Part 9 (2/2)
”Then our horses are gone!” cried Darry, his face falling
”Thet's it, lad I'm sorry, but I did my best”
”Oh, I don't blame you, Leeson But--but if we haven't any horses, how are we to get to the fort?”
”We'll take turns at carrying you,” replied Lieutenant Carrol
Hank Leeson was as worn out as his mare, and while one of the soldiers cared for Nancy the old trapper sank down on his doorstep and told his story He had followed the desperadoes up hill and down for fifteen otten one shot at Fetter, which, he believed, had struck the rascal in the ar through a wide patch of ti out at the other side he had been unable to locate theht best to return to his cabin, to ascertain how the boys were faring
”Which road were they near when you saw them last?” asked Lieutenant Carrol
”Over at Hunkwater's Rock,” answered Leeson ”Moving toward the knob”
”Humph! Then I am afraid Captain Moore won't round theo near that trail?” questioned Joe
”No, he's on a trail three miles further north Still, the desperadoes may turn north”
”That's so,” said Leeson
As there was nothing to keep them at the cabin, the boys were now anxious to move on to the fort, and a short while later Lieutenant Carrol set off One private carried Joe and the other Darry; and, as the horses were powerful beasts, good progress was ht of a large flag waving in the distance He was right; and soon they could see the tall stockade quite plainly It was three hundred feet long by two hundred feet wide, and surrounded by a ditch twelve feet deep Inside of the stockade were the fort proper and a dozen other buildings, including the officers'
quarters, the yular town in itself!” ht, a town of exactly two hundred and seventy-five people,”
answered the lieutenant ”And of that nu to three companies, three are officers' wives, two are Indian scouts, and the rest are cooks and other helpers”
Colonel Fairfield, a tall, dignified old officer, had been told of their approach, and now calad to see you, boys,” he said, as he shook hands warmly ”If the story Benson told is true you have had quite a few adventures in reaching here I am sorry your brother is not here to ang, and I let him have his way”
”You haven't heard about all of our adventures, colonel,” said Darry, and told of the stolen horses
”Worse and worse!” returned the colonel, stroking his --or what is left of it--is as desperate as ever Those felloill never give up until they are either arrested or shot down”
”I hope et into trouble with them,” said Joe anxiously
”Well, a soldier has to take some risks, my boy But Captain Moore is as shrewd as he is brave, so you need not fear for his safety Colad to see you She wants to hear from all the folks at home”
The boys followed the old officer into the quarters, and here received an equally waro Dinner was soon served, and while the lads were satisfying the inner ain, and also tell all the news from home
”While you are here, boys, you must make yourselves perfectly at ease,”
said the colonel ”I know your fathers will expect me to be a father to you As for Captain Moore, I will allow him to be with you as much as military discipline permits”
CHAPTER X