"Gentlemen," he added, "I would rather be the writer of this poem, than the greatest conqueror the world ever produced." "That's true," said the old fisherman, sententiously. "We are all bound to that place, sometime or other." "What place?" said Picton, rousing up. "The berrying-ground," answered the ancient; "that is if we don't get overboard instead." "But," he continued, "since you are speaking of General Wolfe, you must know my grandfather served under him at Minden, and at the battle here, too, where he was wounded, and left behind, when the general went back to England." "I thought he went from this place to Quebec," said Picton. "No, sir," replied the old man, "he went first to London, and came back again, and then went to Canada. Well," he continued, "my grandfather served under him, and was left here to get over his wownds, and so he married my grandmother, and lived in Louisburgh after the French were all sent away." Here the veteran placed his paws on the table, and looked out into the infinite. We could see we were in for a long story. "All the French soldiers and sailors, you see, were sent to England prisoners of war--and the rest of the people were sent to France; the governor of this here place was named Drucour; he was taken to Southampton, and put in prison. Well now, as I was saying, this hutch of mine was built by my father, just here by Wolfe's landing, for grandfather took a fancy to have it built on this spot; you see, Wolfe rowed over one night in a boat all alone from Lighthouse point yonder, and stood on the beach right under this here old wall, looking straight up at the French sentry over his head, and taking a general look at the town on both sides. There wasn't a man in all his soldiers who would have stood there at that time for a thousand pounds." "What do you suppose the old file was doing over here?" inquired Picton, who was getting sleepy. "I don't know," answered our host, "except it was his daring. He was the bravest man of his time, I've heard say--and so young"---- "Two and thretty only," said Bruce. "And a tall, elegant officer, too," continued the ancient fisherman. "I've heard tell how the French governor's lady used to send him sweetmeats with a flag of truce, and he used to return his compliments and a pine apple, or something of that kind. Ah, he was a great favorite with the ladies! I've heard say, he was much admired for his elegant style of dancing, and always ambitious to have a tall and graceful lady for his partner, and then he was as much pleased as if he was in the thick of the fight. He was a great favorite with the soldiers, too; very careful of them, to see they were well nursed when they were sick, and sharing the worst and the best with them; but my grandfather used to say, very strict, too." "Who was in command here, Wolfe or Amherst?" "General Amherst was in command, and got the credit of it, too; but Wolfe did the fighting--so grandfather used to say."