of
September, there was no moon, and the stars alone gave a faint light.
Montcalm had no conception of the importance of the movement of troops
which, it had been reported to him, was going on for some days above
Quebec, and his attention was diverted by the constant bombardment on
the town from Levis, and a fierce cannonading that was kept up against
Beauport by Saunders. Wolfe's thoughts on that memorable night as his
boat passed under the shadow of the dark cliff, we can imagine from an
incident that is related by one who was present. Hardly a dip of an
oar was heard from the flotilla as it was borne down the river, but
from Beauport and Levis came the constant roar of cannon. Every moment
was carrying him to fame and death, and perhaps it was some foreboding
of his fate that led him to repeat the words of Gray's Elegy, which
from that hour has become more famous in English literature:

"The boast of heraldy, the pomp of power,
And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave,
Await alike th' inevitable hour;
The paths of glory lead but to the grave."

As the boats came close to a point on the bank a sentinel challenged,
"_Qui vive?_" "_La France!_" replied an officer of Fraser's
Highlanders who spoke French well. "_A quel regiment?_" again
challenged the suspicious soldier. "_De la Reine_," answered the same
officer, who happily remembered that some companies of this regiment
were with Bougainville. {256} Fate that eventful night was on the side
of the bold Englishman. The French were expecting a convoy of
provisions, and the sentinel called out, "_Passe!_" Another sentry,
more suspicious, ran down to the water's edge, and asked, "_Pourquoi
est-ce que vous ne parlez plus haut?_" The captain replied with
wonderful coolness, "_Tais-toi, nous serons entendus!_"--an answer
which satisfied the guard. In this way the English boats were able to
steal into the cove without being stopped. A few minutes later the
heights were gained, the guard was overpowered, and the British
regiments were climbing to the level land without hindrance. By six
o'clock Wolfe was able to form his army of nearly four thousand men in
line of battle on the Plains of Abraham.[1] "This is a serious
business," exclaimed Montcalm, as he saw the red line of the English
regiments on the table-land behind Quebec. He appears to have almost
immediately come to the conclusion that it was necessary to fight the
English before they re