“Between twenty and thirty miles above — one can scarce tell the way this accursed river winds about. Our men are exhausted. They’ll not arrive tonight. General Poor’s men from this camp met us last night. Clinton desired me to take a few riflemen and push forward; and the ladies — except the fat one — begged so prettily to go with us that he consented. So we took two empty batteaux and a canoe and came on in advance, with no effort whatever.”

“That was a rash business!” I said, controlling my anger. “The river woods along the Ouleout swarm with Seneca scouts. Didn’t you understand that?”

“So I told ‘em,” he said, laughing, “but do you know, Loskiel, between you and me I believe that your