tried as quickly as my injury would allow to join the group who were
hurrying that way.

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.

It was the scouts coming back from different directions, with the same
report that no enemy was in sight, though they had penetrated in one or
two instances right to the forest.

"Isn't a false alarm, is it, Captain Bruton?" said one of the newer
settlers. "Two of us went right to your little plantation."

"Well?" said my father, eagerly.

"Well, sir, you were not at home, so we did what I hope you approve of--
treated ourselves as you in your hospitality would have treated us. We
sat down, ate and drank, and after we were refreshed we came back, but
we saw no enemy."

I felt hot and cold with indignation as I listened to this man's
cavalier treatment of my father, and to see that many of those present
were ready to join this scout in believing it to be a false alarm.

"I am glad, sir, that you have returned in safety to make your report,"
said my father, coldly.

"Oh, come, Winters," said Colonel Preston, warmly, "if you had seen
those boats bristling with arrows you would not think our friend Bruton
had been crying wolf."

"And if he will go into our temporary hospital he will see one of the
wounded lying there seriously injured."

"But I do not want to cast doubts on Captain Bruton's report."

"Then why did you try, sir?" I said hotly. "Ask the doctor if it was a
sham wound from an arrow that I got in my leg."

"George!" said my father, sternly, "remember what you are."

"I do, father," I said vehemently; "but this man seemed to think you had
not spoken the truth."

"No, no," said the settler, flushing up, "only that he might have been
deceived."

"I only wish you had been tied up for hours to a tree as I was, sir," I
said, "expecting to be killed by the Indians. I believe even now you
can't believe it is true."

"Hush!" said my father, sternly. "I'm afraid, gentlemen, that though
nothing has been seen of them, the Indians are hiding in the forest,
ready to descend upon us at what they consider a favourable opportunity,
and I beg, I implore, for your own sakes--for the sake of all whom you
hold dear, not to treat what I have said as being exaggerated."

"We shall not, Bruton," said the General firmly, after standing
listening in silence all through. "I have plenty of faith in my young
friend, your son, and you may rest assured that I am not going to treat
what has taken pl