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It was on the evening of that day, so fertile in melancholy incident,to which our first volume has been devoted, that the drawbridge ofDetroit was, for the third time since the investment of the garrison,lowered; not, as previously, with a disregard of the intimation thatmight be given to those without by the sullen and echoing rattle of itsponderous chains, but with a caution attesting how much secrecy ofpurpose was sought to be preserved. There was, however, no array ofarmed men within the walls, that denoted an expedition of a hostilecharacter. Overcome with the harassing duties of the day, the chiefportion of the troops had retired to rest, and a few groups of theguard alone were to be seen walking up and down in front of their post,apparently with a view to check the influence of midnight drowsiness,but, in reality, to witness the result of certain preparations going onby torchlight in the centre of the barrack square.
In the midst of an anxious group of officers, comprising nearly all ofthat rank within the fort, stood two individuals, attired in a costumehaving nothing in common with the gay and martial habiliments of theformer. They were tall, handsome young men, whose native elegance ofcarriage was but imperfectly hidden under an equipment evidentlyadopted for, and otherwise fully answering, the purpose of disguise. Ablue cotton shell jacket, closely fitting to the person, trowsers ofthe same material, a pair of strong deer-skin mocassins, and a colouredhandkerchief tied loosely round the collar of a checked shirt, thewhole surmounted by one of those