ct. I wish you to start
immediately, go along the river to Morristown, then cut over into
the Black River country and deliver this letter to the Comte de
Chaumont, at the Chateau Le Ray, in Leraysville. If you see any
signs of the enemy, send a report to me at once. I shall be here
three days. Take Alexander, Olin, and Miles with you; they are all
good men. When your letter is delivered, report at the Harbor as
soon as possible."

I was on the road with my party in half an hour. We were all good
horsemen. D'ri knew the shortest way out of the woods in any part
of the north country. Thurst had travelled the forest from Albany
to Sackett's Harbor, and was the best hunter that ever trod a trail
in my time. The night was dark, but we rode at a gallop until we
had left the town far behind us. We were at Morristown before
midnight, pounding on the door of the Red Tavern. The landlord
stuck his head out of an upper window, peering down at us by the
light of a candle.

"Everything quiet?" I asked.

"Everything quiet," said he. "Crossed the river yesterday. Folks
go back 'n' forth 'bout the same as ever. Wife's in Elizabethtown
now, visiting."

We asked about the west roads and went on our way. Long before
daylight we were climbing the steep road at Rossie to the inn of
the Travellers' Rest--a tavern famous in its time, that stood half
up the hill, with a store, a smithy, and a few houses grouped about
it, We came up at a silent walk on a road cushioned with sawdust.
D'ri rapped on the door until I thought he had roused the whole
village. At last a man came to the upper window. He, too,
inspected us with a candle. Then he opened the door and gave us a
hearty welcome. We put up our horses for a bite, and came into the
bar.

"Anything new?" I inquired.

"They say the British are camped this side of the river, north of
us," said he, "with a big tribe of Injuns. Some of their cavalry
came within three miles of us to-day. Everybody scairt t' death."

He began to set out a row of glasses.

"What 'll ye hev?" he inquired.

"Guess I 'll tip a little blue ruin int' me," said D'ri, with a
shiver; "'s a col' night."

Seth and I called for the same.

"An' you?" said the landlord, turning to Thurst.

"Wal," said the latter, as he stroked his thin beard, "when I tuk
the pledge I swore et I hoped t' drop dead 'fore I see myself tek
another drink. I 'm jest goin' t' shet my eyes 'n' hold out my
glass.