Fritz himself had a slight attack of fever resulting from the wound which he had scarcely noticed in the heat of battle.
Stark was almost the only member of the company who had come forth quite unscathed, and he was the life of the party during the next spell of inaction, telling stories, setting the men to useful tasks, making drawings of the French forts for the guidance of the English, and amusing the whole place by his sudden escapades in different directions.
The Rangers were further cheered by a letter of thanks from General Abercromby, lately sent out from England, recognizing their gallant service, and promising that it should be made known to the King.
But the adventures of the winter were not over, although the days were lengthening out, and the blustering rains and winds of March had come.

The snow was greatly lessened; but a spell of frost still held the lake bound, and the rigours of the season were little abated.
It was St.Patrick's Day; and as some of the soldiers in Fort William Henry were Irish, they had celebrated the anniversary by a revel which had left a large proportion more or less drunk and incapable.

Their English comrades had followed their lead with alacrity, and the Fort was resounding with laughter and song.
But the Rangers in the huts outside were on the alert and as Stark remarked with a smile, they must keep watch and ward that night, for nobody else seemed to have any disposition to do so.
Major Eyre, in pity for the forlorn condition of his men, had not restrained them from amusing themselves in their own fashion upon this anniversary.

It was well, however, that there were some sleepless watchers on the alert that night; for as the grey dawn began to break, a sound was heard over the ice as though of an approaching multitude.

The Rangers gave the alarm, and manned the guns.