"No; but they have not come down here for nothing," I replied.
"What do you think they intend to do?"
"They fired at us as we were coming down the river. Possibly they followed us, and saw us go up the Big Fish. Perhaps they think now that there is no one at the Castle, and they can plunder it without opposition. They will soon discover their blunder."
"But Mrs. Gracewood is there."
"So are the soldiers."
"They may capture her if she is in the Castle, while the soldiers are encamped in the rear, not expecting an enemy on the river side."
"We need not stay here any longer," I added, letting go the branch, and permitting the current to carry the barge down the stream. "Don't make any noise with the oars, Mr. Gracewood."
"We must hurry forward and alarm the soldiers. They have no suspicion that there are any Indians within many miles of them."
"What's the matter, father?" cried Ella, waking with a start.
"Hush! Ella. Don't make any noise. We are safe, and there is no danger."