_3d Sol_. Ay, Will has been to the new quarters to-day. See, he's coming this way. _5th Sol_. And he saw Striker there, fresh from the Jerseys, come up along with that new General there, yesterday. _3d Sol_. General Arnold? _5th Sol_. Ay, ay, General Arnold it is. _6th Sol_. [_Advancing_.] I say, boys---- _4th Sol_. What's the matter, Will? _6th Sol_. Do you want to know what they say below? _All_. Ay, ay, what's the news? _6th Sol_. All up there, Sirs. A gone horse!--and he that turns his coat first, is the best fellow. _4th Sol_. No? _6th Sol_. And shall I tell you what else they say? _4th Sol_. Ay. _6th Sol_. Shall I? _All_. Ay, ay. What is it? _6th Sol_. That we are a cowardly, sneaking, good-for-nothing pack of poltroons, here in the north. There's for you! There's what you get for your pains, Sirs. And for the rest, General Schuyler is to be disgraced, and old Gates is to be set over us again, and----no matter for the rest. See here, boys. Any body coming? See here. _3d Sol_. What has he got there? _2nd Sol_. The Proclamation! The Proclamation! Will you be good enough to let me see if there is not a picture there somewhere, with an Indian and a tomahawk? _6th Sol_. Now, Sirs, he that wants a new coat, and a pocket full of money-- _3d Sol_. That's me fast enough. _2nd Sol_. If he had mentioned a shirt-sleeve now, or a rim to an old hat-- _4th Sol_. Or a bit of a crown, or so. _6th Sol_. He that wants a new coat--get off from my toes, you scoundrel. _All_. Let's see. Let's see. Read--read. _7th Sol_. (_Spouting_.) "And he that don't want his house burned over his head, and his wife and children, or his mother and sisters, as the case may be, butchered or eaten alive before his eyes--" _3d Sol_. Heavens and earth! It 'ant so though, Wilson, is it? _7th Sol_. "Is required to present himself at the said village of Skeensborough, on or before the 20th day of August next. Boo--boo--boo--Who but I. Given under my hand."--If it is not _it_--it is something very like it, I can tell you, Sirs. I say, boys, the old rogue wants his neck wrung for insulting honest soldiers in that fashion; and I say that you--for shame, Will Willson. _4th Sol_. Hush!--the Colonel!--Hush! _2nd Sol_. And who is that proud-looking fellow, by his side? _4th Sol_. Hush! General Arnold. He's a sharp one--roll it up--roll it up. _6th Sol_. Get out,--you are rumpling it to death. (_Two American officers are seen close at hand, in a bend of the ascending road; the soldiers enter the woods_.) * * * * * DIALOGUE III. SCENE. _The same_. _1st Officer_. I cannot conceal it from you, Sir; there is but one feeling about it, as far as I can judge, and I had some chances in my brief journey-- _2nd Off_. Were you at head-quarters?