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intention of accompanying the travelers； he had constructed a raft for them
and their horses。
Joe laughed when he saw the dozen two…foot logs fastened together； upon which
a rude shack had been erected for shelter。 This slight protection from sun and
storm was all the brothers would have on their long journey。
Joe noted； however； that the larger raft had been prepared with some thought
for the comfort of the girls。 The floor of the little hut was raised so that
the waves which broke over the logs could not reach it。 Taking a peep into
the structure； Joe was pleased to see that Nell and Kate would be comfortable；
even during a storm。 A buffalo robe and two red blankets gave to the interior
a cozy； warm look。 He observed that some of the girls' luggage was already on
board。
〃When'll we be off？〃 he inquired。
〃Sun…up；〃 answered Lynn； briefly。
〃I'm glad of that。 I like to be on the go in the early morning；〃 said Joe；
cheerfully。
〃Most folks from over Eastways ain't in a hurry to tackle the river；〃 replied
Lynn； eyeing Joe sharply。
〃It's a beautiful river； and I'd like to sail on it from here to where it
ends； and then come back to go again；〃 Joe replied； warmly。
〃In a hurry to be a…goin'？ I'll allow you'll see some slim red devils； with
feathers in their hair； slipping among the trees along the bank； and mebbe
you'll hear the ping which's made when whistlin' lead hits。 Perhaps you'll
want to be back here by termorrer sundown。〃
〃Not I；〃 said Joe； with his short； cool laugh。
The old frontiersman slowly finished his task of coiling up a rope of wet
cowhide； and then； producing a dirty pipe； he took a live ember from the fire
and placed it on the bowl。 He sucked slowly at the pipe…stem； and soon puffed
out a great cloud of smoke。 Sitting on a log； he deliberately surveyed the
robust shoulders and long； heavy limbs of the young man； with a keen
appreciation of their symmetry and strength。 Agility； endurance and courage
were more to a borderman than all else； a new…comer on the frontier was always
〃sized…up〃 with reference to these 〃points；〃 and respected in proportion to
the measure in which he possessed them。
Old Jeff Lynn； riverman； hunter； frontiersman； puffed slowly at his pipe while
he mused thus to himself： 〃Mebbe I'm wrong in takin' a likin' to this
youngster so sudden。 Mebbe it's because I'm fond of his sunny…haired lass； an'
ag'in mebbe it's because I'm gettin' old an' likes young folks better'n I onct
did。 Anyway； I'm kinder thinkin； if this young feller gits worked out； say fer
about twenty pounds less； he'll lick a whole raft…load of wild…cats。〃
Joe walked to and fro on the logs； ascertained how the raft was put together；
and took a pull on the long； clumsy steering…oar。 At length he seated himself
beside Lynn。 He was eager to ask questions； to know about the rafts； the
river； the forest； the Indianseverything in connection with this wild life；
but already he had learned that questioning these frontiersmen is a sure means
of closing their lips。
〃Ever handle the long rifle？〃 asked Lynn； after a silence。
〃Yes；〃 answered Joe； simply。
〃Ever shoot anythin'？〃 the frontiersman questioned； when he had taken four or
five puffs at his pipe。
〃Squirrels。〃
〃Good practice； shootin' squirrels；〃 observed Jeff； after another silence；
long enough to allow Joe to talk if he was so inclined。 〃Kin ye hit onesay；
a hundred yards？〃
〃Yes； but not every time in the head；〃 returned Joe。 There was an apologetic
tone in his answer。
Another interval followed in which neither spoke。 Jeff was slowly pursuing his
line of thought。 After Joe's last remark he returned his pipe to his pocket
and brought out a tobacco…pouch。 He tore off a large portion of the weed and
thrust it into his mouth。 Then he held out the little buckskin sack to Joe。
〃Hev' a chaw；〃 he said。
To offer tobacco to anyone was absolutely a borderman's guarantee of
friendliness toward that person。
Jeff expectorated half a dozen times； each time coming a little nearer the
stone he was aiming at； some five yards distant。 Possibly this was the
borderman's way of oiling up his conversational machinery。 At all events； he
commenced to talk。
〃Yer brother's goin' to preach out here； ain't he？ Preachin' is all right；
I'll allow； but I'm kinder doubtful about preachin' to redskins。 Howsumever；
I've knowed Injuns who are good fellows； and there's no tellin'。 What are ye
goin' in ferfarmin'？〃
〃No； I wouldn't make a good farmer。〃
〃Jest cum out kinder wild like； eh？〃 rejoined Jeff； knowingly。
〃I wanted to come West because I was tired of tame life。 I love the forest； I
want to fish and hunt； and I think I'd like toto see Indians。〃
〃I kinder thought so；〃 said the old frontiersman； nodding his head as though
he perfectly understood Joe's case。 〃Well； lad； where you're goin' seein'
Injuns ain't a matter of choice。 You has to see 'em； and fight 'em； too。 We've
had bad times for years out here on the border； and I'm thinkin' wuss is
comin'。 Did ye ever hear the name Girty？〃
〃Yes； he's a renegade。〃
〃He's a traitor； and Jim and George Girty； his brothers； are p'isin
rattlesnake Injuns。 Simon Girty's bad enough； but Jim's the wust。 He's now
wusser'n a full…blooded Delaware。 He's all the time on the lookout to capture
white wimen to take to his Injun teepee。 Simon Girty and his pals； McKee and
Elliott； deserted from that thar fort right afore yer eyes。 They're now livin'
among the redskins down Fort Henry way； raisin' as much hell fer the settlers
as they kin。〃
〃Is Fort Henry near the Indian towns？〃 asked Joe。
〃There's Delawares； Shawnees and Hurons all along the Ohio below Fort Henry。〃
〃Where is the Moravian Mission located？〃
〃Why； lad； the Village of Peace； as the Injuns call it； is right in the midst
of that Injun country。 I 'spect it's a matter of a hundred miles below and
cross…country a little from Fort Henry。〃
〃The fort must be an important point； is it not？〃
〃Wal； I guess so。 It's the last place on the river；〃 answered Lynn； with a
grim smile。 〃There's only a stockade there； an' a handful of men。 The Injuns
hev swarmed down on it time and ag'in； but they hev never burned it。 Only
such men as Colonel Zane； his brother Jack； and Wetzel could hev kept that
fort standin' all these bloody years。 Eb Zane's got but a few men； yet he kin
handle 'em some； an' with such scouts as Jack Zane and Wetzel； he allus knows
what's goin' on among the Injuns。〃
〃I've heard of Colonel Zane。 He was an officer under Lord Dunmore。 The hunters
here speak often of Jack Zane and Wetzel。 What are they？〃
〃Jack Zane is a hunter an' guide。 I knowed him well a few years back。 He's a
quiet； mild chap； but a streak of chain…lightnin' when he's riled。 Wetzel is
an Injun…killer。 Some people say as how he's crazy over scalp…huntin'； but I
reckon that's not so。 I've seen him a few