Part 20 (1/2)
Laying his hand in a fatherly way upon the shoulder of the youth, he remarked:
”You will believe me, my son, when I tell you I am surprised.”
”Yes, I offen s'prise folks.”
”What is your name, please?”
Jethro answered all his questions truthfully and respectfully, so that in a few minutes the gentleman gained a fair understanding of the incidents in which the colored youth had been involved during the past few days, and which placed him in his present extraordinary situation.
”I have seen a great many flatboats pa.s.s down the river,” remarked Mr.
Finley, at the close of the interesting narrative, ”but this is the first time I ever saw any go up stream.”
”Yes, I tinked I'se begun de fas.h.i.+ne.”
”But why is it you are at rest?”
”'Cause de anchor am drapped overboard.”
”But don't you notice that the wind is blowing again, and the boat will move readily.”
Jethro had not observed the fact until his friend reminded him of it.
Then he made haste to hoist the anchor, and once more the flatboat resumed its singular voyage up the Ohio.
CHAPTER XX.
WAR'S STRATEGY.
Even after considerable more conversation than has been recorded, Jethro Juggens and the missionary had much to learn of each other.
The youth was especially puzzled to understand how it was that almost immediately following the flight of the Shawanoe in the extremity of panic, the good man should have paddled out to the flatboat in the canoe that had been so hurriedly deserted.
”That was a curious circ.u.mstance,” said Mr. Finley, musingly; ”sit down beside me and I will tell you about it.”
”I's bery glad to do so,” replied Jethro, placing himself at a respectful distance from the good man, ”if you don't tink I had better keep a lookout dat we don't run by the block-house afore we knows it.”
”My dear boy, we are still a long way from that. Have no fear. From what you have told me I see you understand that sad times are coming between the white people and the Indians of this region.”
”Yes, sah.”
”I and many of my friends have been expecting it for weeks and months past, and have done all we could to prevent the dreadful state of things that is now at hand.”
”How was it you tried to prevent it?” asked Jethro, feeling that he ought to say something when the missionary paused; ”was yo' idee to get all de Injuns togeder, tie' em fast to de trees, and den let the trees fall down on 'em and mash 'em?”
”No, we had a better plan than that,” gravely replied the missionary, making sure the youth did not see the flitting smile; ”I went among the different tribes and talked with the chiefs and leaders, and strove in every way possible to show them not only the wickedness of going upon the war-path, but that in the end they themselves must be the chief sufferers.”
Jethro Juggens turned his head and stared at the speaker in amazement.