When the little column moved from the Johnstown settlement, the
five were far ahead, passing through the woods, up the
Susquehanna, toward the Indian villages that lay on its banks,
though a great distance above Wyoming. The chief of these was
Oghwaga, and, knowing that it was the destination of the little
army, they were resolved to visit it, or at least come so near it
that they could see what manner of place it was.
"If it's a big village," said Colonel Butler, "it will be too
strong to attack, but it may be that most of the warriors are
absent on expeditions."
They had obtained before starting very careful descriptions of
the approaches to the village, and toward the close of an October
evening they knew that they were near Oghwaga, the great base of
the Iroquois supplies. They considered it very risky and unwise
to approach in the daytime, and accordingly they lay in the woods
until the dark should come.
The appearance of the wilderness had changed greatly. in the
three months since Wyoming. All the green was now gone, and it
was tinted red and yellow and brown. The skies were a mellow
blue, and there was a slight haze over the forest, but the air
had the wonderful crispness and freshness of the American autumn.
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