CHAPTER II

… A slight haze in the atmosphere, in the early part of the evening, had rolled off before the rising moon (1), which now, being at the full shone in full splendor, and revealed every object on the transparent waters almost as plain as at noonday. In this capacious basin a number of sail were now descried, that had just made their appearance (2), some of them were even within sail, and most of them, though not ships of war appeared of very considerable burden. The young men observed that their manoeuvring was very fine; but altough their number and very unusual appearance excited some wonder, yet it was unmingled with anything of fear or suspicion in the younger part of the family. The wife of the absent Louis sighed deeply, however, and old Gasper uttered a deep groan when their appearance was announced. It was not unnoliced and yet what could they suspect ? À quiet, inoffensive yeomanry, always submissive to the requirements of their taskmasters, and though somewhat situated like the Israelites in Egypt, yet exhibiting nos signs of impalience or resentment.

Still, there was an indefinable feeling of dread, a presentiment of evil. |

[Le lendemain matin, un soldat Q à l’air féroce » vient apporter aux habitants de la ferme une proclamation du Gouverneur Lawrence, signée du commandant des troupes, le colonel Winslow. Et l’auteur ajoute : « Une copie de cette fameuse proclamation existe encore, de la main du Colonel Winslow », dont il donne le texte in extenso. Voy. Pièces justificatives, Haliburton.]

[107] … It seems incredible, that during the three days that intervened before the meeting, nothing of the business intended should have leaked out. We recollect distinctly, that in the letter of instructions to Colonel Winslow, he was particularly cautioned « not to let any of the soldiers have the least communication with any of the inhabitants during the intervening time, lest some discoveries might be made ». That the real truth was far from suspecled is cerlain, and yet there were some who anticipated some unknown and dreadful evil, and several whole families escaped to Chignecto, from whence a large company embarked for Quebec... Some other of the families fled to the

(1) Cf. Evangeline, v. 349.

(2) Tbid. v. 237-238.

woods, and hid themselves. Yet were their terrors derided by the major part, who at once conceived the idea they were to be coerced to enrol themselves in the corps organizing torepel (as they said) the French and Indians. This they stoutly resolved not to do, come what might... Others, again, thought it was only a subterfuge to extort a penalty for not taking the oath of allegiance in the unqualified form in which they wished to administer it. And even When the day came, it found many vacillating in their opinions ; and of the thousands of inhabitants of that district, only four hundred and fifty ablebodied men assembled.

[109]... Alas! who could havethe courage to war without weapons? They had all quietly given up their arms, and « the very manner in Which this was done », says an English historian, should have been convincing of their sincerity and peaceable intentions. .