6. There were the Ottawas, led on, it is said, by Pontiac, afterwards so celebrated in Indian warfare; there were the Hu'rons of Lorette (lo ret) under their chief, whom the French called Athanase, and many more, all keen as hounds on the scent of blood. At about nine miles from the fort, they reached a spot where the narrow road descended to the river through deep and gloomy woods, and where two ravines, concealed by trees and bushes, seemed formed by nature for an ambuscade. Here the warriors ensconced themselves, and, leveling their guns over the edge, lay in fierce expectation, listening to the advancing drums of the English army. 7. It was past noon of a day brightened with the clear șunlight of an American midsummer, when the forces of Braddock began, for a second time, to cross the Monongahela, at the fording-place which to this day bears the name of their ill-fated leader. The scarlet columns of the British regulars complete in martial appointment, the rude backwoodsmen with shouldered rifles, the trains of artillery, and the whitetopped wagons moved on in long procession through the broad and shallow current, and slowly mounted the opposing bank. 8. Men were there whose names have become historic, Gage, who, twenty years later, saw his routed battalions recoil in disorder from before the breastwork on Bunker Hill; Gates, the future conqueror of Burgoyne; and one destined to far loftier fame, George Washington, a boy in years, a man in calm thought and self-ruling wisdom. - 9. With steady and well-ordered march the troops advanced into the great labyrinth of woods which shadowed the eastern borders of the river. Rank after rank vanished from sight. The forest swallowed them up, and the silence of the wilderness sank down once more on the shores and waters of the Monongahela. Several guides and six light-horsemen led the way; a body of grenadiers was close behind; and the army followed in such order as the rough ground would permit. 10. Their road was tunneled through the forest; yet, deaf alike to the voice of common-sense and to the counsels of his officers, Braddock had neglected to throw out scouts in advance, and pressed forward in blind security to meet his fate. Leaving behind the low grounds which bordered the river, the van of the army was now ascending a gently sloping hill; and here, well hidden by the thick-standing columns of the forest, by moldering, prostrate trunks, by matted undergrowth and long, rank grasses, lay on either flank the two fatal ravines where the Indian allies of the French were crouched in breathless ambuscade. 11. No man saw the danger, when suddenly a discordant cry rose in front, and a murderous fire blazed in the teeth of the astonished grenadiers. Instinctively, as it were, the survivors returned the volley, and returned it with good effect; for a random shot struck down the brave Beaujeu, and the courage of the assailants was staggered by his fall. Dumas (du-mah'), second in command, rallied them to the attack; and while he, with the French and Canadians, made good the pass in front, the Indians opened a deadly fire on the right and left of the British columns. 12. In a few moments all was confusion. The advanced guard fell back on the main body, and every trace of subordination vanished. The fire soon extended along the whole length of the army, from front to rear. Scarcely an enemy could be seen, though the forest resounded with their yells, though every bush and tree was alive with incessant flashes, though the lead flew like a hailstorm, and with every moment the men went down by scores. 13. The regular troops seemed bereft of their senses. They huddled together in the road like flocks of sheep; and happy did he think himself who could wedge his way into the midst of the crowd, and place a barrier of human flesh between his life and the shot of the ambushed marksmen. Many were seen loading their muskets, and then firing them into the air, or shooting their comrades in the insanity of their terror. 14. The officers, for the most part, displayed a conspicuous gallantry; but threats and commands were wasted alike on the panic-stricken multitude. It is said that, at the outset, Braddock showed signs of fear; but he soon recovered his wonted intrepidity. Five horses were shot under him, and five times he mounted afresh. He stormed and shouted, and, while the Virginians were fighting to good purpose, each man behind a tree, like the Indians themselves, he ordered them with furious menace to form in platoons, where the fire of the enemy mowed them down like grass. 15. At length, a mortal shot silenced him, and two provincials bore him off the field. Washington rode through the tumult calm and undaunted. Two horses were killed under him, and four bullets pierced his clothes; but his hour was not come, and he escaped without a wound. Gates was shot through the body, and Gage also was severely wounded. Of eighty-six officers, only twenty-three remained unhurt; and of twelve hundred soldiers who had crossed the Monongahela, more than seven hundred were killed and wounded. LESSON LXVII. THE DEAD VOLUNTEER. 1. Silently, tenderly, mournfully, home, Not with a loud hurrah, Not with a wild éclat, Not with the tramp of war, Come our brave sons from far. Parkman. Gently and noiselessly bear him along; 2. Silently, tenderly, mournfully, home, Not with the stirring drum, Now all his work is done, 3. Silently, tenderly, mournfully, home, Where the bright gushing rills, And her soft dew distills? Peacefully, prayerfully lay our brave friend 4. Silently, tearfully, welcome the brave, Here let the marble tell How the brave hero fell, Loving his country well. Silently, tenderly, mournfully, home, Welcome the brave Volunteers as they come. J. W. Barker. QUESTIONS. With what peculiar tone of the voice should this piece be read? Should the movement be slow or rapid? (See Introduction, page xvii.) What should be the quality of the tone in reading the first and last couplet of each verse? What should it be in reading the second and third couplet? (See Introduction, pp. xix, xx.) LESSON LXVIII. OMENS. Pupil. Do you not think we shall have another fine day to-morrow? For, see, how red the clouds are in the west! Teacher. I have no doubt of it, particularly as I notice the red has a tint of purple. Pupil. Why is that particular tint an omen of fine weather? Teacher. Because the clouds have but little density, and in this condition have the power of so refracting, or separating the rays of light as to exhibit that color. On the contrary, a coppery or yellow sunset is an omen of coming rain. Pupil. Does not a ring around the moon also portend rain? Teacher. Yes; it is a pretty sure omen of wet weather; and the larger the circle, the sooner will the storm occur. Pupil. That is very curious. Teacher. This appearance is due to the precipitated water; and the larger the circle, the nearer are the clouds, and consequently the more ready to fall in rain. Pupil. I have often observed the truth of the proverb, "A rainbow in the morning is the sailor's warning, A rainbow at night is the sailor's delight." Can you explain the reason of this? Teacher. A rainbow can only occur when the clouds containing or depositing the rain are opposite to the sun; therefore, in the evening the rainbow must appear in the east and in the morning in the west; and as our heavy rain-storms are very frequently brought by the westerly wind, a rainbow in the west is an indication that such a storm is coming on; whereas, when it is in the east, it shows that the rain-clouds are passing away from us. Pupil. I have often heard it said that when the swallows |