“I hope they have not gotten into trouble,” said Joseph Morris. “Yet, if all went well, they should have been here long before this.” It was about nine o’clock in the morning when they heard several shots at a distance. They watched eagerly, and presently saw Sam Barringford, on horseback, riding with might and main for the post. “Sam is coming!” cried Dave, running to the gate. “Put down the bars and let him in!” The bars were loosened and the big gate opened, and a minute later the old frontiersman swept through the opening. He was so exhausted he almost dropped from his steed. “Is Henry here?” were his first words. “No,” answered several. At this announcement the face of the frontiersman fell. He glanced back toward the forest. “It’s too bad, but we can’t do nuthing now. Bar the gate ag’in, afore they git in on ye!” His directions were followed, and soon after this the party under Jean Bevoir and Moon Eye swept into view. They were in a great rage, and doubly so when they saw how they had been tricked out of the possession of the trading post. [Illustration: The old frontiersman swept through the opening.—_Page 258._] “Surrendair!” cried Jean Bevoir, as he came closer. “Zat ees my property, an’ I call upon you to surrendair!” “Keep your distance, or we will fire upon you!” answered Joseph Morris, and to check the advance he had one of his men fire over the enemy’s head. At this the advancing party lost no time in secreting itself behind the neighboring trees. “Keep a strict watch and sound the alarm at the first outbreak,” said the planter, and then walked to where Dave was assisting Sam Barringford from his steed. The frontiersman’s story was soon told. He and Henry had gone straight to where the pack-train and the sick man had been left, to find the man gone and also one of the horses. They were looking around for the individual and the steed when five Indians pounced upon them and made them prisoners. The Indians took them into the forest and also led the horses away. From their talk they were evidently a portion of Moon Eye’s tribe that was journeying to the post to join their chief. What had become of the sick man none of them appeared to know. “We watched our chances,” continued Sam Barringford, “and jest when we thought as how we could do it, Henry an’ I made a break fer liberty. We got on two o’ the hosses an’ rode as if the Old Nick war after us. The Injuns fired at us, but their aim was no good so far ez I was consarned. In the woods Henry an’ I got separated. I thought he rode straight fer here, but I must have been mistook on that p’int. I was coming along full bent when I spotted Jean Bevoir and Moon Eye and thet crowd. Then I knowed I must ride fer all I was wuth, an’ I did it.” “Then Henry must be somewhere in the forest,” said Dave. “Yes, but if he’s alive or dead I don’t know,” answered Sam Barringford, soberly. “I must find out about this,” said Joseph Morris. “And I must do it at once.”