two had
climbed together to a commanding height, when upon the dawn of a
glorious midsummer morning they saw the long-expected flotilla
covering the lake and making headway up it.

What a sight it was! The hearts of the onlookers seemed to stand
still within them as they looked. And yet it was a magnificent
spectacle. Myriads and myriads of Indian canoes like flocks of
waterfowl seemed swarming everywhere, whilst from two to three
hundred bateaux conveyed the French and Canadian soldiers. Then
there were great platforms bearing the heavy guns, and rowed by
huge sweeps, as well as being assisted by the bateaux; whilst the
blaze of colour formed by the uniforms of the various battalions
formed in itself a picture which had seldom been seen in these
savage solitudes.

"We shall have our work cut out to face such odds!" cried Fritz, as
he turned to dash down the hill and regain his canoe. But Roche
laid a hand upon his arm, and pointed significantly in another
direction.

Fritz looked, and a smothered exclamation, almost like a groan,
broke from him.

Far away through the mazes of the forest, skirting round towards
the doomed fort by a road parallel with the lake, was a large body
of troops--how large the spectators could not guess, but they saw
enough to tell them that it was a very considerable detachment.
Such an army as the one now marching upon Fort William Henry had
not been seen there before. To those who knew the weakness of the
fort and of its garrison it seemed already as though the day were
lost.

Moreover these men knew that the great Marquis de Montcalm himself
was coming this time to take personal command, and his name
inspired respect and a certain fear. He was known to be a general
of considerable distinction; it was felt that there would be no
blundering when he was at the head of the expedition.

To fly back to the fort with these ominous tidings was but the work
of a few short hours. In a moment all was stir and bustle. The
soldiers were not to be disheartened. They were ready and almost
eager for the battle, having become weary of inaction and suspense.
But the face of Colonel Monro was grave and stern, and he called
Fritz aside presently and conferred with him apart.

"I must send a messenger to Fort Edward to General Webb, to report
to him our sorry plight. He has said that he can spare no more men;
but this extremity of ours should be told him. Think you that you
can take a letter safely t