f the cattle, and
then leaned on his pitchfork.

"Well, Ben, I suppose you really ought to go. One man out of every four
in the Province is in the army, and we should do our share. I am too
old. John has just got married, and David is but a boy. You're the right
age and the one to go. I think as you do, that it's better to do some
fighting, and take one's chances of being killed by a bullet rather than
by camp fever.

"Those French and Indians killed and scalped my brother John, and since
this war began I have often wanted to have a hand in it myself, to get
even with them, but I'm too old.

"You can go, Ben. There's lots of miserable wretches and immorality and
profanity among the regulars. I want you to remain a good boy, as you
always have been. I need not tell you to be brave. You will be that.

"Ben, I scolded you about that wrestling match, but I was awful proud of
you and happy over it."

[Sidenote: THE RAYMOND TAVERN]

"I knew that, father. Do you suppose I didn't notice you chuckling to
yourself when you thought no one saw you?"

"Well, I suppose you did, you young rascal; I couldn't help it, I was
that surprised and delighted. To think of Jonas Parker telling me he
didn't know but that you were a better wrestler than he. And to see you
hustle that man about and throw him made me so proud that I felt ashamed
and humbled. And when you thought I was scolding you, I was really
reproving my own sinful vanity and pride."

After supper we went up to the Raymond Tavern. Quite a crowd of men were
in the bar-room. They were seated in front of a great fire of logs and
peat. Captain Rogers was in their midst.

Edmund came up, and made us acquainted with the captain. He shook hands
with me, and turning to father, said:--

"This is a likely young fellow, Mr. Comee. I wish I could have him with
me in my corps."

"It is possible," said father. "We have had some slight talk about it.
We will think it over."

Rogers was a big man, over six feet high, well proportioned, and
apparently very strong. Later on I learned that his strength was
wonderful. His features were prominent, strong, but not agreeable. His
eyes were not good eyes. At times, a hard, cruel look came into his
face.

He seemed to be a man of great hardihood, of great presence of mind,
keen and unscrupulous,--a man I should not wish for a neighbour.

In answer to a remark that he must find his present life quite different
from his former life, as