"How did you get to the fort?"
"I ran straight ahead for an hour," replied Israel with a smile. "How did you come?"
"Henry got me through the lines."
"Henry!" demanded Israel in surprise. "Henry! I thought he was dead."
"So did I, but he is very much alive. I had no time to ask him how he came to be here. I was thinking mostly of getting inside the fort."
"It is a comfort to know that at least Girty will not lead any more——"
Israel stopped speaking as a lusty shout was heard from a stump that stood near one of the bastions, and the two young defenders to their amazement beheld Simon Girty himself standing erect upon the stump and waving a cloth which at some time in its history may have been white.
In response to this hail every man ran to hear what the renegade leader of the Indians had to say.
They were soon to know the purpose for which Girty, on his hands and knees, had crept to the place where he now was standing.
"What do you want?" shouted one of the defenders.