The Rulers of the Lakes: A Story of George and Champlain, Joseph A. Altsheler [best classic books txt] 📗

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The French and Indian War just after Braddock's defeat is again the background for an Altsheler triumph.

Young Robert Lennox and his friend Tayoga, an Onondaga Indian, undertake to make a dangerous journey through the northern wilderness to warn the garrison and settlers gathered at Fort Refuge of the hostile forces. Afterwards they join the army as scouts, preceding it on an expedition to Lake George and Lake Champlain, where they engage in many fierce encounters. The story concludes with the battle of Lake George, in which the Colonists win their first great success of the war.

The story takes place almost wholly in the wilderness, and gives a picture of Iroquois life and warfare, historically true. The description of life in the wilderness, of the intrigue and cunning necessary in dealing with the French and Indians, of repeated encounters where ultimate success depends on quick wit and wily cleverness, makes fascinating reading for boys and girls.

THE RULERS OF THE LAKES A STORY OF GEORGE AND CHAMPLAIN BY JOSEPH A. ALTSHELER AUTHOR OF "THE SHADOW OF THE NORTH," "THE HUNTERS OF THE HILLS," "THE EYES OF THE WOODS," ETC., ETC. APPLETON-CENTURY-CROFTS, INC. NEW YORK 1917, BY D. APPLETON AND COMPANY

Printed in the United States of America

FOREWORD

"The Rulers of the Lakes" is a complete story, but it is also the third volume of the French and Indian War Series, following "The Hunters of the Hills" and "The Shadow of the North." Robert Lennox, Tayoga, Willet, and all the important characters in the earlier romances reappear.

CHARACTERS IN THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR SERIES

   ROBERT LENNOX A lad of unknown origin
   TAYOGA A young Onondaga warrior
   DAVID WILLET A hunter
   RAYMOND LOUIS DE ST. LUC A brilliant French officer
   AGUSTE DE COURCELLES A French officer
   FRANÇOIS DE JUMONVILLE A French officer
   LOUIS DE GALISONNIÈRE A young French officer
   JEAN DE MÉZY A corrupt Frenchman
   ARMAND GLANDELET A young Frenchman
   PIERRE BOUCHER A bully and bravo
   PHILIBERT DROUILLARD A French priest
   THE MARQUIS DUQUESNE Governor-General of Canada
   MARQUIS DE VAUDREUIL Governor-General of Canada
   FRANÇOIS BIGOT Intendant of Canada
   MARQUIS DE MONTCALM French commander-in-chief
   DE LEVIS A French general
   BOURLAMAQUE A French general
   BOUGAINVILLE A French general
   ARMAND DUBOIS A follower of St. Luc
   M. DE CHATILLARD An old French Seigneur
   CHARLES LANGLADE A French partisan
   THE DOVE The Indian wife of Langlade
   TANDAKORA An Ojibway chief
   DAGANOWEDA A young Mohawk chief
   HENDRICK An old Mohawk chief
   BRADDOCK A British general
   ABERCROMBIE A British general
   WOLFE A British general
   COL. WILLIAM JOHNSON Anglo-American leader
   MOLLY BRANT Col. Wm. Johnson's Indian wife
   JOSEPH BRANT Young brother of Molly Brant,
                                   afterward the great Mohawk
                                   chief, Thayendanegea
   ROBERT DINWIDDIE Lieutenant-Governor of Virginia
   WILLIAM SHIRLEY Governor of Massachusetts
   BENJAMIN FRANKLIN Famous American patriot
   JAMES COLDEN A young Philadelphia captain
   WILLIAMWILTON A young Philadelphia lieutenant
   HUGH CARSON A young Philadelphia lieutenant
   JACOBUS HUYSMAN An Albany burgher
   CATERINA Jacobus Huysman's cook
   ALEXANDER MCLEAN An Albany schoolmaster
   BENJAMIN HARDY A New York merchant
   JOHNATHAN PILLSBURY Clerk to Benjamin Hardy
   ADRIAN VAN ZOON A New York merchant
   THE SLAVER A nameless rover
   ACHILLE GARAY A French spy
   ALFRED GROSVENOR A young English officer
   JAMES CABELL A young Virginian
   WALTER STUART A young Virginian
   BLACK RIFLE A famous "Indian fighter"
   ELIHU STRONG A Massachusetts colonel
   ALAN HERVEY A New York financier
   STUART WHYTE Captain of the British sloop,
                                 Hawk
   JOHN LATHAM Lieutenant of the British sloop,
                                 Hawk
   EDWARD CHARTERIS A young officer of the Royal
                                 Americans
   ZEBEDEE CRANE A young scout and forest runner
   ROBERT ROGERS Famous Captain of American Rangers

CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. THE HERALDS OF PERIL 1 II. THE KINDLY BRIDGE 22 III. THE FLIGHT 42 IV. A FOREST CONCERT 64 V. GATHERING FORCES 88 VI. THE DARK STRANGER 112 VII. ON THE GREAT TRAIL 136 VIII. ARESKOUI'S FAVOR 154 IX. ON ANDIATAROCTE 178 X. THE NAVAL COMBAT 198 XI. THE COMRADES 220 XII. THE SINISTER SIEGE 243 XIII. TANDAKORA'S GRASP 268 XIV. SHARP SWORD 289 XV. THE LAKE BATTLE 312

The RULERS OF THE LAKES

A STORY OF GEORGE AND CHAMPLAIN CHAPTER I THE HERALDS OF PERIL

The three, the white youth, the red youth, and the white man, lay deep in the forest, watching the fire that burned on a low hill to the west, where black figures flitted now and then before the flame. They did not stir or speak for a long time, because a great horror was upon them. They had seen an army destroyed a few days before by a savage but invisible foe. They had heard continually for hours the fierce triumphant yells of the warriors and they had seen the soldiers dropping by hundreds, but the woods and thickets had hid the foe who sent forth such a rain of death.

Robert Lennox could not yet stop the quiver of his nerves when he recalled the spectacle, and Willet, the hunter, hardened though he was to war, shuddered in spite of himself at the memory of that terrible battle in the leafy wilderness. Nor was Tayoga, the young Onondaga, free from emotion when he thought of Braddock's defeat, and the blazing triumph it meant for the western tribes, the enemies of his people.

They had turned back, availing themselves of their roving commission, when they saw that the victors were not pursuing the remains of the beaten army, and now they were watching the French and Indians. Fort Duquesne was not many miles away, but the fire on the hill had