cer."

"That may be true," broke in the gentler tones of Lieutenant Helm, "but
of that we are unable to judge, for not one of your officers has been
privileged to see those orders."

"You shall see them now. If I have been remiss in taking you into my
confidence in these grave matters, it has been because of certain
malcontents in the garrison with whom I hesitated to confer."

There was a rustle of paper, and Heald read slowly. I failed to
distinguish the opening words, but as he reached the more important
portion of the document his utterance grew deeper, and I heard
distinctly this sentence:

"Evacuate the post if practicable, and in that event distribute the
property belonging to the United States in the Fort, and in the factory
or agency, to the Indians in the neighborhood."

There was a pause as he concluded. Captain Wells spoke first.

"To my mind, these orders are not positive, and leave much to your
discretion. Who brought the message, and when?"

"A Wyandot named Winnemeg. He reached here on the ninth."

"I have heard the name, and believe him worthy of confidence. Did you
advise with him?"

"Ay! Though he had no oral message from General Hull, he counselled
immediate evacuation. I also felt such action to be wise; but things
were in such condition within the Fort,--so large a number of helpless
women and children to be provided for, and so heavy a proportion of the
garrison on the sick-list,--that I found it impossible to act promptly.
The Indians gathered so rapidly without, and assumed so hostile a
manner, that I thought it suicidal to attempt a march through the
wilderness, encumbered as we should be, without some positive
understanding with their chiefs."

"I can easily comprehend all this, and that you have sought to act for
the best," was Wells's comment; "but I fail to realize how you hoped to
appease those same Indians by the wanton destruction last night of the
liquor thrown into the river. It was done in direct opposition to the
orders you have just read, and is bound to increase the hatred of the
savages. You may be sure they are not ignorant of the contents of your
despatch, and must resent the destruction of property they consider
their own."

"'Twas done upon the advice of two of their leading chiefs."

"Indeed! Which two?"

"Topenebe and Little Sauk."

"The two biggest devils in that whole Pottawattomie camp, and the head
and front of their war-party! Their pur