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                              THE RANGER

                                  OR

                      THE FUGITIVES OF THE BORDER

                          BY EDWARD S. ELLIS

            AUTHOR OF "OONOMOO," "SET JONES," "IRONA," ETC.


NEW YORK
HURST & COMPANY
PUBLISHERS

COPYRIGHT, 1911,
BY
HURST & COMPANY.




[Illustration: "Hold! You strike the white man's friend!"]




CONTENTS.


       I. Zeb and his Master

      II. The Night of Terror

     III. Kent and Leslie

      IV. The Captives

       V. The Meeting on the River

      VI. The Raft

     VII. Lost and Found

    VIII. The Companion in Captivity

      IX. Zeb's Revenge

       X. The Brief Reprieve

      XI. A Friend

     XII. Escape

    XIII. The Captive

     XIV. The Rescue

      XV. The Fugitives Flying no Longer




LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.


"Hold! You strike the white man's friend!"

George and Rosalind

"Them varmints," said he, "are playing particular devil in these parts"

There were two horses in the party, and upon one of these Rosalind had
been placed

"Ready," whispered Leslie, "you take the nearest one."

"You shoot Indian, eh?" said one, brandishing his knife at the same time

The savages were amusing themselves by ascertaining who could send his
tomahawk nearest the body of their captive without touching him

"Does the maiden remember Pequanon?"

Two savages were left on shore

"Yonder is something approaching."




KENT, THE RANGER.




CHAPTER I.

ZEB AND HIS MASTER.


At the southern part of Ohio, where the river of that name swerves from
its south-western course, and makes a sweeping bend toward the
north-west, many years ago stood a large and imposing dwelling. Its
character, so different and superior to others found here and there
along the Ohio, showed that its owner must have been a man both of
superior taste and abundant means. It had been built by Sir William
Leland, who had emigrated from Europe with his young wife, and erected a
home in the western wilderness. Here they lived a goodly number of days;
and when, at last, they took their departure within a year of each
other, they left behind them a son and daughter to cherish and inherit
their home.

George Leland, at the time of which we speak, was but twenty, while his
sister Rosalind was three years his junior. Yet both, with the
assistance of a faithful <DW64> servant, managed to live quite
comfortably. The soil was exceedingly rich, and, with a little pains,
yielded abundantly every thing that could be wished, while the river and
wood were unfailing resources. Three years had elapsed since the elder
Leland's death, and during that time, although living in a country
swarming with Indians, nothing had occurred to alarm the fears of our
friends, or even to give them the slightest suspicion that danger
threatened them.

[Illustration: George and Rosalind.]

When Sir William settled in this section, he followed the example of the
great founder of Pennsylvania, and purchased every foot of his land from
those who claimed it; and, in addition to the liberal remuneration which
each received, they were given some charming present by their pale-faced
brother. This secured their friendship; and, although many miles
intervened between the whites and their nearest kindred, yet they had
nothing to fear from the savages who surrounded them. Thus matters stood
when George and Rosalind were left orphans, some years before the
opening of our story.

It was a pleasant day in early summer that George and his sister were
seated in front of their house. The sun was just setting, and they had
remained thus a long time. Zeb, the <DW64>, was absent for the time, and
they were thus undisturbed.

"Do you really think," pursued the sister, "it can be true that the
Indians have perpetrated the outrages which have been reported?"

"I should be glad to think differently, could I have reason for doing
so; but these reports certainly have foundation; and what is more
alarming, the suspicion that we are _not_ safe, which was awakened some
time ago, is now confirmed. For two or three days I have detected
suspicious appearances, and Zeb informed me that he discovered a couple
of savages lurking around the edge of the forest. I fear there is strong
reason to apprehend danger."

"But, brother, will not the kindness which our parents showed them while
living be a guaranty of our protection?"

"It may, to some extent; but you must remember