my uncle, and bring you word again."

The boy was set on it; he could not be withheld. Moreover, the Abbe
and Madame Drucour were keenly anxious for news.

"Be careful, my boy, be cautious," he said; "run not into danger.
But I think thou art safe upon the river with those lads. You will
take care of one another, and bring us word again what is
happening."

"Oh, I will come back safe and sound, never fear for me!" answered
the boy, in great delight. "We will bring you news, never fear! We
will see all that is to be seen. Oh, I am glad the day of waiting
is over, and that the day for fighting has come!"

"Would that I were a boy like you, Colin!" cried Corinne, with
sparkling eyes. "It is hard to be cooped up in the city when there
are such stirring things going on outside. But I will up to the
heights and watch for the sight of sails; and you will come back
soon, Colin, and tell us all the news."

Nevertheless it was a hard task for the eager girl to remain behind
when her brother and their three merry friends went forth in search
of news.

By this time the English midshipmen were quite at home in their new
home, and the blithest of companions for the brother and sister
there. They did much to foster the sympathies of Colin and Corinne
for the English cause. The boys told of England and the life there,
and were so full of enthusiasm for their country that it was almost
impossible not to catch something of the contagion of their mood.
Both Colin and his sister had seen much to disgust and displease
them amongst the French; whilst round their foes there seemed to be
a sort of halo of romance and chivalry which appealed to the
imaginative strain in both brother and sister.

Their British blood could not fail to be stirred within them. They
saw and heard of corruption, chicanery, and petty jealousy all
round them here. It was hardly to be wondered at that they inclined
to the other side. England and Scotland were uniting together for
the conquest of this Western world. Their mother's countrymen were
fighting the battle. They had the right to wish them success.

Corinne rehearsed all this to herself as she stood upon the lofty
heights behind the town that afternoon with her uncle and aunt.
They were looking with anxiety and grave misgivings at the
clustering sails dimly seen in the distance upon the shining water
of that vast estuary. Montcalm himself had come up to see, and
stood with his telescope at his eye, wa