General Amherst lost no time in getting his army afloat. It mustered several ships, and a bewildering number of bateaux and rowboats, while the Indians moved down the lake in their canoes. The larger boats carried many cannon and a great quantity of ammunition, and it was felt by all that Amherst’s advance would surely be one to victory.
During the days spent in Oswego getting ready for this trip, a slight ray of hope had come to Dave. This was the news that at Montreal were a number of English prisoners, captured on the battlefield, or while at work in the vicinity of Quebec.
“Perhaps Henry was captured,” he thought. “And if he was he may be in a Montreal prison at this minute.”
Dave had returned to his old command, and his fellow soldiers did all they could to comfort him. All knew Henry and Barringford well, and many were the words of sympathy poured into the young soldier’s ears. Nobody believed that Henry was a thief, yet none could tell what General Murray would do if the missing one was found.
“One thing is certain, Morris,” said one old soldier. “Henry’s past record is in his favor. We can all swear that he was honest while he was with us.”
While the army was floating down the lake the weather proved fair, and La Galette was reached without mishap. Here a French brig named the Ottawa was sighted. She began firing on the army transports while they were yet at a distance.
“This will not do,” said General Amherst, and had several of his gunboats attack the brig. The fight was sharp, but likewise short, and soon the French ship struck her colors. A few of the crew escaped to the shore, but the others were made prisoners.
The rapids of the St. Lawrence were now close at hand, and General Amherst was considering the problem of how to get his expedition through in safety, when a new peril presented itself.
On an island in the river, just above the rapids, was Fort Lévis, well fortified, and now under the command of Captain Pouchot, he who had commanded at Fort Niagara the year previous. Pouchot was awaiting anxiously for a chance to “even up” his defeat at Niagara, and no sooner did the leading boats of Amherst’s fleet appear than he opened a heavy fire on them.
“So this is the game,” said General Amherst. “Well, I think I can wait long enough to put you out of the fight.”