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diff --git a/old/69501-0.txt b/old/69501-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 6009bee..0000000 --- a/old/69501-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8795 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of At the fall of Montreal, by Edward -Stratemeyer - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: At the fall of Montreal - or, A soldier boy's final victory - -Author: Edward Stratemeyer - -Illustrator: A. B. Shute - -Release Date: December 8, 2022 [eBook #69501] - -Language: English - -Produced by: David Edwards, Barry Abrahamsen, and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was - produced from images made available by the HathiTrust - Digital Library.) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AT THE FALL OF MONTREAL *** - - - - - - EDWARD STRATEMEYER’S BOOKS - - - Old Glory Series - - _Six Volumes. Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.85._ - - UNDER DEWEY AT MANILA. - A YOUNG VOLUNTEER IN CUBA. - FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS. - UNDER OTIS IN THE PHILIPPINES. - THE CAMPAIGN OF THE JUNGLE. - UNDER MacARTHUR IN LUZON. - - - Stratemeyer Popular Series - - _Ten Volumes. Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.00._ - - THE LAST CRUISE OF THE SPITFIRE. - REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. - TRUE TO HIMSELF. - RICHARD DARE’S VENTURE. - OLIVER BRIGHT’S SEARCH. - TO ALASKA FOR GOLD. - THE YOUNG AUCTIONEER. - BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. - SHORTHAND TOM, THE REPORTER - FIGHTING FOR HIS OWN. - - - War and Adventure Stories - - _Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.25._ - - ON TO PEKIN. - BETWEEN BOER AND BRITON. - - - American Boys’ Biographical Series - - _Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.25._ - - AMERICAN BOYS’ LIFE OF WILLIAM McKINLEY. - AMERICAN BOYS’ LIFE OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT. - - - Colonial Series - - _Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.25._ - - WITH WASHINGTON IN THE WEST. - MARCHING ON NIAGARA. - AT THE FALL OF MONTREAL. - ON THE TRAIL OF PONTIAC. - - - Pan-American Series - - _Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.25._ - - LOST ON THE ORINOCO. - THE YOUNG VOLCANO EXPLORERS. - YOUNG EXPLORERS OF THE ISTHMUS. - YOUNG EXPLORERS OF THE AMAZON. - - - Great American Industries Series - - _Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.00, net._ - - TWO YOUNG LUMBERMEN. - - ------- - - JOE, THE SURVEYOR. _Price_, $1.00. - LARRY, THE WANDERER. _Price_, $1.00. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - - - AT THE FALL OF MONTREAL - - - - - - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - -[Illustration: - - As the weapon rang out the red man leaped upward and fell in a - heap.—_Page 53._ -] - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - Colonial Series - - ---------------------------- - - - AT THE FALL OF MONTREAL - - - OR - - - A SOLDIER BOY’S FINAL VICTORY - - - - BY - - EDWARD STRATEMEYER - - Author of “With Washington in the West,” “Lost on the - Orinoco,” “American Boys’ Life of William McKinley,” - “On to Pekin,” “Old Glory Series,” “Ship - and Shore Series,” etc. - - - - _ILLUSTRATED BY A. B. SHUTE_ - - -[Illustration] - - - BOSTON - LEE AND SHEPARD - 1904 - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - Published August, 1903 - - - - - - - COPYRIGHT, 1903, BY LEE AND SHEPARD - - Entered at Stationers’ Hall, London - - ------- - - _All rights reserved_ - - ------- - - _AT THE FALL OF MONTREAL_ - - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CONTENTS - - ------- - - CHAPTER PAGE - I. INTERESTING SPORT, 1 - II. THE INDIANS IN THE CANOE, 8 - III. ON A DANGEROUS MISSION, 18 - IV. A SQUALL ON LAKE ONTARIO, 28 - V. PERILS OF THE FOREST, 38 - VI. AN UNEXPECTED SEPARATION, 48 - VII. A BEAR AND HER CUBS, 58 - VIII. IN THE HANDS OF FRIENDS, 68 - IX. WHAT BEFELL HENRY, 78 - X. IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY, 88 - XI. ABOARD THE FIRE-BOAT, 97 - XII. GENERAL WOLFE’S CAMP, 107 - XIII. SCALING THE HEIGHTS OF QUEBEC, 116 - XIV. WOLFE’S VICTORY AND DEATH, 126 - XV. NEWS FROM HOME, 135 - XVI. A FIRE AND AN ESCAPE, 144 - XVII. THE HOLE IN THE ICE, 154 - XVIII. WINTER QUARTERS, 164 - XIX. LOST IN THE SNOW, 173 - XX. THE SITUATION AT QUEBEC, 183 - XXI. UNDER ARREST, 193 - XXII. IN PRISON AND OUT, 203 - XXIII. FACE TO FACE WITH THE UNEXPECTED, 213 - XXIV. A GAME OF HIDE AND SEEK, 223 - XXV. TAKEN AS A SPY, 233 - XXVI. DAVE’S JOURNEY TO QUEBEC, 242 - XXVII. THE ATTACK OF THE FRENCH, 250 - XXVIII. IN THE RANKS ONCE MORE, 260 - XXIX. DARK DAYS, 270 - XXX. THE RAPIDS OF THE ST. LAWRENCE, 279 - XXXI. THE FALL OF MONTREAL, 288 - XXXII. FROM WAR TO PEACE—CONCLUSION, 300 - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - PREFACE - - -“AT THE FALL OF MONTREAL” is a compete story in itself, but forms the -third volume of a line known by the general title of “Colonial Series.” - -The first volume of this series, entitled “With Washington in the West,” -related the fortunes of David Morris, the son of a pioneer who settled -at Wills’ Creek, now known as Cumberland, Va. David became well -acquainted with Washington while the latter was a surveyor, and later on -served under the young commander during the fateful Braddock expedition -against Fort Duquesne. - -The defeat of General Braddock left the English frontier at the mercy of -the French and Indians, and in the second volume of the series, entitled -“Marching on Niagara,” were given the particulars of General Forbes’s -advance on Fort Duquesne, and also the particulars of the advance on -Fort Niagara under General’s Prideaux and Johnson, leading up to a -decisive victory which gave the English control of all the vast -territory lying between the great lakes and what was then the Louisiana -Territory. - -The French hold on North America was now badly shaken, but not -altogether broken; and in the present volume are related the particulars -of General Wolfe’s brilliant scaling of the Heights of Quebec, the -battle on the Plains of Abraham, and the capture of the city itself. - -Following the surrender of Quebec came a winter of dreary waiting for -both sides in this great conflict. Each army looked for re-enforcements, -and early in the spring the French made an attack, hoping to regain the -ground lost. But this attack was repulsed, and then the French -concentrated at Montreal, and hither were hurried the three divisions of -the English army, including a goodly number of Colonial troops. With -these forces was David Morris, doing his duty to the end, until the fall -of Montreal brought this important and far-reaching war with France to a -close. - -As in his previous works, the author has sought to be as accurate as -possible in historical detail—no easy task where American, English, and -French historians differ so widely in their statements. - -Once again I thank my young friends for the interest they have shown in -my books. May the present volume prove both pleasing and profitable to -them. - - EDWARD STRATEMEYER. - -_June 1, 1903._ - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - ILLUSTRATIONS - - - PAGE - - As the weapon rang out, the red man 53 - leaped upward and fell in a heap - (_Frontispiece_) - - As the catamount left the ground, White 46 - Buffalo fired a second arrow - - A short distance away was a 109 - broad-sterned brig - - He gave it a vigorous kick, which sent 146 - it spinning away from the dangerous - spot - - “B’ar meat!” yelled Barringford 180 - - Four troopers were in hot pursuit 222 - - Dave’s musket was up in an instant 268 - - “Stand where you are,” ordered the sick 297 - man - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - AT THE FALL OF MONTREAL. - - - ------- - - - - - CHAPTER I - - INTERESTING SPORT - - -“THIS looks like a good spot for fishing.” - -“I don’t know but that you are right, Dave. Those trees back of us cut -off most of the sunlight, and a hollow like that ought to be good for at -least one fair-sized trout.” - -“Do you think any of the other soldiers have been down to this part of -the lake?” - -“Hardly,” answered Henry Morris. “At least, there are no signs of them,” -he went on, as he examined the ground with the care of an Indian -trailer. - -“If we are the first to try this vicinity we certainly ought to have -good luck,” continued Dave Morris, as he dropped several of the traps he -carried to the ground and began to prepare his fishing pole for use. “By -the way, do you think there are any Indians in this vicinity?” - -“Only those who are under command of Sir William Johnson. They sent all -the French redskins about their business in short order.” - -“How long do you suppose our troops will be kept around Fort Niagara?” - -“I’m sure I don’t know, Dave. We may get marching orders at any time. -Now that the fort is ours all Sir William has to do is to leave a small -force in command and then sail down the lake and the St. Lawrence to -Montreal and Quebec. We’ve got the French on the run and we ought to -keep ’em on the run until they give up fighting altogether.” - -“I wonder if General Wolfe has had a battle yet.” - -“I shouldn’t be surprised. Reckon we’ll get word in a few days. But -come, let us keep quiet, or we won’t get even a perch, much less a -trout,” concluded Henry Morris. - -David and Henry Morris were two young soldiers in the Colonial army, -stationed at present at Fort Niagara, a stronghold located on the -Niagara River, close to where that stream emptied into Lake Ontario. - -The two youths were cousins, and when at home lived at Wills’ Creek, -where the town of Cumberland, Va., stands to-day. The household -consisted of Dave’s father, Mr. James Morris, who was a widower, and of -Mr. Joseph Morris, his wife Lucy, and their three children: Rodney, the -oldest, who was something of a cripple; Henry, already mentioned, and -little Nell, the family pet. - -When James Morris’s wife died the man, who was a trapper and a trader, -became very disconsolate, and leaving his son Dave in his brother’s -charge, he wandered to the West and established a trading-post on the -Kinotah, a river flowing into the Ohio. This was at the time when George -Washington was a young surveyor; and in the first volume of this series, -entitled “With Washington in the West,” I related many of the -particulars of how Dave fell in with the future President of our -country, helped him in his surveying, and later on, when war broke out -between the English and the French, marched under Washington in -Braddock’s disastrous campaign against Fort Duquesne, located where the -city of Pittsburg now stands. - -The defeat of General Braddock meant much to James Morris. He had spent -both time and money in establishing his trading-post on the Kinotah, and -though a rascally French trader named Jean Bevoir had done his utmost to -cheat him out of his belongings, Mr. Morris had considered his property -safe until the trading-post was taken and he was made a prisoner. Dave -was also captured by the French, but father and son escaped by the aid -of White Buffalo, a friendly Indian of the Delawares, and Sam -Barringford, an old frontiersman and a warm personal friend of all the -Morrises. - -Both England and her American colonies were now thoroughly aroused to -the importance of a strong attack on the French and their Indian allies; -and in the second volume of the series, entitled “Marching on Niagara,” -were given the particulars of another campaign against Fort Duquesne, -which was captured and renamed Fort Pitt, and then of a long and hard -campaign against Fort Niagara, in which both Dave and Henry took an -active part, accompanied by the ever-faithful Sam Barringford. - -The march against Fort Duquesne and Fort Niagara had come only after a -bloodthirsty uprising by the Indians, which even to-day is well -remembered by the people living in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York, -whose forefathers suffered from the attack. Cabins were burned, cattle -stolen, and men, women, and children killed or mutilated. In some -instances children were carried off by the Indians, and among these was -little Nell, the sunshine of the Morris household. - -The shock to Mrs. Lucy Morris was severe, and for a long time she could -not be comforted. From various sources it was learned that the child had -been taken first to one place and then another by the Indians, and at -last it was ascertained that Nell was in the hands of some Indians under -the command of Jean Bevoir, who had moved to the vicinity of Niagara -Falls, where he intended to keep the little girl until the Morrises paid -dearly for her ransom. - -As soon as the capture of the fort was accomplished, and while some of -the soldiers were hunting for game for food, several wounded prisoners -were brought in, and among them was Jean Bevoir, who had been shot -through the leg. The rascally French trader was now thoroughly cowed, -and when threatened by Henry confessed that little Nell was being held a -prisoner in a cave near the Falls. A march was made in that direction, -and after an exciting chase of some Indians the little girl was rescued. - -At the fort the whole matter was laid before Sir William Johnson, the -Indian Superintendent, who had charge of the red men aiding the English, -but who was now, because of the sudden death of General Prideaux, in -command of all the troops. By Johnson’s order Jean Bevoir was placed in -the hospital under military guard, to stand trial when physically able -to do so. - -The two young soldiers were overjoyed over the rescue of little Nell and -promised themselves that Jean Bevoir should suffer roundly for his -misdeeds. As for the little maiden, she was anxious to get back to her -home, and soon set off with old Sam Barringford, the frontiersman having -promised her folks that, if she was once found, he would not let her out -of his sight again until she was safe in her mother’s arms. - -The days following the fall of Fort Niagara had been comparatively quiet -ones for the two young soldiers. It had not yet been decided what should -be done with the French prisoners, although it was certain a large part -of them would be shipped to England. The women and children who had -followed the French to the fort for protection were placed under the -guidance of some Catholic priests and allowed to depart for Montreal and -other settlements in Canada. - -The time was July, 1759, and the region for miles around the Niagara -River and Lake Ontario was an almost unbroken forest, dotted here and -there by the remains of an Indian camp or a French or English -trading-post. Game had suffered but slightly from the hunting tours of -the red men, and while the soldiers from England took but little -interest in such sport, the frontiersman in the ranks seized the -opportunity to supply themselves with fresh meat and also add a pelt or -two to their scanty worldly store. Each day they would bring in one or -more deer, and occasionally a buffalo, besides the skins of foxes, -wild-cats, and other small animals, and innumerable birds, until the -fort took on the look of a trading-post in spite of itself. - -Dave and Henry were not slow to join in the hunting, and between them -they one day brought in a deer which was the pride of the camp, weighing -thirty-five pounds more than the next largest. This game Dave had -wounded by a shot in the foreleg, and Henry had finished by a bullet -through the left eye, for Henry, as my old readers already know, was a -natural-born hunter and a skillful marksman as well. - -Two days after bringing down the deer, and while the two had a half-day -off-time, Dave proposed that they go fishing. His cousin was more than -willing, and the pair lost no time in fitting up their poles and in -obtaining bait, and thus equipped both set off for the lake front, -tramped along until they came to a spot that looked particularly -inviting, and then, as already described, prepared to try their luck. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER II - - THE INDIANS IN THE CANOE - - -IT was a warm, clear day, and out on the broad bosom of the lake the sun -shone brightly. There was a faint breeze from the west which rustled the -leaves of the trees and sent an occasional ripple over the water. From -the forest came the notes of the songbirds and the hum of countless -insects. - -Dave would have been satisfied to catch a good mess of perch, but he -knew Henry’s heart was set on at least one fair-sized lake trout, so he -did not bait up at once, but stood by, watching his cousin adjust his -fishing outfit. - -“There’s a fat fly fit to tempt any trout,” whispered Henry, as he -brought the bait from a small box he carried. “Caught half a dozen of -’em down at the horse stable. The glitter of those bluish wings ought to -fetch something. Here goes!” - -Henry advanced to within six feet of the lake shore, at a point where a -large tree and some rough rocks overhung the water. Here was a rather -dark hole where the water was unusually quiet. - -With the skill of a born fisherman, the young soldier made his cast, and -as the still buzzing fly struck the water, he whipped it along by jerks, -a few inches at a time. - -Of a sudden there came a splash, the appearance and disappearance of -something that might be a fish, and then a strong pull on the line. - -“Hurrah, you’ve got him!” cried Dave. “Be careful how you play him, or -he’ll break your line for you.” - -“Yes, I’ve got him!” answered Henry, slowly and deliberately, playing -his line as he spoke. “And he’s no small one either. If only those roots -don’t tangle——Here he comes! Whoop!” - -As the youth spoke, the fish made another dart. But Henry was ready for -him, and in a twinkling the game lay on the moss between the trees, -flopping wildly in an endeavor to get back into the lake. But both -youths knew too much to let anything like that happen, and in a minute -more Henry had his prize secure and strung on a twig with a forked end. - -“What a fine haul for a start,” was Dave’s comment, as he gazed at the -trout, that weighed several pounds. “I don’t believe we’ll get another -fish as good.” - -“No, and I don’t believe there is another trout in this vicinity, Dave. -A big fellow like this keeps his territory to himself.” - -Nevertheless, Henry tried his luck, not once but several times. But the -flies went begging until some small fish came along and began to nibble -at them, and then Henry drew in. - -“That spot just below here ought to be good for perch,” said he, after a -look around, and they moved on to the place mentioned, where both baited -with worms dug up before starting on the trip. - -Dave was the first to throw in, and his cousin waited until the bait was -taken with a sudden short jerk. Dave pulled in steadily, and soon -brought to light a perch as round and fat as one would wish to see. - -“That’s a good start on perch,” observed Henry, with a smile. “And to my -mind they are just as good to eat as trout, even if they are not so -gamey.” - -After this both fell to fishing with all the skill at their command, -Dave remaining at the spot where he had made his first haul and Henry -seeking a point a few rods farther up the shore. - -Although both of the young soldiers felt that no enemy was in the -immediate vicinity, yet they took care to keep in sight of each other -and kept a constant watch on the forest behind them. Each had brought -along his trusty flint-lock musket, and the weapons, loaded and primed, -were kept easy to hand. - -“Do you think Sam Barringford has reached home with Nell yet?” asked -Dave, as Henry came toward him to get more bait. - -“Hardly yet, Dave; but he ought to get there by the end of the week.” - -“She’ll be glad to get back, won’t she? And how glad all of them will be -to see her!” - -“Yes, indeed!” Henry’s eyes brightened at the thought. “Do you know, -it’s a wonder to me that she didn’t die of fright when she was in the -clutches of those dirty redskins and that mean, miserable Jean Bevoir,” -he went on. - -“Bevoir pretends to be in an awfully bad condition, so one of the -hospital surgeons told me. I reckon he is afraid of standing trial.” - -“To be sure. He’ll stay in the hospital till they kick him out.” Henry -gave a grave shake of his head. “He ought to be hung; but I suppose they -won’t go as far as that.” - -“It isn’t likely.” - -The youths separated, and the fishing continued steadily, until each had -a mess of ten or a dozen fish to his credit. The perch were all of good -size, so the load to carry back to the fort would be no light one. - -“Let us go down the shore and see if we can’t strike another trout -hole,” said Dave. “I’d like to bring up one, even if he didn’t match -yours.” - -They proceeded along the lake shore, and soon reached another shady -spot. Here they found two small trout, which were both landed by Dave, -Henry in the meantime hunting in the forest and bringing out some -sassafras and birch, which both began to munch as a relish. - -“What a good trading-post one could establish up here,” observed Henry. -“The game——” He broke off short. “What do you see?” - -Dave was gazing out on the lake, and now he climbed on the rock to get a -better view. - -“It’s a canoe,” said Dave slowly. “And unless I am mistaken there are -two or three Indians in it.” - -“Some of Sir William’s followers most likely. Are they coming this way?” - -“They are not paddling at all. They seem to be sleeping.” - -“Sleeping? That’s queer.” Henry climbed up beside his cousin and gave an -equally searching look. “I don’t believe they are sleeping at all, Dave. -Those Indians are either dead or else shamming death.” - -“Why should they come here shamming death, Henry?” - -“Perhaps they are spies. We had better be on guard and keep out of -sight.” - -“But I think we ought to watch them.” - -“Certainty; we can do it from behind yonder brushwood.” - -It took but a minute to pick up their outfits and their catches, and -with these they slipped behind the thicket Henry had mentioned. Here -they kept themselves well hidden, each with his firearm in hand, ready -for use should any shooting be required. - -The canoe came closer slowly, and presently they made out that it -contained two red men, both in warpaint and sporting the colors and -feathers of the Delawares. - -“If they are Delawares they should be friendly,” whispered Dave. - -“Don’t be too sure. Remember, White Buffalo said that even his tribe was -divided, the old chiefs standing up for the French and the young chiefs -swearing by Washington and Sir William.” - -“One of the redskins has raised himself and he is trying to paddle,” -went on Dave, after a spell of silence. “He has got a bandage around his -left forearm, as if he was wounded. See, he is talking to his companion, -but the other fellow won’t budge. Do you know what I think? I think they -are both badly wounded.” - -“Even so, they may be enemies,” returned Henry, who had learned by -bitter experience not to trust anybody until he proved himself a friend. - -Gradually the canoe came up to the shore and they could see the faces of -the occupants plainly. That they were suffering was evident, for the man -at the bottom of the canoe lay in a pool of half-dried blood. - -“I believe we ought to help them if we can,” whispered Dave, as the -Indian who had held the paddle dropped in a heap on the seat. “I don’t -believe they could harm us, no matter how they tried.” - -After some hesitation Henry agreed, and guns in hand the pair stepped -from the shelter of the bushes and walked down to the spot where the -canoe had grounded. - -“Hullo, redskins!” called out Henry. “What brings you here?” - -At the sound of the young soldier’s voice the Indian on the seat stirred -feebly. Then as he caught sight of the two on the shore he uttered a -faint cry. - -“English soldiers!” he murmured in his native tongue. - -“I say, what brings you here?” repeated Henry. - -“How?” muttered the red man in return, and tried to brace himself up. -“Blue Crow much hurt. Got fire-water?” - -“No, we haven’t any fire-water,” answered Dave. “How did you get hurt?” - -“French soldiers shoot Blue Crow and Yellow Nose,” answered the Indian, -with an effort. “Good English help um, yes?” - -“Perhaps,” said Henry. “Where did you have the fight?” - -“Udder shore of lake. Want to find the Great William. You help or Yellow -Nose die,” went on the Indian, pointing to his silent companion. - -Dave and Henry drew closer and lowered their muskets. What Blue Crow -said was true—the Indian in the bottom of the canoe was wounded both in -the breast and the stomach. He was breathing in loud gasps, and it was -easy to see that his earthly career was fast approaching its end. - -“I am sorry, but we can do nothing for your friend,” said Dave softly. - -“Nothing?” repeated the Indian on the seat. “Nothing,—and Yellow Nose -tried to do much for his English brothers.” He drew his mouth down -bitterly. “His reward must come from the Great Spirit alone.” - -“If you want to find Sir William Johnson we can take you to him,” said -Henry. “The fort is only a short distance up the lake. We can paddle the -canoe.” - -“Let us bind up your wounds first,” said Dave, and this was done, and -they also tried to do something for the Indian at the bottom of the -canoe. But in the midst of their labors Yellow Nose breathed his last. - -Having covered the dead Indian with a coat, and done all they could for -Blue Crow, Dave and Henry took up the two paddles the canoe contained -and lost no time in moving the craft up the lake in the direction of the -Niagara River. They soon reached one of the usual boat landings, and -here fell in with a score or more of soldiers. By this time Blue Crow -had fainted away, and it took all the skill of one of the fort surgeons -to revive him. - -“He wants to see Sir William Johnson,” said Dave. “I believe he carries -some sort of message.” - -“Then we’ll take him up to the fort on a litter,” said the surgeon. “I -do not believe he can recover. He has lost too much blood.” - -By the time the fort was reached Blue Crow was in danger of another -relapse. Sir William Johnson was speedily summoned. As he came in he -recognized the Indian as one he knew fairly well. - -“I am sorry for you,” he said, taking the Indian’s hand. - -“Blue Crow is glad he has reached the Great William,” replied the red -man. “He was afraid he would die before he met his English friend face -to face. He comes many miles, from beyond the Thousand Islands of the -St. Lawrence.” - -“With a message?” - -“Yes. He was sent by General Wolfe.” - -“And what has General Wolfe to say?” demanded Sir William Johnson -eagerly. - -“He has fought the French, and—and has lo—lost. He—says—help—the French -have—slain—I—’tis growing—dark—dark——” - -The Indian gave a gasp, and tried to go on. Sir William Johnson raised -him up and called for the surgeon. But it was too late—the red messenger -was dead. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER III - - ON A DANGEROUS MISSION - - -TO understand fully the importance of the news brought to Sir William -Johnson by Blue Crow we shall have to go back a little and see what the -English and Colonial soldiers were trying to do in this campaign of 1759 -against the French. - -Encouraged by the success at Fort Pitt and at other points, the king and -the military leaders of the English had decided on a campaign which -should strike at the French in three different places. General Prideaux -and Sir William Johnson were to advance on Oswego and Fort Niagara, -General Amherst was to push his way northward through the Lake Champlain -territory, and General Wolfe was to sail from England with an army of -eight thousand troops and move up the St. Lawrence River upon Quebec. As -soon as the success of General Prideaux and of General Amherst was -assured, these two branches of the English forces were to join Wolfe in -his attack on the French stronghold. - -As we have already seen, the attack on Fort Niagara was a brilliant -success. But the advance of Amherst proved difficult. The French fled -slowly before him, doing all they could to hinder his progress, and a -succession of storms on the lake caused him a heavy loss of ships and -stores. Some of his troops, the New Hampshire Rangers under Major -Rogers, went as far as the village of St. Francis, which they destroyed, -thus saving that part of New England from further trouble on the -frontier, but with the coming of winter Amherst was compelled to go into -winter quarters at Crown Point. - -In the meantime, General Wolfe, on board the English fleet, reached the -Canadian shore in June. News of his coming had already spread among the -French, and it was felt that his attack would be directed against -Quebec. - -“We must save our beloved city, no matter what the cost!” was the cry -throughout Canada; and to Quebec flocked both the regular French troops -and also the French colonists, to the number of many thousands. All of -these soldiers were placed under the command of General Montcalm, a wise -and good soldier and one known for his thorough bravery. - -As most of my young readers know, Quebec is located on a high bluff, -overlooking the St. Lawrence. This bluff, or series of bluffs, extends -along the river front for miles, making the task of reaching the city -from the water a difficult one. But Montcalm was not to be caught -napping, and he lost no time in fortifying the bluffs all the way from -Quebec proper down the river to the Falls of Montmorenci, a distance of -about five miles. - -It was no easy task for the British fleet to sail up the St. Lawrence, -which was difficult of navigation because of the many hidden rocks and -shoals, but at length they reached the Island of Orleans, just below the -city, and after a short brush with the inhabitants, who soon fled, the -army took possession. - -Early on the following morning General Wolfe went to the edge of the -island and took a survey of the situation. - -“It will be no easy matter to capture Quebec,” said one of his -subordinates. “’Tis a regular Gibraltar.” - -“It must be done,” answered Wolfe quietly. - -He well understood the difficulty of the task before him. To scale those -frowning walls would be hard, especially in the face of the French -batteries, and back of the city were the still higher hills of Cape -Diamond, also well fortified. All along the rocky shore could be seen -the frowning cannon of Montcalm. - -“General Wolfe must wait for help from Amherst and Prideaux,” was the -comment of more than one old soldier, but Wolfe was resolved not to wait -too long, fearing Montcalm would also be re-enforced, and that his own -supplies would run short. - -To destroy the English ships, Montcalm sent out a number of fire-boats, -filled to the gunwales and rails with pitch, tar, and explosives. These -made a brilliant illumination, but failed to do much damage. - -Advancing from the Island of Orleans, General Wolfe captured Point Levi, -where the town of Levis now stands. This was directly opposite Quebec, -and from this point he was able to bombard the city, only about a mile -away. This new movement of the English caused great alarm in Quebec, and -plans for an immediate attack on Wolfe were begun by the armed -townspeople, some Indians, and a number of young men from the Seminary. - -The attack was to be made on the 12th of July, but as the motley -collection of French and Indians drew close to the English camp in the -darkness there was a sudden alarm, some of the crowd fired on their own -friends, and then followed a panic, and all rushed back to the canoes -which had brought them over, and made haste to paddle back to Quebec. - -For this attack Wolfe made the French pay dearly. His cannon were -trained on the water front before Quebec and on parts of the city -itself, and inside of twenty-four hours a Cathedral and eighteen houses -were burnt or wrecked by shot and shell. Mad with terror, the -inhabitants fled to the back country, and sent word to Montcalm -imploring the general to save them. - -But it was not Wolfe’s intention to waste his ammunition by merely -battering down the buildings of Quebec. He wished to capture the -stronghold, and as it seemed to offer no chance at the front he resolved -to move down the river once again, make a landing below the Falls of -Montmorenci, and try to find his way around to the enemy’s rear. - -The Montmorenci River is a wild and turbulent stream, flowing at the -bottom of a deep gorge and leaping into the St. Lawrence over a cataract -two hundred and more feet in height. On each side of the gorge was a -dense forest, so a camp was made along the stream without molestation -from the French soldiers, who lay concealed in the woods on the opposite -side of the cataract. - -General Levis was in command of the French detachment on guard at the -Montmorenci. He wished to dislodge Wolfe at once, but was overruled by -Vaudreuil, the French governor-general. Nevertheless some French Indians -crossed at a hidden ford and drove back some of the English troops, from -which they took thirty-six scalps. - -There now ensued a number of small skirmishes in which the honors were -about evenly divided. Some of the English troops landed above Quebec and -gained a foothold, and there was a constant cannonading from both sides -which did but little damage. Montcalm refused to move, and Wolfe at last -decided to make a bold attack, both by the ford of the Montmorenci and -by the river shore, where the receding tide at times left a long stretch -of mud flats. - -This was on the last day of July, just one week after the fall of Fort -Niagara. The day promised fair, but in the afternoon there was a heavy -downpour of rain, which wet the ammunition of the soldiers and made -marching in the mud next to impossible. The English troops fought -desperately, but were beaten back by the French batteries, and soon saw -that to climb the slippery slopes before them would be impossible. - -“We can’t make it,” said more than one, and reluctantly Wolfe had the -retreat sounded, and the English withdrew, with a loss to the grenadiers -and the Colonials of over four hundred killed and wounded. - -It was a bitter blow, but how bitter the colonists at large did not know -until some time later, for in those days there was neither telegraph nor -train to carry the news. Among the Indians in the fight was Blue Crow, -and he and his companion, Yellow Nose, were at once dispatched to Fort -Niagara to tell General Prideaux of what had occurred and to learn when -the force along Lake Ontario might be expected to move down the St. -Lawrence. - -The news received by Sir William Johnson was short and unsatisfactory, -and both the bodies of the dead Indians and their canoe were searched -for a possible written message, but without success. Sir William was -much disturbed, for some instructions which had been forwarded to -General Prideaux by General Amherst were also missing, and he scarcely -knew how to turn next. General Gage, he knew, was coming to take command -in his stead, but in the meanwhile time of great value might be lost. - -“I will send out some spies toward Oswego,” he said, to several of his -fellow officers. “If they are not stopped they can move on as far as the -St. Lawrence. Perhaps they can bring in the news I wish.” - -In the course of a talk with Dave and Henry regarding the manner in -which the dead Indians had first been discovered, the commander -mentioned that he wished to send out the spies, and Henry at once begged -that he be allowed to go along. - -“I take a deep interest, sir,” he said respectfully. “And I would -consider it an honor to serve you in that way.” - -“And so would I consider it an honor,” added Dave. - -“Perhaps but it is likewise a risk, my lads,” answered the Indian -Superintendent. - -“We are used to taking risks,” went on Henry. “Both of us are fair shots -and have been serving in the field ever since the war began.” - -“I will think it over,” said Sir William. “One thing is in your favor—a -youth can sometimes get through where a man is suspected and halted and -very often shot down.” - -“We should expect the same treatment that older men get,” answered Dave -grimly. - -Late that evening a party of six was made up, composed of a sharpshooter -named Silvers, who was the leader, three backwoodsmen named Raymond, -Gilfoy, and Shamer, and the two young soldiers. Silvers was given minute -instructions as to what he must do, and was told to impart these -instructions to the others after Fort Niagara was left behind. They were -told to move forward at early dawn, and all spent two hours in getting -ready for the trip, which they knew would be full of peril. - -“It’s a big load on your shoulders,” said Shamer to the youths. He was a -Dutch pioneer and had known them ever since they had joined the troops -under Prideaux. “Maybe you don’t know the risk you are taking.” - -“No larger on our shoulders than on yours,” laughed Dave. - -“There may be French and Indian spies all around this lake,” went on -Shamer. - -“Why do you go?” demanded Henry. - -“Me? Oh, I like the excitement.” - -“Well, I reckon we like the excitement too,” said Dave; and then there -was a short laugh, for nobody fully realized the great peril that the -future held in store for them. - -It was hardly four o’clock in the morning when Silvers came around and -awakened the others, who had gone into a little camp of them own down by -the lake front. - -“No time to be lost,” he said. “We’ll get breakfast just as quick as we -can.” And the meal was disposed of in short order. - -It had been decided that the six should move down the lake in two small -rowboats, each carrying its share of the stores taken along. Everybody -was to take his turn at rowing, and the boats were to move along in the -dark as well as during the daytime. By this means it was hoped that the -distance, about a hundred and thirty miles, would be covered in less -than three days. - -“All ready?” asked Silvers, when the dishes were put away. - -“All ready,” was the answer, from one and another. Then they entered the -two rowboats, took up the oars, and before the morning sun shone over -the surface of the placid lake the journey down the broad sheet of water -was begun. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER IV - - A SQUALL ON LAKE ONTARIO - - -“IF General Wolfe has suffered a heavy defeat it means a hard blow to -our cause,” observed Dave, as the two rowboats glided over the water a -short distance from each other. - -“You are right,” answered the backwoodsman named Raymond. “Everybody was -hoping he would sail right up the St. Lawrence and capture Quebec before -the French were up to what he was doing.” - -“I don’t think this war is over yet,” put in Gilfoy, a round-faced -Irish-American. “Sure, when you sift it down, the French can fight as -well as any of us, and they have just as many redskins to help ’em out -as we have.” - -“I think they have more,” put in Henry. “They have been buying up tribe -after tribe with all sorts of presents and bribes—I heard Sir William -himself say so.” - -“I wish they had sent George Washington to Quebec,” came from Dave. “I -don’t think he would have failed.” - -“What do you know of Washington?” questioned Silvers. - -“I used to work for him—when he was a surveyor for old Lord Fairfax—and -I served under him when we marched against Fort Duquesne, at the time -Braddock was defeated. It was Washington who saved what was left of us -from being shot down like so many rabbits, when the redskins surrounded -us in the forest.” - -“Well, I know little of Washington, lad. But I do know it is going to -take a plucky commander to capture Quebec, which is set up on high rocks -like a regular fort,” returned the leader of the expedition. - -For the first two hours of their journey they kept fairly close to the -shore of the lake, gliding past long stretches of forest which have long -since fallen before the axes of the pioneer and the lumberman. Here and -there was a rocky cove backed up by sweet-scented shrubs and berry -bushes, loaded down with tempting fruit. The morning calls of the birds -could be heard, and the occasional howl of a lonely wolf, or the sharp -bark of a fox. - -“No use in talking,” was Henry’s comment, as he cast a longing eye -shoreward. “It’s a regular paradise for game.” - -“Then you like hunting, lad?” came from Shamer. “So do I, and nothing -would please me better than to land and spend a day running down -something big. But duty is duty, and we haven’t even a right to linger -here,” and the tall sharpshooter bent his back to the blade he was -working, and Henry, who was opposite, did the same. - -The sun was now flooding the surface of the lake with a golden sheen and -the day promised to be a hot one. Several of the soldiers had laid aside -their coats, and now they took off other garments, in order that they -might not perspire too freely. - -By noon several of the party calculated that they had traveled -twenty-four miles, and by a vote it was decided to pull into an inviting -cove, where the shade was dense, and rest for half an hour and dispose -of the midday meal. - -“There is no use of our killing ourselves at the very start,” said -Raymond. “We want to save ourselves a little, in case we get into some -tight corner and have to row to save our lives.” And the others agreed -with him. - -The rest and meal on the grassy bank, overhung by the branches of some -trees which had likely stood there for a century, came to an end all too -soon, and once again they placed their traps in the rowboats and took up -the oars. As they glided out onto the lake Silvers gave a look around. - -“So far as I can see, not a soul is within sight of us,” he announced. -“If there are Indians near they are not showing themselves at the water -front.” - -Nevertheless, it was not deemed advisable to hug the shore too closely, -and they set a course which soon took them at least quarter of a mile -from land. - -It must be confessed that the rowing was now beginning to tell upon both -Dave and Henry. But as they had enlisted to do their full share of the -work, neither complained. - -“Sure, and it’s no easy job to row hour after hour,” said Gilfoy -presently. His experiences with a rowboat had been very limited. -“’Twouldn’t be so bad if the sun wasn’t so hot.” - -“Some clouds are coming up,” said Shamer a little later. “And by the -feeling in the air I shouldn’t be surprised if we had a storm.” - -The clouds he mentioned hung low down to the westward, and it was not -until about four o’clock in the afternoon that they took a turn and came -up with remarkable rapidity. Then followed a rush of cold air which was -very pleasant. - -“The wind is beginning to blow,” said Henry. “See the whitecaps it is -tossing up.” - -“The wind is all right, if it doesn’t get too strong,” replied Silvers. -“But to my idea we are going to have more than we want of it presently.” - -“Yes, and it’s coming now!” cried Shamer. “Look across the lake.” - -They did so, and each saw that he was right. The dense clouds had -circled around to the northwestward and the wind was coming in short, -sharp puffs which piled the whitecaps one over the other. Then came a -sudden rush of air which sent the rowboats careening in a dangerous -fashion. - -“Hi! we can’t stand this!” exclaimed Gilfoy. “Before we know it we’ll -all be at the bottom. Let us make for shore.” - -“Yes, and we can’t be too quick about it,” added Raymond. “This squall -is going to be a heavy one.” - -Silvers admitted that they were right, and without delay the two -rowboats were headed for shore, at a point where a curving cove seemed -to promise safety. - -All pulled with a will, yet long before the cove was gained, the squall -struck them, sending a shower of spray in all directions and causing -each craft to rock violently. - -“Oh!” cried Dave, as some water hit him in the ear. “This is as bad as -was the storm we struck when we rowed from Oswego to Fort Niagara.” - -“Don’t say a word—it’s a regular Niagara in itself!” gasped Henry, as a -downpour of rain followed the gust of wind. - -“We can be thankful we are not further out on the lake,” came from -Raymond. “Now then, all together, and we’ll soon be safe!” - -They bent to the oars with a will, two in each boat rowing and the third -steering. Another gust hit them, giving them a second ducking, and now -followed a veritable cloud-burst of rain. But in a few minutes the cove -was gained, and they glided under some overhanging branches and thick -bushes. - -“We are well out of that!” said Henry, when he could catch his breath. -“Just listen to the wind whistle!” - -“It won’t last,” said Silvers. “In an hour from now the sun will be -shining as brightly as ever.” - -The wind whistled through the treetops, but down close to the water the -breeze did not touch them, and only a few drops of rain entered the -rowboats. Luckily they had covered their stores and ammunition with -tarpaulins, so no damage was done in that direction. - -“This is something we didn’t bargain for, eh?” came from Raymond. “Had -we been far out on the lake the chances are we should have been -swamped.” - -As the leader of the little expedition had said, the squall did not -last, and in exactly three-quarters of an hour after it began the clouds -shifted, the sun came out, and the rain ceased as if by magic. - -“Now, men, we must make up for time lost,” said Silvers. “We’ve all had -a pretty good rest.” - -“This squall has changed its course, but I’ll wager a mug of cider it -comes back by sundown,” said Gilfoy. - -“And I say the same,” added Shamer. - -“In that case we want to get as far as possible before it does come -back,” came from Henry. “The little breeze that is still blowing is in -our favor.” - -Once again the two rowboats were headed down the lake, and each stroke -sent the craft shooting on their course. The water was still a trifle -rough, but what they lost by this was more than made up by the breeze -behind them. - -“The air puts new life into a fellow,” said Dave. “I feel fresher than I -did when we started after dinner.” - -By sundown another ten or twelve miles had been covered. The wind had -now veered around and was blowing strongly from the northeast. The sky -looked heavy, and despite their best efforts it was impossible to make -headway down the lake. - -“We’ll have to go ashore for the night,” said Silvers. “More than likely -the wind will die down during the night.” - -After their varied experiences of the day, Dave and Henry were not sorry -to leave the oars and take it easy in a sheltered spot picked out by the -leader of the expedition. After a careful survey of the location, to -make certain that no enemies were near, a tiny camp-fire was lit in a -hollow, and over this were broiled some fish which Henry and Raymond -caught. - -Silvers had been ordered to keep a constant guard both on the lake and -on the land by Sir William Johnson, and when it came time to lie down to -sleep he divided the night into watches of an hour and a half each, so -that all might share in the duty and yet get the benefit of sufficient -rest for the next day’s work. - -Henry was on guard from half-past ten until midnight, when Dave relieved -him. - -“Have you seen anything?” asked Dave, as he arose and stretched himself, -for he had been sleeping soundly. - -“Nothing at all,” answered his cousin, in a whisper, so as not to arouse -the others. “It looks to me as if a guard is unnecessary; but we have -got to obey orders.” - -But little more was said, and in a few minutes Henry was sleeping -peacefully, on a mossy bank close to Raymond the backwoodsman. Dave took -up his musket and began to walk around the camp, to awaken himself still -more, for he was yet drowsy. - -The fire had been allowed to die down, for in spite of the storm nobody -seemed to desire the heat, and all had been wet a hundred times before. - -After a walk lasting several minutes, and feeling that all was safe, -Dave sat down on a fallen tree trunk to meditate. His thoughts were -scattered, but presently centered on home. In his mind’s eye he could -see the big living room of the cabin, with its immense open chimney, its -rude furnishings, and its neatly sanded floor. In the easy chair in a -corner sat his crippled cousin, Rodney, doing some work that did not -require his moving about, and close at hand was his Aunt Lucy, also -busy, and with a sweet face not easily forgotten. And then he fancied he -could hear a shout from without, and he could see his aunt catch up the -gun behind the door in alarm. But the gun fell from her hands when she -saw it was her husband and Dave’s father approaching, with faithful old -Sam Barringford and little Nell. And then he fancied he saw little Nell -give a leap straight into her mother’s arms and then into the arms of -Rodney. - -“I’d like to be there when she gets home,” he thought. “I know Aunt -Lucy’s cheeks will be wet with tears of joy. And they’ll all be glad and -the neighbors will come in and there will be a regular jubilee, and——” - -Dave stopped his dreamings and leaped to his feet. A noise in the -brushwood back of the camp had reached his ears. Holding his musket -ready for use, he strained his eyes to pierce the darkness, but he could -see nothing. - -“Strange,” he thought, after a pause. “I am sure I heard something. It -must have been a night bird or——Ha!” - -He shut his teeth hard. Something was certainly there—a dark form, -moving slowly along, close to the ground. But whether it was man or -beast he could not tell, until the form suddenly arose, and then he made -out that it was an Indian! - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER V - - PERILS OF THE FOREST - - -FOR the instant when Dave made the discovery that the form in the -darkness was that of an Indian, the young soldier knew not what to do. - -He raised his musket to fire, but did not pull the trigger, fearing the -newcomer might be a friend. - -“Halt!” he called out, a second later. “Who comes there?” - -But the Indian did not halt. Instead he made a sudden movement to one -side, and instantly vanished behind a neighboring tree. - -“What’s the matter?” came from Silvers, who had heard the young guard’s -challenge. “What did you see?” - -“An Indian!” cried Dave. “He just leaped behind a tree over yonder.” - -“An Indian!” was the cry from several, and in a moment everybody was on -his feet and had his firearm in hand. - -“We may be surrounded,” came from Raymond. “Better lie low,” and his -advice was obeyed. As they scattered to the nearby rocks and bushes, -Silvers moved cautiously towards the spot where Dave had discovered the -red man. - -“You are certain it was a redskin?” asked Henry, who had placed himself -beside his cousin. “It’s pretty dark to see anything.” - -“I know a redskin when I see him, Henry. But I must admit that he was -very low, and the way he got out of sight was a marvel.” - -“Oh, they can move in a hurry when they have to. One thing is certain, -he isn’t friendly to the English, or he wouldn’t be afraid to show -himself.” - -The two young soldiers waited with bated breath. Each had put a fresh -priming on his gun and felt to see that his flint-lock was in good -condition. Their very lives might depend upon the shots they made. - -Presently they heard voices at a distance, that of Silvers and the -guttural tones of a red man. - -“If you are alone, come out here and we won’t shoot you,” they heard the -sharpshooter say. “Boys don’t shoot this fellow!” he called back to his -companions. - -“We hear you, cap,” answered Raymond, and a moment later Silvers -appeared from the forest, followed by the Indian, who carried only a bow -and several arrows. - -“Why, it’s White Buffalo!” cried Dave in astonishment. And he stepped -forward to greet his old Indian friend, while Henry did the same. - -“How? how?” said the Indian chief, taking their hands in his own. “White -Buffalo think it was Dave he see, but was not sure.” - -“Do you know this Injun?” demanded Silvers. - -“To be sure we do!” cried Dave. “He is White Buffalo, an under chief of -the Delawares. He has often fought with us against the French, and he is -well-known to Washington and to Sir William.” - -“In that case, I reckon it’s all right,” said Silvers, and lowered his -musket. - -“Are you alone, White Buffalo?” questioned Henry, with interest. - -“Yes, White Buffalo is alone,” replied the red chief. “He was out -hunting and hurt his foot on the sharp rocks.” He showed the injury, -which he had bound up with a bit of rag. “He could not get back to his -followers, so walked down to the lake for water.” - -“I reckon we can fix up that hurt a little better,” said Dave, and set -to work without delay. While he did this, the Indian chief told of his -adventures, and of how he had brought down a big deer with an arrow and -how his followers had started back to the fort with the game. - -“White Buffalo has seen the trail of the French around here,” he went -on. “The white brothers must beware, or they will fall into a snare.” - -“We’ll keep our eyes open,” answered Silvers. - -White Buffalo said he would remain with the soldiers until morning, and -soon the camp settled down once again to rest. His foot was badly cut, -but when Dave had put on some salve that had been placed among the -stores, he said it felt much better. - -“David is right,” he said, while talking to the youth. “This war is not -yet in sight of the end. The French agents have been again among the red -men. They bring valuable presents and much drink, and promise many -things to the Indian if he will but fight with them against the -English.” - -“But White Buffalo, you will not listen to them,” cried Dave. - -“Has not White Buffalo spoken before?” said the Indian chief in a hurt -tone. “And when he has spoken, his mind is as fast as the rock upon -which he sits.” - -“I knew it!” cried the young soldier. “Oh, I wish all the Indians were -as trustworthy as you.” - -“The red man’s heart is full of trouble,” went on the Indian chief -sadly. “White Buffalo will stand by the English, but when the war is at -an end, when the hatchet is buried and the smoke of the pipe of peace -floats on the evening air, who shall give to the Indian the land that is -rightfully his own? If the French win they will keep the land, and if -the English win they will keep the land, and White Buffalo and his -brethren will have nothing—the maize land and the hunting land will all -be gone from him.” - -“It is a pity, White Buffalo, there is no denying it,” put in Henry. -“You ought to have the land just as well as the white man. But the -trouble is, you won’t cultivate it as we do.” - -At this the chief drew himself up. “The Indian is a hunter, not a -farmer,” he said proudly. “He lives by the chase and by what Nature -grows for him.” - -“That’s just what causes the trouble, White Buffalo. A man who plants -land can live on a few acres, but one who lives by hunting must have -miles and miles of plains and forests for his roamings. I like hunting -myself, you know I do, so I can understand some of your feelings. But as -more people come over here, or are born on the land, we’ll have to do -less and less of hunting, and more planting and stock raising. In Europe -there are so many people they couldn’t possibly live by hunting even if -they wanted to. What would you do if there were so many Indians here?” - -“The Great Spirit who rules the happy hunting ground takes care of -that.” The chief paused. “And then there are wars.” - -“Yes, I know you often lose plenty of warriors by your tribal quarrels,” -said Henry. “But to get back to where we started from. If I have my say, -you shall never suffer so long as I have a roof over my head.” - -“When the war is over, I want White Buffalo to go with me to the -trading-post on the Kinotah,” put in Dave. “The hunting and fishing -there will delight him, I know.” - -At this the red man looked grateful. - -“David and Henry are indeed my brothers,” he said softly. “White Buffalo -shall be their friend to the death,” and he placed the back of the hand -of each up to his forehead. - -The alarms of the night were not yet at an end. It was still dark, and -Dave and Henry, along with White Buffalo, had dropped into a light -sleep, when a cry from Gilfoy, who was on guard, awakened them. - -“Some wild beast prowling around,” he announced. “Sounds to me like a -wildcat.” - -“Then I’m going to be on my guard,” said Dave. He had not forgotten how -a wildcat had once leaped upon him while he was in bathing. - -All in the camp were soon on the alert. Each listened, but could hear -nothing but the gurgle of the tiny stream that poured over the rocks at -this spot and into the lake. - -“Guess you must have been dreaming, Gilfoy,” said Silvers, at length. -“Was it another Injun?” - -“No, it was no redskin, onless he was climbin’ the trees,” answered the -Irish-American soldier. - -“White Buffalo can hear it,” came from the Indian chief, as they all -listened again. “It comes from over there,” and he pointed with his -finger to a clump of silver maples twenty feet away. “As the white -soldier says, it is a wild beast.” - -“You must have keen ears,” put in Silvers. “I can’t hear a thing but the -brook.” - -“White Buffalo lives by the hunt.” - -“Perhaps you had better go forward and find him then.” - -“White Buffalo can do that, too,” was the quick answer. - -“I’ll go along,” said Henry and caught up his musket once more. - -With extreme caution the two left the circle of the camp-fire which had -been started after the first alarm. The Indian held an arrow to his bow, -and the young soldier had his finger on the trigger of his firearm. - -The advance was very slow and absolutely noiseless. Henry now showed his -training as a hunter. Coming to the nearest of the maples, both halted -without a sound and peered upward. - -There was nothing to be seen, and they moved around to the next tree. -Then both caught the dim outline of some animal, crouching low on a -thick branch, ready to leap. - -There followed the crack of a musket and the whiz of an arrow almost -simultaneously, and the wild animal raised up, with a scream of pain. -Then it made a mad leap, striking Henry on the shoulder, and both rolled -to the ground in the dark. - -“Help!” yelled the young soldier, “help!” - -The fall had been a peculiar one, and as the youth and beast rolled -over, the animal got its foreleg entangled in the strap of Henry’s -musket. It snapped at the weapon, burying its teeth deeply into the -wooden stock. Then, realizing its mistake, it let the musket go and -snapped at the young soldier, but by this time Henry had rolled out of -reach. - -Hearing the cry for help, Dave rushed forward, followed by the others, -Raymond and Gilfoy carrying torches snatched from the camp-fire. - -“It’s a catamount!” cried Raymond. “Give it to him, men!” And he opened -fire with his own musket. - -Gilfoy threw his torch at the beast, and it landed on the catamount’s -head, causing it to turn and roll over in alarm. Then the beast made -another leap, this time straight for Raymond’s throat. - -As the catamount left the ground White Buffalo fired a second arrow. His -first had grazed the catamount’s back. His second aim was more true, and -with a snarl the beast fell back with the point sticking deeply in its -side. - -“Good for you, White Buffalo!” cried Henry. - -He had scarcely spoken when Dave took a shot at the beast, followed by -Shamer and lastly Silvers. All three of the shots went more or less -true, and the catamount whirled round and round, snapping and snarling. -Then it dropped in a heap, gave a few kicks, and lay still. - -“That was a wild one, and no mistake,” said Silvers, after all had -assured themselves that the catamount was really dead. - -[Illustration: - - As the catamount left the ground White Buffalo fired a - second arrow.—_Page 46._ -] - -“He’s large, too,” said Gilfoy, and the Irish-American soldier was -right. The beast was nearly three feet long, exclusive of the sweeping -tail, and had heavy-set legs and a powerful, “bullish” neck. - -“We had better see if there are any more around,” said Henry, and the -search was started as soon as the firearms were reloaded. - -But no other wild beasts put in an appearance, and at last, worn out by -the work of the day just past and by the numerous alarms, the soldiers -lay down once more, to snatch another nap ere the sun came up. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER VI - - AN UNEXPECTED SEPARATION - - -“I DON’T believe the storms are entirely over yet,” said Dave, on the -following morning, after a walk down to the lake shore and a look at the -sky. - -“It is going to be cloudy and windy,” answered Henry, as he began to -wash up in a neighboring pool. “We’ll have to work hard for every mile -we gain.” - -While the two were talking, White Buffalo joined them. His foot was -still very sore, but he said he intended to turn back toward Fort -Niagara as soon as the morning meal was finished. - -It did not take long for the soldiers to prepare breakfast, and -immediately after this the traps were loaded on the boats and the young -soldiers bid White Buffalo good-by. - -“Tell Sir William that you met us,” said Silvers, “and tell him how the -storm made us go into camp;” and this the Indian chief promised to do. - -There was a strong, raw wind, and despite the rising sun they were glad -to keep on their coats as they bent to the oars and sent the two -rowboats speeding on their way. Once more they hugged the shore, Raymond -stating that they might run into another squall at any moment. - -Although they kept their eyes on the alert, no signs of white man or red -were seen during the morning. Once they saw an overturned canoe resting -in the mud, but by the appearance of the craft they came to the -conclusion that it had been rotting there for several months, if not a -year. - -“The Indians have deserted this territory and the French have all sailed -to the north shore of the lake,” said Dave. “It will be a long while -before another village or trading-post is established here.” - -But a few minutes later Shamer proved that Dave was wrong. Standing up -suddenly, he pointed to a spot where the lake shore was thinly fringed -with trees and brushwood. - -“What do you see?” demanded Silvers. - -“Redskins—three or four of them,” was the low answer. - -“Where?” - -“Back of those trees. They are gone now.” - -“If that is so, we must be on our guard,” said the leader of the -expedition, and called to those in the second boat to pull further out -into the lake. - -They watched for a long time, but nothing more was seen of the Indians, -and presently Silvers asked Shamer if he was sure his eyesight had not -deceived him. - -“I am sure I saw them,” said the backwoodsman. - -“I saw one of the Injuns myself,” put in Gilfoy. “Just as I spotted him -he dodged out of sight.” - -Just ahead of the boats the shore made a deep inward curve and Silvers -decided that they should row directly across the bay thus formed. - -“The bay isn’t over a mile across,” he said. “But if the redskins try to -follow us up they will have a good three or four miles to travel.” - -“Unless they put out in canoes,” came from Raymond. - -“If they do that we can easily see them and be on our guard,” answered -the leader of the expedition. - -The constant rowing was beginning to tell on Dave’s hands, and he was -not sorry when it came his turn to steer the craft occupied by himself, -Henry, and Raymond. - -Good progress was being made when, about three o’clock in the afternoon, -the sky became unusually black and the wind freshed up at a remarkable -rate. - -“Now we are going to catch it,” said Raymond. “And a good deal more of -wind than of rain.” - -The backwoodsman was right, and they had just time in which to reach -shore when the wind-storm came rushing on them in all of its fury, -hurling the whitecaps one over another and causing the tall trees to -groan and bend beneath the blast. - -“Don’t catch me under the trees in such a blow,” said Gilfoy, and the -others agreed that it would be a foolhardy move to look for shelter -there at such a time. More than one branch came down with a crack like -that of a pistol, and further off they heard half-decayed monarchs of -the forest come down with low booms. - -The wind continued to blow, at first in irregular puffs and then in a -steady gale, directly from the east. The raindrops were large and -scattering and scarcely wet the ground. - -“It’s of no use to try rowing in this wind,” said Silvers, after a -careful look at the sky. “We’ll be blown back and all our strength -wasted.” - -“How far are we from Oswego?” asked Henry. - -“I should say about sixty miles.” - -“We might tramp that distance,” put in Dave. “But it would take not less -than two days over this rough ground.” - -“It’s out of the question, lad. The ground is rougher than you imagine. -No, I think we had better rest until morning. This wind can’t last.” - -This being decided, the party proceeded to make themselves comfortable, -moving inland to where a series of rocks formed something of a cliff, -thickly overgrown with vines and bushes. Here they formed a shelter by -leaning long branches and saplings against the rocks, and in a hollow a -fire was lit, where they made something hot to drink. - -“We must be on our guard here,” said Silvers. “Those Indians may be -following us. This cliff——” - -He stopped short, having received a violent push from Dave, who stood -close at hand, under the shelter of a thick tree branch. As the leader -of the expedition fell an arrow whizzed by his side, and buried itself -in the dirt between the rocks. - -“The redskins!” cried Henry. “They are behind us!” - -“They are surrounding us,” put in Gilfoy. - -Another arrow and still another whizzed through the air, and Shamer was -struck in the arm. Then came a fierce yell from the forest, which was -answered by another from the lake front. - -“They must number twenty or thirty,” said Dave. - -“We are caught like rats in a trap!” ejaculated Henry. His eyes began to -blaze. “We’ve got to fight for it—and fight our best, too!” - -Another yell sounded out and several Indians appeared, hideous in their -warpaint. More arrows were fired—one grazing Henry’s hand—and eight of -the warriors leaped toward the shelter, flourishing their tomahawks. - -“Fire on ’em. Don’t waste a bullet!” sang out Silvers, and brought his -long rifle to bear on the leading Indian. As the weapon rang out the red -man leaped upward and fell in a heap, the bullet having pierced his -brain. - -The firing now became general and soon the shelter by the rocks was -filled with smoke, so that but little could be seen. Dave was beside -Henry, and both discharged their muskets at the enemy, and they saw two -more Indians stagger and fall back. Then a tomahawk came whizzing -through the air, and poor Gilfoy went down to rise no more. Shamer was -also hit in the leg; and the din became frightful. - -“We must get out of here,” cried Raymond, catching Dave by the arm. -“Come on!” - -“Come, Henry!” exclaimed Dave. “Follow us!” - -“All right,” was the answer, and in a second more the three were running -for the nearest patch of brushwood, loading their muskets as they ran. - -As the new shelter was gained, two tall warriors leaped out to meet -them. Tomahawks were raised, but Raymond swung his musket over his head -and sent one Indian reeling to the earth. In the meantime the second -warrior threw his tomahawk at Dave, but the youth dodged and before the -red man could recover from his throw Henry was on him with the hunting -knife he had carried since the breaking out of the war. - -“That for you!” cried Henry, wild with excitement, and buried the knife -in the Indian’s shoulder. The warrior sank with a groan; and in a moment -more he and Henry were on the ground, in a fierce hand-to-hand struggle -for life. - -Dave was somewhat bewildered by the quickness of the various moves made, -and when he could recover somewhat he found himself by Raymond’s side -running up the lake shore. A fierce yell and shouting came from a -distance, interspersed with gun and pistol shots. - -“Whe—where is Henry?” he gasped. - -“Reckon he is following us,” answered Raymond. - -“Come on, don’t stop here. The Injuns will be after us ag’in in a minute -or two.” - -“But I don’t want to—to leave Henry behind.” - -“Don’t worry but what he’ll follow, unless they kill him, Dave. Come, -it’s suicide to stay here,” urged Raymond, and caught the youth by the -hand and dragged him forward. - -The yells of the Indians now came closer, and fearful of being -surrounded once more the backwoodsman and Dave plunged into the forest. -They chose a point where the tall timber was thick, and they did not -stop in their course until a hundred yards or more had been covered. -Sheltered by some bushes, they reloaded their muskets, which had been -discharged four times since the struggle began. - -“This attack has been a bad one, lad,” said Raymond, who was breathing -heavily. “Gilfoy is dead, and I saw Shamer go down, too.” - -“And Henry?” panted the young solder. “Oh, do you think——” He could not -go on. - -“Let us hope for the best, lad.” - -“If I thought I could help him I’d go back.” - -“No, no, lad, don’t you try it. The Injuns are three or four to one, and -you’ll lose your scalp just as sure as you are born.” - -With great bitterness of mind, Dave was forced to realize that this was -true. Yet, he could not bear to leave Henry to his fate. - -“If he is killed I’ll never forgive myself,” he thought. - -Listening intently, they heard the Indians moving around the -neighborhood, evidently trying to pick up the trail the whites had left. -Gradually they appeared to come closer. - -“We must get out of here,” whispered Raymond. “Follow me, and don’t make -a sound.” - -As silently as a shadow he led the way through the brushwood and to the -open forest once more. Fortunately the coming of night now favored them, -along with the heavy clouds which still hung low in the sky. - -Deeper and deeper they plunged into the growths until they came to some -rough rocks, back of which was a hollow filled with stagnant water. - -“Let us climb over some of the rocks,” whispered the backwoodsman. “That -will cut off the trail—in case they do happen to strike it.” - -With a heavy heart Dave did as advised, and the pair covered another -distance of a hundred yards. Here the rocks were larger, forming a cliff -considerably higher than that where the fateful shelter had been -located. - -“I see something of an opening,” announced Raymond presently. “It ought -to make a good hiding place.” - -He pointed to a split between the rocks. The opening was high and just -wide enough for them to squeeze through. To the rear was located a dark -cave of unknown depth. - -“We’ll rest here,” said Raymond, and threw himself on a rocky seat. -“Keep your musket ready for use.” - -“It is all ready,” answered Dave, and sank beside his companion, -wondering what had become of Henry, and how this unexpected encounter -was going to terminate. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER VII - - A BEAR AND HER CUBS - - -SLOWLY an hour slipped by. To Dave it seemed an age, and more than once -he peered up and down the rough rocks to see if there was any sign of -friends or enemies. From a distance had come two shots, but after that -all was quiet as a tomb, save for the wind, which still swept through -the forest, and the occasional patter of a few drops of rain. - -“Don’t go too far, lad,” said Raymond, by way of caution, after Dave had -climbed out on the rocks for the fourth time. “Those Injuns may be -closer nor you think.” - -“I must find out what has become of Henry,” was the half-desperate -answer. - -“Yes, yes, I know, but——” - -“Do you think any of our party escaped to the boats?” - -“It’s not likely they would expose themselves, lad. If they tried to row -away some of the redskins would be sure to see ’em and send a shower of -arrows after ’em.” - -“But it is dreadful to think Henry may be killed, or a prisoner!” - -“I know that too, lad. Didn’t I lose my brother Dan on the frontier only -four years ago? I did my best to save him, too, but it was no use. I was -taken prisoner, and they had just started to torture me when some of the -Gordon Rangers came up and saved me. That was the fight in which they -killed old Tom Granby and his son Jabez, and carried off Mrs. Williamson -and little Ned Ford.” - -“Did the prisoners ever escape?” - -“All but little Ned. He was carried westward, and they have never heard -of him since,” answered Raymond, with a sorry shake of his head. - -A lump arose in David’s throat and he found great difficulty in -swallowing it. If Henry was dead how would he ever be able to send the -news to Mrs. Morris and the others? - -“It will ’most break Aunt Lucy’s heart,” he thought. “And Uncle Joe’s -heart too. With Rodney a cripple they all depended on Henry so much!” - -Raymond was about to take a look around, when a curious sound from the -rear of the cave-like opening caused both the backwoodsman and the young -soldier to leap up in fresh alarm. - -“What was that?” cried Dave, as he brought up his musket. - -“Don’t know,” whispered Raymond. “Lay low! The Injuns may be coming on -us another way.” - -Both crouched back into a niche of the wall and waited. Soon the noise -was repeated, and they heard a scratching on the rocks at the back of -the opening. - -“Reckon I know what that is,” said Raymond at length. - -“What?” - -“Bear’s cubs.” - -“Do you really think so?” cried Dave. “If that is true, this must be a -bear’s den.” - -“More’n likely, lad, and if it is we had better get out.” - -“You think the old she bear will be back?” - -“To be sure. She won’t leave her cubs over night. She’d be back before -this, only it’s likely the shots made her timid.” - -“It’s queer we didn’t hear the cubs before.” - -“They have been asleep and just woke up. Hark!” - -They listened and heard the scratching on the rocks again. It came -closer, but when Raymond made a noise, it sounded fainter and fainter. - -“They won’t touch us, that’s sure,” said Dave. “But the old she bear——” - -“Something is coming!” interrupted Raymond. “Reckon it’s her!” - -He was right—the mother of the cubs—a black bear of good size, was -coming slowly along at the foot of the rocks. She sniffed the air and -looked from side to side with keen suspicion. - -“Hadn’t we better get out without being seen?” whispered the young -soldier. “If we kill her, the Indians will hear the shots.” - -“Yes, come on,” replied Raymond. - -Side by side they started to leave the entrance to the bear’s den. But -as they stepped out the old she bear uttered a whine, and the cubs in -the cave gave answer. Then the mother bear saw the intruders in the -semi-darkness and let out a growl of savage rage. - -“She’s going to fight!” cried Dave. - -“She thinks we have hurt her cubs!” returned the backwoodsman. - -Raymond was right, and before they could take a dozen steps up the rocks -the black bear was leaping after them, snarling viciously and showing -her long, white teeth. - -“We’ll have to shoot—or be chewed up!” gasped Dave, when the bear was -less than fifty feet from him. - -He had scarcely uttered the words when Raymond’s rifle rang out. But the -aim of the backwoodsman was poor, and the bullet passed wide of the -beast. The report stopped the bear but a second, then she came on as -furiously as ever. - -It was now Dave’s turn to shoot, and he lost no time in blazing away. He -was more fortunate, and the black beast was brought to another halt, -this time with a bullet in her shoulder. But the fight was not yet -knocked out of her, and she tried to limp over the rocks, uttering growl -after growl. - -“She won’t give in,” said Raymond, and both started to reload. While -they were doing this the cubs, two in number, appeared at the entrance -to the cave-like opening. - -On catching sight of her offspring, the wounded bear paused once again. -She evidently wished to pursue her enemies and at the same time she -wished to make certain that her cubs were really unharmed. Slowly she -limped back to her own. - -“Now is our chance!” cried Dave, and over the rocks went the young -soldier and the backwoodsman, scrambling along with all possible speed. -The route was a rough one, and more than once they had their hands and -faces scratched and their uniforms torn. - -“Those shots will put the Indians on the watch,” said Raymond, as they -pushed along. - -“Perhaps they will bring some of our friends to the vicinity,” returned -Dave. “If Henry——Oh!” - -Dave’s speech ended in a cry of pain. He had slipped on the rocks and -his left leg had received a severe wrench at the knee. He tried to rise -and then fell back with a groan of agony. - -“What’s the matter, lad?” - -“I’ve twisted my knee.” - -“Can’t you get up?” - -“I’ll try it. Oh!” - -Dave stood up on the limb that was uninjured and tried to take a step. -But the pain was too great and he was forced to sit down on a rock. - -“That’s too bad, certainly,” said Raymond sympathetically. “If you can’t -walk, I really don’t know what we are to do.” - -“Perhaps you had better go on alone.” - -“No, I shan’t leave you, Dave—it wouldn’t be human.” - -“Yes, but—but we left Henry,” said the young soldier bluntly. - -“That was in the midst of a fight and a different thing altogether. If -you can’t walk, can you climb yonder tree, do you think?” - -“Perhaps, with your help.” - -“Then let us both get up. The bear can’t climb with a wounded leg, and -if she does I can give her a shot right in the head when she comes up,” -went on the backwoodsman. - -He picked the youth up in his arms and walked over to the tree he had -pointed out. The darkness of night had now settled down, and it was with -difficulty that they made their way among the lower limbs. Dave wanted -to shriek with pain, but gritted his teeth and kept silent. - -It was a lonely and never-to-be-forgotten night. In an hour or two the -wind went down and it began to rain steadily. Dave did not feel like -stirring, and all he could do was to rub the cords of his limb that had -become so sadly twisted. Raymond remained on guard, but neither the bear -nor anything else came to disturb them. - -At daybreak it was still raining, but the clouds showed signs of -breaking away, and before nine o’clock the hot midsummer sun shone as -brightly as ever. - -“We are in a bad plight, no two ways about it,” said the backwoodsman. -“What is best to do I must say I don’t know.” - -“I don’t believe I can walk very far yet,” answered Dave despondently. -“My knee feels as stiff as if it was in a vise.” - -“Perhaps I had better scout around a little, leaving you here. It is -barely possible I may run across some of the others and find out what -became of your cousin.” - -“Then go, by all means!” cried Dave. “You cannot do me a greater favor -than to find Henry.” - -“But you must lay low, lad. The Injuns may be closer nor you think.” - -“I will keep quiet. But I’d like to have a drink before you go,” -answered the young soldier. - -Some water was obtained, and he gulped it down eagerly, and bathed his -sprained knee with what remained. Then cautioning him once more, Raymond -left him, the backwoodsman setting off in the direction of the lake -front. - -If the night had seemed lonely, the time now was doubly so to Dave, who -could do nothing but nurse his bruise and keep a lookout for a possible -enemy. His thoughts traveled constantly to his cousin, and he wondered -if Raymond would bring in any news of Henry. - -“He ought to learn something,” he told himself over and over. “I am sure -I could if I was in his place.” - -Nine o’clock came and then ten o’clock, and still the silence of the -forest remained unbroken save for the occasional song of some distant -bird, and the buzzing of bees around an adjacent bee-tree. The nearness -of this bee-tree put Dave in mind of that discovered by his uncle and -himself while on their trip to Annapolis some years before. What great -changes had occurred since that time! - -“This war has been an awful thing, and I shall be glad when it is at an -end,” he thought. “But unless we win, there will be trouble with the -Indians and the French for years and years to come.” - -It was almost noon when he heard a faint sound in the woods to the north -of the tree. Instantly he caught up his musket, which had been resting -in a crotch close at hand. - -Slowly the sound came closer, and he could hear the labored breathing of -some man or animal. He leaned as far down as possible to catch a glimpse -of the newcomer. - -“Shamer!” he murmured. - -He called the soldier’s name softly, and Shamer paused in wonderment. - -“Who is calling me?” he panted. - -“I am, Dave Morris, Shamer. I am up in the tree. Are you alone?” - -“Yes, and I can hardly walk,” groaned the soldier. “A bullet struck me -in the calf of the leg. Any Indians around here?” - -“I haven’t seen any. My knee is hurt. Raymond was with me, but he has -gone down to the shore to take a look around. Do you know anything of my -cousin Henry and the others?” - -“Gilfoy is dead.” - -“Yes, Raymond said they had killed him. And the others?” - -“The Indians captured both Silvers and Henry and carried them off,” was -Shamer’s answer, which caused Dave’s heart to sink like a lump of lead -in his bosom. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER VIII - - IN THE HANDS OF FRIENDS - - -SHAMER was completely exhausted, and reaching the trunk of the tree in -which Dave was perched he threw himself down to rest and regain his -breath. His uniform was much torn and covered with dirt and there were -ugly scratches on his hands and face. - -“I had a terrible time of it after we got separated,” he said, after a -pause. “Four redskins attacked me, and I had to knock over two of them -before I could get away. Then I ran down to the shore, and got into -another mix-up with an Indian and some Frenchmen, who had just come down -the lake in a big flat-bottomed boat.” - -“Was that when you saw Henry and Silvers?” - -“No, I didn’t see them until two hours later, after the fight came to an -end. I hid in the rocks down near the lake, and while I was there I saw -the flat-bottomed boat again. There were six Indians in it and two -Frenchmen, besides Silvers and your cousin.” - -“Was Henry much hurt?” - -“I can’t tell you about that. Both he and Silvers were bound with ropes -and crowded into the bow of the boat, and I couldn’t get a very good -look at them on account of the others. I might have given the Frenchmen -and the redskins a shot or two, but I was afraid they would come ashore -again and catch me, for I was too tired out to run. I went back into the -woods, and early this morning I got into a fight with another Indian. -But he was wounded, and I soon got the best of him,” concluded the -soldier. - -“How was the flat-bottomed boat headed?” asked Dave, after another -pause. - -“The last I saw of it it was headed almost due north.” - -“Then the Frenchmen and the Indians were bound to Canada with their -prisoners,” groaned Dave. - -“It looks like it, Morris.” - -A long spell of silence followed, Dave turning the situation over in his -mind and Shamer dragging himself to the pool, to drink and to bathe his -wounds. - -It was some time after the noon hour when Raymond came back, skulking -through the forest as silently as a shadow. On catching sight of Shamer -he raised his musket, but just as quickly lowered the weapon. - -“So you escaped, eh?” said he. “I am glad to hear it. I saw poor -Gilfoy’s body, scalped, and I was afraid you and the others had shared -the same fate.” - -He sat down and had the German-American soldier tell his story, as it -had already been told to Dave. - -“It’s too bad,” he declared. “And the worst of it is, we are not yet out -of this trap. The most of the redskins are gone, and I saw no Frenchmen, -but at least four Injuns are still on guard—two at the lake front and -two down on a trail leading to Fort Oswego.” - -“That means that we are hemmed in,” said Dave, who was leaning down from -the tree branch listening. - -“Yes, lad. How is the knee?” - -“I am sorry to say it is just as bad as ever, if not worse.” - -Raymond climbed into the tree and inspected the injured limb, which was -considerably swollen. - -“It certainty does look bad,” he said. “One thing is certain, you are -not able to sneak through the woods now, and it’s doubtful if you can do -it after sundown.” - -“Well, I suppose I can’t remain here forever,” returned the young -soldier, rather helplessly. - -“We can help him along, after I get my wind back,” put in Shamer, who -had bound up the arrow wound he had received. - -During his tour of inspection Raymond had been able to pick up a few -stores, left near the shelter by the rocks, and he now offered both of -his companions something to eat. Shamer partook readily of the food, but -poor Dave was almost choked by it. The young soldier’s thoughts were -constantly with Henry. Would he ever see his cousin again? - -Raymond noticed how downcast the lad was, and did his best to cheer him -up. - -“Don’t take it so hard, Dave,” he said kindly. “Remember, he isn’t -killed, and many a prisoner has escaped ere this. Besides, if they put -him in prison, this war is bound to come to an end, sooner or later, and -then he’ll be set free.” - -“That may be true,” returned the young soldier. “But you know as well as -I do what the French prisons are like—the very worst holes on earth.” - -“That may be only evil report, my lad. True it is that some Frenchmen, -even though they be our enemies, are as good-hearted as any Englishman -ever dared to be.” - -“That is true,” broke in Shamer. “A good man is a good man, and a bad -one is a bad one, no matter what his nationality. But I have no use for -an Indian.” - -“Well, there are some good Indians,” added Dave quickly. “White Buffalo, -for instance. If he was here I am sure he would help us out of our -trouble. But I can’t get Henry out of my mind,” he added, with a sigh. - -Dave was glad enough to leave his cramped position in the tree and -stretch himself at full length on a bed of dry leaves in the sunshine. -So the balance of the day passed, with nothing coming to disturb them. -Raymond half expected to see the old she bear, but she did not show -herself, and he was content to let her remain with her cubs. - -“How far is the trail to Fort Oswego from here?” asked the young -soldier, when the darkness began to gather. - -“Not over half a mile.” - -“I was thinking I might get that far on a pinch. But even if we got to -the trail, what then?” - -“I’ve got a plan,” said Raymond. “I’ll carry you on my back. We can take -our time, and we are bound to reach Fort Oswego sooner or later.” - -“If we don’t fall into some redskins’ trap,” put in Shamer. - -“Well, I suppose we must take some chances,” said Dave. “It is very kind -to offer to carry me.” - -The start was begun a short while later, Shamer carrying the guns and -what was left of the provisions, and Dave perched on Raymond’s -shoulders, for that was the manner in which the backwoodsman declare he -could carry the load most comfortably. - -It was a good hour before the trail to Fort Oswego was gained—a rough, -narrow path, first used by the buffalo of upper New York State and then -by the Indians and traders. They advanced with caution, Shamer leading -the way with his musket held before him, ready to fight at the first -sign of an enemy. - -The night proved to be clear, with no moon, but with countless stars. -Along the trail all was silent—even the night birds failing to utter -their lonely notes. - -After a rest the journey along the trail was begun, Shamer leading the -way as before. The forest was thick on either side, and in many spots -there were rough rocks to cross, which made Raymond puff and blow over -his load. More than once Dave said he would get down and try to walk, -but the backwoodsman would not allow it. - -“I’ve brought in a big deer on my shoulders more than once,” he -declared. “And you don’t weigh any more.” - -By daylight ten or eleven miles had been covered, and all were glad to -rest again, by the side of a brook flowing into the lake. The journey -had been no easier for Dave than for the others, and more than once he -had felt like crying out with pain when Raymond gripped his sore limb -harder than usual. - -“Ours has certainly been an ill-fated expedition,” observed Raymond, as -he munched a bit of biscuit, while the others did the same. “If we ever -get out of it alive, it will be a sorry report we’ll have to offer to -the commander at Fort Oswego and to Sir William Johnson.” - -“I can’t see how we are to be blamed,” answered Dave. “We were attacked -by a superior force and fought as well as we could.” - -“Sir William told us to keep to the lake,” put in Shamer. “But of course -we couldn’t do that with such a wind.” - -It had been decided that it would be safest to rest during the day and -travel at night. Accordingly Raymond and Shamer lay down for a nap of -four hours, leaving Dave on guard. - -The four hours were almost up, and the young soldier was beginning to -feel sleepy himself, when a noise in the forest on the other side of the -brook caused him to start up. - -“It must be either a man or a wild animal,” he reasoned and placed his -finger on the trigger of his flint-lock musket, after satisfying himself -that the priming was in good condition. - -Slowly the noise came closer, and presently he heard two men talking in -English. - -“If they are English they must be friends,” thought the young man -joyfully, but still he continued on guard. He awakened Raymond and -Shamer by a light touch. - -“What is it?” came from Raymond. - -“Two men are over yonder. I can hear them talking.” - -“Then we had better get out of sight until we are sure of who they are,” -put in Shamer. - -Secreted in the bushes they waited until the two unknown ones came down -the edge of the brook. They were dressed in the garb of frontiersmen and -each carried a rifle and a game-bag. - -“Game is putty well scart off, Chester,” said one. “The cap’n won’t git -much fresh meat from us,” and he gave a droll laugh. - -“That’s about the size on it, Holden,” was the reply. “Yet I reckoned on -some b’ar bein’ around here.” - -“I am sure they will be friends,” whispered Dave. “They are probably -from the fort.” - -Raymond nodded. Then he called aloud: - -“Hullo, there, friends!” - -The two frontiersmen started, and each raised his rifle. - -“Who calls?” questioned the one named Chester. - -“A lost soldier,” answered Raymond, and presented himself to view. “I -take it you are English,” he added. - -“We are. Where are you from?” - -Raymond told them, and then Dave and Shamer also presented themselves. -The two frontiersmen leaped the brook and listened to their story with -keen interest. - -“You’ve certainty had a tough fight of it,” said the man named Holden. -“I held all along thet them Frenchmen would be over here nosin’ ’round -an’ thet they’d bring some redskins with ’em.” - -“Are you from Fort Oswego?” asked Dave. - -“We are. We are attached to Cap’n Neely’s company o’ rangers. We came -out lookin’ for a bit o’ fresh meat. But now I reckon the best thing we -can do is to help you to git to the fort, ain’t thet so?” - -“If you will be so kind.” - -“Aint no kindness; it’s jest plain duty,” said Chester. - -The frontiersmen felt certain that no more Indians were left in the -vicinity. Yet they promised to keep a strict guard, and a little later -our friends moved off once more in the direction of Fort Oswego, the -frontiersman named Chester carrying Dave on his back for a mile or two -and then being relieved by his companion, and later by Raymond. - -Thus the march was kept up all of that day and also part of the next, -and at two o’clock in the afternoon they came in sight of Fort Oswego, -with the flag of old England floating proudly in the breeze above it. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER IX - - WHAT BEFELL HENRY - - -LET us now return to Henry, and see what happened to him during the time -that Dave was making his escape to Fort Oswego. - -As we already know, Henry had attacked one of the Indians with his -hunting knife. In a moment more both were struggling on the ground, in a -close embrace which was truly desperate. - -Henry was strong for his age and during his life had been in more than -one close encounter with both red men and wild animals. He felt that he -was fighting for his life and he did not intend to give the Indian the -slightest advantage. - -The young soldier felt the red man’s hand creeping toward his throat, -but he caught the wrist and bent it backward, until the Indian had to -squirm to one side to prevent that member from being broken. But then -the Indian made another twist and got his arm over Henry’s neck, -pressing him closer and closer. - -There was but one way left in which to throw the Indian off, and this -the young solder used without delay. Drawing up his knee he set it -against the enemy’s chest and forced it forward, at the same time -holding the red man across the back by one hand and by the leg with the -other. - -The awful pressure thus brought to bear was more than the Indian could -stand. Fearful of having his ribs crushed in, he released Henry’s -throat. At once the youth threw up the leg he was holding and the red -man went spinning over on his back. - -By this time other Indians were at hand, and an arrow hit Henry in the -fleshy part of the arm. Raising his hunting knife, he struck at one of -the newcomers, piercing his shoulder. Then he made a leap up the rock -and another to the bushes beyond, and with the swiftness of a wild -animal disappeared into the forest. - -The blood of the Indian who had been struck was now aroused, as was also -the anger of the one who had been thrown down, and the pair made after -the young soldier, followed by two other warriors. - -Through the forest went pursued and pursuers, until, having run in -something of a semicircle, Henry came out on the lake front, at a spot -some distance above where the two rowboats had been drawn up. Here he -espied an Indian canoe, and, leaping in, began to paddle out into the -lake with all speed. - -The first intimation he had of the closeness of his enemies was when an -arrow flew by the canoe, to land in the water beyond. Other arrows -followed, and then came the report of a gun, but he remained untouched. - -The Indians were now running along shore, and soon they came upon the -two Frenchmen already mentioned in these pages. They belonged to the -Canadian militia and their uniforms were such in name only. They had -come to the south shore of the lake for information, having been -promised a good reward by the Governor-General of Canada if they -succeeded in bringing back news of importance. - -Under the directions of the Frenchmen four of the Indians set off in one -of the rowboats after Henry, who was still paddling westward with all -the speed at his command. The red men were ordered to capture the young -soldier alive if possible, but if not, to kill him. - -It was not long before Henry discovered how the pursuit had been -renewed. He had now reached a good-sized inlet and was still some -distance from the shore. He turned in with all speed, knowing that a -fight of four to one on the water could only end in his defeat. - -“If I only had my musket,” he said, half aloud, but the firearm had been -left on the ground at the camp, after the first hand-to-hand struggle. - -The shore was almost reached, when the Indians set up a yell, and while -two of them continued to row the other two rose up and fixed arrows in -their bows. - -“White soldier stop!” cried one, in bad English. “Stop, or be killed!” - -“I reckon you’ll kill me anyway,” muttered Henry, and as the canoe -grated on the shore, he dropped the paddle, caught up his hunting knife, -and leaped to land. - -It is barely possible that the youth might have escaped to the forest -once more. But as he ran for the trees, two Indians suddenly appeared -before him. One carried a stout stick, and without warning he struck -Henry a heavy blow on the head. The young soldier uttered a moan, -staggered from side to side, and then fell senseless. - -In a moment more, and just as the Indian who had struck the blow was -bending over the unconscious youth to scalp him, the Indians in the -rowboat came up. - -“Rising Moon must stop,” called one of the number. “He must not scalp -the pale face.” He spoke in his native tongue. - -“Why does Falling Waters speak thus?” demanded the other. “It was Rising -Moon’s hand who laid the English soldier boy low.” - -“Rising Moon has earned the scalp,” went on the first Indian. “But -Falling Waters has orders to bring the soldier back alive.” - -At this Rising Moon’s face took on a sour look. - -“Who gave the order?” - -“The Frenchman, Jacques Volnier. He is here with another. They seek news -of importance from the English. We have sworn to stand by them, and we -must obey,” added Falling Waters. - -A long and angry discussion arose, but in the end Falling Waters carried -his point, and Henry was taken to a rendezvous which the Canadian -Indians had once occupied on the south shore of Lake Ontario. - -The fight had by this time terminated, and the Frenchmen and the Indians -had come out on the lake in a flat-bottomed boat. With his arms bound -behind him, Henry, who was just recovering from the blow he had -received, was made to march down to the boat. Here he found Silvers also -a prisoner, and suffering from several arrow wounds. - -“Hullo, are you a prisoner?” cried the leader of the expedition, when -one of the Frenchmen arose and clapped a hand over his mouth. - -“Ze prisonair must not talk now,” he said, in broken English. “Ze -prisonair can talk when we haf left ze shore.” - -“All right,” muttered Silvers, and glad that the Frenchmen had compelled -the Indians to spare his life, he relapsed into silence. - -As for poor Henry, his head was in a whirl and ached as if ready to -split open. More than this, he felt stiff and sore all over, and he sat -in the bow of the boat only with the greatest of difficulty. - -As Shamer had told Dave, the boat contained six Indians, besides the two -Frenchmen and the prisoners, so it was heavily loaded. The red men were -at the oars, and they rowed with a steadiness that showed they had had -practice in this art as well as with a paddle. The boat shot forward -with good speed, and soon the south shore of the lake became a dim, -uncertain line in the distance. - -“Now ze prisonairs can tell us who za air,” said one of the Frenchmen, -evidently the leader of the party. - -“I am not ashamed of that,” answered Silvers. “My name is Louis -Silvers.” - -“Ah, Louis—zat ees a good name. And you?” went on the Frenchman, turning -to the young soldier. - -“I am Henry Morris.” - -“You belong to ze soldiers at Fort Oswego, not so?” - -“We do not,” answered Silvers. - -“Zen where from you come?” - -“We have been up at Fort Niagara.” - -“Ah, I see—you help at ze capture of zat place, eh?” - -“Yes.” - -The Frenchman shook his head thoughtfully. - -“Zat was von bad work—zat fight. I no haf been dair, but I hear, yes, I -hear it all.” - -“Who are you?” asked Henry boldly. - -“Me? Ah, I am not much, my bold little troopair, I am plain Jacques -Volnier, a hunter and trappair.” - -“Then why have you captured us?” went on Henry curiously. - -At this the Frenchman shrugged his shoulders. - -“Because—yes, because we want ze company,” he answered, with a smile. - -Henry frowned, and so did Silvers, and at this both Frenchmen laughed at -what they thought was a good joke. Then they talked to each other in -their own tongue, leaving the prisoners to themselves. - -“What do you think they will do with us?” asked Henry, in a low voice. - -“Throw us into a French prison, more than likely,” answered Silvers -gloomily. - -“What did you do with Sir William’s message?” - -“Hush! I threw it overboard,” said the other, in a still lower voice. - -The strong sun was now beginning to tell upon Henry, and he said no -more. He wanted to keep his senses, but presently all seemed to fade -from him. He felt himself pitch into Silvers’ arms, and then he knew no -more for the time being. - -“Poor lad,” murmured Silvers. - -“What is ze mattair?” demanded Jacques Volnier. - -“He has fainted. Won’t you untie me so that I can do something for him?” - -“_Oui! oui!_” was the answer, and in a moment more Silvers was free. He -untied Henry and bathed his forehead, and presently the young soldier -opened his eyes. But it was not until long after sundown that Henry felt -anything like himself again, and even then he was almost too weak to -stand. - -The two prisoners wondered where they were being taken, but could get -nothing from either the Frenchmen or the Indians. The rowboat was headed -to the northeast, and this showed that the general direction was for the -mouth of the St. Lawrence. On and on swept the craft, through the dismal -night and still on when the morning came. - -“They are going quite a distance,” said Henry, after he had swallowed a -piece of bread that had been given to him. “Can it be that they mean to -move right down the river?” - -“It is possible,” answered Silvers. “Montreal, you know, is not so very -far away.” - -At last the boat turned to the eastward, and that evening a landing was -made near what is to-day Wolfe Island. There had been a small settlement -here, but this was abandoned, the inhabitants having withdrawn to a fort -on the mainland. - -At the island the Indians left the party and some other Frenchmen -appeared, one owning a fair-sized sloop, which boasted a small swivel -gun. The prisoners were made to board the sloop, and now their hands -were chained behind them. The sloop had a small cuddy and into this they -were forced, the door being closed and locked after them. - -“We are in a pickle now surely!” groaned Henry. “I believe they are -going to take us down the river.” - -It was not until late at night when the anchor was hoisted and the sails -of the sloop were set. Then the craft slipped by the island, and past -Fort Frontenac, and stood boldly down the stream in the direction of the -Thousand Islands. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER X - - IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY - - -THE night passed slowly to the two prisoners confined in the narrow -space of the sloop’s cuddy. No one came to speak to them, and as hour -after hour went by first one and then the other dropped off to sleep. - -When Henry awoke it was broad daylight, and the sloop was bounding along -at a rapid rate of speed. Through the one narrow window of the cuddy he -saw that they were passing a shore filled with waving grass and dotted -here and there with low trees. - -“We are going down the St. Lawrence, that is certain. But to where?” - -In vain he asked the question of himself, and then of Silvers. The -sharpshooter merely shrugged his shoulders. - -“I know nothing of these parts, lad,” he said. “We must take what -comes.” - -At noon they received a scanty meal and a drink of lukewarm water. A -sailor served this, and as he could talk French only they learned -nothing from him. - -It was nightfall when the sloop’s trip came to an end. Cramped and -stiff, the prisoners were made to march ashore, to where was located an -old convent, now fallen mostly to decay. Some soldiers were quartered -here, and the prisoners were turned over to a guard and promptly put -into what had once been the cell of a monk. - -“Worse and worse,” said Henry. “What do you think will happen next?” - -Again Silvers shrugged his shoulders. - -“I don’t know, lad, unless they march us out to be shot.” - -“Would they do that? They did not catch us in French territory.” - -“As we are in their power they can do with us as they please.” - -Early in the morning the pair were aroused by the roll of a drum. Some -of the soldiers were getting ready to march away, and the prisoners were -told that they were to march with them. - -“To where?” asked Henry. - -“To Montreal, and perhaps to Quebec,” said the officer addressed, who -could speak excellent English. Henry wanted to ask more questions, but -the officer had no time to listen to him. - -By eight o’clock the soldiers were on the march, with the two prisoners -in their midst. The way was along the river trail, past many pretty -farms and handsome French estates, many of which, however, were now -abandoned. At one point in the road they came upon several ladies on -horseback, who stared in wonder at the prisoners. - -“They seem to think we are wild beasts,” laughed Silvers. He bowed -politely, but the ladies turned and rode away. - -It will be unnecessary to go into the details of the weary march that -followed the tramp along the river trail. For four days the prisoners -were kept on the road. Montreal was passed, with only a faraway glimpse -of its large cathedral and its seminary, and then the course was almost -straight for Quebec. - -So far the prisoners had been treated fairly well, but now came a change -in the command; and they were given food that was hardly fit to eat. - -“We can’t stand this very long,” was Henry’s comment, as he threw away a -moldy crust that it was impossible to swallow. “I’d choke on such -stuff.” - -The officer in charge of them saw the crust thrown away, and came up -shaking his fist at them. - -“Zat ees ze best you vill git,” he cried. “Of you no eat zat, you -starve!” - -“All right, we’ll starve then,” replied Henry recklessly. - -“Bah! you think you are ze brave boy, eh? Ze English za be all grand -cowards!” And the Frenchman went off in disgust. - -“He’s a cheerful dog,” muttered Silvers. - -The next day the fare was even worse, and both of the prisoners were on -the point of open rebellion. At night the French officer brought in an -aged Englishman to talk to them. The Englishman was a Canadian settler. - -“They are bound to make you talk,” said the Englishman. “If you will -tell all you know they will treat you better.” - -“Tell what?” asked Silvers. - -“Tell all the plans of the English soldiers.” - -“But we know very little,” put in Henry. - -“The French captain thinks you know a great deal. He says the man who -captured you, Jacques Volnier, is certain one of you is a noted spy.” - -“He must mean me,” said Silvers. “If so, he is much mistaken. I am -nothing but a plain soldier.” - -“And so am I,” added Henry. - -“I am willing to believe that, for your faces are honest ones,” said the -old Englishman. “But you know how suspicious these Frenchmen are.” - -“How come you here?” asked Henry. - -“It is a long story. Years ago I married a young lady whose parents -lived not far from Quebec. When they died, they left her the farm and -all its fine buildings. We moved to this place and have been here ever -since. I am seventy-three years old, and so far I have refused to take -either side in this struggle.” - -“Did they send you here to bribe us?” - -The old man drew himself up. - -“They could not do that. They asked me to talk to you, that is all. I am -afraid if you will tell them nothing it will go hard with you.” - -“We cannot tell what we do not know,” said Silvers. - -“That is true.” - -The old man asked them their names, and in return said his name was -Peter Merton. He said he had a son, who had left home at the beginning -of the war, and what had become of his offspring he did not know. - -“I have an idea he joined the English army,” he said. “If so, I -sincerely trust that no harm comes to him.” - -The old Englishman remained with them for the best part of an hour. He -told them that the camp was located not far from the north bank of the -St. Lawrence, a few miles above Quebec. - -“I cannot tell you what General Wolfe is now doing,” he said. “We get -very little news.” - -“I heard some cannon firing last night,” said Henry. - -“Oh, yes, we get plenty of that. But very little damage is done. I do -not believe that General Wolfe really means to demolish Quebec.” And in -this surmise the old man was correct. - -When the old man was leaving, he shook hands with them. As he did this -he pressed into the hand of each a piece of gold money. - -“You may find it useful,” he whispered. And before they could protest he -was gone. - -“He is certainly a good-hearted fellow,” said Henry. - -“He might have helped us to escape,” said Silvers, as he slipped the -gold piece in his pocket. - -“No, I think he was too old for that,” returned Henry, and then glancing -on the ground he uttered a low cry, for there lay a small and -exceedingly sharp dagger. - -“He dropped that, and most likely on purpose,” exclaimed the -sharpshooter. “I’ll keep it, for it may come in handy,” and he placed -the dagger in his bosom. - -Henry and Silvers had been confined for the night in an old house. Two -sleepy French soldiers were on guard. As one of them came in to see that -they were up to no mischief Silvers motioned to him. - -“Do you talk English?” he asked. - -“Verra little,” answered the soldier, who was of the peasantry and -exceedingly stupid. - -“We are hungry, and want something to eat and to drink,” went on -Silvers, and pointed to his mouth. - -At this the soldier shrugged his shoulders. - -“We will pay for whatever you get us,” went on the sharpshooter, showing -the gold coin. “You buy us something, and keep half the money.” - -The eyes of the peasant opened widely at sight of the gold coin, the -like of which he had not seen for months, for his pay as a soldier was -but a few francs per week. - -“I no—you——” he stammered. - -For reply Silvers made a motion as to cut the coin in half. Then he -pointed to the soldier’s pocket and then to his own mouth and to Henry’s -mouth. The peasant comprehended and a dull smile overspread his -features. He went out to consult the other soldier on guard. - -A few minutes later the fellow came back and took the gold coin. Then, -regardless of army regulations, he left his gun with his companion and -stole away in the darkness. - -“He has gone for the food,” whispered Silvers to Henry. “Now the -question is, shall we wait for him to get back, or make a dash for -liberty?” - -“Let us try for liberty,” exclaimed the young soldier eagerly. “If we -can only get away, I am sure we can find something to eat somewhere.” - -“I have a plan,” said the sharpshooter. “Do you see yonder chimney?” - -“Of course.” - -“We might pretend to run away and hide in that. Then, when the soldiers -disperse to hunt for us, we can cut sticks and off.” - -This plan was agreed to, and having examined the chimney and found out -how they could secrete themselves inside, they both peeped out at the -single guard, who was walking up and down, humming to himself. - -“Now!” cried Silvers, and they made a racket as if climbing through a -side window, letting the sash fall with a crash. Then both ran to the -chimney and hid with all possible speed. - -The guard gave a cry in French and came running up. One glance showed -him the empty room and his eyes strayed to the window. - -“Gone!” he muttered, in his native tongue. “And through yonder window! -Oh, the artful rascals! But I shall catch them, or shoot them down!” - -He made off, and they heard him start to give the alarm. But then he -thought of his companion and the gold piece. If the commanding officer -heard of how the one guard had gone off there would be trouble ahead for -both. He ran around wildly, at length taking a road leading to the river -bank. - -“Now is our chance,” said Henry, and dropped out of the chimney, covered -with soot and as black as a negro. Rushing outside, he caught up the gun -belonging to the guard who had gone for the food. As he did this Silvers -drew the dagger he had picked up, and thus armed the pair started for -the nearest patch of woodland, several hundred feet away. - -But the alarm was now general, in spite of the guard’s effort to keep -the affair quiet, and they heard calls from several directions. - -“If we get away it’s going to be a tight squeeze,” said Silvers. - -“We must get away,” cried Henry. “Come on,” and he set off at a faster -pace than ever. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XI - - ABOARD THE FIRE-BOAT - - -THE edge of the woods was gained when a shot rang out, but whether -directed at Henry or the sharpshooter neither could tell. - -“They will be after us hot-footed in another minute,” said the young -soldier. “How shall we turn?” - -“It will be folly to turn to the river just yet,” answered Silvers. -“They will be sure to hunt for us there. Let us hide in the opposite -direction until the alarm is over.” - -As the pair passed into the wood they saw a man coming along a -well-beaten path. He carried a bundle under one arm and two bottles -under the other. As he came closer they recognized the soldier who had -taken the gold piece. He had brought food and some wine from a chateau -not far away, where he was well known. He started to yell, but Silvers -stopped him. - -“Silence!” he cried. “Silence, if you value your life.” - -But the peasant was too frightened to listen, and yelling loudly he -dropped his bundle and bottles and ran for the soldiers’ camp as swiftly -as his slim legs would carry him. - -“This may come useful,” said Henry, as he picked up the bundle, which -was done up in a bit of white cloth. - -“Ditto one of these,” added Silvers, and slipped a bottle of wine into -his coat pocket. - -The wood passed they came in sight of the chateau, a pretty place, built -of stone, covered with ivy, and set in a park of shrubbery. Back of the -chateau were a barn and several other outbuildings. - -A light was burning in an upper room of the chateau, but otherwise the -entire place was dark. - -“Let us make for the barns,” whispered Silvers. “They ought to afford -some sort of a hiding place.” - -Henry was willing, and in a trice they had leaped the fence fronting a -road and were running to the nearest of the outbuildings, which loomed -up vaguely in the darkness. The shelter of the structure gained, they -found an open door and ran inside. - -The barn was divided into two parts, one for the horses, of which there -were four, and the other for hay and grain. Back of the barn were a -cow-shed and a milk house. - -“Shall we get into the hay?” whispered Henry. They could already hear -the pursuers on the roadway. - -“They will be sure to search that,” answered Silvers. “Wait a second.” - -The sharpshooter bent down and tried several of the boards of the floor. -As he had hoped, one was loose, and beneath was an opening of no mean -size. - -“Just the thing. In you go,” he went on, and Henry dropped down, -followed by his companion, and the board was lowered into place over -them. - -It was a damp, foul-smelling hole, but to this they did not just then -pay attention. With bated breath they strained their ears to catch some -sound of those who were after them. - -It was a good five minutes before anybody came into the place, to tramp -loudly directly over their heads. There were four or five soldiers, and -the two in hiding heard them move among the horses and through the grain -room and the hay mow. The soldiers spoke in French, so neither Henry nor -Silvers knew what was said. - -Following the examination of the barn, the soldiers looked over the -other buildings, and even into the water vat of the milk house. Then -they went outside and looked around the trees in the chateau park, and -among the bushes. - -“They must have gone further,” said the corporal in charge, in French. -“They were afraid to stay here.” - -“Unless we catch them it will go hard with Gaston and Pasmont,” said -another. “The captain said they must keep a good watch over the sly -rascals.” - -After the French soldiers had gone the barn became as silent as a tomb. - -“What an escape!” whispered Henry half joyously. - -“Hush, lad,” warned Silvers. “We are not yet out of the woods.” - -For half an hour they remained under the flooring of the barn, and then, -unable to endure the smell any longer, they left the hole and moved up -into the hay mow, now half filled with the summer crop. - -Henry had brought the food in the cloth with him, and, being hungry, -both proceeded to make a meal in the hay, Silvers drinking from the -bottle of wine and the young soldier procuring some water from the milk -house. - -“What shall be our next move?” asked Henry, feeling that the -sharpshooter was the leader. - -“Better stay here until to-morrow night,” answered Silvers. - -“As long as that!” - -“Why not? It’s more comfortable here than in prison, and by to-morrow -night the excitement will have blown over and we’ll have a much better -chance to get away than we’ll have now.” - -Henry could not help but see the force of this argument. Yet to wait -twenty-four hours under such circumstances appeared to be a never-ending -period of time. - -Slowly the balance of the night wore away and day came on. A farmhand -came to feed the horses and hitch one to a cart, and a maid came out to -milk three cows, but otherwise they did not see or hear a soul. As she -worked around the milk house the maid sang a gay song in French, as if -no such thing as a war existed. - -“It takes a French girl to do that,” observed Silvers. “No English girl -could sing so happily with danger at the very door of the home.” - -“The French are a gay people,” answered Henry. “But, just the same, they -can fight when they want to.” - -At last the sun went down and night came on. They had eaten the last of -the food brought along, and Silvers had long since finished his bottle -of wine. It was somewhat cloudy, which promised to be in their favor. - -“Now we’ll see what fate has in store for us,” said Silvers, after a -long look around the outbuildings. “Shall I carry the musket, or will -you?” - -“As you are the best shot, you had better take it,” answered Henry. - -“Then I’ll give you the knife,” went on the sharpshooter, and passed -over the dagger. - -The gun was in the same condition as when taken from the prison, and -they had taken care to preserve the powder for priming. - -They left the barn by a back door and lost no time in crossing a turnip -and onion lot to a row of berry bushes skirting a ditch. Once at the -ditch, they crawled along until they gained the shelter of the woods. - -“Now we can make for the river,” said Silvers. “But how we are to get -across remains a problem still to solve.” - -“Perhaps we can find a canoe or a rowboat. Or, on a pinch, we can build -a raft.” - -“Not so easy, lad, without tools.” - -The woods were thick with underbrush, and it was no mean task to push a -way through. Soon, however, they came to a well-beaten path, and along -this they moved faster, Silvers in the lead, and both with eyes and ears -strained to the utmost, for a possible sign of an enemy. - -“There is a building ahead,” said the sharpshooter, after a quarter of a -mile had been covered. - -It proved to be a fair-sized summer house, standing on a rocky cliff. -Beyond was a series of rough stone steps, leading to the river bank, far -below. At the shore was a rude dock, and here rested a long, -strange-looking object, half boat and half raft, piled high with some -straw and several barrels of pitch. - -“Some kind of a craft,” murmured Henry, as he looked forward in the -uncertain light. - -“Be quiet, there may be soldiers on guard here,” whispered Silvers in -return. - -Making certain that they were not observed, the pair stole down the -rough steps. They were almost at the bottom when a loose stone turned -under Silvers’ foot and went crashing downward. - -The crash of the falling stone was followed by a cry from a sentry -stationed on the cliff. The cry was answered by another sentry, and soon -several forms appeared. - -“We must hide!” cried Henry, and ran away from the steps. - -“To the boat!” answered Silvers, and ran for the rude craft. - -The young soldier followed, and just as they gained the boat a shot rang -out. Then two soldiers came rushing down the rough steps. - -“That will keep you back,” muttered the sharpshooter, and fired the -musket. One of the soldiers was hit in the breast and fell, and the -other lost no time in seeking cover. - -Once on board of the boat, the pair untied the line which held it to the -rude dock. Poles were handy and they pushed off into the stream. Then -each took a paddle and did what he could to move the craft to the south -shore of the St. Lawrence. - -“She’s a clumsy one, lad,” observed Silvers, as they pushed the craft -around only with the greatest of difficulty. - -“I never saw such a boat before,” answered Henry. - -“It’s a fire-boat, that’s what it is. The straw and pitch will make a -red-hot fire.” - -“A fire-boat? What for?” - -“To send out among the shipping. Most likely the French thought to burn -some of General Wolfe’s ships with it.” - -“I see. Hadn’t we better dump the straw and the barrels overboard? She -will move quicker with no load.” - -“No time now, lad. Pull, and pull for all you are worth, if you want to -get away.” - -Both did their best, and as they worked they heard a dozen or more of -their enemies running up and down the river bank. - -“They are looking for another boat,” said Silvers. “I trust to luck they -find none.” - -Suddenly they heard the cry of a number of Indians, who had joined the -French sentries. Then came several shots, one striking a barrel of pitch -and causing the stuff to overflow upon the straw. - -“Keep out of range, lad,” cried Silvers. - -“Yes, and you do the same,” panted the young soldier. He was working -with might and main to move the fire-boat further from the shore. “Do -you see anything of another boat?” - -“Not yet. But it can’t be that there are none somewhere about,” went on -the sharpshooter. - -Presently they beheld what looked like several torches flashing through -the night. They were a dozen or more feet apart. - -“By Joseph! but I don’t like that!” cried Silvers. - -“Don’t like what?” queried Henry. - -Scarcely had he spoken when he understood what the sharpshooter meant. -There was a whizzing, and the flaming arrows—for they were nothing -less—flew all around the fire-boat. One touched the straw, but Silvers -caught it instantly and hurled it into the water. - -“They mean to fire the boat!” gasped Henry. “If one of them plants -itself in that pitch——” - -He got no further, for at that moment came another flight of the flaming -arrows, seven or eight in number. Four fell on the boat, one in the very -spot where the pitch had overflowed upon the straw. - -The pair on the craft did their best to put out the flames, and two of -the arrows went overboard the instant they landed. But the others could -not be removed, and in two seconds more there was a flash and a roar, -and the fire-boat burst into flames from end to end! - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XII - - GENERAL WOLFE’S CAMP - - -“WE can’t put out this fire!” - -“We must jump for our lives!” - -Such were the exclamations which burst simultaneously from the lips of -Henry and the sharpshooter, as the flames shot skyward from the -fire-boat. - -Both leaped to the stern of the craft, where there was a plank extending -over the water a distance of a few feet. - -“Let us haul the board overboard,” cried Silvers. “That will give us -something to rest on.” - -This advice was followed with difficulty. But at last the plank went -down with a splash and the two escaping prisoners went with it. - -They were none too soon. The fire-boat now blazed up with increasing -fury, and Henry’s coat was in a flame in two places. But the souse in -the river saved the young soldier from more than a scorching. - -“Whi—which way now?” he sputtered as he came up and caught hold of one -end of the plank, while Silvers grasped the other end. - -“Let us see if we can’t make the opposite shore. It’s our only chance.” - -“The night won’t help us much, now the fire-boat is ablaze,” said Henry. -For the conflagration cast a ruddy glare all around them. - -The fire-boat had been located a short distance below Sillery Cove, -where the St. Lawrence was a little over a mile wide. The tide, which -had been high in the afternoon, was running out rapidly, and this -carried both the fire-boat and the plank along with it. Thus the Indians -who had shot the flaming arrows and the French soldiers who had given -the alarm were soon left far behind. - -Both Henry and Silvers tried to guide the plank towards the south bank -of the river, but in this they were only partly successful. Yet it was a -great satisfaction to both to see that they were getting further and -further away from the shore of the enemy. - -“If we are not careful we will be washed right out to sea,” said Henry, -after a long spell of silence, in which they gazed back in the -semi-darkness, to see if they were being pursued. - -[Illustration: - - A short distance away was a broad-sterned brig.—_Page 109._ -] - -“We are still a long distance from the ocean, lad,” responded Silvers. - -“Are we close to Quebec?” - -“A mile or two above it, I think.” - -Another spell of silence followed, and then Henry let out a faint shout. - -“A ship! We are drifting directly upon a ship!” - -His words proved true. But a short distance away was a broad-sterned -brig, standing slowly down the stream. - -“If it’s a French craft we are lost,” whispered Silvers. - -In a minute more the plank bumped up against the side of the brig, and -they could see half a dozen sailors at the rail. - -“Hullo there!” cried a rough English voice. “Keelhaul me, if there are -not two soldiers on a board!” - -“Frenchmen! spies!” put in another voice. - -“No! no! we are not spies!” called back Silvers joyfully. “We are -prisoners escaped from the French.” - -“Harken to that, mate. Escaped prisoners! In that case we must help ’em -aboard.” - -It was not long before a rope was thrown overboard, and with great -difficulty Henry and Silvers climbed to the main deck of the ship, where -they were immediately surrounded by the captain and several other -officers. - -“Who are you?” demanded the captain sharply. - -“Royal Americans, sir,” responded Silvers, touching his forelock, while -Henry did the same. “We were captured by the French and Indians about a -week ago and made our escape last night.” - -“If you are Royal Americans where do you belong? Certainly not in -General Wolfe’s camp.” - -“We belong to the army that was under General Prideaux. But he is dead, -and Sir William Johnson took command.” - -“Prideaux—at Fort Niagara? That is a long distance from here.” - -“We were on our way to Oswego when we were taken. The French brought us -across the lake, and then marched us down the river road to a prison -near Sillery Cove.” - -The captain of the brig listened to their tale with much interest. - -“If you have been among the French you ought to be able to tell General -Wolfe something worth listening to,” he said, when they had finished. -“Some of the men on board are bound for his camp, and you may go along -if you wish.” - -“Where is his camp?” asked Henry. - -“On the upper bank of this river, just below the Falls of Montmorenci. -The general has been sick, but I heard this morning that he is now -somewhat better.” - -“May I ask if you have been in a fight with the French?” came from the -young soldier curiously. - -“Hardly a fight. We have been ordered to stand up and down the river -with the tide. This has kept the enemy on the move, watching not only -this brig, but also a number of other ships, and is gradually wearing -the French soldiers out. Did you hear anything of their colonists -deserting?” - -“I did,” cried Henry. “Two men who were on guard said that a hundred men -had left in one day, so he had heard. I didn’t get any particulars.” - -“Montcalm will find that this campaign is not yet over,” responded the -captain of the brig grimly. “He thinks Quebec cannot be taken, but Wolfe -will teach him a trick or two ere we hoist anchor for England.” - -It was an hour later when the brig dropped anchor in the stream, midway -between the Island of Orleans and the northwest shore of the St. -Lawrence. Not a battery from Quebec had fired on the ship, and the -English batteries on the southeast shore were also silent. - -“It is my duty to send you over to General Wolfe’s camp under guard,” -said the captain of the brig. “I do not doubt but that you are to be -trusted, but duty is duty, you know.” - -“We’ll not complain,” answered Silvers. - -A boat was soon lowered and the sharpshooter and Henry entered this, -followed by a coxswain and his crew, and two army officers, who had been -on the trip of the brig. This boat was followed by a second and a third, -and then all three headed for the shore below the Falls of Montmorenci. - -It did not take long to reach the mud flats below the rocks fronting the -river bank. Here the party was challenged by the grenadier guards, but -quickly passed, and Henry and Silvers were marched up the bank by a -rough trail. - -Both the young soldier and the sharpshooter were thoroughly worn out by -the trials they had endured, and having received some food on the brig, -and dried their clothing, they did not remain awake long after having -been assigned quarters. - -It was Henry who was the first to stir in the morning. The roll call of -the long drums aroused him, and gazing out on something of a parade -ground he saw the grenadiers forming to answer to their names. - -“This looks natural,” he observed to his companion, who arose lazily and -stretched himself. “I must say these soldiers of General Wolfe look as -if they meant business.” - -It was not long after this that a guard came in and told them to prepare -for an interview with General Wolfe. They at once brushed up as best -they could, and the guard supplied them with caps, to replace those -which had been lost. - -General Wolfe’s headquarters were in a house some distance back from the -Falls of Montmorenci. The general had been taken seriously ill about the -middle of August and was now slowly recovering. - -At the time of this campaign, which was to make him famous in the -world’s history, General James Wolfe was but thirty-two years of age. He -was tall and slender, with sloping shoulders and with a face that showed -more of quietness than determination. But his eyes were bright and under -certain circumstances could flash forth a hidden fire that meant much. -His hair was red, and worn in a cue, as was the fashion at that time. - -James Wolfe came of fighting stock, his father, Major-General Edward -Wolfe, being a distinguished officer before him. The son entered the -King’s army at the age of fifteen, and one year later served in Flanders -as the adjutant of a regiment. From Flanders he went to Scotland, to -fight gallantly at Culloden, and then at Stirling, Perth, and Glasgow. -At twenty-three he was a lieutenant-colonel, holding that rank for five -years, when he obtained leave of absence and spent a long vacation in -Paris. - -With the breaking out of the war with France Wolfe was again in his -element. He sailed on the expedition against Louisburg, where he served -with great honor to himself. Because of this service he was chosen by -Pitt to command the expedition against Quebec. He sailed on the 17th of -February, his fleet consisting of twenty-two ships of the line, and also -numerous frigates, transports, and other craft. We have already seen how -he landed on the Island of Orleans and at other points, and how he tried -to break in upon the almost impregnable French position at the Falls of -Montmorenci. - -Henry had heard much about General Wolfe and of what a sturdy and -well-trained army officer he was, and the young soldier was rather -surprised to find himself ushered into the presence of one who looked so -young and mild. Wolfe’s sickness had left him pale and weak, yet he soon -showed that he had all his old-time determination to win still in him. - -“You may tell me your story, but be brief,” he said, to Henry, who had -been brought in first, and then settled back in his chair to listen. He -did not interrupt the recital, but when the young soldier had finished -he asked a number of questions, all of which Henry answered as clearly -as he could. - -“You have certainly had your share of adventures,” said General Wolfe. -“I imagine you did not expect to find yourself here when you started out -for Oswego.” - -“That is true, sir,” answered Henry. - -“And you wish to get back at once? That will be rather difficult, I am -afraid.” - -“I do not care so much about getting back, sir. But I should like to -know what has become of my cousin, David Morris, and the others.” - -“You had better rest for a few days, and then I will have one of my aids -see what can be done for you.” - -“Thank you, general,” said Henry, and with a salute he withdrew. - -The interview accorded to Silvers was similar to the foregoing, -excepting that the sharpshooter was questioned in regard to such French -defenses as he had seen along the river front. Then both were told that -they were no longer under guard, and could come and go, within the -limits of the camp, as they pleased. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XIII - - SCALING THE HEIGHTS OF QUEBEC - - -BOTH Henry and Silvers were much interested in the inspection of the -camp General Wolfe had established near the Falls of Montmorenci and -along the St. Lawrence River. - -The falls at this point were a grand sight, tumbling over the rough -rocks that lined the gorge with a thunder which to the young soldier -seemed a second Niagara. Below the falls was a stretch of smooth water, -and here was a succession of shoals, dry, or nearly so, during low tide. - -The French camp was within sight between the trees, and it is said that -the English and French guards occasionally spoke to each other further -up the small stream, where the noise was not so loud. But men as well as -officers had to be careful, for each army had its sharpshooters posted, -ready to bring down any enemy who showed himself. - -During the time spent near the falls General Wolfe had not been idle. He -had tried his best to draw General Montcalm from his secure position by -making moves up and down the St. Lawrence and by sending detachments -hither and thither, to attack and destroy various villages, towns, and -isolated chateaux and farmhouses. All were given over to the flames, and -night after night the sky was lit up by the conflagrations. - -All of these deeds made the Marquis de Montcalm very angry, but he was -too wily a general to be drawn into any trap. “Wolfe cannot dislodge -me,” he said. “And soon his supplies will give out, winter will be on -him, and he and his fleet will have to sail for home.” - -His remarks were not mere guesswork. From various sources he learned -that the English supplies were running low, and that many of the British -soldiers were sick. Those on the fleet were growing tired of drifting up -and down the river, and the admiral in charge knew that winter came -early around Quebec. - -“Something will have to be done between now and the first of October,” -said the admiral. “To remain in these waters after that would be a -hardship.” - -“Something shall be done,” said General Wolfe, and, still weak from his -spell of sickness, he began to lay new plans to force Montcalm into a -battle. - -Several days slipped by, and Henry was glad enough to take the rest thus -afforded. On the fourth day a messenger appeared bringing in news from -Fort Oswego. - -“Hurrah!” shouted Henry, as he ran up to where Silvers sat smoking on a -rock. “Dave is safe, and so are Shamer and Raymond. Oh, how glad I am!” - -“That is good news!” returned the sharpshooter. “Wonder how they managed -to escape?” - -“The messenger didn’t know the full particulars. He says each was hurt a -little, but not of any account. I can tell you, I feel much relieved” - -“I don’t doubt it, Henry. I know you think a good deal of your cousin.” - -“And why shouldn’t I? We have been playmates for years, and we have -hunted and fished and fought together for ever so long, too. Dave is as -close as a brother to me.” - -“Well, now you know he is safe, I reckon you won’t be so anxious to get -to Fort Oswego as you was.” - -“No, I am going to send word to him that I am here, and then stay a -while.” - -“So am I going to stay,” went on Silvers. “I feel it in my bones that -there will be a big fight here before this campaign closes.” - -General Wolfe had under him three brigadiers, Murray, Monckton, and -Townshend. He now called them to him for consultation and submitted -several propositions. A debate lasting a long time followed, and at last -it was decided to attack the French at a point some distance above the -city of Quebec. By doing this, Montcalm would be cut off from his base -of supplies and compelled to either fight or surrender. - -The task which General Wolfe had set for himself and his men was an -exceedingly difficult one. As already mentioned, the river was fronted -by a high wall of rocks, and to scale these seemed next to impossible. -Besides, the French were on constant guard, and would be sure to sound -the alarm quickly and pour a hot fire into the advancing British. - -In order to carry out the plan decided upon General Wolfe had first to -abandon the camp at the falls. He knew the French would harass him as -much as possible, and so sent Monckton from Point Levi with a number of -soldiers, under pretense of attacking Beauport, midway between the falls -and the city. Montcalm looked on this with new alarm and sent his troops -in that direction; and Wolfe withdrew without further trouble. - -Henry and Silvers were with the soldiers who abandoned the Montmorenci -and soon found themselves at Point Levi, where they joined a handful of -other Colonial English mixed in with the Royal Grenadiers. This was -early in September, and a few days later the troops were transferred to -the ships under Admiral Holmes, and here General Wolfe joined the -expedition. - -To the French it looked as if the English were going to give up the -campaign, and Wolfe and his officers, as well as the admiral of the -squadrons, did all in their power to make the deception more real. -Cannon were taken up and placed aboard the vessels in the most open -manner, and soldiers were made to pack away the camp outfits as if -getting ready for a long voyage. “The English are going to sail!” cried -the people of Quebec and vicinity, and their hopes arose, to think that -they would at last be free from the grim terror which had hung over them -so long. - -But Wolfe was not yet ready to force the attack. The plan of action was -still in the rough. There was a high stone bluff, or cliff, to scale, -and how to do it in comparative safety was a delicate problem to solve. -The general listened patiently to what several who were acquainted with -the locality had to say, and then surveyed the north shore with a -telescope. Near what was then Anse du Foulon, and now called Wolfe’s -Cove, he discovered a narrow path running between rocks and bushes from -the water’s edge to the top of the bluff. - -“That is our course,” he said, quietly but firmly. On the bluff at this -point were but a dozen soldiers’ tents, so he concluded that the French -guard there could not be a heavy one. - -But to have given the French an inkling of what was in his mind would -have ruined everything, so once again Wolfe set to work to fool the -enemy. His ships sailed still further up the river, as if looking for a -landing, and the French batteries opened with vigor, but without doing -any harm. - -A heavy downpour of rain now made further operations impossible for two -days. It was a cold, raw storm, and the soldiers in the transports could -not stand it, and had to be landed once more on the south shore, where -they built camp-fires, sought such shelters as were handy, and did what -they could to make themselves comfortable. The weather was very trying -on General Wolfe, but he refused to take again to his bed, declaring -that he was now going to see the campaign to a finish. - -On the 12th of September all seemed in readiness for the attack. The -French soldiers were worn out through following the passage of the -English ships up and down the river, while the stay on the south shore -had rested the grenadiers and others in the English ranks. - -For the daring expedition Wolfe selected forty-eight hundred men. He -knew that the enemy must be at least twice as strong, and to engage -Montcalm’s attention once again in a different direction, he had Admiral -Saunders make a move as if to land at Beauport. This deception was -carried on in grand style, with signals flashing from ship to ship, -cannons roaring, and boatload after boatload of sailors and marines -putting off as if to dash upon the mud flats. In great haste Montcalm -massed his men at the Beauport batteries, satisfied at last that this -was to be the real point of attack, while the movement up the river was -only a blind. - -Fortune now seemed to be at last in Wolfe’s favor. He was ten miles away -from the din at Beauport, with nearly five thousand of his soldiers, and -creeping upon the north shore of the river with the silence of a shadow. -There was no moon, but otherwise the night was clear. Wolfe occupied a -place in one of the foremost boats. Behind him came a long procession, -containing the Highlanders and grenadiers and also a handful of -Colonials, including Henry and Silvers, who had been armed, and who were -just as anxious to aid in the taking of Quebec as anybody. - -Once or twice from out of the darkness came a challenge. - -“Who comes?” was the question, put in French. - -“France!” was the answer, of one who could speak the language well. - -“What boats are those?” - -“The provision boats. Hush, or the English will hear. They are not far -away.” - -The sentry knew that some provision boats were expected along that -night, so said no more. As a matter of fact, the order to send the -provisions down the river had been countermanded but a few hours before, -but without the sentry’s knowledge. Thus fortune again favored the -English. - -At last the headland above Anse du Foulon was gained. Here the tide -swept along rapidly and some boats were carried partly past the cove. - -“No guard in sight,” whispered one of the lookouts. - -“It is well,” murmured Wolfe. - -Only the sound of a gurgling brook as it rushed into the St. Lawrence -broke the stillness of the night. Before the boats lay the dark, -frowning bluff, with its loose rocks, and its straggling cedars, other -trees, and brushwood. The path was there, doubly uncertain in the -darkness. - -Twenty-four volunteers, picked men, good shots, and with nerves of iron, -led the way. In the meantime those in the other boats waited by the -shore, for the signal to land if it proved safe, or to pull away with -might and main should the French have led them into a trap. - -“Tell you what, Henry, this is a ticklish task,” whispered Silvers, as -he examined the new firearm he had received. - -“It certainly is that,” answered the young soldier. “But I reckon -General Wolfe knows what he is doing.” - -“Silence there,” came the low command, and the two said no more. - -A painful period of waiting followed. Far up the bluff they could hear -the volunteers climbing along. Then came a shot, followed by others, and -then a ringing English cheer. - -“We have them! We have them!” was the cry. “Come up!” - -“Hurrah!” came a mighty cry. “_Up we go!_” And in a twinkle the soldiers -were out of the boats and scaling the rocks as best they could, some by -way of the path and others by rocks and bushes. - -It was a climb that Henry never forgot. The path was choked with -grenadiers, each with his gun slung over his back and each loaded down -with knapsack and blanket. - -“We can get up this way just as well,” said Silvers, and up they went, -side by side, over some rough stones, and then hauling, pushing, and -pulling themselves from one point of vantage to another, until, fairly -panting for breath, they reached the top and joined the forces gathering -on the field above, known as the Plains of Abraham. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XIV - - WOLFE’S VICTORY AND DEATH - - -A SLIGHT shower of rain was falling when Henry and Silvers, still -panting for breath, followed the grenadiers and Highlanders to the -Plains of Abraham, so called after Abraham Martin, a Canadian pilot who -had once owned a stretch of land in that locality. The plains were -tolerably level, covered here and there with grass and brushwood. To the -southward stretched the St. Lawrence, and to the north and east the -River St. Charles. Quebec stood at the extreme southeast point, hidden -from view by a series of rocks and low hills, and partly protected by -the city wall. - -“This is surely a surprise to the French,” remarked Henry, as a distant -cannon roared forth a warning. “Outside of the guard that was routed not -a soldier has come into view.” - -But it was not long before a detachment of the French appeared on the -ridge before the city. They were a battalion sent forward from an -encampment on the St. Charles. The soldiers were in their showy white -uniforms, in strong contrast to the red of the British. Drums beat, the -Highlanders piped bravely on their pipes, and a skirmish ensued which -quickly forced the French to retire for consultation. An attack was also -made on the rear, by Bougainville’s forces, but this was likewise -repulsed. - -Hearing the distant firing, Montcalm rode forward in hot haste to learn -what it meant. He still imagined it might be a ruse, and that the main -attack would be at Beauport, but one glance at the long and solid ranks -of the English made him realize the bitter truth—that Wolfe had -outwitted him, and that the English were now between him and his -supplies. He must either fight and win or surrender. - -The French commander knew that he must act quickly, for the English -might start to intrench themselves, or, worse yet, march on the city, at -any moment. Orders were rushed furiously in all directions, and the -troops came up pell-mell, some over the plains, some by the St. Charles -bridge, and some by way of the city’s gates, the regulars in white, the -French Colonials in their nondescript tatters, and the Indians in their -savage warpaint. Drums beat, trumpets blared defiance, and proud banners -waved through the rainy air. But the English ranks stood silent, the -grim look on the men’s faces telling how they were prepared to meet any -shock that might come. - -The battle was not long in starting. The French took possession of -several rises of ground and of some cornfields, and a scattering fire -began, gradually growing stronger and stronger. - -“Be calm, men!” cried Wolfe, riding up and down, in front and beyond his -men. A short while later a bullet struck him in the wrist, but he bound -the wound up with a handkerchief, and refused to quit the field. - -Henry and Silvers were firing with the rest. Soon the fight caused them -to drift apart. Henry was with some grenadiers, tall, strong-looking -soldiers, who fought with a rare courage that nothing could daunt. With -Henry were fifteen or twenty Royal Americans, who had been at first -guarding the boats at the landing, but who had now come up to do their -share of the fighting. - -There was a constant rattle of musketry, punctuated occasionally by -heavy artillery. Montcalm’s army was now at hand, and a fierce onslaught -ensued, the French general himself leading his men and urging them to do -their best. - -“Forward!” was the cry on the English side, and the soldiers advanced a -couple of hundred feet. Then the French rushed to the front, while the -English reloaded their pieces. A solid volley was delivered which -created terrific havoc in the ranks of the wearers of the white uniform, -who were seen to pitch in all directions, dead and dying. - -“The day is ours!” was the British cry. “At them! At them, Britons! At -them!” And another advance was made. - -Begrimed with dirt and smoke, and perspiring freely, Henry went on with -the rest. He had fired his musket several times, and now came the order -to fix bayonets. Bullets were whistling in all directions, and the young -soldier saw more than one companion go down, several to their death. He -himself was “scotched” in the arm, but did not notice the hurt until -long afterward. - -Slowly the French gave way, first in one direction and then another. -Then came the order to charge, and a mighty yell went up as the -grenadiers and others ran over the field on the very heels of the -retreating French. To one side was a field in which were stationed a -number of French sharpshooters. - -“They must be dislodged,” cried Wolfe, and led the charge. Back of him -came the Louisburg Grenadiers, those men who had made such a record for -themselves in other campaigns. With these grenadiers was Louis Silvers, -running with many others into the very jaws of death. - -Again the bullets whistled around them, and again General Wolfe was hit. -He was seen to stagger, but kept on, when a third bullet took him in the -breast. - -“The general is killed!” was the cry, and Silvers ran to support him. -But ere the brave sharpshooter who had been Henry’s companion through so -much of peril could gain the general’s side, a bullet hit him in the -side of the head, and he fell over on his face, dead. - -Several officers and solders had seen General Wolfe’s condition, and a -lieutenant and two privates ran to support him and carry him to the -rear. - -“Le—let me down, men,” he murmured. “Don’t take me from the field.” - -“General, you must have a surgeon,” said one. - -“There is no need; it is—is all over with me,” he gasped, and sank as in -a faint. - -“Run for a surgeon,” said another, and two privates sped away on the -errand. - -At that moment came another yell from the end of the field, some -distance away: - -“They run! They run! Hurrah! See them run!” - -Breathing heavily, Wolfe raised himself up. - -“Who—run?” he murmured. - -“The enemy, general; they are giving ground in every direction,” -answered the officer who knelt beside him. - -Instantly the face of General Wolfe took on a look of quiet -satisfaction. - -“Tell”—he murmured,—“tell Colonel Burton—march regiment—Webb’s—Charles -River—cut off retreat!” He breathed heavily, and then with a long sigh -continued: “Now, God be praised, I will die in peace!” - -And but a short time later he expired. - -The fall of Wolfe was disheartening to the English, but victory was -already in their grasp, and on the French side General Montcalm had also -been hit, as he was riding in the midst of the soldiers who were -retreating toward the city. A shot passed through his body and he was -supported through the St. Louis gate, now a place of intense excitement. -Those who were in the city became panic-stricken, and many sought to get -together their worldly possessions and fly for their lives. - -There was one body of the French soldiery that had not as yet been -defeated. These were the colonists, who had been held at and near the -city. They now went forward and took possession of a hill and a -cornfield, from which they were dislodged only after a heavy loss by the -English. - -In the meantime the French general further up the river did his best to -gather together his scattered guards and attack the British from the -rear. But by the time he came up General Wolfe’s army, now under the -command of Townshend, for Monckton had also fallen with Wolfe, was -safely intrenched. From Beauport also came the Governor-General, -Vaudreuil, amazed and bewildered, and able to do little but look on -helplessly. He was met by half of the demoralized French army, who -insisted upon it that all was lost. - -In the city the confusion was tinged with a sadness hardly to be -described. Montcalm, the well-beloved, was dying, and his second in -command, Brigadier Senezergues, was also mortally hurt. What was to be -done? Another day would find the English strongly intrenched, for in the -darkness they were already bringing up cannon and training them on the -city walls. - -“We must retreat—nothing more is left to us,” said more than one French -officer, and the word swept the rounds with incredible swiftness. -“Retreat! retreat, ere it is too late!” was the French cry, and away -fled regulars and colonists, in a mad rush that was little short of a -panic. The red men, who before the battle had boasted of what they would -do, disappeared as if the ground had opened and swallowed them up. - -That night the Marquis de Montcalm, as brave a soldier as ever lived, -breathed his last. There was no coffin at hand in which to bury him, and -his remains were placed in a rude pine box and deposited under the floor -of the Ursuline Convent. As one historian has fitly said, the funeral of -Montcalm was the funeral of New France. - -Wolfe and Montcalm! brave, generous soldiers both of them. Is it a -wonder that the people of Canada, French and English combined love their -memory, and that on what was the Plains of Abraham there stands to-day a -pyramid raised in their combined honor? - -Ramesey was in command of Quebec, but under the orders of the -Governor-General. From a safe distance Vaudreuil wrote to the commandant -telling him not to let the English carry the place by assault. - -“As soon as provisions fail, raise the white flag, and make the best -terms you can,” wrote the Governor-General, and Ramesey prepared to -obey. At one time he hesitated, hoping to be relieved by General Lévis, -who wanted the army to march back. But in a day or two matters grew -worse, and at last the white flag was raised, and Quebec capitulated. - -“The city is ours!” cried Henry. “What a victory!” - -It was indeed a victory, but one tinged with sadness, for General Wolfe -was loved by all. The remains of the officer were tenderly cared for, -and, later on, sent to England, where another monument to his memory was -erected in Westminster Abbey. - -It was a great shock to Henry to find that Silvers had been shot and -killed. The man was comparatively a new acquaintance, yet their mutual -experiences of the past few weeks had made them feel more like old -friends. Silvers was buried in a trench outside of Quebec, along with -many others who had fallen, and Henry was a sincere mourner at the brief -funeral. Later on, the young soldier carved out a rude slab with his -jackknife which he erected over the mound. Fortunately Louis Silvers was -a bachelor, so there remained no wife or children to mourn his loss. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XV - - NEWS FROM HOME - - -“LETTERS! letters! letters!” - -This was the cry which circulated around Fort Oswego one morning some -weeks after Dave had reached the stronghold, in company with Raymond, -Shamer, and the two hunters the party had met in the forest. - -Dave was slowly recovering from his hurt knee. The twist had proved more -severe than at first anticipated, and he had found it necessary to go to -the hospital more than once, to have it examined and dressed. - -A courier from Albany had come in, with saddle-bags filled with letters -of all kinds, written on the thinnest of paper, so that they should not -weigh too much, for postage went by weight and was very high. - -“A letter for me!” cried Dave, as it was handed to him. It was addressed -to Fort Niagara, but as some of the soldiers of that place were now -coming down to Oswego all the mail was sorted at this point before any -was forwarded further. - -The letter proved to be one written by Dave’s father, and filled four -closely written sheets. In it James Morris said that the summer had been -a fairly prosperous one at the homestead. The new cabin, built to take -the place of that burnt by the Indians, was now in a comfortable -condition, and both he and his brother had had a large crop of corn and -hay, while garden vegetables had never done better. Rodney, the cripple, -had gone out considerable during the warm days, and had on one occasion -shot a deer drinking at the brook below the cabin, and had also brought -in more than one acceptable string of fish. - - “Your Aunt Lucy is real well,” [the letter continued]. “She - awaited the coming of Nell with Sam Barringford with tremendous - anxiety, and when the two appeared on the trail, Sam on a horse - he had borrowed at Winchester and Nell on a pony, the good woman - almost fell dead with joy. We were all affected, and although - they came at ten in the morning, no more work was done that day, - excepting such as was necessary to make them comfortable. Sam - told his story in detail and then we listened to Nell, and I - must confess there was not a dry eye among us when she told of - the hardships among the redskins, and of how Jean Bevoir had - treated her. I sincerely hope that scoundrelly trader is sent to - prison for a long term of years, for he has earned it. - - “The news that Fort Niagara was taken was hailed with joy by all - of us, and we are proud of the part you and Henry played. Both - of you must be careful and not run into needless danger. Now if - Generals Wolfe and Amherst can only do as well this cruel war - will soon come to an end, and then I can go and re-establish the - post on the Kinotah, where, so I have been told by an old - frontiersman, the game is now more plentiful than ever, since - the Indians have left the hunting ground to go to war with the - French. - - “Sam wishes me to say that he is going to remain here and at - Winchester only about a week longer. Then he is going to rejoin - the army at Lake Ontario, to keep his eye on you and Henry. - Henry will be sent a letter by his father in this same mail.” - -Dave read the letter over three times before he allowed it to drop in -his lap. In his mind’s eye he could picture the new cabin, and the joy -of the inmates over the safe arrival of little Nell and honest Sam -Barringford. And then a spasm of pain shot across his heart as he -thought of Henry. - -“If he was killed what a shock it will prove!” he murmured with downcast -face. “Poor Henry! I’d give my right hand to know he was alive and -safe!” - -“Bad news?” came from Raymond, who came up at that moment. - -“No,” answered Dave, and went on: “It is a letter from home. They are -all well and send best wishes to me and to my cousin Henry. I was -thinking of how they will feel when they learn that—that——” - -“Don’t take it so hard, Dave,” said the backwoodsman sympathetically. -“He may have escaped, after all. Just as strange things have happened.” - -The young soldier shook his head doubtfully. “He had a hot fight—I don’t -see how he could escape if he was wounded. He is either dead or a -prisoner in some foul Canadian prison.” - -Dave had been told to come to the hospital that afternoon at four -o’clock and have his knee looked after again. He was on hand promptly, -and the surgeon gave it a careful examination. - -“It is doing nicely,” he said. “Be a bit careful of it for a week -longer, and it will be as well as ever.” And then he gave the young -soldier a box of salve to be used each night and morning. - -Dave was about to leave the hospital when his attention was attracted to -a number of patients who had just been brought down in boats from Fort -Niagara. One of the men lying on a cot looked familiar, and drawing -closer he recognized Jean Bevoir. - -The French trader looked pale and thin, for he had suffered not a -little. He looked at Dave curiously, and when the young soldier got the -chance he went up and spoke to the man. - -“I suppose you know me, Bevoir?” - -“Yees,” was the low reply. “You air Daf Morris, not so?” - -“Yes, I am Dave Morris, a cousin to little Nell Morris.” - -At these words the wounded man winced a little. Being a prisoner and in -the hospital had taken a good deal of his former bravado out of him. - -“You haf made von great mistake,” he whined. “I am not ze bad man you -think, no.” - -“I know all about that,” returned Dave coldly. - -“Must I stand ze trial when I am well?” - -“Certainly.” - -“It ees verra hard on a poor man, yes, verra hard.” - -“You brought it on yourself, Bevoir. You have caused our family a good -deal of trouble.” - -“You are ze son of James Morris, not so?” - -“I am—the same James Morris that you tried to rob of a trading-post on -the Kinotah,” answered the young soldier, bound that Jean Bevoir should -understand the situation fully. - -“Zat was ze bad bus’ness, yes. I think ze tradin’-post mine. I haf ze -papairs to show of it.” - -“The grant is my father’s, and always was,” retorted Dave. - -“Do not be too sure,” answered the trader craftily. “I can bring ze men -to swear it ees mine—two, t’ree men.” - -“Your title is no good.” - -“We vill see ’bout zat. If I bring ze men ze court will say it ees mine, -and why not? I haf been dare long before your fadder, yes.” - -There was a pause, for Dave did not know how to reply to this speech. -The French trader looked at the youth’s face searchingly. - -“You listen,” he whispered, so that those around might not hear. “I tell -you something, yes.” - -“What?” questioned Dave, wondering what was coming next. - -“If you send me to ze prison for two, t’ree year what goot haf dat been? -Nodding, no nodding to you! I go and I come out, and ze trading-post -still belongs to Jean Bevoir, not to your fadder.” - -“I don’t believe it.” - -“Still it ees so. But now listen—I haf ze gran’ plan—ze plan to do you -goot! Ze tradin’-post ees mine, but I gif it to you and your fadder, -yes, efery-t’ing, if——” And here the French trader paused. - -“If what?” questioned Dave, although he guessed what was coming. - -“If you say noddings ’bout me here—if you help me to get away,” answered -Jean Bevoir, in a still lower whisper. - -“Help you to get away?” cried Dave. - -“Sh-sh! Not so loud. Yes, help me. It vill be easy to do zat. An English -uniform, a dark night, and it ees done. You haf ze tradin’-post, and I -also gif you dis.” - -As Jean Bevoir spoke he drew from his bosom a small bag tied with a long -string. Opening the bag he produced half a dozen English and French -pieces of gold, worth probably a hundred dollars all told. - -“You will give me that money if I help you to get away?” said Dave -slowly. - -“Yees, efery piece of it. Now vat you say? Am I not ze goot-hearted -man?” - -“Good-hearted?” said Dave scornfully. “I think you are a first-class -villain, and if you weren’t in the hospital I’d do my best to knock you -down for your impudence.” Dave was speaking loudly. “You can keep your -dirty gold, and I shall do my best to put you in prison. And as for the -trading-post——” - -“Here, here, what is the trouble?” burst in the voice of a surgeon, as -he strode up. “We allow no quarreling in this ward.” - -“This rascal has been trying to bribe me into helping him to escape,” -answered Dave, his eyes flashing. “He wanted me to get him an English -uniform on the sly.” - -“What! Is this true?” ejaculated the surgeon. “If it is, he deserves a -flogging instead of medical care.” - -“No! no!” shrieked Jean Bevoir. “It ees all von gran’ mistake.” He -hurriedly stowed the gold in his bosom. “How can I escape ven I haf ze -shot in ze leg——” - -“It is getting better fast,” responded the surgeon. “I fancy we had -better keep an eye on you, and by the end of the week I’ll pass you over -to the prison guard for safe keeping.” - -“I hope you do, sir,” said Dave. “He is a great criminal as well as a -prisoner of war,” and he told a few of the particulars of Jean Bevoir’s -doings. - -“I am glad you did not let him tempt you,” said the surgeon. “He is -certainly a rascal of the first water. But I don’t want you to talk to -him any longer. A quarrel will only excite the other patients here,” and -he led the way from the building. As he was going out, Dave looked back -to see what Bevoir was doing. The French trader scowled at him and shook -his fist in rage. - -“He will hate me worse than ever for this,” reasoned the young soldier. -“But I am glad I showed him up to the surgeon. It would be a great pity -if he was allowed to slip away unnoticed.” - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XVI - - A FIRE AND AN ESCAPE - - -THE next day was an exceedingly hot one in and around Fort Oswego, and -Dave was content to remain in the shade of some trees and take it easy. - -Early in the morning a detachment of soldiers from Fort Niagara arrived, -having been sent down by General Gage, who had now superseded Sir -William Johnson in command. - -These soldiers were followed by others, who had scouted through the -woods lining the lake shore and who declared that all the French and -unfriendly Indians had left the locality. - -The soldiers brought with them two barge loads of powder which the -commandant at Oswego desired. The powder did not come in until almost -dark, but it was decided to place it in the powder house that night, -rather than leave it on the lake until morning. - -For the want of something better to do, Dave walked down to the powder -house and watched the soldiers bring in the kegs of powder, and also -several boxes of flints. It was rather hard work, in such warm weather, -and it caused more than one soldier to grumble. - -“I didn’t enlist for this,” grumbled one pioneer. “Between such work and -working on the fort at Niagara, I’ve toiled harder than when I built my -cabin on the Mohawk.” - -“Never mind,” said another, who was more cheerful. “Remember, it’s all -for the good of the cause.” - -“Yes, the good of England,” growled the first speaker. “After this war -between England and France is over, the Canadians will still be our -neighbors, and do you think they’ll like it because we walloped them? -Not to my style of thinking.” - -One of the kegs of powder had burst open, and this left a train of -grains running from the lake front almost to the powder-house door. Some -of the powder was spilt on a rough rock, but nobody noticed this, until -a soldier in passing scraped his foot on the rock, when there was a -flash which made him jump high in the air and drop the keg he was -carrying. - -“It’s powder!” he roared, and ran for his life. - -A dozen others saw the flash, including Dave, and many leaped back, -while half a dozen other spurts of flame went up from the long grass, -which was now on fire. The keg the soldier had dropped rolled into this -long grass, and might have exploded had not Dave rushed forward. - -“Hi! what are you up to?” roared one soldier. “Look out, or you will be -killed!” - -“I’ll risk it,” muttered the young soldier, and sprang beside the keg. -He gave it a vigorous kick, which sent it spinning away from the -dangerous spot. - -The train of fire had burnt backward as well as forward, and it reached -another patch of grass close to where two half-kegs of powder rested, -the last taken from one of the barges. Nobody cared to go near these, -and a minute later one exploded with a loud report, hurling stones, -dirt, and the other half-keg into the lake. - -The sound of the exploding powder caused an alarm in and around the -fort, and soldiers came hurrying from all directions. - -“The grass is on fire in a dozen places!” - -“It is creeping up to the powder house!” - -“If the house goes up we had best all take to the woods!” - -[Illustration: - - He gave it a vigorous kick, which sent it spinning away - from the dangerous spot.—_Page 146._ -] - -These and other cries rang out, and for the moment nobody knew what to -do. A few began to stamp on the grass and thereby burnt their shoes, but -the majority felt like retreating in short order. - -“Form a bucket brigade!” at last shouted an officer, and a rush was made -for the leathern buckets, while other, coming suddenly to their senses, -ran for picks and shovels, with which to dig away the burning grass. - -It was perilous work, for there was no telling how soon the flames might -leap to the powder house and blow everything for rods around sky-high. - -In the excitement Dave forgot all about his sore knee, and catching up a -bucket, he worked as manfully as anybody to bring water. Two lines were -formed, one passing up the water and the other returning the empty -buckets, and soon the work began to tell in spite of the dryness of the -grass, which seemed to burn like so much tinder. - -It was a good hour before the excitement came to an end, and to make -sure that there should be no more danger of fire, the grass all around -the powder house was dug up and cast to one side, and the ditch thus -formed was filled with water. Then the remaining grass was thoroughly -saturated; and the danger was over. - -“Rather a close call, Dave,” remarked Raymond, when the two were washing -up, later on. “I thought sure we’d all be blown to kingdom come.” - -“I thought that, too,” put in Shamer. “I felt more like running than -like trying to put out the fire.” - -“It was certainly exciting enough,” answered Dave. “I forgot all about -my knee,” and he rubbed that member tenderly, for it had now begun to -assert itself once more. - -“They tell me that two of the sick prisoners in the hospital are -missing,” came from a soldier standing near. “They took French leave -during the confusion.” - -“Two prisoners missing?” queried Dave with interest. “Do you know who -they were?” - -“I do not.” - -“I’m going to find out.” - -“Do you think one was that rascal of a Bevoir?” asked Raymond. - -“It would be just my luck if it was,” answered Dave, as he hurried away. - -At the hospital the guards could give no information, for they had been -ordered to keep silent. But a little later Dave found the surgeon who -had caught him talking to the French trader. - -“Yes, one of the missing ones is Jean Bevoir,” said the surgeon. “The -explosion of the powder, and the fire, upset both the nurses and the -guards, and in the excitement Bevoir got away, with another Frenchman -named Chalette.” - -“It’s too bad.” - -The surgeon gazed at Dave sharply. - -“You are quite sure you didn’t change your mind about helping that man?” -he demanded. - -“Me? Not much, sir. Why, I’ve been out fighting the fire.” - -“He kicked away one of the kegs of powder,” said a nurse, who had -chanced to see the brave act. “He couldn’t have been around here when -the men got away.” - -A detachment of soldiers was sent out to roam the woods and watch the -lake front, in an effort to locate Bevoir and his companion. But though -the search was kept up for four days, nothing was seen or heard of the -escaped prisoners. - -“This is certainly too bad,” said Raymond to Dave, when the search was -practically given up. “I suppose you reckoned on sending him to prison.” - -“Yes, and he deserved it.” - -“You want to be on your guard against such a man, Dave. He will not -forget you, remember that.” - -“I only wish I could meet him!” burst out Dave. - -“He will probably get over to Canada just as fast as he can. He knows he -won’t dare to show himself around any English camp, or at that -trading-post again.” - -Dave was still on the sick list, and to spend the time went fishing the -next day. He had just pulled in a fine perch when a well-known voice -reached his ears, causing him to leap up from the rock on which he was -fishing and drop his pole. - -“So here ye air, eh?” came to his ears. “Jest as nateral as ever, bless -my eyes if ye aint!” - -“Sam Barringford!” exclaimed Dave, and caught the old frontiersman by -both hands. “Oh, how glad I am to see you again! I’ve been looking for -you for several days.” - -“Have ye now? Waal, it’s good to be looked fer—better’n when folks hopes -ye will stay away.” Barringford winked one eye. “I had to stop at Albany -on business. How air ye, an’ where is Henry?” - -“Henry—oh, Sam, how can I tell you. He——” - -“Don’t say Henry is dead, lad—no, no, not that!” And all the color in -the honest hunter’s face seemed to die away. “He’s alive, o’ course he -is.” - -“I—I hope so. But I don’t know. We had a fearful fight with the Indians, -and Henry was captured by them, and by some Frenchmen, and taken away in -a boat.” And Dave told the whole story, just as it has been written in -these pages. - -Sam Barringford listened in utter silence, shaking his head from time to -time, to show that he understood. Henry was very dear to him, as old -readers of this series know, and the pair had been on many a hunting -expedition together. - -“I don’t think the Frenchmen would kill him,—not in cold blood and they -wearing the army uniform,” he said slowly. “But the redskins are the Old -Nick’s own, and if they got Henry to themselves——” - -“That is what I am thinking, Sam. Oh, it is awful.” - -“Ye got no news at all?” - -“Not a word.” - -“Have ye been back to the spot?” - -“I couldn’t go. My knee——” - -“Oh, yes, I forgot. How is the knee now?” - -“A good deal better.” - -“I’ll go up to thet spot to-morrow,” said Barringford with sudden -determination. - -“But they went off in a boat.” - -“Perhaps thet was a blind, lad.” - -Barringford had but little to tell outside of what Dave had already -learned through the medium of Mr. Morris’s letter. The journey to Wills’ -Creek with little Nell and the Rose twins had proved uneventful, but the -neighbors had flocked from far and near to see the restored children. - -“It would have done your heart good to have seen your aunt,” said the -old hunter. “She nearly went crazy, laughin’ one minit an’ cryin’ the -next, and little Nell and Rodney laughed and cried too. Your father and -Uncle Joe and me couldn’t stand it nohow, and we went down to the barn -and blubbered too. Never felt so queer in my hull life afore.” And -Barringford rubbed his coat sleeve over his eyes. The tears were in -Dave’s eyes too, and he was not ashamed of them either. - -“I know I ought to write home about Henry,” said the young soldier, when -he could trust himself to speak. “But, somehow, I can’t bring myself to -do it, although I’ve tried a dozen times. Every day I live in the hope -that the next day will bring good news.” - -“Wait until I’ve made thet trip I spoke about, Dave.” - -“Shall I go along?” - -“Best not, with that hurt knee. A hurt knee aint to be fooled with. Jack -Pepper twisted his knee onct, and walked lame the rest o’ his nateral -life.” - -“Oh, I hope I won’t have to do that!” cried Dave. “I’ll take the best -care I can of it.” And he did. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XVII - - THE HOLE IN THE ICE - - -SAM BARRINGFORD kept his word, by starting on his search early the next -morning. Dave begged to go along, but the old frontiersman shook his -head. - -“No, lad, I’d like your company, ye know that, but I can make time by -going it alone,” he said. - -The week to follow was an anxious one to the youth. Day after day he -looked for Barringford’s return. In the meantime, he nursed his twisted -knee faithfully, until that member seemed as strong and limber as ever. - -The young soldier was now back in the ranks, and it was whispered about -that he would soon be made an officer. But this honor he declined. - -“Give the older heads a chance,” he said. “I am content to do my duty as -a private,” and Raymond was elected in his stead. - -On the eighth day Sam Barringford came back, thoroughly tired out by a -tramp that had taken him over many miles of the territory covering the -lake front. - -“Didn’t see anybuddy but a couple o’ redskins,” he said. “They were old -men and could tell nuthin’.” - -“And you found no trace?” faltered Dave. - -“Nary a trace, lad. It’s too bad, but it can’t be helped.” And -Barringford’s voice almost broke in spite of his effort to control it. - -Drilling was now going on every morning and afternoon, for it was felt -that the Colonial militia must be brought up as far as possible to the -standard of the royal troops. In the militia men were constantly coming -and going, suiting their own convenience in spite of all the officers -could do to restrain them. - -“We’ll not be able to do much more this season,” remarked Barringford to -Dave, one day. “It won’t be long before winter is on us and then the -campaign will have to come to an end.” - -One day there came the glorious news of Wolfe’s victory on the Plains of -Abraham, followed almost immediately by the news that Quebec had been -taken. - -The soldiers went wild with excitement, and the officers did not attempt -to restrain them. In the evening bonfires were lit and the general -jollification lasted until the next morning. - -“That is the end of French rule in America,” said Raymond. “Now if -Amherst can only advance we’ll soon have the garlic-eaters on the run.” -But, as already mentioned in these pages, Amherst’s advance was so slow -that the storms of early winter drove his ships on Lake Champlain back -and he was compelled to go into quarters for the season at Crown Point, -leaving the British army at Quebec to take care of itself. - -“I must write home and tell of this victory,” said Dave. -“But—but—Henry——” - -“Better wait a bit longer, Dave,” said Barringford. “If the French are -licked we may learn somethin’ o’ their prisoners, an’ Henry may be among -’em.” - -Two days later came a pony express with letters for many of the -soldiers, some from home and some from others in the various armies of -the English. - -“A letter from Quebec!” murmured Dave, as he received the epistle. His -hand shook so that he could scarcely read the address. That handwriting -looked familiar. Oh, if only it was from Henry! He breathed a silent -prayer, and then broke the seal. - -“Who is it from?” questioned Barringford, who was standing near. - -“Oh, Sam, it’s from Henry! He is alive! Think of it!” The tears of joy -stood in the young soldier’s eyes. “He was with Wolfe—after escaping -from the French—he and Silvers. But Silvers, poor man, was shot dead in -the battle,” he went on, reading rapidly. - -“Is Henry all right?” - -“Yes, and he says he has learned that I am safe, too. A messenger from -Oswego brought the news some time ago.” - -“Lad, ye can thank God for His many marcies,” said Barringford -reverently. - -“Yes, Sam, and I do, from the bottom of my heart,” returned Dave. - -The letter was a long one, and the two walked to an out-of-the-way spot, -where Dave read it aloud, while the frontiersman listened with close -attention. Henry gave many of the particulars of his capture and escape, -and also mentioned that he was now doing guard duty in Quebec. He added -that he had sent home a letter, telling of his safety, and that for the -present he was going to remain where he was, and hoped that sooner or -later Dave and the command to which he was attached would join him. - -“This is the best news yet,” cried Dave, after the letter had been read -twice. “Sam, my heart is as light as air!” - -“So is mine, Dave. It’s a heavy weight removed, eh? I could ’most dance -a jig.” - -“What a big fight it must have been, and how sad to think that General -Wolfe had to die just as he accomplished what he had planned so many -months.” - -“’Twas better to die thus than to have the fate of General Montcalm,” -replied Barringford. “To die in victory is nothing to dying in defeat.” - -“I guess you must be right.” Dave paused for a moment. “Now Quebec is -taken, what do you think will be the next move for our army to make?” - -“That is hard to say, lad. Maybe the French will come back at Quebec -before long. But come, let us get back to the camp-fire. It is too cold -to stay here, even while discussin’ such good news.” - -Barringford was right about it being cold. It was the middle of -September and the air was nipping. A few days later came a cold rain -that seemed to penetrate to the very marrow of Dave’s bones, for the lad -from Virginia was not used to such a climate as that of upper New York -State. - -“Ugh, but it’s awful!” he said, as he came in from two hours of guard -duty, with his clothing soaked. “It’s enough to give one his death of -cold.” - -“Strip yourself, and rub down good,” said Barringford. “It certainly is -rough on a fellow o’ Southern blood.” - -“I hope the rain don’t last.” - -“This is what we call a pond-filler, Dave. As soon as all the ponds fill -up it will git colder, mark what I tell ye.” - -Barringford’s prediction was correct. The rain came down until all the -ponds and streams were overflowing and then the storm came to an end. A -week after this came a flurry of snow, followed by a high wind which -blew down several old trees in that vicinity. - -“Winter’s coming now,” said more than one, and the officers lost no time -in giving the soldiers directions for going into winter quarters. It was -felt by all that military operations must, for the time being, come to -an end. - -At first Dave had thought to return home for the winter. But Barringford -did not care to make another trip to Wills’ Creek and the young soldier -was not in the humor to go alone or in the company of strangers. - -“Might as well settle down right here,” said Barringford. “We can fix -ourselves a putty comfortable hut, and there will be sure to be plenty -o’ huntin’ and fishin’ for whomsoever wants it.” - -Many of the soldiers were quartered in the fort and in the trading-posts -scattered about, but there was not room for all, and the others had to -build themselves shelters of boards and canvas. Barringford, Raymond, -and Dave formed a party by themselves, and it was not long before the -trio completed a shelter of which they were justly proud. - -The hut was about twelve feet square, of rough logs and tree branches, -interlaced with willow withes. On one corner were several rocks and an -opening, where they could build a camp-fire, if they wished, and three -couches of cedar branches were also provided, filling the air of the -shelter with a sweet and wholesome smell. - -“Now we are about fixed fer the winter,” said Barringford. “When the -snow comes, we can bank some up against the sides, to keep out the wind, -and then we’ll be as snug as bugs under a hearthstone.” - -“I don’t believe provisions will be any too plentiful, with so many of -the soldiers coming in from Fort Niagara and other points,” said -Raymond. “But as we are all good shots, and know something about fishing -through holes in the ice, we ought not to go hungry.” - -It was not long after the shelter was completed that winter came upon -them in earnest. One evening a light snow began to fall and in the -morning it was snowing more heavily than ever. This kept up for two days -and nights, leaving the ground covered to the depth of a foot and a -half. - -“Now we can bank up the sides of the hut,” said Barringford, and this -was done without delay. They also went into the woods and helped to cut -large quantities of firewood, which was brought to the fort and the camp -on drags drawn by horses. - -The snow was followed by a spell of clear, cold weather, which to Dave -was far more acceptable than the rain had been. The streams in the -vicinity were now frozen up and also a good part of the lake front. - -“I’d like to try fishing through the ice,” said Dave, one morning when -there was nothing for him and Barringford to do. - -“Jest the thing, Dave,” replied the old frontiersman. “I’ve an idee -they’ll bite well to-day.” - -Preparations were soon made, and they passed along the Oswego River to -where there was something of a sheltered cove. Here the ice was not more -than six inches in thickness, and they made good-sized holes without -much trouble. - -Barringford knew exactly how to go about fixing their lines, and Dave -stood by while the frontiersman baited to his satisfaction. - -“You take the upper hole and I’ll take the lower,” said Barringford, -when the lines were ready. “We’ll see who can ketch the fust one.” - -David did as told, and having allowed his hook to go down almost to the -bottom, waited patiently for a bite. - -“Ye want to keep movin’ it around a bit!” shouted Barringford. “A fish -likes to snatch a bait on the fly. Ef ye——” - -The rest of the sentence was lost in a pull and a splash, followed by a -flopping on the ice. The fish tried its best to get back into the hole, -but Barringford was too quick for it and speedily strung it on the end -of a twig he had cut while coming over to the cove. - -From that time on fishing went forward with more or less success for two -hours, when each had a mess of about twenty, mostly of fair size. - -“Not bad by any means,” declared Barringford, as he surveyed the catch. -“But they’ll be fatter in a month or six weeks more, an’ sweeter, too.” - -“Whoop! I’ve got another!” cried Dave, a second later. There came a -savage tug on his line. “Must be a big one, Sam!” - -“Perhaps you had better play him a bit,” suggested the frontiersman, but -just then Dave brought the catch to light—an ugly water snake of a -darkish color and with cold, staring eyes. - -“My stars!” ejaculated Dave, and as the snake whipped toward him, he -stepped back. Then the snake, somewhat dazed at being brought to the -surface at this season of the year, made another turn, and struck at -Dave’s foot. The young soldier gave a jump, and, like a flash, slipped -into the hole in the ice. He tried to clutch the edge of the hole with -his hands, but it was too slippery, and before Barringford could grab -him, he had disappeared from view, and the water snake behind him. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII - - WINTER QUARTERS - - -FOR the instant after Dave disappeared under the water of the river he -gave himself up for lost. The fearful chill struck him to the very -heart, and he could think of nothing to do to save himself. - -As mentioned, the snake came down after him, dragging a good part of the -line, until the upper end was stopped by Barringford. Then, by a chance -turn, the reptile loosened itself and lost no time in sinking away to -parts unknown. - -Dave gave a gasp and the icy water filled his mouth and some entered his -lungs. Then his presence of mind returned and he floundered around, -trying to reach the surface once more. - -He came up, but not at the hole. Instead his head bumped with -considerable force against the under side of the icy covering of the -stream. - -“I am lost! I shall die for the want of a breath!” was the horrible -thought that crossed his mind. And then he prayed that his life might be -spared to him. - -It was by the merest chance that his hand came in contact with part of -the fishing line. The sharp hook pricked his thumb and he at once -recognized what it was. - -“The line,” he thought. “I must follow that back to the hole!” And as -well as he could he felt along the line foot by foot, swimming and -holding on at the same time. - -His senses were fast leaving him and he was still some distance from the -hole when he felt a jerk on the line. He gave a jerk in return and then -half a dozen in quick succession. Then, as in a dream, he wound the line -around his wrist. - -Dave could never tell, afterwards, what happened directly after this. He -felt himself drawn along, and felt the ice scratch his nose and his -chin. Then a hand grabbed him by the hair and by the arm, and he was -lifted up, dripping like a drowned rat, and too weak to open his eyes or -make a move. - -“Got him, thanks to Heaven!” burst from Sam Barringford’s lips. “An’ he -aint dead nuther! But I’ll have to hustle back to camp or he’ll be -frozen stiff!” - -Leaving the lines and the catches where they lay, he took Dave by the -heels and held him up head downward. A little water ran from the young -soldier’s mouth and he gave a gasp and a shiver. - -“Breathin’ yet,” muttered the old frontiersman. “Wot he wants now is a -hot blanket an’ a hot drink, and he shall have it too, in jig time.” - -With Dave slung over his shoulder, he set off on a run through the woods -for the fort, a distance of nearly half a mile. The way was rough and -the jouncing helped to keep up the youth’s feeble circulation. - -Soon Barringford came within sight of some of the soldiers. They wanted -to know what was wrong, but he would not stop. - -“Who has got the hottest fire here?” he demanded, as he rushed into the -camp, and being directed to the spot, he requested some soldiers to heat -up a pair of the thickest blankets to be found. He also asked for some -steaming coffee, knowing Dave would not touch liquor. - -A short time later found Dave stripped and between the hot blankets, and -with jugs of hot water placed at his feet and over his heart. He had -also been given some of the smoking coffee, and these various -applications soon put him into a perspiration. - -“Sam, you are very, very good,” he managed to whisper, for he was almost -too weak to speak. “If it hadn’t been for you I wouldn’t have come——” - -“Never mind now, Dave,” interrupted the backwoodsman. “Jest you keep -quiet an’ git back your strength. Yes, I know it was a close shave.” - -Barringford’s quick work saved Dave from serious sickness, and the young -soldier suffered nothing more than a slight cold and a few pains in the -knee that had been wrenched. The frontiersman went back the next day for -the lines and the fish that had been caught, and by Dave’s advice the -fish were distributed among those who had given their aid to him. - -After this the winter passed without special incident. During the heavy -snows the fort and the camp were cut off for several weeks at a time -from communication with other points. Time often hung heavily on the -soldiers’ hands and they did what they could to amuse themselves. One -favorite sport was to shoot at a target, and as the commander was -anxious to have all his soldiers good shots he allowed his men to use -more powder and bullets than would otherwise have been the case. - -Dave was interested in the shooting, and went into one of the contests, -the captain of the company having put up three prizes—a new pair of -boots, a silk neckerchief, and a jackknife. - -“I don’t suppose I’ll win a prize,” said the young soldier. “But I am -going to make all the points I can.” - -Each man was allowed three shots, and each shot could count on the -target from 1 to 5 points. On his first shot the young soldier made 4 -points. - -“Not bad, lad,” said Barringford. “Be a leetle more careful the next -time and you’ll make it a 5.” - -When Dave’s turn came again he did make it a 5. This was followed by -another 4—giving him a total of 13 points out of a possible 15 points. - -The best shots of the company took their turns last, among them Raymond -and Barringford. Each of these scored 15 points, and so did two other -old riflemen. Two scores of 14 were made, three of 13, including Dave’s, -and the others ranged from 12 down to 6. - -“Thirteen isn’t bad, Dave,” said Barringford encouragingly. “There are -twice as many that are worse than those that are better.” - -“Henry could do better,” answered Dave. “But then he’s a natural-born -marksman and I am not.” - -Much interest was displayed in the shooting-off of the tie between the -four who had made a full 15 points. The target was placed at twice the -distance it had before been and each man was allowed two shots. - -Raymond was the first to shoot and scored a 4. He was followed by a -sharpshooter named Russell, who also made a 4; and then came an old -hunter named Bauermann, who made a 3. - -“Now, Sam, you must make a bull’s-eye,” whispered Dave, and the old -frontiersman did so, hitting the target squarely in the center. - -It was now Raymond’s turn to try his second and last shot, and he took -it with great care, making a 5, giving him a total of 9. Then came -Russell with a 2, and Bauermann with a 4. - -“Now, Sam, another bull’s-eye,” cried Dave, who was more excited than -was the old frontiersman. - -“Not so easy,” answered Barringford, but there was a quiet smile on his -face. Up came his musket, and on the instant there was a crack, and his -second bullet landed directly on top of his first. - -“What’s the total score?” was the cry from a dozen throats. - -“Total score as follows,” sang out the man at the target. “Barringford -10, Raymond 9, Bauermann 7, and Russell 6. Barringford, Raymond, and -Bauermann take the first, second, and third prizes in the order named.” - -“Hurrah for Barringford!” cried Dave, and led in the cheering. Then -there was a call for a speech, and the old frontiersman was hauled -forward and made to mount a flat rock. - -“I don’t know what ye want me to say,” he remarked half sheepishly. -“I’ve done my best to win them boots, and I guess I won ’em. They’ll -keep my feet warm, while Raymond, he kin keep his neck warm with the -kerchief, an’ old man Bauermann kin sit by the fire and whittle sticks -to his heart’s content. I thank ye for your kindness, and I vote we all -thank the cap’n for the prizes an’ the good time——” - -“Whoop! Huzza!” cried the crowd. And then somebody added: “All in favor -of thankin’ the cap’n will please march up and present arms to him!” And -then the crowd caught up their guns and marched past the officer in a -long line, each presenting arms as he passed. And thus the shooting -match ended very pleasantly. - -During the winter Dave and Barringford, and occasionally Raymond, went -out in the forest to hunt. They brought in several small deer and two -bears, as well as a large quantity of rabbits and not a few wild birds. -Others went fishing through holes in the ice, but Dave declared that he -had had enough of such sport. - -Only once came a letter from home. This was around New Year’s, and -brought the information that all were doing well, excepting Rodney, who -was worse and who must now submit to another operation by the surgeon. -The folks had heard from Henry and were glad to learn that he had -escaped from the French. In the letter Mr. James Morris said he was -sorry to hear that Jean Bevoir had gotten away. - -“He will surely try to make more trouble for us,” he wrote. “You must -beware of him. He is worse than a snake in the grass.” - -But Dave was more disturbed about Rodney than he was just then about -Jean Bevoir. - -“It is too bad he must submit to another operation,” he told -Barringford. “I am afraid he will get so he can’t walk at all.” - -“It hurt him to travel when the old cabin was burnt down,” answered the -frontiersman. “He told me so privately, but he didn’t want to say -nuthin’ afore his folks, cause, ye see, it wouldn’t do no good. That was -a hard journey.” - -“I have always suspected as much,” answered Dave. “Rodney is a good deal -of a hero, and I know he won’t let folks know how much he suffers. And -it pains him, too, to think that he must sit still or at the most -shuffle around a little, while Henry and I can come and go as we please. -I can tell you what, Sam, a person’s health is a good deal to him.” - -“My lad, health is the greatest blessing ever God give to ye, an’ don’t -ye never forgit it, nuther. Wot’s riches, if ye can’t live to enj’y it? -Onct, when I was down in the mouth because I hadn’t so much as a -farthing in my pocket, I was in Annapolis. There I met a rich old -merchant in his lordly coach, with a driver and footman, an’ I don’t -know what all. Did he look happy? No, siree! He was bent almost double -with gout an’ rheumatism an’ other diseases an’ sufferin’ tortures -uncounted. Sez I to myself, sez I: ‘Sam Barringford, you’re a fool to be -down in the mouth! You’ve got your health an’ strength, an’ you’re -richer ten times over nor thet feller with all his hoard o’ gold. Go -back to the woods an’ scratch fer a livin’ an’ bless God you kin walk -an’ run, an’ jump, and eat an’ drink as ye please, an’ enj’y life.’ An’ -back to the woods I come, an’ been happy ever sence. Yes, Dave, health -is the greatest blessin’ a man ever had.” - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XIX - - LOST IN THE SNOW - - -ABOUT the middle of February news came to the camp that a French soldier -and two French traders had been captured at a post on Lake Ontario some -twenty miles to the northeast of Fort Oswego. There had been a sharp -fight between a detachment of Colonial militia and the French, who had -been in the act of removing some stores which they had left hidden in -the woods months before, and one of the enemy had been killed and two -militiamen badly wounded. - -“I wonder if one of the traders can be Jean Bevoir,” said Dave, when he -heard of the affair. - -“It is not impossible, Dave,” answered Barringford. “He was around these -ere diggin’s a long time, when he was holding little Nell a captive, and -he must have brung some things with him when he scooted away from your -father’s post on the Kinotah.” - -“I’m going to try to find out who they are,” went on the young soldier, -and lost no time in seeking the officer who had received the report. - -From this person Dave learned that the French soldier’s name was -Hildegard. The traders were sullen and refused to talk. - -“Will they be brought to this fort?” asked Dave. - -“Why are you so interested?” - -Upon this Dave told a part of his story. - -“Ah, yes, I remember now, Morris. No, I am sorry to say we have sent out -orders that they be taken down to Fort Stanwix. Some soldiers were bound -for that post, and we decided that the prisoners should accompany them. -You see, if we keep them here, and they escape, it is too easy a matter -for them to get to Canada.” - -“I would like to make sure that one is not Jean Bevoir,” went on Dave. - -“Well, you can take a run up there if you want to and see. They will not -start for Fort Stanwix until day after to-morrow.” - -“Then I will go by all means. Can I take Sam Barringford with me? He is -a member of our company, and an old friend of mine.” - -“Very well, you can take him. I will give you four days’ leave of -absence. Do you know the road?” - -“I know something of it. But Barringford is an old hunter and trapper, -so we won’t have much trouble keeping to the trail,” answered Dave. - -Barringford was glad enough to get away from the camp for a few days, -and the preparations for the journey were completed in short order. - -“Like as not we’ll scare up some game on the way,” he said. “So be -prepared.” And each took with him as much powder as could be spared and -also a new flint for his musket. - -It was a clear, cold day, and the sun made the ice and snow glitter like -diamonds. There was no wind, and in the forest all was as silent as a -tomb. They picked their way with care, Barringford taking the lead. - -“It’s as good as a holiday,” said Dave. “Now, if we only had skates we -could skate along the edge of the lake for quite a distance.” - -“Never mind, Dave; if we stick to land there won’t be no danger of ye -going into another hole in the ice.” - -Dave gave a shiver. - -“You’re right, Sam; once is enough.” - -For several miles the trail was a smooth one and easily followed. But -after that they had two gullies to cross, and some rough rocks, a task -by no means easy. In one of the gullies the snow lay to a depth of -twenty or thirty feet. - -“If we fell in there it would be no easy task getting out,” remarked -Dave. - -At noon they rested for an hour, building a camp-fire in a sheltered -spot. They carried some provisions, and on the way Barringford had -brought down a fat rabbit, which was speedily done to a turn, and as -quickly eaten up. - -“We have covered more than half the distance,” said the old -frontiersman. “But I don’t know if we’ll be able to cover the balance o’ -the way afore nightfall.” - -“Well, we can try,” answered Dave, and once more they set off, at a -brisk pace, for the nooning had rested them greatly. - -But now the trail was very rough, and more than once they had to -consider how to get around a certain spot. It took Dave’s wind to climb -up some of the slippery rocks; and once, when the pull was extra hard, -he called on Barringford to halt. - -“Got—got to—to get m-m—my wind!” he gasped. - -“We had better call it a day,” announced the old hunter. - -It was four o’clock, and already growing dark. A nook was found where -some bushes grew between the rocks. The bushes were cut down and piled -on top of the opening, and soon they had a fairly comfortable “corner,” -as Dave called it, with a roaring fire to cheer them as they rested. -More rabbits had been brought low, and Barringford fixed up supper in -his own particular style. If the cooking was not of the best, neither of -the travelers grumbled, for fresh air and hunger, real hunger, are the -best sauces in the world. - -In such a lonely spot it was not considered necessary to remain on -guard, and after fixing the fire so it would burn for a long while, they -turned in, and slept “like rocks” until daybreak. - -A loud whistle from Barringford made Dave leap from his couch of pine -boughs. The old frontiersman had breakfast ready, and this was quickly -eaten, and soon they were on the way once more. Dave was a bit stiff, -but did not complain. - -“We’ll make it by noon,” said Barringford, and it lacked a good hour of -that time when they came in sight of the post, flying its colors of the -King as bravely as did Fort Oswego. A guard stopped them, but matters -were quickly explained, and they were conducted to the captain in -charge. - -“I don’t know the prisoners,” said Captain Wilbur, “although I have -heard about Hildegard. You can look them over.” And he called an aid. - -The two traders were confined in a hut just outside of the camp. They -were chained to a stake, so escape was next to impossible. They scowled -darkly at Dave and Barringford. - -“A fool’s errand,” said Dave, after a glance at the men. Neither of the -prisoners was Jean Bevoir. - -“That’s true,” returned Barringford. “But it may be they can tell you -something about Bevoir, Dave.” - -“If they can speak English,” returned the young soldier. - -It was speedily learned that neither of the traders could speak English. -Then an interpreter was called in; but the Frenchmen refused to say -whether they knew Bevoir or not. - -“Never saw such stubborn men,” said the interpreter. “They won’t tell a -thing. We’ve tried to starve ’em into speaking; but it’s no use.” - -The commander of the post was glad to listen to what little news Dave -and Barringford had to tell, and treated them to the best dinner the -post afforded. - -It was ten o’clock of the following morning when Dave and the old hunter -started to return to Fort Oswego. The day was a gloomy one, with a -promise of more snow. - -“We don’t want to lose any time,” said Barringford. “If we do, we may -git snow-bound.” - -Some hunters from the post went with them a distance of a mile, but -after that the pair were allowed to shift for themselves. They took the -trail by which they had come, although they were told they could save a -mile or two by going a different way. - -“We know this one,” said Barringford. “And it aint no use to take risks, -‘specially ef it’s goin’ to snow.” - -It was not yet noon when the first flakes of the coming storm floated -lazily down upon them. The flakes were large, and soon they increased so -thickly that it was impossible to see a dozen yards in any direction. - -“I am afraid that is going to be serious, Dave.” - -“Big flakes can’t last very long, can they?” - -“No, big flakes can’t, but we’ll have more snow, even so.” - -Barringford was right, the large flakes presently gave way to smaller -ones, and then the snow became like salt, which the rising wind blew -directly into their faces. - -“It’s goin’ to be a hummer!” exclaimed Barringford, as the wind suddenly -rose with a shriek. “Reckon as how we wuz fools to leave the post.” - -“What shall we do, Sam? We can’t very well go back.” - -“True, lad, but——By gum!” - -A wild animal of some kind had leaped up almost in front of them. Around -came Barringford’s musket, and he blazed away, and then Dave did the -same. There were a roar and a snarl, and over in the snow tumbled a -small bear, clawing viciously at everything around it. - -[Illustration: - - “B’ar meat!” yelled Barringford.—_Page 180._ -] - -“B’ar meat!” yelled Barringford, and ran forward, drawing his hunting -knife. Watching his chance he drove the knife into the wounded beast’s -throat, and soon the game breathed its last. - -The wind was now blowing a regular gale, causing the tree boughs to snap -and crack in all directions. Try their best they could scarcely locate -themselves, for every part of the trail had been obliterated. - -“We are lost in the snow!” exclaimed Dave blankly. “And the storm is -growing worse every minute!” - -“We must make some sort o’ shelter, Dave,” returned the frontiersman. -And then he added: “It’s a rare good thing we shot the b’ar. It may save -our lives.” - -“You mean for food?” - -“Exactly. Come with me, and ketch holt.” - -Dragging the game between them, they pushed forward until they reached -the shelter of some rocks. Here were several clumps of bushes and some -tall timber, and they lost no time in starting up a fire, for the -temperature had fallen greatly, so that both were in danger of freezing -to death. With a hatchet they cut a quantity of firewood, and made a -lean-to against the tallest of the rocks. They worked hard, and this -helped to keep up the circulation of their blood. - -Hour after hour went by, and the storm showed no signs of abating. -Barringford skinned the bear, and the pelt was hung upon the boughs of -the lean-to to keep off a portion of the wind. In the hollow the snow -was damp and could be packed, and this they used to build a sort of -house, of snow, boughs, and bearskin combined. It was by no means a -comfortable dwelling but it was far better than nothing. The fire was -close by, and gave them not only warmth, but also a good deal of smoke, -when the wind chanced to veer around, as it often did. - -Slowly the balance of the day went by, and the night to follow was one -Dave remembered for many a year after. It was bitterly cold, and they -could do but little more than pile the wood on the fire, and crouch by -it, so closely that more than once their clothing was singed. They -cooked a huge chunk of the bear’s meat, and ate of it several times; and -added some of the fat to the fire, in the hope of gaining additional -heat. Once, a lean and hungry wolf came close, snarling viciously, and -looking wistfully at the meat, and Dave brought it down with a bullet -from his musket. - -But morning came at last, and with it the end of the storm. As the sun -arose it became slightly warmer, and by ten o’clock they were again on -the way, each carrying a load of bear meat, and Barringford the pelt -also. The walk was a tiresome one, and it was two days ere they came in -sight of Fort Oswego. - -“I am glad the trip is over,” muttered Dave. And Barringford echoed the -sentiment. Soon they were among their friends, where they related their -experiences, and then took a long and much-needed rest. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XX - - THE SITUATION AT QUEBEC - - -IMMEDIATELY after the fall of Quebec, the English resolved to hold the -city at any cost, and to that end every defense was strengthened without -loss of time. - -As Wolfe was dead and Monckton wounded and unable to act, the command -fell upon General Murray. Under his directions the soldiers leveled the -breastworks erected on the Plains of Abraham, so that they might give no -shelter to any advancing French army, and strengthened the defenses of -Quebec proper. The men also cut and brought in large quantities of -firewood, for use during the winter, which all felt would be long and -bitter, and likewise aided in storing the provisions sent ashore from -the fleet. - -The ships could not winter very well in the river, and it was not long -before they left, taking with them also a portion of the grenadiers and -rangers. At Quebec were left ten battalions of grenadiers, one company -of rangers, a strong force of the artillery, and likewise a sprinkling -of Colonial free lances and friendly Indians—the latter to be used -chiefly as scouts, spies, and messengers. - -The city had suffered much from the bombardment of the artillery. The -cathedral was honeycombed with cannon balls, and many public buildings -and private houses and shops had been completely wrecked. The people who -were left in the place were almost terror-stricken, and it was a long -time before quiet, and even a semblance of order, could be restored. - -For over a week Henry was kept at work on the outer defenses of the -city. It was hard labor, but he did not grumble, having already realized -that the path of the soldier is not one simply of glory. The death of -Silvers made him unusually sober, and in his heart he was sincerely -thankful that an all-powerful Providence had spared his life. - -The middle of the winter found Henry on guard at the lower end of the -city. Here were a number of stores which had been broken down by the -bombardment, and some of the owners were missing. A quantity of goods -had been stolen, and Henry and four other soldiers were set at the task -of guarding the property. - -On the second day that Henry was on guard he noticed something which did -not at all please him. Two of the soldiers, named Fenley and Prent, were -unusually friendly, and, when they supposed they were not being watched, -one or the other would slip into one of the stores. When the fellow -would reappear, he would have something concealed under his coat, and -this, later on, he would pass over to another soldier, named Harkness, -who had charge of a watch-house a square away. - -“I believe that those fellows are up to no good,” thought Henry, after -he had watched the movements of the three soldiers several times. “They -act like a regular pack of sneaks.” - -But Henry was too open-hearted and square to suspect the trio of -deliberate wrongdoing, until one day Prent accosted him and asked him -how he liked his pay as a soldier. - -“I think we get mighty little for what we do,” said Prent. “And Fenley -and Harkness think the same.” - -“It is certainty not much,” answered Henry, totally unsuspicious that he -was being “sounded.” - -“Wouldn’t you like to have the chance to make a bit more?” went on -Prent, in a lower voice, and with an anxious look around. - -“What do you mean, Prent?” - -“Oh, nothing much, only if you’d like to make some money on the outside, -perhaps I can place you in the way of it.” - -“I am out to make any money that I can make honestly,” answered the -young soldier. - -“Oh! Well, this isn’t—well, it isn’t just work, you know. But you can -make a neat sum if you want to stand in the game.” - -“I’ll stand in no game that isn’t strictly honest,” burst out Henry, and -now his suspicion was aroused. - -“Oh, all right!” - -“What have you in mind to do?” - -“Nothing—if that’s the way you feel about it,” retorted Prent, and -turning on his heel, he walked rapidly away. - -After that the other soldiers were more careful than ever of their -movements. But Henry could not get the talk out of his mind, and he at -last resolved to play the spy, and see what they were doing, or proposed -to do. - -One day Henry was on guard, from two in the afternoon until six. At that -hour Fenley came to relieve him, while Prent came to relieve another -soldier named Groom. Groom at once retired to his quarters, but Henry -merely walked around the corner, where he secreted his musket in an -out-of-the-way place, and then crawled back in the darkness, for the -winter day was now at an end. - -From the broken stonework of a house steps, Henry saw Prent walk up and -down his beat several times, meeting Fenley at one end. Then Prent gave -a low whistle, to which Fenley instantly responded. A moment later Prent -disappeared into one of the stores he had been set to guard. - -“He is up to no good, that is certain,” reasoned Henry. “I wish I could -see just what he is doing.” - -Watching his opportunity, he sped quickly across the street, which at -this point was not very wide. The store, or shop, stood on a corner, and -on the side was a broken window, partly boarded up. A board was loose at -its lower end, and, lifting it up, Henry crawled through the window. - -All was dark around him, and, standing on the floor, near some boxes, he -listened intently. He knew that Prent could not be far away. - -Presently he heard a foot bang against a box or barrel. “Hang the luck!” -came in Prent’s voice. “It’s as dark as the River Styx! I’ll have to -make a light, or I’ll break my neck.” The striking of a flint in a -tinder-box followed, and soon Henry saw the faint light of a tallow dip. - -Prent was moving toward a stairs leading into a cellar, and this brought -him to within a few feet of where Henry was crouching. But the young -soldier remained undiscovered, and in a moment more he heard the other -soldier shuffle carefully down the stairs and walk across the cellar -floor. - -Henry’s curiosity was now aroused to a high pitch, and he resolved to -see what was taking place in the cellar, no matter what the risk to be -run. He tiptoed his way to the stair, and went down step by step on his -tiptoes. - -The stairs creaked, but the sound was not heard by Prent, who was -rummaging around a score of small boxes, all of hard wood, bound with -iron. One of the boxes was open and showed that it was filled with -surgical and mathematical instruments. - -“Bah! I cannot do much with that truck!” Prent muttered, after looking -some of the articles over. “The other boxes probably contain things more -to my liking.” - -The fellow had brought a hatchet and chisel with him, and was soon at -work prying open another iron-bound box. Occasionally he paused to -listen, as if waiting for a signal from Fenley, but none came, and he -continued his work. - -When the second box came open, Henry could scarcely repress a cry of -amazement. The box was filled with silverware, for the shop was one -which had been used by a gold and silver smith. There were silver -drinking cups and decanters, and also half a dozen silver trays, and -frames for miniatures. - -“Ha! Now we have the right thing!” muttered Prent, gazing at the -collection with satisfaction. “If we can only get it away without being -discovered we will be rich.” - -“He has turned thief!” thought Henry. “What a rascal! And I thought he -was an honest soldier!” - -He watched Prent examine the various silver things, and place some in -his pockets and his breast. Then the fellow started to open up another -of the iron-bound boxes. - -Henry was in a quandary, not knowing what to do. He felt that it was his -duty to report Prent, and have the man arrested. But then he remembered -the order that had but recently been issued by General Murray—that any -man caught plundering in Quebec should be hanged. - -“I can’t see the fellow strung up,” thought the young soldier. “That -would be too horrible. Perhaps if I talk to him he’d get out and leave -the things alone.” - -At first Henry decided that he would talk to the would-be thief when he -left the building. But then he remembered that it would be best to have -Prent put the things back in the boxes and nail the latter up. A few -steps took him to the stairs, and once there he called softly: - -“Prent!” - -Had a gun gone off at his ear the evil-doer would not have been more -astonished. He dropped the silver mug he was examining and leaped back a -step. - -“Wh—who calls?” he gasped. - -“Prent, I have caught you fairly and squarely, and I want you to leave -those things alone.” - -“Ha, so it is you, Henry Morris!” burst from the other soldier’s lips. -And then he added quickly: “Are you alone?” - -“I am.” - -“What brought you here?” - -“I came to find out what your little game was. I reckon I know the -truth.” - -“You don’t know anything,” blustered Prent. The exposure had come so -unexpectedly he knew not what to say. - -“I know you are here for no good purpose. If it were otherwise you would -not come here like a thief in the night.” - -“Are you going to expose me?” - -“That depends on yourself. I have no desire to see you hanged.” - -At these words Prent gave a shiver, for he was at heart a coward. - -“I—I—you——” he stammered, and could not go on. - -“Listen to me, Prent, and you may save yourself a whole lot of trouble,” -went on Henry, as calmly as he could. “I hate to play the spy on a -fellow soldier, but I felt that it was necessary, after what you had -said to me. You wanted to draw me into this robbery. Now, as I said -before, I don’t want to see you hanged, or even sent to prison. But I am -not going to allow you to rob this place, either.” - -“I haven’t said I was going to rob it yet,” burst out Prent. “I—I -haven’t taken a thing.” - -“You have. Your pockets and your breast are full of silverware. Now I -want you——” - -At this moment came a loud whistle from outside, followed by the -pounding of a musket butt on an outer cellar door. - -“An alarm! Let me get out of here!” yelled Prent and made a leap for the -stairs, which were narrow and old. - -Before Henry could stand on guard he found himself in the other -soldier’s grasp. Then Prent gave him a shove which sent him over the -side of the steps head first. Henry tried to save himself, but went down -between two barrels with a crash. Before he could extricate himself from -the tight position his assailant had fled. Then the tallow dip -spluttered up and went out, and the young soldier was left in total -darkness. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XXI - - UNDER ARREST - - -FOR the moment after the tallow dip went out, Henry, half stunned by his -tumble, knew not what to do. - -“Hi, Prent!” he called out. “What do you mean by knocking me over and -leaving me?” - -No answer came back to his query, and a few seconds later he heard a -crash of woodwork, followed by several exclamations. - -“What’s the meaning of this?” he heard a rough voice demand. - -“A thief is here,” answered another voice, which, somehow, sounded -familiar. - -“A thief? Where?” - -“I believe he is in the cellar.” - -“After him, men. He must not escape. There has already been too much -looting here.” - -There was the tramping of half a dozen soldiers on the floor overhead, -and then the flash of a bull’s-eye lantern. As the light reached Henry -he staggered up the cedar stairs. - -“Ha! here he is!” - -“Up with your hands, you rascal, or we’ll fire on you!” - -“Don’t fire,” gasped the young soldier. “I—I am no thief.” - -“Then what are you doing here?” - -“I was after a thief. I followed——” - -Before Henry could finish he saw Prent push his way forward and catch -the English officer of the guard by the arm. - -“That’s the man!” he bawled. “That’s the rascal! Look out, I think he’s -a desperate fellow!” - -“Is this the man you saw sneaking around?” demanded the officer. - -“The same, sir.” - -“If that’s the case, we’ve caught you red-handed, fellow.” - -“Caught me?” faltered Henry. He was so amazed he could scarcely speak. - -“Does it not look like it?” - -“But I am no thief.” - -“Then why are you here?” - -“I came down after that man”—pointing to Prent. - -“Do hear that!” ejaculated the would-be thief in well-assumed surprise. -“After me—when I’ve been on guard outside this last hour, and can prove -it by the next guard.” - -“This soldier told us you were here,” said the officer of the guard. “He -wasn’t here himself.” - -“He was here!” cried Henry. “I saw him sneak in, and I came after him, -to see what he intended to do. Then he knocked me over and ran away.” - -“False! utterly false!” roared Prent. He strode forward. “Say that again -and I’ll knock you down in truth. I am an honest man.” - -“I’ve told the truth,” answered Henry doggedly. - -“But we found you here, while he was outside,” insisted the officer. - -“He ran away, as I said, after knocking me down. If you’ll search him -you’ll find his pockets full of stolen things.” - -“Search me, by all means,” cried Prent, who had thrown the stolen -articles into a corner when leaving the building. He pulled out several -of his pockets. “I haven’t a thing that is not my own.” - -“Men, make that fellow a prisoner,” cried the officer of the guard, -raising his finger and pointing to Henry. - -“But sir——” gasped the young soldier, with a sinking heart. - -“And now answer my questions. What is your name?” - -“Henry Morris, sir. But——” - -“To what command do you belong?” - -“To Captain Werrick’s detachment, Royal Americans. But, sir, if you’ll -only listen——” - -“Are you stationed anywhere?” - -“I have been on guard here for the last week.” - -“On guard here?” repeated the officer of the guard. He turned to Prent. -“And you are on guard here, too?” - -“Yes, lieutenant. He went off when I came on. But he did not go to -quarters, but hung around, and so I suspected him. In fact, he tried, I -think, to get me into some of his plans day before yesterday.” - -“How was that?” - -“He came to me and said he could show me a way to make money if I could -keep my tongue from wagging. He said——” - -“You miserable wretch!” interrupt Henry. “You know you are telling a -falsehood.” He turned to the officer of the guard. “As a matter of fact, -he came to me and wanted me to go into his dirty game——” - -“Stop!” interrupted the officer of the guard. “We will examine into the -details of this later. Men, make a search, and see if any other thieves -are about. But don’t let either of these men get away.” - -At once two of the soldiers stood guard over Henry and Prent, while the -others scattered through the cellar, which was long and narrow. They had -but two lanterns, both small, so the search was made under difficulties. - -As one of the guardsmen reached the back end of the cellar there was a -slight scraping sound, followed by the fall of a trap door. The men -started forward to investigate, but could see nobody. - -“What was that, Jameson?” - -“Flog me, if I know, Lowder. Somebody went through a door, I think.” - -“Exactly my notion. But where is the door?” - -It was not long before they found the door, a small, heavy oaken affair, -leading to a shaft-like opening, dark and dismal. A lantern was brought -forward and on the damp ground the footprints of a man could be seen -plainly. - -“Another thief, and he has escaped!” cried the officer of the guard. - -The officer sent three men into the passageway, the leader with one of -the lanterns. They were gone the best part of ten minutes, and when they -returned they reported that the passageway led to the cellar of a house -on the next street. - -“Was anybody in the house?” demanded the officer of the guard. - -“The place was deserted,” answered one of the soldiers. “A back window -was wide open and on the window sill was some mud, the same as that of -the passageway down here.” - -“Was anybody with you?” demanded the officer, turning to Henry. - -“No, sir. But there may have been somebody down here with Prent.” - -“At it again!” howled the soldier mentioned. “I was never down here -until now. I am an honest man.” - -“We will see about that later. At present I arrest you both and will -have you taken to the guard-house. We must find out something about the -rascal who escaped—if we can.” - -The officer of the guard was obdurate, and inside of half an hour Henry -found himself at the guard-house, which, in this case, was a small -private dwelling, from which the owner had fled when first Quebec was -bombarded. He was placed in one room, while Prent was placed in another. - -As luck would have it, Prent was well acquainted with one of the guards -at the house, and through this fellow he managed to send a message to -Fenley and Harkness, in which he asked to see one or the other. Fenley -came, and saw him for a few minutes on the sly, and a scheme was -concocted by which all promised to stand by Prent in the affair, -declaring Henry the sole guilty one. - -It is easy to imagine that Henry felt thoroughly miserable when he found -himself in solitary confinement in the temporary prison. - -“Instead of taking chances with Prent, I should have had him arrested on -the spot,” he thought dismally. “Now he has turned the tables on me, and -how I am to clear myself I do not know.” - -The search for the man who had escaped through the narrow passage was -continued for several days, but without success. In the meantime Henry -was held without examination. - -But at last he was told that he was appear before General Murray and a -board of officers, and the next day he was marched off to where the -general and his staff had their headquarters. - -He could not help feeling nervous, and when he saw the general and his -fellow officers, sitting at a long table, each in full uniform, his -peace of mind was not increased. - -“Henry Morris, you are charged with attempted robbery,” said one of the -officers. “General Murray wishes to hear what you have to say for -yourself. Tell your story in as few words possible.” - -As well as he was able, Henry told of his duty as a guard, told of what -Prent had said to him, and of how he had followed the soldier to the -cellar and tried to get him to come away without taking anything. Then -he spoke of the alarm, and of how Prent had knocked him from the stairs, -and of how the officer of the guard had come and placed him under -arrest. - -The officers listened in silence, each watching his face closely. All -were evidently impressed by his sincerity. - -“Do you not know it was your duty to report Prent when you saw him go -into the building?” questioned General Murray. - -“I wanted to make sure of what he was doing, sir. Besides, I didn’t want -to see him turn thief and be hanged for it.” - -Henry was then removed, and Prent was called in, followed by Fenley and -Harkness. All three of the conspirators told of how they had suspected -Henry for several nights and of how they had seen him on one occasion -carrying away something bulky under his coat. - -“Why did you not have him searched?” questioned General Murray. - -“We couldn’t make ourselves believe that such a young fellow could be a -thief,” answered Fenley glibly. - -“We can’t say that he was a thief, exactly,” put in Prent. “He may have -been only looking at the things.” Bad as the soldier was, he did not -wish to see Henry hanged. - -“But what of that bundle you saw him carry under his coat?” - -“That might have been something else,” said Fenley. - -“Do you want to shield him?” - -“Oh, no, general!” - -“Do you know anything about this other man who was in the cellar?” asked -another officer, after he whispered to General Murray. He addressed -Prent. - -“No, sir.” - -“Then you don’t know he was caught last night?” - -At this Prent’s knees began to knock together. - -“Wh—who is he?” he faltered. - -“Never mind just now. As he was in the cellar he, of course, heard all -that went on there.” - -Prent grew white and it was with difficulty that he kept his knees from -sinking beneath him. - -“I—I—he didn’t hear anything—that is, he doesn’t know anything about -me,” he said weakly. “He must be in league with Henry Morris.” - -“Perhaps,” said the officer dryly. “But I imagine not.” - -At this moment an aid came in hurriedly, and asked permission to deliver -a message. - -“What is it, Lieutenant Caswell?” questioned General Murray. - -“We have information that the French intend to attack the post at -Lorette this afternoon,” said the aid. - -“In that case, this hearing is postponed indefinitely,” said General -Murray. “Let the guards remove the prisoners.” - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XXII - - IN PRISON AND OUT - - -THE man who had been in the cellar and who had escaped, had not been -caught, as one of the officers of the court-martial had intimated. But -he had been heard from, and in the most unexpected manner. - -Late the evening before, an old Canadian, living in the most wretched -quarter of Quebec, had appeared at the headquarters of the officers with -a note, which he said had been given to him by a man, muffled up in a -military cloak, whom he had met outside of the city, while bringing in a -load of firewood. - -“The man gave me no time to speak with him,” said the Canadian, in -French. “He thrust this into my hand, made me promise to deliver it here -to-night, pressed this silver piece in my palm, and then rode off on -horseback at a wild gallop.” - -“Was he a French soldier?” - -“I believe, sir, he was,” answered the old Canadian. “But he was dirty -and unshaven and looked as if he had not eaten his fill for a week or -more.” - -The note thus strangely brought to light ran as follows, although -written in French: - - “TO GENERAL MURRAY: - - “I am a Frenchman leaving Quebec, an honest man, but your enemy - in war. I write this to save the young soldier who was caught in - the cellar of the goldsmith’s shop. He is innocent and the man - who knocked him down is guilty. I write this at my own peril, - because I cannot stand idly by and see the innocent suffer. - - “Yours in truth, - - “L. C. G.” - -The note was a mere scrawl, written on a bit of coarse paper and -unsealed. - -General Murray was much mystified by the communication, and spoke of it -to several of his brother officers. - -“I believe it is genuine,” said one. “The man was probably a French -spy.” - -“It is more likely a fraud,” said another. “A fraud gotten up by one of -Morris’s friends to clear him.” - -Here were the two sides of the matter, and General Murray did not know -which side to believe. The examination of Henry threw no new light on -the affair, and it was then that one of the officers suggested, in a -whisper, that Prent be made to believe that the stranger in the cellar -had been caught. The outcome of this the reader already knows. - -Henry had been removed before the stranger was mentioned, and he knew -nothing of how nearly Prent had come to breaking down and exposing -himself. - -From the sounds which reached him in his prison, Henry knew that -something unusual had occurred to break the quiet monotony of army life -in the captured city. Soldiers were hurrying in various directions, and -he heard some artillery being dragged down the street by six or eight -horses. Drums were rolling, and from a great distance he imagined he -heard the sound of firing through the clear, nipping air. - -Ever since the English had taken Quebec and signified their intention of -holding it, at any cost, there had been rumors that the enemy were -coming to the attack before the winter was over. The alarm came in -November, when the news went flying in all directions that General Lévis -was marching toward the city, at the head of fifteen thousand men. - -“He means to capture the city, and has sworn to dine here with his army -on Christmas day,” was the report. - -The guard was strengthened, and the watchfulness of the outposts -increased. But Lévis failed to appear, for the simple reason that he was -by no means ready to make an attack. Then the holidays came and went -quietly, and for a few weeks the alarm subsided. - -The main outposts at this time were at St. Foy, and at Old Lorette. At -each place a strong guard was placed, for the French were not far -distant, and bent on doing all the damage possible to the English. - -Old Lorette had now been attacked by a body of French regulars, who came -up when least expected, and drove off a large herd of cattle upon which -the British had levied. This made the rangers in that vicinity very -angry. A hasty plan against the French was arranged, and just as hastily -carried out, and the enemy fell back with one or two men wounded, -leaving the rangers to re-gather the cattle, that had in the meantime -strayed away in various directions. - -But it was not this firing that Henry heard. The French had come up -during a storm and taken possession of Point Levi, on the south shore of -the St. Lawrence. They dared the English to come out and meet them, and -a detachment under Major Dalling was sent over the river on the ice, -which was now thick enough to bear almost any weight. A sharp skirmish -followed, and the French were beaten back. A few days later there was -another encounter, in which General Murray himself took part, and also a -detachment of the Highlanders, and this time the enemy fled in terror, -leaving a handful of their men to be captured. - -During these exciting days nobody came near Henry but the prison guards, -and the majority of these soldiers were rough fellows who had neither -sympathy nor pity for the youthful prisoner. - -“It’s a bad hole ye have got yourself into,” said one. “An’ if ye are -hung ’twill but serve ye right.” - -“’Tis hung he should be,” said another. “A thief is no better than a -murderer.” This fellow had charge of the food served to Henry, and he -gave the youth stuff which was scarcely fit to eat. - -As the days went by Henry grew more miserable, and to tease him one of -the guards told another, in Henry’s hearing, that he had heard the -prisoner was soon to dance upon nothing, as a warning to other thieves. - -It was a cruel joke, and gotten off so seriously that Henry was much -inclined to believe the report. That night he could not sleep, and when -he arose in the morning his face wore a cold, calculating look that had -never been there before. - -“They shan’t hang me,” he thought bitterly. “I am innocent and I won’t -suffer—not if I can help it. What will mother and the others say, if -they hear I was hanged for a thief?” - -A day later it snowed heavily, and the guards around the house were more -out of humor than ever. They were not allowed to smoke, but did so on -the sly, and one man drank liberally of some rum which one of the detail -brought in from somewhere. - -Henry was watching his chance as a hawk watches young chickens, and late -that afternoon noticed that the guard seemed unusually drowsy. The man -sat on a bench in a front room of the improvised prison, and if he did -not sleep he was certainly far from being wide awake. - -There was a window in Henry’s room. It had been nailed up, but one -window pane was broken, letting in cold air that nearly froze him to -death during the night time. Outside several slats of wood had been -placed across the window, which happened to be without the heavy wooden -shutters so common at that period. - -Through the broken window pane Henry had worked at two of the slats and -now had them much loosened. As night came on he noticed that the guard -still dozed. The man’s cap had fallen on the floor, and his heavy coat -had slipped beside it. - -“If I could only get that cap and coat,” thought the young prisoner. The -door to the next room was unlocked,—indeed, it had never had a lock on -it,—and it was an easy matter to step up to the guard. In a moment more -Henry had the articles he desired. Then he turned back, for he knew that -another guard was in the street, near the door leading to the -thoroughfare. - -“Hullo! How cold it is!” Henry heard the guard mutter. He waited to hear -no more, but as the man stretched himself he ran to the window, smashed -out what remained of the glass, pushed aside the loosened bars, and -leaped out into the snow of the yard. - -There was now an alarm, and the youth knew that in another moment three -or four guards would be after him, each with a musket, ready to shoot -him on sight. He leaped for the shelter of a nearby woodshed, donned the -cap and military overcoat, and then continued to the back of the yard, -where he hopped over a fence, and darted into an alleyway leading to -another street. - -As Henry gained the alleyway the report of a musket rang out on the -early night air, and soon the commotion in and around the prison -increased. - -“What’s the rumpus?” demanded the officer of the guard, running up. - -“Morris has escaped!” - -“He attacked me like a savage beast,” said the guard, who had been -dozing. “He—he complained of being half frozen, and then he turned on me -like a fury.” - -“You’re a set of numskulls!” roared the officer of the guard, in great -wrath. “After him, and if you do not bring him back, dead or alive, -somebody shall pay dearly for this blundering.” - -One thing prison life had given Henry. That was plenty of rest, and now -as he ran through the alleyway and out on the next street he felt as if -he could cover ten or twenty miles without stopping. - -“They shan’t catch me,” he told himself. “I’ll show them what an -American can do when he is put to it.” - -On account of the darkness and the cold the street was almost deserted, -and the few people he met hardly noticed him; doubtless thinking he was -merely some soldier hurrying to his quarters after a chilling tour of -guard duty on the ramparts. - -During the time Henry had been free to come and go in Quebec he had -visited nearly every part of the city, which in those days was far from -large. Consequently, he knew where he was and how to turn to get to -where he wanted to go. - -“I’ll have to leave the city to-night, that is certain,” he told -himself. “In the morning there will be a warning sent out, and to pass -any of the guards will be impossible.” - -But how to get out was a serious problem until he caught sight of a -covered wagon drawn by a team of horses, moving slowly toward the gate -of St. John. This wagon contained supplies for the hospital, located to -the northward, on a bend of the St. Charles River. The supplies were -needed at once, hence they were being sent out at night instead of -waiting until morning. - -Climbing upon the wagon from behind, Henry secreted himself between -several boxes and bundles. Neither the driver of the wagon nor his -assistant noticed the movement, and in a moment more the wagon was at -the gate. - -“What wagon is that?” Henry heard a guard call out. - -“General Hospital Wagon No. 4,” was the answer from the driver. And he -showed a slip of paper. - -“Right; pass on,” answered the guard, and the gate was opened, the wagon -passed through, and then the gate was closed again. - -Hardly daring to breathe, the young soldier remained crouched between -boxes and bundles, as the wagon jounced over the rough road, deep with -snow in some places, and swept bare by the wind in others. Then, when he -calculated that half the distance to the hospital had been covered, and -they came to another road leading westward, he dropped off behind, and -the hospital wagon rolled out of sight without him. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XXIII - - FACE TO FACE WITH THE UNEXPECTED - - -SO far Henry had given but scant thought to where he was going. His -whole mind had been concentrated on getting away from Quebec, and from -those who wished to make him suffer for a crime which he had not -committed. - -But now, as he stood in the middle of the deserted roadway, with the -gloom of night on every side of him, and with a cutting wind blowing the -drifting snow into his face, he realized that he must find shelter, and -that quickly. He was not accustomed to such a severe winter, and the -cold seemed to pierce him like a knife. - -At a corner of the roadway stood a signboard, a rough affair, with an -arrow pointing to the northeast, and under this the name St. Foy. - -“That must lead to one of the outposts,” thought the young soldier. “I -can’t go there. I wonder if there isn’t some French farmhouse in this -vicinity where they will give me shelter for the night, and some food?” - -To keep warm he began to tramp along the road. He had gone but a short -distance when he came to a cross road. Here everything was covered with -snow, and half blinded by the whirlings of the wind he got onto the -cross road without knowing it. - -Two miles were covered, and poor Henry was almost exhausted. More than -once he thought to sit down and rest. But he realized that this would be -madness. “I’d never get up again,” he told himself. “It would be the -sleep of death!” - -At last, when he could scarcely drag one limb after the other, he espied -a light shining from the upper window of a small house some distance -away. He fairly staggered toward this, and, reaching the house, knocked -loudly on the door. - -After a moment of silence an upper window was opened, and an old woman -peered down from out of her night-cap. - -“Who is there, and what is desired?” she asked in French. - -“I am freezing!” said Henry in English. “Let me in.” - -The old women did not understand his words, but she seemed to understand -the situation, and soon hobbled downstairs and threw open the door. -Henry almost fell into the kitchen, and sank into a heap before the fire -which smoldered in the big chimney-place. - -“Poor fellow—and so young!” murmured the old French woman. “He is almost -frozen.” And she bustled about, stirred up the fire, and put on some -fresh sticks of wood, and then made him some hot tea to drink. - -It was a good half-hour before Henry felt anything like himself. He was -given some bread and butter, and some warmed-up meat and another cup of -tea. The old woman plied him with questions, and he had a hard task to -make her understand that he wished to remain at the house until -daylight. But when he pointed to the fire, and then at himself, and made -out as if he was sleeping and snoring, she smiled and nodded her head in -assent. - -It must be confessed that Henry slept but little that night, even though -his couch on a blanket before the smoldering fire was a fairly -comfortable one. His brain was racked with the question of what to do on -the morrow. Traveling during the daytime would be extremely hazardous, -so long as he remained in the English lines, and when he crossed into -the French lines the situation would be just as bad. - -“And it’s too cold to travel at night,” he thought dismally. - -The morning found the snow coming down at a furious rate, so that the -landscape was blotted out on every side. The roadway was drifted high -with snow, which lay against the kitchen door to a depth of three feet. - -“I reckon I am safe here for the present,” thought the young soldier. -“Nobody will think of visiting this house during such a snow-storm.” - -The old woman came down as soon as it was light. She found Henry fixing -the fire, and he had already set the pot of water for boiling. - -“You are snow-bound,” she said, but of course he did not understand her. -He gazed thoughtfully out of one of the windows, while she prepared a -simple morning meal from her scanty stock of provisions. He wished he -could pay her, but could only point to his empty pockets, at which she -smiled again, as if that did not matter. - -“A good, motherly sort,” he told himself. “Mother at home couldn’t treat -a French soldier any better than this woman is treating me.” - -The snow-storm kept up for several days, and after that there were -fierce high winds, which sent the snow flying and drifting in half a -dozen directions at once. - -During those days Henry and the old woman were left entirely alone. By -an effort on the part of both he learned that she was a widow with a son -somewhere in the French army, and that her name was Garrot. She deplored -the war, and wished only for peace, no matter which side won. - -“And at her age I cannot blame her,” thought Henry. “Probably she has -lost a great deal by the forages of both armies.” And his surmise was -correct. - -On the morning of the fourth day at the cottage, the young soldier heard -firing at a distance. The sounds seemed to come closer at noon, but -shortly after that died away utterly. - -“Some sort of a skirmish,” thought the youth. “Can it be that the French -have attacked Quebec?” - -On the day following, the sun came out, and the weather moderated -greatly. Henry now thought he must set off once more, fearing that some -French troopers might appear at any moment. As best he could he thanked -Madam Garrot for what she had done for him, and then trudged off. - -The young soldier had in mind to move up the river bank a distance of -several miles, and then cross the St. Lawrence on the ice. Once in -English territory, he would strike out southward, trusting to luck to -reach some settlement. He carried a small stock of provisions, and also -a pistol and some powder, which he had begged of the old woman, who -seemed, strangely enough, much interested in him. - -Henry found walking through the snow as difficult as ever. But after -trudging along for half a mile he reached a long stretch which the wind -had swept clear, and which he covered with ease. He kept his eyes and -ears on the alert, but neither French nor English soldiers appeared to -challenge his progress. - -That night found the young soldier a good many miles up the St. -Lawrence, at a place which had in years gone by been a combined French -and Indian settlement. Most of the buildings were burnt down, and the -place was entirely abandoned. In searching around he found one part of a -log cabin which could be used as a shelter, and into this he crawled, -and built a small fire in the half-tumbled-down chimney-place. - -“Not much of a tavern,” he thought grimly. “But I can be content if I -fare no worse during this journey.” - -His physical distress, even though great, was nothing compared to the -trouble he suffered in his mind. He was branded as a thief, and even if -he escaped to his home, how was he to clear his name, and how escape the -military judgment meted out to him for the crime? Even if he was allowed -to go free, folks would point the finger of scorn at him. And then his -mother—he hardly dared to think of her. - -“This news will almost kill her,” he said to himself. “She always -expected so much of me!” - -The next day he continued his journey up the river bank. He had now -crossed a road where the tracks of several sleighs could be plainly -seen, and was on his guard constantly. - -It was almost nightfall when Henry reached a large barn located in the -middle of a field which was deep with snow. A house had stood near by, -but this had been burnt down by the Indians at the outbreak of the war. -But some half-burnt sticks of timber were still visible, and some of -these he gathered, and built himself a fire at which to thaw out his -half-frozen limbs. - -The fugitive was utterly worn out, and, having consumed the last of his -scant stock of provisions, he wrapped himself up in some hay in the -barn, and soon fell asleep. - -How soundly he slept Henry did not know until nearly daylight, when the -kicking of a horse’s hoofs on the side of a stall below awoke him. He -listened intently, and heard several steeds moving about. - -“Some French troopers must be around,” he reasoned, and his heart almost -stopped beating at the thought. With extreme care he peered below. He -could see two forms stretched out in the semi-darkness. Listening, he -heard snoring from another quarter. Not less than six men were below -asleep. - -“Now I’m as good as caught,” he thought, but an instant after set his -teeth hard. No, he would not give in thus easily. He would fight first. - -“They must have come in too late to notice the fire I built,” he told -himself. “But they’ll see it when they awaken and start on a tour of -discovery. I must get away if I wish to save myself.” - -There was a small window at one end of the barn, and he found he could -drop out and into the snow with ease. But just as he was climbing out -another thought came to him—one that amazed even himself, at the risk -involved. Why not try to appropriate one of the French troopers’ horses, -and perhaps a saber and some food as well? - -The exposure had made Henry reckless and he did not stop to consider the -plan twice. Turning, he found the rude ladder leading to the lower floor -and went down to the bottom. - -There were exactly seven of the troopers, all burly fellows, and one an -under-officer, who was snoring lustily on the top of a feed box. - -Henry’s first move was to untie the horse nearest to the stable door. -The snow had drifted in beneath the door, and this helped to deaden the -sounds of the animal’s hoofs as it was led outside. Then the young -soldier returned and picked up the officer’s saber, and also a pistol -and a horn of powder and balls. A knapsack was handy, and into this he -stuffed a mass of provisions taken from three other knapsacks. The -provisions were only army rations, but they were vastly better than -nothing. - -As Henry slipped from the stable a second time one of the men stirred -uneasily and opened his eyes. - -“Who is there?” he asked sleepily, in French. - -Of course Henry did not answer. Instead, he swung himself into the -saddle, which had been left on the steed, and started away from the -stable on a gallop. Reaching the rude stone wall of the field, he made -the horse take it at a bound, and then continued on his way along the -river road. - -He had not yet reached some timber ahead of him, when a shot rang out, -followed by another, showing that he was discovered. The bullets, -however, flew wide of the mark, and soon he felt that he was practically -out of range, for the muskets and pistols of those days did not carry as -far, nor as accurately, as do those of modern construction. - -“They will be after me,” thought the young soldier, as he continued to -urge the horse onward, and at the same time fastened the knapsack to his -back and the saber to his waist. “Well, if they come, I reckon I can -fight for it,” he continued, and set his teeth together more firmly than -ever. - -The timber was gained a few minutes later. Just before passing out of -sight between the trees he looked back. Four troopers had left the barn -on their horses and were in hot pursuit. - -[Illustration: - - Four troopers were in hot pursuit.—_Page 222._ -] - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XXIV - - A GAME OF HIDE AND SEEK - - -FORTUNATELY for Henry, the road through the timber was on a slight -ridge, which the wind had swept almost free of snow. Here and there the -elements had torn down branches, and even trees themselves, but the -horse the young soldier rode appeared to know something of -steeplechasing and took every obstruction without difficulty. - -For a distance of half a mile the way was straight, and looking back he -saw the four troopers plainly. They were riding about as fast as -himself, but no faster. - -“They won’t catch me just yet,” he reasoned, as he sped onward. “And -perhaps I’ll soon come to some cross-roads, where I can give them the -slip.” - -Once came another shot but it did not reach the fugitive, and only made -him urge his steed along at a better speed. Then the road began to lead -downward from the ridge, and soon Henry found his horse plowing and -panting through snow a foot deep, and steadily growing deeper. - -Here was cause for fresh alarm, and now the youth’s heart beat -anxiously. A turn had hidden the troopers from view, but he could hear -them shouting to each other, for the horse of one had stumbled over a -log, and thrown his rider headlong into a snowbank. - -“They’ve got a chance to get up to me now,” thought Henry, as he gazed -at his almost exhausted animal. “Oh, if only we could get to some spot -where there wasn’t so much snow!” - -Another turn was ahead, and Henry made for this, hoping it would -disclose something to his advantage. It did, for here were three other -roads, running in as many different directions. - -“Too bad to give up the horse, but I guess it has got to be done,” he -thought. He turned the horse up one of the side roads and brought him to -a standstill under a low-hanging tree. Then he leaped into the branches -and gave the steed a smart slap with the flat side of the sabre. “Up -with you!” he cried. “Get along!” - -Stung by the blow and urged on by the words, the horse gave a leap -forward, and started off at a good pace that soon took him out of sight. -Then Henry climbed up into the tree and lay among the branches, hardly -daring to breathe. - -It was not long before the young soldier heard the French troopers at -the cross-roads. They came to a halt, examined the ground, and then put -on after the riderless horse, passing directly beneath the tree in which -the fugitive was hiding. - -“That was a lucky idea,” thought Henry, and as soon as the party had -passed he slid down out of the tree. He did not take to the road at -once, but made a détour through the brushwood, to a point on one of the -other roads a quarter of a mile away. Then he struck out bravely once -again in the direction of the river. - -Henry found trudging along with a knapsack on his back far from easy, -and at the end of an hour he was glad enough to seek the shelter of some -rocks and trees and rest. The sun was shining brightly, and at a long -distance he could make out the frozen surface of the St. Lawrence, -glistening in patches like a mirror. - -“I suppose I may as well make for the river and cross it here, instead -of farther up,” he mused. “I’ve got to get to some place before all my -supplies give out.” - -He took his time over the rations which the knapsack afforded, keeping -his eyes and ears open for the possible sound of pursuers. But nobody -came near him, and the country for miles around looked absolutely -deserted. - -The distance to the river was fully as far as it looked, and before half -the space was covered Henry was almost exhausted. He had found a -deserted farmhouse, and here he rested again, and then resolved to -remain at the farmhouse over night. - -“One day won’t make any difference,” he reasoned. - -The farmhouse had been looted of all of value, yet a rude table, two -benches, and a few old cooking utensils remained, and close at hand was -some firewood ready for use. Growing reckless again, the youth started -up a fire, and warmed up some of his rations, and also his -half-stiffened body. - -Slowly the day faded from sight and the stars began to glitter in the -sky. It was clear and quiet, and never had the young soldier felt so -lonely. His thoughts traveled to home and then to Dave. What would his -cousin think of him when he heard of what had happened? - -“I’m sure Dave won’t think I turned thief,” he reflected. “But that -won’t help me any. Oh, was ever a fellow in such a fix before!” - -It was nearly midnight when Henry heard a strange noise outside of the -old farmhouse. He leaped up from his position in front of the fire and -gazed out of a window. In the dim light he saw three men approaching on -horseback. - -“The troopers!” he told himself. He wanted to flee, but there was not -time. Gathering up his pistol and saber he fled up the narrow stairs -leading to the sloping room above. - -In a few minutes the door below was thrown open, and the three men -entered. They were talking earnestly, but the sight of the smoldering -fire cut short the conversation. Some excited questions followed, and -presently one of the men opened the door leading to the stairs. - -“Is anybody up there?” he demanded in French. - -Instead of replying, Henry tiptoed his way to a corner of the room. Here -was a sheltered nook, between the chimney and the sloping roof, and he -squeezed himself into this. - -“I say, is there anybody up there?” demanded the Frenchman once more. - -He waited a moment and then slammed the door shut. More talking -followed, but only an indistinct murmur reached Henry’s ears. The young -soldier scarcely dared to breathe, and he tried in vain to think of what -would be best to do next. - -“I reckon I’ll have to drop from the window, just as I was going to do -at the barn,” thought the youth, but before he could put the plan into -execution, the door below was thrown open once more and the Frenchman -reappeared, this time with a torch taken from the fire, which he and his -companions had started up again. - -“I’m in for it now,” Henry told himself, and he was right. In a moment -more the Frenchman discovered him and drew a pistol. - -“Who are you?” he demanded, in his native tongue. - -“Don’t fire,” answered Henry. - -“Ha, you are von Englishmans, hey?” cried the Frenchman, and now Henry -saw that he was dressed in civilian’s clothes. - -“Yes, I am an English soldier,” answered Henry recklessly. “What do you -want of me?” - -“You come de stairs down, an’ you make me no trouble,” was the reply. - -As there was no help for it, Henry descended to the ground floor of the -farmhouse. The talking had brought the others to their feet and each -Frenchman had a pistol drawn as he appeared. - -“Jean Bevoir!” gasped Henry, as his eyes rested on one of the newcomers. - -“Ha, you know me?” came in return. The trader gazed at Henry sharply, -and uttered an imprecation in French. “It ees zat Henry Morris!” - -“Henry Morris?” repeated the man who had remained below with Bevoir. - -“_Oui_, Chalette;” and then he continued in French: “Do you not remember -seeing him at Fort Niagara?” - -“Yes. But he is not the Morris who came to the hospital,” answered -Chalette, who was the prisoner who had escaped with Jean Bevoir, during -the powder-house excitement. - -“No, this is a cousin—the brother to that little Nell Morris.” - -“Ah, I see. Is he alone? If he is, we have made a fine haul,” was -Chalette’s comment. - -“He is the only person I saw,” said the third Frenchman, a hunter named -Gasse. “I will look again. You watch this fellow.” - -“To be sure we shall watch him,” cried Jean Bevoir, and at the point of -the pistol he disarmed Henry and made him stand up in a corner, facing -the wall. The young soldier wanted to fight for his liberty, but saw it -was useless, for Chalette also kept his pistol ready for use. - -It was not long before Gasse returned, saying that nobody else was -anywhere around. Then Henry’s hands were bound behind him and he was -tied fast to a bench, which was stood up on end for that purpose. - -“Now, my fine fellow, you vill tell me how it ees zat you came here,” -began Jean Bevoir. - -“I rode part of the distance and walked the rest,” answered Henry, as -lightly as he could. He felt it would do him no good to “show the white -feather.” - -“Where did you come from, tell me zat and tell ze truf.” - -“I came from Quebec, if you want to know so bad.” - -“Ha, Quebec! You march all ze way from Fort Niagara to Quebec?” - -“No, I came part of the way by boat.” - -“’Tis mooch ze same. Vat ees it zat you do here?” - -“That is my own affair.” - -“You play ze spy on ze French, not so?” - -“No, I am not a spy.” - -“But ze English air not here—za know enough to stay near to Quebec.” - -“If you must know, I am trying to get home,” answered Henry. - -“Geet home? You leaf ze army?” - -“Yes.” - -“For vat?” - -“I have my reasons.” - -“You geet afraid of ze French bullets, hey?” - -“Perhaps.” - -“Maybe you haf deserted ze army?” burst out Jean Bevoir, and gave the -young soldier a shrewd look from his wicked eyes. - -“If I have it is none of your affair, Jean Bevoir. Now let me ask a few -questions. How did you get here? Did General Johnson let you go?” - -“Yees,” answered Bevoir, without hesitation. “He examine me an’ say I am -free.” - -The falsehood was told so readily that Henry was staggered by it. - -“General Johnson made a mistake to let you free!” he cried. “If this war -ever comes to an end, you shall suffer for what you have done.” - -“Ha, you threaten me, you, von prisonair!” roared the French trader, -shaking his fist in Henry’s face. - -“You don’t deserve your freedom, and you know it.” - -Bevoir drew a long breath. “Ve vill not talk about zat,” he said. “I -shall tell ze French commander zat you are von spy—an’ Chalette an’ -Gasse shall tell ze same. You vill soon learn zat ze French know vat to -do to ze spy, ha! ha!” And he laughed wickedly. - -At these words Henry’s heart sank within him. He realized only too well -what Bevoir’s words meant. If taken into the French camp as a spy he -would most likely be shot. - -Truly in breaking out of the guard-house in Quebec and coming to this -place he had leaped “out of the frying-pan into the fire.” - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XXV - - TAKEN AS A SPY - - -THE Frenchmen now began an earnest conversation in their native tongue, -and they spoke so rapidly that Henry could understand little of what was -being said. But he knew that they were talking about him, and more than -once he heard his own name and that of Dave, and of his Uncle James -mentioned, and once he heard them mention the trading-post on the -Kinotah. - -“Jean Bevoir is going to square accounts if he possibly can,” thought -the young captive dismally. “He is going to make me suffer for all his -troubles. How General Johnson could let such a rascal go is more than I -can understand.” - -At length the Frenchmen turned to prepare themselves something to eat, -and one went out to care for the horses, which were stabled in a lean-to -of the farmhouse. Then Henry’s bonds were examined and an additional -strap passed over his lower limbs, after which the bench was let down, -that he might lie at full length. - -“Now, if you can sleep, you sleep,” said Bevoir roughly. “But do not try -to get away, or ze bullet from a pistol shall find you verra soon.” - -The Frenchmen laid down after this, and once again the farmhouse became -quiet. Henry tried several times to free himself, but found the task -impossible. At last worn out by the struggle, he too, passed into the -land of dreams. - -When the captive was released at daybreak he found himself so cramped -that he could scarcely stand. His hands were now untied that he might -eat the little breakfast allotted to him, and were then refastened in -front of him. - -Soon after this the farmhouse was left behind, and the whole party -started down the river road single file, Henry taking turns in riding -with each of the others. It was still cold and clear, and traveling was -by no means easy. Yet the horses were of large build and covered many -miles before being halted for midday lunch. - -It was nightfall when the camp of a French outpost was discovered, -quarter of a mile back from the St. Lawrence, and close to a settlement -named Girot, since entirely abandoned. Here some fur traders, well known -to Jean Bevoir, had erected something of a fort and stockade, and the -French soldiers had taken possession. - -The flare of several camp-fires lit up the outside of the fort, as the -prisoner and his captors rode through the stockade gate. Here were -assembled several companies of foot soldiers, and half a troop of French -cavalry, under the command of Captain Rachepin, a burly fellow, who had -won his position by daring work in the campaigns gone by. - -“An English prisoner, eh?” he said, as he gazed at Henry. “That makes -the third this week. Well, the more the merrier.” And without further -ado Henry was thrown into a low, dirty hut, that did duty as a prison. - -Two other prisoners were already in the hut, one an English grenadier, -and the other a ranger from New Hampshire. Both were half-starved, and -each had been captured while miles away looking for game for their own -camp larder. - -“Hit’s ’ard luck, my boy,” sighed the grenadier gloomily. “Hi didn’t -hexpect nothink like hit when I took the King’s shilling, Hi can tell ye -that.” - -“Never seed nothin’ like them pesky garlic-eaters,” said the ranger. -“Neow deown ter our camp we treated the prisoners fair an’ square, but -here—gee shoo! Why, the eatin’ aint fit for hogs, let alone human -critters!” - -“Perhaps they haven’t enough for themselves,” answered Henry. - -“They ’ave that,” put in the grenadier. “Hi ’ave seen hit with my hown -blessed heyes. But the bloomin’ tykes are selfish. They ’ave flip and -spruce beer galore, but hit is nothink but cold water fer us, with stale -bread an’ salt pork as is worse than stale!” And the grenadier heaved a -long sigh. “Hif ever Hi git ’ome again, strike me dead hif Hi leave a -second time!” - -“An’ thet aint the wust on it, not by er jugful,” continued the ranger, -who rejoiced in the name of Pity-All-Sinners Skinner, but was called Pit -for short. “When I got ketched I had a’most seven shillin’s in my -pocket, an’ neow I aint got a smell on’t, flay ’em!” - -“I don’t suppose you gave them the money,” remarked Henry. - -“Gave it to ’em? Not by er jugful! I’ll see ’em all drawn an’ quartered -fust! They took it—stole it plain and simple. But yeou jest wait! This -here war aint done yet—an’ Pit Skinner aint dead yet nuther!” concluded -the ranger, with a wrathful shake of his head. - -For several days nobody came near Henry outside of the guard who brought -in the miserable prison fare, already mentioned by the grenadier and the -New Hampshire ranger. It was certainly food scarcely fit to eat, and it -was a whole day before the young soldier could touch it. But a keen -appetite can overcome many objections, and at last he ate just enough to -satisfy the intense craving of his stomach. Even the drinking water was -poor, and, as Pity-All-Sinners Skinner said, hardly fit for washing. - -On the Monday following Henry’s arrival at the post a messenger came in -with some important dispatches. Following this there was a good deal of -bustle and excitement, and soon some guards appeared and told the -prisoners to get ready for a journey. - -“Where are we going now?” asked Henry, but the guard addressed either -could not, or would not, answer the question. - -Chained together, hand-to-hand, the three were made to march from the -fort. The foot soldiers of the French were already in the ranks and the -prisoners were placed in their midst. Then the little column moved off -by fours, up the St. Lawrence, in the direction of Montreal. - -“Something has happened, thet’s certain,” said Skinner. “Looks ter me -like a retreat.” - -The march of the soldiers with their prisoners was kept up for three -days, when the outskirts of Montreal were reached. Then came other -dispatches for the commander of the little column, and the prisoners -were sent into the city under a guard of six men, while the main body of -the soldiery moved eastward again. - -At the time of which I write, Montreal, now a large and flourishing -city, was but a small town, consisted principally of low one- and -two-storied houses, of logs and stone. There were several stores, or -rather trading shops and some little shipping during the summer time, -along the waterfront. The people, mostly Catholics, were very religious -and had three churches and also a seminary, which, on account of its -towers, could be seen from a great distance. - -The defenses of the town were not many and the place had suffered much -from having quartered the army of Montcalm on more than one occasion. -During those times the French soldiers had eaten very nearly all the -food in sight, leaving the town people to famish. Business and trading -were almost at a standstill, and at times even money could not procure -the necessities of life. - -On entering Montreal Henry saw but little of the place, for he was -hurried without ceremony to a stone building which the French had turned -into an army prison. In this building were huddled over a score of -prisoners of all descriptions—a motley, half-dressed and half-starved -crowd, some grenadiers, some rangers, and some civilians. Everybody in -the crowd was out of humor, and groans and curses were frequent. But the -prisoners did not dare to talk too loudly, for if they did, a guard -would appear and threaten them with solitary confinement in a stone cell -under one of the churches. - -“What an awful place to stay in,” was Henry’s mental comment. He found -himself pushed hither and thither, while the stench of the prison made -him literally sick. “This is Jean Bevoir’s work. He will make me suffer -as much as he possibly can.” - -After a good deal of pushing and shoving, Henry found himself in -something of an alcove, and here dropped on the bench which was built -around two sides of the room. Beside him sat an old soldier, who was -suffering from a heavy cold, and who coughed continually. - -“It is not fit for a dog here,” said the old soldier. “I have been here -two weeks, and I know. They mean to kill us all off.” - -“Two weeks—in this hole!” cried Henry. - -“Yes, and that is nothing. Some of the poor fellows have been here three -months.” - -“I couldn’t stand it—I’d—I’d die for the want of fresh air.” - -“And that is what they want you to do. When you die they won’t have to -feed you any more.” The cough of the old soldier grew steadily worse, -and, although, at the last moment a surgeon came and gave him a little -medicine, he died eight days later, and was carried away for burial in a -trench outside of the town. - -Henry had been separated from Pity-All-Sinners Skinner and from the -English grenadier, and so knew absolutely nobody in the prison. More -than this, no one seemed to care for him, and, if the truth must be -told, he likewise cared for nobody. Everybody felt miserable and it was -in very truth a struggle to keep body and soul together and to keep from -catching some fatal disease. - -The young soldier was in the prison over a month before Jean Bevoir came -to see him. The French trader could only speak to him through the rudely -slatted door and in the presence of the other captives. - -“I trust zat you like ze surroundings,” said Bevoir, with a sickly grin. -“It ees just suited to you, hey?” - -“You’re a miserable scoundrel, Bevoir!” burst out Henry. “What have you -told the commander about me?” - -“I haf tole him zat you are a spy an’ a verra deep one, too! Some day, -ven he has ze time, he vill bring you up before ze military court.” - -“And then?” questioned the young soldier. - -Jean Bevoir shrugged his lean shoulders. - -“Zen you can die ze death of ze spy, and it ees vat you an’ all your -familee deserve. Ees not zat von pleasant thought, hey?” - -And with a sinister leer the French trader moved away from the slatted -door and left the prison as rapidly as he had entered it. - -As for poor Henry, his feelings can be better imagined than described. -Walking to a corner of the cell he threw himself down on the bench, -almost overcome. The last door of hope seemed to be shut against him. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XXVI - - DAVE’S JOURNEY TO QUEBEC - - -IT was not long after he was lost in the snow, that Dave heard news from -Quebec that disheartened him greatly. This was that Henry had been -arrested for stealing and was likely to be hanged for the offense. - -The news came in through several messengers who arrived at Fort Ontario -on important business for General Murray. One of the messengers knew Sam -Barringford well, and it was this man who gave the news, first to the -old frontiersman and then to Dave. - -“Henry arrested for stealing!” exclaimed the young soldier. He could -scarcely believe that he heard aright. - -“Sorry for you, young man, but it’s the truth,” was the reply of the -messenger, and he gave what few particulars he knew. He had left Quebec -before Henry ran away, so knew nothing of this new turn of affairs. - -It was to Barringford that the messenger told how Henry was in danger of -hanging. “General Murray is bound that looting shall stop,” said he. “So -some time ago he had notices posted up giving warning that a thief -caught in the act would be hanged.” - -“I’ll wager my life on it, Henry aint no thief,” said Barringford -warmly. “Thet boy is as honest as the day is long.” - -“I know nothing of that. He is now in prison, or, for all I know, he may -be dead.” - -Barringford considered it his duty to tell Dave of the fate that -overhung his cousin, and the two talked the matter over for the best -part of a night. - -“If I could get to Quebec I’d go,” declared Dave. “Perhaps I could do -something—if—if——” He wanted to say if it was not too late but the words -stuck in his throat. - -“Say the word an’ I’ll go with ye, Dave,” responded Barringford. “Thar -don’t seem to be no ust o’ stayin’ here.” - -“Can we make it, Sam? Quebec is a long distance from here.” - -“I aint afraid to try it, Dave. I allow as we are goin’ to have a spell -o’ good weather.” - -“But the Indians?” - -“The Injuns don’t stir much in the winter. An’ if we have our muskets -an’ a pistol or two I reckon we kin hold our own ag’in ’em.” - -The upshot of this conversation was that both Dave and the old hunter -went to lay the case before their commander the next morning. The -general listened patiently to what they had to say. - -“To me such an undertaking is foolhardy at this season of the year,” -said the general. “But if you feel that you really want to go, you have -my permission, and I will give you each a paper to that effect. But if -you lose your lives in the attempt your friends must not blame me.” - -Dave and Barringford set off the very next day, in company with two of -the messengers, named Grassbrook and Heppy. Both of the messengers were -old hunters who knew the trails well, and it was said that Heppy had a -trace of Indian blood in him. - -The party was two days on its way when they came to the Indian village -of Kanankee, presided over by an old chief named Leaping Elk. The -Indians were friendly, and the travelers were glad enough to remain with -them over night. - -In the morning an agreeable surprise awaited Dave. During the night six -warriors of the Delawares had come in, under the command of White -Buffalo. - -“White Buffalo!” cried the young soldier. “Where did you come from?” - -“From the southward,” answered White Buffalo. “And where goes White -Buffalo’s young friend David?” - -“To Quebec—if we can get that far.” - -“It will take many days to make the journey.” - -“I suppose so—but that cannot be helped.” - -Dave then told the Indian chief why he was making the journey. White -Buffalo listened attentively and his eyes flashed fire when he heard -that Henry had been arrested as a thief. - -“The English chief at Quebec is a fool,” he said. “My white brother -Henry is no thief. I will tell the English chief that to his face. He is -a fool.” - -“I want to save Henry if I possibly can,” answered Dave. - -“What will David do?” - -“I don’t know yet. But I have some letters that tell of Henry’s bravery -in battle, and those may help him.” - -White Buffalo was silent after this and had but little to say while -supper was being prepared and eaten. But before he retired for the night -he came to Dave again. - -“Would my white brother like White Buffalo to go with him to Quebec?” he -asked. - -“Oh, White Buffalo, that is asking a good deal of you!” - -“Then White Buffalo may go?” - -“If you want to go, certainly. But—but—haven’t you anything else to do?” - -At this the Indian chief shook his head sadly. - -“No, White Buffalo has nothing much left. His tribe is split and broken. -Some have gone to the French, many are dead, or wounded, or sick. Six -warriors only remain, but they are of the best, and they have sworn by -the Great Spirit to stay with their chief to the finish. Let us go with -you, and if we meet unfriendly Indians, or the French, we will do what -we can to defend you.” - -“Now ye air talkin’ right from the heart!” cried Sam Barringford, as he -caught White Buffalo’s hand. “Come on by all means. Ye air the whitest -Injun I ever seed!” And his face glowed with satisfaction, which pleased -White Buffalo greatly. - -The journey was resumed as soon as the sun was fairly up. White Buffalo -now took the lead, in company with Heppy, and the others followed on -behind in close order. - -White Buffalo had been over this ground but a short time before, and -knew even a better trail than did the messengers from General Murray. He -also knew where the snow was lightest, and took them along a ridge where -the walking was by no means bad. - -For several days the journey proceeded without interruption. Not a sign -of Indians or French was seen, and the landscape at times looked utterly -deserted. Occasionally when they passed through a patch of woods, or -through the forest, they would stir up some wild animal, and they were -never without game for a meal all the time they were on the trip. - -Half the journey to Quebec was accomplished when there came a light fall -of snow, followed by a wind that for twenty-four hours constantly -increased in violence. For several hours they kept on in this wind, but -as last both the whites and the Indians called a halt. - -“White Buffalo knows of shelter close to this spot,” said the Indian -chief. “We had best go there, and wait until the mighty wind has -fallen.” - -All willingly followed White Buffalo to the shelter, which was the under -side of a hollowed-out cliff, fronted by some heavy brush and a row of -saplings. Here all set to work to clear out a space for themselves and -another for a camp-fire, for the wind made the air seem much colder. - -Several of the men were taking it easy on some boughs they had cut, -while the others were huddled around the camp-fire, warming up, and -preparing something to eat, when the wind arose with greater violence -than ever. It was a winter “fall,” as it is called in that territory and -it whistled and shrieked with a fury that caused more than one in the -party to spring to his feet in alarm. - -“By gum! This aint no June zephyr!” declared Barringford, as he gazed -from the shelter with an anxious look on his bronzed face. “It’s a -reg’lar fall, thet’s wot it is!” - -“High wind, truly,” put in White Buffalo. “Great Spirit knock down many -trees that are proud.” - -The Indian chief had scarcely spoken when there came another whirl, -which caused the camp-fire to fly in several directions. Then, before -anybody could run away, there followed a crash on top of the cliff and -then one in front of it. - -“The trees are coming down!” yelled Dave. - -“We must git out—we’ll be buried under the cliff!” came from -Barringford. - -As both spoke they tried to leave their dangerous quarters. But the -movement came too late. With a thud the tree that had stood above them -came down in front of the opening, and an instant later another tree -before the cliff landed on top of the first. - -A huge branch caught both Dave and Barringford and hurled them flat. -Then came another crash, and Dave found himself buried under small -stones and dirt, and for the moment he felt as if the end of the world -had come. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XXVII - - THE ATTACK OF THE FRENCH - - -“DAVE! are ye alive?” - -“I—I—reckon so, Sam—bu—but I am not sure!” - -“We must git out o’ here, or we’ll run the danger o’ being burnt up!” - -Barringford was right; already the scattered camp-fire, aided by the -high wind, was commencing to set fire to the tree limbs that rested -under the cliff. - -On Dave’s breast was a mass of small stones, dirt, and snow, and it was -with difficulty that he managed to sit up. Then he discovered that one -leg was held down tightly by a branch of one of the fallen trees. - -“I’m in a regular bear trap,” he panted. - -“Both legs, lad?” - -“No, only the left.” - -“I’ll free ye,” answered the old frontiersman, and set to work -immediately. - -He was still laboring when White Buffalo crawled over the fallen trees -toward them. Close at hand the flames were springing up, but the Indian -stamped them out. Then he chopped away at the limb, and soon Dave was -released. - -“Are the others safe?” asked the young soldier. “I had an idea we would -all be killed.” - -All were out of the wreckage but one Indian and Heppy the messenger. -These two had been lying under a large rock, which had loosened, and it -was at first supposed that both were dead, but then came a faint cry for -help. - -“They are in a hollow tree under the rock,” said Grassbrook. - -Such proved to be the case, and then arose the question of how the -unhappy pair might be released. - -“We must put out all the fire first,” said Barringford, and this was -done, the flames being fought with flat sticks and with chunks of snow -and dirt. - -As soon as the last of the fires were extinguished, the large rock -resting over the hollow was examined. There was an opening to the space -below, so the prisoners beneath did not suffer from the want of air. - -“We are both all right,” announced Heppy. “But we want to get out.” - -“We must pry the rock off the hollow,” said Barringford. - -Two long and heavy poles were cut for that purpose, and despite the wind -and the cold, the whole party set to work to move the big rock from its -resting place. The poles were placed under other rocks, acting as -fulcrums, and all of those who could “get in line” were pressed into -service. - -“Hurrah! it is moving!” cried Dave. - -He was right, and after straining for a minute more the huge rock rolled -over and went crashing into another hollow below. - -When Heppy and the Indian came out of the hole it was found they were -somewhat bruised, but otherwise all right. - -The wind still blew strongly, but the fury of the blast had spent -itself, and they easily made themselves safe under the fallen trees, -after looking to it that the giants of the forest were in no danger of -rolling over and crushing them. - -The next day found them again on the journey. They now skirted a valley -where, in a sheltered spot, they saw a herd of deer. Two of the animals -were laid low by Barringford and White Buffalo, and these gave them meat -until the trip came to an end. - -It was nearly the last of March when the party came in sight of the St. -Lawrence, almost opposite to Quebec. An English outpost was not far -distant, and they marched to this, where they were promptly challenged -by a sentry, and escorted under guard to the officer in command. - -“You have come a long distance, truly,” said the officer, after -examining the passes they carried. “It is more of a journey than I -should wish to take in such weather as this.” - -“May I ask if you have had any battles with the French since Quebec was -taken?” asked Dave. - -“Not of much account. They tried to rout us out once or twice, but we -beat them off easily. There is, however, a rumor that they intend to -descend upon us in force early this spring, so if you remain here a -while you may see more fighting.” - -The ice on the river was now breaking up, and Dave and the others, after -bidding a temporary farewell to White Buffalo and his followers, crossed -the stream in a bateau which the English officer loaned them. They were -soon on the opposite shore, and half an hour later found them in Quebec, -and on the way to General Murray’s local headquarters. - -Dave and Barringford had a good hour to wait before they could see the -English commander, for General Murray had just received additional news -concerning the expected attack by the French. - -“Who are you and what do you wish?” demanded the general, tersely, as -they came in. - -Dave speedily introduced himself and Barringford, and handed the -commander the letter he had brought from Fort Oswego, which Murray -glanced over hastily. - -“You are a cousin to Henry Morris, eh?” he said slowly. - -“Yes, sir. May I ask have you—is he—he—still in prison?” - -“Why shouldn’t he be in prison?” questioned the general keenly. - -“I thought perhaps that you—you had punished him. They told me, sir, -that you had issued an order——” Dave tried to go on, but could not. “Oh, -sir,” he burst out, “he is not guilty! I am sure he is no thief!” - -“Were you afraid I had put that order of mine into execution against -him?” questioned General Murray, and now his tone was kindlier. - -“I was, sir! That is why I came here—to save him if I can! He is such a -good fellow—he wouldn’t steal from anybody.” - -“That’s the truth, general,” put in Barringford. “I’ve known him from a -babby, an’ he’s as honest as they grow ’em. Thar must be some mistake -somewhar. Can’t Henry explain himself?” - -“He has not tried,” answered General Murray dryly. - -“Hasn’t tried?” ejaculated Dave. “Why, what——” - -“He escaped from prison and left Quebec some time ago.” - -“Is it possible!” came from Dave, his face full of conflicting emotions. - -“Do you mean to say the boy up an’ run away?” came from Barringford. - -“Yes.” - -Both Dave and the old frontiersman shook their heads at this. The news -was so unexpected it stunned them. - -“I am half inclined to believe that he was not guilty,” went on General -Murray. “I have learned that one of the fellows mixed up in the affair, -a soldier named Prent, has a bad reputation, and one of Prent’s friends, -Harkness, is a man who once served time in a Scotch prison. More than -this, I received a letter from some party unknown, which would tend to -prove that Henry Morris was the victim of circumstances or a plot.” And -here the general drew out the letter already given in full in a former -chapter. - -“And nothing has been seen or heard of Henry since he ran away from -here?” asked Dave. - -“Nothing. How he got out of Quebec is unknown, and it is barely possible -that he may be in hiding here, although I do not think so. He was -foolish to run away.” - -“But wouldn’t you run away if you were afraid of being hanged?” asked -Dave quickly. - -At this a faint smile crossed General Murray’s face. He was still a -young man, and he could understand Dave’s feelings fully. - -“It would be better to stay and face a trial—especially if innocent,” he -said evasively; and after a few words more they were excused. - -“I don’t know whether to be glad or sorry,” remarked Dave, as he and -Barringford walked down the street. “What do you say, Sam?” - -“I’d rather see Henry run than be hanged,” was the answer. “But it gits -me whar he went, especially in the freezin’ cold weather. I hope he -didn’t git lost in the snow and froze to death.” - -Both Dave and Barringford soon found that Quebec was in a state of -suppressed excitement. Alarms had been frequent, and now General Murray -felt certain that an attack by the French would not be long delayed. - -In this the young commander was correct. The French leader, Lévis, angry -to think that Vaudreuil, the Governor-General, would not march on the -city immediately after the English took possession, chafed all winter -with his troops to do the enemy battle. - -But the Governor-General was cautious. He knew that General Amherst, at -Crown Point, only wanted a chance to fall upon Montreal, and so it was -at Montreal that the French army gathered, and here the majority of them -remained until early in April. - -Presently came in reports that the English had lost many men by -desertion and through sickness, and that Amherst at Crown Point could -not yet think of moving, and Vaudreuil at length consented to listen to -Lévis. - -“We shall never have a better opportunity than now,” said General Lévis. -“Murray is at present cut off from all outside supplies. If we wait -until summer comes he will obtain re-enforcements from England, Boston, -or New York, and then we will have a task that may be beyond us.” - -Lévis had his way, and at once the sleepy town of Montreal awoke to -life. The colonists who had been allowed to go home on furlough were -recalled, drills were had daily, and large quantities of army stores -were collected. Some troops demurred at what was required of them, but -Vaudreuil was firm, and told them that they must either fight or suffer -death. - -It was decided to descend upon Quebec by way of the river, and for this -purpose two frigates, two sloops-of-war, and a perfect swarm of bateaux -and other small craft were pressed into service. The army numbered about -six thousand men, and was, further down the St. Lawrence, increased to -over eight thousand. - -Some distance above Quebec is the small stream of Cap-Rouge, which flows -into the St. Lawrence, and just beyond this is the settlement of St. -Augustin. Amid much difficulty, for the river was still full of floating -ice, the army, half perished with the cold, landed at St. Augustin, -built a temporary bridge over the Cap-Rouge, and marched forward on the -English outpost at Old Lorette. - -It is likely that the outpost was taken somewhat by surprise, and after -a lively skirmish the English garrison fell back to St. Foy, where -active preparations were made to combat the French as soon as they -should appear. - -Had nature permitted it, it is possible that St. Foy would have fallen -as quickly as did Old Lorette, for the marching enemy was strong in -numbers. But as General Lévis advanced, through a long stretch of -dangerous marshland, a heavy thunderstorm came on, and the rain -descended in torrents. To this difficulty was added the darkness at -night, and foot soldiers and troopers floundered about, scarcely knowing -where they were going. - -The delay had aided the English, and when, the next morning, the French -appeared in front of St. Foy, they found the village fortified with -cannon. There was an assault, and the French were driven back, and then -Lévis, not knowing how few English soldiers were really intrenched -before him, determined to wait until night before meeting the English -again. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XXVIII - - IN THE RANKS ONCE MORE - - -DAVE and Barringford had found quarters with some rangers down near the -river front, and here the two remained day after day, each wondering -what they had best do next. - -“I don’t feel much like returning to Oswego,” said the young soldier. “I -want to hear something from Henry before I do that.” - -“That’s jest my way o’ looking at it, Dave,” answered the old -frontiersman. “But it don’t seem like we was to hear a word, does it?” - -“I can’t imagine where Henry went to, Sam. If he left Quebec he would be -almost certain to fall into the hands of the French or their murderous -Indian allies.” - -Several of the rangers had work to do along the river front, and this -lasted until late one Saturday night. Dave and Barringford had been -helping the men at their task, but when it was finished the young -soldier did not feel in the humor to retire, and he and Barringford sat -in a little watch-house, the frontiersman smoking and both talking over -the past, until it was well after midnight. - -Down the dark stream floated huge cakes of ice and masses of driftwood, -for the day had been rather warm and had freed much that had before been -ice-bound. As the two gazed out at this they were suddenly aroused by a -faint cry for help. - -“What’s that?” asked Dave. - -“Somebuddy callin’,” answered Barringford, peering forth on the river. - -The cry was repeated, in a French voice, and then, at a great distance -from shore, they made out the form of a man stretched flat on a big mass -of drifting ice. - -“Some soldier!” ejaculated Dave. “More than likely he is half dead from -the cold.” - -“If we had a boat we might save him,” said Barringford. - -Both rushed around to see if a boat was handy, and their actions aroused -a number of others near the watch-house. - -In the meantime the mass of ice had drifted further down the St. -Lawrence, to where the frigate _Racehorse_ lay in her dock. The watch on -the deck of the frigate also heard the sufferer and saw him put up an -arm pleadingly. - -“A castaway, sir,” said the sailor, running to Captain Macartney. - -“Where?” demanded the master of the _Racehorse_. - -“On a cake of ice, sir. He is about frozen.” - -Captain Macartney wasted no time in ordering a small boat to the rescue, -and, running along the shore, Dave and Barringford saw the man brought -in and taken aboard of the frigate. - -The man who was rescued proved to be a French cannoneer. At first he -could not speak, but after being warmed up he let out the information -that, while trying to land at Cap-Rouge with a number of others, the -boat had been upset. He was closely questioned, and the news was -obtained that General Lévis was marching upon Quebec with all possible -speed, with a view to catching Murray unawares. - -“Our commander must know of this at once,” said the master of the -_Racehorse_, and he had some of his sailors carry the rescued Frenchman -on a litter to General Murray’s headquarters at three o’clock Sunday -morning. - -Soon the drums and bugles were sounding, and Dave and Barringford, who -had retired to sleep after seeing the Frenchman rescued, leaped up with -the other soldiers. “The French are marching on Quebec!” was the cry. -“They have already attacked the outposts at Lorette!” - -By daybreak Murray was on the move, with about a thousand men and -several pieces of cannon. Most of the field-pieces had to be pulled by -the soldiers themselves, and when Dave and Barringford asked for -permission to join the outgoing army, a captain of artillery immediately -pressed them into service. - -“Ye can’t go as soldiers,” he said, with a grin. “But come on as horses, -and welcome.” - -“I’m not afraid to do it,” responded Dave quickly, and caught hold of -the long rope, and seeing this Barringford did the same. - -A nasty, cold rain was falling, and though sixteen men were dragging at -the rope of each piece of artillery, it was all they could do to move -the cannon through the mud and slush. Sometimes some of the soldiers -would drop out and others would take their places, but Dave and -Barringford stuck to their posts. - -It was not long before St. Foy was reached. The garrison was being hotly -pressed by the French when General Murray’s artillery opened a fire on -the enemy, driving them back with considerable loss. - -“Make ’em run!” was the English cry, and soon the foot soldiers were -charging straight past the town. Dave and Barringford were in this -charge, and for ten minutes were exposed to a raking fire from two -sides. Neither was struck, although Barringford had the sleeve of his -coat torn by a bullet. - -But Murray knew that the French outnumbered him, and that it would be -foolish just then to try to hold St. Foy. His object was to offer -protection to the various garrisons falling back on the city, and in -this he was successful. Soon St. Foy was abandoned, and the church, -containing a large amount of military stores, blown up. - -The fight had been a hard one, and when the men got back to Quebec, some -of them were half perished with the wet and cold. Dave himself was in a -shiver, and when a big bonfire was lit in a public square he got as -close to it as possible to dry and warm himself. - -Although he had fallen back on Quebec, General Murray did not intend to -remain there. He felt that the walls of the city were in no condition to -withstand a bombardment at the hands of Lévis, and that to raise -earthworks outside would be an almost impossible task, owing to the -half-frozen condition of the ground. - -“If we remain here we shall have to stand a long siege,” said he to his -fellow-officers. “Lévis is exhausted by his forced marches. Let us fall -upon him without delay.” - -Officers and soldiers were willing to meet the French, and some even -left the hospital that they might take part in the coming contest. All -was bustle and excitement, and soon Murray had around him his whole -force of about three thousand soldiers. - -The march forward was as tiresome as the one to St. Foy had been. Five -hundred men dragged twenty-four pieces of artillery and the tumbrils -containing the ammunition. In spots the cannon and carts sank down -hub-deep, and had to be pried out with logs and poles. More than one -soldier fell into a hole up to his waist and had to be dragged out to -save him from being frozen to death. - -“It’s no fun, that is sure,” said Dave, as he puffed for breath. He had -hold of the rope attached to a cannon. - -“We long ago made up our minds thet war wasn’t fun, Dave,” answered -Barringford, who was just in front of him, and also on the rope. - -Besides the grenadiers and artillery there were with Murray a company of -rangers under Hazen and another company of volunteers under MacDonald. -The rangers and volunteers were on the left flank, and with these went -Dave and his old friend when the time came for battle. - -The English army had reached the ground occupied by Montcalm when the -French general was shot down, and here they came to a temporary halt. In -the meantime General Lévis was moving from St. Foy to a ridge of ground -known as Sillery Wood. He had not yet had time to place his whole army -in position. - -“Now is the time to strike,” said General Murray, and he ordered another -advance. - -In a moment more the cannon spoke up, followed by the continued rattle -of musketry. The onslaught was a fierce one, and in certain quarters the -French were seen to give way. The smoke of battle was thick, and cannon -ball and bullet often sent the mud and slush flying in all directions. - -“The French are retreating!” was the cry a little later, and again the -English troops pressed forward. But this surmise was incorrect. The -enemy were merely taking a new position, and soon the English found -themselves at a disadvantage, having given up a stretch of high ground -for one which was low and uncertain. - -The left flank of the army had been brought up close to the edge of a -wood, and soon the French began to pour into the ranks a deadly fire -that laid many a soldier low. Not far away were two block-houses, and -these were filled with Canadian sharpshooters, who began to pick off the -officers one after another. - -“We must take the block-houses,” was the order received, and the -volunteers rushed at one stronghold, while the rangers rushed at the -other. - -The din of battle was now terrific, and for a few moments Dave could -scarcely hear when spoken to, or when a command was given. Bullets were -flying in all directions, and he was struck twice, once in the fleshy -part of the arm, and once in the little finger of his left hand. -Barringford was also hit in the shoulder, but kept on fighting, -regardless of the loss of blood. - -“Up and at them!” was the constant cry. “Up and at them!” And then the -volunteers made straight for one of the block-houses, and in a few -minutes the enemy were retreating with all possible speed. - -But the block-house could not be held, for the French were now moving on -the rangers and volunteers in a larger number than before. The white -uniforms covered the edge of the wood, and in a minute the command to -which Dave and Barringford had attached themselves was almost -surrounded. - -“We can’t hold this nohow,” came from Barringford, who was re-loading -his smoking musket. “Them Frenchm——” - -“Down!” cried Dave, and shoved the old frontiersman backward. Then came -a report from behind the block-house, and Barringford pitched over on -his side and lay as one dead. - -Dave’s musket was up in an instant, and taking careful aim he fired. He -hit the man who had brought Barringford low, and the Frenchman went back -with a ball through his breast. - -“We must get out of here!” was the cry a few minutes later, and the -retreat was sounded. - -Dave bent over Barringford and found the frontiersman still breathing. -He was shot in the head, just above the right ear, and covered with -blood. - -“Oh, if he only lives!” thought the young soldier. The idea of losing -his old friend was too horrible to contemplate. Slinging his musket over -his shoulder, he raised Barringford in his arms and gazed around -helplessly. - -“I’ll help ye, boy!” cried a ranger, who was running past, and he took -hold of Barringford’s lower limbs, while Dave took him under the arms. -Thus they ran a hundred yards or more, when two other volunteers came to -their assistance, and Barringford was carried to the rear, and, later -on, back to the general hospital. - -[Illustration: - - Dave’s musket was up in an instant.—_Page 268._ -] - -But the fighting was not yet at an end, and it continued for half an -hour longer, the English doing their best to drive Lévis from the strong -position he now occupied. But this was impossible, and at last General -Murray’s army began to move back to Quebec, keeping the retreat well -covered. - -“The victory is ours!” came the French cry, and they started in pursuit. -But General Lévis soon saw that the English were not retreating in -disorder, and so ordered his soldiers to hold the ground they had gained -and go no further. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XXIX - - DARK DAYS - - -THE days to follow the tattle just described were gloomy enough, both -for Dave and for the little army now assembled at Quebec. - -All told, General Murray had lost, in killed, wounded and missing, about -a thousand men, or one-third of his force, while the loss to the enemy -was estimated at about the same. In addition, the English had lost some -cannon and also some of their ammunition and muskets. When the army got -back to Quebec it was thoroughly exhausted, and the men were hardly fit -for work of any kind. Confusion reined supreme, and had Murray permitted -it, there would have been a panic and perhaps the place would have been -abandoned. - -“The jig is up,” said more than one soldier. “We must surrender, or else -the French will either bombard us or starve us out.” - -But General Murray was not so easily daunted, and soon brought a -semblance of order out of apparent chaos. The wounded were cared for, -and those able to work were immediately set to the task of fortifying -Quebec from every available point. Bags were filled with sand and placed -at the gates, and the cannon were planted so as to command every -approach. Even the convalescent in the hospital had to do their share by -making wadding for the cannon. Soldiers who would not obey orders were -promptly disciplined, and one man who was caught plundering a house was -promptly hanged as a thief. - -This public execution brought to Dave’s mind the fate that hung over -Henry. Would his cousin come back, and, if so, what would General Murray -do to him? This thought made Dave shiver. - -“He is certainly very stern,” thought the young soldier. “And unless -Henry can clear himself it will surely go hard with him. But perhaps -Henry is dead!” And he shook his head sorrowfully. - -Dave had gone with Barringford to the general hospital and seen to it -that the old frontiersman had every attention. At first he was afraid -Barringford was going to die in a few days, but now the surgeon in -attendance held out a faint hope of his recovery. - -“But he was hard hit,” said the surgeon. “An inch nearer, and the bullet -would have passed through his brain.” - -For days Barringford lay unconscious, knowing nobody and breathing -heavily. During that time Dave came to see him as often as permitted, -and had his own wounds dressed. The young soldier had lost the end of -his little finger, but he counted this as nothing in comparison with his -other troubles. “I’d rather lose the hand than see Sam go,” was what he -told himself. - -General Lévis lost no time in strengthening his position around Quebec. -Extra cannon were sent for, and the French commander waited anxiously -for some news of a French warship which was expected. - -“If he gets the help of a fleet we are doomed,” said more than one -English officer, and a watch was set, to announce the coming of any sail -up the St. Lawrence. At the same time, the cannon planted on the walls -of Quebec did all they possibly could to make Lévis keep his distance, -and prevent him from throwing up the intrenchments he so much desired. - -“A ship is in sight!” was the cry that was raised in the city on the -ninth day of May. “A ship! A ship!” - -“What is she?” was the question asked. - -This could not, as yet, be answered, and General Murray lost no time in -making his way to where a good look could be had of the lower St. -Lawrence. Sure enough, there was a large ship, but without a flag. - -“Hoist the colors at Cape Diamond!” ordered the English commander, and -the flag was raised without delay. In the meantime the warship came -closer and could be seen to be crowded with men. Would she prove to be a -friend or an enemy? - -Slowly the flag mounted to the masthead, and unfurled to the breeze. It -was the red cross of St. George. - -“’Tis our own ship! Quebec is saved! Huzza! huzza!” was the cry, and -almost immediately the soldiers went wild with joy, some dancing on the -ramparts of the city, in full view of the much-chagrined French, who had -hoped the vessel would prove to be one of their own. - -Soon the ship, the _Lowestoffe_, was firing a royal salute, to which the -city batteries replied with vigor, the gunners making the river and -rocky cliffs echo and re-echo with their glad tidings. In the city the -grenadiers marched, sang, and drank toasts, and the gloom of the days -gone by was dispelled as if by magic. - -The ship that had come in brought news of an English fleet which was -expected to reach Quebec in a few days. In desperation Lévis began an -immediate attack on the city, but with poor success. Then he assembled -his own ships of war, but six in number, and waited bravely for the -coming of the English vessels. - -It was the middle of May when the English fleet sailed up the river. The -battle on the water was of short duration, although the French sailors -fought desperately against overwhelming odds. Seeing they could not win, -one vessel threw her guns overboard and sailed away and the others ran -into the mud flats, where their crews set fire to them, and escaped by -wading and in small boats. - -“The day is ours; Lévis cannot stand this defeat on the water,” said -General Murray, and he was right. The loss of the warships carried -consternation into the camp of the French, and that very night they -began to retreat, the English sending shot and shell after them to -hasten their departure. In their hurry they left many cannon, muskets, -and army stores behind them. - -“That was a victory worth the winning,” said Dave, as he marched out, -several days later, to help bring in some of the abandoned army stores. -“A few more like that and I reckon the French will leave Quebec alone.” - -“Well, we aint got so all-fired much to crow about,” answered one of the -rangers who was working near. “Things looked mighty black all around -afore them ships hove in sight.” - -“What do you suppose the French commander will do next?” asked Dave, for -he knew that the ranger, although not a well-spoken man, was a clever -fellow. - -“I don’t see how he kin do anything but fall back on Montreal,” answered -the ranger. “We’ll blockade the St. Lawrence on him, an’ sooner or later -the army at Oswego will be a-comin’ this way, and the army from Crown -Point, an’ he’ll have to look out for himself right sharp.” - -A few days after this talk Dave called again upon Barringford. He found -the old frontiersman conscious, but somewhat out of his head, the effect -of the bullet wound. Barringford did not know him at first. - -“Seems to me I know ye,” he said slowly. “But it’s beyond me—a long way -off. Air ye Henry, or Dave, or thet Jameson boy?” - -“I’m Dave, Sam. Don’t you know me?” - -“Dave, eh?” The sufferer took the hand held out to him. “All right, -Dave, ef it’s you. But why did ye shoot me in the head? I thought better -o’ you than thet, yes, I did!” - -“I didn’t shoot you, Sam; it was a Frenchman did that, and I laid the -Frenchman low for it.” - -“Did ye? Queer, I should think you shot me.” Barringford tried to -collect his thoughts, but failed. “Mighty bad place this,” he went on. -“Folks shoving me all day an’ all night, an’ tryin’ to drive wooden pins -into my head.” And then he sank back and dozed off. - -“Will he remain this way?” asked Dave of the surgeon, his heart fairly -aching for his old friend. - -The surgeon shrugged his shoulders. “Let us hope not, my lad.” - -“But they do sometimes, is that what you mean?” questioned the young -soldier quickly. - -“I am sorry to say that is true. You see, the bullet grazed the brain. -If he recovers it will be very slowly.” - -“Can I do anything for him?” - -“No, we are doing all that can be done.” - -“This is not a very nice place.” - -“As soon as the weather moderates we will transfer him to a hospital on -the Island of Orleans. There the accommodations will be much improved, -and I will see to it personally that he has every attention.” - -“If you will do that, sir, I shall be very thankful. He is one of my -best and closest friends. I do not want to leave him unless I am certain -he is in the best of hands.” - -“Leave him? Do you mean you are going away?” - -“I belong to the army at Fort Oswego, and my furlough is running out, so -I must get back, if I possibly can,” answered Dave. - -What he said was true. He had already remained at Quebec longer than -intended. The very next day found him going back to Fort Oswego, in -company with eight rangers and an English officer. The officer belonged -to General Amherst’s staff, and from him Dave learned, later on, that -Amherst himself was going to take charge of the expedition to move -against Lévis at Montreal, by way of Lake Ontario and the rapids of the -upper St. Lawrence. - -The particulars of the trip back to Fort Oswego need not be given here, -for nothing out of the ordinary occurred during the journey, which, -because of one delay and another, lasted over two weeks. While still -eight miles from the fort the little expedition was joined by forty -Indians who were, much to Dave’s astonishment, under the leadership of -White Buffalo. - -“Why, White Buffalo, I thought your braves had deserted you!” cried the -young soldier, after the first greeting was over. - -“The old braves of my tribe have come back to their reason,” answered -the Indian chief with a smiling face. “They have learned that the French -are their enemies, and gave their word only to break it. Henceforth they -will fight under White Buffalo and Sir William Johnson to the end.” - -“That is certainly good news,” said Dave. “I suppose you are going to -rejoin Sir William at Fort Oswego.” - -“Yes, and we bring with us an old Indian who knows the swift waters of -the St. Lawrence, if the great Sir William sees best to move upon the -enemy by that course.” - -“Most likely he will move down the St. Lawrence, White Buffalo. But I -have heard the rapids are very swift, and more than one man has lost his -life trying to shoot them.” - -The want of news about Henry and the sad tidings concerning Barringford -hurt White Buffalo greatly, and he did not hesitate to show his -feelings. - -“’Tis a black cloud hanging over us,” he said. “May the Great Spirit -roll it away, bringing Henry back to us unharmed, and lifting the Demon -Spirit from Barringford’s mind.” - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XXX - - THE RAPIDS OF THE ST. LAWRENCE - - -AUGUST of the year 1760 found General Amherst at Oswego with a force of -ten thousand men, consisting of royal grenadiers, Colonial militia and -rangers and volunteers. To this body was also attached over seven -hundred Indians, under the leadership of Sir William Johnson. - -In the meantime the troops at Crown Point had been left under the -command of General Haviland. They were ordered to move forward without -delay, and Haviland did so, his force numbering a little over three -thousand soldiers of all sorts, including the now celebrated Roger’s -Rangers. The first point of attack was Isle-aux-Noix, fortified by the -French under Bougainville. Here the English were victorious, and then -the enemy were followed to St. John and Chambly, and by the activity of -the rangers were compelled to give way once more, this time seeking the -protection of the St. Lawrence. Haviland now awaited the coming of -Amherst, and at the same time communicated with General Murray at -Quebec, with a view to a threefold attack on Montreal. - -General Amherst lost no time in getting his army afloat. It mustered -several ships, and a bewildering number of bateaux and rowboats, while -the Indians moved down the lake in their canoes. The larger boats -carried many cannon and a great quantity of ammunition, and it was felt -by all that Amherst’s advance would surely be one to victory. - -During the days spent in Oswego getting ready for this trip, a slight -ray of hope had come to Dave. This was the news that at Montreal were a -number of English prisoners, captured on the battlefield, or while at -work in the vicinity of Quebec. - -“Perhaps Henry was captured,” he thought. “And if he was he may be in a -Montreal prison at this minute.” - -Dave had returned to his old command, and his fellow soldiers did all -they could to comfort him. All knew Henry and Barringford well, and many -were the words of sympathy poured into the young soldier’s ears. Nobody -believed that Henry was a thief, yet none could tell what General Murray -would do if the missing one was found. - -“One thing is certain, Morris,” said one old soldier. “Henry’s past -record is in his favor. We can all swear that he was honest while he was -with us.” - -While the army was floating down the lake the weather proved fair, and -La Galette was reached without mishap. Here a French brig named the -_Ottawa_ was sighted. She began firing on the army transports while they -were yet at a distance. - -“This will not do,” said General Amherst, and had several of his -gunboats attack the brig. The fight was sharp, but likewise short, and -soon the French ship struck her colors. A few of the crew escaped to the -shore, but the others were made prisoners. - -The rapids of the St. Lawrence were now close at hand, and General -Amherst was considering the problem of how to get his expedition through -in safety, when a new peril presented itself. - -On an island in the river, just above the rapids, was Fort Lévis, well -fortified, and now under the command of Captain Pouchot, he who had -commanded at Fort Niagara the year previous. Pouchot was awaiting -anxiously for a chance to “even up” his defeat at Niagara, and no sooner -did the leading boats of Amherst’s fleet appear than he opened a heavy -fire on them. - -“So this is the game,” said General Amherst. “Well, I think I can wait -long enough to put you out of the fight.” - -He at once landed a portion of his army and some cannon on the river -bank, and on some nearby islands, and began that very day to cannonade -Fort Lévis with vigor. - -“What a noise!” said Dave, and he was right; the din was terrific, for -the French replied with vigor. The fort was composed principally of logs -and dirt, which the cannon balls sent flying in all directions. The -soldiers had but little to do, and Dave sat in the top of a tall tree -watching proceedings. - -The bombardment of the fort continued for three days, when the -stronghold was more than half battered to pieces. Pouchot, seeing he -could not hold out, at last surrendered, and he and his brave men became -prisoners. - -The Indians under General Johnson had waited patiently for the surrender -of the French, and when they saw the flag go down many of them rushed -for their canoes, their intention being to visit the fort, and kill and -scalp Pouchot and those around him. But Sir William Johnson would not -allow this. - -“You must stay back; there will be no scalping here,” he said. - -“No scalping!” cried a hundred voices at once. “We must have scalps or -we will not fight,” said others; and thereupon more than half of the -Indians withdrew from the expedition in disgust. - -Dave was glad to see that White Buffalo had not taken part in the -attempted rush on the French after the surrender. But when he spoke of -it to the chief the Indian hardly knew how to answer. - -“White Buffalo cannot understand,” he said at last. “Ten of his braves -have left. The French are our bitter enemies—then why not kill and scalp -them? The great Sir William must know what is best—but the poor Indian -cannot understand.” - -“It isn’t Christian-like, that’s why, White Buffalo. After an enemy -gives in we ought to treat him fairly and squarely.” - -“The French would let their Indians kill and scalp you, David.” - -“Perhaps; but two wrongs don’t make a right,” answered the young -soldier. “War is war, but we needn’t make it any worse than is -necessary.” - -With the fall of Fort Lévis, the army under Amherst moved on again down -the St. Lawrence. Soon the rapids of the Galops, the Plat, the Long -Saut, and the Côteau du Lac came into view, followed by the Cedars, the -Buisson, and the Cascades. - -“That water is running mighty fast,” said Dave to the others as he -watched the rolling river, glistening brightly in the sunshine. “Unless -I am mistaken, the current is powerful.” - -“You are not mistaken,” replied an old ranger, who sat near the youth. -“These rapids are almost as bad as the rapids of the Niagara. I tried to -go through ’em once, six years ago, and I know. There were four of us in -the canoe, which upset, and one of the party was drowned while the other -three were almost dead before we got back to shore.” - -“Well, the French and Indian pilots ought to know how to direct the -boats,” put in another soldier. “General Amherst has several of the best -of them.” - -On and on swept the long line of boats, stretching out for a distance of -over two miles. The progress was growing faster and faster as the fierce -current just above the worst of the rapids caught hold of one boat after -another. - -The craft in which Dave was seated was a long, broad, flat-bottomed -affair, containing twelve men, an under-officer, and a small stock of -ammunition. Two men were at the sweeps, or oars, following the -directions of the officer, who stood in the bow, directing them to the -right or the left as occasion required. - -“There is surely going to be trouble!” whispered Dave, when a shrill cry -came from ahead. Looking in that direction they saw a boat had hit on -the rocks, and that half of the occupants were struggling in the water, -which boiled and foamed all around them. - -“To the right! To the right!” yelled the officer in the bow. “Be quick, -or we’ll run them down, and smash our own boat!” - -“Can’t we help ’em, leftenant?” queried one of the soldiers. - -Before an answer could be given, the boat had swerved to the right and -was sliding past the hidden rocks. One soldier in the water made a -frantic clutch for the passing craft, and caught hold of a but of -tarpaulin which covered the ammunition. - -“Hold tight, I’ll pull you in!” sang out Dave, and with the assistance -of another soldier he pulled the suffering one on board of the boat. -Then the craft swept onward toward another soldier, and he was likewise -assisted. But the rest had to be left behind, to shift for themselves. -All but two were picked up by other boats in the rear. Of the two one -managed to reach shore, and became a prisoner of the French, and the -other was never seen or heard of again. - -It was now seen that more than one boat in front and to the rear were in -difficulty, and ever and anon a sickening crash could be heard above the -roaring of the rapids. The nerves of all the soldiers were strained to -the utmost, and many sat rigid, fearing that the next moment would be -their last. - -“We should have portaged our boats around the rapids,” growled one old -hunter. “I’d ruther walk fifty miles than ride one in sech water as -this,” and more than one hearer agreed with him. - -Some dangerous rapids had been passed, but one still more dangerous was -ahead. The lieutenant had been warned of this, and was watching closely. - -“To the left! To the left!” he sang out suddenly. “To the left! Swing -her over!” - -“She won’t swing!” came stubbornly from one of the men at the sweeps. -“The current’s stronger nor a mill-race.” - -“We must bring her over,” said the officer. “Now then, pull for all you -are worth. We—ha!” - -The last cry was echoed by half a dozen in the boat, and several sprang -to their feet regardless of the first order given to them, to sit still. -A boat ahead of them had bumped into another craft, and both had dashed -headlong on a hidden rock. Splintered wood, soldiers, army stores, and -foaming water seemed hopelessly mixed, and from out of the mass came -shrieks of pain and piteous calls for help. - -“To the left!” yelled the lieutenant once more, but the cry did no good. -The boat swept onward with increased speed, directly into the midst of -the wreckage. A shock and a crash followed, and the next instant Dave -found himself in the water, surrounded by a score of other soldiers, all -fighting madly to save themselves from drowning. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XXXI - - THE FALL OF MONTREAL - - -IN his career as a soldier Dave had been in many positions of peril, yet -scarcely one had been as dire as that which now confronted him. - -The shock came so quickly that he hardly realized what was happening -before he was under water, and somebody seemed to be doing his best to -stand on the young soldier’s shoulders. - -Flinging the feet above to one side, Dave tried to reach the surface of -the river. In doing this he slid past two more soldiers, both of whom -clutched at him, one catching him by the coat, and the other by the -neck. - -To be held by the coat was of small importance in comparison to being -deprived of one’s wind, and Dave lost no time in fighting off the fellow -who had him by the neck. The hold was a strong one, and the youth feared -he would be choked unless he broke it without delay. - -There was a wild floundering on all sides, and in the mêlée somebody -above kicked out sharply with his heavy boots. One boot struck the man -who held Dave by the throat, and the grip was broken just when the youth -was about to give up in despair. Then the young soldier felt his coat -also freed, and he came up with a rush, to get a badly needed breath of -air. - -The majority of the soldiers were struggling madly to hold fast to the -bits of wreckage floating around. Yells and groans rent the air, with an -occasional prayer for assistance. Some had already gone down to their -death, and others were fast losing what little strength was left to -them. - -“It’s no use trying to get hold of a board, or anything,” thought Dave. -“They are all fighting like so many cats and dogs. I’ll save my -strength, and strike out for shore.” - -But striking out with his clothing on was by no means easy, and Dave had -hardly covered a hundred feet when he found himself well-nigh exhausted. -He tried to pull off his coat, but as he was doing this another boat -hove into sight, coming straight for him. - -“Hi! don’t run me down!” he screamed, and then, as the boat swerved to -one side, he made a clutch at one of the oars. Willing hands were -out-stretched to him, and in a moment more he was on board, where he -sank to the bottom, panting for breath. Two others were picked up in -similar fashion, and then the boat swept on to its destination. - -The shooting of the St. Lawrence rapids by the army under General -Amherst was never forgotten by those who participated in it. During that -reckless ride over sixty boats were either totally wrecked or greatly -damaged, and more than eighty soldiers lost their lives through -drowning. As one boat after another shot through the swirling waters the -French gathered on the upper bank of the river, fully expecting to see -every one of their enemy go down to destruction. - -The rapids passed, the boats, or what was left of them, sailed down Lake -St. Louis, and landed at Isle Perrot, at a point about twenty miles -above Montreal. Here many of the half-drowned ones were cared for, and -some of the boats were temporarily repaired. - -“We are well out of that,” said Dave, when on land once more. “I shall -never attempt to shoot those rapids again;” and he never did. - -It had taken three weeks to reach Isle Perrot, and now word came in by -Indian messengers that General Murray was also advancing on Montreal -from the northeastward, and that General Haviland was ready to strike -whenever required. - -“We now have the French as in a vise,” said General Amherst. “They -cannot get away from us.” The next day, early in the morning, the army -left Isle Perrot again, and landed on the north bank of the river at La -Chine. Here there was some slight show of opposition, but soon the -French outposts, and also a number of the inhabitants of La Chine, fled -towards Montreal, leaving the English army to land its guns and stores -at its leisure. - -“On to Montreal!” was now the cry on all sides, and the spirits of the -soldiers revived wonderfully, for all felt that a deathblow was soon to -be struck to the war which had now lasted for five long years. - -It was a beautiful day in early September, and had Dave not been -troubled by thoughts of Henry and Barringford, he would have enjoyed the -march along the river bank. A regimental band played the liveliest of -military airs, and when the band did not play a Colonial drummer and a -fifer kept the Royal Americans in step. - -Yet it must be confessed that the soldiers were a motley collection. -Even the showy uniforms of the grenadiers, and the Royal Artillery, were -sadly in need of repairs, while the so-called uniforms of the Royal -Americans, never very good, and of a dozen different designs, were -practically in tatters. Dave’s uniform confessed to half a dozen rents, -and twice as many patches, and his gun, a flint-lock dating back to the -war in Scotland, was a clumsy affair that looked as if it was in danger -of exploding every time he discharged it. - -The next day found Amherst’s army encamped almost under the walls of -Montreal, to which city the French had flocked from all directions, -pleading for protection at the hands of Governor-General Vaudreuil. As -Amherst drew near from one direction, Murray and his army came up from -the other, while Haviland encamped on the south shore of the St. -Lawrence, immediately in front of Montreal. - -The city was now in a state of siege, and the French well knew that if -they opened fire on the English the enemy would retaliate by bombarding -houses, public buildings, and churches, with a great loss of life and -property. Many of the Canadians had gone home to their farms, and some -of the French regulars had also deserted, so that the army in the city -did not number over twenty-five hundred men. - -“We cannot fight them,” said Vaudreuil. “They have not less than -seventeen thousand soldiers, and hundreds of cannon, and large -quantities of ammunition. If we fight, the city will be laid low from -end to end; and men, women, and children ruthlessly slaughtered.” - -Lévis, a born fighter, demurred at first, but soon saw the wisdom of the -advice; and a council of war was held. It was a stormy scene, and it -took many hours to draw up a form of capitulation. The French officers -wished to march out of Montreal with the honors of war, and wished many -other things; and these were all put into the paper which was sent to -General Amherst the next morning. - -“I cannot grant this form of capitulation,” said Amherst, on looking the -paper over. “I will grant some conditions, but not others. The whole -force must lay down its arms, and not serve again during the present -war.” - -When this answer was brought back, Vaudreuil merely shrugged his -shoulders, but Lévis went into a rage, and vowed he would never submit. - -“I will myself send a note to General Amherst to show him that he is -asking too much,” said Lévis, and sent the note without delay. In return -Amherst stated that he was fully resolved to make the army lay down its -arms. He was horrified over the way the French Indians had been allowed -to massacre wounded and helpless English soldiers, and he considered -that the enemy must be taught a stern lesson in retaliation. - -It was a time of wild excitement in Montreal, for the citizens, and -those who had come into the city for protection, were afraid that the -English might bombard the place at any moment. When a cannon boomed out -as a signal, a hundred cries would ring out. Business had come to a -complete standstill, and many places were boarded and locked up; and in -some instances goods of value, and money, and jewels, were buried. - -For the time being those in the various prisons about the city were -practically neglected, and in at least three cases the prisoners almost -starved to death because of this neglect. The keeper of the jail in -which Henry was confined went off one night, and failed to appear during -the next day. - -“Something is wrong, that’s sure,” said one of the prisoners. Then he -yelled loudly for water, but nobody came to answer his demand. - -Henry was pale and thin, and suffered as much for the want of fresh air -as for proper food. The jail was a vile place, and the conditions there -were steadily growing worse. One prisoner had committed suicide, and -another had gone stark, raving crazy. - -“If this keeps on I’ll go crazy myself,” said Henry. “The food is not -fit for a dog to eat.” - -Strange to say, he had not seen or heard of Jean Bevoir since the French -trader had threatened him through the bars of the prison door. As a -matter of fact, Bevoir had attempted to have the youth brought before -the military court as a spy, but the French commander had refused to -listen to his plea. - -“You are too anxious in this, sir,” said the officer sternly. “I think -you must have a grudge against the young fellow. I have no official -report against him, and in such a prison he is probably suffering as -much as he deserves.” And Jean Bevoir sneaked away from headquarters -feeling very much as if somebody had kicked him. - -Truth to tell, the French commander felt that a crisis was at hand, and -that it would not now do to hang or maltreat any of the English -prisoners. He even ordered that the prisoners be given better rations, -but this order, in the case of the jailer at Henry’s jail, was -disobeyed, the jailer selling the extra rations to the outsiders in the -town at a handsome profit. - -On the night following the disappearance of the jailer, matters reached -a climax in the prison. There was a fight for some water that still -remained in a keg in one corner, and this quickly changed to a revolt, -in which the jail door was broken down. The prisoners ran forth and -scattered in all directions; and although a French guard soon came on -the scene and shot down two of the men, the others got away. - -With the escaping ones went Henry, almost as reckless as were the -leaders. For a while he remained with two of the soldiers who had been -quite friendly, but when the shooting began he ran through a back yard, -leaped over a stone wall, and made his way along a street that was -almost deserted. He was now entirely alone, and, coming to an open -hallway, he slipped into a house. He heard sounds of voices in a lower -room, and, without stopping to think twice, bounded up the stairs to the -second floor. - -“Perhaps I’m running into a trap, but I’ve got to risk it,” he told -himself; and after a slight hesitation opened a door near the head of -the stairs. The room was a bedchamber, and in the center stood a large, -square, “four-poster” bed, with the top hangings partly drawn. A man lay -on the bed, tossing uneasily, as if in something of a fever. On a chair -rested a French uniform, showing that the sleeper was an officer. - -[Illustration: - - “Stand where you are,” ordered the sick man.—_Page 297._ -] - -“It won’t do for me to stay in such hot quarters as these,” thought -Henry. “I had better get out just as fast as I came in.” - -He started back for the hallway, but now came steps on the stairs, and -the rattle of dishes, followed by some talking. Henry glanced around -him, saw a closet in a corner of the room, and dove into it. Just as he -closed the door of the closet he caught a brief glimpse of a woman with -a tray, followed by a girl of about his own age. Both entered the -bedchamber, closing the door tightly behind them. - -A murmur of voices followed, and Henry surmised that the sleeping man -had awakened, and that the two women were urging him to partake of the -food they had brought. The talking was in French, so he understood but -little. - -Presently the girl moved across the bedchamber, and before Henry -realized what was coming the door of the closet was flung open. As the -young soldier was exposed to view, the girl gave a scream, and then -uttered several words in French: - -“A man! An English soldier!” - -“What is it you say?” demanded the man in the bed, and, turning over, he -drew a pistol from under his pillow. - -“A man—an English soldier,” repeated the girl. “Oh, Louis, what shall we -do?” - -“Stand where you are!” ordered the sick man, and sat up in bed with the -pistol pointed at Henry’s head. - -“Oh, Louis, my son, have a care!” put in the woman. “He may kill you!” - -“I am not afraid, mother,” was the answer. “You forget what risks I have -taken in the past——” - -“But you are still weak. The doctor——” - -“The doctor doesn’t know me, mother. I am worth a dozen sick men at this -minute. Please let me deal with him, and both of you stand aside, so -that the fellow can’t hide himself behind you.” - -The girl and the woman were willing enough to do this, and shrank away -from the closet. Then, struck by a sudden idea, the woman backed herself -up to the door leading to the hallway. - -Feeling himself cornered, Henry threw up his hands, and stepped out of -the closet. - -“Don’t fire,” he said as quietly as he could, although his heart was -thumping loudly in his breast. - -“If you have a pistol throw it on the bed,” said the Frenchman in -excellent English. - -“I am totally unarmed,” was Henry’s ready answer. - -“Is it possible! Where did you come from?” - -Henry began to explain, when the French officer suddenly interrupted -him. - -“Am I mistaken, or have we met before?” he said. - -“I do not remember you,” returned Henry, puzzled at the unexpected -question. - -“Did you come from Quebec?” - -“I did.” - -“You were on guard duty there?” - -“I was.” - -“At and near the shop of one Lavelle, a gold and silver smith?” - -“Yes, yes! But you—you——” faltered Henry. - -At this the French officer gave a chuckle. - -“I was there, too,” he said. “It was I who escaped from the cellar that -night. They tried to catch me, but ha! ha! I was too quick for them. I -showed them what a French spy can do when he is put to it!” - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XXXII - - FROM WAR TO PEACE—CONCLUSION - - -“IT looks as if we’d have to fight after all, Morris.” - -“What makes you think that?” questioned Dave, who had just come in from -four hours of guard duty. - -“I just got an inkling from headquarters,” said the soldier who had -first spoken. “The Frenchmen don’t want to agree to General Amherst’s -demands.” - -“They will be foolish if they don’t,” said the young soldier. “With a -combined army of seventeen thousand men to draw on we can knock Montreal -higher than a kite if we start in to do it.” - -“To be sure, Morris.” - -“But I hope it doesn’t come to a fight,” went on Dave, his face -clouding. - -“Why; you are not afraid, are you?” - -“No. I was thinking of the English prisoners in Montreal. They will be -sure to suffer, with no way by which they can help themselves.” - -“True for you. But the French sick will suffer, too. A cannon ball goes -where it pleases, once it is fired.” - -During the night had come one alarm. Some Canadians had attempted to -leave the city with some plunder, taken from houses that happened to be -deserted. A part of this crowd was shot down within the city walls by -Lévis’ guards, and the others were shot down by the guards under Amherst -and Murray. - -“No matter what may happen, I will have no plundering,” said Vaudreuil; -and Lévis, Amherst, and Murray said the same. - -It must be confessed that the outcome of another council of war within -the walls of Montreal was anxiously awaited by the English on both sides -of the St. Lawrence. Each branch of the army was held in readiness for -immediate service, the soldiers sleeping on their arms and the -cannoneers under their pieces. - -In the city the hubbub was greater than ever. The citizens gathered -around headquarters and begged for peace. The Governor-General had to -listen to endless advice. Lévis protested to the last that he wanted the -honors of war accorded to his troops. But Amherst, as said before, was -unyielding; and at last Vaudreuil signed the paper which, in the course -of time, gave all of the Canadian possessions into the hands of the -English government and made of the French-Canadians British subjects. - -The news was carried far and wide as swift as horses and messengers -could travel. “Canada has surrendered! The war is over!” was the glad -tidings, and in every portion of the English colonies, as well as in -England itself, there was great rejoicing. Cannon were fired, bonfires -lit, and bells tolled, and in some places special church services were -held, to give thanks to God that the agony of such long standing was at -an end. Even the Canadians rejoiced to think that peace was come, and -that they could again go to their farms unmolested alike by soldier or -Indian. - -The capitulation took place on September 8, 1760. It was agreed that the -French soldiers and sailors should be allowed to return to France, and -that the Canadians should return to their homes, unmolested. No one was -to suffer because of his religion, and it was further agreed that, with -a few exceptions, all military and political prisoners should be set -free. The Indians on both sides were to be held in firm check, so that -the atrocities of former campaigns should not be repeated. This last -agreement made the Indians on both sides very angry, and the great -majority of them tore up their wigwams in disgust and departed for parts -unknown. Only a handful remained with Sir William Johnson, this band -including White Buffalo and four old braves, the braves remaining to get -some money that had been promised to them and the chief that he might be -near Dave, to go home with the young soldier when the latter was -discharged. - -“Montreal is ours after all!” cried the young soldier, when the news -reached camp. “And we didn’t have to fire a shot, excepting at the -scoundrels who tried to plunder the place.” - -Dave was anxious to get into Montreal, to learn something concerning -Henry if possible. But it was a good two weeks before he got the chance -to enter the city. Then he was placed on a detail sent to visit one of -the hospitals. - -As the detail was passing down a side street of the city the young -soldier chanced to look into the window of one of the houses they were -passing. - -“Can it be possible!” burst from his lips. Then he ran to the officer in -command of the detail. “Will you—you let me off a while—just a few -minutes, lieutenant?” - -“Why, what’s the matter, Morris?” queried the officer. “You look as if -you’d seen a ghost.” - -“Perhaps it was a ghost. I thought I saw my cousin Henry at the window -of the house back there.” - -“Indeed! All right, go back and make sure. But don’t stay too long.” - -The caution was not yet finished when Dave started back on a run. As he -gained the door of the residence the barrier was flung back and Henry -came forth, cap in hand. - -“Dave!” - -“Henry!” - -“I thought I saw you passing!” - -“And I thought I saw you at the window!” - -And then the pair fell into each other’s arms, while tears of joy stood -in their eyes. They shook hands over and over again, and it was fully a -minute before either could trust himself to speak again. - -“How pale and thin you look,” declared Dave, at last. “Have you been -sick?” - -“I’ve been in prison.” - -“You mean up at Quebec?” - -“There and here too.” Henry’s face fell a little. “Then you know the -news?” - -“Know the news? Didn’t Sam Barringford and I travel all the way to -Quebec to help you? But when we got there you were missing.” - -“Good for you and Sam, Dave! How is Sam now? I see you are in pretty -good shape.” - -“Poor Sam is in the hospital at Quebec. He was struck in the head with a -bullet and it made him rather out of his head. But we’re hoping he’ll -get over it.” Dave paused a moment. “Henry, I’m afraid you’ve gotten -yourself into an awful hole,” he went on anxiously. - -“How so?” And a faint smile crept around the corners of Henry’s mouth. - -“Why, by running away after you were placed under arrest.” - -“But I didn’t want to be hanged.” - -“I know, but now the case will look blacker against you than ever. They -will say you didn’t dare to stand trial.” - -“But I can prove my innocence, Dave,” cried Henry triumphantly. - -“What! How?” - -“Easily enough, although the story is rather a wonderful one. You see, -while I was in prison here we had a revolt, and all the prisoners broke -jail. I ran away by myself and hid in this house, to escape the French -soldiers. I was discovered by the lady and daughter who live here, and -by the lady’s son, who was sick in bed. The son began to question me, -and then he said he had seen me before. We compared notes, and I learned -that the son was Captain Louis Gaulette, a noted French spy. Captain -Gaulette was in Quebec on a secret mission for General Lévis, and he was -in hiding in the cellar of the gold and silver smith’s shop when I went -down there and tried to reason with Prent. He sent a note to General -Murray about it, and he supposed I was set at liberty.” - -“Good!” almost shouted Dave, and his face began to beam. “In that case, -Henry, you can establish your innocence without much trouble.” - -“That is what I expect to do,” answered Henry. “And let me tell you, I -am mighty glad this affair has turned out as it has. But what about the -war? Is it really ended?” - -“Yes, Henry, and I reckon our soldier-boy days have ended with it,” -answered Dave. - - * * * * * - -Let me add a few words more and then bring to a close this story of -military adventure before and “At the Fall of Montreal.” - -As both of the young soldiers had surmised, it was an easy matter to -prove Henry innocent of the charge that had been made against him, and -in the end he received not only a full pardon from General Murray, but -also a letter exonerating him from all blame. For the despicable part he -had played Prent was sentenced to five years in an English prison, and -with him went Fenley and Harkness for a period of three years. Louis -Gaulette became Henry’s firm friend and it may be mentioned here that, -years later, Gaulette entered the American army under General Lafayette -and served as a spy for Washington during the last years of the War of -Independence. - -As soon as Dave and Henry were free to come and go as they pleased they -took passage on a sloop of war bound down the St. Lawrence to Quebec. At -this point they had a man with a rowboat take them over to the Island of -Orleans, which was still being used as a hospital. They inquired for -Barringford of a guard they met and after some slight trouble were taken -to the ward in which the sufferer belonged. - -“Dave an’ Henry!” cried the old frontiersman, on seeing them, and Dave’s -heart leapt with joy to see his eyes as bright and intelligent as ever. -“Ef this ain’t better’n a dose o’ medicine. Whar did ye come from?” And -he shook hands warmly. - -“First tell us how you feel?” said Dave. - -“Fust-rate, Dave, fust-rate. I had a mighty bad spell o’ it -though—somethin’ like a nightmare—an’ the doctor says as how I aint -quite strong enough yit to walk around much. Lost some o’ my ha’r, too,” -the old hunter added, pointing to the scar over his ear. “But thet don’t -count—I’m thankful to pull through with my life.” - -“We can all be thankful,” said Henry. - -“How is it you air free, Henry?” went on the frontiersman, and on being -told he slapped his thigh in satisfaction. “Thet’s splenderiferous news. -The folks ter hum will be glad to hear on it.” - -“That they will,” answered Henry, “and I have already sent them a -letter.” - -“Be you goin’ home soon?” - -“Just as soon as we can obtain our discharge and as soon as you can go -with us, Sam,” answered Dave. - -“Me?” - -“To be sure. We wouldn’t go home without you; you know that.” - -“I might hev knowed it, Dave.” A tear glistened in the old hunter’s eye, -and he took their hands again. “Both my boys, aint ye?—through thick an’ -thin!” - -“Yes, we are, Sam,” said Henry. - -“And glad of it,” added Dave. - -The start for home did not take place until winter had again set in. -They went with a great number of other soldiers as far as Philadelphia, -and then struck out for themselves, in company with half a dozen -neighbors and White Buffalo. - -At Winchester both James and Joseph Morris met them, and the meeting -between fathers and sons was a most affectionate one. Nor were Sam -Barringford and White Buffalo forgotten. There were many embraces, and -the story of the boys’ doings, and of the others, had to be told over -and over again. - -“The best news from home is that Rodney is improving fast,” said Joseph -Morris. “The last operation on his leg was a complete success, so the -doctors say, and by next spring they think he will be almost as strong -as any of us.” - -“Next spring I am going back to the Kinotah,” said James Morris. “My -claim to that land is now fully established, and with Jean Bevoir dead -there is little likelihood that anybody will ever try to disturb me -again.” - -“Bevoir dead?” burst out Dave. “How do you know that?” - -“Why didn’t you hear of it?” queried his father. “And you right on the -ground too!” - -“I heard nothing of him later than when he threatened Henry at -Montreal.” - -“When Montreal was besieged Jean Bevoir joined a crowd of men who tried -to loot many of the houses and stores. The French guard got after the -pilferers and shot some of them down, and then they fled out of the -city, and the English soldiers shot down the rest, or made them -prisoners. Among the number shot down was Jean Bevoir. This news came -straight to me from two soldiers who were at Winchester last week.” - -“Shot down!” repeated Dave. Then he drew a deep breath. “Well, if he was -shot down outside of the city perhaps I had a hand in it. But I don’t -know for sure, and—and—I’m rather glad of it.” - -“He deserved what he got,” came from Barringford. “He was a traitor to -everybuddy, even his best friends.” And the others felt that the old -frontiersman spoke the exact truth. - -Yet though they all thought Jean Bevoir dead such was not a fact. The -French trader was seriously wounded, and for a long while lay between -life and death. But he ultimately recovered, and how he crossed the path -of our friends later on will be told in another volume, to be entitled, -“On the Trail of Pontiac; or, The Pioneer Boys of the Ohio,” in which we -shall meet many of our old characters again and learn something of what -was done to establish trading-posts on the Kinotah and elsewhere after -the war with France, and of how the wily Indian chief Pontiac did his -best to wipe out all white settlements in that territory. - -The home-coming was an event long to be remembered. As the riders came -in sight of the new cabin Mrs. Morris, Rodney, and little Nell rushed -out to greet them. - -“Home again! Home again!” shouted Dave and Henry, and flung themselves -into the arms out-stretched to receive them. - -“My son!” murmured Mrs. Morris, as she kissed Henry, “and my Dave!” she -added, as she also kissed her nephew. - -“Oh, but aint I dreadfully delighted to see you back,” piped up little -Nell, and kissed them all around, even to White Buffalo. “And now you -mustn’t go away again, none of you, but stay with me for years and years -and years!” - -“That’s the way to talk, Nell,” said Rodney, also beaming with pleasure. -“We’ve had enough of this going-away to last for a lifetime.” And then -he added: “Just watch how I can walk now!” and led the way to the cabin, -walking almost as well as any of them. - -It was an old-time feast that awaited those who had come to the cabin, -and it lasted far into the night. During that time many neighbors -dropped in, wishing them well. - -“It would seem that all of our troubles are at an end,” said Mrs. -Morris. “Now if the Indians will only keep the peace I am sure we will -prosper.” - -“They must keep the peace,” said White Buffalo. “My war hatchet is -buried, and White Buffalo will not dig it up again unless there is no -help for it.” - -“I’ve had enough of war,” came from Dave. “In the future let me till the -soil and hunt game, and I’ll be content.” - -And here let us bid our friends, for the time being, good-by. - - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - American Boys’ Life of Theodore Roosevelt - - ---------------------------- - -By EDWARD STRATEMEYER 325 pages Illustrated from photographs $1.25 - - ---------------------------- - -Ever since the enormous success of Mr. Stratemeyer’s “American Boys’ -Life of William McKinley” there has been an urgent demand that he follow -the volume with one on the life of our present President, and this has -now been done with a care and a faithfulness certain to win immediate -appreciation everywhere. - -The book covers the whole life of our honored executive step by step, as -schoolboy, college student, traveler, author, State assemblyman, Civil -Service and Police Commissioner, Governor of New York, as a leader of -the Rough Riders in Cuba, as Vice-President, and finally as President. -Many chapters have also been devoted to Mr. Roosevelt’s numerous -adventures as a hunter and as a ranchman (true stories which are bound -to be dear to the heart of all boys who love the strenuous life), and -full particulars are given of the daring battles for Cuban liberty, in -which our worthy President, as Lieutenant-Colonel of the Rough Riders, -took such a conspicuous part. - -The Appendix contains a Chronology of Theodore Roosevelt, and also brief -extracts from some of his most famous speeches and addresses. - -_For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid, on receipt of price, by -the publishers._ - - ---------------------------- - - LEE AND SHEPARD - BOSTON - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - ---------------------------- - - American Boys’ Life Of William McKinley - -By EDWARD STRATEMEYER 300 pages Illustrated by A. B. Shute, and from -photographs $1.25 - - ---------------------------- - -Here is told the whole story of McKinley’s boyhood days, his life at -school and at college, his work as a school teacher, his glorious career -in the army, his struggles to obtain a footing as a lawyer, his efforts -as a Congressman, and lastly his prosperous career as our President. -There are many side lights on the work at the White House during the war -with Spain, and in China, all told in a style particularly adapted to -boys and young men. The book is full of interesting anecdotes, all taken -from life, showing fully the sincere, honest, painstaking efforts of a -life cut all too short. The volume will prove an inspiration to all boys -and young men, and should be in every one’s library. - - ---------------------------- - -_For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid, on receipt of price, by -the publishers._ - - - ---------------------------- - - LEE AND SHEPARD - BOSTON - - ---------------------------- - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - THE FAMOUS “OLD GLORY SERIES” - - By EDWARD STRATEMEYER - -_Author of “The Bound to Succeed Series,” “The Ship and Shore Series,” -“Colonial Series,” “Pan-American Series,” etc._ - -Six volumes - Cloth - Illustrated - Price per volume $1.25 - - UNDER DEWEY AT MANILA - Or The War Fortunes of a Castaway - - A YOUNG VOLUNTEER IN CUBA - Or Fighting for the Single Star - - FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS - Or Under Schley on the Brooklyn - - UNDER OTIS IN THE PHILIPPINES - Or A Young Officer in the Tropics - - THE CAMPAIGN OF THE JUNGLE - Or Under Lawton through Luzon - - UNDER MACARTHUR IN LUZON - Or Last Battles in the Philippines - -“A boy once addicted to Stratemeyer stays by him.”—_The Living Church._ - -“The boys’ delight—the ‘Old Glory Series.’”—_The Christian Advocate, New -York._ - -“Stratemeyer’s style suits the boys.”—JOHN TERHUNE, _Supt. of Public -Instruction, Bergen Co., New Jersey_. - -“Mr. Stratemeyer is in a class by himself when it comes to writing about -American heroes, their brilliant doings on land and sea.”—_Times, -Boston._ - -“Mr. Stratemeyer has written a series of books which, while historically -correct and embodying the most important features of the -Spanish-American War and the rebellion of the Filipinos, are -sufficiently interwoven with fiction to render them most entertaining to -young readers.”—_The Call, San Francisco._ - - - ---------------------------- - - - _For sale by all booksellers, or sent, postpaid, on receipt of price by_ - - LEE AND SHEPARD, Publishers, - BOSTON - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - THE COLONIAL SERIES - - By EDWARD STRATEMEYER - - _Author of “Pan-American Series,” “Old Glory Series,” “Great - American Industries Series,” “American Boys’ - Biographical Series,” etc._ - - ---------------------------- - - Four volumes - Cloth - Illustrated by A. B. Shute - Price per volume, - $1.25 - - WITH WASHINGTON IN THE WEST - Or A Soldier Boy’s Battles in the Wilderness - - MARCHING ON NIAGARA - Or The Soldier Boys of the Old Frontier - - AT THE FALL OF MONTREAL - Or The Soldier Boy’s Final Victory - - ON THE TRAIL OF PONTIAC - Or The Pioneer Boys of the Ohio - -“Mr. Stratemeyer has put his best work into the ‘Colonial -Series.’”—_Christian Register, Boston._ - -“A series that doesn’t fall so very far short of being history -itself.”—_Boston Courier._ - -“The tales of war are incidental to the dramatic adventures of two boys, -so well told that the historical facts are all the better -remembered.”—_Boston Globe._ - -“Edward Stratemeyer has in many volumes shown himself master of the art -of producing historic studies in the pleasing story form.”—_Minneapolis -Journal._ - -“The author, Edward Stratemeyer, has used his usual care in matters of -historical detail and accuracy, and gives a splendid picture of the -times in general.”—_Milwaukee Sentinel._ - -“Told by one who knows how to write so as to interest boys, while still -having a care as to accuracy.”—_Commercial Advertiser, New York._ - - ---------------------------- - - _For sale by all booksellers, or sent, postpaid, on receipt of price by_ - - LEE AND SHEPARD, Publishers - BOSTON - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - ● Transcriber’s Notes: - ○ Missing or obscured punctuation was silently corrected. - ○ Typographical errors were silently corrected. - ○ Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation were made consistent only - when a predominant form was found in this book. - ○ Text that: - was in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_). - - - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AT THE FALL OF MONTREAL *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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