292 THE SCOURGE OF CANADA. [1691 



parties met eacli other, and their war-whoops gave 

 the alarm. Yalrenne instantly took possession of 

 a ridge of ground that crossed the way of the 

 approaching English. Two large trees had fallen 

 along the crest of the acclivity ; and behind these 

 the French crouched, in a triple row, well hidden 

 by bushes and thick standing trunks. The Eng- 

 lish, underrating the strength of their enemy, and 

 ignorant of his exact position, charged impetuously, 

 and were sent reeling back by a close and deadly 

 volley. They repeated the attack with still greater 

 fury, and dislodged the French from their ambus- 

 cade. Then ensued a fight, which Frontenac 

 declares to have been the most hot and stubborn 

 ever known in Canada. The object of Schuyler 

 was to break through the French and reach his 

 canoes : the object of Valrenne was to drive him 

 back upon the superior force at La Prairie. The 

 cautious tactics of the bush were forgotten. Three 

 times the combatants became mingled together, 

 firing breast to breast, and scorching each other's 

 shirts by the flash of their guns. The Algonquins 

 did themselves no credit ; and at first some of the 

 Canadians gave way, but they were rallied by Le 

 Ber Duchesne, their commander, and afterwards 

 showed great bravery. On the side of the English, 

 many of the Mohegan allies ran off ; but the whites 

 and the Mohawks fought with equal desperation. 

 In the midst of the tumult, Yalrenne was perfectly 

 cool, directing his men with admirable vigor and 

 address, and barring Schuyler's retreat for more 

 than an hour. At length, the French were driven 



