He received a cordial greeting from all who had taken part in his previous adventures with Captain Rogers’s band.

“And so you are in command of this party?” Nat said.  “I asked one of the men just now, and he said you were the captain.  You are young to be a captain, but, at any rate, it’s a good thing to have a king’s officer here who knows something about the woods.  The rest ain’t no more idea of them than nothing.”

“I want to chat to you, Nat, and also to Jonathan, if you will come across with me to my tent.”

“I’m agreeable,” Nat said; and the two scouts walked across to the tent with James.

Lieutenant Edwards, who shared the tent with him, was inside, arranging a few things which Major Eyre had sent down for their use.

“Edwards, these are the two scouts, Nat and Jonathan, of whom you have often heard me speak.  Now, let us sit down and have a chat.

“There is some first-rate rum in that bottle, Nat.  There are two tin pannikins, and there is water in that keg.

“Now, Nat,” he went on, when the party were seated on blankets laid on the ground, “this corps of mine has been raised, specially, to act as scouts round this or any other fort which may be threatened, or to act as the advanced guard of a column of troops.”

“But what do they know of scouting?” Nat said contemptuously.  “They don’t know no more than children.”

“They don’t know much, but they are active fellows, and ready to learn.  I think you will find that, already, they have a pretty fair idea of fighting in Indian fashion in the woods, and, as I have authority to draw extra supplies of ball cartridge, I hope, in a few weeks, to make fair shots of them.  You have taught me something of forest ways, and I shall teach them all I know; but we want better teachers, and I want to propose, to you and Jonathan, to join the corps.”

“What, and put on a red coat, and choke ourselves up with a stiff collar!” Nat laughed.  “Nice figures we should look!  No, no, captain, that would never do.”

“No, I don’t propose that you should wear uniform, Nat.  I have got a special authority to enlist you and Jonathan, with the understanding that you can take your discharge whenever you like.  There will be no drilling in line, or anything of that sort.  It will be just scouting work, the same as with Captain Rogers, except that we shall not make long expeditions, as he does, but keep in the neighbourhood of the fort.  I should want you to act both as scouts and instructors, to teach the men, as you have taught me, something of woodcraft, how to find their way in a forest, and how to fight the Indians in their own way, and to be up to Indian devices.  You will be guides on the line of march, will warn me of danger, and suggest the best plan of meeting it.  You will, in fact, be scouts attached to the corps, only nominally you will be members of it.  I know your ways, and should not exact any observance of discipline, more than that which you have with Rogers, and should treat you in the light of non-commissioned officers.”