SCENE 3. — The beech ridge. Frequent firing. The Indian war-whoop. Bugles sounding the advance .

Enter LIEUT. FITZGIBBON and COL. THOMAS CLARKE.

Fitzgibbon . The Mohawks have done well; and I am glad
To have your help, sir, too. What is your strength?

Clarke . But twenty, sir, all told.

Fitzgibbon . And I but thirty. Too few to fight such force
In open field. But Boerstler's lost his head:
Deluded by our calls, your fierce attack,
And Indian fighting — which to them has ghosts
Of their own raising — scalps, treachery, what not.
There is our chance: I mean to summon him
To a surrender.

Clarke (in great surprise) . Sir!

Fitzgibbon . 'Tis a bold stroke, I grant, and if it fail
Why then I'll fight it out. Keep up the scare
Some moments longer, and we'll see.

Clarke . Good luck betide so brave a word;
I'll do my best.

Enter the American force in some confusion .

Fitzgibbon . Sir, with my compliments to your commander,
I am the leader of this large detachment,
Backed closely up by reinforcements
Larger still. Indians, our good allies,
Swarm in the woods around; and in your rear
A strong militia force awaits my orders:
Therefore, sir, to save a useless loss
Of brave men's lives, I offer you fair terms
Of full surrender.

American officer . I will report, sir,
To Colonel Boerstler.

Fitzgibbon (aside) . And I will pray.
For after all in God's hand lies the day:
I've done the best I know.

Enter the American officer and an orderly.

American officer . Sir, with respect, our colonel bids me say
That, seeing fate and fortune both unite
To mar success, he'll rather save his men
By fair surrender, than waste their lives
In useless struggle. He commissions me
To act in drawing up the terms.
I am McDowell, captain of a troop.

Fitzgibbon (bowing) . Your humble servant, sir. We'll try to please
Your colonel; rejoicing we have met a foe
Who knows the bravery of discretion.

Enter COL. CLARKE, CAPT. KERR, of the Indian contingent, and MISHE-MO-QUA.

Fitzgibbon . Our terms we make as light as possible:
I hope you'll find them so, sir.

Capt. McDowell (after reading) . Terms generous and honourable sir;
I thank you. A noble foe is always half a friend.
I'll carry them to Colonel Boerstler,
With your consent.

Enter MAJOR DE HAREN, who hastens to greet LIEUT. FITZGIBBON.

Major De Haren . Why, what is this, Fitzgibbon, that I hear?
That with your little handful you have caught
Five hundred enemy? A very elephant!

Fitzgibbon . A strait like mine required some strategy.

De Haren . My dear, brave fellow, you have surely won
The golden epaulettes! How glad I am
I was not here before. Such tact! such skill!
You are a soldier born. But who comes hither?

Enter COL. BOERSTLER, CAPT. MCDOWELL and other American officers .

Fitzgibbon . These are the officers to sign our terms.

Boerstler ( to Fitzgibbon ). I thank you, sir, for honourable terms,
For vain it was to cope with force like yours.
But ne'er I thought to put my hand to such
A document.

Fitzgibbon . Fortune of war, sir, that we all may meet.
De Haren ( to Col. Boerstler ). Will you proceed on the third article?

Boerstler ( to Capt. McDowell ). Give you the order.
De Haren ( to Fitzgibbon ). A glorious day for you, Fitzgibbon;
For this fair Canada, and British arms.
Fitzgibbon . Yes, thanks to a brave woman's glorious deed.