Again young Houston laughed; and there was a note of recklessness in it which seemed to rise above everything else. For this young man, almost boy, was one of the most fearless spirits of the border. The time was to come, though, when he was to look after the lives of his soldiers with even greater care than Colonel Coffee, when he was many years older, and responsibility had tamed his wild nature.
“I don’t think there would be more danger for us than for the redskins,” stated he, humorously. “Another thing: Here’s a good chance to make a mark in the war; so why not do it?”
About a half mile from Tallushatchee they drew up and dismounted. Making their horses fast among some trees, they stole toward the village with all the secrecy of stalking animals. Through the trees they caught sight of the fires, neglected, but still glowing redly. The huts and lodges lifted before them in dense masses; a sentinel stalked to and fro at intervals around the town; now and then a dog howled dismally.
Because of the sentinels they could not venture too near. However, they were able to count the number of fires, and so were able to reckon upon the number of warriors with a fair degree of accuracy. For a half hour they prowled about the Indian town, endeavoring to learn all that was possible; but then the dogs began to get wind of them; their howls were changed to sharp distrustful barks and the stalking, shadowy sentinels became alert and suspicious.
“About time to draw off, I’d say,” remarked Jack Davis in a low tone.
“Creek all awake soon,” said the Cherokee hunter.
Houston agreed, reluctantly, that this was very likely so, and that remaining in the vicinity of the village, now that they had secured all the information possible, was useless. So they drew off silently as they had approached; when they reached the spot where their horses had been tied, they could hear the savage barking of the village dogs lifted to a higher pitch than ever; and as they mounted and rode away, the other unmistakable noises from the town showed that the hostiles had been aroused from their sleep and were even then preparing to meet the hated paleface.
Houston, a half hour later, had reported the facts they had gathered to Colonel Coffee; and in a few minutes more the entire command, horse and foot, was once more upon the march. As quietly as possible the leader advanced his men toward Tallushatchee and drew a line about it.
Dawn showed itself palely in the eastern sky; the savages caught sight of their foes with the first slanting rays, and a yell of defiance and hate went up from them. The same rays showed Colonel Coffee the strength of the Indian position. In spite of the fact that his force outnumbered that of the Creek warriors, that leader, knowing the work ahead before the Creek nation was subdued, and knowing that every man would be needed, looked troubled.
“They will pick a half hundred off like flies if we rush them as they are now,” said he.