Act 3 — 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.

[Exit COL. CLARKE.

Enter the American force in some confusion.

(FITZGIBBON sends forward a flag of truce; the bugles sound "Cease firing;" an officer advances from the American lines and FITZGIBBON goes forward to meet him.)

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.

[Exit.

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.

(The British officers consult, and then invite CAPT. MCDOWELLto join them. A drum is brought, Major De Haren produces writing materials; and terms of capitulation are drawn up, which are read to CAPT. MCDOWELL.)

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.

[FITZGIBBON bows. [Exit CAPT. MCDOWELL.

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.

[The officers on both sides salute.

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.

[He takes up the pen.

Fitzgibbon. Fortune of war, sir, that we all may meet.

[Each officer signs the document in his order; MISHE-MO-QUA draws his totem—a bear—as his signature.

De Haren (to Col. Boerstler). Will you proceed on the third article?

Boerstler (to Capt. McDowell). Give you the order.

[Exit CAPT. MCDOWELL.

Fitzgibbon (to his men, who are drawn up across the road— De Haren's command forming their right and left wings). Forward—ten paces.

[Enter by companies the American force, who lay down their arms in front of the British officers and defile to the rear.

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.

[Exeunt.