They were just coming in sight of the fort at Oswego when the sounds of distant firing reached their ears. At first there were a few scattering shots, followed, some minutes later, by a regular volley.
"The French have arrived!" cried Henry. "That's a regular battle!"
"Right you are, lad," returned the frontiersman. "See, there are their boats—a goodly number of 'em, too!"
"What shall we do?"
"Better land up the shore a bit and take to the woods. It won't do for us to show ourselves in the open down there—they'd pick us off in no time."
Gangley also agreed that this was best, and the boat was immediately turned toward shore. They leaped out without delay, and hiding the craft, proceeded without loss of time in the direction from whence the shots had come.
CHAPTER XXVII
NEWS OF IMPORTANCE
When General Prideaux left Oswego for Fort Niagara he was well aware that the French would more than likely make an attack on the new fort Colonel Haldimand was building, consequently, he cautioned that officer to be on his guard at all hours of the day and night.