ling and quite pale with rage. Harkye, stranger, when men
have been slaving and sweating for four or five months to build houses
for their wives and for the poor worms of children, and then a parcel of
devils from hell come and burn them down like maize-stalks in a
stubble-field, it is no wonder that their teeth should grind together,
and their fists clench of themselves. So it was with us; but we said
nothing, for our rage would not let us speak. But presently as we
strained our eyes through the loopholes, the Spaniards showed themselves
at the opening of the forest yonder, coming towards the blockhouse. We
tried to count them, but at first it was impossible, for they came on in
a crowd without any order. They thought lightly enough of those they
were seeking, or they would have been more prudent. However, when they
came within five hundred paces, they formed ranks, and we were able to
count them. There were eighty-two foot soldiers with muskets and
carbines, and three officers on horseback, with drawn swords in their
hands. The latter dismounted, and their example was followed by seven
other horsemen, amongst whom we recognised three of the rascally Creoles
who had brought all this trouble upon us. He they called Croupier was
among them. The other four were also Creoles, Acadians or Canadians, a
race whom we had already met with on the Upper Mississippi, fine
hunters, but wild, drunken, debauched barbarians.

The Acadians were coming on in front, and they set up a whoop when they
saw the blockhouse and stockade; but finding that we were prepared to
receive them, they retreated upon the main body. We saw them speaking to
the officers as if advising them; but the latter shook their heads, and
the soldiers continued moving on. They were in uniforms of all colours,
blue, white, and brown, but each man dirtier than his neighbour. They
marched in good order, nevertheless, the captain and officers coming on
in front, and the Acadians keeping on the flanks. The latter, however,
edged gradually off towards the cotton-trees, and presently disappeared
amongst them.

"Those are the first men to frick off," said Asa, when he saw this
manoeuvre of the Creoles. "They have steady hands and sharp eyes; but
if we once get rid of them we need not mind the others."

The Spaniards were now within an hundred yards of us.

"Shall I let fly at the thieving incendiaries?" said Righteous.

"God forbid!" replied Asa. "We will defend ourselv