Part 3 (1/2)
”What do you mean? I don't understand you. I noticed nothing.”
”I did. I saw how he watched Edith, and I made up my mind that he was in _love with her_! Since then I've found out it _was_ so!”
”Why, Jim, I never dreamed of such a thing. He hasn't been to our house since to see her.”
”Just because he _is_ in love! I've met him in the woods a dozen times since, and by the way in which he questioned me, I'd been a downright fool if I hadn't understood him.”
This avowal seemed to trouble the father, as he bent his head; and, for a while, nothing further was said. But Jim, who had little reverence for sentiment or romance, added, in a meaning voice:
”That isn't all, father.”
”What else have you to tell?”
”That Edith loves him!”
”Thunder! I don't believe it.”
”Well, I can't say _positively_ that she does; but I know she _likes_ him, and if Lew Dernor has a mind he can get her. You don't appear to like it, father.”
”I don't care much, but the gal seems so like my own da'ter, being I never had any, that I should hate despritly to lose her.”
”Fudge! it's got to come to that sooner or later, and who could she get better than Lew Dernor, the leader of the Miami Riflemen?”
”None, that's the fact, but----”
A footstep attracted their attention, and looking up, they saw Jake Laughlin step into view. He raised his hand, as if to command silence, jerking his thumb at the same time significantly toward the wagon and the rest of the settlers. He stepped carefully into the wagon-track, and the father and sons halted.
”It's so,” said he, nodding his head several times.
”Are you sure?”
”I've seen sign a half-dozen times since noon.”
”Shawnees, I s'pose?”
”Yes. There are plenty of them in the woods.”
”What are they waiting for?”
”The chance. There ain't enough, and we're too wide awake to allow them to attack us at present. They're waiting to take us off our guard or to get us at disadvantage. I've an idee where that'll be.”
”The creek?”
”Most certainly. There's where the tug of war will come, and I think if we should encamp to-night without a guard there would be no danger of attack from the Shawnees.”
”Are you going to warn others?”
”Not until night, I think, as there is no necessity for it.”
”Well, we don't need to tell you to be on the look-out. You know we've got a lot of women-folks to take care of.”