"I fear it, but what can I do?"
"I will tell you; you have doubtless heard of an American squatter, who settled hardly a week back about three or four leagues from you?"
"I have; a certain John Black, I think."
"That is the man; well, his clearing will naturally serve you as an advanced post?"
"Famously."
"Profit by the short time left you; under pretence of a buffalo hunt, send twenty men from the fort, and conceal them at John Black's, so that when the moment for action arrives, they may make a demonstration in your favour, which will place the enemies between two fires, and make them suppose that reinforcements have reached you from other posts."
"That is a good idea," the Major said. "You must choose men on whom you can count."
"They are all devoted to me; you shall see them at work."
"All the better; then that is settled!"
"It is."