He and Edwards were now both expert canoemen, and often ventured far down the lake, taking with them one or other of the scouts, and keeping a sharp lookout among the woods on either side for signs of the enemy.  Once or twice they were chased by Indian canoes, but always succeeded in distancing them.

“The news has just come in that the expedition has sailed,” James said as he one day, towards the end of July, entered the hut which he now occupied with Edwards; for the corps had long since been put under huts, these being better suited for the hot season than tents.

“It is rather a nuisance,” Edwards grumbled, “being kept here, instead of going and taking share in a big siege.”

“Don’t be impatient, Edwards,” James replied.  “If I am not greatly mistaken, you will have quite as much fighting as you want here before long.  Montcalm’s sudden attack on Oswego last autumn showed that he is an enterprising general, and I have no doubt that, as soon as he learns that Loudon’s expedition is not intended for Quebec, he will be beating us up on the frontier with a vengeance.”

Montcalm, indeed, had already prepared to strike a blow.  A thousand Indians, lured by the prospect of gifts, scalps, and plunder, had come in from the west and north, and were encamped near Montreal; and, besides these, there were the Mission Indians, and those of the Five Nations who adhered to France.

Early in July, the movement began.  Day after day, fleets of boats and canoes rowed up Lake Champlain, and, towards the end of the month, the whole force was gathered at Ticonderoga.  Here were now collected eight thousand men, of whom two thousand were Indians, representing forty-one tribes and sub-tribes:  among them were Iroquois, Hurons, Nipissings, Abenakis, Algonkins, Micmacs, and Malecites.  These were all nominal Christians, and counted eight hundred warriors.  With them were the western Indians:  Ojibwas, Mississagas, Pottawattamies, Menomonies, Sacs, Foxes, Winnebagoes, Miamis, and Iowas.  These were still unconverted.

The French held these savage allies in abhorrence.  Their drunkenness, their turbulence, their contempt of all orders, their cruelty to their captives, and their cannibalism, disgusted and shocked Montcalm and his officers; but they were powerless to restrain them, for without them as scouts, guides, and eyes in the forests, the French could have done nothing, and, at the slightest remonstrance, the Indians were ready to take offence, and to march away to their distant homes.

The letters of Montcalm and his officers, to their friends, were full of disgust at the doings of their savage allies, and of regret that they could not dispense with their services, or restrain their ferocity.  Vaudreuil and the Canadians, on the other hand, accustomed to the traditions of savage warfare, made no attempt whatever to check the ferocity of the Indians, and were, indeed, the instigators of the raids which the savages made upon the unprotected villages and settlements on the frontier; offered rewards for scalps, and wrote and talked gleefully of the horrible atrocities committed upon the colonists.