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an answering fire from the thin red line； for Wolfe had ordered
his men to put two balls in their muskets and to hold their fire
for one dread volley。 Then the roar from Wolfe's center was like
that of a burst of artillery； and； when the smoke cleared； the
French battalions were seen breaking in disorder from the shock；
the front line cut down by the terrible fire。 A bayonet charge
from the redcoats followed。 Some five thousand trained British
regulars bore down； working great slaughter on four thousand
French； many of them colonials who had never before fought in the
open。 The rout of the French was complete。 Some fled to safety
behind the walls of Quebec； others down the Cote Ste。 Genevieve
and across the St。 Charles River； where they stopped pursuit by
cutting the bridge。 Both Wolfe and Montcalm were mortally wounded
after the issue of the day was really decided； and both survived
to be certain； the one of victory； the other of defeat。 Wolfe
died on the field of battle。 Montcalm was taken into a house in
Quebec and died early the next morning。 It is perhaps the only
incident in history of a decisive battle of world import followed
by the death of both leaders； each made immortal by the tragedy
of their common fate。
At two o'clock in the afternoon of the day of defeat； Vaudreuil
held a tumultuous council of war。 It was decided to abandon
Quebec； where Montcalm lay dying and to retreat up the St。
Lawrence to Montreal； to the defense of which Levis had been sent
before the fight。 That night the whole French army fled in panic；
leaving their tents standing and abandoning quantities of stores。
Vaudreuil who had talked so bravely about death in the ruins of
Canada； rather than surrender； gave orders to Ramezay； commanding
in Quebec； to make terms and haul down his flag。 On the third day
after the battle； the surrender was arranged。 On the fourth day
the British marched into Quebec； where ever since their flag has
floated。
Meanwhile； Amherst； the Commander…in…Chief of the British armies
in America； was making a toilsome advance towards Montreal by way
of Lake Champlain。 He had occupied both Ticonderoga and Crown
Point； which had been abandoned by the French。 Across his path
lay Bourlamaque at Isle aux Noix。 Another British army； having
captured Niagara； was advancing on Montreal down the St。 Lawrence
from Lake Ontario。 Amherst； however； made little progress this
year in his menace to Montreal and soon went into winter
quarters； as did the other forces elsewhere。 The British victory
therefore was as yet incomplete。
The year 1759 proved dire for France。 She was held fast by her
treaty with Austria and at ruinous cost was ever sending more and
more troops to help Austria against Prussia。 The great plan of
which Belle…Isle had written to Montcalm was the chief hope of
her policy。 England was to be invaded and London occupied。 If
this were done； all else would be right。 It was not done。 France
could not parry Pitt's blows。 In Africa； in the West Indies； in
India； the British won successes which meant the ruin of French
power in three continents。 French admirals like Conflans and La
Clue were no match for Boscawen； Hawke； and Rodney； all seamen of
the first rank； and made the stronger because dominated by the
fiery Pitt。
They kept the French squadrons shut up in their own ports。 When；
at last； on November 20； 1759； Conflans came out of Brest and
fought Hawke at Quiberon Bay； the French fleet was nearly
destroyed； and the dream of taking London ended in complete
disaster。
CHAPTER XI。 The Fall Of Canada
Though Quebec was in their hands； the position of the British
during the winter of 1759…60 was dangerous。 In October General
Murray； who was left in command； saw with misgiving the great
fleet sail away which had brought to Canada the conquering force
of Wolfe and Saunders。 Murray was left with some seven thousand
men in the heart of a hostile country； and with a resourceful
enemy； still unconquered； preparing to attack him。 He was
separated from other British forces by vast wastes of forest and
river； and until spring should come no fleet could aid him。 Three
enemies of the English； the French said exultingly； would aid to
retake Quebec： the ruthless savages who haunted the outskirts of
the fortress and massacred many an incautious straggler； the
French army which could be recruited from the Canadian
population； and； above all； the bitter cold of the Canadian
winter。 To Murray； as to Napoleon long afterward in his rash
invasion of Russia； General February was indeed the enemy。 About
the two or three British ships left at Quebec the ice froze in
places a dozen feet thick； and snowdrifts were piled so high
against the walls of Quebec that it looked sometimes as if the
enemy might walk over them into the fortress。 So solidly frozen
was the surface of the river that Murray sent cannon to the south
shore across the ice to repel a menace from that quarter。 There
was scarcity of firewood and of provisions。 Scurvy broke out in
the garrison。 Many hundreds died so that by the spring Murray had
barely three thousand men fit for active duty。
Throughout the winter Levis； now in command of the French forces；
made increasing preparations to destroy Murray in the spring。 The
headquarters of Uvis were at Montreal。 Here Vaudreuil； the
Governor； kept his little court。 He and Levis worked
harmoniously； for Uvis was conciliatory and tactful。 For a time
Vaudreuil treasured the thought of taking command in person to
attack Quebec。 In the end； however； he showed that he had learned
something from the disasters of the previous year and did not
interfere with the plans made by Levis。 So throughout the winter
Montreal had its gayeties and vanities as of old。 There were
feasts and dancesbut over all brooded the reality of famine in
the present andthe foreboding of disaster to come。
By April 20； 1760； the St。 Lawrence was open and； though the
shores were cumbered with masses of broken ice； the central
channel was free for the boats which Levis filled with his
soldiers。 It was a bleak experience to descend the turbulent
river between banks clogged with ice。 When Levis was not far from
Quebec； he learned that it was impossible to surprise Murray who
was well on guard between Cap Rouge on the west and Beauport on
the east。 The one thing to do was to reach the Plains of Abraham
in order to attack the feeble walls of Quebec from the landward
side。 Since Murray's alertness made impossible attack by way of
the high cliffs which Wolfe had climbed in the night； Levis had
to reach Quebec by a circuitous route。 He landed his army a
little above Cap Rouge； marched inland over terrible roads in
heavy rain； and climbed to the plateau of Quebec from the rear at
Sainte Foy。 On April 27； 1760； he drew up his army on the heights
almost exactly as Wolfe had done in the previous September。
Murray followed the example