were told off into light boats, such as could be
taken close inshore; whilst the frigates were to approach the
various points of real or feigned attack, and open a heavy
cannonade upon the French batteries.

Julian and Humphrey found themselves in boats alongside each other.
Humphrey was an Ensign, whilst Julian had been made a Lieutenant.
They belonged to the flotilla commanded by Wolfe, and were
directing some of the boats which were upon the right extremity of
the little fleet.

The hearts of the men were beating high with excitement and the
anticipation of stern work before them. The guns looked grimly
forth from the heights above the shore. All was yet silent as
death; still it was impossible to think that the French were
ignorant of the concerted movement about to be made against them.

A roar from the shore, behind and to their right, told them that
already the battle had begun in other quarters. The sailors set
their teeth and rowed their hardest. The boats shot through the
great green waves.

Suddenly the smoke puffed out from the batteries in front. There
was a flash of fire, and in a few seconds a dull roar, with
strange, screaming noises interspersed. The water became lashed by
a storm of shot, and shrieks of human agony mingled with the noise
of the battle. It was a deadly fire which fell hot around the
devoted little fleet; but Humphrey and Julian, away to the right,
were a little out of range, and slightly protected by a craggy
ridge. No man of their company had been killed; but they saw that
along the line of boats terrible havoc was being wrought.

They saw Wolfe's tall, thin figure standing up and making signs. He
was waving his hand to them now, and Humphrey exclaimed in his keen
excitement:

"We are to land behind the crag and rush the guns!"

In a moment the half-dozen or more boats of this little detachment
were making for the shore as hard as the rowers' arms could take
them. It was hard work to land amongst the breakers, which were
dashing into snowy surf along the beach; but perhaps the surf hid
them from their enemies a little, for they were not hindered by any
storm of shot or shell. They landed on the beach, formed into a
compact body, and headed by Major Scott and some bold Highland
soldiers, they dashed up the slope towards the battery.

But now they were in the midst of a hail of bullets. It seemed to
Humphrey as though hell's mouth had opened. But there was no
thought of fear