“Thank you,” said Dick, and he entered and took a seat, while his host placed some meat and corn cakes on the rude table at one side.
“Now set up here, and eat all ye want,” said the man.
Dick did so, and when he had talked with the man a few moments, he learned that he was a hunter, but that he was a patriot, and the youth learned that it was about forty miles to Ninety-Six.
“If ye’re going over in that part of the country, ye’ll have to keep your eyes open,” said the hunter. “The redcoats and redskins both are thick over thar. Only yesterday the savages caught a couple of young fellows and were going to burn them at the stake. I was about an’ with a friendly Indian’s aid crawled up just in time to cut loose their bonds or they would be on the road to kingdom come before now.”
“My kind preserver,” gasped Dick, “I thank you for myself and for Ben, my comrade.”
Naturally there was a long talk, and Dick repeated time and again his words of appreciation. Finally with a last grasp of the kindly hunter’s hand he took his departure.
The man insisted on Dick taking a package of food with him, which the youth did, and he was glad afterward that he did so, for he did not come upon another cabin during that day, and would have had to go hungry, but for the supply he had brought with him.
He camped that night at a point which he judged was perhaps ten miles from Fort Ninety-Six, and slept quietly till morning.
He ate the last of the food the hunter had given him, and then set out in the direction of Ninety-Six.
About three hours later, he came to a wide open space, and looked with interest at what he knew was Fort Ninety-Six, standing near the center of an open space of goodly size.