"I shall go, too," came from Sam Barringford. "Every man as has the good o' his country at heart ought to go," he added.
"I'd like to go, first-rate," said Rodney, wistfully. "But I suppose I've got to stay here with mother and father."
"You can go if you wish, Rodney," said Joseph Morris. "We'll get along somehow. Perhaps, while you're soldiering, you'll learn something of Nell and the twins."
"If I only could!"
"I'm going to keep my eyes open, too," said Dave. "And I want to see father and Henry again. It seems an age since we parted."
"It's the twins and Nell thet's a-taking me out," said the old frontiersman. "I won't never rest ontil I know what's become o' 'em."
Colonel Bouquet was expected at Carlisle about the first of July, and to that point marched Barringford, Dave, Rodney and a dozen others who wanted to join the army as volunteers. Some were on horseback and some on foot, and every one carried a heavy pack and his rifle and hunting knife.
"I wish you luck," said Joseph Morris, on parting.
"Yes, and all of you be sure and come back safe and sound," added Mrs. Morris.
Fort Cumberland was soon left behind, and they took the road that led to Carlisle. All were sober and but little was said. They knew that many perils lay ahead of them.