De Peyster then told him of the threatening letter from the four, and of the disappearance of Private Doran. The nostrils of Timmendiquas dilated. "They are great warriors," he said, "but the white youth, Ware, whom you hold, is the greatest of them all. It was well done." De Peyster frowned. In his praise of the woodsmen Timmendiquas seemed to reflect upon the skill of his own troops. But he persisted in his plan to flatter and to appeal to the pride of Timmendiquas. "White Lightning," he said, "you know the forest as the bird knows its nest. What would you advise me to do?" The soothing words appealed to Timmendiquas and he replied: "I will send some of my warriors to trail them from the spot where your man was taken, and do you send soldiers also to take them when they are found. It is my business to make war upon these rangers from Kentucky, and I will help you all I can." De Peyster, who felt that his honor was involved, left the lodge much more hopeful. It was intolerable that he, a soldier and a poet, should be insulted in such a manner by four wild woodsmen, and he selected ten good men who, following two Wyandot trailers, would certainly avenge him. Henry heard the details of Private Doran's misadventure from Lieutenant Holderness, who did not fail to do it full justice. "I should not have believed it," said the young Englishman, "if the facts were not so clear. Private Doran is not a small man. He must weigh at least one hundred and eighty, but he is gone as completely as if the earth had opened and swallowed him up." Henry smiled and pretended to take it lightly. At heart he was hugely delighted at this new proof of the prowess of his friends. "I told you what they were," he said. "They are keeping their promises, are they not?" "So far they have, but they will reach the end very soon. The Chief Timmendiquas, the tall one, who thinks he is as good as the King of England, has furnished two Wyandot trailers--they say the beggars can come pretty near following the trail left by the flight of a bird through the air--and they will take a detachment of ten good men against these four friends of yours." The prisoner's eyes sparkled. It did not seem to Holderness that he was at all cast down as he should be. "Shif'less Sol will lead them a glorious chase," said Henry. "The Wyandots are fine trailers, but they are no better than he, maybe not as good, and no detachment of heavy-footed soldiers can surprise him in the woods." "But if overtaken they will certainly be defeated. All of them will be slain or captured," said Holderness. "There can be no doubt of it." "It is to be seen," said Henry, "and we must wait patiently for the result."