d reason to be thankful that we had all escaped without injury.
Towards evening Mr Tidey came back bringing the satisfactory
intelligence that he had traced the retreating party to the Ohio.

Severe as was the lesson they had received, it was but too probable that
they would return and take another opportunity of wreaking their
vengeance on our heads. My father was a brave man, and had he been
alone would have remained and defended his property to the last, but he
thought of the danger to which my mother and we were exposed, and this
made him more willing than he otherwise would have been, to listen to
the proposal of Mr McDermont.

"You'll be after having a troubled life of it here, captain," observed
our guest, the next day. "For my part I am not altogether unaccustomed
to such proceedings in the old country, and have no wife or children to
be troubled about, and should rather like the excitement of the sort of
life I should have to lead here for a year or two, until I have taught
the Kentuckians to leave me alone in peace. This makes me bold to offer
you a price for your farm, should you be disposed to move farther
westward or northward, out of their way. I know how to deal with
fellows of their character, though I should be puzzled if I had redskins
to guard against, or a new country to clear. What say you now to twenty
thousand dollars? It will go a long way westward. I am aware that your
farm, under other circumstances, would be worth more than that. Should
you accept my proposal, I would advise you not to migrate to
Swampyville. You have the advantage of my experience in that matter,"
he added, laughing.

My father took time to consider Mr McDermont's proposal, and he and
Uncle Denis had a long consultation on the subject. He finally decided
to accept the offer, and greatly to his satisfaction Uncle Denis told
him that he had made up his mind to part with his farm in Kentucky and
to cast in his lot with us.

"I wish that I had done so years ago," he said. "I had an offer just
before I left home: I shall not be long in settling the matter."

Our uncle was a man of action, and observing that he should give Mr
Bracher a wide berth, and promising to return in a few days, at once set
about making preparations for a start.

Mr McDermont was ready to purchase the furniture and everything we did
not require. Dan and I meantime set off to try and find poor Dio, and
either to escort him on his way to Mr G