By twelve o'clock six more had arrived, the last comer being Mr.
Percy. Each newcomer was filled with rage and horror upon hearing
of the awful tragedy which had been enacted.
At twelve o'clock exactly Mr. Hardy rose to his feet. "My friends,"
he said, "I thank you all for so promptly answering to my summons.
I need say no words to excite your indignation at the massacre that
has taken place here. You know, too, that my child has been carried
away. I intend, with my sons and my friends from Canterbury, going
in search of her into the Indian country. My first object is to
secure her, my second to avenge my murdered friends. A heavy
lesson, too, given the Indians in their own country, will teach
them that they cannot with impunity commit their depredations upon
us. Unless such a lesson is given, a life on the plains will become
so dangerous that we must give up our settlements. At the same
time, I do not conceal from you that the expedition is a most
dangerous one. We are entering a country of which we know nothing.
The Indians are extremely numerous, and are daily becoming better
armed. The time we may be away is altogether vague; for if it is a
year I do not return until I have found my child. I know that there
is not a man here who would not gladly help to rescue Ethel--not
one who does not long to avenge our murdered friends.
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