emed to Henry that his figure
stiffened and grew taller. His nostrils distended and a spark appeared
in his eyes. The old soldier smelt the fire and smoke of battle once
more, and the odor was not wholly ungrateful to him.

"Young sir," he said, turning to Henry, "we owe you a great debt. You
got here just in time to save us from surprise."

"I'm glad," replied Henry, "that one of us was lucky enough to get
through."

"One of you? What did you mean? Did others start?"

Henry flushed. He had not meant to say anything about the circumstances
of his coming. It was a slip, but he could not take it back.

"There were five of us when we started," he said. "We were sure that at
least one of us would get here."

"Good God! You do not mean to tell me that the others have all been
killed?"

"No," replied Henry confidently. "They were wounded or broke down. I'll
find 'em or they'll find me. We've been ahead of a fleet that is
carrying arms, ammunition, and other things for our people in the east.
That fleet ought to reach here in a few days."

The Major's face showed a little relief.

"Pray God it will come in time," he said earnestly. "We need it here,
and so do our brethren in the east. What do you think is likely to
happen here? My experience with the Indians on the Canada frontier tells
me that I can never know what to expect of them. But you've probably had
more experience in that way."

The boy, before answering, looked up at the sky. It had grown darker. It
was a very timid moon, and nearly every star had withdrawn.

"They'll try to rush us soon," he replied. "The night helps them. How
many men have you got?"

"About eighty, but counting the half-grown boys and several women who
can shoot we are able to put a hundred rifles into the defense."

"Then we can hold 'em back for a long time," said Henry. "Tell the men
to watch well at the palisade, and I'll take a look around."

He glided naturally into his position of wilderness leader, and Major
Braithwaite, a cultivated man with a commission, a man who was old
enough to be his father, yielded to him without pique or the thought of
it. The wild youth of great stature and confident bearing inspired him
with a deep sense of relief at such a crisis.

Henry went swiftly among the log houses, which were arranged in rows
much after the fashion of Wareville, with a central blockhouse, from the
upper story of which riflemen could fire upon enemies who sought to rush