Cageaga’s eyes blazed as he placed the flat of his hand on his chest. The gesture, by common consent, brought the respective arguments to a close. As discussion broke out around them, Tewanias turned and said quietly to Hawkwood. “Go now. Prepare for your journey. The council will make its decision.”

“What do you think?” Lawrence asked as he slipped his shoulder through the musket strap. “Will they help us?”

“Hard to tell. The war captains and the peace chiefs will have their say. It may be put to the families and the clan mothers.”

“The clan mothers? The women have that much influence?”

“It’s the women who rule the clans. They help elect the chiefs. When a man marries, he joins his wife’s clan, not the other way round. The tribe couldn’t function without them.”

“I’m learning something new about these people every minute,” Lawrence said.

Hawkwood smiled. “There’s another thing that might surprise you?”

“What’s that?”

“If it wasn’t for the Iroquois, the Rifles might never have seen the light of day.”

Lawrence looked at Hawkwood askance.

“It’s true. Sixty years ago, we were out here fighting the French. Some Iroquois fought on their side. That’s where the name comes from, by the way: Irinakhoiw – it’s Huron for ‘black snake’. Only the Frogs couldn’t pronounce it correctly. They knew the Indians’ value, though: these were warriors who were at home in the forest, they could travel light and they could live off the land. They were a bloody sight better shots than the regular troops, too. The French used them to harass the enemy flanks and pick out and kill the officers. Sound familiar? It’s one of the reasons our light companies were formed. John Moore and our other commanders realized the benefit of irregulars who could move fast and fend for themselves, without supervision.

“Over the years, skills were honed, uniforms changed colour, muskets were replaced. The Rifles were the end result. They fight in small groups, hitting the enemy hard and moving on before it can retaliate. They spread panic. It’s what the Indians do and they’re experts at it.” Hawkwood smiled then. “And you know the best thing about using them?”

Lawrence shook his head. “What’s that?”

“They don’t need training.”

It was more than an hour before Tewanias reappeared, Cageaga at his shoulder. They approached, their faces grave.

“This doesn’t look good,” Lawrence murmured softly.

Cageaga was the first to speak. “The council has spoken.”

Hawkwood waited. In truth, he’d been expecting the deliberations to go on for a lot longer. The early verdict did not bode well. He prepared for the worst.

“We are with you,” Tewanias said.

15

The troops left Plattsburg well before first light, without fuss or ceremony. From the town, the column skirted the curve of Cumberland Bay, crossed over Dead Creek bridge and turned north on to the Chazy road.