occupied a large tent at the eastern end of the inclosure, immediately behind the gr...

Douglas presented his pass to the guard at the corner blockhouse. The soldier glanced at it and silently stepped aside. Ross entered the large unfloored room and looked about hi...

The rain still fell; the wind still blew in fitful gusts. The canvas walls of the officers’ tents swelled in and out, and cracked and popped boisterously. In the shelter of the...

La Violette, during her short stay at Fort Meigs, lived in the tent of the refugees. By many gracious acts, she endeared herself to her simple-minded companions. She spent much...