I ukuuuh cUITDAy JOURNAL, TORTLAXT), SUNDAY JfOKttTNtV ACnrsf 23
TWO LIDS OF OLD KENTUCKY
By Virginia Yeaman Remnitz
OW Toddles got out of the fort was never
known. The time of his disappearance
was early afternoon, one spring day of
the year 1781. The women of Hamilton's
Station were cither making tneir spinning
wheels sing, or were themselves sinsrimr
to restless babies; the men were all out hunting; the
children were playing in the fort yard. And all
an. Tin. 1 this frail little settlement lay the beautiful.
Indian haunted, wolf-haunted wilderness of Ken-
Itueky.
Somewhere out in that wilderness was Toddles,
but his mother did not know it vet. A little
wond-n "fort," made by erecting iog cabins and
; stockade fencing about a four-square yard, may
j nut ser m to offer adequate protection against sav
age enemies, brute or human; but it is far, far better
for a little child than no protection at all.
Presently Mrs. Hamilton looked up from her
spinning-wheel to gladden her eyes with ft sight of
Toddles. He was the prettiest, chubbiest bit of a
boy m the settlement a hardy little frontiersman,
, with .1 sunny smile and laughing blue eyes.
" I', diile -, Toddles !"'
The call grew louder and louder. It rang all
around the yard, until women came running; women,
and children too, with here and there a tall boy
who h;id been left at home to garrison the station.
The tallest of these was Ben Hamilton; and after
every cabin had been searched, and keen eyes had
swept all the country within sight from the tops of
the corner blockhouses, Ben laid his strong brown
hand on his mother's arm and said quietly:
"J reckon I '11 go and find Toddles."
"Tpkc me too!" "And me!'' "And me!" "And
me!"
Every boy who was able to carry a ' "gun' had
- spoken: but they must all stay at home to take caro
of their mothers and the little ones. It was rarely
that all the men left the fort at once; they did so
only when there were no "Indian signs" about. And
upon such occasions great responsibility rested upon
the older bfys who were left behind.
Pen's first preparation for departure was to find
liis father's dog, "Spot," who had been left at home
as part of the garrison. Spot had been discovered,
sick and half famished, in a deserted Indian camp,
and had been adopted simply because dogs of any
kind were a rarity. But trie animal quickly proved
himself a valuable member of the settlement He
was an Indian-trained "tracking" dog, as silent'as a
cat and as keen on the scent as a deer. Already
he had found several strayed horses and cows; now
he must try to find his playfellow, Toddles.
Mrs. Hamilton herself held the little home-spun
frock to the dog's nose, and made him sniff at the
bed where Toddles had slept; and it was she who
found the last plaything the child had handled. Spot
seemed to understand. He was eager to be off, and
even submitted patiently to being held in leash by a
strip of buffalo tug.
W hen the heavy fort gate had closed upon Ben,
Mrs. Hamilton hastened to the top of a blockhouse,
and from this watch-tower she looked eagerly down
upon the beginning of the search. And as she looked
the mother's grief and fear were for the moment
almost forgotten in the mother's pride.
What a man Ben looked! How tall and strong
rind brave he was for a lad of sixteen, flow quick
nnd keen his eye as he glanced now in this direc
tion, now in that in response to the dog's restless
tugging! How grave and firm his face as he calmly
watched the finding of the scent, stooped to examine
the ground, and with the dog started to follow tha
trail that led into that limitless, terrible forest!
But scarcely had the trail been found than Ben
.stopped and turned about. His look rested full on
his mother's face, and a bright smile broke the
gravity of his own. Mrs. Hamilton leaned far over,
smiling also; she waved her hand as he turned again,
and she watched unti! the plunge into the forest was
taken. Then, as the green foliage and the deep
shadows closed about the gallant ydmig figure' in
blue hunting shirt and buckskin legging, the poor
mother dropped her face in her hand and wept bit
terly. Thus one of the women found her, and led
her down, speaking words of comfort which she
could only hope might come true. It seemed only
too probable that neither of the lads would ever
conic home again.
Ben had never been alone in the forest before, but
hi- father had taken him on many a hunting trip and
had trained the boy in that difficult art of wood
craft s 1 necessary to every frontiersman. And
alir.o t at the outset Ben made a discovery which sent
the Mood to his head and a bright gleam to his eye.
It was 'imply the faint Impress of a moccasined foot
in wet earth This clue to his brother's fate Ben
found on the bank of the stream which ran Just at
the e !g" of the settlement clearing.
On this bank, also, were many prints of small
barc'fect. Toddles had been playing there And it
clear that the child had run a little way to
Since there had hern, of kite, some Indian depre
dations toward the south, Hen determined to go in
that direction; and taking Spot across the stream,
he started off as rapidly as careful search for the lost
trace permitted. The dog ran along the bank with
his nose to the ground, and the boy's quick eyes
keenly searched the damp earth.
It was at the end of about a mile that Spot found
the scent again, but Hen could see no tracks on the
bank. He judged that the captor, or captors, of
Toddles hail taken a tlying leap out of the water
and landed on the leaf-covered mold of the forest.
Now that he was on the trail again, Ben became
possessed of a feverish haste At any moment the
Indian might weary of his burden; and then 1 But
Ben would not allow his thoughts to take that
course. He began to run ahead swiftly, urging Spot
before him. Both boy ond dog traveled as silently
as possible, avoiding, as though by instinct, any
crackling branches and rustling leaves.
But Toddles wis not traveling silently at all; and
this, upon the whole, wa ; fortunate. Ben heard an
outcry, faint in the distance, but having the quality
of rage rather than of pain. He realized with joy
that his small brother was aide to make some pro
testand then he stopped short. Spot must go now. '
a ball dug up thr ground where he had been lying.
Then he made a dash for a sheltering boulder, tiring
as he ran, in thr due. ti,.n from which the shot had
just come. A lov minutes of silence followed, dur
ing which every 'wig and hat and shadow about
Ben seemed sus; uci. u -! anuiver. He felt that his
hidden enemy was (.reeling upon him; he keenly
realized his own i n f -. n-it y in woodcraft and cun
ning, and felt thei e i ,.u'.l be but one end to the game
he was playing. Hut I.e intended to keep it up as
long as he cuuld lie felt no tear, only a strange
tensity of nerve and a quickening of every sense.
His hearing had neve' b.-eu so keen, his sight so
quick, his brain so co. 1 and Vlrar; and the hand at
the trigger of his rifle was as steady as though he
were merely hunting a iquuiel.
If the red man would expose himself for but one
instant. Hen believed he could be the first to tire;
if but the faintest motion or sound would give warn
ing, he felt he might avoid the enemy's aim. But
this prolonged silence seemed to be a part of
eternity.
It may have been intuitu n rather than actual per
ception but surely a snake was gliding somewhere
near. Ben turned like a cat. and his quick blue eye
seemed to pierce thr nnderln nh about. No, there
was nothing; the tremulous shadow of a wind
swayed bough must have deceived him. Hut there,
over by a great rock, was a deeper shadow and a
flash. The two rhaVs bh.ed out almost instan
taneously, and the rep rts were followed by a sav
age yell.
Ben dropped on Ins knees, a hand to his left
shoulder. But he did not know it was there. He
was watching the Indian. Was the fellow wounded,
or was he only shamming? Was he going away, or
was he coming nearer? An I mi rely it was getting
dark dark and cold. To. Idles was out alone in
the dark and cold And everywhere, behind tree?
and rocks, amid t he . under!. ni -. wete Indians -creeping,
creeping. Or were they snakes.' At all
events, it would not do to leave Toddles alone. He
might be frightened, or hurt.
r. c-&Qmi lifted iw WmSwv V .
IT WAS K10 BEHIND A TREE THAT JIM GOT HIS FIRST CLrMFSE OF TODDLES
He untied the strip of tug from the dog's neck, and.
whispering in his ear, pointed the way home. When
the poor animal, thus forbidden the reward of hi
jabor, protested. Ben had great difficulty in persuad
ing him to go back. Put he felt a sudden sense of
loneliness and desolation as he watched his four
, footed friend trot disconsolately homeward.
As Ben hastened on, the angry outcry ahead grew
louder and louder, and he wondered that the small
captive's behavior did not bring fatal math upon
him. The fear that it might at any moment have
this result impelled Ben. even at some risk from
noise, to quicken his pace to a run.
It was from behind a tree that Ben got his first
glimpse of Toddle;. Tha: undaunted child was en
gaged in thumping with 1 "th tiny fists at the chest
and head rf the powerful brave vv h carried him,
and was .'ilso kicking sturdily Ben looked sharply
about, and when he discovered t'1.1; 1'.' had but one
redskin to deal with, ; courage r."t out of all
proportion f the sitva i : --"i. He had feared to come
upon a whole party of Indians
The vigr of Toddle-' att.ick ::; n l is captor
fairly made Ben's blood run c 1 i at the thought of
such rash behavior Si; rely the Jrdnn would not
tolerate it another ir.:..nt. 1'" would oh. what
Ben crawled slowly front behind his rock. He
did not know he was craw.ir.g. hut he felt he made
slow progress, and he tried to hasten. It was no
use; it was like a nightmare in which he can move
just so fast and no faster
Ben did not see the iitt'e red trail that followed
hifti; he' scarcely saw r thing not even To. Idles,
who sat up wide-eyed ui. 1 stopped crying at this
vision of his big brother cucping -lowly toward him.
A little later Toddles crept over to Hen. The
chubby legs were too shaky as ut to .1. service.
But he had forgotten about hi own pain in this
new wonder. In all Toddies's experience Ben had
never looked and aned that wav
He shook the inert
finger at the closed
ug.-ed hi hardest
'i.i result. finally,
v about the eyes,
'her, drew the un
, ! w ct.t fast asleep.
falling, the search
a'ld 'he two. Spot
. began to w h : n e
-art st -! still as
at all what he had
' - t.cc the s'urdy
Be;
is rifle was
a fin-h. a sharp
ahojt, quite tin-
was
esca; e that dreaded sight of a painted red man which
had suddenly appeared before him. It was doubtlesi
in the i.e.. of pursuit that the Indian had been so in
cautious as to set his foot where any "trace" would
be left
Pen and Spot found the emaet place where that
j-t. fully uneven chase had ended Then the lad
closed his eyes for a moment. He dreaded lest hit
dog should make straight for something which had
teen Toddles. Frontier boyi uw terrible things in
those days, and Ben knew the end Indians cften
made of the little children thejr captured He did
not fear anything now, aare to come upon the thing
his fancy pictured.
But the dog ran about uncertainly. The Indian
tiad probably stepped wjth Toddles into the bed of
the stream, for there was now r.o scent to fellow.
This conclusion gave Pen a momentary sensation
cf relief. Terhaps the red man intended to make
the child a captive rather than to ilajr him. Bat had
te gone cp stream or down?
Lrrat'
th'
Hi ter
man v 1
-r.-.d ;ust t
:n:rg e; r,
ck-n he
s' I
less!
might hr r.ot do? At the very i!
slowly raised and aimed There
report, and then the Indian nhee'e
hurt
Ben crouched down behind a tree to reload.
There was a brief agr.izrd cry as the savage
v:o!ently dahed Teddies to the prrnd. and Ben,
scarcely knowing what he did, coked h. reloaded
jrtiri -and sprang r l: of hiding ! i a moment th
Indian was now bete to be seen, but Toddles lay
quite Mill on the ground beneath a tree
Ben knew that the re JsVin wa f t in hiding; the
sound of a shot and the stirtr -f a ball might at
any moment disclose h; whereabouts The boy
dared not e-rn steal another j'mf it Ms brother.
And he was ;uft -about cr u.-'- "t .?V3f'n whn
the ex per fd . shot rari -a' P ' " d';r'J e the
fr-und. he d'd not b'w whether he wa h t or
not, and crawled behind a tree There he hid.
waitinc f-r a chance to take aim a: his r-irmy.
! w; a frr-ble ct -f hiie-? - J- eek The red
iran darted frm behirf f.jj t.ivrt, tj! xanisbe-l
aga n before Pen could even take aim The boy be
lieved himself exposed to the enemy's fire, and.
quick as tnougkt, te rc-Je-d orer. - The rtit instant j-unned away!"
"Wake up. Hen! Wake ut
figure. He poked a i h. ;!.!' .
lids But it was r.o -.jst 1 ' .
at Pen's sleeve, but still v
being very tired :.!! tee'.'-'
he nestled close up to his !.;,
hurt arm about bis little b i
That is how, jut as d-.i'k
party from Hamilton's --is-:
led the way. and, re rin:
dolefully. So Mr lb!:.'!' "
he dismounted. He did n ' k
found, and was afraid. -- :
frontiersman felt hirw!:"
hand, and it was ano'hrr
over the boys and 1 1 ' c
ing of their hearts P!
stood about, their stem :'
When Toddles was l.f'rd up
and murmured droi"y. "Pen
wite a eep Hut
over Ben raised hi
Mr. Hamilton with
so weak," he said
right"
And so he did The m tired h nlder wa? some
what trotiblesor-.e. b: n vh ng fcr i frontier boy to
make a fuis about The n-er. whe- tclrwcd the
Indian's trail until tt wsi 1 ?t in a strrim juiged
that he had been severely w m lcd for he had evi-df-rt'y
eraw'ed all tlr m r h- :-:vk; and they
declared that Ben was a'-eady a famous "In;ir.
fighter "
Trsdd'es, howeve'. rrv-.'e Ve t-'t hero cf the
occasion Looking : ! "' :'ue f h s
mother a he lav irt 1 .-r ?-t. he remarked a -. 'y
"Mammy, I beat the rid Inur. and I beat him. an I
I beat him. until he had to let rrte g- and then he
'.e business in
:ty w ho knelt
f r the beat-
s d f. -tinted and
lor ai d pitiful,
c . pened his eyes
-.tried, ''itt he went
vv..s 'i!I kreeling
er., an! 1 oked at
"H-s heart is n't
I! c n.e around all
r (in '
It was a Discontented Boy
' Who lay upon the lawn.
And grieved because vacation days,
With all their pleasant sports and plays,
.Too soon, alas! were gone.
Some sparrows near him hopped rpimd
And, as he watahed, the boy became
Filled with an envy most profound
Because the birds were free from rules,
And never even heard of schools;
And, sitting by, I overheard
This boy wish he was "just a bird."
Scarce had the words been said alas
When, swift as lightning, from the grass
Tuss !oundod, and one cruel blow
Laid one poor chirping sparrow low.
Then said the Discontented Boy:
"I really never thought f that
Ah, well! I wish I was a cat."
Just then a dog of monstrous size
Comes up the street the cat he spies;
Springs for her, aad half dead with fright
Puss drops her prey and takes to flight.
Then said the Discontented Boy;
"Instead of either bird or cat,
I 'd like to be a dog, lfko that."
But even as he spoke, a man
Seized on the dog, and In a van
Thrust the unhappy hound.
"Where will you take him?" said the boy.
The man said; "To the pound;
And if nobody comes for him,
To-morrow lie '11 be drowned."
"Ouch !" said the Boy, "I 'tn very sura
I should n't ftney that;
Nor being pounced on, like the bird,
Nor worried like the cat.
It seems, somehow, that everything
Has sorrow mixed with joy;
So after all I guess that I
- Would rather be a boy."
74 ....
The K's rf L'nsergarten
Went : -th ?- fight the foe;
He took vvth lam his trumpet.
His i. .-! and "tti ard bow.
A'r.g tie grsvel pathway
At! r'-ur.d the lan he passecL;
He 'tapped jt every rorneT
An i t!ew a fearf.: blast
II
.-ad h.s Luckier
in
:e of
rows
; - i.-nbusa trees,
T. ' '- - - cf I'nsergtrtetv
V. ' cr rr t-.e wr was dome,
'. i oode- w-rd beside him
! ;v siee; ;.-. .a th SUO,
f
.i