“Out of compliment to the youngest nation they use the Tuscarora language,” she said.

The General rose, bowing to Dorothy with a charming smile.

“I must not keep you from your charades any longer,” he said, conducting her to the door and thanking her for the great help and profit he had derived from her knowledge of the Iroquois.

He had not dismissed us, so we awaited his return; and presently he appeared, calm, courteous, and walked up to me, laying a kindly hand on my shoulder.

“I want an officer who understands Tuscarora and who has felt the bite of an Indian bullet,” he said, earnestly.

I stood silent and attentive.

“I want that officer to find the False-Faces’ council-fire and listen to every word said, and report to me.  I want him to use every endeavor to find this woman, Magdalen Brant, and use every art to persuade her to throw all her influence with the Onondagas, Oneidas, and Tuscaroras for their strict neutrality in this coming war.  The service I require may be dangerous and may not.  I do not know.  Are you ready, Captain Ormond?”

“Ready, sir!” I said, steadily.

He drew a parchment from his breast-pocket and laid it in my hands.  It was my commission in the armies of the United States of America as captain in the militia battalion of Morgan’s regiment of riflemen, and signed by our Governor, George Clinton.

“Do you accept this commission, Mr. Ormond?” he asked, regarding me pleasantly.

“I do, sir.”

Sir Lupus’s family Bible lay on the window-sill; the General bade Mount fetch it, and he did so.  The General placed it before me, and I laid my hand upon it, looking him in the face.  Then, in a low voice, he administered the oath, and I replied slowly but clearly, ending, “So help me God,” and kissed the Book.

“Sit down, sir,” said the General; and when I was seated he told me how the Continental Congress in July of 1775 had established three Indian departments; how that he, as chief commissioner of this Northern department, which included the Six Nations of the Iroquois confederacy, had summoned the national council, first at German Flatts, then at Albany; how he and the Reverend Mr. Kirkland and Mr. Dean had done all that could be done to keep the Iroquois neutral, but that they had not fully prevailed against the counsels of Guy Johnson and Brant, though the venerable chief of the Mohawk upper castle had seemed inclined to neutrality.  He told me of General Herkimer’s useless conference with Brant at Unadilla, where that chief had declared that “The King of England’s belts were still lodged with the Mohawks, and that the Mohawks could not violate their pledges.”

“I think we have lost the Mohawks,” said the General, thoughtfully.  “Perhaps also the Senecas and Cayugas; for this she-devil, Catrine Montour, is a Huron-Seneca, and her nation will follow her.  But, if we can hold the three other nations back, it will be a vast gain to our cause—­not that I desire or would permit them to do battle for me, though our Congress has decided to enlist such Indians as wish to serve; but because there might be some thousand warriors the less to hang on our flanks and do the dreadful work among the people of this country which these people so justly fear.”