in the days of poort richard

7/27/2019 In the Days of Poort Richard

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IntheDaysofPoor

Richard

IrvingBacheller

Illustratedby

John

Wolcott

Adams


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INTHEDAYSOFPOORRICHARD

BY

IRVINGBACHELLER

AuthorofTheLightinTheClearing,AManfortheAges,etc.

IllustratedbyJohnWolcottAdams

1922

TOMY

FRIEND

ALBERTJ.BEVERIDGE

DiscerningStudentandInterpreteroftheSpiritoftheProphets,theStruggleoftheHeroesandtheWisdomoftheFoundersof

Democracy,IDedicateThisVolume.


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CONTENTS

BOOKONE

CHAPTERITheHorseValleyAdventureCHAPTERIISowingtheDragonsTeethCHAPTERIIITheJourneytoPhiladelphiaCHAPTERIVTheCrossingCHAPTERVJackSeesLondonandtheGreatPhilosopherCHAPTERVITheLovers

CHAPTERVII

The

Dawn

CHAPTERVIIIAnAppointmentandaChallengeCHAPTERIXTheEncounterCHAPTERXTheLadyoftheHiddenFaceCHAPTERXITheDepartureCHAPTERXIITheFriendandtheGirlHeLeftBehindHim

BOOKTWO

CHAPTERXIIITheFermentCHAPTER XIV Adventures in the Service of the CommanderinChiefCHAPTERXVInBostonJailCHAPTERXVIJackandSolomonMeettheGreatAllyCHAPTERXVIIWiththeArmyandintheBushCHAPTERXVIIIHowSolomonShiftedtheSkeerCHAPTERXIXTheVoiceofaWomanSobbing

CHAPTERXX

The

First

Fourth

of

July

CHAPTERXXITheAmbushCHAPTERXXIITheBinkussingofColonelBurleyCHAPTERXXIIITheGreatestTraitofaGreatCommander

BOOKTHREE

CHAPTERXXIVInFrancewithFranklin

CHAPTERXXV

The

Pageant

CHAPTERXXVI InWhichAppears theHorse ofDestiny and theJudasofWashingtonsArmy


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CHAPTERXXVIIWhichContainstheAdventuresofSolomonintheTimberSackandontheHandmadeRiverCHAPTERXXVIII InWhichArnoldandHenryThornhillArrive in

theHighlands

CHAPTERXXIXLoveandTreasonCHAPTERXXXWhoIsShethatLookethForthastheMorning,Fairas the Moon, Clear as the Sun, and Terrible as an Army withBanners?CHAPTERXXXITheLoversandSolomonsLastFight

LISTOFILLUSTRATIONS

Frontispiece:AyoungJohnIronsandMargaretHareintheforestThesoldiersareslayingpeople,amanshouted.JackIronsandSolomonBinkuswithGeneralGeorgeWashington.SolomonBinkuswithWhigScottonhisshoulder.BenFranklin

BenFranklin,

surrounded

by

his

grandchildren.

FOREWORD

Muchof thecolorof the lovetaleofJackandMargaret,which isapartofthegreaterlovestoryofmanandliberty,isderivedfromoldletters,diaries,andnewspaperclippingsinthepossessionofawellknownAmericanfamily.


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IntheDaysofPoorRichard

1

BOOKONE

CHAPTERI

THEHORSEVALLEYADVENTURE

ThefirsttimeIsawtheboy,JackIrons,hewasaboutnineyearsold.I was in Sir William Johnsons camp of magnificent MohawkwarriorsatAlbany.Jackwassoactiveandsuccessful inthegames,between the redboys and thewhite, that the Indians called himBoiling Water. His laugh and tireless spirit reminded me of amountainbrook.Therewasno lad,nearhisage,whocouldrunso

fast,or

jump

so

far,

or

shoot

so

well

with

the

bow

or

the

rifle.

Icarriedhimonmybacktohishome,heurgingmeonasifIhadbeen

abattlehorseandwhenwewerecome to thehouse,he ranaboutdoing his chores. I helped him, and, ourwork accomplished,wewentdowntotheriverforaswim,andtomysurprise,Ifoundhimawelltaughtfish.WebecamefriendsandalwayswhenIhavethoughtofhim, thewordsHappyFacehavecome tome. Itwas, I think,abetter nickname than Boiling Water, although there was muchpropriety in the latter. Iknew thathisenergygiven to laborwould

accomplishmuch

and

when

Ileft

him,

Irepeated

the

words

which

myfatherhadoftenquotedinmyhearing:

Seest thou aman diligent in his calling?He shall standbeforekings.

ThisglimpseofJohn Irons,Jr.familiarlyknownasJack IronsisfromaletterofBenjaminFranklintohiswife.

Nothingfurther

is

recorded

of

his

boyhood

until,

about

eight

years

later,whatwasknownastheHorseValleyAdventureoccurred.Afullaccountofitfollowswithdueregardforbackgroundandcolor:

Itwas the season o the greatmoon, said old Solomon Binkus,scoutand interpreter,ashe leanedover thecampfireandflickedacoaloutof theasheswithhis forefingerand twiddled itup tohispipebowl.InthearmyhewasknownasoldSolomonBinkus,notby reason of his age, for hewas only about thirtyeight,but as a

markof

deference.

Those

who

followed

him

in

the

bush

had

afaith

in hiswisdom thatwas childlike. I had hadmy feet in apair osieveswalkinthewhiteseaafortnight,hewenton.Thedrywaterweresixfootonthelevel,ermebbemore,ansomeothewavesup


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tothetreetops,annobodywithmebutthisereolMarierJane[hisrifle]thehulltriptotheSwegachecountry.Goldingmypictur!Itseemedasifthewindwereatryinfertorubitofftheslate.Itwerea

peskywind

that

kep

acuffin

me

an

whistlin

in

the

briers

on

my

faceancrackinmycoattails. Iwere lonesomelonesomernahebearanthecoldgrabbinholtoallendsomesoasIhadtostopanargueboutwharmyboundrylineswaslocatedlikeIwereYorkState.Catsbloodangunpowder!Ihadtokickanscratchtokeepmynoseantoesfromgittinbrittle.

Atthispoint,SolomonBinkuspausedtogivehiswordsachancetosinkin.Thesilencewhichfollowedwasbrokenonlybythecrackof

burningfaggots

and

the

sound

of

the

night

wind

in

the

tall

pines

above the gorge. BeforeMr. Binkus resumes his narrative,which,onemightknowbythetiltofhisheadandthelookofhiswideopen,righteye,wouldsoonhappen,thehistorianseizestheopportunityoffinishinghisintroduction.HehadbeenthebestscoutinthearmyofSirJeffreyAmherst.As a smallboy he hadbeen capturedby theSenecasandheld in the tribeayearand twomonths.Early in theFrenchandIndianWar,hehadbeencaughtbyAlgonquinsandtiedtoatreeandtorturedbyhatchetthrowersuntilrescuedbyaFrench

captain.After

that

his

opinion

of

Indians

had

been,

probably,

abit

coloredbyprejudice.Stilllaterhehadbeenaharpoonerinawhaleboat,andinhisyoungmanhood,oneofthosewhohadescapedtheinfamous massacre at Fort William Henry when English forces,havingbeencapturedanddisarmed,wereturnedlooseandsetuponby the savages.Hewasa tall,brawny,broadshouldered,homelyfacedmanof thirtyeightwithaRomannoseandaprominentchinunderscoredbyashortsandythroatbeard.Someoftheadventureshadputtheirmarkuponhisweatheredface,shavengenerallyoncea

weekabove

the

chin.

The

top

of

his

left

ear

was

missing.

There

was

alongscaruponhisforehead.Thesewerelikethenotchesonthestock

ofhisrifle.Theywereasignofthestoriesofadventuretobefoundinthatwary,watchfulbrainofhis.

Johnsonenjoyedhisreportsonaccountoftheirhumorandcolorandhedescribeshim ina letter toPutnamasamanwhowhenhe ismuch interested, looksas ifhewere takingaimwithhis rifle.Tosome it seemed that one eye of Mr. Binkus was often drawing

conclusionswhile

the

other

was

engaged

with

the

no

less

important

functionofdiscovery.


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HiscompanionwasyoungJack Ironsabig ladofseventeen,wholivedinafertilevalleysomefiftymilesnorthwestofFortStanwix,inTryon County, New York. Now, in September, 1768, they were

travelingahead

of

aband

of

Indians

bent

on

mischief.

The

latter,

afewdaysbefore,hadcomedownLakeOntarioandwereoutinthe

bushsomewherebetweenthelakeandthenewsettlementinHorseValley. Solomon thought that they were probably Hurons, sincethey,beingdiscontentedwith the treatymadeby the French, hadagain taken the warpath. This invasion, however, was a whollyunexpectedbit of audacity. They had two captivesthewife anddaughterofColonelHare,whohadbeenspendingafewweekswithMajorDuncanandhisFiftyFifthRegiment,atOswego.Thecolonel

hadtaken

these

ladies

of

his

family

on

ahunting

trip

in

the

bush.

They had had two guideswith them, one ofwhomwas SolomonBinkus.Themenhadgoneoutintheearlyeveningaftermooseandimprudently left the ladies in camp, where the latter had beencaptured.Having returned, the scout knew that the only possibleexplanation for theabsenceof the ladieswas Indians,althoughnoperilcouldhavebeenmoreunexpected.Hehaddiscoveredbythesignthatitwasalargebandtravelingeastward.HehadsetoutbynighttogetaheadofthemwhileHareandhisotherguidestartedfor

thefort.

Binkus

knew

every

mile

of

the

wilderness

and

had

canoes

hiddennearitsbiggerwaters.Hehadcrossedthelakeonwhichhispartyhadbeen camping,and the swampat theeast endof itandwassoonfaraheadofthemarauders.A littleafterdaylight,hehadpickeduptheboy,JackIrons,atahuntingcamponBigDeerCreek,as itwas thencalled,and the twohadsetout together towarn thepeopleinHorseValley,whereJacklived,andtogethelpforabattlewiththesavages.

Itwill

be

seen

by

his

words

that

Mr.

Binkus

was

aman

of

imagination,butagainheistalking.

Iwere onmyway to abig Injun Powwow at Swegache fer SirBillayesitwereinFebuary,thetimeothegreatmoonothehardsnow.Now theybesomegood things bout Injunsbut, likeyoungbrats, they takenatural todeviltry.Yemayhavemyhide fer soleluther ifyeketchme in an Injunvillagewitha load o firewater.SomeInjunsissmart,angoldingtheirpicturs!theykintalklikea

catbird.

A

skunk

has

ahansome

coat

an

acts

as

cute

as

akitten

but

allthesame,whichtharaintnodoubtoit,hisfriendshipaintwutha dam. Its a kind o pison. Injuns is like skunks, if ye trust emtheyllspileye.Theyeatlikebeastsanthinklikebeasts,anlivelike


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beasts,antalklikeangels.Paintanbearsgrease,ansquawfun,anfur,anwampum,anmeat,anrum,isalltheythinkon.Iveettheirvittlesmanya timean Imobleeged to tellye itshardwork.Too

muchhair

in

the

stew!

They

stick

their

paws

in

the

pot

an

grab

out

achunkanchawitanboltit,likeadog,anwipetheirhandsontheir

long hair. Theybrag bout the power o theirjaws,which I aintdenyinisconsidable,havinhadanolbuckbiteoffthetopomyleftearwhenIweretiedfasttoatreewhichyouheartomeisagoodtimetolearnInjunlanguagecauseyepaytentionclost.Theyaintgotnohearternomercy.Howtheykingrindupacaptive,likewheatinthemillstuns,anlaugh,anwhoopatthesightohisblood!Erturnhim intosmokeanasheswhiletheylookonanlaughby

mighty!likehe

were

singin

afunny

song.

Theyd

be

men

an

womenonlytheyaintgottheworksinem.Suthinmissin.Bythehideanhornsothedevil!IaintgotnokindopatiencewiththemmushheartswhosaythatAmerikybelongstothenobleredmananthatthewhiteshavenorighttobargainferhisland.Goldingtheirpicturs!Yemightaswellsay thatwehaintnoright in thewoodscausealotobearsanpaintersgottherefust,whichIaintasayinbutwhatbearsanpaintershastheirrights.

Mr.Binkus

paused

again

to

put

another

coal

on

his

pipe.

Then

he

listenedamomentandlookedupattherocksabovetheirheads,fortheywerecampedinacaveatthemouthofwhichtheyhadbuiltasmallfire,inadeepgorge.Presentlyhewenton:

I found a heap o Injuns at SwegacheMohawks, Senekys,Onandogs an Algonks. They had been swappin presents anspeecheswith the French.Just a littlewhile afore they had had abellerinmatchwithus bout lovean friendship.Thensuddenlike

theytuk

it

in

their

heads

that

the

French

had

asharper

hatchet

than

theEnglish. Iwere skeered,butwhen I see that theywasnobodydrunk, I pushed right into the big village an asked fer the oldSenecky chief Bear Faceknowin hewere tharan said I had aletterfromtheBigFather.Theytukmetohim.

IgivehimachainowampumanthenreadtheletterfromSirBill.It offered the SixNationsmore land an a fort, an a regiment todefend em.Thenhegivemea lotohedgehogquillssewedon to

buckskinan

says

he:

Youarelikealonestarinthenight,mybrother.Wehavestretchedoutournecks lookin ferye.We thought theBigFatherhad forgot


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us.Nowwearehappy.Tomorrerourfaceswillturnsouthanshinewithbearsgrease.

SezI:

You

must

wash

no

more

in

the

same

water

with

the

French.

YoumustreturntoTheLongHouse.TheBigFatherwillthrowhisgreatarmeroundyou.

Istruttedupandown,likeaturkeygobbler,anbelleredoutalotothathighfalutingab.IreckonIknowhowtoshoveanideeundertheirhides.Yegottoraiseyervoiceanlooksolemnanpointatthestars.ApowerfullotoInjunstrailedbacktoSirBill,buttheywasafewwentovertotheFrench.Ikindomistrusttharssomeothem

runnygadesbehind

us.

Theyre

spectin

to

git

alot

o

plunder

an

ahorseapieceanrideembackanswimtheriverattheplaceothe

many islands. Well poke down to the trail on the edge o thedrowndedlandsaforesunriseanIkindomistrustwellseesign.

Jack Ironswas a son of themuch respectedJohn Irons fromNewHampshirewho, in the fertile valley where he had settled someyearsbefore,wasbreedinghorses for the army and sending themdown toSirWilliamJohnson.Hence the siteofhis farmhadbeen

calledHorse

Valley.

Mr.Binkuswenttothenearbrookandrepeatedlyfilledhisoldfelthatwithwaterandpoureditonthefire.DontneverkeepnofireagoinaterImdriedout,hewhispered,ashesteppedbackintothedarkcave,causeyeneverkintell.

Theboywasasleepon thebedofboughs.Mr.Binkuscoveredhimwith theblanketand laydownbesidehimanddrewhiscoatover

both.

Hell learn that itaintnofun tobeascout,hewhisperedwithayawnandinamomentwassnoring.

Itwasblackdarkwhenherousedhiscompanion.Solomonhadbeenup for tenminutes and had got their rations ofbread and driedvenisonoutofhispackandbroughtacanteenoffreshwater.

Thenight

has

been

dark.

A

piece

o

charcoal

would

a

made

awhitemarkonit,saidSolomon.


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6

How do you know its morning? the boy asked as he rose,yawning.

Dontye

hear

that

leetle

bird

up

in

the

tree

top?

Solomon

answeredinawhisper.Hesaysitsmorninjestasplainasaclockinasteepleanthatitsgointobeclar.Ifyoullshovethiseremeatanbreadintoyerstummick,wellbeginfertomaketracks.

TheyateinsilenceandasheateSolomonwasgettinghispackreadyandstrappingitonhisbackandadjustinghispowderhorn.

Ye see its growin light, he remarked presently in a whisper.

Keepclost

to

me

an

go

as

still

as

ye

kin

an

dont

speak

out

loud

nevernotifyewanttobesuretokeepyerharonyerhead.

They started down the foot of the gorge then dim in the nightshadows.Binkus stopped,nowand then, to listen for twoor threeseconds and went on with long stealthy strides. Hismovementswere pantherlike, and the boy imitated them. He was a tall,handsome,bigframedladwithblondhairandblueeyes.Theycouldsoon see their way clearly. At the edge of the valley the scout

stoppedand

peered

out

upon

it.

A

deep

mist

lay

on

the

meadows.

IlikedaydarkinInjuncountry,hewhispered.Comeon.

Theyhurried throughsloppy footing in thewetgrass that flung itsdew into their garments from the shoulder down. SuddenlyMr.Binkusstopped.Theycouldhearthesoundofheavyfeetsplashinginthewetmeadow.

Scairtmoose,

runnin

this

way!

the

scout

whispered.

Ill

bet

ye

apintopowderanafishhookthemInjunsisovereastohere.

Itwashisfavoritewagerthatofapintofpowderandafishhook.

Theycameoutuponhighgroundandreachedthevalleytrailjustasthesunwasrising.Thefoghadlifted.Mr.Binkusstoppedwellawayfrom the trail and listened for some minutes. He approached itslowly on his tiptoes, theboy following in a likemanner. For a

momentthe

scout

stood

at

the

edge

of

the

trail

in

silence.

Then,

leaninglow,heexamineditcloselyandquicklyraisedhishand.


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Hoofsothedevil!hewhisperedashebeckonedtotheboy.Seethar,hewenton,pointingtotheground.Theyvejestgoneby.Thegrassaintrizyit.Waithere.

Hefollowedthetrailafewrodswitheyesbentuponit.Nearalittlerunwheretherewassoftdirt,hestoppedagainandlookedintentlyattheearthandthenhurriedback.

Itsabigband.AtleastfortyInjunsinitansomecaptives,anthedevilanTomWalker.Itsamesswhichtheyaintnomistake.

Idont seewhy theywant tobebotheredwithwomen, theboy

remarked.

Hostiges! Solomon exclaimed. Makes em feel safer. Grab emwhen theykin. Ifovertookbyastouter force theyre inshape feradicker.Thechiefstandsupansingslikeabirdboutthemoonanthestarsanthebrooksantheriversanthewrongsotheredman,butitwouldntbewuththesongoabarnswallerlesshecanshowyethatthewimmenareallright.Iftheyvebeentreatedproper,itsthesameasproved.Yeletemoutothebeartrapwhichithasoften

happened.But

you

hear

to

me,

when

they

go

off

this

way

its

to

kill

an grab an hustle back with the booty. They wont stop atbutcherin!

Im afraidmy folks are in danger, said theboy as he changedcolor.

ErmebbePeterBonesescordintothewaytheygo.WegottocuteroundemanplowstraightthroughthebushanoverCobbleHill

answim

the

big

creek

an

well

beat

em

easy.

It was a curious, long, loose stride, the knees never quitestraightened,withwhichthescoutmadehiswaythroughtheforest.It covered ground so swiftly that theboy had, now and then, tobreakintoadogtrotinordertokeepalongwiththeoldwoodsman.Theykept theirpaceup thesteepsideofCobbleHillanddown itsfarslopeandthevalleybeyondtotheshoreoftheBigCreek.

Imhot

nough

to

sizzle

an

smoke

when

Itech

water,

said

the

scoutashewaded in,holdinghisrifleandpowderhorn inhis lefthandabovethecreekssurface.


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Theyhadafewstrokesofswimmingatmidstreambutmanagedtokeeptheirpowderdry.

Nowweve

got

jest

nough

hoppin

to

keep

us

from

gittin

foundered, said Solomon, as he stood on the farther shore andadjustedhispack.Itaintmorenamiletoyourhouse.

Theyhurriedon,reachingtheroughvalleyroadinafewminutes.

Now Ill take thebee trail toyourplace,said thescout.YoucutercrostthemeddertoPeterBonesesanfetchemoverwithalltheirgritangunsanammunition.

Solomon foundJohn Irons and five of his sons and three of hisdaughters digging potatoes and pulling tops in a field near thehouse.Theskywasclearandthesunshiningwarm.SolomoncalledIronsasideandtoldhimoftheapproachingIndians.

Whatarewetodo?Ironsasked.

Send thewomen an thebabiesback to the sugar shanty, said

Solomon.Well

stay

here

cause

if

we

run

erway

the

Bonesesll

git

theirharlifted.Ireckonwekinconquerem.

How?

Shootemfullomeat.Theymustatraveledallnight.ThemInjunsistiredanhungry.Beenthreedaysonthetrail.Notimetohunt!Illhustlesomewoodtogetheranstartafire.Youbringapairosteersrightherehandy.Wellriptheirhidesoffangitthereekovittlesin

theair

soon

as

Godll

let

us.

MywifecanuseagunaswellasIcanandImafraidshewontgo,saidIrons.

Allright,letherhidesomewharnighwiththeguns,saidSolomon.The oldest gal kin gobackwith the young uns.Dontwant noskirtsinsightwhentheygithere.

Mrs.Irons

hid

in

the

shed

with

the

loaded

guns.

Ruth Irons and the children setout for the sugarbush.The steerswerequicklyledupandslaughtered.Asahideripper,Solomonwas


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a man of experience. The loins of one animal were cooking onturnspitsandabigpotofbeef,onionsandpotatoesboilingoverthefirewhenJackarrivedwiththeBonesfamily.

Itsmellsgoodhere,saidJack.

Ayes!Theairbegittin therightscenton it,saidSolomon,ashewasrippingthehideofftheothersteer.Ireckonitllstartthesapintheirmouths.Yourollout the rumbarlanstave it in.MisBonesknowshow to shoot.Puther in the shedwithyermother an theguns,antakeheryoungunstothesugarshanty ceptIsrelwhosbignoughtohelp.

A little later Solomon left the fire. Both his eye and his ear hadcaughtsignaclamoramongthemoosebirdsinthedistantbushandaflockofpigeonsflyingfromthewest.

DontnoneoyestirtillIcomeback,hesaid,asheturnedintothetrail.A fewrodsawayhe laydownwithhiseartothegroundandcould distinctly hear the tramp ofmany feet approaching in thedistance.Hewentonalittlefartherandpresentlyconcealedhimself

inthe

bushes

close

to

the

trail.

He

had

not

long

to

wait,

for

soon

aredscoutcameonaheadoftheparty.HewasayoungHuronbrave,

hisfacepaintedblackandyellow.Hisheadwasencircledbyasnakeskin. A foxs tail rose above hisbrow and dropped back on hiscrown.Abirchbarkhornhungoverhisshoulder.

Solomonsteppedoutofthebushesafterhehadpassedandsaid intheHuron tongue: Welcome,my redbrother, I hear that a largebandoyerfolksiscominandwehavegotafeastready.

The youngbrave hadbeen startledby the sudden appearance ofSolomon,butthefriendlywordshadreassuredhim.

Weareonalongjourney,saidthebrave.

Andthefleshofafatoxwillhelpyeonyerway.Kinyesmellit?

Brother, it is like the smell of the great village in the Happy

HuntingGrounds,

said

the

brave.

We

have

traveled

three

sleeps

fromthelandofthelongwatersandhavehadonlytwoporcupinesandasmalldeertoeat.Wearehungry.


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And we would smoke the calumet of peace with you, saidSolomon.

Theywalked

on

together

and

in

amoment

came

in

sight

of

the

little

farmhouse.Thebrave lookedat thehouseand the threemenwhostoodbythefire.

Come with me and you shall see that we are few, Solomonremarked.

Theyenteredthehouseandbarnandwalkedaroundthem,andthis,ineffect,iswhatSolomonsaidtohim:

IamthechiefscoutoftheGreatFather.MywordislikethatofoldFlameTongueyourmighty chief.You and yourpeople are on abad errand.No good can come of it.You are far from your owncountry.Alargeforceisnowonyourtrail.Ifyouroborkillanyoneyou will be hung.We know your plans. A bad white chief hasbroughtyouhere.Hehasawoodenlegwithanironringaroundthebottomofit.Hecomedownlakeinabigboatwithyou.Nightbeforelastyoustoletwowhitewomen.

AlookoffearandastonishmentcameuponthefaceoftheIndian.

YouareasonoftheGreatSpirit!heexclaimed.

AndIwouldkeepyerfeetoutothesnare.Letmebeyerchief.Youshallhaveahorseandfiftybeaverskinsandbetakentotheborderandsetfree.I,thescoutoftheGreatFather,havesaidit,andifitbenotasIsay,mayIneverseetheHappyHuntingGrounds.

Thebraveanswered:

Mywhitebrotherhasspokenwellandheshallbemychief. I likenotthisjourney.Ishallbidthemtothefeast.Theywilleatandsleeplikethegraywolffortheyarehungryandtheirfeetaresore.

Thebraveputhishorntohismouthandutteredawildcrythatrangin thedistanthills.Thenaroseagreatwhooping and kintecawing

backin

the

bush.

The

young

Huron

went

out

to

meet

the

band.

Returning soon, he said to Solomon that his chief, the greatSplitnose,wouldhavewordswithhim.


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TurningtoJohnIrons,Solomonsaid:Hesanoutlawchief.Wemusttreathimlikeaking.Illbringemin.Youkeepthemeatasizzlin!

Thescout

went

with

the

brave

to

his

chief

and

made

aspeech

of

welcome,afterwhichthewilyoldSplitnose,inhiswonderfulheaddress, ofbuckskin and eagle feathers, and hisband inwarpaint,followedSolomontothefeast.Silentlytheyfiledoutofthebushandsat on the grass around the fire. There were no captives amongthemnoneatleastofthewhiteskin.

Solomondidnotbetrayhisdisappointment.Notawordwasspoken.HeandJohnIronsandhissonbeganremovingthespitsfromthefire

andputting

more

meat

upon

them

and

cutting

the

cooked

roasts

into

large pieces and passing it on abig earthen platter. The Indianseagerlyseizedthehotmeatandbegantodevourit.Whilewaitingtobeserved,someoftheyoungbravesdancedatthefiresedgewithshort, explosive, yelping, barking cries answered by dozens ofguttural protesting grunts from the oldermen,who sat eating oreagerlywaiting their turn to grabmeat. Itwas a tryingmoment.Wouldthewholebandleapupandstartadancewhichmightendinboilingbloodand tiger furyandamassacre?But theyoungHuron

bravestopped

them,

aided

no

doubt

by

the

smell

of

the

cooking

flesh

andtheprotestoftheoldermen.Therewouldbenowardanceatleast not yettoo much hunger in the band and the means ofsatisfyingitweretoocloseandtempting.Solomonhadforeseentheperilandhiscunninghadpreventedit.

In a letter he has thus described the incident: Itwere aband ocutthroat robbersan runnygades from theOhiocountryHurons,AlgonksanMingosanallkindsocastoffredrubbishwithanold

Algonkchief

o

the

name

o

Splitnose.

They

stuffed

their

hides

with

themeat till theywas stiff asa founderedhoss.Theygrabbedanchawed anbolted it like somany hogs an reached out fermore,whichisthedifferncebetwixtanInjunanawhiteman.Thewhitemangenallyknowsnoughtoshovedownthebrakesonasidehill.TheInjunaintgotnobrakesonhiswheels.Injunsisagooddeallikewhitebrats.Let em find thesugar tubwhen theirma is tomeetinan theywontworry bout thebellyache till itcomes.Them Injunsfilledthemselvestothegulletanbeguntolayback,allswelledup,

anroll

an

grunt

an

go

to

sleep.

By

an

by

they

was

only

two

that

wasupanpawineround in thestewpot fer notherbone, lookinkindounsarttnanjawweary.Inaminutetheywipedtheirhandsontheirharanlaybackferrest.Theywasdrunkwiththemeat,as


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drunkasaChineeaterapipeoopium.Wewhitemenstretchedoutwiththerestonemtillweseetheywasallinthelandonod.Thenwe riz an set up a hussle.Honeswe could a killed emwith a

hammeran

done

it

delibrit.

Istarted

to

pull

the

young

Huron

out

o

thebunch.Hejumpedup very supple.Hewasnt asleep.He hadknowedbetterthantoswallerayardomeat.

Wharwasthewimmen?Iknowedthatapartothebandwouldbebackinthebushwiththemerewimmen.Idseedsuthininthetrailoverbythedrowndedlandsthatlookedkindoneevarious.Itwerelike the end o awooden legwith an iron ring at thebottom anconsidableweightonit.AnInjunwouldnthaveawoodenleg,least

waysnot

one

with

an

iron

ring

at

the

butt.

My

ol

thinker

had

been

chawinthatcudalldayanoasuddenitcometomethatawhitemanwere runnin thehull crew.Thatshow Ihad gainedgroundwiththeredscoutItookhimoutintheaidgeothebushansezI:

Whatsyername?

Buckeye,sezhe.

Whosthe

white

man

thats

with

ye?

MikeHarpe.

Arethewhitewimminwithhim?

Yes.

HowmanyInjuns?

Two.

Whatsyersignalovictory?

Thecallothemoose.

Now,Buckeye,youcomewithus,Isez.

Iknowed

that

the

white

man

were

runnin

the

hull

party

an

Iitchedtogitholtohim.Goldinghispictur!HedsenttheInjunson

aheadfertodohisdirtywork.TheOhiocountrywerefullorobberwhelpswhich I kind omistrusted hewere one on emwho had


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rakedupthiserebandorunnygadesangoneoffferplunder.Wegotholtomostotheirgunsveryquiet,anIputJohnIronsantwoohisboysanPeterBonesanhisboyIsrelanthetwowomenwith

loadedguns

on

guard

over

em.

If

any

on

em

woke

up

they

was

to

ridethenightmareerlaystill.JackanmeanBuckeyesneakedbackup the trail fer bout twenty rodwithourguns,an then I told theyoungInjuntoshootoffthemoosecall.Wall,sir,yecouldaheerdit from Albany to Wings Falls. The answer come an jest as Ispected,twerewithinaquarteroamile.IputJackerboutfiftyfeetfurtherup the trail than Iwere,anBuckeyenighhim,an tol emwhattodo.Weskootcheddowninthebushesanheerdemcomin!PurtysoontheyhoveinsighttwoInjuns,thetwowimmincaptives

anawhite

manthe

wust

lookin

bulldog

brute

that

Iever

seenstumpinerlong livelyonawooden leg,withagunanacane.He

hadabroadheadanabiglopmouthanthicklipsanalong,red,wartynosean smallblackeyesanagrowthobeard that lookedlikehogsbristles.Hewerestoutbuilt.Stood bout five footseven.Neverseesechasightinmylife.IhoppedoutaforeemanJackanBuckeyeontheirheels.TheInjunhadmyolhanger.

Dropyerguns,saysI.

Thewhitemandone ashewere told. I spokeEnglish anmebbethem two Injunsdidntunderstanme.Wellneverknow.OlRedSnoutleanedovertopickuphisgun,seeinaswedfiredours.Therewas apriceonhishead anhedmadeuphismind to fight.Jackgrabbedhim.Hewerestoutasalionantorewayfromtheboyanstartedtopullinalongknifeoutohisbootleg.Jackdidntgivehimtime. They had it hammer an tongs. Red Snout were a reglarfightinman.Hejeststuckthaterestumpinthegroundanbraced

aginit

an

kep

aslashin

an

jabbin

with

his

club

cane

an

yellin

ancussinlikeafiendohell.HeknockedtheboydownanIreckonhedamelleredhisheadproperifhedabeenspryeronhispins.ButJack sprungup likeheweremadeo Injy rubber.Thebulldogdevilhaddrawedhislongknife.Jackweresmart.Hehoppedbehindatree.Buckeye,whohadntnogun,wasjumpinfercover.Thepeglegcusssworeabluestreakanflungtheknifeathim.Itwentclarthroughhisbodyanhefellonhisfaceanmestandintharloadinmygun.Ididntknowbuthedlickusall.ButJackhadjumpedon

himfore

he

got

holt

o

the

knife

agin.

Ithoughtsurehedfloortheboyanmenotquiteloaded,butJackwereasspryasa rat terrier.Hedodgedan rushed inangrabbed


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holtotheclubanfetchedthecussawhackinthepaunchwithhisbarefist,anolRedSnoutwentdownlikeasteerundertheax.

Lookout!

theres

nother

man

comin,

the

young

womern

hollered.

SheneedntatukthetroublecauseaforeshespokeIwerelookinathimthroughthesightomyolMarierwhichIdmanagedtogititloaded agin.Hewere runnin towardsme.He tukjest onemorestep,ifIdontmakenomistake.

Theolbrute thatJackhadknockeddownquiveredan lay stillaminitanwhenhecome to,we turnedhim,eroundanstartedhim

towardsCanady

an

tol

him

to

keep

agoin!

When

he

were

bout

ten

rodsoff,Iputabulletinhisolwoodenlegfertohurryhimerlong.So thewustmankiller thatever troddirtgot erway fromuswithonlyasorebelly,weneverknowinwhohewere.IwishIdakilledthe cuss,but as twere,we had considable trouble on our hands.Righterwayweheardtwogunsgooffoverbythehouse.Iknowedthat our firin had probly woke up some o the sleepers. Wepounded the ground an got thar as quick aswe could. The twowimmenwant furbehind. They didnt cocalate to lose usyou

hearto

me.

Two

young

braves

had

sprung

up

an

been

told

to

lie

downagin.ButtheEnglishlanguageaintnohelptoanInjununderthemsurcumstances.Theydontunderstanitantharaintnotimewhen ignerunce ismore costly.Theywas someothers awake,buttheyhadlearntsuthin.Theywaskeepinquiet,anIseztoem:

Ifyelaystillyellallbesafe.Wewontdoyeabitoharm.Youvegot inbad compny,but ye aint done nothinbut steal a pair owimmen.Ifyebehaveproperfromnowon,yellbesenthum.

Wedidnthavenomore troublewith them. IputoneoBonesesboysonahossanhustledhimupthevalleyferhelp.Thewimmencaptiveswasbawlin. I tol em to straightenout their facesangowithJackanhisfatherdowntoFortStanwix.Theywerekindolegwearyanexcited,buttheyhadntbeenhurtyit.Anotherdayertwowould a fixed em.Jackanhis fatheranmother tuk emback tothepastureanJackrunuptothebarnferropesanbridles.Inalittlewhiletheygotsomehoofsunderemanpickedupthechildernan

toddledoff.

Iwent

out

in

the

bush

to

find

Buckeye

an

he

were

dead

asthewhalethatswalleredJonah.

SoendstheletterofSolomonBinkus.


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15

JackIronsandhisfamilyandthatofPeterBonestheboysandgirlsriding two on ahorsewith the captives fileddown theMohawktrail. It was a considerable cavalcade of twentyone people and

twentyfour

horses

and

colts,

the

latter

following.

SolomonBinkusandPeterBonesandhissonIsraelstoodonguarduntiltheboyJohnBonesreturnedwithhelpfromtheuppervalley.Adozenmenandboyscompletedthedisarmingofthebandandthateveningsetoutwiththemonthesouthtrail.

II

It is doubtful if this historywould havebeenwrittenbut for anaccidental and highly interesting circumstance. In the first partyyoungJackIronsrodeacolt,justbroken,withthegirlcaptive,nowhappily released.Theboyhadhelpedeveryone togetaway; thenthere seemed to be no ridable horse for him. He walked for adistancebythestrangersmountasthelatterwaswild.Thegirlwassilent for a time after the colt had settled down, now and thenwipingtearsfromhereyes.Byandbysheasked:

MayIleadthecoltwhileyouride?

Oh,no,Iamnottired,washisanswer.

Iwanttodosomethingforyou.

Why?

Iamsograteful.IfeelliketheKingscat.Iamtryingtoexpressmyfeelings. I think I know, now, why the Indian women do thedrudgery.

AsshelookedatHimherdarkeyeswereveryserious.

Ihavedonelittle,saidhe.ItisMr.Binkuswhorescuedyou.Welive in awild countryamong savagesand thewhite folkshave to

protecteach

other.

Were

used

to

it.


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16

Ineversaworexpectedtoseemenlikeyou,shewenton.Ihaveread of them inbooks,but Ineverhoped to see them and talk tothem.YouarelikeAjaxandAchilles.

Then I shall say that you are like the fair lady for whom theyfought.

Iwillnotrideandseeyouwalking.

Then sit forward as far asyou can and Iwill ridewithyou,heanswered.

Inamoment

he

was

on

the

colts

back

behind

her.

She

was

acomely

maiden.An authority no less respectable thanMajorDuncan haswritten thatshewasa tall,wellshaped, fun lovinggirla littlepastsixteenandgoodtolookupon,withdarkeyesandauburnhair,thelatter longandheavyand in the sunlight richly colored; that shehad slender fingers andabeautiful skin, all showing that shehadbeendelicatelybred.HeaddsthatheenviedtheboywhohadriddenbeforeandbehindherhalfthelengthofTryonCounty.

Itwas

aclose

association

and

Jack

found

it

so

agreeable

that

he

often

referredtothatrideasthemostexcitingadventureofhislife.

Whatisyourname?heasked.

MargaretHare,sheanswered.

Howdidtheycatchyou?

Oh,they

came

suddenly

and

stealthily,

as

they

do

in

the

story

books,whenwewerealoneincamp.Myfatherandtheguideshadgoneouttohunt.

Didtheytreatyouwell?

The Indians let us alone, but the two white men annoyed andfrightenedus.Theoldchiefkeptusnearhim.

Theold

chief

knew

better

than

to

let

any

harm

come

to

you

until

theyweresureofgettingawaywiththeirplunder.


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17

Wewereinthevalleyofdeathandyouhaveledusoutofit.Iamsure that Idonot look as if Iwereworth saving. I suppose that Imusthaveturnedintoanoldwoman.Ismyhairwhite?

No. You are thebestlooking girl I ever saw, he declaredwithrusticfrankness.

Ineverhadacomplimentthatpleasedmesomuch,sheanswered,asherelbowstightenedalittleonhishandswhichwereclingingtohercoat.Ialmost lovedyou forwhatyoudid to theoldvillain. Isawbloodonthesideofyourhead.Ifearhehurtyou?

Hejabbed

me

once.

It

is

nothing.

Howbraveyouwere!

IthinkIammorescarednowthanIwasthen,saidJack.

Scared!Why?

Iamnotusedtogirlsexceptmysisters.

Shelaughedandanswered:

AndIamnotusedtoheroes.IamsureyoucannotbesoscaredasIam, but I rather enjoy it. I like tobe scareda little. This is sodifferent.

Ilikeyou,hedeclaredwithalaugh.

Ifeared

you

would

not

like

an

English

girl.

So

many

North

AmericanshateEngland.

TheEnglishhavebeenhardonus.

Whatdoyoumean?

Theysendusgovernorswhomwedonotlike;theymakelawsforuswhichwehavetoobey;theyimposehardtaxeswhicharenotjust

andthey

will

not

let

us

have

aword

to

say

about

it.

I think it iswrong and Im going to stand up for you, the girlanswered.


24/300


18

Wheredoyoulive?heasked.

InLondon.IamanEnglishgirl,butpleasedonothatemeforthat.I

wantto

do

what

is

right

and

Ishall

never

let

any

one

say

aword

againstAmericanswithouttakingtheirpart.

Thatsgood,theboyanswered.IdlovetogotoLondon.

Well,whydontyou?

Itsalongwayoff.

Doyou

like

good

looking

girls?

Idratherlookatthemthaneat.

Well,therearemanyinLondon.

Oneisenough,saidJack.

Idlovetoshowthemarealhero.

Dont callme that. Ifyouwouldjust callmeJack Irons Id like itbetter. But first youll want to know how I behave. I am not afighter.

Iamsurethatyourcharacterisasgoodasyourface.

Gosh!Ihopeitaintquitesodarkcolored,saidJack.

Iknew

all

about

you

when

you

took

my

hand

and

helped

me

on

the

ponyornearlyall.Youareagentleman.

Ihopeso.

AreyouaPresbyterian?

NoChurchofEngland.

Iwas

sure

of

that.

Ihave

seen

Indians

and

Shakers,

but

Ihave

never

seenaPresbyterian.


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19

When the sunwas low and the company aheadwere stopping tomakeacampforthenight,theboyandgirldismounted.Sheturnedfacinghimandasked:

Youdidntmean itwhen you said that Iwas goodlookingdidyou?

Thebashfulyouthhadimaginationand,likemanyladsofhistime,aromantic temperament and the love of poetry. Thereweremanybooksinhisfathershomeandtheboyhadlivedhisleisureinthem.Hethoughtamomentandanswered:

Yes,Ithink

you

are

as

beautiful

as

ayoung

doe

playing

in

the

waterlilies.

Andyoulookasifyoubelievedyourself,saidshe.IamsureyouwouldlikemebetterifIwerefixedupalittle.

Idonotthinkso.

Howmuchbetter aboys head lookswith his hair cut close like

yours.Our

boys

have

long

hair.

They

do

not

look

so

much

like

men.

Longhairisnotforroughworkinthebush,theboyremarked.

Youreallylookbraveandstrong.Onewouldknowthatyoucoulddothings.

Ivealwayshadtodothings.

Theycameuptothepartywhohadstoppedtocampforthenight.Itwasa clearwarmevening.After theyhadhobbled thehorses inanearmeadowflat,Jackandhisfathermadealeantoforthewomenandchildrenandroofeditwithbark.Thentheycutwoodandbuiltafire and gathered boughs for bedding. Later, tea was made andbeefsteaksandbacongrilledonspitsofgreenbirch,thedrippingfatbeing caught on slices of toasting bread whereon the meat waspresentlyserved.

Themasterfulpowerwithwhich the stalwartyouthandhis fatherswung the ax and their cunning craftsmanship impressed theEnglishwomanandherdaughterandweresoon tobe the topicof


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manyaLondonteaparty.Mrs.Harespokeofitasshewaseatinghersupper.

Itmay

surprise

you

further

to

learn

that

the

boy

is

fairly

familiar

with theAeneidand theOdesofHoraceand thehistoryofFranceandEngland,saidJohnIrons.

That is the most astonishing thing I have ever heard! sheexclaimed.Howhashedoneit?

Theministerwashismasteruntilwewentintothebush.ThenIhadtobefarmerandschoolteacher.Thereisagreatthirstforlearningin

thisNew

World.

Howdoyoufindtimeforit?

Oh,wehave leisureheremore thanyouhave. InEngland evenyourwealthyyoungmenareoverworked.Theydineoutandplaycards until three in the morning and sleep until midday. Thenluncheonand thecockfightandteaandParliament!Thebestofushaveonlythreesteadyhabits.Weworkandstudyandsleep.

Andfightsavages,saidthewoman.

Wedothat,sometimes,but it isnotoftennecessary.If itwerenotforwhite savages, therewouldbe no red ones. You would findAmericaagoodcountrytolivein.

At least Ihope itwillbegood to sleep in thisnight, thewomananswered,yawning.DreamlandisnowtheonlycountryIcarefor.

The ladies and children,being near spentby thedays travel andexcitement, turned in soon after supper. The men slept on theirblankets,by the fire, andwereupbeforedaylight foradip in thecreek nearby.While theywere gettingbreakfast, thewomen andchildrenhadtheirturnatthecreekside.

Thatdaythereleasedcaptiveswereinbetterspirits.Soonafternoonthe company came to a swollen riverwhere the horses had some

swimmingto

do.

The

older

animals

and

the

following

colts

went

through all right,but the young stallionwhichJack andMargaretwereriding,begantorearandplunge.Thegirlinherfrightjumpedoff his back in swift water and was swept into the rapids and


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21

tumbledaboutandputinsomedangerbeforeJackcoulddismountandbringherashore.

Youhave

increased

my

debt

to

you,

she

said,

when

at

last

they

weremountedagain.Whatastorythisis!Itisterriblyexciting.

Gettingintodeeperwater,saidJack.Imnotgoingtoletyouspoilitbydrowning.

Iwonderwhatiscomingnext,saidshe.

Idontknow.SofaritsasgoodasRobinsonCrusoe.With abook you can skip and seewhat happens, she laughed.Butweshallhavetoreadeverythinginthisstory.Idlovetoknowallaboutyou.

He told her with boyish frankness of his plans which includedlearning and statesmanship and a city home.He told also of hisadventuresintheforestwithhisfather.

Meanwhile,the

elder

John

Irons

and

Mrs.

Hare

were

getting

acquaintedas they rodealong.Thewomanhadbeen surprisedbythemansintimateknowledgeofEnglishhistoryandhadspokenofit.

Well,you seemywife is agranddaughterofHoratioWalpoleofWoltertonandmymotherwasina likewayrelatedtoThomasPittsoyousee Ihavea right tomy interest in thehistoryof thehomeland,saidJohnIrons.

YouhaveinyourveinssomeofthebestbloodofEnglandandsoIam sure that youmustbe a loyal subject of theKing,Mrs.Hareremarked.

No,becauseIthinkthisGermanKinghasnoshareinthespiritofhiscountry,Ironsanswered.Ourancientrespectforhumanrightsandfairplayisnotinthisman.

Hepresented

his

reasons

for

the

opinion

and

while

the

woman

made

noanswer,shehadheardforthefirsttimetheargumentoftheNewWorldandwasimpressedbyit.


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22

Lateinthedaytheycameoutonaroughroad,faringdownintothesettled country and thatnight they stopped at a small inn.At thesuppertableawizenedoldwomanwastellingfortunesinateacup.

MissHareandhermotherdrainedtheircupsandpassedthemtotheoldwoman.The latter looked into the cup of theyoung lady andimmediatelyhertonguebegantorattle.

Twowaysliebeforeyou,shepipedinashrillvoice.Oneleadstohappinessandmanychildrenandwealthandalonglife.Itissteepandroughatthebeginningandthenitissmoothandpeaceful.Yes.Itcrosses the sea.Theotherway is smoothat the startand then it

growssteep

and

rough

and

in

it

Isee

tears

and

blood

and

dark

clouds and, do you see that? she demanded with a look ofexcitement,asshepointedintothecup.Itisaveryevilthing.Iwilltellyounomore.

Thewizened oldwoman rose and,with adetermined look in herface,lefttheroom.

Mrs.Hare and her daughter seemed tobemuch troubledby the

visionof

the

fortune

teller.

I hope you do notbelieve in that kind of rubbish, John Ironsremarked.

Ibelieveimplicitlyinthegiftofsecondsight,saidMrs.Hare.InEnglandwomen are so impatient toknow their fortunes that theywillnotwaituponTime,andtheseersareprosperous.

Ihave

no

faith

in

it,

said

Mr.

Irons.

What

she

said

might

apply

to

the future of any youngperson.Undoubtedly there are twowaysahead of your daughter and perhapsmore. Eachmust choose hisownwaywiselyorcometotrouble.Itistheancientlaw.

Theyrodeonnextmorninginaroughroadbetweenclearingsintheforest,theboyandgirlbeingagaintogetheronthecoltsback,sheinfront.

Youdid

not

have

your

fortune

told,

said

Miss

Margaret.


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23

Ithasbeentold,Jackanswered.IamtobemarriedinEnglandtoabeautifulyoung lady. I thought thatsoundedwelland that Ihadbetterholdontoit.Imightgofurtherandfareworse.

Tellmethekindofgirlyouwouldfancy.

Iwouldntdaretellyou.

Why?

Forfearitwouldspoilmyluck.

Theyrode

on

with

light

hearts

under

aclear

sky,

their

spirits

playing

together likebirds in the sunlight, touchingwingsand then flyingapart,until itall came toa climaxquiteunforeseen.The storyhasbeen passed from sire to son and frommother to daughter in acertain familyof centralNewYorkand thereare thosenow livingwho could tell it. These twowere young andbeautiful andwellcontentwitheachother,itissaid.So itwouldseemthatFatecouldnotletthemalone.

Weare

near

our

journeys

end,

said

he,

by

and

by.

Oh,then,letusgoveryslowly,sheurged.

Anotherstepand theyhadpassed thehiddengatebetween realityand enchantment. Itwould appear that shehad spoken themagicwordswhichhadopened it.Theyrode, fora time,without furtherspeech, in a land not of this world, although, in some degree,familiar to thebestof itspeople.Only theymay cross thatborder

whohave

kept

much

of

the

innocence

of

childhood

and

felt

the

delightfulfearofyouththatwasinthosetwotheyonlymayknowthegreat enchantment.Does itnotmakeanundyingmemoryandbring to the face of age, long afterward, the smile of joy andgratitude?

Thenextword?What should itbe?Bothwonderedandheld theirtongues for fearone can not help thinkingand really they hadlittleneed ofwords.Thepeal of ahermit thrush filled the silence

withits

golden,

largo

chime

and

overtones

and

died

away

and

rang

outagainandagain.Thatvoicespokeforthemfarbetterthaneithercouldhavespoken,andtheywerecontent.


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24

Therewasnovoiceon landorseaso fit for thehourandtheearsthatheardit,shewrote,longafterward,inaletter.

Theymust

have

felt

it

in

the

longing

of

their

own

hearts

and,

perhaps,evenatouchofthepathosintheyearstocome.Theyrodeon in silence, feeling now thebeauty of the greenwoods. It hadbecome amagic garden full of new andwonderful things. Somepowerhadentered themandopened theireyes.The thrushs songgrewfainterinthedistance.Theboywasfirsttospeak.

Ithinkthatbirdmusthavehadalongflightsometime,hesaid.

Why?

IamsurethathehasheardthemusicofParadise.IwonderifyouareashappyasIam.

Iwasneversohappy,sheanswered.

Whatabeautifulcountryweare in! Ihave forgottenallabout thedangerandthehardshipandtheevilmen.Haveyoueverseenany

placelike

it?

No.Foratimewehavebeenridinginfairyland.

Iknowwhy,saidtheboy.

Why?

Itisbecauseweareridingtogether.ItisbecauseIseeyou.

Oh,dear!Icannotseeyou.Letusgetoffandwalk,sheproposed.

Theydismounted.

Didyoumeanthathonestly?

Honestly,heanswered.

Shelooked

up

at

him

and

put

her

hand

over

her

mouth.

I was going to say something. It would have been mostunmaidenly,sheremarked.


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25

Theressomething inme thatwillnotstayunsaid. I loveyou,hedeclared.

Sheheld

up

her

hand

with

aserious

look

in

her

eyes.

Then,

for

amoment,theboyreturnedtotheworldofreality.

Iamsorry.Forgiveme.Ioughtnottohavesaidit,hestammered.

Butdidntyoureallymeanit?sheaskedwithtroubledeyes.

Imeanthatandmore,but Ioughtnot tohavesaid itnow.It isntfair. You havejust escaped from a great danger and have got a

notionthat

you

are

in

debt

to

me

and

you

dont

know

much

about

meanyhow.

Shestoodinhispathlookingupathim.

Jack,shewhispered.Pleasesayitagain.

No,itwasnotgone.Theywerestillinthemagicgarden.

Ilove

you

and

Iwish

this

journey

could

go

on

forever,

he

said.

She stepped closer andheputhis arm aroundher andkissedherlips.Sheranawayafewsteps.Then,indeed,theywerebackonthefamiliartrailinthethirtymilebush.Amoosebirdwasscreamingatthem.Sheturnedandsaid:

Iwanted you to knowbut I have said nothing. I couldnt. I amunderasacredpromise.Youareagentlemanandyouwillnotkiss

meor

speak

of

love

again

until

you

have

talked

with

my

father.

It

is

thecustomofourcountry.But Iwantyou toknow that Iamveryhappy.

IdontknowhowIdaredtosayanddowhatIdid,butIcouldnthelpit

Icouldnthelpiteither.Ijustlongedtoknowifyoudared.

Therest

will

be

in

the

futureperhaps

far

in

the

future.

Hisvoicetrembledalittle.


32/300


26

Notfarifyoucometome,butIcanwaitIwillwait.Shetookhishandastheywerewalkingbesideeachotherandadded:Foryou.I,

too,

will

wait,

he

answered,

and

as

long

as

Ihave

to.

Mrs.Hare,walking down the trail tomeet them, had come near.Theirjourneyoutof thewildernesshadended,but foreachanewlifehadbegun.

Thehusbandandfatherofthetwoladieshadreachedthefortonlyanhour or so ahead of themountedparty andpreparationswerebeingmadeforanexpeditiontocutofftheretreatoftheIndians.He

wasknown

to

most

of

his

friends

in

America

only

as

Colonel

BenjaminHarearoyalcommissionerwhohadcometothecoloniestoinspectandreportuponthedefensesofHisMajesty.HeworetheuniformofaColonelof theKingsGuard.There isanold letterofJohn Ironswhich says thathewasa splendid figureofaman, tallandwellproportionedandaboutforty,withdarkeyes,hishairandmustachejustbeginningtoshowgray.

Ishallnottryheretomeasuremygratitude,hesaidtoMr.Irons.

Iwill

see

you

to

morrow.

Youowemenothing, Irons answered.The rescue ofyourwifeanddaughterisduetotheresourcefulandfamousscoutSolomonBinkus.

Dear old roughbarked hickoryman! the Colonel exclaimed. Ihopetoseehimsoon.

Hewent

at

once

with

his

wife

and

daughter

to

rooms

in

the

fort.

ThateveninghesatisfiedhimselfastothecharacterandstandingofJohn Irons, learning that hewas a patriot of large influence andconsiderablemeans.

ThelatterfamilyandthatofPeterBoneswerewellquarteredintentswith apart of the FiftyFifthRegiment then at Fort Stanwix.NextmorningJackwenttobreakfastwithColonelHareandhiswifeanddaughter in theirrooms,afterwhich theColonel invited theboy to

takeawalk

with

him

out

to

the

little

settlement

of

Mill

River.

Jack,

being overawed, was rather slow in declaring himself and theColonelpresentlyremarked:


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Youandmydaughterseemtohavegotwellacquainted.

Yes, sir;but not aswell as I couldwish,Jack answered. Our

journeyended

too

soon.

Ilove

your

daughter,

sir,

and

Ihope

you

willletmetellherandaskhertobemywifesometime.

You are both too young, said the Colonel. Besides you haveknowneachothernotquitethreedaysandIhaveknownyounotasmanyhours.Wearedeeplygrateful toyou,but it isbetter foryouandforher thatthismattershouldnotbehurried.Afterayearhaspassed,ifyouthinkyoustillcaretoseeeachother,IwillaskyoutocometoEngland.Ithinkyouareafine,manly,bravechap,butreally

youwill

admit

that

Ihave

aright

to

know

you

better

before

my

daughterengagestomarryyou.

Jack freely admitted that the requestwaswell founded, albeit hedeclared, frankly, thathewould like tobe got acquaintedwith assoonaspossible.

Wemust take the first shipback to England, said theColonel.Youarebothyoungandinamatterofthiskindthereshouldbeno

haste.If

your

affection

is

real,

it

will

be

none

the

worse

for

alittle

keeping.

Solomon Binkus and Peter and Israel and John Bones and somesettlers north ofHorseValley arrived next daywith the capturedIndians,who, under amilitary guard,were sent on to the GreatFatheratJohnsonCastle.

ColonelHarewasastonishedthatneitherSolomonBinkusnorJohn

Ironsnor

his

son

would

accept

any

gift

for

the

great

service

they

had

donehim.

IoweyoumorethanIcaneverpay,hesaidtothefaithfulBinkus.Moneywouldnotbegoodenoughforyourreward.

Solomonsteppedclosetothegreatmanandsaidinalowtone:

Them young uns has growed kind o love sick an I wouldnt

wonder.Idont

ask

only

one

thing.

Dont

make

no

mistake

bout

this

ereboy.Inthebushwehaveawayopickinoutmen.Weseehowthey stanup todanger anhardwork angoinhungry.Jack isareglarheman.IknowemwhenIseeem,whichitsasurefact


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Iveseenallkinds.Hesgotbrainsancourage,anatougharmanagoodheart.Heddie fera friendanyday.Yekintdonomore.Sodont make no mistake bout him. He aint no hemlock bow. I

cocalatethere

aint

no

better

man

timber

nowhereno,

sir,

not

nowhere in thisworldcall itkinger lorderdukeeranynameyelike.So,sir,ifyefeellikedoinsuthinfermewhichIdidntneverexpectit,whenIdonewhatIdidIllsaybegoodtotheboy.Youdneverhavetobeshamedohim.

Hesalikely lad,saidColonelHare.AndIamrather impressedbyyourwords,althoughtheypresentaviewthatisnewtome.WeshallbereturningsoonandIdaresaytheywillpresentlyforgeteach

other,but

if

not,

and

he

becomes

agood

manas

good

aman

as

his

fatherlet us sayand she should wish to marry him, I wouldgladlyputherhandinhis.

A letter of the handsome British officer to his friend, DoctorBenjaminFranklin,reviewsthehistoryofthisadventureandspeaksofthelearning,intelligenceandagreeablepersonalityofJohnIrons.Both Colonel and Mrs. Hare liked the boy and his parents andinvited them to come to England, although the latter took the

invitationas

amere

mark

of

courtesy.

AtFort Stanwix,John Irons soldhis farm andhouse and stock toPeter Bones and decided tomove his family toAlbanywhere hecouldeducatehischildren.Bothheandhiswifehadgrownwearyofthelonelinessofthebackcountry,andtheperilfromwhichtheyhadbeendeliveredwasadecidingfactor.So ithappened that the IronsfamilyandSolomonwent toAlbanybybateauxwith theHares. ItwasadelightfultripingoodautumnweatherinwhichColonelHare

hasacknowledged

that

both

he

and

his

wife

acquired

adeep

respect

for these sinewy,wise,uprightAmericans, someofwhom are aswelllearned,Ishouldsay,asmostmenyouwouldmeetinLondon.

TheystoppedatSchenectady,landinginabrawlbetweenWhigsandTorieswhichsoondevelopedintoasmallriotovertheerectionofalibertypole.Loudandbitterwordswerebeinghurledbetween thetwo factions. The liberty lovers,being inmuch larger force, haderectedthepolewithoutviolentopposition.

Justwhatdoesthismean?theColonelaskedJohnIrons.


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Itmeansthatthewholecountryisinafermentofdissatisfaction,said Irons.Weobject tobeing taxedbyaParliament inwhichwearenotrepresented.Thetroubleshouldbestoppednotbyforcebut

byaction

that

will

satisfy

our

sense

of

injusticenot

avery

difficult

thing. A military force, quartered in Boston, has done greatmischief.

Whatlibertydoyouwant?

Liberty to have a voice in the selection of our governors andmagistratesandinthemakingofthelawsweareexpectedtoobey.

Ithink

it

is

ajust

demand,

said

the

Colonel.

SolomonBinkushadlistenedwithkeeninterest.

Isuckedintheloveolibertywithmymothersmilk,hesaid.Yemustnt try tomakeme do nothin that goes aginmy commonsense;ifyedo,yeregointohaveagoshhelloatimewiththeolmanwhich,youheartome,willlastaslongasIdo.Thesedaysthereortnt to be no sech thing mong white men as bein born into

captivityan

forced

to

obey

amaster,

no

argeyment

bein

allowed.

If

yourwife an gal hadbeen took erwayby the Injuns, thatswhatwouldahappenedtoem,whichImsartintheywouldntalikedit,neryounuther,whichImeantosayitrespectful,sir.

TheColonelworealookofconviction.

Iseehowyoufeelaboutit,hesaid.

Itsthe

way

all

America

feels

about

it,

said

Irons.

There

are

not

fivethousandmeninthecolonieswhowoulddifferwiththatview.

Havingarrivedintherivercity,JohnIronswent,withhisfamily,toTheKingsArms.ThatverydaytheHarestookshipforNewYorkontheirwaytoEngland.JackandSolomonwenttothelandingwiththem.

Whereismyboy?Mrs.IronsaskedwhenBinkusreturnedalone.

Gonedowntheriver,saidthelatter.


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Gonedown the river!Mrs. Irons exclaimed. Why! Isnt thathecomingyonder?

Itsonly

part

o

him,

said

Solomon.

His

heart

has

gone

down

the

river.Butitllbecominback.ItmindsmeothefusttimeIthrowedaharpoonintoaspermwhale.Hewentofflikeabulletansoundedan tookmyharpoonana lotogoodropewithhimangotawaywithit.FerdaysIcouldntthinkonothinbutthaterewhale.Thenhebgun togrow smaller an less important.Jackhas losthis fustwhale.

Helooksheartbrokenpoorboy!

Butyeortohaveseenher.Shesgottheolharpooninhersideanshewerespoutintearsanshakinherflukesasshemovedaway.


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CHAPTERII

SOWINGTHEDRAGONSTEETH

Solomon Binkus in his talkwithColonelHare had signalized thearrival of anew type ofmanborn ofnew conditions.WhenLordHowe andGeneralAbercrombie got toAlbanywith regiments offine, highbred, young fellows from London, Manchester andLiverpool, out for a holiday andmagnificent in their uniforms ofscarletandgold,eachwithhisbeautifulandabundanthairdoneupinaqueue,Mr.Binkuslaughedandsaidtheylookedterriblepert.HetoldthevirileandprofaneCaptainLeeofHowesstaff,thatthe

firstthing

to

do

was

to

make

ahaystack

o

their

hair

an

give

em

mensclothes.

Acartloadohairwasmowedoff,toquoteagainfromSolomon,and all their splendor shorn away for a reason apparent to thembeforetheyhadgonefarontheir illfatedexpedition.Hairdressingandfinemillineryanddrawingroomclotheswerenotforthebush.

Aninheritedsenseofoldwrongswasthementalbackgroundofthis

newtype

of

man.

Life

in

the

bush

had

strengthened

his

arm,

his

will

and his courage. His words fell as forcefully as his ax underprovocation.Hewasdeliberateasbecameonewhosescalpwasoftenin danger; trained to think of the common welfare of hisneighborhood and rather careless about the look of his coat andtrousers.

JohnIronsandSolomonBinkusweredifferingexamplesofthenewman.Of largestature,Ironshadareputationofbeingthestrongest

manin

the

New

Hampshire

grants.

No

name

was

better

known

or

respected in all the western valleys. His father, a man of somemeans,hadlefthimareasonablecompetence.

Certain old records of Cumberland County speak of his unusualgifts, the best of which was, perhaps, modesty. He had onceentertainedSirWilliamJohnsonathishouseandhadmovedwest,when the French and IndianWarbegan, on the invitation of thegovernor, bringing his horses with him. For years he had been

breedingand

training

saddle

horses

for

the

markets

in

New

England. On moving he had turned his stock into SirWilliamspastureandbuilta loghouseat the fortand servedasanaidandcounselor of the greatman.Meanwhile hiswife and children had


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livedinAlbany.Whenthebackcountrywasthoughtsafetolivein,at theurgentsolicitationofSirJeffreyAmherst,hehadgone to thenorthernvalleywithhisherd,andprosperedthere.

Albanyhadonewidestreetwhichranalongtheriverfront.Itendedatthegateofabig,commonpasturesomefourhundredyardssouthofthelandingwhichwasnearthecenterofthelittlecity.Inthenorthit ran into thegreat roadbeyond the ample groundsofColonelSchuyler.Thefortandhospitalstoodonthetopofthebighill.Closetotheshorewasafringeofelms,someofthemtallandstately,theircolumnsfeatheredwithwildgrapevines.Awidespacebetweenthetrees and the street hadbeen turned intowellkept gardens, and

theirverdure

was

apleasant

thing

to

see.

The

town

lay

along

the

foot

of a steephill,and,midway,ahuddleofbuildings climbeda fewrodsup theslope.At the topwas theEnglishChurchandbelow itwere the Town Hall, the market and the Dutch MeetingHouse.Other thoroughfareswestof themainonewerebeing laidoutandsettled.

JohnIronswaswellknowntoColonelSchuyler.Thegoodmangavethenewcomersaheartywelcomeandwasabletosellthemahouse

readyfurnishedthe

same

having

been

lately

vacated

by

an

officer

summoned to England. So it happened that John Irons and hisfamilywerequicklyandcomfortablysettledintheirnewhomeandthe children atwork in school.He soonbought some land,partlycleared,amileorsodowntheriverandbegantoimproveit.

Youvehad lonesomedays enough,mother,he said tohiswife.Welllivehereinthevillage.Illbuysomegood,youngniggersifIcan,andbuildahouseforem,andgobackandforthinthesaddle.

Thebest families had negro slaveswhichwere, in themain, likeAbrahams servants, each having been born in the house of hismaster.Theywereregardedwithaffection.

Itwasapeaceful,happy,mutuallyhelpful,Godfearingcommunityinwhich theaffairsofeachwere theconcernofall.Everysummerday, emigrants were passing and stopping, on their way west,towingbateaux foruse in theupperwatersof theMohawk.These

weremostly

Irish

and

German

people

seeking

cheap

land,

and

seeingnotthedangerinwarstocome.


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ThereisanoldletterfromJohnIronstohissisterinBraintreewhichsays that Jack, of whom he had a great pride, was getting onfamously in school. But he shows no favor to any of the girls,

havinglost

his

heart

to

ayoung

English

maid

whom

he

helped

to

rescue from the Indians.We think it lucky that she shouldbe farawayso thathemaybetterkeephisresolution tobeeducatedandhiscomposureinthetask.

Thearrivalof themailwasanevent inAlbany thosedays.Lettershad come tobe regarded there as common property. They werepassed from hand to hand and read in neighborhood assemblies.Often they told of great hardship and stirring adventures in the

wildernessand

of

events

beyond

the

sea.

Everyweekthemailbroughtpapersfromthethreebigcities,whichwerereadeagerlyandloanedorexchangeduntiltheircontentshadtraveled through every street. Benjamin Franklins PennsylvaniaGazette came to John Irons, and having been read aloud by thefiresidewasgiventoSimonGroverinexchangeforRivingtonsNewYorkWeekly.Jack

was

in

acoasting

party

on

Gallows

Hill

when

his

father

brought

himafatletterfromEngland.Hewenthomeatoncetoreadit.Theletter was from Margaret Harea loveletter which proposed aratherdifficultproblem.Itisnowabitofpapersobrittlewithageithas tobedelicatelyhandled. Itsneatlydrawnchirography is fadedtoalightyellow,buthowaliveitiswithyouthfulardor:

I thinkofyouandpray foryouveryoften, it says.Ihopeyouhavenot forgottenmeormust I look foranother tohelpmeenjoy

thathappy

fortune

of

which

you

have

heard?

Please

tell

me

truly.

MyfatherhasmetDoctorFranklinwhotoldofthenighthespentatyourhomeandthathethoughtyouwereanobleandpromisinglad.Whatapleasure itwastohearhimsaythat!WearemuchalarmedbyeventsinAmerica.MymotherandIstandupforAmericans,butmyfatherhaschangedhisviewssincewecamedowntheMohawktogether.YoumustrememberthatheisafriendoftheKing.Ihopethatyouandyourfatherwillbepatientandtakenopartintheriotsandhouseburnings.YouhaveEnglishbloodinyourveinsandold

Englandought

to

be

dear

to

you.

She

really

loves

America

very

much,indeed,ifnotasmuchasIloveyou.Canyounotendurethewrongs for her sake andmine in the hope that theywill soonberighted?WhateverhappensIshallnotceasetoloveyou,butthefear


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comes tome that, ifyou turnagainstEngland, Ishall love invain.There are dayswhen the future looks dark and I hope that youranswerwillbreakthecloudsthathangoverit.

Soranapartofthe letter,coloredsomewhatbythediplomacyofashrewdmother,onewouldsaywhoreaditcarefully.Theneighborshadheardofitsarrivalandmanyofthemdroppedinthatevening,but theywenthomenone thewiser.After the companyhadgone,Jackshowedthelettertohisfatherandmother.

Myboy,itisatimetostandfirm,saidhisfather.

Ithink

so,

too,

the

boy

answered.

Areyoustillinlovewithher?hismotherasked.

Theboyblushedashelookeddownintothefireanddidnotanswer.

She is a prettymiss, thewomanwent on. But if you have tochoosebetweenherandliberty,whatwillyousay?

Ican

answer

for

Jack,

said

John

Irons.

He

will

say

that

we

in

America will give up father andmother and home and life andeverythingweholddearfortheloveofliberty.

Of course I could not be a Tory, Jack declared. The boy hadstudiouslyreadthebookswhichDoctorFranklinhadsenttohimPilgrims Progress, Plutarchs Lives, and a number of theworks ofDaniel Defoe.He had discussed themwith his father and at thelatters suggestion had set down his impressions. His father had

assuredhim

that

it

was

well

done,

but

had

said

to

Mrs.

Irons

that

it

showed a remarkable rightness of mind and temper andunexpectedaptitudeintheartofexpression.

It is likely that theboywrotemany letterswhichMissMargaretnever sawbeforehisargumentswere setdown in the firm,gentleand winning tone which satisfied his spirit. Having finished hisletter,at last,heread italoudtohisfatherandmotheroneeveningas theysat together,by the fireside,after therestof the familyhad

goneto

bed.

Tears

of

pride

came

to

the

eyes

of

the

man

and

woman

whenthelongletterwasfinished.


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IloveoldEngland,itsaid,becauseitisyourhomeandbecauseitwas the home ofmy fathers. But I am sure it is not old Englandwhichmade the lawswehateandsentsoldiers toBoston. Is itnot

anotherEngland

which

the

King

and

his

ministers

invented?

Iask

you tobe true tooldEnglandwhich,my fatherhas toldme,stoodforjusticeandhumanrights.

Butafterall,whathaspolitics todowithyouandmeasapairofhumanbeings?Ourloveisathingabovethat.TheactsoftheKingormyfellowcountrymencannotaffectmyloveforyou,andtoknowthatyouareofthesamemindholdsmeabovedespair.IwouldthinkitagreathardshipifeitherKingorcolonyhadthepowertoputatax

onyoua

tax

which

demanded

my

principles.

Can

not

your

father

differwithme in politicsalthoughwhen youwere here Imadesure that he agreed with usand keep his faith in me as agentleman? I can not believe that he would like me if I had acharactersosmallandsoeasilyshiftedaboutthatIwouldchangeittopleasehim.Iamsure,too,thatifthereisanythinginmeyoulove,itismycharacter.Therefore,ifIweretochangeitIshouldloseyourloveandhisrespectalso.Isthatnottrue?

Thiswas

part

of

the

letter

which

Jack

had

written.

Myboy,itisagoodletterandtheywillhavetolikeyouthebetterforit,saidJohnIrons.

OldSolomonBinkuswasoftenattheIronshomethosedays.Hehadgoneback in thebush, since thewar ended, and, thatwinter, histrapswereonmany streamsandpondsbetweenAlbanyandLakeChamplain.Hecamedownoverthehillsforanightwithhisfriends

whenhe

reached

the

southern

end

of

his

beat.

It

was

probably

because theboyhad loved the talesof the trapperand the trapperhad found in theboysomethingwhichhis lifehadmissed, thatanaffectionbegantogrowupbetweenthem.Solomonwasachildlesswidower.

Mywife!Itellye,sir,shehadtheeyesanfeetotheyoungdoeanhercheekswere likethewild,redrose,thescoutwaswont tosayonoccasion. Iortohaveknowedbetter.Yes, sir, I orto.We lived

wayback

in

the

bush

an

the

child

come

fore

we

spected

it

one

night.IdonewhatIcouldbutsuthinwentwrong.Theytukthehightrail,bothonem.Iriggedupasledandrawedtheirpoorremainsintoasettlement.Thatwereahardwalkyouheartome.No,sir,I


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couldnt nevermarry no other womernnot if shewas a queencoveredwithdimonsnever.Imemberherso.Somefolksitseasytofergitansomeitaint.Thatsthewayoit.

Mr.andMrs.Ironsrespectedthescout,pityinghislonelyplightandlovinghischeerfulcompany.Heneverspokeofhis troublesunlesssomethoughtlesspersonhadputhimtoit.

II

ThatwintertheIronsfamilyandSolomonBinkuswentoftentothe

meetingsof

the

Sons

of

Liberty.

One

purpose

of

this

organization

wastoinducepeopletomanufacturetheirownnecessitiesandthusavoid buying the products of Great Britain. Factories were busymakingloomsandspinningwheels;skilledmenandwomentaughttheartsofspinning,weavingandtailoring.ThesloganHomeMadeorNothing,traveledfarandwide.

Late in February, Jack Irons and Solomon Binkus went east asdelegates to a largemeeting of the Sons ofLiberty in Springfield.

Theytraveled

on

snowshoes

and

by

stage,

finding

the

bitterness

of

the people growingmore intense as they proceeded. They foundmanywomenusing thorns insteadofpinsandknittingonepairofstockingswiththeravelingsofanother.Theywerealsoflossingouttheirsilkgownsandspinning the floss intogloveswithcotton.AllthiswastoavoidbuyinggoodssentoverfromGreatBritain.

Jacktellsinalettertohismotherofovertakingayoungmanwithapack on hisback and an ax in his hand on hisway toHarvard

College.He

was

planning

to

work

in

amill

to

pay

his

board

and

tuition.

Wehear ineveryhouseweenter the storiesandmaximsofPoorRichard, the boy wrote in his letter. A number of them werequotedinthemeeting.DoctorFrankliniseverywherethesedays.

Themeetingover,JackandSolomonwentonbystagetoBostonforalookatthebigcity.

TheyarrivedthereonthefifthofMarchalittleafterdark.Themoonwas shining.A snow flurryhadwhitened the streets.The airwasstillandcold.TheyhadtheirsuppersatTheShipandAnchor.While


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theywereeatingtheyheardthatacompanyofBritishsoldierswhowere encamped near the PresbyterianMeetingHouse hadbeatentheir drums on Sunday so that no worshiper could hear the

preaching.

And theworstof it iswearecompelled to furnish them foodandquarterswhiletheyinsultandannoyus,saidaministerwhosatatthetable.

After supperJack and Solomonwent out for awalk. They heardviolenttalkamongpeoplegatheredatthestreetcorners.Theysoonovertookanoisy crowdofboysandyoungmen carrying clubs. In

frontof

Murrays

Barracks

where

the

Twenty

Ninth

Regiment

was

quartered, therewasachatteringcrowdofmenandboys.Someofthemwere hooting and cursing at two sentinels.The streetswerelightedbyoillampsandbycandlesinthewindowsofthehouses.

InCornhilltheycameuponalargerandmoreviolentassemblageofthesamekind.Theymade theirway through itandsawbeyond,acaptain, a corporal and six private soldiers standing, face to face,with the crowd.Menwerejeering at them;boys hurling abusive

epithets.The

boys,

as

they

are

apt

to

do,

reflected,

with

some

exaggeration, thepassionsof theirelders. Itwasacrowdof roughfellowsmostlywharfmenandsailors.Solomonsensed thedangerin the situation.He andJackmoved outof thejeeringmob.Thensuddenlya thinghappenedwhichmayhave savedoneorbothoftheir lives. The Captain drew his sword and flashed a dark lightuponSolomonandcalled,out:

Hello,Binkus!Whatthehelldoyouwant?

Whobeye?Solomonasked.

Preston.

Preston!Catsbloodangunpowder!Whatsthematter?

Preston,anoldcomradeofSolomon,saidtohim:

Goaround

to

headquarters

and

tell

them

we

are

cut

off

by

amob

andinabadmess.Imalittlescared.Idontwanttogethurtordoanyhurting.


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JackandSolomonpassed through theguardandhurriedon.Thentherewerehisses and cries of Tories!RottenTories!As the twowent on they heardmissiles fallingbehind them and among the

soldiers.

Theysgointobebadtroublethar,saidSolomon.

Them lads aint to blame. Theyre only doin as theyrecommanded.ItsthedamKingthatortobehetchelled.

Theywerehurryingon,ashe spoke,and thewordswere scarcelyoutofhismouthwhen theyheard thecommand to fireanda rifle

volleythenloud

cries

of

pain

and

shrill

curses

and

running

feet.

They turned and started back. People were rushing out of theirhouses,somewithguns in theirhands.Inamoment thestreetwasfull.

Thesoldiersareslayingpeople,amanshouted.MenofBoston,wemustarmourselvesandfight.

It was a scene of wild confusion. They could get no farther on

Cornhill.The

crowd

began

to

pour

into

side

streets.

Rumors

were

flyingaboutthatmanyhadbeenkilledandwounded.AnhourorsolaterJackandSolomonwereseizedbyagroupofruffians.

HerearethedamnTories!oneofthemshouted.

Friendsomurderers!wasthecryofanother.

Leshangem!

SolomonimmediatelyknockedthemandownwhohadcalledthemToriesandseizedanotherand tossedhimso far in thecrowdas togiveitpause.

Idontmindbeinhung,heshouted,notif itsdoneproper,butnomankincallmeaTorylessenmyhandsaretied,withoutgittinhurt.AnifmyhandswastiedIddosomehollerin,nowyouheartome.

Amanbackinthecrowdletoutalaughasloudasthebrayingofanass.Othersfollowedhisexample.Thedangerwaspassed.Solomonshouted:


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I used to know Prestonwhen Iwere a scout inAmhersts armyfightin InjunsanFrenchmen,which theysmoren twentynotcheson the stock omy rifle an fourteen onmy pelt, anmy name is

SolomonBinkus

from

Albany,

New

York,

an

if

youll

excuse

us,

wellputferhumassoonaswekingiterwayconvenient.

They started forTheShipandAnchorwithanumberofmenandboysfollowingandtryingtotalkwiththem.

Ill tellye,Jack, theys troubleahead,saidSolomonas theymadetheirwaythroughthecrowdedstreets.

Manywere

saying

that

there

could

be

no

more

peace

with

England.

Inthemorningtheylearnedthatthreemenhadbeenkilledandfiveothers wounded by the soldiers. Squads of men and boys withloadedmusketsweremarchingintotownfromthecountry.

Jack and Solomon attended the townmeeting that day in the oldSouthMeetingHouse.ItwasaquietandorderlycrowdthatlistenedtothespeechesofJosiahQuincy,JohnHancockandSamuelAdams,

demandingcalmly

but

firmly

that

the

soldiers

be

forthwith

removed

fromthecity.ThefamousJohnHancockcutagreatfigureinBostonthose days. It is not surprising that Jack was impressed by hisgrandeur forhe had entered themeetinghouse in a scarlet velvetcap and ablue damask gown linedwith velvet and strode to theplatformwithadignityevenabovehisgarments.Ashefacedabouttheboydidnot fail tonoticeandadmire thewhite satinwaistcoatandwhitesilkstockingsandredmoroccoslippers.Mr.QuincymadeastatementwhichstucklikeaburinJackIronsmemoryofthatday

andperhaps

all

the

faster

because

he

did

not

quite

understand

it.

Thespeakersaid:Thedragonsteethhavebeensown.

Thechairmanasked if therewasanycitizenpresentwhohadbeenon the sceneatorabout the timeof the shooting.SolomonBinkusaroseandhelduphishandandwasasked togo to theministersroomandconferwiththecommittee.

Mr.JohnAdamscalledat the inn thateveningandannounced that

hewas

to

defend

Captain

Preston

and

would

require

the

help

of

Jack

andSolomonaswitnesses.Forthatreasontheyweredetainedsomedays inBostonand released finallyon thepromise to returnwhentheirserviceswererequired.


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41

They leftBostonbystageandoneevening inearlyApril, travelingafoot, they saw the familiarboneheads around the pasture landsabove Albanywhere the farmers had crowned their fence stakes

withthe

skeleton

heads

of

deer,

moose,

sheep

and

cattle

in

which

birdshad thehabitofbuilding theirnests. Ithadbeen thawing fordays,but thenighthad fallenclearandcold.Theyhad stoppedatthehouseofa settler somemilesnortheastofAlbany togetasledloadofSolomonspeltswhichhadbeen stretchedandhung there.Wearyofthebrittlesnow,theytook totheriveramileorsoabovethe little city, Solomon hauling his sled.Jack hadput on the newskateswhichhehadboughtinBenningtonwheretheyhadgonefora visitwith old friends. Theywere out on the clear ice, far from

eithershore,

when

they

heard

an

alarming

peal

of

river

thundera name which Binkus applied to a curious phenomenon often

accompanied by great danger to those on the rotted roof of theHudson.Thehiddenwaterhadbeenswelling.

Suddenlyithadmadearipinthegreaticevaultamilelongwithanoiseliketheexplosionofabarrelofpowder.Theriprannorthandsouth aboutmidstream. Theywere on thewest sheet and felt itwaverandsubsidetillithadfoundabearingontheriversurface.

Wemustgitoffoherequick,saidBinkus.Shesgoin tobreakup.

LetmehavethesledandassoonasIgetgoing,youhopon,saidJack.

Theboybeganskatingstraight toward theshore,drawing thesledanditsload,Solomonkickingoutbehindwithhisspikedbootsuntil

theywere

well

under

way.

They

heard

the

east

sheet

breaking

up

before theyhadmadehalf thedistance to safe footing.Then theirown began to crack into sections asbig as a tenacre lot,Mr.Binkussaid,anthenoisewaslikeabattle,butJackkeptagoinanmesettinlightanmymindapushinlikeascairtdeer.Waterwasfloodingover the icewhichhadbrokennear shore,but the skaterjumped thecrackbefore itwaswider thanamanshandand tookthesledwithhim.Theyreachedtheriversedgebeforetheicebeganheavingandtheretheslopedsnowhadbeenwetandfrozentorocks

andbushes,

so

they

were

able

to

make

their

way

through

it.

Now,wereeven,saidSolomonwhentheyhadhauledthesledupthe riverbankwhile he lookedback at the ice nowbreaking and


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42

beginning topileup,Idoneyoua favoranyouvedonemeone.Itsmyturnnext.

Thiswas

the

third

in

the

remarkable

series

of

adventures

which

cametothesemen.

TheyhadaheartywelcomeatthelittlehousenearTheKingsArms,where they sat untilmidnight telling of their adventures. In themidstofit,Jacksaidtohisfather:

Ihearda speaker say inBoston that thedragons teethhadbeensown.Whatdoesthatmean?

Itmeans thatwar iscoming, saidJohn Irons.Wemightaswellgetreadyforit.

Thesewords,comingfromhisfather,gavehimashockofsurprise.Hebegantothinkoftheeffectofwaronhisownfortunes.

III

Solomon senthis furs tomarketandwent toworkon the farmofJohn Irons and livedwith the family.Theboy returned to school.After thehayhadbeencutandstacked inmidsummer, theyweresummoned toBoston to testify in the trial ofPreston.They left inSeptembertakingwiththemadroveofhorses.

ItwillbegoodforJack,JohnIronshadsaidtohiswife.HellbethebetterpreparedforhisworkinPhiladelphianextfall.

Twoimportantlettershadarrivedthatsummer.OnefromBenjaminFranklin toJohn Irons,offeringJackachance to learn theprinterstrade inhisPhiladelphiashopandboardand lodging inhishome.Iftheboyisdisposedtomakeawiseimprovementofhistime,thegreatmanhadwritten,IshallseethathehasanopportunitytotakeacourseatourAcademy.IamsurehewouldbeahelpandcomforttoMrs. Franklin. She, I think,will love tomotherhim.Donotbeafraid tosendhimawayfromhome. Itwillhelphimalong toward

manhood.Iwas

much

impressed

by

his

letter

to

Miss

Margaret

Hare,whichhermotherhadthegoodnesstoshowme.Hehasafinespirit and a rare gift for expressing it. She and the girl wereconvincedby itsargument,but theColonelhimself isanobdurate


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ToryhebeingafavoriteoftheKing.Thegirl,nowverycharmingandmuchadmired, is, Ihappen toknow,deeply in lovewithyourson. Ihavepromisedher that, ifshewillwait forhim, Iwillbring

himover

in

good

time

and

act

as

your

vicar

at

the

wedding.

This,

she

and her mother are the more ready to do because of theirsuperstition that God has clearly indicated him as theman whowould bring her happiness and good fortune. I find that manyEuropeanwomenareapttoentertainandenjoysuperstitionandtobelieveinomensnottheonlydropofoldpaganbloodthatlingersintheirveins.Iamsending,bythisboat,somemorebooksforJacktoread.

Theother

letter

was

from

Margaret

Hare

to

the

boy,

in

which

she

hadsaid that theywereglad to learn thatheandMr.BinkuswerefriendsofCaptainPrestonand inclined tohelphim inhis trouble.SinceIreadyourletterIammoreinlovewithyouthanever,shehadwritten.Myfatherwaspleasedwithit.Hethinksthatallcauseof complaintwillbe removed.Until it is, Idonotaskyou tobeaTory,butonlytobepatient.

Jack and Solomonwere thewhole day getting their horses across

VanDeusens

ferry

and

headed

eastward

in

the

rough

road.

Mr.

BinkusworehishangeranoldDamascusbladeinheritedfromhisfatherand carried his long musket and an abundant store ofammunition;Jackworehis twopistols, in theuseofwhichhehadbecomemostexpert.

Whenthehorseshadgotthekinksworkedout,asSolomonputit,andwereatrifletired,theybrowsedalongquietlywiththemanandboyridingbeforeandbehind them.Byandby theystruck into the

twentymile

bush

beyond

the

valley

farms.

In

the

second

day

of

their

travel theypassedanAlbany tradergoing eastwith smallkegsofrum on a pack of horses and toward evening came to an Indianvillage.Theywerebothattheheadoftheherd.

Stop,saidSolomonastheysawthesmokeofthefiresahead.Wegottobehaveproper.

Heputhishandstohismouthandshoutedaloudhalloo,whichwas

quicklyanswered.

Then

two

old

men

came

out

to

him

and

the

talk

which followed in theMohawk dialectwas thus reportedby thescouttohiscompanion:


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IntheDa

in the days of poort richard

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