So Roger came hurrying up, and his excited manner immediately drew the attention of everybody. The first thing that struck Bob Armstrong was that bad news might have been received concerning the expedition of Captain Lewis; for there had been many dismal prophecies uttered that they would fall before an overwhelming attack of hostile Indians before they had been a month on the way, or reached anywhere near the falls of the river at the place where Atchison, Kansas, now stands.
“Tell us the worst, son!” demanded Sandy, as Roger reached the group. “Is it any evil that has befallen our good friend, Captain Lewis, and his gallant command?”
“No, not that, father,” replied the boy; “but, would you believe it? that Frenchman, François Lascelles, has been in St. Louis with his son; and, learning of our mission, they have already started, bent on finding Williams before we can, and fixing it so that all our work will be useless!”
CHAPTER VII
OFF ON THE GREAT JOURNEY
“The hound!” exclaimed Sandy Armstrong, with something of his old impetuosity.
“But, even as it is, we will outwit him,” Dick observed, with that quiet resolution that was so distinctly a part of his character. “They can only have a day or so the start of us; and it may not be so hard to get ahead of his party in the thick of the woods.”
“And if he tries any of his tricks on us,” broke in the indignant Roger, “be sure that we will not spare him. We are going to remember that he is a bad man, who plans to rob us of our homes, and steal the property our parents have built up here. Yes, it won’t be such a fine day for Monsieur Lascelles when he meets the Armstrong boys face to face; eh, Dick?”
The bad news Roger had brought from the settlement seemed to cast a shadow on the coming separation of the boys from those they loved. The mothers sighed, and had hard work to force a smile when either of the lads happened to be near. Even the fathers got together many times, and conferred as to whether one of them should not accompany the boys.