“That would not be very much of a reinforcement,” said Arnold. “The country around here is not very thickly settled, then.”
“Not very.”
“There is quite a good-sized settlement about twelve or fifteen miles to the westward, is there not?” Arnold asked, after a few moments.
“Yes, sir.”
“How big a settlement is it?”
“There are forty or fifty houses, sir.”
“And there is another settlement near that one, made up mostly of rebels, is there not?”
“Yes, sir, so I have understood. It is not so large, however, having only twelve or fifteen families.”
“Humph. Well, thank you, Mr. Hart. My army is encamped near here, and I thought we would walk over and have a talk with you, some of my soldiers having stated that they were here last night, at a dance.”
“Yes, the young folks of the settlement had a little party here last night.”