"Yes; some of them must have taken that boat to the place this forenoon or early in the afternoon, with the purpose of using it to carry the colonel to the other shore."
"Suppose Lena-Wingo doesn't find another canoe?" asked Rosa, who felt anything but comfortable over the absence of the tried and trusty scout.
"It may take him longer than he wants, but he will succeed, you may be sure of that."
"I should like to know why you and he went off in that mysterious fashion a short time ago?" continued the girl, addressing her brother. "It must have been a very important errand, judging from the way you managed it."
"Well, I think it was important, for it was to find something to eat, and I notice you are pretty sure to be interested in anything of that nature."
"Well, did you get any food?"
"We got on the track of some when Colonel Butler appeared with his Iroquois, and we had to take a look after them."
"So you didn't find any, after all," she repeated. "It is about what I expected when you went away."
"Don't be too quick to judge us," replied the brother, in a voice that was meant to signify a deal more than the mere words. "You'll be surprised before long."
"The only thing to surprise me will be to see something like haste used in getting over the river to Wilkesbarre. I suspect that Lena-Wingo will wait till daylight before making the start, even if he finds a canoe, on the ground that we ought to have something to eat before starting."