CHAPTER XX
THE FIRST FOURTH OF JULY
Mrs. Scott and her child lived in the family of General Herkimer for amonth or so. Settlers remote from towns and villages had abandonedtheir farms. The Indians had gone into the great north bush perhaps tomeet the British army which was said to be coming down from Canada inappalling numbers. Hostilities in the neighborhood of The Long Househad ceased. The great Indian highway and its villages were desertedsave by young children and a few ancient red men and squaws, too oldfor travel. Late in June, Jack and Solomon were ordered to report toGeneral Schuyler at Albany.
"We're gettin' shoveled eroun' plenty," Solomon declared. "We'll takethe womern an' the boy with us an' paddle down the Mohawk to Albany.They kind o' fell from Heaven into our hands an' we got to look a'ter'em faithful. Fust ye know ol' Herk 'll be movin' er swallered hull bythe British an' the Injuns, like Jonah was by the whale, then what 'udbecome o' her an' the Leetle Cricket? We got to look a'ter 'em."
"I think my mother will be glad to give them a home," said Jack. "Shereally needs some help in the house these days."