ey had landed, a panic seized them. They fancied, I suppose,
that all was lost, and there was a regular stampede for the lake, into
which they might perhaps have rushed like a herd of bisons over a
precipice, if that same Colonel Bradstreet had not made a stand against
them and restored something like order. However, there they embarked
as fast as they could, and went back to Fort William Henry, leaving
nearly two thousand killed and wounded behind them, which was pretty
well, considering that the troops our general had did not number more
than about three thousand altogether."

"A great and glorious day for us indeed," exclaimed Isidore; "and from
what you say of the nature of the conflict, I should hope it did not
cost us very dear."

"Less than four hundred men in all," replied the Canadian; "so if we
have lost Louisburg we beat them at Ticonderoga. And if they are proud
of their General Wolfe, let them send him to fight Montcalm and we
shall see who is the best man."

It may easily be imagined that Isidore had listened to this narrative
with the deepest interest, and indeed at times with no little
excitement. No sooner was it concluded than he started up, exclaiming,
"I cannot stay here brooding over my misfortunes whilst such things are
going on around me--it would kill me. No, I will not sit idle with my
hands folded whilst others are shedding their blood for France. I have
made up my mind to go to the army on the lakes. I should hardly be
recognised now," he added, somewhat bitterly, "and if I were, what
matters it? One can but die once, and I have little to live for save
one thing, that seems every hour to become more utterly hopeless."

"Monsieur is right," cried Boulanger. "I also feel that there are
times when every good Frenchman should be up and doing. We will start
to-morrow."

"We!" rejoined Isidore, surprised. "You surely do not mean to leave
your home again so soon?"

"As for that," replied the forester, "I had thought of it already. It
is my chief business to be moving about for one thing or another, and
the more I stick to that the sooner I shall be able to call this little
place my own for good and all. So there's an end of it."

Isidore could not but think that the honest Canadian's attachment to
him had something to do with this determination, and he would fain have
persuaded him to reconsider his resolve, but it was to no purpose. The
rest of the day was accordingly spent in