well as the French themselves. His cry
has always been, 'To Quebec!'

"And yonder he is, within a few miles of his goal! Now we shall see
what he can do."

In truth they were very soon to see and feel for themselves in the
city what Wolfe could and would do.

A day or two later sounds of excitement and alarm in the street
proclaimed that something fresh was afoot, and Colin with his
comrades darted out to learn the news. The citizens were gathering
together and running for places which commanded a view over the river,
and those who had telescopes or spyglasses were adjusting them with
trembling hands, pointing them all in one direction--namely, towards
the heights of Point Levi opposite, where the river narrowed itself
till it was less than a mile wide.

"What is it?" cried Colin to a man with a glass at his eye.

"The English soldiers are there!" he answered; "I can see their red
coats swarming up the heights. Holy Virgin protect us! They are
making fascines and gabions. They are going to bring up their guns.
They will be able to lay the houses of the Lower Town in ruins,
even if they cannot touch the fortifications. Why did not the
Governor leave a stronger force over yonder to protect us?"

That question was being passed from mouth to mouth by the anxious
and frightened townspeople. They had been full of confidence and
courage up till now; but the news that Wolfe had taken Point Levi,
and was bringing up guns and intrenching himself upon the heights,
filled them with apprehension.

"What are our guns doing that they do not open fire and dislodge
them?" cried one voice after the other. "Where is the Marquis of
Montcalm? Why does he not take steps for our defence?"

Montcalm was indeed coming post haste to the city, seeing clearly
the menace in this action of the English General. He bitterly
regretted having left the defence of Point Levi to the Canadian
contingent there; for the Canadians were very uncertain soldiers,
and were easily discouraged, though if well led and generalled they
could be of great service in certain kinds of warfare. But it was
known that the Canadians were already beginning to look upon the
English as their possible new rulers; and some of them were
disposed to regard a change of masters almost with indifference, so
long as they were not interfered with in their own possessions. It
was quite likely they had only made a very half-hearted resistance
to the English foe; at least one thin