Hannah Bryant

“ Your clamor can be heard afar, and if the Iroquois should hear, they would know by your crying how frightened you are, and that would make them more bold. They are always afraid to attack a fort they think well defended, and we must make them believe we have a hundred soldiers. ”

“ Lawrence could be seen flowing swiftly by, the clear blue of the Canadian sky above, the glory of late October painting the trees of the forest.
The seigniory of Verchères was between Quebec and Montreal, though nearer the latter place, whither, on the morrow, a boat was to go to bring back supplies against the long, cold winter. The temptation now offered to Madame de Verchères was to go in the boat for a few days’ visit with her sister.
“Fear not for us, dear little Maman. Are we not well and strong, and am I not old enough to care for my two brothers?” ”

“ Father says a French fort must never fall into the hands of the Iroquois, for if they capture one, they will think that they can take all; and it will make them more bold, and insolent, and daring. Now you must each take a gun, and I will take one too, and we shall be such brave soldiers that the enemy will think we are many in the garrison, instead of so few.”
“TO THE PETRIFIED GIRL, WITH THE BULLETS SINGING AROUND HER EARS, THE WAY SEEMED VERY LONG.”
“But, Madeleine, Alexandre cannot have a gun!” ”

“ Think you that I, the daughter of the seignior of Verchères, will give up this fort while one of us remains to defend it? You are cowards, both of you. Come out of here, and help me do what must he done.”
Followed by them, she made the rounds of the stockade, finding several places where the ten-foot posts had fallen on the ground, leaving breaches by which the enemy could enter without hindrance. ”

“ If the savages see the gate of the fort opened, and one from within going calmly to meet the new-comers, they will feel that our numbers are strong, and that it is a ruse to tempt them to come over to attack us, and that while they are rushing upon us, a force from the fort will come out and destroy them.”
Laviolette nodded his head gravely.
“M’m’selle has read the mind of the Iroquois. That is what they will think,” he agreed, “else would I never suffer her to go alone.”
“Stand here at the gate, little brothers, with guns cocked, and Laviolette will keep good watch from the bastion ”

“ The place showed that it had been planned by a military man; its general air of defense showed that it was built with the thought of an ever possible enemy; yet a certain air of relaxed vigilance showed that, at present at least, the possible enemy was not considered a probable one. ”

“ Laviolette. who had mounted the bastion near the gate, and was keeping a close watch on field and river, now reported a canoe coming rapidly toward the landing, containing the Fontaine family, seeking refuge in the fort. Madeleine called the two soldiers, and asked one of them to go to meet the little party of refuges but both held back, making the excuse that it was their duty to stay within the fort, and not leave it without military protection. ”