American fiction -- 19th century; Historical fiction; Indians of North America -- Fiction
This was so obvious and probable, that a search was immediately set on
foot. The report was soon made, and great was the eagerness to pursue.
The Kalamazoo was so crooked, that no one there doubted of overtaking
the fugitives, and parties were immediately organized for the chase.
This was done with the customary intelligence and shrewdness of Indians.
The canoes that belonged to Crowsfeather and his band had been brought
up the river, and they lay concealed in rushes, not a mile from the hut.
A party of warriors brought them to the landing, and they carried one
division of the party to the opposite shore, it being the plan to follow
each bank of the river, keeping close to the stream, even to its mouth,
should it prove necessary. Two other parties were sent in direct lines,
one on each side of the river, also, to lay in ambush at such distant
points, ahead, as would be almost certain to anticipate the arrival of
the fugitives. The canoes were sent down the stream, to close the net
against return, while Bear's Meat, Bough of the Oak, Crowsfeather, and
several others of the leading chiefs, remained near the still burning
hut, with a strong party, to examine the surrounding Openings for
foot-prints and trails. It was possible that the canoes had been sent
adrift, in order to mislead them, while the pale-faces had fled by land.
It has been stated that the Openings had a beautiful sward, near Castle
Meal, This was true of that particular spot, and was the reason why
le Bourdon had selected it for his principal place of residence. The
abundance of flowers drew the bees there, a reason of itself why he
should like the vicinity. Lest the reader should be misled, however,
it may be well to explain that an absence of sward is characteristic of
these Openings, rather than the reverse, it being, to a certain degree,
a cause of complaint, now that the country is settled, that the lands of
the Oak Openings are apt to be so light that the grasses do not readily
form as firm a turf as is desirable for meadows and pastures. We
apprehend this is true, however, less as a rule than as exceptions;
there being variety in the soils of these Openings, as well as in other
quarters.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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