g was certain--Wolfe had
gained possession of these heights with singularly little
difficulty.

But Montcalm was not going to let him remain there if he could by
any means dislodge him. Hardly had the General entered the fortress
before Corinne heard, almost for the first time, the strange
screaming noise of a shell hurtling through the air, and the next
moment there were gushes of smoke from a dozen places along the
fortifications, as the great guns were pointed and fired and the
balls and bombs went flying across the great river, to fall amongst
the busy toilers on the opposite height, carrying death and
destruction with them.

Eagerly was the result of the fire watched and waited for. The
citizens cried out to those with glasses to tell them the result.

"They take no notice," cried one man who was commandingly posted;
"they toil on without so much as a pause. The fire has not touched
them yet; the guns are pointed too low. They are bringing up their
own guns now; they have one battery almost complete. In a few hours
they will be ready to return our fire. Can nothing be done to stop
that? Our houses and churches will be knocked to pieces, and our
town destroyed! The General says that this will do them no
good--they cannot touch the citadel and fortifications; but are we
to have our homes destroyed about our ears? We men of Quebec will
not stand that!"

Fear and indignation were filling all hearts. Why had Point Levi
been so poorly defended? Why had it been left such an easy prey to
the foe? Who was to blame? Governor or General--Vaudreuil or
Montcalm? The balance of opinion was in favour of the General,
whose known ability and personal charm had rendered him popular
with the citizens, whilst Vaudreuil commanded but little respect or
confidence. Still, whoever was to blame, the fact remained. The
town was in terrible danger of a ruinous bombardment, and the
efforts now made to beat back and dislodge the enemy met with no
sort of success.

On and on they toiled. The shot and shell certainly fell amongst
them after a while, but seemed in no whit to disconcert them. The
Canadian soldiers regarded with amaze this cool intrepidity. They
themselves could be bold in forest warfare, with shelter all around
them; but they were never steady in the open under fire, and could
hardly credit how any soldiers could pursue their tasks unmoved by
the leaden rain descending upon and about them.

"The devil and his angels must