XIX The Voice of a Woman Sobbing
XX The First Fourth of July
XXI The Ambush
XXII The Binkussing of Colonel Burley
XXIII The Greatest Trait of a Great Commander

BOOK THREE

XXIV In France with Franklin
XXV The Pageant
XXVI In Which Appears the Horse of Destiny and
the Judas of Washington's Army
XXVII Which Contains the Adventures of Solomon
in the Timber Sack and on the "Hand-made River"
XXVIII In Which Arnold and Henry Thornhill Arrive
in the Highlands
XXIX Love and Treason
XXX "Who Is She that Looketh Forth as the
Morning, Fair as the Moon, Clear as the Sun,
and Terrible as an Army with Banners?"
XXXI The Lovers and Solomon's Last Fight

BOOK ONE

CHAPTER I

THE HORSE VALLEY ADVENTURE

"The first time I saw the boy, Jack Irons, he was about nine years old.
I was in Sir William Johnson's camp of magnificent Mohawk warriors at
Albany. Jack was so active and successful in the games, between the
red boys and the white, that the Indians called him 'Boiling Water.'
His laugh and tireless spirit reminded me of a mountain brook. There
was no lad, near his age, who could run so fast, or jump so far, or
shoot so well with the bow or the rifle. I carried him on my back to
his home, he urging me on as if I had been a battle horse and when we
were come to the house, he ran about doing his chores. I helped him,
and, our work accomplished, we went down to the river for a swim, and
to my surprise, I found him a well taught fish. We became friends and
always when I have thought of him, the words Happy Face have come to
me. It was, I think, a better nickname than 'Boiling Water,' although
there was much propriety in the latter. I knew that his energy given
to labor would accomplish much and when I left him, I repeated the
words which my father had often quoted in my hearing:

"'Seest thou a man diligent in his calling? He shall stand before
kings.'"

This glimpse of John Irons, Jr.--familiarly known as Jack Irons--is
from a letter of Benjamin Franklin to his wife.

Nothing further is recorded of his boyhood until, about eight years
later, what was known as the "Horse Valley Adventure" occurred. A full
account of it follows with due regard for background and color:

"It was the season o' the great moon," said old Solomon Binkus, scout
and interpreter, as he leaned over the camp-fire and flicked a coal