He saw at a glance exactly what should be
done, and set to work to do it in the best possible way.
"How many ships have they in the harbour?" he asked of Julian, two
days after his return from the town.
"Only two of any size--the Bienfaisant and the Prudent. The rest
have been sunk or destroyed."
"I think we had better make an end of those two," said Wolfe
thoughtfully.
"It might not be a task of great difficulty, if it could be done
secretly," said Julian. "The soldiers are mostly on land. They need
them more in the citadel than on board; and they think the ships
are safe, lying as they do under their own batteries. If we could
get a dull or foggy night, we might make a dash at them. We can
enter the harbour now that the Island battery is silenced and the
frigate Arethuse gone. They say the sailors on board the ships are
longing for a task. They would rejoice to accomplish something of
that sort."
"Get me ready a boat, and you and Humphrey row me out to our fleet
yonder," said Wolfe, looking out over the wide expanse of blue
beyond the harbour. "I will speak of this with the Admiral, and see
what he thinks of the undertaking."
They rowed him out from Flat Point to the flagship, and put him on
board. It was a fine sight to see the great battleships anchored in
the bay, ready to take their part in the struggle at a word of
command.
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