o us that the victory has been won."

"And right welcome will be the sight of his face," cried Fritz, "be
his news what it may. John Stark is one of the best and bravest men
I know. I have told our General many a tale of him and his prowess.
Wolfe will have a welcome for him if he ever appears here."

Wolfe seemed to have finished his survey. He took the glass from
his eye and looked round him. Moncton was at his side in a moment.
He, in common with all who fought with and under him, had a great
admiration for the gallant young General.

"Moncton," said Wolfe, in a voice loud enough for the other three
to hear plainly, "I want to get some ships past the city into the
upper reach of the river. The French General will not fight. I give
him chance after chance against me, but he does not take it. He
thinks a waiting game will serve his turn best, and perhaps he is
right. But we must leave no stone unturned to harass and perplex
him. I want a footing in the upper reach of the river. I want to
get some vessels past the town."

Moncton drew his lips together in a silent whistle.

"Will not the town batteries sink them like logs as they pass?" he
asked.

"They will, if they see them. They have left the river free of
vessels; they trust entirely to their guns. But our sailors have
done bolder deeds before this than the passing of some batteries
upon a dark night. If you were to cover their advance by a furious
cannonade upon the town, do you not think we could slip a few past
those frowning batteries, and make a new basis of operations for
ourselves in the upper reach of the river, above the town?"

Moncton's eyes glistened. It was a daring project, but it was not
without promise of success. Such things might be done, and yet
there was serious risk.

"It will weaken us in one way," pursued Wolfe, speaking in his
quiet, meditative fashion. "As it is, we are divided into three
camps--one here, one at Montmorency, and one on the Isle of
Orleans. If we carry out this plan, we shall be divided into four;
and should any pressing danger menace any one of those four camps,
it might be some while before assistance could be sent. And yet I
am more than half disposed to try. Montcalm does not appear to have
any intention of attacking us. And if we weaken ourselves, we shall
also weaken him by this movement. At present he is concentrating
his whole strength in and below the city. If we get a footing on
the upper river, he will h