58S NATURAL AND CIVIL 



Canadians aiKl Iixlians. But he neither seem™ 

 ed to have any apprehension of danger, or to 

 make any exertions lo prevent or avoid it ; but 

 remained rather indifferent or passive amidst all 

 the alarming scenes that were taking place. 

 Such however were the representations from 

 Monro, and the solicitations in his own camp, 

 tliat on the eighth or ninth day of the siege, gen- 

 eral Johnson was suffered to march with all the 

 provincial regiments, the militia, and Putnam's 

 rangers. They had not proceeded three miles 

 before the order was countermanded, and the 

 troops directed to return. Webb then wrote 

 to Monro that he could not afford him any re- 

 lief, and advised him to surrender on the best 

 terms that he could obtain. 



Montcalm was provided with a good train 

 of artillery, and had been accelerating his ap- 

 proaches to the fort with all the expedition in 

 his power. When Johnson began his march, 

 some of the Indians who were employed as run- 

 ners, saw the movement and gave the inform - 

 tion to Montcalm, that a large force was ap- 

 proaching towards the lake. Being questioned 

 respecting the numbers, they answered in their 

 figurative manner, " If you can count the leaves 

 of the trees, you can count them, &c." In 

 consequence of this intelligence, the operations 

 of the siege were suspended ; and Montcalm 

 was preparing to o;ive battle, or retreat, as cir- 

 eumstances might dictate. Another Indian run- 

 ner put an end to the apprehensions of the 

 French, by the Welcome tidings that the English 

 armv had returned to fort Edward.* From the 



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Putnara's 1/ife, p. 38. 



