ssistance. Fortunately for
them, their commandant, after exchanging a few passes with Captain
Tyrrell, had been disarmed and made prisoner; and he, seeing that if
followed by our men they would be cut to pieces, shouted out to them to
come back and submit as he had done. Still they pushed on, and in their
struggles to get out, toppled over each other till a dozen or more lay
sprawling on the ground. They would there have been destroyed had not
Captain Tyrrell humanely called off his people. Of the whole of our
party, not a man had been killed, and a few only were wounded. The fort
exhibited a woeful picture of ruin--nearly a score of men lay dead close
to the guns, while we saw other corpses scattered about in different
parts of the fort. The buildings which served as habitations for the
garrison were shattered to pieces, the embrasures knocked into one, the
guns dismounted and their carriages broken, the flagstaff shot in two--
indeed, it seemed a wonder that the Frenchmen could have held out so
long.

"We could see from the ramparts a good-sized town on the banks of a
river, some way from the shore, sheltered by groves of palms and other
trees--a very attractive, pleasant-looking place. Finding themselves
masters of the fort, our men gave three cheers; then the cry arose that
they should go down and attack the town and pillage it. When the
captain heard this, he shouted out to the men, `My fine fellows, I hear
what you say, and I hope you will not longer think of doing that same.
You will agree that it is beneath us to make a number of poor people
miserable by destroying their houses and such comforts of life as they
possess. Remember, you are Englishmen, and should scorn to injure
people who, though they are called our enemies, have not lifted even a
finger against us. Let them remain in quiet; they will bless you, and
wish you well.'

"This considerate speech had a good effect. The men cheered, and said
they had no wish to hurt the mounseers. The captain, allowing the
commandant to follow his people, who had made their escape, then set us
to work to demolish the fort. The guns which appeared serviceable were
spiked, and then rolled down the hill into the sea, and mines were dug
in different parts of the fort, in which all the powder we found in the
magazine was stowed. A train was then laid to each mine, and we were
ordered to march down to the boats. Captain Tyrrell, who had
superintended all the o