five women and fourteen children," said the seigneur.
"I am sure that you will agree with me, gentlemen, that our first duty
is towards them. Some of you, like myself, have lost sons or brothers
this day. Let us at least save our wives and sisters."

"No Iroquois canoes have passed up the river," said one of the
Canadians. "If the women start in the darkness they can get away to the
fort."

"By Saint Anne of Beaupre," exclaimed Du Lhut, "I think it would be well
if you could get your men out of this also, for I cannot see how it is
to be held until morning."

A murmur of assent broke from the other Canadians, but the old nobleman
shook his bewigged head with decision.

"Tut! Tut! What nonsense is this!" he cried. "Are we to abandon the
manor-house of Sainte Marie to the first gang of savages who choose to
make an attack upon it? No, no, gentlemen, there are still nearly a
score of us, and when the garrison learn that we are so pressed, which
will be by to-morrow morning at the latest, they will certainly send us
relief."

Du Lhut shook his head moodily.

"If you stand by the fort I will not desert you," said he, "and yet it
is a pity to sacrifice brave men for nothing."

"The canoes will hardly hold the women and children as it is," cried
Theuriet. "There are but two large and four small. There is not space
for a single man."

"Then that decides it," said De Catinat. "But who are to row the
women?"

"It is but a few leagues with the current in their favour, and there are
none of our women who do not know how to handle a paddle."

The Iroquois were very quiet now, and an occasional dropping shot from
the trees or the stockade was the only sign of their presence. Their
losses had been heavy, and they were either engaged in collecting their
dead, or in holding a council as to their next move. The twilight was
gathering in, and the sun had already sunk beneath the tree-tops.
Leaving a watchman at each window, the leaders went round to the back of
the house where the canoes were lying upon the bank. There were no
signs of the enemy upon the river to the north of them.

"We are in luck," said Amos. "The clouds are gathering and there will
be little light."

"It is luck indeed, since the moon is only three days past the full,"
answered Du Lhut. "I wonder that the Iroquois have not cut us off upon
the water, but it is likely that their canoes have gone south to bring
up another war-party. They ma