THE CABIN OF BOB ARMSTRONG
THERE was still danger in crossing the broad river in so small a boat
as the clumsy dugout; so that the two lads had to be constantly on
their guard against being caught broadside on, when the waves and wind
united to beat against their craft.
Fortunately their voyage was almost in the teeth of the elements, and
they were not compelled to expose the side of the boat.
Dick always sat in the stern, as he was considered the captain
and pilot, being better able to judge of what was proper to do in
emergencies than Roger, since there was always a chance of the latter
becoming confused, as he himself very frankly admitted.
On this occasion Roger was wild with impatience to get home. What his
cousin had just told him had excited him more than anything he had ever
heard; and the wonderful prospect that opened to them, if they could
obtain the consent of their parents to follow after the President's
expedition in search of the distant Pacific, known only to Balboa's
party long, long before, thrilled him.
[Illustration: "ONCE EVEN DICK'S BEST WORK COULD NOT PREVENT THE DUGOUT
FROM TURNING PARTLY, SO AS TO EXPOSE A SIDE TO THE WIND."]
No doubt it affected his paddling to some extent, for Dick noticed
that he dipped deeper, and made more vigorous strokes, than he could
ever remember Roger doing. In fact, he was put to his best efforts to
counteract the "swing" that these furious efforts on the part of the
head paddler gave the boat.
Once even Dick's best work could not prevent the dugout from turning
partly, so as to expose a side to the wind, and they came very near
capsizing.
"Careful, Roger! Not so much ginger in your stroke! We'll get there
in good time, if only you keep up a steady gait. There are no Indians
after us, and the supper horn has not blown yet, that I have heard!"
Thus Dick chided his impetuous cousin.
After that the other lad, as though himself realizing the folly of
allowing his excitement to have such sway over his actions, managed to
moderate his speed and they had no more trouble.
Besides, the nearer the boat drew to land, the more shelter they
obtained from the fact that the shore was covered with trees,
which broke the force of the wind, so that presently they were in
comparatively calm waters.
They ran their boat upon a shelving beach, where it was usually kept
when the stage of water permitted. The painter was secured to a stake
that had been driven into the ground, after which the two boys climbed
the bank, and headed for home.
"After you've had a talk with your parents, when supper is done, get
them to come over to grandfather's cabin for a grand powwow," said
Dick, as he and Roger were about to separate.
"That's a good idea," replied the other; "and, if ever I wished for
anything in all my life, it's that they may say 'yes.' I'll never be
happy unless they do, because it would be a glorious thing if we could
find that man, Jasper Williams, and get his signature to the paper that
will save our homes."
Dick was a boy of few words. He seldom gave expression to his feelings
after the more boisterous manner of his cousin, but the hearty grip
which he gave Roger's hand at parting was more expressive than words,
and the other boy knew that his own sentiments were echoed in the
heart of his companion.
There were three log cabins not far from each other in the clearing.
The middle one of these belonged to Grandfather David Armstrong, the
original settler of the place, while, on either side, his two sons, at
the time of their marriages, had built homes of a similar type.
They had secured a grant of land that embraced many rich acres, and
which, when the settlement of St. Louis grew in size, would become
more and more valuable. Knowing this fact, then, it can be seen how
the prospect of having their land taken away by a defect in the title
affected the Armstrongs, young and old.
Dick strode straight to his own cabin home. He was carrying with him
as many of the fish as he could well manage, and expected to send his
younger brother, Sam, back to the boat to get the balance of what they
had caught.
The night was just settling down, though it would not be dark for some
time yet, as the long days had come in with the month of June, which
was now not far from its close.
In the west the glow of the sunset still lingered and once again did
Dick Armstrong stop for a brief interval to stare at the touches of
gold and crimson that flecked the heavens. No doubt the lad was vaguely
wondering whether he and his cousin would be allowed to start forth to
pierce that unknown wilderness lying under that mysterious sky; and, if
so, what wonderful sights might they not set eyes on during the weeks
and months of their absence, while trying to find Jasper Williams!
Some such strange thoughts must have been passing through his mind,
for he gave vent to a long-drawn sigh as he once more started for the
cabin, from the small windows of which shone a cheery light.
Even as he drew near, the door opened, and the form of a woman was
outlined as she stood there, evidently looking out into the gloaming.
It was Dick's mother, anxious, as any good mother would be, concerning
her boy, who might have been upon the wild and riotous Missouri at the
time that summer squall first broke.
"Is that you, Dick?" she called out eagerly, seeing a figure
approaching.
"Yes, mother," came the reply; "we had to wait till the waves went down
some, before trying to cross; because, you see, the old dugout is a
clumsy thing in a heavy sea. But we came over without shipping much
water, and with plenty of fish. I'll leave them in the shed here, and
wash up before I come in."
But, before doing so, Dick, who knew how anxious his mother must have
been during the gale, went up and kissed her.
A short time later he entered the house. The interior of the cabin was
like all of its kind. To the boys of the present generation it would
doubtless have seemed a very poor makeshift for a home, since so many
of the comforts to which they are accustomed were lacking; but in the
eyes of Dick Armstrong it meant everything; and with father, mother,
and his brother, Sam, present, he could wish for nothing more.
The fire burned brightly on the wide hearth, where the simple supper
was cooking. From the heavy rafters overhead hung strings of herbs,
and onions, and such things as the good housewife of those days deemed
necessary for the welfare of her household. There was also a ham,
home-cured; and some strips of dried venison, buffalo meat and even
portions of a young bear that Dick had shot during the preceding fall.
White dimity curtains at the windows gave the room a homelike air. The
younger boy was oiling several traps that he meant to store away until,
with the coming of the crisp frosty air, the next season for taking
pelts would have arrived. The father, who has been known in earlier
stories concerning this pioneer family as Bob Armstrong, was engaged in
reading a newspaper from the Far East that had come to old David, and
was such a rarity that it was passed from hand to hand, until decrepit
from age and much handling.
Bob had developed into a sturdy man. As has been stated before, he had
married the daughter of another settler, whose home was in St. Louis;
and made both a good husband and a kind father. Being industrious, he
was by degrees developing the farm that had come to him as his share of
the grant secured by David Armstrong from the French company owning a
greater part of the land around the new settlement. Even now they were
getting good crops, and had a barn in which these could be stored.
Taken all in all, this Armstrong settlement was the most thrifty within
fifty miles; and people who saw the fields of grain, as well as the
animals raised upon the several farms, said that David and his two
sons deserved great credit for their persistent energy.
Evidently supper had been waiting on account of the absence of the
older boy, for Mrs. Armstrong immediately began serving it, piping hot.
If there was not a great variety on the board, at least one could not
complain on account of the quantity.
Bob was impatient to hear an account of the fishing excursion, and
while the meal went on Dick entertained them all with the story of how
he and his cousin happened on the den of the bear in the big hollow oak
and, seeking refuge from the storm there, had been surprised by the
return of the owner, with the result that they were compelled to treat
Mr. Bear rather meanly in order to induce him not to crowd in on them.
Young Sam laughed heartily as he heard the particulars; and even Bob
seemed to be vastly amused. No doubt it brought many a similar scene
back to his mind, connected with those days in the past when two other
boys, himself and his brother Sandy, roamed the woods and valleys in
search of game, and met with many surprising adventures by field and
flood.
Dick purposely refrained from saying a word concerning the bold scheme
which he and Roger had conceived, until after the meal was over.
Mrs. Armstrong was washing up the dishes, and Sam still busily engaged
with his traps, with which he and Dick had done good work during the
previous winter, when, unable to hold in any longer, Dick sprung his
surprise.
"Father, there's something I want to talk with you about," he began;
and Bob, realizing from the sober tone in which his son spoke that it
could be no trifling matter, laid down the paper, and looked at the
boy's flushed face.
"Well, what is it, Dick?" he asked, uneasily; while the mother stopped
her work to glance up, and even Sam laid his trap down on the floor,
and listened.
"While we were sitting there on the shore, waiting for the wind to
quiet down a bit, so we could take chances and cross over, Roger and
I got to talking. I told him all you said to me about the shadow that
has fallen on our homes here, and, father, Roger, in his impetuous
way, declared that we ought to follow up the Lewis and Clark company,
to find that man, Jasper Williams, and get his signature to the paper
that will save our land from being taken away. And, father, as I heard
Roger say that, something in me seemed to rise up and declare that
such was our duty. I promised him to get you to go over to Grandfather
Armstrong's cabin after supper, where we could have a council of
war, and see if something could not be done to let us two go on this
mission!"
When Dick stopped speaking a silence fell upon them all. Father and
mother exchanged quick glances, and there were tears in their eyes.