"To arms, friends, to arms! The Indians are abroad; they are
attacking our brothers! I hear the shouts of battle. We must to
their rescue! Let us not delay! To arms, and follow me; I will lead
you thither!"

In a second the camp was astir. The men lay down in their clothes,
wrapping a buffalo robe about them for warmth. In a few seconds all
were aroused, strapping their blankets upon their shoulders and
seizing their weapons.

"What have you heard, Charles, and where?" asked Stark and Fritz in
a breath as they ran up.

"Yonder, yonder!" cried Charles, pointing in a northwesterly
direction; "it is a fight on the ice. It is not far away. The
Indians are attacking white men--English men. I hear their cries
and their shoutings. Hark--there is shooting, too! Come, follow me,
and I will take you there. There is work for the Rangers tonight!"

Yes, it was true. They could all hear the sound of shots. What had
gone before had only reached the ears of Charles; but the report of
firearms carried far. In three minutes the bold little company had
started at a brisk run through the snow-covered forest, getting
quickly into the long swing of their snowshoes, and skimming over
the ground at an inconceivably rapid pace, considering the nature
of the ground traversed.

All at once the forest opened before them. They came out upon its
farthest fringe; and below them lay, white and bare, and sparkling