“I’d like to know what redskins it was who took the horses.”
“We may find out some day—unless they drive them westward right away,” answered Joseph Morris.
When they got back to the cliff they found Aaron Crosby sleeping soundly in the very midst of the remaining animals. Without disturbing him, they built a large camp-fire and set about drying their clothing. Then they too lay down to rest, and soon Dave was in the land of dreams.
CHAPTER XI
DAVE BECOMES WASHINGTON’S ASSISTANT
“Oh, how stiff I feel!”
It was Dave who uttered the exclamation, as he arose on the morning following. The storm had cleared away, and the sun was coming up brightly over the mountain top. The birds were singing gaily as if they knew no care. Here and there the raindrops glistened like so many diamonds.
Dave had slept longer than either of the others and he found breakfast, including a hot pot of coffee, awaiting him. His uncle told him he had better drink all of the coffee to warm up, and this he did. The air was bracing and he was glad enough to sit with his back close to the fire, to dry out the remaining moisture in his clothing.
“It’s too bad you missed the redskins,” said Crosby, when he had heard their story. “It ain’t likely you’ll see ’em again, now.”
“I shall keep my eyes open,” answered Dave. “And I shan’t forget how Fanny looks, I’ll promise you that.”
Breakfast was soon over, and then came the task of re-dividing the loads brought along. At the start neither Dave’s steed nor that ridden by Mr. Morris had carried aught but its rider, now every horse had to carry a little more than formerly and one had to take Dave in addition.