It's no pleasant sight to look on the face of a man you have just killed, even though you have right on your side, and he be only a redskin. One glance at that face and the staring eyes was enough. I felt weak and guilty as I knelt by him, and picked up his rackets, gun, and ammunition. I took his fur mantle, too, for I had thrown away my blanket, and knew that I should be cold before the night was over. I wandered through the woods till the moon rose, and gave me the direction to take. Then I came to the lake and went out on it, and at last got to the Narrows, where I found what was left of our party. Edmund and Amos were with them. Rogers had sent a messenger for assistance. Over two-thirds of our party were killed or missing. And of those who remained, there were but few who did not have some cut or bullet wound. We were exhausted. The men had thrown away their blankets, and the night was bitter cold. We could not have fires, as they would have been beacon lights to the enemy, showing them where we were. We huddled together like sheep for warmth, and I gave my mantle to a poor fellow who was badly wounded. [Sidenote: THEY RETURN TO FORT EDWARD] When the day began to break, we marched up the lake, and were met by Captain Stark with reënforcements, and sleds for our wounded, and then proceeded to Fort Edward. The next day, as Edmund, Amos, and I were talking the fight over, Rogers came to us. He laughed, and said: "Well, boys! You haven't been here long. But you've had lots of fun, haven't you?" "Yes, sir. Plenty! We are satisfied. We can stand a long spell of dull times now." The Rangers lost so heavily in this fight that but little was required of them for some time. A few scouting-parties were sent out, but they were of little consequence. CHAPTER X LORD HOWE AND HIS DEATH--THE LOYALTY OF JOHN STARK Early in the spring, Lord Loudon was recalled, and General Abercrombie was appointed in his stead, with young Lord Howe as second in command. Abercrombie was the kind of English general to which we were accustomed,--a dull, heavy man, who owed his position to influence at court. We put little faith in him. But Lord Howe gained our hearts and confidence at once. It was well understood in the army that Lord Howe was sent over to furnish the brains and ability in this campaign, and was to direct the fighting, and that General Abercrombie was to reap the benefit. Lord Howe spent much of his time among the Rangers, and went out with us on scouting-parties. He showed none of the arrogance and conceit so common to British officers, and appeared to be an apt, quick scholar. [Sidenote: LORD HOWE] Rogers and Stark were delighted with his military instincts and the keen intelligence with which he made himself master of what was to him a new method of fighting.