Produced by Suzanne Shell, Audrey Longhurst, Tom Allen and
the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
The Last Trail
Twilight of a certain summer day, many years ago, shaded softly downover the wild Ohio valley bringing keen anxiety to a traveler on thelonely river trail. He had expected to reach Fort Henry with his partyon this night, thus putting a welcome end to the long, rough,hazardous journey through the wilderness; but the swift, on-comingdusk made it imperative to halt. The narrow, forest-skirted trail,difficult to follow in broad daylight, apparently led into gloomyaisles in the woods. His guide had abandoned him that morning, makingexcuse that his services were no longer needed; his teamster was newto the frontier, and, altogether, the situation caused him muchuneasiness.
"I wouldn't so much mind another night in camp, if the guide had notleft us," he said in a low tone to the teamster.
That worthy shook his shaggy head, and growled while he beganunhitching the horses.
"Uncle," said a young man, who had clambered out from the wagon, "wemust be within a few miles of Fort Henry."
"How d'ye know we're near the fort?" interrupted the teamster, "orsafe, either, fer thet matter? I don't know this country."
"The guide assured me we could easily make Fort Henry by sundown."
"Thet guide! I tell ye, Mr. Sheppard——"
"Not so loud. Do not alarm my daughter," cautioned the man who hadbeen called Sheppard.
"Did ye notice anythin' queer about thet guide?" asked the teamster,lowering his voice. "Did ye see how oneasy he was last night? Did itstrike ye he left us in a hurry, kind of excited like, in spite of hisoffhand manner?"
"Yes, he acted odd, or so it seemed to me," replied Sheppard. "Howabout you, Will?"
"Now that I think of it, I believe he was queer. He behaved like a manwho expected somebody, or feared something might happen. I fancied,however, that it was simply the manner of a woodsman."
"Wal, I hev my opinion," said the teamster, in a gruff whisper. "Yewas in a hurry to be a-goin', an' wouldn't take no advice. Thefur-trader at Fort Pitt didn't give this guide Jenks no good send off.Said he wasn't well-known round Pitt, 'cept he could handle aknife some."
"What is your opinion?" asked Sheppard, as the teamster paused.
"Wal, the valley below Pitt is full of renegades, outlaws an'hoss-thieves. The redskins ain't so bad as they used to be, but thesewhite fellers are wusser'n ever. This guide Jenks might be in withthem, that's all. Mebbe I'm wrong. I hope so. The way he left uslooks bad."
"We won't borrow trouble. If we have come all this way without seeingeither Indian or outlaw—in fact, without incident—I feel certain wecan perform the remainder of the journey in safety." Then Mr. Sheppardraised his voice. "Here, Helen, you lazy girl, come out of that wagon.We want some supper. Will, you gather some firewood, and we'll soongive this gloomy little glen a more cheerful aspect."
As Mr. Sheppard turned toward the canvas-covered wagon a girl leapedlightly down beside him. She was nearly as tall as he.
"Is this Fort Henry?" she asked, cheerily, beginning to dance aroundhim. "Where's the inn? I'm so hungry. How glad I am to get out ofthat wagon! I'd like to run. Isn't this a lonesome, lovely spot?"
A camp-fire soon c