The mention of the English troops spurred Fritz into action, and he hastily gathered himself together and was ready to go ahead again.
Most of the Indian tribe were already far along the trail, and the boys had to hurry and catch up to them. The day proved a long one for the two Patriots for the sun was hot in the valley, and they were pushed to the utmost to keep up to the Indian leaders. Except for a short halt now and then when they all drank from some nearby rushing brook, they had been on the trail since before dawn. The men were also without any rest since the fight of the day before.
The signal from Telca that they were to make camp was a very welcome one.
"Well, I feel as if we had done a good day's work," said Dick, as they sat on a fallen log and watched the squaws gather wood for the fires.
"Och, Dick Dare, a veek of whole sleep vill not my feet rest yet," replied Fritz.
"See how small and how well concealed those squaws build their fires," said Dick. "Each one behind a tree or rock to keep anyone on that ridge up there from seeing the light."
"So soon yet as they got somedings cooked, I don'd care vhere they haf fires," Fritz returned.
In a surprisingly short time the food in the kettles was steaming, and the whole party felt strength returning to their tired muscles after eating and resting.
Telca joined the boys after having satisfied his appetite, and unfolded to them his plans for the immediate future. An hour's march further along the trail along the mountain ridge came down and joined the one they were following. Just beyond that was the "big water," as Telca called the river, where they would search for canoes for the boys. The Indians would wait for the British troops where the trails met, for there were high wooded rocky slopes on both sides of the fork, and the Redman would have a position of great advantage for an ambush.
"But wouldn't it be well to take up that position to-night?" asked Dick.