During the following days, the same work was repeated, and when, after a week’s marching, the force issued from the forest into the clearing around Fort William Henry, James felt confident that his men would be able to hold their own in a brush with the Indians.  Major Eyre, to whom James reported himself, and showed his appointment defining his authority and duties, expressed much satisfaction at the arrival of the reinforcement.

“There are rumours, brought here by the scouts,” he said, “that a strong force will, ere long, come down from Crown Point to Ticonderoga, and that we shall be attacked.  Now that the lake is frozen, regular troops could march without difficulty, and my force here is very inadequate, considering the strength with which the French will attack.  None of my officers or men have any experience of the Indian methods of attack, and your experience will be very valuable.  It is a pity that they do not give me one of these companies of scouts permanently.  Sometimes one or other of them is here, but often I am without any of the provincials, and, although I have every confidence in my officers and men, one cannot but feel that it is a great disadvantage to be exposed to the attack of an enemy of whose tactics one is altogether ignorant.

“You will, of course, encamp your men inside the fort.  I see you have brought no baggage with you, but I have some spare tents here, which are at your service.”

“Thank you, sir,” James replied; “I shall be glad to put the men under cover, while they are here, but I intend to practise them, as much as possible, in scouting and camping in the woods, and, although I shall always be in the neighbourhood of the fort, I do not propose always to return here at night.  Are any of Captain Rogers’s corps at present at the fort?”

“Some of them came in last night,” Major Eyre replied.

“I have authority,” James said, “to enlist two of them in my corps.”

Major Eyre smiled.

“I do not think you will find any of them ready to submit to military discipline, or to put on a red coat.”

“They are all accustomed to obey orders, promptly enough, when at work,” James said, “though there is no attempt at discipline when off duty.  You see them at their worst here.  There is, of course, nothing like military order in the woods, but obedience is just as prompt as among our troops.  As to the uniform, I agree with you, but on that head I should not be particular.  I can hardly fancy any of the scouts buttoned tightly up with stiff collars; but as, after all, although they are to be enlisted, they will be attached to the corps, rather than be regular members of it, I do not think I need insist upon the uniform.”

After leaving the major, James saw to the pitching of the tents, and the comforts of his men, and when he had done so strolled off towards a group of scouts, who were watching his proceedings, and among whom he recognized the two men for whom he was looking.