“I don’t think either the colonel or the captain will want to go out during the winter,” answered Henry, which was a correct conclusion. The season was proving so severe that the idea of sending a body of soldiers on a trail that was then but little known was out of the question, in the opinion of both the colonel and the commandant of the fort. Both said nothing could be done until spring. “I don’t believe they will ever send the soldiers out there,” said Dave to Henry, with much bitterness in his tone. “They think they have their hands full taking care of matters as far west as this fort.” “Well, we can’t exactly blame them, Dave. They have had some hard times here, during the past few years.” “But do you want to stay here and let Bevoir and his crowd escape punishment?” “I certainly do not. But what can we do? It would be foolhardy for us to dream of going out there alone.” “We might go home and organize a party from there. I think your father would help us.” “That is a roundabout way of getting at it,” answered Henry, thoughtfully. “But it could be done.” “I can’t bear to think of staying here and doing nothing,” resumed Dave. “Why, every day would seem like a month! I must know the truth, and I must do something to bring Jean Bevoir and those other rascals to justice.” With Dave, to think was to act, and by the next day he had made up his mind fully. He would return to Will’s Creek, tell his Uncle Joe and the others all, and get them to aid him in organizing an expedition to move against Jean Bevoir and his evil associates. The commandant of the fort was much surprised at the youth’s determination and secretly admired his pluck. Yet he shrugged his shoulders over the wisdom of the plan. “’Tis a long journey to the east and ’twill be a longer journey to the west,” he said. “However, have your own way, and I will aid you as much as I can.” It was arranged that two frontiersmen named Lawson and Devine should accompany Dave and Henry on their journey eastward. The four were to go on foot, taking along snowshoes, and each was to carry a knapsack well filled with rations. They were to move along as quickly as possible, only stopping to shoot game when it was absolutely necessary. Lawson and Devine were fairly well known to the youths. Each had been over the trail a number of times, and each was stout and strong and well able to resist the hardships of the trip. All went over their outfits with care, and did not carry anything more than seemed absolutely necessary. The start was made from Fort Pitt on a bright clear day in the middle of December. A few of the soldiers went out to see them off, and to the first bend in the trail. Then they turned back, and the party of four was left to confront whatever lay before it. “I do not think we shall meet any Indians,” said Henry. “They do not fancy moving around in such nipping weather as this.”