ld be exposed to destruction. At length a shout was heard on one
side. It was recognised as coming from the body of seamen who were
advancing to their support. The governor immediately despatched an
officer to lead them to a position he wished them to occupy; but, before
they had reached it, they found themselves engaged with a strong party
of the enemy who had been sent to intercept them. The fight was now
raging in two quarters, but still the enemy appeared to be gaining
ground.

Constance de Tourville had remained at home unwilling to desert the
house till compelled to do so. Several other ladies, whose houses were
in more exposed situations, had come there for shelter, and stood
listening with anxious hearts to the hot strife going forward within a
short distance. At length some of the party proposed that they should
fly to the fort; though, dreading the governor, they were unwilling, if
it could be avoided, to place themselves in his power. Constance
preferred remaining, her father having promised to send timely notice to
her should the French find themselves compelled to retreat. The sounds
of the battle came nearer and nearer. Several of the ladies declared
that they could remain no longer, and hurried to the door to make their
escape; Constance remained firm.

"I will obey my father," she said; "and when he sends me word that it is
time to fly, I will go."

The other ladies, influenced by her example, hesitated, when a shower of
bullets came whistling above their heads, and shouts and shrieks and
cries of the combatants sounded as if they were close at hand. It was
too evident that such was the case. Constance herself began to await
anxiously for the order from her father to quit the house; when
suddenly, in addition to the other sounds, a chorus of wild warwhoops
burst on their ears. The savage cries were replied to by the shouts and
cheers of the French. The musketry rattled as loud as ever, but none of
the shots came near them. In truth, the Tamoyos had arrived just at the
moment the governor had determined to retreat and take shelter in the
fort, leaving the rest of the island to the mercy of the invaders.
Tecumah was at the head of his tribe, who fought with the most desperate
fury against their hereditary enemies the Tuparas. The Portuguese were
now in their turn compelled to retreat; the French and Indians pressed
them hard, and, finding their expectation of surprising the settlement
def