A pleasant surprise awaited our party on their return to Crag Cottage
that evening, the bride and groom--Rosie and her husband--having
arrived during their absence. Everybody was glad to see them; and,
with the accommodations of the yacht to supplement those of the house,
there was room and to spare.
Finding such to be the case, and that it was very pleasant to be
together, all remained Evelyn's guests for another week, in which a
great deal of time was passed upon the river taking repeated views of
beautiful historic scenes.
But at length they separated for a time--some remaining where they
were; some going to the seashore; while Grandma Elsie and the
Raymonds, leaving the yacht at New York City, crossed the mountains
into Pennsylvania, visited some historical scenes in that State, then
traveled on through Ohio from south to north, spent a few weeks among
the islands of Lake Erie; then, the yacht having come to them again by
the northern route, returned home in it by way of the Welland Canal,
the St. Lawrence River, and the Atlantic Ocean. On their route through
Pennsylvania they spent a few days at Pocono, visiting the points of
interest about there. Wilkesbarre was their next stopping place, for
they all wanted to see the beautiful Valley of Wyoming.
"Is Wyoming an English name?" asked Elsie Raymond, as they drove
through the valley.
"No," said her father; "it comes from the language of the Delawares,
and means 'large plains.' It is probable that the Delawares were the
first tribe which lived there."
"And is Wilkesbarre an Indian name too?" she asked.
"No; it is a compound of the names of two Englishmen who were good
friends to America in the times of the Revolution--John Wilkes and
Colonel Barre.
"The first European to visit the valley was Count Zinzendorf,"
continued the captain. "He was of an ancient Austrian family. He was
a Christian man and very earnest in trying to do good. He travelled
through Germany, Denmark, and England, and in 1741 came to America and
preached at Bethlehem and Germantown. He was very desirous to do the
poor Indians good, so travelled about among them, though he had no
companions except an interpreter. In one of these excursions he
crossed the Pocono, and came into this Valley of Wyoming. At this time
he had with him a missionary named Mack and his wife. They pitched
their tent upon the western bank of the Susquehanna, at the foot of a
high hill and near a place in the river known as Toby's Eddy.
"Not very far away was a Shawnee village. The Indians held a council
there to hear what these missionaries had to say, but could not
believe that they had come all the way across the Atlantic just to
teach religious truth to them. The conclusion they came to was that
these strangers had come to spy out their country and rob them of
their lands. Thinking thus, they made up their minds to murder the
count. But they feared the English, therefore instructed those
appointed to do the deed to be very secret about it.
"On a cool September night two stout Indians went stealthily from the
town to the missionary's temporary dwelling--a tent with a blanket
hung across the doorway. They drew the blanket stealthily aside and
peeped in. They made no noise, and he was not aware of their presence,
as he reclined on a bundle of weeds engaged in writing or in devout
meditation.
"As Lossing says: 'The benignity of his countenance filled them with
awe, but an incident (strikingly providential), more than his
appearance, changed the current of their feelings. The tent cloth was
suspended from the branches of a huge sycamore in such a manner that
the hollow trunk of the tree was within its folds. At its foot the
count had built a fire, the warmth of which had aroused a rattlesnake
in its den; and at the moment when the savages looked into the tent
the venomous reptile was gliding harmlessly across the legs of their
intended victim, who did not see either the serpent or the lurking
murderers. At that sight they at once entirely changed their opinion
of him and regarded him as under the special protection of the Great
Spirit.' They were filled with profound reverence for him, and went
back to their tribe with such an account of his holiness that their
enmity was changed to veneration."
"And I think history says a successful mission was established there,"
remarked Grandma Elsie, as the captain paused, as if at the end of his
story.
"Yes," he replied, "and it was continued until a war between the
Shawnees and the Delawares destroyed the peace of the valley."
"What was that war about, papa?" asked Ned.
"Like many others it was about a very foolish thing," replied the
captain. "The Shawnees were a not very powerful tribe, and lived by
permission of the Delawares on the western bank of the Susquehanna.
One day the warriors of both tribes were hunting upon the mountains
when a party of women and children of the Shawnees crossed to the
Delaware side to gather fruit, and were joined by some of the
Delaware squaws and children. After a while two of the children--a
Shawnee and a Delaware--got into a quarrel over a grasshopper. Then
the mothers took part,--the Shawnees on one side, the Delawares on the
other,--and the Delawares, who were the more numerous, drove the
Shawnees home, killing several on the way. When the Shawnee hunters
came home, saw their dead women, and heard the sad story, they were
very angry, crossed the river, and attacked the Delawares. A bloody
battle followed; the Shawnees were beaten, and retreated to the banks
of the Ohio, where lived a larger portion of their tribe."
"There are not many more historic scenes in this State that we will
care to visit at this time, are there, papa?" asked Grace.
"I think not," he said; "we are going west, and most of them are
already east of us."
"But, father," said Lucilla, "we have hardly touched upon the history
of Wyoming."
"True," he returned; "but it is so very sad that I fear its recital
would rather detract from the enjoyment of this lovely scenery.
However, I will give you a brief account of what took place here
during the Revolutionary War.
"Early in the summer of 1778 the movements of Brant and his warriors,
the Johnsons and Butlers and their Tory legions, upon the upper waters
of the Susquehanna, and the actions of the Tories in the Wyoming
Valley, greatly alarmed the people. Nearly all their able-bodied men
were away in the Continental Army; none was left to defend the valley
but old men, boys, and women. Afraid of the savages, they were
building six forts, going through all the labor required in that work
without payment except the hope of self-defence.
"Such was their condition when in June, 1778, an expedition of Tories
and Indians was ready to come down upon them. All this was told to
Congress. Wyoming men in the army besought protection for their wives
and little ones, and General Schuyler wrote a touching letter in their
behalf. But all Congress did was to pass resolutions to let the people
take measures for self-defence by raising troops among themselves, and
finding their own arms, accoutrements, and blankets.
"The people--poor creatures!--did their best; but, attacked by
overwhelming numbers of the most savage foes, they went through
terrible scenes and sufferings. I will not dwell further upon the
horrors of that dreadful time. The Tories and Indians acted like
fiends. Lossing, speaking of what occurred after the fight and
surrender, says: 'The terms of capitulation were respected by the
invaders, particularly the Indians, for a few hours only. Before night
they spread through the valley, plundering and burning.'"
"Did the women and children run away, papa?" asked Ned.
"Yes; they fled to the mountains, and many of them perished in the
Pocono Mountain swamp, known as the Shades of Death, and along the
wilderness paths by the way of the Wind Gap and Water Gap. They were
flying to the settlements on the Lehigh and Delaware. They were not
travelling like ourselves--in an easy carriage, with abundance of food
and clothing; and many died from hunger and exhaustion."
"Some of their clothes had been taken by the Indians," remarked
Violet. "I remember reading that many squaws had on from four to six
dresses of silk or chintz, one over the other; and some four or five
bonnets, one over another."
"Papa, are we going to visit any more places in this State where they
had fights?" asked Ned.
"Where there were battles fought, son? No, I think not at this time.
We will probably go on into Ohio now without any more delays."
"There were some fights there--weren't there, papa?" asked Elsie.
"Yes; between the whites and the Indians, and between the Americans
and the British and Indians, in the war of 1812-14."
"Yes, children," said Lucilla; "don't you remember papa's telling us
about some of the fights near Lake Erie, and Perry's victory on the
lake?"
"Oh, yes!" exclaimed both the little ones; "and his letter to General
Harrison--'We have met the enemy and they are ours.' And you'll tell
us about the land fights, won't you, papa?"
"Yes," he said; "one of these days; probably while we are in Ohio."
"Are we going right on now to the islands in Lake Erie, papa?" asked
Grace.
"Unless some one or more of us should desire to stop by the way,"
returned the captain pleasantly.
"Perhaps it would be more restful to pass a night at Pittsburg or
Cincinnati," suggested Grandma Elsie; and that was what was decided
upon, after a little discussion of the question.
They rested in Cleveland for another night; then, on a bright morning,
passed over to the islands in a steamer. A pleasant surprise awaited
them on landing; their cousin Ronald Lilburn was there with his wife
Annis and her grandnephew, Percy Landreth. The last-named was one whom
Captain Raymond would have preferred not to have in the company,--but
merely on Lucilla's account,--and he greeted him with cordial
kindness.
"We have given you a surprise, haven't we?" asked Mrs. Lilburn of her
cousin Elsie.
"Yes; a most pleasant one," replied Mrs. Travilla. "I can truly say I
think your presence here will double our enjoyment. How long since you
arrived?"
"Only about twenty-four hours. We came straight from home, where we
left all your dear ones well."
"Ah, that is good news! It is a new thing for me to be so far away
from my dear father; and he is growing old; so I have been feeling a
little anxious about him."
"He evidently misses you, but is glad that you are enjoying yourself,"
said Annis.
"Yes! so unselfish as he is--my dear father! Ah, how lovely it is
here!" glancing about as she spoke. "No doubt we can pass some days or
weeks here very delightfully."
"I am quite sure of it, mother," said the captain, who had overheard
the remark, made as they all were on their way from the landing to the
hotel. "We will have the yacht here in a day or two, I think; and it
will afford us some pleasant trips here and there on the lake."
"And carry us to some historical scenes, won't it, papa?" asked Grace
in a tone of satisfaction.
"Yes," he replied; "and we will live on it, unless the majority of our
company should prefer the hotel."
"No danger of that, I think," said Grandma Elsie; "we all feel so much
at home and find ourselves so comfortable on the yacht."
"I don't wonder that you prefer it," said Annis; "but I was hoping you
would all be at the hotel with us."
"Are you not willing to be on the _Dolphin_ with us?" asked the
captain, giving her a cordial look and smile.
"Indeed, sir, I should like nothing better--except for the fear of
crowding you."
"I think that is beyond your ability," laughed the captain. "Even
joined by all three of you, we should have more room than we have had
in some of our trips which we found very enjoyable."
"Then we accept your kind invitation with the greatest pleasure," said
Mr. Lilburn; and there the conversation ended, as they were already at
the entrance to the hotel.
They spent a pleasant day in and about there, but early in the evening
the _Dolphin_ made her appearance, and they all went aboard of her--a
blithe and happy company.
The morning found them all in good health and good spirits, and as
they sat about the breakfast table the captain asked: "Where shall we
go to-day? I think it would be well to take the little trips we
contemplate while the weather is so favorable. Then when a storm comes
we can shut ourselves in and enjoy books, work, and each other's
company."
"I think that is a good suggestion, captain," said Grandma Elsie.
"Suppose you take us to-day to Fremont, to view the ground where Fort
Stephenson stood."
Everyone present seemed pleased with the proposition, and it was
decided to make the little excursion that morning. They could go
nearly all the way in their yacht, by lake and river, and shortly
after breakfast found themselves in motion--the _Dolphin_ having lain
quietly at anchor during the night.
"I, for one, should like to refresh my memory in regard to Fort
Stephenson: when it was built, by whom attacked, and how defended,"
remarked Annis, as they sat together on the deck while sailing toward
Sandusky Bay. "Captain Raymond, you are usually the story teller, I
believe."
"Ah, Cousin Annis, that is a fine character you give me," he returned
with a smile. "But perhaps I deserve it. Do all the company feel the
same desire that Mrs. Lilburn has just expressed?"
"I do," said Grandma Elsie; "and from the expression of the faces of
the others present I am quite sure that they do also."
"Yes, indeed, papa; I am sure we do!" cried Lucilla and Grace in a
breath, Percy Landreth, Elsie, and Ned joining eagerly in the request;
and the captain at once began.
"Fort Stephenson was built in 1812; the garrison consisted of 160 men
under the command of Major George Croghan, then but twenty-one years
of age. It was on the 31st of July, 1813, that it was invested by a
large force of British and Indians under the command of Proctor. The
fort was not a strong one; its chief defences were three block houses,
circumvallating pickets from fourteen to sixteen feet high, and a
ditch about eight feet wide and as many feet deep; they had one iron
six-pounder cannon. Of course, swords and rifles were not lacking, and
the men were Kentucky sharpshooters.
"General Harrison heard that the British were moving against Fort
Stephenson. He had visited the fort, and felt convinced that it could
not be held against an attack with heavy artillery, so had said to
Major Croghan: 'Should the British approach you in force with cannon,
and you can discover them in time to effect a retreat, you will do so
immediately, destroying all the public stores. You must be aware that
to attempt a retreat in the face of an Indian force would be vain.
Against such an enemy your garrison would be safe, however great the
number.'
"On learning of the intended descent of the British upon Fort
Stephenson, Harrison held a consultation with his officers--McArthur,
Holmes, Graham, Paul, Hukill, Wood, and Ball. They were unanimously of
the opinion that Fort Stephenson could not be successfully defended
against an enemy approaching in such force, and that Major Croghan
ought immediately to comply with his general's standing order to
evacuate."
"Moving order, I should think, father," laughed Lucilla.
"Yes," returned the captain with a smile; "but knowing Croghan's
innate bravery, Harrison feared he would not move promptly, so sent
him another order to abandon the fort. It was carried by a white man
named Connor and two Indians. They started at midnight and lost their
way in the dark. So they did not reach the fort until the next day
about eleven o'clock, and by that time the woods were swarming with
Indians.
"Major Croghan called his officers together and consulted them in
regard to a retreat. A majority were of his opinion--that such a step
would be disastrous, now that the Indians swarmed in the woods, and
that the post might be maintained.
"Croghan immediately sent a reply to Harrison's order, saying it had
come too late to be carried into execution, that they had determined
to maintain the place--that they could and would do so. It was a
disobedience of orders, but not so intended. The gallant young major
thought that the previous order, which spoke of the danger of a
retreat in the face of an Indian force, justified him in remaining, as
that force was already there when this second order reached him.
"But the general considered it disobedience, which could not be
permitted. He at once sent Colonel Wells to Fort Stephenson to
supersede Croghan, and ordered Croghan to headquarters at Seneca Town.
Colonel Wells was escorted by Colonel Ball with his corps of dragoons.
On the way they were attacked by about twenty Indians, and quite a
severe skirmish ensued. Seventeen of the Indians were killed."
"Papa, did Major Croghan go to the general? and was he very cross to
him?" asked Ned.
"He went promptly, made a full and satisfactory explanation to General
Harrison, and was directed to go back to his command the next morning;
which he did, feeling more than ever determined to maintain his post
in spite of British and Indians. General Harrison kept scouts out in
all directions to watch the movements of the enemy. On the evening of
Saturday, the 31st of July, one of those parties, lingering on the
shore of Sandusky Bay, about twenty miles from Fort Stephenson, saw
that Proctor was approaching by water. They made haste to return to
headquarters with their information, stopping on the way at Fort
Stephenson and making it known there.
"Croghan was watchful, wide awake to the dangers that surrounded them.
A good many Indians had been seen upon the high ground on the eastern
side of the Sandusky River, but had scampered away on being fired at
from the six-pounder in the fort.
"At four o'clock in the afternoon the British gunboats, bringing
Proctor and his men, were seen at a turn in the river more than a mile
distant. They were greeted by shots from the six-pounder, but they
came on; and at a cove somewhat nearer the fort, opposite a small
island in the stream, they landed with a five-and-a-half-inch
howitzer.
"At the same time the Indians showed themselves in the woods on all
sides. In this attacking force there were four hundred British and
several hundred Indians. And Tecumseh was stationed upon the roads
leading from Fort Meigs and Seneca Town with almost two thousand more.
These were intended to intercept any re-enforcements that might be
coming to Croghan's assistance. Having thus, as he thought, cut off
Croghan's retreat, Proctor sent Colonel Elliott and Captain Chambers
to demand the instant surrender of the fort. With them was Captain
Dixon of the Royal Engineers, who was in command of the Indians.
"They came with a flag of truce, and Croghan sent out
Second-Lieutenant Shipp, as his representative, to meet the flag.
"The usual salutations were exchanged, then Colonel Elliott said, 'I
am instructed to demand the instant surrender of the fort, to spare
the effusion of blood, which we cannot do should we be under the
necessity of reducing it by our powerful force of regulars, Indians,
and artillery.'
"'My commandant and the garrison,' replied Shipp, 'are determined to
defend the post to the last extremity, and bury themselves in its
ruins rather than surrender it to any force whatever.'
"'Look at our immense body of Indians,' interposed Dixon. 'They cannot
be restrained from massacring the whole garrison, in the event of our
undoubted success.'
"'Our success is certain,' eagerly added Chambers.
"'It is a great pity,' said Dixon, in a beseeching tone, 'that so fine
a young man as you and as your commander is represented to be, should
fall into the hands of the savages. Sir, for God's sake surrender, and
prevent the dreadful massacre that will be caused by your resistance!'
"'When the fort shall be taken there will be none to massacre,' Shipp
coolly replied, for it was not long since, at Fort Meigs, he had had
dealings with the same foe. 'It will not be given up while a man shall
be able to resist.'
"He was just turning to go back to the fort, when an Indian sprang
from a bushy ravine near at hand and tried to snatch his sword from
him. The indignant Shipp was about to despatch the Indian, when Dixon
interfered. Then Croghan, who was standing on the ramparts watching
the conference, called out, 'Shipp, come in, and we'll blow them all
to ----!' At that, Shipp hurried into the fort, the flag was returned,
and the British immediately opened fire from their gunboat and the
five-and-a-half-inch howitzer which they had landed, beginning the
attack before proper arrangements could be made.
"It seems the Indians had had an alarm and let the British know of it.
A Mr. Aaron North, knowing nothing of the proximity of British or
Indians, was riding through the wood, drawing near the fort on the
other side of the Sandusky, when he discovered a large body of Indians
scattered along the river bank and half concealed by the bushes. He
wheeled his horse and fled in the direction of Seneca. The startled
Indians fired several shots after him, but without hitting him. The
Indians doubtless told the British of all this, and Proctor thought
the horseman a messenger to Harrison to inform him of the attack upon
Fort Stephenson, and that the result would probably be that
re-enforcements would be sent to Croghan, would beat back Tecumseh,
and fall upon him at Sandusky.
"All night long the five six-pounders which had been landed from the
British gunboats, and the howitzer, played upon the stockade without
doing any serious damage. Occasionally the besieged answered with
their one cannon, which they moved from one blockhouse to another, to
give the impression that the garrison had several heavy guns. But
their supply of ammunition was small, and Croghan was too wise to
waste it. He determined not to use any more in firing at random in the
dark; so ordered Captain Hunter, his second in command, to place it in
the blockhouse at the middle of the north side of the fort, so as to
rake the ditch in the direction of the northwest angle--the point
where the enemy would be most likely to make the assault, because it
was the weakest part.
"That was done before daylight, and the gun, loaded with a half-charge
of powder and a double charge of slugs and grapeshot, was completely
masked.
"During the night the British had dragged three of their six-pounders
to a place in the woods where the ground was higher than the fort and
about 250 yards from it. Early in the morning they began a brisk fire
upon the blockade from those and the howitzer."
"Oh, papa, how dreadful!" exclaimed Elsie. "Did all of our men get
shot?"
"No; the cannonade produced very little effect, and Proctor grew very
impatient. The long hot day was nearly done, and the Indians were
becoming restless. At four o'clock in the afternoon he ordered all his
guns to fire upon that weak northwest angle.
"Then Croghan and his men set to work to strengthen it as much as
possible. They piled bags of sand and sacks of flour against the
pickets there, which materially broke the force of the cannonade. At
five o'clock a dark thunder cloud was seen in the west and the thunder
seemed like the echo of the enemy's cannon. Then the British came on
in two close columns, led by Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Short and
Lieutenant Gordon. At the same time a party of grenadiers, about 200
strong, under Lieutenant-Colonel Warburton, took a wide circuit
through the woods to make a feigned attack upon the southern front of
the fort, where Captain Hunter and his party were stationed.
"There was in the fort at the time a man named Brown, a private of the
Petersburgh volunteers, with a half-dozen of his corps and Pittsburgh
Blues. To them was entrusted the management of the six-pounder in the
fort, for Brown was skilled in gunnery.
"The British artillery played incessantly upon the northwestern angle
of the fort, causing a dense smoke, and under cover of that a storming
party under Lieutenant-Colonel Short advanced to within fifteen or
twenty paces of the outworks before they were discovered by the
garrison. But they were Kentucky sharpshooters, and every man of them
was at his post. Instantly they poured upon the assailants a shower of
rifle balls sent with such deadly aim that the British were thrown
into confusion. But they quickly rallied. The axemen pushed bravely
forward over the glacis, and leaped into the ditch to assail the
pickets. Short was at their head, and when a sufficient number were in
the ditch behind him, he shouted, 'Cut away the pickets, my brave
boys, and show the d----d Yankees no quarter!'
"Now the time had come for the six-pounder to make itself heard. The
masked port flew open instantly, and the gun spoke with terrible
effect. Slug and grapeshot streamed along that ditch overflowing with
human life, and spread awful havoc there. Few of those British
soldiers escaped. The second column of the storming party made a
similar attempt, but was met by another discharge from the six-pounder
and another destructive volley of rifle-balls."
"Was anybody killed, papa?" asked Ned.
"Yes, a good many were," replied his father. "Colonel Short,
Lieutenant Gordon, Laussaussie of the Indian Department, and 25
privates were left dead in the ditch, and 26 of the wounded were made
prisoners. Three other officers were slightly wounded, but escaped.
The rest of the attacking party retreated in haste and disorder.
"It was not until after that disaster that Warburton and his
grenadiers reached the south front of the fort. When they did,
Hunter's corps assailed them with a destructive volley, and they fled
for shelter to the adjacent woods. It is said that Lieutenant-Colonel
Short, when he fell, twisted a white handkerchief on the end of his
sword, asking the mercy he had exhorted his men not to show to the
Americans."
"Oh, I hope they did show it to him, papa," said Elsie.
"I think they would have done so had opportunity offered," said the
captain; "but he was found dead in the ditch."
"And were any of our people killed?" she asked.
"One man was killed and 7 were slightly wounded; while, according to
the most careful estimates, the loss of the British in killed and
wounded was 120. They behaved most gallantly, getting no assistance
from the cowardly Indians, who kept themselves out of harm's way in a
ravine near by.
"The assault had lasted only about half an hour. Lossing tells us,
'The dark storm cloud in the west passed northward, the setting sun
beamed out with peculiar splendor, a gentle freeze from the southwest
bore the smoke of battle far away over the forest toward Lake Erie,
and in the lovely twilight of that memorable Sabbath evening the brave
young Croghan addressed his gallant little band with eloquent words of
praise and grateful thanksgiving. As the night and the silence
deepened, and the groans of the wounded in the ditch fell upon their
ears, his generous heart beat with sympathy. Buckets filled with water
were let down by ropes from the outside of the pickets; and as the
gates of the fort could not be opened with safety during the night, he
made a communication with the ditch by means of a trench, through
which the wounded were borne into the fort and their necessities
supplied.'"
"Oh, how good and kind he was!" exclaimed Grace. "I am proud of him as
one of my countrymen. Is he still living, papa?"
"No, daughter; he died in New Orleans on January 8, 1849."
"The anniversary of the great victory there in the War of 1812! Was he
not rewarded for his gallant defence of Fort Stephenson?"
"Yes; he was brevetted lieutenant-colonel for his gallantry, and some
twenty years later Congress voted him a gold medal in acknowledgment
of it. In 1846 he joined Taylor's army in Mexico and served with
credit at the Battle of Monterey."
"You have given us an interesting tale, captain," remarked Cousin
Ronald as the story seemed to have come to an end--"one that was
really new to me; for I have read but little about that war--which I
hope we can always refer to as the last between the mother country and
this, my adopted one--the native land of my bonny young wife," he
added with a loving and admiring look at Annis.
"Ah, my dear, how true it is that love is blind," said Annis softly,
giving him a look of fond appreciation.
"Ha, ha! A pair of old lovers!" laughed a voice that seemed to come
from somewhere in the rear of the little party.
"Yes, that's what we are," said Annis with mirthful look and tone.
"And who are you that dares to say such saucy things to our company?"
asked Ned, looking sharply round toward the spot from which the voice
had seemed to come.
"Somebody that has a tongue of his own and a right to use it,"
returned the voice, but the speaker was still invisible.
"Well, whoever you are you've no business here on my father's yacht
without an invitation," cried Ned, hurrying toward the spot from which
the strange voice seemed to come.
"You silly, impudent youngster! I'm not here without an invitation,"
said the voice, seeming to come from a greater distance than before.
"Not?" exclaimed Ned; "then who invited you?"
"The captain and owner of the vessel."
Ned turned to his father. "Did you invite him, papa, and who is he?"
Then, perceiving a look of amusement on every face, "Oh, I know! Why
didn't I think before? It's just Cousin Ronald playing he's somebody
else."
"Yes, laddie, and he's rather an auld mon to be playing at anything,"
returned the old gentleman pleasantly. "Dinna ye think so?"
"No, sir; and it's good of you to make a little fun for us
youngsters."
"As well as for us older folks," added his mother in a sprightly tone.
"I thought it was a fellow who had no business here," said Ned, "but
you are as welcome as anything, Cousin Ronald."
"Aye, laddie, I dinna doubt it or I wadna be here," laughed the old
gentleman; "but I know there are no more hospitable folk to be found
anywhere then these American cousins o' mine."
"I should think not, sir," said Neddie with a smiling glance from one
parent to the other; "and I believe there's nobody they like better to
entertain than you."
"Is Fort Stephenson still standing, papa?" asked Grace.
"No," was the reply, "but we can see the site, which is in the bosom
of the village of Fremont, and covers about two-thirds of a square. We
will no doubt find someone who can and will point it out to us and
show us the ravine where the Indians fled after the first discharge of
the rifle-balls by the garrison; and the iron six-pounder cannon that
did such great execution in defence of the fort; also the landing
place of the British. By the way, the garrison named that cannon the
'Good Bess.'"
"Oh, I hope we will see it," said Ned. "I'd like to."
They reached their destination in time to see the cannon and all the
interesting places and things made memorable by their connection with
the struggle at Fort Stephenson, then returned to the yacht, sailed
out into the bay again, and anchored for the night.