An enormously tall man leaped up from behind the rampart of sledges, and came forward with outstretched hand.  He was a man of magnificent physique, with a mass of wild, tangled hair and beard, and black eyes which seemed to burn like live coals.  His features were rugged and rather handsome, and his nose was of very large proportions.

Stark took a step forward and shook the outstretched hand.  He knew this man, from descriptions received of him during their months of wandering.

“You are Captain Rogers?”

“Robert Rogers, of the Rangers, at your service,” replied the other, in a deep, sonorous voice, which seemed to match his size; “and this is my brother Richard,” as another fine-looking man approached and held out his hand to their deliverers.  “And right glad are we to welcome such bold spirits amongst us, though who you are and whence you come we know not.  You have saved us from peril of death tonight, and Rogers never forgets a service like that.”

“We have come from far to seek you,” answered Stark; “we ourselves are Rangers of the forest.  We fear neither heat nor cold, peril, hardship, nor foe.  We long to fight our country’s battle against the Indian savages and against the encroaching French.  It has been told us again and again that Rogers is the captain for us, and to Rogers we have come.”

“And right welcome are all such bold spirits in Rogers’ camp!” was the quick reply.  “That is the spirit of the true Ranger.  Nor shall you be disappointed in your desire after peril and adventure.  You can see by tonight’s experience the sort of adventure into which we are constantly running.  We scouts of the lake have to watch ourselves against whole hordes of wily, savage Indian scouts and spies.  Some of our number are killed and cut off with each encounter; and yet we live and thrive and prosper.  And if you ask honest John Winslow who are those who help him most during this season of weary waiting, I trow he will tell you it is Rogers and his bold Rangers.”

By this time the whole band of Rangers had gathered round Stark’s little company, and the men were all talking together.  In those wild lands ceremony is unknown; friendships are quickly made, if quickly sundered by the chances and changes of a life of adventure and change; and soon the band felt as if one common spirit inspired them.

There were three wounded men in Rogers’ company; they were put upon a sledge and well covered up.  Then the party moved along to a position at some distance from that where they had met the attack.

“The Indians will come back to find and remove their dead,” explained Rogers.  “It is better to be gone.  We will encamp and bivouac a little farther away.  Then we will hold a council as to our next move.  They will not be in haste to molest us again.”

The plan was carried out.  The hardy Rangers hollowed out a sheltered nook in the snow, threw up a wall of protection against the wind, lighted a fire, and sat round it discussing the events of the night, and exchanging amenities with their new comrades.