amity, were, it was well known, too much in the interest
of their old friends the French, and even the French
Canadians themselves, not to be regarded with the most
cautious distrust.

These stockade forts were never, at any one period, nearer
to each other than from one hundred and fifty to two
hundred miles, so that, in the event of surprise or alarm,
there was little prospect of obtaining assistance from
without. Each garrison, therefore, was almost wholly
dependent on its own resources; and, when surrounded
unexpectedly by numerous bands of hostile Indians, had
no other alternative than to hold out to the death.
Capitulation was out of the question; for, although the
wile and artifice of the natives might induce them to
promise mercy, the moment their enemies were in their
power promises and treaties were alike broken, and
indiscriminate massacre ensued. Communication by water
was, except during a period of profound peace, almost
impracticable; for, although of late years the lakes of
Canada have been covered with vessels of war, many of
them, as we have already remarked, of vast magnitude,
and been the theatres of conflicts that would not have
disgraced the salt waters of ocean itself, at the period
to which our story refers the flag of England was seen
to wave only on the solitary mast of some ill-armed and
ill-manned gunboat, employed rather for the purpose of
conveying despatches from fort to fort, than with any
serious view to acts either of aggression or defence.