The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-04
chance. You saw Admiral Saunders, !,

chance. You saw Admiral Saunders, as
requested?"p 81 sgs,~ ~ 80.
YES, and he delays sailing for a short
time longer, though he takes a great
risk rs
"A noble fellow!" exclaimed the young
general heartily. "If we fail to take the
town, I will ever bear testimony that our
want of success was not due to any lack
Of cooperation on his part
"shall we succeed. think you, Wolfess"
asked Grafton. -
What think you Of the prospects your
self?'' ~. al! - I. Z T..
II am a sailor;2.I know little of such
things. Give me the deck Of a. ship and
at home. 1 fear nothing ttere-un-
less it be O lee shore-but on land pre-
fer your views ~ liz
Shall we fail? God knows!,' n1urmured
Wolfe softly half tsoliloquizing. II tried
to turn their flank on the Montmorenci
and failed there. " tried a direct attack
on the BEAUFORT lines and failed again
This time / know not The paths a poor
one at best. A hundred men at the top
might hold an army There was another
silence: ''Fail!"> he said suddenly, as if
awakened from q dream. "Of course not!
We shall not fail! We can't fail! Philip.
'Tis our last chance, and mine! IT'S sure
hard fate, but this body of mine is done
for. I may last for few days longer.
but my race is about rum H.
Don't say that, James," exclaimed
his boyhood friend, protesting even
against the bitter assurance in his heart
Of the truth of the dying soldiers words.
1t isn't the saying, old friend, but the
fact, that makes it hard to bear-and
tbs true. This poor frail body is not
equal to the demands have made upon
it: If 1t carry me through tonight and
Tomorrow I shall say naught. Death
may have it's way. Peace, Philip! I
know what you would say but I know
myself it's useless I want to strike one
good blow for old England before I go.
I should like to see the Cross of st. George
floating above Cape Diamond before-but
we shall see. stobo says the path is
practicable. He's a canny Scot and
should know what he's talking about
have examined it carefully as we f1oated
past it, and I believe that we can get
up. Once let me get on those plains and
l. interpose between Montcalm and his
base of supplies. He must fight, retreat,
or surrender"
'''Tis easy to tell,'' answered Grafton,
what he will do them .-' - -
"Quite. He is a splendid soldier, as
many of our poor fellows have cause to
know-and a fighter, always. I honour
him. >s:r
But suppose you get caught between
Montcalm and Bougainvilles men from
Cap Rouge, Wolfe?'s
THE chances for their arriving on the
field together are very remote, and we
must crush the one who first makes his
appearance. Then we can easily deal
with the other"
'Have you issued all the necessary or
ders?" :A.. -.
"All.'
Have you thought of everything?"
Everything but defeat. The men are
to enter the boats, about II o'clock" he
continued? "They are to row up the river
as if to make a landing at Cap-Rouge and
then return to the ships. When. the tide
turns and the ebts begins they are to
drop silently down the river. The; ships
will follow after an hours interval The
boats will land the men at the designated
point, and then go across to the other
side and ferry over Buttons troops, who
will have marched there before this. I
presume. Those are your orders, Graf
tom -Ef- =:
What then?' J.,
'"rhen we will bide the issue. IT'S
desperate hazard
LAY, desperate indeed
I'VE play for great stake Grafton.
and fortune has been so hard to us per-
haps the tide may turn and luck may
serve" ~.
You are too wise a man to be lucky
Wolfe,' responded the naval officer
"Well. perhaps the luck will be with
England, then. In fact, it is. Two de-
serters from Cap-Rouge have appraised us
that a flotilla of provision boats is to be-
sent down to Quebec tonight. We will
be that f1otilla.''
YES laughed Grafton. land give the
French such a breakfast as they will find
1t difficult to digest, I'll warrant
Quite so.' said Wolfe smiling. But
now that you have your official instruc-
tions. Philip. there is another thing want
you to do for me-
'Anything on earth. old friend.''
Il know that, know that answered
the soldier. you have always been a.
friend to me since we were boys together
In old England. No one could be truer
or better than you have been.'
"Oh, that's all right answered Graf
ton hastily, with the Anglo Saxon inclina-
ton to the avoidance of a scene. 1--WE
have been friends since my father sent
me to the English school, where we met
I was a. little colonial lad from Massa-
chusetts. and mighty lonely was, Jim
mie, until you took me up and championed
me- =. ~
But you fought your own battles, Phil
''You saw that had fair play, anyway
I'll tell you what it is, Wolfe, IF your body
only equalled your spirit, what knight
you would have been!'' -. q.
''Well, it's about that body that went
" Spedh AS 1 COlu yCu, L am doomed.
I shall never get back to England alive;
the sickness upon me is mortal. The ply
sicians have said so, and feel that it is
true. Look at me, YOU can see for your
self! If it We're not for the fight should
be on my back now, and if have to die
I'd rather do it on the field yonder-after
we have won, of course-but that's as
God pleases. This is what want you to
do" IS
AS he spoke the young general unbut-
toned his Wastcoat, 1eosened his tie. and
| drew from his neck a. little gold chain to
which was attached a golden 1ocket in
closed in a tight leather case. He slipped
the chain over his head drew the locket
from the case, opened it and held it to-
ward the light. He looked long and earn
estly at the picture it COMMUNICATIVE
portrait of young and lovely woman.
Observing that his friend had consider
ately turned his head, he raised it softly
to his lips. A single tear fell upon the
ivory miniature as he closed the locket,
slipped it back in the leather case and ex-
| tended it to Grafton. Deep tribute of
affection lies in the tear of a soldier-of a
soldier like Wolfe.
| when you get back to England, old
| friend, he said slowly, II want you to
give this to Katharine Lowther, and tell
her how, the night before I-before the
| battle, mean, T gave it to you in the
cabin of the ship, and how I loved her to
! the end. I have sent my farewells to my
mother and the rest by some who know
| +l,o r Jo CT r5,S%x