ther would
suffice to drive back or annihilate this audacious intruder!

So said the people; yet none dared to make light of the peril.
Madame Drucour's face was very grave as she sat looking out into
the street, her arm about Corinne. It was not even safe for them to
try to go out to the hospital that morning--the hospital which had
been moved out of the town and erected upon the plain of the St.
Charles, out of reach of the enemy's guns. Hitherto the Heights of
Abraham had been like a rampart of defence; now they were alive
with the battalions of the foe. The plain might at any time become
the scene of a battle or a rout.

"Here is Colin back!" cried Corinne, suddenly starting to her feet.
"Now he will tell us!"

"It is all true!" cried the lad, bursting into the room. "It is
wonderful to see them; it is marvellous what they have done. They
must have scaled the cliffs at almost impossible places; and now
they are forming up in a splendid way! The whole plateau is alive
with them!"

"The first rays of the sun striking across it were dyed red with
the scarlet uniforms. It was magnificent to see them. I cannot tell
whether they have any guns there. I saw none. But it is not easy to
get a good view of the plain; the ridge above the town hides it."

"But what is our General doing?" asked Madame Drucour, with clasped
hands.

"They say he is coming; they say he is on his way from the Beauport
camp with the whole army at his back. If he has also sent a message
directing Bougainville to advance at the same time from Cap Rouge
and fall upon the English rear, it might well be that the invaders
would be cut to pieces. But no one here knows what is ordered. Some
say one thing and some another. One thing alone is certain--the
Marquis is on his way."

The Abbe, who had been out to gather news, came back now with much
the same tale that Colin had to tell. There was no manner of doubt
about it. The English army had, as by magic, appeared upon the
Heights of Abraham, and had set themselves in battle array upon the
best piece of ground for their purpose. The sight of the compact
red lines filled the French with dismay and fear. If an enemy could
do this in a single night, what might they not have the power of
achieving?

"We are in God's hands," said the Abbe to his sister, as they
hastily, and without much appetite, partook of the meal which
Bonnehomme Michel spread for them; "but truly I fear me that
disaster is in store