waiting a chance to emerge from
ambush.

In answer to Brock's question as to whether there was a chance of the
Height being scaled direct from the river, Williams repeated what he had
already reported at the council meeting, that the scouts insisted that
the Heights could not be climbed from the landing. The cliffs, over
three hundred feet high, rose almost vertically from the water, and the
denseness of the shrubs, tangle and overhanging trees, anchored in the
clefts, rendered it impossible for any but exceptionally active and
resolute men, and then only as a forlorn hope, to reach the summit.
Projecting ledges of rock also blocked the way. A large body of men had
been seen before daybreak stealing across the foot-hills, but had evaded
pursuit. He believed they had fled to the Black Swamp, four miles
distant.

Seeing that Dennis needed every possible support at the landing, Brock
ordered Williams and his men to proceed to his assistance, and on the
latter's departure our hero and his aides were left alone with the eight
gunners.

* * * * *

The rain was gradually ceasing. Shafts of light from an unseen sun
tinged the edges of the smoke-coloured clouds with amber and rose. A few
spent musket-balls falling about the enclosure aroused Brock's
suspicions. He was watching, from behind the earthen parapet, the flight
of the shells discharged by the eighteen-pounder, and, seeing that they
burst too soon, turned to the gunner.

"Sergeant, you are misjudging your time and distance; we must not waste
powder and shot. Your shells are bursting too soon. Try a longer fuse."

The words were barely out of our hero's mouth when there was a rolling
crash of musketry, accompanied by wild shouts, and a shower of bullets
flew zipping over their heads. Shooting high is the invariable
shortcoming of excited marksmen. A moment later the heads of a large
force of American riflemen rose from the rocky ambuscade above and
behind them. The next instant the enemy was in full charge, evidently
bent on capturing both the General and the redan.

Brock saw that resistance would be madness. To save the gun and escape
capture must be the "double event." Seizing a ramrod, he ordered an
artilleryman to spike the gun, gave the command to retreat, telling the
men to "duck their heads," fearing another discharge, and, leading his
horse, followed by Macdonell and Glegg and the firing squad of eight
artillerymen, rushed