“They are surrounding us on all sides,” cried Roche, as soon as Fritz appeared upon the ramparts with his disheartening message, which, however, he kept for the moment to himself.  “See, they are working their way through the forest to the rear, just beyond our range.  Soon we shall be hemmed in, and they will bring up their guns.  We have done what we can for these poor walls; but they will not long stand the cannonade of all those guns we see lying yonder on the platoons upon the lake.”

“We must hope that the militia from the provinces will come up before their preparations are complete,” said Fritz.  “They should be on their way by now.  But delay and procrastination have ever marked our methods through this war.  Nevertheless the men are in good spirits; they are eager for the fight to begin.  I marvel at their courage, seeing how great are the odds.  But even the sick seemed fired by martial ardour!”

It was so.  The long inaction of the winter and spring had been wearisome and disheartening.  It was impossible for the soldiers to doubt that they would receive help from without now that it was known that the enemy was actually upon them.  Moreover, they all knew, and some remembered, how the assault of a few months back had been repulsed; and not realizing the different scale upon which this one was to be conducted, were full of hopeful confidence and emulation.

Before hostilities actually commenced, Colonel Monro summoned his officers about him.  Great excitement prevailed in the fort, for it was known that a messenger had been admitted under a flag of truce, and that he brought a letter from the Marquis de Montcalm.  It was to the reading of this letter that Monro invited his officers.

“We have to deal with an honourable foe, gentlemen,” said the veteran, looking at those about him, “as you will know when I read to you his words.  ‘I owe it to humanity,’ so writes M. de Montcalm, ’to summon you to surrender.  At present I can restrain the savages, and make them observe the terms of a capitulation, as I might not have power to do under other circumstances; and the most obstinate defence on your part can only retard the capture of the place a few days, and endanger an unfortunate garrison which cannot be relieved, in consequence of the dispositions I have made.  I demand a decisive answer within an hour.’  That, gentlemen, is the message brought to us.  What answer shall we return to our high-minded adversary?”

There was only one word in the mouths of all.

“No surrender! no surrender!” they called aloud, waving their swords in the air; and the cry was taken up by those without, and reached the soldiers upon the ramparts, and the welkin rang with the enthusiastic shout: 

“No surrender! no surrender!”

By this time the Indians were swarming about close outside the ramparts, and hearing this cry and knowing its meaning, they looked up and gesticulated fiercely.