The Cairo bulletin., 1904-08-20
CHAPTER XII.
ON THE ROOF or THE WORLD

the Quebec side and had Scfam'
BLEED up the lifts to the Plains 81
Abraham. The hours intervening
since he first attack had not beer
idle ones French batteries erect
rant, and on either side OF the cove
had been gallantly taken by assault
and scouting parties had cleared the
adjacent country OF stragslers. The
sailors under Grafton by herculean en-
deavor had drawn two sixp0unders 10
the crest OF the plateau. Since eight
o'clock in the morning these two guns,
exeellently served by the seamen, had
been replying to heavy fire from the
three larger guns of tie French, who
had begun assembling as early as six
o'clock on the hill beyond the English
position.
From the covert afforded by the
trees and underbrush on the side OF
The St Charles river valley, as well
AS on the st, Lawrence edge. Indian
and backwoods sharprshooters had
Leen pouring a gallant rifle fire upon
ply could be n-de. The thin red line
OF soldiers thar had so often stood be-
tween hnmanity's progress and the
armed world in opposition, keeping
open the pathway Of the future, was
drawn up in three ranks. The lines
were not long enough 10 reach aross
the plateau, and the left flank, where
Townshend commanded, was refused
drawn back at a right angle from the
battle front
Col. Burton, with the light in
fantry, was held in reserve TO antici-
pate possible attack from Bougain-
Vile. That worthy officer. however.
knew nothing OF the landing and re-
manned quietly in camp at Cap-Rouge,
expecting the return of the British
ships with the changing tide. The sky
was overcast, and fitful showers. light
sprinkled the sod, soon to be wetted
by liquid substance of greater CON
sistence and more ominous color
If the scarlet-clad Englishmen pre-
scented a vivid though menacing pie
turc to the French. the aspect of the
latter was sufficiently picturesque to
awaken the admiration of their foes,
Very handsome the white coats Of the
French regulars looked against the
green grass that morning Alas,
many OF them were destined to sport
the red colors of England before the
day was decided.
The two armies were about equal in
number. The qualities OF the French
regulars were as high as those of the
British army, but the average of the
French forces was sadly diminished
by the fact that the larger portion OF
their army was made up of Canadian
militia. These hardy peasants were
excellent fighters in forest service, but
poor material indeed with which to
face regular troops in the open.
But Montcalm had been hasty He
might have waited longer, until
sion had joined him, or at least
reached post in from which he could
support the french attack by demon
stration in force in the rear of the
English. Fight the French must, of
course. or starve, but they would not
few hours might have materially |
changed the situation There were
battery after battery of field pieces |
back in Quebec which should have |
been dispatched TO Montcalm's assist |
anee. His repeated and most pressing |
requests to de Ramesay, the COM
mander, had only brought three guns |
TO him, and the cowardly de Vaudreuil, |
the governor of the province, was /
holding at BEAUFORT thousands of mea |
ldie in their intrenchments, who !
should have been dispatched 10 his as
sistanc-.
How explain the Frenchmans reclt-
less haste? The fact was that Mont
calm had always beaten the English.
lie had never In his whole career met
n single commander among them who
to have the slightest mill
fary genius. and he made the fatal mis-
take CT desplsing his foes. Perhaps
the fact that they lay there stubbornly
taking the CALLING skirmish fire from
The coverts on either flank so Eilently,
In spite of its CHASTITY effectiveness. re-
plying only to his heavier guns with
their two six-pounders, gave him
greater confidence: at any rate. at ten
in the morning he ordered an advance.
With feverish impotence the Eng
Iish held themselves in restraint I'M
der the peremptory orders of their
AS Wolfe saw the French
rising on the crest of the hill. giving
evidence of their intention to join bat
lie I'm close encounter he walked rapid
~ up and down his own line speaking
hose simple. hearty words of encour-
agement, as he passed by his soldiery.
which do much TO make a man a hero.
A culver of delight ran through the
compact ranks. With fierce pleasure
he men looked to their pieces and
made themselves ready.
Suddenly the crest of the slope in t
d ont of them was tipped with fame
ana covered with smoke. The rattle
If arms crashed over the field Bull
cts rang through the morning air. /
.fau uoro 6rannfno here .na sboro I