athering their forces
together, and then they will strike a speedy blow. But now we had
better move on."

They tied the horses together, and after a while found a place where
they could cross the river. They arrived safely, much to the surprise
of the settlers who had gathered at the fort, which was filled to its
capacity so that the stockade had to be enlarged to accommodate the
fleeing settlers that left their homes in haste when they heard of the
hostilities of the Indians.

A number of outrages had been perpetrated already, and the pioneers
were lashed into fury over the horrid tales which were related.

Our three friends were received with open arms; no one manifested
greater surprise than John Rawlins, who had gotten as far as Hartford,
where he was confined to his bed by a severe attack of rheumatism, which
made him as helpless as a child. He had now recovered sufficiently to
limp about, but he was still in a bad shape so that he could not be of
much service to any one.

"Your presence here will make me well in a short time," he exclaimed
joyfully as he embraced the children. "And I am sure you have a real
story to tell."

But how great was his surprise when he learned from the children the war
plan of the Indians. Why, that is real news, for which we have been
looking all this while. We were all interested in what the Indians
would do. Tomorrow you must go to good Captain Mason and relate to him
what you know. That will greatly help him in freeing the country from
the Indian pest.

"Yes, tomorrow," said Agnes; "for tonight we are too tired, and the
matter does not press."

For the first time after a long, long trip they slept as white men do,
in real beds, protected by American soldiers.

CHAPTER XIII

THE VICTORY OVER THE PEQUOTS

The next morning the children had occasion to meet Captain John Mason,
that gallant Indian fighter, who was to suppress the Indian uprising.
He was a trained soldier, and thoroughly understood the principles of
warfare, not only among the whites, but also as these could be best
applied to the Indians.

He was a rough and burly man, though kind to the helpless and weak. At
present he was busy with reforming the Colonial methods of defense
against the Indians.

So far the white men had failed to meet the Indians successfully because
they were reluctant to adopt their war methods. The soldiers were
heavily armed, cased in armor, and could therefore not