.

THE FIRST BLOW.
Summer was now waning, the foliage was taking on its autumn hues, and Indian war parties still surged over the hills and mountains, but the five avoided them all.

On one or two occasions they would have been willing to stop and fight, but they had bigger work on hand.

They had received from others confirmation of the report that Long Jim had heard from the hunters, and they were quite sure that a strong force was advancing to strike the first blow in revenge for Wyoming.

Curiously enough, this body was commanded by a fourth Butler, Colonel William Butler, and according to report it was large and its leaders capable.
When the avenging force lay at the Johnstown settlement on the Delaware, it was joined by the five.