“The train is now entirely safe,” he said.  “Even if Tandakora and De Courcelles could brush away the screen of the Mohawks, they dare not risk an encounter with such a force as we have here.  They will turn aside for easier game.”

“And there will be no battle!” exclaimed young Brant, in deep disappointment.  “Ah! why did I not have the chance to go forward with my cousin, Daganoweda?”

Colonel Johnson laughed, half in pride and half in amusement, and patted his warlike young Mohawk brother-in-law on the shoulder.

“All in good time, Joseph, my lad,” he said.  “Remember that you are scarce twelve and you may have fifty years of fighting before you.  No one knows how long this conflagration in America may last.  As for you, Tayoga and Lennox, and you, Willet, your labors with the train are over.  But there is a fierce fire burning in the north, and it is for us to put it out.  You have lost one commander, Braddock, but you may find another.  I can release you from your obligations to Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia.  Will you go with me?”

The three assented gladly, and they saw that their service of danger was but taking a new form.

CHAPTER V

GATHERING FORCES

The eyes of all the warlike young men now turned northward.  The people whom they had rescued scattered among their relatives and friends, awaiting the time when they could return to the wilderness, and rebuild their homes there, but Colden, Wilton, Carson and their troop were eager for service with Colonel William Johnson.  In time orders arrived from the Governor of Pennsylvania, directing them to join the force that was being raised in the province of New York to meet the onrush of the savages and the French, and they rejoiced.  Meanwhile Robert, Tayoga and Willet made a short stay at Mount Johnson, and in the company of its hospitable owner and his wife refreshed themselves after their great hardships and dangers.

Colonel Johnson’s activities as a host did not make him neglect his duties as a commander.  Without military experience, save that recently acquired in border war, he nevertheless showed indomitable energy as a leader, and his bluff, hearty manner endeared him to Colonials and Mohawks alike.  A great camp had been formed on the low grounds by Albany, and Robert and his comrades in time proceeded there, where a numerous force of men from New York and New England and many Mohawks were gathered.  It was their plan to march against the great French fortress of Crown Point on Lake Champlain, which Robert heard would be defended by a formidable French and Indian army under Baron Dieskau, an elderly Saxon in the French service.

Robert also heard that St. Luc was with Dieskau, and that he was leading daring raids against little bands of militia on their way from New England to the camp near Albany.  Two were practically destroyed, half of their numbers being killed, while the rest were sent as prisoners into Canada.  Two more succeeded in beating off the Frenchman, though with large loss, but he was recognized by everybody as a great danger, and Daganoweda and the best of the Mohawks went forth to meet him.