Chapter 1

           Mineearisopen,andmyheartprepared:

           Theworstisworldlylossthoucanstunfold:

           Say,ismykingdomlost?"

           Shakespeare.

           ItwasafeaturepeculiartothecolonialwarsofNorthAmerica,thatthetoilsanddangersofthewildernessweretobeencounteredbeforetheadversehostscouldmeet.AwideandapparentlyanimperviousboundaryofforestsseveredthepossessionsofthehostileprovincesofFranceandEngland.Thehardycolonist,andthetrainedEuropeanwhofoughtathisside,frequentlyexpendedmonthsinstrugglingagainsttherapidsofthestreams,orineffectingtheruggedpassesofthemountains,inquestofanopportunitytoexhibittheircourageinamoremartialconflict.But,emulatingthepatienceandself-denialofthepractisednativewarriors,theylearnedtoovercomeeverydifficulty;anditwouldseemthat,intime,therewasnorecessofthewoodssodark,noranysecretplacesolovely,thatitmightclaimexemptionfromtheinroadsofthosewhohadpledgedtheirbloodtosatiatetheirvengeance,ortoupholdthecoldandselfishpolicyofthedistantmonarchsofEurope.

           PerhapsnodistrictthroughoutthewideextentoftheintermediatefrontierscanfurnishalivelierpictureofthecrueltyandfiercenessofthesavagewarfareofthoseperiodsthanthecountrywhichliesbetweentheheadwatersoftheHudsonandtheadjacentlakes.

           Thefacilitieswhichnaturehadthereofferedtothemarchofthecombatantsweretooobvioustobeneglected.