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.--TICONDEROGATHE LORDS OF THE WILDA STORY OF THE OLD NEW YORK BORDERCHAPTER ITHE BLUE BIRDThe tall youth, turning to the right, went down a gentle slope untilhe came to a little stream, where he knelt and drank. Despite hisweariness, his thirst and his danger he noticed the silvery color ofthe water, and its soft sighing sound, as it flowed over its pebblybed, made a pleasant murmur in his ear. Robert Lennox always had aneye for the beautiful, and the flashing brook, in its setting of deep,intense forest green, soothed his senses, speaking to him of comfortand hope.He drank again and then sat back among the bushes, still breathingheavily, but with much more freedom. The sharp pain left his chest,new strength began to flow into his muscles, and, as the body wasrenewed, so the spirit soared up and became sanguine once more. He puthis ear to the earth and listened long, but heard nothing, save soundsnatural to the wilderness, the rustling of leaves before the lightwind, the whisper of the tiny current, and the occasional sweet noteof a bird in brilliant dress, pluming itself on a bough in its pride.He drew fresh courage from the peace of the woods, and resolved toremain longer there by the stream. Settling himself into the bushesand tall grass, until he was hidden from all but a trained gaze, hewaited, body and soul alike growing steadily in vigor.The forest was in its finest colors. Spring had never brought to it amore splendid robe, gorgeous and glowing, its green adorned with wildflowers, and the bloom of bush and tree like a gigantic stretch oftapestry. The great trunks of oak and elm and maple grew in endlessrows and overhead the foliage gleamed, a veil of emerald lace beforethe sun.