s they had
lately killed her friends. Rose was almost as much alarmed, but Biddy
was ready to stand up and fight with the men, had her services been
required.

My father, I found, had determined to remain a couple of days in our
present camp, for the purpose of resting the cattle, and in the hopes
that the Indians, finding that we were well prepared to resist their
attacks, would move to a distance, so that we might proceed without
further molestation to Fort Hamilton. My father, calling the men
together, praised them for their conduct.

"If you all are as watchful as heretofore, and behave with the same cool
courage, I feel very sure that we shall make our way through and defeat
the redskins, should any come near us," he observed: "we must now find
out whether any savages are lurking in yonder wood, that we may not run
the risk of being attacked while we are taking our cattle down to the
river."

On hearing this remark, I told him what Mr Tidey proposed, and begged
leave to accompany the Dominie.

"I cannot forbid my own son to perform a duty which I would impose on
others," he answered. "You may go, Mike, and I must charge you as I
should anybody else, to be cautious; you have a wily foe to deal with,
and you must take care not to let any of the Indians get between you and
the camp."

I of course promised to use all due precaution. Dio, who had been
attentively listening to what my father said, offered at once to go down
to the bottom of the cliff and ascertain if any of our enemies were
concealed in the brushwood which skirted the borders of the river.

"It still dark down dare, an' dey not see me," he observed. Though the
rays of the rising sun glanced across the higher ground, the light had
scarcely yet penetrated into the depths below; still it was doubtful if
even Dio would escape the sharp eyes of the Indians, should any be
concealed and lurking near. However, as it was important to ascertain
whether any remained, my father did not prohibit him from carrying out
his intention. Slipping over the breastwork, he disappeared among the
trees in the ravine. We listened somewhat anxiously for any sound which
might indicate that he had discovered a foe, or rather that a foe had
discovered him, but as we looked down over the cliff, we could neither
see nor hear anyone moving among the dense brushwood. In a few minutes,
greatly to our relief, he returned, reporting that although he had found
some marks of