“When you’ve done that, circle around to Fort Ann. Get as close to it as possible: then do whatever you can to make the road and the creek impassable. By the time you get there, I trust you’ll find other of our detachments at work. Work with ’em. Work under the commanding officer in charge of the detachments. I want that country wrecked! I want it torn to pieces, so there’ll be no nourishment in it except for mosquitoes and squirrels.”

Doc Means cackled gaily.

“What are you laughing at, sir?” Schuyler demanded.

“Well, General,” Doc said, “it looked for a while as if this was a pretty sick war we’d took so much trouble to get back to, so it’s a relief to see it sitting up and taking nourishment.”

Schuyler looked complacent, then said to me, “There’s one message you’re to learn by heart. Give it to all those who need it, with my compliments. Tell ’em this: ‘Keep up your spirits, show no signs of fear, act with vigor; and you will not only secure your country but gain immortal honor.’ ” I repeated it; and as I did so, I thought, ironically, that Nathaniel would consider his own conduct to be guided by this very advice, just as surely as Schuyler would think otherwise.

“General,” I said, “there was one thing I forgot to mention. When we passed St. Leger’s scouts on the St. Lawrence, they shouted after us that they’d see us soon in Albany.”

Schuyler’s lips again took on that puckery look. “Did they?” he asked. “I can only say that if you and the other axe-men can contrive to amuse Burgoyne for a sufficient length of time, his troops won’t see Albany this campaign—not in the way they expect to see it!”

LIX