but I cannot bear such
poltroonery. When have the English ever fled like this before us?
Oh, it is a shame! it is a disgrace!"

"Ah, if you could have seen the English soldiers!" cried Colin,
with eager enthusiasm; "I never heard a volley delivered as theirs
was! They never wasted a shot. They stood like a rock whilst the
French charged across to them, firing all the time. And when they
did fire, it was like a cannon shot; and after that, our men seemed
to have no spirit left in them. When the smoke of the second volley
cleared off, I could scarce believe my eyes. The dead seemed to
outnumber the living; and these were flying helter-skelter this way
and that!"

"But did not the General strive to rally them?"

"Doubtless he did. Our Marquis is a brave soldier and an able
General; but what can one man do? Panic had seized the troops; and
if you had heard the sound of cheering from the ranks of the
English, and that strange yell from those wild Highlanders as they
dashed in pursuit, you would have understood better what the
soldiers felt like. They ran like sheep--they are running still. I
saw that if I were to have a chance of bringing you the news, I
must use all my powers, or I should be jammed in the mass of flying
humanity making for the city; and since the English are not very
far behind, I had need to make good my retreat."

It was plain that Colin was only a little in advance of a portion
of the defeated army, whose soldiers were now flocking back to the
city, spreading panic everywhere.

Suddenly there ran through the assembled crowd a murmur which
gathered in volume and intensity, and changed to a strange sound as
of wailing. Corinne, who had the best view, leaned eagerly forward
to see, and her face blanched instantly.

A horseman was coming through the gate, supported on either side by
a soldier; his face was deadly white, and blood was streaming from
a wound in his breast.

Madame Drucour looked also and uttered a cry:

"Monsieur le Marquis est tue!"

It was indeed Montcalm, shot right through the body, but not
absolutely unconscious, though dazed and helpless.

Instantly Madame Drucour had forced a passage through the crowd,
and was at his side.

"Bring him this way," she said to those who supported him and led
the horse; "he will have the best attention here."

Montcalm seemed to hear the words, and the wail of sorrow which
went up from the bystanders. He roused himself, and spoke a few
wo