The Indians were again assembled, the payment was made, and having supplied themselves with a larger quantity of ammunition than usual,--for they saw the necessity of a good hunt to remedy past and present deficiencies,--they set off for their wintering grounds.
We were, ourselves, about changing our quarters, to our no small satisfaction.

Notwithstanding the Indian disturbances, the new Agency House (permission to build which had, after much delay, been accorded by Government) had been going steadily on, and soon after the departure of the Governor and his party, we took possession of it.
We had been settled but a few weeks, when one morning Lieutenant Davies appeared just as we were sitting down to breakfast, with a face full of consternation.

"_The Indian prisoners had escaped from the black-hole_! The commanding officer, Colonel Cutler, had sent for Mr.Kinzie to come over to the Fort and counsel with him what was to be done." The prisoners had probably commenced their operations very soon after being placed in the _black-hole_, a dungeon in the basement of the guard-house.

They observed that their meals were brought regularly, three times a day, and that in the intervals they were left entirely to themselves.

With their knives they commenced excavating an opening, the earth from which, as it was withdrawn, they spread about on the floor of their prison.