He asked them if they could place sufficient confidence in him to assist him in carrying out certain plans, although he should not be able to altogether disclose the object he had in view.
They replied as one man that they had perfect confidence in him, and would implicitly obey.
He then said that the first thing he wished was the clearing of the land by the river in order that he might erect a fortified dwelling suitable to his position as their Leader in war.

Next he desired their permission to leave them for two months, at the end of which he would return.

He could not at that time explain the reasons, but until his journey had been made he could not finally settle among them.
To this announcement they listened in profound silence.

It was evident that they disliked him leaving them, yet did not wish to seem distrustful by expressing the feeling.
Thirdly, he continued, he wanted them to clear a path through the forest, commencing at Anker's Gate and proceeding exactly west.

The track to be thirty yards wide in order that the undergrowth might not encroach upon it, and to be carried on straight to the westward until his return.