With Rogers on the Frontier

es, and over a vast extent of territory. The sea-girt province of Acadia in the extreme east, and the rich valley of the Ohio in the far west had alike been the scene of bloody encounters,

and their crystal waters were again and again reddened with the life blood of the antagonists and their Indian allies as they fought fiercel

veritable hornet's nest. To Governor Shirley of Massachusetts was due the credit of inspiring the undertaking, and his province was foremost in voting men and money toward its accomplishment, Conn

dingy homes in the midst of rough fields of corn and pumpkins to shoulder the guns they all knew so well how to use, and when the fighting was ove

e most of them brought their own guns. They had no bayonets, but carried hatchets in their belts instead, and at t

ot, and sure of hand, and incomparably better adapted for the irregular warfare of the time than the highly disciplined soldiery of either England or France. They knew the

gray-haired grandfathers, and from dwarfs to giants, but they all could g

the banks of the Mohawk River for a score of years, and grown powerful and rich by trading with the Indians of the Five Nations who found him far more honest and reliable than his Dutch rivals in th

al style in a fortified house which was a stronghold against his foes and a

d any jealousy among the New England colonies, gratified the important province of New York, and secu

me a swarm of Johnson's Mohawks, warriors, squaws, and children. They made things very lively. They adorned the General's face with war-paint,

mewhat riotous goings-on with a touch of complacent contempt, "if

ose otherwise pleasing countenance was so clouded that one seei

strength and activity. He was dressed in a suit of tanned buckskin that became him particularly well, and with his double-ba

for at one fell swoop the dusky allies of the French had rendered him a homeless orphan. With his own eyes he had beheld his parents

ard he had but one purpose in life-to serve his country in the field, and in view of what he had suffered it is easy to understand with

oops and supplies were contributed by five different legislatures, and they each wanted their own way about something. Indee

s," grumbled Surgeon Williams. "It seems we may

ich haunted his memory, could not understand why there should be all this useless dawdl

doffing his cap respectfully, "how much

ll at Louisbourg, the sturdy Israel Putnam of Connecticut, and brave John Stark of New Hampshire, and

definite knowledge upon that matter ourselves. But may I inquire your name, and how you came here? You seem

of the youth's cheeks, and he lowere

d by the Indians who are in league with the French, and our home was burned. I am here

the hearts of his hearers. The veteran warriors looked at each other, and then at the youth with eyes full of in

e can well understand how hard you find this waiting. But patience is a soldierly vir

mplied reproof, and, murmuring his excuses for havi

uld not like to be either the first Frenchman or Indian that he

llying, and their anxiety to be up and doing was increased when the four Mohawk scouts which Johnson had sent to Canada returned with the startling

provinces for reinforcements, and at the same time to begin the movement northwa

he stumps and roots of a newly made road, and presently reached the borders of the most

by the water's edge, the men pitching their te

(afterward called Fort Edward), ready to transport them thither, the men's spirits rose, for they n

y of his captain to be allowed to go out scouting, that when an Indian brought word that he had found the trail of a body of men moving toward Fort Lyman, and Johnson cal

e's the chance you ha

take it," respon

ype="