"Otherwise, no Seneca will await your coming— I mean there will
be no considerable force of Senecas to oppose you in their towns,
only the usual scalping parties hanging just outside the smoke
veil. All will retire before you. And how is Amochol to be
destroyed at Catharines-town unless he be struck at secretly before
your advance is near enough to frighten him?"
"What people would you take with you?"
"My Indians, Lieutenant Boyd, and thirty riflemen."
"Is that not too few?"
"In all swift and secret marches, sir, a few do better service
than many— as you have taught your own people many a time."
"That is quite true. But they never seem to learn the lesson. I
am somewhat astonished that you have seemed to learn it, and lay it
practically to heart." He smiled, drummed on the tab
