They set out in the early morning of a December day, each having a blanket and a knapsack, containing four days' provisions, strapped3 on his back, and the rest of the garrison4 gave them a cheer as they glided5 away northward6.
They were both in high spirits, for the restraint of garrison life had become very wearisome, and the outing they had now started upon was very much to their mind, despite its probability of peril7.
"I wonder will any of the French be thinking of the same thing," said Seth as with strong steady strokes they sped over the glistening8 ice. "Their Canadians must be good skaters even if they're not themselves, and you'd think they'd be curious to know what we've been doing since we sent them back so much sadder and wiser than they came."
"We must keep a sharp lookout9 for them," answered Reuben, "for we certainly don't want to get into any such trap as our fellows did at first in the fight when they walked right into the ambush10 the French had laid for us."
"No, indeed," responded Seth emphatically. "They mustn't catch us like that, and, what's more, they're not going to."
All through the morning they skated on at their ease, because there was not the slightest chance of any of the enemy being below the Narrows, which they had fixed12 upon as the limit of that day's advance.
At noon they halted for dinner and a good rest. They could have only a cold bite, for it would not have been wise to light a fire; but they munched13 their meat and biscuits contentedly14, and quenched15 their thirst at a hole cut in the ice.
While they lay curled up in their blankets in a sheltered nook several deer came out of the forest near by, and their hunter's instinct was at once aroused.
"What a splendid shot!" murmured Reuben under his breath as his hand went out toward his gun. "Just see that fine buck16!"
"Not for your life!" exclaimed Seth in so emphatic11 a tone that it reached the acute ears of the deer, and they bounded away out of danger. "When we do fire, it must be at another kind of game," he added, and Reuben meekly17 accepted the reproof18.
When refreshed and rested, they set off again, and skated pretty steadily19 through the afternoon, reaching the Narrows on the early dusk of the winter's day.
Although not a very cold night, it was cheerless enough without a fire; but they were both so tired that they soon fell asleep, and forgot all the discomforts20 of their situation.
Between the Narrows and Ticonderoga spread the broadest part of the lake, and it behooved21 them to be very wary22 in their further advance lest they should be discovered by hostile scouts25 venturing southward. Accordingly the following day they closely skirted the eastern border, holding themselves ready to dodge26 ashore27 and seek concealment28 in the forest, or to dart29 out toward the centre of the lake according as danger might threaten from either direction.
Several times, as they eagerly scanned the country ahead, they thought they caught a glimpse of figures moving through the trees; but it always proved to be a false alarm, or nothing more to be feared than, perhaps, a deer slipping silently out of sight.
Once they saw a big bear that they might easily have shot had they been out for that purpose, and Reuben quite grudged30 having to let him go in peace, for he had particularly fine fur.
The farther north they pushed the more cautious they must needs be, and it was a positive relief to both when the shadows of night again fell around them without any appearance of their foes32.
"We must be pretty close to the fort now," said Seth as, having sought out the snuggest34 spot within reach, they settled down to spend another fireless night wrapped up in their blankets. "There don't seem to be any of their scouts moving round. I wonder what they find to do with themselves? I guess it's about as tiresome35 up there as it is down with us."
"You may be sure it is," replied Reuben. "This garrison duty is dull work for everybody. I'll be very glad when the winter's over, and things get moving again. What are you thinking of doing in the morning, Seth?"
"Well, I just want to get a good look at Fort Ticonderoga, and if possible find out how big a garrison they have there," Seth answered, and then after a little pause he added: "If it be that the French have left only a handful of men in charge, it might be worth while our fellows coming up on their skates and attacking the place."
Reuben gave a whistle of mingled36 surprise and admiration37 at the audacity38 of the idea.
"You'd want to know right well just how many there are in the fort, wouldn't you?" he suggested.
"Yes, of course I would, and that's exactly what we must do our best to find out to-morrow morning."
The programme for the next day having thus been made clear, they talked together about other things until they fell asleep.
At dawn they were astir, and now they must no longer trust to their skates, but make their way overland with utmost caution, lest at any moment a Canadian scout24 or Iroquois brave should be upon them from behind a tree.
Seth had only a general idea of the position of that fort and its relation to the surrounding country; but he was a scout by instinct, and Reuben followed him with admiration and implicit39 obedience40 as he skilfully41 made his way through the thick forest, his object being to reach an elevation42 from which he could command a clear view of Ticonderoga.
Advancing slowly and with many detours43 the two daring youths at last accomplished44 their purpose without their presence being discovered or suspected by the enemy, shortly before mid-day gaining a point of view that was precisely45 what they sought.
They were on the high bluffs46 immediately opposite Ticonderoga, from which they were separated only by a narrow stretch of water, and, while keeping themselves perfectly47 concealed48 among the trees, they could see everything that was going on in and around the fort.
"This is fine!" exclaimed Seth gleefully as he lay flat on the ground and fixed his gaze upon the enemy's stronghold. "What would they think if they knew that we were up here watching them? I reckon they'd send a party after us pretty quick."
"That they would," said Reuben, with a pretence49 of a shiver, for he was not really in any fear, "and they'd not deal any too gently with us either, would they?"
"No, sir," responded Seth. "That's not their way, but they're not going to have the chance if I can help it."
For several hours they remained in their eyrie, noting every movement at the fort, and carefully studying its position, so as to be able to give information to those at Fort William as to the chances of an attack.
They could see the garrison going about their duties, and from the number of them came to the conclusion that it would be folly50 to attempt an attack without a great many more men than could be spared from their own fort.
"But it wouldn't be a hard place to take if you went about it the right way and had a strong enough force, would it, Reuben?" said Seth after he had thoroughly51 sun-eyed the fort and its surroundings, and then he proceeded to outline a plan of attack that certainly did credit to his wits.
Reuben listened approvingly to it all, and, when he had finished, mildly asked:
"How much longer shall we stay here, Seth? We've about seen all there is to see. Had we not better be starting back?"
"To be sure we had," replied Seth, whose enthusiasm over the possibility of successfully attacking the fort had caused him to be oblivious52 of the flight of time. "Come along; we mustn't stay here any longer."
Just as they were about to start they saw a party set out from the fort on skates and speed away southward.
"Whew!" exclaimed Seth. "I wonder what that means. Are they going off to do a little scouting53 on their own account? In that case we'll have to keep a sharp lookout or we may fall into their hands."
There was certainly need for using the utmost precaution in their movements, and it was with a keener sense of danger than they had felt before that the two New Englanders began their return journey.
So long as they were concealed by the woods they were safe enough from discovery, but once they took to the ice, which they must do as soon as possible, for their provisions were running low, and would not by any means last for a long journey overland, then they ran the risk of being sighted and pursued.
But there was no help for it, and no time to be lost, so they urged their way through the forest until they reached the edge of the lake.
Then with eager eyes and fast-beating pulses they scanned the glistening surface before them. Not a living thing was in view, but at any moment from around one of the wooded points the enemy might appear.
"I wish I knew which side they're on," said Seth, the anxious expression of his countenance54 showing his state of mind. "The farther away we can keep from them the better chance we'll have, for I'm sure we can skate as fast or faster than any of them."
"They'll most likely be on the other side I should think," responded Reuben; "so we had better keep to this one."
This seemed reasonable enough, so they put on all speed and dashed down the lake.
The exhilarating motion restored their spirits, and confident of their ability to hold their own on skates against any of the enemy, they flew along over the smooth ice for mile after mile without encountering any cause for alarm until as they rounded a point beyond which was a deep cove23, they saw something which sent their hearts into their mouths.
It was the very party whose departure from Fort Ticonderoga they had witnessed, and it consisted of six Canadians on skates, who were just starting off again after having rested for a while in the snug33 shelter of the cove.
They sighted the New Englanders at once, and with fierce cries, which sent a shiver through the two youths, began the chase.
Happily their guns were not ready, for since Seth and Reuben were at first within range they would of course, have fired at them, but now they had to depend upon their skill and strength as skaters to effect the capture of the daring scouts.
Straight southward darted55 the Colonials, their pursuers a couple of hundred yards in the rear, and following with grim determination.
Seth and Reuben, although they fully2 realized the seriousness of the situation, felt no very great apprehension56 as to the outcome. They had entire confidence in their ability to more than hold their own while on the ice, and if they were compelled to take to the land, they did not doubt but that they could find a place of concealment until the danger was passed, or make their way through the forest with sufficient speed to distance pursuit.
The two contingencies57 they had to fear were that in their rapid flight one or other might trip and fall, injuring himself or his skates, or that there might be another party of the enemy lower down the lake into whose hands they would be driven by those coming after them.
Both these possibilities, so unpleasant to contemplate58, had presented themselves to Seth; but they did not daunt59 his brave spirit, nor did he mention them to Reuben, who no doubt had his own thoughts.
The early dusk of mid-winter drew on as mile after mile of the flawless ice was covered without the pursuers making any gain. By dint60 of frequent spurting61 the New Englanders might have widened the gap, and Reuben was anxious that they should do so; but Seth thought differently.
So long as they kept out of range of the French it seemed to him best to reserve their strength and wind, for at any moment the appearance of Canadians in front might render necessary a supreme62 effort to evade63 them.
If they should be thus caught between two parties, Seth's mind was made up to fight to the last gasp64, as he would rather die fighting his foe31 than be taken alive only to suffer death subsequently by hideous65 torture.
"Thank God, it's getting dark!" exclaimed Seth, breaking the silence which had lasted for some time. "If we can keep on as we are now, we'll be able to put ashore and hide ourselves among the trees."
"We can't do it any too soon to suit me," panted Reuben breathlessly, for the tremendous strain was beginning to tell upon him. "I'm tiring fast, and another couple of miles will finish me completely."
"Cheer up—cheer up, Reuben!" responded Seth, giving him an affectionate pat on the shoulder. "They're farther behind than they were, and we'll soon be able to make a dash for the woods."
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1
dissuade
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| v.劝阻，阻止 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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strapped
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| adj.用皮带捆住的，用皮带装饰的；身无分文的；缺钱；手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词)；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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5
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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6
northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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7
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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8
glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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9
lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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10
ambush
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| n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击 | |
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11
emphatic
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| adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的 | |
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12
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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13
munched
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| v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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14
contentedly
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| adv.心满意足地 | |
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15
quenched
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| 解（渴）( quench的过去式和过去分词 )； 终止（某事物）； （用水）扑灭（火焰等）； 将（热物体）放入水中急速冷却 | |
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16
buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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17
meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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18
reproof
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| n.斥责，责备 | |
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19
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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20
discomforts
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| n.不舒适( discomfort的名词复数 )；不愉快，苦恼 | |
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21
behooved
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| v.适宜( behoove的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22
wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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23
cove
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| n.小海湾，小峡谷 | |
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24
scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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25
scouts
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| 侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员 | |
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26
dodge
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| v.闪开，躲开，避开；n.妙计，诡计 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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29
dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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30
grudged
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| 怀恨（grudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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31
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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32
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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33
snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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34
snuggest
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| adj.整洁的( snug的最高级 )；温暖而舒适的；非常舒适的；紧身的 | |
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35
tiresome
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| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
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36
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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37
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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38
audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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39
implicit
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| a.暗示的，含蓄的，不明晰的，绝对的 | |
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40
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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41
skilfully
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| adv. (美skillfully)熟练地 | |
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42
elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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43
detours
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| 绕行的路( detour的名词复数 )； 绕道，兜圈子 | |
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44
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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45
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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46
bluffs
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| 恐吓( bluff的名词复数 )； 悬崖； 峭壁 | |
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47
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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48
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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49
pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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50
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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51
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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52
oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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53
scouting
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| 守候活动，童子军的活动 | |
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54
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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55
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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56
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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57
contingencies
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| n.偶然发生的事故，意外事故( contingency的名词复数 )；以备万一 | |
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58
contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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59
daunt
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| vt.使胆怯，使气馁 | |
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60
dint
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| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
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61
spurting
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| （液体，火焰等）喷出，（使）涌出( spurt的现在分词 )； （短暂地）加速前进，冲刺； 溅射 | |
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62
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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63
evade
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| vt.逃避，回避；避开，躲避 | |
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64
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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65
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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