"How so?"
"Why," the servant replied, "we need only unload the wagon."
"That's true; when it's empty, it will be easy to get it to the top of the hill."
"Stay," William observed, "do you think, father, that it is really necessary to take all that trouble? A night is soon spent, and I fancy we should do well to remain where we are: the position is an excellent one; it is only a few paces to the river bank, and we can lead our oxen to water."
"No; we must not remain here, the place is too open, and we should have no shelter if the Indians attacked us."
"The Indians!" the young man said, with a laugh; "why, we have not seen a single one the whole day."
"Yes; what you say, William, is correct, the Redskins have disappeared; but shall I tell you my real thoughts? It is really this disappearance, which I do not understand, that troubles me."
"Why so, father?"
"Because, if they are hiding, they are preparing some ambuscade, and do not wish us to know the direction where they are."
"Come, father, do you really believe that?" the young man remarked in a light tone.