I hope these remarks will not be deemed too pompous for the preface to a story in which true love is crossed by a soldier's sense of honour. The theme is a variant on a great commonplace: and, following my habit, I let the incidents and characters have their own way without the author's comment or interference. Q. CONTENTS. Chapter PREFACE. I. MALBROUCK S'EN VA-T'EN GUERRE. II. A BIVOUAC IN THE FOREST. III. TICONDEROGA. IV. THE VOYAGEURS. V. CONTAINS THE APOLOGUE OF MANABOZHO'S TOE. VI. BATEESE. VII. THE WATCHER IN THE PASS. VIII. THE FARTHER SLOPE. IX. MENEHWEHNA SETTLES ACCOUNTS. X. BOISVEYRAC. XI. FATHER LAUNOY HAS HIS DOUBTS. XII. THE WHITE TUNIC. XIII. FORT AMITIE. XIV. AGAIN THE WHITE TUNIC. XV. THE SECOND DESPATCH. XVI. THE DISMISSAL. XVII. FRONTENAC SHORE. XVIII. NETAWIS. XIX. THE LODGES IN THE SNOW. XX. THE REVEILLE. XXI. FORT AMITIE LEARNS ITS FATE. XXII. DOMINIQUE. XXIII. THE FLAGSTAFF TOWER. XXIV. THE FORT SURRENDERS. XXV. THE RAPIDS. XXVI. DICK'S JUDGEMENT. XXVII. PRES-DE-VILLE. EPILOGUE--I.--HUDSON RIVER. II.--THE PHANTOM GUARD. FORT AMITY. CHAPTER I. MALBROUCK S'EN VA-T'EN GUERRE. "So adieu, Jack, until we meet in Quebec! You have the start of us, report says, and this may even find you drinking his Majesty's health in Fort Carillon. Why not? You carry Howe, and who carries Howe carries the eagles on his standards; or so you announce in your last. Well, but have we, on our part, no _vexillum?_ Brother Romulus presents his compliments to Brother Remus, and begs leave to answer 'Wolfe!' 'Tis scarce forty-eight hours since Wry-necked Dick brought his ships into harbour with the Brigadier on board, and already I have seen him and--what is more--fallen in love. 'What like is he?' says you. 'Just a sandy-haired slip of a man,' says I, 'with a cock nose': but I love him, Jack, for he knows his business. We've a professional at last. No more Pall Mall promenaders--no more Braddocks. Loudons, Webbs! We live in the consulship of Pitt, my lad--_deprome Caecubum_--we'll tap a cask to it in Quebec. And if Abercromby's your Caesar--" Here a bugle sounded, and Ensign John a Cleeve of the 46th Regiment of Foot (Murray's) crushed his friend's letter into his pocket and sprang off the woodpile where he had seated himself with the regimental colours across his knees. He unfolded them from their staff, assured himself that they hung becomingly--gilt tassels and yellow silken folds--and stepped down to the lake-side where the bateaux waited.