lding us idle simply that he might
the better carry out some murderous scheme.

As a matter of fact, it did seem to me no more than prudent General
Herkimer should send out scouts to discover what the Indians were doing,
and it was whispered about the encampment that one of his officers had
suggested that such a precaution be taken; but the commander flatly
refused, stating as his reason that it might prove fatal to all his hopes
if the sachem should learn he was in any way suspicious because of the
delay.

"We must take our chances, remaining here idle and ignorant of what they
may be doing, or it were better we faced about on the homeward march at
once," the general was reported to have said, and after that he would have
been a bold man indeed who suggested any other course.

Well, the day passed, and so did the night, as all days and nights will
whether one possesses his soul with patience or frets against that which
he cannot remedy, and General Herkimer stood in the opening of his fir
camp gazing at the men as if trying to decide whom he should take with him
to the powwow, when Jacob stepped out in full view in order to attract the
commander's attention.

I knew that he made this move with the hope of being numbered among those
who would leave camp to go to the rendezvous; but at the same moment I
feared lest the general might be displeased because of his forwardness.

Anything can be forgiven in a lad who burns with the desire to aid his
father, however, and General Herkimer beckoned for my comrade to approach.

I could not hear what was said during the brief conversation; but it was
easy to guess the purport when Jacob came toward me with sparkling eyes.

"We have the general's permission to go with him to meet Brant," he cried,
and I asked with, perhaps, just a tinge of jealousy:

"Meanin' you an' Sergeant Corney, eh?"

"The three of us, so the general said."

"Why did he happen to count me in?"

"He asked how many had come with Sergeant Corney, an' when I told him, he
said that all three of us could go with the detachment."

As a matter of course we went, taking our stations at the head of the
column just behind the commander, and when the word to march had been
given I began to regret having thus been favored, for never one of us
carried a weapon of any kind, and if Brant was in the humor he could have
us all butchered before those whom we had left behind would get an inkling
of what was going on.