"I gave him a string of wampum and a twist of tobacco," says Washington in his journal, "and desired him to send for the half-king, which he promised to do by a 'runner' in the morning, and for other sachems. I invited him and the other great men present to my tent, where they stayed about an hour, and returned." At this place Washington met four Frenchmen who had deserted from a company at Kuskuskas, an Indian town on Big Beaver Creek, Pennsylvania. Through Van Braam, he inquired: "Where do you hail from now?" "From New Orleans. We were sent with a hundred men and eight canoe loads of provisions to this place, where we expected to meet as many more men from the forts on this side of Lake Erie, to convey them and the stores up." "What about the French forts near New Orleans?" "There are four small forts between New Orleans and Twigtwies," one of the Frenchmen said. "And how many men?" Washington asked. "About forty, and a few pieces of artillery." "What is there at New Orleans?" "A large fort at the mouth of the Mississippi, with thirty-five companies of forty men each." "How many guns does the fort mount?" "Eight carriage guns." "Quite a formidable affair," remarked Washington. "With courage and skill to correspond they can withstand quite a siege; and what is there at Twigtwies?" "Several companies, and a fort mounting six guns." "And is that all?" "Not exactly. There is a small fort on the Ohio, at the mouth of the Obaish (Wabash), garrisoned by a few men." The information he gathered from these men was valuable to him and the Virginia authorities. As soon as the half-king returned, Washington called upon him with his interpreter, making known his business, and inviting him to his own tent. The chief cordially accepted the invitation, and he accompanied him on his return. "I understand that you have visited the French commander, to whom I am going," remarked Washington, "and perhaps you can give me some information about the ways and distance." "The nearest and levelest way," answered the half-king, "is now impassable on account of many deep and miry savannas." "Then we must adopt the next best way," suggested Washington. "Yes; and that is by the way of Venango, at the confluence of French Creek and the Alleghany," said Tanacharisson. "How great is the distance?" "You cannot get to the nearest fort in less than five or six nights' sleep, good travelling." "How were you received at the fort?" continued Washington, anxious to make the most of his informant. "General Pierre Paul was alive then, and he received me sternly," replied the chief. "In what way did he show his sternness?" Washington asked. "By his abrupt inquiry, 'What did you come here about?' And he ordered me, in an insolent way, to declare my business." "And what did you tell him?" urged Washington.