oing and always
remaining to dine, at least, we have danced and picnicked and
played music and been frightened when McDonald's men came too
near. And oh, the terrible pall that fell on our company when
news came of poor Janet McCrea's murder by Indians--you did
not know her, but I did, and loved her dearly in school--the
dear little thing! But Burgoyne's Indians murdered her, and a
fiend called The Wyandot Panther scalped her, they say--all
that beautiful, silky, long hair! But Burgoyne did not hang
him, Heaven only knows why, for they said Burgoyne was a
gentleman and an honorable soldier!

"Then our company forgot the tragedy, and we danced--think of
it, dear! How quickly things are forgotten! Then came the
terrible news from Oriskany! I was nearly dead with fright
until your letter arrived.... So, God help us I we danced and
laughed and chattered once more when Arnold's troops came.

"I did not quite share the admiration of the women for
General Arnold. He is not finely fibred; not a man who
appeals to me; though I am very sorry for the slight that the
Congress has put upon him; and it is easy to see that he is a
brave and dashing officer, even if a trifle coarse in the
grain and inclined to be a little showy. What I liked best
about him was his deep admiration and friendship for our dear
General Schuyler, which does him honor, and doubly so because
General Schuyler has few friends in politics, and Arnold was
perfectly fearless in showing his respect and friendship for
a man who could do him no favors.

* * * * *

"Dear, a strange and amusing thing has happened. A few score
of friendly Oneidas and lukewarm Onondagas came here to pay
their respects to Magdalen Brant, who, they heard, was living
at our house.

"Magdalen received them; she is a sweet girl and very good to
her wild kin; and so father permitted them to camp in the
empty house in the sugar-bush, and sent them food and tobacco
and enough rum to please them without starting them
war-dancing.

"Now listen. You have heard me tell of the Stonish
Giants--those legendary men of stone whom the Iroquois,
Hurons, Algonquins, and Lenape stood in such dread of two
hundred years ago, and whom our historians believe to have
been some