JACOBUS HUYSMAN An Albany burgher CATERINA Jacobus Huysman's cook ALEXANDER MCLEAN An Albany schoolmaster BENJAMIN HARDY A New York merchant JOHNATHAN PILLSBURY Clerk to Benjamin Hardy ADRIAN VAN ZOON A New York merchant THE SLAVER A nameless rover ACHILLE GARAY A French spy ALFRED GROSVENOR A young English officer JAMES CABELL A young Virginian WALTER STUART A young Virginian BLACK RIFLE A famous "Indian fighter" ELIHU STRONG A Massachusetts colonel ALAN HERVEY A New York financier STUART WHITE Captain of the British sloop, _Hawk_ JOHN LATHAM Lieutenant of the British sloop, _Hawk_ EDWARD CHARTERIS A young officer of the Royal Americans ZEBEDEE CRANE A young scout and forest runner ROBERT ROGERS Famous Captain of American Rangers CONTENTS CHAPTER I.--THE BLUE BIRD II.--THE LIVE CANOE III.--IN THE CLIFF IV.--THE DARING ATTEMPT V.--TAYOGA'S REVENGE VI.--BLACK RIFLE VII.--THE FOREST BATTLE VIII.--THE BOAT BUILDERS IX.--THE MASKED ATTACK X.--IN THE FOG XI.--THE HAPPY ESCAPE XII.--THE FRENCH CAMP XIII.--EVE OF BATTLE XIV.--TICONDEROGA THE LORDS OF THE WILD A STORY OF THE OLD NEW YORK BORDER CHAPTER I THE BLUE BIRD The tall youth, turning to the right, went down a gentle slope until he came to a little stream, where he knelt and drank. Despite his weariness, his thirst and his danger he noticed the silvery color of the water, and its soft sighing sound, as it flowed over its pebbly bed, made a pleasant murmur in his ear. Robert Lennox always had an eye for the beautiful, and the flashing brook, in its setting of deep, intense forest green, soothed his senses, speaking to him of comfort and hope.