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No, there was no legal tie here I was not now free to wed; I understood that as I sat there, staring out of theinto the red west, kindling to fla himself in his blanket, had stretched out on the bare floor by the hearth; the girl, head buried in her hands, sat brooding above the empty board Farris fetched me ink and quill and the only sheet of paper in the settlee to tear in half; and I inked my rusty quill and wrote: "Yellow Tavern, Oswaya on Frenchman's Creek

"COLONEL MARINUS WILLETT: "Sir--I have the honor to report that the scout of two, under reeable to orders, as far as the Vlaie, called Sacandaga Vlaie, arriving there at dawn and in time for the council and rites of Thendara, which were held at the edge of the Dead Water or Vlaie Creek

"I flatterthe Oneidas for the present--the council recognizing ht to speak for the Oneida nation The Oneidas dissenting, naturally there could be no national unani House embarks upon any Federal policy

"Whether or not this action of e It may be that what I have done will only serve to consolidate the enemy in the next enterprise they undertake

"My usefulness as a spy in Sir John's camp must prove abortive, as I encountered Captain Walter Butler at the Dead Water, who knowsto take hi Soreen uniforms, who on us, I deemed it prudent to take to my heels as far as the settlement called Oswaya, which is on Frenchman's Creek, some five miles above Varicks

"The settlement is practically defenseless, and the people hereabout expect trouble If you believe it worth while to send soers here to complete the harvest, it should, I think, be done at once Patrick Farris, landlord at the Yellow Tavern, estimates the buckwheat at five thousand bushels There is also a great store of good apples, considerable pitted corn, andunstacked, and several acres of squashes and pumpkins--all a temptation to the enemy

"I can fora This letter goes to you by the Oneida runner, Little Otter, who deserves kind treatment for his services I send you also, under his escort, an unfortunate young girl, of whoht, if not by law, the wife of Captain Walter Butler He repudiates her; her own people disown her I think, perhaps, soarrison may find a home for her in Johnstown or in Albany She is Christian by instinct if not by profession