by John Fox
VIII
Dave talked to the lad about the enormity of his offense, but to Dave hewas inclined to defend himself and his action. Next morning, however,when the party started back to Red Oaks, Erskine felt a difference inthe atmosphere that made him uneasy. Barbara alone seemed unchanged, andhe was quick to guess that she had not been told of the incident. Hughwas distinctly distant and surly for another reason as well. He hadwanted to ask young Grey to become one of their party and his father haddecisively forbidden him--for another reason too than his influence overHugh: Grey and his family were Tories and in high favor with LordDunmore.
As yet Dave had made no explanation or excuse for his young friend, buthe soon made up his mind that it would be wise to offer the bestextenuation as soon as possible; which was simply that the lad knew nobetter, had not yet had the chance to learn, and on the rage of impulsehad acted just as he would have done among the Indians, whose code alonehe knew.
The matter came to a head shortly after their arrival at Red Oaks whenColonel Dale, Harry, Hugh, and Dave were on the front porch. The boy wasstanding behind the box-hedge near the steps and Barbara had justappeared in the doorway.
"Well, what was the trouble?" Colonel Dale had just asked.
"He tried to stab Grey unarmed and without warning," said Hugh shortly.
At the moment, the boy caught sight of Barbara. Her eyes, filled withscorn, met his in one long, sad, withering look, and she turnednoiselessly back into the house. Noiselessly too he melted into thegarden, slipped down to the river-bank, and dropped to the ground. Heknew at last what he had done. Nothing was said to him when he came backto the house and that night he scarcely opened his lips. In silence hewent to bed and next morning he was gone.
The mystery was explained when Barbara told how the boy too must haveoverheard Hugh.
"He's hurt," said Dave, "and he's gone home."
"On foot?" asked Colonel Dale incredulously.
"He can trot all day and make almost as good time as a horse."
"Why, he'll starve."
Dave laughed:
"He could get there on roots and herbs and wild honey, but he'll havefresh meat every day. Still, I'll have to try to overtake him. I mustgo, anyhow."
And he asked for his horse and went to get ready for the journey. Tenminutes later Hugh and Harry rushed joyously to his room.
"We're going with you!" they cried, and Dave was greatly pleased. Anhour later all were ready, and at the last moment Firefly was led in,saddled and bridled, and with a leading halter around his neck.
"Harry," said Colonel Dale, "carry your cousin my apologies and give himFirefly on condition that he ride him back some day. Tell him this homeis his"--the speaker halted, but went on gravely and firmly--"whenever hepleases."
"And give him my love," said Barbara, holding back her tears.
At the river-gate they turned to wave a last good-by and disappeared inthe woods. At that hour the boy far over in the wilderness ahead of themhad cooked a squirrel that he had shot for his breakfast and was gnawingit to the bones. Soon he rose and at a trot sped on toward his homebeyond the Cumberland. And with him, etched with acid on the steel ofhis brain, sped two images--Barbara's face as he last saw it and the faceof young Dane Grey.
The boy's tracks were easily to be seen in the sandy road, and from themDave judged that he must have left long before daylight. And he wastravelling rapidly. They too went as fast as they could, but Firefly ledbadly and delayed them a good deal. Nobody whom they questioned had laideyes on the boy, and apparently he had been slipping into the bushes toavoid being seen. At sunset Dave knew that they were not far behind him,but when darkness hid the lad's tracks Dave stopped for the night. AgainErskine had got the start by going on before day, and it was the middleof the forenoon before Dave, missing the tracks for a hundred yards,halted and turned back to where a little stream crossed the road anddismounted leading his horse and scrutinizing the ground.
"Ah," he said, "just what I expected. He turned off here to make abee-line for the fort. He's not far away now." An hour later hedismounted again and smiled: "We're pretty close now."
Meanwhile Harry and Hugh were getting little lessons in woodcraft. Davepointed out where the lad had broken a twig climbing over a log, wherethe loose covering of another log had been detached when he leaped toit, and where he had entered the creek, the toe of one moccasin pointingdown-stream.
Then Dave laughed aloud:
"He's seen us tracking him and he's doubled on us and is tracking us. Iexpect he's looking at us from somewhere around here." And he hallooedat the top of his voice, which rang down the forest aisles. A war-whoopanswered almost in their ears that made the blood leap in both the boys.Even Dave wheeled with cocked rifle, and the lad stepped from behind abush scarcely ten feet behind them.
"Well, by gum," shouted Dave, "fooled us, after all."
A faint grin of triumph was on the lad's lips, but in his eyes was awaiting inquiry directed at Harry and Hugh. They sprang forward, both ofthem with their hands outstretched:
"We're sorry!"
A few minutes later Hugh was transferring his saddle from Firefly to hisown horse, which had gone a trifle lame. On Firefly, Harry buckled theboy's saddle and motioned for him to climb up. The bewildered lad turnedto Dave, who laughed:
"It's all right."
"He's your horse, cousin," said Harry. "My father sent him to you andsays his home is yours whenever you please. And Barbara sent her love."
At almost the same hour in the great house on the James the old negresswas carrying from the boy's room to Colonel Dale in the library a kinglydeed that the lad had left behind him. It was a rude scrawl on a sheetof paper, signed by the boy's Indian name and his totem mark--a buffalopierced by an arrow.
"It make me laugh. I have no use. I give hole dam plantashun Barbara."
Thus read the scrawl!