us; but
any word that comes from you will have its weight with the army."

Montcalm lay silent a long while. Physical weakness made speaking
difficult, and his mind no longer worked with the lightning
quickness of old days. He seemed to find some slight difficulty in
bringing it down to the affairs of earthly battles and struggles.

"Tell the Governor," he said at last, speaking faint and low, "that
there is a threefold choice before him; and that though were I at
the head of the army, I should say, Fight, I do not offer him
counsel to do so; I only tell him the alternatives. The first of
these is to fight--to join forces with Ramesay's garrison and the
sailors from the batteries here, and to gather in all the outlying
Canadians and Indians of the neighbourhood. With such an army as
could be quickly gathered, and by acting in concert with
Bougainville from Cap Rouge, there is at least a very fair chance
of vanquishing the foe in open fight. The next alternative is for
him to retire upon Jacques Cartier, leaving Quebec with an
efficient garrison, and from there to harass the enemy, cut off
supplies, and otherwise prolong the siege till the approach of
winter forces them to take to their ships and go. The third is to
give up the colony to English rule. Let the Governor and his
council take their choice of these three plans, for there is no
other."

"I will take the message myself," said the Abbe, pressing the hand
of his friend, and stooping to imprint a kiss on the pale brow.
"God be with you, my friend, in the hour of trial; and may He
receive your soul when He shall have called it! I shall pray for
the repose of your gallant spirit. Peace be with you. Farewell."

Montcalm was too much exhausted for further speech, but he made a
slight gesture with his hand, and the Abbe left him, Madame Drucour
stealing after him for a last word.

"You will not run into peril yourself, my brother?"

"Nay," he answered, with a touch of bitterness in his tone; "I
shall be safe enough, since my errand is to the Governor. Monsieur
de Vaudreuil is never known to put himself into danger. Oh that we
had a Governor who thought first of the honour of France and second
of his own safety!"

"But surely they will fight! they will not give up Quebec without a
struggle? Look at the walls and ramparts, untouched and impregnable
as ever! Our town is shattered, it is true, but that has long been
done. Why should we give up the city because a