me. It was my
first experience within the stockaded walls of an armed government post.
The scene was new to my young senses, and, in spite of the excitement
that still heated my blood, I looked upon it with such absorbing interest
as to be forgetful for the moment even of the fair girl who rode in at my
side.

The dull clang of the heavy iron-bound gate behind us was a welcome sound
after the fierce buffetings of our perilous passage; yet it only
partially shut off the savage howlings, while above the hideous uproar
came the sharp reports of several guns. But the instant bustle and
confusion within scarcely allowed opportunity to notice this disorder;
moreover, there had come to us a sense of safety and security,--we were
at last within the barriers we had struggled so long to gain. However
the savage hordes might rage without, we were now beyond their reach, and
might take breath again.

Our little party, closely bunched together, with Wells and the timorous
Miamis at its head, surged quickly through between the bars, and came to
a halt in an open space, evidently the parade-ground of the garrison, the
bare earth worn smooth and hard by the trampling of many feet. A tall
flag-pole rose near the centre, and the wavering shadow of the banner at
its top extended to the eastern edge of the enclosure. Out from the
log-houses which bordered this enclosure there came a group of people to
welcome us,--officers and soldiers, women neatly dressed and with bright
intelligent faces, women of rougher mould attired in calico or deerskin,
hardy-looking men in rude hunter's garb, picturesque French voyageurs
wiry of limb and dark of skin, an Indian or two, silent, grave,
emotionless, a single negro, and trailing behind them a number of dirty,
delighted children, and dogs of every breed and degree. It was a motley
gathering, and appeared almost like a multitude as it hurried forth into
the open parade-ground, and surged joyfully about us, all eager to
welcome us to Dearborn, and hopeful that we brought them encouragement
and relief. We were of their own race, a link between them and the
far-distant East; and our coming told them they were not forgotten.

The odd commingling of tongues, the constant crowding and scraps of
conversation, the volley of questioning from every side, was confusing
and unintelligible. I could gain only glimpses here and there of what
was going on; nor was I able to judge with any accuracy of the numb