So saying, he gave a loud cooey. They stood silent for a minute, but no answer came back.
"There is nothing to be done, till morning," Dick said, "and it's no use hanging about here. Before it gets light I will start for Watson's. There are two of your men there; and they, with the two Watsons and ourselves, can set out after these fellows, if you are agreeable. That is, as soon as we get hold of some horses."
"I hardly think I shall be justified in taking you," Reuben said, as he walked back towards the house. "These scoundrels are all armed to the teeth, and they are first-rate shots. They know every foot of the country, and against anything like equal numbers they would make a desperate fight of it, even if they did not thrash us. Of course, in anything like an equal number of my own men I should not hesitate, but I don't think it will be fair for you settlers to undertake such a service as that."
"Listen!" Shillito exclaimed, "they are coming back again."
Surely enough, on the night air the sound of horses, galloping at full speed, could be heard.
"I don't think it can be them," Reuben said. "They would have no motive in coming back, after they once rode off. They would know we should be ready for them."
"I don't see who else it can be. At any rate, all our guns are loaded; and if it is them, all the better."
Suddenly a loud cooey was heard.
"That's Jim!" Reuben exclaimed. "I should know his call among a thousand. He must have made off to get help at once, but I don't know how he can have done it in time."
"Why, it's the Watsons and my men!" he exclaimed, as the party rode up into the light.