"We lost Fort Granville at harvest time, when the men were forced
to garner their crops, and we had to send out soldiers to protect
them. The French and Indians set upon the Fort, and though it was
gallantly defended by the lieutenant in charge, it fell into their
hands. Since then their aggressions have been unbearable. Captain
Jacobs has been making the lives of the settlers a terror to them.
We have sent for help from the colony, with what success you know.
We have sent to the Rangers under Rogers, and had hoped to be
reinforced by them.

"But if he cannot help us, it is much to have stout-hearted friends
come unexpectedly to our aid. Have you seen fighting, friends? or
are you like the bulk of our men--inured to toil and hardship, full
of zeal and courage, ready to wield any and every weapon in defence
of property, or against the treacherous Indian?"

"Something like that," answered Stark; "but we can all claim to be
good marksmen, and to have good weapons with us. Our rifles carry
far, and we seldom miss the quarry. I will answer for us that we
stand firm, and that we come not behind your soldiers in
steadiness, nor in the use of arms at close quarters."

"That I can well believe," answered the Colonel, with a smile; "I
have but a score of men who have been trained in the school of
arms. The rest were but raw recruits a few months ago, and many of
them have little love of fighting, though they seek to do their
duty.

"Well, well, we must not sit up all night talking. We have a hard
day's march before us tomorrow, and we must needs make all the
speed we can. Indian scouts might discover our camp at any moment,
and our only chance is to fall upon the Indian town unawares. They
do not look for attack in the winter months--that is our best
protection from spies. And so far I think we have escaped notice.
But it may not last, and we must be wary. We will sleep till dawn,
but with the first of the daylight we must be moving. The way is
long, but we have some good guides who know the best tracks. We
ought to reach the town soon after nightfall; and when all are
sleeping in fancied security, we will fall upon them."

The Rangers were glad enough of the few hours of sleep which they
were able to obtain, and it was luxury to them to sleep beneath a
roof, and to be served the next morning with breakfast which they
had not had to kill and cook themselves.

The men were in good spirits, too. The arrival of the little b