Archdale had been met by an orderly, and had gone to the General's tent instead of to the Battery. Pepperell was alone. "Sit down," he said. "No, let us go out into the air. Warren's dispatches have just come," he added, as the two passed out of the tent. "He expects two or three large ships in any day. I shall arrange for the general attack as soon as they come up." He smiled at Archdale's enthusiastic endorsement. "You like the smoke of battle," he said. "But the fact is, you have an eye for military situations. Of course I have quite made up my mind, but I should like to hear what you have to say." And he laughed, and took his young friend's arm with a freedom not too common in those stately times. But Pepperell was a man who, born in any age or place, would have found himself at home there, and controlling affairs, not controlled by them. He had come to Louisburg with very little experience in military matters; he had never even seen a siege. He led an army of fishermen, backwoodsmen, farmers, who had left their employments at their country's call. But these had the strong hearts and the quick wits that more than a hundred years later, when the land awoke from a dream of peace, made it rise up a nation of soldiers. The General and Archdale went to a hillock that commanded a view of the harbor, and of the city constantly illuminated by the bursting shells, as were also the forts and the army encamped there. The luridness of war was over everything. They stood looking toward the island which, ever since the assault, had hurled its fire at them incessantly. "And what would you do with that Battery?" asked the General. "Annihilate the Battery," retorted the young man. "It can be done. I think you could rake it best from the Light House." "I believe I will try. Say nothing of this, Archdale. I shall wait a day or two for those ships. It would be awkward, wouldn't it, if the French ones came instead?" His words were light, but the other perceived his deep anxiety. "What would you do then?" he asked. "Take Louisburg,--or die." Archdale turned towards him impulsively. "Yes, you will," he cried, "you will lead us into Louisburg." He waited a moment. "Before the general attack--," he began, and hesitated. "Oh, I'll send the rest of the hospital off to Canso," interposed Pepperell, "all I can of it; our house there is full now. And the nurses,--you may be sure that they shall go. That's what you mean?" "Yes, you think of everything." "Mr. Royal has been impressing the same necessity upon me." And the General laughed. "Where is he?" asked Stephen quickly. "He has been with his daughter all the afternoon, I believe, but a while ago he went up to the Batteries with Col. Vaughan. "But Elizabeth Royal is not a woman to be forgotten," Pepperell went on, "even if her father were not my old friend, and at my elbow." "No," said the young man. Then he made a remark about military affairs, and the subject of the attack was renewed.