Some flat boats and canoes lay in the lake, and it was a man in one of these canoes who had been the first to learn of the approach of Montcalm's army, so slender had been the precautions taken by the officers in command of the forts.
"We have come upon them almost as if we had dropped from the clouds," said Langlade, exultingly, to Robert.

"When they thought the Marquis de Montcalm was in Montreal, lo! he was here! It is the French who are the great leaders, the great soldiers and the great nation! Think you we would allow ourselves to be surprised as Oswego has been ?" Robert made no reply.

His heart sank like a plummet in a pool.

Already he heard the crackling fire of musketry from the Indians who, sheltered in the edge of the forest, were sending bullets against the stout logs of Fort Ontario, but which could offer small resistance to cannon.

And while the sharpshooting went on, the French officers were planting the batteries, one of four guns directly on the strand.