“Perhaps we shall make their acquaintance some other way!” said Stark, with a touch of grim humour; and Corinne, understanding him, exclaimed: 

“Ah, do not let us think of that! let us only remember that we have met as friends in the wild forest.”

“A pleasant memory truly,” answered Stark gallantly, “and one so new to a Ranger that he will never be like to forget it;” and as they pursued their way towards the lake, he held the youth and the girl spellbound and breathless by tales of the strange life of adventure which they led, and by detailing some of their hairbreadth escapes from the hands of Indians and Frenchmen as they scoured the forest, lay in ambush, and skulked beneath the very ramparts of the enemy’s fortifications, hearing the talk of the sentries overhead.

“Nay, but you are brave men in sooth; you deserve success.  The fortunes of war must surely be yours at last,” cried Corinne, with covert enthusiasm.

“Ah! here is the lake, and here is our boat.  Nay, come not further.  I fear lest hurt should come to you.  I thank you again with all my heart.  Perhaps the day will come when we shall see each other again.  I would fain believe that I shall meet again with Rogers’ bold, chivalrous Rangers.”

“It may be—­it may be,” answered Stark, with a smile.  “Farewell, sweet Mistress Corinne; may you come safely through all perils by land and water.  Your brave spirit will carry you well through life’s troubled sea, I think.”

She smiled, and stepped into the boat.  Then suddenly turning and waving her hand, she said: 

“I will tell you one thing which my uncle has said.  Whether he will be a true prophet or no I cannot tell.  His words are these, and they were spoken to M. de Montcalm:  ’You are safe now, for England is governed by an imbecile—­the Duke of Newcastle—­a minister without parts, understanding, or courage.  But there is another man in England of a different calibre.  If ever you hear that Pitt is at the head of the administration, then look to your laurels; for, if I be not greatly deceived, that man has brain and energy to turn the whole tide of battle.  Three years after he begins to rule England’s policy, and France will have begun to lose her empire in the West!’”

Chapter 4:  Vengeance And Disaster.

The episode of Corinne, and the prophecy she had quoted to them, formed one of the bright episodes in a year which brought little success or relief to the army encamped upon the waters of Lake George.  There was no campaign that year.  The two armies lay inside their respective fortifications, each keeping on the defensive; and the bold Rangers alone did active skirmishing service, as has been related, appearing at all sorts of apparently impossible points, swooping down upon an unwary hunting party or a sleeping sentinel, bringing in spoil to the fort, burning transports bound for Ticonderoga, and doing gallant irregular service which kept the garrison and the Rangers in spirits, but did little or nothing to effect any change in the condition of affairs.