It was now that Washington showed the real stuff of which he was made. Many have pictured him as a severe, stately man, lacking in open-hearted enthusiasm. He was this, at times, but not always. At home he had slaves to do his bidding, but he did not have them now, and pitching off his coat and rolling up his shirt sleeves he went to work with his soldiers at the task of chopping down trees, digging additional trenches, and otherwise making Fort Necessity a greater place of safety.
“We cannot do too much,” he said to Dave, when they chanced to be together. “I wish I had four hands instead of two.”
“He’s a great man,” whispered Henry, after Washington was gone. “He’ll be a great leader some day, he shows it all over.”
“Well, if he does become a great leader there won’t be a better one,” answered Dave. He liked Washington now even better than he had while surveying on the Shenandoah.
With the coming of a large force of the French the situation was certainly grave enough, but now came a blow from an entirely different quarter. The Indians complained of the lack of defence which the fort afforded and pleaded that they must take their squaws and children to a place of safety. The majority departed, leaving only a handful of warriors with Washington.
“The mean fellows!” exclaimed Dave, when he saw the red men leave. “I was afraid they would desert us when it came to the pinch. I’d like to have White Buffalo here, only perhaps father needs him more than we do,” and he sighed deeply.
This was early in July, and on the following morning shots were heard at a distance and a picket came running in badly wounded. The alarm was sounded and the whole body of soldiers drawn up on the grass in front of the fort. Soon scouts came in with the news that the French army was but four miles away and approaching rapidly.
CHAPTER XXVII
BATTLE AT GREAT MEADOWS
“The scouts say there are about seven hundred French and half as many Indians coming,” said Dave to Henry, after having examined his rifle to see that it was ready for use. “If that is true, we have some hot work cut out for us.”
It was raining in torrents and this rendered some of the firearms of the defenders useless. It must be confessed that the militia were much downcast, for provisions had continued scarce and it is hard for anyone to keep up courage on a half-filled stomach.