“Several boats have come over from the opposite shore,” whispered Corinne to her brother, “bringing news of what happened there.  There has been little enough resistance to the English soldiers.  A party landed at Beaumont, sending in front a band of Rangers, who had a little scuffle with some Canadians in the woods, and drove them off.  The soldiers landed, and a placard was posted upon the door of the church.  It was signed by Wolfe.  It told the Canadians that if they would stand neutral in the coming struggle, they should have full protection both of their persons and property, and undisturbed liberty of religion; but warned them that if they presumed to take up arms against the English, their houses and goods should be destroyed and their churches despoiled.  This placard the Canadians removed when the soldiers had gone, and have brought it to Quebec for the Governor to see.”

“And what says he?”

“Nay, we know not, but it has caused a great commotion in the town.  If the Canadians do not stand by the French in this struggle, the English must needs be victors.”

“Ay,” spoke the Abbe, whose face was very grave, “and the case is but an evil one for them, as they begin to see.  Already they are weary of the war.  They love not the life of the camp or the waiting which is now imposed upon them.  They are longing already to get back to their homes and their farms, and see after their crops and harvests.  Yet if they refuse service under their masters the French, they are threatened with Indian raids; and if they fight the English, they are now threatened with their fury and vengeance.  It is small wonder that they are perplexed and half-hearted.  We shall have trouble with them, I fear me, ere the battle has been fought and won.”

Trouble was certainly menacing the town.  There was no immediate danger of its falling into the enemy’s hands; but he was putting himself in a position from which he could inflict irritating and harassing injury to the town, and was making evident and active preparations to do so.  The military authorities, who looked at the larger issues of affairs, regarded with perhaps a little too much coolness the prospect of the destruction of some churches and a large number of houses and other buildings, consoling themselves with the knowledge that the fortifications would not suffer greatly, and that Wolfe would be no nearer taking Quebec after he had laid in ruins the homes of the citizens.  But the exasperation of these individuals was great, and their fear rose with every hour which passed.  They saw that batteries were being erected, intrenchments thrown up; that their fire was no check to the activity of the foe; and that before very long the storm of shot and shell would be returned with interest, and would fall upon their city, making terrible havoc there.

Something must be done!  That was the word on all lips.  In warlike days even peaceful citizens are not altogether ignorant of the arts of war, and the burghers in the streets were mustering strong together, every man of them armed, their faces stern and full of determination as they moved all together to one of the open squares in the city, and the place soon presented a most animated appearance.