mouth.
The cabin door was shut after us without noise, closing in what that
family called home; a few pots and pans; patchwork quilts; a
spinning-wheel; some benches; perhaps a child's store of acorn cups and
broken yellow ware in a log corner. In a few hours it might be smoking a
heap of ashes; and the world offered no other place so dear. What we
suffer for is enriched by our suffering until it becomes priceless.

So far on the frontier was this cabin that no community block-house
stood near enough to give its inmates shelter. They were obliged to go
with us to Fort Stephenson.

Skenedonk pioneered the all-night struggle on an obscure trail; and he
went astray sometimes, through blackness of woods that roofed out the
stars. We floundered in swales sponging full of dead leaves, and drew
back, scratching ourselves on low-hung foliage.

By dawn the way became easier and the danger greater. Then we paused and
lifted our rifles if a twig broke near by, or a fox barked, or wind
rushed among leaves as a patter of moccasins might come. Skenedonk and
I, sure of the northern Indians, were making a venture in the west. We
knew nothing of Tecumseh's swift red warriors, except that scarcely a
year had passed since his allies had tomahawked women and children of
the garrison on the sand teach at Chicago.

Without kindling any fire we stopped once that day to eat, and by good
luck and following the river, reached that Lower Sandusky which was
called Fort Stephenson, about nightfall.

The place was merely a high stockade with blockhouses at the angles, and
a gate opening toward the river. Within, besides the garrison of a
hundred and sixty men, were various refugees, driven like our family to
the fort. And there, coming heartily from the commandant's quarters to
receive me, was George Croghan, still a boy in appearance, though
intrusted with this dangerous post. His long face had darkened like
mine. We looked each other over with the quick and critical scrutiny of
men who have not met since boyhood, and laughed as we grasped hands.

"You are as welcome to the inside of this bear-pen," said Major Croghan,
"as you made me to the outside of the one in the wilderness."

"I hope you'll not give me such another tramp after shelter for the
night as I gave you," I said.

"The best in Fort Stephenson is yours. But your rest depends on the
enemy. A runner has just come in from the General warning me Proctor and
Tecumsch are turning t