ll cease within
him. He grows more gaunt and thin each week; but he is borne along
by the strong spirit within, and in battle his strength is as the
strength of ten."

"As is ofttimes the way with men whose minds are unhinged," said
Rogers. "Truly we have small reason to love our white brothers the
French, since at their door lies the sin of these ravages upon the
hapless border settlers. We will requite them even as they deserve!
We will smite them hip and thigh! though we must not, and will not,
become like the savage Indians. We will not suffer outrage; it
shall be enough of shame and humiliation for them to see the flag
of England flaunting proudly where their banners have been wont to
fly."

A few days of rather laborious travel--for the snow was soft--and
Crown Point lay before them. They had left the lake some time
before, skirting round Roger's Rock, and thus making a cut across
country, and missing the perils of passing Ticonderoga.

"We will take that in returning," said Rogers; "but we will not
risk being seen on our way down, else they might be upon the alert
for our return. We will arrange a pleasant surprise for them."

The way was laborious now, for they had to climb hills which gave
them a good view over the fortifications of Crown Point; but this
elevation once safely attained, without any further molestation
from Indians, they were able to make a complete survey of the
fortifications; and Stark made some excellent plans and drawings,
which gave a fine idea of the place.

So far all had been peaceful; but the Rangers were not wont to come
and go and leave no trace. There were outlying farms around the
fortifications, and comings and goings between the French soldiers
and peasants.

"We will stop these supplies," said Rogers, with a sardonic smile;
"the French shall learn to be as careful of their flour as we have
to be!"

And carefully laying an ambush in the early grey of a winter's
morning, he sprang suddenly out upon a train of wagons wending
their way to the fortifications.

The drivers, scared and terrified, jumped from their places, and
ran screaming into the defences, whence soldiers came rushing out,
sword in hand, but only to find the wagons in flames, the horses
driven off to the forest, and the barns and farmsteads behind
burning.

It was a savage sort of warfare, but it was the work of the Rangers
to repay ferocity in kind, and to leave behind them dread tokens of
the visits t