At first they did not realize their danger, mistaking the occupants of the boat for friends. Ere the latter could get near enough to board, however, their eyes were opened, and, snatching up whatever weapons were at hand, they prepared to defend themselves.
"Surrender or we'll fire!" Seth shouted, and then paused long enough to allow his words to be understood.
But the Frenchmen laughed scornfully at him, and shook their heads in refusal.
"Take good aim then, Rangers4, and fire," was the command, and from the whale-boat flashed a volley whose effect on the schooner was deadly.
One-half the crew of the schooner fell either killed or seriously wounded, and, quick to take advantage of the confusion created, Seth dashed alongside; and, followed by his men, sprang over the bulwarks5 of the vessel.
He was not, however, to have everything his own way at once. Bewildered and appalled6 as the Frenchmen were, they rallied surprisingly when their assailants reached the deck, and fought desperately7 in self-defence.
Fortunately for the Rangers it was a hand-to-hand conflict in which fire-arms could not be used, and the sturdy provincials8 were more at home in such rough-and-tumble fighting as the contracted space permitted than were their opponents.
Seth instinctively9 sought out the captain that he might make him his prisoner, and threw himself upon him with such impetuosity as to hurl10 him backward to the deck.
But the man was agile11 and muscular, and had no idea of yielding without a struggle. He wound his arms about Seth, and put forth12 so tremendous an effort to reverse their position that Seth suddenly realized he had a mighty13 antagonist14 to deal with.
Now had he reason to be glad of his skill in wrestling gained at the cost of many a hard fall. Summoning all his strength, and resorting to his most artful devices, he was able to offset15 the other's greater muscular power as they struggled breathlessly for the mastery.
Being thus evenly matched, it looked like a question of endurance with the chances in favor of the older man; but before it could be thus fought out, the other members of the crew had either submitted, or leaped overboard; and their captain becoming aware of this, thought it best to surrender at discretion16. And Seth to his great delight found himself in possession of the schooner and of several prisoners.
Having secured the latter, the Rangers, not one of whom had suffered a serious hurt, proceeded to examine their prize. She proved to be laden17 with flour, wine, and brandy, intended of course for the comfort of the force at Crown Point; and Seth decided18 that nothing should be done with this valuable cargo19 until Major Rogers had given directions concerning its disposition20.
He accordingly returned with his good news, and had a warm reception from his chief, who was highly gratified at the capture, and made haste to see it for himself.
"If we could only take the whole thing down to Fort William Henry," he said regretfully, as he surveyed the tempting21 stuff, "we could make good use of it there. But that's out of the question. We'll just have to destroy it; and the easiest way to do that is by sinking the schooner where she is."
And so it was done, much to the disappointment of the Rangers, who would have greatly liked to help themselves freely to the liquid portion of the cargo; but this the Major sternly forbade, for it was no time to engage in a carouse22 with danger on every side.
Hardly had they finished with the schooner when they sighted two lighters23 coming up the lake, and Major Rogers at once set off in hot pursuit.
These cumbrous craft were easily overtaken; and ranging alongside the Major called to their crews:
"If you surrender at once I'll give you quarter; but if you resist or try to escape, I'll fire on you."
Under the circumstance the only wise action was to surrender; but whether they lost their heads through panic, or really hoped to escape capture, the men on board the lighters foolishly paid no heed24 to the demand, and strove desperately to get to the shore.
Thereupon the Major ordered his men to fire, and the effect of their volley was fearful, many of the Frenchmen being either killed or wounded, while the rest, thoroughly25 terrified, made no further effort to escape, but begged for mercy.
On examining the lighters they also proved to be laden with wine and flour, which was perforce ruthlessly destroyed and then came the question of disposing of the numerous prisoners taken. To bring them all back with them was not practicable, and accordingly Major Rogers selected six, and released the rest on parole.
Then, feeling well satisfied with the results of the expedition, he made his way back to Fort William Henry, where the whole party arrived without a mishap26.
Throughout the remainder of the year the Rangers were in almost constant activity, parties of varying strength going out from time to time to spy upon the doings of the enemy at Ticonderoga and Crown Point, where the fortifications were being steadily27 strengthened and extended, and to take prisoners from whom information might be extracted as to the plans of the French authorities.
In all these proceedings28 Seth had his share, although he was not a member of every party, and he thoroughly enjoyed the adventurous29 life, particularly when the whale-boats were used, as he preferred them even to the canoes.
In spite of the innumerable risks run, and of the countless30 hardships endured, he was still unscathed and always ready for any service that might present itself to his active mind, or be required of him by his commander.
Toward the middle of January of the following year (1757) Major Rogers received orders to assemble his whole force which had been divided between Fort Edward and Fort William Henry at the latter place, in order to undertake a scouting31 expedition on a more extensive scale than had hitherto been attempted.
Counting both officers and men the muster32 showed seventy-five, and the first business was to prepare a proper supply of provisions, and also to secure snow-shoes for each member of the party, as the snow lay deep throughout the district.
This took several days, so that it was the seventeenth of the month before they got under way. They took their course along the lake until they were within a few miles of Ticonderoga, when they made a wide detour33 inland on the western side to avoid the fort, turning eastward34 again when it was judged safe, and once more reaching the lake at a point about midway between Ticonderoga and Crown Point at the end of the third day. Here they encamped to await developments.
These came promptly35 enough in the form of a number of sleds going from Ticonderoga to Crown Point, to which the Rangers at once gave chase.
So soon as they appeared the drivers of the sleds whipped up their horses, and made frantic36 efforts to escape; but so fleet-footed were their pursuers that only one-half of them succeeded, the result of the chase being the capture of seven men with three sleds and six horses.
On the prisoners being questioned very important information was elicited37 from them, for they stated that large numbers of Canadians and Indians were being sent to Ticonderoga from Crown Point, that there were six hundred regular troops at the latter fort, and three hundred and fifty at the former, that as soon as spring came a great many troops were to arrive for the purpose of besieging38 the English forts, and that the French forts were abundantly stocked with supplies and munitions39 of war.
Taking it for granted that those which had escaped him would give warning at Ticonderoga, and that a strong force would be sent out from there in pursuit of him, Major Rogers now hastened back to the place where he had encamped the previous night, and, having made every preparation for a fight, set out on the homeward march.
The January thaw40 had come, and the rain was pouring down upon the snow, making it so soft and sticky that rapid progress was not possible.
Much concerned by what he had learned from the prisoners, the Major led his company, which followed in single file.
"We shall be very lucky if we get off without being attacked this time," he said to Seth, who walked beside him. "The sleds have got to the fort before this, and the Frenchmen with their Indians are out after us already, I reckon. Well, if they find us we'll fight them so long as we can stand, won't we?"
"That we will," responded Seth emphatically. "And beat them too, unless they're four to our one."
Their course had been over broken ground, and they were now crossing a valley about fifteen rods in breadth, the van having reached the summit of the slope on the west side, when suddenly spurts41 of flame sprang out from the woods to right and left, and a hail of bullets fell upon the Rangers that made many a gap in their thin line.
Lieutenant42 Kennedy and Mr. Gardner, a volunteer, fell dead, and others were wounded, including Major Rogers himself, who was struck in the head, the injury happily being but slight.
Seth, with his usual luck, was left untouched, and made haste to return the fire, as did his comrades.
Major Rogers at once ordered his men to concentrate at the top of the hill, and although closely pressed by the enemy, and losing several more of their number, including Captain Spikeman, they succeeded in effecting the man?uvre, and in securing an advantageous43 position for defending themselves, from which they maintained a brisk fire upon their assailants that prevented them from closing in upon them.
After the firing had been kept up on both sides for some time, the French attempted a flank movement on the right; but the watchful44 Major perceived it in time, and directed Lieutenant Stark45 to meet it with a counter-move, which was cleverly carried out, and the enemy checked with considerable loss.
Meanwhile Seth with a score of his men was bravely defending the centre, and, thanks to the shelter afforded by the big trees, he was able to stand off the attacks of the enemy although they outnumbered him three to one.
Again and again the bullets grazed him, one piercing his cap, and another penetrating46 his coat sleeve, but he seemed to bear a charmed life, for none of the leaden messengers of death drew blood.
Desperate as the situation of the Rangers seemed, not a man of them lost heart. Their dauntless leader issued his orders to them as calmly as if they were merely on parade, and they obeyed them promptly and precisely47.
Seth was in perfect command of himself. Loading and firing his gun with deliberate care he wasted few of his shots, and the accuracy of his aim contributed in no small degree to checking the onset48 of his opponents.
Yet gallant49 and stubborn as their defence was, it seemed as if there could be only one end to the struggle, for the Rangers were clearly outnumbered from the start, and had lost so many in killed, wounded, and taken prisoner that scarce two-thirds of them were left to continue the fight.
Evidently realizing this, their antagonists50 sought to induce them to submit by ingenious wiles51, now cajoling them by saying that it was a pity so many brave men should have to be killed, promising52 that upon surrender they should be treated with the greatest kindness, and again threatening them with the most dreadful tortures at the hands of the Indians, and asserting that they expected every moment such reinforcements as would enable them to overwhelm the Rangers at one charge.
They even called upon Major Rogers by name to show his wisdom by giving up, assuring him of their high respect for him, and of their intention to deal kindly53 with him.
But the sagacious veteran was not to be misled by such shallow artifices54, and he stoutly55 replied that he had no thought of surrender, nor would his Rangers yield so long as there were two of them left to stand together.
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1
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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schooner
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| n.纵帆船 | |
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cove
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| n.小海湾，小峡谷 | |
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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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bulwarks
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| n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 )；保障；支柱；舷墙 | |
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6
appalled
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| v.使惊骇，使充满恐惧( appall的过去式和过去分词)adj.惊骇的；丧胆的 | |
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7
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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provincials
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| n.首都以外的人，地区居民( provincial的名词复数 ) | |
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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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hurl
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| vt.猛投，力掷，声叫骂 | |
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agile
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| adj.敏捷的，灵活的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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15
offset
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| n.分支，补偿；v.抵消，补偿 | |
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16
discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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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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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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carouse
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| v.狂欢；痛饮；n.狂饮的宴会 | |
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lighters
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| n.打火机，点火器( lighter的名词复数 ) | |
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heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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mishap
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| n.不幸的事，不幸；灾祸 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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scouting
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| 守候活动，童子军的活动 | |
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32
muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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33
detour
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| n.绕行的路，迂回路；v.迂回，绕道 | |
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eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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elicited
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| 引出，探出( elicit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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besieging
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的现在分词 ) | |
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39
munitions
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| n.军火，弹药；v.供应…军需品 | |
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thaw
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| v.（使）融化，（使）变得友善；n.融化，缓和 | |
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41
spurts
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| 短暂而突然的活动或努力( spurt的名词复数 )； 突然奋起 | |
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42
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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43
advantageous
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| adj.有利的；有帮助的 | |
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44
watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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stark
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| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
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46
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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47
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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48
onset
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| n.进攻，袭击，开始，突然开始 | |
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49
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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50
antagonists
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| 对立[对抗] 者，对手，敌手( antagonist的名词复数 )； 对抗肌； 对抗药 | |
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51
wiles
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| n.（旨在欺骗或吸引人的）诡计，花招；欺骗，欺诈( wile的名词复数 ) | |
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52
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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53
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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54
artifices
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| n.灵巧( artifice的名词复数 )；诡计；巧妙办法；虚伪行为 | |
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55
stoutly
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| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
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