I said, thinking of the perils that must necessarily await us while we
tried to make our way through Thayendanega's camp.

"I grant you that, lad, an' yet we are bound to make the venture, or let
it be said that we deserted a comrade when he needed us."

"We did that same when we pressed on toward the fort," I suggested,
feebly.

"Ay, an' because we were in duty bound to carry the general's message. Now
that work has been done, we are free."

I could not well say anything more against his plan without laying myself
open to a charge of cowardice,--and at that moment I really was a
coward,--therefore I stood ready to follow him.

There were provisions in plenty strewn on the ground, having been thrown
out of the wagons to make room for the wounded, and from such store
Sergeant Corney gathered up as much as would serve us during four and
twenty hours.

This we stuffed into the pockets of our shirts; filled our powder-horns
and bullet-pouches from the ammunition on the dead bodies, and then we
were ready to leave that valley of death.

All this while it was possible to hear the din of that battle which was
being fought near the fort; but as we advanced it became evident that the
conflict was subsiding.

It would have been folly for the besieged to do other than beat a retreat,