merican soldiers at St. Johns, were too intent upon
their labour, to pay much attention to the shells. Crosby was one. All
on a sudden, a fellow-soldier near by called out in a tone of thunder,
'Crosby! look out! take care! take care!' Crosby looked up, and
directly over him, a shell was descending."

[Illustration]

"He had but a minute to think--he dropped flat upon the ground, and
the shell just passed over him. 'A miss,' thought he, 'is as good as a
mile;' but he said, after _such a warning_, he kept one eye upon the
enemy.

"The rude fortification was soon completed, and served as a shelter
till night, when the American troops silently departed. Taking to
their boats, the next day they reached the _Isle Aux Noix_?"

_William_. "Is not that a French name?"

_Gen. P_. "Yes; my son--a name given to the Island, while the French
had possession of it. Do you know where it lies?"

_William_. "It is a small island, near the northern extremity of Lake
Champlain."

_Gen. P_. "Right. It is pronounced _Eel-o-nwar_; and signifies the
_island of nuts_."

_John_, "Did the people find walnuts there, father?"

_Gen. P_. "Some kind of nuts doubtless, my son; but whether walnuts,
or hazel nuts, or some other kind, I am unable to say."

_Henry_. "Pray, John, don't ask so many foolish questions, I want to
hear the story."

_Gen. P_. "But you would wish your brother to know the _reason_ of
things, would you not, master Henry? It was quite a proper question,
and one it seems none of us can answer. We must examine the point some
time, and let master John know.

"The American troops had not been long a this island, before many of
them were taken sick and sent to the hospital. Crosby was of the
number. But he had no idea of confinement. In a few days, he
resolved to join the army again. To this the surgeon remonstrated. It
might be his death he said; but the valiant soldier could not be
persuaded, and again appeared at camp.

"'What!' exclaimed Capt. Benedict, when he saw him, 'have you got
back, Crosby? I never expected to see you again. You look too ill to
be here. You would make a better _scare-crow_ than soldier, I fancy,
just now.'

"'Well, captain! said Crosby, 'if I'm a scare-crow, I can _frighten_
the enemy, if I cannot _fight_ them--so I shall be of some service.'"

_John_. "Well, father, did they hang up Crosby for a scare-crow?"

_Henry_. "Why, you simpleton, John, don't you know better?"

_Gen. P_. "Crosby