perfectly quiet.

A red flush mounted into Wolfe's face, and died away again. He drew
his breath through, his teeth with a slightly whistling sound. With
him this was a sign of keen emotion.

"You saw all that?"

"With my own eyes. I am telling no tale of hearsay. And men have
tales yet more horrid to tell--tales to which a man may scarce
listen for the horror and the shame. This is the way the Indians
serve the subjects of the English crown at the bidding of the
servants of France!"

Wolfe raised his right hand, and let it slowly drop again.

"May Heaven give to me the grace," he said, in a voice that
vibrated with tense feeling, "to go forth to the succour of my
countrymen there--to fight and to avenge!"

After that there was silence for a while, and the servant came and
brought coffee, and took orders for the entertainment and lodging
of the guests. When he had gone Wolfe was calm again, and listened
with keen interest to the story they had to tell of their arrival
in Pennsylvania, and of the extraordinary apathy of the colonists
in the eastern towns, and the difficulty of arousing them to any
concerted action with their own countrymen in the neighbouring
provinces, even for the common defence.

Wolfe knew something of that, and of the causes at work to bring
about such a result. He talked with more comprehension and insight
as to the state of infant colonies, partially self-governed and
self-dependent, struggling out of leading strings, and intent upon
growing to man's estate, than anybody had hitherto done.

"We shall never have a second Canada out there such as France has
won--a country wholly dependent upon the one at home, looking
always to her for government, help, care, money. No, no; the spirit
of those who went forth from England was utterly different. They
are English subjects still, but they want to rule themselves after
their own way. They will never be helpless and dependent; they will
be more like to shake our yoke from off their necks when they
arrive at man's estate. But what matter if they do? We shall be
brothers, even though the sea roll between them. The parent country
has sent them forth, and must protect them till they are able to
protect themselves, even as the birds and the beasts of the fields
defend their young. After that we shall see. But for my part I
prefer that struggling spirit of independence and desire after
self-government. It can be carried too far; but it shows life,
e