“But we can’t roam here or there over the valley,” I said, after a pause, and he replied, bitterly: “True, and the reason is that some of us must be left to protect those who cannot care for themselves. If Stephen Morley and Master Bartlett would decide that the women and children should undertake the journey over the mountains, then might we be left free-handed to do as is our duty.” “But you forget the wounded, Daniel; they may not be moved yet awhile.” “You are right, Jonathan, and thus are we hampered,” Daniel replied, and then he went up the trail toward the cave to greet his sister, who stood a short distance away waiting for him impatiently. When next I joined the two men it was to find them at loggerheads. Stephen Morley was of the belief that we might take the three injured lads, the women and the children, into the stockade at Wyoming, leaving them there to protect themselves, while we went out to harry the smaller bands of savages who were roaming to and fro, even as they had harried our people. On the other hand, Master Bartlett insisted that we remain in the cave during at least eight and forty hours, claiming that there we could defend ourselves the better, and when I asked why he would delay that length of time, he replied that it would give at least two of the wounded chance to recover sufficiently to move through the forest unaided. “But then where will you go, Master Bartlett?” I asked. “By that time we shall know better where we are most needed.” “How?” Stephen Morley demanded. “By going out again. I will take Jonathan Ogden and Giles March, agreeing to return here within eight and forty hours, and promise you that while absent we will give good account of ourselves.” “But why not take all the able-bodied of our force?” “Because now is it certain the cave will be again attacked, and there must be enough left here to guard it.” Then once more the two men fell into a discussion as to the best course, and, burning with the desire to do something other than remain on the mountainside in idleness, I cut short the arguments by saying: “Stephen Morley is bound to stay here because in his wife and children he has more at stake than any other. Do you select the force you desire, Master Bartlett, and let us set off without delay.” Master Morley went into the cave as if disgruntled; but, as I looked at the matter, it was not a time when we were bound to consider one man’s ideas as against the many, and once more I urged Master Bartlett to do as I had suggested. The result of the matter was that within half an hour we three, the old man, Giles, and I, were ready to depart, and those of our comrades who were to be left behind had sorrowful faces, as if, because of being forced to remain in a place of comparative safety, they were in some way being deprived of their rights.