"What is the news from the fort, Mr. Dumphreys?" asked Dave.
"Two men were shot down day before yesterday—old Ike Slosson and Jerry Kempley,—and the Indians visited the sawmill and stole Shag's team of blacks. Then they went over to the Perry schoolhouse and shot at the teacher, but he gave 'em some buckshot, and that brought the soldiers over in jig time, and the redskins got out."
"Do you know anything of my folks?"
"Your uncle is not so well—his ankle got to swelling and he can't walk on it. Your aunt is a good bit worried, and so is Rodney. I saw 'em about a week ago. I don't know how they are now," added the settler.
As he rode along beside Dave and Barringford he related many of the events which had occurred in the vicinity of Cumberland and Will's Creek since they had gone away. It was the old story of attacks and pilferings, one very much like another.
"The Indians are getting bolder every day," said Thomas Dumphreys. "How it is going to end I don't know. They have sent for more troops, and somebody told me that Colonel Bouquet was coming out to lick the redskins, but I haven't seen anything of him yet."
It was not long after this that the party reached the outskirts of Fort Cumberland. They found a great crowd assembled and it was with difficulty that they located Mr. and Mrs. Morris and Rodney.
"Dave!" cried Joseph Morris. "I am glad to see you back in safety. And glad to see you back, too, Sam."
"And we're glad to get back," answered Dave. He shook hands with his uncle and aunt, and his cousin Rodney. "Where are Nell and the twins?" he went on.
"Oh, don't you know?" burst out Mrs. Morris.