lfe, with a slight curl of the lip.
"I confess I have no great opinion of the militia of Monsieur de
Montcalm. His regular troops are fine soldiers; but for the rest,
they would give us little trouble, I take it. Perhaps the Marquis
knows that, and therefore will not fight."

"In the woods one Canadian soldier is worth three regulars,"
remarked the lady, with a shrewd glance at Wolfe, and a smile upon
her face; "but in the open one regular is worth half a dozen
Canadians. We do not understand standing firm under fire. Give us a
tree to run behind, and we will be as valiant as you wish, and
shoot down our foes with unerring aim; but we must have cover. We
have been used to it, and we do not understand being without it. I
am sure I well understand the feeling. I should make a good enough
Canadian militiaman, but I should never have the nerve to be a
regular soldier."

Wolfe smiled and made a little bow to his guests.

"I believe, Mesdames, that ladies have a higher courage than men
when the hour of peril really comes. I had the honour to become
acquainted with Madame Drucour at the siege of Louisbourg. I was
told, and can well believe, that it was in great part her heroic
example which inspired the men there to that courage which they
showed, and which gave us such hard work. Courage is by no means
the prerogative of the soldier or of man. The women of the world
have again and again set the loftiest examples of it to those who
come after."

The ladies returned his bow, and drank to his health before they
retired to their tents for the night.

"If we see you within Quebec, Monsieur Wolfe, we shall know how
generous a victor we have to deal with. Madame Drucour has told us
the same; but now we have seen it with our own eyes."

"Pray give my best compliments to Madame Drucour," said Wolfe
earnestly, "and tell her that not the least pleasant element in the
anticipation of getting into Quebec is the thought that in so doing
I shall have the honour and pleasure of renewing acquaintance with
her."

Wolfe was on the strand upon the following morning to see his
captives safely off to Quebec, whilst a flag of truce was hoisted,
and the batteries ceased to fire.

"Farewell, my dear ladies; I hope soon to meet you all again," said
the young General, with playful geniality, as he handed them to
their seats. "If Monsieur de Montcalm will but give me the chance
of coming to conclusions with him, I will do my utmost to bring