ve I have failed to learn your name?"

"I am simply John Wayland," I answered, and, with a glance at my face,
Lieutenant Helm cordially extended his hand.

"We are greatly pleased to welcome you both," he said earnestly, but with
a grave side-glance at his young wife, "though I fear we have little to
offer you except privation and danger."

"How many have you in the garrison?" I questioned, my eyes upon the
moving figures about us. "It looks a crowd, in that narrow space."

"They are all there who are able to crawl," he said, with a grave smile.
"But in this case our numbers are a weakness. In the garrison proper we
have four commissioned officers, with fifty-four non-commissioned
officers and privates. To these may be added twelve settlers acting as
militiamen, making a total defensive force of seventy men. But fully
twenty-five of these are upon the sick-list, and totally unfit for active
duty; while we are further burdened by having under our protection twelve
women and twenty children. It almost crazes one to think of what their
fate may be."

"Your defences look strong enough to keep off savages," broke in De
Croix, "and I am told there is a sufficiency of provisions. Saint Guise!
I have seen places where I had rather reside in my old age; yet with
plenty of wine, some good fellows, and as lovely women as have already
greeted me here, 'twill not prove so bad for a few weeks."

Helm glanced at him curiously; then his gaze, always gravely thoughtful,
wandered back to me.

"We are to evacuate the Fort," he said quietly.

"Evacuate?" echoed the Frenchman, as if the word were displeasing. "'T
is a strange military act, in my judgment, and one filled with grave
peril. Does such decision come from a council?"

"There has been no council," broke in Ronan, hastily. "The commander has
not honored his officers by calling one. Such were the orders as
published on parade this morning."

He would have added more, but Helm warned him, by a sudden look of
disapproval.

"I understand," he explained quietly, "that the instructions received
from General Hull at Detroit were imperative, and that Captain Heald was
left no discretion in the matter."

"I have not yet discovered the man who has seen the orders," exclaimed
the Ensign hotly, "and we all know it means death."

Helm faced him sternly.

"A soldier's first duty is obedience," he said shortly, "and we are
soldiers. Gentlemen, will you not come in?"