The sights presented to Rodney and the others at the ford were so revolting that Mrs. Dobson, Nell, and the twins were held back, that they might not see what had occurred. The slain were all scalped and an effort had been made to burn one at the stake. The bodies of the men and the dead horses lay together. Four horses were missing, and on these the Indians had packed such stores as they wanted, scattering the other goods or burning them. “This is enough to make one sick!” said Rodney, as he turned away with a shudder. “These redskins must have been fiends!” “They were certainly cold-blooded,” answered Barringford. “Poor Banoggin! He had better have stayed in the east.” “Sam, this doesn’t look as if it would be safe for us to go any further.” “Easily said, lad; but what are ye goin’ to do?” “You mean it is as safe to go forward as to turn back?” “Don’t it look thet way?” “Maybe. But we are a little closer to Fort Pitt than we are to Fort Cumberland.” “Thet’s true too. But I don’t reckon the Injuns will dare to go as far east as Cumberland—not after the lickin’ they got at Bushy Run.” “The band that did this can’t be the band that tried to surround us.” “No, they are another tribe, I think.” “Then the forest must still be full of wandering bands, and we are not near as safe as we thought we were.” “We’ve got to make the best on’t, Rodney. We must travel as fast as we can and keep our eyes peeled more’n ever before. It’s the only way out, so far as I kin see.” The bodies of the slain were placed in a hollow, with some flat stones on top, to keep off the wolves and other wild beasts. The place was marked on the trees. A few of Banoggin’s possessions were taken along and the others left where they had fallen. “Poor fellow, he will never want anything in this life again,” murmured Rodney, brokenly. And when the trader died they placed his body away with those of his followers. Fortunately he had been a bachelor, so there would be no widow or child to mourn his loss. Early in the morning Rodney and those with him moved on again. Everybody in the party was exceedingly sober. All realized their great danger. The fate of Stephen Banoggin and his party was ever before their eyes and in their thoughts. CHAPTER IX UNDER THE CLIFF “Thank fortune we have come so far without injury!” It was Rodney who uttered the words. He and Sam Barringford were standing on a little rise of ground, the trail in front and behind them. The warm noonday sun shone down upon them, and all was calm and peaceful with not an enemy of any kind in sight. Close at hand Dobson and his wife were preparing a meal for all hands and little Nell was playing with the twins.