26th.—Rose early, but my horse being lame, though I travelled all the day, I could not, till after night, reach to an inn, about ten miles from Reading.
27th.—I set out early, and about seven o’clock in the morning came to Reading, and there found Captain Bull, Mr. Hays,[66] and the Indians just mounted, and ready to set out on their journey; they were heartily glad to see me; Pisquetomen stretched out his arms, and said, “Now, Brother, I am glad I have got you in my arms, I will not let you go, I will not let you go again from me, you must go with me:” and I likewise said the same to him, and told him, “I will accompany you, if you will go the same way as I must go.” And then I called them together, in Mr. Weiser’s house, and read a letter to them, which I had received from the Governor, which is as follows, viz.
“To Pisquetomen and Thomas Hickman, to Totiniontenna and Shickalamy, and to Isaac Still.[67]
“Brethren, Mr. Frederick Post is come express from the general, who sends his compliments to you, and desires you would come by the way of his camp, and give him an opportunity of talking with you.
“By this string of wampum I request of you to alter your intended rout by way of Shamokin,[68] and to go to the general,[69] who will give you a kind reception. It is a nigher way, in which you will be better supplied with provisions, and can travel with less fatigue and more safety.
“William Denny.
“Easton, October 23d, 1758.”
To which I added, “Brethren, I take you by this string,[70] by the hand, and lift you from this place, and lead you along to the general.”
After which they consulted among themselves, and soon resolved to go with me. We shook hands with each other, and Mr. Hays immediately set out with them; after which, having with some difficulty procured a fresh horse, in the king’s service, I set off about noon with captain Bull; and when we came to Conrad Weiser’s plantation, we found Pisquetomen lying on the ground very drunk,[71] which obliged us to stay there all night; the other Indians were gone eight miles farther on their journey.
28th.—We rose early, and I spoke to Pisquetomen a great deal; he was very sick, and could hardly stir; when we overtook the rest, we found them in the same condition; and they seemed discouraged, from going the way to the general; and wanted to go through the woods. I told them, I was sorry to see them wavering, and reminded them, that when I went to their towns, I was not sent to the French, but when your old men insisted on my going to them, I followed their advice, and went; and as the general is, in the king’s name, over the provinces, in matters of war and peace, and the Indians, at Allegheny,[72] want to know, whether all the English governments will join in the peace with them; the way to obtain full satisfaction is to go to him, and there you will receive another great belt to carry home; which I desire you seriously to take into consideration. They then resolved to go to Harris’s ferry, and consider about it as they went;—we arrived there late in the night.[73]