Smith and of Henry Brent_

"As darkness came, we cast a sad look toward the spot where our
peaceful and happy St. Gabriel once stood. Alas, we could see nothing
but the crimson sky reflecting the lurid glare of the flames that
devoured our Acadian villages.

"Not a word fell from our lips as we journeyed slowly on, and as night
came its darkness increased our misery, and such was our dejection,
that we would have faced death without a shudder.

"At last we halted in a deep ravine shadowed by projecting rocks, and
we sat down to rest our weary limbs. We built no fires and spoke only
in whispers, fearing that the blazing fire, that the least sound
might betray us in our place of concealment; with hearts failing,
oppressed with gloomy forebodings, the events of the day seemed to us
a frightful dream.

"Oh! that it only had been a dream, petiots! Alas! it was a sad
reality, and yet in our wretchedness, we could hardly realize that
these events had actually happened.

"Our elders had withdrawn a few paces away from us to decide on the
best course to pursue, for, in the hurry of our departure, no plan of
action had been decided upon, our main object being to escape the
outrages and ill-treatment of a merciless and cruel soldiery. It was
decided to reach Canada the best way we could, after which, after
crossing the great northern lakes, our journey was to be overland
to the Mississippi river, on whose waters we would float down to
Louisiana, a French colony inhabited by people of our own race, and
professing the same religious creed as ours.

"But to carry out this plan, petiots, we had to travel thousands of
miles through a country barren of civilization, through endless
forests, and across lakes as wide and deep as the sea; we were to
overcome obstacles without number and to encounter dangers and
hardships at every step, and yet we remained firm in our resolve. It
was exile with its train of woes and of misery; it was, perhaps, death
for many of us, but we submitted to our fate, sacrificing our all in
this world for our religion, and for the love of France.

"We knelt down to implore the aid and protection of God in the many
dangers that beset us, and, trusting in His kind Providence, we lay
down on the bare ground to sleep.

"As you may imagine, petiots, no one, save the little children slept
that night. We were in a state of mental anguish so agonizing that the
hours passed away without bringing the sweet repos