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six miles； all the way from the Montmorency to the St。 Charles。
Wolfe had a great contempt for Montcalm's army〃five feeble
French battalions mixed with undisciplined peasants。〃 If only he
could get to close quarters with the 〃wily and cautious old fox；〃
as he called Montcalm！ Already the British had done what the
French had thought impossible。 Without pilots they had steered
their ships through treacherous channels in the river and through
the dangerous 〃Traverse〃 near Cap Tourmente。 Captain Cook；
destined to be a famous navigator； was there to survey and mark
the difficult places； and British skippers laughed at the
forecasts of disaster made by the pilots whom they had captured
on the river。 The French were confident that the British would
not dare to take their ships farther up the river past the
cannonade of the guns in Quebec； though this the British
accomplished almost without loss。
Wolfe landed a force upon the lower side of the gorge at
Montmorency and another at the head of the Island of Orleans。 He
planted batteries at Point Levis across the river from Quebec；
and from there he battered the city。 The pleasant houses in the
Rue du Parloir which Montcalm knew so well were knocked into
rubbish； and its fascinating ladies were driven desolate from the
capital。 But this bombardment brought Wolfe no nearer his goal。
On the 31st of July he made a frontal attack on the flats at
Beauport and failed disastrously with a loss of four hundred men。
Time was fighting for Montcalm。
By the 1st of September Wolfe's one hope was in a surprise by
which he could land an army above Quebec； the nearer to the
fortress the better。 Its feeble walls on the landward side could
not hold out against artillery。 But Bougainville guarded the high
shore and marched his men incessantly up and down to meet
threatened attacks。 On the heights； the battalion of Guienne was
encamped on the Plains of Abraham to guard the Foulon。 This was a
cove on the river bank from which there was a path； much used by
the French for dragging up provisions； leading to the top of the
cliff at a point little more than a mile from the walls of the
city。 On the 6th of September the battalion of Guienne was sent
back to the Beauport lines by order of Vaudreuil。 Montcalm
countermanded the order； but was not obeyed； and Wolfe saw his
chance。 For days he threatened a landing； above and below Quebec；
now at one point； now at another； until the French were both
mystified and worn out with incessant alarms。 Then； early on the
morning of the 13th of September； came Wolfe's master…stroke。 His
men embarked in boats from the warships lying some miles above
Quebec； dropped silently down the river； close to the north
shore； made sentries believe that they were French boats carrying
provisions to the Foulon； landed at the appointed spot； climbed
up the cliff； and overpowered the sleeping guard。 A little after
daylight Wolfe had nearly five thousand soldiers； a 〃thin red
line；〃 busy preparing a strong position on the Plains of Abraham；
while the fleet was landing cannon； to be dragged up the steep
hill to bombard the fortress on its weakest side。
Montcalm had spent many anxious days。 He had been incessantly on
the move； examining for himself over and over again every point；
Cap Rouge； Beauport； Montmorency； reviewing the militia of which
he felt uncertain； inspecting the artillery； the commissariat；
everything that mattered。 At three o'clock in the morning of one
of these days he wrote to Bourlamaque； at Lake Champlain； noting
the dark night； the rain； his men awake and dressed in their
tents； everyone alert。 〃I am booted and my horses are saddled；
which is in truth my usual way of spending the night。 I have not
undressed since the twenty…third of June。〃 On the evening of the
12th of September the batteries at Point Levis kept up a furious
fire on Quebec。 There was much activity on board the British
war…ships lying below the town。 Boats filled with men rowed
towards Beauport as if to attempt a landing during the night。
Here the danger seemed to lie。 At midnight the British boats were
still hovering off the shore。 The French troops manned the
entrenched lines and Montcalm was continually anxious。 A heavy
convoy of provisions was to come down to the Foulon that night；
and orders had been given to the French posts on the north shore
above Quebec to make no noise。 The arrival of the convoy was
vital； for the army was pressed for food。 Montcalm was therefore
anxious for its fate when at break of day he heard firing from
the French cannon at Samos； above Quebec。 Had the provisions then
been taken by the English？ Near his camp all now seemed quiet。 He
gave orders for the troops to rest； drank some cups of tea with
his aide…de…camp Johnstone； a Scotch Jacobite； and at about
half…past six rode towards Quebec to the camp of Vaudreuil to
learn why the artillery was firing at Samos。 Immediately in front
of the Governor's house he learned the momentous news。 The
English were on the Plains of Abraham。 Soon he had the evidence
of his own eyes。 On the distant heights across the valley he
could see the redcoats。
No doubt Montcalm had often pondered this possibility and had
decided in such a case to attack at once before the enemy could
entrench and bring up cannon。 A rapid decision was now followed
by rapid action。 He had a moment's conversation with Vaudreuil。
The French regiments on the right at Vaudreuil's camp； lying
nearest to the city； were to march at once。 To Johnstone he said；
〃The affair is serious；〃 and then gave orders that all the French
left； except a few men to guard the ravine at Montmorency； should
follow quickly to the position between Quebec and the enemy； a
mile away。 Off to this point he himself galloped。 Already； by
orders of officers on the spot； regiments were gathering between
the walls of the city and the British。 The regiments on the
French right at Beauport were soon on the move towards the
battlefield； but two thousand of the best troops still lay
inactive beyond Beauport。 Johnstone declares that Vaudreuil
countermanded the order of Montcalm for these troops to come to
his support and ordered that not one of them should budge。 There
was haste everywhere。 By half…past nine Montcalm had some four
thousand men drawn up between the British and the walls of
Quebec。 He hoped that Bougainville； advancing from Cap Rouge；
would be able to assail the British rear： 〃Surely Bougainville
understands that I must attack。〃
The crisis was； over in fifteen minutes。 Montcalm attacked at
once。 His line was disorderly。 His center was composed of regular
troops； his wings of Canadians and Indians。 These fired
irregularly and lay down to reload； thus causing confusion。 The
French moved forward rapidly； the British were coming on more
slowly。 The French were only some forty yards away when there was
an answering fire from the thin red line； for Wolfe had or