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to send help to those farther away。 So mighty a cry of distress had risen； that the power of the Iroquois must be destroyed。 As the warm weather came； the soldiers began to march。
Rumors that a formidable foe was about to advance reached the Iroquois and their allies； the Tories； the English； and the Canadians。 There was a great stirring among the leaders； Thayendanegea； Hiokatoo； Sangerachte； the Johnsons； the Butlers； Claus； and the rest。 Haldimand； the king's representative in Canada； sent forth an urgent call to all the Iroquois to meet the enemy。 The Tories were' extremely active。 Promises were made to the tribes that they should have other victories even greater than those of Wyoming and Cherry Valley； and again the terrible Queen Esther went among them； swinging her great war tomahawk over her head and chanting her song of death。 She； more than any other； inflamed the Iroquois； and they were eager for the coming contest。
Timmendiquas had gone back to the Ohio country in the winter； but； faithful to his promise to give Thayendanegea help to the last； he returned in the spring with a hundred chosen warriors of the Wyandot nation； a reenforcement the value of which could not be estimated too highly。
Henry and his comrades felt the stir as they roamed through the forest； and they thrilled at the thought that the crisis was approaching。 Then they set out for Lake Otsego； where the army was gathering for the great campaign。 They were equipped thoroughly； and they were now so well known in the region that they knew they would be welcome。
They traveled several days； and were preparing to encamp for the last night within about fifteen miles of the lake when Henry； scouting as usual to see if an enemy were near； heard a footstep in the forest。 He wheeled instantly to cover behind the body of a great beech tree； and the stranger sought to do likewise； only he had no convenient tree that was so large。 It was about the twelfth hour； but Henry could see a portion of a body protruding beyond a slim oak； and he believed that he recognized it。 As he held the advantage he would； at any rate； hail the stranger。
〃Ho； Cornelius Heemskerk； Dutchman； fat man； great scout and woodsman； what are you doing in my wilderness？ Stand forth at once and give an account of yourself； or I will shoot off the part of your body that sticks beyond that oak tree！〃
The answer was instantaneous。 A round； plump body revolved from the partial shelter of the tree and stood upright in the open； rifle in hand and cap thrown back from a broad ruddy brow。
〃Ho； Mynheer Henry Ware；〃 replied Cornelius Heemskerk in a loud； clear tone； 〃I am in your woods on perhaps the same errand that you are。 Come from behind that beech and let us see which has the stronger grip。〃
Henry stood forth； and the two clasped hands in a grip so powerful that both winced。 Then they released hands simultaneously； and Heemskerk asked：
〃And the other four mynheers？ Am I wrong to say that they are near； somewhere ？〃
〃You are not wrong；〃 replied Henry。 〃They are alive； well and hungry； not a mile from here。 There is one man whom they would be very glad to see； and his name is Cornelius Heemskerk； who is roaming in our woods without a permit。〃
The round； ruddy face of the Dutchman glowed。 It was obvious that he felt as much delight in seeing Henry as Henry felt in seeing him。
〃My heart swells；〃 he said。 〃I feared that you might have been killed or scalped； or； at the best； have gone back to that far land of Kentucky。〃
〃We have wintered well；〃 said Henry； 〃in a place of which I shall not tell you now； and we are here to see the campaign through。〃
〃I come； too； for the same purpose；〃 said Heemskerk。 〃We shall be together。 It is goot。〃 〃Meanwhile；〃 said Henry； 〃our camp fire is lighted。 Jim Hart； whom you have known of old； is cooking strips of meat over the coals； and； although it is a mile away； the odor of them is very pleasant in my nostrils。 I wish to go back there； and it will be all the more delightful to me； and to those who wait； if I can bring with me such a welcome guest。〃
〃Lead on； mynheer；〃 said Cornelius Heemskerk sententiously。
He received an equally emphatic welcome from the others； and then they ate and talked。 Heemskerk was sanguine。
〃Something will be done this time；〃 he said。 〃Word has come from the great commander that the Iroquois must be crushed。 The thousands who have fallen must be avenged； and this great fire along our border must be stopped。 If it cannot be done； then we perish。 We have old tales in my own country of the cruel deeds that the Spaniards did long； long ago； but they were not worse than have been done here。〃
The five made no response； but the mind of every one of them traveled back to Wyoming and all that they had seen there； and the scars and traces of many more tragedies。
They reached the camp on Lake Otsego the next day； and Henry saw that all they had heard was true。 The most formidable force that they had ever seen was gathering。 There were many companies in the Continental buff and blue； epauletted officers； bayonets and cannon。 The camp was full of life； energy； and hope； and the five at once felt the influence of it。 They found here old friends whom they had known in the march on Oghwaga； William Gray； young Taylor； and others； and they were made very welcome。 They were presented to General James Clinton； then in charge； received roving commissions as scouts and hunters； and with Heemskerk and the two celebrated borderers； Timothy Murphy and David Elerson； they roamed the forest in a great circle about the lake； bringing much valuable information about the movements of the enemy； who in their turn were gathering in force； while the royal authorities were dispatching both Indians and white men from Canada to help them。
These great scouting expeditions saved the five from much impatience。 It takes a long time for an army to gather and then to equip itself for the march； and they were so used to swift motion that it was now a part of their nature。 At last the army was ready； and it left the lake。 Then it proceeded in boats down the Tioga flooded to a sufficient depth by an artificial dam built with immense labor； to its confluence with the larger river。 Here were more men； and the five saw a new commander； General James Sullivan； take charge of the united force。 Then the army； late in August； began its march upon the Iroquois。
The five were now in the van； miles ahead of the main guard。 They knew that no important movement of so large a force could escape the notice of the enemy； but they； with other scouts； made it their duty to see that the Americans marched into no trap。
It was now the waning summer。 The leaves were lightly touched with brown； and the grass had begun to wither。 Berries were ripening on the vines； and the quantity of game had increased； the wild animals returning to the land from which civilized man had disappeared。 The desolation seemed even more complete than in the autumn before。 In the winter and spring the Iroquois and Tories had destroyed the few remnants of houses that were left。 Braxton Wyatt and his band had been particularly active in this work； and many tales had come of his cruelty and that of his swart Tory lieutenant； Coleman。 Henry was sure； too； that Wyatt's band； which numbered perhaps fifty Indians and Tories； was now in front of them。
He； his comrades； Heemskerk； Elerson； Murphy； and four others； twelve brave forest runners all told； went into camp one night about ten miles ahead of the army。 They lighted no fire； and； even had it been cold； they would not have done so； as the region was far too dangerous for any light。 Yet the little band felt no fear。 They were only twelve； it is true； but such a twelve！ No chance would either Indians or Tories have to surprise them。
They merely lay down in the thick brushwood； three intending to keep watch while the others slept。 Henry； Shif'less Sol； and Heemskerk were the sentinels。 It was very late； nearly midnight； the sky was clear； and presently they saw smoke rings ascending from high hills to their right； to be answered soon by other rings of smoke to their left。 The three watched them with but little comment； and read every signal in turn。 They said： 〃The enemy is still advancing；〃 〃He is too strong for us。。。。。。 We must retreat and await our brethren。〃
〃It means that there will be no battle to…morrow； at least；〃 whispered Heemskerk。 〃 Brant is probably ahead of us in command； and he will avoid us until he receives the fresh forces from Canada。〃
〃I take it that you're right；〃 Henry whispered back。 〃Timmendiquas also is with him； and the two great chiefs are too cunning to fight until they can bring their last man into action。〃
〃An' then；〃 said the shiftless one； 〃we'll see what happens。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Henry very gravely； 〃we'll see what happens。 The Iroquois are a powerful confederacy。 They've ruled in these woods for hundreds of years。 They're led by great chiefs； and they're helped by our white enemies。 You can't tell what would happen even to an army like ours in an ambush。〃
Shif'less Sol nodded； and they said no more until an hour lat