The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-10-15
CHAPTER XIII

| ,s r,. CHAPTER XIII 81
'BRIHo HANDFUIs OF LILIES"
Mercer was prepared, as far as his
limited force admitted, for the attack
Of the enemy, with the courage Of o
man who was ready 20 die at his post.
mingled with scorn Of the pusillanimity
which rendered the loss OF an important
position almost certain, and for which
the English Generals Loudoun and Alb
ercrombie earned the lasting contempt
Of the colonists, II not OF their own
troops, while history accuses them Of
fmbecility and oowardice.
II was Renwick's whim TO announce
the arrival Of the little feet at oswego
by the discharge Of one OF the captured
cannon, TO the surprise OF Mercer, who
did not know that these reinforcements
were possessed Of artillery. Jabe had
placed these In position on a raft and
stacked tho French muskets with Axed
bayonets on the same vessel, so that
they made quito an imposing effect.
"It will show our friends that we have
not been idle, or backward about help
ing ourselves" said the ranger, "and /
guess the Frenchmen will know the
sound OF their own guns when they
speak 10 them from the walls Of the fort.
Eh. Lieutenant; that was q neat Job OF
yours" .l ..tr..... .atf
Thanks to your suggestion, Jabe,"
replied Renwick, ''and the help
you gave us from your perch on the
tree. In truth, 1t was you who captured
the guns, my friend"
Jabe, much pleased with the compli-
menti, laughed heartily "We'll give
It 10 them again, Lieutenant. They
don't know that the fort is reinforced,
do they? Well, / hope they won't find
IL out and run away before we get shot
at them" NffI
"Have no fears on that score, Jabo,"
responded Renwick, grimly. 81 think
your chances for capturing more cannon
are good" -N ...
II say, Lieutenant" said Jabe, with
sudden gravity, ''don't you believe that
we can whip them?"
ITO be sure" was the careless reply;
that's what we're hero for"
This answer was so unsatisfactory that
q doubt for the first time crossed the
mind OF the ranger.
"If we can't hold the fort" he
thought, "what will become Of the
women and children" and vision Of
his wife and baby at the mercy Of the
Hurons made his stout heart tremble.
Mercer, having received Selwyn and his
followers, and thanked him for their
services, made place for them in tho
programme Of defense.
The women and other non-combat- |
ants were removed from Fort Ontario
to the stronger building, and Selwyn
was ordered to garrison the former.
"Jabe," said Mrs. Locke, 81 dreamt
last night about Captain Marden and his
boy. Has nothing been heard OF them?"
mo; but the Captains safe enough.
He's a prisoner Of war, you know, and
as for Ariel, guess he's found his mas
ter by this time"
"Jabe," said his wife, earnestly, "are
you surs that you don't know any thing
about Ariel?'
"What should / know?" asked the
ranger, In surprise. ...
"0h, l mean about who he is and
where he came FROM
~ guess we know all that he knows
himself, and you know the story as we'll
v do,n he repliedj whereupon his wife
from asking any more quss-
Hons. and presently fell into train Of
reflections on the obtuseness or indif-
'erenoe Of men on all subjects which did
not immediately touch their interests
,r strike their vision, while Jabe con-
played With his baby. ~
At midnight o sentinel gave the
.larm. Tho gunboass from Fort From
,snac were approaching, the movements
IN board and the voiees OF command be-
ng distinctly audible. |
The news was speedily communicated
o the bloekhouse. Renwiok, who was Of
icerof the watch, aroused Selwyn. "The
,un-boats are here, Charley" he said.
Let's make dash at them"
selwyn looked at his friend in sur
rise. f1t.,t, ..f ,.u...... BIZ
'Yes, / know II looks like rash
,roject, but consider IL we'll. The night
dark, they have Just arrived, have not
cen MS by daylight, and don't expect
ls. We will man the canoes with thirty
angers armed with tho French muskets
md our own knives and rifles. We VIII
ackle the frst gunboat we reach, sweep
Ter decks hrst and then tow her up the
liver here" o..i % .l,o w
selwyn thought fayorably OF the plan
md went 70 lay IL before Mercer, while
aenFick called for volunteers and mado
Preparations for the raid. Oh l, aaaaIs 1
In hah On hour six canoes each car
ying Ave mon glidcd through the dark
less, keeping close together, tho paddles
making no sound as they propelled tho
'tNe barks along. Soon the hulls u the
'anboats began to loom up, aad tho
81 no