The Free Rangers: A Story of the Early Days Along the MississippiAltsheler, Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander)
General
The Free Rangers: A Story of the Early Days Along the Mississippi
Altsheler, Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander)
Frontier and pioneer life -- Juvenile fiction; Mississippi River -- Juvenile fiction
"I think," said Henry, "that while the Indians are busy with the Spaniards
we'd better try to fix up that sail. We don't need a tent and we do need a
sail. Some time or other, when we get in a pinch, the sail might do the
pulling, leaving the rowers free to use their rifles."
"Jest ez I might hev expected," said Sol in a tone of disgust. "All ready
for rest, fixed fur it most bee-yu-ti-ful-ly, an' told instead that I
must go to work. This world shorely ain't kind to a good man."
Once more the staunch ship, "The Galleon," proved herself to be a treasure
house. They found in the lockers plenty of rope and stout cord, and they
cut in the forest a stout young sapling which they made of the right
length, peeled off the bark, and adjusted in rude fashion, as a mast. They
also made a boom and then rigged a single sail, somewhat after the fashion
of the cat-boat of the present day.
This would have been an impossible task to them, had not "The Galleon"
been so well provided with axes, saws, hammers, other valuable tools, and
cord and nails. The mast could be taken down in an emergency, but they
were all of the opinion that the sail would draw, and draw well. It might
not always be easy to control it, but "The Galleon" was built in Spanish
fashion, heavy, deep, and square, and it would take a great deal to make
her capsize.
While the others worked one watched, and the boats of the Indians were
seen again at the edge of the far forest. The last time they saw them they
were so far down that they were almost opposite the point where the
Spaniards lay, which indicated two things to them, first the certainty
that Alvarez had not moved, and second that "The Galleon" and her crew
were absolutely safe for the time being, where they lay.
"I suppose that Alvarez is in no hurry and decided to take a day of rest,"
said Henry.
They finished their own labors late in the afternoon and contemplated the
mast and sail with pride.
"Now that it's done, I'm glad that it hez been done," said Shif'less Sol.
"It'll save me a lot o' work hereafter. It would be jest like you fellers
to make me git callous spots all over the inside o' my hands, when the
hide on Jim Hart's is already so thick it wouldn't hurt him to do all his
rowin' an' mine, too."
"I jest love to see you work, Sol," said Long Jim Hart. "I can't enjoy my
rest real good, 'less at the same time I'm layin' on my back watchin' you
heavin' away."
Nevertheless, all took a long rest though maintaining a vigilant watch,
and, with pleasure, they saw a dark night come on. When the twilight was
completely gone they steered once more for the main stream, not using
their sail yet, because of the boughs and bushes.
"We've got to keep in the edge of the forest," whispered Henry, and in
that manner they crept cautiously southward. After a while they stopped
suddenly and all exclaimed together. They distinctly heard the sound of
rifle shots straight toward the south and perhaps a mile away.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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