“It might be,” Sandy replied, looking thoughtful; “he never told me who he was; but held out his hand to me, and then disappeared in the bushes, from which fact I made up my mind that he must have been on a very important errand at the time he got trapped in that slough. A Delaware—well, perhaps he was. Seems to me he looked like the one who was caught hanging around here early last summer, and who was allowed to go, with a warning never to come back. But I suppose I never will know the truth.”
“But, it sames to me it’s a mighty good thing to have sich a grand fri’nd always on the watch till warrn yees whin danger draws nigh,” remarked the trapper. “Now, av I’d had the same, ’tis manny a bad time I might have been saved from goin’ through wid, in me day. And marrk me worrd, this same party must have a bad falin’ towards the Frinchmin; becase he sames to kape watch over them, so he do; plazed to upset anny plans they might be after makin’.”
Leaving the cabin in the charge of Mrs. Armstrong, Kate, and Sandy, the last of whom wished to have some of the home-made salve applied to his swollen ankle, the rest went out to watch the rising of the waters, and to compare notes with others among the anxious settlers, now in fear of having the little homes for which they had toiled so hard swept away with the flood.
One who had been keeping close watch over the situation declared that for more than half an hour now the river had been at a standstill. Even such a small thing as this brought some ray of hope in its train; though Pat warned them not to relax their vigilance one iota, because the information sent down the Ohio by means of those signal smokes was usually very accurate, and could be depended on.
It was after a time decided to set a watch, while the rest of the settlers tried to obtain some sleep, of which they were in much need. Should the river once more begin to rise, information of the event would be carried around quietly from cabin to cabin, so as not to awaken the women and children, and needlessly alarm them, even though it were deemed the part of wisdom for the men to be abroad.
But, in case the water started to rise swiftly, as would be the case should the flood predicted by the Indians arrive, then the alarm bell, used only in cases of great necessity, like a threatened Indian attack, would be rung.
Should that be heard, every one must immediately start to remove all of his possessions, scanty as these were at the best, to a place of security on higher ground.
It was an anxious group that gathered there for a last consultation, before separating for the night. Bob missed Blue Jacket, and yet the Indian came and went at will when visiting his white friends, so that his absence caused no alarm.
Finally Mr. Armstrong took Bob by the sleeve, saying: