They may wait for hours, and they'll try in every manner to wear them out, and to provoke them at last into some rash movement.
You'll have to guard most, Captain Colden, against the temper of your troop.

If you'll take advice from one who's a veteran in the woods, you'd better threaten them with death for disobedience of orders." "As I said before, I'm grateful to you for any advice or suggestion, Mr.Willet.This seems a long way from Philadelphia, and I'll confess I'm not so very much at home here." He crawled among his men, and Willet and Robert heard him threatening them in fierce whispers, and their replies that they would be cautious and patient.

It was well that Willet had given the advice, as a full hour passed without any sign from the foe.

Troops even more experienced than the city men might well have concluded it was a false alarm, and that the forest contained nothing more dangerous than a bear.

There was no sound, and Captain Colden himself asked if the warriors had not gone away.
"Not a chance of it," replied Willet.