That settled the matter to the satisfaction of all the Dawson family. Leon soon began to get over the forebodings caused by that crimson stain on the floor of the bridge, and riding beside the wagon he kept up a conversation with Mrs. Dawson, who told him many things connected with the service that he hadn’t dreamed of. In due time they arrived at Ellisville. Just as they were going up the main road that led past the hotel they met a squad of sentinels going down to relieve those at the bridge. It was plain that an old soldier was in command of them, for they were closed up, held their guns at a carry and marched by twos. The two officers who commanded them marched at the head. They had evidently had some time to drill their men, and the result showed that the backwoodsmen were not at all behind in military matters. When they came up, they reined their horses out of the way and passed on without speaking.
“There’s a squad that is well drilled,” said Mr. Dawson. “But I do not see why you do not destroy that bridge. It seems to be a world of trouble to you.”
“There’s a very good reason why we don’t destroy it,” said Leon. “There are five other places where it can be forded.”
“Why, I hadn’t heard of that,” exclaimed Mr. Dawson.
“Do you remember sending two men up here to make a map of the country?” asked Leon. “Well, they found it out.”
“And did you let those men go back?”[back?”]
“No, one of them stayed up here,” said Leon, who somehow could not find it in his heart to say the man had been killed. “If we destroy the bridge, anybody like you, who is tired of serving under that old rag, won’t know that they can get across, and we have nobody to send them to show where the fords are. We don’t know, ourselves.”
As they drew near to the porch of the hotel, Leon saw his father standing there. He dismounted and shook him by the hand—he was certain that his father put a little more grip into the shake than usual—and presented Mr. Dawson, who, it is not necessary to say, was received with a hearty welcome.
“The first thing this man wants is his horse,” said Leon.
“Was he with us when we captured that wagon-train?” asked Mr. Sprague. “If so, he can have his horse. They have not been given out yet.”