Books: Neal, the Miller
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James Otis >> Neal, the Miller
Sewatis nodded in approbation.
"And you are to stay here with me?"
"All time; now I call Injuns."
Walter was wholly at a loss to understand the meaning of this remark until
Sewatis rose to his feet, uttering a cry that might well have been
mistaken for a night-owl.
In response to it, half a dozen red men, each carrying a burden, came out
from among the trees, and depositing their heavy loads in the lean-to,
seated themselves before the fire in silence.
Sewatis motioned for Walter to look at that which had been brought, and
while the latter wonderingly obeyed, he cut from the haunch of venison a
sufficient number of steaks to serve as a hearty meal for the new-comers.
The boy's surprise may be imagined when he discovered that each of the
packages was made up of furs, and he understood that the value of the
whole lot greatly exceeded the amount of money in the bag.
"Big mill," Sewatis said, in a tone of satisfaction, and then he turned
his attention to his followers, leaving Walter to speculate upon the good
fortune which had come to him so unexpectedly.
The Indians remained in camp during that night, and at daybreak, after a
breakfast of venison, all save Sewatis departed.
Never before had Walter worked as he did on the day succeeding the
Indian's return. It was a perfect fever of industry, superinduced by the
knowledge that there was now nothing to prevent the consummation of his
desires save that which could be done by hands.
His companion appeared as before the coming of Jim Albert, with a single
exception, and that was at the close of the fatiguing day's work, when he
pointed to a slight elevation overlooking the site of the proposed mill,
and said, quietly,-
"Sewatis build house there. "
"So you shall, and between the two of us I reckon we can run the business
as it should be."
Two days more the boy and his friend worked during every moment of
daylight, and then came Stephen Kidder.
"Master McCleary is just behind me," he cried, before Walter could greet
him.
"Master McCleary! Why has he come? Is there more danger for me?"
"You are free to go to Portsmouth this day. Samuel Haines has sailed for
England, and there is little chance he will ever return."
Before Walter could realize the full bearing which Haines's departure
would have upon his own affairs, Andrew McCleary came into view.
"It is a brave spot, my lad, and you have done well to choose it. Master
Leavitt gives me great encouragement in regard to advancing the money, but
stipulates that he shall be made a partner in the enterprise, you to pay
him interest on the entire amount until your debt of one-half is
discharged."
"I shall not need his money, for I already have a partner who neither
demands interest nor a portion of the profits," Walter replied,
laughingly; and then he told his now mystified friends of what Sewatis had
done.
McCleary insisted upon taking the Indian by the hand as he praised him,
but not a word, either good or bad, could he persuade Sewatis to speak.
The mill was built and opened for business four months after the repeal of
the Stamp Act, and Sewatis insisted on pouring into the hopper the first
bushel of corn brought to be ground.
This much regarding Walter Neal and his friends is known through the
writings of others, and the next mention which is made of either person
immediately connected with this story is found in Belknap's "History of
New Hampshire" regarding the battle of Bunker Hill, where he writes
concerning the three New Hampshire regiments which were mustered into the
service of Congress:
"The two former were present in the memorable battle on the heights on
Charlestown, being posted on the left wing, behind a fence, from which
they sorely galled the British as they advanced to the attack, and cut
them down by whole ranks at once. In their retreat they lost several men,
and among others the brave Major Andrew McCleary, who was killed by a
cannon shot after he had passed the Isthmus of Charlestown."
A letter now before the writer of this story, signed by Walter Neal and
addressed to his mother at Portsmouth, tells of his service during the
battle, while he was a member of the regiment to which Andrew McCleary was
attached, and in it the miller says:
"Tell Sewatis that our noble friend is no more. He has given his life for
his country, and when America takes her place among nations, McCleary's
name will stand out bright as the sun."
THE END.