In the Days of Poor Richard | Page 5

see why they want to be bothered with women," the boy
remarked.
"Hostiges!" Solomon exclaimed. "Makes 'em feel safer. Grab 'em when
they kin. If overtook by a stouter force they're in shape fer a dicker. The
chief stands up an' sings like a bird--'bout the moon an' the stars an' the
brooks an' the rivers an' the wrongs o' the red man, but it wouldn't be
wuth the song o' a barn swaller less he can show ye that the wimmen
are all right. If they've been treated proper, it's the same as proved. Ye
let 'em out o' the bear trap which it has often happened. But you hear to
me, when they go off this way it's to kill an' grab an' hustle back with
the booty. They won't stop at butcherin'!"
"I'm afraid my folks are in danger," said the boy as he changed color.
"Er mebbe Peter Boneses'--'cordin' to the way they go. We got to cut
eround 'em an' plow straight through the bush an' over Cobble Hill an'
swim the big creek an' we'll beat 'em easy."
It was a curious, long, loose stride, the knees never quite straightened,
with which the scout made his way through the forest. It covered
ground so swiftly that the boy had, now and then, to break into a
dog-trot in order to keep along with the old woodsman. They kept their
pace up the steep side of Cobble Hill and down its far slope and the
valley beyond to the shore of the Big Creek.
"I'm hot 'nough to sizzle an' smoke when I tech water," said the scout as
he waded in, holding his rifle and powder-horn in his left hand above
the creek's surface.
They had a few strokes of swimming at mid-stream but managed to
keep their powder dry.
"Now we've got jest 'nough hoppin' to keep us from gittin' foundered,"
said Solomon, as he stood on the farther shore and adjusted his pack.

"It ain't more'n a mile to your house."
They hurried on, reaching the rough valley road in a few minutes.
"Now I'll take the bee trail to your place," said the scout. "You cut
ercrost the medder to Peter Boneses' an' fetch 'em over with all their
grit an' guns an' ammunition."
Solomon found John Irons and five of his sons and three of his
daughters digging potatoes and pulling tops in a field near the house.
The sky was clear and the sun shining warm. Solomon called Irons
aside and told him of the approaching Indians.
"What are we to do?" Irons asked.
"Send the women an' the babies back to the sugar shanty," said
Solomon. "We'll stay here 'cause if we run erway the Boneses'll git
their ha'r lifted. I reckon we kin conquer 'em."
"How?"
"Shoot 'em full o' meat. They must 'a' traveled all night. Them Injuns is
tired an' hungry. Been three days on the trail. No time to hunt! I'll
hustle some wood together an' start a fire. You bring a pair o' steers
right here handy. We'll rip their hides off an' git the reek o' vittles in the
air soon as God'll let us."
"My wife can use a gun as well as I can and I'm afraid she won't go,"
said Irons.
"All right, let her hide somewhar nigh with the guns," said Solomon.
"The oldest gal kin go back with the young 'uns. Don't want no skirts in
sight when they git here."
Mrs. Irons hid in the shed with the loaded guns.
Ruth Irons and the children set out for the sugar bush. The steers were
quickly led up and slaughtered. As a hide ripper, Solomon was a man
of experience. The loins of one animal were cooking on turnspits and a

big pot of beef, onions and potatoes boiling over the fire when Jack
arrived with the Bones family.
"It smells good here," said Jack.
"Ayes! The air be gittin' the right scent on it," said Solomon, as he was
ripping the hide off the other steer. "I reckon it'll start the sap in their
mouths. You roll out the rum bar'l an' stave it in. Mis' Bones knows
how to shoot. Put her in the shed with yer mother an' the guns, an' take
her young 'uns to the sugar shanty 'cept Isr'el who's big 'nough to help."
A little later Solomon left the fire. Both his eye and his ear had caught
"sign"--a clamor among the moose birds in the distant bush and a flock
of pigeons flying from the west.
"Don't none o' ye stir till I come back," he said, as he turned into the
trail. A few rods away he lay down with his ear to the ground and could
distinctly hear the tramp