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"No, but we shall before the English are taught the lesson we intend toteach them--that is, to mind their own business. The French general,Dieskau, who was commandant at Crown Point, was one of the most daringmen of whom I have ever heard. He had only fourteen hundred men,French, Indians and Canadians, all told, but with this force he made uphis mind he would anticipate the movements of the English and drivethem back to Albany. He sailed up the lake to South Bay. From therehe marched to the upper springs of Wood Creek, intending to pass theEnglish army and capture Fort Edward before the alarm could be given.But the news was carried to Gen. Johnson. A natural, a boy, half anidiot, ran into the general's presence and cried out: 'The French aremarching like mad!' A scout was sent out and the truth learned. Col.Williams, with a force of a thousand men, accompanied by Mohawk ChiefHendrick, with two hundred warriors, set out to relieve the threatenedfort."
"Hendrick was a very old man, was he not?"
"Yes, he was gray-headed, and though very old he was as stalwart as anyof the younger men of the tribe. Dieskau had been misled as to theroute, and found himself four miles to the north of Fort Edward, whenhe should have been there. His scouts reported that Williams andHendrick were marching to the fort, and the daring Frenchman quicklyordered his forces into ambush, and the English were entrapped. BothWilliams and Hendrick fell dead, and the English were badly routed.Johnson heard the noise of battle and quickly extemporized breastworksby felling trees; the cannon were brought into position and then theEnglish awaited the triumphant French. It must have been a gloriousfight.
"The Indians, with Dieskau, when they saw the cannon, quietly walked toa hill at a safe distance,
and watched the battle. The Canadians, whohad hoped the Indians would have done the most of the fighting, weredisheartened and left the French to make the onset alone. Bravely theyfought, and for five hours, the battle raged. Johnson was woundedearly in the tight, and the men fought without a leader."
"But Johnson got the credit?"
"Yes, and was made a baronet by England; but, between you and I, theman was only slightly wounded, and was glad of an excuse to escape thedanger of the battle."
"Johnson was no coward."
"Perhaps not; but have you not heard of that commander who, whenwounded, insisted on staying on the field and giving orders until hedropped dead? That was a true hero, if you like. Then note thedifference. Dieskau was wounded three times and would not retire. Hesat on a tree stump and refused to be carried off the field. Arenegade Frenchman who had joined the English went up to him to makehim a prisoner. Dieskau was about to hand the man his watch as a tokenof surrender, but the Frenchman, thinking the general intended to drawa pistol, fired, and the brave commander dropped, mortally wounded.But though the victory was with the English, it was dearly purchased.The French were not disheartened, for they reinforced Crown Point andseized Ticonderoga, which they fortified."
"Is Ticonderoga so very strong?" asked Allen, who had listened soattentively to the historical narrative told by Arnold.
"Yes. Abercrombie for four hours stormed it. Column after columndashed with great bravery against the breastworks, but only to meetwith failure. Abercrombie could have returned with a larger army andheavier guns, but he did not. He had fifteen thousand men, while theFrench had not more than eight thousand on the outside. In 1759 theFrench, being hard pressed, dismantled the fort and the English walkedinto it. It cost the English eight million pounds to repair, enlargeand strengthen it."
"And in a few days it will be in our possession."
"I hope so."
"It must be."
"Have you sent out any scouts to find its strength?"
"Yes, one--a boy named Ebenezer Pike."
"A boy?"
"Yes, a boy that I would back against all the men I ever saw."
"He may betray you."
"Col. Arnold, that makes three times you have expressed a fear of someone betraying our cause. Do not do it again, or I may----"
Allen paused. He did not wish to give offense.
"What? Speak out, man!"
"I may doubt you. I always was taught to think that a suspiciousperson was to be feared."
"Ha, ha, ha! Allen, do you see that sun?"
"Of course."
"It shines for all?"
"Yes."
"It is always constant? It never refuses to shine?"
"No."
"Then do not doubt me until that sun ceases to be constant and true."
