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to engage my old fencing-master, Jacob Van Braam, to accompany me as interpreter.

แ

"Does he speak the Indian languages?"

Several of them, and if in addition I can secure Christopher Gist, I shall feel that there will be no danger of our expedition losing its way."

Jacob Van Braam joined them at Fredericksburg, and they went on to Alexandria, where the major provided himself with necessaries for the journey, and proceeded to Winchester, which was quite on the frontier, where horses, tents and other travelling equipments were procured. Then the little party of daring frontiersmen pushed on into the wilderness by a newly opened road to Miles Creek, where the beardless hero met Mr. Gist, the intrepid pioneer, whom he engaged to accompany him as guide, while John Davidson volunteered to go as an extra interpreter.

With his party all mounted on horses, he commenced a march, which, for boldness and daring, has never had an equal. They endured every hardship incident to a dreary wilderness and the rigors of winter. The streams in the valleys were full to the brim. Over the large ones they crossed on frail and rudely constructed rafts, wading and swimming their horses through the floods of the swollen streams.

One morning when Noah Stevens rose from his

The

tent he found the forests white with snow. atmosphere was heavy and damp, and the solitude of the forest was something appalling. The snow had hidden the dim path which they had followed the day before. Now the smaller trees and bushes were bent and interlaced under the accumulated weight of snow, until travel seemed impossible. The older and more experienced men of the company looked with dismay on their surroundings.

In the heart of the wood, their dim and uncertain path hidden beneath the crushing weight of snow, the horrors of being lost in the forest in midwinter crept over the hearts of some of the boldest. Noah Stevens watched the beardless face of his young commander. Young George Washington was as cool, calm and undaunted as if he had been at the home of his brother. He went aside, talked with Mr. Gist a few moments, and then set up his surveyor's compass. That wonderful needle had aided him before on more than one occasion when he was lost in the forest. After making a short calculation on his field book, he held another brief consultation with Mr. Gist and ordered the explorers to prepare to march.

The march through the snow-covered forest was picturesque. The slightest touch of a branch of tree or bush brought down showers of white flakes.. The sky was obscured by slate-colored clouds, and

a dead silence, an immense, crushing loneliness pervaded the mountains. They journeyed slowly for three or four days, suffering considerably from cold and hunger.

Then there came a shower of rain, which beat the snow off the trees and washed most of it from the ground, and the party proceeded to Logstown.

The headquarters of M. De St. Pierre were only one hundred and twenty miles from Logstown. A bold and patriotic chief named Half-King, who had vehemently protested against the invasion of the French and had been treated with disdain, volunteered with two other chiefs to escort Washington and his seven English followers to the headquarters of the French.

After braving many perils and hardships, the little company found themselves, early in December, at Fort Venango (now Franklin), the French outpost commanded by M. Joncaire, who received the English civilly, but tried to detain and proselyte the Indians, though he failed. Thence Washington went to St. Pierre, who was farther up the creek at Fort Le Boeuf, and thus ended the journey of the ambassador after forty-one days in the wilderness.

With the politeness characteristic of a Frenchman, St. Pierre received Major Washington and his companions.

"You have come to bring me a letter from Governor Dinwiddie?" said the French commander.

"I have," Washington answered and handed him the letter. What effect the governor's letter had on the Frenchman neither Washington nor his companions were ever able to determine. After entertaining the Englishmen four days as friends, he placed in the major's hands a sealed letter, saying:

"This is my answer to Governor Dinwiddie."

Washington with his little band started on his return, and shortly after passing Fort Venango, as the party was riding leisurely along, Noah Stevens at Washington's side, suddenly the sharp report of a rifle broke the stillness, and a bullet hummed through the air, passing within a few inches of the beardless major's head.

"Ambuscade!" cried Washington.

"Look for a volley!" shouted Gist.

At this moment a rattling crash of fire-arms sounded on the air, and bullets whistled like hail. Fortunately for the English, they were in low ground, and the bullets of the ambushed enemy passed over their heads. They put spurs to their horses and escaped unhurt. The shots were evidently fired by Indians incited by Joncaire, the commandant at Fort Venango.

Washington and Gist, on the return, became