necessary to the subsistence and defence of the garrison
to be provided at an earlier period, so that, if foiled
in their attempts at stratagem, there was little chance
that the Indians would speedily reduce them by famine.
To guard against the former, a vigilant watch was constantly
kept by the garrison both day and night, while the
sentinels, doubled in number, were constantly on the
alert. Strict attention, moreover, was paid to such parts
of the ramparts as were considered most assailable by a
cunning and midnight enemy; and, in order to prevent any
imprudence on the part of the garrison, all egress or
ingress was prohibited that had not the immediate sanction
of the chief. With this view the keys of the gate were
given in trust to the officer of the guard; to whom,
however, it was interdicted to use them unless by direct
and positive order of the Governor. In addition to this
precaution, the sentinels on duty at the gate had strict
private instructions not to suffer any one to pass either
in or out unless conducted by the governor in person;
and this restriction extended even to the officer of the
guard.

Such being the cautious discipline established in the
fort, the appearance of a stranger within its walls at
the still hour of midnight could not fail to be regarded
as an extraordinary event, and to excite an apprehension
which could scarcely have been surpassed had a numerous
and armed band of savages suddenly appeared among them.
The first intimation of this fact was given by the violent
ringing of an alarm bell; a rope communicating with which