Colonel Grant; and from the twenty-ninth of April to nearly the very day when the grand embarkation was made on Lake George, was, with Stark, Putnam, and the far-famed Indian chief Nawnawapatconks, of the Mohegan tribe, constantly engaged in surprising the outposts of the French and in making prisoners almost under the very walls of the forts of Ticonderoga and Crown Point. So considerable was his force, that by despatching different companies under their various captains, the scouts of the French and their Indians were actually driven within their strongholds. Rogers and his men continued to range and scour the woods' from Fort Edward, on the north of Wood Creek, to Lake Champlain, and along the waters and borders of South Bay, and the mountain passes on both sides of Lake George, and the many beautiful islands which dot its pure waters.

Lord Howe was still at Albany, most actively engaged in disciplining his troops and receiving the reinforcements arriving there. From every appearance the commander-in-chief was possessed of all the elements of a great general; yet Lord Howe was considered, up to the moment when he fell, the soul and spirit of the expedition. And here it is proper to say a few words about one of the most remarkable characters of that time. He was the grandson of George the First, and had been educated with the care and attention, which became his birth, and which happily harmonized with his extraordinary powers of application and his ambition. He left England with the reputation of being the most accomplished young man of the court of his uncle, the reigning sovereign. With all those romantic ideas of conquest and consequent glory which still pervaded the civilized world, and which were shared to a great extent by Pitt and all the court, young Howe came to America, where he entered heart and soul into the most active and hazardous duties of the campaign. In person he was frank and insinuating, and he made himself universally beloved by the manifestation of the most amiable qualities known to the human heart. He appeared always to enjoy himself, particularly in the primitive social circles of our new country. He frequently remarked that this was no affectation for the sake of pleasing, but that he really loved the frank and genial intercourse to which he was here admitted. Again, accomodating himself to the conventional rules of metropolitan society, with manners the most courtly and not less agreeable, there he was the admired of all; while he himself delighted in the characteristics which prevailed in New-England and in New-York. In some way, when scarcely two years in the country, he was more extensively known personally than any other officer of rank; and one town in Massachusetts was named after the place of his birth in England, and retains its name to this day.

The very personification of boldness, enterprise and daring, the service of the scout had its charms for him; and although rigidly disciplined to other rules of warfare, and accustomed to the glitter of military trappings, he made it his business to learn the art of bush-fighting,' and of surprising the enemy in the forest, in the mountain fastness, or in the chase with the swift canoe. Nursing the romantic spirit of his youth, and with an artistic eye and great admiration for the grand and

beautiful in nature, he luxuriated in the striking and peculiar scenery of the new country, while he was acquiring a constitution adequate to the greatest fatigues of the military athlete. The tributaries high up the Hudson, the adjacent wild and variously-shaped mountains, the silver waters of Lake George, and those heights which define its limits; Lake Champlain, with the great green hills on the east, snow-crowned, and glistening in the bright sun of every month; all these led him onward, gliding in the slight canoe, or in pedestrian adventure: his spirit, free as air, contemplating more mighty conquests and loftier fame. 'We breathe more freely,' said he, 'on the mountain-top.' His imagination, aided by the full glow of health and physical energy, ranged a thousand times beyond the summits on which his eye rested, amid scenes beyond the two lakes, then the theatre of manoeuvring scouts, and soon to be of contending armies.

Rogers, Stark, Stevens and Putnam were all bold leaders. They were the native pioneers of the new world, and so our young lord was their fit companion in errantry. Fearing nothing, and skilled already in the practical use of every weapon known in such warfare, he was prepared for any surprise from the wily foe which did not thrice outnumber him. Philosophical-gay with every opportunity consistent with immediate safety-Howe was the especial favorite of Stark, who was of about the same age, and his nearest match for physical power. At this time perhaps John Stark was as widely-famed as a runner, and in the athletic game of wrestling at arm's-length, and the bear-hug,' through all New-England, or even among the Indians (to whom his quality became known during his captivity), as any man living. In fact, this fame was only eclipsed by his more recent daring and fights with the enemy's scouts, or the captures he had made of their sentinels within sound of their forts.

The balance of power,' as between Lord Howe and Stark, was a matter of doubt, and was not unfrequently a point of merry discussion with the scouts who were not personally interested; but no public exhibition was ever made of their relative strength and skill, though it was understood that they did practice, for the especial benefit, and almost broken bones, of others. Indeed, there was no exercise, from the most simple, in all the varieties of gymnastics, to the earnest use of the tomahawk and scalping-knife (let history pass lightly over it), in which our rangers were not well skilled; and, though ever dignified, they not unfrequently indulged sportively in boyish New-England pranks: Stark, or even Old Put.,' who was much their senior, being the master of ceremonies. One illustrative instance, and I return with the reader to view Lord Howe in immediate command of his regiment at Albany.

A favorite resting-place was on the brow of a beautiful hill, which, being entirely cleared for one mile from the water's edge, commanded a fascinating view of Lake George and its fairy-like islands for twelve miles. It was situated almost directly at the head of the lake, and arose in the rear, amphitheatre-like, quite above the sites of Fort George and Fort William Henry, and commanded the most important passage where any military works were practicable. The spot is that

known now to the tourist as 'Fort Gage,' or 'Gage's Hill.' On the summit, in the rear of our scouts, was a breast-work of considerable extent, which remains to this day, but its earlier history is not known. Alternate sentries, as was the custom, were placed on either side of the breast-work to prevent surprise; and quite within the outposts, ranging and creeping about stealthily, was the famous and faithful wolfdog of William Stark, named Baubier. And, secure from the rear, having a considerable prospect on each side and an immense distance in front, our heroes, Stark and Lord Howe, prostrate and in close proximity, on the big bear-skin of the latter, treated each other in turn with the humorous stories and reminiscences of boyhood: Stark, of hunting, trapping, fishing, wrestling and huskings, which latter the girls also attended. But,' said he, perhaps the greatest sport is jumping the stick.' At the mention of this, some half dozen of their followers, whose positions were defined after the same fashion, rose a little, and resting on their elbows, suggested that the game be now performed; saying, they had never seen any ground so admirably fitted for it.

No further ceremony was necessary, for his lordship could not but be alive to a play at the mention of which the eyes of every NewEngland scout-and there were at least twelve of them-seemed to glisten with satisfaction and delight. Two saplings-trimmed, and about the size of large hoop-poles-ten feet long, were now placed in the ground upright, some eight feet apart. These had been properly notched at every half-foot, from the top to within four feet from the ground, so as to enable the cross-pole to rest securely, and at such distance up the notches as the performers could leap and clear; the game not depending on the greatest physical power, but rather upon skill, ready use of the extremities, and agility. All except those on sentry duty entered the course; the men who had never seen it, as well as those who had practised it in boyhood.

It was a bright day in the early spring, and the scouts might be considered as 'basking in the sunshine of pleasure' and rest. The mention of this old pastime awoke all the joyous emulation they had felt in youth, and every latent energy was quickly in activity. The galloping and frisking cattle, when first let loose from their winter stables, never felt more sensibly the electricity of the fresh green fields.

The cross-pole was placed on the lowest notch, and the company, the last of which was our young lord, passed it rapidly. The pole was raised two notches. Some demurred to this, but as the objection came from the most active of the troupe, it was known to be mere affectation, as the result proved; for these passed it with more ease, if possible, than any of the rest. On the third trial, the cross-pole being raised another notch, all cleared it except Put.,' who for some reason had not yet grown very warm in the play. He started with considerable velocity, but coming within a few feet of the pole, he made a full stop, then advanced a step or two, and measuring its height by his not very erect person, found it just up to his chin. Turning now, and facing the spectators, it is sufficient to say that he looked sheepish.' The roar of laughter which succeeded taxed the nerves of every scout. That's right, boys,' cried Putnam; laugh away. But let the pole be; I'll try it again.'

6

He did, and at the instant of passing it drew his feet so closely to his body as to give him the shape of a beer-barrel, or a bull-frog before jumping.

How was that done?' said one; he did n't jump half as high as myself, and went over clear; yet I felt my toes touch!'

It was true. Putnam had a kind of rolling jump, like a porpoise, and it answered every purpose.

The pole was raised still higher and higher, and the excitement and huzzas proportionately increased, as one after another blushingly retired, pronounced distanced,' as was the rule after trying twice, unsuccessfully, to leap it. Scarcely anything could be more ludicrous than the appearance of the discomfitted sportsmen, as they picked themselves up from their prostrations, with 'noses incarnadined' and other signs of ill fortune. So noisy were the huzzas and roars of laughter at the variety of ridiculous failures and by this time they had become many, for the pole was now as high as the head of the tallest of the company that the out-post scouts considered themselves called in. And Baubier, always before intent on scenting the track of an unfriendly Indian, set up the most hideously unmeaning howling and barking, joining in sympathy with the strong-lunged scouts in the unearthly concert. Delighted and almost crazed with the performance, he was seen in every direction; now mounting the breast-work in the rear, now running, with every imaginable absurdity of antics, and now barking with such appearance of hearty enjoyment, that the scouts gave him a cheer.

As luck would have it, the competitors for the best of the game were now reduced to five, and in the next trial to three. And now we have the hero-gymnists of the three clans: John Stark, of the New-England hunters; Duncan Campbell, of the Highlanders, a true Rob Roy; and Lord Howe, of honest English training. Not a moment intervened. The cross-pole was raised to near six feet. Lord Howe was lazily, as the scouts afterward said, 'limbering his limbs' on his bear-skin; when up, and with the bound of a deer, followed by the Highlander, he passed the pole. Stark missed his reckoning, and getting at his highest elevation, some three fect before reaching it, of course stumbled against it about breast high. The spasmodic bellowing was a renewed signal for Baubier. He was no longer to be restrained, and following the footsteps of his associates, who had shown themselves on all fours nearly as often as he himself, during the entire scene, he passed the pole, wagging his tail, as the company said, in knowing triumph, to Master John. Now the pole was raised six inches higher, and the performance, with the new and unmatchable volunteer, assuming so ludicrous and side-shaking an air, the well-strung nerves of Stark and the Highlander gave way, and even the clearance of the Lord Howe was equivocal: as a scout said to Putnam, his toe touched.' He was quickly followed by Baubier; but declining further competition with a performer not named in the bill, he was declared by acclamation, throwing up of caps, and indescribable roars, (which the scouts only knew how to give,) together with the new fangled antics and barkings of his canineship, the hero in the game of jumping the pole.

'You, Lord Howe,' they cried; 'you are the boy for it! Britain rules the roost!'

'I believe,' he very quietly replied, glancing toward Stark, 'that the New-Englanders are beaten in a game of their own.'

True, my Lord,' answered Stark, but then the English scout has been beaten by Baubier, who, say what you will, is a New-England scout, agile, daring and faithful—a match for the world.'

Generosity and a merry nature, so eminent in Lord Howe, excited like feelings in all about him; and it is believed the triumph, borne so modestly, was as gratifying to every one in the party. In fact, none grudged the new honors which Baubier had acquired. But honors were not novel to him; he had yet to see matched his great fame, acquired at the awful battle of Rogers's-Slide, an account of which appears elsewhere.

Lord Howe was in fact possessed of all the noble elements which distinguished the colonist of that day, of whatever profession, civil or military, and with none of the jealousies peculiar to New-England or any section of the country. He rather adopted all the manners and customs of every condition, and was the most practical among those with whom his fame and fortune were identified. By some it was considered a matter of condescension, and by others of constitutional kindness and unerring judgment.

Now, with the great encampment just below Albany, immediately preceding the march of the main part of the army, the young nobleman was infusing all the ardor of his own military spirit, his generalship, and the practical acquirements of the ranger, through the immense army. Allaying all jealousies between the regular and colonial troops, he rather made his own regiment, the fifty-fifth, conformable with the American. While other officers were quartered in town with the civil Albanians of that day, who felt that they were entertaining those only who were to defend their firesides, he was in camp, the companion of all in discipline and service. Evenings mostly in his camp, his card referred to it as his home. Ever receiving the civil invitations of the people of the town, he frequently entertained them in turn with the simple fare of the soldier. Always courteous and amiable, it is scarcely enough to say that he was the idol of the social circles of our ancient metropolis.

He threw the wet mantle of ridicule over that austerity frequently assumed by the officers of the regulars, and so peculiar to many of moderate birth, and still more moderate intellect, unfledged as they frequently were, and full of presumption, when they had scarcely merged from their academical awkwardness. Ignorance with arrogance,' said his lordship, will easily create discord where knowledge and respect for the varied manners and opinions of others will harmonize our great army, and make it invincible. Any gentleman officer will find his fellow and his equal too in every regiment or company of the Americans : even with the Indians. I know them well. Beware how you underestimate their abilities and feelings, civil, social, or military.'

Great numbers of the European officers arrived, and were attached to the then several regiments, but were mostly, as before mentioned,