But his heart was beating wildly. The thought was in his mind, that he might again meet La Violette—and, perhaps, persuade her to return with him to Franklinton.
He heard the commander saying:
“The place is yours, then. The companies of the expedition will assemble at Greenville. You can join them there. Here’s your commission. Shall I bid you good-by?”
“Yes,” Ross answered decidedly.
They shook hands and parted.
Douglas accompanied Colonel Campbell’s detachment. He took part in the several skirmishes of the winter campaign, and saw much hard service. In the various petty engagements, quite a number of Indians were killed and captured. From the red prisoners, Ross learned that Tenskwatawa, La Violette, and Bradford had left the Miami villages, shortly after his departure, and had gone to join Tecumseh at Malden.
Colonel Campbell destroyed the towns upon the Mississinewa, and in the latter part of December returned to Greenville.
From this place, Ross Douglas went to Cincinnati. He could not bear the thought of returning to Franklinton. He was disheartened, moody, and restless. So far as he knew, Amy Larkin was lost to him forever. Had she been false to her vows? He did not know; and the maze of uncertainty maddened him.
He spent the winter at Cincinnati. When spring opened, he and Duke—wanderers upon the face of the planet—drifted into Kentucky, where General Green Clay was raising a regiment of militia to re-enforce the garrison of Fort Meigs, upon the Maumee. Douglas joined the command in his old capacity of scout and guide, and with it marched toward the seat of war.
