twice as many men in action, but only half of these were
regulars; the others had no bayonets; and there was no
effective artillery to keep down the fire of Murray's
commanding guns. The terrific fight went on for hours,
while victory inclined neither to one side nor the other.
It was a far more stubborn and much bloodier contest than
Wolfe's of the year before. At last a British battalion
was fairly caught in flank by overwhelming numbers and
driven across the front of Murray's guns, whose protecting
fire it thus completely masked at a most critical time.
Murray thereupon ordered up his last reserve. But even
so he could no longer stand his ground. Slowly and sullenly
his exhausted men fell back before the French, who put
the very last ounce of their own failing strength into
a charge that took the guns. Then the beaten British
staggered in behind their walls, while the victorious
French stood fast, worn out by the hardships of their
march and fought to a standstill in the battle.

Levis rallied his army for one more effort and pressed
the siege to the uttermost of his power. Murray had lost
a thousand men and could now muster less than three
thousand. Each side prepared to fight the other to the
death. But both knew that the result would depend on the
fleets. There had been no news from Europe since navigation
closed; and hopes ran high among the besiegers that
perhaps some friendly men-of-war might still be first;
when of course Quebec would have to surrender at discretion,
and Canada would certainly be saved for France if the
half-expected peace would only follow soon.