His heart sank like lead.

Hope was gone clean away.
But at the very moment that hope departed he heard a great cheer, followed a moment later by a terrific crash of rifles and cannon.

Then he saw those blessed Acadians charging in the smoke along the slope.
They had come through the woods, and they rushed directly upon the great Northern battery posted there.

But so well were those guns handled and so fierce was their fire that the Acadians were driven back.

They returned to the charge, were driven back again, but coming on a third time took all the battery except one gun.