priests shouted out that he deserved to die, and the traitor,
Villegagnon, forthwith pronouncing him guilty, condemned him to death.

Nigel, on quitting the court, hastened to the residence of the count, to
tell him of the result of the trial.

"This must not be," he said, on hearing it. "It would be a most
atrocious murder. Every Protestant in the settlement must unite, and
insist on having his life spared. It would be useless to petition; we
must _demand_ our rights."

Nigel fully agreed with the count, and other leading Protestants coming
in were of the same opinion.

"We must stake our lives on the issue," exclaimed one of the boldest.

The count observed, that as it was their lives and liberties were in
jeopardy, and that a bold front could alone save them. On separating
they went among their friends to stir them up to action. That night
every true Protestant capable of bearing arms assembled, and the next
morning marched together to the fort. On their way they met a Roman
Catholic, who thought that Captain Beauport had been unjustly condemned,
and willingly undertook to convey to the governor the resolution to
which they had arrived. They waited, advantageously posted for defence
on the brow of a hill a short distance outside the fort, while their
envoy went forward with their message to the governor. They had also
sent messages on board the ships, the officers and crews of most of
which were sound Protestants, and would, they had every reason to
believe, support them in their endeavour to rescue the brave officer,
who was loved and honoured by all, especially by his own crew. While
waiting the return of their envoy, a messenger arrived from the fleet
conveying the promise of the officers and men to afford them their full
support. This made them still more determined to remain firm to their
purpose. Their envoy soon afterwards returned with the reply of the
governor, stating that he would take their demands into consideration.
On hearing this, they desired him to go back again, insisting that
whether right or wrong, with regard to the act, it was committed on the
high seas, beyond the jurisdiction of the governor, and that, if guilty,
Captain Beauport must be sent to France to be tried. The governor,
finding so strong a force opposed to him, saw that he had been premature
in showing his colours, and that it would be his wisest course to try
and conciliate those whom he could not for the present cru