AKRON, OHIO
THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING CO.
NEW YORK CHICAGO
MADE IN U. S. A.
Copyright, 1927
By
The Saalfield Publishing Company
CONTENTS
I. [A RAINY NIGHT.] 9 II. [TALL TODD’S WARNING.] 23 III. [A MYSTERY OF THE FOREST.] 38 IV. [THE LONE INDIAN.] 52 V. [HIDDEN TREASURE.] 67 VI. [THE CABIN BY THE RIVER.] 84 VII. [THE REWARD OF VIGILANCE.] 101 VIII. [THE FATE OF BLACK EAGLE.] 117 IX. [THE CAMP IN THE TREE-TOP.] 134 X. [THE QUAKER’S STORY.] 148 XI. [HELPING THE DELAWARES—DANGER.] 165 XII. [BANDS OF BLACK.] 181 XIII. [A CRY FROM THE DARKNESS.] 197 XIV. [CAPTURED.] 212 XV. [THE SEARCH.] 227 XVI. [THE CAVE OF THE FORTUNE HUNTERS.] 242
CHAPTER I.
A RAINY NIGHT.
A dismally wet and cold September day had come early to a close and thick darkness had settled down an hour since, when the horse attached to a heavy, canvas-covered, two-wheeled emigrant wagon stopped, at its driver’s command, before an inhospitable looking house, from one window of which a feeble light was shining. The rain splashed drearily, the wind moaned in a ghostly way about the structure whose dim outlines were just visible, and flapped the canvas over the wagon fitfully.
The barking of a gruff-voiced dog from somewhere near the house gave certain sign that the arrival of the cart had been noticed by that animal, as a tall, broad shouldered boy sprang lightly down from the vehicle and walked briskly toward the door of the gloomy building.
“Now, never mind, Ring,” spoke a young, but full and pleasant voice from the front of the wagon, as a large dog that stood beneath growled deep in its throat in answer to the barking of the other canine. Instantly the dog was quieted and at the same moment came the sound of knocking at the door of the partially lighted house. A full minute passed, and the knocking was vigorously repeated before there was a response.
“This ain’t a tavern any more; we can’t keep ye,” said a man who put his head out, before the caller could speak.
“This is the Eagle tavern, isn’t it?” the boy inquired calmly, and the light through the half-open door showed him to be a muscular youth of probably eighteen years, though the serious look about his eyes and mouth, and his dark hair gave him a somewhat older appearance.