Part 21 (1/2)

I blushed to tell him, and further confessed what had occurred that very evening in the open fields before Johnstown.

”Well,” said he coolly, ”it is well to be rid of vermin. Now you should pick your men in safety, Mr. Drogue. And if none will volunteer--such as have families or are not fit material for rangers--you are authorized to go out into the wilderness and recruit any forest-running fellow you can persuade.”

He drove one gloved hand into the palm of the other to emphasize what he said:

”I want real rangers, not militia! I want young men who laugh at any face old Death can pull at them! I want strong men, keen men, tough men, rough men.

”I want men who fear G.o.d, if that may be, or who fear the devil, if that may be; but who fear nothing else on earth!”

He shot a look at Nick, ”--like that boy there!” he exclaimed--”or I am no judge of men! And like yourself, Mr. Drogue, when once they blood you! Come, sir; can you find a few such men for me, and take full charge?”

”Yes, sir.”

”A pledge!” he exclaimed, beating his gloved palms. ”And when you can collect a dozen--the first full dozen--I want you to stop the Iroquois trail at the Sacandaga. That's where you shall chiefly operate--along the Sacandaga and the mountains northward! That's where I expect trouble. There lies this accursed war-trail; and along it there is like to be a very b.l.o.o.d.y business!”

He turned aside and stood smiting his hands softly together, his preoccupied eyes regarding the candles.

”A very b.l.o.o.d.y business,” he repeated absently to himself. ”Only rangers can aid us now.... Help us a little in this dreadful crisis.... Until we can recruit--build forts----”

An officer appeared at the open door and saluted.

”Well, sir,” inquired Dayton sharply.

”Lady Johnson is not to be discovered in the town, sir.”

”What? Has Lady Johnson run away also? Does the poor, deluded woman imagine that any man in my command would offer insult to her?”

”It is reported, sir, that Lady Johnson said some very bitter things concerning us. It is further reported that Lady Johnson is gone in a great rage to the hunting lodge of the late Sir William, as there were already family servants there at last accounts.”

”Where's this place?” demanded Dayton, turning to me.

”The summer house on the Vlaie, sir.”

”Very well. Take what men you can collect and go there instantly, Mr.

Drogue, and place that foolish woman under arrest!”

A most painful colour burnt my face, but I saluted in silence.

”The little fool,” muttered Dayton, ”to think we meant to insult her!”

And to me: ”Let her remain there, Mr. Drogue, if she so desires. Only guard well the house. I shall march a battalion of my regiment thither in the morning, and later I shall order a company of Colonel Livingston's regiment to Fish House. And then we shall see what we shall see,” he added grimly to the officer in the doorway, who smiled in return.

There ensued a silence through which, very far away, we heard the music of another regiment marching into the town, which lay below us under the calm, high stars.

”That's Livingston, now!” said Colonel Dayton, briskly; and went out in a hurry, his sword and spurs ringing loudly in the hall. And a moment later we heard him ride away at a gallop, and the loud clatter of hors.e.m.e.n at his heels.

I pulled a bit of jerked venison from my sack and bit into it. Nick Stoner filled his mouth with cold johnnycake.

And so, munching our supper, we left the Hall, headed for the Drowned Lands to make prisoner an unhappy girl who had gone off in a rage to Summer House Point.