Chapter I: Preface

TO MY YOUNG READERS: Many of those among you who have read the first volume of "The Young Pioneer Series" may be pleased to again make the acquaintance of the two border lads, Bob and Sandy, as well as others who figured in the earlier tale. Among these might be mentioned the Irish trapper, Pat O'Mara; Kate, the pretty little sister of our two heroes; Blue Jacket, a young Shawanee warrior, destined later to become famous in history; and Simon Kenton, perhaps the best known among the friends of Daniel Boone.

In this new story concerning the adventures of David Armstrong's boys I trust that you will find much to interest you. It is my earnest hope that such lads as read these stories of daring deeds along the frontier, in those early days of the history of our country, may not only find them intensely entertaining, but instructive as well.

I have tried to show what a sterling type of character, even in young boys, the stern necessities of those perilous days produced. Self-reliance was absolutely needed in order to successfully cope with the multitude of dangers by which the pioneers of the Ohio and Kentucky border were surrounded.

And, when you have finished the present volume, I can only hope that you will agree with me in saying that Bob and Sandy were splendid specimens of undaunted boyhood, and a credit to their Scotch ancestry. I also trust that you will be eager to meet them again at no very distant time in other fields of daring, whither the roving spirit of Sandy, who has taken Simon Kenton as his ideal hero, may, in company with his brother, be tempted to rove.

HARRISON ADAMS.

_August 10th, 1912._

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE
PREFACE v
I. THE ALARM BELL 1
II. SEEKING REFUGE AT THE BLOCKHOUSE 12
III. THE BEE TREE 24
IV. WATCHING FOR THE HONEY THIEF 40
V. A STRANGE BEAR HUNT 49
VI. SERIOUS NEWS 60
VII. THE THREE FRENCH TRAPPERS 69
VIII. SIMON KENTON, THE BORDERER 83
IX. THE MOCCASIN TRACKS THAT TOED-IN 92
X. BLUE JACKET'S WARNING 106
XI. TENDING THEIR TRAPS 115
XII. THE CRUEL PARTING 127
XIII. THE GRAND HUNT 138
XIV. BLACK BEAVER STRIKES 150
XV. ON THE TRAIL OF THE IROQUOIS 164
XVI. THE BARK OF THE RED FOX 173
XVII. PERILS OF THE WILDERNESS 185
XVIII. THE BIG WATER AT LAST 197
XIX. A BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT 208
XX. PONTIAC IN THE COUNCIL 220
XXI. PRISONERS 235
XXII. THE TABLES TURNED 244
XXIII. THE CAVERN OF THE WATER SPIRITS 255
XXIV. KENTON'S LIFE WITH THE INDIANS 266
XXV. A BIRCH-BARK MESSAGE 278
XXVI. THE WAR DANCE 290
XXVII. PONTIAC'S PERIL 301
XXVIII. WHEN ALL SEEMED LOST 312
XXIX. THE WORD OF AN INDIAN CHIEF 323
XXX. SAFE AT LAST 335

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE
"'KEEP AGAINST THE ROCK, ALL!' SAID KENTON, WHO WAS
IN THE LEAD" (_See page 261_) _Frontispiece_
"'WHOOP! THERE SHE GOES!'" 40
"THE BEAR ALL THE WHILE KEPT ON CREEPING OUT CLOSER
AND CLOSER" 56
"PLAINLY MARKED AGAINST THE FACE OF THE HARVEST
MOON, THEY COULD SEE THE HEAD AND SHOULDERS
OF AN INDIAN BRAVE!" 174
"THE BOYS SAW THE SHEEN OF HIS SATINY SIDES AS HE SPRANG" 186
"DANCING AS THEY CIRCLED THE FLAMES" 222

The Pioneer Boys on the Great Lakes