Erskine Dale: Pioneer

Chapter 8

Dave talked to the lad about the enormity of his offense, but to Dave he was inclined to defend himself and his action. Next morning, however, when the party started back to Red Oaks, Erskine felt a difference in the atmosphere that made him uneasy. Barbara alone seemed unchanged, and he was quick to guess that she had not been told of the incident. Hugh was distinctly distant and surly for another reason as well. He had wanted to ask young Grey to become one of their party and his father had decisively forbidden himfor another reason too than his influence over Hugh: Grey and his family were Tories and in high favor with Lord Dunmore.

As yet Dave had made no explanation or excuse for his young friend, but he soon made up his mind that it would be wise to offer the best extenuation as soon as possible; which was simply that the lad knew no better, had not yet had the chance to learn, and on the rage of impulse had acted just as he would have done among the Indians, whose code alone he knew.

The matter came to a head shortly after their arrival at Red Oaks when Colonel Dale, Harry, Hugh, and Dave were on the front porch. The boy was standing behind the box-hedge near the steps and Barbara had just appeared in the doorway.

Well, what was the trouble? Colonel Dale had just asked.

He tried to stab Grey unarmed and without warning, said Hugh shortly.

At the moment, the boy caught sight of Barbara. Her eyes, filled with scorn, met his in one long, sad, withering look, and she turned noiselessly back into the house. Noiselessly too he melted into the garden, slipped down to the river-bank, and dropped to the ground. He knew at last what he had done. Nothing was said to him when he came back to the house and that night he scarcely opened his lips. In silence he went to bed and next morning he was gone.

The mystery was explained when Barbara told how the boy too must have overheard Hugh.

Hes hurt, said Dave, and hes gone home.

On foot? asked Colonel Dale incredulously.

He can trot all day and make almost as good time as a horse.

Why, hell starve.

Dave laughed:

He could get there on roots and herbs and wild honey, but hell have fresh meat every day. Still, Ill have to try to overtake him. I must go, anyhow.

And he asked for his horse and went to get ready for the journey. Ten minutes later Hugh and Harry rushed joyously to his room.

Were going with you! they cried, and Dave was greatly pleased. An hour later all were ready, and at the last moment Firefly was led in, saddled and bridled, and with a leading halter around his neck.

Harry, said Colonel Dale, carry your cousin my apologies and give him Firefly on condition that he ride him back some day. Tell him this home is histhe speaker halted, but went on gravely and firmlywhenever he pleases.

And give him my love, said Barbara, holding back her tears.

At the river-gate they turned to wave a last good-by and disappeared in the woods. At that hour the boy far over in the wilderness ahead of them had cooked a squirrel that he had shot for his breakfast and was gnawing it to the bones. Soon he rose and at a trot sped on toward his home beyond the Cumberland. And with him, etched with acid on the steel of his brain, sped two imagesBarbaras face as he last saw it and the face of young Dane Grey.

The boys tracks were easily to be seen in the sandy road, and from them Dave judged that he must have left long before daylight. And he was travelling rapidly. They too went as fast as they could, but Firefly led badly and delayed them a good deal. Nobody whom they questioned had laid eyes on the boy, and apparently he had been slipping into the bushes to avoid being seen. At sunset Dave knew that they were not far behind him, but when darkness hid the lads tracks Dave stopped for the night. Again Erskine had got the start by going on before day, and it was the middle of the forenoon before Dave, missing the tracks for a hundred yards, halted and turned back to where a little stream crossed the road and dismounted leading his horse and scrutinizing the ground.

Ah, he said, just what I expected. He turned off here to make a bee-line for the fort. Hes not far away now. An hour later he dismounted again and smiled: Were pretty close now.

Meanwhile Harry and Hugh were getting little lessons in woodcraft. Dave pointed out where the lad had broken a twig climbing over a log, where the loose covering of another log had been detached when he leaped to it, and where he had entered the creek, the toe of one moccasin pointing down-stream.

Then Dave laughed aloud:

Hes seen us tracking him and hes doubled on us and is tracking us. I expect hes looking at us from somewhere around here. And he hallooed at the top of his voice, which rang down the forest aisles. A war-whoop answered almost in their ears that made the blood leap in both the boys. Even Dave wheeled with c****d rifle, and the lad stepped from behind a bush scarcely ten feet behind them.

Well, by gum, shouted Dave, fooled us, after all.

A faint grin of triumph was on the lads lips, but in his eyes was a waiting inquiry directed at Harry and Hugh. They sprang forward, both of them with their hands outstretched:

Were sorry!

A few minutes later Hugh was transferring his saddle from Firefly to his own horse, which had gone a trifle lame. On Firefly, Harry buckled the boys saddle and motioned for him to climb up. The bewildered lad turned to Dave, who laughed:

Its all right.

Hes your horse, cousin, said Harry. My father sent him to you and says his home is yours whenever you please. And Barbara sent her love.

At almost the same hour in the great house on the James the old negress was carrying from the boys room to Colonel Dale in the library a kingly deed that the lad had left behind him. It was a rude scrawl on a sheet of paper, signed by the boys Indian name and his totem marka buffalo pierced by an arrow.

It make me laugh. I have no use. I give hole dam plantashun Barbara.

Thus read the scrawl!