by the troops under his command; and that, if he perceived
any symptoms of insubordination, he would take the proper
means to suppress it. The lieutenant made no reply, but
bit his lip, and withdrew. This was the first manifestation
of any thing approaching to disunion, between these two
officers.

Lieutenant Elmsley, although by no means a negligent
officer, was no disciplinarian. He could not but look
upon formal guard mountings and parades, in that isolated
quarter, as unnecessary--serving only to create discontent
amongst the men, and to induce them--the unmarried
especially--to desert, whenever an opportunity presented
itself; while, bringing the subject more immediately home
to himself, he deemed it to be a needlessly severe tax
upon the only two subalterns of the garrison. This, he
thought might, situated as they were, have been dispensed
with, without the slightest inconvenience to the service;
and the duty left to the superintendence of the non-
commissioned part of the force. Hence his annoyance with
his superior.

But Captain Headley was of a different opinion. He thought
that the very remoteness of his post, rendered it the
more necessary that no appearance of carelessness should
be remarked by the tribes of Indians, who were in the
vicinity, and who, however amicable their relations THEN
with the United States, might later, from caprice or
events yet unforeseen, take advantage of the slightest
negligence, to attempt the destruction of all.