m. The natural strength of Quebec, "the Gibraltar of America,"
was, with his own French regulars, the only defence on which he could
always rely.

The bombardment of Quebec from across the narrows of the St. Lawrence
("Kebec" is the Indian for "narrows") went on without much result
throughout July; and Wolfe's attempt to storm the Heights of
Montmorency, five miles below Quebec, ended in defeat. During August a
squadron under Holmes, third-in-command of the fleet, kept pushing up
the St. Lawrence above Quebec, and thus alarming the French for the
safety of their road and river lines of communication with Montreal,
the only lines left. They sent troops up to watch the ships, and very
wearing work it was; for while the ships carried Wolfe's landing
parties up and down with the tide, the unfortunate Frenchmen had to
scramble across country in a vain effort to be first at any threatened
point.

From the 3rd of September to the famous 13th Wolfe worked out his own
splendid plan with the help of the fleet. Three-fourths of the French
were entrenched along the six miles of North Shore below Quebec, to
please Vaudreuil, who, as Governor, had power to order Montcalm. The
rest were in or above Quebec; and mostly between Cap Rouge, which was
seven miles, and Pointe-aux-Trembles, which was twenty-two miles,
above. Wolfe's plan was to make as big a show of force as possible, up
to the very last minute, against the entrenchments below Quebec and
also against the fifteen miles of North Shore between Cap Rouge and
Pointe-aux-Trembles, while he would really land at what we now call
Wolfe's Cove, which is little more than one mile above Quebec. If he
could then hold the land line west to Montreal, while Holmes held the
river line, Montcalm would be absolutely cut off in every direction and
be forced to fight or starve. Montcalm's secret orders from the King
being to keep any other foothold he possibly could if Quebec was taken,
he had to leave stores of provisions at different points toward the
West and South, as he intended to retire from point to point and make
his last stand down by New Orleans.

Quebec was, however, to be held if possible; and everything that skill
and courage could do was done by Montcalm to hold it. He even foresaw
Wolfe's final plan and sent one of his best French battalions to guard
the Plains of Abraham. But Vaudreuil withdrew it four days before the
battle there. Again, on the very eve of battle,