"No more do I, lad. I'd have to take a route further to the eastward. I'd want to talk it over with some o' the other trappers fust, to find out which trails war the best, everythin' considered."
"And when would you start, do you think?"
"The sooner the better, more'n likely, Dave. Even ef that Frencher is at Detroit there ain't no tellin' how long he'll stay thar. Ef I start out after him, why, I want to catch him."
CHAPTER XIX
IN WHICH BARRINGFORD IS MADE A PRISONER
The news which Dave and Sam Barringford had to tell interested the Morrises at Fort Cumberland exceedingly.
"I knew all along that the twins must come from no common stock," said Mrs. Morris, gazing fondly at the boys, who were playing near. "They deserve a good home, and a fine education."
"Exactly the way I reason, ma'am," answered the old frontiersman. "It's my plain duty to place 'em in their father's hands, ef I can find the gentleman."
"I don't want Tom and Artie to leave me," pleaded Nell. "I just love them so." And running up she kissed the twins.
Two days passed and matters remained quiet at the fort. Then Barringford announced that he had found out all about the trails leading northward and out to Detroit, and would start on the trip on the following Monday.