y, Major Gladwyn,"
answered the elder officer, stiffly. "And I can assure you that only a
strong sense of duty causes me to linger in a place where my presence
is so evidently undesirable. But I have not interrupted your breakfast
for the purpose of discussing personalities. I desire to lay before
you a bit of information that has just come to my knowledge, regarding
certain suspicious movements among the Indians, who, as you must be
aware, are gathered about the post in unusual numbers. They are
cutting off their gun-barrels to such a length that the weapons may be
concealed beneath their blankets. I have this direct from St. Aubin,
whose wife, visiting the Ottawa village yesterday, discovered its
inmates to be thus engaged."

"It must have been an interesting sight," replied Gladwyn, carelessly,
"but I fail to perceive what possible interest it can have for me. I
suppose the rascals have learned that they can shoot just as
effectively, or rather as ineffectively, with short gun-barrels as with
long, and so have wisely decided to do away with useless weight. By
Jove, Hester, I have laughed more than once at the shrewdness of our
traders who sell cheap flint-lock muskets to the redskins for as many
otter or beaver skins as can be piled between stock and muzzle, and
have these trade guns built with an increased length each year. Rather
clever, is it not?"

"It is a bit of infamous cheating that will sooner or later recoil on
our own heads," replied the other, hotly. "But that is neither here
nor there. The question is, whether or not the Indians mean to attack
this post, and whether it is prepared for an attack in case they do?"

"If they only would, my dear sir, I for one should welcome it as a
cheerful break in the deadly monotony of our lives in this forsaken
place. As for preparations, you should be among the last to question
that the troops of His Most Gracious Majesty of England are always
prepared to meet any number of naked savages under any circumstances."

"That was Braddock's opinion," remarked Major Hester, grimly, "and he
paid for it with his life. But granting that we are able to withstand
an attack, are we prepared for a siege?"

"Oh come, major!" exclaimed Gladwyn, rather testily, "that question is
rather a severe test of one's credulity. As if it were possible for a
parcel of howling redskins to conduct a siege! No one knows better
than you that their only method of fighting is a surpr