James was at once led to the cabin, where, in two or three minutes, food and a bottle of wine were placed before him.  The general would not allow him to speak a word, till his hunger was satisfied.  Then, when he saw him lay down his knife and fork, he said: 

“Now, Captain Walsham, in the first place, have you succeeded—­have you found a practicable path down to the river?”

“I have found a path, sir.  It is cut in one place, and blocked with felled trees, but the obstacles can be passed.  There are some Canadians, in tents, near the top of the path, but they seem to keep a very careless watch, and no sentry is placed at the bottom, or on the edge of the river anywhere near.”

“Admirable, admirable!” Wolfe exclaimed.  “At last there is a chance of our outreaching Montcalm.  And you were not seen examining the path?  Nothing occurred to excite their suspicion, and lead them to keep a better lookout in future?”

“No, sir,” James replied.  “They have had no suspicion of my presence anywhere near.  The spot where I was taken off was two miles higher.  I moved away in order that, if we were seen swimming off to the boat, no suspicion should occur that we had been reconnoitring the pathway.”

“That is right,” the general said.  “Now, tell me the whole story of what you have been doing, in your own way.”

James related his adventures, up to the time when he was joined by the midshipman.

“But what made Mr. Middleton escape?” the admiral asked.  “I thought that his instructions were precise, that he was to permit himself to be taken prisoner, and was to remain quietly in Quebec, until we could either exchange him or take the place.”

“That was how he understood his instructions, sir,” James said; “but I would rather that you should question him, yourself, as to his reasons for escaping.  I may say they appear to me to be perfectly valid, as an occurrence took place upon which it was impossible for Captain Peters to calculate, when he gave them.”

James then finished the report of his proceedings, and General Wolfe expressed his great satisfaction at the result.

“I will put you in orders, tomorrow, for your brevet-majority,” he said; “and never was the rank more honourably earned.”

The admiral rang a hand bell.

“Send Mr. Middleton to me.  Where is he?”

“He is having supper in Captain Peters’ cabin.”

“Ask Captain Peters if he will be good enough to come in with him.”

A minute later Captain Peters entered, followed by the midshipman.

“I suppose, Peters, you have been asking young Middleton the reason why he did not carry out his instructions?”

“I have, admiral,” Captain Peters said gravely, “and I was only waiting until you were disengaged to report the circumstance to you.  He had better tell you, sir, his own way.”

Captain Peters then took a seat at the table, while the midshipman related his story, in nearly the same words in which he had told it to James.  When he told of the account the Canadian pilot had given of his escape, the admiral exclaimed: