ngdom
of even far greater fertility. He also realized that beyond these
laughing lands lay a rugged world of desolation, bounded in turn by the
rasping ice-floes of the Arctic.

If Brock's mind had expanded, so had his body. He was, as he expressed
it, as "hard as nails." The close of 1811 found "Master Isaac" a grand
specimen of manhood. Inclined to be a little portly, he was still
athletic. His face, though a trifle stern, had grown more attractive,
because of the benevolent look now stamped upon it. He was still fair
and florid, with a broad forehead, and eyes though somewhat small, yet
full and of a grayish blue, a charming smile and splendid white teeth.
Always the same kindly gentleman and always a soldier. His life at Fort
George had been one of great loneliness. He read much and rapidly, and
would memorize passages from the books that had left the deepest
impression. History, civil and military, especially ancient authors, was
his choice, and maps his weakness. Over these, with his devoted aides,
he would pore late into the night, until he knew the country almost as
well as his friend the Surveyor-General. For variety he feasted upon the
robust beauties of Pope's "Homer," ever regretting he never had a master
"to guide and encourage him in his tastes."

With Lieutenant-Governor Gore, formerly a soldier in Guernsey, our hero
was on intimate terms. When the grind of duty let him, he would travel
"the worst road in the country--fit only for an Indian mail-carrier--in
order to mix in the society of York." He periodically returned these
hospitalities by a grand ball at Niagara--always the event of the
season. Brock, while fond of women's society, preferred brain to beauty.
Had his old Guernsey friends been present on these occasions they would
not have recognized in the soldier, resplendent in a general's uniform,
now dancing a mazurka, the handsome stripling who only a few years since
had waltzed his way into the hearts of all the women of St. Peter's
Port.

The unrest of the Indians at Amherstburg troubled him. He had seen over
eight hundred in camp there, receiving rations for a month while waiting
presents of blankets, powder and shot from King George. They asked
British support if they took the warpath against the Americans--the
Long-knives--_Gitchi-mokohmahn_, their sworn enemies. Tecumseh, a
Shawanese chief, had demanded from the United States the restoration of
violated rights. This demand had not been com