"Maybe Pontiac told the Indians he would make guns and swords by magic," said Dave suddenly.
"It is not impossible," returned White Buffalo gravely. "The magicians have brought forth powder by magic."
"And so can Pontiac!" shouted Barringford, who had moved to one corner of the chamber. "Reckon this is a bad place fer a torch," and he held back the flame.
"What have you discovered now, Sam?"
"Five half-kegs o' powder."
As he spoke the old frontiersman pointed to a rocky shelf whereon rested the five half-kegs, covered with a piece of heavy drugget, often used in colonial days in place of rubber cloth.
"Full too," said Dave, after lifting one. "Sam, this stuff is worth a good bit of money."
"Perhaps we'll git a reward if we return it to the government," was the answer.
"It ought to be returned, whether we get a reward or not."
"Exactly as I think."