ntiac and his chiefs did not wait for a second intimation,
but made all the haste they could to get outside of the gates."

"Was it prudent in Major Gladwin to allow Pontiac and his chiefs to
leave, after they had come into the fort with an intent to murder him
and his men?" said Henry Campbell. "Would not the major have been
justified in detaining them?"

"I certainly think he would have been, and so did my uncle, but Major
Gladwin thought otherwise. He said that he had promised safe conduct
and protection to and from the fort before he was aware of the
conspiracy; and, having made a promise, his honour would not allow him
to depart from it."

"At all events, the major, if he erred, erred on the right side,"
observed Alfred. "I think myself that he was too scrupulous, and that I
in his place should have detained some of them, if not Pontiac himself,
as a hostage for the good behaviour of the rest of the tribes."

"The result proved that if Major Gladwin had done so, he would have done
wisely; for the next day Pontiac, not at all disarmed by Major Gladwin's
clemency, made a furious attack upon the fort. Every stratagem was
resorted to, but the attack failed. Pontiac then invested it, cut off
all their supplies, and the garrison was reduced to great distress. But
I must break off now, for here we are at Trois Rivieres, where we shall
remain for the night. I hope you will not find your accommodation very
uncomfortable, Mrs Campbell: I fear as we advance you will have to put
up with worse."

"And we are fully prepared for it, Captain Sinclair," replied Mr
Campbell; "but my wife and my nieces have too much good sense to expect
London hotels in the wilds of Canada."

The _bateaux_ were now on shore, and the party landed to pass the night
at the small stockaded village of Trois Rivieres.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

THE ASCENT OF THE RIVER.

Captain Sinclair having stated that they would have a longer journey on
the following day, and that it would be advisable to start as soon as
possible, they rose at daylight, and in half an hour had breakfasted and
were again in the boats. Soon after they had pushed into the stream and
hoisted the sails, for the wind was fair, Mr Campbell inquired how far
they had to go on that day?

"About fifty miles if we possibly can," replied Captain Sinclair. "We
have made seventy-two miles in the first two days; but from here to
Montreal, it is about ninety, and we are anxious to get t