Captain Norton, on receiving this reply, no longer endeavoured to
dissuade Rochford from his enterprise. "I believe that your plan, from
its boldness, is more likely to succeed than any I can devise," he
answered. "Go; and may success crown your efforts!"

Rochford's dog, which stood by, looked up into its master's face, as if
asking leave to accompany him.

"Yes, my faithful Rob," he said, patting the animal's head, "I will not
leave you behind this time. You have already saved my life, and will, I
know, keep a careful watch over my solitary camp at night."

Having bade us all farewell, and wrung his cousin's hand for the last
time, Rochford, followed by Rob, hastened from the fort, and was soon
lost to sight among the trees.

We remained for the next two days, in the hope of receiving information
from the commandant of Fort King; but neither of the two trusty scouts
who had been despatched thither returned. At last our provisions had
come so nearly to an end that Captain Norton considered, unless we could
obtain a fresh supply, it would be necessary to proceed there at once.
Had Spotted Wolf not deserted us, we might have sent out a hunting party
in the neighbourhood; but as it was thought that he would to a certainty
give information to our enemies, and that they would in all probability
return and cut off any small party outside the fort, arrangements were
made for recommencing the march. Our chief difficulty in a forced
march, such as we intended to make, was to convey the wounded man, the
sole survivor of the massacred party we had discovered. A strong litter
had been prepared, and several men had volunteered to carry him. He
had, however, made no progress towards recovery, and the evening before
we were to start he was evidently worse.

Tim, who had assisted my father in doctoring him, entered the little
room appropriated to the officers. "I am afraid, sir, that Mike Dillon
is going to slip through our fingers after all," he said. "He has asked
to see you and the captain, but I fear, by the time you get to him,
he'll have little power to say anything."

On receiving this summons, we hastened to the hut, where, on a rough
pallet, lay the wounded trooper. His eyes turned towards us as we
entered.

"The Indians have done for me, gentlemen; and I want to thank you for
the care you have taken of a poor fellow," he gasped out. "If any of
you get back, and ever visit Philadelphia, I would ask you as a