Iroquois.

The five were now in the van, miles ahead of the main guard. They knew
that no important movement of so large a force could escape the notice
of the enemy, but they, with other scouts, made it their duty to see
that the Americans marched into no trap.

It was now the waning summer. The leaves were lightly touched with
brown, and the grass had begun to wither. Berries were ripening on
the vines, and the quantity of game had increased, the wild animals
returning to the land from which civilized man had disappeared. The
desolation seemed even more complete than in the autumn before. In the
winter and spring the Iroquois and Tories had destroyed the few
remnants of houses that were left. Braxton Wyatt and his band had been
particularly active in this work, and many tales had come of his cruelty
and that of his swart Tory lieutenant, Coleman. Henry was sure, too,
that Wyatt's band, which numbered perhaps fifty Indians and Tories, was
now in front of them.

He, his comrades, Heemskerk, Elerson, Murphy, and four others, twelve
brave forest runners all told, went into camp one night about ten miles
ahead of the army. They lighted no fire, and, even had it been cold,
they would not have done so, as the region was far too dangerous for any
light. Yet the little band felt no fear. They were only twelve, it is
true, but such a twelve! No chance would either Indians or Tories have
to surprise them.

They merely lay down in the thick brushwood, three intending to keep
watch while the others slept. Henry, Shif'less Sol, and Heemskerk were
the sentinels. It was very late, nearly midnight; the sky was clear, and
presently they saw smoke rings ascending from high hills to their right,
to be answered soon by other rings of smoke to their left. The three
watched them with but little comment, and read every signal in turn.
They said: "The enemy is still advancing," "He is too strong for
us...... We must retreat and await our brethren."

"It means that there will be no battle to-morrow, at least," whispered
Heemskerk. "Brant is probably ahead of us in command, and he will avoid
us until he receives the fresh forces from Canada."

"I take it that you're right," Henry whispered back. "Timmendiquas also
is with him, and the two great chiefs are too cunning to fight until
they can bring their last man into action."

"An' then," said the shiftless one, "we'll see what happens."

"Yes," said Henry very gravely, "we'll see what