tead, one of the Wyandots carried an arm in a rude
sling, one soldier was missing, and four others bore wounds.

Henry laughed inwardly, and it was a laugh full of satisfaction and
triumph. The party had found the four, but his prevision had not failed
him. Shif'less Sol and the others were on watch. They had been found,
because they permitted themselves to be found, and evidently they had
fought with all the advantage of ambush and skill. He felt instinctively
that they had not suffered any serious harm.

"They do not bring your friends," said Holderness.

"No," said Henry, "nor do they bring back all of themselves. I do not
wish to boast, gentlemen, but I warned you that my comrades would be
hard to take."

Henry saw Colonel de Peyster join the group and he saw, too, that his
face expressed much chagrin. So, not wishing to exult openly, he deemed
it wise to turn aside.

"If you don't mind," he said to the young officers, "I'm willing to go
into my cell, and, if you care to tell me later about what has happened,
you know I shall be glad to hear it."

"It might be advisable," said Holderness, and accordingly they locked
him in, where he waited patiently. He heard the noise of many voices
outside, but those to whom the voices belonged did not come within the
range of his window, and he waited, alive with curiosity. He did not
hear until nearly night, when Holderness came in with the soldier who
brought him his supper. Holderness seemed somewhat chagrined at the
discomfiture of de Peyster's party, and he sat a little while in
silence. Henry, knowing that the young Englishman must have a certain
feeling for his own, waited until he should choose to speak.

"I'm bound to confess, old chap," said Holderness at last, "that you
were right all the way through. I didn't believe you, but you knew your
own friends. It was a facer for us and, 'pon my word, I don't see how
they did it. The Wyandots, it seems, found the trail very soon, and it
led a long distance through the woods until they came to a deep creek.
Our men could wade the creek by holding their rifles and muskets above
their heads, which they undertook to do, but a man standing in water up
to his neck is not ready for a fight. At that point fire was opened upon
them, and they were compelled to beat as hasty a retreat as they could.
You must admit, Mr. Ware, that they were taken at a disadvantage."

"I admit it freely enough," said Henry. "It's a dangerous thing