Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-11-10
1901, by b. App.e'ot

about the promontory and swept
around the little bay. The boats were
carried below the landingplace and it
took some hard pulling before their
stems touch ed the shore
Wolfe had gone forward in the cut
tor, and the others drawing back 10
give him passage. he was the first man
to set foot upon the muddy shore. II
was four o'clock now. They could hear
eight bells Ginning family across the
hills Around them in the shadow 1t
was as still as death-that most ST.
lent hour before the day breaks. A
gentle breeze had sprung UP and was
signing softly through the trees at
the top Of the cliff; the sky was over
cast: they would have rain presently.
About 200 feet away. since it was
low tide, the bluffs rose precipitouslv
from the level beach. There was room
at their base 70 dise'n6ark the whole
army. After Wolfe and the officers, in
Guiding Grafton. had landed, the light
infantry noisclessly clambered out Of
the boats and advanced toward the
foot OF the cliffs.
A aigzag path. lip which a single
hle OF men might with difficulty make
its way. broke the sheer face of the
cliff II had been harricaded with
heavy timbers and was at present I'm
scSlabe
There was momentary pause
It seemed as if tho whole enterprise
so brilliantly conceived and so Sue
cessfully carried out hitherto. would
he blocked by this unfortunate oh
s'acle They had succeeded in landing
unobserved hut il they attempted TO
tear down the barrcade they woul7
inevitably attract the attention Of the
negligent defenders at The top of Tho
path. Under such circumstances the
attempt would have TO be given over
As Wolfe had said, 100 men Nigh :
hold that towering cliff against an
army.
81 think We can scramble up the cliT
by the aid OF these trees" said Howe
AZ last.
It was a bold proposition. Wolfe
looked at him gratefully and approx
ingly. It was their only chance. and
the Young general gave the signal for
the attempt in these not very ehcour-
aging words:
You may try it. Col. Howe. but
do not think you will succeed. Can
tain. he added turning to one of his
staff tell Gen Monckton to keep the
rest OF the men quiet in the boats for
a few moments We may have no need
for them
AS he spoke Howe and his gallant
"a sprang at the cliff. They were soon
lost in the shadow covering the face
Of il. and the watchers below could
trace the course OF their slow and
painful ascent by the crashing sounds
they made. as by the aid Of stunted
trees growing in clumps here and
there they made their toilsomo way
upward Why the French did not dis
cover them has never been explained
Presently the sounds died away al
together The silence was broken by
the sound of nlusket-shot. followed
by another and another. A quicl
fusillade rang out from the sky above
them They We're there. then, They
we're engaged. What had been the
issue.
Concealment was no longer possible
or desirable. Al word from their
commander the men on shore sprang
at the barricades. The scene changed
from one Of absolute quiet TO intense
activity,
"Havc they won. think you?" asked
Grafton.
I'VE shall know in moment an
swerrd Wolfe ~ they have lost
somebody will come tunbling dow:
the cliff to tell The tale Meanwhile
am 5takins all on the chance Of thei
success.
} The little cove was now flied witt
noise Catching the contagion In
. men began to spring from the boat
and foil in on the shore The feel
inss of the soldiers. repressed So LON
through the night, found vent il
cheers and cries. Presently hal
eamc down from the cliff 1t wa
Howe ; voice
= We have the post, he shouted
The enemy has fed! The way il
pen,
a HOLD it a. all hazards" cried III
a Ommanuer.
The cheering men fairly tore tn
h | barbados to pieces and scrambled u
n the path, Wolfe himself in the lead
p capt, de Versor, who commanded tn
u french guard, was incapable and
coward He had kept negligent watch
Il Howe and his handful of men ha
surprised them, The fall Of NeN
q France must be laid at the feet OF on
d person; and, singularly enough, tn
= beginning OF American independence
d may be traced TO the splendid exploi
II of the young soldier, who, as gen
y eral long after. at Long Island, Whit
a Plains, Brandywine and Germantow
=. did his best 10 stop its course.
CHAPTER Xf