Out of the bosom1 of the night with scarce any warning now came a sudden breeze of surprising strength which took hold of the raft, and despite the utmost efforts of the sinewy2 paddlers blew it directly toward the hostile camp!
Major Rogers stormed and swore, and even seized a paddle himself, and plied3 it with frantic4 energy, but all to no purpose. The stubborn raft moved steadily5 if slowly before the wind toward the fires, whose blaze would ere long reveal its presence.
The excitement on board may be readily conceived. The men realized that they were being borne into the jaws6 of death, and prepared to die like heroes fighting to the last.
Nearer and nearer to the camp moved the raft. Seth and Reuben standing7 together at one side grasped each other's hands in silent understanding. It was no time for words, but for action, quick and decisive.
"Now, Rangers8," said the Major in a low, grave tone that showed how deep was his feeling: "We're in a bad box, and there's small chance of our getting out of it. But if we can't save ourselves we can make a good fight of it, and sell our lives dearly. Don't be in a hurry to fire. Don't waste a bullet. Club your muskets9 after they're empty, and keep at it so long as you can stand."
"Ay, ay, sir!" was the subdued10 yet resolute11 response of the men as they grasped the guns tightly, and gazed at the nearing shore.
A moment later the wind dropped as suddenly as it had risen, and a brief period of calm followed, after which the wind rose again, but now it blew from a different quarter; and the raft, instead of continuing on the same course, began to move northward12.
Major Rogers instantly saw his opportunity. Calling upon his men to paddle with all their might, he directed their efforts so that the raft veered13 toward the land at a point some distance above the camp, where the trees came close to the water's edge.
"If we can only get there without being seen we'll give them the slip after all," he said to Seth, and there was an accent of hope in his tone.
Yard by yard the clumsy craft glided14 in the desired direction, and the men's spirits revived as the shore drew nearer without any sign that the enemy suspected their proximity15.
At last the raft grounded, and one by one its passengers, moving as silently as shadows, made their way to land and disappeared in the dense16 obscurity of the woods with lightened hearts; for although they were not yet out of danger, they had certainly bettered their chances of seeing Fort William Henry again.
Following their leader in Indian file they glided noiselessly through the forest, not knowing at what moment they might be discovered by some outlying sentinel or vigilant18 scout19.
But again fortune favored them, and, without being challenged or opposed, they left the encampment a safe distance behind ere the Major would call a halt that they might rest for the remainder of the night.
Two days later they reached the fort wellnigh spent with hunger and fatigue20, and quite content to take it easy for a while ere setting forth21 on another expedition.
In the following June Major Rogers' heart was made glad by General Shirley sending him six light whale-boats from Albany, accompanied by instructions to proceed immediately to Lake Champlain and do what he might in the way of intercepting22 the parties coming down from Canada by water with supplies for Crown Point.
Seth was delighted when he heard the news. The idea of speeding over the lake in the swift, strong boats instead of the frail23 canoes or clumsy bateaux, appealed to his spirit of romance.
"That will be fine, won't it. Reuben?" he exclaimed enthusiastically after telling his friend. "A lot of us can get into one boat, and make it go faster than any canoe, and then we can take with us plenty of provisions so that we won't need to starve nearly to death as we have done before."
Major Rogers called his officers together to talk over the best ways and means of utilizing24 the new equipment, and as the result of a lengthy25 conference an original and daring plan of campaign was settled upon, for the conception of which the Major himself was entitled to the chief credit, and which he proceeded to carry out with his characteristic promptitude.
Putting fifty of his men into five of the boats, he rowed up Lake George to an island, on which the night was spent. The next day he went on about five miles farther, and landed on the east shore of the lake, where it rose rather steeply from the water's edge.
"So far it's been easy enough," he said to his men when they had drawn26 the boats well up on the land, "but we've got hard work ahead now, and it will try both our strength and patience to the utmost, but I know I can depend upon you to go through with it."
He might well speak thus, for what they had before them was nothing less than the transporting of the heavy boats over the high land which separated the main body of Lake George from a long narrow projection27 lying parallel to Lake George, a few miles to the east.
But they were not the men to be dismayed by even so difficult and laborious29 a task. With their wonted spirit and energy they addressed themselves to it, and ere long all five boats were being dragged up the hillside over a hastily prepared portage path by which no canoe had ever gone.
It was really tremendous work, and under the warm June sun the Rangers stormed and sweated over the many difficulties of the undertaking30. Officers and men toiled31 alike, no one exerting himself more unsparingly than Major Rogers, and bit by bit the way to the summit of the ridge32, and thence down again on the other side was won, until at last after two whole days of strenuous33 labor28 the whale-boats floated gracefully34 in the waters of South Bay, and Seth spoke35 for his comrades no less than for himself when he exclaimed exultantly36:
"There, you are now in your proper place, and may it be many a day before you come out of it again to go climbing mountains!"
In the general laugh that greeted these words the Major, who overhead them, joined heartily37, adding:
"I'm quite of your mind, Seth."
After a good night's rest the Rangers embarked38, and rowed northward to within six miles of Fort Ticonderoga, where they landed, and having carefully concealed39 their boats, lay in hiding themselves until evening.
As soon as night fell they were afloat again, and steering40 toward the fort, which they approached so close under the cover of darkness that they could hear distinctly the sentries41 exchanging the watch-words.
"Wouldn't they be surprised if we were to give them a volley, just to let them know we're here?" whispered Seth to the man next to him in the boat, as his hand patted the barrel of his gun significantly.
"Yes, no doubt, and wouldn't we be surprised to have a few hundred Indians come after us in their canoes," was the shrewd response. "Just try and count those camp fires. Why there must be a couple of thousand men there at least."
It was certainly a big encampment that spread about the unfinished fort, and Major Rogers had no idea of stirring up such a hornet's nest even though his whale-boats could probably outstrip42 the fleetest canoes. Accordingly, after pausing long enough to gain some idea of the strength of the enemy, he pushed on several miles farther, and then ere the break of day, went once more into hiding in the woods, where he remained until the return of night with its favoring darkness enabled him to resume his venturesome progress.
Twelve miles of steady rowing brought the party within gunshot of Crown Point, and here Major Rogers called a halt, for the sky was so clear and the stars were so bright that he deemed it imprudent to attempt to pass the French stronghold.
At this many of the Rangers demurred43. They were quite sure the boats with muffled44 oars45 could slip by unperceived, and they were very anxious to try, but their shrewd, sagacious leader would not be persuaded. He knew better than to risk the destruction or capture of his entire party for the sake of a daring dash, and the order to land and again take to hiding was given.
"Bless my heart, but this is getting tiresome46!" murmured Reuben with a deep sigh after the boats had been snugly47 stowed away under the trees. "When are we going to do something else, Seth?"
"I'm sure I can't tell you," Seth replied diplomatically, for he quite realized what the dignity of his position as officer required. "Suppose you ask Major Rogers."
But Reuben knew better than to approach the great man with any such question, and was fain to be content with hoping that they would soon have something more exciting to occupy them.
As they lay hidden the next day they saw nearly a hundred boats laden48 with materials and supplies for Ticonderoga go by them, whereat the Major remarked with significant emphasis:
"If General Shirley could only see this with his own eyes he wouldn't lose any time in bringing an army up here that would make short work of Ticonderoga and Crown Point too; but the longer it's delayed, the harder the job will be."
About noon half a dozen boats, carrying soldiers, seemed to be making directly for the point on which the Rangers were concealed, and there was every evidence of Reuben's desire for excitement being gratified in an unlooked-for way.
The Rangers grasped their muskets, and made ready to receive the Frenchmen with a volley that would come like a bolt out of the blue, and be sure to produce at least a temporary panic among them; but a whispered order from their leader bade them hold their fire until the last moment.
So close came the boat that the talk of those on board could be distinctly heard as they disputed with regard to where they should land, some wanting to go right in, and others to proceed farther.
With throbbing49 pulses and bated breaths the Rangers, lying motionless in the thicket50, awaited the result of the discussion; and, brave men as they were, it was an unspeakable relief to all of them when the officer, who wished to go farther on, carried his point, and the boats were rowed a couple of hundred yards southward, where their occupants landed and had their dinner in full view of their hidden enemy, whose proximity was happily unknown to them. Having dined and rested they proceeded on their way, and the Rangers breathed freely again.
That night the conditions were favorable for slipping past Crown Point, and the boats succeeded in doing so unseen, continuing northward along the lake until the fort had been left many miles behind.
They were now in the very heart of the enemy's territory, and Major Rogers deemed it wise for them all to go no farther, but ordered Seth to take one of the boats, and having manned it with the best oarsmen, to reconnoitre ahead.
Well pleased at this commission, Seth chose his crew and set forth in high hopes of an adventure. It was drawing near to daybreak and not a breath of wind stirred the glassy surface of the lake. In perfect silence the men plied their muffled oars, and the boat glided swiftly forward, while Seth in the bow swept the scene before him with keen glance, which nothing escaped.
Presently he started and gave an exclamation51 of joy.
"Look over there!" he said to the man sitting next him. "Isn't that a vessel52 in the cove17? To be sure it is. Now, then, there's our chance. Pull away with all your might, Rangers!"
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1
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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sinewy
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| adj.多腱的，强壮有力的 | |
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plied
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的过去式和过去分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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rangers
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| 护林者( ranger的名词复数 )； 突击队员 | |
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muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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veered
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| v.（尤指交通工具）改变方向或路线( veer的过去式和过去分词 )；（指谈话内容、人的行为或观点）突然改变；（指风） （在北半球按顺时针方向、在南半球按逆时针方向）逐渐转向；风向顺时针转 | |
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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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proximity
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| n.接近，邻近 | |
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dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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cove
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| n.小海湾，小峡谷 | |
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vigilant
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| adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的 | |
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scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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intercepting
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| 截取（技术），截接 | |
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frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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utilizing
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| v.利用，使用( utilize的现在分词 ) | |
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lengthy
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| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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projection
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| n.发射，计划，突出部分 | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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laborious
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| adj.吃力的，努力的，不流畅 | |
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undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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31
toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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32
ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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strenuous
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| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
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gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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exultantly
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| adv.狂欢地，欢欣鼓舞地 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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38
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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39
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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40
steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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41
sentries
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| 哨兵，步兵( sentry的名词复数 ) | |
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42
outstrip
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| v.超过，跑过 | |
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43
demurred
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| v.表示异议，反对( demur的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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45
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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46
tiresome
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| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
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snugly
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| adv.紧贴地；贴身地；暖和舒适地；安适地 | |
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48
laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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49
throbbing
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| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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50
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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51
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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52
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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