"No, but we shall before the English are taught the lesson we intend to
teach them--that is, to mind their own business. The French general,
Dieskau, who was commandant at Crown Point, was one of the most daring
men of whom I have ever heard. He had only fourteen hundred men,
French, Indians and Canadians, all told, but with this force he made up
his mind he would anticipate the movements of the English and drive
them back to Albany. He sailed up the lake to South Bay. From there
he marched to the upper springs of Wood Creek, intending to pass the
English army and capture Fort Edward before the alarm could be given.
But the news was carried to Gen. Johnson. A natural, a boy, half an
idiot, ran into the general's presence and cried out: 'The French are
marching like mad!' A scout was sent out and the truth learned. Col.
Williams, with a force of a thousand men, accompanied by Mohawk Chief
Hendrick, with two hundred warriors, set out to relieve the threatened
fort."

"Hendrick was a very old man, was he not?"

"Yes, he was gray-headed, and though very old he was as stalwart as any
of the younger men of the tribe. Dieskau had been misled as to the
route, and found himself four miles to the north of Fort Edward, when
he should have been there. His scouts reported that Williams and
Hendrick were marching to the fort, and the daring Frenchman quickly
ordered his forces into ambush, and the English were entrapped. Both
Williams and Hendrick fell dead, and the English were badly routed.
Johnson heard the noise of battle and quickly extemporized breastworks
by felling trees; the cannon were brought into position and then the
English awaited the triumphant French. It must have been a glorious
fight.

"The Indians, with Dieskau, when they saw the cannon, quietly walked to
a hill at a safe distance, and watched the battle. The Canadians, who
had hoped the Indians would have done the most of the fighting, were
disheartened and left the French to make the onset alone. Bravely they
fought, and for five hours, the battle raged. Johnson was wounded
early in the tight, and the men fought without a leader."

"But Johnson got the credit?"

"Yes, and was made a baronet by England; but, between you and I, the
man was only slightly wounded, and was glad of an excuse to escape the
danger of the battle."

"Johnson was no coward."

"Perhaps not; but have you not heard of that commander who, when
wounded, insisted on stayi