“Your regiment has marched for Canajoharie,” I said.  “When do you go a-tagging after it?”

“This evening with the headquarter’s guide, Heoikim, and the express rider, James Cooke.  Lord, what a dreary business!”

“Better learn the news we have concerning your back trail before you start.  Ask Captain Franklin to mention it to the General.”

“Certainly,” said Buell.  “I would to God my regiment were ordered here with the rest of them, I’m that sick of the three forts and the scalping-party fighting on the Schoharie.”

“It’s what you are likely to get for a long while yet,” said I.  “And now will you or Richards guide me and my party to headquarters?”

“Will you mess with us?” said Richards.  “I’ll speak to Colonel Dearborn.”

I said I would with pleasure, if free to do so, and we walked on through the glorious sunset light, past camp after camp, very smoky with green fires.  And I saw three more block-houses being builded, and armed with cannon.

The music of Colonel Proctor’s Artillery Regiment was playing “Yankee Doodle” near headquarters as we sighted the General’s marquee, and the martial sounds enthralled me.

One of the General’s aides-de-camp, a certain Captain Dayton, met us most politely, detained my Indians with tobacco and pipes, and conducted me straight to the General, who, he assured me, happened to be alone.  Having seen our General on various occasions, I recognized him at once, although he was in his banyan, having, I judged, been bathing himself in a small, wooden bowl full of warm water, which stood on the puncheon flooring near, very sloppy.

He received me most civilly and listened to my report with interest and politeness, whilst I gave him what news I had of Clinton and how it was with us at the Lake, and all that had happened to my scout of six—­ the death of the St. Regis and the two Iroquois, the treachery of the Erie and his escape, the murder of the Stockbridge—­ and how we witnessed the defile of Indian Butler’s motley but sinister array headed northwest on the Great Warrior Trail.  Also, I gave him as true and just an account as I could give of the number of soldiers, renegades, Indians, and batt-horses in that fantastic and infamous command.

“Where are your Indians?” he asked bluntly.

I informed him, and he sent his aide to fetch them.

General Sullivan understood Indians; and I am not at all sure that my services as interpreter were necessary; but as he said nothing to the contrary, I played my part, presenting to him the stately Sagamore, then the Grey-Feather, then the young warrior, Tahoontowhee, who fairly quivered with pride as I mentioned the scalps he had taken on his first war-path.

With each of my Indians the General shook hands, and on each was pleased to bestow a word of praise and a promise of reward.  For a while, through medium of me, he conversed with them, and particularly with the Sagamore, concerning the trail to Catharines-town; and, seeming convinced and satisfied, dismissed us very graciously, telling an aide to place two bush-huts at our disposal, and otherwise see that we lacked nothing that could be obtained for our comfort and good cheer.