There were
processions, prayers, and vows towards this happy consummation. Food was
scarce. Bigot and Cadet lived in luxury; fowls by thousands were
fattened with wheat for their tables, while the people were put on
rations of two ounces of bread a day.[710] Durell and his ships were
reported to be still at Isle-aux-Coudres. Vaudreuil sent thither a party
of Canadians, and they captured three midshipmen, who, says Montcalm,
had gone ashore _pour polissonner,_ that is, on a lark. These youths
were brought to Quebec, where they increased the general anxiety by
grossly exaggerating the English force.
[Footnote 710: _Memoires sur le Canada, 1749-1760._]
At length it became known that eight English vessels were anchored in
the north channel of Orleans, and on the twenty-first of June the masts
of three of them could plainly be seen. One of the fireships was
consumed in a vain attempt to burn them, and several firerafts and a
sort of infernal machine were tried with no better success; the
unwelcome visitors still held their posts.
Meanwhile the whole English fleet had slowly advanced, piloted by Denis
de Vitre, a Canadian of good birth, captured at sea some time before,
and now compelled to serve, under a threat of being hanged if he
refused.[711] Nor was he alone; for when Durell reached the place where
the river pilots were usually taken on board, he raised a French flag to
his mast-head, causing great rejoicings among the Canadians on shore,
who thought that a fleet was come to their rescue, and that their
country was saved.
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