turned in towards Quebec, after marching straight across
the tableland, could look out over the French camp.
Everything seemed quiet; so he made his left secure and
sent for his main body to follow him at once. It was now
seven. In another hour his line of battle was formed,
his reserves had taken post in his rear, and a brigade
of seamen from Saunders's fleet were landing guns, stores,
blankets, tents, entrenching tools, and whatever else he
would need for besieging the city after defeating Montcalm.
The 3,000 sailors on the beach were anything but pleased
with the tame work of waiting there while the soldiers
were fighting up above. One of their officers, in a letter
home, said they could hardly stand still, and were
perpetually swearing because they were not allowed to
get into the heat of action.

The whole of the complicated manoeuvres, in face of an
active enemy, for three days and three nights, by land
and water, over a front of thirty miles, had now been
crowned by complete success. The army of 5,000 men had
been put ashore at the right time and in the right way;
and it was now ready to fight one of the great immortal
battles of the world.

'The thin red line.' The phrase was invented long after
Wolfe's day. But Wolfe invented the fact. The six battalions
which formed his front, that thirteenth morning of
September 1759, were drawn up in the first two-deep line
that ever stood on any field of battle in the world since
war began. And it was Wolfe alone who made this 'thin