y. In
Pennsylvania there was a bitter quarrel between the people and the
proprietary government that hampered action. Many of the contractors
who were to furnish equipment thought much more of profit than of
patriotism. Braddock, brave and honest, but tactless and wholly
ignorant of the conditions predominant in any new country, raged and
stormed. He denounced the Virginia troops that came to his standard,
calling shameful their lack of uniforms and what he considered their
lack of discipline.

Robert heard that in these turbulent days young Washington, whom
Braddock had taken on his staff as a colonel and for whom he had a
warm personal regard, was the best mediator between the testy general
and the stubborn population. In his difficult position, and while yet
scarcely more than a boy, he was showing all the great qualities of
character that he was to display so grandly in the long war twenty
years later.

"Tis related," said Willet, "that General Braddock will listen to
anything from him, that he has the most absolute confidence in his
honesty and good judgment, and, judging from what I hear, General
Braddock is right."

But to Robert, despite the anxieties, the days were happy. As he had
affiliated readily with the young Virginians he was also quickly a
friend of the young British officers, who were anxious to learn about
the new conditions into which they had been cast with so little
preparation. There was Captain Robert Orme, Braddock's aide-de-camp, a
fine manly fellow, for whom he soon formed a reciprocal liking, and
the son of Sir Peter Halket, a lieutenant, and Morris, an American,
another aide-de-camp, and young William Shirley, the son of the
governor of Massachusetts, who had become Braddock's secretary. He
also became well acquainted with older officers, Gladwin who was to
defend Detroit so gallantly against Pontiac and his allied tribes,
Gates, Gage, Barton and others, many of whom were destined to serve
again on one side or other in the great Revolution.

Grosvenor knew all the Englishmen, and often in the evenings, since
May had now come they sat about the camp fires, and Robert listened
with eagerness as they told stories of gay life in London, tales of
the theater, of the heavy betting at the clubs and the races, and now
and then in low tones some gossip of royalty. Tayoga was more than
welcome in this group, as the great Thayendanegea was destined to be
years later. His height, his splendid appe