A burly fellow, dressed as a teamster, finally made his voice heard above the others.
"I tell you men," he said, "that we must give up Albany! Our army has been cut to pieces! Montcalm is advancing with twenty thousand French regulars, and swarms of Indians! They control all of Lake George as well as Champlain! Hundreds of settlers have already fallen before the tomahawk, and houses are burning along the whole border! I have it from them that have seen the fires." There was a sudden hush in the crowd, followed by an alarmed murmur.

The man's emphasis and his startling statements made an impression.
"Go on, Dobbs! Tell us about it!" said one.
"What do you know ?" asked another.
He stood up, a great tall man with a red face.
"My cousin has been in the north," he said, "and he's seen rangers, some that have just escaped from the Indians, barely saving their hair.

He heard from them that the King of France has sent a big army to Canada, and that another just as big is on the way.

It won't be a week before you see the French flag from the hills of Albany, and wise men are already packing ready to go to New York." There was another alarmed hush.
"This fellow must be stopped," said Colden.

"He'll start a panic." "Dagaeoga has the gift of words," whispered a voice in Robert's ear, "and now is the time to use it." Nothing more was needed.