s great desire gratified, while Seth not only shared in his friend's joy, but was glad on his own

said Reuben, "and will take us both with him. I'm

g around the fort. If the French or the Indians would

as thorough as possible an examination of the strength of the enemy at Crown Point and the fortifications they were constructing th

out, and they had almost resigned themselves to being left behind when to their vast relief th

g party, numbering fifty in all, marched away from the fort, every man in the b

be needed. Every one of Rogers' Rangers was almost as expert in the use of the snow-shoes as were the Canadians, from whom they had learned their value, and Seth and Reuben were very glad that th

ke George, and for the first day the Rangers kept together,

ken, the company breaking up into detachments, which followed one another

could give warning to those in the rear, and, though they might suffer themselves, enable their comrades to beat a retreat if

lairs, and flushing many a covey of plump partridges, which strongly tempted them to use their guns; but their leader had sternl

hey found them congenial companions, although all were their seniors in age as well as in service, and the gatherings around the

n Point, and, having concealed themselves in a thickly wooded hollow, where they were ope

il of the situation, and yet the

h to Reuben, with a smile of unconcern. "What wouldn't they give to know just where w

less lightly; "but they're not going to do it all the same.

e mean while Major Rogers, accompanied by a couple of his most trusted Rangers, ventured to ascend a very steep mountain, from

at gaining this point of vi

t before him like a map, with the French soldiers and the Canadians working away as busily as beavers, while the

st make a plan of it to send to General Johnson. It's clear to me the place can't be attacked too soon. The longer it's left the harder n

ortification as calmly as if he were in a comfortable room, and did not stop until he had, in a rather rough yet quite intelligible f

er was in the mountain-top, but so soon as he returned they all moved out and

their position on each side of the road connecting the village with the fort,

for mutual warmth, and feeling it impossible to sleep on ac

ng their hunger with such scanty fare as their nearly depleted knapsack

s along the road," was the Major's command, and with their nerves s

rom the direction of the fort, saunteri

ambush, and then Major Rogers, without permitting hi

rêt

uption of his morning walk and came to an instant stop, while with

and his men hidden for a few minutes longer, and then, when he was sati

t, and showed signs of resisting, but the stern voice of the Major bid him not be a foo

pon his knees and in his own tongue begged for mercy so p

not going to kill you. We'r

ing into the face of his captor, he said something which Seth on his part failed to comprehend, but whi

had for the moment been diverted by the Frenchman's flutterings, laid hold of him by the shoulder and pushed hi

grimly. "We'll see if we can't land some

ral enough, considering that they were in so close proximity to the enemy, who might at any time come out a

by Major Rogers with a message for those on the other side, two more

jor to his men, but before they could obey the order the

d, turning upon their heels, starte

the possibility of their escaping him, and half a score of the Ra

s they managed to keep out of reach of their pursuers (who did not dare use their guns, as the report would be heard at Crown Point), until they

ened back to where Major Rogers awaite

e growled. "You're no better than cows to

sponded Lieutenant Stark brightly. "We don't w

ajor allowed a suspicion of a smile to lighten the gloom

re sense by doing a little running ourselves just now than by staying he

ngers beat a retreat into the depths of the forest, to remain there hidden until they could