Page:The Overland Monthly, Jan-June 1894.djvu/247



1894.]

Early Days in Elliot Bay.

183

One evening just before sunset Mrs. Campbell met the chief, and her moth- er's heart overflowed. " Oh, Pat Kanim, my Kent is gone ! I am afraid he is dead."

I saw Pat Kanim lean toward her and whisper something in her ear. Then I saw Mrs. Campbell seize his rough hand in both her own, and the tears come to her eyes.

"Not tell. Me bring him home," and the Indian vanished in the brush.

Mrs. Campbell returned to her house, which was shared by two other families. Mr. Campbell was stationed as sentinel at one of the outposts. There were Lindley and two other young boys, be- sides the women and children in our cabin. We made everything secure for the night, but long after the rest had retired, Mrs. Campbell alone and in the dark kept an anxious vigil. Soon after midnight a tap sounded on the window shutter. She sprang to the door.

"Me, Pat Kanim."

Reassured, she drew back the bolts and opened the door part way, but Pat Kanim did not appear ; instead, a rough hand was clapped over her mouth, and she was forced out of the door. She could not give an alarm, but she noted that there was but one Indian about, arid that he gave no sign to anyone.

She was hurried through the brush for nearly a mile, when they penetrated the dense woods. Mrs. Campbell mar- veled at the skill in woodcraft that her captor displayed, for he made no stops, and was certain of his route. At last they stopped, and he made a peculiar guttural sound. It was immediately an- swered by several similar ones, and they were soon surrounded by a party of war- like savages. After much gesticulating and talking, Mrs. Campbell was securely bound, then carried to one side and shoved in among what seemed a party of sleeping savages, while the captor and his companions rolled themselves in their blankets, and laid themselves

away in the brush. Silence prevailed for a while; then Mrs. .Campbell was startled by hearing a whisper in Eng- glish from one of her companions. It was answered by another. Her mother instinct did not belie her.

"Kent!" It was almost aery.

" Yes, mother. O, mother ! "

"Hush. If Kanim is coming he must soon be- here, and any sound now may arouse those devils." It was Mrs. Camp- bell's brother who spoke, and recogniz- ing the wisdom of his words, the cour- ageous little woman restrained herself, and hoped.

A sound as of a bird whirring in the bush was soon heard.

" Now for it," whispered one of the men.

Mrs. Campbell soon felt a knife at the thongs that bound her. They parted, and Pat Kanim's voice whispered, " You cut next."

She took the knife and obeyed. It was the work of a moment to free the other three.

"Now come."

Kent clasped his mother's hand, but not a word was spoken. With a pecu- liar snake-like movement Kanim led them out of the thicket, where they were joined by a dozen of his men.

" Must go fast."

Pat Kanim hurriedly told them that the hostile Indians were in four de- tachments from the main body, which was stationed far to the southwest ; that an attack on the town was to be made the next day, and the prisoners were to be used as decoys. If they could only reach the settlement in time to give the alarm !

Kent Campbell never forgot that walk nor the feverish excitement with which all were filled in their efforts to keep speed with the Indians. They reached the Campbell cabin just as the first streaks of dawn were lighting the east. The door was partly open, and they found the inmates sleeping peacefully.