ie. It was perhaps the bravest moment of a
brave life.

"Gentlemen," he said, "I have heard your sentence, but, careless of
military honour as you are, you will not dare put me to death. Do not
think because we have failed this once that we shall not succeed again.
I tell you, that if, instead of raw Boston sailors, ploughmen and
merchant captains, and fishing craft and trading vessels, I had three
English war-ships and one thousand men, I would level your town from the
citadel to the altar of St. Joseph's. I do not fear to die, nor that I
shall die by your will. But, if so, 'twill be with English loathing of
injustice."

His speech was little like to mollify his judges, and at his reference
to St. Joseph's a red spot showed upon many cheeks, while to the charge
against their military honour, Frontenac's eyes lighted ominously. But
the governor merely said: "You have a raw temper, sir. We will chasten
you with bread and water; and it were well for you, even by your strange
religion, to qualify for passage from this world."

Gering was taken back to prison. As he travelled the streets he needed
all his fortitude, for his fiery speech had gone abroad, distorted from
its meaning, and the common folk railed at him. As chastening, it was
good exercise; but when now and again the name of Sainte-Helene rang
towards him, a cloud passed over his face; that touched him in a tender
corner.

He had not met Iberville since his capture, but now, on entering the
prison, he saw his enemy not a dozen paces from the door, pale and
stern. Neither made a sign, but with a bitter sigh Gering entered. It
was curious how their fortunes had see-sawed, the one against the other,
for twelve years.

Left alone in his cell with his straw and bread and water, he looked
round mechanically. It was yet after noon. All at once it came to him
that this was not the cell which he had left that day. He got up and
began to examine it. Like every healthy prisoner, he thought upon means
and chances of escape.

It did not seem a regular cell for prisoners, for there was a second
door. This was in one corner and very narrow, the walls not coming to a
right angle, but having another little strip of wall between. He tried
to settle its position by tracing in his mind the way he had
come through the prison. Iberville or Perrot could have done so
instinctively, but he was not woodsman enough. He thought, however,
that the doorway led to a staircase, like mos