MACDONELL. It is almost dead. England's vast war, our weakness, and the eagle Whetting his beak at Sandwich, with one claw Already in our side, put thought to steep In cold conjecture for a time, and gave A text to alien tongues. But, since you came, Depression turns to smiling, and men see That dangers well-opposed may be subdued Which shunned would overwhelm us. BROCK. Hold to this! For since the storm has struck us we must face it. What is our present count of volunteers? NICHOL. More than you called for have assembled, Sir-- The flower of York and Lincoln. BROCK. Some will go To guard our frontier at Niagara. Which must be strengthened even at the cost Of York itself. The rest to the Detroit, Where, with Tecumseh's force, our regulars, And Kent and Essex loyal volunteers, We'll give this Hull a taste of steel so cold His teeth will chatter at it, and his scheme Of easy conquest vanish into air. [_Enter a_ COMPANY _of_ MILITIA _with their_ OFFICERS, _unarmed. They salute, march across the stage, and make their exit_.] What men are those? Their faces are familiar. ROBINSON. Some farmers whom you furloughed at Fort George, To tend their fields, which still they leave half- reaped To meet invasion. BROCK. I remember it! The jarring needs of harvest-time and war, Twixt whose necessities grave hazards lay. ROBINSON. They only thought to save their children's bread, And then return to battle with light hearts. For, though their hard necessities o'erpoised Their duty for the moment, these are men. Who draw their pith from loyal roots, their sires, Dug up by revolution, and cast out To hovel in the bitter wilderness, And wring, with many a tussle, from the wolf Those very fields which cry for harvesters. BROCK. O I observed them closely at Fort George-- Red-hot for action in their summer-sleeves, And others drilling in their naked feet-- Our poor equipment (which disgraced us there) Too scanty to go round. See they get arms, An ample outfit and good quarters too. NICHOL. They shall be well provided for in all. [_Enter_ COLONELS BABY [Footnote: Pronounced Baw- bee.] _and_ ELLIOTT.] BROCK. Good morning both; what news from home, Baby? BABY. None, none your Excellency--whereat we fear This Hull is in our rear at Amherstburg. BROCK. Not yet; what I unsealed last night reports Tecumseh to have foiled the enemy In two encounters at the Canard bridge. A noble fellow; as I hear, humane, Lofty and bold and rooted in our cause. BABY. I know him well; a chief of matchless force. If Mackinaw should fall--that triple key To inland seas and teeming wilderness-- The bravest in the west will flock to him. BROCK. 'Twere well he had an inkling of affairs. My letters say he chafes at my delay, Not mine, but thine, thou dull and fatuous House-- Which, in a period that whips delay, When men should spur themselves and flash in action, Let'st idly leak the unpurchasable hours From our scant measure of most precious time!