“We can not follow them to-night,” said Clancy.
“Not to-night! Why?” and Darke evinced disappointment.
“Because they are mounted. They left their horses at the edge of the forest. It is scarcely three miles away. Before we could overtake them they would be miles out on the prairie, riding at their horses’ best speed. We can do nothing alone, and horses are indispensable—we must have them.”
“Where can we get them?” Darke asked, admitting to himself the truth of Clancy’s reasoning.
“At the settlement. We can have every thing ready to-night and start before daybreak.”
“Who do you think we had better get to go with us?” asked Darke. “We must have good men.”
“I think we can do no better than to have Pete Wimple for one,” said Clancy. “A truer and braver man can not be found in the North-west.”
“True,” said the woodman. “And the big hunter for another!”
“If we could only get him!” exclaimed Clancy.
“I’m sure he will go. He hates the Indians with an undying hatred, and is glad of any opportunity to wreak his terrible vengeance on them for the cold-blooded butchery of his aged parents.”