“Yes, mother.”
“I touched it not, my son. If thee has not seen it, then the Indians stole it.”
“And all the cooking things gone!” put in Harmony. “However are we going to cook?”
“You’ll have to do as we do when we are on a hunting tour,” said Harry. “I believe they left one old iron pot—the one with the broken side.”
“It’s enough to wish you were back in the East again,” said Cora. She was more hurt over the loss of a brooch than over anything else. This had been given to her by her grandmother, and was considered valuable.
There was nothing left to do, however, but to go back to the cabin, and this they did, and all hands searched around to find such things as were absolutely necessary. Then Harry and Joe paid a visit to two neighbors who had not been robbed, and borrowed several pots and kettles, and a few knives and spoons, and also several towels.
“It is as bad as beginning all over again,” said Mrs. Parsons. “But let us thank God that our lives have been spared,” she added reverently.
Not long after this attack on the fort at Boonesborough, Colonel Boone called the settlers together for a “war talk,” as it was called.
“The Indians mean to do their best to wipe us out,” said Boone. “I feel certain that before a great while they will attack us again, and with increased numbers. Now, I want to know what you wish to do. If you want to retreat, there is yet time to do so. If you want to stay, we must set to work to strengthen the fort.”
There was a moment of silence, and then an old pioneer with white locks and beard arose.