discreet soldier, and one who, I am sure, will evince
all necessary resolution, should he see anything of these
Indians. The men who are with him are also fine young
fellows, and among our best shots."

"I am glad to hear this," was the rejoinder, "but still,
twelve Indians firing from the woods upon half their
number in an open boat, and taken by surprise, would, I
fear, render the activity, courage, and skill of these
latter but of little avail. My hope is, that Corporal
Nixon may see nothing of them, but that, on the contrary,
if he has been apprised by the boy, as the fellow says
he was to be, of their presence at Heywood's farm, he
will make his way back without stopping, or at least,
use every precaution to conceal himself, until he can
drop down under cover of the darkness."

"What, sir," said the lieutenant, with a surprise he
could ill conceal, "would you desire him not to afford
the necessary succor to Mr. Heywood, if, indeed, he should
be in time to render any service?"

"Mr. Elmsley," remarked his captain, somewhat sternly,
"my sympathy for the fate of those at the farm, is,
perhaps quite as strong as yours, but I have a higher
stake at issue--a higher object than the indulgence of
personal sympathy. I can ill afford, threatening as
appearances are at this moment, to risk the lives of six
men, the best you say in the fort, out of the very small
force at my disposal. Nothing must be left undone to