“I’ll do it, son,” promised old Joe.
“And say that we’ll be back as soon as we can finish up our errand,” said Frank.
The trapper waved his hand to them as they rode away; and the huge dogs barked their good-bye as they disappeared in the green of the forest.
CHAPTER IV
ATTACKED BY INDIANS
Their mounts having had a good rest and the boys themselves being more than usually refreshed, they made considerable progress that day. Night found them at the ford of a large stream.
“Hello,” said Jack, as they drew up at the ford and gazed about, “this looks like a place I’ve seen before.”
“Cache on other side,” said Running Elk, who seldom made a mistake in his observations. “Much dried meat. Put there two snow moons ago.”
Jack’s face lit up with recognition.
“Why, so it is,” said he. “I hadn’t thought we’d gone so far.” Then to Frank he added: “This is the place we’ve been heading for.”
“Is this the Alabama River?” asked the young Virginian.