CHAPTER XIX
KENTON, THE RECKLESS BORDERER
THE swimmer had timed himself so as to reach the side of the flatboatas it swung past; and, in order to create a diversion in his favor, Patcalled on his friends to send in a hot fire among the charging Indians.
This had the effect of making them scamper for shelter; and meanwhileKenton managed to get on the other side of the floating craft. Eagerhands were outstretched to assist him over the side. He was stilllaughing, as though he considered the whole thing a joke. And the veryfirst thing he did upon reaching the deck of the boat was to shake hisfist in the direction of the hidden foes, and shout some derisive wordsin the Shawanee tongue toward them. (Note 10.)
They were soon far below the dangerous spot; and, after Kenton hadregained his breath, he proceeded to explain how it all happened.
He had learned, while hunting with a party of friends, that theIndians over in Kentucky were once more on the war-path, and thatBoonesborough itself was threatened with extinction.
Faithful to his best friend, Daniel Boone, Kenton, after trying in vainto coax the other hunters to join him, had alone started for the Ohio,meaning to cross over, and make his way to the scene of action by faststages.
He had had the misfortune to fall upon a party of Shawanees, and, aftera fierce battle, was taken prisoner, and carried to their village.
"But, as usual, they could not hold you," remarked Mr. Armstrong.
"Oh! I knew that was what would happen," replied the woodsman, lightly."And I managed to escape in good season, for time was worth somethingto me, since my rifle is needed for the defence of Boonesborough. AfterI am refreshed I will only ask you to put me ashore over yonder," andhe pointed across the rolling river, to where lay the hilly shore ofthe "Dark and Bloody Ground," as Kentucky was well called in thoseearly days.
"Then we must start without delay, and you shall have a bite to eatbefore you leave us," said Mr. Armstrong; after which he gave ordersto have the course of the flatboat changed, heading once more acrossthe river.
The women were soon engaged in preparing supper, so that Kenton mightnot be detained longer than was absolutely necessary, and, some of thevenison having been held over, it came in very handy for that purpose.
Meantime there was an exchange of stories between them, Kenton beingdesirous of learning why they were here, so far away from the home inwhich he had last met them. Thus he heard about the flood, and thedetermination of the settlers making up the party to head into thewest, and seek a new home on the bank of the wonderful Mississippi.
Of course this sort of pluck appealed to such a bold nature as that ofSimon Kenton. He told them they were doing the right thing, and relatedmany facts connected with the Promised Land, some gleaned from others,and a few through personal observation on some of his wanderings, thatquite naturally further strengthened their resolution, which may havebeen becoming a little weak in a few of the party, after their recenttrials on the river.
By the time the boat drew near the Kentucky shore supper was ready;so the anchor was thrown overboard, and the entire company sat down toenjoy the feast the good wives had prepared.
If the variety of food was not so extensive, there was at least enoughin quantity and to spare; and, with the appetites that went with theirlife in the open, this was usually the main thing.
Kenton begged a little more powder and ball from Mr. Armstrong, and itwas only too willingly given, for they knew that he had a difficulttrail to follow, and they could in imagination see the dangers thatpeopled it.
Just as darkness was settling over the land and water Bob and Sandytook the young borderer ashore in the dugout, only too proud of thechance to do him a favor. And Kenton, having shaken hands with them atparting, Sandy sighed upon looking after him when he disappeared amongthe great trees that lined the shore.
"Come, get aboard here, Sandy," urged his brother, who knew well whatvague thoughts and ambitions must he flitting through the other's mindjust then, because he was aware of Sandy's desire to follow in thefootsteps of Simon Kenton, who had ever been the hero the boy admired.
And all the way back to the anchored flatboat Sandy maintained agrim silence, though Bob knew it would wear off after a bit, and theboy become his usual merry self. The truth of the matter was, Sandypossessed an adventurous spirit, and chafed under restraint. He admiredthe free nature of Kenton, who came and went as the whim urged him,being under contract to no man. And then, too, the very recklessnessof the young borderer appealed to Sandy, who was inclined in thatdirection himself.
Another quiet night followed, and once more the voyagers were on theirway. It would not be a great while now before they reached the smallpost on the Ohio bank called by the name of Fort Washington, in honorof the American soldier who was attracting general attention at thetime, and seemed to be the only Continental who might lead the armiesof the colonists in case the threatened rupture with the Mother Countrycame about.
Again did they cross the river, for knowing that they would at any timecome in sight of the post, they wanted to be in a position to make alanding. Here, safe for a time, they could rest, having completed thefirst stage of their long and hazardous journey to the Mississippi.
It was Sandy who first discovered a flag floating from a staff, and,although, at the time, the banner of England was beginning to lose someof its attractiveness for the colonists, still, when seen under thoseconditions, after having been beset by the savage foe for many days andnights, they gave it a cheer.
The post had only been recently established, and, while visited byall wandering hunters and trappers who roamed the country in searchof game and adventure, there were only a few families staying there.The arrival of a flatboat was an event calculated to greatly excitethe garrison of the post, and consequently our friends received a warmwelcome.
It was nice to feel that for a short time at least they could lie downto sleep without dreading lest they be aroused by the savage war-whoopsof the cruel foe, always ready to overpower any daring settler ortrapper of the hated palefaces.
Bob and Sandy were glad to get ashore again. The latter wished verymuch for a chance to take a hunt into the forests that at this timecompletely flanked the little station in the cup between the severalhills, and facing the river; but to this Mr. Armstrong would not givehis consent.
They had learned that the various Indian tribes were in something of aferment, with such leaders as the notorious Pontiac urging them on toa confederation, the object of which was to drive out the encroachingwhite man from their hunting grounds. And several times, of late, thosewho ventured out beyond the stockade of the new post had been fired on,showing that crafty enemies lurked near by all the while, ready to takeadvantage of any opportunity to secure a scalp.
Several days passed while they lingered here, for it was very pleasant,and the adventurous settlers knew that they would not have a chance tosee their kind again for a long while.
Coming upon Bob one afternoon, after they had heard that the start wasto be made on the following morning, Sandy found his brother looking atsome small object which he immediately recognized.
It was the last piece of curled birch bark, on which their unknownfriend had written his message of warning, using the picture languageof the Indian, so universally known throughout all the tribes.
"Oh! I had forgotten all about that," Sandy burst out; "and, now thatwe've come so far away from our home up on the Ohio, I suppose we'llnever know who sent these friendly warnings, and just why."
"That's something I was wondering about," replied Bob. "Now, here's thearrow to which this message was fastened; and wouldn't you say this onehad been made by just the same cunning hand?"
He reached behind him, and placed a second shaft beside the firstarrow. Sandy bent his head to examine them more closely. Then he lookedup again.
"What do you mean, Bob, and where did you get that second Delawarearrow?" he demanded, quickly.
"Where but in the roof of our flatboat cabin,
" returned the other. "Ithad been fired from up on the hills back yonder, I do believe; thoughthe marksman must have been a rare one to hit a target so far away. Butit bore no birch-bark message, though I can well believe it was sentjust to tell us our strange friend, who has watched over us so manytimes, is still following us down the river, and means to keep up withus to the end. That Indian, Sandy, must believe he owes us a heavy debtof gratitude, and he means to pay it back, some way or other."
And Sandy, handling the feathered shaft, had a feeling almost of awesteal over him, as he reflected what gratitude must stand for in theeyes of an Indian brave. Hundreds of miles this unknown friend hadalready travelled, trying to stand between the boys and harm; and theend was not yet.
"Oh! I do hope we know who he is some of these days," the boy said,soberly.