“Ay, strong enough against savages,” interposed De Croix, his eyes upon the straggling line ahead; “yet if by any chance treachery was intended, surely I never saw military formation less adapted for repelling sudden attack.  Mark how those fellows march out yonder!—­all in a bunch, and with not so much as a corporal’s guard to protect the wagons!”

I was no soldier then, and knew little of military formation; but his criticism seemed just, and I ventured not upon answering it.  Indeed, at that very moment some confusion far in front, where Captain Wells led his scouts, attracted my attention.  We must have been a mile and a half from the Fort by this time, and I recalled to memory the little group of trees standing beside the trail where we had halted on our journey westward to enjoy our earliest glimpse of Dearborn.  At first I could make out little of what was taking place ahead; then suddenly I saw the squad of Miamis break hastily, like a cloud swept by a whirling wind, and the next instant could clearly distinguish Captain Wells riding swiftly back toward the column of infantry, his head bare, and one arm gesticulating wildly.  In a moment the whole line came to a startled and wondering pause.

“What is it?” questioned Mademoiselle anxiously, shading her eyes.  “Have the Indians attacked us?”

“God knows!” I exclaimed, clinching my rifle firmly.  “But it must be,—­look there!”

Wheeling rapidly into line, as if at command, although we could hear no sound of the order, the soldiers poured one quick volley into the sand-ridge on their right, and then, with a cheer which floated faintly back to us, made a wild rush for the summit.  This was all I saw of the struggle in front,—­for, with a cry of dismay, the Miamis composing the rearguard broke from their posts beside the wagons and came running back past us in a panic of wild terror.  I saw Sergeant Jordan throw himself across their line of flight, striking fiercely with his gun, and cursing them for a pack of cowardly hounds; but he was thrown helplessly aside in their blind rush for safety.

“Wayland!  De Croix!” he shouted, staggering to his knees, “help me stop these curs, if you would save our lives!”

It was a fool thing, yet in the excitement I did it, and De Croix was beside me.  Two or three of the settlers on foot rallied with us, and together we struck so hard against those cowering renegades that for the moment we held them, though their fear gave them desperation difficult to withstand.  I recall noticing De Croix, as he pressed his rearing horse into the huddled mass, lashing at the faces of the fellows mercilessly with his riding-whip, as if thinking Mademoiselle would admire his reckless gallantry.