We are with you to the death."
A loud and general cheer broke from the whole party as the usually
quiet Scotchman thus energetically expressed himself. And each man
in turn came up to Mr. Hardy and grasped his hand, saying, "Yours
till death."
Mr. Hardy was too much affected to reply for a short time; then he
briefly but heartily expressed his thanks. After which he went on:
"Now to business. I have here about three hundred pounds of
charqui. Let every man take ten pounds, as nearly as he can guess.
There are also two pounds of biscuit a man. The tea, sugar, and
tobacco, the kettle, and eighty pounds of meat, I will put on to a
spare horse, which Terence will lead. If it is well packed, the
animal will be able to travel as quickly as we can."
There was a general muster round the provisions. Each man took his
allotted share. The remainder was packed in two bundles, and
secured firmly upon either side of the spare horse; the tobacco,
sugar, and tea being enveloped in a hide, and placed securely
between them, and the kettle placed at the top of all. Then,
mounting their horses, the troop sallied out; and, as Mr. Hardy
watched them start, he felt that in fair fight by day they could
hold their own against ten times their number of Indians.
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