be protecting them!" cried the
women, crossing themselves in fear; but the English midshipmen
laughed aloud.

"What do they think soldiers are for, if not to do their duty in
the teeth of danger and difficulty? They are a strange people,
these Canadians. Surely the French troops would face peril as
steadily if they were put to it?"

"Oh yes," answered Colin; "the French regulars fight exceedingly
well. Has not that been proved a thousand times on European soil?
But the plaint of our General is that France sends him so few men,
and that the Indians and Canadians are not of the same value, save
in certain classes of warfare and in their native forests. The
Governor is, however, so jealous for the honour of his Canadians,
that he seeks in his dispatches to give all the credit of victory
to them. So it is natural that the French minister should be chary
of sending out regulars, which are so urgently needed over there
for the war. Monsieur de Montcalm has told my uncle many things on
this very point. He is always urging the Government to send us more
men, but he can only get the half of what he needs. Perhaps, in
days to come, France may regret that she did not listen better to
his representations. We shall have need of good men if this city is
to be held for her against the English."

When the lads reached their home, they found the Abbe and his
sister deep in talk. Corinne had been listening with attention, but
now she turned eagerly to the lads, to ask what news they brought.
Their tale was soon told, and all faces were grave.

"It will be a disastrous thing for the city to be bombarded," said
the Abbe. "It may not bring the capitulation any nearer, but it
will harass and dishearten the citizens. I am truly sorry for them;
they will certainly suffer. It should have been better managed than
that those opposite heights should fall so easy a prey to the foe.
Again that is the mismanagement of the Governor."

"Several boats have come over from the opposite shore," whispered
Corinne to her brother, "bringing news of what happened there.
There has been little enough resistance to the English soldiers. A
party landed at Beaumont, sending in front a band of Rangers, who
had a little scuffle with some Canadians in the woods, and drove
them off. The soldiers landed, and a placard was posted upon the
door of the church. It was signed by Wolfe. It told the Canadians
that if they would stand neutral in the coming struggle, the