rising to leave. "Then, sir," said Colonel Macdonell, General Brock's
new provincial aide, the young and brilliant Attorney-General of Upper
Canada--engaged to Mary Powell, the daughter of the judge--"you really
believe we can bombard Detroit successfully? The fort has, I understand,
parapets twenty feet high, with four bastions, surrounded by palisades,
a ditch and a glacis, and is capable of withstanding a long siege;
besides which it has 2,500 fighting men to defend it."

"My good Macdonell," responded our hero, interest and deep regard
imprinted on his face, "we fortunately know from Hull's own letters that
he has as little confidence in his army as they have confidence in him.
I fancy he is merely whistling to keep up his courage. A bold front on
our part, with a judicious display of our small force, will give him
cause to reflect. Then, provided we enthuse the Indians--and if Mackinaw
is fallen, this should not be difficult--Detroit is ours!"

"How about Amherstburg and Sandwich, General?" interjected Justice
Powell. "Their safety is essential to your plan."

"As to Amherstburg," said Brock, "it is the pivot point, sir, and must
be retained as our base. At Sandwich we already have earthworks
completed. If destroyed by Hull they must be rebuilt, for the batteries
there must cover our crossing and cannonade the fort while we advance
upon it. I have already sent, as you know, a few additional men to
Procter--every man I can steal from here. He should be able to hold his
own at Amherstburg for a bit longer. The conditions, I admit, are far
from satisfactory under the present command, but Chambers is on his way
with forty of the 41st, one hundred militia with Merritt, and some of
Brant's braves, to put backbone into the garrison."