Thirty large troop boats, and some boats belonging to the ships, were in readiness, and 1700 men took their places in them.
The tide was still flowing, and, the better to deceive the French, the vessels and boats were allowed to drift upwards for a little distance, as if to attempt to effect a landing above Cap Rouge.

Wolfe had, that day, gained some intelligence which would assist him to deceive the enemy, for he learned that a number of boats, laden with provisions from Quebec, were coming down with the tide.
Wolfe was on board the Sutherland.

He was somewhat stronger than he had been for some days, but felt a presentiment that he would die in the approaching battle.

About two o'clock, the tide began to ebb, and two lanterns--the signal for the troops to put off--were shown in the rigging of the Sutherland.
Fortune favoured the English.

Bougainville had watched the vessels, until he saw them begin to drift down again with the stream, and, thinking that they would return again with the flood, as they had done for the last seven days, allowed his weary troops to retire to their camp.