"
The plan being formed, they waited a week before a night, pitchy
black, arrived.
CHAPTER VII
THE RED WEAPON
The night was admirably suited to their purpose--otherwise they would
not have dared to leave Fort Refuge--and Willet, Tayoga and Robert
alone undertook the task. Wilton, Carson and others were anxious to
go, but, as an enterprise of such great danger required surpassing
skill, the three promptly ruled them out. The hunter and young Lennox
would have disguised themselves as Indians, but as they did not have
any paint in the fort they were compelled to go forth in their own
garb.
The cold had softened greatly, and, as heavy clouds had come with it,
there was promise of snow, which in truth the three hoped would fall,
since it would be an admirable cloak for their purpose. But in any
event theirs was to be a perilous path, and Colden shook hands with
the three as they lowered themselves softly from the palisade.
"Come back," he whispered. "If you find the task too dangerous let it
go and return at once. We need you here in the fort."
"We'll come back as victors," Robert replied with confidence. Then he
and his comrades crouched, close against the palisade and
listened.
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