eady, captain, that is if you, and I, and Jonathan makes up the
party. As to going trapezing about round Crown Point with fifty
soldiers, the thing ain't to be thought of. We should be there no more
than half an hour before the Indians would know of it, and we should
have no show either for fighting or running away. No, captain, the lads
are good enough for scouting about round camp here; but, as for an
expedition of that sort, we might as well start with a drove of swine."

"That is just what I thought, Nat. One canoe may escape even the eyes
of the Indians, but a dozen would have no chance of doing so."

"We might get up the lakes," the scout said; "but the mischief would be
in the woods. No, it never would do, captain. If we goes, it must be
the three of us and no more. When do you think of starting?"

"The sooner the better, Nat."

"Very well, captain, I will go and get some grub ready, and, as soon as
it gets dusk, we will get the canoe into the water."

"I suppose you can't take me with you?" Lieutenant Edwards said, when
James told him of the duty he had been requested to perform. "It is
dismal here."

"Not exactly," James laughed. "What would become of the company, if it
were to lose its two officers and its two scouts at a blow! No,
Edwards, you will command during my absence, and I think you will soon
have more lively times here, for, if it be true that Montcalm will
himself command the troops coming against us, it will be a different
business altogether from the last. And now, leave me alone for an hour.
I have some letters to write before I start. They will be for you to
send off, in case we don't come back again.

"Don't look serious, I have no intention of falling into the hands of
Montcalm's savages. Still, there is no doubt the expedition is a risky
one, and it is just as well to be prepared."

Just as the sun was setting, Nat came into the officer's hut.

"Everything is ready, captain," he said. "I hope you have made a good
dinner, for it's the last hot meal you will eat, till you get back. I
have cooked enough meat for the next four days, and that's about as
long as it will keep good; after that, dried deer's flesh will have to
do for us.

"I expect, I tell you, we shall have to be pretty spry this time. If
they are coming down in force, they are sure to send a lot of their
Indians through the woods on each side of the lake, and the water will
be swarming with their canoes. Jonathan and I ha