forest, and then dark
forms could be seen, bounding down the slope through the trees towards
the camp in a throng.

There was a movement of uneasiness among the young rustics, few of whom
ever heard a shot fired in anger before that morning; but the officers,
standing pistol in hand, threatened to shoot any man who moved from his
position.

Could Dieskau have launched his whole force at once upon the camp at
that moment, he would probably have carried it, but this he was
powerless to do. His regular troops were well in hand; but the mob of
Canadians and Indians were scattered through the forest, shouting,
yelling, and firing from behind trees.

He thought, however, that if he led the regulars to the attack, the
others would come forward, and he therefore gave the word for the
advance. The French soldiers advanced steadily, until the trees grew
thinner. They were deployed into line, and opened fire in regular
volleys. Scarcely had they done so, however, when Captain Eyre, who
commanded the artillery, opened upon them with grape from his three
guns, while from waggon, and boat, and fallen log, the musketry fire
flashed out hot and bitter, and, reeling under the shower of iron and
lead, the French line broke up, the soldiers took shelter behind trees,
and thence returned the fire of the defenders.

Johnson received a flesh wound in the thigh, and retired to his tent,
where he spent the rest of the day. Lyman took the command, and to him
the credit of the victory is entirely due.

For four hours the combat raged. The young soldiers had soon got over
their first uneasiness, and fought as steadily and coolly as veterans.
The musketry fire was unbroken. From every tree, bush, and rock the
rifles flashed out, and the leaden hail flew in a storm over the camp,
and cut the leaves in a shower from the forest. Through this Lyman
moved to and fro among the men, directing, encouraging, cheering them
on, escaping as by a miracle the balls which whistled round him. Save
the Indians on the English side, not a man but was engaged, the
waggoners taking their guns and joining in the fight.

The Mohawks, however, held aloof, saying that they had come to see
their English brothers fight, but, animated no doubt with the idea
that, if they abstained from taking part in the fray, and the day went
against the English, their friends the Iroquois would not harm them.

The French Indians worked round on to high ground, beyond the swamp on