“I can’t do it,” said Rogers.  “I’m here to hold back St. Luc, if I can, and moreover, ’tis too late.  We’d be surrounded in the forest and probably annihilated.”

“I suppose you’re right.  We’ll meet him where we stand, and when the battle is over, whatever may be its fortunes, he’ll know that he had a real fight.”

They walked away from the lake, and began to arrange their forces to the most advantage, but Robert and Tayoga remained on the cliff.  They saw the canoe go back toward the north, melt into the horizon line, and then reappear, but with a whole brood of canoes.  All of them advanced rapidly, and they stretched into a line half way across the lake.  Many were great war canoes, containing eight or ten men apiece.

“Now the attack by land is at hand,” said Tayoga.  “Sharp Sword is sure to see that his two forces move forward at the same time.  Hark!”

They heard the report of a rifle shot in the forest, then another and another.  Willet joined them and said it was the wish of Rogers that they remain where they were, as a small force was needed at that point to prevent a landing by the Indians.  A fire from the lake would undoubtedly be opened upon their flank, but if the warriors could be kept in their canoes it could not become very deadly.  Black Rifle came also, and he, Willet, Robert, Tayoga and ten of the rangers lying down behind some trees at the edge of the cliff, watched the water.

The Indian fleet hovered a little while out of rifle shot.  Meanwhile the firing in the forest grew.  Bullets from both sides pattered on leaves and bark, and the shouts of besieged and besiegers mingled, but the members of the force on the cliff kept their eyes resolutely on the water.

“The canoes are moving again,” said Tayoga.  “They are coming a little nearer.  I see Frenchmen in some of them and presently they will try to sweep the bank with their rifles.”

“Our bullets will carry as far as theirs,” said the hunter.

“True, O, Great Bear, and perhaps with surer aim.”

In another moment puffs of white smoke appeared in the fleet, which was swinging forward in a crescent shape, and Robert heard the whine of lead over his head.  Then Willet pulled the trigger and a warrior fell from his canoe.  Black Rifle’s bullet sped as true, and several of the rangers also found their targets.  Yet the fleet pressed the attack.  Despite their losses, the Indians did not give back, the canoes came closer and closer, many of the warriors dropped into the water behind their vessels and fired from hiding, bullets rained around the little band on the cliff, and presently struck among them.  Two of the rangers were slain and two more were wounded.  Robert saw the Frenchmen in the fleet encouraging the Indians, and he knew that their enemies were firing at the smoke made by the rifles of the defenders.  Although he and his comrades were invisible to the French and Indians in the fleet, the bullets sought them out nevertheless.  Wounds were increasing and another of the rangers was killed.  Theirs was quickly becoming an extremely hot corner.