"Did you see anything of Schuyler?"
"Yes, we met him about halfway across."
"What have you come for?"
"General Montgomery says that no spare flints have been sent over for the firelocks."
"I'll swear that some went," one of the men exclaimed, "for I packed a sack of them myself in one of the boats."
"I s'pose they have been mislaid," Peter said. "Perhaps some of the stores have got heaped over 'em. Ef you are quite sartin, we have had our journey for nothing."
"As sartin as life," the man replied. "I'll swear to the sackful of flints; and tarnation heavy they was, too."
"Well, then, I need not trouble about it further," Peter said. "We'll take a rest and paddle back in an hour or two. Was there any marks on the sack, so as I may tell the general how to look for it?"
"Marks!" the man repeated. "Why, it had 'Flints' written on it in big black letters six inches long. It must turn up, anyhow. They'll find it when they come to shift the stores."
Then, accompanied by his two companions, Peter strolled quietly through the little village. Stopping at a small store, he purchased some flour and tea; then he followed the road inland and was soon out of sight of the village; he stopped for a moment and then shook his head.