ht well, and took the message.

"We shall make another charge immediately," Bradstreet said in
conclusion. "We shall not fail to carry out our orders; but I have
little hope of success. We can do almost nothing against the
French, whilst they mow us down by hundreds. No men can hold on at
such odds for long. Go quickly, and bring us word again, for we are
like to be cut to pieces.

"You are not wounded yourself?"

"No; I have escaped as by a miracle. I will run the whole distance
and take the message. Would that the General had listened to
counsel before!"

Bradstreet made a gesture of assent, but said nothing. Fritz sped
through the forest, hot and breathless, yet straining every nerve
to reach his goal.

It was a blazing day where the shade of the forest was not found,
and this made the fighting all the harder. Fritz's heart was heavy
within him for the lives thrown away so needlessly. When he reached
the tent of the General, and was ushered into his presence, burning
words rushed to his lips, and it was only with an effort that he
commanded himself to speak calmly of the fight and deliver the
message with which he was charged.

General Abercromby listened and frowned, and looked about him as
though to take counsel with his officers. But the best of these
were away at the fight, and those with him were few and
insignificant and inexperienced.

"Surely a little resolution and vigour would suffice to carry an
insignificant breastwork, hastily thrown up only a few days ago,"
he said, unwilling to confess himself in the wrong. "I will order
up the Highland regiments to your aid. With their assistance you
can make another charge, and it will be strange if you cannot carry
all before you."

Fritz compressed his lips, and his heart sank.

"I will give you a line to Colonel Bradstreet. Tell him that
reinforcements are coming, and that another concerted attack must
be made. It will be time enough to talk of sending for the
artillery when we see the result of that."

A few lines were penned by the General and entrusted to Fritz, who
dashed back with burning heart to where the fight still raged so
fiercely. He heard the bagpipes of the Highlanders skirling behind
as he reached the opening in the forest. He knew that these brave
men could fight like tigers; but to what avail, he thought, were so
many gallant soldiers to be sent to their death?

The fighting in his absence had been hot and furious, but nothing
had