The Canadians and Indians had been very friendly; without their aid the greater part of Arnold’s force would have perished.  Even before Quebec he was dependent on their kindly offices.  Its defenders, among whom were Nairne and Fraser, moved every boat to the north side of the St. Lawrence; the frigate Lizard and the sloop-of-war Hunter, pigmy representatives at Quebec of Britain’s might upon the sea, lay near Wolfe’s Cove ready to attack him if he tried to cross.  But the Indians brought canoes and on the night of November 13th, silently and unobserved, they carried Arnold’s force across the river almost under the bows of the ships watching for them.  The Americans landed where Wolfe had landed sixteen years earlier.  On the morning of the 14th, to the surprise of Quebec’s garrison, a body of Americans appeared on the Plains of Abraham, not eight hundred yards from the walls, and gave three loud huzzas.  The British answered with three cheers and with the more effective retort of cannon, loaded with grape and canister shot, and the hardy pioneers of Arnold’s attacking force retired.

Quebec was not in a happy situation.  Montreal had already fallen to the Americans advancing by Lake Champlain, and to force the final surrender of Canada General Montgomery was hurrying to join Arnold at Quebec.  For a time its defenders were uncertain whether Carleton himself, absent at Montreal, had not fallen into the hands of the enemy.  A miraculous escape he indeed had.  Leaving Montreal on a dark night, when the Americans were already within the town, Carleton went in a skiff down the river, both shores of which were already occupied by the enemy for fifty miles below Montreal.  At the narrows at Berthier their blazing camp fires sent light far out over the surface of the water.  Carleton’s party could hear the sentry’s shout of “All’s Well,” and the barking of dogs.  But they let the boat float down with the current so that it might look like drifting timber, and, when they could, impelled it silently with their hands.  At Three Rivers they thought themselves safe and Carleton lay down in a house to sleep.  But, while he was resting, some American soldiers entered the house.  His disguise as a peasant saved him; he passed out unchecked.  The skiff soon carried him to an armed brig, the Fell, which lay at the foot of the Richelieu Rapids.  He hastened on to Quebec, which showed joy unspeakable when he arrived on November 19th.  Meanwhile Montgomery pursued his rival down the river and on December 1st he joined Arnold before Quebec.

Now the siege began in earnest.  Carleton had 1800 men; Arnold and Montgomery can hardly have had more than a thousand, and these were badly equipped.  For the Americans the prospects of success were, at no time, very great, unless they could secure help from the Canadians.  This, indeed, was not wholly wanting.  Montgomery’s march along the north shore of the St. Lawrence to Quebec was a veritable