"Kit Cruncher; the man who guided the other force."
"Tell the leftenant I want to speak to him, boy. I hev a message from t'other officer."
I went back to the fort, and delivered the message of Kit. The soldiers had some rubber army boats, which they carried with them to use in crossing streams. A couple of men were sent to prepare one of them, which was launched, and I paddled it across the river.
"I heerd the firin', boy, and the battle has begun," said Kit, as he seated himself in the bottom of the boat.
"We fired only one volley at them, and that was all they would stop to receive."
"You hev a big gun here."
"Yes, Mr. Gracewood's twelve-pounder. It knocks down everything before it."
"I see it does. I was on t'other side of the Fish when the job was done, and I see it all. I did my part, too; for I shot one Indian I know."
"But where is the other party of soldiers?" I asked.
"They ain't more'n three miles from here; and I cal'late, when they heerd that big gun, they begun to hurry up."