rolf in the woods- 第47部分

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　young　fellow；　was　evidently　interested　in　the

landlord's　daughter；　the　stranger　was　talking　with　the　landlord。

As　soon　as　they　had　parted；　Rolf　went　to　the　latter　and　remarked

quietly：　〃The　captain　is　in　a　hurry。〃　The　only　reply　was　a　cold

look　and：　〃Guess　that's　his　business。〃　So　it　was　the　captain。　The

driver's　mitts　were　on　the　line　back　of　the　stove。　Rolf　shook

them　so　that　they　fell　in　a　dark　corner。　The　driver　missed　his

mitts；　and　glad　of　a　chance　went　back　in；　leaving　the　officer

alone。　〃Captain　Forsyth；〃　whispered　Rolf；　〃don't　go　till　I　have

talked　with　you。　I'll　meet　you　a　mile　down　the　road。〃



〃Who　are　you　and　what　do　you　want？〃　was　the　curt　and　hostile

reply；　evidently　admitting　the　identification　correct　however。



Rolf　opened　his　coat　and　showed　his　scout　badge。



〃Why　not　talk　now　if　you　have　any　news　　come　in　side。〃　So　the

two　went　to　the　inner　room。　〃Who　is　this？〃　asked　Rolf　cautiously

as　the　landlord　came　in。



〃He's　all　right。　This　is　Titus　Flack；　the　landlord。〃



〃How　am　I　to　know　that？〃



〃Haven't　you　heard　him　called　by　name　all　day？〃　said　the　captain。



Flack　smiled；　went　out　and　returned　with　his　license　to　sell

liquor；　and　his　commission　as　a　magistrate　of　New　York　State。　The

latter　bore　his　own　signature。　He　took　a　pen　and　reproduced　it。

Now　the　captain　threw　back　his　overcoat　and　stood　in　the　full

uniform　of　an　army　officer。　He　opened　his　satchel　and　took　out　a

paper；　but　Rolf　caught　sight　of　another　packet　addressed　to

General　Hampton。　The　small　one　was　merely　a　map。　〃I　think　that

packet　in　there　is　meant　for　me；〃　remarked　Rolf。



〃We　haven't　seen　your　credentials　yet；〃　said　the　officer。　〃I　have

them　two　miles　back　there；〃　and　Rolf　pointed　to　the　woods。



〃Let's　go；〃　said　the　captain　and　they　arose。　Kittering　had　a　way

of　inspiring　confidence；　but　in　the　short；　silent　ride　of　two

miles　the　captain　began　to　have　his　doubts。　The　scout　badge　might

have　been　stolen；　Canadians　often　pass　for　Americans；　etc。　At

length　they　stopped　the　sleigh；　and　Rolf　led　into　the　woods。

Before　a　hundred　yards　the　officer　said；　〃Stop；〃　and　Rolf　stopped

to　find　a　pistol　pointed　at　his　head。　〃Now；　young　fellow；　you've

played　it　pretty　slick；　and　I　don't　know　yet　what　to　make　of　it。

But　I　know　this；　at　the　very　first　sign　of　treachery　I'll　blow

your　brains　out　anyway。〃　It　gave　Rolf　a　jolt。　This　was　the　first

time　he　had　looked　down　a　pistol　barrel　levelled　at　him。　He　used

to　think　a　pistol　a　little　thing；　an　inch　through　and　a　foot

long；　but　he　found　now　it　seemed　as　big　as　a　flour　barrel　and

long　enough　to　reach　eternity。　He　changed　colour　but　quickly

recovered；　smiled；　and　said：　〃Don't　worry；　in　five　minutes　you

will　know　it's　all　right。〃



Very　soon　a　sharp　bark　was　heard　in　challenge；　and　the　two

stepped　into　camp　to　meet　Quonab　and　little　dog　Skookum。



〃Doesn't　look　much　like　a　trap；〃　thought　the　captain　after　he　had

cast　his　eyes　about　and　made　sure　that　no　other　person　was　in　the

camp；　then　aloud；　〃Now　what　have　you　to　show　me？　〃



〃Excuse　me；　captain；　but　how　am　I　to　know　you　are　Captain

Forsyth？　It　is　possible　for　a　couple　of　spies　to　give　all　the

proof　you　two　gave　me。〃



The　captain　opened　his　bag　and　showed　first　his　instructions

given　before　he　left　Ogdensburg　four　days　ago；　he　bared　his　arm

and　showed　a　tattooed　U。　S。　A。；　a　relic　of　Academy　days；　then　his

linen　marked　J。　F。；　and　a　signet　ring　with　similar　initials；　and

last　the　great　packet　of　papers　addressed　to　General　Hampton。

Then　he　said：　〃When　you　hand　over　your　despatches　to　me　I　will

give　mine　to　you　and　we　shall　have　good　guarantee　each　of　the　other。〃



Rolf　rose；　produced　his　bundle　of　papers；　and　exchanged　them　for

those　held　by　Forsyth；　each　felt　that　the　other　was　safe。　They

soon　grew　friendly；　and　Rolf　heard　of　some　stirring　doings　on　the

lake　and　preparations　for　a　great　campaign　in　the　spring。



After　half　an　hour　the　tall；　handsome　captain　left　them　and

strode　away；　a　picture　of　manly　vigour。　Three　hours　later　they

were　preparing　their　evening　meal　when　Skookum　gave　notice　of　a

stranger　approaching。　This　was　time　of　war；　Rolf　held　his　rifle

ready；　and　a　moment　later　in　burst　the　young　man　who　had　been

Captain　Forsyth's　driver。



His　face　was　white；　blood　dripped　from　his　left　arm；　and　in　his

other　hand　was　the　despatch　bag。　He　glanced　keenly　at　Rolf。　〃Are

you　General　Hampton's　scout？〃　Rolf　nodded　and　showed　the　badge　on

his　breast。　〃Captain　Forsyth　sent　this　back；〃　he　gasped。　〃His

last　words　were；　'Burn　the　despatches　rather　than　let　the　British

get　them。'　They　got　him　　a　foraging　party　　there　was　a　spy　at

the　hotel。　I　got　away；　but　my　tracks　are　easy　to　follow　unless　it

drifts。　Don't　wait。〃



Poor　boy；　his　arm　was　broken；　but　he　carried　out　the　dead

officer's　command；　then　left　them　to　seek　for　relief　in　the

settlement。



Night　was　near；　but　Rolf　broke　camp　at　once　and　started　eastward

with　the　double　packet。　He　did　not　know　it　then；　but　learned

afterward　that　these　despatches　made　clear　the　weakness　of

Oswego；　Rochester；　and　Sackett's　Harbour；　their　urgent　need　of

help；　and　gave　the　whole　plan　for　an　American　counter　attack　on

Montreal。　But　he　knew　they　were　valuable；　and　they　must　at　once

be　taken　to　General　Hampton。



It　was　rough；　hard　going　in　the　thick　woods　and　swamps　away　from

the　river；　for　he　did　not　dare　take　the　ice　route　now；　but　they

pushed　on　for　three　hours；　then；　in　the　gloom；　made　a　miserable

camp　in　a　cedar　swamp。



At　dawn　they　were　off　again。　To　their　disgust　the　weather　now　was

dead　calm；　there　was　no　drift　to　hide　their　tracks；　the　trail　was

as　plain　as　a　highway　wherever　they　went。　They　came　to　a　beaten

road；　followed　that　for　half　a　mile；　then　struck　off　on　the　true

line。　But　they　had　no　idea　that　they　were　followed　until；　after

an　hour　of　travel；　the　sun　came　up　and　on　a　far　distant　slope；

full　two　miles　away；　they　saw　a　thin　black　line　of　many　spots；　at

least　a　dozen　British　soldiers　in　pursuit。



The　enemy　was　on　snowshoes；　and　without　baggage　evidently；　for

they　travelled　fast。　Rolf　and　Quonab　burdened　with　the　sled　were

making　a　losing　race。　But　they　pushed　on　as　fast　as　possible　

toiling　and　sweating　at　that　precious　load。　Rolf　was　pondering

whether　the　time　had　not　yet　come　to　stop　and　burn　the　packet；

when；　glancing　back　from　a　high　ridge　that　gave　an　outlook；　he

glimpsed　a　row　of　heads　that　dropped　behind　some　rocks　half　a

mile　away；　and　a　scheme　came　into　his　mind。　He　marched　boldly

across　the　twenty　feet　opening　that　was　in　the　enemy's　view；

dropped　behind　the　spruce　thickets；　called　Quonab　to　follow；　ran

around　the　thicket；　and　again　crossed　the　open　view。　So　he　and

Quonab　continued　for　five　minutes；　as　fast　as　they　could　go；

knowing　perfectly　well　that　they　were　watched。　Round　and　round

that　bush　they　went；　sometimes　close　together；　carrying　the　guns；

sometimes　dragging　the　sled；　sometimes　with　blankets　on　their

shoulders；　sometimes　with　a　short　bag　or　even　a　large　cake　of

snow　on　their　backs。　They　did　everything　they　could　to　vary　the

scene；　and　before　five　minutes　the　British　officer　in　charge　had

counted　fifty…six　armed　Americans　marching　in　single　file　up　the

bank　with　ample　stores；　accompanied　by　five　yellow　dogs。　Had

Skookum　been　allowed　to　carry　out　his　ideas；　there　would　have

been　fifty　or　sixty　yellow　dogs；　so　thoroughly　did　he　enter　into

the　spirit　of　the　game。



The　track　gave　no　hint　of　such　a　troop；　but　of　course　not；　how

could　it？　since　the　toboggan　left　all　smooth　after　they　had

passed；　or　maybe　this　was　a　reinforcement　arriving。　What　could　he

do　with　his　ten　men　against　fifty　of　the　enemy？　He　thanked　his

stars　that　he　had　so　cleverly　evaded　the　trap；　and　without

further　attempt　to　gauge　the　enemy's　strength；　he　turned　and　made

all　possible　has