Crawfordsville Daily Journal, Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, 1 August 1891 — Page 6

The J4aif-Bpccd.

A Romance of Colonial Days.

BY BOBEST A. CramSO.

•{mwtthc.HT, ISA).

CHAPTER XI. ARIEL'S SEARCH.

•When the two young iron loft tho house of Mine. Chevreul, Marden noticed that hi* friend's taco won? an expression of suppressed exultation which cocid only le accounted for on the frround that Mile. I)e#tam hail at last rewarded his devotion with sotne sign of encouragement. Whatever his feellags might be, IV Ilarzao found somo difflrulty in giving them expression, »nd when lie did speak it wis to announce that the raiment to which Maior Oiovre.il and himself belonged had orders march the next day. M&rdon Jid not have-'time to speculate on the incongruity Of this announcement with the happines depicted in the lover's countenance, when a pebble full at his few the signal agreed upon with Ariel to warn them ot the vicinity of danger. Without suet timely intimation the arrack would doubtless have been 5-jecoxsf-.il. but when the assassins found themselves confron'.i-d by njen quite prepared and armed to receive them, it was thev who were surprised and overmatched. for the isiidest of the trio instantly fell by Mara en's sword, while his fellows retreated a n-w paces, one of them drawing his pistol which be ft red at Ie Harue without effect: and •eeing Maior Chevreul anprouefiing. the :.two vilhans turned to fly. Hut Ariel snatched a pistol fro:n the boh. of tho fall*n man and fired at the fugitives, one of whoa staggered on a few paces and fell. "So. the battle is over, without tho aid of the reserve."* said Major Cbevr«ul. ''l-t iw see who these braves are." "This one lx.donged to Lemourier'e corps." r.aid IV I'.rtrz.v. "a drunken and quarrelsome fellow: he spent much time in the guard house."

The group stood razing at the fallen man with that strange interest which attaches to death, when the ghastly foaturc-H were suddenly illuminated by a glare of light. which was reflected on the f.i'-es and. weapons of the group. Ariel grooved Marden's arm and pointed upward. The sky v.a.. all aglow with the red light of conflagration. spiral columns of facj-s of the

spark-s and ree men

cinders. The .became livid

with terror as the appalling truth forced Itself upon them, and without a word they lied in the direction of the fire.

Vrhen Major Ohovretil clasped his wifo tn his !r:ns with trie assurance of her .•saf'-tv. his m11: tarv •-. in--ss and decision returned: but IHana*." could scarcely bo-restrained fr.n rushiu? into the

ED-.-ikin^,rui:i5',to.perish *.vuh the object Of h:s sove. for therr was uui btin the minds oi: tbove. p'-i^.-nt a Mile. Destain br.d-/ether, fate a th« t'ames. •::Iar.|e.n tjaunceedcii in. in? his fri--nd bv urging tnat while a doubt re-im-i-ied he inusr. riot vield to dejspair.

Ma«. Cheer:.-:!] told ho.v she left her nii-ee in the drawing, room a few minutes before the Qre broke out. where

Bhe could have escaped.by door or winQow althougr. s.'ji* might have followed w. her upstairs an perished, as she herself would have don is but for the timely help of a faithful servant.

The suspicion which was growing in Marden's mind was almost confirmed by this statement, and after a consultation with Ariel, he took C'hevreul and DcJ^arzac aside and stated tho case to ••••. them. "This is a part of tho plot." said he, "whioh included your assassination.

That was foiled by the exertions of 'Ariel: but this has succeeded so faf. Lotnourier 1} a cunning villian. He is Tibsont and thus avoids suspicion as he thinks but the negro servant carries out his plans with the aid of many accomplices. Your house. Major, was set on fire, and Minn, Ninon carried oft botore the flames gained headway. Had ine. Qievreul been with her, she •would have been murdered to insure her silence. It is your duty to report to

Gen. Montcalm, to have the nogro arrested. and every house in town searched for tho young lady, lleliove me, she •..•*111 be found: but not amid these ruins." "There is life and hope in your words, my friend," exclaimed Ue liarzac, grasplng his hand.

Major Chevreul thought the arrangement plausible, but resolved nevertheless i.o have the ruins searched to remove ali doubt-

Mrs. Vi-rnon, who was ono of the first to otter sympathy and service, insistod on Mmn. C'hevreul sharing her house durin? the absence of her husband, to .. the irreat relief of the latter.

When Montcalm was informed of tho

wents of the nijfht lie ordered the arrest of tho negro, and a search of all tho houses, as Ktiggeste-l by Major Chevreul. Hi? also sent for Manion and thanked him for his shun? in the rescue of Iu Barzac from the assassins. "Not for this only, Mr. Marden," said .th« brave Frenchman, "but for many acts of kindness to her children has

France to thank you, and in her name I restore to you your parolo and your lib--•erty you are. unconditionally free."

Ue nnbucWi'd tho sword which, ho wore. "Accept," he said, "this souvenir from the representative of King I/ouis. Should we meet again in peace or war. the wearer of this sword may claim the friendship of Monualm."

I.emourier's negro servant was not to be itiund, and the search of the holmes also proved futile but ./ the ^,lied\i-,v tf despair^ fell iijion tne frieni Mile. Destaln- wIkoi tne w-irkineii who were i-nga^ed ill' clearing the nuijs disxvered undirr the floor pf the drawing-room a charred and blackened/human skcU^ton. Then hopo. retired, leaving in its place.an implaea-

We desire for von,'eanc.e in the heart of one at, lea:,t of the threo men who gazed ... *vkh le.ir-di:uuiod eyes upon the sacred re!: .,.

Then the rapprd sounded tho regiment formed on tho esplanade, and •Wnid enthusiasttc crics of "Vivo la

»tancei" "Vivo MontcalmT" embarked for tho expedition against Oswego. I The work of clearing tlie ruins having ceased at tho moment that the fearfnl discovery occurred, Ariel, impelled by some motive which he did not dls1 close mmaencril a search amid tho ashes on the spot where tho relics lay. which res-lied in the discovery of two I or three objects which be carefully proserved and then tamed his steps in the direction of Mrs. Vernon's house. Later in the afternoon, accompanied by that lady, he visited some of the Indian families on tho shore.

It was decided among her friends that it would be prudent to eoncoal from Mnie. Chevreul the result of tho sear:k in the ruins, and to let her cling to the hope of some Say rcicuing her nieo« from the hands of her persecutor. Her family pride. howt»ver, wa« fully aroused, and her indignation at tho insult oSered to a lady of the French noblesse almost overcame her grief. "liut you will admit that my premonitions were not without foundation'.'" she sail to Mrs. Vernon: "Ah, those mysierioui warnings! why are they sent if not to help us to parry the stroke which is about to fall? And why should we be compelled to bear tho double cur so of apprehension and reality?"

Mrs. Vernon wm not a logician, and, although often perplexed by such questions.^ she was ever ready with an answer, often derived from the royal I'salmist.or the deep and exhaustless well of her own pure faith, and if they did not quite convince, at least they gave some consolation to tho murmurer. "You forget." she said softly, "that our thoughts are not all from God, nor does he send all tho troubles which afflict us. And I think that these prosentioientii are tricks of the Evil One to confound our faith and tempt us to question the wisdom and justice of Ilim who doeth all things well." "Who will carry on the search for Ninon?" asked Mine. Chevreul. after a pause, during which she crossed herself and breathed an Ave Marie by Way of penanee for the otTences which her friend hinted at. "Now that my husband and I)e I'.arzao are removed, who will search for her? Who will rescue her from that bandit?" "I do not think that her life is in danger," replied Mrs. Vernon: "and wo hare friends who are bold and true and more than a match for Lemouner in courage and address. Therefore fesr nothing, hope everything."..

Marden, oppressed by the horror of the late- catastrophe, his friend's grief and his sudden defiirture. scarcely realized the fact of his own liberation from captivity and the prospect of rejoining his compatriots. as he paecrl the room which he had occupied with IX Itarxaic:' impatiently .awaiting the arrival of Ariel. "Weil, thou art comeat last!" he exclaimed as the boy entered the room. "Wluu hast thou done?. Are the.prepar-af.-.ns made? A.-e—" lie paused a!^rupt!y, .-struck by the eager, triumphant /expression of the boy's face.- *v •'Ha! what savst :thor.: Ml'.e. Destain not dead! The skeleton a 'ruse to blind u.s' She is a captive, and we must rescue her! Thou art raving Ariel'. This horror has unbalanced thee! Where is the proof?"

Tho boy placed on tho table a broad copper armlet and a handful of perforated teeth, evidently those of a wild animal, and which strung together had formed a necklace, which, with the armlets had adorned the person of an Indian maiden.

Ariel paused for a moment to observe his master's astonishment and perplexity. and then proceeded with hisexplanation. We will toll his story. During the few moments that he passed in Mme. Chevroul's drawing-room, he had observed Mile. Destain closely, attracted not only by her beauty, but by what ho

11EF1 IIKAI) UOWKIl DOWN AM) COVBKKD WITH A ItLA.NKKT.

overheard in Mrs. Vernon's house. Ilesaw her smile, disclosing as she did so a row of teeth, small and regular, rivaling the pearls which she wore upon her neck and in the buckle of the belt around her I waist, from which was suspended a jeweled stilleto, a mere toy, and these, with a diamond ring upon her finger, were her only ornaments.

When the remains were exhumed from the ruins, Ariel observed that tho teeth were larger than those of Mile, Destain and he resolved to search for the stilleto and the belt bucklo, which he I thought were most likely to resist tho Are. For these his search was vain, and what he did find he carried to Mrs. Vornon to whom lie confided his discovery. That lady was in the habit of visiting and ministering to the wants of the sick of her people, ami she -quickly seized another link in the chain of evidenoo. Taking Ariel with her she proceeded at once to.the river-batik, where she found the woman she wanted, seated on tho ground, her head bowed down and covered with her blanket. Mrs. Vernon laiil her hand on her shoulder and spoko a few words In her own language. The woman unvailed her face on which tho lines of .hopeless anguish were traced iu deepest, furrows. "The daughter of the (ireat Spirit comes loo late,' she said "the child is gone!" "Where have vou buried her?"' "'tone! Gone! "she repeated.wit,h adespalrin* gesture. With tho sweet sym-

pathetic tone of om to whoa grief was familiar, #!rs. Vernon touched the heart of the bereaved mother who told her briefly the wtobjj which had been done her. Her child, a girl of sixwen. died the night before, and the mother went to seek aid among the tribe to burv bur the next day. When she returned the corpse v.as gone, s-he knew not where. Mrs. Vern.vi was satisfied. She had seen the sick girl and tried to save her: she had also observed the armlet and ni oklace with the instinctive glance which women bestow on dress or ornament. "You are right. Ariel.™ she said, as they turned away from the river. "Mile. IVistain still lives, and we will see if wo cannot outwit this Lemuurier and restore her to iier lover and her-family. Go. and tell your master to cutce to my house this evening."

ClIAPTEU XI),

te rox'-.isi) im.anhs.•

Where the mighty river of the North, offspring of the "unsalted seas." tho great St- Lawrence.reflects in its crystal breast the emerald foliage or the frowning rocks of a thousand isles, now murmuring softly on some pebbled beach, now rushing on with foaming crest and swift impetuous course, like a prodigal sated with joys and fl.ving from their embrace: in this dreamland of Nature, where the only sounds were the songs of birds, the rustle of leaves, or the gurgle of water forcing Its way through narrow rocky channels, a man standing on the shore of one of the islets gazed on the fairv scene with the air of one not so much enchanted by its beauty as to be heeuless of time and circumstance. In fact he was a sentinel rather than an artistic admirer—his quick restless eye observing every shadow on the water, every movement of bird or leaf. At his feet a birch canoe was drawn up on tho

AT HIS FE'.'I A K.--II CA.VOi WAS DRAWS'

beach: a few paces b^hin.1 him a boy was broiling some fish upon the embers of a wikhi tire, while the arorna.of coilee prevadej the air. "Thy supper hath an appetising smell, Ariel, and I think vou may eat it in peace as we left, no trail which the eye of a Huron could detect, and without a trail even a blotdhohr.d could not follow us."

So saying he threw himself at length upon the groundvand fell into a reverie from which ho was presently aroused by Ariel with the intimation that supper was ready. A hungry man might well bo thankful for such a banquet, and Marden, having done his duty by the fried venison, broiled fish and aromatic coffee, lighted his pipe and resumed his revery. while Ariel extinguished tho lire and made other preparations for the a[ proaohing night. One by one t^je stars came out, and the silence would have been oppressive but for the gurgling sound of the water, which had such a soporific effect upon Marden. tired as he was, physically and mentally, that he was obliged to paco tho narrow limits of the isle to keep awake until Ariel, refreshed by a few hours' sleep, rolieved bisjfuard.

The boy paused not for reveries nor listened to drowsy murmurings. For a moment his eyes swept the obscurity around him, and glancing upward discerned the branches of a lofty tree outlined against the star-lit sky. Noiselessly he launched the canoe and soon gained the shore of another and larger island, from the center of which arose the gigantic form of the tree he was in search of, and he soon gained an elevated position among its branches where he remained hour after hour, striving to penetrate the darkness.

With the tirst faint indication of daylight his patience was rewarded by a spark of fire on a distant isle, between himself and which many others were were dimly visible-. Then the spark Hashed into a ilame which grew until he could see that it was fed by dusky figures that momentarily grew more distinct. There were four of them and the spy* soon deeftled that they were whites and that they were about to prepare a meal. Instantly the IAy descended from his perch and pushed out in his canoe, which he headed In the direction of the scene ho had just witnessed. It was now dayligh and he pri»eodo..l with great caution, counting the intervening islands until he reached one which he knew must be opposite to tle point where he saw tho fire- Here he landed and crept along until he got a view of the scene, now only a few rids distant. In the foreground was a fire on which wore somo cuiinary utensils. Two of the men lounged on tho grass, while another aided the cook, whose ivegro features and the sound of his voice, as he directed his assistant, indicated that he was Lemourier's servant. In the background he taught a glimpse of a rude shelter ciim]wsed of bark and blankets suspended upon poles driven in tho earth, at the eiu.-anco of which sat a

girl whose long, straight, black hair foil ov-er tho vesture of & squaw or half breed.

Ariel waited a few minutes for furthor developments, and then crept back to the canoe.. He found Marden awaiting his return with much anxiety. "Wliere hast' thou been, Ariel?" ho asked. "Thy face indicates soiiio discovery."

The jjoy at once communicated his adventure, after whicn he proceeded to prepare breakfast while his master thought oi ta plan to assure himself of tho presenco-of Mile. Destain in tho on-

etny's camp and to rescue her if possibio. After the meal tbo fire was estinpiished, and the baggage transferred to the canoe, which was headed for tho island where Ariel made his first observations. There, concealed in the foliage of the great tree, tne ad venturers watched the movements of the enemy.

The whites were lounging on the shore but the negro was not visible. Presently a tall female figure emerg(d from the tepee, followed by another, which Ariel recognized as that of tho squaw.

The distance was too great to distinguish features, but Marden felt that the tall slender form could belong to no other than Ninon D-stain. Two canoes were drawn up on the sboro. and the careless demeanor of the men indicated their entire sense of security from attack or observation. All day the scouts kept watch in the branches until tho growing darkness hid the island from view, when they descendeu and made a fire to prepare tho meal which their long abstinence rendered necessary to recruit them for their contemplated enterprise.

After two hours rest, they launched the canoe and steered boldly for the camp of the enemy. The white men were asleep by the fire: but the negro was not to Ik? seen when Ariel stepped on shore jo reconnoiter. and crept -softly toward the tepee, across the entrance of which was stretched tlie bulky form of the negro. The boy retreated to the rear of the tepee, where he searched for a crevice in the side. The interior was dark with the exception of a faint ray which struggled through the entramvj from the tire without. liaClcd in this attempt to communicate with Ninon, Ariel resolved upon a dangerous experiment. Creeping along the ground liko a snake, he approached tho negro, whose heavy breathing encouraged him to proceed. lie arose and stepped over him. In doing so he intercepted the ray of light, which, as he perceived, fell upon the face of tho squaw. She moved, and as Ariel glided into the darkness, she raised herself on nor elbow, then apparently satisfied, composed herself.to rest again. Ariel paused to listen, and soon detected a penile breathing: he knelt down and touched a hanl which shivered and withdrew. Then the negro's voice jarred upon his car, asking the squaw if she was asleep. The woman replied sulkily. He nattered a threat and went awav to the lire, and returning with hia.pipe lighted, resumed his piaco at the entrance.

Ninon, also awakened, stretched out h--r hand and encountered that of Ariel. It was a critical moment: would she scream? He placed a linger on her lips. She did not move and sc.-jrc.ely breathed Ariei traced his name letter by letteron the palm of her hand, and he knew by the pressure.on his own that she comprehended,:! 1. Her presence of mind saved thein,t ..and while she as:ked tho squaw .careless /question's, she: drew a piece of,Ijark: aside u:id pcdc- I him through the crevice.' She was about to follow

liiin '.vhc'n: the squaw-

laid her hand upon her -shoulder. "Why you not go to sleep?" she. asked in broken French. Ariel heard the ijuc-s-tion and ifnew that- the-'opportunity was lost for the present, although .part of his'mission had succeeded. Mile. Dosthat her friends were at

lain know hand. "That will bo a relief to thought, "if she does not betray her looks."

Marden was growing impatient, however. lie told Ariel, that no better opoprtunity was likely to occur, while some accident might snatch tho prize from their grasp. "Go back." he said "or stay: I'll go myself. We must have her tonight if we have to fight against odds." Ha! wnat id that?" Something attracts their attention. "Ariel did you hear that Bhout? It came from the water. See!" As he spoke a huge shadow appeared a fow rods from tho shore another moment and the firelight fell upon a barge, propelled:by six rowers, in tho bow of which stood a man of largo proportions. wbo-sprang to the shore V-fore the vessel touched. Marden recognized him instantly. It was Lemourier.

CI3APTKU XIII.

"I'.KIN'. IIASIlFfUS OK LII.IKS." Mercer was prepared, as far as his limited force admitted, for the attack of the enemy, with the courage of a man who was ready to die at his post, mingled with scorn of the pusillanimity which rendered the loss of an i:ujortant position almost certain, and for Which the English

reiu-rals Loudoun and Ab-

ercrombie earned the lasting contempt of the colonists, if not of their own troops, while history accuses them of imbecility and cowardice.

It was Ilenwick's whim to announce the arrival of the little fleet at Oswego by the discharge of one of the captured cannon, to the* surprise of Mercer, who did not know that these reinforcements won.- possessed of artillery. Jabe had p.aeid tnese in position on a raft, and stacked the French muskets with fixed bayonets on the same

vessel, so

that

they made quite an imposing effect. "It will show our friends that we liavo not 1)0011 idle, or backward about helping ourselves," said the ranger, "and I guess the Frenchmen will know tho sound of their own g-jns when they speak to them from the walls of the fort. Eh, Lieutenant that was a neat job of' yours." "Thanks to your suggestion, Jabe," replied Uonwick. "and the help you gave us from your,, perch on the tree. In truth, it was you who captured the guns, my friend."

Jabe, much pleased with the compliment:. laughed heart:Iv. "We'll give it to the.in again, Liotuenant They don't, know thut tho fort is reinforced, do thoy? Well, I iope ftiev won't dml it out and run away before we get a shot at them." "Have no fears on that score, .labe." responded Kenwick, grimly. "I think your chances Tor capturing more cannon are good." "I say. Lieutenant," jsald dabe, with sudden gravity, "don't you believe that we can whip.them?" .-. ., "To bo sure," was tho careless .reply "that's what we're bore for

This answer was so unsatisfactory that a doubt, for the first time crossed tho taindof the ranger. "If wo can't hold tho fort." he

thought, "what will bccomo of the women and children?" and a vision of his wife and baby at the mercy of tho Hurons ma le his stent heart tremble. Mercer, having received S.-lwyn and his followers, arid thanked him for their services, made a place for them ill tho programme of defense.

The women and other non-combat-ants were removed from Fort Ontario

"that's what Wt.'llK llliliK KOit.

to the stronger building, and Selwyn was ordered to garrison tho former. "Jabe." said Mrs. Locke. "I dreamt last nigh about Captain Marden and his boy. lias nothing been heard of thorn?" "No but the Captain's safe enough. He's a prisoner of war. you know, and as for Ariel, 1 guess he's found his master by this time." "Jabo," said his wife, earnestly, "nre you *i/re that you don't know any thing about Ariel?" "What should I know?" asked the ranger, in surprise. "Oh. I mean about who lie is and where he came from." "I guess we know all that ho knows himself, and you know the story as well as I do." he replied: whereupon his wife refrained from asking any more questions. and presently fell into a train of reflections on the obtuseness or indifference of men on all subjects which did not Immediately touch their interests or strike th'-ir vision, while -Iain ooiitentcdjy played with his baby.

At midnight a sentinel gave the alarm. The gunboats from Fort Frontenac were approachMig, the movements on board and tho voices of command being distinctly audible.

The news was speedily communicated to the blockhouse. Kenwick. who was officerof the watch, aroused Selwyn. "The gun-boats are here, Charley,".he said. "I."t's make a .'.ash at thetn."

Selwyn looked at his friend in surprise. "Yes proju.' is da: seen r. us. rang*,-

I know it looks like, a rash but consider it well. The night they^bnve-just. arrived, have not

t\light .inif ul expect willfiaau ma canoe* -with thirty i" .w.h th I -i n. 'i •,

and on: ui knn« in 1 r!'i Huuii tackle.ire-: ,i rst irunboat/we reach, sweep her deeVs tirst and then .^t'oiv her up the, riv- ie h, »'i -1 oi gV ivnj-jVH of the r.' in and went to lay it before Mercer, while llenw ck called for voIut.-a-.ts and made preparations for the.raid.

In half an ho\ir six eanoesrr'eiSe.h carrying live men glided-.through the darkness, keopingclose together, tho puddles making no sound as thev propelled the little barks along. Soon the hulls of the gunboats begun to loom up, and tho sound of oars indicated that some of them were being placed in iosiiion. Then a gun from the foremost one proclaimed that the soige was begun. Instantly the lights in the fort were extinguished, but the gunboat did not ccaso firing. "They have got tho range," thought Ilenwick. Hang! went another gun almost over his head. "Come on. men!" he shouted, grasping the tow rail of tho gunboat and springing to the deck, followed by .labe and the rest with the exception of one man to secure the canoes.

The boldness of the attack secured its success, and the Frenchmen, appalled by the apparition of a band of fo"tnen on their deck who (ourod in a volley and then charged with the

bayonet,

enomy, realizing their d*. they would soon Ihj within'^'

:from

ctho

sel to bis own and ca:

dived

under hatches, jumped overlward, or surrendered at discretion. Kenwick knew there was no time to be lost. The nearest vessel w-as approaching to see what the firing meant, and be would soon have the entire fleet upon him. Promptly he ordered one half his force to return to the canoes in tinier to tow the prize while the others remained on board to guard against attack. Already objects wis-e becoming faintly visible in the dawn of an August moruint: and as Kenwick measured the distance between the otiemy and himself, in- was gratified to observe that it was momentarily increasing. Evidently tin- Frenchmen "did not quite understand the situation, else they could have made Master lienwick pay dearly for his temerity. As it was, one of tlie vessels u-a,s aliout, to open fire with its bow-gun* when Jabe spoiled tli'- shot by dropping ihe gunner, while his companions prevented further annoyance by clearing its deck with bullets which were not fired at random.

As soon as it wis light enough to observe the situation. Mercer in turn opened fire on the enemy, the olIoct of Which encouraged Kenwick to attempt the capture of the vessel vvhose guns he had sil.-nred. With tiii.-, .,-w lie ordered the canoes to halt, while with the aid of oars he approached the ..econd prizo and made her fast with a rope. He had scarcely gotten under way again, however, when the enemy discovered tho insignificance of their antagonist and began to lower and man their boats to attack him.

Thoy came on gallantly under the fire of tho fort anil Ilenwick's sharpshooters nnd made a dash at. tho canoes, but. Jabo turned one of tho guns loaded with shrapnel on the foremost boats with such good aim as to make tlvein pause, while Kenwick hoisted a sail and called in the men from .the canoes. Thus reinforced with rilles, whllo the distance from the fort was rapidly diminishing, net a man dare show himself on the decks of the nearest gunboats, so sure was the aim of the rangers, while Mercer spread destruction among tbo small boats with showers of grape-shot. Tlio

a#4lU

shore,

to rescue the prizes.

crowded with

iast

c„

KL'-

grappling the second ,£^ upon its deck. eoiiC.JoJ,,, to drive the liu

bar..! ,"r

overboard. At a signal from dropped upon the deck, and

shrapnel fr and tore the charged with bayonets'

Lpnol

hl'*

ped upon the deck and ''^'l

from l.is gun paW,.5'-"''-tore up the crowd of inv'.' rangers sprang to ti-.'-IV '"'^l

I.o.. )njl

',V .V T'

101

their rifles. Tho struggle ""Us1 short, and the remnant of

driven hack pell moll" escaped but Kenwick lashe/o Ki.l t.n V.Jc

r-«U

»&v»|

*«-.

--1 carried ii]

tho prisoners safely

H[ld

,.r

,rw-*i'A

tho forts while the enen.-- ,-'i tired. "Did I not tell th.V'ul?'? Ronwlck. grasping the mi^'v.^l "that thine opi.K»rtumti^ "aCM guns wvro u»limit4Hi?n

V„,.-

Jabe answered with a faii

left arm dangled at his M-ie broken. The prizes wre Unv.vl' '*1 nrer, out of range of the encu,-'', and the guns and aiumum'.^' "^1 ferred to l-'ort Oswego/ ''i:M

Kenwick received the wa-^c. I

*}s Pantry. He can..'-"^,' ^*1

for conflict with a loss of six men. was kept up' without Intermix,,.' as Steadily answered by tin- .Sti"| a cloud of smoke hung liko a'vn*'" tho combatants.

wrat-hes'."^''"-|

I'ho fire frorii oc

ote:

At noon the Mohawk nou need the approach of thoiindw and at sunset their first g.in aV^'£ echoes of the forest. T!,e reeled chiefly on Fort-Ontario »,\?' being built chiefly of timber showed, tho ejects o~f th.e li^snUrd^w which only ceased when night i--1,''la-things invisible.

"They will hcgln again in the

ing." observed Ren wick, "and at of do or timbers will not lonjj in lion, and I ilo not wLsh to hav? „,v brokon inploriouslv."

"It makes littlo dUTm-nro which of the wall wo an* on," n-j-lif-i S-Ih I "the end is drawing- n««ar. hurry it a littlo. Charier. U,V" think you could prevail on 'Mtci: Jip" us those batteries ti, aarc. inr these walls aKmt o-. ears'1 \W have the advantage* of ground, and we might thing." Selwyn shook his bevi "Wc might blow up the i-t .1 our way through their Un.s suggested. Moreer, inaknjLr*i 'minspection, heard thebo vvcr as T, tetvd. "My brave friend. s'Uf! def.'ud this p^t tur,,! h'm xn tn eouratre enn do no ri Mr run away." "1 *»unt Ilu-ht our v. ireplied Henwiek. w-lth a "i s1 in his' face: "but v.ou wiyour side whenever dan^«-? "I kn«w I i:an r«'iv4j K»n brave eountryriii n, nl Ab .don't mean that ^hiij under these ruins.* around khe battered--.. tain Solwjn.'Vou wj!i '.ra?n tnand to Kori .(.»swe^o at or give »M'ders for saying, he depart! 1.

At daylight th" cannon:ide again. Hy ten o'e^ek I ert in ruins, and the enemy's Hre, confer.trated on ('wego. soon how£ d'jiitrous results. Mercer, resolute in midst of impending ruin, visited tit

:U«

THKY WKJIK K.VAHI.ru TO Al'l'i.' :.T NKAH THE 1»A ITKirV.

batteries an«l spoke words of en^euri.:ment to the men. who in their-jt" worki-d at. tlie guns as cheerfully a? they ho[x to repulse the enenny.

At nv»on. Mercer, after corisu^iics witli his otheers, resolvi-d to attack on the enemy in the woixiWani if possible drive them back :inil' their guns. It was a for:cm Iwpe.-andsh Colonel layman, who was 10 j/and'lv^ asked for volunteers, when tire en:ir« garrison responded. Ue sek$t»" vl"two': hundred men from New York aii.: N'-* England beside*s llrant and iK? -Mo-.-hawks.

As every thing depende-d 011 the. denness and foi*ee of the blow* Mt-rcer concentrated his lire

i»n

the pain: of

attack, and under its cover 'the.-ojtio coliunn advanced in silence at th^doubie quick step.

They were enabled to approach very I near the battery, the ifuns of which were elevaU'd at an angle above' t»tr head* to strike' the paran^is of the f'Ti. which suddenly ceased

firing,

ami with

a cheer tho devoted band rushed tho foe, leaped a slight br»»a^t»vork which tho conGdent Frenchmen ly deemed necessary for defenc'^ anl drove back or killed the guniu spiked tho cannon*

The battery silenced, Lyman ni.rt-

dash at another in the re\v ceeded in disabling ono gun. uluti enemy recovered from iVur and began to press him hud. A of iluruns prised in bet voi

tho Mohawks, and a force of ''ir threatened his left flank, whij^

of Canadians and Indians thtev selves between him and the pit^ treat. Nothing daunted, tao 1 veteran formed his command in-, fsqtinre, tho New Knglanders w, bayonets

r»w

'\V{

the outside, while ihe

Yorkers,

tho

inner line, poured

deadly fire.

this order they

br-«Jfl

through tho cordon of foes, nud s^rA,r