1755.] BATTLE OF LAKE GEORGE. 117 



themselves through the forest, opposing a wide 

 front to the enemy, fighting stubbornly as they 

 retreated, and shooting back at the French from 

 behind every tree or bush that could afford a cover. 

 The Canadians and Indians pressed them closely, 

 darting, with shrill cries, from tree to tree, while 

 Dieskau's regulars, with steadier advance, bore all 

 before them. Far and wide through the forest rang 

 shout and shriek and Indian whoop, mingled with 

 the deadly rattle of guns. Retreating and pur- 

 suing, the combatants passed northward towards 

 the English camp, leaving the ground behind them 

 strewn with dead and dying. 



A fresh detachment from the camp came in aid 

 of the English, and the pursuit was checked. Yet 

 the retreating men were not the less rejoiced when 

 they could discern, between the brown columns 

 of the woods, the mountains and waters of Lake 

 George, with the white tents of their encampments 

 on its shore. The French followed no farther. 

 The blast of their trumpets was heard recalling 

 their scattered men for a final attack. 



During the absence of Williams's detachment, 

 the main body of the army had covered the front 

 of their camp with a breastwork, — if that name 

 can be applied to a row of logs, — behind which the 

 marksmen lay flat on their faces. This preparation 

 was not yet complete, when the defeated troops 

 appeared issuing from the woods. Breathless and 

 perturbed, they entered the camp, and lay down 

 with the rest ; and the army waited the attack in 

 a frame of mind which boded ill for the result. 



