CHAPTER XII
THE CRUEL PARTING
"OH! I'm so glad--for mother's sake!" exclaimed Bob, his first thoughtbeing of that beloved, patient little woman, who had stood shoulder toshoulder with her husband through all the hard times of the past.
"Yes, now she can have some of the things other women own," said Sandy,gleefully; "for father will have to go to Richmond, and can bring backwith him many comforts that we never expected to get here."
"If only he does not have to cross the big water!" sighed Kate,proving that there was a fly in the ointment, after all, and that thispossibility loomed up mountain high even in the midst of her joy.
Crossing the ocean in those days was a tremendous undertaking, withthe sailing craft subject to all whims of the fickle weather for manyweeks; and few contemplated such a voyage lightly.
"But father often said that if this long postponed case was decided inhis favor he would only have to go to Richmond to be put in possessionof his own!" remarked Bob. "So I wouldn't worry about it, Kate, dear.But let us go on to the cabin, for I can see mother looking this way,and beckoning."
They found a happy group when they reached the log building. Theneighbors had come to rejoice with the Armstrongs over the gloriousnews; for only too well did every housewife know the privations thathad followed the loss of Mr. Armstrong's little fortune; and howdelightful it was to realize that things were now about to take adecided turn for the better.
Others came flocking to the scene, and that night was one never to beforgotten. Such good news as this seldom came to any of the pioneers.As a rule those hardy men had to build their own fortunes by dailycontact with the rough edges of life, clearing first one acre of land,and planting it to crops; and then slowly adding to their holdings,year by year.
Mr. Armstrong knew that it was absolutely necessary that he proceedeast at the very earliest day in order to get back before winter hadsettled in earnest over the mountains, since they would be utterlyimpassable once this occurred.
He consulted with some of his best friends; for since they had beenneighbors many months now they had come to know each other fully.
His wife was both happy and oppressed. She knew that her little familywould be rendered better able to withstand the hardships of pioneerlife after David had been to the east, and returned, bringing the manythings so needed to make them comfortable; but the thought of theseparation gave her much pain, since the pair were very devoted to eachother.
But it was considerable pleasure to be able to make out a long list ofthings which the good man was to secure, after he had come into hisown. Several pack animals would be needed on which to transport allhe expected to bring to the Ohio. The neighbors, almost to a family,thought of various little things they needed; and Mr. Armstrong wascommissioned to purchase these.
"Why," he laughed, as another day had passed, with his list growingto a formidable length, as still more of the settlers' wives came,with money and a request that he buy them this article or that; "ifthis keeps on I'll surely have a regular caravan under my charge, asnumerous as the one with which we first crossed the mountains, andfound this beautiful spot on the Ohio."
"But, father," said far-seeing Bob, "that will be all the better, forit has been some time since there was a pack train out of Virginiaheaded this way, and I am sure quite a lot of people will want to joinyou. They have been hearing stories about this golden west a long timenow; and we know what that means."
"Yes," observed the good wife, as she looked up into the bronzed faceof the pioneer; "and if the company is large, the better I shall bepleased, David, because it will mean that you are safe. Bring themalong, all who yearn to come hither. We will stand by them--the men tohelp build cabins before the winter sets in; the women to assist infitting their homes up, so as to give the newcomers a start. There isroom in plenty here in this glorious country, where people can reallybreathe without paying taxes to a king three thousand miles away."
That evening the neighbors flocked to the Armstrong cabin to spend afew hours with those for whom they had come to feel so much respect andaffection. If some of them secretly envied the Armstrongs their greatgood fortune, they managed to conceal the fact, for every one seemedbubbling over with happiness.
On the morrow the start was to be made. All preparations had beencompleted looking forward to the event. It happened, fortunately, thatseveral parties were expecting to leave for the fields of Virginiaabout this time; and, since greater safety would follow if they wenttogether, they had managed to set upon this day, close upon the vergeof fall, for a start.
Often during the evening Bob caught his father's eyes fastened uponhimself and Sandy. He knew well what thoughts must be passing throughthe mind of the pioneer. And again and again did Bob promise himselfthat he would strive to do everything in his power to fill thatfather's place while the head of the family was absent.
There was really little sleep under that humble roof that night. First,the excitement attaching to the visit of so many neighbors broke intothe routine of their daily life. Then, after these good friends haddeparted, it was found that a number of things had been neglected thatwere absolutely necessary for the comfort of the traveller.
The party anticipated making an early start in the morning, so noneof these could be postponed. Besides, it was only natural that everymember of the family should be worked up to a high degree of nervousanxiety, and lie awake long after they had sought their cots, thinkingof a thousand and one matters.
Early indeed were they astir. Breakfast was prepared as usual; but,on this morning, no one had much heart for merriment. Mrs. Armstrongindeed kept a smile on her face, but it was forced simply to encourageher husband; since she knew only too well how he must feel at the ideaof thus separating himself from all he held dear on earth.
Bob, Sandy and Kate tried their best to appear natural, but it wasindeed hard work. Often Kate would make some excuse for darting outof the room, and, when she came back a little later, there was alwaysa suspicious redness about her eyes that told plainly how she hadindulged in a cry to ease the numb pain in her girlish heart. And evenfun-loving Sandy dared not take her to task, for he was on the verge ofa breakdown himself.
Mr. Armstrong, seeing how his wife exerted herself to sustain him, andashamed to let her bear the whole burden, made a great effort, andmastered his feelings. He took Bob aside as they left the table, andwith a hand on the shoulder of his oldest boy said:
"Be very careful, son, while I am away. Your mother will have no onebut you to stand by her, for Sandy, though a well-meaning lad, ishardly to be depended on in times of stress. Be vigilant and watchful.Remember that we have to deal with a cunning and merciless foe, and,should there be an attack on the settlement, see to it that your motheris quickly taken inside the stockade. I depend much on you, Robert;and, if it were not so, nothing could induce me to leave home withthese ugly rumors of trouble floating to our ears. You promise me to doeverything a man could for your sister's and your mother's well-being?"
And Bob, looking firmly into the face of his father, managed to say inreply:
"I promise to try and fill your place, father, as best I may. But oh!we will count the days till your return. If Pat O'Mara comes in whileyou are away, perhaps he may agree to stay with us. Try and think allis going well. Sandy and I have many plans ahead; but we will stick asclose to our home as may be. Do not fear for us. And, just to think,how happy we will all be when we see you come home again, bringing somany things to make our dearest mother happy."
That was all. These two understood one another, so that many words werenot necessary. Bob had always been a serious lad, and right well didhis father know that in trusting him he was not putting his faith injeopardy.
Apparently the entire settlement had gathered to witness the departure,as well as wish the travellers Godspeed on their way.
Even little Kate brightened up with all this clamor around her, andsmiled; though, after the parting had taken place, she would doubtlessso
b her heart out on her mother's breast.
Dogs barked, men called, horses neighed, and women chattered. It hadindeed been a long time since the new settlement on the river hadwitnessed such excitement. Each of the men had a horse upon which heexpected to make the long mountain trip. Two of them did not intend toreturn again to the Ohio; but the third man had business at the coast,and was taking advantage of this favorable opportunity to make thedouble trip in good company.
And then, finally, came the moment when, for the last time, DavidArmstrong took his wife and children into his strong arms, to givethem a hug and a farewell kiss.
Tears fell in showers from the blue eyes of Kate; and even many ofthe women could not refrain from weeping, affected by the scene;but, through it all, gentle Mrs. Armstrong maintained her sweet andencouraging smile, and she looked into the troubled face of herhusband, as she put him from her, with the same brave expression.
But Bob knew only too well how hard it was for her to keep up, andthat, once she could be free from all those curious eyes, the wells ofher sorely-stricken heart would burst out in silent weeping. But nomortal eyes would witness her sorrow, nor would any of her dear ones bediscouraged by seeing her give way.
Now the four men had mounted. Tied to their saddles were numerouspackages containing things intended for their comfort on the long andarduous trip. Each carried a blanket wrapped in a roll, and, of course,a gun, with plenty of powder in the horn, as well as bullets in thepouch that hung suspended from their shoulders, as was the custom.
One last look at his little family, and then, as the word was given,David Armstrong dug his heels into the sides of his horse, to followafter his comrades of the trail.
A cheer burst forth from the assembled settlers. Then some one starteda hymn, one of those old-time tunes which had ever been a source ofcomfort to the pioneer families when peril threatened. Every person,old and young, chimed in; and, high above all the rest, the sweet voiceof Mary Armstrong was carried to the ears of the departing adventurers.
Once Mr. Armstrong turned in the saddle. This was just before a twistin the trail would hide him from the view of those whom he had leftbehind. Raising his hat he waved it in the air once, twice, thrice.Then the trees swallowed the figures of horse and rider from view. Hewas gone!
Bob heaved a long sigh, but valiantly repressed the tears that tried todim his sight. He felt that he must more than ever show himself a man,now that his father depended so on him to look after his little flockduring his absence; and it was surely not manly to cry.
Sandy had no such compunctions, however, though he managed to hide hisown emotion in trying to comfort poor little Kate.
The bitterness would soon wear away with these younger members of thefamily, for they had the abounding spirits of youth and good health tocarry them through; but many times would that good wife sit by herself,engaged in her duties, and tears dim her eyes as her thoughts went outto the absent husband and father.
Well did she know the nature of the deadly perils that beset that pathback to the fertile fields of Virginia; how wild beasts lurked inthicket and forest, ready to spring upon unsuspecting travellers; andstill more savage Indians laid ambuscades and traps, in which to catchtheir hated paleface foes.
In a day or two things had settled down again at the Armstrong cabin.Bob and Sandy took up their duties manfully. The mother might wellfeel proud of having two such boys upon whom to lean in her necessity.They were determined to keep the family larder plentifully suppliedwith fresh meat; and at the same time increase the store of pelts thatsooner or later would prove so fine a harvest, when they could get themto a market.