ecent years. Come, my lad, give us
the details of the story, for it must be worth the hearing if Ol' Burns
played a leading part. He is as full of tricks as a dog of fleas."

I repeated the story briefly, for I was now eager to be away before De
Croix could dress and claim his wager. I knew well the conceited
coxcomb would never seek the presence of Mademoiselle until he had shed
the rags he wore on entering the Fort. I remember yet that throng of
faces, anxious yet amused, peering over each other's shoulders to get a
better view of me as I talked, and constantly augmented as the word
passed quickly about the garrison that we had safely returned from our
midnight adventures.

"You will send aid to him?" I questioned, as I concluded, my eyes fixed
appealingly upon Captain Heald.

"Not I," was the prompt and decisive rejoinder. "No soldier of this
command shall leave the stockade until the hour for our final
departure. The fellow had a chance to come in here with the others
before the gates were closed, but was obstinate as a mule, and must now
take the consequences. But you need not worry about Ol' Tom, my boy;
he 'll circumvent those red devils in some way, you may rest assured,
nor would he even thank us for interference. I have no force with
which to control the horde of savages that surround us here. A clash
of arms would be their excuse for immediate attack, and might mean
death and torture to the whole garrison. Our only hope lies in being
permitted to pass out without armed collision; and to do this requires
that we ignore such hidden deeds. 'Twas a mad prank of yours last
night, and might have involved us all in common ruin. Go this time
free, except for these words of censure; for you are not directly under
my orders. Another such attempt, subversive of all discipline, and the
gates of Dearborn will be closed against you."

These harsh expressions stung me, but I felt them in a measure merited,
and made no reply.

"'T was but the act of a boy, Heald," interposed Wells kindly, resting
his hand upon my shoulder, "and you will find the lad well worth having
when time of trial comes."

I slipped away through an opening in the curious throng, and hastened
across the open parade toward the messroom. I felt dust-covered and
bruised from my rough experiences, and hoped to discover opportunities
for a bath. The building called the mess-room was long, running nearly
half the length of the stockade, b