“That’s only fer to save a man from bein’ burnt alive an’ et up,” he used to say.

At the White Pine Mills near the sea they were taken aboard a lumber ship bound for Boston.  Solomon returned with a great and growing influence among the common soldiers.  He had spent a week in Newport and many of his comrades had reached the camp of Washington in advance of the scout’s arrival.

When Solomon—­a worn and ragged veteran—­gained the foot of the Highlands, late in October, he learned to his joy that Stony Point and King’s Ferry had been abandoned by the British.  He found Jack at Stony Point and told him the story of his wasted months.  Then Jack gave his friend the news of the war.

D’Estaing with a French fleet had arrived early in the month.  This had led to the evacuation of Newport and Stony Point to strengthen the British position in New York.  But South Carolina had been conquered by the British.  It took seven hundred dollars to buy a pair of shoes with the money of that state, so that great difficulties had fallen in the way of arming and equipping a capable fighting force.

“I do not talk of it to others, but the troubles of our beloved Washington are appalling,” Jack went on.  “The devil loves to work with the righteous, waiting his time.  He had his envoy even among the disciples of Jesus.  He is among us in the person of Benedict Arnold—­lover of gold.  The new recruits are mostly of his stripe.  He is their Captain.  They demand big bounties.  The faithful old guard, who have fought for the love of liberty and are still waiting for their pay, see their new comrades taking high rewards.  It isn’t fair.  Naturally the old boys hate the newcomers.  They feel like putting a coat of tar and feathers on every one of them.  You and I have got to go to work and put the gold seekers out of the temple.  They need to hear some of your plain talk.  Our greatest peril is Arnoldism.”

“You jest wait an’ hear to me,” said Solomon.  “I got suthin’ to say that’ll make their ears bleed passin’ through ’em.”

The evening of his arrival in camp Solomon talked at the general assembly of the troops.  He was introduced with most felicitous good humor by Washington’s able secretary, Mr. Alexander Hamilton.  The ingenious and rare accomplishments of the scout and his heroic loyalty were rubbed with the rhetoric of an able talker until they shone.

“Boys, ye kint make no hero out o’ an old scrag o’ a man like me,” Solomon began.  “You may b’lieve what Mr. Hamilton says but I know better.  I been chased by Death an’ grabbed by the coat-tails frequent, but I been lucky enough to pull away.  That’s all.  You new recruits ‘a’ been told how great ye be.  I’m a-goin’ fer to tell ye the truth.  I don’t like the way ye look at this job.  It ain’t no job o’ workin’ out.  We’re all workin’ fer ourselves.  It’s my fight an’ it’s yer fight.  I won’t let no king put a halter on my head