sage,
widening out again below, till it reached the other strong fort and
colony of Ticonderoga, where Lake George formed a junction with it,
though the lake itself still ran an independent course to the
south, parallel with Lake George, being fed by the waters of Wood
Creek, a narrow, river-like inlet, which was a second waterway into
the larger lake.

The position of Ticonderoga was, therefore, very important, as it
commanded both these waterways; and even if the English could
succeed in avoiding the guns of that fort, there was still Crown
Point, further to the north, to keep them from advancing.

In addition to these advantages, the French had won the local
Indians to their side; and though they did much towards
embarrassing their white allies, and were a perfect nuisance both
to officers and men, they were too useful to risk offending or to
be dispensed with, as they were always ready for a dash upon any
English scouting parties, and formed a sort of balance to the
tactics of the English Rangers.

"They are villainous foes!" said Rogers, with a dark scowl. "It is
their great joy to take prisoners; and when the French have
extracted from them all the information they can as to the strength
and prospects of the English, the Indians will claim them again, to
scalp and burn, and the French scarcely raise a protest. It is said
that they speak with disgust of the barbarities of these savage
allies, but they do little or nothing to check them. That is why my
wrath often rises higher against the French than against the
Indians themselves. They know no better; but for white man to
deliver white man into their hands--that is what makes my blood
boil!"

The fire leaped up in Charles's eyes, and he had his tale to tell,
at hearing of which the Rogerses set their teeth and muttered
curses not loud but deep.

"Now will I tell you what we started forth to do," said the leader
of the band. "We have been busy all winter. Last month we skated
down the lake when it was clear of snow, passed Ticonderoga all
unseen, intercepted some sledges of provisions, and carried them
and their drivers to our fort. Now we are bent upon a longer
journey. We want to reach Crown Point, and make a plan of the works
for our brave Commander Winslow. We were a part of the way on our
route, when we fell in with Indians conveying provisions to the
French on these sledges. We took them from them and dispersed the
crew; but they must have scattered a