CHAPTER XXI

A NEW MOVE

All were glad to see the sun rise in the morning. The storm had cleared away, the wind had fallen, and gradually the temperature rose once more.

“That was a night to remember,” said Henry. “I don’t want to be out in anything colder.”

“Nor I,” answered his cousin. “Had it not been for the roaring fire and the hot coffee we might have been frozen to death.”

“I’d rather have my liquor than the coffee,” said Devine.

“I don’t agree with you,” said Dave. “Liquor may heat you up for awhile, but it will make you colder afterwards.”

They were glad enough to break camp and walk just for the sake of getting warm. But they were all more or less sleepy, and in the middle of the day each dozed off after dinner. That night they found a well-sheltered spot, and got a rest that did them a world of good. The weather was still cold, but not as freezing as it had been.

It was not until two days later that they reached the first of the settlements, and after that they slept each night in either a log cabin or some other shelter. The folks they met were glad to do what they could for them, although this was but little, as the Indian war had left them all comparatively poor.

“I’ve got to start just where I began twelve years ago,” said one old settler. “The Injuns didn’t leave me a thing but this old cow-shed. We’ve got to build a new cabin, and buy some stock, and do a mountain o’ work to get the place into shape again.” And his position was that of hundreds of others. Many had left the frontier entirely, not caring to make a living where there was so much danger.

Another slight snowstorm was encountered, but the party kept on steadily, and soon came within sight of Will’s Creek. Then, one clear afternoon, both Dave and Henry set up a loud shout:

“Rodney!”

“Hello!” was the answer, and Rodney, who was out hunting, turned to them in great amazement. “Dave and Henry! How in the world did you get here?”

“Walked,” answered Henry. “How are all the folks at home?”

“Everybody is doing very well. But this is certainly a surprise. Come along to the house. The folks will be wild to see you, mother especially,” and Rodney gave Henry a meaning glance.

They soon reached the log cabin, and all at the place rushed out to give them a warm greeting. Mrs. Morris kissed her son several times and then kissed Dave, and little Nell also came in for her share of caresses.

“I certainly did not expect you at this season,” said Joseph Morris. “Perhaps you have brought some sort of a message?” and he looked inquiringly at his son and his nephew.

“It’s about father,” said Dave. He tried to go on, but his voice choked up and he motioned for Henry to speak.

Henry told the tale of the disaster at the trading post, just as it had been related by Peaceful Jones. Mr. Morris and the others listened with keen interest. Mrs. Morris burst into tears and Nell did likewise.

“Dave, I am so sorry for you!” cried his aunt, as she hugged the youth to her breast.

“And so am I!” burst out Nell. “Oh, that wicked, wicked Jean Bevoir!”

“I do not wonder that you wished to bring the news home,” said Joseph Morris. “It is a fearful state of affairs. The fight must have been a losing one from the start. Peaceful Jones can be thankful that he escaped.”

“I wanted to go to the trading post—to get somebody from the fort to go,” said Dave, brokenly. “But no one in command would take the responsibility.”

“It is because of the rumors that are afloat,” answered his uncle. “Some say Pontiac is going to do his best to capture Fort Pitt and every place west of Fort Detroit.”

The whole evening was spent in discussing the situation, Dave and Henry going over matters just as they had at the fort. It was a sober home-coming, and none of the older folks thought of going to bed until late. Lawson and Devine were told to make themselves at home.

“Sam Barringford has gone to Fort Cumberland on business,” said Joseph Morris, in reply to an inquiry from Henry. “He will be back to-morrow or the day after.”

The next day matters were talked over once more, and Dave told his uncle that nothing would satisfy him but to make the effort to reach the trading post and learn the truth concerning his parent.

“Well, I do not blame you, Dave,” answered his uncle. “But to get out there from here will be no easy matter, and to go alone or with only a handful of men would be folly. By this time Jean Bevoir has probably put the post in a good state of defense, and, since Jones escaped, he must be on constant guard.”

“I have a little plan to suggest, Uncle Joe. Why cannot we travel almost to the post and then go into quarters somewhere and send one or two men out in quiet? The men might go to the post, pretend to be friendly with Bevoir, and state that Peaceful Jones is dead, having been found so in the woods. Bevoir may then expose his plans and relax his vigilance, and we can watch our chances, rush in, and take possession.”

This plan appealed strongly to Henry, and even Mr. Morris nodded as if he approved. Still, there were many things to consider, the planter told his nephew, and he wanted a few days to deliberate. That night he talked it over in private with his wife.

“Dave wants to find out the truth about his father, Lucy,” said the planter. “I do not blame him, and I want to find out the truth myself, and see that justice is done. If he goes out to the trading post I feel it will be my duty to go with him.”

“But, Joseph, I do not wish to stay here alone!” cried Mrs. Morris. “Remember, I have not only Nell but the twins to take care of!”

“Henry will want to go with Dave, since they are like brothers,” continued Joseph Morris. “But Rodney can remain here, and so can some of the neighbors, if you wish it.”

“And would you go out there alone with the boys?”

“No! no! by no means! I should want to organize a regular expedition, and have the men sworn into regular army service at the fort. Then, when the time came, we could deal with Bevoir and his men in true military style.”

“You must have been doing a deal of thinking about this, Joseph?”

“And why not? James was my only living brother, and he was very dear to me.”

“And he was dear to me too, and I think of Dave as of a son. But I hate to see you leave, just when we thought we might settle down again as of old.”

“Poor Dave will never have any peace of mind until he knows the exact truth.”

“True! My heart aches for him. Well, Joseph, do as you think best. But, for my sake, do not be rash!” And then Mrs. Morris kissed her husband affectionately.

The next day Sam Barringford came back from Fort Cumberland. He too was surprised to see the new arrivals and greatly shocked over the news they had brought.

“The skunk! The dirty skunk!” cried the frontiersman, referring to Jean Bevoir. “Oh, just wait till I git my paws on him, thet’s all!” And his big frame shook with emotion. He was willing to start for the post at any time and under any conditions.

Barringford had brought in news that interested the Morrises as much, almost, as it did himself. At Fort Cumberland he had met a French-Englishman, who had just arrived from Detroit. This gentleman knew something about Maurice Hamilton, the father of the twins, and said that Mr. Hamilton was not in England but in this country, although exactly where he could not tell. He had started for London by way of New York, but had then changed his mind and gone to Philadelphia.

“As soon as I heard thet, I sent a letter to Philadelphia,” said Sam Barringford. “If he’s thar he’ll most likely git it and write back, or come on.”

“I hope he does come on,” said Mrs. Morris. “I should like to see what the father of Tom and Artie looks like.”

“I don’t want Tom and Artie to go away,” pouted Nell. “I love them and I want them to stay here.”

“Well, they are not going away just yet,” said Rodney, to quiet his sister.

During the winter a great many trappers and frontiersmen remained close to the forts and settlements, so it was comparatively easy for Joseph Morris and Dave to organize the expedition that was to start for the trading post on the Ohio. The company was organized upon military lines, with Joseph Morris as captain, and Dave and Henry as first and second lieutenants. It was composed of eighteen men, all well versed in shooting and in scouting. As an old army sharpshooter, Sam Barringford was placed in charge of the advance guard. The company took along a pack-train of twelve horses, each animal carrying only such articles as were deemed necessary for the trip. The men were told why the expedition had been formed, and each promised to stand by Mr. Morris to the end.

While the preparations were being made, the holidays came and went, but only Nell and the twins received any gifts, the minds of the older folks being filled with other matters.

“I couldn’t celebrate Christmas if I tried,” said Dave to Henry. “In fact, I couldn’t celebrate anything. All I want to do is to find out the truth about father.”

“And bring Jean Bevoir, Benoit Vascal, and those rascally Indians to justice,” added Henry, who always looked at the practical side of affairs.

It had been arranged that Asa Dobson and his wife should remain at the Morris homestead for the time being, and also an old colored man known as Pompey Sugg. Pompey was a fine shot, and said he would keep a constant guard against Indians.

“Dar ain’t no Injuns gwine ter git de best ob dis chicken,” said the colored man. “If da come nosin’ around hyer Pomp will gib ’em a dose ob buckshot, ki hi!” And he laughed as if shooting Indians was the best joke in the world. He was known to be a faithful fellow, and Joseph Morris placed great reliance on him.

The expedition was gotten together at Fort Cumberland, but the actual start was from the Morris homestead. Here, many men and women gathered to see the party off, and numerous were the handshakes and well-wishes. Dave received a warm embrace from his aunt.

“Keep up your courage,” she whispered into his ear. “Remember, Dave, I shall always be a mother to you, and your Uncle Joseph will be a father.”

“Yes, I know, Aunt Lucy, and you are very kind,” he answered. He would have said more, but the words stuck in his throat.

“Take good care o’ the twins!” called out Sam Barringford. And then he gave each a tight hug, for he did not know but that their father would be along to take them away before his return.

“Good-bye, Lucy,” said Joseph Morris, to his wife, as he gave her a last embrace. “Remember, I shall be back again as soon as possible. Do not worry while I am away.”

“How can I help but worry?” she answered, through her tears. “The West is such a wild country, and the Indians and those wicked Frenchmen are so cruel! If you give them the chance, they will kill you, and all of the others, too, just as they did brother James and his party!”

“We shall try to be careful.”

Everything was now in readiness for the start, and at the command from Joseph Morris the men fell into place and set off, the pack-horses with their drivers occupying the middle of the little train. The boundless West and the mighty forest lay before them. Would they succeed or fail in their mission?