Rodney, the Ranger, with Daniel Morgan on Trail and BattlefieldLane, John V. (John Veasey)
History
Rodney, the Ranger, with Daniel Morgan on Trail and Battlefield
Lane, John V. (John Veasey)
Morgan, Daniel, 1736-1802 -- Juvenile fiction; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Juvenile fiction
Rodney turned back into the cabin to ask if there were anything he
might do, and the look in the face of the "Chevalier" startled the
lad. It quickly passed, however, and the man quietly said: "Why, this
is Rodney Allison, who saved my miserable existence out on the
Scioto."
"Not much of an exploit to be remembered by. You'd have shot him if I
hadn't."
"Why, you shot the redskin in the heel and, if I correctly recall my
mythology, Paris required the assistance of the god, Apollo, before he
was able to hit Achilles in a like spot."
"He only had a bow and arrow while I had one of the finest rifles in
the country."
"Anyhow, it was an act worthy of a better return, as you no doubt
concluded later."
This allusion to the gaming incident annoyed Rodney. He thought the
least the fellow might do was to make no mention of that rascally
affair.
"If I don't refer to that matter I see no reason for you to do so. Of
late I've been associated with men who think that, after you've rolled
a man in the dirt, it isn't necessary to rub it in."
The "Chevalier" whistled and then smilingly quoted:
"'The duke, he drew out half his sword--
The guard drew out the rest.'"
"Can I do any more for you, sir?" Rodney spoke impatiently.
"You might tell me how are the mother and the little sister and about
the home you feared the miser would get. You see I have a good memory
for some things."
"They are well. They yet have the home, though I did my best to
sacrifice it. If there's nothing I may do I will be going."
"You are kind, and I wish you would call again. I expected you would
be in the army. As I remember, you were a lusty young rebel when I
knew you."
"I served with Colonel Morgan's Rangers at the capture of Burgoyne."
It must be admitted there was a touch of malice in these words and the
tone in which the lad spoke them.
"So I'm still further indebted to you. Well, as you are responsible
for my being here, I hope you will feel under obligations to call
again when I am better able to entertain company. By the way, did you
ever know a man by the name of David Cameron? Why I ask is because you
resemble a man by that name, whom I once knew."
"That was my father's name," replied Rodney, and the next instant he
could have bitten his tongue. He quickly added: "My father, after
coming to this country, had good reasons for taking the name of his
mother's people, the Allisons, not that he had any occasion to be
ashamed of the name of Cameron. Now that he is dead we shall retain
the name of Allison."
"As I remember your father, he had no occasion to be ashamed of
anything, except, possibly, some of his acquaintances. So David is
dead."
"My father was a man who kept good company to the day of his death."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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