strange tones to represent the speech of the devil, and
carrying on violent antics which leave him in a stream of perspiration.
Outside the hut the Indians sit round on their {91} haunches like apes
and fancy that they can see fire proceeding from the roof, although the
devil appears to the soothsayer in the form of a stone. Finally, the
chiefs, when they have by these means learned that they will meet their
enemy and kill a sufficient number, arrange the order of battle.
Sticks a foot long are taken, one for each warrior, and these are laid
out on a level place five or six feet square. The leader then explains
the order of battle, after which the warriors substitute themselves for
the sticks and go through the manoeuvres till they can do them without
confusion.

From this description of tactics we pass speedily to a story of real
war. Reaching Lake Champlain, the party skirted the western shore,
with fine views of the Green Mountains, on the summit of which
Champlain mistook white limestone for snow. On July 29, at Crown
Point, the Iroquois were encountered at about ten o'clock in the
evening. Thus the first real battle of French and Indians took place
near that remarkable spot where Lake Champlain and Lake George draw
close together--the Ticonderoga of Howe, the Carillon of Montcalm.

The Algonquins were in good courage, for, {92} besides the muskets of
the three Frenchmen, they were inspired by a dream of Champlain that he
had seen the Iroquois drowning in a lake. As soon as the enemies saw
each other, both began to utter loud cries and make ready their
weapons. The Algonquins kept out on the water; the Iroquois went
ashore and built a barricade. When the Algonquins had made ready for
battle

they dispatched two canoes to the enemy to inquire if they wished to
fight, to which the latter replied that they wished nothing else; but
they said that at present there was not much light, and that it would
be necessary to wait for day so as to be able to recognize each other;
and that as soon as the sun rose they would offer us battle. This was
agreed to by our side. Meanwhile the entire night was spent in dancing
and singing, on both sides, with endless insults and other talk; as how
little courage we had, how feeble a resistance we should make against
their arms, and that when day came we should realize it to our ruin.
Ours also were not slow in retorting, telling them that they would see
such execution of ar