CHAPTER X.
FIGHTING FIRE 93

CHAPTER XI.
IN THE WILDERNESS 104

CHAPTER XII.
AN ALARM AND A WELCOME 118

CHAPTER XIII.
JOE'S PLAN 124

CHAPTER XIV.
THE CANOE FIGHT 130

CHAPTER XV.
THE BOYS ARE DRIVEN OUT OF THE ROOT FORTRESS 143

CHAPTER XVI.
WHERE IS JOE? 159

CHAPTER XVII.
A FAMINE 163

CHAPTER XVIII.
WHICH ENDS THE STORY 173

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Page.

THE DOG CHARGE _Frontispiece._

SAM'S PARTY 20

"WE'S DUN LOS'--DAT'S WHA' WE IS" 40

JUDIE ON THE RAFT 49

THE PERILOUS LEAP 83

THE BIG BROTHER.

CHAPTER I.

SINQUEFIELD.

In the quiet days of peace and security in which we live it is difficult
to imagine such a time of excitement as that at which our story opens,
in the summer of 1813. From the beginning of that year, the Creek
Indians in Alabama and Mississippi had shown a decided disposition to
become hostile. In addition to the usual incentives to war which always
exist where the white settlements border closely upon Indian territory,
there were several special causes operating to bring about a struggle at
that time. We were already at war with the British, and British agents
were very active in stirring up trouble on our frontiers, knowing that
nothing would so surely weaken the Americans as a general outbreak of
Indian hostilities. Tecumseh, the great chief, had visited the Creeks,
too, and had urged them to go on the war path, threatening them, in the
event of their refusal, with the wrath of the Great Spirit. His appeals
to their superstition were materially strengthened by the occurrence of
an earthquake, which singularly enough, he had predicted, threatening
that when he returned to his home he would stamp his foot and shake
their houses down. Their own prophets, Francis and Singuista, had
preached war, too, telling the Indians that their pa