“Who are you? You are not British, and of course not Indians?”
“No, we are strangers, who were caught in the torrent from the cloud-burst and have had a terrible time. Will you kindly let us in?”
There was the sound of low conversation, and then the voice spoke up again:
“Yes, we’ll let you in.”
Then a few moments later they heard the squeaking of the gate as it was opened and they hastened around there and entered the stockade.
The man that had admitted them, Mr. Holden, fastened the gate and then said: “Come with me.”
He led the way into the fort, where the youths found themselves the center of interest. The men, women and children of the families of the settlers looked at the youths wonderingly and inquiringly.
“You are strangers, sure enough,” said Mr. Holden.
“Yes,” said Dick. “Are you folks patriots?”
Holden nodded. “We are,” he said.