It was not long after this, that Colonel Grant was summoned by General Abercromby to meet the other commanding-officers of corps in a council of war. The council lasted for many hours, and when the Colonel came forth from it after it had broken up, he was observed to have a cloud upon his brow, and a certain air of serious anxiety about him, which was very much augmented by his meeting with his friend Inverawe. "Well," said Inverawe cheerfully to him, as Colonel Grant joined him and his other officers at mess. "I hope you have good news for us, Colonel, and that at last you can tell us that we are to march out of quarters on some piece of active service." "We are to march to-morrow," replied the Colonel, with unusual gravity. "Whither?" cried Inverawe eagerly. "Whither, if I may be permitted to ask?" "We march to Lake George," replied the Colonel, with a very manifest disposition to taciturnity. "Pardon me," said Inverawe; "perhaps I push my questions indiscreetly,--if so, forgive me." "No," replied the Colonel, with assumed carelessness. "I have nothing which the good of the service requires me to conceal from you, Inverawe, nor, indeed, from any one here present. We march for Lake George, as I have already said; and there we are to be embarked in boats to proceed up the lake. Our object," added he, in a deeper and somewhat melancholy tone,--"our object is to attack Fort Defiance." "What sort of a place is it?" demanded one of the officers. "A strong place, as I understand from the engineer who reconnoitred it," replied the Colonel. "But these American fastnesses are so beset with forests, that no one can well judge of them till he is fairly within their entrenchments." "Then let us pledge this cup to our speedy possession of them!" exclaimed Inverawe joyously. "With all my heart," said the Colonel, filling his to the brim,--but with a solemnity of countenance that sorted but ill with the cheerful shouts of mutual interchange of congratulation, that arose around the table. "With all my heart, I drink the toast, and may we all be there alive to drink a cup of thanks for our success." "Father," cried young Inverawe, in his keenness overlooking the Colonel's ominous addition to the toast; "now father, these Frenchmen shall see what stuff Highlanders are made of!" "They shall, my boy," replied Inverawe.--"Come, then, as I am master of the revels to-night, I call on you all to fill a brimmer.--I give you Highlanders shoulder to shoulder!" "Hurrah!--hurrah!--hurrah!" vociferated the whole officers present.