The Trail of Black Hawk

“All ready,” cried Robert, wide awake at once. Life in the woods and on the prairies teaches one to waste little time either in going to sleep or in getting up in the morning.

Close behind these Indians came five more and then a little squad of three. Next appeared one solitary brave, his war paint shining while he shouted at the top of his voice. Jos...

For a moment Joseph was too stunned to move. Shaking all over with anguish he stood still and looked at the blood-stained trophy fastened at the Indian’s belt. The hair was exac...

There was not a second to lose. The Indian would surely be upon Joseph before he could raise himself from his fallen position and even should he be able to get up he would stand...

As they rode up to the fort the first person to greet them was Walt. He had seen them coming a long way off and hastened out to meet his four friends. He was delighted to see th...

Joseph Hall was the speaker. With his parents, two sisters and a brother he lived on the American frontier in Illinois. In these days a reference to that part of the country as...

Suddenly shots were heard. A bugle sounded and the men realized that the deciding struggle of the war had commenced. Orders were at once given for the army to form for the attac...

They hastened away and were soon busied with their preparations for the journey. This task did not take long, however, and they were soon ready to leave. They were engaged in sa...

“I can’t tell you much, for I don’t know much about it, myself,” Walt explained. “All the information I have are my orders. I am to carry some dispatches from General Atkinson t...

The heat from the fire now reached the fleeing men. All the animals had far outdistanced them in their flight and these three were left behind to continue the race. There was no...

Two weeks passed and Joseph was entirely healed of his wound. A slight limp at times was the only trace that remained and that promised to disappear soon. He was up and as cheer...

All three immediately dropped on their hands and knees. Rifles in hand they scurried for the nearest shelter and awaited developments. A puff of smoke floated upward from the bu...

“They’re going now, anyway,” remarked Robert. “We’ve made it too hot for them, I guess. We seem to be pretty good men to defend blockhouses, don’t we? What do you say to our hir...

“Well, with this crowd we ought to be able to subdue Black Hawk all right,” exclaimed Joseph eagerly. “Do you suppose we’ll have to wait for the rest of the troops?”

Both boys immediately darted toward the bush where their rifles were hidden. Silently and swiftly they ran and then at their highest speed returned to the spot where Deerfoot la...

Two days later they reached their destination. The journey had been a hard one and it was with a great feeling of relief that the three wearied travelers entered the small settl...

Deerfoot and Robert hastened to obey and in a very short time returned. Each one rode his own pony and Robert led The Swallow, holding the reins with his left hand. He quickly d...

Every man immediately dismounted. There was a rush for shelter and in a remarkably short space of time the whole band had placed themselves behind trees or clumps of bushes. Not...

Robert had maintained that they would soon overtake Black Hawk, but such did not prove to be the case. Winnebagos had come into camp with information that they knew where Black...

How long he slept neither boy knew. Robert was the first to awaken and for some moments he could not remember where he was. The last two days had been so crowded with events tha...

The Indians had evidently given up all idea of capturing the fort, for no sign of them appeared during the night, and in the morning it was even considered safe to venture outsi...

Neither Joseph nor Robert nor Deerfoot stopped to see who it was that had fired at them. Without a word they plunged quickly in among the trees and once again started on a race...

Robert wheeled instantly to discover the cause of Deerfoot’s action. He was not a second too soon, for, as he turned, a tomahawk whizzed past his head, missing him only by a few...

Deerfoot offered the two boys dried venison and some cakes made of corn meal. The three fugitives partook heartily of this simple repast and then prepared to continue their flig...

As Robert ran forward he caught a fleeting glimpse of Deerfoot. He saw his Indian friend locked in a death struggle with his foe. Over and over upon the ground the two men rolle...

Joseph, Robert, and Deerfoot by fast riding finally caught up with the advance guard of the volunteers. The men were in a frenzy of excitement and rushed forward pell mell with...

At the first sign of dawn the forces were once more on the march. The men had a quieter and sterner air than they had manifested the preceding day. The prevailing opinion was th...

The object to which John Mason pointed was not very startling in itself. It seemed entirely harmless and innocent as it lay on a tuft of grass beside a large tree. It was an ear...

A roar went up from the assemblage at this remark of Joseph. The men laughed and whistled and hooted until the din was almost deafening. Through it all Joseph stood quietly, but...

John Mason had wished for Black Hawk’s capture. His wish was fulfilled and as fortune would have it, he, Deerfoot and both Joseph and Robert were present when the great chief wa...