De Croix would certainly not gain admittance until he could make himself known to the guard, and, carefully as the stockade was now patrolled, it was hardly probable he would be permitted to approach close enough for identification during the night.

De Croix was no frontiersman, and was reckless to a degree; yet his long training as a soldier would certainly teach him a measure of caution in approaching a guarded fort at such a time.
"'Tis doubtless true," I admitted, "yet I shall feel safer if we push on at once." "Ye called the feller De Croix, didn't ye ?" he asked.

"Is it the French dandy as was at Hawkins's ?" "Yes," I answered, "and I guess you don't care much to help him." Burns wasted no breath in reply, but moved forward with noiseless step.
Glancing back, I could clearly perceive Kinzie framed in the light of his open door.

The vivacious French lass stood beside him, peering curiously out across his broad shoulders.

Then we sank into the blackness of the ravine, and everything was blotted from our sight.
Burns evidently knew the intricacies of the path leading to the Fort gate, for I soon felt my feet upon a beaten track, and stumbled no more over the various obstacles that rendered my former progress so uncertain.