Days passed. The French army fired their big guns at Fort
William Henry. Many English soldiers were killed. General
Munro waited. But General Webb did not send any soldiers.
Munro sent Hawk-eye to Fort Edward with a message. General
Webb gave Hawk-eye a letter for Munro. The scout started to
go back to Fort William Henry. But French soldiers stopped
him. They took the letter. They tied Hawk-eye's hands with
rope. The next morning, Duncan Heyward was standing by the
gates of Fort William Henry. He saw three men coming towards
the fort. He went to General Munro.
'General Munro,' he said. 'Two French soldiers are at the
gates of the fort. Hawk-eye is with them. But when will help
come from Fort Edward?'
Hawk-eye came into General Munro's room.
'General Webb gave me a letter for you,' he said. 'But the
French soldiers took it. General Montcalm wants to speak to
you. You must go to his camp.'
A French officer met Munro and Duncan at the gates of the
fort. They went to General Montcalm's tent in the French camp.
There were French officers and Indian chiefs in the tent.
Then Duncan saw Magua. Magua was fighting for the French!
The Huron looked at Duncan and smiled. Montcalm spoke first.
He spoke to Munro.
'You have fought well, General,' he said. 'But now you must
stop fighting.'
Montcalm gave a letter to Munro. Munro read it quickly. Then
he gave it to Duncan. The letter was from General Webb. We
cannot send any more men. The Indians have killed too many
of my
soldiers. Munro looked at Duncan. They did not speak. Then
General Montcalm spoke to Munro.
'You and your soldiers must leave Fort William Henry,' he
said. 'You can take your guns. But do not take your bullets.
Your men, women and children will be safe. But we will burn
the fort.'
General Munro was unhappy.
'We will leave in the morning,' he said. Then he and Duncan
went back to the fort. Magua was angry. He spoke to the Huron
chiefs.
'The English will leave the fort. The French will not kill
them. But the English are the enemies of the Hurons. We will
kill the English!'
Three thousand English people ... soldiers, women and children
... left the fort. They walked past the French soldiers and
they walked towards the forest. The English soldiers carried
their guns. But they had no bullets. Magua and the Hurons
were standing in the forest.
They watched Fort William Henry. The English left the fort
and walked into the forest. Then two thousand Indians attacked!
The English could not fight. They had no bullets in their
guns. Many of the English were killed. Alice and Cora saw
their father. He was running towards the French camp. He was
going to find Montcalm. He was going to ask for help.
'Father! Father!' shouted Alice. 'We are here!'
But Munro did not hear them. He did not stop. Magua was watching.
He ran to Cora.
'Will you come with me now?' he said.
'Never!' said Cora. 'I will not be your wife.'
The Huron looked at her. But he did not speak. Then he turned
to Alice. He held Alice's arms. He pulled her towards a horse.
'Stop!' shouted Cora.
And she ran after them. Magua put Alice on the horse. Then
he put Cora on the horse too. The Huron took them along a
path towards Lake Horican.
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