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Updated: May 24, 2025
He got the house between him and the sheriff's column and soon reached the side of the road where the other settlers in ambush were stationed. He found their leader and whispered Bolderwood's message to him. Instantly the man caught the idea and the word was passed down the straggling line. Enoch did not return but waited with these men, who were nearer the enemy, to see the matter out.
He had played with him, swam with him, learned to use the bow and arrow under Crow Wing's instruction, and had gained something of forest lore from the Indian youth; but he had no respect for him, or for his peculiarities. He had not learned at 'Siah Bolderwood's knee of the really admirable qualities of these people whom the whites were pleased to call "savages."
'Siah Bolderwood's idea had taken all the desire for fight out of the Yorkers, and after some wrangling between the personal attendants of the sheriff and the volunteer army, the whole crew marched away, leaving the farm to the undisputed possession of its rightful owner.
But somehow Enoch felt that Crow Wing was a better friend to him than he had been before. Something in the Indian's handshake seemed to have told him this. The supper was quite as good as the boys had expected. After the meal they shot at a target under 'Siah Bolderwood's direction and Robbie Baker, son of the greatest shot in the settlement, as was expected, bore off the honors.
But it was small and so many of their possessions had been burned that even Bryce cried about it. Nevertheless their supply of food was all right, and the cattle had not been injured. Also, with Bolderwood's assistance, the three bears which the boys had so happily killed, were brought home, the hams smoked, some of the meat salted, and the pelts stretched and dried for winter bed coverings.
He had considerable doubt in his own mind regarding Colonel Reid's "guideness," nevertheless, and rose early in the morning and left the settlement in Bolderwood's canoe. Instead of keeping on up the Otter he turned back to the lake. The route by which he and the ranger had come from Bennington would be far shorter than the one he had started upon; so he went back that way.
Nor is the country about the fortifications, and across the lake where the camp of Bolderwood's scouts was established at the time of our story, and later where the Grenadier Battery was raised, much more thickly settled to-day than it was then. Mt. Defiance, south of the Lake George outlet on the west side of Champlain was a heavily wooded eminence.
In fact, he rather coveted the chance to make his way home alone, for he wished to prove to the ranger his ability to do for himself. It was therefore arranged that the boy should take Bolderwood's canoe and go up Otter Creek to a certain settler's house, there to leave the canoe and make his way overland to Bennington, and the next day they separated.
He stood with thoughtful mien and his eyes were still wet when Bolderwood's words finally aroused him. "Do you know, Nuck, there's many a time I stop at this ford and think of your father's death? There's things about it I'll never understand, I reckon." Enoch Harding started and flashed a quick glance at his friend. "What things?" he asked.
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