They will encourage and hearten up the regulars, who are new to this sort of thing; and when I know more clearly our exact position, I will fall back and report." Fritz remained with Howe, whose men came marching up in a rather confused and straggling fashion, but were only perplexed, not in any wise disheartened, by the roughness of the road.

When the column had regained something like marching order, the word was given to start, and Lord Howe with a bodyguard of Rangers marched at the head.
They had proceeded like this for perhaps a mile or more, when there was a quick stir in the thicket.

Next moment the challenge rang out: "Qui vive ?" "Francais!" shouted back a Ranger, who had learned Rogers' trick of puzzling his opponents by the use of French words.
But this time they were not deceived.

A stern word of command was given.

A crack of rifles sounded out from the bushes; puffs of smoke and flashes of fire were seen.
"Steady, men; load and fire!" The command was given by Lord Howe.