At the end of half an hour I came to a sudden standstill, for we were
within a few paces of half a dozen white men, as could be told even in the
darkness by the outlines of their clothing.

These last appeared to be stationed at that point, for none of them made
any attempt to go away during the two or three minutes I remained
motionless, although why so many should have been placed there as
sentinels, when one would have served the purpose, I failed to understand,
and it perplexed me not a little, for it was necessary that we should know
whether we were inside the lines, or simply confronting their outlying
pickets.

There was nothing for it, however, but to crawl backward half a dozen
yards, and then make another détour, and while this was being done
Sergeant Corney had only a single question to ask, which was as to whether
I had seen white men or Indians.

"White men," I replied, "and no less than half a dozen standing in a
group, as if stationed there."

The old man paused an instant, as if quite as much perplexed as I, and
then whispered:

"Go on. We are like to run across more than one such snag, an', what is
worse, don't have a clear idea of whether we shall come plump on to the
fort, or go a considerable distance to one side of it."

Again I advanced, making an even wider détour than before, and in ten
minutes, perhaps, we were come upon a single sentinel,--a soldier,--who
stood leaning against a tree as if half-asleep, and I was less careful in