rous Rangers."

"It may be--it may be," answered Stark, with a smile. "Farewell,
sweet Mistress Corinne; may you come safely through all perils by
land and water. Your brave spirit will carry you well through
life's troubled sea, I think."

She smiled, and stepped into the boat. Then suddenly turning and
waving her hand, she said:

"I will tell you one thing which my uncle has said. Whether he will
be a true prophet or no I cannot tell. His words are these, and
they were spoken to M. de Montcalm: 'You are safe now, for England
is governed by an imbecile--the Duke of Newcastle--a minister
without parts, understanding, or courage. But there is another man
in England of a different calibre. If ever you hear that Pitt is at
the head of the administration, then look to your laurels; for, if
I be not greatly deceived, that man has brain and energy to turn
the whole tide of battle. Three years after he begins to rule
England's policy, and France will have begun to lose her empire in
the West!'"

Chapter 4: Vengeance And Disaster.

The episode of Corinne, and the prophecy she had quoted to them,
formed one of the bright episodes in a year which brought little
success or relief to the army encamped upon the waters of Lake
George. There was no campaign that year. The two armies lay inside
their respective fortifications, each keeping on the defensive; and
the bold Rangers alone did active skirmishing service, as has been
related, appearing at all sorts of apparently impossible points,
swooping down upon an unwary hunting party or a sleeping sentinel,
bringing in spoil to the fort, burning transports bound for
Ticonderoga, and doing gallant irregular service which kept the
garrison and the Rangers in spirits, but did little or nothing to
effect any change in the condition of affairs.

Anxiously was news waited for from England. What was the parent
country going to do for her Western children in their hour of need
and extremity? There were rumours afloat of a massing of Indian
tribes to be let loose upon the hapless settlers along the Indian
border; and although Sir William Johnson, that able agent of
England's with the natives, was hard at work seeking to oppose and
counteract French diplomacy amongst the savage tribes, there was
yet so much disunion and misunderstanding and jealousy amongst
English commanders and governors, that matters were constantly at a
deadlock; whilst France, with her centralized authority, m