"Then, listen to me. The day before yesterday, after landing on the north shore, you deployed your forces on the Plains of Abraham?" Batoche went into this and the following other particulars, which he had learned from Barbin, in order to have them confirmed by the American officers, so that there be no mistake about the conclusion which he drew from them. "We did," was the reply. "And you sent forward a flag of truce?" "Yes." "That was for a parley." "It was a summons to surrender." "That makes matters worse. In the town it was supposed to be for a mere parley. When the truth is known, the effect will be still more disagreeable." "What do you mean?" exclaimed the officer. "Excuse me a moment. Your messenger was dismissed?" "He was," replied the officer with impatience. "And the flag fired upon?" "Yes," was the answer accompanied by an oath. "Then, this is what I mean. Your friends within the town are indignant and disheartened because you did not resent this double insult. They cannot explain it to themselves. They reason thus: either the Bastonnais were strong enough to avenge and punish this outrage, or they were not. If they were strong enough, why did they not sweep to the assault? If they were not strong enough, why expose themselves and us to this terrible humiliation? In the first instance, their inaction was cowardice. In the second supposition, their drawing up in line and sending a flag to demand surrender was a painful fanfaronade." Batoche had warmed up to his old weird manner, as he spoke these words. He did not gesticulate, neither did he elevate his voice, but the light of the camp-fire flickering upon his face revealed an expression of earnestness and conscious strength. Advancing a step or two towards the officer he said in a lower voice: "Have I spoken too much?" "You have spoken the truth!" roared the officer, stamping his foot violently, and then muttered in English: "Just what I said at the time. This old Frenchman has told the truth in all its naked harshness." The officer was Major Meigs, one of those who had most strenuously disapproved of the despatch of the flag of truce, and whose opinion of the event is recorded in history. He thanked Batoche for his valuable information and assured him that he would repeat all he had said to Colonel Arnold. "Perhaps you would allow an old soldier to add another word," continued the hermit, as they were about to separate. The officer was so impressed with what he had heard, and with the peculiar manner of the strange being who addressed him, that he granted an eager permission. "As a lover of liberty, as an enemy of the English, as a friend of the Bastonnais, I think, after what has happened, it would be better for your troops to withdraw for a time from within sight of the walls of Quebec." The officer looked up dubiously. "They might retire to some village a little up the river. There they could revictual at leisure." No answer.