_1st Sol_. We have seen worse, I'll own. _3d Sol_. And what becomes of our young nation here, with its congress and its army, and all these presidents, and generals, and colonels, and aide-de-camps?--wont it look like a great baby-house when the hubbub is over, and the colonies settle quietly down again? _2nd Sol_. Faith, you take it very coolly. Before that can happen, do you know what must happen to you? _1st Sol_. Nothing worse than this, I reckon. _2nd Sol_. (_makes a gesture to denote hanging_.) _4th Sol_. What would they hang us though? Do you think they would really hang us, John? _2nd Sol_. Wait and see. _1st Sol_. Nonsense! nonsense! A few of the ringleaders, Schuyler, and Hancock, and Washington, and a few such, they will hang of course,--but for the rest,--we shall have to take the oath anew, and swallow a few duties with our sugar and tea, and---- _2nd Sol_. You talk as if the matter were all settled already. _1st Sol_. There is no more doubt of it, than that you and I stand here this moment. Why, they are flocking to Skeensborough from all quarters now, and this poor fragment,--this miserable skeleton of an army, which is the only earthly obstacle between Burgoyne and Albany, why, even this is crumbling to pieces as fast as one can reckon. Two hundred less than we were yesterday at this hour, and to-morrow--how many are off to-morrow? Ay, and what are we doing the while? Bowing and retreating, cap in hand, from post to post, from Crown Point to Ticonderoga, from Ticonderoga to Fort Edward, from Fort Edward onward; just showing them down, as it were, into the heart of the land. Let them get to Albany--Ah, let them once get to Albany, they'll need no more of our help then, they'll take care of themselves then and us too. _2nd Sol_. They'll never get to Albany. _1st Sol_. Hey? _2nd Sol_. They'll never get to Albany. _1st Sol_. What's to hinder them? _2nd Sol_. We,--yes we,--and such as we, craven-hearted as we are. They'll never get to Albany until we take them there captives. _3d Sol_. Then they'll wait till next week, I reckon. _1st Sol_. Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha! How many prisoners shall we have a-piece, John? How many regiments, I mean? They'll open the windows when we get there, won't they? I hope the sun will shine that day. How grandly we shall march down the old hill there, with our train behind us. I shall have to borrow a coat of one of them though, they might be ashamed of their captor else. _3d Sol_. When is this great battle to be, John? This don't look much like it. _4th Sol_. I think myself, if the General would only give us a chance to fight----