But I thought of Lana, and wished to God that Boyd were with us on this midnight march, and Lana safe in Albany once more.
As I entered the fort, through the smoky flare of torches, I saw Dolly Glenn waiting there; and as I passed she gave a frightened exclamation.
"Did you wish to speak to me ?" I asked.
"Is--is Lieutenant Boyd going with you ?" she stammered.
"No, child." She thanked me with a pitiful sort of smile, and shrank back into the darkness.
I remained but a few moments with Major Parr and Captain Simpson; a rifleman of my own company, Harry Kent, brought me my pack and rifle--merely sufficient ammunition and a few necessaries--for we were to travel lightly.

Then Captain Simpson went away to inspect the Oneida scouts.
"I wish you well," said the Major quietly.

"Guard the Mohican as you would the apple of your eye, and--God go with you, Euan Loskiel." I saluted, turned squarely, and walked out across the parade to the postern.

Here I saw Captain Simpson inspecting the four guides, one of whom, to me, seemed unnecessarily burdened with hunting shirt and blanket.
Running my eye along their file, where they stood in the uncertain torchlight, I saw at once that the guides selected by Major Parr were not all Oneidas.

Two of them seemed to be; a third was a Stockbridge Indian; but the fourth--he with the hunting-shirt and double blanket, wore unfamiliar paint.
"What are you ?" said I in the Oneida dialect, trying to gain a square look at him in the shifty light.
"Wyandotte," he said quietly.
"Hell!" said I, turning to Captain Simpson.