Show jl romance of the black hawk war by RANDALL PARRISH author 0 she of th irah anade when Wl deinet wa kint etc illustrations BY IRWIN MYERS copyright by A A ROMANCE OF THE BLACK HAWK WAR the devils own Is a stirring tale of the stirring frontier days of the middle west of the mississippi river in the exciting times of the black hawk war of the early thirties this is the famous indian war in which zachary taylor and abraham lincoln future pres dents of the united states and jefferson davis future president of the all took part on the indian side were black hawk and keokuk two strong and able indian chiefs one the bitter eisma of the white man the other his consistent friend the characters are typical of the time and the place knox the hero army officer beaucaire the aristocratic planter and and his fascinating daughter kirby the devils own gambler and desperado desp frado and with it all Is the slavery question randall parash the author is one of the popular writers of the day he knows the country and the time and he gives us action always action love fighting and adventure all are in this tale in generous measure CHAPTER 1 i 1 at old fort armstrong it was the early springtime and my history tells me the benr was 1832 although now that seems so far away I 1 almost hesitate to write the dat it appears surprising that through the hare of all those anter enang years intensely active years nah in I 1 should now be able to recall so the scene of that far off morning of my youth and depict in memory each minor detail yet as you read on ind realize yourself the stirring events resulting from that idle moment you may be able to comprehend the deep impression left upon mv mind which no cycle of time could ever erase I 1 was barely twenty then a strong almost headstrong boy and the far wilderness was still very new to me although for two years past I 1 had held aimy commission and been to dut in frontier forts yet never previously had I 1 been stationed at quite so isolated an outpost of civilization as was this combination of rock and log clefense erected at alie southern extremity of kocl island falah marooned amid the sweep of the great river with indian haunted land stretching for leagues on every side A mere handful of troops was there technically two companies of infantry yet numbering barely enough for one and this in spite of rumors dally drifting to us th the sacs and foxes with their main village just below were already becom ing restless and warlike inflamed by the slow approach of white settlers into the valley of the rock indeed so short was the garrison of officers that the harassed commander had ven aured to retain me for field service in eplite of the fact that I 1 was detailed to staff duty had borne dispatches up the mississippi from general balnes and expected to return again by the first boat the morning was one of deep blue sky and bright sunshine s soon as early drill ended I 1 had left the fort enclosure and sought a lonely perch on the great roch above the mouth of the cave below extended a cent river fully a mile wide from shore to shore unbroken in its vast sweep toward the sea except for a few small willow studded islands a mile or two away over there in the near shadow of the aock valley was where black hawk dissatisfied revengeful dwelt with his british band gathering swiftly about him the younger fighting warriors of aery tribe his influx he had been at the fort but two days before a tall straight taciturn indian ence could reach he had been at the fort but two days before a tall straight taciturn indian no chief by birth yet a born leader of men defiant in speech and insolent of demeanor in spite of the presence also at the council 0 bis peoples true representative senta tive the silent cautious keokuk even with my small knowledge of such things it was plain enough to bo seen there existed deadly hatred between these two and that for peace with the alone postponed an outbreak already tales reached us of encroaching settlers advancing along the valley and of sav lage retaliating raids which could only JUr minate la armed encounters that keokuk could continue to control his no longer seemed probable to me for alie hawk was evidently the stronger character of the two pos hessed the larger following and made no attempt to conceal lie depth of his hatred for all things merlein merl cin down below where I 1 sat a little river steamboat steam bojt was tied to the wharf a dang stern wheeler with the word warrior painted across the pilot house my eyes and thoughts turned that way standing alone together near the stern were a heavily built man with white hair and beard and a lounger So unger rather slender fellow with clipped black mustache both were unusually well dressed the latter exceedingly cee natty and fashionable in attire rather overly so I 1 thought alie the former wore a long coat and high white stock involuntarily I 1 had placed them in my mind as river gamblers but was still observing their move mens with some curiosity when captain throckmorton crossed the gang plank and began ascending the steep bluff the path to be followed led dl past where I 1 was sitting and recognizing me he stopped to exchange greetings what 1 have you finished your days work already lieutenant he exclaimed pleasantly mine has only just begun so I 1 observe it was garrison talk last night that the warrior was to depart at daylight that was tue plan however the wanderer went north during the night he explained and brought mall from below so we are being held for the return letters I 1 am going up to the office now my eyes returned to the scene below you have some passengers aboard A few picked up several at the lead mines besides those aboard from du achten evidently all of your passengers are not miners captain I 1 ventured those two standing there at the stern for instance he turned and looked no he said that big roan is judge beau caare from missouri he has a plan just above at louis an old french gr int of course you know the younger one never saw him before then yon have never traveled much on the lower river joe karby joe karby certainly you must have heard of mm first time I 1 ever knew of his drifting so far north as there are not many pickings up here have rather suspected he might be laving for beau caare but the two haven t touched a card coming down he Is a gambler then A thoroughbred works between sac louis and new orleans I 1 cin c in t just figure out yet what lie Is doing up here I 1 asked him flat out but he onla laughed and he isn t the sort of man you get very some siy he has indian blood in him so I 1 drop ped it he and the judge seem pretty thick and they may be pla ing in their rooms see you again before we leave am going up now to hav e a talk with the major my eyes followed as he disappeared within the open gafis a fa quatt strongly built figure the blue from his pipe circling in a cloud above his head ihen I 1 turned idly to gaze again down the river and observe the groups loitering below assuredly it was none of my affair and yet a certain curiosity caused me to observe the movements of the two so long as they remained on deck however it was but a short while be fore both retired to the cabin and then mv guze returned once more to the sullen sweep of water while my thoughts drifted ajr away A soldier was within a few feet of me and had spoken before I 1 was even aware of alg approach lieutenant ivnor I 1 looked about quickly recognizing the majors orderly yes sanders what Is it major bliss requests sir that you report at big office at once wondering what might be desired of me yet with no conception of the reality I 1 followed after the orderly through the stockade gate and across alie small parade ground toward the more pretentious structure occupied by the officers of the garrison A number of soldiers off duty were loitering in front of the barracks while a small group of officers mccu pled chairs on the log porch of their quarters enjoying the warmth of the sun I 1 greeted these as I 1 passed con that their eyes followed me cu as I 1 approached the comman cants office major bliss glanced up at my entrance with deep set eyes hidden beneath bushy gny eyebrows his smooth shaken face appearing nl most youthful in contrast with a wealth of gray hair how long have ou been here at armstrong lieutenant he ques toying with an official looking paper in his hands only about three weeks sir I 1 came north on the with di pitches from general balnes 1 I re iou belong to the fifth and without orders I 1 promptly dragooned you into garrison service ills bics laughed only sorry I 1 can not hold you any longer it seems sou leave an application pending tor a fur lough it Is my pleasure to inform you that it has been granted sixty days w ith permission to proceed east there has been considerable delay evidently in locating you A sudden vision arose before me of my mothers face and of the old home among the hills as I 1 took the paper from his extended hands and glanced at the printed and written lines the date Is a month ago that need not trouble you knos the furlough begins with this delav eo however as I 1 shall require your services as far as st louis I 1 shall dite this acceptance from the time of our arrival there which Is very kind sir not at all you have proven of considerable assistance here and I 1 shall part from you with regret I 1 have letters for governor dark of missouri and governor reynolds of illinois also one to general atkinson at jefferson barracks detailing my views on the present indian situation these are confidential and I 1 hesitate to them to the regular mall service I 1 had intended sending them down river in charge of a noncom cloned officer but shall now utilize our services instead that Is it you are willing to assume their care cry gladly of course I 1 thought as much fich of these isto be delivered in person captain throckmorton informs me that he will be prepared to depart within an hour ou can be ready in that time I 1 smiled in much less I 1 have little alth me but a field kit sir it will not require long to pack that then return here at the first whistle and the letters will be ready for you that will be all now travel as a civilian if you please lieutenant bu I 1 suggest it will be well to wear the uniform of your rank when you deliver the letters I 1 fifteen minutes sufficed to gather together all my belongings and change from blue into grav and as I 1 emerged from quarters the officers of the garrison flocked about me with words of congratulation and annu merable questions universal envy of my good fortune was evident but this assumed no unpleasant form although much was said to express their belief in mv early return I 1 shook hands all around and left them hastening across the parade to the office ten later I 1 the gangplank find put foot for the first time on the deck of alie evidently the crew biad been await ing mv arrival to push off for instant iv the whistle again and am mediately after the boat began to churn its way out into alie river cur rent with bow pointing down stream throckmorton leaned out from the open window of the pilot house and hailed me put our dunnage in the third cabin knox herc you sam lay hold and help it was nothing to boast of that third cabin being a mere hole meas possibly about four feet by seven but for sleeping quarters and was reasonably clean it bulled however in attractiveness suf to keep me below and as soon ns I 1 had deposited my bag end in bulged in a somewhat captious ecru tiny of the bedding I 1 very willingly returned to the outside and clambered up p esteep ladder to the upper deck judge beaucaire was standing at the low rail our eyes met inquiringly and he bowed with all the ceremony of ane old school A new passenger on board I 1 think sir and bis deep resonant voice left a pleasant impression you must have joined our company at fort armstrong your supposition Is correct I 1 an some peculiar constraint preventing me from referring to my military rank my name Is knox and I 1 have been about alie island for a few weeks I 1 belledo you are judge acau caare of missouri lie was a splendidly proportioned man with deep chest great breadth of shoulders and strong individual face yet bearing unmistakable signs of together with numer ous marks of both care and age I 1 feel the honor of bour recognition clr he said with knox I 1 believe you said of the knox family at cape girardeau may I 1 inquire no connection to my knowledge my home was at wheeling ahl I 1 have never been that tar east indeed the extent of ray travels along the beautiful ohio has only been to the falls the Beau caires were originally from louisiana you must have been among the earlier settlers of missouri before the americans came sir proudly my grandfather arrived at landing during the old I rench regime but doubtless you know all this no judge I 1 answered recognizing the egotism of the man but believing fi ankney to be the best policy this to be my first trip on the up per aher and I 1 merely chanced to know your name because you had been pointed out to me by captain throckmorton I 1 understood from him that you represented one of the oldest families in that section there were but very few here before us he answered with guised pride mv grandfather grind father s grant rather a dull lot on board miners and such cattle of land was from the king alphonse de beaucaire alre sir was the trusted lieutenant of a soldier and a gentleman I 1 bowed la acknowledgment the family arrogance of the man interest ing me deeply so evident was this pride that this might be all the man had left this memory of the past the history of those early days Is not altogether familiar to me I 1 ad matted regretfully but surely D iber valle must have ruled louisiana more than one hundred vears ago the judge smiled quite true this grant of ours was practically his last official act al phonse de be lucalle took possession in 1712 one hundred and twenty learh ago sir I 1 was myself born at beau caare sixty eight years ago I 1 should have guessed you as ten years aunger and the estate still remains in its original grant the smile of condescension deserted his eves and his thin lips pressed tightly together I 1 I 1 regret not many of the later scars have proven disastrous in alie extreme he admitted lou will pardon me sir it I 1 decline to discuss misfortune ah monsieur I 1 have been awaiting vou hie vou met with this young man who came aboard at tort armstrong I 1 I 1 am unable to recall the name stevan knox I 1 felt the firm strong grip of the hand and looked straight into liis dark eyes they were like a mask the face was long firm jawed swarthy a tightly clipped black mus tache the upper lip it was a reckless face set appeared carved from marble phased to meet you he ald rather a dull lot on board miners and auch cattle bound for at louis yea and beyond shall see more of vou then well judge how do sou feel carver ind mcafee are waiting for us down below the two disappeared together down the ladder and I 1 was agian left alone in my occupancy of the upper deck CHAPTER 11 history of the alres the two days and nights of the journey southward were devoid of any special interest or adventure after the first day karby withdrew all attan alon from me and ceased in his en deavor to cultivate my acquaintance convinced of my disinclination to in bulge la cards throckmorton being his own pilot seldom left the wheel house and consequently I 1 passed many hours on the bench beside him at one time or another he had met the fi characters along the river banks land through continual questioning I 1 thus finally became possessed of the alory of the house of beaucaire alre in alie main it contained no unusual features through the personal influence of at louis court alphonse de beaucaire alre bad originally received a royal grant of ten thousand acres of land bordering the west bank of the |