The Story of
RED FEATHER
A Tale of the American Frontier

"He held his pony ready to send him flying over the prairie."—Page 131

The Story of
RED FEATHER
A Tale of the American Frontier

By Edward S. Ellis

Illustrated

McLOUGHLIN BROTHERS, Inc.

MADE IN U. S. A.
McLOUGHLIN BROS. INC.
SPRINGFIELD MASS.

PUBLISHERS

1828

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.

And when, on the seventh day of her visit, Dot found her handsome