CHAPTER VIII.
FORT WINNEBAGO.
Major and Mrs.Twiggs, and a few of the younger officers (for nearly all of the older ones were absent), with our brother Robert, or, as he is called throughout all the Indian tribes, "Bob," gave us a cordial welcome--how cordial those alone can know who have come, like us, to a remote, isolated home in the wilderness.

The Major insisted on our taking possession at once of vacant quarters in the fort, instead of at "the Agency," as had been proposed.
"No--we must be under the same roof with them.

Mrs.Twiggs had been without a companion of her own sex for more than four months, and would certainly not hear of a separation now.

But we must be their guests until the arrival of the boats containing our furniture," which, under the care of our old acquaintance, Hamilton Arndt, was making its way slowly up from Green Bay.
A dinner had been prepared for us.

This is one of the advantages of the zigzag approach by the Fox River--travellers never take their friends by surprise; and when the whole circle sat down to the hospitable board, we were indeed a merry company.
After dinner Mrs.Twiggs showed me the quarters assigned to us, on the opposite side of the spacious hall.