ard over the ice as though of an
approaching multitude. The Rangers gave the alarm, and manned the
guns. There was nothing to be seen through the murky mists of dawn;
but the guns belched forth fire and round shot towards the lake,
and the sounds suddenly ceased.

An hour later Charles came rushing in; there was blood upon his
face, and his eyes were wild, but in his excitement he seemed to
know nothing of any hurt.

"They are coming! they are coming! I have seen them! There are
hundreds upon hundreds of them, well armed, well equipped with
everything that men can want. They are bound for the fort. They are
going to take it, They have sworn it! And he is in their ranks. I
saw him with these eyes. He is there. He is one of them. We shall
meet again, and this time he shall not escape me!"

In a moment all was excitement and bustle. The men, sobered by the
near presence of danger, were at their posts in a moment. All knew
that the fort was not strong, and that a resolute assault by a
large force would he difficult to repel; but at least they had not
been taken by surprise, and that was something.

A yell from without told that something was going on there. The
Rangers were driving off a party of men who had crept up under
cover of the mist wreaths, hoping to fire the huts outside, and so
burn the fort. They were sent helter skelter over the ice to rejoin
their comrades; and after a pause of some hours an officer was seen
advancing from the French lines bearing a flag.

He was blindfolded, that he might not see the weak parts of the
fort, and was brought to Major Byre and the other officers. His
message was to advise them to surrender the fort and obtain for
themselves favourable terms, threatening a massacre if this was
refused.

"I shall defend myself to the last!" said Major Byre calmly.
"Englishmen do not give up their forts at the bidding of the foe.
We can at least die like men, if we cannot defend ourselves, and
that has yet to be proved."

The news of this demand and the reply flew like wildfire through
the ranks, and inspired the men with courage and ardour. The
Rangers were brought within the fort, and all was made ready for
the assault.

A storm of shot hailed upon the fort. Through the gathering
darkness of the night they could only distinguish the foe by the
red glare from their guns. The English fort was dark and silent. It
reserved its fire till the enemy came closer. The crisis was coming
nearer