to depart at daylight."

"That was the plan. However, the _Wanderer_ went north during the
night," he explained, "and brought mail from below, so we are being
held for the return letters. I am going up to the office now."

My eyes returned to the scene below.

"You have some passengers aboard."

"A few; picked up several at the lead mines, besides those aboard from
Prairie du Chien. No soldiers this trip, though. They haven't men
enough at Fort Crawford to patrol the walls."

"So I'm told; and only the merest handful here. Frankly, Captain, I do
not know what they can be thinking about down below, with this Indian
uprising threatened. The situation is more serious than they imagine.
In my judgment Black Hawk means to fight."

"I fully agree with you," he replied soberly. "But Governor Clark is
the only one who senses the situation. However, I learned last night
from the commander of the _Wanderer_ that troops were being gathered at
Jefferson Barracks. I'll probably get a load of them coming back.
What is your regiment, Knox?"

"The Fifth Infantry."

"The Fifth! Then you do not belong here?"

"No; I came up with dispatches, but have not been permitted to return.