The Commandant steps forward. "What news, my children?" he asks. His voice is studiously cheerful. Dominique shakes his head. "There is no relief, Monseigneur." "You have met none, you mean?" "None is coming, Monseigneur. We have heard it in Montreal." CHAPTER XXII. DOMINIQUE. "Montreal?" While they stood wondering, a dull wave of sound broke on their ears from the westward, and another, and yet another--the booming of cannon far up the river. "That will be at La Galette," said the Commandant, answering the question in Dominique's eyes. "Come up to your quarters, my children, and get some sleep. We have work before us." He motioned the others to fall back out of hearing while he and Dominique mounted the slope together. "You had audience, then, of the Governor?" he asked. "He declined to see us, Monseigneur, and I do not blame him, since he could not send us back telling you to fight. Doubtless it does not become one in M. de Vaudreuil's position to advise the other thing-- aloud." "I do not understand you. Why could not M. de Vaudreuil order me to fight?" Dominique stared at his master. "Why, Monseigneur,--seeing that he sends no troops, it would be a queer message. He could not have the face." "Yet he must be intending to strike at the English coming from Quebec?" "They are already arrived and encamped at Isle Sainte-Therese below the city, and another army has come down the Richelieu from the south and joined them." "It is clear as daylight. M. de Vaudreuil must be meaning to attack them instantly, and therefore he cannot spare a detachment--You follow me?" "It may be so, Monseigneur," Dominique assented doubtfully. "'May be so'! It must be so! But unhappily he does not know of this third army descending upon him; or, rather, he does not know how near it is. Yet, to win time for him, we must hold up this army at all costs." "It is I, Monseigneur, who am puzzled. You cannot be intending--" "Eh? Speak it out, man!" "You cannot be intending to await these English!" "Name of thunder! What else do you suppose? Pray, my dear Dominique, use your wits. We have to gain time, I tell you--time for our friends below at Montreal." "With twenty odd men against as many hundreds? Oh, pardon me, Monseigneur, but I cannot bring my mind to understand you." "But since it gains time--" "They will not stay to snap up such a mouthful. They will sail past your guns, laughing; unless--great God, Monseigneur! If in truth you intend this folly, where is Mademoiselle Diane? I did not see her in any of the boats from La Galette. Whither have you sent her, and in whose charge?" "She is yonder on the wall, looking down on us. She will stay; I have given her my promise." Dominique came to a halt, white as a ghost. His tongue touched his dry lips. "Monseigneur!"--the cry broke from him, and he put out a hand and caught his seigneur by the coat sleeve.