its full measure, and he ran back rapidly over incidents of their daring
trip. Everything was almost as vivid as if it were occurring again, and
he could account for detail after detail in its logical sequence until
he came to the two gunshots that had saved them. Who had fired the
bullets? In any event, it was evident that they had effective friends
outside the walls, and while he was still wondering about them he fell
asleep.

The siege the next day was desultory. There were occasional shots from
the forest and the river, but the far-reaching cannon were gone, and the
garrison paid little attention to rifle bullets that fell short.
Moreover, they were all--men, women and children--full of courage. The
exploit of the six in blowing up the flatboat and sending the cannon to
the bottom of the river seemed to them a proof that they could do
anything and defeat any attempt upon Fort Prescott.

But Henry and Major Braithwaite in the cupola of the blockhouse once
more looked southward over the surface of the Ohio and wondered why the
fleet did not come. Henry, with the coming of the day, felt new
misgivings. The Indians, with the whole forest to feed them and freedom
to go and come as they pleased--vast advantages--would persist in the
siege. Timmendiquas would keep them to it, and he might also be holding
back the fleet. White Lightning was a general and he would use his
forces to the best advantage. After a last vain look through the glasses
down the river, he took another resolve.

"I'm going out again to-night, Major," he said. "I'm going to hasten the
fleet."

"We can ill spare you, my lad," said the Major, putting an affectionate
hand upon his shoulder, "but perhaps it is best that you should go. You
saved us once, and it may be that you will save us twice. I'll not say
anything about your going to the people in general. They think you bring
good fortune, and it might discourage them to know that you are gone."

* * * * *

It was night, and only Major Braithwaite and Seth Cole saw Henry leave
Fort Prescott.

"I'll be back in a few days, Major," said the boy, "and I'll bring
help."

"You've given us great help already, young sir," said Major Braithwaite.
"How, in the name of Neptune, we can ever thank you sufficiently, I
don't know."

"I'm thinkin' we do owe you a lot," said Seth Cole tersely.

The boy smiled in the dark as he shook their hands. He was not foolish
to conceal f