he proximity of the enemy. They could easily have been shot as they sat on their sledges, but Rogers had other designs. He wanted them as prisoners for the sake of the info

nearly fell off their seats, and made not the slightest att

ght their conduct highly diverting, and w

else than to be killed at once, or to be reserved for dreadful torture, and as Major Rogers himself was the only one of their captor

gave orders that their hands should be tied behind their b

ous diet at the fort; but it was out of the question for them to hamper themselves with it, as having accomplished the

n of things at Ticonderoga and Crown Point and the plans of the French for the future, and the informati

liam Henry, which they reached in the eveni

nks of the Rangers than Seth had been, and, having failed to gain

y approached, and had a gruff way with him; but at last, y

pipe after a hard day's tramp through the woods in quest of game, and with a degree of hesitation that wa

I have a favo

he necessity of removing his pipe from his lips in order to speak. "What is it? Out

found it harder than before to get out what h

, sir, my frie

," retorted the Major impatiently. "

Rangers," Seth hastened to reply, devoutly wishi

. "How good of him! And what if I don't want him? Wh

at they were doing there," Seth replied, with a sudden access of spirit,

n, fixing his penetrating glance upon Seth, while a slight curve softened the severe outline of his lips

ck at the stern-visaged scout, who, he knew, was s

ir, you'll find that he's

suming his pipe, and Seth, taking this as a sign that

do, Seth?" inquired Reuben an

s Seth's reply. "But I hope so.

d the poor fellow was about resigning himself to disappointment when an incident

articularly enterprising, and frequently making their way into the neighborhood of Fort William Henry, so that the members of the garrison had to kee

wont to spend the day roaming through the adjacent woods, sometimes in quest of game, and sometimes on the c

in his ability to take care of himself, and being of a dispositi

happened Seth and Reuben, whose friendship strengthened as the weeks went by, were also in

from the fort as they thought wise, were on their way back

ng out the tall form of the scout half hidden among the trees. "I wonder if he's af

hatically. "He does not want o

him in sight for a while without

and accordingly they proceeded to stalk the Major, who, all uncons

e purpose than simply to see if they could do so without being discovered, and were quite enjoying the joke

over there, and Major Roger

ked Seth excitedly

s upon the spot, was able to make out the dark forms of at least two Indian

to warn the Major, or to try a long shot at th

isregard of the danger he ran by

, down! Th

all, and the veteran scout, without pausing an instant to ascertain whence it came, a

or close upon Reuben's timely shout came the report of a gun, and a bulle

d been watching intently the movements of the Indians, and the moment the latter ex

ot, a piercing yell told that the deadly missile had reached its ma

ne of them. Now

ow than a creature of flesh and blood he stole through the underbrush, Reuben just managing to catch

. One Indian is shot, an

ignified attitude he had been compelled to assume in order to save himself, Major Rogers got up, and stood gazin

thin a few yards of him, they halted in some confusion, the Major's reception of th

e concerned, quite embarrassing interval they stood t

ve me warning?" he asked in as severe a

r," meekly re

and here he paused, so that his words might have full effect-"you may consider yourself a member. You have done me a service that