As they journeyed to Fort Pitt, Dave told his father and the others of his adventures since being made captive by the Indians, and heard the story of the attack on the trading-post and how it had been captured by the Indians and Jean Bevoir.
"Now that the Indians have been defeated we ought to try to get the post back, father," said the youth.
Dave was much interested in the story about the twins and was willing to believe their name was Hamilton, because of the documents he had read. In the excitement of escaping from the Indians he had lost the papers and he had no idea what had become of them.
"They were certainly valuable," he said. "But whether they belonged to Benoit Vascal or Maurice Hamilton, or somebody else, I do not know."
When they arrived at Fort Pitt they found that Benoit Vascal was missing. Watching his chance, the Frenchman had bribed a pack-driver to let him have some provisions and a horse, and had set out for parts unknown.
"That's too bad," said Dave. "We might have learned something more from him about the twins. But we know their name, and that is something."
"And we can send a letter to London, to Mr. Maurice Hamilton," added Rodney.
A day later the rest of the rangers came in. They said they had not gotten as far as the trading-post, having journeyed to the southward.
"Father, let us organize a company to go out to the post," said Dave. "I think we can get quite a number of rangers to join us."
The matter was talked over, and in the end a company was organized with James Morris at its head, to march westward and try to retake the place. At the same time Sam Barringford, aided by White Buffalo, started out to see if they could not find Benoit Vascal. In another volume, to be entitled "Trail and Trading-Post; or, The Young Hunters of the Ohio," we shall meet all our friends again and learn what was done towards recapturing the post on the Ohio, and in bringing Jean Bevoir to justice, and also something more concerning the mystery of the twins.