Doctor Von Vottenberg, who as his name would imply, was
a descendant from one of the earlier Dutch settlers in
the colonies. There was nothing remarkable about this
gentleman. He was short, stoat, rather of a bilious
temperament--clever in his profession, and much addicted
to compounding whisky punch, which he not only brewed,
but drank most satisfactorily. What other attributes and
accomplishments he possessed, the incidents herein related
must develop.

It has been said that, on its Western side, the Fort was
protected by two block-houses, while on the northern a
sally port communicated with the tower. On each side of
the sally port were two small stores, reserved for the
ammunition and arms, and for the provisions and spare
clothing of the garrison. On the north and south faces,
rose a series of small low wooden buildings, appropriated
to the officers, and capable of containing thrice the
number now occupying them. The southern face, or that
which looks towards the locale of the scene described in
our last chapter, was now the residence of the commanding
officer, and of his senior subordinate, who, with their
families and domestics, tenanted the whole of that range
of buildings, with the exception of one large room in
the centre, generally used as a hall of council with the
Indians. In the other range, precisely similar in
construction, were quartered Ensign Ronayne and the
surgeon Von Vottenberg, who each, however occupied but
one apartment. The central and largest serving as their
mess-room. The other half of the building was vacant, or