Girls -- Juvenile fiction; World War, 1914-1918 -- Juvenile fiction
"Before leaving the fort Robert gave to Angele a small knife, telling
her that if they were captured she must use it quickly to end her own
life! He then carefully barred every possible entrance, knowing that
though the Indians could beat these down or fire the entire place, it
would mean some delay in their pursuit and give them a little start
toward safety.
"Just as the moon disappeared and a heavy darkness enveloped them they
pushed away from shore. But as they started down the river a horrible
whoop split the air! Angele pressed her hands tight to her mouth to
still her scream of terror. With a mighty stroke Robert paddled for
midstream. But just as he did so an arrow shot past Angele and buried
itself in the soft part of his leg!
"The three Indians who had come and gone in such friendly fashion were
not of the far-off tribe they claimed to be, but had been sent on ahead
by the chieftain to see how things were at the fort. They had gone back
and told their story and the chieftain, expecting that some escape
might be attempted, had planned to surprise the fort in the night.
"His flesh stinging with the wound of the arrow, Robert lifted his
musket and fired quickly. Years before, in his own country, he had been
honored by his King for his good marksmanship, but it was God who
guided that aim through the darkness, for it shot straight into the
very heart of the chieftain! While, in confusion, the Indians gathered
about their fallen chief, Robert, with Angele fainting at his feet, was
soon lost in the kindly darkness of the river--paddling eastward!"
"Oh, were they saved?" cried Peggy, drawing a long breath.
"Yes. Days afterward they reached a fort where they found a priest who
married them. And they lived happy, useful lives in a settlement in
Pennsylvania. Some records of the fort where the priest married them
tell the whole story--they're right in the house," and Grandma nodded
her head proudly toward the open door.
"Didn't I tell you she was like a page out of history?" Barbara asked
Keineth as they drove homeward.
"You just feel as if you were an American History book, beginning with
the discovery of America," laughed Peggy.
"If I was a history book I'd leave out dates and the Cabots--I never
can get 'em straight," Billy chimed.
"There must be lots and lots of stories about brave men that were never
put in books," Keineth added thoughtfully.
Peggy yawned widely. "Well, I'm glad I'm not that poor captive maiden
and just plain Peggy Lee of Overlook!"
"And I'm gladder still that mother is sure to have ice cream for
dinner!"
This, of course, from Billy.
CHAPTER X
PILOT IN DISGRACE
"Anyone might think that this was Friday the thirteenth," growled
Billy. "I broke my fishing rod and I've lost my knife and Jim Archer
stepped on a nail and can't go on a hike this afternoon--"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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