If Thayendanegea and Timmendiquas were
prepared for a strong resistance, the bullets of the skirmishers
would already be whistling through the woods.
The waning evening grew colder, twilight came, and the autumn
leaves fell fast before the rising wind. The promise of the
night was dark, which was not bad for their design, and once more
the five-now the seven approached Oghwaga. From the crest of the
very same hill they looked down once more upon the Indian houses.
"It is a great base for the Iroquois," said Henry to Heemskerk,"
and whether the Indians have laid an ambush or not, Colonel
Butler must attack."
"Ah," said Heemskerk, silently moving his round body to a little
higher point for a better view, "now I feel in all its fullness
the truth that I should be back in Holland, painting blue
plates."
Nevertheless, Cornelius Heemskerk made a very accurate survey of
the Iroquois village, considering the distance and the brevity of
the time, and when the party went back to Colonel Butler to tell
him the way was open, he revolved along as swiftly as any of
them. There were also many serious thoughts in the back of his
head.
At nine o'clock the little colonial force was within half a mile
of Oghwaga, and nothing had yet occurred to disclose whether the
Iroquois knew of their advance.
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