It was with sorrowful hearts that Mr. Winship and Joe accompanied the party under Colonel Boone back to the fort. Even the presence of Cora, who had always been the particularly bright member of the family, did not serve to dispel the gloom caused by the continued absence of Mrs. Winship.
“I cannot believe that she is dead, father,” said the young pioneer. “Such a fate would be horrible!”
“I am of the same mind, Joe,” answered Ezra Winship. “Yet Colonel Boone has had a vast experience with the red men, and he must know what he is talking about.”
“The best of men make mistakes sometimes,” put in Cora hopefully.
The party moved onward as fast as possible, but with the women and girls along, as well as the wounded and the goods recovered from the Indians, it took twice the time to reach the fort as it had to ride from there to the encampment in the valley.
Those at the fort saw them when yet a long distance away, and Peter Parsons and Harry rode out to meet the Winships.
“My Clara still missing!” groaned Mr. Parsons. It was like a blow in the face to him.
“Yes, Peter, and my wife, too,” replied Ezra Winship.
The news that Clara Parsons was still missing was an added shock to the girl’s mother, and it was several days before the Quakeress recovered sufficiently to go about her duties.
“She must be dead, just as Colonel Boone says!” moaned the stricken mother. “Oh, why has this cross fallen upon us? Is it that we have been so sinful?”