but they advanced to
the abattis of sharpened stakes, and were met by a terrible fire of
grape and musket shot that mowed them down. They stood at the abattis,
hacking away at the stakes, falling in heaps before the shower of
grapeshot. They took off their bayonets and fired at the enemy. Some got
through the abattis, and went up to the breastwork, eight feet high.
They tried to scale it, but could not. Unwilling to retreat, they stood
in front of it, exchanging shots with the French, shaking their guns at
them, and cursing them in Gaelic.

[Sidenote: THE REGULARS REPULSED]

"They're b-brave enough, Ben, and hang on like bulldogs; but they can't
get over that b-breastwork, unless they grow a couple of feet in a
m-mighty short time."

We watched this attack with great interest, for we had wonderful
expectations as to what the regulars would do; and they had ridiculed
the provincials and lauded themselves so long, that their confidence
became unbounded. How they were to take the breastwork in this way, we
could not see. But we waited in the hope of seeing the impossible occur.
At last the few who were left were driven back.

As they returned, we saw Hector supporting his brother Donald. We ran
out from the fallen trees, and helped him through the branches.

"'Deed, man, that was the hottest place I ever was in, and I'm well out
of it with naught but a bit of lead in my leg. I dinna envy the poor
fellows who have to go in there again."

After this attack there was a lull. Abercrombie, who was in a safe place
two miles away, ordered another attack. Some of the provincial regiments
were with them. They rushed into the space, like so many cattle into an
enclosure, where they were knocked over without a chance to get at their
enemy.

We were eager for the Rangers to join in this assault, and asked: "Why
don't we advance?" "Why doesn't Rogers order us to attack?" "We ought to
help those men and be in the thick of the fight."

Old McKinstry said: "Don't you see, boys, why we don't advance? Because
it's all nonsense and folly. We have no orders to go ahead, and Rogers
knows it's nothing but murder to put us up before that wall to be shot
down. We're doing the best work where we are. See me take off that
officer with the white coat." He fired, and the officer fell back.
"There, if you can knock over three or four of them, you've done your
share."

"He's right, after all, Ben. We're killing more men by picking them off