Page:History of Delaware County (1856).djvu/335

DELAWARE COUNTY. 311 at being duped by a boy of but fifteen years of age^ imme- diately proposed that they should proceed in search of him ; but his companions, knowing the result if he persisted in so rash an undertaking, persuaded him to abandon it. What was to be done ! Murphy was without shoes or moccasons wherewith to cover his already tender feet, made so by his continual travel — But that benign Providence who never fails to provide for emergencies, had upon this all important occa- sion, more than blessed Follok with a pair of leather breeches, which, as soon as discovered, were sacrificed to the unmerciful treatment of Murphy's jack-knife. His moccasons completed, they commenced in the morning their homeward course. When they arrived at the encampment. Murphy was thus accosted by an officer : Murphy, where the devil is your rifle he made no reply — the rebuke was too much for his naturally proud spirit to withstand, and he again determined to solicit for him- self and companions the privilege of going in search of the lost rifle; which being granted, they commenced pursuit. The next day, about the same hour, and upon nearly the same spot of ground, they saw the identical boy driving cattle as before : they followed on in the rear until they observed him to enter an obscure hut in a remote part of the wilderness — they imme- diately entered the hut, where were some old women, and more than all, the wished-for rifle. They took the boy once more, and proceeded on their way back ; when about five miles on; their return, they met a man on horseback, whom after some close quizzing they likewise took prisoner. While crossing the river, he threw himself intentionally into it; but on Mur- phy's drawing his rifle to his face, and threatening to shoot him through, he was glad to make for the shore. They finally arrived safe at the encampment with their pri- soners and lost rifle, when in a few days they joined the main army of Sullivan, which numbered in all about five thousand, and then proceeded west, burning and laying waste all the