Randall Parrish - The Devil\'s Own

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THE DEVIL'S OWN

A Romance of the Black Hawk War

by

RANDALL PARRISH

Author of
"Contraband," "When Wilderness Was King,"
"Beyond The Frontier," Etc.

With Frontispiece by the Kinneys

[Frontispiece: "Tell me--please," she begged. "Is
the man dead?"]

A. L. Burt Company
Publishers ---------- New York
Published by arrangement with A. C. McClurg & Company
Copyright
A. C. McClurg & Co.
1917
Published October, 1917
Copyrighted in Great Britain
Printed in the United States

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I At Old Fort Armstrong
II On Furlough
III History of the Beaucaires
IV The End of the Game
V Kirby Shows His Hand
VI Into the Black Water
VII Picking Up the Threads
VIII I Decide My Duty
IX The Home of Judge Beaucaire
X A Girl at Bay
XI To Save a "Nigger"
XII We Capture a Keel-Boat
XIII Seeking the Underground
XIV The Dawn of Deeper Interest
XV The Cabin of Amos Shrunk
XVI The Trail of the Raiders
XVII We Face Disaster
XVIII The Loss of Rene
XIX On Board the _Adventurer_
XX The Story of Elsie dark
XXI The Landing at Yellow Banks
XXII My Friend, the Deputy Sheriff
XXIII A New Job
XXIV Kirby and I Meet
XXV The Fugitives
XXVI The Island in the Swamp
XXVII We Choose Our Course
XXVIII A Field of Massacre
XXIX The Valley of the Bureau
XXX We Accept a Refugee
XXXI The Valley of the Shadow
XXXII The Trail to Ottawa

The Devil's Own

CHAPTER I

AT OLD FORT ARMSTRONG

It was the early springtime, and my history tells me the year was 1832,
although now that seems so far away I almost hesitate to write the
date. It appears surprising that through the haze of all those
intervening years--intensely active years with me--I should now be able
to recall so clearly the scene of that far-off morning of my youth, and
depict in memory each minor detail. Yet, as you read on, and realize
yourself the stirring events resulting from that idle moment, you may
be able to comprehend the deep impression left upon my mind, which no
cycle of time could ever erase.

I was barely twenty then, a strong, almost headstrong boy, and the far
wilderness was still very new to me, although for two years past I had
held army commission and been assigned to duty in frontier forts. Yet
never previously had I been stationed at quite so isolated an outpost
of civilization as was this combination of rock and log defense erected
at the southern extremity of Rock Island, fairly marooned amid the
sweep of the great river, with Indian-haunted land stretching for
leagues on every side. A mere handful of troops was quartered there,
technically two companies of infantry, yet numbering barely enough for
one; and this in spite of rumors daily drifting to us that the Sacs and
Foxes, with their main village just below, were already becoming
restless and warlike, inflamed by the slow approach of white settlers
into the valley of the Rock. Indeed, so short was the garrison of
officers, that the harassed commander had ventured to retain me for
field service, in spite of the fact that I was detailed to staff duty,
had borne dispatches up the Mississippi from General Gaines, and
expected to return again by the first boat.

The morning was one of deep-blue sky and bright sunshine, the soft
spring air vocal with the song of birds. As soon as early drill ended
I had left the fort-enclosure, and sought a lonely perch on the great
rock above the mouth of the cave. It was a spot I loved. Below,
extended a magnificent vista of the river, fully a mile wide from shore
to shore, spreading out in a sheet of glittering silver, unbroken in
its vast sweep toward the sea except for a few small, willow-studded
islands a mile or two away, with here and there the black dot of an
Indian canoe gliding across the surface. I had been told of a fight
amid those islands in 1814, a desperate savage battle off the mouth of
the Rock, and the memory of this was in my mind as my eyes searched
those distant shores, silent now in their drapery of fresh green
foliage, yet appearing strangely desolate and forlorn, as they merged
into the gray tint of distance. Well I realized that they only served
to screen savage activity beyond, a covert amid which lurked danger and
death; for over there, in the near shadow of the Rock Valley, was where
Black Hawk, dissatisfied, revengeful, dwelt with his British band,
gathering swiftly about him the younger, fighting warriors of every
tribe his influence could reach. He had been at the fort but two days
before, a tall, straight, taciturn Indian; no chief by birth, yet a
born leader of men, defiant in speech, and insolent of demeanor in
spite of the presence also at the council of his people's true
representative, the silent, cautious Keokuk.

Even with my small knowledge of such things it was plain enough to be
seen there existed deadly hatred between these two, and that Keokuk's
desire for peace with the whites alone postponed an outbreak. I knew
then but little of the cause. The Indian tongue was strange to me, and
the interpreter failed to make clear the under-lying motive, yet I
managed to gather that, in spite of treaty, Black Hawk refused to leave
his oldtime hunting grounds to the east of the river, and openly
threatened war. The commandant trusted Keokuk, with faith that his
peaceful counsels would prevail; but when Black Hawk angrily left the
chamber and my eyes followed him to his waiting canoe, my mind was
convinced that this was not destined to be the end--that only force of
arms would ever tame his savage spirit.

This all came back to me in memory as I sat there, searching out that
distant shore line, and picturing in imagination the restless Indian
camp concealed from view beyond those tree-crowned bluffs. Already
tales reached us of encroaching settlers advancing along the valley,
and of savage, retaliating raids which could only terminate in armed
encounters. Already crops had been destroyed, and isolated cabins
fired, the work as yet of prowling, irresponsible bands, yet always
traced in their origin to Black Hawk's village. That Keokuk could
continue to control his people no longer seemed probable to me, for the
Hawk was evidently the stronger character of the two, possessed the
larger following, and made no attempt to conceal the depth of his
hatred for all things American.

Now to my view all appeared peaceful enough--the silent, deserted
shores, the desolate sweep of the broad river, the green-crowned
bluffs, the quiet log fort behind me, its stockaded gates wide open,
with not even a sentry visible, a flag flapping idly at the summit of a
high pole, and down below where I sat a little river steamboat tied to
the wharf, a dingy stern-wheeler, with the word "Warrior" painted
across the pilot house. My eyes and thoughts turned that way
wonderingly. The boat had tied up the previous evening, having just
descended from Prairie du Chien, and, it was rumored at that time,
intended to depart down river for St. Louis at daybreak. Yet even now
I could perceive no sign of departure. There was but the thinnest
suggestion of smoke from the single stack, no loading, or unloading,
and the few members of the crew visible were idling on the wharf, or
grouped upon the forward deck, a nondescript bunch of river boatmen,
with an occasional black face among them, their voices reaching me,
every sentence punctuated by oaths. Above, either seated on deck
stools, or moving restlessly about, peering over the low rail at the
shore, were a few passengers, all men roughly dressed--miners from
Fevre River likely, with here and there perchance an adventurer from
farther above--impatient of delay. I was attracted to but two of any
interest. These were standing alone together near the stern, a
heavily-built man with white hair and beard, and a younger, rather
slender fellow, with clipped, black moustache. Both were unusually
well dressed, the latter exceedingly natty and fashionable in attire,
rather overly so I thought, while the former wore a long coat, and high
white stock. Involuntarily I had placed them in my mind as river
gamblers, but was still observing their movements with some curiosity,
when Captain Thockmorton crossed the gangplank and began ascending the
steep bluff. The path to be followed led directly past where I was
sitting, and, recognizing me, he stopped to exchange greetings.

"What! have you finished your day's work already, Lieutenant?" he
exclaimed pleasantly. "Mine has only just begun."

"So I observe. It was garrison talk last night that the _Warrior_ was
to depart at daylight."

"That was the plan. However, the _Wanderer_ went north during the
night," he explained, "and brought mail from below, so we are being
held for the return letters. I am going up to the office now."

My eyes returned to the scene below.

"You have some passengers aboard."

"A few; picked up several at the lead mines, besides those aboard from
Prairie du Chien. No soldiers this trip, though. They haven't men
enough at Fort Crawford to patrol the walls."

"So I'm told; and only the merest handful here. Frankly, Captain, I do
not know what they can be thinking about down below, with this Indian
uprising threatened. The situation is more serious than they imagine.
In my judgment Black Hawk means to fight."

"I fully agree with you," he replied soberly. "But Governor Clark is
the only one who senses the situation. However, I learned last night
from the commander of the _Wanderer_ that troops were being gathered at
Jefferson Barracks. I'll probably get a load of them coming back.
What is your regiment, Knox?"

"The Fifth Infantry."

"The Fifth! Then you do not belong here?"

"No; I came up with dispatches, but have not been permitted to return.
What troops are at Jefferson--did you learn?"

"Mostly from the First, with two companies of the Sixth, Watson told
me; only about four hundred altogether. How many warriors has Black
Hawk?"

"No one knows. They say his emissaries are circulating among the
Wyandottes and Potawatamies, and that he has received encouragement
from the Prophet which makes him bold."

"The Prophet! Oh, you mean Wabokieshiek? I know that old devil, a
Winnebago; and if Black Hawk is in his hands he will not listen very
long even to White Beaver. General Atkinson passed through here
lately; what does he think?"

I shook my head doubtfully.

"No one can tell, Captain; at least none of the officers here seem in
his confidence. I have never met him, but I learn this: he trusts the
promises of Keokuk, and continues to hold parley. Under his orders a
council was held here three days since, which ended in a quarrel
between the two chiefs. However, there is a rumor that dispatches have
already been sent to Governors Clark and Reynolds suggesting a call for
volunteers, yet I cannot vouch for the truth of the tale."

"White Beaver generally keeps his own counsel, yet he knows Indians,
and might trust me with his decision, for we are old friends. If you
can furnish me with a light, I'll start this pipe of mine going."

I watched the weather-beaten face of the old riverman, as he puffed
away in evident satisfaction. I had chanced to meet him only twice
before, yet he was a well-known character between St. Louis and Prairie
du Chien; rough enough to be sure, from the very nature of his calling,
but generous and straightforward.

"Evidently all of your passengers are not miners, Captain," I ventured,
for want of something better to say. "Those two standing there at the
stern, for instance."

He turned and looked, shading his eyes, the smoking pipe in one hand.

"No," he said, "that big man is Judge Beaucaire, from Missouri. He has
a plantation just above St. Louis, an old French grant. He went up
with me about a month ago---my first trip this season--to look after
some investment on the Fevre, which I judge hasn't turned out very
well, and has been waiting to go back with me. Of course you know the
younger one."

"Never saw him before."

"Then you have never traveled much on the lower river. That's Joe
Kirby."

"Joe Kirby?"

"Certainly; you must have heard of him. First time I ever knew of his
drifting so far north, as there are not many pickings up here. Have
rather suspected he might be laying for Beaucaire, but the two haven't
touched a card coming down."

"He is a gambler, then?"

"A thoroughbred; works between St. Louis and New Orleans. I can't just
figure out yet what he is doing up here. I asked him flat out, but he
only laughed, and he isn't the sort of man you get very friendly with,
some say he has Indian blood in him, so I dropped it. He and the Judge
seem pretty thick, and they may be playing in their rooms."

"Have you ever told the planter who the other man is?"

"What, me, told him? Well, hardly; I've got troubles enough of my own.
Beaucaire is of age, I reckon, and they tell me he is some poker player
himself. The chances are he knows Kirby better than I do; besides I've
run this river too long to interfere with my passengers. See you again
before we leave; am going up now to have a talk with the Major."

My eyes followed as he disappeared within the open gates, a squatty,
strongly-built figure, the blue smoke from his pipe circling in a cloud
above his head. Then I turned idly to gaze once again down the river,
and observe the groups loitering below. I felt but slight interest in
the conversation just exchanged, nor did the memory of it abide for
long in my mind. I had not been close enough to observe Beaucaire, or
glimpse his character, while the presence of a gambler on the boat was
no such novelty in those days as to chain my attention. Indeed, these
individuals were everywhere, a recognized institution, and, as
Thockmorton had intimated, the planter himself was fully conversant
with the game, and quite able to protect himself. Assuredly it was
none of my affair, and yet a certain curiosity caused me to observe the
movements of the two so long as they remained on deck. However, it was
but a short while before both retired to the cabin, and then my gaze
returned once more to the sullen sweep of water, while my thoughts
drifted far away.

A soldier was within a few feet of me, and had spoken, before I was
even aware of his approach.

"Lieutenant Knox."

I looked about quickly, recognizing the major's orderly.

"Yes, Sanders, what is it?"

"Major Bliss requests, sir, that you report at his office at once."

"Very well. Is he with Captain Thockmorton?"

"Not at present, sir; the captain has gone to the post-sutler's."

Wondering what might be desired of me, yet with no conception of the
reality, I followed after the orderly through the stockade gate, and
across the small parade ground toward the more pretentious structure
occupied by the officers of the garrison.

CHAPTER II

ON FURLOUGH

A number of soldiers off duty were loitering in front of the barracks,
while a small group of officers occupied chairs on the log porch of
their quarters, enjoying the warmth of the sun. I greeted these as I
passed, conscious that their eyes followed me curiously as I approached
the closed door of the commandant's office. The sentry without brought
his rifle to a salute, but permitted my passage without challenge. A
voice within answered my knock, and I entered, closing the door behind
me. The room was familiar--plain, almost shabbily furnished, the walls
decorated only by the skins of wild beasts, and holding merely a few
rudely constructed chairs and a long pine table. Major Bliss glanced
up at my entrance, with deep-set eyes hidden beneath bushy-gray
eyebrows, his smooth-shaven face appearing almost youthful in contrast
to a wealth of gray hair. A veteran of the old war, and a strict
disciplinarian, inclined to be austere, his smile of welcome gave me
instantly a distinct feeling of relief.

"How long have you been here at Armstrong, Lieutenant?" he questioned,
toying with an official-looking paper in his hands.

"Only about three weeks, sir. I came north on the _Enterprise_, with
dispatches from General Gaines."

"I remember; you belong to the Fifth, and, without orders, I promptly
dragooned you into garrison service." His eyes laughed. "Only sorry I
cannot hold you any longer."

"I do not understand, sir."

"Yet I presume you have learned that the _Wanderer_ stopped here for an
hour last night on its way north to Prairie du Chien?"

"Captain Thockmorton just informed me."

"But you received no mail?"

"No, sir; or, rather, I have not been at the office to inquire. Was
there mail for me?"

"That I do not know; only I have received a communication relating to
you. It seems you have an application pending for a furlough."

"Yes, sir."

"It is my pleasure to inform you that it has been granted--sixty days,
with permission to proceed east. There has been considerable delay
evidently in locating you."

A sudden vision arose before me of my mother's face and of the old home
among the hills as I took the paper from his extended hands and glanced
at the printed and written lines.

"The date is a month ago."

"That need not trouble you, Knox. The furlough begins with this
delivery. However, as I shall require your services as far as St.
Louis, I shall date its acceptance from the time of your arrival there."

"Which is very kind, sir."

"Not at all. You have proven of considerable assistance here, and I
shall part from you with regret. I have letters for Governor Clark of
Missouri, and Governor Reynolds of Illinois; also one to General
Atkinson at Jefferson Barracks, detailing my views on the present
Indian situation. These are confidential, and I hesitate to entrust
them to the regular mail service. I had intended sending them down
river in charge of a non-commissioned officer, but shall now utilize
your services instead--that is, if you are willing to assume their
care?"

"Very gladly, of course."

"I thought as much. Each of these is to be delivered in person.
Captain Thockmorton informs me that he will be prepared to depart
within an hour. You can be ready in that time?"

I smiled.

"In much less. I have little with me but a field kit, sir. It will
not require long to pack that."

"Then return here at the first whistle, and the letters will be ready
for you. That will be all now."

I turned toward the door, but paused irresolutely. The major was
already bent over his task, and writing rapidly.

"I beg your pardon, sir, but as I am still to remain on duty, I presume
I must travel in uniform?"

He glanced up, his eyes quizzical, the pen still grasped in his fingers.

"I could never quite understand the eagerness of young officers to get
into civilian clothing," he confessed reflectively. "Why, I haven't
even had a suit for ten years. However, I can see no necessity for
your proclaiming your identity on the trip down. Indeed, it may prove
the safer course, and technically I presume you may be considered as on
furlough. Travel as you please, Lieutenant, but I suggest it will be
well to wear the uniform of your rank when you deliver the letters. Is
that all?"

"I think of nothing more."

Fifteen minutes sufficed to gather together all my belongings, and
change from blue into gray, and, as I emerged from quarters, the
officers of the garrison flocked about me with words of congratulation
and innumerable questions. Universal envy of my good fortune was
evident, but this assumed no unpleasant form, although much was said to
express their belief in my early return.

"Anyway, you are bound to wish you were back," exclaimed Hartley, the
senior captain, earnestly. "For we are going to be in the thick of it
here in less than a month, unless all signs fail. I was at that last
council, and I tell you that Sac devil means to fight."

"You may be certain I shall be back if he does," I answered. "But the
Major seems to believe that peace is still possible."

"No one really knows what he believes," insisted Hartley soberly.
"Those letters you carry south may contain the truth, but if I was in
command here we would never take the chances we do now. Look at those
stockade gates standing wide open, and only one sentry posted. Ye
gods! who would ever suppose we were just a handful of men in hostile
Indian territory." His voice increased in earnestness, his eyes
sweeping the group of faces. "I've been on this frontier for fourteen
years, and visited in Black Hawk's camp a dozen times. He's a British
Indian, and hates everything American. Ask Forsyth."

"The Indian agent?"

"Yes, he knows. He's already written Governor Reynolds, and I saw the
letter. His word is that Keokuk is powerless to hold back an
explosion; he and the Hawk are open enemies, and with the first advance
of settlers along the Rock River Valley this whole border is going to
be bathed in blood. And look what we've got to fight it with."

"Thockmorton told me," I explained, "that Atkinson is preparing to send
in more troops; he expects to bring a load north with him on his next
trip."

"From Jefferson?"

"Yes; they are concentrating there."

"How many regulars are there?"

"About four hundred from the First and Sixth regiments."

He laughed scornfully.

"I thought so. That means that Atkinson may send two or three hundred
men, half of them recruits, to be scattered between Madison, Armstrong
and Crawford. Say we are lucky enough to get a hundred or a hundred
and fifty of them stationed here. Why, man, there are five hundred
warriors in Black Hawk's camp at this minute, and that is only fifteen
miles away. Within ten days he could rally to him Kickapoos,
Potawatamies and Winnebagoes in sufficient force to crush us like an
eggshell. Why, Gaines ought to be here himself, with a thousand
regulars behind him."

"Surely we can defend Armstrong," broke in a confident voice. "The
savages would have to attack in canoes."

Hartley turned, and confronted the speaker.

"In canoes!" he exclaimed. "Why, may I ask? With three hundred men
here in garrison, how many could we spare to patrol the island? Not a
corporal's guard, if we retained enough to prevent an open assault on
the fort. On any dark night they could land every warrior unknown to
us. The Hawk knows that."

His voice had scarcely ceased when the boat whistle sounded hoarse from
the landing below. Grasping my kit I shook hands all around, and left
them, hastening across the parade to the office. Ten minutes later I
crossed the gangplank, and put foot for the first time on the deck of
the _Warrior_. Evidently the crew had been awaiting my arrival to push
off, for instantly the whistle shrieked again, and immediately after
the boat began to churn its way out into the river current, with bow
pointing down stream. Little groups of officers and enlisted men
gathered high up on the rocky headland to watch us getting under way,
and I lingered beside the rail, waving to them, as the struggling boat
swept down, constantly increasing its speed. Even when the last of
those black spots had vanished in the far distance, the flag on the
high staff remained clearly outlined against the sky, a symbol of
civilization in the midst of that vast savage wilderness. Thockmorton
leaned out from the open window of the pilot house and hailed me.

"Put your dunnage in the third cabin, Knox--here, you, Sam, lay hold
and help."

It was nothing to boast of, that third cabin, being a mere hole,
measuring possibly about four feet by seven, but sufficient for
sleeping quarters, and was reasonably clean. It failed, however, in
attractiveness sufficient to keep me below, and as soon as I had
deposited my bag and indulged in a somewhat captious scrutiny of the
bedding, I very willingly returned to the outside and clambered up a
steep ladder to the upper deck.

The view from this point was a most attractive one. The little steamer
struggled forward through the swift, swirling water, keeping nearly in
the center of the broad stream, the white spray flung high by her
churning wheel and sparkling like diamonds in the sunshine. Lightly
loaded, a mere chip on the mighty current, she seemed to fly like a
bird, impelled not only by the force of her engines, but swept
irresistibly on by the grasp of the waters. We were already skirting
the willow-clad islands, green and dense with foliage to the river's
edge; and beyond these could gain tantalizing glimpses of the mouth of
the Rock, its waters gleaming like silver between grassy banks. The
opposite shore appeared dark and gloomy in comparison, with great
rock-crowned bluffs outlined against the sky, occasionally assuming
grotesque forms, which the boatmen pointed out as familiar landmarks.

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