“Holy St. Mary, who are you?” he asked, in an accent of deep feeling, as he grasped the arm of the trembling youth.

“I am called Hector, the page of Mad. la Tour,” he answered, in a voice scarce audible from terror, and shrinking from the hand which held him.

“May God forgive me!” murmured the monk to himself, as he relaxed his grasp; while, evidently by a strong effort, every trace of emotion was banished from his countenance and manner.  Hector still stood before him, longing, yet afraid to flee, till the other, apparently comprehending his feelings, said, in a slow, solemn voice,

“Fear me not, boy, but go, bear this message to the lady of La Tour.  Tell her, that her lord hath already spread his homeward sails, and a few hours, perhaps, will bear him hither.  Tell her, that M. d’Aulney will send to parley with her for surrender; but bid her disdain his promises or threats; bid her hold out with a brave heart, and the hour of succor will surely arrive.”

So saying, he turned away; and Hector hastened to the apartment of his lady.

CHAPTER III.

        Herald, save thy labor;
    Come thou no more for ransom, gentle herald;

        Shakspeare.

The arrival of some fishermen on the following morning confirmed the intelligence of father Gilbert—­the name by which the priest, who succeeded Father Ambrose, had announced himself at the fort.  They had eluded the enemy by night, and reported that several vessels lay becalmed in the Bay of Fundy; and, though they had not been near enough to ascertain with certainty, no doubt was entertained, that it was the little fleet of M. la Tour, returning with the expected supplies.

The holy character and mission of father Gilbert was his passport in every place; and, as his duty often called him to remote parts of the settlement, and among every description of people, it was natural that he should obtain information of passing events, before it reached the ears of the garrison.  The mysterious manner in which he had communicated his intelligence on the preceding evening, occasioned some surprise; but Mad. la Tour, in listening to the relation of her page, made due allowance for the exaggerations of excited fancy; and she was also aware, that the Catholic missionaries were fond of assuming an ambiguous air, which inspired the lower people with reverence, and doubtless increased their influence over them.  Till within a day or two, father Gilbert had never entered the fort; but he was well known to the poor inhabitants without, by repeated acts of charity and kindness, though he sedulously shunned all social intercourse, and was remarked for the austere discipline, and rigid self-denial to which he subjected himself.