The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-02-24
CHAPTER Ill.

.ad Kentucky In boats and reached, Al
ter encountering innumerable perlis. tu'
vicinity Of the new settlements Lea'
Ing his comrades to refresh themselves
sfter nights and days Of toll and DANGER
oar hero took his rifle and sailed forth
t, explore the country little and learn
how near they might he to BoOnesbor-
ough and Harrodsburg, when he accl-
dentslly became party to the scene
between R0saithe Aston and lie Bland,
Allan was the son of wealthy farm
eF and received a very liberal education.
Naturally bold and adventurous. he teit
4 strong repugnance to any OF the learn
ed professions. He longed for life OF
activity. Accounts were daily reaching
Ohio through various channels. OF the
offerings and romantic adventures OF
Daniel Boone, Benjamin Logan. John
Harrod and other pioneers: and those re-
msrkable stories made Allan conceive
the bold design Of penetrating to that
wild region. to share in the excitement
sad danger Of a backwoodsman's life.
This resolution being formed and a
plan Of operation matured. the requisite
material, ia the shape Of enterprising
young men, was speedily found to CO.
operate with him, and the periious under
taxing was achieved.
As Allan walked toward Boonesbor-
"ugh with It's daring founder he could
not refrain from observing him with deep
Interest; and he truly appeared to him
the most remarkable man of the age; for
he had explored alone the mighty for
eats of Kentucky. Drawing singly the fury
OF the exasperated sayages, who follow
Ell his footsteps day and night to de-
stroy him and prevent him from carry
lag back to his countrymen the history
OF the most delightful country under
heaven. But thus far he had escaped
the deadly hostility of the willy saw
age, and the man of sleepless nights and
weary days. ordained by God to carry
life and civilization into the distant will
1erness, now stood beside our hero with
firm foot and lofty brow
When they reached BoOnesborough
Norwood paused to examine the manner
la which it was constructed. 1t con-
sisted Of dozen cabins built of heavy
logs, ingeniously interlaced at the ends,
aad separated from each other by par
ttOns Of the same material. These cab
las formed one side of the fort, being
highest On the outside, the roofs inclin-
Ing inward. Strong stockades were rails
ed around these at suitable distance
aud in the angles of the cabins block
houses OF the most substantial kind were
erected. These projected about twenty
iaches beyond the outer walls of the
cal n nd or nlrad -
provided with loopholes. Allan. after
making these observations. remarked
that the whole must have been the work
of considerable labor
You are right, young man. and it was
not only work Of much labor, but a
work often interrupted by sudden at
tacks of the savages. 1t reminded me of
Nehemiah repairing the walls of Jeru-
salem, when his workmen wrought with
one hand and held the spear with the
other" replied the pioneer; and thea led
the way to large cute of slabs. upon
which he struck few blows with the
btft his ride Directly footsteps were
heard and a voice asked:
'Who dari''
ut Is one Of our colored fellows" re-
marked Boone to Allan. and then re-
piled ito the negro's reasonable inquiry:
Tit is me, Andrew
al doesn't know any SIGH white fei-
Ier." was the immediate response.
Come. don't keep us waiting: hurry ;"
rejoined Boone
"Dat you, Massa Boone?" asked An
drew, in>mere respectful tone.
The forester replied that it was: the
negro opened the door. and the parties
entered the Enclosure Allan glancd at
Andrew while he was closing; the gate,
aud perceived that he was considerably
advanced In life. his woody hair being
gray with age, though his figure was moi
bowed by the weight of years.
"a faithful, but rather eccentric fell
low is Andrew" observed Capta;n
Boone. He then lifted the rude latch
and ushered the young hunter into his
cabin. A respectable looking female met
him on the threshold whom he intro
duced to Allan as Mrs. Boone. A young
woman OF eighteen or twenty he pre-
scented as his daughter Elizabeth. Nor.
wood had entertained hope that the
maiden whom he had seen in the morn
Tag might prove to be the daughter of
the famous pioneer, but when his gaze
rested up0n, Elizabeth Boone, although
she was fair. he could not so far master
his feelings as to realize no disappoint-
ment at the discovery. A lad of about
fifteen years Of age was cleaning the
tube of a rife. and was the forester's
son.
Captain Boone Informed his family
tnat his guest, who was from the State
OF Ohio, had come to examine the conn
try. and hoped he would receive sucb
hospitality as their poor dwelling eopld
anord; to which Mrs. Boone responded
10 an appropriate and kindly manner
and set about making preparations for
dinner. AID
While the meal was being prepared.
Ann proceeded to relate the particn-
lars OF the mornings adventure To which
has. host listened with earnest attention.
Did you hear any portion Of the CON
versatlon that passed between the young
woman and the Erenchman?" he asked.
am quite certain that Z heard the
latter refer to some danger of an immi-
nent and pressing kindssAat menaced this
settlement, or the neighboring one"
ana you say. moreover, that he wish
ed TO extort a promise of some kind
from herT continued Boone.
1t was that which caused me to in
terfere in her behalf: and the promise
OF secrecy | doubt not had reference
20 the danger which threatens you," re-