were then instructed "to clean up for inspection" and half an hour later the captain and the first lieutenant would calmly hear their protests and their applications and turn them over to the boatswain to be assigned to duty. How men with any spirit could endure this without mutiny is surprising, but how they could become good seamen filled with a pride for their ship, and for the service, devoted to their officers and fighting the battles of their country with the same fury and energy as if the quarrel were their very own, is indeed the most wonderful and remarkable characteristic of the British tar.

But impressment was an incident soon forgotten or condoned in the light of subsequent experience. The Naval discipline was fierce, and flogging was administred for the most trival offences.

When George II was on the throne the magazines and books of the time were filled with eulogies of the British sailor. Through two hundred years of strife these eulogies have been justified and to day there is no more striking evidence of the way in which our tars have lived up to the traditions of the Royal Navy than the work of H. M. S. "Powerful's" naval brigade in beleaguered Ladysmith. Over all the seven seas our sailors have fought and died for twice two hundred years.

In 1759 the Royal Navy was stronger than ever before. Commanded by enthusiastic and high-minded officers and manned by bluff, intrepid, British seamen, the force had attained the height of efficiency. Almost constant war had shown that England was the undeniably Mistress of the seas, the deeds of Benbow, Shovell, and others, having

lighted for officers and men alike the rugged path to glory. In the siege of Quebec the one thing needful was co-operation between the squadron under admiral Saunders and the land forces under Wolfe. This was foreseen and pointed out in the "Secret Instructions for Brigadier General Wolfe" dated Feb. 5th 1759 and bearing the sign manual of King George.

In accordance, therefore, with these instructions, both General Wolfe and Admiral Saunders did all in their power to act together and to cultivate a good feeling between the officers and men of the two arms of the service. The position of Quebec at the head of 800 miles of river navigation in a hostile country rendered it imperative that the whole of the St. Lawrence from the sea should be guarded during the siege, so that no fleet from France could come up the river and take the besiegers unaware in the rear.

While the principal duty of the fleet was to guard the river during the progress of the siege, the Centurion Capt. Mantle, and the Porcupine Capt. Jervis, did good work at the attack on Montmorency July 31st. Both vessels were moved over to protect the landing and did most efficient duty.

When the final attempt at the Foulon was decided upon Wolfe selected Capt. Chads, a very efficient officer, attached to the fire ship Vesuvius, to have charge of the boats which were to convey the troops from the vessels above the town to the landing place. The general's orders were given verbally, in confidence, and that the proper officer had been selected for the carrying out of these orders is evident by

the smoothness with which every thing moved, and the entire success of the landing. A body of sailors who came with the boats were afterwards ordered up the cliff to operate with the army.

The intelligent co-operation of army and navy had placed the British forces before the French stronghold of Quebec, had effectively conducted the siege, and now had brought the British forces to the foot of that rugged path which stretched steeply up the wooded cliff and led either to victory and deathless fame or to ignominious defeat. Whatever the outcome, however, the navy had faithfully done its part and the responsibility now rested entirely with the soldiers.

CHAPTER V.

A

THE THIN RED LINE

FTER three months of a wearisome siege without even hope to buoy the investing army's sinking spirits, the scene has suddenly changed and the masterly strategy of Wolfe has outmanoeuvred the vigilance of the too confident enemy.

On the bluffs of Beauport the main body of the French are encamped on this momentous morning, the sentries straining their eyes in the misty gloom to discern the meaning of the peculiar movements of the English menof-war, and with ears alert to catch the plash of oars or any other unusual sound which would indicate that the expected attack was about to begin. Miles to the westward the intrepid Bougainville and his little army, the flower of the French forces, with untiring vigilance are following the evolutions of Admiral Holmes's squadron, prepared to oppose to the death any attempt at a landing. Having thus doubly deceived the enemy, Wolfe has landed his army and, undisturbed, has leisurely formed it on the beach below the frowning cliff.

The last act of the tragedy is begun. The General's plan was a desperate one, and succeeded because of its

apparent impossibility, but it is the power to perform impossibilities that separates the man of genius from the common herd, that marks epochs in the history of nations, and compels from the reluctant hand of Fame, the laurel wreath, and the adulation of the multitude.

But as the best laid plan of the British Commander would have miserably failed in its execution without the enthusiastic and unquestioning obedience of the forces at his command, it is deemed advisable, at this juncture, to give some detail concerning these forces, in order to thrwo light on the conduct of the regiments in that short but bloody struggle of September the thirteenth when French power on this continent was finally and irretrievably broken.

From 1618 the date of the outbreak of the Thirty Years' War, Europe was torn with conflict. Englishmen by hundreds crossed the Channel to take sides with either the Protestant Elector or the Catholic Emperor of Austria, although it may be admitted that the hope of plunder, and an inborn love for the profession of arms were a more powerfull magnet than the principles for which the opposing states were fighting. Still there is no doubt that this bitter Religious quarrel was one cause of the civil war in England between Puritan and Cavalier. There seemed no incongruity in an appeal to arms for the settlement of doctrinal differences, and the fierce and gloomy spirit of the Protestants welcomed with joy the long desired opportunity of "smiting the Amalekites."

The ever increasing importance of the private soldier wrought a great change in the science of war. The gentleman no longer looked with contempt upon the levies from