“Brothers!” said the Indian. “The English are welcome. We see you travel on foot, and your moccasins are thin. You come from Venango?”
“Yes,” answered Gist.
“Why do you travel on foot through the snow?”
“We travel ahead,” said Gist.
“English do not travel on foot. They ride,” said the Indian. “You have left your horses. My brothers were at Venango with horses. Are the horses on the way?”
“The horses will follow.”
“If my brothers will tell us where the horses will be found, we will send out and bring them on by a short trail,” said the Indian.
“He’s plaguey curious,” rapped Gist, to Major Washington. And he replied to the Indian: “We thank our brother, but the horses will know the way.”
“Perhaps they will get here today, my brother thinks?” asked the Indian.
It was plain to Robert that the Indian was anxious to know where the remainder of the party were, with the horses and goods. Then Washington spoke up, to say to Gist: