"We
must hit while we're all together, an' we must make Adam Colfax and
Major Braithwaite feel the truth of what we're sayin'. If the Indians
have the biggest force that was ever gathered here, so have we, an' that
mustn't be forgot."

Daniel Boone spoke with great emphasis. His usually mild voice rose a
little, and his words came forth sharp and strong. Henry felt that he
told the truth, a truth most important, and he resolved, boy though he
was, to second the famous woodsman's words, with all his power.

They reached the fort without incident, noticing with pleasure that
communication between fort and fleet was still sustained by a strong
double line of sentinels. Daniel Boone asked at once for a conference
with Adam Colfax and Major Braithwaite, and it was held in the chief
room of a great, double log house, the largest in the place. Besides the
two commanders, the five, Drouillard, Thrale, Lyon, Cole, Wilmot, and
several others of importance were present. Boone, as became his
experience and fame, was the first spokesman, and he laid before the
commanders and their lieutenants all that the party had seen and heard.
He urged with great vigor the necessity of attack. He believed that they
would have a much greater chance of victory if they struck first instead
of standing on the defensive, and he spoke, also, of the cannon in the
river, and the ammunition for them in the Indian camp. If they were
successful, the ammunition taken from the Indians would more than fill
the place of that used by the fleet in the battle. The eyes of Adam
Colfax glowed appreciatively at the mention of the cannon.

"It would be a great thing for us," he said, "if we could arrive at
Pittsburgh with more cannon than we started with at New Orleans. We've
got divers and the best of boatmen in our fleet, and I'm in favor of
going out at once to salvage those guns."

"An' do we attack?" asked Boone persistently. "Remember there is a great
treasure in the Indian camp, the ammunition they brought for the guns,
which you can take with you to Pittsburgh. The harder we strike now the
better it will be for us hereafter."

The stern face of Adam Colfax began to work. The battle light came into
his eyes.

"I'm a good member of the church," he said, "and I'm a man of peace,
that is, I want to be, though it seems to me that Providence has often
set my feet in other ways, and I believe that what you tell us, Mr.
Boone, is true. If we don't strike hard