White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1928-10-26
Ix-Continued

There was some delay IN starting.
although the drums had pounded out
the "long march," 1t seem that Gen.
eral Braddock wished to examine the
Rush creek shore personally before
breaking camp. Now my hopes were
high again; but alasl The precipitous
banks impressed him as being too
much of an obstacle to overcome now
we were SO close to the fort. And
during the few minutes he walked
along the banks and scowled at the
rugged shore over the stream the fate
of an army and of a continent were
decided.
l felt a great regret that the ridge
road was not followed, but l fully be-
lieved the river road would, at the
most, cost some lives. 1t was not
given to the Onondaga, nor even to
the witch-girl, to read the next few
hours.
1t was near midday before we got
in motion. Gist was already out with
the Delawares. Round Paw, Cromit
and l took to the woods together, but
quickly separated and secuted toward
Turtle creek. When we came back to
camp that night we made the same
report-no signs of any enemy In.
dams in numbers. Our Delawares had
exchanged shots with a few French
Indians but no scalps were brought in.
During the day the army had fol.
lowed the valley of Long Run for a
distance Of about eight miles In a
southwesterly course, so slowly did we
move, and had made camp-on the slope
between the Monongahela and a rivu-
let called Crooked Run. Throughout
the night the wagons kept coming in.
In the morning-July eighth-Gol-
onel Washington arrived and insisted
on exchanging the covered wagon for
a horse. He showed his illness very
plainly and was not fit to be In the
saddle. He was a young man, younger
than l, and yet his face was very
grave. I saw him when he vent to
participate in a council with the com.
mander and the field officers. was
waiting ear when he came from the
conference in company with Sir Peter
Halket. Sir Peters visage was very
melancholy and not good for the reg.
ulars to see. The two of them ended
their conversation close by me. and as
was there first there was no rea
son why l should plug my ears.
Sir Peter said:
81 urged upon him to have every
foot Of the ground examined, and you
heard what he replied; that he re.
fused to lose time beating the forest
for red Indians as Highland hunters
beat the woods In driving out game.
But, methinks. we could well take a
lesson from these am Highland
hunters"
"It will be a great fault 1t we do
not seize the fords, at the least" said
Colonel Washington. "Even were that
done there will remain much danger.
The French will never abandon Du.
quesne without making a fight But
we must have good courage. The
French Indians do not want to fight
Out only danger will oe in q panic
selling upon the regulars"
"You may dismiss that fear" Sil
Peter haughtily replied. His Maj
esty's Guards know their duty too well,
thank Godl If the p%rovincials will
hold. there need be no fear concern.
ing the %soldierly qualities of the
Guards"
II am convinced the p%rovincials will
hold, Sir Peter" crisply assured Col
onel Washington.
ThereIp0n they parted with cere-
monious bows, and Colonel Washing.
ton beheld me for the first time. He
greeted me warmly, as an old friend.
! had to tell him my experience as a
guest of Captain Beaujeu, and be re-
quested me to repeat what the cap.
tain had said about laying an ambus.
cade at the crossings. When mad
finished, he said:
"It does look as IT the indians are
failing him at the last moment. Our
scouts report there are no signs of
Indians at either crossing. There's
nothing to hinder US selling both
lords now. And yet we should al.
ways beware of the enemy. Better
overrate him than to underrate him
Well. Webster, take good car of your
self. If the impossible does happen.
IT must be the colonials who hold the
enemy back until the regulars can get
their bearings"
Again he shook my hand and his
flesh was hot with fever. He vas
weak and his gaze wandered to his
covered wagon. bluntly told him.
you should be In bed. sir"
Excellent advice, Doctor Brond.
inasmuch as rest is hard cOme by
when the wagon is in motion" Ills
attempt at ~jocOsity was rather pitiable
when n saw the feverIsh flush IN
his thin cheeks and observed the
heavy WEAKNESS of his eyes. "But
It's worry, rather than fatigue. that's
bothering me. DaInme, Websteri It's
hard faring when l can't keep on q
horse when | believe I'm needed, but
can ride across two counties without
discomfort when q dance with a pretty
lady is the objective"
| turned with him towards his
wagon and he rested a hand on my
shoulder, not for support but In simple
friendliness, and ! prompted, "You
worry, Colonel?"
"The regulars" he replied In a low
voice. "They have no idea what bush.