ith a great enthusiasm in the cause. Even our old friend
Ebenezer Jenkyns has been talking great swelling words of warlike
import. He would have joined the militia, he says, had not his
father forbidden him."

"It is well they have awoke at last," said Fritz, a little grimly;
"but it would have been better had they done so before their border
was harried, and their brothers and countrymen done to death by the
bands of Indian marauders."

At which saying Humphrey's face grew dark; for there was stamped
upon his brain one scene the memory of which would never be
effaced, though it should be a thousandfold avenged.

"I would that Charles could have lived to see the day when the
English should enter the city of Quebec!"

He spoke beneath his breath; but Fritz heard him, and answered with
thoughtful gravity:

"Perhaps it were not true kindness to wish him back. His death blow
was struck when his wife and children perished. The days which
remained to him were days of sorrow and pain. The light of his
life, the desire of his eyes, had been taken away. He lived but for
an act of vengeance, and when that was accomplished, I believe he
would have faded out of life had it not been that his own life was
extinguished at the same time as that of his foe."

Humphrey made a silent sign of assent. He could not speak much even
yet of the tragic fate of his brother, or of the events which had
led to it. Fritz turned the subject by speaking of John Stark and
the Rangers, asking Humphrey what had been known of them since the
breaking-up of the band after the disaster of Ticonderoga.

"I saw Stark," answered Humphrey eagerly. "Have I not told you
before? Ah well, we have not much time for talking these busy days.
Yes, I saw Stark; he came to visit his kinsfolk of the inn when I
was in Philadelphia. He has gone now with Amherst's party. He will
join Rogers, I suppose; and, doubtless, the Rangers will again do
good service, as they do everywhere. He was in half a mind to come
north with the expedition for Quebec, but decided that he would be
of more use in country every foot of which was familiar to him. But
he declared that, if once Ticonderoga were to fall, he would bring
us the news faster than any other messenger. How he will come, and
by what route, I know not; but this I know, that if there is a
victory for English arms yonder in the west, and if John Stark be
not killed, the sight of his face amongst us here will be the sign
t