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Chapter 15
"Butwastherenomovement,nosignsofanyintentiontoadvancetoourrelief?"
"Therewerethemorningandeveningparades;andwhenoneoftheprovincialloons—you’llknow,Duncan,you’rehalfaScotsmanyourself—whenoneofthemdroppedhispowderoverhisporretch,ifittouchedthecoals,itjustburnt!"Thensuddenlychanginghisbitter,ironicalmanner,toonemoregraveandthoughtful,hecontinued;"andyettheremight,andmustbe,somethinginthatletterwhichitwouldbewelltoknow!"
"Ourdecisionshouldbespeedy,"saidDuncan,gladlyavailinghimselfofthischangeofhumor,topressthemoreimportantobjectsoftheirinterview;"Icannotconcealfromyou,sir,thatthecampwillnotbemuchlongertenable;andIamsorrytoadd,thatthingsappearnobetterinthefort;morethanhalfthegunsarebursted."
"Andhowshoulditbeotherwise?Somewerefishedfromthebottomofthelake;somehavebeenrustinginthewoodssincethediscoveryofthecountry;andsomewerenevergunsatall—mereprivateersmen’splaythings!Doyouthink,sir,youcanhaveWoolwichWarreninthemidstofawilderness,threethousandmilesfromGreatBritain!"
"Thewallsarecrumblingaboutourears,andprovisionsbegintofailus,"continuedHeyward,withoutregardingthisnewburstofindignation;"eventhemenshowsignsofdiscontentandalarm."