we are discovered,"
In the movement of speech he was turning to Archdale, preparatory to
dropping measuring eyes upon the musket, when the latter called out:--

"See! they are going to fire." And with the words he dropped his left
arm with a swift and accidental sweep by which his hand hitting forcibly
against Edmonson's which was unprepared, struck it off the boat into the
water. The pistol sent its ball spinning into the sea, running along
Archdale's sleeve as it passed. The pistol itself lay under the water
for the instant that Edmonson's hand rested there. The flintlock was
wet, the weapon was useless.

Its owner turned upon his clumsy companion in a rage. But before he
could speak the guns of the battery blazed out, and in the iron shower
that followed there was no thought for anything but that of saving
themselves as much as possible.

Round shot would have danced over the water and left them comparatively
safe; but in the deadly hail of langrage such escape was impossible.
Every moment of it inflicted torturing wounds or death. The boats were
beeched with all speed at the foot of the monster which belched forth
this red hot torrent wounding wherever it fell. But they had been thrown
into confusion, and while some of them struggled to the shore, the
occupants of others in their terror drew back out of harm's way, and
left their comrades to their fate. Edmonson's was not the only flintlock
wet, as the soldiers, weary and dispirited, toiled up from the surf.
They tried their scaling ladders, they fought for a time with that
desperate courage which never forsook them. Their captain cheered them
with his bravest words and deeds, and Archdale and Edmonson were
foremost in every post of danger until one fell badly wounded.

But from the first the expedition was doomed. After an hour's conflict
the recall was sounded, and the remnant of the scaling party straggled
and staggered to their boats, some carrying wounded comrades, some
themselves wounded and faint. But many had been taken prisoners by the
French, and many lay dead and dying. Elizabeth stood waiting for the
wounded to be brought in, and for the roll of the dead. The first man
who came walking steadily toward her, turning about at every few steps
to see that the men behind him were carrying their burden on their
stretchers carefully, was Archdale.

"You?" she said wonderingly. "I thought--I was afraid--."

"Yes, I have come back," he answered; "and it is t