seemed to her as precious as a
rosary. They watched her, feeling her beauty as keenly as if it were a
pain, and answering every lambent motion of her spirit.

All the buildings were hinted through falling mist, and glowing hearths
in the barracks showed like forge lights; for the wives of the half
dozen married soldiers had come out, one having a child in her arms.
They stood behind their lady, troubled, but reliant on her. She had with
them the prestige of success; she had led the soldiers once before, and
to a successful defense of the fort.

"My men," said Marie, "when the Sieur de la Tour set out to northern
Acadia he dreaded such a move as this on D'Aulnay's part. But I assured
him he need not fear for us."

The soldiers murmured their joy and looked at one another smiling.

"The Sieur de la Tour will soon return, with help or without it. And
D'Aulnay has no means of learning how small our garrison is. Bind
yourselves afresh to me as you bound yourselves before the other
attack."

"My lady, we do!"

Out leaped every right hand, Klussman's with the torch, which lost and
caught its flame again with the sudden sweep.

"That is all: and I thank you," said Marie. "We will do our best."

She turned back to the tower under the torch's escort, her soldiers
giving her a full cheer which might further have deceived D'Aulnay in
the strength of the garrison.

XIII.

THE SECOND DAY.

The exhilaration of fighting quickened every pulse in the fort. By next
dawn the cannon began to speak. D'Aulnay had succeeded in planting
batteries on a height eastward, and his guns had immediate effect. The
barracks were set on fire and put out several times during the day. All
the inmates gathered in the stone hall, and at its fireplace the cook
prepared and distributed rations. Great balls plowed up the esplanade,
and the oven was shattered into a storm of stone and mortar, its
adjoining mill being left with a gap in the side.

Responsive tremors from its own artillery ran through the fortress'
walls. The pieces, except that one in the turret, were all brought into
two bastions, those in the southeast bastion being trained on
D'Aulnay's batteries, and the others on his camp. The gunner in the
turret also dropped shot with effect among the tents, and attempted to
reach the ships. But he was obliged to use nice care, for the iron
pellets heaped on the stone floor behind him represented the heavy labor
of one soldier who