134 COLLISION OF THE RIVAL COLONIES. [1759. 



He replied in French, by declaring that he had 

 been sent to relieve the guard, and ordering the 

 soldier to withdraw.^ Before the latter was unde- 

 ceived, a crowd of Highlanders were close at hand, 

 while the steeps below were thronged with eager 

 climbers, dragging themselves up by trees, roots, 

 and bushes.^ The guard turned out, and made a 

 brief though brave resistance. In a moment, they 

 w^ere cut to pieces, dispersed, or made prisoners ; 

 while men after men came swarming up the height, 

 and quickly formed upon the plains above. Mean- 

 while, the vessels had dropped downward with the 

 current, and anchored opposite the landing-place. 

 The remaining troops were disembarked, and, with 

 the dawn of day, the whole were brought in safety 

 to the shore. 



The sun rose, and, from the ramparts of Quebec, 

 the astonished people saw the Plains of Abraham 

 glittering with arms, and the dark-red lines of the 

 English forming in array of battle. Breathless 

 messengers had borne the evil tidings to Montcalm, 

 and far and near his wide-extended camp resounded 

 with the rolling of alarm drums and the din of 

 startled preparation. He, too, had had his struggles 

 and his sorrows. The civil power had thwarted 

 him ; famine, discontent, and disaffection were rife 

 among his soldiers ; and no small portion of the 

 Canadian militia had dispersed from sheer starva- 

 tion. In spite of all, he had trusted to hold out 

 till the winter frosts should drive the invaders from 



1 Knox, Journal, 11. 68, note. 



2 Despatch of Admiral Saunders, Sept. 20, 1759. 



