the return letters. I am going up to the office now."

My eyes returned to the scene below.

"You have some passengers aboard."

"A few; picked up several at the lead mines, besides those aboard from
Prairie du Chien. No soldiers this trip, though. They haven't men
enough at Fort Crawford to patrol the walls."

"So I'm told; and only the merest handful here. Frankly, Captain, I do
not know what they can be thinking about down below, with this Indian
uprising threatened. The situation is more serious than they imagine.
In my judgment Black Hawk means to fight."

"I fully agree with you," he replied soberly. "But Governor Clark is
the only one who senses the situation. However, I learned last night
from the commander of the _Wanderer_ that troops were being gathered at
Jefferson Barracks. I'll probably get a load of them coming back.
What is your regiment, Knox?"

"The Fifth Infantry."

"The Fifth! Then you do not belong here?"

"No; I came up with dispatches, but have not been permitted to return.
What troops are at Jefferson--did you learn?"

"Mostly from the First, with two companies of the Sixth, Watson told
me; only about four hundred altogether. How many warriors has Black
Hawk?"

"No one knows. They say his emissaries are circulating among the
Wyandottes and Potawatamies, and that he has received encouragement
from the Prophet which makes him bold."

"The Prophet! Oh, you mean Wabokieshiek? I know that old devil, a
Winnebago; and if Black Hawk is in his hands he will not listen very
long even to White Beaver. General Atkinson passed through here
lately; what does he think?"

I shook my head doubtfully.

"No one can tell, Captain; at least none of the officers here seem in
his confidence. I have never met him, but I learn this: he trusts the
promises of Keokuk, and continues to hold parley. Under his orders a
council was held here three days since, which ended in a quarrel
between the two chiefs. However, there is a rumor that dispatches have
already been sent to Governors Clark and Reynolds suggesting a call for
volunteers, yet I cannot vouch for the truth of the tale."

"White Beaver generally keeps his own counsel, yet he knows Indians,
and might trust me with his decision, for we are old friends. If you
can furnish me with a light, I'll start this pipe of mine going."

I watched the weather-beaten face of the old riverman, as he puffed
away in evident satisfaction. I had ch