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

or he had been invited to take part in a "raising," which term meant that a new ca

e had he felt so comfortable. He wanted to hop, skip and jump. The soft, undressed buckskin was as warm and smooth as silk-plush; the weight so light,

marked the last stage in Joe's surrender to the border fever. The silent, shaded glens, the mystery

ielded to the same burning, riotous craving for freedom which now stirred in the boy's heart, understood, and felt warmly drawn toward the lad. He said nothing, though as he watched Joe his eyes were grave and kind. In his long frontier life, where many a day measured the life and fire of ordinary years, he

e men to bend their backs in the moving of the heavy timbers. They celebrated the erection of a new cabin a

me pleasure and surprise he had felt i

bin. After a while he understood the meaning of the scene. A kindred spirit, the spirit of the pioneer, drew them all into one large family. This was another cabin; another home; another advance toward the conquering of

Joe, as the young man came over to where he, his wife, and sister watche

ravel by

is to keep along the south shore all night; then cross over at a place called Girty's Point, where you are to remain in hiding during daylight. From there

ined the party now, and all stood watc

. "This scene is so full of life. I never saw such goodwill among laboring men. Look at that brawny-armed

means to love one another; to love one another is to love God. What you see in this

the pioneers had paid for land, as I paid Cornplanter, there would never have been a border war. But no; the settlers must grasp every

accomplished anything with t

ther western tribes have been demoralized by the French traders' rum, and incited to fierce hatred by Girty and his

the old minister. No fear cou

e spoke of if you'd get a suit like mine and wear a knife and tomahawk," inte

he laughter had subsided. "We'll go over to dinner now. Come, all

by side. They had not exchanged a word since the evening previous, when Jim had kissed her. Una

did in his hunting suit

s; he looks well," re

indifferent

angry w

ainly

none of his brother's fluency of speech, with neither confidence,

ngry with-me?"

ples, yet she did not r

taking me for Joe. If you only hadn't held up your mouth. No-I don't mean that-of course you didn't. But-well, I cou

about me?" demanded Nell,

d for you, that you had taught him how unworthy he was of a good woman. But he's wrong there. Joe is wild and reckless, yet his heart is a well of gold. He is a diamond in the rough. Just now he is possessed by wild notions of hunting Indians and roamin

pered Nell, irresistibly drawn by the st