His experience in all the modes of warfare, commonly known to the white
man and Indian alike, in the woods, was complete; everything, indeed,
eminently fitted and prepared him for the duties which, by common
consent, had been devolved upon him. He now called them around him,
under a clump of trees and brushwood which concealed them from sight,
and thus addressed them, in a style and language graduated to their
pursuits and understandings:--
"And now, my fine fellows, you see it is just as I told you all along.
You will have to fight for it, and with no half spirit. You must just
use all your strength and skill in it, and a little cunning besides. We
have to deal with a man who would just as lief fight as eat; indeed, he
prefers it. As he says himself, there's no two ways about him. He will
come to the scratch himself, and make everybody else do so. So, then,
you see what's before you. It's no child's play. They count more men
than we--not to speak of their entrenchments and shelter.
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