"Did my men behave well?" he asked.
"Morgan did, and is a first-rate fellow. Plunkett did all he was asked to do, but I would rather have another man next time I go on an expedition."
"I should have sent more men if you had not said it was a light job."
"I thought so myself."
"We might have known that those Indians were lurking somewhere in the vicinity."
"I don't think they will give us much more trouble."
"They will continue to annoy you as long as they have the power. You smashed their dugout, but they have another up the river where we went yesterday."
I had forgotten all about the other dugout, and thought it was a great pity it had not been secured or destroyed, for the neglect might cost Mr. Gracewood his house and other property on the island. The two Indians had swum ashore not three miles from the point where the dugout had been left. They knew that our party had left the island, and the rich plunder there would be too great a temptation to be resisted. I begged the lieutenant to send a couple of men with me to protect the property of my good friend.
"This gun is a great reënforcement to me, Phil, and I can spare three men—more if you need them," replied the officer.
"Three will do very well. Let Morgan be one of them," I added.