which now, for the first time since their arrival at the
Fort, had created serious apprehension. But there was
one of the party who manifested more than ordinary
uneasiness. His impatience was great, and, after having
whispered a few words in the ear of Captain Headley, and
received an affirmative reply, coupled with an injunction
of caution, he left the building in haste, and proceeded
towards the block-houses, where, selecting half a dozen
men, and ordering them to arm on the instant, he passed
with them through the gate--sprang into a large scow
which was unchained from its moorings, on the bank of
the river, and pulled in the direction of the house
already said to have been occupied by the wife and
daughter of Mr. Heywood.

Meanwhile, Captain Headley closely interrogated the
fugitive as to the number and appearance of the Indians
who had created all this alarm, their probable object in
visiting the farm in this seemingly hostile manner, and
the number of shots he had heard fired. To all these
questions the soldier, who had now, in some degree,
recovered from his panic, replied in the usual drawling
tone, his stick and knife, which had been drawn forth
again from his pocket, in which he had deposited them in
crossing from the farm-house, affording him his usual
amusement, but nothing, of course, was elicited beyond
what has already been related. Whether any one had been
killed in the house, or the guns merely discharged to
frighten the fugitive, or that the reports had proceeded
from the fishing party that had been sent for, with a