Harper's Round Table, October 6, 1896

Copyright, 1896, by Harper & Brothers. All Rights Reserved.

The men of the block-house fort had eaten breakfast by candle-light, for an early start to their work upon the various clearings. The long, rough table would be reset later for the women and children. They were a band of settlers in the wilderness, who had arrived from Virginia the preceding autumn barely in time to build one house for the shelter of all. Before another summer should be over each family would possess a dwelling of its own, and the beginning of a farm great with the promise of future orchards and fields of grain.
The severity of the winter had departed, March was bringing many days of brightness, with songs from the earlier birds of spring. It was now the hour of dawn, and, far to the east, above where rolled the broad Ohio, the sky was rosy with the sun's bright greeting. Across the Big Blue River to the west were clouds of morning mist, which made the higher hills beyond appear like wooded islands in a rolling sea.
John Martin stood near the block-house, with his long rifle on his arm and his axe in hand, ready to start for the home clearing. He was twenty-five years old, of medium height and excellent form. There was not his equal in the settlement for activity and strength.
By his side stood his wife, a girlish-looking woman yet in her teens, with her hands clasped upon his shoulder. Her eyes were looking earnestly into his, and there was anxiety in her voice as she said:
I hope, John, you and Stephen are not growing careless about watching because no Indians have been seen for many weeks. You know one can never tell when they may come, 'like a thief in the night.' Do you keep one on guard while the other works, as you used to?
Well, no, we haven't lately, to tell the truth, Mary, he replied; it seems like such a waste of time when there's so much to do. We've cut away the undergrowth for a good distance round to give us a clear view, and we both work and watch the best we can. I've heard the Indians were entirely out of powder and lead this spring, and they will not probably go on the war-path till they get some. Don't you worry, dear; I don't believe there's any danger now. Come on, Stephen, he called, let's be off; it's been daylight half an hour; you can 'most see the sun.