or
sword, of an appropriate size. All these were dogs, and their duty
was to defend the walls from an attacking party, consisting also of
dogs, whose movements now commenced the operations of the siege. In
the foreground of the stage were some rude buildings and irregular
surfaces, from among which there issued a reconnoitring party; the
chief, habited as an officer of rank, with great circumspection
surveyed the fortification; and his sedate movements, and his
consultations with the troops that accompanied him, implied that an
attack was determined upon. But these consultations did not pass
unobserved by the defenders of the garrison. The party was noticed by
a sentinel and fired upon; and this seemed to be the signal to call
every man to his post at the embrasures.

Shortly after, the troops advanced to the escalade; but to cross the
moat, and get at the bottom of the walls, it was necessary to bring up
some species of pontoon, and, accordingly, several soldiers were seen
engaged in pushing before them wicker-work scaffoldings, which moved
on castors, towards the fortifications. The drums beat to arms, and
the bustle of warfare opened in earnest. Smoke was poured out in
volleys from shot-holes; the besieging forces pushed forward in
masses, regardless of the fire; the moat was filled with the crowd;
and, amid much confusion and scrambling, scaling-ladders were raised
against the walls. Then was the grand tug of war. The leaders of the
forlorn hope who first ascended were opposed with great gallantry by
the defenders; and this was, perhaps, the most interesting part of
the exhibition. The chief of the assailants did wonders; he was seen
now here, now there, animating his men, and was twice hurled, with
ladder and followers, from the second gradation of ramparts: but he
was invulnerable, and seemed to receive an accession of courage on
every fresh repulse. The rattle of the miniature cannon, the roll of
the drums, the sound of trumpets, and the heroism of the actors on
both sides, imparted an idea of reality to the scene.

After numerous hairbreadth escapes, the chief surmounted the third
line of fortifications, followed by his troops; the enemy's standard
was hurled down, and the British flag hoisted in its place; the
ramparts were manned by the conquerors; and the smoke cleared away, to
the tune of "God save the King."

It is impossible to convey a just idea of this performance, which
altogether reflected great cr