I learned that Walter Butler, now a captain of Royalist Rangers, also had come into the Valley in disguise, for the purpose of spying and of raising the Tory settlers against us.
I learned that Brant and Guy Johnson had been in England, but were on their way hither.
I learned that our army in Canada, decimated by battle, by smallpox, by fever, was giving ground and slowly retreating on Crown Point; and that Arnold now commanded them.
I learned that we were to be invaded from the west, the north, and the south by three armies, and thousands of savages; that Albany must burn, and Tryon flame from Schenectady to Saint Sacrement.... And I wrote all down.
"Is there more?" I asked, looking at him with utter loathing.
"Howell's house," he muttered, "the log house of John Howell—tonight——"
"The cabin on the hard ridge yonder?"
"Yes.... A plot to massacre this post.... They meet there."
"Who?"
"King's people.... John Howell, Dries Bowman, the Cadys, the Helmers, Girty, Dawling, Gene Grinnis, Balty Weed——"