Horst foolishly granted their request, and as soon as they had made a landing they disappeared into the forest, and no doubt hurried to Pontiac's warriors to let them know how weakly manned was the schooner.

The weather continued calm, and by nightfall the _Gladwyn_ was still nine miles below the fort.

As darkness fell on that moonless night the captain, alarmed at the flight of the Iroquois, posted a careful guard and had his cannon at bow and stern made ready to resist attack.

So dark was the night that it was impossible to discern objects at any distance.

Along the black shore Indians were gathering, and soon a fleet of canoes containing over three hundred warriors was slowly and silently moving towards the becalmed _Gladwyn_.
So noiseless was their approach that they were within a few yards of the vessel before a watchful sentry, the boatswain, discerned them.