The Indian who had fallen into the water was a stranger to Henry. He was not seriously wounded and not wishing to drown, came ashore, although evidently in terror of the whites.
"Don't shoot him!" cried Henry, as two of the others leveled their guns.
"Why not?" drawled one of the rangers. "Reckon as how he desarves it, don't he?"
"I want to question him."
In a few minutes more the Indian was a prisoner, and then the rangers turned their attention to the pair that lay wounded some distance back. One was dying, but the other suffered only from a slight wound in the leg. The dying redman was left where he had fallen and the others were taken back to the fort.
It was not until some time later that Henry got a chance to question the captured Indians. One could speak fairly good English but it was only with difficulty that the young soldier could make him tell anything concerning the Indians in general and the prisoners they were holding.
But after Henry had taken the trouble to dress the wounded one's hurt and had supplied him with water and food, the redman's tongue became loosened, and he listened to what Henry had to say with increased interest.
"Yes, Missapaw has seen the little girls," he said. "Two are of the same birth, and the other is called 'Nell.'"
"And where are they now?" demanded Henry, eagerly.
"They are with some Indians and some French traders, in the west—at the mighty fall of waters."