Prologue and Chapter I Summary

Simon Kenton is born April 3, 1755. His mother wants to name him Benjamin but his father announces that his name is Simon. The Indian named Tecumseh is born March 9, 1768, as a shooting star passes across the night sky. After this sign, his family's good fortune with regard to children will continue with the birth of triplet boys.

With the exception of Simon, everyone works on the Kenton farm except the oldest son, Williams, who is already married with a family of his own. Even he pitches in a few shillings when he can. Simon Kenton simply refuses to work. People say he's incorrigible. He says he'd rather die than work. If he's whipped or forced to work, he'll do so only until his parents aren't watching, and then he runs away to the hills where he sometimes stays...