“I reckon as how the wildcat war half starved an’ got desprit,” spoke up the old frontiersman. “He must have jumped down on the deer from some tree and hung on till the deer war dead.” The others had by this time come up, and they looked at the deer with interest. The game was slung over the back of one of the horses and the onward march resumed. That night all enjoyed the fresh venison. On the following day they came to a fair-sized river, and there encamped for their noonday repast. Taking an axe, Henry cut a round hole in the ice and brought forth his fishing lines. “Going to try fishing, eh?” said Dave. “All right, I’ll do what I can to help.” They soon had their lines ready, and baiting up, allowed them to sink through the hole. The fish were sluggish, and for a long time they got no bite. But then came a lazy tug, and hauling in, Henry brought up a fat fish that weighed all of two pounds. “Good for you, Henry!” cried his cousin. “You always were lucky at this sort of thing.” “Not always,” answered Henry, grimly. “I have fished through the ice more than once and caught next to nothing.” “I’ll never forget how I once brought up a snake and then fell into the water,” went on Dave, recalling an incident already related in detail in this series. “No more snakes for me. I hate——Gracious! Look at that! A snake as sure as you’re born!” Dave’s line and hook came up. On the end was something dark and slimy. Henry started back and then gave a laugh. “Only an old tree-root, Dave!” he cried, merrily. “Don’t holler before you are hurt.” “I was thinking of that other snake,” answered his cousin, somewhat sheepishly. He dropped in his hook again. “Hope I get a bite this time.” His wish was gratified. Fishing proved so good that the youths persuaded Mr. Morris to let them continue for awhile, and in less than an hour they had a full mess for supper. The men enjoyed the change greatly, and told Henry and Dave they could go fishing at every river the expedition crossed. CHAPTER XXIII THE RESCUE OF THE STRANGER A few days later brought the expedition to Fort Pitt. Captain Ecuyer was surprised to see Dave and Henry back so soon, and praised them for the rapid time they had made. But he shook his head when he listened to the further plans of the party. “I believe you are taking a great risk,” said he. “I have been sending out scouts within the last week, and their reports are far from satisfactory. They have seen Indians at a distance, and there is not the slightest doubt but that this stronghold is being watched closely.” “It is queer then that we were not attacked in coming here,” answered Joseph Morris. “We kept a careful watch, but saw no enemy.”