back in their places. Then I ran to the bastion, where I
found two of the soldiers lighting a fuse.

"What are you going to do?" I demanded.

"Blow up the fort," answered one cowardly wretch.

"Begone, you rascals," I commanded, putting on a soldier's helmet and
seizing a musket. Then to my little brothers: "Let us fight to the
death! Remember what father has always said,--that gentlemen are born
to shed their blood in the service of God and their King."

My brothers and the two soldiers kept up a steady fire from the
loopholes. I ordered the cannon fired to call in our soldiers, who
were hunting; {170} but the grief-stricken women inside kept wailing so
loud that I had to warn them their shrieks would betray our weakness to
the enemy. While I was speaking I caught sight of a canoe on the
river. It was Sieur Pierre Fontaine, with his family, coming to visit
us. I asked the soldiers to go out and protect their landing, but they
refused. Then ordering Laviolette, our servant, to stand sentry at the
gate, I went out myself, wearing a soldier's helmet and carrying a
musket. I left orders if I were killed the gates were to be kept shut
and the fort defended. I hoped the Iroquois would think this a ruse on
my part to draw them within gunshot of our walls. That was just what
happened, and I got Pierre Fontaine and his family safely inside by
putting a bold face on. Our whole garrison consisted of my two little
brothers aged about twelve, one servant, two soldiers, one old habitant
aged eighty, and a few women servants. Strengthened by the Fontaines,
we began firing. When the sun went down the night set in with a
fearful storm of northeast wind and snow. I expected the Iroquois
under cover of the storm. Gathering our people together, I said: "God
has saved us during the day. Now we must be careful for the night. To
show you I am not afraid to take my part, I undertake to defend the
fort with the old man and a soldier, who has never fired a gun. You,
Pierre Fontaine and La Bonte and Galet (the two soldiers), go to the
bastion with the women and children. If I am taken, never surrender
though I am burnt and cut to pieces before your eyes! You have nothing
to fear if you will make some show of fight!"

I posted two of my young brothers on one of the bastions, the old man
of eighty on the third, and myself took the fourth. Despite the
whistling of the wind we kept the cry "All's well," "All's well"
echoin