Chapter 17

           "Weavewethewoof.Thethreadisspun.

           Thewebiswove.Theworkisdone."

           Gray.

           Thehostilearmies,whichlayinthewildsoftheHorican,passedthenightofthe9thofAugust,1757,muchinthemannertheywouldhadtheyencounteredonthefairestfieldsofEurope.Whiletheconqueredwerestill,sullen,anddejected,thevictorstriumphed.Buttherearelimitsaliketogriefandjoy;andlongbeforethewatchesofthemorningcame,thestillnessofthoseboundlesswoodswasonlybrokenbyagaycallfromsomeexultingyoungFrenchmanoftheadvancedpickets,oramenacingchallengefromthefort,whichsternlyforbadetheapproachofanyhostilefootstepsbeforethestipulatedmoment.Eventheseoccasionalthreateningsoundsceasedtobeheardinthatdullhourwhichprecedestheday,atwhichperiodalistenermighthavesoughtinvainanyevidenceofthepresenceofthosearmedpowersthatthenslumberedontheshoresofthe"holylake."

           Itwasduringthesemomentsofdeepsilence,thatthecanvaswhichconcealedtheentrancetoaspaciousmarqueeintheFrenchencampmentwasshovedaside,andamanissuedfrombeneaththedraperyintotheopenair.Hewasenvelopedinacloakthatmighthavebeenintendedasaprotectionfromthechillingdampsofthewoods,butwhichservedequallywellasamantle,toconcealhisperson.