rought in, are fully recovered
now. Captain Pringle is quite a hero with us, for he has told us
all the story of that disgraceful and dishonourable day of August
last when the laurels of France were sorely tarnished by the
treacherous villainy of her Indian allies! Believe me, friend
Fritz, we men of France deplore that massacre, and cry shame upon
ourselves and our countrymen for not taking sterner measures to
repress it. For that reason alone, as mine uncle says, we owe to
you and to your companions every honour and courtesy which we can
show. If we have sometimes to blush for the conduct of our allies,
we can show that we are capable of better things ourselves; and if
we can make reparation ever so little, you will not find us
backward in doing it."

This indeed seemed to be the feeling of those within the fort.
Although these men were Rangers, part of the band which had
harassed them so sorely through the winter months, the garrison
received them with open arms, ministered to their wants, and vied
with one another in making them at home.

The influence of the venerable Abbe might have had something to do
with this; but it was greatly due to the chivalry of the French
nature, and to the eager desire to show kindness to those who had
witnessed and suffered from that awful tragedy which had followed
upon the surrender of Fort William Henry, which they felt to be a
lasting disgrace to their cause.

Those of the officers who had been there averred that they could
never forget the horror of those two days; and the French surgeon
who had taken over the English sick and wounded, and yet saw them
butchered before his eyes ere he could even call for help, had
never been the same man since.

So when Fritz was able to rise from his bed and join his
companions, he found himself in pleasant enough quarters,
surrounded by friendly faces, and made much of by all in the fort.
He, being able to speak French fluently, made himself a great
favorite with the men, and he enjoyed many long conversations with
the Abbe, who was a man of much acumen and discernment, and saw
more clearly the course which events were likely to take than did
those amongst whom he lived.

From him Fritz learned that affairs in Canada were looking very
grave. There were constant difficulties arising between the various
officials there, and the most gross corruption existed in financial
affairs, so that there was a rottenness that was eating like a
canker