With Force and Arms

from the Governor, and so had my men in fair shape for a quick movement.

y company from their various homes, I lay down to rest. It seemed that I had been on th

verhauled, and ammunition safely packed for transportation. My first care was to see that the boats were laden. Corn meal and flour

put on the sloops. Rests for the heavier and old-fashioned weapons, that were fired by means of a slow match, were provided, as well as spare matches. Bags of extra flints were also taken. The casks

Nicols, I hurried here and there. Now, seeing to it that none but serviceable arms were taken, and

barely out of their teens, came up to me, as I was

taller one, "put our names d

o to the wa

"The Indians killed our mother, a

. "When you are a little

attle seemed born in the children of this land, and they nursed

avy wagons, on which were two good sized cannon, in addition to the small ones we had. There

, we finally accomplished it, and they were placed, one in

ans. Another letter, with more explicit instructions, had come to me from the Governor by the hands of a seco

He promised them that the hated English would soon be driven from the land, the homes they had builded being allowed as plunder for the Indians. It was by such talk as th

for a woman's and less yet for the children's. There were other reasons why the Indians preferred to fight with the French and against the English. The F

riors, who loved swordplay, and fighting, while we English, 'twas deemed, cared for

that the Indians loved the French

t. Madockewando, Moxus and Egeremet, fierce Indian chiefs, whose names were but othe

he savages had naught to do save fight, 76which they were ever ready for. De Vilebon had established himself at St. Johns, in Nov

be successful against this fort, capturing de Vilebon, the spirit of the Colonists would be much strengthen

e sea by the boats, I could lead my men to the rear of the fort. I counted on the sea attack, if the cannon were rapidly fired, to create such a diversion as to detract attention from the rear, and whi

near her than at the task with which I was engaged. But night, as well as day, was filled with work. At length, when I thought all wa

waitin

e to say good bye,

me, dear heart

should not return,"

care, the

not droop at the close of day, and does it not smile

so, dear

re. If you should not

r I had her in my arms, and her lips could

seemed woefully short. But I knew that I must go now, for we had prepared for an early sta

he said bravely, though there w

keep you,

re. I pressed a last good night kiss on her lips, and 78t

any details remained to be looked after. The men, few of whom

being called out on every side; and some careful men were doi

John Post?" called one man to another who c

a Frencher for a sur

and fire it. For if ye don't the Indians would eat

d damage to the enemies of His Gracious Majesty, when thou wert hiding behi

d not hit the mark, and John Post marched

time, engaged in leaping, 79running and wrestling, so that the inn yard looked like a

onial Army marching out, each man with his musket well cleaned, and with his bundle of matches, or his pouch of flints and ammunition slung by a thong on one side. Stout and able-bodied men they were, too, much given to prayer. Yet they need be none the less well thought of for that. For I had heard of their earlier bat

ight be led on to battle against the enemy, as were

nal embrace, I left her. I boarded the vessel and the sails were run up. They filled, and we began to gather headway. I stood in the stern, whence I could take a last look at the little town and the

m the day I received my commission, and for the messenger who had come from Sir William a few nights before. But it was too late to turn back now. The horseman spurred on to the beach and wav

ed the horseman, leaping

n the King's nam

e horseman turn about. Lucille had advanced from the c

e suddenly 81shrank back, as she had that night when she saw the messenger in the hallway of he

nto the sea and gone to her. But I knew not, until afterward, who I left behind me there on the sea sands. Of the deadly enemy he was;

crowd grow smaller, while, as long as I could, I held t

set to work to get matters arranged