“Oh, we got away to the forest, Rogers and Stark and I, and a score or more.  Other stragglers kept dropping in and joining us, and many more, as we found later, had made their way back to Fort Edward.  But nowhere could we learn news of you.  Come in, come in; you will be welcomed warmly by my kind hostess, Mrs. Schuyler.  She has been the friend and mother of all English fugitives in their destitution and need.  I have a home with her here for the present, till the army from England and the levies from the provinces arrive.  Come in, good comrades, and do not fear; there will be a warm welcome here for you.”

They followed Howe to the house, and found that he had not deceived them as to the welcome they would receive.  Colonel Schuyler was a great man in Albany, and his wife was deservedly respected and beloved.  Just now the Colonel was absent on duties connected with the coming campaign, in which Albany was becoming keenly interested.  The neighbouring provinces, particularly that of Massachusetts, had awakened at last from lethargy, and the inhabitants were bestirring themselves with zeal, if not always with discretion.  The Colonel, who had warmly embraced the English cause, was doing what he could there to raise arms and men, and his wife at home was playing her part in caring for the fugitives who kept passing through on their way from the forest, both after the massacre at Fort William Henry, and after the rout of the Rangers.

Rogers himself was too restless a being to remain in the haunts of civilization.  He and a few picked men were again off to the forest.  But Stark, who had been wounded, and Lord Howe, who was awaiting orders from England as to his position in command during the approaching campaign, remained as guests with Mrs. Schuyler; and she at once begged that Fritz and his companions would do the same, since her house was roomy, and she desired to do all in her power for those who were about to risk their lives in the endeavour to suppress the terrible Indian raids, and to crush the aggressions of those who used these raids as a means of obtaining their own aggrandizement.

It was a pleasant house to stay in, and Mrs. Schuyler was like a mother to them all.  For Lord Howe she entertained a warm affection, which he requited with a kindred feeling.

All was excitement in Albany now.  General Abercromby was on the way to take the command of the forces; but Lord Howe was to have a position of considerable importance, and it was whispered by those who knew what went on behind the scenes that it was to his skill and courage and military prowess that Pitt really looked.  He received private dispatches by special messengers, and his bright young face was full of purpose and lofty courage.

The Massachusetts levies began to assemble, and Howe took the raw lads in hand, and began to drill them with a wonderful success.  But it was no play work to be under such a commander.  They had come for once rather well provided with clothing and baggage; but Howe laughed aloud at the thought of soldiers encumbering themselves with more impedimenta than was actually needful.