“In those ruins,” went on Joseph bitterly, “undoubtedly lie the bodies of our father and mother and our two sisters. Just think of it; at this time yesterday they were alive and happy. Now they are all dead, burned up by the flames of their own home and no doubt their scalps have been taken, just as Deerfoot took the scalp of that Indian in the woods this morning.”
“Well,” exclaimed Robert, “one thing is sure and that is that I shall never rest until I have avenged their deaths. From now on I swear enmity to Black Hawk and all his tribe. I’ll have revenge or die in the attempt. That much I’m certain of.”
“Look there!” said Joseph. “They didn’t even spare Shep.”
A few feet away lay the body of a collie dog, a bullet through his brain. Shep, the playmate and faithful friend of the Hall family, one that had shared their fortunes uncomplainingly, whether they were good or bad, had also fallen a victim to the blood lust of the hostile redmen.
“We’ll avenge Shep too,” exclaimed Robert earnestly. “Come on, Joe! We can’t do any good here and we are probably in danger too. Let’s find Deerfoot and get out of here as fast as we can.”
“Where are we going to go?”
“I haven’t an idea. I haven’t thought that far. All I know is I want to get away from here. The other settlers ought to be warned too before the same thing happens to them that has happened to our family.”
“All right,” agreed Joseph. “Let’s find Deerfoot and go somewhere. I don’t care much where it is either.”
When he saw the two brothers approaching to meet him Deerfoot hastened toward them.
“Must hurry,” he exclaimed. “I think Black Hawk come soon.”