I saw it as a frontiersman must, in all its grim probabilities.

The little isolated Fort was cut off from all communication, held by a weakened garrison.

Hope of rescue there was none.

Without were already gathered hundreds of warriors attracted by rumors of war and promise of pillage; and these were growing in number and increasing in ferocity each day.

I had ridden through them once, when their mood was only to annoy, and realized with a shudder of horror what it would mean to face them in our retreat, with all restraint of their chiefs removed.