The Frontier Fort | Page 8

did Greensnake in a horse-cloth, which he took from the baggage he
had deposited inside the camp.
CHAPTER TWO.
Burnett was duly impressed with a sense of his responsibilities. He
really wished to send assistance to Fort Duncan, but felt the importance
of conveying his charge safely to Fort Edmonton, and he was too
prudent to run any risk, by weakening his escort. He, therefore,

determined to commence the journey at an earlier hour than usual, and
to push forward as fast as possible. He recollected the half-breeds from
whom they had parted only three days before, and whom they had left
encamped. If they could be overtaken, some of them might be induced
to go to Fort Duncan by the prospect of a brush with their sworn
enemies, the Blackfeet. "Perhaps this young Englishman will agree to
go back and obtain their assistance, and he will render far greater
service to the captain than if he were to go alone," thought Burnett. "I
will propose the plan to him to-morrow morning, and allow Allan Keith
to accompany him. The two seem to pull well together; and as soon as
we get to Edmonton we will send off as many men as can be spared."
Satisfied with his plan, Burnett pulled his blanket round him, and was
just dropping off to sleep, when he heard the distant neigh of a horse.
"That was not one of our animals!" he exclaimed, starting to his feet.
As he did so, he saw the old man and his Indian boy sitting up.
"What sound was that, Sass?" he asked.
"Blackfeet are not far off, I guess," was the answer.
Loraine, who had been unable to sleep, hearing what was said, came
out of his tent.
"Is there a chance of the camp being attacked?" he asked.
"They'll not attack the camp, but they'll steal our horses if they can,"
answered Burnett.
"Depend on that; if we don't keep a look-out they'll have half of them
away before morning," observed Sass; and turning to Loraine, he added,
"You said just now that you caught sight of a figure on the top of the
hill, and as that was not Greensnake or me, I have a notion that it was
one of the Blackfeet."
"Why didn't you tell me of that before?" inquired Burnett.

"Because I thought I was mistaken, and that it was not of sufficient
consequence to arouse you," answered Loraine.
"It may be of the greatest importance; even now the rascals may have
enticed off some of our horses," exclaimed Burnett, taking his gun, and
going up to where the men lay asleep.
A light touch on the shoulder, and a whisper in the ear, were sufficient
to arouse them. He having also called up the Doctor and the two clerks,
hurried on to where the men were on watch outside. They also had
heard the sounds, and were on the alert. They were certain that as yet
all the horses were safe. They were joined by most of the other men;
two or three only, by Burnett's orders, having remained behind to
extinguish the fires.
Just at this juncture several horses, feeding on the rich pasture not a
hundred yards off, came galloping up, and would have passed the camp
had not the men rushed out and stopped them. This proved without
doubt that enemies were in the neighbourhood. Accordingly, several
men, well-armed, went out and brought up the remainder of the horses,
which they at once tethered either to the carts or to stakes firmly fixed
in the ground; then each with his gun loaded with buck-shot, crawled
out through the long grass, so that they could not be seen, even by the
sharp eyes of the Blackfeet, and arranged themselves in a circle at the
distance of about eighty yards from the camp. The night was dark, and
perfect silence was maintained, so that even the most watchful enemy
could not have discovered what the travellers were about.
Burnett having thus made all necessary arrangements for the security of
the camp, directed Allan Keith and Maloney each to take his turn in
watching, and again lay down, his example being followed by the rest
of the party who were not required on duty. The most sharp-eyed
Redskins would have found it difficult to discover what the travellers
were about. Allan Keith was the only person who remained on foot.
Having visited the horses, and ascertained that the men in charge of
them were awake, he went on, intending to make the circuit of the
camp, to assure himself that the men were on the alert. Thinking it
unnecessary to crawl along the ground, from supposing that in the

darkness he could not be seen at any distance, he walked upright, and
had