Hugh Pendexter

“ Day after day the troops left Albany and its environs, and more raw volunteers entered the town to stare at the quaint houses and to quicken the eye on beholding the gay attire of the Dutch maids, so different from the sad-colored gowns of the girls at home. These farmer boys were concerned only with the present and little realized the importance of their rôle in this, the Seven Years' War, which was to rock Europe to its center and pave the way for a giant republic. ”

“ Never in the history of the frontiers had partizan warfare been waged so fiercely as now. The English, at the head of Lake George, had but few red allies and depended upon Robert Rogers of New Hampshire and his rangers—invaluable bushfighters—recruited from the colonies' picked men.
Under Rogers such men as Kennedy, Stark, Peabody, Miller, Waterbury, Hazen, Pomeroy; and, perhaps best of all, Israel Putnam, met and outwitted the cunning woodcraft of the motley redskins sent forth by Marquis de Montcalm, in command at Ticonderoga. ”

“ Dust now marred the little lawns of green, and the good vrouws were in despair. The passing soldiery kicked up a rare mess of dirt and disorder. Soldiers were encamped on the plains above and on the meadows below the town, and soldiers were at all hours mounting and descending the hill; for Loudoun had ten thousand men strung out between the town and the head of Lake George, and had been assured by one of his subordinates that “Every wheel shall go that rum and human flesh can move.”
The bulk of the provincial troops were contributed by New England. ”

“ Otway's man eagerly demanded—
“If you ain't making game of us, where is it?”
“In Ticonderoga,” chuckled Willis. “Montcalm has enough there to keep all the Indians on the continent drunk for years. All you got to do is to take the fort, kill off the Indians, make the troops prisoners——”
With a howl of rage Otway's man leaped at Wilis. The latter held up his rifle with both hands to block the rush and quietly remonstrated:
“Nay, nay, man! Not now. Wait a bit till after I've found Cap'n Putnam and got my orders. Then if your blood ain't cooled down we'll see about it. ”

“ Major Rogers is scouting far north, or he would come in Putnam's place.
“Loudoun's staff officers questioned me yesterday. I was questioned in New York as one who knows the country up here. One does not need to be asked many questions before discovering what the questions mean.”
“How wisely put!” she murmured, darting him a sidelong glance that set his heart to dancing. “Behold, I will be the brave ranger, Ephraim Willis. ”

“ The lack of red allies did not handicap the English so much as might be expected; for while Montcalm's savages captured or killed and sometimes ate rangers, also did they often refuse to obey orders. They spoiled many a pretty military maneuver by their greediness for blood-letting or by their lack of staying qualities.
EPHRAIM WILLIS, Connecticut born, lounged in the twilight before the town-house and softly cursed the August heat of the day and wished his superior would arrive and assign him to work. Ephraim had been sent to Albany from New York to serve under Captain Israel Putnam. ”

“ I'm Ephraim Willis——”
“My hearing is excellent,” she broke in. “Please don't tire yourself by saying it all over again. But when one meets a maid in a tap-room one shouldn't have the bad taste to remind her of it. ”

“ Lord Loudoun sends orders to call off our advance on Ticonderoga. Seems to. think the French will be piling down on us pellmell.”
“But why can't we go out and meet 'em? Why not crowd on and capture old Ti before Montcalm gets back and gets set again?”
“You're criticizing your superiors, sir. Why the —— we don't go and get them is beyond me. But come, come! Over to the town-house and I'll explain the job ahead of us.”
“Here in Albany?”
“Right here in Albany. Don't fret. I'll see you have a man's work in the bush mighty soon.”
Willis' heart thrilled with delight. ”

“ And so now you're off to take Ticonderoga. Captain Putnam must think highly of you to meet you here and talk over plans.”
“That ain't it. I bring a message to him. I am to look for him here at headquarters. If he doesn't show up I'm to press on and find him.
“I overheard things in New York. I've seen and heard things here. It's easy to read the trail. I know the backing and filling is ended and that all is ready to teach Montcalm his lasting lesson.” ”

“ Silent, lean-faced men as a rule.
The preceding year had been a bloody calendar of events. July had brought the tremendous defeat of Braddock's army, with the Pennsylvania frontier pushed back to Fort Cumberland on the Potomac, The three succeeding months had witnessed the failure of the expedition against Fort Niagara.
To be sure three forts had been captured in Acadia, but the colonies demanded an insurance against a danger nearer home. So the Summer of 1755 had been a dismal one, relieved only by the “bloody morning scout” before Fort William Henry on Lake George. ”

“ I'll think no worse of you for the shift.
“But you forgot that Albany folks know what's forward with Loudoun's men—and what's backward. Not a citizen on the hill who does not know that Loudoun and Montcalm are marking time. Even your General Winslow at Fort William Henry wrote Lord Loudoun that the 'sons of Belial are too strong for us.' An officer told me that. Neither side will make a move this year. Next year? Well, maybe. God knows.”
“You think me a windy talker,” growled Willis. “Cap'n Putnam comes here to get his orders for covering our advance. ”

“ They teach you queer manners in Connecticut along with their cant and psalm-singing. Or have you been living alone in the woods so long that you think the first white girl you meet is to be pawed about by a provincial lack-of-wit? ”