Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-05-12
CHAPTER VI.


new commander and made acquaint-
ance with Lieutenant Fitzhugh Bever-
ley, who just then was experimenting
the work of cleaning up an old cannon
In the fort and mending some breaks
in the stockade.
Helm formed a great liking for the
big Frenchman, whose breezy freedom
of manner and expansive good humor
struck him favorably from the begin
ming. NJ Roussillon's ability to speak
English with considerable ease helped
the friendship along, no doubt; at all
events their first interview ended with
q hearty show of good fellowship, and
as time passed they became almost in
separable companions during N. Rous-
sillon's periods of rest from his trading
excursions among the Indians. They
played cards and brewed hot drinks
over which they told marvellous stories,
the latest one invariably surprising all
fits predecessors.
Helm had an eye to business, and
turned NJ Roussillons knowledge of
the Indians to valuable account. SO
that he soon had very pleasant rela-
tions with most Of the tribes within
reach Of his agents. This gave feel
Ing Of great security to the people of
Vincennes. They pursued their mar
row agricultural activities with excel
lent results and redoubled those social
gayeties which, even in hut and cabin
under all the adverse conditions OF eX-
treme frontier life, were dear TO the
volatile and geuial French tempera
ment.
Lieutenant Beverley found much to
interest him in the quaint town, but
the piece de resistance was Oncle
Jazon, who proved to be both fascinat-
ing and unmanagcable-a hard nut to
crack, yet possessing n Kernel aDSo-
lutely original in flavor. Beverley vis-
tied him one evening in his hut-it
might better be called den-a Curl
ously built thing, with walls of vertical
poles set In a qualrangular trench dug
In the ground, and rooted with grass.
Inside and out it was plastered with
clay, and the floor of dried mud was as
smooth and hard as concrete paving.
In one end there was n wide fireplace
grimy with SCOT in the other q mere
peephole for q window; wooden
bench, q bed of skins and two or three
stools were barely visible in the glocm.
In the doorway Oncle JaZon sat whit
Ting a slender billet Of hickory into
ramrod for his long filntlock American
rife.
maybe ye know Simon kenton."
said the old man, after he and Beverley
had conversed for awhile. Seeing that
you are from Kentucky-ehp
Eyes, / DO know him well; he's
warm personal friend of mine" said
Beverley with quick interest, for it
surprised him that Oncle Jazon should
know anything about Kenton. "Do you
know him, 81. Jazon|
Oncle Jazon wiBked conceitedly and
sighted along his rudimentary ramrod
to see IL 1t was straight, then, puciier-
ing his lips as IL on the point Of whis-
Ting, made an affirmative noise quite
impossible to spell.
"Well, I'm glad you are acquainted
with Kenton," said Beverley. Where
did you ana he come togetherG'
Oncle Jazon chuckled remlniscently
and scratched the skinless, cicatrlzcd
spot where his scalp had once -four
ished.
"Oh, several places" he answered
"Ye see thet hair a-hangln' there on
the wallY" He pointed ut dry wisp
dangling under peg In log barely
visible by the bad light "Well, thets
my scalp. He, he, he! lie snickered
as IL the fact were most enjoyable
Joke. "Simon Kcnton can tell ye about
tEet little affair. The Indians thought
/ was dead, and they took my hair; but
I wasn't dead. / was just a-givin' 'cn
q possum act When they was gone
got up from where I was a-layin' and
trotted off. My head was sore, and.
ventrebleu. but I was mad! He, he.
her'
All this time he spoke In French,
and the English but poorly pQraphras-
es his odd turns OF expression. His
grlnaces and grunts cannot even be
limited.
1t was long story, as Beverley re-
ceivcd It, told scrappily, but with GER
tain rude art In the end Oncle Jazon
said with unctuous self satisfaction:
accidents will happen. l got my
chance at thet Indian who skinned my
head, and Jcs' took bead on i'm with
my old rifle can't shoot much, never
could, but happened to hit i'm square
In the lef' eye, what / shot at, and 1t
was a hundred yards Down he tum-
blcs, and / runs to i'm and finds my
same old scalp a-hangin' TO his belt.
Well, I lifted off his hair with my
knife and united mine from the belt,
and then had both scalps-he, he, he!
Ye ask Simon Kenton when ye sec
i'm. lie was along at the same time,
pnd they made i'm run the ga'ntiet and
pretty nigh beat the life out OF i'm.
Ventrebleug'
Twilight and moonlight were blend
Ing softly when Beverley, on his way
back to the fort. departing from di-
rect course, went along the rivers side
southwark TO have a few moments Of
reflective strolling within reach OF the
waters pleasant murmur and the
towns indefinite evening stir. Rich
bWtetltos, lUe pllt OI carry uutuilluf
was on the air blowing softly out of n
lilac west and singing in the willow
fringe that hung here and there over
the bank.
On the farther side OF the rivers wide
how, swollen by recent heavy rains
Beverley saw II plrogue, in one end Of
which dark figure swayed to the
strokes Of paddle. The slender and
shallow little craft was bobbing on the
choppy waves and taking zigzag
course nm)ng 1oating logs and masses
Of lighter driftwood while making slow
but certain hcadway toward tho hlther
bank.
Beverley took bit OF punk and
flint and steel from his pocket, rcllt his
pipe and stood watching the sklllful
boatman conduct his somewhat dan
RerOus voyage diagonally against the
rolling current. II was shifting, hide
and seek scene, It's features appearing
and disappearing with the action Of the
waves and the doubtful light reflected
from fading clouds and sky. Now ami
again the man stood up IN his siittisii
piroguc, balancing himself with care, TO