In the meantime, the two companies of my regiment attached to this brigade were still out on scout with Major Parr; and when they returned I made no doubt that we would shoulder packs, harness our wagons, and take the lake road next morning.

And what would become of Lois?  Perplexed and dejected, I wandered about the willow-run, pondering the situation; sat for a while on the river-bank to watch the batteaux and the Oneida canoes; then, ever restless with my deepening solicitude for Lois, I walked over to the fort.  And the first man I laid eyes on was Lieutenant Boyd, conversing with some ladies on the parade.

He did not see me.  He had evidently returned from the main body with a small scout the night before, and now was up and dressed in his best, spick and span and gay, fairly shining in the sunlight as he stood leaning against a log prop, talking with these ladies where they were seated on one of the rustic settles lately made by Alden’s men.

Venturing nearer, I found that I knew all of the ladies, for one was the handsome wife of Captain Bleecker, of the 3rd New York, and another proved to be Angelina Lansing, wife of Gerrit Lansing, Ensign in the same regiment.

The third lady was a complete surprise to me, she being that pretty and vivacious Magdalene Helmer—­ called Lana—­ the confidante of Clarissa Putnam—­ a bright-eyed, laughing beauty from Tribes Hill, whom I had known very well at Guy Park, where she often stayed with her friend, Miss Putnam, when Sir John Johnson was there.

As I recognised them, Boyd chanced to glance around, and saw me.  He smiled and spoke to the ladies; all lifted their heads and looked in my direction; and Lana Helmer waved her handkerchief and coolly blew me a kiss from her finger-tips.

So, cap in hand, I crossed the parade, made my best bow and respects to each in turn, replaced my cap, and saluted Lieutenant Boyd, who returned my salute with pretended hauteur, then grinned and offered his hand.

“See what a bower of beauty is blossomed over night in these dreary barracks, Loskiel.  There seems to be some happiness left in the world for the poor rifleman.”

“Do you remain?” I asked of Mrs. Bleecker.

“Indeed we do,” she said, laughing, “provided that my husband’s regiment remains.  As soon as we understood that they had not been ordered into the Indian country we packed our boxes and came up by batteau last night.  The news about my husband’s regiment is true, is it not?”

“Colonel Gansevoort’s regiment is not to join General Sullivan, but is to be held to guard the Valley.  I had the news yesterday for certain.”

“What luck!” said Boyd, his handsome eyes fixed on Lana Helmer, who shot at him a glance as daring.  And it made me uneasy to see she meant to play coquette with such a man as Boyd; and I remembered her high spirits and bright daring at the somewhat loose gatherings at Guy Park, where every evening too much wine was drunk, and Sir John and Clarissa made no secret of the flame that burned between them.