r thighs. We were wet all the time, and our shoes began to
rot and go to pieces.

[Sidenote: DAMP WALKING]

At night we cut down trees, laid boughs from one tree to another, and
slept on them to keep out of the water. Nine days we marched and slept
in this manner. It was a terrible strain even to hardy men such as we
were, accustomed to forest life.

Amos said: "We're just like a procession of cold, miserable frogs,
h-hopping along through the water. This is the biggest fool trip I ever
heard of."

"Think of the glory, Amos, of going into the heart of the enemy's
country and punishing these Indians."

"Glory be h-hanged! I wish I was with Davy, hunting foxes and listening
to his big stories of what he did do, or would have done if something
hadn't happened."

"But when you get back, Amos, you can crush him by telling of this
trip."

"Yes, when I g-get back. When I get back! I should rather be b-back
without the story. L-Looks to me as if Davy's chance of hearing it is
rather slim."

On the tenth day after we left Missisquoi Bay we reached a river.

Rogers said: "Boys, this is the St. Francis River. You have of course
guessed by this time that we are going to punish the St. Francis Indians
for making Captain Kennedy and his companions prisoners when they went
to them with a flag of truce. I did not tell you before, because it was
not safe to do so. If any of you had been waylaid, it was better he
should not know where the party was going, for the Indians would torture
him to make him tell all he knew, and then the French and Indians would
be warned. Now they can only guess where we are to strike. The village
of St. Francis is on the St. Lawrence River, at the mouth of this river,
and on the further side. It is some fifteen miles from here. We shall
attack them in the night. You need have no feelings of pity for them or
mercy. They are the tribe who have been harassing our frontier for the
past ninety years. I know that they have killed four or five hundred
good New England men, beside the women and children they have slain and
carried off. This river has a swift current, and we must put our packs
on our shoulders and join arms, with the tallest and strongest up the
river, so as to help each other. Come, Martin, and you, Comee, let's see
how you can keep your legs to-day."

[Sidenote: CROSSING THE RIVER]

Rogers put me near the head of the line, as I was considered a strong
man. We went into the water with