“Ay, and because they evidently are not fearing any interference from the people of the valley, I had good opportunity to see what was going on. I should say no less than an hundred white men in the uniform of Johnson Greens are there, and between the stockade and the river can be seen twenty or more Indian lodges, which will give you an idea of how many redskins Butler has gathered to begin the work of destruction hereabout. I have heard shots enough from around our fort to tell me that you must have, by this time, some idea of where the enemy are.” “I know that a goodly number of them are outside Fort Jenkins, and it looks to me much as if they counted on laying regular siege to the place,” I replied, bitterly; “but as to how many may be nearabout, we have no knowledge.” “I believe a full half the force of Indians from Wintermoot’s are there,” Elias replied. “Judging from the trouble I had in getting anywhere near the main gate, it seemed to me that no less than two hundred were in front of the stockade. How did you get out, and why are you come?” I replied to the questions, and began to think myself fortunate in having gotten through the lines of the enemy with so little difficulty. Elias was a better hand at such work than I, and if he had found it impossible to open communication with us inside the stockade, then was I lucky in not having come to grief before I chanced upon him. “Then since you came out only to learn where the enemy might be found, and how many there were of them near Wintermoot’s, you will go back with me?” Elias said, questioningly, and straightway I told him about the capture of Esther Hinchman, asking if he saw any evidences that the Indians in camp had a prisoner with them. “There might have been a dozen in the lodges, and I remain in ignorance of the fact because of not looking for anything of that kind,” Elias replied, in a tone of vexation and doubt, as if the matter needed no discussion. “Of course we must retrace our steps at once.” “Meaning that you think we might aid her if she was held by the red villains?” I asked, and he replied, promptly: “Meaning that we’d have a try for it, of course. The lads in the fort are as well off as they would be if we were with them, therefore I don’t see how we can help turning back, but I’d be in better shape for the work if I had something besides wind in my stomach.” Now it was I remembered that when Elias left the stockade he had neglected to take any food with him, believing he would either be taken prisoner, or succeed in returning within a few hours. Although my store of provision was wofully small, consisting of only so much corn bread as could be carried in the pocket of my hunting shirt, I divided it with him, and while we were eating spoke of the necessity as it seemed to me, of sending some word down the valley concerning what was going on at Fort Jenkins, as well as what we knew regarding the situation at Wintermoot’s.