“To whom may I address myself?” said one of the British—­who, I may inform my reader, en passant, was no other than O’Flaherty—­“To whom may I address myself as the officer in command?”

“I am Major Brown,” said a short, plethoric little man, in a blue uniform and round hat—­“And who are you?”

“Major O’Flaherty, of his majesty’s fifth foot,” said Tom, with a very sonorous emphasis on each word—­“the bearer of a flag of truce and an amicable proposition from Major-General Allen, commanding the garrison of Fort Peak.”

The Americans, who were evidently taken by surprise at their intentions of attack being known, were silent, while he continued—­

“Gentlemen, it may appear somewhat strange that a garrison, possessing the natural strength of a powerful position—­supplied with abundant ammunition and every muniment of war—­should despatch a flag of truce on the eve of an attack, in preference to waiting for the moment, when a sharp and well-prepared reception might best attest its vigilance and discipline.  But the reasons for this step are soon explained.  In the first place, you intend a surprise.  We have been long aware of your projected attack.  Our spies have tracked you from your crossing the river above the whirlpool to your present position.  Every man of your party is numbered by us; and, what is still more, numbered by our allies —­yes, gentlemen, I must repeat it, “allies”—­though, as a Briton, I blush at the word.  Shame and disgrace for ever be that man’s portion, who first associated the honourable usages of war with the atrocious and bloody cruelties of the savage.  Yet so it is:  the Delawares of the hills”—­here the Yankees exchanged very peculiar looks—­“have this morning arrived at Fort Peak, with orders to ravage the whole of your frontier, from Fort George to Lake Erie.  They brought us the information of your approach, and their chief is, while I speak, making an infamous proposition, by which a price is to paid for every scalp he produces in the morning.  Now, as the general cannot refuse to co-operate with the savages, without compromising himself with the commander-in-chief, neither can he accept of such assistance without some pangs of conscience.  He has taken the only course open to him:  he has despatched myself and my brother officers here”—­O’Flaherty glanced at two privates dressed up in his regimentals—­“to offer you terms”—­

O’Flaherty paused when he arrived thus far, expecting that the opposite party would make some reply; but they continued silent:  when suddenly, from the dense forest, there rung forth a wild and savage yell, that rose and fell several times, like the pibroch of the highlander, and ended at last in a loud whoop, that was echoed and re-echoed again and again for several seconds after.

“Hark!” said O’Flaherty, with an accent of horror—­“Hark! the war-cry of the Delawares!  The savages are eager for their prey.  May it yet be time enough to rescue you from such a fate!  Time presses—­our terms are these—­as they do not admit of discussion, and must be at once accepted or rejected, to your own ear alone can I impart them.”