THE DEATH-SHADOW OF THE MIAMIS It was after midnight when I finally ceased my labors, feeling I had performed my fair share of the hard work of preparation.

By this time everything was comparatively quiet within the stockade enclosure; the wagons were piled with all that could be loaded before morning, and many of the wearied soldiers had flung themselves upon the ground to snatch what rest they might before the early call to march.

The women and children had disappeared, to seek such comfort as was possible amid the ruins of their former quarters; and only the sentries remained alert, pacing their solemn rounds on the narrow walk overlooking the palisades and the silent plain without.
Physically wearied as I was, my mind remained intensely active, and I felt no desire for sleep.

I do not recall that I gave much thought to the perils of our situation.

One grows careless and indifferent to danger,--and in truth I looked forward to no serious trouble with the Indians upon the morrow's march through the sand-dunes; not that I greatly trusted to those reluctant pledges wrung from the chiefs, but because I felt that if properly handled in that open country our force was of sufficient fighting strength to repel any ordinary attack from ill-armed savages, my long border experience rendering me a bit disdainful of Indian courage and resourcefulness.