“Where is Fort Armstrong?” demanded Robert, as they were preparing to turn in for the night.
“Why, Bob,” chided his brother. “Don’t you know where that is?”
“Of course I do,” replied Robert. “That’s just the reason I asked you.”
“Well, it’s right where the Rock River empties into the Mississippi,” Joseph explained, paying no attention to his brother’s attempt at sarcasm. “That is the place where General Atkinson and General Whiteside came from. They collected their troops there before they started up the Rock River.”
“Then we’re going back the way they came?”
“Exactly.”
“But I’m afraid we’ll miss something,” protested Robert.
“Don’t you want to go? A few minutes ago you said you did.”
“I still do,” exclaimed Robert quickly. “For a moment it seemed to me that we would be getting out of touch with things if we went back there, but I guess there’s likely to be something going on, no matter where we are.”
“Surely, there is,” Joseph agreed. “I think that Black Hawk’s victory will make it very unsafe for the settlers around here, too.”