m in
the dusk, and they were hailed by the voice of a watchful sentinel.

"Friends," cried Stark, in clear tones--"Rangers of the
forest--come to the aid of Colonel Armstrong, hoping to be in time
for the attack on Kittanning."

"Now welcome, welcome!" cried the man, running joyfully forward;
and the next minute the little band was borne into the camp by a
joyful company of raw soldiers, who seemed to feel a great sense of
support even from the arrival of a mere handful.

"Rogers' Rangers are come! the Rangers are come!" was the word
eagerly passed from mouth to mouth; and before the newcomers could
make any explanation, they found themselves pushed into a
fair-sized building, some thing in the form of a temporary
blockhouse, and confronted with the Colonel himself, who received
them with great goodwill.

"You are from Captain Rogers?" he said; "is one of you that notable
man himself?"

Stark stepped forward to act as spokesman, and was shaken warmly by
the hand.

"Rangers we are, but not of Rogers' company," he said. "Indeed,
when we started forth from Philadelphia to the succour of the
distressed districts, we had not even heard the name of Rogers,
though it is now familiar enough.

"We heard, however, that you were in need of the help of Rangers,
and we have come with all haste to your camp. We wish for nothing
better than to stand in the forefront of the battle against the
treacherous and hostile Indians. Although not of Rogers' training,
you will not find us faint of heart or feeble of limb. There are a
dozen of us, as you see, and we will fight with the best that we
have."

"And right welcome at such a moment," was the cordial answer, "for
the men I have with me are little trained to warfare; and though
they will follow when bravely led, they are somewhat like sheep,
and are easily thrown into confusion or turned aside from the way.
Tonight you shall rest and be well fed after your march, and on the
morrow we will make a rapid secret march, and seek to fall upon the
foe unawares."

The Rangers were as hungry as hunters, and glad enough to sit down
once more to a well-spread table. The rations were not luxurious as
to quality, but there was sufficient quantity, which to hungry men
is the great matter. The Colonel sat with them at table, heard all
they had to tell of the state of the country from Philadelphia
westward, and had many grim tales to tell himself of outrages and
losses in this district.