on the doorstep, and patiently awaiting his coming, a Canadian woman. Beside her stood her stolid-looking husband, whom the maj

the honor of this early call? What can I do for you?" asked the old soldie

we have come,"

have come," ech

ea

on, M

unt of the previous abounding kind

the old man, who was nervously standing

ea

, Ma

house?" suggested the major, who saw from the excited earnestness of th

a village, had surprised a number of warriors in the act of cutting off the long barrels of their guns, until the entire length of each weapon was not more than a yard. M

or noted symptoms of uneasiness am

for days by Indians begging for loans of files

Major Gladwyn, who is in command, instead

you, monsieur, who have formerly turned many of our sorrows into joys, we wish not that harm should come. For ourselves, w

n, that the for

ack, monsi

w s

ps in one week. Perh

the gates are closed, and bring any furthe

closely watched. This morning we sell eggs. In the

d walk just beyond the church, will you meet

hat monsieur demands must be granted on acco

r thoughtfully made his way to the quarters of t

ntempt for all Indians. To crown all, he was extremely jealous of the ascendancy over the native tribes gained by his predecessor in command,

tructions, and your paternal instinct led you to speed his journey. I must confess my surprise that you did not accompany him. I suppose you are waitin

ted your breakfast for the purpose of discussing personalities. I desire to lay before you a bit of information that has just come to my knowledge, regarding certain suspicious movements among the Indians, who, as you must be aware, are gathered about the post i

, or rather as ineffectively, with short gun-barrels as with long, and so have wisely decided to do away with useless weight. By Jove, Hester, I have laughed more than once at the shrewdness of our traders who se

d the other, hotly. "But that is neither here nor there. The question is, whether or not the

ives in this forsaken place. As for preparations, you should be among the last to question that the troops of His

, "and he paid for it with his life. But granting that we ar

it were possible for a parcel of howling redskins to conduct a siege! No one knows better than you that their only met

e present war chief of the united tr

it of red humanity than he I have yet to meet. I have already warned him away from this section of countr

g more to say, save to wish you a very good morning," replied the elder officer, as he turned to leave. "Howeve

enience yourself to do so," remarked Gladwyn

oundings, Major Hester passed the sentry at one of the gates and walked slowly, as though for an aimless stroll, as far as the lit

o you alone and then hasten back." With this the girl almost whispered in the ear of the old soldier a few words that caused his teeth to clench and his heartstr

e?" challenged

mmandant. "I had no idea I was interrupting a tête-à-tête.

led beneath their blankets, will demand to hold a council with you. The leader will make a speech, at the conclusion of which he will present a belt of wampum. Your taking o

nd-bull story, Hester?" dem

dance in progress," w

nt war drums and the wild chorus of quavering yells with which the frenzied savag

these ominous sounds. "At any rate, I will accept your warning, and make such