ise, a yell, a
volley, and then a retreat. They are absolutely incapable of sustained
effort."

"Are you acquainted with Pontiac, the present war chief of the united
tribes?" inquired Major Hester, coldly.

"Certainly I am, and a more conceited, ignorant, boastful, treacherous,
cowardly, and utterly worthless bit of red humanity than he I have yet
to meet. I have already warned him away from this section of country,
and if he persists in remaining where he is so little wanted, I shall
be obliged to teach him a lesson."

"Very well, major, if these are your unalterable opinions regarding the
present state of affairs, I have nothing more to say, save to wish you
a very good morning," replied the elder officer, as he turned to leave.
"However," he added, "I shall still consider it my duty to report any
further bits of information that may come to me."

"While thanking you, I beg you not to inconvenience yourself to do so,"
remarked Gladwyn, frigidly, and with this the interview ended.

That evening, while a dull glow still lingered in the western sky,
though the shadows of dusk were fallen on the fort and its
surroundings, Major Hester passed the sentry at one of the gates and
walked slowly, as though for an aimless stroll, as far as the little
French-Canadian church. On reaching it he detected a dim figure in its
shadow and asked in a low tone, "Is that you, St. Aubin?"

"No, monsieur," was the answer, in a girl's voice, "but I am his
daughter, and am come in his place, as he is detained by company. He
bade me deliver a message to you alone and then hasten back." With
this the girl almost whispered in the ear of the old soldier a few
words that caused his teeth to clench and his heartstrings to tighten.
She had hardly concluded, when an approaching step from the direction
of the fort caused her to spring aside and fly with the swiftness of a
deer.

"Who goes there?" challenged Major Hester.

"Pardon me, major," answered the well-known voice of the commandant.
"I had no idea I was interrupting a tete-a-tete. In fact, I did not
associate you with trysts of this kind."

"That will do, Major Gladwyn," interrupted the other, sternly. "I have
but this minute learned that on the morrow Pontiac, with sixty of his
warriors, all having guns concealed beneath their blankets, will demand
to hold a council with you. The leader will make a speech, at the
conclusion of which he will present a belt of wampum. Your tak