“Farewell, my dear ladies; I hope soon to meet you all again,” said the young General, with playful geniality, as he handed them to their seats.  “If Monsieur de Montcalm will but give me the chance of coming to conclusions with him, I will do my utmost to bring this uncomfortable state of affairs to a close.”

“Ah, Monsieur, you are very complaisant! but the only way that you want to take is the capture of our poor city.”

“Very true, dear ladies; that is the only end I am willing to contemplate.  And yet, believe me, in desiring this I desire nothing that shall be for your final discomfiture.  I know what the rule of France is in these parts, and what that of England is also.  Believe me that beneath English government peace and prosperity such as she has never known before will come to Canada.  I believe that the day will speedily come when you will see this for yourselves.”

“I should not wonder,” answered the Canadian dame, with a light laugh; “I am half disposed to think the same myself.  His Majesty of France has not endeared himself to us these many years past.  I should not be broken hearted to see a change of monarch.”

The boats pushed off, and Wolfe stood watching them on their way across the river.  His face was grave and thoughtful, and he turned presently to Fritz with a sigh.

“Poor ladies!  I am sorry to send them back to the horrors of the siege; but it is the only safe place for them.

“And now we must think seriously of our next step.  The time is flying, and we must not let the grass grow under our feet.  It is true what they said last night:  we are no nearer taking Quebec than when we sailed from England months ago.  We have frightened and harassed the foe, but we are not one step nearer the goal.”

“And yet we have one ship and several smaller vessels in the upper river,” said Julian; “and where one ship has passed others may do so.”

“Yes; I shall try to bring up other vessels.  One never knows what the chances of war will be.  It is well to have the command of the river both above and below; and if Amherst should form a junction with us, we may find the fleet above the town of great use.  But we are now at the end of July, and Ticonderoga, though threatened, has not yet fallen, so far as we know; and even were it to do so quickly, there will be much for Amherst to do there and at Crown Point, and a long, long march before he could reach us.  We must face the possibility of having to accomplish this matter with the forces now at command; and we are in the position now that our camp is split up into four, and we have no great muster of troops at any one point.  If Montcalm were to make a determined dash at any one of our camps, he could destroy it before the rest of the army could be mustered for its defence.  Why he does not avail himself of the chances given him I do not know.  But his policy of inaction has its drawbacks too for us, since I would sooner face him in a pitched battle than be kept here inactive, waiting upon chances that never offer.”