ard at work, day after day, drawing his lines closer and
closer. His military genius showed itself in every disposition of
his lines and batteries. He saw at a glance exactly what should be
done, and set to work to do it in the best possible way.

"How many ships have they in the harbour?" he asked of Julian, two
days after his return from the town.

"Only two of any size--the Bienfaisant and the Prudent. The rest
have been sunk or destroyed."

"I think we had better make an end of those two," said Wolfe
thoughtfully.

"It might not be a task of great difficulty, if it could be done
secretly," said Julian. "The soldiers are mostly on land. They need
them more in the citadel than on board; and they think the ships
are safe, lying as they do under their own batteries. If we could
get a dull or foggy night, we might make a dash at them. We can
enter the harbour now that the Island battery is silenced and the
frigate Arethuse gone. They say the sailors on board the ships are
longing for a task. They would rejoice to accomplish something of
that sort."

"Get me ready a boat, and you and Humphrey row me out to our fleet
yonder," said Wolfe, looking out over the wide expanse of blue
beyond the harbour. "I will speak of this with the Admiral, and see
what he thinks of the undertaking."

They rowed him out from Flat Point to the flagship, and put him on
board. It was a fine sight to see the great battleships anchored in
the bay, ready to take their part in the struggle at a word of
command. But the French fleet had done little or nothing to harass
them. They were complete masters of the deep. Even the ships in the
harbour had not ventured out, and now only two of them remained.

"There will be none tomorrow, if this sea mist comes down," said
Wolfe, with a little grim smile, as he entered the boat again. "Row
me to the harbour's mouth; I would take a look for myself at the
position of the vessels."

The sun was shining brilliantly upon land, but over the sea there
was a little haze, which seemed disposed to increase. It had been
so for two or three days, the fog coming thicker at night. Wolfe
looked keenly about him as he reached the mouth of the harbour. He
did not attempt to enter it, but sat looking before him with
intent, critical gaze.

"I see," he remarked, after a pause. "Now row me once more to the
flagship, and so back. The thing can be done."

Promptitude was one of Wolfe's characteristics; he never let g