midnight.

The report of our mission spread rapidly, and the pledge of protection
given by the chiefs greatly heartened the men, so that they worked now
with many a peal of laughter and careless jest. The women and
children, ever quick to feel the influence of the soldiers, responded
at once to this new feeling of confidence, which was encouraged by the
officers, however they may have secretly doubted the good-faith of the
savages. So the children tumbled about in the red glare of the flames,
the soldiers swung their traps into the waiting wagons with
good-natured badinage, their brawny breasts bare and glistening with
sweat in the hot night; while, as the hour grew late and discipline
sensibly relaxed, the women danced in the open and sang songs of home.

It was hard enough to realize what it all meant,--what hardship and
suffering and death lay just before these rejoicing people; what depths
of cruel treachery and murder lurked for them so few hours away. We
did not suspect it then; not even those among us who had long learned
the deceit of Indian nature could unroll the shadowing veil of that
morrow and reveal the forthcoming tragedy of those silent plains. I
remember that, doubtful as I felt about the future, I could look on
with interest at the busy scene, and that more than once a smile lay
upon my lips. What an odd variety of figures that congested place
disclosed! what strange life-histories were having their culmination
there! I saw Ensign Ronan, young, slender, smooth of face, appearing
scarce more than a boy, his short fatigue-jacket buttoned to the throat
in spite of the heat, hurrying here and there in his enthusiasm, ever
upon his lips some happy phrase to take the sting from his word of
command. Lieutenant Helm, calm but observant of every detail, moved in
and out among the busy throng, every now and then stealing aside to
speak a word of encouragement to his young wife, who stood watching by
the mess-room door. There was quite a bevy gathered there, officers'
wives for the most part, gazing in mingled interest and apprehension
upon the scene. I marked among them Josette, who had come in that
evening with the Kinzies; and as I drew yet nearer the group, a sudden
blazing up of the fire yielded me a glimpse of Mademoiselle, and I
turned hastily away, unwilling still to greet or be greeted by her.

Gaunt frontiersmen stalked about, having little to save and nothing to
do, with the inevitable long