At The Holms, as may well be supposed, the rude alarum of war, at the very door, as it were, threw the quiet household into unwonted excitement. The early cannonade brought every member of the family with eager questioning into the great kitchen.
"It has come," said the squire, "the day I have long looked for.
We muse meet it like brave men."
"God defend the right," added Neville, with solemn emotion.
"And forgive and pity our misguided enemies," said Katharine, the tears standing in her eyes.
"And send them back quicker than they came," exclaimed Zenas, with some more hard words of boyish petulance.
"We must help to send them, eh, Sandy?" said Tom Loker.
"Ay, please God," devoutly answered Mr. McKay. "I doubt na He will break them in pieces like a potter's vessel—a vessel fitted for destruction."
After a hurried breakfast the two men hastened to join their militia company, Mary having first filled their haversacks with a liberal supply of bread and cheese, ham sandwich, and, at Sandy's special request, a quantity of oaten bannocks.
"They're aye gude to fecht or march on," he said, "an' we're like eneuch to hae baith to thole or ere we win hame again."
The apparition of Sir Isaac Brock and his aides galloping past the house in the early dawn, and an hour later of the breathless messenger returning to hurry up re-enforcements, and of the troops from Fort George marching by to the inspiring strains of "The British Grenadiers," had been witnessed by Zenas, and had excited his highest enthusiasm. "Now, father," he said, "the time has come for me to do my part for my country."