by the rowers paddling with the palms of
their hands. Three Rivers was found in possession of the Americans,
and a story is told of Carleton, foredone from lack of sleep, dozing in
an eating house or tavern with his head sunk forward upon his hands,
when two or three American scouts broke into the room. Not a sign did
the English party in peasant disguise give of alarm or uneasiness,
which might have betrayed the Governor. "Come, come," said one of the
English officers in French, slapping Sir Guy Carleton carelessly on the
back, "we must be going"; and the Governor escaped unsuspected.
November 19, to the inexpressible relief of Quebec Carleton reached the
capital city.

Quebec now had a population of some five thousand. All able-bodied men
who would not fight were expelled from the city. What with the small
garrison, some marines who happened to be in port, and the citizens
themselves, eighteen hundred defenders were mustered. On the walls
were a hundred and fifty heavy cannon, and all the streets leading from
Lower to Upper Town had been barricaded with cannon mounted above. At
each of the city gates were posted battalions. Sentries never left the
walls, and the whole army literally slept in its boots. It will be
remembered that the natural position of Quebec was worth an army in
itself. On all sides there was access only by steepest climb. In
front, where the modern visitor ascends from the wharf to Upper Town by
Mountain Street {303} steep as a stair, barricades had been built. To
the right, where flows St. Charles River past Lower Town, platforms
mounted with cannon guarded approach. To the rear was the wall behind
which camped Arnold; to the left sheer precipice, above which the
defenders had suspended swinging lanterns that lighted up every
movement on the path below along the St. Lawrence.

[Illustration: MAP OF QUEBEC DURING SIEGE OF CONGRESS TROOPS]

Early in December comes Montgomery himself to Quebec, on the very ships
which Carleton had abandoned. Carleton refuses even the letter
demanding surrender. Montgomery is {304} warned that forthwith any
messenger sent to the walls will come at peril of being shot as rebel.
Henceforth what communication Montgomery has with the inhabitants must
be by throwing proclamations inside or bribing old habitant women as
carriers,--for the habitants continue to pass in and out of the city
with provisions; and a deserter presently brings word that Montgomery