“Why, yes,” replied Walt, “I do know a good many.”
“Well, we’re always willing to listen to them,” said Joseph.
“I could hear another right now,” suggested Robert hopefully. “Would you mind very much telling us one, Walt?”
“Not at all, except for the fact that from the looks of things I think perhaps our reinforcements are arriving.”
“Something is happening all right!” exclaimed Joseph excitedly.
All three immediately sprang to their feet and hurried to the western side of the camp whither everyone else seemed to be bound. Everybody was excitedly calling to everybody else and all were in high spirits at the arrival of the troops.
“Perhaps we can get started now,” said Walt hopefully as he hurried along beside the two boys. “Our waiting days are about over, I guess, and within twenty-four hours I think we’ll be on on our way up the old Rock River. Black Hawk had better move on before we get very far, too, I can tell you.”
Everybody in the settlement was gathered together in one spot, the center of attention being a mud-spattered messenger who was talking to Major Stillman. The boys could not hear what he said but as they came closer to the crowd the messenger turned and pointed. Over the crest of a nearby hill suddenly appeared a man on horseback. Then another came into view, then another, and still another until the whole hill was covered by the band of approaching horsemen.
CHAPTER IX
IN CAMP
“Just look at them!” exclaimed Joseph. “There must be a thousand of them.”