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Rh be made; and a Company's ship which had been stationed up the river would, it was anticipated, afford the means of escape.

Orders were sent to bring the ship as near the fort as was practicable, and the commander proceeded to carry them into effect; but the pilot, infected by the dastardly feeling which had overcome so many of his superiors, lost his presence of mind, and ran the ship aground.

There was now no hope but in the considerate feelings of those who had fled from their companions, still exposed to dangers which they had refused to share. Ignobly as they had abandoned their proper duties, it could not be believed that, when the consciousness of personal safety had calmed their agitation, and time had afforded opportunity for reflection, they would coolly surrender a large body of their countrymen to the mercy of a despot, whose naturally cruel disposition was inflamed by the most savage hatred of the English. To the hope of succour from this quarter the inmates of the besieged fort naturally turned when all other failed; and for two days after the flight of the Governor and those who accompanied him, the defence of the place was maintained with little skill indeed, but with considerable perseverance. For two entire days did the besieged throw up signals, calling upon their fugitive companions to assist them, in escaping the danger which those companions had feared so much that they had sacrificed even honour to safety. For two entire days did the fugitives look upon these signals, while the flames which burst from all parts of the town testified still more amply to the distress of their countrymen; and the continued firing of the enemy told of their increasing danger, without making a single effort to answer the calls upon their humanity or to interpose the slightest assistance. One who had given minute attention to the subject observes, that "a single sloop with fifteen brave men on board might, in spite of all the efforts of the enemy, have come up, and, anchoring under the fort,