Till evening they tramped along, and they were beginning to think they would have to sleep out in the woods, when they caught sight of a light ahead of them. The next moment they emerged into open country, and made their way toward the light. Presently they came to what looked like a fort, as seen in the starlight, and they made out that there was a high stockade-wall around the building. “Well, I’m glad we’ve found some place to stay for the night, anyhow,” suggested Tom. “Who comes there?” cried a voice, from above their heads. “Friends,” replied Dick. He did not know that the inmates of the fort were friends, but he thought it likely they were patriots, and hoped that such was the case. “How many are there of you?” was the next question. “Three.” “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. “Good. I’m glad of that. We are patriots also, and members of the army of General Greene, who is about one hundred miles north of here.” “Ah, we are glad to hear that,” said Holden. “I wish that General Greene would come down here and give the Indians a thrashing.” “That is what he is figuring on doing if there is need,” said Dick. “He sent us to do some scouting and reconnoitering,” put in Tom. “He had heard that there were lots of Indians down here, and that they were murdering patriots and burning their homes, and if we learned that this was the case, he would come down here and put a stop to their work.” “Well, you can return to him and tell him that his presence in this part of the country is sorely needed. The Indians are pillaging and burning homes, and they have committed a number of murders. They attacked us, here in Peaceful Valley, this afternoon, and drove us to the shelter of this fort and then burned our houses.” “That was bad,” said Dick. “Yes, but they were overtaken by the flood, while they were sitting on the ground, about halfway between here and the mouth of the gulch, and three of them were struck by logs and knocked senseless, and were drowned.” “That was good,” said Tom, his eyes shining.