CONCLUSION.
"Vincennes at last," shouted Tom Dare, six days after the four boys had
come together. "Maybe I'm not glad we are here."
"For myself, I haf no doubt aboud id," said Fritz.
"I'm glad we've reached here within the limit of time allowed us," Dick
added.
"With the whole av two days to spare," said Tim. "Faith, an' Oi think
we had best be stayin' on the outside av the town till our toime is
after bein' up."
"Nein," replied Fritz. "Ve'll rest in houses already yet, und not in
fields, dose two days."
"They won't be lettin' you into a house, me bye," joked Tim.
The quartet had reached the clearing and were close to the walls of the
fort at Vincennes by now. From many of the doorways of the houses women
and children stared at them suspiciously. The men were all away in the
fields and strangers in the little frontier town were quite naturally
regarded with suspicion until they became known.
The boys went directly to the fort, which was held by a handful of
troops recruited from the hardy frontiersmen of the section, and Dick
led the way to the man on guard at the opening of the stockade.
"We want to see the commander," he said to the trooper.
"And whom might ye be?" he queried.
"We are messengers from Charleston," Dick replied, "and have some very
important orders for your captain."
"Well, you young fellers stay right where ye be, and I'll go see about
it."
The man sauntered off with his head turned, keeping an eye on the boys
to see that they were obeying his instructions. Then he disappeared and
in a minute more they saw the same man come out of one of the log huts
in the enclosure and beckon to them.
The four entered and were soon in the presence of the captain of the
fort.
"Well, what can we do for you?" he asked, kindly.
"We have duplicate messages for you, captain," said Dick, "which we
have brought through from Charleston. They are relative to alliances it
will be necessary to make with some of your Indian neighbors, and haste
is imperative."
"You have certainly had a long journey," said the captain, taking the
silk wrapped packages that Tom and Dick handed him. "You are the first
ones through since six weeks ago. What is the news from back home? And,
by the way, may I ask your name, and those of your friends?"
Dick told him their names, and also that they were connected with
Captain Morgan's company.
"The Dare Boys!" ejaculated the captain. "Why, we've heard of you way
out here. I am certainly glad to shake hands with such brave fighters
for freedom's cause."
The boys modestly disclaimed any undue share of praise and assured the
captain that there were any number of patriots, just like themselves,
who did as much for the cause as they did.
"What are your plans now?" asked the captain.
"Why, just at present, I think we would all enjoy a wash and several
hours' solid, undisturbed sleep."
"Nefer mind the wash," said Fritz, yawning.
The captain smiled. "I guess you can have all the rest you want right
over here," he said, leading the way to another small room fitted with
bunks about the walls. "You boys tumble right in here while I go over
these papers you have brought, and we will call you in time for dinner
to-night. That will give you a chance to get a little rest. The men
will all want to see you to-night and hear your news and stories, but
you won't be disturbed till then."
"That will be fine," said Dick.
"And, captain," called Tim after him, "we'll be havin' foine appetities
by evening, I'm not doubtin'."
"Don't worry," replied the frontiersman, laughing. "We'll attend to
that all right."
"We want to get in good shape for our trip back," said Tom. "So here
goes for a good snooze."
Those of our readers who are interested in what happened to the Dare
Boys and their comrades on the return trip and in their further
unexpected adventures amongst the Indians of that unsettled region,
can follow them in the next volume, entitled, "The Dare Boys in the
Northwest."
That night the boys were given a warm welcome by the men and officers
of the post. They told the amusing incidents of their adventurous trip
amidst the hearty laughter of their new friends.
"You boys better stay right here and join us," one of them suggested.
"We'd show you plenty of excitement."
"No, thanks," Dick replied. "I guess we better travel along towards
home."
And after a two-days' rest, they did; that is, to be more accurate,
they started.
THE END.