We did not spend much time in listening to stories of escape; it was necessary we learn what might be the situation in order to send word back to Master Bartlett, and before coming to an end of gathering information our hearts were heavy with forebodings. Counting old men, and small boys who could fire a musket, but without much idea of taking aim, there were not above three hundred who could be mustered from all the stockades, and these were talking boldly of giving battle to John Butler’s force, thinking it would be possible to take him and his men by surprise. When I first heard such talk made it seemed certain those who spoke were making sport of me; but before we had been inside the stockade half an hour, Daniel Hinchman sought me out to say: “It is true, Jonathan Ogden, that these people really count on marching against Wintermoot’s. Colonel Zebulon Butler is arguing against it as best he may, and five officers who have just come from New Jersey are saying all they can to prevent this apology for an army from marching to certain death. I pray that you go among the reckless ones, telling them what you know of John Butler’s strength, and whether there be any chance that it is possible to take him by surprise.” Then it was, before I could make reply, that Colonel Zebulon Butler himself came up, and asked, looking at me: “Are you the lad who commands the Minute Boys?” “I held the position of captain, sir, before we were driven out of Fort Jenkins, and now am I at a loss to say whether there is any longer a company which may be called Minute Boys.” “But you know somewhat of the doings in and around Wintermoot’s, and can make a good guess as to how many of the enemy may be there?” “Ay, sir, and so can Master Morley, Giles March, or Daniel Hinchman.” “Will you tell these hot-heads what you have seen, and set your comrades at the same task?” As he asked, so we did, moving here and there, wherever we saw a number of men or boys gathered, and giving our story loudly, without waiting for an invitation to join in the conversation; but words were of no avail. Those who did not the same as accuse us of telling of that which was untrue, claimed that we had been frightened out of our wits, and mistook a handful of savages for an entire army. “It is of no use,” I said to Master Morley, after a time, when we were come together by chance. “Verily, it seems as if the people had gone mad! The more we say the stronger is their determination to give battle--” “Ay, lad, that has already been put to vote, and despite the entreaties of the officers from the army, it is decided to leave here at one o’clock.”