The matter was talked over until far into the night, and when Dave went to bed it was not to sleep but to lie with his eyes wide open gazing at the stars which shone through the narrow window. Then he dropped on his knees and in that midnight stillness prayed as he had never prayed before, that the Heavenly Father might restore his parent to him.
After that the days went by more slowly than ever. Before snow fell Henry got around and so did Rodney, although both had to be careful so that their strength might not be overtaxed. Sam Barringford remained at the homestead, doing the work Henry had formerly done and trying to cheer up Dave.
Once a fortnight Dave or his uncle rode over to Will’s Creek to learn the latest news regarding the war and find out if anything had been heard of the missing member of the family, or those who had been with him.
At last news came of a hunter named Ferry who had been on his way to the trading-post with pelts just at the time the French and Indians had descended upon it. He had been captured and had had his furs taken from him by the French. He had remained a prisoner for six weeks and had then escaped from Fort Duquesne along with the two old hunters often mentioned in these pages, Tony and Putty. He had heard of Dave’s father and said that the Indians had orders to bring him to Fort Duquesne as a prisoner of war. The Indians had burnt two prisoners from the trading-post at the stake, but up to that time had spared James Morris’ life, for they had heard that he had a treasure of silver buried somewhere and they were anxious to make him tell where it was.
“If he is at Fort Duquesne he must be alive!” said Dave, on hearing Ferry’s story, and his heart gave such a bound as it had not experienced for many a day. “How I wish our troops would march against that fort!”
“No doubt they will march against it,” said his uncle. “But not this winter. The snow is already deep in the mountain passes.”
“Well then, I hope they go the first thing, in the spring, and if they do, I’ll go with them.”
“And so will I,” put in Barringford. “I’d do ’most anything to help ye save your father, Dave.”
CHAPTER XXIX
BRADDOCK’S DEFEAT AND FALL
With the coming of spring it was felt by many that a swift and decided movement should be made against the French and their Indian allies. Word came in through backwoodsmen and hunters that the French fort was but slimly garrisoned and that the enemy was also suffering for the want of army stores and ammunition.