“That is the danger,” said Julian gravely; “but it is wonderful what he can compel that frail body to go through.  He will rise from an almost sleepless night of pain and exhaustion, and do the work of a man in sound health, infusing life and energy and enthusiasm into everyone with whom he comes in contact!  Truly the King’s words about him contained a great truth.”

“What words?” asked Fritz.

“Why, you know that this Wolfe of ours is but a young man, gallant enough, but far younger and less known than many another of half his capacity.  You know, too, that the Duke of Newcastle, to whose blundering we owe half our misfortunes in the west, was never known to make a wise selection of men for posts of command, and was shocked and alarmed when he heard that Pitt had appointed a comparatively young and untried man for the command of such an expedition as this.  He once said testily to the King that Pitt’s new general was mad.

“‘Mad is he?’ quoth His Majesty, with a laugh; ’then I hope he will bite some more of my generals!’”

Fritz laughed at the sally.

“In truth we could have done with some more of that sort of madness amongst the leaders of those border wars which have ended so disastrously for us.  But in very truth the tide did turn, as the Abbe Messonnier had foretold, when Pitt’s hand was placed upon the helm of England’s government.  So much has been accomplished already that I myself do not believe we shall turn our backs upon these scenes before Quebec is ours.”

“That is what they say in Philadelphia,” cried Humphrey—­“that Quebec must and shall fall.  If General Amherst can but capture Ticonderoga and Crown Point, he will march to our assistance by land.  Then the French will be caught between two armies, and the nut will be cracked indeed!  Did I tell you that our kinsman Benjamin Ashley has declared that, directly Quebec falls, he will come and visit the great city of which so much has been spoken, to see for himself the great work?  If he does this, he will bring his wife and Susanna with him.  You cannot think how keenly alive the Philadelphians are becoming to the glory it will be to rid Canada of French rule, and found an English-speaking colony there.  The Quakers still stand aloof, and talk gloomily of the sin of warfare; but the rest of the people heed them no whit.  They have furnished and equipped a gallant band to join General Amherst, and they are kindling with a great enthusiasm in the cause.  Even our old friend Ebenezer Jenkyns has been talking great swelling words of warlike import.  He would have joined the militia, he says, had not his father forbidden him.”

“It is well they have awoke at last,” said Fritz, a little grimly; “but it would have been better had they done so before their border was harried, and their brothers and countrymen done to death by the bands of Indian marauders.”

At which saying Humphrey’s face grew dark; for there was stamped upon his brain one scene the memory of which would never be effaced, though it should be a thousandfold avenged.