Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-11-17

ments on the landward SIDE the heavy
siege guns which had been landed from
the British ships were raining shot
and shell upon the upper town and
the citadel. Piedmont, the French
chief of artillery, was making what
reply he could. The fleet of Admiral
Saunders in the basin had been NOV
Ing up toward the lower town during
the past week, and as de Ramesay
watched them, large boats full Of
troops were even then being landed
on the meadows and fats at the mouth
Of the st. Charles river and were being
lrawn up in columns under cover of
the ships batteries, as If preparing
40 approach and storm the gate
nearest the bridge.
De Ramsay had just come in from
tour of the walls. 1t was hopeless
outlook indeed before the governor.
He had done his oost. but the end
was approaching. Sad indeed Is the
moment when we realize that our best
is unavailing The rations of all had
been reduced and reduced until star
walton stared them in the face. No
part Of the town was safe now from tn
English fire. The very chateau itself
in which he stood was riddled with
shells. There was a great gaping hole
in the roof Of his cabinet. through
which the rain poured dismally.
The temper of the garrison had
grown worse and worse. Nothing
whatever had been heard from dc
Lewis. De Ramsay felt that if an as
sault were delivered it could not be
met. His garrison originally con-
sisted of $50 troops of thu line, some
100 or 500 colony troops, and the local
militia, but had been much reduced by
death, wounds and starvation, and was
growing less every day. The colonial
soldiers and militia had been DESERT
ing in handouts
Presently Capt. Rouvigny entered.
Monsieur" he said, saluting. "a
body of merchants, headed by Monsieur
Dame, arc here to see you. and"
Bid them attend me in the great
hall of the chateau, captain" inter-
rupted the governor gloomily, "and
summon the officers of my staff. Let
some one 90 for Monsieur Piedmont,
if he can be spared from the walls.
We need his counsel"
Il omitted to state, monsieur" con-
tinued the young officer. that the mer
rh~nts are accompanied by the officers
# the city militia"
Let them all come together, l will
| see them all l know what it MEANS"
/ said de Rimesay despondently.
A few moments after he entered the
great hall of the bullet-ridden castle.
Many of the portraits which adorned
it had been destroyed by the fire of
nnconquerable, however, still kept
watch and ward over the territory he
had loved, now fast slipping into the
hands of the hated English. Had he
been in de Naudreuils place, thought
lie Ramsay, they might not now be
in such a pass.
Through the broken window-panes
The rain beat and the wind swept in
mournful harmony with the thoughts
/ If the people who crowded the room.
/ At the lower end were congregated
tody of the most influential citizens
# the town. Their plain but rich
1ress. comfortable cloaks, prosperous
appearance, proclaimed that they were
men of substance and condition. A lit
tie apart from them stood the officers
# the colonial militia in bedraggled,
weather-stained uniforms.
The merchants faced de Ramsay
] i,n1f lx-
liery sank to the ground. and they
looked everywhere but at him. They
shifted uneasily under the stern gaze
4 the veteran commander, while their
lands played nervously with their
sword-hilts. De Ramesav was attended
by the officers of his staff, able SOL
diers all; some of them were drenched
With rain and covered with marks of
heir exposure 10 the Indictment
weather, which showed they had just
come from the ramparts. Among
them were Rouvigny, St Luc, Fled
mont, and Joannes the town major,
md with them de Wire, still under re-
straint by de RameSay's order.
The governor stood at the great
thbi' WIN hI9 OllN'lS SlOupCu AROUND
him. The merchants and militia off,
GERS drifted together at the opposite
side. A stranger would have instantly
lecognized that here were two parties
20 debate a serious proposition. Sad
ness was the predominating note in de
Ramesay's face; naughty pride and
contempt flashed from the eyes Of the
mobiles and professional soldiers at his
back; doseed determination was evil
ienced in every line in the portly fig
ures of the merchants; and stubborn
shame spoke from the dropped heads
IF the militia officers.
"Messeurs," said the governor
quietly. you have asked an audience
for purpose which can but too well
divine. Will you speak your mind and
have done with it? The gentlemen of
the counter first"
He turned inquiringly to the mer-
chants, but no one apparently cared
to break the silence. No one wished
to assume the stigma OF being the first
10 make the proposition in furtherance
Of which they had assembled.
What, gentlemen!" continued de
Ramesay sarcastically are your de-
sires so base that none of you have
aven courage TO mention them? Mon
sieur Dame, 1t was at your house,
| m inf that the on baII