ian a-horse-back can carry his war-bonnet at a canter
through thick timber without brushing a feather beats me! My silly head
was banged often enough by low branches, but they slipped through like
running elk. We had evening hymn-singing every night after they'd blown
their pipe-smoke to the quarters of heaven. Where did we go? I'll tell
you, but don't blame me if you're no wiser. We took the old war-trail
from the end of the Lake along the East Susquehanna through the Nantego
country, right down to Fort Shamokin on the Senachse river. We crossed
the Juniata by Fort Granville, got into Shippensberg over the hills by
the Ochwick trail, and then to Williams Ferry (it's a bad one). From
Williams Ferry, across the Shanedore, over the Blue Mountains, through
Ashby's Gap, and so south-east by south from there, till we found the
President at the back of his own plantations. I'd hate to be trailed by
Indians in earnest. They caught him like a partridge on a stump. After
we'd left our ponies, we scouted forward through a woody piece, and,
creeping slower and slower, at last if my moccasins even slipped
Red Jacket 'ud turn and frown. I heard voices--Monsieur Genet's for
choice--long before I saw anything, and we pulled up at the edge of
a clearing where some niggers in grey-and-red liveries were holding
horses, and half-a-dozen gentlemen--but one was Genet--were talking
among felled timber. I fancy they'd come to see Genet a piece on his
road, for his portmantle was with him. I hid in between two logs as near
to the company as I be to that old windlass there. I didn't need anybody
to show me Big Hand. He stood up, very still, his legs a little apart,
listening to Genet, that French Ambassador, which never had more manners
than a Bosham tinker. Genet was as good as ordering him to declare war
on England at once. I had heard that clack before on the Embuscade.
He said he'd stir up the whole United States to have war with England,
whether Big Hand liked it or not.

'Big Hand heard him out to the last end. I looked behind me, and my two
chiefs had vanished like smoke. Says Big Hand, "That is very forcibly
put, Monsieur Genet--"

'"Citizen--citizen!" the fellow spits in. "I, at least, am a
Republican!"

"Citizen Genet," he says, "you may be sure it will receive my fullest
consideration." This seemed to take Citizen Genet back a piece. He rode
off grumbling, and never gave his nigger a penny. No gentleman!

'The others all assemble