“Who is this young man?”
“His name is Ward. He is the captain here.”
“Wah!” grumbled Tanacharison. “I found Washington wise, but now Assaragoa sends us another boy without hair on his face. Where are the great guns?”
“They will come,” said the Hunter.
“It is no use to build a fort without great guns,” declared Half-King. “And spring is near. As soon as the waters are open the French will be here in numbers like the wild geese. I will talk with this boy.”
Tanacharison talked with Ensign Ward, and liked him. Others from Logstown, and men from Shanopin’s-town and from Shingis’s town and from Allaquippa’s town spent a great deal of time watching the fort grow; but it grew slowly.
John Davidson came from Will’s Creek. He said that Washington was raising another company of soldiers, and would march as soon as they were ready.
The waters had opened. The floating ice in the Allegheny had almost cleared, and of the fort only a few log walls were up, to form a storehouse for the trading goods, and buildings for the soldiers, when close behind the ice there arrived the French.
They were four days distant, up river, when the first news of them was heard; and it was bad news, for the French were many, in many boats with cannon.
Ensign Ward sent a runner to tell Captain Trent at Will’s Creek; and he sent the Hunter to bring Tanacharison and Scarouady for council.