Hugh Pendexter

“ There was not one of them who would not gladly have risked a pitched battle for the sake of a slab of beef.
“It's ox, too!” groaned a man.
“Better let me go, major,” whispered Putnam. “It'll quiet the men, and I won't get caught. If they keep sulky they'll be poor workers when we need them the most.”
“All right. Go ahead,” Rogers reluctantly consented.
Then to the disgruntled men:
“Cap'n Putnam will scout their camp. I want every man here to lie low and keep his mouth shut.”
“All signs of sullenness instantly vanished. If any one could procure a portion of the meat it was Israel Putnam. ”

“ Speaking of kettles, I'm thinking the wind is bringing a pleasant smell from their camp,” observed Putnam, sniffing hungrily.
“——! If the men smell that they'll be for raiding them,” grunted Rogers.
“Detail me to make a scout. I won't be discovered. If I am I'll make off toward Ticonderoga, steal a canoe and come after you and find you.”
“No, no,” Rogers refused. “We're after bigger game than a dinner-kettle.”
Some of the rangers now straightened and began wrinkling their noses, while their eyes grew wolfish. Rogers read the signs, and urged all to go to sleep. ”

“ It seems the French won't advance against Fort William Henry until they get a special word from the girl—some word she has promised to send, some word they're waiting for.”
“That's the word we found on the dead warrior, telling them to strike now and capture forts William Henry and Edward!” exclaimed Putnam. “When she sees no advance is being made she'll guess it failed to get through. She'll try to repeat it. We've stayed round here too long. The girl is the danger-point. She must be stopped from sending any more information.”
“Yes; she must be stopped,” sighed Rogers. ”

“ Rogers sprang inside and collided with him.
“Two men coming,” he warned. “Kill or capture.”
Putnam set the kettle on the dirt floor and drew his ax and took a position beside the door. Rogers stood behind him, likewise ready. The two men were loitering and talking carelessly. Over Putnam's shoulder Rogers whispered:
“French officers returning to the advanced post. Been to learn the cause of the rumpus at the camp.” A pause; then he continued:
“One says it must have been an Indian trying to steal some brandy. T'other's cursing the Indians as more nuisance than help.” ”

“ The boats were drawn up under the drooping foliage along the bank and cunningly concealed.
Now they were in the midst of much activity. Bateaux were constantly passing to and from the fort. For fifty men to lie hidden throughout a Summer day, their position at times being within a few rods of passing enemy craft, without any accident or carelessness betraying their presence, would have been impossible of achievement except for those trained under Rogers and his capable captains.
Putnam and Rogers shared the responsibility of guarding against discovery, and found but one point of weakness ”

“ The rangers believed they were about to enter, but as they made no move to do so Putnam whispered:
“Call out in French that you're sick. Ask them to come in. We'll bag the two.”
Rogers tapped his shoulder in assent, and just as the officers were on the point of resuming their stroll he groaned dismally and faintly cried:
“Help, messieurs! For the love of our Lady! A dying man calls you!” ”

“ In rushing back to the boats the soldiers did not keep together, but each man went his own pace, thereby stringing out and weakening their retreat. The six Indians whooped after them, plying knife and ax. The camp-fire was deserted. Putnam dashed from cover, caught up two huge kettles of boiling meat and carried them back into the woods.
Rogers stepped from cover and offered to carry one of the kettles, Putnam shook his head and dumped the meat out on the pine needles, briefly explaining:
“They'll think they ate the meat while drunk. But they'd know they never ate the kettles. ”

“ Avoiding these without much difficulty, they covered something better than ten miles, or until they were within dangerous proximity of Ticonderoga.
Once they came near being discovered. Because of the darkness and their growing confidence, coupled to their keen desire to find some habitation where they could secure food, they held on their way too boldly and unexpectedly came upon a small band of Indians camped at one side of the trail.
Rogers gave Putnam a warning with his elbow and began jabbering in French. Neither paid any heed to the savages. ”

“ As the whale-boats came in sight of the schooner, however, Rogers beheld two sloops coming up the lake and sweeping down on them. To persist in the capture of the schooner would permit the sloops to bear away and carry the alarm to the point. ”

“ One of the soldiers, being something of a comedian, made much of this savage and swore that he belonged to the troupes de terre; for did he not wear the white and black with yellow facings? The savage grunted under the man's familiarity, but passed his dipper for more. ”

“ She's a wild little thing. Still she was safe enough. It was nothing to her dressing up as a young fop and swaggering around New York. They're still talking about her down there, the women rolling their eyes in holy horror, the men cursing because young Willis interfered and helped her out of a bad fix. ”