Chapter 2
Mingo walked slowly to accommodate William's unsteady stride. The young Quaker was not fully recovered but was determined to arrive at Boonesborough before the day ended. They made frequent stops. William chafed at his slowness but Mingo assured him that they could still make the fort before dark. They sat beside a small clear creek to eat their jerky when the sun was full in the sky. The day was very warm and the heat was further sapping William's strength. Mingo was secretly concerned about the young man's health. His skin was very pale and his breath came in short gasps. His hair was soaked with sweat even though he carried his coat in his arms. When Mingo suggested that William take a short nap, the youth pushed himself off of the rock on which he was sitting and swayed on his feet. His action conveyed his determination and Mingo's respect for the young man grew, though his concern did not diminish.
By early evening Mingo was supporting William with his left arm as the young man staggered through the fort's gates. Nearly dragging the youth, Mingo leaned his gun against the outside wall of Cincinnatus' tavern and lifted the heavy door latch. Cincinnatus looked up and rushed across the plank floor to help pull the fainting Quaker into the room. Between them Cincinnatus and Mingo were able to get the young man up the stairs and onto the bed before he completely passed out.
Mingo removed the man's shoes and covered him with a light quilt. Then he beckoned Cincinnatus through the door. The two men descended the stairs together. When Mingo went back for his gun the tavern keeper poured his friend a mug of ale. Mingo nodded gratefully as he raised the mug and took a long swallow. Dabbing the drops from his lips with the back of his hand, Mingo began to question Cincinnatus about a Quaker family that may be waiting for their son to arrive at the fort. Cincinnatus shook his head in the negative.
"There ain't been any Quakers around here a'tall, least not that I know about. Have you checked with Dan'l?"
"No, I don't think William could have made the additional half mile. You were closer."
"That's a fact. He seems all tuckered out. What's wrong with him?"
"He took a severe blow to the head a few days ago. One of our hunting parties found him. He's been in my bed for the past two days. He said that he was traveling with a surveying party. Do you know anything about a party of surveyors?"
Cincinnatus thought for several seconds, then shook his head once again. Mingo pursed his lips and took another sip of the ale. "When he wakes up, please give him something to eat. Place the cost on my account. I am going to see Daniel. I'll spend the night there and return here tomorrow morning. Something is amiss or I'm growing awfully suspicious as I age!" He downed the remaining ale, slapped his hand on the counter and strode through the door. Behind him Cincinnatus wiped the bar and prepared a plate of turkey and potatoes for his overnight guest.
Daniel knew nothing of a Quaker family in the Boonesborough area or of a surveying party traveling to the Mississippi. Like Mingo, his suspicions were aroused. The two men discussed the various possibilities, from the blow on the head befuddling William's mind to criminal activity on the part of the "surveying party".
"Daniel, you are familiar with Quakers." Mingo was aware of the Boone family's association with the Society of Friends. "Would a single family travel here, alone?"
"They might. It could be that they had a fallin' out with their local meeting. I've heard that some meetings flat out refuse any participation in the revolution but others allow their members to choose their own path according to their measure of 'light'. Or they could be missionaries."
Mingo pondered Daniel's statement. s a student at Oxford he had been exposed to philosophy and religion, and the Friends' beliefs were dismissed as nonsense. However, being of a curious nature Mingo had read a pamphlet written by William Penn and been intrigued by the concept of guidance by an inner light. He had investigated a small meeting in London and been impressed by the welcoming nature of the membership. His seared heart had been soothed by the Friends' view that all races were equally children of God and therefore all inheritors of the Kingdom.
His father found the pamphlet in his room and another of their frequent bitter arguments had ensued. The Earls of Dunsmore were staunchly Anglican, and that was the end to it. Sensitive and torn, Mingo had not investigated any further. But he never forgot the warm acceptance that he found in the Friends' quiet company. William's reaction to seeing him in Menewa's village reinforced the feeling and he was determined to help the Quaker youth no matter what it took.
Coming back to the present, Mingo shook his head to clear his thoughts and found Daniel looking at him quizzically. He raised his hand in a gesture of dismissal, stood and yawned. "I will stay the night, if I am welcome." His black eyebrows raised and his eyes conveyed humor. Daniel grinned in return and laid his big hand on the Cherokee's shoulder.
"You are always welcome here, and you know it. Good night." Daniel pulled his boots off and walked silently into the bedroom where Becky was already asleep.
"But I have not always been welcome, Daniel," Mingo whispered, remembering two bitter events that had marred their friendship. Sighing, the tall dark man continued to sit beside the dying fire, lost in the past.
Just after sunrise Mingo walked to Cincinnatus' tavern to check on William. When he entered the large room he found the young man seated at a table eating a large breakfast of eggs and turkey hash. He smiled when he saw the Cherokee enter and waved him over. Mingo smiled back and seated himself in front of the young man. Cincinnatus called from behind the bar to ask if he wanted a cup of coffee, and Mingo accepted the mug of dark liquid.
"You look much better this morning, I must say. I was more than a little concerned about you last evening."
William smiled again and touched the back of his head. The scalp was totally closed and the knot was less than half the size that it had been. "I think that I will live, though I wasn't too sure about twelve hours ago. I don't remember this building at all, or the fort. Did you have to carry me?" The man's face colored in embarrassment.
"Uh, no, but I was fairly dragging you the last half mile or so. You were really not well enough to have attempted the journey, William." Mingo's eyes conveyed his concern, and the young man lowered his head.
"I'm worried about my folks. They aren't here, are they? If they were, you would have told them that I was in Boonesborough and they'd be right here now. I will have to try and follow their trail back to Philadelphia. But I'm not sure which way they came. I think it was the southern way." His voice quivered and he swallowed to steady it. Mingo felt sympathy for the young man but carefully concealed the emotion so as not to further embarrass William.
"There are two usual routes. Tell me which one you followed and we will take the other."
"I didn't pay much attention I'm afraid. I'm not a natural woodsman, and I trusted my guides." He swallowed then leaned over confidentially. "Do you suspect that they are the ones that knocked me out? If so,why?"
"Several indicators suggest that they are. One, my friends found only you. Two, there was no evidence that there were other injured nearby. Three, you were struck from behind. As to why, I have no idea. You didn't have a large amount of money on you did you?"
"Not a large amount. Only a few pounds sterling. It is gone." The young man's conveyed his embarrassment.
Mingo was silent for several seconds. He knew that some men would kill for pennies on the dollar. He strongly suspected that the young Quaker had indeed been the victim of robbery. William continued to look into Mingo's dark eyes. He saw the confirmation of his own suspicions. He sighed and bent his head.
"The money doesn't matter. I need to find my parents, my brothers and sister. They should have been here long ago. I assume that you have already investigated this also and that no one here has seen them."
Mingo nodded silently. Then he rose and walked to where Cincinnatus was rearranging stock behind his counter. "Cincinnatus, please outfit me with the necessaries for a two week journey. And give William a like amount. Put it all on my account, please. "
The youth protested from the table. "You have taken debt on my account already. I can't allow more."
Mingo smiled again. "William, you can repay me when you are settled. I am not worried in the least."
The young Quaker smiled in appreciation and finished his breakfast.