"You are, like myself," the newcomer said, "unable to sleep, I suppose?"
"Yes, general," Peter answered. "I found I could not get off, and so I thought I'd stretch my legs in the wood a bit. They're lying so tarnal thick down there by the fires, one can't move without treading on 'em."
"Which regiment do you belong to?"
"The Connecticut," Peter replied, for he knew by report that a regiment from this province formed part of the expedition.
"As good men as any I have," the general said cordially. "Their only fault is that they are in too great a hurry to attack the enemy."
"I agree with the rest, general," Peter said. "It's dull work wasting our time here when we're wanted at home. I enlisted for six months, and the sooner the time's up the better, say I."
"You have heard nothing moving?" the general asked. "One of the Chippewas told me that he heard a canoe out in the lake. Ah! here he is."
At that moment five or six men, headed by an Indian, issued from the wood close by. It was too late for Peter to try to withdraw, but he stepped aside a pace or two as the party approached.
"Well, have you found anything?" the general asked.
"No find," the Chippewa said shortly.