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THE BIG BROTHER

A Story of Indian War

by

GEORGE CARY EGGLESTON

Author of "How to Educate Yourself," Etc.

Illustrated







[Illustration: THE DOG CHARGE.]



New York
G. P. Putnam's Sons
Fourth Avenue and Twenty-Third Street
1875.

Copyright.
G. P. Putnam's Sons.
1875.




CONTENTS.


CHAPTER I.
                                                           Page.
SINQUEFIELD                                                   7

CHAPTER II.
THE STORMING OF SINQUEFIELD                                  17

CHAPTER III.
SAM'S LECTURE                                                28

CHAPTER IV.
SAM FINDS IT NECESSARY TO THINK                              38

CHAPTER V.
SAM'S FORTRESS                                               46

CHAPTER VI.
SURPRISED                                                    61

CHAPTER VII.
CONFUSED                                                     67

CHAPTER VIII.
WEATHERFORD                                                  71

CHAPTER IX.
WEARY WAITING                                                83

CHAPTER X.
FIGHTING FIRE                                                93

CHAPTER XI.
IN THE WILDERNESS                                           104

CHAPTER XII.
AN ALARM AND A WELCOME                                      118

CHAPTER XIII.
JOE'S PLAN                                                  124

CHAPTER XIV.
THE CANOE FIGHT                                             130

CHAPTER XV.
THE BOYS ARE DRIVEN OUT OF THE ROOT FORTRESS                143

CHAPTER XVI.
WHERE IS JOE?                                               159

CHAPTER XVII.
A FAMINE                                                    163

CHAPTER XVIII.
WHICH ENDS THE STORY                                        173




LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.


                                                           Page.

THE DOG CHARGE                                    _Frontispiece._

SAM'S PARTY                                                 20

"WE'S DUN LOS'--DAT'S WHA' WE IS"                           40

JUDIE ON THE RAFT                                           49

THE PERILOUS LEAP                                           83




THE BIG BROTHER.




CHAPTER I.

SINQUEFIELD.


In the quiet days of peace and security in which we live it is difficult
to imagine such a time of excitement as that at which our story opens,
in the summer of 1813. From the beginning of that year, the Creek
Indians in Alabama and Mississippi had shown a decided disposition to
become hostile. In addition to the usual incentives to war which always
exist where the white settlements border closely upon Indian territory,
there were several special causes operating to bring about a struggle at
that time. We were already at war with the British, and British agents
were very active in stirring up trouble on our frontiers, knowing that
nothing would so surely weaken the Americans as a general outbreak of
Indian hostilities. Tecumseh, the great chief, had visited the Creeks,
too, and had urged them to go on the war path, threatening them, in the
event of their refusal, with the wrath of the Great Spirit. His appeals
to their superstition were materially strengthened by the occurrence of
an earthquake, which singularly enough, he had predicted, threatening
that when he returned to his home he would stamp his foot and shake
their houses down. Their own prophets, Francis and Singuista, had
preached war, too, telling the Indians that their partial adoption of
civilization, and their relations of friendship with the whites, were
sorely displeasing to the Great Spirit, who would surely punish them if
they did not immediately abandon the civilization and butcher the
pale-faces. Francis predicted, also, that in the coming struggle no
Indians would be killed, while the whites would be completely
exterminated. All this was promised on condition that the Indians should
become complete savages again, quitting all the habits of industry and
thrift which they had been learning for some years past, and fighting
mercilessly against all whites, sparing none.

All these things combined to bring on the war, and during the spring
several raids were made by small bodies of the