MAD ANTHONY'S SCOUTS;
OR,
THE RANGERS OF KENTUCKY.
BY EMERSON RODMAN.
NEW YORK:
BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS,
98 WILLIAM STREET.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by
FRANK STARR & CO.,
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
MAD ANTHONY'S SCOUTS;
OR,
THE RANGERS OF KENTUCKY.
CHAPTER I.
COMRADES OF THE FOREST.
"Haow dew yeou dew, cap.?"
"Fine, yer honor; and how is yerself?"
A tall, spare specimen of the backwoodsman, who was sitting bya smouldering camp-fire, had arisen and grasped the hand of agenial-faced Irishman, who was also clad in the habiliments of theforest.
"My name is Smith, Hezekiah Smith," said the former, "What is yours?"
"Pat Mulroony, lately from Tipperary, Ireland, may it plase yer honor."
"Haow did you—how was it you came to find me, if I may be allowed toinquire?" asked Smith, peering round in his face.
"I was jist thraveling through the forest, when I spied the shmokeof fire, and says I to meself, says I, 'There's ayther some graanyoungster, or a band of haythen, as doesn't care who saas theircamp-fire,' and with that, I pokes around in the wood till I spies youcookin' your legs over the blaze, when I knows by the swate expressionof[Pg 10] yer countenance, that ye was a gintleman, and, bedad, I finds I wasright."
"What might you be doing? What's your business?" pursued Smith,laboring under a great curiosity.
"Faith, I'm an adventoorer, as the convict said. I've been wanderin'in these parts for siveral wakes, without catchin' glimpse of a whiteskin, till I came upon you."
"That ain't what I mean. What brought you out here in the first place?"
"Me legs," replied the Irishman, decidedly.
"Just so, just so; if you've no objection, I'd like to know yourmotive, not meaning any offence at all."
"Begorrah, but ye're axin' too much," replied Pat, with a shake of hishead. "Niver ye mind the indoocement that I has for taking to thewoods. If I may be so bold, what was the same motive that broughtyerself here?"
"Nothing in particular—nothing in particular," replied Smith, as ifthe subject was distasteful to him.
It was plain that both of these characters had a secret history—ahistory which each was determined should remain a secret with himself.The short conversation recorded above had been sufficient for thisfact to become evident to both, and as if by mutual consent, neithermade any further reference to it. It sufficed that they were white,civilized beings, wanderers in a dangerous territory, where neither,for an hour, could be assured of his own safety, and where both lackedthe great safeguard of experience. This was enough to make them firmand fast friends at once.
"Are you baound up or down the river," queried Hezekiah Smith, referingto the Ohio, which was but a few hundred yards distant.
"Faith, it's little difference where I'm bound, as the man said whenthen the haythen Injuns bound him to the stake. How is it wid yerself?"
"I'm goin' daown."
"So is meself, if ye's willin' to accept of me company."
"I'm right glad to have you, for I care mighty little abaout goin'much further in this all-fired country, without...