The runner added
another piece of information that interested them deeply. Butler
had been accompanied to Cherry Valley by a young Tory or renegade
named Wyatt, who had distinguished himself by cunning and
cruelty. It was said that Wyatt had built up for himself a
semi-independent command, and was becoming a great scourge.
"That's our Braxton," said Henry. "He is rising to his
opportunities. He is likely to become fully the equal of Walter
Butler."
But they could do nothing at present to find Wyatt, and they went
somewhat sadly back to "The Alcove." They had learned also from
the runner that Wyatt had a lieutenant, a Tory named Coleman, and
this fact increased their belief that Wyatt was undertaking to
operate on a large scale.
"We may get a chance at him anyhow," said Henry. "He and his
band may go too far away from the main body of the Indians and
Tories, and in that case we can strike a blow if we are
watchful."
Every one of the five, although none of them knew it, received an
additional impulse from this news about Braxton Wyatt. He had
grown up with them. Loyalty to the king had nothing to do with
his becoming a renegade or a Tory; he could not plead lost lands
or exile for taking part in such massacres as Wyoming or Cherry
Valley, but, long since an ally of the Indians, he was now at the
head of a Tory band that murdered and burned from sheer pleasure.
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