Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-11-01
CHAPTER x.

la DellS "eie esAihne va
49, Sutherland as Wolfe and
Grafton came out OF the
cabin. AS the sound OF the
mournful couplets rang out through
the night the bells Of the other vessels
caught up the slow refrain and the
sound was repeated from ship to ship
over the dark river. The character OF
the night had changed slightly. Faint
clouds were drifting athwart the star
lit heavens, and there were heavy
banks to the southwark which looked
like rain.
"Will you show the signals, Admi-
raj Holmes?" asked Wolfe, as he
stepped on deck. 1--WE are all ready,
I believe, SIR"
Every well, general" responded the
admiral, turning to Capt Rous and
giving him an order. A moment later
two lanterns were hoisted, one above
the other, at the spanker-gaff end.
The signal was Immediately repeated
throughout the squadron. Shrill
whistles rang out as the boatswain's s
mates Of the different ships bawled
out hoarse commands.
Instantly the soldiers and sailors
came swarming to their stations.
"Col. Howe" said Gen. Wolfe, ad-
dressing an officer of the light in
fantry, who appeared at the head OF
his men, after you have mustered
your battalion will you explain to
them that l have designated them to
lead the way in the attack tonight!
Choose a forlorn hope Of "a men to
scale the heights, sir"
"'Tis an honor indeed, sir, / thank
you," answered the young ofdcer,
smiling with pleasure. Il myself will
lead them"
II expected as much OF you. Capt.
Grafton" he said, turning to the sail
or and resuming the formal method OF
public address, will you see that your
fotilla Of boats is ready to receive my
men,
81 know it is, sir, but I will look
again." answered Grafton. Capt.
Rcus, may take Lieut.. Hatfield in
my boat to assist me?"
Certainly" answered Rous, a vet
eran sailor.
Followed by the delighted officer,
Grafton sprang to the gangway and
called for his gig. Meanwhile Howe
was addressing the light infantry.
When he called for volunteers every
man responded, and 1t was difficult to
make selection Of the required number.
Presently, upon Grafton's assurance
that all was ready, the men slowly
filed down over the side and took their
places in the boats. Taking his own
boat the captain rowed from ship to
ship. finding that all preparations had
been made everywhere, and that boats
filled with men and manned by stout
seamen were already clustered unde!
the lee of the ships where they could
be screened from the observation Of
the French at Cap-Rouge.
BY IL o'clock, midnight, the en-
barkation had been completed, and as
it was nearing the end Of the Hood
the boats slowly put of from the ships
and headed for Cap-Rouge, Gen.
Monckton being in charge and Wolfe
remaining on the Sutherland for the
present.
The fotilla approached close enough
to Cap-Rouge thoroughly to awaken
the attention of the troops OF Bou-
gainville, who sprang to their arms in
expectation of the threatening at
tack. But the advance was stopped
before they were near enough to en-
gage. After some little maneuvering
of the shore, the boats, as if deferred
by the promptness of the French SOL
diery, rowed back to the ships and
sheltered themselves under the lee OF
their broadsides again where they
could not be seen. Once there, the
men, without going aboard the ships,
waited patiently for the turning OF the
tide.
At four bells in the mid-watch, or
two o'clock on the morning Of the
18th, Wolfe entered the heavy cutter
which Grafton had exchanged for his
gig, and gave the signal to shove off.
Following the generals boat came the
boats of the light infantry, and after
them the rest of the flotilla.
1t was darker than ever. The sky
was filled with light fieecy clouds drift
ing rapidly across the stars, their wild
motion, driven as they were by some
upper current of air. only accentuating
the stiffness on the water. Hugging
the opposite shore for time the
boats fioated silently down the river
with the young ebb. AS they appeared
to be unnoticed from the camp at Cap
Rouge and as their maneuvers excited
no attention, oars were broken out and
the boats crossed to the Quebec side
the seamen rowing gently as they
passed rapidly down the river.
Presently the boats swept around a
huge headland jutting out into the
stream. Below the headland lay lit-
tie cove. The current shot swiftly
about the promontory and swept
around the little bay. The boats were
carried below the landing-place and II
took some hard pulling before their
stems touche ed the shore.
Wolfe had gone forward in the cut
ter, and the others drawing back tc
give him passage, he was the first man
to set foot upon the muddy shore. IT
was four o'clock now. They could hear
eight bells Ginning family across the
hills. Around them in the shadow il
was as still as death-that most 81
lent hour before the day breaks. A