"There's no use of denying that there is enough to make all of us anxious, but when I remember that father and Mr. Hardin and Bowlby have spent so many years in the Indian country, I can not help feeling hope that they will be able to take care of themselves. You know they are all good shots and they have a cabin strong enough to stand a rough siege."
"I don't forgit the same; but there's a good many more rid than white men and Mr. Bowlby is lame."
"What of that? He doesn't expect to fight with his feet."
"There are many scrimmages in which it's handy to use yer faat. If Deerfut hadn't popped along just as I keeled over the Wolf I'd jumped on him; then, do ye not mind that the men may take it into their heads to run away."
"They have their horses," said Fred, foreseeing and agreeing with the response that his young friend would make.
"Not one of 'em is worth a cint at such a time; a one-legged Indian could outrun the fastest; they would have to stick fast to the trail while the spalpeens would walk all around 'em."
"All that is true, but if they could get a good start, it would be very handy for Mr. Bowlby to have one of the horses to ride."
"I don't see much chance of the same," was the sensible comment of Terry; "but, me boy, have ye any idaa of what time it is?"
"It must be far beyond midnight: surely we are a long ways in advance of the Winnebago camp where we left Deerfoot."
"They are not meaning to make a start to-night?"