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| author | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-02-04 06:02:10 -0800 |
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| committer | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-02-04 06:02:10 -0800 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c81a3a1 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #63160 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63160) diff --git a/old/63160-h.zip b/old/63160-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 7664e7a..0000000 --- a/old/63160-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/63160-h/63160-h.htm b/old/63160-h/63160-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 824d2ff..0000000 --- a/old/63160-h/63160-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,10142 +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"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> - <title> - The Project Gutenberg eBook of Forest Glen, by Elijah Kellogg. - </title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - <style type="text/css"> - - p { margin-top: .75em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .75em; - } - - p.bold {text-align: center; font-weight: bold;} - p.bold2 {text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;} - - h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; - } - h1 span, h2 span { display: block; text-align: center; } - #id1 { font-size: smaller } - - - hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; - } - - hr.smler { - width: 15%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 42.5%; - margin-right: 42.5%; - clear: both; - } - - body{margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; - } - - table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; border-collapse: collapse; border: none; text-align: right;} - - .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ - /* visibility: hidden; */ - position: absolute; - left: 92%; - font-size: smaller; - text-align: right; - text-indent: 0px; - } /* page numbers */ - - .center {text-align: center;} - .smaller {font-size: smaller;} - .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - .box {max-width: 23em; margin: 1.5em auto;} - .space-above {margin-top: 3em;} - .left {text-align: left;} - - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Forest Glen, by Elijah Kellogg - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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 www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: Forest Glen - or The Mohawk's Friendship - -Author: Elijah Kellogg - -Release Date: September 9, 2020 [EBook #63160] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOREST GLEN *** - - - - -Produced by David Edwards, Martin Pettit and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="center"><img src="images/front.jpg" alt="front" /></div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> - -<h2>BOOKS BY SAME AUTHOR.</h2> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<div class="box"> -<p class="bold">ELM ISLAND STORIES.</p> - -<p class="center">Per Vol., $1.25.</p> - -<p><i>LION BEN OF ELM ISLAND.</i><br /> -<i>CHARLIE BELL, THE WAIF OF ELM ISLAND.</i><br /> -<i>THE ARK OF ELM ISLAND.</i><br /> -<i>THE BOY-FARMERS OF ELM ISLAND.</i><br /> -<i>THE YOUNG SHIP-BUILDERS OF ELM ISLAND.</i><br /> -<i>THE HARD-SCRABBLE OF ELM ISLAND.</i></p> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<p class="bold">PLEASANT COVE SERIES.</p> - -<p class="center">Per Vol., $1.25.</p> - -<p><i>ARTHUR BROWN, THE YOUNG CAPTAIN.</i><br /> -<i>THE YOUNG DELIVERERS OF PLEASANT COVE.</i><br /> -<i>THE CRUISE OF THE CASCO.</i><br /> -<i>THE CHILD OF THE ISLAND GLEN.</i><br /> -<i>JOHN GODSOE'S LEGACY.</i><br /> -<i>THE FISHER BOYS OF PLEASANT COVE.</i></p> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<p class="bold">THE WHISPERING PINE SERIES.</p> - -<p class="center">Per Vol., $1.25.</p> - -<p><i>THE SPARK OF GENIUS.</i><br /> -<i>THE SOPHOMORES OF RADCLIFFE.</i><br /> -<i>THE WHISPERING PINE.</i><br /> -<i>THE TURNING OF THE TIDE.</i><br /> -<i>WINNING HIS SPURS.</i><br /> -<i>A STOUT HEART.</i></p> - -<p class="center">All Handsomely Illustrated.</p> - -<p class="bold">LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.</p></div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="center"><img src="images/frontis.jpg" alt="The Bear Fight" /></div> - -<p class="bold"><span class="smcap">The Bear Fight.</span>—<a href="#Page_238">Page 238.</a></p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span></p> - -<div class="center"><img src="images/illustrated.jpg" alt="title illustration" /></div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p> - -<p class="bold">THE FOREST GLEN SERIES.</p> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<h1>FOREST GLEN;</h1> - -<p class="bold space-above">OR,</p> - -<p class="bold2 space-above">THE MOHAWK'S FRIENDSHIP.</p> - -<p class="bold space-above">BY</p> - -<p class="bold2">ELIJAH KELLOGG,</p> - -<p class="bold">AUTHOR OF "ELM ISLAND STORIES," "PLEASANT COVE STORIES,"<br /> -"THE WHISPERING PINE SERIES," ETC.</p> - -<p class="bold space-above">Illustrated.</p> - -<p class="bold space-above">BOSTON:<br />LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS.<br />NEW YORK<br />CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span></p> - -<p class="center">COPYRIGHT,<br /><br /> -1877,<br /><br /><span class="smcap">By</span> ELIJAH KELLOGG.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> - -<h2>PREFACE.</h2> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<p>The story here presented not only grasps those -terrible vicissitudes in which the frontier life of our -forefathers was so prolific, but at the same time conveys -many useful lessons and incentives to manly effort, -and much curious information in relation to a period in -the history of Pennsylvania, when her soil was occupied -by a population comprising many different races and -religious sects, having little in common, and held together -by the fearful pressure of an Indian war.</p> - -<p>Here we behold the strange spectacle of the Quaker -tilling his land, and pursuing his ordinary duties, while -his more belligerent neighbor sleeps with the rifle within -reach of his hand, sits in the house of God with the -weapon between his knees, goes armed in the funeral -procession, which is often attacked, the mourners killed, -scalped, and flung into the grave of the corpse they -were about to inter.</p> - -<p>The noble response of the Delawares to the appeal -of the Quakers evinces that the red man is no less<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> -sensitive to kindness, than implacable in revenge; -capable of appreciating and manifesting the most tender -and generous sentiments.</p> - -<p>Our breasts throb with sympathetic emotions, as, -after having noted with interest the progress of the -strife, we see this determined band emerge in triumph, -with thinned ranks but courage undiminished, from -the terrible ordeal.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> - -<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<table summary="CONTENTS"> - <tr> - <td></td> - <td><span class="smaller">PAGE</span></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER I.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">The Brewing of the Storm</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_11">11</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER II.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Thunder from Afar</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_22">22</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER III.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Forewarned</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_30">30</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER IV.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Preparing for the Worst</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_43">43</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER V.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">The Storm bursts</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_56">56</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER VI.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Gathering Courage from Despair</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_73">73</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER VII.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">A Contrast</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_83">83</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER VIII.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Treading Out the Grain</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_91">91</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER IX.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">A Little Sunshine</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_102">102</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER X.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Liberty is Sweet</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_115">115</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XI.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">The Raft</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_129">129</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XII.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">A Day of Unalloyed Pleasure</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_143">143</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XIII.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Cannot Give it Up</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_156">156</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XIV.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">The Bean-Pot</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_167">167</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XV.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">The Surprise</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_177">177</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XVI.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">The Dawn of a Life-Purpose</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_193">193</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XVII.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Self-Reliance</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_209">209</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XVIII.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Fruits of Patience and Perseverance</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_226">226</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XIX.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Triumph of Thought and Ingenuity</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_246">246</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XX.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Uncle Seth's Surprise</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_264">264</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XXI.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Ned Rangely</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_273">273</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XXII.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Carrying the War into Africa</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_294">294</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XXIII.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">The Quaker's Appeal to the Delawares</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_309">309</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XXIV.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">The Return of the Captive</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_323">323</a></td> - </tr> -</table> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> - -<p class="bold2">FOREST GLEN;</p> - -<p class="bold">OR,</p> - -<p class="bold2">THE MOHAWK'S FRIENDSHIP.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p> - -<p class="bold2">FOREST GLEN;</p> - -<p class="bold">OR,</p> - -<p class="bold2">THE MOHAWK'S FRIENDSHIP.</p> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER I.</span> <span class="smaller">THE BREWING OF THE STORM.</span></h2> - -<p>Our story opens at that period of the year -when summer is fast verging to autumn.</p> - -<p>As the wind that had blown fresh during the -night diminished, about eleven o'clock in the forenoon, -to a gentle breeze, the heat in the valley of -Wolf Run, hemmed in by mountains, became excessive. -Corn-blades rolled up, pitch oozed from -the logs of which the houses were built, all broad-leaved -plants wilted, and the high temperature -was adapted to produce an unusual sluggishness.</p> - -<p>Stewart, who held the day-watch at the fort, -seated on the platform over the gate, was sound -asleep. Half a dozen sheep lay in the shade of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> -the walls, panting, with mouths wide open. Not -a person was to be seen in the vicinity of the -houses or in the fields. Not a rooster had sufficient -courage to crow, or even a dog to bark. -The windmill inside the stockade made one or two -revolutions; but, as the wind died away, gave up -with a groan, and remained motionless.</p> - -<p>The profound silence was rudely broken by the -successive discharge of fire-arms. The sentinel -awoke, and grasped his rifle; but, after listening a -few moments, settled back in his corner, and was -soon once more asleep. Two of the sheep rose -up, but in a few moments lay down again.</p> - -<p>The firing continued at intervals for more than -an hour, no notice being taken of it by the sentry, -who, in the mean time, finished his nap.</p> - -<p>If our readers will go with us in the direction -of the river, we will endeavor to find out what it -is all about, and shall perceive that the settlers -were improving the leisure interval between hay -and grain harvest, in making preparations for -future exigencies.</p> - -<p>On a level plat of ground, not far from the -bank of the river, were assembled a band of lads -from twelve to fifteen years of age, engaged in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> -firing at a mark, while several of the settlers were -seated on the grass, looking at them.</p> - -<p>The fearful peril of their position, together with -their inferiority in numbers, had compelled the -parents to train their children to arms, even at -that tender age; and, though unable to hold out a -gun steadily, they were no mean marksmen when -shooting from a rest.</p> - -<p>These little folks had organized themselves into -a company, with the ferocious title of "The -Screeching Catamounts," in rivalry of the older -boys, who styled themselves "The Young Defenders."</p> - -<p>They had hewn the bark and sap-wood from a -lone pine, and a black spot in the centre of the -white wood served as a target. Eighty-five yards -was the distance for a smooth gun, while for rifles, -with which some of the boys were armed, it was a -hundred. A rest was made by driving two stakes -into the ground, and putting a withe across for -them to fire over. Sam Sumerford, Archie Crawford, -and Tony Stewart hit the black circle, -though neither of them in the centre, but not -varying half an inch; several touched the edge of -it; and no one missed the tree, although one or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> -two put their balls in the bark, outside the white -spot, or "blaze" as it was called in frontier -phrase.</p> - -<p>They next engaged in throwing the tomahawk; -after which, forming ranks, the band marched to -the fort, and deposited their arms.</p> - -<p>It is needful briefly to inform those who have -not read the previous volumes, of the circumstances -of the settlers to whom they are rather -abruptly introduced, and the probable nature of -those exigencies in view of which they had long -been making preparations.</p> - -<p>When the Indian war broke out, the Provincial -government gave up the original frontier, from -which nearly all the settlers who survived the -Indian attack had already fled, and established a -line of forts nearer the old settlements, behind -which it was supposed the savages would not -penetrate, and where the fugitives might cultivate -the land in comparative safety.</p> - -<p>This system of defence had, upon trial, proved -utterly inadequate. The greater part of the -money raised for that purpose was expended at -the very outset in building, arming, and provisioning -the forts; and even then they were but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> -scantily provided, either with arms or ammunition. -A commissioner reported that in one of -them he found but four pounds of powder. Flints -were often wanting; many of the guns were unfit -for use, the locks in some instances being fastened -on with strings. So great was the poverty of the -Province, that a man who brought his own gun -and blanket was allowed a dollar per month for -their use above his pay. In addition to this, the -forts were eight, ten, sixteen, and even twenty -miles apart. The great cause of all the destruction -of life and property that took place arose -from the want of any military organization.</p> - -<p>The original population of Pennsylvania were -entirely opposite in all their views and practices to -the settlers of Virginia, Maryland, and the New-England -States, who came armed and prepared -for self-defence or conquest. But the government -of Pennsylvania was based upon the principle of -non-resistance. The Quakers came unarmed; and, -as they made no resistance, so they gave no offence. -They did as they would be done by, while the -savages on their part did as they were done by; -and thus matters went on smoothly for nearly -seventy years.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p> -<p>In process of time, other races came in, and -people with other views. The Scotch and Irish -settlers, and those from Maryland, Virginia, and -the New-England States, who were by no means -careful of giving offence, looked upon the natives -as vermin to be extirpated like the wolves and -bears, to make room for others. Though in a -minority, they inflicted injuries upon the Indians, -and stirred them up to revenge.</p> - -<p>But the bulk of the population were Quakers, -Germans, Swedes, and English. The Germans -only desired to till the ground, with no wish to -fight, unless compelled to in self-defence. The -English and Swedes were much of the same mind. -Thus while the Indians, through a series of years, -had been irritated, there was in the Province no -militia-law: the inhabitants were incapable of acting -in concert; and, when the storm long brewing -burst, were, as a whole, defenceless, unarmed, and -divided in sentiment, and ran at the attack of the -Indians like sheep before wolves.</p> - -<p>It was from such a population that the majority -of the men to man the forts and protect the country -must be drawn, the hunters, trappers, and -Scotch-Irish preferring to defend their own <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span>families, -or to go on scalping-expeditions, which were -vastly more profitable than serving for the small -pay given the soldiers, and there was no law to -<i>compel</i> service.</p> - -<p>When the forts were built, it was supposed that -the garrisons in them, by patrolling from one to -another, would keep back the savages. It was also -made the duty of the commanders in the several -forts to detail a certain portion of their men to -protect the farmers while planting and gathering -their harvest, as well as promptly furnish a refuge -to which the inhabitants might flee in case of an -invasion.</p> - -<p>We shall now see how comparatively useless -this method of defence was, because there was no -militia-law, and in the population none of the spirit -which such a law creates. Forts are of little use -without suitable soldiers to defend them. A few -facts would set this matter in a striking light, -and afford our readers a clear view of the situation.</p> - -<p>The commissioner appointed to examine the condition -of the forts reported: At Fort Lebanon he -called out the men, and put up a mark for them to -fire at eighty yards distant, and but fifteen out of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> -twenty-eight could hit within two feet of the -bull's eye. At Fort Allemingle, he put the mark -on a tree eighty-five yards distant; and only four -out of twenty-five hit the tree, and not one the -bull's eye. So much for the marksmanship of these -fort soldiers: now for their courage.</p> - -<p>It is on record that Hugh Micheltree was attacked -by Indians within speaking distance of -Patterson's fort; and though he begged the men -in the fort to rescue him, telling them there were -but six Indians, they had not the courage to leave -the fort, but permitted the savages to take him off -before their eyes.</p> - -<p>Forts were often built at gaps of mountain-chains -for the purpose of commanding these passes. -Those might have been formidable obstacles -to regular troops encumbered with baggage and -artillery, but not in respect to savages. Every -place is a pass to an Indian with a little parched -corn in his pouch, and armed with rifle and tomahawk: -he sets forth, and neither swamps, mountains, -nor rivers bar his progress when on the -war-path. He can eat ground-nuts, mice, frogs, -wood-worms, or snakes: nothing comes amiss; or, -if afraid of discovering his whereabouts by discharging -his rifle, he can kill game with the bow.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span></p> -<p>Noiselessly as the gliding snake they passed between -the forts, easily eluding the scouts posted -on so long and thin a line, and were often butchering -the inhabitants in one direction while the -scouts were looking for them in another.</p> - -<p>The history of that period records that in several -instances while a band of soldiers from the -forts were guarding farmers gathering their harvest, -the Indians have crept up, shot the soldiers, -and afterwards butchered the farmers thus left defenceless.</p> - -<p>The Indians, whom nothing escaped, often improved -the opportunity, when the number of a -garrison was reduced by details, to attack the -forts.</p> - -<p>Ascertaining that there was but a small supply -of ammunition in Fort Granville, they attacked -and took it, when twenty-three men, three women, -and several children fell into their hands. After -promising to spare the lives of the garrison if they -would surrender, they fastened to a post the very -man who opened the gate for them, and thrust -red-hot gun-barrels through his body.</p> - -<p>A very different sort of people from those just -described, were the settlers of the Forest Glen;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> -rough-handed, high-spirited men of the frontier, -who could plant the second bullet in the same -hole with the first, and drive it home. Disdaining -the aid of soldiers whom they held in utter contempt, -they had thus far, though suffering fearful -losses, held their own, inflicting more injuries than -they received, and had been busily employed for a -few weeks in putting themselves in a posture of -defence preparatory to gathering the harvest.</p> - -<p>Rifles had been put in order, tomahawks ground, -the roofs of the buildings fresh plastered with clay -mortar as a protection against the fire-arrows of -the Indians, and gun-flints manufactured from -Indian arrow-heads by Holdness to eke out their -scanty supply, and the woods and ravines carefully -examined every day to detect signs of lurking -savages. Though the settlers were living in -their own houses, for the greater convenience of -harvesting, the cattle were driven at night to the -garrison.</p> - -<p>Notwithstanding their preparations for a stout -defence, the settlers could not avoid anxiety, in -view of the fact that the savages had during the -last few months changed their method of attack. -Finding that the log houses of the whites, when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> -resolutely defended, bade defiance to the efforts of -their scalping-parties, consisting usually of but -twelve or fifteen, they had latterly come in bodies -of seventy and even a hundred, often led by French -officers, with French soldiers in their ranks, and -bringing field-pieces.</p> - -<p>There were, however, no signs of perturbation, -and whatever anxiety they felt was manifested -only in increased watchfulness; and many of -them, having completed their preparations for -defence, occupied themselves in clearing land for -future crops, a portion keeping watch while the -rest labored.</p> - -<p>Others devoted the time to rest, perhaps considering -it very doubtful if the isolated settlement -survived the attacks that were to be expected -during harvest.</p> - -<p>We trust that what has been said will render -the story that follows intelligible to those not -familiar with the other volumes of this series, or -the history of the period.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER II.</span> <span class="smaller">THUNDER FROM AFAR.</span></h2> - -<p>Perhaps many of our readers would like to -know how Mr. Seth Blanchard (who was -the only man in the Glen not possessed of fighting -qualities) was busying himself all this time.</p> - -<p>They doubtless recollect that when, after a desperate -effort, the mill was nearly completed, the -settlers placed the upper stone on the spindle by -fastening a hide rope to wooden pins in the edge -of the stone, and then putting a long lever into -the bight of the rope.</p> - -<p>In a regularly constructed mill, this is done by -means of an iron bale or crane, and an iron screw -working in the crane, or by a tackle attached -to the crane. The stone, being lifted from the -spindle in this manner, can be easily swung off by -moving the crane, and turned over in the bale in -order to pick the under side. They had used up<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> -every particle of iron in building the mill, and -been reduced to the greatest straits for want of -that necessary article.</p> - -<p>When, after much labor and contrivance, the -stone was safely landed on the spindle, Mr. Seth -said,—</p> - -<p>"By the time this stone needs picking, I'll -make a bale to take it off and put it on without -an ounce of iron."</p> - -<p>Honeywood, who was a blacksmith, laughed at -him, and said it was impossible; to which Mr. Seth -replied,—</p> - -<p>"A man who has always worked in iron has -very little idea of what can be done with wood."</p> - -<p>He was now leisurely at work, redeeming that -pledge. Having procured from the woods a rock-maple -tree of suitable shape, he made a crane of -proper size and shape to swing over the stone, -hewing the timber to a proud edge, and working -it smooth with adze and plane. In that portion -of the arm that when the crane was set up would -come directly over the centre of the stone, he -made a five-inch hole, perfectly smooth and plumb, -and cut a screw-thread on the inside of it with a -rude machine of his own invention.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p> -<p>His next labor was to make a screw to work in -this arm; and he made it from a piece of timber -that he had blocked out when the mill was built, -and put away to season.</p> - -<p>While thus engaged, Mr. Seth had the company -and heartfelt sympathy of all the children of any -size in the Run, and most of their elders, as -there were but very few in the settlement who -had ever seen a screw-thread cut, or even a wooden -screw.</p> - -<p>When the crane was put in its place, the screw -entered in the arm, and Mr. Seth turned it up and -back again, that the spectators might see the -working of it, those who had said, and at the time -firmly believed, that it was impossible for him or -any one to make a wooden bale that would take -off a mill-stone, began to change their opinions.</p> - -<p>Tony Stewart probably expressed the general -sentiment when he exclaimed, "Zukkers! a man -what can do that can do any thing! Can't he, -Sammy?"</p> - -<p>With his usual consideration for the wishes of -children, Uncle Seth fastened a two-bushel basket -to the screw, and, packing it full of children, turned -up the screw. The mill floor was quite large; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> -the children had plenty of fun riding in the basket, -and pushing the crane round by turns.</p> - -<p>After waiting till the children had screwed up -and swung each other round on the crane a while, -Mr. Seth left the place, telling them they need not -come to the mill any more, as he should not begin -on the bale at present.</p> - -<p>The next morning Mr. Seth and his brother -Israel ground their axes, and started for the woods -to fell trees for a burn, expecting to find other -neighbors there, and a guard. They had gone but -a little way, when Mr. Seth said,—</p> - -<p>"Israel, I sha'n't be able to go, at least this -forenoon. See yonder wind-clouds: there's quite a -breeze now; and I've several grists in the mill that -the neighbors want ground. I must go to the -mill."</p> - -<p>It was soon known in the neighborhood that -the mill was going; and persons were seen approaching -it from different directions, some because -they had business there, and some to talk over -matters of common interest with others whom -they expected to find there.</p> - -<p>Most of them were the older members of the -community; the young men being on the scout -that day, or guarding those chopping.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> -<p>"Neighbors," said McClure, seating himself -upon a bag of meal, with his rifle across his knees, -"have you heard the news?"</p> - -<p>"Where should we get news, who are a hundred -miles from anywhere, and cut off from all -the rest of mankind?" said Proctor.</p> - -<p>"I spoke to Honeywood as I came along. He -was out on the scout yesterday: he told me he -met Dick Ellison and sixteen men. Dick has -been one of the Black Rifle's men. Dick told -him the Indians had murdered twenty-eight people -at Shamakin; that they took their trail, but -couldn't overtake 'em, they had so much start."</p> - -<p>"Then they must have been in strong force. I -wonder how many Indians 'twould take to kill -twenty-eight men like us?"</p> - -<p>"'Twould take five hundred, if we had a fort -overhead, Proctor; but you can't judge of their -numbers by the people killed: most like, there -wasn't more'n ten or twelve Indians, and the people -they killed were German farmers with some -old gun,—the lock too weak to throw the pan -open,—or only a pitchfork to defend themselves -with, and skeered ter death at that, or else they -were fort soldiers, that ain't better'n our children<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> -would be, nor half so good, only let 'em have a -rest to fire from."</p> - -<p>"What else did Dick say?"</p> - -<p>"He said the governor had offered a bounty for -sculps. For every Indian man, or boy over ten -years old, one hundred fifty dollars; for every -squaw, or girl over ten, one hundred thirty dollars; -for the sculp of every Indian man, or boy -over ten, one hundred thirty dollars; and for -every squaw's or girl's sculp, fifty dollars. Dick -reckoned there wouldn't be many prisoners taken -on that lay."</p> - -<p>"Of course there wouldn't. What a fool a -ranger would be to take an Indian prisoner, have -to feed him and watch night and day, run the -risk of his getting away, or of being killed by him -in the night, and have to carry him perhaps a hundred -miles to a government fort to get one hundred -fifty dollars, or one hundred thirty if 'twas -a woman, when he could get one hundred thirty -or fifty for their sculp that are nothing to carry, -and could hang fifty on 'em to your belt, and no -trouble 'cept to knock 'em on the head, and take -the sculp off!"</p> - -<p>"Honeywood," continued McClure, "thinks, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span>after -hearing this news, we ought not to wait to -get the harvest, but go into the garrison right off. -He says, and it's a fact, that McDonald and his -family were all murdered last year, just by staying -out one day too long."</p> - -<p>"Did he say where the Black Rifle was?" asked -Armstrong.</p> - -<p>"At his cave in the mountain: he's going ter -stop there quite a while."</p> - -<p>"Then we sha'n't be troubled with Indians as -long as he's round."</p> - -<p>"Don't be too sure of that: they've found out -that it don't pay to come as they used to, in small -numbers; and now it's said there are from seventy -to a hundred and fifty Indians under one of their -chiefs."</p> - -<p>"There were five hundred French and Indians -at the taking of Fort Granville. Such a crowd as -that wouldn't pay much attention to the Black -Rifle," said Wood.</p> - -<p>"We've given them cause enough to dread and -hate, and want to wipe us out. They've driven -all the other settlers out of the valley, or butchered -'em. They know very well that we are -planted out here beyond all help, or hope of it;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> -and I believe our turn'll come to take it worse -than ever before during this harvest time," said -Mr. Seth.</p> - -<p>"The women," said Proctor, "hate mortally to -go into garrison. It is hot in the block-houses, -they have no place to keep their milk, the children -torment them to death, and they're afraid of -the garrison-fever at this time of year. I think, -however, 'tis better to go into the fort than to be -listening for the war-whoop, or looking to see if -the fire's not flashing out 'twixt the rafters, all the -time you are harvesting."</p> - -<p>"Well, neighbors," said McClure, "all here are -agreed about it, and I have spoken to the others: -they think as we do, and we kalkerlate to go inter -the fort day after to-morrow at the outside; and -I'm going ter leave my grist in the mill, then -'twill be here."</p> - -<p>Mr. Seth had finished grinding; and they all -left the mill to prepare for the worst, except Proctor, -whose turn it was to keep guard that night. -One man was kept on guard at the mill, even -when the settlers were in their own dwellings, to -open the gate, and fire the alarm-gun in case of need.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER III.</span> <span class="smaller">FOREWARNED.</span></h2> - -<p>When the settlers left the fort in the -spring, Honeywood moved into the house -of his father-in-law, Israel Blanchard, his own -dwelling being at a greater distance from the fort -than any other at the Run. He, however, became -tired of going so far every day to his work, and -chose to go back to his own home when he had -recovered from a wound received in a skirmish -with the Indians in hoeing-time. His family consisted -of himself, wife, and two children; the eldest -boy about six, the other a little child.</p> - -<p>Cal Holdness had come over to take supper -with them; and, having despatched the meal, they -were variously occupied.</p> - -<p>The mother was undressing Eddie, and the -youngest child was asleep in the cradle. Cal's -rifle was out of order; and he had brought it with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> -him, that Harvey might repair it. He laid the -weapon across his knees, and proceeded to take off -the lock, Cal holding a lighted sliver of pitch-wood -to give him light. It was a sultry night, -and the house, built of hewn timber, excessively -warm. The doors and bullet-proof shutters being -closed, there was no ventilation except by means -of the chimney, and the loop-holes which were -only large enough to admit the barrel of a rifle. -Honeywood, noticing the drops of perspiration on -the face of his wife, said,—</p> - -<p>"Sarah, I've a good mind to open the door: see -how that child in the cradle sweats, and you are -well-nigh roasted. If I open the door 'twill make -a good draught up the chimney, and cool the house -off for the night."</p> - -<p>"Don't, husband, I beg of you: it's just the -time of year when Indians are most likely to come; -we've just heard that they've been killing people -at Shamakin. It's not long since they took Fort -Granville, and killed all the garrison but one; and -this very day you've been telling the neighbors -that we ought to go into the fort, and not wait to -reap the grain first; and now you want to open -the door, and there may be a dozen Indians<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> -around it. Have you forgotten that this very last -spring Mr. Maccoy's family were sitting one evening -with the door open, and an Indian was creeping -up to it, when the Black Rifle shot him, or -they would all have been murdered? I know it's -warm, but I had rather bear the heat than have -you open the door."</p> - -<p>"I don't think there's any danger: there's two -of us here."</p> - -<p>"My rifle can't be depended upon," said Cal.</p> - -<p>"But there's two more loaded in the brackets, -and two smooth-bores; and we're not obliged to -sit near the doors."</p> - -<p>"Oh, don't, husband! an Indian always seems -to me just like the Evil One: you can't hear or -see him till he is upon you. They may be lurking -round the house this moment." She had scarcely -finished when there was a loud rap on the door.</p> - -<p>Cal, placing the pine sliver in a stone made to -hold it on the hearth, took a rifle from the wall. -Honeywood said, "Who is there?"</p> - -<p>"Wasaweela," was the reply in the unmistakable -tone and accent of a savage.</p> - -<p>"We shall be murdered," cried Mrs. Honeywood, -catching the sleeping child from the cradle.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> -"O Edward! fire right through the door, and kill -him."</p> - -<p>"I shall do no such thing: he's an old friend of -mine;" and he instantly began to unbar the door. -His wife ran into the bedroom with the child in -her arms, little Eddie following in his nightgown, -holding fast to his mother's clothes, and screaming -lustily in concert with his brother. Cal Holdness, -on the other hand, a true frontier boy cradled -amid alarms, restored to the bracket the rifle he -had held ready to fire.</p> - -<p>As the door opened, an Indian stepped in, so -very tall (though he stooped considerably as he -entered) that the single feather on his scalp-lock -brushed the lintel. He was not painted for war; -naked except a breech-cloth, and his only arms -were the knife and tomahawk in his belt. His -moccasons and leggings were torn, and his whole -body reeking with perspiration, as though he had -undergone great and prolonged exertion. He, -in the language of the Mohawks, greeted Honeywood, -who replied in the same tongue.</p> - -<p>After drinking some water, he took the seat -offered him, and remained silent some time, either -to collect his thoughts, as is customary with <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>Indians, -who are never in haste to speak, or perhaps -to regain his breath; while Honeywood, familiar -with the customs of the savages, waited till he -should see fit to speak.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Honeywood was a woman of fortitude, -reared on the frontier; but the news of recent -murders by the Indians, the knowledge that her -husband, a most resolute man, had warned his -neighbors that no time should be lost in getting -into garrison, coupled with the sudden appearance -of the Indian, all conspired to excite her fears -till they were beyond control. She had also been -brought up with such prejudices, that it was almost -impossible for her to believe that any confidence -could be safely reposed in a savage. But observing -that the Indian was not in his war-paint, but -partially armed, that he manifested no concern -when her husband barred the door, thus placing -himself entirely at the mercy of him and Cal, also -recollecting that she had seen him at her father's, -and how faithfully he at that time performed an -engagement, her fears subsided, and she began to -soothe the terrified children.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile every feature of Cal's countenance -manifested the intense desire he felt to know the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> -meaning of this singular and abrupt visit, for it -was evident enough that his was no idle errand; -neither could he sufficiently admire the noble proportions -of a form in which strength and agility -were so happily blended.</p> - -<p>At length rising to his feet, he said, "Brother, -listen. We have eaten of each other's bread, drank -of the same cup, and spread our blankets at the -same fire. Though the Great Spirit has made us -of a different color, we are one in heart."</p> - -<p>Extending his hand as he uttered these words, -it was grasped by Honeywood. He then proceeded, -"Brother, open your ears. Your king and -the French king have dug up the hatchet. The -Delawares, Shawanees, Monseys, and some other -Indians, have joined the French. They have -struck the English very hard, and killed their -great chief who came over the water. The Delawares -and Shawanees have taken the scalps of a -great many of your people, and driven them from -the land that the Delawares say belongs to them, -and that your people took and never paid for. Is -it not so?"</p> - -<p>Honeywood made a gesture of assent.</p> - -<p>"The Six Nations do not like the French. We<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> -have struck them very hard in days that are past; -but we do not wish to interfere in the quarrel between -the thirteen fires and the Delawares, though -the Delawares are our nephews.</p> - -<p>"We cannot always keep our young men in -subjection: therefore some of them may have -gone with the Delawares and the French. This -we cannot help: we did not send them; if you -take their scalps, it is no cause for quarrel between -us.</p> - -<p>"Brother, open your ears. The Delawares and -Shawanees have struck your people, and you have -done the same to them, and struck the Delawares -much harder than they have struck you; -you are great warriors. The Six Nations do not -think it right or just that the pale-faces should -take the land of the Delawares without paying -them for it: therefore they look on, and let them -strike you. You are my brother; I know you to -be a just and brave man, though you live among -very bad people: therefore I've run a great ways -and very fast to tell you that the Delawares are -coming to take your scalp and the scalps of all -your people, that their young men whose scalps -your people have taken may rest in their graves."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p> -<p>"I thank you, brother. When will the Delawares -come?"</p> - -<p>"At break of day, after the sun comes and -goes."</p> - -<p>"How many of them?"</p> - -<p>The Mohawk took from his pouch seven kernels -of parched corn, placed them in a row on the table, -and spread out his fingers over them, saying,—</p> - -<p>"So many Delawares."</p> - -<p>Then, taking away all but two of the kernels, -he again spread his fingers, saying, "So many -Shawanees," and then signified that there would -be the same number of Monseys. Honeywood -then inquired if there would be any French officers -or soldiers with them, to which the Mohawk -replied that there would not.</p> - -<p>"It is well, brother: we will be ready."</p> - -<p>While all were attentively listening, the little -child had left the mother's side (who was too -much occupied with the fearful tidings to heed his -motions), and, venturing farther and farther, at -length crept to the feet of the Indian, and began -playing with his leggings, which were of a bright -red color.</p> - -<p>The little creature, gradually becoming more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> -bold, at length stood up on his feet by holding the -lacings of the leggings, and looked proudly -around, crowing and laughing, no doubt thinking -himself the central figure of the group, and -the object of universal attention.</p> - -<p>"One hundred and ten raging Indians! Our -time has come: we shall all be murdered!" exclaimed -the mother.</p> - -<p>Honeywood set food before the Mohawk, then -took off his moccasons, which were worn, and his -leggings, and gave him some water for his feet. -The Indian signified his wish to sleep till within -an hour of daybreak. Honeywood spread blankets -on the floor, promising to watch, and rouse him at -the proper time. Wasaweela, wrapping himself in -a blanket, was asleep in a moment. The others -retired to the bedroom, where they conversed in -low tones.</p> - -<p>"Sarah, you've heard your father say many -times, and you, Cal, have also heard your father -say, if an Indian war should break out, that this -Mohawk who then hunted with me, and was -apparently so friendly, would be the very first to -take my scalp and those of my family. Now you -see what he has done,—travelled through woods<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> -and swamps, forded or swum rivers, much of the -time on the run night and day, to save the life of -one (and the lives of his family) who had merely -treated him kindly."</p> - -<p>"Isn't he a noble-looking man?" said Cal. -"Isn't he handsome, beautiful? What an arm -and leg he's got! and his breast, and so tall—just -as straight as a pine-tree. Didn't you see -him smile when the baby stood up and held on -to his leggings? and what a pleasant smile it was -too! Oh, I wish I was such a man!"</p> - -<p>Cal's conception of beauty lay in thews and -sinews.</p> - -<p>"But, husband, what will become of us? A -hundred Indians, only think of it!—seventy Delawares, -twenty Shawanees, and twenty Monseys; -and the Delawares are the most bloodthirsty of -all. It seems to me that you or Cal ought to go -this moment, and rouse the neighbors, and get -into the fort before morning: you might both go, -but I couldn't be left alone with this Indian."</p> - -<p>"Not after he made such efforts to save you and -the children's lives?"</p> - -<p>"No: I suppose I ought not to feel so, but I -cannot help it."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p> -<p>"There's no cause, wife, for alarm, nor for -haste. There are no Frenchmen coming, and of -course there is no artillery. The fort is well -prepared for a much longer siege than is to be -apprehended from Indians. It is well provided -with water, provisions, and ammunition; and we -are all at home, and every man fit for duty, not -a disabled man amongst us. There's time enough -to move after daylight."</p> - -<p>"Most of our provisions are in the fort now," -said Cal; "never have been taken away. Every -family can move in three hours."</p> - -<p>"If," continued Honeywood, "they could have -come upon us by surprise, and caught each family -in their own home, our case would have been a -desperate one; but, forewarned and prepared, it is -entirely another matter. Now, wife, you and Cal -had better try to get some rest, for to-morrow will -be a busy, trying day."</p> - -<p>"I can lie down; but as for sleeping, it's no -use to think of it."</p> - -<p>"Well, lie down, then: 'twill rest you."</p> - -<p>"I'll divide the watch with you, Mr. Honeywood," -said Cal; "and when I think by the moon -it's twelve o'clock, I'll call you."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> -<p>Honeywood went to bed, and slept as soundly -as though no danger threatened him or his. Such -is the result of strong nerves, and familiarity with -peril. His wife, on the other hand, lay sleepless; -or, if for a few moments she dozed, would awake -with a start, imagining she heard the sound of the -war-whoop.</p> - -<p>At midnight Cal woke Honeywood, but, instead -of going to bed, lay down on the floor, as -he wished to be at hand when the Mohawk left, -and to witness the parting.</p> - -<p>He was unwilling to lose any opportunity of -contemplating a being who by his splendid physical -proportions, and the noble qualities of his -heart, had quite won the affections of the enthusiastic -youth.</p> - -<p>Honeywood woke the Mohawk, and placed food -before him, of which the latter partook heartily; -he also presented him with a new pair of moccasons -and leggings, to replace his that were so -much torn, also a pipe filled and lighted. After -smoking, apparently with great satisfaction, he -rose, drew his belt round him, and, extending his -hand to Honeywood, said,—</p> - -<p>"Brother, be strong: the Delawares are many,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> -but they are cowards; we have put the hoe in -their hands, and made women of them. If they -master your scalp, your people will revenge your -death. Farewell." With the noiseless step of a -savage he left the house, and disappeared in the -shades of the forest.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER IV.</span> <span class="smaller">PREPARING FOR THE WORST.</span></h2> - -<p>It was fortunate for these settlers, that, in view -of contingencies, they had made thorough -preparations for defence.</p> - -<p>By noon of that day their household effects had -been removed to the fort, troughs filled with -water to extinguish fire, and the cannon in the -flankers loaded.</p> - -<p>"Neighbors," said Honeywood, "there are too -many of them for us to meet in the field. If we -wait in the fort for them to attack us, they'll first -burn our houses and barns, kill the cattle, tread -down or pull up the corn: that is too green to -burn, but the grain is not. And we shall have to -look on and see it done. Rather than do that, I -counsel we ambush their advance: it is possible -we may rout them altogether; and, if not, we can -fall back to the fort."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span></p> -<p>"I," said McClure, "like Honeywood's plan, -and I don't like it: there's much to be said on -both sides. I know very well that if we don't -make any fight except behind the walls of the -fort, they'll destroy every thing outside of it; but -suppose they do: we're not going to quite starve. -It's no great to build up the log houses again. A -good part of our hay is inside the stockade, and -we could get the cattle through the winter on -browse; we've considerable of last year's corn, -grain, and pork, in the garrison; we can drive the -hogs and cattle inside; and, though it would be a -dreadful calamity to lose our corn and grain, we -could keep life in us by hunting.</p> - -<p>"Now as consarns ambushing, we of course -should take but part of our force, and leave the -rest in the fort; and that part would be so small, -that if there's as many Indians as the Mohawk -said, they would be surrounded and killed without -making much impression on the Indians; and -that would leave a very weak garrison to hold so -large a fort."</p> - -<p>"Indians," said Armstrong, "always march in -Indian file, except they're going to attack, or -apprehend danger, when they come two abreast.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> -They'll be likely to come now in Indian file till -they cross the river, 'cause they expect to surprise -us. In that case there wouldn't be rifles enough -to kill many, 'cause you can't take aim right in -the night, and firing at men in a long line is not -like firing into a crowd, when if you miss one -you'll hit another. They would know by our fire -that our number was small, and would take trees -till daylight, and then surround us."</p> - -<p>"What do you say, Brad?" inquired McClure, -appealing to Holdness.</p> - -<p>"I'm in favor of the ambush. You see, they're -coming down here with a force large enough to -divide, and then attack every house at once. -The Mohawk says there are seventy Delawares. -These Delawares were driven off from here: they -know every inch of the ground, every house and -every man, and can guide the rest. It would be a -great backer ter 'em when they expected ter find -us all in our houses unprepared, and ter wipe us -out as easy as a man would snuff a candle, and -pay off old scores, ter be ambushed themselves, -and met with a rattling volley; and they might -break, and give it up."</p> - -<p>"But, neighbors, that's all <i>perhaps</i>: there's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> -another thing that ain't. One hundred nor five -hundred Indians can't drive us out of this fort; -and in it our families are safe if we are there to -defend it. If we were all single men, I'd say, -Ambush 'em; let's have a right up-and-down fight, -and try their mettle: and I'm for it now, if we -can reduce the risk for the women and children -in any way."</p> - -<p>"The greatest difficulty 'bout an ambush," said -Blanchard, "is, we don't know which way they'll -come. The Mohawk told Honeywood they would -start from their town Kittanning; but whether -they'll take either of the war-paths, or come -through the woods where there is no path, we -can't tell."</p> - -<p>"Whichever way they come in the daytime," -said Armstrong, "when at night they come near -to us, they'll take the path that leads direct to the -ford. There's so many of 'em, they'll be bold: -they won't hesitate to take the water at the regular -fording-place, because they know the country -is all their own, and that they've killed or driven -off all but us."</p> - -<p>"Why not lay an ambush there, where we cannot -be flanked, because we shall have the stream<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> -at our backs, nor be so far away but what we -can fall back and reach the fort?"</p> - -<p>"We must of course fall back if the Indians -don't," said Grant; "and then we shall be exposed -to their fire while we are crossing the river, when -they'll be under cover, and probably but very few -of us would get across. I should like to have one -slap at 'em. They'll take very good care to keep -out of rifle-shot of the fort; and all we can do -will be to stand on the platforms and grind our -teeth, while they are burning our houses and destroying -our crops."</p> - -<p>"I see there's but one feeling among us," said -Honeywood: "that is, to preserve our crops if it -can be done without risking the lives of our household. -Suppose we do this: Let one party lay in -ambush at the ford among the bushes and drift -timber on the edge of the bank on the side next -the fort, and another party lay in ambush on the -opposite bank in the woods; then both parties hold -their fire till a good many Indians are in the water -crossing, and then open fire on them. It will be -a great deal lighter on the river than in the woods, -as there will be part of a moon; and, looking out -of the darkness into the light, we can see them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> -better than they can see us. So heavy a fire as -both parties can throw will stagger them; and in -surprise they will fall back, as Indians always do -when they lose men. Then the party on the -western side can recross, join the others, and we -can hold the ford, or retreat to the fort, as we -think best."</p> - -<p>"I like that," said Holdness: "then the party -on the western bank can be protected while crossing -by the fire of the others, if the Indians attack -'em in the water."</p> - -<p>"Harry Sumerford," said Grant, "you seem to -have something on your mind, and we would like -to hear it."</p> - -<p>"I think there are people here whose opinions -are of much more value than mine, Mr. Grant. -I was going to say that Dick Ellison told Mr. -Honeywood that the Black Rifle was at his place -in the mountains, and was going to stay there -quite a spell. Now, he generally has ten or a -dozen men that he can lay his hands on when he -wants 'em for a scalping-scrape, and perhaps they -might help us. They are men to be depended -upon, or the Black Rifle would have nothing to -do with them."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p> -<p>"I'll go," said Nat Cuthbert: "I know the -road."</p> - -<p>"Take my horse," said Armstrong, "and ride -for your life, and all our lives: if you kill him, no -matter."</p> - -<p>"What shall I say to him?"</p> - -<p>"Just tell him a hundred Indians are on the -road from Kittanning, to attack us at daybreak -to-morrow morning. He'll know what ter do; and -he'll want no coaxing ter come ter such a party, -I kin tell you," said Holdness.</p> - -<p>"If I ain't back by midnight, you may know -he's coming, and that I'm coming with him."</p> - -<p>"Where were all our wits, that we could none -of us think of that," said Honeywood, "when Dick -told me, and I told the rest of you, that the captain -was about getting up a scalping-party? God grant -they may not have started before Nat gets there!"</p> - -<p>"He may be alone," said Grant; "may not have -got his party together yet."</p> - -<p>"If he is alone," said Holdness, "he'll come: -and his war-whoop is worth a dozen men. There -ain't an Indian this side the Monongahela, but -knows the Black Rifle's yell, for it don't sound -like any thing else in this world; and, when they -hear it, they'll think their game is up."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p> -<p>The settlers now proceeded to make their final -arrangements. To Honeywood were assigned -Harry, Alex and Enoch Sumerford, Ned Armstrong, -Hugh Crawford, jun., Stewart, James -Blanchard, Cal Holdness, Andrew McClure, and -nearly all Harry's company of the "Young Defenders." -This was done because these youth had -been engaged together in several sharp conflicts -with Indians, had been accustomed to act together -under the command of Harry, and had always -come off victorious. They were also greatly attached -to Honeywood, and reposed the most implicit -confidence in his judgment and courage.</p> - -<p>The other party consisted of Holdness, McClure, -Grant, sen., Ben Rogers, Wood, Holt, Maccoy, -Armstrong, Proctor, and Heinrich Stiefel.</p> - -<p>Israel Blanchard was left in command of the -fort. With him was his brother Seth (who was of -no account as a fighting man), Daniel Blanchard, -and the boys who had been drilled to fire from a -rest, had participated in several actions, some of -whom had been wounded, of which they were -sufficiently proud. This band comprised all the -"Screeching Catamounts."</p> - -<p>These two parties, who were to meet a hundred<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> -and ten Indians, all picked men, were in the proportion -of more than five savages to one of the -settlers: yet so high was their courage, and so inured -were they to danger, that when they might -have remained behind their defences, and repulsed -the foe, they hesitated not to take the fearful risk, -rather than see their grain destroyed when almost -ready for the sickle.</p> - -<p>"I have thought of another thing," said Holdness, -as, after having selected the place for ambush, -they were returning to the fort. "You know for -the last year we've been taking more or less -smooth-bores and rifles from the Indians we've -killed; then we've all got more than one gun -apiece that we had before the war broke out; and, -when we went after the salt, we bought more: -now we kin take two rifles, or a rifle and a smoothbore -apiece, and then leave extra arms in the fort -for the women ter load or use if worst comes ter -worst; and that will be almost the same as doubling -our forces, at any rate for the first fire."</p> - -<p>"If," said McClure, "instead of coming, as we -expect, before or about the break of day, they -should not get along till after sunrise, they would -stop short, hide in the woods, and put off their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> -attack till the next morning before daybreak; but -then they would send scouts ahead, who'd creep -round and find that we had left our houses and -gone ter the fort, and discover our ambush."</p> - -<p>"Well, I'll send Harry and Ned Armstrong -ahead," said Honeywood, "to watch their motions, -and give us notice; and then we must retreat to -the fort, and let them burn and destroy; for it's -no use for us to think of fighting such a host, except -we can surprise them; for if we stay here, and -they discover us, as they certainly would in the -daytime, they would find ways to cross the stream -and surround us. But I think they will be here -at the very time the Mohawk said. Indians are -not like a regular force, that are liable to be impeded -by a thousand things, under the command -of several officers. Nothing stops an Indian on the -war-path: there is but one leader and one mind -among 'em."</p> - -<p>As they assembled in the kitchen of the fort -that night for supper, it seemed well-nigh certain -that some of those seated at that table would -never eat together again; yet the men ate heartily, -and even cheerfully. But it was a solemn -parting, when, soon after nightfall, they moved<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> -silently from the fort, in Indian file, to take up -their positions.</p> - -<p>The mothers and children stood at the gate -watching the departing forms of their kindred till -they could no longer be distinguished, and when -the great bars that closed the entrance were -dropped into their mortises with a dull thud, it -reminded more than one of the fall of clods on -the coffin-lid.</p> - -<p>There were but two men left in the fort,—Israel -Blanchard and Mr. Seth. As for the negro, -he had not been seen since the inhabitants went -into garrison.</p> - -<p>"What a pity Scip is such a miserable coward! -He is an excellent shot, and might do good service -at the loop-holes. I suppose he's hid somewhere," -said Israel Blanchard.</p> - -<p>In this state of things, the boys held the watch; -and, as there were so many of them, they stood -but an hour each, Blanchard keeping guard during -the two hours before daybreak.</p> - -<p>The women were busily employed scraping lint, -preparing bandages and ointments, the virtues of -which they had learned from the Indians, or by -long experience had found to be efficacious in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> -case of gun-shot wounds. It was a season of anxious -foreboding: none cared to converse, and they -plied their labors for the most part in silence. -The only exceptions were to be found among the -boys, who, confident in the prowess of their fathers -and brothers, elated with the idea that they were -holding the fort and intrusted with guard-duty, -seemed raised far above all perception of danger -or possibility of mishaps, and were in a state of -most pleasurable excitement.</p> - -<p>It increased the sadness of their parents to see -them thus, and often the tears sprang to the -mother's eyes as she thought of the terrible fate -that awaited them, should those who had gone out -to engage in such an unequal conflict be overcome.</p> - -<p>Under the influence of these depressing anxieties, -all that they could do being done, Mrs. Honeywood -proposed that they should go into the -schoolhouse, and spend a season in prayer.</p> - -<p>Upon this Israel Blanchard said to Mr. Seth, -who looked pale and anxious,—</p> - -<p>"Brother, you had better go with the women."</p> - -<p>"You mean, Israel, that I am good for nothing -else."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p> -<p>"I did not say that; for, if He who made you -has denied courage, he has given you grace. -You're a better man than I am, Seth,—better fitted -either to live or die. Go with them; for we -need divine aid now, if we ever did since we -broke ground here."</p> - -<p class="space-above">The settlers had now reached their positions, -where they were concealed not merely by trees -and underbrush, but by large quantities of drift-wood -brought down by the floods, and left on the -banks by the falling of the water. Having set -their watch, the rest lay down and slept as coolly -as though their own lives and the lives of those -they held most dear were not at stake.</p> - -<p>"Ned," said Holdness to Honeywood, "they pay -us a fine compliment, coming a hundred and ten -against twenty, for these Delawares know about -what our number is."</p> - -<p>"True: they have a pretty thorough knowledge -of what they may expect at our hands."</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER V.</span> <span class="smaller">THE STORM BURSTS.</span></h2> - -<p>It was little past midnight when Holdness, who -held the watch, espied two persons coming -from the garrison, who, to his astonishment, -proved to be Tony Stewart and Sam Sumerford.</p> - -<p>"Who sent you here?" he exclaimed.</p> - -<p>"Where's my father?" inquired Tony, instead -of answering the question.</p> - -<p>"On the other side of the river, with Mr. Honeywood."</p> - -<p>"Where's our Harry?" said Sam.</p> - -<p>"He's over there with 'em."</p> - -<p>"You won't tell Tony's father nor our Harry -that we are here, will you, Mr. Holdness? 'cause -we've both of us got rifles, and we want to kill Indians. -You know Tony killed an Indian; and I -want to kill one, and he wants to kill another. We -ain't no good in the fort, the Indians won't come -there: we want to be where the Indians come."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></p> -<p>"Well, now, do you start right back just as -quick as you kin go, or I'll take my ramrod to you. -Why, your mothers'll be worried to death about -you. How did you get out of the fort?"</p> - -<p>"We came out when all the rest did."</p> - -<p>"Where have you been all this time?"</p> - -<p>"We went into Mr. Armstrong's barn, and went -to sleep on the hay."</p> - -<p>"Well, go right back: you're no use; you'll -only get killed, and won't do any good, but in the -fort you will. Don't go up ter the gate till daylight, -for Blanchard'll shoot you. Go back to the -barn, and sleep till sunrise."</p> - -<p>Slowly and sulkily the boys started off in the -direction indicated by Holdness.</p> - -<p>"What little tykes they are! if that ain't grit, -I'd like ter know what is."</p> - -<p>Honeywood, perceiving by the moon that it was -not far from daybreak, roused his men. Scarcely -had he done so, when Harry and Ned Armstrong, -who had been sent in advance, returned to report -that the Indians were coming along the ordinary -path, but at some distance.</p> - -<p>Now ensued a period of intense expectation: -every ear was strained to catch the faintest sound<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> -that might betoken the approach of the foe. But -the mighty forest was silent as the grave; not a -breath of wind stirred the foliage; not even the -howl of a wolf, or the cry of a night-bird, was -heard. The light murmur of the stream among -the rocks that here and there strewed the shallows -of the ford alone broke the silence of that lovely -morning, that seemed made for repose, not slaughter.</p> - -<p>The day was now breaking fast; and, even -amid the dim shadows of the forest, objects near -at hand could be distinguished: still no foe appeared.</p> - -<p>At length the cracking of a dry stick was heard, -but so faintly as only to be perceptible to the -trained ear of the frontier-man; and the long line -of dark forms came gliding along the path noiselessly -as the panther steals upon his prey. The -foremost Indian stooped as he reached the bank, -examined the ground, and listened intently. The -least sound—a loud breath, the click of a gunlock, -or even the least footprint in the soil—would -have alarmed the keen senses of the savage. -There was neither sound nor sign; for Honeywood -and his party well knew with whom they had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> -to deal, and had not crossed at the ford, but at some -distance above.</p> - -<p>The leader now touched with his finger the -warrior next him, and that one the next. When -the signal had thus passed along the line, the last -man marched to the front, thus bringing them two -abreast, in which order they entered the water, -keeping close. Six had mounted the opposite -bank, and the rest were following, when the deep -stillness of nature was broken by the roar of fire-arms; -and the greater part of those forms but an -instant before instinct with life, and breathing -vengeance, sank beneath the wave, or, after a few -convulsive struggles, were borne away by the -rapid current; and the rays of the rising sun -gleamed on waters red with blood. Another volley -instantly succeeded, completing the slaughter; -two only were seen to crawl on their hands and -knees, sorely wounded, to the shelter of some -bushes that grew on the water's edge; but, ere -they could reach the covert, Armstrong rushed -down the bank, tomahawk in hand, and despatched them.</p> - -<div class="center"><img src="images/i064.jpg" alt="The Ambuscade" /></div> - -<p class="bold"><span class="smcap">The Ambuscade.</span>—Page 59.</p> - -<p>Elated with the success of their ambush (for -the two volleys had swept away the Indians on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> -the borders of both banks and those in the water, -while, being under cover, the settlers had received -no harm from the fire that the Indians in their -surprise returned), Holdness and his men instantly -dashed across the ford, and joined Honeywood, -resolved to follow up their advantage.</p> - -<p>Although meeting with a severe loss of men -and a severe resistance, when they had expected -to surprise their foes, the savages did not retreat, -but took trees, and, confident in their superior -force, renewed the contest.</p> - -<p>Holdness now had reason to regret, that, under -the impulse of the moment, he had not acted with -his usual caution in thus crossing the stream; for, -although the river protected the rear of the little -band, the savages, by occupying the bank both -above and below them, could command the ford; -and thus they were prevented from retreating -without being exposed to the fire of the Indians -while crossing the stream, while the latter would -be under cover.</p> - -<p>In another manner they made their superiority -in numbers tell to the disadvantage of the settlers. -Behind some of the largest trees, two Indians -stationed themselves, one standing, the other lying<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> -flat on the ground; and whenever a settler, knowing -that the Indian opposed to him had fired, -incautiously exposed himself to load, he was liable -to be hit by the other. Before this stratagem was -discovered, three of the settlers were killed, and -several wounded.</p> - -<p>An Indian was stationed behind a large sugar-tree -within half rifle-shot of Harry Sumerford, and -they had long been trying to kill each other. At -length the Indian fired, but missed; and Harry, -knowing his rifle was empty, stepped from behind -his tree to take better aim, and would have been -shot by another (who, unbeknown to Harry, was -lying behind the same tree), but at that moment -a rifle cracked, and the savage fell over, shot -through the head; and a well-known voice -cried,—</p> - -<p>"Zukkers! I've shot another Indian!"</p> - -<p>Looking round in surprise, Harry espied Tony -Stewart, on his knees behind a windfall, his rifle -resting on it, the smoke yet rising from the muzzle, -and Sam also crouching behind the same tree.</p> - -<p>"You little plagues!" exclaimed Harry, "what -sent you here right into the thickest of the fire?"</p> - -<p>"If I hadn't been here," retorted Tony, "you'd<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> -'a' been killed; for, when I shot that Indian, he -had his finger on the trigger."</p> - -<p>"Is that so?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," said Sam; "and there's two Indians behind -most every tree."</p> - -<p>It came out, that, after being sent home by -Holdness, they sauntered off in that direction till -beyond his notice, and then went along by the -bank of the river. There they found the raft on -which Honeywood and his party had crossed, and -which they had set adrift. They sat down on the -raft, and waited till the conflict began, and the -Indians had fallen back; when, no longer able to -resist the temptation, they crossed on the raft.</p> - -<p>Once across, they crept along beneath the high -bank near to where the settlers were posted, and, -concealing themselves among the drift-wood, lay -unnoticed till the Indians, returning by degrees, -had obtained such positions as to command the -ford.</p> - -<p>There was now no such thing as sending them -home; and well they knew it, and no longer hesitated -to show themselves and take part in the -conflict.</p> - -<p>Great was the alarm of the parents at home<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> -when Sam and Tony did not make their appearance -at the breakfast-table, and when they found -their beds had not been slept in.</p> - -<p>Their fears were by no means allayed when -(after the most searching inquiries of the other -boys, mingled with threats of summary punishment -if they refused to tell) they ascertained, -partly from Ike Proctor and partly from Archie -Crawford, where they had gone.</p> - -<p>"Did ever anybody in this world see such children?" -said Mrs. Sumerford. "That's what comes -of letting them have rifles, tomahawks, and scalping-knives, -and bringing them up like wolves, as -Mr. Honeywood says."</p> - -<p>"It's a sair thing, nae doubt, to hae the weans -sae greedy for fight when they've nae come till't; -still I ken there's nae knowledge mair needfu' -than the knowledge o' fighting in these waefu' -times, for it's just kill or be kilt," said Mrs. Stewart, -who took a more practical view of the matter.</p> - -<p>It was a source of great mortification to Sam -Sumerford, that he had never yet been able to kill -an Indian, although Tony had killed two; and he -was prepared to incur any risk to accomplish that -feat; and, after long waiting, the opportunity was -presented.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p> -<p>The Indians are extremely dexterous in carrying -away their dead, and even during the time of -action will generally contrive to remove or conceal -their bodies.</p> - -<p>Tony saw a savage conveying away the body of -another who had been shot by Holdness. Having -fastened a line to the head of the corpse, this savage, -lying flat on the ground, taking advantage of -every inequality, was worming himself along, and -almost imperceptibly drawing the body after him.</p> - -<p>Sammy crept along after him, gradually drawing -near, till within short range. The body at length -came in contact with a log: and, the Indian cautiously -raising himself from the ground to lift it -over the obstacle, Sammy, firing, killed him.</p> - -<p>Entirely occupied in endeavoring to accomplish -his purpose, he had crawled much farther than he -was aware. The next moment an Indian, rushing -out of a thick clump of trees, caught the boy, and, -holding him before him as a protection from the -fire of the settlers, began to walk slowly backwards.</p> - -<p>A cry of horror arose from the ranks of the -whites; while the Indians filled the air with yells -of exultation, and increased their fire to prevent -rescue.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p> -<p>The Indian was within a few feet of the clump -from which he had issued, slowly retreating amid -the silence of friends and foes, all intently watching -his progress, when the report of a rifle rung -through the forest, and the savage fell, shot -through the very centre of his forehead.</p> - -<p>"God bless you, Mr. Honeywood!" shouted -Harry: "you had help to do that."</p> - -<p>"I asked for it," was the reply, as he leaned -against the tree behind which he stood, pale and -weak with emotion.</p> - -<p>The savages endeavored to shoot the lad as he -lay on the ground; but the noble fellow pulled -the body of the savage over his own, thus sheltering -himself till Harry and Alex, rushing forward, -rescued him, Harry escaping unharmed, and Alex -with a slight flesh-wound.</p> - -<p>"They are not such shots as Honeywood, or -neither of you would have come back," said Holdness.</p> - -<p>"Hope you've got enough of it now, youngster," -said Harry as he put the boy down.</p> - -<p>"I want to kill another Indian, and I mean to, -'cause Tony's killed two."</p> - -<p>The settlers now found themselves in a position<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> -of great peril, being too few in number to advance, -while, at the same time, they could not recross the -ford without exposing themselves to the same -fearful slaughter which they had inflicted upon -the Indians.</p> - -<p>The latter soon made it evident that they were -fully sensible of their advantage. With great -skill and promptitude they made a raft which they -covered with brush, and on it placed their arms, -then, swimming alongside, pushed it across the -stream, and, seizing their arms, took the most -direct route to the fort.</p> - -<p>"They'll capture the fort, and massacre our families," -said Armstrong. "We must brave their -fire, cross the river, and go to the rescue at whatever -cost of life."</p> - -<p>"Not so," said Holdness. "If the fort was -empty, they couldn't enter it in a hurry. There's -a choice man in command, who has no flinch about -him: the boys'll do good service at the loop-holes, -and so will the women, and the cannon rake the -walls. We'll hold our ground till night, and, if -we must fall back, do it under cover of night."</p> - -<p>The Indians who remained now increased their -fire, accompanied with fearful yells. Their yells,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> -however, went for nothing with the settlers; and -having, in consequence of detailing a part of their -number to attack the fort, reduced themselves to -one man at each tree, they were deprived of the -advantage in shooting they at first enjoyed, and -inflicted no injury upon the settlers, while they, -who never fired at random, frequently brought -the death-yell from some savage.</p> - -<p>Finding they were losing ground, and fruitful -in expedients, some of the Indians swam the -stream, and brought over the raft that had been -used by their comrades, and, placing their arms on -it, crossed to the other side.</p> - -<p>Having rifles which had been furnished them -by the French, and the stream being narrow, they -intended to attack the settlers in the rear by firing -across it, while sheltered themselves by the trees -that grew along the bank. In this manner they -hoped soon to destroy their stubborn and implacable -foes, while the others should capture the fort.</p> - -<p>Concealed from the frontiersmen by a bend of -the stream, they were making their preparations. -Holdness (versed in Indian wiles) suspected their -design by seeing a number of the warriors going -in one direction.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span></p> -<p>"Boys," said he, "one of you climb that bushy -hemlock, and see what these redskins, so many of -them, are going over that knoll arter. They're -working some plot to circumvent us."</p> - -<p>Detecting by this means the intentions of their -enemies, they quickly threw up a breastwork of -drift-wood and saplings, which they cut with their -tomahawks; and, when the Indians attained their -position on the opposite bank, they found the -frontiersmen effectually intrenched, and, foiled -where they had counted on success, they hastened -to aid in the capture of the garrison.</p> - -<p>The Indians possessed quite an accurate knowledge -of the number of men in the Run, and knew -by the firing and observation that there could -not be more than two or three men left in the -fort, and felt no apprehension in approaching -quite near the walls.</p> - -<p>But they did not know there was a large number -of boys, who, firing from a rest, were as good -or even better marksmen than themselves, were -most of them armed with rifles, that many of the -women could shoot, and that they were under -the command of a man who was not inferior to -themselves either in subtlety or vindictive feeling.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p> -<p>Observing the approach of the savages, Blanchard -placed the boys at the loop-holes, and with -them Mrs. Honeywood, Joan, and Mrs. Holdness, -Mrs. Grant, Lucy Mugford, Mrs. Sumerford, Mrs. -Stewart, and Maccoy's wife, with orders to be -ready, but not to put the muzzles into the loop -till they received a signal to fire. The large gun -in the flanker, that raked the whole side of the -fort on which was the main entrance, and that -was loaded with bullets and buckshot to the -muzzle, and concealed by a bundle of straw flung -over it, was given in charge of Will Grant, one of -Harry Sumerford's "Young Defenders," a cool, -resolute young fellow, in his nineteenth year. Thus -there was no show of defence visible from without.</p> - -<p>Blanchard said by way of encouragement, after -counting the number of the Indians: "Neighbors, -there's no cause for alarm, not a mite: the ambush -was a raal thing, and give the imps a downright -raking, I know by the death-yells; and our folks -are holding their own now, or else they would -have spared more Indians to come here; and, if I -don't teach 'em a lesson that'll stick, my name's -not Israel Blanchard, and I wasn't born in the -Eastern woods."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p> -<p>The Indians, confident that the inmates of the -fort were nearly all women, and still more confirmed -in the opinion by observing no guns at the -loop-holes, nor any persons on the platforms (for -Blanchard had ordered every one to keep out of -sight, but to be ready at a moment's notice), and a -bundle of straw in the embrasure of the flanker, -approached the walls without the least hesitation, -and one of them made signals for a parley. -Blanchard accordingly mounted to the platform -over the gate, and asked the spokesman what he -wanted.</p> - -<p>"Pale-face let Indians come in, Indian no hurt -him. Pale-face make fight, then Indian take the -fort, kill him."</p> - -<p>"You can't take this fort soon: we can hold it -till our people come back."</p> - -<p>"Your warriors never come back: most all dead. -Delawares all round 'em, shoot 'em down just like -one pigeon."</p> - -<p>"You lie. I know the ground and the men; I -can see the smoke of the guns; they've got a good -cover, have killed many of your people, and will -hold their own."</p> - -<p>Finding that he could not deceive the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span>frontiersman -in this way, the savage changed his ground. -"S'pose good many Indians keep your warriors -good while: we take the fort soon, then we -kill squaw, pappoose, all, every one, burn some. -S'pose you give up, no hurt you."</p> - -<p>"We can kill a good many of you before you -can take this fort, and if we give up you'll kill all -the same when you get us: so be off with you," -grasping his rifle.</p> - -<p>"Indian no hurt you," persisted the savage.</p> - -<p>"What will you do with us?"</p> - -<p>"Let you go to the Susquehanna. You no -belong here: this Delawares' land."</p> - -<p>"Will you let us take our cattle and mules and -goods and arms?"</p> - -<p>"Every thing."</p> - -<p>"You told the people at Fort Granville if they -would surrender you wouldn't hurt 'em; and then -you roasted the man who opened the gate to you, -butchered and scalped all but one, and would -have killed him if you could."</p> - -<p>"We killed them because they killed a good -many of our people: you no kill us, we no kill -you."</p> - -<p>"Well, I'll open the gate."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p> -<p>Blanchard made a great show of removing bolts -and bars, the Indians meanwhile eagerly crowding -up to the gate and walls; and, perceiving through -a crevice in the timber that they were compact -together, he made a signal to Grant, who applied -the match.</p> - -<p>"Ay!" cried McClure as he listened to the -firing, "as pretty a volley as one would want to -hear, and the cannon too. That tells the story: -some of the sarpents have caught it. Israel Blanchard's -not the man to waste powder himself, nor -to let anybody else." Israel threw the gate open, -and went out to look at the dead.</p> - -<p>"What makes you open the gate, Mr. Blanchard?" -said his wife.</p> - -<p>"It might as well be open as shut: not another -Indian will you see round this fort to-day. They'll -not come here agin in a hurry. A pretty sprinkling -of deed Indians: there's more money value -in the scalps lying here than in our whole harvest."</p> - -<p>He now proceeded coolly to tear the scalps from -the heads of the slain.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER VI.</span> <span class="smaller">GATHERING COURAGE FROM DESPAIR.</span></h2> - -<p>The few savages who escaped fled in the -direction of the river, where they were met -by the band coming to re-enforce them; and, being -by no means disposed to make another attempt -upon the fort, they carried the news of their defeat -to the main body.</p> - -<p>Wrought up to frenzy by such repeated failures, -and thirsting for revenge, the Indians rallied -all their energies for one decisive blow.</p> - -<p>Their numbers were now increased by the -return parties; and, by holding the edge of the -bank both above and below the settlers, they were -able to command the ford with a cross-fire which -seemed sufficient to insure the destruction of any -party that might attempt to cross. They were -favored in their plans by the shape of the shore, -the settlers being in the centre of a curve, while<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> -they held the two extremities, the ford lying between.</p> - -<p>The wind, that had been gradually rising during -the morning, now blew a gale in the direction of -the ford, and right across the position occupied by -the settlers.</p> - -<p>It was a period of drought, and the woods were -full of combustible material as dry as tinder.</p> - -<p>"What's that?" cried Holdness as he smelt the -smoke.</p> - -<p>"They've set the woods afire," said McClure; -"and we can take our choice,—be burnt to death, -or cross the ford in the face of their fire. They've -trapped us with a vengeance."</p> - -<p>A bright flame was now seen rising in several -places, and creeping along the ground behind the -Indians' line, that now began to open right and -left as the flames came on rapidly before the wind, -heralded by the exulting shouts of the savages, -who now felt their long-sought day of vengeance -had come, and began to mass their force along the -bank as the flames came on.</p> - -<p>Gathering courage from despair, the settlers prepared -to dash across the ford in a long line, hoping -in this manner, and by the swiftness of their passage, -to escape in some degree the enemy's fire.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span></p> -<p>"Follow me, neighbors!" shouted Honeywood: -"there's death behind, and no mercy before."</p> - -<p>His voice was drowned in a rattling volley, followed -by the death-shrieks of Indians, while far -above the din rose the wild, exulting, peculiar war-whoop -of the Black Rifle, like nothing else in the -world as Holdness said, and which was instantly -recognized both by the settlers and their foes.</p> - -<p>This was immediately succeeded by the blast of -a conch, by which he directed those who from time -to time followed his lead.</p> - -<p>Israel Blanchard, who was perched on the roof -of the block-house, listening anxiously to every -sound that came from the battle-ground, saw the -flames rising, and understood but too well the -object for which they were kindled. Hard upon -this came the volley, and the blast of the horn.</p> - -<p>"It's the Black Rifle and his men: Nat's got -'em," shouted Blanchard.</p> - -<p>He flung open the gate, and rushed to the scene -of conflict with all the lads at his heels, whose -yells justified abundantly their cognomen of the -"Screeching Catamounts."</p> - -<p>"I do believe Israel has lost his senses," said -Mr. Seth, as he shut and barred the gate his -brother had left open in his headstrong flight.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p> -<p>"Then he's lost a good deal," said Mrs. Sumerford, -who heard the remark.</p> - -<p>They were too late to join in the conflict; for -when they reached the spot the Indians had fled, -pursued by the Black Rifle and his band.</p> - -<p>From the scattered hints to be gathered from -history and tradition, it appears that there were -quite a number of men very much like McClure -and Holdness, who were at any time disposed to -follow the lead of the Black Rifle, and to make up -a scalping-party to kill Indians of whatever tribe, -although for the most part he preferred to go -alone.</p> - -<p>Revenge was so sweet a morsel to this singularly -constituted being, that he was seldom willing -to dilute by sharing it with others.</p> - -<p>The governor having offered a large bounty for -Indian scalps, twelve men were camping in the -woods near the cave of Capt. Jack, waiting for -others who were to join them, and make up a -party of twenty to start on a scalping expedition; -and, when Nat Cuthbert brought tidings of the -expected attack at Wolf Run, they marched on -the instant.</p> - -<p>Their leader, discovering by the sound of rifles<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> -the exact position of the Indians (whose attention -was fully occupied with the enemies in front), -gained their rear unperceived, and poured in a fire -every bullet of which told.</p> - -<p>This most unexpected blow; the fearful slaughter -at the fort, which caused them to fear there -were soldiers in it who might at any moment -bring a re-enforcement to the settlers, added to the -terrible presence of the Black Rifle, who the -Indians believed bore a charmed life, effectually -discouraged them; and, though picked warriors, -they sought safety in flight.</p> - -<p>The losses of the settlers were less than might -have been expected from the duration of the contest, -and the overwhelming odds against which -they fought. Heinrich Stiefel, David Blanchard, -and Wood were killed; and all except Harry -Sumerford, Ned Armstrong, and Stewart were -wounded, but most of them slightly.</p> - -<p>"If this Indian war holds on much longer," -said Holdness, "I shall have to be made over; for -I sha'n't have a square inch of flesh without a scar, -or a single bone without it's callous."</p> - -<p>Sammy Sumerford was found lying beside the -dead body of the second Indian he had killed, and -was wounded.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p> -<p>He instantly became an object of envy to all his -mates, who crowded around him.</p> - -<p>Stewart now for the first time became aware -that his boy had been in the action, Tony having -been very careful to keep out of his father's sight. -Though several recollected having seen him during -the conflict, he could not be found.</p> - -<p>Stewart was very much moved; for, notwithstanding -his rough ways, he was a man of warm -affections, ardently attached to Tony his only son; -and, though often vexed by the mischievous pranks -of the lad, was excessively proud of him; and instantly -commenced an eager search, assisted by his -neighbors.</p> - -<p>"Dinna ye ken wha hae became o' my bairn?" -said he to Sammy; "for I ken richt weel ye canna -be sundered by ordinar mair than soul and body. -I trust he's come by nae skaith."</p> - -<p>"He was down there by that log," said Sammy, -pointing behind him, "and said he was going to -crawl to a spring he knowed about, and get a -drink, and wanted me to go too; but I didn't -want to, because this Indian was behind a little -small tree, and I wanted to shoot him, 'cause Tony -shot two Indians, and I wanted to. He went to -the spring, and I didn't see him after that."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span></p> -<p>Stewart went in the direction pointed out by -Sammy, found the spring, the rifle of Tony, and -the prints of his knees in the soft ground where -he had knelt to drink; but neither the lad nor his -body could anywhere be found. The spring was -not far from the position occupied by the Indians, -and it was concluded that he had been seen and -carried off by them: but there were so many -wounded, that pursuit was impossible; and it was -thought that the Black Rifle's band would be -more likely to rescue the lad than any party that -could be sent from the Run.</p> - -<p>Holdness and others scalped the dead; and -McClure told Stewart (without thinking of what -he was saying) to scalp the Indian Tony killed.</p> - -<p>"I winna he did nae want it done: I maist like'll -nivir see him mair. I hae been strict wi' him -mayhap ower muckle, and I winna do it nor let it -be done."</p> - -<p>He then proceeded to cover the body with -rotten wood, brush, and leaves, McClure and -Holdness helping him. As for Sammy, though -his moccason was full of blood from a flesh-wound -in his thigh, he would not consent to be moved -until he obtained a solemn promise from Harry<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> -that neither his two Indians, as he termed them -(those he had shot), nor Tony's, should be scalped, -but covered up with brush; "because," said Sam, -"me and Tony and most of my company of the -'Screeching Catamounts' don't believe in taking -scalps. We feel just as Mr. Honeywood does: he -says it's a mean thing, and 'tain't right."</p> - -<p>Harry gave the promise.</p> - -<p>"Tony's father covered his Indian up, and -wouldn't have him scalped," said Johnny Crawford; -"and we'll help cover up yours."</p> - -<p>Grant had a heifer that he was fatting, intending -to kill her when the weather became cool -enough. This creature had been overlooked when -the rest of the cattle were driven into the stockade.</p> - -<p>The Indians, finding the animal, killed her, -meaning, no doubt, after butchering the settlers -and setting the buildings on fire, to have had a -grand dance and feast of victory.</p> - -<p>She was dressed, the meat taken to the fort, and -formed a meal for the settlers. It was a singular -assemblage: nearly every one had received some -injury. One had a patch on his head, where a -bullet grazed; another carried his arm in a sling; -the hands of several were bound up. Grant and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> -Maccoy sat with their legs extended on stools, one -being wounded in the foot, the other in the thigh. -There were three who were wounded in such a -manner, they had to be fed by others; and, in the -majority of the cases, the blood from the wounds -had come through the bandages. Nevertheless -they were in high spirits at having defeated the -savages and saved their crops, and were resolved -to enjoy themselves.</p> - -<p>"It's a sore thing ter have our neighbors killed -by our side," said Holdness; "and there's no one -of us but feels for those who are mourning the loss -of husbands, fathers, and children; but we ought -certainly ter feel thankful it's no worse. It's a -sad thing for neighbor Stewart and neighbor -Blanchard to lose their boys. A smart lad was -Tony, and David was a nice, likely young man, -and had good larnin'; but Stewart and his wife -shouldn't be too much cast down. The Indians -won't kill Tony, that's sartain: they seldom do a -boy of that age; they've lost a great many men -in this fight, and they'll adopt him to fill up some -gap, and treat him just like their own children."</p> - -<p>"The Black Rifle's people may rescue him," -said Proctor; "or, when the war is over, he can -be redeemed."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span></p> -<p>"I wad be loath our misfortune should mar the -joy we a' suld feel, and gratitude to One above," -said Stewart, "seeing there's good ground for -hope in respect to the bairn. It's not like finding -him on the field with a tomahawk in his head, or a -bullet in his breast."</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER VII.</span> <span class="smaller">A CONTRAST.</span></h2> - -<p>The next day was devoted to the burial of -those killed in battle. Directly afterwards, -with that recklessness so characteristic of all frontier -population, they left the fort to occupy their -own dwellings; although, now that their wounds -had become stiff, it was necessary to haul some on -sleds, and there were not able-bodied men enough -to furnish a scouting-party, nor to gather the -harvest.</p> - -<p>But the frontier-women were equal to the exigency, -and able to assist the men who were well or -slightly wounded. Most of the women, especially -those of Scotch descent, could handle the sickle. -The children likewise did their portion of the -work, the boys in the field, and the girls doing the -housework while their mothers were harvesting.</p> - -<p>Frontier life is one of sharp contrasts, constituting, -perhaps, its charms for rugged natures.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p> -<p>It was a clear day of bright sunshine: the women -and every man who could manage to work were -busily employed. Mrs. Grant was singing at her -work; and the cheerful notes of the harvest-song -floated up over fields that but two days before -echoed to the roar of cannon and the war-whoop -of the savage.</p> - -<p>"Indeed, neighbor McClure," said Mrs. Sumerford, -wiping the sweat from her brow, and laying -the sickle over her shoulder as the horn blew for -dinner, "I don't mind the hard work nor the hot -sun one mite: it's far better to be reaping and -getting bread for the children than to be making -shrouds for the dead, and putting dear friends and -neighbors in the grave, as we've been doing so -often for the past year."</p> - -<p>"I dinna mind the work a windle strae," said -Mrs. Armstrong. "I hae reaped mony a bushel -o' sowin' in my ain countrie, and whiles I like -better to be in the field than to do housework. -Ay, I've reaped mony a long day for sma' wages, -and gleaned and wrought sair; but I like better to -be reaping my ain grain than ither people's. Is -it not sae, Jean Stewart?"</p> - -<p>"Indeed it is. We wad hae reaped nae grain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> -of our ain had we bided in bonnie Scotland, though -oftenwhiles my thoughts will travel back among -the lochs and the braes where I first drew breath. -I could na' keep the tears frae running down my -cheeks while Maggie Grant was singing; for many's -the time I've heard my auld mither sing those -same words owre her sickle, when I a wee bairn -was gleaning after her."</p> - -<p>Sammy Sumerford could not bear to stay in the -house with Jane Proctor, who had engaged to -mind the baby while Mrs. Sumerford was in the -field, and also to get dinner; and so persuaded his -mates to carry him to the field, and set him up -against a stook of grain. They then brought him -some long coarse grass, of which he made bands -to bind the grain.</p> - -<p>Here he found at work Holdness, whose chin -was ploughed by a bullet that had taken the skin -and flesh to the bone. The wound, though not -dangerous, was extremely sore and sensitive. He -could not reap, because the heads of the grain that -were very stout, brushing against his chin, kept -constantly irritating the wound. He therefore -bound up the sheaves, while Sam made bands for -him; and, as both were wounded, they frequently -left off work to rest and talk.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span></p> -<p>"Mr. Holdness, didn't you like Tony?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, I liked him much: he was a brave boy. -I'm right sorry for his loss. It's a loss ter all of -us, as well as ter his father and mother."</p> - -<p>"I loved Tony: he's played with me ever since -I can remember. I can't remember the time I -didn't play with Tony. I know I never shall love -another boy as well as I loved Tony. What will -the Indians do to him, Mr. Holdness? will they -kill him?"</p> - -<p>"Kill him! no. I'll tell you. A good many of -the Indians we killed the other day were quite -young men. When they get Tony to one of their -towns, some of the fathers or mothers of them -what's killed will take him for their own, in place -of the one they've lost. That's the Indian -fashion."</p> - -<p>"Then they won't kill, scalp, nor roast him -alive?"</p> - -<p>"No, indeed! If they could get hold of me or -McClure, or Tony's father, or Mr. Honeywood, -they would torment us all they knew how; but, as -for him, they won't hurt a hair of his head: -though if the Black Rifle should overtake them, -and they found they couldn't get away, they'd<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> -tomahawk him in a minute before they would let -the Black Rifle get him."</p> - -<p>"What do Indians want a white boy for?"</p> - -<p>"They want ter make an Indian of him. -They'll be just as good ter him and treat him just -as well as they do their own, and larn him every -thing they know themselves. He won't get the -lickin's he had at home, for the Indians never -strike their children."</p> - -<p>"When he gets bigger, he can run away and -come home."</p> - -<p>"They'll watch him at first; and it won't be -long afore he'll forget his father and mother and -everybody he knew, and turn into an Indian. He -won't have any thing white about him but his skin, -and hardly that; for they'll grease him, paint and -smoke him, and he'll go half naked in the sun and -wind, till he's about as red as themselves. He'll -come ter have Indian ways and feelings, and never -will want to leave 'em."</p> - -<p>"Oh, Mr. Holdness! Tony will never forget me -and his father and mother and sister. Mr. Holdness, -Tony hates an Indian: he's killed two on -'em."</p> - -<p>"I tell you he'll turn into an Indian, just as a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> -tadpole turns into a frog, and like 'em just as -much as he hates 'em now, and love his Indian -father and mother better than he loves his own -father and mother, and like their miserable way of -living better'n the way he was brought up in."</p> - -<p>"I don't see how it can be."</p> - -<p>"Neither do I; but I know it will if he stays -among 'em any length of time, which I hope to -God he won't do, because every boy, or girl either, -that goes among the Indians at his age, does just -so. But you can't make a white man out of an -Indian, any more'n you can make a hen out of a -partridge. But don't tell his folks what I've said, -'cause it would make 'em feel bad."</p> - -<p>Holdness now took up a handful of bands, and -went to tie up wheat.</p> - -<p>The boys talked the matter over after he was -gone. Sammy appeared sad: the tears stood in -his eyes as he said,—</p> - -<p>"Mr. Holdness never told me any thing before -that I didn't believe every word of: but I can't -believe Tony could forget me; I'm sure I never -shall forget him."</p> - -<p>"I don't believe Tony will ever forget his sister -Maud. He would do any thing for Maud: he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> -loved Maud more'n he loved himself," said Jim -Grant.</p> - -<p>"I don't believe he'll forget Alice Grant neither," -said Ike Proctor: "'cause don't you know, -Sammy, when we were going to have the party -down to Cuthbert's house, and you and I didn't -want to have the gals, he stuck up for havin' 'em, -and 'twas only 'cause he wanted Alice Grant to -come."</p> - -<p>"I should think," said Dan Mugford, "they'd -want to kill him, 'cause he killed one of them; but -perhaps they won't know as 'twas him who killed -him."</p> - -<p>"Mr. Holdness says they'll like him all the better -for that; 'cause it shows he's brave, and knows -how to shoot, and they'll know he'll make a great -chief," said Johnnie Crawford.</p> - -<p>The boys could not possibly bring themselves to -believe that Tony could or would forget parents, -playmates, kith and kin; and, the more they discussed -the matter, the more confirmed they became -in their previous opinion.</p> - -<p>The subject of conversation was now changed -at the approach of the girls, who, having done up -their housework, had come to assist in the field.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span></p> -<p>"If they ain't going to have scouts out any -more," said Dan Mugford, "and the Indians have -got scared and won't come any more, then why -can't they let us go swimming in the river?"</p> - -<p>"Yes: and we can have our bladders that we've -been keeping so long, and swim with 'em; and -when the acorns, chestnuts, and walnuts are ripe, -we can go nutting," said Sam.</p> - -<p>"We can go with you, and have nice times, same -as we did before the war," said Maud Stewart.</p> - -<p>"There was ever so much powder in the Indians' -pouches, and Mr. Holt turned it into a basket: I -saw him," said Ben Wood. "Maybe they'll give -us some; and then we can kill deer and coons, and -all of us could kill a bear."</p> - -<p>"I don't believe they'll let us go where we are -a mind to," said Jim Grant: "all the reason they -don't send out scouts now is 'cause they can't. -There's so many wounded, there ain't enough men -to go on the scout, and get the grain too; and -they've got to get the grain, 'cause if they don't -we won't have any thing to eat next winter."</p> - -<p>Thus the children speculated respecting the -future, and lightened their toil by building castles -in the air.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER VIII.</span> <span class="smaller">TREADING OUT THE GRAIN.</span></h2> - -<p>During the past season, wheat and other -grain had assumed in the eyes of the settlers -a greater relative importance than ever before.</p> - -<p>Wheat, oats, and barley could be raised abundantly -on the burnt land; but hitherto there had -been very little inducement to raise either of those -grains, because they could not make use of them -as articles of food to any extent, and they did not -pay when carried to market.</p> - -<p>Corn had heretofore been their main dependence: -that they could pound, and make into bread. -With corn they could keep and fatten swine; and, -in time of peace, hams paid when carried to market -on pack-horses; and pork was also the staple -article of food.</p> - -<p>But the Indians and the mill had effected a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> -complete revolution. The different grains were -now of more value to them than Indian corn, -because they could grind the grain. The Scotch -could have their oatmeal; and the others, wheat -flour, barley, and rye, to mix with their corn-meal; -and they were delivered from the drudgery of the -hominy-block.</p> - -<p>It was less work to sow grain than to plant corn -and hoe it: therefore there was less exposure to -Indians while doing it. Grain was not so much -exposed to the depredations of crows, blue-jays, -coons, squirrels, deer, and bears. Deer could be -kept out by fences, but birds, bears, coons, and -squirrels could not.</p> - -<p>When a bear enters a corn-field, he goes among -the corn, sits on his breech, stretches out his paws, -and, gathering between them all the corn he can -reach, lies down on the heap, and munches the -ears that lie on top; then going along, breaks down -more, thus destroying a great deal more than he -eats. The coons make up in numbers what they -lack in size, and are often more destructive than -the bears. There is nothing, except honey, that -bears and coons love so well as corn in the milk: -the grain does not possess such attraction.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p> -<p>There was still another reason that diminished -the importance of corn in the opinion of the settlers -at this juncture of their affairs. Corn had -obtained its paramount importance because it was -the best, and, indeed, was considered the only food -suitable for fattening swine; and pork, beef, and -corn-bread were the great staples of life. But -neither pork nor beef could be preserved without -salt, and salt could be procured (while the -country was filled with hostile Indians) only with -great labor and at the risk of life. In the grain, -however, that the mill enabled them to make use -of, they found a substitute; and so much less pork -and other meat was required, that, with what salt -they had on hand, they could, by securing a good -grain-crop, preserve meat sufficient to carry them -through the winter.</p> - -<p>In this condition of things the settlers had -planted but little corn, and kept but few hogs, -but had sown a large breadth of wheat, rye, oats, -barley, and pease, and planted a good many beans; -intending to eat more bread and less meat, as -cattle and hogs were liable to be killed by Indians, -and hunting and fishing could only be prosecuted -at the risk of life.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> -<p>The harvest was abundant; and the settlers -were making the most strenuous efforts to secure -it, although many of them worked in misery by -reason of their wounds. Those who had the use -of but one arm brought the sheaves to the stacks -with the other. Those who had the use of both -arms, but were wounded in the leg, made bands -for the binders; or going about the house on -crutches, with a child to help them, superintended -the cooking while their wives and mothers were -at work in the field. Some who were wounded in -the head or trunk of the body managed to rake -together in bunches for the binders.</p> - -<p>Our young people will thus perceive the importance -of the grain-crop to the settlers, and likewise -why they were willing to incur so fearful a -risk to preserve it, when they might have remained -behind their defences, and repulsed the foe with -safety to themselves.</p> - -<p>When the wheat was put in stooks, the other -grains housed, and the pease and beans secured, -the wounded and the women were excused from -labor.</p> - -<p>There was still, however, much to be done; for -so long as the grain was in the stack, or even in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> -the barns, it was liable to be destroyed by Indians, -and even more so, as it was more compact. In -order to be secure, it must be inside the fort.</p> - -<p>Threshing with flails was hard work, in which -the wounded could not engage, and it was a slow -process. It was necessary to lose no time, as they -might be attacked again.</p> - -<p>When the mill was built, some plank were left; -and with a whip-saw Israel Blanchard and Seth -manufactured some more, and laid a platform on -the ground near the fort, within rifle-shot, and -built a fence around it.</p> - -<p>On this platform they laid a great flooring of -grain; and having kept the horses and mules without -food over night, and exercised them beforehand -to empty their stomachs, turned them into -the enclosure, and drove them over the grain with -whips.</p> - -<p>When one flooring was threshed they put on -another, and thus beat out the grain much faster -than they could have done it by hand, had they -all been in a condition to labor.</p> - -<p>The grain, chaff and all, was carried into the -stockade, and put on the floor of the block-house -and flankers in heaps. It was now safe from foes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> -and weather. Afterwards, as the wind served, it -was carried out and winnowed on the same platform. -The mill afforded an excellent place in -which to store it, being dry, and well ventilated by -loop-holes.</p> - -<p>The settlers now obtained the rest so much -needed; and the greatest care was bestowed upon -the wounded, who had evidently not been benefited -by the labor absolute necessity had compelled -them to perform. Such is the life of a -people living on the frontiers during an Indian -war. Wherever you go, and whatever you are -doing, it is necessary to be armed and on your -guard; for life is the forfeit of negligence. You -can never commence any work with the certainty -of finishing it. When you lie down at night, the -weapon must be within reach of your hand.</p> - -<p>The human mind possesses a wonderful power -of adapting itself to circumstances, and becoming -reconciled to those apparently calculated to produce -prolonged torture. Surrounded by too many -<i>real</i> causes of anxiety to concern themselves about -<i>imaginary</i> ones, these people, when not under the -pressure of actual suffering, were cheerful, patient -in trial; and no one entering their families would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> -have suspected from appearances that they were -at any moment liable to be called to struggle for -their lives, and also perfectly sensible of it.</p> - -<p>During the stormy times we have described, -Scipio was nowhere to be found. It was in -accordance with the usual course of things for -Scipio and Mr. Seth to retire from action in times -of danger.</p> - -<p>It was taken for granted that the negro had -concealed himself somewhere, and would appear -when the danger was past. During the season of -greatest peril, all were too much occupied to waste -a thought on the matter; but Scipio was an excellent -reaper, and when they began to cut the grain -the black was both missed and needed.</p> - -<p>"Boys, what has become of Scip? Hunt him -up. He's hid away somewhere," said his master.</p> - -<p>"We have hunted, Mr. Blanchard," said Archie -Crawford, "in the potato-hole, under the pig-pen, -in the flankers, and everywhere we knowed; and -can't find nothing on him."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps he's hid away in the old Cuthbert -house."</p> - -<p>"No, sir: we've looked there and in the mill."</p> - -<p>The matter was dropped for the time; but when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> -the harvest was gathered, and no Scip made his -appearance, there was a general anxiety manifested, -for the negro was a valuable member of the -little community. He was a good mechanic, his -master having taught him the use of tools. He -was very strong and good at any kind of farm -work. Unlike most slaves, he was not indolent, -and would allow no man to outdo him. He was a -great wrestler, and could jump and run with the -best; he was also an excellent shot at a mark, any -small game, or deer, but was too much of a coward -to face a wolf or bear. He was an excellent cook, -and a great favorite with the good wives. Nobody -could bring the butter so quick, or tie a -broom to the handle so fast, as Scip: and he was a -capital basket-maker, a lucky fisherman, could sing -and play on the jew's-harp, and beat a drum.</p> - -<p>Scip loved the children with all his heart; and -they returned his affection with interest, and -shared whatever they had with him, though they -sometimes amused themselves by working on his -dread of the Indians. Scip had two prominent -failings,—he would steal eggs, and lie to cover -the theft.</p> - -<p>It was not at first thought possible that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> -black, who cherished a chronic fear of Indians, -would leave the fort, a place of safety; but, when -every part of it had been searched in vain, Israel -Blanchard said,—</p> - -<p>"It's plain he's not in the garrison: he's taken -to the woods, and got lost; or else he's got into the -river to hide, and the current's carried him off, and -he's drowned."</p> - -<p>"He may have got lost in the woods," said -Holdness, "that's likely enough; but there's not -water enough in Raystown branch to drown that -darky: he swims like an otter."</p> - -<p>"I'll tell you what to do," said Mrs. Honeywood: -"take something Scip has worn, a stocking -or shirt, let Fan smell of it, and set her to seek; -she'll find if he's above ground, or, if he's under -ground, she'll find where he's buried."</p> - -<p>"It's too late, wife: the scent's all gone, long -ago. The slut can't track him."</p> - -<p>"Well, then," said Harry Sumerford, "we boys'll -take all the pups and the old slut to boot; and, -between them and ourselves, we'll find him."</p> - -<p>Harry, the young men, and all the children -started with no less than seven dogs, and went in -different directions through the woods, the dogs -being divided among them.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span></p> -<p>Cal Holdness and Harry were together, accompanied -by Fan; the slut running through the -woods, and then returning to them. At length -they heard her barking at a distance in the woods.</p> - -<p>"She's treed something," said Harry,—"most -like a bear or a coon. A bear ought to be in -decent order now."</p> - -<p>Following the sound, they found Fan sitting at -the butt of a great pine. As they approached, -she began to bark, whine, and scratch the dead -bark off the roots of the tree.</p> - -<p>"A bear wouldn't be denning this time of year. -I'll wager it's Scip," said Harry.</p> - -<p>The tree was nearly dead; had a short butt, -that, after running about eighteen feet, divided -into three large branches; and an ash, uprooted by -the wind, lay in the crotch. After quieting the -dog, Harry, standing at the foot of the tree, began -to call Scip by name, and tell him that the Indians -were gone. For some fifteen minutes there was -no answer; but at length Scip's woolly head appeared -in the crotch of the tree, and by degrees -was followed by his body. Harry and Cal always -contended that he was pale.</p> - -<p>"Come down here, Scip," shouted Cal: "the -Indians are gone."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span></p> -<p>"Won't dey come back?"</p> - -<p>"Not without they come from another world: -we've killed most of 'em."</p> - -<p>"Hab dey killed Massa Blanchard and all de -rest but you?"</p> - -<p>"No: they haven't killed but three,—Mr. Stiefel, -Wood, and David Blanchard. Come down."</p> - -<p>Scip, now satisfied, quickly descended along the -trunk of the windfall, to the great joy of Fan, who -almost flung him down, jumping on him, and licking -his black face.</p> - -<p>"How did you know about that tree, Scip?" -said Harry. "How'd you know 'twas hollow?"</p> - -<p>"Massa McClure kill a bear dere last fall."</p> - -<p>When Scip heard that more than a hundred -Indians were coming to attack the fort, he felt -sure they would take it, and determined to flee to -this tree, taking provisions with him. When -asked how he came to take that course, he replied -that he recollected when the Indians killed Alexander -McDonald's family, that his nephew Donald -was at some distance from the house, in the woods, -and, by hiding away there, saved his life; and so -he thought it best to hide in the woods, for he -knew the Indians would take the fort.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER IX.</span> <span class="smaller">A LITTLE SUNSHINE.</span></h2> - -<p>A week had passed since the occurrence of the -events just narrated.</p> - -<p>It was a sunny morning; and Mrs. Sumerford -was busily employed in weaving, having in the -loom a web of linen.</p> - -<p>The dwelling of this motherly woman, so much -beloved by her neighbors and especially by all the -young fry, was a log house of the rudest description; -still there was about it that air of neatness -and comfort that a thrifty woman will create -under almost any circumstances.</p> - -<p>The walls were of rough logs, and the openings -between them stuffed with moss; but it was -driven as hard as the oakum in a vessel's seams, -and trimmed at the edges with a sharp knife. -The bullet-proof shutters were hung with wooden -hinges from the top, and, instead of sliding, swung<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> -up to the chamber floor, that was made of peeled -poles.</p> - -<p>The kitchen presented one feature not precisely -in keeping with the rest of the house; -namely, a nice board floor, which, after the advent -of the whip-saw, Harry had substituted for the -original one of flattened poles (or puncheons).</p> - -<p>In one corner was a bedstead; for the room -served the different purposes of kitchen, sleeping-room, -and place of common resort. At the windows -were curtains of bulrushes; the floor was -white and sanded; and the bed boasted a linen -spread, beautifully figured. In a side room was -the loom at which Mrs. Sumerford was weaving. -All the clothing for four boys and herself was -spun and woven from flax and wool, and made up -by this goodly, pains-taking woman, who, though -extremely sensitive in respect to any danger that -menaced her family, did not hesitate, as we have -just seen, to handle the rifle in their defence.</p> - -<p>Stretched at full length on the hearth, lay a -white-faced bear sound asleep, with his right paw -on his nose; and between his hind and fore legs -was the baby, also sound asleep, his head pillowed -on the bear, and his right hand clutching the -creature's fur.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p> -<p>Sammy, with his wounded leg resting in a chair, -was making a fancy cane, by peeling the bark -from a stick of moose-wood in a serpentine curve, -and so as to show the white wood in contrast with -the dark and mottled bark.</p> - -<p>Alex and Enoch were dressing each other's -wounds, and permitting the dog to lick them; the -tongue of a dog being considered, by the frontier -folks, a wonderful specific for healing gun-shot -wounds.</p> - -<p>Harry was on his knees in the corner of the -fire-place, running bullets, and melting his lead -in a wooden ladle. Somebody may wonder how -he could melt lead in a wooden ladle. Well, he -made the fire inside, with bits of charcoal; and, as -the coal was lighter than the lead, when the latter -melted, the charcoal and dust floated on top, and -could be blown off. The ladle burned up after a -while, but not very speedily; and it cost nothing -but a little work to make another. All were -busily engaged; and there was little to break the -quiet of the morning, save the monotonous sound -of Mrs. Sumerford's loom, as she sprung the -treadles, and beat up the filling with the beam, -when a great clamor of voices was heard outside,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> -and a whole flock of children, girls and boys, -rushed in at the open door.</p> - -<p>The dog began to wag his tail, and rub up -against the children for recognition. The bear -took his paw from his nose, and gaped, showing -his white teeth; but, as the baby did not wake, -went to sleep again.</p> - -<p>"Well, well, what's in the wind now?" said -Mrs. Sumerford.</p> - -<p>"Don't you think, Mrs. Sumerford," cried Bobby -Holt, "they've given us some of the powder what -the Indians that was killed had in their pouches; -and we're going to shoot wild pigeons, and go in -swimming: we hain't been in swimming this -year."</p> - -<p>"Us girls," said Maud Stewart, "are going -after blueberries on the mountains, while the boys -are gunning and swimming."</p> - -<p>"I wish I could go," said Sam.</p> - -<p>"We'll bring you some pigeons, and you can -go with us when you get well," said Archie Crawford.</p> - -<p>"I don't know about you children going in the -woods. Who told you you might go?" said Mrs. -Sumerford.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span></p> -<p>"Mother said we might go," said Jane Holt.</p> - -<p>"Father said I might go," said Ike Proctor.</p> - -<p>"Did Mr. Holdness, or McClure, or Mr. Honeywood, -know you were going?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know as they did; but father said the -Indians had had such a browsing lately, they'd be -shy of meddling with Wolf Run folks for a spell."</p> - -<p>"That wouldn't hinder them from prowling -round, and snapping you up. Only think of Prudence -Holdness. There hadn't been an Indian -sign seen anywhere, and she only went out to pick -a few herbs for her sick father, and was carried off; -and it was of God's mercy, and of the Black Rifle, -that she ever got back."</p> - -<p>"We've got guns, we know how to shoot, and -we'll shoot 'em," said Archie proudly, "if they -come near us."</p> - -<p>"Oh, my! hear the roosters crow. You won't -be behind the loop-holes down there in the woods.—What -do you think of it, Harry?"</p> - -<p>"Let 'em go, mother: I don't think there's any -danger. Only look at it: these children were -cooped up in garrison all winter; in the spring -they had but little liberty, for since Prudence -Holdness was carried off they have been kept in; -and it's a hard case."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span></p> -<p>"Well, Harry, I sha'n't have one minute's peace -if they do go."</p> - -<p>"Well, mother, let 'em go; and, if you feel so, -I'll get Mr. Holdness and Nat Cuthbert, and we'll -take our guns and follow 'em. You know we -haven't got so many hogs this year as usual, and -the pigeons help out the pork-trough. I think we -ought to kill all the game and catch all the fish we -can."</p> - -<p>"O mother!" cried Sammy: "you've got flour -now; and won't you make some berry-pies, and a -pigeon-pie with crust, for me, 'cause I'm wounded -and can't go? Won't you, ma'am?"</p> - -<p>"Yes; but I don't feel, I can't feel, it's what -ought to be, for all these children to go into the -woods, even if the men do go. Three of 'em can't -have their eyes everywhere, and watch so many; -and they may shoot each other, so many guns in -children's hands."</p> - -<p>Mrs. Sumerford sat down to her loom in a frame -of mind far from quiet.</p> - -<p>"We wanted Scip to go," said Jim Grant, "and -Mr. Blanchard said he might: he was dying to go, -but he was so scared of the Indians! but if Mr. -Holdness, Harry, and Nat go, he won't be. I'll go<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> -and get him, and come after with him and the -men."</p> - -<p>Whatever Mrs. Sumerford's opinion might be in -respect to the capabilities of the children, she -knew very well that Harry would not come home -empty-handed. So after an early dinner, she got -out the sieve (a moose-hide punched full of holes -with a burning-iron) and flour, and mixed the -dough ready for use when needed.</p> - -<p>First came the girls, with their pails full of berries; -then the boys, each with a load of pigeons -slung on his gun; finally Harry came with as -many as he could carry, saying he believed there -were half as many pigeons in the woods as leaves -on the trees.</p> - -<p>Sammy wanted all of them to stay to supper, -especially Scip. Mrs. Sumerford, who could never -have too many children round her, was as desirous -to have them stop as was Sammy; but she said it -would never do, because they would want to stop -and play a while after supper, and their parents -would think the Indians had carried them off. -Didn't Mr. Crawford go out to shoot pigeons, and -come within one of being shot by an Indian, and -would have been, hadn't the hog took at the Indian?</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> -<p>The children wanted so much to stay, and Sammy -was so anxious to have them, that Nat Cuthbert, -who came in with Harry, said he would get -on the horse and take some pigeons (as there were -ten times as many as they could eat), and give to -the families around, and tell them the children -were safe.</p> - -<p>"Well, Scip," said Mrs. Sumerford, "if you are -going to stop, you may make the pigeon-pie, and -I'll make the berry ones."</p> - -<p>This announcement was received with shouts by -the children, for they well knew Scip had no rival -for getting up a savory mess.</p> - -<p>After he had washed his face and hands, Mrs. -Sumerford put an apron on him, and he set to -work.</p> - -<p>The girls picked over the berries, and the boys -plucked the pigeons. There were many hungry -mouths, and Scip made corresponding preparations. -There was no oven: but Scip lined a kettle with -crust, put in his pigeons and other things, and put -on the upper crust; then, putting a large iron -bake-pan over the mouth of the kettle, set it on -the coals, and filled the pan with hot coals.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Sumerford's plates were all either wood or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> -pewter; but she was better off than some, for she -had one large earthen pan for milk, and one smaller -one. She made her pie in the small one, and -baked it in the Dutch oven which she borrowed -from Mrs. Honeywood for the occasion: she also -made a berry-cake, and baked it on a board set -before the fire, with a stone behind to hold it up. -Potatoes were baked in the ashes.</p> - -<p>Notwithstanding the lack of the customary -utensils, and more than all of an oven, she made -a capital pie: it was not only good, but a good deal -of it. Scip was equally successful, and made a -glorious pie.</p> - -<p>"Dere, chillen [setting it on the table in the -kettle], he good stew ebber man put in his -mouf: under crust done, upper crust jes brown." -The very dog began to lick his chops as he inhaled -the savory smell.</p> - -<p>After the repast they decorated the house with -boughs of sassafras, locusts, wild flowers, and the -pods of the cucumber-tree, and Scip played on the -jew's-harp. You would have thought they had -just got out of prison, they were so wild and full -of tickle; and in one sense they had, having been -confined to a limited circle around their homes,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> -kept hard at work in the field, or set to fight for -their lives with the Indians.</p> - -<p>None of the inmates of the garrison, old or -young, were so supremely happy as Scip; and -before they separated he hugged the children all -round, and they hugged him, and Dan Mugford -made the philosophical reflection, that if the Indians -had killed them all, Scip never could have -made that pie, nor could they have enjoyed the -pleasure of eating it.</p> - -<p>The children now naturally supposed that the -bars were all to be taken down, and that they -were to enjoy their old-time liberty: therefore the -next morning, the moment the chores were done -and the cattle turned to pasture, they were about -to set forth on a fishing expedition, when, to their -no small surprise and grief, they were told that this -liberty had been granted them because of their -long confinement in close quarters, and also to -show how highly their good behavior and pluck -(when the fort was threatened by the Indians) -was appreciated, but that they could not go again -for a week at least. It would be useless for me to -attempt to describe how slowly and wearily the -hours dragged along for some days. The settlers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> -were restricted from hunting as much as usual, on -the account of the risk of life and scarcity of -powder and lead. They had raised a less number -of cattle and hogs, because the animals were liable -to be killed by prowling Indians in the pasture, -and there was a lack of salt with which to preserve -pork and beef.</p> - -<p>In this condition of affairs, the settlers, ever -fruitful in expedients, hit upon another method to -supply themselves with food, namely, by rearing a -great number of fowls. These could be kept on -grain, of which they had an abundance, and, in -the event of their being compelled to live in garrison, -could be kept very well inside the stockade; -and the eggs and flesh would afford a constant -supply of food.</p> - -<p>The children were therefore encouraged to raise -chickens and other kinds of fowl; and they engaged -in the business with a will. They set every -hen, duck, and turkey, that wanted to sit, and a -good many that did not; fastening them on the -nests with baskets and boxes of birch-bark, and -even tying them on with strings. When, as was -often the case, two hens had each a small brood -of chickens, they gave both broods to one hen to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> -bring up, in order that the other might go to laying; -and the same with turkeys and ducks.</p> - -<p>The greatest rivalry took place among the boys, -each anxious to carry off the palm. Cut off from -their ordinary sources of amusement, they gave -their whole soul to this work, till fowl increased -to such a degree that Holdness said, "You can't -step without treading on eggs or chickens, nor go -into the hovels to look for any tool, but a sitting -hen will fly up in your face."</p> - -<p>Those were glorious days for Scip: he could -steal all the eggs he wished to; there were so -many, no one suspected him.</p> - -<p>Archie Crawford had reared a noble flock of -ducks, of which he was excessively proud. He -took great delight in watching them, as, after -being let out in the morning, they waddled off to -the swamp in Indian file, the bright colors on the -necks of the drakes glistening in the rays of the -morning sun, returning at night in the same -manner.</p> - -<p>Three of those dreary days had passed; and, on -the morning of the fourth, Archie had fed and -was watching his ducks as they ate up the corn. -With him were Bobby Holt and Ike Proctor. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> -faces of the boys were clouded, and they added to -their discontent by talking about the hard experience -they were just then undergoing.</p> - -<p>Their conference was interrupted by the loud -"quack, quack," of the old drake as he started for -the swamp, the ducks and young drakes falling -into line behind him, with responsive but more -subdued quacks.</p> - -<p>"Wish I was a duck!" said Archie moodily.</p> - -<p>"What do you want to be a duck for?" said -Ike Proctor.</p> - -<p>"'Cause I could go to the swamp or the river, -go a-fishing or frogging, or anywhere I had a mind -to, then; but, 'cause I'm only a boy, I have to -stay in prison."</p> - -<p>Hugh Crawford, who was putting a handle to -an axe before the door, heard the remark. The -disconsolate tone in which it was uttered touched -him; and he said,—</p> - -<p>"You shall go fishing, Archie; and Ike and -Bobby too. I'll take my rifle, and go with you, as -soon as I put this axe-handle on, and wedge it."</p> - -<p>The boys ran to get their lines and bait, and -were soon following the trail of the ducks.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER X.</span> <span class="smaller">LIBERTY IS SWEET.</span></h2> - -<p>The wounded men were now rapidly recovering; -and, in proportion as their means of -defence increased, the anxieties of the settlers -diminished; and, feeling that it was hard treatment -of the children to deprive them altogether -of going upon these excursions, so dear to the -young, they followed the example set by Hugh -Crawford. First one and then another would -take three or more children with them into the -woods and to the river, shooting pigeons, picking -berries, and catching fish; and this all helped the -food supply. Very little powder was expended -in killing pigeons, they were so numerous; and -thus it was felt that the operation paid. Thus, -also, in respect to the powder given to the children: -they were allowed but a small quantity; if -they wasted it, and did not make good shots and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> -bring home either the powder or an equivalent in -game, they got no more, and had to content themselves -with the bow and arrow, with which weapon -they could kill pigeons, wild turkeys, coons, and -even fish in shoal-water. This tended to make -them accurate marksmen, a matter of vital importance -to the settlers; and therefore they seldom -begrudged the powder and lead given to the children.</p> - -<p>This arrangement operated very well for a time, -it was in such pleasant contrast with the previous -rigorous confinement; but it soon wore threadbare, -and the children began to complain that -they didn't have any good times. They didn't -want to go out two or three together, under guard, -they didn't like to fool afore the men; but they -wanted to go out by themselves, just as they -always did.</p> - -<p>When the majority of those who were wounded -had recovered, a strong scout was sent out, as formerly; -and the children (with many misgivings on -the part of the anxious mothers, and abundance of -cautions that were forgotten the next moment) -were allowed to go.</p> - -<p>At the welcome announcement, boys and girls<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> -rushed whooping to the pastures, bearing guns, -tomahawks, and baskets, in addition to which each -boy carried, tied to his person, a number of inflated -bladders.</p> - -<p>The extravagant spirit of boyhood vented itself -in various ways; some procured sticks, and, getting -astride of them, pranced and neighed like -horses; some rolled over on the grass, turning -somersaults; others played with the dogs that -accompanied them; while a few found great enjoyment -in simply shouting to imaginary Indians -to come on.</p> - -<p>"There'll be something going on now, you may -depend," said Mrs. Mugford, as she looked after -the party, "since Sammy Sumerford has got well -of his wound, and is among 'em."</p> - -<p>The jubilant troop kept together till near the -river, where they separated, the girls going to a -high bluff where berries grew, and the boys to the -river, as they said, to go in swimming, although -none of them, except Sam Sumerford, Fred Stiefel, -and Jim Grant, could swim more than half a dozen -strokes.</p> - -<p>There was a short bend in the river, quite narrow, -in the middle of which was a deep hole.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> -Those who could dive amused themselves by seeing -who of them could dive to the bottom and -bring up two handfuls of mud as an evidence of -success; and the stream in this place was so narrow, -that, with two or three strokes, they could -reach shoal-water. The others began to float and -try to swim on bladders. Ever since the previous -winter, these boys had been imagining what a -great time they would have swimming on bladders -whenever they were again allowed to be at liberty, -and had added fuel to the fire by talking it over -amongst themselves; but, after all, it did not prove -upon trial such excellent fun as they had anticipated.</p> - -<p>They could, to be sure, float about as long as -they pleased; but it is necessary to lean forward to -swim, and the bladders held them perpendicularly -in the water, like a spindle buoy on a ledge; and -they found it hard work to make any progress in -the water. They therefore soon became tired, and -abandoned them for logs that they could push -wherever they liked. As the bladders had not -been as useful as they expected, nor productive of -so much amusement, Sammy proposed to make a -raft of them.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span></p> -<p>This suggestion was unanimously approved. -They selected dry logs from the drift-wood, and -lashed several of them together with cedar bark; -for these boys were apt scholars, and had learned -from their elders the backwoods arts. The raft -was long in proportion to its breadth, and held -together by crossbands about two feet apart. -They had brought more than thirty bladders, -nearly all belonging to the last year's crop of -hogs, some from hogs killed the year before, a few -having been given to their mothers to put lard -and bear's grease in, and others to be used as -syringes for cleansing wounds.</p> - -<p>The bladders were secured to the poles by -strings made of bark stripped very fine, and which -while green is quite strong.</p> - -<p>After fastening them to the upper side of the -raft, they turned it over, thus bringing them -underneath. It was a magnificent affair, twenty -feet long by ten wide, and floated as light as a -feather, although the poles were of small size, -because buoyed up by the great number of bladders -that were placed under the ends.</p> - -<p>They had made it large enough to carry themselves -and the girls, who were to dine with them,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> -and whom they intended to give a sail on the raft. -The boys were exceedingly proud of their workmanship, -and often exclaimed,—</p> - -<p>"Isn't it nice? Wouldn't Tony Stewart like -to be here?"</p> - -<p>Ike Proctor and Archie Crawford now went to -shoot pigeons; others built a fireplace, and brought -wood and clay in which the birds were to be -enveloped and baked. The girls, who were expected -to cook the dinner, had brought bread, salt, -spoons, and knives. Birch-bark furnished plates, -and likewise drinking-cups that were made by -folding the bark in a peculiar way, and sticking -thorns at the corners.</p> - -<p>This is a very nice way to make drinking-cups or -a vessel to hold sap in; it is done in a moment, -but it is not easy to describe. While this was -going on, Sammy and Will Redmond cut long -poles with which to move and steer the raft.</p> - -<p>All was now ready, and they shoved off, holding -in their hands boughs to catch the breeze; and -away they went before the wind and current, -laughing, shouting, and enjoying themselves to the -top of their bent.</p> - -<p>No such good time as that could the older <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span>people -have got up for them. Children are best by -themselves, even if they do meet with head-flaws -once in a while, and pay the penalty of rashness. -Experience must be obtained in this way, to a -greater or less extent.</p> - -<p>They had a splendid sail down stream, but were -obliged to push the raft back with setting poles, -and against the stream. However, it was not very -hard work, as they kept near the bank where the -current was not very strong, and in some places -an eddy-current setting up stream.</p> - -<p>They had just commenced another voyage, and -were discussing a proposal of Jim Grant to coax -their mothers to make them a flax rope, or, failing -in this, to persuade Uncle Seth to make a bark one -for them, in order that they might be able to -anchor their raft, and fish from it, when all at once -the bladders under the after end of the raft -floated out, the bark strings that fastened them -having become slippery by being wet; and they -went souse into the stream. They, however, regained -the raft, and held by the forward end that -was supported by the bladders, and managed to -keep their heads out of water. In this shape they -drifted along towards a large rock that rose in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> -middle of the stream, and upon which they made -out to scramble just as the raft came to pieces, and -the logs and bladders went drifting down stream. -Though safe, they were not in a very enjoyable -position. The rock was so far from either bank, -that no one of them felt equal to the task of -swimming to the land in order to obtain help for -the rest.</p> - -<p>In plain sight on the bank lay the pigeons and -all the preparations for cooking. The girls would -soon be along to get dinner; and they were cooped -up on a rock in the middle of the stream.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Holdness," said Will Redmond, "has got -a dug-out behind his house, what they sometimes -go down to Mr. Honeywood's place in; and they'd -come and get us, if they only knowed we were -here."</p> - -<p>"Let's screech," said Ike.</p> - -<p>They did screech: the "Catamounts" never -screeched louder; but the wind was blowing -against them, and they screamed themselves -hoarse, to no purpose. The wind, however, that -carried the sound from the fort and the dwellings, -bore it to the ears of the girls, who, terribly frightened, -dropped their pails and baskets, and ran to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> -the nearest house, which happened to be Armstrong's, -with eyes full of tears, panting, and -screaming that Indians were killing the boys, and -then ran to spread the tidings.</p> - -<p>Armstrong, his son Ned, and Will Grant (who -happened to be there), seizing their rifles, hastened -to the river, and, when arriving where they could -see the boys, slacked their speed, much wondering -how they came on that rock. The next moment -the alarm-gun at the fort sent out its summons; -and Stewart, Holdness, Harry Sumerford, and McClure -came running to the spot.</p> - -<p>Harry was sent round to stop the women who -were fleeing to the fort; and Ned Armstrong -crossed the ford to tell the scouts who were seen -in the distance, hastening home, that it was a false -alarm.</p> - -<p>They were now in no haste to relieve the boys.</p> - -<p>"Let 'em screech," said Holdness: "it's the best -place for 'em. I don't know but 'twould be a -good thing to leave 'em there all night and to-morrow, -to supple 'em a little."</p> - -<p>After some little time, the dug-out was hauled -down, and the boys brought to the bank. They -begged hard to be allowed to keep the dug-out;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> -but the parents were so much provoked with them -on account of the alarm and anxiety they had -occasioned, that the entreaty met with a stern -denial.</p> - -<p>Congratulating themselves that they were not -ordered home and shut up (as they fully expected -to be when they saw how angry the old folks -were), and joined by the girls, who sympathized -with them, they made the best of their misfortune.</p> - -<p>Some of the boys kindled the fire, others -brought the berries from the mountain (the girls -having dropped their baskets when they heard the -screams of the boys), and Maud Stewart and Jane -Proctor began the cooking.</p> - -<p>They had an excellent dinner, and the best time -imaginable, eating, lolling on the grass, drying -themselves in the sun, talking over their mishap -with the girls, and telling them all about it, and -that they were going to give them a sail after -dinner if the raft had not come to pieces.</p> - -<p>"Let's go pick up the bladders, and make another," -said Sam.</p> - -<p>"If we do," said Dan, "maybe 'twill come to -pieces; and we don't want to get the girls on it,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> -and have it come to pieces, and drown 'em. I -think we've made fuss enough for one day."</p> - -<p>"Why don't you coax Uncle Seth to make one? -then it won't come to pieces," said Maud.</p> - -<p>"He's so frightened of Indians, you never could -get him to come down here. I'll coax mother to -get our Harry and Knuck and Elick to come here, -and shoot pigeons, and guard him; then he'll -come," said Sam. "My mother'll do most any -thing for me now, 'cause I've been wounded; and -so my brothers will, 'cause they know I haven't -got Tony to play with me any more, never."</p> - -<p>"Oh, how I do wish this Indian war would be -done!" said Alice Proctor; "then we could go -anywhere without being afraid, and our mothers -wouldn't be all the time worrying. I think it's -awful: seems as though, if it keeps on, we shall -all be killed, because we keep having fights, and, -every time we have a fight, somebody's killed. -There's more of the Indians than there is of us; -and so they'll keep coming till we are all killed."</p> - -<p>"If it wa'n't for the Indian war, we shouldn't -have guns of our own, and so much powder and -lead," said Jim Grant.</p> - -<p>"They wouldn't think so much of us, neither,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> -said Fred Stiefel. "We wouldn't be nothing but -boys: now they count on us. Didn't they set us -to hold the fort, and stand watch? and didn't -we kill a lot of Indians? I tell you, we'd 'a' -got an awful lickin' to-day if it hadn't been for -what we did this time and the other time, when -the Indians tried to take the fort."</p> - -<p>"I know Mr. Armstrong wanted to lick us, and -Mr. Holdness said we all ought to have a good -beating; and we'd got it, if 'twa'n't for our fighting -so well. I'd ruther kill Indians than pull flax," -said Sam.</p> - -<p>"I'd ruther fight, and be wounded too," said -Archie Crawford, "than knock sprouts off the -stumps, and pull fire-weed all day."</p> - -<p>"Fightin' ain't so bad," said Sam. "I love to -fight. When it's all still, just afore they begin, -and the Indians come, lookin' so savage, all -painted, a body feels kind of bad; but when the -Indians begin to yell, and you begin to yell, and -the rifles crack, and Mr. Blanchard or Mr. Honeywood -sings out, 'Now we'll see who's a man -and who's a mouse! fire!' then the bad feelin's -all gone. Nobody wants to be a mouse: and you -don't care one bit after the first of it."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span></p> -<p>"If it hadn't been for the Indian war," said -Archie Crawford, "my father wouldn't have been -killed, and Dan's father, and Fred's."</p> - -<p>"They might have died," said Sammy.</p> - -<p>"They couldn't have died, if they hadn't been -killed nor hurted."</p> - -<p>"Yes, they might: folks die 'cause they're sick."</p> - -<p>"I don't believe that nobody in this Run ever -died 'thout they was killed. How can anybody -die, 'cept they're killed or drownded? they can't, -I know."</p> - -<p>"I tell you they can: they'll be took sick, and -grown all pale, and their flesh'll all go away, and -they'll go to bed, and grow weak; and bime-by -they'll get so weak they can't live. I've heard my -mother say how her father died. Mr. Holdness -might have died. Mother says the rheumatism -what he had kills folks sometimes."</p> - -<p>"I had a little sister," said Will Redmond, "that -her throat all swelled, and she couldn't breathe, -and she died."</p> - -<p>Archie still being incredulous, Maud Stewart -said,—</p> - -<p>"Why, Archie, there is a man buried in the -graveyard that the Indians didn't kill,—Mr. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span>Campbell. -I've heard mother tell how he is all the one -in this Run who ever died, and wasn't killed by -Indians. Don't you know the reason Mrs. Sumerford -wanted to move out of the fort was because -she said that so many in a small place, all stived -up, and cattle round, might breed the garrison-fever? -and she told my father that would be as bad -as the Indians."</p> - -<p>No one of the children had ever known one of -their number to die of disease. All their knowledge -respecting the matter was obtained from their -parents; and nothing could more strikingly illustrate -the perilous life the settlers led than the fact -that Archie Crawford considered death by the rifle, -tomahawk, or some violence, the natural end of -mankind. He had never been out of the Run; -there was not an old person there, and he had not -the least conception of death by decay of nature.</p> - -<p>Just below the scene of their mishap, the stream -was so crooked that it resembled very much a bean-vine -encircling a pole. Here they found the greater -portion of the bladders, which they valued somewhat.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XI.</span> <span class="smaller">THE RAFT.</span></h2> - -<p>The children prevailed upon Mr. Seth to -make the raft, with much less difficulty than -they had anticipated, and likewise obtained the -aid of Harry, Alex, and Enoch.</p> - -<p>Mr. Seth stipulated, however, that but one of -them should go pigeon-shooting at a time, thus -leaving two to guard him. The boys also took -their guns, and thus he was protected by ten or -twelve rifles.</p> - -<p>"Well, Uncle Seth," said Harry, "I'll take my -broad-axe along; for, if I am to stay by you, I -might as well help."</p> - -<p>They found many cedars that had been killed -by forest fires, and dry on the stump. Some of -them had large hollow butts. They plugged up -these ends, thus making air-chambers that rendered -the logs very buoyant: therefore there was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> -not the least need of bladders, though the boys -insisted on having a number enclosed in the logs. -These logs were hewed on the top and flattened -on two sides, brought close together, and then -confined by cross-ties at each end and in the middle. -These cross-ties were treenailed to each log, -thus making it impossible for any log to work -out, or the raft to get apart; and the water could -not slop up between the logs, they were so closely -jointed and bound together. Long pins were -driven at the four corners, by which to fasten the -raft. To crown the whole, they made proper -setting-poles and an oar to steer with, and drove -two stout pins in the centre of each end, between -which the oar was dropped to confine it.</p> - -<p>Mr. Seth, who now entered into the matter with -as much interest as the children themselves, told -Sam and Ike to go and tell his brother Israel to -send him a bark rope that he had made several -months before, and put in the corn-crib. He said -he would give them the rope to fasten their raft -to the shore with, and made them a fisherman's -wooden anchor to hold the raft when they went -a fishing.</p> - -<p>When they came back with the rope, they were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> -accompanied by Mr. Honeywood, whom they had -persuaded to come and see what Mr. Seth and -Harry were doing for them.</p> - -<p>When Mr. Seth had finished making the anchor, -he put it on the raft with the rope, and said, -"There, boys, there you are: that raft won't drown -you if you only keep on it."</p> - -<p>With joyous shouts, the boys leaped on it, -jumping, capering, and yelling like wild creatures, -and, seizing the poles, pushed off into the stream. -After looking at them a few minutes, Mr. Seth -picked up his tools, and went home; but Mr. -Honeywood and the others sought game in the -woods.</p> - -<p>When they came back, the boys had been some -distance down the stream, and returned, and were -in the middle of the river.</p> - -<p>"Shove the raft in here, boys," said Honeywood, -"and I'll show you something."</p> - -<p>They did so, and Honeywood took the steering-oar, -put it between the pins, and began to scull -the raft against the current at a great rate. This -was something new to the boys: they were mightily -pleased, and wanted to try their hands at it. -Honeywood instructed them in a short time.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> -Sam, Ike, and the older boys, learned the motion, -were able to keep the oar under water, and move -the raft, and kept at it till it was time to go -home.</p> - -<p>If Mr. Seth before he made the raft (to quote -an expression of the lamented Tony) "was the -goodest man that ever was," his goodness now -must have been beyond the power of language to -express. The boys lay awake half the night, telling -each other of all his goodness, and planning -as to what they should do, now they had got the -raft.</p> - -<p>The next forenoon was all taken up in learning -to scull, there were so many of them to practise; -then they had to talk, and fool, and fuss so long -about it. Every few minutes the oar would slip -or come out of the water while some boy was -doing his "level best;" and he would fall flat on -his back, receiving a poult on the nose from the -end of the oar, that would make him see stars.</p> - -<p>Archie Crawford was trying his hand, when Ike, -who was looking at him, exclaimed,—</p> - -<p>"Oh, pshaw! what sculling that is! let me -show you how it's done."</p> - -<p>Seizing the oar, he made several mighty strokes;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> -the raft was moving lively, when one of the pins -broke, and away went Ike into the river. They -now anchored the raft at a little distance from the -shore, as far as they thought they could swim, and -then, diving, made for the shore. The diving, -being in a slanting direction, carried them a good -part of the distance to the bank. After practising -in this manner a while, they moved the raft a -little farther from the bank; and, thus doing, they -learned to swim faster than by any other method.</p> - -<p>Those who could not swim a stroke were not -afraid to dive in the direction of the shore, when, -as they came up, they could feel the bottom with -their feet; and in this way they became sensible of -the power of the water to support them, and that -it was not easy to reach the bottom while holding -their breath. It was a great deal better method -than wading in. The next move was to fish from -the raft; and while thus engaged they amused -themselves in a manner by no means to be commended. -It must be considered, however, that -they were frontier boys, and their training had not -been of a character to cultivate the finer feelings -and sympathies of humanity.</p> - -<p>We remember that they had resolved never to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> -take a scalp, though most of their parents believed -and taught them that scalping an Indian was no -more harm than scalping a wolf.</p> - -<p>Bobby Holt proposed fastening two of the -largest fish together by their tails, and then tying -a bladder to them, which was no sooner proposed -than done. The fish would make for the bottom, -and for a while succeed in keeping there; but, -becoming tired, up would come the bladder, and -the fish after it. Again, the fish would swim with -great velocity along the surface of the water till -exhausted, then turn belly up, and die. Others -would swim in different directions till they wore -one another out.</p> - -<p>Probably the words of Holdness, McClure, and -Israel Blanchard did not produce much impression -upon the minds of the children; but those of -Honeywood did, who told them they were as bad -as the Indians, who took pleasure in torturing their -captives, and that it was wrong in the sight of -God, who did not give mankind authority over -the animals that they might abuse them. He -went on to say, that cruelty and cowardice were -near of kin; and that many a man would run at the -sound of the war-whoop, and turn pale at the sight<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> -of an Indian alive, tomahawk in hand, who would -be mean enough to scalp the unresisting dead, or -torture a helpless fish. The reproof of Uncle -Seth, however, cut the deepest, who said that if he -had once thought they would do as they had done -(as he had heard they had done, for he could -hardly credit the story), he certainly would not -have made the raft. He made it for them -because he loved them, that they might amuse -themselves; but how could he love boys that were -so cruel?</p> - -<p>Upon this Sam Sumerford got up in his lap, and -said he was sorry, and would never torment a fish -or any other creature again; so they all said, and -would not be satisfied till he told them that he -truly forgave and loved them as aforetime.</p> - -<p>I never knew a boy who didn't like to play in -water, and paddle about on a raft, even if it consisted -of only two or three boards or parts of -boards, whose floating capacity was not sufficient -to prevent the water from washing into his shoes, -with a mud-hole for a pond, or an old cellar partly -filled with rain-water.</p> - -<p>Therefore it may well be doubted whether Mr. -Seth could have constructed any thing out of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> -which those boys would have obtained more fun -and innocent amusement than they contrived in -various ways to get from that raft. From it -they could dive; on its smooth floor, could leave -their clothes while bathing, bask in the sun to dry -off, and run about barefoot without getting splinters -in their feet; and they could move it to any -spot where the depth of water and quality of the -bottom suited them.</p> - -<p>Borrowing an auger and gouge from Mr. Seth, -they made a three-inch hole in the cross-tie at -one end of the raft, and another in the middle tie. -Into these holes they put two large hemlock -bushes as large as they could possibly handle, and -sailed under them before the wind at a great rate.</p> - -<p>The return was not quite so romantic, but they -contrived to extract amusement even from that.</p> - -<p>They took down the bushes, kept near the -shore, and the trip afforded an excellent opportunity -for learning to scull.</p> - -<p>After making their trial-trip, they invited the -girls to sail with them, and fish from the raft. -Satisfied with sailing, they began to fish; and -rocks, sheep's heads, catfish, sunfish, and at times -a trout, were flapping on the raft.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span></p> -<p>In order that what follows may be intelligible -to transient readers, it is necessary to inform -them, that, some months before the period under -consideration, Sam Sumerford and Tony Stewart -captured three bear-cubs, and brought them home. -One of them, that had a white stripe on his face, -was instantly appropriated by Mrs. Sumerford's -baby, and went by the name of baby's bear. The -other two were the boys' pets. One of them proving -vicious, they were both killed. Baby's bear, -however, was as mild as a rabbit, and when small -used to lie in the foot of baby's cradle. As the -bear grew larger, the child would lie down on him -and go to sleep.</p> - -<p>There were seven or eight large wolf-dogs belonging -to different neighbors, savage enough, and -prompt at any moment to grapple with bear or -wolf; but when pups, and while the settlers lived -in the fort, they had been reared with the cubs, -and always ate and slept with them. No one of -the dogs ever had any difference with baby's bear, -though they often quarrelled with each other. -The boys were very fond of these dogs, and -always at play with them.</p> - -<p>It chanced on this particular day, that Tony's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> -dog (who, since the loss of his young master, had -been very lonely) started off on a visit to Archie -Crawford's Lion, and the twain went over to -make a friendly call on Sam Sumerford's Watch.</p> - -<p>They snuffed round a while, poked their noses -into every place where they imagined their friend -and his master might be; and, not finding him, -began to feel lonesome and disappointed. After -a while, Lion lighted upon Sammy's track, and of -some of the other boys who had come to Mrs. -Sumerford's to start with Sammy, told his companion -what he had discovered, and proposed that -they should follow the trail.</p> - -<p>Off went the two dogs with noses to the ground, -and tails in the air, and soon came to the river; -and, sitting down upon the bank, they began to -bark and whine. They were soon joined by Sam's -Watch, who, missing his master, had been looking -for him in another direction, and, hearing the -others bark, came to the stream.</p> - -<p>"Look," said Archie, "there's Sammy's Watch, -my Lion, and Tony's Rover, all sitting on the -bank."</p> - -<p>When the dogs started, baby's bear was half -asleep in the sun on the door-stone, and hardly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> -noticed them when they came and smelled of him. -After they had gone, he roused up, stared round, -and shook himself, and, feeling lonesome too, -moved along after them.</p> - -<p>Instead of sitting down as the dogs had done, -when he reached the bank, he entered the water, -and swam towards the raft.</p> - -<p>"Oh!" shouted Sammy, "only look at baby's -bear coming to see us fish: isn't he good? we'll -have him on the raft with us."</p> - -<p>"Yes, and the dogs are coming too: won't it -be nice to have 'em all?" said Maud.</p> - -<p>It proved, however, not to be so very nice, after -all. The raft was already loaded nearly to its -capacity; and when the bear (which weighed three -hundred pounds when dry, much more wet) put -his fore-paws on the raft in order to mount, he -pressed it to the water's edge. The girls began to -scream, and the boys to kick the bear, and pound -him on the head, to make him let go. And now -came the dogs: the bear was resolved to get on -the raft, and the dogs too. In this exigency the -boys all jumped into the water, holding by their -hands to the raft, in order to lighten it, upon -which the dogs relinquished their purpose, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> -kept swimming round the boys; but not so the -bear, who, scrabbling on the raft, shook himself, -drenching the girls with spray; and, seating himself -in the middle, cast approving glances round -him from his wicked little eyes.</p> - -<p>It was found that the raft would bear part of -the boys; and Sam and Ike Proctor, getting upon -it, pulled up the anchors, and sculled to the shore; -the bear meanwhile regaling himself with fish, -thus making it evident why he was so anxious to -get on the raft.</p> - -<p>There was no harm done: the girls, to be sure, -were pretty well sprinkled, but it was no great -matter, as they were all barefoot.</p> - -<p>After reaching the shore, the girls concluded to -go on the mountain, and pick berries in the hot -sun till their clothes were dried.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Armstrong had sent word for the boys to -catch some blood-suckers (leeches) to apply to her -husband's wound that was inflamed. The boys, -therefore, thought best to get them while the girls -were berrying, and while they were wet. They -all went to a frog-pond near by, stripped up their -trousers, waded into the water, and, when the -blood-suckers came to fasten on their legs, caught<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> -them in their hands, and put them into a pail of -water. Some of the boys, who wanted a new sensation, -would permit them to fasten on their legs, -and suck their fill till they became gorged, and -dropped off of their own accord. Sam Sumerford -had no less than three on his right leg, and was -sitting on a log with his legs in the water, patiently -waiting for the leeches to fill themselves, with -his head on his hands, half asleep.</p> - -<p>Suddenly he leaped from the log, with a fearful -yell, and ran out of the water, dragging a snapping -turtle after him, as big over as a half-bushel, that -had fastened to his right foot. They all ran to his -aid.</p> - -<p>"He won't let go till it thunders," said Dan -Mugford: "they never do."</p> - -<p>"Cut his head off, then: cut him all to pieces," -cried the sufferer.</p> - -<p>"If you can bear it a little while, Sammy," said -Jim Grant, "till we pry his mouth open easy, -we can keep him, and have him to play with, and -set the dogs on him."</p> - -<p>"I guess, if he had your foot in his mouth, you -wouldn't want to bear it, Jim Grant: kill him, I -tell you, quicker!"</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p> -<p>Archie held the turtle, and Ike pulled his head -out of his shell, and cut it off. Even then the -jaws were set so hard that it required some force -to open them.</p> - -<p>The injury was above the roots of the great and -second toes, and severe enough to wound the flesh -and cause blood to run freely; but the resolute -boy plastered some clay on it, and went berrying -with the rest.</p> - -<p>Before starting for home with the leeches, they -consulted in respect to the manner in which they -should amuse themselves the next day.</p> - -<p>This, of course, implied that they should do -something with the raft.</p> - -<p>"We've sailed, fished, and learned to scull; and -now we want to do something we never did do," -said Ike.</p> - -<p>"Then let's sail up to the leaning hemlock," -said Mugford, "where there's plenty of fish; and -get clay and flat stones, and build a fire-place on -the raft, borrow Mrs. Honeywood's Dutch oven, -get potatoes, pork, and fixin's, and have a cook on -the raft."</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XII.</span> <span class="smaller">A DAY OF UNALLOYED PLEASURE.</span></h2> - -<p>The boys flattered themselves that they had -made all their arrangements for a good time -the next day; but on the way home they met Mr. -Seth, who said that he and Israel were going to -junk and pile logs on a burn the next day, and he -must have all of them to nigger off logs.</p> - -<p>"We can't to-morrow, Uncle Seth," said Sammy; -"'cause we're going to make a fire-place on -the raft, and have a cook, and have the Dutch -oven, and have Scip, and the biggest time we ever -did have."</p> - -<p>"But you can't have Scip, because he'll have to -chop with us; but you can have a first-rate time -niggering logs: you can have a fire in a stump, -and roast potatoes and ears of corn."</p> - -<p>"We ought to help Uncle Seth, 'cause he's the -goodest man ever was, 'cause he's made us the -raft," said Sam.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span></p> -<p>"So we will help, Uncle Seth," said Will -Redmond; "and we'll let you see what we kin -do."</p> - -<p>"That's good boys; and we'll have a long nooning; -and I'll tell you about Mr. Honeywood, how, -when he was a little bit of a boy, he went to sea -on a tree, and was picked up by a vessel."</p> - -<p>"What's a sea, and what's a vessel?" said Bob -Holt.</p> - -<p>"I'll tell you all about it; and, when we get the -piece ready to sow, I'll ask Israel to let Scip go -with you on the raft. But you mustn't tell him -Indian stories, nor say any thing about them; for, -if you do, he won't be good for any thing for a -fortnight."</p> - -<p>"No, Uncle Seth, we won't, and we won't scare -him for fun as we used to," said Ben Wood.</p> - -<p>These frontier boys had never seen a vessel, nor -even a tug-boat; all the craft they were acquainted -with was a birch canoe or a dug-out; and they -wondered much what Uncle Seth meant by the -sea for though some of them had read some pieces -at school, in which references were made to vessels -and the ocean, yet as they had never seen a map, -and could only read by spelling many of the words,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> -they had no definite conception in regard to the -subject.</p> - -<p>The next morning the boys took their guns and -provisions with them to the field. The place was -not far from the fort; there was a strong party on -the scout; and the boys were able to persuade Mr. -Seth to say, that, when noon came, he would eat -with them in the field.</p> - -<p>Mr. Seth, Israel, and Scipio now began to cut -into proper lengths the large logs that the clearing-fire -had spared, and the boys went to niggering. -They placed a large stick across a log, put brands -and dry stuff beside it on the log, and set it on fire, -in order to burn the log off, until they had twenty -or thirty logs on fire at once, which kept them -running from one to the other tending the fires. -In this way they rendered good service, and niggered -off logs faster than the men could chop them -in two; and they liked the work right well.</p> - -<p>Mr. Seth had brought bread and butter and -some slices of bacon. Scip brought a jug of milk; -and the boys roasted eggs and potatoes in the -ashes, and ears of corn before the fire; and, after -dinner, Mr. Seth told them what happened to Mr. -Honeywood; then he described the ocean, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> -tried to give them some idea of a vessel by whittling -out a miniature one with his knife.</p> - -<p>The next day these scorched and half-burned -logs and brands (over which the fire had run, -burning up all the limbs and tops) were to be -piled up and entirely consumed. The men and -boys came to the field, dressed in tow frocks and -trousers. Maccoy and Grant came to help with -oxen; and the logs were drawn together, and rolled -up in piles, and all the large brands picked up -and flung on top or tucked under the piles, which -occupied the whole day.</p> - -<p>The next morning they set all the piles on fire, -and tended them, in order to make a clean burn, -throwing in the brands and branches. They were, -every one of them, just as black as a smut-coal; -and at night they went to the river, washed both -their persons and clothes, and put on clean garments.</p> - -<p>The lads now entered with new enthusiasm -upon preparation for their postponed expedition -on the river.</p> - -<p>It is the nature of a well-constructed boy to -receive peculiar delight from any thing of his own -contrivance. The rudest plaything of his own<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> -invention or manufacture is dearer to him than -a much better one that is the workmanship of -another.</p> - -<p>Boys who are possessed of any pluck, and are -worth raising, delight in the development of their -own powers, both of brain and muscle: you may -observe it in a little child taking its first steps, and -holding the father's finger.</p> - -<p>The little thing toddles on demurely enough, so -long as led; but the moment it leaves the father's -finger, and strikes out boldly for the safe harbor -of its mother's lap, its eyes are dancing in its -head, hands going up and down in high glee, and, -screaming and crowing with delight, it tumbles -into those extended arms breathless but in ecstasy.</p> - -<p>That feeling of self-help, so dear to the child, is -no less so to the boy or to the man, of whom the -child is the father. Therefore, though the boys -were under great obligations to Mr. Seth for putting -the raft into their hands, and to Mr. Honeywood -for teaching them to manage it, and thus -contributing to their amusement, they were under -still greater obligations to them for opening before -them such a field for contrivance, furnishing them -with resources, and placing them in a position that -stimulated their own energies.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span></p> -<p>They commenced operations by boring two holes -with an auger into the cross-tie at the centre of the -raft, into which they drove two crotches some five -feet in length. Clay from the frog-pond, and sand -from the river, were mixed together and well -worked, and wooden trowels made to handle it -with. Several of the boys made use of the -shoulder-blades of moose, which made very good -substitutes for steel trowels. The shell of the -snapping turtle, and pieces of pine and hemlock -bark, were used to carry the mortar on. Plastering -the floor of the raft with this mortar to the -depth of a foot, they bedded flat stones in it to -form a hearth, then built up a fireplace with three -sides but open in front, plastering the stones with -clay both inside and out.</p> - -<p>A stout green stick was laid in the crotches, and -a withe fastened to it to hold the Dutch oven. -Leaving their work to dry in the hot sun, they cut -dry hard wood in short pieces, and, going to the -burn, brought from thence in a basket some hard-wood -coals and brands to cook with.</p> - -<p>The object of cutting the wood fine, and procuring -the charcoal, was that they might have a -hot fire without much blaze that would be likely<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> -to burn their crotch pole and withe, which as a -further safeguard they smeared with clay.</p> - -<p>It is evident that all this implies forethought, -calculation, and practice.</p> - -<p>"Don't let us go home for bowls, plates, or -spoons," said Johnnie Armstrong: "we can make -'em ourselves."</p> - -<p>"I and Jim Grant, Dan Mugford, and Johnnie -Armstrong can make the spoons and plates," said -Fred Stiefel.</p> - -<p>"We can make square trenchers good enough -out of a chip," said Archie; "but we can't bowls: -'twould take all summer."</p> - -<p>"I know a better way than that," said Sam. -"We don't want but one or two bowls, one big -one to hold the stew; and we can make bowls and -plates out of clay."</p> - -<p>"That'll be the best fun that ever was," said -Archie. "I'd sooner make the dishes than eat -the vittles."</p> - -<p>"I wouldn't: I'd rather do both."</p> - -<p>Part of them with axes split blocks of proper -wood to make the spoons, and shaped them rudely -with tomahawks, while others prepared clay for -the bowls. They had been accustomed to make<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> -marbles of clay, and bake them on the hearth, -though it must be confessed they frequently split -into halves in baking; they had also made moulds -of clay in which to run bullets, and had helped -make clay mortar to plaster the chimneys. They -treated this clay in the same manner, mixing sand -with it. Thus they were occupied till the horn -blew for dinner, at which time Archie obtained a -crooked knife made to dig out bowls, spoons, and -trays, having a rest for the thumb.</p> - -<p>During meal-time the boys were much questioned -by the girls; but they preserved a dignified -silence, looking unutterable things, and saying, as -they left home, that, if the girls presumed to come -peeking and prying round, they shouldn't go with -them, not one inch.</p> - -<p>Fred Stiefel was master workman of the spoon -business; and while his gang were seated in the -shade, manufacturing those utensils, Sam and his -fellow-potters began the making of earthen-ware.</p> - -<p>They adopted a singular method, originating in -the inventive brain of Sammy. Selecting a level -spot in the dry, tough clay ground, they removed -the turf, picked out the grass-roots, smoothed the -surface, and swept off the dust. Upon this surface<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> -they laid some of the square wooden plates or -trenchers used by the settlers, and cut into the -clay, then hollowed the centre with a crooked -drawing-knife made to hollow the staves of tubs -and pails. This was the mould, and they made -numbers of them. Moulds for bowls were made -in the same way; and, when the draw-shave did -not accomplish the purpose, they worked out the -bottom of the moulds, and smoothed them up with -the bowl of a horn spoon, the handle of which -had been broken off.</p> - -<p>Into these moulds they put the clay, plastering -it on the sides and bottom to a proper thickness, -and, removing all superfluous clay with wooden -scrapers and the spoon-bowl, pressed and smoothed -it with their fingers and a bunch of wet moss, that -left the surface smooth and shining.</p> - -<p>They became more and more interested in their -work, and endeavored to excel each other in the -shape and ornamentation of their vessels, for they -even aspired to that. The square trenchers with -their large margin afforded ample space for -designs.</p> - -<p>Archie made a row of sharp points round the -edge of his plate, and between each two a round<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> -dot by pressing a buckshot into the clay; and also -cut his name on the bottom.</p> - -<p>Ike Proctor made a vine; and outside of that he -made quite a pretty figure by pressing beechnuts -and the upper surface of acorn-cups into the clay.</p> - -<p>Sammy Sumerford excelled all the others. In -the first place, he traced a vine round the outer -edge, and did it quite well; having found in the -house the wheel or rowel of a spur he printed it -in the clay inside the vine; not satisfied with this -he obtained some garnets, and, pressing them into -the clay, left them there.</p> - -<p>"How did you cut that vine so true, Sam?" -said Bob Holt, who was admiring the work.</p> - -<p>"I laid a little small spruce-root, not so large as -a knitting-needle, all round the edge, and made all -the turns as I wanted to have 'em, and put thorn -spikes to keep 'em from moving while I pressed 'em -into the clay."</p> - -<p>It was now time to drive up the cattle; -and, dusting their work with sand, they covered it -with boughs to keep off the dew.</p> - -<p>The next morning the plates and bowls were -carefully dug out of the moulds, and placed in the -sun to dry the outside; then they were put in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> -fireplace, the top of which was covered with flat -stones and clay to keep in the heat; and they were -burned as red as a brick. Some of them fell to -pieces. All of them were full of small cracks; -but they would hold water some time, though it -soaked out gradually.</p> - -<p>The remainder of the day was spent in killing -and plucking pigeons, and making preparations for -the morrow.</p> - -<p>Early next morning came the girls and Scip, -bringing with them whatever other articles of food -or seasoning were needed.</p> - -<p>The girls were much pleased with the fireplace, -and especially with the bowls, spoons, and platters; -and the boys were the recipients of compliments -that put them in excellent humor.</p> - -<p>Shoving off, they went up to a part of the -stream that was wider, in order to have a better -opportunity to sail. They now discovered, that, to -all his other accomplishments, Scip added that of -an excellent oarsman. He was a Baltimore negro, -and was purchased in that place (as most of our -readers know) by Israel Blanchard, on his way to -settle at Wolf Run; and had been accustomed to -go in boats, and scull rafts of lumber on the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span>Patapsco -River. He disdained the use of pins or a -notch to keep his oar in place, but would scull -right on the side of the raft anywhere, shoving his -oar perpendicularly into the water and keeping it -so, which afforded him a greater leverage in sculling -against the stream.</p> - -<p>With Scip at the oars, and the boys at the setting-poles, -they went along lively when returning -from a trip and against the wind and current.</p> - -<p>When tired of sailing, they fished; and then, -bringing the raft under the branches of a leaning -hemlock, the boys went on shore to pick berries -for a dessert, while Scip and the girls were getting -dinner.</p> - -<p>The fireplace worked to a charm, and the dinner -proved to be all that could be desired. They -enjoyed the pleasure of eating afloat, something -new to them, and, with no mishap to mar the -pleasure of the day, had the best time imaginable. -They also had berries to carry home.</p> - -<p>On arriving home that night, the boys were -told that they had enjoyed a good long play-spell, -and that the next morning they must go sprouting.</p> - -<p>In clearing land the stumps of the trees send -up a great many sprouts: these the boys were set<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> -to beat off, or cut with hatchets, in order to kill -the stumps. When the sprouts become dry they -are piled up around the stumps, and burned, which -tends still more to kill them; and by doing this a -few times the roots are exhausted.</p> - -<p>The next employment was to cut down the fire -and pigeon weed among the corn, and to pull the -pease and beans. Then there was flax to pull; and, -though only the men and largest boys could do -that, yet any of them could carry it off the piece, -and spread it on the grass to rot the stalk, and -make it separate from the outside skin or fibre, -which is the part used to make thread.</p> - -<p>One thing coming thus after another, it was a -long time before they were given another holiday.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XIII.</span> <span class="smaller">CANNOT GIVE IT UP.</span></h2> - -<p>Occurrences very trifling, in themselves -considered, often lead to important results. -The boyish whim of making a fireplace on the -raft, and constructing dishes from clay, developed -a capacity in Sammy Sumerford of the existence -of which he was before unconscious; and was productive -of most useful results, affecting the entire -community in which he lived.</p> - -<p>The other boys, when they had succeeded in -making and burning the bowls, satisfied with -accomplishing their present purpose, seemed to -have exhausted their enthusiasm in that direction. -It was far otherwise with Sammy. At night, -morning, and even sometimes at noon, he would -steal away by himself to the clay-pit. He also -held a good many private conferences with Mr. -Seth, going to the mill for that purpose. We will -take the liberty to repeat one of them.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span></p> -<p>"Mr. Seth, you know my mother's got an -earthen milk-pan, and Mrs. Holdness has got two: -where did they come from?"</p> - -<p>"Baltimore."</p> - -<p>"Who made 'em?"</p> - -<p>"A potter by the name of Bickford. He makes -pans, jugs, bowls, and teapots, out of clay."</p> - -<p>"My mother's pan don't leak a drop, not when -she puts hot water in it; but we boys made some -things out of clay, and baked 'em just as we do -our marbles, and the water and soup we put in -'em soaked through."</p> - -<p>"It didn't soak through faster than you could -eat it, did it?"</p> - -<p>"No, sir; but when we let it set, after a good -while, it did. What's the reason milk nor nothing -else won't go through mother's pan?"</p> - -<p>"'Cause it's glazed, and probably burned harder -than yours. Didn't you see that the inside was of -a different color from the outside, and there was -something smooth and shiny all over it? That's -the glazing, that makes it as tight as though it was -made of glass. That's a secret they keep to themselves; -but I believe they burn lead, and mix other -things with it, put it on, and then bake it in. But<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> -the potter's ware that is not glazed will hold water -well enough: the water won't drop, and it takes a -long time to soak out; all the trouble is, whatever -you put into it soaks in, and you can't keep it so -clean as though it was glazed."</p> - -<p>"Then what made ours leak so fast?"</p> - -<p>"Were there cracks in it?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir; lots of 'em."</p> - -<p>"Did you put sand in your clay, just as we do -when we make mortar?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir."</p> - -<p>"What else did you do to it?"</p> - -<p>"Worked it with the hoe, just as we do mortar."</p> - -<p>"Was that all?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir."</p> - -<p>"Well, the potters don't put any sand in their -clay as a general thing, and never but a very -little: the sand made it leak. You didn't make -earthen: you made brick. And they take great -pains to work their clay. I think it is very likely -there were sticks and grass-roots in yours, and it -was raw, and not worked enough; and that made -it crack and blow. If you had worked it as much -as your mother does her dough, not put in any -sand, and baked it harder, it would have done -better."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span></p> -<p>"Uncle Seth, I love to make things in clay, and -I'm going to try to make a bean-pot for my mother. -You won't tell anybody, Uncle Seth. Will -you?"</p> - -<p>"No, indeed, and I'm real glad you are going -to try. It's a great deal better to spend your time -in trying to make something useful than to be -fooling or doing mischief."</p> - -<p>"You know everybody likes Harry 'cause he's -brave, kills Indians and bears, and can foller a -trail. Ain't I brave?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, you're brave."</p> - -<p>"Folks like Harry 'cause he can do so much -work,—make tubs, pails, baskets, and drums. You -and Mr. Israel like to have him with you, and let -him have your tubs, and mother, she says he's the -best boy ever a mother had, may the Lord bless -him!</p> - -<p>"I want to make things too; 'cause I love to, and -'cause I haven't got Tony to play with me any -more, and 'cause I don't want everybody to say -I'm a plague above ground, and a real vexation: -that's what Mrs. Mugford said."</p> - -<p>"That's right, my lad: if you do that you'll be -a great benefit, and everybody will love you. How<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> -did you make your bowls and platters the other -day? What did you have to make 'em by?"</p> - -<p>"We made 'em in the ground."</p> - -<p>"That's the last way I should have thought of," -said Uncle Seth, laughing. "How did you get 'em -out?"</p> - -<p>"After they dried, we dug the ground away -with our scalping-knives, till we could pull 'em -out."</p> - -<p>"If the ground hadn't been as dry as an ash-heap, -they never would have dried in the ground -so that you could have taken them out; and, if -there had come a shower, they'd been full of -water."</p> - -<p>"What's a better way to do?"</p> - -<p>"Make a wooden mould, and put the clay on it: -then the inside will be smooth, and just the shape -of the mould, and you can make the outside just -as you like; and when you put it in the fire the -wood will burn out. Or you can do as the Indians -do,—make a basket, and put the clay on -the inside of the basket; and the basket will -burn off."</p> - -<p>Sammy went away, and pondered a long while -upon what Mr. Seth had told him; but he thought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> -he could not make a wooden mould very well, nor -a basket, and took the funniest method imaginable; -but then, you know, he was a Sumerford, and -own brother to Harry. He dug his clay, made it -as thin as porridge with water, and strained it -through a riddling-sieve.</p> - -<p>"I guess there ain't any sticks or grass-roots in -that," said Sammy.</p> - -<p>After the clay had settled to the bottom, he -turned off the water, and worked it with a hoe, -then dragged the tub into the woods where the -boys would not be likely to see it, and left it, -as Uncle Seth had said it ought to lie a while.</p> - -<p>After the work referred to in the last chapter -was done, the boys were given a day to go fishing; -but, to their great surprise, Sammy, who was generally -the leader in all such enterprises, didn't want -to go.</p> - -<p>The boys were no sooner out of sight than -Sammy ran to the clay-pit, dragged the tub from -the bushes, and gave the clay another working. -Then, hunting among the corn, he found a hard-shelled -pumpkin which suited him in shape. The -bottom of it was slightly hollowing; but Sammy -cut it perfectly square, and likewise cut a piece<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> -from the stem end, in order that both the top and -bottom might be square.</p> - -<p>Sammy knew his mother would want a big pot; -for there were three strapping boys to eat beans, -and, if half the children in the Run happened to -be at Mrs. Sumerford's near meal-time, she would -have them stop to eat: therefore he had selected -the largest pumpkin of the right shape that he -could find, on which to mould his pot.</p> - -<p>Over this pumpkin he plastered the clay, and -regulated the thickness by marking the depth on a -little pointed stick which he thrust into the clay -from time to time. Knowing his mother would -be obliged to cover the top of the pot with coals -and ashes, it must of course have a cover. He -turned his tub bottom up, and, using the bottom -for a table, rolled out a strip of clay, and placed it -round the edge of the pot on the inside, for the -cover to rest on; then, cutting out a piece of birch-bark -to fit the top of the pot, moulded his cover -by that, punching up the clay in the middle for a -handle to take it off by, for he did not know that -handles could be made and stuck on to clay -vessels when they are half dry.</p> - -<p>All this accomplished, Sammy was quite <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span>delighted, -clapped his hands, and danced round his -work, exclaiming,—</p> - -<p>"I never did feel so good in all my life. What'll -my mother say? I guess Harry'll think something. -Oh, if Tony was only here to make one for his -mother!"</p> - -<p>He was now seized with a strong desire to ornament -his work, which was quite rough, and covered -with finger-marks. The first thing needed was a -smooth surface on which to make figures. He -sharpened a stake at both ends, drove one end into -the ground, and stuck the pot on the other, running -the stake into the pumpkin to hold it.</p> - -<p>He then moistened the clay, smoothed it with -wet moss and a flat stick, and afterwards with a -piece of wet bladder, till it was perfectly smooth -and level; and sat down to consider in what way -he should ornament the surface. Several methods -suggested themselves, none of which were satisfactory. -At length an idea entered his mind, that he -hastened to carry out in practice.</p> - -<p>Rolling out a piece of clay on the bottom of -the tub till it was a foot square or more, he took -a beech-leaf, and, placing it on the clay, pressed it -carefully into the surface; then taking it up by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> -the stem, he found the full impress of it left on the -clay. Delighted with this, he gathered the top -shoots of cedar, and beech-leaves of various kinds, -and ferns, and took impressions from all of them, -till he had quite a gallery at his command. The -large-ribbed, deeply-indented leaves gave the best -impression; while the ferns, though very beautiful, -afforded an indistinct outline, and the cedar the -most marked, the leaf being thick, and going deeper -into the surface.</p> - -<p>After long deliberation, he settled down upon -the beech, cedar, fern, and locust, choosing the -extremities of the smallest branches, which he -pressed carefully into the surface of his pot, and -left them there to be burned out when the pot -was baked.</p> - -<p>Sammy now took a thin flat stone, sprinkled it -with sand, turned the pot on it, and set it in a -hollow tree; intending as soon as the clay had -hardened sufficiently, and the pumpkin had become -tender by decay, to dig out the meat, leaving the -shell to be burned out.</p> - -<p>He then flatted out a large piece of clay, and -began to search round after other leaves and -objects of which to take impressions. So absorbed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> -did he become, that he forgot his dinner, taking -no note of passing time, and meditated new -devices till he was roused by hearing the voices of -the boys coming from fishing; and, instantly putting -away his implements, ran home.</p> - -<p>He didn't want the boys to know what he was -doing, for fear they would tell his mother; and he -wanted to surprise her.</p> - -<p>Before reaching the house, he met his mother -coming after him.</p> - -<p>"Why, Sammy Sumerford, where have you been -this livelong day?"</p> - -<p>"Down to the river."</p> - -<p>"Down to the river, indeed! Didn't you hear -me blow the horn? I was afraid the Indians had -got you. What could you find to do there without -any dinner, and all alone?"</p> - -<p>"I've had a good time, ma'am."</p> - -<p>"Well, if you have, I'm glad of it; but it must -have been a very different good time from any -you ever had before: for never since you came -into the world could you have any sort of a good -time without half a dozen boys round you; and, if -there were as many girls, so much the better."</p> - -<p>The moment he had swallowed his supper, he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> -ran off to report to Mr. Seth; who had a good -laugh when Sammy told him he had moulded on -a pumpkin, and reckoned he could not dig out till -it was thoroughly rotten, without breaking the -pot.</p> - -<p>He was, however, singularly favored in this -respect: not being able to visit the place for two -days without the notice of the other boys, when he -did go he found the pumpkin entirely covered with -ants, who had devoured nearly the whole of it.</p> - -<p>"Good on your heads!" said he. "You can dig -it easier and better than I can, and won't break -the pot neither."</p> - -<p>The interior of the old tree was damp; and when -the ants had devoured all of the meat, leaving -only the shell of the pumpkin, Sam, watching his -opportunity, removed the pot to the garret of the -house, where it might dry thoroughly.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XIV.</span> <span class="smaller">THE BEAN-POT.</span></h2> - -<p>Mr. Seth had told Sammy that one reason -his bowls and platters cracked was because -they were baked too quick: that to bake -a potter's kiln required forty-eight hours; that -the baking must commence gradually, and be discontinued -in the same way. Another reason was, -that they were of unequal thickness; and the thin -places shrunk before the thicker ones, and pulled -them apart.</p> - -<p>One morning, while the pot was drying, Sam -came into the house, and heard his mother up -garret. He thought she was making his bed, but, -listening a moment, found she was rummaging -round. Alarmed, he said,—</p> - -<p>"Mother, what are you doing up there?"</p> - -<p>"Doing? I'm hunting after a 'sley' that -belongs to the loom."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span></p> -<p>"Come down, marm, and I'll come and find it."</p> - -<p>"You find any thing? umph! You can't keep -the run of your own clothes. I have to find your -hat for you half the time. I expect now I'll have -to move half the old trumpery in this garret."</p> - -<p>Grown desperate, Sammy flung a mug of cold -water in the face of the baby, who was sitting on -the floor. The child set up a terrible screeching.</p> - -<p>"Sam, what does ail that child?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know, marm. Guess he's going to -have a fit. He's holding his breath."</p> - -<p>Mrs. Sumerford was down the ladder in an -instant, and catching up the child, who was purple -in the face from temper and strangulation, thumped -him on the back, exclaiming,—</p> - -<p>"Poor blessed baby! was he frightened 'cause -his mother left him? Well, mother won't;" and -the next moment, "Why, this child's all wet! -Sam Sumerford, what have you been doing? Have -you been throwing water on this baby?"</p> - -<p>Sam, who was in the chamber, and had hid the -pot in his bed, to change the subject replied,—</p> - -<p>"Yes, marm, I—I'm trying to find it."</p> - -<p>"Well, you look for it. I must go to the barn, -and get some eggs for Harry's breakfast."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p> -<p>Harry had stood watch in the night at the fort, -and was in bed.</p> - -<p>Taking the child with her, Mrs. Sumerford left -the house, when Sammy went and hid the pot in -the pasture, in a hollow fence-log on high ground, -and where a current of air circulated through that -kept it dry.</p> - -<p>Sammy thought it would be a fine thing to have -his mother's name on the pot, or at least the -words "For mother," and knew that, though it -was dry, he could cut them in. He persuaded Mr. -Seth to cut the inscription on a piece of bark -taken from a young pine; and then, pasting the -bark with flour paste to the surface to keep it from -moving, he cut out the letters by the pattern, -moistening the clay a little, that it might not -crumble at the edge. The bark was quite thick, -which served better for guiding the point of the -tool with which he worked.</p> - -<p>New difficulties now arose in respect to the -baking. Uncle Seth had told Sammy it took forty-eight -hours to bake a kiln of potter's ware, but, -where the fire was all directed to one pot, that -perhaps one day and one night would be sufficient.</p> - -<p>Sammy perceived at once that he could not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> -hope to do this without the knowledge of his -companions; and, making a virtue of necessity, -took them to the pasture, showed them the pot, -and told them all his heart.</p> - -<p>They instantly entered into his plans, promised -to keep the secret, and do all they could to help -him, and instantly set about preparations.</p> - -<p>"Where can we bake it?" said Sammy. "We -can't do it on the raft; 'cause we've got to keep a -fire all night, and our folks won't let us be down -to the river all night nor one minute after sundown."</p> - -<p>"Bake it down to Cuthbert's house, in the big -fireplace. Make a kiln right in that," said Mugford.</p> - -<p>"They wouldn't let us stay there all night."</p> - -<p>"What matter will it be," said Archie, "if we -let the fire be at night, and then kindle it up in -the morning? S'pose you put in a lot of hard -wood when you left it: 'twould be all hot in the -morning; 'twouldn't get cold; then there won't be -no trouble."</p> - -<p>"I don't know," said Sammy. "I'll ask Uncle -Seth."</p> - -<p>Mr. Seth, being appealed to, said he didn't think<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> -it would make any difference if they put in wood -at night, kept it warm, and started the fire in the -morning slowly; that the reason potters and -brick-makers kept their kilns burning all night -was to save time and wood; that it would require -a great deal less wood to keep it going all night, -than to let the kiln cool off, and start it again.</p> - -<p>There was no need of going to the river for clay, -as there was a pit in the pasture just back of the -Cuthbert house, from which the settlers had dug -clay to plaster the roofs of the block-houses. They -therefore began to build the kiln with rocks and -clay right before Mrs. Sumerford's door, part of -them working on the kiln, and the rest making -marbles to bake in it.</p> - -<p>Mr. Seth had told them that the fire must not -come directly to the pot: so they built a square of -rocks and clay, and in the middle made a place in -which to put the pot, marbles, and several bowls -and platters that the boys made on the spot. In -this little apartment they left openings to admit -the heat, having fire on all sides of it: then they -covered the top with two flat stones about four -inches apart, and left below two holes to put in -wood, and plastered the whole all over with clay.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> -They then covered each end of the slit on top -with flat stones and clay, except a short space in -the middle left for draught, and which could be -closed with a stone laid near for the purpose.</p> - -<p>They had received general instructions from -Uncle Seth, and were carrying them out in their -own way with the greatest possible enthusiasm. -There were quite a number of articles in the -receptacle with the pot, that the boys made and -moulded from the clay with which the kiln was -built; but some of the boys had brought up some -of the clay Sam had worked, and made platters -and marbles.</p> - -<p>The piece of land on which they had recently -been burning the logs was full of the ends of -limbs and half-burned brands, just the thing to -make a hot fire and to kindle readily. They -gathered many of these, and plenty of other wood; -and, their preparations being all made at night, -they kindled the fire at sunrise next day.</p> - -<p>They made a regular holiday of it, roasting -corn, potatoes, and eggs in a separate fireplace constructed -for the purpose; and Scip came occasionally -to partake of their cheer.</p> - -<p>They borrowed Mrs. McClure's big skillet, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> -Mrs. Sumerford made bread for them: this was -on the second day, when the fire had been burning -long enough to make plenty of ashes and coals. -They swept the hearth of their fireplace clean, -put the dough into the skillet, turned it bottom up -on the hearth, and covered the skillet with hot -coals. With the coals on top and the hot hearth -beneath, it baked splendidly; and they had their -dinner before the kiln.</p> - -<p>Harry shot two wild turkeys, and gave them -one; and they baked it, and had a great feast, and -kept the fire up three days; and when on the forenoon -of the fourth day they opened it, the pot -came out without a crack, and baked to a bright -red.</p> - -<p>The little stems of the cedar and beech were -baked to a coal; and Sammy picked them out, -leaving the impression sharp and clear.</p> - -<p>He then mixed up some lamp-black that Solomon -Lombard, the Indian trader, had given him, -and filled the letters that composed the motto, -which brought them out finely in contrast with -the red ground on which they were cut. The -other articles fared quite otherwise: many of the -marbles split in halves, some cracked, others<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> -blistered or fell to pieces; but a few came out -whole and fair.</p> - -<p>It was found, however, that the marbles and -dishes made of clay brought from the river were -the ones that stood the baking and were bright -red, while the others were lighter-colored. Mr. -Seth said they stood the fire because the clay had -been worked more, and that the deeper color was -due to the greater quantity of iron in the river -clay.</p> - -<p>Sammy had taken his pot to the pasture among -the bushes, to fill the letters with black, and was -joined by the other boys as soon as they had -cleared the kiln.</p> - -<p>Their conversation, as was often the case, turned -upon the virtues of Uncle Seth, without whose -advice it was allowed Sammy would never have -succeeded in making his pot.</p> - -<p>"What a pity," said Dan, "such a good man -should be a coward!"</p> - -<p>"He isn't a coward," said Sammy.</p> - -<p>"Yes, he is. Didn't he shut himself up in the -mill when the Indians attacked the fort, scared -to death? and didn't his own brother Israel say it -was the first time he ever knew a fort saved by a -coward?"</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span></p> -<p>"What is a brave man, what ain't a coward?"</p> - -<p>"Why, a man what ain't scared of any thing."</p> - -<p>"Then there ain't any brave men, and every -man in the Run is a coward; for there ain't -one of 'em but's afraid of something,—afraid to -go into the house where McDonald and his folks -were killed. Mr. Holdness nor McClure wouldn't -go in there in the night, sooner'n they'd jump into -the fire: don't you call them brave men?"</p> - -<p>"Yes."</p> - -<p>"Uncle Seth isn't afraid to walk up on a tree -that's lodged, and cut it off, and then come down -with it, or jump off. He isn't afraid to go under a -tree that's lodged, and cut the tree it's lodged on; -he'll ride the ugliest horse that ever was; walk -across the water on a log when it's all white with -froth; and when there was a great jam of drift -stuff stopped the river, and was going to overflow -the cornfield, he went on to the place, and cut a -log what held it, and broke the jam; and there -wasn't another man in the Run dared do it. He -said he'd lose his life afore the water should -destroy the corn."</p> - -<p>While Sammy was defending Uncle Seth from -the charge of cowardice, his face reddened, his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> -eyes flashed fire, his fists were clinched, and he -threw his whole soul into the argument, and carried -his audience with him.</p> - -<p>They resolved on the spot that Uncle Seth was -not a coward, though <i>he was afraid of Indians</i>. -They could not endure the thought that an imputation -so disgraceful in their eyes as that of a -coward should rest upon the character of a man -whom they so dearly loved.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XV.</span> <span class="smaller">THE SURPRISE.</span></h2> - -<p>It is perhaps needless to inform our readers that -Sammy did not find the "sley" on that eventful -day when he threw the water in the baby's -face; but his mother got the baby to sleep, and -found it. On the morning of the third day, she -had just entered the door of the kitchen with a -pail of water in her hand, when she encountered -Sammy (followed by Louisa Holt, Maud Stewart, -Jane Proctor, and a crowd of boys) with the -bean-pot in his hand, which he placed upon the -table with an air of great satisfaction.</p> - -<p>It was some time before the good woman could -be brought to believe that Sam made it. She -knew that of late he had been much at the mill -with Mr. Seth, and supposed he must have made -and given it to him; but, when she became <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span>convinced -of the fact, the happy mother clasped him -in her arms, exclaiming,—</p> - -<p>"Who says Sammy's fit for nothing but mischief? -Who is it says that? Let him look at -that pot, as nice a one as ever a woman baked -beans in, and a cover too. Harry has made pails, -tubs, a churn, and a good many other things; but -he never made an earthen pot, nor any man in -this place. My sakes! to think we've got a potter -among us! what a blessing he will be! There's -not another woman in the settlement has got a -bean-pot."</p> - -<p>"Mrs. Sumerford, only see the printing and the -pictures on it," said Maud Stewart.</p> - -<p>"Pictures and printing! I must get my -glasses."</p> - -<p>After putting on her spectacles, the happy -mother expressed her astonishment in no measured -terms.</p> - -<p>"'For Mother:' he's his mother's own blessed -baby. But did you truly make the letters, and -the leaves on there, your own self?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, mother: I did it alone in the woods; -only Mr. Seth made the letters on some bark for -me, but I put 'em on the pot."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span></p> -<p>"Now I'll bake a mess of beans in it, just to -christen it. Girls, you help me pick over the -beans; and I'll put 'em on to parboil afore we sit -down to dinner, and have 'em for supper. I want -you all to stay to dinner and supper both. The -boys can play with Sammy; and the girls and I'll -make some buttermilk biscuit for supper, and a -custard pudding.</p> - -<p>"Girls, I'm going to draw a web of linen into -the loom; and you can help me, and learn how; -play with the baby and the bear: baby's bear'll -play real good; he's a good creature. He'll tear -all the bark off the tree with his claws; but, when -he's playing with baby, he'll pull 'em all into the -fur, so his paw is soft as can be. Harry, Elick, and -Enoch'll be home from the scout; and what think -they'll say when they come to know that Sammy's -made a pot, and his mother's baked beans in it?"</p> - -<p>"Mother, may I ask Uncle Seth to come to supper? -I want him to see the pot, 'cause he told me -how to fix the clay, and bake it."</p> - -<p>"Sartain: I'd like to have Mr. Seth come every -night in the week. This pot isn't glazed, to be -sure; but I'll rub it with tallow and beeswax: -I've heard my husband say that was the way the -Indians used to do their pots."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span></p> -<p>"Mr. Seth said the Indians used to make pots, -mother."</p> - -<p>"Sartain, dear, the Indians clear back; but now -they get iron ones of the white folks, and people -reckon they've lost the art. If you look on the -side of the river where the old Indian town used -to be, where you go to get arrow-heads, you'll find -bottoms of pots washing out of the banks, and -sometimes half of one."</p> - -<p>The good woman stuffed the pot thoroughly -with tallow and wax, dusted some flour over it, -and put it in the beans and pork.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Sumerford had no oven; but that did not -in the least interfere with baking the beans. -With the kitchen shovel she threw back the ashes -and coals on the hearth, and took up a flat stone -under which was a square hole dug in the hearth -(the house had no cellar), lined with flat stones. -Into this hole she put wood and hot coals till it -was thoroughly heated: then she cleaned the -cavity, put in the pot, covered it with hot coals, -and left the beans to bake; for there never was -a better place,—that is, to give them the right -flavor.</p> - -<p>The boys could not leave till this important<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> -operation was performed; when, finding the mill -was in motion, they concluded to go there, and -invite Uncle Seth to supper, and, after having a -swim, and a sail on the raft, escort him to Mrs. -Sumerford's. The mill had not yet ceased to be -a novelty; and they loved dearly to watch the -grain as it dropped from the hopper into the shoe, -and from the shoe into the hole in the upper -stone.</p> - -<p>It was also a great source of amusement to go -up into the head of the mill, and hear it crack, and -feel it jar and quiver when the wind blew fresh, -and put their hands on the shaft as it revolved. -They were more disposed to this quiet pastime, -from the fact that they had been prohibited the -use of powder and lead for the present.</p> - -<p>When Harry, Alex, and Enoch came home, -nothing was said about the bean-pot, though it -was hard work for Mrs. Sumerford, and especially -for the girls, to hold in.</p> - -<p>"Come, mother," said Harry, "we're raving -hungry: ain't you going to give us any supper?"</p> - -<p>"I should have had supper on the table when -you came, but Mr. Seth's coming: the boys have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> -gone after him, and I knew you would want to -eat with him."</p> - -<p>It was not long before they all came in; and -after putting the dishes on the table, and other -provisions, Mrs. Sumerford took from the Dutch -oven the biscuits, a custard pudding she had -baked from a kettle, and then, placing a bean-pot -in the middle of the table, exclaimed with an air -of ill-concealed triumph,—</p> - -<p>"There! Harry, Elick, Enoch, look at that pot, -and tell me where you suppose it came from."</p> - -<p>They examined it with great attention; and, the -more they looked, the more their wonder grew.</p> - -<p>"It was made by somebody in this place, of -course," said Alex; "because nobody has been -here to bring it, and nobody could go from here to -get it. I guess Mr. Honeywood made it, because -he's lived in Baltimore where they make such -things."</p> - -<p>"Guess, all of you; and, when any one guesses -right, I'll say yes."</p> - -<p>"I," said Enoch, "guess Mr. Holt made it, 'cause -he came from one of the oldest settlements, where -they have every thing; and he made the millstones."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span></p> -<p>Harry, who had been examining it all the while, -thought he recognized Uncle Seth's handiwork -in the inscription, and said,—</p> - -<p>"I think, as Elick does, it must have been made -here, because there's no intercourse betwixt us -and other people; and no regular potter would -have made it that shape; it would have been -higher and straighter, like some I saw at Baltimore -when we went after the salt: so I guess -Uncle Seth made it."</p> - -<p>"Come, Mr. Blanchard, it's your turn now."</p> - -<p>"I guess little Sammy here made it."</p> - -<p>This assertion raised a roar of laughter; and, -when it subsided, Mrs. Sumerford said,—</p> - -<p>"Yes; Sammy made it."</p> - -<p>"O mother!" cried Harry, "you needn't try -to make us believe that, because it's impossible."</p> - -<p>Sam had ever been so full of mischief, that it -was new experience for him to receive commendation -from his brothers; but now it was given him -with a liberality amply sufficient to remunerate -him for its lack in the past. A proud boy he was -that evening; but he bore his honors modestly, -and his face was redder than the surface of the -pot on which he had bestowed so much labor.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span></p> -<p>When the cover was removed, much to the surprise -of Mrs. Sumerford, it was found that the pot -had not lost any portion of its contents.</p> - -<p>"Why, I expected to find these beans dry,—most -of the juice filtered out,—'cause it wasn't -glazed; but I don't see but it's about as tight as -an iron pot, though, to be sure, I rubbed it with -wax and tallow, and dredged flour over it."</p> - -<p>"That pot," said Mr. Seth, "is very thick,—as -thick again as one a potter would make,—was -made of good clay, quite well worked, and hard -baked; and it is no wonder that it would not let -any thing as thick as the bean-juice through it. -Good potter's ware, if it isn't glazed, will hold -water a long time: it won't leak fast enough to -drop; it will hold milk longer still; and after a -while the pores will become filled up, and 'twill -glaze itself, especially if anybody helps it with wax -as you have. I wish every woman in this Run -had plenty of earthen dishes, pots and pans, if -they were not one of them glazed."</p> - -<p>"If there's so little difference, why ain't the unglazed -just about as good?"</p> - -<p>"Because you can't keep 'em so clean: after -a while, the unglazed ware gets soaked full of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> -grease, butter, milk, or whatever you put in it, -and becomes rancid; you can't get it out, and it -sours and taints whatever you put in it: that bean-pot -will after a while; but, when ware is glazed, -nothing penetrates, and you can clean it with hot -water, scald it sweet. There's another trouble -with ware that is not glazed: if you put water in -it, and heat it on the fire, the water swells the -inside, and the fire shrinks the outside; and it is -apt to crack."</p> - -<p>"Uncle Seth, you said, when we made the -dishes down to the river, that we made brick. -What is brick?" asked Sam.</p> - -<p>"It's made of clay and sand worked together; -and this brick mortar is put into a mould that -makes each brick about seven and a half inches -long, and three and a half inches wide, and two -and a half inches thick; then they are dried and -burnt hard in a kiln; and in old settled places -they build houses of 'em, chimneys, ovens, and -fireplaces: they don't make chimneys of wood -and clay, and fireplaces of any stone that comes -to hand, as we do."</p> - -<p>"Did you ever see a house made of brick?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, a good many. Israel and I made and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> -burnt a kiln of bricks, and had enough to make a -chimney, fireplace, and oven, in our house where -we used to live; and, if this terrible war is ever -over, I mean to make brick, build a frame house, -and put a good brick chimney, fireplace, and oven, -in it. Israel's wife misses her oven very much."</p> - -<p>"I never had an oven, nor saw one; but I've -heard of 'em, and I expect they are good things. -I think a Dutch oven is a great thing for us wilderness-folks; -but I suppose the one you tell of is -better," said Mrs. Sumerford.</p> - -<p>"I guess it is better. Why, Mrs. Sumerford, if -you had a brick oven, you could put a pot of -beans, twice as many biscuits as you've got in that -Dutch oven, a custard, and an Indian pudding, -and ever so many pies, in it all at once, and shut -up the oven, and then have your fireplace all clear -to boil meat, fry doughnuts or pork, or any thing -you wanted to do."</p> - -<p>"It must be a great privilege to be able to do -so many things at once: I can't boil and bake -more than one thing at a time now, except beans -or potatoes, because I have to bake in a kettle."</p> - -<p>"If you had a brick oven, you could bake a -pumpkin, or a coon, or beaver, or joint of meat, or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> -a spare-rib. Why, by heating the oven once, you -could bake victuals enough to last a week; and -then, any thing baked in a brick oven is as good -again as when it is baked in iron. These beans -wouldn't have been half so good if they'd been -baked in an iron pan set into the Dutch oven or -a kettle, because that place in the hearth is what -you may call an oven."</p> - -<p>"What kind of moulds do the potters in the -settlements have to make their things of?" asked -Sammy; "or do they make 'em in holes in the -ground or on a basket?"</p> - -<p>"No, indeed! they make 'em on a wheel."</p> - -<p>"Oh, do tell me about it, Uncle Seth! tell me -all you know."</p> - -<p>"That won't take long. What is called a potter's -wheel means not only a wheel, but a good -many more things with it; but they all go by the -name of the potter's wheel.</p> - -<p>"In the first place, there's a rough bench made; -and then there's an iron spindle goes through this -bench, and not far from the bottom is a crank; -and below this crank, about three inches from the -lower end, a wheel is put on it as big over as the -bottom of a wash-tub, with a gudgeon at the end<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> -that goes into a socket in a timber. Upon the -other end that comes up about a foot above the -bench, a screw-thread is cut, and a round piece -of hard-wood plank is screwed on the top of the -spindle about a foot over; on this the potter puts -his lump of clay, and smashes it down hard to -make it stick fast.</p> - -<p>"There's a treadle fixed to this crank on the -spindle, just as there is to your mother's flax-wheel. -The potter puts his foot on this, sets the -clay whirling round, sticks his thumb into it and -his fingers on the outside, and makes it any shape -he wants. After the vessel, whatever it may be, is -made, he takes off the finger-marks, and shapes it -inside and out more to his mind, with little pieces -of wood cut just the shape he wants; then takes -it off the wheel, and puts it away to dry."</p> - -<p>"Does it take him a good while to make a -pot?" asked Harry.</p> - -<p>"No, indeed! he'd make a pot as large as that -bean-pot in five minutes, and less too. A potter'd -make a thousand of four-inch pots in a day. In -their kilns they burn thousands of pieces according -to size, of all kinds at once; as it don't take -much longer, nor is it any more work, to burn a -thousand pieces than two hundred."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span></p> -<p>"That isn't much like me, two or three days -making one pot," said Sammy.</p> - -<p>"Sometimes, instead of having a crank on the -spindle, they put a pulley on it, and have the -wheel on the floor, and a band run from this big -wheel to the pulley; but then it takes another -hand to turn the big wheel."</p> - -<p>"O Uncle Seth! how much you do know, -don't you?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know much about pottery, Sammy, -because it's not my business; but I've seen a little -of it, and it's the most interesting work to see a -man doing, that I ever looked at. I've seen their -kilns, and seen them bake their ware, but it was a -good many years ago: so you must not take all -I say for gospel, 'cause I may have forgotten. I -always take notice of what I see, because sometimes -it might be a benefit. I've taken more -notice of brickmakers and masons: I can make -brick; I think Israel and myself could build a -chimney, between us, and make an oven and a -fireplace. It wouldn't be like one made by a mason, -but would answer the purpose, and be a great -comfort here in the woods."</p> - -<p>"We don't know any thing," said Mrs. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span>Sumerford; -"and no wonder we don't, here in the woods -with wild beasts and wild Indians."</p> - -<p>If our young readers will call to mind that these -frontier people had never seen many of the most -common conveniences of daily life, nor witnessed -any of the usual mechanical employments, they -will perceive at once how intensely interesting the -conversation of Uncle Seth must have been to -this family-circle, and also how much mankind can -dispense with and yet be happy.</p> - -<p>To no one of the circle was it more absorbing -than to Sammy, who longed to know more about -the matter, and asked what the glazing was made -of, and how they put it on.</p> - -<p>"As I told you once before, my lad, I don't -know much about that; because it's one of their -secrets that they don't care to let folks know, -though I've seen some put it on. When I was a -boy, and lived with my grandfather in Northfield, -Mass., afore we went into the woods, I've seen -an old English potter by the name of Adams make -a kind of glaze that's on your mother's milk-pan. -He used to take lead, and heat it red-hot till he -made a great scum come on it, which he would -skim off till he burnt it all into dross; then he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> -pounded that all fine, and mixed it with water, -clay, and a little sand, about as thick as cream, -and poured it into the things he wanted to glaze, -rinsed it round, and then turned it out; sometimes -he put it on with a brush. What little water -there was would soak into the ware, and the lead -would be on the outside; then he put 'em into the -kiln, and started the fire. When the pots got red-hot -the lead would melt; and I s'pose the sand -melted some too, and run all over the inside, and -made the glaze. I don't know as I've got it just -right, but that's as near as I can recollect; and I -know I'm right about the lead.</p> - -<p>"He said that in England they flung a lot of -salt into the kiln to glaze some kinds of ware; but -he didn't, and his glaze was just like that on your -mother's pan."</p> - -<p>"What an awful sin," said Mrs. Sumerford, "to -burn up salt!"</p> - -<p>"Oh, what a worse sin," said Harry, "to burn up -lead! I should rather go without pots and pans all -the days of my life: I'm sure there are ash and -beech whorls enough in the woods to make bowls -of."</p> - -<p>"Indeed," said Mr. Seth, "salt and lead are not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> -such scarce articles in the settlements as they are -amongst us, I can tell you."</p> - -<p>Some who read these pages may think these -boys to be very much inferior to themselves, and -be almost inclined to pity them; but are you sure, -that, considering the advantages both parties have -had, they may not be far your superiors? Notwithstanding -all your advantages, is it not probable, -that, turn you right out in the world, you -would either beg or starve?</p> - -<p>But turn one of them out into the woods, with a -rifle, tomahawk, flint and steel, and I would risk -him: he would do neither.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XVI.</span> <span class="smaller">THE DAWN OF A LIFE-PURPOSE.</span></h2> - -<p>After the conversation referred to in the -preceding chapter, there was a pause; and -Harry, well knowing Mr. Seth's habits, filled a -pipe, and handed it to him.</p> - -<p>While he was enjoying his smoke, Mrs. Sumerford -washed up her dishes with the help of the -girls, and the boys related to each other the incidents -of the scout.</p> - -<p>Sammy, on the other hand, sat with his hands -clinched over one knee, as still as a mouse, occasionally -casting a glance towards Mr. Seth; and, -the instant the latter laid by his pipe, he leaped -from his stool, and, running up to Mr. Seth, cried -out,—</p> - -<p>"O Uncle Seth! will you make me a potter's -wheel, and show me how to make a pot on it, and -show me how they fix the glaze, so I can make my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> -mother and all the neighbors bean-pots, bowls, and -milk-pans, and glaze 'em just like the potters do?"</p> - -<p>"I can't, child! I couldn't make a wheel, because -there's a crank that must be made of iron, -and we haven't got any iron. If I should make a -wheel, I couldn't show you how to make a pot on -it, for I don't know how myself. A potter's trade -is a great trade, takes years to learn it. It's not -every one who can learn it; and I have only happened -to see them work a few times in my life."</p> - -<p>"You could make a windmill without hardly -any iron; and you're going to make a bail to take -off the millstone without one mite of iron, when -Mr. Honeywood said 'twas impossible. Everybody -says you can do any thing you be a mind to. -I should think you might help me."</p> - -<p>Adopting the method he had ever found to be -most effective with his mother, Sammy burst into -tears; and so did the girls, who sympathized with -him.</p> - -<p>"Dear me! what shall I do with the child?" -exclaimed Uncle Seth, whose whole heart went -out to a boy so interested in a mechanical pursuit.</p> - -<p>"Do help him if you can, Mr. Blanchard. I'm -sure if he wants to think about or do something<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> -besides killing Indians, and risking his life on -rafts, I do hope you'll gratify and encourage him, -if it's only for the sake of his mother, and tell -him something to pacify him."</p> - -<p>"Well, Sammy, if I can't make you a wheel nor -tell how to use it, there's one thing I can do: I -can show you how to mould brick, and you can -have a brick-yard and a kiln, and make your -mother a brick oven that will be worth three -times as much to her as the bean-pot; and she can -bake beans, bread, and meat in it."</p> - -<p>"I don't want to make no brick oven. I -wouldn't give a chestnut-burr for a thousand -brick ovens. I want to do what the potters -do."</p> - -<p>"Well, I'll tell you all about how the potters work -their clay; and then you can make a good pot or -milk-pan on a mould as you do now, and I'll make -moulds for you. I'll keep thinking about a wheel; -and perhaps we may have to go to Baltimore or -Lancaster for salt or powder, and can get some -iron: then I'll make a wheel; or perhaps I shall -think of some way to make it without iron."</p> - -<p>In this manner Mr. Seth continued to pacify -Sammy, who, wiping up his tears, got up in his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> -benefactor's lap, and wanted to know when he -would show him how to fix the clay.</p> - -<p>Mr. Seth replied, "To-morrow morning," well -knowing he should have no peace till it was done.</p> - -<p>Sammy then wanted to know when he would -tell him about the glaze; to which he answered -that it was no use to think about that till the -Indian war was over, as neither lead nor salt could -be spared for the purpose, and if the clay was well -worked, and the articles well baked, they would do -good service without any glaze.</p> - -<p>Harry, Alex, and Enoch now took their rifles, -and went home with the children; but Mrs. Sumerford -persuaded Mr. Blanchard to tarry all -night.</p> - -<p>"What do you think has got into this boy, Mr. -Blanchard?" said the mother, after Sammy had -gone to bed, "that he should set out all at once -in such a fury to make things of clay?"</p> - -<p>"Well, Mrs. Sumerford, almost everybody in -this world has a turn for some one thing more -than another; and you know that all your boys -have a turn for handling tools: Elick and Enoch -have, though not so much as Harry."</p> - -<p>"That's true, Mr. Blanchard; and they take it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> -from their father: he could make almost anything; -he would make a handsome plate out of -an ash-whorl; and he made me a churn that he -dug out of a round log, and swelled the bottom -in, then put hoops on; it was the handsomest you -ever did see."</p> - -<p>"The child's got that natur in him; but he's -been so full of other things since the war broke out, -been stirred up all the time, that it never came -out till they began to build that raft. He was the -head of that; but when he got hold of the clay, -and started the notion of making dishes to play -with, he was like a man who is digging a well, and -all at once strikes water. He found the thing -that suited his turn; and it became real earnest -with him, though it was nothing but play to the -others. When the rest of 'em wanted to make -dishes out of wood and bark, he said, 'Let's make -'em out of clay.' He didn't know what he was -fumbling arter in the dark, didn't know he was -chalking out his whole life; for, mark my words -for it, sooner or later that boy'll be a potter, and -no power on earth can hinder it. Mary Sumerford, -I believe there's a higher Power has to do -with these things; and I verily believe we have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> -our own way least when we think we have it -most."</p> - -<p>"From my soul I believe as you do, Mr. Blanchard, -and always did."</p> - -<p>"I know how it is: he's had a call to do that -thing, and you'll see how 'twill be. I know all -about it: it's no new thing to me, it was just so -with me when I began to work wood. If he could -be in the settlements, he would learn a potter's -trade in no time; but what we shall do with him -here, I'm sure I don't know."</p> - -<p>"Then you don't think he'll give it up. Boys, -and my boys, are apt to take hold of some new -thing pretty sharp for a time, and then give it up, -and go into something else."</p> - -<p>"He'll not give it up as long as the breath of -life's in him: it's clear through him, in his marrow -and in his bones, and must and will come out."</p> - -<p>"But I don't like to have him down to the -river: the Indians might carry him off."</p> - -<p>"I'll get him to go to the old Cuthbert house: -there's good clay there, and the spring where -Cuthbert got his water."</p> - -<p>The next morning Mr. Seth said to Sam,—</p> - -<p>"Your mother don't like to have you down to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> -the river: it's too far away; the Indians might -come; we don't any of us think it's safe. You -must play with your clay at the Cuthbert house: -it's near the garrison, and then you'll all be safe."</p> - -<p>"It isn't play," said Sammy, straightening him -self up: "what makes you call it play? It isn't -foolish play to make a bean-pot and things for folks -to use, and that they have to buy at Baltimore: -it's real work. It isn't a bit like making mud-puddin's, -cob-houses, or playing marbles or horse, or -having a war-post and making believe kill Indians."</p> - -<p>"Indeed it's not," said Uncle Seth, more delighted -than he cared to express, and patting the young -enthusiast on the head.</p> - -<p>"I don't want to go to the Cuthbert house, -'cause it's handsome down to the river; and the -raft's there, and the fireplace, and water, and -plenty of wood to bake the pots; and the clay -down there is real soft, and just as blue as indigo, -and feels greasy; and I can cut it with my knife, -and it won't dull it one mite."</p> - -<p>"I know that; but it's not so good clay to make -pots as the gray at the Cuthbert house. It will -do to make bricks by putting sand with it; but it's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> -liable to crack, blister, and melt in the fire, 'cause -there's so much iron in it."</p> - -<p>"It don't look so red when it's burnt, that -Cuthbert clay don't."</p> - -<p>"Well, then, you can bring up a little of that -from the river to color it: 'twon't take but a mite. -There's more wood lying round Cuthbert's door -than you can burn in six months; then you can -have the house to dry your ware in, and to work -in when it rains, and the great fireplace to build -your kiln in."</p> - -<p>"What shall I do for water?"</p> - -<p>"There's a spring on the side of the hill where -Mr. Cuthbert got his water; and there's a great -trough in the kitchen that he used to salt pork -in, and you can have that to put your clay in, and -a table. I'll ask Nat to let you have that to make -your things on."</p> - -<p>When Mr. Seth concluded, Sammy expressed -himself reconciled. He then told him to dig the -clay, and pick out any little sticks or gravel-stones -he found, put it in the trough, pour in water -enough to cover it, and let it soak till after dinner, -when he would come down, and tell him what -to do with it.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span></p> -<p>With the help of his mates, Sammy was not -long in filling the trough with clay and water when -they went to haul wood. The settlers hauled -their fire-wood as they wanted it, and did all their -work in companies for safety.</p> - -<p>After dinner Mr. Seth, with all the boys at -his heels, went to look at the clay, and told them -to strip up their trousers, get into the trough, and -tread the clay by turns with their bare feet, while -he sat on the door-stone to smoke his pipe.</p> - -<p>The boys entered upon the work with great -good-will; but the longer they tramped, the stiffer -the clay grew as it absorbed the water, and the -harder the work became. In the course of fifteen -minutes they asked,—</p> - -<p>"Isn't it trod enough, Uncle Seth?"</p> - -<p>"Not yet."</p> - -<p>They then wanted to put more water to it, but -Mr. Seth would not permit that. The clay grew -more dense: and the boys began, one after another, -to get out of the trough. They suddenly recollected -that they were wanted at home, till at the -end of a half-hour only Will Redmond, Archie -Crawford, and Sammy were left. Mr. Seth then -looked at it, rubbed it between his fingers, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> -told Sammy to let it lie till supper-time, then give -it another treading, and he would tell him what -to do next.</p> - -<p>When the time came, Sammy could not get a -single boy to help him. Their interest in pottery -had evaporated. They had the cattle to drive up, -chores to do, and plenty of occupation. Not so, -however, with Sammy: his enthusiasm lay deeper. -He got into the trough, and trod as long as he -could see, till his legs ached, and he perceived -that the clay became much tougher and finer. -Just as he was about to go, he saw Uncle Seth -coming from the mill, and they went home together.</p> - -<p>When Uncle Seth came the next morning to -look at the clay, he said,—</p> - -<p>"You see, my lad, we always do every thing -with a better heart when we understand the reason -for doing it."</p> - -<p>He then took a piece of clay, placed it on the -table, and cut it in halves with a knife, and made -Sammy notice that there were a good many little -holes and bubbles in it, and some little hard -lumps, and sometimes he picked out a little gravel-stone.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span></p> -<p>"If," said he, "these air-bubbles are not removed, -when the ware is put into the kiln, that air will -expand with the heat, and burst the clay; if there -are stones, they will crumble; if there are sticks -they will make steam, swell, and cause a flaw. -The potters work their clay more than a woman -does her dough: it is a great deal more work to -prepare the clay than it is to do all the rest. -After they have worked their clay, they let it lay -in a heap to settle together, and break the bubbles, -and close the holes: sometimes they dig it a whole -year beforehand, and let it lie and ripen, as they -call it."</p> - -<p>"I don't care how hard I work, if I can only -make a real good pot."</p> - -<p>"That's a manly principle. You know how hard -we all worked to build the mill; and see what a -blessing it is. Every thing, my lad, comes from -labor: it's the root and foundation of every thing -worth having. The Indians won't work, and see -what a miserable life they lead."</p> - -<p>Mr. Seth now made some of the clay into large -lumps, and, taking up one, slapped it down on the -table with all his force three or four times, and -then kneaded it, and made Sammy take notice<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> -that when he kneaded it he folded the dough back -on itself so as to keep the grain in one direction; -and then cut it in halves, and Sammy saw that the -air-bubbles were closed up.</p> - -<p>He told Sammy, if he just stuck together several -lumps, just as an eave-swallow does to make -her nest, and made a dish out of it, that when it -came to dry it would be full of seams, a seam for -every lump. He then gave him a mallet, and told -him when he was tired with slapping he could -pound it with the mallet.</p> - -<p>"Why couldn't I put it in Mr. Cuthbert's hominy-block -that is right here before the door, and -pound it same as we used to the corn? I could -get the boys to help, and pound up a lot."</p> - -<p>"That would be just the best thing that ever -was; and get them to help you all you can the -first going-off, while it is a new thing, for they'll -get sick of that sooner than they did treading the -clay in the trough."</p> - -<p>Sammy found it was just as Mr. Seth said: the -boys thought it was nice fun at first; but they soon -became tired, and one after another found their -folks wanted them, or they had something to do -at home. In vain Sammy begged them to stay; -but, no, they could not.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span></p> -<p>"You'll want me to go 'long with you some time, -and then I won't go," said Sammy, and began to -cry.</p> - -<p>Soon Mr. Seth came along with some tools in -his hand, with which he had been working at the -mill.</p> - -<p>"What's the matter, Sammy?"</p> - -<p>"The boys have all gone off, and won't help -me; and I can't lift the pestle. I wanted to pound -all what was in the trough, and they ain't pounded -more'n half of it."</p> - -<p>"Don't cry, lad: I'm going to the house, and -I'll send Scip to help you."</p> - -<p>He felt so bad to have all his mates leave him, -that he could not recover himself immediately -and Scip (with whom Sammy was a great favorite) -found him in tears.</p> - -<p>"What de matter wid my leetle Sammy?" cried -Scip, taking the lad in his arms, and wiping off his -tears.</p> - -<p>"The boys won't help me,—Archie won't, nor -Will; and I can't lift the pestle."</p> - -<p>"Nebber mind dem. Scip help you much you -want: you tell Scip what you want."</p> - -<p>Scip was a powerful fellow; and, though he had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> -always avoided the hominy-block before the mill -was built, he now stripped himself to the work, -and soon pounded what remained of the clay that -had been trod in the trough, then carried it into -the house. Sam cut it up into lumps with a tomahawk; -and Scip would take them up, and slap -them down on the table with a force that filled up -the pores of the clay, and made it compact.</p> - -<p>Sammy hugged Scip, and told him he never -would scare him again, would give him half of all -the maple-sugar he got, make him an earthen mug to -drink out of, and give him a lot of his hens' eggs.</p> - -<p>It is not probable that Sammy would have obtained -much help from his companions, except for -two reasons; one, that they could not have a very -good time without him, and also that he (by his -influence with Uncle Seth, and through him with -Israel Blanchard) could obtain the company of -Scip on their expeditions.</p> - -<p>Thus it was for their interest to help Sammy, in -order that they might have him and Scip to go -with them. Sammy knew this, and made the most -of it while they were disposed to make the least -of it, and help him as little as would answer the -purpose.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span></p> -<p>Sammy found that this clay was a very different -material from any he had used before: it was fine, -tough, and did not stick to his hands in the least; -and with a mallet he could flat it out into broad -sheets, and roll it with a rolling-pin as his mother -did her pie-crust.</p> - -<p>As Mr. Seth became interested in Sammy's -work, he recollected many things that at first did -not occur to him, and told Sam that the potters -put handles on their wares after they were partly -dried; that they rolled out a piece of clay of the -right shape, and then stuck it on with a little -"slip" (that is, clay and water of the consistency -of thick cream), smoothed it with a wet sponge; -and after the wares were baked it would not show, -but all look alike, and that a rag would do as well -as a sponge. Mr. Seth had offered to make moulds -of wood for him to mould his vessels on, but -Sammy resolved to do it himself; and, as he knew -that the quality of the clay would improve by -lying, took time to think over the matter, and collected -a number of hard-shelled pumpkins, gourds, -and squashes, which suited his fancy in shape, -boiled them, and scraped out the inside with a -spoon instead of waiting for the meat to rot, or -trusting to the wood-ants.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span></p> -<p>He wanted to make a bean-pot for Mrs. Stewart, -and especially for Mrs. Blanchard, because -Uncle Seth would eat of the beans in that, and, in -respect to it, wished to do his best.</p> - -<p>He could not brook the thought of making a -pot, that was, in truth, to be a present to Uncle -Seth in acknowledgment of favors received, and -at the same time ask him to make the mould to -form it on. The boy likewise felt, as every one -does who has accomplished any thing, that he now -had a character to sustain.</p> - -<p>This is the operation of right and wrong notions -and doings with a boy. When he has done one -or two good things, he naturally feels anxious to -do more, and maintain and add to the reputation -he has obtained.</p> - -<p>On the other hand, when he has done several -bad things, and feels that he has lost character, he -grows reckless: it becomes up-hill work to get -back, and he finally gets discouraged. Thus it -happens to him as the Scriptures declare: "For -he that hath, to him shall be given; and he that -hath not, from him shall be taken even that -which he hath."</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XVII.</span> <span class="smaller">SELF-RELIANCE.</span></h2> - -<p>The boys wanted Sammy to go hunting with -bows and arrows, as they were not allowed -any more powder for gunning at present; but he -recollected how they had disappointed him in -respect to the hominy-block, and went to the mill, -hoping something might drop from Uncle Seth -that would aid his thought.</p> - -<p>The good man having constructed the crane -and screw with which to lift the upper millstone, -and swing it off the spindle, was deliberating -upon the method in which he should make a bail -by which the screw was to be attached to the -stone. He knew that among the trees that grew -on the banks of the stream or among the bowlders -on the hillside, where roots of trees were turned -from their natural course by various obstructions, -it was not difficult to find a root or branch<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> -that would form the upper part or crown of the -bail; and then, by cutting a mortise in each end, -he could attach two strong straight pieces of -wood to drop over the edge, and be fastened to it -by wooden pins, thus forming a kind of wooden -chain similar to the brake on the driving-wheel -of the wind-shaft.</p> - -<p>He knew if such a root or branch was found, it -would be a rough affair, not a true curve, would -probably be crooked, at least one way; and that -it was not at all probable that one would be found -large enough to hew to a square edge, and that -here and there portions of bark would need to be -left on. Should he make the crown from a large, -slightly sweeping stick, it would be necessary to -cut the wood so much across the grain, there -would not be sufficient strength.</p> - -<p>Mr. Seth was sitting flat on the floor, with his -back to the wall, chewing a chip. Sammy, who -also had a burden on his mind, seated himself at -a little distance, waiting patiently for a proper -opportunity to speak.</p> - -<p>At length Mr. Seth began to talk to himself: -"I know what I'll do. I won't get a natural -crook; 'twill be rough, crooked, full of bunches,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> -and won't come to the stone as it should. It will -look just like cart and sled tongues that I have -seen people make out of a crotched tree; and I -always despise 'em. I won't make it in pieces -either. I'll take a tough piece of wood, and bend -it to exactly the shape I want; then I can finish -it up smooth. Of course it won't be quite as -strong as a natural crook, but I'll make it larger."</p> - -<p>"O Uncle Seth! how can you bend such a great -piece of wood?"</p> - -<p>"Ha! you there, my little potter? You can -do any thing, my lad, if you only have pluck and -patience."</p> - -<p>"Then," thought Sammy, "I can find some -better way to make pots, if I have pluck and -patience."</p> - -<p>"Sammy, have you got your rifle with you?"</p> - -<p>"No, sir. They don't let the boys have powder -and bullets now."</p> - -<p>"Well, I'm going home to get the oxen to haul -a walnut-butt: run down to your house, and ask -Harry and the other boys to go into the woods -with me. Israel'll go too. And tell Harry to -bring his broad-axe: I want him to help me."</p> - -<p>After hauling home a walnut-butt twenty feet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> -in length, Mr. Seth rolled it upon blocks, and -began to hew the bail from the large end of it; -hewing the wood to a proud edge, and leaving a -much greater quantity of wood in the middle, -where the screw was going through, than at the -ends.</p> - -<p>Israel Blanchard and Harry began to make a -form on which to bend this great piece of timber -by treenailing logs together, and hewing them in -the form of half the millstone the bail was to lift, -or rather little more than half as room must not -only be left for the stone to turn easily in the -bail, but also for the head of the screw between -the bail and the stone, and also at the ends, as -the holes for the pins that attached it to the stone -could not be very near the end, but space must -be left to admit treenails to prevent splitting.</p> - -<p>On the sides of this form they fastened strong -uprights opposite each other, at proper distances, -and strong yokes to slip over the ends of them, -and fastened by pins through the uprights, that -could be put on and taken off at pleasure; and -made a number of large wedges to drive under -the yokes.</p> - -<p>It was now sundown; and Sammy, who had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> -been much more interested in watching the work -than he would have been in hunting, went home -to milk, and reflect upon the matter nearest his -heart, having enjoyed some little opportunity to -converse about it with Uncle Seth.</p> - -<p>Sammy did not like the pumpkins and gourds -as forms to mould his dishes on; neither did he -like a mould of wood, or a basket. He knew the -basket would leave the outside rough.</p> - -<p>He sat down in the yard to milk his cow, and -began; but became so absorbed in thought, that -the cow put her foot in the pail all unnoticed by -Sammy, who kept on milking mechanically.</p> - -<p>"Why, Samuel Sumerford! are you out of your -senses? Don't you see that cow has got her foot -in the pail? What in the world can you be -thinking of? Now go give that milk to the hogs, -and get a clean pail.—I declare, I don't know -what has got into that child: he was always tearing -round, couldn't live without half a dozen boys -round him, always complaining that he couldn't -have no good times, till sometimes, betwixt him -and that little sarpent of a Tony, I was afraid I -should go distracted; and now he goes right down -to the Cuthbert house the moment he gets his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> -breakfast, or up to the mill with Mr. Seth; and -there he stays. He don't seem to care about company, -nor about his hens, nor any play. I don't -believe he's taken a bow and arrow nor a gun in -his hand this ten days; and seems all the time in -a study."</p> - -<p>"I'm sure, mother, I should think you'd be glad -of it," said Enoch: "you couldn't take any peace -of your life for him; at any rate, all the rest of us -are glad."</p> - -<p>"So am I, Enoch; but it seems so kind of unnatural!"</p> - -<p>If the cow did put her foot in the pail, and if -while it was there Sammy was leaning his head -against her, he got an idea that after sleeping on -he resolved to carry out in practice. But scarcely -had he despatched his breakfast when several boys -made their appearance with bows and arrows, and -wanted him to go with them on a ramble.</p> - -<p>"Can't go."</p> - -<p>"What's the reason?" asked Stiefel.</p> - -<p>"Don't want to."</p> - -<p>"If you don't go with us never, we won't help -you tread clay."</p> - -<p>"I'll go some time: don't want to go to-day."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span></p> -<p>The boys went off; and Mrs. Sumerford said, -"Sam, what made you so short with the boys? I -know they didn't like it. If you wanted to work -with your clay, why didn't you tell 'em that was -the reason you didn't want to go to-day? then -they would have gone down to the Cuthbert house -with you."</p> - -<p>"I knew they would, marm; and that was just -the reason I didn't tell 'em. I didn't want 'em -down there: I wanted to be alone to contrive something. -Mother, if you was going to draw a piece -of linen into the loom, and study out a new figure -that you never wove before, would you want all -the neighbors in, gabbing?"</p> - -<p>"No, I'm sure I shouldn't."</p> - -<p>Sammy went to his workshop; and his mother -began to wash the breakfast-dishes, saying, "Well, -these are new times: I shouldn't think I'd been -talking with Sam Sumerford."</p> - -<p>The first thing Sammy did was to gather up all -the pumpkins, gourds, and squashes he had been -at so much pains to select and dig out, and throw -them on the woodpile: he had brought with him -a piece of ash board (a remnant that was left when -Harry made a drum, and had given him), also a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> -large piece of thick, smooth birch-bark pressed -flat as a board, and Harry's large compasses. He -sat down at the table, and began to talk to himself:—</p> - -<p>"I heard my brother say, and tell Jim Blanchard, -he didn't want to eat other people's cold -victuals, but he liked best to build his own campfire. -I don't want to eat anybody's cold victuals -neither. I'll make my own moulds: I won't ask -Uncle Seth to make 'em. If I can't make 'em, I -won't try to be a potter."</p> - -<p>Sammy had found that the bean-pot he had -made for his mother was about the right size, but -the shape did not suit: he knew that everybody -who looked at it would see that it was just the -shape of a pumpkin. To use his own expression, -it was too "pottle-bellied;" and the mouth was -not large enough to admit a piece of pork the -right size. The cover of this pot dropped inside -the rim of the pot; and, as nearly all the settlers -baked their beans in a hole under the hearth, it -was not so good a form for keeping out the ashes, -as to have the cover shut over the rim, with a -flange on the inside of it.</p> - -<p>With the compasses he struck out a circle on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> -the table, the exact size of the bottom of his -mother's bean-pot, of which he had the measure, -and, boring a hole in the centre, stuck up a round, -straight willow stick considerably longer than the -height of the original vessel. Around this stick -and in this circle he built up a mass of clay as -high as the stick, and much larger in circumference -than the old pot.</p> - -<p>His object in putting the stick in the centre of -his circle was to obtain a guide, a plumb-line centre -from which to work.</p> - -<p>"When they build a haystack," said he, "they -always set a pole in the middle, and then they get -all sides alike."</p> - -<p>Having thus provided plenty of material to go -and come upon, he ran home, and got his mother's -pot, and placed it on the table beside his pile of -clay; then with the compasses marked on a piece -of bark the size he intended to have the mouth of -his pot, and cut it out, levelled the top of the clay, -and, making a hole exactly in the centre of the -bark, slipped it over the upright rod and downward -till it rested upon the surface of the clay; -and put some flat stones upon it to keep it in -place.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span></p> -<p>He now had the centre of the top and bottom, -and by measuring found the centre of the side, -and marked it in four places; and with those -guides began with his scalping-knife to slice off -the clay, form the sides and swell and taper of the -vessel, and by placing a rule across the mouth -obtained another guide, till he thus formed a -model to suit his eye. Sometimes he took off a -little too much in one place, and made a hollow: -then he filled it with clay and cut again, until he -felt that he could make no further improvement.</p> - -<p>It was of much better proportions than the -original, which was manifest as they sat side by -side: still the capacity of the vessel represented by -the mould was about the same. If it was a little -deeper, and had a larger mouth, it was less bulging -in the middle, tapering gradually each way.</p> - -<p>Sammy cleaned up the table, and was walking -round it, viewing his pot from different standpoints, -once in a while making some trilling alteration, -or smoothing the surface with a wet rag, -when he was greatly surprised by the entrance of -his mother.</p> - -<p>"O mother! did you come to see me work?"</p> - -<p>"Not altogether, my dear. Nat Cuthbert said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> -there was a pair of wool-cards in the chamber, -that he would lend me. Run up, and look for -them."</p> - -<p>Sammy soon returned with the cards, when his -mother said,—</p> - - -<p>"Had you rather be down here alone, than at -play with the boys?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, marm: I'm having a nice time."</p> - -<p>"What made you throw all those punkins, -squashes, and gourds away, my son, after you had -taken so much pains to boil and scrape the inside -out?"</p> - -<p>"'Cause they wasn't the right shape. They had -their bigness all in one place. The punkins had -their bigness all in the middle, the squashes and -gourds at the bottom. They wasn't good moulds, -marm."</p> - -<p>"Wasn't the moulds the Lord made good -enough for you to work from?"</p> - -<p>"The Lord don't make bean-pots, mother; he -only makes squashes and punkins and such like: -if he did, he'd make 'em right, 'cause he makes -the beans, flowers, and every thing right. Marm, -there's both pots: now which do you think is the -best shape? Truly now, marm."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span></p> -<p>"Well, Sammy, I think this last is the best -shape, and it has a larger mouth to take in a good -piece of pork. Come, you'd better go home with -me. It's only about an hour till dinner-time."</p> - -<p>"Has the mill been going this morning?"</p> - -<p>"Most all the forenoon, but the wind is nearly -gone now."</p> - -<p>"Then Uncle Seth hasn't touched his bail; but -he'll work on it this afternoon, and I'll see him."</p> - -<p>He now made a profile just the shape of the -outside of his pot, from the thin piece of ash-board, -then set it off an inch from the edge, and -cut the other side to correspond: thus the inside -of the profile gave the outside of the mould, and -the outside of the profile the inside of the vessel -to be made. He then placed the great compasses -each side on the middle of the mould, and by that -measure cut out another birch-bark pattern: thus -he had the measure of the diameter in three -places, bottom, middle, and top. After putting the -profile and pieces of bark carefully away, he tore -down his mould, flung the clay in with the rest, -laid away the stick for future use, and ran home -to dinner.</p> - -<p>He had worked out all his plans in his head<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> -and in part with his hands, knew he could do it, -and felt easy; could go to the mill now. But to -have gone in the morning, and left that idea undeveloped—he -would not have done it to see Uncle -Seth make a dozen bails.</p> - -<p>When he came near the mill he met Uncle Seth, -Israel Blanchard, Mr. Holdness, Cal, and his -brother Harry, who had been to dinner with Israel, -coming to help Mr. Seth bend the bail that he -blocked out in the stick the day before, and had -not meddled with since: there having sprung up a -"mill-wind," he had been occupied in grinding. -Thus Sammy was in season.</p> - -<p>A fire was made in the block-house, and water -heated. The part of the tree on which the bail -was made being covered with straw, hot water -was poured on it till it was thoroughly steamed: -then all those strong men lifted the whole stick, -and put the finished end on the mould between -two uprights, put a yoke over, and Uncle Seth -drove a wedge between the yoke and the bail, -bringing it snug to the mould, and gave the word, -"Lower away." They now gradually let down -the heavy unhewn end of the stick that was in -the air, the great leverage bringing it down easily,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> -for the bail was as limber as a rag. Slowly the -heavy timber came down, Uncle Seth meanwhile -driving wedges under the yokes, and Sammy -pouring hot water on the portions designated by -the former, till the end of the stick struck the -ground.</p> - -<p>The end of the mould was instantly lifted, and -large blocks that lay ready put under it, which -permitted the end of the stick to come down far -enough to bend that portion of the bail that -formed the crown, the most important part of the -whole affair.</p> - -<p>"Over with him," said Uncle Seth. The whole -form that had previously stood on its edge was -instantly upset, lying flat on the ground, stakes -driven to hold it, and the remaining portion -brought to the mould, secured by wedges, and the -long end of the stick sawed off.</p> - -<p>The mould was now again set upon its edge, -more water poured on, and a final drive given to -all the wedges, and the operation completed.</p> - -<p>"Indeed, brother," said Uncle Seth, passing -his hand carefully over the hot wood, "there's -not the sign of a 'spawl' on it: the wood is not -strained nor rucked in the least. A smart piece<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> -of timber that: I knew 'twas afore I cut it, just as -well as I know now. I've had my eye on that -tree for more'n a year."</p> - -<p>"How did you know it?" asked Sammy, who -was not disposed to permit any opportunity to -obtain information to pass unimproved.</p> - -<p>"I knew by the way it grew, and the ground it -grew on. The limbs came out straight from the -tree, and turned down: a tree that grows that -way is always of tougher wood about bending -than one when the limbs run up like a fir. Then -it grew on moist, loamy land; and trees that grow -on that kind of land have wood more pliant than -where they grow on coarse, gravelly land.</p> - -<p>"How much more workmanlike that looks than -any natural crook full of bunches and hollows! -Not that I would say any thing agin nat'ral -crooks: they are great things sometimes when a -man's at his wits' ends, specially in ship-building -and often in mill-work."</p> - -<p>"What are you going to do to it next?" asked -Sammy.</p> - -<p>"Nothing, my lad, right away: it must remain -in the press two or three days, that it may become -set so that it won't straighten."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span></p> -<p>When Mr. Seth found that the bail was well -seasoned and set, he took it out of press, cut the -holes in the ends to receive the pins that were to -hold it to the stone, and the large hole in the centre -by which it was to be hung to the head of the -screw, worked it off smooth, and oiled it.</p> - -<p>He then made a washer or wooden circle to lie -between the shoulder on the head of the screw -and the under side of the bail, in order that the -screw might turn more easily.</p> - -<p>Screws of this size are always turned by putting -a lever into holes, generally four made in the head -of them.</p> - -<p>There were two objections to this method in -the present case: one was, that the bail interfered -with turning the screw, another, that it would be -necessary to make the head of the screw much -bigger, and require a larger space between the -bail and the stone than Mr. Seth cared to have. -Therefore he left the top of the screw square, and -made a lever to fit over it like a wrench over a -bolt.</p> - -<p>It was soon known among the boys that Mr. -Seth had got the bail most done, and would be -likely to try it. Israel Blanchard and Mr. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span>Holdness -were seen by the children going towards the -mill; and they followed suit.</p> - -<p>The hopper, shoe, and covering boards were -removed, the stone laid bare, and the crane with -the bail swung over it, the pins that confined the -latter to the stone thrust in; and Mr. Seth, standing -on the stone, turned the screw, and lifted both -himself and the stone as easily, Sam Sumerford -said, as a squirrel would wash his face.</p> - -<p>It was then swung over a trap-door in the floor, -into which the lower edge of the stone dropped; -and they turned it over as easily as a griddle in -its bail. No more would have been required to -place the stone in a position to be picked, than to -have put some blocks beneath it, and turned back -the screw. The hole in the floor saved the labor -of lifting the stone so high as would otherwise -have been necessary, and also required a less -length of screw.</p> - -<p>"This stone," said Uncle Seth, after examining -it, "don't need picking, and I didn't expect it -did. I only wanted to see how the thing would -work. Wonder what Mr. Honeywood'll think -about a wooden bail when he comes back from -the scout."</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XVIII.</span> <span class="smaller">FRUITS OF PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE.</span></h2> - -<p>Sammy now returned with greater interest -than ever to his work of experimenting. Having -kneaded a lump of clay, he flattened it out on -his bench with the mallet, and rolled it with the -rolling-pin into a broad sheet of the thickness -which he thought desirable for the bottom of his -pot, and cut it out of the proper size and shape, -and as much larger than the original vessel, as the -thickness he intended for the sides. He then -sprinkled sand on the bench to prevent the bottom -from sticking, rolled out another sheet of dough, -and cut it all up into strips a little longer than the -circumference of his vessel, thus leaving room to -lap; these he rolled into pieces as nearly equal in -size as possible, and with them built up the sides -of his pot from the bottom, moistening the edges -where they came together with clay slip, and <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span>placing -them one upon another like the coils of a -rope.</p> - -<p>By pressing with his hands on both sides and -the surface, he incorporated the different layers -into one, so as to obliterate all the marks where -they came together. With his two circular pieces -of birch-bark he regulated the size, and with the -profile the curve, of the side, and made a vessel -precisely like his own model. Then, with a roll -of clay, he made a projection on the inside to hold -the cover, to be put on afterwards when it was -half dry.</p> - -<p>The young potter was now quite well satisfied. -He had made a pot far superior to the other, of -handsomer shape; and, the clay being properly -worked, there was no probability of its coming to -pieces in the fire; and, after smoothing the sides -with a wet rag, he began to consider how he -should ornament his work.</p> - -<p>Harry was possessed of a great genius for sketching -and drawing figures of all kinds on birch-bark, -and often did it for the amusement of the children.</p> - -<p>Sam showed the pot to Harry, and wanted him -to draw on it Indians killing white folks, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> -scalping old people, women, and little children.</p> - -<p>"I wouldn't do that," said Harry: "that would -be very well if you was going to give the pot to -Mr. Holdness, McClure, or Mr. Israel; but Mr. -Seth don't like any thing of that kind. If I was -you, I'd have the windmill: I'll cut that on it, -and Uncle Seth right under it, and the year it -was built; and on the other side I'll make a man -sowing grain."</p> - -<p>Sammy assented to this, and put a wreath of -oak-leaves round the design and inscription by -pressing them into the clay: then he put on the -handles. Mr. Seth had told him that wet leather -would polish a pot: he therefore obtained a piece -from Mr. Holdness, who was the tanner of the -little community, and had managed, by shaving -his bark with a drawing-knife, to tan leather -enough for pack-saddles.</p> - -<p>The grateful boy now resolved to present the -offering (that had cost him so much labor), to his -great benefactor, carried the pot to Mrs. Israel -Blanchard, and with a throbbing heart confided -the secret to her.</p> - -<p>The next day she invited Mrs. Sumerford, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span>Sammy, -the families of Mr. Honeywood and Mr. Holdness, -to supper. When they were all seated at -the table, she put on the pot of beans, setting it -directly in front of Uncle Seth, with the windmill -staring him directly in the face.</p> - -<p>Great was the surprise, many and fervent the -encomiums; and Sammy was never better satisfied -with himself.</p> - -<p>He had also made a pot for Mrs. Stewart. When -she looked at it, and read the name inscribed on -it, the mother's eyes filled with tears.</p> - -<p>"So you put Tony's name on it: you loved your -little mate, Sammy."</p> - -<p>"Yes, marm: I miss him all the whole time. I -never shall think so much of anybody as I did of -him. I like all the boys, but I loved Tony. If he -was here, he'd help me: we should have made a -pot for our two mothers; and 'cause he ain't here, -I made this for you."</p> - -<p>"You are a bonnie bairn, an' I trust your mither'll -nae ha' occasion to greet for you as I maun -for Tony."</p> - -<p>Sammy could now make earthen vessels with -much greater facility. He had a good eye, and -could make them without so much measuring as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> -was at first necessary, and without making a model. -All he had to do was to determine in his mind the -size he would have the vessel, roll out his clay, -and cut the sheet long enough to form a circle as -large as the circumference of his vessel at its -largest place, then cut it into strips, lapping some -more and some less, as the sides flared or tapered; -and, as he kept his measures of height, diameter, -and the profiles of the sides, he soon learned to -make a vessel of any size he wished.</p> - -<p>When it was found that his ware would bear to -be put on the fire to boil in, the women wished to -use them in this manner; but there was nothing -by which to hang them.</p> - -<p>One day he was digging among the broken -pottery under the shelving bank on the site of the -old Indian village, and unearthed the upper half -of a pot, the edge of the mouth rolled over, making -a very broad flange. He took it to Mr. Honeywood, -who told him that it was done by the Indian -squaws to hold a withe to hang it over the fire by.</p> - -<p>"I should think it would burn off."</p> - -<p>"They put clay upon it, and watched it: if the -clay fell off, put on more."</p> - -<p>"Mr. Honeywood, how did you know so much<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> -about Indians? and how did you learn to talk -Indian?"</p> - -<p>"I learned to speak the language from two men -in Baltimore, who had been prisoners with them a -long time: of their customs I learned a great deal -more from Wasaweela the Mohawk, with whom I -hunted and camped a whole winter."</p> - -<p>Sammy now went to work, and made some very -thick and strong pots, that would hold two pailfuls, -after the Indian form, and fastened withes to them. -They were very useful, for the women could hang -them on the crane, and boil meat or vegetables.</p> - -<p>They kept a little clay at home to smear them -with, which was seldom necessary if the fire was -made with judgment directly under the bottom of -the pot, and not suffered to blaze upon the sides.</p> - -<p>Sammy now wished to try his hand at a milk-pan; -but his mother discouraged him, because she -said the milk would soak into it more or less, and -it would not be possible to keep it sweet, and after -a while the milk put in it would sour. However, -he made one, just to see if he could; and it looked -just like his mother's except the glazing. How he -wished he could glaze! He made pitchers and -drinking-mugs, and put handles on them by <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span>forming -a roll of clay, and then sticking them on when -the ware was partly dry. He would stick the -upper end of the roll of clay on the vessel, then -dip his hand in water, form the roll into proper -shape, and attach the lower end, then smooth with -a moist rag. After these unglazed dishes became -foul, Sammy purified them by putting them in the -kiln, and baking them again. He made another -improvement that facilitated his labor. He got -Scip to plane and shave a piece of pine perfectly -round, two feet long, and three inches in diameter, -and split in equal parts with a saw. Scip then -hollowed out each part, and put dowels in one -half, and bored holes to correspond in the other, -which held the pieces evenly upon each other.</p> - -<p>When he had made a roll of clay about the -size, he dipped the mould in water, put the roll in -one half, and squat the other on it, and thus made -every roll the same size perfectly; and, by counting -them up, he knew very nearly when he had cut -out enough for his pot.</p> - -<p>There was one thing he could not prevent his -mind from dwelling on: it haunted him night and -day; to wit, the statement made by Uncle Seth in -respect to the potter's wheel, and with what <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span>marvellous -celerity vessels could be made on it. That -a thousand pots could be made in a day, seemed -to him little short of a miracle. He had not forgotten -that Uncle Seth had said, that, instead of a -crank (of the nature of which he had little conception), -the spindle was sometimes moved by a band -going over a larger wheel, and passing round a -smaller wheel (pulley) on the spindle, and that -this large wheel was turned by another person.</p> - -<p>This was not to him difficult of conception; and -he thought Uncle Seth might, if he would, make -one of that kind, and cherished a vague notion -that he might make such a one himself.</p> - -<p>With his head full of such thoughts, he was -occupied in preparing nests for setting hens, and -casting about in his mind which of the boys he -should endeavor to persuade to help him, should -he adventure upon it.</p> - -<p>He finally pitched upon Archie Crawford. -Archie was quite ingenious, could make a good -wooden or horn spoon, a windmill, or a trencher, -and manifested more endurance in sticking to any -thing he undertook than most of the boys; was -of a kindly nature, and willing to oblige.</p> - -<p>While Sammy was thus engaged, Archie <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span>presented -himself, accompanied by several more -armed with bows and arrows. The bows were -capable, when the arrow was drawn to the head, -of killing a bear or wolf; and the arrows were -most of them steel pointed, the others flint heads, -but they were of Indian make and effective.</p> - -<p>These bows belonged to the larger boys. The -one carried by Johnnie Armstrong belonged to -his brother Ned; Harry Sumerford had killed an -Indian with it. As they had been restricted in -the use of powder, they had betaken themselves -to the use of the bow; but these boys, by virtue -of incessant practice from childhood, would, when -the object was near, kill nearly every time. The -bows they now had, however, were too stiff for -them, and they were not able to draw the arrow -to the head.</p> - -<p>"Come, Sammy," said Archie, "get Harry's bow -and arrow, and go with us: we're going to shoot -pigeons and coons, and want to shoot fish."</p> - -<p>The boys were in the habit of shooting fish -when they came near the surface in the shoal-water; -but they sometimes lost both arrow and -fish.</p> - -<p>Sammy made no objections to going this time,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> -as he had used up all his clay, and knew he should -need help from his mates, and that he must gratify -them if he desired their aid.</p> - -<p>"It's no good for me to take Harry's bow. I'll -take Knuck's: I'd ruther have that. I can't begin -to bend Harry's."</p> - -<p>As the baby was asleep in the cradle, and could -make no objection, they took the bear with them. -There were several dogs: Will Redmond had -brought Mr. Honeywood's Fan, the mother of the -whole litter; Sammy had one; and Tony's had -come visiting of his own free will.</p> - -<p>The boys would have taken them all; but Mrs. -Sumerford objected, because, though the dogs and -the bear agreed well at home where they had been -taught to show due respect to his bearship, it was -quite the reverse when they were not under the -inspection of their masters, the dogs always being -the aggressors. Therefore the dogs were shut up -in the house till the boys were gone, when Mrs. -Sumerford let them out, and gave them their -breakfast.</p> - -<p>Coons are wont to sleep in the daytime, and -forage in the night. A favorite resort of these -creatures is the evergreen trees with close foliage,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> -among which it is not easy to see them. There, -after a hearty meal, they coil themselves around -the tree, lying upon the limbs at their junction -with the trunks, and sleeping. The boys were no -novices in the art of finding them: one or two -would climb the tree, and drive them to the top, -or upon the outer limbs, and the others shoot -them. They liked best to shoot pigeons when -they could find them on the ground, or on low -bushes feeding on berries.</p> - -<p>In shooting into the tops of trees, if they missed -their aim, the arrows were likely to stick in a limb -or some part of the tree, in which case it was not -only some work to recover them, but the points of -the flint ones were liable to be broken, and those -of the iron ones bent, or if steel they were sometimes -broken.</p> - -<p>They had killed four coons, finding a whole -family in one tree, and a partridge, and were now -in pursuit of pigeons, creeping on their hands and -knees among the bushes; and the bear, as fond of -berries as the pigeons, was improving the opportunity, -lying down on the loaded bushes, and eating -while the juice ran in streams from either side -of his mouth.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span></p> -<p>The pigeons were accustomed to bears, had no -fear of them, would feed right under their noses. -Archie Crawford knew this, and was crawling up -to some pigeons, and sheltering himself from their -notice behind the body of the bear, when from -under a windfall out rushed a wild bear, followed -by two cubs, and growling savagely.</p> - -<p>The civilized bear neither manifested fear nor a -wish to quarrel. The boys, on the other hand, -strong in numbers, and many of them armed with -steel-pointed arrows, were delighted with the -prospect of a duel between two such antagonists, -and shouted,—</p> - -<p>"Go at her, baby! clinch her! you can lick -her: we'll back you."</p> - -<p>While baby's bear was mildly regarding his savage -antagonist, the hairs of whose coat stood -upright with anger, the white foam flying from -her lips, and who was working herself into a great -rage, one of the cubs ventured up to baby's bear, -who, putting down his nose, smelled of the cub, -and licked it with his tongue.</p> - -<p>The wild bear then sprung upon the tame one, -and seized him by the under jaw; upon which the -other, being much stronger and heavier, instantly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> -rose upon his hind-legs, and flung her off with so -great force, that she not only fell to the earth, but -rolled entirely over upon her back, almost crushing -one of her cubs.</p> - -<p>At this decided demonstration, the boys, wild -with delight, shouted encouragement; but the tame -bear showed no disposition to follow up his advantage, -and continue the contest so well begun. Not -so with the other, who, springing up madder than -ever, kept walking around her opponent, growling -savagely, while the latter began eating berries.</p> - -<p>The boys now, provoked at his lack of mettle, -addressed him in another fashion, calling him a -coward, lazy, and a fool, because he did not spring -upon the other when on her back, and finish her.</p> - -<p>The wild bear now seized the tame one by his -right fore-paw, which she endeavored to grind -between her teeth. The other, however, succeeded -in withdrawing it, and, now thoroughly mad, -uttered in his turn terrific growls; and a deadly -grapple ensued between them, to the great delight -of the boys, who now had what they desired,—the -prospect of a contest of life or death.</p> - -<p>It soon became evident, that though the tame -bear was much the larger, and for a "spurt" the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> -stronger of the two, and by no means lacking in -courage, his fat, short wind, and want of exercise, -rendered him a poor match for his lean and wiry -antagonist.</p> - -<p>At this juncture of affairs, Ike Proctor, who -had the strongest and a remarkably clear, sharp-toned -voice, mounting a great rock, called the -dogs with all his might. At the same time the -others, drawing their bows with every ounce of -strength they possessed, sent a shower of arrows -at the wild bear, venturing near enough to make -amends for lack of muscle.</p> - -<p>The bear instantly turned upon the boys, struck -Sammy's bow from his hand with a blow of her -paw, tore his hunting-shirt from his shoulder, -slightly lacerating the flesh, broke his belt, and in -another instant would have killed him if Jim -Grant had not at that moment sent a flint-headed -arrow into her right eye, and Archie Crawford fastened -a steel point in her left nostril; and Sammy, -picking up his weapon while the bear was trying -to shake the barbed shaft from her nostril, returned -to the charge.</p> - -<p>"Here they come! Here come the dogs!" -shouted Rogers. On they came, full stretch, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span>uttering -short barks; the mother, a powerful veteran -used to coping with bears and wolves, leading -the van. Instinctively avoiding the stroke of -the bear's paw, she fastened to the right ear of the -brute, one of the pups instantly seizing the left.</p> - -<p>The bear, enfeebled by her previous encounter -and the loss of blood, strove in vain to shake off -these ferocious antagonists. Strong as fierce they -clung to her, while the remaining dog buried his -fangs in the bear's throat, and, rolling her on her -back, thrust his sharp muzzle in her vitals. The -blood poured out in a stream; the hard-lived -animal quivered a moment, and gave up.</p> - -<p>Excited by the combat, and the smell and taste -of blood, the dogs instantly turned upon baby's -bear already half dead, and upon the cubs, and -killed them in a moment in spite of all their masters -could do to prevent it.</p> - -<p>The boys would have killed the dogs if they -had dared, so enraged and grieved were they at -the death of the tame bear, and also at the loss of -the cubs which they coveted.</p> - -<p>"What pretty little things these would have -been for us to keep!" said Mugford, taking one of -the cubs up in his arms. "Baby's bear would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> -have liked 'em; and how handsome the baby and -the two little bears would have looked, all three -lying asleep together on the old bear!"</p> - -<p>"They were big enough to eat any thing," said -Proctor.</p> - -<p>"You're crying, Sammy," said Will Redmond, -noticing the tears on his cheeks, which he did -not try to conceal.</p> - -<p>"If I be, I ain't crying for myself, but only -'cause baby'll miss his bear, and 'cause my mother'll -feel so bad: she loved the bear 'cause he was -so good to the baby. I've seen him lay on the -hearth after he'd been asleep, and just waked up, -and stretch and gape, and stick out every claw on -his feet, just like the old cat will sometimes; the -baby would see 'em, and creep along to get hold -of 'em; and the bear would put 'em all in so they -needn't scratch baby. I've seen that little thing -try to suck the bear's paw. Oh, he was a good -bear!"</p> - -<p>"I loved him too," said Archie; "and it makes -me feel real bad, just like crying. Let's all cry. -There ain't anybody to see us: we'll cry all we -want to."</p> - -<p>It needed but this to open the sluices, for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> -eyes of every boy were brimfull of tears. They -had a good solid cry, and, having given vent to -their pent-up emotions, felt relieved.</p> - -<p>They all collected round the dead body of the -bear. Sammy, kneeling down, began to pat his -head, and talk to him as though he was alive.</p> - -<p>"Poor beary! we be all real sorry you're dead: -mother and the baby'll be sorry too. The dogs -always did hate you, though you never did them a -bit of hurt, wouldn't hurt a fly."</p> - -<p>"If you'd been brought up in the woods same -as that wild bear, you'd have licked two of her."</p> - -<p>"The dogs know they've done wrong," said -Rogers: "only see how meaching they look, and -keep their tails 'twixt their legs."</p> - -<p>The wild bear was poor, and not fit to eat: so -they skinned her. But baby's bear was as fat as a -well-fatted hog, but no one of them for a moment -indulged the thought of eating or even skinning -him.</p> - -<p>"If we leave the baby's bear in the woods, and -cover him up with brush, the wolves will get -him," said Sammy.</p> - -<p>Fred Stiefel and Archie volunteered to go -home, and get shovels and hoes; and they soon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> -dug a grave in the soft ground to bury their pet -in.</p> - -<p>"Let's put the cubs 'long with baby's bear. -We know he liked 'em, cause he smelt of 'em, and -was licking one of 'em when the old bear jumped -at him," said Archie.</p> - -<p>"The wolves sha'n't have baby's bear; they -sha'n't pick his bones," said Sammy.</p> - -<p>The boys brought stones as large as two, and -sometimes as large as four of them, could carry, -and piled them on the grave to prevent the wolves -from digging into it. They put a large stone in -the bear-skin; and four carried it, and put on -small ones till they made a large pile, resolving -whenever they came that way they would put on -a stone. When the boys returned home (for they -all went home with Sam), bringing with them the -bear-skin, four coons, a partridge, and only three -pigeons, and with downcast looks made known -what had taken place, Mrs. Sumerford expressed -much sorrow.</p> - -<p>"You don't know, Sammy, how much I shall -miss that creature. He was so good! He wasn't -a mite like any tame bear that ever I saw; and -I've seen scores of 'em, first and last. They are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> -always great thieves; but he wasn't; he had -principle: he was a good deal honester than Scip. -They are mostly great plagues; people soon grow -sick of 'em, and kill 'em: but he was not the least -trouble. All the tame bears that ever I saw -before him were mighty unsartin': they'd take -spells when they would snap and strike with their -paws."</p> - -<p>"Tony's bear did: he killed a dog, broke his -back at one lick of his paw; and he clinched Mrs. -Blanchard, and wanted to kill her," said Grant.</p> - -<p>"I know he did; but this bear was a great help -to me about the child. When I was all alone, -and wanted to weave, I could put the baby on the -floor with the bear, and they would play ever so -long; and when I couldn't get the little one to -sleep by rocking, to save me, he'd go to sleep on -the bear."</p> - -<p>While his mother was thus recounting the virtues -of the dead, it brought the whole matter to -the mind of Sammy in such a light that he began -to cry, and the boys with him; and finally the -good woman herself was moved by the tears of -the children.</p> - -<p>The baby was sitting on the floor with his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span> -playthings, and, not knowing what to make of it, -began staring with his great round eyes, first at -his mother, then at the others; and finally, not -relishing the silence, pounded on the floor with a -spoon, and laughed.</p> - -<p>"If you wasn't a baby, you wouldn't laugh; -you'd cry like every thing," said Sammy.</p> - -<p>"What creatures boys are!" said Mrs. Sumerford. -"We've been thinking all the danger was -from Indians; but I'm afraid they'll contrive to -be killed by bears, or be drowned. They will if -they can."</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XIX.</span> <span class="smaller">TRIUMPH OF THOUGHT AND INGENUITY.</span></h2> - -<p>After the departure of the boys, Sammy -took up, with greater enthusiasm than ever, -those trains of thought that had been so rudely -interrupted by the day's occurrences, and after -supper sat down in one corner of the room to -reflect.</p> - -<p>His mother, having spun her stint, began to reel -up the yarn. As he sat thinking, and occasionally -looking at her as she reeled the yarn from the -spindle, he communed thus with himself:—</p> - -<p>"If a potter's wheel is an upright spindle with -a little wheel on it turned by a band that goes -over a big wheel, and my mother's wheel is a level -spindle with a little wheel on it turned by a band -that goes over a big wheel, then what's the reason, -if my mother's wheel is turned upside down, the -spindle won't be upright, just as Uncle Seth said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> -a potter's wheel was? And then if there was a -round piece put on top to put the clay on, and you -turned the big wheel, it would turn the clay."</p> - -<p>"Sammy, don't you feel well?" setting her -wheel back against the wall.</p> - -<p>"Yes, ma'am, I'm well."</p> - -<p>"What makes you sit there so still, then?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know, ma'am."</p> - -<p>"I don't believe you feel very well: you've been -through a good deal this day, and you needn't go -to milking. I'll milk: the cows don't give a great -mess now."</p> - -<p>Scarcely had his mother left the threshold than -Sammy, jumping up, turned the wheel over flat on -the floor, with the pointed end of the spindle -uppermost. He put a log under the post of the -wheel to keep the end of the spindle from touching -the floor, and prevent its turning. There was -a basket of turnips sitting in the corner: he sliced -the top from one of them, to flatten it, and stuck -it on the end of the spindle, and getting on his -knees turned the wheel round; and round went -both spindle and turnip.</p> - -<p>"There!" said he talking to himself, "if that -turnip was a round piece of wood, and if there<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> -was clay on it, 'twould be the same thing as the -potter's wheel that Uncle Seth told about, that -didn't have any crank, only two wheels."</p> - -<p>The same principle, Sammy meant.</p> - -<p>"I haven't got any tools, nor any thing to make -a wheel of: so I couldn't make one."</p> - -<p>The tears sprung to the poor boy's eyes; and -hearing his mother's step on the door-stone, and -not wanting to have her question him about his -tears, he opened the window-shutter, leaped out, -made for the hovel, and sat down there. He had -left in haste; and, as Mrs. Sumerford set down -her milk-pail, she saw her wheel upside down, with -a turnip on the end of the spindle. "What's all -this!" pulling off the turnip. "Samuel, Samuel -Sumerford! Did ever anybody see or hear tell of -such a boy? It's a mercy that he didn't break the -wheel-head. What satisfaction could there be in -turning that wheel upside down, and sticking a -turnip on the spindle?"</p> - -<p>The little fellow's reflections were of a sombre -cast. "There ain't no good times now as there -used to be. I had a bear, and he was killed; Tony -had one, and he was killed; and now baby's bear, -that was the best most of the whole, is killed too.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> -I had a tame coon, and they killed him; a cosset -lamb, and he died; and the Indians have come, -and carried off Tony who I loved better than the -bear or coon or cosset lamb. The Indians keep -coming, and killin' our folks; and Alice Proctor -thinks they'll kill us all some time."</p> - -<p>Sammy's thoughts now seemed to take a sudden -turn; for at once he jumped up, and ran at his -utmost speed to the Cuthbert house. His mother, -looking after him in amazement, said,—</p> - -<p>"I don't know about this pottery business: the -child don't seem one mite as he used to. I hope -he won't lose his wits."</p> - -<p>Rushing up garret, he brought down part of a -flax-wheel; that is, the bench, the wheel, and the -posts on which the wheel was hung, the rest having -been carried off by Cuthbert. Sammy's spirits -rose with a bound: he thought, if he only had -a wheel, he could manage the rest.</p> - -<p>Where should he get boards to make a bench? -for boards were precious things in the settlement. -He recollected that Mr. McDonald had in his -house a meal-chest, and partitions made of boards, -and some milk-shelves; and that some of them -were used for making coffins to bury the family<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> -in, as there was not time to manufacture boards -with the whip-saw. But he thought they might -not all have been used; the house stood empty, -and was rotting down.</p> - -<p>Away ran the excited lad for Archie, made a -confidant of him, and wanted him to go to the -McDonald house to see if there were not some -boards there, and, if so, get them.</p> - -<p>"You don't ketch me there this time of day: -it's haunted. It's all but sundown now. I'll go -in the morning: 'twill be dark by the time we get -there."</p> - -<p>"'Twon't be dark if we run. All I want is just -to look in, and see what there is; and, if there is -any, we can get them some other time."</p> - -<p>As usual, Sammy prevailed; and away they ran, -reaching the place just after the sun had set. -Directly before the door stood the hominy-block -on which McDonald and his son were pounding -corn when the savages came upon them, and an -Indian arrow still sticking in the block. On the -door-step was the blood-stain, where little Maggie -was butchered. The boys recollected it well, for -she was their playmate. They didn't like to venture -in; for the bullet-proof shutters were closed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> -just as they had been left when the family were -killed, and it was dark inside. They had not forgotten -that the floor (on that fearful morning) -of the very room in which they expected to find -the boards was red with the blood of Grace and -Janet McDonald. They tried to look through -the loop-holes, but could not see any thing distinctly -within.</p> - -<p>"You go in, Sam."</p> - -<p>"I don't want to: go yourself."</p> - -<p>"It's more your place to go than 'tis for me, -'cause you want to be a potter."</p> - -<p>Urged by his desire to obtain boards, Sammy at -length entered the door, and, standing in the passage, -looked in.</p> - -<p>"I see some square pieces of timber, Archie, -that would be nice to make the frame of the -bench; but I don't see any boards. The partition's -all taken down: only these timbers what it -was fastened to are left."</p> - -<p>A slight noise was heard in the room; and Sam -tumbled over Archie in his haste to escape, and -both ran away. They ventured back, and found -that the noise that had alarmed them was made by -the fluttering of a piece of loose bark (moved by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> -the wind) which hung by one end to a log; and -found there was one short board left in the room, -about six feet long. They thought there might -be some in the chamber where the children used -to sleep, which was not so dark as the rest of the -house, because light came through many chinks in -the roof.</p> - -<p>Sam mounted the ladder to look; but, just as he -got his head above the level of the floor, he heard -a great scrambling, and something went swiftly -past him. He either leaped or tumbled to the -floor (he never knew which); and they ran home, -resolving never again to go to that place in the -twilight.</p> - -<p>Early next morning they went there; and it -seemed very different in the daytime. They -brought their guns with them; but of what use -they supposed fire-arms would be, in a contest -with supernatural foes, is not readily perceived: -however, they felt stronger for having them.</p> - -<p>Archie opened the shutters, that had been closed -by the hands of Mrs. McDonald a few moments -before her death, and the sunlight streamed in. -In the chamber they found a wide board twenty -feet long, that was planed on one side, and placed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> -between the beds for the children to step on -when they got out of bed, as the rest of the floor -was laid with poles that were rough with knots -and bark. They took down the joist in the room -below: these had been sawed out with the whip-saw, -by Mr. Seth and his brother, when they put -up the partition. They were a great acquisition -to the boys, almost as much as the boards; for -they could not have hewn out joist accurately -enough to frame together.</p> - -<p>"Mr. McDonald didn't think, when he got -Uncle Seth to make this partition, a meal-chest, -and milk-shelves (what nobody else in the Run -has got, and Mr. Blanchard himself ain't got), -that they would take the boards to make coffins -for himself and his folks; did he, Sammy?"</p> - -<p>"Don't let's talk about that here."</p> - -<p>They yoked the oxen, hauled their stuff to the -Cuthbert house, and set about making a bench.</p> - -<p>"How high and wide and long shall we make -it?" said Archie.</p> - -<p>"Uncle Seth told me it ought to be about as -big as this table."</p> - -<p>Cutting their joist, they halved the pieces together, -and made the frame of the bench with a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span> -cross-sill at the bottom in the centre to receive the -end of the spindle. How they should make the -spindle, and what they should make it of, was the -next thing to be considered.</p> - -<p>They went to a piece of land that had been -cleared, and the timber burnt, but had not been -planted, and had partially grown up again, where -were a great number of ash-sprouts, that grew -luxuriantly and very straight, as is the habit of -that tree; and soon found one to answer their -purpose.</p> - -<p>Two blocks, one much larger than the other, -were sawed from the ends of logs,—one for a pulley -(wheel the boys called it), and the other for a -small wheel to receive the clay; and a hole bored -in the cross-sill to admit the lower end of the -spindle.</p> - -<p>Holes were bored, and a square mortise cut in -the centre of the two blocks, and the spindle -squared near the lower end, and the pulley fitted -on to it. The top of the spindle was also squared -for the other block. This was done in order that -neither the pulley nor the wheel might turn on -the spindle: then a score was cut in the edge of -the pulley to receive a band. The frame of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> -bench was now boarded on top, the spindle put -in its place, and the upper wheel put on. Their -tools were few, and the boys without practice in -using them; yet, though the work was rough, the -bench was level, and the spindle plumb, although -made of an ash-sprout, the bark still adhering to -portions of it. The pulley and clay wheel were -also true circles, as they struck them out with -Harry's large compasses, and cut to the scratch.</p> - -<p>A serious consultation was now held in respect -to the manner in which they should avail themselves -of the flax-wheel.</p> - -<p>After a long consideration, arising from the fact -that the flax-wheel was not theirs, and that they -could do nothing to unfit it for future use in -spinning, Sammy knocked the legs out carefully -from the bench, and placed the latter upon its -edge, upon the floor, with the wheel and posts -attached, and at a proper distance from the spindle; -then put under the posts a flattened piece of -wood just thick enough to bring it up to a level, -and drove into it two pins each side of the post -to keep them in place, and short enough for the -wheel to play over them.</p> - -<p>Flat stones were laid against the other end of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> -the bench, to keep it from moving; a band passed -round both the flax-wheel and the spindle, and -the bearings greased. Some method must now be -devised to turn the large wheel; and this was not -an easy matter. This wheel had on it a short -crank, to which (when the parts of the machine -were all in place) the treadle was attached; and -on this crank a tang half an inch long, with a button -on the end, to keep the treadle from slipping -off. This affair, especially the button, was much -in the way of putting any thing on the wheel by -which to turn it, and was not large enough to -be made useful of itself; for it could only be held -betwixt the finger and thumb, it was so very -short.</p> - -<p>The rim of this wheel was three inches in -depth, and there were sixteen spokes quite near -together. Archie proposed boring a hole in this -rim, and putting a pin into it; but Sam said that -would never do, because it would injure the wheel, -and he had promised Prudence Holdness he would -leave it as good as he found it.</p> - -<p>He tried to fit a wooden handle to the tang of -the crank, but the button on the end prevented.</p> - -<p>These boys, it is true, possessed little knowledge<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> -of things in general: yet they had read the woods -pretty thoroughly, and were aware that the roots -of the alder, hazel, and wild cherry, inclined to -run for some distance near the surface, and then -throw up shoots at right angles with the root -from which they sprung.</p> - -<p>They found a wild cherry nearly two inches in -diameter, that sprang up from a long naked root, -cut the top off within eighteen inches of the -ground, and then dug it up. They now cut one -arm of the root close to the stem, leaving the -other a foot in length, flattened the under side, -placed the end of the root towards the hub of the -wheel, and lashed it firmly to a spoke. This was -a handle by which to turn the wheel, and did not -injure it in the least. They found, by getting on -their knees and turning the flax-wheel, the spindle -revolved steadily but not very fast.</p> - -<p>"It don't go so fast as mother's flax-wheel," -said Sam.</p> - -<p>"Not a quarter so fast as my mother's big -wheel: the spindle of that'll whirl so you can't -hardly see it, when she's a mind to make it," said -Archie.</p> - -<p>The boys now sat down to rest, and contemplate -their work with great satisfaction.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span></p> -<p>"Ain't it nice, Archie?"</p> - -<p>"Yes; and we made it our own selves, didn't -we?"</p> - -<p>There is an important principle developed in -this declaration of Archie. They had learned -much, and derived a great deal more pleasure -from the contemplation of that rude machine that -they had exerted all their ingenuity to make, than -they would have done had Uncle Seth made a -potter's wheel, and given it to them. If you want -to bring out what is in a boy, want him to develop -original thought, and become possessed of resources -within himself, encourage and stimulate -him to make his own playthings. How many -children there are who have almost every thing -given them that a toy-shop can furnish, and yet -get sick of their novelties when they have looked -them over, acquire but few ideas in the process, -and remain children during life! if that deserves -the name of life which is useless and barren, both -in respect to themselves and to others.</p> - -<p>They soon tested their instrument by experiment. -Taking some sand, Sammy strewed it over -the wheel, and put a lump of clay on it while -Archie turned. He did this in order that he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span> -might be able to get the vessel off, as he knew the -clay would stick to the wood; but when he put -his hands on the clay the wheel turned round -under it, and the clay tumbled to the floor. Finding -that would never do, he swept off all the sand, -and flung the lump down hard on the wood, where -it stuck fast (as Uncle Seth had told him he saw -the potters do), put his hands on each side of the -clay, and brought it up to a sugar-loaf form, and -then pressed it down to break the air-bubbles, -then put his thumbs into the middle of the lump, -and his fingers outside. The clay instantly assumed -a circular form, and became hollow.</p> - -<p>"Oh, oh! It's doing it!" shouted Sam.</p> - -<p>"Doing what?" cried Archie, who on his knees -could not see what was going on.</p> - -<p>"It's growing hollow. It's making a pot. Oh, -it's growing thinner and thinner!"</p> - -<p>Indeed it was; for Sammy not only stuck his -thumbs into the lump, but kept separating his -hands, till, the walls of the pot growing thinner -and thinner, both thumbs broke through, and -there were only two long, wide ribbons of clay, -and no bottom; for he had pressed his hands -down so hard as to scrape through to the wood.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span> -He uttered a yell of dismay, and Archie ran to -look.</p> - -<p>"Only see there," said Sam, taking up part of -the side: "see how smooth it is! I couldn't have -made it so smooth the way I did before. Oh, if it -hadn't bursted!"</p> - -<p>"What made it do so?"</p> - -<p>"Don't know: guess I can do better next time."</p> - -<p>Next time he succeeded in making something -hollow, but it was almost as big at the top as at -the bottom; the sides were thick in one place, and -thin in another: but the boys thought it was nice -till they tried to take it from the wheel, when -they found Sammy had poked his fingers through -the bottom to the wood.</p> - -<p>Archie was now to try his hand: the wheel had -made but a few revolutions when he shouted,—</p> - -<p>"Stop!"</p> - -<p>He had pressed his hands so close together, that -at the top there was a cone of clay, and a round -lump on the wheel, without the sign of a hollow. -The next time he made something hollow; but -the sides were so thin they would not stand, but -tumbled down in a heap as soon as he took his -hands off.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span></p> -<p>Now it was Sammy's turn again. While turning -the wheel for Archie, he had been reflecting -upon the causes of his poor success; and this time -made a pot that was all right at the bottom, and -of a proper thickness, only rather bulging in the -middle. They were greatly delighted, but, in -trying to take it from the wheel, tore it in pieces. -Sammy made another attempt, and met with still -better success. They dared not take this pot -from the wheel, yet were unwilling to ask Uncle -Seth, or let him know any thing about their proceedings -till they had made more progress.</p> - -<p>As it was near dinner-time, they concluded to -leave it on the wheel, and inquire of others, supposing -that Mrs. Honeywood, Mrs. Blanchard, or -Holt's wife, who had lived in the old settlements, -might tell them something; but they could not.</p> - -<p>"I don't believe but Scip would know: he has -lived in Baltimore," said Mrs. Blanchard.</p> - -<p>They applied to Scip.</p> - -<p>"De potters hab leetle piece of wire wid two -sticks on it, to take hold on. Dey pull dat -through 'twixt de clay and de wheel; den dey -take it off wid dere han's, if leetle ting: if big -ting, hab two sticks ob wood put each side, fay to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span> -de pot, so not jam it. Me show you, me make -you one."</p> - -<p>The boys looked at each other; for there was -no such thing as a piece of wire within a hundred -miles, and they had never seen any save the priming-wires -that were with some of the smooth-bores. -Scip advised them to try a hard-twisted -string, which they found to answer the purpose.</p> - -<p>Sammy kept on improving; but Archie did not, -and began to grow tired of pottery. It was hard -work to turn the wheel: he perceived that, as he -could make no further progress in turning, in the -natural order of things, Sammy must be the potter, -while he would remain wheel-boy.</p> - -<p>Sammy, on the other hand, was full of enthusiasm, -ever improving. He could now tell the -thickness of his pots by the feeling, and made -them uniform in this respect; was all the time -correcting little defects; and learned by practice -how thick the sides should be to stand. He offered -Archie a powder-horn if he would turn all the -afternoon; but he wouldn't hear a word of it, and -said his hands were blistered, and the skin was -worn off his knees, kneeling on the hard floor.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span> -Sammy offered him a bullet if he would turn long -enough for him to make three more pots. Archie -said he would the next morning; and here the -work ended for the day.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XX.</span> <span class="smaller">UNCLE SETH'S SURPRISE.</span></h2> - -<p>When this new and exciting employment -came thus suddenly to a full stop by the -refusal of Archie to turn the wheel any longer, -the latter went home with two large holes in the -knees of his trousers, albeit they were buckskin: -Sammy went over to Israel Blanchard's.</p> - -<p>He found Scip and his master pulling flax, and -instantly took hold with them. Since Sam had -become so industrious, he had grown into great -favor with Mr. Blanchard, who believed in hard -work and also in hard fighting.</p> - -<p>It appeared in the sequel, that Sammy's motives -were not altogether disinterested in thus volunteering -to help his neighbor; for, after working -lustily till night, he asked Mr. Blanchard if he -might have Scip to help him the next afternoon.</p> - -<p>"Yes, my little potter: I suppose you want him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span> -to work clay for you; but it seems to me you use -up clay fast."</p> - -<p>Sammy didn't tell him what he wanted of Scip. -The next morning Archie came, true to his word; -and they began to work.</p> - -<p>Mr. Seth found, when he had finished his work -upon the bail, that he had about worn up his mallet -with so much mortising in the tough wood; -and recollecting that, some months before, he had -seen a stick of hornbeam about the right size on -the woodpile at the old Cuthbert house, took a -saw in his hand, and went over to get a piece. -Hearing the boys at work inside, he crept up, and -peeped through a crevice in the logs.</p> - -<p>Archie was on his knees on the floor, tugging -with his right hand at the wheel, while his left -was leaning on a stone placed for that purpose; -and Sammy was making a pot. Equally surprised -and delighted, he looked on a while in silence; -and, as he could not obtain a good view of Sam -where he stood, he went to the window that was -open. Archie's back was towards him, and Sam -was too intent upon his work to notice him.</p> - -<p>The kindly nature of the old mechanic was -stirred to the quick when he saw Sam actually<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> -turn a pot of good shape with such machinery as -that; and he vowed internally that he would make -him a potter's wheel before the lad was a week -older, but, upon reflection, concluded it would be -better to help him a little, and not too much at -once.</p> - -<p>"So you've made a wheel for yourselves, have -you?" said Uncle Seth, showing himself at the -window.</p> - -<p>The wheel stopped. Archie jumped up: Sam -colored, his face as red as red paint.</p> - -<p>"Don't be bashful," said Uncle Seth, getting in -at the window. "I think you've done first rate, -most remarkable: that pot's as good as a pot need -be."</p> - -<p>"We was afraid you'd laugh at us, Uncle Seth, -and so we didn't like to tell you."</p> - -<p>"Laugh at you! I praise you: you've done wonderful. -Now let me see you make a pot."</p> - -<p>Sammy had turned one pot, and, drawing a -string under it, took it from the wheel with his -hands; in so doing, he put it a little out of form, -but repaired it by pressing it into shape again -with his fingers.</p> - -<p>Sammy turned two more pots, each one being<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> -an improvement on the former one; being put on -his mettle by the praises of Uncle Seth.</p> - -<p>He then told him that Archie's contract was -completed, but that Scip was going to help him -in the afternoon.</p> - -<p>"What made you put your large wheel flat on -the floor? why didn't you set it on the legs?"</p> - -<p>"'Cause it wouldn't go so: the band would slip -right off the little wheel."</p> - -<p>"Cross the band, then it won't."</p> - -<p>"Cross the band!"</p> - -<p>This was a step farther than Sammy's knowledge -of machinery extended.</p> - -<p>Uncle Seth took the wheel from the floor, put -the legs in again, crossed the band, and put it on -the wheel.</p> - -<p>"Now you can stand up, and turn: put some -clay on the wheel, and I'll turn for you."</p> - -<p>Uncle Seth turned, and Sam made another pot.</p> - -<p>The boys could hardly contain themselves, they -were so delighted.</p> - -<p>"How much you do know, Uncle Seth!" said -Archie: "we don't know any thing."</p> - -<p>"You haven't been learning so long as I have. -I want you to pay attention, and I'll explain <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span>something -to you. You see this spindle don't turn -very fast,—not near as fast as the spindle on your -mothers' flax-wheels; and yet this large wheel is -exactly the same kind of a wheel. What do you -suppose is the reason?"</p> - -<p>"We don't know," said Archie.</p> - -<p>"If that pulley, Sammy, that is on the spindle -(little wheel you call it), was just as large as the -flax-wheel, and you should turn that, the other -would turn just as fast,—just as many times,—wouldn't -it?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir: of course it would if they were both -of just the same bigness."</p> - -<p>"Well, then, if you should make the flax-wheel -as big again as the pulley, the pulley would turn -twice when the flax-wheel turned once: wouldn't -it?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir."</p> - -<p>"Thus you see the reason that spindle doesn't -turn any faster is because the two wheels are so -near of a bigness. That pulley is so near the size -of the other wheel, that it don't turn but three or -four times while the large one is turning once. -The large wheel is not more than thirty inches, -and the pulley is large seven. Don't you know<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span> -how fast your mother's spindle on her large wheel -whirls?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir. It goes so sometimes you can hardly -see it."</p> - -<p>"Good reason for it. The wheel is forty-eight -inches in diameter, and the pulley on the spindle -is only about an inch. What do you think of -that, my boy?—forty-eight inches to one inch; -the spindle turning forty-eight times while the -large wheel turns once."</p> - -<p>"We didn't know. All we knowed was, you -said they had a big wheel and a little one on the -spindle."</p> - -<p>Mr. Seth took the pulley from the spindle, cut -it down more than one-half, and put it higher up -on the spindle.</p> - -<p>"There, my lads, I have made that pulley -smaller; and your spindle will turn so much -faster that you can make three pots where you -made one afore: besides, now that the large wheel -is upright, you can turn it as fast again, and much -easier than you could when 'twas lying on the -floor."</p> - -<p>Mr. Seth now put a stone on the bench near -the wheel on which the vessels were turned, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span> -put a junk of clay on it: through the top of this -clay he ran a stick, passing it back and forth in -the hole till it would move easily, and be held -firm in place when the clay became dry. He then -said to Sammy,—</p> - -<p>"There's a gauge for you. Run that stick over -the wheel, and draw it back just in proportion to -the size of the pot you want to make. If you -bring the edge of the pot to the end of that, it -will regulate the size."</p> - -<p>It was a rude affair, made in a moment; and -yet it answered the purpose perfectly. Mr. Seth -also made some half-circles of wood, with handles, -and a dowel in one of the halves to fit into a -corresponding hole in the other half. These were -placed on each side of the vessel, bearing equally -all round, and cut to the shape of the side. With -them he could easily take his ware from the wheel -without marring it. Sammy had already found -that he could smooth the sides of his pots by -applying the edge of the profile to them.</p> - -<p>Still, after these improvements, the wheel was -a poor affair. There was not sufficient power -to turn a pot of any size, and the band was apt to -slip; and the spindle, running wood to wood, -increased the friction.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span></p> -<p>Mr. Seth, convinced that the pottery business -was not a mere boy's affair with Sammy, resolved -that at the first opportunity he would make him -a far better machine than that. Without saying -any thing to Sammy, he took the measure of the -bench, that answered the purpose well, and left -him to knead clay, and make preparation for the -arrival of Scip in the afternoon.</p> - -<p>Perhaps our readers will wonder where the -other boys were all this time, that they took no -interest in the proceedings.</p> - -<p>Well, their parents had work for them to do -at home; and every leisure moment was taken up -in building a turkey-pen, or trap to catch wild -turkeys in, as the time was approaching when it -would be wanted.</p> - -<p>Thus occupied, they were ignorant of the -doings of Sammy and Archie; but it was soon -noised abroad, and the old house filled with curious -boys, who all wanted to try their hands -at turning a pot. After experimenting a while, -and meeting with about as much success as -Archie, they preferred play, or even work. Archie -also, after the excitement of making the wheel -was over, lost his interest; and Sammy, much to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span> -his satisfaction, was left to work in peace, aided -by Scip. He also had aid from another source; -for, after the improvement made by Mr. Seth in -setting the wheel upright, the girls would turn -for him, and sometimes also his mother; and, as -he could not make large pots on the wheel, he -made pitchers and mugs for the girls, bowls and -platters; and by practice he became expert in -putting handles to his mugs and pitchers. When -desirous of making a large pot to hang on the fire, -or for any other purpose, he resorted to his old -method of rolling the clay, and also when he -could get no one to turn for him.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XXI.</span> <span class="smaller">NED RANGELY.</span></h2> - -<p>It was now time to gather the corn. Sammy -was obliged to suspend his operations, and -the entire community were busily employed in -harvesting and husking. The ears were picked -off and husked in the field, and the sound corn -put in log cribs inside the fort.</p> - -<p>A strong scout was sent out, boys placed back -to back on stumps to watch while the rest were at -work. Every nerve was strained to place their -bread-corn out of the reach of the savages; for, -this being accomplished, their anxieties in respect -to food would cease.</p> - -<p>The corn-crop and all their crops were late sown -and planted, by reason of Indian alarms, and because -in the spring they were occupied in building -the mill.</p> - -<p>The last basketful had been placed on the sled;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span> -and Honeywood took up his goad to start the -oxen, when Mrs. Sumerford exclaimed, "Who's -that? I saw a man, I know I did, come from -behind the big rock, cross the ford and the little -clear spot between there and the woods; and I -think he had a rifle on his shoulder."</p> - -<p>All now stood on their guard, rifle in hand.</p> - -<p>"It ain't an Indian, that's sartain," said Holdness: -"an Indian wouldn't be walking about in -plain sight, with a rifle on his shoulder."</p> - -<p>"Who else can it be? We haven't seen a white -face for months. I think we'd better run for the -garrison," said Mrs. Blanchard.</p> - -<p>"I see him," said McClure. "It's a white man, -but none of our folks: he's got a pack and a rifle. -It's some ranger who has lost his way."</p> - -<p>Every eye was now eagerly fastened on the -stranger, who travelled slowly as though fatigued.</p> - -<p>"It's Ned Rangely, Brad," shouted McClure, -"as sure as the sun is in the heavens: it's Ned, -who hunted and trapped with us so many winters -at Red Stone, and has been in more Indian fights -than any man on the frontier. Don't you see how -he carries that left arm: that was broke by an -Indian bullet?"</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span></p> -<p>"I believe you're right, neighbor."</p> - -<p>"Right? I know I am: I could tell him among -a thousand."</p> - -<p>They both started towards the stranger, who -stopped, and stood leaning on his rifle, evidently -fatigued.</p> - -<p>"God bless you, Ned Rangely! Is that yourself?" -cried Holdness, seizing one hand, while -McClure laid his hand upon his shoulder.</p> - -<p>"How are you, old stand-by?" cried McClure. -"It does a man good, these ticklish times, to look -on your old face. Haven't you come in a good -time? We've plenty to eat, nothing to do; and -you've got to stay here with us all the rest of -your life."</p> - -<p>"Wish I could; but the fact is, we came on -business, and must do it and be off."</p> - -<p>"Not a word of business till morning," said -McClure, clapping his hand on Rangely's mouth: -"come, go home with me."</p> - -<p>"Let him go with me to-night," said Holdness, -"because he's tired and foot-sore, and you can come -with him: and he can go to your house to-morrow."</p> - -<p>To this McClure assented. One taking <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span>Rangely's -rifle, and the other his pack, they marched off, -leaving the rest to get in the corn.</p> - -<p>Holdness did not lack for company that evening; -all the young people coming in to listen to the -talk of these old comrades, Rangely's in particular, -whose whole life had been a scene of perils and -hair-breadth escapes.</p> - -<p>The next day was a leisure one, the harvest -being secured. Holdness and Rangely strolled -over to McClure's: soon Honeywood dropped in, -Maccoy, Stewart, Ned Armstrong, Harry Sumerford, -Andrew McClure, and others of the young -men.</p> - -<p>"Now, Ned," said Holdness, "there's a number -of us here: we'll listen to your business, whatever -'tis. We've no separate interests, but are like so -many peas in one pod, that all touch, and there's -no parting 'twixt 'em."</p> - -<p>Rangely looked round upon this noble group of -stalwart men and youth with evident delight as -he said,—</p> - -<p>"Well, neighbors, I was sent here by those who -pretend to know more'n I do, to raise men for a -skirmage with these Delawares, Monseys, Shawanees, -and what not red trash, that are whooping<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span> -round, and scalping women and children. They -want to raise three or four hundred men, and just -wipe 'em out. They want men that can shoot and -march, and know how to fight Indians in the woods; -and they don't want nothing else. So you see, -'cause they knowed I was acquainted, they sent me -up here."</p> - -<p>"We're much obliged to 'em," said Holdness. -"Didn't think the rest of the world knew we was -in it, or cared whether we lived or died. Don't -s'pose they did, till they happened to want to -make use on us. It strikes me, Ned, they sent -you on a fool's errand."</p> - -<p>"I'm pretty much of the same opinion with -Brad," said McClure,—"that we've got about -enough to do to take care of ourselves and them -what look to us. Here we've stood in death's -door, as you may say, ever since the war began. -There isn't a man, scarcely a boy, not to say children, -what hasn't a scar on him; and some of us -are pretty much cut to pieces. There's about as -many of us under the sod, killed by Indians, as -there are above it. And now you ask us to leave -our families, forts, and guns, and go to fight for -people who wouldn't lift a finger to help us, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span> -wouldn't have let us have cannon nor powder if -they could have helped it."</p> - -<p>"As for me," said Armstrong, "I'm not going -into them woods to throw away my life, and be -ambushed by Indians, at the tail of these turkey-cocks -like Braddock, who don't know the first -thing of the duty they are sent to perform, and -are fit only to lead men to death and destruction."</p> - -<p>"Don't think we cast any reflection upon you, -Ned," said Holdness, "for doing the errand; but -you see how the neighbors feel about it."</p> - -<p>"I've no doubt what you say is all true," replied -Rangely,—"true as the Bible, and they say that's -just so. But, you see, these Indians get together -in their towns, three or four hundred of them: -there they keep their women, children, and ammunition -the French give 'em, lay out their plans, -and divide their scalping-parties to go to those -places they think most exposed. When they have -struck their blow, they go back with their scalps -and prisoners to have a great dance and jollification, -and get ready for another raid, and the -whites that are left flee into the older settlements, -and leave the country to them. They don't kere<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> -any thing 'bout the forts: they're a good ways -apart, and they can pass 'em night or day."</p> - -<p>"That's so," said Maccoy.</p> - -<p>"What they want is to have the Province raise -a force of men what know the woods, and have -had experience in fighting Indians,—not a blasted -red-coat among 'em,—and carry the war into the -Indian country up to their towns, clean 'em out, -kill their women and children, burn up their possessions -and forts now just as winter comes on: -that'll quail 'em to some purpose. I reckon," said -Ned, looking round him, "I've come to the right -place for that sort of men: think I've seen some -of 'em afore to-day, and when the bullets were flying -lively."</p> - -<p>"But," said Stewart, "an' we tak' the gait you -propose, what will hinder the scalping-parties you -speak of from falling upon our families while -we're awa'?"</p> - -<p>"You have a very strong fort here, have taught -the Indians some hard lessons, and, after this last -mauling, they won't be in a hurry to meddle with -you. You can leave enough to defend the fort, -and then spare quite a number. It's for you, not -for me, to judge whether by going on this <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span>expedition -you won't be taking the best method to break -the power of the Indians, and protect yourselves -for the time to come."</p> - -<p>Thus far the debate had been carried on chiefly -by McClure, Holdness, and Armstrong. Israel -Blanchard was not present; and the young men, -though eager for any thing that promised a fight -with Indians, were too modest to obtrude their -views; while Honeywood had not opened his mouth. -Noticing this, McClure said,—</p> - - -<p>"I should like to have Mr. Honeywood's mind -on this matter."</p> - -<p>"I," said Honeywood, "would inquire, in the -first place, who is to command this force it is proposed -to raise?"</p> - -<p>"Sure enough! We've been beating all about -the bush; and Ned, as he allers does, has hit the -nail right on the head," said Holdness.</p> - -<p>"Who is to command it? Kernel Armstrong," -replied Rangely.</p> - -<p>"I wat weel that makes an unco difference, sae -much that it becomes us to gie the matter special -consideration," said Stewart.</p> - -<p>"Indeed it makes a difference," said Holdness.</p> - -<p>"I know Kernel Armstrong right well. I've<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span> -fought with him, and fought under him: so has -Hugh Crawford who's dead and gone, and Harry's -father."</p> - -<p>"I think," said Honeywood, "there's much -truth in what Mr. Rangely has said,—that by -joining this expedition we take the best method to -defend ourselves, and break the Indian power. If -instead of building all these forts, and manning -them with soldiers half of whom will run at the -sight of an Indian, the same money had been -spent in getting together a force of frontier-men -led by a suitable person to do what is now on foot, -a great portion of this terrible slaughter and -destruction of property would have been saved. -One-half the money would have done it."</p> - -<p>"I'd 'a' taken the job for that," said McClure, -"and found the men."</p> - -<p>"One great reason why the Indians so much -dread the Black Rifle is, he pursues the same -course in respect to them that they do towards -the whites; and they can never be sure that he -is not lurking round their wigwams. A whole -British army wouldn't make the impression upon -them that he has. One thing's very certain: if -the Province is going to wait for the king and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span> -council to send an army over here, the chiefs of -the Six Nations won't be able to hold their young -men; but they will join the French, and drive us -to the coast. The garrison is now in excellent -condition: the harvest is secured; there is ammunition -and provision; and I think we might spare -some men, and leave enough to defend the fort."</p> - -<p>"We'll defend the fort," cried Sam Sumerford, -unable to contain himself: "the Screeching Catamounts'll -defend the fort; we've done it one -time."</p> - -<p>"Well crowed, my young cock of the walk," -said Rangely, patting him on the head: "you'll -be wanted."</p> - -<p>"I," continued Honeywood, "am ready to volunteer -on condition that the force is made up of -men that are used to the woods, and that they are -commanded by Col. Armstrong and such other -officers as he selects: if I get there, and find it -otherwise, I shall shoulder my rifle and come home -again."</p> - -<p>"I'll go," said Harry Sumerford.</p> - -<p>"I'll go," said Ned Armstrong.</p> - -<p>"And I," said Nat Cuthbert.</p> - -<p>"We'll all go," said Andrew McClure; "we'll<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span> -follow Harry: where he goes we'll go,—that is, if -the old folks think best."</p> - -<p>"I'll go," said Hugh Crawford, "if it's thought -best."</p> - -<p>By this time the news had spread. Israel -Blanchard, Wood, and Holt came in, and, after -hearing what had been said and done, approved -heartily of the proceedings.</p> - -<p>"Ain't you and McClure goin', Brad?" asked -Rangely.</p> - -<p>"We ain't often behind, Ned, when bullets are -flying; and sha'n't be now, I reckon."</p> - -<p>Holdness, perceiving by the looks of Harry -Sumerford that he had something he would like -to say, remarked,—</p> - -<p>"Harry, I see you've somewhat on your mind: -what is it?"</p> - -<p>"I think, Mr. Holdness, there are people here -whose judgment is worth a great deal more than -mine."</p> - -<p>"The more minds, the better: I want to hear -it," said Blanchard.</p> - -<p>"I've been thinking whether the Black Rifle -wouldn't go. There are always fifteen or twenty -men that'll follow him anywhere; and they are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span> -just the men we want. He offered to go with -Braddock, but the old goat wouldn't have him."</p> - -<p>"Don't think 'twould work," said Holdness. -"Kernel Armstrong's a man who knows his business, -and would kalkerlate ter be obeyed. The -Black Rifle's better kalkerlated ter lead than ter -foller anybody; and his men likewise had ruther -go with him, and nobody else. He kills Indians -for the sake of killin' 'em: peace or war, it's all -the same ter him. They go for the sake of the -scalps; and they know very well that they can -take more scalps going with him in one week, -than with a regular force in a month; and make -ten dollars where they wouldn't make one."</p> - -<p>"That's so," said McClure: "Brad's got the -right of it."</p> - -<p>"There's one thing though," said Holdness: -"I believe he thinks more of me than any -other being, and loves me as well as he can -love anybody since his great sorrow crushed his -heart, and tore him all ter pieces; and I've not -much doubt but if I go and see him, tell him -what's on foot, and that we want ter do all we kin -for the country, and have got to leave this fort -with a small garrison, that he would agree to camp<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span> -here in the Run; and look out for us; and, if he -agrees ter do it, he's just as true as steel. And -though I don't think there's much danger, yet, if -he would agree to camp round here, I for one -should go away easy; and 'twould be a great comfort -to the women-folks. Perhaps he'd let us have -some powder and lead: he allers has a stock."</p> - -<p>"Well, Ned," said McClure, "I s'pose you want -to have an answer; and you may tell Armstrong -that we'll furnish twelve or fifteen men, and be at -the place appointed at the time set; and you kin -tell him they'll be <i>men</i> too,—men that kin shoot -ter a hair's breadth, brought up ter fightin' Indians, -and won't tremble in their shoes at the -sound of the war-whoop."</p> - -<p>"I'll just tell him," said Rangely, "that Brad -Holdness and Sandie McClure are among them, -and they are a sample of the rest."</p> - -<p>"Tell him they know their worth; won't foller -any turkey-cock of a red-coat they may send -across the water; and after they get there, if they -find they've been deceived, they'll shoulder their -rifles and go back."</p> - -<p>"Ye'll please to remember that last observation, -Maister Rangely," said Stewart, "seeing it's o'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span> -muckle weight; for I opine that Black Douglas -himsel', with his two hundred claymore, and lance -like a weaver's beam, would hae been of sma' -account in the woods wi' savages."</p> - -<p>The next question to be decided was, who -should go and who remain. The young men all -wanted to go, of course, and were burning to -distinguish themselves before the Province, for -which as yet they had had no opportunity; but, -on the other hand, the older people were equally -anxious, and even more so. Both Stewart and -Israel Blanchard, who had heretofore remained at -home,—not, indeed, for the same reason as the -young men, seeing they had established their reputation -for conduct and courage, and outgrown -the enthusiasm of youth,—desired now to go, as -they saw in this movement (the choice of the -commander, and quality of men sought for) an -opportunity to strike an effectual blow at their -implacable foes, and to procure safety for themselves -in the future; and with most of them the -desire of revenge entered largely into the account.</p> - -<p>This explains the indifference and even contempt -with which the proposition of Rangely was -at first met by men still smarting under the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span>recollections -connected with Braddock's defeat; and -likewise the sudden change in their opinions, -when, in reply to Honeywood's question, Rangely -gave the name of a leader well known and trusted,—a -man who had grown up among the perils -of the frontier.</p> - -<p>"It seems to me, neighbors," said Israel Blanchard, -"that Mr. Holdness had better go and see -what he can do with the Black Rifle before we -attempt to pick out the men; because it will make -a vast difference in respect to who and how many -we are to leave in garrison, whether the Black -Rifle will agree to help us or not."</p> - -<p>The next morning Holdness and Rangely, -whose paths for some distance were the same, -started; one to return to his commanding officer, -the other to meet the Black Rifle.</p> - -<p>Holdness found that restless being busily engaged -making a canoe (from bark he had peeled -in the spring) for a fall hunt. He welcomed -Holdness with great cordiality; who, laying aside -his pack and rifle, instantly set at work helping -him (much to the gratification of the captain, as -it is quite inconvenient for one person to build a -birch alone), mentioning never a word about the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span> -business on which he came, and accepting the -invitation of his old comrade to spend the night. -While they were eating supper the Black Rifle -said,—</p> - -<p>"Brad, I'm right glad to see you, but I don't -believe you came here just to help me build this -birch: so, whatever your business is, out with it, -and we'll talk it over to-night afore the campfire."</p> - -<p>Holdness laid the whole matter before this veteran -leader, and asked what he thought of the -plan.</p> - -<p>"I think well of the thing: it's what should -have been done at the first. I see what you're -after: you want to put all the strength you've got -into this thing, 'cause you think it's a move in the -right direction, and the first one, too, after so long -a time; and you Wolf Run folks are just the -chaps who can do it. But you're consarned about -your families while you're gone; and that ties -your hands."</p> - -<p>"Just so, and that's all the difficulty."</p> - -<p>"Well now, Brad, you're come in a good time. -You see, it's kind of a slack time with me: we've -been on a rampage arter Indian scalps, and we've<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span> -got 'em too. Some of my men have been wounded, -though not very bad, and some have gone home -to get in their harvest; and when it gets a little -later, the wounded get well, and the rest ready, -we're goin' to start out on a fall and winter hunt -and scalping-scrape both; that is, we're goin' on -to the hunting-grounds of the Delawares, and of -course they'll object. So, you see, I'm building -this birch, and am going to fill snow-shoes, make -moccasons, and get ready; and have got to dress -some skins to make the moccasons of, and a good -deal to do. But I kin just as well do these things -at your place as here, and I will; and, just as fast -as any of 'em get through their work, they'll come. -I s'pose you've got room and provision enough in -the fort for 'em: you know I allers live outside. -I've got some iron; and your Mr. Honeywood can -mend my traps afore he goes, and mend some gunlocks -for me."</p> - -<p>"Sartainly, and bring all the wounded: our -women-folks'll take kere of 'em. Mrs. Sumerford -can't be beat for dressing a gun-shot wound."</p> - -<p>"Reckon I will. Most of 'em are wounded in -the legs or body: they kin shoot if they can't -march. Then I shall be outside; and, if the -Indians come, I kin soon muster the rest."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span></p> -<p>The next morning Holdness took leave of his -friend, and returned to tell the settlers that the -Black Rifle would be at the fort within two days, -and wanted four mules or horses to bring some -wounded men, and a spare mule and pack-saddle -to bring his traps and ammunition.</p> - -<p>Will Grant and Hugh Crawford started with -the beasts, and in due time returned, bringing -with them the wounded men.</p> - -<p>These men were of the same stamp as Holdness -and Ned Rangely; rude in speech, but honest, -honorable, simple-hearted as children, and kindly -disposed to all men except Indians.</p> - -<p>Two of them, John Lovell and Dennis Morton, -were wounded in the breast; Ridgway in the left -arm; Thomas Bracket and Robert Tysdale, the -former in the thigh, and the latter in the right -leg below the knee, and could walk with a cane: -either of them could shoot through a loop-hole, -and both were recovering rapidly.</p> - -<p>In the afternoon of the second day, the Black -Rifle came, and built his camp between the fort -and the river.</p> - -<p>It is perhaps needless to observe, that at the -arrival of the Black Rifle and his men, the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span>martial -spirit of the "Screeching Catamounts" arose -to fever-heat.</p> - -<p>Capt. Sam Sumerford forgot his pots and pitchers; -and the potter's wheel stood still. The tomahawks -and scalping-knives that had been devoted -to the peaceful purpose of cutting clay were -ground, rifles cleaned, and he went tearing through -the house, wanting his mother to spin him a bowstring, -sew the eagle's feathers into his cap, wash -his hunting-shirt, and do twenty things all at -once.</p> - -<p>"I declare, Sammy Sumerford's come back -again. I did hope I was done with knives, tomahawks, -and Indian fightin'."</p> - -<p>"I'm sure, mother, I don't know to please you. -You wanted the Indian war to be over, 'cause it -worried you to see me so full of fighting; and then -when the Indians held off a little, you was worried -about the water and the raft and the wild beasts. -Then I went to making pots, and it was first-rate -for a little while; but you soon began to worry -again, 'cause I was so still, and didn't seem nat'ral, -and tear round and yell. And now I'm nat'ral -again, you don't like that nuther."</p> - -<p>The ground of all this excitement was, that in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> -expectation of being called to defend the fort, and -on account of the arrival of the Black Rifle, Capt. -Sumerford was preparing to muster his men for -drill and ball-practice, that had been neglected of -late.</p> - -<p>Having set up a target, he was drilling his company -before the fort, Scip beating the drum, and -Cal Holdness playing the fife.</p> - -<p>A great part of the male portion of the settlers -were looking on, the women being too much occupied -in preparations for the departure of the former -to be present. The wounded men also were -seated among the rest, when the Black Rifle himself -came along, with his hands full of beaver-traps -for Honeywood to mend, and on his way to -the blacksmith's shop.</p> - -<p>You may be assured the "Screeching Catamounts" -did their best in such august presence; -and their hearts beat high.</p> - -<p>The Black Rifle and his men were loud in their -expressions of surprise and approbation. The -captain then drew up his men to fire at the target -two hundred yards distant.</p> - -<p>"I wouldn't have believed," said Capt. Jack, -"that these children, as you must needs call 'em,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span> -could shoot so. Why, the red-coats in the army, -and half the soldiers in the forts along the frontier, -can't begin with 'em."</p> - -<p>"We've burnt a good deal of powder, used a -good deal of lead, teaching them, and sometimes -when we didn't know how to spare it," said McClure.</p> - -<p>"Not a kernel of powder nor an ounce of lead -has been wasted: you may be sure of that."</p> - -<p>He was, if possible, more surprised when they -were exercised in throwing the tomahawk, shooting -with bow and arrow, and imitating the voices -of beasts and birds. There was scarcely any -thing they could not imitate, from the chirrup of -the cricket to the scream of an eagle, except the -grum notes of the bull-frog: their voices were -too shrill for that.</p> - -<p>"This," said the Black Rifle, "is the best of all,—even -beats the shooting with rifles: 'cause it -requires judgment that you wouldn't expect in so -young persons, to throw the tomahawk, or shoot -with a bow."</p> - -<p>"I never was in this clearing afore," said William -Blythe, one of the three men who came with -the captain; "but, if these are the children, what -must the men be like?"</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XXII.</span> <span class="smaller">CARRYING THE WAR INTO AFRICA.</span></h2> - -<p>The settlers now removed their families into -the fort preparatory to the departure of the -volunteers. The Black Rifle had sent them, by -Grant and Crawford, a large quantity of powder -and lead; and, on the night that the last family -moved into the fort, four more of the Black Rifle's -men came, having finished up their work.</p> - -<p>These men brought word that eight or ten more -would be along in a few days, and said that their -purpose was to get ready for their fall hunt, and -ambush the Indians who were going back and -forth between the Ohio and the older settlements; -making the fort their headquarters, and always -leaving men enough to defend it.</p> - -<p>Hearing this, the settlers resolved to march in -a body the next morning, young and old.</p> - -<p>Rogers, who had cut himself so badly with an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span> -axe that he could not engage in the last conflict -with the Indians, was now able to go. Mr. Seth, -however, objected to this. "Neighbors," said he, -"you all know I'm no fighting man, don't pretend -to be; and yet you're kind enough to say that I'm -of some benefit."</p> - -<p>"Benefit!" exclaimed Holdness, "there's no -man among us who's so great a benefit."</p> - -<p>"Well, then, I hope you'll be patient with me -when I say that I can't feel reconciled to have -Israel go. We've never been separated, and I've -always kind of leaned on him. I don't know -what I should do without him: I should neither -eat, sleep, nor take one moment's peace."</p> - -<p>"Then I won't go, brother, though I do want to -more'n ever I wanted to go anywhere in my life."</p> - -<p>"I think," said McClure, "that there ought to -be more'n one stay: there are the cattle and hogs -to see to, and many things that the rangers don't -know any thing about to be done, though I don't -suppose any of us cares to be the one to stay -behind."</p> - -<p>Every preparation being completed, the volunteers -set out the next morning for the rendezvous.</p> - -<p>After their departure the children were <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span>somewhat -restrained in their rambles, and Sammy experienced -a severe relapse of the pottery-fever. He -also found less difficulty in obtaining the help of -the others to work his clay: besides, the usefulness -of his work had been recognized by every one -in the Run; and, when the boys were unwilling to -assist, Israel Blanchard would let him have Scip, -who was worth more than all the others put together.</p> - -<p>Ike Proctor was the laziest, and least inclined -to help, of any of the boys. Sammy hired him -to turn the wheel half a day for some maple-sugar -and two bullets. Ike ate the sugar, pocketed the -bullets, worked about an hour, and then went off. -Sammy said nothing, and manifested no feeling in -regard to the affair; but, as soon as Ike left, went -to the river, obtained a little of the clay that -was strongly impregnated with iron, worked and -kneaded it, working in some red ochre to raise the -color still more, and made some clay doughnuts -precisely the shape of those his mother was accustomed -to make of dough, and baked them.</p> - -<p>After several days had passed, he told Ike if he -would help him half a day, and stick to it, when -the work was done he would give him a dozen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span> -doughnuts and four gun-flints, boughten ones; and -to this Proctor agreed.</p> - -<p>When the time was up, Sam gave him the flints, -and went to the fort for the doughnuts, that he -had given his mother a charge to keep hot in the -Dutch oven, and put a little lard on them. Sammy -took the clay doughnuts in a cloth, and when -warm and greasy they looked precisely like the -real ones: he took one flour doughnut in his -pocket. He spread them out on the table before -Ike, and clapped the one from his pocket into his -mouth, saying, "Eat 'em, Ike, while they're hot: -only see how hot they be."</p> - -<div class="center"><img src="images/i296.jpg" alt="The Doughnut Squabble" /></div> - -<p class="bold"><span class="smcap">The "Doughnut" Squabble.</span>—Page 297.</p> - -<p>"So they be," said Ike, taking one in his hand: -he attempted to bite it, burnt his tongue, and the -tears came into his eyes. He threw the hot brick -down in a great rage, and began throwing the -others at Sammy's head. The latter retreated to -the trough that was two-thirds full of soft clay -trodden only the day before, and returned the -attack with right good-will in a most generous -manner. He plastered Ike from head to foot, -filled his eyes, nose, and mouth full; and he was -glad to make his escape. The boys all said Sam -served him right, and they nicknamed him "<i>Doughnut</i>."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span></p> -<p>It was very seldom that there was ever any falling-out -among these frontier-boys, who were, in -general, a band of brothers, for the reason that -they had fighting enough outside, and the pressure -kept them together.</p> - -<p>Uncle Seth was now in the best of spirits, having -the society of his brother, in whose courage -and sagacity he placed implicit confidence, with -the Black Rifle and his men to protect them; and -he resolved to make Sammy a foot-wheel, and thus -render him independent of his mates and all -others as far as turning the wheel was concerned.</p> - -<p>Guarded by two of the rangers, he went into -the woods to find a tree that grew of the right -shape to make a crank. You may think it would -be impossible to find a tree trunk or limb that -would answer, as it must be a double crank with a -short turn, the sides not more than three inches -apart. He could have sawed it out of a plank, or -made it in pieces; but in the one case it would -have been cut directly across the grain, and in the -other would have been without much strength -and very clumsy. He wanted to find a tree the -grain of which grew in the right direction. No -wonder Mr. Seth declared,—when he thought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span> -Sammy's pottery-fever would not last long, and -wanted to get rid of his teasing,—that it was impossible -to make a crank without iron. But he -was now disposed to make the attempt; and you -know, if Uncle Seth undertakes to do any thing, -it will be done.</p> - -<p>The rangers who were with him expected to see -him looking up into the tops of the trees, among -the limbs; but instead of that they were astonished -to see him running about with his eyes fastened -on the butts of the trees, and never bestowing -a glance at the limbs.</p> - -<p>"You hunting after a bear's den, or a coon-hole?" -said Will Blythe.</p> - -<p>Mr. Seth made no reply, but stopped before -a sugar-tree about fifteen inches through, and -straight as a candle. From one side of this tree, -about two feet from the ground, protruded a great -whorl, not flattened on the top as they often are, -like a wart on the hand, but thimble-shaped.</p> - -<p>"That's the time of day," said he. Stripping -to the waist, he soon cut the tree down, and -junked it off,—twenty feet of it. This was hauled -to the fort, where the saw-pit was; and the brothers -cut the whole tree into three-inch plank, as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span> -they wanted part of it for another purpose. They -arranged their saw-kerfs in such a manner as to -bring the centre of the whorl in the plank of -which the spindle and crank were to be made. -This plank they cut to the length desired, and -then split it the other way, leaving a strip four -inches in width, and the whorl being on the outside -edge of it.</p> - -<p>In this whorl Mr. Seth cut the turn of his -crank; and it was strong because the principal -part of the grain grew in that direction, being -looped around the whorl; and in other portions it -crossed every way, twisted in and out, was clung, -and looked much like the grain of a nutmeg. -After roughing it out, he laid it up to season, in -order that he might smooth it up. Tysdale, who -chanced to pass just as he finished working on it, -said,—</p> - -<p>"If that ain't one way to make a crank!"</p> - -<p>"Isn't it a good way?"</p> - -<p>"Good way, sartain; but a man must be born -in the woods to think of that."</p> - -<p>"I was born in the woods, and have worked in -the woods most of the time since I was born."</p> - -<p>He now made a wheel three feet in diameter,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span> -with rim and hub and but four spokes, finished up -his crank, put the wheel on the bottom of it, and -attached a treadle to the crank, so that it could be -turned with the foot, and placed in the bench. -On the upper end of the crank, he cut a screw-thread; -and got out, from the same plank that -furnished the crank, three circles of different sizes, -on which large or small pots might be made, and -cut a screw-thread in the centre of each one, so -that they could be put on or taken from the crank -easily. This was not all. He was no mean blacksmith. -He found, among the guns last taken from -the Indians, one of which the barrel was good for -nothing; and, going into the blacksmith-shop, he -made a gudgeon for the lower end of the crank, -and an iron socket for it to run in. He also -bushed the hole in the bench, where the crank-spindle -passed through, with horn, which made it -run much more easily.</p> - -<p>Thus Sammy had a potter's wheel at last, which -he could use alone, and on which he could turn -pots of the largest size.</p> - -<p>Was he not a happy boy! and didn't he hug, -praise, and thank Uncle Seth!</p> - -<p>He had, in his practice, accumulated a large<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span> -number of little pots at the Cuthbert house. -They were too small to be of much use; and he -was by no means satisfied with the workmanship, -as he found he could do much better work with -his wheel: so he flung them all into the trough, -put water on them, and made them into dough -again; this being one advantage a potter has over -other mechanics,—if he makes a blunder, he has -not destroyed his material, but can work it over.</p> - -<p>Sammy now, instead of making a great number -of vessels, endeavored to improve the quality of -his wares, and turned milk-pans on this wheel -with the greatest ease. It also required much -time to bake them; for, though he had enlarged -his kiln, it was still quite small; and he began to -think about trying to make brick, and building -such a one as he had heard Mr. Seth say the -potters had. Thus one invention, like one sin, -necessitates another. Finding, however, that he -had already supplied the settlement with pots and -pans sufficient to last them a long time, he concluded -to defer that enterprise for the present.</p> - -<p>Children have little idea of the anxieties of -their parents; and while they had not the least -doubt but Col. Armstrong and his men would lick<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span> -all the Indians on the Ohio (for three hundred -men seemed an immense force to them, enough to -overcome any number of Indians), their parents -knew the object would not be attained without -loss; and none knew but they might be called to -mourn the loss of friends.</p> - -<p>Two of the rangers went to McDowell's mill, -and learned that the force had left the beaver-dams, -which place was well on their way, and that -the matter must be decided one way or the other -very soon.</p> - -<p>A few days after, they went again, and brought -word that there was no doubt but Col. Armstrong -had surprised the Indian town, killed a good many -of them, and burnt up their log houses. There -was a flying report that Col. Armstrong was -killed, Lieut. Hogg and several men killed, and -some wounded, but that the loss had not been -severe.</p> - -<p>After a week of agonizing suspense, the settlers -were roused at midnight by the report of a rifle, -and, turning out in expectation of an attack, found -the whole party, with the exception of Honeywood, -at the gate; not a man among them hurt, -though several had bullets shot through their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span> -clothes, and McClure's rifle had been struck and -chipped by a ball. Never had the Wolf Run settlers -come out of an Indian fight before, without -more serious consequences. They informed those -at home that they found the Indians in log houses -that were loop-holed and well prepared for defence. -In these houses they had stored a great -quantity of powder, enough, as the Indians boasted, -to last them ten years, that had been given -them by the French; and they were then preparing -to attack Fort Shirley, aided by French officers -and soldiers.</p> - -<p>Capt. Jacobs, the great war-chief of the Indians, -was killed; and many of them, refusing quarter, -were burned and blown up in their houses.</p> - -<p>"When did you see my husband last? and how -came you to be separated from him?" said Mrs. -Honeywood.</p> - -<p>"When we came within a few miles of the Indian -town," said Holdness, "he and Rangely were -sent out to scout, and discovered three Indians -round a fire. Col. Armstrong didn't want to molest -these Indians, for fear of alarming the town: -so he ordered Lieut. Hogg with twelve men, -among whom was your husband and Rangely, to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span> -keep watch of 'em while he went forward to the -town with the main body, with orders to fall upon -these Indians at daybreak, at which time he would -attack the Indian village. The lieutenant obeyed -orders, killed three of them at the first fire, when -it turned out that instead of three there were -twenty-four, the rest lying in the woods."</p> - -<p>"What were those Indians about there?" said -Blanchard.</p> - -<p>"They were an advance party, on their way to -Fort Shirley. They killed Rangely and three -more, mortally wounded the lieutenant, and forced -the rest to retreat."</p> - -<p>"How did you know this?"</p> - -<p>"We got it from a party who separated from -the rest after the action, and found the lieutenant -lying wounded on the ground alone, and the -bodies of those who had been killed lying around -him. Your husband was not among the killed; -no one knew any thing about him; and we reckoned -he had retreated with the others, and we -should find him at the beaver-dams, or on the -road; and, not finding him at either place, made -up our minds, that, having found out the Indians -were licked, he had taken the shortest cut through<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span> -the woods for the Run; and 'spected ter find him -here afore us."</p> - -<p>This force having been raised for the sole purpose -of capturing the Indian village, their obligations -ended with the accomplishment of that -object. At first they had no serious anxiety in -respect to Honeywood. Holdness and McClure -knew that his body had not been found, though -the woods had been thoroughly searched. They -did not believe that when the Indians must have -known by the firing, that their village was attacked -by a strong force, they would encumber -themselves with a prisoner, but, if they had taken -him, would have killed and scalped him. But -when day after day passed away, and they heard -that other stragglers had returned, and Honeywood -came not, the alarm was universal; and -they knew that he was a captive to the Indians.</p> - -<p>It was then manifest how much Honeywood -was beloved and respected. Every man was willing -to encounter any danger to rescue him; and -even the children could find no heart to play, and -burst into tears when they found he was a captive.</p> - -<p>The Black Rifle and three of his men went in -one direction; Harry Sumerford, Ned Armstrong,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span> -and Cal Holdness, in another; and Israel Blanchard, -McClure, and Holdness, in still another,—in -order to lurk around the Indian villages and -camping-places, to find where he was held captive, -that they might attempt either rescue or ransom.</p> - -<p>But all their efforts were fruitless: because, as -was afterwards known, the party who had captured -Honey wood, finding their town attacked by -so large a force, fled with their prisoner across the -Alleghany and into the territories of the Six -Nations, where only, after the first alarm created -by Armstrong's attack, they could feel secure.</p> - -<p>It was a gloomy period at the Run, when one -party after another would come in without tidings.</p> - -<p>"If," said Mrs. Sumerford, "the Almighty ever -did hear prayer for any thing or any body, and I -know he has and does, he will for this good man: -he'll never let those savages torture their best -friend."</p> - -<p>"He permitted the Jews to torture the Saviour, -their best friend," replied Mrs. Honeywood. "We -have no right to say what God in his wisdom will -or will not permit; but, if the Indians tie him to -the stake, I believe he will enable him to bear it, -and will support me likewise."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span></p> -<p>"The church," said Mrs. Sumerford, "prayed -for Peter, and the Lord sent his angel: perhaps -he will hear our prayers for him."</p> - -<p>These good women then resolved they would -meet every afternoon in the schoolhouse, and pray.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XXIII.</span> <span class="smaller">THE QUAKER'S APPEAL TO THE DELAWARES.</span></h2> - -<p>Honeywood and Rangely, maintaining -their ground while their comrades retreated, -were thus left alone; and, being surrounded -by savages, Rangely was killed, and Honeywood, -wounded severely in the breast, was taken prisoner.</p> - -<p>The Delawares knew Honeywood well: among -them were some of those who were present when -he shot the savage who held Sam Sumerford in -his arms, without hurting the boy. They immediately -painted his face black, thus signifying that -he was to be reserved for torture. Greatly elated -with their prize, they treated him with the utmost -kindness, and carried him the greater part of the -way to a Delaware camping-ground on a litter. -Upon arriving at their place of destination, they -exerted all their skill to heal his wounds, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span> -restore his strength, in order that he might be -able longer to endure the tortures they intended -to inflict upon so brave a man and dreaded enemy.</p> - -<p>The victim was too well acquainted with Indian -customs and character to be ignorant of the -designs of his captors; but hope lingers long in -the human breast, and he was not without some -slight expectation that his friend Wasaweela might -be able to help him. He was not aware that the -generous Mohawk had fallen (soon after he gave -the warning to the settlers at the Run) in a battle -with the southern Indians who had trespassed -upon the hunting-grounds of the Six Nations.</p> - -<p>Among the savages who captured Honeywood, -was one who had often been to the shop of Clavell -in Baltimore, of whom the captive had learned -his trade; and he had several times repaired the -rifle and traps of this savage free of charge, and -invited him to spread his blanket on the hearth. -On the march this savage showed much kindness -to his former benefactor, often gave him food from -his own store that was scanty, and would probably -have aided him to escape if he could; but the -day before they reached their place of destination, -a Delaware encampment in the territory of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span> -Six Nations, he told Honeywood, evidently with -sorrow, that his people would burn him, because -he had struck them very hard, and killed many of -their young men, and was a great brave. He -then exhorted him to be strong, and to let it be -known, by the courage with which he endured the -torture, that he was a great warrior.</p> - -<p>Thrown upon the world in childhood, the mind -of Honeywood was of the firmest texture, and he -had often been called to face death. But he was -in the prime of early manhood, a loving, kind-hearted man; -and it was bitter to die under such -horrible tortures as savage ingenuity alone could -devise. He thought of his home, the acres he had -toiled so hard to win and defend; his wife and -little ones; his neighbors, young men and children, -respecting whose improvement, both mental -and moral, he had cherished so many hopes, and -devised so many plans to be carried into effect -when the Indian war should end, of which there -was now a probability.</p> - -<p>Honeywood was not only a man of iron nerve -and unflinching courage, but he was a good man: -he lived in constant intercourse with God. In his -boyhood, while one of the household of Henry<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span> -Clavell, he had been deeply interested in religious -truths.</p> - -<p>The instructions of Mrs. Raymond, a Quakeress, -and the housekeeper of his master, had fallen -upon willing ears and a tender conscience; and -the great sorrow of his youth, the death of his -benefactor, had completed the work; and from -his Father in heaven he sought for strength to -die, not with the sullen stoicism of the red man, -but with the faith and resignation of a Christian.</p> - -<p>His wounds were now healed, and his strength -restored; his captors, having treated his injuries -with great skill, fed him upon the best of provisions, -game being plenty, and treated him with all -the kindness consistent with safe-keeping. The -war-parties sent out in different directions had -come in, as also the fugitives who had escaped -from Armstrong at Kittanning.</p> - -<p>One of those parties brought with them two -white captives,—one a Scotchman by the name of -McAlpine, and the other a German, Luke Bogardus,—and -a great number of scalps.</p> - -<p>These scalping-parties were received by the Indians -with great rejoicings. They instantly made -a feast, had an Indian scalp-dance, and resolved<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span> -to put Honeywood and the other captives to the -torture, as an offering to appease the spirits -of their warriors who had been slain at Kittanning, -and more especially of the great number -that had fallen by the hands of the settlers at -Wolf Run. Upon Honeywood, therefore, these -demons in human form resolved to inflict the most -horrible torments, made familiar by long practice -and taught by the traditions of their savage ancestors. -Could they but make him cry like a woman, -their hearts would thrill with joy. With this end -in view they had healed his wounds, and done -all in their power to restore him to health and -strength; and now the hour of vengeance had -come. The prisoners were now brought out, and -fastened to small trees by hide ropes of such a -length as to permit them to run round the trees -when the flames began to scorch them, and by -their convulsive motions afford amusement to -their tormentors. The squaws and children were -building fires at a little distance, at which to heat -gun-barrels and ramrods to be thrust into the -bodies of the prisoners after they had been -partially roasted by the fire built around them. -Others were splitting up little slivers of pitch-wood<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span> -to be run into their flesh, and set on fire; some -were filling the quills of turkeys with powder, to -be used in a similar way, and then touched with -fire.</p> - -<p>While these fearful preparations were going -on, Isetaune, the friendly savage referred to, unwilling -to witness the suffering of one who had -bestowed favors upon him, retired to the forest, -where he was suddenly confronted by Ephraim -Cuthbert, accompanied by Mrs. Raymond, who -were instantly recognized by the Indian. Cuthbert, -to whom the Delaware language was as -familiar as his mother tongue, communicated to -the astonished Isetaune his errand, who, whatever -he might have felt, betrayed no emotion, but -turned back with these unexpected guests.</p> - -<p>An old squaw was approaching McAlpine with -a birch dish full of splinters of pitch-wood; and -boys were following her with fire-brands to light -them. An Indian had just drawn a red-hot gun-barrel -from the fire, with which to torment Bogardus.</p> - -<p>When Ephraim and his companions appeared, -their Quaker dress, and mild, passionless features, -in strange contrast with the grim forms of those<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span> -naked and infuriated demons, the astonished savages -dropped their instruments of torture; and, -recognizing the well-known garb, ever associated -in their minds with justice and brotherly love, -appreciated at its full value the confidence which -had impelled these wayfarers, unarmed and unannounced, -to trust themselves to the red man in -his haunts; and they hastened to show that it -was not misplaced.</p> - -<p>A number of the more elderly Indians and -principal warriors were seated in a position where -they could command the best view both of the -captives and their tormentors; and, riding up -directly in front of them, Ephraim and his companion -halted.</p> - -<p>Honeywood in a moment recognized the persons -of Cuthbert and Mrs. Raymond, though they -passed along without even glancing at him. The -color came to his cheek, his eyes moistened, and -he looked up in gratitude to heaven, though he -might well doubt the success of the mission upon -which he knew his friends had come.</p> - -<p>Amid a silence so profound that the crackling -of the fires kindled to heat the instruments of -torture were distinctly heard, an aged Delaware<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span> -came forward, and, extending his hand to Cuthbert, -greeted him thus:—</p> - -<p>"My brother and the woman are welcome. Is -he hungry? we will feed him. Is he tired? we -will take him to our fire, and spread for him a -blanket. Has he lost his way? we will put him in -the right path. Is he not our brother? Conadose -has said."</p> - -<p>A low murmur of assent succeeded; and, after -it had subsided, Cuthbert said,—</p> - -<p>"Brother, thy people have taken a young man -from the Juniata. He is a just and brave man. -In time of peace, he has been very kind to the -Delawares, as Isetaune will tell you; and in war -has only defended his lodge, and has never taken -a scalp. He is very dear to the woman who is -with me; and she has asked me to bring her on -this long journey, that she might look in the eyes -of her brothers, and ask them to give her this -man, who is as a son."</p> - -<p>"Brother, we believe as you have told us, that -this is a just and brave man; but he has struck -our people very hard, and will, if we let him live, -strike many more of them. The bones of our -young men are scattered in the woods; the wolves<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span> -are gnawing them; and their spirits will complain -if he should live: they cry to us from the ground -for his blood. Brother, forget that you have -asked us for that we could not grant. This man -must die."</p> - -<p>"It is well. Will my brothers allow the woman -to speak to them?"</p> - -<p>After a brief consultation, the request was -granted.</p> - -<p>Praying to God for aid in this apparently hopeless -effort to pluck the prey from the very jaws of -the wolf, Mrs. Raymond ventured to speak, Cuthbert -interpreting. Not a word she uttered was -lost by Honeywood, whose life depended upon her -success.</p> - -<p>"Brothers, I have lived many years: you see -my hair is white; and I have had many sorrows. -My grandfather was one of the men of peace, who -came over the sea with William Penn, and stood -beside him when he met your fathers at Shackamaxon.</p> - -<p>"When a little child, I have sat upon his knees, -and heard him tell what William Penn said to the -Delawares,—that he considered them one flesh -and blood with his people, and as though one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span> -man's body was divided in two parts; and the -Delawares said that they would live in love and -friendship with William Penn and his children as -long as the sun and moon endured."</p> - -<p>During her address, every trace of ferocity vanished -from the features of the Indians, and was -replaced by an expression of curious interest and -respect.</p> - -<p>She paused a moment to collect her thoughts, -when the chief said,—</p> - -<p>"Brother, let the woman speak on. The ears -of the Delawares are open; and they desire to -wipe the tears from her eyes."</p> - -<p>Thus encouraged, she said, while her voice -trembled with emotion,—</p> - -<p>"Brothers, I am told that it is a custom of the -Delawares, handed down from their fathers, that -when a captive is taken, any who have lost relatives -may take him for their own in the place of -those they have lost. We are one flesh and blood: -William Penn and your fathers made us one; my -father and your fathers joined hands in covenant -before this sun; and before this sun I claim this -right of my brothers.</p> - -<p>"I have had children; but it has pleased the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span> -Great Spirit to take them. I do not complain: -whatever he doeth is just. I wish to take this man -to fill the place in my heart left empty by those I -have lost. I ask it of my brothers, because we -are one, like two parts of the same body; and I -claim the ancient privilege that has always been -granted by your old men. Should not a Delaware -be just?</p> - -<p>"My brother has said the spirits of the slain will -be angry if the captive is let go; but will not the -spirits of the just and brave who have gone to the -happy hunting-grounds grieve and be angry if -their children do not remember the covenant their -fathers made at Shackamaxon? It is truly a -great thing I have asked of the Delawares; but is -any thing too good for a friend? Does the red -man give to his friend that which he values not, -and set before him that he would not eat himself?"</p> - -<p>Mrs. Raymond did not conclude, but stopped, -utterly exhausted by her efforts, and the emotions -excited by the fearful scene before her.</p> - -<p>The Indian councillors were evidently much -perplexed. No such question had ever come -before them. On one side was the desire of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span> -revenge, so dear to a savage; on the other, the -veneration amounting to idolatry, that all red men, -and especially the Delawares, cherished for the -character of William Penn (for it was with the -Delawares that he made the covenant), and also -that sense of justice so strong in the Indian mind.</p> - -<p>The affectionate and almost childish confidence -with which Cuthbert and his companion had come -to them was peculiarly adapted to touch the -hearts of these untutored children of the forest.</p> - -<p>The older Indians went a little apart from the -rest; and hope revived in the heart of Honeywood -when he perceived them call Isetaune to -their councils.</p> - -<p>After a short time spent in deliberation, an -Indian, much more advanced in years than the -first speaker, arose, and said to Cuthbert,—</p> - -<p>"Brother, open your ears. We have listened to -the words of the woman: they are good words; -such words as were never spoken to the Delawares -before, or our old men would have heard and told -us of them. We have considered them well, and -we think the Great Spirit has sent the woman to -speak these good words in our ears.</p> - -<p>"For no reason that the pale-faces could have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span> -offered us, would we let this man go. If all the -governors of the thirteen fires had come to demand -this captive, we would have burnt him before -their eyes. But the woman and yourself belong -to William Penn; you are one with us; and the -woman asks that we do by her as we do by our -own: therefore we give her this man, because we -love to give large gifts to our friends, and because -it is just.</p> - -<p>"Brother, listen! I have lived many moons; -many snows have fallen on my head; and I -remember the good days when the children of -William Penn were many, when they bore rule -at the council-fire, and those bad men who now -have most to say were of small account, and when -the red man, treated justly, was happy; and, -because you are few, our lands are taken without -paying for them, and our blood is shed. We do -not love you the less because the power has gone -from you: therefore we give the life of this man -(whom the pale-faces could not buy) to you, and -the spirit of the great and good Penn.</p> - -<p>"Brother, you have come to us when our hearts -are sore and our minds disturbed, for which we -are sorry. We shall burn these two bad men.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span> -You would not wish to hear their cries, therefore -we cannot ask you to spread your blanket at our -fire; but some of our young men will build you a -wigwam in the woods, and, when you are rested, -will guide you to the white man's fort by a shorter -path than the one by which you came. I have -said."</p> - -<p>Cuthbert now presented his thanks, and also -those of Mrs. Raymond, to his brothers the Delawares; -and Isetaune, loosing Honeywood from the -stake, brought him to Mrs. Raymond.</p> - -<p>Savage ferocity, so long repressed, now broke -forth: fires were rekindled, and yells of vengeance -rent the air. Cuthbert would gladly have interceded -for the two other miserable victims, but he -knew it would be of no avail; and but a moment -was given him to think of it, for with Honeywood -and Mrs. Raymond he was hurried off to the -woods by Isetaune and several others, who hastily -constructed a shelter of boughs, provided them -with food, and then hurried back to take part in -the terrible tortures about to be inflicted upon -McAlpine and Bogardus.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XXIV.</span> <span class="smaller">THE RETURN OF THE CAPTIVE.</span></h2> - -<p>When the Indians had departed, Honeywood -said to Mrs. Raymond,—</p> - -<p>"Mother, when a boy under your care, you -were the means of saving my soul; and this day -you and Friend Cuthbert have saved my life."</p> - -<p>He then begged to know in what way Cuthbert -was informed of his capture, and more especially -of the place to which the Indians had carried him, -as it was in the limits of the Six Nations, who -had taken no part in the war.</p> - -<p>Ephraim replied that the governor of Pennsylvania, -through Sir William Johnson, governor of -New York, who had great influence with the Six -Nations, had endeavored to prevail upon them to -command the Delawares to stop their inroads, and -to make peace with the English; and for that -purpose had sent a delegation to them, among<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span> -whom were several Quakers of his acquaintance.</p> - -<p>He then went on to say that the friendship -between the Indians and the Quakers had not -been interrupted in the least by the war, with -which (as the Indians well knew) they had no -concern except to endeavor to prevent it.</p> - -<p>After visiting the Six Nations, those Quakers, -knowing the deep impression made upon the -minds of the Delawares by the attack of Armstrong -and the capture of Kittanning, resolved to -visit the Delaware king Teedyuscung; and thus -learned of the capture of Honeywood, and where -he was, and that the Delawares were determined -to burn him, and would take no ransom, for he -was one of the Wolf Run settlers, who were the -worst enemies they had.</p> - -<p>"I then," said Ephraim, "resolved with the -help of God to rescue thee, seeing it was my duty, -and not forgetful of thy great kindness to me -when I was thy neighbor at the Run."</p> - -<p>"You took a most singular way: if you had -sent word to the Run, the people there would -have rescued me by force of arms."</p> - -<p>"They might, and they might not: they would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</a></span> -have killed many Indians in doing it, of which -thou knowest we do not approve. I took the way -of peace and righteousness, and thou seest it has -succeeded. I know the Indians loved my people, -and the memory of William Penn, though he has -been so long in his grave. Friend Honeywood, -'love is stronger than death: many waters cannot -quench love, neither can floods drown it.' Thou -knowest we believe there is an inward light in -every person born into the world; and there is in -these poor savages (who are now torturing their -prisoners, and would have tortured thee), but it -has been obscured by ages of ignorance and -superstition: yet they would take the food from -their mouths to put into mine, or any true follower -of William Penn.</p> - -<p>"Thou knowest how long a journey thy mother -and myself have come to find thee; and nearly -every day we met larger or smaller bands of Delawares, -Shawanees, Monseys, and Wyandottes in -their war-paint, going after the scalps of white -men, to kill the mother and the babe on her -bosom; but they called me brother, offered me -food, directed me in the best paths, and to places -where I could find grass and water; and often -went many miles out of their way to do this."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span></p> -<p>Honeywood made no reply. He could not accept -the Quaker doctrine of non-resistance, though in -other respects sympathizing with and entertaining -the greatest affection and respect for them and -their principles. While the light of the torture-fires -could be discerned in the distance, and the -Indian yells faintly heard, they knelt in prayer, -and then retired to rest.</p> - -<p>Cuthbert and his companions would gladly have -started at the first glimpse of day; but this would -not have been agreeable to Indian customs, that -required a more formal leave-taking and an escort -as a mark of respect.</p> - -<p>Those singularly discordant traits that go to -make up Indian character appeared in a striking -light the next morning when they were taken back -to the encampment. Here they were received -with the greatest kindness. A lodge was placed -at their disposal; and they found a bountiful breakfast -already prepared. The grim colors of the war-paint -had disappeared from the persons of the -warriors, who had resumed the grave dignity and -cold demeanor of an Indian when in repose. The -squaws, who the day before were foaming at the -mouth with malignant spite, and longing to engage<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</a></span> -in the work of torture, were quietly pursuing -their household duties; and the children at play.</p> - -<p>Some terrible reminders of what had taken -place remained,—the half-burned trees to which -the captives had been fastened, and the still smoking -embers. Indian dogs were gnawing and dragging -about the half-burned bones of the dead, -snarling at each other, and fighting for favorite -morsels.</p> - -<p>Honeywood turned sick at heart as he looked -upon the stake to which he had been fastened, the -wood collected to burn him, and the mangled remains -of his fellow-captives, whose fate he had so -narrowly escaped.</p> - -<p>Cuthbert now expressed his desire to depart, -and they proceeded to take leave of him.</p> - -<p>"Brother," said the Indian who had welcomed -him, "listen. You came to us when our minds -were chafed, and the spirits of our dead were calling -upon us to revenge their blood. We have -now given them satisfaction: they will no longer -complain, but will rest in their graves. We have -wiped the tears from your eyes, picked the thorns -from your legs; you have eaten of our food, spread -your blankets with us; and, as you are about to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</a></span> -leave us, we wish you a good journey, and are -glad that you have come and brightened the chain -of friendship. Our young men will go with you, -that you may not lose your way and come to harm. -Brother, farewell."</p> - -<p>Indians never do any thing at the halves. -Honeywood's rifle, pack, and every article, even to -the bullets in his pouch, and the powder in his -horn, were restored; and he was presented with -new moccasons and leggings.</p> - -<p>Isetaune and six Delawares conducted them -to within four miles of Fort Shirley, where the -Indians took leave of them, Cuthbert and Mrs. -Raymond going to the fort, and Honeywood -towards the Run at a speed that corresponded to -the emotions swelling in the breast of the husband -and father.</p> - -<p>Expecting to find the settlers in garrison, he -went directly to the fort. Passing through the -Cuthbert pasture, he encountered Fan with three -of her pups following the trail of a pack of wolves -for their own amusement. With the wildest expression -of joy, she leaped upon her master, the -pups doing the same, all striving to be the first to -lick his face: they fairly bore him to the ground,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</a></span> -each one, as he accomplished his purpose, running -in a circle around him.</p> - -<p>"That's a warm welcome, old friend," patting -the head of Fan, as, having finished her gambol, -she stood looking in his face, and wagging her -tail, as though she wanted to speak.</p> - -<p>As he approached, he found the gates of the -stockade and the fort open; and there was no -sentry to be seen on the platform.</p> - -<p>"The Black Rifle must be here still," he said to -himself; "or they would never leave the gates -open, and let down their watch."</p> - -<p>The door of the mill was open; and he looked in, -but saw no one, for Mr. Seth was in the top of the -building, greasing the bearings of the machinery.</p> - -<p>He was hurrying to the block-house, when he -heard the voice of his wife in the schoolhouse; -and entering found her, Mrs. Sumerford, Mrs. -Holdness, Lucy Mugford, and several of the older -girls, at prayer. Prayer was now turned to praise; -and the girls ran to the block-house to spread the -glad tidings.</p> - -<p>"The Lord has sent his angel, and delivered -Peter; praised be his name!" shouted Mrs. Sumerford. -"Oh the dear good man!" and she fairly -embraced him.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</a></span></p> -<p>"The Lord sent two angels, Mrs. Sumerford; -and they were Ephraim Cuthbert and Mrs. Raymond.—Where -are the children, wife?"</p> - -<p>"Here they are, coming with their grandmother -and all the rest."</p> - -<p>The next moment all the female portion of the -community, and Mr. Seth, were assembled in the -schoolhouse; and, after Honeywood had embraced -and kissed his children, Mr. Seth said,—</p> - -<p>"Neighbors, we have been in this place more or -less for weeks, praying in behalf of Mr. Honeywood; -and those who were on the scout knelt -down in the wood to put up the same petition, -and the sentry knelt at midnight on the platform; -and it does not become us now in the hour of our -deliverance to forget the Author of all our mercies. -I want Mr. Honeywood to read the hundred and -sixteenth Psalm, and pray; and we'll all praise -together."</p> - -<p>The dogs were put out, and all seated themselves -for worship; but scarcely had Honeywood -taken the book in his hand, than the old mother -dog leaped in at the window, followed by the -rest.</p> - -<p>"Let them stay. I cannot bear to shut out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</a></span> -Fan. She was the first to welcome me. The -Lord made them as well as us."</p> - -<p>At his command they all lay down around him, -and remained perfectly quiet during the worship; -Fan only lifting her head once in a while to -look her master in the face, and make sure of his -presence.</p> - -<p>The happy company retired to the block-house, -when Honeywood inquired what had become of -the men-folks and children.</p> - -<p>"The young men," said Uncle Seth, "have gone -with the Black Rifle and four of his band, to -Loyal Hannah, where they have heard there is a -Delaware camp, to lurk round to see if you are -there. Some are on the scout. The rest are gone -to Mr. Holdness's lot to junk and pile logs on a -burn, and all the boys are with 'em; and Joan -Holdness's gone to let 'em know you've come."</p> - -<p>Before Honeywood had finished eating, the boys -rushed in, having run all the way; and, not long -after, Holdness, McClure, Grant, Stewart, and -Israel Blanchard came in.</p> - -<p>Honeywood then gave his friends a minute -account of all that had happened to him. When -he finished, McClure said,—</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</a></span></p> -<p>"It was not the memory of William Penn, nor -what Mrs. Raymond said, that turned the Indian -from his purpose when the captive was tied to the -stake, and the fire lighted: 'twas Him who stopped -the mouth of the lions. They couldn't work their -will, couldn't do the thing they wanted to."</p> - -<p>"Sinner that I am," said Holdness, "I have -never yet had the grace to seek pardon of my -Maker for my many transgressions, much more of -man; but, if I ever meet Ephraim Cuthbert agin, -I'll ask his forgiveness for insulting him, and -knocking his hat from his head, and giving him -hard words, because he would neither fight himself, -nor pay others for doing it; and you all know -Ned Honeywood had ter step between us, or I -might have done worse. Quaker or no Quaker, -he's a brave, noble-hearted, Christian man."</p> - -<p>"No wonder we couldn't find him," said Israel -Blanchard: "nobody ever dreamed that they -would carry him into the hunting-grounds of the -Six Nations."</p> - -<p>"It would seem," said Honeywood, "that, -though the Six Nations take no open part in the -war, they have no objection to see it go on. Many -of the Delawares have left their old men, women,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</a></span> -and children, among the Six Nations, while the -warriors went to war; and it was to one of these -places, that, after Kittanning was taken, they carried -me."</p> - -<p>"To be sure, they are willing it should go on, -in order that they may be called in to make the -Delawares and all the rest behave, and have rich -presents for their trouble; and that is what the -governor is trying to bring about now. Better -give 'em a few more bullets, and a little more of -Armstrong," said McClure.</p> - -<p>"There is no doubt," said Holdness, "that the -Six Nations rule the Delawares and all the rest -with a rod of iron; and, if they order the Delawares -to bury the hatchet, they'll have to do it. -But it seems to me that a government cuts a very -mean figure when it goes a-begging to one portion -of these savages, gits down on its knees to -them, and hires them to make peace with another -portion. Rather than do that, I would be willing -to set out to-morrow on another expedition into -their country. A few more such raids would -bring them to beg for peace, instead of their being -hired and coaxed to agree to it."</p> - -<p>"There's a great deal of wholesome truth in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</a></span> -what the Quakers said," replied Honeywood. -"They told the government that the Indian -troubles were generally settled in this way. The -Indians were abused and exasperated till they -dug up the hatchet; and when the affair had gone -on till great numbers of the inhabitants were -killed, and a few of the savages, the frontiers -depopulated, and the whole country filled with -terror, then presents were made to the Indians, -a council held, and peace confirmed. The Quakers, -therefore, thought it would be better to make -the presents first, and dispense with all the butchery -and devastation."</p> - -<p class="space-above">The concluding volume of this series—entitled, -<span class="smcap">Burying the Hatchet; or, The Young -Brave of the Delawares</span>—will clear up the -mystery connected with the disappearance of that -reckless and mischievous urchin, Tony Stewart, -and manifest the effect of peaceful relations and -pursuits upon the rude and reckless spirits who -composed the majority of the settlers of Wolf -Run. Hitherto they have been presented to us -struggling for bare existence, in circumstances of -mortal peril, calculated to develop the sterner<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</a></span> -passions of human nature. We trust they will -manifest qualities of mind and heart equally -striking and admirable when laying aside the -weapons of war, to engage in enterprises of culture -and progress.</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Forest Glen, by Elijah Kellogg - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOREST GLEN *** - -***** This file should be named 63160-h.htm or 63160-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/1/6/63160/ - -Produced by David Edwards, Martin Pettit and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions 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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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 www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: Forest Glen - or The Mohawk's Friendship - -Author: Elijah Kellogg - -Release Date: September 9, 2020 [EBook #63160] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOREST GLEN *** - - - - -Produced by David Edwards, Martin Pettit and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - * * * * * - -BOOKS BY SAME AUTHOR. - - -ELM ISLAND STORIES. - -Per Vol., $1.25. - -_LION BEN OF ELM ISLAND._ -_CHARLIE BELL, THE WAIF OF ELM ISLAND._ -_THE ARK OF ELM ISLAND._ -_THE BOY-FARMERS OF ELM ISLAND._ -_THE YOUNG SHIP-BUILDERS OF ELM ISLAND._ -_THE HARD-SCRABBLE OF ELM ISLAND._ - - -PLEASANT COVE SERIES. - -Per Vol., $1.25. - -_ARTHUR BROWN, THE YOUNG CAPTAIN._ -_THE YOUNG DELIVERERS OF PLEASANT COVE._ -_THE CRUISE OF THE CASCO._ -_THE CHILD OF THE ISLAND GLEN._ -_JOHN GODSOE'S LEGACY._ -_THE FISHER BOYS OF PLEASANT COVE._ - - -THE WHISPERING PINE SERIES. - -Per Vol., $1.25. - -_THE SPARK OF GENIUS._ -_THE SOPHOMORES OF RADCLIFFE._ -_THE WHISPERING PINE._ -_THE TURNING OF THE TIDE._ -_WINNING HIS SPURS._ -_A STOUT HEART._ - -All Handsomely Illustrated. - -LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. - - * * * * * - -[Illustration: THE BEAR FIGHT.--Page 238.] - - * * * * * - -THE - -FOREST GLEN SERIES - -BY - -REV. ELIJAH KELLOGG. - -FOREST GLEN. - -_LEE & SHEPARD, BOSTON._ - - * * * * * - - - - -THE FOREST GLEN SERIES. - -FOREST GLEN; - -OR, - -THE MOHAWK'S FRIENDSHIP. - -BY - -ELIJAH KELLOGG, - -AUTHOR OF "ELM ISLAND STORIES," "PLEASANT COVE STORIES," -"THE WHISPERING PINE SERIES," ETC. - -Illustrated. - -BOSTON: -LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS. -NEW YORK -CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM - - -COPYRIGHT, - -1877, - -BY ELIJAH KELLOGG. - - - - -PREFACE. - - -The story here presented not only grasps those terrible vicissitudes in -which the frontier life of our forefathers was so prolific, but at the -same time conveys many useful lessons and incentives to manly effort, -and much curious information in relation to a period in the history of -Pennsylvania, when her soil was occupied by a population comprising -many different races and religious sects, having little in common, and -held together by the fearful pressure of an Indian war. - -Here we behold the strange spectacle of the Quaker tilling his land, -and pursuing his ordinary duties, while his more belligerent neighbor -sleeps with the rifle within reach of his hand, sits in the house -of God with the weapon between his knees, goes armed in the funeral -procession, which is often attacked, the mourners killed, scalped, and -flung into the grave of the corpse they were about to inter. - -The noble response of the Delawares to the appeal of the Quakers -evinces that the red man is no less sensitive to kindness, than -implacable in revenge; capable of appreciating and manifesting the most -tender and generous sentiments. - -Our breasts throb with sympathetic emotions, as, after having noted -with interest the progress of the strife, we see this determined band -emerge in triumph, with thinned ranks but courage undiminished, from -the terrible ordeal. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - PAGE -CHAPTER I. - -THE BREWING OF THE STORM 11 - - -CHAPTER II. - -THUNDER FROM AFAR 22 - - -CHAPTER III. - -FOREWARNED 30 - - -CHAPTER IV. - -PREPARING FOR THE WORST 43 - - -CHAPTER V. - -THE STORM BURSTS 56 - - -CHAPTER VI. - -GATHERING COURAGE FROM DESPAIR 73 - - -CHAPTER VII. - -A CONTRAST 83 - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -TREADING OUT THE GRAIN 91 - - -CHAPTER IX. - -A LITTLE SUNSHINE 102 - - -CHAPTER X. - -LIBERTY IS SWEET 115 - - -CHAPTER XI. - -THE RAFT 129 - - -CHAPTER XII. - -A DAY OF UNALLOYED PLEASURE 143 - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -CANNOT GIVE IT UP 156 - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -THE BEAN-POT 167 - - -CHAPTER XV. - -THE SURPRISE 177 - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -THE DAWN OF A LIFE-PURPOSE 193 - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -SELF-RELIANCE 209 - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -FRUITS OF PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE 226 - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -TRIUMPH OF THOUGHT AND INGENUITY 246 - - -CHAPTER XX. - -UNCLE SETH'S SURPRISE 264 - - -CHAPTER XXI. - -NED RANGELY 273 - - -CHAPTER XXII. - -CARRYING THE WAR INTO AFRICA 294 - - -CHAPTER XXIII. - -THE QUAKER'S APPEAL TO THE DELAWARES 309 - - -CHAPTER XXIV. - -THE RETURN OF THE CAPTIVE 323 - - - - -FOREST GLEN; - -OR, - -THE MOHAWK'S FRIENDSHIP. - - -CHAPTER I. - -THE BREWING OF THE STORM. - - -Our story opens at that period of the year when summer is fast verging -to autumn. - -As the wind that had blown fresh during the night diminished, about -eleven o'clock in the forenoon, to a gentle breeze, the heat in -the valley of Wolf Run, hemmed in by mountains, became excessive. -Corn-blades rolled up, pitch oozed from the logs of which the houses -were built, all broad-leaved plants wilted, and the high temperature -was adapted to produce an unusual sluggishness. - -Stewart, who held the day-watch at the fort, seated on the platform -over the gate, was sound asleep. Half a dozen sheep lay in the shade -of the walls, panting, with mouths wide open. Not a person was to be -seen in the vicinity of the houses or in the fields. Not a rooster had -sufficient courage to crow, or even a dog to bark. The windmill inside -the stockade made one or two revolutions; but, as the wind died away, -gave up with a groan, and remained motionless. - -The profound silence was rudely broken by the successive discharge -of fire-arms. The sentinel awoke, and grasped his rifle; but, after -listening a few moments, settled back in his corner, and was soon once -more asleep. Two of the sheep rose up, but in a few moments lay down -again. - -The firing continued at intervals for more than an hour, no notice -being taken of it by the sentry, who, in the mean time, finished his -nap. - -If our readers will go with us in the direction of the river, we will -endeavor to find out what it is all about, and shall perceive that the -settlers were improving the leisure interval between hay and grain -harvest, in making preparations for future exigencies. - -On a level plat of ground, not far from the bank of the river, were -assembled a band of lads from twelve to fifteen years of age, engaged -in firing at a mark, while several of the settlers were seated on the -grass, looking at them. - -The fearful peril of their position, together with their inferiority -in numbers, had compelled the parents to train their children to arms, -even at that tender age; and, though unable to hold out a gun steadily, -they were no mean marksmen when shooting from a rest. - -These little folks had organized themselves into a company, with the -ferocious title of "The Screeching Catamounts," in rivalry of the older -boys, who styled themselves "The Young Defenders." - -They had hewn the bark and sap-wood from a lone pine, and a black spot -in the centre of the white wood served as a target. Eighty-five yards -was the distance for a smooth gun, while for rifles, with which some -of the boys were armed, it was a hundred. A rest was made by driving -two stakes into the ground, and putting a withe across for them to fire -over. Sam Sumerford, Archie Crawford, and Tony Stewart hit the black -circle, though neither of them in the centre, but not varying half -an inch; several touched the edge of it; and no one missed the tree, -although one or two put their balls in the bark, outside the white -spot, or "blaze" as it was called in frontier phrase. - -They next engaged in throwing the tomahawk; after which, forming ranks, -the band marched to the fort, and deposited their arms. - -It is needful briefly to inform those who have not read the previous -volumes, of the circumstances of the settlers to whom they are rather -abruptly introduced, and the probable nature of those exigencies in -view of which they had long been making preparations. - -When the Indian war broke out, the Provincial government gave up the -original frontier, from which nearly all the settlers who survived the -Indian attack had already fled, and established a line of forts nearer -the old settlements, behind which it was supposed the savages would -not penetrate, and where the fugitives might cultivate the land in -comparative safety. - -This system of defence had, upon trial, proved utterly inadequate. The -greater part of the money raised for that purpose was expended at the -very outset in building, arming, and provisioning the forts; and even -then they were but scantily provided, either with arms or ammunition. -A commissioner reported that in one of them he found but four pounds -of powder. Flints were often wanting; many of the guns were unfit for -use, the locks in some instances being fastened on with strings. So -great was the poverty of the Province, that a man who brought his own -gun and blanket was allowed a dollar per month for their use above -his pay. In addition to this, the forts were eight, ten, sixteen, and -even twenty miles apart. The great cause of all the destruction of -life and property that took place arose from the want of any military -organization. - -The original population of Pennsylvania were entirely opposite in all -their views and practices to the settlers of Virginia, Maryland, and -the New-England States, who came armed and prepared for self-defence -or conquest. But the government of Pennsylvania was based upon the -principle of non-resistance. The Quakers came unarmed; and, as they -made no resistance, so they gave no offence. They did as they would be -done by, while the savages on their part did as they were done by; and -thus matters went on smoothly for nearly seventy years. - -In process of time, other races came in, and people with other views. -The Scotch and Irish settlers, and those from Maryland, Virginia, and -the New-England States, who were by no means careful of giving offence, -looked upon the natives as vermin to be extirpated like the wolves and -bears, to make room for others. Though in a minority, they inflicted -injuries upon the Indians, and stirred them up to revenge. - -But the bulk of the population were Quakers, Germans, Swedes, and -English. The Germans only desired to till the ground, with no wish to -fight, unless compelled to in self-defence. The English and Swedes were -much of the same mind. Thus while the Indians, through a series of -years, had been irritated, there was in the Province no militia-law: -the inhabitants were incapable of acting in concert; and, when the -storm long brewing burst, were, as a whole, defenceless, unarmed, and -divided in sentiment, and ran at the attack of the Indians like sheep -before wolves. - -It was from such a population that the majority of the men to man the -forts and protect the country must be drawn, the hunters, trappers, -and Scotch-Irish preferring to defend their own families, or to go on -scalping-expeditions, which were vastly more profitable than serving -for the small pay given the soldiers, and there was no law to _compel_ -service. - -When the forts were built, it was supposed that the garrisons in them, -by patrolling from one to another, would keep back the savages. It was -also made the duty of the commanders in the several forts to detail a -certain portion of their men to protect the farmers while planting and -gathering their harvest, as well as promptly furnish a refuge to which -the inhabitants might flee in case of an invasion. - -We shall now see how comparatively useless this method of defence -was, because there was no militia-law, and in the population none of -the spirit which such a law creates. Forts are of little use without -suitable soldiers to defend them. A few facts would set this matter in -a striking light, and afford our readers a clear view of the situation. - -The commissioner appointed to examine the condition of the forts -reported: At Fort Lebanon he called out the men, and put up a mark -for them to fire at eighty yards distant, and but fifteen out of -twenty-eight could hit within two feet of the bull's eye. At Fort -Allemingle, he put the mark on a tree eighty-five yards distant; and -only four out of twenty-five hit the tree, and not one the bull's eye. -So much for the marksmanship of these fort soldiers: now for their -courage. - -It is on record that Hugh Micheltree was attacked by Indians within -speaking distance of Patterson's fort; and though he begged the men in -the fort to rescue him, telling them there were but six Indians, they -had not the courage to leave the fort, but permitted the savages to -take him off before their eyes. - -Forts were often built at gaps of mountain-chains for the purpose of -commanding these passes. Those might have been formidable obstacles -to regular troops encumbered with baggage and artillery, but not in -respect to savages. Every place is a pass to an Indian with a little -parched corn in his pouch, and armed with rifle and tomahawk: he sets -forth, and neither swamps, mountains, nor rivers bar his progress when -on the war-path. He can eat ground-nuts, mice, frogs, wood-worms, -or snakes: nothing comes amiss; or, if afraid of discovering his -whereabouts by discharging his rifle, he can kill game with the bow. - -Noiselessly as the gliding snake they passed between the forts, easily -eluding the scouts posted on so long and thin a line, and were often -butchering the inhabitants in one direction while the scouts were -looking for them in another. - -The history of that period records that in several instances while a -band of soldiers from the forts were guarding farmers gathering their -harvest, the Indians have crept up, shot the soldiers, and afterwards -butchered the farmers thus left defenceless. - -The Indians, whom nothing escaped, often improved the opportunity, when -the number of a garrison was reduced by details, to attack the forts. - -Ascertaining that there was but a small supply of ammunition in Fort -Granville, they attacked and took it, when twenty-three men, three -women, and several children fell into their hands. After promising to -spare the lives of the garrison if they would surrender, they fastened -to a post the very man who opened the gate for them, and thrust red-hot -gun-barrels through his body. - -A very different sort of people from those just described, were the -settlers of the Forest Glen; rough-handed, high-spirited men of the -frontier, who could plant the second bullet in the same hole with the -first, and drive it home. Disdaining the aid of soldiers whom they held -in utter contempt, they had thus far, though suffering fearful losses, -held their own, inflicting more injuries than they received, and had -been busily employed for a few weeks in putting themselves in a posture -of defence preparatory to gathering the harvest. - -Rifles had been put in order, tomahawks ground, the roofs of the -buildings fresh plastered with clay mortar as a protection against the -fire-arrows of the Indians, and gun-flints manufactured from Indian -arrow-heads by Holdness to eke out their scanty supply, and the woods -and ravines carefully examined every day to detect signs of lurking -savages. Though the settlers were living in their own houses, for the -greater convenience of harvesting, the cattle were driven at night to -the garrison. - -Notwithstanding their preparations for a stout defence, the settlers -could not avoid anxiety, in view of the fact that the savages had -during the last few months changed their method of attack. Finding that -the log houses of the whites, when resolutely defended, bade defiance -to the efforts of their scalping-parties, consisting usually of but -twelve or fifteen, they had latterly come in bodies of seventy and even -a hundred, often led by French officers, with French soldiers in their -ranks, and bringing field-pieces. - -There were, however, no signs of perturbation, and whatever anxiety -they felt was manifested only in increased watchfulness; and many -of them, having completed their preparations for defence, occupied -themselves in clearing land for future crops, a portion keeping watch -while the rest labored. - -Others devoted the time to rest, perhaps considering it very doubtful -if the isolated settlement survived the attacks that were to be -expected during harvest. - -We trust that what has been said will render the story that follows -intelligible to those not familiar with the other volumes of this -series, or the history of the period. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -THUNDER FROM AFAR. - - -Perhaps many of our readers would like to know how Mr. Seth Blanchard -(who was the only man in the Glen not possessed of fighting qualities) -was busying himself all this time. - -They doubtless recollect that when, after a desperate effort, the -mill was nearly completed, the settlers placed the upper stone on the -spindle by fastening a hide rope to wooden pins in the edge of the -stone, and then putting a long lever into the bight of the rope. - -In a regularly constructed mill, this is done by means of an iron -bale or crane, and an iron screw working in the crane, or by a tackle -attached to the crane. The stone, being lifted from the spindle in this -manner, can be easily swung off by moving the crane, and turned over -in the bale in order to pick the under side. They had used up every -particle of iron in building the mill, and been reduced to the greatest -straits for want of that necessary article. - -When, after much labor and contrivance, the stone was safely landed on -the spindle, Mr. Seth said,-- - -"By the time this stone needs picking, I'll make a bale to take it off -and put it on without an ounce of iron." - -Honeywood, who was a blacksmith, laughed at him, and said it was -impossible; to which Mr. Seth replied,-- - -"A man who has always worked in iron has very little idea of what can -be done with wood." - -He was now leisurely at work, redeeming that pledge. Having procured -from the woods a rock-maple tree of suitable shape, he made a crane of -proper size and shape to swing over the stone, hewing the timber to a -proud edge, and working it smooth with adze and plane. In that portion -of the arm that when the crane was set up would come directly over the -centre of the stone, he made a five-inch hole, perfectly smooth and -plumb, and cut a screw-thread on the inside of it with a rude machine -of his own invention. - -His next labor was to make a screw to work in this arm; and he made it -from a piece of timber that he had blocked out when the mill was built, -and put away to season. - -While thus engaged, Mr. Seth had the company and heartfelt sympathy -of all the children of any size in the Run, and most of their elders, -as there were but very few in the settlement who had ever seen a -screw-thread cut, or even a wooden screw. - -When the crane was put in its place, the screw entered in the arm, and -Mr. Seth turned it up and back again, that the spectators might see the -working of it, those who had said, and at the time firmly believed, -that it was impossible for him or any one to make a wooden bale that -would take off a mill-stone, began to change their opinions. - -Tony Stewart probably expressed the general sentiment when he -exclaimed, "Zukkers! a man what can do that can do any thing! Can't he, -Sammy?" - -With his usual consideration for the wishes of children, Uncle Seth -fastened a two-bushel basket to the screw, and, packing it full of -children, turned up the screw. The mill floor was quite large; and the -children had plenty of fun riding in the basket, and pushing the crane -round by turns. - -After waiting till the children had screwed up and swung each other -round on the crane a while, Mr. Seth left the place, telling them they -need not come to the mill any more, as he should not begin on the bale -at present. - -The next morning Mr. Seth and his brother Israel ground their axes, and -started for the woods to fell trees for a burn, expecting to find other -neighbors there, and a guard. They had gone but a little way, when Mr. -Seth said,-- - -"Israel, I sha'n't be able to go, at least this forenoon. See yonder -wind-clouds: there's quite a breeze now; and I've several grists in the -mill that the neighbors want ground. I must go to the mill." - -It was soon known in the neighborhood that the mill was going; and -persons were seen approaching it from different directions, some -because they had business there, and some to talk over matters of -common interest with others whom they expected to find there. - -Most of them were the older members of the community; the young men -being on the scout that day, or guarding those chopping. - -"Neighbors," said McClure, seating himself upon a bag of meal, with his -rifle across his knees, "have you heard the news?" - -"Where should we get news, who are a hundred miles from anywhere, and -cut off from all the rest of mankind?" said Proctor. - -"I spoke to Honeywood as I came along. He was out on the scout -yesterday: he told me he met Dick Ellison and sixteen men. Dick has -been one of the Black Rifle's men. Dick told him the Indians had -murdered twenty-eight people at Shamakin; that they took their trail, -but couldn't overtake 'em, they had so much start." - -"Then they must have been in strong force. I wonder how many Indians -'twould take to kill twenty-eight men like us?" - -"'Twould take five hundred, if we had a fort overhead, Proctor; but you -can't judge of their numbers by the people killed: most like, there -wasn't more'n ten or twelve Indians, and the people they killed were -German farmers with some old gun,--the lock too weak to throw the pan -open,--or only a pitchfork to defend themselves with, and skeered ter -death at that, or else they were fort soldiers, that ain't better'n our -children would be, nor half so good, only let 'em have a rest to fire -from." - -"What else did Dick say?" - -"He said the governor had offered a bounty for sculps. For every Indian -man, or boy over ten years old, one hundred fifty dollars; for every -squaw, or girl over ten, one hundred thirty dollars; for the sculp of -every Indian man, or boy over ten, one hundred thirty dollars; and -for every squaw's or girl's sculp, fifty dollars. Dick reckoned there -wouldn't be many prisoners taken on that lay." - -"Of course there wouldn't. What a fool a ranger would be to take an -Indian prisoner, have to feed him and watch night and day, run the risk -of his getting away, or of being killed by him in the night, and have -to carry him perhaps a hundred miles to a government fort to get one -hundred fifty dollars, or one hundred thirty if 'twas a woman, when he -could get one hundred thirty or fifty for their sculp that are nothing -to carry, and could hang fifty on 'em to your belt, and no trouble -'cept to knock 'em on the head, and take the sculp off!" - -"Honeywood," continued McClure, "thinks, after hearing this news, we -ought not to wait to get the harvest, but go into the garrison right -off. He says, and it's a fact, that McDonald and his family were all -murdered last year, just by staying out one day too long." - -"Did he say where the Black Rifle was?" asked Armstrong. - -"At his cave in the mountain: he's going ter stop there quite a while." - -"Then we sha'n't be troubled with Indians as long as he's round." - -"Don't be too sure of that: they've found out that it don't pay to come -as they used to, in small numbers; and now it's said there are from -seventy to a hundred and fifty Indians under one of their chiefs." - -"There were five hundred French and Indians at the taking of Fort -Granville. Such a crowd as that wouldn't pay much attention to the -Black Rifle," said Wood. - -"We've given them cause enough to dread and hate, and want to wipe -us out. They've driven all the other settlers out of the valley, or -butchered 'em. They know very well that we are planted out here beyond -all help, or hope of it; and I believe our turn'll come to take it -worse than ever before during this harvest time," said Mr. Seth. - -"The women," said Proctor, "hate mortally to go into garrison. It -is hot in the block-houses, they have no place to keep their milk, -the children torment them to death, and they're afraid of the -garrison-fever at this time of year. I think, however, 'tis better to -go into the fort than to be listening for the war-whoop, or looking to -see if the fire's not flashing out 'twixt the rafters, all the time you -are harvesting." - -"Well, neighbors," said McClure, "all here are agreed about it, and I -have spoken to the others: they think as we do, and we kalkerlate to go -inter the fort day after to-morrow at the outside; and I'm going ter -leave my grist in the mill, then 'twill be here." - -Mr. Seth had finished grinding; and they all left the mill to prepare -for the worst, except Proctor, whose turn it was to keep guard that -night. One man was kept on guard at the mill, even when the settlers -were in their own dwellings, to open the gate, and fire the alarm-gun -in case of need. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -FOREWARNED. - - -When the settlers left the fort in the spring, Honeywood moved into the -house of his father-in-law, Israel Blanchard, his own dwelling being -at a greater distance from the fort than any other at the Run. He, -however, became tired of going so far every day to his work, and chose -to go back to his own home when he had recovered from a wound received -in a skirmish with the Indians in hoeing-time. His family consisted of -himself, wife, and two children; the eldest boy about six, the other a -little child. - -Cal Holdness had come over to take supper with them; and, having -despatched the meal, they were variously occupied. - -The mother was undressing Eddie, and the youngest child was asleep in -the cradle. Cal's rifle was out of order; and he had brought it with -him, that Harvey might repair it. He laid the weapon across his knees, -and proceeded to take off the lock, Cal holding a lighted sliver of -pitch-wood to give him light. It was a sultry night, and the house, -built of hewn timber, excessively warm. The doors and bullet-proof -shutters being closed, there was no ventilation except by means of the -chimney, and the loop-holes which were only large enough to admit the -barrel of a rifle. Honeywood, noticing the drops of perspiration on the -face of his wife, said,-- - -"Sarah, I've a good mind to open the door: see how that child in the -cradle sweats, and you are well-nigh roasted. If I open the door 'twill -make a good draught up the chimney, and cool the house off for the -night." - -"Don't, husband, I beg of you: it's just the time of year when Indians -are most likely to come; we've just heard that they've been killing -people at Shamakin. It's not long since they took Fort Granville, and -killed all the garrison but one; and this very day you've been telling -the neighbors that we ought to go into the fort, and not wait to reap -the grain first; and now you want to open the door, and there may be a -dozen Indians around it. Have you forgotten that this very last spring -Mr. Maccoy's family were sitting one evening with the door open, and an -Indian was creeping up to it, when the Black Rifle shot him, or they -would all have been murdered? I know it's warm, but I had rather bear -the heat than have you open the door." - -"I don't think there's any danger: there's two of us here." - -"My rifle can't be depended upon," said Cal. - -"But there's two more loaded in the brackets, and two smooth-bores; and -we're not obliged to sit near the doors." - -"Oh, don't, husband! an Indian always seems to me just like the Evil -One: you can't hear or see him till he is upon you. They may be lurking -round the house this moment." She had scarcely finished when there was -a loud rap on the door. - -Cal, placing the pine sliver in a stone made to hold it on the hearth, -took a rifle from the wall. Honeywood said, "Who is there?" - -"Wasaweela," was the reply in the unmistakable tone and accent of a -savage. - -"We shall be murdered," cried Mrs. Honeywood, catching the sleeping -child from the cradle. "O Edward! fire right through the door, and -kill him." - -"I shall do no such thing: he's an old friend of mine;" and he -instantly began to unbar the door. His wife ran into the bedroom with -the child in her arms, little Eddie following in his nightgown, holding -fast to his mother's clothes, and screaming lustily in concert with his -brother. Cal Holdness, on the other hand, a true frontier boy cradled -amid alarms, restored to the bracket the rifle he had held ready to -fire. - -As the door opened, an Indian stepped in, so very tall (though he -stooped considerably as he entered) that the single feather on his -scalp-lock brushed the lintel. He was not painted for war; naked except -a breech-cloth, and his only arms were the knife and tomahawk in his -belt. His moccasons and leggings were torn, and his whole body reeking -with perspiration, as though he had undergone great and prolonged -exertion. He, in the language of the Mohawks, greeted Honeywood, who -replied in the same tongue. - -After drinking some water, he took the seat offered him, and remained -silent some time, either to collect his thoughts, as is customary with -Indians, who are never in haste to speak, or perhaps to regain his -breath; while Honeywood, familiar with the customs of the savages, -waited till he should see fit to speak. - -Mrs. Honeywood was a woman of fortitude, reared on the frontier; but -the news of recent murders by the Indians, the knowledge that her -husband, a most resolute man, had warned his neighbors that no time -should be lost in getting into garrison, coupled with the sudden -appearance of the Indian, all conspired to excite her fears till they -were beyond control. She had also been brought up with such prejudices, -that it was almost impossible for her to believe that any confidence -could be safely reposed in a savage. But observing that the Indian -was not in his war-paint, but partially armed, that he manifested no -concern when her husband barred the door, thus placing himself entirely -at the mercy of him and Cal, also recollecting that she had seen him -at her father's, and how faithfully he at that time performed an -engagement, her fears subsided, and she began to soothe the terrified -children. - -Meanwhile every feature of Cal's countenance manifested the intense -desire he felt to know the meaning of this singular and abrupt visit, -for it was evident enough that his was no idle errand; neither could he -sufficiently admire the noble proportions of a form in which strength -and agility were so happily blended. - -At length rising to his feet, he said, "Brother, listen. We have eaten -of each other's bread, drank of the same cup, and spread our blankets -at the same fire. Though the Great Spirit has made us of a different -color, we are one in heart." - -Extending his hand as he uttered these words, it was grasped by -Honeywood. He then proceeded, "Brother, open your ears. Your king and -the French king have dug up the hatchet. The Delawares, Shawanees, -Monseys, and some other Indians, have joined the French. They have -struck the English very hard, and killed their great chief who came -over the water. The Delawares and Shawanees have taken the scalps of -a great many of your people, and driven them from the land that the -Delawares say belongs to them, and that your people took and never paid -for. Is it not so?" - -Honeywood made a gesture of assent. - -"The Six Nations do not like the French. We have struck them very hard -in days that are past; but we do not wish to interfere in the quarrel -between the thirteen fires and the Delawares, though the Delawares are -our nephews. - -"We cannot always keep our young men in subjection: therefore some of -them may have gone with the Delawares and the French. This we cannot -help: we did not send them; if you take their scalps, it is no cause -for quarrel between us. - -"Brother, open your ears. The Delawares and Shawanees have struck your -people, and you have done the same to them, and struck the Delawares -much harder than they have struck you; you are great warriors. The Six -Nations do not think it right or just that the pale-faces should take -the land of the Delawares without paying them for it: therefore they -look on, and let them strike you. You are my brother; I know you to be -a just and brave man, though you live among very bad people: therefore -I've run a great ways and very fast to tell you that the Delawares -are coming to take your scalp and the scalps of all your people, that -their young men whose scalps your people have taken may rest in their -graves." - -"I thank you, brother. When will the Delawares come?" - -"At break of day, after the sun comes and goes." - -"How many of them?" - -The Mohawk took from his pouch seven kernels of parched corn, placed -them in a row on the table, and spread out his fingers over them, -saying,-- - -"So many Delawares." - -Then, taking away all but two of the kernels, he again spread his -fingers, saying, "So many Shawanees," and then signified that there -would be the same number of Monseys. Honeywood then inquired if there -would be any French officers or soldiers with them, to which the Mohawk -replied that there would not. - -"It is well, brother: we will be ready." - -While all were attentively listening, the little child had left the -mother's side (who was too much occupied with the fearful tidings to -heed his motions), and, venturing farther and farther, at length crept -to the feet of the Indian, and began playing with his leggings, which -were of a bright red color. - -The little creature, gradually becoming more bold, at length stood up -on his feet by holding the lacings of the leggings, and looked proudly -around, crowing and laughing, no doubt thinking himself the central -figure of the group, and the object of universal attention. - -"One hundred and ten raging Indians! Our time has come: we shall all be -murdered!" exclaimed the mother. - -Honeywood set food before the Mohawk, then took off his moccasons, -which were worn, and his leggings, and gave him some water for his -feet. The Indian signified his wish to sleep till within an hour of -daybreak. Honeywood spread blankets on the floor, promising to watch, -and rouse him at the proper time. Wasaweela, wrapping himself in a -blanket, was asleep in a moment. The others retired to the bedroom, -where they conversed in low tones. - -"Sarah, you've heard your father say many times, and you, Cal, have -also heard your father say, if an Indian war should break out, that -this Mohawk who then hunted with me, and was apparently so friendly, -would be the very first to take my scalp and those of my family. Now -you see what he has done,--travelled through woods and swamps, forded -or swum rivers, much of the time on the run night and day, to save the -life of one (and the lives of his family) who had merely treated him -kindly." - -"Isn't he a noble-looking man?" said Cal. "Isn't he handsome, -beautiful? What an arm and leg he's got! and his breast, and so -tall--just as straight as a pine-tree. Didn't you see him smile when -the baby stood up and held on to his leggings? and what a pleasant -smile it was too! Oh, I wish I was such a man!" - -Cal's conception of beauty lay in thews and sinews. - -"But, husband, what will become of us? A hundred Indians, only think of -it!--seventy Delawares, twenty Shawanees, and twenty Monseys; and the -Delawares are the most bloodthirsty of all. It seems to me that you or -Cal ought to go this moment, and rouse the neighbors, and get into the -fort before morning: you might both go, but I couldn't be left alone -with this Indian." - -"Not after he made such efforts to save you and the children's lives?" - -"No: I suppose I ought not to feel so, but I cannot help it." - -"There's no cause, wife, for alarm, nor for haste. There are no -Frenchmen coming, and of course there is no artillery. The fort is -well prepared for a much longer siege than is to be apprehended from -Indians. It is well provided with water, provisions, and ammunition; -and we are all at home, and every man fit for duty, not a disabled man -amongst us. There's time enough to move after daylight." - -"Most of our provisions are in the fort now," said Cal; "never have -been taken away. Every family can move in three hours." - -"If," continued Honeywood, "they could have come upon us by surprise, -and caught each family in their own home, our case would have been a -desperate one; but, forewarned and prepared, it is entirely another -matter. Now, wife, you and Cal had better try to get some rest, for -to-morrow will be a busy, trying day." - -"I can lie down; but as for sleeping, it's no use to think of it." - -"Well, lie down, then: 'twill rest you." - -"I'll divide the watch with you, Mr. Honeywood," said Cal; "and when I -think by the moon it's twelve o'clock, I'll call you." - -Honeywood went to bed, and slept as soundly as though no danger -threatened him or his. Such is the result of strong nerves, and -familiarity with peril. His wife, on the other hand, lay sleepless; or, -if for a few moments she dozed, would awake with a start, imagining she -heard the sound of the war-whoop. - -At midnight Cal woke Honeywood, but, instead of going to bed, lay down -on the floor, as he wished to be at hand when the Mohawk left, and to -witness the parting. - -He was unwilling to lose any opportunity of contemplating a being who -by his splendid physical proportions, and the noble qualities of his -heart, had quite won the affections of the enthusiastic youth. - -Honeywood woke the Mohawk, and placed food before him, of which the -latter partook heartily; he also presented him with a new pair of -moccasons and leggings, to replace his that were so much torn, also -a pipe filled and lighted. After smoking, apparently with great -satisfaction, he rose, drew his belt round him, and, extending his hand -to Honeywood, said,-- - -"Brother, be strong: the Delawares are many, but they are cowards; we -have put the hoe in their hands, and made women of them. If they master -your scalp, your people will revenge your death. Farewell." With the -noiseless step of a savage he left the house, and disappeared in the -shades of the forest. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -PREPARING FOR THE WORST. - - -It was fortunate for these settlers, that, in view of contingencies, -they had made thorough preparations for defence. - -By noon of that day their household effects had been removed to the -fort, troughs filled with water to extinguish fire, and the cannon in -the flankers loaded. - -"Neighbors," said Honeywood, "there are too many of them for us to meet -in the field. If we wait in the fort for them to attack us, they'll -first burn our houses and barns, kill the cattle, tread down or pull up -the corn: that is too green to burn, but the grain is not. And we shall -have to look on and see it done. Rather than do that, I counsel we -ambush their advance: it is possible we may rout them altogether; and, -if not, we can fall back to the fort." - -"I," said McClure, "like Honeywood's plan, and I don't like it: there's -much to be said on both sides. I know very well that if we don't make -any fight except behind the walls of the fort, they'll destroy every -thing outside of it; but suppose they do: we're not going to quite -starve. It's no great to build up the log houses again. A good part of -our hay is inside the stockade, and we could get the cattle through the -winter on browse; we've considerable of last year's corn, grain, and -pork, in the garrison; we can drive the hogs and cattle inside; and, -though it would be a dreadful calamity to lose our corn and grain, we -could keep life in us by hunting. - -"Now as consarns ambushing, we of course should take but part of our -force, and leave the rest in the fort; and that part would be so small, -that if there's as many Indians as the Mohawk said, they would be -surrounded and killed without making much impression on the Indians; -and that would leave a very weak garrison to hold so large a fort." - -"Indians," said Armstrong, "always march in Indian file, except they're -going to attack, or apprehend danger, when they come two abreast. -They'll be likely to come now in Indian file till they cross the -river, 'cause they expect to surprise us. In that case there wouldn't -be rifles enough to kill many, 'cause you can't take aim right in the -night, and firing at men in a long line is not like firing into a -crowd, when if you miss one you'll hit another. They would know by our -fire that our number was small, and would take trees till daylight, and -then surround us." - -"What do you say, Brad?" inquired McClure, appealing to Holdness. - -"I'm in favor of the ambush. You see, they're coming down here with a -force large enough to divide, and then attack every house at once. The -Mohawk says there are seventy Delawares. These Delawares were driven -off from here: they know every inch of the ground, every house and -every man, and can guide the rest. It would be a great backer ter 'em -when they expected ter find us all in our houses unprepared, and ter -wipe us out as easy as a man would snuff a candle, and pay off old -scores, ter be ambushed themselves, and met with a rattling volley; and -they might break, and give it up." - -"But, neighbors, that's all _perhaps_: there's another thing that -ain't. One hundred nor five hundred Indians can't drive us out of this -fort; and in it our families are safe if we are there to defend it. -If we were all single men, I'd say, Ambush 'em; let's have a right -up-and-down fight, and try their mettle: and I'm for it now, if we can -reduce the risk for the women and children in any way." - -"The greatest difficulty 'bout an ambush," said Blanchard, "is, we -don't know which way they'll come. The Mohawk told Honeywood they would -start from their town Kittanning; but whether they'll take either of -the war-paths, or come through the woods where there is no path, we -can't tell." - -"Whichever way they come in the daytime," said Armstrong, "when at -night they come near to us, they'll take the path that leads direct to -the ford. There's so many of 'em, they'll be bold: they won't hesitate -to take the water at the regular fording-place, because they know the -country is all their own, and that they've killed or driven off all but -us." - -"Why not lay an ambush there, where we cannot be flanked, because we -shall have the stream at our backs, nor be so far away but what we can -fall back and reach the fort?" - -"We must of course fall back if the Indians don't," said Grant; "and -then we shall be exposed to their fire while we are crossing the river, -when they'll be under cover, and probably but very few of us would get -across. I should like to have one slap at 'em. They'll take very good -care to keep out of rifle-shot of the fort; and all we can do will be -to stand on the platforms and grind our teeth, while they are burning -our houses and destroying our crops." - -"I see there's but one feeling among us," said Honeywood: "that is, to -preserve our crops if it can be done without risking the lives of our -household. Suppose we do this: Let one party lay in ambush at the ford -among the bushes and drift timber on the edge of the bank on the side -next the fort, and another party lay in ambush on the opposite bank in -the woods; then both parties hold their fire till a good many Indians -are in the water crossing, and then open fire on them. It will be a -great deal lighter on the river than in the woods, as there will be -part of a moon; and, looking out of the darkness into the light, we can -see them better than they can see us. So heavy a fire as both parties -can throw will stagger them; and in surprise they will fall back, as -Indians always do when they lose men. Then the party on the western -side can recross, join the others, and we can hold the ford, or retreat -to the fort, as we think best." - -"I like that," said Holdness: "then the party on the western bank can -be protected while crossing by the fire of the others, if the Indians -attack 'em in the water." - -"Harry Sumerford," said Grant, "you seem to have something on your -mind, and we would like to hear it." - -"I think there are people here whose opinions are of much more value -than mine, Mr. Grant. I was going to say that Dick Ellison told Mr. -Honeywood that the Black Rifle was at his place in the mountains, -and was going to stay there quite a spell. Now, he generally has ten -or a dozen men that he can lay his hands on when he wants 'em for a -scalping-scrape, and perhaps they might help us. They are men to be -depended upon, or the Black Rifle would have nothing to do with them." - -"I'll go," said Nat Cuthbert: "I know the road." - -"Take my horse," said Armstrong, "and ride for your life, and all our -lives: if you kill him, no matter." - -"What shall I say to him?" - -"Just tell him a hundred Indians are on the road from Kittanning, to -attack us at daybreak to-morrow morning. He'll know what ter do; and -he'll want no coaxing ter come ter such a party, I kin tell you," said -Holdness. - -"If I ain't back by midnight, you may know he's coming, and that I'm -coming with him." - -"Where were all our wits, that we could none of us think of that," said -Honeywood, "when Dick told me, and I told the rest of you, that the -captain was about getting up a scalping-party? God grant they may not -have started before Nat gets there!" - -"He may be alone," said Grant; "may not have got his party together -yet." - -"If he is alone," said Holdness, "he'll come: and his war-whoop is -worth a dozen men. There ain't an Indian this side the Monongahela, but -knows the Black Rifle's yell, for it don't sound like any thing else in -this world; and, when they hear it, they'll think their game is up." - -The settlers now proceeded to make their final arrangements. To -Honeywood were assigned Harry, Alex and Enoch Sumerford, Ned Armstrong, -Hugh Crawford, jun., Stewart, James Blanchard, Cal Holdness, Andrew -McClure, and nearly all Harry's company of the "Young Defenders." This -was done because these youth had been engaged together in several sharp -conflicts with Indians, had been accustomed to act together under the -command of Harry, and had always come off victorious. They were also -greatly attached to Honeywood, and reposed the most implicit confidence -in his judgment and courage. - -The other party consisted of Holdness, McClure, Grant, sen., Ben -Rogers, Wood, Holt, Maccoy, Armstrong, Proctor, and Heinrich Stiefel. - -Israel Blanchard was left in command of the fort. With him was his -brother Seth (who was of no account as a fighting man), Daniel -Blanchard, and the boys who had been drilled to fire from a rest, -had participated in several actions, some of whom had been wounded, -of which they were sufficiently proud. This band comprised all the -"Screeching Catamounts." - -These two parties, who were to meet a hundred and ten Indians, all -picked men, were in the proportion of more than five savages to one of -the settlers: yet so high was their courage, and so inured were they to -danger, that when they might have remained behind their defences, and -repulsed the foe, they hesitated not to take the fearful risk, rather -than see their grain destroyed when almost ready for the sickle. - -"I have thought of another thing," said Holdness, as, after having -selected the place for ambush, they were returning to the fort. "You -know for the last year we've been taking more or less smooth-bores and -rifles from the Indians we've killed; then we've all got more than one -gun apiece that we had before the war broke out; and, when we went -after the salt, we bought more: now we kin take two rifles, or a rifle -and a smoothbore apiece, and then leave extra arms in the fort for the -women ter load or use if worst comes ter worst; and that will be almost -the same as doubling our forces, at any rate for the first fire." - -"If," said McClure, "instead of coming, as we expect, before or about -the break of day, they should not get along till after sunrise, they -would stop short, hide in the woods, and put off their attack till the -next morning before daybreak; but then they would send scouts ahead, -who'd creep round and find that we had left our houses and gone ter the -fort, and discover our ambush." - -"Well, I'll send Harry and Ned Armstrong ahead," said Honeywood, "to -watch their motions, and give us notice; and then we must retreat to -the fort, and let them burn and destroy; for it's no use for us to -think of fighting such a host, except we can surprise them; for if -we stay here, and they discover us, as they certainly would in the -daytime, they would find ways to cross the stream and surround us. But -I think they will be here at the very time the Mohawk said. Indians are -not like a regular force, that are liable to be impeded by a thousand -things, under the command of several officers. Nothing stops an Indian -on the war-path: there is but one leader and one mind among 'em." - -As they assembled in the kitchen of the fort that night for supper, -it seemed well-nigh certain that some of those seated at that table -would never eat together again; yet the men ate heartily, and even -cheerfully. But it was a solemn parting, when, soon after nightfall, -they moved silently from the fort, in Indian file, to take up their -positions. - -The mothers and children stood at the gate watching the departing -forms of their kindred till they could no longer be distinguished, and -when the great bars that closed the entrance were dropped into their -mortises with a dull thud, it reminded more than one of the fall of -clods on the coffin-lid. - -There were but two men left in the fort,--Israel Blanchard and Mr. -Seth. As for the negro, he had not been seen since the inhabitants went -into garrison. - -"What a pity Scip is such a miserable coward! He is an excellent -shot, and might do good service at the loop-holes. I suppose he's hid -somewhere," said Israel Blanchard. - -In this state of things, the boys held the watch; and, as there were -so many of them, they stood but an hour each, Blanchard keeping guard -during the two hours before daybreak. - -The women were busily employed scraping lint, preparing bandages and -ointments, the virtues of which they had learned from the Indians, or -by long experience had found to be efficacious in the case of gun-shot -wounds. It was a season of anxious foreboding: none cared to converse, -and they plied their labors for the most part in silence. The only -exceptions were to be found among the boys, who, confident in the -prowess of their fathers and brothers, elated with the idea that they -were holding the fort and intrusted with guard-duty, seemed raised far -above all perception of danger or possibility of mishaps, and were in a -state of most pleasurable excitement. - -It increased the sadness of their parents to see them thus, and often -the tears sprang to the mother's eyes as she thought of the terrible -fate that awaited them, should those who had gone out to engage in such -an unequal conflict be overcome. - -Under the influence of these depressing anxieties, all that they could -do being done, Mrs. Honeywood proposed that they should go into the -schoolhouse, and spend a season in prayer. - -Upon this Israel Blanchard said to Mr. Seth, who looked pale and -anxious,-- - -"Brother, you had better go with the women." - -"You mean, Israel, that I am good for nothing else." - -"I did not say that; for, if He who made you has denied courage, he has -given you grace. You're a better man than I am, Seth,--better fitted -either to live or die. Go with them; for we need divine aid now, if we -ever did since we broke ground here." - - -The settlers had now reached their positions, where they were concealed -not merely by trees and underbrush, but by large quantities of -drift-wood brought down by the floods, and left on the banks by the -falling of the water. Having set their watch, the rest lay down and -slept as coolly as though their own lives and the lives of those they -held most dear were not at stake. - -"Ned," said Holdness to Honeywood, "they pay us a fine compliment, -coming a hundred and ten against twenty, for these Delawares know about -what our number is." - -"True: they have a pretty thorough knowledge of what they may expect at -our hands." - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -THE STORM BURSTS. - - -It was little past midnight when Holdness, who held the watch, espied -two persons coming from the garrison, who, to his astonishment, proved -to be Tony Stewart and Sam Sumerford. - -"Who sent you here?" he exclaimed. - -"Where's my father?" inquired Tony, instead of answering the question. - -"On the other side of the river, with Mr. Honeywood." - -"Where's our Harry?" said Sam. - -"He's over there with 'em." - -"You won't tell Tony's father nor our Harry that we are here, will you, -Mr. Holdness? 'cause we've both of us got rifles, and we want to kill -Indians. You know Tony killed an Indian; and I want to kill one, and he -wants to kill another. We ain't no good in the fort, the Indians won't -come there: we want to be where the Indians come." - -"Well, now, do you start right back just as quick as you kin go, or -I'll take my ramrod to you. Why, your mothers'll be worried to death -about you. How did you get out of the fort?" - -"We came out when all the rest did." - -"Where have you been all this time?" - -"We went into Mr. Armstrong's barn, and went to sleep on the hay." - -"Well, go right back: you're no use; you'll only get killed, and won't -do any good, but in the fort you will. Don't go up ter the gate till -daylight, for Blanchard'll shoot you. Go back to the barn, and sleep -till sunrise." - -Slowly and sulkily the boys started off in the direction indicated by -Holdness. - -"What little tykes they are! if that ain't grit, I'd like ter know what -is." - -Honeywood, perceiving by the moon that it was not far from daybreak, -roused his men. Scarcely had he done so, when Harry and Ned Armstrong, -who had been sent in advance, returned to report that the Indians were -coming along the ordinary path, but at some distance. - -Now ensued a period of intense expectation: every ear was strained -to catch the faintest sound that might betoken the approach of the -foe. But the mighty forest was silent as the grave; not a breath of -wind stirred the foliage; not even the howl of a wolf, or the cry of -a night-bird, was heard. The light murmur of the stream among the -rocks that here and there strewed the shallows of the ford alone broke -the silence of that lovely morning, that seemed made for repose, not -slaughter. - -The day was now breaking fast; and, even amid the dim shadows of the -forest, objects near at hand could be distinguished: still no foe -appeared. - -At length the cracking of a dry stick was heard, but so faintly as -only to be perceptible to the trained ear of the frontier-man; and -the long line of dark forms came gliding along the path noiselessly -as the panther steals upon his prey. The foremost Indian stooped as -he reached the bank, examined the ground, and listened intently. The -least sound--a loud breath, the click of a gunlock, or even the least -footprint in the soil--would have alarmed the keen senses of the -savage. There was neither sound nor sign; for Honeywood and his party -well knew with whom they had to deal, and had not crossed at the ford, -but at some distance above. - -The leader now touched with his finger the warrior next him, and that -one the next. When the signal had thus passed along the line, the -last man marched to the front, thus bringing them two abreast, in -which order they entered the water, keeping close. Six had mounted the -opposite bank, and the rest were following, when the deep stillness of -nature was broken by the roar of fire-arms; and the greater part of -those forms but an instant before instinct with life, and breathing -vengeance, sank beneath the wave, or, after a few convulsive struggles, -were borne away by the rapid current; and the rays of the rising sun -gleamed on waters red with blood. Another volley instantly succeeded, -completing the slaughter; two only were seen to crawl on their hands -and knees, sorely wounded, to the shelter of some bushes that grew -on the water's edge; but, ere they could reach the covert, Armstrong -rushed down the bank, tomahawk in hand, and despatched them. - -[Illustration: THE AMBUSCADE.--Page 59.] - -Elated with the success of their ambush (for the two volleys had swept -away the Indians on the borders of both banks and those in the water, -while, being under cover, the settlers had received no harm from the -fire that the Indians in their surprise returned), Holdness and his men -instantly dashed across the ford, and joined Honeywood, resolved to -follow up their advantage. - -Although meeting with a severe loss of men and a severe resistance, -when they had expected to surprise their foes, the savages did not -retreat, but took trees, and, confident in their superior force, -renewed the contest. - -Holdness now had reason to regret, that, under the impulse of the -moment, he had not acted with his usual caution in thus crossing the -stream; for, although the river protected the rear of the little band, -the savages, by occupying the bank both above and below them, could -command the ford; and thus they were prevented from retreating without -being exposed to the fire of the Indians while crossing the stream, -while the latter would be under cover. - -In another manner they made their superiority in numbers tell to the -disadvantage of the settlers. Behind some of the largest trees, two -Indians stationed themselves, one standing, the other lying flat on -the ground; and whenever a settler, knowing that the Indian opposed to -him had fired, incautiously exposed himself to load, he was liable to -be hit by the other. Before this stratagem was discovered, three of the -settlers were killed, and several wounded. - -An Indian was stationed behind a large sugar-tree within half -rifle-shot of Harry Sumerford, and they had long been trying to kill -each other. At length the Indian fired, but missed; and Harry, knowing -his rifle was empty, stepped from behind his tree to take better aim, -and would have been shot by another (who, unbeknown to Harry, was lying -behind the same tree), but at that moment a rifle cracked, and the -savage fell over, shot through the head; and a well-known voice cried,-- - -"Zukkers! I've shot another Indian!" - -Looking round in surprise, Harry espied Tony Stewart, on his knees -behind a windfall, his rifle resting on it, the smoke yet rising from -the muzzle, and Sam also crouching behind the same tree. - -"You little plagues!" exclaimed Harry, "what sent you here right into -the thickest of the fire?" - -"If I hadn't been here," retorted Tony, "you'd 'a' been killed; for, -when I shot that Indian, he had his finger on the trigger." - -"Is that so?" - -"Yes," said Sam; "and there's two Indians behind most every tree." - -It came out, that, after being sent home by Holdness, they sauntered -off in that direction till beyond his notice, and then went along by -the bank of the river. There they found the raft on which Honeywood -and his party had crossed, and which they had set adrift. They sat -down on the raft, and waited till the conflict began, and the Indians -had fallen back; when, no longer able to resist the temptation, they -crossed on the raft. - -Once across, they crept along beneath the high bank near to where the -settlers were posted, and, concealing themselves among the drift-wood, -lay unnoticed till the Indians, returning by degrees, had obtained such -positions as to command the ford. - -There was now no such thing as sending them home; and well they knew -it, and no longer hesitated to show themselves and take part in the -conflict. - -Great was the alarm of the parents at home when Sam and Tony did not -make their appearance at the breakfast-table, and when they found their -beds had not been slept in. - -Their fears were by no means allayed when (after the most searching -inquiries of the other boys, mingled with threats of summary punishment -if they refused to tell) they ascertained, partly from Ike Proctor and -partly from Archie Crawford, where they had gone. - -"Did ever anybody in this world see such children?" said Mrs. -Sumerford. "That's what comes of letting them have rifles, tomahawks, -and scalping-knives, and bringing them up like wolves, as Mr. Honeywood -says." - -"It's a sair thing, nae doubt, to hae the weans sae greedy for fight -when they've nae come till't; still I ken there's nae knowledge mair -needfu' than the knowledge o' fighting in these waefu' times, for it's -just kill or be kilt," said Mrs. Stewart, who took a more practical -view of the matter. - -It was a source of great mortification to Sam Sumerford, that he had -never yet been able to kill an Indian, although Tony had killed two; -and he was prepared to incur any risk to accomplish that feat; and, -after long waiting, the opportunity was presented. - -The Indians are extremely dexterous in carrying away their dead, and -even during the time of action will generally contrive to remove or -conceal their bodies. - -Tony saw a savage conveying away the body of another who had been shot -by Holdness. Having fastened a line to the head of the corpse, this -savage, lying flat on the ground, taking advantage of every inequality, -was worming himself along, and almost imperceptibly drawing the body -after him. - -Sammy crept along after him, gradually drawing near, till within -short range. The body at length came in contact with a log: and, the -Indian cautiously raising himself from the ground to lift it over the -obstacle, Sammy, firing, killed him. - -Entirely occupied in endeavoring to accomplish his purpose, he had -crawled much farther than he was aware. The next moment an Indian, -rushing out of a thick clump of trees, caught the boy, and, holding him -before him as a protection from the fire of the settlers, began to walk -slowly backwards. - -A cry of horror arose from the ranks of the whites; while the Indians -filled the air with yells of exultation, and increased their fire to -prevent rescue. - -The Indian was within a few feet of the clump from which he had issued, -slowly retreating amid the silence of friends and foes, all intently -watching his progress, when the report of a rifle rung through the -forest, and the savage fell, shot through the very centre of his -forehead. - -"God bless you, Mr. Honeywood!" shouted Harry: "you had help to do -that." - -"I asked for it," was the reply, as he leaned against the tree behind -which he stood, pale and weak with emotion. - -The savages endeavored to shoot the lad as he lay on the ground; but -the noble fellow pulled the body of the savage over his own, thus -sheltering himself till Harry and Alex, rushing forward, rescued him, -Harry escaping unharmed, and Alex with a slight flesh-wound. - -"They are not such shots as Honeywood, or neither of you would have -come back," said Holdness. - -"Hope you've got enough of it now, youngster," said Harry as he put the -boy down. - -"I want to kill another Indian, and I mean to, 'cause Tony's killed -two." - -The settlers now found themselves in a position of great peril, being -too few in number to advance, while, at the same time, they could -not recross the ford without exposing themselves to the same fearful -slaughter which they had inflicted upon the Indians. - -The latter soon made it evident that they were fully sensible of their -advantage. With great skill and promptitude they made a raft which -they covered with brush, and on it placed their arms, then, swimming -alongside, pushed it across the stream, and, seizing their arms, took -the most direct route to the fort. - -"They'll capture the fort, and massacre our families," said Armstrong. -"We must brave their fire, cross the river, and go to the rescue at -whatever cost of life." - -"Not so," said Holdness. "If the fort was empty, they couldn't enter it -in a hurry. There's a choice man in command, who has no flinch about -him: the boys'll do good service at the loop-holes, and so will the -women, and the cannon rake the walls. We'll hold our ground till night, -and, if we must fall back, do it under cover of night." - -The Indians who remained now increased their fire, accompanied with -fearful yells. Their yells, however, went for nothing with the -settlers; and having, in consequence of detailing a part of their -number to attack the fort, reduced themselves to one man at each tree, -they were deprived of the advantage in shooting they at first enjoyed, -and inflicted no injury upon the settlers, while they, who never fired -at random, frequently brought the death-yell from some savage. - -Finding they were losing ground, and fruitful in expedients, some of -the Indians swam the stream, and brought over the raft that had been -used by their comrades, and, placing their arms on it, crossed to the -other side. - -Having rifles which had been furnished them by the French, and the -stream being narrow, they intended to attack the settlers in the rear -by firing across it, while sheltered themselves by the trees that -grew along the bank. In this manner they hoped soon to destroy their -stubborn and implacable foes, while the others should capture the fort. - -Concealed from the frontiersmen by a bend of the stream, they were -making their preparations. Holdness (versed in Indian wiles) suspected -their design by seeing a number of the warriors going in one direction. - -"Boys," said he, "one of you climb that bushy hemlock, and see what -these redskins, so many of them, are going over that knoll arter. -They're working some plot to circumvent us." - -Detecting by this means the intentions of their enemies, they quickly -threw up a breastwork of drift-wood and saplings, which they cut with -their tomahawks; and, when the Indians attained their position on the -opposite bank, they found the frontiersmen effectually intrenched, and, -foiled where they had counted on success, they hastened to aid in the -capture of the garrison. - -The Indians possessed quite an accurate knowledge of the number of -men in the Run, and knew by the firing and observation that there -could not be more than two or three men left in the fort, and felt no -apprehension in approaching quite near the walls. - -But they did not know there was a large number of boys, who, firing -from a rest, were as good or even better marksmen than themselves, were -most of them armed with rifles, that many of the women could shoot, -and that they were under the command of a man who was not inferior to -themselves either in subtlety or vindictive feeling. - -Observing the approach of the savages, Blanchard placed the boys at -the loop-holes, and with them Mrs. Honeywood, Joan, and Mrs. Holdness, -Mrs. Grant, Lucy Mugford, Mrs. Sumerford, Mrs. Stewart, and Maccoy's -wife, with orders to be ready, but not to put the muzzles into the loop -till they received a signal to fire. The large gun in the flanker, that -raked the whole side of the fort on which was the main entrance, and -that was loaded with bullets and buckshot to the muzzle, and concealed -by a bundle of straw flung over it, was given in charge of Will Grant, -one of Harry Sumerford's "Young Defenders," a cool, resolute young -fellow, in his nineteenth year. Thus there was no show of defence -visible from without. - -Blanchard said by way of encouragement, after counting the number of -the Indians: "Neighbors, there's no cause for alarm, not a mite: the -ambush was a raal thing, and give the imps a downright raking, I know -by the death-yells; and our folks are holding their own now, or else -they would have spared more Indians to come here; and, if I don't teach -'em a lesson that'll stick, my name's not Israel Blanchard, and I -wasn't born in the Eastern woods." - -The Indians, confident that the inmates of the fort were nearly all -women, and still more confirmed in the opinion by observing no guns at -the loop-holes, nor any persons on the platforms (for Blanchard had -ordered every one to keep out of sight, but to be ready at a moment's -notice), and a bundle of straw in the embrasure of the flanker, -approached the walls without the least hesitation, and one of them made -signals for a parley. Blanchard accordingly mounted to the platform -over the gate, and asked the spokesman what he wanted. - -"Pale-face let Indians come in, Indian no hurt him. Pale-face make -fight, then Indian take the fort, kill him." - -"You can't take this fort soon: we can hold it till our people come -back." - -"Your warriors never come back: most all dead. Delawares all round 'em, -shoot 'em down just like one pigeon." - -"You lie. I know the ground and the men; I can see the smoke of the -guns; they've got a good cover, have killed many of your people, and -will hold their own." - -Finding that he could not deceive the frontiersman in this way, the -savage changed his ground. "S'pose good many Indians keep your warriors -good while: we take the fort soon, then we kill squaw, pappoose, all, -every one, burn some. S'pose you give up, no hurt you." - -"We can kill a good many of you before you can take this fort, and if -we give up you'll kill all the same when you get us: so be off with -you," grasping his rifle. - -"Indian no hurt you," persisted the savage. - -"What will you do with us?" - -"Let you go to the Susquehanna. You no belong here: this Delawares' -land." - -"Will you let us take our cattle and mules and goods and arms?" - -"Every thing." - -"You told the people at Fort Granville if they would surrender you -wouldn't hurt 'em; and then you roasted the man who opened the gate to -you, butchered and scalped all but one, and would have killed him if -you could." - -"We killed them because they killed a good many of our people: you no -kill us, we no kill you." - -"Well, I'll open the gate." - -Blanchard made a great show of removing bolts and bars, the Indians -meanwhile eagerly crowding up to the gate and walls; and, perceiving -through a crevice in the timber that they were compact together, he -made a signal to Grant, who applied the match. - -"Ay!" cried McClure as he listened to the firing, "as pretty a volley -as one would want to hear, and the cannon too. That tells the story: -some of the sarpents have caught it. Israel Blanchard's not the man to -waste powder himself, nor to let anybody else." Israel threw the gate -open, and went out to look at the dead. - -"What makes you open the gate, Mr. Blanchard?" said his wife. - -"It might as well be open as shut: not another Indian will you see -round this fort to-day. They'll not come here agin in a hurry. A pretty -sprinkling of deed Indians: there's more money value in the scalps -lying here than in our whole harvest." - -He now proceeded coolly to tear the scalps from the heads of the slain. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -GATHERING COURAGE FROM DESPAIR. - - -The few savages who escaped fled in the direction of the river, where -they were met by the band coming to re-enforce them; and, being by no -means disposed to make another attempt upon the fort, they carried the -news of their defeat to the main body. - -Wrought up to frenzy by such repeated failures, and thirsting for -revenge, the Indians rallied all their energies for one decisive blow. - -Their numbers were now increased by the return parties; and, by holding -the edge of the bank both above and below the settlers, they were able -to command the ford with a cross-fire which seemed sufficient to insure -the destruction of any party that might attempt to cross. They were -favored in their plans by the shape of the shore, the settlers being in -the centre of a curve, while they held the two extremities, the ford -lying between. - -The wind, that had been gradually rising during the morning, now blew -a gale in the direction of the ford, and right across the position -occupied by the settlers. - -It was a period of drought, and the woods were full of combustible -material as dry as tinder. - -"What's that?" cried Holdness as he smelt the smoke. - -"They've set the woods afire," said McClure; "and we can take our -choice,--be burnt to death, or cross the ford in the face of their -fire. They've trapped us with a vengeance." - -A bright flame was now seen rising in several places, and creeping -along the ground behind the Indians' line, that now began to open right -and left as the flames came on rapidly before the wind, heralded by the -exulting shouts of the savages, who now felt their long-sought day of -vengeance had come, and began to mass their force along the bank as the -flames came on. - -Gathering courage from despair, the settlers prepared to dash across -the ford in a long line, hoping in this manner, and by the swiftness of -their passage, to escape in some degree the enemy's fire. - -"Follow me, neighbors!" shouted Honeywood: "there's death behind, and -no mercy before." - -His voice was drowned in a rattling volley, followed by the -death-shrieks of Indians, while far above the din rose the wild, -exulting, peculiar war-whoop of the Black Rifle, like nothing else in -the world as Holdness said, and which was instantly recognized both by -the settlers and their foes. - -This was immediately succeeded by the blast of a conch, by which he -directed those who from time to time followed his lead. - -Israel Blanchard, who was perched on the roof of the block-house, -listening anxiously to every sound that came from the battle-ground, -saw the flames rising, and understood but too well the object for which -they were kindled. Hard upon this came the volley, and the blast of the -horn. - -"It's the Black Rifle and his men: Nat's got 'em," shouted Blanchard. - -He flung open the gate, and rushed to the scene of conflict with all -the lads at his heels, whose yells justified abundantly their cognomen -of the "Screeching Catamounts." - -"I do believe Israel has lost his senses," said Mr. Seth, as he shut -and barred the gate his brother had left open in his headstrong flight. - -"Then he's lost a good deal," said Mrs. Sumerford, who heard the remark. - -They were too late to join in the conflict; for when they reached the -spot the Indians had fled, pursued by the Black Rifle and his band. - -From the scattered hints to be gathered from history and tradition, it -appears that there were quite a number of men very much like McClure -and Holdness, who were at any time disposed to follow the lead of -the Black Rifle, and to make up a scalping-party to kill Indians of -whatever tribe, although for the most part he preferred to go alone. - -Revenge was so sweet a morsel to this singularly constituted being, -that he was seldom willing to dilute by sharing it with others. - -The governor having offered a large bounty for Indian scalps, twelve -men were camping in the woods near the cave of Capt. Jack, waiting for -others who were to join them, and make up a party of twenty to start on -a scalping expedition; and, when Nat Cuthbert brought tidings of the -expected attack at Wolf Run, they marched on the instant. - -Their leader, discovering by the sound of rifles the exact position -of the Indians (whose attention was fully occupied with the enemies -in front), gained their rear unperceived, and poured in a fire every -bullet of which told. - -This most unexpected blow; the fearful slaughter at the fort, which -caused them to fear there were soldiers in it who might at any moment -bring a re-enforcement to the settlers, added to the terrible presence -of the Black Rifle, who the Indians believed bore a charmed life, -effectually discouraged them; and, though picked warriors, they sought -safety in flight. - -The losses of the settlers were less than might have been expected -from the duration of the contest, and the overwhelming odds against -which they fought. Heinrich Stiefel, David Blanchard, and Wood were -killed; and all except Harry Sumerford, Ned Armstrong, and Stewart were -wounded, but most of them slightly. - -"If this Indian war holds on much longer," said Holdness, "I shall have -to be made over; for I sha'n't have a square inch of flesh without a -scar, or a single bone without it's callous." - -Sammy Sumerford was found lying beside the dead body of the second -Indian he had killed, and was wounded. - -He instantly became an object of envy to all his mates, who crowded -around him. - -Stewart now for the first time became aware that his boy had been in -the action, Tony having been very careful to keep out of his father's -sight. Though several recollected having seen him during the conflict, -he could not be found. - -Stewart was very much moved; for, notwithstanding his rough ways, he -was a man of warm affections, ardently attached to Tony his only son; -and, though often vexed by the mischievous pranks of the lad, was -excessively proud of him; and instantly commenced an eager search, -assisted by his neighbors. - -"Dinna ye ken wha hae became o' my bairn?" said he to Sammy; "for I ken -richt weel ye canna be sundered by ordinar mair than soul and body. I -trust he's come by nae skaith." - -"He was down there by that log," said Sammy, pointing behind him, -"and said he was going to crawl to a spring he knowed about, and get -a drink, and wanted me to go too; but I didn't want to, because this -Indian was behind a little small tree, and I wanted to shoot him, -'cause Tony shot two Indians, and I wanted to. He went to the spring, -and I didn't see him after that." - -Stewart went in the direction pointed out by Sammy, found the spring, -the rifle of Tony, and the prints of his knees in the soft ground where -he had knelt to drink; but neither the lad nor his body could anywhere -be found. The spring was not far from the position occupied by the -Indians, and it was concluded that he had been seen and carried off -by them: but there were so many wounded, that pursuit was impossible; -and it was thought that the Black Rifle's band would be more likely to -rescue the lad than any party that could be sent from the Run. - -Holdness and others scalped the dead; and McClure told Stewart (without -thinking of what he was saying) to scalp the Indian Tony killed. - -"I winna he did nae want it done: I maist like'll nivir see him mair. I -hae been strict wi' him mayhap ower muckle, and I winna do it nor let -it be done." - -He then proceeded to cover the body with rotten wood, brush, and -leaves, McClure and Holdness helping him. As for Sammy, though his -moccason was full of blood from a flesh-wound in his thigh, he would -not consent to be moved until he obtained a solemn promise from Harry -that neither his two Indians, as he termed them (those he had shot), -nor Tony's, should be scalped, but covered up with brush; "because," -said Sam, "me and Tony and most of my company of the 'Screeching -Catamounts' don't believe in taking scalps. We feel just as Mr. -Honeywood does: he says it's a mean thing, and 'tain't right." - -Harry gave the promise. - -"Tony's father covered his Indian up, and wouldn't have him scalped," -said Johnny Crawford; "and we'll help cover up yours." - -Grant had a heifer that he was fatting, intending to kill her when the -weather became cool enough. This creature had been overlooked when the -rest of the cattle were driven into the stockade. - -The Indians, finding the animal, killed her, meaning, no doubt, after -butchering the settlers and setting the buildings on fire, to have had -a grand dance and feast of victory. - -She was dressed, the meat taken to the fort, and formed a meal for the -settlers. It was a singular assemblage: nearly every one had received -some injury. One had a patch on his head, where a bullet grazed; -another carried his arm in a sling; the hands of several were bound up. -Grant and Maccoy sat with their legs extended on stools, one being -wounded in the foot, the other in the thigh. There were three who were -wounded in such a manner, they had to be fed by others; and, in the -majority of the cases, the blood from the wounds had come through the -bandages. Nevertheless they were in high spirits at having defeated the -savages and saved their crops, and were resolved to enjoy themselves. - -"It's a sore thing ter have our neighbors killed by our side," said -Holdness; "and there's no one of us but feels for those who are -mourning the loss of husbands, fathers, and children; but we ought -certainly ter feel thankful it's no worse. It's a sad thing for -neighbor Stewart and neighbor Blanchard to lose their boys. A smart lad -was Tony, and David was a nice, likely young man, and had good larnin'; -but Stewart and his wife shouldn't be too much cast down. The Indians -won't kill Tony, that's sartain: they seldom do a boy of that age; -they've lost a great many men in this fight, and they'll adopt him to -fill up some gap, and treat him just like their own children." - -"The Black Rifle's people may rescue him," said Proctor; "or, when the -war is over, he can be redeemed." - -"I wad be loath our misfortune should mar the joy we a' suld feel, and -gratitude to One above," said Stewart, "seeing there's good ground for -hope in respect to the bairn. It's not like finding him on the field -with a tomahawk in his head, or a bullet in his breast." - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -A CONTRAST. - - -The next day was devoted to the burial of those killed in battle. -Directly afterwards, with that recklessness so characteristic of all -frontier population, they left the fort to occupy their own dwellings; -although, now that their wounds had become stiff, it was necessary -to haul some on sleds, and there were not able-bodied men enough to -furnish a scouting-party, nor to gather the harvest. - -But the frontier-women were equal to the exigency, and able to -assist the men who were well or slightly wounded. Most of the women, -especially those of Scotch descent, could handle the sickle. The -children likewise did their portion of the work, the boys in the field, -and the girls doing the housework while their mothers were harvesting. - -Frontier life is one of sharp contrasts, constituting, perhaps, its -charms for rugged natures. - -It was a clear day of bright sunshine: the women and every man who -could manage to work were busily employed. Mrs. Grant was singing at -her work; and the cheerful notes of the harvest-song floated up over -fields that but two days before echoed to the roar of cannon and the -war-whoop of the savage. - -"Indeed, neighbor McClure," said Mrs. Sumerford, wiping the sweat from -her brow, and laying the sickle over her shoulder as the horn blew for -dinner, "I don't mind the hard work nor the hot sun one mite: it's far -better to be reaping and getting bread for the children than to be -making shrouds for the dead, and putting dear friends and neighbors in -the grave, as we've been doing so often for the past year." - -"I dinna mind the work a windle strae," said Mrs. Armstrong. "I hae -reaped mony a bushel o' sowin' in my ain countrie, and whiles I like -better to be in the field than to do housework. Ay, I've reaped mony -a long day for sma' wages, and gleaned and wrought sair; but I like -better to be reaping my ain grain than ither people's. Is it not sae, -Jean Stewart?" - -"Indeed it is. We wad hae reaped nae grain of our ain had we bided in -bonnie Scotland, though oftenwhiles my thoughts will travel back among -the lochs and the braes where I first drew breath. I could na' keep the -tears frae running down my cheeks while Maggie Grant was singing; for -many's the time I've heard my auld mither sing those same words owre -her sickle, when I a wee bairn was gleaning after her." - -Sammy Sumerford could not bear to stay in the house with Jane Proctor, -who had engaged to mind the baby while Mrs. Sumerford was in the field, -and also to get dinner; and so persuaded his mates to carry him to the -field, and set him up against a stook of grain. They then brought him -some long coarse grass, of which he made bands to bind the grain. - -Here he found at work Holdness, whose chin was ploughed by a bullet -that had taken the skin and flesh to the bone. The wound, though not -dangerous, was extremely sore and sensitive. He could not reap, because -the heads of the grain that were very stout, brushing against his -chin, kept constantly irritating the wound. He therefore bound up the -sheaves, while Sam made bands for him; and, as both were wounded, they -frequently left off work to rest and talk. - -"Mr. Holdness, didn't you like Tony?" - -"Yes, I liked him much: he was a brave boy. I'm right sorry for his -loss. It's a loss ter all of us, as well as ter his father and mother." - -"I loved Tony: he's played with me ever since I can remember. I can't -remember the time I didn't play with Tony. I know I never shall love -another boy as well as I loved Tony. What will the Indians do to him, -Mr. Holdness? will they kill him?" - -"Kill him! no. I'll tell you. A good many of the Indians we killed the -other day were quite young men. When they get Tony to one of their -towns, some of the fathers or mothers of them what's killed will take -him for their own, in place of the one they've lost. That's the Indian -fashion." - -"Then they won't kill, scalp, nor roast him alive?" - -"No, indeed! If they could get hold of me or McClure, or Tony's father, -or Mr. Honeywood, they would torment us all they knew how; but, as for -him, they won't hurt a hair of his head: though if the Black Rifle -should overtake them, and they found they couldn't get away, they'd -tomahawk him in a minute before they would let the Black Rifle get him." - -"What do Indians want a white boy for?" - -"They want ter make an Indian of him. They'll be just as good ter him -and treat him just as well as they do their own, and larn him every -thing they know themselves. He won't get the lickin's he had at home, -for the Indians never strike their children." - -"When he gets bigger, he can run away and come home." - -"They'll watch him at first; and it won't be long afore he'll forget -his father and mother and everybody he knew, and turn into an Indian. -He won't have any thing white about him but his skin, and hardly that; -for they'll grease him, paint and smoke him, and he'll go half naked in -the sun and wind, till he's about as red as themselves. He'll come ter -have Indian ways and feelings, and never will want to leave 'em." - -"Oh, Mr. Holdness! Tony will never forget me and his father and mother -and sister. Mr. Holdness, Tony hates an Indian: he's killed two on 'em." - -"I tell you he'll turn into an Indian, just as a tadpole turns into -a frog, and like 'em just as much as he hates 'em now, and love his -Indian father and mother better than he loves his own father and -mother, and like their miserable way of living better'n the way he was -brought up in." - -"I don't see how it can be." - -"Neither do I; but I know it will if he stays among 'em any length -of time, which I hope to God he won't do, because every boy, or girl -either, that goes among the Indians at his age, does just so. But you -can't make a white man out of an Indian, any more'n you can make a hen -out of a partridge. But don't tell his folks what I've said, 'cause it -would make 'em feel bad." - -Holdness now took up a handful of bands, and went to tie up wheat. - -The boys talked the matter over after he was gone. Sammy appeared sad: -the tears stood in his eyes as he said,-- - -"Mr. Holdness never told me any thing before that I didn't believe -every word of: but I can't believe Tony could forget me; I'm sure I -never shall forget him." - -"I don't believe Tony will ever forget his sister Maud. He would do any -thing for Maud: he loved Maud more'n he loved himself," said Jim Grant. - -"I don't believe he'll forget Alice Grant neither," said Ike Proctor: -"'cause don't you know, Sammy, when we were going to have the party -down to Cuthbert's house, and you and I didn't want to have the gals, -he stuck up for havin' 'em, and 'twas only 'cause he wanted Alice Grant -to come." - -"I should think," said Dan Mugford, "they'd want to kill him, 'cause he -killed one of them; but perhaps they won't know as 'twas him who killed -him." - -"Mr. Holdness says they'll like him all the better for that; 'cause it -shows he's brave, and knows how to shoot, and they'll know he'll make a -great chief," said Johnnie Crawford. - -The boys could not possibly bring themselves to believe that Tony could -or would forget parents, playmates, kith and kin; and, the more they -discussed the matter, the more confirmed they became in their previous -opinion. - -The subject of conversation was now changed at the approach of the -girls, who, having done up their housework, had come to assist in the -field. - -"If they ain't going to have scouts out any more," said Dan Mugford, -"and the Indians have got scared and won't come any more, then why -can't they let us go swimming in the river?" - -"Yes: and we can have our bladders that we've been keeping so long, and -swim with 'em; and when the acorns, chestnuts, and walnuts are ripe, we -can go nutting," said Sam. - -"We can go with you, and have nice times, same as we did before the -war," said Maud Stewart. - -"There was ever so much powder in the Indians' pouches, and Mr. Holt -turned it into a basket: I saw him," said Ben Wood. "Maybe they'll give -us some; and then we can kill deer and coons, and all of us could kill -a bear." - -"I don't believe they'll let us go where we are a mind to," said Jim -Grant: "all the reason they don't send out scouts now is 'cause they -can't. There's so many wounded, there ain't enough men to go on the -scout, and get the grain too; and they've got to get the grain, 'cause -if they don't we won't have any thing to eat next winter." - -Thus the children speculated respecting the future, and lightened their -toil by building castles in the air. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -TREADING OUT THE GRAIN. - - -During the past season, wheat and other grain had assumed in the eyes -of the settlers a greater relative importance than ever before. - -Wheat, oats, and barley could be raised abundantly on the burnt land; -but hitherto there had been very little inducement to raise either of -those grains, because they could not make use of them as articles of -food to any extent, and they did not pay when carried to market. - -Corn had heretofore been their main dependence: that they could pound, -and make into bread. With corn they could keep and fatten swine; and, -in time of peace, hams paid when carried to market on pack-horses; and -pork was also the staple article of food. - -But the Indians and the mill had effected a complete revolution. The -different grains were now of more value to them than Indian corn, -because they could grind the grain. The Scotch could have their -oatmeal; and the others, wheat flour, barley, and rye, to mix with -their corn-meal; and they were delivered from the drudgery of the -hominy-block. - -It was less work to sow grain than to plant corn and hoe it: therefore -there was less exposure to Indians while doing it. Grain was not so -much exposed to the depredations of crows, blue-jays, coons, squirrels, -deer, and bears. Deer could be kept out by fences, but birds, bears, -coons, and squirrels could not. - -When a bear enters a corn-field, he goes among the corn, sits on his -breech, stretches out his paws, and, gathering between them all the -corn he can reach, lies down on the heap, and munches the ears that lie -on top; then going along, breaks down more, thus destroying a great -deal more than he eats. The coons make up in numbers what they lack in -size, and are often more destructive than the bears. There is nothing, -except honey, that bears and coons love so well as corn in the milk: -the grain does not possess such attraction. - -There was still another reason that diminished the importance of corn -in the opinion of the settlers at this juncture of their affairs. Corn -had obtained its paramount importance because it was the best, and, -indeed, was considered the only food suitable for fattening swine; -and pork, beef, and corn-bread were the great staples of life. But -neither pork nor beef could be preserved without salt, and salt could -be procured (while the country was filled with hostile Indians) only -with great labor and at the risk of life. In the grain, however, that -the mill enabled them to make use of, they found a substitute; and so -much less pork and other meat was required, that, with what salt they -had on hand, they could, by securing a good grain-crop, preserve meat -sufficient to carry them through the winter. - -In this condition of things the settlers had planted but little corn, -and kept but few hogs, but had sown a large breadth of wheat, rye, -oats, barley, and pease, and planted a good many beans; intending to -eat more bread and less meat, as cattle and hogs were liable to be -killed by Indians, and hunting and fishing could only be prosecuted at -the risk of life. - -The harvest was abundant; and the settlers were making the most -strenuous efforts to secure it, although many of them worked in misery -by reason of their wounds. Those who had the use of but one arm brought -the sheaves to the stacks with the other. Those who had the use of both -arms, but were wounded in the leg, made bands for the binders; or going -about the house on crutches, with a child to help them, superintended -the cooking while their wives and mothers were at work in the field. -Some who were wounded in the head or trunk of the body managed to rake -together in bunches for the binders. - -Our young people will thus perceive the importance of the grain-crop to -the settlers, and likewise why they were willing to incur so fearful -a risk to preserve it, when they might have remained behind their -defences, and repulsed the foe with safety to themselves. - -When the wheat was put in stooks, the other grains housed, and the -pease and beans secured, the wounded and the women were excused from -labor. - -There was still, however, much to be done; for so long as the grain -was in the stack, or even in the barns, it was liable to be destroyed -by Indians, and even more so, as it was more compact. In order to be -secure, it must be inside the fort. - -Threshing with flails was hard work, in which the wounded could not -engage, and it was a slow process. It was necessary to lose no time, as -they might be attacked again. - -When the mill was built, some plank were left; and with a whip-saw -Israel Blanchard and Seth manufactured some more, and laid a platform -on the ground near the fort, within rifle-shot, and built a fence -around it. - -On this platform they laid a great flooring of grain; and having kept -the horses and mules without food over night, and exercised them -beforehand to empty their stomachs, turned them into the enclosure, and -drove them over the grain with whips. - -When one flooring was threshed they put on another, and thus beat out -the grain much faster than they could have done it by hand, had they -all been in a condition to labor. - -The grain, chaff and all, was carried into the stockade, and put on the -floor of the block-house and flankers in heaps. It was now safe from -foes and weather. Afterwards, as the wind served, it was carried out -and winnowed on the same platform. The mill afforded an excellent place -in which to store it, being dry, and well ventilated by loop-holes. - -The settlers now obtained the rest so much needed; and the greatest -care was bestowed upon the wounded, who had evidently not been -benefited by the labor absolute necessity had compelled them to -perform. Such is the life of a people living on the frontiers during -an Indian war. Wherever you go, and whatever you are doing, it is -necessary to be armed and on your guard; for life is the forfeit of -negligence. You can never commence any work with the certainty of -finishing it. When you lie down at night, the weapon must be within -reach of your hand. - -The human mind possesses a wonderful power of adapting itself to -circumstances, and becoming reconciled to those apparently calculated -to produce prolonged torture. Surrounded by too many _real_ causes of -anxiety to concern themselves about _imaginary_ ones, these people, -when not under the pressure of actual suffering, were cheerful, patient -in trial; and no one entering their families would have suspected -from appearances that they were at any moment liable to be called to -struggle for their lives, and also perfectly sensible of it. - -During the stormy times we have described, Scipio was nowhere to be -found. It was in accordance with the usual course of things for Scipio -and Mr. Seth to retire from action in times of danger. - -It was taken for granted that the negro had concealed himself -somewhere, and would appear when the danger was past. During the season -of greatest peril, all were too much occupied to waste a thought on the -matter; but Scipio was an excellent reaper, and when they began to cut -the grain the black was both missed and needed. - -"Boys, what has become of Scip? Hunt him up. He's hid away somewhere," -said his master. - -"We have hunted, Mr. Blanchard," said Archie Crawford, "in the -potato-hole, under the pig-pen, in the flankers, and everywhere we -knowed; and can't find nothing on him." - -"Perhaps he's hid away in the old Cuthbert house." - -"No, sir: we've looked there and in the mill." - -The matter was dropped for the time; but when the harvest was -gathered, and no Scip made his appearance, there was a general -anxiety manifested, for the negro was a valuable member of the little -community. He was a good mechanic, his master having taught him the use -of tools. He was very strong and good at any kind of farm work. Unlike -most slaves, he was not indolent, and would allow no man to outdo him. -He was a great wrestler, and could jump and run with the best; he was -also an excellent shot at a mark, any small game, or deer, but was too -much of a coward to face a wolf or bear. He was an excellent cook, and -a great favorite with the good wives. Nobody could bring the butter -so quick, or tie a broom to the handle so fast, as Scip: and he was a -capital basket-maker, a lucky fisherman, could sing and play on the -jew's-harp, and beat a drum. - -Scip loved the children with all his heart; and they returned his -affection with interest, and shared whatever they had with him, though -they sometimes amused themselves by working on his dread of the -Indians. Scip had two prominent failings,--he would steal eggs, and lie -to cover the theft. - -It was not at first thought possible that the black, who cherished -a chronic fear of Indians, would leave the fort, a place of safety; -but, when every part of it had been searched in vain, Israel Blanchard -said,-- - -"It's plain he's not in the garrison: he's taken to the woods, and -got lost; or else he's got into the river to hide, and the current's -carried him off, and he's drowned." - -"He may have got lost in the woods," said Holdness, "that's likely -enough; but there's not water enough in Raystown branch to drown that -darky: he swims like an otter." - -"I'll tell you what to do," said Mrs. Honeywood: "take something Scip -has worn, a stocking or shirt, let Fan smell of it, and set her to -seek; she'll find if he's above ground, or, if he's under ground, -she'll find where he's buried." - -"It's too late, wife: the scent's all gone, long ago. The slut can't -track him." - -"Well, then," said Harry Sumerford, "we boys'll take all the pups and -the old slut to boot; and, between them and ourselves, we'll find him." - -Harry, the young men, and all the children started with no less than -seven dogs, and went in different directions through the woods, the -dogs being divided among them. - -Cal Holdness and Harry were together, accompanied by Fan; the slut -running through the woods, and then returning to them. At length they -heard her barking at a distance in the woods. - -"She's treed something," said Harry,--"most like a bear or a coon. A -bear ought to be in decent order now." - -Following the sound, they found Fan sitting at the butt of a great -pine. As they approached, she began to bark, whine, and scratch the -dead bark off the roots of the tree. - -"A bear wouldn't be denning this time of year. I'll wager it's Scip," -said Harry. - -The tree was nearly dead; had a short butt, that, after running about -eighteen feet, divided into three large branches; and an ash, uprooted -by the wind, lay in the crotch. After quieting the dog, Harry, standing -at the foot of the tree, began to call Scip by name, and tell him that -the Indians were gone. For some fifteen minutes there was no answer; -but at length Scip's woolly head appeared in the crotch of the tree, -and by degrees was followed by his body. Harry and Cal always contended -that he was pale. - -"Come down here, Scip," shouted Cal: "the Indians are gone." - -"Won't dey come back?" - -"Not without they come from another world: we've killed most of 'em." - -"Hab dey killed Massa Blanchard and all de rest but you?" - -"No: they haven't killed but three,--Mr. Stiefel, Wood, and David -Blanchard. Come down." - -Scip, now satisfied, quickly descended along the trunk of the windfall, -to the great joy of Fan, who almost flung him down, jumping on him, and -licking his black face. - -"How did you know about that tree, Scip?" said Harry. "How'd you know -'twas hollow?" - -"Massa McClure kill a bear dere last fall." - -When Scip heard that more than a hundred Indians were coming to attack -the fort, he felt sure they would take it, and determined to flee -to this tree, taking provisions with him. When asked how he came to -take that course, he replied that he recollected when the Indians -killed Alexander McDonald's family, that his nephew Donald was at some -distance from the house, in the woods, and, by hiding away there, saved -his life; and so he thought it best to hide in the woods, for he knew -the Indians would take the fort. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -A LITTLE SUNSHINE. - - -A week had passed since the occurrence of the events just narrated. - -It was a sunny morning; and Mrs. Sumerford was busily employed in -weaving, having in the loom a web of linen. - -The dwelling of this motherly woman, so much beloved by her neighbors -and especially by all the young fry, was a log house of the rudest -description; still there was about it that air of neatness and comfort -that a thrifty woman will create under almost any circumstances. - -The walls were of rough logs, and the openings between them stuffed -with moss; but it was driven as hard as the oakum in a vessel's seams, -and trimmed at the edges with a sharp knife. The bullet-proof shutters -were hung with wooden hinges from the top, and, instead of sliding, -swung up to the chamber floor, that was made of peeled poles. - -The kitchen presented one feature not precisely in keeping with the -rest of the house; namely, a nice board floor, which, after the -advent of the whip-saw, Harry had substituted for the original one of -flattened poles (or puncheons). - -In one corner was a bedstead; for the room served the different -purposes of kitchen, sleeping-room, and place of common resort. At the -windows were curtains of bulrushes; the floor was white and sanded; and -the bed boasted a linen spread, beautifully figured. In a side room was -the loom at which Mrs. Sumerford was weaving. All the clothing for four -boys and herself was spun and woven from flax and wool, and made up by -this goodly, pains-taking woman, who, though extremely sensitive in -respect to any danger that menaced her family, did not hesitate, as we -have just seen, to handle the rifle in their defence. - -Stretched at full length on the hearth, lay a white-faced bear sound -asleep, with his right paw on his nose; and between his hind and fore -legs was the baby, also sound asleep, his head pillowed on the bear, -and his right hand clutching the creature's fur. - -Sammy, with his wounded leg resting in a chair, was making a fancy -cane, by peeling the bark from a stick of moose-wood in a serpentine -curve, and so as to show the white wood in contrast with the dark and -mottled bark. - -Alex and Enoch were dressing each other's wounds, and permitting the -dog to lick them; the tongue of a dog being considered, by the frontier -folks, a wonderful specific for healing gun-shot wounds. - -Harry was on his knees in the corner of the fire-place, running -bullets, and melting his lead in a wooden ladle. Somebody may wonder -how he could melt lead in a wooden ladle. Well, he made the fire -inside, with bits of charcoal; and, as the coal was lighter than the -lead, when the latter melted, the charcoal and dust floated on top, -and could be blown off. The ladle burned up after a while, but not -very speedily; and it cost nothing but a little work to make another. -All were busily engaged; and there was little to break the quiet of -the morning, save the monotonous sound of Mrs. Sumerford's loom, as -she sprung the treadles, and beat up the filling with the beam, when -a great clamor of voices was heard outside, and a whole flock of -children, girls and boys, rushed in at the open door. - -The dog began to wag his tail, and rub up against the children for -recognition. The bear took his paw from his nose, and gaped, showing -his white teeth; but, as the baby did not wake, went to sleep again. - -"Well, well, what's in the wind now?" said Mrs. Sumerford. - -"Don't you think, Mrs. Sumerford," cried Bobby Holt, "they've given -us some of the powder what the Indians that was killed had in their -pouches; and we're going to shoot wild pigeons, and go in swimming: we -hain't been in swimming this year." - -"Us girls," said Maud Stewart, "are going after blueberries on the -mountains, while the boys are gunning and swimming." - -"I wish I could go," said Sam. - -"We'll bring you some pigeons, and you can go with us when you get -well," said Archie Crawford. - -"I don't know about you children going in the woods. Who told you you -might go?" said Mrs. Sumerford. - -"Mother said we might go," said Jane Holt. - -"Father said I might go," said Ike Proctor. - -"Did Mr. Holdness, or McClure, or Mr. Honeywood, know you were going?" - -"I don't know as they did; but father said the Indians had had such a -browsing lately, they'd be shy of meddling with Wolf Run folks for a -spell." - -"That wouldn't hinder them from prowling round, and snapping you up. -Only think of Prudence Holdness. There hadn't been an Indian sign -seen anywhere, and she only went out to pick a few herbs for her sick -father, and was carried off; and it was of God's mercy, and of the -Black Rifle, that she ever got back." - -"We've got guns, we know how to shoot, and we'll shoot 'em," said -Archie proudly, "if they come near us." - -"Oh, my! hear the roosters crow. You won't be behind the loop-holes -down there in the woods.--What do you think of it, Harry?" - -"Let 'em go, mother: I don't think there's any danger. Only look at it: -these children were cooped up in garrison all winter; in the spring -they had but little liberty, for since Prudence Holdness was carried -off they have been kept in; and it's a hard case." - -"Well, Harry, I sha'n't have one minute's peace if they do go." - -"Well, mother, let 'em go; and, if you feel so, I'll get Mr. Holdness -and Nat Cuthbert, and we'll take our guns and follow 'em. You know we -haven't got so many hogs this year as usual, and the pigeons help out -the pork-trough. I think we ought to kill all the game and catch all -the fish we can." - -"O mother!" cried Sammy: "you've got flour now; and won't you make some -berry-pies, and a pigeon-pie with crust, for me, 'cause I'm wounded and -can't go? Won't you, ma'am?" - -"Yes; but I don't feel, I can't feel, it's what ought to be, for all -these children to go into the woods, even if the men do go. Three of -'em can't have their eyes everywhere, and watch so many; and they may -shoot each other, so many guns in children's hands." - -Mrs. Sumerford sat down to her loom in a frame of mind far from quiet. - -"We wanted Scip to go," said Jim Grant, "and Mr. Blanchard said he -might: he was dying to go, but he was so scared of the Indians! but if -Mr. Holdness, Harry, and Nat go, he won't be. I'll go and get him, and -come after with him and the men." - -Whatever Mrs. Sumerford's opinion might be in respect to the -capabilities of the children, she knew very well that Harry would not -come home empty-handed. So after an early dinner, she got out the sieve -(a moose-hide punched full of holes with a burning-iron) and flour, and -mixed the dough ready for use when needed. - -First came the girls, with their pails full of berries; then the boys, -each with a load of pigeons slung on his gun; finally Harry came with -as many as he could carry, saying he believed there were half as many -pigeons in the woods as leaves on the trees. - -Sammy wanted all of them to stay to supper, especially Scip. Mrs. -Sumerford, who could never have too many children round her, was as -desirous to have them stop as was Sammy; but she said it would never -do, because they would want to stop and play a while after supper, and -their parents would think the Indians had carried them off. Didn't Mr. -Crawford go out to shoot pigeons, and come within one of being shot by -an Indian, and would have been, hadn't the hog took at the Indian? - -The children wanted so much to stay, and Sammy was so anxious to have -them, that Nat Cuthbert, who came in with Harry, said he would get on -the horse and take some pigeons (as there were ten times as many as -they could eat), and give to the families around, and tell them the -children were safe. - -"Well, Scip," said Mrs. Sumerford, "if you are going to stop, you may -make the pigeon-pie, and I'll make the berry ones." - -This announcement was received with shouts by the children, for they -well knew Scip had no rival for getting up a savory mess. - -After he had washed his face and hands, Mrs. Sumerford put an apron on -him, and he set to work. - -The girls picked over the berries, and the boys plucked the -pigeons. There were many hungry mouths, and Scip made corresponding -preparations. There was no oven: but Scip lined a kettle with crust, -put in his pigeons and other things, and put on the upper crust; then, -putting a large iron bake-pan over the mouth of the kettle, set it on -the coals, and filled the pan with hot coals. - -Mrs. Sumerford's plates were all either wood or pewter; but she was -better off than some, for she had one large earthen pan for milk, and -one smaller one. She made her pie in the small one, and baked it in the -Dutch oven which she borrowed from Mrs. Honeywood for the occasion: she -also made a berry-cake, and baked it on a board set before the fire, -with a stone behind to hold it up. Potatoes were baked in the ashes. - -Notwithstanding the lack of the customary utensils, and more than all -of an oven, she made a capital pie: it was not only good, but a good -deal of it. Scip was equally successful, and made a glorious pie. - -"Dere, chillen [setting it on the table in the kettle], he good stew -ebber man put in his mouf: under crust done, upper crust jes brown." -The very dog began to lick his chops as he inhaled the savory smell. - -After the repast they decorated the house with boughs of sassafras, -locusts, wild flowers, and the pods of the cucumber-tree, and Scip -played on the jew's-harp. You would have thought they had just got out -of prison, they were so wild and full of tickle; and in one sense they -had, having been confined to a limited circle around their homes, kept -hard at work in the field, or set to fight for their lives with the -Indians. - -None of the inmates of the garrison, old or young, were so supremely -happy as Scip; and before they separated he hugged the children all -round, and they hugged him, and Dan Mugford made the philosophical -reflection, that if the Indians had killed them all, Scip never could -have made that pie, nor could they have enjoyed the pleasure of eating -it. - -The children now naturally supposed that the bars were all to be taken -down, and that they were to enjoy their old-time liberty: therefore the -next morning, the moment the chores were done and the cattle turned to -pasture, they were about to set forth on a fishing expedition, when, to -their no small surprise and grief, they were told that this liberty had -been granted them because of their long confinement in close quarters, -and also to show how highly their good behavior and pluck (when the -fort was threatened by the Indians) was appreciated, but that they -could not go again for a week at least. It would be useless for me to -attempt to describe how slowly and wearily the hours dragged along for -some days. The settlers were restricted from hunting as much as usual, -on the account of the risk of life and scarcity of powder and lead. -They had raised a less number of cattle and hogs, because the animals -were liable to be killed by prowling Indians in the pasture, and there -was a lack of salt with which to preserve pork and beef. - -In this condition of affairs, the settlers, ever fruitful in -expedients, hit upon another method to supply themselves with food, -namely, by rearing a great number of fowls. These could be kept on -grain, of which they had an abundance, and, in the event of their being -compelled to live in garrison, could be kept very well inside the -stockade; and the eggs and flesh would afford a constant supply of food. - -The children were therefore encouraged to raise chickens and other -kinds of fowl; and they engaged in the business with a will. They -set every hen, duck, and turkey, that wanted to sit, and a good many -that did not; fastening them on the nests with baskets and boxes of -birch-bark, and even tying them on with strings. When, as was often -the case, two hens had each a small brood of chickens, they gave both -broods to one hen to bring up, in order that the other might go to -laying; and the same with turkeys and ducks. - -The greatest rivalry took place among the boys, each anxious to carry -off the palm. Cut off from their ordinary sources of amusement, they -gave their whole soul to this work, till fowl increased to such a -degree that Holdness said, "You can't step without treading on eggs or -chickens, nor go into the hovels to look for any tool, but a sitting -hen will fly up in your face." - -Those were glorious days for Scip: he could steal all the eggs he -wished to; there were so many, no one suspected him. - -Archie Crawford had reared a noble flock of ducks, of which he was -excessively proud. He took great delight in watching them, as, after -being let out in the morning, they waddled off to the swamp in Indian -file, the bright colors on the necks of the drakes glistening in the -rays of the morning sun, returning at night in the same manner. - -Three of those dreary days had passed; and, on the morning of the -fourth, Archie had fed and was watching his ducks as they ate up the -corn. With him were Bobby Holt and Ike Proctor. The faces of the boys -were clouded, and they added to their discontent by talking about the -hard experience they were just then undergoing. - -Their conference was interrupted by the loud "quack, quack," of the old -drake as he started for the swamp, the ducks and young drakes falling -into line behind him, with responsive but more subdued quacks. - -"Wish I was a duck!" said Archie moodily. - -"What do you want to be a duck for?" said Ike Proctor. - -"'Cause I could go to the swamp or the river, go a-fishing or frogging, -or anywhere I had a mind to, then; but, 'cause I'm only a boy, I have -to stay in prison." - -Hugh Crawford, who was putting a handle to an axe before the door, -heard the remark. The disconsolate tone in which it was uttered touched -him; and he said,-- - -"You shall go fishing, Archie; and Ike and Bobby too. I'll take my -rifle, and go with you, as soon as I put this axe-handle on, and wedge -it." - -The boys ran to get their lines and bait, and were soon following the -trail of the ducks. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -LIBERTY IS SWEET. - - -The wounded men were now rapidly recovering; and, in proportion as -their means of defence increased, the anxieties of the settlers -diminished; and, feeling that it was hard treatment of the children to -deprive them altogether of going upon these excursions, so dear to the -young, they followed the example set by Hugh Crawford. First one and -then another would take three or more children with them into the woods -and to the river, shooting pigeons, picking berries, and catching fish; -and this all helped the food supply. Very little powder was expended -in killing pigeons, they were so numerous; and thus it was felt that -the operation paid. Thus, also, in respect to the powder given to the -children: they were allowed but a small quantity; if they wasted it, -and did not make good shots and bring home either the powder or an -equivalent in game, they got no more, and had to content themselves -with the bow and arrow, with which weapon they could kill pigeons, -wild turkeys, coons, and even fish in shoal-water. This tended to make -them accurate marksmen, a matter of vital importance to the settlers; -and therefore they seldom begrudged the powder and lead given to the -children. - -This arrangement operated very well for a time, it was in such pleasant -contrast with the previous rigorous confinement; but it soon wore -threadbare, and the children began to complain that they didn't have -any good times. They didn't want to go out two or three together, under -guard, they didn't like to fool afore the men; but they wanted to go -out by themselves, just as they always did. - -When the majority of those who were wounded had recovered, a strong -scout was sent out, as formerly; and the children (with many misgivings -on the part of the anxious mothers, and abundance of cautions that were -forgotten the next moment) were allowed to go. - -At the welcome announcement, boys and girls rushed whooping to the -pastures, bearing guns, tomahawks, and baskets, in addition to which -each boy carried, tied to his person, a number of inflated bladders. - -The extravagant spirit of boyhood vented itself in various ways; some -procured sticks, and, getting astride of them, pranced and neighed like -horses; some rolled over on the grass, turning somersaults; others -played with the dogs that accompanied them; while a few found great -enjoyment in simply shouting to imaginary Indians to come on. - -"There'll be something going on now, you may depend," said Mrs. -Mugford, as she looked after the party, "since Sammy Sumerford has got -well of his wound, and is among 'em." - -The jubilant troop kept together till near the river, where they -separated, the girls going to a high bluff where berries grew, and the -boys to the river, as they said, to go in swimming, although none of -them, except Sam Sumerford, Fred Stiefel, and Jim Grant, could swim -more than half a dozen strokes. - -There was a short bend in the river, quite narrow, in the middle of -which was a deep hole. Those who could dive amused themselves by -seeing who of them could dive to the bottom and bring up two handfuls -of mud as an evidence of success; and the stream in this place was so -narrow, that, with two or three strokes, they could reach shoal-water. -The others began to float and try to swim on bladders. Ever since the -previous winter, these boys had been imagining what a great time they -would have swimming on bladders whenever they were again allowed to be -at liberty, and had added fuel to the fire by talking it over amongst -themselves; but, after all, it did not prove upon trial such excellent -fun as they had anticipated. - -They could, to be sure, float about as long as they pleased; but it -is necessary to lean forward to swim, and the bladders held them -perpendicularly in the water, like a spindle buoy on a ledge; and they -found it hard work to make any progress in the water. They therefore -soon became tired, and abandoned them for logs that they could push -wherever they liked. As the bladders had not been as useful as they -expected, nor productive of so much amusement, Sammy proposed to make a -raft of them. - -This suggestion was unanimously approved. They selected dry logs from -the drift-wood, and lashed several of them together with cedar bark; -for these boys were apt scholars, and had learned from their elders the -backwoods arts. The raft was long in proportion to its breadth, and -held together by crossbands about two feet apart. They had brought more -than thirty bladders, nearly all belonging to the last year's crop of -hogs, some from hogs killed the year before, a few having been given to -their mothers to put lard and bear's grease in, and others to be used -as syringes for cleansing wounds. - -The bladders were secured to the poles by strings made of bark stripped -very fine, and which while green is quite strong. - -After fastening them to the upper side of the raft, they turned it -over, thus bringing them underneath. It was a magnificent affair, -twenty feet long by ten wide, and floated as light as a feather, -although the poles were of small size, because buoyed up by the great -number of bladders that were placed under the ends. - -They had made it large enough to carry themselves and the girls, who -were to dine with them, and whom they intended to give a sail on the -raft. The boys were exceedingly proud of their workmanship, and often -exclaimed,-- - -"Isn't it nice? Wouldn't Tony Stewart like to be here?" - -Ike Proctor and Archie Crawford now went to shoot pigeons; others built -a fireplace, and brought wood and clay in which the birds were to be -enveloped and baked. The girls, who were expected to cook the dinner, -had brought bread, salt, spoons, and knives. Birch-bark furnished -plates, and likewise drinking-cups that were made by folding the bark -in a peculiar way, and sticking thorns at the corners. - -This is a very nice way to make drinking-cups or a vessel to hold sap -in; it is done in a moment, but it is not easy to describe. While this -was going on, Sammy and Will Redmond cut long poles with which to move -and steer the raft. - -All was now ready, and they shoved off, holding in their hands boughs -to catch the breeze; and away they went before the wind and current, -laughing, shouting, and enjoying themselves to the top of their bent. - -No such good time as that could the older people have got up for them. -Children are best by themselves, even if they do meet with head-flaws -once in a while, and pay the penalty of rashness. Experience must be -obtained in this way, to a greater or less extent. - -They had a splendid sail down stream, but were obliged to push the raft -back with setting poles, and against the stream. However, it was not -very hard work, as they kept near the bank where the current was not -very strong, and in some places an eddy-current setting up stream. - -They had just commenced another voyage, and were discussing a proposal -of Jim Grant to coax their mothers to make them a flax rope, or, -failing in this, to persuade Uncle Seth to make a bark one for them, in -order that they might be able to anchor their raft, and fish from it, -when all at once the bladders under the after end of the raft floated -out, the bark strings that fastened them having become slippery by -being wet; and they went souse into the stream. They, however, regained -the raft, and held by the forward end that was supported by the -bladders, and managed to keep their heads out of water. In this shape -they drifted along towards a large rock that rose in the middle of -the stream, and upon which they made out to scramble just as the raft -came to pieces, and the logs and bladders went drifting down stream. -Though safe, they were not in a very enjoyable position. The rock was -so far from either bank, that no one of them felt equal to the task of -swimming to the land in order to obtain help for the rest. - -In plain sight on the bank lay the pigeons and all the preparations for -cooking. The girls would soon be along to get dinner; and they were -cooped up on a rock in the middle of the stream. - -"Mr. Holdness," said Will Redmond, "has got a dug-out behind his house, -what they sometimes go down to Mr. Honeywood's place in; and they'd -come and get us, if they only knowed we were here." - -"Let's screech," said Ike. - -They did screech: the "Catamounts" never screeched louder; but the -wind was blowing against them, and they screamed themselves hoarse, to -no purpose. The wind, however, that carried the sound from the fort -and the dwellings, bore it to the ears of the girls, who, terribly -frightened, dropped their pails and baskets, and ran to the nearest -house, which happened to be Armstrong's, with eyes full of tears, -panting, and screaming that Indians were killing the boys, and then ran -to spread the tidings. - -Armstrong, his son Ned, and Will Grant (who happened to be there), -seizing their rifles, hastened to the river, and, when arriving where -they could see the boys, slacked their speed, much wondering how they -came on that rock. The next moment the alarm-gun at the fort sent out -its summons; and Stewart, Holdness, Harry Sumerford, and McClure came -running to the spot. - -Harry was sent round to stop the women who were fleeing to the fort; -and Ned Armstrong crossed the ford to tell the scouts who were seen in -the distance, hastening home, that it was a false alarm. - -They were now in no haste to relieve the boys. - -"Let 'em screech," said Holdness: "it's the best place for 'em. I don't -know but 'twould be a good thing to leave 'em there all night and -to-morrow, to supple 'em a little." - -After some little time, the dug-out was hauled down, and the boys -brought to the bank. They begged hard to be allowed to keep the -dug-out; but the parents were so much provoked with them on account of -the alarm and anxiety they had occasioned, that the entreaty met with a -stern denial. - -Congratulating themselves that they were not ordered home and shut up -(as they fully expected to be when they saw how angry the old folks -were), and joined by the girls, who sympathized with them, they made -the best of their misfortune. - -Some of the boys kindled the fire, others brought the berries from -the mountain (the girls having dropped their baskets when they heard -the screams of the boys), and Maud Stewart and Jane Proctor began the -cooking. - -They had an excellent dinner, and the best time imaginable, eating, -lolling on the grass, drying themselves in the sun, talking over their -mishap with the girls, and telling them all about it, and that they -were going to give them a sail after dinner if the raft had not come to -pieces. - -"Let's go pick up the bladders, and make another," said Sam. - -"If we do," said Dan, "maybe 'twill come to pieces; and we don't want -to get the girls on it, and have it come to pieces, and drown 'em. I -think we've made fuss enough for one day." - -"Why don't you coax Uncle Seth to make one? then it won't come to -pieces," said Maud. - -"He's so frightened of Indians, you never could get him to come down -here. I'll coax mother to get our Harry and Knuck and Elick to come -here, and shoot pigeons, and guard him; then he'll come," said Sam. "My -mother'll do most any thing for me now, 'cause I've been wounded; and -so my brothers will, 'cause they know I haven't got Tony to play with -me any more, never." - -"Oh, how I do wish this Indian war would be done!" said Alice Proctor; -"then we could go anywhere without being afraid, and our mothers -wouldn't be all the time worrying. I think it's awful: seems as though, -if it keeps on, we shall all be killed, because we keep having fights, -and, every time we have a fight, somebody's killed. There's more of the -Indians than there is of us; and so they'll keep coming till we are all -killed." - -"If it wa'n't for the Indian war, we shouldn't have guns of our own, -and so much powder and lead," said Jim Grant. - -"They wouldn't think so much of us, neither," said Fred Stiefel. "We -wouldn't be nothing but boys: now they count on us. Didn't they set us -to hold the fort, and stand watch? and didn't we kill a lot of Indians? -I tell you, we'd 'a' got an awful lickin' to-day if it hadn't been for -what we did this time and the other time, when the Indians tried to -take the fort." - -"I know Mr. Armstrong wanted to lick us, and Mr. Holdness said we all -ought to have a good beating; and we'd got it, if 'twa'n't for our -fighting so well. I'd ruther kill Indians than pull flax," said Sam. - -"I'd ruther fight, and be wounded too," said Archie Crawford, "than -knock sprouts off the stumps, and pull fire-weed all day." - -"Fightin' ain't so bad," said Sam. "I love to fight. When it's all -still, just afore they begin, and the Indians come, lookin' so savage, -all painted, a body feels kind of bad; but when the Indians begin to -yell, and you begin to yell, and the rifles crack, and Mr. Blanchard or -Mr. Honeywood sings out, 'Now we'll see who's a man and who's a mouse! -fire!' then the bad feelin's all gone. Nobody wants to be a mouse: and -you don't care one bit after the first of it." - -"If it hadn't been for the Indian war," said Archie Crawford, "my -father wouldn't have been killed, and Dan's father, and Fred's." - -"They might have died," said Sammy. - -"They couldn't have died, if they hadn't been killed nor hurted." - -"Yes, they might: folks die 'cause they're sick." - -"I don't believe that nobody in this Run ever died 'thout they was -killed. How can anybody die, 'cept they're killed or drownded? they -can't, I know." - -"I tell you they can: they'll be took sick, and grown all pale, and -their flesh'll all go away, and they'll go to bed, and grow weak; and -bime-by they'll get so weak they can't live. I've heard my mother say -how her father died. Mr. Holdness might have died. Mother says the -rheumatism what he had kills folks sometimes." - -"I had a little sister," said Will Redmond, "that her throat all -swelled, and she couldn't breathe, and she died." - -Archie still being incredulous, Maud Stewart said,-- - -"Why, Archie, there is a man buried in the graveyard that the Indians -didn't kill,--Mr. Campbell. I've heard mother tell how he is all the -one in this Run who ever died, and wasn't killed by Indians. Don't -you know the reason Mrs. Sumerford wanted to move out of the fort was -because she said that so many in a small place, all stived up, and -cattle round, might breed the garrison-fever? and she told my father -that would be as bad as the Indians." - -No one of the children had ever known one of their number to die -of disease. All their knowledge respecting the matter was obtained -from their parents; and nothing could more strikingly illustrate the -perilous life the settlers led than the fact that Archie Crawford -considered death by the rifle, tomahawk, or some violence, the natural -end of mankind. He had never been out of the Run; there was not an old -person there, and he had not the least conception of death by decay of -nature. - -Just below the scene of their mishap, the stream was so crooked that it -resembled very much a bean-vine encircling a pole. Here they found the -greater portion of the bladders, which they valued somewhat. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -THE RAFT. - - -The children prevailed upon Mr. Seth to make the raft, with much less -difficulty than they had anticipated, and likewise obtained the aid of -Harry, Alex, and Enoch. - -Mr. Seth stipulated, however, that but one of them should go -pigeon-shooting at a time, thus leaving two to guard him. The boys also -took their guns, and thus he was protected by ten or twelve rifles. - -"Well, Uncle Seth," said Harry, "I'll take my broad-axe along; for, if -I am to stay by you, I might as well help." - -They found many cedars that had been killed by forest fires, and dry on -the stump. Some of them had large hollow butts. They plugged up these -ends, thus making air-chambers that rendered the logs very buoyant: -therefore there was not the least need of bladders, though the boys -insisted on having a number enclosed in the logs. These logs were hewed -on the top and flattened on two sides, brought close together, and then -confined by cross-ties at each end and in the middle. These cross-ties -were treenailed to each log, thus making it impossible for any log to -work out, or the raft to get apart; and the water could not slop up -between the logs, they were so closely jointed and bound together. Long -pins were driven at the four corners, by which to fasten the raft. To -crown the whole, they made proper setting-poles and an oar to steer -with, and drove two stout pins in the centre of each end, between which -the oar was dropped to confine it. - -Mr. Seth, who now entered into the matter with as much interest as the -children themselves, told Sam and Ike to go and tell his brother Israel -to send him a bark rope that he had made several months before, and put -in the corn-crib. He said he would give them the rope to fasten their -raft to the shore with, and made them a fisherman's wooden anchor to -hold the raft when they went a fishing. - -When they came back with the rope, they were accompanied by Mr. -Honeywood, whom they had persuaded to come and see what Mr. Seth and -Harry were doing for them. - -When Mr. Seth had finished making the anchor, he put it on the raft -with the rope, and said, "There, boys, there you are: that raft won't -drown you if you only keep on it." - -With joyous shouts, the boys leaped on it, jumping, capering, and -yelling like wild creatures, and, seizing the poles, pushed off into -the stream. After looking at them a few minutes, Mr. Seth picked up his -tools, and went home; but Mr. Honeywood and the others sought game in -the woods. - -When they came back, the boys had been some distance down the stream, -and returned, and were in the middle of the river. - -"Shove the raft in here, boys," said Honeywood, "and I'll show you -something." - -They did so, and Honeywood took the steering-oar, put it between the -pins, and began to scull the raft against the current at a great rate. -This was something new to the boys: they were mightily pleased, and -wanted to try their hands at it. Honeywood instructed them in a short -time. Sam, Ike, and the older boys, learned the motion, were able to -keep the oar under water, and move the raft, and kept at it till it was -time to go home. - -If Mr. Seth before he made the raft (to quote an expression of the -lamented Tony) "was the goodest man that ever was," his goodness now -must have been beyond the power of language to express. The boys lay -awake half the night, telling each other of all his goodness, and -planning as to what they should do, now they had got the raft. - -The next forenoon was all taken up in learning to scull, there were so -many of them to practise; then they had to talk, and fool, and fuss so -long about it. Every few minutes the oar would slip or come out of the -water while some boy was doing his "level best;" and he would fall flat -on his back, receiving a poult on the nose from the end of the oar, -that would make him see stars. - -Archie Crawford was trying his hand, when Ike, who was looking at him, -exclaimed,-- - -"Oh, pshaw! what sculling that is! let me show you how it's done." - -Seizing the oar, he made several mighty strokes; the raft was moving -lively, when one of the pins broke, and away went Ike into the river. -They now anchored the raft at a little distance from the shore, as far -as they thought they could swim, and then, diving, made for the shore. -The diving, being in a slanting direction, carried them a good part of -the distance to the bank. After practising in this manner a while, they -moved the raft a little farther from the bank; and, thus doing, they -learned to swim faster than by any other method. - -Those who could not swim a stroke were not afraid to dive in the -direction of the shore, when, as they came up, they could feel the -bottom with their feet; and in this way they became sensible of the -power of the water to support them, and that it was not easy to reach -the bottom while holding their breath. It was a great deal better -method than wading in. The next move was to fish from the raft; and -while thus engaged they amused themselves in a manner by no means to -be commended. It must be considered, however, that they were frontier -boys, and their training had not been of a character to cultivate the -finer feelings and sympathies of humanity. - -We remember that they had resolved never to take a scalp, though most -of their parents believed and taught them that scalping an Indian was -no more harm than scalping a wolf. - -Bobby Holt proposed fastening two of the largest fish together by their -tails, and then tying a bladder to them, which was no sooner proposed -than done. The fish would make for the bottom, and for a while succeed -in keeping there; but, becoming tired, up would come the bladder, and -the fish after it. Again, the fish would swim with great velocity along -the surface of the water till exhausted, then turn belly up, and die. -Others would swim in different directions till they wore one another -out. - -Probably the words of Holdness, McClure, and Israel Blanchard did not -produce much impression upon the minds of the children; but those of -Honeywood did, who told them they were as bad as the Indians, who took -pleasure in torturing their captives, and that it was wrong in the -sight of God, who did not give mankind authority over the animals that -they might abuse them. He went on to say, that cruelty and cowardice -were near of kin; and that many a man would run at the sound of the -war-whoop, and turn pale at the sight of an Indian alive, tomahawk -in hand, who would be mean enough to scalp the unresisting dead, or -torture a helpless fish. The reproof of Uncle Seth, however, cut the -deepest, who said that if he had once thought they would do as they had -done (as he had heard they had done, for he could hardly credit the -story), he certainly would not have made the raft. He made it for them -because he loved them, that they might amuse themselves; but how could -he love boys that were so cruel? - -Upon this Sam Sumerford got up in his lap, and said he was sorry, -and would never torment a fish or any other creature again; so they -all said, and would not be satisfied till he told them that he truly -forgave and loved them as aforetime. - -I never knew a boy who didn't like to play in water, and paddle about -on a raft, even if it consisted of only two or three boards or parts of -boards, whose floating capacity was not sufficient to prevent the water -from washing into his shoes, with a mud-hole for a pond, or an old -cellar partly filled with rain-water. - -Therefore it may well be doubted whether Mr. Seth could have -constructed any thing out of which those boys would have obtained more -fun and innocent amusement than they contrived in various ways to get -from that raft. From it they could dive; on its smooth floor, could -leave their clothes while bathing, bask in the sun to dry off, and run -about barefoot without getting splinters in their feet; and they could -move it to any spot where the depth of water and quality of the bottom -suited them. - -Borrowing an auger and gouge from Mr. Seth, they made a three-inch hole -in the cross-tie at one end of the raft, and another in the middle tie. -Into these holes they put two large hemlock bushes as large as they -could possibly handle, and sailed under them before the wind at a great -rate. - -The return was not quite so romantic, but they contrived to extract -amusement even from that. - -They took down the bushes, kept near the shore, and the trip afforded -an excellent opportunity for learning to scull. - -After making their trial-trip, they invited the girls to sail with -them, and fish from the raft. Satisfied with sailing, they began to -fish; and rocks, sheep's heads, catfish, sunfish, and at times a trout, -were flapping on the raft. - -In order that what follows may be intelligible to transient readers, it -is necessary to inform them, that, some months before the period under -consideration, Sam Sumerford and Tony Stewart captured three bear-cubs, -and brought them home. One of them, that had a white stripe on his -face, was instantly appropriated by Mrs. Sumerford's baby, and went -by the name of baby's bear. The other two were the boys' pets. One of -them proving vicious, they were both killed. Baby's bear, however, was -as mild as a rabbit, and when small used to lie in the foot of baby's -cradle. As the bear grew larger, the child would lie down on him and go -to sleep. - -There were seven or eight large wolf-dogs belonging to different -neighbors, savage enough, and prompt at any moment to grapple with bear -or wolf; but when pups, and while the settlers lived in the fort, they -had been reared with the cubs, and always ate and slept with them. No -one of the dogs ever had any difference with baby's bear, though they -often quarrelled with each other. The boys were very fond of these -dogs, and always at play with them. - -It chanced on this particular day, that Tony's dog (who, since the -loss of his young master, had been very lonely) started off on a visit -to Archie Crawford's Lion, and the twain went over to make a friendly -call on Sam Sumerford's Watch. - -They snuffed round a while, poked their noses into every place where -they imagined their friend and his master might be; and, not finding -him, began to feel lonesome and disappointed. After a while, Lion -lighted upon Sammy's track, and of some of the other boys who had come -to Mrs. Sumerford's to start with Sammy, told his companion what he had -discovered, and proposed that they should follow the trail. - -Off went the two dogs with noses to the ground, and tails in the air, -and soon came to the river; and, sitting down upon the bank, they began -to bark and whine. They were soon joined by Sam's Watch, who, missing -his master, had been looking for him in another direction, and, hearing -the others bark, came to the stream. - -"Look," said Archie, "there's Sammy's Watch, my Lion, and Tony's Rover, -all sitting on the bank." - -When the dogs started, baby's bear was half asleep in the sun on the -door-stone, and hardly noticed them when they came and smelled of him. -After they had gone, he roused up, stared round, and shook himself, -and, feeling lonesome too, moved along after them. - -Instead of sitting down as the dogs had done, when he reached the bank, -he entered the water, and swam towards the raft. - -"Oh!" shouted Sammy, "only look at baby's bear coming to see us fish: -isn't he good? we'll have him on the raft with us." - -"Yes, and the dogs are coming too: won't it be nice to have 'em all?" -said Maud. - -It proved, however, not to be so very nice, after all. The raft was -already loaded nearly to its capacity; and when the bear (which weighed -three hundred pounds when dry, much more wet) put his fore-paws on the -raft in order to mount, he pressed it to the water's edge. The girls -began to scream, and the boys to kick the bear, and pound him on the -head, to make him let go. And now came the dogs: the bear was resolved -to get on the raft, and the dogs too. In this exigency the boys all -jumped into the water, holding by their hands to the raft, in order -to lighten it, upon which the dogs relinquished their purpose, and -kept swimming round the boys; but not so the bear, who, scrabbling on -the raft, shook himself, drenching the girls with spray; and, seating -himself in the middle, cast approving glances round him from his wicked -little eyes. - -It was found that the raft would bear part of the boys; and Sam and Ike -Proctor, getting upon it, pulled up the anchors, and sculled to the -shore; the bear meanwhile regaling himself with fish, thus making it -evident why he was so anxious to get on the raft. - -There was no harm done: the girls, to be sure, were pretty well -sprinkled, but it was no great matter, as they were all barefoot. - -After reaching the shore, the girls concluded to go on the mountain, -and pick berries in the hot sun till their clothes were dried. - -Mrs. Armstrong had sent word for the boys to catch some blood-suckers -(leeches) to apply to her husband's wound that was inflamed. The boys, -therefore, thought best to get them while the girls were berrying, and -while they were wet. They all went to a frog-pond near by, stripped -up their trousers, waded into the water, and, when the blood-suckers -came to fasten on their legs, caught them in their hands, and put them -into a pail of water. Some of the boys, who wanted a new sensation, -would permit them to fasten on their legs, and suck their fill till -they became gorged, and dropped off of their own accord. Sam Sumerford -had no less than three on his right leg, and was sitting on a log -with his legs in the water, patiently waiting for the leeches to fill -themselves, with his head on his hands, half asleep. - -Suddenly he leaped from the log, with a fearful yell, and ran out of -the water, dragging a snapping turtle after him, as big over as a -half-bushel, that had fastened to his right foot. They all ran to his -aid. - -"He won't let go till it thunders," said Dan Mugford: "they never do." - -"Cut his head off, then: cut him all to pieces," cried the sufferer. - -"If you can bear it a little while, Sammy," said Jim Grant, "till we -pry his mouth open easy, we can keep him, and have him to play with, -and set the dogs on him." - -"I guess, if he had your foot in his mouth, you wouldn't want to bear -it, Jim Grant: kill him, I tell you, quicker!" - -Archie held the turtle, and Ike pulled his head out of his shell, and -cut it off. Even then the jaws were set so hard that it required some -force to open them. - -The injury was above the roots of the great and second toes, and severe -enough to wound the flesh and cause blood to run freely; but the -resolute boy plastered some clay on it, and went berrying with the rest. - -Before starting for home with the leeches, they consulted in respect to -the manner in which they should amuse themselves the next day. - -This, of course, implied that they should do something with the raft. - -"We've sailed, fished, and learned to scull; and now we want to do -something we never did do," said Ike. - -"Then let's sail up to the leaning hemlock," said Mugford, "where -there's plenty of fish; and get clay and flat stones, and build a -fire-place on the raft, borrow Mrs. Honeywood's Dutch oven, get -potatoes, pork, and fixin's, and have a cook on the raft." - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -A DAY OF UNALLOYED PLEASURE. - - -The boys flattered themselves that they had made all their arrangements -for a good time the next day; but on the way home they met Mr. Seth, -who said that he and Israel were going to junk and pile logs on a burn -the next day, and he must have all of them to nigger off logs. - -"We can't to-morrow, Uncle Seth," said Sammy; "'cause we're going to -make a fire-place on the raft, and have a cook, and have the Dutch -oven, and have Scip, and the biggest time we ever did have." - -"But you can't have Scip, because he'll have to chop with us; but you -can have a first-rate time niggering logs: you can have a fire in a -stump, and roast potatoes and ears of corn." - -"We ought to help Uncle Seth, 'cause he's the goodest man ever was, -'cause he's made us the raft," said Sam. - -"So we will help, Uncle Seth," said Will Redmond; "and we'll let you -see what we kin do." - -"That's good boys; and we'll have a long nooning; and I'll tell you -about Mr. Honeywood, how, when he was a little bit of a boy, he went to -sea on a tree, and was picked up by a vessel." - -"What's a sea, and what's a vessel?" said Bob Holt. - -"I'll tell you all about it; and, when we get the piece ready to sow, -I'll ask Israel to let Scip go with you on the raft. But you mustn't -tell him Indian stories, nor say any thing about them; for, if you do, -he won't be good for any thing for a fortnight." - -"No, Uncle Seth, we won't, and we won't scare him for fun as we used -to," said Ben Wood. - -These frontier boys had never seen a vessel, nor even a tug-boat; all -the craft they were acquainted with was a birch canoe or a dug-out; and -they wondered much what Uncle Seth meant by the sea for though some of -them had read some pieces at school, in which references were made to -vessels and the ocean, yet as they had never seen a map, and could only -read by spelling many of the words, they had no definite conception in -regard to the subject. - -The next morning the boys took their guns and provisions with them to -the field. The place was not far from the fort; there was a strong -party on the scout; and the boys were able to persuade Mr. Seth to say, -that, when noon came, he would eat with them in the field. - -Mr. Seth, Israel, and Scipio now began to cut into proper lengths the -large logs that the clearing-fire had spared, and the boys went to -niggering. They placed a large stick across a log, put brands and dry -stuff beside it on the log, and set it on fire, in order to burn the -log off, until they had twenty or thirty logs on fire at once, which -kept them running from one to the other tending the fires. In this way -they rendered good service, and niggered off logs faster than the men -could chop them in two; and they liked the work right well. - -Mr. Seth had brought bread and butter and some slices of bacon. Scip -brought a jug of milk; and the boys roasted eggs and potatoes in the -ashes, and ears of corn before the fire; and, after dinner, Mr. Seth -told them what happened to Mr. Honeywood; then he described the ocean, -and tried to give them some idea of a vessel by whittling out a -miniature one with his knife. - -The next day these scorched and half-burned logs and brands (over which -the fire had run, burning up all the limbs and tops) were to be piled -up and entirely consumed. The men and boys came to the field, dressed -in tow frocks and trousers. Maccoy and Grant came to help with oxen; -and the logs were drawn together, and rolled up in piles, and all the -large brands picked up and flung on top or tucked under the piles, -which occupied the whole day. - -The next morning they set all the piles on fire, and tended them, in -order to make a clean burn, throwing in the brands and branches. They -were, every one of them, just as black as a smut-coal; and at night -they went to the river, washed both their persons and clothes, and put -on clean garments. - -The lads now entered with new enthusiasm upon preparation for their -postponed expedition on the river. - -It is the nature of a well-constructed boy to receive peculiar delight -from any thing of his own contrivance. The rudest plaything of his own -invention or manufacture is dearer to him than a much better one that -is the workmanship of another. - -Boys who are possessed of any pluck, and are worth raising, delight in -the development of their own powers, both of brain and muscle: you may -observe it in a little child taking its first steps, and holding the -father's finger. - -The little thing toddles on demurely enough, so long as led; but the -moment it leaves the father's finger, and strikes out boldly for the -safe harbor of its mother's lap, its eyes are dancing in its head, -hands going up and down in high glee, and, screaming and crowing with -delight, it tumbles into those extended arms breathless but in ecstasy. - -That feeling of self-help, so dear to the child, is no less so to the -boy or to the man, of whom the child is the father. Therefore, though -the boys were under great obligations to Mr. Seth for putting the raft -into their hands, and to Mr. Honeywood for teaching them to manage -it, and thus contributing to their amusement, they were under still -greater obligations to them for opening before them such a field for -contrivance, furnishing them with resources, and placing them in a -position that stimulated their own energies. - -They commenced operations by boring two holes with an auger into the -cross-tie at the centre of the raft, into which they drove two crotches -some five feet in length. Clay from the frog-pond, and sand from the -river, were mixed together and well worked, and wooden trowels made to -handle it with. Several of the boys made use of the shoulder-blades of -moose, which made very good substitutes for steel trowels. The shell -of the snapping turtle, and pieces of pine and hemlock bark, were used -to carry the mortar on. Plastering the floor of the raft with this -mortar to the depth of a foot, they bedded flat stones in it to form a -hearth, then built up a fireplace with three sides but open in front, -plastering the stones with clay both inside and out. - -A stout green stick was laid in the crotches, and a withe fastened to -it to hold the Dutch oven. Leaving their work to dry in the hot sun, -they cut dry hard wood in short pieces, and, going to the burn, brought -from thence in a basket some hard-wood coals and brands to cook with. - -The object of cutting the wood fine, and procuring the charcoal, -was that they might have a hot fire without much blaze that would -be likely to burn their crotch pole and withe, which as a further -safeguard they smeared with clay. - -It is evident that all this implies forethought, calculation, and -practice. - -"Don't let us go home for bowls, plates, or spoons," said Johnnie -Armstrong: "we can make 'em ourselves." - -"I and Jim Grant, Dan Mugford, and Johnnie Armstrong can make the -spoons and plates," said Fred Stiefel. - -"We can make square trenchers good enough out of a chip," said Archie; -"but we can't bowls: 'twould take all summer." - -"I know a better way than that," said Sam. "We don't want but one or -two bowls, one big one to hold the stew; and we can make bowls and -plates out of clay." - -"That'll be the best fun that ever was," said Archie. "I'd sooner make -the dishes than eat the vittles." - -"I wouldn't: I'd rather do both." - -Part of them with axes split blocks of proper wood to make the spoons, -and shaped them rudely with tomahawks, while others prepared clay for -the bowls. They had been accustomed to make marbles of clay, and bake -them on the hearth, though it must be confessed they frequently split -into halves in baking; they had also made moulds of clay in which to -run bullets, and had helped make clay mortar to plaster the chimneys. -They treated this clay in the same manner, mixing sand with it. Thus -they were occupied till the horn blew for dinner, at which time Archie -obtained a crooked knife made to dig out bowls, spoons, and trays, -having a rest for the thumb. - -During meal-time the boys were much questioned by the girls; but they -preserved a dignified silence, looking unutterable things, and saying, -as they left home, that, if the girls presumed to come peeking and -prying round, they shouldn't go with them, not one inch. - -Fred Stiefel was master workman of the spoon business; and while his -gang were seated in the shade, manufacturing those utensils, Sam and -his fellow-potters began the making of earthen-ware. - -They adopted a singular method, originating in the inventive brain -of Sammy. Selecting a level spot in the dry, tough clay ground, they -removed the turf, picked out the grass-roots, smoothed the surface, and -swept off the dust. Upon this surface they laid some of the square -wooden plates or trenchers used by the settlers, and cut into the clay, -then hollowed the centre with a crooked drawing-knife made to hollow -the staves of tubs and pails. This was the mould, and they made numbers -of them. Moulds for bowls were made in the same way; and, when the -draw-shave did not accomplish the purpose, they worked out the bottom -of the moulds, and smoothed them up with the bowl of a horn spoon, the -handle of which had been broken off. - -Into these moulds they put the clay, plastering it on the sides and -bottom to a proper thickness, and, removing all superfluous clay with -wooden scrapers and the spoon-bowl, pressed and smoothed it with their -fingers and a bunch of wet moss, that left the surface smooth and -shining. - -They became more and more interested in their work, and endeavored to -excel each other in the shape and ornamentation of their vessels, for -they even aspired to that. The square trenchers with their large margin -afforded ample space for designs. - -Archie made a row of sharp points round the edge of his plate, and -between each two a round dot by pressing a buckshot into the clay; and -also cut his name on the bottom. - -Ike Proctor made a vine; and outside of that he made quite a pretty -figure by pressing beechnuts and the upper surface of acorn-cups into -the clay. - -Sammy Sumerford excelled all the others. In the first place, he traced -a vine round the outer edge, and did it quite well; having found in the -house the wheel or rowel of a spur he printed it in the clay inside the -vine; not satisfied with this he obtained some garnets, and, pressing -them into the clay, left them there. - -"How did you cut that vine so true, Sam?" said Bob Holt, who was -admiring the work. - -"I laid a little small spruce-root, not so large as a knitting-needle, -all round the edge, and made all the turns as I wanted to have 'em, and -put thorn spikes to keep 'em from moving while I pressed 'em into the -clay." - -It was now time to drive up the cattle; and, dusting their work with -sand, they covered it with boughs to keep off the dew. - -The next morning the plates and bowls were carefully dug out of the -moulds, and placed in the sun to dry the outside; then they were put in -the fireplace, the top of which was covered with flat stones and clay -to keep in the heat; and they were burned as red as a brick. Some of -them fell to pieces. All of them were full of small cracks; but they -would hold water some time, though it soaked out gradually. - -The remainder of the day was spent in killing and plucking pigeons, and -making preparations for the morrow. - -Early next morning came the girls and Scip, bringing with them whatever -other articles of food or seasoning were needed. - -The girls were much pleased with the fireplace, and especially with -the bowls, spoons, and platters; and the boys were the recipients of -compliments that put them in excellent humor. - -Shoving off, they went up to a part of the stream that was wider, in -order to have a better opportunity to sail. They now discovered, that, -to all his other accomplishments, Scip added that of an excellent -oarsman. He was a Baltimore negro, and was purchased in that place (as -most of our readers know) by Israel Blanchard, on his way to settle at -Wolf Run; and had been accustomed to go in boats, and scull rafts of -lumber on the Patapsco River. He disdained the use of pins or a notch -to keep his oar in place, but would scull right on the side of the raft -anywhere, shoving his oar perpendicularly into the water and keeping -it so, which afforded him a greater leverage in sculling against the -stream. - -With Scip at the oars, and the boys at the setting-poles, they went -along lively when returning from a trip and against the wind and -current. - -When tired of sailing, they fished; and then, bringing the raft under -the branches of a leaning hemlock, the boys went on shore to pick -berries for a dessert, while Scip and the girls were getting dinner. - -The fireplace worked to a charm, and the dinner proved to be all that -could be desired. They enjoyed the pleasure of eating afloat, something -new to them, and, with no mishap to mar the pleasure of the day, had -the best time imaginable. They also had berries to carry home. - -On arriving home that night, the boys were told that they had enjoyed a -good long play-spell, and that the next morning they must go sprouting. - -In clearing land the stumps of the trees send up a great many sprouts: -these the boys were set to beat off, or cut with hatchets, in order to -kill the stumps. When the sprouts become dry they are piled up around -the stumps, and burned, which tends still more to kill them; and by -doing this a few times the roots are exhausted. - -The next employment was to cut down the fire and pigeon weed among the -corn, and to pull the pease and beans. Then there was flax to pull; -and, though only the men and largest boys could do that, yet any of -them could carry it off the piece, and spread it on the grass to rot -the stalk, and make it separate from the outside skin or fibre, which -is the part used to make thread. - -One thing coming thus after another, it was a long time before they -were given another holiday. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -CANNOT GIVE IT UP. - - -Occurrences very trifling, in themselves considered, often lead to -important results. The boyish whim of making a fireplace on the raft, -and constructing dishes from clay, developed a capacity in Sammy -Sumerford of the existence of which he was before unconscious; and was -productive of most useful results, affecting the entire community in -which he lived. - -The other boys, when they had succeeded in making and burning the -bowls, satisfied with accomplishing their present purpose, seemed to -have exhausted their enthusiasm in that direction. It was far otherwise -with Sammy. At night, morning, and even sometimes at noon, he would -steal away by himself to the clay-pit. He also held a good many private -conferences with Mr. Seth, going to the mill for that purpose. We will -take the liberty to repeat one of them. - -"Mr. Seth, you know my mother's got an earthen milk-pan, and Mrs. -Holdness has got two: where did they come from?" - -"Baltimore." - -"Who made 'em?" - -"A potter by the name of Bickford. He makes pans, jugs, bowls, and -teapots, out of clay." - -"My mother's pan don't leak a drop, not when she puts hot water in it; -but we boys made some things out of clay, and baked 'em just as we do -our marbles, and the water and soup we put in 'em soaked through." - -"It didn't soak through faster than you could eat it, did it?" - -"No, sir; but when we let it set, after a good while, it did. What's -the reason milk nor nothing else won't go through mother's pan?" - -"'Cause it's glazed, and probably burned harder than yours. Didn't you -see that the inside was of a different color from the outside, and -there was something smooth and shiny all over it? That's the glazing, -that makes it as tight as though it was made of glass. That's a secret -they keep to themselves; but I believe they burn lead, and mix other -things with it, put it on, and then bake it in. But the potter's ware -that is not glazed will hold water well enough: the water won't drop, -and it takes a long time to soak out; all the trouble is, whatever you -put into it soaks in, and you can't keep it so clean as though it was -glazed." - -"Then what made ours leak so fast?" - -"Were there cracks in it?" - -"Yes, sir; lots of 'em." - -"Did you put sand in your clay, just as we do when we make mortar?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"What else did you do to it?" - -"Worked it with the hoe, just as we do mortar." - -"Was that all?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"Well, the potters don't put any sand in their clay as a general thing, -and never but a very little: the sand made it leak. You didn't make -earthen: you made brick. And they take great pains to work their clay. -I think it is very likely there were sticks and grass-roots in yours, -and it was raw, and not worked enough; and that made it crack and blow. -If you had worked it as much as your mother does her dough, not put in -any sand, and baked it harder, it would have done better." - -"Uncle Seth, I love to make things in clay, and I'm going to try to -make a bean-pot for my mother. You won't tell anybody, Uncle Seth. Will -you?" - -"No, indeed, and I'm real glad you are going to try. It's a great deal -better to spend your time in trying to make something useful than to be -fooling or doing mischief." - -"You know everybody likes Harry 'cause he's brave, kills Indians and -bears, and can foller a trail. Ain't I brave?" - -"Yes, you're brave." - -"Folks like Harry 'cause he can do so much work,--make tubs, pails, -baskets, and drums. You and Mr. Israel like to have him with you, and -let him have your tubs, and mother, she says he's the best boy ever a -mother had, may the Lord bless him! - -"I want to make things too; 'cause I love to, and 'cause I haven't got -Tony to play with me any more, and 'cause I don't want everybody to -say I'm a plague above ground, and a real vexation: that's what Mrs. -Mugford said." - -"That's right, my lad: if you do that you'll be a great benefit, and -everybody will love you. How did you make your bowls and platters the -other day? What did you have to make 'em by?" - -"We made 'em in the ground." - -"That's the last way I should have thought of," said Uncle Seth, -laughing. "How did you get 'em out?" - -"After they dried, we dug the ground away with our scalping-knives, -till we could pull 'em out." - -"If the ground hadn't been as dry as an ash-heap, they never would have -dried in the ground so that you could have taken them out; and, if -there had come a shower, they'd been full of water." - -"What's a better way to do?" - -"Make a wooden mould, and put the clay on it: then the inside will be -smooth, and just the shape of the mould, and you can make the outside -just as you like; and when you put it in the fire the wood will burn -out. Or you can do as the Indians do,--make a basket, and put the clay -on the inside of the basket; and the basket will burn off." - -Sammy went away, and pondered a long while upon what Mr. Seth had told -him; but he thought he could not make a wooden mould very well, nor a -basket, and took the funniest method imaginable; but then, you know, he -was a Sumerford, and own brother to Harry. He dug his clay, made it as -thin as porridge with water, and strained it through a riddling-sieve. - -"I guess there ain't any sticks or grass-roots in that," said Sammy. - -After the clay had settled to the bottom, he turned off the water, and -worked it with a hoe, then dragged the tub into the woods where the -boys would not be likely to see it, and left it, as Uncle Seth had said -it ought to lie a while. - -After the work referred to in the last chapter was done, the boys were -given a day to go fishing; but, to their great surprise, Sammy, who was -generally the leader in all such enterprises, didn't want to go. - -The boys were no sooner out of sight than Sammy ran to the clay-pit, -dragged the tub from the bushes, and gave the clay another working. -Then, hunting among the corn, he found a hard-shelled pumpkin which -suited him in shape. The bottom of it was slightly hollowing; but Sammy -cut it perfectly square, and likewise cut a piece from the stem end, -in order that both the top and bottom might be square. - -Sammy knew his mother would want a big pot; for there were three -strapping boys to eat beans, and, if half the children in the Run -happened to be at Mrs. Sumerford's near meal-time, she would have them -stop to eat: therefore he had selected the largest pumpkin of the right -shape that he could find, on which to mould his pot. - -Over this pumpkin he plastered the clay, and regulated the thickness -by marking the depth on a little pointed stick which he thrust into -the clay from time to time. Knowing his mother would be obliged to -cover the top of the pot with coals and ashes, it must of course have a -cover. He turned his tub bottom up, and, using the bottom for a table, -rolled out a strip of clay, and placed it round the edge of the pot -on the inside, for the cover to rest on; then, cutting out a piece -of birch-bark to fit the top of the pot, moulded his cover by that, -punching up the clay in the middle for a handle to take it off by, for -he did not know that handles could be made and stuck on to clay vessels -when they are half dry. - -All this accomplished, Sammy was quite delighted, clapped his hands, -and danced round his work, exclaiming,-- - -"I never did feel so good in all my life. What'll my mother say? I -guess Harry'll think something. Oh, if Tony was only here to make one -for his mother!" - -He was now seized with a strong desire to ornament his work, which was -quite rough, and covered with finger-marks. The first thing needed was -a smooth surface on which to make figures. He sharpened a stake at both -ends, drove one end into the ground, and stuck the pot on the other, -running the stake into the pumpkin to hold it. - -He then moistened the clay, smoothed it with wet moss and a flat stick, -and afterwards with a piece of wet bladder, till it was perfectly -smooth and level; and sat down to consider in what way he should -ornament the surface. Several methods suggested themselves, none of -which were satisfactory. At length an idea entered his mind, that he -hastened to carry out in practice. - -Rolling out a piece of clay on the bottom of the tub till it was a foot -square or more, he took a beech-leaf, and, placing it on the clay, -pressed it carefully into the surface; then taking it up by the stem, -he found the full impress of it left on the clay. Delighted with this, -he gathered the top shoots of cedar, and beech-leaves of various kinds, -and ferns, and took impressions from all of them, till he had quite a -gallery at his command. The large-ribbed, deeply-indented leaves gave -the best impression; while the ferns, though very beautiful, afforded -an indistinct outline, and the cedar the most marked, the leaf being -thick, and going deeper into the surface. - -After long deliberation, he settled down upon the beech, cedar, fern, -and locust, choosing the extremities of the smallest branches, which he -pressed carefully into the surface of his pot, and left them there to -be burned out when the pot was baked. - -Sammy now took a thin flat stone, sprinkled it with sand, turned the -pot on it, and set it in a hollow tree; intending as soon as the clay -had hardened sufficiently, and the pumpkin had become tender by decay, -to dig out the meat, leaving the shell to be burned out. - -He then flatted out a large piece of clay, and began to search round -after other leaves and objects of which to take impressions. So -absorbed did he become, that he forgot his dinner, taking no note of -passing time, and meditated new devices till he was roused by hearing -the voices of the boys coming from fishing; and, instantly putting away -his implements, ran home. - -He didn't want the boys to know what he was doing, for fear they would -tell his mother; and he wanted to surprise her. - -Before reaching the house, he met his mother coming after him. - -"Why, Sammy Sumerford, where have you been this livelong day?" - -"Down to the river." - -"Down to the river, indeed! Didn't you hear me blow the horn? I was -afraid the Indians had got you. What could you find to do there without -any dinner, and all alone?" - -"I've had a good time, ma'am." - -"Well, if you have, I'm glad of it; but it must have been a very -different good time from any you ever had before: for never since you -came into the world could you have any sort of a good time without half -a dozen boys round you; and, if there were as many girls, so much the -better." - -The moment he had swallowed his supper, he ran off to report to Mr. -Seth; who had a good laugh when Sammy told him he had moulded on a -pumpkin, and reckoned he could not dig out till it was thoroughly -rotten, without breaking the pot. - -He was, however, singularly favored in this respect: not being able -to visit the place for two days without the notice of the other boys, -when he did go he found the pumpkin entirely covered with ants, who had -devoured nearly the whole of it. - -"Good on your heads!" said he. "You can dig it easier and better than I -can, and won't break the pot neither." - -The interior of the old tree was damp; and when the ants had devoured -all of the meat, leaving only the shell of the pumpkin, Sam, watching -his opportunity, removed the pot to the garret of the house, where it -might dry thoroughly. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -THE BEAN-POT. - - -Mr. Seth had told Sammy that one reason his bowls and platters cracked -was because they were baked too quick: that to bake a potter's kiln -required forty-eight hours; that the baking must commence gradually, -and be discontinued in the same way. Another reason was, that they were -of unequal thickness; and the thin places shrunk before the thicker -ones, and pulled them apart. - -One morning, while the pot was drying, Sam came into the house, and -heard his mother up garret. He thought she was making his bed, but, -listening a moment, found she was rummaging round. Alarmed, he said,-- - -"Mother, what are you doing up there?" - -"Doing? I'm hunting after a 'sley' that belongs to the loom." - -"Come down, marm, and I'll come and find it." - -"You find any thing? umph! You can't keep the run of your own clothes. -I have to find your hat for you half the time. I expect now I'll have -to move half the old trumpery in this garret." - -Grown desperate, Sammy flung a mug of cold water in the face of the -baby, who was sitting on the floor. The child set up a terrible -screeching. - -"Sam, what does ail that child?" - -"I don't know, marm. Guess he's going to have a fit. He's holding his -breath." - -Mrs. Sumerford was down the ladder in an instant, and catching up -the child, who was purple in the face from temper and strangulation, -thumped him on the back, exclaiming,-- - -"Poor blessed baby! was he frightened 'cause his mother left him? Well, -mother won't;" and the next moment, "Why, this child's all wet! Sam -Sumerford, what have you been doing? Have you been throwing water on -this baby?" - -Sam, who was in the chamber, and had hid the pot in his bed, to change -the subject replied,-- - -"Yes, marm, I--I'm trying to find it." - -"Well, you look for it. I must go to the barn, and get some eggs for -Harry's breakfast." - -Harry had stood watch in the night at the fort, and was in bed. - -Taking the child with her, Mrs. Sumerford left the house, when Sammy -went and hid the pot in the pasture, in a hollow fence-log on high -ground, and where a current of air circulated through that kept it dry. - -Sammy thought it would be a fine thing to have his mother's name on the -pot, or at least the words "For mother," and knew that, though it was -dry, he could cut them in. He persuaded Mr. Seth to cut the inscription -on a piece of bark taken from a young pine; and then, pasting the bark -with flour paste to the surface to keep it from moving, he cut out the -letters by the pattern, moistening the clay a little, that it might not -crumble at the edge. The bark was quite thick, which served better for -guiding the point of the tool with which he worked. - -New difficulties now arose in respect to the baking. Uncle Seth had -told Sammy it took forty-eight hours to bake a kiln of potter's ware, -but, where the fire was all directed to one pot, that perhaps one day -and one night would be sufficient. - -Sammy perceived at once that he could not hope to do this without the -knowledge of his companions; and, making a virtue of necessity, took -them to the pasture, showed them the pot, and told them all his heart. - -They instantly entered into his plans, promised to keep the secret, and -do all they could to help him, and instantly set about preparations. - -"Where can we bake it?" said Sammy. "We can't do it on the raft; 'cause -we've got to keep a fire all night, and our folks won't let us be down -to the river all night nor one minute after sundown." - -"Bake it down to Cuthbert's house, in the big fireplace. Make a kiln -right in that," said Mugford. - -"They wouldn't let us stay there all night." - -"What matter will it be," said Archie, "if we let the fire be at night, -and then kindle it up in the morning? S'pose you put in a lot of hard -wood when you left it: 'twould be all hot in the morning; 'twouldn't -get cold; then there won't be no trouble." - -"I don't know," said Sammy. "I'll ask Uncle Seth." - -Mr. Seth, being appealed to, said he didn't think it would make any -difference if they put in wood at night, kept it warm, and started the -fire in the morning slowly; that the reason potters and brick-makers -kept their kilns burning all night was to save time and wood; that it -would require a great deal less wood to keep it going all night, than -to let the kiln cool off, and start it again. - -There was no need of going to the river for clay, as there was a -pit in the pasture just back of the Cuthbert house, from which the -settlers had dug clay to plaster the roofs of the block-houses. They -therefore began to build the kiln with rocks and clay right before Mrs. -Sumerford's door, part of them working on the kiln, and the rest making -marbles to bake in it. - -Mr. Seth had told them that the fire must not come directly to the pot: -so they built a square of rocks and clay, and in the middle made a -place in which to put the pot, marbles, and several bowls and platters -that the boys made on the spot. In this little apartment they left -openings to admit the heat, having fire on all sides of it: then they -covered the top with two flat stones about four inches apart, and left -below two holes to put in wood, and plastered the whole all over with -clay. They then covered each end of the slit on top with flat stones -and clay, except a short space in the middle left for draught, and -which could be closed with a stone laid near for the purpose. - -They had received general instructions from Uncle Seth, and were -carrying them out in their own way with the greatest possible -enthusiasm. There were quite a number of articles in the receptacle -with the pot, that the boys made and moulded from the clay with which -the kiln was built; but some of the boys had brought up some of the -clay Sam had worked, and made platters and marbles. - -The piece of land on which they had recently been burning the logs was -full of the ends of limbs and half-burned brands, just the thing to -make a hot fire and to kindle readily. They gathered many of these, and -plenty of other wood; and, their preparations being all made at night, -they kindled the fire at sunrise next day. - -They made a regular holiday of it, roasting corn, potatoes, and eggs -in a separate fireplace constructed for the purpose; and Scip came -occasionally to partake of their cheer. - -They borrowed Mrs. McClure's big skillet, and Mrs. Sumerford made -bread for them: this was on the second day, when the fire had been -burning long enough to make plenty of ashes and coals. They swept the -hearth of their fireplace clean, put the dough into the skillet, turned -it bottom up on the hearth, and covered the skillet with hot coals. -With the coals on top and the hot hearth beneath, it baked splendidly; -and they had their dinner before the kiln. - -Harry shot two wild turkeys, and gave them one; and they baked it, and -had a great feast, and kept the fire up three days; and when on the -forenoon of the fourth day they opened it, the pot came out without a -crack, and baked to a bright red. - -The little stems of the cedar and beech were baked to a coal; and Sammy -picked them out, leaving the impression sharp and clear. - -He then mixed up some lamp-black that Solomon Lombard, the Indian -trader, had given him, and filled the letters that composed the motto, -which brought them out finely in contrast with the red ground on which -they were cut. The other articles fared quite otherwise: many of the -marbles split in halves, some cracked, others blistered or fell to -pieces; but a few came out whole and fair. - -It was found, however, that the marbles and dishes made of clay brought -from the river were the ones that stood the baking and were bright red, -while the others were lighter-colored. Mr. Seth said they stood the -fire because the clay had been worked more, and that the deeper color -was due to the greater quantity of iron in the river clay. - -Sammy had taken his pot to the pasture among the bushes, to fill the -letters with black, and was joined by the other boys as soon as they -had cleared the kiln. - -Their conversation, as was often the case, turned upon the virtues of -Uncle Seth, without whose advice it was allowed Sammy would never have -succeeded in making his pot. - -"What a pity," said Dan, "such a good man should be a coward!" - -"He isn't a coward," said Sammy. - -"Yes, he is. Didn't he shut himself up in the mill when the Indians -attacked the fort, scared to death? and didn't his own brother Israel -say it was the first time he ever knew a fort saved by a coward?" - -"What is a brave man, what ain't a coward?" - -"Why, a man what ain't scared of any thing." - -"Then there ain't any brave men, and every man in the Run is a coward; -for there ain't one of 'em but's afraid of something,--afraid to go -into the house where McDonald and his folks were killed. Mr. Holdness -nor McClure wouldn't go in there in the night, sooner'n they'd jump -into the fire: don't you call them brave men?" - -"Yes." - -"Uncle Seth isn't afraid to walk up on a tree that's lodged, and cut -it off, and then come down with it, or jump off. He isn't afraid to -go under a tree that's lodged, and cut the tree it's lodged on; he'll -ride the ugliest horse that ever was; walk across the water on a log -when it's all white with froth; and when there was a great jam of drift -stuff stopped the river, and was going to overflow the cornfield, he -went on to the place, and cut a log what held it, and broke the jam; -and there wasn't another man in the Run dared do it. He said he'd lose -his life afore the water should destroy the corn." - -While Sammy was defending Uncle Seth from the charge of cowardice, his -face reddened, his eyes flashed fire, his fists were clinched, and he -threw his whole soul into the argument, and carried his audience with -him. - -They resolved on the spot that Uncle Seth was not a coward, though -_he was afraid of Indians_. They could not endure the thought that an -imputation so disgraceful in their eyes as that of a coward should rest -upon the character of a man whom they so dearly loved. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -THE SURPRISE. - - -It is perhaps needless to inform our readers that Sammy did not find -the "sley" on that eventful day when he threw the water in the baby's -face; but his mother got the baby to sleep, and found it. On the -morning of the third day, she had just entered the door of the kitchen -with a pail of water in her hand, when she encountered Sammy (followed -by Louisa Holt, Maud Stewart, Jane Proctor, and a crowd of boys) with -the bean-pot in his hand, which he placed upon the table with an air of -great satisfaction. - -It was some time before the good woman could be brought to believe that -Sam made it. She knew that of late he had been much at the mill with -Mr. Seth, and supposed he must have made and given it to him; but, when -she became convinced of the fact, the happy mother clasped him in her -arms, exclaiming,-- - -"Who says Sammy's fit for nothing but mischief? Who is it says that? -Let him look at that pot, as nice a one as ever a woman baked beans in, -and a cover too. Harry has made pails, tubs, a churn, and a good many -other things; but he never made an earthen pot, nor any man in this -place. My sakes! to think we've got a potter among us! what a blessing -he will be! There's not another woman in the settlement has got a -bean-pot." - -"Mrs. Sumerford, only see the printing and the pictures on it," said -Maud Stewart. - -"Pictures and printing! I must get my glasses." - -After putting on her spectacles, the happy mother expressed her -astonishment in no measured terms. - -"'For Mother:' he's his mother's own blessed baby. But did you truly -make the letters, and the leaves on there, your own self?" - -"Yes, mother: I did it alone in the woods; only Mr. Seth made the -letters on some bark for me, but I put 'em on the pot." - -"Now I'll bake a mess of beans in it, just to christen it. Girls, you -help me pick over the beans; and I'll put 'em on to parboil afore we -sit down to dinner, and have 'em for supper. I want you all to stay to -dinner and supper both. The boys can play with Sammy; and the girls and -I'll make some buttermilk biscuit for supper, and a custard pudding. - -"Girls, I'm going to draw a web of linen into the loom; and you can -help me, and learn how; play with the baby and the bear: baby's bear'll -play real good; he's a good creature. He'll tear all the bark off the -tree with his claws; but, when he's playing with baby, he'll pull 'em -all into the fur, so his paw is soft as can be. Harry, Elick, and -Enoch'll be home from the scout; and what think they'll say when they -come to know that Sammy's made a pot, and his mother's baked beans in -it?" - -"Mother, may I ask Uncle Seth to come to supper? I want him to see the -pot, 'cause he told me how to fix the clay, and bake it." - -"Sartain: I'd like to have Mr. Seth come every night in the week. This -pot isn't glazed, to be sure; but I'll rub it with tallow and beeswax: -I've heard my husband say that was the way the Indians used to do their -pots." - -"Mr. Seth said the Indians used to make pots, mother." - -"Sartain, dear, the Indians clear back; but now they get iron ones of -the white folks, and people reckon they've lost the art. If you look on -the side of the river where the old Indian town used to be, where you -go to get arrow-heads, you'll find bottoms of pots washing out of the -banks, and sometimes half of one." - -The good woman stuffed the pot thoroughly with tallow and wax, dusted -some flour over it, and put it in the beans and pork. - -Mrs. Sumerford had no oven; but that did not in the least interfere -with baking the beans. With the kitchen shovel she threw back the ashes -and coals on the hearth, and took up a flat stone under which was a -square hole dug in the hearth (the house had no cellar), lined with -flat stones. Into this hole she put wood and hot coals till it was -thoroughly heated: then she cleaned the cavity, put in the pot, covered -it with hot coals, and left the beans to bake; for there never was a -better place,--that is, to give them the right flavor. - -The boys could not leave till this important operation was performed; -when, finding the mill was in motion, they concluded to go there, and -invite Uncle Seth to supper, and, after having a swim, and a sail on -the raft, escort him to Mrs. Sumerford's. The mill had not yet ceased -to be a novelty; and they loved dearly to watch the grain as it dropped -from the hopper into the shoe, and from the shoe into the hole in the -upper stone. - -It was also a great source of amusement to go up into the head of the -mill, and hear it crack, and feel it jar and quiver when the wind blew -fresh, and put their hands on the shaft as it revolved. They were -more disposed to this quiet pastime, from the fact that they had been -prohibited the use of powder and lead for the present. - -When Harry, Alex, and Enoch came home, nothing was said about the -bean-pot, though it was hard work for Mrs. Sumerford, and especially -for the girls, to hold in. - -"Come, mother," said Harry, "we're raving hungry: ain't you going to -give us any supper?" - -"I should have had supper on the table when you came, but Mr. Seth's -coming: the boys have gone after him, and I knew you would want to eat -with him." - -It was not long before they all came in; and after putting the dishes -on the table, and other provisions, Mrs. Sumerford took from the Dutch -oven the biscuits, a custard pudding she had baked from a kettle, and -then, placing a bean-pot in the middle of the table, exclaimed with an -air of ill-concealed triumph,-- - -"There! Harry, Elick, Enoch, look at that pot, and tell me where you -suppose it came from." - -They examined it with great attention; and, the more they looked, the -more their wonder grew. - -"It was made by somebody in this place, of course," said Alex; "because -nobody has been here to bring it, and nobody could go from here to get -it. I guess Mr. Honeywood made it, because he's lived in Baltimore -where they make such things." - -"Guess, all of you; and, when any one guesses right, I'll say yes." - -"I," said Enoch, "guess Mr. Holt made it, 'cause he came from one of -the oldest settlements, where they have every thing; and he made the -millstones." - -Harry, who had been examining it all the while, thought he recognized -Uncle Seth's handiwork in the inscription, and said,-- - -"I think, as Elick does, it must have been made here, because there's -no intercourse betwixt us and other people; and no regular potter would -have made it that shape; it would have been higher and straighter, like -some I saw at Baltimore when we went after the salt: so I guess Uncle -Seth made it." - -"Come, Mr. Blanchard, it's your turn now." - -"I guess little Sammy here made it." - -This assertion raised a roar of laughter; and, when it subsided, Mrs. -Sumerford said,-- - -"Yes; Sammy made it." - -"O mother!" cried Harry, "you needn't try to make us believe that, -because it's impossible." - -Sam had ever been so full of mischief, that it was new experience for -him to receive commendation from his brothers; but now it was given -him with a liberality amply sufficient to remunerate him for its lack -in the past. A proud boy he was that evening; but he bore his honors -modestly, and his face was redder than the surface of the pot on which -he had bestowed so much labor. - -When the cover was removed, much to the surprise of Mrs. Sumerford, it -was found that the pot had not lost any portion of its contents. - -"Why, I expected to find these beans dry,--most of the juice filtered -out,--'cause it wasn't glazed; but I don't see but it's about as tight -as an iron pot, though, to be sure, I rubbed it with wax and tallow, -and dredged flour over it." - -"That pot," said Mr. Seth, "is very thick,--as thick again as one a -potter would make,--was made of good clay, quite well worked, and hard -baked; and it is no wonder that it would not let any thing as thick as -the bean-juice through it. Good potter's ware, if it isn't glazed, will -hold water a long time: it won't leak fast enough to drop; it will hold -milk longer still; and after a while the pores will become filled up, -and 'twill glaze itself, especially if anybody helps it with wax as you -have. I wish every woman in this Run had plenty of earthen dishes, pots -and pans, if they were not one of them glazed." - -"If there's so little difference, why ain't the unglazed just about as -good?" - -"Because you can't keep 'em so clean: after a while, the unglazed ware -gets soaked full of grease, butter, milk, or whatever you put in it, -and becomes rancid; you can't get it out, and it sours and taints -whatever you put in it: that bean-pot will after a while; but, when -ware is glazed, nothing penetrates, and you can clean it with hot -water, scald it sweet. There's another trouble with ware that is not -glazed: if you put water in it, and heat it on the fire, the water -swells the inside, and the fire shrinks the outside; and it is apt to -crack." - -"Uncle Seth, you said, when we made the dishes down to the river, that -we made brick. What is brick?" asked Sam. - -"It's made of clay and sand worked together; and this brick mortar is -put into a mould that makes each brick about seven and a half inches -long, and three and a half inches wide, and two and a half inches -thick; then they are dried and burnt hard in a kiln; and in old settled -places they build houses of 'em, chimneys, ovens, and fireplaces: they -don't make chimneys of wood and clay, and fireplaces of any stone that -comes to hand, as we do." - -"Did you ever see a house made of brick?" - -"Yes, a good many. Israel and I made and burnt a kiln of bricks, and -had enough to make a chimney, fireplace, and oven, in our house where -we used to live; and, if this terrible war is ever over, I mean to make -brick, build a frame house, and put a good brick chimney, fireplace, -and oven, in it. Israel's wife misses her oven very much." - -"I never had an oven, nor saw one; but I've heard of 'em, and I expect -they are good things. I think a Dutch oven is a great thing for us -wilderness-folks; but I suppose the one you tell of is better," said -Mrs. Sumerford. - -"I guess it is better. Why, Mrs. Sumerford, if you had a brick oven, -you could put a pot of beans, twice as many biscuits as you've got in -that Dutch oven, a custard, and an Indian pudding, and ever so many -pies, in it all at once, and shut up the oven, and then have your -fireplace all clear to boil meat, fry doughnuts or pork, or any thing -you wanted to do." - -"It must be a great privilege to be able to do so many things at once: -I can't boil and bake more than one thing at a time now, except beans -or potatoes, because I have to bake in a kettle." - -"If you had a brick oven, you could bake a pumpkin, or a coon, or -beaver, or joint of meat, or a spare-rib. Why, by heating the oven -once, you could bake victuals enough to last a week; and then, any -thing baked in a brick oven is as good again as when it is baked in -iron. These beans wouldn't have been half so good if they'd been baked -in an iron pan set into the Dutch oven or a kettle, because that place -in the hearth is what you may call an oven." - -"What kind of moulds do the potters in the settlements have to make -their things of?" asked Sammy; "or do they make 'em in holes in the -ground or on a basket?" - -"No, indeed! they make 'em on a wheel." - -"Oh, do tell me about it, Uncle Seth! tell me all you know." - -"That won't take long. What is called a potter's wheel means not only a -wheel, but a good many more things with it; but they all go by the name -of the potter's wheel. - -"In the first place, there's a rough bench made; and then there's an -iron spindle goes through this bench, and not far from the bottom is -a crank; and below this crank, about three inches from the lower end, -a wheel is put on it as big over as the bottom of a wash-tub, with -a gudgeon at the end that goes into a socket in a timber. Upon the -other end that comes up about a foot above the bench, a screw-thread is -cut, and a round piece of hard-wood plank is screwed on the top of the -spindle about a foot over; on this the potter puts his lump of clay, -and smashes it down hard to make it stick fast. - -"There's a treadle fixed to this crank on the spindle, just as there is -to your mother's flax-wheel. The potter puts his foot on this, sets the -clay whirling round, sticks his thumb into it and his fingers on the -outside, and makes it any shape he wants. After the vessel, whatever it -may be, is made, he takes off the finger-marks, and shapes it inside -and out more to his mind, with little pieces of wood cut just the shape -he wants; then takes it off the wheel, and puts it away to dry." - -"Does it take him a good while to make a pot?" asked Harry. - -"No, indeed! he'd make a pot as large as that bean-pot in five minutes, -and less too. A potter'd make a thousand of four-inch pots in a day. -In their kilns they burn thousands of pieces according to size, of all -kinds at once; as it don't take much longer, nor is it any more work, -to burn a thousand pieces than two hundred." - -"That isn't much like me, two or three days making one pot," said Sammy. - -"Sometimes, instead of having a crank on the spindle, they put a pulley -on it, and have the wheel on the floor, and a band run from this big -wheel to the pulley; but then it takes another hand to turn the big -wheel." - -"O Uncle Seth! how much you do know, don't you?" - -"I don't know much about pottery, Sammy, because it's not my business; -but I've seen a little of it, and it's the most interesting work to see -a man doing, that I ever looked at. I've seen their kilns, and seen -them bake their ware, but it was a good many years ago: so you must not -take all I say for gospel, 'cause I may have forgotten. I always take -notice of what I see, because sometimes it might be a benefit. I've -taken more notice of brickmakers and masons: I can make brick; I think -Israel and myself could build a chimney, between us, and make an oven -and a fireplace. It wouldn't be like one made by a mason, but would -answer the purpose, and be a great comfort here in the woods." - -"We don't know any thing," said Mrs. Sumerford; "and no wonder we -don't, here in the woods with wild beasts and wild Indians." - -If our young readers will call to mind that these frontier people had -never seen many of the most common conveniences of daily life, nor -witnessed any of the usual mechanical employments, they will perceive -at once how intensely interesting the conversation of Uncle Seth must -have been to this family-circle, and also how much mankind can dispense -with and yet be happy. - -To no one of the circle was it more absorbing than to Sammy, who longed -to know more about the matter, and asked what the glazing was made of, -and how they put it on. - -"As I told you once before, my lad, I don't know much about that; -because it's one of their secrets that they don't care to let folks -know, though I've seen some put it on. When I was a boy, and lived with -my grandfather in Northfield, Mass., afore we went into the woods, I've -seen an old English potter by the name of Adams make a kind of glaze -that's on your mother's milk-pan. He used to take lead, and heat it -red-hot till he made a great scum come on it, which he would skim off -till he burnt it all into dross; then he pounded that all fine, and -mixed it with water, clay, and a little sand, about as thick as cream, -and poured it into the things he wanted to glaze, rinsed it round, and -then turned it out; sometimes he put it on with a brush. What little -water there was would soak into the ware, and the lead would be on the -outside; then he put 'em into the kiln, and started the fire. When the -pots got red-hot the lead would melt; and I s'pose the sand melted some -too, and run all over the inside, and made the glaze. I don't know as -I've got it just right, but that's as near as I can recollect; and I -know I'm right about the lead. - -"He said that in England they flung a lot of salt into the kiln to -glaze some kinds of ware; but he didn't, and his glaze was just like -that on your mother's pan." - -"What an awful sin," said Mrs. Sumerford, "to burn up salt!" - -"Oh, what a worse sin," said Harry, "to burn up lead! I should rather -go without pots and pans all the days of my life: I'm sure there are -ash and beech whorls enough in the woods to make bowls of." - -"Indeed," said Mr. Seth, "salt and lead are not such scarce articles -in the settlements as they are amongst us, I can tell you." - -Some who read these pages may think these boys to be very much inferior -to themselves, and be almost inclined to pity them; but are you sure, -that, considering the advantages both parties have had, they may not -be far your superiors? Notwithstanding all your advantages, is it not -probable, that, turn you right out in the world, you would either beg -or starve? - -But turn one of them out into the woods, with a rifle, tomahawk, flint -and steel, and I would risk him: he would do neither. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -THE DAWN OF A LIFE-PURPOSE. - - -After the conversation referred to in the preceding chapter, there was -a pause; and Harry, well knowing Mr. Seth's habits, filled a pipe, and -handed it to him. - -While he was enjoying his smoke, Mrs. Sumerford washed up her dishes -with the help of the girls, and the boys related to each other the -incidents of the scout. - -Sammy, on the other hand, sat with his hands clinched over one knee, as -still as a mouse, occasionally casting a glance towards Mr. Seth; and, -the instant the latter laid by his pipe, he leaped from his stool, and, -running up to Mr. Seth, cried out,-- - -"O Uncle Seth! will you make me a potter's wheel, and show me how to -make a pot on it, and show me how they fix the glaze, so I can make my -mother and all the neighbors bean-pots, bowls, and milk-pans, and glaze -'em just like the potters do?" - -"I can't, child! I couldn't make a wheel, because there's a crank that -must be made of iron, and we haven't got any iron. If I should make a -wheel, I couldn't show you how to make a pot on it, for I don't know -how myself. A potter's trade is a great trade, takes years to learn it. -It's not every one who can learn it; and I have only happened to see -them work a few times in my life." - -"You could make a windmill without hardly any iron; and you're going to -make a bail to take off the millstone without one mite of iron, when -Mr. Honeywood said 'twas impossible. Everybody says you can do any -thing you be a mind to. I should think you might help me." - -Adopting the method he had ever found to be most effective with his -mother, Sammy burst into tears; and so did the girls, who sympathized -with him. - -"Dear me! what shall I do with the child?" exclaimed Uncle Seth, whose -whole heart went out to a boy so interested in a mechanical pursuit. - -"Do help him if you can, Mr. Blanchard. I'm sure if he wants to think -about or do something besides killing Indians, and risking his life on -rafts, I do hope you'll gratify and encourage him, if it's only for the -sake of his mother, and tell him something to pacify him." - -"Well, Sammy, if I can't make you a wheel nor tell how to use it, -there's one thing I can do: I can show you how to mould brick, and you -can have a brick-yard and a kiln, and make your mother a brick oven -that will be worth three times as much to her as the bean-pot; and she -can bake beans, bread, and meat in it." - -"I don't want to make no brick oven. I wouldn't give a chestnut-burr -for a thousand brick ovens. I want to do what the potters do." - -"Well, I'll tell you all about how the potters work their clay; and -then you can make a good pot or milk-pan on a mould as you do now, and -I'll make moulds for you. I'll keep thinking about a wheel; and perhaps -we may have to go to Baltimore or Lancaster for salt or powder, and can -get some iron: then I'll make a wheel; or perhaps I shall think of some -way to make it without iron." - -In this manner Mr. Seth continued to pacify Sammy, who, wiping up his -tears, got up in his benefactor's lap, and wanted to know when he -would show him how to fix the clay. - -Mr. Seth replied, "To-morrow morning," well knowing he should have no -peace till it was done. - -Sammy then wanted to know when he would tell him about the glaze; to -which he answered that it was no use to think about that till the -Indian war was over, as neither lead nor salt could be spared for the -purpose, and if the clay was well worked, and the articles well baked, -they would do good service without any glaze. - -Harry, Alex, and Enoch now took their rifles, and went home with the -children; but Mrs. Sumerford persuaded Mr. Blanchard to tarry all night. - -"What do you think has got into this boy, Mr. Blanchard?" said the -mother, after Sammy had gone to bed, "that he should set out all at -once in such a fury to make things of clay?" - -"Well, Mrs. Sumerford, almost everybody in this world has a turn for -some one thing more than another; and you know that all your boys have -a turn for handling tools: Elick and Enoch have, though not so much as -Harry." - -"That's true, Mr. Blanchard; and they take it from their father: he -could make almost anything; he would make a handsome plate out of an -ash-whorl; and he made me a churn that he dug out of a round log, and -swelled the bottom in, then put hoops on; it was the handsomest you -ever did see." - -"The child's got that natur in him; but he's been so full of other -things since the war broke out, been stirred up all the time, that it -never came out till they began to build that raft. He was the head -of that; but when he got hold of the clay, and started the notion of -making dishes to play with, he was like a man who is digging a well, -and all at once strikes water. He found the thing that suited his turn; -and it became real earnest with him, though it was nothing but play -to the others. When the rest of 'em wanted to make dishes out of wood -and bark, he said, 'Let's make 'em out of clay.' He didn't know what -he was fumbling arter in the dark, didn't know he was chalking out his -whole life; for, mark my words for it, sooner or later that boy'll be a -potter, and no power on earth can hinder it. Mary Sumerford, I believe -there's a higher Power has to do with these things; and I verily -believe we have our own way least when we think we have it most." - -"From my soul I believe as you do, Mr. Blanchard, and always did." - -"I know how it is: he's had a call to do that thing, and you'll see how -'twill be. I know all about it: it's no new thing to me, it was just so -with me when I began to work wood. If he could be in the settlements, -he would learn a potter's trade in no time; but what we shall do with -him here, I'm sure I don't know." - -"Then you don't think he'll give it up. Boys, and my boys, are apt to -take hold of some new thing pretty sharp for a time, and then give it -up, and go into something else." - -"He'll not give it up as long as the breath of life's in him: it's -clear through him, in his marrow and in his bones, and must and will -come out." - -"But I don't like to have him down to the river: the Indians might -carry him off." - -"I'll get him to go to the old Cuthbert house: there's good clay there, -and the spring where Cuthbert got his water." - -The next morning Mr. Seth said to Sam,-- - -"Your mother don't like to have you down to the river: it's too far -away; the Indians might come; we don't any of us think it's safe. You -must play with your clay at the Cuthbert house: it's near the garrison, -and then you'll all be safe." - -"It isn't play," said Sammy, straightening him self up: "what makes you -call it play? It isn't foolish play to make a bean-pot and things for -folks to use, and that they have to buy at Baltimore: it's real work. -It isn't a bit like making mud-puddin's, cob-houses, or playing marbles -or horse, or having a war-post and making believe kill Indians." - -"Indeed it's not," said Uncle Seth, more delighted than he cared to -express, and patting the young enthusiast on the head. - -"I don't want to go to the Cuthbert house, 'cause it's handsome down -to the river; and the raft's there, and the fireplace, and water, and -plenty of wood to bake the pots; and the clay down there is real soft, -and just as blue as indigo, and feels greasy; and I can cut it with my -knife, and it won't dull it one mite." - -"I know that; but it's not so good clay to make pots as the gray at the -Cuthbert house. It will do to make bricks by putting sand with it; but -it's liable to crack, blister, and melt in the fire, 'cause there's so -much iron in it." - -"It don't look so red when it's burnt, that Cuthbert clay don't." - -"Well, then, you can bring up a little of that from the river to color -it: 'twon't take but a mite. There's more wood lying round Cuthbert's -door than you can burn in six months; then you can have the house to -dry your ware in, and to work in when it rains, and the great fireplace -to build your kiln in." - -"What shall I do for water?" - -"There's a spring on the side of the hill where Mr. Cuthbert got his -water; and there's a great trough in the kitchen that he used to salt -pork in, and you can have that to put your clay in, and a table. I'll -ask Nat to let you have that to make your things on." - -When Mr. Seth concluded, Sammy expressed himself reconciled. He -then told him to dig the clay, and pick out any little sticks or -gravel-stones he found, put it in the trough, pour in water enough to -cover it, and let it soak till after dinner, when he would come down, -and tell him what to do with it. - -With the help of his mates, Sammy was not long in filling the trough -with clay and water when they went to haul wood. The settlers hauled -their fire-wood as they wanted it, and did all their work in companies -for safety. - -After dinner Mr. Seth, with all the boys at his heels, went to look -at the clay, and told them to strip up their trousers, get into the -trough, and tread the clay by turns with their bare feet, while he sat -on the door-stone to smoke his pipe. - -The boys entered upon the work with great good-will; but the longer -they tramped, the stiffer the clay grew as it absorbed the water, and -the harder the work became. In the course of fifteen minutes they -asked,-- - -"Isn't it trod enough, Uncle Seth?" - -"Not yet." - -They then wanted to put more water to it, but Mr. Seth would not -permit that. The clay grew more dense: and the boys began, one after -another, to get out of the trough. They suddenly recollected that -they were wanted at home, till at the end of a half-hour only Will -Redmond, Archie Crawford, and Sammy were left. Mr. Seth then looked at -it, rubbed it between his fingers, and told Sammy to let it lie till -supper-time, then give it another treading, and he would tell him what -to do next. - -When the time came, Sammy could not get a single boy to help him. Their -interest in pottery had evaporated. They had the cattle to drive up, -chores to do, and plenty of occupation. Not so, however, with Sammy: -his enthusiasm lay deeper. He got into the trough, and trod as long -as he could see, till his legs ached, and he perceived that the clay -became much tougher and finer. Just as he was about to go, he saw Uncle -Seth coming from the mill, and they went home together. - -When Uncle Seth came the next morning to look at the clay, he said,-- - -"You see, my lad, we always do every thing with a better heart when we -understand the reason for doing it." - -He then took a piece of clay, placed it on the table, and cut it in -halves with a knife, and made Sammy notice that there were a good -many little holes and bubbles in it, and some little hard lumps, and -sometimes he picked out a little gravel-stone. - -"If," said he, "these air-bubbles are not removed, when the ware is -put into the kiln, that air will expand with the heat, and burst the -clay; if there are stones, they will crumble; if there are sticks they -will make steam, swell, and cause a flaw. The potters work their clay -more than a woman does her dough: it is a great deal more work to -prepare the clay than it is to do all the rest. After they have worked -their clay, they let it lay in a heap to settle together, and break -the bubbles, and close the holes: sometimes they dig it a whole year -beforehand, and let it lie and ripen, as they call it." - -"I don't care how hard I work, if I can only make a real good pot." - -"That's a manly principle. You know how hard we all worked to build the -mill; and see what a blessing it is. Every thing, my lad, comes from -labor: it's the root and foundation of every thing worth having. The -Indians won't work, and see what a miserable life they lead." - -Mr. Seth now made some of the clay into large lumps, and, taking up -one, slapped it down on the table with all his force three or four -times, and then kneaded it, and made Sammy take notice that when he -kneaded it he folded the dough back on itself so as to keep the grain -in one direction; and then cut it in halves, and Sammy saw that the -air-bubbles were closed up. - -He told Sammy, if he just stuck together several lumps, just as an -eave-swallow does to make her nest, and made a dish out of it, that -when it came to dry it would be full of seams, a seam for every lump. -He then gave him a mallet, and told him when he was tired with slapping -he could pound it with the mallet. - -"Why couldn't I put it in Mr. Cuthbert's hominy-block that is right -here before the door, and pound it same as we used to the corn? I could -get the boys to help, and pound up a lot." - -"That would be just the best thing that ever was; and get them to help -you all you can the first going-off, while it is a new thing, for -they'll get sick of that sooner than they did treading the clay in the -trough." - -Sammy found it was just as Mr. Seth said: the boys thought it was nice -fun at first; but they soon became tired, and one after another found -their folks wanted them, or they had something to do at home. In vain -Sammy begged them to stay; but, no, they could not. - -"You'll want me to go 'long with you some time, and then I won't go," -said Sammy, and began to cry. - -Soon Mr. Seth came along with some tools in his hand, with which he had -been working at the mill. - -"What's the matter, Sammy?" - -"The boys have all gone off, and won't help me; and I can't lift the -pestle. I wanted to pound all what was in the trough, and they ain't -pounded more'n half of it." - -"Don't cry, lad: I'm going to the house, and I'll send Scip to help -you." - -He felt so bad to have all his mates leave him, that he could not -recover himself immediately and Scip (with whom Sammy was a great -favorite) found him in tears. - -"What de matter wid my leetle Sammy?" cried Scip, taking the lad in his -arms, and wiping off his tears. - -"The boys won't help me,--Archie won't, nor Will; and I can't lift the -pestle." - -"Nebber mind dem. Scip help you much you want: you tell Scip what you -want." - -Scip was a powerful fellow; and, though he had always avoided the -hominy-block before the mill was built, he now stripped himself to the -work, and soon pounded what remained of the clay that had been trod in -the trough, then carried it into the house. Sam cut it up into lumps -with a tomahawk; and Scip would take them up, and slap them down on the -table with a force that filled up the pores of the clay, and made it -compact. - -Sammy hugged Scip, and told him he never would scare him again, would -give him half of all the maple-sugar he got, make him an earthen mug to -drink out of, and give him a lot of his hens' eggs. - -It is not probable that Sammy would have obtained much help from his -companions, except for two reasons; one, that they could not have a -very good time without him, and also that he (by his influence with -Uncle Seth, and through him with Israel Blanchard) could obtain the -company of Scip on their expeditions. - -Thus it was for their interest to help Sammy, in order that they might -have him and Scip to go with them. Sammy knew this, and made the most -of it while they were disposed to make the least of it, and help him as -little as would answer the purpose. - -Sammy found that this clay was a very different material from any he -had used before: it was fine, tough, and did not stick to his hands in -the least; and with a mallet he could flat it out into broad sheets, -and roll it with a rolling-pin as his mother did her pie-crust. - -As Mr. Seth became interested in Sammy's work, he recollected many -things that at first did not occur to him, and told Sam that the -potters put handles on their wares after they were partly dried; that -they rolled out a piece of clay of the right shape, and then stuck it -on with a little "slip" (that is, clay and water of the consistency of -thick cream), smoothed it with a wet sponge; and after the wares were -baked it would not show, but all look alike, and that a rag would do -as well as a sponge. Mr. Seth had offered to make moulds of wood for -him to mould his vessels on, but Sammy resolved to do it himself; and, -as he knew that the quality of the clay would improve by lying, took -time to think over the matter, and collected a number of hard-shelled -pumpkins, gourds, and squashes, which suited his fancy in shape, boiled -them, and scraped out the inside with a spoon instead of waiting for -the meat to rot, or trusting to the wood-ants. - -He wanted to make a bean-pot for Mrs. Stewart, and especially for Mrs. -Blanchard, because Uncle Seth would eat of the beans in that, and, in -respect to it, wished to do his best. - -He could not brook the thought of making a pot, that was, in truth, to -be a present to Uncle Seth in acknowledgment of favors received, and at -the same time ask him to make the mould to form it on. The boy likewise -felt, as every one does who has accomplished any thing, that he now had -a character to sustain. - -This is the operation of right and wrong notions and doings with a boy. -When he has done one or two good things, he naturally feels anxious to -do more, and maintain and add to the reputation he has obtained. - -On the other hand, when he has done several bad things, and feels that -he has lost character, he grows reckless: it becomes up-hill work to -get back, and he finally gets discouraged. Thus it happens to him as -the Scriptures declare: "For he that hath, to him shall be given; and -he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath." - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -SELF-RELIANCE. - - -The boys wanted Sammy to go hunting with bows and arrows, as they were -not allowed any more powder for gunning at present; but he recollected -how they had disappointed him in respect to the hominy-block, and went -to the mill, hoping something might drop from Uncle Seth that would aid -his thought. - -The good man having constructed the crane and screw with which to lift -the upper millstone, and swing it off the spindle, was deliberating -upon the method in which he should make a bail by which the screw was -to be attached to the stone. He knew that among the trees that grew -on the banks of the stream or among the bowlders on the hillside, -where roots of trees were turned from their natural course by various -obstructions, it was not difficult to find a root or branch that -would form the upper part or crown of the bail; and then, by cutting -a mortise in each end, he could attach two strong straight pieces of -wood to drop over the edge, and be fastened to it by wooden pins, -thus forming a kind of wooden chain similar to the brake on the -driving-wheel of the wind-shaft. - -He knew if such a root or branch was found, it would be a rough affair, -not a true curve, would probably be crooked, at least one way; and that -it was not at all probable that one would be found large enough to hew -to a square edge, and that here and there portions of bark would need -to be left on. Should he make the crown from a large, slightly sweeping -stick, it would be necessary to cut the wood so much across the grain, -there would not be sufficient strength. - -Mr. Seth was sitting flat on the floor, with his back to the wall, -chewing a chip. Sammy, who also had a burden on his mind, seated -himself at a little distance, waiting patiently for a proper -opportunity to speak. - -At length Mr. Seth began to talk to himself: "I know what I'll do. I -won't get a natural crook; 'twill be rough, crooked, full of bunches, -and won't come to the stone as it should. It will look just like cart -and sled tongues that I have seen people make out of a crotched tree; -and I always despise 'em. I won't make it in pieces either. I'll take -a tough piece of wood, and bend it to exactly the shape I want; then -I can finish it up smooth. Of course it won't be quite as strong as a -natural crook, but I'll make it larger." - -"O Uncle Seth! how can you bend such a great piece of wood?" - -"Ha! you there, my little potter? You can do any thing, my lad, if you -only have pluck and patience." - -"Then," thought Sammy, "I can find some better way to make pots, if I -have pluck and patience." - -"Sammy, have you got your rifle with you?" - -"No, sir. They don't let the boys have powder and bullets now." - -"Well, I'm going home to get the oxen to haul a walnut-butt: run down -to your house, and ask Harry and the other boys to go into the woods -with me. Israel'll go too. And tell Harry to bring his broad-axe: I -want him to help me." - -After hauling home a walnut-butt twenty feet in length, Mr. Seth -rolled it upon blocks, and began to hew the bail from the large end -of it; hewing the wood to a proud edge, and leaving a much greater -quantity of wood in the middle, where the screw was going through, than -at the ends. - -Israel Blanchard and Harry began to make a form on which to bend this -great piece of timber by treenailing logs together, and hewing them in -the form of half the millstone the bail was to lift, or rather little -more than half as room must not only be left for the stone to turn -easily in the bail, but also for the head of the screw between the bail -and the stone, and also at the ends, as the holes for the pins that -attached it to the stone could not be very near the end, but space must -be left to admit treenails to prevent splitting. - -On the sides of this form they fastened strong uprights opposite each -other, at proper distances, and strong yokes to slip over the ends of -them, and fastened by pins through the uprights, that could be put on -and taken off at pleasure; and made a number of large wedges to drive -under the yokes. - -It was now sundown; and Sammy, who had been much more interested in -watching the work than he would have been in hunting, went home to -milk, and reflect upon the matter nearest his heart, having enjoyed -some little opportunity to converse about it with Uncle Seth. - -Sammy did not like the pumpkins and gourds as forms to mould his dishes -on; neither did he like a mould of wood, or a basket. He knew the -basket would leave the outside rough. - -He sat down in the yard to milk his cow, and began; but became so -absorbed in thought, that the cow put her foot in the pail all -unnoticed by Sammy, who kept on milking mechanically. - -"Why, Samuel Sumerford! are you out of your senses? Don't you see that -cow has got her foot in the pail? What in the world can you be thinking -of? Now go give that milk to the hogs, and get a clean pail.--I -declare, I don't know what has got into that child: he was always -tearing round, couldn't live without half a dozen boys round him, -always complaining that he couldn't have no good times, till sometimes, -betwixt him and that little sarpent of a Tony, I was afraid I should go -distracted; and now he goes right down to the Cuthbert house the moment -he gets his breakfast, or up to the mill with Mr. Seth; and there he -stays. He don't seem to care about company, nor about his hens, nor any -play. I don't believe he's taken a bow and arrow nor a gun in his hand -this ten days; and seems all the time in a study." - -"I'm sure, mother, I should think you'd be glad of it," said Enoch: -"you couldn't take any peace of your life for him; at any rate, all the -rest of us are glad." - -"So am I, Enoch; but it seems so kind of unnatural!" - -If the cow did put her foot in the pail, and if while it was there -Sammy was leaning his head against her, he got an idea that after -sleeping on he resolved to carry out in practice. But scarcely had he -despatched his breakfast when several boys made their appearance with -bows and arrows, and wanted him to go with them on a ramble. - -"Can't go." - -"What's the reason?" asked Stiefel. - -"Don't want to." - -"If you don't go with us never, we won't help you tread clay." - -"I'll go some time: don't want to go to-day." - -The boys went off; and Mrs. Sumerford said, "Sam, what made you so -short with the boys? I know they didn't like it. If you wanted to work -with your clay, why didn't you tell 'em that was the reason you didn't -want to go to-day? then they would have gone down to the Cuthbert house -with you." - -"I knew they would, marm; and that was just the reason I didn't tell -'em. I didn't want 'em down there: I wanted to be alone to contrive -something. Mother, if you was going to draw a piece of linen into the -loom, and study out a new figure that you never wove before, would you -want all the neighbors in, gabbing?" - -"No, I'm sure I shouldn't." - -Sammy went to his workshop; and his mother began to wash the -breakfast-dishes, saying, "Well, these are new times: I shouldn't think -I'd been talking with Sam Sumerford." - -The first thing Sammy did was to gather up all the pumpkins, gourds, -and squashes he had been at so much pains to select and dig out, and -throw them on the woodpile: he had brought with him a piece of ash -board (a remnant that was left when Harry made a drum, and had given -him), also a large piece of thick, smooth birch-bark pressed flat as a -board, and Harry's large compasses. He sat down at the table, and began -to talk to himself:-- - -"I heard my brother say, and tell Jim Blanchard, he didn't want to -eat other people's cold victuals, but he liked best to build his own -campfire. I don't want to eat anybody's cold victuals neither. I'll -make my own moulds: I won't ask Uncle Seth to make 'em. If I can't make -'em, I won't try to be a potter." - -Sammy had found that the bean-pot he had made for his mother was about -the right size, but the shape did not suit: he knew that everybody who -looked at it would see that it was just the shape of a pumpkin. To use -his own expression, it was too "pottle-bellied;" and the mouth was not -large enough to admit a piece of pork the right size. The cover of this -pot dropped inside the rim of the pot; and, as nearly all the settlers -baked their beans in a hole under the hearth, it was not so good a form -for keeping out the ashes, as to have the cover shut over the rim, with -a flange on the inside of it. - -With the compasses he struck out a circle on the table, the exact size -of the bottom of his mother's bean-pot, of which he had the measure, -and, boring a hole in the centre, stuck up a round, straight willow -stick considerably longer than the height of the original vessel. -Around this stick and in this circle he built up a mass of clay as high -as the stick, and much larger in circumference than the old pot. - -His object in putting the stick in the centre of his circle was to -obtain a guide, a plumb-line centre from which to work. - -"When they build a haystack," said he, "they always set a pole in the -middle, and then they get all sides alike." - -Having thus provided plenty of material to go and come upon, he ran -home, and got his mother's pot, and placed it on the table beside his -pile of clay; then with the compasses marked on a piece of bark the -size he intended to have the mouth of his pot, and cut it out, levelled -the top of the clay, and, making a hole exactly in the centre of the -bark, slipped it over the upright rod and downward till it rested upon -the surface of the clay; and put some flat stones upon it to keep it in -place. - -He now had the centre of the top and bottom, and by measuring found -the centre of the side, and marked it in four places; and with those -guides began with his scalping-knife to slice off the clay, form the -sides and swell and taper of the vessel, and by placing a rule across -the mouth obtained another guide, till he thus formed a model to suit -his eye. Sometimes he took off a little too much in one place, and made -a hollow: then he filled it with clay and cut again, until he felt that -he could make no further improvement. - -It was of much better proportions than the original, which was manifest -as they sat side by side: still the capacity of the vessel represented -by the mould was about the same. If it was a little deeper, and had a -larger mouth, it was less bulging in the middle, tapering gradually -each way. - -Sammy cleaned up the table, and was walking round it, viewing his -pot from different standpoints, once in a while making some trilling -alteration, or smoothing the surface with a wet rag, when he was -greatly surprised by the entrance of his mother. - -"O mother! did you come to see me work?" - -"Not altogether, my dear. Nat Cuthbert said there was a pair of -wool-cards in the chamber, that he would lend me. Run up, and look for -them." - -Sammy soon returned with the cards, when his mother said,-- - -"Had you rather be down here alone, than at play with the boys?" - -"Yes, marm: I'm having a nice time." - -"What made you throw all those punkins, squashes, and gourds away, my -son, after you had taken so much pains to boil and scrape the inside -out?" - -"'Cause they wasn't the right shape. They had their bigness all in one -place. The punkins had their bigness all in the middle, the squashes -and gourds at the bottom. They wasn't good moulds, marm." - -"Wasn't the moulds the Lord made good enough for you to work from?" - -"The Lord don't make bean-pots, mother; he only makes squashes and -punkins and such like: if he did, he'd make 'em right, 'cause he makes -the beans, flowers, and every thing right. Marm, there's both pots: now -which do you think is the best shape? Truly now, marm." - -"Well, Sammy, I think this last is the best shape, and it has a larger -mouth to take in a good piece of pork. Come, you'd better go home with -me. It's only about an hour till dinner-time." - -"Has the mill been going this morning?" - -"Most all the forenoon, but the wind is nearly gone now." - -"Then Uncle Seth hasn't touched his bail; but he'll work on it this -afternoon, and I'll see him." - -He now made a profile just the shape of the outside of his pot, from -the thin piece of ash-board, then set it off an inch from the edge, and -cut the other side to correspond: thus the inside of the profile gave -the outside of the mould, and the outside of the profile the inside of -the vessel to be made. He then placed the great compasses each side on -the middle of the mould, and by that measure cut out another birch-bark -pattern: thus he had the measure of the diameter in three places, -bottom, middle, and top. After putting the profile and pieces of bark -carefully away, he tore down his mould, flung the clay in with the -rest, laid away the stick for future use, and ran home to dinner. - -He had worked out all his plans in his head and in part with his -hands, knew he could do it, and felt easy; could go to the mill now. -But to have gone in the morning, and left that idea undeveloped--he -would not have done it to see Uncle Seth make a dozen bails. - -When he came near the mill he met Uncle Seth, Israel Blanchard, Mr. -Holdness, Cal, and his brother Harry, who had been to dinner with -Israel, coming to help Mr. Seth bend the bail that he blocked out in -the stick the day before, and had not meddled with since: there having -sprung up a "mill-wind," he had been occupied in grinding. Thus Sammy -was in season. - -A fire was made in the block-house, and water heated. The part of the -tree on which the bail was made being covered with straw, hot water was -poured on it till it was thoroughly steamed: then all those strong men -lifted the whole stick, and put the finished end on the mould between -two uprights, put a yoke over, and Uncle Seth drove a wedge between the -yoke and the bail, bringing it snug to the mould, and gave the word, -"Lower away." They now gradually let down the heavy unhewn end of the -stick that was in the air, the great leverage bringing it down easily, -for the bail was as limber as a rag. Slowly the heavy timber came down, -Uncle Seth meanwhile driving wedges under the yokes, and Sammy pouring -hot water on the portions designated by the former, till the end of the -stick struck the ground. - -The end of the mould was instantly lifted, and large blocks that lay -ready put under it, which permitted the end of the stick to come down -far enough to bend that portion of the bail that formed the crown, the -most important part of the whole affair. - -"Over with him," said Uncle Seth. The whole form that had previously -stood on its edge was instantly upset, lying flat on the ground, stakes -driven to hold it, and the remaining portion brought to the mould, -secured by wedges, and the long end of the stick sawed off. - -The mould was now again set upon its edge, more water poured on, and a -final drive given to all the wedges, and the operation completed. - -"Indeed, brother," said Uncle Seth, passing his hand carefully over the -hot wood, "there's not the sign of a 'spawl' on it: the wood is not -strained nor rucked in the least. A smart piece of timber that: I knew -'twas afore I cut it, just as well as I know now. I've had my eye on -that tree for more'n a year." - -"How did you know it?" asked Sammy, who was not disposed to permit any -opportunity to obtain information to pass unimproved. - -"I knew by the way it grew, and the ground it grew on. The limbs came -out straight from the tree, and turned down: a tree that grows that way -is always of tougher wood about bending than one when the limbs run up -like a fir. Then it grew on moist, loamy land; and trees that grow on -that kind of land have wood more pliant than where they grow on coarse, -gravelly land. - -"How much more workmanlike that looks than any natural crook full -of bunches and hollows! Not that I would say any thing agin nat'ral -crooks: they are great things sometimes when a man's at his wits' ends, -specially in ship-building and often in mill-work." - -"What are you going to do to it next?" asked Sammy. - -"Nothing, my lad, right away: it must remain in the press two or three -days, that it may become set so that it won't straighten." - -When Mr. Seth found that the bail was well seasoned and set, he took -it out of press, cut the holes in the ends to receive the pins that -were to hold it to the stone, and the large hole in the centre by which -it was to be hung to the head of the screw, worked it off smooth, and -oiled it. - -He then made a washer or wooden circle to lie between the shoulder on -the head of the screw and the under side of the bail, in order that the -screw might turn more easily. - -Screws of this size are always turned by putting a lever into holes, -generally four made in the head of them. - -There were two objections to this method in the present case: one was, -that the bail interfered with turning the screw, another, that it would -be necessary to make the head of the screw much bigger, and require -a larger space between the bail and the stone than Mr. Seth cared to -have. Therefore he left the top of the screw square, and made a lever -to fit over it like a wrench over a bolt. - -It was soon known among the boys that Mr. Seth had got the bail most -done, and would be likely to try it. Israel Blanchard and Mr. Holdness -were seen by the children going towards the mill; and they followed -suit. - -The hopper, shoe, and covering boards were removed, the stone laid -bare, and the crane with the bail swung over it, the pins that confined -the latter to the stone thrust in; and Mr. Seth, standing on the stone, -turned the screw, and lifted both himself and the stone as easily, Sam -Sumerford said, as a squirrel would wash his face. - -It was then swung over a trap-door in the floor, into which the lower -edge of the stone dropped; and they turned it over as easily as a -griddle in its bail. No more would have been required to place the -stone in a position to be picked, than to have put some blocks beneath -it, and turned back the screw. The hole in the floor saved the labor of -lifting the stone so high as would otherwise have been necessary, and -also required a less length of screw. - -"This stone," said Uncle Seth, after examining it, "don't need picking, -and I didn't expect it did. I only wanted to see how the thing would -work. Wonder what Mr. Honeywood'll think about a wooden bail when he -comes back from the scout." - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -FRUITS OF PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE. - - -Sammy now returned with greater interest than ever to his work of -experimenting. Having kneaded a lump of clay, he flattened it out on -his bench with the mallet, and rolled it with the rolling-pin into a -broad sheet of the thickness which he thought desirable for the bottom -of his pot, and cut it out of the proper size and shape, and as much -larger than the original vessel, as the thickness he intended for the -sides. He then sprinkled sand on the bench to prevent the bottom from -sticking, rolled out another sheet of dough, and cut it all up into -strips a little longer than the circumference of his vessel, thus -leaving room to lap; these he rolled into pieces as nearly equal in -size as possible, and with them built up the sides of his pot from the -bottom, moistening the edges where they came together with clay slip, -and placing them one upon another like the coils of a rope. - -By pressing with his hands on both sides and the surface, he -incorporated the different layers into one, so as to obliterate all -the marks where they came together. With his two circular pieces of -birch-bark he regulated the size, and with the profile the curve, of -the side, and made a vessel precisely like his own model. Then, with a -roll of clay, he made a projection on the inside to hold the cover, to -be put on afterwards when it was half dry. - -The young potter was now quite well satisfied. He had made a pot far -superior to the other, of handsomer shape; and, the clay being properly -worked, there was no probability of its coming to pieces in the fire; -and, after smoothing the sides with a wet rag, he began to consider how -he should ornament his work. - -Harry was possessed of a great genius for sketching and drawing figures -of all kinds on birch-bark, and often did it for the amusement of the -children. - -Sam showed the pot to Harry, and wanted him to draw on it Indians -killing white folks, and scalping old people, women, and little -children. - -"I wouldn't do that," said Harry: "that would be very well if you was -going to give the pot to Mr. Holdness, McClure, or Mr. Israel; but Mr. -Seth don't like any thing of that kind. If I was you, I'd have the -windmill: I'll cut that on it, and Uncle Seth right under it, and the -year it was built; and on the other side I'll make a man sowing grain." - -Sammy assented to this, and put a wreath of oak-leaves round the design -and inscription by pressing them into the clay: then he put on the -handles. Mr. Seth had told him that wet leather would polish a pot: -he therefore obtained a piece from Mr. Holdness, who was the tanner -of the little community, and had managed, by shaving his bark with a -drawing-knife, to tan leather enough for pack-saddles. - -The grateful boy now resolved to present the offering (that had cost -him so much labor), to his great benefactor, carried the pot to Mrs. -Israel Blanchard, and with a throbbing heart confided the secret to her. - -The next day she invited Mrs. Sumerford, Sammy, the families of Mr. -Honeywood and Mr. Holdness, to supper. When they were all seated at the -table, she put on the pot of beans, setting it directly in front of -Uncle Seth, with the windmill staring him directly in the face. - -Great was the surprise, many and fervent the encomiums; and Sammy was -never better satisfied with himself. - -He had also made a pot for Mrs. Stewart. When she looked at it, and -read the name inscribed on it, the mother's eyes filled with tears. - -"So you put Tony's name on it: you loved your little mate, Sammy." - -"Yes, marm: I miss him all the whole time. I never shall think so much -of anybody as I did of him. I like all the boys, but I loved Tony. -If he was here, he'd help me: we should have made a pot for our two -mothers; and 'cause he ain't here, I made this for you." - -"You are a bonnie bairn, an' I trust your mither'll nae ha' occasion to -greet for you as I maun for Tony." - -Sammy could now make earthen vessels with much greater facility. He -had a good eye, and could make them without so much measuring as was -at first necessary, and without making a model. All he had to do was -to determine in his mind the size he would have the vessel, roll out -his clay, and cut the sheet long enough to form a circle as large as -the circumference of his vessel at its largest place, then cut it -into strips, lapping some more and some less, as the sides flared or -tapered; and, as he kept his measures of height, diameter, and the -profiles of the sides, he soon learned to make a vessel of any size he -wished. - -When it was found that his ware would bear to be put on the fire to -boil in, the women wished to use them in this manner; but there was -nothing by which to hang them. - -One day he was digging among the broken pottery under the shelving bank -on the site of the old Indian village, and unearthed the upper half of -a pot, the edge of the mouth rolled over, making a very broad flange. -He took it to Mr. Honeywood, who told him that it was done by the -Indian squaws to hold a withe to hang it over the fire by. - -"I should think it would burn off." - -"They put clay upon it, and watched it: if the clay fell off, put on -more." - -"Mr. Honeywood, how did you know so much about Indians? and how did -you learn to talk Indian?" - -"I learned to speak the language from two men in Baltimore, who had -been prisoners with them a long time: of their customs I learned a -great deal more from Wasaweela the Mohawk, with whom I hunted and -camped a whole winter." - -Sammy now went to work, and made some very thick and strong pots, that -would hold two pailfuls, after the Indian form, and fastened withes -to them. They were very useful, for the women could hang them on the -crane, and boil meat or vegetables. - -They kept a little clay at home to smear them with, which was seldom -necessary if the fire was made with judgment directly under the bottom -of the pot, and not suffered to blaze upon the sides. - -Sammy now wished to try his hand at a milk-pan; but his mother -discouraged him, because she said the milk would soak into it more or -less, and it would not be possible to keep it sweet, and after a while -the milk put in it would sour. However, he made one, just to see if he -could; and it looked just like his mother's except the glazing. How -he wished he could glaze! He made pitchers and drinking-mugs, and put -handles on them by forming a roll of clay, and then sticking them on -when the ware was partly dry. He would stick the upper end of the roll -of clay on the vessel, then dip his hand in water, form the roll into -proper shape, and attach the lower end, then smooth with a moist rag. -After these unglazed dishes became foul, Sammy purified them by putting -them in the kiln, and baking them again. He made another improvement -that facilitated his labor. He got Scip to plane and shave a piece of -pine perfectly round, two feet long, and three inches in diameter, and -split in equal parts with a saw. Scip then hollowed out each part, and -put dowels in one half, and bored holes to correspond in the other, -which held the pieces evenly upon each other. - -When he had made a roll of clay about the size, he dipped the mould in -water, put the roll in one half, and squat the other on it, and thus -made every roll the same size perfectly; and, by counting them up, he -knew very nearly when he had cut out enough for his pot. - -There was one thing he could not prevent his mind from dwelling on: it -haunted him night and day; to wit, the statement made by Uncle Seth -in respect to the potter's wheel, and with what marvellous celerity -vessels could be made on it. That a thousand pots could be made in a -day, seemed to him little short of a miracle. He had not forgotten that -Uncle Seth had said, that, instead of a crank (of the nature of which -he had little conception), the spindle was sometimes moved by a band -going over a larger wheel, and passing round a smaller wheel (pulley) -on the spindle, and that this large wheel was turned by another person. - -This was not to him difficult of conception; and he thought Uncle Seth -might, if he would, make one of that kind, and cherished a vague notion -that he might make such a one himself. - -With his head full of such thoughts, he was occupied in preparing nests -for setting hens, and casting about in his mind which of the boys he -should endeavor to persuade to help him, should he adventure upon it. - -He finally pitched upon Archie Crawford. Archie was quite ingenious, -could make a good wooden or horn spoon, a windmill, or a trencher, and -manifested more endurance in sticking to any thing he undertook than -most of the boys; was of a kindly nature, and willing to oblige. - -While Sammy was thus engaged, Archie presented himself, accompanied by -several more armed with bows and arrows. The bows were capable, when -the arrow was drawn to the head, of killing a bear or wolf; and the -arrows were most of them steel pointed, the others flint heads, but -they were of Indian make and effective. - -These bows belonged to the larger boys. The one carried by Johnnie -Armstrong belonged to his brother Ned; Harry Sumerford had killed an -Indian with it. As they had been restricted in the use of powder, they -had betaken themselves to the use of the bow; but these boys, by virtue -of incessant practice from childhood, would, when the object was near, -kill nearly every time. The bows they now had, however, were too stiff -for them, and they were not able to draw the arrow to the head. - -"Come, Sammy," said Archie, "get Harry's bow and arrow, and go with us: -we're going to shoot pigeons and coons, and want to shoot fish." - -The boys were in the habit of shooting fish when they came near the -surface in the shoal-water; but they sometimes lost both arrow and fish. - -Sammy made no objections to going this time, as he had used up all his -clay, and knew he should need help from his mates, and that he must -gratify them if he desired their aid. - -"It's no good for me to take Harry's bow. I'll take Knuck's: I'd ruther -have that. I can't begin to bend Harry's." - -As the baby was asleep in the cradle, and could make no objection, they -took the bear with them. There were several dogs: Will Redmond had -brought Mr. Honeywood's Fan, the mother of the whole litter; Sammy had -one; and Tony's had come visiting of his own free will. - -The boys would have taken them all; but Mrs. Sumerford objected, -because, though the dogs and the bear agreed well at home where they -had been taught to show due respect to his bearship, it was quite the -reverse when they were not under the inspection of their masters, the -dogs always being the aggressors. Therefore the dogs were shut up in -the house till the boys were gone, when Mrs. Sumerford let them out, -and gave them their breakfast. - -Coons are wont to sleep in the daytime, and forage in the night. A -favorite resort of these creatures is the evergreen trees with close -foliage, among which it is not easy to see them. There, after a hearty -meal, they coil themselves around the tree, lying upon the limbs at -their junction with the trunks, and sleeping. The boys were no novices -in the art of finding them: one or two would climb the tree, and drive -them to the top, or upon the outer limbs, and the others shoot them. -They liked best to shoot pigeons when they could find them on the -ground, or on low bushes feeding on berries. - -In shooting into the tops of trees, if they missed their aim, the -arrows were likely to stick in a limb or some part of the tree, in -which case it was not only some work to recover them, but the points -of the flint ones were liable to be broken, and those of the iron ones -bent, or if steel they were sometimes broken. - -They had killed four coons, finding a whole family in one tree, and -a partridge, and were now in pursuit of pigeons, creeping on their -hands and knees among the bushes; and the bear, as fond of berries as -the pigeons, was improving the opportunity, lying down on the loaded -bushes, and eating while the juice ran in streams from either side of -his mouth. - -The pigeons were accustomed to bears, had no fear of them, would feed -right under their noses. Archie Crawford knew this, and was crawling up -to some pigeons, and sheltering himself from their notice behind the -body of the bear, when from under a windfall out rushed a wild bear, -followed by two cubs, and growling savagely. - -The civilized bear neither manifested fear nor a wish to quarrel. The -boys, on the other hand, strong in numbers, and many of them armed -with steel-pointed arrows, were delighted with the prospect of a duel -between two such antagonists, and shouted,-- - -"Go at her, baby! clinch her! you can lick her: we'll back you." - -While baby's bear was mildly regarding his savage antagonist, the hairs -of whose coat stood upright with anger, the white foam flying from her -lips, and who was working herself into a great rage, one of the cubs -ventured up to baby's bear, who, putting down his nose, smelled of the -cub, and licked it with his tongue. - -The wild bear then sprung upon the tame one, and seized him by the -under jaw; upon which the other, being much stronger and heavier, -instantly rose upon his hind-legs, and flung her off with so great -force, that she not only fell to the earth, but rolled entirely over -upon her back, almost crushing one of her cubs. - -At this decided demonstration, the boys, wild with delight, shouted -encouragement; but the tame bear showed no disposition to follow up -his advantage, and continue the contest so well begun. Not so with the -other, who, springing up madder than ever, kept walking around her -opponent, growling savagely, while the latter began eating berries. - -The boys now, provoked at his lack of mettle, addressed him in another -fashion, calling him a coward, lazy, and a fool, because he did not -spring upon the other when on her back, and finish her. - -The wild bear now seized the tame one by his right fore-paw, which she -endeavored to grind between her teeth. The other, however, succeeded in -withdrawing it, and, now thoroughly mad, uttered in his turn terrific -growls; and a deadly grapple ensued between them, to the great delight -of the boys, who now had what they desired,--the prospect of a contest -of life or death. - -It soon became evident, that though the tame bear was much the larger, -and for a "spurt" the stronger of the two, and by no means lacking in -courage, his fat, short wind, and want of exercise, rendered him a poor -match for his lean and wiry antagonist. - -At this juncture of affairs, Ike Proctor, who had the strongest and a -remarkably clear, sharp-toned voice, mounting a great rock, called the -dogs with all his might. At the same time the others, drawing their -bows with every ounce of strength they possessed, sent a shower of -arrows at the wild bear, venturing near enough to make amends for lack -of muscle. - -The bear instantly turned upon the boys, struck Sammy's bow from his -hand with a blow of her paw, tore his hunting-shirt from his shoulder, -slightly lacerating the flesh, broke his belt, and in another instant -would have killed him if Jim Grant had not at that moment sent a -flint-headed arrow into her right eye, and Archie Crawford fastened -a steel point in her left nostril; and Sammy, picking up his weapon -while the bear was trying to shake the barbed shaft from her nostril, -returned to the charge. - -"Here they come! Here come the dogs!" shouted Rogers. On they came, -full stretch, uttering short barks; the mother, a powerful veteran -used to coping with bears and wolves, leading the van. Instinctively -avoiding the stroke of the bear's paw, she fastened to the right ear of -the brute, one of the pups instantly seizing the left. - -The bear, enfeebled by her previous encounter and the loss of blood, -strove in vain to shake off these ferocious antagonists. Strong as -fierce they clung to her, while the remaining dog buried his fangs -in the bear's throat, and, rolling her on her back, thrust his sharp -muzzle in her vitals. The blood poured out in a stream; the hard-lived -animal quivered a moment, and gave up. - -Excited by the combat, and the smell and taste of blood, the dogs -instantly turned upon baby's bear already half dead, and upon the cubs, -and killed them in a moment in spite of all their masters could do to -prevent it. - -The boys would have killed the dogs if they had dared, so enraged and -grieved were they at the death of the tame bear, and also at the loss -of the cubs which they coveted. - -"What pretty little things these would have been for us to keep!" said -Mugford, taking one of the cubs up in his arms. "Baby's bear would -have liked 'em; and how handsome the baby and the two little bears -would have looked, all three lying asleep together on the old bear!" - -"They were big enough to eat any thing," said Proctor. - -"You're crying, Sammy," said Will Redmond, noticing the tears on his -cheeks, which he did not try to conceal. - -"If I be, I ain't crying for myself, but only 'cause baby'll miss his -bear, and 'cause my mother'll feel so bad: she loved the bear 'cause -he was so good to the baby. I've seen him lay on the hearth after he'd -been asleep, and just waked up, and stretch and gape, and stick out -every claw on his feet, just like the old cat will sometimes; the baby -would see 'em, and creep along to get hold of 'em; and the bear would -put 'em all in so they needn't scratch baby. I've seen that little -thing try to suck the bear's paw. Oh, he was a good bear!" - -"I loved him too," said Archie; "and it makes me feel real bad, just -like crying. Let's all cry. There ain't anybody to see us: we'll cry -all we want to." - -It needed but this to open the sluices, for the eyes of every boy were -brimfull of tears. They had a good solid cry, and, having given vent to -their pent-up emotions, felt relieved. - -They all collected round the dead body of the bear. Sammy, kneeling -down, began to pat his head, and talk to him as though he was alive. - -"Poor beary! we be all real sorry you're dead: mother and the baby'll -be sorry too. The dogs always did hate you, though you never did them a -bit of hurt, wouldn't hurt a fly." - -"If you'd been brought up in the woods same as that wild bear, you'd -have licked two of her." - -"The dogs know they've done wrong," said Rogers: "only see how meaching -they look, and keep their tails 'twixt their legs." - -The wild bear was poor, and not fit to eat: so they skinned her. But -baby's bear was as fat as a well-fatted hog, but no one of them for a -moment indulged the thought of eating or even skinning him. - -"If we leave the baby's bear in the woods, and cover him up with brush, -the wolves will get him," said Sammy. - -Fred Stiefel and Archie volunteered to go home, and get shovels and -hoes; and they soon dug a grave in the soft ground to bury their pet -in. - -"Let's put the cubs 'long with baby's bear. We know he liked 'em, cause -he smelt of 'em, and was licking one of 'em when the old bear jumped at -him," said Archie. - -"The wolves sha'n't have baby's bear; they sha'n't pick his bones," -said Sammy. - -The boys brought stones as large as two, and sometimes as large as -four of them, could carry, and piled them on the grave to prevent the -wolves from digging into it. They put a large stone in the bear-skin; -and four carried it, and put on small ones till they made a large pile, -resolving whenever they came that way they would put on a stone. When -the boys returned home (for they all went home with Sam), bringing with -them the bear-skin, four coons, a partridge, and only three pigeons, -and with downcast looks made known what had taken place, Mrs. Sumerford -expressed much sorrow. - -"You don't know, Sammy, how much I shall miss that creature. He was so -good! He wasn't a mite like any tame bear that ever I saw; and I've -seen scores of 'em, first and last. They are always great thieves; but -he wasn't; he had principle: he was a good deal honester than Scip. -They are mostly great plagues; people soon grow sick of 'em, and kill -'em: but he was not the least trouble. All the tame bears that ever -I saw before him were mighty unsartin': they'd take spells when they -would snap and strike with their paws." - -"Tony's bear did: he killed a dog, broke his back at one lick of his -paw; and he clinched Mrs. Blanchard, and wanted to kill her," said -Grant. - -"I know he did; but this bear was a great help to me about the child. -When I was all alone, and wanted to weave, I could put the baby on -the floor with the bear, and they would play ever so long; and when I -couldn't get the little one to sleep by rocking, to save me, he'd go to -sleep on the bear." - -While his mother was thus recounting the virtues of the dead, it -brought the whole matter to the mind of Sammy in such a light that he -began to cry, and the boys with him; and finally the good woman herself -was moved by the tears of the children. - -The baby was sitting on the floor with his playthings, and, not -knowing what to make of it, began staring with his great round eyes, -first at his mother, then at the others; and finally, not relishing the -silence, pounded on the floor with a spoon, and laughed. - -"If you wasn't a baby, you wouldn't laugh; you'd cry like every thing," -said Sammy. - -"What creatures boys are!" said Mrs. Sumerford. "We've been thinking -all the danger was from Indians; but I'm afraid they'll contrive to be -killed by bears, or be drowned. They will if they can." - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -TRIUMPH OF THOUGHT AND INGENUITY. - - -After the departure of the boys, Sammy took up, with greater enthusiasm -than ever, those trains of thought that had been so rudely interrupted -by the day's occurrences, and after supper sat down in one corner of -the room to reflect. - -His mother, having spun her stint, began to reel up the yarn. As he sat -thinking, and occasionally looking at her as she reeled the yarn from -the spindle, he communed thus with himself:-- - -"If a potter's wheel is an upright spindle with a little wheel on it -turned by a band that goes over a big wheel, and my mother's wheel is a -level spindle with a little wheel on it turned by a band that goes over -a big wheel, then what's the reason, if my mother's wheel is turned -upside down, the spindle won't be upright, just as Uncle Seth said a -potter's wheel was? And then if there was a round piece put on top to -put the clay on, and you turned the big wheel, it would turn the clay." - -"Sammy, don't you feel well?" setting her wheel back against the wall. - -"Yes, ma'am, I'm well." - -"What makes you sit there so still, then?" - -"I don't know, ma'am." - -"I don't believe you feel very well: you've been through a good deal -this day, and you needn't go to milking. I'll milk: the cows don't give -a great mess now." - -Scarcely had his mother left the threshold than Sammy, jumping up, -turned the wheel over flat on the floor, with the pointed end of the -spindle uppermost. He put a log under the post of the wheel to keep the -end of the spindle from touching the floor, and prevent its turning. -There was a basket of turnips sitting in the corner: he sliced the -top from one of them, to flatten it, and stuck it on the end of the -spindle, and getting on his knees turned the wheel round; and round -went both spindle and turnip. - -"There!" said he talking to himself, "if that turnip was a round piece -of wood, and if there was clay on it, 'twould be the same thing as the -potter's wheel that Uncle Seth told about, that didn't have any crank, -only two wheels." - -The same principle, Sammy meant. - -"I haven't got any tools, nor any thing to make a wheel of: so I -couldn't make one." - -The tears sprung to the poor boy's eyes; and hearing his mother's step -on the door-stone, and not wanting to have her question him about his -tears, he opened the window-shutter, leaped out, made for the hovel, -and sat down there. He had left in haste; and, as Mrs. Sumerford set -down her milk-pail, she saw her wheel upside down, with a turnip on the -end of the spindle. "What's all this!" pulling off the turnip. "Samuel, -Samuel Sumerford! Did ever anybody see or hear tell of such a boy? It's -a mercy that he didn't break the wheel-head. What satisfaction could -there be in turning that wheel upside down, and sticking a turnip on -the spindle?" - -The little fellow's reflections were of a sombre cast. "There ain't no -good times now as there used to be. I had a bear, and he was killed; -Tony had one, and he was killed; and now baby's bear, that was the best -most of the whole, is killed too. I had a tame coon, and they killed -him; a cosset lamb, and he died; and the Indians have come, and carried -off Tony who I loved better than the bear or coon or cosset lamb. The -Indians keep coming, and killin' our folks; and Alice Proctor thinks -they'll kill us all some time." - -Sammy's thoughts now seemed to take a sudden turn; for at once he -jumped up, and ran at his utmost speed to the Cuthbert house. His -mother, looking after him in amazement, said,-- - -"I don't know about this pottery business: the child don't seem one -mite as he used to. I hope he won't lose his wits." - -Rushing up garret, he brought down part of a flax-wheel; that is, the -bench, the wheel, and the posts on which the wheel was hung, the rest -having been carried off by Cuthbert. Sammy's spirits rose with a bound: -he thought, if he only had a wheel, he could manage the rest. - -Where should he get boards to make a bench? for boards were precious -things in the settlement. He recollected that Mr. McDonald had in -his house a meal-chest, and partitions made of boards, and some -milk-shelves; and that some of them were used for making coffins to -bury the family in, as there was not time to manufacture boards with -the whip-saw. But he thought they might not all have been used; the -house stood empty, and was rotting down. - -Away ran the excited lad for Archie, made a confidant of him, and -wanted him to go to the McDonald house to see if there were not some -boards there, and, if so, get them. - -"You don't ketch me there this time of day: it's haunted. It's all but -sundown now. I'll go in the morning: 'twill be dark by the time we get -there." - -"'Twon't be dark if we run. All I want is just to look in, and see what -there is; and, if there is any, we can get them some other time." - -As usual, Sammy prevailed; and away they ran, reaching the place just -after the sun had set. Directly before the door stood the hominy-block -on which McDonald and his son were pounding corn when the savages came -upon them, and an Indian arrow still sticking in the block. On the -door-step was the blood-stain, where little Maggie was butchered. The -boys recollected it well, for she was their playmate. They didn't like -to venture in; for the bullet-proof shutters were closed just as they -had been left when the family were killed, and it was dark inside. They -had not forgotten that the floor (on that fearful morning) of the very -room in which they expected to find the boards was red with the blood -of Grace and Janet McDonald. They tried to look through the loop-holes, -but could not see any thing distinctly within. - -"You go in, Sam." - -"I don't want to: go yourself." - -"It's more your place to go than 'tis for me, 'cause you want to be a -potter." - -Urged by his desire to obtain boards, Sammy at length entered the door, -and, standing in the passage, looked in. - -"I see some square pieces of timber, Archie, that would be nice to make -the frame of the bench; but I don't see any boards. The partition's all -taken down: only these timbers what it was fastened to are left." - -A slight noise was heard in the room; and Sam tumbled over Archie in -his haste to escape, and both ran away. They ventured back, and found -that the noise that had alarmed them was made by the fluttering of a -piece of loose bark (moved by the wind) which hung by one end to a -log; and found there was one short board left in the room, about six -feet long. They thought there might be some in the chamber where the -children used to sleep, which was not so dark as the rest of the house, -because light came through many chinks in the roof. - -Sam mounted the ladder to look; but, just as he got his head above the -level of the floor, he heard a great scrambling, and something went -swiftly past him. He either leaped or tumbled to the floor (he never -knew which); and they ran home, resolving never again to go to that -place in the twilight. - -Early next morning they went there; and it seemed very different in -the daytime. They brought their guns with them; but of what use they -supposed fire-arms would be, in a contest with supernatural foes, is -not readily perceived: however, they felt stronger for having them. - -Archie opened the shutters, that had been closed by the hands of Mrs. -McDonald a few moments before her death, and the sunlight streamed -in. In the chamber they found a wide board twenty feet long, that was -planed on one side, and placed between the beds for the children to -step on when they got out of bed, as the rest of the floor was laid -with poles that were rough with knots and bark. They took down the -joist in the room below: these had been sawed out with the whip-saw, by -Mr. Seth and his brother, when they put up the partition. They were a -great acquisition to the boys, almost as much as the boards; for they -could not have hewn out joist accurately enough to frame together. - -"Mr. McDonald didn't think, when he got Uncle Seth to make this -partition, a meal-chest, and milk-shelves (what nobody else in the Run -has got, and Mr. Blanchard himself ain't got), that they would take the -boards to make coffins for himself and his folks; did he, Sammy?" - -"Don't let's talk about that here." - -They yoked the oxen, hauled their stuff to the Cuthbert house, and set -about making a bench. - -"How high and wide and long shall we make it?" said Archie. - -"Uncle Seth told me it ought to be about as big as this table." - -Cutting their joist, they halved the pieces together, and made the -frame of the bench with a cross-sill at the bottom in the centre to -receive the end of the spindle. How they should make the spindle, and -what they should make it of, was the next thing to be considered. - -They went to a piece of land that had been cleared, and the timber -burnt, but had not been planted, and had partially grown up again, -where were a great number of ash-sprouts, that grew luxuriantly and -very straight, as is the habit of that tree; and soon found one to -answer their purpose. - -Two blocks, one much larger than the other, were sawed from the ends of -logs,--one for a pulley (wheel the boys called it), and the other for a -small wheel to receive the clay; and a hole bored in the cross-sill to -admit the lower end of the spindle. - -Holes were bored, and a square mortise cut in the centre of the two -blocks, and the spindle squared near the lower end, and the pulley -fitted on to it. The top of the spindle was also squared for the other -block. This was done in order that neither the pulley nor the wheel -might turn on the spindle: then a score was cut in the edge of the -pulley to receive a band. The frame of the bench was now boarded on -top, the spindle put in its place, and the upper wheel put on. Their -tools were few, and the boys without practice in using them; yet, -though the work was rough, the bench was level, and the spindle plumb, -although made of an ash-sprout, the bark still adhering to portions of -it. The pulley and clay wheel were also true circles, as they struck -them out with Harry's large compasses, and cut to the scratch. - -A serious consultation was now held in respect to the manner in which -they should avail themselves of the flax-wheel. - -After a long consideration, arising from the fact that the flax-wheel -was not theirs, and that they could do nothing to unfit it for future -use in spinning, Sammy knocked the legs out carefully from the bench, -and placed the latter upon its edge, upon the floor, with the wheel and -posts attached, and at a proper distance from the spindle; then put -under the posts a flattened piece of wood just thick enough to bring it -up to a level, and drove into it two pins each side of the post to keep -them in place, and short enough for the wheel to play over them. - -Flat stones were laid against the other end of the bench, to keep it -from moving; a band passed round both the flax-wheel and the spindle, -and the bearings greased. Some method must now be devised to turn the -large wheel; and this was not an easy matter. This wheel had on it a -short crank, to which (when the parts of the machine were all in place) -the treadle was attached; and on this crank a tang half an inch long, -with a button on the end, to keep the treadle from slipping off. This -affair, especially the button, was much in the way of putting any thing -on the wheel by which to turn it, and was not large enough to be made -useful of itself; for it could only be held betwixt the finger and -thumb, it was so very short. - -The rim of this wheel was three inches in depth, and there were sixteen -spokes quite near together. Archie proposed boring a hole in this rim, -and putting a pin into it; but Sam said that would never do, because it -would injure the wheel, and he had promised Prudence Holdness he would -leave it as good as he found it. - -He tried to fit a wooden handle to the tang of the crank, but the -button on the end prevented. - -These boys, it is true, possessed little knowledge of things in -general: yet they had read the woods pretty thoroughly, and were aware -that the roots of the alder, hazel, and wild cherry, inclined to run -for some distance near the surface, and then throw up shoots at right -angles with the root from which they sprung. - -They found a wild cherry nearly two inches in diameter, that sprang up -from a long naked root, cut the top off within eighteen inches of the -ground, and then dug it up. They now cut one arm of the root close to -the stem, leaving the other a foot in length, flattened the under side, -placed the end of the root towards the hub of the wheel, and lashed it -firmly to a spoke. This was a handle by which to turn the wheel, and -did not injure it in the least. They found, by getting on their knees -and turning the flax-wheel, the spindle revolved steadily but not very -fast. - -"It don't go so fast as mother's flax-wheel," said Sam. - -"Not a quarter so fast as my mother's big wheel: the spindle of that'll -whirl so you can't hardly see it, when she's a mind to make it," said -Archie. - -The boys now sat down to rest, and contemplate their work with great -satisfaction. - -"Ain't it nice, Archie?" - -"Yes; and we made it our own selves, didn't we?" - -There is an important principle developed in this declaration of -Archie. They had learned much, and derived a great deal more pleasure -from the contemplation of that rude machine that they had exerted all -their ingenuity to make, than they would have done had Uncle Seth made -a potter's wheel, and given it to them. If you want to bring out what -is in a boy, want him to develop original thought, and become possessed -of resources within himself, encourage and stimulate him to make his -own playthings. How many children there are who have almost every thing -given them that a toy-shop can furnish, and yet get sick of their -novelties when they have looked them over, acquire but few ideas in the -process, and remain children during life! if that deserves the name of -life which is useless and barren, both in respect to themselves and to -others. - -They soon tested their instrument by experiment. Taking some sand, -Sammy strewed it over the wheel, and put a lump of clay on it while -Archie turned. He did this in order that he might be able to get the -vessel off, as he knew the clay would stick to the wood; but when he -put his hands on the clay the wheel turned round under it, and the clay -tumbled to the floor. Finding that would never do, he swept off all the -sand, and flung the lump down hard on the wood, where it stuck fast -(as Uncle Seth had told him he saw the potters do), put his hands on -each side of the clay, and brought it up to a sugar-loaf form, and then -pressed it down to break the air-bubbles, then put his thumbs into the -middle of the lump, and his fingers outside. The clay instantly assumed -a circular form, and became hollow. - -"Oh, oh! It's doing it!" shouted Sam. - -"Doing what?" cried Archie, who on his knees could not see what was -going on. - -"It's growing hollow. It's making a pot. Oh, it's growing thinner and -thinner!" - -Indeed it was; for Sammy not only stuck his thumbs into the lump, but -kept separating his hands, till, the walls of the pot growing thinner -and thinner, both thumbs broke through, and there were only two long, -wide ribbons of clay, and no bottom; for he had pressed his hands down -so hard as to scrape through to the wood. He uttered a yell of dismay, -and Archie ran to look. - -"Only see there," said Sam, taking up part of the side: "see how smooth -it is! I couldn't have made it so smooth the way I did before. Oh, if -it hadn't bursted!" - -"What made it do so?" - -"Don't know: guess I can do better next time." - -Next time he succeeded in making something hollow, but it was almost -as big at the top as at the bottom; the sides were thick in one place, -and thin in another: but the boys thought it was nice till they tried -to take it from the wheel, when they found Sammy had poked his fingers -through the bottom to the wood. - -Archie was now to try his hand: the wheel had made but a few -revolutions when he shouted,-- - -"Stop!" - -He had pressed his hands so close together, that at the top there was -a cone of clay, and a round lump on the wheel, without the sign of a -hollow. The next time he made something hollow; but the sides were so -thin they would not stand, but tumbled down in a heap as soon as he -took his hands off. - -Now it was Sammy's turn again. While turning the wheel for Archie, he -had been reflecting upon the causes of his poor success; and this time -made a pot that was all right at the bottom, and of a proper thickness, -only rather bulging in the middle. They were greatly delighted, but, in -trying to take it from the wheel, tore it in pieces. Sammy made another -attempt, and met with still better success. They dared not take this -pot from the wheel, yet were unwilling to ask Uncle Seth, or let him -know any thing about their proceedings till they had made more progress. - -As it was near dinner-time, they concluded to leave it on the wheel, -and inquire of others, supposing that Mrs. Honeywood, Mrs. Blanchard, -or Holt's wife, who had lived in the old settlements, might tell them -something; but they could not. - -"I don't believe but Scip would know: he has lived in Baltimore," said -Mrs. Blanchard. - -They applied to Scip. - -"De potters hab leetle piece of wire wid two sticks on it, to take hold -on. Dey pull dat through 'twixt de clay and de wheel; den dey take it -off wid dere han's, if leetle ting: if big ting, hab two sticks ob wood -put each side, fay to de pot, so not jam it. Me show you, me make you -one." - -The boys looked at each other; for there was no such thing as a piece -of wire within a hundred miles, and they had never seen any save the -priming-wires that were with some of the smooth-bores. Scip advised -them to try a hard-twisted string, which they found to answer the -purpose. - -Sammy kept on improving; but Archie did not, and began to grow tired -of pottery. It was hard work to turn the wheel: he perceived that, as -he could make no further progress in turning, in the natural order of -things, Sammy must be the potter, while he would remain wheel-boy. - -Sammy, on the other hand, was full of enthusiasm, ever improving. He -could now tell the thickness of his pots by the feeling, and made them -uniform in this respect; was all the time correcting little defects; -and learned by practice how thick the sides should be to stand. He -offered Archie a powder-horn if he would turn all the afternoon; but he -wouldn't hear a word of it, and said his hands were blistered, and the -skin was worn off his knees, kneeling on the hard floor. Sammy offered -him a bullet if he would turn long enough for him to make three more -pots. Archie said he would the next morning; and here the work ended -for the day. - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - -UNCLE SETH'S SURPRISE. - - -When this new and exciting employment came thus suddenly to a full stop -by the refusal of Archie to turn the wheel any longer, the latter went -home with two large holes in the knees of his trousers, albeit they -were buckskin: Sammy went over to Israel Blanchard's. - -He found Scip and his master pulling flax, and instantly took hold with -them. Since Sam had become so industrious, he had grown into great -favor with Mr. Blanchard, who believed in hard work and also in hard -fighting. - -It appeared in the sequel, that Sammy's motives were not altogether -disinterested in thus volunteering to help his neighbor; for, after -working lustily till night, he asked Mr. Blanchard if he might have -Scip to help him the next afternoon. - -"Yes, my little potter: I suppose you want him to work clay for you; -but it seems to me you use up clay fast." - -Sammy didn't tell him what he wanted of Scip. The next morning Archie -came, true to his word; and they began to work. - -Mr. Seth found, when he had finished his work upon the bail, that -he had about worn up his mallet with so much mortising in the tough -wood; and recollecting that, some months before, he had seen a stick -of hornbeam about the right size on the woodpile at the old Cuthbert -house, took a saw in his hand, and went over to get a piece. Hearing -the boys at work inside, he crept up, and peeped through a crevice in -the logs. - -Archie was on his knees on the floor, tugging with his right hand -at the wheel, while his left was leaning on a stone placed for that -purpose; and Sammy was making a pot. Equally surprised and delighted, -he looked on a while in silence; and, as he could not obtain a good -view of Sam where he stood, he went to the window that was open. -Archie's back was towards him, and Sam was too intent upon his work to -notice him. - -The kindly nature of the old mechanic was stirred to the quick when he -saw Sam actually turn a pot of good shape with such machinery as that; -and he vowed internally that he would make him a potter's wheel before -the lad was a week older, but, upon reflection, concluded it would be -better to help him a little, and not too much at once. - -"So you've made a wheel for yourselves, have you?" said Uncle Seth, -showing himself at the window. - -The wheel stopped. Archie jumped up: Sam colored, his face as red as -red paint. - -"Don't be bashful," said Uncle Seth, getting in at the window. "I think -you've done first rate, most remarkable: that pot's as good as a pot -need be." - -"We was afraid you'd laugh at us, Uncle Seth, and so we didn't like to -tell you." - -"Laugh at you! I praise you: you've done wonderful. Now let me see you -make a pot." - -Sammy had turned one pot, and, drawing a string under it, took it from -the wheel with his hands; in so doing, he put it a little out of form, -but repaired it by pressing it into shape again with his fingers. - -Sammy turned two more pots, each one being an improvement on the -former one; being put on his mettle by the praises of Uncle Seth. - -He then told him that Archie's contract was completed, but that Scip -was going to help him in the afternoon. - -"What made you put your large wheel flat on the floor? why didn't you -set it on the legs?" - -"'Cause it wouldn't go so: the band would slip right off the little -wheel." - -"Cross the band, then it won't." - -"Cross the band!" - -This was a step farther than Sammy's knowledge of machinery extended. - -Uncle Seth took the wheel from the floor, put the legs in again, -crossed the band, and put it on the wheel. - -"Now you can stand up, and turn: put some clay on the wheel, and I'll -turn for you." - -Uncle Seth turned, and Sam made another pot. - -The boys could hardly contain themselves, they were so delighted. - -"How much you do know, Uncle Seth!" said Archie: "we don't know any -thing." - -"You haven't been learning so long as I have. I want you to pay -attention, and I'll explain something to you. You see this spindle -don't turn very fast,--not near as fast as the spindle on your mothers' -flax-wheels; and yet this large wheel is exactly the same kind of a -wheel. What do you suppose is the reason?" - -"We don't know," said Archie. - -"If that pulley, Sammy, that is on the spindle (little wheel you call -it), was just as large as the flax-wheel, and you should turn that, the -other would turn just as fast,--just as many times,--wouldn't it?" - -"Yes, sir: of course it would if they were both of just the same -bigness." - -"Well, then, if you should make the flax-wheel as big again as the -pulley, the pulley would turn twice when the flax-wheel turned once: -wouldn't it?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"Thus you see the reason that spindle doesn't turn any faster is -because the two wheels are so near of a bigness. That pulley is so near -the size of the other wheel, that it don't turn but three or four times -while the large one is turning once. The large wheel is not more than -thirty inches, and the pulley is large seven. Don't you know how fast -your mother's spindle on her large wheel whirls?" - -"Yes, sir. It goes so sometimes you can hardly see it." - -"Good reason for it. The wheel is forty-eight inches in diameter, and -the pulley on the spindle is only about an inch. What do you think of -that, my boy?--forty-eight inches to one inch; the spindle turning -forty-eight times while the large wheel turns once." - -"We didn't know. All we knowed was, you said they had a big wheel and a -little one on the spindle." - -Mr. Seth took the pulley from the spindle, cut it down more than -one-half, and put it higher up on the spindle. - -"There, my lads, I have made that pulley smaller; and your spindle will -turn so much faster that you can make three pots where you made one -afore: besides, now that the large wheel is upright, you can turn it -as fast again, and much easier than you could when 'twas lying on the -floor." - -Mr. Seth now put a stone on the bench near the wheel on which the -vessels were turned, and put a junk of clay on it: through the top of -this clay he ran a stick, passing it back and forth in the hole till it -would move easily, and be held firm in place when the clay became dry. -He then said to Sammy,-- - -"There's a gauge for you. Run that stick over the wheel, and draw it -back just in proportion to the size of the pot you want to make. If -you bring the edge of the pot to the end of that, it will regulate the -size." - -It was a rude affair, made in a moment; and yet it answered the purpose -perfectly. Mr. Seth also made some half-circles of wood, with handles, -and a dowel in one of the halves to fit into a corresponding hole in -the other half. These were placed on each side of the vessel, bearing -equally all round, and cut to the shape of the side. With them he could -easily take his ware from the wheel without marring it. Sammy had -already found that he could smooth the sides of his pots by applying -the edge of the profile to them. - -Still, after these improvements, the wheel was a poor affair. There was -not sufficient power to turn a pot of any size, and the band was apt to -slip; and the spindle, running wood to wood, increased the friction. - -Mr. Seth, convinced that the pottery business was not a mere boy's -affair with Sammy, resolved that at the first opportunity he would make -him a far better machine than that. Without saying any thing to Sammy, -he took the measure of the bench, that answered the purpose well, and -left him to knead clay, and make preparation for the arrival of Scip in -the afternoon. - -Perhaps our readers will wonder where the other boys were all this -time, that they took no interest in the proceedings. - -Well, their parents had work for them to do at home; and every leisure -moment was taken up in building a turkey-pen, or trap to catch wild -turkeys in, as the time was approaching when it would be wanted. - -Thus occupied, they were ignorant of the doings of Sammy and Archie; -but it was soon noised abroad, and the old house filled with curious -boys, who all wanted to try their hands at turning a pot. After -experimenting a while, and meeting with about as much success as -Archie, they preferred play, or even work. Archie also, after the -excitement of making the wheel was over, lost his interest; and Sammy, -much to his satisfaction, was left to work in peace, aided by Scip. He -also had aid from another source; for, after the improvement made by -Mr. Seth in setting the wheel upright, the girls would turn for him, -and sometimes also his mother; and, as he could not make large pots on -the wheel, he made pitchers and mugs for the girls, bowls and platters; -and by practice he became expert in putting handles to his mugs and -pitchers. When desirous of making a large pot to hang on the fire, or -for any other purpose, he resorted to his old method of rolling the -clay, and also when he could get no one to turn for him. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. - -NED RANGELY. - - -It was now time to gather the corn. Sammy was obliged to suspend his -operations, and the entire community were busily employed in harvesting -and husking. The ears were picked off and husked in the field, and the -sound corn put in log cribs inside the fort. - -A strong scout was sent out, boys placed back to back on stumps to -watch while the rest were at work. Every nerve was strained to place -their bread-corn out of the reach of the savages; for, this being -accomplished, their anxieties in respect to food would cease. - -The corn-crop and all their crops were late sown and planted, by reason -of Indian alarms, and because in the spring they were occupied in -building the mill. - -The last basketful had been placed on the sled; and Honeywood took up -his goad to start the oxen, when Mrs. Sumerford exclaimed, "Who's that? -I saw a man, I know I did, come from behind the big rock, cross the -ford and the little clear spot between there and the woods; and I think -he had a rifle on his shoulder." - -All now stood on their guard, rifle in hand. - -"It ain't an Indian, that's sartain," said Holdness: "an Indian -wouldn't be walking about in plain sight, with a rifle on his shoulder." - -"Who else can it be? We haven't seen a white face for months. I think -we'd better run for the garrison," said Mrs. Blanchard. - -"I see him," said McClure. "It's a white man, but none of our folks: -he's got a pack and a rifle. It's some ranger who has lost his way." - -Every eye was now eagerly fastened on the stranger, who travelled -slowly as though fatigued. - -"It's Ned Rangely, Brad," shouted McClure, "as sure as the sun is in -the heavens: it's Ned, who hunted and trapped with us so many winters -at Red Stone, and has been in more Indian fights than any man on the -frontier. Don't you see how he carries that left arm: that was broke by -an Indian bullet?" - -"I believe you're right, neighbor." - -"Right? I know I am: I could tell him among a thousand." - -They both started towards the stranger, who stopped, and stood leaning -on his rifle, evidently fatigued. - -"God bless you, Ned Rangely! Is that yourself?" cried Holdness, seizing -one hand, while McClure laid his hand upon his shoulder. - -"How are you, old stand-by?" cried McClure. "It does a man good, these -ticklish times, to look on your old face. Haven't you come in a good -time? We've plenty to eat, nothing to do; and you've got to stay here -with us all the rest of your life." - -"Wish I could; but the fact is, we came on business, and must do it and -be off." - -"Not a word of business till morning," said McClure, clapping his hand -on Rangely's mouth: "come, go home with me." - -"Let him go with me to-night," said Holdness, "because he's tired and -foot-sore, and you can come with him: and he can go to your house -to-morrow." - -To this McClure assented. One taking Rangely's rifle, and the other -his pack, they marched off, leaving the rest to get in the corn. - -Holdness did not lack for company that evening; all the young people -coming in to listen to the talk of these old comrades, Rangely's -in particular, whose whole life had been a scene of perils and -hair-breadth escapes. - -The next day was a leisure one, the harvest being secured. Holdness and -Rangely strolled over to McClure's: soon Honeywood dropped in, Maccoy, -Stewart, Ned Armstrong, Harry Sumerford, Andrew McClure, and others of -the young men. - -"Now, Ned," said Holdness, "there's a number of us here: we'll listen -to your business, whatever 'tis. We've no separate interests, but are -like so many peas in one pod, that all touch, and there's no parting -'twixt 'em." - -Rangely looked round upon this noble group of stalwart men and youth -with evident delight as he said,-- - -"Well, neighbors, I was sent here by those who pretend to know more'n -I do, to raise men for a skirmage with these Delawares, Monseys, -Shawanees, and what not red trash, that are whooping round, and -scalping women and children. They want to raise three or four hundred -men, and just wipe 'em out. They want men that can shoot and march, and -know how to fight Indians in the woods; and they don't want nothing -else. So you see, 'cause they knowed I was acquainted, they sent me up -here." - -"We're much obliged to 'em," said Holdness. "Didn't think the rest of -the world knew we was in it, or cared whether we lived or died. Don't -s'pose they did, till they happened to want to make use on us. It -strikes me, Ned, they sent you on a fool's errand." - -"I'm pretty much of the same opinion with Brad," said McClure,--"that -we've got about enough to do to take care of ourselves and them what -look to us. Here we've stood in death's door, as you may say, ever -since the war began. There isn't a man, scarcely a boy, not to say -children, what hasn't a scar on him; and some of us are pretty much -cut to pieces. There's about as many of us under the sod, killed -by Indians, as there are above it. And now you ask us to leave our -families, forts, and guns, and go to fight for people who wouldn't lift -a finger to help us, and wouldn't have let us have cannon nor powder -if they could have helped it." - -"As for me," said Armstrong, "I'm not going into them woods to throw -away my life, and be ambushed by Indians, at the tail of these -turkey-cocks like Braddock, who don't know the first thing of the duty -they are sent to perform, and are fit only to lead men to death and -destruction." - -"Don't think we cast any reflection upon you, Ned," said Holdness, "for -doing the errand; but you see how the neighbors feel about it." - -"I've no doubt what you say is all true," replied Rangely,--"true as -the Bible, and they say that's just so. But, you see, these Indians -get together in their towns, three or four hundred of them: there -they keep their women, children, and ammunition the French give 'em, -lay out their plans, and divide their scalping-parties to go to those -places they think most exposed. When they have struck their blow, they -go back with their scalps and prisoners to have a great dance and -jollification, and get ready for another raid, and the whites that are -left flee into the older settlements, and leave the country to them. -They don't kere any thing 'bout the forts: they're a good ways apart, -and they can pass 'em night or day." - -"That's so," said Maccoy. - -"What they want is to have the Province raise a force of men what know -the woods, and have had experience in fighting Indians,--not a blasted -red-coat among 'em,--and carry the war into the Indian country up to -their towns, clean 'em out, kill their women and children, burn up -their possessions and forts now just as winter comes on: that'll quail -'em to some purpose. I reckon," said Ned, looking round him, "I've come -to the right place for that sort of men: think I've seen some of 'em -afore to-day, and when the bullets were flying lively." - -"But," said Stewart, "an' we tak' the gait you propose, what will -hinder the scalping-parties you speak of from falling upon our families -while we're awa'?" - -"You have a very strong fort here, have taught the Indians some hard -lessons, and, after this last mauling, they won't be in a hurry to -meddle with you. You can leave enough to defend the fort, and then -spare quite a number. It's for you, not for me, to judge whether by -going on this expedition you won't be taking the best method to break -the power of the Indians, and protect yourselves for the time to come." - -Thus far the debate had been carried on chiefly by McClure, Holdness, -and Armstrong. Israel Blanchard was not present; and the young men, -though eager for any thing that promised a fight with Indians, were -too modest to obtrude their views; while Honeywood had not opened his -mouth. Noticing this, McClure said,-- - -"I should like to have Mr. Honeywood's mind on this matter." - -"I," said Honeywood, "would inquire, in the first place, who is to -command this force it is proposed to raise?" - -"Sure enough! We've been beating all about the bush; and Ned, as he -allers does, has hit the nail right on the head," said Holdness. - -"Who is to command it? Kernel Armstrong," replied Rangely. - -"I wat weel that makes an unco difference, sae much that it becomes us -to gie the matter special consideration," said Stewart. - -"Indeed it makes a difference," said Holdness. - -"I know Kernel Armstrong right well. I've fought with him, and fought -under him: so has Hugh Crawford who's dead and gone, and Harry's -father." - -"I think," said Honeywood, "there's much truth in what Mr. Rangely -has said,--that by joining this expedition we take the best method to -defend ourselves, and break the Indian power. If instead of building -all these forts, and manning them with soldiers half of whom will run -at the sight of an Indian, the same money had been spent in getting -together a force of frontier-men led by a suitable person to do what is -now on foot, a great portion of this terrible slaughter and destruction -of property would have been saved. One-half the money would have done -it." - -"I'd 'a' taken the job for that," said McClure, "and found the men." - -"One great reason why the Indians so much dread the Black Rifle is, he -pursues the same course in respect to them that they do towards the -whites; and they can never be sure that he is not lurking round their -wigwams. A whole British army wouldn't make the impression upon them -that he has. One thing's very certain: if the Province is going to wait -for the king and council to send an army over here, the chiefs of the -Six Nations won't be able to hold their young men; but they will join -the French, and drive us to the coast. The garrison is now in excellent -condition: the harvest is secured; there is ammunition and provision; -and I think we might spare some men, and leave enough to defend the -fort." - -"We'll defend the fort," cried Sam Sumerford, unable to contain -himself: "the Screeching Catamounts'll defend the fort; we've done it -one time." - -"Well crowed, my young cock of the walk," said Rangely, patting him on -the head: "you'll be wanted." - -"I," continued Honeywood, "am ready to volunteer on condition that the -force is made up of men that are used to the woods, and that they are -commanded by Col. Armstrong and such other officers as he selects: if -I get there, and find it otherwise, I shall shoulder my rifle and come -home again." - -"I'll go," said Harry Sumerford. - -"I'll go," said Ned Armstrong. - -"And I," said Nat Cuthbert. - -"We'll all go," said Andrew McClure; "we'll follow Harry: where he -goes we'll go,--that is, if the old folks think best." - -"I'll go," said Hugh Crawford, "if it's thought best." - -By this time the news had spread. Israel Blanchard, Wood, and Holt came -in, and, after hearing what had been said and done, approved heartily -of the proceedings. - -"Ain't you and McClure goin', Brad?" asked Rangely. - -"We ain't often behind, Ned, when bullets are flying; and sha'n't be -now, I reckon." - -Holdness, perceiving by the looks of Harry Sumerford that he had -something he would like to say, remarked,-- - -"Harry, I see you've somewhat on your mind: what is it?" - -"I think, Mr. Holdness, there are people here whose judgment is worth a -great deal more than mine." - -"The more minds, the better: I want to hear it," said Blanchard. - -"I've been thinking whether the Black Rifle wouldn't go. There are -always fifteen or twenty men that'll follow him anywhere; and they are -just the men we want. He offered to go with Braddock, but the old goat -wouldn't have him." - -"Don't think 'twould work," said Holdness. "Kernel Armstrong's a man -who knows his business, and would kalkerlate ter be obeyed. The Black -Rifle's better kalkerlated ter lead than ter foller anybody; and his -men likewise had ruther go with him, and nobody else. He kills Indians -for the sake of killin' 'em: peace or war, it's all the same ter him. -They go for the sake of the scalps; and they know very well that they -can take more scalps going with him in one week, than with a regular -force in a month; and make ten dollars where they wouldn't make one." - -"That's so," said McClure: "Brad's got the right of it." - -"There's one thing though," said Holdness: "I believe he thinks more of -me than any other being, and loves me as well as he can love anybody -since his great sorrow crushed his heart, and tore him all ter pieces; -and I've not much doubt but if I go and see him, tell him what's on -foot, and that we want ter do all we kin for the country, and have got -to leave this fort with a small garrison, that he would agree to camp -here in the Run; and look out for us; and, if he agrees ter do it, he's -just as true as steel. And though I don't think there's much danger, -yet, if he would agree to camp round here, I for one should go away -easy; and 'twould be a great comfort to the women-folks. Perhaps he'd -let us have some powder and lead: he allers has a stock." - -"Well, Ned," said McClure, "I s'pose you want to have an answer; and -you may tell Armstrong that we'll furnish twelve or fifteen men, and be -at the place appointed at the time set; and you kin tell him they'll -be _men_ too,--men that kin shoot ter a hair's breadth, brought up ter -fightin' Indians, and won't tremble in their shoes at the sound of the -war-whoop." - -"I'll just tell him," said Rangely, "that Brad Holdness and Sandie -McClure are among them, and they are a sample of the rest." - -"Tell him they know their worth; won't foller any turkey-cock of a -red-coat they may send across the water; and after they get there, if -they find they've been deceived, they'll shoulder their rifles and go -back." - -"Ye'll please to remember that last observation, Maister Rangely," said -Stewart, "seeing it's o' muckle weight; for I opine that Black Douglas -himsel', with his two hundred claymore, and lance like a weaver's beam, -would hae been of sma' account in the woods wi' savages." - -The next question to be decided was, who should go and who remain. The -young men all wanted to go, of course, and were burning to distinguish -themselves before the Province, for which as yet they had had no -opportunity; but, on the other hand, the older people were equally -anxious, and even more so. Both Stewart and Israel Blanchard, who had -heretofore remained at home,--not, indeed, for the same reason as the -young men, seeing they had established their reputation for conduct -and courage, and outgrown the enthusiasm of youth,--desired now to go, -as they saw in this movement (the choice of the commander, and quality -of men sought for) an opportunity to strike an effectual blow at their -implacable foes, and to procure safety for themselves in the future; -and with most of them the desire of revenge entered largely into the -account. - -This explains the indifference and even contempt with which the -proposition of Rangely was at first met by men still smarting under -the recollections connected with Braddock's defeat; and likewise -the sudden change in their opinions, when, in reply to Honeywood's -question, Rangely gave the name of a leader well known and trusted,--a -man who had grown up among the perils of the frontier. - -"It seems to me, neighbors," said Israel Blanchard, "that Mr. Holdness -had better go and see what he can do with the Black Rifle before we -attempt to pick out the men; because it will make a vast difference in -respect to who and how many we are to leave in garrison, whether the -Black Rifle will agree to help us or not." - -The next morning Holdness and Rangely, whose paths for some distance -were the same, started; one to return to his commanding officer, the -other to meet the Black Rifle. - -Holdness found that restless being busily engaged making a canoe (from -bark he had peeled in the spring) for a fall hunt. He welcomed Holdness -with great cordiality; who, laying aside his pack and rifle, instantly -set at work helping him (much to the gratification of the captain, -as it is quite inconvenient for one person to build a birch alone), -mentioning never a word about the business on which he came, and -accepting the invitation of his old comrade to spend the night. While -they were eating supper the Black Rifle said,-- - -"Brad, I'm right glad to see you, but I don't believe you came here -just to help me build this birch: so, whatever your business is, out -with it, and we'll talk it over to-night afore the campfire." - -Holdness laid the whole matter before this veteran leader, and asked -what he thought of the plan. - -"I think well of the thing: it's what should have been done at the -first. I see what you're after: you want to put all the strength -you've got into this thing, 'cause you think it's a move in the right -direction, and the first one, too, after so long a time; and you Wolf -Run folks are just the chaps who can do it. But you're consarned about -your families while you're gone; and that ties your hands." - -"Just so, and that's all the difficulty." - -"Well now, Brad, you're come in a good time. You see, it's kind of a -slack time with me: we've been on a rampage arter Indian scalps, and -we've got 'em too. Some of my men have been wounded, though not very -bad, and some have gone home to get in their harvest; and when it gets -a little later, the wounded get well, and the rest ready, we're goin' -to start out on a fall and winter hunt and scalping-scrape both; that -is, we're goin' on to the hunting-grounds of the Delawares, and of -course they'll object. So, you see, I'm building this birch, and am -going to fill snow-shoes, make moccasons, and get ready; and have got -to dress some skins to make the moccasons of, and a good deal to do. -But I kin just as well do these things at your place as here, and I -will; and, just as fast as any of 'em get through their work, they'll -come. I s'pose you've got room and provision enough in the fort for -'em: you know I allers live outside. I've got some iron; and your Mr. -Honeywood can mend my traps afore he goes, and mend some gunlocks for -me." - -"Sartainly, and bring all the wounded: our women-folks'll take kere of -'em. Mrs. Sumerford can't be beat for dressing a gun-shot wound." - -"Reckon I will. Most of 'em are wounded in the legs or body: they kin -shoot if they can't march. Then I shall be outside; and, if the Indians -come, I kin soon muster the rest." - -The next morning Holdness took leave of his friend, and returned to -tell the settlers that the Black Rifle would be at the fort within two -days, and wanted four mules or horses to bring some wounded men, and a -spare mule and pack-saddle to bring his traps and ammunition. - -Will Grant and Hugh Crawford started with the beasts, and in due time -returned, bringing with them the wounded men. - -These men were of the same stamp as Holdness and Ned Rangely; rude in -speech, but honest, honorable, simple-hearted as children, and kindly -disposed to all men except Indians. - -Two of them, John Lovell and Dennis Morton, were wounded in the breast; -Ridgway in the left arm; Thomas Bracket and Robert Tysdale, the former -in the thigh, and the latter in the right leg below the knee, and could -walk with a cane: either of them could shoot through a loop-hole, and -both were recovering rapidly. - -In the afternoon of the second day, the Black Rifle came, and built his -camp between the fort and the river. - -It is perhaps needless to observe, that at the arrival of the Black -Rifle and his men, the martial spirit of the "Screeching Catamounts" -arose to fever-heat. - -Capt. Sam Sumerford forgot his pots and pitchers; and the potter's -wheel stood still. The tomahawks and scalping-knives that had been -devoted to the peaceful purpose of cutting clay were ground, rifles -cleaned, and he went tearing through the house, wanting his mother to -spin him a bowstring, sew the eagle's feathers into his cap, wash his -hunting-shirt, and do twenty things all at once. - -"I declare, Sammy Sumerford's come back again. I did hope I was done -with knives, tomahawks, and Indian fightin'." - -"I'm sure, mother, I don't know to please you. You wanted the Indian -war to be over, 'cause it worried you to see me so full of fighting; -and then when the Indians held off a little, you was worried about the -water and the raft and the wild beasts. Then I went to making pots, -and it was first-rate for a little while; but you soon began to worry -again, 'cause I was so still, and didn't seem nat'ral, and tear round -and yell. And now I'm nat'ral again, you don't like that nuther." - -The ground of all this excitement was, that in expectation of being -called to defend the fort, and on account of the arrival of the Black -Rifle, Capt. Sumerford was preparing to muster his men for drill and -ball-practice, that had been neglected of late. - -Having set up a target, he was drilling his company before the fort, -Scip beating the drum, and Cal Holdness playing the fife. - -A great part of the male portion of the settlers were looking on, the -women being too much occupied in preparations for the departure of -the former to be present. The wounded men also were seated among the -rest, when the Black Rifle himself came along, with his hands full of -beaver-traps for Honeywood to mend, and on his way to the blacksmith's -shop. - -You may be assured the "Screeching Catamounts" did their best in such -august presence; and their hearts beat high. - -The Black Rifle and his men were loud in their expressions of surprise -and approbation. The captain then drew up his men to fire at the target -two hundred yards distant. - -"I wouldn't have believed," said Capt. Jack, "that these children, as -you must needs call 'em, could shoot so. Why, the red-coats in the -army, and half the soldiers in the forts along the frontier, can't -begin with 'em." - -"We've burnt a good deal of powder, used a good deal of lead, teaching -them, and sometimes when we didn't know how to spare it," said McClure. - -"Not a kernel of powder nor an ounce of lead has been wasted: you may -be sure of that." - -He was, if possible, more surprised when they were exercised in -throwing the tomahawk, shooting with bow and arrow, and imitating the -voices of beasts and birds. There was scarcely any thing they could not -imitate, from the chirrup of the cricket to the scream of an eagle, -except the grum notes of the bull-frog: their voices were too shrill -for that. - -"This," said the Black Rifle, "is the best of all,--even beats the -shooting with rifles: 'cause it requires judgment that you wouldn't -expect in so young persons, to throw the tomahawk, or shoot with a bow." - -"I never was in this clearing afore," said William Blythe, one of the -three men who came with the captain; "but, if these are the children, -what must the men be like?" - - - - -CHAPTER XXII. - -CARRYING THE WAR INTO AFRICA. - - -The settlers now removed their families into the fort preparatory to -the departure of the volunteers. The Black Rifle had sent them, by -Grant and Crawford, a large quantity of powder and lead; and, on the -night that the last family moved into the fort, four more of the Black -Rifle's men came, having finished up their work. - -These men brought word that eight or ten more would be along in a few -days, and said that their purpose was to get ready for their fall hunt, -and ambush the Indians who were going back and forth between the Ohio -and the older settlements; making the fort their headquarters, and -always leaving men enough to defend it. - -Hearing this, the settlers resolved to march in a body the next -morning, young and old. - -Rogers, who had cut himself so badly with an axe that he could not -engage in the last conflict with the Indians, was now able to go. Mr. -Seth, however, objected to this. "Neighbors," said he, "you all know -I'm no fighting man, don't pretend to be; and yet you're kind enough to -say that I'm of some benefit." - -"Benefit!" exclaimed Holdness, "there's no man among us who's so great -a benefit." - -"Well, then, I hope you'll be patient with me when I say that I can't -feel reconciled to have Israel go. We've never been separated, and I've -always kind of leaned on him. I don't know what I should do without -him: I should neither eat, sleep, nor take one moment's peace." - -"Then I won't go, brother, though I do want to more'n ever I wanted to -go anywhere in my life." - -"I think," said McClure, "that there ought to be more'n one stay: there -are the cattle and hogs to see to, and many things that the rangers -don't know any thing about to be done, though I don't suppose any of us -cares to be the one to stay behind." - -Every preparation being completed, the volunteers set out the next -morning for the rendezvous. - -After their departure the children were somewhat restrained in their -rambles, and Sammy experienced a severe relapse of the pottery-fever. -He also found less difficulty in obtaining the help of the others to -work his clay: besides, the usefulness of his work had been recognized -by every one in the Run; and, when the boys were unwilling to assist, -Israel Blanchard would let him have Scip, who was worth more than all -the others put together. - -Ike Proctor was the laziest, and least inclined to help, of any of the -boys. Sammy hired him to turn the wheel half a day for some maple-sugar -and two bullets. Ike ate the sugar, pocketed the bullets, worked about -an hour, and then went off. Sammy said nothing, and manifested no -feeling in regard to the affair; but, as soon as Ike left, went to the -river, obtained a little of the clay that was strongly impregnated with -iron, worked and kneaded it, working in some red ochre to raise the -color still more, and made some clay doughnuts precisely the shape of -those his mother was accustomed to make of dough, and baked them. - -After several days had passed, he told Ike if he would help him half a -day, and stick to it, when the work was done he would give him a dozen -doughnuts and four gun-flints, boughten ones; and to this Proctor -agreed. - -When the time was up, Sam gave him the flints, and went to the fort -for the doughnuts, that he had given his mother a charge to keep hot -in the Dutch oven, and put a little lard on them. Sammy took the clay -doughnuts in a cloth, and when warm and greasy they looked precisely -like the real ones: he took one flour doughnut in his pocket. He spread -them out on the table before Ike, and clapped the one from his pocket -into his mouth, saying, "Eat 'em, Ike, while they're hot: only see how -hot they be." - -[Illustration: THE "DOUGHNUT" SQUABBLE.--Page 297.] - -"So they be," said Ike, taking one in his hand: he attempted to bite -it, burnt his tongue, and the tears came into his eyes. He threw the -hot brick down in a great rage, and began throwing the others at -Sammy's head. The latter retreated to the trough that was two-thirds -full of soft clay trodden only the day before, and returned the attack -with right good-will in a most generous manner. He plastered Ike from -head to foot, filled his eyes, nose, and mouth full; and he was glad -to make his escape. The boys all said Sam served him right, and they -nicknamed him "_Doughnut_." - -It was very seldom that there was ever any falling-out among these -frontier-boys, who were, in general, a band of brothers, for the reason -that they had fighting enough outside, and the pressure kept them -together. - -Uncle Seth was now in the best of spirits, having the society of his -brother, in whose courage and sagacity he placed implicit confidence, -with the Black Rifle and his men to protect them; and he resolved to -make Sammy a foot-wheel, and thus render him independent of his mates -and all others as far as turning the wheel was concerned. - -Guarded by two of the rangers, he went into the woods to find a tree -that grew of the right shape to make a crank. You may think it would -be impossible to find a tree trunk or limb that would answer, as it -must be a double crank with a short turn, the sides not more than -three inches apart. He could have sawed it out of a plank, or made it -in pieces; but in the one case it would have been cut directly across -the grain, and in the other would have been without much strength -and very clumsy. He wanted to find a tree the grain of which grew in -the right direction. No wonder Mr. Seth declared,--when he thought -Sammy's pottery-fever would not last long, and wanted to get rid of -his teasing,--that it was impossible to make a crank without iron. But -he was now disposed to make the attempt; and you know, if Uncle Seth -undertakes to do any thing, it will be done. - -The rangers who were with him expected to see him looking up into the -tops of the trees, among the limbs; but instead of that they were -astonished to see him running about with his eyes fastened on the butts -of the trees, and never bestowing a glance at the limbs. - -"You hunting after a bear's den, or a coon-hole?" said Will Blythe. - -Mr. Seth made no reply, but stopped before a sugar-tree about fifteen -inches through, and straight as a candle. From one side of this -tree, about two feet from the ground, protruded a great whorl, not -flattened on the top as they often are, like a wart on the hand, but -thimble-shaped. - -"That's the time of day," said he. Stripping to the waist, he soon cut -the tree down, and junked it off,--twenty feet of it. This was hauled -to the fort, where the saw-pit was; and the brothers cut the whole tree -into three-inch plank, as they wanted part of it for another purpose. -They arranged their saw-kerfs in such a manner as to bring the centre -of the whorl in the plank of which the spindle and crank were to be -made. This plank they cut to the length desired, and then split it the -other way, leaving a strip four inches in width, and the whorl being on -the outside edge of it. - -In this whorl Mr. Seth cut the turn of his crank; and it was strong -because the principal part of the grain grew in that direction, being -looped around the whorl; and in other portions it crossed every way, -twisted in and out, was clung, and looked much like the grain of a -nutmeg. After roughing it out, he laid it up to season, in order that -he might smooth it up. Tysdale, who chanced to pass just as he finished -working on it, said,-- - -"If that ain't one way to make a crank!" - -"Isn't it a good way?" - -"Good way, sartain; but a man must be born in the woods to think of -that." - -"I was born in the woods, and have worked in the woods most of the time -since I was born." - -He now made a wheel three feet in diameter, with rim and hub and but -four spokes, finished up his crank, put the wheel on the bottom of it, -and attached a treadle to the crank, so that it could be turned with -the foot, and placed in the bench. On the upper end of the crank, he -cut a screw-thread; and got out, from the same plank that furnished -the crank, three circles of different sizes, on which large or small -pots might be made, and cut a screw-thread in the centre of each one, -so that they could be put on or taken from the crank easily. This was -not all. He was no mean blacksmith. He found, among the guns last taken -from the Indians, one of which the barrel was good for nothing; and, -going into the blacksmith-shop, he made a gudgeon for the lower end of -the crank, and an iron socket for it to run in. He also bushed the hole -in the bench, where the crank-spindle passed through, with horn, which -made it run much more easily. - -Thus Sammy had a potter's wheel at last, which he could use alone, and -on which he could turn pots of the largest size. - -Was he not a happy boy! and didn't he hug, praise, and thank Uncle Seth! - -He had, in his practice, accumulated a large number of little pots at -the Cuthbert house. They were too small to be of much use; and he was -by no means satisfied with the workmanship, as he found he could do -much better work with his wheel: so he flung them all into the trough, -put water on them, and made them into dough again; this being one -advantage a potter has over other mechanics,--if he makes a blunder, he -has not destroyed his material, but can work it over. - -Sammy now, instead of making a great number of vessels, endeavored to -improve the quality of his wares, and turned milk-pans on this wheel -with the greatest ease. It also required much time to bake them; for, -though he had enlarged his kiln, it was still quite small; and he began -to think about trying to make brick, and building such a one as he had -heard Mr. Seth say the potters had. Thus one invention, like one sin, -necessitates another. Finding, however, that he had already supplied -the settlement with pots and pans sufficient to last them a long time, -he concluded to defer that enterprise for the present. - -Children have little idea of the anxieties of their parents; and while -they had not the least doubt but Col. Armstrong and his men would lick -all the Indians on the Ohio (for three hundred men seemed an immense -force to them, enough to overcome any number of Indians), their parents -knew the object would not be attained without loss; and none knew but -they might be called to mourn the loss of friends. - -Two of the rangers went to McDowell's mill, and learned that the force -had left the beaver-dams, which place was well on their way, and that -the matter must be decided one way or the other very soon. - -A few days after, they went again, and brought word that there was no -doubt but Col. Armstrong had surprised the Indian town, killed a good -many of them, and burnt up their log houses. There was a flying report -that Col. Armstrong was killed, Lieut. Hogg and several men killed, and -some wounded, but that the loss had not been severe. - -After a week of agonizing suspense, the settlers were roused at -midnight by the report of a rifle, and, turning out in expectation of -an attack, found the whole party, with the exception of Honeywood, at -the gate; not a man among them hurt, though several had bullets shot -through their clothes, and McClure's rifle had been struck and chipped -by a ball. Never had the Wolf Run settlers come out of an Indian fight -before, without more serious consequences. They informed those at home -that they found the Indians in log houses that were loop-holed and well -prepared for defence. In these houses they had stored a great quantity -of powder, enough, as the Indians boasted, to last them ten years, that -had been given them by the French; and they were then preparing to -attack Fort Shirley, aided by French officers and soldiers. - -Capt. Jacobs, the great war-chief of the Indians, was killed; and many -of them, refusing quarter, were burned and blown up in their houses. - -"When did you see my husband last? and how came you to be separated -from him?" said Mrs. Honeywood. - -"When we came within a few miles of the Indian town," said Holdness, -"he and Rangely were sent out to scout, and discovered three Indians -round a fire. Col. Armstrong didn't want to molest these Indians, for -fear of alarming the town: so he ordered Lieut. Hogg with twelve men, -among whom was your husband and Rangely, to keep watch of 'em while -he went forward to the town with the main body, with orders to fall -upon these Indians at daybreak, at which time he would attack the -Indian village. The lieutenant obeyed orders, killed three of them at -the first fire, when it turned out that instead of three there were -twenty-four, the rest lying in the woods." - -"What were those Indians about there?" said Blanchard. - -"They were an advance party, on their way to Fort Shirley. They killed -Rangely and three more, mortally wounded the lieutenant, and forced the -rest to retreat." - -"How did you know this?" - -"We got it from a party who separated from the rest after the action, -and found the lieutenant lying wounded on the ground alone, and the -bodies of those who had been killed lying around him. Your husband -was not among the killed; no one knew any thing about him; and we -reckoned he had retreated with the others, and we should find him at -the beaver-dams, or on the road; and, not finding him at either place, -made up our minds, that, having found out the Indians were licked, he -had taken the shortest cut through the woods for the Run; and 'spected -ter find him here afore us." - -This force having been raised for the sole purpose of capturing the -Indian village, their obligations ended with the accomplishment of that -object. At first they had no serious anxiety in respect to Honeywood. -Holdness and McClure knew that his body had not been found, though the -woods had been thoroughly searched. They did not believe that when the -Indians must have known by the firing, that their village was attacked -by a strong force, they would encumber themselves with a prisoner, but, -if they had taken him, would have killed and scalped him. But when -day after day passed away, and they heard that other stragglers had -returned, and Honeywood came not, the alarm was universal; and they -knew that he was a captive to the Indians. - -It was then manifest how much Honeywood was beloved and respected. -Every man was willing to encounter any danger to rescue him; and even -the children could find no heart to play, and burst into tears when -they found he was a captive. - -The Black Rifle and three of his men went in one direction; Harry -Sumerford, Ned Armstrong, and Cal Holdness, in another; and Israel -Blanchard, McClure, and Holdness, in still another,--in order to lurk -around the Indian villages and camping-places, to find where he was -held captive, that they might attempt either rescue or ransom. - -But all their efforts were fruitless: because, as was afterwards known, -the party who had captured Honey wood, finding their town attacked by -so large a force, fled with their prisoner across the Alleghany and -into the territories of the Six Nations, where only, after the first -alarm created by Armstrong's attack, they could feel secure. - -It was a gloomy period at the Run, when one party after another would -come in without tidings. - -"If," said Mrs. Sumerford, "the Almighty ever did hear prayer for any -thing or any body, and I know he has and does, he will for this good -man: he'll never let those savages torture their best friend." - -"He permitted the Jews to torture the Saviour, their best friend," -replied Mrs. Honeywood. "We have no right to say what God in his wisdom -will or will not permit; but, if the Indians tie him to the stake, I -believe he will enable him to bear it, and will support me likewise." - -"The church," said Mrs. Sumerford, "prayed for Peter, and the Lord sent -his angel: perhaps he will hear our prayers for him." - -These good women then resolved they would meet every afternoon in the -schoolhouse, and pray. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII. - -THE QUAKER'S APPEAL TO THE DELAWARES. - - -Honeywood and Rangely, maintaining their ground while their comrades -retreated, were thus left alone; and, being surrounded by savages, -Rangely was killed, and Honeywood, wounded severely in the breast, was -taken prisoner. - -The Delawares knew Honeywood well: among them were some of those who -were present when he shot the savage who held Sam Sumerford in his -arms, without hurting the boy. They immediately painted his face black, -thus signifying that he was to be reserved for torture. Greatly elated -with their prize, they treated him with the utmost kindness, and -carried him the greater part of the way to a Delaware camping-ground -on a litter. Upon arriving at their place of destination, they exerted -all their skill to heal his wounds, and restore his strength, in order -that he might be able longer to endure the tortures they intended to -inflict upon so brave a man and dreaded enemy. - -The victim was too well acquainted with Indian customs and character -to be ignorant of the designs of his captors; but hope lingers long in -the human breast, and he was not without some slight expectation that -his friend Wasaweela might be able to help him. He was not aware that -the generous Mohawk had fallen (soon after he gave the warning to the -settlers at the Run) in a battle with the southern Indians who had -trespassed upon the hunting-grounds of the Six Nations. - -Among the savages who captured Honeywood, was one who had often been -to the shop of Clavell in Baltimore, of whom the captive had learned -his trade; and he had several times repaired the rifle and traps of -this savage free of charge, and invited him to spread his blanket on -the hearth. On the march this savage showed much kindness to his former -benefactor, often gave him food from his own store that was scanty, -and would probably have aided him to escape if he could; but the day -before they reached their place of destination, a Delaware encampment -in the territory of the Six Nations, he told Honeywood, evidently with -sorrow, that his people would burn him, because he had struck them very -hard, and killed many of their young men, and was a great brave. He -then exhorted him to be strong, and to let it be known, by the courage -with which he endured the torture, that he was a great warrior. - -Thrown upon the world in childhood, the mind of Honeywood was of the -firmest texture, and he had often been called to face death. But he was -in the prime of early manhood, a loving, kind-hearted man; and it was -bitter to die under such horrible tortures as savage ingenuity alone -could devise. He thought of his home, the acres he had toiled so hard -to win and defend; his wife and little ones; his neighbors, young men -and children, respecting whose improvement, both mental and moral, he -had cherished so many hopes, and devised so many plans to be carried -into effect when the Indian war should end, of which there was now a -probability. - -Honeywood was not only a man of iron nerve and unflinching courage, -but he was a good man: he lived in constant intercourse with God. In -his boyhood, while one of the household of Henry Clavell, he had been -deeply interested in religious truths. - -The instructions of Mrs. Raymond, a Quakeress, and the housekeeper -of his master, had fallen upon willing ears and a tender conscience; -and the great sorrow of his youth, the death of his benefactor, had -completed the work; and from his Father in heaven he sought for -strength to die, not with the sullen stoicism of the red man, but with -the faith and resignation of a Christian. - -His wounds were now healed, and his strength restored; his captors, -having treated his injuries with great skill, fed him upon the best of -provisions, game being plenty, and treated him with all the kindness -consistent with safe-keeping. The war-parties sent out in different -directions had come in, as also the fugitives who had escaped from -Armstrong at Kittanning. - -One of those parties brought with them two white captives,--one a -Scotchman by the name of McAlpine, and the other a German, Luke -Bogardus,--and a great number of scalps. - -These scalping-parties were received by the Indians with great -rejoicings. They instantly made a feast, had an Indian scalp-dance, and -resolved to put Honeywood and the other captives to the torture, as an -offering to appease the spirits of their warriors who had been slain at -Kittanning, and more especially of the great number that had fallen by -the hands of the settlers at Wolf Run. Upon Honeywood, therefore, these -demons in human form resolved to inflict the most horrible torments, -made familiar by long practice and taught by the traditions of their -savage ancestors. Could they but make him cry like a woman, their -hearts would thrill with joy. With this end in view they had healed -his wounds, and done all in their power to restore him to health and -strength; and now the hour of vengeance had come. The prisoners were -now brought out, and fastened to small trees by hide ropes of such a -length as to permit them to run round the trees when the flames began -to scorch them, and by their convulsive motions afford amusement to -their tormentors. The squaws and children were building fires at a -little distance, at which to heat gun-barrels and ramrods to be thrust -into the bodies of the prisoners after they had been partially roasted -by the fire built around them. Others were splitting up little slivers -of pitch-wood to be run into their flesh, and set on fire; some were -filling the quills of turkeys with powder, to be used in a similar way, -and then touched with fire. - -While these fearful preparations were going on, Isetaune, the friendly -savage referred to, unwilling to witness the suffering of one who had -bestowed favors upon him, retired to the forest, where he was suddenly -confronted by Ephraim Cuthbert, accompanied by Mrs. Raymond, who were -instantly recognized by the Indian. Cuthbert, to whom the Delaware -language was as familiar as his mother tongue, communicated to the -astonished Isetaune his errand, who, whatever he might have felt, -betrayed no emotion, but turned back with these unexpected guests. - -An old squaw was approaching McAlpine with a birch dish full of -splinters of pitch-wood; and boys were following her with fire-brands -to light them. An Indian had just drawn a red-hot gun-barrel from the -fire, with which to torment Bogardus. - -When Ephraim and his companions appeared, their Quaker dress, and mild, -passionless features, in strange contrast with the grim forms of those -naked and infuriated demons, the astonished savages dropped their -instruments of torture; and, recognizing the well-known garb, ever -associated in their minds with justice and brotherly love, appreciated -at its full value the confidence which had impelled these wayfarers, -unarmed and unannounced, to trust themselves to the red man in his -haunts; and they hastened to show that it was not misplaced. - -A number of the more elderly Indians and principal warriors were -seated in a position where they could command the best view both of -the captives and their tormentors; and, riding up directly in front of -them, Ephraim and his companion halted. - -Honeywood in a moment recognized the persons of Cuthbert and Mrs. -Raymond, though they passed along without even glancing at him. The -color came to his cheek, his eyes moistened, and he looked up in -gratitude to heaven, though he might well doubt the success of the -mission upon which he knew his friends had come. - -Amid a silence so profound that the crackling of the fires kindled -to heat the instruments of torture were distinctly heard, an aged -Delaware came forward, and, extending his hand to Cuthbert, greeted -him thus:-- - -"My brother and the woman are welcome. Is he hungry? we will feed -him. Is he tired? we will take him to our fire, and spread for him a -blanket. Has he lost his way? we will put him in the right path. Is he -not our brother? Conadose has said." - -A low murmur of assent succeeded; and, after it had subsided, Cuthbert -said,-- - -"Brother, thy people have taken a young man from the Juniata. He is -a just and brave man. In time of peace, he has been very kind to the -Delawares, as Isetaune will tell you; and in war has only defended his -lodge, and has never taken a scalp. He is very dear to the woman who is -with me; and she has asked me to bring her on this long journey, that -she might look in the eyes of her brothers, and ask them to give her -this man, who is as a son." - -"Brother, we believe as you have told us, that this is a just and -brave man; but he has struck our people very hard, and will, if we let -him live, strike many more of them. The bones of our young men are -scattered in the woods; the wolves are gnawing them; and their spirits -will complain if he should live: they cry to us from the ground for his -blood. Brother, forget that you have asked us for that we could not -grant. This man must die." - -"It is well. Will my brothers allow the woman to speak to them?" - -After a brief consultation, the request was granted. - -Praying to God for aid in this apparently hopeless effort to pluck the -prey from the very jaws of the wolf, Mrs. Raymond ventured to speak, -Cuthbert interpreting. Not a word she uttered was lost by Honeywood, -whose life depended upon her success. - -"Brothers, I have lived many years: you see my hair is white; and I -have had many sorrows. My grandfather was one of the men of peace, who -came over the sea with William Penn, and stood beside him when he met -your fathers at Shackamaxon. - -"When a little child, I have sat upon his knees, and heard him tell -what William Penn said to the Delawares,--that he considered them one -flesh and blood with his people, and as though one man's body was -divided in two parts; and the Delawares said that they would live in -love and friendship with William Penn and his children as long as the -sun and moon endured." - -During her address, every trace of ferocity vanished from the features -of the Indians, and was replaced by an expression of curious interest -and respect. - -She paused a moment to collect her thoughts, when the chief said,-- - -"Brother, let the woman speak on. The ears of the Delawares are open; -and they desire to wipe the tears from her eyes." - -Thus encouraged, she said, while her voice trembled with emotion,-- - -"Brothers, I am told that it is a custom of the Delawares, handed down -from their fathers, that when a captive is taken, any who have lost -relatives may take him for their own in the place of those they have -lost. We are one flesh and blood: William Penn and your fathers made us -one; my father and your fathers joined hands in covenant before this -sun; and before this sun I claim this right of my brothers. - -"I have had children; but it has pleased the Great Spirit to take -them. I do not complain: whatever he doeth is just. I wish to take this -man to fill the place in my heart left empty by those I have lost. I -ask it of my brothers, because we are one, like two parts of the same -body; and I claim the ancient privilege that has always been granted by -your old men. Should not a Delaware be just? - -"My brother has said the spirits of the slain will be angry if the -captive is let go; but will not the spirits of the just and brave -who have gone to the happy hunting-grounds grieve and be angry if -their children do not remember the covenant their fathers made at -Shackamaxon? It is truly a great thing I have asked of the Delawares; -but is any thing too good for a friend? Does the red man give to his -friend that which he values not, and set before him that he would not -eat himself?" - -Mrs. Raymond did not conclude, but stopped, utterly exhausted by her -efforts, and the emotions excited by the fearful scene before her. - -The Indian councillors were evidently much perplexed. No such question -had ever come before them. On one side was the desire of revenge, so -dear to a savage; on the other, the veneration amounting to idolatry, -that all red men, and especially the Delawares, cherished for the -character of William Penn (for it was with the Delawares that he made -the covenant), and also that sense of justice so strong in the Indian -mind. - -The affectionate and almost childish confidence with which Cuthbert -and his companion had come to them was peculiarly adapted to touch the -hearts of these untutored children of the forest. - -The older Indians went a little apart from the rest; and hope revived -in the heart of Honeywood when he perceived them call Isetaune to their -councils. - -After a short time spent in deliberation, an Indian, much more advanced -in years than the first speaker, arose, and said to Cuthbert,-- - -"Brother, open your ears. We have listened to the words of the woman: -they are good words; such words as were never spoken to the Delawares -before, or our old men would have heard and told us of them. We have -considered them well, and we think the Great Spirit has sent the woman -to speak these good words in our ears. - -"For no reason that the pale-faces could have offered us, would we -let this man go. If all the governors of the thirteen fires had come -to demand this captive, we would have burnt him before their eyes. But -the woman and yourself belong to William Penn; you are one with us; and -the woman asks that we do by her as we do by our own: therefore we give -her this man, because we love to give large gifts to our friends, and -because it is just. - -"Brother, listen! I have lived many moons; many snows have fallen on my -head; and I remember the good days when the children of William Penn -were many, when they bore rule at the council-fire, and those bad men -who now have most to say were of small account, and when the red man, -treated justly, was happy; and, because you are few, our lands are -taken without paying for them, and our blood is shed. We do not love -you the less because the power has gone from you: therefore we give the -life of this man (whom the pale-faces could not buy) to you, and the -spirit of the great and good Penn. - -"Brother, you have come to us when our hearts are sore and our minds -disturbed, for which we are sorry. We shall burn these two bad men. -You would not wish to hear their cries, therefore we cannot ask you to -spread your blanket at our fire; but some of our young men will build -you a wigwam in the woods, and, when you are rested, will guide you to -the white man's fort by a shorter path than the one by which you came. -I have said." - -Cuthbert now presented his thanks, and also those of Mrs. Raymond, to -his brothers the Delawares; and Isetaune, loosing Honeywood from the -stake, brought him to Mrs. Raymond. - -Savage ferocity, so long repressed, now broke forth: fires were -rekindled, and yells of vengeance rent the air. Cuthbert would gladly -have interceded for the two other miserable victims, but he knew it -would be of no avail; and but a moment was given him to think of it, -for with Honeywood and Mrs. Raymond he was hurried off to the woods -by Isetaune and several others, who hastily constructed a shelter of -boughs, provided them with food, and then hurried back to take part in -the terrible tortures about to be inflicted upon McAlpine and Bogardus. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV. - -THE RETURN OF THE CAPTIVE. - - -When the Indians had departed, Honeywood said to Mrs. Raymond,-- - -"Mother, when a boy under your care, you were the means of saving my -soul; and this day you and Friend Cuthbert have saved my life." - -He then begged to know in what way Cuthbert was informed of his -capture, and more especially of the place to which the Indians had -carried him, as it was in the limits of the Six Nations, who had taken -no part in the war. - -Ephraim replied that the governor of Pennsylvania, through Sir William -Johnson, governor of New York, who had great influence with the Six -Nations, had endeavored to prevail upon them to command the Delawares -to stop their inroads, and to make peace with the English; and for that -purpose had sent a delegation to them, among whom were several Quakers -of his acquaintance. - -He then went on to say that the friendship between the Indians and the -Quakers had not been interrupted in the least by the war, with which -(as the Indians well knew) they had no concern except to endeavor to -prevent it. - -After visiting the Six Nations, those Quakers, knowing the deep -impression made upon the minds of the Delawares by the attack of -Armstrong and the capture of Kittanning, resolved to visit the Delaware -king Teedyuscung; and thus learned of the capture of Honeywood, and -where he was, and that the Delawares were determined to burn him, and -would take no ransom, for he was one of the Wolf Run settlers, who were -the worst enemies they had. - -"I then," said Ephraim, "resolved with the help of God to rescue thee, -seeing it was my duty, and not forgetful of thy great kindness to me -when I was thy neighbor at the Run." - -"You took a most singular way: if you had sent word to the Run, the -people there would have rescued me by force of arms." - -"They might, and they might not: they would have killed many Indians -in doing it, of which thou knowest we do not approve. I took the way -of peace and righteousness, and thou seest it has succeeded. I know -the Indians loved my people, and the memory of William Penn, though -he has been so long in his grave. Friend Honeywood, 'love is stronger -than death: many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown -it.' Thou knowest we believe there is an inward light in every person -born into the world; and there is in these poor savages (who are now -torturing their prisoners, and would have tortured thee), but it has -been obscured by ages of ignorance and superstition: yet they would -take the food from their mouths to put into mine, or any true follower -of William Penn. - -"Thou knowest how long a journey thy mother and myself have come to -find thee; and nearly every day we met larger or smaller bands of -Delawares, Shawanees, Monseys, and Wyandottes in their war-paint, going -after the scalps of white men, to kill the mother and the babe on her -bosom; but they called me brother, offered me food, directed me in the -best paths, and to places where I could find grass and water; and often -went many miles out of their way to do this." - -Honeywood made no reply. He could not accept the Quaker doctrine -of non-resistance, though in other respects sympathizing with and -entertaining the greatest affection and respect for them and their -principles. While the light of the torture-fires could be discerned in -the distance, and the Indian yells faintly heard, they knelt in prayer, -and then retired to rest. - -Cuthbert and his companions would gladly have started at the first -glimpse of day; but this would not have been agreeable to Indian -customs, that required a more formal leave-taking and an escort as a -mark of respect. - -Those singularly discordant traits that go to make up Indian character -appeared in a striking light the next morning when they were taken back -to the encampment. Here they were received with the greatest kindness. -A lodge was placed at their disposal; and they found a bountiful -breakfast already prepared. The grim colors of the war-paint had -disappeared from the persons of the warriors, who had resumed the grave -dignity and cold demeanor of an Indian when in repose. The squaws, who -the day before were foaming at the mouth with malignant spite, and -longing to engage in the work of torture, were quietly pursuing their -household duties; and the children at play. - -Some terrible reminders of what had taken place remained,--the -half-burned trees to which the captives had been fastened, and the -still smoking embers. Indian dogs were gnawing and dragging about the -half-burned bones of the dead, snarling at each other, and fighting for -favorite morsels. - -Honeywood turned sick at heart as he looked upon the stake to which -he had been fastened, the wood collected to burn him, and the mangled -remains of his fellow-captives, whose fate he had so narrowly escaped. - -Cuthbert now expressed his desire to depart, and they proceeded to take -leave of him. - -"Brother," said the Indian who had welcomed him, "listen. You came to -us when our minds were chafed, and the spirits of our dead were calling -upon us to revenge their blood. We have now given them satisfaction: -they will no longer complain, but will rest in their graves. We have -wiped the tears from your eyes, picked the thorns from your legs; you -have eaten of our food, spread your blankets with us; and, as you are -about to leave us, we wish you a good journey, and are glad that you -have come and brightened the chain of friendship. Our young men will -go with you, that you may not lose your way and come to harm. Brother, -farewell." - -Indians never do any thing at the halves. Honeywood's rifle, pack, and -every article, even to the bullets in his pouch, and the powder in -his horn, were restored; and he was presented with new moccasons and -leggings. - -Isetaune and six Delawares conducted them to within four miles of -Fort Shirley, where the Indians took leave of them, Cuthbert and Mrs. -Raymond going to the fort, and Honeywood towards the Run at a speed -that corresponded to the emotions swelling in the breast of the husband -and father. - -Expecting to find the settlers in garrison, he went directly to the -fort. Passing through the Cuthbert pasture, he encountered Fan with -three of her pups following the trail of a pack of wolves for their -own amusement. With the wildest expression of joy, she leaped upon -her master, the pups doing the same, all striving to be the first to -lick his face: they fairly bore him to the ground, each one, as he -accomplished his purpose, running in a circle around him. - -"That's a warm welcome, old friend," patting the head of Fan, as, -having finished her gambol, she stood looking in his face, and wagging -her tail, as though she wanted to speak. - -As he approached, he found the gates of the stockade and the fort open; -and there was no sentry to be seen on the platform. - -"The Black Rifle must be here still," he said to himself; "or they -would never leave the gates open, and let down their watch." - -The door of the mill was open; and he looked in, but saw no one, for -Mr. Seth was in the top of the building, greasing the bearings of the -machinery. - -He was hurrying to the block-house, when he heard the voice of his -wife in the schoolhouse; and entering found her, Mrs. Sumerford, Mrs. -Holdness, Lucy Mugford, and several of the older girls, at prayer. -Prayer was now turned to praise; and the girls ran to the block-house -to spread the glad tidings. - -"The Lord has sent his angel, and delivered Peter; praised be his -name!" shouted Mrs. Sumerford. "Oh the dear good man!" and she fairly -embraced him. - -"The Lord sent two angels, Mrs. Sumerford; and they were Ephraim -Cuthbert and Mrs. Raymond.--Where are the children, wife?" - -"Here they are, coming with their grandmother and all the rest." - -The next moment all the female portion of the community, and Mr. Seth, -were assembled in the schoolhouse; and, after Honeywood had embraced -and kissed his children, Mr. Seth said,-- - -"Neighbors, we have been in this place more or less for weeks, praying -in behalf of Mr. Honeywood; and those who were on the scout knelt -down in the wood to put up the same petition, and the sentry knelt at -midnight on the platform; and it does not become us now in the hour of -our deliverance to forget the Author of all our mercies. I want Mr. -Honeywood to read the hundred and sixteenth Psalm, and pray; and we'll -all praise together." - -The dogs were put out, and all seated themselves for worship; but -scarcely had Honeywood taken the book in his hand, than the old mother -dog leaped in at the window, followed by the rest. - -"Let them stay. I cannot bear to shut out Fan. She was the first to -welcome me. The Lord made them as well as us." - -At his command they all lay down around him, and remained perfectly -quiet during the worship; Fan only lifting her head once in a while to -look her master in the face, and make sure of his presence. - -The happy company retired to the block-house, when Honeywood inquired -what had become of the men-folks and children. - -"The young men," said Uncle Seth, "have gone with the Black Rifle and -four of his band, to Loyal Hannah, where they have heard there is a -Delaware camp, to lurk round to see if you are there. Some are on the -scout. The rest are gone to Mr. Holdness's lot to junk and pile logs on -a burn, and all the boys are with 'em; and Joan Holdness's gone to let -'em know you've come." - -Before Honeywood had finished eating, the boys rushed in, having run -all the way; and, not long after, Holdness, McClure, Grant, Stewart, -and Israel Blanchard came in. - -Honeywood then gave his friends a minute account of all that had -happened to him. When he finished, McClure said,-- - -"It was not the memory of William Penn, nor what Mrs. Raymond said, -that turned the Indian from his purpose when the captive was tied to -the stake, and the fire lighted: 'twas Him who stopped the mouth of the -lions. They couldn't work their will, couldn't do the thing they wanted -to." - -"Sinner that I am," said Holdness, "I have never yet had the grace to -seek pardon of my Maker for my many transgressions, much more of man; -but, if I ever meet Ephraim Cuthbert agin, I'll ask his forgiveness for -insulting him, and knocking his hat from his head, and giving him hard -words, because he would neither fight himself, nor pay others for doing -it; and you all know Ned Honeywood had ter step between us, or I might -have done worse. Quaker or no Quaker, he's a brave, noble-hearted, -Christian man." - -"No wonder we couldn't find him," said Israel Blanchard: "nobody ever -dreamed that they would carry him into the hunting-grounds of the Six -Nations." - -"It would seem," said Honeywood, "that, though the Six Nations take no -open part in the war, they have no objection to see it go on. Many of -the Delawares have left their old men, women, and children, among the -Six Nations, while the warriors went to war; and it was to one of these -places, that, after Kittanning was taken, they carried me." - -"To be sure, they are willing it should go on, in order that they may -be called in to make the Delawares and all the rest behave, and have -rich presents for their trouble; and that is what the governor is -trying to bring about now. Better give 'em a few more bullets, and a -little more of Armstrong," said McClure. - -"There is no doubt," said Holdness, "that the Six Nations rule the -Delawares and all the rest with a rod of iron; and, if they order the -Delawares to bury the hatchet, they'll have to do it. But it seems to -me that a government cuts a very mean figure when it goes a-begging -to one portion of these savages, gits down on its knees to them, and -hires them to make peace with another portion. Rather than do that, I -would be willing to set out to-morrow on another expedition into their -country. A few more such raids would bring them to beg for peace, -instead of their being hired and coaxed to agree to it." - -"There's a great deal of wholesome truth in what the Quakers said," -replied Honeywood. "They told the government that the Indian troubles -were generally settled in this way. The Indians were abused and -exasperated till they dug up the hatchet; and when the affair had gone -on till great numbers of the inhabitants were killed, and a few of the -savages, the frontiers depopulated, and the whole country filled with -terror, then presents were made to the Indians, a council held, and -peace confirmed. The Quakers, therefore, thought it would be better -to make the presents first, and dispense with all the butchery and -devastation." - - -The concluding volume of this series--entitled, BURYING THE HATCHET; -OR, THE YOUNG BRAVE OF THE DELAWARES--will clear up the mystery -connected with the disappearance of that reckless and mischievous -urchin, Tony Stewart, and manifest the effect of peaceful relations and -pursuits upon the rude and reckless spirits who composed the majority -of the settlers of Wolf Run. Hitherto they have been presented to -us struggling for bare existence, in circumstances of mortal peril, -calculated to develop the sterner passions of human nature. We trust -they will manifest qualities of mind and heart equally striking -and admirable when laying aside the weapons of war, to engage in -enterprises of culture and progress. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Forest Glen, by Elijah Kellogg - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOREST GLEN *** - -***** This file should be named 63160.txt or 63160.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/1/6/63160/ - -Produced by David Edwards, Martin Pettit and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions 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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