Page:Edward Ellis--Seth Jones.djvu/86

Rh "I am afraid we can't help it, any way we choose to fix it"

"What do you mean? What do you refer to?"

"You see, them Ingins can't help knowing the way we'll have to take to reach home, and what is to hinder them from getting ahead of us and giving us a little trouble?" "Nothing at all, that's the fact. Our utmost vigilance will be required at every step. Don't you think, Seth, that one o' us should act in the capacity of scout?"

"I know it; not only one, but two. As soon as we start, I shall shoot ahead and pilot you along, while one of you must flourish in the rear to announce any new visitors. This is the only way we can ever expect to move along with dignity."

"What course do you suppose the savages will take?" asked Graham.

"I guess they ain't in the neighborhood, though it's darned hard to tell where they are. You can make up your mind that they'll show themselves before we get any great distance ahead. They'll be dodging round in the woods till they find out where we are, and then they'll use their wits to draw us into ambush, and I can tell yeou, too, that cuter ones than we have walked right into the infarnal things."

An hour later, when preparations were making for resuming their journey, Ina awoke. She was greatly refreshed by the sleep thus obtained, and the others felt cheered and hopeful at the prospect of a rapid march for the day.

The burden and responsibility of this small band of adventurers naturally devolved upon Haldidge and Seth. Haverland, although a thorough hunter and woodsman, had had little or no experience in Indian warfare, and accordingly showed himself to be devoid of that suspicious watchfulness which makes up the success of the frontier ranger. As for Graham, he was suspicious enough, but he lacked also the great teacher—experience. Seth and Haldidge thus thrown together, rapidly consulted and determined in all cases the precautionary measures to be adopted. In the present instance, it was decided that Haldidge should linger some hundred yards in the rear, and use all the opportunities thus afforded of watching the actions or approach of their enemies. The same duty was imposed upon Seth, with the additional certainty upon his part, that the entire safety of the company rested with him.