e," said Solomon. "When we git thar this 'ere ol'
rifle o' mine 'll do some talkin' if it has a chanst."

Church bells were ringing as they neared the city. Its inhabitants
were assembled on the river-front. The Declaration was read and then
General Schuyler made a brief address about the peril coming down from
the north. He said that a large force under General Burgoyne was on
Lake Champlain and that the British were then holding a council with
the Six Nations on the shore of the lake above Crown Point.

"At present we are unprepared to meet this great force but I suppose
that help will come and that we shall not be dismayed. The modest man
who leads the British army from the north declares in his proclamation
that he is 'John Burgoyne, Esq., Lieutenant General of His Majesty's
forces in America, Colonel of the Queen's Regiment of Light Dragoons,
Governor of Fort William in North Britain, one of the Commons in
Parliament and Commander of an Army and Fleet Employed on an Expedition
from Canada!' My friends, such is the pride that goeth before a fall.
We are an humble, hard-working people. No man among us can boast of a
name so lavishly adorned. Our names need only the simple but glorious
adornments of firmness, courage and devotion. With those, I verily
believe, we shall have an Ally greater than any this world can offer.
Let us all kneel where we stand while the Reverend Mr. Munro leads us
in prayer to Almighty God for His help and guidance."

It was an impressive hour and that day the same kind of talk was heard
in many places. The church led the people. Pulpiteers of inspired
vision of which, those days, there were many, spoke with the tongues of
men and of angels. A sublime faith in "The Great Ally" began to travel
up and down the land.

CHAPTER XXI

THE AMBUSH

Mrs. Scott and her little son were made welcome in the home of John
Irons. Jack and Solomon were immediately sent up the river and through
the bush to help the force at Ti. In the middle and late days of July,
they reported to runners the southward progress of the British. They
were ahead of Herkimer's regiment of New York militia on August third
when they discovered the ambush--a misfortune for which they were in no
way responsible. Herkimer and his force had gone on without them to
relieve Fort Schuyler. The two scouts had ridden post to join him.
They were afoot half a mile or so ahead of the commander when Jack
heard the cal