ithin the city and citadel, and have returned safe
and sound," answered Julian, throwing off the cloak he wore over
his white French uniform. "It cannot be long before the place
surrenders. Our guns are doing fearful havoc. Fires break out, as
you must see, continually. The King's Bastion was almost all
consumed yesterday. The hearts of the townspeople are growing faint
within them. The officers and soldiers are bold, and show a
cheerful front; but they begin to know that sooner or later they
will have to throw up the game."

Wolfe's eyes kindled with martial joy.

"It is the turn of the tide, the turn of the tide!" he exclaimed,
his whole face instinct with anticipation of triumph. "The English
flag has been trailed in the dust, humiliated, vanquished; but she
shall wave aloft over yon proud fortress, which men have called
impregnable. And if there, why not over Quebec itself?"

Then, whilst he made Julian refresh himself with food and drink, he
bid him tell all the story of his visit to Louisbourg: how he had
obtained entrance, what he had seen and heard, and what opinion he
now held as to the position of the foe and the chances of the
siege.

Wolfe was much delighted with the anecdotes related of the courage
and kindness of Madame Drucour.

"The Commander shall hear of that. Brave lady! I would not that she
should suffer needless hurt. Tell me, Julian, are they in need of
food or wine or any such thing within the walls? I would gladly
send to the brave Madame some token of goodwill and appreciation."

"They are well victualled; but I heard Madame say that the sick
were suffering somewhat from scurvy, and that she wished she had
fruit to distribute amongst them. Some of them have come off the
ships, where the illness is frequent. Madame Drucour visits the
sick constantly, and dresses their wounds with her own hands when
the surgeons are busy. And, indeed, they need all the help they can
get, for the sick and wounded increase upon their hands daily."

"They shall have fruit!" cried Wolfe eagerly. "We had a ship arrive
to help the squadron, and she came laden with pines from the West
Indies. We will send in a quantity to Madame Drucour under a flag
of truce. We may be forced to fight our fellow men, but we need not
forget that they are of the same flesh and blood as ourselves. An
honourable foe is second only to a friend."

"Madame will be grateful for any such act of courtesy, I am sure,"
replied Julian. "Sh