e river at Pike's Cantonment, and yet another
to cross twenty miles above, where they were to harry the fragments of
the American as it fled.

That morning Plattsburg was wakened by a renewal of the bombardment. The
heavy firing killed a few men knocked down a few walls and chimneys, but
did little damage to the earthworks.

It was surprising to all how soon the defenders lost their gun-shyness.
The very school-boys and their sisters went calmly about their business,
with cannon and musket balls whistling overhead, striking the walls and
windows, or, on rare occasions, dropping some rifleman who was over-rash
as he worked or walked on the ramparts.

There were big things doing in the British camp--regiments marching and
taking their places--storms of rifle and cannon balls raging fiercely.
By ten o'clock there was a lull. The Americans, from the grandfathers to
the school-boys, were posted, each with his rifle and his pouch full of
balls; there were pale faces among the youngsters, and nervous fingers,
but there was no giving way. Many a man there was, no doubt, who, under
the impulse of patriotism, rushed with his gun to join the ranks, and
when the bloody front was reached, he wished in his heart he was safe at
home. But they did not go. Something kept them staunch.

Although the lines were complete all along the ramparts, there were four
places where the men were massed. These were on the embankments opposite
the bridges and the fords. Here the best shots were placed and among
them was Rolf, with others of McGlassin's band.

The plank of the bridges had been torn up and used with earth to form
breastworks; but the stringers of the bridges were there, and a body of
red-coats approaching, each of them showed plainly what their plan was.

The farthest effective range of rifle fire in those days was reckoned at
a hundred yards. The Americans were ordered to hold their fire till
the enemy reached the oaks, a grove one hundred yards from the main
bridge--on the other bank.

The British came on in perfect review-day style. Now a hush fell on all.
The British officer in command was heard clearly giving his orders. How
strange it must have been to the veterans of wars in Spain, France,
and the Rhine, to advance against a force with whom they needed no
interpreter.

McGlassin's deep voice now rang along the defences, "Don't fire till I
give the order."

The red-coats came on at a trot, they reached the hundred-yard-m