Here he hoisted the French flag at the masthead, and the pilots, believing the ships to be a French squadron, which had eluded the watch of the English, came off in their boats, and were all taken prisoners, and forced, under pain of death, to take the English vessels safely up.
The first difficulty of the passage was at Cape Tourmente, where the channel describes a complete zigzag.

Had the French planted some guns on a plateau, high up on the side of the mountains, they could have done great damage by a plunging fire; but Vaudreuil had neglected to take this measure, and the fleet passed up in safety, the manner in which they were handled and navigated astonishing the Canadians, who had believed it to be impossible that large ships could be taken up.
On the 26th, the whole fleet were anchored off the Island of Orleans, a few miles below Quebec.

The same night, a small party landed on the island.

They were opposed by the armed inhabitants, but beat them off, and, during the night, the Canadians crossed to the north shore.

The whole army then landed.
From the end of the island, Wolfe could see the full strength of the position which he had come to attack.