The Adair County news., 1922-08-29
SYNOPSIS


CHAPTER Ito the Kentucky wilder
ness outpost commanded by Jerome SAM
ders, in the time Immediately preceding
the Revolution, comes white boy flee
ing from a tribe of Shawnees by whom
he had been captured and adopted as q
son of the chief, Kahtoo. He is given
shelter and attracts the favorable atten-
ton Of Dave Yandell, leader among
the settlers.
CHAPTER 1.-THE boy warns his new
friends of the coming of a Shawnee war
party. The fort is attacked, and only
party of virginians. The leader of these
is fatally wounded, but in his dying mo-
ments recognizes the fugitive youth as
his son.
CHAPTER II1.-At Red Oaks, planta-
ton on the James river, Virginia Colonel
Dale's home, the boy appears with a
message for the colonel, who after read
ing it introduces the bearer to his daugh-
ter Barbara as her cousin, Erskine Dale.
CHAPTER W.-Erskine meets two
other cousins, Harry Dale and Hugh
Willoughby.
CHAPTER V.-Dueling rapiers on a
tention. He takes his first fencing lesson,
from Hugh. Dave Yandell, at Williams
burg on business, visits Red Oaks.
CHAPTER vI-At the county fair at
Williamsburg Erskine meets q youth,
Dane Grey, and there at once arises
distinct antAgonism between them. Grey,
in liquor, insults Erskine, and the latter,
for the moment all Indian, draws his
knife. Yanden disarms him. Ashamed
OF his conduct in the affair with Grey,
Hskine leaves Red Oaks that night, to
return to the wilderness Yandell, with
Harry and Hugh, who have been per-
mitted to visit the Sanders fort, overtake
him. At the plantation the boy had left
note in which he gave the property,
which IL his as the son of Colonel Dale's
older brother, to Barbara.
Before Barbara was sent home
Hugh and Dane Grey, dressed with
great care, came In, with an exaggera-
tion Of dignity and politeness that
fooled few others than themselves.
Hugh, catching Barbara's sad and re-
proachful glance, did not dare go near
her, but Dane made straight for her
side when he entered the room-and
bowed with great gallantry. To the
boy he paid no attention whatever,
and the latter, fired with indignation
and hate, turned hastily away. But in
a corner unseen he could not withhold
watching the two closely, and he felt
vaguely that he was watching fright
ened bird and a snake. The little
girls self-cOmpOSure seemed quite to
vanish, her face flushed, her eyes were
downcast, and her whole attitude had
a mature embarrassment that was far
beyond her years. The lad wondered
and was deeply disturbed. The half
overlooking and wholly contemptuous
glance that Grey had shot over his
head had stung him life knife-cut, so
like an actual knife indeed that with
out knowing it his right hand was
then fumbling at his belt. Dave too
was noticing and so was Barbara's
mother and her father, who knew very
well that this smooth, suave. bold
young daredevil was deliberately lead
ing Hugh into all the mischief he
could find. Nor did he leave the girls
side until she, was taken home. Frs
kline, too, left then and went back to
the tavern and up to his room. Then
with his knife in his belt he went
down again and waited on the porch.
Already guests were coming back from
the party and it was not long before
he saw Hugh and Dane Grey half
stumbling up the steps. Erskine rose.
Grey confronted the lad DULY for a
moment and then Strengthened.
Here's anuzzer one wants to fight, /"
he said thickly. my young friend, /
will Oblige you anywhere with any
thing, at any time-except tonight.
You must regard THAT as great honor,
for j am not accustomed to fight with
savages."
And he waved the boy away With
such an insolent gesture that the lad
knowing no other desire with an en-
emy than to kill him in any way pos
sible, snatched his knife from his beh.
he heard cry of surprise and horror
from Hugh and huge hand caught
his upraised wrist
"Put it back ~ said Dave sternly.
The dazed boy obeyed and Dave led
him upstairs.
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 ans
other reason as well. He had wanted
TO ask young Grey to become one OF
their party and his father had deci-
siFely forbidden him-for another rea-
son, 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 expIana-
tion or excuse for his young friend,
but he soon made up his mind that 1t
would be wise to offer the best extenu-
alton 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.