.

"And who is Black Rifle?" asked Grosvenor.

"A great hunter and scout and a friend of mine. I'm glad he's
here. The general can find many uses for Black Rifle and his men."

He ran forward and greeted Black Rifle, who smiled one of his rare
smiles at sight of the youth. Willet and Tayoga gave him the same warm
welcome.

"What news, Black Rifle?" asked Robert.

"The French and Indians gather at Fort Duquesne to meet you. They are
not in great force, but the wilderness will help them and the best of
the French leaders are there."

"Have you heard anything of St. Luc?" asked Robert.

"We met a Seneca runner who had seen him. The Senecas are not at war
with the French, and the man talked with him a little, but the
Frenchman didn't tell him anything. We think he was on the way to Fort
Duquesne to join the other French leaders there."

"Have you heard the names of any of these Frenchmen?"

"Besides St. Luc there's Beaujeu, Dumas, Ligneris and Contrecoeur who
commands. French regulars and Canadian troops are in the fort, and the
heathen are pouring in from the west and north."

"Those are brave and skillful men," said Willet, as he listened to the
names of the French leaders who would oppose them. "But 'twas good of
you, Black Rifle, to come with these lads of yours to help us."

After the men had enjoyed food and a little rest, they were taken into
the great tent, where the general sat, Willet having procured the
interview, and accompanying them. Robert waited near with Grosvenor
and Tayoga, knowing how useful Black Rifle and his men could be to a
wilderness expedition, and hoping that they would be thrown together
in future service.

A quarter of an hour passed, and then Black Rifle strode from the
tent, his face dark as night. His men followed him, and, almost
without a word, they left the camp, plunged into the forest and
disappeared. Willet also came from the tent, crestfallen.

"What has happened, Dave?" asked Robert in astonishment.

"The worst. I suppose that when unlike meets unlike only trouble can
come. I introduced Black Rifle and his men to General Braddock. They
did not salute. They did not take off their caps in his presence,--not
knowing, of course, that such things were done in armies. General
Braddock rebuked them. I smoothed it all over as much as I could. Then
he demanded what they wanted there, as a haughty giver of gifts would
speak to a suppliant. Black Rifle said he and his men came