had scarcely expected.  They could just descry the dark, looming objects gliding swiftly and silently along.  But would the gunners in Quebec see them?  The onlookers held their breath as the phantom ships sailed upon their way.  They were passing the blazing batteries now, and the cannonade was more furious than ever.  The guns of Quebec were blazing back.  But was the fire directed only at the opposite heights? or had the flitting sails been seen, and would the iron rain pour upon the gallant vessels making the daring passage?

Fritz felt such an oppression upon his heart that he could scarce draw his breath; but moments came and moments went, and the ships glided unharmed upon their way.  They had all passed the batteries now.  They were in the very narrowest part of the channel, just where the town batteries commanded the passage.  Humphrey could stand it no longer.

“To the boat,” he cried, “to the boat! yonder she lies!  Let us follow and make sure, and bring the General word!”

In a moment the three had rushed down, and were running their boat into the water.  Next minute the sail was up, and the light little craft was cutting through the black river at a gallant pace.  Now she had caught up the last of the silent string of daring cruisers; now she was gliding by the large warship.  All was safe, all was silent on the water; only overhead the hurtling bombs and balls roared and boomed.  The gunners of Quebec had not sighted the stealthy ships.  The town knew nothing of what was being done under cover of that furious cannonade.  And now the batteries had been safely passed; the lights of the town upon the right were beginning to fade in the distance.

A sudden rift in the clouds let through a glancing beam of moonlight, which fell full upon the figure of old Killick as he stood upon the forecastle of his vessel, preparing to let down the anchor as arranged when a safe place had been found.  The old sea-dog had convoyed the party as cleverly as he had navigated the dangerous channel of the Traverse.  He pulled out his battered sou’wester and waved it in the direction of Quebec.

“Bless you, my dears! how well you do sleep!  You ought to be sound and hearty, I’m sure.  Good luck to you, every man of you at the guns!  Bless my soul! if I were the Markiss of Montcalm, when I awoke in the morning to see the English ships in the basin above the town, I’d hang every mother’s son of them each to his own gun!  But poor fellows, it would be hard to blame them.  They can’t help being born Frenchmen and fools after all!”

A laugh and a cheer from those who heard greeted old Killick’s sally; and Humphrey, quickly turning round the prow of the boat, sent her speeding back to Point Levi, to bring certain tidings of the success to Wolfe.

Chapter 2:  Days Of Waiting.

“I am sorry that you should have to be disturbed, dear ladies, but it is no longer safe for you to remain where you were.  My soldiers require the ground.  But tomorrow you shall be sent in safety to Quebec, under a flag of truce.  You will be safer there than at Pointe-aux-Trembles, now that my ships are in the upper river.”