"Not unless he was friendly to the Indians, Dave."
"He was no trader, so Silver Cloud said," White Buffalo went on to say. "He was rich, and perhaps a nobleman in disguise."
Barringford and the youth talked the matter over with the aged Indian chief for some time after that, but could gain no additional information. Concerning the uprising, White Buffalo said it was likely that matters around Fort Cumberland would remain quiet for some time to come, that very few red men were now in that vicinity, and no new bands were putting in an appearance.
When the pair had left the aged chief and were on their return to the fort, both were in a thoughtful mood. Several times Barringford started to speak, but relapsed into silence.
"I reckon as how it's my duty to find out what I can about Tom an' Artie," he said, at last. "I love 'em just as if they war my own, but it wouldn't be right fer me to keep 'em from knowin' who they were, an' especially if they've got a rich father an' a good hum to go to."
"That is certainly true," answered Dave. "Mother will hate to lose them, and it will break Nell's heart. But we ought not to stand in their light for all that."
"It's a long trip to Detroit," resumed the old frontiersman, after another period of silence. "But I kin make it if I have to."
"Then you think you'll journey all the way to Detroit, Sam?"
"Ain't no other way—if I'm to do my duty by them twins. If I war in their place, I'd like sumbuddy to do as much fer me."
"How would you start to get to Detroit? I don't think it's safe to go by way of Fort Pitt and Venango."