the moment that Munro left his own works to appear in front of his enemies, his air had been grand, and his step and countenance highly military. The instant he caught a glimpse of the white plume that waved in the hat of 5 Montcalm his eye lighted, and age no longer appeared to possess any influence over his vast and still muscular person.

If the air of Munro was more commanding and manly, it wanted both the ease and insinuating polish of that of 10 the Frenchman. Neither spoke for a few moments, each regarding the other with curious and interested eyes. Then, as became his superior rank and the nature of the interview, Montcalm broke the silence. After uttering the usual words of greeting, he turned to Duncan and 15 continued, with a smile of recognition, speaking always in French:

“I am rejoiced, sir, that you have given us the pleasure of your company on this occasion. There will be no necessity to employ an ordinary interpreter; for in your 20 hands I feel the same security as if I spoke your language myself. I have solicited this interview from your superior because I believe he will allow himself to be persuaded that he has already done everything which is necessary for the honor of his prince, and will now listen 25 to the admonitions of humanity. I will forever bear testimony that his resistance has been gallant and was continued as long as there was hope."

When this opening was translated to Munro he answered with dignity, but with sufficient courtesy: "However I may prize such testimony, it will be more valuable when it shall be better merited." After a short pause Montcalm said:

"These hills afford us every opportunity of reconnoitering your works, sirs, and I am possibly as well acquainted with their weak condition as you can be yourselves."

5

"Ask the French general if his glasses can reach to the Hudson," said Munro proudly; "and if he knows when 10 and where to expect the army of Webb."

"Let General Webb be his own interpreter," returned the politic Montcalm, suddenly extending an open letter toward Munro as he spoke; "you will there learn that his movements are not likely to prove embarrassing to 15 my army."

The veteran seized the offered paper without waiting for Duncan to translate the speech. As his eye passed hastily over the words, his countenance changed from its look of military pride to one of deep chagrin; his lip 20 began to quiver; and, suffering the paper to fall from his hand, his head dropped upon his chest, like that of a man whose hopes were withered at a single blow.

Duncan caught the letter from the ground, and without apology for the liberty he took, he read at a glance 25 its cruel purport. Their common superior, so far from encouraging them to resist, advised a speedy surrender,

urging in the plainest language, as a reason, the utter impossibility of his sending a single man to their rescue.

"Here is no deception!" said Duncan, examining the billet both inside and out; "this is the signature of Webb." "The man has betrayed me!" Munro at length bitterly exclaimed; "he has brought dishonor to my door and shame has he heaped heavily on my gray hairs."

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"Say not so," cried Duncan ; " we are yet masters of the fort and of our honor. Let us sell our lives at such a rate 10 as shall make our enemies believe the purchase too dear." Boy, I thank thee," exclaimed the old man, rousing himself from his stupor; you have, for once, reminded Munro of his duty. We will go back and dig our graves behind those ramparts."

15

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"Gentlemen," said Montcalm, advancing toward them a step, in generous interest, "listen to my terms before you leave me."

"What says the Frenchman?" demanded the veteran sternly; "does he make a merit of having captured a 20 scout with a note from headquarters? Sir, he had better raise this siege, to go and sit down before Edward, if he wishes to frighten his enemy with words.

Duncan explained the other's meaning. "To retain the fort is now impossible," said the liberal enemy; "it 25 is necessary to the interests of my master that it should be

destroyed; but as for yourselves, and your brave comrades, there is no privilege dear to a soldier that shall be denied."

"Our colors?" demanded Heyward.

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'Carry them to England, and show them to your king.” "Our arms?"

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Keep them; none can use them better."

"Our march; the surrender of the place?"

"Shall all be done in a way most honorable to yourselves."

5

Duncan now turned to explain these proposals to his commander, who heard him with amazement and a sensibility that was deeply touched by so unusual and unex- 10 pected generosity.

"Go you, Duncan," he said; "go with this marquess, as indeed marquess he should be; go to his marquee, and arrange it all. I have lived to see two things, in my old age, that never did I expect to behold: an Englishman 15 afraid to support a friend, and a Frenchman too honest to profit by his advantage."

So saying, the veteran again dropped his head to his chest, and returned slowly towards the fort, exhibiting, by the dejection of his air, to the anxious garrison a har- 20 binger of evil tidings.

Abridged.

my royal master: George II, king of England. Edward: Fort Edward, where General Webb was stationed. - my master: Louis XV, king of France. marquee (mar-ke'): an officer's field tent. - har'binger: a forerunner. This was a name once given to an officer of the English court whose business it was to precede the royal family when they traveled and to engage lodgings for them.

NEW THINGS AND OLD

WENDELL PHILLIPS

WENDELL PHILLIPS (1811-1884) was a New England reformer and orator. He was famous for his hatred of any kind of oppression, and for his courage in expressing his convictions.

You may glance around the furniture of the palaces in 5 Europe, and you may gather all these utensils of art or use; and when you have fixed the shape and forms in your mind, I will take you into the museum of Naples, which gathers all the remains of the domestic life of the Romans, and you shall not find a single one of these 10 modern forms of art or beauty or use that was not anticipated there. We have hardly added one single line or sweep of beauty to the antique.

Take the stories of Shakespeare, who has written his forty odd plays. Some are historical. The rest, two 15 thirds of them, he did not stop to invent, but he found

them. These he clutched, ready made to his hand, from the Italian novelists, who had taken them before from the East. Cinderella is older than all history, like half a dozen other baby legends. The annals of the world do not 20 go back far enough to tell us from where they first came. All the boys' plays, like everything that amuses the child in the open air, are Asiatic. Rawlinson will show you that they came from the banks of the Ganges or