“But what’re you lookin’ at, Injin?” Bright Wing silently pointed toward the commander’s quarters on the southern side of the inclosure. General Harrison was just entering the door of his tent, and, hurrying toward it, were an officer and a number of soldiers. “That’s Cap’n Hamilton an’ his squad,” Joe cried excitedly. “They’ve jest got back from the’r scoutin’ trip down the river. Now we’ll know what’s comin’. Le’s mosey out that way.” Captain Hamilton, leaving his men outside, entered the commander’s tent and stood at attention. “Well, Captain,” Harrison remarked calmly, “you’re back soon. What’s your report?” The inferior officer saluted and replied: “Three miles down the river we came upon the main body of the enemy, rapidly advancing in this direction.” “Who’s in command?” “General Proctor.” “And Tecumseh commands the savages?” “He does, General.” “Is their force as large as reported?” “I judge from what I saw that they have a force of fully three thousand men—British regulars, Canadian militia, and Indians.” “Are they well supplied with heavy artillery?” “I think they are, General. At any rate, they have some heavy pieces.” “Is that all you were able to learn?” “It is, General.” “The enemy will be here in a few hours at the most,” Harrison remarked. “They mean to invest us—to storm us, if necessary. Their force is six times that of ours. But we must repulse them. To surrender means to lose all for which we have planned and fought—and to court death at the hands of the savages. If General Clay and his Kentuckians were only here——” Then with fiery energy: “But we must bestir ourselves. Captain, go and give the order that the gates be tightly closed at once—after a supply of water, sufficient to last several days, has been brought from the river.” The captain saluted and withdrew. Turning to an orderly standing near the door, the commander said briskly: “Find the field commissary, Captain William Oliver, and send him here.” A few minutes later Captain Oliver put in an appearance. He was young and beardless, but strong, active, and courageous. By this time, a number of officers had gathered at the commander’s quarters and were holding animated conference with him. All looked up at the young Captain’s entrance. Harrison broke off in the middle of a sentence and, advancing, took the newcomer’s hand.