These caught it up, singing it as they marched
on. It was taken up again by other companies, and by the time Iberville
presented himself to Count Frontenac, not long after, there was hardly a
citizen, soldier, or woodsman, but was singing it.
The weather and water were blustering all that day, and Phips did not
move, save for a small attempt--repulsed--by a handful of men to examine
the landing. The next morning, however, the attack began. Twelve
hundred men were landed at Beauport, in the mud and low water, under one
Major Walley. With him was Gering, keen for action--he had persuaded
Phips to allow him to fight on land.
To meet the English, Iberville, Sainte-Helene, and Perrot issued forth
with three hundred sharpshooters and a band of Huron Indians. In the
skirmish that followed, Iberville and Perrot pressed with a handful of
men forward very close to the ranks of the English. In the charge which
the New Englander ordered, Iberville and Perrot saw Gering, and they
tried hard to reach him. But the movement between made it impossible
without running too great risk. For hours the fierce skirmishing went
on, but in the evening the French withdrew and the New Englanders made
their way towards the St.
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