"They may be friendly, but we must take no chances," he said. "Load your guns and keep on guard."
These orders had been given so many times before, that the men knew exactly what was expected of them. Jadwin took his station at the stockade gates, and the others lounged around, each with his gun and a pistol ready for instant use, should any shooting be necessary.
But the Indians did not come, and by nightfall the temporary alarm was over. One of the frontiersmen began to poke fun at Henry and said he "reckoned as how" the youth had made a mistake.
"No, I didn't make a mistake," answered Henry. "I saw them as plain as day. Perhaps they were going to some other post."
"If so, they have a long tramp before them," returned the frontiersmen. "No other post nigh to thirty miles from here." This was true.
On the following day two friendly Indians reported seeing a fine herd of deer a short distance down the river. This interested those at the fort, and two of the men went off shortly after noon to see if they could bring down some of the game. Henry wanted to go along, but Mr. Morris demurred.
"I would rather have you here," he said to his nephew. "With those men gone we may need you. You can go some other time."
Henry saw the wisdom of his uncle's reasoning and so contented himself by working around the post, taking care of some hides which had recently come in, and in exercising one of the horses. Henry loved a good horse almost as much as he loved hunting, and he spent a full hour in the saddle.
"Rides as ef he was born to it," remarked Jadwin, who was looking on. "Just see him stick when the horse makes that sharp turn!"
"Henry is an out-door young man if ever there was one," answered James Morris. "And my Dave is about of the same nature," he added.