"Clay quickly despatched a messenger to Harrison with all this information. But I have already told you of the attack upon Fort Stephenson, and of its brave defence.
"Yes, papa; and it was very interesting," said Elsie. "Have we far to go now to get to Fort Meigs? and is it just as it was when Harrison and his men were there?"
"We may hope to get there soon," replied the captain; "as it is only eight miles above Toledo, and we are nearing that place now. But we shall find only ruins."
"Not a very great pity, I think," said his father. "It is not needed now, and I hope will not be ever again."
"I hope that famous elm tree is there yet," remarked Grandma Elsie.
"I do not know," replied the captain. "But probably it is."
"Oh, what about it, papa?" asked Elsie; and her father answered, "At the beginning of the siege all the water the garrison needed had to be taken from the river. The elm tree was on the opposite side of the river, and the Indians used to climb up and hide themselves in its thick foliage and from there fire across at the water carriers. In that way they killed several of our men. Then the Kentucky riflemen fired at them; and it is said that not less than 6 of them were struck and fell to the ground out of that tree."
"Why didn't our men dig a well?" asked Ned.
"It seems they did afterward, for the place is spoken of as having had a well at the time of the political campaign of 1840, when Harrison was elected President of the United States."
They were now entering the Maumee Bay, and the talk ceased, as all wished to gaze about upon the new scenes as they passed through the bay and up the river. They visited the ruins of Fort Meigs, then took carriages and drove three miles up to Presqu' Isle Hill, alighted there, and wandered over the battlefield of the Fallen Timber.
By tea-time they were again on board the _Dolphin_, which lay at anchor through the night in Maumee Bay. It was a delightful evening, clear and slightly cool on the water, the stars shining, and a gentle breeze stirring; and they sat upon the deck for an hour or more.
"Where are we going to-morrow, papa?" asked Grace in a pause in the conversation, which had been running upon the scenes and adventures of the day.