Ella Barnwell | Page 7

at an Injen myself; but thank the Lord,
they warn't thar; and so I ventered on, with long Nance here, to see
whar they mought be."
"Well, Isaac," returned the one addressed as colonel, "I don't doubt
your being a brave lad, and I've had some opportunity o' seeing you
tried; but being is how thar's no Indians to shoot just now, I'll ax you to
show your good qualities in another way. This young man's been badly
wounded, and ef you'll give him a little extra care, you'll put me under

obligations which I'll be happy to repay whensomever needed."
"It don't need them thar inducements you've just mentioned, colonel, to
rouse all my sympathies for a wounded stranger. Rely on't, he shan't
suffer for want o' attention."
"Rightly said, lad; rightly said; and so I leave him in your care. Tender
my regards to your family, for I must be off, and can't stay to see
them." Then turning to the wounded man, he grasped his hand and said:
"Stranger, thar's something about you I like; I don't say it of every man
I meet; and so you may put it down for a compliment or not, just as you
please. Give me your name?"
"Algernon Reynolds."
"Algernon Reynolds, I hope we shall meet again, though in a different
manner from our introduction; but whether or no, ef you ever need the
assistance of either Betsey or myself, just make it known, and we'll do
our best for you. Good bye, sir--good bye, Isaac!" and without waiting
a reply, the speaker sprung suddenly behind a cluster of bushes near
which the party stood, and the next moment was lost to view in the
gathering darkness.
"A great man, that thar, sir!--a powerful great man," observed Isaac,
gazing with admiration after the retreating form of the hunter. "Always
doing good deeds, and never looking for pay nor thanks; may God give
him four-score and ten."
"Amen to that!" returned Reynolds. "But pray tell me his name."
"And you don't know him?"
"I do not."
"And you didn't inquire his name?"
"I did not."
"And ef you had, sir, ten to one but he'd a given you a fictitious one, to

keep clar o' your surprise and extra thanks. Why that, sir, war the great
white hunter, Colonel Daniel Boone."
"Indeed!" exclaimed Reynolds, in no feigned surprise--"the very man I
have so longed to behold; for his fame has already extended far beyond
the Alleghanies. But come, friend Isaac, my wound grows painful; my
exertions thus far have weakened me exceedingly; and with your
permission, I will proceed to the cottage. Ah! I feel myself growing
faint--fainter--fa-i-n-t;" and he sunk senseless into the other's arms;
who, raising him, apparently without an effort, bore him into the house.
[Footnote 1: However barbarous such a proceeding may appear to
thousands in the present day of civilization and refinement, we can
assure them, on the authority of numerous historians of that period, that
it was a general custom with the early settlers of the west, to take the
scalp of an Indian slain by their hand, whenever opportunity presented.]
[Footnote 2: Backwoods name for a panther.]

CHAPTER II.
NEW CHARACTERS.
When young Reynolds again regained his senses, it was some minutes
before he could sufficiently recover from the confusion of ideas
consequent upon his mishap, to follow up the train of events that had
occurred to place him in his present situation. His first recollection was
of the attack made upon him by the Indians; and it required
considerable argument with himself, to prove conclusively, to his own
mind, that he was not even now a captive to the savage foe. Gradually,
one by one, each event recurred to his mind, until he had traced himself
to the moment of his swooning in the arms of a tall, ungainly young
man, called Isaac; but of what, had taken place since--where he now
was--or what length of time had intervened--he had not the remotest
idea. He was lying on his back, upon a rude, though by no means
uncomfortable, bed; and, to the best of his judgment, within the four

walls of some cabin--though to him but two of the walls were
visible--owing to the quantity of skins of the buffalo, bear, and deer,
which were suspended around the foot and front of his pallet. He was
undressed; and, as he judged, upon applying his hand to the wounded
part, had been treated with care; for it came in contact with a nicely
arranged bandage of cloth, which was even now moist with some
spirituous liquid. But what perplexed him most, was the peculiar light,
with the aid of which, though dim, he could discern every object so
distinctly. It could not proceed from a candle--it