title: Old tales retold; or, Perils and adventures of Tennessee pioneers,
text: ^q. n * 4o ,tvtf«4«jg§r« ,0„* •^K,* .4 o. »vy^ &** ^ Ay ♦ ♦ ,AWa« ^ c^ *4 r oK ^ *.;-.• <&* 4 O r oK r <*cy OR, PERILS AND ADVENTURES OF TENNESSEE PIONEERS BY OCT AVI A ZOLLICOFFER BOND 1906 SMITH & LAMAR, PUBLISHING HOUSE OF METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, AND DALLAS, TEXAS LIBRARY of CONGRESS TwoGoDies Received APR 21 1906 S) Copyright Entry CLASS Cb XXc, No, COPY B. Copyright, 1906, BY The Book Agents of the M. E. Church, South. PREFACE. The aim of this little book is to cause inquiry into the facts which it relates. To enjoy the whole story one must read the writings of the historians Haywood, Ramsay, Imlay, Bartram, Monette, Parton, Reid, Ea- ton, Roosevelt, Guild, Phelan, Gilmore, Paschal, Col- lier, and many others from which these fragments have been gathered and set in order. It is not expected that "Old Tales Retold" will take the place of text- books. That, as finger posts, they may point the way to the delights of Tennessee history is the sim- ple intent of The Author. 5 CONTENTS. PAGE Introduction 9 CHAPTER I. The Great Chief Chisca on the Mound n CHAPTER II. A Gentle Savage 25 CHAPTER III. Lost on the Mountain 39 CHAPTER IV. The Interrupted Feast S 2 CHAPTER V. A Snake in the Grass 63 CHAPTER VI. Incidents of Early Times 74 CHAPTER VII. The Voyage of the Adventure 86 CHAPTER VIII. The Hornets' Nest 93 CHAPTER IX. On to King's Mountain 102 CHAPTER X. A Famous Rescue i J 9 CHAPTER XL The Battle of the Bluffs 123 7 Old Tales Retold. CHAPTER XII. page The Squaw's Prophecy 134 CHAPTER XIII. Night Assault on Buchanan's Station 154 CHAPTER XIV. Nickajack, or Prophecy Fulfilled 168 CHAPTER XV. The Sovereign's Will 176 CHAPTER XVI. A Typical Pioneer Life 180 CHAPTER XVII. On the Natchez Trace with Meriwether Lewis 187 CHAPTER XVIII. The Fiber of "Old Hickory" 198 CHAPTER XIX. A Reckoning with the Spaniards 214 CHAPTER XX. A Day We Celebrate 219 CHAPTER XXI. The Fall of the Alamo 230 CHAPTER XXII. A Tennesseean in Texas 239 CHAPTER XXIII. Sam Davis 248 8 INTRODUCTION. I have just read with unusual pleasure Mrs. Zolli- coffer Bond's charming new book entitled "Old Tales Retold," a series of stories of early Tennessee life and history. They are not fiction. Mrs. Bond has woven into these entertaining stories the substantial historical facts that form the basis of each of her retold tales. One is often surprised at her strict fidel- ity to the details of history. She has followed the annals of Ramsay and Put- nam and the later historical chronicles with faithful and painstaking exactness, yet she has succeeded in selecting the most interesting incidents in the pioneer life of Tennessee, and has narrated them in a way so full of interest that they are sure to entertain and instruct all classes of readers, and especially our younger students, more than any history of Tennes- see yet written. No schoolbook can fill the place of these "Retold Tales." The author has successfully ventured into a new and fruitful literary field. She tells the story of Ferdinand De Soto in a few brief pages that give the young reader the charm of the real romance of this brilliant but ill-fated Spanish adventurer. The pathos and tragedy of the surrender of Fort Loudon will leave a lasting impression of the historic facts upon the mind of the reader. The savage attack on the fort at Watauga, the es- cape of bonny Kate Sherrill, the thrilling story of King's Mountain, the assault upon Buchanan's Sta- 9 Old Tales Retold. tion, the "Battle of the Bluffs" at Nashville, are all told in such an engaging way that these stirring events in the early history of the State will be long remembered. In an incidental way these stories also give us a lifelike picture of the noble and rugged char- acter of James Robertson, the father and founder of Nashville, and of our brilliant and magnetic soldier- governor John Sevier, and of the intrepid heroism of Andrew Jackson. The author also carries us along the famous "Natchez Trace," and weaves into her story the tragic fate of the lamented young hero of American history, Meriwether Lewis. But these entertaining stories must be read to be appreciated. They are elevating and instructive. They will give the rising generation of Tennesseeans more admiration and respect for the hardy and in- telligent pioneers who invaded the wilderness and built up our Western civilization. G. P. Thruston. Nashville, December, 1905. IO OLD TALES RETOLD. i. THE GREAT CHIEF CHISCA ON THE MOUND. There was a time, long ago, when the Chickasaw Indians lived in a vast forest on the Mississippi River where Memphis, Tenn., now stands. The Chicka- saws were ruled for many years by the famous war- rior Chisca, whose lodge was on top of an ancient mound near the village called Chisca. The lodge was surrounded by a stout wall of logs, and could be reached only by climbing two long ladders placed one above the other against the steep side of the mound. The great chief had not been seen by his people since the days of his youth. He had shut himself in his lodge, which was guarded by chosen warriors night and day, and none but his nearest of kin, his counselors, and the mystery man of the nation were allowed to ascend the two long ladders. Chisca had hidden him- self from public view for so many years that only those who attended him knew what he looked like, though he was believed to be a man of marvelous strength, whose powers and youthful appearance would never leave him, no matter how old he might be. In the village the young braves boasted of their king, saying: "Chisca is a tall sycamore tree. His strong arm is a bough of oak." The older warriors, ii Old Tales Retold. who obeyed the slightest command received from him through his counselors, declared their belief that "The word of our chief is the voice of the Great Spirit." And so far did the fame of his deeds extend that the boldest of unfriendly tribes dared not molest him. It was agreed among the neighboring chiefs that it would be unwise to attack the Chickasaws. "For," they asked, "who is strong enough to overcome Chisca in battle? What arrow is sharp enough to pierce the great chief of the Chickasaws, who bears a charmed life?" Safe under the protection of their chieftain's name, the Chickasaws would have feared nothing from out- side foes had it not been that an evil prophecy had come down to them through many generations of mystery men. Time out of mind, a great calamity had been foretold by each prophet of the nation. And now came Chisca's mystery man, also, beating his sacred drum in the village street, shaking the rattles on his arms, and crying dolefully: "Out of the land of the rising sun will come an army of pale-faced strangers who w T ill kill all the red men and utterly destroy our nation." Eclipses of the sun or moon, violent storms, and other convulsions of nature were accepted as warn- ings that the evil day was near. When, early one spring, the Miche Scpe (Great River, or Father of Waters) swelled to a flood, burst its banks, and rolled its yellow tide westward as far as the eye could see, the mystery man, streaked with paint and decked with buffalo horns and tails, danced up and down between the wigwams as he cried aloud: "A sign! The Fa- ther of Waters is angry with his children. A flood 12 Great Chief Chisca on the Mound. of pale warriors is rolling to overwhelm us from the east." What more terrifying than the prospect of an in- vasion of white men in a land where none but red men were known ? The stoutest-hearted brave, in awe of the dire prophecy, could only answer him with a dejected "Ugh;" while the weaker squaws wept and wailed in fear. About this time there was a rich king of Spain far to the eastward, beyond the "big water" of the Atlantic Ocean, who sat dissatisfied on his gilded throne be- cause he did not own quite all the earth. King Charles III. of Spain (and V. of Germany) had vast posses- sions in Europe, besides principalities in Mexico and Peru, and he owned the island of Cuba, yet he cov- eted the rest of the red men's country in America. So he ordered his skillful general, Fernando De Soto, to pick and choose the bravest and youngest of the Spanish soldiers, and go forth with them to conquer the great part of the North American continent, which in those days was called Florida. De Soto was ap- pointed by his sovereign to be commander of the army, governor of Cuba, and adelantado of Florida. There were wonderful stories afloat about treasures of gold and silver and cities paved with gold in the unknown Indian country. Sailors from those strange shores told "yarns" of marvelous birds that flitted through perfumed groves and of a fountain of perpetual youth which flowed from the earth somewhere in the land of Florida. The Spanish cavaliers who flocked to join De Soto, in shining armor, on prancing steeds, were of the proudest families of Spain. They were eager to follow him to a land where, as they were told, "the *3 Old Tales Retold. sun ever shines and flowers ever bloom," in search of the treasure and the fountain. Although others of their countrymen had searched for them long and thor- oughly without success, under Ponce de Leon and Narvaez, yet De Soto's cavaliers counted on better luck. In their overconfidence many of them sold all their possessions for means with which to buy armor, horses, and accouterments of war. The highborn ladies of Spain also parted freely with castles, lands, and jewels in order either to help the men to prepare for the expedition or to go themselves. For they were as eager for the treasure as the cavaliers, and more keen, perhaps, than they to sip the magic water that had power to keep them young forever. When the glittering array of plumed knights marched, with ban- ners flying, on board ships for the voyage, their wives and sweethearts, for the most part, were with them. Amid sounds of laughter, merry songs, and bursts of martial music they sailed away for Cuba. After reaching Havana the knights and ladies spent a full year in the leisurely enjoyment of balls, tourna- ments, and bullfights, while the final preparations to conquer Florida were being made. At last every- thing was ready. Interpreters to speak the Indian lan- guage, bloodhounds to track the natives, and heavy iron chains to bind them when caught were all on board the ships. Then the cavaliers, about to sail for the shores of the mainland, bade the ladies good-by for a short while, saying: "Have no fear but that we will quickly conquer the ignorant savages. Wait here until we return to lead you to the fountain of youth." The fair senoritas smiled contentedly as they watched the vessels move out upon the summer sea, H Great Chief Chisca on the Mound. bound for the land of gold and silver, and never-end- ing youth. It was in May, 1539, that De Soto's fleet, sailing along the western coast of the peninsula of Florida, entered the bay of Tampa. Scarcely had they weighed anchor when the knights sprang ashore and planted a Spanish banner on the beach in token that they claimed the country for King Charles. Im- mediately a smiling party of Indians appeared. Not guessing the meaning of the white men's actions, they came forward in the most friendly way to meet them, making every sign of welcome to reassure the stran- gers. Whereupon the simple savages were seized by the invaders, loaded with chains, and brought before De Soto. The commander, through his interpreters, sternly ordered the unlucky captives to lead him at once to the gold-paved cities, and show him the way to the fountain of youth. This was the adelantado's first mistake. It changed the friendly Indians instantly into bitter enemies. Every red man in the forests learned from this and other cruelties practiced on them by the white army to hate the Spaniards. They missed no chance to do the strangers harm. By cun- ning design the captured guides led them astray, en- ticing them far from the coast into the depths of the forest, decoying them into miry swamps, or leading them into ambush, where dark warriors crouched be- hind rocks, trees, or shrubs, waiting to shoot poisoned arrows into the white host as they passed. On their part, De Soto's men drew the Indians into open battle whenever they could, and killed great num- bers of them with their superior European weapons; yet there were still red men in the woods to fight, still poisoned arrows to encounter, no matter which l 5 Old Talcs Retold. way the Spaniards turned. Moreover, they did not know how to conduct their search through the track- less woods, and there was no one on whom they could rely to show them the right direction. Although De Soto tried many different guides, they all alike de- ceived and misled him. Month after month the covetous cavaliers were drawn by false reports through tangled thickets, across rushing rivers, and over steep mountains. Now far to the north, now east, now west, and again south they roamed, until their ideas of distance and direc- tion were in confusion. With all their marching they saw nothing of the fine cities, nothing of the rich kings they had come to this distant land to find. The only towns they came across were straggling villages of rude wigwams, and the kings, or "caciques," of the country were merely half-naked savages, with no treasures more valuable than their weapons of war, unless one was found possessed of a marvelously col- ored "match coat" of bird plumage as brilliantly va- riegated as mottled silk, or perhaps a royal mantle en- riched with pearls by the patient fingers of the squaws. And these their simple owners preferred to keep for themselves, They also objected to having strangers come into their ancient hunting grounds and claim them for an unknown king. Looking upon the Spaniards as rob- bers and tyrants, they fought them persistently all along their route. Two years of vain search and weary marching passed in this way, and the Spanish knights were no nearer than at first to the objects of their search. As far as ever from the fabled fountain and the treasure, 16 Great Chief Chisca on the Mound. they were still being tolled on by beguiling natives, who said, "Only three days' journey to the north is a rich king who has untold treasure," or "You have but to cross yonder mountain to reach a city that is paved with gold." Time and again they were told of a fountain of magic water not far away ; but after toiling over tiresome miles to reach the spot, they invariably found only an ordinary spring at their journey's end. Thus the adventurers were enticed month after month through the depths of the forest. Numbers of them died on the march. Of the few hundreds who were left at the end of two years, many were sick from being drenched with rain, and all were travel-worn and bedraggled with the mud of the quagmires through which they had been led. The forlorn wanderers would scarcely have been recognized by their friends as the gay cavaliers who had left Havana with the as- surance of victory on their lips. The most hopeful among them were discouraged, and they might have all turned back without another effort to find the treas- ure and the fountain had they not been so ragged and soiled that they were not fit to be seen by the fair ladies they had left behind. They were about to despair, when hope was once more held out to them. An In- dian in whom they had some confidence assured them that they were almost within reach of their aim. "A little way off toward the setting sun," said the Indian, "flows the Father of Waters through the land of silver and gold. It is the land where lives the great chief Chisca on the mound. Arrows cannot kill the great chief of the Chickasaws. He bears a charmed life. Chisca grows not old with years." His words made De Soto's heart glad. "Surely," he thought, "a chief 2 17 Old Tales Retold. who grows not old has drunk of the fountain of youth." With renewed courage he and his band turned west- ward, and before long they did indeed hear the roar of a mighty stream, and presently they saw the Father of Waters, the great Mississippi, which no white man before them had ever seen. Yelling and whooping with delight, the troops spurred their horses forward toward the swollen river, shouting as they dashed into the little town on its eastern bank : "Now for the land of gold and silver ! Now for the fountain of youth !" As they clattered through the village on steel-mailed horses, up and down the street, around and between the wigwams, the terror of the Chickasaws was great indeed. Never in all their lives had they seen a horse, and never before had they heard the noise of a gun. In their surprise they were easily taken prisoners. All were captured, men., women, and children, with the exception of a few swift runners who escaped and raised the alarm at the foot of the mound on which Chisca lived. "The palefaces have taken the village," they said in gasps, at which the mystery man groaned and cried: "Who can keep off the evil that is to be? It has come to pass as our fathers foretold." With doleful face he bore the news to Chisca. While he was clambering up the ladders on his unhappy er- rand, warriors came hastening in from all directions. Four thousand of them armed with bows and arrows, stone hatchets, and scalping knives crowded around the foot of the mound to protect their king, and run- ners were sent to distant parts to summon still other fighting men. At the same lime the councilors were assembling in the presence of King Chisca. The chief 18 Great Chief Chisca on the Mound. lay sick upon his buffalo robe ; but when he heard what had happened, he forgot if he were sick or well, weak or strong. His anger burned so hotly against the for- eigners who had dared to enter his town and take his people prisoners that he rose from bed, snatched his war hatchet, many a year unused, and rushed out of doors, calling aloud: "Come all and drive away the invaders." The councilors followed close behind, praying him to have patience, and begging him to listen to their "talk" before risking all in battle. "You do not know," argued the councilors, "how many of these strange beings are hidden in the woods. Their numbers may be as great as the leaves on the trees. Think how mysteriously they came. Others may follow." "Think also," added the mystery man, "on the an- cient prophecy which declares that 'The palefaces will not fail to destroy utterly the whole race of red men/ It is useless to oppose those who are destined to suc- ceed." At this advice the king's rage knew no bounds. He stamped his foot and exclaimed : "Weak and cowardly is he who fights not for his country !" But the cautious councilors persisted in saying: "These strangers are unlike other foes. Our father the king should wait until all his braves are gathered together before he gives battle to creatures who ride on unknown sort of beasts and who carry war clubs that roar like the thunder of the Great Spirit." At last, by dint of persuasion, the chief was led back to bed, but later he sent a messenger to the Spaniards, who said to them for the king, through an interpreter : *9 Old Tales Retold. "Insolent intruders ! We mean to fall on you and destroy you utterly. You rob the poor, you oppress the defenseless, and have not the courage of men." The fury of the sick chief did not lessen with time. He rose from bed in a few days and tottered to the wall that surmounted the mound. His kinsmen were clinging to him, begging him not to endanger his sa- cred person, but already he had started down the lad- der. His foot was on the first round. In vain the women wept and lamented and the men tried to hold him back. He was beginning to descend, when a loud shout was heard from a party of Spaniards at some distance, who were calling and signaling to the war- riors around the mound. "We are messengers," they said, "from the great Fernando De Soto, Governor of Cuba and Adelantado of Florida, who wishes to beg pardon of King. Chisca. The Governor is sorry for what he has done ; and if the Chickasaws will for- give him, he will promise to go away and do them no more harm." Chisca was unmoved by the apology. "I want none of their promises !" he exclaimed angrily. "Bring me their heads and I will receive them joyfully." Hot words from the furious chief and friendly mes- sages from the Spanish general went back and forth in quick succession. The councilors again persuaded Chisca to his bed, while they urged him to make peace, saying: "If we insult De Soto, he will burn the town and kill the prisoners outright." The Chickasaw chief answered : "As for me and my people, we choose death before the loss of our country." But De Soto was one not to be refused. Plainly seeing that he had gained nothing by bad behavior, 20 Great Chief Chisca on the Mound. and knowing that he had not enough soldiers to fight the thousands of braves he saw surrounding the mound, he determined, if possible, to pacify the chief of the Chickasaws by fair words. In truth, nearly all of his men were sick with the fever of the country, and were at that moment lying stretched on the rude beds in the wigwams of Chisca. They were also suf- fering from hunger, having some time since eaten all the food they had found packed in a number of earth- en jars in the village. They had not only seized on what they needed to eat, but had taken possession on sight of all the rich furs and all the pretty mats, mantles, and moccasins which pleased their fancy. It was hard in the beginning to bring the chief on the mound to terms, but De Soto's flattering speeches and the councilors' advice finally prevailed. Chisca consented to let the Spaniards go in peace, but he in- sisted that they must first free all the prisoners and re- store every piece of stolen goods. He required the governor's messengers to promise also that not one of the white men should venture to climb the ladders to look on the great chief's face. This being agreed to, peace was declared. Then Chisca generously sent bearers carrying baskets of provisions to the famish- ing strangers, accompanied by a messenger, who said : "I am come in the name of the king to offer you all the comforts we can give." This unexpected kindness encouraged De Soto to hope for still other favors. He felt sure that Chisca's reason for hiding himself was that he was marvel- ously young and handsome through having used the water from the fountain of youth. The Spaniard be- lieved that he might be able to induce the Indian chief, 21 Old Tales Retold. if he could only get an interview with him, to tell where the fabled fountain was concealed, and to direct him where to find the mines of gold and silver he was seeking. So he began to beg to see the king. "Let me stand in great Chisca's presence only for a moment to thank him for his gifts," he pleaded, hoping to get at least a glimpse of the perpetually young warrior. But he was told that it was contrary to the custom of the king to receive strangers. Refusal only whetted De Soto's curiosity. He continued, during the six days in which his soldiers were getting well enough to move, to plead for an audience with the king. On the last day of the six his petition was granted. The guards at the mound were ordered to let the adelan- tado pass. With a show of barbaric ceremony he was escorted to the foot of the lower ladder. How quick- ly it was mounted! The upper ladder next trembled under De Soto's excited grasp as he climbed to the highest round. He leaped over the wall that topped the mound and hastened to the royal lodge, impatient to see for himself an example of perpetual youth and strength. For it was well known that Chisca was still a mighty man, and had he not been a famous chief long before the oldest warriors were infants swinging in papoose cases under the trees? Surely it was true that he had drunk of the wonderful fountain. On tiptoe with expectation, De Soto pushed aside the deer-hide door curtain, eager to behold the great chief on the mound, the marvel of all the ages. He lifted up his eyes and saw lying before him on a couch of wild beasts' skins only a miserable, little, old Indian, the most shriveled figure of a man he had ever seen in all his journeyings. De Soto shuddered at sight of 22 Great Chief Chisca on the Mound. the living skeleton whose flesh was quite dried up with age, and on whose cheeks the skin hung loose like wrinkled red leather. The adelantado was so shocked by this shrunken, mummied creature that he knew not what to say. He could barely stammer out thanks for the hospitality he had received. Then, without a question as to the fountain of youth, without a word concerning the treasures of gold and silver, he turned and went down the ladders to join his men who were waiting to resume their march. How much or how little he told them of his visit is not known. It is only certain that with them he crossed the Mississippi, and wandered for a year west of the river, still look- ing for the treasure and the fountain. Finding neither, he came back to the Mississippi, where the remnant of his army built rafts and em- barked with their leader to float down the stream to the Gulf of Mexico. Nothing had been accomplished by the expedition. The result of three years of toil and privation, sickness and death was merely an idle claim for Spain to all the land and the waters the cavaliers had crossed in their journey. At the end of that time their commander fell ill with the fever of the country. On the voyage down the Mississippi, in the year 1542, De Soto died, and was buried at midnight in the great river which he had discovered. Only a few of the travel-stained soldiers at last reached Cuba; but a handful of weary, disappointed cavaliers rejoined the ladies who, waiting on the is- land, had grown heartsick for the return of De Soto and his glittering band. More than a hundred years passed before another white man saw the Father of Waters. It was not un- 2 3 Old Tales Retold. til the year 1682 that the Mississippi Valley was again claimed for a white nation. In that year La Salle, a French explorer, planted the banner of France on the old site of Chisca and built there a cabin and a fort which he called Prud'homme. La Salle claimed for France all the land from the gulf to the sources of the Mississippi, the Alleghany, the Monongahela, the Ka- nawha, and the Tennessee, and named the country Louisiana, in honor of his sovereign, Louis the Four- teenth. 24 II. A GENTLE SAVAGE. A long time ago, in the days of George II., Fort Loudon was built by Englishmen right in the heart of the wild Indian country, on the Little Tennessee River. The garrison of two hundred soldiers and the few families who built cabins near by were the only white people who lived within many hundreds of miles in any direction of this fort in the untouched wilderness. But the strong stone walls of the fortress, surmounted by twelve brass cannon, gave the people a feeling of safety. Moreover, they had a powerful friend among the savages in the Cherokee vice king, Atta Culla- Culla, who lived in Echota, scarcely ten miles away. Echota, the "Sacred" or "Beloved Town" of his race, was also the home of Oconostota, the king of the Cherokees, who held sway over all the tribes living in the eastern part of Tennessee. It was the silver-tongued Atta Culla-Culla who had induced Oconostota to let the white people build in his country. At the persuasion of the vice king the Cherokee head men had smoked the pipe of peace in solemn treaty with the palefaces. This gentle-hearted chief desired to introduce among his own people the arts and industries known to the whites. He wished to make friends of all the English, and he was par- ticularly fond of Capt. John Stuart, of the British garrison at Fort Loudon, whom he often visited in the barracks. 25 Old Tales Retold. It was at the close of one of these visits that he lingered in the great gateway of Fort Loudon, saying cheerfully to his white friend: "I rejoice in the day of peace. Oconostota loves his white brothers. The red hatchet is buried between his people and the pale- faces." While he was still speaking, a troop of mounted warriors came galloping out of the surrounding woods toward the fort. The tall king Oconostota was in front. John Stuart saw at a glance that he was in a bad humor. The glitter of the chief's restless black eyes, the grim mouth, and the feathered head held high left him no room for doubt. The plumed band swept by the gate like a flight of arrows. Oconostota did not speak as he swiftly passed. He did not so much as nod to the English captain. To the vice king he merely waved a haughty signal to bid him follow. Captain Stuart looked in astonishment to his friends for explanation. Whereupon, Culla-Culla, gazing sin- cerely back into his face, simply said : "Should danger come near my white brother, let him call on Atta Culla- Culla. The heart of John Stuart is straight. I have eaten of my white brother's salt. I will give my life to save him." Without waiting for reply he sprang lightly to his horse and sped after the troop. If the white people could have followed the vice king to Echota and seen there the excited Indians awaiting him in the "Beloved Square," they would have been alarmed. If they could have heard the warriors applauding their huge king, who towered above them all, swearing vengeance against the white race, they would not have felt secure even behind the 26 A Gentle Savage. & solid walls of the fort ; for Indians, as they knew, were cunning to surprise and patient to lurk around forts and starve out garrisons. Had they heard Oconostota exclaim passionately, "The palefaces have betrayed us. Trusty French messengers have brought word that a number of our young warriors who had been helping the English fight the French at Fort Du- quesne were murdered for no cause by men of the nation they were helping, as they passed on their way home through Virginia. This calls for vengeance on every one in whose veins flows English blood;" and had the white men witnessed the war dance in front of the great council house of upright poles — they would have trembled for the safety of their families. Having been persuaded by secret emissaries of the French that the English had broken faith with them, the Cher- okees believed, according to the teachings of their heathen religion, that they owed it to the ghosts of their slain tribesmen to massacre all the people of the same nation within their reach. In Fort Loudon no one dreamed of what was going on except John Stuart. He alone suspected that dan- ger might be near. And not until several days had passed, during which he noticed that the chiefs kept strictly away from the fort and that the Indian boys and girls no longer came to play with the white chil- dren, did Stuart feel uneasy enough to say to his fellow-officers : "Mischief is brewing in Echota. Look out for an Indian uprising." About this time he also observed that his friend, Culla-Culla, was avoiding him, and finally when he forced a meeting the vice king in silence turned coldly away from him. In place of his old, confiding manner was a sullen dis- 27 Old Tales Retold. trust which convinced Captain Stuart that it was time to act. As quickly as they could be assembled the families outside were brought inside the walls, and the gates were shut fast. Messengers were dispatched secretly through the woods to Virginia and Carolina for help, and everything was put in a state of defense. None too soon. Oconostota's war club was already speed- ing among his tribes. Carried by a runner from Echota, the principal over-hill town of the Ottari Cherokees, it was rapidly borne southward to the Erati of the middle towns in the valleys between the Blue Ridge and the Smoky Mountains, and still on to the lower towns of the Chickamaugas near Lookout Moun- tain, summoning all the Cherokee warriors of every tribe to rally around their king. Presently the fort was encircled by concealed red men. On all sides they crouched behind rocks and trees waiting a chance to shoot the palefaces. Let the gates be opened but a crack, and whiz! flew an arrow straight to the chink. No head dared show above the walls. Food became scarce in the fort, yet it was not possible to send a man out into the forest for game, even at night. The people went hungry most of the time, and were saved from actual starvation only by the mercy of some squaws who crept under the walls to give the soldiers a quantity of beans, while they hurriedly whispered to them : "Do not surrender. The warriors will show no quarter." Later on, when every path was watched, the friend- ly squaws could find no chance to smuggle food to the suffering soldiers, who grew desperately impatient to rush outside and have an open fight. They said: "Of 28 A Gentle Savage. what use to us are guns, swords, or courage, shut up as we are behind walls? We cannot turn our cannon on redskins who are nowhere in sight." But Stuart and the other officers wisely opposed the idea of opening the gates to make a sally, saying, "The savages outnumber us fifty to one. They will push their way in and massacre the women and chil- dren," an argument which quieted the soldiers only for a short while. A few more days of deprivation brought them back with still others of the hunger- weakened men begging to be allowed to surrender. "Why, in surrendering now," answered the discreet captain, "you would throw away your last chance of life;" but the men retorted gloomily, "We would rather die under the tomahawk than see our families starve to death before our eyes." Stuart still urged patience. "The troops that are coining to help us are on their way," he said. "The messengers we sent on the first alarm to the Governors of Virginia and North Carolina cannot fail to bring relief in time. Yet week after week w r ent by, and no troops came. The army of savages grew larger and larger, and each day the supply of food in the fort was less and less. The starving time came at last when the valued horses of the officers, which were loved as friends, had to be killed for food. After them the faithful dogs which had followed their masters hun- dreds of miles into the wilderness were slaughtered. After the last lean cur had been eaten and there was no more meat, the people grew frantic with hunger. "Let us at least have a parley with the Indians," they demanded, "for we can hold out no longer." The women joined their wails to the murmurs of the men, 29 Old Tales Retold. and wrung their hands, crying: "Our little ones are perishing. They must have food at once." Such entreaties could not be withstood, and a par- ley with the Indians was finally agreed upon. This was all very well, until the question was asked : "Who shall go outside to treat with the Cherokees?" They all knew in their hearts that among them John Stuart alone had the tact and daring to deal successfully with the enemy. He was the man above all others whom the red men admired and feared. Quite nat- urally, therefore, he was unanimously chosen for the task which no one else cared to undertake ; and quite naturally, being a brave, good man, he consented to risk his life for his fellow-men. Only a few days were spent in watching his chance to slip through the Indian lines before he stood in the presence of Oconostota and his head men. The In- dian leaders were amazed when he, their chief enemy, put himself, unarmed, completely in their power. Touched by his trust in them, they allowed admiration for his courage to overcome their anger, and readily gave him leave to speak for his people. The fate of the garrison depended on what he should say. Fortu- nately, his well-chosen words and the captivating man- ner of his speech made a good impression on the sav- ages. Scarcely was he through talking before Oco- nostota, completely won over, smiled and said frankly : "We will let the white people go free. They may march out of the fort with drums and flags, each sol- dier carrying his gun. The rest of the people may take whatever baggage they choose to carry." He also agreed that a chosen guard of warriors should escort the palefaces out of the Cherokee country alon§ 3° A Gentle Savage. 