indeed, their bayonets to those of England, but it was a defensive movement only; for no sooner did the steel prongs cross, than they wavered and broke, and sought refuge in the woods, leaving many good soldiers on the grass. A close shower from carbine and rifle, which the Americans threw upon the victors, saved their friends from total destruction, but retarded little the progress of the army. The infantry and cavalry, accompanied by the cannon, hastened along the valley, and were already within a short gunshot of the rock where Paul and the American guides sat on horseback.

"That vain Frenchman," said Silas, "has been the ruin of many a pretty man; had he kept under cover, and let loose as he lay his artillery and musketry, he would have maimed that great red dragon which comes as if borne on wings to eat us all up. We must see what defence can be made in the upper valley, the lower seems lost."-" Lost! Silas, my friend!-no, not lost!" answered George; "there are numbers enough left, directed by skill and coolness, to bruise this red dragon of thine. Let us hasten and see the defences of the upper valley: these islanders fight fiercely and well.”

They passed the rock, and entered the vale where the beleaguered fortress stood. War had walked with a visible foot before them; the tracks of cannon-wheels and the dintings of cavalry-hoofs had reddened the ground, and ramparts of timber and turf, glittering with muskets, bristling with spears,

and waving with warriors' plumes, extended into the valley, so as to intersect and command it. At its extremity, the flag of England was flying on a fortress which commanded at once the river and the road to the interior; the battlements and batteries were filled with people; while, girdling it three parts about with cannon and rifles, four thousand picked warriors lay, awaiting the signal to renew the attack. To save this inconsiderable tower, England was exerting much of her might, and to reduce it, America sent her wisest and her bravest warriors.

Paul and his two American friends rode hastily forward. The strife of the two armies waxed loud and louder behind them; against all opposition the English forced their way, foot and horse, and, passing the rock which stood like a sentinel between the two vales, formed rapidly into squares, and began to advance. George turned his bridle about, and looked anxiously upon the enemy; he saw, by the diminished space which they occupied, that the slaughter had been considerable; but he also saw that their national spirit was up, and they would win the day or die. His face glowed, his eye sparkled, and, unbuckling a horseman's cloak, drawing his sword, leaping from his horse, and springing upon a rampart of felled timber, behind which part of the army lay as still as new-cut corn, he exclaimed, "Americans, behold your enemies!" Thousands of warriors start

ed up as one man, and the shout of " Washington! Washington!" rung along the vale. The vale, at the well-known name, revealed all its strength. The greenwood bough, which seemed the retreat of the fawn and the squirrel, in a moment glittered with projected rifles; from amongst the flowering shrubs and the leafy bushes waved many a plumed hat and rose many a shout, and the woods answered with a yell of joy through all their savage tribes. The English heard the shout, and saw the glen glancing on all sides with armed men, yet they were not dismayed; but, placing some picked men upon the rock and in the woods to keep la Fayette from falling upon their rear, they began to advance.

"Americans," said Washington, "be prudent, be patient, and this battle shall be yours: keep the wood, and the wood will keep you: let your balls, not your bayonets, find the bosoms of the enemy. Remember that your foes are mercenaries, whose only home is the battle-field, and whose whole fortune is the paltry price at which their blood is purchased. But you have hearths, homes, fields, fathers, mothers, wives, and loves, to inspire you and make you invincible. To me your country has intrusted you. I watch over you as children,-your blood is as dear to me as mine own, and I shall be loth to shed one drop of it, if freedom will come without such a sacrifice.” These words, repeated from post to post, and from

ambush to ambush, with a grave cheerfulness, were welcomed by the soldiers with looks full of gladness and resolution, and the advance of the English was wished for by many and dreaded by

none.

Secured from an attack on their rear, the English army now poured forward, and the battle began at once. The close fire of the Americans checked the progress of their enemies for a time. Their advance was slow, and the ground was covered with their dead. Though the republicans were shielded by entrenchments, and sheltered by trees, their loss was great; for the English artillery threw a constant storm of round and grape upon their positions, and such was the precision of the volleys from the advancing columns, that whoever raised his head over the parapet, or showed his face from the wood, sank to rise no more. Three of the entrenchments mounted with cannon, and guarded by picked men, were stormed by the English in succession, and they had reached the centre of the valley in spite of the desperate and well-directed enthusiasm of the Americans, who fought under the eye of a general who had often led them to victory.

"General," said Paul, bowing as he spoke, "few words suit the moment of battle. Where that river forms the bend, between you and yon tower, place a battery of cannon. There is a sloop of war behind these pines, which will speedily drop her

anchor there, and become a dangerous neighbour. Shall I do this little service for you ?-half a dozen cannon will do."—" Abide with me, Sir," said Washington; " yon sloop can give me no annoy

ance, my position is too strong to be stormed, without spilling as much blood as would turn a mill in the valley. I must not expose the life of our only mariner, where a landsman may serve my need. Abide, and see a victory won on landit cannot be long in obtaining."-" Well," replied Paul, touched by something of a sarcastic coolness, which he imagined he perceived in the manner of the General; "well, we shall see. The sloop begins to move, and, if the tide of battle roll near her stance, she will cut a passage through your army with half a dozen broadsides. Those flowering shrubs and bushes will form no protection against such a storm of iron as she will hurl against you."—"Such frail shelter has saved me often, my friend," said Washington," so be pa tient. That sloop, believe me, is but a painted holiday thing, and will give us no annoyance." "General Washington," said Paul, "the ships of the English nation are like floating palaces for beauty; when they have their sails set, and their streamers on, there is nothing so lovely to be seen on the waters. But they are not more beautiful than they are terrible,-that painted thing will give you a sharp admonition; see, she is moving."

Washington turned silently away: his army