without losing a minute, and emerging from ambush, fired
a badly-aimed volley at the astonished Brock and his eight gunners, and
with a wild shout rushed down upon the redan.

* * * * *

When the United States flag was raised over the gun, which Wool, to his
deep chagrin, found spiked, the troops at Lewiston realized that the
battery had been taken. Their courage returning, they rushed to the
boats below, hoping to participate in a victory which, while hitherto a
question in their minds, now seemed beyond all doubt.

Brock, on regaining the bottom of the slope, seeing that the main attack
was to be made at Queenston, sent Captain Derenzy with a despatch to
Sheaffe at Fort George.

"Instruct Major Evans," he wrote, "to turn every available gun on Fort
Niagara, silence its batteries, and drive out the enemy, for I require
every fighting man here; and if you have not already done so, forward
the battalion companies of the 41st and the flank companies of militia,
and join me without delay."

Mounting his horse, he galloped to the far end of the village. Here he
held a hurried consultation with the few officers present, and
despatched Macdonell to Vrooman's to bring up Heward's Little York
volunteers at the double. He then instructed Glegg to order Dennis, with
the light company of the 49th, less than fifty strong, and Chisholm's
company of the York militia, to join him, and also to recall Williams
and his detachment. When these arrived he took command.

"Captain Williams," said he, "how many men do you muster?"

"Seventy, sir, of all ranks," replied Williams; "forty-nine grenadiers
and Captain Chisholm's company of volunteers."

"We must make the attempt, then," said the General, "to turn the enemy's
left flank on the Heights, and this can only be done by a round-about
way." Then, as Dennis joined him, he said, with a shade of vexation on
his face, "It is a waste of time lamenting mistakes, but the overlooking
of that pathway was a serious thing. The re-taking of the redan must be
attempted at all hazards. It is the key, you see, to our position. If we
wait for all our reinforcements the task will only be greater, as it
will give the enemy time to establish himself in force, and when he
drills out the spiked gun, the odds against us will be greater still."

Then, after a pause, "We must try and regain that gun without a moment's
delay. It will be hot work, and means a sacrifice, but