If the lad had gone to Forty Fort without hindrance, unfolded his budget of information there, and returned immediately, he would barely have time to arrive at Fort Jenkins, and it was reasonable to suppose he would spend at least four and twenty hours among his friends, not thinking it might be absolutely necessary for him to hasten back. Then, arriving on the morrow, mayhap he would find the stockade so invested as to render it impossible for him to enter, and thus be forced to return again; at least, so I figured it in my mind, until coming to believe that I might have seen the last of my comrade in this world. Regarding the fate of the hunters who as yet were unaccounted for, I had no great fear, because of the fact that their comrades reported them as having fled toward the river, and, once on the other side of the stream, I believed they would seek safety at the Pittstown stockades, which, as I have already said, were directly opposite Fort Jenkins. “There is little use in trying to form plans for defence when we have no fair idea as to how the attack may be begun,” Master Bartlett said, seeing that I was in a brown study. “It was of Elias Shendle I was thinking, sir, and for the moment had forgotten we were here to defend the stockade against overwhelming odds.” “Elias may thank his lucky stars you believed it necessary to send word to Forty Fort as to what had been learned,” Master Bartlett replied, gravely. “With such a force of savages as we know are hereabouts, or at Wintermoot’s, there will be no child’s play when the business is once begun, for, if we tire one gang, as you did those who made the first attack, there are others in plenty to take their places.” “That has the sound of croaking, Master Bartlett,” I said, with a mirthless laugh, “and it seems to me just now what we most need is something to raise our courage.” “After what you three lads have done this night, Jonathan Ogden, I’m thinking that you are not in sore need of being bolstered up lest you show the white feather, and, because you have proven yourself a lad of spirit, would I have you look upon the situation exactly as it is.” “And what may it be, Master Bartlett, from your standpoint?” “Defeat for us, as a matter of course; but, please God, we’ll hold out long enough for our friends and neighbors to know of what is being done, and thereby understand the better their own situation.” I was surprised that the old man should speak so positively of our being whipped, although such must be the natural conclusion by one who knew the strength of both parties, and I said as much to him, whereupon he replied, gravely: “To my mind, lad, a man can fight better having confessed his own weakness, for he who anticipates the worst is not so easily discouraged as the one who, believing he will be victorious, suddenly finds the tide of battle turning against him.”