y
should have full protection both of their persons and property, and
undisturbed liberty of religion; but warned them that if they
presumed to take up arms against the English, their houses and
goods should be destroyed and their churches despoiled. This
placard the Canadians removed when the soldiers had gone, and have
brought it to Quebec for the Governor to see."

"And what says he?"

"Nay, we know not, but it has caused a great commotion in the town.
If the Canadians do not stand by the French in this struggle, the
English must needs be victors."

"Ay," spoke the Abbe, whose face was very grave, "and the case is
but an evil one for them, as they begin to see. Already they are
weary of the war. They love not the life of the camp or the waiting
which is now imposed upon them. They are longing already to get
back to their homes and their farms, and see after their crops and
harvests. Yet if they refuse service under their masters the
French, they are threatened with Indian raids; and if they fight
the English, they are now threatened with their fury and vengeance.
It is small wonder that they are perplexed and half-hearted. We
shall have trouble with them, I fear me, ere the battle has been
fought and won."

Trouble was certainly menacing the town. There was no immediate
danger of its falling into the enemy's hands; but he was putting
himself in a position from which he could inflict irritating and
harassing injury to the town, and was making evident and active
preparations to do so. The military authorities, who looked at the
larger issues of affairs, regarded with perhaps a little too much
coolness the prospect of the destruction of some churches and a
large number of houses and other buildings, consoling themselves
with the knowledge that the fortifications would not suffer
greatly, and that Wolfe would be no nearer taking Quebec after he
had laid in ruins the homes of the citizens. But the exasperation
of these individuals was great, and their fear rose with every hour
which passed. They saw that batteries were being erected,
intrenchments thrown up; that their fire was no check to the
activity of the foe; and that before very long the storm of shot
and shell would be returned with interest, and would fall upon
their city, making terrible havoc there.

Something must be done! That was the word on all lips. In warlike
days even peaceful citizens are not altogether ignorant of the arts
of war, and the burgh