“If he take not care, his caution will be his undoing,” said a Canadian dame of sprightly turn.  “As for us of the country, we are weary to death of uncertainty.  They tell me that the Canadian militia will not long remain loyal if kept in such inactivity.  We Canadians do not understand this sort of warfare.  Quick raids, sharp fighting, quick return home is what our men are used to.  They can be brave enough in their native forests; but this sitting down in camps for weeks and months together, whilst their harvests are lying uncut in the fields, or left a prey to Indian marauders—­no, that they do not understand or appreciate.  They are almost ready to welcome English rule sooner than go on like this.  I doubt not you have heard as much from your prisoners before.”

“Something like it,” answered Wolfe, with a slight curl of the lip.  “I confess I have no great opinion of the militia of Monsieur de Montcalm.  His regular troops are fine soldiers; but for the rest, they would give us little trouble, I take it.  Perhaps the Marquis knows that, and therefore will not fight.”

“In the woods one Canadian soldier is worth three regulars,” remarked the lady, with a shrewd glance at Wolfe, and a smile upon her face; “but in the open one regular is worth half a dozen Canadians.  We do not understand standing firm under fire.  Give us a tree to run behind, and we will be as valiant as you wish, and shoot down our foes with unerring aim; but we must have cover.  We have been used to it, and we do not understand being without it.  I am sure I well understand the feeling.  I should make a good enough Canadian militiaman, but I should never have the nerve to be a regular soldier.”

Wolfe smiled and made a little bow to his guests.

“I believe, Mesdames, that ladies have a higher courage than men when the hour of peril really comes.  I had the honour to become acquainted with Madame Drucour at the siege of Louisbourg.  I was told, and can well believe, that it was in great part her heroic example which inspired the men there to that courage which they showed, and which gave us such hard work.  Courage is by no means the prerogative of the soldier or of man.  The women of the world have again and again set the loftiest examples of it to those who come after.”

The ladies returned his bow, and drank to his health before they retired to their tents for the night.

“If we see you within Quebec, Monsieur Wolfe, we shall know how generous a victor we have to deal with.  Madame Drucour has told us the same; but now we have seen it with our own eyes.”

“Pray give my best compliments to Madame Drucour,” said Wolfe earnestly, “and tell her that not the least pleasant element in the anticipation of getting into Quebec is the thought that in so doing I shall have the honour and pleasure of renewing acquaintance with her.”

Wolfe was on the strand upon the following morning to see his captives safely off to Quebec, whilst a flag of truce was hoisted, and the batteries ceased to fire.