* * * *

The east showed signs of approaching day, and Brock, only two miles from
Queenston, was treated to a spectacle that quickened his pulses. Shells
were bursting on the mountain side above the village. The shadows of the
dying night were streaked with the light from an incessant fire of
small-arms. Grapeshot and musket-balls were ploughing up inky river and
grim highland. At Vrooman's battery, on Scott's Point, guarded by
Heward's volunteer company from Little York, and some of Hatt's company
of the 5th Lincoln militia, a mile from Queenston, the twenty-four-pound
shells from the gun, mounted _en barbette_, which commanded at long
range both landings, were leaving behind them furrows of fire in the
black gorge. The big gun was pouring a continuous stream of destructive
metal upon the American boats that were attempting the passage of the
river within the limited zone of its fire.[3]

Fort Gray, above Lewiston, was fairly belching flames, to which the
isolated eighteen-pounder on the Queenston redan was roaring an angry
and defiant response. Brock's trained ear recognized the wicked barking
of the brass six-pounders, under Dennis of the 49th, mingling with the
occasional boom, of the twenty-four-pound carronade below the village.

The village of Queenston consisted of a small stone-barracks and twenty
or more scattered dwellings in the midst of gardens and orchards. To
Brock's right a road from the landing led to St. David's, from which, at
almost right angles, an irregular branch roadway wound up the Heights.
The adjacent table-land west of the village was dotted with farm-houses,
partly surrounded by snake-fences and an occasional stone wall.

Above Vrooman's he was joined by his two aides. Here he met a few men,
shockingly torn and bleeding, crawling to the houses for shelter, and
quite a number of prisoners, and was told that the enemy was routed. All
killed or taken prisoners! Very skeptical, but increasing his speed, our
hero rode into the village, and, though stained and splashed with mud
from stirrup to cockade, he was recognized, and welcomed by the men of
the 49th with a ringing cheer.

FOOTNOTE:

[3] This gun is credited with having fired 160 shots during the
engagement.

[Illustration: BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS. From an old Print]

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE ATTACK ON THE REDAN.

Checking his reeking horse for a moment, Brock acknowledged with a smile
the salute, saying