Kendrick had just explained to his daughter the reasons that led to the delay of the expedition.
Kate listened attentively, her brain busy in thought.
“And when will the expedition move?” she asked.
“That’s duberous, gal,” he answered. “It all depends upon the Wyandots and the Mingoes. When they send their warriors, then we kin go ahead, but not till then.”
“And my plan, father, to remove this girl from my path?”
“You had better carry it out right away,” said the renegade, after thinking for a moment. “Thar’ll be no better chance than at the present. I owe Girty a little balance, which I reckon this affair will settle. Instead of staying with his own tribe, the Wyandots, he’s been sneakin’ round hyer with the Shawnee. If it goes on, he’ll have more influence hyer than I have, and I ain’t a-goin’ to stand that, nohow. So, gal, if you want any help to snake the gal out of his clutches, I’m the critter for to give it to you, and no mistake.”
“I may need your aid, father,” said the girl, thoughtfully.
“All right, you kin have it. I’d do most any thing to spite him.”
“I think that it will be better to carry the girl off to-night. He may place her in some safer place to-morrow.”
“Jest so; thar’s no tellin’; he’s as suspicious as a crow. It will worry him some to lose the gal,” said Kendrick, with a grin.