"My men are growing puzzled by the forest," he said, "and indeed it
is small wonder, seeing that we ourselves scarce know where we are.
Go you on with the Rangers, Rogers, and I will return a short
distance and get my men into better order. I do not anticipate an
ambush; but there may be enemies lurking in the woods. We must not
be taken unawares. Push you on, and I will follow with my company
at a short distance."
"I will take a handful of men with me," answered Rogers, "and push
on to reconnoitre. Let the rest remain with you. They will
encourage and hearten up the regulars, who are new to this sort of
thing; and when I know more clearly our exact position, I will fall
back and report."
Fritz remained with Howe, whose men came marching up in a rather
confused and straggling fashion, but were only perplexed, not in
any wise disheartened, by the roughness of the road. When the
column had regained something like marching order, the word was
given to start, and Lord Howe with a bodyguard of Rangers marched
at the head.
They had proceeded like this for perhaps a mile or more, when there
was a quick stir in the thicket. Next moment the challenge rang
out:
"Qui vive?"
"Francais!" shouted back a Ranger, who had learned Rogers' trick of
puzzling his opponents by the use of French words.
Pages:
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233