"Let us go and see them," cried Fritz, seizing his stick; "I would
be one of the first to welcome them. It is true that you said
Benjamin Ashley spoke of coming to Quebec if it should fall to us,
but I never thought to see him here so soon. He must have a stout
heart, for the perils of the place are not ended yet, I fear."

"He has a stout heart, in truth," answered Humphrey; "and right
glad am I to see him. Quebec will be more of a home to us if
Benjamin Ashley and his wife and daughter are dwelling within its
walls."

"Indeed it will," answered Fritz eagerly; and forthwith the pair
started off together in search of their kinsfolk and friends.

On the way they encountered John Stark, who was the head of the
band of Rangers to be quartered in Quebec during the winter as part
of the garrison, and he was greatly excited by the news.

"Hurrah for brave Benjamin Ashley! It is like the stout-hearted
fellow he always was to join his countrymen in times of peril
rather than wait till all was smooth sailing. We shall want
stout-hearted citizens of English blood within the city walls, to
people the empty houses, and save us from being too much surrounded
with half-hearted Canadian residents. If we are beleaguered by a
French army, as is likely enough, we shall want citizens as well as
soldiers if we are to hold our prize against them."

This was, indeed, very true, and therefore it was that any settlers
from New England were warmly welcomed by the officers in charge of
the fortress and city. They could depend upon their soldiers in the
garrison well enough; but every commander knows how much harm can
be done to a cause by discontent and half-heartedness in the city.

At Louisbourg it was the voice of the citizens that had turned the
scale and forced the capitulation, and the same thing had, to a
great extent, happened at Quebec, The citizens had been discouraged
and rendered desperate by the way in which the town had suffered,
and this feeling had reacted upon the garrison, and had rendered
them far less willing to try to hold out than they might otherwise
have been.

It was some little time before Humphrey and his comrades could find
Ashley. He had been taken to the commander of the fortress to
deliver up his papers and have a personal interview with him; and
it was said that he was being entertained by him at table, and his
wife and daughter also.

Presently the news came that Mr. Ashley from Philadelphia was
insp