alarm
I am afraid the redskins would have done more damage than they did."

The leader was silent as he gazed into the surrounding forest. He was
well aware that the woods might conceal many more hostile Indians than
had appeared in the sudden attack upon the camp. That he was deeply
troubled by the message Peleg had brought him was manifest. Had his
enemies already killed his son or had they made him a prisoner? What had
become of James?

"Do you think they have taken him?" inquired Peleg in a low voice.

"That is what I hope," replied Daniel Boone; and then in response to the
unspoken question of the young hunter he added: "If they have made him
prisoner we may be able to get him again, but if they have not----"

What the pioneer scout left unsaid was fully understood by Peleg, whose
face became pale as he saw the anxiety of the leader for his boy.

"A man must do his best, and it is useless to rebel," said Daniel Boone,
almost as if he were speaking to himself. "If James has fallen, all that
we may try to do will be useless. If he has escaped, he will not need
all our help. If the Shawnees have made him their prisoner, then we
shall do more to help him by quick action than in any other way."

Turning from the women, who were weeping over the bodies of the dead men
that had been brought back to the camp, in a few words Daniel Boone
related to his companions what Peleg had told him. A band of twenty or
more was speedily formed, every one eager to join in the search for the
missing boy.

"Peleg," inquired the scout just before the men departed from the camp,
"do you think you can lead the way to the place where you and James
heard the 'turkey'?"

"Yes, sir," replied Peleg.

"Then let us start at once."

No man in the band was without fear when they entered the forest lest he
might be the target of some concealed Indian. And yet the little force
was relying upon the very boldness of their venture for its success.

There was no trace of fright, however, when the men ran across the open
space and followed Daniel Boone as he led the way in the direction
indicated by Peleg, who was close behind him.

In a brief time the party came to the place where Peleg had shot the
Indian that had been imitating the gobble of a turkey. There was no
delay, however, and as soon as Boone was convinced that the red man was
dead he turned with his companions in the direction in which the other
"turkey" had been heard.

As yet