An Honorable Soldier in General Washington's Army: Chapter 6
by Tami B.
Disclaimer: The following work has been written solely for the enjoyment of fans and not for monetary profit. The rights to the characters initially created for the Daniel Boone series belong to 20th Century Fox and Fess Parker. All other characters are of the author's own creation. No copyright violation is intended.
Wanting to be a help, Adam asked for permission to work for the settlers not for monetary gain for he knew that was in short supply, but to show himself friendly and to earn his keep. Daniel readily agreed. Who was he to stop this ambitious young man from doing something constructive and worthwhile? Working most days from dawn to dusk with enthusiasm, Adam was quickly becoming a valued member of the community. In fact, most of settlers were thinking of him not as a soldier in the Continental Army but one of their own. He was quite taken with the settlers and the Boones especially of whom he was beginning to consider family. Of course, he wouldn't tell them that. Adam intentionally left some days open so he could spend time with two of the youngest Boones, Israel and Jemima. They would roam in the woods together or play whist, at which Israel was fast becoming a player to be reckoned with.
On this day, the Boones waited patiently for Adam to come home. That is, all but one. "Ma, I'm hungry. When are we going to eat?" Israel whined.
"Israel, I told you we would eat when Adam gets here," Rebecca explained again.
"When's he comin'? Shouldn't he be here by now?" Israel said, continuing to whine.
"That's enough, Isra'l," Daniel spoke up. "You can work on your spelling while we wait." Daniel handed him the slate and chalk. "Write down all the names that pop into your head."
"All of 'em?" Israel asked.
"All of 'em," Daniel answered. "Mind you spell 'em correctly too."
"Caleb must be getting every ounce of work out of Adam today. He's never been late for dinner," Rebecca commented.
"Maybe he's having supper with the Rands. Then he'll have supper with us," Jemima surmised with a giggle.
"I wouldn't be a bit surprised," Daniel said. "The settlers have been generously feeding him and even sending extra home with him."
"They're getting a bargain there for the amount of work he does," Rebecca commented.
"A slacker he's not," Daniel said.
"Mr. Rand said he could out work all the men in Boonesborough and some of the women," Jemima said.
"No argument there," Daniel stated.
"And he can out- eat all of the them too!" Jemima said with a laugh.
"That's the truth," Rebecca chimed in.
"Pa, how do you spell Mel-cheese-a-dek," Israel asked.
"What?" Daniel asked.
"He means Melchizedek who was the King of Salem at the time of Abraham," Jemima said to her father.
"Oh, skip that one, Isra'l," Daniel said, even he didn't want to try spelling that one. Where did that boy come up with that name anyway? Adam must have been imparting Biblical knowledge to him. Daniel was impressed that Israel listened and remembered.
Israel tapped the side of his face with the chalk thinking of another name to write. One came to him and he wrote it hurriedly. "Pa, the slate's full now."
Checking the spelling, Daniel nodded his approval. "Perfect, Isra'l. Let's see if you can do it as well a second time."
"Ah, Pa, do I have to?" Israel complained.
"Yes. It'll keep you busy and you do need the practice," Daniel explained.
"Pa, what should I write?" Israel asked.
"Whatever you see in the cabin," Daniel suggested.
Israel looked towards the door and wrote a word. He was obviously wanting Adam to come through it soon. Continuing to glance at the door and immediately pen a word, Israel kept at it until Adam actually strolled into the cabin. "Finally! We can eat!" Israel shouted.
After depositing his rifle and other items on the wall near his bed, Adam approached the Boones gathered around the table. "My apologies for being late. Mr. Rand wanted to finish the odds and ends today so he could start fresh in the morning," he said after he took his place beside Jemima.
"Have you already had supper, Adam?" Jemima asked.
Looking a little sheepish, Adam explained, "Mrs. Rand invited me and I didn't have the heart to turn her down. She went to so much trouble."
The Boones all laughed and Jemima explained to him what they were amused by. Smiling, he offered to say grace. No sooner had Adam said "amen" than Israel began to fill his plate as if the rest of them would not allow him to have any.
"Israel, mind your manners," Rebecca chided.
His plate heaping in abundance, Israel began to eat normally. He knew his mother would scold him again if he didn't.
"I hope you're prepared to eat all of that," Daniel said.
"If he doesn't, Adam will finish it," Jemima stated.
Giving her a look of mock annoyance, Adam said, "In order to assist a friend, I consent to the task."
"Speaking of tasks," Daniel said to Adam. "What does your schedule look like for tomorrow?"
"It's clear. Why?" Adam asked, after he swallowed.
"Isra'l needs an outing in the woods. I thought you could take him," Daniel suggested, thinking Adam would like an opportunity to roam in the forest as well.
"Certainly," Adam agreed.
"Yippee!" Israel exclaimed.
"Before you boys begin that adventure in the woods," Rebecca said, "I need for you to take the clothes I've mended for Cincinnatus to him."
"Happy to, Mrs. Boone," Adam consented.
"Don't let Mr. Rand snag you into doing work for him," Jemima warned.
"I don't think Israel will let me," Adam said, watching Israel shaking his head while spooning food into his mouth.
By the end of the meal, Israel had indeed consumed every morsel on his plate. Adam made a pretense at being disappointed to the delight of the younger boy.
Early the next afternoon, Israel and Adam entered the tavern to find Cincinnatus cleaning the counter. Also present were other patrons. Some of whom Adam knew and others he did not. "Israel, Corporal, how ya boys be?" Cincinnatus asked.
"Fine," Israel spoke up. "Ma, got your mending done." He passed the clothes to Cincinnatus who looked them over.
"Your ma did a good job. You be sure and thank her for me, won't you?" Cincinnatus asked.
"Sure. Come on, Adam, let's go," Israel said, tugging on Adam's sleeve.
"Wait a moment, Israel," Adam said. "I want to speak to Mr. Cincinnatus."
Israel made a discontented face but said nothing.
"Mr. Cincinnatus, you're welcome to call me by my first name, if you are comfortable with that. Almost everybody else in Boonesborough does," Adam said.
"Adam it is," Cincinnatus agreed. "And you can knock the mister off my name."
"I'll try, but I think you're stuck with it. I'm not accustomed to addressing my elders by their first name alone," Adam said, hoping Cincinnatus wouldn't mention the fact that he didn't use a title with Mingo's name. Adam was uncertain why that was the case unless his name was of Indian origin and not subject to a title.
"Suit yourself," Cincinnatus said.
Two men in the corner took a great deal of interest in the ongoing conversation while drinking their rum. The trio was unaware of it.
"I noticed your and Mr. Rand's firewood is running low. I'm willing to cut some for you, if you'll permit me. I expect no payment," Adam said, adjusting his rifle over his buckskin clad shoulder.
Cincinnatus chuckled. "I have no objection, Adam."
"Good," Adam said with a smile. "I'm helping Mr. Rand make nails tomorrow. Would the day after tomorrow be agreeable to get the work done?"
"Do it whenever it's most convenient for you," Cincinnatus told him. "Where are you boys off to anyway?" Cincinnatus asked.
"We're going to spend all afternoon in the woods," Israel said as Adam nodded his head in agreement.
"It's a nice afternoon for a romp in the woods," Cincinnatus said. "If I didn't have to attend to the tavern I'd come with you."
"Can we go now?" Israel asked impatiently.
"Our business in Mr. Cincinnatus' tavern has concluded so we may go," Adam said. "Good day, Mr. Cincinnatus."
"So long, boys," Cincinnatus said.
Israel and Adam exited the tavern and went to the woods near the Boone cabin. There they chased each other, played hide and seek, and wrestled which Adam won consistently. The victory was a hollow one since he was beating a boy a little over half his size.
Taking a respite, Israel and Adam leaned against a tree. "Adam, let's track each other after the rest is over."
"I'll do my best, Israel," Adam said, "but I'm not proficient in the art."
"Huh?" Israel asked.
"I'm not good at tracking," Adam rephrased.
"Oh, well, we're just playing. You don't have to be good at it," Israel explained. "Want to hear a true story?" he asked excitedly.
"I can't wait," Adam said flatly.
"Did you know on the night of a full moon that Injuns go a'scalpin' for whites because it's a night of evil? Their favorite scalps are from blond haired blue eyed people. The Great Spirit gives long life to the Injuns that take white scalps, but is more happy and gives many sons to the Injuns who take the scalps from blond haired blue eyed people."
"Are you sure this is true?" Adam asked dubiously.
"Yes," Israel said.
"Remind me to stay indoors on the night of a full moon. I'd like to keep my hair," Adam said.
"There's another story about a group of five Redcoats up your way who got lost in the woods on the night of a full moon and when they got back to their other Redcoats friends, they'd lost their scalps and some fingers," Israel said seriously.
"We've rested enough, Israel," Adam said, wanting this conversation to end. "I'm ready to track you, but don't make it too difficult. I'm not the woodsman you are. You have a five second head start."
Israel took off like a shot as Adam counted to five. Then he began to track his little friend. After some ten minutes, Israel gave himself up. Adam got close but had begun to veer well away from Israel's hiding place. When Adam's turn came, Israel was able to find the older boy with only a small amount of effort. Young Israel had learned his lessons very well from his father. Adam decided he needed, along with wrestling lessons, instruction in tracking. There was so much to learn in this land called Kentucky, he thought.
The boys eventually made their way to the river and they followed its course for awhile. Along the way, Israel found a group of four frogs, which he decided to take home.
"What are you going to name them?" Adam asked.
"I don't know," Israel answered.
"How about Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John? They were the writers of the gospels," Adam suggested.
Israel nodded his head in agreement. "This one with the biggest body is Matthew. This one with the smallest body is Mark. This one with the darker green color is Luke and this ugly one is John."
"They all look unattractive to me," Adam said.
"Not to me. We can race them when we get home," Israel said.
"A frog leaping contest. That sounds like fun," Adam said.
"Adam, would you carry two of 'em?" Israel asked, trying to juggle four frogs in his small hands and not managing well at all.
"Certainly. Just don't give me that ugly one to hold," Adam said in jest.
With Israel's frogs, the boys made their way home with Israel marching like a soldier and counting like the baron. "Vorwaarts march! Vun-doo-dree-four!" his voice echoed in the woods as he repeated the count. As they drew closer to the cabin, they came to the rope swing. Israel climbed aboard after they built a temporary structure to contain the frogs. Adam provided the muscle that kept Israel in motion.
In the distance, Israel and Adam were being observed by two men who had been in the tavern earlier in the day. They looked on ominously and then left the boys as they came - unseen.
Upon the arrival at the Boone cabin, Israel proudly presented his frogs to Daniel and Rebecca. He was allowed to keep them as long as they were kept outside. With terms agreed to, Daniel, Israel, and Adam made a container to hold Israel's frogs. Then the frog races began.
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