We followed the advice of the sergeant; still, though according to our calculation we had gone the distance he had mentioned, we could not in the gloom distinguish the fort. Presently, however, a shot whistled past Mr Tidey’s ears, which made him suddenly bob his head, and a voice was heard crying out in an Irish accent—
“Who goes there?”
“Friends, who would be obliged to you to challenge first and shoot if they prove to be enemies,” answered the Dominie.
The next instant we found ourselves in front of a stockade above which appeared the roofs of some low buildings, while in front we could distinguish some mounds only a few feet above the level of the plain. On reaching a gate between the mounds, guarded by two stone towers of little more elevation than the stockades, it was opened, and on entering we found several soldiers.
One of them took Mr Tidey’s horse, and another was about to take the rein of mine, when he exclaimed—
“What creature have we here? never saw an animal with such a face as this!”
I was explaining what had happened, when a sergeant appeared from the guard-room.
“We will get the doctor to have a look at him, and see if anything can be done for the poor brute,” he said in a compassionate tone.
I thanked him. Mr Tidey gave the message from my father, entreating that assistance might be sent to the relief of our train.
“You had better see the commandant, who will judge what is best to be done,” was the answer; and leaving our sorry steeds in charge of the soldiers, we accompanied the sergeant. The commanding officer received us kindly, and told us that if the report of Indians being in the neighbourhood should prove true, it was too probable that our train would be attacked.