direction is the Kinzie house?"

He pointed toward the northeast corner of the stockade.

"It is just over there, sir, across the river. You might see the light
from the platform; beyond the shed yonder is the ladder that leads up
into the blockhouse."

Thanking him, I moved forward as directed, found the ladder, and pushed
my way up through the narrow opening in the floor of the second story.
The small square room, feebly lighted by a single sputtering candle
stuck in the shank of a bayonet, contained half a dozen men, most of
them idling, although two were standing where they could readily peer
out through the narrow slits between the logs. All of them were
heavily armed, and equipped for service. They looked at me curiously
as I first appeared, but the one who asked my business wore the
insignia of a corporal, and was evidently in command.

"I wish to look out over the stockade, if there is no objection. I
came in with Captain Wells's party this afternoon," I said, not knowing
what their orders might be, or if I would be recognized.

"I remember you, sir," was the prompt response, "and you are at liberty
to go out there if you desire. That is the door leading to the
platform."

"The Indians appear to be very quiet to-night."

"The more reason to believe them plotting some fresh deviltry," he
answered, rising to his feet, and facing me. "We never have much to
disturb us upon this side, as it overhangs the river and is not easy of
approach; but the guard on the south wall is kept pretty busy these
last few nights, and has to patrol the stockade. The Indians have been
holding some sort of a powwow out at their camp ever since dark, and
that 's apt to mean trouble sooner or later."

"Then you keep no sentry posted on the platform?" I asked, a thought
suddenly occurring to me.

"Not regularly, sir; only when something suspicious happens along the
river. There 's nobody out there now excepting the French girl,--she
seems to be fond of being out there all alone."

The French girl? Could it be possible that he meant Toinette? I was
conscious of a strange fluttering of the heart, as I stepped forth upon
the narrow footway and peered along it, searching for her. I could
distinguish nothing, however; and as I slowly felt my way forward,
testing the squared log beneath me with careful foot and keeping hold
with one hand upon the sharpened palisades, I began to believe the
corporal had been mistaken. The