To their right, as they looked shorewards, stood the town and grim fortress of Louisbourg, boldly and commandingly placed upon the rocky promontory which protects one side of the harbour, running out, as it were, to meet another promontory, the extremity of which is called Lighthouse Point.  These two promontories almost enclose the harbour of Louisbourg; and midway between them is Goat Island, upon which, in the days of warfare of which we are telling, a strong battery was placed, so that no enemy’s ship could enter the harbour without being subjected to a murderous crossfire, enough to disable and sink it.

Within the harbour were a number of French ships, which, in spite of a feeble attempt at blockade earlier in the year by some English and American vessels, had succeeded in making their way thither with an ample supply of provisions for the garrison.

To force an entrance into the harbour was manifestly impossible at the present juncture of affairs.  The only hope lay in effecting a landing in the larger bay outside, where lay the English fleet; and the shore had been reconnoitred the previous day with a view of ascertaining the chances of this.

The report had not been encouraging.  The French batteries were well placed, and were well furnished with cannon.  It would be difficult enough to land.  It would be yet more difficult to approach the citadel itself; but the experienced eyes of Wolfe and others saw that the only hope lay in an attack from the landward side.  The dangerous craggy shore was its best protection.  On land there were ridges of high ground from which it might be stormed, if only guns could be carried up.  That would be a task of no small danger and difficulty; but courage and resolution might win the day; and Amherst was a commander of a different stamp from the hesitating Abercromby, who was at that very time mustering his troops with a view to the attack upon Ticonderoga.

“It is a fine fortress,” said Wolfe to Julian, as they stood surveying the place from the raised deck of the vessel.  “You cannot see much from here; the distance is too great.  But they have batteries well posted on every height all along the bay; and as for the fortress and citadel, I have seldom seen such workmanship.  Its bastions, ramparts, and glacis are a marvel of engineering.  It may well be called the Dunkirk of the Western world.  It will be a hard nut to crack; but I never believe there is a fortress which English valour cannot suffice to take!”

The resolution to land the troops once made, arrangements were speedily set in order.  There were three places along the bay where it might he possible to effect a landing—­White Point, Flat Point, and Freshwater Cove—­all on the west of the town.  To the east there was an inlet where it might be possible to land troops, though perilously near the guns of the citadel.  It was resolved to make a feint here, and to send parties to each of the three other points, so as to divide and distract the attention of the enemy.  Wolfe was to take command of the landing at Freshwater Cove, which was the spot where Amherst most desired to make his first stand, and here the most determined attempt was to be made.  The Commander came and conferred with his Brigadier as to the best method of procedure, and left him full powers of command when the moment should come.