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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