aque to Montcalm, and he was at once allowed to pass, as was
Boulanger also when it was found that he was actually the proprietor of
the house which had been appropriated as the captain's quarters. As to
Bibi and the little ones, the Canadian ascertained that they had taken
refuge in a less exposed locality near the city.

On entering the fortress, Isidore at once made his way through the
town, and was then directed to the citadel. There, on the extreme and
loftiest point, where the white flag of France still waved, stood
Montcalm, "that little body with a mighty soul," surveying the vast
landscape spread out below. In front lay the great lake-like sheet of
water, six miles in length, and nearly half as broad, formed by the
confluence of the St. Lawrence on the right, and the smaller river, St.
Charles, on the left. Far away the united streams are again divided
into a northern and southern channel by the picturesque Isle of
Orleans. To the right hand is seen Point Levi, and the almost
perpendicular banks of the St. Lawrence; on the left the more gradually
sloping shore presents a long line of intrenchments and redoubts,
reaching to a distance of seven or eight miles, ending at the great
chasm into which the Montmorency River hurls down its waters in a fall
of two hundred and fifty feet. Ranges of lofty mountains on every side
form the fitting background of this unrivalled scene.

Montcalm's eyes were riveted on the English fleet, whose countless
masts bristled all across the further end of the bay, and down the
diverging channels beyond it; so deeply indeed was he buried in thought
that he did not seem aware of Isidore's approach until the latter was
close to him. He then turned abruptly and looked at the new-comer, but
it was only for a moment.

"Welcome, welcome indeed!" said he, extending his hand, "not as Claude
Breton however, but as my valued friend and comrade-in-arms, Isidore de
Beaujardin."

"I can well believe that I have to thank Monseigneur for that," replied
Isidore, bowing.

Montcalm waved his hand: "It was no more than was due to you," said he.
"Fortunately a certain M. de Crillon, who seems to have been your evil
genius, has been disgraced at last, and the task became an easy one.
But whence do you now come, and what news do you bring?"

"As for myself, I must report to you, _pro forma_, that I duly reached
Fort Duquesne, where I was made prisoner, but subsequently escaped, and
made my way