Page:The History of the Island of Dominica.djvu/127

 with their then ucces, they fired off two guns from that fort, and let off everal ky-rockets, as ignals to their friends. This was likewie the firt notice the inhabitants had of the attack, which was immediately announced, by firing an alarm gun, and beating to arms in the town.

Then was to be een, viibly, the mot poignant ditres: the helples women and children running, hrieking and crying through the treets; ome of the women with their infants in their arms, others with uch things of value as they could carry; the negroes terrified, running here and there,—all was, for a time, conufion, hurry, dread, and dimay, none knowing where to fly for afety from the invading enemy.

The ituation of the white women and their children was, at that time particularly, pitiable; for, deprived of the protection of their hubands