Upon this I related the facts of the case, and that Captains Mackay and Stephen had heard Van Braam translate the articles, and that he had never used the word assassination, but, in place of it, death; and that I considered it to have been ignorance on his part, and no worse.
I saw also that, while I had been given to understand by Van Braam that for a year we were pledged not to make any forts on the lands of the King of France, I had really agreed that we were not for that period to do so beyond the mountains.
When I had thus fully accounted for my misapprehension, Lord Fairfax said at once: "Then, gentlemen, this unfortunate mistake and this unlucky pledge were due to the governor's council having failed to provide Colonel Washington with a competent French interpreter." I could hardly help smiling at this transfer of the blame to the governor and his advisers. Colonel Byrd laughed outright, as the governor, with a great oath, cried out, "Nonsense, my lord," and to me, "You should be broke, sir; you are unfit to command."
Lord Fairfax said quietly, "Be careful of your words, governor." This stayed his
