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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 haste back to the shelter of Ogdensburg。
Chapter 71。 Sackett's Harbour
It was hours before Rolf was sure that he had stopped the
pursuit； and the thing that finally set his mind at rest was the
rising wind that soon was a raging and drifting snow storm。 〃Oh；
blessed storm！〃 he said in his heart； as he marked all trail
disappear within a few seconds of its being made。 And he thought：
〃How I cursed the wind that held me back really from being
made prisoner。 How vexed I was at that ducking in the river； that
really saved my despatches from the enemy。 How thankful I am now
for the storm that a little while back seemed so bitterly cruel。〃
That forenoon they struck the big bend of the river and now did
not hesitate to use the easy travel on the ice as far as
Rensselaer Falls； where； having got their bearings from a
settler； they struck across the country through the storm； and at
night were encamped some forty miles from Ogdensburg。
Marvellously few signs of game had they seen in this hard trip；
everything that could hide away was avoiding the weather。 But in
a cedar bottom land near Cranberry Lake they found a 〃yard〃 that
seemed to be the winter home of hundreds of deer。 It extended two
or three miles one way a half a mile the other； in spite of the
deep snow this was nearly all in beaten paths。 The scouts saw at
least fifty deer in going through； so； of course； had no
difficulty in selecting a young buck for table use。
The going from there on was of little interest。 It was the same
old daily battle with the frost； but less rigorous than before；
for now the cold winds were behind； and on the 27th of February；
nine days after leaving； they trotted into Ticonderoga and
reported at the commandant's headquarters。
The general was still digging entrenchments and threatening to
annihilate all Canada。 But the contents of the despatches gave
him new topics for thought and speech。 The part he must play in
the proposed descent on Montreal was flattering； but it made the
Ticonderoga entrenchments ridiculous。
For three days Rolf was kept cutting wood； then he went with
despatches to Albany。
Many minor labours； from hog…killing to stable…cleaning and
trenching； varied the month of March。 Then came the uncertain
time of April when it was neither canoeing nor snow…shoeing and
all communication from the north was cut off。
But May； great； glorious May came on； with its inspiring airs and
livening influence。 Canoes were afloat； the woods were brown
beneath and gold above。
Rolf felt like a young stag in his strength。 He was spoiling for
a run and volunteered eagerly to carry despatches to Sackett's
Harbour。 He would go alone； for now one blanket was sufficient
bed； and a couple of pounds of dry meat was enough food for each
day。 A small hatchet would be useful； but his rifle seemed too
heavy to carry； as he halted in doubt； a junior officer offered
him a pistol instead； and he gladly stuck it in his belt。
Taller than ever； considerably over six feet now； somewhat lanky；
but supple of joint and square of shoulder； he strode with the
easy stride of a strong traveller。 His colour was up； his
blue…gray eyes ablaze as he took the long trail in a crow line
across country for Sackett's Harbour。 The sentry saluted； and the
officer of the day； struck by his figure and his glowing face as
much as by the nature of his errand； stopped to shake hands and
say； 〃Well； good luck； Kittering； and may you bring us better
news than the last two times。〃
Rolf knew how to travel now； he began softly。 At a long； easy
stride he went for half an hour； then at a swinging trot for a
mile or two。 Five miles an hour he could make； but there was one
great obstacle to speed at this season every stream was at
flood； all were difficult to cross。 The brooks he could wade or
sometimes could fell a tree across them； but the rivers were too
wide to bridge； too cold and dangerous to swim。 In nearly every
case he had to make a raft。 A good scout takes no chances。 A
slight raft means a risky passage； a good one； a safe crossing
but loss of time in preparations。 Fifteen good rafts did Rolf
make in that cross…country journey of three days： dry spruce logs
he found each time and bound them together with leather…wood and
withes of willow。 It meant a delay of at least an hour each time；
that is five hours each day。 But the time was wisely spent。 The
days were lengthening； he could travel much at dusk。 Soon he was
among settlements。 Rumours he got at a settler's cabin of Sir
George Prevost's attack on Sackett's Harbour and the gallant
repulse and at morning of the fourth day he came on the hill
above Sackett's Harbour the same hill where he had stood three
months before。 It was with something like a clutching of his
breath that he gazed； his past experiences suggested dreadful
thoughts but no thank God； 〃Old Glory〃 floated from the pole。
He identified himself to the sentinels and the guard； entered the
fort at a trot； and reported at headquarters。
There was joy on every side。 At last the tide had turned。
Commodore Chauncey； after sweeping Lake Ontario； had made a
sudden descent on York （Toronto now） the capital of Upper Canada；
had seized and destroyed it。 Sir George Prevost； taking advantage
of Chauncey's being away； had attacked Sackett's Harbour； but； in
spite of the absence of the fleet； the resistance had been so
vigorous that in a few days the siege was abandoned。
There were shot holes in walls and roofs； there were a few
wounded in the hospital； the green embankments were torn； and the
flag…pole splintered； but the enemy was gone； the starry flag was
floating on the wind； and the sturdy little garrison filled with
a spirit that grows only in heroes fighting for their homes。
How joyfully different from Ogdensburg。
Chapter 72。 Scouting Across Country
That very night； Rolf turned again with the latest news and the
commandant's reports。
He was learning the country well now； and； with the wonderful
place…memory of a woodman； he was able to follow his exact back
trail。 It might not have been the best way； but it gave him this
advantage in nearly every case he was able to use again the
raft he had made in coming； and thereby saved many hours of
precious time。
On the way out he had seen a good many deer and one bear； and had
heard the howling of wolves every night； but always at a
distance。 On the second night； in the very heart of the
wilderness； the wolves were noisy and seemed very near。 Rolf was
camping in the darkness。 He made a small fire with such stuff as
he could find by groping； then； when the fire blazed； he
discovered by its light a dead spruce some twenty yards away。
Taking his hatchet he went toward this； and； as he did so； a wolf
rose up； with its forefeet on a