, and together they sought the females. Cora
received her new, and somewhat extraordinary, protector, courteously at least;
and even the pallid features of Alice lighted, again, with some of their native
archness, as she thanked Heyward for his care. Duncan took occasion to assure
them he had done the best that circumstances permitted, and, as he believed,
quite enough for the security of their feelings; of danger there was none. He
then spoke gladly of his intention to rejoin them, the moment he had led the
advance a few miles towards the Hudson, and immediately took his leave.
    By this time the signal of departure had been given, and the head of the
English column was in motion. The sisters started at the sound, and glancing
their eyes around, they saw the white uniforms of the French grenadiers, who
had, already, taken possession of the gates of the fort. At that moment, an
enormous cloud seemed to pass suddenly above their heads, and looking upward,
they discovered that they stood beneath the wide folds of the standard of
France.
    »Let us go,« said Cora; »this is no longer a fit place for the children of
an English officer!«
    Alice clung to the arm of her sister, and together they left the parade,
accompanied by the moving throng, that surrounded them.
    As they passed the gates, the French officers, who had learned their rank,
bowed often and low, forbearing, however, to intrude those attentions, which
they saw, with peculiar tact, might not be agreeable. As every vehicle, and each
beast of burthen, was occupied by the sick and wounded, Cora had decided to
endure the fatigues of a foot march, rather than interfere with their comforts.
Indeed, many a maimed and feeble soldier was compelled to drag his exhausted
limbs, in the rear of the columns, for the want of the necessary means of
conveyance, in that wilderness. The whole, however, was in motion; the weak and
wounded, groaning, and in suffering; their comrades, silent, and sullen; and the
women and children in terror, they knew not of what.
    As the confused and timid throng, left the protecting mounds of the fort,
and issued on the open plain, the whole scene was, at once, presented to their
eyes. At a little distance on the right, and somewhat in the rear, the French
army stood to their arms, Montcalm having collected his parties, so soon as his
guards had possession of the works. They were attentive, but silent
