The old man proved to be one of Annawan's councillors. He gave the same answers as the young squaw, his daughter.
"Can we get to Annawan by night?" Captain Church queried.
"If you start at once and travel stoutly, you might get to him by sunset," replied the old man.
"Where were you going when I seized you?"
"Annawan had sent me down to look for some of his Indians who were to kill provisions on this Mount Hope Neck."
"Those Indians have all been taken by me," Captain Church informed him. "They are with my men and will not be harmed. Now I mean to take Captain Annawan."
He asked his little squad if they were willing to pay Annawan a visit. That rather startled them. They made their reply.
"We are your soldiers and ready to obey your commands," said the scouts. "But we know Captain Annawan to be a great soldier, too. He was a captain under Massasoit, Phillip's father, and under Phillip also. He is a man of courage and strong mind, and we have heard him say that he will never be taken alive by the white people. We know the men with him. They are warriors and very determined; and we are but a handful. It will be a pity if after all your great deeds you should throw your life away at last."
"I do not doubt that this Captain Annawan is a valiant man," Captain Church admitted. "But I have hunted him a long time, and not until this moment have I got exact news of his quarters. So I am loth to let him escape again. If you will cheerfully go with me, by the protection of Providence we shall take him, I think."
The scouts agreed to go.