ord from her direct
since I informed her of my resolve. I heard before sailing that
Lady Jane had died early last year, leaving her well provided, and
I should not be surprised to learn that she had taken the veil, as
there was some disappointment in connection with the Vicomte de
Trincardel, whom, I believe, she was to have married."

And with this I had to be content, for Nairn was not a man of many
words, and in any event his acquaintance with his sister, whom he
had not seen since a child, was slight compared with mine.

Meantime the besieging line crept closer and closer about us.
Building after building went crashing down, or was swept heavenward
in a tower of flame; our weakened ramparts crumbled day and night
before the never-ceasing storm of shot and shell breaking on them,
and the very earth trembled under the incessant thunder of the
bombardment.

Our one hope lay in the appearance of Sarennes, who had been ordered
to our relief with a sufficient force of Canadians and Indians.
Not that the latter are by any means the formidable foe generally
imagined, but the terror of their name was great in European ears,
and any diversion on the part of so dreaded an ally would give us
instant relief. This was the hope that supported us; our gallant
fellows stood by their guns on their crumbling ramparts, and as
they fell beside them more than one man said: "Our turn next. Wait
till they see the savages!"

"Courage, my children! We only need Sarennes to show himself,"
Drucour repeated, as an incentive when he marked our fire slacken.

"There is another signal for M. de Sarennes!" cried his intrepid
lady, undauntedly, as she daily fired her three cannon with her
own brave hands, and day by day men and officers uncovered and
cheered her as she passed.

Within the crowded casemates by the King's Bastion, the only place
of safety now left, terrified women and children wept and prayed,
and wounded men cried and raved for the delayed succour; every time
the enemy's fire slackened for an instant--it was Sarennes who had
attacked them in rear; every time the thunder redoubled in the
vaulted chambers--it was our support of Sarennes's attempt; but as
day after day came and went without relief, the weeping, prayers,
crying, and ravings were hushed into a dull despair, and on the
ramparts and in the casemates men cursed at the very mention of
that name which had so long been their sole support.

One night in the middle of J