rolf in the woods-第46部分

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under　an　overhanging　rock　gave　a　good　camp　that　night。　Next　day

the　bad　weather　resumed；　but；　anxious　to　push　on　they　faced　it；

guided　chiefly　by　the　wind。　It　was　northwest；　and　as　long　as　they

felt　this　fierce；　burning　cold　mercilessly　gnawing　on　their

hapless　tender　right　cheek　bones；　they　knew　they　were　keeping

their　proper　main　course。



They　were　glad　indeed　to　rest　at　dusk　and　thaw　their　frozen

faces。　Next　day　at　dawn　they　were　off；　at　first　it　was　calm；　but

the　surging　of　the　snow　waves　soon　began　again；　and　the　air　was

filled　with　the　spray　of　their　lashing　till　it　was　hard　to　see

fifty　yards　in　any　direction。　They　were　making　very　bad　time。　The

fourth　day　should　have　brought　them　to　Ogdensburg；　but　they　were

still　far　off；　how　far　they　could　only　guess；　for　they　had　not

come　across　a　house　or　a　settler。







Chapter　69。　Ogdensburg



The　same　blizzard　was　raging　on　the　next　day　when　Skookum　gave

unequivocal　sign　talk　that　he　smelled　something。



It　is　always　well　to　find　out　what　stirs　your　dog。　Quonab　looked

hard　at　Skookum。　That　sagacious　mongrel　was　sniffing　vigorously；

up　in　the　air；　not　on　the　ground；　his　mane　was　not　bristling；　and

the　patch　of　dark　hair　that　every　gray　or　yellow　dog　has　at　the

base　of　his　tail；　was　not　lifted。



〃He　smells　smoke；〃　was　the　Indian's　quick　diagnosis。　Rolf　pointed

Up　the　wind　and　made　the　sign…talk　query。　Quonab　nodded。



It　was　their　obvious　duty　to　find　out　who　was　their　smoky

neighbour。　They　were　now　not　so　far　from　the　St。　Lawrence；　there

was　a　small　chance　of　the　smoke　being　from　a　party　of　the　enemy；

there　was　a　large　chance　of　it　being　from　friends；　and　the

largest　chance　was　that　it　came　from　some　settler's　cabin　where

they　could　get　necessary　guidance。



They　turned　aside。　The　wind　now；　instead　of　on　the　right　cheek；

was　square　in　their　faces。　Rolf　went　forward　increasing　his　pace

till　he　was　as　far　ahead　as　was　possible　without　being　out　of

sight。　After　a　mile　their　way　led　downward；　the　timber　was

thicker；　the　wind　less；　and　the　air　no　more　befogged　with　flying

snow。　Rolf　came　to　a　long；　deep　trench　that　wound　among　the

trees；　the　snow　at　the　bottom　of　it　was　very　hard。　This　was　what

he　expected；　the　trail　muffled　under　new；　soft　snow；　but　still　a

fresh　trail　and　leading　to　the　camp　that　Skookum　had　winded。



He　turned　and　made　the　sign　for　them　to　halt　and　wait。　Then

strode　cautiously　along　the　winding　guide　line。



In　twenty　minutes　the　indications　of　a　settlement　increased；　and

the　scout　at　length　was　peering　from　the　woods　across　the　open

down　to　a　broad　stream　on　whose　bank　was　a　saw　mill；　with　the

usual　wilderness　of　ramshackle　shanties；　sheds；　and　lumber　piles

about。



There　was　no　work　going　on；　which　was　a　puzzle　till　Rolf

remembered　it　was　Sunday。　He　went　boldly　up　and　asked　for　the

boss。　His　whole　appearance　was　that　of　a　hunter　and　as　such　the

boss　received　him。



He　was　coming　through　from　the　other　side　and　had　missed　his　way

in　the　storm；　he　explained。



〃What　are　ye　by　trade？〃



〃A　trapper。〃



〃Where　are　ye　bound　now？〃



〃Well；　I'll　head　for　the　nearest　big　settlement；　whatever　that

is。〃



〃It's　just　above　an　even　thing　between　Alexandria　Bay　and

Ogdensburg。〃



So　Rolf　inquired　fully　about　the　trail　to　Alexandria　Bay　that　he

did　not　want　to　go　to。　Why　should　he　be　so　careful？　The　mill

owner　was　clearly　a　good　American；　but　the　scout　had　no　right　to

let　any　outsider　know　his　business。　This　mill　owner　might　be

safe；　but　he　might　be　unwise　and　blab　to　some　one　who　was　not　all

right。



Then　in　a　casual　way　he　learned　that　this　was　the　Oswegatchie

River　and　thirty　miles　down　he　would　find　the　town　of　Ogdensburg。



No　great　recent　events　did　he　hear　of；　but　evidently　the　British

troops　across　the　river　were　only　awaiting　the　springtime　before

taking　offensive　measures。



For　the　looks　of　it；　Rolf　bought　some　tea　and　pork；　but　the

hospitable　mill　man　refused　to　take　payment　and；　leaving　in　the

direction　of　Alexandria　Bay；　Rolf　presently　circled　back　and

rejoined　his　friends　in　the　woods。



A　long　detour　took　them　past　the　mill。　It　was　too　cold　for

outdoor　idling。　Every　window　was　curtained　with　frost；　and　not　a

soul　saw　them　as　they　tramped　along　past　the　place　and　down　to

continue　on　the　ice　of　the　Oswegatchie。



Pounded　by　the　ceaseless　wind；　the　snow　on　the　ice　was　harder；

travel　was　easier；　and　the　same　tireless　blizzard　wiped　out　the

trail　as　soon　as　it　was　behind　them。



Crooked　is　the　river　trail；　but　good　the　footing；　and　good　time

was　made。　When　there　was　a　north　reach；　the　snow　was　extra　hard

or　the　ice　clear　and　the　scouts　slipped　off　their　snow　shoes；　and

trotted　at　a　good　six…mile　gait。　Three　times　they　halted　for　tea

and　rest；　but　the　fact　that　they　were　the　bearers　of　precious

despatches；　the　bringers　of　inspiring　good　news；　and　their　goal

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