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272 behind them, and turning swiftly they beheld Sam Barringford standing there, rifle in hand, and with his throat done up in a bandage.

"Where in the world did you come from?" ejaculated Henry. "Why, you ought to be in the hospital!"

"Not by a jugful, Henry! I'm well enough ag'in, I can tell ye—though I allow as how my neck's a bit stiff."

"How did you get here?"

"Came up on a boat that brought some ammunition. Reckon I'm jest in time, too, eh?"

"You ought to take it easy, Sam," said Dave. "You've done enough—"

"Cut it short, lad; I can't sit still when thar's a scrimmage on—no two ways about it. Besides, I promised your folks to stay with ye, remember thet,—an' I'm bound to keep my promise. Come along, an' tell me what ye've been up to sence we parted company."

As they trudged forward, along the Indian trail which led along the bluff on the east side of the Niagara River, the youths related their various adventures. Barringford was astonished to learn how Dave had been nearly drowned and starved and how Henry and others had come up just in the nick of time.