accomplish
anything against the red men who were light of foot, and easily got
away from them. The white men moved slowly, and while they had
redoubtable musketry, the Indians would not stand still, until their
opponents got ready to shoot them. To load, aim, and fire was a tedious
business, and the Indians with their swift movements and their reliable
bows and arrows had much the advantage over the white troops who really
were trained to fight only their fellow Europeans.

Captain Mason was anxious to change all this. Much of the heavy armor
was discarded, and many of the fighting habits of the Indians were
adopted. Every day the soldiers, together with the volunteer trappers
and settlers, drilled and trained for the fight that would soon take
place.

That something decisive had to be done to check the Indian outrages, was
clear to all, and every man who could bear a gun was drafted into
service. From Massachusetts even many volunteers appeared, and they
were gladly received into service by Captain Mason.

Our three young friends found the Captain surrounded by his officers,
as soon as he had learned that the children had an important message
for him.

He delighted in hearing their stories, and when he was told that the
Indians were massing their forces in the eastern part of the country,
he at once had his plan ready.

"I am still expecting some troops," he said, "but as soon as these
arrive, I shall march out to prevent our foes from getting too near
the settlements. You boys, of course, will follow me, because you
are well acquainted with the country and the ways of the Indians.
Besides, you speak the Mohican and Pequot language, and that is worth
a great deal. In the meanwhile, you shall be my personal guests, and
whatever you need, shall be given you. You shall eat and sleep in the
officers' tents."

Fred and Matthew at once joined the troops, and drilled with them.
Among the soldiers they found many boys, who were not much older than
they, and so they had good companions, with whom they romped, played,
discussed warfare methods, and diverted themselves in a profitable
manner in the few hours of leisure left to them.

Old John Rawlins could, of course, not take part in the work of the
soldiers, but there was nevertheless much for him to do. His recovery
was rapid, and while he still limped somewhat, he was of great
assistance to the quartermaster in distributing and managing the
supplies.

Agne