"
"You're not far from the truth," said Coleman, laughing a little,
and pleased at the penetration of his new friend. They did not
talk further, although the agreement between them was well
established. Neither did the Indian chiefs or the Tory leaders
say any more. They watched the tower of fire a long time, past
midnight, until it reached its zenith and then began to sink.
They saw its crest go down behind the trees, and they saw the
luminous cloud in the south fade and go out entirely, leaving
there only the darkness that reined everywhere else.
Then the Indian and Tory leaders rose and silently marched
northward. It was nearly dawn when Henry and his comrades lay
down for the rest that they needed badly. They spread their
blankets at the edge of the open, but well back from the burned
area, which was now one great mass of coals and charred timbers,
sending up little flame but much smoke. Many of the troops were
already asleep, but Henry, before lying down, begged William Gray
to keep a strict watch lest the Iroquois attack from ambush. He
knew that the rashness and confidence of the borderers,
especially when drawn together in masses, had often caused them
great losses, and he was resolved to prevent a recurrence at the
present time if he could.
Pages:
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348