Many soldiers cheered us, swinging their cocked hats; and Nick Stoner and Johnny Silver swung their coon-tailed caps in return, shouting the wolf-cry of the Coureur-du-Bois--"Yik-yik-hoo-hoolo--o!" And now we passed the slow-moving baggage waggons of Colonel Livingston's regiment, toiling up from Caughnawaga, the sleepy teamsters nodding, and armed soldiers drowsing behind, who scarce opened one eye as we trotted by them and out into the darkness of the Mayfield road. Now, in this dim and starlit land, we moved more slowly, for the road lay often through woods where all was dark; and among us none had fetched any lantern. It was close to midnight, I think, when we were challenged; and I knew we were near the new Block House, because I heard the creek, very noisy in the dark, and smelled English grass. The sentinel held us very firmly and bawled to his fellow, who arrived presently with a lantern; and we saw the grist-mill close to us, with its dripping wheel and the high flume belching water. When they were satisfied, I asked for news and they told us they had seen none of Sir John's people, but that a carriage carrying two ladies had nigh driven over them, refusing to halt, and that they had been ashamed to fire on women. He informed us, further, that a sergeant and five men of Colonel Dayton's regiment had arrived at the Block House and would remain the night. "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. "The Scotch girl cared for your mare and fed her, paying four pence," said the militia-man. "But we were ashamed to take pay." I examined Kaya. She had been well cared for. Then I lifted her harness from the wooden peg where it hung and saddled her by the lantern light. And when all was snug I passed the bridle over my arm and led her to the door of the Block House.