The general or head chief was Sir Edward Braddock—a famous warrior for the King. Gist was here, and so was Andrew Montour; and so were Captain Thomas Waggener and Ensign Peyroney who had been sorely wounded at Fort Necessity, and Doctor Craik, and several others—all Washington men, among the Virginians.
Much of this Robert learned little by little, for he could not see everything at once. First, how about Washington? Washington surely would be here, too, among the Long Knife Americans. But when Washington appeared, he was in red uniform, riding upon a fine horse, into the Indian camp. When he saw Scarouady and the Hunter and others that he knew, his face lighted.
“Brudder,” Scarouady greeted. “We go to fight ’um French.”
They shook hands all around. Then Washington spoke to Robert, with his brief smile:
“I thank you for the letter.” He was always very polite. “You did bravely.”
“You heard?” Robert stammered.
“I heard. You were wounded; now you are well. That is good. And I hear that Tanacharison is dead and Scarouady is Half-King.”
“Tanacharison no fight; heart get weak,” Scarouady grunted. “Me Half-King. Me bring warriors to fight for English. Wah! See my brudder in red, Long Knives in blue. My brudder no Long Knife?”
“I sit in the council of General Braddock who is the great chief of all,” answered Washington. “But I will be in the fight when my brothers and the Long Knives help the red-coat soldiers whip the French out of Fort Duquesne.”
It took Croghan and Gist to explain, later, that Washington was an aide, or assistant, to the great Chief Braddock, and marched by his side: a high honor.