ith
the troops gliding down the river in the dark, began to shout and make
a noise, declaring they were part of the expected convoy, captain Smith,
who was ignorant of general Wolfe's design, believing their affirmation,
had actually given orders to point the guns at the British troops; when
the general, perceiving a commotion on board, rowed alongside in person
and prevented the discharge, which would have alarmed the town, and
entirely frustrated the attempt.

The French had posted sentries along shore, to challenge boats and
vessels, and give the alarm occasionally. The first boat that contained
the English troops being questioned accordingly, a captain of Eraser's
regiment, who had served in Holland, and who was perfectly well
acquainted with the French language and customs, answered without
hesitation to _Qui vit?_ which is their challenging word, _La France_:
nor was he at a loss to answer the second question, which was much more
particular and difficult. When the sentinel demanded _a quell regiment?_
to what regiment? the captain replied, _De la Reine_; which he knew,
by accident, to be one of those that composed the body commanded by
Bougainville. The soldier took it for granted this was the expected
convoy; and saying _Passe_, allowed all the boats to proceed without
further question. In the same manner the other sentries were deceived;
though one, more wary than the rest, came running down to the water's
edge, and called, "_Pourquoi est ce que vous ne parlez plus haut?_ Why
don't you speak with an audible voice?" To this interrogation, which
implied doubt, the captain answered, with admirable presence of mind, in
a soft tone of voice, "_Tai toi! nous serons entendues!_Hush! we shall
be overheard and discovered!" Thus cautioned, the sentry retired without
further altercation. The midshipman who piloted the first boat, passing
by the landing place in the dark, the same captain, who knew it from his
having been posted formerly with his company on the other side of the
river, insisted on the pilot's being mistaken; and commanded the rowers
to put ashore in the proper place, or at least very near it.

When general Wolfe landed, and saw the difficulty of ascending the
precipice, he said to the same officer in a familiar strain, "I don't
believe there is any possibility of getting up; but you must do your
endeavour." The narrow path that slanted up the hill from the landing
place the enemy had broken up, and rendere