Part 2 (1/2)
Conrad made no complaint but quietly went with his captors. He recalled that Vuysen had said there was peace with the Indians but had added, in the words of an old chief, ”The rogues on both sides always make trouble.” Perhaps, after all, this was but a thieving expedition and they might adopt him as a member of the tribe, a thought which strangely enough brought comfort to the boy's heart. He loved the woods and did not love the Vuysens. The savages could not know this and so, though he had no thought of trying to escape, they bound him.
Although his bonds were uncomfortable he slept soundly, while Rodney, down in Virginia in his comfortable bed, pa.s.sed a restless night; all of which helps to prove that it does not always depend so much on what one has, as on what one thinks about it.
When Rodney came down to breakfast the next morning he was resolved to urge his father to make a pioneer home in the wonderful West he had heard so many tales about, out where there was plenty of big game and where there were broad acres to be had for the taking.
Not until he had nearly finished his breakfast did he screw up his courage to the point of carrying out his resolve. Then he said: ”Father, I've heard you say there is land out on the Ohio River which you can have because of your service in the last war. Why don't we settle on it? This place has nothing for us with the squire for an enemy, and not much at best.”
”You little know of the perils, my lad. Surely ye wouldna' ha' the mother an' little one killed by the savages? But I'm minded to say that a venture into the western part o' this colony is much to my liking this morning. From all I can learn a poor man in those parts is not so hedged aboot as here.”
Neither father nor son thought of the generally observed fact that when a poor man began to seek a home where land was cheap he usually became a pioneer with his face turned toward the West, the great longing for a better home luring him toward the richer lands said to lie beyond the mountains.
CHAPTER III
HOW RODNEY AND ANGUS BECAME FRIENDS
”Say, Sim, what's the story you's goin' to tell, the one yer cousin told ye?”
”Yes, tell us about it, Sim.”
The pupils of the cabin school were having recess. A few weeks before David Allison had moved his family up to Charlottesville from the ”tide-water country,” and had opened this school.
”Well, ye see--” began Sim.
”Yes, we see all right, but thar ain't much fun lookin' at you gittin'
ready to tell a story. You sure are slower'n our ol' n.i.g.g.e.r, Absalom.”
”Give Sim a chance!”
Angus MacGregor spoke as one with authority and his stockily built body looked capable of enforcing the order. Sim proceeded.
”As I was sayin', Bill, that's my cousin, he lives over in the Shenandoah valley two looks and a yell from the Jumpin'-off Place, was out fis.h.i.+n' with another feller. When they was goin' home an' come out inter the clearin' roun' Fin Anderson's cabin, they see an ol' Injun, Bowlegs they call him, snoopin' roun'. They hid an' watched perceedin's. When ol' Bowlegs found no one was ter home what's he do but walk right in and bring out a jug o' corn liquor an' set right thar an' fill his gullet. Then the ol' varmint laid down fer a snooze.”
”Oughter tarred an' feathered the ol' cuss,” said Angus.
”That's jes' what Bill thought, but they didn't have no tar, let alone feathers. But Fin Anderson's a curis feller, an' Bill remembered that when he went out inter that country he toted along a feather bed; 'lowed he wanted somethin' different to sleep on ter home than he had in ther woods. When Bill thought o' that feather bed he jes' sithed fer tar, when he'd make a turkey gobbler outer Bowlegs. Well, while they's rummagin' roun' ther cabin they found some wild honey Fin had brought in, so they took that an' daubed ther ol' feller from head ter heel and then rolled him in the feathers.”
”Kinder rough on Fin's feather bed.”
”Oh, he'd sure enough lay it to the Injun. After they got back home an' told the story some o' the fellers 'lowed as how they'd go over an' give Bowlegs a lickin' ter boot. Well, when they got in sight o'
the ol' rascal, he was jes' soberin' up, sittin' thar rubbin' his eyes. 'Bout that time he seen ther feathers stickin' out all over him an' he let out a whoop an' went tearin' off through the brush, sheddin' feathers at every jump like an ol' settin' hen scared off'n her nest.”
”They oughter licked the ol' redskin; they're all thieves,” said Angus with an important air.
”He stole the liquor but it looks like some one else stole the honey and feathers.”
All eyes turned toward the speaker who had joined the group un.o.bserved. He was Rodney Allison.
The face of Angus turned red as a beet. Here was this upstart new boy with an air of questioning his authority. By means of Angus' ability to give any boy in the neighbourhood a sound drubbing if necessary he had become the recognized leader. Evidently this new boy needed to be shown his proper place.