as there were pigeons in the woods,'* and
he thought it was most prudent to return to
his little fort, and meet their attack there. He
returned, and assisted his men in

Jul 3 ^^&S^°S * ditch round the fort, and
^ * while they were thus engaged,
about fifteen hundred French and Indians
made their appearance, ' and soon began to
attack them. The ditch was not sufficiently
coihpleted to be of any use. The Indians
sent their arrows from behind the surround-



WASHIROTON. 39

ing trees, and the French fired from the
shelter of the high grass. Washington con-
tinued outside of the little fort, directing
and aiding his soldiers, from ten o'clock un-
til dark, when the French commander made
an offer to cease the attack, if the fort would
be given up to him. The conditions he first
named, Washington would not agree to ; but
at last, the French commander consented to
allow the troops to march out with their
^ftg^g^&g*^ ^i^d return to the inhabited part of
the province, and Washington then gave up
the fort. He returned to Williamsburgh,
and the courage with which he had acted,
and the favourable term^ he had obtained
from so large a force, increased the confi-
dence of his countrymen in his character.
