"I thought this was vacation?"
"It is, but it is better for the children, under the circumstances, to have their minds occupied."
The oars splashed in the water, and Ronald turned to her again. "Darling—"
"Look," interrupted Beatrice, "there's the Lieutenant." She hailed him merrily. "Cousin Ralph, is Katherine at home?"
"I believe so," he answered, coming toward them; "if not, she's at Mrs. Franklin's."
"I'm going to find her." She made an elaborate courtesy to each of them, and departed.
"Ronald," said the Lieutenant, "this is absolute foolishness, and something has got to be done. How many hundred Indians do you suppose have already gathered here—and Black Partridge postponing the council till the rest get in—any fool can see what it means!"
"Yes, any fool but the Captain," said the Ensign, bitterly.
The parade-ground was deserted, for the August heats beat fiercely upon the land. Stray Indians went in and out, and the sentinel, with his musket over his shoulder, paced round and round the Fort. Lieutenant Howard cleared his throat.
"The lives of the women and children are in our hands," he said, in a low tone. "I'm not speaking for ourselves, now. If Franklin is still set on this mad course, there's only one thing to do." His face and voice were eloquent with sinister meaning.