The Spirit of the Border: A Romance of the Early Settlers in the Ohio Valley

earnest hour that morning; the red son of the woods was wrapped in slumber. He had placed under his head a many-hued homespun shirt which the young preacher had given him; but while asleep hi

t appear to be well-balanced in his mind, and was the butt of the settlers' jokes, while the children ca

nd he disappeared within the cabin, and when he showed himself at the door, surveying the village square with mirthful eyes, he held in his hand a small basket of Indian design. It was

ans' gaudy shirt, and, lifting Loorey, slipped it around him, shoved the latter's arms through the sleeves, and buttoned it in front. He streaked the round face with red and white paint, and then, dex

arations for the raft-journey down the Ohio. Lynn had been employed to guide the missionary's party to Fort Henry, and, as the br

which a rude shack had been erected for shelter. This slight protection

e waves which broke over the logs could not reach it. Taking a peep into the structure, Joe was pleased to see that Nell and Kate would be comfortable, even

be off?" h

nswered Lyn

be on the go in the early m

't in a hurry to tackle the river,

l on it from here to where it ends, and then

heir hair, slipping among the trees along the bank, and mebbe you'll hear the ping which'

oe, with his sh

and soon puffed out a great cloud of smoke. Sitting on a log, he deliberately surveyed the robust shoulders and long, heavy limbs of the young man, with a keen appreciation of their symmetry and strength. Agility,

ungster so sudden. Mebbe it's because I'm fond of his sunny-haired lass, an' ag'in mebbe it's because I'm gettin' old an' likes young folks better'n I

th he seated himself beside Lynn. He was eager to ask questions; to know about the rafts, the river, the forest, the Indians-everything

ng rifle?" asked Ly

swered Jo

ersman questioned, when he had ta

irre

r another silence, long enough to allow Joe to talk if h

head," returned Joe. There was a

Joe's last remark he returned his pipe to his pocket and brought out a tobacco-pouch. He tore off a la

chaw,"

solutely a borderman's guarantee

he was aiming at, some five yards distant. Possibly this was the borderman's wa

ow; but I'm kinder doubtful about preachin' to redskins. Howsumever, I've knowed In

n't make a g

wild like, eh?" rej

ame life. I love the forest; I want to fish and

Well, lad, where you're goin' seein' Injuns ain't a matter of choice. You has to see 'em, and fight 'em, too. We'v

e's a r

ll-blooded Delaware. He's all the time on the lookout to capture white wimen to take to his Injun teepee. Simon Girty and his pals, McKee and Elliott, deser

ear the Indian t

hawnees and Hurons al

Hen

Moravian Mis

in the midst of that Injun country. I 'spect it's a matter of a

e an important p

down on it time and ag'in, but they hev never burned it. Only such men as Colonel Zane, his brother Jack, and Wetzel could hev kept that fort standin' all these b

r under Lord Dunmore. The hunters here speak

hen the Injuns are up, an' nobody sees him much. At home he sets round silent-like, an' then mebbe next mornin' he'll be gone, an' won't show up fer days or weeks. But all the frontier knows of his deeds. Fer instance, I've hearn of settlers gettin' up in the mornin' an' findin' a couple of dead and scalped Injuns right

like?" questioned J

oulders in that door, but he's as light of foot an' fast as a deer. An' his eyes-why

ly, his eyes lighting with an eager

tzel was with us. We soon struck Injun sign, and then come on to a lot of the pesky varmints. We was all fer goin' home, because we had a small force. When we started to go we finds Wetzel sittin' calm-

more, the warm light, which made him l

sure ye'll see redskins,

Joe saw several persons run toward the large cabin and disappear behind it. He smiled a

. A small crowd of men and women, all laughing and talking, surrounded the Indian brave

-ugh! Injun mad-hea

the ribs with the other. The captive's face was the picture of dismay; even the streaks of paint did not hide

blow on the side. This time he bent over in pain. The bystanders were div

he stretched out a long arm that, bare and brawny, looked as though it might have been a blacksmith's

e," said Joe. "Scalp me if

erful form before him. With a twist

d, scornfully. There was a menace in his sombe

an insult, and that's how he regarded your joke. Silvertip has been friendly here be

the girls had joined the group. They all watche

to Jeff Lynn, who joined the party at that m

a crafty redskin, an' not t

and is looking back

observed th

g. The sun shone brightly on his eagle plumes. He remained motionless for a moment, and even at such

ag'in Jeff Lynn don't know nothin'