Brown was fully occupied with both his official assignment as an assistant intelligence officer and the development of his prowess as a soldier, and began to see that the two might be increasingly intertwined as his skills evolved. Sergeant Baker responded favorably to Brown’s suggestion that they recruit an Indian warrior as an additional instructor, and agreed to join Brown in wilderness training. It required several weeks of interviews and trials before they finally decided on a middle-aged Seminole named Sunoma, who spoke the language of the Creeks and was also somewhat familiar with English. He had been the leader or chief of a town on the Ogeechee River but had decided to move to Florida for reasons he declined to give. His breechcloth, which was all he chose to wear in the woods, revealed a repulsive scar across his upper abdomen, which he said came from a spear thrust in battle. Although somewhat skeptical of his veracity at times, both Brown and Baker were soon impressed with the Indian’s knowledge of the forests and swamps.

Sunoma seized upon the authority the two white men granted him and demonstrated the characteristics of a leader of men, but one with a sense of humor. He insisted that the men wear moccasins and light clothing, and criticized them severely when they made excessive noise, became confused about directions, or failed to detect things of interest as they passed or approached. One of his favorite exercises was to permit them to choose a location in the wilderness and then to approach them within easy arrow range before they knew he was in the vicinity. Then he would sit in a location known by the two white men and see how early he could detect the approach of either one of them. When they failed by moving a bush, snapping a twig, or disturbing a bird, he would howl with laughter and tell them they could move more stealthily if mounted on an ox or an alligator. In fact, Sunoma was inclined to be arrogant and domineering, and the sergeant had to remind him on occasion that he was being amply rewarded for working for the British, and that their failures were proof of his inadequacy as an instructor. Slowly, the lessons with Sunoma had some impact, and both men learned to shift their identities from European soldiers in an alien environment to native woodsmen with increasing abilities.

Brown began to monitor the activities of the existing trading forays into western Florida and southern Georgia, and observed that these were often relatively fruitless. When he quietly suggested to his superior that his small group might increase the acquisition of food and other supplies, he was quickly given permission. This was to be the beginning of a series of remarkable experiences.