the boom of a cannon went crashing and echoing among the distant hills and valleys along the river. This was a salute, acknowledging their arrival, given in answer to the dipping of their ensign.

They landed and began the rugged ascent, by no means an easy task. At last they were at the lower edge of the town, a lot of straggling houses within a fortified enclosure. Some of the buildings, seeming to rebel at the narrow confines of the fort, had broken from their bounds and strayed beyond the enclosure. The State houses were large and comfortable; but, for the most part, Quebec was composed of wretched huts.

The people were as motley and dissimilar in costume as the houses in appearance. While the gentlemen preserved the garb of the age of Louis XIV., the peasants wore long surtouts, sashes, red caps, and deer-skin moccasins. This singular mixture of costume was made more strange by the Indians loitering around the fort, the French soldiers, with blue coats, turned up with white facings, and short clothes, and the number of Jesuits and priests, with their long sable gowns, black bands, beads and rosaries.

Through this motley throng, Pierre De Vere and his daughter made their way, accompanied by two servants bearing their small luggage, going

directly toward the State-house in which Governor Vaudreuil was at that moment holding a consultation on the threatened attack of the British.

"Whom do you wish to see?" demanded the pompous officer of the guard, as Pierre De Vere

and his daughter appeared in front of the Statehouse.

"I wish to see Governor Vaudreuil," was the

answer.

The officer shook his head and responded:

"You cannot be admitted to-day. The governor is very busy, Monsieur, and will see no

"I beg the pardon of Monsieur; he will not."

By this time a group of Indians and half-breeds were gathered about the Acadian and his daughter, gazing on them in half savage wonder and bewilderment. Adele clung to her father's arm, trembling with fear, and whispered:

"He won't see us, father. Let us go away.

Pierre De Vere was not to be so easily put off; besides, if they did not go to the governor, where would they go?

66

Be not alarmed, daughter; they will not harm you, " he said to Adele; then, turning to the officer, he asked: "Will you inform the governor of our arrival?”

"It will be of no use, monsieur. much engaged."

He is very

"Will you tell him Pierre De Vere, from Grand Pre, Acadia, is waiting?"

"Pierre De Vere," said the officer, starting and

gers.

scratching his forehead thoughtfully with his fin"I believe I have heard that name before." He turned slowly about, with a military salute, and went into the house. Before many minutes, he returned more hastily then he went, with the bare-headed governor at his heels. Running to Monsieur Pierre De Vere, he extended both his hands, exclaiming:

"Ah! my dear friend, Pierre, I beg your pardon for this stupid fellow keeping you in waiting; but he did not know you.

The officer, realizing his mistake, was quite profuse in his bows and apologies.

"Do not mind it, governor. Though a civilian, I know that in the army discipline is necessary. Pray do not feel any annoyance at our having to wait."

"Who is this pretty Mademoiselle with you, Monsieur De Vere? Not your daughter?"

"In truth, she is, Monsieur."

"Verily, she is pretty," cried the governor, taking her small hand in his own, while he gazed on the fair face, flushed to crimson. "By the mass! monsieur; she will break more hearts in our army than the English will heads. But here I am standing talking all the while, forgetting that you are weary from your journey. Come into my house at once."

The voluble governor, polite as he was brave and loquacious, drew the arm of the pretty Adele within his own and led the way into the mansion set apart for himself. He presented his visitors to his wife and bade them make their home with him during their stay in Quebec.

"Affairs of State will engage my time for the day," the governor apologetically explained; "but on the morrow, my dear friend, I shall be at your service."

That day Monsieur De Vere went about the town at his own sweet will, accompanied by his daughter. There is always much that is new and strange in a frontier port. The houses were comparatively new. The fort was being strengthened and the ramparts rebuilt.

Oh, what a beautiful place; so picturesque and grand!” cried Adele, clapping her hands with delight.

In the distance, were some men mounting heavy guns on the ramparts.

"Let us go over to where they are at work," Isaid M. De Vere.

"No, no, father; I do so dread to see those great engines of death," she answered with a shudder. "Father, I would rather wander about the plains of Abraham.”

They went to the great plateau on which Gen