I want trustworthy news,
and how you obtain it for me matters little."
"Then I will take only a small party," James said. "Fifty men would be
useless, for purposes of fighting, if the enemy are numerous, while
with such a number it would be hopeless to attempt to escape detection
by the Indians. The fewer the better for such an enterprise."
On leaving the commandant, James at once summoned the two hunters to
his hut, and told them the mission he had received.
"I am ready, captain, that is if you, and I, and Jonathan makes up the
party. As to going trapezing about round Crown Point with fifty
soldiers, the thing ain't to be thought of. We should be there no more
than half an hour before the Indians would know of it, and we should
have no show either for fighting or running away. No, captain, the lads
are good enough for scouting about round camp here; but, as for an
expedition of that sort, we might as well start with a drove of swine."
"That is just what I thought, Nat. One canoe may escape even the eyes
of the Indians, but a dozen would have no chance of doing so."
"We might get up the lakes," the scout said; "but the mischief would be
in the woods. No, it never would do, captain. If we goes, it must be
the three of us and no more.
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