“You can’t see these colors in the night, captain. We might want to signal then.”
“These are only for the day; we will have another arrangement for the night,” he replied. “Can either of you hoot like an owl?”
“Yes; both of us,” Late replied.
“Then one hoot takes the place of the white, two of the red, three of the green, and four of the black. From that you can make up your combinations,” the officer explained. “These cries are to be given from the tree, and the man stationed on this bastion will be prepared to report them promptly to me.”
“Very well, sir, we’ll do our best to keep you posted on all outside movements,” Late promised, “an’ should anything occur that you ought’er know, which can’t be reported by signals, we’ll bring it in to you at the risk of our lives.”
“Let it be something very important, then,” Captain Swartwout replied with a smile, after which he led the young scouts to the great gate of the fort, where he bade them Godspeed.
During several days they were busy among the settlements for many miles around. In some cases their warnings were promptly heeded, and the people fled to the fort in time to escape the Indians, who in a few days were scouring the entire region in search of victims. Others delayed too long, and fell a prey to the merciless foe. Before arriving at Oswego, the young scouts themselves were compelled to turn back before the advance guard of the enemy.
By exercising great caution, however, they kept just out of reach, and yet near enough to make out the movements of the enemy.
One night, as they stealthily avoided a small party of Indians that had made camp on the banks of Wood Creek, the young scouts became aware that some one else was engaged in the same work as themselves. Eager to learn who he was, they followed his trail for some distance through the brush. At length the man emerged into an open space, where the moonlight fell upon him, and with suppressed exclamations of surprise both lads recognized their old enemy, David Daggett.
“I wonder what he is doin’ here?” Joe whispered in his comrade’s ear.