in fact, he seemed scarcely to heed at all what I said, but seated himself at the foot of a pine tree and lit his pipe. As I stood biting my lip and looking around at the woods encircling us, he beckoned two of his men, gave them some orders in a low voice, crossed one leg over the other, and continued to smoke the carved and painted Oneida pipe he carried in his shot-pouch.

I saw the two riflemen shoulder their long weapons and go forward in obedience to his orders; and when again I approached him he said:

“They will make plain to Sullivan what your Indians may garble in repeating — that I mean to await the army in this place and save my party these useless miles of travelling. Do you object?”

“Our men are not tired,” I said, astonished,