“I’ll cut the place out,” said Joe, and he did, without further loss of time. Nobody cared to go near the clump of trees after that, fearing more snakes, and Joe and Ford found shelter with some of the other hunters at the camp-fire.
It was a cold and disagreeable night, and Joe slept but little. Yet the youth was thankful that he had escaped from the snake, and when he said his prayers on retiring he did not forget to thank God for all His many mercies.
In the morning, the sun came out as brightly as ever, and by eight o’clock the journey to the fort was resumed. It passed without special incident, and twenty-four hours later saw Joe once again at home, and rather glad that the brief campaign against the Indians was at an end.
Acting on instructions from his superiors, Daniel Boone now released the Indian chief Red Feather, and gave to him the gifts that had been promised. He also released Yellow Blanket, and told both red men that he trusted the war between the Indians and the whites was at an end, and that henceforth all would dwell in peace.
“The white man has come here to till the soil,” said Boone to Red Feather. “The Indian lives by the hunt. Let each go his way, and when the winter comes let the Indian bring to the white man the meat of the buffalo and other game, and he shall receive in return flour, and hay for his horse, and such other things as he needs.”
“It is well spoken—the war is at an end,” said Red Feather, and so departed, and Yellow Blanket followed him.
It was not known until long after that Red Feather intended fully to keep his promise to remain friendly to the whites. Even Daniel Boone did not believe the Indian chief, for he knew much of red men’s treachery. But Red Feather went straight to the Indian villages and told of what Daniel Boone had said.
“He is a noble brave,” said Red Feather. “If we remain friendly to him he will surely treat us well.”
This speech enraged Long Knife, who was now recovered from the arrow wound Joe inflicted, and he made a long speech in return, in which he insinuated that the whites had bribed Red Feather to friendliness. This provoked a quarrel and a fight, in the midst of which Red Feather was shot down by some treacherous follower of Long Knife.
“Red Feather deserved the fate,” said Long Knife, after the excitement was over. “He was untrue to the red man. The land is ours, and I will not sit down and see the white man occupy it.”