ndful of troops, supported by a few raw militia, could invade
the country of an enemy of doubtful numbers, in his own fortress, and
make all prisoners without the loss of a man."

"If this sort of thing lasts," commented our hero to a friend, "I am
afraid I shall do some foolish thing, for if I know myself there is no
want of what is called courage in my nature, and I can only hope I shall
not be led into some scrape."

[Illustration: VIEW OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS AND BROCK'S MONUMENT]

CHAPTER XXII.

PREVOST'S ARMISTICE.

The armistice paralyzed Brock's movements. All the moral influence and
material advantage gained by the captures of Mackinaw and Detroit were
nullified by this incredible blunder, for which no reason, military or
civil, has ever been assigned. The loyal volunteers were released from
duty. Brock's Indian allies returned to their villages. Prevost's policy
of peace had become a mental malady. In spite of our hero's pleadings,
and though Prevost actually knew, before the fall of Detroit, that
President Madison would not extend the two weeks' armistice, the
Governor-General forbade Brock attacking either Sackett's Harbour, the
key to American supremacy on the lakes, or Fort Niagara.

"War," wrote Prevost, "has never yet been declared by England. Peace is
possible."

Brock, smarting under restraint and handcuffed by red tape, was
compelled to look on while the enemy brought up reinforcements, powder,
shot, provisions and other munitions of war, by water to Lewiston.
General Van Rensselaer, in command of the American forces at Lewiston,
wrote to the President stating that by "keeping up a bold front he had
succeeded in getting from General Sheaffe at Fort George the
uninterrupted use of the lakes and rivers." The strategic advantage to
the enemy of this cessation of hostilities and the privileges conceded
was enormous. Prevost realized his error too late. The following year,
conceiving it then to be his special mission to borrow our dead hero's
policy, he attacked Sackett's Harbour, but his "cautious calculation"
was, of course, rewarded by ignoble defeat, and ultimately, after the
Plattsburg fiasco, by a court-martial. In his civil administration of
Canada Sir George Prevost may have been a success; as a soldier he was a
sad failure.

Isaac was daily proving the truth of the precept, recognized by all men
sooner or later, that life's values lie not so much in its victories as
in its strife.