“Yes, I’ve been there a long time—ever since Bevoir got the French and Indians to attack the post. They were going to ship me to Canada on the day I gave the guards the slip and got away. But you are wounded.”
“Yes, and so are you.”
“I was in a good deal of the fighting day before yesterday and a bullet grazed my temple. I fell into the river and was almost drowned. When I recovered, I ran across Barringford, who said he had been with you, but the Indians had separated you and him and he was wounded in the side shortly afterward. Both of us lay low in the bushes until we started up the stream to look for you. Barringford saw White Buffalo just about the time those Indians fired into your party, and we made up our mind to come to the rescue.”
CHAPTER XXXII
BACK TO THE HOMESTEAD—CONCLUSION
It was a happy meeting, and for some time Dave could think of but little excepting that his father was restored to him. While the two compared notes upon what had passed, Barringford, White Buffalo, and the other Indian went on guard, to prevent a surprise by any enemy who might be moving toward them.
But no one came near them, and an hour later the whole party moved off, toward a trail which White Buffalo was certain would sooner or later, bring them to the encampment of what was left of the English army.
“It was a sad disaster,” said James Morris, after telling his story and after listening to all Dave had to say of himself and those left at the homestead. “Barringford told me how General Braddock walked into the trap, which was set with the greatest of care by the French and the Indians.”
“Washington would not have been caught that way, had he led,” returned Dave. “I suppose this campaign is done for,” he added, soberly.
“More than likely, Dave. The victory will elate the French, and our people will be correspondingly cast down. It will take a good while before anything more is done, I feel certain.”
“And what of the post?”