Albany; they also heard that the English were encamped at the
southern end of Lake George, at Forts Edward and William Henry,
their commander being John Winslow, whose name was becoming known
and respected as that of a brave and humane soldier, who had
carried through a difficult piece of business in Acadia with as
much consideration and kindliness as possible.

Now he was in command of the English force watching the movements
of the French at Ticonderoga; here also were Rogers and his Rangers
to be found. They had marched into Winslow's camp, it was said,
some few months earlier, proffering their services; and there they
had since remained, scouting up and down the lake upon skates or
snowshoes, snatching away prisoners from the Indian allies, or from
the very walls of the fort itself, and intercepting provisions sent
down Lake Champlain for the use of the French.

Details of these escapades on the part of the Rangers were not
known in Albany; but rumours of Rogers' intrepidity reached them
from time to time, and Stark and his band were fired anew by the
desire to join themselves to this bold leader, and to assist him in
his task of harassing the enemy, and bringing assistance of all
sorts into the English camp.

Bidding adieu to the Dutch, who had received them kindly, and now
sent them away with a sufficiency of provisions to last them
several days, they skimmed away still to the northward on their
snowshoes. They had taken directions as to what route to pursue in
order to reach Fort Edward, and thence to pass on to Fort William
Henry; but the heavy snowfall obliterated landmarks, and they
presently came to the conclusion that they had missed the way, and