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diff --git a/old/66720-h/66720-h.htm b/old/66720-h/66720-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 15f7bc5..0000000 --- a/old/66720-h/66720-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5826 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> - <title> - In Kentucky with Daniel Boone, by John T. McIntyre—A Project Gutenberg eBook - </title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - <style type="text/css"> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2 { - text-align: center; - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - - -div.titlepage {text-align: center; page-break-before: always; page-break-after: always;} -div.titlepage p {text-align: center; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: 2em;} - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; -} - -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} -@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } - -div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} -h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} - -table { - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; -} - - -.tdr {text-align: right;} - - -.pagenum { - position: absolute; - left: 92%; - font-size: smaller; - text-align: right; - font-style: normal; - font-weight: normal; - font-variant: normal; -} - - -.ph1 {text-align: center; font-size: xx-large; font-weight: bold;} -.ph2 {text-align: center; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;} - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - -.caption {font-weight: bold; text-align: center;} - -.large {font-size: 125%;} -.small {font-size: 75%;} -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; - page-break-inside: avoid; - max-width: 100%; -} - -.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} - -.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} - -.fnanchor { - vertical-align: super; - font-size: .8em; - text-decoration: - none; -} - - -.nowrap {white-space: nowrap;} - -.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; - color: black; - font-size:smaller; - margin-left: 17.5%; - margin-right: 17.5%; - padding: 1em; - margin-bottom: 1em; - font-family:sans-serif, serif; } - </style> - </head> -<body> -<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of In Kentucky with Daniel Boone, by John T. McIntyre</p> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: In Kentucky with Daniel Boone</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: John T. McIntyre</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Illustrators: Ralph L. Boyer </p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em;'>A. Edwin Kromer</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: November 12, 2021 [eBook #66720]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: D A Alexander, David E. Brown, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was made using scans of public domain works put online by Harvard University Library's Open Collections Program.)</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN KENTUCKY WITH DANIEL BOONE ***</div> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/cover.jpg" width="40%" alt="" /></div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_0"></span></p> -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i_frontispiece.jpg" alt="" /></div> -<p class="caption">HIS SWIFT EYES SEARCHED IT FOR THE SIGN</p> -</div> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="titlepage"> -<h1>IN KENTUCKY<br /> -<span class="small">WITH</span><br /> -<span class="smcap">Daniel Boone</span></h1> - -<p><i>By</i><br /> - -<span class="large">JOHN T. McINTYRE</span></p> - -<p><i>Illustrations by</i><br /> - -Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i_title.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>THE PENN PUBLISHING<br /> -COMPANY PHILADELPHIA<br /> -1913</p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center"> -COPYRIGHT<br /> -1913 BY<br /> -THE PENN<br /> -PUBLISHING<br /> -COMPANY</p> -</div> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i_002.jpg" alt="" /></div> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[3]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">Contents</h2> -</div> - -<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" summary="table"> - - -<tr><td class="tdr">I.</td><td> <span class="smcap">The Gray Lizard Speaks</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_7"> 7</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">II.</td><td> <span class="smcap">A Coming Struggle</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_18"> 18</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">III.</td><td> <span class="smcap">Daniel Boone, Marksman</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_33"> 33</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">IV.</td><td> <span class="smcap">In the Wilderness</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_61"> 61</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">V.</td><td> <span class="smcap">Captured by the Shawnees</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_70"> 70</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">VI.</td><td> <span class="smcap">Boone in the Wilderness</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_93"> 93</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">VII.</td><td> <span class="smcap">Attacked!</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_105"> 105</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">VIII.</td><td> <span class="smcap">The Three Boys Ride On a Mission </span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_114"> 114</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">IX.</td><td> <span class="smcap">Defending a Log Cabin</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_125"> 125</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">X.</td><td> <span class="smcap">A Night Experience</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_139"> 139</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">XI.</td><td> <span class="smcap">The Battle of Point Pleasant</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_147"> 147</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">XII.</td><td> <span class="smcap">The Fort at Boonesborough</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_164"> 164</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">XIII.</td><td> <span class="smcap">Conclusion</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_174"> 174</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">XIV.</td><td> <span class="smcap">Sketch of Boone’s Life</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_185"> 185</a></td></tr> -</table> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[4]</span></p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[5]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">Illustrations</h2> -</div> - -<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" summary="table"> - - -<tr><td><span class="smcap">His Swift Eyes Searched It For the Sign</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_0"> <i>Frontispiece</i></a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><span class="smcap">Closely Boone Studied the Trail</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_75"> 75</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><span class="smcap">The Rifles Spoke Through the Port-Holes</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_136"> 136</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><span class="smcap">He Increased His Speed</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_159"> 159</a></td></tr> -</table> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[6]</span></p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[7]</span> - -<p class="ph1">In Kentucky With Daniel Boone</p> - - - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER I<br /> - - -<span class="small">THE GRAY LIZARD SPEAKS</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">Along</span> the trail which wound along the -banks of the Yadkin, in North Carolina, -rode a tall, sinewy man; he had a bronzed, -resolute face, wore the hunting shirt, leggins -and moccasins of the backwoods, and -had hanging from one shoulder a long -flint-locked rifle. A small buck, which -this unerring weapon of the hunter had -lately brought down, lay across his saddle -bow.</p> - -<p>Away along the trail, at a place where -the river bent sharply, a cloud of dust arose<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[8]</span> -in the trail; and as the hunter rode forward -he kept his keen eyes upon this.</p> - -<p>“Horsemen,” he told himself. “Two of -them, I reckon, judging from the dust.”</p> - -<p>Nearer and nearer rolled the cloud; at -length the riders within it could be seen. -One was a middle-aged man who rode a -powerful black horse; the other was a boy -of perhaps thirteen whose mount was a -long-legged young horse, with a wild eye -and ears that were never still.</p> - -<p>Catching sight of the hunter, the man on -the big black drew rein.</p> - -<p>“What, Daniel!” cried he. “Well met!”</p> - -<p>“How are you, Colonel Henderson?” replied -the backwoodsman. “I didn’t calculate -on seeing you to-day.”</p> - -<p>“I rode over for the express purpose of -having a talk with you,” said Colonel -Henderson. “I was at your house, but -they told me you’d gone away early this -morning to try for some game.”</p> - -<p>The hunter glanced down at the buck<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[9]</span> -across his saddle. There was a discontented -frown upon his brow.</p> - -<p>“Yes, gone since early morning,” he said. -“And this is all I got. The hunting ain’t -so good in the Yadkin country as it was -once. As a boy I’ve stood in the door of -my father’s cabin and brought down deer -big enough to be this one’s granddaddy.”</p> - -<p>The boy on the long-legged horse bounced -up and down in his saddle at this; the nag -felt his excitement and began to rear and -plunge.</p> - -<p>“Steady, boy, steady,” said Colonel Henderson. -“Hold him in.”</p> - -<p>“It’s all right, uncle,” replied the lad. -“He don’t mean anything by it.” Then -to the hunter, as his mount became quiet: -“That was good shooting, Mr. Boone, wasn’t -it? And,” pointing to the carcass of the -buck, “so was that. Right behind the -left shoulder; and it left hardly a mark -on him.”</p> - -<p>Daniel Boone smiled.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[10]</span>“I always treat my old rifle well,” said -he, humorously. “And she never goes -back on me.”</p> - -<p>“Some time ago I had a talk with John -Finley,” said Colonel Henderson. “He told -me wonderful tales of the hunting country -beyond the Laurel <span class="nowrap">Ridge.”<a id="FNanchor_1" href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></span></p> - -<p>Daniel Boone’s eyes went toward the -northwest where the great mountain chain -reared its peaks toward the sky until they -were enveloped in a blue mist.</p> - -<p>“Beyond the Laurel Ridge,” said he, -“there is a country such as no man has -ever seen before. Such hills and valleys, -such forests and streams and plains can only -be in one place in the world. And there are -deer and bear and fur animals; and buffalo -cover the plains. Also,” and a grim look -came into his face, “there are redskins!”</p> - -<p>There was a short silence; Colonel Henderson -looked at the backwoodsman very -thoughtfully.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[11]</span>“For some time,” said he, “it has seemed -to me that these settlements are not what -they should be. The laws enforced by -the British governor Tryon, have sown -discontent among the people. New emigrants -go to other places where there are -better laws and less taxes.”</p> - -<p>Daniel Boone nodded.</p> - -<p>“Tax gatherers, magistrates, lawyers and -such like live like aristocrats,” said he, -“and the farmers and other settlers are -asked to support them. We are here in -the settlements, it seems, for no other purpose -than to give these fellows a soft living. -And they take our money and treat us like -servants. A peddler who hucksters among -the Indians is thought a better man than -the one who has cut a form out of the -wilderness with his axe.”</p> - -<p>There was a bitterness in the man’s tone -which seemed to please the other.</p> - -<p>“There are a great many who feel just -as you do about it,” said he. “And it was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[12]</span> -this very thing that I rode over to speak -about.”</p> - -<p>Daniel Boone shook his head.</p> - -<p>“Signing writings and sending them to -Tryon will do no good,” said he. “He’s a -tyrant and understands nothing but oppression.” -Then in a longing tone, his -eyes on the distant hills, “I wish I were -away from the Yadkin for good and all. -No man can be free here as long as we -have public officers who think of nothing -but plunder.”</p> - -<p>“As I said before,” said Colonel Henderson, -in a satisfied tone, “there are a great -many others who are of the same way of -thinking as you. But they have nowhere -to go; if a new country was opened for -them, they would sell their farms, pack -their goods upon their horses’ backs and be -gone.”</p> - -<p>There was something in the speaker’s -tone that took the attention of the -backwoodsman. His keen eyes studied<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[13]</span> -Colonel Henderson’s face; but he said -nothing.</p> - -<p>“Ever since I heard Finley talk of the -country beyond the ridge,” said the colonel, -resuming after a moment, “I’ve felt -that such a rare region should be opened -up for settlement.”</p> - -<p>“Right!” cried Daniel Boone and his -eyes began to glow.</p> - -<p>“But,” said the colonel, “I’ve also felt -that it should not be done until the country -was explored further—until it had been -penetrated to its interior, until its streams -were worked out on a chart, a trail made for -the passage of emigrants and the most promising -places fixed upon for settlements.”</p> - -<p>“Right again,” said Daniel Boone. “I’ve -been in the country and so have Finley and -some others; but none of us has studied -it. To do that would take a year or more; -and to live a year so far from the settlements -a man would have to make up his -mind to troubles from the Indians.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[14]</span>“The Shawnees claim it,” said the colonel. -“If it is what I want, I will buy it -from them.”</p> - -<p>“It’s a hunting-ground for Cherokees, -Shawnees and Chickasaws,” said Boone, -and he shook his head as he spoke. “So -far as I could see, it belonged to all of them. -And it’s a fighting place; when two hunting -parties meet, the hatchet, knife and -arrow begin their work.”</p> - -<p>Once more the colonel regarded the backwoodsman -attentively.</p> - -<p>“I never knew the prospect of danger or -hard work to hold you back in anything -you wanted to do,” he said.</p> - -<p>Boone laughed.</p> - -<p>“I’ve always tried not to let them, I -reckon,” said he.</p> - -<p>“This fall,” and the colonel spoke slowly, -“I am going to send an exploring party -into the northwest country; and later, if -it’s what I think it is, I’ll want a party of -trail makers and a man to treat with the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[15]</span> -Shawnees. How would you like to take -charge of this matter for me?”</p> - -<p>For a moment Boone sat his horse, staring -at the speaker.</p> - -<p>“You mean it?” he said, at last.</p> - -<p>“I do.”</p> - -<p>The backwoodsman held out a strong -brown hand; Colonel Henderson gripped it.</p> - -<p>“I’m with you,” said Boone, in a tone of -deep satisfaction. “It’s a thing I’ve been -sort of dreaming of for years. That great -region, now given over to the Indian hunters -and wild beasts, is calling the white -man. I heard its voice as I stood among -the lonely hills, in the forests, and upon -the banks of its rivers. Once there with -their families, their plows and their horses, -their cabins built, the settler will meet——”</p> - -<p>“Death!” said a strange voice; and, -startled, both Boone and Colonel Henderson -turned their eyes in the direction from -which it came.</p> - -<p>An Indian stood there—an ancient savage,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[16]</span> -clad in skins upon which were painted -queer symbols. Strings of amulets, bears’ -claws and the teeth of foxes and wolves -hung about him; his face was lined with -the deep wrinkles of great age, his eyes -were small, black, and glittered coldly like -those of a snake.</p> - -<p>“What, Gray Lizard!” said Boone, in -surprise. “Are you here?”</p> - -<p>The old Indian advanced a step or two, -supporting himself by a long staff. Keenly -the serpent eyes gazed at the three whites.</p> - -<p>“Death will meet the paleface,” said he. -“He will never build his lodge in the -country beyond the mountains. Let him -once pass the great gap, and he is no more.”</p> - -<p>Boone laughed.</p> - -<p>“I’ve been through the gap, Gray Lizard,” -he said, good-naturedly; “and so -have other white men. And we still live.”</p> - -<p>The cold eyes fixed themselves upon the -resolute face; one skinny finger was lifted -until it pointed at Boone’s breast.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[17]</span>“You have,” said Gray Lizard. “You -have, and you are marked. Let your rifle -once more break the silence of the hills or -ring over the waters of the red man’s rivers, -and your death song is sung.”</p> - -<p>Then he turned to Colonel Henderson, -and continued:</p> - -<p>“And you, white chief, take care! The -Gray Lizard has known these many moons -of what you mean to do, and now he -warns you. If you love your friends, do -not send them beyond the Laurel Ridge. -For in the wilderness their fate awaits them -at the hands of the Shawnees.”</p> - -<p>He turned and was about to go; then he -paused, and added:</p> - -<p>“The Gray Lizard is old. He has seen -many things. He knew the Yadkin when -the white man was a stranger on its banks. -Take warning by his words: do not venture -beyond the blue hills.”</p> - -<p>Then, his long staff ringing on the stones, -he went limping down the trail.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[18]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER II<br /> - - -<span class="small">A COMING STRUGGLE</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">As</span> the strange figure of the old Cherokee -went halting along the river trail, the eyes -of Boone and his companions followed curiously.</p> - -<p>“A queer sort of customer,” commented -Colonel Henderson. “I don’t recall ever -having seen him before.”</p> - -<p>“He’s a wonder worker and medicine -man,” said Boone. “And he spends a good -bit of his time on the fringe of the settlements. -Sometimes,” and here a frown came -upon his brow, “I’ve thought him more of -a spy than anything else.”</p> - -<p>“At any rate he knows how to creep up -on one secretly,” said the colonel, with a -laugh. And then, more soberly: “And he -seemed rather earnest in his sayings.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[19]</span>Daniel Boone nodded his head.</p> - -<p>“All these old redskins are crafty,” said -he. “They spend their days and nights -finding out ways of imposing on their fellow -savages. And managing to do this without -trouble they think they can impose in the -same way upon the white man.”</p> - -<p>“I see,” said Colonel Henderson.</p> - -<p>“If they can put fear in the hearts of the -whites,” continued Boone, “the whites will -not venture into the wilderness. A settler -killed now and then is the common way; -but there are others, and I’ve heard a warning -spoken by a prophet hung with totems -before to-day.”</p> - -<p>The boy who had been staring after the -figure of Gray Lizard now spoke.</p> - -<p>“I’ve been wondering where I saw him -before, and now I’ve remembered, Uncle -Dick,” said he. “Yesterday I rode up the -river to visit the camp of the young braves -who are to take part in the games. It was -there I saw him; among the lodges.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[20]</span>“Ah!” said Boone; “and so the braves -have come in for the games, eh?”</p> - -<p>“More than a score of them,” replied the -lad. “And a fine looking lot they are, sir,” -with admiration.</p> - -<p>The backwoodsman nodded.</p> - -<p>“They are sure to be,” said he, grimly. -“The redskins seldom send any but the pick -of their villages.”</p> - -<p>“It’s been three days since they pitched -their camp,” said the lad. “And they’ve -been hard at work ever since, practicing -with their bows and rifles, and throwing -their hatchets at marks. There’s a good -runner or two among them,” added the boy; -“and they have some fine horses.”</p> - -<p>“I’ve always been against these games,” -said Daniel Boone, as he shook his head.</p> - -<p>Colonel Henderson looked at him in surprise.</p> - -<p>“Why,” said he, “how is that? Athletic -games always seemed to me to be good for -the youngsters.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[21]</span>“So they are,” agreed Boone. “Mighty -good. But these of ours are a mistake, because -the lads don’t put enough heart in -’em. They don’t take ’em serious enough.”</p> - -<p>The colonel smiled.</p> - -<p>“It’s all in the spirit of fun,” said he.</p> - -<p>But Boone shook his head.</p> - -<p>“That’s where you’re wrong, colonel,” -said he, “and that’s where the boys are also -wrong. There ain’t many of us whites on -this border; but over beyond the Laurel -Ridge the Indians lie in clouds. And that -they haven’t blotted us out long since is -because away down in their hearts they’ve -thought we’re better’n they are, for we’ve -always showed we could give them odds and -beat them at anything they cared to do.”</p> - -<p>“And now, you think——”</p> - -<p>“Our young men are letting them pull -out ahead too often; and that’s not a good -thing to have happen. Once let the red -man get the notion that he’s better than the -white, and this border’ll be turned into a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[22]</span> -wilderness—there won’t be a settlement but -won’t feel the tomahawk and the torch. The -white man will be turned back from the -west for twenty years to come.”</p> - -<p>“I see.” Colonel Henderson looked -thoughtful. “I never thought of that, -Daniel; and now that you put it before me -I can see that you are right.”</p> - -<p>The boy had listened to what the backwoodsman -had to say with much attention. -Now he spoke.</p> - -<p>“Eph Taylor was along when I rode up -to the Shawnee camp yesterday,” said he. -“And as we went he told me how the young -braves crowed over them last fall, and how -they promised to beat them even worse this -year. And when we got to the camp all -the young warriors grinned at us and talked -a lot among themselves. Eph knows some -of their language and said it was all about -us, and about the games and how they were -going to run away from us in everything -we tried.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[23]</span>Boone looked at Henderson and nodded, -grimly.</p> - -<p>“Do you see?” said he. “That’s how it -will begin. Five years from now these -same young redskins will have a voice in -the councils of their tribe. Let them carry -this feeling of being better than us into -those councils, and nothing will hold them -back from a bloody war.”</p> - -<p>“Well, Noll,” said Colonel Henderson -to his nephew, “you see what you’ve got -before you.”</p> - -<p>The tone was half laughing; but when -Oliver Barclay made reply it was with all -the seriousness in the world.</p> - -<p>“Eph and I talked about it as we rode -back home,” said he. “And we made up -our minds to give them a hard fight for -each match as it came along. Eph and I -are to arrange everything to-day; that’s -why I am riding over to see him.”</p> - -<p>“Well,” said Colonel Henderson, “I -suppose you may as well go on if that’s<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[24]</span> -what you are about. I have some business -to talk over with Mr. Boone, and will ride -back to his farm with him. Will you be -home to-night?”</p> - -<p>Noll shook his head.</p> - -<p>“I don’t think so,” he replied. Then -with a laugh: “When I get down to -plotting with Eph Taylor there’s no telling -when I’ll get through.”</p> - -<p>He shook the rein, and the long-legged -young horse brandished its heels in most -exuberant fashion. The boy waved his -hand to the two men.</p> - -<p>“Good-bye,” said he. Then to Boone, -“Going to be at the games to-morrow, Mr. -Boone?”</p> - -<p>“Maybe,” said the backwoodsman.</p> - -<p>“Come along,” suggested Noll. “Maybe -something’ll happen that’ll please you.”</p> - -<p>Boone looked at the strong young figure -sitting the fiery horse so easily, the clear -eyes, the confident smile. And his bronzed -face wrinkled in a laugh of pleasure.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[25]</span>“Well, Noll,” said he, “I’ll go. But -mind you this: I’ll expect something more -than I saw a year ago.”</p> - -<p>“I can promise you that, anyhow,” said -the boy. “And maybe there’ll be more. -Good-bye.”</p> - -<p>And with that he rode forward along the -river trail, while Daniel Boone and Colonel -Henderson turned their horses’ heads in -the opposite direction. A mile further -on Noll overtook Gray Lizard plodding on -with the help of his long staff. The magician -gave the boy a sidelong glance as he -passed; but Noll did not check the lope of -his horse, pushing on until he reached a -place where a second trail branched away -from the river, winding among the huge -forest trees and losing itself in the billowing -ocean of foliage.</p> - -<p>He struck into this, and after an hour’s -riding came in sight of a well-built log -house, surrounded by broad fields, from -which the crops had lately been harvested.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[26]</span>Before the cabin door sat a tall, lank boy -in a hunting shirt, busily engaged in cleaning -a long flint-locked rifle. At the sound of -the rapid hoof-beats he looked up. Recognizing -Oliver, who was still some distance -off, he waved his hand in greeting; then -he turned his head and spoke to some one -within the cabin.</p> - -<p>Drawing rein before the door, young -Barclay threw himself from the saddle.</p> - -<p>“Well, Eph,” said he, as he tied his -mount to a post, “I suppose you all but -gave up hope of me.”</p> - -<p>Eph Taylor had a long, droll looking -face, and as he shook his head he twisted -his countenance into an expression of comic -denial.</p> - -<p>“No,” said he. “I reckoned you’d be -along some time soon. This thing of ours -was too important to let go by.”</p> - -<p>He rammed a greased cloth down the -barrel of the rifle, and twisting it about, -withdrew it once more.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[27]</span>“I saw Sandy,” added he.</p> - -<p>At this Noll Barclay was all eagerness.</p> - -<p>“Did you!” exclaimed he. “And what -did he say?”</p> - -<p>“Suppose I let him speak for himself,” -said Eph, with the same comical twist to -his long face. “He came over this afternoon -to talk things over with us. Ho! -Sandy! Can you come here for a little?”</p> - -<p>A short, tow-haired youth appeared at -the door of the cabin; he carried a halter -in one hand and a brad-awl in the other. -He nodded to Oliver good-humoredly.</p> - -<p>“Glad to see you again,” said he. “How -are you?”</p> - -<p>His accent was broadly Scotch, and there -was a round-bodied heartiness to him -which at once inspired good will.</p> - -<p>“I’m in right good health,” said Oliver. -“And I’m glad enough to see you, Sandy.”</p> - -<p>Sandy Campbell laughed. He placed a -strap of the halter against the door frame -and punctured it with the awl.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[28]</span>“I was mighty taken with your notion,” -stated he. “And when I got done with -my work, I rode over to hear more about it.”</p> - -<p>Oliver Barclay sat down upon a rough -settle which stood beneath a cottonwood; -he looked at the other two boys with earnest -eyes.</p> - -<p>“What we talked over yesterday, Eph,” -said he, “seemed good reason enough for -us to make an attempt to get the best of the -Cherokees. But what I heard this afternoon -puts a different face on it altogether.”</p> - -<p>Eph Taylor looked up from his rifle in -surprise.</p> - -<p>“You don’t mean to say that you have -changed your mind!” said he.</p> - -<p>Oliver shook his head.</p> - -<p>“Not a bit of it,” answered he. “Indeed, -I’m firmer about it than ever. But to just -make an attempt to best the Indians won’t -do now; we must beat them!”</p> - -<p>Both Eph and Sandy looked at him inquiringly.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[29]</span>“You say you heard something,” said -Sandy Campbell. “What was it?”</p> - -<p>“As I rode down the trail with my -uncle,” said Noll, “we met Mr. Boone.”</p> - -<p>The face of Eph Taylor took on an expression -of interest.</p> - -<p>“Oh, it was something he said, was it? -Well, then, I allow it was worth listening -to, for Dan’l Boone always talks as the -crow flies—in a straight line.”</p> - -<p>And then, while his two friends listened -with great attention, Oliver repeated the -words of the backwoodsman. When he -had finished, Sandy nodded his head.</p> - -<p>“It sounds much like the truth of the -matter,” said he.</p> - -<p>“It is the truth!” declared Eph, emphatically. -“If we give these redskins a chance -to crow over us in little things, they’ll -think they can do it in big things. To-morrow -we must take ’em in hand and -give them a good thrashing—a regular good -one that they’ll not forget in a hurry.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[30]</span>“I’m all ready for my part of it,” grinned -Sandy. “Or, at least I will be as soon as -this halter’s finished. That old Soldier -horse couldn’t have been better for the -work if he’d been picked out of a hundred. -He’s got a back as wide as a floor; and I’ve -been practicing with him all summer, never -thinking I’d have any use for it.”</p> - -<p>“It’s lucky you did,” spoke Eph. “And -I reckon the things you do’ll make the -redskins open their eyes. As for me,” and -he fondled the long rifle lovingly, “I got -old Jerusha here; and when she begins to -talk I allow there won’t be many Shawnees -that’ll use better language.”</p> - -<p>Oliver smiled and nodded. To strangers -there would have been a boastful note in -the words of young Taylor; but not to those -who knew him. The boy was a wonderful -shot at all distances, but it never occurred -to him to take any personal credit for this. -Oddly enough he gave it all to his rifle.</p> - -<p>“Nobody with half an eye could miss<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[31]</span> -with her,” he’d frequently declare. “She’s -the greatest old shooting iron ever made.”</p> - -<p>Oliver sat smiling and nodding at Eph’s -faith in his piece, and while he did so his -eyes went to the spot where the long-legged -young horse was tied. Sandy noticed the -look and his glance also went in the same -direction.</p> - -<p>“The Hawk will do his share,” said he -with an air of expert judgment. “He has -speed and bottom and in a long race he’ll -break the hearts of those Indian nags.”</p> - -<p>“Just like his master’ll break the hearts -of the Shawnees that’ll run against <i>him</i>,” -spoke Eph Taylor, with confidence.</p> - -<p>“I’m not so sure of that,” said Oliver; -and as he spoke a sound from across the -fields toward the line of forest took their -attention. The sinking sun glanced from -the lithe bronze body of a young Indian -who was running swiftly and low, like a -hound. “There’s the fellow I’m to fight it -out against,” added the white boy. “And<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[32]</span> -any one who comes in ahead of him will -have speed, indeed.”</p> - -<p>Eph Taylor nodded.</p> - -<p>“He’s good,” admitted he. “But I -count on him, Injun like, only to use his -legs in the race. To beat him, all you’ve -got to do is to use your head as well.”</p> - - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[33]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER III<br /> - -<span class="small">DANIEL BOONE, MARKSMAN</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">Mounted</span> upon his powerful bay horse, -Daniel Boone the following day rode -toward Holman’s Ford. This point was -some eight miles from Hillsboro, and it was -here that the young men of the settlement -met each fall for their hardy frontier -games.</p> - -<p>Keen-sighted youths, bearing long barrelled -flint-locks, eagerly awaited this, the -test of their skill; sturdy wrestlers burned -to match their thews against each other; -and the runners, both horse and man, were -equally anxious to show their quality.</p> - -<p>The sun had reached high noon when -the backwoodsman reached the ford, dismounted -and tied his nag to a tree. A -long line of wagons, the horses tied to the -wheels, stood on the river bank; the settlers<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[34]</span> -and their families were gathered beneath -the trees. Apart from these were the athletes -of farm and forest, well-grown boys -and brawny young men; they stood about -in knots and discussed the probabilities of -each event. A smaller knot than any of -the others stood at the foot of a huge cottonwood; -a hail went up from this as Boone -went by; and he paused as he recognized -Oliver Barclay, Eph Taylor and Sandy -Campbell.</p> - -<p>“Well, youngsters,” said the pioneer, -“how is it going?”</p> - -<p>Eph Taylor grinned.</p> - -<p>“There ain’t been much done yet, Mr. -Boone,” said he. “And even with the little -we’ve gone through, we’ve had trouble with -the redskins.”</p> - -<p>The eyes of Boone went to a cleared space -among the trees where a number of lodges -had been erected; upon some skins, thrown -upon the ground, lay a half score of keen-looking -Shawnees. To the trees near by<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[35]</span> -were fastened a number of rangy-looking -horses.</p> - -<p>“What’s wrong?” asked the backwoodsman.</p> - -<p>“We’ve had the jumps,” said Eph, “and -none of the Indians entered for them. So -Eben Clarke won ’em all. Then there was -the throwing of the stone and big Sam Dutton -put it further than any one else, by a -good bit. The first thing the Shawnees -took any interest in was the swim. It was -across the river and back, to start at the -word and all together. A slippery little -redskin entered for that; he got into the -water like a streak; and he was a real good -swimmer. George Collins was off in the -front and the little Shawnee went by him -like a fish. Then George began to stretch -out and grab the water in armfuls and -pull himself after him. But he never -caught him till they got to the middle of -the stream on the way back. Sandy here -was in the race,” and Eph grinned. “He<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[36]</span> -thinks he’s a swimmer, but he was still on -the way over when George and the redskin -were coming back. Just as George caught -the Indian they both ran afoul of Sandy. -And because George went ahead from that -on and won the race the Shawnees say the -whole consarned thing was a put up job to -beat them out of the race.”</p> - -<p>“And it’s not so,” said Sandy, with indignation. -“If I interfered with anybody -it was with George Collins. I dived to get -out of the Indian’s way when I saw him -coming and I went straight into George.”</p> - -<p>“There’s only one of them who understands -any English, beside old Gray Lizard,” -said Oliver, “and that’s the tall fellow -covered with the bearskin. We took the -trouble to explain the matter to them; but -they just shake their heads and candidly -think the worst of us.”</p> - -<p>“Injuns,” stated Boone, “can never be -got to quite believe the white man. Maybe -it’s because they’ve been beaten so often<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[37]</span> -and in so many ways that they’ve come to -think that he <i>can’t</i> have played fair with -him.”</p> - -<p>The wrestling was now going forward, -and big Sam Dutton, he of the “stone -throw,” was disposing of opponent after -opponent with ease. There being little interest -manifested in this because of its one-sidedness, -the master of ceremonies, a stout, -humorous-looking man, called out:</p> - -<p>“I reckon we’ll now have the fancy riders -out getting ready.” Then in a lower tone -to those near him, “This is a thing the -Injuns always win, and our boys ought to -be ashamed of themselves for letting ’em. -Trick riding ought to be as easy for a white -as a redskin.”</p> - -<p>This complaint was greeted by a laugh -from those at whom it was aimed; and the -laugh was still echoing when a young -Shawnee ran out and across the green. To -a tree some distance away he affixed a mark -of painted bark, then he paced off a score of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[38]</span> -yards, turned, drew a tomahawk and waved -it as though in challenge. Then the sinewy, -bronzed arm went back and the hatchet -whizzed through the air; true and fair it -struck the mark, burying itself an inch or -more in the tree.</p> - -<p>A yell went up from the young braves at -this; there were challenging glances thrown -right and left; but as none of the whites -appeared disposed to accept, a fresh mark -was put up. Another Shawnee stepped -forward and drew out a heavy-bladed knife. -For an instant he balanced it in his hand, -then launched it forward like a lightning -flash, straight to the heart of the mark.</p> - -<p>Another whoop arose, and again the triumphant -challenging glances went around -from the young savages.</p> - -<p>“They reckon there ain’t none of you got -it in you to do a thing like that,” stated the -master of ceremonies.</p> - -<p>“Just you wait till the shooting,” answered -a voice, and a murmur went up<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[39]</span> -from among the whites. “We’ll show ’em -then.”</p> - -<p>“Well, you ought to,” answered the stout -man. “You’ve lived all your lives with -rifles in your hands, and it’s not much to -your credit that you can shoot. But,” and -he waved one pudgy finger at them, “don’t -be too sure of the shooting, even at that. -Maybe you ain’t heard that Long Panther -is here to-day! And anybody that’s acquainted -with that young redskin knows a -Shawnee with a good eye and a steady -hand.”</p> - -<p>Here those horsemen entered for the -fancy riding galloped out into the open -space. To a man they were Indians, in all -the bravery of paint and plumes.</p> - -<p>“Not a single one of you!” exclaimed -the fat master of ceremonies, reproachfully, -his gaze going from the array of confident -savages to the circle of lolling young -whites. “Not a single one; not a thing do -you know about riding but to get into the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[40]</span> -saddle and sit there like an old dame in a -rocking-chair. Not a single——”</p> - -<p>But there he paused, for just then there -rode into the open space a round-bodied -youth with a cheerful, good-natured face, -and mounted upon an ambling white horse, -as fat and unlike the fiery brutes bestridden -by the Shawnees as could well be imagined. -A roar went up at sight of this -unexpected entry; even the stoical savages -grinned in ironic enjoyment of the situation.</p> - -<p>Gravely the master of ceremonies shook -the newcomer’s hand.</p> - -<p>“Young man,” said he, gratefully, “you -may not have much chance, but you have -got pluck. What’s your name and the -name of that young animal you’re a-riding?”</p> - -<p>“I’m Sandy Campbell,” replied that good-natured -youth, “and this,” patting the fat -white horse on the neck, “is Soldier, a plow -horse, fifteen years old, belonging to the -man I work for.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[41]</span>Another shout went up from the by-standers; -but the master of ceremonies -held up his hand.</p> - -<p>“It’s not your turn to laugh,” stated he. -“He’s making a try; and that’s something -more than any of you have the enterprise -to do.”</p> - -<p>The word was given; one after another -the young braves set their horses into a -gallop; when at full speed they leaped from -the backs of their mounts and, clinging to -the streaming manes, ran a dozen or more -yards by their sides; then with agile swings -they were astride them once more. Then -with a rush they approached the starting -point, bringing up sharply and in picturesque -fashion, the front hoofs of the horses -pawing the air.</p> - -<p>All eyes now turned upon Sandy Campbell -and the sleek sided Soldier. Quietly -Sandy gave the white horse the word and -calmly the placid beast obeyed. At a stoical -gallop he began circling the clearing; his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[42]</span> -movements were as regular as those of a -rocking-horse; and Sandy sat him in total -unconcern while shouts and laughter -greeted them on every hand. Then Sandy -threw his right leg across the horse’s broad -back, sitting him sideways; it looked like -an uncouth beginning of the feat performed -by the Shawnees and a titter of expectancy -began. This changed to a roar of derision -as the fat boy slid from his perch to the -ground.</p> - -<p>But if they had watched keenly, they -would have perceived that he alighted with -a soft, practiced accuracy; also that the long -comic bounds which followed at the side of -the calmly galloping Soldier were really as -light as those of a rubber ball. Then with -one higher than the others, and never putting -a hand upon his horse, he was upon its -back once more; and Soldier drew up, -switching his tail and regarding the green -distance with sleepy eyes.</p> - -<p>Without waiting for the surprised applause<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[43]</span> -of the settlers to grow to the height -it naturally would have reached, one of the -young Shawnees shook his rein; his nimble -steed darted away like the wind, an arrow -flew ahead, performed a graceful arch and -stack in the ground. Racing at full speed -the horse swooped down upon it; clinging -with one foot and one hand the brave -stooped, caught the feathered shaft, and -recovering, waved it above him triumphantly.</p> - -<p>Soldier was at once put into motion; -when he had attained his best speed, Sandy’s -hat flew ahead to one side, and a long hunting -knife followed, falling to the other side, -but a dozen or more yards further along. -Heading his galloping horse between these, -Sandy stooped and caught the hat; then -recovering like a flash, he threw himself to -the opposite side, gripping the shaft of the -knife as he sped by.</p> - -<p>The shout which greeted this made the -echo from across the Yadkin ring lustily;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[44]</span> -the settlers now awoke to the fact that the -round-faced youth and his fat plow horse -knew what they were about. And so they -eagerly acclaimed and urged them to do -their best.</p> - -<p>Trick after trick of horsemanship was -performed by the Indians, and all with the -ease of experts and the dash of perfect -confidence. But their feats showed little -imagination, and in this those of the white -boy were vastly superior. Each time they -displayed something new he duplicated it -with an added touch, leaving them open-mouthed -and aghast.</p> - -<p>At last one of them, and their finest rider -by far, broke from the line and called something -to Sandy, a something which was -evidently a defiance. Putting his horse to -gallop, he, with much effort, swaying and -uncertainty, got upon his feet and there -remained until he had completed the circle, -when he leaped to the ground. While the -yells of the Indians were still greeting this<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[45]</span> -bit of daring, Sandy started Soldier once -more. With perfect ease, and greatly helped -by the beast’s broad back and its rocking-horse -motion, the boy got upon his -feet; after making a complete round, he -leaped up, turned a somersault, alighted -expertly upon the platform-like back, and -once more stood erect; then standing upon -one foot and with the other twiddling in -the air, he galloped around once more.</p> - -<p>This was the last straw. The Shawnees -could not hope to outdo this, and so retired. -While the whites gathered about -Sandy and his steed, Boone turned to -Oliver and Eph.</p> - -<p>“I reckon your friend didn’t learn them -things in Carolina,” said he.</p> - -<p>Oliver laughed, delighted.</p> - -<p>“No,” he replied. “At home, in Scotland, -he was a rider in a circus; and he’s -been practicing and training the white horse -for some time.”</p> - -<p>“Friends!” called the master of ceremonies,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[46]</span> -“the time is drawing on, and as -there are three contests still to be decided, -we’d best get at them. The race for horses -is next; riders will line across the trail.”</p> - -<p>At this summons, Oliver Barclay sprang -from Hawk, his long-legged young horse, -untied and mounted him; and as it happened -as he rode to the end of the forming -line, he found himself next the tall young -Shawnee whom they had pointed out to -Boone as being able to talk English.</p> - -<p>“Umph!” said this personage, his swift -eyes running over the points of the horse. -“You ride?”</p> - -<p>Oliver nodded. The young brave bestrode -a bony, long barreled horse with small ears -and a wicked head. Its bared teeth gleamed -as it snapped viciously at the horses within -reach.</p> - -<p>“Maybe you run,” ventured the Shawnee. -Again Oliver nodded; and a glint of satisfaction -came into the keen black eyes of the -brave.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[47]</span>“Heap good!” said he. “Long Panther -will beat you in both.”</p> - -<p>Oliver smiled.</p> - -<p>“The Long Panther is a good rider,” said -he. “We have seen him many times break -the wild horse, and manage the swift one. -And he can run. Only yesterday I saw -him flying along the trail like a wolf in the -track of an antelope. But,” and the boy -shook his head, “to win to-day, even Long -Panther must do his best.”</p> - -<p>“White boy shoot?” asked Long Panther; -but Oliver shook his head.</p> - -<p>“Not enough to match myself against -experts,” said he. “But there are a few -who will handle the rifle to-day, Long -Panther, whom it will not be easy to draw -away from.”</p> - -<p>The Shawnee lifted his head proudly.</p> - -<p>“The red man will win,” said he. “His -eye is like the eagle’s, his hand as steady -as the head of a rattlesnake before it -strikes.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[48]</span>The glance of the master of ceremonies -ran along the line of horsemen. Then he -pointed to a lone tree far down the river -trail from which a flag was flying.</p> - -<p>“You ride to that, around it, and back,” -said he. “And now, when I drop my hat, -you start.”</p> - -<p>Once more the glance went along the line -to assure him that all was still as it should -be. Then the hat fell.</p> - -<p>With a rush the horses shot forward -along the trail; a cloud of dust overhung -them and it was hard to tell who led or -who trailed in the rear. Then little by -little the compactness of the mass was lost; -the runners began to stretch out, the swift -going to the front, and the others falling -back. At the flag the dust ascended in a -great column; then the riders were seen -plunging through it on the way to the -finish.</p> - -<p>“Long Panther in the lead!” cried Eph -Taylor, straining his eyes to make out the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[49]</span> -contestants. “And he’s riding like as if -he was part of the horse.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t see anything of young Noll,” -said Boone.</p> - -<p>Sandy Campbell was trying to keep the -sun out of his eyes by holding his outspread -hands over them; he searched the dusty -cloud as it rolled toward them.</p> - -<p>“I see him!” he shouted, in high excitement. -“I see him!”</p> - -<p>“Where?” demanded Eph, eagerly.</p> - -<p>“He’s about the sixth rider—far back in -the dust.”</p> - -<p>“Sixth!” cried Eph, and his voice was -husky with disappointment.</p> - -<p>“But he’s coming along swiftly,” said -Sandy. “The Hawk is stretching over the -ground like a rabbit.”</p> - -<p>“I see him now!” shouted Eph. “I see -him! But he’s not sixth—he’s fourth!”</p> - -<p>“He’s passed two of them since I spoke,” -said Sandy, and then with a whoop, “There -goes another to the rear!”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[50]</span>“And still another!” cried Eph, dropping -his beloved Jerusha and waving his -long arms. “He’s second!”</p> - -<p>“Do you see Long Panther look over his -shoulder?” called Sandy. “See how his -teeth show—even at that distance! He -looks as vicious as that ugly brute of a -horse of his.”</p> - -<p>Whirling out of the dust came the bony -steed ridden by the Shawnee; its sweeping -stride covered the ground with astonishing -speed, its rider was bent low over its neck, -his eagle plumes mingling with the steed’s -flying mane. But if the stride of the -Indian’s steed ate up the distance, the long -legs of Hawk devoured it. The eyes of the -young animal fairly flowed with excitement; -his wide nostrils showed red; his flying -hoofs made dazzling play as they flashed -and reflashed, in and out, up and down; -his sleek hide was flecked with foam.</p> - -<p>“One hundred yards to go!” cried -Sandy.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[51]</span>“And the Hawk’s nose is at the Injun’s -knee!” shouted Eph Taylor, arms still waving -madly.</p> - -<p>Lower and still lower bent Long Panther, -whiter and whiter gleamed his teeth; faster -and still faster flew the thundering hoofs -of the wicked looking steed. But nothing -on four feet could have outstepped the rush -of the flame-eyed Hawk; no one who ever -sat in a saddle could have outdone in determination -the boy who bestrode him. In -a half dozen mighty bounds the Hawk was -nose and nose with the horse of the Indian; -and then he was ahead, daylight showing -between them true and fair; when he -flashed by the finish he was a winner by a -good half dozen yards.</p> - -<p>White boy and red slipped from their -horses almost side by side as the roar of -applause went up from the crowd. Leaning -against the heaving side of his mount, -the Long Panther stood for a moment staring -into the face of Oliver Barclay. Then,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[52]</span> -without a word, he turned, leaving his -horse standing in the trail and strode -toward the lodges among the trees.</p> - -<p>Amid the tumult of shouting the stout -master of ceremonies was not idle. The -next event was the shooting at all distances—and -with all weapons; and the targets -and marks were set up with all possible -speed.</p> - -<p>“Yes, friends,” cried the stout man at the -top of his voice, addressing a throng gathered -about Oliver and the Hawk, “I know -how you feel, for I feel just that way myself. -It’s a good boy and a good colt. But -let’s get ahead with things. Now we have -the shooting on our hands—shooting with -rifles or with bows and arrows, the white -man and his red brother to have the use of -his favorite weapon. If a white wants to -use a bow, let him do so and the fates -prosper him; if a red prefers a rifle, let -him take it by all means and use it to the -best of his courage and eyesight.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[53]</span>As the riflemen came forward, each with -his long weapon in his grip, the throng followed -and formed a sort of half circle behind -them. Several of the Indians also advanced, -their long bows tautly strung, their -quivers full of arrows.</p> - -<p>One by one the rifles cracked, and the -bowstrings sang; mark after mark was -shot away, and marksman after marksman -fell back defeated. Eph Taylor advanced -time after time, Jerusha in his hand; fondly -he’d cuddle the smooth stock against his -cheek, and when the old weapon’s sharp -voice rang out, it was to announce the -planting of a bullet in the heart of the -target.</p> - -<p>After three-quarters of an hour the last -Shawnee was eliminated; and the struggle -seemed between Eph Taylor and a gray-haired, -keen-eyed hunter from the region -toward the ridge. It was nip and tuck between -this pair; neither seemed able to -perform a feat which the other could not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[54]</span> -duplicate. The ringing of the shots, the -spatting of the ball, the fall of wand or -coin, or the snuffing out of candles went on -with monotonous regularity; but at length -this was broken by the appearance of the -magician, Gray Lizard. With his amulets -of skulls and claws, and pouches filled with -potent charms hanging from him, his staff -in his hand and his ratty old eyes filled -with contempt, he advanced to the place -where the riflemen were standing.</p> - -<p>“What child’s work!” cried he. “What -pastime for the papooses of the village! -Again and again do you repeat what you -have done before. And nothing comes of it. -The Shawnee is about to go! but before he -goes he would like to show his white brother -what he thinks is a real test of skill.” Then -to the master of ceremonies, “Is it the -white man’s will?”</p> - -<p>The stout official scratched his head.</p> - -<p>“It’s against all the rules that I ever -heard tell of,” he announced. “But I’m<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[55]</span> -for letting them do it. What do you say, -lads?”</p> - -<p>A shout of assent went up from the settlers; -for all were eager to see what the -redskin marksman would do.</p> - -<p>The Gray Lizard turned and held up one -hand toward the little knot of savages who -stood in a gloomy array at one side.</p> - -<p>“Long Panther, by jickety!” said Eph, -who had been looking toward the Indians, -curiously.</p> - -<p>“I thought he was so tarnal mad at being -licked in the hoss race that he didn’t mean -to shoot at all,” said the old hunter who -had been pressing Eph close. “But here -he comes, as proud as a she wolf with -seven pups, and a-meaning to outshoot -all creation if it can be done any way at -all.”</p> - -<p>Long Panther advanced with erect head -and a face like bronze, so utterly devoid of -expression was it; but his keen swift eyes -were full of fire and insolent challenge.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[56]</span> -His manner was that of one who felt himself -master of the situation.</p> - -<p>“The Gray Lizard spoke well,” said he. -“To shoot at sticks and lights is work for -the papoose, and not for the warrior. I ask -but one shot; and then let any of you do as -well, and I am content to say the white -man is better than the Shawnee.”</p> - -<p>As he spoke his swift eyes went about -among the trees; upon a huge dead limb -of an oak, near to the trunk, sat a gray -squirrel, his bushy tail held erect, his deft -forepaws stroking his moustache.</p> - -<p>“A live mark!” said Long Panther, as -he fitted an arrow to his string. “I will -take it through the skin at the back of its -neck and pin it to the tree.”</p> - -<p>Almost before he ceased to speak, the -arrow flew upon its mission; and the next -instant the squirrel, pinned exactly as the -Shawnee marksman had said, was struggling -for release.</p> - -<p>A hush fell upon the crowd; and as a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[57]</span> -boy nimbly ascended the oak and liberated -the squirrel, the master of ceremonies spoke.</p> - -<p>“Men, it was a good shot. And, now, -speak up. Can any of you do the like?”</p> - -<p>Eph and the old hunter were shaking -their heads when Daniel Boone stepped -forward.</p> - -<p>“The brave,” said Boone, slowly, “has -made a good shot. No one will gainsay -that. But it was a trick.”</p> - -<p>All eyes were upon him; Long Panther -gave him a look of fierce disdain.</p> - -<p>“The shot,” said the young warrior, “was -fair, and was seen by all.”</p> - -<p>Boone nodded.</p> - -<p>“But for all that it was a trick,” said he. -“It was a shot that can be made only -with an arrow. A marksman can’t pin a -squirrel to a tree trunk with a rifle bullet, -Long Panther, as you know very well.”</p> - -<p>A murmur went up from the whites; -there was an eager assent to this way of -looking at the matter.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[58]</span>“But,” continued Boone, coolly, “you -said that if any of us could do as well, you’d -admit yourself beaten.” He balanced his -heavy rifle in his strong hands, a smile -upon his bronzed face. “Very well. To -equal your trick shot which cannot be -done with a rifle, I will do one which can’t -be done with an arrow.”</p> - -<p>A huge gum tree reared its mighty head -upon the river bank; upon a limb part -way up lay a red squirrel, blinking at the -assemblage with his shrewd little eyes. -The heavy rifle began to lift toward this -mark.</p> - -<p>“Long Panther,” said Boone, quietly, -his eyes never leaving the tiny ball of red -fur so high in the air, “if I bring down the -little beast, dead, and with never a mark of -the bullet on him, will you admit it as good -a shot as your own?”</p> - -<p>“I will!” cried the Shawnee, promptly.</p> - -<p>The long rifle cracked, a shower of particles -of bark flew up from the limb directly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[59]</span> -under the squirrel; the concussion threw -the little animal whirling into the air; it -fell to the ground at the foot of the gum -<span class="nowrap">tree—dead.<a id="FNanchor_2" href="#Footnote_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></span></p> - -<p>In an instant it was in the hands of -Long Panther; his swift eyes searched it -for the sign that would give him victory.</p> - -<p>“Well?” asked Boone, after a moment.</p> - -<p>The young warrior lifted his face.</p> - -<p>“It is without a mark,” said he. Then -as he turned away, he added in a voice of -wonder, “The white man is indeed a -mighty hunter.”</p> - -<p>And when the foot-racers took their -places a few moments later to decide the -question of speed and endurance, Oliver -Barclay was one of them. But there were -no Indians among them. Curiously, the -boy cast his eyes about, the words of the -Gray Lizard occurring to him. Sure<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[60]</span> -enough, there were the redskins mounted, -their camp equipment upon the backs of -the packhorses. With no thought of triumphing -over a beaten foe, but filled with -disappointment at not having the chance -to try himself against the famed runner, -Oliver stepped aside to Long Panther’s -horse.</p> - -<p>“What! are you going before the race is -run?” asked he, astonished.</p> - -<p>The young warrior looked down into -the face of the white boy long and intently; -then he spoke.</p> - -<p>“It may be,” he said, “that the time -will come when you and I will run a race. -And if it should, see to it that you are as -swift as the antelope of the plains; for it -may be that you will have much at stake.”</p> - -<p>And with that Long Panther rode off -along the trail after his fellow braves.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[61]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER IV<br /> - - -<span class="small">IN THE WILDERNESS</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">That</span> Boone had in mind an adventure -beyond the Laurel Ridge was soon noised -abroad.</p> - -<p>“Going on a big hunt,” said one of the -settlers to another. “Taking John Finley, -who some years ago led a party to the -Louisa <span class="nowrap">River<a id="FNanchor_3" href="#Footnote_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></span> region, and some others.”</p> - -<p>“Means to stay for some time, too, I -hear,” said the other.</p> - -<p>The first speaker nodded.</p> - -<p>“Dan’l’s boys are big enough to look -after things now,” said he. “And I guess<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[62]</span> -they have money enough to last a while. -And besides the fun of the hunt, Boone’ll -bring back rich furs, for they say the -country he’s going into just swarms with -game.”</p> - -<p>But that Boone had any thought other -than hunting was not known to the settlements; -that Colonel Henderson contemplated -having the backwoodsman inspect -the wilderness as a preliminary to planting -colonies therein was kept a close secret.</p> - -<p>It was one fine day in May in the year -1769 that the little party assembled for the -start. Besides Boone and Finley, there -were James Moncey, John Stuart, William -Cool and Joseph Holden, hardy woodsmen, -dead shots and men who could be depended -upon in any emergency.</p> - -<p>Besides the sinewy, deep-winded horses -which they rode, they had a number of -pack animals laden with blankets, ammunition -and camp equipment and provisions.</p> - -<p>“We need not take much food,” said -Boone, and Finley had agreed with him. -“A little meal and salt and such like, -that’s all. For the country into which -we’re going, boys, is a paradise for riflemen. -The streams have never been fished<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[63]</span> -except by the wandering Injuns; the herds -of deer and buffalo are endless; the small -game, both furred and feathered, are not to -be counted.”</p> - -<p>Each of the adventurers had slung across -his back the very long, flint-lock rifle made -famous by their breed and generation; they -also carried keen, heavy knives and hatchets; -only a few pistols were to be seen -among them. They wore deerskin hunting -shirts and tanned leggins of the same -material; their powder-horns and bullet-pouches -swung from their shoulders.</p> - -<p>Boone and the others had said good-bye -to their families and now sat their horses -in the trail along the Yadkin, having a last -word with Colonel Henderson, who had -ridden from Hillsboro to see them off. -Noll Barclay had borne him company, and -Eph Taylor, eager and curious, had journeyed -from the forest-encircled farm to -hear the latest word.</p> - -<p>“I suppose,” Oliver said to his uncle,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[64]</span> -“that you have reasons, but I can’t see -why Eph and I could not ride with Mr. -Boone on this adventure as well as not.”</p> - -<p>“You are too young,” spoke the colonel, -after the fashion of a man who had heard -the suggestion in many forms before.</p> - -<p>Boone looked at the straight, slight form -of the lad, and then at the lanky Eph. He -nodded his agreement with the other.</p> - -<p>“Too young,” said he. “There are times, -lads, when years count, and this is one of -them. It’s not only your being short of -endurance but of judgment that makes it -impossible to take you along this time. You -look at this thing as a bit of fun, and that -is just what it is not. In a year or two, -though,” he added, “you’ll both have -picked up years and experience.”</p> - -<p>“But in a year or two,” objected Noll, -“there may be no trips into the wilderness.”</p> - -<p>Both Boone and Colonel Henderson -laughed.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[65]</span>“The wilderness will be there for many -years to come,” spoke the colonel.</p> - -<p>“And this, I think, is not the last trip -into it by many,” said Daniel Boone.</p> - -<p>Young Barclay had talked over the adventure -of the wilderness with both Eph -and Sandy, and while none of them hoped -to be taken along on the expedition, they, -like every lad for miles around, longed to -have fate play an unexpected prank in -their behalf.</p> - -<p>“I don’t expect anything to happen,” -Oliver had said, fervently. “But you can -never tell.”</p> - -<p>However, it did not happen, and the two -boys watched the hardy band ride along -the trail for the river, leading their pack -animals, and plunge into the budding green -sea of the forest.</p> - -<p>Now began the long hardship of the -journey across the mountains. For some -days the going was not so difficult, because -ways had been hewn in the forests by settlers<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[66]</span> -tilling the land round about; but in a -little while they penetrated beyond the -settled district and were voyaging in the -trackless wilderness where the foot of the -white man had seldom fallen. They now -followed the winding paths made by buffalo -and other large animals as being attended -with less labor than pushing their way -through the dense undergrowth and interlacing -vines. Through deep ravines, down -roaring mountain streams, descending into -wonderful valleys, fording deep rivers, they -held their way across the mountain ridge -which streaked so blue across the sky-line; -and at length they found themselves on the -verge of that far country of which they had -been in search.</p> - -<p>Here and there in the journey they had -come across the tracks of redskins; once -across the tree tops they had seen tall, pale -columns of smoke lifting, which told of a -camp of some size. And having no desire -to become better acquainted with the wandering<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[67]</span> -tribesmen, they had always changed -their course and brought into play all those -wiles known to the students of woodcraft -to throw off their trail any one who might -stumble upon it.</p> - -<p>“It’s always best to be careful,” said -Boone, during one of these sudden shifts in -their course. “As far as I know there’s no -big party in this region, because it belongs -to no one tribe and is visited only by the -hunters. But never take a chance that can -be avoided—that’s the safe course to follow.”</p> - -<p>However, as Daniel Boone had said to -Colonel Henderson, the beautiful land of -Kentucky was used, from time to time, as -something more than a hunting-ground. -Bands of Chickasaws, Shawnees and Cherokees -frequently met in the heart of the -wild, and when they did, savage fighting -followed. So desperate were these conflicts -that the region became known by an Indian -name signifying “dark and bloody ground.”</p> - -<p>Before the band of white men, as they<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[68]</span> -stood upon an eminence of the ridge on the -day they first sighted Kentucky, was a vast -rolling country, roamed by herds of horned -beasts, splendid streams and valleys which -promised a rich yield to the hand which -drove the plow through it.</p> - -<p>But after a space given to wonder and -admiration, Boone noted that the sun was -slipping little by little behind the green -rim of the forest.</p> - -<p>“I think, boys,” suggested he, “we’d -better look for a likely place to camp for -the night. To-morrow we’ll plunge into -the new country and have a close-at-hand -look at everything.”</p> - -<p>In the mountain-side was a small gorge -across which a cottonwood had fallen and -hidden by a dense growth of thicket. Limbs -were cut by hatchet and knife and placed -against the fallen tree in such a manner as -to form a sort of roof. Bark was pulled -from those trees which gave it readily, and -fitted over the limbs; soft balsam boughs<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[69]</span> -were placed in the bottom of the gorge for -beds; and here the adventurers made a -home in the wilds which they kept until -the winter came with its snow and rigors.</p> - -<p>A turkey was roasted above the coals, -impaled upon a ramrod; flap-jacks were -baked upon heated stones, and full of the -spirit of the thing and gifted with wonderful -appetites the adventurers fell to and -made a hearty meal.</p> - -<p>Then, afterward, they stretched out upon -the soft boughs and watched the moon drift -across the sky while they talked of what -was to come. All was peace; save for the -cry of some night bird, or the stirring of the -breeze among the trees, there was no sound.</p> - -<p>Then, without a word of warning, there -was a sudden crash from the black looming -forest, and the ring of a rifle-shot went -echoing and reëchoing from level to level -until it died away in the stillness.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[70]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER V<br /> - - -<span class="small">CAPTURED BY THE SHAWNEES</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">As</span> the ring of the rifle died away, the -little band in the hut reached for their fire-arms; -with pieces cocked and ready, they -stole out and crouched close to the ground, -silently waiting. But nothing followed; -whoever fired the shot was a long distance -away and the firing of the shot had nothing -to do with them.</p> - -<p>“It may have been a signal,” said Boone, -as he arose on one knee, his keen eyes -searching the great shafts of gray moonlight -which lay trailing on the mountain-side. -“But it’s not likely. If we’ve enemies -hereabouts they’d not take that way -of getting news of us to each other. For -one thing, we’d hear it; for another, powder -is a hard thing for a redskin to get, at best,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[71]</span> -and I reckon they’re not in a hurry to -waste any of it.”</p> - -<p>“Must have been a shot by some red -hunter to stop a catamount that had come -to his camp,” said Finley. “This looks to -be a likely country for critters of that -kind.”</p> - -<p>The shot, so surprising and unexpected, -formed a subject for conversation during -the remainder of the evening; then, posting -a guard outside the hut, the explorers -rolled themselves in their blankets and -went quietly to sleep.</p> - -<p>After a breakfast of broiled squirrel next -morning, Boone, Finley and Stuart started -out, their muskets across their shoulders, to -examine the aspect of the surrounding -country. If what they had come through -in crossing the ridge had seemed trackless, -this was infinitely more so; there were -myriads of small animals and birds; the -deer seemed merely wondering and possessed -no fear of them. Near by was one of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[72]</span> -northern branches of the Louisa, and this -they followed for miles; each day was -given to a venture, during the entire summer -and the ensuing fall. Always some of -the party remained at the hut in the gorge, -while the others took the buffalo paths in -search of new discoveries.</p> - -<p>November came with its chilly nights; -then fell December with its sudden frosts, -its flurries of snow and its long nights; -and it was in that same month of December -that the first mishap befell them.</p> - -<p>It was but a few days before Christmas -that Boone and Stuart started off in a direction -seldom taken on former occasions. -There was a light snow upon the ground—not -enough to impede their progress—but -sufficient to plainly show the tracks of anything -that had passed that way. The timber -wolves had grown especially numerous -since the winter had set in, and their -prints were scattered all about in the cane-brakes -and through the woods. Once they<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[73]</span> -came upon the clear trace of a catamount, -and nothing would have pleased them better -than to have followed the beast and -tried their rifles upon it; however, they -were in the wilderness for more important -things than mere hunting, so they passed -the tempting trail and pushed on, intent -upon the lay of the ground, the quality of -the soil, the timber and the natural drainage.</p> - -<p>They had gone on for some hours in this -way when Stuart heard Boone, who was -some yards in advance, give an exclamation -of surprise. The backwoodsman had -paused and was bending over, studying -something intently.</p> - -<p>“What is it?” asked Stuart, as he hastened -forward.</p> - -<p>Silently Boone pointed at the snow; -there, distinctly printed, was the trail of -many moccasined feet.</p> - -<p>“Injuns!” said Stuart, astonished.</p> - -<p>Strange as it might seem, the little band<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[74]</span> -of adventurers had not caught sight of a -red man since they had started out in the -previous spring; and this had, somehow, -caused the idea to grow among them that -this particular region was being avoided by -the Indian hunting parties, at any rate for -the time being.</p> - -<p>Closely Boone studied the trail; some -peculiarity of the moccasin imprints struck -him.</p> - -<p>“They are Shawnees,” said he; “and as -far as I can make out, there must be a score -of them.”</p> - -<p>“That many, at least,” spoke Stuart, his -eyes also examining the trail. “A hunting -party pushing toward the river; maybe in -search of fur.”</p> - -<p>Boone nodded, but somewhat dubiously. -The sudden appearance of a large band of -savages at that precise time disquieted him; -he felt in it the promise of future danger.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[75]</span></p> -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i_001.jpg" alt="" /></div> -<p class="caption">CLOSELY BOONE STUDIED THE TRAIL</p> - -<p>“They’ve found meat scarce, I suppose,” -suggested Stuart, as they went on through<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[76]</span> -the forest, “and so they had to go farther -away from home.”</p> - -<p>“It would have pleased me just as well -if they’d taken another direction, then,” -said Boone. “We’re getting on too well -with our work to be disturbed just now.”</p> - -<p>Ahead was a dense clump of dark, gloomy -pine woods, on the edge of which was a -fringe of dwarf oaks. A heavy growth of -bush and climbing thorns had sprung up -among these last; and as the two whites -came to this, their long rifles in the hollow -of their arms, there came a sudden rush, a -fierce yell of exultation, and they found -themselves borne to the ground, disarmed -and bound with leather thongs.</p> - -<p>With their rifles, hatchets and hunting -knives in the possession of their captors, -and their hands firmly secured behind -their backs, they were permitted to rise, -and found themselves looking into a circle -of grim, copper-colored faces, and being examined -by narrow, threatening eyes.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[77]</span>It was a party of Shawnees, and evidently -the same whose tracks they had -come across a short time before. The -braves were in their full panoply of war; -they carried bows and scalping knives, -quivers of arrows were on their backs, -tomahawks were in their belts; a few -ancient looking rifles were the only fire-arms -to be seen among them, however, and -the powder-horns and bullet-pouches were -fewer still.</p> - -<p>A powerful looking savage, evidently a -chief, and the leader of the band, now -spoke.</p> - -<p>“The white faces hunt in the hunting-grounds -of the Shawnee,” said he, in very -bad English.</p> - -<p>But Boone looked at him with cool, -humorous eye.</p> - -<p>“The great chief is mistaken,” said he. -“The white man would not so wrong his -red brother.”</p> - -<p>The Shawnee chief said something to his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[78]</span> -followers, no doubt interpreting the saying -of the backwoodsman; there came a series -of grunts and ejaculations from them; -their copper-colored faces grew grimmer -still, their eyes even more threatening than -before.</p> - -<p>“Yesterday we heard the rifle of the -white face,” spoke the Shawnee leader, -turning again to Boone; “to-day we have -heard it. We have seen the remains of -deer and buffalo which he has killed; we -have seen his beaver traps in the streams.” -There was a moment’s pause, then the savage -added: “What has the white face to -say?”</p> - -<p>“You might have heard our rifles speak -for many days, if you had been here,” replied -Boone. “And that you have seen -the carcasses of deer and other animals -which we have killed is quite likely. But -what of that? The country is open to -hunters, is it not? Do not the Chickasaws -and the Cherokees hunt their meat and fur<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[79]</span> -in these woods and mountains? Why, then, -do the Shawnees claim it as their own?”</p> - -<p>“The Chickasaws and the Cherokees are -thieves!” pronounced the Shawnee chief. -“We have taken the war-path against them; -we will make a wailing in their lodges, an -emptiness in their villages.”</p> - -<p>“You treat your white brother with injustice -when you ambush him and take -away his arms. You have suffered no -wrong at his hands,” maintained Boone.</p> - -<p>Again the chief translated to his braves, -and again came the grunts and ejaculations. -But in spite of the threatening looks and -the tightening of the savage circle, the -backwoodsman proceeded fearlessly.</p> - -<p>“If any one hunts in this region without -right, it is the red man,” declared he. -“The whole of the country below the great -river belongs to the white face. Many -moons ago, at the great council at Fort -Stanwix, the league of the Iroquois turned -over this land to the colonists. Does the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[80]</span> -red brother deny this? Does he not mean -to keep faith?”</p> - -<p>What Boone said was true, and the -Shawnee knew it, but in the southern -tribes the right of the league to cede the -territory had always been denied. So the -chief regarded Boone with fierce-eyed -anger.</p> - -<p>“The white face is as cunning as the -snake,” said he, “and his tongue is as -crooked.”</p> - -<p>Then turning away from them he gave a -signal; the band at once started off, the -two captives in their midst, guarded by a -half dozen lean, hawk-like braves. Some -miles away among the hills was the -Shawnee camp, a dozen or more deerskin -lodges erected in a sheltered place. Fires -were burning outside the tepees; several -young men were cooking strips of meat -upon pointed sticks.</p> - -<p>The whites were bound to heavy stakes -driven firmly into the ground; then the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[81]</span> -band gathered about the fires, and when the -meat was cooked began to eat it in silence.</p> - -<p>“Well,” said Stuart, who had said very -little since their capture, “it has a bad -look.”</p> - -<p>“It might be worse,” replied Boone, -coolly, his calm eyes studying the Shawnees -at the camp-fires. “There is a good -chance for us yet.”</p> - -<p>“To escape?”</p> - -<p>Boone nodded.</p> - -<p>“But how?”</p> - -<p>The calm eyes twinkled as they turned -upon the speaker.</p> - -<p>“Don’t offer me any puzzles to answer,” -said Boone. “I have no more notion ‘how’ -than you have. But the chance will come -in some way; and it will be for us to be -ready to take hold of it.”</p> - -<p>Though Boone had never been taken captive -by the Indians before, he knew, from -talks with those who had, and from his -knowledge of savage ceremony, that in cases<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[82]</span> -like their own, a certain form was always -gone through before torture and death were -resorted to.</p> - -<p>“They’ll keep us,” he told Stuart, “and -try to get us to come into the tribe. It’s a -strange kink in their natures that though -they hate the white, they seldom fail to -try to make him one of them by adoption -if they have the chance.”</p> - -<p>“You think they’ll try and make Shawnees -of us?”</p> - -<p>“It’s like as not,” answered Boone.</p> - -<p>“Before I’ll be a renegade, I’ll die,” said -Stuart, stoutly.</p> - -<p>Boone nodded.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know as I blame you in that,” -spoke he. “A renegade is as mean a critter -as walks the earth. But it’d be just as well -if we kept our feelings on that point from -the Shawnees.”</p> - -<p>“You mean——”</p> - -<p>“That if we’re asked to join the tribe, -we’d better not refuse. It’s life if we can<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[83]</span> -deceive them, and death by horrible torture -if we refuse.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t like the notion of even seeming -to be an Injun,” spoke Stuart, who was a -brave man and stubborn in his courage. -“But whatever you think best, that I will -do.”</p> - -<p>That night they were given a couple of -bearskins to lie upon, and their bonds were -looked to with much care. They slept -fairly well but were awake at dawn when -the savages began to stir about the camp. -Some meat and a sort of porridge made of -Indian corn, crushed between two smooth -stones, was given to them; and after they -had eaten, the Shawnee chief approached, -followed by the eldest of his warriors. Silently -they sat before their prisoners, seeming -to study them with the utmost attention. -After a space the chief spoke.</p> - -<p>“The white faces are prisoners; they were -taken in war by Black Wolf and his braves; -they are without arms, they are helpless.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[84]</span>Neither Stuart nor Boone made any reply -to this; but the warriors, upon the words -of Black Wolf being interpreted to them, expressed -their approval by nods and throaty -murmurs.</p> - -<p>“Far away, toward the rising sun, are the -friends of the white face, far away where the -morning first touches the forest are his -lodges. Neither friends nor lodges will he -ever see again.”</p> - -<p>There was another pause; Black Wolf -studied the expressions of their faces intently. -But still they made no reply. The -chief then resumed:</p> - -<p>“You have killed in the hunting-grounds -of the Shawnees, and for this your lives belong -to Black Wolf and his braves. But -the chief would spare you; he does not wish -to see you die. Rather would he see you, -his brothers, living in the wigwams of the -Shawnees and taking to the war-path against -his people’s foes.”</p> - -<p>This being repeated in the Shawnee<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[85]</span> -tongue to the elder warriors, was greeted -with a chorus of approving grunts. And -then Black Wolf asked:</p> - -<p>“What does the white face say?”</p> - -<p>“The Shawnee chief is a noble hunter -and a warrior whose fame runs beyond the -blue ridge,” said Daniel Boone. “And his -words are as straight as the young birch by -the waterside. It is true that the pale-face’s -friends are far away, and that his -lodge is many days across the hills; and -for both of these his heart is sore. But he -would not lose his life. Other friends he -can make; other lodges he can build; but -he has one life only, and when that is gone -he cannot call it back.”</p> - -<p>Black Wolf repeated this to his counselors -and again came the chorus of grunted -approval.</p> - -<p>“It is well spoken,” praised the Shawnee -chief. “Do you, then, give up your people -and will you go to the villages of the -Shawnee and make them your home?”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[86]</span>“To save my life—yes.”</p> - -<p>“And you?” asked Black Wolf, his eyes -going to Stuart.</p> - -<p>“I say the same,” replied that worthy.</p> - -<p>“It is well,” said the chief.</p> - -<p>He arose, and the elder braves did likewise; -turning to them he spoke briefly -and to what he said they apparently -agreed with readiness. One of the warriors -took out his knife, approached the -captives and severed the thongs which -bound them.</p> - -<p>Black Wolf signed for them to get up.</p> - -<p>“My young men are about to start upon -a hunt,” said he. “It were well if the -white brothers went with them.”</p> - -<p>The hunting party was already making -ready; and in half an hour or so it filed -out of the camp and along a buffalo track -which led toward the west. The two white -men trudged along the track, Boone whistling -a snatch of an old English air, Stuart -morose and heavy of brow.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[87]</span>Finally the latter spoke.</p> - -<p>“Why are we taken out with a hunting -party and provided with no weapons? It -hasn’t a reasonable look!”</p> - -<p>Boone stopped his whistling.</p> - -<p>“The whole idea of this party is just a -little game of the redskins. It’s not their -purpose to hunt,” said he.</p> - -<p>“Not their purpose to hunt?” echoed -the other.</p> - -<p>Boone nodded.</p> - -<p>“Just keep your eye peeled,” spoke he. -“Do you see how the varmints go along—careless -and never noticing us? Never a -look do they give us, so far as I can see. -But,” and he covertly clutched his companion’s -arm in his strong grip, “they’re -noticing us, never fear. They see everything -we do, every look we give away from -the track we’re following. This is not a -hunt, comrade; it’s a test of our intentions. -They are trying us. And the trial will go -on in different ways for days. Some one<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[88]</span> -will always be watching us; to try and -escape will mean death for us.”</p> - -<p>“A pleasant outlook,” said Stuart, -gloomily.</p> - -<p>“But don’t forget,” said Boone, “that -this watch upon us will not last always. -Let us make it seem as if we were contented -enough. If they lay little traps for -us to fall into, let us step over them. No -matter how good the chance seems for a -while, we must not try to get away; for it -will only win us a dozen or so arrows in -our backs. After a little while they’ll grow -slack in their watching. If they see us -living quietly as they live, doing the things -they do, they’ll come to trust us more and -more. And then our chance will come—and -we’ll make the best of it.”</p> - -<p>Keeping up an intent observation of the -savages, Stuart gradually came to the conclusion -that what Boone said was true. -Not a moment passed but they found themselves -closely watched by the Shawnees.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[89]</span> -And so he came to see that his friend’s plan -was the solution of their situation. The -gloomy look vanished and the frowns followed; -his manner grew as care-free as -could well be imagined; he also whistled -a catch now and then; and more than once -he laughed light-heartedly over some small -incident of the march, a thing which was -not thrown away upon their red brothers.</p> - -<p>That night they spent in a lodge which -Black Wolf gave up to them; as before, -they were not bound and apparently were -unguarded. But both knew that the sharp -eyes of the bronze warriors were peering at -the lodge, that lurking forms hung silently -in the shadows, and swift-winged arrows -were ready to sing their death song should -they make an attempt to escape.</p> - -<p>And so it went one day after another until -a full week had passed. Adventure -after adventure did the Shawnees take -them upon; at times they were left apparently -alone for hours in the forest; the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[90]</span> -temptation was great, but they conquered -it; and always were they glad they had -done so, for it was shown afterward that in -each case the savages had been at no great -distance, and that the thing had been one of -the traps which Boone had foretold.</p> - -<p>Little by little, in the face of this plainly -shown content of the white brothers for -their lot, the Shawnees became lax in their -vigilance, and finally upon the seventh -night of their captivity, the active-minded -Boone saw their first real chance of escape. -All was still in the redskin camp; the fires -smouldered under coverings of ash; a pale, -wintry moon looked down upon the wilderness. -It had been an active day for the -savages; it had been thought that a party -of Cherokees had entered the region, and all -the warriors of Black Wolf’s band had been -ranging the woods searching for their trail. -And so these braves, whose duty it was to -keep a careful eye upon the adopted whites, -grew heavy eyed as the night wore on;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[91]</span> -their deep breathing told the wide-awake -Boone that all were asleep.</p> - -<p>Stuart, also, was asleep; carefully Boone -awoke him.</p> - -<p>“The time’s come,” he whispered in -the ear of the surprised backwoodsman. -“Make no noise; all the critters are as -sound as rocks.”</p> - -<p>Softly they crept through the opening in -the lodge; like cats they moved among the -other wigwams until they gained the shadows. -Then Boone halted.</p> - -<p>“What now?” asked Stuart, in a whisper.</p> - -<p>“We’ve left our rifles behind. Wait -here.”</p> - -<p>“You don’t mean to go back!” Stuart -was amazed.</p> - -<p>“I must. Do you realize what it would -mean to be away here in the wilderness -without the means of getting game for food? -Man, we’d die.”</p> - -<p>Seeing the force of this, Stuart released<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[92]</span> -the hold he had taken upon Boone’s shoulder. -Back into the Indian encampment -stole Daniel Boone; straight to the tepee of -Black Wolf he went, and, from his place in -the shadows, Stuart saw the brave pioneer -stoop and enter. Then followed a long -pause. The waiting man could hear the -heavy throbs of his own heart. Each moment -he expected to hear the war-whoop -of the Shawnee, and to see the camp spring -into activity.</p> - -<p>But fortune smiled upon the daring -Boone, for after a time he appeared, the -two rifles in his hands, and their powder-horns -and bullet-pouches slung upon his -shoulders. Silently he recrossed into the -shadows; quietly he gave Stuart his own -piece, his own horn and pouch; then creeping -like wild things of the wilderness, they -stole away into the depths where the night -would hide them from all hostile eyes.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[93]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VI<br /> - - -<span class="small">BOONE IN THE WILDERNESS</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">All</span> that night the two adventurers -pressed steadily away from the Indian encampment; -they made, as far as they could -reckon it, in the general direction of their -camp in the gorge. The pale moon filtered -through the bare branches of the trees, the -stars twinkled helpfully; and when morning -came dimly above the higher hills they -found that they had judged their direction -with singular accuracy. They were not -more than a mile or two from their own -camp.</p> - -<p>“Pretty good, for going it blind,” said -Boone, well pleased. “And now I suppose -we’ll give the boys a surprise. Having been -missing for all this time they’ll reckon -we’re gone for good.”</p> - -<p>But it was themselves who received the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[94]</span> -surprise; arriving in sight of the gorge they -saw no friendly morning smoke; hurrying -forward they entered the hut; no one was -there; everything of any value was gone.</p> - -<p>“Injuns!” cried Boone.</p> - -<p>“Or they somehow heard about us being -taken by the redskins, and have gone back -to the settlements,” said Stuart.</p> - -<p>Just what happened at the camp during -the seven days’ captivity of Boone and Stuart -among the Shawnees has never been -written. There is no record in the annals -of the time that they returned to civilization; -the confusion of the camp as found -by Boone might have meant that it had -been deserted hastily, or that the party -therein had been murdered and robbed. -But which was the truth he probably never -knew.</p> - -<p>For some time the two hardy adventurers -remained staring at the remains of the shelter -which had been their home for more -than a half year.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[95]</span>“Well,” said Boone, “I reckon they’re -gone.”</p> - -<p>“Gone they are,” agreed Stuart. “And -as we don’t know how or why, it’s my -opinion that this is no safe place for us.”</p> - -<p>Rapidly, but thoroughly, they ransacked -the camp for ammunition; but none was to -be found; then they made their way into -the cane-brakes, carefully covering their -tracks as they went, and took up their camp -in a secluded place where an enemy could -not come upon them without their having -due warning of his approach.</p> - -<p>From that time on the pair shifted their -camp with each day; they lived much like -the wild things of the wilderness about -them, seldom making a move in any direction -without studying the prospects and -calculating their chances. But in spite of -all this, Boone, with his usual hardihood, -continued to make his inspection of the -country; they extended their explorations -in many directions; and though they lived<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[96]</span> -in constant peril of their lives, and their -food was reduced to the meat they could -kill, they were not of the sort to cuddle fear -to their breasts and increase their hardships -by complaint. Accustomed to hard living -they took their situation calmly enough; -never once did it occur to them that it -would be best to leave their work incompleted -and return home.</p> - -<p>“But,” said Boone, one night by their -carefully-masked camp-fire, “I’d like to -have powder and ball. There are only -a half dozen charges between us; and every -time I let off my rifle I feel that we’re slipping -that much nearer the finish of the -whole matter.”</p> - -<p>Some weeks went by in this way; and -one morning as they followed a buffalo -path they heard a steady, long “clump-clump-clump” -advancing toward them -from the direction in which they had come.</p> - -<p>“Buffalo?” asked Stuart, puzzled.</p> - -<p>Boone listened, then shook his head.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[97]</span>“Horses,” said he. “And horses that -are being ridden.”</p> - -<p>With one accord they left the track; they -took up posts behind the trees, their rifles -held ready for anything which might occur.</p> - -<p>In a very little while the hoof-beats became -quite close at hand; then from out -of the undergrowth which lined the path -rode a couple of bronzed white men, well -armed, and leading a pair of packhorses. -Amazed, Daniel Boone called out:</p> - -<p>“Hello, stranger! Who are you?”</p> - -<p>The riders checked their steeds and turned -their heads in the direction of the hail.</p> - -<p>“Hello!” cried one. “Is that you, -Dan’l?”</p> - -<p>“White men and friends,” answered they -in the customary manner of the wilderness.</p> - -<p>“As I live,” cried Boone, starting forward, -“I think it’s my brother, Squire.”</p> - -<p>At this one of the men slid from his -horse’s back.</p> - -<p>“Dan’l!” he exclaimed.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[98]</span>The two clasped hands, their eyes full of -pleasure.</p> - -<p>“We came upon your tracks yesterday,” -said Squire Boone, who was Daniel’s junior -by some years. “But we had more trouble -in following it than if you’d been a couple -of black foxes anxious to save your pelts.”</p> - -<p>Daniel and John Stuart looked at each -other.</p> - -<p>“We took a lot of trouble to cover those -tracks up from time to time,” said Stuart, -grimly. “And we did it to save our -scalps.”</p> - -<p>“Ah!” said Squire. “Injuns?”</p> - -<p>“Shawnees!” answered his brother.</p> - -<p>The companion of Squire Boone now -came forward with the packhorses and was -greeted by the two explorers. This man’s -name is not known to history, but he had -ventured much in attempting that long -journey over mountains, across rushing -rivers and through the vast forests, and so -he will go down as one of the great unknown<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[99]</span> -pioneers of the great west—a goodly -army and a stout-hearted one.</p> - -<p>Just how Squire Boone came to appear so -opportunely in the wilderness at the time -he did will perhaps always remain a mystery. -Some have it that he had brooded -long over the absence of his brother, finally -concluded that he must be hard put to it -across the Laurel Ridge, and so went to his -aid. Others hold the theory that it was all -arranged for at the beginning. If Daniel -was not back in the settlements at a given -time, Squire was to set out upon a sort of -relief expedition.</p> - -<p>But, however that may be, there he was, -and with two packs of necessary things, -the more important of which were powder -and ball, and flints for their gun-locks.</p> - -<p>A new time set in for the hardy adventurers; -in their increased numbers there was -less danger of attack; in their possession of -plenty of ammunition they were better able -to make a defense in case the Shawnees<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[100]</span> -should reappear. However, their vigilance -did not relax; they were but four, after all, -and they must be as saving of good black -powder as they could, so they made their -camps in the thick of the cane-brakes -and masked their fires and covered their -tracks.</p> - -<p>But in spite of their continued caution, -danger crept upon them stealthily. While -Boone and Stuart were one day in pursuit -of game they came upon an Indian ambuscade. -The savages leaped upon them with -yells, firing as they came. Stuart fell, shot -through and through; but Boone, covering -his flight by the deadly cracking of his -rifle, sped through the woods and escaped.</p> - -<p>That night he rejoined Squire and the -other hunter at the place appointed; and -when he told his story a gloom fell upon -the little camp as dark as the fate of poor -Stuart.</p> - -<p>But the deadly work of the savages was -not yet done. Only a few days after this<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[101]</span> -the man who had accompanied the younger -Boone upon the relief expedition disappeared. -For days the brothers searched for -him. They found the moccasin-made tracks -of the Shawnee hunters all about, but no -trace of the white man was to be found.</p> - -<p>And so Daniel Boone and his brother -were left alone in the heart of that savage -country, hundreds of miles from all aid -and with the fate of their companions -weighing heavily upon them. But did this -break down their resolution? Did the -danger which hemmed them in weaken -their stout spirits? Because the wilderness -was hostile, because the red warriors were -relentless, because death hovered over them, -did their hearts misgive them? No! -Rather did it add to their purpose. Their -stubborn spirits were not of the sort to accept -defeat until it was beyond humanity -to refuse it. And they felt that it was far -from that stage as yet.</p> - -<p>So they increased their caution, always<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[102]</span> -held their weapons ready, lived like the -wild things of the woods, never trusting to -an appearance, never taking a sound for -granted. Through the whole of the winter -they lived this life of peril. And when -spring came, their work not being done and -their provisions and ammunition being low, -it was determined that Squire go back to -the settlements for a fresh supply.</p> - -<p>“But, Dan,” said the unselfish younger -brother, “I don’t care to leave you here in -the midst of danger.”</p> - -<p>Daniel placed his hands upon his shoulders, -and said, gravely:</p> - -<p>“You are doing your share, when all’s -said and done. True, there is peril here; -but is there more, lad, than you will face -as you press back across the mountains -alone?”</p> - -<p>And so Squire mounted a horse, waved a -good-bye and set out. Daniel watched him -until the fresh green of the spring growth -hid him from view, and then he turned to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[103]</span> -face the wilderness alone. But, undaunted, -he pushed his explorations from day to day -throughout the months which followed; -more and more complete did his knowledge -of the country grow; firmer and firmer became -his conviction that in this region -there would one day grow a great state, -with broad farms and populous cities.</p> - -<p>The danger from savages was continuous; -apparently the Indians saw in the presence -of Boone the first step in the invasion of the -white man, and so were eager to check the -movement before it could be fairly started. -At night the lone hunter would steal -through the cane-brake toward his camp; -cautiously he would observe it from a distance, -and noting that it had been visited -during the day, he would steal away as -silently as a shadow.</p> - -<p>Boone was a natural woodsman. In him -the craft of the forest and trail reached perfection; -no other man in the annals of the -West possessed the cunning with which he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[104]</span> -threw the enemy off the trail and baffled -his pursuit.</p> - -<p>Toward the end of July Squire Boone -returned with horses, meal and ammunition. -Then after a time they pressed on -toward the Cumberland River, or what is -now so called, and explored the country in -that direction. More and more beautiful -the region grew to Daniel; more and more -he determined that it would be his future -home.</p> - -<p>“It’s a paradise on earth,” he told Squire. -“There never was such a hunting-ground, -such forests or such a chance for farming. -If any man is to find peace anywhere, it is -in this country which we have discovered.”</p> - -<p>And filled with this thought they completed -their explorations in the following -spring, and then made their way back to -the settlements with the news.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[105]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VII<br /> - - -<span class="small">ATTACKED!</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">With</span> the return of Daniel Boone and his -brother to North Carolina the news of the -beautiful country beyond the ridge began to -spread. People were eager to hear of his -adventures and of his discoveries; and from -all the region around about the Yadkin -they came to listen to him.</p> - -<p>A great deal of discontent was abroad in -North Carolina. The government was not -at all what it should have been. Tryon -was a corrupt, overbearing official, detested -by the settlers; and the hardy spirits who -kept the border were not of the sort to submit -to tyranny. So when Boone came back -with the beauties of Kentucky upon his -tongue, the richness of her soil, the size of -her streams and woods and the promise she<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[106]</span> -held out to all who were willing to come to -her, he set them all by the ears.</p> - -<p>But the settlements were thin and far -between; men were few; conditions were -such that not all could drop their affairs in -the north state and undertake an adventure -into the new land. This being so, by the -time a party of settlers was organized to go -into and take up homesteads in Kentucky, -several years passed.</p> - -<p>Among the first to enlist in this expedition -were Oliver Barclay, Eph Taylor and -Sandy Campbell. Eph’s father meant to -move his whole family into the new region, -and the man for whom Sandy worked was -about to do the same. Well grown, broad -of shoulder and strong as young oaks, the -three made no mean addition to the band.</p> - -<p>“A few years make a great difference,” -said Boone, as he looked at them. They -were gathered before him by the sides of -the horses upon which they had ridden -over to his place. His head was nodding<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[107]</span> -approvingly. “It’s such lads as you that -are needed where there’s forests to be felled -and redskins to be fought.”</p> - -<p>The boys listened to his account of his -capture with Stuart by the Shawnees; also -to the long months which he spent alone -in the wilderness, enemies ever upon his -trail, but persisting in his task in the face -of all. And when, at length, they rode -away, their faces were grave, their eyes -shining.</p> - -<p>“That was a fine thing to do,” said Eph, -in great admiration. “A very fine thing. -I reckon there’s not another in the settlements -that would have stayed to finish up -with all those dangers crowding around -him.”</p> - -<p>“I always knew that Mr. Boone was like -that,” said Sandy. “I’d watch the way -he’d ride his horse, or hold his rifle, or -speak to any one who’d meet him. He -had a way about him that told you he’d -be a hard man to beat.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[108]</span>“I think to do what you set out to do is -one of the best proofs of quality in a man,” -spoke Oliver. “Sometimes it’s easy, and -sometimes it’s hard to do; but to do it’s the -thing, and nothing else will answer if you -mean to be worth anything.”</p> - -<p>It was late in September in the year 1774 -that Boone started, with his family, to take -up his home in the country beyond the -Laurel Ridge. Squire Boone was with -them, and he helped Daniel and his sons -to see to the packhorses, the cattle and the -hogs which were taken to stock the new -farm in the wilderness.</p> - -<p>Near Powell’s Valley, not many miles -distant, the Boones were met by the -Taylors, the family of the farmer for -whom Sandy worked, and a number of -other prospective homesteaders. As the -expedition now stood there were some -forty hardy, courageous men in its column, -armed and ready for the toil of the -march.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[109]</span>Ahead rode Oliver Barclay, Eph Taylor -and young Campbell with some of the -younger of the men; in a line came the -packhorses and those bearing the women -and children. Boone and the main body -of the settlers rode beside the pack animals, -their rifles across their saddle-bows. In the -rear came the cattle in the care of another -band of youths who had undertaken this -part of the work under the watchful eye of -Boone’s eldest son.</p> - -<p>For a week this formation was kept; at -night they camped at sides of streams with -guards set out to watch for the Indian -prowlers who might have trailed them -during the day and who might now be -waiting for a murderous opportunity from -the underbrush; also the cattle and hogs -were to be kept from the attacks of those -stealthy beasts which prowl the night.</p> - -<p>They headed for that break in the -mountain chain afterward known as the -Cumberland Gap; never a sight of a redskin<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[110]</span> -was had, never a sign of his trail anywhere. -But there he was, nevertheless, for -just eleven days after the journey began, -while they were passing through a particularly -difficult place, there came a -sudden murderous volley of bullets and -arrows in the rear, a rush of red robbers, -and the scattering of most of the cattle -into the woods. And six of the rear guard, -including Boone’s son, were left dead in -the trail.</p> - -<p>Instantly, upon the firing of the volley, -the column of emigrants came to a halt; -a line of defense was formed and the lightest -of the horsemen began scurrying upon -the trail of the savages who fled through -the passes.</p> - -<p>But no blows of consequence were struck, -and the riders returned. That night a -grave council was held. The women were -frightened by the murderous attack; some -of the men began to see visions of constant -fighting ahead with little time for profitable<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[111]</span> -work; and so they lost heart in the -enterprise. They thought it best that they -return.</p> - -<p>But Boone, his brother, and others of the -party were for pushing on.</p> - -<p>“Attacks by the Indians are to be expected,” -said the pioneer; “they will always -resist the march of the white man. And -if we are to settle the rich country on the -other side of the hills, it’s not by weakening -under the first blow they strike. We -must press forward; we must strike back; -we must never for a moment show the varmints -that we fear them.”</p> - -<p>But the bold counsel of Daniel was not -listened to. The shock of the attack, the -loss of the cattle, the six youths slain, all -in a moment’s time, hung heavily over the -spirits of the emigrants, clouding them with -gloom. It was agreed among them that -they would start at sunrise and head back -for the settlements.</p> - -<p>On that first spiritless day of the return<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[112]</span> -march, Oliver Barclay found himself by the -side of Boone.</p> - -<p>“Heading back for Hillsboro?” he -asked.</p> - -<p>Boone shook his head.</p> - -<p>“No; for the Virginia settlements on the -Clinch River,” he replied.</p> - -<p>“I’ve been thinking,” said Oliver, whose -hopes had received a shattering blow by the -sudden change of front, “that we need not -give the matter up after all.”</p> - -<p>Boone looked at him questioningly.</p> - -<p>“There are a few who are willing to go -on across the mountains. Suppose, after -we leave those who feel that they must -return at the Clinch settlements, we turn -about and go with the few we can hold -together.”</p> - -<p>Again the backwoodsman shook his head.</p> - -<p>“I reckon you don’t quite see just what -your uncle, the colonel, wants done,” he -said. “We didn’t start only for the purpose -of getting into the new country. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[113]</span> -idea was to plant a colony. And to do that -we must have people.”</p> - -<p>“But,” persisted Oliver, with boyish -ardor, “there’s your family and the -Taylors. And Mr. Miller told Sandy he’d -keep to the original agreement if any one -else would.”</p> - -<p>But Boone was fixed in his determination.</p> - -<p>“We must plant a colony of some size if -we plant any at all. A few families would -always be in danger where enough to -supply a couple of score of fighting men, -if needed, would be fairly safe. For Injuns, -youngster, are a careful lot; they -seldom attack when there’s any danger of -loss. Another thing, the first lot of emigrants -must be numerous enough to attract -others. Men go where men are; it’s only -a few who have a liking for lonely places.”</p> - -<p>And so the saddened column pushed -toward the Clinch River, and Boone’s first -attempt to settle Kentucky was at an end.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[114]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VIII<br /> - - -<span class="small">THE THREE BOYS RIDE ON A MISSION</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">However</span>, as it chanced, it was just as -well that the first attempt of Daniel Boone -to colonize Kentucky failed. For a little -later, the first muttering of that great -Indian uprising, called the Dunmore War, -began to be heard, and along the whole -border ran the firebrand, the scalping -knife and the tomahawk.</p> - -<p>But previous to this outbreak of the -tribes, Boone was engaged in another enterprise -which tested his quality as a woodsman -and explorer. Dunmore, the governor -of Virginia, had some time before sent a -number of surveyors to the country round -about the falls of the Ohio; and now he -desired that these men be guided through<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[115]</span> -the wilderness back to the settlements. -Boone and a man named Stoner were engaged -for this work, and set out heavily -armed, but carrying little or no baggage. -The surveying party was found and guided -to the settlements according to contract, -and without mishap. The whole journey -was of some eight hundred miles and -through hard country; but the two woodsmen -managed to do it in the remarkable -time of two months.</p> - -<p>Louder and louder grew the muttering -of the coming war; closer and closer -pressed the tribes from all points of the -compass. Delawares, Wyandots, Shawnees, -Cayugas and Mingos; the forests gave up -war parties in full paint and feathers each -day; councils were held, dances were -danced; vengeance was to be had, no -matter what the cost, for the wrong that -had been done the great chief Logan by -the whites.</p> - -<p>The soldiers were everywhere drilling to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[116]</span> -meet the expected onslaught of the Indians; -the celebrated fighting chiefs, Red -Eagle and Cornstalk, were upon the border, -ripe for the struggle; and Dunmore knew -that if once they gave themselves seriously -to the work of revenge, he’d be hard pressed -to beat them back.</p> - -<p>Soon after his return with the surveying -party, Daniel Boone was made a captain by -the governor and given charge of three -garrisons. And to these came Oliver Barclay -and his friends Eph and Sandy.</p> - -<p>“Do you really think Chief Logan will -strike?” asked Oliver, eagerly, of Boone.</p> - -<p>“It looks like it,” answered the backwoodsman. -“Logan has been wronged, -and as he’s a man of spirit, even if he is -only an Injun, why, he’s up and ready to -avenge it. In my opinion there’ll be a flare -along the whole line that’ll turn many a -night into day.”</p> - -<p>“What of the settlers in the outlying -places?”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[117]</span>“I’ve been passing the word for them to -come in. Better lose their property than -their lives.”</p> - -<p>“Are they coming in?”</p> - -<p>“A good many of them are; others are -waiting to make sure that the redskins will -rise.” There was a pause and then Boone -proceeded: “There’s one thing that worries -me, though, and that’s the case of those -people at the head of that small branch, to -the southwest. The scouts sent out warned -everybody all through that region but -them; by a kind of misunderstanding they -were not looked after. As it stands, nobody -is sure if they know how things stand -with the Indians or not.”</p> - -<p>“You’re going to have them looked after, -though,” said Oliver.</p> - -<p>Boone looked worried.</p> - -<p>“It’s got to be done,” said he. “But I -can’t go myself, and just now there is nobody -to send.”</p> - -<p>“Eph and I will go,” declared young<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[118]</span> -Barclay, resolutely; “maybe Sandy, too—it’ll -be good sport and some excitement.”</p> - -<p>“And mixed in more than a mite of -danger—don’t forget that,” said Boone.</p> - -<p>“If there was no danger there would be -no excitement,” laughed Oliver, and away -he swung to search out Eph and the Scotch -boy.</p> - -<p>The latter, in preparation for action of -some kind, was whetting the edge of a huge -saber upon a stone which some one had -given him. Eph Taylor sat at his side rubbing -carefully at the lock of his much considered -rifle Jerusha.</p> - -<p>“She’s in good working order as she -stands,” said Eph, by way of explanation. -“And she always shoots true and fair; but -then a little extra looking after won’t hurt -her now, for there’s no telling when I’ll get -the next chance to look after her rightly.”</p> - -<p>“Now, there you spoke the truth,” said -Oliver. “It may be, indeed, some time, -for we’re going to take horse in ten minutes<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[119]</span> -and be off to the head of the south -branch.”</p> - -<p>Both Eph and Sandy at once came to -their feet.</p> - -<p>“What’s happened?” asked the latter, -his round, good-natured face all aglow.</p> - -<p>“Has Logan begun the war?” asked -Eph.</p> - -<p>In a few words Oliver explained the situation; -and in a marvelously short time -Eph’s rifle was assembled and loaded; -Sandy’s saber was wiped dry upon a tuft of -grass and sheathed; the horses of all three -were saddled and ready to start.</p> - -<p>Boone had followed Oliver, and seeing -them ready and determined, was the last -man in the world to prevent their showing -the quality that was in them.</p> - -<p>“Look for the Baldwins, the McAfees -and the Curleys,” said he. “Find the farm -of one and you’ll learn from him the location -of the others. And keep your eyes -peeled for Injuns. Don’t trust to anything<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[120]</span> -but the sight of your eyes and the touch of -your hands. And if you find occasion to -shoot, shoot swiftly and to kill, for the redskins -are in no humor to be stopped by anything -less than death.”</p> - -<p>With a wave of the hand, the three boys -were off along the winding trail which led -toward the river; and this they followed -all the remainder of the day. They came -to the branch named by Boone toward -nightfall, and went into camp in the midst -of a clump of white oaks.</p> - -<p>A turkey cock had fallen a few hours -before under the deadly glance of Jerusha -and while Sandy and Oliver were engaged -in building a fire, Eph stripped the once -proud bird of his feathers and prepared -him for the spit. Sandy had filled his -haversack with hard biscuits which had -been made for the militia, and these, with -the meat of the nicely browned turkey, -made a bountiful supper.</p> - -<p>“It seems to me to be a foolish thing for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[121]</span> -a great chief like Logan to do—this war,” -said Eph, as he picked a turkey bone with -much satisfaction. “A man like him, -knowing how little chance the Injuns have -against the troops of the colony, ought to -have some horse sense.”</p> - -<p>“They say Dunmore’s soldiers massacred -his entire family,” said Oliver. “Of course, -we can’t get the facts just yet, but if any of -it is true, why, Logan, being an Indian, can -see nothing else to do.”</p> - -<p>“Many an innocent person will suffer for -the doings of the hungry government and -the red robbers,” said Sandy with Scottish -foresight. “And it’s always so, I suppose, -for they are the least prepared.”</p> - -<p>They spent the night among the oaks and -were stirring at an early hour in the morning. -The sun was not an hour old when -they were in the saddle once more and were -riding along the branch in the direction of -the scattered holdings of the detached -settlers.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[122]</span>At noon they halted, allowed their mounts -to graze for an hour and ate a snack themselves. -Then into the saddle once more -and off again along the tangled way. The -sun was sliding down in the west, growing -greater and redder as it went, and the trees -were beginning to cast long shadows in the -bare spaces, when Eph Taylor suddenly -drew up his horse. Holding up a warning -hand, he said:</p> - -<p>“Listen!”</p> - -<p>Like graven figures the boys sat their -horses, their faces turned in the direction -of the setting sun.</p> - -<p>Sharp and with rending crispness of a -sound traveling across a great silence, there -came the unmistakable report of a rifle. A -moment later there came another and still -another. A clamor arose above the distant -trees.</p> - -<p>“Rifle shots!” cried Eph.</p> - -<p>“And the Shawnee war cry!” said -Oliver.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[123]</span>As one they inspected the locks of their -pieces and their primings. Again and -again came the rifle shots from the westward; -and again and again from above the -tree tops came the shrill yells of the redskins.</p> - -<p>“We’ve been quite near one of the settlers’ -houses without knowing it,” spoke Sandy -Campbell. “And they are being attacked -by Shawnees.” Looking steadily at his two -friends he added: “What shall we do?”</p> - -<p>“There is but one thing we can do,” -replied Oliver.</p> - -<p>“And that’s get over there as soon as we -can and do our share in teaching these -varmints a lesson,” finished Eph.</p> - -<p>And they shook the reins of their good -horses and sprang down the bank toward -the brawling branch. There was a ford at -no great distance and this they crossed with -a rush, splashing the water high in the air. -Then up the farther bank they sped and -across a clearing which they perceived<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[124]</span> -behind a thin fringe of trees. Swift and -soft thudded the hoofs of their dying horses -upon the ground; through the tops of some -ancient oaks they caught the outline of the -chimney of a white man’s dwelling; and -between the thick growing trunks they saw -the plumes and war paint of the savages -who encircled it.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[125]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER IX<br /> - - -<span class="small">DEFENDING A LOG CABIN</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">A swift</span> glance showed Oliver Barclay -that there were perhaps twoscore Indians -in the band. Directly in front were about -half this number fighting from behind -stumps, logs and tree trunks.</p> - -<p>“At them at top speed,” said Oliver, -“and each pick an important man if you -can see one. After you fire, shout as loud -as you can!”</p> - -<p>Like thunderbolts the three lads swept -down upon the war party of Shawnees. -Shooting from the saddle, with horse going -at top speed, was one of the tricks of marksmanship -cherished and practiced by the -youths at the frontier; and so, as the three -long weapons cracked, three savages sprang -into the air with tossing arms and fell dead<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[126]</span> -upon the ground. Then yelling like demons -the lads plunged among the others.</p> - -<p>Taken utterly by surprise the redskins -were demoralized. Evidently they thought, -judging by the boldness of the attack, that -what they saw was but a part of a large -force of whites; so in the panic of the moment -they turned and fled.</p> - -<p>Never checking the speed of their horses -the boys dashed up to the cabin which was -now in full view. Throwing themselves -from their horses they proceeded to wipe -and reload their rifles.</p> - -<p>As they were so engaged the door of the -cabin was flung open and an old man with -a flowing white beard appeared upon the -threshold. He had a blood-stained bandage -about his head, and a rifle was gripped -in his hand. Behind him the boys caught -glimpses of a number of anxious faces.</p> - -<p>“Glad to see you, lads,” cried the old -settler, welcomingly. “How many of you -are there?”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[127]</span>“Just the three,” answered Eph, a grin -on his face.</p> - -<p>The man with the white beard looked the -amazement he felt.</p> - -<p>“Only three, and come a-plunging into -the critters that way?”</p> - -<p>A murmur went up from those behind -him.</p> - -<p>“I reckon the Shawnees thought we were -a regiment, at least, the way they ran off,” -said Oliver, laughing at the recollection.</p> - -<p>“Yes, and by this time they’ve seen their -mistake and will come——”</p> - -<p>“Whizz! Thud!”</p> - -<p>The feathered shaft of an arrow quivered -from one of the logs just below Sandy Campbell’s -shoulder; a hail of others flew all -about them.</p> - -<p>“They’ve found it out!” cried a man -from within the house. As he spoke he -sprang out and threw open the heavy door -of a building adjoining the cabin. “Quick,” -said he. “Drive your horses in here.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[128]</span>The boys led the horses through the doorway; -the man followed them in and threw -a heavy oaken bar into place. The sounds -from the cabin showed that the door there -had also been made secure, and then the -siege was once more begun.</p> - -<p>There was a doorway leading into the -cabin from the building which was crowded -with horses and cattle. Through this came -the white-bearded man and some others.</p> - -<p>“We’re obliged to you, young strangers, -for what you tried to do for us. And we -are sorry that you’ve run into this danger.”</p> - -<p>“We rode this way on the word of Captain -Boone that some settlers were perhaps -unwarned of the Indian rising,” said Oliver. -“Perhaps you are one of them, sir.”</p> - -<p>“My name,” said the old man, “is -Curley.”</p> - -<p>“Do you know anything of the McAfees -and Baldwins who live hereabout?”</p> - -<p>“They are all here,” said Mr. Curley.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[129]</span> -“They grew suspicious of things yesterday, -and rode over, thinking if the worst came -we’d all be together, and so have a better -chance for defense.”</p> - -<p>There were at least a dozen grown men -gathered in the Curley cabin, and almost as -many boys, some of whom were old enough -to take part in the defense. The wives and -daughters of the settlers were, in the main, -courageous and accustomed to the idea of -danger; some of them, indeed, looked -capable of taking up a rifle and using it -as well as brother or husband. The heavy -timber walls of the house were pierced by -small openings, each of which permitted the -barrel of a rifle to be protruded.</p> - -<p>At each of these port-holes was stationed -a man; keen eyes watched the movements -of the Shawnees upon the edge of the clearing, -and now and then a shot rang out or -an arrow whizzed through the air as a red -marksman sought to drive bullet or barb -through an opening.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[130]</span>While Oliver talked to Mr. Curley and -several of the other settlers and gave them -all the information he possessed as to the -state of the border, Eph Taylor selected an -unguarded port-hole and protruded the -eager muzzle of the faithful Jerusha.</p> - -<p>“Take care of yourself, youngster,” said -a man in buckskins at the next opening. -“Don’t trust too much to your port-hole -being narrow; there’s an Injun there on the -edge of the timber who’s doing some almighty -good shooting with the bow; several -times he’s put one of his shafts right -on through.”</p> - -<p>Keenly, Eph scoured the timber line; -from one place or another a rifle cracked, or -a bowstring sang almost constantly. But -he was not long in locating the marksman -of whom the settler had spoken. He lay behind -the uprooted butt of a huge tree -which had resisted both axe and fire; a -thick growth of weeds had sprung up about -it, and it afforded a splendid vantage place<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[131]</span> -for a marauder with a quick eye and a -steady hand.</p> - -<p>Twice Eph saw an arrow speed from behind -this shelter and bury itself in the timbers -upon the edge of a port-hole. Then a -cry told that a third shot had flown through -and found a mark.</p> - -<p>“Through the arm,” said the man who -had spoken to Eph. “That varmint out -there has an eye like a hawk.”</p> - -<p>Carefully Eph watched the uprooted -stump and studied the method of the savage -sharpshooter behind it. Never once -did he catch sight of any part of the Shawnee; -not for an instant did even so much -as a tip of a plume show above his breastwork. -Satisfying himself as to this, Eph -took to examining other parts about the -tree butt. A stirring in the growth about -its largest end took his eye; the movement -was of the slightest, but the eyes of the boy -were fixed upon it with all the eagerness of -a practiced hunter.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[132]</span>The shadows from the trees had grown -enormously; but the great red sun sent -slanting bars of light through the maze of -trunks here and there; and one of these -caught a metal point just as it was steadily -poised for a shot from behind the butt, and -the glitter attracted the eye of Eph. The -brain of the boy worked like lightning; -from the position of the arrow-head he calculated -the position of the arm that held -the bow. The black eye of Jerusha turned -grimly upon the spot in which Eph’s judgment -fixed the Shawnee’s arm; then the -rifle spoke. A cry of pain made answer -and an arrow flew wild, burying its point -in the ground.</p> - -<p>“I reckon that Injun will need some care -and considerable rest before he’s much of a -success as a fancy shot in the future,” remarked -young Taylor, with a grin at his -neighbor.</p> - -<p>“That was a good shot,” said the man. -“I sort of felt that Injun was behind the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[133]</span> -stump there; but I couldn’t get any signs -of him nohow.”</p> - -<p>Darkness drew on; supper was cooked -and eaten in the cabin; part of the defenders -sat down to the meal while a part manned -the port-holes; when the first lot had satisfied -their hunger they changed places with -the watchers. But with the coming of the -night the attack of the Shawnees did not -abate; the cracking of their rifles went on, -the whizzing of the arrows continued. -Finally there came a flare through the -darkness; it was as though a ball of fire -had described an arch, and then fallen -with a thud on the roof.</p> - -<p>The faces of the settlers blanched.</p> - -<p>“A fire arrow!” said one.</p> - -<p>“The varmints are trying to burn the -house over our heads,” cried another.</p> - -<p>But old Mr. Curley took the matter -coolly enough.</p> - -<p>“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “As it -happens, friends, the roof is of new green<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[134]</span> -wood, cut and put on only this summer; so -the arrows won’t set fire to it in a hurry.”</p> - -<p>Ball after ball of fire, each attached to a -cunningly aimed arrow, fell upon the roof. -But the green wood would not take the fire -readily, as the old settler had prophesied. -Seeing this the savages ceased throwing the -fire arrows, and there fell a silence over all -outdoors as complete as the darkness.</p> - -<p>“Something is going forward,” spoke -Sandy, his eye at a port-hole endeavoring -to pierce the black pall which enveloped -everything. “The villains are not so quiet -as that for nothing.”</p> - -<p>There was, indeed, something ominous in -the silence; the night seemed crowded with -the grotesque forms of fear; a feeling that -there was something—a dreadful something—pressing -toward them, settled upon -the defenders.</p> - -<p>“Ready all!” said the man in the buckskins. -“We’ll have them down on us in a -moment.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[135]</span>“And remember, lads,” warned old Mr. -Curley, “our powder is not too plentiful. -So don’t waste a shot. Be sure of your -Injun before you pull trigger.”</p> - -<p>The prediction of the man in buckskin -was, a moment later, fulfilled. Silent as -ghosts the Shawnees had formed a complete -circle about the cabin and crept across the -clearing toward it. Now they were close -enough for a rush; the war-whoop, that -thing of fear on the border, rang out; the -red braves, dusky and but faintly seen, -were under the log walls.</p> - -<p>“Be sure of your shots!” cried old Mr. -Curley; “pick your redskin, lads, and don’t -waste the good black powder!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[136]</span></p> -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i_135.jpg" alt="" /></div> -<p class="caption">THE RIFLES SPOKE THROUGH THE PORT-HOLES</p> - -<p>With cold precision the rifles spoke -through the port-holes, and in each case -a yell told of a warrior hit. But the -Shawnees were not idle. Unseen, they had -borne with them great armfuls of dry -brush; under the fire of the rifles they -heaped them against the door of the cabin.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[137]</span> -Like cats others scaled the walls and gained -the roof.</p> - -<p>The first flare of the fire when the brush -was ignited acted badly for the Shawnees, -however. Apparently they had failed to -foresee that they would be thrown into -full relief by the glare; at any rate the -deadly rifles of the whites swept a rain -of lead among them, and a dozen fell to -the earth. Enraged, the remainder charged -the house, brandishing tomahawks and -scalping knives; bowstrings sang and -rifles cracked; the flames about the door -mounted higher and higher.</p> - -<p>Calmly the backwoodsmen went about -the work of defense; steadily they loaded -and fired; watchfully they peered through -the port-holes.</p> - -<p>But up to this time all had failed to hear -those savages who had mounted to the roof. -Safe out of the fire of the deadly rifles, a -half score braves were here collected, cunningly -planning their next move.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[138]</span>At one end of the log house there was a -wide-mouthed chimney, built of green wood -and thickly lined with mud. The fire over -which the settlers’ supper had been cooked -had died down and peering down the -smooth interior of this shaft, the Shawnees -grinned with dreadful satisfaction.</p> - -<p>“That fire outside there is taking hold,” -said old Mr. Curley below in the big room -of the cabin. “The timber in the door is -heavy, but as dry as tinder.”</p> - -<p>Anxiously the men looked at each other; -the faces of the women were fearful. And -in this tense moment there came a scrambling -sound, a cloud of dust arose from the -fireplace together with a shower of dull -sparks. A woman screamed as the tufted -head of an Indian appeared in the great -fireplace to be followed an instant later by -another and still another.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[139]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER X<br /> - - -<span class="small">A NIGHT EXPERIENCE</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">Following</span> the scream of the woman, -Eph Taylor turned around. He was the -first of the riflemen to catch sight of the -intruders. Like a flash the eye of Jerusha -ceased to stare upon the wild scenes going -on outside; it swept inward and the crack -of the good rifle spoke the death of a -Shawnee. Oliver’s piece accounted for -another; two more fell in the act of braining -a defender with their hatchets.</p> - -<p>Taking warning from the deaths of the -more adventurous the Shawnees upon the -roof of the cabin made no more attempts -by way of the chimney. Old Mr. Curley -shrewdly judged that the swift fate which -had overtaken their comrades would have -this effect, but nevertheless he made sure<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[140]</span> -there would be no more surprises from that -direction.</p> - -<p>“Dick,” said he, to one of his sons, a -stalwart youth who had been firing from -one of the port-holes with a pair of horseman’s -pistols, “see to the fireplace. Don’t -take your eyes off it, and if you catch -sight of a red hide, fill it full of holes.”</p> - -<p>Just then the most important thing of all -was to scatter the fire from the door before -it did serious harm. The brush was blazing -furiously and that the door was also burning -they felt sure, judging from the jets of -smoke and flame that shot between the -heavy planks. The man in buckskin, who -was a trapper of the region and not connected -with the little settlement on the -fork, now ventured a plan.</p> - -<p>“Let one man stand ready to throw open -the door, let another have a pail of water -to throw on the outside of it where it is -burning, and two more stand ready to kick -away the brush. But before the door is<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[141]</span> -open we’ll drive the Injuns in front to cover; -while they are still running will be the -time to act.”</p> - -<p>As this plan was as good as any, they at -once proceeded to put it into operation. -The rifles increased their deadly cracking -and the Shawnees, who had continued their -charges in order to keep the fire supplied -with fresh brush, were unable to stand up -under it. Helter skelter they fled for cover; -the door was thrown open, the brush kicked -away and a drench of water sent streaming -over the burning planks. Then the door -was slammed shut before the infuriated redskins -had much idea of what was taking -place, the bar dropped into its sockets, and -the whites were permitted to breathe easier, -now that all immediate danger from fire -was past.</p> - -<p>There followed some scattered volleys -from the savages; but after a time a silence -fell; and some distance away camp-fires -began to sparkle in the forest.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[142]</span>“They’ve withdrawn for a while at least,” -spoke Mr. Curley. “They will eat their -meat at the fires and the cunning ones -among them will arrange another plan of -attack.”</p> - -<p>Oliver and his friends during this lull -gathered at one end of the cabin.</p> - -<p>“It seems to me,” said young Barclay, -“that the Indians mean to take this house -one way or another. Even if they can’t -capture it by attack they can starve us -out.”</p> - -<p>Eph Taylor nodded his head.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said he. “That’s what it will -end with if help doesn’t come, I’m afraid.”</p> - -<p>“With a fresh horse and a clear way -through the Shawnees, I could make Captain -Boone’s garrison by noon to-morrow,” said -Oliver. “So why wait on the chance that -help will come?”</p> - -<p>“Noll!” cried Sandy; “you don’t mean -to say that you’ll——”</p> - -<p>“In a case like this,” said Oliver, firmly,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[143]</span> -“waiting is a mistake. Ill luck is as likely -to befall as good. If they’ll let me, I’m -going to venture it.”</p> - -<p>In a moment he had left them and was -eagerly engaged with Mr. Curley, the Baldwins -and the McAfees. The man in buckskins -also entered into the talk. Earnestly -Oliver laid his thought before them; soberly -they considered it; gravely they discussed -its merits.</p> - -<p>“My horse Hawk is like a cat at night,” -said Oliver. “He is absolutely sure-footed -and seems able to see in the dark. If I can -win through the Shawnees he’ll carry me -to Boone’s camp like the wind.”</p> - -<p>The white-bearded Mr. Curley laid his -hand kindly upon his shoulder.</p> - -<p>“You are a brave lad,” said he; “and it’s -with spirits like yours that success lies. So -if you are eager to undertake this thing, I -will not be one to lift my voice against it; -for indeed its carrying out may mean the -lives of us all.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[144]</span>There was a murmur at this; all seemed -to be of the same idea.</p> - -<p>Without delay, Oliver went into the building -where the horses were tied. Hawk -lifted his head and rubbed his nose upon -his young master’s shoulder. The young -horse had gained in power since the day of -his race with the wicked mount of Long -Panther; and his increased years had lost -him his coltish tricks. As he stood now he -was a swift, intelligent horse of the sort -which can be depended upon.</p> - -<p>“Now, old fellow,” spoke the boy as he -finished with the saddle and stood patting -Hawk’s neck. “This is going to be a very -lively night for both of us. So do your -best for me; more depends on your heels -to-night than ever before in your life.”</p> - -<p>Sharply Eph Taylor scoured the clearing -before the cabin; other eyes, equally eager -and intent, did the like for the sides and -the rear. But keen as was their vision they -could penetrate but a short distance into<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[145]</span> -the blackness. What was beyond the range -of their sight they could only imagine.</p> - -<p>“As far as I can see,” said Eph, “there’s -no one to stop you. But,” and he stroked -his long chin, “that’s not very far.”</p> - -<p>“When I give the word, open the door -very softly,” said Oliver. He then shook -hands with those who pressed about him, -wishing him a safe journey through the -night; then he spoke quietly to Eph and -Sandy. A moment later the door had -opened and closed behind him.</p> - -<p>Cautiously he turned his head from side -to side, listening; Hawk stood as still as -a beast of bronze, seeming to understand -something of the danger of which he was a -partaker. No sound reached the lad; from -off among the trees he saw the flitting -forms of the Indians about the camp-fires; -but none of them seemed nearer. During -the time spent at the port-holes of the -Curley cabin, young Barclay had observed -the lie of the land, thinking there might<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[146]</span> -come a time when a dash for liberty would -be their only chance. This served him -well now in the darkness; mounting, he -turned his horse’s head in the direction -furthest removed from the Indian camp-fires, -and so began his journey.</p> - -<p>There was, as he had observed, an opening -in the forest growth in this direction, -and he trusted to the “night sight” and -instinct of Hawk to find it.</p> - -<p>In this his confidence was in every way -warranted; in a direct line, apparently, the -good horse made for the opening. But -scarcely had he gained the blacker shadows -cast by the trees on either side, than the -horse stopped with a snort. At the same -instant a number of forms leaped from the -sides of the path, and Oliver was dragged -to the ground.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[147]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XI<br /> - - -<span class="small">THE BATTLE OF POINT PLEASANT</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">Whether</span> he had received a blow upon -the head, or had been stunned by the force -of the fall from his horse, Oliver Barclay -did not know. But, in any event, when he -recovered consciousness, he found himself -bound hand and foot and securely fastened -to a tree in the heart of the Shawnee camp.</p> - -<p>Near him sat a young savage whose left -hand was swathed in bandages; and in -the flickering firelight which fell upon -this brave’s face, Oliver recognized Long -Panther.</p> - -<p>“Well,” said the lad with as much unconcern -as he could assume, “you have me, -Long Panther.”</p> - -<p>The coppery face of the Shawnee turned -toward the white boy; and the light of the -fire was not more deep than the light in his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[148]</span> -eyes. But beyond this he showed nothing -but the stoical front of his race.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said he, “we have you. And I -do not think another will mount and ride -for help to-night.”</p> - -<p>“I hope not, if he’s not to have better -fortune than I’ve had,” said Oliver.</p> - -<p>“In two suns we could take the cabin of -the white man,” said Long Panther, his -burning eyes turning in the direction of -the Curley cabin. “But the time is short. -At dawn we must take the trail. The -Mingo chief, Logan, calls, and we go to him -that we may strike a harder blow.”</p> - -<p>Oliver felt a thrill of gladness at the news -that the siege upon the log house was to be -lifted, and that the Shawnees were about to -abandon their purpose.</p> - -<p>“If I had only known that,” was his -thought, “I might have stayed comfortably -inside and learned in the morning that all -danger was past.”</p> - -<p>But, as the venture he had made had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[149]</span> -seemed the best thing to do under the -circumstances, he did not waste any regrets -upon it; instead, he gave up his thoughts -entirely to the situation in which he found -himself, and began studying out a plan of -escape.</p> - -<p>“Many things,” said Long Panther, -somberly, “I have suffered at the hands of -the white man. And I have desired vengeance. -This,” and he held up his bandaged -left hand, “is the last.”</p> - -<p>That Long Panther had been the marksman -behind the tree butt now, for the first -time, occurred to Oliver; the bullet from -Eph’s rifle had found a shining mark, indeed.</p> - -<p>“It is the hand with which I hold the -bow,” mourned the young savage. “And -in the battles that are to come, I cannot -do the work that has been given me. But -the white face will pay,” said he, as he -arose to his feet and stood looking down -at Oliver. “The white face will pay.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[150]</span>He turned and stalked away; and as the -eyes of the white boy followed him there -seemed to be an ominous something in the -very way in which he bore himself—a -threat of reprisal that was to come.</p> - -<p>But whatever gloomy fears found a place -in young Barclay’s mind, they were not -realized that night at least. He slept -where he lay, under guard of three unwinking -redskins. And when morning -came he was given some food, his hands -were pinioned behind him, and with a -rope tied about his body, the other end of -which was fast to the saddle of a warrior, -he was forced to march in the midst of the -band which began filing through the forest -toward the great meeting place of the hostile -tribes.</p> - -<p>On the way they were joined by other -war parties of their own nation; and by -nightfall of the following day, young Barclay -found himself in the heart of a vast -Indian encampment. Far into the night<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[151]</span> -he saw the council fires burning and saw -the chiefs and head men of the nations -gathered in conference. He heard the -celebrated Logan. He heard Cornstalk -and his great son Elenipsico as they stood -out before the leaders of the tribes and -poured forth their torrents of eloquence. -That he understood little or nothing of the -Indian language made scarcely any difference -in the effect the orations had upon the -boy. The manner of the great chiefs, their -expressions as they recounted their grievances, -the fierce passion of their appeal to -the silent circle with its iron faces, sent a -chill to his heart. He saw that the coming -struggle was to be no mean one, that the -frontier was, indeed, to be a blaze from end -to end.</p> - -<p>But what was to be done in his own case -of course naturally interested him more -than anything else. In a time like this, -when open war was declared and the tribes -gathered to defy the forces of the colonies,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[152]</span> -prisoners were seldom taken, and when -they were, it was for the purpose of putting -them to the torture.</p> - -<p>Oliver had heard the grisly tales the old -frontiersmen had to tell of the stake, of the -running of the gauntlet, and the various -other barbarities that the savage mind conceived, -and visions of these rose before his -eyes. But, for all, he was shrewd enough -and clear-sighted enough to perceive that -these things were gone through with at the -Indians’ leisure.</p> - -<p>“Just now,” he told himself, “they have -much more important matters before them; -I shall get their attention later; and even -at that, much sooner, perhaps, than I want -it.”</p> - -<p>The Virginia Legislature had called into -being an army of something more than a -thousand fighting men, and these were now -encamped at a place called Point Pleasant, -not more than a few hours’ ride from the -encampment of Logan and his fellow chiefs.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[153]</span>Oliver drew from his captor’s manner that -the day of battle was near; but that it was -to be on the one that was next to break he -had no idea until the dawn brought those -preparations which were unmistakable. -Like a great fan the Mingos, the Wyandots, -the Cayugas, the Delawares and the -Shawnees spread themselves through the -forest; like panthers stalking their prey -they advanced.</p> - -<p>And this knowledge put a great hope in -his heart, for on the morning his guards -had not bound his arms with their customary -care; in their hurry to be gone they -had slighted this duty; and now Oliver -knew that it required only a slight struggle -to give him the use of his hands. However, -he made no sign of this, plodding on -in the midst of the Shawnees, apparently -dejected and heavy of mind, but in reality -keenly observant and watching like a hawk -for any chance that would give him liberty.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[154]</span>Now as it happened, some of the whites -desired fresh meat that morning and a -hunting party of two was in pursuit of -deer. These hunters, swift of foot and -eager, were following the deer tracks and, -for the time, never dreaming of the enemy; -then they plunged upon the main body of -the Indians and for an instant were so -struck with surprise that they stood motionless -and staring. A scattering of rifle -shots followed; one of the men dropped to -the earth, the other bounded away into the -thicket and made back toward the encampment -of the Virginia army. A few hours -later the still advancing Indians encountered -several large bodies of whites drawn -up in military array. Under cover of a -flight of arrows the savages drew back; and -the voices of Cornstalk and Logan were -lifted, calling on them to be as cunning as -foxes and unyielding as rocks.</p> - -<p>“This day,” said Logan, “shall see the -redressing of much wrong, my children.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[155]</span> -We shall strike the hand which is lifted -over us!”</p> - -<p>“Sons of the forest!” cried the really -noble savage, Cornstalk, “stand fast! The -white faces are before you. The sun has -lifted upon the day which is to give you -victory!”</p> - -<p>Having reached a ground which would -give them an advantage, the Indians made -a stand and began to rain arrows and lead -upon the soldiers of the colony. In almost -the first fire the colonels of the two regiments -fell dead. A confusion seized the -troops, and as it spread from rank to rank -they began a retreat full of disorder.</p> - -<p>This panic of the whites was seen by -Oliver as he stood under guard among the -trees, and the boy’s heart sank at the sight.</p> - -<p>“They run!” said a voice beside him, -and turning he recognized Long Panther. -“They run like wolves before a forest fire. -And you, my white brother, thought they -would strike hard and save you!”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[156]</span>Oliver made no reply; and the young -Shawnee spoke to the guard in the Indian -tongue. They seemed pleased at his words -and called out to some others who stood by, -not taking part in the attack. Like a flash -the message ran along the line of the Indians; -and Oliver, though he did not dream -of what was coming, saw their grim looks -turned upon him and caught a savage satisfaction -in them.</p> - -<p>“Once,” said Long Panther, “you felt -proud of your fleetness; in your pride you -thought you could outrun the Shawnees.” -His glowing eyes fixed themselves upon -Oliver, glowing with a deeper fire than -ever. “And I,” went on Long Panther, -“told you there might come a day when -the Shawnee’d run you a race. That day -has now come.”</p> - -<p>“What do you mean?” asked the white -boy.</p> - -<p>“There are your friends,” and Long Panther -pointed toward the retreating regiments.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[157]</span> -“We give you permission to go to -them if—if you can outrun the arrows -which will follow you.”</p> - -<p>Oliver Barclay’s face blanched; but a -resolution showed in his tightening jaw.</p> - -<p>“And if I refuse——”</p> - -<p>“Worse may befall you.”</p> - -<p>For a moment Oliver hesitated; he saw -the line of Indians, their copper-colored -faces full of anticipation, the deadly bows -in their hands. But he said, firmly:</p> - -<p>“What chance have I? Your brothers -will pierce me before I’ve taken a dozen -steps.” His eyes searched the ground -ahead, and then he added: “Give me a -start. Let me reach the boulder yonder -before you give the word, and I will run.”</p> - -<p>“I agree,” said Long Panther, with savage -satisfaction.</p> - -<p>He once more spoke to the Shawnees -about him and again the word was passed -along the line. And the satisfaction of Long -Panther was reflected in the faces of all.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[158]</span>“When my white brother is ready,” said -the maimed bowman looking at Oliver, “I -will speak the word.”</p> - -<p>Oliver braced himself for the ordeal.</p> - -<p>“I am ready,” said he.</p> - -<p>Long Panther cried out a warning to the -warriors; then to Oliver he said:</p> - -<p>“Run!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[159]</span></p> -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i_158.jpg" alt="" /></div> -<p class="caption">HE INCREASED HIS SPEED</p> - -<p>With his hands held behind him by the -loosened thongs, Oliver started to run. To -the right the Cayugas, the Mingos and the -Wyandots were still pressing after the -whites; but directly ahead all was clear. -With his eyes on the boulder the boy ran -slowly. This he thought the better way, -as to show a burst of speed might excite -the savages, and they might loose their -arrows before the time agreed. As it was, -their merciless natures quickly manifested -themselves; when within a little distance -of the rock an arrow whizzed by the boy’s -head. Feeling sure that this would be instantly -followed by more, he increased his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[160]</span> -speed; with a headlong plunge he was behind -the boulder, and a whirring as of a -hundred pairs of wings was all around him, -the arrows knocking up clouds of dust as -they struck the ground.</p> - -<p>A wild yell went up from the Shawnees -as the boy disappeared behind the rock; at -once they saw that he had shrewdly calculated -upon this shelter when he asked -that they not fire until he reached it. And -with hatchet, knife and spear, they rushed -at him.</p> - -<p>Oliver slipped his hands free of the -thongs, his quick glance going about to -see what was the next best thing to do. -And then as the savages sped toward him -he heard a shout—deep and charged with -victory. A third regiment of whites had -advanced to the support of the panic-stricken -ones; their rifle fire was deadly -and they came at full speed. The Mingos, -the Wyandots and Cayugas faltered in the -face of this unexpected blow; and they<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[161]</span> -fell back upon the line of Delawares and -Shawnees.</p> - -<p>At sight of the cloud of warriors in full -retreat, the Shawnees rushing upon Oliver -paused. Here was graver and more earnest -work than the harrying of a single boy and -so they turned and hastened to the support -of their friends.</p> - -<p>Realizing what had happened, the white -boy was off like a shot toward the lines of -the advancing frontiersmen; how he gained -this over a field swept by bullets and arrows -he never understood, but gain it he did and -a few minutes later with the rifle, powder-horn -and bullet-pouch of a fallen soldier, -he was loading and firing in the ranks -with as much coolness and dispatch as the -best of them.</p> - -<p>The Indians must have had an advance -party on the battle-ground some time before -the main body, for it was now learned -that their retreat was to a line of fortification -made of logs, earth and brush. Behind<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[162]</span> -this they stood firm. The Indians -showed that they were possessed of many -rifles and a good store of powder; for -hours there was a blaze of fire from across -the breastwork; and the barbed arrows -drove like messengers of death among the -whites. Fully fifteen hundred fighting -men were behind the fortification and continually -the voices of Red Eagle, of Cornstalk -or Logan could be heard urging them -to fight on.</p> - -<p>Charge after charge was made upon this -strong place by the Virginia army; General -Lewis saw his men falling all about -him and realized after a little time that -some other method must be pursued if he -was to save his force from annihilation.</p> - -<p>“Try and get a body of troops in their -rear,” was a suggestion which he instantly -grasped. As it happened, the bank of the -Kanawha River favored such a movement; -three picked companies under three dare-devil -leaders were sent to make the attempt.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[163]</span>There was a small stream called Crooked -Creek which flowed into the Kanawha. -The three companies managed to cross -this; its banks were covered with a rank -growth of tall weeds; and through this -crept the whites upon the unsuspecting -savages.</p> - -<p>At a word a deadly volley swept into the -dense body of Indians; taken utterly by -surprise, they were thrown into complete -confusion. No foe had been expected from -that quarter, and, from the fury of the onset, -they thought it must be a heavy body -of reinforcements. Completely disheartened -they gave way; as the sun went down they -were retreating across the Ohio River; and -at the fall of night were pressing on through -the forest toward their distant villages.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[164]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XII<br /> - - -<span class="small">THE FORT AT BOONESBOROUGH</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">After</span> the battle of Point Pleasant, which -was the most severe engagement with -Indians in the history of Virginia, the -tribes sent messengers to make peace with -the governor. In this treaty the Shawnees -gave up all claim to the country beyond the -ridge.</p> - -<p>As the time for the settlement of this -great region was completely ripe, Colonel -Henderson rode to Boone’s place on the -Clinch River.</p> - -<p>“The Chickasaws we can’t reach,” said -he. “But we can the Cherokees. I want -you to visit the chief of that nation and -purchase, for my company, all their rights -in the new country.”</p> - -<p>Promptly Boone started off on this -mission. Penetrating to the Cherokee<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[165]</span> -country he opened negotiations with the -chiefs and head men of that tribe. Success -met him on every hand; the result was -that Colonel Henderson later met the Indians -in solemn council at Fort Wataga; -the price was paid and the deed was signed; -and thereafter Kentucky was, of right, free -of all Indian claims.</p> - -<p>“And now,” said Boone to the colonel, -“the next thing to do is to take possession. -And I calculate that the least delay in that, -the better for us.”</p> - -<p>To this advice Colonel Henderson gave -willing ear.</p> - -<p>“As all affairs with the Indian nations -are settled,” said he, “I think what you -say is the right thing to do. But to tempt -emigrants we must have a way for them to -get into the new country without so much -hardship. Enlist a company of men and -cut a way through the wilderness to the -place where you think a colony can be -planted.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[166]</span>This was a tremendous task, but Daniel -Boone was the man to undertake it. The -hardy spirits of the border had confidence -in his ability, and when he went among -them for volunteers upon this new enterprise, -they responded readily enough. -Oliver Barclay was to go with the party -in the interest of his uncle, and Eph and -Sandy, full of the desire for the wilderness, -were among the first to offer themselves.</p> - -<p>Mounted upon Hawk, for the good horse -had escaped the Indians upon the night of -his master’s capture and wandered back to -the Curleys’ cabin, Oliver rode along with -Boone over the same trail they had traveled -upon the previous attempt to get beyond -the mountains.</p> - -<p>“This time,” said Oliver, “we’ll reach -the new country. For I suppose the Indians -are fairly well satisfied by the terms -they made.”</p> - -<p>Boone shook his head; there was a tightening<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[167]</span> -about his mouth, and his eyes held a -look of unbelief.</p> - -<p>“The Injuns are queer varmints,” spoke -he. “And they don’t regard their word -very highly. Now Cornstalk, Logan and -their kind mean what they say; but the -rank and file never give it a second thought -if a good chance comes to them to use their -hatchets and scalping knives.”</p> - -<p>“Then,” said Eph Taylor, “there may be -trouble even now.”</p> - -<p>“In this country and for years to come -you can surely expect trouble,” said Boone. -“White and red will never live at peace for -very long at a time. There will always be -something to stir up a war.”</p> - -<p>The band gathered by Boone were good -riders, accustomed all their lives to living -in the open; sturdy axemen, men full of -the vim and that perseverance which was -so marked in their leader.</p> - -<p>The path by which they traveled was -well indicated; those who came after<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[168]</span> -would have no difficulty in following it. -The month of March was drawing toward -its close when one day they halted at a -small stream to drink; they had dismounted -and for the moment their attention -was relaxed. Suddenly, without a -moment’s warning, a volley rang out from -a dense thicket, two of the party fell to -the earth—dead—and two others were -wounded.</p> - -<p>This attack was much like that on the -previous expedition; never for a moment -did the whites suspect that the redskins -were near. But there the similarity ended. -This time the pioneers had no women and -children to think of; also they were, in the -main, well-trained, crafty Indian fighters, -and not a band of careless boys engaged in -driving cattle.</p> - -<p>The reports of the Indian rifles had -hardly died away when each of the adventurers -had gained a cover, tree, stump or -rock; short and sharp spoke their unerring<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[169]</span> -pieces and the ensuing yells told of braves -who had paid for the attack with their -lives.</p> - -<p>Seeing that the white men were in no -wise daunted by the onslaught and were -determined to make a grim resistance, the -Indians, who had little stomach for this -sort of battle, withdrew.</p> - -<p>“They are gone,” spoke young Barclay, -as he mounted a hillock and saw -the band skirting the forest, almost a mile -away.</p> - -<p>“For the time,” answered Boone. “They -don’t care for a stand-up fight; but they’ll -always be ready for the rifle-shot from -ambush. Always expect them, lads; that’s -the only way to get through in safety.”</p> - -<p>Warily the pioneers proceeded along the -track which afterward became known as -“Boone’s Way”; but in spite of all this -caution the guile of the red man over-matched -them; three days after the first -ambush, they fell into another; two more<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[170]</span> -of the party fell dead, and three were -wounded.</p> - -<p>But grimly they fought the savages -back; resolutely they pressed forward on -their way toward the river.</p> - -<p>“Stand by me, lads,” said Boone, “and -all the Injuns in the region won’t drive us -back.”</p> - -<p>Early in April they reached the Kentucky -River; on the south side of this was -a fairly clear space, near a salt lick much -used by the forest creatures. With an eye -to all that was needed for a place of defense, -Boone selected this place and at once the -work of erecting a fort began.</p> - -<p>Scattered through the forest were a number -of riflemen whose business it was to -warn the workers of the approach of an -enemy; the axemen made the hills and -woods ring with their strokes; the trees -came crashing down to be lopped of their -limbs, cut into lengths and fitted into place. -Log upon log the famous fort of Boonesborough,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[171]</span> -so famous in the annals of -Kentucky and the West, arose in sturdy -strength.</p> - -<p>“We’ll make her bullet-proof and high -enough to keep the redskins outside,” said -Boone, as he labored with his men in their -work of construction.</p> - -<p>The fort was two hundred and sixty feet -in length and one hundred and fifty in -breadth and was made up of a series of -cabins, each of heavy logs and connected -by a high fence of logs, pointed at the top -as a sort of stockade. There was a cabin at -each corner of the fort; all the cabin doors -and windows opened inside the stockade. -The only egress was by way of a heavy gate -opening toward the river and another -which opened upon the opposite side.</p> - -<p>During the months of April and May -and partly into June of the year 1774, the -adventurers hewed and wrought upon their -defense; in this time one man was killed by -the hostiles; after that, however, there was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[172]</span> -no sight or sound of the enemy. In the -middle of June all was finished.</p> - -<p>Colonel Henderson and some members -of the company which had purchased the -rights of the Cherokees arrived shortly -after this; and with them came twoscore -settlers, a train of packhorses and many -things which made life easier for the pioneers.</p> - -<p>It was Colonel Henderson who gave the -stronghold the name of Boonesborough, in -honor of the brave woodsman who had -dared so much for the founding of the new -commonwealth; and much elated over the -recognition given his service, Boone started -back toward the Clinch River with a few -companions.</p> - -<p>“We have plenty of men,” said he, “but -it will never be a recognized settlement -without families. So I’m going to set an -example to others by bringing out mine.”</p> - -<p>It was in October that Daniel Boone -turned his back finally upon the eastern<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[173]</span> -settlements; and with some other hardy -adventurers and their families, he set out -once more through the Cumberland Gap -and into the wilderness which they were to -make bloom as a garden.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[174]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIII<br /> - - -<span class="small">CONCLUSION</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">For</span> a time the little settlement on the -Kentucky grew and prospered without -much notice from the Indians; but it was not -long before the first rumblings of the Revolution -were heard in that far-off place; it -was learned, with alarm, that the colonies -were rising in arms against England.</p> - -<p>When the clash came and the colonists -began to strike determinedly for their -rights, the English agents in the northwest -began operations which once more lighted -the fires of border warfare. They bribed -the savages with gifts, they supplied them -with guns and ammunition and bid them -wipe out the little settlements which -courage and toil had built up in the -wilderness.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[175]</span>Along the borders of the north and the -west the terrible war-whoop once more -rang out, and the tomahawk and scalping -knife resumed their deadly work. But -Boonesborough remained calm and unruffled; -its settlers hunted and fished, cleared -the land and planted scanty crops of corn.</p> - -<p>In the winter of 1776 a man was killed -by a swift-moving war party; not until the -summer, about the very time when the -Congress at Philadelphia was giving to the -world its first great message of liberty, did -the great war cast its first ominous shadow -upon Boonesborough.</p> - -<p>The July sun shone upon the bright -waters of the Kentucky; the breeze stirred -among the trees. A bark canoe, propelled -by the handsome Betsey Collaway, daughter -of a settler, her younger sister Frances, and -a young daughter of Daniel Boone, was -darting here and there like a bird. The -girls had decked the little craft with wild -flowers, gathered along the banks, and the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[176]</span> -ring of their laughter floated across the -river in happy chorus.</p> - -<p>Any one listening might have noticed -that the joyous sound suddenly died away. -For the canoe, as it drifted under a high -bank, shoved its nose into the mud; and as -the girls were about to push it off, they saw -the bushes part almost beside them and a -number of Indians, their fingers upon their -lips calling for silence, step to the water’s -edge.</p> - -<p>Sheer fright kept the girls mute for an -instant; and in the next it was too late to -cry out, for the savages had entered the -canoe, and were threatening them with -their hatchets.</p> - -<p>When they saw them huddled, overcome -with terror, at one end of the canoe, they -seized the paddles and drove the craft out -into the river; night was falling and the -passage was not noticed from the fort; and -so the Indians gained the other shore. -The girls were forced out of the boat and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[177]</span> -with the weapons of their merciless captors -ever threatening them they were led away -through the forest.</p> - -<p>The girls were first missed by the women -of their families; a search showed that they -were not within the stockade. Instantly -the news spread; men dropped their tasks -and became alert and active.</p> - -<p>Questions flew about; and Sandy Campbell, -coming from a runlet where he had -been fishing, caught the sense of them.</p> - -<p>“Girls!” said he. “Why, I saw them -up the river a little way, in a canoe.”</p> - -<p>A half dozen bark crafts were in a very -few moments being driven up and across -the stream. The twilight was long and the -July day still persisted, but nothing of the -missing ones was to be seen. Long and -loud the men in the canoes shouted; but -no sound came in answer. Eph Taylor, -from the craft in which were also Sandy -and Oliver, spied something under a bank.</p> - -<p>“A canoe!” he cried.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[178]</span>In a few moments the other searchers -were at their sides; all made for the bank. -It was the canoe used by the girls!</p> - -<p>“Take care!” warned Boone. “Don’t -anybody get ashore!”</p> - -<p>From his own canoe the backwoodsman -scanned the bank. The daylight was still -strong enough for him to see the imprint -of the moccasined feet in the soft ooze.</p> - -<p>“Injuns!” said Boone.</p> - -<p>A murmur went up from the settlers; -the import of the signs was plain.</p> - -<p>“They have made off into the woods!” -cried one of the men, excitedly. “We -must not waste a minute; we must take -the trail at once!”</p> - -<p>Boone pointed grimly at the sun, which -was now well down upon the horizon line.</p> - -<p>“In a quarter of an hour it will be -dark,” he said. “And no trailer that ever -stepped can follow an Injun track by -torch-light. We’ll have to wait for morning.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[179]</span>The night was spent in seeing to rifles -and pistols and getting some snatches of -sleep. At the first faint sign of dawn the -trailing party, in which was Boone, Oliver -and his two friends, took up the signs at -the river brink and followed them off into -the woods.</p> - -<p>As cunning as foxes the Indians, knowing -that they would be swiftly hunted by -the whites, took pains to hide their trail -from the very start. And the methods -used threw off the trackers for a short time. -Into a dense cane-brake led the tracks, and -then they seemed to disappear. Keenly, -eagerly the hunters sought here and there, -but the wile of the savage baffled them.</p> - -<p>“Lads,” said Boone, finally, wiping his -brow, and leaning upon his long rifle, -“there’s no use in wasting time. As soon -as the varmints got into the cane they separated -and slipped through it like ghosts. -And we might hunt for hours and never -pick up the trail.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[180]</span>“Well?” asked one of the men. “What -shall we do?”</p> - -<p>Boone led the way to the point at which -the footprints ceased.</p> - -<p>“Here’s where they separate,” said he, -“but the separation is not for good; they -keep the same general direction. And that -shows that they intend to meet somewhere -further on when they think we’ve been -thrown off the track completely.”</p> - -<p>The woodsmen looked at the tracks once -more and nodded their appreciation.</p> - -<p>“Suppose we work on that,” proceeded -Boone. “This bit of cane is a big one; -let’s skirt it and run the chance of coming -on the trail at the other side.”</p> - -<p>At once this was decided on by the -party; with the long, swinging stride of -the hunter they journeyed around the -cane; this forced them to cover some thirty -miles, but at the end they found that -Boone’s reasoning had been correct; the -Indians had come together somewhere in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[181]</span> -the tangle and there lay their trail, plainly -read by all.</p> - -<p>Trained woodsmen all, with the exception -of the three boys, and even these possessed -no mean skill, the settlers looked to Boone -for the word of command.</p> - -<p>“From now on, lads,” said the backwoodsman, -“we shall have less trouble. -Look, the trail leads directly to a buffalo -path; they think they’ve thrown us off, -and they’ve grown careless.”</p> - -<p>Softly, swiftly the trailers struck into the -path; as Boone had said, the savages had -grown careless; their trail was broad and -deep and could have been followed by the -least skilful.</p> - -<p>The day was well advanced, and the -hardy band had covered a full forty miles -through the tangled wilderness. But they -were trained to long journeys and did not -tire.</p> - -<p>“We’re gaining,” said Boone, after an -hour or so of steady following on the heavy<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[182]</span> -track. “They passed here no more than a -half hour ago.”</p> - -<p>The caution of the party increased; they -knew the savage nature of the Indians. -Let the latter get a whisper of pursuit and -the lives of their captives would be snuffed -out. The long shadows began to fall in the -forest; the patches of sky to be seen -through the tree tops grew gray. Suddenly -Boone held up his hand.</p> - -<p>“Here they are!” said he.</p> - -<p>Through the dense growth he pointed to -a party of Indians; a few of them were -dressing freshly killed game; others were -engaged in kindling a fire. Bound to -trees near at hand were the three girls.</p> - -<p>“Now,” said Boone, as he looked to his -rifle, “make your shots count; and above -all don’t allow any of them to get near the -girls.”</p> - -<p>At the word, the whites rushed forward. -At the first crash among the underbrush -the savages grasped their weapons; but the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[183]</span> -long rifles cracked before they could act. -The conditions under which the “beads” -were drawn made the shots of the trailers -difficult; but in spite of this a number of -the Indians were hit; and all fled away -into the woods, leaving the greater part -of their arms and all of their ammunition -behind them.</p> - -<p>There was the utmost rejoicing in -Boonesborough the next day when the -trailers returned bringing the three girls -with them, frightened, but safe and sound.</p> - -<p>This incident served as a warning to the -settlers on the Kentucky; the war had -finally made its way to their lonely fort. -Day after day they found the tracks of -scouting parties all about in the forests; -hostile shots began to ring in the distance. -And then began the fights and -sieges for which the sturdy stockade built -by Boone and his companions became -famous. Encompassed many times by -hundreds of savages, with the arrows and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[184]</span> -bullets flying thick as hail about it, the fort -stood strong and untaken. And through it -all went Oliver and Eph Taylor and Sandy -Campbell, through it all went the heroic -Boone, ever leading, ever daring the wilderness -and its crafty savages, always strong -under reverses, always wise in victory.</p> - -<p>And when the great war was done and -liberty was achieved by the colonies, the -settlers came in greatly increased numbers, -drawn by the wonder stories of Kentucky -and the magic name of Boone.</p> - -<p>And as the commonwealth grows strong, -its wilderness falls before the axe of the -pioneer, its broad farms smile where the -Shawnee once roamed, the whistles of -steamboats sound upon the streams which -knew only the prow of the bark canoe, the -thoughts of its sons and daughters go back -to the old days; and they know that the -greatness of Kentucky is founded upon the -bold spirit and the long rifle of Daniel -Boone.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[185]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIV<br /> - - -<span class="small">SKETCH OF BOONE’S LIFE</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">Daniel Boone’s</span> ancestors were English, -his grandfather, George Boone, coming to -America in 1717. Squire Boone, son of -George, was the father of Daniel.</p> - -<p>The Boones purchased a tract of land in -what is now Bucks County, Pennsylvania. -Squire Boone, Daniel’s father, married Sarah -Morgan; they had eleven children, Daniel -being the fourth and coming into the world -on July 14, 1732. This date is according -to the family record kept by his father’s -brother James, who was a schoolmaster. -Some of the biographies give different dates; -but it is likely that James Boone knew the -facts as well as any one.</p> - -<p>The county of Bucks was then to all intents -a frontier settlement; the Boones<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[186]</span> -lived in a log house; all about them were -the woods, which were running with game, -and in which hostile savages were often -seen.</p> - -<p>Even in his school days, Daniel was -known as a hunter; his eye was of the -best and his rifle seldom failed. His passion -for the wilderness was shown in those -early times when he’d wander away in the -silent forest and be missing for days. Then -they would hunt for him and find him encamped -miles and miles away, perhaps -cooking his supper at a fire of sticks and -calmly planning the building of a hut -which was to shelter him for days to come.</p> - -<p>A story is told of him which proves his -early skill as a hunter. With some other -lads of his own age, he started off for a day’s -hunting of small game. The shades of late -afternoon were deepening in the woods, and -the boys were on their way back to the -settlement when suddenly one of them -cried out: “Panther! Panther!” Now<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[187]</span> -of all the beasts of the forests, the lurking -panther was held to be the deadliest; and -knowing him for such, the boys ran for -their lives. But not so Boone. Steadily -he held his ground, his eye searching for -the animal. Yes, there it was; a panther -sure enough, and a big one. Calmly his -long rifle came to his shoulder and his -keen eyes drew the “bead.” And with -the ringing crack of the weapon, down fell -the panther, shot through and through.</p> - -<p>Boone was still a boy when his father -concluded he’d get on better if he went to -North Carolina. He took up his homestead -on the Yadkin River; and in this -section Daniel grew to manhood, married -Rebecca Bryan, and became the father of -nine children.</p> - -<p>During the whole of the dreadful Seven -Years’ War, the whole frontier swarmed -with hostile redskins; but when this ended, -comparative quiet settled down, and Daniel -Boone made the first of his long excursions<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[188]</span> -into the unknown country beyond the -Laurel Ridge or Cumberland Mountains.</p> - -<p>The government of the colony of North -Carolina had long been oppressive; free -spirits like that of Boone could not stand -the gall of oppression, and the thought came -to him: “What a wonderful place to plant -a new settlement this new country would -be.”</p> - -<p>And so when Colonel Henderson spoke -to him, as it is believed he did, Boone was -ready, and went upon his long exploration -of the country of “Cantuck,” as he called -it in one of his letters. Then followed the -events related in this story, which runs -very close to historical facts.</p> - -<p>After the rescue of the Collaway girls -and Boone’s daughter from the Indians, -the savages came in force and attacked the -log fort; but they were driven off. A few -months later they returned with two hundred -braves in the band. For two days -and nights their attack was continued and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[189]</span> -at the end of that time they retreated once -more, defeated.</p> - -<p>The impossibility of holding any communication -with the large settlements and -the stoppage of supplies caused the hardy -band at Boonesborough some suffering. -They ran entirely out of salt; and as this -was a thing which they must have, Boone -determined to procure a supply.</p> - -<p>Taking thirty men, he proceeded cautiously -to Blue Licks with the intention of -making salt from the salt water to be found -in that section. While hunting and alone, -Boone fell in with a band of several hundred -Indians who were on their way to -make another attack upon Boonesborough. -They made him a prisoner, but following -their usual policy they did him no immediate -harm; holding him, possibly, for -future torture.</p> - -<p>Craftily Boone began casting about for -the best thing to do; the Indians knew of -the presence of his men; to have this huge<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[190]</span> -band fall upon the thirty might mean -death to them all. Boone concluded that -to surrender his command and trust to the -future was the best thing to be done. So -the band of whites gave up their arms, and -the Indians changed their plans as to -Boonesborough, proceeding instead to their -town of Chillicothe, on the Little Miami.</p> - -<p>From here Boone and some of his men -were sent to Detroit, where Boone’s men -were turned over to the British. But the -savages had conceived such a liking for -Daniel himself that they refused to surrender -him, determining to adopt him into -their tribe. So they took him back to -Chillicothe and made him a son of the -Shawnee tribe.</p> - -<p>Here he remained some months, being -treated by the Indians as one of themselves; -then a huge war party organized to march -upon Boonesborough and take it by surprise, -and Daniel saw that if the fort was to -be saved, he must escape at once. Slipping<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[191]</span> -from the Indian town in the early morning, -Boone began a desperate journey toward -the fort, one hundred and sixty miles away. -It took him five days to make the journey, -and when he reached the fort he was hailed -as one returned from the dead. Indeed, so -sure were they that he was dead that his -family had returned to North Carolina.</p> - -<p>Boone found the stockade in bad condition, -and at once set about strengthening -it. However, the great band did not move -against Boonesborough; the escape of the -great backwoodsman must have told them -that the settlers would be awaiting them, -and as they had had previous experiences of -this sort they set the attack for a future time.</p> - -<p>In August, no enemy presenting himself, -Boone and a small party left the fort and -marched against an Indian village on the -Scioto. The braves belonging to this camp -were encountered in full war paint, some -distance from the town, and evidently on -the march to join some larger band. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[192]</span> -whites fell upon them and routed them, -though outnumbered two to one. Suspecting -that a large movement of the savages -was taking place, Boone sent out a couple -of scouts to get news. They soon returned -saying that these suspicions were correct; -and the frontiersmen hurried back toward -Boonesborough in all haste.</p> - -<p>On the day after their arrival at the fort, -a great band of Indians, flying the British -colors and commanded by a French-Canadian -named Duquesne, made their appearance -out of the forest.</p> - -<p>The fort was summoned to surrender, but -its defenders refused. They were sixty and -the savages were fully five hundred; but -they made up their minds to fight to the -last.</p> - -<p>The Indians, directed by their most -famous chiefs, and now having the advantage -of Duquesne’s skilled military direction, -began their attack. Never was the -marksmanship of the Kentucky riflemen<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[193]</span> -more brilliant than it was in that battle. -Duquesne soon saw that he was the greatest -sufferer by this, as his Indians were falling -all around him; so he set about mining -under the river bank, meaning to blow up -the fort.</p> - -<p>However, Boone discovered this and set -his men to countermining, flinging the -freshly dug earth over the walls of the fort. -The British leader saw by this that his plan -had failed, and abandoning it began an attack -as before.</p> - -<p>This failed because of the unerring aim -of the settlers; and then the attackers became -besiegers, sitting down before the fort, -out of rifle range, meaning to starve it into -surrender. But in this he also failed; the -defenders had more food than the Indians; -and so, there being no way of feeding so -large a band in a protracted siege, Duquesne -gave up the attempt, and marched away, -leaving Boonesborough once more victorious.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[194]</span>This was the last heavy blow aimed at -the historic stockade. In spite of the war, -emigrants poured into the new territory; -Boone brought back his family and set to -farming his acres like the others.</p> - -<p>However, all during the affair with England, -Kentucky continued to merit the -name of “the dark and bloody ground.” -Fierce battles were frequent, and the farmer -tilled his hard won field with his long rifle -always ready at hand. And even after -peace had been declared, the Indians, under -their own chiefs and under the renegade, -Simon Girty, ranged the settled places and -strove to stem the tide of immigration. But -the whites were not to be denied; they -pressed on and on until the territory was -completely won.</p> - -<p>Through a fault in the deeds and grants, -the settlements in the new country were -later thrown into disorder. Boone lost all -his land, and moved into Virginia with his -family, taking up his home on the Kanawha<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[195]</span> -near to the place where the great battle -was fought in the Dunmore War. Later -he journeyed westward toward Missouri, -where he reëstablished himself. As old -age and ill health came on, Boone applied -to Congress to recover his land; a part of -it was made over to him. His old age, and -he lived to be well on to ninety, was spent -roaming the woods with his rifle. He died -at the home of his son-in-law, Flanders -Collaway, some distance from the city of -St. Louis, in September, 1820.</p> - - -<p class="center"> -Another Book to this Series is:<br /> -IN THE ROCKIES WITH KIT CARSON</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak">FOOTNOTES:</h2> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_1" href="#FNanchor_1" class="label">[1]</a> Cumberland Mountains.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_2" href="#FNanchor_2" class="label">[2]</a> This shot is what came to be known later as “barking off.” -The American naturalist, Audubon, in his “Ornithological -Biography” speaks of Boone’s performing the feat a number of -times in procuring specimens.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_3" href="#FNanchor_3" class="label">[3]</a> Afterward called the Kentucky River.</p> - -</div> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<div class="transnote"> - -<p class="ph2">TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:</p> - - - -<p>Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.</p> - -<p>Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized.</p> -</div> -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN KENTUCKY WITH DANIEL BOONE ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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