"Now, gentlemen, tell us all that you saw," continued Colonel
Butler courteously." You will pardon so many questions, but we
must be careful. You will see that yourselves. But I am a New
England man myself, from Connecticut, and I have met Adam Colfax.
I recall now that we have heard of you, also, and we are grateful
for your coming. Will you and your comrades tell us all that you
have seen and heard?"
The five felt a decided change in the atmosphere. They were no
longer possible Tories or renegades, bringing an alarm at one
point when it should be dreaded at another. The men drew closely
around them, and listened as the tallow wicks sputtered in the
dim room. Henry spoke first, and the others in their turn.
Every one of them spoke tersely but vividly in the language of
the forest. They felt deeply what they had seen, and they drew
the same picture for their listeners. Gradually the faces of the
Wyoming men became shadowed. This was a formidable tale that
they were hearing, and they could not doubt its truth.
"It is worse than I thought it could be," said Colonel Butler at
last." How many men do you say they have, Mr. Ware?"
"Close to fifteen hundred.
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