“Friends,” cried Stark, in clear tones—­“Rangers of the forest—­come to the aid of Colonel Armstrong, hoping to be in time for the attack on Kittanning.”

“Now welcome, welcome!” cried the man, running joyfully forward; and the next minute the little band was borne into the camp by a joyful company of raw soldiers, who seemed to feel a great sense of support even from the arrival of a mere handful.

“Rogers’ Rangers are come! the Rangers are come!” was the word eagerly passed from mouth to mouth; and before the newcomers could make any explanation, they found themselves pushed into a fair-sized building, some thing in the form of a temporary blockhouse, and confronted with the Colonel himself, who received them with great goodwill.

“You are from Captain Rogers?” he said; “is one of you that notable man himself?”

Stark stepped forward to act as spokesman, and was shaken warmly by the hand.

“Rangers we are, but not of Rogers’ company,” he said.  “Indeed, when we started forth from Philadelphia to the succour of the distressed districts, we had not even heard the name of Rogers, though it is now familiar enough.

“We heard, however, that you were in need of the help of Rangers, and we have come with all haste to your camp.  We wish for nothing better than to stand in the forefront of the battle against the treacherous and hostile Indians.  Although not of Rogers’ training, you will not find us faint of heart or feeble of limb.  There are a dozen of us, as you see, and we will fight with the best that we have.”

“And right welcome at such a moment,” was the cordial answer, “for the men I have with me are little trained to warfare; and though they will follow when bravely led, they are somewhat like sheep, and are easily thrown into confusion or turned aside from the way.  Tonight you shall rest and be well fed after your march, and on the morrow we will make a rapid secret march, and seek to fall upon the foe unawares.”

The Rangers were as hungry as hunters, and glad enough to sit down once more to a well-spread table.  The rations were not luxurious as to quality, but there was sufficient quantity, which to hungry men is the great matter.  The Colonel sat with them at table, heard all they had to tell of the state of the country from Philadelphia westward, and had many grim tales to tell himself of outrages and losses in this district.

“We lost Fort Granville at harvest time, when the men were forced to garner their crops, and we had to send out soldiers to protect them.  The French and Indians set upon the Fort, and though it was gallantly defended by the lieutenant in charge, it fell into their hands.  Since then their aggressions have been unbearable.  Captain Jacobs has been making the lives of the settlers a terror to them.  We have sent for help from the colony, with what success you know.  We have sent to the Rangers under Rogers, and had hoped to be reinforced by them.