“It must be either a man or a wild animal,” he reasoned and placed his finger on the trigger of his flint-lock musket, after satisfying himself that the priming was in good condition.
Slowly the noise came closer, and presently he heard two men talking in English.
“If they are English they must be friends,” thought the young man joyfully, but still he continued on guard. He awakened Raymond and Shamer by a light touch.
“What is it?” came from Raymond.
“Two men are over yonder. I can hear them talking.”
“Then we had better get out of sight until we are sure of who they are,” put in Shamer.
Secreted in the bushes they waited until the two unknown ones came down the edge of the brook. They were dressed in the garb of frontiersmen and each carried a rifle and a game-bag.
“Game is putty well scart off, Chester,” said one. “The cap’n won’t git much fresh meat from us,” and he gave a droll laugh.
“That’s about the size on it, Holden,” was the reply. “Yet I reckoned on some b’ar bein’ around here.”
“I am sure they will be friends,” whispered Dave. “They are probably from the fort.”