William Henry Harrison, Young
Table of Contents
Chapter:
1.
The Ducking (sneak
preview)
2.
The Picnic
3.
The Young Doctor
4.
News of a Traitor
5.
The New Tutor
6.
The Christmas Task
7.
8.
Tarleton's
Trooper
9.
Billy Meets His Hero
10.
The Muster Day Match
11.
William Henry Tries To Be A Doctor
12.
The Army Calls
13.
Governor and President William Henry
Harrison
What Happened Next?
About the Author
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Three
boys and a girl came galloping down the slope to the river. Each one was
whipping the flank of an imaginary horse. They rode furiously into the
shipyard. The boy in the lead waved a wooden sword with his other hand. "They're
heading for the river, Captain!" he called. "After
them, Colonel!" his sister answered. Billy Harrison was playing his favorite
game. He was Colonel "Light-Horse" Harry Lee, The
children nearly always played war games. The war had been going on ever since
Billy could remember. Now, in the summer of 1780, he was seven years old, and
the colonies still seemed far away from victory. Billy led
his troop across the shipyard and onto the dock in the "Too
late," Billy said. "There they go - the cowards!" Even
Smoky stared across the broad, peaceful river. Nothing was moving. He
barked once, anyway, as if he understood the game. "Oh, Billy, I'm
tired!" Sally dropped down on a seat in the barge. Billy
looked at her. She wasn't his loyal captain any longer. She was just a
flushed fair-haired girl. His cavalrymen were only two boys dangling their
bare feet in the water. His sword was just a stick after all. The pursuit,
which had been so vivid to Billy, faded away. He sighed and folded up his
slight frame in the bow of the boat. "What
shall we do now?" Billy asked. "Can't
we sit for a minute? You're so restless today, Billy!" "What
I'd like to do is go and join the militia, like Carter." "Master
Carter looked mighty fine in his uniform when he rode off yesterday,"
Ezra put in. "And
Benjy's been away so long I can't even remember how
he looks. I wish I hadn't been the youngest boy." Sally
knew what he meant. " "So
do I ," said Billy. He knew there were many
exciting things beyond
"Look!
He wants to play. Come on, Smoky!" Billy jumped up and found a stick. He threw
it into the water. The frisky dog hesitated a moment on the edge of the boat.
Then he plunged in. He swam out to the stick, caught it in his mouth, and
brought it back to the barge. This was an old game and Smoky needed no
coaching. "Let
me throw one," Sally begged. Billy
bent over and took the stick from Smoky's mouth.
Sally waved another in front of the dog and tossed it out. At once Smoky
turned and paddled off to retrieve it. On the dock Josh and Ezra tried to see
which could throw stones farther. The heavy
barge hardly moved as Billy and Sally stood on its edge. It had no rail, and
they could lean over and touch the water easily. Once they lifted Smoky into
the boat to let him rest. He shook himself vigorously. "O-o-o-ooh!" Sally screamed as the drops of cool
water sprayed on her. She jumped to one side. Her foot came down on a stick
and she lost her balance. "Billy!"
This time
when her head came up, Billy shouted, "Sally! Here!" She
flailed her arms wildly and came nearer. He stretched out as far as he could
reach. "Grab
her, Master Billy!" Billy was
scared. What could they do? Sally started to go down again. "That's
the third time, Master Billy," cried Ezra. "Miss Sally will
drown!" As
Sally's arm sank down, Billy caught it and held on tightly. For a second he
thought her weight would pull him over the side. Then he felt hands seize his
belt. "We'll hold you, Master Billy," Josh promised. Billy
clung to Sally's arm and pulled her nearer. With her other arm she groped for
the barge. She was gasping for air. Billy clutched her dress and then helped
her swing one leg up and over. He and Josh and Ezra all pulled together.
Sally rolled into the barge. "Are
you all right?" Billy asked anxiously. Sally lay
face down, choking. Billy slapped her on the back. That did no good. Then he
stepped astride his sister and bent over. With one hand on each side of her
waist he lifted her. It was all he could do to raise her. Sally was much
larger than he, and now she was as limp as her rag doll. With her
head and feet down, Sally coughed up the water she had swallowed. Billy's
arms ached but he held her until she sputtered and gasped. Then he let her
down gently. "Oh
dear!" she said. Billy was
so relieved he laughed. Sally sat up and leaned back against the side of the
barge. She still looked pale and shaky. "You all right?" Billy repeated. She
nodded. "You saved my life, Billy. I almost drowned." "Oh,
you could have climbed out." But Sally's words made Billy feel
good. His heart was still pounding, but he was pleased that he had
not been too scared to act when she needed his help.
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Just
then Smoky trotted up and barked.
He
was on his knees beside Smoky. He looked up to see his sister falling
sideways into the river. Splash! Billy lurched to the side of the boat. Sally
couldn't swim! When her head bobbed up he reached for her. Her long wet hair
was plastered over her eyes and she couldn't see his hand. She went under
again. Ezra and Josh came running.