is men.
He seemed not a little astonished on discovering the number and
condition of the supposed enemy, and roughly demanded who they were,
and whence they came.

"Well, I suppose," replied Isidore, with a grim smile, "I must not feel
insulted if my friend de Montenac fails to recognise in such a
scarecrow his old comrade de Beaujardin."

"De Beaujardin!" exclaimed the officer, amazed and apparently
horrified. "For Heaven's sake, how came you in this pitiable state?
Stop, not a word," he added, "you are in no condition for talking now.
Quick, my men, bring the wounded man along." Then taking Isidore's arm
he led him away, followed by the soldiers, who at once took Boulanger
under their charge. In a short time they reached an open space in the
forest, where to his great joy Isidore found a considerable body of
French soldiers regularly encamped. De Montenac, however, would listen
to no questions until the wayfarers had been, not only well fed, but
furnished with some better covering than the rags that hung about them.

The short Canadian twilight was gone, and night had come on, as Isidore
related to his friend as much of his story as it seemed necessary to
tell him. He concluded thus:--

"They kept us at Fort Duquesne all the winter, possibly not knowing
exactly what to do with me, and a couple of months ago sent us off in
charge of two burly New England militiamen, though I never knew what
was our intended destination. These British are always boasting that
one Englishman is a match for three Frenchmen, so I suppose they
thought that two must be quite enough to guard a couple of miserable
half-starved creatures like Boulanger and myself. They had not even
taken the trouble to tie our hands, but simply made us go on in front.
During the second day's march I noticed that they had both taken too
much to drink, so just as we were going down a steep hill, at a signal
we had preconcerted we dropped down right in front of them, and over
our backs they went like a shot. Long before they could scramble up we
had got hold of their muskets, and they were rather obliged than
otherwise by our letting them decamp without giving them each a bullet
by way of souvenir. Thanks to Boulanger's knowledge of his craft we
have arrived here at last, though it has been no easy matter, I can
assure you."

"I quite believe that, judging from your appearance," replied de
Montenac laughing; "but I must now go my rounds, and after t