Page 55 - A Hero of Ticonderoga

CHAPTER XII

--A FREE LIFE

The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next
evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound

for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

"Well, what news?" Nathan asked, after a little impatient waiting for Job’s
account of his trip abroad.

"Well, I happened in just arter noon. Your nice stepfather sot by the
fireplace a smokin’. ’Where’s Nate,’ says I, an’ he up an’ answered mighty

quick, ’Run away, but he’ll be back quick enough.’ Your mother was lookin’
turrible worrited, an’ it was quite a spell afore I could git a chance to do my
arrant with Toombs right in the room. Bimeby I made out to have a turrible

pesterin’ sliver in my right hand an’ got your mother to pick it out wi’ a
needle. I’d ruther have a leg took off ’an to have a woman jabbin’ at a sliver.

Whilst she was at it, me wi’ my back towards Toombs, I whispered you was
at my house and all right, an’ you’d ortu seen her face light up. Then we
played the sliver was out, an’ arter I’d wished you was to home to go fishin’

with me an’ wondered what on airth you’d run away f’m such a good home
for, I come off. An’ I tell you, boy, that ere ol’ scoundrel thinks he’s killed

you. When I come off towards where he chopped that tree, he follered
along to see if I went nigh it, an’ all the time I could see he was scairter’n he
was mad."

"I don’t care, I can’t go back if you’ll let me stay with you."

"Sartainly, an’ glad to have you."

Nathan readily adapted himself to the ranger’s way of living, helping him in
the cabin work and that of the clearing. At intervals, through his friend, he

sent his mother tidings of his welfare and learned of her own. Through the
same way, and his mother’s ready assistance, he gained possession of his
other clothes-- a tow shirt, a blue frock, a pair of gray breeches, and two