d the young lieutenant. "Oh, better, far
better, to have held the fort and perished in open fight than to be
set upon in cold blood by those fiends!"

"Yes," quoth Pringle sternly; "that is what we felt and said. But
it was too late then. The Indians were all amongst us. They were
here, there, and everywhere. They got hold of the long hair of the
women and the terrified children, and drew their scalping knives
and menaced them till they shrieked and cried aloud in abject
terror--"

Pringle paused; a spasm of horror shook him. After a brief pause he
recommenced in more rapid tones:

"Why prolong the tale? it has lasted already too long. No proper
guard was provided for us. Why I cannot tell, for the Marquis was
truly horrified at what was going on. Perhaps he thought the steps
he had taken were sufficient, or that the rage of the Indians was
appeased; but be that as it might, when we marched out towards Fort
Edward, we had no efficient protection, and the Indians were all
round us, snatching at caps and coats, and forcing the soldiers to
give them rum from their canteens, every drop of which seemed to
add fuel to the fire."

"And you had no escort?"

"None of any efficacy. Monro, our gallant Colonel, went back to the
French camp to protest and petition; but while he was gone the
spark kindled.

"It was the Anenaki chief who first raised the war whoop, and the
effect was instantaneous. They sprang upon us like fiends. They
seized the shrieking women and children and bore them off to the
woods, killing and scalping them as they ran. We had guns, but no
ammunition, and were almost exhausted with what we had been
through.

"In a moment all was a scene of indescribable horror and confusion.
I can only speak of what I saw myself. I was set upon by the
savages; but I could give blow for blow. They sprang after others
less able to defend themselves. I saw a little lad rush screaming
through the wood. I at once ran after him, and knocked down his
pursuer. He clung about me, begging me to save him. I took his
hand, and we dashed into the forest together.

"As we did so, I was aware that some French officers, with the
Marquis de Montcalm, were rushing up to try to appease the tumult;
but I doubt me if their words produced any effect. The boy and I
ran on together. Then out dashed a dozen or more warriors upon us,
with scalps in their hands--a sight horrible to behold. I set the
boy against a tree, and stood before him;