Page 53 - A Hero of Ticonderoga

with the commander! Not there could he find protection. His old friend Job
was the only one to whom he could look, and in his secluded cabin he

might hope to escape detection.

With this determination he arose and went his way, too well skilled in
woodcraft, for all his youth, to lose it while the sun shone. Pushing steadily
on he saw at last the slanted sunbeams shining golden green through the

woodside leaves, then saw them glimmering on the quiet channel of Job’s
creek, and following the shore upstream, presently emerged in the little

clearing. It was as quiet as the woods around it, and seemed more
untenanted, for through them the songs of the thrushes were ringing in
flute-like cadences, while here nothing was astir.

Nathan made his way so silently to the open door that he stood looking in

upon the occupants of the cabin before they became aware of his presence.
Job was squatting before the fireplace engaged in frying meat, and a great,
gaunt, blue-mottled hound sat close beside him, intently watching the

progress of the cooking. Presently his keen nose caught a scent of the
intruder, and he uttered a low, threatening growl that attracted his master’s

attention.

"Be quiet, Gabriel; what is’t troubles you?" Then seeing his visitor

hesitating at the threshold, "Why, Nathan, come in my boy, come in, the
hound won’t hurt you. Ain’t he a pictur’? Did you ever see such ears? Did

you ever see such a chest and such legs? And he’s as good as he is
harnsome. I went clean to Manchester arter him and gin three prime beaver
skins for him. He’s one o’ Peleg Sunderland’s breed and’ll foller anything

that walks, if you tell him to, from a mushrat to a man. And as for his voice,
good land! You hain’t never heard no music till you hear it. That’s what

give him his name, Gabriel. But what’s the matter with you, Nathan?"
when, withdrawing his admiring gaze from his new acquisition, he noted
the boy’s wearied and troubled countenance. "You look clean beat out.

There hain’t nothin’ the matter with your folks?"

Nathan told the story of his treatment since his mother’s marriage to
Toombs, and his unpremeditated flight, and all the particulars of his escape.