A sharp crack, a puff of white smoke on the hill, and the first shot of Ticonderoga was fired.

Then came a volley, but the French made no reply.

None of the bullets had reached them.

Robert did not know it then, but the gleam came from the red blankets of Iroquois Indians, the allies of the English, and not from English uniforms.

They kept up a vigorous but harmless fire for a short while, and then drew off.
Silence descended once more on the forest, and Robert was puzzled.