Julian and Humphrey were with Wolfe, and had been his companions and best friends upon the voyage out.  They had both obtained commissions, partly through the influence of the Brigadier; and were eager to see warfare.  Julian had been Wolfe’s nurse and attendant during the voyage, and the bond which now united them was a strong and tender one.  Wolfe bad suffered both from seasickness and from a renewal of the former strain, and looked even now but little fit for the enterprise upon which he was bound; but no physical weakness had ever yet hindered him in the moment of peril from doing his duty, and his eyes flashed with the old fire, as he spoke of what was about to take place.

“Let us but once gain possession of that battery,” he cried, pointing to the guns frowning grimly over Freshwater Cove, “and turn the guns against their present masters, and we shall have taken the first step.  Once let us get foot upon this shore, and it will take more than the cannonade of the Frenchmen to get us off again.”

Eagerly did the fleet await the moment of attack; but their patience was rather severely tried.  Gale first and then heavy fog, with a tremendous swell at sea, detained them long at their anchorage, and one good ship struck upon a rock, and was in considerable danger for a while.

Wolfe suffered much during those days; but his spirit was as unquenchable as ever, and as soon as the stormy sea had gone down a little, was eager for the enterprise.

“Let us but set foot ashore, and I shall be a new man!” he cried.  “I weary of the everlasting heaving of the sea; but upon shore, with my sword in my hand, there I am at home!”

The sea grew calm.  There was still a heavy swell, and the waves broke in snowy surf upon the beach; but the attempt had become practicable, and the word was given overnight for a start at daybreak.  The men were told off into light boats, such as could be taken close inshore; whilst the frigates were to approach the various points of real or feigned attack, and open a heavy cannonade upon the French batteries.

Julian and Humphrey found themselves in boats alongside each other.  Humphrey was an Ensign, whilst Julian had been made a Lieutenant.  They belonged to the flotilla commanded by Wolfe, and were directing some of the boats which were upon the right extremity of the little fleet.

The hearts of the men were beating high with excitement and the anticipation of stern work before them.  The guns looked grimly forth from the heights above the shore.  All was yet silent as death; still it was impossible to think that the French were ignorant of the concerted movement about to be made against them.

A roar from the shore, behind and to their right, told them that already the battle had begun in other quarters.  The sailors set their teeth and rowed their hardest.  The boats shot through the great green waves.