"Also," said one of the men, "we caught a girl riding a fine horse this morning, who gave an account that she came from Fonda's Bush and was servant to Douw Fonda at Caughnawaga."
"Where is the horse?" I asked.
"Safe stabled in the new fort."
"Where is the girl?"
"Well," said he, "she sits yonder eating soupaan in the fort, and all the Continentals making moon-eyes at her."
"That's my horse," said I shortly. "Take your lantern and show her to me."
One of the militia men picked up the lantern, which had been burning on the grass between us, and I followed along the bank of the creek.
Presently I saw the Block House against the stars, but all loops were shuttered and no light came from them.
There was a ditch, a bridge of three logs, a stockade not finished; and we passed in between the palings where a gateway was to be made, and where another militia-man sat guard on a chopping block, cradling his fire-lock between his knees, fast asleep.
The stable was but a shed. Kaya turned her head as I went to her and made a soft little noise of welcome, and fell a-lipping me and rubbing her velvet nose against me.