s, for it
seemed as if they were everywhere in the wilderness, Jacob became more
resigned, or so it appeared, since he ceased to insist that this or that
impracticable move be made. I did not suppose he no longer mourned for his
father, but believed and hoped he had come to understand we could not do
anything toward effecting a rescue until all the circumstances were
favorable.

One day's march was much like another, and many passed before we were with
General Herkimer again. We always camped in a thicket, taking good care
not to leave a trail leading up to the place, and in this last task we did
not consider the time spent as wasted, for on every hand could be seen
signs of the enemy, therefore the utmost precaution was needed.

All of us gave ourselves over to slumber as soon as we were stretched out
on the ground, for however careful a watch might have been kept, it would
not have availed if the enemy was bent on surprising us.

In the early light of the new day either Jacob or I went out in search of
small game, for it goes without saying that we could not have brought from
home a sufficient amount of food to sustain us during all the time we
spent roaming to and fro between Cherry Valley and the Oriskany.

If we were fortunate enough to get so much meat as would serve for one or
more meals, we cooked it by digging a hole in the ground, building therein
a fire, and screening the smoke as best we might with boughs and ferns.
That done, we satisfied our hunger while creeping slowly onward,
oftentimes forced to spend an hour or more in making a detour around some
particularly dangerous locality.

If, as often happened, we failed of finding game, we buckled our belts the
tighter and went on, consoling ourselves with the hope that fortune would
favor us before nightfall.

More than once would we have run upon a party of savages--Thayendanega's
scouts or hunters--had it not been for the almost excessive precautions
Sergeant Corney insisted on taking, and in such case there was no other
course than to hide as best we might, and wait until the enemy was pleased
to move on.

Fortunately we did not come face to face with the redskins, therefore a
detailed story of our march would be dull reading, for it could only be
the same thing over and over again until the hour arrived when we entered
General Herkimer's camp on the Oriskany, receiving there such a greeting
from the commander himself as caused me to believe he real