10 The Battle Rages

CHAPTER 10 The Battle Rages The soldiers at Fort William Henry were brave, but they were also in trouble. Montcalm's men were everywhere: in the forests, around the camp, and near the water. General Munro had sent word to Webb and the soldiers of Fort Edward to send reinforcements —but they were still nowhere to be found. The general feared the worst, especially after he learned that the troops had been sent out to fight Montcalm at the same time that Cora and Alice

had left. Anything could have happened to them. Duncan had been fighting for four days. Now he was standing in a lookout tower next to the lake. The shooting had temporarily stopped and both sides were taking a rest. Duncan looked across the river and saw a French officer leading Hawkeye to the fort. The scout was clearly not happy to have been caught. As Duncan climbed down from the tower, he saw Cora and Alice. They looked happy and well-rested, much better than the last time he had seen them! "Duncan!" Alice said. "We've been expecting you! Why haven't you come to see us?" Duncan blushed when Alice spoke directly to him. He hadn't seen her in a couple of days, and she looked as beautiful as ever. He stammered for a moment until Cora rescued him. "What she means to say is thank-you for all that you've done," Cora said. "Our father would also very much like to thank you!"

"I'm on my way to see your father now," Duncan said, "to see where I am to be stationed next. But it was a pleasure to see you both. You look well, Alice." With that, he smiled and waved as he ran off. General Munro was waiting for Duncan when he arrived. "Ah," Munro said, "Duncan, I was just going to call for you. I see the French have caught your guide. What was his name? Hawkeye?" "Yes, and I did see that, sir," Duncan said. "Montcalm sent him to us, but kept the letter he was carrying." "A letter, sir?" "Yes," Munro answered. "After Hawkeye brought you all back to me with such skill, I employed him to carry a letter to General Webb. Hawkeye was on his way back with the general's reply. But now Montcalm has the letter, which means that he knows what's happened to the soldiers from Fort Edward."

"We are in trouble, sir, if they do not come," Duncan said. "Yes," Munro agreed. "We most certainly are. Montcalm has offered to meet with me. I'm sending you in my place. I want you to find out what he knows." Duncan nodded. "I understand, sir, and I will not let you down." He and General Munro talked for a long while about the meeting. Finally Duncan left the fort. He carried a white flag with him as a sign of peace, so he could pass into the battlefield and not get hurt. Duncan entered Commander Montcalm's tent and saw Magua sitting there. He gasped, and then stood tall, just like a soldier should. Montcalm was a strong and noble-looking man. "I was expecting General Munro," he said. "But I see that you, too, are an officer." Duncan bowed and explained that he had been granted permission to talk for General Munro.

He and Montcalm spoke for quite a while about the battle. Finally the general asked, "Are you going to surrender?" "Have you found our army so easy to defeat these last five days?" Duncan replied. "I'm sure surrender is not necessary." Montcalm nodded his head at Magua. "He will fight long and hard." Duncan shivered as he remembered all that it had taken to get to Fort William Henry. Montcalm asked again, "So, you will surrender?" "I am afraid not, sir," Duncan answered. "And if you will not give us back the letter intended for General Munro, you really give us little choice but to continue the fight." "I understand your position," Commander Montcalm said, "but I want to hear it from General Munro himself." Duncan nodded and left Montcalm's tent.

Under the banner of his white flag, he made his way quickly back to Fort William Henry. When he got back to the fort, Duncan went directly to General Munro's home. Cora and Alice were both there and were happy to see him. "Ah, you've returned," the general said. "Come on, Alice," Cora said as she stood up. "Let's make our way to the other room." Duncan nodded as the girls left the room, then he stood in the doorway and waited for Munro to speak. The general stood up and paced about the room. When he finally spoke, he did not ask about Duncan's meeting with Montcalm. Instead, he said, "They are both excellent girls. I know you wanted to speak to me about them, and now you have the chance."