The Little Red Foot

ugh McMonts, stood in the main street, leaning upon his pike as I followed the new moon out of town and down into a dar

a well-levelled road, my mind was very full

egarding Sir John,-no fear that he meant to shame his honoured name and flee to Canad

tranquil at the Hall. And I could not find it in my nature to d

ed that the Seneca War Chief had come on some private affair and not for his nation, because a chief does not travel alone upon a ceremonial missio

n between the tall wayside bushes, without any warning at all two shadowy horse

at that same moment one of the tall riders

hem and peered into their faces; and I discovered that these riders were two

their big pistols resting on their thighs and thei

erly, "though Joe may find it

t on the King's highway?" I i

stop us on their sacré King's highway. Now, in our turn, we stop them, by gar! Oui, nom de dieu! And

n Albany have concluded to watch, for smuggled a

r treachery

rs abroad concerning the running in of arms for the Highlanders, an

hing to warrant suspicion." And I told them wh

Hare was a dangerous man, and that he h

animal, and a fierce one as are all Senecas. I do not know what has b

to visit his sister," said I.

f the honour of all gentlemen. And for every gentleman who is one, the next is a blackguard. I do not con

but I am not able to doubt the word of hono

asked me which way I

ay," said Shew with a shrug. "I t

h gestures of adieu; I shook my bridle, and m

h comes not alone from the moon but also from a million millio

e a dozen laughing lasses, and rode along the bus

e sky, like the waves on Lake Ontario, and so tumbling northward into the grim jaws of the Adirondacks, which

because of the lateness of the night. Only a heron's croak sounded in the

to the left, a frame house or two and several log-houses set in clea

Point; and in a little while I saw the long, low house called Pigeon-Wood, whi

smoothed with our blue clay, which cuts

e of the heavens flooded all, and there, upon the rail

down from the fence like two rob

er gingham scarce pinned decently; and laid her f

leeps like an ox." And, to Betsy, "Whistle thy little sister from her nest, swee

ustic gallantry; but Martha pursed her lips and whistled th

ident, half coquette, like a playful forest

arlit grass rubbing both eyes with her little fists, like a child roused fr

e stood to pet her and pull the ne

duct or what might be expected of me at this st

two; drew my arm about her; put up her red mouth to

laughed down at me thro

h House," said she, "only that

come, J

you

and by that time she had forgotten what sh

gently caressing Kaya with her naked heels.

iders pass

ny between Fish H

thers

en who ride swiftly at

ay the

ot know

ohn's

y li

from the

rom the

waggons t

eard wagg

tel

om the saddle and rested

hizing me, John Drogue?" she laughed. "Do you k

ing her hands on my shoulders

r John's peopl

, but not now wit

e other

es

A Bost

and I,

hy

s free as God made us, and n

ighty words to me, Mr. Drogue. There are young men in red c

a

d my neck. "You are a pretty boy and no Yank

ur lovers K

love

es

you

ench from my saddle, and stood so in the

sweetheart, and, indeed, wo

ould

ing her arms, and passing my

o harm in a starlit frolic, where we

ha

ugh and a kiss and a laugh; and into my stirrups and off.... And you are young and soft and

not dream in

t let it en

drea

is w

boy in buckskin. And I love thru

ing better

heels and spindles when m

t my legs ache more for

unlink her arms, came Nick on noiseless tread to twitch my arm. And,

Iroquois signal-flame mount thin and high, tremble, bur

dened on the hills, then an

ick. "These are no times for Indian

e by Varick's, for I've a mind to see what will-o

from willing to let him loose; and I made my adieux to Jessica, who stood a-pouting

which came through the crescents from behind closed shutters; but that was with

could see through the night there was n

ay to see; we galloped through Varick's, past the mill where, from its rocky walls, Frenchman's Creek

ightily," quoth Nick, pushing his

me,"

th fire on the night Hia

in a letter to Albany that this night the Mohawks have talke

d Ensign, Moucher; and

te it," said I,

shall carry locked in our breasts. Eh, John? By heaven, is she not fresh and pink as a dewy strawberry in Jun

g. "But I think they have had already a lesson or two in suc

at Pigeon-Wood!" cried Nick Stoner with an oa

our frolic serious

nd his bridle loose. "Where I place my mark with my proper lips, let roving gall

Turk,"

burst of laughter. And fell to smiting his thighs and tossing up both arms, riding lik

ul young arms. "Thou knowest how I could love tonight; but dost Thou know, also

rather, that there shall be no war, and no foe m

idled, his lean young face in the wind. "But God send the one or the other to me very

done a-yelling! You wak

yelping of the forest owls as though the Six Nations a

stay the night and must needs gallop on to his own log house, where he could b

smounted, and his young face still aglow in the dim, silvery light, "-well

hink

d w

oor, bridle in hand,

wse," he insisted-"unless, perhaps, it be that Scotch girl at Caughna

sie be?" I asked with a smil

w servant to o

not noti

seen the Cau

ous concerning serva

ding on their hats,-the gay youth of Johnstown, yes, and of Schenectady, too, h

and lifte

oodchucks, some porcupines, and others the ta

ng to the porch, you should see the ring of gallants every afternoon a-courti

llow-haired slip of a wench busy knitting there in the sun, and looking at n

laughing; and led my m

le. "And if you do, God help you, John Drogue, for they say she's a born distu

rt?" I

f, slapping his thighs and setting the moo