XVIII. From the loop-holed redoubt their first volley they pour, And Mohawks and Senecas sink in their gore; From musket, and huge musketoon, they have seen— And heard—that our heroes count just Seventeen.
XIX. And dire is the rage of the shame-smitten crew When they find that the pale-faces number so few; Again and again comes the stormy attack, And still the fierce pagans are forced to fall back.
XX. Day and night, night and day, till the tenth set of sun[2] No trophy the maddened assailants have won, Though their fleet-footed runners have hurried from far Half a thousand tried allies—hot whirlwinds of war.
XXI. The leaves of past summers that cumber the ground In pools of bright ruby and purple are drowned, And, reckless of wounds, through the tempest of lead, The discomfited Iroquois bear off their dead.
XXII. Onondagas, Cayugas, Oneidas are there, Some howling for vengeance, some wild with despair Once again, with a hurricane rush and a shout, Like a deluge of lightning they storm the redoubt.
XXIII. They are hidden from death by their bison-hide shields,[3] And long wooden bucklers,—the Palisade yields! But brief is the daring—abrupt is the speech— Of the foremost who boastingly enters the breach.
XXIV. In a moment ’tis over! flash blending with flash, As sword-blades and tomahawks bloodily clash; “Vive le Canada!” Daulac exultantly cried, Then with cross to his lips, like a martyr he died.
XXV. The victors their victory purchased so dear, To their cantons they fled, overmastered with fear, And the grateful young Colony, saved from the knife And merciless tomahawk, bloomed with fresh life.
XXVI. Oh, never shall Canada coldly forget Her heroes, whose heart-drops her virgin soil wet; Their fame shall not suffer eclipse, nor decay, But broaden and brighten as years roll away.[4]
[2] “During about ten days they resisted the most strenuous exertions of assailants,” &c.—Miles’ History of Canada, page 117.