They are coming, then? The scout has said as much?
When? and by what path? for the dunce has omitted to tell me this. There is a letter, it would seem,
too; and that is the only agreeable part of the matter. For the customary attentions of your Marquis of
Montcalm - I warrant me, Duncan, that he of Lothian would buy a dozen such marquisates - but if the
news of the letter were bad, the gentility of this French monsieur would certainly compel him to let us
know it.
He keeps the letter, then, while he releases the messenger?
Ay, that does he, and all for the sake of what you call your bonhommie I would venture, if the truth was
known, the fellow's grandfather taught the noble science of dancing.
But what says the scout? he has eyes and ears, and a tongue. What verbal report does he make?
Oh! sir, he is not wanting in natural organs, and he is free to tell all that he has seen and heard. The
whole amount is this; there is a fort of his majesty's on the banks of the Hudson, called Edward, in honor
of his gracious highness of York, you'll know; and it is well filled with armed men, as such a work should
be.
But was there no movement, no signs of any intention to advance to our relief?
There were the morning and evening parades; and when one of the provincial loons - you'll know, Dunca,
you're half a Scotsman yourself - when one of them dropped his powder over his porretch, if it touched
the coals, it just burned! Then, suddenly changing his bitter, ironical manner, to one more grave and
thoughtful, he continued: and yet there might, and must be, something in that letter which it would be
well to know!
Our decision should be speedy, said Duncan, gladly availing himself of this change of humor, to press
the more important objects of their interview; I cannot conceal from you, sir, that the camp will not be
much longer tenable; and I am sorry to add, that things appear no better in the fort; more than half the
guns are bursted.
And how should it be otherwise? Some were fished from the bottom of the lake; some have been rusting
in woods since the discovery of the country; and some were never guns at all - mere privateersmen's
playthings! Do you think, sir, you can have Woolwich Warren in the midst of a wilderness, three thousand
miles from Great Britain?
The walls are crumbling about our ears, and provisions begin to fail us, continued Heyward, without
regarding the new burst of indignation; even the men show signs of discontent and alarm.
Major Heyward, said Munro, turning to his youthful associate with the dignity of his years and superior
rank; I should have served his majesty for half a century, and earned these gray hairs in vain, were I
ignorant of all you say, and of the pressing nature of our circumstances; still, there is everything due to
the honor of the king's arms, and something to ourselves. While there is hope of succor, this fortress
will I defend, though it be to be done with pebbles gathered on the lake shore. It is a sight of the letter,
therefore, that we want, that we may know the intentions of the man the earl of Loudon has left among
us as his substitute.
And can I be of service in the matter?
Sir, you can; the marquis of Montcalm has, in addition to his other civilities, invited me to a personal
interview between the works and his own camp; in order, as he says, to impart some additional information.
Now, I think it would not be wise to show any undue solicitude to meet him, and I would employ you, an