“Sir,” I said, “I had a look at the British at Valcour. I believe I’ve got the feel of ’em, somehow. I used to think they were something extra special as soldiers—something that only silver bullets would stop; but now I know they’re no different from anyone. In view of that, General, I believe I’d be more valuable here than carrying messages to a place where I’d never see a Britisher. I’d like another chance at ’em, General, and I think I’m entitled to it.”

Schuyler looked at me, and I felt uncomfortable. He must, I thought, see through these noble sentiments of mine—must somehow sense that selfishness lay beneath them, as it does beneath most windy utterances.

His lips took on that puckery look. “Another chance at ’em? What did you have in mind? Popping at ’em from behind trees?”

“No sir,” I said. “There’s pines on both sides of Wood Creek—as big pines as ever I saw. There isn’t one of ’em that wouldn’t make a mainmast for a 74-gun ship. Give me some men and some axes, General, and I’ll lay those pines across the creek and across the road so thick that—–”

Schuyler stopped me with an upraised hand. “Don’t bother to explain. I can see you got your training under General Arnold. When I next see him, I’ll tell him you learned your lesson well.” He reached for a sheet of paper. “What do you need besides axes?”

“There ain’t nothing we don’t need,” Doc said. “Personally, I ain’t had any pay since last September, and if I could get me a little on account, and an axe and a musket and a pair of dice, and maybe a blanket and a kettle, I guess prob’ly I wouldn’t need much of anything else.”

The general glanced up at him briefly, at which Doc looked apologetic. I saw that Schuyler considered Doc too old for an axe-man, and so said quickly that he was not only a good scout, but lucky, and that if I couldn’t have him with me, I’d consider it unfortunate.

Schuyler handed me the orders, which authorized us to draw fellingaxes, muskets, powder, shot, hats, shoes, shirt—which classified us, also, as scouts acting under instructions from the commanding general.

“Listen to this, now,” Schuyler said. “There are two roads to Fort Ann. Go up the northern road. Go to every farm on it. Tell ’em to drive off their cattle, burn their standing crops: destroy, hide or remove all food. You’ll find Tories among ’em. The country’s full of Tories! Tell ’em that to give aid or comfort to the enemy will be treason to the United States.