The simple preparations of the scouts were made, and it was agreed they should start in a few hours upon their perilous journey.
CHAPTER VII.
THE PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE UNDER DIFFICULTIES.
Peterson's destination being the Sciota valley, he left the settlement and proceeded eastward, up the Ohio, until the mouth of the Sciota was reached, when he prosecuted his journey in a northerly direction, making it all on foot. Leaving him to continue his duty, we will follow the fortunes of the other two.
Dingle had two reasons for taking Jenkins with him. The first was for his own good, and the second was for his own—that is the ranger's—amusement. He counted on little difficulty in ascertaining all that he wished, and believed that his companion would be so tractable in his hands that little trouble need be apprehended from his erratic disposition. His plan was to proceed westward, following the course of the Ohio, until the mouth of the Little Miami was reached, up which he would proceed in a canoe. As he had often visited the same town, he took occasion, when upon one of his expeditions, to "borrow" an Indian canoe, as he expressed it, and concealing it at the mouth of this river, to be used for the purpose named.
"Confound it! what did you want to take me along for?" demanded Jenkins, spitefully, after they were fairly in the wood.
"Why, to scout around, and obsarve the pecooliarities of the Shawnees," replied Dingle.
"Yes, s'pose so! darned if I don't shoot every one I see!"
"Good! give us your paw on that, Jenkins, you're some, after all."