Colonel Zane, who prided himself on his judgment of character, took a liking to the young man at once, and giving him a rifle and accoutrements, told him the border needed young men of pluck and fire, and that if he brought a strong hand and a willing heart he could surely find fortune.

Possibly if Alfred Clarke could have been told of the fate in store for him he might have mounted his black steed and have placed miles between him and the frontier village; but, as there were none to tell, he went cheerfully out to meet that fate.
On this is bright spring morning he patrolled the road leading along the edge of the clearing, which was distant a quarter of a mile from the fort.

He kept a keen eye on the opposite side of the river, as he had been directed.

From the upper end of the island, almost straight across from where he stood, the river took a broad turn, which could not be observed from the fort windows.

The river was high from the recent rains and brush heaps and logs and debris of all descriptions were floating down with the swift current.