Hugh Pendexter

“ Who else has passed here within the last hour?”
“Another, a ranger, a young fellow. You'll probably overtake him, as he will camp along the river.”
“He had a pass?”
“Not a written one. But Sergeant Enoch Champers, of the Jersey Blues, spoke for him. Of course a pass is only a form where those serving the king are concerned.”
“You have done well, young man,” bitterly upbraided Willis. “You have let two spies get by right under your nose. Your Sergeant Champers is a French spy, and he carries information to the French which will be disastrous to the colonies.” ”

“ The lieutenant glanced toward the closed door and murmured:
“Any friend of Captain Putnam's must be a stanch man. The paper is very important if it reaches Montcalm. Gives the details of our strength and location of the troops and guns. Of course the French know in round numbers what we've got, thanks to spies, but they don't know how the army's placed. We've moved lots of men back and forth just to blind them—the spies.” ”

“ When he turned back the paper was gone. They're examining him now—just wasting time. He's told all he knows, but they're still baiting him.”
“I hope they get it back,” sighed Willis, “If they won't take old Ti they ought to keep a good grip on their papers. Much obliged for the pass, lieutenant, but between you and me I can quit this town with a drove of cattle at almost any hour and not be stopped.”
The officer laughed and agreed:
“One of Roberts' Rangers can do wonderful things, I admit. But perhaps the pass will make it easier. When you see old Wolf Putnam remember me to him. ”

“ I suppose the Oswego affair has dampened the men's courage a bit. Seems to have frightened the town here.”
“Not the rangers,” Willis quickly replied. “We still know the only way to lick the French is to go after them. We could have whipped them last year and taken Ticonderoga after Dieskau was captured, but we didn't.”
“Hindsight is always better than foresight,” said the sergeant.
“I'm not criticizing Sir William Johnson any. He's the best man to handle the Iroquois we ever had. It isn't his fault that he'd had no experience in war when Shirley picked him to lead. ”

“ I can't help loving her. But I can keep away from that house and everything that reminds me of her. At least I can do that.”
Curiously enough this was one of the very things he could not do. The dead house attracted and drew him although he knew the sight of it would only put a new edge on his misery. ”

“ He had seen her twice in Albany. Her conduct was most questionable.
His New England Puritanism had been weakened none by his experience as an Indian-fighter. Putnam had spoken to his common sense in saying she was not the kind of a girl for him to marry. She was his antithesis. He had been brought up to believe that harmony could never be built up out of contradictions. ”

“ Will you have a mug of cider?”
“No, thank you. I must be going to look after some stragglers. I thought some of my men were in here. Some of the provincial troops were telling in here last night that General Wilson had been ordered to fall back and join General Lyman at Fort Edward.”
“Fool's talk. I was at Edward yesterday. Nothing of the kind has happened and won't unless our commanders go crazy. Why, we can drive the French out of old Ti any time we go after them in earnest. Their militia won't fight except in the bush. They can't manage their savages. ”

“ As she went through the door she et it behind her, Se panels against his nose.
With a ave of his rifle-butt he sent the door flying open and gained the head of the stairs. She was decending on the run and had no time to practise stealth.
He leaped recklessly, clearing neatly the whole flight. His heel caught on a tread, precipitating him headlong, his rifle flying to one side. He would have collided with her had she not turned at right angles ”