view to alarm the Indians, and deter them from the
commission of outrage, were surmises that severally
occurred to Captain Headley, but without enabling him to
arrive at any definite opinion. That there was cause for
apprehension, there was no doubt. The appearance of a
band of strange Indians in the neighborhood, however
small in number, dressed in their war-paint, gave earnest
of coming trouble, not only through their own acts, but
through the influence of example on the many other tribes
whom they had been accustomed to look upon as friends
and allies. In the midst of these reflections arose a
feeling of self-gratulation that he had preserved that
discipline and strict attention to duty, which, he knew,
that all must now admit to have been correct, and which,
if any difficulty did occur, could not fail to prove of
the utmost importance.

His first consideration now was the safety of the small
fishing party, to which allusion has more than once been
made in the preceding pages, and which it was a source
of satisfaction to him to recollect were, in accordance
with an order never departed from on these and similar
excursions, furnished with the necessary arms and
ammunition, although only in their fatigue dress.

"Mr. Elmsley," he said turning to that officer, who stood
waiting his orders, "who commands the fishing party?"

"Corporal Nixon, sir," replied the lieutenant, at once
entering into his motive for the inquiry, "a brave, but