But further delay was necessary.  The commander still had the difficult task of harmonizing the provincial governors and legislatures, and he also made many presents to the Indians to bind them to the cause.  Five of the Six Nations, alarmed by the French successes and the slowness of the Americans and English, still held neutral, but the Mohawks were full of zeal, and the best of their young chiefs and warriors stood by Johnson, ready to march when he marched, and to cover his van with their skirmishers and patrols.

Meanwhile the army drilled incessantly.  The little troop of Philadelphians under Colden, Wilton and Carson were an example.  They had seen much hard service already, although they spoke modestly of the dangers over which they had triumphed in the forest.  It was their pride, too, to keep their uniforms neat, and to be as soldierly in manner as possible.  They had the look of regulars, and Grosvenor, the young Englishman who had been taken on Colonel Johnson’s staff, spoke of them as such.

New York and the four New England Colonies, whatever their lack of cooperation, showed energy.  The governors issued proclamations, and if not enough men came, more were drafted from the regiments of militia.  Bounties of six dollars for every soldier were offered by Massachusetts, and that valiant colony, as usual, led the way in energy.

They were full days for Robert.  He listened almost incessantly to the sound of drum and fife, the drill master’s word of command, or to voices raised in prayer, preaching or the singing of psalms.  Recruits were continually coming in, awkward plowboys, but brave and enduring, waiting only to be taught.  Master Benjamin Hardy was compelled to return to New York, departing with reluctance and holding an earnest conference with Mynheer Jacobus Huysman before he went.

“The man, who is most certainly a French spy, is somewhere about,” said Mynheer Jacobus.  “Peter haf seen him twice more, but he haf caught only glimpses.  But you can trust Peter even as I do.  His whole heart iss in the task I have set him.  He wass born Dutch but hiss soul iss Iroquois!  He iss by nature a taker of scalps.”

Master Benjamin laughed.

“Just at present,” he said, “’tis the nature that suits us best.  Most urgent business calls me back to New York, and, after all, I can’t do more here than you are doing, old friend.”

When they had bidden each other good-by in the undemonstrative manner of elderly men who have long been friends, Master Jacobus strolled down the main street of Albany and took a long look at a substantial house standing in fine grounds.  Then he shook his head several times, and, walking on, met its owner, whom he greeted with marked coolness, although the manner of the other toward him had been somewhat effusive.

“I gif you good day, Hendrik Martinus,” he said, “und I hear that you are prospering.  I am not one to notice fashions myself, but others haf spoken to me of the beautiful new shawls your daughters are wearing und of the brooches und necklaces they haf.”