her power here, she must have a far different force in the
country from the handful of ragged and ill-armed soldiers who mount
guard on the tumble-down forts at Annapolis.

Beyond all these, at the extreme east of the peninsula, is an island
called by the French Ile Royale, and by the English Cape Breton. This
is held by the French. Here is their greatest stronghold in America,
except Quebec, and one, too, which is regarded by Boston with greater
jealousy and dread than the latter, since it is actually nearer, is
open winter and summer, and can strike a more immediate blow.

This was the extreme eastern outpost of French power in America. Here
the French colonies reached out their arms to the mother country.
Here began that great chain of fortresses, which ran up the valleys
of navigable rivers, and connected with the great fortress of Quebec
the almost impregnable outpost of Ticonderoga, and the posts of
Montreal Island. From these the chain of military occupation extended
itself towards the south, through the valleys of the Ohio and the
Mississippi, until they were connected with the flourishing colony at
New Orleans.

Thus it was, and with these advantages, that the French engaged in
the great and momentous conflict with the English for the possession
of America, and on the side of the former were the greater part of
the wild and warlike Indians.

And now let us return to our friend Zac, who for some time has been
lost sight of.

When the Aigle came to anchor, the schooner did the same, and lay
under her guns some miles out from the shore. Zac had been allowed a
certain amount of freedom, for, as the lieutenant had promised, his
hands had not been bound. The same liberty was allowed to the others
on board. Six French seamen were on board, who navigated the
schooner, and acted as her guard. These were armed, while Zac and his
friends were all unarmed. While sailing up the bay this guard was
hardly necessary, as the schooner was under the guns of the frigate;
but afterwards the necessity was more apparent.

The Aigle could not wait at Grand Pre longer than was requisite to
land those who were going ashore. The boat that landed these brought
back a half dozen Acadians from Grand Pre, whom it left on board the
schooner. Then, taking back again her own seamen, the Aigle spread
her white wings and sailed away for _La Belle France_.

Zac saw this change in affairs with varied feelings. First of all, he
had half hop