The Story of Red Feather A Tale of the American Frontier   By: Edward Sylvester Ellis (1840-1916)

A Tale of the American Frontier

by

EDWARD S. ELLIS

Illustrated

[Illustration]

McLoughlin Brothers, Inc.

Made in U. S. A. McLoughlin Bros. Inc. Springfield Mass. Publishers 1828

[Illustration: "To wika talked soothingly to him." Page 118]

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE Brother and Sister The Signal 3

CHAPTER TWO An Important Letter Shut in 14

CHAPTER THREE Caught Fast A Friend in Need 25

CHAPTER FOUR The Consultation On the Roof 36

CHAPTER FIVE A Strange Visit Ominous Signs 47

CHAPTER SIX The Muddy Creek Band The Torch 58

CHAPTER SEVEN "A Little Child Shall Lead Them" Surrounded by Peril 69

CHAPTER EIGHT Tall Bear and his Warriors A Surprising Discovery 80

CHAPTER NINE Nat Trumbull and his Men Out in the Night 91

CHAPTER TEN An Old Friend Separated 102

CHAPTER ELEVEN At the Lower Crossing Tall Bear's Last Failure 114

CHAPTER TWELVE Conclusion 127

THE STORY OF RED FEATHER

CHAPTER ONE

BROTHER AND SISTER THE SIGNAL

It is within my memory that Melville Clarendon, a lad of sixteen years, was riding through Southern Minnesota, in company with his sister Dorothy, a sweet little miss not quite half his own age.

They were mounted on Saladin, a high spirited, fleet, and good tempered pony of coal black color. Melville, who claimed the steed as his own special property, had given him his Arabian name because he fancied there were many points of resemblance between him and the winged coursers of the East, made famous as long ago as the time of the Crusades.

The lad sat his horse like a skilled equestrian, and indeed it would be hard to find his superior in that respect throughout that broad stretch of sparsely settled country. Those who live on the American frontier are trained from their earliest youth in the management of quadrupeds, and often display a proficiency that cannot fail to excite admiration.

Melville's fine breech loading rifle was slung over his shoulder, and held in place by a strap that passed in front. It could be quickly drawn from its position whenever needed. It was not of the repeating pattern, but the youth was so handy with the weapon that he could put the cartridges in place, aim, and fire not only with great accuracy, but with marked rapidity.

In addition, he carried a good revolver, though he did not expect to use either weapon on the short journey he was making. He followed, however, the law of the border, which teaches the pioneer never to venture beyond sight of his home unprepared for every emergency that is likely to arise.

It was quite early in the forenoon, Melville having made an early start from the border town of Barwell, and he was well on his way to his home, which lay ten miles to the south. "Dot," as his little sister was called by her friends, had been on a week's visit to her uncle's at the settlement, the agreement all round being that she should stay there for a fortnight at least; but her parents and her big brother rebelled at the end of the week. They missed the prattle and sunshine which only Dot could bring into their home, and Melville's heart was delighted when his father told him to mount Saladin and bring her home.