him that they had not yet achieved their task, and there was possibility of failure. He feared for the unfortunate Jean to build his hopes too high, as they might yet be crushed by a bitter disappoint

ment.

As they approached the Indian village, the cousins espied a young and beautiful maiden sit

ting on a mat with her

back toward them,

row of those deadly missiles, which she had already feathered, were stuck in the ground at her side, and as she turned to stick in another Jean caught a partial view of her face. He staggered, and, had not his cousin caught

him in his arms, he would have fallen. Jean was, for a moment speechless, but when he recovered he whispered:

"It is she! I know her now; but, alas, my cousin, I fear to announce my presence too abruptly."

"Is there not some way by which you can recall her mind to the past, before we approach? She

has not seen us yet, and is wholly unaware of our presence.

Jean puzzled his brain to think of some means by which he might in a gentle manner break to her his presence. At last he said:

"My mother taught me the song of the French voyageur, which I used to sing to her."

Sing it now, and we will watch the effect," suggested Noah.

Jean had a rich baritone voice, very musical, and he began to sing in low tones, gradually swelling to louder and sweeter cadence, until he thrilled. the very woods about him.

He sang:

"Tout les amants

Changent de maitresses

Qu'ils changent qui voudrou
Pour moi je garde la mienne
Le bon vin ni endort

L'amour me réveille."

As the rich, clear tones reached her ears, the maiden dropped her arrow and listened. Her soul seemed to drink in the glorious symphonies of a forgotten past. Ere the last sweet refrain was borne to her ears, she sprang to her feet and, wheeling quickly about, saw the singer:

"Jean! Jean!" she cried.

In a moment, he was at her side and had clasped the fainting girl in his arms.

CHAPTER XX.

CONCLUSION.

Why, then, a final note prolong,
Or lengthen out a closing song,
Unless to bid the gentle speed,

Who long have listened to my rede?

-SCOTT.

AMONG other brilliant achievements designed for the campaign of 1758, was the capture of Fort Du Quesne, the key to the Ohio valley, in the attempt to obtain which Braddock had lost his life and army. The capture of Fort Du Quesne had been the dream of Washington ever since he had been forced to capitulate at Fort Necessity.

While Abercrombie was suffering defeat in the north, and Wolfe was dreaming of Quebec, General Joseph Forbes had gathered about six thousand men at Fort Cumberland, in Maryland, preparatory to a march against Du Quesne. Washington was already there with about two thousand Virginians, and Colonel Bouquet had came up from the Carolinias with over a thousand Highlanders, three hundred royal Americans, and a body of Cherokee

Indians. Du Quesne was feebly garrisoned, and Washington advised an immediate advance over Braddock's road. It was then July, and, had Washington's advice been heeded, Du Quesne might have been taken before August; but other counsel prevailed, and Forbes, who was so ill that he was carried on a litter, determined to construct a new road for his troops over the Alleghanies. This proved to be an almost fatal mistake. Autumn came, and the capture of Frontenac by Bradstreet had discouraged the Indians, causing many of them to leave the French army, yet the force designed to capture Du Quesne was slowly creeping over the mountains. Washington, impatient and indignant at delay and folly, wrote to the speaker of the Virginia assembly:

"See how our time has been misspent. Behold how the golden opportunity has been lost, never more to be regained!"

About the time of Washington's writing his letter, Bouquet, with two thousand men, went forward to Loyal Hanna in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, to build a fort. Anxious to win renown, Bouquet sent out Major Grant with eight hundred Highlanders and some Virginians under Captain Bullitt to reconnoitre Fort Du Quesne. Grant managed things so badly that he was attacked and severely defeated. His regulars broke and

ran, and the Virginians were forced to cover their retreat. The French, elated at their success, proceeded to attack Bouquet at Loyal Hanna; but, after a fight of four hours, they were repulsed with considerable loss.

Washington, who was all eagerness to advance. was sent forward to Loyal Hanna, and placed at the head of a brigade of provincials and ordered to move in front of the army. The far-sighted and ambitious general was chagrined at the long delay, for it was November before General Forbes, with the artillery and main force, came up, and full fifty miles of rugged, untrodden country yet lay between them and Fort Du Quesne. A council of war was held, at which it was determined, owing to the lateness of the season, to defer the attack on Fort Du Quesne. Washington, who was indignant at delay, asked permission to push on with his provincials and capture the Fort. He reported that he had positive assurance of the weakness of the French garrison. Permission was given, and then, fearing the provincials would gain all the glory, the main army followed after him; but Washington and his provincials first gained the Fort. The French, only five hundred strong, set fire to it and fled down the Ohio. The English flag soon floated over the ramparts, and the name of Du Quesne was changed in honor of America's