DANIEL BOONE: PATRIOT

CHARACTERS

DANIEL BOONE, a pioneer. ROGER KENTON, a lad ALLAN RIGDON, another BLAIZE PRITCHARD, a trapper EDWARD BRYAN JAMES COLBY BLACK FISH, an Indian Chief HAWK EYE, a young Indian Brave EAGLE'S FEATHER, another Other Pioneers, Trappers, Indians

(Note: The events comprised in this play cover a longer period of time than is suggested here.)

SCENE: An open woodland. Place, the Blue Lick Springs, Kentucky, 1778. Trees right, left, and background. A slightly worn path leads to background where the salt springs are supposed to be. Tall poles with skins on them. A large kettle swings over the fire in right foreground. Near it are other kettles, iron saucepans, and sacks for salt. In center background a hollow tree with swinging moss covering its opening. A fallen log near the kettles serves as a seat. The play begins by young Allan Rigdon coming out of woods, left, with a few fagots which he feeds to the fire, bending over it, and looking in the kettle. James Colby comes by the half-worn path from background, carrying a bucket of water.

COLBY (calling).

How comes the salt, Rigdon? If 'twere not that these licks give it in such abundance, 'twould try a lad's patience sorely. 'Tis like a girl's work—tending kettles! And hardly a man's work—carrying water from a spring. (Puts down pail of water.) 'Faith, my arms are stiff, and my fingers also! If an Indian sprang at me from a thicket I could not so much as cock my gun! What shall I do next? Carry more water? The rest are still drawing it—more girl's work, if you'll leave me call it so! (As a slight sound is heard at left.) Heaven's mercy! What's that? (Seizes gun.) Is it Indians?

BOONE (quietly approaching from left).

And if it were, would your work be only girl's work, Colby? It shows you but a foolish lad to speak of it thus lightly. With all Boonesborough in need of salt, with our cattle and horses half-perishing for the want of it, with the way that lies to the licks a very wilderness road for danger, 'twould hardly be called girl's work to tend these kettles—brave as our frontier women are. 'Tis men's work, Colby, although you be but lads who do it.

RIGDON.

The wilderness makes men of lads right quickly; does it not, Master Boone?

BOONE (seated on log).

Aye, that it does. If it were not for the stress of the times, and the scarcity of men to keep watch, you should be back in Boonesborough, and not here, my lads. But 'twas for your courage and skill that I chose you. How comes the salt, Rigdon?

RIGDON.

Finely, sir, finely. And the hunting?

BOONE (shaking his head).

Scarce enough to keep a fox alive. I must start forth again. There should be plenty of bison fat and deer meat for the days that are coming. (Enter Kenton with bucket of water. He puts it down, and salutes Boone.) Well, Kenton, what news from the springs?

KENTON.

The same as ever, sir. Blaize Pritchard and Edward Bryan stand guard while the rest of us carry water. The camp is as you see it. There's not been a sign of an Indian since you left us yesternight.

BOONE.

You do not ask what I've brought back with me, Kenton.

KENTON.

I know, sir, that if there were game to be had you would have bagged it. But since we've come to the Blue Lick Springs the buffalo and deer seem to have gotten wind of us. There's not so much as a rabbit scampering across the grass. It seems as if nature herself were in league against us.

BOONE.

Nonsense, lad. There'll be game enough soon, when I've foraged further. Such times as these were sent to us to see whether we be of iron or putty.

KENTON.

All the same, sir, I'll be glad when the boiling is done and we can pack our salt, and start through the forest for home. Long as the trail is, I would sooner have it than——

BOONE (clutching rifle).

Hark! The crack of a branch—in the forest. On the defense, lads. I'll investigate.

[Goes into woods at right.

KENTON (in a low voice, as the lads seize their rifles).

If it should be those venomous Shawnees! Before we left Boonesborough 'twas said that they'd already passed the war-pipe through their villages. They have been still so long, 'tis time for an uprising. (Approaching footsteps are heard.) Who comes?

COLBY (on the alert).

Just Boone himself.

RIGDON.

What signs, sir?

BOONE.

No signs at all, unless for the first time in their lives the Indians are shrewder than the Long Knives. There's not so much as a broken branch, or a newly fallen leaf. Now, lads, off to the spring with you. I'll tend this last kettle, and when 'tis boiled, I'll start on the trail again. There must be bison and deer for the followers of Daniel Boone. Lads, stay! If because we are unmolested you should sometimes think that tending the kettle is work for girls—remember that we and our guns are all that stand between the Indians and the fort at Boonesborough, where all the women and children are. Will you remember?

ALL (speaking vehemently).

Aye, sir.

BOONE.

And as I take the trail I will remember the lads who've lived on dry bread and the paring of bacon rinds, and who've tasted naught but parched buffalo meat in three weeks.

RIGDON.

You've gone hungry yourself, sir.

BOONE.

Well, lads, 'tis all in the day's luck. We'll not suffer for meat if I can shoot an elk or a bear. (Lads exeunt through trees in background, Boone watching them.) Brave lads they are, and true!

[He tends the kettle, facing audience. After a moment Indians stealthily appear in background.

EAGLE'S FEATHER (as two of the braves seize Boone).

Long Knife, surrender!

[There is a brief struggle between Boone and the braves; but the former finds, that it is useless to resist.

HAWK EYE

Shawnees on warpath. Long have watched Boone and tried to trap him. Now have got him. Boone show trail to Boonesborough.

BOONE (to himself, in a tense whisper).

Boonesborough?

BLACK FISH (majestically).

What answer does Long Knife Boone make? If Long Knife joins tribe, Long Knife will be treated with honor. All at Boonesborough will be killed; but Boone's life will be spared if he joins tribe. What answer does Long Knife Boone make?

[Boone considers deeply for a moment. His gun has been taken from him; but he is so closely surrounded that his arms are left free. He considers deeply for another moment, arms crossed on breast, head bowed. Looks up for an instant. Gives a searching glance at the Indians. Considers again for a moment. Then raises his head.

BOONE.

Long Knife says—yes!

[Holds out his hands, smiling.

ALL INDIANS (delighted at pantomime of acquiescence).

Wah!

BLACK FISH (waving tomahawk in air).

Long Knife's brothers—over by spring!

ALL INDIANS (in chorus).

Kill! Kill!

BOONE.

Wait! Black Fish try to kill Long Knife's brothers. Long Knife's brothers fight back. Kill maybe one brave. Maybe two braves. Maybe three braves. But—Boone speak to his white brothers. They surrender to Black Fish. No fighting. No braves killed. What does Black Fish answer?

BLACK FISH.

Black Fish answers: Long Knife show great wisdom. Black Fish do as Long Knife says.

[Some of the Indians start in the direction of the spring.

HAWK EYE (grunting).

Umph!

[Kenton is suddenly brought in by two braves who have captured him. As his eye falls on Boone his voice shrills with terror.

KENTON.

Oh, they have caught you! They have—

[The rest of the pioneers begin to appear from background, closely guarded by the Indians.

COLBY (as all of Boone's little band are brought in as captives).

What's this? Not Boone a traitor?

BOONE.

Hush! (To the other white men.) No use to fight. We are surrounded. (To Black Fish.) Does Black Fish give me leave to speak to my comrades apart?

[Black Fish nods assent. Boone and his band withdraw to left. The Indians withdraw to right. Each side holds a conference. That of the Indians is in pantomime.

BOONE (to his band).

No use to fight, lads. Put up your guns. (Indicates Indians.) Half a score more are in the woods behind us. If we surrender, we may gain some time. If we refuse, we're lost. They'll march at once on Boonesborough.

KENTON.

Wilson's gone free, sir. He'll take Boonesborough the news of our capture.

BOONE (rapidly).

Aye; but he cannot take them the news of what Black Fish means to do. No one in Boonesborough knows that the Indians are on the warpath. A massacre is planned. The fires are lit. The tomahawks are ready. We must gain time. 'Tis all that we can do. We must surrender. I'll break through when I can. (Loudly.) Think well, my brothers. Here is freedom offered you, if you surrender. What do you say?

PRITCHARD (loudly).

I say that we surrender.

[Boone, turning, makes a gesture to the spot where their guns lie piled, then towards the Indians as one would say: "We give in."

BLACK FISH.

My brothers, we, too, have had a council. Far in the North the British pay much gold for paleface prisoners.

PRITCHARD (involuntarily).

Oh, Boone, we're sold!

BOONE (quickly).

No! Saved! The British will take a ransom, and Boonesborough will pay it to the uttermost farthing. (In a low voice.) Come, strategy! Strategy! I will break through to-night.

PRITCHARD.

Great Chief Black Fish, to you we have surrendered. With your braves we will take the trail to the British encampment.

BLACK FISH (grunting with pleasure).

Umph! Much money for paleface prisoners. (To Hawk Eye). Give prisoners bison meat. Water. See they not die on road. No want to lose money they bring. Braves march now. Boone not go. Boone stay with us.

[While Black Fish has been speaking the braves and their prisoners line up for departure. Meantime, from the woods in background other Indians have joined the group. Those who have captured Boone describe the feat in dumbshow. The newly arrived Indians bear food, a blanket or so, a war-drum, pipes, etc.

BOONE (striving to speak gaily).

A good journey, my lads. I shall be thinking of you.

EDWARD BRYAN (low: aside, full of commiseration).

You will be here alone!

BOONE (hurriedly, seeing that Bryan's remark has been overheard by the Indians).

With my kind brothers! (Quickly, seeing that Black Fish's back is turned.) March bravely, lads. Remember Boonesborough!

PRITCHARD (moved).

Your hand, Boone.

BOONE (clasping Pritchard's hand).

My comrade!

[They look at each other a long moment. Then the line, Indian-guarded, and led by Hawk Eye, marches out, left.

BLACK FISH.

Now we make a great feast. Celebrate.

[They all sit on ground. War-pipe is passed. Gourds with grape wine. Dried fish. Dried fruits. General hum of excitement and pleasure. Animated and colorful groups. Boone smokes the war-pipe when it is passed to him. Drinks and eats freely with the others. Through it all, now soft, now loud, sounds the drone of the war-drum. Now and again a young buck yells jubilantly, or ejaculates a shrill "E-yah!" of pleasure. They rise from feasting to dance in a war-circle about the drum, right. Boone does a few steps with them, and then retreats to left of stage. More dances. Speeches with short guttural words and grunts. Waving of tomahawks. Shrill cries. Another circle is formed about the war-drum. Attention drifts away from Boone. Finally, after a second dance about the war-drum Eagle's Feather gives a sudden cry of "Boone! Boone gone!" Intense excitement. Cries of rage. General search as Indians exeunt right and left. One or two lag behind and look in bushes. Eagle's Feather pulls back swinging moss from hollow tree and looks within. Then the baffled Indians dart off stage, right. A moment later Boone enters from left. Looks warily about him, right, left, and background. Then darts into hollow tree. A moment later the Indians, headed by Eagle's Feather, enter right, left, and background. They gesticulate with cries of "Boonesborough!" Some urge taking the way at left, others the way at right. Eagle's Feather is among the latter. The way at right is ultimately decided upon. With a final yell of "Boonesborough!" and great swinging of tomahawks, all the Indians exeunt right. The drone of the war-drum begins, and grows fainter and fainter as they go into the forest. The gourds and blankets and pipes they have collected and taken with them as supplies for the march.

BOONE (coming triumphantly out of his hollow tree).

They have taken the wrong trail! I am free to warn my people! I can gain the fort ere the Indians reach it! Boonesborough is saved.

[Exit Boone, running left. The grassy space is left vacant, and the scene ends.

COSTUMES

DANIEL BOONE. Daniel Boone and his followers wear suits of buckskin made on Indian lines. (Cotton khaki imitates the tan color of the buckskin.) Long breeches, the buckskin tunic coming about to the knee. It is fringed. There is no adornment on the tunics such as Indians wear. The lads of the party wear buckskin breeches of knee-length, and tan strapping over tan-colored stockings. They should all wear moccasins, or imitation moccasins made of khaki, and embroidered in beads.

THE INDIANS. The Indians wear suits resembling those of Boone and his followers, save that they have painted insignia and bead and shell embroidery. Black Fish has a great black fish painted on his khaki costume. All wear moccasins. All have feathered head-dresses and war-paint. The war-paint of Black Fish is scarlet and black, and he wears an immense black head-dress of feathers that is longer and handsomer than those of any of the others. Eagle's Feather wears a scarlet head-band and one huge gray eagle's feather in it, stuck upright. For further description of Indian finery see description of braves in "Princess Pocahontas." The blankets and baskets can be the same in this play as in that one.

PROPERTIES. The hollow tree can be made of two halves of barrels fastened together, and stood upright by means of props put behind it. It should be painted dark brown inside and out, or covered with dark-brown burlap flecked with black and white for lichen. Green vines can be hung about it, and it should stand well in the background, resembling a rotting and blasted tree as much as possible.