Page:The youth of Washington (1910).djvu/251

 I saw many look at him with curiosity, which was not surprising, for he was not less than six feet three, but a gaunt, thin man, of melancholic aspect. He never spoke a word, but presently we met a certain Major Moore, a rough, hard-drinking officer of the grenadiers. As he stopped us, I saw that he was under liquor, as was too common. He said, "Whom have you got there? Make a fine grenadier." I said, "This is Captain Jack, a famous Pennsylvania scout," and so would have passed on, when the major said rudely to Captain Jack, "Who the deuce made you a captain?" The scout tapped his rifle and said, "That," and walked on, without saying more than his gesture seemed to imply. I could not avoid remarking, "You are well answered, major," for I have always had a liking for men who do not talk much. I contented myself with saying to the scout that, as usual, the major was in liquor.

I sent in my name to General Braddock, and we were desired to enter his tent. Here I introduced Captain Jack as an experienced ranger and said he had fifty good scouts. The general asked me to be seated, but as he did not invite the scout to sit down,