mised them
much. A capable officer with a hundred desperate white men at his back and
a horde of Indians might create stirring events."

The five became very thoughtful over what he said, but when Lieutenant
Diego Bernal was taking his leave he looked at them rather enviously.

"You five inspire me with a certain jealousy," he said. "I have an
impression, although my impressions are usually wrong and my memory always
weak, that you are strongly attached to one another, that no one ever
hesitates to risk death for the others, that you are bound together by a
hundred ties, and that you act together for the common good. Ah, that is
something like friendship, real friendship, I should like to be one of a
band like yours, but I look in vain for such a thing in New Orleans."

"I wish that you were going with us," said Henry heartily.

"I wish it, too. Often I long for the great forests and the free air as
you do, but my service is due here to Bernardo Galvez, who is my good
friend. But it is pleasant to see that you have triumphed so finely."

"We may encounter great dangers yet," said Henry.

"It is quite likely, but I have an impression, and upon this occasion at
least I am sure my impression is not wrong, that you will overcome them as
you have done before."

When he was gone, and every one of the five felt genuine regret at his
departure, they went down to the river, where their fleet was anchored,
and were welcomed by Adam Colfax.

"We're certainly going to-morrow," said the captain, "but nobody can tell
when we'll get to Fort Pitt."

It was indeed a fine fleet of canoes and boats to be propelled by paddle,
oar, and sail, and it bore a most precious cargo. Eight of the larger
boats carried a twelve pound brass cannon apiece to be used if need be on
the way, but destined for that far-distant and struggling army in the
northeast. Stored in the other boats and canoes were five hundred muskets,
mostly from France, barrels of powder, scores of bars of lead, precious
medicines worth their weight in gold, blankets, cloth for uniforms and
underclothing. It was the most valuable cargo ever started up the
Mississippi and there were many strong and brave men to guard it.

"We carry things both to kill and to cure," said Paul.

"An' we're goin', too!" said Long Jim, heaving again that mighty sigh of
relief. "That's the big thing!"

They started the next day at the appointed time. Henry, Paul, and Long Jim
were In one of