there's no chance I can serve my father by hangin' back at a coward's
distance."

"An' it's in your mind, lad, that we might do him a good turn?" Sergeant
Corney said, as if talking to himself.

"Why not? It wouldn't be the first time the murderin' redskins had lost a
prisoner."

"True for you, lad, an' I know full well how you're feelin'; but the
question is whether we can hope for anythin' while there's sich a crowd of
'em?"

"I'm not expectin' you an' Noel will run your heads into too much danger,"
Jacob said, passionately. "I know you would help father if the chance came
your way; but it's my duty to take every risk, an' I count on doin' so
even though we part company within the hour! Do you suppose I can loiter
at a safe distance from the painted devils when my father is expectin' to
see some sign that I'm doin' all I may to help him?"

"I question if Peter Sitz expects that any one from Cherry Valley will
follow Thayendanega's snakes. He knows their strength, an' is man enough
to understand what might be the price of an attempt to rescue him."

Although Sergeant Corney spoke calmly, as if he had no vital interest in
the matter, I knew him well enough to feel certain he was even then trying
to settle in his own mind how a rescue might be effected; but Jacob was so
blinded by his grief that at the moment I believe he really thought we
would let him push ahead alone, therefore I said in as hearty a tone as
was possible: