ntil Captain Wells,
issuing from the guard-house door, caught sight of me and came forward.

"Back, are you, Master Wayland?" he said gruffly, and 't was easy to
see he did not approve of my escapade. "I scarcely thought to see you
here again with so full a head of hair, after I learned of your mad
wager. Providence must indeed take special care of fools. Have the
redskins captured our French friend?"

"He entered a step in my advance."

A gleam of amusement played over his swarthy face.

"Ah, and so you let him win!" he exclaimed; "he, a mere voyager from
the courts, unused to forest play! Such remissness deserves the
guard-house, at the very least. Come, how happened it that this gay
sprig outfooted you?"

"'T was but a trick," I retorted, aroused by these contemptuous words,
"and one I shall make him pay well for. But I pray you cut these bands
and set me free."

I think he had not noticed them before; but now, as he quickly drew his
knife across the deerskin thongs, his whole expression changed.

"'Tis Indian tying," he said earnestly; "you have been in the hands of
the savages?"

"Ay!" and the memory of it instantly brought back the recollection of
the sacrifice that had won us our freedom. "There were three of us
taken at daylight on the river bank, beyond the factory building. De
Croix and I escaped through the efforts of one who is still a prisoner,
and marked for torture."

Many were gathering about us by this time, anxious to learn whatever
news I brought from without; but it was Captain Heald himself who now
pushed his way through the throng until he fronted me.

"Who was it?" he asked, sharply. "We have lost no men!"

"His name is Burns, sir. I ran across him just back of the Kinzie
house."

"Burns? Ol' Tom Burns?"

"Yes, sir."

Heald laughed, a look of evident relief on his haggard features.

"We shall not have to worry much as to his fate," he said, turning
toward Wells. "You remember the fellow, William? He was one of Mad
Anthony's scouts, and came west with you in 1803 when you first held
council here."

The other nodded, a twinkle of pleasant recollection in his eyes.
"Remember him?" he repeated. "I am not likely ever to forget him. He
it was who brought me your message at Fort Wayne a month ago. My
sympathies in this case are entirely with the Indians. There are
likely to be things happening when Ol' Tom is around, unless he has
lost his versatility and nerve in r