“Ugh,” grunted Deerfoot, nodding his head in token that Joseph’s explanation was the correct one.
“That’s perfectly right,” agreed Mason. “I think that is the only thing to do. Certainly if we keep on this way we’re apt to catch up with the Indians at almost any time and that’s the one thing we don’t want to happen.”
Deerfoot still leading the way, they turned due west from the course they had been following. They continued in this direction for about three miles and then they once more turned and rode parallel with their original course. Black Hawk was evidently following the same trail over which the four scouts had come on their way from Dixon’s Ferry the day previous.
“Where do you suppose he is going?” asked Robert, speaking in reference to Black Hawk. He was always uppermost in men’s minds in those days.
“He is headed straight for Kellogg’s Grove,” replied John Mason.
“Do you suppose he will attack there?”
“I’m sure I don’t know,” said Mason. “If he does I hope he has no better luck than he had yesterday.”
“There are no soldiers to speak of at Kellogg’s Grove,” Joseph reminded the others. “He may be able to surprise the fort now and capture it.”
“There were no soldiers there yesterday,” agreed Mason. “At the same time it seems to me I heard something at Dixon’s Ferry the other day about some men being sent there.”
“To be stationed there, you mean?” asked Robert.