CHAPTER III
HOW RODNEY AND ANGUS BECAME FRIENDS
“Say, Sim, what’s the story you’s goin’ to tell, the one yer cousin told ye?”
“Yes, tell us about it, Sim.”
The pupils of the cabin school were having recess. A few weeks before David Allison had moved his family up to Charlottesville from the “tide-water country,” and had opened this school.
“Well, ye see––” began Sim.
“Yes, we see all right, but thar ain’t much fun lookin’ at you gittin’ ready to tell a story. You sure are slower’n our ol’ nigger, Absalom.”
“Give Sim a chance!”
Angus MacGregor spoke as one with authority and his stockily built body looked capable of enforcing the order. Sim proceeded.
“As I was sayin’, Bill, that’s my cousin, he lives over in the Shenandoah valley two looks and a yell from the Jumpin’-off Place, was out fishin’ with another feller. When they was goin’ home an’ come out inter the clearin’ roun’ Fin Anderson’s cabin, they see 20 an ol’ Injun, Bowlegs they call him, snoopin’ roun’. They hid an’ watched perceedin’s. When ol’ Bowlegs found no one was ter home what’s he do but walk right in and bring out a jug o’ corn liquor an’ set right thar an’ fill his gullet. Then the ol’ varmint laid down fer a snooze.”