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rolf in the woods-第66章

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ever nearer; spurred them on and on。 It was ten o'clock that

morning when they left the mill; some thirty miles from

Ogdensburg。 It was now near sundown; but still they figured that

by an effort they could reach the goal that night。 It was their

best day's travel; but they were nerved to it by the sense of

triumph as they trotted; and the prospective joy of marching up

to the commandant and handing over the eagerly looked for;

reassuring documents; gave them new strength and ambition。 Yes!

they must push on at any price that night。 Day was over now; Rolf

was leading at a steady trot。 In his hand he held the long trace

of his toboggan; ten feet behind was Quonab with the short trace;

while Skookum trotted before; beside; or behind; as was dictated

by his general sense of responsibility。



It was quite dark now。 There was no moon; the wooded shore was

black。 Their only guide was the broad; wide reach of the river;

sometimes swept bare of snow by the wind; but good travelling at

all times。 They were trotting and walking in spells; going five

miles an hour; Quonab was suffering; but Rolf was young and eager

to finish。 They rounded another reach; they were now on the last

big bend; they were reeling off the miles; only ten more; and

Rolf was so stirred that; instead of dropping to the usual walk

on signal at the next one hundred yards spell; he added to his

trot。 Quonab; taken unawares; slipped and lost his hold of the

trace。 Rolf shot ahead and a moment later there was the crash of

a breaking air…hole; and Rolf went through the ice; clutched at

the broken edge and disappeared; while the toboggan was dragged

to the hole。



Quonab sprung to his feet; and then to the lower side of the

hole。 The toboggan had swung to the same place and the long trace

was tight; without a moment's delay the Indian hauled at it

steadily; heavily; and in a few seconds the head of his companion

reappeared; still clutching that long trace he was safely dragged

from the ice…cold flood; blowing and gasping; shivering and

sopping; but otherwise unhurt。



Now here a new danger presented itself。 The zero wind would soon

turn his clothes to boards。 They stiffened in a few minutes; and

the Indian knew that frozen hands and feet were all too easy in

frozen clothes。



He made at once for the shore; and; seeking the heart of a spruce

thicket; lost no time in building two roaring fires between which

Rolf stood while the Indian made the bed; in which; as soon as he

could be stripped; the lad was glad to hide。 Warm tea and warm

blankets made him warm; but it would take an hour or two to dry

his clothes。 There is nothing more damaging than drying them too

quickly。 Quonab made racks of poles and spent the next two hours

in regulating the fire; watching the clothes; and working the

moccasins。



It was midnight when they were ready and any question of going on

at once was settled by Quonab。 〃Ogdensburg is under arms;〃 he

said。 〃It is not wise to approach by night。〃



At six in the morning they were once more going; stiff with

travel; sore…footed; face…frozen; and chafed by delay; but; swift

and keen; trotting and walking; they went。 They passed several

settlements; but avoided them。 At seven…thirty they had a distant

glimpse of Ogdensburg and heard the inspiring roll of drums; and

a few minutes later from the top of a hill they had a complete

view of the heroic little town to see  yes! plainly enough 

that the British flag was flying from the flag pole。







Chapter 70。 Saving the Despatches



Oh; the sickening shock of it! Rolf did not know till now how

tired he was; how eager to deliver the heartening message; and to

relax a little from the strain。 He felt weak through and through。

There could be no doubt that a disaster had befallen his

country's arms。



His first care was to get out of sight with his sled and those

precious despatches。



Now what should he do? Nothing till he had fuller information。 He

sent Quonab back with the sled; instructing him to go to a

certain place two miles off; there camp out of sight and wait。



Then he went in alone。 Again and again he was stung by the

thought; 〃If I had come sooner they might have held out。〃



A number of teams gathered at the largest of a group of houses on

the bank suggested a tavern。 He went in and found many men

sitting down to breakfast。 He had no need to ask questions。 It

was the talk of the table。 Ogdensburg had been captured the day

before。 The story is well known。 Colonel MacDonnell with his

Glengarry Highlanders at Prescott went to drill daily on the ice

of the St。 Lawrence opposite Ogdensburg。 Sometimes they marched

past just out of range; sometimes they charged and wheeled before

coming too near。 The few Americans that held the place watched

these harmless exercises and often cheered some clever manceuvre。

They felt quite safe behind their fortification。 By an unwritten

agreement both parties refrained from firing random shots at each

other。 There was little to suggest enemies entrenched; indeed;

many men in each party had friends in the other; and the British

had several times trotted past within easy range; without

provoking a shot。



On February 22d; the day when Rolf and Quonab struck the

Oswegatchie; the British colonel directed his men as usual;

swinging them ever nearer the American fort; and then; at the

nearest point; executed a very pretty charge。 The Americans

watched it as it neared; but instead of wheeling at the brink the

little army scrambled up with merry shouts; and before the

garrison could realize that this was war; they were overpowered

and Ogdensburg was taken。



The American commander was captured。 Captain Forsyth; the second

in command; had been off on a snowshoe trip; so had escaped。 All

the rest were prisoners; and what to do with the despatches or

how to get official instructions was now a deep problem。 〃When

you don't know a thing to do; don't do a thing;〃 was one of Si

Sylvanne's axioms; also; 〃In case of doubt lay low and say

nothing。〃 Rolf hung around the town all day waiting for light。

About noon a tall; straight; alert man in a buffalo coat drove up

with a cutter。 He had a hasty meal in an inside room。 Rolf sized

him up for an American officer; but there was a possibility of

his being a Canadian。 Rolf tried in vain to get light on him but


the inner door was kept closed; the landlord was evidently in the

secret。 When he came out he was again swaddled in the buffalo

coat。 Rolf brushed past him  here was something hard and long

in the right pocket of the big coat。



The landlord; the guest; and the driver had a whispered

conference。 Rolf went as near as he dared; but got only a

searching look。 The driver spoke to another driver and Rolf heard

the words 〃Black Lake。〃 Yes; that was what he suspected。 Black

Lake was on the inland sleigh route to Alexandria Bay and

Sackett's Harbour。



The driver; a fresh yo
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