按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
too； with his dry； humorous talk； these were the bright and funny
hours。 There were others。 There came a bright…checked Vermont
mother whose three sons had died in service at MacDonough's guns；
and she told of it in a calm voice； as one who speaks of her
proudest honour。 Yes； she rejoiced that God had given her three
such sons； and had taken again His gifts in such a day of glory。
Had England's rulers only known； that this was the spirit of the
land that spoke； how well they might have asked： 〃What boots it
if we win a few battles； and burn a few towns； it is a little
gain and passing； for there is one thing that no armies； ships；
or laws； or power on earth； or hell itself can down or crush
that alone is the thing that counts or endures the thing that
permeates these men； that finds its focal centre in such souls as
that of the Vermont mother； steadfast； proud； and rejoicing in
her bereavement。
But these were forms that came and went； there were two that
seldom were away the tall and supple one of the dark face and
the easy tread； and his yellow shadow the ever unpopular；
snappish； prick…eared cur； that held by force of arms all
territories at floor level contiguous to； under； comprised； and
bounded by； the four square legs and corners of the bed。
Quonab's nightly couch was a blanket not far away； and his daily；
self…given task to watch the wounded and try by devious ways and
plots to trick him into eating ever larger meals。
Garrison duty was light now； so Quonab sought the woods where the
flocks of partridge swarmed； with Skookum as his aid。 It was the
latter's joyful duty to find and tree the birds； and 〃yap〃 below；
till Quonab came up quietly with bow and blunt arrows； to fill
his game…bag； and thus the best of fare was ever by the invalid's
bed。
Rolf's was easily a winning fight from the first； and in a week
he was eating well； sleeping well； and growing visibly daily
stronger。
Then on a fleckless dawn that heralded a sun triumphant； the
Indian borrowed a drum from the bandsman； and； standing on the
highest breastwork； he gazed across the dark waters to the
whitening hills。 There on a tiny fire he laid tobacco and
kinnikinnik； as Gisiss the Shining One burnt the rugged world rim
at Vermont； and； tapping softly with one stick； he gazed upward；
after the sacrificial thread of smoke； and sang in his own tongue：
〃Father； I burn tobacco； I smoke to Thee。 I sing for my heart is singing。〃
Pleasant chatter of the East was current by Rolf's bedside。
Stories of homes in the hills he heard； tales of hearths by far
away lakes and streams； memories of golden haired children
waiting for father's or brother's return from the wars。 Wives
came to claim their husbands； mothers to bring away their boys；
to gain again their strength at home。 And his own heart went
back； and ever back； to the rugged farm on the shores of the
noble George。
In two weeks he was able to sit up。 In three he could hobble； and
he moved about the town when the days were warm。
And now he made the acquaintance of the prisoners。 They were
closely guarded and numbered over a hundred。 It gave him a
peculiar sensation to see them there。 It seemed un… American to
hold a human captive； but he realized that it was necessary to
keep them for use as hostages and exchanges。
Some of them he found to be sullen brutes； but many were kind and
friendly； and proved to be jolly good fellows。
On the occasion of his second visit； a familiar voice saluted him
with； 〃Well； Rolf！ Comment ca va？〃 and he had the painful joy of
greeting Francois la Colle。
〃You'll help me get away； Rolf； won't you？〃 and the little
Frenchman whispered and winked。 〃I have seven little ones now on
La Riviere； dat have no flour； and tinks dere pa is dead。〃
〃I'll do all I can； Francois；〃 and the picture of the desolate
home； brought a husk in his voice and a choke in his throat。 He
remembered too the musket ball that by intent had whistled
harmless overhead。 〃But；〃 he added in a shaky voice； 〃I cannot
help my country's enemy to escape。〃
Then Rolf took counsel with McGlassin； told him all about the
affair at the mill； and McGlassin with a heart worthy of his
mighty shoulders； entered into the spirit of the situation； went
to General Macomb presenting such a tale and petition that six
hours later Francis bearing a passport through the lines was
trudging away to Canada； paroled for the rest of the war。
There was another face that Rolf recognized hollow… cheeked；
flabby…jowled and purplish…gray。 The man was one of the oldest of
the prisoners。 He wore a white beard end moustache。 He did not
recognize Rolf； but Rolf knew him； for this was Micky Kittering。
How he escaped from jail and joined the enemy was an episode of
the war's first year。 Rolf was shocked to see what a miserable
wreck his uncle was。 He could not do him any good。 To identify
him would have resulted in his being treated as a renegade； so on
the plea that he was an old man； Rolf saw that the prisoner had
extra accommodation and out of his own pocket kept him abundantly
supplied with tobacco。 Then in his heart he forgave him； and kept
away。 They never met again。
The bulk of the militia had been disbanded after the great
battle。 A few of the scouts and enough men to garrison the fort
and guard the prisoners were retained。 Each day there were joyful
partings the men with homes； going home。 And the thought that
ever waxed in Rolf came on in strength。 He hobbled to headquarters。
〃General； can I get leave to go he hesitated 〃home？〃
〃Why； Kittering； I didn't know you had a home。 But； certainly；
I'll give you a month's leave and pay to date。〃
Champlain is the lake of the two winds； the north wind blows for
six months with a few variations； and the south wind for the
other six months with trifling。
Next morning a bark canoe was seen skimming southward before as
much north wind as it could stand； with Rolf reclining in the
middle； Quonab at the stern； and Skookum in the bow。
In two days they were at Ticonderoga。 Here help was easily got at
the portage and on the evening of the third day； Quonab put a
rope on Skookum's neck and they landed at Hendrik's farm。
The hickory logs were blazing bright； and the evening pot was
reeking as they opened the door and found the family gathered for
the meal。
〃I didn't know you had a home；〃 the general had said。 He should
have been present now to see the wanderer's welcome。 If war
breeds such a spirit in the land； it is as much a blessing as a
curse。 The air was full of it； and the Van Trumpers； when they
saw their hero hobble in； were melted。 Love； pity； pride； and
tenderness were surging in storms through every heart that knew。
〃Their brother； their son come back； wounded； but proven and
glorious。〃 Yes； Rolf had a home； and in that intoxicating
realization he kissed them all； even Annette of the glowing
cheeks and eyes； though in truth he paid for it； for it conjured
up in her a shy aloofness that lasted many days。
Old Hendrik sputtered around。 〃Och； I am smile； dis is goood；
yah。 Vere is that tam dog？ Yah！ tie him not； he shall dis time
von chicken have for joy。〃
〃Marta；〃 said Rolf； 〃you told me to come here if I got hurt。
Well； I've come； and I've brought a boat…load of stuff in case I
cannot do my share in the fields。〃
〃Press you； my poy you didn't oughter brung dot stuff； you know
we loff you here； and effery time it is you coom I get gladsomer；
and dot Annette she just cried ven you vent to de war。〃
〃Oh； mother； I did not； it was you and little Hendrick！〃 and
Annette turned her scarlet cheeks away。
October； with its trees of flame and gold； was on the hills；
purple and orange； the oaks and the birches； blue blocked with
white was the sky above； and the blue； bright lake was limpid。
〃Oh； God of my fathers；〃 Quonab used to pray； 〃when I reach the
Happy Hunting； let it be ever the Leaf…falling Moon； for that is
the only perfect time。〃 And in that unmarred month of sunny sky
and woodlands purged of every plague； there is but one menace in
the vales。 For who can bring the glowing coal to the dry…leafed
woods without these two begetting the dread red fury that
devastates the hills？
Who can bring the fire in touch with tow and wonder at the blaze？
Who； indeed？ And would any but a dreamer expect young manhood in
its growing strength； and girlhood just across the blush…line； to
meet in daily meals and talk and still keep up the brother and
sister play？ It needs only a Virginia on the sea…girt island to
turn the comrade into Paul。
〃Marta； I tink dot Rolf an Annette don't quarrel bad； ain't it？〃
〃Hendrik； you vas von blind old bat…mole；〃 said Marta； 〃I fink
dat farm next ours purty good； but Rolf he say 'No Lake George no
good。' Better he like all his folk move over on dat Hudson。〃